TAKE ACTION: Ask Your Congress Member to Cosponsor Ceasefire NOW Resolution for Israel and Palestine

History shows that retributive violence never accomplishes peace or justice. Palestinian Mohammed Abu-Nimer noted this week: “Have we not learned the lesson that violence and killing will not lead to peace and security? Giving people space for freedom to live in dignity and security has been the foundation for peace among humans since they began walking this earth.” Progressive Hub urges us to tell Congress to call for and facilitate de-escalation and a cease-fire to urgently end the current violence in Israel and Palestine. TAKE ACTION  

Growing Gang Violence is Devastating Haitians, with Major Crime at a New High

Growing gang violence in Haiti is devastating the lives of its people, with major crimes rising to a new high, according to the U.N., Every day sees gangs engaging in killings, sexual violence including collective rapes and mutilation, and kidnapping. An estimated 2 million people, including 1.6 million women and children, live in areas under gang control, and children are getting killed and injured in crossfire, some on the way to school. MORE

Voters Agree the U.S. Should Call for a Ceasefire and De-Escalation of Violence in Gaza to Prevent Civilian Deaths

Most members of the U.S. Congress have thus far refused to support a cease-fire in Gaza as Israel's siege and airstrikes inflict horrific damage on the occupied territory. However, according to a Data for Progress survey, 66% of likely voters agree that "the U.S. should call for a cease-fire and de-escalation of violence in Gaza" and "leverage its close diplomatic relationship with Israel to prevent further violence and civilian deaths." MORE

Russian Forces Simulate Nuclear Strike as Upper House Rescinds Ratification of Test-Ban Treaty

Russia’s military conducted drills this week that simulated a nuclear strike in response to a nuclear attack and involved multiple practice launches of ballistic and cruise missiles. The Kremlin’s announcement of the exercise came hours after the upper house of the Russian parliament revoked the ratification of a global nuclear test ban in what Moscow has described as a move to establish parity with the United States. The bill to end ratification will now be sent to Putin for final approval. The lower house approved it last week. MORE

China Chases U.S. and Russia Guided-Missile Submarine Capabilities with New Vessels

China has launched its first nuclear-powered guided missile submarines, according to the Pentagon's latest report on China's military - giving it land and sea attack options once the sole province of U.S. and Russian vessels. The Pentagon report marks the first apparent confirmation that modified submarines seen in Chinese shipyards over the last 18 months are Type 093B guided missile submarines. MORE

TAKE ACTION: Demand Biden Stop Border Wall Construction

The Biden Administration announced their plan to waive 26 laws to fast-track additional construction of the border wall in south Texas. This plan would waive both The Clean Air Act and The American Indian Religious Freedom Act, causing irreversible damage to the local community and ecosystems in Starr County, TX.  United We Dream urges us to demand President Biden stop any further border wall construction. TAKE ACTION

Why Egypt and Other Arab Countries Are Unwilling to Take in Palestinian Refugees from Gaza

As desperate Palestinians in sealed-off Gaza try to find refuge under Israel’s relentless bombardment in retaliation for Hamas’ brutal Oct. 7 attack, some ask why neighboring Egypt and Jordan don’t take them in. The two countries, which flank Israel on opposite sides and share borders with Gaza and the occupied West Bank, respectively, have replied with a staunch refusal.  MORE

U.S. Starts Deportation Flights to Venezuela, Aiming to Curb Migration

U.S. immigration authorities last week returned nearly 130 migrants to Venezuela, starting deportation flights Biden administration officials view as a crucial step toward reducing the record number of illegal crossings at the U.S. southern border. The deportations follow an agreement by the Venezuelan government to hold competitive elections next year, a deal that paves the way for the Biden administration to ease economic sanctions. MORE

TAKE ACTION: Tell U.S. Senators to Support the REDUCE Act

Plastic pollution is choking the planet. Piles of single-use plastic waste are polluting our environment and harming wildlife -- but this bill will help stop it. The REDUCE Act will help seriously cut back on the production of new plastic to make single-use items, reducing plastic waste and protecting wildlife. Environmental Action asks us to send a message urging our U.S. senators to support the REDUCE Act. TAKE ACTION

Navigator Cancels CO2 Pipeline Project

After a heated two-year battle with landowners across the midwest, Navigator Heartland Greenway has officially announced the defeat of their contentious 1,300-mile hazardous carbon pipeline. The news comes on the heels of resistance by a diverse coalition of landowners, environmentalists, local governments, and community groups. The pipeline would have carried planet-warming CO2 emissions from more than 20 plants across Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, and South Dakota for permanent storage underground in Illinois. MORE

