Mosquito Blog

The Biggest Swindle ever is happening behind closed doors!

2011-11-08T12:19:00.015-05:00

It appears that our entire Congress is standing by silently while Ben Bernanke works his magic for the 1%. IF you thought the first Bank Bail out with less than 1 trillion dollars in TARP funds was bad...and then thought it was egregious when Senator Bernie Sanders audit of the Federal Reserved uncovered 15 trillion dollars in no interest loans to bail out the banks...

Then sit down and buckle your seat belt. If this doesn't get your blood boiling then get yourself to the doctor you might be dead.

It appears that Ben Bernanke of the Federal Reserve has come up with a totally new way to bail out the banks. Facilitate the transfer of risky derivatives to a FDIC branch of the bank. Who is set up to benefit? The Bank of America--Bofa--has been given the green light from Ben Bernanke to transfer 75 TRILLION dollars worth of risky derivatives from one subsidary holding company to an FDIC insured bank that is "flush with deposits."

Bloomberg reports that BOFA Chief Financial Officer Bruce Thompson believes such transfer is “the normal course of dealings that we’ve had with counterparties since Merrill Lynch and BofA came together.”

According to Rolling Stone reporter Matt Taibbi:

It,’ Matt Taibbi noted:

“(BY) shifting… derivatives contracts onto its own federally-insured balance sheet… an irresponsible debtor, Bank of America, is keeping a loan shark from breaking its legs by getting his rich parents to co-sign his loan. The parents in this metaphor would be the FDIC. The FDIC naturally is not pleased with this development, but the Fed, the supreme banking regulator, is apparently encouraging this move. Here’s how Bloomberg characterized this move: ‘ In short, the Fed’s priorities seem to lie with protecting the bank-holding company from losses at Merrill, even if that means greater risks for the FDIC’s insurance fund.’
“AGAIN and again, the Fed proves it has no appetite for allowing Wall Street to eat its own pain, and continually encourages banks to stick the government with its losses and bad assets. This move will allow Bank of America to keep a Band-Aid over its disastrous financial situation far longer than it would be able to in a genuinely free market. People should be outraged at this development.”

Cenk Uygur explains the situation:

It sounds like the Senate needs to rein in the Federal Reserve asap. Contact your Senator and hopefully your Senator will not be representing the 1% and simply being silent and going along with this outrageous new way for taxpayers to bail out the risky investments by Banks.

You might also ask Obama why he doesn't fire Timothy Geithner who appears to once again be protecting fake people (corporations) and promoting the Bankster's agenda instead of protecting real people.

This is a five alarm Buzz....Buzz.....

Civil Discourse should be the norm.

2011-07-06T12:38:00.003-04:00

I posted a comment on another Virginia blog--Bearing Drift--today and encountered someone named Little David. I really like his approach and am hopeful of more civil dialogue among greater numbers of people in Virginia with more attitudes like his cropping up everyday along the entire political spectrum.

I don't know about others but I'm tired of the name calling and labeling that corporations and their mainstream corporate media tries to make as the only way to hold a dialogue in this country.

How about all of us recognizing that we are all people (except of course those corporations that only the Corporate US Supreme Court recognizes as living breathing human beings) and let us have dialogues about ideas, facts, and various solutions to problems and let's leave the name calling out of our public discourse?

I believe this will help our democratic process. It is not in the people's interest to be so split and divisive. But it has served the banksters and Wall Street agenda which has basically been shoved down all of our throats.

I love Virginia and have lots of faith that Virginians can rise up and speak out in a democratic and civil discourse that will serve us and our communities well. I hope others will join in and create a vibrant civil dialogue about issues that impact us all.

Another Broken Obama Promise

2011-07-02T10:05:00.003-04:00

Obama should have ended the war on drugs....however, he did promise not to allow the feds to interfere with medical marijuana in states that voted to allow this.

Shame on you Obama shame on you!

Maybe this is tied to the fact that corporations are still calling the shots in America and not the people? "...The Corrections Corporation of America, the nation's largest company devoted to locking people up, informs investors that liberalization of sentencing or drug prohibition laws could damage its share price. "The demand for our facilities and services could be adversely affected by the relaxation of enforcement efforts, leniency in conviction or parole standards and sentencing practices or through the decriminalization of certain activities that are currently proscribed by our criminal laws. For instance, any changes with respect to drugs and controlled substances or illegal immigration could affect the number of persons arrested, convicted, and sentenced, thereby potentially reducing demand for correctional facilities to house them."

So let's think about this. When we privatize government functions, like prisons, then the goal becomes to make harsher laws and lock up more citizens for profit. I like the old way when we had a voice in our government policies and we wanted to spend less money and use our taxes wisely versus spending more money so that corporations can make larger profits.

But since Obama and the others have to raise money for their campaigns watch for privatization on all levels. When roads, tunnels, prisons and schools are privatized then the "private sector's" main goal is to make money and they will use their profits to lobby the government to lock up more citizens so they can make more profits so the people of America are going to continue to see their taxes rise and they will receive nothing but higher bills as a result.

Wake up America. Government privatization is the worst thing that can happen to your household budgets. The middle class is disappearing. Who is going to stand up for democracy in America?

We can start with the states rights and Medical Marijuana. Let Obama know you want him to be a man of his word. He needs to keep his promise and tell the Justice Department to stop harassing sick people using medical marijuana and the support system that supplies them and take those resources and do something good for the American people.

Why not go after those greedy thugs in fancy suits walking around Wall Street who are waging war on the middle class and breaking laws with impunity? Restore justice in America (which was another of your campaign promises) and show the world that the law applies to everyone in America not just the disappearing middle class and the poor.

What is money buying in VA?

2011-07-01T07:08:00.002-04:00

It seems that Virginia's Governor McDonnell and Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli have been busy meeting with the infamous Koch Brothers. Money can't buy you love but I wonder what it's buying in VA? The Koch Brothers and their money is currently considered the driving force for both the Tea Party and the Republican Party. When you're that wealthy why not own two political parties?

Eric Cantor has a serious conflict of interest

2011-06-28T21:28:00.002-04:00

Eric Cantor has a serious conflict of interest. It appears that he stands to make money if the debt ceiling is not raised. This is beyond outrageous and un-ethical.

The Nuclear Safety Myth

2011-06-27T14:14:00.004-04:00

Nuclear proponents always downplay the risks in the name of profits the safety myth propaganda becomes the irrational bought and paid for "new corporate science." This safety myth leads us all down the path to another Fukushima (and the current Fukushima disaster is still spewing radioactive particles around the globe.) The scientific fact is that no radiation is safe and that's no myth!

Senator Wagner is not representing Virginia Beach citizens

2011-06-26T18:37:00.002-04:00

This is another good reason to have someone un-seat the incumbent Senator Wagner from Virginia Beach. He's costing his citizens a lot of money as Virginia Beach is fighting the uranium mining that Senator Wagner is helping get through the General Assembly.

Some governments listen to their people.

2011-05-31T08:34:00.003-04:00

It's refreshing to see that some governments are not corporate controlled and these governments actually listen to their people. Germany is shutting down their dirty, dangerous nuclear power plants and choosing clean, green energy of the future.

Finally they tells us...It's meltdown in Japan....

2011-05-19T06:33:00.005-04:00

So Japan is now going to switch to wind power for it's future energy needs....

Virginia needs to wake up and keep the ban on uranium mining.

We can take advantage of our incredible wind resources off our coast that are safe and won't end up killing us.

Plus wind will bring more jobs to Virginia without the billion dollar clean up bill.

Contact your state delegate and state senator today. Tell them to stop the nuclear madness and keep the ban!!

Uranium threatens the Roanoke River

2011-05-17T22:35:00.006-04:00

Uranium mining is so dangerous that you don't have to actually do it to have an important tributary placed on the top ten list of America's most endangered river. Virginian's need to rise up quickly to protect our families, communities and state.

This is truly nuclear madness!

KEEP THE BAN COALITION NEWS

2011-05-17T22:20:00.004-04:00

For Immediate Release
May 12, 2011 (corrected May 17, 2011)

Coalition to Keep the Ban on Uranium Mining in Virginia Growing Statewide

Coalition announces dozens of supporting localities and groups, launches petition drive and website

Contact:

Cale Jaffe, Southern Environmental Law Center, 434-977-4090

Mary Rafferty, Virginia Chapter of the Sierra Club, 804-225-9113, ext 105

Naomi Hodge-Muse, President of the Martinsville/Henry County NAACP, 276-632-9674

RICHMOND, VA – The Keep the Ban Coalition today announced 41 localities and organizations that have taken action—writing letters, adopting resolutions, etc.—that support keeping in place the state’s longstanding ban on uranium mining. This is evidence of a growing statewide movement. Local governments that have passed resolutions or otherwise taken action include the City of Virginia Beach, and civic groups include the Reston-based National Wildlife Federation, whose membership passed a national resolution of support in April.

