<![CDATA[Human Rights Action Alerts from Care2]]> <![CDATA[Defend Hope: Protect Refugees Fleeing Persecution]]> The United States' long-standing history as a beacon of hope to people around the world fleeing political, religious and other forms of persecution is under assault in Congress.

The bill, known as the REAL ID Act, will make it much harder for refugees to prove that they qualify for asylum and remove safeguards that protect refugees from being sent back into the arms of their persecutors.

Under the bill, insignificant inaccuracies - like a woman's failure to recall her date of high school graduation - could be used to deny her asylum, even though she has fled from horrendous persecution like genocide, rape, forced abortion, severe domestic violence, or the threat of honor killing.

Urge your Senators to preserve our nation's commitment to protecting refugees: Ask them to stop the REAL ID Act.
Take Action]]> <![CDATA[Defend Hope: Protect Refugees Fleeing Persecution - disappointment]]> Core American Principles Sacrificed in Largely Unnoticed Law

The “Real ID Act”, passed by the Senate late yesterday as part of the emergency spending bill, was signed into law today by President Bush. It contains provisions that will severely harm asylum seekers fleeing political and religious persecution.

“This new law is yet another blow to America’s tradition of providing refuge to victims of persecution,” said Eleanor Acer, Director of the Asylum Program at Human Rights First. “This country is turning its back on its longstanding commitment to protect those who flee to its shores ‘yearning to breathe free.’ Instead, we are sending a clear message that America is no longer a safe haven for those who stand up to oppression.”

Under REAL ID, a victim of torture or religious persecution at risk of being returned to his persecutors because he mistakenly recalls the date of his high school graduation. A rape survivor or a victim of a forced abortion could be denied asylum because she was too traumatized to tell an airport inspector about her ordeal when she first arrives in the United States.
More...]]> <![CDATA[ Stop Bolton Now! Oppose John Bolton's Nomination to UN]]> If Bolton is confirmed by the Senate, he will isolate America in the world, leaving us without partners to work with to keep us safe. In fact, 59 former American diplomats, from both Democratic and Republican administrations, have written a letter urging the Senate to oppose Bolton's nomination.

Just who is John Bolton?
Stop John Bolton's Nomination to the UN! Throughout his career in the Departments of Justice and State and in his personal writings, John R. Bolton has repeatedly belittled international institutions and undermined global cooperation. Let Bolton tell you in his own words how he feels about the United Nations:
  • "If the UN secretary building in New York lost 10 stories, it wouldn't make a bit of difference."
  • "There is no such thing as the United Nations. There is an international community that occasionally can be led by the only real power left in the world and that is the United States when it suits our interest and we can get others to go along." (both from: 1994 Global Structures Convocation, Washington, DC.)
Bolton's nomination is a serious threat to America's time-honored tradition of working with other nations to solve global problems. His obvious and well-known contempt for global cooperation could prove disastrous to U.S. national security. Sign this petition today to tell your Senators to oppose Bolton's nomination to the United Nations.
Take Action]]> <![CDATA[Oppose the Federal Marriage Amendment]]> Last year, President Bush officially declared his support for the Federal Marriage Amendment — a measure that would write discrimination into the United States Constitution.

It's time to stand up and be heard.

We must protect our civil rights and liberties and protect the constitution from the hands of the far-right conservatives.

President Bush couldn't run on his record, so he works to divide Americans on wedge issues like same-sex marriage to ignite his failing campaign. What's worse -- he's willing to do it by darkening our Constitution with an amendment that forbids our rights instead of protecting them — the only other amendment to do so was Prohibition.

All of our civil rights are at stake, and we must do everything we can to protect them. Please sign this petition today to oppose the Federal Marriage Amendment - all of our rights depend on it!
Take Action]]> <![CDATA[Senate Begins Debating Bolton's Nomination]]> The Senate has started to debate the nomination of Mr. Bolton as ambassador to the United Nations.

The Ohio Republican whose opposition to John R. Bolton as United Nations ambassador nearly stalled his nomination in committee took a further step by circulating a letter urging colleagues to vote against Mr. Bolton when his name reaches the Senate floor, possibly this week.

The letter from Senator George R. Voinovich was sent to all senators, but it was aimed particularly at fellow Republicans in a chamber in which the party holds a 55-44 majority (with one independent). At least five Republicans would have to join Mr. Voinovich in opposing Mr. Bolton if the nomination were to be defeated.

Act Now before it is too late. Send an email to your Senators to reinforce Senator Voinovich's message - urge them to oppose Bolton's nomination.

For more information on Senator Voinovich's letter click here.
For more information on Mr. Bolton's nomination click here.
More...]]> <![CDATA[ Ask President Bush to Make Poverty History – Sign the ONE Declaration]]> We face a global crisis. Every week, 27,000 people die from lack of clean water; 60,000 people die from AIDS; and 204,000 children die from hunger, AIDS, and other preventable causes - that's one child every three seconds.

Americans have demonstrated that they care when they generously supported organizations like Oxfam, which delivered emergency assistance to victims of the tsunami earlier this year.

Today, we do not ask you for your money, we ask for your voice. Your voice can help make poverty history and save lives. On July 6, President Bush and world leaders will meet in Great Britain for the G8 Summit. At this meeting, the ONE campaign will urge them to:
  • Increase US aid for health, education, clean water, and other basic needs - at a cost of just ONE percent of the federal budget;
  • Cancel the poorest countries' debts and fight corruption;
  • Reform unfair trade rules to let poor people compete on fair terms and lift themselves out of poverty.
More than 750,000 Americans have already signed the ONE Declaration because they believe that helping poor people help themselves reflects the deeply held American values of compassion, fair play, and self-help. Join them today and urge President Bush to lead the way to making poverty history!
Take Action]]> <![CDATA[Help Make Trade Fair for Central America!]]> It has been one year since the US and Central American governments signed the Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA). But due to public opposition from activists throughout the Americas, the Bush Administration and Congressional leadership have been unable to bring it to a vote.

Until now.

The Bush Administration has stepped up their campaign to get CAFTA passed, and the latest word is that the US House and Senate will try to bring it to a vote before the July 4th recess.

Increased trade has the potential to reduce poverty and encourage development. But CAFTA is the wrong approach. Here's the problem: Free trade agreements like CAFTA assume a level playing field among countries. But in reality, these trade agreements often exacerbate inequality through unfair trade rules and double standards, thus keeping people in poverty. In fact, implementation of NAFTA has actually increased poverty among small farmers in Mexico. And Oxfam's analysis shows that CAFTA is likely to create more poverty in Central America - especially among poor farmers.

Please email your Representative and Senators today. Urge him or her to vote NO on CAFTA and make their position public. [Your name will also be added to the growing Oxfam petition to Make Trade Fair.]
Take Action]]> <![CDATA[Urgent: Stop the Patriot Act Expansion]]> Decisive House and Senate votes on the future of the Patriot Act are right around the corner. For nearly four years now, our government has claimed the kind of unchecked power and lack of due process that challenge the most fundamental principles of freedom and democracy.

