TAKE ACTION: Don’t Send Cluster Bombs to Ukraine

The Biden administration has announced that they intend to transfer cluster munitions to the Ukrainian government. These munitions are incredibly harmful to civilians, and the United States must not be complicit in their use. These munitions are already responsible for hundreds of deaths in Ukraine since the 2022 invasion. The American Friends Service Committee urges us to demand that Congress oppose the administration’s transfer of these weapons. TAKE ACTION

Global Peace Index Ranks U.S. as Less Safe Than Haiti, South Africa

America was ranked as less peaceful than Australia, New Zealand, China, India, much of Africa, and every country in Western Europe. A new index ranking nations by peacefulness puts the United States at number 131 — deeming it less safe than places like Haiti and South Africa. The Global Peace Index was released last month by the Institute for Economics and Peace, a think tank based in Australia. Other countries that ranked as more peaceful include Kuwait, Botswana, and Sierra Leone. MORE

What Political Uncertainty in Russia Means for Nuclear Security

The spectacle of the mercenary Wagner group forces advancing on Moscow was shocking but in the end, brief. Of concern during the crisis were the short- and long-term nuclear risks posed by the potential coup, including whether Russian nuclear weapons stored in bases might be vulnerable to capture by Prigozhin’s forces and what chaos and regime change might mean for Russia’s nuclear posture in the long-term.  MORE

Collateral Damage: American Civilian Survivors of the 1945 Trinity Test

When the first atomic bomb detonation in history took place in July 1945 in New Mexico, none of the bomb’s creators knew whether the test—codenamed “Trinity”—would be successful. The test site had been selected, in part, for its supposed isolation. Yet in reality, nearly half-a-million people were living within a 150-mile radius of the explosion, with some as close as 12 miles away. Civilians living nearby were given no advance warning of the test. Nor was any effort made by the US government to evacuate them beforehand or afterward. MORE

U.S. Nuclear-Armed Submarine Visits South Korea as Allies Talk War Planning

For the first time since the 1980s, a U.S. nuclear-armed ballistic missile submarine visited South Korea this week, as the allies began talks to coordinate their responses in the event of a nuclear war with North Korea. North Korea, which test-fired an intercontinental ballistic missile last week, condemned the U.S. and South Korea for “openly discussing the use of nukes” and warned against allied plans to increase displays of military force, including the submarine visit. MORE

TAKE ACTION: Pass the Afghan Adjustment Act

A bipartisan group of lawmakers has recently reintroduced the Afghan Adjustment Act in Congress. This legislation would provide a direct path to lawful permanent residency for Afghan nationals who entered the United States during Operation Allies Welcome, which brought over 75,000 evacuees to safety. Church World Service urges us to tell Congress to pass the Afghan Adjustment Act. TAKE ACTION

Biden’s New Asylum Policy Strands Some Migrants at Mexico Border as Conditions Worsen

Title 42 allowed border agents to expel migrants to Mexico without a chance to seek asylum. A new Biden regulation allows migrants once again to ask for asylum at the border, but wait in Mexico for a slot on the app or risk a sped-up deportation process that could be conducted while they are held in detention. Tens of thousands of people are waiting in dangerous Mexican border towns to secure a spot on the app and humanitarian groups warn of deteriorating sanitary conditions at migrant camps. MORE

State Laws Allow DACA Recipients to Become Police Officers

As police departments across the country struggle to recruit and retain officers, some states have begun passing laws authorizing noncitizens with U.S. work permits to join the force. These measures make DACA recipients eligible for law enforcement positions. Supporters of similar measures have noted that noncitizens who are authorized to work in the U.S. can already serve in the military, making law enforcement work a natural extension. MORE

How Climate Change Drives Hotter, More Frequent Heat Waves

Scientists have observed an eightfold increase in record-breaking hot months over the past decade, compared to what would be expected in a world without climate change. A cooling weather pattern called La Niña has suppressed global temperatures since 2020, but scientists announced this spring that a new, hotter pattern — El Niño — is emerging to replace it. Although experts say its full effects won’t be felt until next summer, it may already be contributing to some of this summer’s heat extremes. MORE

Detroit Is Going to Power 100% of Its Municipal Buildings with Solar

All of Detroit’s municipal buildings are going to be powered by neighborhood solar as part of the city’s efforts to address the climate crisis. The city will need around 250 acres of solar panels to achieve this goal, so it’s come up with an incentive plan in which neighborhoods and block clubs can reap benefits if they agree to host solar farms in their areas. For every solar acre assembled, $25,000 in community funds will be available for local projects such as park and recreation improvements, home repairs, and solar power for neighboring homes. MORE

These Climate Advocates Don’t Care About Your Carbon Footprint. They Care About Whether You Vote.