The coalition today also launched a statewide petition drive, starting with 1,000 signatures of Virginians who support keeping the ban on uranium mining, and launched a new website, www.keeptheban.org, aimed at raising awareness of the health, environmental and socio-economic impacts associated with uranium mining, milling and waste disposal. Uranium has never been mined commercially in the East, nor in a predominantly wet-climate region of the U.S., like Virginia.

“Virginia has had a ban in place on mining uranium for nearly 30 years, and for good reason,” said Naomi Hodge-Muse, president of the Martinsville-Henry County NAACP and leader of the Sierra Club Keep the Ban Team, Martinsville. “There are just too many questions and potential risks of radioactive and toxic materials contaminating our streams, rivers and drinking water. With all the storms and hurricanes we get, this is the worst possible place you could put a uranium operation.”

The uranium industry is lobbying to lift the ban and begin mining uranium in Virginia, starting at a major deposit at a Pittsylvania County site called Coles Hill, first discovered in the late 1970s. The industry also secured leases on other suspected deposits in Culpeper, Fauquier, Floyd, Henry, Madison, Orange, Patrick, and Pittsylvania counties. Potential uranium deposits were also detected in Franklin and Nelson counties. Recently, Virginia Uranium, Inc. told Wall Street investors that it plans to introduce legislation lifting the uranium mining ban in the 2012 session of the General Assembly.

Coalition partners note the well-documented links between exposure to uranium waste and myriad health problems, including bone, liver and breast cancer, lung and kidney diseases, and birth defects. Another concern is the severity and frequency of storms in the region, which could damage uranium facilities and potentially wash contaminated storm water and uranium waste into nearby water resources. In the last 40 years, nine hurricanes and countless other major storms have deluged Virginia. In 1969, Hurricane Camille dumped 31 inches of rain on central Virginia. This April, at least 30 tornadoes were recorded in Virginia, including one in Halifax County about 20 miles from the Coles Hill site.

Virginia Beach, which gets its drinking water from Lake Gaston, downstream of the Coles Hill site, recently released the findings of its $437,000 study which concluded that a catastrophic failure of a uranium waste containment structure at the site could contaminate the city’s drinking water for as long as two years. Roughly 1.2 million people in Virginia and North Carolina rely on the Roanoke River system downstream of the Coles Hill site for drinking water.

Mary Rafferty with the Sierra Club’s Virginia Chapter said that nine local groups have formed around the state in recent months to campaign for keeping the ban on uranium mining in Virginia (see list below).

“I’m fielding calls every week from concerned citizens across the state with requests for more information and for ways to get more involved. Mining proponents think this issue will be won behind closed doors in Richmond, but the people of Virginia are demanding it be debated in town halls and onfront porches,” said Rafferty.

“If the ban is lifted, it will be lifted statewide, which means Virginians throughout the state could potentially be affected by uranium mining, milling and waste disposal in their communities, or miles upstream,” said Cale Jaffe, senior attorney with the Southern Environmental Law Center.

The coalition website is designed to educate the public on the risks posed by lifting the ban on uranium mining, milling and waste disposal in Virginia. The site has fact sheets and press coverage on the issue, and visitors can sign a petition in favor of the ban and join a local volunteer group.

Government entities that have taken action related to keeping the ban within the last four years

City of Creedmor, NC

City of Henderson, NC

City of Virginia Beach, VA

Floyd County, VA

Halifax County, NC

Granville County, NC

Kerr-Tar Regional Council of Governments

Mecklenburg County, VA

Orange County, VA

Rappahannock County, VA

Town of Halifax, VA

Town of Hurt, VA

Town of Franklinton, NC

Town of Warrenton, NC

Vance County, NC

Warren County, NC

Organizations in support of the ban that are not members of the Keep the Ban Coalition

Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League

- Piedmont Residents in Defense of the Environment (PRIDE)

Buggs Island Striper Club

Halifax County Chamber of Commerce (VA)

Martinsville-Henry County Chapter of the NAACP

National Wildlife Federation
North Carolina Roanoke River Basin Advisory Committee

North Carolina Wildlife Federation

Southside Concerned Citizens

Virginia Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts

Volunteer groups organized with assistance from the Sierra Club-Virginia Chapter:

- Keep the Ban, Chesapeake

- Keep the Ban, Norfolk

- UBAN, Floyd County (VA)

- Roanoke Group of the Sierra Club

- Sierra Club Keep the Ban Team, Martinsville

Members of the Keep the Ban Coalition

Dan River Basin Association

League of Individuals for the Environment, Inc.

Roanoke River Basin Association

Piedmont Environmental Council

Sierra Club-Virginia Chapter

Southeast Rural Community Assistance Project

Southern Environmental Law Center

Virginia Bass Federation

Virginia Conservation Network

Virginia League of Conservation Voters

"Why Are We Playing Russian Roulette With the American People?": Longtime Nuclear Critic Ralph Nader Advocates Phasing Out Nuclear Power Industry

2011-04-26T10:35:00.004-04:00

"Why Are We Playing Russian Roulette With the American People?": Longtime Nuclear Critic Ralph Nader Advocates Phasing Out Nuclear Power Industry

Why is President Obama saying "we" are committed to a nuclear renaissance? There should be no royal "we" in the USA. It appears that President Obama has sold his soul for nuclear industry money.

We the people deserve a national moratorium on nuclear energy while we discuss what is "our" best course forward for achieving our energy needs is a safe, sustainable, manner.

Why are we setting up a scenario where private investors will only invest IF the taxpayers are on the hook for the costs? This corporate welfare needs to stop. If another nuclear plant won't be built unless the taxpayer is on the hook then it should NOT be built! No more corporate welfare for this nuclear industry that has never been able to exit in 60 years unless it's feeding at the public trough!

Uranium Quote of the Day

2011-04-14T09:33:00.001-04:00

According to Sarah Fields:

Uranium mining is still a dirty, polluting , hazardous, and environmentally destructive industry. State and federal regulatory programs are still back in the 1980s. Some kinds of emissions are not regulated (same story at uranium mills), and there are no clean up standards for the mines after decommissioning. There are still many uranium mining areas in Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, and Utah that have never been cleaned up. A federal staff person recently described an area on public land in Utah with historical uranium mining impacts and 2 small proposed mines as a "War Zone."

Floyd County Virginia opposes Uranium Mining in Virginia

2011-04-12T15:03:00.002-04:00

RESOLUTION IN OPPOSITION TO LIFTINGTHE BAN ON URANIUM MINING IN VIRGINIA

WHEREAS, in 1983 the Virginia General Assembly enacted a moratorium on the mining
of uranium in the Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, presently a company know as Virginia Uranium, Inc. has proposed
establishing one of the largest uranium mining operations in North America within the
State of Virginia; and

WHEREAS, presently Virginia Uranium, Inc. is undertaking an extensive lobbying
campaign directed at getting the Virginia General Assembly to lift the moratorium
established in 1983, thereby allowing the company to begin mining operations; and

WHEREAS, it is probable that the mining operations proposed by Virginia Uranium, Inc.
will result in large quantities of highly mobile, radioactive mill tailings, which must be
stored as sludge in ponds, and eventually in dewatered tailings piles that can retain 85
percent of their original radioactivity for hundreds of thousands of years; and

WHEREAS, it is possible that sludge ponds and/or tailings pile confinement structures
could fail, resulting in the release of radioactive materials into surface waters and the
surrounding environment; and

WHEREAS, the Commonwealth of Virginia’s climate includes frequent storms capable
of producing surface water conditions that will transport and disperse radioactive
materials downstream and away from the site of the mining and related storage of
byproduct; and,

WHEREAS, it is probable that the negative environmental, health, and economic impacts
of a release of radioactive materials could result in catastrophic harm to a portion of the
of the Commonwealth’s land area.

