Call For ABC News To Drop Wal-Mart As "Only In America" Sponsor
Wal-Mart is a sponsor of Good Morning America's "Only in America" series, a series that features the patriotic and brave stories of so many Americans who make this nation better and stronger. With this sponsorship, ABC News provides Wal-Mart both a format and visual framing to perpetuate a long-term myth--that Wal-Mart possesses a unique American patriotism manifested in practices that promote American values, respect workers, and privilege American-made products. There could be no greater distance between "Only in America" and the reality behind Wal-Mart's image machinery.
Wal-Mart's use of its "Only in America" sponsorship is simply another cynical attempt to deceive customers about Wal-Mart's responsibility for sending more jobs overseas than any other American corporation and lowering U.S. wages.
70% of Wal-Mart items are made overseas, often in Third World sweatshops. (China Inc., Ted Fishman, 2/12/05)
More than 80% of the 6,000 factories in Wal-Mart's database of suppliers are in China. (Washington Post, 2/8/04)
If Wal-Mart were an individual economy, it would rank as China's eighth largest trading partner. (China Business Daily, 11/29/04)
As documented by the PBS report on Wal-Mart, "only after Wal-Mart's `Buy American' ad campaign was in full swing did the company become the country's largest importer of Chinese goods in any industry." (PBS Frontline, Is Wal-Mart Good for America)
These facts, among others, raise damning evidence regarding the credibility of Wal-Mart sponsoring ABC's "Only in America" series. More troubling is Wal-Mart's long history of business practices that have cost so many Americans their jobs and their businesses, while undermining the uniquely American spirit embraced by the Good Morning America series.
Call on ABC News President David Westin to drop Wal-Mart immediately as a sponsor of this segment, and to take down the company's internet ads which further attempt to connect Wal-Mart with the "Only in America" slogan.
http://www.unionvoice.org/campaign/abcnews
This Women's History Month, Call for Equal Rights for All!
"Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex."
It's simple enough - just twenty-four words, first written by suffragist Alice Paul in 1923. But after 82 years, the Equal Rights Amendment has yet to be ratified and become part of the U.S. Constitution. Thirty-eight states need to ratify the ERA - as of 1982, 35 states had ratified. That means we need only three more states.
What is so radical about equality under the law for women?
Let's make 2005 the year of equality! Representative Carol Maloney (D-NY) and Senator Ted Kennedy (D-MA) have once again reintroduced the ERA into Congress (H.J. Res. 37 and S.J. Res. 7). Given the time that has elapsed since the 33 supporting states ratified the amendment, we want to let all state legislatures know that we want an equal rights amendment now!
http://www.care2.com/go/z/22540
Hartz Flea & Tick Products - Dangerous for Pets
Despite multitudes of well-documented cases of Hartz Flea & Tick Products causing injury and death to many innocent pets, Hartz Mountain Corp. continues to deny any wrongdoing and insists that its products are safe.
Evidence against the safety of Hartz Flea & Tick products continues to grow rapidly. TV news channels have ran numerous reports on the problem and a class action suit has been filed against Hartz Mountain Corp. by the law firm of Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP and Squitieri & Fearon, LLP. However, these deadly products are still being sold in stores across the nation and remain well within the reach of unsuspecting consumers who are unwittingly putting their beloved pets into harm's way.
The principal ingredient in Hartz brand Flea & Tick products for cats is a 40-year-old chemical pesticide called Phenothrin. Although long since banned for use as a lawn pesticide, due its toxicity, Phenothrin constitutes over 85% of the total ingredients in Hartz Advanced Care Plus topical flea & tick drops for cats.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is also actively collecting information regarding incidents with pets that have been affected by Hartz Flea & Tick products. EPA findings to date criticize Hartz for their testing practices and have suggested re-evaluation of these products for their safety. The EPA has also highlighted problems with the way in which Hartz Mountain Corp. has incorrectly categorized reported incidents of problems with cats such as to obscure the severity of the problem.
Veterinarians across the country are already fully aware of the problems caused by these Hartz brand topical flea & tick medications that are available over the counter. Interviews with veterinarians in Jacksonville, FL, for example, concluded that nearly two-thirds of the approximately 30 surveyed have seen problems related to the Hartz products and see them regularly. Research among veterinarians in other states produced similar results.
Please join other concerned and caring animal lovers by signing this petition against Hartz .
http://www.petitiononline.com/hartz/petition.html
April 26th Michigan March for Choice
On Sunday, April 25, 2004, pro-choice Americans made history when 1.15 million people converged on Washington, DC, for the March for Women's Lives. Over 5,000 Michiganders marched on our nation's capital in support of reproductive choice and healthcare, while countless others in Michigan followed the event on the internet and television.
On Tuesday April 26, 2005, we are bringing the March to Lansing. Join the Michigan March for Choice coalition for a day of action when pro-choice supporters educate Michigan's legislature about reproductive health issues, rally on the Capitol lawn, and hear engaging speakers!
Schedule of Events
10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Mini-workshops and information booths will be on site
10:00 a.m. Check-in, pick up packets
11:00 a.m. - Noon Legislative advocacy training
Noon - 3:00 p.m. Alternate activities available: Sign-making for the rally Safe sex booth Pro-choice videos Legislative panel
3:00 - 5:00 p.m. Rally on the Capitol lawn
Contact Us
Sarah
517-327-4707
volunteer@prochoicemichigan.org
Christina
517-482-1080 X5
christina.kuo@ppfa.org
Captive Wildlife Safety Act Not Being Implemented
In December 2003, Congress passed the Captive Wildlife Safety Act, which makes it a federal crime for any person to import, export, transport, sell, receive, acquire, or purchase in interstate or foreign commerce any prohibited big cat species (lions, tigers, leopards, cheetahs, jaguars, cougars, and any hybrids thereof) for the pet trade.
