Action Alert Digest - September 8, 2021

September 8, 2021

Action Alert Digest

TAKE ACTION: Repeal the 2001 and 2002 Authorizations of Military Force

In 2001, the Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF) launched our two-decade military adventure in Afghanistan and the branches of the forever war in Iraq, Yemen, Somalia, Syria, and Libya. The AUMF from 20 years ago is still on the books, giving a green light for American presidents to continue expanding wars into new corners of the globe. Progress America offers this petition to Congress to repeal the AUMF. TAKE ACTION

Just Transition for Defense Industries

The necessary transition away from the fossil fuel economy will have widespread implications in other sectors of the U.S. economy. The U.S. defense industry is an economic system that has proven to be unsustainable. Despite the environmentally destructive impacts of the military, it also serves as the largest employer in the United States. Here’s a plan to transition defense workers and communities out of this deeply unsustainable economic system. MORE

Could the U.S. Government Take Nonviolence Seriously?

Although nonviolence is sometimes viewed as impractical or ineffective — especially in geopolitical crises — experts on nonviolence insist that the moral and practical arguments are on their side. Nonviolence, they say, is a strategic choice for effectiveness, but is often misunderstood. Eli McCarthy, a nonviolence practitioner and expert, explains that nonviolence involves two programs: a constructive program and an obstructive program. MORE

First TPNW Conference Postponed

The first meeting of states parties to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) has been postponed until March 2022. The meeting, which was originally set for Jan. 12–14 in Vienna, was delayed to avoid a conflict with the nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT) review conference, which was rescheduled to Jan. 4–28, 2022, in New York as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. MORE

Biden Administration Begins Nuclear Posture Review

The Biden administration has formally begun a review of U.S. nuclear weapons policy against the backdrop of several competing pressures. These include Biden’s desire to reduce the role of nuclear weapons in U.S. strategy and put the emphasis on a more holistic view of deterrence, concerns about increasing Russian and Chinese nuclear behavior, the growing cost of the U.S. nuclear modernization program, and divisions in Congress about U.S. nuclear policy. MORE

Preserving the Nuclear Testing Taboo

Twenty-five years ago, global leaders endorsed the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT). Although the treaty has never formally entered into force, the CTBT has near-universal support and nuclear testing has become taboo. But experts warn that we need to do more to rejuvenate efforts to achieve its entry into force, pursue confidence-building measures to address concerns about compliance, and reinforce the norm against nuclear testing. MORE

TAKE ACTION: Increase the Refugee Admission Cap To at Least 200,000

Under President Reagan, the refugee cap was set at 231,700. Unfortunately, it’s been shrinking ever since, dropping to an unconscionable 15,000 under President Trump. Shockingly, in this first year of the Biden administration, the U.S. is on track to admit the fewest refugees ever recorded. Peace Action invites us to tell President Biden to increase the refugee admission cap to at least 200,000 in 2022. TAKE ACTION

Illinois Counties File Suit to Continue Holding Immigrant Detainees

Two Illinois counties filed a federal lawsuit challenging a state ban on jails housing immigrant detainees awaiting court hearings. Three counties currently house about 260 detainees under agreements with Immigration and Customs Enforcement. MORE

Catholic Lobby and Immigrant Rights Group Release Report on CBP Abuse at the Border

NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice and Kino Border Initiative have released a joint report documenting a pattern of abuse by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) in the Nogales sector. The abuses range from migrants being denied due process, such as not being given an opportunity to seek asylum or destruction of documentation, to outright physical violence. The victims are men, women, and children, and all from Latin America and the Caribbean. MORE

Choose Life by Choosing to Care for Creation, Pope Francis and Other Christian Leaders Say

The recent extreme weather events and natural disasters show humanity is now paying the price of how it has been treating creation, said a joint message by three Christian leaders, including Pope Francis. For the sake of younger generations and their future, "we must choose to eat, travel, spend, invest and live differently, thinking not only of immediate interest and gains but also of future benefits," the message said. MORE

Study: The Public Is Confused by Climate Change Jargon

Many people don’t understand key terms experts use to talk about climate change, according to a recent study. Some of the most difficult-to-understand words were “mitigation” and “carbon-neutral”. Experts might think that technical language is more precise than commonplace alternatives. But subjecting normal people to obscure terms can leave them feeling confused and disengaged and can sometimes encourage a head-in-the-sand response. MORE

Bitcoin Uses More Electricity Than Many Countries. How Is That Possible?

Cryptocurrencies have emerged as one of the most captivating investments in the world. But just creating the currency requires an astonishing amount of electricity—more than the entire demand of some countries. Creating Bitcoin, one of the most popular cryptocurrencies, sucks up more electricity in a year than the amount used by all 5.5 million people living in Finland. MORE

46 Arrested in Human Trafficking Operation in Kentucky

Kentucky State Police carried out four simultaneous operations that put 46 human traffickers behind bars and brought 21 victims to safety. Detectives are calling it “Operation United Front” and they say it was a success. 12 other states were involved in the operations of their own. All together 102 arrests were made. MORE

Child Slavery on the Rise in India

According to India’s last census in 2011, there were over 10 million child laborers in the country. Not only is it likely that the number has risen since then but, given the COVID-19 pandemic, Indian children are more vulnerable than ever to labor trafficking. Indian authorities have reported an increase in children rescued from child labor in 2020-2021 compared to the previous year. MORE

The Pentagon Has Spent $1 Billion on a Program for Domestic Abuse Victims Since 2015. Survivors Say They Couldn't Get Help.

The Pentagon has spent more than $1 billion on a program meant to help survivors of domestic abuse since 2015. But advocates and survivors told CBS News that they couldn't get help. Roughly 100,000 incidents of domestic abuse have been reported to the military since 2015. And many survivors who reported abuse to the military told CBS News that they feared for their safety. None of those cases went to trial. MORE

After One Arrest in Six Years, UNL Police Plan to Empower Sexual Assault Survivors

Last summer, campus police at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln issued an arrest warrant for a 19-year-old accused of first-degree sexual assault. It was a rare move for the university's police department — the only investigation of a rape or attempted rape in the last six years that ended in the arrest. The department's arrest rate for sexual assaults has come under scrutiny after students and advocates protested following an alleged rape at a fraternity house last month. MORE

TAKE ACTION: Help Local and State Governments Get Billions in Rental Aid out the Door

Astonishingly, about 89% of pandemic Federal Rental Assistance funds have not been distributed. It's urgent to fix the administrative logjams that are preventing tens of billions of dollars, which have been allocated by Congress, from reaching people as rental aid. The Coalition on Human Needs asks us to sign a petition to the White House to push state and local governments to immediately disburse these funds to keep millions of people in their homes. TAKE ACTION

3.3 Million People Could Be Lifted Out of Poverty With a Proposal In $3.5 Trillion Social Spending Bill

There are close to 40 million people in poverty in the US. The $3.5 trillion social welfare bill aspires to change that, with one proposal aiming to take on the impoverished elderly and disabled communities in the country. The Urban Institute has released a report that found the proposal to boost the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program would lift 3.3 million people out of poverty and cut the poverty rate of SSI recipients by more than half. MORE

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

Ernest Johnson is scheduled to be executed on October 5th by the state of Missouri for the murders of Mary Bratcher, Fred Jones, and Mabel Scruggs. Please hold Ernest, Mary, Fred, Mabel, their families, and the people of Missouri in prayer. TAKE ACTION