ACTIVE NONVIOLENCE AND PEACEMAKING |
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How to Prevent Crime Without Relying on Police
Crime, like most issues in our industrial and post-industrial capitalist economic system, is a diamond with many facets. Police address crime mostly from the back end—after the crime has occurred. We have a large, highly budgeted policing system, courts, and a carceral system to address this. But crime continues to rise. Advocates suggest what’s sorely lacking is what to do on the front end, to focus on crime’s causes and underpinnings. MORE
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New Bill Proposes Cutting Pentagon Spending to Fund Vaccines for Poor Nations
Congressman Mark Pocan of Wisconsin has introduced legislation that would cut billions of dollars from the Pentagon's massive budget and invest those funds in global coronavirus vaccination efforts, which are badly lagging. The Covid Defense Act proposes transferring $9.6 billion in U.S. military spending to Covax—a global vaccination initiative led by the World Health Organization—to assist with the procurement of doses for the people of low-income nations. MORE
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“Antiwar Sentiment in the Military Is Stronger Than Ever.”
Iraq War veteran Mike Prysner has been an antiwar activist for fifteen years. He has been arrested demonstrating outside the Capitol building, helped active-duty soldiers refuse orders to fight in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and organized grieving families who’ve lost enlisted or veteran loved ones to war or suicide. Prysner shares why he’s more hopeful about the mainstreaming of antiwar sentiment, including among active-duty soldiers, than ever before. MORE
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How the Nuclear Weapons Industry Is Dominating Think Tank Research
If you read a report about nuclear weapons, odds are it was published by a think tank funded by a company producing nuclear weapons. A recent study of global nuclear weapons spending found that almost all major think tanks working on nuclear weapon issues took money from companies involved in the nuclear weapons industry in 2020 — raising questions about their intellectual independence and moral integrity. MORE
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Youth Must Be Included in Disarmament and Non-Proliferation
With 40 percent of the global population under 25, the international community has a special responsibility to ensure young people can share their perspectives and concerns about existential threats to current and future generations, says UN disarmament chief Izumi Nakamitsu. At 1.8 billion strong, the current generation of young people is the largest in history, and around 90 percent live in developing countries. MORE
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Biden Administration Proposes Overhaul of Asylum System to Speed Up Claim Approval
A new rule proposed by the Biden administration seeks to speed up the processing of asylum claims by allowing asylum officers to hear and decide cases of migrants who show up at the U.S.-Mexico border. Those cases are normally assigned to immigration judges. MORE
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For the First Time, Immigrants Can Now Get a Green Card and Social Security Number at Once
The Biden administration announced that lawful permanent residents will now be able to apply for their green card and Social Security number in one step, thanks to a partnership between the Social Security Administration and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Separate processing was previously needed. MORE
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TAKE ACTION: Demand a Moratorium on New Coal Leases
Eliminating the use of all fossil fuels is key to fighting the climate crisis, and that starts with coal — one of the worst sources of climate-heating pollution in the world. The Obama administration implemented a moratorium on new federal coal leases, but the Trump administration undid the moratorium to protect polluter profits. EarthJustice urges us to tell the Biden administration to undo the previous administration’s damage. TAKE ACTION
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Lawsuit Seeks to Regulate Plastic as Hazardous Waste
The Center for Biological Diversity has sued the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for failing to regulate a common plastic — polyvinyl chloride (commonly called PVC or vinyl) — as hazardous waste. PVC is found in children’s toys, clothing, consumer packaging, building materials, electronics, and many other household goods. Yet it releases toxic chemicals and carcinogens into the air, water, and food web at every stage of its life cycle. MORE
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This Town Is the First in America to Ban New Gas Stations – Is the Tide Turning?
In March, Petaluma, CA became the first city in the U.S. to ban future gas station construction or any new pumps on existing sites. Other cities are considering similar bans. It’s the beginning of what could be a seismic shift. Close to 11% of all new car sales were electric in the first three months of this year. General Motors and others have pledged to have an all-electric vehicle lineup by 2035. MORE
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Minnesota Makes Sex Trafficking A Violent Crime, Funds New Anti-Trafficking Post
Lawmakers have approved changes to Minnesota’s sex trafficking laws that were requested by the Central Minnesota Human Trafficking Task Force. One new change will classify sex trafficking as a violent crime. There will also be increased consequences for sex buyers, recognizing that demand drives trafficking. Starting September 15, it will be a gross misdemeanor to arrange to buy sex from a private setting. MORE
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North Carolina Is a Destination for Child Marriage. A New Bill Could Change That
Two-thirds of marriage applications in Buncombe County, North Carolina last year were filed by non-residents seeking to marry an underage person. State lawmakers are nearing passage of a bill that could finally dampen the state’s appeal as the go-to place to bring child brides. The proposed legislation would raise the minimum marriage age from 14 to 16 and limit the age difference between a 16-year-old and their spouse to four years. MORE
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DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT |
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TAKE ACTION: Pass the No Time Limit for Justice Act
Arbitrary statutes of limitations can deny justice for survivors of childhood sexual abuse. The No Time Limit for Justice Act would permit survivors the opportunity to seek accountability whenever they are ready by increasing federal grants for states that eliminate the statutes of limitations for sex crimes against minors. RAINN invites us to tell Congress to support survivors of childhood sexual abuse by co-sponsoring the No Time Limit for Justice Act. TAKE ACTION
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Indonesia Halts Virginity Tests on Female Cadets in Military
The Indonesian army has ended a controversial practice of virginity tests on women who apply to become cadets, according to its chief of staff, a move welcomed by activists who have long campaigned against it. MORE
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Indian Women Use Social Media To Call Out Caste-ist Actions and Abuses:
After a shocking incident, women took to social media to denounce caste-based abuses. A 9-year-old girl was allegedly raped, killed, and cremated against her parents’ wishes. Protesters demand “justice for Gudiya” and capital punishment for the four accused who have been arrested. One of them is a Hindu priest. MORE
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HUMAN RIGHTS AND INCOME INEQUALITY |
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TAKE ACTION: Urge the Senate to Pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Act
The House this week passed the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act legislation that aims to strengthen a key component of the landmark Voting Rights Act of 1965. The bill now faces a similar uphill battle this year as it moves to the Senate, where there is strong Republican opposition in the evenly divided body. The Southern Poverty Law Center urges us to tell our Senators to pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Act. TAKE ACTION
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House Passes Infrastructure Budget Bill
The House has voted to approve a $3.5 trillion budget resolution and advance a bipartisan infrastructure bill. After centrists threatened to derail Democrats’ economic agenda by pushing for swift approval of the Senate-passed infrastructure plan, party leaders pledged to vote on it by Sept. 27. Democrats are trying to pass the proposal to expand the social safety net without a vote from Republicans, who oppose the spending and the proposed tax increases to pay for it. MORE
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Why a Push for Boosters Could Make the Pandemic Even Worse
Decisions by wealthy countries to offer their citizens a COVID-19 vaccine booster shot while many in poor regions have yet to receive a single dose "make a mockery of vaccine equity" and increase the risk that more dangerous mutations will emerge, World Health Organization officials warn. The agency is urging wealthier countries that have excess supplies to increase their donations to African countries that have been so disadvantaged. MORE
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John Ramirez is scheduled to be executed on September 8 by the state of Texas for the murder of Pablo Castro. Please hold John, Pablo, their families, and the people of Texas in prayer. TAKE ACTION
Rick Rhoades is scheduled to be executed on September 28 by the state of Texas for the murders of Charles Allen and Bradley Allen. Please hold Rick, Charles, Bradley, their families, and the people of Texas in prayer. TAKE ACTION
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