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Everyone expected House Republicans to give up efforts to kill NPR and PBS after a massive public outcry stopped them last year. But they've just voted to eliminate funding for NPR and PBS—unbelievably, starting with programs like "Sesame Street."
Public broadcasting would lose nearly a quarter of its federal funding this year. Even worse, all funding would be eliminated in two years--threatening one of the last remaining sources of watchdog journalism.
Sign the petition telling Congress to save NPR and PBS again this year:
http://civic.moveon.org/publicbroadcasting/
Last year, millions of us took action to save NPR and PBS, and Congress listened. We can do it again if enough of us sign the petition in time.
This would be the most severe cut in the history of public broadcasting. The Boston Globe reports the cuts "could force the elimination of some popular PBS and NPR programs." NPR's president expects rural public radio stations may be forced to shut down.
The House and Senate are deciding if public broadcasting will survive, and they need to hear from viewers like you. Sign the petition at:
http://civic.moveon.org/publicbroadcasting/
Thanks!
P.S. Read the Boston Globe story on the threat to NPR and PBS at:
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=1864
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expression
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Human Rights |
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Phone Call |
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Congress may vote as soon as this Tuesday on bills that would expand executive branch power to wiretap Americans without warrants and to subject detainees to coercive interrogations while denying them the fundamental right to challenge their detentions. Please call your Senators and your Representative Monday or Tuesday, even if you have already called! The Administration wants to rush through this new grab for unchecked power before Congress leaves for its election recess this Saturday.
- On Warrantless Wiretaps, California Representative Dan Lungren's amendment to Heather Wilson's House bill (H.R. 5825) would, among other things, give the government powers equivalent to a court order or subpoena against telecoms that refuse to hand their customers' records to the government without warrants. A similar provision has been added to Arlen Specter's Senate bill (S. 2453).
- On Military Commissions, the so-called "compromise" on S. 3901 reached between the White House and three Senate Republicans would allow evidence coerced through torture and abuse to be used if a judge finds it credible. As before, it denies the writ of habeas corpus for detainees—including Guantánamo detainees whose habeas petitions are pending in U.S. federal courts. Only the Administration would be able to decide when and whether to try a detainee. It would also prohibit detainees from using the Geneva Conventions to challenge their detentions or to seek damages for their mistreatment, and it would insulate the CIA from legal liability for acts of torture used in past interrogations. The bill would define “cruel treatment” narrowly so that the CIA &ldquo
 rogram” of coercive interrogation (involving sleep deprivation, stress positions, and the like) may continue. The President would have unilateral discretion over what actions besides certain defined “grave breaches” that violate the Geneva Conventions would be treated as violations under U.S. law. - A bill combining warrantless wiretapping and military commissions is a possibility. If a vote is taken on such a bill, it may be hard for some members to vote against it, especially in an election year.
Telephone your representative and your senators right away. We must stop Congress from rushing these bills in the final days before the election recess!
- Dial the Capitol Switchboard at 202 224-3121 (24 hours) and ask the operator to connect you, or
- Click here to look up your senators’ and representative’s direct numbers.
Tell the person who answers the phone that you have problems with bills to legalize the President’s warrantless domestic wiretapping program and detainee policy. Ask Senator __________ (or Representative _______) to do everything possible to block the NSA bill and the military commissions bill and any attempt to combine the two into a single bill. They need to be considered separately and fully and must not be rushed through.
Thank you for all you do!
Nancy Talanian, Director
Bill of Rights Defense Committee
Keep the BORDC going with your tax-deductible contribution. To donate funds or stock online, go to http://www.bordc.org/donate.php, or mail a check or money order to: 8 Bridge Street, Suite A, Northampton, MA, 01060.
If you have received this message in error, or you wish to unsubscribe from BORDC's newsletter and action alert, please send a message to newsletter@bordc.org with "Unsubscribe" in the Subject line.
© 2002-2006 Bill of Rights Defense Committee · All Rights Reserved · info@bordc.org8 Bridge St., Suite A · Northampton, MA 01060 · (413) 582-0110 www.bordc.org
Last Updated: September |
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human
bush
rights
torture
detention
spying
wiretapping
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Workers Rights |
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Other |
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United States |
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On September 29th, workers and activists will be joining together in New York City to protest Smithfield Packing's terrible treatment of its employees.
