Action Alert Digest - June 15, 2022

June 15, 2022

Action Alert Digest

Ruger Gun Manufacturer to Examine Human Rights Impact of Its Business

Gun manufacturer Sturm, Ruger & Company Inc. will examine the human rights impact of selling thousands of guns per year, thanks to a shareholder proposal backed by Catholic women religious. Company officials announced at the annual shareholder meeting on June 1 that a shareholder resolution calling for a third-party human rights impact assessment had been approved over the company's objections. MORE

Largest Palestinian Displacement in Decades Looms After Israeli Court Ruling

Some 1,200 Palestinians in the occupied West Bank region of Masafer Yatta face the risk of forced removal after a decades-long legal battle that ended last month in Israel's highest court. The ruling opened the way for one of the largest displacements since Israel captured the territory in the 1967 Middle East war. But residents are refusing to leave, hoping their resilience and international pressure will keep Israel from carrying out the evictions. MORE

Hundreds Protest, Block Entrances to North America’s Largest Weapons Fair

Hundreds of people earlier this month blocked access to the opening of CANSEC, North America’s largest weapons and “defense industry” convention in Ottawa, Canada. 40-foot banners saying “Blood On Your Hands,” “Stop Profiting From War,” and “Arms Dealers Not Welcome” obstructed driveways and pedestrian entrances as attendees attempted to register for and enter the convention center. MORE

Global Nuclear Stockpile Set to Grow for First Time Since Cold War

The world's stockpile of nuclear warheads is expected to expand in the coming years for the first time since the 1980s and the catastrophic threat of those weapons being used is escalating, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute - a leading arms watchdog. As of early 2022, there were an estimated total of 12,705 nuclear warheads globally. Together, Russia and the U.S. control more than 90% of this inventory. MORE

Squandered: 2021 Global Nuclear Weapons Spending

In its report "Squandered: 2021 Global Nuclear Weapons Spending" the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons shows in 2021 nine nuclear-armed states spent $82.4 billion on their nuclear weapons, more than $156,000 per minute, an inflation-adjusted increase of $6.5 billion from 2020. Despite the steady increase in nuclear weapons spending worldwide, there has been no resulting measurable improvement in the security environment. MORE

TAKE ACTION: Pass Permanent Protections for Immigrant Youth

On June 15, 2012, the DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) program was created to protect immigrants brought to the United States as children from deportation. DACA allows young immigrants access to work permits and limited rights. But the program was created by executive order not legislative action and could be easily terminated. The National Immigration Law Center urges us to tell Congress to pass permanent protections for immigrant youth. TAKE ACTION

President Biden Urges More Legal Pathways to Immigration

In the Summit of the Americas declaration last week, President Biden proposes expanding legal pathways to immigration as a way of discouraging unauthorized immigration. This recognizes that attempting to end unauthorized immigration through enforcement alone has not worked. MORE

Amid Border Surge, Biden Admin Plans to Send Migrants to Cities Deeper Inside U.S.

The Department of Homeland Security plans to send migrants awaiting hearings in cities along the southern border to cities deeper inside the U.S. The aim is to ease overcrowding in shelters along the border, which at times leads immigration officials to release migrants into the streets to fend for themselves. MORE

TAKE ACTION: Tell the EPA to Finalize a Rule to Prevent Dangerous Smog Pollution Blowing Across State Lines

Air pollution from coal plants knows no borders, so smoggy skies in your state could be a partial product of a coal plant thousands of miles away. That's why it's important the EPA make the strongest possible "Good Neighbor" or Cross State Air Pollution Rule. The Sierra Club urges us to tell the EPA to finalize the strongest plan that science and the law will support. TAKE ACTION