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, by the Floyd County Board of Supervisors,
that it does hereby oppose lifting the ban on uranium mining unless and until it can be
scientifically demonstrated with a high level of certainty that no release of radioactive
materials can escape from any proposed uranium mining operation and/or location.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be sent to each member of
the County’s legislative delegations and to the Chair of all groups currently studying
uranium mining in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Adopted by the Floyd County Board of Supervisors on the 12
the day of April, 2011.

Uranium/Nuclear Snake Oil Vendors

2011-03-31T11:17:00.004-04:00

This article deserves to be read in it's entirety. According to Chip Ward:

When nuclear reactors blow, the first thing that melts down is the truth. Just as in the Chernobyl catastrophe almost 25 years ago when Soviet authorities denied the extent of radiation and downplayed the dire situation that was spiraling out of control, Japanese authorities spent the first week of the Fukushima crisis issuing conflicting and confusing reports. We were told that radiation levels were up, then down, then up, but nobody aside from those Japanese bureaucrats could verify the levels and few trusted their accuracy. The situation is under control, they told us, but workers are being evacuated. There is no danger of contamination, but stay inside and seal your doors.
The First Atomic Snow Job

The bureaucratization of horror into bland and reassuring pronouncements was to be expected, especially from an industry where misinformation is the rule. Although you might suppose that the nuclear industry’s outstanding characteristic would be its expertise, since it’s loaded with junior Einsteins who grasp the math and physics required to master the most awesomely sophisticated technology humans have ever created, think again. Based on the record, it’s most outstanding characteristic is a fundamental dishonesty. I learned that the hard way as a grassroots activist organizing opposition to a scheme hatched by a consortium of nuclear utilities to park thousands of tons of highly radioactive fuel rods, like the ones now burning at Fukushima, in my Utah backyard.

Here’s what I took away from that experience: the nuclear industry is a snake-oil culture of habitual misrepresentation, pervasive wishful thinking, deep denial, and occasional outright deception. For more than 50 years, it has habitually lied about risks and costs while covering up every violation and failure it could. Whether or not its proponents and spokespeople are dishonest or merely deluded can be debated, but the outcome -- dangerous misinformation and the meltdown of honest civic discourse -- remains the same, as we once again see at Fukushima....

Corporate News Fails US once again....

2011-03-21T05:52:00.001-04:00

A ThinkProgress analysis of press coverage by the three major U.S. cable news networks — CNN, MSNBC, and Fox News — from March 14 to March 18 finds that Bahrain received only slightly more than ten percent as many mentions as Libya and that Yemen received only six percent as many mentions as Libya:

Libya: Libya was mentioned 9,524 times by the major cable news networks.
Bahrain: Bahrain was mentioned 1,587 times by the major cable news networks.
Yemen: Yemen was only mentioned 599 times by the major cable news networks.
The lack of coverage of the situation in Bahrain and Yemen isn’t disturbing just because the atrocities being committed there merit coverage. It’s especially alarming because, unlike Libya, both are close U.S. allies and recipients of major U.S. military and economic assistance — meaning that the U.S. actually bears a responsibility to make sure its assistance is not being used in ways that are contrary to American values.

2011-03-21T05:12:00.001-04:00

"...if protecting financial consumers — and helping the millions of Americans struggling to hold onto their homes — isn’t worth fighting for, then what is?" Why Elizabeth Warren should be the director of the new Consumer Financial Protection Bureau!

Nuclear is the worst investment for jobs

2011-03-14T12:03:00.008-04:00

According to this study taxpayer dollars should NOT be diverted to nuclear technology since it has the worst record for jobs creation. Agriculture, water infrastructure, solar, wind, smart grid, roads and bridges repair, livestock, crop agriculture provide more jobs per dollar.

In addition the corporate generated myth of nuclear as clean energy is now being exposed as a big lie with the most recent disaster in Japan.

In this age of terrorism we need safe, clean, sustainable energy--let's invest in the technology of the future and create more jobs per dollar with wind, solar, biomass and let the private investors do nuclear if they so desire but without the taxpayer funded corporate welfare.

Solar energy is CHEAPER than nuclear (and will continue to grow cheaper than nuclear over time) and it creates more jobs.
Contact your state and federal officials and tell them NO taxpayer bailout for nuclear profiteers. We need value for our tax dollars...end the government bailouts for corporate profiteers!

Quote for the Day involves Nuclear Reality

2011-03-14T11:49:00.001-04:00

"As a physician, I contend that nuclear technology threatens life on our planet with extinction. If present trends continue, the air we breathe, the food we eat, and the water we drink will soon be contaminated with enough radioactive pollutants to pose a potential health hazard far greater than any plague humanity has ever experienced." --Dr. Helen Caldicott

Water Story

2011-03-13T09:38:00.003-04:00

Virginia needs more tax money. Our greatest resource is our water.

Why not have a bottle deposit to protect our water and use this money for protecting our water and our environment?

And while you are thinking about water....remember we need to protect our water.

Support Virginia's moratorium on uranium mining.

Another Unusual Morbidity Event in the Gulf

2011-02-26T09:03:00.002-05:00

Now 60 baby dolphins have washed up dead.

Move along folks...nothing to see here...don't connect the dots...it can't be due to that BP oil spill...that would be so "UN-Scientific."

BP Hid the Oil but the Damages continue to surface

2011-02-22T13:08:00.003-05:00

Seventeen dead baby dolphins wash ashore....

I say BP should get the death penalty and have their corporate charter revoked.

Nuclear Energy is too Expensive!

2011-02-20T17:55:00.002-05:00

Why is tax money being spent on nuclear when it's now proven that solar is CHEAPER than nuclear and everyone knows it's cleaner and safer? This should end all arguments on the need to mine uranium for nuclear energy now. This gap will only widen with increasing costs of nuclear energy versus decreasing costs of solar energy. Cheaper and getting cheaper versus more expensive and getting more expensive. Source

Radiation is Dangerous...

2011-02-20T12:20:00.004-05:00

With anti-uranium moratorium lobbyists visiting our elected officials in Richmond to hurry up and lift our uranium moratorium whose side do you think our state government is on....the few folks who want to get rich off uranium mining or the people of Virginia who will bear the consequences? Don't forget to ask who is filling their campaign coffers.

I contend Virginia will lose more jobs than are gained from this insane idea to make Virginia the first wet climate to mine uranium.

Folks in Arizona just beat back the uranium mining interests...they know better than to trust this industry.

Remember uranium is dangerous....radiation is dangerous. Go on facebook and friend Uranium Free Virginia. Research this for yourself...give your insurance company a call...they won't insure your home or property for any damages from this venture.

Knowledge is power. Educate yourself then spread the word.

Can't trust Big Corps....

2011-02-20T11:21:00.005-05:00

Look how BP was able to cover up their oil....will anyone make them clean up their mess?

IF the USA can't make BP clean up their mess how is Virginia going to regulate dangerous uranium mining?

Streamkiller Bill Passes

2011-02-17T09:47:00.001-05:00

The Virginia Senate and House have both passed legislation (SB 1025 and HB 2123) in an attempt to limit federal regulation of mountaintop removal coal mining permits under the Clean Water Act. Governor Bob McDonnell is expected to sign the legislation into law. This legislation takes existing authority away from the citizen water control board and places it solely at the discretion of the Director of the Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy (DMME). By giving this authority to a single political appointee, we lose the expert guidance during the permitting process by the citizen field experts who sit on the water control board. This maneuver also leaves questions as to its legality since our EPA-approved permitting process gives this authority directly to the board. Senators Ticer, Whipple, McEachin, Petersen, and Marsden stood up for clean water and opposed the Senate bill in committee. Please email your senator today to tell them how you feel about their vote.

Will Virginia become a sacrifice zone?

2011-02-16T22:15:00.002-05:00

I'm starting to understand why the places where uranium is mined are called sacrifice zones or dead zones. There are no regulation concerning the radioactive waste and how it should be handled. This is shocking. No wonder they have a history of mining in desert areas that are sparsely populated.

ONLY THREE REPUBLICANS PLEDGED CIVILITY

2011-01-13T10:15:00.002-05:00

For the past two years, a conservative Civility Project has attempted to get Republicans and Conservatives to make the following pledge:

I will be civil in my public discourse and behavior.

I will be respectful of others whether or not I agree with them.

I will stand against incivility when I see it.

The three signers were: Senator Joseph Leiberman, Representative Frank Wolf, and Representative Sue Myrick.

