Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Creating a better world
Hopefully, I removed everyone from the distribution list who did not want to be on it.
I have recently seen a couple of programs that have really impressed me... one was an interview with Cindy Sheehan on Democracy, Now. How painful to hear how much criticism she has received from Democrats, progressives, and "the left" after all the wonderful work she has done. It certainly seems true that our egos get in the way of working together, even with others who essentially agree with us! Her other point was how exhausted she was putting so much of herself into this anti-war work, but that if each of us who opposed Bush and his agenda would just do a little, we would make great progress.
I still think it would be great if everyone boycotted ExxonMobil in favor of Citgo, and if there is a movement that gets started to put a tax on gasoline to fund public transportation... as has been suggested... I would support that as well. The other program, an exerpt from the the film "Heir to Bolivar" was about Hugo Chavez's efforts to create alternatives to the World Bank and IMF. Very interesting. Fair trade, not "free trade."
Even in this negative political climate, we can exercise our will as consumers against the primary beneficiary of the Iraq War, as well as protect our kids from military recruiters.
Massachusetts residents, please read the following and tell all your friends.
Louellyn Lambros
Monday, May 28, 2007
Re: Vigil Report, Memorial Day, May 28, 2007
Good show, Plymouth!
Up here in the Kingston/Duxbury neighborhood, we
manned two overpasses between the hours of 12 - 2 p.m.
Up here in the Kingston/Duxbury neighborhood, we
manned two overpasses between the hours of 12 - 2 p.m.
We had a tremendous response. People honked, waved,
gave the thumbs up, the peace sign. We had only three
middle finger responses, which I take to be very
minimal. We hope that the Norwell crew did as well on
the River Street overpass...
Janet Alfieri, Nancy Landgren, Pat Garrity, and I,
Ellen Snoeyenbos, were enough to cover the two
overpasses in both directions! We have signage that is
colorful and to the point: End this War, Support our
troops, end this war, etc.
I think doing overpasses during the summer makes great
sense. You will hit far more people that way and it's
really kind of fun!
Let's keep the conversation going about coordinating
overpass vigils on many of the highways in
Massachusetts. It is a great way to connect with other
like-minded individuals.
Thanks for all your peaceful efforts.
Ellen
--- "THEODORE A. CURTIN" <tacurtin@verizon.net> wrote:
> Dear Friends,
>
> Despite forecast rain threats, about 10 of us turned
> out to stand vigil, in shifts, on what became a
> nice, breezy day up on the Summer St. overpass of
> Rte. 3 in Plymouth. We had enough to man both sides
> of the bridge, overlooking both South and North
> bound traffic, plus signs facing onto Summer St.,
> from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM.
>
> Response from all directions was very considerable,
> and quite gratifying, all day.
>
> In view of such a positive reaction and the heavy
> volume of traffic, it has been suggested that, for
> the Summer, we move our weekly vigil to Summer St.
> overpass, and perhaps extend it as members wish,
> choosing time slots that are more to their liking.
>
> Please think about this and let us all know what
> your preference is. Please use "reply to all" when
> you answer, so all can follow the question.
>
> Thanks to all of you who responded today, and Peace
> to all of us,
>
> Ted
Ellen Snoeyenbos
106 South Street
Halifax, MA 02338
781-294-1091 home
781-934-2721 x106 work
____________________________________________________________________________________Ready for the edge of your seat?
Check out tonight's top picks on Yahoo! TV.
Vigil Report, Memorial Day, May 28, 2007
Dear Friends,
Despite forecast rain threats, about 10 of us turned out to stand vigil, in shifts, on what became a nice, breezy day up on the Summer St. overpass of Rte. 3 in Plymouth. We had enough to man both sides of the bridge, overlooking both South and North bound traffic, plus signs facing onto Summer St., from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM.
Response from all directions was very considerable, and quite gratifying, all day.
In view of such a positive reaction and the heavy volume of traffic, it has been suggested that, for the Summer, we move our weekly vigil to Summer St. overpass, and perhaps extend it as members wish, choosing time slots that are more to their liking.
Please think about this and let us all know what your preference is. Please use "reply to all" when you answer, so all can follow the question.
Thanks to all of you who responded today, and Peace to all of us,
Ted
Friday, May 25, 2007
News of Friends
Dear Vigilers,
The following just in from former vigilers who are on their long-planned voyage in their boat, Nantascot, perhaps around the world!
----- Original Message -----
From: Virginia Wilcox
Sent: Friday, May 25, 2007 11:04 AM
Subject: email list
Dear Ted,
Thank you for keeping us up to date on the vigils and other peace related matters this past year. We are grateful for the information and work that the group has been doing.
We have "landed" in North Carolina and are in contact with the Coastal Carolina for Peace Group - an interesting and active group here, near Beaufort. However, We are leaving for Bermuda on the boat next week and expect to continue on to the Azores and most likely will continue sailing until next Spring (08) so regretfully I am requesting that you take us off your list. Please give our fond regards to all.
Virginia Wilcox and David Moore
Vigil Reminder, May 26 2007
Dear Friends,
A reminder: We will NOT be standing vigil tomorrow noon in Shirley Square.
Instead, we will be doing another "Overpass Vigil" on Monday, May 28, from 10:00 to 4:00 on the Summer St. overpass of Rte 3.
We will be manning the vigil in shifts of an hour each. The hours in need of vigilers are 1:00 to 4:00.
Please advise times you plan to vigil, using "Reply to All" so others will know which slots are open.
Since we live nearby, Grace and I will check to help turnovers and coverage.
Hope to see you there "on the bridge".
Peace,
Ted
Re: act on oil prices -- an interesting idea!
I thank you all for your thoughtful and thought provoking comments. I was not sorry for my rant yesterday, but I am today. I hope it came across as respectful although it did not accentuate the ways in which we can agree. And there are many. I agree with Fred that conservation is of the utmost importance. But once we start doing it the oil companies will respond by increasing supply for waning demand so they will continue to rake it in.
Driving economically is great. Public transportaion is better and living close to work is also better. Does everyone know that there was once an intricate web of rail lines that went from Boston to Worcester, Springfield, Greenfield, Deerfield, amherst, that were privately run and were bought up by General Motors in the thirties and forfties and dismantled so we would have to buy cars? Do we understand that steel wheels on steel rails are the second highest in fuel efficiency, behind water transportation?
THe christain right has something going for it that we don't. That is devotion to their cause via "god's work." We need that kind of devotion to the future for our children and grandchildren that can have a beautiful clean place to raise their families. Did anyone else know that James Watt, the Secretary to the Interior under Ronald Reagan, said before Congress, "What is the point of conservation, when Christ will not come again until the last tree is felled?" This is what we are up against. We MUST get a grip on our government.
I agree with Janet and Francois. I love the idea of a $3 tax on gas. But would the oil companies allow congress to pass it? Would W not veto it? It would reduce their profits. They don't like Chavez putting a tax on the Venezuelan oil to give health care to his needy. They're trying to control his government, too.
I feel priveleged to hear from,and be listened to,by such a group of thoughtful and realistic idealists as you. Please, let's stick together. We can make a difference. But I think it will stretch our comfort zones.
I agree with Louelyn that we can and should avoid EXXON MOBIL gas stations. They will change their strategy. It still won't be good, but we need to shape them up.
I also agree with Donna that these terrorists are justifiably angry, so I'm on that NSA list too, as if I weren't before. The prtice of Social Justice is Economic Justice. Why should the be so poor, why should they have nothing why should we have so much. We could feed the world since we have two-thirds of the world's grade "A" farmland, instead of letting them starve and paying the farmers not to farm.
This weekend we will have Arlinton Cemetery South here on South Beach, thousands of graves all over the beach on Ocean Drive in protest for this war for oil. I will send you pictures if you like.
Although we don't always agree, I hope we can concentrate on what we do agree on.
Very Truly Yours,
Tom
On 5/25/07, Janet Smith <janet@jlfsmithassociates.com> wrote:
I believe it was Francois Mitterrand who once said that it was hard to feel
sorry for a country (the US) whose problems could be largely solved by a $3
a gallon (pick a good number for today) gasoline tax. It's an interesting
thought if you start teasing out the implications - here are a few that I
can think of:
1. Funding for and vastly improved mass transit
2. Revitalization of our railroads and reduction in long-haul trucking
3. Reduced demand to keep building highways
4. Funding for and availability of alternative energy sources
5. Revitalization of the inner cities - people moved to the suburbs because
gas was cheap. There's far less suburban sprawl in Europe.
