EARTH HOUR IS TONIGHT! 8:30-9:30pm EST

Hello everyone, Dove here! Earth Hour happens TONIGHT from 8:30pm to 9:30pm EST! During this hour, people, organizations, and businesses all across the globe will be turning off their lights. I will be participating as well, from my dorm room here at SCAD. Every student here has been notified about Earth Hour. I already try to reduce the amount of electricity I use in my dorm, and tonight, I will be turning everything off, including unplugging most of my electronics (because just having something plugged in but off can still consume electricity, costing you hundreds over the course of months and years!).

THANK YOU to those who have already participated in Earth Hour in your respective time zone. I encourage everyone across the globe to continue the wave of conservation in their time zone tonight. It's easy and it's fun! Light some candles and relax or read. Turn on some flashlights, and tell ghost stories with your kids! If the weather is nice, go outside and look at the stars! If many in your area are also participating, there probably aren't as many lights blotting out the sky's celestial bodies. If you have an outdoor fire pit, roast some marshmallows! There's so much that you can do with this hour! Enjoy it!

This is just one easy thing that all of us can do to help the cycle of conservation and keep our natural resources and habitats lush and bountiful for centuries to come! Ideally, this kind of thing should be done every day, but maybe we can all try to do this once a month. Imagine the impact that would have if everyone on Earth committed to THAT! Our wallets would be much fuller, and our Earth would be greener, that's for sure!

Happy Earth Hour!

Take A Stand for Civility

Hey World Family,
Please take a moment, no matter where you are, to sign this petition, and send a strong, clear message. Thank you.
Thanks to our Brother Benjamin Todd Jealous, and our sister Anita for bringing this to our attention.

Falcon and Dove

http://org2.democracyinaction.org/o/2446/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=2423


You may have heard by now that over the weekend some opponents of health care reform used shocking racist and personal epithets against members of Congress who disagreed with their position and supported the bill.

Last Saturday, while Representatives filed through a House office building on their way to watch President Obama deliver a health care speech, some extremist protesters turned vicious. Civil rights legend and Georgia Congressman John Lewis was repeatedly called "ni**er" by the crowd, while fellow Congressional Black Caucus member Emanuel Cleaver was spat on. Longtime NAACP champion and openly gay Representative Barney Frank was called a "fa**ot." This is not only outrageous behavior -- it is un-American.

Stand with Representatives Cleaver, Lewis and Frank. Sign our Petition today and let it be known these outrageous personal attacks have no place in our nation's political discourse. Saturday's incident is just the latest evidence that a lack of civility is undermining our democratic process. Last August protesters painted a swastika on the district office of Georgia Representative David Scott. Later that fall Congressman Joe Wilson shouted, "You lie," as President Obama delivered a speech before the joint Houses of Congress. These sorts of outbursts serve only to bully our elected officials and undermine our democracy.

Like many of the hot-button political issues of our day, health care reform has inspired passion in supporters and opponents alike. Indeed, it is this passion that kept us determined to keep fighting for reform, even on the days when it looked like we might not win. While the NAACP respects the passions that inspire political movements of all kinds, we know that when civility breaks down, communities of color are often the first to be hurt.

Please, join me in signing the civility petition today. Stand alongside Representatives Cleaver, Lewis and Frank, and take a stand for civility in our political discourse.

Sincerely,
Benjamin Todd Jealous
President and CEO
NAACP

Bridgestone Safety Scholars

Hello Students!
Falcon, here with some great scholarship news!

If you are age 16-21 and planning on attending college or already there, here is a great scholarship opportunity!

It's simple: Make a video under 55 seconds long about driving safety, and you could qualify to win a scholarship for $5,000!!!

Three students will qualify for the big money:)

From our friends at Bridgestone:
Grab your camera – it’s time for the fourth annual Safety Scholars Video Contest, now accepting entries until July 1. This is your chance to jump in the director’s chair and show how we can all be safer behind the wheel. If you’ve got a compelling, creative idea related to safe driving, make a short video (25 or 55 seconds) about it, and submit it here:



http://safetyscholarsvideo.com/

Your video could be broadcast on television by Bridgestone Americas as a public service announcement on stations around the country. Ten finalists will win a new set of tires.

