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We the People Takes the Next Step: Responding to White House Petitions

One of the top petitions submitted to the White House, with over 31,000 signatures as of October 24, 2011, concerned student loan debt. It's not surprising that a Senior Advisor to President Obama, David Plouffe, has said that President Obama’s recent relaxation of student debt burden reflects a policy that will help create jobs in the current economy and that “we can't wait for Congress to act.”

In his message he states:

“These policies aren't a substitute for the American Jobs Act, but they will make a difference. And we don't intend to stop there.

The best ideas for growing this economy won't come from Washington – they'll come from Americans like you.”

A top education advisor to President Obama, Roberto Rodriguez, had this to say about petitions submitted to the White House so far.

“Thank you for taking the time to participate in the "We the People" petition process. We launched this online tool as a way of hearing directly from you, and are pleased that you have responded by presenting this idea.

We agree that reducing the burden of student loans is an effective way to stimulate the economy and save taxpayer dollars. That's why we're excited to announce a new policy that speaks to the concerns expressed in this petition.

In the little more than a month since the White House launched We the People, 755,000 people used the platform to create or sign more than 12,400 petitions that have gathered over 1.2 million total signatures.”

The Tech Team responsible for helping to build and monitor the petition site at We the People, has reportedly benefited from feedback about the system itself. Over the past few weeks input to the website has been used to improve We the People's user experience.

Users can give additional feedback via Twitter using the hashtag #WHWeb and users can respond and follow the petition action on twitter by using @WeThePeople .

More on current activities is available at The White House Blog.

NM Business Leaders Urge Secretary Salazar to Support Clean Energy on Public Lands

from the New Mexico Green Chamber of Commerce
Albuquerque, NM (October 23, 2011) - On the heels of a successful statewide renewable energy conference, the New Mexico Green Chamber of Commerce today announced that 31 New Mexico business leaders have sent a letter to U.S. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, encouraging him to support the development of clean-energy projects on New Mexico's public, private, and Tribal lands for the benefit of the state's economy and environment. 
 
"These New Mexico businesses believe responsible clean-energy development on our state's abundant public lands will help spur economic growth and job creation, and urge Secretary Salazar to push on this transition to a new clean-energy economy," said Allan Oliver, CEO of the New Mexico Green Chamber of Commerce.
 
The New Mexico Green Chamber of Commerce's September conference in Las Cruces attracted 200 business leaders, representatives of industry, government, higher education, and research laboratories, as well as policy-makers from across the state and region.
 
Interior Department Adviser Alan Gilbert was a keynote speaker, and carried a message from the Secretary: "Encouraging new sources of renewable energy for our country on our public lands is a high priority for President Obama and Secretary Salazar, both for the energy people will be able to use and for the jobs these new and important businesses will bring."
 
To encourage a continued conversation with Secretary Salazar, New Mexico business leaders this month sent a letter to him asking that he work with them to "create local jobs while protecting our national treasures," adding that "New Mexico has some of the best clean energy resources in the nation but we are behind other states in harnessing new energy development... We would welcome the opportunity to work with you to develop additional new projects in New Mexico that meet your goals to both build America's new energy future and protect our treasured landscapes." 
 
According to the Brookings Institution, New Mexico has over 17,000 clean economy jobs, with each job producing approximately $10,000 in exports on average, but ranks 36th in the nation in the overall size of its green economy industry.

Celerah Hewes-Rutledge reporting from info@nmgreenchamber.com

Poll Results: The EPA, Not Congress, Should Determine Air Pollution Standards

from the New Mexico News Connection - A statewide news service for New Mexico
SANTA FE, N.M. - A new poll suggests Congress should butt out when it comes to air pollution standards in America. J. Drake Hamilton with the clean energy advocacy group Fresh Energy says the survey found that 75 percent of voters believe the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) should be in charge, as it has been for decades.

Hamilton says public health protections are currently under attack by some in Congress who want to delay requirements that coal plants get updated pollution control equipment, even though the poll found that clean air is not a partisan issue.

"Eighty-eight percent of Democrats, 85 percent of Independents and 58 percent of Republicans oppose Congress stopping the EPA from setting new limits to control air pollution from coal plants."

Hamilton says some of New Mexico's coal plants were built a half-century ago or longer and they're sending mercury, carbon dioxide, ozone and particulate pollution into the air and water. She says that's having an impact on health in the state, where nearly 14 percent of the adults suffer from asthma.

"And the pollutants from these coal-fired power plants are triggering more asthma attacks, hospital visits, and then for people with respiratory disease, in some cases, premature death. We think this is unacceptable and it turns out the voters overwhelmingly support stronger health-based rules."

Hamilton says the last time the Clean Air Act was updated was 21 years ago.