6. Reduced crime (it comes w/ the revitalization)
7. Reduced packaging (much of which is from petro-chemicals) and waste
disposal problems. Increased uses for recycled materials
8. Economical vehicles (no more SUVs and pick-up trucks unless people
actually need to haul stuff in them)
9. Reduced air pollution and lower medical expense due to respiratory
diseases aggravated by air pollution
10. Improved physical fitness - people in the city walk more. - also will
lower medical costs
11. Less ground water pollution from all the suburban sprawl and petro
chemicals used on lawns, etc.
12. And the biggie - abatement of global warming
So I'm with Donna - keep raising those prices. This is a limited resource
and we should treat it as such. Just because it's not going to run out in
our lifetimes doesn't't mean we get to use it all up. And - it's caused a
lot of problems that need fixing.
My only regret is that the high price is not going to address some of these
needs, but rather is lining the pockets of the refiners, oil companies and
producing nations' elite. Nevertheless, some of the effect will be the same
as private individuals and industry respond to the increased cost. We will
change our behaviors and that can't be all bad.
The notion that we are entitled to or should load our kids in a big SUV and
then drive from one end of the mall to the other is ludicrous. Many of us
have already figured this out and don't need the lesson. For the rest -
eventually they'll respond if the price keeps going up.
One footnote - this is a very inflationary situation as the high price of
fuel will trickle down through the entire economy and result in higher costs
for all goods and most services. This will surely hurt the poorest among us
the worst and can have a serious impact on the economy (coupled w/ paying
for the war).
I hope you don't mind my contribution to this discussion.
Janet Smith
Subject: Re: act on oil prices -- an interesting idea!
I agree with Fred. Our gas prices are TOO LOW! And way too many people are
still buying SUVs and pick up trucks for which they have absolutely no use
except as image enhancers. Too many people are choosing to live far away
from their jobs. This has got to stop. Either it will stop voluntarily (not
very likely, given our entitlement mentality) or it will stop when gas gets
so expensive that people no longer have the option of driving gas guzzlers
and making long commutes.
It is our entitlement mentality that makes us "Ugly Americans" and the
target of justifiably resentful terrorists. (Oops, I guess I just added to
my FBI file with that "unpatriotic" remark.) It is our excessive gasoline
use that forces us to either create cozy alliances with repressive regimes,
the way we used to, or to just invade and occupy the countries that happen
to have "our" oil under "their" sand, the way the Halliburton administration
is currently doing.
Donna
>>> GAS WAR - an idea that WILL work
>
> I continue to be offended (sorry) by all of the schemes to avoid
> paying what we should really be paying for gasoline. Europe (which,
> in most countries, does not subsidize the oil industry the way the US
> does) tends to pay well over $5.00 USD per gallon (in most countries),
> which is much closer to the true cost of gasoline production. The
> only "true scheme" to pay less for a dwindling resource is to
> CONSERVE.
>
> George W said that Americans are addicted to oil (the only thing I can
> remember agreeing with George Bush about). And, it seems the ~only~
> way Americans are ~ever~ going to conserve is to be forced to do so by
> paying what we really should be paying, and to drive vehicles that are
> more appropriate for the task at hand and for the sake of the world.
> Some people do need to drive monstrous vehicles, but those people
> should be willing to pay for that use - most of of could and should be
> driving vehicles that are much more fuel efficient. We should not be
> proud of how big our American vehicles are - we should be embarrassed.
>
> Much more research and development should go into development of
> alternative sources of automotive energy, and the funding for that
> could and should come from increased gasoline taxes earmarked for such
> R&D. The US lags behind much of the world in alternative energy
> efforts simply because we never have to really do anything about our
> gluttony for fossil fuels. It seems the only times in US history that
> any serious discussion over energy have occurred are those times when
> we were forced to pay higher (truer) costs or were forced to worry
> about where are next tank of precious gasoline is going to come from.
>
> Although American make up only about 5% percent of the world's
> population, we consume over 25% of the world's energy. Is this "OK"?
>
> Yes - we should all be "hurting" the Big Oil companies, by buying
> ~less~ fuel from ~all~ of them ~every~ day of the week.
>
> I'm sorry for the rant (sort of...).
>
> Fred
>
>
Creating a better world
Thanks to everyone for your comments on my recent e-mails. In his book The Left Hand of God: Taking Back Our Country from the Religious Right, Rabbi Michael Lerner makes the compelling argument that self-described progressives have more in common with conservatives than we realize. He argues that the appeal of the right is that they make people feel good about themselves. Progressives may have insightful analysis, but offer no redemption, let's say to the white heterosexual male who bears the burden of slavery, genocide of Native Americans, corporate globalization and so on. What is needed instead is a common and positive vision that can unite us against the financial elite, who ae using our children as cannon fodder.
In the documentary "The End of Oil," it is revealed that of the thirty oil producing nations, fifteen are past peak oil, in other words producing less oil today than at their peak production. The consequences of that are increasingly careless and earth destroying means of extracting oil and resource wars with other human beings. That is the midst of this reality, one company, Exxon Mobil, has made greater profits than any company in history, is disturbing to a broad spectrum of people. That common belief can serve to unite us, even as we look for means to conserve energy and develop alternatives.
Donna hit upon what I think is one of the major issues with regard to conservation -- that so many of us work far away from where we live. The impracticality of abandoning millions of suburban homes and finding places in the city, however, is a problem. But I think the situation is more hopeful than that. The vast majority of service workers -- waitresses, home health workers, etc. -- do work close to home. Typically, those of us who work in offices do not. Telecommuting needs to be pushed as a conservation issue. Many more people could work at home than who are currently doing so. The reasons for keeping us in city offices has more to do with power and control than anything else. This would not address the work lives of all of us who work far from home, but certainly a huge number of us. And the conservation impact would be tremendous.
I would like to end this missive with my repeated plea to Massachusetts residents for your support for House Bill 562, to protect our kids from military recruiters. This could be such an easy victory, if our state politicians hear from large numbers of their constituents. Please consider doing this and telling all your friends.
RE: act on oil prices -- an interesting idea!
I believe it was Francois Mitterrand who once said that it was hard to feel
sorry for a country (the US) whose problems could be largely solved by a $3
a gallon (pick a good number for today) gasoline tax. It's an interesting
thought if you start teasing out the implications - here are a few that I
can think of:
sorry for a country (the US) whose problems could be largely solved by a $3
a gallon (pick a good number for today) gasoline tax. It's an interesting
thought if you start teasing out the implications - here are a few that I
can think of:
1. Funding for and vastly improved mass transit
2. Revitalization of our railroads and reduction in long-haul trucking
3. Reduced demand to keep building highways
4. Funding for and availability of alternative energy sources
5. Revitalization of the inner cities - people moved to the suburbs because
gas was cheap. There's far less suburban sprawl in Europe.
6. Reduced crime (it comes w/ the revitalization)
7. Reduced packaging (much of which is from petro-chemicals) and waste
disposal problems. Increased uses for recycled materials
8. Economical vehicles (no more SUVs and pick-up trucks unless people
actually need to haul stuff in them)
9. Reduced air pollution and lower medical expense due to respiratory
diseases aggravated by air pollution
10. Improved physical fitness - people in the city walk more. - also will
lower medical costs
11. Less ground water pollution from all the suburban sprawl and petro
chemicals used on lawns, etc.
12. And the biggie - abatement of global warming
So I'm with Donna - keep raising those prices. This is a limited resource
and we should treat it as such. Just because it's not going to run out in
our lifetimes doesn't't mean we get to use it all up. And - it's caused a
lot of problems that need fixing.
My only regret is that the high price is not going to address some of these
needs, but rather is lining the pockets of the refiners, oil companies and
producing nations' elite. Nevertheless, some of the effect will be the same
as private individuals and industry respond to the increased cost. We will
change our behaviors and that can't be all bad.
The notion that we are entitled to or should load our kids in a big SUV and
then drive from one end of the mall to the other is ludicrous. Many of us
have already figured this out and don't need the lesson. For the rest -
eventually they'll respond if the price keeps going up.
One footnote - this is a very inflationary situation as the high price of
fuel will trickle down through the entire economy and result in higher costs
for all goods and most services. This will surely hurt the poorest among us
the worst and can have a serious impact on the economy (coupled w/ paying
for the war).
I hope you don't mind my contribution to this discussion.
Janet Smith
Subject: Re: act on oil prices -- an interesting idea!
I agree with Fred. Our gas prices are TOO LOW! And way too many people are
still buying SUVs and pick up trucks for which they have absolutely no use
except as image enhancers. Too many people are choosing to live far away
from their jobs. This has got to stop. Either it will stop voluntarily (not
very likely, given our entitlement mentality) or it will stop when gas gets
so expensive that people no longer have the option of driving gas guzzlers
and making long commutes.
