Recently, a massive tornado tore through the state of Oklahoma, utterly devastating the suburban town of Moore. The scale-topping EF5 twister wreaked about $2 billion worth of damage, leaving in its wake more at least 24 people dead and more than 12,000 homes and buildings destroyed. In light of this tragedy, Congress has begun scrambling to patch together an aid package for the victims of the tornado, but has run up against the stalwart opposition of the Republican senator whose own state is reeling: Tom Coburn.

Senator Coburn, an inveterate fiscal conservative, has made clear that he thinks his constituents in and around Moore can fend for themselves. In statements made on MSNBC, Coburn claimed that Congress was ‘creating a crisis when none exists so they can advantage themselves’; he also expressed confidence that the victims of the tornado will be fine with their own private home insurance. Going further, the senator has stated that he will only support disaster aid to his state if the funds are offset with federal budget cuts beforehand.

As the dust is still settling on the ruined homes and shattered psyches of thousands of his constituents, Senator Coburn is attempting to hold hostage any government aid to the tornado’s victims to cynically serve his own political goals. With 24 confirmed dead and dozens more missing, Coburn insists that any aid must be offset with budget cuts in so-called ‘lower priority areas.’ Given the ideology and recent actions of both Coburn and many in his party, we can be sure that these ‘lower priority areas’ of the budget will prominently feature Medicaid, food stamps, and other crucial aid to the poor and vulnerable. Please sign the petition below to denounce Coburn’s politicizing and exploitation of this tragedy, and to demand that he stop standing in the way of much-needed aid to thousands in his state who have lost so much.

PETITION LETTER:

Dear Senator Coburn:

Thousands of the citizens of your state are suffering from a natural disaster for which they bear no responsibility. At least 24 have died, hundreds have been injured, and thousands have lost their homes or public buildings. Not only have you expressed a distressing lack of compassion for the people you purport to represent, but you have put their needs behind your own political agenda of cutting the budget and reducing government spending, at any and all cost.

You were elected to serve the interests of the people of Oklahoma. Whatever the merits of your political goals, a time of suffering and despair for so many is not the time to advance them. Abandon your insistence upon offsetting any disaster aid with budget cuts and support an aid package to the tornado victims in your state.

Sincerely,

[Your Name Here]

Goal: Condemn the court’s allowing agricultural giant Monsanto to sue an independent farmer on questionable pretenses

On May 13th, the Supreme Court voted unanimously in favor of agribusiness giant Monsanto in a case against small-time farmer Vernon Bowman. Bowman was accused of using Monsanto-patented seeds without paying the company; however, he insists the seeds were purchased from a mix of grain elevator. The company has successfully sued Bowman for upwards of $84,000. We must let the Supreme Court know that the American people do not agree with their big-business advocacy.

Monsanto’s patented seeds have become so prevalent in the agricultural community that it is nearly impossible to plant seeds without traces of Monsanto genetics. In the ruling, Justice Elena Kagan wrote that, ‘patent exhaustion does not permit a farmer to reproduce patented seeds through planting and harvesting without the patent holder’s permission.’ In other words: Monsanto has the right to monopolize seed patents at the expense of American farmers. By planting a mix of generic seed varieties, Bowman unwittingly infringed upon Monsanto’s seed patent, and he is now paying a severe price. This is not the only instance of the Supreme Court protecting monopolies, and as citizens interested in justice we must make it understood that we will not tolerate the advocacy of big-business exploitation.

PETITION LETTER:

Dear Members of the Supreme Court,

The recent ruling of Bowman v. Monsanto Co. is a stark demonstration of the court’s disinterest in ensuring equality for American citizens. Democracy is not a word limited to domestic affairs, as you well know, therefore I am disturbed at the court’s advocacy of business monopolization as opposed to democratization. By Justice Kagan claiming that patent exhaustion must be upheld, she is euphemistically stating that patent monopolies are acceptable in the eyes of the court. We cannot have justice, nor equality, nor democracy if the Supreme Court continues to rule in favor of any form of monopoly.

