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Native Americans: Congress Could Honor the Promises on Health Care

The health insurance overhaul being debated in Congress could bring the most significant improvements to the Indian health system in decades and uphold a trust responsibility to tribes throughout the United States. FCNL Program Assistant Inez Steigerwald discusses a recent New York Times article about the prospects for inclusion of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act in the final health bill. You can influence the debate: write your senators today.

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Dear CCR Supporter

CCR has fought for reproductive justice for women since the days when abortion was illegal. Decades later, women's rights are still under attack. The proposed national health care reform being considered by Congress includes dangerous restrictions to a women's right to choose and we must not let this happen. Take action today and write your Senator and Representative today

The "Stupak Amendment" of the Affordable Health Care for America Act, which is Congress' health care reform bill, would: 1) prevent women participating in the public health insurance exchange from purchasing private insurance that covers abortion - even if they using their own money; 2) prevent women who receive tax subsidies from purchasing private insurance that covers abortion - even if they're using their own money; and 3) In many cases, prevent low-income women from accessing abortion services entirely.

The "Stupak Amendment" would be a major downward shift in U.S. policy. This Amendment goes far beyond the Hyde Amendment of 1976, which made it illegal for federal funds to be spent on abortion, stripping millions of poor women of the right to choose. The legislators who are seeking to use health care reform to rollback women's reproductive rights and their conservative supporters are working hard to ensure that these restrictive provisions are reconstituted in the final Bill.

The Center has joined in coalition with the Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA), and over forty other groups, including the National Organization for Women and the Center for Reproductive Rights, to ensure that there is no such provision further restricting the right to choose in any final national health care legislation. We urge you to:

1. Join the Coalition in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday December 2, 2009 for a National Day of Action - for more details go to Planned Parenthood's National Day of Action website.
2. Write your Members of Congress urging them to not allow health care reform to become a platform to further restrict women's reproductive rights.
3. Sign Planned Parenthood's petition and help them to reach their goal of 100,000 signatures.
4. Sign a petition at CREDO Action and send a coat hanger to the 20 formerly pro-choice Democrats - all men - who voted to pass the Stupak Amendment.

Over three decades ago, CCR challenged the Hyde Amendment, in the landmark abortion rights case Harris v. McRae as violating the First and Fifth Amendments by severely impacting the health or poor women by denying them a procedure that 1 in 3 women will have in her life. (For more information, visit the Harris v. McRae legal case page.) Unfortunately a sharply divided Supreme Court disagreed, and the Amendment stood. Now, thirty years later, the national debate on health care reform is being used as an excuse to roll back abortion rights. We cannot let this happen.

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Tell U.S. Senate to Act Against Global Warming

Sponsored by: Defenders of Wildlife

Urge U.S Senate to help struggling wildlife by passing comprehensive global warming legislation. Take action!

Goal: 40,000 • Progress: 17,359

Help Us End Alaska's Aerial Wolf Slaughter

Sponsored by: Defenders of Wildlife

Urge Alaska Governor Sean Parnell to end the state's unfounded aerial wolf-killing program. Take action!

Goal: 100,000 • Progress: 83,178

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After a decade of campaigning, we can finally celebrate as the UK Marine and Coastal Access Bill becomes law - giving our oceans the urgent and effective protection they deserve. Thanks to everyone who backed our campaign. More...

Together, we have fought and won many battles for nature. Please sign our Letter and help nature win its biggest ever battle. More...

Love nature? Then please join us in asking the Government to take action to prevent climate change. Together we can make a difference. More...

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Dear Leigh,

PETA is looking for a plaintiff (or multiple plaintiffs) to file suit against Lowe's for misleading consumers about the cruelty inherent in its glue traps.

PETA has repeatedly called on Lowe's to stop selling glue traps— adhesive boards that small animals become trapped on and on which they suffer greatly, panicking and getting their faces caught and slowly starving or suffocating to death. Rather than stop selling glue traps, Lowe's has chosen to mislead consumers by making them believe that the mice are anesthetized when caught. Lowe's says that it "only carr[ies] the products that contain Eugenol, which is an anesthetic." This is totally misleading, and here's why:

Eugenol does not work at all as a painkiller when applied topically, as it is in glue traps. Eugenol only works when injected directly into the bloodstream or pumped into the stomach. In fact, the eugenol in glue traps may make the experience more painful for trapped animals by causing a painful burning sensation and nausea.

We are exploring legal action to stop Lowe's from misleading consumers. If you or someone you know bought a glue trap from Lowe's under the impression that it would be a more humane form of rodent control because of its eugenol content and were upset by the suffering the traps subsequently cause or are angry after learning the truth about Lowe's claims, here's what to do: Please get in touch with Alicia at PETA at AliciaW@peta.org or 323-644-7382, extension 23. And if you haven't already asked Lowe's to stop selling glue traps, please do so here.

Thank you for all that you do for animals.

