National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is poised to authorize “Incidental Harassment Permits” to ION Geophysical to trawl huge arrays of seismic airguns through the Chukchi and Beaufort Arctic Seas. ION’s survey would result in harassment takes of a large number of marine mammals, in violation of the “small numbers” requirement of the Marine Mammal Protection Act. NMFS proposes to authorize the disruption of the behavior of over 250 bowhead whales, almost 5,000 beluga whales, and over 60,000 seals. NMFS admits that animals will suffer permanent hearing loss (also termed permanent threshold shift “PTS”), but justifies the activities with a series of unsubstantiated assumptions about the duration of exposure, and animals ability to escape injury. ION proposes using two towed arrays consisting of 26 active airguns with a total discharge volume of 4,450 cubic inches. They propose subjecting 80,970 mi2 (209,752 km2) of pristine Arctic habitat to airgun noise in excess of 160dB (re: 1µPa). We know that foraging and migration disruptions occur at much lower levels, and that stress in the extreme Arctic environment compromises the health and reproductive success of all marine life. These surveys are the preamble to a fossil fuel Klondike in the Arctic and must be halted. Please join us in our petition to the National Marine Fisheries Service deny authorization of this reckless proposal. Signatures must be in by the close of business on Monday September 17!

National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is poised to authorize “Incidental Harassment Permits” to ION Geophysical to trawl huge arrays of seismic airguns through the Chukchi and Beaufort Arctic Seas. ION’s survey would result in harassment takes of a large number of marine mammals, in violation of the “small numbers” requirement of the Marine Mammal Protection Act. NMFS proposes to authorize the disruption of the behavior of over 250 bowhead whales, almost 5,000 beluga whales, and over 60,000 seals. NMFS admits that animals will suffer permanent hearing loss (also termed permanent threshold shift “PTS”), but justifies the activities with a series of unsubstantiated assumptions about the duration of exposure, and animals ability to escape injury. ION proposes using two towed arrays consisting of 26 active airguns with a total discharge volume of 4,450 cubic inches. They propose subjecting 80,970 mi2 (209,752 km2) of pristine Arctic habitat to airgun noise in excess of 160dB (re: 1µPa). We know that foraging and migration disruptions occur at much lower levels, and that stress in the extreme Arctic environment compromises the health and reproductive success of all marine life. These surveys are the preamble to a fossil fuel Klondike in the Arctic and must be halted. Please join us in our petition to the National Marine Fisheries Service deny authorization of this reckless proposal. Signatures must be in by the close of business on Monday September 17!

This petition is to show Jefferson Parish leaders how important a small, professionally run, free concert series is to the well being and mindset of the local residents who graciously supported the Live @ Lafreniere Sunset Concert Series. Not only was it presented to give residents of Jefferson Parish a fun, family friendly event to share with their neighbors...it supported the local musicians, who have been a part of the region's culture and heritage for many years, as well as financially benefiting Lafreniere Park, the namesake of the event.

Anyone in his or her 40s, 50s, and 60s who has been forced out into the job market again by a layoff in this economy, knows how hard it is to find a new job and how prevalent the practice is of circumventing equal employment opportunity laws by 'prescreening' applicants by asking for their birthdate. It's time this blatantly discriminatory practice came to an end.

Several provisions of Alabama's disgraceful anti-immigration law were found unconstitutional in a series of rulings by the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals. They include invalidating any contracts with undocumented immigrants (making it virtually impossible to get a lease), harboring illegal aliens and the requirement that parents and students disclose their legal status to enroll in school. Days ago, Governor Bentley announced his decision to appeal the ruling to the full Court "based on principle"–claiming that Alabama must defend its rights against federal intrusion. The call for states rights' is a time-honored tradition for laws that oppress and disenfranchise people of all types in the southern United States. It is time for Alabama to accept the widely-held and fully constitutional "principles" that all children have a right to education and all people a right to shelter free of discrimination, harassment or fear. And it is time for Alabama to quit wasting money it doesn't have defending the indefensible on a fool's errand in court.

I've had a student loan since 1989. Due to school bankruptcy the schooling was interrupted: finished at another school, but without any benefit of placement. I have never worked in this field as a result and never netted a thin dime. Due to overwhelming circumstances I been able to pay very little, and the interest has grown exponentially. Now I'm retired on Social Security and DOE has taken a federal offset from my benefits to pay the loan. This works a real hardship with less than 900 to live on.

Candidates running unopposed.

"The Innocence of Muslims" is a dehumanizing and violence-inciting piece of extremist propaganda got several Americans killed in Libya and is resulting in a rash of protests across the Middle East. Google has a social and political responsibility to remove the video from YouTube.

Our Congress will remain stalemated as long as members pledge loyalty to Grover Norquist. Pledges to him must be rejected. Some new taxes are needed to overcome the recession and reduce the deficit.

States receive billions of dollars in tobacco taxes, but very little of it is actually spent on tobacco prevention and health issues. We should demand the government provide transparent information showing people they are being taxed for a good reason.

I think everyone is affected when churches campaign for a specific individual and/or party. There should be separation of church and state. No one enforces the law as it stands.

Mountain Roll-offs, Inc. (MRI) has filed their FINAL APPLICATION to build a “Solid Waste Transfer Station” at the old Mid-Continent Mine Building east of Carbondale, Colorado. Our concerns include but are not limited to pollution of all kinds, traffic, safety, fires, recreation, and what is to come in the future. Please join the us before Monday November 19th in opposition to this facility and tell our county commissioners NO! Get the facts at www.donttrashcarbondale.org.