You can be a part of this important protest without even coming to New York! Join the Virtual Protest organized by the Justice at Smithfield campaign and send a message to Smithfield from the comfort of your home or office that you're marching alongside them in spirit.
What's the action? Well, Smithfield is watching, and the campaign doesn?t want to tip them off. But it's easy to do, won't cost you anything, and will make a big difference for thousands of workers currently being abused. Sign up and they?ll e-mail you on the 29th with all the details.
They need 4,000 people to join the Virtual Protest to get Smithfield to listen. I?ve already signed up ? will you join me in helping to win Justice at Smithfield?
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Write E-Mail |
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United States |
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Take action: EPA gives preliminary approval for dangerous pesticidesLast May we informed you that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was pressuring its scientists to approve continued use of dangerous pesticides. Many of these pesticides stem from World War II research on nerve gas. They include a variety of chemicals used in agriculture, gardens, golf courses, flea collars and pest strips. Thousands of UFW supporters responded by e-mailing EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson. The EPA did not listen and recently gave preliminary approval to more than 20 toxic pesticides--against the objections of the agency's own scientists and public health professionals across the nation. There is still time to stop this travesty. The EPA’s public comment period on this decision ends Oct. 2. Please e-mail the EPA TODAY before this unjust decision is made permanent. Tell EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson and your U.S. senators to follow the Food Quality Protection Act. There is ample evidence that these pesticides are too toxic to be used safely. Tell them their responsibility is to protect the public, not the chemical industry.
Take action at the United Farm Workers site:
http://www.ufwaction.org/campaign/epa906/wxww66i2a7xnd58?
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Spread far and wide - please! Found these on AMERICAblog; thought they were great. The creator gave permission to distribute - one little jab at Disney/ABC.
Thank - Linda K
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March |
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Washington D.C., United States |
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Invitation to join nonviolent direct action on the morning of Tuesday, September 26th
Join the National Campaign for Nonviolent Resistance (NCNR)
http://iraqpledge. org/ in Washington, DC, on Tuesday, September 26.
We will gather at 10 A.M. in Upper Senate Park. At 11:30 A.M. we will march to the Capitol for a peaceful, nonviolent direct action to help end the war and occupation of Iraq.
This historic event at the Capitol on September 26th is one of the action plans of the Declaration of Peace, a nationwide campaign to establish a concrete and rapid plan for peace in Iraq. The Declaration of Peace http://www.declarat ionofpeace. org/ calls on Congress to agree on a timetable for withdrawal of troops, a closure of bases, and the establishment of a peace process for security, reconstruction, and reconciliation.
If members of Congress do not endorse a peace plan by September 21, the International Day of Peace, several thousand declaration signers, working through 180 antiwar, peace and justice organizations across the U.S., are committed to engaging in nonviolent action in Washington, D.C. and in communities throughout the nation.
The National Campaign for Nonviolent Resistance has a strong and lengthy record of organizing civil resistance actions, including the memorable Dover to DC Procession in March of 2004; a demonstration in October of that same year that featured more than a thousand shrouded coffins at the White House; and National Stand Down Day, last November, an event that featured demonstrations and civil resistance at more then 20 military recruiting stations across the country. Last September, NCNR brought hundreds to the White House where 371 were arrested. In March of this year, NCNR targeted the Pentagon with a message of peace and compassion and several dozen were taken into police custody.
We encourage you to register for the nonviolent civil resistance at the U.S. Capitol on September 26, 2006: http://www.iraqpled ge.org/sept26_ rsvp.cgi
Contact Max Obuszewski, mobuszewski@ afsc.org
410-323-7200, ext. 31
Post script:
Mahatma Gandhi said, "Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony." Most of us are a mile off of that mark. I know I am. I offer an inverted theorem that makes me tick: "Misery is when what we think and what we say don't match what we do."
People of conscience are compelled to act in the face of outrageous injustice. It's always been like that. Some of us are born that way; some of us have acquired the passion and resolve to reconcile our thoughts and words with our actions. Some of us must act to keep from being miserable.