Sincerely,






Alicia Woempner
Special Projects Coordinator
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals

Click to

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Dear Leigh,

Western Atlantic bluefin tuna are in deep peril. This amazing fish that can swim over 40 mph and weigh up to 1,500 pounds is in danger of becoming extinct within 10 years. Rampant commercial fishing has reduced the mature population of this fish by 80% since 1970. Despite this, the federal government is proposing to increase the catch in the Gulf of Mexico, the only known spawning area for bluefin tuna in the western Atlantic Ocean.

Please act now to help protect bluefin tuna.

Fishermen in the Gulf of Mexico targeting swordfish and yellowfin tuna deploy up to 40 miles of long-lines in the water with hundreds of baited hooks attached. During the 10 hours a day these long-lines are fishing, species that are supposed to be protected in the Gulf of Mexico including bluefin tuna, marlins, and sea turtles are caught and killed. Instead of eliminating this wasteful fishing gear, the Federal government is proposing to allow commercial fishermen to kill and sell more bluefin tuna, despite the fact that their population is at the lowest levels on record.

Please take a moment to let the National Marine Fisheries Service know that they must stop the use of long-lines in the Gulf of Mexico to catch swordfish and yellowfin tuna. Other, less wasteful, fishing gear is available to catch swordfish and yellowfin tuna that will not jeopardize the future existence of bluefin tuna.

Thanks for your continued support,

Josh Reichert
Managing Director, Pew Environment Group

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Dear Dusty,

This June, President Obama signed landmark legislation giving the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authority to regulate tobacco products.

Now tell the FDA to implement the law in ways that pave the road for the U.S. to join the global tobacco treaty.

Here's how:

1. Click here to visit the FDA's submission page.


2. Fill in the comment form - you can use our sample comment (below) or draft a message of your own. Don't forget to add your signature at the bottom!


3. Submit your comment.

You helped make this new law possible, through more than 10 years of grassroots campaigning alongside other Corporate Accountability International members and coalition partners. But it includes a dangerous loophole: allowing for tobacco industry representation on an FDA Scientific Advisory Committee, a measure that is inconsistent with the global tobacco treaty.

Help close this loophole -- click here to send the FDA a quick message today.

We've provided a sample comment below, but feel free to edit or draft your own. With your help we can prevent the tobacco industry from setting health policy, and save millions from tobacco addiction, disease and death.

For more information about the new FDA tobacco control regulations and the global tobacco treaty, click here.

Onward,


Kathy Mulvey
International Policy Director

**Sample Message**

Dear Commissioner Hamburg,

I'm writing to express my belief that FDA regulation of tobacco is a great step forward in protecting our kids, and future generations, from Big Tobacco. I look forward to your agency tackling this new responsibility with vigor.

I am also writing to urge you to enforce the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act in a way that lays the groundwork for full, constructive U.S. participation in the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC). As you know, the U.S. is one of the few remaining countries that have not ratified this treaty, so our citizens are not yet protected by its life-saving measures.

You will need to be vigilant, as there is one glaring inconsistency between this new law and the global tobacco treaty. Because Big Tobacco has a fundamental and irreconcilable conflict of interest with public health, the treaty safeguards health policy against tobacco industry interference.

Unfortunately, this new legislation gives the tobacco industry a seat at the table in setting FDA policies. Including industry representatives on the Tobacco Products Scientific Advisory Committee is akin to letting the fox guard the henhouse. The tobacco corporations will seek to exploit this loophole, just as they are trying to get governments around the world to ignore their obligations under the FCTC.

I urge you to resist and bring to light any attempts by the tobacco industry to undermine FDA regulation. Along with other members of Corporate Accountability International, I will be closely following the exercise of your new authority, and thank you in advance for your work to protect our kids from Big Tobacco's dirty tricks and predatory marketing.

Sincerely,
(your name)

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ACESA must be strengthened or it will fail

Take action!

Dear Dusty,

The flawed cap and trade bill, ACESA (Waxman/Markey), passed the House in July without the following amendments to improve it:

• The Renewable Energy Standard (RE must be restored to the more stringent levels that were in the ACESA draft released in March,
  
• Strengthen emissions reduction targets, and eliminate or significantly reduce offsets and strengthen verification of offset quality,
  
• Protect low and middle-income families: eliminate free allowances to industry, and recycle revenue directly to households.
  
• Eliminate carbon markets and substitute a direct pricing mechanism, withholding sufficient revenue from recycling to help boost the transition to a clean energy economy and mitigate adverse global warming effects.
  
• Eliminate carbon capture and sequestration (CC and limit transition assistance to trade-exposed industries. Increase investment in renewables and in job creation in a green economy..
  
• Protect EPA’s authority to directly regulate emissions of greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act.

