Sundance Channel

Congress and Keystone XL: A national disgrace

Robert Redford — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 18:19:54 +0000

Photo credit: tarsandaction The Congress is ending the year much as it began -- playing politics with our nation's future and putting American families at risk to score partisan points. In the closing act to a shameful year of paralysis and indecision on the issues that matter most, House Republicans held common-sense tax relief for American families hostage to a holiday gift to Big Oil. After the GOP-led House welded the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline rider onto the tax-relief bill, the Democratic-led Senate went along for the ride, passing a bad piece of legislation rather than being accused of blocking a needed tax cut. When the United State Congress intentionally ties these two things together, though, it's not a joke: it's a national disgrace.

Keystone XL and jobs: just more pipe dreams

Robert Redford — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 21:04:37 +0000

Photo credit: EcoWatch This week the GOP leadership, once again, has sided with Big Oil against the will of the American people. They are trying to circumvent President Obama's decision to further investigate the impacts of the controversial Keystone XL tar sands pipeline. GOP leadership is instead advocating for granting the permit now, or else they will hold up important legislation meant to benefit real people's real lives. They want you to believe it's about jobs, but that's not what the facts bear out. Just take a look.

What President Obama’s signature looks like

Matthew Rodriguez — Fri, 27 May 2011 16:36:56 +0000

Robert “the Doodler” Alicea at DeviantArt noticed something about President Obama’s signature and brought it to life with the above sketch. His signature is an adorable pup T-Rex playing with a ball of yarn. Once you see it, you can’t unsee it. [Via]

Vimeo of the Week: Arizona shooting: Memorial to Tucson victims

Bradford Shellhammer — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 19:10:59 +0000

Arizona shooting: Memorial to Tucson victims from Dan Chung on Vimeo.

It's been over a week now. Sarah Palin created a video to defend herself. Obama traveled to Tucson and delivered a poignant reading and moving tribute. And news channels and blogs continue to debate and cover the tone of political discourse in the US, gun control, and Giffords' struggle for survival. But none of these news services or blogs have captured the Tucson tragedy as movingly as Dan Chung and Chris McGreal's Arizona shooting: Memorial to Tucson victims.

Goodbye DADT

Bradford Shellhammer — Fri, 31 Dec 2010 18:10:29 +0000

Politically this was an up and down year for gays and lesbians. We lost many allies’ seats in congress. And Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell was defeated twice. But then something amazing happened. Harry Reid, Susan Collins, and Joe Lieberman pushed through DADT repeal in the Senate. Pelosi lead the house to the passage of a [...]

Why Hillary is not running for President

Bradford Shellhammer — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 19:14:04 +0000

There have been many a whisper in many a Democratic circle about the possibility of Hillary Clinton challenging Obama in the primary. While I find it doubtful, Lady Bunny, the hilarious drag icon, is assured Clinton is most certainly NOT running. Bunny writes on Facebook: Hillary is definitely not running for President in 2012. She’s [...]

Bob Woodward’s Book “Obama’s Wars”

Kultur Kritik — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 19:44:32 +0000

On Monday 9/27, Bob Woodward’s latest book Obama’s Wars (Simon & Schuster) will hit bookstores. Woodward (played by Robert Redford in the film ALL THE PRESIDENT’S MEN) spent 18 months interviewing members of the administration (including President Obama) and poring over internal memos and classified documents to create a behind the scenes account chronicling infighting [...]

Mark Zuckerberg is a Wiener and the BP Oil Spill Sucks

Paula Froelich — Fri, 28 May 2010 16:48:01 +0000

A sign warns the public away from the beach on May 23, 2010 on Grand Isle, Louisiana. With oil covering many of the beaches, officials closed them to the public indefinitely on Saturday. Officials now say that it may be impossible to clean the coastal wetlands affected by the massive oil spill that continues gushing [...]

Robert Redford: “Mr. President, now is the time for clean energy.”

Robert Redford — Wed, 19 May 2010 20:15:04 +0000

Thursday, May 20, 2010, marks one month since BP’s oil rig exploded in the Gulf Coast, killing 11 people and unleashing one of the worst environmental disasters our nation has ever seen. Since then, millions of gallons of oil have gushed into the ocean, poisoning marine life and threatening hundreds of miles of coastal [...]