Now the Bush Administration and some leaders in Congress want to make every one of those powers permanent and are even pressing for further expanding the Patriot Act's assault on fundamental freedoms.

People across the country have made clear their opposition to the Patriot Act. Hundreds of communities - and seven states - have passed resolutions against the Patriot Act and held town hall meetings to discuss its impact on their residents and our Constitution. Congress has a duty to listen to its constituents.

The Patriot Act needs to be reformed, not expanded. There are significant flaws in the Patriot Act, flaws that threaten your fundamental freedoms by giving the government the power to access to your medical records, tax records, information about the books you buy or borrow, all without probable cause. It also gives the government the power to obtain a special 'sneak and peek' search warrant to break into your home and conduct secret searches without telling you for weeks, months or indefinitely.

It doesn't matter if you're a Democrat or Republican, a progressive or a conservative: liberty is a universal value. Make your voice heard, tell Congress that the Patriot Act should not be made permanent, and it absolutely must not be expanded.


Take Action]]> <![CDATA[Opposition to CAFTA Growing in US and Central America]]> Farmers in both the US and Central America are speaking out about the potentially damaging effects of CAFTA on their jobs, their communities, and their lives.

Members of the US Congress from both sides of the aisle have been joined by non-governmental organizations, labor unions, producers groups, environmental groups, faith groups and others in the US and in Central America to campaign against CAFTA. Only three Central American countries have been able to ratify the trade pact and did so amid widespread public protest with heavy military and police presence. Other countries have delayed consideration in response to mounting opposition. The trade agreement is under consideration by both the House and the Senate and is expected to come up for a vote in the US Congress before the end of the summer.

Take Action today to tell the US Congress to say No to CAFTA!
More...]]> <![CDATA[G8 Countdown - 14 Days to Go to Make Poverty History]]>
The G8, or the 'Group of Eight' Summit is an annual gathering of leaders from the world's eight wealthiest and most powerful countries (Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States). This summer, these leaders will gather in Scotland to decide the fate of an entire generation living on less than ONE dollar a day.

On July 6th – 8th, President Bush and other G8 leaders will discuss the major social, political and economic conditions that leave nearly ONE billion people living in extreme poverty – nearly half of whom live in Sub-Saharan Africa. With your support and voice, President Bush and other world leaders will know just how important these issues are, and together as ONE, we can Make Poverty History this July.
More...]]> <![CDATA[You're invited to talk online with Senator Barbara Boxer!]]> "What is the outlook for future Supreme Court openings - and how will these nominations affect me?"

If this is a question you ask yourself, then take a moment to read on about an online event Wednesday, June 29, that you won't want to miss.

We're all concerned about the upcoming judicial nomination battles in the Senate - from the lower courts to the Supreme Court. We've followed the rancorous debates over the "nuclear option" and we know that women's rights are at stake like never before.

Here's your chance to find out how the upcoming court battles could affect you. For straight talk with an insider's perspective on what judicial nominations could mean for women, you are invited to join a conversation - by phone or online - with Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Marcia Greenberger, Co-President of the National Women's Law Center, next Wednesday, June 29th at 1:00 p.m. EST.

This event is a fantastic opportunity for activists to interact with leaders in the struggle for women's rights and equality. Senator Boxer and Ms. Greenberger will talk about the controversy over judicial nominations and take questions from attendees. The event is free but space is limited, so register online today!

Take Action]]> <![CDATA[Oppose New Nuclear Weapons Today: Tell Senate, No Bunker Busters]]> The Bush administration has asked for $8.5 million in the 2006 budget for research on a "Robust Nuclear Earth Penetrator" (RNEP). This new nuclear weapon, also known as the nuclear "bunker buster," is being promoted as a useful tool in attacking deeply buried command centers or underground stores of chemical and biological weapons. But numerous scientific critiques, including one by the National Academy of Science, find that in many cases such a weapon would be ineffective. In addition, the nuclear blast and radioactive fall-out could kill millions of innocent people in surrounding areas. A single "bunker buster" would be nearly 100 times more powerful than the nuclear bomb that destroyed Hiroshima.

In the coming weeks, the Senate will consider funding for this new nuclear weapon. Please tell your Senators to reject all funding for the dangerous nuclear "bunker buster."

Take Action]]> <![CDATA[Countdown to G8 - Reforming Trade, Canceling Debt, Making Poverty History]]>
Oxfam welcomes the recent agreement by the finance ministers of the world's richest countries to cancel 100 percent of the debts of 18 countries, but urges them to broaden the deal to include other indebted poor countries in similar need of relief.

Meeting earlier this month in London, finance ministers from the world's richest countries agreed to cancel 100 per cent of the debts of 18 countries, 14 of which are in Africa.

The deal covers $50 billion of debts owed by poor countries to the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, and the African Development Bank. The 18 initial countries qualify because they have already been through the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) debt relief scheme. They are Benin, Bolivia, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guyana, Honduras, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Nicaragua, Niger, Rwanda, Senegal, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia.

While welcoming the decision, Oxfam said the deal did not go far enough, since it covers only 10 to 20 percent of what's required and does not offer relief to all the countries that need it.

"There are still many hurdles for G8 leaders to clear," said Lawson. "This first hurdle - debt cancellation - is only worth $2 billion a year at most for poor countries. G8 leaders now need to urgently pick up the pace, respond to the calls of millions of campaigners around the world, and put up an extra $50 billion of aid to fund the fight against poverty."
More...]]> <![CDATA[What ONE thing do MoveOn PAC and the Christian Coalition of America Agree On?]]> That President Bush should Make Poverty History at the G8.

In an extraordinary demonstration of bipartisan cooperation, the grassroots advocacy group MoveOn PAC and the Christian Coalition of America today announced that together they will endorse the ONE campaign's call for an historic deal for Africa at the G8 Summit in Scotland next month. This is yet further affirmation that there is only ONE side in the fight against global AIDS and extreme poverty and is intended to help ONE reach ONE million supporters by the Live 8 concerts this weekend.

Help Oxfam and the ONE campaign Make Poverty History today!
More...]]> <![CDATA[Senate Rejects Anti-Nuclear Amendment - Struggle Moves to the House]]> approve funding for research into "bunker buster" nuclear weapons, as part of a $31.2 billion spending bill for energy and water projects. The full spending passed on a vote of 92-3. Care2 and ThePetitionSite members sent close to 10,000 letters to their Senators through this petition urging them to vote "no" on this funding. The vote was close, however, and the full bill now goes into negotiation between the House and the Senate over differences between them. In the House, David Hobson, a Republican from Ohio and chair of the Appropriations Subcommittee that oversees the nuclear weapons budget, once again eliminated ALL funding for these weapons. Last year the House version prevailed and all funding for bunker busters was eliminated--the Union of Concerned Scientists is working to ensure that the same happens this year.

