Comcast-TimeWarner Merger Update via @freepress
Update!
The “not completely terrible all the time” component to today’s update is that the Comcast-Time Warner merger is still pending. The Federal Communications Commission has yet to stamp “approved” on the deal which would make Comcast the sole cable provider in around two-thirds of the U.S. There’s still a sliver of time to take action at FreePress.net where you can voice your concerns to your elected officials and the FCC as well as share some well-made memes, videos and talking-point debunking facts around your networks.
Why is it so important? Well, while dealing with a lack of cable competition is irritating, the big oppositional push is because of the potential effect a massive conglomerate would have on internet speed and net neutrality. According to Free Press, if you bundle your internet and cable together, post-merger you’d have more than a fifty-fifty shot of Comcast being your only option. And Comcast’s Executive Vice President David Cohen has spent the past week sweet talking FCC officials into believing there’s nothing to see here and nothing to worry about.
If you value your ability to access unsponsored, un-spammed, uninterrupted content online, visit Free Press and get involved. Now is the time. The FCC won’t wait forever to rule and with wins on SOPA and PIPA, we must understand that our voices matter.
Follow-up/new Action!
Join the Fight to Stop the Comcast-Time Warner Cable Merger via FreePress.net
Sources/additional glimmers of hope:
"Comcast defends $45B Time Warner merger” via Kate Tummarello at The Hill
"Comcast and Time Warner fund event for FCC regulator while seeking merger approval” via Josh Hicks at The Washington Post
Hear the segment in context:
Episode #852 "Trickle up, up and overseas economics (Corporations)"
Revisit the original action/segment: BOTL Activism: "FreePress.net fights against media monopolies” from Episode #799 Rise of the gatekeepers (Net Neutrality)
Written by BOTL social media/activism director Katie Klabusich
Racing Toward Renewables: @SolutionsProj Update
Activism Update!
Solutions Project's Newsletter/Round-up
NASCAR is particularly popular in rural, vote-against-your-own-interest parts of the country. So, having a woman who describes herself as “a vegan hippie chick with a race car” get some serious positive attention competing at the Chicagoland Speedway with her entirely solar-powered vehicle is worth celebrating as a powerful moment.
As green energy infiltrates all aspects of American life and culture, building support for governmental and community initiatives becomes much simpler.
So far this year, legislation has been proposed in New York state, Connecticut and California for everything from overarching reform to microgrid efficiency upgrades to increasing consumer choice. Take a moment to capitalize on the momentum by passing on the story of Munter’s solar-powered performance and checking out Solutions Project for updates on state-level legislative efforts. Contributing to the sea change is sometimes as easy as clicking the “share” button and opening an unsuspecting friend’s eyes.
Keep your eye on...
”New Yorkers Push for Solar Access”
Governor Cuomo’s “Reforming The Energy Vision”
Connecticut Shared Solar – Looking Ahead to 2015
Sources/additional glimmers of hope:
"In Some States, Emissions Cuts Defy Skeptics” via The New York Times
Hear the segment in context:
BOTL Episode #849 "The planners and the deniers (Global Warming)"
Revisit the original action/segment: BOTL Activism: The Solutions Project (02/02/14)
Written by BOTL social media/activism director Katie Klabusich
Save the Children: Border Crisis
TEXT “AID” to Save the Children at 20222 to donate $10
Learn exactly where your support is going at: U.S. Border Crisis: 'Save the Children’ Meeting Immediate Needs of Children
Sources/further reading:
Read and watch stories from those crossing the boarder at: Save the Children’s “U.S. Border Crisis” page.
