April notes, no fooling :-)

Hi everyone,
I hope you've been keeping well over the last while.  I've been occupied with several projects and commitments, many to our grandchildren.  Two little ones, both girls, Lilly and Rowen, have been born this year, and they, together with their families, are doing well.  
Births strike me as renewed motivation to do all we can to make the world a kinder, saner, safer, healthier place.  We saw a poster recently that read    Justice, not Just Us.  
Along these lines, here is a quotation from a spiritual teacher I have found provocative and exhortative:
 “When we wake up in the morning, so often our first thought is some variation of “What about me?’  If this thought drives our lives, fear and self-absorption rule us.  We are so fixated on our own happiness that our mind begins to shrink, and with it, the possibility of happiness.What would real happiness be?  It would be egolessness, the lack of struggle, and a fundamental joy and sense of celebration, not only in our own happiness but also in the happiness of others.Considering others is the basis of any spiritual and worldly success, if we define success as having a fulfilled, meaningful, and permanently happy mind.  If we help others, we will all find the happiness we want.”                                    Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche
Happy Spring, Easter, warm regards, blessings, and peace to you all.  Be well, do good work and stay in touch.
Jill

This mailing contains lots of good news and information as well as many action opportunities.  Please take as many of the possible actions as you can, pass the websites and information on to your lists, and of course, let me know if you'd like to be removed from, or have some one added to, this list.
1. Climate changeGood news:   several items! a) Petition to put climate change at the top of the G8 agenda in June b) Do your part to reduce global warming:  10 Tips for immediate use at home.  c) Watch and share a video about our impact on climate change and its consequences.
2. War and peaceGood news: The House and the Senate have both just passed Iraq Accountabiity legislation. a) Keep up the pressure on your legislators to get out of Iraq and stay out of Iran. b) Help stop the clash of cultures and pass it on.  Petition for real peace talks in the middle east. 3. EnvironmentGood news: several items! a)   Help put Polar Bears on the "threatened" list. b)  Help sponsor TV ad to alert millions of viewers to the polar bear's plight. c)  Protest massive dam by mining company in Patagonia. d)  Help save the Ocelot in north America.   e)  Speak out again international whaling. 4. Social justiceGood news:  Attorney Gonzales may resign. a)  Call for stronger, targeted sanctions on Zimbabwe's leaders.  b)  Urge Exxon to pay the punitive damaages it owes to Valdez victims.  c)  Petition to close Guantanamo.
5 Politics and electionsGood news: The Democratic Party of Nevada is dropping Fox as the host of its presidential debate! a)  Support bill for public financing for fair elections. b)  Help ban paperless voting machines. c)  Support bill for Common Sense budget. d)  Support funding for NPR and PBS 6. Smiles :-) :-)    a) A cute Mouse story, along the lines of the theme "Thinking of others is part of our own well being." b) Washington Post Neologisms  7) Co
Here are the details:
1. Climate change Good news:

•  It's the latest buzz!  Here's the Environmental Defense version of this great event :  "In a groundbreaking decision, the Supreme Court ruled today that the federal government has the authority under the Clean Air Act to regulate America's global warming pollution.

This ruling affirms what Environmental Defense has believed for a long time: carbon dioxide is a pollutant and the Environmental Protection Agency should exercise its existing authority to reduce global warming emissions." 

• Also from Environmental Defense:  Victory in Texas ... Energy company sale includes tough global warming standards.    Environmental Agreement Tied to Sale of Electricity Giant Will Block Construction of Eight Dirty Coal-Fired Power Plant.

Thanks to the generous support of our online activists and donors, today is a truly historic day in the fight against global warming.

•  From Avaaz. (Avaaz is a relatively new organization with an  "aim is to ensure that the views and values of the world’s people -- and not just political elites and unaccountable corporations -- shape global decisions. Avaaz.org members are taking action for a more just and peaceful world and a vision of globalization with a human face."  Check them out at www.Avaaz.org).   Here is a report from a recent climate change G8 environment ministers meeting in Germany,  The German minister said  "Thanks to increased pressure from people around the world, the tide is turning. When an international NGO can gather this many signatures" (here he holds up the Avaaz petition), "we cannot ignore this problem anymore... As Environmental ministers, we have a responsibility both to the environment and our voters to make sure our heads of state act!" And a few days later, German Chancellor and G8 President Angela Merkel vowed to put climate change at the top of the agenda for the G8 Leaders Summit (in June). "  
a) Petition to put climate change at the top of the G8 agenda.  Go tohttp://www.avaaz.org/en/climate_action_g8 

