Josh Fox on His New Doc "How to Let Go of the World and Love All the Things Climate Can't Change" | Democracy Now!

Josh Fox on His New Doc "How to Let Go of the World and Love All the Things Climate Can't Change" | Democracy Now! 

Good and bad. Good in that he's staying a bit positive and spotlighting the human spirit, even the islanders not giving up and fighting.

Bad in that he's conceding at least some defeat, which is realistic. But worse in that it feeds the negativism and visceral hostility of those who want to keep making money off fossil fuels -- 'damn right, mankind will live without low-lying island nations and crippled or submerged cities from New York to San Francisco to London. Fuck 'em.'

It also sadly feeds into the nihilism and apathy of many common Americans, conceding to the fossil-fuel soaked Republicans' will that climate change is something we don't think man is causing so we'll just have to live with whatever comes.

Forty-Two Percent Of Russians Believe Corrupt Officials Have Performed Silent Coup

Forty-Two Percent Of Russians Believe Corrupt Officials Have Performed Silent Coup 

Vladimir Putin is a naughty boy. $110,000 salary per year. But CIA estimates his wealth at $60 billion.

Uh oh.

And there is new "...Russian legislation defending highly ranked corrupt officials at the top
of the national government and increasing the crackdown on those who
deal in criticising and unmasking them."

Etc. Bad. Very bad.

Pope Francis, Iranian President meet face-to-face at the Vatican

Here  Interesting. Sounds odd, but promising? How much hope can one hold out when violence seems so deeply entrenched in that area? "The Vatican played up the commonalities on Tuesday, while also referencing "the life of the Church in" Iran and "the promotion of the dignity of the human person and religious freedom."

"I wish this day could be a moment that makes us hope for a future of peace, not of conflict and hostility," said Iranian President Rouhani.

Let's hope so. Let's hold them to that.

Week-End Petitions You Should Sign

Today is the anniversary of the Supreme Court decision on Row v Wade - 43 years ago. Today you can:

Add your name to tell the GOP to stop the attempts to dismantle Roe v. Wade.  

Defend Roe v Wade

ADD YOUR NAME to stand with Democrats and demand an end to the attacks on Planned Parenthood and women’s health.

Miscellaneous strong petitions and actions to support:

Tell President Obama: Don’t Back Down. Fight Secret Corporate Money 

Tell Congress: Overturn Citizens United in 2016

Tell Republicans: Stop attacking Social Security! 

Help Get Big Oil Money Out of Politics

Take action and urge your lawmakers to support ingredient disclosure for household products! >> 

(Workers and consumers don’t know—and the labels won’t tell us—that chemicals found in some ordinary cleaning products are known or suspected to cause cancer, birth defects, asthma and other serious health effects.)

Combat climate change with sustainable palm oil products!

Hillary Clinton: On Reversing Citizens United, Growing Democracy - CNN.com

Hillary Clinton: Cure for Citizens United is more democracy - CNN.com 

This is a pretty good piece from Hillary. "The
Republicans could either change themselves -- by embracing the young,
diverse and tolerant America of the 21st century -- or they could try to
change whose voices count in our democracy.

We
all know the cynical path they chose. Six years ago Thursday, the
Supreme Court's decision in Citizens United transformed our politics by
allowing corporations to spend unlimited amounts of money to influence
elections"

"We can't let this continue. It's time to
reclaim our democracy, reform our distorted campaign finance system and
restore access to the ballot box in all 50 states.

That starts with reversing Citizens United. And that's where my comprehensive plan
to restore common sense to campaign finance begins. As president, I'll
appoint Supreme Court justices who recognize that Citizens United is bad
for America. And if necessary, I'll fight for a constitutional
amendment that overturns it."

2015 the Hottest Year on Record by a Wide Margin

Here  Per NASA and NOAA. It will 'continue to happen' because they know what causes it. '...it will continue because the dominant force is carbon dioxide” from burning of fossil fuels like coal, oil and gas. 2015 was a third of a degree hotter than in 2014! #globalwarming #fossilfuelsstayintheground #GOPfools #GOPplanetthreat

Not a done deal - click to save solar in California

The California Public Utilities Commission has heard all of our calls to keep solar growing. They recently announced that they intend to reject utility company proposals to gut our state's strongest solar policy, net metering. But there's still time for the utility companies to change the commissioners' minds—and they're trying hard to do just that.

Let the commissioners hear your voice!

The final vote is happening on January 28th. So we need your help now to remind the Commission that Californians like you want them to stand up for solar.

LADWP Electricity Rate Increases

Here "... After five years of rate increases, the typical residential customer would see a $6 to $12 increase to their monthly bill. The price of inaction would be much higher than this.” 

"... the DWP is expected to replace 70 percent of its power sources over the next 15 years “to meet state mandates, fight climate change and fund the energy efficiency programs that enable customers to lower their bills even as rates rise.” 

Ratepayer advocate says it is fair. Scaling it over 5 years good. Oversight needed to continue to make bills more transparent and reforms continuing. More analysis to come from others most likely.

Great Debate Last Night, Bernie Sanders, Hillary Clinton

Google News  Debate Report Here

Last night's debate between Sanders and Clinton (and O'Malley too actually) was very spirited and excellent. Great exchange of ideas, from gun control, clean energy, and reining in Wall St., Citizen's United, rightfully demonizing the disproportionate influence big businesses and lobbyists have subverting American Democracy away from the needs and fairness of the middle class, i.e., We the People, Of the People. Many of those issues and solutions are populated throughout the pages of this very blog.

"...the mainstream media is racing to catch up to a phenomenon that has been
abundantly clear to backers, donors and the progressive media for nine
months."