Decolonize and Relearn Thanksgiving Day

"With Native American Heritage Month well underway and Thanksgiving/National Day of Mourning occurring today, let us celebrate Indigenous brilliance, honor, and acknowledge the truth in history, recognize whose land we are on, and work towards true allyship. We call upon our Cultural Survival community to learn from Indigenous Peoples and their true account of this federal holiday, confront settler mythologies of this country's history, understand how American colonialism and imperialism continue to impact Indigenous communities today, and to take steps towards true reconciliation. Explore the many ways to honor and celebrate Indigenous Peoples every day." cs.org

::CLICK HERE:: to go to Cultural Survival's Site 🌽

Congress is Selling Off Alaska’s Arctic

"U.S. House of Representatives votes to overturn public lands protections in Alaska’s Western Arctic and Arctic National Wildlife Refuge"

::CLICK HERE:: TO SIGN PETITION TO HELP STOP ARCTIC DRILLING

WASHINGTON, DC— Under the Trump Administration, "the U.S. House of Representatives used the Congressional Review Act to overturn protections enacted under the Biden Administration that safeguarded millions of acres of the Western Arctic and Arctic National Wildlife Refuge from oil and gas drilling. The Western Arctic resolution passed the U.S. Senate during the government shutdown, and with this House vote, will now be signed into law by President Donald Trump. The Refuge resolution would also need to be passed by the Senate before it is signed into law. Recently, groups sent letters to Congress urging them to oppose both the Arctic Refuge and Western Arctic resolutions.

Additionally, the House passed a CRA resolution that would undo the Buffalo resource management plan in Wyoming, opening hundreds of thousands of acres of public lands to new coal leasing. A companion resolution was introduced in the U.S. Senate last month, and Congress passed a similar resolution opening public lands in eastern Montana to new coal leasing on October 8. Fourteen organizations sent a letter to the House opposing the Buffalo CRA resolution earlier this week.

After the House votes on the Western Arctic and Arctic National Wildlife Refuge resolutions, Earthjustice Action Senior Legislative Representative Laura M. Esquivel issued the following statement:

“It’s telling where Congress’ priorities lie when one of its first actions following the longest government shutdown in history is to remove critical protections for the Arctic, auctioning off some of the nation’s most irreplaceable public lands to the highest bidder. These protections were crafted after extensive public engagement, based on the best available science and Indigenous knowledge. This vote sent a clear message that polluter profits are more important than protecting these fragile ecosystems, the wildlife and people who depend on these public lands, and our climate. We will continue fighting alongside our partners to protect some of the last truly wild places in the country.” BACKGROUND:

Collectively, the Western Arctic and the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge cover approximately 42.3 million acres of public land, comprised of diverse habitats and home to iconic wildlife species like polar bears, seals, and caribou. Both regions contain globally important ecosystems that are important for the survival of imperiled species and for Indigenous communities who have lived in the Arctic since time immemorial. The Refuge’s coastal plain is sacred to the Gwich’in Nation and contains the calving grounds of the Porcupine Caribou herd that has sustained the Gwich’in for generations.

The Trump Administration recently opened the entire 1.56 million acres of the coastal plain of the Arctic Refuge to oil and gas leasing and reinstated unlawful leases in the Refuge covering about 370,000 acres. Simultaneously, the Interior Department is finalizing a repeal of protections for the Western Arctic and reinstating a land management plan that would open 82% of the reserve to oil and gas drilling." EARTHJUSTICE.ORG

Interior Secretary Burgum has the power to halt these reckless policies. ::CLICK HERE:: to urge him to prioritize environmental protection over corporate profits.

::CLICK HERE:: TO SIGN PETITION TO HELP PROTECT POLAR BEARS

"In Memory of Dr. Mu’ath Abu Rukba: The Veterinarian Who Carried Mercy in His Hands"

"The world has lost a quiet hero. Dr. Mu’ath Abu Rukba, the only veterinarian serving northern Gaza, was killed by Israeli bombs during what was supposed to be a cease-fire. He lost his life while trying to return to his home in Jabalia, a home already reduced to rubble by Israeli bombs." ~CannisTriggerPublishing

"Dr. Mu’ath dedicated eight years of study to become a veterinarian, a healer not only of animals, but of hope itself. Through the Gaza Sulala Animal Rescue, he tended to injured and abandoned animals amidst devastation, famine, and constant danger. When food was scarce, he shared what little he had with the strays. When bombs fell, he ran toward the cries of wounded pets instead of away from them. His compassion was his courage.

Those who knew him describe a man of gentle manners, generosity, and unwavering kindness. In a place where survival leaves little room for tenderness, Dr. Mu’ath embodied mercy to animals and humans alike. He was a living testament to what it means to protect life in all its forms.

On Friday, October 10, 2025, he returned to Jabalia to try to recover a few belongings from the ruins of his home, the same home he, his wife, and their two small children had fled under bombing. He never made it back. As he tried to reach what was left, Israeli airstrikes took his life.

