ACTION ALERTS- 3-25-2005
Please DU these and kick so everyone can help!
TELL ABC NEWS TO DROP WAL-MART AS SPONSOR OF “ONLY IN AMERICA” SERIES (From the UFCW):
Please join the United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW) in asking ABC News President David Westin to drop Wal-Mart immediately as a sponsor of Good Morning America's "Only in America" series.
This series purports to report people who have contributed to the welfare of this country.
Wal-Mart, in glaring contrast, is responsible for sending more jobs overseas than any other American corporation. Wal-Mart systematically drives down wages in our economy, exploits the work of immigrants, discriminates against women, violates child labor laws, breaks up small businesses and their communities, and denies workers their legal right to organize. Wal-Mart's practices and the policies it supports divide the world's workers against each other and drive working conditions down in wealthier countries rather than lifting them up in poorer ones. While workers are exploited, heirs to the mushrooming Wal-Mart fortune pour their money into manufacturing a "movement" against public education and for vouchers. Wal-Mart gives the phrase "only in America" a bad name. Please take 60 seconds to do something about it.
Tell ABC News what you think:
http://www.unionvoice.org/campaign/abcnewsSTOP HEALTH CARE BILL THAT WILL HURT CONSUMERS
Petition:
http://www.care2.com/go/z/22452Right now, Congress is quietly debating a bill that could have major effects on health insurance for all of us. The goal of S. 406/H.R. 525 is to make it easier for small businesses to insure their workers, but in reality, this legislation will lead to higher premiums,more uninsured people, and fewer consumer protections in
California and around the country.
These bills would allow small businesses to set up insurance programs called Association Health Plans (AHPs). The problem with AHPs is that they are exempt from critical consumer protections in California - protections like mandatory coverage of mammograms, cervical cancer screening, well-child exams, and more. And even worse, they can raise rates at any time.
We desperately need to address this health crisis, but AHPs will only make things worse. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that AHPs would actually result in higher premiums for 80 percent of AHP participants. Not surprisingly, experts also predict that AHPs would result in even more uninsured Americans.
We can't afford any more uninsured families. Please act today to protect your health care:
http://www.care2.com/go/z/22452OPPOSE BOLTON AS U.N. AMBASSADOR
In another move custom designed to antagonist the whole entire civilized world as much as possible, our fearless leader has nominated John Bolton for ambassador to the U.N. What a better choice for a diplomatic position than someone who has a history of making hostile statements about his wish for the destruction of the U.N. building and everyone in it. Let's tell our Congress what we really think about this proposed appointment.
http://www.usalone.com/bolton.htmCALIFORNIANS: ELIMINATE 2 TOXIC CHEMICALS IN BABY PRODUCTS & TOYS:
2003, California led the nation in protecting children's health by phasing out two widely used flame retardant chemicals that had been linked to neurological damage during fetal and infant development. Unfortunately, many more toxic chemicals can be found in the very toys and feeding products our children use every day. We must make sure that our children can grow and learn free from the toxic chemicals that have been linked to obesity, early puberty, birth defects and reproductive difficulties.
Please take a moment to ask your legislators to make children's health a priority by supporting Assemblywoman Wilma Chan's legislation to phase out two toxic chemicals that effect childhood development. Then forward this to your friends and family and ask them to do the same.
To take action, click on this link or paste it into your Web browser:
http://environmentcalifornia.org/envirocaliftoxics.asp?id=646&id4=ESTELL BIG OIL YOU WILL BOYCOTT THEIR COMPANIES IF THEY DRILL IN ALASKA’S WILDERNESS (From Barbara Boxer)
Today, my heart is heavy. By just two votes, we came up short in our effort to prevent oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, home to over 150 wildlife species. I offer my heartfelt thanks to the over 29,000 of you who joined with me and signed my petition to Senate Republican Leader Bill Frist, demonstrating our strong opposition to this disastrous policy.
In the end, over 90% of Senate Democrats voted to stop this madness -- we just didn't have the votes to overcome the Republican majority in the Senate.