More information on the poll can be found at fresh-energy.org. The poll was conducted on behalf of the nonprofit environmental group Ceres, at www.ceres.org
Richard Alan reporting, nmnc@newsservice.org

Social Networking: A Growing Pursuit for NM's 50-Plus Crowd

from the New Mexico News Connection - A statewide news service for New Mexico
Santa Fe, NM – They may have been a little slower to jump on the online bandwagon, but now more than half of Internet users ages 50-65 use at least one social networking site, along with a third of those over 65. Marsha Collier, author of "Facebook and Twitter for Seniors" (one of the "Dummies" book series) has comments.

They're trying to get connected, although they're not always sure how to do it or why they should. A recent survey by the Pew Internet and American Life Project confirms that social media is now part of life for more than half of Internet users ages 50-to-65 - and a third of those over 65. Many seniors say they learned it from their child or grandchild. Marsha Collier says it's best to wade into social networking slowly. Pick one pursuit, such as Facebook or LinkedIn – or even emailing or texting on a mobile phone – and learn that first. And she says younger people can easily help parents or grandparents create a blog.

"All they have to do is go there and click ‘post.’ They can post about their garden; they can post about their children. And you’ll be surprised – even if there’s no response to the blog, it will give them a comfort factor of going onto the computer and typing a journal."

Collier says social networking – and Internet savvy in general – will help older people feel more connected instead of isolated, and that it's a good way to bring generations together when kids or grand-kids can help teach these skills.
Collier says even people who are hesitant to social-network will be more interested when they see all the friends and family members they can connect with.

"Sometimes the easiest thing is helping someone go to Facebook and seeing who of their friends are on Facebook – or people they’ve gone to work with in the past. Because Facebook makes it very accessible; if people have put in where they worked in the past, you can just look up the company and they may see somebody they know."

Collier says seniors may also become more interested in social networking when they realize they can make money selling things on eBay.

"I know for sure that lots of people who are listening have a lot of extra stuff laying around their house. Learn to sell it on eBay! There’s books for seniors on eBay. It’s all out there, it’s a whole new world – and I just don’t want anybody to close the door to it."

The report is at http://pewinternet.org/~/media/Files/Reports/2011/PIP-SNS-Update-2011.pdf
Richard Alan reporting, nmnc@newsservice.org

WORLD FOOD DAY: In New Mexico Kids Suffered Food Hardship in 2010

The Food Research and Action Center released a report Thursday on rates of food hardship over the year 2010, finding that 28.3 percent of New Mexico families with children had trouble getting food on the table in the past year.

The report took polling data from Gallup. Gallup asks: “Have there been times in the past twelve months when you did not have enough money to buy food that your or your family needed?” A yes answer means food hardship.

New Mexico had the 12th-highest rate of food hardship in the 50 states and the District of Columbia, with 28.3 percent of families with children and  16.5 percent of families without children experiencing food hardship.

The Albuquerque metro area had the 18th-highest rate with virtually identical rates of 28.2 percent of families with children and 15.8 percent of families without children experiencing food hardship.

The question asked didn’t address issues like the duration or frequency of food hardship. Regardless, the numbers are high. For additional information visit the New Mexico Center for Law and Poverty’s page on food stamp benefits in New Mexico  http://nmpovertylaw.org/WP-nmclp/wordpress/?page_id=49. Gov. Martinez has also announced she will ask the legislature to reauthorize additional state food aid that supplements the federal SNAP benefit.

View the report here: http://frac.org/pdf/aug2011_food_hardship_report_children.pdf
as reported by Luke Johnson in the New Mexico Independent -- 08-11-2011

How Much is that Doggie on the Internet?

from the New Mexico News Connection - A statewide news service for New Mexico
Santa Fe, NM – Puppy mills are still pumping out dogs at thousands of locations around the U-S and selling directly to the consumer on-line without any regulations. One group is asking the Obama Administration to require that all large-scale commercial breeders be covered by the USDA’s Animal Welfare Act regulations, which would require minimum standards for humane treatment.

You can buy just about anything on-line now, but when that purchase is a brand new puppy, how much do you really know about where or how the puppy came to be? Thousands of puppies are bred and sold by large-scale commercial breeders often called “puppy mills.” Justina Calgiano, with the SPCA, says it's a situation where the humane treatment of animals takes a back seat to production and profit.

"The nature of it is just completely irresponsible and that's the reason shelters like us are in business."

Calgiano says a closer look at the issue shows one clear solution to the problem of puppy mills; if people don't buy from them, they won't stay in business.

"It's really getting out there that adopting a pet is really the only way to go and the only way to solve the problem of overpopulation."

The Humane Society currently has an on-line petition, gathering signatures to ask the Obama Administration to require commercial breeders to be covered by the USDA’s Animal Welfare Act regulations, which would require minimum standards for humane treatment.
Richard Alan reporting, nmnc@newsservice.org

 

"Let's Talk Month" - All About the Birds and the Bees

from the New Mexico News Connection - A statewide news service for New Mexico
SANTA FE, N.M. - October is "Let's Talk Month," designed to help encourage conversations between parents and children about sexuality.

