JTM Launches New Online Voter Registration Form

JTM now has a new online voter registration form that you can fill in right from your computer. It tells you exactly where to send the form to ensure that you are properly registered.   Please feel free to put this linkable voter registration button on your site to help us register a record number of voters this election.  We will be partnering with several youth voter organizations this election that will be using this form and we will add those names here as they join with us. 

JTMP RECOGNIZES PRESIDENT CARTER'S VISION ON RENEWABLE ENERGY AND CALLS FOR THE NEXT PRESIDENT TO PROMOTE GREEN TECHNOLOGY

JTMP, musicians, and many of our supporters are concerned about global warming and the environment. In supporting the research, development and extensive use of green technology that will be better for the environment and help prevent global warming, we want to recognize former President Carter as a visionary leader of renewable energy.

THE MORAL EQUIVALENT OF WAR

Thirty years ago, President Carter cautioned us about dependence on foreign oil and provided a plan to lead us on the path to energy independence. He declared the "moral equivalent of war" on our energy crisis. As President he:

• Installed Solar Panels on the White House
• Created tax breaks for people who installed them on their homes
• Installed a wood burning stove in the White House living quarters
• Signed into law the Public Utilities Regulatory Policies Act (PURPA) providing favorable terms to entrepreneurial companies that produced electricity from solar cells, wind turbines, and other renewable energy sources
• Sought tax credits to spur individuals and companies to insulate their homes, stores, and factories, thus reducing energy use
• Established tax incentives for Gasahol (Ethanol)
• Created the Energy Department and provided substantial funding dedicated to the research and development of green technologies; such as solar power and wind turbines; as well as coal, nuclear, and domestic sources of oil and oil shale
• Proposed a bold and sweeping $142 billion energy plan, with 113 parts, which would achieve energy independence by 1990
• Set a goal of obtaining a fifth of America's needs from renewable energy by the turn of the century
• Lobbied for acceptance of a tax on gasoline--rising to 50 cents a gallon--if consumption did not decline as mandated, as well as a tax on "gas guzzler" cars
  
  

On July 15, 1979 in his "Crisis of Confidence Speech" he said:

"To give us energy security, I am asking for the most massive peacetime commitment of funds and resources in our nation's history to develop America's own alternative sources of fuel -- from coal, from oil shale, from plant products for gasohol, from unconventional gas, from the sun."

THE SOLAR PANELS

In 1979, to set a good example and spur the development of solar power and other forms of renewable energy, or "green" technology, President Carter had 32 solar panels installed on the West Wing of the White House. These panels were visible from Pennsylvania Avenue to show a commitment to renewable energy development. They were dedicated in a Rose Garden ceremony on June 20, 1979. These 32 solar thermal collectors heated the water for the "Mess" in the White House and remained on the White House for seven years. In 1986, they were removed for roof repairs, and never reinstalled.

WHAT HAPPENED TO THEM?

The solar panels ended up on the campus of Unity College in Maine. Mark Tardif, associate director of communications for Unity College, informed us that in 1992 Unity College's development officer at the time, Peter Marbach, read about them in an article and discovered they were sitting and gathering dust in a warehouse in Virginia. After many phone calls and perseverance, he succeeded in getting them donated to the school. He drove down in an old Unity College school bus and picked them up. Sixteen of the panels were then refurbished and restored, using funds from donations. One of the leading donors was the actress Glenn Close. These 16 panels were then installed on the school's cafeteria, and heated the water for the school's cafeteria for some 12 years, and the rest were put into storage. Unity college, like President Carter, supports energy conservation and renewable energy development. In 2004, the 16 panels became worn out and stopped functioning. Mr. Tardif said they will remain there on the cafeteria roof as a symbol to inspire the development of renewable energy.