Dr. Mu’ath’s death is a loss for his family, for Gaza, and for every being he ever cared for; it is a loss for everyone who believes that kindness still has a place in the world. The animals of Gaza have lost their only doctor. The world has lost a man whose compassion shone in the darkest of times. May his memory be a blessing."

To Help Dr Mu'ath's family :: CLICK HERE ::

Concerning the animals affected by the devastation of on going bombardment in Gaza where Dr. Mu'ath worked in Gaza City, Sulala Animal Rescue is in need of monetary aid for animal medicines, food and supplies. "We are asking for your support in raising funds for Sulala Animal Rescue, in Palestine Gaza. Sulala was started by a Father and Son team that works tirelessly to help animals in need. Despite often having minimal resources, they have managed to save and care for countless animals. Their dedication and compassion make a huge difference in the lives of these animals, providing them with the love and care they deserve.

Amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza, countless animals are suffering—abandoned, injured, and without access to food, water, or shelter. Your donations can help provide urgent veterinary care, nourishment, and safe refuge for these voiceless victims of war."

To Donate to Sulala Animal Rescue in Gaza :: CLICK HERE ::

To Connect via social media and learn about Sulala Animal Rescue's efforts :: CLICK HERE ::

To Learn about Animal Heroes :: CLICK HERE ::

Free Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya!

Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya, director of Kamal Adwan hospital, a pediatrician, and a prominent voice of Gaza’s decimated healthcare sector, is still being arbitrarily detained by Israeli authorities since his arrest on 27 December 2024. A lawyer who visited him and other detainees, recently reported that he has been subjected to abuse and other ill-treatment. Join us in demanding his immediate and unconditional release.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN THE AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL PETITION TO RELEASE DR SAFIYA 🙏

"On 27 December 2024, Israeli forces stormed Kamal Adwan Hospital—the last functioning hospital in North Gaza at the time—and arrested the hospital’s director Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya along with other medical staff and patients.

Dr. Abu Safiya had been tirelessly running the hospital, providing essential care to children and bearing witness to the collapse of Gaza’s healthcare sector under Israel’s genocide. He continued his work even after the tragic death of his own son during an Israeli airstrike. Like many health workers before him, he was detained while caring for his patients and carrying out his medical duties

Not until 11 February 2025 did Israeli authorities allow Dr. Abu Safiya to meet with a legal counsel. In the latest visit by a lawyer to Ofer military prison in early July 2025, she reported that Dr. Hussam and other detainees were subjected to assault and beatings. She also stated that Dr. Abu Safiya showed signs of significant weight loss as the Israeli Prison Service continues to impose severe restrictions on Palestinian detainees’ access to food, adequate medical care and hygiene.

Dr. Abu Safiya’s arrest and ongoing arbitrary detention without charges or trial – based on the abusive Unlawful Combatants’ Law – is a reflection of Israel’s systematic targeting of Palestinian health workers and the decimation of the healthcare system in Gaza in order to inflict conditions of life calculated to bring about the physical destruction of Palestinians." (amnesty.org)

On tuesday October 16, the family of Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya confirmed that the Israeli court has extended his administrative detention for another six months, despite his name having previously appeared among those discussed for release. PLEASE SIGN THE PETITION & SHARE 🙏

We Have the Power to End the Genocide Now!

"Lifeline for Palestine is an emergency initiative to mobilize civil society for a game-changing opportunity to actually end the genocide in Palestine now. We’re calling on UN representatives in all nations, which already support Palestine by a supermajority, to hold the line for Palestine in an upcoming fall vote to enact concrete measures to compel Israel’s compliance with the International Court of Justice. This includes a UN protection force for food distribution and civilian protection.

Holding this vote within the long-standing Uniting for Peace process allows the General Assembly to bypass the undemocratic Security Council and US veto that invariably blocks the protection of Palestinian rights.

A one-year deadline set by the General Assembly for Israel to comply with the International Court of Justice rulings expires on Sept.18, after which the General Assembly is slated to vote on specific actions to end Israel’s genocide. Lifeline for Palestine seeks collaboration with partners throughout civil society to urge our representatives to the UN to resist intimidation from the US and Israel by maintaining their votes for Palestine, and ensuring the proposed measure includes the full spectrum of essential actions including:

* A UN protection force to deliver humanitarian aid, protect civilians, preserve evidence of war crimes, and facilitate reconstruction;
* Comprehensive sanctions and military embargo;
* Withdrawal of Israel’s General Assembly credentials;
* Reactivation of the UN’s long-dormant anti-apartheid mechanism
* Establishing a war crimes tribunal. (LifelineForPalestine.com)

TO LEARN MORE :::CLICK HERE:::
TO TAKE ACTION :::CLICK HERE:::

‘The Voice of Hind Rajab’ Stuns Venice Film Festival with ‘Free Palestine’ Chants

RIP Hind Rami Iyad Rajab (May 3, 2018 – Jan. 29, 2024)🪬🙏🏼🪬
“The Voice of Hind Rajab” premiere at the Venice Film Festival proved to be a hugely emotional event, with very few dry eyes.