Find out how your Senators voted here.

Find your Senators' phone number here and let them know how you feel about their votes!
More...]]> <![CDATA[Light a Candle for London - Condolences from Around the World]]> The bomb blasts that killed over 50 and injured more than 700 people Thursday, July 7, in London affected all of us, in every country in the world. We stand with the people of London as fellow peace-loving human beings, and offer our deepest condolences and well-wishes. Here, we light a virtual candle for the victims and survivors of the London terror bombings of July 7, 2005.

Add your photo or comment to our virtual condolence book, and light a candle for London and for peace today.

Take Action]]> <![CDATA[Disapointment as Senate narrowly passes DR-CAFTA]]>
The House however, has yet to consider the pact. House Democrats are launching staunch resistance to the pact, which with the aid of a few Republicans may lead to its failure.
More...]]> <![CDATA[ G8 Decisions Present Welcome Hope for Africa]]>
Last week at the G8 summit we made tremendous progress toward our goal. While there is still much work to do, the G8 leaders agreed to:
  • Increase aid to Africa by $25 billion, more than a doubling of 2004 levels;
  • Increase global assistance by around $50 billion per year by 2010;
  • Provide near-universal access to HIV/AIDS treatment drugs;
  • Cancel the debt of some of the world's poorest nations; and
  • Address trade reforms in the near future.
Over 1.4 million Americans signed the ONE Declaration, and Care2 members represented over 4% of that unified voice! When we join together, we really can make a difference. THANKS!

However, there is still a lot of progress that needs to be made to improve the lives of the 1 billion people living in extreme poverty around the world. At Care2 we are actively working with Oxfam to generate a new wave of support as we gear up for the UN Summit in early September. Read More.
More...]]> <![CDATA[House Votes to Renew Patriot Act]]> The U.S. House of Representatives has voted 257-171 to extend the Patriot Act, despite objections by civil libertarians and activists around the country and the world. Hundreds of local governments and states have adopted resolutions opposing the legislation.

The House voted to make 14 of the 16 provisions set to expire permanent, and to extend the other two provisions for another 10 years. One of these two provisions is section 215, which gives the FBI secret access to people's business, medical, library, bookstore and other shopping records.

"Instead of allowing a thorough debate on relevant amendments that would help place proper checks against government abuse," said Lisa Graves, Senior Counsel for Legislative Strategy for the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), House leadership "refused to allow votes on key amendments that would have restored key checks and balances and helped ensure greater oversight and protection of our civil liberties."

Significant differences remain between the House and Senate versions of the bill, and the bill now goes to the Senate.

Find out how your representative voted.
Read the full ACLU statement.
More...]]> <![CDATA[Tell Wal-Mart Enough is Enough]]> One after another, the scandals emerge revealing Wal-Mart's ruthless campaign against workers' rights.

When Wal-Mart employees attempt to stand up for themselves and try to form a union, they face threats, propaganda, discrimination, intimidation, and even firings.

Is this any way to treat employees who just want to negotiate for better wages, more affordable health care, and basic protections on the job?

It's a struggle of epic proportions: 1.3 million employees versus Wal-Mart. College students, single parents, the elderly—barely making enough to cross the poverty line, competing against the world's largest employer and corporation—raking in $10,000,000,000 in profits last year. Clearly, Wal-Mart can afford to do the right thing and treat its workers with the respect they deserve. The question is, will it?

It's time to demand Wal-Mart stop denying its employees a voice at work. Tell Wal-Mart enough is enough!

Take Action]]> <![CDATA[Reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act]]> Every day, more than 700 women are abused or sexually assaulted by their partner - and four are murdered.
If Congress fails to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), these numbers could get a whole lot worse. With passage of VAWA in 1994, rates of domestic violence incidents have dropped by almost 50% and incidents of rape are down by 60%.

VAWA is up for reauthorization in September and we must send a loud and clear message that 700 women a day is 700 too many. Urge your Congressmember to reauthorize VAWA. It provides desperately needed shelter, counseling, medical, and justice services for the 700 women and children who are affected by domestic violence every single day in this country.

There is a good chance that VAWA could be cut. If it is, funding for domestic violence shelters is at risk. Children who witness domestic violence are at even greater risk. And, we may slow the progress that we've made in preventing violence against women.

Take Action]]> <![CDATA[Help Make Trade Fair for Central America! - update]]>
Only after many months of intense lobbying efforts by the White House involving backroom deal-making and partisan pressure was the agreement passed in the House of Representatives by two votes. "In forcing passage of an unpopular trade agreement, the administration chose to ignore widespread concerns raised by many members of Congress and their constituents, as well as by farmers, trade unions, and church and community groups in the US, Central America and the Dominican Republic," stated Stephanie Weinberg, trade policy advisor with Oxfam America. "Whatever the spin, DR-CAFTA will institutionalize an uneven playing field instead of establishing fair and equitable rules for trade."

DR-CAFTA rigs the rules in favor of the interests of transnational companies. While the agreement provides virtually no new US market access to developing countries (with the limited exception of textiles), it extends monopoly rights for international pharmaceutical companies, thereby limiting marketing of generic medicines, and prohibits governments from using policy tools designed to ensure that investment provides maximum benefit to local communities. Furthermore, DR-CAFTA requires these developing countries to open their markets to the dumping of US rice and other commodities and to forbid use of adequate safeguards to ensure food and livelihood security and rural development. DR-CAFTA also blatantly ignores the fact that US agribusiness receives extensive subsidies and domestic supports, estimated to be around $24 billion this year alone, making it impossible for Central American and Dominican farmers to compete.
More...]]> <![CDATA[Bush Bypasses Senate and Appoints Bolton to UN]]> appointed him to be U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, an institution he has repeatedly belittled.

Senate Democrats oppose Bolton on the grounds that evidence suggests he has tried to intimidate his staff when they disagree with him; manipulated intelligence information to meet his views; and most recently lied to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee about the fact that he had been interviewed in recent investigations.
More...]]> <![CDATA[Demand Justice for Linda]]> Linda Loaiza's waking nightmare began 4 years ago at the age of 18 when she was kidnapped, held prisoner in her attacker's home, and repeatedly raped, beaten and tortured. She was finally rescued by Venezuelan police 4 months later.

Demand Justice!
But Linda's suffering didn't end with her rescue. After waiting 3 years for a trial, the court set a trial date only AFTER Linda resorted to holding a 2-week hunger strike on the steps of the Supreme Court to raise media awareness of her plight. Amazingly, the judge appointed to the case let her attacker (the son of a very influential Venezuelan man) go free, citing a lack of evidence despite the fact that Linda was rescued from his apartment and he had been previously arrested for attacking another woman in 1999.

