TAKE ACTION: Pass the People Over Pentagon Act

The U.S. military budget is currently $858 billion, more than China, Russia, and the next seven countries combined. Yet we are told there isn’t money for healthcare, ending childhood poverty, or protecting the planet. In addition, the Pentagon has never passed an audit and has not been held accountable for waste, fraud, and abuse. Win Without War invites us to tell Congress to pass the People Over Pentagon Act (H.R. 1134) which would free up funds to feed the hungry, care for the sick, protect our planet, and cut childhood poverty. TAKE ACTION

Taiwan Military to Get $619 Million U.S. Arms Boost as China Keeps Up Pressure

The United States has approved the potential sale of $619 million in new weapons to Taiwan, including missiles for its F-16 fleet, as the island reported a second day of large-scale Chinese air force incursions nearby. The arms sales are likely to further sour already tense ties between Washington and Beijing, which has repeatedly demanded such deals stop, viewing them as unwarranted support for democratically governed Taiwan, an island China claims as its own territory. MORE

All Wars Eventually End – Here Are 3 Situations That Will Lead Russia and Ukraine to Make Peace

It’s been a year since Russia first launched a full invasion of Ukraine, and, right now, peace seems impossible. Peace talks between the two countries have launched and then faltered, multiple times. All wars end, however, and research shows that almost half end in some type of agreement to stop the fighting. The others end in victory for one side or when, for a variety of reasons, the fighting simply peters out. MORE  

Legal Aspects of Russia’s New START Suspension Provide Opportunities for U.S. Policy Makers

Vladimir Putin sent anti-diplomatic shock waves around the world when he announced that Russia was suspending its implementation of the New START arms control agreement last week. Rose Gottemoeller and Marshall L. Brown, Jr., who both helped negotiate the nuclear arms control treaty, outline why it is in the interest of the United States to keep a pathway open to resuming its implementation despite recent Russian actions. MORE

Iran Pledges to Increase UN Monitors’ Access to Nuclear Sites

During a visit to Iran last week, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief Rafael Mariano Grossi said Tehran agreed to allow more inspections of its nuclear sites and reactivate monitoring equipment that was removed last year. However, a joint statement from the IAEA and Iran’s nuclear body did not mention whether Tehran would restore the equipment.  MORE

U.S. Takes Action to Prevent Migrant Child Labor Amid Rise in Violations

The Biden administration has announced a series of actions aimed at preventing the labor exploitation of migrant children released from U.S. custody, citing an increase in workplace violations involving such minors in recent years. The Department of Labor said it had recorded a 70% increase in the number of children illegally employed by companies over the past five years. In the government's 2022 fiscal year, the department found that 3,800 children had been employed by more than 800 companies in violation of child labor laws. MORE

Florida Doubles Down with New Law Designed to Spend Millions to Relocate Migrants

Florida made headlines last year as it spent flew 50 unwitting migrants from Texas to Martha’s Vineyard in a political stunt that has already drawn multiple lawsuits. Now, Florida doubled down by passing a bill last month that authorizes state officials to spend state resources to relocate migrants within the United States. MORE  

White House May Restart Detention of Migrant Families

The White House is considering restarting the detention of migrant families caught crossing the U.S.-Mexico border, according to U.S. officials familiar with the plans. That would be a major reversal after officials in late 2021 stopped holding families in detention facilities. The Biden administration also is weighing reviving immigration arrests of migrant families within the U.S. who have been ordered deported. MORE

TAKE ACTION: Pass HF565 to Stop Carbon Pipelines

Iowa House File 565 (formerly HF368) has passed out of the House Judiciary Committee and is awaiting a vote of the full House. This bill would prevent pipeline companies from even asking for eminent domain unless they had voluntary easements on more than 90% of the pipeline route and construction permits from all other states involved. It also puts a hold on construction until the Biden administration updates safety regulations for carbon pipelines. Food and Water Watch urges us to tell Iowa Legislators to support HF565. TAKE ACTION

This “Climate-Friendly” Fuel Comes with an Astronomical Cancer Risk

The Environmental Protection Agency recently gave a Chevron refinery the green light to create fuel from discarded plastics as part of a “climate-friendly” initiative to boost alternatives to petroleum. But, according to agency records obtained by ProPublica and The Guardian, the production of one of the fuels could emit air pollution that is so toxic, 1 out of 4 people exposed to it over a lifetime could get cancer. MORE

