‘Even More Insidious Than the NRA’: U.S. Gun Lobby Group Gains in Power

A business trade group representing 10,000 gunmakers, dealers, and other firearm firms is emerging as a rising force in the U.S. and starting to eclipse – in some respects – the might of the powerful but scandal-plagued National Rifle Association. Meet the National Shooting Sports Foundation, the gun industry’s conservative and aggressive lobbying group. Its range of activities is broad but always geared to zealously and single-mindedly preserving and extending the power of the gun industry. MORE

Ukraine Peace Summit Talks Hailed As ‘Productive’

A summit held in Saudi Arabia over the weekend to discuss peace proposals for Ukraine has been hailed as “productive” after more than 40 countries came together, including some that have so far held back from pressuring Moscow to retreat. The gathering was the second such summit to discuss Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s “peace formula,” which lays out 10 principles such as Russia’s withdrawal from all of Ukraine’s territory, delivering justice for war crimes and guaranteeing the country’s security. MORE

The Test Ban Treaty at 60: How Citizen Action Made the World Safer

Sixty years ago, the United States, Soviet Union, and United Kingdom—which had conducted over 500 above-ground nuclear tests—agreed to end testing in the atmosphere, underwater, and in outer space. The Limited Test Ban Treaty became the first international environmental treaty curtailing the poisoning of Earth. MORE

Top Medical Journals Publish Unprecedented Joint Call for the Elimination of Nuclear Weapons

Leading medical journals published a joint editorial last week calling on world leaders to take urgent steps to reduce the risk of nuclear war—and eliminate atomic weapons altogether—as the threat of a potentially civilization-ending conflict continues to grow. The simultaneous publication of the statement is highly unusual as most medical journals strive to publish exclusive content. The unified voice underlines the extreme urgency of the current nuclear crisis and the need for prompt action to address this existential threat.  MORE

How the U.S. and Iran Might Reach a Nuclear ‘Understanding’

Since efforts to renegotiate the original 2015 nuclear deal collapsed last August, Iran has escalated its enrichment of uranium, to the point that it could likely race to a bomb in a matter of weeks. A return to the original deal is impossible after the U.S. unilaterally withdrew from the accord and enacted painful sanctions under former President Donald Trump. But American officials have suggested a more limited arrangement in a series of talks held earlier this year. MORE

TAKE ACTION: Urge President Biden to Oppose the Cruelties of Operation Lone Star

Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s Operation Lone Star initiative is resulting in the cruel, inhumane, and deadly treatment of arriving asylum seekers at the Texas-Mexico border. Last week, a migrant was found dead next to the barrier buoys that Governor Abbott had ordered to be placed in the Rio Grande just weeks prior.  Church World Service urges us to tell President Biden to do more to stop Governor Abbott’s escalating and deadly actions at the border. TAKE ACTION

1,300 Migrants Cross the Arizona-Mexico Border Daily, Despite Record Heat 

As Texas placed buoys in the Rio Grande to make it harder for migrants to cross into the state, an increasing number of migrants braved record heat and dangerous terrain to cross into Arizona. An average of more than 1,300 migrants daily cross the U.S.-Mexico border into Arizona. MORE

New Florida Immigration Rules Start to Strain Some Businesses

Florida's new immigration law, which took effect July 1, is beginning to show signs of hurting the Florida economy, as undocumented workers who labor in construction and agriculture continue to leave the state. Construction projects have been slowed and even halted, while prices for certain products, including homes, are starting to rise. The law requires that businesses check the legal status of their workers and that hospitals ask for a patient's legal status, chilling some immigrants from seeking healthcare treatment. MORE

What You Need to Know About the Impact of Plastics on Human Health

From production to disposal, plastics wreak havoc on human, plant, and animal health and cause immense amounts of waste in our ecosystems, clogging our land, air, and waterways. Plastic pollution in particular poses a serious threat to all life on Earth because of the toxic nature of the chemical additives used during the production process. Recent research reveals plastics are able to enter into the human bloodstream, permanently residing in our bodies until the day we die. MORE

For the First Time in a Century, the U.S. Is Raising Fees for Drilling on Federal Lands

For decades, regulations for oil and gas extraction on public lands have remained unchanged. Companies paid a mere 12.5% in royalties for drilling, much less than what many Western states charge. Outdated bonds from 1960, set at $10,000 per lease, inadequately covered environmental cleanup costs. To rectify this, the Interior Department recently introduced comprehensive reforms. These changes aim to safeguard public lands, reduce taxpayer burdens, and ensure oil and gas firms are responsible for environmental cleanup after drilling. MORE