According to the founder of the Civility Project, Mark DeMoss:

The worst e-mails I received about the civility project were from conservatives with just unbelievable language about communists, and some words I wouldn't use in this phone call," DeMoss told The Times. "This political divide has become so sharp that everything is black and white, and too many conservatives can see no redeeming value in any liberal or Democrat. That would probably be true about some liberals going the other direction, but I didn't hear from them.

Toxic speech has consequences

2011-01-10T19:25:00.002-05:00

According to Bill Press:

And it’s no accident something like this happened in America after a season of gun-filled rhetoric from right-wing politicians. Sharron Angle called for “Second Amendment remedies.” Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) urged her constituents to be “armed and dangerous.” Jesse Kelly, Giffords’s Republican opponent in November, invited voters to shoot a fully automatic M16 with him in order to “Remove Gabrielle Giffords from Office.” And, of course, there was Sarah Palin’s disgusting crosshairs map.

Make no mistake about it. Words have consequences. This is one more case of anti-government hate rhetoric leading to violence against government officials. And the more we tolerate this kind of toxic talk from politicians and right-wing talk show hosts, the more of this senseless violence we’re going to see.

Virginia is not set up for Uranium Mining.

2011-01-06T11:43:00.001-05:00

Think about it....the issue is NOT jobs. That's the camouflage to put everyone at risk so a "Few" can make billions and leave the rest of us with the clean up bills.

If the US government can't control the corporations that are destroying our environment the how can Virginia's state government even hope to regulate the uranium interests?

OBAMA SELLS OUT OUR INTERNET

2010-12-20T19:24:00.002-05:00

Another reason why I will NOT vote for an Obama second term....He's eliminating Net Neutrality and allowing the corporations to take over our internet on cell phones.

Watch out for robo call Lies about Uranium Mining in VA

2010-12-16T10:47:00.002-05:00

Residents in Southside and South Central Virginia have been receiving automated message calls fromAmericans for Prosperity. The calls originated from AFP's Richmond office. AFP claimed that Virginia Uranium, Inc.'s dangerous project will generate up to 500 jobs. It is a LIE.
According to the Energy Informaion Administration, in 2009, the entire uranium production industry employed 1,096 people.
In the same year, there were 20 operating mines in the U.S. and one operating and one developing mill. No single mining and milling operation can employ one half of the number of employees being currently employed by 22 uranium production operations.

Afghanistan War is Insane policy

2010-12-16T08:38:00.001-05:00

We are in an economic crisis. We can not afford 2 billion dollars a week for what??

Richard Holbrook 1941-2010

2010-12-14T11:10:00.000-05:00

“You’ve got to stop this war in Afghanistan!” The last words of Richard Holbrook 1941-2010

Sen Bernie Sanders bravely stands up for working Americans!

2010-12-11T19:44:00.004-05:00

If only we had Senators who would fight for us here in Virginia!! For a short time you can view Senator Sanders filibuster here.

What happened to Freedom of the press?

2010-12-05T06:16:00.002-05:00

But the truly scandalous and shocking response to the Wikileaks documents has been that of other journalists, who make the Obama Administration sound like the ACLU. In a recent article in The New Yorker, the Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter Steve Coll sniffed that "the archives that WikiLeaks has published are much less significant than the Pentagon Papers were in their day" while depicting Assange as a "self-aggrandizing control-freak" whose website "lacks an ethical culture that is consonant with the ideals of free media." Channeling Richard Nixon, Coll labeled Wikileaks' activities - formerly known as journalism - by his newly preferred terms of "vandalism" and "First Amendment-inspired subversion."--David Samuels

Proof that Banks Profit from illegal drugs...

2010-12-04T12:55:00.003-05:00

Another reason to legalize marijuana.

If marijuana is illegal then why are alcohol and cigarettes legal? Remember marijuana has never killed anyone...never caused lung cancer, does not lead to fights nor domestic violence.....

It just doesn't make sense unless you realize that banks are able to make big profits off of laundering money.

Just think about the costs to taxpayers and citizens who are only exercising their individual liberties end up locked up....It is a crying shame.

Virginia's Governor McDonnell is on the wrong side of this issue...he refuses to support legalizing pot for medical uses yet wants to privatize liquor stores so corporations can make bigger profits (at our expense) and make alcohol more readily accessible.

Governor Mcdonnell just doesn't make sense.

Buzz...Buzz...

Deja Vu Obama

2010-12-04T11:37:00.003-05:00

Here we go again...looks like the tax cuts will see Obama do the same thing as he did with Health care...just give it away.

Is Obama 1)not learning from his past mistakes, 2) demonstrating symptoms of the Stockholm Syndrome, 3) or simply selling us out to corporate interests?

Is there another option?

The Corporate American Press Attacks the Whistleblowers

2010-12-03T15:45:00.005-05:00

This is what we should be seeing over and over again in the media.

Instead the corporate journalists are attacking the whistle blowers...they are acting more like CIA/Gestapo agents then journalists...not surprising since the CIA has long been known to have "psy ops" agents that are embeded journalists. The surprising reality is that there appear to be so many CIA/corporate journalists...where are the independent journalist that inform the public?

Hmmm....

Call Out The Republicorp Senate

2010-12-03T11:32:00.003-05:00

The Republicorp Senators are saying that they will NOT vote for tax cuts for 90% of Americans because they want tax cuts for ALL Americans. If that's there reasoning then where's my bailout? Republicorp Senators did NOT vote for a bailout for ALL Americans. They voted to give only the wealthiest billions and billions of dollars.

Take a minute and call out a Republicorp Senator today. Why would they only bail out the wealthiest Americans (the criminals who wrecked our economy) and then leave everyone else to fend for themselves.

Let them know that not everyone was bailed out and it's about time that the folks that were bailed out put something back so maybe we'll have the resources to fix this mess they put us in.

Buzz Buzz Buzz.....

Will Republicans make taxes higher?

2010-12-03T10:18:00.003-05:00

Will the Senate Republicans vote no on tax cuts for 90% of Americans?

FINALLY JUSTICE IS BEING SOUGHT

2010-12-02T13:04:00.002-05:00

Unfortunately it's NOT US doing the right thing. It's Nigeria....

Nigeria is charging Dick Cheney with bribery (which is probably the least of his crimes).

Call out the FCC and the Obama White House

2010-11-30T16:54:00.002-05:00

It's time to stop the blatant criminal activity of corporations. Why do we go to jail for victimless crimes and corporations get to lie, cheat and steal with no consequences? Part of the promised change was to revoke the get out of jail free card for the elites.

Read this then call the White House at (202) 451-1111. Call the FCC at 1-888-CALL-FCC (1-888-225-5322). IF you're really industrious email the White House http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact and let them know that we were promised that the rule of law and justice was to be restored...so where's the proof of this long awaited change?

You can email the FCC folks and ask them to do their jobs and let them know we are watching. The Chairman Julius Genachowske has not acted on net neutrality...maybe he should resign...

If we don't act in our own self interest who will?

Chairman Julius Genachowski: Julius.Genachowski@fcc.gov
Commissioner Michael J. Copps: Michael.Copps@fcc.gov
Commissioner Robert McDowell: Robert.McDowell@fcc.gov
Commissioner Mignon Clyburn: Mignon.Clyburn@fcc.gov
Commissioner Meredith Attwell Baker: Meredith.Baker@fcc.gov

Corporate Prisons are Inhumane

2010-11-30T11:55:00.005-05:00

The corporate agenda to privatize government is a horrible idea. Privatized prison systems are inhuman. Check out the latest exposed abuse.

"The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing." -- Albert Einstein

What kind of people allow these abuses? Can you turn a blind eye to institutional torture?

Fact Checking Bush's Katrina History

2010-11-28T08:03:00.004-05:00

George Bush continues to throw out fiction to explain his responses to Katrina.

However the truth is coming out....unfortunately the corporate media is not going to make the truth easily accessible to their consumers. Truth doesn't help promote the corporate agenda in this country.

It's up to the people to re-search and re-search again. We need public spaces and soapboxes. We need a genuine, true public media platform in this country so the people's voices will be heard.

It's going to get really hot for the US on Planet Earth

2010-11-20T14:18:00.004-05:00

The rest of the world knows that global warming is real (they don't have the same propaganda corporate media that we do here). I don't believe that citizens in the US realize what is coming down the pike economically if we don't go green quickly. The corporations trying to wring out every penny of short term profit is treating the US as a dumping ground third world country.

We will continue to let our government be sold to the highest corporate bidder at our own peril and economic collapse. We've fallen from 29th to 54th in the world as far as health care and life expectancy (due to our corporate profit driven health care system). At the current rate we are going to be in the rear for the new economies of green technology.