Across The Midwest, an ‘Unlikely Alliance’ Forms to Stop Carbon Pipelines

Last fall, Summit Carbon Solutions embarked on a plan for a 2,000-mile, $4.5 billion carbon capture pipeline which would carry carbon dioxide from ethanol refineries across the Midwest to be injected underground. But a growing number of people have come out against the proposal which would invoke eminent domain -- an issue around which an “unlikely alliance” of farmers, ranchers, Indigenous tribes, scientists, and environmentalists have rallied. MORE

California Breaks Record by Achieving 100% Renewable Energy for the First Time

The state of California was recently able to produce virtually all of its energy needs from renewable sources for the first time ever. In early April, the state achieved a new record at 97.6% renewable power, and on May 2 they were able to reach 99.9%. On May 8 the record was broken yet again, with 103% of the state’s power needs being met by renewables for a few hours. MORE

Law Preventing All Imports from Uyghur Region Comes into Effect

On June 21, the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) will come into effect in the U.S. to ban all imports from the Uyghur region. The forced labor of Uyghur and other ethnic minorities is so widespread that all products from the region are presumed to be tainted. This will mean a big change for companies and brands sourcing from China. MORE

Migrant Detainees Entitled to Sue U.S. Private Prison Over Forced Labor

A court has recently ruled that migrant detainees in California can sue CoreCivic, the largest private prison corporation in the U.S., over forced labor. Detainees held in immigration detention allege being forced to work for little or no pay under threat of punishment including being subjected to solitary confinement. MORE

Thousands Join Anti-Femicide March in Argentina’s Capital

Thousands of people marched against femicide and gender violence in Argentina’s capital of Buenos Aires earlier this month, as part of a movement now in its seventh year called Ni Una Menos, or “Not One Woman Less.” The march was held in the center of the capital, culminating at the National Congress, where protesters lit candles to remember victims of gender-based violence. MORE

Army Secretary on Reducing Military Sexual Assault: "Every Leader at Every Level Is Focused on This"

A new study by the U.S. Government Accountability Office found that reports of sexual harassment and assault in the Army continue to rise. Soldiers reported about 1,000 sexual harassment incidents and 2,500 assaults in fiscal year 2020, according to the report, which noted that "many additional incidents" were not reported. Army Secretary Christine Wormuth plans to sign a new "safe to report" policy next month, which would help protect survivors. MORE

TAKE ACTION: Make Voter Registration Automatic in Iowa

Every election season, thousands of volunteers toil endlessly to get voters registered. Many states have made voter registration automatic, through driver’s license registration and other procedures. The DMVs in many states actually require stricter proof of identity and citizenship than traditional registration. Roots Action invites us to tell our elected officials to make voter registration automatic. TAKE ACTION

Poor People’s Campaign Demands Meeting with Biden as Millions Face Rising Costs, Stagnant Wages

“Why don’t poor people get meetings in the Oval Office instead of corporations?” Low-wage workers, union presidents, and progressive faith leaders last week urged President Joe Biden to meet with a handful of the millions of Americans living in poverty before the Poor People’s Campaign rallies in Washington, D.C. on June 18 to demand an economy and democracy that works for everyone, not just the wealthy few. MORE

Low-Wage Employers Spent Billions Inflating CEO Pay Through Stock Buybacks

Two-thirds of U.S. low-wage firms that cut worker pay last year spent tens of billions inflating CEO pay via stock buybacks. At Lowe’s, the millions spent on this stock manipulation maneuver would have been enough to give every one of their 325,000 workers a $40,000 raise. Instead, median pay at Lowe’s last year fell 7.6 percent to $22,697 while the CEO pocketed $18 million. MORE

Ramiro Gonzales is scheduled to be executed on July 13 by the state of Texas for the murder of Bridget Townsend. Please hold Ramiro, Bridget, their families, and the people of Texas in prayer. TAKE ACTION

Joe James, Jr. is scheduled to be executed on July 28 by the state of Alabama for the murder of Faith Hall. Please hold Joe, Faith, their families, and the people of Alabama in prayer. TAKE ACTION