Okay, so Falcon called Bridgestone offices yesterday, and got all the important details you won't find anywhere else, so here are the answers to all the big questions.

First, you must be between 16-21 yearsw of age and be a licensed driver. If you are going to win tires, you should be a driver, right?

You should be accepted to a college, trade school, or university...now you can be a junior and apply...unless you are a Home School student. If you are, apply when you have an acceptance to college, okay?

Undergraduate and graduate students may apply!!!

The scholarship can be used for ANY COLLEGE EXPENSES THROUGH YOUR UNIVERSITY!!!!

This is HUGE, students! That means, tuition, books, computers, materials...any school related education expenses, including housing and that all important meal plan can be paid for with this scholarship!

So...ENTER NOW! The deadline is July 1, 2010.
For more information:

http://safetyscholarsvideo.com/?

Thanks to Michael and Courtney for giving us the heads up on this great opportunity.

This is an important time of year for our college hopefuls. Keep your heads, gang! Stay positive, and remember, there is always a PLAN B-make it work for you! Take advantage of every opportunity!

Remember your scholarship aggregator:
www.fastweb.com

Free, and lots of scholarships are available for you! DO it!

Peace,
Falcon and Dove

World Water Day

Brothers and Sisters,
Monday, March 22 is World Water Day, and this year World Environment Day events held by the United Nations will be held in Pittsburgh, PA June 5. Their theme this year is also water.

It is ironic that during this time when world organizations are focused on the ever increasing crisis in water world wide that Pennsylvania's water quality would be challenged.

Right now, Marcellus Shale horizontal well drilling is threatening the water quality of the entire commonwealth. Here's why:
It is completely unregulated-thanks to a 2005 decision by the Bush Administration to stop regulating oil and gas operators through the Clean Air and Water Acts.

It takes a million gallons of water, per frack, to operate a horizontal well. There can be up to 10 fracks per well! That is 10 million gallons of water per year per well, and there are 5,200 well permits up for consideration for 2010! It doesn't take a rocket scientist to see that this is a problem. All that fresh water comes from the rivers and streams unabated. No one asked our permission to use it, yet the water of Pennsylvania belongs to the people-that is what our charter says.
The water that is recaptured is contaminated with extremely high levels of salt-4 times saltier than the ocean, and very acid pH. It is toxic to nearly everything, except certain forms of algae.

It is also contaminated with radium...yes the same thing that produces radon gas. PA residents are already adversely effected by radon, and lung cancer from radon is a top killer in some regions of the state. All this to garner a small amount of natural gas that will not be U.S. autonomous-foreign companies are already buying into the shares, so the same thing that happened in oil production will happen in domestic gas production...only this time, our collective water quality will be destroyed in the process.

This is not a small problem. There are a variety of 72 chemicals being added to that water, but we don't know how many or in what concentrations, because the companies are not required by law to reveal that information. Municipalities who think they will make tax revenue on this type of drilling will find themselves in deep to the sewer authority who will require that water remediated before it hits the plant. Right now, it is being dumped untreated, right back into our rivers.

Anyone who wants to write a horror story, here it is, and this one is very real.
Call write, or loudly complain in the most public way to your local and state and federal officials: this is our resource, water is sacred, you cannot continue to violate our rights in this manner.
Peace,
Falcon and Dove

SWPA Flooding Concerns: Tips for Everyone

Hello Family,
As you know, a slow moving stormfront can play havoc for us here in Southwestern PA. We are expecting some rain for the next few days, and that along with rising temperatures has the National Weather Service, and some local officials concerned that flooding could occur.

Falcon has some tips for EVERYONE, regardless of where you live, because stationary water and stormwater runoff are a problem everywhere.

First- if you live in a flood prone area, clear your basement or ground floor of as many valuables as you can.
Keep fresh water bottles on hand ( enough for 3 days or more) and have food, medicines, etc. on higher ground and bagged to keep moisture out.