"We often describe certain challenging or button-pushing films as hard to watch; fewer are categorized as hard to listen to. In “The Voice of Hind Rajab,” the voice in question is a small one, belonging to a young girl alone and in unconscionable peril, high and breathless with fear and confusion. But it cuts through Kaouther Ben Hania’s film with piercing clarity, largely because, in contrast to a surrounding chorus of frantic adult voices, it isn’t performed. Rather, it’s a real-life recording of the last words ever spoken by Rajab, a 5-year-old Palestinian child killed on Jan. 29, 2024, after her family’s car was shelled by Israeli forces during their invasion of the Gaza Strip." (variety.com)

The Director, Kaouther Ben Hania's statement: "Here’s how it all began: I was in the middle of the Oscar campaign for Les filles d’Olfa, and mentally preparing to finally enter pre- production on a film I had been writing for ten years. Then, during a layover at LAX, everything shifted. I heard an audio recording of Hind Rajab begging for help. By then, her voice had already spread across the Internet. I immediately felt a mix of helplessness, and an overwhelming sadness. A physical reaction, like the ground shifted under me. I couldn’t carry on as planned. I contacted the Red Crescent and asked them to let me hear the full audio. After listening to it, I knew, without a doubt, that I had to drop everything else. I had to make this film. I spoke at length with Hind’s mother, with the real people who were on the other end of that call, those who tried to help her. I listened, I cried, I wrote. Then I wove a story around their testimonies, using the real audio recording of Hind’s voice, and building a single-location film where the violence remains off-screen. That was a deliberate choice. Because violent images are everywhere on our screens, our timelines, our phones. What I wanted was to focus on the invisible: the waiting, the fear, the unbearable sound of silence when help doesn’t come. Sometimes, what you don’t see is more devastating than what you do. At the heart of this film is something very simple, and very hard to live with. I cannot accept a world where a child calls for help and no one comes. That pain, that failure, belongs to all of us. This story is not just about Gaza. It speaks to a universal grief. And I believe that fiction (especially when it draws from verified, painful, real events) is cinema’s most powerful tool. More powerful than the noise of breaking news or the forgetfulness of scrolling. Cinema can preserve a memory. Cinema can resist amnesia. May Hind Rajab’s voice be heard." (LA BIENNALE DI VENEZIA)

Oscar Winning Documentary: "NO OTHER LAND"

In Memory of Odeh Hathalin aka Awdah Hathaleen.
1993 - July 28,2025. Rest in Peace 🪬🙏🏼🪬


Odeh was an activist and collaborator with Oren Ziv's documentary film, "No Other Land" which is about the struggles of two friends, one Israeli and the other Palestinian. Odeh was murdered on Monday by Israeli Settler, Yinon Levi in the occupied West Bank.

GAZA DOCTORS UNDER ATTACK, THE FILM THEY DON'T WANT YOU TO SEE

WATCH NOW: 'Gaza: Doctors Under Attack' – The Full Film They Didn't Want You To See by Mehdi Hasan

Exclusive: The powerful film the BBC refused to air is out now, released globally by Zeteo. It documents Israel's destruction of Gaza's hospitals and the killing of Palestinian doctors.

Read on Substack

"The BBC commissioned the documentary: The film, made by Basement Films, was intended to highlight the experiences of medics in Gaza. Impartiality concerns: The BBC stated that broadcasting the material "risked creating a perception of partiality that would not meet the high standards that the public rightly expect of the BBC". Previous incident and pause: Production of Doctors Under Attack was paused in April 2025 following a controversy surrounding another documentary, Gaza: How to Survive a Warzone, where the narrator was the child of a Hamas minister. The BBC initially said it would wait for the findings of a review into the earlier film before proceeding with Doctors Under Attack."

"Transfer of ownership: The BBC ultimately transferred ownership of the film material to Basement Films. Broadcast by Channel 4: Channel 4 acquired the documentary and broadcast it, with their Head of News and Current Affairs stating it offered "powerful evidence" about the experiences of doctors in Gaza.

Context and related information: Allegations in the film: The documentary features firsthand accounts of Israeli military attacks on hospitals and healthcare workers in Gaza, which some argue would constitute war crimes. The film also includes allegations of abuse and torture of Palestinian detainees, and accusations of complicity against Israeli medics.

Criticism of the BBC's decision: The BBC's decision has been criticized by various parties, including the documentary filmmakers, who felt the decision was politically motivated and hindered important journalism. Some BBC journalists also signed a letter calling the decision a "political decision" that didn't reflect the film's quality.

Channel 4's perspective: Channel 4 defended its decision to air the documentary, emphasizing the importance of telling stories people need to know, even if they are uncomfortable. They also stated they conducted rigorous editorial checks.

"The United Nation’s Dysfunction Undermines Global Security," by Ban Ki-moon and Helen Clark

"THE ORGANISATION SHOULD NOT BE HELD HOSTAGE BY A FEW POWERFUL STATES!!"