Our products will be boycotted for being dirty and destructive.

You can bet I will NOT be sending a thank you letter to climate denier (economy killer) Cuccinnelli.

When did American Presidents beome Kings?

2010-11-11T23:50:00.003-05:00

George Bush is openly admitting he authorized waterboarding. Waterboarding is torture. So why doesn't George Bush get his day in court? It's now a proven fact, by his own admission, that he violated international law. He not only committed the crime he's going around bragging about it.

Shame on Eric Holder for not doing his job!!

Quote for this week

2010-11-11T18:01:00.001-05:00

...in America, it's far more shameful to owe money than it is to steal it.--Matt Taibbi

Will Obama and the Dems LISTEN to SEC

2010-11-07T09:32:00.002-05:00

The Secretary of Defense Robert Gates is actually asking Congress to repeal DADT NOW....befrore the rethuglicans retake Congress. The question is....do the Democrats have the spine to do anything?

Another War....

2010-11-07T01:49:00.002-04:00

Lindsay Graham is promoting the idea of another war....this time with Iran. I think Lindsay Graham has a big hole in his head. The man is definitely out of touch with what Americans need. Will we be seeing John McCain start singing Bomb bomb bomb....Iran again?

Independent Voter Alert

2010-11-01T16:00:00.001-04:00

Thanks to Alma Kessling for sharing this with me.

GOTV....and remember....

2010-11-01T14:19:00.002-04:00

Don't forget that if they were still in power things would be a lot worse. Alot of things got really messed up during the eight years of Republican rule. The Dems have had two years. Let's give them two more.

US Justice System is for the Rich!!

2010-10-23T10:08:00.001-04:00

Obama is continuing the Bush legacy of justice for the wealthy and screw everyone else. What a crying shame.

BP--Beyond Prosecution--it gets worse....

2010-10-10T04:15:00.003-04:00

BP should stand for Beyond Prosecution. The US government is now impotent when it comes to protecting it's people. How can anyone have a serious discussion about national security when corporations are now acting like kings and are answerable to no one.

We need a government that is able to execute a corporate death sentence. Corporations are supposed to be chartered for the public good. Instead this has been reversed and it appears everything exists for corporate bottom lines...even the lives and health of their customers and employees.

Can anyone doubt why our founding fathers feared corporate charters?

We need to insist on publicly financed elections and take the legalized bribery out of our system. We will not see any laws or lawmakers that exist for the public good until we take the money out of politics.

Don't expect corporate media to shed light on this issue. They rake in too much money selling commercials to politicians. After all, our media is also owned by the corporations.

In the meantime, the Senator who would lead any campaign finance reform legislation in the Senate is at risk of losing his seat....his opponent is well financed by corporate cash. I encourage you to send a contribution to the Russ Feingold campaign today. You will notice that Feingold does not accept corporate cash.

MORE JOBS LESS EVIRONMENTAL RISK

2010-09-28T16:32:00.002-04:00

This is what Governor McDonnell should be supporting. We don't need off shore drilling. We need wind power.

Contact the Governor and let him know we want off shore Wind NOT Oil Drilling.

THIS IS EVERYONE'S ISSUE

2010-09-28T15:49:00.003-04:00

Call Speaker Pelosi (202) 225-4965 and let her know this needs to be done BEFORE the November elections. Pelosi should get the Fair Elections Now Act to the floor before Congress adjourns.

Ask your Representative to co-sponsor the bill and urge Speaker Pelosi to bring this bill to the floor now. We all need to know if our Representatives are representing us or special interests. Their votes on this bill will tell us the answer loud and clear!

Two Republican Senators stop the National Women's History Museum

2010-09-27T16:36:00.009-04:00

The National Women's History Museum--NWHM--has been approved by the House. This allows for the purchase of land on the National Mall.

However, two Republican Senators placed an anonymous hold to prevent the NWHM project from proceeding forward. (Update: the two Republican lawmakers with holds on the bill are South Carolina's Jim DeMint and Tom Coburn from Okalahoma.)

What possible reason could they have to stop this project? It will not cost the American taxpayers a single penny. Private donations are financing this museum.

What do DeMint and Coburn have against women? Are DeMint and Coburn so intent on following the Republican game plan to obstruct and bring the country to a complete standstill just for political gain? They will invest their energy into negativity and prevent a Museum for Women from becoming a reality even though it is a free gift to the American people?

Shame on DeMint, Coburn and the policy of Republicans to bring everything to a standstill!

Meanwhile the rest of us go without. (Source)

Republican Economics

2010-09-26T20:43:00.002-04:00

Herbert Hoover and Andrew Mellon thought their economic policies would purge the rottenness out of the system and lead to a more moral life. Instead, it purged morality out of the system and lead to a more rotten life for millions of Americans.

And that's exactly what Republicans are offering yet again.--Robert Reich Read More

2010-09-26T20:42:00.000-04:00

A Senator for the People

2010-09-23T09:39:00.002-04:00

Does the current system of "legalized bribery" via campaign contributions make you mad? Are you sickened when Wall Street gets bailed out and the people get left holding the bag? When banks get bailed out and then they refuse to lend money to the folks that bailed them out?

Senator Russ Feingold is being challenged by deep pocket corporate special interests. We need more Senators like Russ Feingold not fewer. So, please put your money to work for you and consider sending him a campaign contribution.

If you'd prefer not to use your credit card (so the banks don't get a piece of the money) you can make your check payable to the Feingold for Senate Committee and visit Feingold's website for the address.

Why does Senator Frank Wagner support Uranium Mining?

2010-09-20T05:25:00.003-04:00

Virginia Beach State Senator Frank Wagner has been pushing the uranium mining agenda. This does not sit well with his constituents. Virginia Beach stands to lose a lot; their clean water supply could be irreversibly contaminated. Virginia Beach will gain nothing from uranium mining.

In addition there is no shortage of uranium. However, water is such a scarce resource that "water wars" are already being talked about. Virginia's water supply is precious and an extremely valuable resource.

Virginia's water supply should not be placed in jeopardy so that a few folks can make billions of dollars. If our water supply is contaminated it could be a disaster that will never be cleaned up.

One has to ask--What's Senator Frank Wagner gaining by supporting uranium mining?

Bill Clinton Puts Influential Muscle Behind Agricultural Production in Haiti

2010-09-01T09:44:00.003-04:00

By: Georgianne Nienaber

BioTek's Regine Simon Barjon with Former President of the United States, co-chair of the IHRC, and UN Special Envoy for Haiti Bill Clinton at the Darbonne Sugar Mill near Leogane, Haiti on Aug. 6th, 2010 (courtesy Clinton TwitterPic)

Ninety percent of Leogane was destroyed in Haiti's January earthquake that took 300,000 lives--30,000 in the coastal city located 29 km (18 miles) west of Port au Prince. 1.6 million Haitians remain homeless, and the billions of dollars promised by donor countries in March have yet to materialize. Only $506 million--from Australia, Estonia, Norway, Brazil and Colombia--out of over $5 billion pledged--is accounted for. At the end of July, President Obama signed legislation promising $770 million from the United States, but lawmakers have not established how it will be spent. Given the huge remaining humanitarian and economic crisis facing Haiti, it is puzzling that mainstream media in the United States short-changed coverage of former President Bill Clinton's early August visit to Leogane. The symbolism is significant, considering that Leogane and the nearby village of Fayette are at the epicenter of the 7.0 quake.

Leogane, Haiti March 15, 2010

Clinton attended the groundbreaking for a Clinton Foundation commitment of $1 million for The École Communautaire Sainte Thérèse de Darbonne--a project addressing disaster preparedness and hurricane safety. Clinton also visited the Darbonne sugar mill, a public/private management agreement between the Government of Haiti (GOH) and BioTek, a bio-energy and biofuels distribution company. The former president, who is also the UN's Special Envoy to Haiti, also met with local planters.

Regine Simon Barjon, Martenot Neils Narcius , and Former President and UN Special Envoy to Haiti Bill Clinton

The BioTek/Darbonne Project is "targeted to be part of Haiti's Electricity Master Plan as a model for additional green energy plants, including solar, wind and hydro," according to BioTek CEO, Regine Simon Barjon, who accompanied Clinton on his visit to the Darbonne mill. Barjon is a Haitian/American.

