Healthcare NOT Warfare, Sign the Petition

From Progressive Democrats of America:

As Martin Luther King Jr. observed forty years ago, "A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual death." While the insurance and pharmaceutical industries post huge profits, the U.S. health care crisis grows steadily worse.

Today, nearly one in six Americans has no health insurance. Tens of millions of others are woefully under-insured. Meanwhile the war in Iraq drains our resources and overburdens our budget. Our government's duty is to protect us--security begins with our health and well-being at home. In 2008, we have an historic opportunity to turn from warfare to health care for all.

We call on the Democratic Party at all levels--in party platforms and resolutions--to commit to redirecting wasteful and unnecessary military spending to meet human needs. This commitment must start with comprehensive, guaranteed health care--driven by the needs of patients and the judgment of doctors. We call on Democrats to support a plan that eliminates any financial barriers between the patient and healthcare providers, resulting in a patient not receiving medically necessary care.

We call on members of Congress to bring the troops home from Iraq and to pass H.R. 676, Rep. John Conyers' bill which guarantees comprehensive publicly-funded, privately-delivered health care for everyone in the U.S.

Prior to the Democratic National Convention in Denver, this petition will be delivered to Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, DNC Chair Howard Dean and your member of Congress.

Please fill out the form completely--we need your street address to determine who your member of Congress is.

Tell Congress: Investigate the Propaganda Pundits

From Free Press:

The New York Times exposed a shady Pentagon program to embed up to 75 "propaganda pundits" on every major news network. These so-called experts went on the air to cover up bad news about Iraq with White House spin. This is a violation of every conceivable standard of journalism -- and possibly of federal law. Learn more.

Send a letter to demand that Congress launch a full investigation into the "selling of the war."

Tell McDonalds to be a Leader and Not a Laggard!

From Dogwood Alliance:

Mc Donald's is the biggest of the 11 Fast Food Junkies buying their paper packaging from Southern forests. We know that McDonald?s is in the process of completing their latest Corporate Social Responsibility report and we know that it will include new language about an environmental paper packaging policy.

What we don?t know is whether McDonald?s will step out as a corporate leader with a policy that supersizes their commitment to protecting forests and increasing the post-consumer recycled content of their packaging and packaging efficiencies like right-sizing and light-weighting.

We need to make sure that their commitment is truly sustainable and not just greenwashing. Tell McDonalds CEO Jim Skinner that Southern forests are too important to be wasted for fast food packaging!

Bush Admin seeks to make public comment extinct

From Plenty Magazine:

Bush Admin seeks to make public comment extinct

The public normally gets a chance to comment on new laws and regulations before they are enacted. But in the case of regulations about endangered species, the Bush Administration appears to be determined to do what they want to do, regardless of how the public feels.

Monday's proposed changes to Endangered Species Act regulations come with several rather extreme limitations on public comments. For one things, you need to comment within 30 days. For another, you can't do it by email or fax. You need to send an actual, paper letter to the US Fish and Wildlife Service.

Here's the address, dug up by Andrew Wetzler at the NRDC:

Public Comment Processing

Attention: 1018-AT50

Division of Policy and Directives Management

US Fish and Wildlife Service

4401 North Fairfax Drive, Suite 222

Arlington, VA 22203

The National Wildlife Federation also has an online form you can use to send a comment to Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne. But let's face it, he probably won't care or even blink an eye no matter how many letters come in.

I'd also suggest contacting your state representatives to vocalize your displeasure about the proposed changes. If we're going to defeat these outrageous changes, we need as much action as we can get.

Tell McCain to Put a STOP to Oil Drilling in our Coastal Waters

Hi Friends,

I’ve been worrying a lot these days that all the concern about high gas prices will undermine our efforts to protect the planet.

Some politicians, like Senator McCain, are taking advantage of the situation by supporting the lift of a 27-year ban on drilling for oil along our coastlines.
Not only will that do nothing to immediately reduce the price of gas, it will cause large amounts of damage to the climate and marine wildlife!

TAKE ACTION: Tell McCain to Put a STOP to Oil Drilling in our Coastal Waters!