Obama’s 400-pound gingerbread house

Bradford Shellhammer — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 15:24:22 +0000

As I posted earlier this week Simon Doonan did venture down to DC this week to assist and oversee the holiday decorating at the White House. The Washington Post has some photos of what Doonan and the Obamas did, and I must say, they’re pretty safe and traditional. Which I guess is appropriate for the [...]

The White House goes gay

Bradford Shellhammer — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 17:55:02 +0000

Great gay news is being reported over at Towleroad today. The lovable Simon Doonan, legendary Barneys window dresser, celebrated author, and hubbie to Jonathan Adler, will be decorating the White House this Christmas. This could be really good for the gays. Or it could be utter disaster. While, personally, I adore Doonan’s style it is a [...]

Designing Obama

Bradford Shellhammer — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 18:47:07 +0000

Designing Obama from mas / menos on Vimeo. Barack Obama’s campaign, which led to his election last year, was groundbreaking for many of the obvious reasons. One element that is sometimes overlooked is the visual imagery crafted by the campaign. Obama created a movement among many designers and artists inspired by his message of hope. [...]

U.S., China Plan $1.5 Billion Utility-Scale Wind Farm in Texas

Sundance Channel — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 15:20:44 +0000

The U.S. Renewable Energy Group and Cielo Wind Power have entered into a joint venture agreement with China's Shenyang Power Group to build a 600 megawatt wind farm across 36,000 acres in West Texas. This is the first time Chinese and U.S. entities have agreed to jointly develop a utility-scale wind power project.

Answering “who is Barack Obama?”

Bradford Shellhammer — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 21:29:00 +0000

Yesterday I wrote about some of the absurd signs appearing at anti-Obama gatherings across the country. This week’s New York Magazine takes a more in-depth look at some of the movements, from Tea Parties to birthers, that are collectively forming a movement that is becoming more than just fringe. The writer, Philip Weiss, described the [...]

Protest signs: sad or funny?

Bradford Shellhammer — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 23:26:07 +0000

As health care reform is debated in the Congress and the media, more and more protesters are taking to the streets. From town hall meetings to last week’s Tea Party march on Washington, anti-Obama protests are gaining in number and occurrence. While I am thankful that this country promotes free thought and encourages and protects [...]

How hetero?

Bradford Shellhammer — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 19:09:20 +0000

Those sassy Swedes throwing Stockholm Pride have created a way to test just how heterosexual you are by scanning your Twitter posts for obvious gay terms. The results are quite funny. For example, if you search my Twitter account, youngbradford, the results come back pretty obvious: 1% hetero! Though I think I am even less. [...]

National fist bump day

Matthew Rodriguez — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 20:16:16 +0000

Today marks the one year anniversary of Barack Obama greeting his wife Michelle with a gesture that rocked the traditional political establishment and the mainstream media. The Washington Post called it “the fist bump heard ’round the world” and to commemorate that occasion, today has been designated National Fist Bump Day. Oh yeah, then-Senator Barack [...]

President Obama, furniture mover

Andrew Hearst — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 21:19:19 +0000

There are lots of great images in the just-posted Flickr set by White House photographer Pete Souza, but this is my favorite: In preparation for a meeting about the economic recovery plan, President Obama and Vermont governor Jim Douglas shift a couch in the Oval Office. The set is filled with lots of casual, revealing [...]

Obama’s Latest Choice for Commerce a Proven Conservationist

Sundance Channel — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 22:00:00 +0000

WASHINGTON, DC, February 26, 2009 (ENS) – “Gary knows the American Dream. He’s lived it. And that’s why he shares my commitment to do whatever it takes to keep it alive in our time,” President Barack Obama said Wednesday, announcing former Washington Governor Gary Locke as his choice to lead the Commerce Department. “It is [...]

Obama To Congress: Economic Recovery ‘Begins’ With Clean Energy

Sundance Channel — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 13:00:00 +0000

WASHINGTON, DC, February 25, 2009 (ENS) – In his first address to a joint session of Congress Tuesday night, President Barack Obama earned repeated standing ovations from both Democrats and Republicans. He focused on three issues – clean energy, health care and education – and an overarching fourth issue – economic recovery. “The fact is, [...]