One does not ordinarily associate sugar cane processing with Haiti, and that fact may account for the lack of attention to Clinton's visit. Anyone who has driven to Leogane will notice acres and acres of fertile sugar cane fields lining the roads. Clinton has a personal stake in Haiti's agricultural projects, resulting from his regret over policies that basically pushed Haiti to accept subsidized US imports (rice) at the expense of Haiti's agricultural infrastructure.

Sugar Cane fields near Leogane, Haiti March 15, 2010

In April, 2010, Clinton told an interviewer for Democracy Now that the United States "made a devil's bargain" when it instituted trade policies that destroyed Haitian rice production.

Since 1981, the United States has followed a policy, until the last year or so when we started rethinking it, that we rich countries that produce a lot of food should sell it to poor countries and relieve them of the burden of producing their own food, so, thank goodness, they can leap directly into the industrial era. It has not worked. It may have been good for some of my farmers in Arkansas, but it has not worked. It was a mistake. It was a mistake that I was a party to. I am not pointing the finger at anybody. I did that. I have to live every day with the consequences of the lost capacity to produce a rice crop in Haiti to feed those people, because of what I did. Nobody else.

Clinton's visit to the Darbonne sugar processing plant demonstrates a commitment to reverse flawed agricultural policies in a country where 2 out of 3 Haitians are farmers. This disconnect was addressed by BioTek founder Barjon in a March development conference in Miami.

At the meeting, which consisted largely of security firms looking to make a buck on fear and perceived insecurity, Barjon took the podium and told the mostly white, male audience that "we can grow our own chickens," while she proceeded to slam micro loans as ineffective in a poverty stricken nation that needs major investment support and not hand-outs.

Lending has been a huge problem, and micro-loans are a decidedly weak link. $2,500 will set up a roadside stand selling Coca Cola and candy, but will not support the smallest agri-business or retrofit the rusting and dilapidated sugar cane grinding facilities. Pulling no punches, Barjon laid it out: 60% of the Haitian work force is in agriculture. Food security is a top priority and it will serve to put an end to Haiti importing much of what it can produce at home.

Sugar is a huge resource, but unless there is money to keep the mills in operation, and unless the US and international sugar cane industries release strangleholds on trade, Haiti will never resume its annual production capability of 250,000 metric tons of raw sugar. This translates into $100 million a year. Optimizing Haiti's staple food agriculture products such as rice, sugar and poultry translates into food security for Haiti as well as the potential for green energy production. As food and electricity become more affordable for Haitians, living standards go up, and Haiti can begin to wean itself from a welfare-based economy foisted on the country by disastrous trade policies.

According to Barjon, Clinton pledged his support to "help us make the mill work for BioTek and the community," recognizing that as BioTek works in partnership with the Leogane sugar cane farmers."

Clinton Meeting with local growers

Credits for Photos of President Clinton: William Pascal

Each worker in Haiti cares for an average of 8 people. Since the Darbonne mill has 250 employees and currently works with over 1,000 farmers, the revitalization of the Darbonne Mill translates into the participation of over 30,000 farmers, resulting in a direct positive economic impact on over 240,000 people. If successful, the sugar mill will reduce food imports by 10 percent and reduce South American sugar imports by as much as 40 percent.

Barjon is a ferocious supporter of a self-sufficient Haiti, and BioTek's involvement with Darbonne goes back four years, well before the catastrophic earthquake. Getting Clinton to visit the mill was a direct result of this commitment and dedication. She has been attending Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) meetings, where BioTek is an "honorary" member. Barjon is grateful for this status since it translates into a waiver of the annual $25,000 membership. She explained her connections with CGI in an email interview.

I think CGI realizes we are looking to balance and to challenge international perception and interests with the socio-economic realities of Haiti and its people. So we get to network, meet and establish relationships with companies and organizations interested in Haiti and/or already operating in Haiti-- like DCK Worldwide and Global New Clean Energy Fund which can assist, help, and give away its intellectual property rights for specific Haiti projects. BioTek seeks above all to re-establish and optimize agro-industrial production in Haiti to serve the country's actual capacities, to meet Haiti's needs, and to contribute towards economic self-sustainability.

All of this will take money that is in short supply in Haiti, despite the influx of non-governmental (NGO) organizations that fill every available hotel and restaurant in Port au Prince. Barjon says that the BioTek Agro-Energy Project will be financed by the International Investment Corporation (IIC), a private arm of the Inter-American Development Bank (IADB), and Haiti's Sogebank, with potential underwriting from the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC).

If successful, the project will complete the rehabilitation of the Leogane sugar industry with the resultant production of sugar and cane syrup. A secondary bonus will be the production of green energy from sugar cane bagasse biomass-- an estimated 20 megawatts of electricity-- when the pre-earthquake electricity deficit was over 60 megawatts.

Bagasse is the fibrous by-product of cane processing. The moisture content requires drying before burning. A low moisture content after processing is the measure of good processing and the Darbonne plant is achieving 40 percent, which is considered a very good industry standard.

Part of the reason Clinton has thrown such visible support behind this project may be the fact that the government of Haiti, for unknown reasons, has yet to ink the final contract.

Why GOH is not signing a project that is funded, can basically create over 30,000 agricultural jobs, when over 60 percent of Haiti's labor force is agricultural, reduce its trade deficit by 10 percent, and reduce 40 percent of sugar imports, is unfathomable. It is also another reason that it is more than unfortunate that major news outlets have failed to cover this story and instead focused on the six-month anniversary of the devastation and Wyclef Jean, while tanking a story about sustainable agriculture.

Leogane has always been the traditional sugar cane production region of Haiti and agriculture is the area's only major employer. Visit Haiti and people will tell you they want to work. We heard this again and again as we visited the IDP camps in March and again in May. 1,000 independent farmers currently sell their sugar cane to Darbonne and depend on the mill for their livelihood.

Clinton addressed the need for Haiti to become self-sufficient at the United Nations donor conference in March 2010. Speaking to potential donor groups, Clinton suggested that the best thing aid groups could do for Haiti was to "put themselves out of business." What Haiti needs most of all is the encouragement and means to become a self-sufficient nation. Now, with his visit to the Darbonne Sugar Mill in his capacity as the United Nations Special Envoy, the former president appears to be putting intellectual and influential muscle behind agricultural sustainability.

But Clinton's support will not be enough if donor nations and especially USAID do not step up to the plate. A week ago, The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) announced a second round of tarpaulin distributions.

In all, 80,000 families in Port-au-Prince and Léogâne will receive new tarps to replace the increasingly worn and tattered stock that provides make-shift shelter to tens of thousands of displaced families across the country.

Haiti needs more than plastic tents if the country is to move forward. People need job security, real homes, clean water, and electricity. They need infrastructure, to put it simply. The Darbonne mill exists. It does not have to be rebuilt. It is online and in production. One major donor can expand this project to include thousands of farmers and their families, and the Government of Haiti needs to get solidly behind it and sign the final contract. The partnership already exists.

"With the BioTek/Darbonne Management Contract in place, we expect to have over 4,000 farmers immediately as part of our network," Barjon said. "We also need help in securing money to buy as much sugar cane as possible this upcoming season, which begins in September."

Possible emergency funding can come from USAID, which could include Darbonne within its emergency funding plans, or as part of its ongoing Winner's Program, Barjon said.

Meanwhile, while USAID certainly has the funding available, there is no indication yet that it is forthcoming. This is unfortunate, when Haiti is suffering so terribly and a viable project is up and running. We visited in May and it is as impressive as facilities we have seen in South Louisiana. Certainly the farmers and workers are as committed.

Barjon said Clinton indicated the project must be a source of jobs for Haitians, and that the companies involved promise Haitian partners, in order to be eligible for funding.

####

Background on BioTek: BioTek Solutions, Inc. (BioTek: Federal Tax ID Number: 74-314-5063; D & B Number: 19-711-0005)) is an Agro-Solutions Business Development and BioFuels Blending and Distribution Company with offices in Tampa and Lake City, Florida and Port-au-Prince, Haiti. The company is a partnership between the Principals of BioTek Solutions, Inc., BioTek Haiti S.A.
BioTek Solutions, Inc., founded in 2005, has worked with the Florida Energy Office, the Florida Legislature and numerous counties to promote Biomass based energy and biofuels awareness and use in Florida and the Caribbean. BioTek has worked with the Organization of American States (OAS), the Inter-American Development Bank (IADB), and the Pan-American Development Foundation (PADF).