It is our entitlement mentality that makes us "Ugly Americans" and the
target of justifiably resentful terrorists. (Oops, I guess I just added to
my FBI file with that "unpatriotic" remark.) It is our excessive gasoline
use that forces us to either create cozy alliances with repressive regimes,
the way we used to, or to just invade and occupy the countries that happen
to have "our" oil under "their" sand, the way the Halliburton administration
is currently doing.
Donna
>>> GAS WAR - an idea that WILL work
>
> I continue to be offended (sorry) by all of the schemes to avoid
> paying what we should really be paying for gasoline. Europe (which,
> in most countries, does not subsidize the oil industry the way the US
> does) tends to pay well over $5.00 USD per gallon (in most countries),
> which is much closer to the true cost of gasoline production. The
> only "true scheme" to pay less for a dwindling resource is to
> CONSERVE.
>
> George W said that Americans are addicted to oil (the only thing I can
> remember agreeing with George Bush about). And, it seems the ~only~
> way Americans are ~ever~ going to conserve is to be forced to do so by
> paying what we really should be paying, and to drive vehicles that are
> more appropriate for the task at hand and for the sake of the world.
> Some people do need to drive monstrous vehicles, but those people
> should be willing to pay for that use - most of of could and should be
> driving vehicles that are much more fuel efficient. We should not be
> proud of how big our American vehicles are - we should be embarrassed.
>
> Much more research and development should go into development of
> alternative sources of automotive energy, and the funding for that
> could and should come from increased gasoline taxes earmarked for such
> R&D. The US lags behind much of the world in alternative energy
> efforts simply because we never have to really do anything about our
> gluttony for fossil fuels. It seems the only times in US history that
> any serious discussion over energy have occurred are those times when
> we were forced to pay higher (truer) costs or were forced to worry
> about where are next tank of precious gasoline is going to come from.
>
> Although American make up only about 5% percent of the world's
> population, we consume over 25% of the world's energy. Is this "OK"?
>
> Yes - we should all be "hurting" the Big Oil companies, by buying
> ~less~ fuel from ~all~ of them ~every~ day of the week.
>
> I'm sorry for the rant (sort of...).
>
> Fred
>
>
Thursday, May 24, 2007
Re: act on oil prices -- an interesting idea!
What a dilemma though. Yes, higher prices would perhaps lead to a change in practices toward conservation. That will take some time--can't turn the wheel of the ship Queen Mary and have any immediate response--takes a while (after all the practices have taken a while to be established as well). In the meantime, as we wait for larger market forces to bring about affordable cleaner alternatives....
....the nature of this financial curb on consumption is regressive: those who can afford the big luxury cars have way more expendable income to keep filling them up, but those on limited means will be the ones who feel the bite first, hardest and prohibitively. The working poor will be much more drastically affected by higher gas prices. If we had adequate mass transportation outside of urban areas this might not matter as much, a la Europe where gas prices are so high.
Policies based largely on economic impacts will always benefit the more priveleged and wealthy--those who have the greatest influence as well on public policy. So we who are priveleged perhaps need to speak to more of longer term enlightened self interest of survival if not out of motivation for helping others by self sacrifice.
Grant Barber
St. Luke's
-------------- Original message --------------
From: "Donna Moulton" <donnamoulton@cox.net>
> I agree with Fred. Our gas prices are TOO LOW! And way too many people are
> still buying SUVs and pick up trucks for which they have absolutely no use
> except as image enhancers. Too many people are choosing to live far away
> from their jobs. This has got to stop. Either it will stop voluntarily (not
> very likely, given our entitlement mentality) or it will stop when gas gets
> so expensive that people no longer have the option of driving gas guzzlers
> and making long commutes.
>
> It is our entitlement mentality that makes us "Ugly Americans" and the
> target of justifiably resentful terrorists. (Oops, I guess I just added to
> my FBI file with that "unpatriotic" remark.) It is our excessive gasoline
> ; use that forces us to either create cozy alliances with repressive regimes,
> the way we used to, or to just invade and occupy the countries that happen
> to have "our" oil under "their" sand, the way the Halliburton administration
> is currently doing.
>
> Donna
>
> >>> GAS WAR - an idea that WILL work
> >
> > I continue to be offended (sorry) by all of the schemes to avoid
> > paying what we should really be paying for gasoline. Europe (which,
> > in most countries, does not subsidize the oil industry the way the US
> > does) tends to pay well over $5.00 USD per gallon (in most countries),
> > which is much closer to the true cost of gasoline production. The
> > only "true scheme" to pay less for a dwindling resource is to
> > CONSERVE.
> >
> > George W said that Americans are addicted to oil (the only thing I can
> > remember agreeing with George Bush about). And, it seems the ~only~
> > way Americans are ~ever~ going to conserve is to be forced to do so by
> > paying what we really should be paying, and to drive vehicles that are
> > more appropriate for the task at hand and for the sake of the world.
> > Some people do need to drive monstrous vehicles, but those people
> > should be willing to pay for that use - most of of could and should be
> > driving vehicles that are much more fuel efficient. We should not be
> > proud of how big our American vehicles are - we should be embarrassed.
> >
> > Much more research and development should go into development of
> > alternative sources of automotive energy, and the funding for that
> > could and should come from increased gasoline taxes earmarked for such
> > R&D. The US lags behind much of the world in alternative en ergy
> > efforts simply because we never have to really do anything about our
> > gluttony for fossil fuels. It seems the only times in US history that
> > any serious discussion over energy have occurred are those times when
> > we were forced to pay higher (truer) costs or were forced to worry
> > about where are next tank of precious gasoline is going to come from.
> >
> > Although American make up only about 5% percent of the world's
> > population, we consume over 25% of the world's energy. Is this "OK"?
> >
> > Yes - we should all be "hurting" the Big Oil companies, by buying
> > ~less~ fuel from ~all~ of them ~every~ day of the week.
> >
> > I'm sorry for the rant (sort of...).
> >
> > Fred
> >
> >
>
>
RE: Vigil Advisory, Memorial Day weekend, 2007
Eileen, et al,
I will stand vigil w/Eileen on Monday, from 12 to 1 PM.
I will stand vigil w/Eileen on Monday, from 12 to 1 PM.
Thank You,
Donnamarie (Kavanah)
P.S. Call me Eileen....I can come pick you up.
-----Original Message-----
From: EILEEN MCELHINNEY [mailto:way2eileen@verizon.net]
Sent: Thursday, May 24, 2007 8:39 AM
To: Fred; THEODORE A. CURTIN
Cc: Wil Curtis; Virginia Wilcox; Ted & Grace Curtin; Ted & Barbara Bosen;
Steve Kerr; Sarah Clark; Sarah Altherr; Ruth Blake; Ruth Betty Shippee;
ROBERT LEAVER; Paula Marcoux; Melissa Bowering; McGonagle, Cecelia; Mary
Farrell; Marie Fehlow; Louellyn Lambros; Lois & Doug Post; Larry Erickson;
John Bates; John & Dianne Pinto; Jennifer Yaeger; Jeanne Lane; Jean O'Brien;
Jan Nigro; Irene Caldwell; Gail Begley; Frank Mand; Fae Smelser; Ellen
Snoeyenbos; Elaine Ganska; Donnamarie Kavanah; Donna Camy; Diane Kuhn; Delia
Cosentino; Claire Power; Christy Roman; Bob & Lois Saba; Ben McKelway;
Barbara P. Ward; Barbara Brooks; Ann Archambault; Aileen Chase; Blog for
Peace
Subject: Re: Vigil Advisory, Memorial Day weekend, 2007
I will do 12 to 1. Hopefully, not all by myself ! ! ! Eileen
----- Original Message -----
From: "Fred" <fred@cetussoft.com>
To: "THEODORE A. CURTIN" <tacurtin@verizon.net>
Cc: "Wil Curtis" <bealorax@comcast.net>; "Virginia Wilcox"
<sailnantascot@yahoo.com>; "Ted & Grace Curtin" <tacurtin@1949.usna.com>;
"Ted & Barbara Bosen" <bosenlaw@aol.com>; "Steve Kerr" <rockdoc4u@aol.com>;
"Sarah Clark" <revsarahclark@hotmail.com>; "Sarah Altherr"
<spa41@comcast.net>; "Ruth Blake" <rudybean@yahoo.com>; "Ruth Betty Shippee"
<rbbob@capecod.net>; "ROBERT LEAVER" <alexrobinedith@verizon.net>; "Paula
Marcoux" <wholefoods@juno.com>; "Melissa Bowering"
<melissabowering@yahoo.com>; "McGonagle, Cecelia"
<c.mcgonagle@umassmed.edu>; "Mary Farrell" <marpfarr@hotmail.com>; "Marie
Fehlow" <mpfehlow@juno.com>; "Louellyn Lambros" <llambros46@hotmail.com>;
"Lois & Doug Post" <dougandlois@mac.com>; "Larry Erickson"
<whoviating@aol.com>; "John Bates" <alephomega@hotmail.com>; "John & Dianne
Pinto" <deejonp@earthlink.net>; "Jennifer Yaeger"
<jarensonyaeger@post.harvard.edu>; "Jeanne Lane" <JeanneLane@msn.com>; "Jean
O'Brien" <obrienedu@msn.com>; "Jan Nigro" <jannigro@hotmail.com>; "Irene
Caldwell" <ivcaldwell@yahoo.com>; "Gail Begley" <gsbegley@cape.com>; "Frank
Mand" <dogd@aol.com>; "Fae Smelser" <zenithnadir@msn.com>; "Ellen
Snoeyenbos" <ellens8@yahoo.com>; "Elaine Ganska" <grsmeg@aol.com>; "Eileen
McElhinney" <way2eileen@verizon.net>; "Donnamarie Kavanah"
<donnamarie9@comcast.net>; "Donna Camy" <marie3797a@aol.com>; "Diane Kuhn"
<diane@cetussoft.com>; "Delia Cosentino" <dacosentino@earthlink.net>;
"Claire Power" <power_claire@hotmail.com>; "Christy Roman"
<christy02360@yahoo.com>; "Bob & Lois Saba" <resaba@verizon.net>; "Ben
McKelway" <bmckelwa@hotmail.com>; "Barbara P. Ward" <bpw312@aol.com>;
"Barbara Brooks" <brooksiebabe@adelphia.net>; "Ann Archambault"
<annarchambault@yahoo.com>; "Aileen Chase" <aschase@adelphia.net>; "Blog for
Peace" <ffmand.tacurtin@blogger.com>
Sent: Wednesday, May 23, 2007 8:34 PM
Subject: Re: Vigil Advisory, Memorial Day weekend, 2007
>> Please let me know by e-mail (reply to all) when it will be
>> convenient for you to stand vigil.