b) Do your part to reduce global warming:  10 Tips for us. (NRDC National Resources Defense Council)  "In a time when Fortune 500 companies and four major automakers (GM, Ford, Toyota and DaimlerChrysler) have announced their support for a cap on global warming emissions, it's clear that momentum is shifting. Pollution, especially from cars and from making electricity, is a major cause of global warming. Find out how YOU can make a difference.  Get Tips to Fight Global Warming at home. " Go to  http://fightglobalwarming.com/ 
c) Watch and share a video about our impact on climate change and its consequences:  This will  augment your information about what we're doing to our world. Please watch it and share it with others. It's only 6 minutes.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJTDSEPSfhk 

2. War and peace
Good news: The House and the Senate have both passed Iraq Accountabiity legislation more or less calling for ending the war and bring the troops home.   Bush may veto it.  Pressure is mounting and awareness is increasing.  
a) Congress is in recess, but will be back later in April.  Keep up the pressure on your legislators to get out of Iraq and stay out of Iran.  Here's one way:  Find your legislators at  http://www.visi.com/juan/congress/   or   http://www.congress.org/congressorg/home/and ask them to support    Senator Jim Webb's (D-VA) bill to stop the war from escalating into Iran. His bill would prohibit President Bush from spending money for military operations in Iran without the consent of Congress.     b) Help stop the clash of cultures and pass it on.  Petition for real peace talks in the middle east:  (Avaaz)  "First, watch our new 'Stop the Clash' video for a fresh, empowering take on the wider conflict, and why taking this first step toward Middle East peace matters:   www.avaaz.org/en/stop_the_clash    The video takes on the wider global crisis: from New York to Baghdad, Madrid to Beirut, talk is rising of a 'clash of civilizations' between the West and Islam. 
Then sign the petition for real peace talks in the Middle East at   http://www.avaaz.org/en/stop_the_clash/pr.php
3.  EnvironmentGood news:  •  Awareness and actions on Climate Change/Global Warming issues are growing fast •  A big leap forward in NRDC's ambitious campaign to save the world's last unspoiled gray whale nursery at San Ignacio Lagoon in Baja, Mexico. The Mexican government has just announced that 109,000 acres of federal lands surrounding this spectacular whale habitat will be donated for conservation. 
a)  Help put Polar Bears on the "threatened" list: (SaveOurEnvironment):  "In December, officials at the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service announced a proposal to list polar bears as "threatened" under the Endangered Species Act.   Securing this "threatened" status will provide crucial protections that can help ensure the survival of our polar bears.

Click here to send a message to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service supporting increased protections for polar bears. 

b)   b)  Help sponsor TV ad to alert millions of viewers in all 50 states to the polar bear's plight (NRDC)  "With the Arctic melting and the polar bear death toll mounting, we must go all-out to sound the alarm and mobilize the public while there's still time. Our new and compelling TV ad will alert millions of viewers to the polar bear's plight. We must raise $300,000 to run the ad nationally and generate a blizzard of popular support for measures that can save the polar bear from extinction."
Click  https://secure.nrdconline.org/08/polarbearsos_z     to see the ad and donate to the campaign in defense of wildlife and wild places:.
c) Protest massive dam by mining company in Patagonia (NRDC) "A Swiss mining company is pushing to build a massive dam on the Rio Cuervo, a mighty river flowing through one of the wildest stretches of Chile's breathtaking Patagonia region. Please go to http://www.savebiogems.org/patagonia/takeaction right away and urge Chile's environmental protection officials to reject this destructive scheme." 
d) Wanna help save the Ocelot in north America?  "Environmental Defense has an ambitious and creative plan to bring back one of America's most magnificent and endangered wild creatures.