This letter serves as a remonstration of the court by the American people. We are not hoodwinked by the farcical charade of a polarized court. It has been stated, volubly and crisply, that the court only cares about corporate interest, and the resulting exploitation of people through those interests. Shame on all of you.

Sincerely,

[Your Name Here]

Photo Credit: Google Image Search

Goal: Provide legal access to medical marijuana for qualifying residents in Illinois

Illinois is one signature away from approving medical marijuana legislation that has already been approved by the House and Senate. Medical marijuana has proven beneficial for relieving pain and many associated symptoms of serious illnesses. Please sign this petition urging Illinois Governor, Pat Quinn to sign the legislation into law, granting doctor-approved access to medical marijuana for qualifying citizens.

One of the toughest medical marijuana bills is waiting to be signed into law in Illinois. The proposal creates a four-year trial program in which doctors prescribe patients no more than 2.5 ounces of medical marijuana every two weeks. Qualifying patients must have one of 42 serious or chronic conditions, and a relationship with the prescribing doctor. Patients undergo fingerprinting and a criminal background check before gaining access to medicine. A patient’s medical marijuana status would be designated on their driver’s license.

According to the Huffington Post, the bill is supported by the majority of Illinois voters and a coalition of nearly 250 physicians. Even some Republican legislators are standing behind the bill in response to majority constituent support. If Governor Pat Quinn signs the bill into law, Illinois will be the 20th U.S. state to legalize medical marijuana. The cannabinoids comprising marijuana are known to relive chronic pain, severe nausea, muscle spasms, gastrointestinal issues and a variety of other ailments.

Please sign this petition urging Governor Quinn to sign the bill, thus enabling hundreds of thousands of people safe and legal access to the relief and symptom management provided by medical marijuana.

PETITIONL LETTER:

Dear Governor Quinn,

Illinois’ medical marijuana bill has already passed the House and Senate with support from voters, doctors and other invested constituents. Your signature would make Illinois the 20th state to adopt compassionate marijuana laws for medicinal purposes. Please sign the bill granting safe and legal access to medicine for people with qualifying ailments and associated symptoms.

Overwhelming support from voters and physicians has swayed even some of the most resistant Senators to vote in favor of the bill. As they should, Illinois’ elected officials passed the bill in the House and Senate in response to constituent support. Hundreds of thousands of Illinois residents would increase their quality of life by being able to better manage symptoms of chronic and debilitating illnesses. Too often patients are over prescribed with pain pills that carry a number of risks including addiction and a slew of side effects that sometimes make it impossible to live a normal life. Medical marijuana provides patients with relief without the damaging, intrusive and long-lasting side effects of chemical pain killers.

The Illinois bill is built on the foundation of being a short-term pilot program. The provisions of the bill are some of the strictest seen among other compassionate states. Obviously a lot of time, effort and research have gone into proposing a bill that would benefit patients without posing risks to the general public. Please sign the bill into law and move one step closer to getting voters the relief and increased quality of life they are seeking.

Sincerely,

[Your Name Here]

Photo Credit: tokeofthetown via Yahoo

Goal: Avert potential extinction of various grouper fish species

Out of 163 species of grouper found in the world, 20 are now threatened species. Roughly 3.6 million grouper are eaten each year in Hong Kong – which is only a fifth of total grouper sold annually in Chinese Markets. These figures pertain only to live fish. Grouper can take over ten years to reach reproductive age, which puts them in severe danger for over-fishing. In 2009, 275,00 tons of grouper were fished worldwide – a figure that only increases as time goes on.

Grouper can sell for over fifty dollars per kilogram, making it a desirable catch for fisherman. Yet this trend cannot continue: Grouper have an incredibly slow life cycle, and overfishing has already put a substantial percentage of grouper species at risk, with another thirteen percent of Grouper species on the ‘near-threatened’ list. Without proper control and regulation regarding the catching limit and distribution of these fish, they could face rapid extinction.

As fishing is a huge global industry, overfishing does not only pose a a serious threat to these species, but also to global economy. As species go extinct, a large portion of the fishing trade may collapse. Sign this petition to urge the chairman of Hong Kong’s Advisory Committee on Agriculture and Fisheries to work hand in hand with fishing companies and markets to limit the overfishing and sale of endangered species.