>
> Hi, Ted.
>
> Diane and I will stand in vigil from 11:00 to 12:00. OK? Thanks.
>
> Fred
>
Re: act on oil prices -- an interesting idea!
I agree with Fred. Our gas prices are TOO LOW! And way too many people are
still buying SUVs and pick up trucks for which they have absolutely no use
except as image enhancers. Too many people are choosing to live far away
from their jobs. This has got to stop. Either it will stop voluntarily (not
very likely, given our entitlement mentality) or it will stop when gas gets
so expensive that people no longer have the option of driving gas guzzlers
and making long commutes.
still buying SUVs and pick up trucks for which they have absolutely no use
except as image enhancers. Too many people are choosing to live far away
from their jobs. This has got to stop. Either it will stop voluntarily (not
very likely, given our entitlement mentality) or it will stop when gas gets
so expensive that people no longer have the option of driving gas guzzlers
and making long commutes.
It is our entitlement mentality that makes us "Ugly Americans" and the
target of justifiably resentful terrorists. (Oops, I guess I just added to
my FBI file with that "unpatriotic" remark.) It is our excessive gasoline
use that forces us to either create cozy alliances with repressive regimes,
the way we used to, or to just invade and occupy the countries that happen
to have "our" oil under "their" sand, the way the Halliburton administration
is currently doing.
Donna
>>> GAS WAR - an idea that WILL work
>
> I continue to be offended (sorry) by all of the schemes to avoid
> paying what we should really be paying for gasoline. Europe (which,
> in most countries, does not subsidize the oil industry the way the US
> does) tends to pay well over $5.00 USD per gallon (in most countries),
> which is much closer to the true cost of gasoline production. The
> only "true scheme" to pay less for a dwindling resource is to
> CONSERVE.
>
> George W said that Americans are addicted to oil (the only thing I can
> remember agreeing with George Bush about). And, it seems the ~only~
> way Americans are ~ever~ going to conserve is to be forced to do so by
> paying what we really should be paying, and to drive vehicles that are
> more appropriate for the task at hand and for the sake of the world.
> Some people do need to drive monstrous vehicles, but those people
> should be willing to pay for that use - most of of could and should be
> driving vehicles that are much more fuel efficient. We should not be
> proud of how big our American vehicles are - we should be embarrassed.
>
> Much more research and development should go into development of
> alternative sources of automotive energy, and the funding for that
> could and should come from increased gasoline taxes earmarked for such
> R&D. The US lags behind much of the world in alternative energy
> efforts simply because we never have to really do anything about our
> gluttony for fossil fuels. It seems the only times in US history that
> any serious discussion over energy have occurred are those times when
> we were forced to pay higher (truer) costs or were forced to worry
> about where are next tank of precious gasoline is going to come from.
>
> Although American make up only about 5% percent of the world's
> population, we consume over 25% of the world's energy. Is this "OK"?
>
> Yes - we should all be "hurting" the Big Oil companies, by buying
> ~less~ fuel from ~all~ of them ~every~ day of the week.
>
> I'm sorry for the rant (sort of...).
>
> Fred
>
>
RE: Vigil Advisory, Memorial Day weekend, 2007
Bob and I would like to do 10:30 - 11:30, or 10:00 - 11:00 (whichever is
better for everyone). We have a family commitment in the afternoon.
better for everyone). We have a family commitment in the afternoon.
Lois Saba
-----Original Message-----
From: EILEEN MCELHINNEY [mailto:way2eileen@verizon.net]
Sent: Thursday, May 24, 2007 8:39 AM
To: Fred; THEODORE A. CURTIN
Cc: Wil Curtis; Virginia Wilcox; Ted & Grace Curtin; Ted & Barbara Bosen;
Steve Kerr; Sarah Clark; Sarah Altherr; Ruth Blake; Ruth Betty Shippee;
ROBERT LEAVER; Paula Marcoux; Melissa Bowering; McGonagle, Cecelia; Mary
Farrell; Marie Fehlow; Louellyn Lambros; Lois & Doug Post; Larry Erickson;
John Bates; John & Dianne Pinto; Jennifer Yaeger; Jeanne Lane; Jean O'Brien;
Jan Nigro; Irene Caldwell; Gail Begley; Frank Mand; Fae Smelser; Ellen
Snoeyenbos; Elaine Ganska; Donnamarie Kavanah; Donna Camy; Diane Kuhn; Delia
Cosentino; Claire Power; Christy Roman; Bob & Lois Saba; Ben McKelway;
Barbara P. Ward; Barbara Brooks; Ann Archambault; Aileen Chase; Blog for
Peace
Subject: Re: Vigil Advisory, Memorial Day weekend, 2007
I will do 12 to 1. Hopefully, not all by myself ! ! ! Eileen
----- Original Message -----
From: "Fred" <fred@cetussoft.com>
To: "THEODORE A. CURTIN" <tacurtin@verizon.net>
Cc: "Wil Curtis" <bealorax@comcast.net>; "Virginia Wilcox"
<sailnantascot@yahoo.com>; "Ted & Grace Curtin" <tacurtin@1949.usna.com>;
"Ted & Barbara Bosen" <bosenlaw@aol.com>; "Steve Kerr" <rockdoc4u@aol.com>;
"Sarah Clark" <revsarahclark@hotmail.com>; "Sarah Altherr"
<spa41@comcast.net>; "Ruth Blake" <rudybean@yahoo.com>; "Ruth Betty Shippee"
<rbbob@capecod.net>; "ROBERT LEAVER" <alexrobinedith@verizon.net>; "Paula
Marcoux" <wholefoods@juno.com>; "Melissa Bowering"
<melissabowering@yahoo.com>; "McGonagle, Cecelia"
<c.mcgonagle@umassmed.edu>; "Mary Farrell" <marpfarr@hotmail.com>; "Marie
Fehlow" <mpfehlow@juno.com>; "Louellyn Lambros" <llambros46@hotmail.com>;
"Lois & Doug Post" <dougandlois@mac.com>; "Larry Erickson"
<whoviating@aol.com>; "John Bates" <alephomega@hotmail.com>; "John & Dianne
Pinto" <deejonp@earthlink.net>; "Jennifer Yaeger"
<jarensonyaeger@post.harvard.edu>; "Jeanne Lane" <JeanneLane@msn.com>; "Jean
O'Brien" <obrienedu@msn.com>; "Jan Nigro" <jannigro@hotmail.com>; "Irene
Caldwell" <ivcaldwell@yahoo.com>; "Gail Begley" <gsbegley@cape.com>; "Frank
Mand" <dogd@aol.com>; "Fae Smelser" <zenithnadir@msn.com>; "Ellen
Snoeyenbos" <ellens8@yahoo.com>; "Elaine Ganska" <grsmeg@aol.com>; "Eileen
McElhinney" <way2eileen@verizon.net>; "Donnamarie Kavanah"
<donnamarie9@comcast.net>; "Donna Camy" <marie3797a@aol.com>; "Diane Kuhn"
<diane@cetussoft.com>; "Delia Cosentino" <dacosentino@earthlink.net>;
"Claire Power" <power_claire@hotmail.com>; "Christy Roman"
<christy02360@yahoo.com>; "Bob & Lois Saba" <resaba@verizon.net>; "Ben
McKelway" <bmckelwa@hotmail.com>; "Barbara P. Ward" <bpw312@aol.com>;
"Barbara Brooks" <brooksiebabe@adelphia.net>; "Ann Archambault"
<annarchambault@yahoo.com>; "Aileen Chase" <aschase@adelphia.net>; "Blog for
Peace" <ffmand.tacurtin@blogger.com>
Sent: Wednesday, May 23, 2007 8:34 PM
Subject: Re: Vigil Advisory, Memorial Day weekend, 2007
>> Please let me know by e-mail (reply to all) when it will be
>> convenient for you to stand vigil.
