This is the third edition of Action Diary Rescue, a roundup of action oriented diaries by Kossacks over the last week or so. This time I’d like to request, if you take action on any of these items, please leave a comment so 1) I can give you some mojo and 2) so I can gauge if it’s worth keeping this series up.
Diarist Charles Chamberlain covers the campaign to stop the changes to SCHIP.
This is a very important time. Congress is poised to send an extensive expansion of the Children's Health Insurance Plan to Bush's desk next month, and Bush has already threatened to veto it. If we amp up the pressure now on a rules change they didn't even think we'd notice, we send Bush and Republicans in Congress a clear message that the health of America's children always comes first.
Diarist chrisj has a good idea on how to break up prominent lying bastard Ari Fleischer’s new campaign to shore up support for pro-war Republicans.
They are running an ad campaign encouraging people to call 1-877-222-8001 to "tell their Congressperson and Senator" to basically keep supporting the never ending Iraq occupation (I refuse to call it a war). Only when you call, you get talking points and get screened to see if you agree before they will connect you to Congress. I called, and the person who answered asked me immediately if I thought that the Iraq war was preventing attacks in America. When I answered "no" she referred me to their website at www.freedomswatch.org and then hung up on me.
Since I had noticed that you get put on hold for a short time when you called in, I called back, waited for an operator, and when he picked up gave him a piece of my mind. Then I did it again. And again. And again. So, let’s shut them down..
Call 1-877-222-8001 over and over again and tell them that their propaganda is BS and Americans see right through it. Get anyone else you know who agrees to do so also. It only takes a few minutes out of the day. We can do it day after day if needed.
If enough of us do it, we can keep their phone lines tied up constantly.
In the diary, chrisj also provides talking points and a link to their email for inbox flooding purposes.
You might remember pale cold’s diary explaining the coming bigger badder version of NAFTA---the "Security and Prosperity Partnership," written by the corporates for the corporates---that made it to the top of the rec list last week. A couple days later, the diarist posted a followup diary urging readers to write LTEs. For ammunition, check out the original or the second one.
Diarists dirkster42 and MPetrelis cover one saaad LGBT/human rights story and provide action items. The headline to the first one sums it up: UK may deport Iran lesbian to death August 23. Basically, her partner has been sentenced to death by stoning, and it’s likely she’ll face the same fate unless the British grant her asylum. Urgent action required. Here’s where the story stands a week later, with current action items to take.
Diarist Cheese Whiz tries to secure help for an Iraqi child burn victim who can’t afford help. Not sure where exactly this heartbreaker of a story is now --- looks like he’s going to get help from the Grossman Burn Center. Either way, there’s a fund set up.
In "TAKE ACTION: Help Workers and the Environment," diarist TeamsterPower urges readers to get behind an initiative to help clean up the ports of L.A. and Long Beach AND help workers rights at the same time. From the petition:
Every day 16,000 port truck drivers haul containers to and from the busiest twin ports in the country to move the goods that Americans buy at Wal-Mart, Target and other big retailers. These workers keep our world's economy moving, yet they struggle to put food on the table, despite working as many as 14-15 hours a day.
The industry has cheated drivers out of basic rights, including access to health care and retirement benefits, as well as the right to even be called an employee. Now, the drivers are asking for your help in sending a message of support to the local mayors and harbor commissioners.
If you fill out the petition, the site magically emails it off to 6! local officials. Amplify your voice, courtesy of the tubes.
In "Teamsters + Kossacks; Meet the Real Heroes (San Diego trip report)" diarist Shockwave describes his experiences with the School Bus Workers Project and trying to help some 619 bus drivers unionize. Includes several action items.
A Siegel and some other Kossacks (you????) will be fasting on September 4th in the Climate Emergency Fast to make a statement about global warming.
On 4 September, under the aegis of US Climate Emergency Council, there will be a fast ... three meals 'skipped' So Others Might Eat: The Climate Emergency Fast. There will be people who will be going on a longer hunger strike, but the target is at least 1000 participants in the Climate Emergency Fast.
Will you join me and fast 4 September? Can we rally this community to make a voice, together? Can we get 100 Kossacks, 300 meals, to help speak loudly our concerns over Global Warming?
In "Pledge: Become a Modern Day Warrior for Indigenous Rights," diarist Winter Rabbit discusses natural resources, the environment, culture and other issues related to Native Americans and then finishes by presenting a link to a site where you can take a pledge: We "will accept nothing less than the U.S. government keeping the promises made to Native Americans."
Also check out "Ice Melting Under the Inuit & Action Call!" by the same diarist. The Action Call relates to shady action by Republican Senators Sen. James DeMint (R-South Carolina) and its members include Sens. John Kyl (R-Arizona), John Cornyn (R-Texas) and Jeff Sessions (R-Alabama) and provides links to email each one.
A small group of Republican senators has repeatedly blocked Indian bills from passage, the National Congress of American Indians said on Friday.
The Senate Republican Steering Committee has put secret holds on everything from Indian health care to methamphetamine funding to amendments to the Adam Walsh Act. NCAI President Joe Garcia tribes are shocked by the obstructionism.
"At first we thought that it was coincidence that so many bills on Native issues were being blocked by members of the Republican Steering Committee," Garcia said. "But it is clear now that it is not."
Yesterday, Delaware Dem diaried that today is "Mike Castle Take a Stand Day," an antiwar event meant to make the Republican cut his cozy ties to Bush. The main event is at 5 pm in Wilmington.
And more antiwar activism. First, here’s a link to all Moratorium Day diaries, and an old summary by MissLaura for the unfamiliar. Sign the pledge to participate here: http://iraqmoratorium.org/ By the way, here’s a great post by lao hong han that deserves a second look 'cause it brings up some damn good points about the direction of the antiwar movement.
Here’re a few links I lifted from one of diarist forbodyandmind’s fine diaries about his involvement with Enough. First off, check out the Enough protest series and see if there’s one near you. If not, they’re easy to start. All you need is you.
World Can’t Wait has a program called Orange Fridays.
Also, check out the 9/11 General Strike or if that's too much for you, the September 15th protest in DC (click it --- AWESOME post by srkp23 ---- comprehensive, informative and inspiring). If you're in San Francisco on Saturday September 15th, check out another round of Beach Impeach at Crissy Field at 2:00 pm.
BONUS ACTIONS!
Protect the atmosphere, fight asthma and adopt the sky.
For Facebookers: Join Antiwar Tuesday.
Protect polar bears from trophy hunting.
Not liking any of these actions? Then make up your own! These links can help:
Write your Rep: http://www.house.gov/...
Or your Senator: http://www.senate.gov/...
Email your Leader: comments@whitehouse.gov
Or your Leader’s boss: vice_president@whitehouse.gov
And now for your moment of zen...
And 4 links to go with it...
http://www.humanrightswatch.org/...
http://www.warchild.org.uk/
http://www.invisiblechildren.com/...
http://www.campokutta.com/
And now I'm going to sleep. If you take an action, please leave a comment saying so, so I can give you mojo... ..{when I wake up, hah}.
peace