Stop Congress from Going Nuclear
Concerned that the Democrats will block President Bush's judicial nominees, including a possible future U.S. Supreme Court nominee, the Republican leadership is threatening to change the longstanding rules of the Senate -- a strategy that has become known as the "nuclear option." If activists like you don't speak out and the Republicans succeed, there may no longer be a way to stop radical, conservative judges from turning back the clock on social justice issues that we care most about. This is likely our first major fight on the road to a Supreme Court battle, and we cannot afford to lose.
Sign our petition to stop Congress from going nuclear!
http://www.ppaction.org/campaign/stop_nuclear/
Support Senate Resolution to End Seal Hunt
The Canadian seal hunt is the largest commercial slaughter of wildlife in the world. Under the Canadian government's latest plan, hunters will be allowed to kill 975,000 harp seals on their home ice east of Newfoundland and Labrador during a three-year period. Pups between just 12 days and 12 weeks of age make up 95 percent of the seals killed--either by clubbing or shooting--over the past 5 years. An independent team of veterinarians observed a previous seal hunt and concluded that the hunt failed to comply with basic animal welfare regulations in Canada.
A Senate resolution (S. Res. 33), sponsored by Sen. Carl Levin (D-MI), is calling on the Canadian government to end the brutal and senseless seal hunt. Please ask your senators to co-sponsor S. Res. 33. If they are already co-sponsors, please express your thanks.
http://hsus.ga4.org/campaign/US_2005_seal_resolution
Tell Eddie Bauer and the FLA to Take Action Now!
Workers in Indonesia are fighting for their due compensation after their workplace, PT Victoria Garment Indonesia, producing for Eddie Bauer (and others), suddenly shut down on December 31st, 2003.
The company owes the workers almost two million dollars in unpaid wages and severance. Eddie Bauer (the main customer of the factory for many years) and the corporate monitoring body that Eddie Bauer is a leading member of--the Fair Labor Association (FLA)--haven't shown an ounce of responsibility since this blatant violation of workers' rights took place.
Tell Eddie Bauer and the FLA that helping take care of the Victoria workers is their responsibility and that they need to act now!
http://www.unionvoice.org/campaign/victoria
Ask President Bush to Help Stop Mass Murder in Darfur
Today, March 30, the U.N. Security Council is scheduled to vote on a resolution that would authorize an international court to investigate and prosecute the mass murder in Darfur. If the resolution does not pass, an opportunity for the international community to take decisive action on the grave situation in the Sudan will be lost -- possibly forever.
The United States, which has until now taken a leadership role in focusing the world's attention on the atrocities in Darfur, does not support the resolution because of its objections to the court, the new International Criminal Court (ICC). As an alternative, the United States proposes further discussion.
But this would only mean additional delay.
It is time for the U.S. government to raise its objections to the ICC in another venue. In this instance, the ICC represents the best, and perhaps the only, realistic mechanism for justice.
Please join with us in asking President George W. Bush to ensure that the United States does not veto a Security Council referral of the situation of Darfur to the ICC.
http://action.humanrightsfirst.org/campaign/iccreferralbush/
Tell Congress to STOP Hurting Your Healthcare
Congress has moved quickly this session to reintroduce the flawed Small Business Health Fairness Act of 2005 (H.R. 525/S. 406), legislation that creates federal Association Health Plans (AHPs) and lets insurers off the hook when it comes to protecting you and your family. This, despite new research findings presented by the American Diabetes Association, the Coalition Against Insurance Fraud, the National Partnership for Women & Families, the National Small Business Association, and others, that show AHPs are a step backward for your healthcare.
On Wednesday, February 2, Representative Sam Johnson (R-TX), joined together with Representatives John Boehner (R-OH), Nydia Velazquez (D-NY), and Albert Wynn (D-MD), to introduce H.R. 525 in the House, and on March 16, the House Education & the Workforce Committee approved the bill. On February 16, Senator Olympia Snowe (R-ME) led fellow Senators Jim Talent (R-MO), Christopher Bond (R-MO), Robert Byrd (D-WV), John McCain (R-AZ), Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX), Elizabeth Dole (R-NC), Norm Coleman (R-MN), David Vitter (R-LA) and Mel Martinez (R-FL) in introducing the Senate's version of the bill, S. 406.