>
> Hi, Ted.
>
> Diane and I will stand in vigil from 11:00 to 12:00. OK? Thanks.
>
> Fred
>
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
Re: Vigil Advisory, Memorial Day weekend, 2007
OK, Fred& Diane, you're on the watch list.
Ted
----- Original Message -----
From: "Fred" <fred@cetussoft.com>
To: "THEODORE A. CURTIN" <tacurtin@verizon.net>
Cc: "Wil Curtis" <bealorax@comcast.net>; "Virginia Wilcox"
<sailnantascot@yahoo.com>; "Ted & Grace Curtin" <tacurtin@1949.usna.com>;
"Ted & Barbara Bosen" <bosenlaw@aol.com>; "Steve Kerr" <rockdoc4u@aol.com>;
"Sarah Clark" <revsarahclark@hotmail.com>; "Sarah Altherr"
<spa41@comcast.net>; "Ruth Blake" <rudybean@yahoo.com>; "Ruth Betty Shippee"
<rbbob@capecod.net>; "ROBERT LEAVER" <alexrobinedith@verizon.net>; "Paula
Marcoux" <wholefoods@juno.com>; "Melissa Bowering"
<melissabowering@yahoo.com>; "McGonagle, Cecelia"
<c.mcgonagle@umassmed.edu>; "Mary Farrell" <marpfarr@hotmail.com>; "Marie
Fehlow" <mpfehlow@juno.com>; "Louellyn Lambros" <llambros46@hotmail.com>;
"Lois & Doug Post" <dougandlois@mac.com>; "Larry Erickson"
<whoviating@aol.com>; "John Bates" <alephomega@hotmail.com>; "John & Dianne
Pinto" <deejonp@earthlink.net>; "Jennifer Yaeger"
<jarensonyaeger@post.harvard.edu>; "Jeanne Lane" <JeanneLane@msn.com>; "Jean
O'Brien" <obrienedu@msn.com>; "Jan Nigro" <jannigro@hotmail.com>; "Irene
Caldwell" <ivcaldwell@yahoo.com>; "Gail Begley" <gsbegley@cape.com>; "Frank
Mand" <dogd@aol.com>; "Fae Smelser" <zenithnadir@msn.com>; "Ellen
Snoeyenbos" <ellens8@yahoo.com>; "Elaine Ganska" <grsmeg@aol.com>; "Eileen
McElhinney" <way2eileen@verizon.net>; "Donnamarie Kavanah"
<donnamarie9@comcast.net>; "Donna Camy" <marie3797a@aol.com>; "Diane Kuhn"
<diane@cetussoft.com>; "Delia Cosentino" <dacosentino@earthlink.net>;
"Claire Power" <power_claire@hotmail.com>; "Christy Roman"
<christy02360@yahoo.com>; "Bob & Lois Saba" <resaba@verizon.net>; "Ben
McKelway" <bmckelwa@hotmail.com>; "Barbara P. Ward" <bpw312@aol.com>;
"Barbara Brooks" <brooksiebabe@adelphia.net>; "Ann Archambault"
<annarchambault@yahoo.com>; "Aileen Chase" <aschase@adelphia.net>; "Blog for
Peace" <ffmand.tacurtin@blogger.com>
Sent: Wednesday, May 23, 2007 8:34 PM
Subject: Re: Vigil Advisory, Memorial Day weekend, 2007
>> Please let me know by e-mail (reply to all) when it will be
>> convenient for you to stand vigil.
>
> Hi, Ted.
>
> Diane and I will stand in vigil from 11:00 to 12:00. OK? Thanks.
>
> Fred
>
Re: Vigil Advisory, Memorial Day weekend, 2007
> Please let me know by e-mail (reply to all) when it will be
> convenient for you to stand vigil.
> convenient for you to stand vigil.
Hi, Ted.
Diane and I will stand in vigil from 11:00 to 12:00. OK? Thanks.
Fred
Vigil Advisory, Memorial Day weekend, 2007
Dear Friends in Peace,
We have general acceptance of the plan to vigil on the Rte 3 overpasses on Monday, May 28, Memorial Day as observed. Accordingly, we will not hold our normal vigil in Shirley Square on Saturday noon.
Having heard no definite response to my suggestion that we try to cover more than one overpass, we plan to stand vigil on the Summer St overpass, as we did before.
Suggestion has been made to extend the hours of vigil beyond the two hours originally proposed, in order to expose the vigil to more motorists.
Accordingly, I propose that we plan to vigil from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM on Monday and would ask that each of us vigilers plan to spend an hour during that time. Please let me know by e-mail (reply to all) when it will be convenient for you to stand vigil. Grace and I will begin at 10:00. We will replace one another as the day goes on. There will, of course, be overlapping - the more the better. At 4:00, I'll return to the overpass to retrieve the signs. We are making three new signs which read "Remember over 3400 killed in Iraq" in very large letters. We will also bring our old signs which read "Peace" and "Talk Peace Now". We feel that these signs will be sufficient...and appropriate.
Looking forward to seeing you on the overpass on Monday.
Peace,
Ted
Re: act on oil prices -- an interesting idea!
We pay less for oil in the U.S. than Europe does, because we use so much more than they do. Our consumption is vast by their standard, so oil companies make fortunes by the quantities we guzzle. Our government, which is run by the oil companies, refuses to enforce cafe standards because there's plenty of oil left to sell and they're going to sell every last drop, dammit, global warming and all! It's about profits. It has NOTHING to do with actual cost. It has to do with PRICE GOUGING! It has to do with WINDFALL PROFITS for Western Corporations that take all fo the vast natural resources from countries like Nigeria, paying off their puppet governments and leaving their people starving! They are making enough money to buy ANY government, OURS for instance!!
Conservation is GREAT, now and always! But should we let these rich bastards get away with such ENORMOUS WINFDFALLS?
Not sorry for this rant! Please sign the petition to outlaw price gouging by oil companies!
Tom
On 5/23/07, Beal, Janine <Janine.Beal@mercer.com> wrote:
This is my work email address, please remove me from the mailing list.
Subject: Re: act on oil prices -- an interesting idea!
> Take a look at the following and consider acting upon it and passing
it
> on.... I think the potential for this idea is tremendous. It was
> sent to me by an extremely conservative aunt, making me think that the
> appeal of the idea cuts across a wide political spectrum.
>> GAS WAR - an idea that WILL work
I continue to be offended (sorry) by all of the schemes to avoid
paying what we should really be paying for gasoline. Europe (which,
in most countries, does not subsidize the oil industry the way the US
does) tends to pay well over $5.00 USD per gallon (in most countries),
which is much closer to the true cost of gasoline production. The
only "true scheme" to pay less for a dwindling resource is to
CONSERVE.
George W said that Americans are addicted to oil (the only thing I can
remember agreeing with George Bush about). And, it seems the ~only~
way Americans are ~ever~ going to conserve is to be forced to do so by
paying what we really should be paying, and to drive vehicles that are
more appropriate for the task at hand and for the sake of the world.
Some people do need to drive monstrous vehicles, but those people
should be willing to pay for that use - most of of could and should be
driving vehicles that are much more fuel efficient. We should not be
proud of how big our American vehicles are - we should be embarrassed.
Much more research and development should go into development of
alternative sources of automotive energy, and the funding for that
could and should come from increased gasoline taxes earmarked for such
R&D. The US lags behind much of the world in alternative energy
efforts simply because we never have to really do anything about our
gluttony for fossil fuels. It seems the only times in US history that
any serious discussion over energy have occurred are those times when
we were forced to pay higher (truer) costs or were forced to worry
about where are next tank of precious gasoline is going to come from.