The U.S. Electric Grid Is Getting a $3.5 Billion Upgrade

The Department of Energy announced that it would funnel $3.46 billion toward upgrading the country’s aging electric grid — marking its largest-ever investment in that part of the United States’ energy network. The funding, which comes from the bipartisan 2021 infrastructure law is intended to prepare the grid for more renewable energy capacity as the U.S. transitions away from fossil fuels, and to prevent blackouts caused by increasingly severe climate disasters.  MORE

World Cup Stadium Workers File Lawsuit Against U.S. Firm for Labor Trafficking

A group of nearly 40 Filipino workers who were involved in the construction of stadiums for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar is suing U.S. construction firm Jacobs Solutions Inc. for subjecting the workers to perilous and inhumane conditions. The legal complaint accuses Jacobs and its subsidiaries of violating a U.S. law that prohibits trafficked or forced labor, even when such conduct takes place outside the United States. MORE

Thai Political Leadership Will No Longer Prevent Slavery at Sea 

Thailand’s recent election winner Move Forward party and the Prime Minister’s Pheu Thai party recently published policy positions that would reduce regulation and transparency around fishing vessels’ activities. The problematic proposals include permitting child labor and weakening measures put in place to prevent the abuses and labor exploitation previously documented in the Thai fishing sector.  MORE

More Than 80 Women Accuse U.S. Doctor of Sexual Abuse in Class-Action Lawsuit

In the weeks since his dismissal from a Boston hospital, the number of women accusing Dr. Derrick Todd of sexually abusive medical exams has surpassed 80, adding to a spate of cases involving U.S. physicians reported to have violated patients in their most vulnerable moments. The suit contended that Todd, a rheumatologist, had inflicted “horrifying, traumatizing and deplorable acts” on patients as far back as 2011 and continued until an investigation halted him this past July. MORE

Ahead of Pivotal Supreme Court Gun Case, Domestic Violence Murders by Firearm Surge

As the U.S. Supreme Court prepares to hear a case about restricting access to firearms for domestic abusers, a new analysis shows how "the safety of domestic violence survivors, their families, and the American public" will be placed at risk if the court loosens those restrictions. The group behind the report, Brady: United Against Gun Violence, determined that firearm homicides committed by an intimate partner went up by 22% from 2018-22, with states that have weak gun regulations seeing the most domestic abuse-related murders. MORE

New Poll Finds That Young People Around the World Hold the Least Faith in Democracy of Any Age Group

The Open Society Barometer finds that young people around the world hold the least faith in democracy of any age group, presenting a grave threat to its future. Just 57 percent of 18-35-year-olds think democracy is preferable to any other form of government, compared to 71 percent of older respondents. With the climate crisis, rising income inequality, and a distrust of politicians, the question becomes: can democracy deliver? MORE

This Month’s Kaiser Health Care Strike Won Big for Workers and Patients

Earlier this month the Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions staged a three-day unfair labor practice strike in response to Kaiser’s unwillingness to seriously negotiate with the coalition in the months leading up to the contract’s expiration on September 30. The seventy-five-thousand-worker strike was the largest healthcare workers’ strike in U.S. history.  Their contract agreement, announced late last week, shows the landmark strike secured big gains for workers and patients alike. MORE

Columbus-Area Hospitals, City Team Up to Forgive $335 Million In Medical Debt

The City Council of Columbus, OH reached a sweeping landmark deal with four area hospitals to wipe out $335 million of medical debt, providing financial relief to more than 340,000 moderate-income residents in Columbus. Eligible residents must make an income between 200 to 400% of the federal poverty level or between $55,000 and $111,000 for a family of four. Those who make below 200% of the poverty level will not be billed for any medical care they receive.  MORE

Will Speer is scheduled to be executed on October 26 by the state of Texas for the murder of Gary Dickerson. Please hold Will, Gary, their families, and the people of Texas in prayer. TAKE ACTION

Brent Brewer is scheduled to be executed on November 9 by the state of Texas for the murder of Robert Laminack. Please hold Brent, Robert, their families, and the people of Texas in prayer. TAKE ACTION

Casey McWhorter is scheduled to be executed on November 16 by the state of Alabama for the murder of Edward Williams. Please hold Casey, Edward, their families, and the people of Alabama in prayer. TAKE ACTION