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An attempt by the Botswana government to punish Bushmen for hunting to feed their families has backfired after a magistrate let them off with a caution, and ordered their release from prison.
Read more »
Take action: write a letter to the Botswana government »

India’s National Human Rights Commission has written to the Government of Orissa demanding a full report into its joint venture project with British mining giant Vedanta Resources, following a complaint submitted by Survival.
Read more »
Take action: write a letter »

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 August 18, 2009  

BE PART OF THE SOLUTION

To the citizens of the world,

Leonard Peltier's first parole hearing, since President Obama took office, was on Tuesday, July 28. A decision will be made by the Federal Parole Commission in three weeks. Peltier's attorney is calling for public support for Leonard's release that will create a political climate too powerful to ignore.

"There is a higher court than courts of justice, and that is the court of conscience. It supersedes all other courts." - Mahatma Gandhi

Join Leonard's many supporters in the United States and around the world, including hundreds of US, European and Latin American parliamentarians, Nelson Mandela, Rigoberta Menchú, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Jesse Jackson, Southern Christian Leadership Conference, and the UN High Commissioner on Human Rights.

Help secure Peltier's prompt release from prison. Urge the United States Parole Commission to immediately grant parole to Leonard Peltier and request that the President of the United States grant clemency to Leonard Peltier.

*Let Your Voice Be Heard*

CLICK HERE TO SEND A LETTER IN SUPPORT OF PAROLE FOR LEONARD PELTIER

For a look into Leonard Peltier please click on the photo above.
Pilamayaye! (Thank you in Lakota)

Sponsored by:
NATIVE CHILDREN'S SURVIVAL
www.nativechildrenssurvival.org

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Don’t Schoolchildren Deserve the Option of Healthy Alternatives to Cows’ Milk?

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video:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZAuwaKl3-nU

In September, Congress will have the opportunity to pass legislation that will provide universal health coverage for all Americans.

I’m not talking about the White House sponsored HR 3200.  Rather, I’m referring to HR 676, also known as the United States National Health Care Act. HR 676, which provides true universal health coverage for all Americans, is based on a single-payer system and is modeled after Medicare. President Obama supported HR 676 during his campaign, but for some reason changed his mind and now wants Congress to pass HR 3200, a watered-down bill that provides many nice early Christmas presents to the insurance and pharmaceutical industry. Say it ain’t so, Mr. President, say it ain’t so!

Technically, the amendment – offered by NY Rep. Anthony Weiner – would replace the current text of HR 3200 with the text of HR 676.

It’s not going to be easy to get this done, but it’s possible.

The amendment needs 218 votes to pass. It can’t be accomplished without the votes of at least 18 of the Blue Dog Democrats, of which there are 52 in the House. Here’s who they are:

Blue Dog Leadership Team
Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin (SD), Blue Dog Co-Chair for Administration
Rep. Baron Hill (IN-09), Blue Dog Co-Chair for Policy
Rep. Charlie Melancon (LA-03), Blue Dog Co-Chair for Communications
Rep. Heath Shuler (NC-11), Blue Dog Whip

Blue Dog Members
Altmire, Jason (PA-04)
Arcuri, Mike (NY-24)
Baca, Joe (CA-43)
Barrow, John (GA-12)
Berry, Marion (AR-01)
Bishop, Sanford (GA-02)
Boren, Dan (OK-02)
Boswell, Leonard (IA-03)
Boyd, Allen (FL-02)
Bright, Bobby (AL-02)
Cardoza, Dennis (CA-18)
Carney, Christopher (PA-10)
Chandler, Ben (KY-06)
Childers, Travis (MS-01)
Cooper, Jim (TN-05)
Costa, Jim (CA-20)
Cuellar, Henry (TX-28)
Dahlkemper, Kathy (PA-03)
Davis, Lincoln (TN-04)
Donnelly, Joe (IN-02)
Ellsworth, Brad (IN-08)
Giffords, Gabrielle (AZ-08)
Gordon, Bart (TN-06)
Griffith, Parker (AL-05)
Harman, Jane (CA-36)
Herseth Sandlin, Stephanie (SD)
Hill, Baron (IN-09)
Holden, Tim (PA-17)
Kratovil, Jr., Frank (MD-01)
McIntyre, Mike (NC-07)
Marshall, Jim (GA-03)
Matheson, Jim (UT-02)
Melancon, Charlie (LA-03)
Michaud, Mike (ME-02)
Minnick, Walt (ID-01)
Mitchell, Harry (AZ-05)
Moore, Dennis (KS-03)
Murphy, Patrick (PA-08)
Nye, Glenn (VA-02)
Peterson, Collin (MN-07)
Pomeroy, Earl (ND)
Ross, Mike (AR-04)
Salazar, John (CO-03)
Sanchez, Loretta (CA-47)
Schiff, Adam (CA-29)
Scott, David (GA-13)
Shuler, Heath (NC-11)
Space, Zack (OH-18)
Tanner, John (TN-08)
Taylor, Gene (MS-04)
Thompson, Mike (CA-01)
Wilson, Charles (OH-06)

Use this simple electronic form to tell your representative – Blue Dog or otherwise – that you want him or her to vote for the HR 676 amendment in September. The form will automatically be submitted to your own Representative and Senators, based on your zip code.

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