Although American make up only about 5% percent of the world's
population, we consume over 25% of the world's energy. Is this "OK"?
Yes - we should all be "hurting" the Big Oil companies, by buying
~less~ fuel from ~all~ of them ~every~ day of the week.
I'm sorry for the rant (sort of...).
Fred
__
-------------------------------------------------------------
This e-mail and any attachments may be confidential or legally privileged. If you received this message in error or are not the intended recipient, you should destroy the e-mail message and any attachments or copies, and you are prohibited from retaining, distributing, disclosing, or using any information contained herein. Please inform us of the erroneous delivery by return e-mail. Thank you for your cooperation.
-------------------------------------------------------------
FE01
Re: Clarification: act on oil prices
I'm buying from Citgo as well. I haven't bought from Exxon Mobil for years! Conservation is important but does that mean we should let them get away with Price Gouging in the meantime? They are all price gouging! They've gotten away with it since Nixon's oil embargo. There is a bill before Congress now to make Gas Price Gouging a federal offense punishable by prison. 160,000 people have signed a petition in the last two days, in favor of this legislation. The Oil companies, you can imagine, are opposed and fighting with their big money lobbyists. Please click on the link and sign the petition. This war is about oil and profiteering, in case we don't already know that. Please click on the link below and sign the petition.
Thank you,
Tom
On 5/23/07, Louellyn.Lambros@bos.frb.org <Louellyn.Lambros@bos.frb.org > wrote:
I have received a couple of responses to my e-mail suggesting that rather than being concerned about gasoline prices, we should be focusing our energy on conservation and alternative energy. I think that the point being made is exceptionally important and that conservation and alternative energy should be first and foremost in our minds.
At the same time, Exxon Mobil has been the main beneficiary of the Iraq War. Under Saddam Hussein, the price and supply of oil was very unstable, and now, since the occupation, with the oil industry under foreign control, Exxon Mobil has made record profits.
I personally am buying Venezuelan gasoline from Citgo. The ambassador of Venezuela was on Democracy, Now! in April talking about the new initiatives around oil scheduled to take affect May 1st. They have restructured their oil industry such that, while inviting foreign investment, there is always an interest of over 50% that goes to Venezuela. In cases where a current foreign investor would lose with this deal, they would be compensated, as part of the transition. Of the 32 foreign companies involved, in one way or another, only one raised objections... Exxon Mobil. And they have put a lot of energy into efforts to vilify Hugo Chavez, whose great crime is to seek to have the resources of his own country benefit Venezuelans.
Yes, let us promote conservation and alternative energy, but let's also make a statement against companies who benefit from foreign occupaton of other countries, and support companies that will benefit the population of their own countries.
Louellyn
Clarification: act on oil prices
I have received a couple of responses to my e-mail suggesting that rather than being concerned about gasoline prices, we should be focusing our energy on conservation and alternative energy. I think that the point being made is exceptionally important and that conservation and alternative energy should be first and foremost in our minds.
At the same time, Exxon Mobil has been the main beneficiary of the Iraq War. Under Saddam Hussein, the price and supply of oil was very unstable, and now, since the occupation, with the oil industry under foreign control, Exxon Mobil has made record profits.
I personally am buying Venezuelan gasoline from Citgo. The ambassador of Venezuela was on Democracy, Now! in April talking about the new initiatives around oil scheduled to take affect May 1st. They have restructured their oil industry such that, while inviting foreign investment, there is always an interest of over 50% that goes to Venezuela. In cases where a current foreign investor would lose with this deal, they would be compensated, as part of the transition. Of the 32 foreign companies involved, in one way or another, only one raised objections... Exxon Mobil. And they have put a lot of energy into efforts to vilify Hugo Chavez, whose great crime is to seek to have the resources of his own country benefit Venezuelans.
Yes, let us promote conservation and alternative energy, but let's also make a statement against companies who benefit from foreign occupaton of other countries, and support companies that will benefit the population of their own countries.
Louellyn
RE: act on oil prices -- an interesting idea!
This is my work email address, please remove me from the mailing list.
Subject: Re: act on oil prices -- an interesting idea!
> Take a look at the following and consider acting upon it and passing
it
> on.... I think the potential for this idea is tremendous. It was
> sent to me by an extremely conservative aunt, making me think that the
> appeal of the idea cuts across a wide political spectrum.
>> GAS WAR - an idea that WILL work
I continue to be offended (sorry) by all of the schemes to avoid
paying what we should really be paying for gasoline. Europe (which,
in most countries, does not subsidize the oil industry the way the US
does) tends to pay well over $5.00 USD per gallon (in most countries),
which is much closer to the true cost of gasoline production. The
only "true scheme" to pay less for a dwindling resource is to
CONSERVE.
George W said that Americans are addicted to oil (the only thing I can
remember agreeing with George Bush about). And, it seems the ~only~
way Americans are ~ever~ going to conserve is to be forced to do so by
paying what we really should be paying, and to drive vehicles that are
more appropriate for the task at hand and for the sake of the world.
Some people do need to drive monstrous vehicles, but those people
should be willing to pay for that use - most of of could and should be
driving vehicles that are much more fuel efficient. We should not be
proud of how big our American vehicles are - we should be embarrassed.
Much more research and development should go into development of
alternative sources of automotive energy, and the funding for that
could and should come from increased gasoline taxes earmarked for such
R&D. The US lags behind much of the world in alternative energy
efforts simply because we never have to really do anything about our
gluttony for fossil fuels. It seems the only times in US history that
any serious discussion over energy have occurred are those times when
we were forced to pay higher (truer) costs or were forced to worry
about where are next tank of precious gasoline is going to come from.
Although American make up only about 5% percent of the world's
population, we consume over 25% of the world's energy. Is this "OK"?
Yes - we should all be "hurting" the Big Oil companies, by buying
~less~ fuel from ~all~ of them ~every~ day of the week.
I'm sorry for the rant (sort of...).
Fred
__
-------------------------------------------------------------
This e-mail and any attachments may be confidential or legally privileged. If you received this message in error or are not the intended recipient, you should destroy the e-mail message and any attachments or copies, and you are prohibited from retaining, distributing, disclosing, or using any information contained herein. Please inform us of the erroneous delivery by return e-mail. Thank you for your cooperation.
-------------------------------------------------------------
FE01
Re: act on oil prices -- an interesting idea!
> Take a look at the following and consider acting upon it and passing it
> on.... I think the potential for this idea is tremendous. It was
> sent to me by an extremely conservative aunt, making me think that the
> appeal of the idea cuts across a wide political spectrum.
> on.... I think the potential for this idea is tremendous. It was
> sent to me by an extremely conservative aunt, making me think that the
> appeal of the idea cuts across a wide political spectrum.
>> GAS WAR - an idea that WILL work
I continue to be offended (sorry) by all of the schemes to avoid
paying what we should really be paying for gasoline. Europe (which,
in most countries, does not subsidize the oil industry the way the US
does) tends to pay well over $5.00 USD per gallon (in most countries),
which is much closer to the true cost of gasoline production. The
only "true scheme" to pay less for a dwindling resource is to
CONSERVE.
George W said that Americans are addicted to oil (the only thing I can
remember agreeing with George Bush about). And, it seems the ~only~
way Americans are ~ever~ going to conserve is to be forced to do so by
paying what we really should be paying, and to drive vehicles that are
more appropriate for the task at hand and for the sake of the world.
Some people do need to drive monstrous vehicles, but those people
should be willing to pay for that use - most of of could and should be
driving vehicles that are much more fuel efficient. We should not be
proud of how big our American vehicles are - we should be embarrassed.
Much more research and development should go into development of
alternative sources of automotive energy, and the funding for that
could and should come from increased gasoline taxes earmarked for such
R&D. The US lags behind much of the world in alternative energy
efforts simply because we never have to really do anything about our
gluttony for fossil fuels. It seems the only times in US history that
any serious discussion over energy have occurred are those times when
we were forced to pay higher (truer) costs or were forced to worry
about where are next tank of precious gasoline is going to come from.
Although American make up only about 5% percent of the world's
population, we consume over 25% of the world's energy. Is this "OK"?
Yes - we should all be "hurting" the Big Oil companies, by buying
~less~ fuel from ~all~ of them ~every~ day of the week.
I'm sorry for the rant (sort of...).
Fred
act on oil prices -- an interesting idea!
Take a look at the following and consider acting upon it and passing it on.... I think the potential for this idea is tremendous. It was sent to me by an extremely conservative aunt, making me think that the appeal of the idea cuts across a wide political spectrum.
|
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
Fw: Action Alert: supplemental vote this week-Rep. Delahunt has a third chance to vote NO
This just in.