Linda's experience is deeply disturbing - both for the violence she suffered and for the corruption and the injustice she has faced in her quest to put her attacker behind bars where he can't hurt her or others. Linda's story is representative of the immense difficulty faced by women in many parts of the world when they seek justice in the face of violence and abuse.

It's been many months and Linda is still awaiting a trial date. Please don't let the Venezuelan justice system drag their feet any longer or deny Linda justice once again!

Demand Justice for Linda - send a letter asking key Venezuelan officials to ensure a timely and fair trial.

Take Action]]> <![CDATA[President Bush signs CAFTA into law]]>
The regional trade agreement will require the developing countries of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic to open their markets to dumping of U.S. rice and other commodities and forbid use of adequate safeguards to ensure food and livelihood security and rural development. The agreement also blatantly ignores the fact that US farmers receive extensive subsidies and domestic supports, estimated to be around $24 billion this year alone. DR-CAFTA imposes strict new rules that extend the monopoly held by brand-name pharmaceuticals, which will limit generic competition and reduce access to affordable medicines in the future. The trade agreement also provides special rights and privileges to foreign investors that can create major new liabilities to governments and undermine efforts to protect public health, the environment, and workplace safety.

"No matter the spin, DR-CAFTA is a bad deal for millions of farmers, workers, and consumers in Central America and the Dominican Republic," says Stephanie Weinberg, Trade Policy Advisor at Oxfam. "The U.S. should do better if it wants to promote peace, political and economic security in this region that has struggled with poverty and inequality, and the resulting instability, for so long."

Read more.
More...]]> <![CDATA[Stand Up for Iraqi Women]]>
Iraq, January 30, 2005: Women waiting to vote in elections. (Photo courtesy U.S. Embassy Baghdad.) Women in Iraq have more to fear these days than the horrors of war. As the August 15 deadline approaches for the completion of the new Iraqi constitution, women in Iraq fear that their hard-won rights could disappear.

Iraq's existing laws regarding women's rights are some of the most progressive in the Middle East. But Article 14 of the new draft constitution aims to replace these laws with Islamic Sharia law - which could dramatically affect women's rights in marriage, court, education and the political system, including the right to vote.

Stand up for Iraqi women! Send a letter to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice today and urge her to advocate to protect the rights of women in Iraq by working with the Iraqi government to repeal Article 14 and guarantee women's rights under the law.

Take Action]]> <![CDATA[Stand With Cindy in Texas]]> Cindy Sheehan's son has made the ultimate sacrifice for our country - shouldn't President Bush sacrifice some vacation time for her?

Cindy Sheehan's son Casey was killed in Iraq on April 4, 2004 - five days after his unit arrived in Sadr City, Baghdad. Cindy is now camped out on the road to President Bush's vacation ranch in Crawford, Texas, requesting a meeting with the President to ask a very simple question - why did her son die? Why have over 1,800 U.S. service men and women died, and tens of thousands of Iraqis, mostly civilians? Why did we start this war?

Cindy deserves what ever grieving mother, father, sister, brother, wife, husband, and child deserves: an answer. But President Bush is refusing to give her this most basic courtesy. So we call on Congress to join us and stand with Cindy. Sign this petition to send a letter to your senators and representatives, urging them to stand with Cindy, and urge President Bush to meet with Cindy Sheehan to answer her questions about her son's death in Iraq.
Take Action]]> <![CDATA[Tell Bush to Help Lift Millions of Women and Children Out of Poverty]]> These are needless, preventable and unacceptable deaths.

Women and children disproportionately bear the weight of extreme poverty around the world. In many countries, women are routinely denied access to resources and even the most basic education, making it virtually impossible for them to adequately provide for their children and themselves.

Five years ago, all 189 members of the United Nations agreed to eight Millennium Development Goals, which set 15-year targets for, among other things, eradicating extreme poverty, enrolling every child in primary school, empowering women, reducing child mortality and improving maternal health. Meeting these goals, all nations agreed, requires a global partnership between countries both rich and poor.

On Sept. 14-16, the leaders of some 170 nations will gather in New York City for the World Summit, where they will take stock of their progress toward meeting the Millennium Development Goals. Time is running out. Many nations have made significant strides -- Tanzania now offers free primary education to all, Uganda reversed the spread of AIDS and Bangladesh narrowed the gender gap in school attendance. But without bold U.S. leadership to achieve the goals by the 2015 deadline, many countries will fall short of the targets.

Urge President Bush to demonstrate U.S. leadership by playing an active role at the Summit and reaffirming America's commitment to doing our part to achieve the Millennium Development Goals by 2015.
Take Action]]> <![CDATA[Tell Wal-Mart Enough is Enough - update]]> "Gosh, I don't think of us as being anti-union..."

Those are the latest words from Lee Scott, the CEO of Wal-Mart, who is notorious for his approach to workers' rights. Mr. Scott obviously doesn't recall the great lengths to which his company goes to prevent employees from standing up for themselves. When Wal-Mart employees try to form a union, they often face threats, propaganda, discrimination, intimidation, and even firings. Is this any way to treat employees who just want to negotiate for better wages, more affordable health care, and basic protections on the job?

New employees at Wal-Mart are often indoctrinated against unions the moment they're hired. During orientation Wal-Mart reportedly forces associates and management to:
  • Watch anti-union videos,
  • Read a section in the employee manual against unions, and
  • Learn the number of the hotline to call if they suspect a fellow employee of supporting a union.
Mr. Scott said: "In this company... you can talk to Lee Scott. You can talk to whoever you want to about what is happening. ...You can get your issue resolved." Let's take him up on this invitation. Tell the world's largest employer it's time to put an end to its outrageous anti-union behavior!
More...]]> <![CDATA[Senate passes Violence Against Women Act]]>
The House of Representatives passed their version of the VAWA bill just last week. The next step is for Senate and House members to meet to resolve the differences between these two versions and hold a final vote.
More...]]> <![CDATA[Stop human trafficking and protect women from abuse]]>
As a result, women seeking better lives in our country are being abused, even murdered, by the men they meet through the online brokers.

Domestic abuse of mail-order brides is just one example of the larger problem of human trafficking in the United States and around the world. Each year alone, approximately 14,500 to17,500 people are trafficked into the U.S. and then sold into a life of sexual exploitation and/or slave labor. And a staggering 80% of trafficking victims are women and girls.

There is a bill in Congress right now that can help to protect women from abusive men and unscrupulous international marriage brokers: the International Marriage Broker Regulation Act (IMBRA), H.R.3657. Please sign this petition to urge your representative to support this bill today!
Take Action]]> <![CDATA[Join the Fight Against Inequality in America]]> The events after Hurricane Katrina awakened Americans to the dramatic differences between rich and poor -- but the need to finish the fight for equality was lost on our national leaders.

Just days after the disaster...

