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Do ItEnsure That Those Who Are Responsible For War Crimes Being Committed in Iraq Are Held Accountable by Center for Constitutional Rights June 6, 2004 Take action today together with The Center For Constitutional Rights, Greenpeace International, the Center for Economic and Social Rights and Peacerights to ensure the accountability of persons responsible for war crimes against the Iraqi people. International humanitarian law requires that warring parties not indiscriminately attack civilians or the infrastructure on which they depend to live. Likewise, attacks designed to spread terror amongst civilians are not permitted Today the US, UK and other forces launched a massive air strike against Iraq as part of the US military plan, "shock and awe." In the first 48 hours of this attack some 3,000 precision-guided missiles will be fired at or near Baghdad, a densely populated city of 5.6 million. In Afghanistan, these weapons had a maximum success rate of 85%, indicating that at least some 200 missiles will miss their targets daily and result in the indiscriminate deaths of innocent civilians. These tactics are illegal under the Geneva Convention as well as under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC). The U.S. B-2 Bombers involved in this attack were based at Fairford Air Base in the UK and Diego Garcia, an Island territory of the UK in the Indian Ocean. This fact brings these crimes within the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court (ICC). If you want to see the criminals of this war prosecuted to the full extent of the law, please send a message to the Prosecutor of the ICC who is due to be appointed in the very near future. Help us ensure that the atrocities in Iraq are at the top of his or her agenda with a mountain of mail demanding justice. Add your name and address to the letter at http://www.ccr-ny.org/v2/whatsnew/action/actionAlert.asp Email this article to a friend Act now to stop bad election reform in Ohio! by Free Press staff June 23, 2005 The Ohio Senate Rules Committee is currently holding hearings to consider H.B. 3 - the election reform omnibus bill. This will not solve the problems witnessed in Ohio's elections last November. Legislation that requires all voters to show photo identification is misguided and will do more to disenfranchise legitimate voters than it ever will to curb "fraud". S.B. 36 needs to be defeated. H.B. 3 contains language that would put barriers in the way of voters. There are glaring omissions in the bill and it fails to address several key OH election problems - such as a lack of notification of former felons when their voting rights have been restored, simply put, H.B. 3 does not go far enough to protect the voting rights of Ohioans and should not be passed in its current form. A) Vote NO to S.B. 36! Photo identification requirements harm Ohio voters. B) Table H.B. 3 for further consideration! Ohioans deserve real election reform and H.B. 3 will not fix any of the problems seen in the November election. Sen. Bill Harris, Statehouse Room #201, Second Floor Columbus, Ohio 43215 Telephone: (614) 466-8086 Email: SD19@mailr.sen.state.oh.us If you have additional time - please call the other members of the Senate Rules Committee. They can be found at www.senate.state.oh.us/committees/com_rules.html Email this article to a friend Take Final Steps to Protect Medicaid in Budget by CPA NEWS August 29, 2005 RESULTS has made protecting Medicaid a major domestic focus for more than 6 months and the final outcome is right around the corner. By September 16, Congress must put together their final budget proposal, which includes $10 billion in cuts to the Senate Finance and House Energy and Commerce Committees that have jurisdiction over Medicaid. During the August recess, staffers will be putting together the final “menus” of budget options that Members will have to choose from when they return. This week, voice your support for Medicaid and tell Congress not to make any cuts to Medicaid that would hurt beneficiaries. Visit our Take Action Now center to send an e-mail to MOCs about Medicaid. (http://capwiz.com/results/mail/oneclick_compose/?alertid=7583841) For more resources and information on our health care work in 2005, check out our new Health Care for All Campaign Website. (http://www.results.org/website/article.asp?id=1459) Email this article to a friend What's next in Ohio? Outlawing Abortion? by NARAL September 20, 2005 This past spring anti-choice representatives in the Ohio House introduced a bill that would completely outlaw abortion in Ohio without exception: not to save a woman's life, not for victims of rape or incest. It would even put someone in jail for 15 years for driving a woman to another state to get an abortion. When he introduced the bill, Rep. Brinkman announced that his plan was to get the bill passed and then take it to the Supreme Court and use it to overturn Roe. Initially this looked like a far-fetched dream, but now with the dual vacancy on the Court, and John Roberts as the nominee for Chief Justice this dream may quickly turn into a reality and a nightmare for women in Ohio. Pro-choice Ohioans need to stand up now and say NO. We can't let this attack on Roe come from our home state! Please help us keep Brinkman's dreams in his imagination. Protect the right to choose in your community. Check out the NARAL Pro-Choice Ohio website for ways to get involved. Our community calendar lists our events going on throughout the state in the coming months. We need you now more than ever to do everything you can to make sure the above headline does not become a reality. Remember when you were told to just ignore something and it will go away? Well, right now if we ignore our right to choose, we are likely to soon watch it go away right here in Ohio, and across our county. Please get involved today and help us protect this critical right. Yours in Choice, Jaime Miracle Outreach and Field Director Email this article to a friend Routine air sampler detection system in Washington DC indicates results from possible disease agent by D.C. Health Department, Leila Abrar (202) 841-9232 October 4, 2005 Sept. 24 Test Results Indicate Tularemia Bacteria (RICHMOND, Va) The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notified the states of Maryland and Virginia and the District of Columbia today that an airborne form of Tularemia bacterium was detected by air sensors in the vicinity of the National Capital Mall during the weekend of Sept. 24 - 25. Since then, additional tests from these collectors have all been negative. Subsequent laboratory tests performed on the Sept. 24-25 samples have supported the presence of low levels of the bacterium in the environment. Public health officials do not believe the finding of low levels of the bacterium near the National Mall indicate a public health threat. Tularemia, which occurs naturally, is easily treated with common antibiotics. It cannot be transmitted from person to person. Tularemia is found naturally in the environment, and health officials are doing additional environmental sampling as well as reviewing other possible causes of the positive reading. State health departments have alerted local health departments, acute care treatment facilities, health care providers and veterinarians to be on the alert for signs of respiratory infections related to Tularemia. Also as a precaution, CDC and public health officials are alerting the medical community to be on the lookout for possible cases of Tularemia. To date, no cases of Tularemia have been discovered or reported. As a precautionary measure, CDC and public health officials are recommending that anyone who visited areas around the National Mall between 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 24 and 10 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 25 should see a health care provider if they experience symptoms related to Tularemia, which include: Sudden fever Chills Headaches Muscle aches Joint pain Dry cough Conjunctivitis Pneumonia People who do not have symptoms of Tularemia do not need to seek out medical attention. The Centers for Disease Control is the lead agency investigating this incident. Information about Tularemia is available from the CDC at www.cdc.gov http://www.cdc.gov/. Similar information is available on the Virginia Department of Health Web site at www.vdh.virginia.gov. D.C. Health Department, Leila Abrar (202) 841-9232 Maryland Department of Health, Karen Black (804) 471-0842 VDH Press Pager (877) 573-9504 Email this article to a friend New Mexico Election Results Need Analyzed by VoterVoter Action/IH Center October 9, 2005 Help raise money to continue the valuable discovery of privatized electronic vote recording and tabulation problems. If adequate funding is raised immediately, discovery will continue with meaningful machine inspections conducted by academic experts. There are real and serious problems with the 2004 General Election results. Although we have seen similar issues in other states, the analysis in New Mexico, due to the availability of the data, and thoroughness and manner in which the analysis was conducted, has pinpointed serious problems according to specific machine types at the precinct level. Troubling patterns of unreliability and gross errors in the official election results especially in Native American and Hispanic communities have emerged. Problems include: * 24,000 "under votes", that is , a ballot cast but no vote recorded, with the highest under vote percentages in Hispanic and Native American precincts - but only when those voters votes on specific electronic paperless voting equipment. These under vote rates in the same precincts dropped when voters used paper ballots. * Over 2,000 phantom votes in the Presidential election alone (Over 10,000 across the state) * A high number of incident reports of switched votes on touch screen machines * Data manipulation by a third party vendor after the canvass report had been filed. * Tally results from a poll tape that omit the name and results for Kerry altogether * A disturbing review by a certified public accountant hired by the Secretary of State regarding the official results. A lawsuit was filed in New Mexico state court on January 14, 2005. The primary purpose of this action is to obtain a permanent injunction against use of the voting machines that have been linked to these problems. In addition to this goal, we hope to also gain better understanding of the problems through extensive discovery and share those findings with organizations and the public on a national level. This is a unique opportunity. Money must be raised quickly in order to move discovery forward in a timely and effective manner (see discovery update below for our initial findings). Currently we are in negotiations for machine inspection which, once agreement has been met, will require immediate cash flow. If we are able to secure adequate funding by the end of October we will be able to proceed.A minimum of approximately $70K must be raised in October to accomplish this in a meaningful way. The total budget for the New Mexico research and litigation effort is $250,000. As a project of the International Humanities Center, a 501(c)(3) organization, Voter Action can offer donors tax deductibility to the full extent permitted by law. Checks should be made out to Voter Action/IH Center c/o Voter Action, PO Box 25651, Albuquerque, NM 87125. Credit card payments may be made at our website - Voter Action. Gifts of stock can be made by contacting Pam Stokes at Voter Action New Mexico 505 823 6362 or Co Director Holly Jacobson 206 769 7185. Please help us continue this work! Email this article to a friend Tell Congress -- Save Organic Standards! by Act for Change October 11, 2005 Organic standards are under fire in Washington. An industry-sponsored "sneak attack" rider to the 2006 Agriculture Appropriations Bill would take away traditional organic community and National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) control over organic standards, and centralize control in the hands of White House-appointed USDA officials. This would likely open the door for non-organic animal feed and hundreds of synthetic ingredients and processing aids in organic foods. The sneak attack rider is being pushed by powerful corporate interests such as Kraft, Dole, General Mills, and the Grocery Manufacturers of America (which includes Wal-Mart and the supermarket chains). Take action today to stop this "unfriendly takeover" of America's alternative food system by giant food processors and supermarket chains. Click here to take action now: Save Organic Standards Email this article to a friend Protect abortion rights by NARAL October 13, 2005 Yesterday the Ohio House Health committee held a hearing on House Bill 239. This politically-motivated and dangerous bill would make it more difficult for Ohio women to obtain safe, legal abortion care by: Eliminating funding