YouTube Music by Diana Jones

2010-08-26T04:55:00.002-04:00

In Washington DC the United Corporate Congress is discussing Social Security cuts. Once again where is that change we voted for? We all might want to call the White House and inquire about this. According to Dean Baker:

There is no evidence that the elite Social Security cutters have any idea of the financial situation of those approaching retirement. They continually tout the idea of cutting benefits for the "affluent elderly." Unless we redefine the concept of "affluent" down by quite a bit (maybe to $50,000 a year), there are not enough affluent elderly for cuts to their Social Security benefits to make any difference either for Social Security's solvency or the unified government budget, which includes Social Security's finances.

The elite Social Security cutters also seem to have little clue about the sort of jobs most workers hold when they suggest raising the retirement age. While the Washington crew can probably hold their breakfast meetings and power lunches well into their 70s, nearly half of workers over age 58 work at jobs that are either physically demanding or involve difficult work conditions. To these people, the idea of working into their 70s isn't quite so cute.

It should also bother workers that plans to cut Social Security would take away benefits for which they have already paid. The Social Security trust fund has accumulated a surplus of more than $2.5 trillion. According to the report issued just last week by the Social Security trustees, the program can pay all future benefits through the year 2037 with no changes whatsoever. The workers who will be retiring in the next 15-20 years have paid for their benefits. They have every right to be furious if President Obama or anyone else suggests taking these benefits away from them.

Al Franken talks about the Corporate Threat to Net Neutrality

2010-08-20T12:43:00.003-04:00

A level, fair playing field....how novel.

Let's preserve one fair marketplace. Let the FCC and your elected officials know that there is no negotiation. Net Neutrality HAS to be the law of our land.

Ground Zero Mosque brings out the worst in US

2010-08-20T07:35:00.000-04:00

Obama White House Throws Transparency Overboard

2010-08-18T08:31:00.002-04:00

Good by transparency hello cover up. This is criminal, fascist or both!

How's the science going to be funded?

Unemployment Crisis

2010-08-17T17:31:00.001-04:00

The LYING United Corporate States of America

2010-08-17T13:06:00.003-04:00

Why does the corporation owned US government think they can get away with blatent lies? Is this because the corporations not only own the US government but the US media as well?

Is this why they think they can lie about what's really being done in the Gulf States? They are HIDING the oil not cleaning it up!

We need a REAL government that protects and serves the people...not a corporate government that makes insane laws that strips the people of their voice and their wealth.

Where is the political party that represents the people? It surely isn't doing anyone any good to vote the lesser of the two evils strategy...in fact, corporate interests count on us doing this! The current two party system is set up so that corporations win no matter who we elect.

No matter what your political ideology (left, right or center)...no one wins until we take the legalized bribery out of the system and replace this with publicly financed elections.

Buzz...buzz...buzz!

Blame Wall Street Corporate Liberals

2010-08-14T09:52:00.001-04:00

"As it increasingly appears that Obama is the President of Wall Street, and not the President of Main Street, he is losing not only the left but the center. It's a myth that the path to winning the popular center in American politics is moving to the corporate center. If the only political choice given to American voters is using their taxes to help big government subsidize wealthy corporations, or the Republican message of shrinking the size of government and cutting their taxes, many who voted for Obama will return to the fold of the seemingly brain-dead Republican Party. Obama will likely face an even more conservative Congress after the 2010 election and even, like Jimmy Carter, could end up as a one-term President." Source

This bears repeating.....

A President Who Is Solution Oriented!

2010-08-12T05:32:00.006-04:00

In Mexico they have a President who will stand up for a Solution.

Unfortunately our current president is not standing up. He's selling out his base on a political calculation...

And a Dino, Diane Feinstein is trying to double the legal penalty for pot brownies.

buzz....buzz....buzz....

SHORT SIGHTED GREED GOES WORLDWIDE

2010-08-10T10:28:00.002-04:00

Short sighted greed is not just unique to the USA. Russian development trumps the interests of people worldwide.

Bing It!!

2010-08-10T07:40:00.004-04:00

Google goes evil!!

I now use Bing....no use sleeping with the enemy!

Obama Politicks real good....

2010-08-10T06:29:00.002-04:00

President Obama thinks the Republicans have forgotten what a good politician he is.

I wish he would follow through on his campaign promise and politicking for Net Neutrality. Whatever happened to this Barack Obama?

John Boehner must know that this golf shoe fits....

2010-08-09T12:59:00.001-04:00

How can videotaping a police officer in public be a crime?

2010-08-04T19:52:00.003-04:00

How can anyone defend this? How can this be acceptable?

BP Oil Disaster is just under the surface....

2010-08-03T20:04:00.004-04:00

BP's Oil on Louisiana's Barrier Islands - FOX8 Story @ Yahoo! Video

I wonder if this is one of those areas that BP thought it would be cheaper to simply bury the oil with sand.

Funny I always thought the reason we needed government was to protect us from corporate crimes like this.

US GOV now a corporate tool?

2010-08-03T19:31:00.003-04:00

So much for the US Gov regulating Big Oil. It looks like the US gov is a corporate advocate against the people. Why else is current law being subverted in BP's favor?

Is Obama Going to GOTV?

2010-08-03T10:04:00.002-04:00

Whether Obama and the Democrats Get Out The Vote is going to depend on if Elizabeth Warren is the director of the Consumer Financial Protection Board--CFPB.

The ONLY reason Obama won't appoint her is if the banks and their number one advocate and supporter--Timothy Geithner--get their way.

So Obama will have to decide if he's going to do right by the American people or if he's going to give Timothy Geithner more man love.

Why Not Elizabeth Warren for the CFPB? Isn't it about time that we had at least one powerful woman in that back room full of men?

Stephen Colbert Explains Trickle Down

2010-08-03T03:13:00.001-04:00

The Colbert Report

Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c

The Word - Ownership Society

www.colbertnation.com

Colbert Report Full Episodes

2010 Election

Fox News

We need Elizabeth Warren NOT Timothy Geithner....

2010-08-03T02:49:00.002-04:00

We need Elizabeth Warren not Timothy Geithner to be writing the "new rules and regulations" that protect consumers. In the mean-time, Geithner is reassuring his base--the bankers--that the financial reform will be good for a sound economy.

We need a real consumer advocate instead of this banker advocate that bails out banks and leaves everyone else high and dry.

Obama continues to be a major disappointment and I hope he finds his spine real soon.

Diane Feinstein Hates Brownies?

2010-07-30T09:18:00.002-04:00

Diane Feinstein has gone over to the dark side. She should switch parties. She can no longer be considered a republican lite democrat. She's crossed the threshold into Michelle Bachman tea party territory so she really should be classified as a Rethuglican now.

My gracious what trauma created this brownie bigotry? Congress just passed a bill to "reduce" the sentencing disparity between crack and cocaine now they want to make it a worse crime to eat rather than smoke marijuana? With crazy law makers like this who needs enemies or terrorists?

Run Shirley Run

2010-07-30T05:06:00.003-04:00

We need more Shirley Sherrods who will take it to Fox News and not crumble before the Yes We Klan folks.

And speaking of Yes We Klan folks...has anyone seen them around using the current weather temperature to try to spin their anti-global warming theology?

Buzz...Buzz...

Obama's New Truthful Campaign Slogan

2010-07-30T04:51:00.002-04:00

Yes We Kill.

Definitely not the change Obama voters voted for.....so the new Obama agrees with exporting arms, death and destruction for war profiteers?

Whatever happened to the new Green Technology?

Buzz...Buzz

Social Security does NOT need to be saved!

2010-07-29T08:51:00.003-04:00

Social Security does not need to be saved. We need to FINALLY take a good hard look at how a few folks are emptying our treasury and stealing our taxes all in the name of homeland security.

It's madness. Working people have paid into a retirement system that is solvent and works. Social Security is not a tax...it is an investment for retirement. However, the "elected" officials keep raiding the retirement funds in order to make a few folks rich off of corporate warfare. The US is spending money like there's no tomorrow when it comes to warfare. The US is launching wars for corporations all over the world. Millions of people are murdered so a few elitist corporate folks can live like robber barons. They sell this travesty via "patriotism." I hope the American people will wake up and demand an end to these corporate murders in the name of patriotism.

Enough is enough. Serious about the deficit. Then stop playing politics. Take social security off of the table and try to lift up that heavy defense spending up onto the table and please start chopping off huge chunks....and while you're at it...put that foolhardy drug war up there on the chopping block too.

Buzz....Buzz....