  • President Bush suspended prevailing wage laws, and allowed federal contractors to pay employees unlivable wages in an area already stricken with poverty.
  • Congress passed a $50 billion dollar assistance bill, but failed to provide any oversight against unlawful housing discrimination, and unequal distribution of relief funds.
  • The Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs has exempted federal contractors from affirmative action requirements.
  • And the Secretary of Education sought to waive segregation laws, denying homeless children equal opportunity to public schooling.

This is a country where people pull together in the face of disaster. It's our heritage to help one another, and our tradition to fight for fairness.

Remind our national leaders that all Americans deserve no less than the full protection of their civil rights, and that we must not stop the unfinished fight for racial and economic equality.


Take Action]]> <![CDATA[Support the Global Emergency Fund]]> Over the last year, the world has been engulfed in disasters, and we've seen how poor people have been disproportionately affected by these emergencies. Help ensure a timely response to crises by urging President Bush to support the Global Emergency Fund that would immediately disburse money when countries face a severe and sudden need.

Right now, the UN must wait until after a disaster has occurred to raise the money it needs to respond - a situation Secretary General Kofi Annan likens to a fire chief who, when notified of a fire, has to then go out and buy a fire engine.

On November 14, the UN General Assembly will be discussing the Global Emergency Fund. Write President Bush and encourage him to not only support the expansion of the Global Emergency Fund, but also to ensure that the US makes a fair contribution to the fund. By doing so, millions of lives can be saved.
Take Action]]> <![CDATA[Care2 Members can Help Provide Orphaned Children a Future]]> The situation is even more dire for 16 million of these children who have lost both their parents, the vast majority of whom had their lives taken by AIDS.

America has taken the first step in proving international leadership to highlight the suffering of children and bring hope to the world's future generations by passing the Orphans and Other Vulnerable Children in Developing Countries Act. But there is still much to do - the law needs to be backed up by $340 million in funding.

By acting now, Congress can ensure orphans and vulnerable children assistance to support basic care and increased educational opportunities.

Ask Congress to end the suffering of millions of orphan children by fully funding this legislation.


Take Action]]> <![CDATA[Create a World Trade Center Memorial Stamp]]> Next year marks the fifth anniversary of the September 11th attacks, and our country should honor the thousands of innocent men, women and children who perished in the horrific attacks.

Please urge the United States Postal Service (USPS) to honor the memory of those who perished in the horrific attacks of February 26, 1993 and September 11, 2001 by issuing a stamp commemorating the World Trade Center Memorial.


Take Action]]> <![CDATA[Give the Scale of Child Abuse National Attention]]> And the consequences are frightening. Children and youth who have been abused or neglected are more likely to abuse alcohol and drugs, fall victim to teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases, suffer from depression and mental illness, be involved with law enforcement, and abuse their own children.

This cycle of abuse MUST STOP!

In the past, reports by the U.S. Surgeon General - such as the 1990 report on children and smoking, or the 1999 report on the prevention of suicide - have brought important health issues much-needed national attention, resulting in both federal and private initiatives that made a significant impact. Help us unite public health and child welfare resources necessary to create a safe, caring and healthy future for our children.

Urge President Bush to direct Surgeon General Carmona to prepare a comprehensive report on child abuse and neglect in this country.
Take Action]]> <![CDATA[Defend Asylum for Survivors of Trafficking]]>
When Ann turned in her request for asylum, she was only 17 years old, suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. The Immigration Judge said that she would not be eligible for asylum anyway because her kidnap, rape and threatened sale into prostitution were merely "personal" and "criminal" acts by a rejected suitor. Overwhelming evidence shows, however, that the man who kidnapped her treated her the way traffickers prepare their victims to be trafficked.

U.S. Women Without Borders is working with the Center for Gender & Refugee Studies to win justice for Ann and others in her position. Take action now to ensure that Ann is not sent back into the hands of her persecutors. Protest the one-year deadline for minors. Demand that our government protect victims of trafficking by giving them asylum in this country.
Take Action]]> <![CDATA[Urge Jewelry Retailers to Help Clean Up Dirty Gold!]]> The production of just one gold ring produces 20 tons of mine waste.

Toxic chemicals such as cyanide and mercury that are used in producing gold have polluted drinking water supplies, contaminated farmland, and harmed the health of workers and communities. Gold mining operations can also leave a trail of social destruction, displacing communities from their homelands against their will and destroying traditional livelihoods.

This is the real price of gold.

Jewelers may not operate heavy equipment at mine sites, but more than 80 percent of gold mined each year is used to make jewelry. Jewelry firms are thus uniquely positioned to help make real change in gold mining practices.

Some prominent jewelry firms such as Tiffany & Co. have responded to requests from concerned people like you, and have staked out a leadership position on this important issue. Others jewelry companies are lagging behind and you can help them to catch up.

When you sign this No Dirty Gold Pledge, we will show jewelers that thousands of people want gold produced in ways that do not harm communities, workers, and the environment. There are some practices that are just too dirty to accept under any circumstances -- such as dumping mine waste directly into rivers or the ocean.
Take Action]]> <![CDATA[Light the Candle of Hope - Support Fair Trade and Women's Equality]]> function popUp(URL) { day = new Date(); id = day.getTime(); eval("page" + id + " = window.open(URL, '" + id + "', 'toolbar=0,scrollbars=1,location=0,statusbar=0,menubar=0,resizable=1,width=740,height=500');"); } This holiday season, what if there was a way to quickly and directly put the power to make change into the hands of women and girls? We've got a simple way – and all it takes it a little shopping.

When women and girls are doing well, their communities thrive. Click here to see some great deals on hand crafted products made by women and you'll put money directly into the hands of the people who know how to make change in their communities.

You can take it a step further and let these women know that this holiday season, you'll do your best to purchase things made by women. If you take our pledge to shop fair trade items, you'll know for sure that the people who made them were paid a fair price, that they had a safe and clean place to work and that they used environmentally sustainable practices.

When you sign our pledge, you light the candle of hope for women by shopping fair trade and supporting women's work.

Flex your purchasing power to make a difference in the lives of women.

Let's make this change right now. When you sign our pledge and then visit our online store, you are helping to light the candle of hope for women around the world.

Join us in pledging support for the values of economic equality for women worldwide by doing your best to purchase fair trade gifts for the people you love.
Take Action]]> <![CDATA[House and Senate pass versions of VAWA]]> Thank you for all of your hard work!
More...]]> <![CDATA[Ask Garth Brooks to Give Wal-Mart the Boot!]]>
Like a lot of Americans who shop at or support Wal-Mart, it's likely that Garth Brooks has no idea about Wal-Mart's utter lack of respect for its workers and their rights.

Take this opportunity to let Garth know that when Wal-Mart employees try to form a union for respect, decent health care, fair wages, and basic job protections, they often face threats, discrimination, intimidation, and even firings. Wal-Mart will do anything its power to prevent its 1.3 million employees from standing up for themselves and forming a union. The world's largest employer and corporation raked in $10,000,000,000 in profits last year. Yet many of the company's 1.3 million employees - including Garth's fans and supporters - barely make enough to cross the poverty line.

