The Office's Rainn Wilson will be in DC for 2 big events. Tonight (Tuesday) he will be speaking at American University at 7:30pm. The event is free and open to the public.
On Wednesday, Wilson will team up with Actress Debra Winger to host a benefit for the Tahirih Justice Center, which works to protect immigrant women and girls seeking justice in the United States from gender-based violence. The organization uses in-house and pro bono legal services and public policy advocacy to advance its cause. The dinner fundraiser, being held at the Carnegie Institution of Washington, is completely sold out.
According to the Tahirih Justice Center, around the world at least one in every three women has been beaten, coerced into sex, or otherwise abused in her lifetime. In the United States, about 25% of women suffer domestic violence, with ongoing health problems that have been linked to the effects of living in a war zone. Each year, between 600,000 and 800,000 people—mostly women and children—are trafficked across national borders.
Actress Jessica Alba, preggers and all, will be lobbying lawmakers on Capitol Hill on Tuesday and Wednesday for passage of the Safe Chemicals Act.The Fantastic Four star will be representing Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families, a coalition of parents, health professionals, environmentalists, businesses, and other advocates concerned about the presence of toxic chemicals in homes, places of work, and everyday products.
Alba's interest in this issue arose when she was pregnant with her first child Honor and learned about toxic plastics used to make baby bottles, brain toxins in children’s toys, carcinogens in cleaning products, hormone-disrupting chemicals and many other dangerous poisons that children are exposed to on a regular basis.
The Safe Chemicals Act (S.847), introduced in April by Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ), seeks to overhaul the outdated Toxic Substances Control Act of 1976.Specifically, the Act would:
Require EPA to identify and restrict the “worst of the worst” chemicals, those that persist and build up in the food chain;
Require basic health and safety information for all chemicals as a condition for entering or remaining on the market;
Reduce the burden of toxic chemical exposures on people of color and low-income and indigenous communities;
Upgrade scientific methods for testing and evaluating chemicals to reflect best practices called for by the National Academy of Sciences; and
Generally provide EPA with the tools and resources it needs to identify and address chemicals posing health and environmental concerns.
The Act is co-sponsored by Senators Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Al Franken (D-MN), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), and Chuck Schumer (D-NY).For more information and updates on the legislation, go here.
Update: Video of Jessica Alba interview on the Hill here.
This evening Governor Bill Richardson, Queen Noor of Jordan, Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Actor Matt Dillon and CNN Host Wolf Blitzer will gather for Refugees International’s 32nd Anniversary Dinner at the Andrew Mellon Auditorium in DC.Sam Waterston (aka ADA Jack McCoy) is hosting the event, which will celebrate the work of Refugees International and commemorate late Ambassador Richard C. Holbrooke at Andrew Mellon Auditorium.
Established in 1979, Refugees International is a non-governmental organization that serves the needs of refugees all over the world.Each year, the organization conducts 20 to 25 field missions to identify displaced people’s needs for basic services such as food, water, health care, housing, access to education and protection from harm.Refugees International also works with policymakers to advocate for the needs and well being of refugees.Currently, the NGO focuses particularly on displaced people in Iraq, Sudan, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Somalia, Burma, and Colombia.
Following the dinner tonight, Actor Matt Dillon, who serves on the Board of Directors, will host an after party at L2 Lounge in Georgetown. Admission is $25 and benefits Refugees International.
On Tuesday, Prince Charles arrived in DC for a three- day visit.Perhaps he’s trying to renew some Royal buzz as OBL’s death clearly stole the Royal thunder.
The heir to the British throne enjoyed tea time at the Supreme Court with Justices Stephen Breyer, Antonin Scalia and Sonia Sotomayor.The Prince of Wales then attended a reception for past recipients of the Marshall scholarship, which provides American students with an opportunity to pursue graduate studies at a UK university.
Following his SCOTUS visit, Prince Charles, a long-time advocate of environmental issues, particularly sustainable and organic farming, spent 35 minutes touring Common Good City Farm on Capitol Hill.The sustainable farm is in a low-income community near Howard University.Low-income residents who volunteer at the farm get to take home a wide variety of fruits and vegetables.
On Wednesday, Prince Charles delivered the keynote speech at "The Future of Food" conference held at Georgetown University.He blamed the high cost of locally produced organic food on farm subsidies for large-scale agriculture.He encouraged more business and government support for organic and environmentally friendly food production.
Federal farm subsidies began in the 1930s to guarantee a stable level of food production in the face of volatile prices.Every four years, Congress authorizes a farm bill that provides subsidies to the ag industry amounting to about $20 billion a year.About $5 billion of these subsidies are in the form of direct cash payments to farms.Established in 1996, Congress initially intended these cash payments to provide farmers with greater flexibility over what to plant and help eventually transition farmers out of relying on government support. The program was supposed to phase-out by 2002; however, Congress has since extended and increased the subsidies, which many criticize for encouraging unneeded production, inflating land prices, and benefiting wealthy individuals (including some Members of Congress) and Fortune 500 companies.Growing budget concerns and the controversy surrounding direct payments create an opportunity for reform with the 2012 farm bill.
Following his speech, the Prince met with President Obama, who is scheduled to travel to England for a ceremonial visit in a few weeks.He had no ill feelings for not being invited to the royal wedding – no biggie since he had some other things to do over the weekend anyway (see e.g., killing Osama bin Laden).