Published in the Economist on 24 June, 2025

"When the Charter of the United Nations was signed, 80 years ago this week, President Harry Truman emphasised that the document’s value lay only in the will of governments to use it. “The job”, he said, “will tax the moral strength and fibre of us all.”

That was perhaps more evident in 1945. Today, we seem to have forgotten what is required for multilateralism to function—and why. Opting for peace over war may seem obvious. But it took the horror of two world wars to find agreement on how to maintain that peace.

In the post-war era, countries did exert their moral strength, to varying degrees, to co-operate in building a world of much greater peace, security, prosperity and respect for human rights. That world is far from perfect but much progress has been made.

Conflicts continue, but there has been no third world war. No nuclear weapon has been used in conflict since 1945. Even at the height of the cold war, countries came together to eradicate smallpox. In 1987 the Montreal Protocol was adopted, reversing the destruction of the ozone layer. Multilateral initiatives have helped reduce the number of children dying before their fifth birthday by 60% since 1990. The hard-fought promotion and protection of rights—particularly those of women—has transformed lives everywhere. And more recently, in 2015, the Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris agreement on climate set out agendas to end poverty for good and protect the planet.

These achievements are worth celebrating. Yet we find ourselves at a juncture at which celebration would feel absurd. The U.N. is slipping into dysfunction as some of its traditional champions, notably the United States, retreat from multilateral co-operation, cut funding and disregard the rule of law when it suits them.

The absence of Truman’s “moral strength” is nowhere more glaring than at the un Security Council. Largely due to its veto-wielding five permanent members, the council has failed to prevent many conflicts over the decades. Worse still, its permanent members have been directly involved in several of those conflicts, from Iraq to Ukraine and beyond. Today, the council stands paralysed to prevent genocide in Gaza. It faces a further test in responding to the Israel-Iran crisis.

It is thus unsurprising that global public opinion of the wider un is deteriorating. Having served the organisation at its highest levels, we understand these concerns. We know the un needs reform, and we know how difficult that can be. But its strongest critics are sometimes those who make both its effectiveness and its reform most difficult: its member states.

We are acutely aware of the un’s overreliance on powerful states, the consequences of which are devastating. This is just as much the case for sustainable development or human rights as it is for peace and security. The world must seize this moment of crisis to reorient the U.N. away from the preferences of a minority and towards better serving all states. The organisation does not have to be held hostage by a few countries—especially those that refuse to pay their dues or fail to show up.

In fact, there are many recent achievements showing that international agreement can be found with or without particular countries. Last month the World Health Assembly adopted a historic “Pandemic Agreement”, a feat of determination by governments committed to multilateral co-operation (which remains the majority). The World Intellectual Property Organisation has adopted two treaties over the past year after decades of obstructionism. A resolution paving the way towards a global treaty on crimes against humanity was finally adopted in November, despite repeated attempts at derailment by Russia. The Pact for the Future agreed by the U.N. General Assembly last September, which faced similar challenges, holds enormous potential for multilateral action on issues ranging from Ai governance to climate.

Perhaps most urgently, momentum has been building towards Security Council reform in recent years, with the Pact for the Future committing countries to its expansion—a process that must be led by the General Assembly, not the council itself. Successful expansion of the council in the 1960s shows that reform is possible.

In parallel, the UN secretariat needs to restore its critical role in mediating crises. Member states must support this role, rather than buying into a free-for-all where regional and global powers set the terms of political settlements. The stakes are high. A world war today could lead to the end of humanity, yet the states able to reduce nuclear risks are expanding their arsenals and eroding the taboo against nuclear use through the exchange of barely veiled threats.

We also believe that the next un secretary-general must be a woman. A continuing succession of men at the top is counterproductive to what the organisation is seeking to achieve. Sharing power and responsibility between men and women is crucial to a stable and united future. Alongside meaningful un reform, there is also widespread support for transforming the international financial architecture. Urgent consideration must be given to equitable global tax reform, the alleviation of crippling debt and new approaches to financing global public goods.

The case for an improved un is clear. But a rushed reform process that is driven by funding cuts rooted in ideological distaste for the principles of the un will not improve the organisation, or the world.

As the second secretary-general, Dag Hammarskjöld, said, the U.N. “was not created in order to bring us to heaven, but in order to save us from hell”. It was born from a global yearning to counter destructive authoritarianism. It is unsurprising that in today’s world certain leaders want to see the un on its knees, and to shrug off what they see as the tedious constraints of the rule of law. For others, this is a moment that demands their moral strength and fibre. Without it, we risk a world of unchecked power, unprecedented conflict, repression, disease, famine and poverty—a world which would be unrecognisable even to Truman in 1945."