I've emailed Mr. Delahunt, thanking him and urging him to hold the line.
Peace,
Ted
----- Original Message -----
From: Diane Turco
Cc: THEODORE A. CURTIN ; clarkland@verizon.net ; Fayegeorge236@aol.com ; June M. Freedman ; nleewood@netzero.net ; S.G.Wall ; ae-talk@lists.riseup.net
Sent: Tuesday, May 22, 2007 7:09 PM
Subject: Action Alert: supplemental vote this week-Rep. Delahunt has a third chance to vote NO
Forward Widely!
1. This week, the Dems will vote on yet another version of war funding as an 'emergency supplemental' bill. On this 3rd vote, if it passes, President Bush will get all the funding he has requested to continue the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Call Rep. Delahunt and insist on a vote NO on the supplemental funding. A NO vote would be consistent with his YES vote on the McGovern bill and his NO vote on the National Defense Authorization Bill which passed the House 397-27 (see below) and his verbal committment to a NO vote at the Provincetown meeting in January. Bring the troops home. End the funding, end the war. Support human needs. BASTA! peace, Diane
Call DC-202-225-3111
Democrats Drop Insistence on Iraq Withdrawal Timeline
By Noam Levey
The Los Angeles Times
By Noam Levey
The Los Angeles Times
Tuesday 22 May 2007
The major concession to the president on the war spending bill comes as leaders in Congress cannot muster veto-proof majorities.
Washington - Scrambling to send President Bush an emergency war spending bill he will sign, Democratic leaders have decided to drop their insistence on a timeline for withdrawing U.S. forces from Iraq.
The move - which comes just days after senior Democrats insisted that White House officials should support nonbinding timelines - is a significant concession to the president and his Republican allies on Capitol Hill, who steadfastly have rejected any dates for bringing U.S. troops home.
But it reflects the simple mathematics of a closely divided Congress in which Democrats cannot muster veto-proof majorities for any proposal that would compel a pullout.
Democratic lawmakers are under pressure to send the president an emergency spending bill before the Memorial Day break or risk being blamed for withholding critical funding for U.S. troops.
Under the developing Democratic plan, which leaders still are negotiating, Congress would fund the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq through Sept. 30, the end of the current fiscal year, according to sources familiar with the proposal.
Democrats also are working to include a minimum-wage hike in the funding bill in an effort to push that long-delayed legislative priority into law.
But further discussion of withdrawal timelines that have been central to the Democratic legislative campaign to end the war would have to be delayed until Congress considers other legislation, probably the defense appropriations bill necessary to fund the military for fiscal year 2008, which begins Oct. 1. Democrats plan to take up that bill later this summer.
More immediately, Democratic leaders must rally majorities for an emergency spending bill that might be deeply disappointing to the party's most vehement war critics.
Many members of the House's influential Out of Iraq Caucus have said they will not support any legislation that does not attach strict conditions to the continued deployment of U.S. troops.
And as recently as Friday, the top two Democrats in Congress, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of San Francisco and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada, insisted on a nonbinding timeline at a meeting with top White House officials.
White House chief of staff Joshua B. Bolten emphatically rejected any timelines at the meeting, signaling White House support only for a far less restrictive proposal linking economic aid to the performance of the Iraqi government.
That approach, which senior Democrats are looking at incorporating into the bill being finalized this week, has won broad support among GOP lawmakers.
Last week, 52 senators, including 44 Republicans, voted to support a similar proposal sponsored by GOP Sens. John W. Warner of Virginia and Susan Collins of Maine.
Rep. Roy Blunt of Missouri, the second-ranking Republican in the House, said Monday that such a proposal might be attractive to GOP members of the House as well.
Meanwhile, Rep. Jan Schakowsky, D-Ill., a leading war critic and member of the Out of Iraq Caucus, said Monday she would be looking for Democratic leaders to explain when timelines will be passed if they are not part of the emergency spending bill.
********************************************************************************************************
2. Thank Rep. Delahunt for this vote!!! A sign of leadership- the majority voted against! Rep. Delahunt is in good company with Lee, Woolsey, and Kucinich among others.
| Recent House Votes |
National Defense Authorization Act - Vote Passed (397-27, 8 Not Voting) The House passed this bill authorizing $504 billion in Defense Department spending and $142 billion for military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan for the upcoming fiscal year. Rep. William Delahunt voted NO......send e-mail or see bio |
Scituate School Committee votes 5-0 to move military recruiters from the cafeteria to Guidance!
Friends --
Yesterday evening, the citizens of Scituate scored a major victory in protecting our children from military recruiters. The recruiters who previously set up among students in the cafeteria are now limited to the Guidance Office. This effort was a few months in the making, and the critical factor was having the committee hear from so many of their constituents within the community.
Several of us have been working with the American Friends Service Committee to implement the same restrictions state wide. We had a hearing at the State House earlier this month, which went very well, and yet House Bill 562 does not have much activity right now, because our state senators and repersentatives need to hear from you, and know that you are concerned about this. Please see the attached document which contains more information, and consider sending an e-mail to your state senator and representative. It makes a big difference. Also if you could forward on this e-mail to your own distribution lists, that would be very helpful!
Louellyn Lambros
Monday, May 21, 2007
Memorial Vigil Coverage in the Patriot Ledger
Well, the vigil was covered by Mat Lynch of the Patriot Ledger:
http://ledger.southofboston.com/articles/2007/05/21/news/news09.txt
I was, however, disappointed that he did not use any of my photos - he
asked me to send him some, and I did, but... Oh, well - the important
thing BY FAR is that the vigil got favorable coverage, so that even
people who didn't know about it may now know about it (and think about
it, which is the important thing, right?).
Fred
Hello
From The Desk Of Malcam Naaman.
Bill and Exchange Manager
CAJA DE FORTUNA BANK (FOREIGN PAYMENT AND PROCEESING CENTRE)
Calle Vizcaya 2 Atocha,28045 Madrid Spain
Bill and Exchange Manager
CAJA DE FORTUNA BANK (FOREIGN PAYMENT AND PROCEESING CENTRE)
Calle Vizcaya 2 Atocha,28045 Madrid Spain
ATTN.
With due respect and humility, I write to you this proposal.I am the Manager of bill and exchange at the foreign remittance department of Caja De Fortuna Banco in Madrid. I am writing following the impressive information about you, l got your contact in my quest for a reliabe and capable person to assist me in this deal.
Though I know that a business of this magnitude will make any one apprehensive, but I am assuring you that all will be well at the end of the day. We have decided to contact you by email due to the urgency of this "deal", as we have been reliably informed of your honesty and ability in a transaction of this nature.
In my department we discovered an abandoned sum of US$30m dollars (THIRTY Million US dollars) in an account that belongs to one of our foreign customer (MR. ANDREAS SCHRANNER from Munich, Germany) who died along with his entire family in July 2000 in a plane crash.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/859479.stm
About his death, we have been expecting his next of kin to come forward and claim his money because we cannot release it unless somebody applies for it as next of kin or relation to the deceased as indicated in our banking guidelines and policies but unfortunately we learnt that all his supposed next of kin or relation died alongside with him at the ugly plane crash leaving nobody behind for the claims. It is therefore upon this discovery that I have decided to make this businness proposal to you to transact this DEAL with you and to act as the next of kin or relation to the deceased for safety and subsequent disbursement since nobody is coming forth and l dont want this money to go into the Bank treasury as unclaimed Bill.
According to our Banking policies and guideline here which stipulates that if such money remained unclaimed after five years,the money will automatically be transfered into the Bank treasury as unclaimed fund. My request for a foreigner to ac t as next of kin in this business is by the fact that the customer was a foreigner and a citizen of this country cannot stand or put claims as next of kin to a foreigner. l agreed to offer 30% of the total fund to you, for your assistance, to act as the next of Kin to the foreigner,to provide account, 10% will be for reimbursement of any expenses incured during the curse of the transaction.
There after, I and my family will visit your country for disbursement and for investment in your country. Therefore to enable the immediate transfer of this fund to you as arranged, you must apply first to the bank as relation or next of kin of the deceased indicating your bank name, your bank account number, your private telephone and fax number for easier and effective
communication and location where the money will be transfer. Upon receipt of your reply, I will send to you by fax or email the text of the application. I will not fail to bring to your notice that this transaction is hitch free and that you should not entertain any atom of fear as all required arrangements have been made for the transfer.
Let truth and honesty be our watchword in this transaction while I look forward to receiving your immediate response.
Yours faithfully,
Malcam Naaman
Saturday, May 19, 2007
Bridge Vigil on Memorial Day
Dear Friends,
Initial responses are positive that we might do a two-hour bridge vigil on Memorial Day, from 12 to 2.
