I promised that I'd do one of these each week. I missed last weekend due to Thanksgiving. I apologize for that, but I didn't have access to the computer much that weekend with all the traveling and then we went to Ikea...and anyone who's been to Ikea knows that you tend to leave with a car full of stuff to put together...ah the fun!!
The thing is, since I missed last week I've got just about double the action items! So, get moving and take action!! There are LOTS of items here, and this time I've tried to group them by category.
I initially posted this yesterday, but it got lost SO quickly. (I should add for the fabulous diary police, I got permission from Armando to delete and repost today). I don't typically ask for recommendations, but please recommend...these actions are important!!
Iraq:
Act for Change has two items. The first, Honor Iraqis' Request: Bring U.S. Troops Home. Take action here. The second, Stand with John Murtha, by sending him your thanks and a flower!
MoveOn.org has a petition for you to sign! So, click here and demand that Congress make a plan to get us out of Iraq by 2006.
Help Operation Truth by downloading their new flier and passing it around to everyone you know! Iraq Veterans need our help! Let's do our best for them!
Media Action:
Free Press has an item discussing Bush's war on the press. This page sums it all up, and at the bottom is the link to join the fight.
If you want you could also write CNN and tell them to stop acting like FOX News. I'm about one two minute segment away from calling for a boycott.
Supreme Court:
People for the American Way need some help in the fight against (Sc)Alito. You can donate to the cause here.
If you've been hiding under a rock these past few weeks you may not know that Planned Parenthood opposes the (Sc)Alito nomination. Here is their action page. They even have a link for Republicans for choice!! The link to oppose (Sc)Alito is at the top.
NARAL is also opposed to (Sc)Alito. Send another letter using their website here. Check out the other stuff on their site as well. For all the complaining some folks do...NARAL is a good organization.
NOW also has a letter opposing (Sc)Alito here.
Voting Issues:
Senator Obama has introduced S. 1975, The Deceptive Practices and Voter Intimidation Prevention Act of 2005. According to Common Cause "The bill would create a criminal penalty for deceptive practices, with penalties of up to $100,000, one year imprisonment, or both. Here's the letter he sent to his colleagues about the bill. The legislation would also require the attorney general, in conjunction with the federal Election Assistance Commission, to provide accurate election information when allegations of deceptive practices are confirmed." You can find your elected officials here and ask them to cosponsor Senator Obama's bill. Let's get this passed before the 2006 elections!!
Taking it to the Republicans:
Help the DNC hold Jean Schmidt accountable by donating here to their campaign to put up a billboard in her district. Although at this point, perhaps your energy is better spent linking to this diary by ttagaris and adding your name to the list of people who are complaining to Lamar Advertising because they refuse to put up the billboard. Once again, Republicans obstructing democracy!!
Also consider supporting the DNC with a Democracy Bond!
Protect Wildlife:
Leatherback sea turtles need our help! According to the National Wildlife Federation "Four Seasons and J.W. Marriott are looking to build two five-star resorts on some 1,700 acres of the corridor" where these sea turtles lay their eggs. To protect the Northeastern Ecological Corridor click here.
Encourage your Senators to end Horse slaughter by signing this petition. I realize some people don't care about this one...or have differing views...but whatever, I'll leave it up to you! I don't see how anyone could support killing horses for meat...but then again I'm a vegetarian!
World Wildlife Foundation has made it easy for you to support wildlife AND do some holiday gift-giving at the same time! Click here to "adopt" the precious animals...this is a symbolic adoption. Your money doesn't go to one specific animal, but to help in the fight to protect them.
You can also visit WWF here where you will find that M&M's has created collectible wildlife banks. Each bank sold is one more dollar for the WWF. The link to the action page for WWF is also on this page. See what else there is for you to do!
Defenders of Wildlife also has an adoption page, but Defenders is focused primarily on wolves which are in real danger all over the United States, but mostly in Alaska where the bastard Governor is allowing aerial hunting by trophy hunters to run wolves to the point of exhaustion and then shoot them. Really humane treatment....but of course I expect nothing less from Republicans at this point. We've GOT to get people like this OUT of public office. And as you can read in the link, Gale Norton has the power to stop this, but she refuses.
Save the Environment:
National Wildlife Federation has a few action items. The first, the Historic Great Lakes Restoration Plan is in need of funding! Republicans are short-changing the project, of course! Click here to add your support in a letter to the Chimp in Chief!
The second item from NWF is related to the final budget reconciliation bill. To "Oppose Public Land Sales, Farm Bill Cuts and Arctic Drilling in Budget" click here.
League of Conservation Voters also has a letter you can send about Arctic drilling in the final budget. Click here to send your copy of the letter.