Your gift today can help rescue the ocelot – you can help release a $20,000 grant offered by Earth Friends Wildlife Foundation to support our endangered species Go to  https://donate.environmentaldefense.org/01/abx07aa102/nopaawQK1pAfj?    "

e)  Speak out again international  whaling  Care2 has teamed with Humane Society International to protect whales from inhumane and unnecessary whaling practices.  "It's hard to believe that the whaling industry still exists, but this is even worse. Investigators in Iceland just revealed that endangered whales have been hunted, stockpiled and large portions of their bodies left to rot on a rubbish dump!"  Go to

Help save these intelligent animals by donating today: http://go.care2.com/e/R5mV/evSL/v9Jc 

4. Social justice
Good news:  Attorney Gonzales may resign (True Majority) "You remember Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, right? He's the guy who signed off on the legal memo giving the O.K. to "waterboarding" and other types of torture; who told the President the Geneva Conventions were "obsolete"; who championed the notion that the President has power as Commander-in-Chief to ignore laws. Now it seems like his office may have fired U.S. Attorneys simply for not being "Bushie" enough.   It's starting to look like Americans won't stand for a chief law enforcement official who doesn't believe in the rule of law, though."

a) Call for stronger, targeted sanctions on Zimbabwe's leaders   (Avaaz) "In the last few days, Zimbabwe has plunged further into crisis, with key democratic activists beaten by their government. Click below to sign the petition calling for stronger, targeted sanctions on Zimbabwe's leaders:"
http://www.avaaz.org/en/zimbabwe/?cl=2674831   
b) Urge Exxon to pay the punitive damaages it owes to Valdez victims (Save Our Environment) )   "It's been 18 years since the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill and ExxonMobil still has not paid the punitive damages it owes to the victims of the spill. The oil spill destroyed the livelihoods of thousands of Alaskan fishermen and others, and decimated wildlife.   Instead of paying what it owes, ExxonMobil has dragged more than 30,000 people through 13 years of litigation by appealing every guilty verdict it's been given since 1994! During this time 6,000 people have died waiting for compensation."

Click here now to send a fax to ExxonMobil's CEO and Board Chair and tell them to stop appealing the guilty verdicts and pay the damages they owe.

c)  Petition to Close Guantanamo. (Avaaz):   "Nearly 400 men are trapped in the prison at Guantanamo without charge or trial. This prison is the symbol and the center of President Bush's assault on international law. But now we have a chance to shut it down -- Bush's own Secretary of Defense is publicly calling for closing Guantanamo. Bush’s advisors are split, and a global outcry could tip the balance. Sign the petition below. We’ll run the petition and number of signers in key US newspapers as soon as we have signatures from every country:  Go to http://www.avaaz.org/en/close_guantanamo/?cl=5145192   to sign."
5. Politics and elections
Good news: The Democratic Party of Nevada is dropping Fox as the host of its presidential debate!
a) Support bill for public financing for fair elections  (MoveOn)  "The Iraq debate rages on, but leaders in Congress are kicking off another important fight—public financing of our elections.  Top Democrats and Republicans just announced a groundbreaking bill to repair our democracy with fairly funded elections.Can you imagine if people could be elected to Congress without massive wealth and without begging for campaign cash from big donors? Congress wouldn't owe corporate lobbyists any favors. That's why those very lobbyists will work overtime to kill this exciting reform.

Let's work to make Congress answer to the people. The first step is to gather 200,000 signatures for this petition: "Congress must pass public financing to make our elections fair."

Please click here to add your name to the petition:

http://pol.moveon.org/fairelections/o.pl?id=10063-7688601-M721pL&t=3

b) Help ban paperless voting machines (Move On)  "We're closer than ever to a ban on paperless voting machines. But lobbyists for election officials are trying to weaken the Holt bill's crucial deadline of paper voting before the 2008 election.    Congressman Rick Larsen is a co-sponsor of the Holt paper voting bill (H.R. 811). Can you say thanks and ask him to defend the bill's 2008 deadline?"

Congressman Rick LarsenDistrict Offices:    Bellingham: 360-733-4500    Everett: 800-562-1385
c)  Support bill for Common Sense budget (True Majority)  "Do you think our government should provide health insurance to children who don't have it? Rebuild America's crumbling schools? Cut our reliance on foreign oil? I certainly do, and that's why I'm introducing a bill that does just that - without raising taxes. Will you help me make it the law of the land?   Go to to support this new bill introduced by Lynn Woolsey, CA.  This bill would take $60 billion in wasted Pentagon spending and use it instead on education, health care and other human needs programs... Go to http://action.truemajority.org/campaign/commonsensebudget07 to support this and sign the petition."

d) Support funding for NPR and PBS   (Move On)  "George W. Bush is trying—yet again—to slash funding for NPR and PBS. This week, Bush proposed a new budget with devastating cuts to public broadcasting.1 "Sesame Street" and other ad-free kids' shows are under the knife. So is the independent journalism our country needs.