A ROAD NOT TAKEN

To preserve them for posterity, two panels were selected to be donated; one to the Carter Museum and one to the Smithsonian. Two Unity College students drove down to deliver them in a pickup truck converted to run on vegetable oil. Their journey, along with America's energy policy, was documented in a film by Swiss directors Roman Keller and Christina Hemauer titled, "A Road Not Taken". It made its debut at the Maine International Film Festival, and a preview can be seen here. If anyone can help with distribution, please contact Shannon Haines at info@miff.org.

The panel now rests at the Jimmy Carter Library and Museum, as a testament to his vision on renewable energy.

Although in 2003 the Park Service installed solar panels on buildings adjacent to the White House, the White House itself still does not have any solar panels installed. We call for the next President to put solar panels back on the White House, and to restore President Carter's commitment to renewable energy by providing ample funding for the development of green technology.

We would have been wise to listen to President Carter's words thirty years ago. This time, let's make sure is is a road taken.

Facebook A Threat To Egypt?

 The Egyptian government -which has governed under Emergency Law for the last 25 years, and does not allow public gatherings of more than five people- is considering blocking Facebook for enabling the mobilization of 80,000 young citizens at a demonstration protesting rising food prices.

 The Egyptian government responded with arrests, and the torturing of Ahmed Maher, an activist who tried to organize a second demonstration.

 Additionally, Facebook and Facebook activists have been the target of a defamation campaign by the government-based Egyptian media. In addition, the Egyptian government censors and intimidates any independent media who tries to report on Facebook or Facebook advocates.

Full Story Here

 Blog: CurrentTV on Youth Vote

 Kevin Bondelli's blog has posted a good video on Youth Voting:

See It Here

Nader: Lower The Voting Age To 16?

 At 16 Americans can legally work, operate motor vehicles, and in many staes, get married. So why not let them vote? On the surface, many people would say this is not a good idea, but Ralph Nader makes some compelling arguments why lowering the voting age could be good for the country. Not the least of which is that it may get their parents out to vote too.

Full Story Here

Massachusetts Transgender Summit June 28th

 Cambridge Mass; The Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition (MTPC) and the Boston Alliance of LGBT Youth (BAGLY) are joining forces to present the Transgender Youth Summit. The daylong event is intended to promote transgender empowerment and youth activism. It is free to people under 24 who fall under the transgender umbrella.

Learn More Here

No War With Iran!

 JTMP and Velvet Revolution have joined in supporting EnoughFear.org and their campaign to prevent yet another unnecessary war.

 While the governments continue to posture and make threats, Enough Fear is promoting communication and understanding between ordinary Americans and Iranians.

 JTMP hopes you will visit the Enough Fear website and post a picture to show your support for their campaign!

Learn More About Enough Fear Here

Darfur: Something We Can All Agree On

 May 28th; Democrats and Republicans finally agree on something: Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton and John McCain all put their names on a New York Times ad entitled "Genocide", condemning the Sudanese government for the ongoing bloodshed in Darfur.

 "We stand united and demand that the genocide and violence in Darfur be brought to an end," says the ad, which was paid for by the Save Darfur Coalition.

Full Story Here

Obama: Higher Education For All

 June 3rd, St.Paul Minn: In a statement announcing himself as the Democratic candidate, Barack Obama declared that "the chance to get a college education should not be a privilege for the wealthy few, but the birthright of every American.”

Click Here For Obama's Entire Statement:

 Blog: The Top 8 Myths About the Millennial Generation:

1. Millennials Are Apathetic
2. Millennials Are Uninformed
3. 2008 Is An Anomaly For The Youth Movement
4. Millennials Are Selfish
5. Millennials Are Lazy
6. Millennials Are Naive
7. Millennials Will Become Conservative When They Get Older
8. Millennials Have A Feeling Of Entitlement

 Full Article Here  

Smith: "Release Ma Khin Khin Leh!"

 In 1999 Ma Khin Khin Leh helped to plan a peaceful demonstration in support of the democratically elected Burmese government -an election which the military government of Myanmar refused to recognize.

 In order to prevent the demonstration, the Myanmar government arrested Ma Khin Khin Leh and scores of others -including many members of the newly elected parliament. Ma Khin Khin Leh was sentenced to life in prison for vaguely defined 'security reasons'.

