I’ve got a few urgent actions for you this week. They’ve piled up quickly, so I thought it best to put them in one big post. Please do consider doing them all–each can be done in about five seconds.
The first is from
Avaaz.org. It’s a petition to Sens. Obama, Clinton, and McCain regarding substantive change to the leadership style of our country. The letter states:
The Bush Presidency has devastated the world’s respect for the United States as a global leader. We citizens of every nation in the world are filled with hope that, as President, one of you will bring change: a recognition that we must tackle the world’s enormous challenges together, and a commitment to seek the common good of all nations. To restore the U.S. to responsible global citizenship and leadership, we urge you to commit your campaigns to:
Stop Global Warming – Commit to a strong global agreement on climate change, and urgently join other developed countries in reducing greenhouse gas emissions over the next decade.
Respect Human Rights – Rededicate the United States to universal human rights, close all Guantanamo-style prisons and end the practice of torture and secret abductions.
Promote Peace – Reject the Bush doctrine of pre-emptive warfare, and commit to use diplomacy to resolve and prevent conflicts between the U.S. and other nations.
Good leaders listen before leading. Good world teachers listen to the world. After all, on all the most serious issues we face, we are all in this together.
The letter will be published in U.S. newspapers and delivered to the leading presidential candidates after it is signed by 100,000 people. As of this moment, there are 73,956 signatures. Join Avaaz.org and sign the petition.
The next actio concerns the treatment and care of our combat veterans.
Last year Army officials instructed representatives from the V.A. at Fort Drum not to help veterans with their disability paperwork because there was a “conflict of interest.” Soldiers that get help from the V.A. tend to get higher disability ratings…which means that the government owes them more money.
Tell Secretary of the Army Pete Geren that this is not acceptable by signing this petition.
The next petition comes from
Amnesty International and concerns an upcoming Senate vote on an amendment to the Intelligence Authorization conference report.
In December, the House voted for an amendment to the Intelligence Authorization conference report that would restrict every agency and U.S. agent, even the C.I.A., to the interrogation techniques permitted by the Army Field Manual. The manual specifically prohibits several of the techniques alleged to have been used by the C.I.A. in secret prisons, including waterboarding, sexual humiliation and the use of dogs. With the use of waterboarding by the C.I.A. being publicly confirmed, and the refusal of the Attorney General to state that simulated drowning is torture, a favorable Senate vote for this amendment is critical to stopping the use of torture by any U.S. agent, anywhere in the world.
Write your senator and ask that he or she vote to end the use of interrogation techniques that amount to torture or ill-treatment here.
Lastly, if you’re concerned about our country’s drilling for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, then you might consider taking part in
this action:
The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is home to caribou, snow fox and millions of migratory birds. It is also the most important onshore denning habitat for America’s vanishing polar bears.
But this natural treasure is constantly under siege. Time and time again, the oil industry and their allies in Congress have sought to open this special place to harmful new drilling, threatening all of the wildlife that depend on it for survival.
We need to permanently protect the Arctic Refuge! Urge your Representative to support the Udall-Eisenhower Arctic Wilderness Act (H.R. 39) to permanently protect the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
Contact your representative here.