Ban Ki-moon was secretary-general of the United Nations from 2007 to 2016. Helen Clark was prime minister of New Zealand from 1999 to 2008 and head of the United Nations Development Programme from 2009 to 2017. Both are members of The Elders, founded by Nelson Mandela in 2007

"Where Olive Trees Weep" Trailer

"The film gives background to the current crisis in Israel/Palestine and brings to light the lives of people we met on our 2022 journey in the occupied West Bank. Their universally human stories speak of intergenerational pain, trauma and resilience. We hope they touch your heart, stir compassion and understanding, and give rise to a pursuit for justice. For without justice, peace remains an empty slogan. -Co Directors: Zaya & Maurizio Benazzo"



::CLICK HERE:: TO WATCH THE FULL FILM 🙏🏻

"I WANT MY DEATH TO BE LOUD!" Never forget Fatma Hassouna, Palestinian Photojournalist & Poet

Poem by Fatma Hassouna, written months before her murder in her home in Gaza along with 9 family members on Wednesday April 16, 2025 by a targeted Israeli airstrike.

"Today or tomorrow, or the day after I will fall to the sky just as my friends fell. We will take each other's hands, rows upon rows to an eternal gate. We will know the answer to all these questions because something makes everything we see and hear unreasonable. At the time everything will become reasonable and it will become . Questions are just ashes.

Tomorrow or the day after tomorrow I will actually become a past person in the category of “Was”. “He had dreams and he loved life even though it was hard on him. He was talented. He wanted to live, and he was, and he was a shelf filled with the wishes of a past person who’s pages close forever, remembering him." Who knows him? Why those who do not know him pass by indifferently? And this is what I do not want to happen because I told you, I WANT MY DEATH TO BE LOUD and it will not be enough for me, for only friends to know about it because I did not give my life for that.

I want the whole world to know that death of the Palestinian now means that an extended vengeance will go on. Burn his killer, his brother who was silent about his killing, and the knife that cut his neck. And I want the whole world to know that my death means the world losing itself in front of me, in front of us, in front of itself, and that’s what killed me, not a bullet. Not a shrapnel, not even a missile. What kills me everyday is my inability to break the hand that attacked me and my brothers, and my oppression from all those who remain silent when they should have been screaming. What kills me is something unseen, sneaking into my body and soul and nesting, spreading like a cancer, then destroying everything. Something after a moment of anticipation, like a mean snake.

What will kill me will never be this occupation or all those whose impurity I’ve known. Rather it will be my disappointment, my self abasement, my silence and satisfaction with being killed. That is what I do not want, this shame to ever befall me. I want to live for the world to know me and for the game to end with a fair end!"

Her last post on Twitter:

Fatma's Photo Diary: -> A CITY OF GHOSTS <-

CLICK HERE FOR FATMA HASSOUNA'S IG

#STOP THE WILLOW PROJECT !

As it is very well known, witnessed, and experienced, the planet is experiencing an extreme climate crisis. To add salt to the injury, President Joe Biden approved the ConocoPhillips' Willow Oil Drilling Project in Arctic Ocean off Alaskan shores even though he vowed as a part of his presidential campaign to completely end new offshore drilling projects and was in full accord with the Paris Agreement. I am in shock that regardless of everything that the Environmental Protection Agency, environmentalists and past presidents have done to protect not only the Arctic Ocean, but the Indigineous communities that depend on the Arctic and the endangered species that call the Artic their home, it is being completely disregarded by Biden and his administration. The United States was once promising to be a leader of the environmental movement, but this country has sadly degressed and has gone backwards to the Bush Era.

"The proposed Willow Project is the largest oil project proposed on public lands in the country. Located in a remote region of the Western Arctic that has been experiencing dramatic climate change impacts, this project would pave the way for ConocoPhillips to develop a drilling operation aiming to get the around 600 million barrels of oil in the area for decades into the future." (via edition.cnn.com)

Rewinding to 2016 when Biden was Vice President, this is an exerpt from a statement release by the White House Press Secretary concerning oil drilling in the Arctic; "Due to the important, irreplaceable values of its Arctic waters for Indigenous, Alaska Native and local communities’ subsistence and cultures, wildlife and wildlife habitat, and scientific research; the vulnerability of these ecosystems to an oil spill; and the unique logistical, operational, safety, and scientific challenges and risks of oil extraction and spill response in Arctic waters – the United States is designating the vast majority of U.S. waters in the Chukchi and Beaufort Seas as indefinitely off limits to offshore oil and gas leasing, and Canada will designate all Arctic Canadian waters as indefinitely off limits to future offshore Arctic oil and gas licensing, to be reviewed every five years through a climate and marine science-based life-cycle assessment."

::CLICK HERE:: to read more from the 2016 White House Press Release.

::CLICK HERE:: to sign the petition to help stop the Willow Project.

::CLICK HERE:: to read an article about how marine life in the Gulf of Mexico is still being affected by the BP Oil Spill of 2010.

::CLICK HERE:: to read an article by Quannah Chasinghorse who is a Han Gwich’in and Sicangu/Oglala Lakota land protector, climate justice activist, and fashion model from Eagle Village, Alaska and the tribes of South Dakota.

"It's a new day in America!"

"Yesterday Reminded Me What Hope Feels Like" by Margaret Badore

"It has been a long, long time since environmentalists in the United States won so much in a single day. Even during the Obama Administration, when we made significant progress, congress held back many opportunities to solve climate change and at times even the executive branch was slow to act. The first time the Keystone XL pipeline was canceled, it was only the result of many grueling years of direct action campaigns. Incremental improvement to the Clean Power Plan came only after the tireless work of advocates, only to be caught up in legal battles and ultimately rendered null under the Trump Administration.

