All Action Alerts from Care2

Break America's Addiction to Oil

Tue, 08 Jul 2008 16:00:00 PDT

Think $4 for a gallon of gas is high? America's record-high prices at the pump are a mere fraction of the true cost of oil, when we figure in the lost jobs, higher taxes, terrorism threats, unnecessary wars, death and health problems caused by our dependence on oil. As a nation, we spend nearly $51 million on foreign oil each hour. Not only are U.S. taxpayers paying record-high prices at the pump, we are also providing big oil companies with billions of dollars in subsidies despite their record profits. It's time for our government to enact a comprehensive plan national plan to free us from oil dependency. Call on the presidential candidates, your representatives and your senators to develop a plan before Independence Day 2009 to end our addiction to oil!
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Stand Up for Prevention and Public Health!

Wed, 09 Jul 2008 00:00:00 PDT

Good news. Congress is taking steps to invest more money in Title X ("ten") family-planning services and less in discredited, ineffective "abstinence-only" programs. This would be a dramatic reversal from recent years, when anti-choice lawmakers spent your tax dollars on right-wing ideology in the classroom but refused to fund basic health care for millions of uninsured women.

But it's not a done deal yet. Your members of Congress will be hearing from the anti-choice radicals; make sure they hear from you, too! Please fill out the form below, and make sure your voice gets heard.

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Object to Privacy-Invading FISA Law

Wed, 09 Jul 2008 00:00:00 PDT

Cowed by the Bush administration's pre-election scare tactics, the Senate passed privacy-stealing FISA legislation that undermines your Fourth Amendment rights. Congress has not only legalized the Bush administration's secret NSA spying program, it has given the government even more power to listen to our phone calls and read our emails than even the Bush administration illegally claimed for itself under its secret program. And, by granting telecoms immunity, it has made it highly unlikely that we will ever learn the extent of the administration's lawless actions. It's outrageous, unconstitutional and un-American. You can join the ACLU in sending that message by signing your name to a full-page ad in a major national newspaper. Let Congress know that if they won't stand up for freedom, you and the ACLU will! The more voices we add, the more powerful our message will be. We need tens of thousands of Americans who are committed to defending the Constitution to speak up and stand with us right now. By signing, you will add your name to the ACLU's print ad and on the ACLU's website for purposes of this ad. You'll also get updates on the fight for freedom by receiving ACLU email newsletters.
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Non-Profit Downpayment Assistance Programs in Jeopardy!

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 00:00:00 PDT

Privately-funded down payment assistance programs like The Nehemiah Program have helped over 600,000 families become homeowners, and have also helped to stabilize neighborhoods, cities and families. Now, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has re-issued a proposed rule which would threaten low to moderate income families' access to downpayment assistance by eliminating all private downpayment assistance programs! Help preserve private downpayment assistance programs for families who are credit-worthy, but lack the savings necessary to fulfill their homeownership goals. Speak up now! The proposed rule comment period ends on August 15, 2008.
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Bring Justice to Victims of Rape in California

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 00:00:00 PDT

Although "rape kits," or victims' files containing DNA samples, interviews, photographs of injuries and other evidence, are standard for processing this horrible crime, they are often shelved and remain unexamined. Meanwhile, the perpetrators go unscathed with the potential to cause further harm to others. The LAPD crime lab is desperately understaffed, with only 16 employees, compared to New York's 108 and Chicago's 52. More funding and more attention need to be given towards rape cases. Only about 6 percent of rapists ever serve any jail time. But the experience of rape stays with the victims forever. They should not be left to suffer in vain. A victim of rape is more than just a case number. Tell Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa justice needs to be served. The LAPD needs to tackle the backlogged rape kits today and fulfill the promise made to the victims. Act now to make rape prosecution a reality.
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Obama: Hold Telecoms Accountable as President

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 00:00:00 PDT

On July 9th, the Senate approved the FISA Amendments Act, expanding the powers of the National Security Administration (NSA) to spy on Americans and granting immunity to telecommunications companies that participated in the Bush administration's program of warrantless surveillance of American citizens. Senator Obama, the Democratic presidential nominee, voted for this bill, along with the majority of his Senate colleagues. We, the people, demand that our leaders - and future leaders - stand up for our Constitutional rights. We call on Senator Obama to promise us that in his first 100 days as President, he will stand up for the Fourth Amendment of the Constitution by launching a full, transparent investigation into Bush's illegal warrantless surveillance program and pursue criminal charges against any government officials and telecommunications companies that broke the law by participating in this program.
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Promote Peace and Protection in Central Africa

Tue, 15 Jul 2008 00:00:00 PDT

There have been and continue to be human rights violations on a massive scale in Sudan, northern Uganda and eastern Congo.

In Sudan, up to 300,000 have died and 2.5 million fled to refugee camps since 2003 in the country's internal fighting.

In northern Uganda, thousands of children (some as young as 8-years old) were systemically captured by the rebel Lord's Resistance Army, forced to become soldiers and kill.

In eastern Congo, there's a war raging that's killed approximately 5.4 million people since 1998, and one of its tools is the deliberate and systematic rape of women and girls.

While there is no magic formula to end these crimes, there is a strategic one. We can stop genocide and crimes against humanity now and in the future, through the "Three P's": Promoting Peace, Providing Protection, and Punishing the Perpetrators.

Please act today to help end the human rights abuses and bring peace to three of Africa's most troubled states.

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Yes, We Can Save Sea Life and Our Oceans!