"Border children need immediate cooperation" via Save the Children at USA Today
"To Address Honduran Refugee Crisis at the Border, US Should Stop Financing Repression in Honduras” by Laura Raymond at Truthout
"This Is What an Overcrowded Holding Center for Migrant Children Looks Like” by Steven Hsieh at The Nation
Hear the segment in context:
BOTL Episode #847 "Refugees at the border (Immigration)"
Written by BOTL social media/activism director Katie Klabusich
The Jim Collins Foundation
The Jim Collins Foundation raises money for those transgender people who need gender-confirming surgery as an important step toward becoming their true selves, but are without the financial means to access care. The founders and the board recognize that not every transgender person needs or wants surgery. Their mission is to aid those who do by abating the despair that comes with realizing the monetary hurdle is too high to clear. Finding surgery unattainable can result in hopelessness, depression and sometimes suicide.
Allies who are moved to help can certainly do so by donating to this worthy non-profit, but also by checking to see if your own insurance company discriminates. Until the trans community is granted the same access to medically necessary care and protections from discrimination under the law, they will remain marginalized. Pressuring insurance companies and elected officials to actively move toward full equality is action we can — and must — all take.
Take Action:
Donate and spread the word about this great organization through their website: Jim Collins Foundation
Additional Activism: Free CeCe, a documentary on CeCe McDonald
More info:
Listen to the source segment for this activism at BOTL Activism: The Jim Collins Foundation, episode #801 "If you're talking about genitals then you've missed the point (Trans* Rights)”
Written by BOTL social media/activism director Katie Klabusich
The New Economy Coalition
BOTL segment excerpt:
Capitalism is integrated into every aspect of our lives, whether we know it or like it. It’s a massive system and it dictates how we interact with each other and how our government interacts with those outside our boarders. So if we find it problematic, what exactly are we supposed to do?
From the New Economy Coalition:
The stakes are high. Climate change is accelerating. Inequality is at historic levels. The financial industry continues to teeter on the brink of collapse, threatening the global economy. And all the while, our political system has proven incapable of effecting the structural transformations necessary to — quite literally — save the planet. The time is now for a new approach, a New Economy.
Take Action:
Visit the New Economy Coalition website to join up, add your expertise, offer your support.
More info:
Listen to the source segment for this activism at BOTL Activism: New Economy Coalition, episode #803 "Resistance is the only hope (Capitalism)”
Written by BOTL social media/activism director Katie Klabusich
The Sex Workers Project
BOTL segment excerpt:
The Sex Workers Project is doing the hard work of advocacy on behalf of a stigmatized industry. They provide client-centered legal and social services to individuals who engage in sex work, regardless of whether they do so by choice, circumstance, or coercion. Their professional service providers are multi-lingual and non-judgmental, assisting clients to remain in stable housing, access safer working conditions and employment options, protect their legal rights in family court, clear criminal records, secure legal immigration status, fight police misconduct, and access long-term supportive therapy while creating best practices in a marginalized, but legitimate field.
The “Not Your Rescue Project” hash tag was started in January by a coalition of sex workers and allies fighting back against stigma and the idea that they were all powerless women in need of saving by predatory NGOs. [just said “N-G-O”] Read the linked article by Andrea Garcia-Vargas published at “Bustle” on where the hashtag started and how to support the activists’ efforts. If you’re just becoming aware of the issue of sex workers rights, the stories and narratives you’ll find there will help break down preconceived notions and give you a way to engage with one of the most marginalized groups in our society. If they can be brave enough to speak, we should honor that by listening and learning to become allies.
Take Action:
emPOWER - a Celebration of the Sex Workers Project, June 5th, NYC
Additional Activism:
Follow #NotYourRescueProject
The Best Practices Policy Project (BPPP): Take Action and Volunteer
More info:
”Playing the Whore” by Melissa Gira Grant
Listen to the source segment for this activism at BOTL Activism: The Sex Workers Project, episode #826 "Work is work is work (Wage and Respect Gap)"
Written by BOTL social media/activism director Katie Klabusich
Stop Deportations Now
BOTL segment excerpt:
A federation of unions, who typically stand with the president on policy initiatives, took action this week to stand instead with those putting themselves on the line to save their families. The group projected a 60 by 90 foot video onto the AFL-CIO building, which faces 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, to tell the statistics and human stories behind the deportations.