Here's a thought: This might be easier if people stood vigil on the overpass nearest to their homes, and we can provide some signs, most with a PEACE motif. If you make your own signs (they are easy to make with poster board),letters must be big and bold, at least 6 - 8 inches tall, 2 inches thick, to be seen from speeding cars below; and message should be short, for the same reason.
Let's hear from you!
Peace,
Ted
Photos from the 5/19/07 Memorial Vigil
Hello.
To view photos of the Memorial Vigil on the Training Green in Plymouth
from 5/19/07 -
http://fredw.smugmug.com/gallery/2602961#154154467
(If you want to see just thumbnail photos to select which ones to view
in a larger size, select "all thumbs" in the "style:" dropdown box
near the upper right corner of the SmugMug window.)
Thanks to all the dedicated people who made the memorial possible.
Fred (Frederick Wasti)
Fw: Overpass prayerful demonstration against the war on Memorial Day
Any comments or ideas?
Ted
----- Original Message -----
From: "Ellen Snoeyenbos" <ellens8@yahoo.com>
To: "nancy landgren" <clarkland@verizon.net>; "Pine duBois"
<pine@jonesriver.org>; "Ron Maribett" <ron_maribett@hotmail.com>; "Paul
Bourque" <pbourque@comcast.net>; "THEODORE A. CURTIN"
<tacurtin@verizon.net>; "diane grant" <dgrant9437@yahoo.com>; "Judy Randall"
<info@KingstonUU.org>; "rosemary donahoe" <bdonahoe17@yahoo.com>; "Davalene
Cooper" <davalenecooper@aol.com>; "Nancy Doyle" <ncarolynd@verizon.net>;
"Carie Johnsen" <cjohnsen@uusc.org>; "rachel jordan" <rbinderman@uusc.org>;
"Elizabeth J. Kenyon" <teched1@cox.net>; "Marilyn McDermott"
<m.marilynmcdermott@verizon.net>; "Carol Norman" <mworld@comcast.net>;
"Leonard Nowak" <nowak2@adelphia.net>; "Susan Robinson"
<artsue45@hotmail.com>; "Donna Savicki" <dsavicki@comcast.net>; "Ellen
Snoeyenbos" <ellens8@yahoo.com>; "Karen Trais" <karen@tenhoor.com>;
"Barnstable UU Church" <buu@barnstableuu.org>; "Duxbury UU Church"
<uuduxbury@verizon.net>; "Fairhaven UU church" <uufairhaven@aol.com>;
"Murray UU Church" <murray.ch@verizon.net>; "Norwell UU Church"
<office@firstparishnorwell.org>; "Providence UU Church"
<admin@firstunitarianprov.org>; "Old Ship Church UU Hingham"
<oldship@verizon.net>; "Cindie White" <dresdenisfree@yahoo.com>
Sent: Friday, May 18, 2007 10:23 AM
Subject: Overpass prayerful demonstration against the war on Memorial Day
> Hi folks,
> A number of us are talking about doing a short
> overpass demonstration on Memorial Day from 12 - 2
> p.m. to remind people that the best way to honor the
> fallen warriors is to de-escalate the Iraq war. A
> prayerful, respectful presence would be in order.
>
> Please get the word out about doing this with your
> churches, neighboring churches and/or townspeople and
> let us know what your plans might be. It would be
> great to have a continuous Route 3 (at least) presence
> from the Cape to Boston...
>
> As of May 16, 2007: (US Military count)
> American dead: 3401
> American wounded: 25,245
>
> British medical journal, Lancet, reports:
> Iraqi deaths: 655,000 since war began through 2006.
>
> (These numbers are in contrast to US and British
> military estimates but the survey was done by Iraqi
> physicians and overseen by epidemiologists at Johns
> Hopkins University's Bloomberg School of Public
> Health, who stand by the scientific credibility of
> their methodology.)
> See Washington Post article:
> http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/10/AR2006101001442.html
>
> 2 million Iraqis have fled their country.
> Newsweek article:
> http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17997100/site/newsweek/
>
> Thanks,
> Ellen
>
>
>
>
>
> Ellen Snoeyenbos
> 106 South Street
> Halifax, MA 02338
> 781-294-1091 home
> 781-934-2721 x106 work
>
>
>
> ____________________________________________________________________________________
> Moody friends. Drama queens. Your life? Nope! - their life, your story.
> Play Sims Stories at Yahoo! Games.
> http://sims.yahoo.com/
Vigil Report, May 19, 2007
Dear Friends in Peace,
Though the moisture in the air led to cancellation of our vigil in Shirley Square, I want to report on today's Memorial Vigil on the Training Green.
Hearty thanks to Irene Caldwell and her dedicated band at First Parish, Unitarian-Universalist, Social Action Committee, who planned, engineered and presented a moving memorial tribute in memory of all who have fallen in the current war. Hundreds of white crosses, sprinkled with a few stars of David and star and crescent markers, each representing more than ten fallen servicemen and women, stretched away in even lines reminiscent of Arlington Cemetery. The two inner rows bore the names of the Massachusetts dead, 57 at the latest Defense Department accounting, including that of Plymouth's own Lance Corporal Jeffrey Burgess, USMC. A placard bore witness to the deaths of Iraqi civilians.
At intervals during the four-hour tribute, the names of our state's dead were solemnly announced, and a folk-singer sang appropriate songs. Despite the foul weather, people came and wandered among the markers,thinking of the losses and the grieving families. We wish more people had come. The closing ceremonies included reflections and prayers from local clergy and others, and a final reading of the names.
We congratulate Irene and her group for their ingenuity and their perseverance in bringing this impressive tribute to Plymouth, as we join her in regret that the weather put a damper on this well-prepared and well-advertised event.
Sincerely, in peace,
Ted
Friday, May 18, 2007
Vigil Reminder, May 19, 2007
Dear Friends,
The forecast right now, on Weather Channel local for Plymouth says "Few Showers" with 30 percent chance of precipitation. Following usual procedure, if it's pouring near noontime, vigil is canceled.
Some of us will, if weather permits, be working at the Training Green to set up the special Memorial Vigil to those who have fallen in the current wars, and taking part when it begins at 10:00 AM. Hope you will attend sometime during the day.
Weather permitting, I'll be at Shirley Square with the signs at Noon.
Hope the weather clears so that we'll see you somewhere tomorrow.
Peace,
Ted
Saturday, May 12, 2007
Re: Vigil Reminder, May 12, 2007
Six of us enjoyed the beautiful weather at Shirley Square this noon time, at an almost completely silent vigil. Ted and Grace were missed. We would love to see more people show up, especially now that it is not a hardship to stand for an hour (neither too cold nor too hot). We had a lot of positive responses. The Gatra Bus driver gave a thumbs up (haven't seen our old, thumbs down, friend in a while!). We had an old timer drive by who yelled "remember Pearl Harbor"! Don't know if it was the same person who did this months (?) ago. Then, reportedly, the same fellow drove back; this time stopping his vehicle at the 1st post (thereby impeding motor traffic). He first asked for directions; then asked if we knew what Purgatory was ! ! Go figure ! ! I wasn't witness to this as I was standing north, where usually, Grace stands.
Eileen
----- Original Message -----From: THEODORE A. CURTINTo: Wil Curtis ; Virginia Wilcox ; Ted & Grace Curtin ; Ted & Barbara Bosen ; Steve Kerr ; Sarah Clark ; Sarah Altherr ; Ruth Blake ; Ruth Betty Shippee ; ROBERT LEAVER ; Paula Marcoux ; Melissa Bowering ; McGonagle, Cecelia ; Mary Farrell ; Marie Fehlow ; Louellyn Lambros ; Lois & Doug Post ; Larry Erickson ; John Bates ; John & Dianne Pinto ; Jennifer Yaeger ; Jeanne Lane ; Jean O'Brien ; Jan Nigro ; Irene Caldwell ; Gail Begley ; Fred Wasti ; Frank Mand ; Fae Smelser ; Ellen Snoeyenbos ; Elaine Ganska ; Eileen McElhinney ; Donnamarie Kavanah ; Donna Camy ; Diane Kuhn ; Delia Cosentino ; Claire Power ; Christy Roman ; Bob & Lois Saba ; Ben McKelway ; Barbara P. Ward ; Barbara Brooks ; Ann Archambault ; Aileen Chase ; Blog for PeaceSent: Friday, May 11, 2007 7:35 PMSubject: Vigil Reminder, May 12, 2007Dear Friends,The weather report indicates nice weather for tomorrow.We will be out of town at a family gathering. Hope you can make it to Shirley Sq. at noon.Sincerely, in peace,Ted
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)