Sign up at The Wilderness Society's Forest Planning Center. This looks pretty interesting. You can see the plans for the forests near you!
Sign a petition to save The Roadless Rule at Earthjustice. Check out their homepage as well, they have LOTS of good action items and interesting and important news!
Gun Safety Issues:
The Brady Center is asking for donations this holiday season. According to the email, "The Brady Center educates the public about solutions to gun violence, helps gun violence victims have their day in court, and works to enact and enforce sensible gun policies that save lives." You can make a donation by clicking here...and of course entering your info!
Health Issues:
People Over Profits has submitted this petition about Congress trying to protect drug companies by giving them immunity from lawsuits. Last I check it was the job of Congress to represent "the people", and I'm sorry, I may be the only one, but I don't think corporations are people. Dammit! This petition is one of many that you can find at The Petition Site. This action item has a time limit!! We've got until December 12th for this one.
Join PEER in telling the EPA that they shouldn't be using human beings as test subjects by clicking here. This one has a time limit as well, once again it is December 12th.
Tell Congress to pass the Child Act by clicking here and entering your info. The Child Act will provide vitamins, vaccines, and antibiotics to help prevent unnecessary deaths.
Stir It Up has an action item for those of you with kids, or those of you concerned about the health of kids (so, just about everyone, I hope). Obviously nutrition is a big concern for parents, and the cafeterias at most schools simply don't offer nutritious food. Stir It Up tells you what you can do to help make lunch at school more nutritious!
Target still refuses to change their policy when it comes to Plan B. Planned Parenthood has a letter you can send if you don't have time to write your own to let target know you don't want to support a corporation that discriminates against women.
Urge Congress to reauthorize the Ryan White CARE Act. The program expired in September of this year. Even so, it is still being funded. Let's make sure it stays funded by encouraging our reps.
If you haven't signed The ONE petition, you should. But on this page there's also a link to listen to their first podcast with Nelson Mandela and lots of others.
The EPA no longer wants you to know what toxic chemicals are released into your neighborhood. Union of Concerned Scientists has a letter you can send here. These are just proposed changes...for now. Make sure they hear from you!
Support Progressive Organizations and Progressive Holiday Shopping:
Human Rights Campaign has a free buyer's guide you can download here. The guide lets you know which companies support gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender equality!
Working Assets is a pretty kick-ass group. Their action site is here and there are LOTS of items on it...all important too! But, you can also visit here to read the news...and check out their advertisements and their products page as well!!
Consider giving a membership to Amnesty International this holiday season! You can click here to give a gift membership. Amnesty International does great work. Click around on their website to see all the great things they do, or for the list of things they hope to do with the help of your donations and memberships next year.
Do your online holiday shopping on igive and some of your purchase will go towards the organization that you choose to support.
One of the groups you could support is CODEPINK! They actually have their own store right here. And don't forget to check out the CODEPINK Say No To War Toys webpage. There are some good gift items and ideas there as well! Plus everything is pink...which automatically makes it better!!
Planned Parenthood does great work! Consider helping them out by making a donation. These are tax-deductible by the way.
Mercy Corps has multiple Mercy kits that you can give as gifts for the holidays. This page will take you to the HIV/AIDS Awareness Mercy Kit. These aren't that expensive, and they seem like a good thing.
Help DFA (Democracy For America) match Tom Delay's fundraising machine. Let's help them to fill up that bat!
The ACLU is another organization that you could become a member of, or give the gift of membership this holiday season.
Give the gift of Oxfam this holiday season. This is yet another group that does great work to help people in need around the world.
Faithful America is a great organization with a wonderful set of goals for next year. You can give them a gift of a donation this holiday season, or give someone else the gift of a donation! Even if you decide not to, I urge you to check out their website!
Consider joining The Sierra Club! Also, if you're looking for good holiday gifts, check out their store. I highly recommend the calendars, especially the engagement calendar...they have gorgeous pics!
Other important stuff:
Help Refugee Children Get a Fair Hearing, Pass S.119/H.R. 1172. The bill is called the Unaccompanied Alien Child Protection Act of 2005. Just in case you need more incentive..."UNHCR's Goodwill Ambassador, actress Angelina Jolie, personally supports this legislation. She says "without legal representation we are sending children to court to represent themselves in a language that most of them don't understand. And expecting them to recall accounts so frightening and humiliating, they wouldn't want to tell anyone, let alone a room full of strangers."
MoveOn would like your input on planning future campaigns. Click here to tell them what you think.
Tell the DSCC what your priorities are for the 2006 elections.
Ask MTV to cover the story of human trafficking. The story is here, and the link to take action is at the bottom of the page.
And for those of you who are out to destroy Christmas, (lol) check out DefCon America. They are fighting for the separation of church and state. They have alerts and action items.