for Medicaid and public employee health plans for abortion care for rape victims, and women whose health is at stake. Banning public hospitals and employees from providing abortion care—except to save the life of the woman. This bill has no exceptions for victims of rape or incest, for women who are at risk of losing a major bodily function or organ, or in cases where there are severe fetal abnormalities that will likely result in stillbirth. At the same time that the bill limits women's ability to exercise their legal right to choose, it doesn't provide a single penny of funding for prenatal or postnatal care that would promote healthy mothers and healthy babies. This legislation is full of rhetoric, but does nothing to prevent unintended pregnancies or to promote healthy pregnancies. Once again, Ohio politicians and anti-choice radicals are trying to practice medicine and intrude on the private decisions of Ohio families. Contact the members of the House Health Committee and tell them that enough is enough. Tell them to clean up their own house and stay out of yours! Send a letter to the following decision maker(s): Ohio House Committee on Health (if you live in OH) Below is the sample letter: Subject: Oppose HB 239 Dear [decision maker name automatically inserted here], I am writing today in opposition to House Bill 239 which is before you for consideration in the House Health Committee. I am opposed to this politically motivated legislation because it is bad for women's health. This bill will make it more difficult for women to obtain legal abortion care in Ohio by banning public funds from being used for any abortion unless it is necessary to save the life of the woman. This bill is designed to limit access to abortion services for women whose pregnancies are the result of rape or incest and for women whose health is endangered. This seems unnecessarily cruel. Wouldn't it be better policy to support programs that prevent unintended pregnancies and protect Ohio women from rape and incest? I think the public policy of our state should be to prevent unintended pregnancies in the first place and to promote healthy childbearing whenever a woman chooses to have a family. Please vote no on House Bill 239 when it comes before the committee for a vote, and work on legislation that truly protects the health of Ohio women and their families! Sincerely, Your name Take Action! Email this article to a friend Save the polar bear from extinction by John H. Adams October 27, 2005 At this moment, the polar bear's Arctic habitat is literally melting away beneath it due to global warming. If we don't intervene now, these majestic bears may not survive beyond the next few decades. Please go to Polar Bear Action and send a message urging Interior Secretary Gale Norton to protect polar bears as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act. Global warming has already taken a serious toll on the large expanses of summer sea ice that polar bears depend on for survival. Since 1979, more than 20 percent of the polar ice cap has disappeared. Yet the Bush administration refuses to lift a finger to help the polar bear. Leading scientists now warn that if current rates of global warming continue, the polar bear could face extinction by the end of this century. To head off this unthinkable tragedy, NRDC is launching a campaign of intense public and courtroom pressure to compel the administration to act. We have just put the Interior Secretary on notice that we will be taking her agency to federal court on behalf of the polar bear. Please join our effort to protect polar bears by speaking out right now. Go to http://www.savebiogems.org/polar/takeaction.asp and call on the Interior Secretary to take the first step toward ensuring a future for the polar bear by listing it as a threatened species. Thank you for taking action. Email this article to a friend INDIGENOUS ENVIRONMENTAL ALERT! by Indigenous Environmental Network November 2, 2005 ARCTIC NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE IT'S THE 11th HOUR OUR LAST CHANCE TO PROTECT THE ARCTIC REFUGE! Throughout the previous years, the Gwich’in indigenous peoples, conservation and environmental coalitions and American voters have successfully prevented U.S. Congress from opening up the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil drilling. But the political landscape of America has changed. With record highs in gasoline and fossil fuel prices, the oil and energy industry are using fear to push their corporate agenda to open the Arctic Refuge to drilling. Oil corporations and their friends in the U.S. Congress continue to try to use the Budget Process to open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil drilling. They have attached a drilling provision to the massive 2006 Budget Reconciliation package in an effort to limit public debate and circumvent normal congressional procedure. The Senate is expected to vote this Thursday, November 3, and the House is poised to vote the week of Nov. 7. The most important thing to do RIGHT NOW to help save the Arctic Refuge is to call your Senators and Representatives. Urge them to vote against any budget reconciliation bill that allows oil drilling in the Arctic Refuge. You could call them at the Capitol switchboard: (202) 224-3121. Or call toll-free with the Arctic Action Hotline: 1-888-8-WILDAK (1-888-894-5325). The Budget Reconciliation Bill will formally legalize drilling for oil in the Arctic Refuge! With your help, we will defeat it. Want to do more? Call your Senator's in-district office and leave a message there as well. Only through your action can we ensure the safe future of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and this countries other special areas that are rich in biological and cultural diversity! Some key points to remind your elected representatives: Please vote against any budget reconciliation budget that allows oil drilling in the Arctic Refuge. The Arctic Refuge is a national treasure that should be protected for future generations, not destroyed for a speculative and finite amount of oil. Even the Energy Information Agency has determined that Arctic oil, even at peak production, will only reduce the cost of a gallon of gas by about a penny…..in 20 years. We don't need to plunder our natural heritage to meet our country's energy needs. The gains are too small and the sacrifice too great. · Drilling in the Arctic has nothing to do with the budget nor with generating revenues for America. The figures put forward in the reconciliation package are highly speculative at best. Both the House and Senate assume $2.4 billion in revenues from Arctic drilling, a number that is inflated to 80 times the going rate for oil leases in the region. If they really cared about high prices, they would be looking into why oil companies are raking in record profits in the wake of the recent hurricanes. · The issue of oil drilling in the Arctic Refuge is too important to the American public and future generations to be snuck through in the budget bill in an attempt to circumvent the established process. It should be fully debated and brought to a vote on its own merits. · Drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge would not put a dent in our dependence on foreign oil, would do nothing to strengthen our national security, and would not save consumers a dime at the pump. But the harm to wildlife and this spectacular wilderness would be permanent and irreparable. · Any construction and implementation of the vast oil extractive infrastructure to be built in the pristine environment of the Arctic Refuge presents too much of an ecological risk that could endanger the survival of the Porcupine Caribou, polar bears, migratory birds and other rich biodiversity. Any impact to the caribou and biodiversity in the Arctic Refuge area would negatively impact the cultural and human rights of the Gwich’in and Inupiaq indigenous communities. Opening this area to oil drilling could set into motion the next step towards drilling offshore adjacent to Inupiaq villages such as Kaktovik. · Americans deserve a cheaper, quicker, safer and cleaner energy policy that safeguards the wild places we care so deeply about. We cannot drill our way to energy independence, but we can embrace responsible measures and real, 21st Century energy solutions that make cars go farther on a gallon of gas, promote conservation, energy efficiency, invest in clean renewable energy, and protect our natural heritage. By simply increasing fuel efficiency standards for our cars to an average of 40 miles per gallon we could save more oil than we currently import from the Persian Gulf or could ever extract from the Arctic Refuge, combined. This is it! The showdown vote to protect the Arctic Refuge is upon us NOW! There are some places that should be off-limits to oil drilling and industrial development, and the Arctic Refuge is one of them. The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska is the home of the Porcupine Caribou Herd's calving grounds, located in the Northern coastal plain. This coastal area referred to as ANWR or the 1002 lands by the oil companies, is to the Gwich’in Vadzaih googii vi dehk'it gwanlii - or "sacred place where life begins," and is *exactly* where the U.S. Republicans want to drill for the *possibility* of oil. We have a moral responsibility to save places like the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge for future generations. That's why our country has remained committed to its protection for nearly 50 years. This is both an environmental justice and human rights issue. Email this article to a friend "Stop Global Warming" Actions on December 3 by Ted Glick November 10, 2005 Climate Crisis Coalition Organizing Nationwide Climate Crisis, USA Join the World! Climate Crisis Website today announced that it is organizing actions across the United States on and around December 3 to demand that the U.S. government support action that is commensurate with the urgency of the deepening climate crisis. "Scores of Stop Global Warming local actions will be happening during the Nov. 28-Dec. 9 time period when the huge, United Nations Climate Conference in Montreal takes place," said Ted Glick, spokesperson for the group. "We will be acting in concert with hundreds of thousands of people in at least 28 countries around the world who are making December 3rd an International Day of Action to Stop Global Warming." The Climate Crisis group is demanding that the U.S. government join the world by ratifying the Kyoto Protocol. Climate Crisis also demands that the federal government withdraw its annual $25 billion in subsidies for coal and oil and create equivalent subsidies for clean, safe, non-nuclear energy alternatives; that it dramatically strengthen energy conservation and fuel efficiency standards; that it plan for a just transition for workers, Indigenous communities and others affected by a change to clean energy; and that it actively defend the world's forests and support community-run tree planting campaigns. States where local actions will be taking place include: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Illinois, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Utah and Washington. In D.C. on December 3, scores of hybrid vehicles organized by the Chesapeake Climate Action Network will circle the White House. In New Orleans the Alliance for Affordable Energy will be holding a Stop Global Warming event in the French Quarter. In Los Angeles on December 2, the Labor/Community Strategy Center will be doing an action calling for an expansion of the city's bus fleet to provide badly-needed public transportation which will also cut down on car-producing greenhouse gases. And in New York, also on December 2, a coalition of groups will rally in Foley Square across from the Federal Building calling for the federal government to stop its obstructionist efforts and instead act to address this urgent crisis. In many localities, following the lead of organizers of a massive march on December 3 in Montreal, participants in the actions will try to hold their breath for 60 seconds. USA Join the World! coordinator Glick explained that, “Doing so reminds us all how important clean air is to all living things. It reminds us of the urgency of our work. It is a metaphor for what people on some Pacific islands may soon have to do as the oceans rise and their islands disappear and breathing becomes impossible.” Ted Glick, 973-338-5398 Barbara Lerman, 609-203-1842 Email this article to a friend Protect sick patients by Brandy Zink November 14, 2005 I am writing you to let you know about an important bill in the Ohio Senate that will protect sick patients and their caregivers. The bill is Senate Bill 74, the Ohio Marijuana Act sponsored by Senator Robert Hagan with the Ohio Patient Network. http://ohiopatient.net/v2/content/view/65/88/ The Ohio Patient Network is a 501(c)(3) non-profit coalition of patients, caregivers, activists and medical