PETITION LETTER:

Dear Professor Jonathan Woon-Chung Wong,

Overfishing of Grouper has put twenty species on the threatened species list, with another thirteen percent of overall Grouper species on the near-threatened list. As global catching of grouper has reached an excess of 275,00 tons a year, and 3.6 million Grouper are consumed in Hong Kong annually (only a fifth of all Grouper consumed in China), these species face further threat towards extinction. Groupers have extremely slow reproductive cycles, and overfishing will quickly lead to heavy, exponential population decline.

Not only am I concerned about the possible extinction of a species, but the overfishing of Grouper may eventually lead to a decline in the global fishing trade. With so many being fished, and more species threatening extinction, a potential conduit for the global market may collapse. Government agencies need to protect various Grouper species, along with all species of fish, from overfishing and consumption.

I urge you to reform legislation regarding catch limit and sale of Grouper in Hong-Kong, limiting the consumption by residents. Please contact local fishing agencies and related government departments to protect multiple species of fish and preserve a portion of the global economy.

Sincerely,

[Your Name Here]

Photo credit: Underwatertourist via Flickr

Goal: Properly regulate organizations that promote “social welfare”.

Social welfare groups should be acting in the general interest of the public and not be engaged in electioneering. Carl Rove’s Crossroads GPS and Americans for Prosperity both have such privileges under current tax law. They pay no taxes on the donations they receive, and the donors are anonymous. The IRS has an obligation to carefully review all applications for 501 (c)(4) status and make sure that organizations already under this designation are following the rules.

Recently, a scandal of the IRS improperly targeting conservative groups that were applying for 501 (c)(4) status emerged, and Steven Miller, the acting commissioner, resigned. The underlying problem lies in the fact that since the Citizens United case, applications for this status have skyrocketed. At the same time, IRS budget per capita has gone down 20 percent from 2002, according to an analysis by tax expert David Cay Johnston. This summer, the agency is also going to shut down for five days because of the so-called sequester.

Perhaps it was due to budget cuts that the employees at the IRS Cincinnati office came up with a shortcut to screen applications for tax-exempt status. Of course, it is wrong to target groups that use certain keywords to explain their mission, but because of budget cuts that the IRS has endured, its employees had to deal with an overwhelming demand for the status of a social welfare organization.

Some groups flat out do not deserve 501 (c)(4) status. Crossroads GPS, Karl Rove’s campaigning group, actively participated in both 2010 and 2012 elections. It supported candidates for office all over the country, which contradicts the rules that social welfare organizations have to follow. According to data from OpenSecrets.org, in 2012 elections 152 social welfare organizations spent $256,263,118. Of that money, Crossroads GPS had $70,968,744 in independent expenditures, and spent $213,196 on electioneering communications. Americans for Prosperity, another conservative entity, in 2012 had $33,542,051 in independent expenditures and spent $2,810,877 for electioneering communications.

The tax code specifies that social welfare organizations can engage in politics, as long as it is not the organization’s primary focus. Now that the election is over, there are no more ads on TV from either Americans for Prosperity or Crossroads GPS. That means that their sole purpose is to engage in political campaigns, not promote social welfare. These groups should not have tax-exempt status and conceal their donors and the amounts they donate.

Please sign this petition if you agree that the IRS should carefully process each application for 501 (c)(4) status and reevaluate existing groups with due diligence.

PETITION LETTER:

Dear Mr. Miller,

Since the Supreme Court decided on the Citizens United case, applications for social welfare organizations, or 501 (c)(4)s have overwhelmed the IRS. The agency has power and responsibility to regulate these entities. Groups like Crossroads GPS and Americans for Prosperity both hold such designations. They are allowed to keep information about their donors and the amounts they donate in secret.