The United States military has killed tens of thousands of innocent civilians in Iraq using methods ranging from cluster bombs to carpet bombs. Human flesh torn and charred. Revelations of atrocities in Haditha and Mahmudiyah illustrate the horror inflicted by U.S. forces in this war of choice. Whole families are slaughtered by U.S. forces and the atrocities are mentioned in passing on the back pages of major U.S. dailies. Entire cities like Fallujah, with 300,000 people, have been destroyed as an act of brutal and indiscriminate punishment.
Toxic depleted uranium munitions are still being used, leaving areas uninhabitable for tens of thousands of years. We have earned the collective scorn of most of the world's population for unspeakable war crimes. The United States thumbs its nose at the UN Charter and the Nuremberg principles. Government sources warn of a pre-emptive strike on Iran, even threatening the use of nuclear weapons. Conservative pundits warn the public to brace for World War III. Where will it end?
What are you doing about it? Do you feel responsible for it? I do, and that's why I'll be in Washington at the Capitol on the morning of Tuesday, September 26.
- Pat Elder
National Campaign for Nonviolent Resistance
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**Tell your Senator to vote "No" on the "National Uniformity for Food Act" **
The House of Representatives has passed a controversial "national food uniformity" labeling law that would take away local government and states' power to require food safety food labels such as those required in California and other states on foods or beverages that are likely to cause cancer, birth defects, allergic reactions, or mercury poisoning. This bill would also prevent citizens in local municipalities and states from passing laws requiring that genetically engineered foods and ingredients such as Monsanto's recombinant Bovine Growth Hormone (rBGH) be labeled.
Soon, the Senate will vote on this bill, which would gut state food safety and labeling laws. The "National Uniformity for Food Act," lowers the bar on food safety by overturning state food safety laws that are not "identical" to federal law. Hundreds of state laws and regulations are at risk, including those governing the safety of milk, fish, and shellfish. The bill is being pushed by large supermarket chains and food manufacturers, spearheaded by the powerful Grocery Manufacturers of America.
Big food corporations and the biotech industry understand that consumers are more and more concerned about food safety, genetic engineering, and chemical-intensive agriculture, and are reading labels more closely. They understand that pesticide and mercury residues and hazardous technologies such as genetic engineering and food irradiation will be rejected if there are truthful labels required on food products. This industry-sponsored bill is gaining momentum and must be stopped! Act now! Preserve local and regional democracy and protect yourself and your family from unsafe food by sending an email or calling your Senator.
Learn more and take action here:
http://www.organicconsumers.org/rd/labeling.cfm
Take action now at http://www.democracyinaction.org/oca/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=2752&t= From: The GRACE Public Fund
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I found this on another site, and it seemed like a great idea. A local peace group here in Milwaukee used to do something like this, and it was very effective. Please help these people out and spread far and wide  Thanks - Linda K
Please copy this & forward this to your contacts
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United Kingdom… United States…Egypt…Austria…Germany…Canada…
Ecuador… Puerto Rico… France… Chile…Iran… Iraq…Mexico…Spain…
Italy…Cypress…Israel… Everywhere!
_______________________________________________________
A formatted colourful version of this e mail along with a poignant
song from the amazing Martha Tilston can be found @
http://www.infinitepossibility.org
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Global Chalk4Peace - Sept 16/17th
We CAN Make THE Difference
ON THE WEEKEND OF SEPTEMBER 16 & 17th Chalk4Peace!
On the pavements and sidewalks of our towns and cities
You are invited to Take Action! - (Scroll down for WHAT CAN YOU DO?)
To Participate in this GLOBAL outpouring of public art. Where we make our personal statements for peace on the pavements and sidewalks of our cities all over our world.
Chalk4Peace IS HAPPENING!
All around the globe, together we are decorating, dedicating and declaring, in deep sincerity our collective call for peace.
Chalk4Peace is about our empowerment. We The People, our global culture, all people everywhere and our common desire to live in peace.
The Chalk4Peace project has already transformed the experience of thousands of people attending demonstrations for peace all over the world during the past 3 years. Chalk4Peace is both a tool and a conduit for non violent public self _expression, and participation in the growing global movement for peace.
Chalk4Peace is an opportunity for all of us of all ages to make our feelings known, especially the young, whose future is in dire jeopardy as our global village falls faster and faster into the fear breeding fear spiral.
Our global culture is teetering on the edge of extinction.