Your legislators need to continue to hear from you, your family, and friends that you know the truth about federal AHP legislation. This bill will take away every single health protection you now have in your state.
http://capwiz.com/protectyourhealthcare/utr/2/?a=1541511&i=54251281
Exit Iraq
Urge your Senators to demand an exit strategy from Iraq.
On April 6, the Senate Appropriations Committee will begin consideration of the $82 billion Supplemental Appropriations bill to pay for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. We expect the same bill to be considered on the Senate floor soon thereafter.
We need a Senator to offer an amendment to the Supplemental Appropriations bill that does the following:
Enunciates a clear American policy that U.S. troops should return home as soon as possible;
Demands the President provide an exit strategy;
States that the United States will not maintain permanent military bases in Iraq.
http://hq.demaction.org/dia/organizations/Peaceact/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=510
Protect Land Conservation Efforts
Recently, Congress' Joint Committee on Taxation recommended dismantling tax deductions for landowners who volunteer to conserve their land. This program that has been essential to private and public conservation efforts for over 25 years! These tax incentives helped to conserve over 34 million acres of working agricultural lands, working forests, wildlife habitats, historic landscapes, and parklands.
We need your help to make sure this vital program does not fall by the wayside. Please fill out the form below to urge Senator Charles Grassley and Senator Max Baucus to protect conservation tax incentives.
http://www.saveourenvironment.org/action/index.asp?step=2&item=13203
Animal Bill of Rights
The struggle to end cruelty to animals is not an easy one. But there is something easy you can do right now to make a difference in the lives of abused animals. It's as quick and simple as typing in your name.
Through the Animal Bill of Rights, we are working to show Congress a groundswell of support for legislation that protects animals and recognizes their rights. Ultimately, we hope the petition will be a bill. In the meantime, the thousands of signatures on this petition send a clear message to our legislators that Americans strongly support legal protection for animals. When animal-related legislation is proposed, Congress will remember the huge number of signatures on the Animal Bill of Rights. With that in mind, they will cast a vote for the animals.
http://www.aldf.org/petition.asp?sect=action
Keep Domestic Cats in Wisconsin From Being Fair Game
A hunter in Madison, Wisconsin has proposed that hunters be allowed to shoot free-roaming domestic cats. On April 11, 2005 the proposal to change homeless cats to an unprotected species will go before hunters of the Wisconsin Conservation Congress in the spring hearings of all 72 counties.
Mark Smith, a hunter in Wisconsin, initiated the proposal to classify free-roaming domestic cats as an "unprotected species." Cats are not "small game." They are pets. If someone has a problem with stray cats, there are humane ways to deal with the problem. Have-a-Heart traps are an easy fix and animal control is also an option. Reaching for a gun is not the solution to problems.
Please sign the petition at the link below. Not only will innocent homeless cats be spared, but pets will not be mistakenly shot and killed at a hunter's will.
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/797408228
Millions Against Monsanto
As if U.S. farmers weren't in enough trouble, now the "seed police" are after them. Monsanto, the world leader in genetically modified grains, is pursuing fines and jail sentences for farmers who use their seed in noncontractual ways-such as saving it and sowing it the next season. The Center for Food Safety has released an investigative review of Monsanto's use of U.S. patent law to crack down on farmers. Monsanto has filed 90 lawsuits against U.S. farmers in 25 states that involve 147 farmers and 39 small businesses or farm companies, according to the report.
Sign the Millions Against Monsanto petition, demanding the corporation:
Stop intimidating small family farmers.
Stop force-feeding untested and unlabeled genetically engineered foods on consumers.
Stop using billions of dollars of U.S. taypayers' money to subsidize genetically engineered crops--cotton, soybeans, corn, and canola.
Send an instant fax to Monsanto!
http://www.organicconsumers.org/monfax.cfm
These and over 300 other action alerts are archived at http://shetquaker.blog-city.com/