Incredible group at Baltimore Bike Party Tonight

Getting started soon. Very exciting. The crowd is huge.

Rising oceans, retreating president

The climate is getting a one-two punch from the GOP and Obama. Take a stand for the earth! http://bit.ly/ONGvEN

It's Friday. Please give to the #GreenParty before Labor Day weekend. They have matching funds, so double your money! http://t.co/SMqbcwRx

It's Friday. Please give to the #GreenParty before Labor Day weekend. They have matching funds, so double your money! http://t.co/SMqbcwRx

"Enough!" The first Jill Stein for President TV ad

"Enough!" The first Jill Stein for President TV ad

via Uploads by Jill Stein for President by Jill Stein for President on 8/29/12

	"Enough!" The first Jill Stein for President TV ad Help us break through the media blackout and get this ad in front of millions of Americans! Go to http://www.jillstein.org/first_tv_ad_campaign and http://www.JillStein.org/DONATE to put this ad in front of more people! Paid for by Jill Stein for President	From: Jill Stein for President Views: 5057 239 ratings
	Time: 00:59	More in News & Politics

Ellicott City train derailment clean up, Follow Up 2 - #ellicottcity #train #csxderailment #csx #derailment #environment

I managed to get out to Ellicott City again today. The water and riverbed near the bridge look OK to my less than expert eyes. It appears that any coal has been cleared away, and the contamination barrier that I showed in a previous blog entry has been removed.  There is much foot traffic on the river bridge that is adjacent to the bridge where the train derailed, likely throughout the day. Here are the photos I took today.

 

 

Some readers, who saw the original aerial photographs of the derailment site, with the overturned coal cars, will recognize this site. It is beyond the bridge on the south side of the river. In fact, it is very near the river, just up a small hill behind some trees in an area that gets less attention.

 

 

This sign is another bit of CSX irony. Ellicott City residents and visitors, who ventured up to this site could clearly read this sign behind a fence. It is a no dumping sign, which is surrounded by coal on the ground.

 

 

Here is another photo of the coal spill at the derailment site. This view is looking down the track, in the direction of the bridge where the train derailment occured, but the bridge may not be visilble in this picture.

 

 

This photo shows more vinyl plastic barriers behind the coal. These barriers are likely intended to prevent coal contamination from running down the hill and into the river water. It is not difficult the imagine that heavy rains could easily overcome these barriers.

A casual observer, such as myself, cannot get easy access to all the areas where coal was spilled. For example, this area was protected by a chain link fence and no trespassing signs.  I got clear shots through and over the fence.

I read today that CSX has spent 2 million dollars on the clean up so far. Hopefully, their efforts will continue, including in areas that are seldom seen by Ellicott City residents and visitors. It is crucial to protect the precious waters of the Patapsco River and the nearby Patapsco State Park.

Regards,

proclus

http://www.gnu-darwin.org/

 

 

 

 

 

'Refuse to fight in Afghanistan!' An infantry vet's open letter to US troops

Another great action from March Forward!.