 The Cure has joined with Amnesty International in demanding her release, and urges you to sign the petition.

Read More About Ma Khin Khin Leh

Sign The Petition

Youth Policy Action Center Is Recruiting Poll Workers

Under 30? Looking to get involved in the political process?  The Youth Policy Action Center is looking for 500 poll workers across the country for their Mobilize the Polls Program for the 2008 presidential election.

Poll workers are needed in cities across the country. With the new technologies that are being explored to enhance the voter experience, members of the Millennial Generation can contribute their familiarity with technology to aid other members of their community to cast their ballot this November.

If you are interested in becoming a poll worker in your district, email your name, congressional district (and state) to Maya Enista, CEO of Mobilize.org at maya@mobilize.org. You must be a registerd voter in order to participate (To register, click the link at the top of this page) To read more about the importance of youth poll workers, read this article from the League of Women Voters.

Obama Reaching Younger Voters

This primary season Barack Obama has been doing well with younger voters while Hillary Clinton has done well with older voters. The same generational divide is expected in a general election race between Obama and McCain.

Studies indicate that part of this is due to economic uncertainty shaping young voters' political outlook. Men in their 30's today are earning less (in inflation adjusted dollars) than they were 30 years ago, have lower rates of health insurance coverage, and higher levels of debt.

Full Story Here

PA Youth Voter Registration Up in 2008

The Hip-Hop Research and Education Fund reports that data from the Pennsylvania State Board of Elections indicates that 70% of the new voters registered since January 2008 were between the ages of 18 and 35. This is another clear indication that young voters intend to make their voices heard in this year's Presidential Election!

Full Story Here

The Myriad Rocks Out With JTMP and Urges Everyone to Register and VOTE!

The Myriad sat down with JTMP and discussed the importance of young people registering and voting.  You can see part of the interview and a performance clip on our YouTube site! Check out the full interview on our Artists page!

You can check out Myriad who is on tour right now!

Click here to go to our YouTube site and see The Myriad interview and performance!

Obama To Launch Vote For Change

This Saturday, May 10th, Barack Obama is lanching Vote For Change, a 50-state voter registration and mobilization drive. Events are planned in every state across the country with the aim of registering millions of new voters as a strong statement to the old guard of 'Politics As Usual'.

Click Here For More Information

Young Voters Out In Force

Voters under 30 are projected to have a great impact on this year's election. They are turning out on college campuses across the country, and voting in state primaries. This is encouraging news according to behavior researchers, who say that once people cast their first vote, they tend to keep voting. This suggests that the Millennial Generation will probably be a force in politics for many years to come.

Barack Obama and Ron Paul are fueling much of the interest of young voters this primary season, but some  are saying they may stay home if their candidate doesn't win the nomination.

Full Story Here

EISLEY AND MYRIAD ROCK WITH JTMP!

Eisley and Myriad, two great bands came to town and rocked with JTMP, urging everyone to register and vote! We sat down with Eisley and Myriad and they spoke about the importance of young people getting out and getting involved. They will be featured in our new JTMP Voting Promo we will have up on our JTMP YouTube page, and our "Rock Your Rights III" DVD we will release in the fall. You can see all our videos at WWW.YouTube.com/JTMPAdmin.

If you haven't yet, JTMP urges you to check out these great bands, and follow their advice...register and VOTE!!

Roger Waters' Obama Endoresment

At a performance in Indio CA, Roger Waters finished the show by releasing a giant pig balloon into the night sky. Spray painted on one side of the balloon was the slogan Don't Be Led To The Slaughter and on the other, Fear Builds Walls. On the underside of the pig was the name Obama next to a checked box.

Full Story Here

Democrats Registering In Record Numbers

MSNBC reports that the last 7 states to hold primaries have registered over 1 million new Democratic voters, while Republican numbers stagnated or decreased.