Most Americans agree that the U.S. should be enacting more ambitious climate policies, but influencing that as an individual may feel out of reach. Experts explain why they see elections as the most important space for individuals to get involved — and how focusing on this type of action can even help us leave behind guilt over personal carbon footprints. MORE

Black Women are Still Struggling to be Free from Sex Trafficking

The sex trade mirrors the history of sexual and labor exploitation targeting Black people. The myths that “sustained slavery and colonization drive [the] supply and demand [of] America’s modern commercial sex industry,” writes law professor Cheryl Butler. Butler explains that racist and sexist beliefs cast Black women as “eroticized sex objects” and that these same ideas promote sexual entitlement over marginalized people’s bodies. MORE

Trafficking Survivors May Stop Calling National Hotline, Advocates Warn

People caught up in trafficking can be extremely wary of law enforcement and reluctant to seek help if the police are involved. Many fear arrest, or have been arrested, for prostitution and petty crimes. The proposed National Human Trafficking Hotline Enhancement Act intends to provide more tips to law enforcement by requiring the hotline to share all information with them. Advocates are adamant that this requirement would be “detrimental to [survivors]” by causing them to stop calling Polaris, the national anti-trafficking hotline. MORE

Supreme Court Overturns Stalker’s Conviction in First Amendment Case Over ‘True Threats’

The Supreme Court imposed a less-stringent test for when speech constitutes a “true threat” that violates the First Amendment last month, siding with a man convicted of stalking. It is a decision that critics suggest could make it harder to prosecute alleged stalkers and abusers—but that other civil rights groups cheered as necessary for freedom of speech. MORE

Addressing Domestic Abuse in the Digital Realm

Technology abuse — particularly the use of software like “stalkerware” to track domestic partners or monitor their online behavior — is an often overlooked part of domestic violence.  There is a critical need to ensure survivors and advocates understand tech-facilitated abuse and its impact, and how to identify it. A new resource from Norton Antivirus and The National Network to End Domestic Violence addresses survivors’ concerns about technology, whether the abusive person may or may not have physical or remote access. MORE

TAKE ACTION: Demand Congress Act to Protect the Freedom to Vote

Across the country, state legislatures are moving to restrict voting rights and limit democracy. The Freedom to Vote Act addresses this threat by creating national standards to protect our freedom to vote, getting big money out of politics, combating partisan election subversion, and guaranteeing that congressional districts are drawn to give fair representation to all. People for the American Way invite us to tell Congress to bring this important legislation to a hearing and a vote in both chambers of Congress. TAKE ACTION

Alarming Rise of Women in Prison Must Be Addressed, Rights Summit Told

The number of women and girls in prison around the world has increased by nearly 60% since 2000, compared to the 22% increase in incarcerated men and boys, and there is evidence that female incarceration is often linked to discriminatory laws, domestic violence, and poverty. A group of human rights groups, legal experts, activists, and female prisoners are calling for female incarceration to be a key topic at the Women Deliver conference in Rwanda this week. MORE

Using Green Banks to Solve America’s Affordable Housing Crisis – and Climate Change at the Same Time

Green banks are starting to draw attention in the U.S., particularly since the federal government announced its first grant competitions under a national green bank program to bring clean technology and more affordable energy to low-income communities. But installing more solar and wind electricity generation isn’t the only way green banks can help. Massachusetts is launching an innovative new green bank that could become a model as states try to manage two crises at once: lack of affordable housing and climate change. MORE

Jemaine Cannon is scheduled to be executed on July 20 by the state of Oklahoma for the murder of Sharonda Clark. Please hold Jemaine, Sharonda, their families, and the people of Oklahoma in prayer. TAKE ACTION

James Barber is scheduled to be executed on July 20 by the state of Alabama for the murder of Dorothy Epps. Please hold James, Dorothy, their families, and the people of Alabama in prayer. TAKE ACTION