Regards,
proclus
http://www.gnu-darwin.org/

Subscribe    Send to a friend    Donate    Problems viewing this? Click here The following letter is being circulated by the Our Lives, Our Rights campaign, a project of March Forward!. 'Refuse to fight in Afghanistan!' An infantry vet's open letter to US troops Click the above photo to share the image. The following was written by former Marine Corporal Ryan Endicott, who is a co-founder of the Our Lives, Our Rights campaign. The campaign is spreading this message among active-duty troops throughout the military. Help us reach as many service members as possible by making a donation today!  To my fellow Marines:  The author in Ramadi, Iraq in 2005 In March of 2005 I deployed to Ramadi, Iraq as an infantryman. I remember being more excited than anything else. I was excited because I believed that I was serving my country, protecting my family and helping an oppressed people fight for their liberation. However, after taking part in combat and witnessing the war first hand, I came home a different person.   Nearly 5,000 Marines, sailors, soldiers and air force members gave their lives in Iraq; including 16 Marines from my battalion in Ramadi. And today, we recognize that these troops were sent to kill, and be killed, for the profits of a tiny few. Today, as more evidence surfaces as to the oil interests, defense contracts and war profiteering taking place in Iraq, we see that our government will stop at nothing to expand its power.  There is no longer any doubt that the war in Iraq was waged for corporate profits. We see that the government has no qualms about sending brave men and women in uniform from Main Street to their deaths for the interest of Wall Street. We see that the government has no qualms about terrorizing and killing innocent people around the world for the interests of the super-rich. And lastly, we see that this government has no qualms about what happens to those veterans who do return home and suffer the highest unemployment rates and the highest homelessness rates, and receive criminally inadequate treatment for PTSD.  It does not take a military strategist to see that continuing to send us to kill and be killed is a desperate and hopeless action, in a war against people we have no reason to fight in the first place. Even General Petraeus says, “I don’t think you win this war. … This is the kind of fight we're in for the rest of our lives and probably our kids' lives.” The former British commander in Afghanistan has stated that the war cannot be won, and that “American strategy is doomed to fail.” So, between these admissions, and the absolute criminal negligence resulting in the mass homelessness and suicides of our returning veterans, it becomes crystal clear that we are being sent to these occupations by people who admittedly do not have our best interests, or the Afghan peoples' interests, at heart.   As with the Iraq war, it has become obvious that we are giving our lives, our limbs and our minds not for freedom, not for liberation, but for profit. Like Iraq, Afghanistan is just another resource-rich region of the world that is not yet in the grip of Wall Street.  As the months pass, and more active-duty troops die as a result of suicide than in combat, it is now time for the veterans of this country to take a stand.  The author speaking at a March Forward! rally that shut-down a military recruitment center on the anniversary of the Afghanistan war. If I could turn the hands of time back to February 2005, I would have refused to deploy to the criminal occupation of Iraq. In doing so, I would have been truly fulfilling the oath I took when I raised my right hand and swore to defend the people of this country. When we swore our oath, we swore to protect the people of this country against all enemies foreign and domestic; and today, it has become undeniably clear that the biggest enemy of the people of this country is not poor people in Iraq or Afghanistan, but the millionaire politicians, the Wall Street bankers, oil tycoons and defense weapons contractors who throw our lives away for their own gain.  It is not the poor Iraqi or Afghan who is struggling to feed his family who threatens our families in the States. It is the corporate CEOs who lay off hundreds of thousands of workers to protect their multi-million-dollar bonuses. Our enemies are the bankers who take our houses, the government officials who slash our social services and our opportunity to get a decent education. The real enemies of the veterans are not found in the farmlands of Afghanistan but in the halls of Congress. The members of Congress sleep well at night in their million-dollar mansions, while the veterans who risk their lives following orders sleep on the streets.  The war in Afghanistan is far from over. We will be sent over and over, on increasingly bloody deployments, to a war most Americans and Afghans oppose, to a war killing countless civilians, to a war that is lost, and a war that we have no reason to fight.  It is up to us, as the veterans of the U.S., to stand up and fight back. It is not just our right but our sworn duty. It is our sworn duty to stand up against oppression, imperialism and colonialism. As Marines, we are supposed to live our lives with honor, courage and commitment, and being sent to our deaths for colonial conquest is neither honorable nor courageous. However, standing up and refusing to deploy to a war for profit is both. The most honorable and courageous act you can do is to lay down your arms and refuse to fight this immoral war.  Semper Fidelis,  Corporal Ryan Endicott  -You have the right to refuse to deploy to Afghanistan! Click here to learn how. -Read a similar letter from USMC infantry vet Sgt. Eddie Pages. -Help us spread this message throughout the military by making an urgently needed donation.
	March Forward! is an organization of veterans and active-duty service members affiliated with the ANSWER Coalition.
www.MarchForward.org - info@MarchForward.org - (213) 251-1025 Click here to unsubscribe. If you have problems unsubscribing, send an emailto info@MarchForward.org with the word "Unsubscribe" in the subject line.

Jill Stein has a new preview ad on the website.

Jill Stein has a new preview ad on the website.  It is not working for me in Firefox Nightly.

There is a report that protesters are being removed from the #Ecuador embassy. Police removed poster and signs earlier. #Assange #Wikileaks

There is a report that protesters are being removed from the #Ecuador embassy. Police removed poster and signs earlier. #Assange #Wikileaks

Michael wants you to take action on "No Super Trawlers. Not Here. Not Anywhere."!

