Action Alert Digest - March 16, 2022

March 16, 2022

Action Alert Digest

Anti-War Protester Interrupts Live News Broadcast on Russian State TV

A new Russian law banning even the use of the word “war” to describe Russia’s invasion of Ukraine was dramatically broken by an employee of the state broadcaster, who burst onto the set of a live television news broadcast holding a sign that denounced the attack as she shouted: “Stop the war!” and “No war!” The woman is now facing a possible sentence of 15 years in prison. MORE

New Website Allows Visitors to Explore Arms Sales Patterns to Conflict Zones

The World Peace Foundation has launched a new website that presents a series of interactive graphics, enabling visitors to explore answers to the question, who arms war? Based on research that was published as a report last year, “Business as usual: How major weapons exporters arms the world’s conflicts,” the new site allows visitors to explore the weapons sales to 32 conflict zones. MORE

A New Message for Police: If You See Something, Say Something

Officers fear retaliation if they step in to stop misconduct by other officers. For decades, many police critics have complained that officers who allow police misconduct to happen do more damage to the community’s trust than the officers who commit it. George Floyd’s death has begun to change that. More than 215 departments have signed up for a Georgetown University program that teaches officers the philosophy and techniques of intervention. MORE

TAKE ACTION: Prioritize Diplomacy and Restore the JCPOA

Russia's illegal war on Ukraine highlights the unacceptable costs of failed diplomacy. Peace talks and de-escalation efforts must be prioritized worldwide, including in negotiations with Iran. The diplomatic delegation in Vienna between the U.S. and Iran is on the cusp of restoring the Iran Nuclear Deal, also known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). Women’s Action for New Directions urges us to call on President Biden to restore the JCPOA. TAKE ACTION

How To Avoid Nuclear Catastrophe—And A Costly New Arms Race

Russian President Vladimir Putin’s recent nuclear saber-rattling is a crude reminder that the risk of nuclear war still looms. It's time to rethink the nuclear policies and practices that led us to this point, says nuclear weapons policy expert Daryl G. Kimball of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists. MORE

TAKE ACTION: End Title 42 Expulsions Once and For All

Moments before a Texas court order was scheduled to go into effect last week, the Biden administration announced it would no longer expel unaccompanied children seeking protection under its inhumane Title 42 expulsion order. Though this is an important step in the right direction, it is not enough. National Immigration Law Center urges us to tell the Biden administration to fully repeal the Title 42 order. TAKE ACTION

Koch Groups Launch Ad Campaign to Promote Immigration Reform

Americans for Prosperity and the Libre Initiative plan to spend over $1 million in a campaign to push lawmakers to pass broad immigration reform. The groups, part of Charles Koch's political network, are involved in a broader effort promoting reform, as polls show that legalizing undocumented immigrants is vastly popular. MORE

Immigrant Youth Who've Suffered Abuse Should Be Allowed Work Permits, California Rights Groups Say in Lawsuit

Immigrant rights groups have sued the federal government over its refusal to grant work permits to abused immigrant youth waiting to get Special Immigrant Juvenile Status. Case backlogs mean tens of thousands of have to wait years to legally work, often enduring homelessness, hunger and exploitation, said the suit. MORE

TAKE ACTION: Protect Iowa from Carbon Pipelines

Three proposed carbon pipelines are being proposed in Iowa that would endanger our communities. Bills that would have stopped the use of eminent domain for the carbon pipelines failed a few weeks ago, but there are still opportunities for our elected officials to take action to protect us from these dangerous proposals. Food & Water Watch urges us to tell our legislators today to oppose dangerous carbon capture projects. TAKE ACTION

Deep-Sea Mining Could Begin Next Year. Here’s Why Ocean Experts Are Calling for a Moratorium.

