I've signed to give those making the least a raise this year - raise the minimum wage

 Signon to give those making the least a raise.

I've signed to give those making the least a raise this year - raise the minimum wage.  When I first got out of college I worked at a Wendy's - had to live with my Dad since rent is pretty hard to make when you get little more than 3.00 dollars an hour.  That was in 1984.
People that are trying to work for a living, need to make a living wage.  Please sign the petition - you don't have to donate to sign - and you don't have to subscribe after - just decline at the bottom of the e-mail is this link:

 Click here if you'd like to unsubscribe from these messages.
Organizing for Action, P.O. Box 66732 Washington, D.C. 20035

This is an easy, safe and fast way to make you voice heard - just click on the link:   Signon to give those making the least a raise. And make a difference.  Peace.

Pope Francis proclaims Pope John XXIII and Pope John Paul II Saints

http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-francis-proclaims-pope-john-xxiii-and-pope-jo

Today's top story on twitter follow link above.  John Francis's proclamation of John Paul II saint hood is the best birthday gift I could receive.  Also a great way to remember my Mother on my 52nd birthday.

My Mom died at 53 and I was 33 it was during Holy week in 1996. That Easter Pope John Paul II had asked us to give up something that came between us and God. I choose TV.  

I studied scripture and listened to radio shows that acted out Christian books and scripts.  I visited my Mom and prayed.  The Saturday before Palm Sunday, my Mom died at around 5 a.m.  I was driving back from Winona Minnesota after being at her bedside Friday afternoon and evening.  I had pulled over at a little spot in the road to rest by some soda pop machines it was around 5 a.m. and the car filled with light then I heard my Mom's voice, "Love you too, Missy."  She was in a coma while I had been with her.  When I got home the hospital called and confirmed she had died at about that time.  

I'm hoping to live longer than Mom by doing what I can to lose weight and get healthy. I hope to give all reading this post hope.  As my Mom said, "There's always hope in the Spring."  She died before Springs promise could fully unfold but she never lost her faith.  

May you all know a healthy lifestyle is possible.  You can make a difference in your weight without starving yourself or exercising all the time.  I've put on this blog and my other blog melissablanchard62.wordpress.com how I've accomplished my confirmed 51 pound weight loss.

During the re-election of President Obama I wanted to help - then I couln't go a few blocks without feeling like I might collapse.  Yesterday I walked for the March For Babies walk.  I completed the 3.8 km walk in 55 minutes with plenty left in the tank for more:)  I will continue to walk, bike and use my arm bike because its doable, something I can manage and it builds my body, mind and Spirit.  

Keep on believing in the hope of Spring - rain falls but if you look closely you'll see the green that's coming to life as the rain washes away the grime of winter's cold.  

Hope all is going well with all the 50 something's out there. You can change you lifestyle even after 50:)  Believe it.

Comments are welcome.  And if you need a hand to stay on course just let me know - I'll give you a hand up.

Sincerely,
Melissa Blanchard
mblanchdev1@gmail.com

Give As You're Able to March For Babies Walking on 4/26/2014

@MarchForBabies 6 days left. My Secured walking/giving site directly 2 March of Dimes http://www.marchforbabies.org/mbwork2011 

My reason for walking in the video - Please give to support healthier pregnancies and for continued care for those born prematurely.  Even babies born at 23 weeks have the will to survive - help out as you can with their care as they grow.

http://youtu.be/afEVgovFEvc

#LetsMove Me doing my 30 hope some kids get golden books

#LetsMove Me Doing my 30 minutes

March For Babies Walk for Minnesota April 26th

@MarchForBabies Preemies at 1st grasp of father or mother's finger are precious & need extra support four many years, please give generously .http://www.marchforbabies.org/mbwork2011

#LetsMove Me After doing my 30 Freezing rain after snow be careful

#LetsMove Me doing my 30 total loss so far 46 pounds avg 2 lbs a week

Keep on moving everyone - it pays off under 200 lbs now:)

#LetsMove Me Doing my 30 min

March for Babies Give As You're Able

@MarchForBabies 15 days left. My Secured walking/giving site directly 2 March of Dimes http://www.marchforbabies.org/mbwork2011 

#LetsMove to better health

#LetsMove It's about better health

#LetsMove - Move on to better health 30 minutes everyday.

#LetsMove Me doing my 30 min

#LetsMove Me doing my 30 min

When Calls the Heart Jack & Elizabeth

Well done - Andra Morse - thanks for sharing on YouTube - really sums up why I love #When Calls The Heart and hope for a season 2.

#LetsMove Me doing my 30 min

Keep on Moving Everyone - Even when the Allergies Begin Exercise is good for the body:)

#LetsMove Me doing my 30 for better health: http://youtu.be/eP0hIyf-1Uo via @YouTube ‪#‎LetsMove‬ - Me walking now if I can get my allergy shots to build immunity for the Spring allergens I'll be back to 100%.

Happy Earth Month - #LetsMove - Keep moving everyone

http://youtu.be/TzJvUrDjFMQ - Me doing my 30.

Ideas for getting involved in Earth month from U.S. EPA e-mail:

U.S. EPA <usaepa@service.govdelivery.com>

U.S. EPA GoGreen! APRIL 2014 EARTH MONTH Monthly Consumer Newsletter

GO GREEN
EPA News You Can Use - April 2014
http://www.epa.gov/gogreen

IN THIS ISSUE:
Enviro-Tip of the Month

What You Can Do, What You Can Use

Social Media, Multimedia, and More

Upcoming Events and Opportunities

About This Newsletter

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ENVIRO-TIP OF THE MONTH

Earth Day is April 22 - Start by checking out the Earth Day web site for things you can do to participate in and celebrate Earth Day! Go ahead, get involved. Share the daily "Act On Climate" tip about things you can do to reduce carbon pollution. Also join our Thunderclap and help get the word out on Earth Day. See below for more.
http://www.epa.gov/earthday

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WHAT YOU CAN DO, WHAT YOU CAN USE

April is EARTH MONTH. Here are things you can do, where you live or online.