Michael Love has just read and signed the petition: No Super Trawlers. Not Here. Not Anywhere.

You can view this petition at: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/565/124/723/

Message from Michael Love:
-----

Hi, I signed the petition "No Super Trawlers. Not Here. Not Anywhere.". I'm asking you to sign this petition to help us reach our goal of 10,000 signatures. I care deeply about this cause, and I hope you will support our efforts.

-----

ThePetitionSite.com provides tools and empowers individuals to make a difference and effect positive change through online activism. Get connected with the causes you care about, take action to make the world a better place, and start your own petition at http://www.ThePetitionSite.com!

ThePetitionSite.com is powered by Care2, the largest and most trusted information and action site for people who care to make a difference in their lives and the world. www.care2.com

Tell Duke Energy: Take a stand against corporate funding of voter suppression

Dear Friend,

For years, the right wing has been trying to stop people of color, young people, and seniors from voting in order to help Republicans get elected -- and now some of America's biggest companies like Duke Energy are helping them do it.

Duke has helped pass discriminatory voter ID legislation by funding a rightwing policy group called the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC). Voter ID bills linked to ALEC have already passed in seven states, and similar voter ID bills have been introduced in 27 other states.

Tell Duke Energy to stop funding ALEC and its attempt to disenfranchise millions of voters. Click the link below to join me in signing this petition.

http://act.credoaction.com/campaign/duke_alec/?r_by=45944-3052123-AFcxyvx&rc=paste1

Court: Israel at No Fault for Death of Rachel Corrie

Court: Israel at No Fault for Death of Rachel Corrie

via (title unknown) by jon on 8/28/12

A district court in Haifa has rejection a civil lawsuit that the state of Israel and its armed forces were at fault in the death of American human rights activist Rachel Corrie, who was crushed by an Israeli Defense Force bulldozer in 2003 while trying to prevent the destruction of Palestinian homes in the Gaza Strip.

"I reject the suit," Judge Oded Gershone said in the briefly worded verdict. "There is no justification to demand the state pay any damages."

read more

No surprise to see this happening at JPL #anonymous #cispa #drone #drones #legislation #ndaa #potus #rnc #sopa #usdor

now Michael L. Love ‏@gnudarwin

johns hopkins #drones - Google Search - #anonymous #cispa #drone #drones #legislation #ndaa #potus #rnc #sopa #usdor http://bit.ly/Plxvd8 

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now Michael L. Love ‏@gnudarwin

No Drones Maryland: Calling for End to Drone Research at Johns Hopkins University http://bit.ly/PMQ9ad 

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now Michael L. Love ‏@gnudarwin

#OpBlackout tag wrap: #drones - #anonymous #cispa #drone #drones #legislation #ndaa #potus #rnc #sopa #usdor

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now Michael L. Love ‏@gnudarwin

@ImPakistanFirst Have a look at @NoDronesMD.

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5h Pakistan First ‏@ImPakistanFirst

@gnudarwin Mike, does Hopkin also play a role in making these drones?

Retweeted by Michael L. Love

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3h No Drones Maryland ‏@NoDronesMD

.@NoDronesMO #solidarity NO #DRONES!

Retweeted by Michael L. Love

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3h No Drones Maryland ‏@NoDronesMD

First-hand account from @NoDronesWI colleague of the May8 action to protest @JohnsHopkins #drones research http://nodronesmaryland.blogspot.com/2012/08/calling-for-end-to-drone-research-at.html … @peaceaction

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3h No Drones Maryland ‏@NoDronesMD

At @JohnsHopkins "the APL #drones on and on" & @jhunewsletter says "this goes against the open nature of universities" http://nodronesmaryland.blogspot.com/2012/08/jhu-news-letter-apl-drones-on-and-on.html …

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via twitter.com

Stop Plastic From Killing Ocean Animals

The plastic you see and use every day is killing endangered birds, sea turtles and seals by the hundreds of thousands. Every year animals get tangled up in plastic, or eat it, with fatal consequences.

Please sign our petition asking the Environmental Protection Agency to curb plastic pollution on our beaches and in our oceans.

Plastic makes up 60 percent to 80 percent of ocean debris; there are 3 million tons of it in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. The same durability we value in plastic makes it a persistent pollutant.