For whales and dolphins, the piercing underwater volume of seismic testing, the first step to offshore drilling, can lead to brain damage and even cause entire pods to beach. In June, over 100 melon-head whales beached off of Madagascar close to ExxonMobil seismic testing! Oil spills from the drilling would also threaten our beaches, fish, and marine mammals.

Now isn’t the time for following leaders who promise quick fixes to high gas prices. It’s the time to end our dependence on oil and fossil fuels and begin a meaningful transition toward a future where we utilize renewable energy sources that will be able to sustain generations to come.

John McCain’s plan to drill for more oil will only cause more greenhouse gas emissions and contribute to global warming.

For the Planet!
Chris
Greenpeace USA

Please Grab The Code For This Bulletin
And Repost Widely

Implementing a Comprehensive Regional Strategy

From Darfur Scores:

Ask your representative to co-sponsor House Resolution 1011.

With the humanitarian crisis stemming from Darfur continuing to destabilize not only Sudan, but the surrounding region, including Chad and the Central African Republic, it has become increasingly urgent that the international community develop, fund, and implement a "comprehensive regional strategy."

The United States and President Bush have the ability and responsibility to protect by using their influential position on the United Nations Security Council and financial ability to provide humanitarian assistance to the region.

House Resolution 1011 urges President Bush to stick to his promises by:

Urging the UN Security Council to implement sanctions against the government of Sudan for its detrimental actions and the continued destabilization of the region, and continue US humanitarian assistance to the refugees and internally displaced people in Chad and the Central African Republic.

This week, ask your representative to call on President Bush to stick to his promises and implement a comprehensive regional strategy by co-sponsoring House Resolution 1011.

Come Up to Denver!

Participate! Please copy and re-distribute this invitation. Invitation to Participate in Downtown Festival of Democracy http://www.comeuptodenver.org/phplist/?p=subscribe&id=3 The Come Up to Denver Campaign and Recreate68 would like to invite you to "Come Up to Denver" for the Democratic National Counter-Convention and Downtown Festival of Democracy. As you know, the DNC will be in Denver from Aug. 24-28, 2008. In the spirit of true democracy, we are inviting all groups advocating progressive social change to participate in the Downtown Festival of Democracy in Civic Center Park. This festival is being organized by Recreate68, an umbrella organization that has obtained permits for the main Downtown Denver parks for that week. The Democrats are coming to Downtown Denver, and we're going to party with them! The Downtown Festival of Democracy will run all week and includes free music, art, speakers, workshops, information tables, marches, rallies and networking opportunities for activists from around the country to plan "what's next" after the 2008 General Election. Environmental, peace, social justice, immigrant rights, human rights and the economy are just some of the issues that will be featured at the Festival. We are inviting your group to have an information table at the Festival at no charge. You can promote your cause through literature and information. Product sales will also be allowed with prior approval. There is no charge for your participation, however donations can be made to the permit-holder for the Downtown Festival of Democracy (R68, P.O. Box 6444, Denver CO, 80206). In addition, you can apply to have a speaker or give a workshop at the Festival. We will schedule speakers and workshops as time and space allows. You will have to supply your own information table setup and water containers. The city is providing water and portable toilets. We are trying to achieve a No Waste Left Behind event, so please encourage your members to treat this as a camping trip and "Pack It In, Pack It Out." The times and locations of all the events, marches and actions will not be finalized for several weeks. But the Downtown Festival of Democracy will take place at these locations concurrent with the Democratic National Convention: Sun. (8/24): Lincoln Park (across from Civic Center Park) Mon. (8/25): Civic Center Park Tues. (8/26): Civic Center Park Wed. (8/27): Skyline Park or Civic Center Park (TBA) Thurs. (8/28): Skyline Park off the 16th Street Mall If your group is interested in participating in the Downtown Festival of Democracy, please fill out this online form. You will be sent an email confirmation of your application. You must click on that link in the email in order for the application process to be completed. http://www.comeuptodenver.org/phplist/?p=subscribe&id=3 To aid in our organization efforts, your speedy response is greatly appreciated! Please feel free to forward this email to any other group you might think would be interested. See you in Denver!!! Sincerely, Come Up to Denver Campaign http://www.comeuptodenver.org/ Recreate68 Outreach Committee http://www.recreate68.org/