Rhonda Ruby, health education manager for Planned Parenthood, says it can be difficult for parents to know when to have that conversation, and to what extent to carry it, but there are benefits to consider.

"We know that when those conversations are taking place, we know that young people are much more likely to delay having sex, they're likely to have fewer partners, and they are much more likely to use condoms and other forms of birth control."

Ruby says Planned Parenthood has a website that can help parents begin the conversation, as well as providing guidelines on age-appropriate information.

"Never too early to start having that conversation. Of course, you want those conversations to be age-appropriate. What you say to perhaps an eight-year-old is going to be different than what you say to an 18-year-old, so kind of a process where you can do it in phases."

She says the biggest fear they hear from parents is that if they bring up the subject, it will be interpreted as giving permission to have sex, but Ruby says research has found that isn't the case, and in fact young people want to hear the information from a parent.

For more information visit www.plannedparenthood.org
Richard Alan reporting, nmnc@newsservice.org

Report: "Take Cover" when Farming

from the New Mexico News Connection - A statewide news service for New Mexico
SANTA FE, N. M. - Farming is vital to New Mexico's economy, and a new report takes a look at agriculture production trends around the country - focusing on natural methods to keep soil healthy and productive. Growing cover crops in the off-season and using more organic production methods are two recommendations.

The report suggests ways to help farmers save money, boost production and help the environment. Report coauthor Eliav Bitan, agriculture adviser for the National Wildlife Federation, says cover crops minimize soil erosion, provide food for many game bird species, and reduce fertilizer use in the next crop year.

"It'll soak up any of those extra nutrients, it'll die, and it'll return those nutrients to the soil so the farmer can use those nutrients next year."

The report makes seven recommendations for agricultural production, including the use on on-farm anaerobic digesters to treat animal waste, and reduced tilling.

Bitan says organic produce is still gaining in popularity with consumers, and points out that organic farming practices are becoming more profitable for farmers.

"A farmer can benefit on the bottom line by reducing their fertilizer costs or their herbicide costs, the same time as wildlife can benefit, the same time as the water quality can benefit."

The report, "Future Friendly Farming: Seven Agricultural Practices to Sustain People and the Environment," says organic farming practices also require 60 percent less energy use compared to traditional farming methods. Read it online at http://tinyurl.com/3o9lyxt.

Richard Alan reporting, nmnc@newsservice.org

New Mexico "Smart Solar Zones" Showcased

LAS CRUCES, N.M. - The Bureau of Land Management is planning ahead for large-scale solar development on public lands, outlining 24 Solar Energy Zones in southwestern states. The idea is to find areas with the most solar potential and the least conflict with wildlife and recreation.

The Wilderness Society says the federal agency is doing a good job, and Jason Marks, New Mexico's public regulation commissioner, agrees.

"There is one in the Deming area, which is southwest part of the state, close to the Arizona border, and then there's another one I think in the Afton area, which is the southern-central part of the state."

The Wilderness Society has issued a new report reviewing the proposed Solar Energy Zones, and only finds major concerns with three of them - in Arizona and California - because of conflicts with wildlife or recreation.

Alex Daue, renewable-energy associate for The Wilderness Society's BLM Action Center, says outlining zones ahead of time is good business for the solar industry as well as the environment.

"The fact that these areas are generally flat, have great solar resources and are close to existing roads and power lines will decrease construction costs."

Daue says the report also finds that local support for the zones in New Mexico is strong when folks discover that popular hunting, fishing and hiking areas won't be impacted. The BLM is expected to complete the environmental review of the sites next year.

Dick Layman, Public News Service - NM

AARP: Super Committee Needs to Hear from New Mexicans

from the New Mexico News Connection - A statewide news service for New Mexico
SANTA FE, N.M. - While most people are listening to the presidential candidates talk about cuts to Medicare and Social Security, it's the so-called congressional "super committee" that really counts. It has a broad mandate to consider spending cuts and tax changes to create a package of budget reductions worth $1.5 trillion in 10 years.

Although none of the state's congressional delegation is on the committee, Bess Velasquez, a spokeswoman for New Mexico AARP, says New Mexicans' opinions still can be heard.

"We actually have a special map at our website where people can go and basically sign an e-letter to let the 'super committee' know they don't want any cuts to Social Security or Medicare benefits as a means to solving our deficit issue."

In New Mexico, Velasquez says, cuts to Medicare and Social Security programs which seniors have earned and paid into, would have an immediate impact on the state's economy.

"Our concern is that the committee will focus on cutting benefits - issues like, under Social Security, they're looking at things like increasing the retirement age, which means people would have to work longer before they can access their benefits - and that would have an immediate effect on people."

For the government to remain solvent, some in Congress say, both programs need benefit cuts, but Velasquez says with prices up on everything from prescriptions to utilities, cuts to earned benefits could take a harsh toll on many.

More information is online at www.aarp.org .
Richard Alan reporting, nmnc@newsservice.org