Nearly fifteen months after its passage, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service still has not issued regulations to implement and enforce this act. As a result, the law is having no effect.
Although big cats may seem safe when young, they grow to become powerful, potentially dangerous animals as adults. They are wild by nature and should not be kept in captivity, except in certain facilities such as qualified and approved zoos and sanctuaries.
The conditions under which big cats live are often substandard, if not completely inadequate. The result is extreme suffering for the animals, as well as a potential safety hazard for humans. It is not uncommon for these animals to be killed by law enforcement under exigent circumstances, placed in substandard zoos to live out their lives, or sold to "canned hunt" operations where they are killed for trophy value. The future for these animals is not promising.
The Captive Wildlife Safety Act was enacted to protect both society and the animals from harm that can and often does result when big cats are kept as pets. Take Action Now and urge Secretary Norton to expedite regulations to implement this important legislation!
https://secure2.convio.net/aspca/site/Advocacy?pagename=homepage&page=UserAction&id=1445&
;AddInterest=2320
Michigan: Give Students a Choice on Dissection
Michigan legislators are considering legislation that will allow students who have a moral objection to classroom dissection to use an alternative. Approximately six million vertebrate animals a year are killed and used for dissection in U.S. classrooms. Many students object to inhumane and unnecessary practice of killing animals when adequate alternatives are available. Students who use alternatives learn the material as well as or better than students who perform dissection. Alternatives are less expensive than the use of animals and this should be extremely appealing to schools during these times of tight budgets.
H.B. 4254, which is in the House Committee on Education, proposes to give students a choice on dissection. Please contact your legislators and urge them to support H.B. 4254 which will allow students who have moral objections to dissection in classrooms to use an alternative.
http://hsus.ga4.org/campaign/MI_2005_student_choice
Stand Up for the Truth About Risky Silicone Implants
A lobbyist for implant manufacturer Mentor Corporation is trying to convince Congress and the Food and Drug Administration that silicone implants are safe, despite the clear evidence we provided to Congress on March 2 showing they are not. It is essential that members of Congress and the FDA understand the truth about the risks of silicone implants.
We need you to help Congress and the FDA see their way through the implant industry's deception. A new letter is being circulated around Congress and the FDA that refutes the comments from Mentor and provides additional evidence to support the concerns we have about the risks of silicone implants.
Please send a message to Congress and the FDA to help them get the facts straight. Don't let the silicone implant industry mislead Congress and the FDA into approving silicone implants for general use. They are simply too risky.
http://www.capwiz.com/now/mail/oneclick_compose/?alertid=7300351
Petition to Support Reauthorization of the Voting Rights Act of 1965
Whereas, the 1965 Voting Rights Act is one of the nation's most important civil and human rights victories leading to political empowerment and voter enfranchisement;
Whereas, key provisions of the Voting Rights Act will expire in August 2007 unless Congress acts to reauthorize them;
Whereas, efforts to make the provisions of the Act "permanent" or "nationwide" will make it vulnerable to challenge by those who want to dilute or eliminate the Voting Rights Act.
I demand that President Bush and the Congress declare their public support for REAUTHORIZING THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT and its enforcement provisions to make America a more perfect union;
I support the RAINBOW/PUSH COALITION and allied organizations joining in a COALITION OF CONSCIENCE to March and Rally in AUGUST 2005 to commemorate the 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT AND MOBILIZE TO WIN ITS EXTENSION IN 2007.
I DECLARE THAT EVERY VOTE COUNTS, AND DEMAND THAT EVERY VOTE BE COUNTED. Let this be the season of a new Pro-Democracy Movement in America.
http://advocacy.rainbowpush.org/signthepetition2.htm
Save Lives: Don't Slash Billions from Medicaid
According to the Institute of Medicine, lack of health insurance causes 18,000 unnecessary American deaths each year. Yet, the House of Representatives, led by Representative Tom DeLay, voted to slash public funds for Medicaid -- the Federal program that provides health care funding for poor people, including 1 in 4 children. Fortunately, the Senate has already come out against the cuts, eliminating them from their budget and instead funding a commission to study potential reforms to help fix the funding problems facing Medicaid. The House should follow the Senate's lead and restore full funding to Medicaid.
The hypocrisy of the House of Representatives is truly unbelievable. Within a week, Rep. DeLay forced members of the House to return to Washington from their fundraising recess to act on the tragic case of patient Terri Schiavo just after they voted to slash Medicaid funding for our most vulnerable citizens to the tune of $15 - $20 billion over the next five years. President Bush gets in on the act, too, stating that he "will continue to stand on the side of those defending life for all Americans," while demanding more than $20 billion in cuts to Medicaid.
Ron Pollack, executive director of the health care reform group Families USA, stated, "At the same time Congressional leaders were trying to keep Terri Schiavo alive, they voted to cut the Medicaid program that keeps many millions of people alive."
Call to action
Urge your representative and President Bush to truly value the lives of all and drop their plans to cut Medicaid by billions.
http://www.workingforchange.com/activism/action.cfm?itemid=18776
Support Marriage Equality for ALL!
From coast to coast, we are coming closer to achieving true marriage equality for GLBT Americans.
But we need your help to fight efforts to deny marriage rights to same-sex couples, including any Constitutional amendment. Please, sign the Million For Marriage petition at the link below, and be a part of this historic civil rights battle. Gay, straight, married, single...we need everyone who believes in marriage equality to stand up NOW.
http://www.hrc.org/millionformarriage/index.shtml
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