But I want you to know that I won't give up in our fight to stop the drilling. And neither should you. I'm going to use every legislative tool at my disposal to reverse this vote and prevent this terrible policy from going into effect. But we can do more -- today.
I'm planning to organize a consumer boycott of any oil company that decides to drill in this pristine Alaskan wilderness area. If, through our pocketbooks, we can convince these companies to do the right thing, we can still save the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge from the destruction that would be wrought by the oil drilling rigs.
Send an email to the CEOs of ExxonMobil, BP, ConocoPhillips, Royal Dutch/Shell, and ChevronTexaco now and tell them to stay out of ANWR!
http://ga4.org/campaign/boycott/dkskdirzjkj3dw And then invite everyone you know to join us.
TELL SENATE DEMOCRATS TO STAND TOGETHER & OPPOSE BUSH JUDICIAL NOMINEES (from Senator Charles Schumer)
Let the Senate Democrats know that they're not fighting George Bush and the reckless right wing of the Republican Party alone. Join us in this fight by signing our new petition today.
http://www.dscc.org/fight I will fight judges who pose a threat to our fundamental constitutional rights -- civil rights, women’s rights, labor rights, our right to a clean environment, and our right to basic civil liberties.
On Wednesday, a number of Senate Democrats, including me, spoke at a MoveOn PAC rally where hundreds of people gave up their lunch hour to join our efforts to stop George Bush's court-packing scheme. They are ready to join our fight against right-wing judges and I know you are too.
STOP THE REAL ID ACT (From Tom Paine)
Act Now: Still A REAL Threat by Human Rights First
The REAL ID Act is back, and the House is trying to force-feed it to the Senate. Don't let them.
http://www.tompaine.com/action/#004200 Pass It On: Going Nuclear by MoveOn PAC Watch the new MoveOn PAC national television ad about Dick Cheney's threat to play the "nuclear option."
http://www.tompaine.com/index.php#passiton ASK AUTO MAKERS TO DROP THEIR LAWSUIT AGAINST CALIFORNIA & INNOVATE, DON’T LITIGATE (From Environmental California)
In 2004, Environment California helped convince the state of California to adopt the world's first standards designed to cut global warming pollution from new cars and trucks. Now automakers are suing to prevent California and other states from setting these standards.
Please take a moment to ask Ford, GM, DaimlerChrysler, Toyota and Honda to innovate, not litigate. Ask them to withdraw from the lawsuit that would prevent the world's first standard for automotive global warming emissions. Then ask your family and friends to help by forwarding this e-mail to them.
To take action, click on the link below or paste it into your Web browser:
http://environmentcalifornia.org/envirocaliftoxics.asp?id=737&id4=ESPROTECT THE ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT (From Take Action!)
For the bald eagle, the gray wolf, the peregrine falcon and hundreds of other species, the Endangered Species Act is working – it stopped their downward spiral toward extinction. But some in Congress are trying to weaken protections that make recovery possible. The Endangered Species Act is the world's most powerful law for protecting imperiled animal and plant species. Support our Back from the Brink campaign by telling Congress to build on the ESA's 30-year legacy, not to water down core protections that help America's endangered species recover.
Take action
http://actionnetwork.org/campaign/esa_threat/8k73ser4jkj338HELP FARMERS & THE ENVIRONMENT—FIX FARM SUBSIDIES (From Take Action)
America's farm subsidy program is broken. Why? Despite costing billions, it rewards only a handful of large farmers, and leaves little money for popular conservation programs that help farmers protect their land. In 2003, over half of funding went to less than 2% of farmers. Tell your representatives in Congress to fix America's farm subsidies, and to fully fund conservation programs that reward farmers for environmental stewardship.
Take action
http://actionnetwork.org/campaign/farmbill2/8k73ser4jkj338STOP GOVERNMENT PROPAGANDA (From Media for Democracy)
Earlier this week, the New York Times reported that at least 20 federal agencies have made and distributed pre-packaged, ready-to-serve television news segments to promote President Bush's policies and initiatives.