Crossroads GPS, Americans for Prosperity and many other organizations clearly masquerade under the social welfare status. They spent enormous amounts of money during the 2012 elections, where the groups advocated for one candidate or issued attack ads against other candidates. According to OpenSecrets.org, Crossroads spent over $71,000,000 in 2012, and Americans for Prosperity spent over $37,000,000. After the election, all the advertisements from Crossroads GPS and Americans for Prosperity have disappeared from television sets. Overall, 152 social welfare organizations spent $256,263,118 during the last election. This practice is doing great damage to the concept of a social welfare group and to the election process. The IRS has the means to curb the abuse of the 501 (c)(4) status.

Please diligently review social welfare organizations that may be engaging in electioneering. Crossroads GPS and Americans for Prosperity should be stripped of their social welfare status. Let them pay taxes on donations and disclose their donors. Democracy of our country depends on it.

Sincerely,

[Your Name Here]

Photo credit: chicagopublicmedia via Flickr

Goal: Designate the Susquehanna River as impaired so that pollution cleanup efforts can begin

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) recently discovered that two of four water sampling sites along the Susquehanna River were severely polluted. Despite these findings, the DEP has failed to designate the river as impaired. An “impaired” designation would propel cleanup efforts forward. Without an “impaired” designation, the river’s pollutants may never be cleaned up at all. Demand cleanup of the Susquehanna River’s pollutants now before it’s beyond repair.

A DEP report, which was also approved by the federal Environmental Protection Agency, noted that the quality of the Susquehanna River’s water doesn’t meet the Clean Water Act’s standards to justify an impairment designation. This report came as a shock to local environmental groups, the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission and Chesapeake Bay Foundation, because the DEP’s prior investigation corroborated evidence that the river is in bad shape.

Smallmouth bass have been dying in unprecedented numbers in the Susquehanna River. Not only do the fish populations affect recreational fishing, they are also indicative of larger issues involving human food consumption and public swimming areas.

“Despite this setback, we will continue to work collaboratively with DEP and others to collect the necessary data to prove by whatever measurement necessary that the river is impaired,” commented John Arway, executive director of the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission. “Our anglers and the smallmouth bass that remain in the river deserve our full attention while we continue to debate their fate.”

Ultimately, the DEP’s report has delayed cleanup efforts for at least another two years. Given the level of toxicity in the river, waiting another two years could very well make the river irreparable. Sign the below petition to urge the Pennsylvania DEP to reconsider the evidence and designate the Susquehanna River as impaired so cleanup efforts can begin.

PETITION LETTER:

Dear Secretary Abruzzo,

The Department of Environmental Protection’s recent report about the Susquehanna River’s water quality is unacceptable. The department has previously agreed with local environmental groups that the toxic river is unsafe for species that depend upon it for survival. However, we need the DEP’s seal of approval before we can begin cleanup efforts in the Susquehanna.

I am urging you to work with the DEP to continue monitoring the Susquehanna River on a regular basis. It has become clear that the condition of the river is getting worse every day. If we can prove this to the DEP, perhaps they will reconsider their position and designate the river as impaired. Thank you for doing your part in ensuring the vitality of the state’s natural resources.

Sincerely,

[Your Name Here]

Photo credit: Ruhrfisch via WikiMedia

Goal: Praise activists for instigating the recent court decision forcing the EPA to regulate water pollution from power plants

Washington D.C.’s U.S. Court of Appeals recently passed a decision forcing the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to clean up power plant water pollution by May of 2014. The decision stems from a 2010 lawsuit filed by environmental organizations against the EPA for allowing power plants to create water pollution unchecked. Although the Utility Water Act Group (UTWAG) has been fighting on the side of utility companies to prevent further regulations, the new court ruling is a win for environmentalists. The measure will conserve over 100 billion gallons of water per year and cut pollution by 2.6 billion pounds.

Until now, power plants have been infamous for releasing pollutants like selenium, arsenic, mercury, and lead into public waterways. These poisons are known carcinogens and are particularly harmful to pregnant women. Environmental experts say the utility industry has evaded ecologically-sound regulations for over thirty years, and citizens who source their water downstream from the plants are relieved by the new ruling.