Tue, 15 Jul 2008 00:00:00 PDT
The average American uses between 300 and 700 plastic bags every year. Those that end up in the ocean are often mistaken for food by hungry sea turtles. Plastics also absorb toxic chemicals, which can be dangerous to fish and other sea life that often swallow plastic pellets and other materials.

Help reduce your mark on ocean pollution by limiting your plastic consumption. Pledge to take these five easy steps.
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Support Protection Plan for Stellwagen Marine Ecosystem

Wed, 16 Jul 2008 00:00:00 PDT
Located off the coast of Massachusetts, the Gerry E. Studds Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary is home to a marvelous diversity of marine life, including whales, sea turtles, fish, birds and cold water coral. But the Stellwagen is under assault from multiple fronts: habitat damage from trawling and draggers, ship collisions, depletion of fish, pollution and global warming, just to name a few.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA) has proposed a Stellwagen Bank Management Plan. The proposal lays the foundation for restoring and protecting the sanctuary's ecosystem. It recommends actions that should be taken now, and some that should be considered in the near future, for this special place.

The Sanctuary Superintendent is accepting open comments on the proposal until August 4. The marine life in the area need your help! Add your support for the proposal during the open comment period.
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Protect Birth Control: No to President Bush's Latest Proposal

Thu, 17 Jul 2008 00:00:00 PDT
The Bush administration is proposing a new regulation that would discourage doctors and health-care clinics from providing birth control to women who need it. This regulation would require federal health programs to certify that they will hire nurses and other providers who openly object to abortion or contraception in order to receive federal aid to run their programs.
The regulation could seriously jeopardize state laws and policies that protect women's access to birth control. For example, state laws that require hospitals to provide sexual-assault victims with access to emergency contraception could be jeopardized!

Members of Congress are calling on the Bush administration to change course. Please let your members of Congress know that you strongly oppose this attack on women's health and individual rights.

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Tell Congress: Encourage the Use of Renewable Energy!

Fri, 18 Jul 2008 00:00:00 PDT
Three years ago, Congress created a series of tax incentives to encourage the use of renewable energy technology and energy efficient building practices. Today, many of these incentives are set to expire at the end of the year, putting thousands of jobs and billions of investment dollars at risk.

Despite months of proposed legislation and debate, stall tactics and foot-dragging on the part of some Senators have prevented Congress from doing anything. The public needs to speak out today to tell Congress: Stop the delays and extend the renewable energy tax incentives!
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Keep U.S. Waters Safe and Clean!

Fri, 18 Jul 2008 00:00:00 PDT
Recent Supreme Court decisions and agency directives under the Bush Administration have narrowed federal jurisdiction under the Clean Water Act to exclude waters that have received protection for the past thirty years. The effect of these decisions jeopardizes up to 60 percent of America's streams, creeks and rivers as well as tens of millions of acres of wetlands.

The Clean Water Restoration Act of 2007 (H.R. 2421 / S.1870) reaffirms Congress' original intent in enacting the Clean Water Act - to protect all waters of the United States from pollution. This bi-partisan legislation was introduced by Representative James Oberstar (D-MN), John Dingell (D-MI) and Vernon Ehlers (R-MI) and is endorsed by over 450 organizations, including the conservation community, family farmers, hunters and anglers, surfers, boaters, faith communities, labor unions and environmental justice advocates.

Urge your Congressional representative to support the Clean Water Restoration Act today!
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Demand Comprehensive Hate Crime Legislation

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 00:00:00 PDT
On May 16, 2007, Sean Kennedy, a 20-year old gay man, was attacked on the streets of Greenville, South Carolina. He died of his injuries later that night. Yet, because of the lack of hate crimes legislation, his attacker will be eligible for parole in as little as 10 months.

Sean was a brave young man with a bright, infectious smile. But his life was cut short and justice left unserved.

As it stands now, 23 states, including South Carolina, do not have hate crime laws that include sexual orientation, but passage of the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Action (LLEHCPA) would change that by strengthening existing laws and allowing the Department of Justice to assist local prosecutions, and where appropriate, investigate and prosecute cases.

Sean's death shows that comprehensive hate crime legislation is urgently needed. Please support the LLEHCPA.
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Preserve the Tongass National Forest for Future Generations

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 00:00:00 PDT
The Tongass National Forest, also known as Alaska's Inside Passage, is a national treasure: one of the few places remaining in the world where old growth forests, brown bears, whales and wild salmon still thrive. Decades of harmful logging has taken a toll on the land, yet large areas of the Tongass remain majestic and vibrant. People from across America visit Alaska's Inside Passage to experience sights and sounds found nowhere else in the world. The last, best parts of the Tongass are worthy of protection as a legacy for current and future generations of Americans.
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End the Financial Irresponsibility of the War in Iraq

Thu, 24 Jul 2008 00:00:00 PDT
Donald Rumsfeld, in 2003, estimated that the cost of the war in Iraq would be $50 billion. Five years and more than $500 billion later, Iraq has turned into a sinkhole for American taxpayers. In fact, recent analysis indicates that the true cost of the war could easily top $1-2 trillion dollars!

That's more than any other war, except for World War II. Just think -- the war in Iraq has been more expensive than the anticipated cost of the U.S. implementing the Kyoto Protocol to control greenhouse gases ($300 billion).

Countless lives lost and massive fiscal irresponsibility to boot -- the entire affair has been one debacle after another. Demand that the U.S. better use its resources and return its troops home.
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