U.S. Exporting 9 Times More than Potential Offshore Resources

As the GOP mantra echoes across the hall where John McCain accepts his nomination, the sound you hear is “DRILL DRILL DRILL” and “END DEPENDENCE ON FOREIGN OIL“.

The Facts that prevail here are stunningly deceptive. We are currently exporting more than we intend to drill, and the prevailing administration and its party, have utterly failed us. Energy as an investment for many producers has the mechanism of sale by bid, meaning that the highest bid gets the oil, as opposed to the highest local need gets the oil. The time may be near to impose some level of regulation.

Article: http://ctngreen.com/2008/oct/?page=94 for graph of the relative value derived from drilling offshore.

Markey to Bush: Keep Our Oil At Home
WASHINGTON (August 19, 2008) – Even as calls to open up large swaths of America’s offshore areas to oil drilling continue, America is setting new records for exports of domestically produced oil and petroleum products. Today Rep. Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Chairman of the Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming, sent a letter to the president asking him to explore stopping the exports of U.S. oil to foreign nations.

“Mr. President, keep our oil at home. While American families have been shelling out big bucks at the pump, we’ve been shipping American oil and petroleum products abroad to places like China, Singapore and Venezuela,” said Markey. “If we want to help America become energy independent, we should first look to American oil being shipped to foreign countries.”

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Kids Come Out for a Cure

Saturday, September 20, 2008 was the scene of a spectacular charitable event to make inroads on eradicating the devastating impact of pediatric AIDS.  The venerable Park Avenue Armory in New York City was transformed into a joyous children’s and parents’ wonderland for the celebrated annual Kids for Kids Celebrity Carnival to benefit the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation.  Parents, children and celebrities were treated to a blissful afternoon of musical entertainment, arcade games, art projects, rock climbing, face painting, celebrity and Disney character story-readings, cookie and Bin-Go bag decorating, organic tee shirt designing, teen superlounge with Sony TV’s, cell phone bling, manicures, rock video games, and so much more.  Central to the gala was a sumptuous banquet featuring scrumptious gourmet food from over 45 of New York’s finest restaurants.  The event was jubilant, punctuated by interactions among excited guests and many popular celebrities, including actress Leighton Meester of “Gossip Girl,” supermodel and actor, Tyson Beckford, actress Kelly Rutherford, also currently of “Gossip Girl,” actress Aida Turturro of “The Sopranos,” famed photographer Annie Liebovitz, painter John Currin, child actor Josh Flitter (the next “Ace Ventura”), Emmy-winning actor (for “Will and Grace”) Bobby Cannavale, among so many others.

 

The Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, created in 1988 in honor of Elizabeth Glaser, who contracted the disease because of a blood transfusion and unknowingly passed it on to her children, has been a leader in the fight against pediatric HIV/AIDS.  The foundation has positively impacted the lives of more then 4.8 million women in developing countries, provided millions of dollars in grants to leading scientists and clinicians, and prolonged the lives of over 198,000 people with HIV through treatment initiatives.  Saturday’s Carnival is expected to raise nearly two million dollars to support the Foundation and its laudable efforts.  The marvelous event proved yet again that when charitable work and good times are combined, everyone wins.  For more information on the foundation, please visit www.pedaids.org.

 

Annette Ferstenberg

Zac Posen Creates Perfection in Motion

The September 12, 2008 exclusive Zac Posen runway show for American Express members, punctuating Fashion Week, was, in a word, perfection.

Members were treated to more than a glimpse of this fashion virtuoso’s spring and summer 2009 lines. They were treated to a transformative experience. The garments, creating a flowing, expressive panoply of marriages between function and fantasy sailing on graceful vessels, were art in motion.

Exquisite face, form and shape enhanced by celestial lighting and mesmerizing music transported the audience to a place of beauty and infinite possibilities, out of time, out of the ordinary.
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National Solar Tour - October 4, 2008

As is evident from the election stump, one of the paramount issues facing America and salient in this election year is the development of alternative sources of energy.  The American Solar Energy Society is organizing what is expected to be the largest grassroots solar event in history in order to inform Americans about one such resource, solar energy.  Named the National Solar Tour, it will offer people the opportunity to tour homes and buildings to learn how others are using solar energy and energy efficient methods in their communities to undermine rising energy costs. 

As many as 150,000 people are expected to participate in 46 states across the country.  ASES coordinates the National Solar Tour in partnership with dozens of organizations. 

Most tours will be taking place on October 4, 2008, although the tours may vary by location so be certain to check listings for the latest details affecting your area at www.NationalSolarTour.org .

Fashion Week Electrifies NYC

New York City is aglow with the electricity of Fashion Week.  Midtown is buzzing with smiling faces as models, celebrities, correspondents, photographers and residents are caught up in the excitement and euphoria of this celebration of fashion.  The runway shows have been nothing short of spectacular and thrilling, mixing up color and fabric in a display as diverse as the host city itself.  Every neighborhood is experiencing an expansive spillover of parties, pedestrians and restaurant goers reveling in the mirth.  There is an interesting and paradoxical calm to all of this revelry; it feels confident, organized, respectful and joyful and not at all frenetic.  In a way, it’s an apt reflection of this city that has experienced so much pain, so much tragedy on this very day seven years ago.  Life goes on, as it must, in the confidence that through strength, doing good and living well we make our lives and the lives of those we lost count.

Annette Ferstenberg

David Wolfe SuperFoods for Healing Lecture and Demonstration

Title:
Location: East Hampton
Description: David Wolfe SuperFoods for Healing Lecture and Demonstration

The Ross School Wellness Center Cafe
RSVP 917 379 6306
Tickets $75 pp
Start Time: 06:00 pm
Date: 2008-09-06
End Time: 10:00 pm

Gustav Downgraded

Even though hurricane Gustav was downgraded to a tropical storm, with a concomitant collective sigh of relief on the part of the city of New Orleans, according to Bloomberg.com, its deleterious effects could still trigger insurance claims as high as $10 billion dollars for those areas affected by the storm.  Indeed, the damage in the storm’s wake is far from over and its effects on the bayou country’s already embattled inhabitants will be felt for a long time to come, not to mention the tragic loss of seven lives.  This is a time when we Americans can show our support by rallying around our fellow citizens and contacting various relief agencies to see how we can help.