professionals who support the compassionate use of cannabis for various medicinal purposes. Our mission is to coordinate information between patients, medical professionals, and attorneys, as well as to educate the public and keep the interested current with the movement`s news. To learn more about OPN and our efforts please visit: http://ohiopatient.net/v2/ The Ohio Medical Marijuana Act (OMMA), otherwise known as Ohio SB 74 introduced by Senator Hagan, is currently in committee. That committee is the Senate Committee on Criminal Justice, chaired by Sen. Jim Jordan. Contact info for Sen. Jordan: Senator Jim Jordan Senate Building Room #128, First Floor Columbus, Ohio 43215 Telephone: 614/466-7584 Fax: 614/466-7662 Email: jjordan@mailr.sen.state.oh.us There is no better time than now to declare your support of sick patients in their fight for legal medicine. Please consider a written endorsement of SB 74 to help us in our work to secure the rights of patients in Ohio. Please feel free to write me with any questions. hempmother@yahoo.com Power to the People, Brandy Zink Vice President of the Ohio Patient Action Network Email this article to a friend Worldwide Humanitarian Aid needs help by Suzanne Patzer December 4, 2005 A small group of very dedicated volunteers in central Ohio work every Thursday morning, 8:30am-12 noon at the Worldwide Humanitarian Aid warehouse to collect, organize and pack up equipment and supplies for people who need help all over the world. You could help by donating your time just once a week, or once a month. Worldwide Humanitarian Aid has delivered truckloads of goods to El Salvador, Chiapas, New Orleans, Native American reservations, the Ukraine and many other places in the past ten years. They have supported medical clinics, donated ambulances, and provided training for doctors in Third World countries. They have provided computers and school supplies for schoolchildren in central America, and are now collecting money for uniforms for kids in El Salvador so they can attend school. They are planting moringa trees in communities to help them become self-sufficient. There are many central Ohio hospitals and companies willing to donate supplies and equipment. All that Worldwide Humanitarian Aid needs now is people-power to pick up the supplies, sort through donations, and pack up trucks. You can even drive a truck to the recipient community if you have the time. If you can help, please contact: 262-1347 or info@worldwidehumanitarianaid.org. If your company or organization wants to donate materials, this is a list of what's needed: Computers (Pentium 2 or higher) and computer accessories Typewriters and supplies Sewing machines Medial equipment and supplies Bikes with new tires School supplies Large boxes (broken down) Worldwide Humanitarian Aid website Email this article to a friend ACTION ALERT! Christian Peacemakers held hostage in Iraq by Patricia Wagner December 7, 2005 Four members of the Christian Peacemaker Team have been kidnapped by a heretofore unknown group, the Swords of Righteousness. The group has said they will kill the 4 this Thursday, December 8, if all prisoners in Iraq are not released by then. Two local churches - Columbus Mennonite Church and North Broadway UMC - will be hosting a vigil tomorrow (Wednesday, December 7th), the eve of the possible executions. We will be at the corner of North Broadway and High Street from 5 to 5:30 p.m. At 5:30 we will proceed to Columbus Mennnonite Church - which is on Oakland Park, just one block north of North Broadway, and one block east of High Street, where there will be a vigil through the evening. The Christian Peacemaker Team in Iraq has been there since 2002. They were part of the "human shield" that sought to stop the bombing of civilian sites, as the war began. Since then their primary mission has been in the area of support for prisoners, released persons, and their families, as well as getting word out of genuine conditions on the ground. Because of their contacts in the communities, they were the group that first alerted the American press to the torture of prisoners at Abu Garib. Christian Peacemakers Teams are at work in Columbia and in Palestine, specifically in the divided city of Hebron. They have been a remarkable presence of peace and solidarity in that divided city. Since the 4 were taken hostage, the leaders and peoples of Palestine have come out in force asking for the release of the hostages. I find this an extremely moving show of inter-faith solidarity, and include press coverage below of that. Also Muslim detainees in Canada have issued a letter to the captors calling for their release. That is at the bottom of this page. You can go to ElectonicIraq.net for complete transcriptions in Arabic or to the CPT.org website for updates, or to add letters for the captives release. Let us keep one another, and Tom Fox, Norman Kember, James Loney and Harmeet Singh Sooden, and the people of Iraq in our prayers. Let us pray that the hearts of their captors would be softened, that they would listen to the wisdom of the world, particularly their Muslim brothers and sisters. Grace and peace to you all, Wassalam, Patricia Wagner Email this article to a friend Demand an investigation of White House spying by Sheri Myers December 20, 2005 If ever there was a time to speak up... THIS IS IT. It takes FIVE minutes or less. Please take action NOW! Nadler Demands Appointment of Special Counsel to Investigate Illegal Eavesdropping Operation “Neither the President himself, nor anyone else in the White House can authorize an order to spy on Americans without a warrant.” WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) today demanded that Attorney General Gonzales appoint a special counsel to investigate the President’s apparent violation of law in asking the National Security Agency to eavesdrop, without warrants, on Americans’ international phone calls. Full text of article ASK YOUR CONGRESSPERSON TO SUPPORT NADLER'S CALL! WE NEED REAL HEARINGS ON SPYING IN THE U.S. WITHOUT WARRANT ACTION PAGE Here's an excellent article by Will Pitt on this issue Email this article to a friend Call for a filibuster by Sheila Parks & Stephanie Low January 13, 2006 From Sheila Parks: I have just come from a meeting with two Kennedy aides - about Alito. This is about a filibuster. We must get enough Democratic votes for a filibuster. Everyone in each state must work on their Senator - those that voted for Roberts. Call, email, visit, etc., etc., etc. Those up for election are especially vulnerable (of course, this precludes the e-voting machines). Two free numbers for D.C Capitol Switchboard: 1-866-340-9281 and 1-866-340-9279 EVERYONE SHOULD CALL FEINSTEIN IN CA. SHE IS ON THE COMMITTEE. Everyone should call Feingold - (this from us: 202-224-5323 - or the above numbers. As far as working on the Repubs, there is always Chafee, Snowe and Collins, but working on the Dems is better. CHOICE IS THE KEY ISSUE we were told From Stephanie Low: New Yorkers, in addition to the request below, join the phone banks at PFAW this week and next. Call Tony Simone at 212 420 0440 and tell him you can come in with your cell phone to call people to lobby their reps against Alito. Thanks! Current thinking and analysis seems to bring us to the following WRT Judge Alito. He's a weasel, and worse than that, he's a non-responsive weasel. Anyone at all who has listened to the hearings (including Schumer's masterful attempts to get him to give a straight answer on anything) cannot conclude otherwise. Further, that for the moment, unless a lot more Americans get off their butt and call or write their Senators, he's getting that seat on the Court. This might be expected to have an adverse impact on women's rights, including abortion, privacy, and the Imperial Presidency, along with the environment, promotion of big business, and strip searching ten year old girls. But Americans cannot or will not connect the dots and do something about it, or try to. Here is the Judiciary Committee, you know who your senators are, go to it. Arlen Specter CHAIRMAN, PENNSYLVANIA http://specter.senate.gov/ Orrin G. Hatch UTAH http://Hatch.senate.gov Patrick J. Leahy RANKING DEMOCRATIC MEMBER, VERMONT http://leahy.senate.gov/ Charles E. Grassley IOWA http://grassley.senate.gov/ Edward M. Kennedy MASSACHUSETTS http://kennedy.senate.gov/ Jon Kyl ARIZONA http://kyl.senate.gov/ Joseph R. Biden, Jr. DELAWARE http://biden.senate.gov/ Mike DeWine OHIO http://dewine.senate.gov/ Herbert Kohl WISCONSIN http://kohl.senate.gov/ Jeff Sessions ALABAMA http://sessions.senate.gov/ Dianne Feinstein CALIFORNIA http://feinstein.senate.gov/ Lindsey Graham SOUTH CAROLINA http://lgraham.senate.gov/ Russell D. Feingold WISCONSIN http://feingold.senate.gov/ John Cornyn TEXAS http://cornyn.senate.gov/ Charles E. Schumer NEW YORK http://schumer.senate.gov/ Sam Brownback KANSAS http://brownback.senate.gov/ Richard J. Durbin ILLINOIS http://durbin.senate.gov/ Tom Coburn OKLAHOMA http://durbin.senate.gov/ Email this article to a friend Digital Records Team needs volunteers by Connie Harris January 31, 2006 We are acquiring all Ohio's voting records starting with the Nov. 2, 2004 election, by digitally photographing ballots (or thermal paper rolls), roster and poll books. A team of five (usually) travels to a county Board of Elections and spends a few days collecting the records. We need volunteers who can provide and operate a digital camera (altho sometimes we have an extra set of equipment.) Bring a tripod, extra batteries and at least a gigabyte of memory. The pictures will be uploaded onto a laptop at the end of each day's work. If you want to help us preserve the historical record, please contact Rady Ananda at ohiorecords@gmail.com Elections belong to the people! Support OHIO ELECTION PROTECTION 2006-2008! Email this article to a friend Native American Indian Center needs help by NAICCO Trustee February 1, 2006 I'm writing to ask for help. The Native American Indian Center of Central Ohio is currently out of funding until we get our next grant. We need donations of food to keep the food bank open. We need help with whatever you can donate - groceries or cash. We don't want to close the food bank, as so many people depend on it. We will take any grocery item that has not been opened. The hours are usually 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays and Wed. evening until 9 p.m. But with the loss of income there are no longer any paid staff, just volunteers. So you might want to phone first to make sure someone will be there. They can pick up food, too, if necessary. Hoping you can help. Native American Indian Center of Central Ohio PO Box 007705 65 E. Innis Columbus, OH 43207 (614) 443-6120 Email this article to a friend Free Leonard Peltier! Political Prisoner held for 30 years by U.S. government by IAC February 12, 2006 A Hearing has been scheduled for February 13, 2006 to correct the illegal sentencing that occurred in Leonard Peltier's case. The basis for this motion is that the United States District Court lacked subject matter jurisdiction under the statutes upon which Mr. Peltier was convicted and sentenced. Leonard Peltier is a citizen of the Anishinabe and Dakota/Lakota Nations who has been unjustly imprisoned since 1976, even though government attorneys and courts acknowledge that the government withheld evidence, fabricated evidence, and coerced witnesses to fraudulently convict him. Leonard is recognized worldwide as a political prisoner and a symbol of resistance against the abuse and repression of indigenous people. To many Indigenous Peoples, Leonard Peltier is a symbol of the long history of abuse and repression they have endured. This year marks the 30th year of Leonard’s imprisonment. Despite the fact that the government has admitted that the trial was a fraud, Leonard is still behind bars because the U.S. doesn’t want this vocal defender of indigenous rights to be free. Call or Fax the Federal Court in St. Louis: Thomas F. Eagleton United States Courthouse 111 South 10th Street St. Louis, MO 63102 Phone (314) 244-2600 FAX (314) 244-2605 for more information about Leonard Peltier's case and how you can help go to leonardpeltier.org . Email this article to a friend Help Katrina victims by www.katrinaaction.org February 26, 2006 Hotel Evictions - Turn Up the HEAT! Just as we feared, most of those evicted on the 13th did not have alternative housing. Some were arrested for trespassing as they sought shelter in abandoned buildings, and many dispersed throughout the country, refugees once again. This cannot be allowed to happen again. March 1st will be another battle for thousands of NOLA families facing homelessness. It will only be organization and action that can avert this crisis – the courts have already failed the people. Federal Judge Duval refused to intervene, saying, "I'm not sure if I'm serving justice but at least I know I'm following the law." When the courts are not just, justice is up to the people! On the 13th, private