The Trump administration’s policies dealt environmental progress blow after blow, as everything from clean car initiatives to mercury protections to wildlife refuges came under fire. States, nonprofits, and regular citizens fought these rollbacks with energy and not infrequent success, but we can’t deny what these four years of struggle have taken from us. The past four years represent precious time we could have spent reducing emissions and that we’ll never get back. The oil is burned, and with it more planetary heating is now baked-in.

The executive orders are just a start to be sure – we need to go hard and fast on the policy front to prevent catastrophic climate change, but many signs in the new administration are pointing towards hope. Biden’s proposed COVID-relief programs would kick-start the economy by investing heavily in renewable energy, clean infrastructure, and emissions-reducing research and development. Now that Democrats also hold Congress, further climate bills are no longer outside the realm of possibility. Then there’s the environmental track records of Biden’s agency nominations, from Deb Haaland to Jennifer Granholm.

None of yesterday’s wins happened in a vacuum. They’re the result of years of fighting for the integrity of science, smart get-out-the-vote efforts, public pressure campaigns, and boots-on-the-ground protests. They prove that if people who care about protecting the planet speak out, we can win."

To read the full article ::CLICK HERE::

PROTECT THE ARCTIC

"Climate change has already removed at least 75 percent of Arctic summer sea ice volume at rates never before experienced in human history. Soon, the Arctic Ocean will be like other oceans for much of the year: open water that is exposed to exploitation and environmental destruction.

Despite the Arctic Ocean’s unique vulnerabilities, it is still the least protected of all the world’s oceans. Less than 1.5 percent has any form of protected area status. The high seas of the Arctic — which belong to no single nation — are under no form of protection.

A strong Global Ocean Treaty will enable us to finally protect the Arctic Ocean, as part of a network of sanctuaries.

And we aren’t the only ones who want this: a Greenpeace survey revealed that 74 percent of people across 30 different countries support the establishment of a global sanctuary in the international waters around the North Pole. More than 70 percent of those people believed that the Arctic should be free of oil drilling and other heavy industry." (via www.greenpeace.org)

TO READ MORE ::CLICK HERE::

To add Your Name to STOP Trump’s Dangerous Arctic Oil Drilling Plans ::CLICK HERE:

What Is the Green New Deal? A Climate Proposal, Explained
::CLICK HERE::

#STRIKEWITHUS

"On September 20, three days before the UN Climate Summit in NYC, young people and adults will strike all across the US and world to demand transformative action be taken to address the climate crisis. Millions of us will take the streets to demand a right to a future, and we’re inviting you to #strikewithus

Find a strike near you to attend on September 20 HERE. If you don’t see an event in your area, organize one! We’ll provide everything you need to get started in planning something in your community so no experience is necessary. Whether you’re 7 or 77, you’re invited to join the movement." via (ActionNetwork.org)

For more information, please visit strikewithus.org

Hey Alabama..! OUR BODY, OUR CHOICE!!

"An organizer with The Yellowhammer Fund in Alabama, which helps people access safe abortions started a petition after our state passed an abortion ban which gives the government control over pregnant people's bodies—even in cases of rape or incest.

As similar extreme bills continue making their way through state legislatures it's vital that we send a clear message to Chief Justice John G. Roberts, Jr. and the other members of the Supreme Court of the United States that we will not tolerate these attacks on our protected human rights.

Alabama's extreme bill gives the state control over pregnant people's bodies and increases the already tremendous barriers that people seeking abortion care in Alabama face in accessing their procedures. Access was already a problem in Alabama which is why the Yellowhammer Fund exists.

The government's control and politicization of our bodies is unacceptable. Families in Alabama, Georgia, Ohio, and communities across the nation are under attack as part of a publicly stated, coordinated effort to have the Supreme Court overturn its own legal precedent set by Roe v. Wade.

This is truly concerning because some members of the Supreme Court are already signaling a willingness to overturn legal precedent on other cases.

People espousing "pro-life" politics frequently talk about how much they love pregnant people and babies. However, their political agenda does not extend to ensuring that pregnancy and birth are safe for pregnant people or that parents, children, and families can access the health care they need to live healthy lives. In Alabama, for example, this means that a large number of pregnant people are going without the prenatal, birth, and postnatal care needed to ensure healthy pregnancies and birth outcomes. Maternal and infant mortality rates are high.

SIGN THE PETITION telling Chief Justice John G. Roberts and the Supreme Court justices to end these extreme policies which deny families the right to determine whether, when, and how to create a family." via MoveOn.org

PLEASE SIGN THE PETITION ::CLICK HERE::

Airing Tonight: 🌍 "Paris to Pittsburgh" 🌎

Bloomberg's Environmental Documentary, "Paris to Pittsburgh" is a crucial message in response to Trump's ill timed decision to pull the U.S.A. out of the Paris Agreement and his obdurate insistence that Climate Change is a hoax. It brings attention to the facts of Climate Change that are impacting the world now, and will continue to get worse for future generations if it is not collectively acted upon.