Obama and Harper Establish Clean Energy Dialogue

Sundance Channel — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 15:45:00 +0000

OTTAWA, Ontario, Canada, February 19, 2009 (ENS) – President Barack Obama and Prime Minister Stephen Harper today announced plans to collaborate on a new clean energy economy as a key element of broader economic recovery and reinvestment efforts between the United States and Canada. “I value our strategic partnership with Canada and look forward to [...]

EPA Revisits Bush-Era Denial of California Tailpipe Emissions Waiver

Sundance Channel — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 22:15:00 +0000

WASHINGTON, DC, February 6, 2009 (ENS) – In accordance with President Barack Obama’s order in January, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will reconsider its decision denying California permission to set standards controlling greenhouse gases from motor vehicles. The waiver request was made by California on December 21, 2005, to allow the state the right to [...]

Obama’s Inaugural Address Shows Concern for the Planet

Sundance Channel — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 14:00:00 +0000

WASHINGTON, DC, January 20, 2009 (ENS) – In his inaugural address today, before some two million people on the National Mall and the assembled living past presidents and current legislators, President Barack Obama exhorted the nation to unite to surmount the present “crisis.” The new president gave attention not only to the social and economic [...]

High Ethical Standards Will Rule Interior Department, Salazar Vows

Sundance Channel — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 21:00:00 +0000

WASHINGTON, DC, January 23, 2009 (ENS) – The Obama administration’s new Secretary of the Interior, Ken Salazar, has promised that high ethical standards will be the norm at the department that has been plagued with scandals under the Bush administration. In an address to thousands of Interior Department employees Thursday broadcast live by satellite to [...]

Obama Freezes Pending Federal Rules, Wolves May Benefit

Sundance Channel — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 22:00:00 +0000

WASHINGTON, DC, January 21, 2009 (ENS) – In one of his first presidential acts, President Barack Obama has ordered federal agencies to halt all pending regulations until his administration can review them. White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel issued the memorandum Tuesday shortly after Obama took the oath of office at noon on the [...]

Poll: Thousands of Scientists Affirm Human-Caused Global Warming

Sundance Channel — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 21:30:00 +0000

CHICAGO, Illinois, January 20, 2009 (ENS) – While the bitter cold of President Barack Obama’s Inauguration Day in Washington may seem to contradict the idea that global warming continues, a new survey reveals consensus among scientists about the reality of climate change and its likely cause. The survey of 3,146 earth scientists from around the [...]

Day of Service Touches Hearts Across America

Sundance Channel — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 16:00:00 +0000

WASHINGTON, DC, January 19, 2009 (ENS) – Hundreds of thousands of people participated in more than 11,000 service events across the country today to honor President-elect Barack Obama’s request to Americans of all ages to help fellow citizens in celebration of the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday and of his inauguration as the 44th President [...]

Obama’s Green Investment Plan Could Refresh Ohio’s Economy

Sundance Channel — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 19:30:00 +0000

COLUMBUS, Ohio, January 13, 2009 (ENS) – After he takes office on January 20, President Barack Obama has said he will seek congressional approval to invest $150 billion over 10 years on clean energy initiatives. This would fund next-generation biofuels and fuel infrastructure, advance the commercialization of plug-in hybrids, develop renewable energy, invest in low-emissions [...]

State of the World 2009: Time to Cool the Planet Running Out

Sundance Channel — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 15:15:00 +0000

WASHINGTON, DC, January 13, 2009 (ENS) – Ending the emission of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide by 2050 will be necessary to avoid “catastrophic disruption to the world’s climate,” according to the Worldwatch Institute in its 26th annual assessment, “State of the World 2009: Into a Warming World,” released today. Yet, the independent research organization [...]

Obama-Biden Inaugural Features Two Green Celebrations

Sundance Channel — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 13:00:00 +0000

WASHINGTON, DC, January 13, 2009 (ENS) – In honor of President-Elect Barack Obama and Vice President-Elect Joe Biden, millions of people are heading to the nation’s capital to celebrate the inauguration set for January 20. First up, and greenest, the Green Inaugural Ball: Maximum Celebration, Minimal Impact, on Saturday at the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium [...]