security firms, mercenaries, with shotguns stood ready to evict families with nowhere else to go. It was public pressure through the calls and emails sent in, the threat of an injunction, and our presence at the hotels that kept families housed until March 1st. We need everyone to continue calling and writing everyday before the March 1st evictions! Down Load "NOHEAT" Contact List and Talking Points! Read the Story Email this article to a friend THE FULL SENATE MUST DO WHAT THE INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE WOULD NOT, CENSURE BUSH FOR HIS ILLEGAL WIRETAPS by Powered by The People's Email Network March 13, 2006 The president has admitted he broke the law. And yet the Senate Intelligence Committed abdicated its oversight responsibility by refusing to even conduct an investigation. On March 12, Senator Feingold called for the Senate to censure Bush for systematically authorizing illegal wiretaps of Americans in defiance of the authority of the FISA court. Even retiring justice Sandra Day O'Connor sees the looming threat of dictatorship. When will members of Congress who hate Americans and their rights stop conflating the checks and balances in our Constitution with treason? The REAL treason is by those who would defend any criminal behavior by the commander in chief in the name of patriotism. Crimes against our own citizens do NOT make us safer and cannot be tolerated in a free democratic society, and especially not when justified by fear-mongering about the threat from outside. ACTION PAGE Please take action NOW, so we can win all victories that are supposed to be ours, and forward this message to everyone else you know. Email this article to a friend Tell your Senators to Defend the Endangered Species Act by Natural Resources Defense Council March 24, 2006 The Endangered Species Act is one of America’s most important and effective environmental laws. Large-scale developers and other powerful industry players are using their money and influence to try to undermine the act. Last September, the House of Representatives passed a destructive bill (H.R. 3824) that would severely weaken protections for imperiled wildlife. Now, the fight over the fate of this law is moving to the Senate. Urge your senators to vote NO on any legislation that would weaken the Endangered Species Act. March 24, 2006 Your U.S. senators I strongly support the Endangered Species Act and urge you to vote NO on any legislation that would weaken this landmark law. The Endangered Species Act has provided a crucial safety net for wildlife, fish and plants on the brink of extinction for more than three decades. The act has helped prevent the extinction of almost every listed species, including the bald eagle, the gray wolf, the grizzly bear and the Pacific salmon. Ninety-eight percent of the species protected under the act still exist today, and many are stable or improving. Despite the overwhelming success of the Endangered Species Act, the House of Representatives has passed a destructive bill (H.R. 3824), sponsored by Representative Pombo of California, that would severely weaken this important law. Now, the Senate is about to consider similar legislation. As you know, any bill passed by the Senate would have to be reconciled with Representative Pombo's bill in order to become law. For the sake of future generations, we must fulfill our responsibility to protect the earth’s most vulnerable species. No species should be lost on our watch. I urge you to help defend the Endangered Species Act by voting NO on any legislation that would undermine this important law. Dear Senator, Sincerely, Your Name NRDC Action page Email this article to a friend Campaign against Anti-Palestinian Legislation Stepped Up by Josh Ruebner March 29, 2006 300+ Organizations & 5,000+ Individuals Protest Palestinian Anti-Terrorism Act: The US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation stepped up today its campaign against HR4681, the Palestinian Anti-Terrorism Act, by delivering to the House International Relations Committee a letter opposing the bill signed by more than 300 organizations. The US Campaign also delivered a petition against the resolution signed by more than 5,000 people to Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), the sponsor of HR4681. The letter and petition were also delivered by the Council for the National Interest (CNI) and the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC). The petition was composed of letters signed by supporters of the US Campaign, CNI, and Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP). According to Josh Ruebner, Grassroots Advocacy Coordinator of the US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation, “there is widespread grassroots opposition to punishing the Palestinian people for voting by imposing harsh sanctions on them, as proposed in the Palestinian Anti-Terrorism Act. Palestinians are already facing dire humanitarian conditions as a result of Israeli occupation and siege policies. Cutting humanitarian aid to them, as proposed in this resolution, is not only politically unwise, but morally unconscionable as well.” Other organizations opposing HR4681, the Palestinian Anti-Terrorism Act, include the American Friends Service Committee, Black Voices for Peace, Code Pink Women for Peace, the Green Party of the United States, the Methodist Federation for Social Action, Pax Christ USA, Peace Action, Progressive Democrats of America, the Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Center for Human Rights, United for Peace and Justice, and Veterans for Peace. Contact: 202-423-7666, congress@endtheoccupation.org The complete list of endorsing organizations can be found at: End the Occupation Email this article to a friend ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT AGAINST GEORGE W. BUSH by April 8, 2006 The ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT AGAINST GEORGE W. BUSH by the Center for Constitutional Rights (Melville House). Impeachment Book can serve as a useful handbook. It states the case for impeachment clearly, concisely, and persuasively. It is not a polemic, and you don’t have to be an attorney to comprehend what it says. It includes: € the case exactly as it could be presented by the House of Representatives to the Senate . . . € necessary evidence and legal precedents for each article of impeachment . . . € what the Constitution says about impeachment . . . € a brief history of impeachment . . . € the rules of procedure . . . € the articles of impeachment brought against previous presidents, Andrew Johnson, Richard Nixon, and Bill Clinton, for comparison . . . € a “webliography” including links to numerous other resources and groups on the Web . . . Melville House Publishing has launched a campaign on its website where people can send a copy to their congressperson and the publisher will pay the shipping and handling costs. And there is a significant discount available for activists/organizers who would like to buy copies in bulk. Please contact us here at Melville House, info@mhpbooks.com or 201-222-2640 Email this article to a friend DEMAND VOTING RIGHTS FOR KATRINA SURVIVORS by Rainbow/PUSH April 9, 2006 New Orleans Stands Up By Reverend Jesse L. Jackson, Sr. 4/4/2006 - Tribune Media Services Thousands of New Orleans residents marched on Saturday to demand the right to vote. They marched across the Mississippi River Bridge where Gretna police had repelled residents as they tried to escape the horrors of Katrina. Forty years after the passage of the Voting Rights Act, African Americans once more must march to gain the right to vote. There's an election called for New Orleans on April 22, but the South has always had elections. After centuries of slavery and segregation, the reason for the Voting Rights Act was to defend the right of blacks to vote. The Act requires the federal government clear ahead of time - preclearance - any changes in voting procedures to protect against any trick or scheme that would dilute the voting rights of minorities in those areas of the country with a history of discrimination. Yet in New Orleans, the letter and the spirit of the Voting Rights Act are being violated. And the rights of New Orleans residents to vote are being trampled. Displaced by Katrina's furies, stranded by FEMA's failures, these citizens are now being betrayed by callous state and federal officials intent on denying them a voice in the future of their city. New Orleans, once a city of 450,000, now has about 150,000 residents. The rest ? disproportionately African Americans, workers and the poor ? have been scattered across 49 states in federally arranged relocations. These are citizens, tax payers, often home owners, whose houses have been destroyed and jobs shut down. Their return to New Orleans has been stymied by federal, state and local officials failing to respond adequately to Katrina?s damage. In place of getting people back to their homes, federal and state officials now seem intent on denying them a vote on those who will represent them. How is it done? It's brutal and simple. The state of Louisiana and the federal government have refused to set up satellite voting places in states where New Orleans residents are scattered. The Bush administration provided satellite voting for Iraqis to vote in the Iraqi election ? with same day voter registration. It did the same for Mexican-Americans to vote in the Mexican election. But neither the state nor the Bush administration will spend the small sums required to set up satellite stations in the US for US citizens displaced by a natural storm and an incompetent administration. The dispersed are told to vote by absentee ballot. They have to write to get a ballot (it won't be supplied to them) sent by mail, and send it back by mail. But many don't know what their address will be next week, as FEMA keeps jacking them about. And the damage wrought by Katrina means that the mail still doesn't work well. Even residents in the damaged areas that live in New Orleans will have a hard time voting. The state has certified a range of election places that in fact are destroyed. Officials will change or eliminate those places at the last minute ? voters are likely to be both confused about where to vote and find long lines in the few places where they can vote. And to add insult to the injury, the state of Louisiana has an updated voter list that contains the addresses of all those displaced across the country ? but it won?t supply the list to the candidates. So candidates don?t know where their voters are, and many voters will have no idea who the candidates are. This looks less like an accident than a design - either way it is clearly illegal under the Voting Rights Act. It will - and it is hard to see anything but malign intent - lower the African American vote drastically. This will impact who governs New Orleans, and who represents the region in the state, the Congress and the US Senate. Bush named Karl Rove to head up the New Orleans recovery after the FEMA failures even though he had no experience in emergency relief or recovery. What Rove knows is how to count votes and win elections. It may take brutalizing Katrina-s survivors once more, and trampling the Voting Rights Act, but the administration seems intent on suppressing the African American vote in New Orleans and in Louisiana. And so like the marchers in Selma forty-one years ago, thousands of citizens in New Orleans march for the right to vote. They demand that the election be postponed until September so that (1) the updated voter roll is shared with candidates; (2) satellite voting places are provided in states across the country; (3) voting places in sufficient number are secured throughout New Orleans, and (4) that all changes are reviewed and cleared ahead of time by career officials at the Justice Department to insure that the Voting Rights Act is enforced. Katrina-s survivors have remarkable spirit. They have survived the ravages of nature. Suffered the catastrophic callousness of the administration. Overcome the discouragements of deprivation and displacement. Many have lost their homes, their livelihoods, their neighborhoods. But they have fought too hard, and stayed strong too long to allow officials now to trample their right to vote. Send a letter to the following decision maker(s): Governor Kathleen Blanco (if you live in LA) Below is the sample letter: Subject: Demand Voting Rights in New Orleans: Call Governor Blanco NOW Dear [decision maker name automatically inserted here], Dear Governor Blanco: On April 1, thousands of people marched and rallied to support the Katrina survivors right to return, their right to an open, free and fair election, and their right to fully participate in the rebuilding and reconstruction of New Orleans. The planned April 22 New Orleans election violates the Voting Rights Act and will disenfranchise Katrina survivors dispersed and displaced around the country. We urge you to issue an immediate Executive