“We feel like the political debate about immigration has gotten old and tired, while the human dimension of the deportation crisis has unfortunately lost center stage,” said Jeff Hauser, a spokesman for the union federation.
Text “Now” to 235246 to back the union federation’s campaign and use #Not1More to tweet at your representatives, respectfully, if you would. You can find your rep’s handles, along with the rest of their information, at ContactingTheCongress.org.
You can also join with the AFL-CIO in sending solidarity to the hunger strikers at the White House. Text “Hunger” to 235246 and add your words to messages like this one: "Your work is so important. Thank you for putting your personal welfare on the line. I wish Congress could do the same. Solidarity!”
Take Action:
AFL-CIO: Stop Deportations Now, YouTube
Tweet your legislators via ContactingTheCongress.Org
More info:
Listen to the source segment for this activism at BOTL Activism: Stop Deportations Now, episode #822 "It might have something to do with race (Immigration)”
Written by BOTL social media/activism director Katie Klabusich
USA Freedom Act
BOTL segment excerpt:
The USA Freedom Act is a piece of legislation with bipartisan sponsorship and support. It is a comprehensive overhaul of the NSA spying program that repeals the surveillance state sections of the Patriot Act and FISA. The ACLU and Electronic Freedom Foundation are supporting it — and they’re not alone. The USA Freedom Act is even supported by Freedom Works — the national conservative group that helped launch the tea party (those were their buses you saw at rallies) while continuing to fund Rush Limbaugh & Glenn Beck.
As the ACLU closes their plea for action: “Let's make sure our representatives in Congress hear us: We won't tolerate our own government spying on us any more. Let’s win this fight.”
Take Action:
Contact your legislators to support The USA Freedom Act via the ACLU and/or the EFF
More info:
Listen to the source segment for this activism at BOTL Activism: USA Freedom Act, episode #818 "Burn it to the ground (NSA Spying)”
Written by BOTL social media/activism director Katie Klabusich
Expose the TPP
BOTL segment excerpt:
A number of organizations, grassroots groups and watchdog outlets are lining up to oppose the Trans Pacific Partnership for all the reasons already mentioned and the dozens more that would doubtlessly be discovered AFTER implementation.
Expose The TPP [dot] org is a hub of information and action aggregated by a coalition of those groups and individual volunteers. You can find out how to deliver anti-TPP talking points in six seconds to your less tuned-in friends and family, get updates on the push to fast track the TPP through Congress, contact your representatives, write letters to the editor and suggest your own actions.
Take Action:
Visit the Expose The TPP website for resources, talking points, ways to contact your representatives and more.
Listen to the source segment for this activism at BOTL Activism: Expose the TPP, episode #792 "Don't get down with TPP (Corporate Takeover)”
Written by BOTL social media/activism director Katie Klabusich
The Ali Forney Center
BOTL segment excerpt:
We have what can only be described as an epidemic of homelessness among LGBTQ youth in this country. According to Colorlines, though only 5 to 7 percent of youth overall identify as LGBTQ, as many as 45 percent of homeless youth are queer identified. A conservative estimate is that there are 200,000 homeless LGBT youth, but just 350 beds in 10 programs across the nation to meet that need.
The Ali Forney Center was started in June 2002 as a response to the lack of safe shelter in New York City. They provide not only housing, drop in service, STI testing and treatment, substance abuse counseling and career assistance, but are "dedicated to promoting awareness of the plight of homeless LGBTQ youth in the United States with the goal of generating responses on local and national levels from government funders, foundations, and the LGBTQ community.”
Take Action:
More info:
Listen to the source segment for this activism at BOTL Activism: The Ali Forney Center, episode #821 "The arc of history and the stumbles along the way (LGBTQ Rights)”
Written by BOTL social media/activism director Katie Klabusich