The Climate-Friendly Cows Bred to Belch Less Methane

The arrival of commercially available genetics to produce dairy cattle that emit less methane could help reduce one of the biggest sources of the potent greenhouse gas, scientists and cattle industry experts say. Burps are the top source of methane emissions from cattle. Experts say that, if adopted widely, low-methane breeding could have a "profound impact" on cattle emissions globally. Some dairy industry officials remain unconvinced about low-methane breeding, saying it could lead to digestion problems. MORE

TAKE ACTION: Urge Governors to Support Safe Harbor

Many states criminalize trafficked children and youth, overlooking their victimization and involving them in punitive systems. Too often these systems separate children from their communities and the support networks they need. To end this cycle, states need to establish robust, comprehensive Safe Harbor responses and legislation, that keeps child victims out of the juvenile and criminal justice systems and provides access to services. Shared Hope urges us to tell our Governors to support a robust Safe Harbor response. TAKE ACTION

U.S. Blacklists Two Chinese Firms Over Uighur Forced Labor Accusations

The United States has sanctioned two Chinese firms over their labor practices, accusing the companies of targeting members of persecuted groups in China, including the Uighur Muslim minority. In a statement, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security said goods produced by battery manufacturer Camel Group and Chenguang Biotech Group, a spice and extract manufacturer, would be prohibited from entering the country as of last week. MORE

Mother, Accused of Human Trafficking While Flying with Daughter, Sues Southwest Airlines

A white mother in Los Angeles is suing Southwest Airlines for racial discrimination after being accused of human trafficking while traveling with her biracial child. The incident occurred in October 2021 when Mary MacCarthy and her 10-year-old daughter flew to Denver for a family funeral. Upon arrival, they were met by police who questioned MacCarthy, suggesting her Black daughter might be trafficked due to their racial difference. The lawsuit alleges that the airline conveyed racially charged information to the authorities, leading to the frightening situation. MORE

Rising Domestic Violence Is a Hidden Front in Ukraine's War

Registered cases of domestic violence in Ukraine initially fell after Russia invaded in February 2022, as millions of people fled the fighting. But, as families have returned to their old homes or re-settled in new ones, cases have soared this year. In the first five months of this year, registered cases jumped 51% compared with the same period in 2022. They were over a third higher than the previous record in 2020, which experts had linked to pandemic lockdowns. MORE

Sexual Violence Is a Pervasive Threat for Female Farm Workers – Here’s How the U.S. Could Reduce Their Risk

Farm work is one of the most dangerous occupations in the U.S., with risks that include vehicle accidents, heavy machinery, and exposure to pesticides. And for female workers, who make up about one-fourth of the farm workforce, there’s another: sexual violence. Rape, sexual assault, and sexual harassment are frighteningly common on U.S. farms. The threat is most acute for immigrant workers, many of whom are undocumented.  To reduce the danger, we need to reform labor laws and develop a path toward legal immigration status for agricultural workers. MORE

TAKE ACTION: Root Out Dark Money

Corporations and wealthy individuals should not have the power to make undisclosed political contributions that influence elections. Disclosure of large political spending should be the bare minimum requirement to provide voters with critical information about who is spending money in our federal elections. The DISCLOSE Act accomplishes this fundamental purpose. The League of Women Voters invites us to tell Congress to pass the DISCLOSE Act and root out dark money. TAKE ACTION

These States Are Restoring Free School Meals for All Kids, Regardless of Income

In light of the end of a pandemic-era federal program offering free school meals to all students nationwide, seven states have now passed permanent Healthy School Meals for All policies. “The pandemic was a trial run and it worked,” says Crystal FitzSimons, director of School and Out-of-School Time Programs at the Food Research and Action Center. MORE

Jury in Pittsburgh Synagogue Trial Condemns Gunman to Death

Nearly every morning for three months, family members and survivors quietly gathered in a federal courtroom in Pittsburgh. They listened to witnesses recount the terror of the morning nearly five years ago when a gunman murdered 11 worshipers in their synagogue, and to witnesses who tried to explain what drove the man to commit such horror. Last week, they listened as a judge announced the jury’s unanimous decision that the gunman, Robert Bowers, should be condemned to die. MORE

Anthony Sanchez is scheduled to be executed on September 21 by the state of Oklahoma for the murder of Juli Busken. Please hold Anthony, Juli, their families, and the people of Oklahoma in prayer. TAKE ACTION