Order to set up satellite polling places in the cities and states where Katrina survivors now reside. Secondly, we urge you to work with the Attorney General and Secretary of State to produce and make available to candiates and the public an updated voter roll. Currently, candidates do not know who and where voters are and cannot contact them; voters outside of New Orleans do not know who the candidates are and, in many cases, how to cast their ballot. Lastly, absentee ballot voting procedures leave Katrina survivors with unequal access to voting. And first time voters, no matter how far from New Orleans they may be, must travel and vote at their designated precinct in the city. As Governor of Louisiana, I urge you to exercise your sacred duty to protect the democratic voting rights of Katrina survivors, and move quickly to enact these measures. Sincerely, Sincerely, Email this article to a friend Help at the polls in Ohio May 2 by Marj Creech April 18, 2006 What are you doing on May 2, other than hoping your vote will count as cast? We need a few people all over Ohio to staff a table outside (100 feet) a precinct to take parallel (not official election) ballots. Two shifts--morning, 7am till one pm, and the afternoon shift , 1 pm till 7:30pm. Three people per shift. Then you all gather some place and count the ballots and report them to our central headquarters in Col by phone and email. It would be good if two of you could then go to the county BOE and watch the official vote count come in and get the records they hand out to observers. Parallel elections are fun, you get to talk to people about their voting issues, and we just might catch some "monkeying" with the election. It is also a check on the machine counts. Precincts will be chosen depending upon where you, the volunteer, lives. Training the week or Sat before, depending again on where you live. We will travel to interested groups if we get enough volunteers in an area. So ask your friends if they will help you. Parallel voting is citizens taking back our election process. It is history in the making. Not perfect yet but still capable of catching fraud and crookedness. PASS THE WORD. We need to know THIS WEEK so we can train you NEXT WEEK. DEMOCRACY is something you do! EMAIL me back: RisenRegan@earthlink.net Email this article to a friend Urgent Action: Call on Congress to Save Cape Wind by Greenpeace April 21, 2006 Last week, I wrote to you about a back-door deal in Congress that's threatening to destroy America's first offshore wind project. Already nearly 18,000 of you have recognized the urgency of this situation and taken action. Thank you. But there's more to do and we can't stop now. While you're paying close to $3.00 a gallon at the gas pump, Congress is secretly trying to kill big oil's competition, and only YOU can help us fight back. Right now, the Senate holds the key to keeping offshore wind energy alive, so your senators need to hear from you TODAY. Call 1-866-200-7070 now and we'll connect you instantly to your senators' offices, and provide you with exactly what you'll need to say to convince them to save the Cape Wind project. Please, less than five minutes of your time could make a real difference in the future of renewable energy in our country, so take action. Email this article to a friend Eyes Wide Open Exhibit by Java Kitrick May 4, 2006 Your help is needed to bring a dynamic exhibit on the human cost of war to Columbus, Ohio June 12-14. The American Friends Service Committee exhibit: "Eyes Wide Open: The Human Cost of War" will open at 11:00 AM, Monday, June 12, on the West Lawn of the Ohio Statehouse in Columbus, Ohio (High Street between Broad and State) and remain in place through Wednesday, June 14. The Episcopal Peace Fellowship is bringing the exhibit to coincide with the national General Convention of the Episcopal Church in the USA. We need additional contributions from individuals and groups: $10 from 600 people, or $100 from 60 groups, or a combination! All contributions will be used for the exhibit. The exhibit features: • A panel display memorializing the civilian Iraqis killed in the war. • A field of empty combat boots symbolizing the more than 2,350 US soldiers who have lost their lives, each pair of boots bearing the name of a fallen soldier. • An interlocked field of shoes and sandals representing Iraqi children, women, and men who have died. This exhibit can happen only with your help! We need assistance promoting the event, setting up and breaking down the displays each day, and passing out educational information. We are organizing two-hour shifts Monday and Tuesday, from 7 am – 11 pm, and Wednesday, from 7 am – 9 pm. In addition, we need volunteers who can be available on short notice to remove the exhibit in case of rain. Please consider volunteering some of your time to these efforts and also inviting your friends, neighbors, colleagues and families along to help. The goals of the exhibit are to put a human face to the casualties in the Iraq war, to lift up the deaths of US soldiers and Iraqis, and urge US government accountability. The exhibit is traveling throughout the country and will travel from Columbus to Birmingham, Alabama, for the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church. The Columbus event will also include an AFSC hosted press conference on Monday, June 12, as well as other program events highlighting diverse voices from the interfaith community. The exhibit is supported by a grant from the Puffin Foundation, by the work of numerous local organizations, and by contributions to the Episcopal Peace Fellowship. We need additional contributions from individuals and groups: $10 from 600 people, or $100 from 60 groups, or a combination! All contributions will be used for the exhibit. Contributions are tax deductible and can be made via the internet at www.episcopalpeacefellowship.org or write a check to Episcopal Peace Fellowship, write EWO in the memo line, and send it to one of the following people: Madeleine Trichel, Interfaith Center for Peace, 1970 Waldeck Avenue, Columbus, Ohio 43201 Java Kitrick, Director, Puffin Foundation, Ltd., 2186 East Broad Street, Bexley, Ohio 43209 To volunteer, please call Pat Rose at 614-294-9019 or email ProgramAsst@peace-center.org. For more information on the exhibit visit http://www.afsc.org/eyes/about-the-exhibit.htm Thank you for your help. Email this article to a friend Global Warming Resolution by Faithful America May 17, 2006 On Wednesday, May 10th, the House Appropriations Committee went on record in support of addressing global warming with mandatory measures to reduce U.S. emissions. The “Sense of the Congress” resolution mirrors one passed by the Senate last year. This small step is a cause to rejoice however. . . Opponents are trying every trick of the trade to stop Congress from going on record that global warming is real and that we need to do something about it NOW! We need your voice, as a person of faith concerned for the gracious gift of God’s creation, to let Congress know this language should remain! Please TAKE ACTION NOW by urging your Congressional representative to support of the “Sense of the Congress on Global Warming” resolution in the Interior Appropriations bill. Send a letter to the following decision maker(s): Below is the sample letter: Subject: Sense of Congress on Global Warming Dear [decision maker name automatically inserted here], I am writing to urge your support of the "Sense of Congress on Global Warming" resolution in the Interior Appropriations bill, which is expected to reach the House floor by the end of this week. My faith teaches that we are called to be responsible stewards of the earth as well as caring, compassionate neighbors within the human family. I urge you to address global warming not only because of its obvious impacts on the environment, but also because of the disproportionate affect climate change has upon the economy - especially those living in poverty. America's religious community has consistently urged action on global warming for years because of our religious teachings and deeply held beliefs. In 2004 over 1000 clergy from around the United States signed on to a letter urging action on global warming. And earlier this year, eighty-six evangelical leaders signed on to a statement urging action on global warming. In the last few years the urgency of global warming has become more pressing. I believe it is time for Congress to take responsibility for a problem that requires us to act on a national scale. Please write back to let me know your position on the resolution language. Sincerely, Email this article to a friend The Threat to the Internet is Real by Savetheinternet May 31, 2006 Congress is pushing a law that would abandon the Internet's First Amendment -- a principle called Network Neutrality that prevents companies like AT&T, Verizon and Comcast from deciding which Web sites work best for you -- based on what site pays them the most. If the public doesn't speak up now, our elected officials will cave to a multi-million dollar lobbying campaign. How this affects you Act Now Email this article to a friend Protest Big Oil in Columbus by Moveon.org June 27, 2006 Republicans are using the national frustration with gas prices as an excuse to push through even more giveaways to Big Oil instead of getting serious about clean energy alternatives that can move us away from oil. Why? Because the oil industry has bought the majority stake in the Republican party. Big Oil has given hundreds of millions of dollars in campaign contributions to Republicans and in return, Big Oil has received billions in subsidies from Congress. We can't afford Congress' addiction to oil money anymore. It keeps gas prices high, keeps us dependent on the Middle East and is blocking progress on a clean energy future, Congress needs to know that we're paying attention. We need them to start working for us, not Big Oil. Tomorrow we're going to make it clear that we want an oil-free, clean energy future and we want it now. National Day of Action for an "Oil-Free" Congress Where: Speedway Main Street & Scioto-Darby Main Street & Scioto Darby Road, Hilliard, OH When: Wednesday, 28 Jun 2006, 5:30 PM Link to RSVP: RSVP Hilliard National Day of Action for an "Oil-Free" Congress Where: corner of Rich and Fifth 345 Rich St., Columbus, OH When: Wednesday, 28 Jun 2006, 3:00 PM Link to RSVP: RSVP Rich/Fifth National Day of Action for an "Oil-Free" Congress Where: Exxon Station at the corner of Broad and Hamilton Broad and Hamilton, Columbus, OH When: Wednesday, 28 Jun 2006, 5:00 PM Link to RSVP: RSVP Broad/Hamilton Click here to search for events near you: Find Event Near You Email this article to a friend Urge Congress to Support Democracy & Peace in Timor by East Timor Action Network June 29, 2006 The U.S. Must Support Strong UN Mission in Timor-Leste. The UN Security Council will soon debate the nature of the next UN mission for Timor-Leste (East Timor). Amidst violence and political turmoil, East Timor's prime minister has resigned. Dozens have been killed, houses have been burned or looted across the city, and most of the capital's population has fled their homes. The reasons for this instability are many and complex, but UN involvement remains crucial. The U.S. must support a robust UN mission to enable the new nation to achieve peace with justice and economic prosperity. Both ETAN and the Timorese government have consistently advocated for more effective UN activities. The U.S. government, however, has repeatedly pushed the UN to rapidly reduce its presence since 2002. U.S. Ambassador to the UN John Bolton recently stated his belief in this unwise approach. But several Representatives are pushing Ambassador Bolton and Secretary of State Rice to support a robust UN mission. Urge your Representative to sign their letter. What YOU Can Do: Contact your Representative and tell her/him to: **Sign the bipartisan Dear Colleague letter to Secretary of State Rice urging her to support a robust United Nations mission to East Timor. The letter is being circulated by Representatives Allyson Schwartz and Patrick Kennedy. ** East Timor's potential to succeed remains strong, but the recent violence is an indication that the UN must continue to play a critical nation-building role. The deadline for the letter is July 7. To sign the letter, offices should contact Aaron Brand in Rep. Schwartz's office or Dominic Nguyen in Rep. Patrick Kennedy's office. Co-signers so far include: Representatives Chris Smith (R-NJ), Tom Lantos (D-CA), Lois Capps (D-CA), and Adam Schiff (D-CA). Phone calls and faxes are generally more effective than emails. The congressional switchboard number is 202-224-3121 (ask for the office of your Representative), or check A copy of the letter follows. Thanks for your support. Please let us know the results of your efforts. Send updates to This alert can be found at http://etan.org/action/2006/07alert.htm>Action Alert Support Democracy and Stability