Deep-sea mining in international waters is currently illegal, and environmental organizations, scientists, and many governments want to keep it that way. They argue that the practice could irreversibly harm one of the planet’s remotest ecosystems. Now, their calls have become increasingly urgent, as international regulators are expected to begin issuing deep-sea mining permits by the summer of 2023. MORE

‘Defining Moment’: How Can the US End Its Dependency on Fossil Fuels?

As President Biden ratchets up the pressure on Russia by banning imports of its oil, American drivers grumble about rising gasoline prices and the oil and gas industry clamors for more land to drill, a more fundamental demand has emerged – for the US to decisively cut its umbilical reliance upon fossil fuels. Environmental groups and progressive Democrats are pushing to end the era of fossil fuel dependency and help address the unfolding climate crisis. MORE

Sex-Trafficking Couple Exploited Foster Care Loophole

A married couple was charged with sex trafficking young women in a scheme that prosecutors said involved the use of New York’s foster care system to gain access to potential victims. When Sharice Mitchell became a foster parent early in 2019, she told the officials responsible for vetting her that she was separated from her husband and had not been in contact with him for more than a year. But her husband, a registered sex offender, did reside in the home. MORE

Concern Grows Over Traffickers Targeting Ukrainian Refugees

As millions of women and children flee across Ukraine’s borders in the face of Russian aggression, concerns are growing over how to protect the most vulnerable refugees from being targeted by human traffickers or becoming victims of other forms of exploitation. A large proportion of the refugees arriving in the border countries want to move on to friends or family elsewhere in Europe and many are relying on strangers to reach their destinations. MORE

Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization Is Added to a $1.5 Trillion Spending Bill

Advocates are relieved that a long-stalled reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act — the federal law that provides resources to victims of domestic abuse and sexual violence — is included in the $1.5 trillion federal spending package making its way through Congress this month. First enacted in 1994, VAWA lapsed four years ago due to a partisan dispute over an expanded gun provision that Democrats wanted to include in the updated version of the law. MORE

‘Incels’ Are a Rising Threat In the US, Secret Service Report Finds

A new US Secret Service report details a rising threat from men who identify as “involuntary celibates” or “incels”, due to their inability to form intimate relationships with women. Behavioral threat assessment themes include concerning and threatening communications, concerning online content, interpersonal difficulties, history of being bullied, financial instability, and failed life aspirations. MORE

Afghanistan: Food Insecurity and Malnutrition Threaten ‘An Entire Generation’

People in Afghanistan are today facing a food insecurity and malnutrition crisis of unparalleled proportions. acute hunger in the country rose from 14 million in July to 23 million in March, forcing households to resort to “desperate measures” to put food on the table. A staggering 95 percent of Afghans are not getting enough to eat, with that number rising to almost 100 percent in female-headed households, according to the UN. MORE

Affordable Housing in the US Is Increasingly Scarce, Making Renters Ask: Where Do We Go?

The United States is facing an expanding gap between how much workers earn and how much they have to pay for housing. Workers have faced stagnant wages for the past 40 years. Yet the cost of rent has steadily increased during that time, with sharp increases of 14% to 40% over the past two years. Now, more than ever, workers are feeling the stress of the affordable housing crisis. MORE

Biggest Oil Giants Made 'Eye-Popping' $205 Billion in Profits in 2021

While millions of working people have been hurt by surging gas prices, a new analysis shows that 25 of the world's biggest fossil fuel corporations collectively pulled in an "eye-popping" $205 billion in profits last year—and Big Oil is exploiting Russia's war on Ukraine to charge even more at the pump in 2022 and advance its financial interests. MORE

Oscar Smith is scheduled to be executed on April 21 by the state of Tennessee for the murders of Judy Smith, Jason Burnett, and Chad Burnett. Please hold Oscar, Judy, Jason, Chad, their families, and the people of Tennessee in prayer. TAKE ACTION

Carl Buntion is scheduled to be executed on April 21 by the state of Texas for the murder of James Irby. Please hold Carl, James, their families, and the people of Texas in prayer. TAKE ACTION