Obama Vows Dramatic Action Towards a Greener Economy

Sundance Channel — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 12:00:00 +0000

FAIRFAX, Virginia, January 8, 2009 (ENS) – President-elect Barack Obama today pledged to quickly implement a plan that will save or create three million jobs by doubling the production of alternative energy; weatherizing 75 percent of federal buildings and two million American homes; and investing in new infrastructure, science, research, and technology. In a speech [...]

Green Jobs – Myth or Engine for Growth?

Sundance Channel — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 17:00:00 +0000

Open Salon is a social content site where users like you can blog about issues they care about. It is a community website that introduces blog writers to a wider audience. Open Salon [www.opensalon.com] Sundance Channel is excited to partner with Open Salon and Lexus as we solicit your ideas around sustainability and how technological [...]

115 Groups Ask Obama’s Ag Secretary to End Wildlife Killing

Sundance Channel — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 14:15:00 +0000

WASHINGTON, DC, January 2, 2008 (ENS) – A coalition of 115 conservation, animal protection, ranching, and faith-based organizations from across the United States today sent a letter to President-elect Barack Obama’s nominee for agriculture secretary asking that he halt the government slaughter of millions of wild animals, including wolves, coyotes, bears, cougars, and prairie dogs. [...]

Lawsuit Challenges 11th Hour Cuts in Endangered Species Protections

Sundance Channel — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 16:15:00 +0000

SAN FRANCISCO, California, December 17, 2008 (ENS) – Regulations announced by Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne last week that would exempt many federal activities, including those that generate greenhouse gases, from review under the Endangered Species Act were published in the Federal Register Tuesday. But the regulations are being challenged in court by three [...]

Obama’s Choice of Salazar for Interior, Vilsack for Agriculture Praised

Sundance Channel — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 15:30:00 +0000

CHICAGO, Illinois, December 17, 2008 (ENS) – In announcing Colorado Senator Ken Salazar as his choice for secretary of the interior and former Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack for secretary of agriculture, President-elect Barack Obama said he considers both men to be key members of his energy and environment team. “It’s time for a new kind [...]

Obama’s Choices for Energy-Environment Signal New Direction

Sundance Channel — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 15:15:00 +0000

CHICAGO, Illinois, December 15, 2008 (ENS) – “The team that I have assembled here today is uniquely suited to meet the great challenges of this defining moment,” President-elect Barack Obama said at a Chicago press conference today announcing his nominees for the top officials who will lead his administration on the intertwined sectors of energy [...]

EPA Abandons Attempts to Change Clean Air Rules

Sundance Channel — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 14:45:00 +0000

WASHINGTON, DC, December 11, 2008 (ENS) – The Bush administration has dropped plans to adopt two Clean Air Act rules that would have allowed power plants and other polluters to increase smog and soot pollution. The first rule concerned the Clean Air Act’s New Source Review program. It would have allowed coal-fired power plants to [...]

Obama Would ‘Save the Planet’ By Repowering America

Sundance Channel — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 12:00:00 +0000

CHICAGO, Illinois, December 10, 2008 (ENS) – President-elect Barack Obama signaled that he is ready to tackle the climate crisis immediately upon taking office, following a meeting Tuesday with former Vice President Al Gore and Vice President-elect Joe Biden. “All three of us are in agreement that the time for delay is over, the time [...]

As Commerce Secretary, Richardson Will Govern Air, Oceans

Sundance Channel — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 16:00:00 +0000

CHICAGO, Illinois, December 4, 2008 (ENS) – President-elect Barack Obama has tapped New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson to be his Secretary of Commerce, a position with many natural resources responsibilities. Richardson will be in charge of rebuilding the U.S. economy on a basis of clean energy and green jobs – two of the essential pillars [...]

Environmental Pledges Flow from First Clinton Global Initiative Asia

Sundance Channel — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 20:00:00 +0000

HONG KONG, China, December 3, 2008 (ENS) – Commitments to clean Hong Kong’s beaches, produce carbon-free energy from rice residues, and raise awareness of climate change in India are among the results of the first Clinton Global Initiative meeting in Asia. Today, at the conclusion of the two-day meeting in Hong Kong, former President Bill [...]