There is no one reason for the surge in Democratic voter registrations; they range from the rising cost of healthcare to concerns over the economy and job availability to general disgust with the Bush Administration.

Full Story Here

Situation In Darfur Worse Than Originally Reported

CNN reports that the death toll since 2006 in Darfur may have been underestimated by as much as 50%. International data had indicated that 200,000 people had died in the previous 15 months, but new estimates put the figure at 300,000 for that time period.

Lawlessnes in the region is rampant: Reports show sexual violence on the rise, and the World Food Programme has announced it will have to cut back aid to refugees in May due to attacks on food convoys.

Full Story Here

The Youth Vote Counts!

A recent article in the Washington Post predicts that young voters (ages 18-29) will have a great impact on the coming election. According to a Harvard University study, the number of young voters has not only increased but multiplied in many states, including several battleground states- findings which were borne out in polls conducted by CBS News and MTV.

Further analysis of the poll numbers indicates that these young voters favor Barack Obama in the primary and the Democrats in the general election. By far the most important issue is the economy and future job prospects.

Full Story Here

JTMP is on YouTube!

Want to watch all of our great videos? Then head on over to YouTube and check out all the great video footage we have collected over the years. We have bands speaking out on issues, as well as some performance videos. Check back regularly, because we will be adding a new video each week about specific issues and topics.

Visit our YouTube sit today! Go to WWW.YouTube.com/JTMPAdmin, or click the link above!

Earth Day 2008

Earth Day is coming April 22nd, and the Earth Day Network and Green Apple Festival are planning events around the world to raise awareness of global climate change. (see their website for info on an event near you)

On Sunday April 20th, JTMP will be covering one of the largest of these events: A day-long free concert on the National Mall in Washington DC. Among the performers and celebrities appearing will be Jordin Sparks, O.A.R. Gov't Mule, Edward Norton, Chevy Chase and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.

Click here for further information.

Rocking The Vote

In the midst of the flap over Barack Obama's much publicized remarks in Pennsylvania last week, an icon of the mainstream American working class has come out in his support.

On his website this week, Bruce Springsteen has published a statement endorsing Barck Obama for President of the United States.

CLICK HERE to read Bruce Sprinsteen's press release

Al Gore Launches WE Campaign to Protect the Environment.

Former Vice President and Nobel Prize winner Al Gore has launched a new campaign to protect the environment: We Can Solve It. The WE Capaign's ultimate goal is to halt globabl warming by educating people in the US and around the world to the dangers and urgency of global climate change.

This problem can be solved! JTMP supports Al Gore's noble efforts and urges you to check out the WE Campaign's website and the Alliance for Climate Protection. Learn what you can do today!

Young Voters Making An Impact

As the 2008 election draws near, more and more young people (18-29) are registering and voting in the primaries. In recent elections, this demographic has been voting in greater and greater numbers, and the trend is continuing in this election cycle. The voice of the Millennial Generation is growing louder.

The word is also getting out to even younger voters. States such as Indiana allow voters who will be 18 in time for the general election to register and vote in the primaries. Nationally, anyone who will be 18 by Novemeber 4th, and wishes to vote can register at 17. If you wish to register online, you can do so by clicking the link at the top of this page.

Full Story Here

Genocide Continues In Darfur

Sudanese government troops have launched a new wave of genocidal attacks against the Black African population of Darfur in recent weeks, despite the presence of UN Peacekeepers.

Looting, burning, raping and mass-murder are all par for the course as violence resumed with renwed ferocity in defiance of the world. Unfortunately Western leaders have been slow to take any consequential action as Sudanese government troops now openly do their own dirty work rather than use Janjaweed militias as their proxies.

Full Story Here-

Concern Among Young Voters Spurs Increased Turnout

The declining economy, the healthcare crisis, education costs, global warming and rising oil prices are all issues of concern to young (18-29) voters, and they are turning out in ever increasing numbers.

The results of a Time magazine poll indicate that these young voters tend to skew Democratic- Particularly favoring the Obama campaign.

Full story here-