in East Timor Urge Secretary Rice to support a U.N. Mission to East Timor Deadline: COB Friday, July 7 Dear Colleague: After months of violence, last week, the United Nations Security Council voted to renew its political mission in East Timor, and U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan has indicated that the return of peacekeeping forces is under consideration. Please join us in writing to Secretary of State Rice urging her to support a robust United Nations mission to East Timor. Just months ago, East Timor was viewed as a model for international nation-building; however, today, the progress East Timor has made as a young and vibrant democracy is under serious threat. The United Nations played an instrumental role in the nation's early stages - providing peacekeeping, humanitarian, and reconstruction assistance, and capacity building. However, as the United Nations has rapidly scaled back its mission post-independence, serious problems within East Timor's police and military infrastructure have been exposed. East Timor's potential as a young democracy and its prospects to succeed remain strong. However, the recent violence is an indication that the United Nations cannot draw-down its presence precipitously, and that it must continue to play a critical nation-building role. We believe the United States' interests in building strong and self-sustaining democracies would be best served by supporting a renewed United Nations commitment to East Timor. We hope you will join us in this effort. If you have any questions or would like to sign the letter, please contact Aaron Brand in Rep. Schwartz's office (5-6111 or July xx, 2006 The Honorable Dr. Condoleezza Rice Secretary of State U.S. Department of State 2201 C Street NW Washington, DC 20520 Dear Madam Secretary: We have been watching the violence that has ensued in East Timor with a great deal of concern. Just months ago, East Timor was viewed as a model for international nation-building. However, today, the progress East Timor has made as a young democracy is under serious threat. The United Nations Security Council recently voted to renew its political mission in East Timor, and U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan has indicated that the return of peacekeeping forces is under consideration. At this crucial juncture, we urge you to support a robust United Nations mission that includes a significant police and peacekeeping presence - with all foreign troops under UN command - to ensure that East Timor continues to make progress on the path to democracy, stability, and self-sustainability. The East Timorese government has requested such a robust mission. As you know, following East Timor's vote for independence from Indonesia in 1999, militias backed by elements of the Indonesian military ravaged the country. Yet East Timor - with significant support from the United Nations and international community - was able to restore order and has made substantial strides toward stability and democracy as evidenced by a United Nations report stating that East Timor has "made remarkable progress in laying the foundations for a functioning civil society." Additionally, an agreement with the Australian government on shared revenues from offshore oil and gas fields is beginning to provide critical funds to the government and in February 2006 members of the U.S. House of Representatives Democracy Assistance Commission visited East Timor to provide advice on structuring an accountable and transparent government. However, much work remains and as the United Nations has rapidly scaled back its mission post-independence, serious problems within East Timor's police and military infrastructure have been exposed. The recent violence is an indication that the United Nations cannot draw-down its presence precipitously, and that it must continue to play a critical nation-building role - assisting East Timor with its efforts to consolidate and expand on the gains it has made. Therefore, we respectfully request that U.N. Ambassador Bolton strongly support a United Nations mission to help maintain order and provide support at least through next year's crucial parliamentary and presidential elections. This mission should focus on enhanced police assistance and training to prevent violence. Additionally, a United Nations mission should help East Timor address the deeply-rooted poverty and unemployment that plagues the nation; build strong public institutions that will ensure a stable and lasting democracy and promote rule of law; bring justice and reconciliation for crimes against humanity committed during the Indonesian military occupation; and investigate the recent criminal violence. Supporting the development of strong and self-sustaining democracies throughout the world is a vital component of U.S. foreign policy. In this case, this goal would be best advanced by supporting a robust United Nations mission working in cooperation with a sovereign East Timorese government. We thank you for your attention and we look forward to working with you on this matter. Sincerely, cc: Ambassador John R. Bolton John M. Miller Internet: fbp@igc.org National Coordinator East Timor Timor & Indonesia Network 48 Duffield St., Brooklyn, NY 11201 USA Phone: (718)596-7668 Mobile: (917)690-4391 Web site: ETAN Send a blank e-mail message to info@etan.org to find out how to learn more about East Timor on the Internet Support ETAN by making a secure financial contribution, just go to http://etan.org/etan/donate.htm Email this article to a friend Reduce - Reuse - Recycle by Greenpeace July 4, 2006 In recent years, "reduce, reuse and recycle" has become as popular as "stop, drop and roll." If we all do what we can in our daily lives to combat global warming, it can add up to a very big step in the right direction. More importantly, it will send a message to a government that refuses to act, that this issue is something Americans care about. Get started with these helpful tips. At home:
Use compact fluorescent light bulbs. Avoid anything battery operated (or use rechargables or solar rechargables if batteries are unavoidable). Buy locally - not only is it good for the local economy, it will save energy because products haven't traveled across the globe to get to you.
Don't let the water run while doing dishes. Cooking frozen foods uses more energy - thaw them out first.
A warm wash and cold rinse will work just as well as a hot water wash and a warm rinse on nearly all clothes. Hang clothing outside to dry or inside in a dry, warm room and save energy.
Don't leave the tap running while brushing your teeth or shaving. A shower (about 10 minutes) uses 2/3 the amount of water as a bath.
Ask your office manager to weatherproof the building to save energy. Remind your coworkers to recycle and turn off the lights when they leave for the night. Email this article to a friend Stop Blackwell from supervising his own election! by Ray Beckerman July 10, 2006 Join the movement for free and fair elections in Ohio! Stop Secretary of State Ken Blackwell from supervising his own election. We know what happened when he worked as the co-chair for Bush and Cheney in 2004. Lines at the polls in the inner cities, purging voters, suppressing the vote with provisional ballots, suspicious vote counts in Republican counties... Here's your chance to sign a petition to put a halt to the corruption of Blackwell and stealing of elections in Ohio. Go to this website Stop Blackwell petition Email this article to a friend ACTION ALERT: Stop Israel's Attacks on Gaza & Lebanon by www.endtheoccupation.org July 18, 2006 US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation BACKGROUND: Israel is using weapons supplied by the United States to target Palestinian & Lebanese civilians and civilian infrastructure in the Gaza Strip and Lebanon in violation of the US Arms Export Control Act and the Geneva Conventions. * On July 12th, Israel killed 23 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip with missiles fired from aircraft and shells fired from tanks. Israel killed 9 members of one family in a missile strike on a house near Gaza City. * On July 12th, Israel launched a massive invasion of Lebanon. Israeli aircraft fired missiles targeting civilian infrastructure, including bridges, roads, a mosque, a community center, and the Beirut International Airport, and the Israeli navy is blockading Lebanon's ports. Israel has killed at least 50 Lebanese civilians and injured more than 100, including entire Lebanese families of 10 and 7 people killed in the villages of Dweir and Baflay. * On June 27th, Israel launched a massive invasion of the Gaza Strip. Israeli aircraft fired missiles targeting civilian infrastructure. In illegal acts of collective punishment, Israel demolished three key bridges, the Gaza Strip's only electricity generation plant, and part of a university, thereby endangering Palestinian human rights to food, water, health, electricity, education, and freedom of movement. Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert admitted that the purpose of these measures is to "apply pressure" to the civilian population of the Gaza Strip. * On June 20th, Israeli aircraft fired at least one missile at a car in an extrajudicial assassination attempt on a road between Jabalya and Gaza City. The missile missed its intended target and killed three Palestinian children and wounded 15. * On June 13th, Israeli aircraft fired missiles at a van in an extrajudicial assassination of two Palestinians in Gaza City. A second barrage of missiles fired shortly afterward killed nine Palestinian bystanders. * On June 9th, Israel shelled a beach in Beit Lahiya killing 8 civilians and injuring 32. At the site of the killing, Human Rights Watch found evidence of a 155mm artillery shell consistent with those fired from an Israeli M-109 Self-Propelled Artillery. Israel's human rights violations in the Gaza Strip and Lebanon are being committed with US weapons financed by US tax dollars: The Israeli air force fighter squadrons are composed of Lockheed Martin F-16I Fighting Falcons and Boeing F-15Is, which fire US-manufactured AMRAAM, Sidewinder, and Sparrow missiles. From 2000-2005, the United States licensed to Israel at least $1.062 billion of spare parts, engines, and missiles for its F-15 and F-16 fighter planes. From 2000-2005, the United States licensed to the Israeli navy more than $572 million worth of patrol boat, ship, and submarine components and spare parts, torpedoes, and sonar equipment. From 2000-2005, the United States licensed to Israel more than $348 million worth of tanks, components, and spare parts. From 2000-2005, the United States licensed to Israel $69,163 worth of M-109 spare parts and 155mm artillery shells. (Statistics for US weapons licensed to Israel are compiled from the State Department's annual report to Congress pursuant to Sec. 655 of the Foreign Assistance Act. For more information, click here: http://pmddtc.state.gov/) Israel's summer of killing civilians and destroying civilian infrastructure in the Gaza Strip is a clear reminder that Israel remains the occupying power of the Gaza Strip despite last year's "unilateral disengagement". Living under military occupation, the Palestinians of the Gaza Strip are "protected persons" under the terms of the Geneva Conventions. Israel's targeting of civilians and civilian infrastructure in the Gaza Strip and Lebanon is a violation of the Geneva Conventions and constitutes war crimes. In addition, by using US-supplied weapons to commit these atrocities, Israel is violating the terms of the US Arms Export Control Act and Foreign Assistance Act. The Arms Export Control Act restricts the use of US weapons to legitimate self-defense and internal policing; US weapons cannot be used to attack civilians in offensive operations. The Foreign Assistance Act prohibits US aid of any kind to a country with a pattern of gross human rights violations. TAKE ACTION: Hold Israel to account for its killing of civilians and destruction of civilian infrastructure in the Gaza Strip and Lebanon. 