Plastic doesn't belong in our oceans; it doesn't belong in the diet of baby sea birds like this Laysan albatross chick; and it doesn't belong wrapped around endangered seals. That's why we're asking the federal government to establish water-quality criteria for plastic pollution.

Please take action to join us in asking the EPA to get plastic out of our ocean ecosystems.

Take action by using this Web address: http://action.biologicaldiversity.org/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY...

This Friday people: August Route | baltimorebikeparty #bike #bicycle http://baltimorebikeparty.com/2012/08/24/august-route/

This Friday people: August Route | baltimorebikeparty #bike #bicycle
http://baltimorebikeparty.com/2012/08/24/august-route/

Ellicott City train derailment clean up (MORE PHOTOS) #Trapwire #OpTrapwire #csx #train #ellicottcity #derailment #csxderailment #environment

I finally managed to get some more of the photos posted. There are 50%
blowups available for all of these. Just ask. 

 

These two pictures are of a different bridge, presumably downline towards Baltimore. This bridge is very near to one of the entreances to Patapsco State Park. A small footbridge is not far from this location, and people swim in the river below. Patapsco State park is a real treasure, a green gem.  It is likely that the whole coal transport system will receive much attention as a result of the the derailment accident. It passes very near the park.

 

 

CSX - quality in motion. It is likely that the people of Ellicott City had a sense of irony when they saw that slogan.

 

 

In the background is the bridge where the derailment occured, with some cleanup equipment surrounding. In the foreground is the adjacent bridge that crosses the river. I also caught a police officer watching me take the photo at the edge of the shot.

 

 

This is the inside of a twisted coal car as it is being towed away.

 

 

The river looks to me pretty much as it was before the accident.  I'll admit that I am not much of an expert in such matters. I'm just a river lover, going way back.

 

 

This shows the coal car being lifted onto a trailer that is sitting on the adjacent bridge. They were using the cranes or winches to do the lifting.

 

 

This looks like a remote surveillance rig to me.  Some of my #Trapwire, #OpTrapwire friends might find this one interesting. There are 4 solar arrays to power the system. The camera sits at the top of the pole.

 

 

There was definitely a police presence at the site, and they seemed far more interested in us observers than the clean up operation.

 

 

This is another view of the coal car being loaded onto the truck.

 

I previously blogged some more interesting photes of the cleanup. Based on my Coast Gaurd experience, it seems to me that the CSX cleanup team has been taking measures to prevent coal contamination from spreading into the river. If you want to see that, here is the link.

http://proclus-gnu-darwin.posterous.com/ellicott-city-train-derailment-clean-up

Ellicott City is a wonderful place to visit, and I will certainly be returning there again and again.  If there is anything more to report, I will definitely push it out to the GNU-Darwin Spectrum.  All comments welcome.

 

Regards,

proclus

http://www.gnu-darwin.org/

Ellicott City train derailment clean up

Here is a sampling of the pictures that I took in Ellicott City. Note the sheet plastic and straw barrier, which was apparently built to protect the river from coal contamination. Several of the coal cars tipped over on the bridge, and dumped out their contents. Hopefully I can post more of the pictures later.

I love the bicycle ride to from Baltimore City to Ellicott City, and will likely be visiting again soon. This site is very close to Patapsco State Park, which is a great place for bike riding.

Regards,
proclus
http://www.gnu-darwin.org/

See the full gallery on Posterous

Stop Plastic From Killing Ocean Animals

The plastic you see and use every day is killing endangered birds, sea turtles and seals by the hundreds of thousands. Every year animals get tangled up in plastic, or eat it, with fatal consequences.

Please sign our petition asking the Environmental Protection Agency to curb plastic pollution on our beaches and in our oceans.

Plastic makes up 60 percent to 80 percent of ocean debris; there are 3 million tons of it in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. The same durability we value in plastic makes it a persistent pollutant.

Plastic doesn't belong in our oceans; it doesn't belong in the diet of baby sea birds like this Laysan albatross chick; and it doesn't belong wrapped around endangered seals. That's why we're asking the federal government to establish water-quality criteria for plastic pollution.

Please take action to join us in asking the EPA to get plastic out of our ocean ecosystems.

Take action by using this Web address: http://action.biologicaldiversity.org/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY...