Second-make a pass through your property and community today while it is dry. Remove loose debris from areas where is could collect in rising waters and become a real problem. Check the sewers in your neighborhood. Make sure they are clear of debris and trash. Those items could block sewers, cause streets to pond and put lives at risk. It could also cause water to back up into basements and yards.

Three-get sandbags for areas around your home prone to flooding.
Get battery operated radios or crank radios and chargers in case the power goes out.
Keep a medical kit for cuts and bruises handy. Check flashlights, and CHARGE YOU MOBILE PHONES!!! Keep them charged.

Four-let family and friends know where you are and what you are doing. Social networking is very handy for that. If you haven't heard from someone, when you safely can, check on them, particularly if they are elderly or living alone.

For more information on what you should have in case of an emergency, go to:

www.redcross.org

Peace, and stay safe.
Falcon and Dove

Artist Tim Farrell on ECHOES this Weekend! Upcoming Concert in Pittsburgh on March 12!

Artist Tim Farrell on ECHOES this Weekend!
Upcoming Concert in Pittsburgh on March 12!

Hello Family,
Guitarist Tim Farrell, whose new CD CODAS is currently Number 4 on the ECHOES list, is coming to Pittsburgh on March 12 for a benefit concert to promote science education to young people in the extended tri-state region. I also just heard that he will be featured on the program this upcoming week:

One-check out our ECHOES broadcast on Sunday evenings from 9-11pm on WDUQ-FM, 90.5

Two-Tim’s interview and concert should air on Tuesday, March 9, but check www.echoes.org to see when it will air where you are, or play the website.

Then you can come out Friday night in Pittsburgh (the snow will be melting, the air warming) by the confluence of the three rivers and see Tim with his buddies Ken Bonfield, and Steve Davison at the Carnegie Science Center for food (free beer!) music, and all for a good cause: science education.

Just go to this link to purchase your tickets:

http://members.carnegiemuseums.org/anacousticevening

Falcon and Dove: Oscar Predictions 2010

Hello World Family,
It's an annual event, and of course, this year is no different. It is time for our Oscar predictions: what we think will win, and what we wish would win.

We will keep it simple. This is a powerful year. We feel going to 10 films under consideration for Best Picture was a good idea, since there certainly are enough great films this year consider.

Best Picture-It is going to be a very tough category, but we feel AVATAR will win BEST PICTURE, although we think THE HURT LOCKER will give it a run for its money, and both are fine films. PRECIOUS is nominated, and were there not an AVATAR, this would be our choice for Best Picture.

Director-Kathryn Bigelow did a fantastic job, and of course, Lee Daniels was awesome. We would love to see Lee upset this category, but we are also fine with James Cameron getting his Oscar.

Best Actress in a Supporting Role should be Mo'Nique. She was devastatingly magnificent.

Best Actress-this is a very tough cetegory, and will probably be won by Sandra Bullock. Is it her best effort or role...well, no. This is a feel good category. Every single woman in this group did an extraordinary job this year.

Best Actor in a Supporting Role-probably Christophe Waltz

Best Actor-probably Jeff Bridges, but we would also like to give props to Colin Firth, whom we enjoy tremendously.

In technical categories, we would like to see awards for the following films: AVATAR, STAR TREK, HP: HBP, and The Secret of Kells.

Best Animation will probably be UP, but the best project this year was CORALINE.

Best Original Screenplay- It's a toss up: THE HURT LOCKER and THE MESSENGER

Best Adapted Screenplay-PRECIOUS should win-we will see

Best Visual Effects-AVATAR, period, seriously

Music-Randy Newman may get a win here for work in Disney's THE PRINCESS AND THE FROG

Best Documentary-FOOD, INC.

Doc Short-CHINA'S UNNATURAL DISASTER

Best Animated Short-FRENCH TOAST or WALLACE AND GROMMIT

Best Live Short-THE NEW TENANTS

It is truly a wonderful year for film. See as many of these great films as you can on screen, or on DVD.

Peace,
Falcon and Dove