No 1 person alone can turn this around, but together WE CAN!
"The Structure of world peace cannot be the work of one man, one party,or one nation. It must be a peace which rests on the cooperative effort of the whole world"
... Eleanor Roosevelt
Our basic human instincts drive us to seek safety. This is what this chaos is all about.Our essential human survival instincts are acting out of context with the wider global cultural need resulting in mistrust, fear and conflict.
Everywhere the media is bombarding us with WAR TALK, distractions and negative belief patterns that encourage us to believe that the future of our world is out of our hands entirely.
One place we still have communal access to, is OUR STREETS.
We can balance our GLOBAL CONVERSATION with collective self-_expression using OUR STREETS AS OUR MEDIA!
Chalk4Peace is one step, a catalyst that can transform our global conversation as
we the people, en masse make our statement that is our common aspiration for peace.
START NOW! Just DO IT!
Carry some chalk with you, invite a friend with you, to chalk inspirations on the pavement whenever and wherever you fancy.
Chalk is harmless, cheap and washes away within a few days.
Especially PARTICIPATE in the Sept 16 – 17th GLOBAL Chalk4Peace ACTION!
Make it happen in your Community!
Lets us turn our grey streets into a living river of colour and possibility - With poetry, hearts, peace symbols, empowering statements, also expressions of our frustrations and despair.
All will be seen for several days by thousands of people, then as they are washed away by the elements WE CAN CONTINUE to find fresh places to Chalk4Peace.
We don't need to be an artist to Chalk4Peace. Every statement, however small or large becomes part of the amazing tapestry that is our global future.
This unique event conceivably, could be the largest of its kind in modern history.
It is a global effort that is happening.
We The People are spreading the word and making the effort to be a part of this huge creative endeavour to bring Peace back into the equation.
It is our goal for at least one million or more of us to participate with this sidewalk/pavement chalk extravaganza, at thousands of locations, in as many countries, cities and towns around the world as is possible.
So WHAT CAN YOU DO to help make this happen?
1. NETWORK this email to your friends, contacts and where ever else seems appropriate
2. JOIN the Yahoo group
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Chalk4Peace
or send a blank email to:
Chalk4Peace-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
To network with others around the world who will be Chalking4Peace.
3. EMAIL:
viziondanz@infinitepossibility.org
to let us know what you are doing in your community, and please send us pictures. Or to find out how you can participate in the project.
4. ARRANGE with you local businesses, libraries, churches, mosques, synagogues, restaurants, supermarkets etc to chalk on the pavement outside their premises on the 16th/ 17th of September and whenever else.
IIDENTIFY public squares such as Trafalgar Square in London and invite all your friends and your friends' friends to show up with a few boxes of chalk, or even get some from your local quarry.
TAKE extra chalk with you to hand out to passers-by.
5. USE this Email as a press release for you local TV, Radio and Newspapers.
Let them know that Chalk4Peace is happening ASAP to get the momentum going.
6. DOCUMENT YOUR Chalk4peace actions with photos and video Send them to your local media - copies for our website will be greatly appreciated - send to:
viziondanz@infinitepossibility.org
7. ENGAGE co-creatively in local communal efforts, strengthen working relationships and find what it takes to stand for peace and freedom.
8. Have lots of FUN and keep on Chalking4Peace after the September event.
"FUN – The Final Frontier"
How did Chalk4Peace begin?
"Message in a bottle"
http://www.infinitepossibility.org/chalk/message/
http://www.infinitepossibility.org/chalk
http://www.myspace.com/chalk4peace
for Chalk4Peace locations in America
http://www.chalk4peace.org
Its time for us to move beyond the "No to War" position and come together
"Saying Yes2Peace"
"If we don't create our future, our past will create it for us"
http://www.infinitepossibility.org/yes1
Lets skip the war bit and just get to the peace…
Greet someone new today,
look into their eyes, smile, say hello,
shake their hand ...
LET THE PEACE BEGIN!
Brian 
==================================================
http://www.myspace.com/viziondanz
http://www.infinitepossibility.org
"There is nothing wrong with our world,
we are just having a weird conversation".
"Reclaim the conversation"
"Our New World Order IS Love!"
Dedicated to the child inside each one of us,
All the children and
All the children to come.
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