Sign this petition to send an email to Garth Brooks - let's tell him the truth about Wal-Mart's unfair treatment of its workers and ask him to reconsider the deal.
Take Action]]> <![CDATA[Help Refugee Children Get a Fair Hearing – Pass S.119/H.R. 1172]]>
When they arrive in the US some unaccompanied refugee children are apprehended immediately at airports or land borders because they lack proper documentation. They are placed in an immigration court system designed for adults without being given an attorney or guardian to help them. Forced to fend for themselves many are too scared to tell their stories and may end up being deported back to the dangerous places they were forced to flee. It happens every day in the United States.

Congress is currently considering legislation to fix the system. We need your help to get this law passed. The Senate bill is known as S.119, the Unaccompanied Alien Child Protection Act of 2005. The House version is H.R. 1172.

To convince them to support the legislation, we want at least 1000 signatures from each state.

UNHCR's Goodwill Ambassador, actress Angelina Jolie, personally supports this legislation. She says "without legal representation we are sending children to court to represent themselves in a language that most of them don't understand. And expecting them to recall accounts so frightening and humiliating, they wouldn't want to tell anyone, let alone a room full of strangers."

Urge your Senator or Representative to co-sponsor and support the Unaccompanied Alien Child Protection Act of 2005.
Take Action]]> <![CDATA[Stop human trafficking and protect women from abuse - success]]> VICTORY: International Marriage Broker Regulation Act Passed

Thank you to the more than 15,000 of you who signed our petition letters supporting the International Marriage Broker Regulation Act, H.R. 3657. This bill was passed!

We now have a federal law requiring women enticed to become mail order brides to be informed of their husbands-to-be criminal records. The law also mandates other protections from the often violent and abusive situations for women resulting from the marriage broker trade.

Our campaign delivered 15,173 U.S. signatures as emails to representatives in the House. California had the most signatures (2,536), followed by New York (1,334), Texas (889), and Washington (591). Fifty states, plus the District of Columbia and Guam, were represented in the signatures.

The bill, sponsored by Rep. Larsen, had 15 cosponsors, and all except for one were added to the bill during the time our petition letters were in action. We assume some of those Members learned about the legislation and signed on once they heard from constituents. One of Rep. Larsen's staffers emailed us: "This is great! Thanks for your efforts. I've gotten quite a few calls from offices wanting more information because they'd gotten constituent mail (no doubt thanks to your petition)."
More...]]> <![CDATA[Save Darfur - Stop the Genocide Now!]]> On an average day in Darfur, tens of thousands of innocent civilians face the threat of torture, starvation, rape, and uprooting from their homes, families, and livelihoods.

Already hundreds of thousands have died in an ongoing conflict they cannot control.

But we can help stop the killing and the hell the living victims must endure. And we must, because we cannot stand by while a genocide occurs.

When President Bush came into office he wrote of the devastating 1994 genocide in Rwanda: "Not on my watch."

But right now in Darfur millions have been uprooted and hundreds of thousands killed systematically by an armed militia – the very type of genocide President Bush pledged to stop.

We must hold him to his promise.

We need your voice today to urge President Bush to take action now, before it is too late.
Take Action]]> <![CDATA[Save Darfur - Stop the Genocide Now! - update]]>
Care2 members and others from the Save Darfur Coalition have sent millions of messages to President Bush. And just a day after over 50,000 rallied on the National Mall in Washington, and thousands joined rallies in cities across the country, President Bush dispatched Deputy Secretary of State Robert Zoellick to the peace talks.

This is just the first step toward building a lasting peace, but it is an important step - thank you to everyone who has taken action so far!
More...]]> <![CDATA[Stop Oil Exploration in Indigenous Traditional Lands in Belize]]> A US-based oil company is poised to begin oil exploration in the Sarstoon Temash National Park (STNP) and indigenous traditional lands in southern Belize.

The park encompasses 41,000 acres of relatively undisturbed wetlands where hundreds of species of birds, tropical butterflies and animals live, including manatees, ocelots and endangered jaguars, and is home to 5 indigenous villages whose livelihoods are closely tied to the health of the Park's resources.

Oil exploration could significantly change the ecological character of the park and negatively affect the livelihoods, including potential ecotourism activities, of the indigenous Maya and Garifuna peoples living in the area.

Furthermore, oil exploration in a national park may be a violation of Belize’s international treaty obligations under the Ramsar convention and the Convention on Biological Diversity and constitutes an incursion into indigenous traditional lands, violating the rights of the Maya and Garifuna communities as outlined by the Inter American Commission on Human Rights.

We ask you to help us pressure the Belizean government to exclude STNP and surrounding community lands from all seismic testing and subsequent oil drilling.
Take Action]]> <![CDATA[Tell the EPA to Keep Information about Toxic Pollution Public]]> We think American citizens have a right to know what toxic chemicals are being released into their local communities.

But the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently announced plans to significantly limit the information that companies are required to disclose about their release of hazardous chemicals – including toxins like mercury, lead, and dioxin — into our environment.

Through its plan to reduce the reporting requirements of its Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) program, the EPA is proposing to take away an important tool for protecting public health and our environment. In its 20 years in existence, the TRI has provided the public with critical information about chemical contaminants that pose a serious threat to our health, while simultaneously providing incentives for companies to reduce their pollution levels.

There is no justification for weakening this successful program today, other than to please large corporate polluters, who view public disclosure as a costly nuisance. That's why we must send a strong message to the Bush Administration that this is unacceptable public policy in a democracy!

The EPA is accepting public comments only until January 13, 2005. Please take a moment to oppose this misguided and dangerous proposal and be included in the public record!
Take Action]]> <![CDATA[Tell the EPA to Keep Information about Toxic Pollution Public - success]]> Congratulations Care2 activists! Your voice helped win a victory in Congress.

At the end of 2005, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced plans to significantly limit the information that companies are required to provide through the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) about their release of toxic chemicals—like mercury, lead, and dioxin—into local communities.

In response, 110,000 Americans (including you) submitted comments regarding the proposed change, with an overwhelming majority rejecting the proposal.

Your comments helped encourage Congress to step in. On Thursday of last week, a bipartisan group in the House of Representatives voted 231 to 187 in favor of the amendment to preserve this important public safety initiative.

While the battle is not over, this is an important step in ensuring the TRI continues to assist communities in curbing toxic pollution.

Congratulations and keep up the good work!
More...]]> <![CDATA[Support Renewable Energy on Native American Land]]> In 1992 Congress adopted a production tax credit as part of the Energy Policy Act, giving tax breaks to producers of wind power and renewable energy. Ironically Native Americans, one of the poorest communities that could most benefit from this act, were excluded from its incentives.

Now we're calling on Congress to include Native Americans in tax breaks for renewable energy production, like wind power.