Wildlife advocates, like those in the Environmental Integrity Project and the Defenders of Wildlife, have also feared for the lives of marine life, and they are relieved by the ruling. Attorneys for environmental groups like the Sierra Club and Earthjustice have been outspoken in their support for the new measure and their disappointment that is has taken so long to pass. Praise them for pressuring the EPA to regulate water pollution from power plants.

PETITION LETTER:

Dear Counselors,

As an environmental advocate, I thank you for the effort you made over the last three years in your case against the EPA. Major utility companies should not be immune to environmental regulations, especially when their negligence negatively affects public drinking water and defenseless wildlife.

The recent decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia to impel the Environmental Protection Agency to enforce harsher restrictions against power companies causing water pollution was a definitive win for your team. However, it was also a victory for residents living downstream of power plants, who use public water resources tainted by pollution. It was also a win for aquatic birds and fish living in polluted waterways, and for the vegetation on which they depend. I thank you for defending clean water.

Sincerely,

[Your Name Here]

Photo Credit: WinterE229 via Wikimedia

Goal: Permanently close the Exide Technologies battery recycling plant, which has produced emissions in excess of the law and threatens to put 110,000 people at risk of health problems.

The Exide Technologies battery recycling plant in Vernon, California, has threatened surrounding neighborhoods, mostly lower-income communities of color, with toxic pollution emissions.  Recently, the plant was closed by state regulators temporarily. Urge California Assembly Speaker John A. Pérez to keep the pressure on regulatory agencies and tell them to close the plant permanently.

According to a report the plant submitted to the South Coast Air Management District in January, arsenic emissions from the facility would cause 156 cancer cases per million people, assuming exposure over decades. The Los Angeles Times reported that in nearby neighborhoods the risk was 22 per million. Air district regulations state that when cancer risk hits 10 per million the public must be notified, and when it hits 25 per million, facilities are required to reduce their emissions.

Exide Technologies had been targeted by state officials in the past for producing toxic lead emissions, which can cause brain damage. Following several state and media reports showing that the facility was not doing enough to reduce emissions, community leaders and representatives pressed the Department of Toxic Substances Control to take action.

This plant has potentially caused health problems for its surrounding communities for several decades, and has gotten away with dodging regulations in the past. Do not allow it to reopen. Urge Assembly Speaker John A. Pérez to tell regulators to keep the plant closed.

PETITION LETTER:

Dear California Assembly Speaker John A. Pérez,

We commend you for pushing for state regulators at the Department of Toxic Substances Control to take control over the situation at Exide. Your work in advocating for a safer, healthier community for populations that are disproportionately affected by pollution has helped shut down a facility accused of putting several neighborhoods at an unacceptable risk of developing health problems. But the problem will still persist if the plant is allowed to stay open.

Ensure that this plant stays closed. Keep pressure on regulators to close the plant permanently, and show other facilities in one of the most polluted areas of California that its residents will not stand for further deterioration of their environment.

Sincerely,

[Your Name Here]

Goal: Demand the FDA forbid sale of cattle-fed distiller grain proven to cause E. coli poisoning in humans.

Tests done by the USDA have repeatedly proven that distiller grains fed to slaughterhouse cattle cause a lethal strain of E. coli in humans who consume the meat.  Equally dangerous are the vegetables fertilized by the cattle’s manure and groundwater seepage. The Food and Drug Administration has failed to implement regulations due to the high revenue intake the grain makes for ethanol production.

“Distiller’s grain is a good animal feed, but is likely to have profound implications in food safety,” stated a lead USDA researcher in a recent press release. Most farms use manure from the grain-fed cows to fertilize ground vegetables, of which the harmful pathogen is found in concentrations equally as high as the meat. This seeps into groundwater, which causes alarm even for those who don’t consume distilled grain-fed beef.

The ethanol business continues to grow at a rapid rate due to new government mandates. In 2010-2011 the cheap and readily available distilled grain replaced over 900 million bushels of the traditional corn used to feed livestock. By 2012, the ethanol industry owed 26% of its revenue to this hazardous byproduct. That number – along with cases of E. coli poisoning in humans – will steadily climb unless the FDA forbids the sale of the cheap, pathogen-yielding feed to American farmers.  Sign this petition to ramp up pressure on the FDA to stop the sale of this harmful grain.