1. Contact the White House, State Department, and your Members of Congress to demand that Israel is held accountable for its violations of the US Arms Export Control Act and Foreign Assistance Act and urge that military aid to Israel be cut off as required by law. Click here to send an email: http://www.democracyinaction.org/dia/organizationsORG/uscampaign/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=4460 2. Write a letter to the editor or op-ed for your local newspaper and call your local talk radio stations to protest Israel's atrocities in the Gaza Strip and Lebanon and highlight US support for these actions. For contact information for your local media, click here: http://www.congress.org/congressorg/dbq/media/ Below is a template for a letter to the editor: Letters to the editor should be short, punchy, and clear. They MUST refer to actual coverage of that particular paper, either naming a particular article or referring to trends (as below). Be sure the text of the letter does in fact respond to the particular article or trend you reference. Be sure to include full name, address, contact phone numbers and (for some, not for others) name of the organization. BE SURE THAT LETTERS ARE ALL DIFFERENT, AND DO NOT LOOK LIKE CARBON COPIES OF EACH OTHER! TEMPLATE: USE THIS AS A GUIDE, NOT A CARBON COPY! * Ask WHY DOESN'T [NAME THE NEWSPAPER] ACKNOWLEDGE or DOWNPLAYS or MINIMIZES THE FACT THAT or DOES NOT EMPHASIZE THAT a) ISRAEL IS ATTACKING CIVILIANS or b) ISRAEL IS DESTROYING NON-MILITARY INFRASTRUCTURE or c) ISRAEL'S RESPONSE IS DISPROPORTIONATE * Add YOUR READERS SHOULD HAVE ACCESS TO MORE INFORMATION, INCLUDING a) THAT THE VICTIMS INCLUDE X, AGE XX, Y, AGE XX, AND Z, AGE XX or b) THAT DESTROYING THE ELECTRICAL PLANT MEANS 1) 860,000 CIVILIANS WITHOUT POWER, MANY WITHOUT WATER or 2) HOSPITALS DEPENDING ON LAST WEEK OF FUEL FOR GENERATORS or 3) THE UN SAYS GAZA FACES A HUMANITARIAN CATASTROPHE or 4) ISRAEL AND U.S. HAD ALREADY IMPOSED A SEVERE BOYCOTT ON GAZA CAUSING HUGE HUMANITARIAN CRISES * EXPRESS CONCERN FOR ISRAELI VIOLATIONS OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND INTERNATIONAL LAW, AND THE UNCRITICAL NATURE OF U.S. SUPPORT FOR THOSE VIOLATIONS. * ASK [THE NEWSPAPER] TO BE MORE BALANCED IN ITS COVERAGE. MODEL LETTER: 3. Make a donation to support humanitarian efforts to reprovision the Gaza Strip with much-needed medical supplies for Palestinian children. The Middle East Children's Alliance and Grassroots International, member organizations of the US Campaign, are accepting tax-deductible donations to send medical supplies. Click here to donate: http://www.mecaforpeace.org/GazaMeds.html or http://www.grassrootsonline.org/ 4. Support the efforts of the US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation to build a national movement to challenge US support for Israel's human rights violations. Click here to donate to our summer fundraising drive: http://www.endtheoccupation.org/article.php?id=1221 Email this article to a friend Save the Ballots! by freepress.org August 8, 2006 On September 3, 2006, all the ballots from Ohio's 2004 presidential election will be destroyed. There are several voting rights organizations working to investigate and analyze these ballots in regards to irregularities in that election. There have been many barriers to access to these ballots since the election and we must depend on the cooperation of local county Boards of Elections. If we don't save the ballots, the public record will be gone forever. Act now! Funds are needed to pay for copying and personnel to gather, preserve and analyze the ballots. Go to Save the Ballots If you can volunteer, contact Ohio Honest Elections at 614-224-8771. Email this article to a friend United for New Directions in Iraq by Harry Reid August 16, 2006 United with one voice, Democratic leaders from Joe Biden to John Murtha sent a clear message to George Bush -- it's time for a New Direction in Iraq. Our plan is straightforward: we believe that a phased redeployment of U.S. forces from Iraq should begin by the end of 2006. And our soldiers in the region should transition to a more limited mission focused on counterterrorism, force protection of U.S. personnel, training and logistical support of Iraqi security forces. Read the letter below and add your name: Thank you, Harry Reid July 30, 2006 The President The White House Washington, D.C. Dear Mr. President: While the world has been focused on the crisis in the Middle East, Iraq has exploded in violence. Some 6,000 Iraqis were killed in May and June, and sectarian and insurgent violence continues to claim American and Iraqi lives at an alarming rate. In the face of this onslaught, one can only conclude that the Baghdad security plan you announced five weeks ago is in great jeopardy. Despite the latest evidence that your Administration lacks a coherent strategy to stabilize Iraq and achieve victory, there has been virtually no diplomatic effort to resolve sectarian differences, no regional effort to establish a broader security framework, and no attempt to revive a struggling reconstruction effort. Instead, we learned of your plans to redeploy an additional 5,000 U.S. troops into an urban war zone in Baghdad. Far from implementing a comprehensive "Strategy for Victory" as you promised months ago, your Administration's strategy appears to be one of trying to avoid defeat. Meanwhile, U.S. troops and taxpayers continue to pay a high price as your Administration searches for a policy. Over 2,500 Americans have made the ultimate sacrifice and over 18,000 others have been wounded. The Iraq war has also strained our military and constrained our ability to deal with other challenges. Readiness levels for the Army are at lows not seen since Vietnam, as virtually no active Army non-deployed combat brigade is prepared to perform its wartime missions. American taxpayers have already contributed over $300 billion and each week we stay in Iraq adds nearly $3 billion more to our record budget deficit. In the interests of American national security, our troops, and our taxpayers, the open-ended commitment in Iraq that you have embraced cannot and should not be sustained. Rather, we continue to believe that it is time for Iraqis to step forward and take the lead for securing and governing their own country. This is the principle enshrined in the "United States Policy in Iraq Act" enacted last year. This law declares 2006 to be a year of "significant transition to full Iraqi sovereignty, with Iraqi security forces taking the lead for the security of a free and sovereign Iraq, thereby creating the conditions for the phased redeployment of United States forces from Iraq." Regrettably, your policy seems to be moving in the opposite direction. This legislation made clear that Iraqi political leaders must be informed that American patience, blood and treasure are not unlimited. We were disappointed that you did not convey this message to Prime Minister Maliki during his recent visit. Reducing the U.S. footprint in Iraq will not only give the Iraqis a greater incentive to take the lead for the security of their own nation, but will also allow U.S. forces to be able to respond to contingencies affecting the security of the United States elsewhere in the world. We believe that a phased redeployment of U.S. forces from Iraq should begin before the end of 2006. U.S. forces in Iraq should transition to a more limited mission focused on counterterrorism, training and logistical support of Iraqi security forces, and force protection of U.S. personnel. Additionally, every effort should be made to urge the Iraqis to take the steps necessary to achieve a broad-based and sustainable political settlement, including amending the constitution to achieve a fair sharing of power and resources. It is also essential to disarm the militias and ensure forces loyal to the national government. Finally, an international conference should be convened to persuade other governments to be more involved, and to secure the resources necessary to finance Iraq=s reconstruction and rebuild its economy. Mr. President, simply staying the course in Iraq is not working. We need to take a new direction. We believe these recommendations comprise an effective alternative to the current open-ended commitment which is not producing the progress in Iraq we would all like to see. Thank you for your careful consideration of these suggestions. Harry Reid, Senate Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, House Democratic Leader Dick Durbin, Senate Assistant Democratic Leader Steny Hoyer, House Minority Whip Carl Levin, Ranking Member, Senate Armed Services Committee Ike Skelton, Ranking Member, House Armed Services Committee Joe Biden, Ranking Member, Senate Foreign Relations Committee Tom Lantos, Ranking Member, House International Relations Committee Jay Rockefeller, Vice Chairman, Senate Intelligence Committee Jane Harman, Ranking Member, House Intelligence Committee Daniel Inouye, Ranking Member, Senate Defense Appropriations Subcommittee John Murtha, Ranking Member, House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee Add your name now: Website Email this article to a friend Click here to feed rescued animals by The Animal Rescue site August 28, 2006 Hi, all you animal lovers. This is pretty simple. Please tell your friends to tell their friends today! The Animal Rescue Site is having trouble getting enough people to click on it daily to meet their quota of getting free food donated every day to abused and neglected animals. It takes less than a minute to go to their site and click on "feed an animal in need" for free. This doesn't cost you a thing. Their corporate sponsors/advertisers use the number of daily visits to donate food to abandoned/neglected animals in exchange for advertising. Here's the web site! Pass it along to people you know. Animal Rescue Site AGAIN, PLEASE TELL YOUR FRIENDS!!! Email this article to a friend Volunteer to help investigate with the Save the Ballots campaign by The Free Press August 31, 2006 As the destruction of the ballots from the 2004 presidential campaign draws closer, the Columbus Institute for Contemporary Journalism has been sending crews of people to the county boards of elections to count ballots and study the signature books. If you are interested in helping with the investigations, contact: Bob Fitrakis - 614-374-2380 or 614-253-2571. Email this article to a friend Help save the Center - participate in the Native American Indian Center Auction by NAICCO Trustee September 15, 2006 The NAICCO online auction opens for bidding on September 5, 2006 at 8:00 AM, Eastern Daylight Time. Our goal this year is to raise $10,000 to support the operation of the Native American Indian Center of Central Ohio. We need your support! This is an exciting and fun way to help us, and at the same time have a chance to win cool items! We'll continue adding new items to our catalog for you to preview as the auction proceeds. Check back often to see what's new. Feel free to place a Watch on your favorites, so that you'll know as soon as bidding begins! Entire auction catalog Email this article to a friend Please help save the Native American Indian Center of Central Ohio by Suzanne Patzer September 19, 2006 The NAICCO online auction opens for bidding on September 5, 2006 at 8:00 AM, Eastern Daylight Time. Our goal this year is to raise $10,000 to support the operation of the Native American Indian Center of Central Ohio. We need your support! This is an exciting and fun way to help us, and at the same time have a chance to win cool items! We'll continue adding new items to our catalog for you to preview as the auction proceeds. Check back often to see what's new. Feel free to place a Watch on your favorites, so that you'll know as soon as bidding begins! Entire auction catalog Email this article to a friend YOU CAN HELP ENSURE A FAIR ELECTION ON NOVEMBER 7, 2006 by Pete Johnson October 20, 2006 There are several ways that YOU can help protect the vote in 2006: VIDEO THE VOTE: Help document irregularities on election day, join the team. Video records will be immediately uploaded to the web. If you are interested in the video project, please contact Melissa Giraud at melissa@columbusvotes.org. See Video the Vote on YouTube PARALLEL ELECTION VOLUNTEER: Learn how hand-counted paper ballots are the most accurate way to count votes by helping in a citizen-run Parallel Election. For more information, contact Rady Ananda at rady.j30@gmail.com or Marj Creech at 740.940.5038 or risenregan@earthlink.net. See Parallel Elections ELECTION OBSERVER: Contact Phil Fry (937) 362-4493, phil@ctcn.net. He is coordinating observers for 5 candidates who are running state-wide including Bob Fitrakis and Bill Peirce. Position is quite flexible. You may be asked to follow the precinct captain with the electronic ballot from the precinct to witness the vote count at the central tabulator. Go to CASE Ohio and look under "Election Day Action." ELECTION PROTECTION VOLUNTEER: EP workers will be present at the polls, armed with information to help voters who are refused access due to the new ID requirement and other reasons, or are forced to vote by provisional ballot.This program is run by People for the American Way. For more information, go to People for the American Way EXIT POLLS: Work with statisticians at the Vote County Project. To get involved, see Election Integrity Vote Count Project Email this article to a friend MPEACHMENT BY SPRING: HERE'S THE PLAN by After Downing Street November 15, 2006 Plan Events on December 10th, Human Rights and Impeachment Day - December 10 is Human Rights Day, and this year we're making it Human Rights and Impeachment Day. Slogan: "Putting Impeachment on the Table." We encourage you to organize a town hall forum or rally on this day for the impeachment of Bush and Cheney. You can create a public listing of your event here. You will