Enough is enough. We've fought this fight before and won—but we can't afford the risk anymore. With the new Congress, we can make sure this never happens again. We need Congress to insulate NPR and PBS from the political winds.

We can make it happen if enough of us sign this petition: "Congress must save NPR and PBS once and for all. Congress should guarantee permanent funding and independence from partisan meddling." Clicking here will add your name to the petition:

http://civ.moveon.org/publicbroadcasting/o.pl?id=9851-7688601-6CIkaz7vUviOTiIda3Vmkw&t=2     "

6) Smiles :-) :-)

a) A cute Mouse story, along the lines of the theme "Thinking of others is part of our own well being":

   A mouse looked through the crack in the wallto see the farmer and his wife open a package.
      What food might this contain?" The mousewondered - he was devastated to discover it was amousetrap.
      Retreating to the farmyard, the mouseproclaimed the warning:   There is a mousetrap in the house! There is amousetrap in the house!"
      The chicken clucked and scratched, raised herhead and said, "Mr.Mouse, I can tell this is a graveconcern to you, but it is of no consequence to me. Icannot be bothered by it."
       The mouse turned to the pig and told him,"There is a mousetrap in the house! There is amousetrap in the house!"
      The pig sympathized, but said, I am so verysorry, Mr.Mouse, but there is nothing I can do aboutit but pray.  Be assured you are in my prayers."
       The mouse turned to the cow and said "Thereis a mousetrap in the house! There is a mousetrap inthe house!"
      The cow said, "Wow, Mr. Mouse. I'm sorry foryou, but it's no skin off my nose."
      So, the mouse returned to the house, head downand dejected, to face the farmer's mousetrap alone.
      That very night a sound was heard throughoutthe house -- like the sound of a mousetrap catchingits prey.
      The farmer's wife rushed to see what wascaught. In the darkness, she did not see it was avenomous snake whose tail the trap had caught.
      The snake bit the farmer's wife. The farmerrushed her to the hospital , and she returned homewith a fever.
      Everyone knows you treat a fever with freshchicken soup, so the farmer took his hatchet to thefarmyard for the soup's main ingredient.
      But his wife's sickness continued, so friendsand neighbors came to sit with her around the clock.

      To feed them, the farmer butchered the pig.
      The farmer's wife did not get well; she died.
      So many people came for her funeral, thefarmer had the cow slaughtered to provide enoughmeat for all of them.
      The mouse looked upon it all from his crack inthe wall with great sadness.
      So, the next time you hear someone is facing aproblem and think it doesn't concern you, remember-- when one of us is threatened, we are all at risk.
      We are all involved in this journey calledlife. We must keep an eye out for one another andmake an extra effort to encourage one another.  EACH OF US IS A VITAL THREAD IN ANOTHER PERSON'S TAPESTRY;
  OUR LIVES ARE WOVEN TOGETHER, WHETHER WE KNOW IT OR NOT (and for a reason, some say.)

b) Washington Post Neologisms  "Once again, The Washington Post has published the winning submissions to its yearly neologism contest, in which readers are asked to supply alternate meanings for common words. The winners are:

Coffee (n.), The person upon whom one coughs.
Flabbergasted (adj.), Appalled over how much weight you have gained.
Abdicate (v.), To give up all hope of ever having a flat stomach.
Esplanade (v.), To attempt an explanation while drunk.
Willy-nilly (adj.), Impotent.
Negligent (adj.) Describes a condition in which you absentmindedly answerthe door in your nightgown.
Lymph (v.), To walk with a lisp.
Gargoyle (n.), Olive-flavored mouthwash.
Flatulence (n.), Emergency vehicle that picks you up after you are run overby a steamroller.
Balderdash (n.), A rapidly receding hairline.
Testicle (n.), A humorous question on an exam.
Rectitude (n.), The formal, dignified bearing adopted by proctologists.
Pokemon (n), A Rastafarian proctologist.
Oyster (n.), A person who sprinkles his conversation with Yiddishisms.
Frisbeetarianism (n.), (back by popular demand): The belief that, when youdie, your soul flies up onto the roof and gets stuck there.

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“Peace is not some distant goal that we seek, but a means by 

which we arrive at that goal.”      Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

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