Youth Embarassed By U.S. Delegation at Climate Conference

Sundance Channel — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 13:00:00 +0000

POZNAN, Poland, December 1, 2008 (ENS) – The U.S. climate delegation’s “sidestepping and recalcitrance” in a news conference on the opening morning of the United Nations annual climate conference in Poznan was denounced by the international climate campaign 350.org and a group of young people from the United States who are attending the meetings. Lead [...]

Clean Energy Can Fuel Economic Revival, Green Groups Tell Obama

Sundance Channel — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 19:00:00 +0000

WASHINGTON, DC, November 28, 2008 (ENS) – President-elect Barack Obama can revive the U.S. economy – and aggressively combat climate change – by investing in clean energy technologies and strengthening environmental protections, the leaders of major U.S. environmental groups advise. The recommendation is a central part of a lengthy wish list of policies sent to [...]

Democrats in Control: Climate, Clean Energy Top Legislative Agenda

Sundance Channel — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 14:30:00 +0000

WASHINGTON, DC, November 21, 2008 (ENS) – The order of business in the incoming 111th Congress is beginning to take shape. When lawmakers convene on January 6, 2009, Democrats will be firmly in control of both houses, although today the outcome of several elections is still unclear. When Democratic President-elect Barack Obama takes office on [...]

Robert Redford: Mr. President, Respect Our Choice

Robert Redford — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 22:00:00 +0000

Americans Rejected ‘Drill, Baby, Drill.’ Bush Should Respect Our Choice. By Robert Redford Part of the change Americans just voted for in overwhelming numbers was to move away from the failed energy philosophy of “drill, baby, drill” to a more farsighted strategy, emphasized by Barack Obama, based on clean, renewable energy and efficiency. Yet on [...]

Enviros’ Obama To-Do List: Safeguard Climate, Water, Wildlife

Sundance Channel — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 21:00:00 +0000

WASHINGTON, DC, November 14, 2008 (ENS) – The end of the Bush administration can’t come soon enough for U.S. conservation groups, who believe that the election of Barack Obama has ushered in a “new era of hope” for the environment. “Eight dismal years of environmental abuse and neglect are now coming to an end,” said [...]

G20 Leaders Urged to Support Global Green New Deal

Sundance Channel — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 14:00:00 +0000

WASHINGTON, DC, November 12, 2008 (ENS) – When the leaders of the G20 countries gather in Washington this weekend for a special summit on the global financial crisis, pressure will be on to seek solutions in the growth of a new green economy. Today in Washington, Gary Gardner and Michael Renner, senior researchers with the [...]

Election 2008: The Winners

Sundance Channel — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 17:15:00 +0000

We thought about adding John McCain to the Winners list, as his loss on Tuesday assured that he won’t have the unenviable task of fixing the colossal clusterf@&% left behind by the Bush administration. But then we’d have to add Barack Obama to the Losers list (congratulations bub, it’s your problem now), and that just [...]

High Environmental Hopes Riding on Obama’s Green Promises

Sundance Channel — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 14:00:00 +0000

WASHINGTON, DC, November 5, 2008 (ENS) – Congratulations to President-elect Barack Obama and his team with messages of hope and pledges of support rolled in today from environmental and sustainable business groups across the political spectrum. The Sierra Club said in a statement, “If the Obama administration is as smartly, deliberately, and thoughtfully run as [...]

The Real-Life Entourage

Sundance Channel — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 23:30:00 +0000

Top Hollywood talent agent and inspiration for Jeremy Piven’s character, Ari Gold, in the HBO series, Entourage, Ari Emanual, will no longer need big development deals to have his influence on the country’s most popular narrative. Emanual’s brother, Rahm Emanual, is going to be President-elect Barack Obama’s Chief of Staff. This will make the two [...]

End of an Era: Now What?

Sundance Channel — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 22:30:00 +0000

Transitioning from a President George W. Bush to President Barack Obama is going to be a huge deal for this country, but Bush is still in office for another two-and-a-half months. In the meantime, we all have the opportunity to practice our ability to transition from chaos and fear to peace-of-mind by taking the proper [...]