Learn - Teach - Share:

• Sign up to get a daily email tip with things you can do to act on climate and help reduce climate change. See the tips and share them, too. http://www.epa.gov/earthday/actonclimate

• Join EPA for live "Act On Climate" Twitter chats on environmental topics, on Tuesdays April 8, 15, 22 & 29 at 2 pm EDT.
  http://www.epa.gov/earthday/onlinechats.html

• Join us on Facebook and share your Earth Day experiences, or use hashtag #earthday on Twitter.
  http://www.facebook.com/epa
  http://twitter.com/search?q=%23earthday

• Will you lend your voice to protecting the climate for Earth Day? To get the word out about what we all can do to reduce carbon pollution, we’re using a new tool called Thunderclap, which is like a virtual flash mob. Here’s how it works: you agree to let Thunderclap send a specific, one-time message on your behalf to your social networks at on Earth Day at 12:00 pm EDT.  If 500 or more people agree, the message will go out on everyone’s walls and feeds at the same time. But if fewer than 500 agree, nothing happens.

Here’s the message: “For Earth Day, I commit to protect the climate. Take small actions that add up! http://epa.gov/climatechange/wycd #ActOnClimate ”

Note that bit about 500 people: we need your help to hit our target. Sign up for our Thunderclap and share this message with your friends.
Thunderclap: https://www.thunderclap.it/projects/10319-on-earth-day-actonclimate
Blog post: http://blog.epa.gov/blog/2014/04/we-need-your-help-to-protect-the-planet

Habla español? Aprenda más acerca del Da del Planeta Tierra y de lo que usted puede hacer para ayudar a proteger el medio ambiente. Escuche los podcasts ambientales. Inscrbase para recibir un consejo por correo electrnico en abril.

http://www.epa.gov/espanol/diadelplanetatierra/

ADDITIONAL ITEMS

Pet Collar Pesticide Warning. Sergeant's Pet Care Products and Wellmark have agreed to stop producing pet collars containing the pesticide propoxur to help protect children from this pesticide. If you purchased a propoxur pet collar, read the label carefully and follow all directions on the label to protect your family and pets.
http://go.usa.gov/K5yh

Fix A Leak. Easy-to-fix household leaks account for more than one trillion gallons of water wasted each year across the United States. Check your fixtures and stop leaks, either on your own or by reminding your landlord. If you're shopping for new fixtures or plumbing, look for the WaterSense label.

http://www.epa.gov/watersense/our_water/fix_a_leak.html

Bee safe with pesticides. If you use pesticides where bees are present, always READ THE LABEL. EPA has developed new pesticide labels that help you understand how to apply the pesticides and help protect bees and other pollinators.
http://go.usa.gov/j65h

Calling All Innovators (due April 30). Companies or institutions: nominate their innovative technologies for the annual 2014 Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge. We’re looking for nominations for safer chemical processes or products that may reduce the generation and use of chemicals that are hazardous to people's health and the environment.
http://go.usa.gov/KQdQ

  

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SOCIAL MEDIA, MULTIMEDIA & MORE

SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS:

During April Earth Month, we're blogging with a series of daily tips that you can use to act on climate and reduce carbon pollution. Check out the tips and share the things you are doing. http://blog.epa.gov/blog/category/earthmonthtips

VIDEOS - MARCH RELEASES

Waters of the US Proposed Rule:

• EPA Administrator McCarthy Gives an Overview of EPA's Clean Water Act Proposed Rule, and highlights how EPA is taking action to keep America's waters clean and healthy. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ow-n8zZuDYc
• EPA White Board: Clean Water Act Rule Proposal Explained: What the proposal is all about, and what it means to you.
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fOUESH_JmA0

How you can act on climate change:

• Green Your Workplace, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K0IMr0D3iCY
• Share A Ride, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2-71o6gz88
• How Plug-in Vehicles Work, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fIvnKKPERZk

Two new video series:

• The Fishbone Project. A series of videos reviews testing for lead in soil in the South Prescott neighborhood of West Oakland, CA.
• EPA's Smart Growth Awards. This series covers Smart Growth 2009 and 2010 awards.
• Watch these series at http://www.youtube.com/user/USEPAgov/videos

Brownfields Riverfront Revitalization. Cleaning up contaminated sites along the Connecticut River.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oEx2hgwhjS8

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UPCOMING EVENTS AND OPPORTUNITIES

April

Month

Earth Month

National Gardening Month

Week

3/30 - 4/5, National Week of the Ocean

19-26, National Park Week (free entry at many national parks)

Day

7, Marjorie Stoneman Douglas born

22, Earth Day

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ABOUT THIS NEWSLETTER

Americans want to help protect and improve the nation's land, water, and air. "GoGreen" is a monthly newsletter from the US EPA summarizing recent news and info you can use to make a difference in your home, community, and workplace.

Want more news? Sign up to receive daily EPA news releases on topics that interest you.

http://www.epa.gov/newsroom/email_signups.htm

Read our blogs: http://www2.epa.gov/aboutepa/greenversations

Follow us on Twitter: http://www2.epa.gov/aboutepa/social-media#twitter

Like us on Facebook: http://www2.epa.gov/aboutepa/social-media#facebook

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More about GoGreen!