PETITION LETTER:

Dear Food and Drug Administration,

The feeding of distiller grains to slaughterhouse cattle is proven to cause E. coli 0157 in humans, the most harmful strain of the pathogen. This is a case where a profit margin overrules the biological safety and well-being of citizens nationwide and is unacceptable. Sale of the byproduct has escalated at an alarming rate with very little action planned to ensure the rate of E. coli diminishes in future meat products sold for consumption.

I urge and demand adherence to your duty as overseers for the safety of America’s food consumption, ensuring the food market is and will always be pathogen-free. Allowing slaughterhouse farmers to feed livestock the antibiotic rich distiller grain shows lack of standards for the health of Americans nationwide, of which should always be upheld with respect. We ask you uphold your basic duties and take a firm stand against E. coli beef and beef byproducts.

Sincerely,

[Your Name Here]

Photo credit: agrilifetoday via Flickr

Goal: Stop illegal deforestation and clean up pollution in Malaysia’s rivers

Unregulated land clearing activities in Malaysia’s forest reserves are causing serious river pollution issues in the Cameron Highlands. While illegal farms are springing up throughout the highlands, the Malaysian government has taken no action to protect the natural forests or the water sources. Force Malaysia’s government to take action against illegal deforestation and take control of its toxic pollution issues.

Local environmental group, Regional Environmental Awareness Cameron Highlands (REACH), is making residents aware about the deteriorating quality of their water supply. The Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia recently conducted tests that revealed toxic pesticides in the Cameron Highland’s river waters which will inevitably affect the health of residents and tourists. REACH president, R. Ramakrishnan, commented, “The toxic water pollution is caused by the opening of farms, particularly upstream of the Terla river water catchment areas and treatment plant.”

Not only do Malaysia’s forest areas provide vital habitats for native species, but the effects of deforestation trickle down to the human food supply. Opportunistic farmers are planting vegetables in the deforested areas and using harmful pesticides with no regulation. Sign the below petition to urge the Malaysian Parliament to closely monitor the activities in the Cameron Highlands so that no more forests are destroyed and no more pollutants affect human health.

PETITION LETTER:

Dear Datuk Seri G. Palanivel,

Illegal deforestation in the Cameron Highlands is affecting the quality of the water throughout Malaysia. Because there has been no effective government regulation of land clearing activities in this region, illegal farming with harmful pesticides has become very common. These pesticides are leaking into the rivers and streams that supply the region with drinking water.

Not only is the toxic drinking water affecting local residents, but also the many visitors who come to this popular tourist destination. I am urging you to work with REACH and other local environmental groups to closely monitor the Cameron Highlands area for illegal activity. Violators must be prosecuted to make a statement that the Malaysian government will not tolerate disrespect towards the environment.

If you do not do your part to stop illegal deforestation and harmful farming practices, the heath of your people will suffer greatly. We need your help to preserve forest habitats, fresh water sources, and human lives throughout your country.

Sincerely,

[Your Name Here]

Photo credit: Loke Seng Hon via WikiMedia

Goal: Call for the resignation of Attorney General Eric Holder

Eric Holder is the first African American man to be Attorney General of the United States of America. He is also the first cabinet member to be held in contempt of Congress.

Long before the Justice Department’s latest scandal raised the public’s hackles, Senator John Cornyn was calling for the Attorney General’s resignation.  This was due to the Justice Department’s stupendous show of incompetency during the Fast & Furious operation in which over 2,000 guns were sold to suspected criminals in an attempt to track violent cartels in Mexico. However, the guns simply disappeared, only to be found again at crime scenes.

Previously, Operation Wide Receiver, under the Bush Administration, tried to do something similar, but unlike Fast & Furious, the Mexican Government and Police were informed of the activities performed under Wide Receiver. Needless to say, the Mexican government was less than pleased to find their criminals had been given over 2,000 guns.