Republican Bohner's Empathy

2010-07-23T06:50:00.003-04:00

“I’ve got real empathy for those who are unemployed, as most of you know I’ve got 11 brothers and sisters. I know that three of my brothers lost their jobs, I’m not sure whether they’ve found jobs, yet, so I’ve got a lot of empathy for those caught in this economic downturn,” John Boehner said.

That's some real empathy there John Boy. You don't even know if three of your own jobless brothers have found another job? Very very impressive. You must be a true compassionate conservative.

Friday's Funny

2010-07-23T06:17:00.002-04:00

Real Change--Fire Geithner Hire Warren....

2010-07-22T16:26:00.002-04:00

Enough already....Fire the Banker's Best Friend--Timothy Geithner--and put a genuine consumer advocate--Elizabeth Warren--into government directing the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Our government if filled with cronies of the bank. It's about time a people's advocate was appointed by Obama.

Mercenares will be taking over the State Department....

2010-07-22T09:53:00.003-04:00

No wonder the State Department wanted to keep on hiring Blackwater. Powerful wealthy folks want to create a structure that keeps America at war all the time in the name of greedy corporate profiteers.

It appears the recent Washington Post expose on the privatization of our national intelligence and military changes nothing behind the curtain.

This is NOT the change the people demanded. But it appears corporate will trumps the will of the people in the United Corporate States of America....

Fox News "NOT"

2010-07-22T08:13:00.006-04:00

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

It's no coincidence that Fox News has a history of taking on causes that harm minorities and poor people. Fox took heavily edited videotapes that do NOT portray the facts or the truth to take on Acorn and to have a black woman fired from the USDA.

Why does anyone watch Fox News? They do not even practice Journalism 101--CHECK the FACTS and get the story out. Fox appears to have a different mission and it harms the weak, the powerless and the poor. It is an agenda that benefits the rich and powerful and to do this the truth is irrelevant and propaganda is supreme.

I "betcha" racists and corporate lobbyists love Fox News "Not"....We already know Dick Cheney and Karl Rove are huge fans of Fox News!!

Timothy Geithner has a woman problem...does Obama?

2010-07-20T19:54:00.005-04:00

Timothy Geithner has issues with women. Does Obama share the same prejudice with women handling money? There certainly are no women on Obama's economic team of advisors.

Republicans block assistance to people with no jobs

2010-07-20T14:07:00.004-04:00

Republicans open the doors of the treasury for the wealthy and want to continue to give them tax breaks, tax cuts, privatize government jobs, etc etc so that the rich can get richer...But when someone is poor and needs basic assistance they start screaming....

If any Republican thinks that Grayson is harsh I think they will be in for a major shock when they meet Saint Peter....maybe they will be turned away and reincarnated into the poorest of the poor so they can reap what they have sown....now that would be spiritual justice.

EPA and Dispersant Use

2010-07-18T08:21:00.001-04:00

Timothy Geithner versus The People...

2010-07-17T06:44:00.003-04:00

Timothy Geithner versus The People...Who will win?

For many people this is the last straw. If Timothy Geithner's wet dream comes true and Elizabeth Warren--the best candidate to lead the CFPB and the overwhelming choice of the people--is NOT appointed then the Democratic base will have no reason to GOTV. But it appears that the Obama White House could care less about this if rumors of the alleged man love between Barack Obama and Timothy Geithner are true.

This is Why BP and the US Gov Are Managing the Gulf Oil News

2010-07-13T05:57:00.004-04:00

This is what BP does not want you to see.

This is what BP and "their US government" ALLOW you to see--clean pictures that distort the reality of what BP has destroyed. This is why there is now a 40,000 dollar fine for any journalists who is able to get close enough to take a picture. This fashion photographer documents his experience and explains why you are not getting to see what is really happening. Our constitution has been shredded and freedom of the press no longer applies. IF the safety is the reason that journalists can't get close enough to document this catastrophe of biblical proportions then why is that person doing the clean up not wearing protective gear.

So what are you going to do about it? Remember...“The death of democracy is not likely to be an assassination from ambush. It will be a slow extinction from apathy, indifference, and undernourishment.”Robert Maynard Hutchins

Virginians Need to Unite to Protect our State

2010-07-12T14:34:00.003-04:00

Not only do uranium mining interests want to ravage our state now corporate interests want to "FRACK" up our environment. Virginians need to rise up to protect our state water supply!!

It doesn't matter whether you are Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, Liberal, Conservative....no one wants their drinking water to be contaminated with flammable substances!

Looks like a Texas company wants to bring Fracking to the Shenandoah region of VA.

CAN YOU DO THIS WITH YOUR TAP WATER? from JOSHFOX on Vimeo.

Out of Control Military Budget Needs to be Cut

2010-07-12T08:57:00.002-04:00

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Why is it that what needs to be on the table is not? When health care was debated the best solution to our problem (single payee system) was not allowed on the table. Now with the deficit being the concern of the bailed out Wall Street Bankers (these folks with the golden parachutes and government bailouts are not concerned about creating jobs) the out of control military budget is not allowed on the table.

You have to wonder if the goal of these Wall Street Bankers and multinational corporations is to have a nation of peons and peasants to do there bidding and to hell with the middle class.

Portsmouth Mayor Should Be Recalled on Tuesday....

2010-07-10T18:01:00.003-04:00

Mayor Holley seems to believe that the taxpayers of Portsmouth should pay for him to have more than a secretary.

Sorry Mayor Holley this is the last in a long line of insanity....I remember your hateful rascist letters that you sent anonymously to the Portsmouth's City Attorney. You didn't have the guts nor the integrity then.

I often wonder if you were behind that multi-million dollar extension of Clifford Street. I heard a rumor that you didn't like the cars riding by so close to the golf course where you spent a lot of time (during the day)....that golf course that got expanded and has cost the city lots of money. At the same time I overheard that the funding was cut from the city budget that allowed Portsmouth's physically challenged citizens access to services form a regional organization.

Portsmouth needs a major with ethics and integrity and I don't see those qualities being exhibited from Mayor Holley in this Wavy TV 10 interview.

Imagine if Mayor Holley survives the latest recall election. I would think that local reporters will be falling all over each other to interview this mayor on a regular basis on all sorts of issues. If Portsmouth votes to retain Mayor Holley then Portsmouth's city council needs to do the right thing and not provide any funding for this mayor to have a personal assistant. This mayor has a record that he can not behave appropriately with city resources. Mayor Holley may soon lose interest in being the Portsmouth mayor if he loses what he believes he is entitled too.

Come to think of it....does Mayor Holley pay green fees to golf on the City golf course? If not, the city council should pass a law making everyone (no exceptions) pay the fees to golf on this course.

Haiti's Piggy Bank

2010-07-10T09:28:00.003-04:00

Haiti's Piggy Bank

The Creole Pig was once the mainstay of the economy of rural Haiti. It served as the farmer's hedge against bad weather, crop failure and all sorts of unforeseen occurrences. In 1982, the US government responded to an African Swine Flu outbreak in the Dominican Republic by ordering the complete eradication of all of Haiti's Creole pigs. Produced by Grassroots International - a U.S. based social justice organization partnering with the National Congress of Papaye Peasant Movement (MPNKP) in Haiti - this video tells the story of the eradication, the hardship it caused, and the efforts of Haitian organizations to reintroduce this key economic asset.
Take the time to watch this and "discover" why US foreign policy is often nothing more than an "enslaver" of the people to increase the profits of the multinational corporate elites. These wealthy elites know no boundaries....Big agriculture wants to control the world's food supply. There's a great article over on the Huffington Post. Hopefully the US people will research this techno madness so that Big Ag will not be able to continue to use the US government to spread it's death culture throughout the world.

Is the US Constitution still relevant?

2010-07-07T08:09:00.003-04:00

Whatever happened to freedom of the press? According to our first amendment--"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."

Yet the US executive branch is colluding with BP to use propaganda on the American people. Obama even allows BP to mis-use our Coast Guard to prevent journalists from documenting the Gulf Oil Disaster. Yet BP's paid public relations people are having no trouble with access as they paint a clean,serene picture of the Gulf Oil Disaster (kayakers in "pristine" conditions).

Local law enforcement is also being used in a fascist fashion.

This is so criminal!! Where's that change we voted for? Appears to me that Obama continues the corporate agenda and the fascist regime of Bush and Cheney continues un-abated.

The Real Threat is FASCISM

2010-07-07T07:17:00.002-04:00