With the full-effect of global warming upon us, the last thing Michigan needs are more dirty coal-fired power plants. Governor Jennifer Granholm has committed Michigan to a clean energy future, and it's about time we start realizing that goal.

Tomorrow, July 29th, there will be a Clean Energy Jobs Rally on the Michigan State Capitol Lawn & Steps starting at noon, and you can count on it being anything but your typical rally.

If you attend, you'll be able to send a message from the steps of the Capitol directly to the governor. The rally organizers have set up a bank of computers with internet access so you can instantly message Governor Granholm and encourage her to Stop the Michigan Coal Rush. Pretty cool, huh? 

But the niftiness doesn't end there! The Clean Energy Jobs Rally will be hosting a live-blog and is inviting any interested bloggers to contact Chad Cyrowski (chad@progressmichigan.org) to be included in the blogger list.

To secure an environmentally and economically secure future it is imperative we hold Governor Granholm and the rest of our elected officials to their word to save Michigan and our environment by stopping the Michigan Coal Rush. 

Summers seem warmer, winters seem either colder or warmer, depending on the year, and water levels are dropping - all evidence that climate change is definitely present.

A new report from the US Global Change Research Program released this week on the regional and national effects of global climate change detail exactly what we all know is happening - the Earth's heating up and there are already devasting effects happening as a result.

But aside offering a wake-up call on what's going on with Mother Nature, the report wisely offers several remedies that we can all take to prevent the situation from worsening. From the press release -

The report, “Global Climate Change Impacts in the United States,” compiles years of scientific research and takes into account new data not available during the preparation of previous large national and global assessments. It was produced by a consortium of experts from 13 U.S. government science agencies and from several major universities and research institutes. With its production and review spanning Republican and Democratic administrations, it offers a valuable, objective scientific consensus on how climate change is affecting—and may further affect—the United States.

With this report comes a lot of understanding about what's happening to our atmosphere and what's causing it, but just with anything, in the end, it's really just about what we do with that information that determines whether or not we're better as a result of it. Because in the end, we will be the ones that ultimately either survive or perish as a result. 

Progress Michigan is pleased to be a part of the movement that's helping Michigan move forward with our innovative strategies and technologies. Using this website and a winning combination of online outreach combined with a proven method of workign with traditional media, we seen many successes, despite having only been around for less than a year.

Michigan's progressive blogosphere plays no small role in making sure that our state's residents are informed and activated. It's no secret that Michigan is one of the leading states nationally when it comes to the size and strength of the people-powered netroots. It's also one of the reasons we're proud to feature feeds from two of the state's largest blogs just to your right on this website. If you haven't started tuning in to the blogs, there's no time like the present! Both Blogging for Michigan and Michigan Liberal are easy to read and participate in, and we encourage you to start getting involved with them as well the numerous other progressive blogs around this state. 

Last week you read right here how the Healthcare for Michigan Campaign is rolling full steam ahead in the fight for healthcare coverage for every Michigan citizen. Progress Michigan was pleased to play a small role in assisting the Campaign take part in a live-blog at MichiganLiberal. Shortly thereafter, it spurred Walt Sorg, host of AM Lansing to talk to us about it, and more importantly how the Internet is truly changing the face of politics. You can listen to the full interview here. 

That's right nearly 50 job postings are awaiting you on our Progressive Jobs Bank. From Macomb to Lansing to the Upper Peninsula and everywhere in between there's a job out there, and it could be your perfect job.

Whether the environment, youth, campaign staff or working families is your area of passion, it's listed on our jobs bank.

Stop by and check it out, and when you apply for your dream job, be sure to mention that you found it at Progress Michigan.

Got a job you're looking to hire for? Send it to jobs[at]progressmichigan.org and we'll make sure the entire state sees it! 

The nation is in the midst of one of the most closely watched Democratic Presidential primaries ever, yet Michigan is on the sidelines.  

A debate is raging whether Michigan should hold another presidential primary or caucus to restore its voice and call attention to the issues facing the state, or live by the rules!  What do you think?

Should the Democratic Party host a do-over caucus or primary in Michigan, or no?

Vote online here!

http://progressmichigan.org/primarypoll

Progress Michigan is pleased to announce the unveiling of it's Progressive Michigan Job Bank, devoted exclusively towards the advertising and promotion of progressive job openings in Michigan. Interested parties from progressive organizations across the state are invited to submit their job posting to jobs@progressmichigan.org for promotion.  

The Progress Michigan Progressive Job Bank is another way that Michigan's progressive community can continue to build and strengthen its diverse and talented work force. We're pleased to be able to offer this to employers and job-seekers alike. 

Tomorrow night Governor Jennifer M. Granholm will be giving her annual State of the State speech. Live coverage of the speech will be featured across the state and for the first time, 2 progressive blogs will be featuring live-blogs from the Capitol. Be sure to check out Blogging for Michigan and Michigan Liberal for their coverage.

The Governor's address is designed to recap the previous year's events and set forth her agenda for this year. There's likely to be a myriad of issues on the plate and Michiganders across the state are eager to hear her message.

What kinds of things are you hoping to hear the Governor talk about? What do you think Michigan needs to move forward? Feel free to post your thoughts before the speech and then come back and give us your reaction afterwards.

Thirty-five years ago today nine men in Washington D.C. opted to give women a choice when it comes to making reproductive decisions about their bodies. As a woman, I'd like to say thanks.

Not one to kick a gift horse in the mouth, I'd like to just ask why it was we needed permission in the first place, because I still haven't figured that one out. Of course, the LGBT community is still trying to figure out why the government is in our bedrooms, dictating who we can love, so maybe the two of us can battle that one out together. But I digress...

Fast forward to 2008 - it's hard to fathom why thousands have been insulted, intimidated, picketed, maimed and even killed by those who wish to take a woman's basic choice away from us. The mere mention of Roe v. Wade often strikes a certain amount of discomfort for many. For others it invokes a sense of justice, and then there are those who are overcome with rage. Clearly it's one of the most publicly tumultuous decisions ever handed down by the U.S. Supreme Court.

The part that really gets me is that so many of these self-righteous crusaders don't even have a uterus, and probably would have no idea what to do with it should they find themselves with one.

The knowledge of being an owner of an instrument that miraculously produces life is a heavy burden that most young girls are handed early on. For me, it weighs very heavily. As an almost-thirty-something, I still have no idea whether or not I belong bringing a child into this world, whether I have the means to bring them up properly and be the responsible adult that every child needs guiding the way. Without a doubt, it's a deeply personal issue and one that should never be considered lightly.  

But let's forget the politics, the ideology, the drama. Let's remember what it is at the very granular level - a woman's choice, and sometimes, too many times, the very health and life of a woman. Like most women,  I hope to God it's a choice I never have to make, but it's important to me and millions others that the choice is there, and the same for the next generations of women that come after us.

It's an issue of health, of equality, and of civil liberty. Imagine, if women don't have a say over their own bodies, what comes next? What personal right, freedom could you be asked to give up next?