WE DID IT! After nearly 200,000 people -- including you! -- signed our petitions demanding that a woman moderate a presidential debate for the first time in 20 years, it's been confirmed that CNN’s Candy Crowley will moderate one of the presidential debates on October 16.

This is an amazing win -- a moment that proves that when women speak out, our voices are heard.

We were shocked last spring when we learned in our high school civics class that it had been 20 years since a woman last moderated a presidential debate. We're only 16, which means that no woman has moderated a presidential debate in our lifetimes!

We thought this was unacceptable, and we wanted to do something about it. So we started a petition on Change.org. Nearly 200,000 signatures later, we traveled to Washington, DC to deliver our petition to the Commission on Presidential Debates -- but they refused to meet with us, or even to accept our petitions!

We were so angry that the Commission was ignoring us, and ignoring all of you who signed our petitions. So we doubled down our efforts. We talked about our petition on NPR, CNN, FOX News, and MSNBC, and were featured in The New York Times and USA Today, among others. The Commission may have been afraid to talk to us, but we weren't afraid to tell the world that it was way past time for them to recognize female journalists. We're so excited they came through.

This moment means so much to us, not just because of the part we played in making it happen, but because we think it's so important for little girls all over America to watch the presidential debates and see themselves on the stage of American politics. We want them to look at the television and know that their ideas and questions matter. And to believe that, one day, they could stand on that stage as well.

Thank you so much for making this moment possible. We couldn't have done it without you.

- Emma Axelrod, Sammi Siegel, and Elena Tsemberis

Typically I don't write myself but I found out a couple interesting things that I thought of real quick for everyone.

1. Vertical City Farms    I guess cities and communities are suffering from bad food and food "deserts" and these city farms help provide the community with good food. They have training centers and there are many different organizations all over the United States that I know of. One such organization is run by Will Allen (All-Star Basketball player) and can be found at growingpower.org. 

2. Sweden is trying to promote tourism on twitter by having a daily tweet by a citizen of Sweden. It is @Sweden. I really haven't looked much at it, but the idea is a really good one. You get to see what an ordinary human being is feeling in another place. It is random and I think you have to have an interest in that sort of thing. Great way to rally a country together though. 

Both of these ideas came from an old episode of the "Colbert Report". Thanks Steve! 

That's it. 

Jenni Hamilton

from PETA website

 

Dr. Drew's Cure for Animal Homelessness

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Dr. Drew Pinsky has spent nearly three decades curing patients in his internal medicine and addiction practice and inspring others to seek treatment through his television and radio programs, including Dr. Drew, Loveline, Dr. Drew's Lifechangers, and Celebrity Rehab. Now, Dr. Drew is using his influence as one of the most listened-to physicians in America to help remedy the animal overpopulation crisis. In his new ad for PETA, he says that keeping animals from reproducing is a snap: All it takes is a snip.
Every year, 6 to 8 million abandoned, lost, or unwanted dogs and cats enter animal shelters. Half are euthanized because there simply are not enough homes for them all. Animals who aren't fortunate enough to be taken to a shelter struggle to survive on the streets and suffer from starvation, dehydration, diseases, parasites, or injuries or are tortured by cruel people.
In his behind-the-scenes interview, Dr. Drew noted, "I think it takes just a little bit of attention to be responsible, and you can have a dramatic impact on this crisis." Hear why he thinks ending the animal homelessness crisis is everyone's responsibility:

We sat down with Dr. Drew and asked him what he thought about animal homelessness. Check out his answer in this video.
Aside from always spaying and neutering, here are more ways that anyone can help end the animal overpopulation crisis:

• Always adopt from a shelter—never buy from a pet store or breeder.
• Encourage friends and family who are considering adopting to think about the lifetime commitment that animals require so that the animal won't end up back at the shelter.
• Pledge to end animal homelessness today! 
• Celebrate adopted animals with a special #AdoptDontBuy hashtag on Twitter. Follow @peta on Twitter and then tweet us why you love your rescued friend.

Congress Renews Import Ban as Human Rights Abuses Continue in Burma

08/02/12

By Rebecca Dennis

Rohingya refugees from Burma in a makeshift camp.