Countries Agree on Historic Oceans Treaty to Protect the High Seas

Nearly 200 countries have agreed to a legally-binding “high seas treaty” to protect marine life in international waters, which cover around half of the planet’s surface but have long been essentially lawless. The agreement, which has been two decades in the making, provides legal tools to establish and manage marine protected areas – sanctuaries to protect the ocean’s biodiversity. It also covers environmental assessments to evaluate the potential damage of commercial activities, and a pledge by signatories to share ocean resources. MORE

South Korea Faces Backlash from WWII Forced Labor Victims

South Koreans who were forced to work for Japanese companies during World War II condemned a new compensation plan introduced by the South Korean government claiming that it was "dirty money." South Korea's compensation scheme does not incorporate a fresh apology from Tokyo and includes only voluntary contributions from Mitsubishi and Nippon Steel — the two Japanese companies involved. MORE

Campaigners Hail Law Raising Age of Marriage to 18 In England and Wales

Campaigners have hailed a new law raising the legal age of marriage in England and Wales as a significant milestone in child protection. The Marriage and Civil Partnership (Minimum Age) Act comes into force last month following a five-year campaign and will prevent 16- and 17-year-olds from marrying or entering a civil partnership, even if they have parental consent. MORE

Sexual Assault Victims at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy Reluctant to Trigger Investigations Amid Culture of Fear

U.S. Merchant Marine Academy students who say they were victims of sexual assault remain reluctant to report their alleged assailants in ways that would prompt investigations. Between July 2019 and December 2022, 26 students alleged they had been sexually assaulted on or near campus or at sea. Most of those students — around 80% — made so-called “restricted” reports, meaning they spoke confidentially to staff and students who worked as victim advocates.  MORE

Domestic Violence Victims Feel Forced to Co-Parent with Abuser

Achieving an order for sole parental responsibility and no contact with another parent is tough to achieve. There are calls for more support services to help domestic violence survivors co-parent with their abusive ex-partners. Lawyers say it can be difficult to get a sole parent ruling from the courts unless there are third-party accounts of family violence. Victim-survivors often feel it means they can't escape the relationship until the children are adults. MORE

TAKE ACTION: Children Must Be Protected, Not Exploited

In January, lawmakers in Iowa introduced a bill that would allow 14- to 17-year-olds to work in dangerous jobs like meatpacking, construction, and mining. It would also expand teens’ working hours and shield businesses from liability if the minors they employ are injured or killed on the job. Democracy for America urges us to demand our governor reject any and all efforts to roll back child labor laws. TAKE ACTION

Understanding Mass Incarceration in the U.S. Is the First Step to Reducing a Swollen Prison Population

The U.S. incarcerates 530 people for every 100,000 in its population, making it one of the world’s biggest jailers – just below El Salvador, Rwanda, and Turkmenistan. A steady growth in prison and jail populations in the 1970s arose after a wave of “tough on crime” laws and policies swept the nation. While there has been a growing recognition of the need to reduce mass incarceration, experts do not agree on what caused the ballooning prison population or the best path to reducing it. MORE  

Biden Calls for Tax on the Wealthy to Extend Medicare Funding

President Joe Biden this week called for higher taxes on wealthy Americans to extend Medicare funding as part of his 2024 budget. The plan would increase the net investment income tax to 5%, from 3.8%, for earnings of more than $400,000, including regular income, capital gains, and so-called pass-through business income. MORE

Arthur Brown, Jr. is scheduled to be executed on March 9 by the state of Texas for the murders of Jose Tovar, Jessica Quinones, Audrey Brown, and Frank Farias. Please hold Arthur, Jose, Jessica, Audrey, Frank, their families, and the people of Texas in prayer. TAKE ACTION

Gerald Pizzuto is scheduled to be executed on March 23 by the state of Idaho for the murders of Berta Herndon and Del Herndon. Please hold Gerald, Berta, Del, their families, and the people of Idaho in prayer. TAKE ACTION

Anibal Canales, Jr. is scheduled to be executed on March 29 by the state of Texas for the murder of Gary Dickerson. Please hold Anibal, Gary, their families, and the people of Texas in prayer. TAKE ACTION