ACTIVE NONVIOLENCE AND PEACEMAKING |
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TAKE ACTION: No War in Ukraine
No side wants war in Ukraine, and certainly not the people of Ukraine. Someone must find the courage to push back against the momentum toward war, and lead the way toward cooperation and disarmament. The increasing tensions between the nuclear-armed governments of the U.S. (and its NATO allies) and Russia are alarming. RootsAction urges us to sign a petition to the governments of NATO nations to de-escalate immediately. TAKE ACTION
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War Is Not Inevitable
If war were inevitable, there would be little point in trying to end it. If war were inevitable, a moral case might be made for trying to lessen its damage while it continued. And numerous parochial cases could be made for being prepared to win inevitable wars for this side or that side. In fact, governments do just this, but their premise is in error. War is not inevitable. World Beyond War explains why a system of peace is possible. MORE
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California City Approves First US Insurance Law for Gun Owners
San Jose, California’s city council has voted to require gun owners to carry liability insurance in what’s believed to be the first measure of its kind in the United States. The measure has drawn opposition from gun owners who said it would violate their Second Amendment rights and promised to sue. MORE
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Physicians Take Out Ad in President Biden’s Hometown Newspaper Calling for a Sensible Nuclear Posture Review
In an effort to influence President Biden to put out a sensible Nuclear Posture Review (the document that informs the public about the role nuclear weapons will play in a current president’s term- or terms), Physicians for Social Responsibility took out a full-page ad in Biden’s hometown newspaper in Wilmington, Delaware. The ad contained an open letter signed by over 1,000 citizens concerned with Biden’s nuclear strategy. MORE
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At Doom’s Doorstep: It Is 100 Seconds to Midnight
While the past year offered glimmers of hope that humankind might reverse its march toward global catastrophe, last week the Doomsday Clock was set at just 100 seconds to midnight. The time is based on continuing and dangerous threats posed by nuclear weapons, climate change, disruptive technologies, and COVID-19. All of these factors were exacerbated by “a corrupted information ecosphere that undermines rational decision making.” MORE
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Biden Takes Flak from Both Right and Left For ‘Failed’ Immigration Policies During First Year in Office
President Biden has toned down the previous aggressive rhetoric on migration but is criticized by advocates for failing on promises, including providing pathways to legalization for millions of undocumented immigrants. Meanwhile, critics blame him for record numbers of unauthorized migrants and for rhetoric that encourages migration to the United States. MORE
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Immigration Court Backlog Hit 1.6 Million Cases In 2021
The immigration court backlog reached nearly 1.6 million cases in 2021, increasing more rapidly between October and December. The backlog can be fixed by removing the courts from the Justice Department and creating a separate system, said the president of the National Association of Immigration Judges. MORE
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TAKE ACTION: Stop Wall Street from Continuing to Fuel the Climate Crisis
Instead of acting with urgency to address climate-related financial risks, Wall Street giants are actively making the problem worse by pouring billions of dollars every year into dangerous new fossil fuel projects. The largest US banks have been by far the world’s largest funders of fossil fuels in recent years. The Sierra Club asks us to tell federal regulators to stop Wall Street from continuing to fuel the climate crisis. TAKE ACTION
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Indigenous Groups Team Up with Conservationists to Protect Swaths of US
Since 2020, thousand of acres of west coast open lands have been returned to tribal groups with the help of environmental non-profits. In recent years an important pattern has emerged of conservationists and indigenous people working together by way of land transfers. The effect has been twofold: protecting ecologically vital spaces while helping to right historic injustices by returning properties to their original caretakers. MORE
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Returning Unwanted Gifts? Consider the True Environmental Cost
Every year, Americans return about 3.5 billion products, according to The Guardian. In 2020 alone, U.S. retailers accepted returns totaling more than $100 billion in merchandise sold online. We might assume that our returns are cheerfully restocked in their respective store shelves. In truth, returns take a different, albeit more complicated, journey — one that has been explored recently in a number of news reports. MORE
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Schools Join Efforts to Thwart Trafficking
Education leaders across the U.S. are trying to figure out how to effectively teach students about the risks and warning signs of human trafficking. In 2017, California became the first state to require human trafficking education for students and teachers. Tennessee, Florida, and Virginia also now require school staff to receive formal training. Similar prevention and education efforts are being made in schools across the country. MORE
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Los Angeles Officials Work to Prevent Human Trafficking Ahead of Super Bowl
The Super Bowl attracts people and money from all over the world, and law enforcement officials say with it there is also an increase in human trafficking. The organization It's a Penalty works to prevent abuse, exploitation, and human trafficking worldwide. The organization has been doing this at the Super Bowl since 2014. MORE
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DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT |
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In Greece, a String of Killings Pushes Domestic Abuse into the Spotlight
A number of highly publicized and horrific killings, along with a steep rise in domestic violence cases in Greece in the past year, have pushed partner-on-partner violence into the spotlight in a country where such abuse has long been whispered about but rarely publicly discussed. The violence has led to interventions by the authorities, including a decision to start a national video campaign in November. MORE
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HUMAN RIGHTS AND INCOME INEQUALITY |
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TAKE ACTION: Tell the Senate to Pass the Build Back Better Act
With Omicron raging, it's more important than ever to pass the Build Back Better Act to make child care and elder care affordable, guarantee paid family and medical leave, lower the cost of insulin and other prescription drugs, make healthcare more affordable, and more. MomsRising invites us to tell the Senate to stand with families and vote for Build Back Better. TAKE ACTION
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Billionaires Are Spending 39 Times More on Federal Elections Since Citizens United Supreme Court Decision In 2010
Twelve years after the Supreme Court opened the floodgates to big money in politics with its controversial Citizens United decision handed down in 2010, a new report finds a tsunami of billionaire contributions has been flowing into federal elections. Translating their wealth into political power, billionaires upped their campaign contributions from a relatively modest $31 million in the 2010 elections to $1.2 billion in the most recent presidential cycle. MORE
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Two Sides, Same Coin: Suppressing Votes, Cutting Rich People’s Taxes
State lawmakers are threatening democracy these days with much more than voter suppression. In one state after another, legislators are enacting tax cuts that benefit the wealthiest. The ongoing tax cuts may seem to involve mere dollars and not our national future as a democracy. But tax cuts for the rich and attacks on the integrity of our democracy go hand in hand. The same state legislatures that are pushing voter suppression are pushing “tax relief” for their state’s most affluent. MORE
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Donald Grant is scheduled to be executed on January 27 by the state of Oklahoma for the murders of Brenda McElyea and Suzette Smith. Please hold Donald, Brenda, Suzette, their families, and the people of Oklahoma in prayer. TAKE ACTION
Matthew Reeves is scheduled to be executed on January 27 by the state of Alabama for the murder of Willie Johnson. Please hold Matthew, Willie, their families, and the people of Alabama in prayer. TAKE ACTION
Gilbert Postelle is scheduled to be executed On February 17 by the state of Oklahoma for the murders of James “Donnie” Swindle Jr., Amy Wright, Terry Smith, and James Alderson. Please hold Gilbert, James, Amy, Terry, James, their families, and the people of Oklahoma in prayer. TAKE ACTION
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