After nearly a week of delays, the United States Congress has passed legislation renewing the Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act. House of Representatives bill 5986 and Senate bill 3326 both passed on August 2 and will serve to extend U.S. import sanctions on Burma for another year.
For months now, we have encouraged activists like you to contact your Senators and Representatives and urge them to support the renewal of the Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act (BFDA). This legislation became all the more crucial following the Obama Administrations announcement in July that the U.S. had begun the process of easing restrictions on investment in Burma. The renewal of the BFDA allows the United States to keep some pressure on the Burmese government as violence continues against ethnic nationals and the progress toward democracy is nascent.
While the passage of the bill marks an important achievement, President Obama still maintains the right to waive the import ban should the U.S. feel that the Burmese government has made sufficient progress toward resolving tensions with the ethnic minority states, inclusive and sustainable democratic reforms and respect for human rights. The Obama administration’s ability to waive key provisions of the bill will be something that we continue to track moving forward.
Last week, the vote was delayed by several Senators who had placed “holds” on the bill, preventing the import ban from being passed through a special expedited process before it expired on July 28. Adding to the pressure, the August recess was fast approaching. Had Congress failed to renew the import ban by the end of this week, it would have meant pushing the vote back until after Labor Day.
Human rights groups have continued to remind the U.S. government about the importance of continued pressure on Burma as violence against ethnic nationals continues in places like Kachin and Arakan States.
Thank you to all those who have taken action to ensure that these crucial sanctions can remain in place.

Egypt Pyramids Discovered On Google Earth, Researcher Says

Posted: 08/13/2012 11:51 am Updated: 08/13/2012 12:49 pm

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Armchair archeologists rejoice! A researcher may have made an exciting discovery using Google Earth, a program that allows users to navigate satellite images of the world on their personal computers.
Sky News reports that archeology researcher Angela Micol has identified two sites that could show never-before-seen ancient pyramids in Egypt.
Archeology News Network describes one of the possible complexes:

One of the complex sites contains a distinct, four-sided, truncated, pyramidal shape that is approximately 140 feet in width. This site contains three smaller mounds in a very clear formation, similar to the diagonal alignment of the Giza Plateau pyramids.

SCROLL DOWN FOR PHOTOS.
Further research is needed confirm the findings, however Micol thinks the images tell all.
"The images speak for themselves. It's very obvious what the sites may contain, but field research is needed to verify they are, in fact, pyramids," Micol said, according to Discovery News.
According to GoogleEarthAnomalies.com, an Egyptologist verified that the sites were previously undiscovered.
Need a refresher on Egypt's pyramids? Check out this neat interactive from National Geographic or read more about the latest possible discovery at Discovery News.
Image credit: Angela Micol / Google Earth.

'Lost' Pyramids Discovered

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From the ASPCA! GREAT ORGANIZATION!   Finally: They're Ready for Loving Homes

In February the ASPCA rescued hundreds of cats from the overrun Florida sanctuary known as Caboodle Ranch. Back then, very few of these cats were healthy—and some were gravely ill.

But over the next six months, we were able to nurse these cats back to health. That was no small feat, but cases like these are why the ASPCA exists. Our organization is equipped to take on massive challenges like the Caboodle case, and it's all because of our generous members.

Case in point: The Caboodle operation has involved more than:

• 550 responders and 85,000 man-hours • 142,000 cans of wet cat food • 7,900 pounds of dry cat food • 139,000 pounds of cat litter • 3,500 doses of flea-and-tick preventive • 5,000 doses of antibiotics

And of course, the ASPCA's work for cruelty victims goes far beyond caring for their immediate physical needs. The ASPCA also fought in court to ensure the Caboodle cats could find loving homes. And in late July, our dreams for these cats came true: A judge ruled that we could place them with wonderful families.

The adoption events for these cats are set for August 11 and 12, and we're racing against the clock to prepare these pets for adoption—the final chapter of our work for these animals.

The Caboodle cats have come such a long way, and their journey—and the journeys of the millions of other animals the ASPCA has assisted—has been possible thanks to members like you. With your support, the ASPCA is able to rescue animals in need across the country. Your gift today will help us place all cats in need in the loving homes they deserve, and help us rescue the countless animals still waiting for our help.

Thank you for your support.

Squirt

1 year / 8 months old
Domestic Medium Hair / Mix
I'm Squirt, and my alias is Flopper because I flop down in front of you asking for a belly rub. I also love petting and stroking and rubbing and sweet words of affection and promise to give you just as much affection in return.

If you want more than one cat, I could go home with a friend since I play so well with others. The more, the merrier!

I get to free roam walking all around the cat adoption area as I can be trusted not to start trouble with the other cats. I also welcome hellos and pets from adopters coming to visit their potential new family members.

Nobody picked me yet, so I have to assume they weren't right for me. Maybe they had kids, which is a no-no for me. You see, when I get riled up from energetic play, I go for people's hands using my claws which hurts humans. Kids don't realize when I'm getting too excited and that they need to cool things down.

I'm very friendly and like lap sitting, rubbing on humans, hugs, head butts and many kinds of affection.

Are you a patient and fun-loving pet parent? I hope so. I need a good home with a patient person. Hope you can help me.

Love,

Squirt (but not a little one - I'm a big manly man)

Adoption fee: Waived