The export of rural wind power can provide the basis for a sustainable reservation economy that brings revenue and employment to impoverished rural tribal communities. And unlike fossil fuel development, a wind project can bring in a 25 year revenue stream from the sale of energy, green tags, and other incentives, without leaving behind degraded air, polluted water, flooded lands, or gaping holes in the ground.

This is a win-win situation for Native Americans, for our economy, and for our environment.

As Congress now debates the Production Tax Credit, call on them to extend its terms to create long-term incentives for ALL producers of renewable energy in the U.S. -- including Native Americans!
Take Action]]> <![CDATA[Stand Against Female Genital Cutting]]> Female genital cutting (FGC), also called female circumcision, has affected more than 135 million women and girls worldwide. The cutting usually takes place between the ages of 4 and 12 and can cause serious complications including severe bleeding, infection, long-term difficulties with intercourse and childbirth, and even death.

Working with community leaders, CARE has already made progress in ending female genital cutting. Now we need the help of people like you.

By signing this petition today, you'll be raising awareness and taking a stand to stop the painful practice of female genital cutting. Your name will be added to a list that will demonstrate to key decision makers and change agents just how strong the opposition against FGC is.

We must do all we can to save these girls from a lifetime of pain and suffering. Start by taking a stand against FGC. Sign today.
Take Action]]> <![CDATA[Tell Starbucks to Honor Their Commitments to Coffee Farmers]]> Each year, coffee companies make billions of dollars. Starbucks alone earned almost $5.8 billion in net revenues during the first three quarters of 2006.

Yet, for every cup of coffee Starbucks sells, poor farmers in coffee-growing countries like Ethiopia earn only about $.03. Even worse, while Ethiopian farmers grow some of the finest name-brand coffees in the world – think Harar, Yirgacheffe, and Sidamo – they don't see the premium profits those names command among consumers.

With as many as 15 million Ethiopians dependent on coffee, Ethiopia wants to get its farmers more of what they deserve. The country's government has asked Starbucks to sign a licensing agreement that will allow Ethiopia to control the names of its coffee. That way, Ethiopia can help determine an export price that makes sure farmers see a larger share of the profits enabling them to feed their children, send them to school and get them better healthcare.

Ask Starbucks to sign the agreement giving Ethiopian farmers their fair share of coffee profits.

Take Action]]> <![CDATA[Stop Tricks for Cheaper Chocolate Treats]]> What's scarier than ghosts or goblins this Halloween? How about chocolate treats made from child labor?

Almost half of the world's cocoa is produced on West African plantations where widespread instances of child slavery, human trafficking, and forced labor have been reported.

Unless multi-billion dollar candy companies like Nestle and Mars (the makers of M&Ms) take the lead, most, if not all the chocolate in your local supermarket will continue to be made at the cost of human life.

The solution? Chocolate that's Fair Trade Certified. Fair Trade standards do not permit forced labor or child labor and ensure that farmers are paid a fair price for their cocoa.

This Halloween, put an end to "tricks" for cheaper chocolate treats. Ask Mars and Nestle to address these human rights violations by offering fair trade chocolate in their product line!
Take Action]]> <![CDATA[Protect Every Child's Right To Survival]]> According to UNICEF, 29,000 children die every day from preventable causes, like malaria, measles and diarrhea. It's an outrage, and it doesn't have to be that way.

We know how to save the lives of millions of children a year with an integrated package of low-cost, high-impact interventions – including insecticide-treated bed-nets to fight malaria, immunizations for childhood diseases like measles and tetanus, antibiotics to cure pneumonia, and clean water to prevent diarrhea.

As part of the Millennium Development Goals, the entire world, including the United States, committed to reducing the death rate for children under five by two-thirds by 2015. Sadly, the world is not on track to meet that goal.

U.S. leadership and funding has made an enormous contribution to saving children's lives over the past two decades. But we can and must do more. In order to save children’s lives, our nation needs to renew its commitment to child survival, and invest in comprehensive child survival programs that dramatically expand lifesaving services where children need them most.

Children have the right to live, and there are few issues in the world that are as important and as solvable as saving the world's children. We invite you to join UNICEF on the front lines of this fight by signing this petition.

Let your Members of Congress know that children around the world are dying needlessly, and that you want a dramatic increase in U.S. efforts to give those children a chance to enjoy their childhood!
Take Action]]> <![CDATA[Keep the Promise to Fight Poverty]]> Efforts by the ONE Campaign helped to secure a one billion dollar increase in anti-poverty funding for 2007. But Congress failed to pass funding bills for the 2007 fiscal year in the closing hours of their session.

The result is that any funding increases that we secured in 2006 are in jeopardy - as are the lives and livelihoods of millions of the world's poorest people who were counting on this funding. They risk losing access to anti-malarial bed nets, AIDS medicines, clean water, and the opportunity to send their children to school.

Thankfully, there is still some limited money that Congress can allocate for the 2007 budget. We need to let Congress know that we want this money to go towards fighting extreme poverty and global AIDS so that we do not take a giant step backwards.

Mercy Corps and the ONE Campaign are asking you to sign this petition telling Congress to protect anti-poverty funding and save lives - don't let the progress we made last year be rolled back in 2007.
Take Action]]> <![CDATA[Protect Darfur Women and Their Daughters from Abuse and Genocide]]> Right now there is a terrible government-sponsored genocide taking place in Darfur, Sudan. Over 2.5 million people have already been driven from their homes and hundreds of thousands more have been brutally murdered by the Janjaweed, a government-sponsored militia.

Darfuri women and girls are under constant threat of rape and physical assault by the Janjaweed. Girls as young as eight risk being raped and attacked when they leave their homes or refugee camps to gather firewood and food. Hungry families face a terrible choice each day - do they send out their husbands and sons who may be killed, or their mothers and daughters, who may be raped and beaten? This is a choice no one should ever have to make!

Please join the Save Darfur Coalition in speaking up for these women and girls who have no voice. Sign the petition asking the UN Secretary-General and President Bush to take immediate steps to stop the genocide.
Take Action]]> <![CDATA[Tell Starbucks to Honor Their Commitments to Coffee Farmers - success]]> Over 22,000 Care2 members signed our partner Oxfam's petition urging Starbucks to honor their commitments to coffee farmers. With as many as 15 million Ethiopians dependent on coffee, Ethiopia's government asked Starbucks to sign a licensing agreement that will allow Ethiopia to control the names of its coffee. This would allow Ethiopia to determine an export price that guarantees farmers receive a fair share of coffee profits, enabling them to feed their children, send them to school, and get them better healthcare. Starbucks listened.

