Declare Yourself ad Campaign

Image copyright Mark Liddell

DeclareYourself.com has a great ad campaign going on. Heavyhitters, Mark Liddell and David LaChapelle have gotten together with a few young A-Listers (Christina Aguilera, Jessica Alba, Andre 3000) and created images for the site encouraging folks to register to vote. 

Regardless of who you are voting for, the message here is positive one of taking action and making your voice heard. Thirty-one states allow early voting so you don't have to deal with crazy lines or even crazier personal scheduling conflicts. What's your excuse?

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Sharkwater - a movie by Rob Stewart

Yes, I'm aware that documentaries generally are not that interesting but this is different. Please take the time to watch this film and educate yourself about the practice of shark finning. 

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Bear Sterns Presidential Campaign Contributions

I got a little curious as to if the investment bank Bear Sterns had made presidential campaign contributions to candidates this year since they seem to have so much in the way liquid funds lately. No major contender was exempt from the take.

Giuliani tops the receivers at $175,091.

Hilary comes in next at $154,740.

Dodd collected $122,650.

McCain grabbed $80,200.

Edwards, Obama, Ron Paul, and Romney all got donations as well to the sum of $911,406 for all contributions made. 

With average Americans now shelling out an average of $3.51 for a gallon of gas and having trouble affording to keep their homes, this is a sad state of affairs with much of the money funneled into campaigns that went nowhere really. I can't say that I'm proposing a solution here. I wish I had the answers. I was just something I was thinking about, and I hope you are as well. Big business is making its voice heard to our elected officials. Make sure they hear your voice as well by getting involved. Vote to change this country and help to turn this thing around. 

Contribution numbers courtesy: Opensecrets.org

Gas prices courtesy: Energy Information Administration

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Bloggers Unite for Human Rights

Join me and be a part of bloggers making a difference on May 15th. The dedicated masses of the blogosphere want you to speak your mind about human rights issues. Check out the site, grab a badge, and participate. 

If you are a photographer specializing or interested in social issues, get some free publicity for yourself and your human rights issue of choice by uploading your pictures. 

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Planting some trees

So, you'll notice the link widget to the right for tree donations to the Nature Conservancy. It's time to put our money where the lip service has been and do our part to help with global carbon emissions. 

For myself, I have two shows coming up this month and will donate five percent of print sales associated with both shows towards planting trees. 

What are you going to do?

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Save Tara Hill

Tara Hill is an archeological site of great significance under threat of roadway development in County Meath, Ireland. The hill, translated as Hill of the Kings, was once the seat of the High King of Ireland and is noted for its earthworks structures and monoliths. As a person with Celtic heritage as well as having an anthropology degree to boot, I'm outraged that the Prime Minister and other government officials continue to support the extension of the M3 motorway through the Tara-Skryne Valley despite overwhelming popular opinion against the project. 

Preserving heritage sites like these is terribly important so that our children can connect with the past in more ways than a just a photograph. Please review the links below to read about the issue and click here to join me in signing the petition to save Tara Hill. 

Wikipedia - Tara Hill

Mythical Ireland site

You Tube Video

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Artist's Deduction Bill

Support your rights to get fair market value when you donate your work to charities. Read more about it here. Sphere: Related Content