This documentary is airing just in time for the last day of COP24 in Katowice, Poland, (formally the 24th Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change). "The conference aims to create practical rules for nations to implement the Paris Agreement — and to keep global warming “well under” 2 degrees Celsius this century, according to the U.N. conference website."



“The American government may have pulled out of the Paris Agreement, but the American people are committed to its goals and there is nothing Washington can do to stop us.” ~Michael R. Bloomberg, United Nations Special Envoy for Climate Action

Starting on December 13, the film will be available for free on digital platforms on National Geographic’s website (http://NatGeoTV.com), mobile app (Nat Geo TV App), Video On Demand and connected devices (such as Roku, AppleTV). Also starting December 13, the film will be available for one week on National Geographic’s YouTube channel.

To Learn more about the "Paris to Pittsburgh" Documentary and to become Involved ::CLICK HERE::

Election Day 2018 made HER-STORY! 🙌🏼🚺🙌🏼

I have not written here in almost a year for a lack of inspiration, disenchantment, political disgust, etc, etc... I could go on with all of the reasons, but all the reasons and frustrations will soon enough be an embarrassing part of HiStory because of yesterday, which was a crucial day! YESterday was an epic day! It was Midterm Election Day, and millions of Americans who have been exhausted by the last 2 years from disappointment and downright disgust from Trump's laughing stock / authoritarian regime, came out to Vote for change. And change is what was delivered and voted for!

"117 women elected! 96 women have been elected to the U.S. House, 12 women to the U.S. Senate and 9 women will serve as governor. The number of women in power has grown steadily, but this year's election, with more than 270 women running for Congress and governor, shattered records.

How many were there before? Prior to this year's election, there were 107 women in Congress – 84 in the House, out of 435 members, and 23 in the Senate, out of 100. Six women were serving as governors, out of 50.

Which party has more women? The majority of women running were Democrats, but both parties aimed to set a new high. 100 Democratic women elected, 17 Republican women elected." (via LATimes.com)

In addition to the historical and the much needed feminine wave that swept the election, Republicans have fortunately lost the majority in the House of Representatives. Even though they still have the majority in the Senate, checks and balances will be restored with an even fight that will significantly weaken Trump's unchecked abuse of power. And with what this country has had to endure with the corrupt and power hungry clown posing in the Oval Office, this is only the beginning of his inevitable downfall. It isn't soon enough, but the process will be enjoyable to witness. Hope has returned and thankfully order will eventually be rightfully restored in the United States!!

#Be Kind To Elephants

In 2014, President Obama enforced a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ban of the shipment of elephant trophies from game hunters into the U.S. from Zimbabwe and Zambia. On Nov. 15, 2017 Mr. Donald Trump lifted that ban. Why? Most likely because his elder sons are the type of people who take great pleasure in killing majestic animals, even endangered ones. As the two African countries are claiming that allowing the hunting of these endangered species is regulated to 500 elephants a year in Zimbabwe alone and that it will benefit the revenue of protecting these animals, the corruption within these countries is prevalent and will only see the amount of poaching cases on the rise. Not to mention, in extreme cases that are known to occur, conservationists will also be shot. So.. who does the lifting of this ban really benefit?.. The filthy rich that take pleasure in this horrific and sociopathic sport.

After the illegal killing of Cecil the Lion in 2015, Delta, United, and American Airlines banned the transporting of elephants, buffalo, leopards, lions, and rhinos trophies from Africa, but with this ban lift by Trump's administration, which acts as though he is above the constitution, let's see if these airline bans will hold.

So... what can we do? Below are some petitions that will fight for these amazing and majestic animals that happen to be on the Endangered Species List which Trump obviously cares nothing about.

::CLICK HERE:: to sign an Avaaz.org petition that will help urge shut down the largest Ivory Markets in the world. Seems like a "long shot," but it can work!!

::CLICK HERE:: to sign the petition to the US Fish and Wildlife Service, and conservation that will help stop the lifted ban of transporting elephant trophy heads back to the U.S.

::CLICK HERE:: to sign the Humane Society of the United States Petition.

Also, as tweeted by Ellen DeGeneres, "Please retweet & use #BeKindToElephants." For everyone who does, she will make a donation to The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, which protects and preserves endangered African species, such as the Elephant and Black Rhino.

Thank you for taking the time and for caring. Eventhough this past year has been utterly heart breaking with all accounts from the attacks that Trump has inflicted on the environment, humanity, endangered species, democracy, the constitution, etc.. there are still many of us who care and believe that fighting the good fight is worth it, because it is worth it! We must #Resist, #StayInformed, and #Fight!