Ellicott City train derailment clean up

I have some photos of the clean up, near the river in Ellicott City. Many coal cars tipped over. Hopefully, I will get a chance to put them in the blog soon.

Jill Stein to participate in the presidential debates

Hi,

The Republican and Democratic Parties control the presidential debates and exclude third party candidates.  This is anti-thetical to democracy.  We petition the Commission on Presidential Debates to allow Jill Stein to participate in all of the presidential debates this year.

That's why I signed a petition to Commission on Presidential Debates, which says:

"Allow Green Party Presidential Candidate, Jill Stein, to participate in all of the presidential debates."

Will you sign this petition? Click here:

http://signon.org/sign/allow-jill-stein-to-particip?source=s.em.cp&r_by=985589

Thanks!

 

US is taking half of your tax dollars&using it to make new enemies 4 you. Most of the rest is bailout for rich fatsos. Al #Qaeda the enemy?

US is taking half of your tax dollars&using it to make new enemies 4 you. Most of the rest is bailout for rich fatsos. Al #Qaeda the enemy?

#OpBlackout #tag #wrap #- #drones #drone #ows #occupydnc #ndaa #fakeliberals #dncmiccheck #wikileaks #usdor #trapwire #tpp #sopa #qaeda

#OpBlackout #tag #wrap #- #drones #drone #ows #occupydnc #ndaa #fakeliberals #dncmiccheck #wikileaks #usdor #trapwire #tpp #sopa #qaeda #tagmaker
@OpBlackout @tag @wrap @- @drones @drone @ows @occupydnc @ndaa @fakeliberals @dncmiccheck @wikileaks @usdor @trapwire @tpp @sopa @qaeda #tagmaker
OpBlackout, tag, wrap, -, drones, drone, ows, occupydnc, ndaa, fakeliberals, dncmiccheck, wikileaks, usdor, trapwire, tpp, sopa, qaeda, tagmaker,
 

Stein campaign makes urgent fundraising push for ballot access

Stein campaign makes urgent fundraising push for ballot access

via Green Party Watch by Dave Schwab on 8/17/12

From an email from Ben Manski, campaign manager for Jill Stein for President: Last week, I told you that we needed to raise $45,000 in one week, and explained why (see message below). We have raised $28,000. We need another $17,000 right now. We are making incredible progress. Four more states joined the Green surge in the [...]

Help Free the TPP!

At this very moment, the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement (TPP)--a trade agreement that could affect the health and welfare of billions of people worldwide--is being negotiated behind closed doors. While 600 corporate lobbyists have access to the text, the press, the public, and even members of the US Congress are being kept in the dark.

But we don't have to stand meekly by as corporate cronies decide our futures. Concerned citizens from around the world are pooling together their resources as a reward to WikiLeaks if it makes the negotiating text of the TPP public. Our pledge, as individuals, is to donate this money to WikiLeaks should it leak the document we seek.

I just helped free the TPP by pledging to donate to WikiLeaks should it leak the TPP text to the public. Join me!

http://freetpp.org

Thanks!

Ecuador Grants Julian Assange Asylum; U.S. Seen as "Hidden Hand" Behind U.K....

Ecuador Grants Julian Assange Asylum; U.S. Seen as "Hidden Hand" Behind U.K. Threat to Raid Embassy

via Democracy Now! by mail@democracynow.org (Democracy Now!) on 8/16/12

As Ecuador prepared to announce its decision on granting asylum to WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, Britain threatened to raid the Ecuadorean embassy in London where Assange has taken refuge for the past two months. Britain told Ecuador that giving Julian Assange asylum would not change a thing and that it might still revoke the diplomatic status of Quito’s embassy in London to allow the extradition of the WikiLeaks founder to Sweden to face questioning over alleged sexual misconduct. We’re joined by Michael Ratner, an attorney for Julian Assange and president emeritus of the Center for Constitutional Rights, and by Ben Griffin, an activist with Veterans for Peace UK, participating in a vigil in support of Assange outside the Ecuadorean embassy in London. "Is this really about the U.S. being the 'hidden hand' behind what the British are doing so that they can eventually get a hold of Julian Assange, try him for espionage and put him into a jail?" Ratner asks. "That’s what’s really going on here. Let’s not kid ourselves." [includes rush transcript]