be able to communicate with the people who sign up for your event, and to edit the listing for your event, changing or filling in details later. Be sure also to invite your Congress Member or newly elected future Congress Member to speak. Here are resources that will make your event easy and effective: December 10 Collect Signatures on Petitions - Collect millions of them, especially in front of your Congress Member's offices. Use this to build local organizations as well as a national list of names. Petition Join a Congressional District Impeachment Committee -Organize locally to lobby your Representative: Impeachment Committee Pass State and Local Resolutions -Pass impeachment resolutions in your town or city, state, political party, or labor union. Use the petitioning (above) to help make this happen: Resolutions Be a Media Activist- Work the media for impeachment: Media Talking Points and Other Resources to Assist You Resource Center Impeachment Conference Call November 13, 2006/b> - 81 organizers and activists from across the country took part in a conference call Monday evening to discuss upcoming actions to advance the impeachment of Bush and Cheney. You can listen to the 90-minute call to catch up and get involved. We'll post the transcript and notes ASAP. Transcript Audio and Video from Philadelphia on Veterans Day - Here is video of our impeachment movement launch: Video Here is audio: Audio We Now Have Shirts With Long Sleeves Shirts Invite the Bush Chain Gang to Your Town- Reduce fear and roadside trash: put them to work. Chain Gang help organize: Organize here's where to plan events: Events please sign up to stay informed: Informed Philly reports: Reports Email this article to a friend Stop Expansion of Oil Drilling on our Coasts by NRDC December 5, 2006 This lame-duck Congress will likely be launching their first attack TOMORROW. The House of Representatives will likely vote tomorrow on a dangerous bill to expand oil drilling off our coasts, even in some special areas where drilling is currently banned. We need your immediate action to stop this last-ditch attempt to hand over our natural heritage to Big Oil. Please call your Representative right now: Tell your Member of Congress to vote NO on S.3711, the offshore oil and gas drilling bill and to stop the giveaways to Big Oil. Urge your Representative to support bills that will give us more renewable energy and REDUCE our destructive dependence on oil. And please help the NRDC Action Fund to expose and stop these eleventh-hour attacks on our environment by making a special donation today: Drilling Fund Your contribution will enable us to mobilize nearly one million online activists, dozens of experts, and our lightning-fast media operation in order to thwart this and other lame-duck assaults on our last wild places. Drilling off our coasts will NOT bring down gas prices or advance energy security. Remember: this is the same Congress that refused to make America's gas-guzzlers more fuel-efficient but has doled out billions of tax dollars to oil and coal companies instead. This latest bill is just more of the same corporate welfare. The American people voted on Election Day for a clean energy future that will help us kick the oil habit, slow global warming and save our natural heritage from destruction. Tell your Representative to listen to the people -- not the polluters -- and vote NO on the offshore oil and gas drilling bill. Email this article to a friend This Holiday Season, try these 10 trash-busting steps to reduce holiday waste when giving gifts. by Defenders of Wildlife December 8, 2006 Tis the season -- peak garbage season, that is. These 10 trash-busting steps can help reduce your contribution to holiday waste when wrapping, packing and opening gifts... 1. Give gifts that don’t require wrapping. Tickets, memberships, subscriptions, gift cards, and certificates for babysitting, snow-shoveling and other services. Or how about just an e-card and a hug? 2. Make the wrapping part of the present. Present gifts in baskets, tins and other reusable containers. Or wrap them in scarves, handkerchiefs, pillowcases, cloth napkins or tablecloths. 3. Don’t wrap presents for pets. Does Fido really care? 4. Hide unwrapped gifts and make finding them part of the fun. Provide cards with clues for finding them. Hang jewelry and other small items right on the Christmas tree. 5. Use gift bags instead of wrapping paper. They’re just as attractive and readily reusable. 6. Buy recycled wrapping paper. Look for paper with a high percentage of postconsumer waste. 7. Avoid foil, metallic and glittery papers, which are not recyclable. 9. Don’t use Styrofoam packing peanuts and bubble wrap. Crumpled newspaper or corn-based packing peanuts that disintegrate in water are the greener choice. Better yet, use air-popped, unsalted popcorn or peanuts in the shell, which can be tossed outside to feed the birds. 10. Unwrap gifts carefully and have designated “reuse” and “recycle” boxes ready. Collect gift wrap, bags, ribbons and bows for storage until next year. Sort other materials according to your local recycling guidelines. Email this article to a friend An easy way to help fund AIDS research by Ceasar Montoya December 10, 2006 Bristol-Myers is donating a dollar to AIDS research each time someone goes to their website, moves the match to the candle and lights it. Please forward this to your friends to spread. It takes a second to raise a dollar. Click on the link below or copy and paste the link below in your browser and please light the candle. https://www.lighttounite.org/. Light to Unite Email this article to a friend Give Harry Hell! by Code Pink December 23, 2006 With the November elections, the voters gave a clear mandate for the new Democratic Congress to end the war in Iraq. We hoped our newly elected officials would listen to the people, but they're already backsliding. We were appalled to hear Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid, on Sunday's ABC show "This Week," say he would support a "short-term" increase of U.S. troops in Iraq. AN INCREASE IN TROOPS? What is Harry thinking? The voters didn't put his party in power to escalate this war, but the end it! Harry's website may be named GiveEmHellHarry.com, but now it's time for us to give him hell for buckling so quickly to Bush's war machine. Please take a moment out of your busy holiday schedule to call, email or FAX Harry Reid and tell him this just isn't acceptable. Call: 202-224-2158 -- Democratic Leadership Office in DC (If that doesn’t work call his scheduler: 202-224-7003) Email: Susan_McCue@reid.senate.gov (chief of staff) Fax: 202-224-7327 -- DC Office P.S. Harry Reid's actions make our plans to mobilize in Washington D.C. on January 27th even more pressing. Find out more about our upcoming actions and how to join us here: Code Pink Plans You can use the sample letter below or write your own. Let Harry Reid know that he must honor the peace sentiment of the American people and bring our troops home! Dear Senator Reid, The November 7 election was a voter mandate for peace, not for escalating the war in Iraq. Your recent remarks supporting the sending of more troops in an ill-conceived effort to "pacify Baghdad" is an affront to the voters who put your party in power. We passionately oppose such an ill-conceived escalation that will only lead to more dead and wounded American soldiers, and more dead and wounded Iraqis. It will not lead to peace, but only intensify the cycle of violence and inflame anti-American sentiments throughout the region. After the historic November 7 election, this is no time for caving into the Bush war agenda. It's a time for honoring the peace sentiment of the American people. We call on you to oppose any escalation of US troops and firmly demand a timetable for bringing our troops home. Sincerely, Email this article to a friend Help Save Progressive Radio by Progress Ohio January 3, 2007 Protest Clear Channel's dropping Air America! Come out on Monday 1/8 during the Stephanie Miller show FOR A PUBLIC SHOW OF SUPPORT to Stephanie Miller for two years of progressive talk in Columbus, 11AM-Noon, on the sidewalk in front of the Ohio statehouse. Clear Channel is dropping 1230am's progressive format and will be taking a hard right turn. WTPG (We're Talking Progressive) will change it's call letters to WYTS and will abandon voices like Ed Schultz, Stephanie Miller, and Al Franken in favor of Michael Savage and Laura Ingraham. Sign the petition to help save progressive radio: Save Progressive Radio In a recent Columbus Dispatch article, it is claimed that "The progressive-talk format, in place at WTPG since September 2004, never took off here despite live broadcasts in Columbus by Franken, Miller and Schultz." What it doesn't tell you is that WTPG TRIPLED its ratings since switching to a progressive format 2 years ago, and moved the former WCOL frequency into the top 25 stations for the first time in years. We are working on ways to join others in direct action to prevent this move like Madison, Wisconsin did. They did it with a massive public outcry from citizens, community leaders, and dedicated advertisers. We need to fuel the same here in our community. Email this article to a friend Stop the War Now! by January 15, 2007 United for Peace and Justice is organizing a massive demonstration for ending American presence in Iraq NOW, on Jan. 27. You can read about it at United for Peace and Justice There will be a charter bus leaving from Yellow Springs, Ohio, on the evening of Jan 26, and will return to Yellow Springs late night of Jan. 27. Cost is $60.00 round trip, some scholarships are available. Please share this information with your group, and/or forward this email to folks who may be interested. Call 937-767-1022, or return email ken.simon@yahoo.com. Seats need to be reserved soon! Central Ohio organizing information: 614-252-9255. OSU chapter of the Campus Antiwar Network, a national antiwar network: www.campusantiwar.net is having a meeting to organize aorund this protest. Location: Page Hall, Room 060, Ohio State University (next to Hagerty Hall and Parking Garage C, facing the south oval). Contact: negi.2@osu.edu for more details or to endorse the meeting. Northeast Ohio Anti-War Coalition is contracting for a second bus to United for Peace call to Congress to end the war,Jan27,07. First bus is almost full. To reserve go ito www.noacinfo.org for instructions. Free parking available at secure lot. Leaving Cleveland west side Gordon Square,( West 65th and Detroit )Friday Jan26th 11:30 pm. Return Sunday Jan28th,morning. Bus service wants payment due two weeks in advance. If interested make arrangenents now. NOAC will provide Metro instructions in and out of Washington. Email this article to a friend Tell Sens. Voinovich and Brown: Rein in Bush on Iran by Moveon.org March 6, 2007 Yesterday, Senator Jim Webb (D-VA) introduced a bill to stop the war from escalating into Iran. His bill would prohibit President Bush from spending money for military operations in Iran without the consent of Congress. With Congress already struggling to get us out of the mess in Iraq, the president is edging us closer to war with Iran. We can't risk a repeat. Can you call your senators, Sens. Voinovich and Brown, and tell them to follow Webb's lead and support his bill on Iran? Senator George Voinovich Phone: 202-224-3353 Senator Sherrod Brown Phone: 202-224-2315 Then, please report your call by clicking here: Report your call When you call, be polite but firm and speak from the heart. You can say something like "I am calling to ask the senator to support Sen. Webb's bill requiring congressional approval for military action in Iran, because..." The stakes are too high to risk having the mess in Iraq spread to Iran, and that means we need oversight of the president. Dealing with Iran will require strategic diplomacy and working with other countries. As Senator Webb said yesterday: This presidency has shot from the hip too many times for us to be able to trust it to act on its own. It's not the way the Constitution was designed. We need Congress to be involved in any decision to commence military activities absent an attack from the other side or a direct threat.1 The Pentagon has said it has no plans to attack Iran, but the tension has risen alarmingly in the last few weeks. The U.S. has been positioning military personnel in the region and increasing its threatening rhetoric toward Iran. Senate Majority Leader, Harry Reid remarked to reporters last Thursday, "There are many out there much smarter than I am who believe the administration is ramping up to have the same thing happen in Iran that happened in Iraq."2 Can you call your senators now and let them know that Congress should check the president on Iran? Thanks for all you do, –Eli, Karin, Marc, Matt and the MoveOn.org Political Action Team Tuesday, March 6th, 2007 Sources: 1. Webb Introduces Bill Barring Funding For Military Action Against Iran, Fox News, March 5, 2007 |