Congress' Government Accountability Office determined that these "video news releases" were illegal "covert propaganda" and told federal agencies to stop. But last Friday, the White House ordered all agencies to disregard Congress' directive. Wednesday at a press conference, President Bush shrugged off responsibility for the deceptive nature of the releases, which are designed to look like television news segments. "Local stations ought to -- since there's a deep concern about that -- ought to tell their viewers what they're watching," Bush told reporters.
The Bush administration, in other words, is planning to continue using hundreds of millions of your tax dollars to manipulate public opinion.
1. If you agree that this is an illegal, undemocratic and propagandistic effort by the government to advance a partisan political agenda, join MediaChannel and other concerned groups in our effort to stop fake news. Write Congress, the Federal Communications Commission, and local television stations to express your opposition. Remember to tell them that you are not alone, but are writing as a member of the 75,000-strong Media For Democracy movement.
2. Sign petitions that will also tell Congress and the FCC to toughen and enforce laws against "covert propaganda" and demand that broadcasters come clean with viewers about using government-produced news.
Free Press: Stop News Fraud
http://www.freepress.net/action/fakenewsStart Change Now: Stop Fake News
http://www.stopfakenews.org/3. In the weeks to come, we will work with groups like Free Press, Common Cause and the Center for Media and Democracy to connect you with others in your area working to ensure local broadcasters identify the sources behind the "news." We will create "citizen agreements" with local TV stations in our communities to stop fake news broadcasts. These agreements are documents filed at the FCC that -- if broken -- can be used to help communities deny broadcaster license renewals.
4. If you haven't already, sign up for our free daily newsletter Media Savvy, to stay abreast of the latest news about Fake News.
http://www.mediachannel.org/email/STRENGTHEN SOCIAL SECURITY & OPPOS PRIVATIZATION (From Union Voice)
The tide’s turning our way. And it’s time to sink privatization once and for all. Please click this link to send a message to Congress urging them to sign the Pledge to Strengthen Social Security and oppose privatization:
www.unionvoice.org/campaign/sspledge
STOP THE ASSAULT ON FREE SPEECH!
OPPOSE CORPORATE-BACKED CHANGES TO THE TRADEMARK ACT
(From the Electronic Free Speech Association)
The Trademark Dilution Revision Act (TDRA, HR 683) is a
big company's dream. If it passes, the lawyers policing
a trademark could sue businesses and individuals for
using words, images, or even colors that look vaguely
like a famous brand - without even having to prove that
the company is being harmed. In other words, TDRA would
make it possible for UPS to sue Brown's Record Store, even
though nobody in their right mind would get the two
confused. This bill would chill speech and hand ownership
of common words to big companies. Fight the TDRA today!
Make your voice heard with EFF's action center:
<
http://action.eff.org/site/Advocacy?id=113>Text of TDRA:
<
http://trademark.blog.us/blog/2005/03/14.html#a1628>OPPOSE CONFIRMATION OF A MINING LOBBYIST AS SENIOR FEDERAL JUDGE
(From Capwiz)
We need your help to stand up against the lifetime appointment of anti-environment extremist William Myers to be a senior federal judge. As expected, yesterday a committee voted along party lines to pass his nomination on to the full Senate for a final showdown vote.
The vote is scheduled to take place just after Easter, so we don't have much time to act!
http://capwiz.com/lcv/issues/alert/?alertid=7253116&type=COThe only way to stop this former mining lobbyist from undermining environmental laws for decades is to flood the Senate with e-mails, calls, and letters. Click here to e-mail your Senators NOW! Then call (202) 224-3121 and tell them directly.
http://capwiz.com/lcv/issues/alert/?alertid=7253116&type=COASK THE MEDIA NOT TO RUN BIGOTED & DISTORTED ANTI-SOCIAL SECURITY ADS (From Democracy for America)
A couple of weeks ago a right-wing front group called "USA Next" made national news when it started its anti-Social Security campaign with a bigoted, hateful ad. Immediately, tens of thousands of DFA grassroots supporters created a backlash so strong that USA Next spent the next few weeks licking its wounds.
But now they're back. USA Next is set to go on the air with its political hate speech in the next two weeks. Please act now -- petition media outlets to keep bigotry and distortions off the air:
http://www.democracyforamerica.com/StopUSANext
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