On November 28, Starbucks CEO Jim Donald met with Prime Minister Meles Zenawi to discuss Ethiopia's ownership of its coffee names and the enormous benefits that ownership could bring to the 15 million poor Ethiopians who depend on coffee for their livelihood. While nothing has been finalized, this is a huge step in the right direction!
More...]]> <![CDATA[End China's Human Rights Abuses in Tibet Before the 2008 Olympics]]> Take Action]]> <![CDATA[Give Poor Farmers a Fighting Chance]]>
The current Farm Bill represents a broken promise to America's farmers and rural communities, and it falls short of meeting its obligations to families that depend on food stamps and conservation programs that protect rivers and streams. To make things worse, the current Farm Bill actually hurts poor farmers in developing countries.

Please sign this petition to contact your members of Congress today and ask them to create a Farm Bill that reduces misguided subsidies and shifts those resources to support the programs that really need the money.

Members of Congress listen to their constituents. Your voice could make all the difference! Use it now to tell Congress to put your tax money to work for farmers, families, and our future.
Take Action]]> <![CDATA[Protect Displaced Iraqis!]]> Take Action]]> <![CDATA[Strengthen the Farm Bill! Reduce Hunger and Help Rural America]]> Take Action]]> <![CDATA[Don't Let Lifesaving Medicines Slip Out of Reach Because of Drug Company Politic]]> Take Action]]> <![CDATA[Children in Darfur Need a Future - Join Lucy Liu in the Virtual March]]> Take Action]]> <![CDATA[End Workplace Discrimination: Pass ENDA Now!]]> Equal Opportunity - Unless You're Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual or Transgender.

In 31 states, it's still legal to fire someone because they're gay; in 39 states it is legal to fire someone for being transgender.

Thousands of hardworking GLBT Americans have lost their livelihoods simply because of who they are. The Human Rights Campaign is leading the charge to end this bitter injustice by passing the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), a federal bill that would make it illegal to fire, refuse to hire, or refuse to promote employees simply based on sexual orientation or gender identity.

Our momentum for this historic legislation is building on Capitol Hill. But the radical right is flooding lawmakers with lies and misinformation about ENDA.

You can set the facts straight. Send your lawmakers a message today. Make sure they know passing ENDA is the American thing to do!
Take Action]]> <![CDATA[All Foster Children Deserve Permanent Homes and Loving Families]]> Take Action]]> <![CDATA[Stand with the People of Burma]]> Take Action]]> <![CDATA[Make AIDS History: Support the Search for an AIDS Vaccine]]> A vaccine is the best hope to stop the spread of AIDS.

Vaccines for other diseases have altered the course of human history. They have eradicated smallpox from the world and polio from most countries - all told more than two dozen fatal diseases can now be prevented by vaccines. We must add AIDS to this list.

The global toll of HIV/AIDS is staggering. Last year alone, AIDS claimed 2.9 million lives - of these, 530,000 were children. Each day, almost 12,000 men, women, and children become infected with HIV, 95% of them in developing countries.

HIV continues to outpace the global response. While prevention programs can slow the spread of HIV, and treatment can help patients live longer, a vaccine offers the promise of ending AIDS for all time.

A major component of developing a safe, effective AIDS vaccine that will work for people in the developing world is public education and public support. Help us make AIDS history. Please show your support for a safe, effective and accessible AIDS vaccine by signing our Citizen Support Pledge.
Take Action]]> <![CDATA[Stop the Lies About Immigration - Don't Broadcast Tom Tancredo's Ad]]> Take Action]]> <![CDATA[Urgent: Help Make the Farm Bill Fair - Vote is on Wednesday!]]> Take Action]]> <![CDATA[No Permanent Military Bases in Iraq!]]> "The first thing we have to do is end this war. And the right person to end it is someone who had the judgment to oppose it from the beginning." - Barack Obama, October 2, 2007

Just weeks ago, the Bush administration opened the door to establishing permanent military bases in Iraq. Lt. Gen. Douglas Lute, the administration's deputy national security adviser for Iraq and Afghanistan, stated that permanent military bases in Iraq will be "on the negotiating table" during talks next year on the long-term security relationship between the U.S. and Iraq.

We need real leadership to get us out of Iraq. Barack Obama opposed the war in Iraq from the beginning. He has a clear, realistic plan to end it. Under a Barack Obama administration, the occupation of Iraq will end and there will be no permanent military bases inside Iraq.

Join Barack Obama in telling the Bush administration: no permanent military bases in Iraq!
Take Action]]> <![CDATA[End Water Poverty]]> Take Action]]> <![CDATA[Stop China's Crackdown on Tibet]]> Violence against protesters, monks and civilians in Tibet is quickly escalating as the deadly crackdown continues.

Only a few months away from the Beijing Summer Olympics, the Chinese government's violent attacks have already caused the death of around 100 people, while hundreds continue to be shot at, beat up and detained by China's security forces.

The atrocities committed to control these protests are a reminder of China's record of human rights abuses. The protests won't undermine the Olympics in China, but the brutal repression and use of force against the people of Tibet will.

We need you to sign this petition to the Olympic Games Officials and the United Nations to make sure help is on the way for the people of Tibet.


Take Action]]> <![CDATA[President Bush: Boycott Olympics Opening Ceremony]]> Take Action]]> <![CDATA[Increase Funding for International Family Planning]]> Family planning programs save lives. Yet millions of women around the world do not have access to critical reproductive health services like contraceptives, pregnancy and childbirth care, and HIV prevention programs. Each year, more than 500,000 women worldwide die during pregnancy or childbirth - and nearly of all these deaths could be prevented.

No medical intervention offers the breadth of potential benefits as family planning. When a woman has access to services that let her control her fertility and protect her health, new opportunities, including education and employment, may open up to her. Family planning programs thus have a "ripple effect" that changes the very fabric of families and communities.

Family planning programs are cost-efficient and highly successful, yet consistently under-funded, even as demand for these services rises quickly around the world.

You can help women have the reproductive health choices they need to protect themselves and their families. Please send a message to members of the House Sub-Committee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs today and support our call to increase U.S. funding for international family planning to $1 billion.

Take Action]]> <![CDATA[Provide Food Security for All]]> Take Action]]> <![CDATA[Global Action for Zimbabwe]]> hope fades for free and fair elections. The people of Zimbabwe are suffering from intimidation, torture and other horrific abuses such as rape and food deprivation.

This wave of political violence has taken a devastating human toll since the March 29th election, with over 200,000 people internally displaced, 86 opposition supporters killed, 10,000 people injured, and 500 women and girls sexually abused or raped.

Zimbabwe's recent ban on international aid groups in the country has left up to half a million Zimbabwean children without health care and food. The Mugabe regime is distributing food mostly to its supporters and if the situation continues, it could lead to massive starvation.

Sign now to condemn the acts of violence occurring in Zimbabwe: urge the UN Security Council and Zimbabwe's neighbors to do everything in their power to help put an end to the horrific bloodshed and to restore peace and the rule of law.
Take Action]]> <![CDATA[Bring Justice to Victims of Rape in California]]> Take Action]]> <![CDATA[Promote Peace and Protection in Central Africa]]> 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.


Take Action]]>