Paris Climate Agreement

I haven't posted since Mr. Trump became this country's "President" because it has taken a while to allow it to sink in that a corrupt businessman/tyrant has become the President of the USA. Even though I knew that it was inevitable that once he took his position in the Oval Office, he and his pro-fossil fuel businessmen administration were going to attempt to undo many positive environmental and humanitarian causes that this country has been working hard to fight for, the effect of the reality that it has happened so quickly jolted millions of people around the world into a state of shock. After the initial shock subsided, the fight for our Mother Earth and for future generations became more clear and urgent than ever! The only benefit that will result from Trump's thoughtless act will be that it will unite and ignite more environmentally aware government officials around the world to step up and make a stand against the greedy and corrupt businessman who is proving to be the worst President in America's history, and further the fight for future generations and the planet's well being.

Below I have posted Leonardo Dicaprio's message concerning Trump's decision to back out of the Paris Climate Agreement, which inspires like minded people to find ways to resist this tyrannical move against the environment and humanity by acting locally and staying informed.

"Today, the future livability of our planet was threatened by Trump's careless decision to withdraw the United States from the Paris Agreement. Our future on this planet is now more at risk than ever before. For Americans and those in the world community looking for strong leadership on climate issues, this action is deeply discouraging. Now, more than ever, we must be determined to solve climate change, and the challenge those leaders who do not believe in scientific facts or empirical truths. It is time for all of us to stand up, organize, fight back, and channel our energy into grassroots political action."

1. Join and follow -> NRDC.org and on Instagram
2. Act Locally Guide at ::CLICK HERE::
3. Resistance Manual: ::CLICK HERE::
4. To Join Stand Up America ::CLICK HERE::
5. To Join "Before The Flood: Fight the Flood" ::CLICK HERE::
6. To add your name to a MoveOn.Org petition that supports the Paris Climate Agreement ::CLICK HERE::


To read and learn about the Paris Climate Agreement ::CLICK HERE::

Thank you for the taking the time and please RESIST!**

Winter Solstice Victory for the Oceans!

As humanity has had a very hard year that most are happy to see come to an end, on this day marking the longest night of the year environmental scientists, activists, and ocean lovers have something to celebrate. There is a ray of light shining through the darkness!

"President Obama has permanently banned oil and gas drilling in most U.S. Arctic waters and huge portions of the U.S. Atlantic Ocean!" The following is a statement from NRDC president Rhea Suh: “This is a historic victory in our fight to save our Arctic and Atlantic waters, marine life, coastal communities and all they support. “President Obama used a law employed by multiple presidents to establish these essential protections. There has never been a more important time or more fragile ecosystems for this type of presidential action. “Today’s bold bi-lateral announcement between Canada and the United States shows North America is leading the world in preserving the Arctic for future generations. President Obama and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau have created an indelible legacy as true stewards of the most fragile and threatened ecosystem in the world, and we urge the other Arctic leaders to follow suit."' (via nrdc.org )

Thank you to President Obama! The fact that he actually listened to the people, believes in climate science, and has the heart to protect the future of the ocean's fragile ecosystem and the environment is a blessing. I am tremendously grateful that at the end of his second term, Obama is protecting the oceans against the greedy oil tycoons and climate change deniers that are soon to be taking over the United States Govt. The future in the next four to eight years in America is uncertain, but as for today... Today is a good day! Happy Winter Solstice!

To read more from NRDC ::CLICK HERE::

Thank you for taking the time! ❤️

Before the Flood! We Need A Massive Change!

Please take the time to watch this documentary of Leonardo DiCaprio's "journey as he explores the topic of climate change." 🙏

With the severity of environmental issues, from the unsustainable and dangerous practice of mining tar sands, fracking for oil, offshore oil drilling spills, to the destruction of Indonesian rain forests for palm oil, to the rising temperatures and levels of the oceans, which will continue to result in catastrophic super storms and severe flooding, just to name a few, this documentary spells out the ominous reality of our dependency on unsustainable resources, which in turn have been destroying the earth we live on.

So,.. what can we do about our needs that have fueled our dependency on the very things that are ruining the health of the Earth and the future of generations to come? As I've mentioned in my blog before, do we revert to riding horses? What is the solution? Do we urge corporations to realize that investing in sustainable energy is the only choice for a 'Sustainable Future Trend'? Do they even care about the future generations? Or are they just close-minded, stubborn, and greedy businessmen who only care about the demand and supply of resources that bring in billions of dollars? Yes. That is reality. So what can we do on an individual level?.. Purchase wisely. Boycott all processed food products, end or lower your consumption of beef and poultry, and purchase only organic meat and sustainable seafood. Use public transportation, carpool, and/or a bike. Purchase sustainable and recyclable products. Recycle! Be mindful and raise awareness. Together our collective consciousness will benefit our future generations.

Dicaprio's message in the conclusion of this documentary spells out a few of the solutions clearly and concisely. "The only thing that we can do is control what we do next. How we live our lives. What we consume, how we get involved, and how we use our vote to tell our leaders that we know the truth about climate change." ~ Leonardo Dicaprio (UN Messenger of Peace)

To learn more about "Before The Flood" ::CLICK HERE::

To learn about Solutions Project::CLICK HERE:: (not affiliated with the Dicaprio's NG documentary)

Thank you for caring and taking the time*