Attorney General Eric Holder should have resigned after the U.S. Border agent was murdered with one of the guns sold during Fast & Furious, but Executive Privilege was used to make the matter go away.

Today, Attorney General Holder has taken another step too far. By allowing the broad subpoena of Associate Press’s phone records, two months worth, and by attempting to discredit Fox News reporter, James Rosen, he has spat in the face of the Constitution and betrayed the trust of the pubic. Amendments are not guidelines, they are demands. They are laws the federal government must follow if it does not wish to be stripped of its power. Republican National Committee Chairman Priebus believes that if “the President of the United States does not [call for the resignation of Attorney General Holder] the message will be unmistakable: The President of the United States believes his administration is above the Constitution and does not respect the role of a free press”.

PETITION LETTER

Dear Attorney General Holder,

As you are either incompetent or complicit in ongoing and past transgressions against the rights and welfare of the American people, and as you have so thoroughly betrayed the public’s trust, please resign your post.

Discrediting reporters? Violating Civil Liberties? Withholding information from Congress? You took an oath to uphold the Constitution, yet you have broken your oath. Perhaps you have forgotten, but your power is derived from the people, for the people, and the people can take it back.

In fact, we the People are obligated to do so.

Sincerely,

[Your Name Here]

Photo credit: USA.gov via Flickr

Goal: Force Patriot Coal to pay union coalminers’ health benefits

The Patriot Coal Corporation filed for bankruptcy in 2012, largely to avoid paying pensions and healthcare costs to retired coal miners. If granted, the bankruptcy filing would cause more than 23,000 retired miners and their dependents to lose their benefits. The United Mineworkers of America (UMW), with more than 1,650 active union members working in Patriot Coal mines, has been protesting throughout the trial, which recently ended. A ruling is expected soon.

The UMW collectively bargained their retirement plans with Peabody Energy, who sold their mining operations in the eastern United States to Patriot Coal in 2007. Patriot Coal claims it can no longer sustain paying for the benefits of its retired union miners due to weak coal markets and increasing costs. The company already laid off 1,250 miners last year.

Patriot Coal has explicitly stated its intentions are to avoid paying the health packages owed to retirees. In a statement during the court proceedings, Patriot Coal said, “As part of the proposal, Patriot intends to offer its union employees the same health care benefits it provides to nonunion employees.” Miners experience a host of health problems in their retirement, including black lung, due to the nature of their working conditions. Many miners join unions to acquire substantial health coverage for their retirement.

As Patriot Coal claims it is unable to afford paying what is rightfully owed miners, it has scheduled $5.2 million in retention bonuses to 119 managers, depending on how long they stay with the company. Current proposals with UMW to renegotiate health care obligations fail far short from funding the care union members collectively bargained for.

Should Patriot Coal successfully file for bankruptcy, thousands of coalminers will lose their health benefits and live in retirement without sufficient funds. These miners worked in extreme conditions for years, and deserve living with a retirement plan that rewards their service. Tell Judge Kathy Surratt-States Patriot Coal has an obligation to these miners, and the bankruptcy should not be granted.

PETITION LETTER:

Dear Hon. Kathy Surratt-States,

The Patriot Coal Corporation filed for bankruptcy primarily to avoid paying for the healthcare of thousands of miners, active and retired. More than 23,000 retired miners and their families stand to lose their benefits should Patriot Coal successfully file for bankruptcy. It is Patriot Coal’s obligation to honor the agreement collectively bargained for by the miners.

Miners work in extreme working conditions, and some of their health problems are wholly unique to their field, such as black lung. Taking away their healthcare plans will prevent miners from receiving the treatment they need in their retirement.

Patriot Coal should not be able to avoid paying for hard-working miners’ healthcare by filing for bankruptcy. Please deny them this request to ensure the obligations of Patriot Coal are not rescinded.

Sincerely,

[Your Name Here]

Photo credit: Nostrifikator via Wikimedia Commons

Goal: Applaud initial steps toward pollution reduction, and encourage China to implement an ambitious carbon emissions cap proposal

China, widely regarded as the world’s leader in CO2 emissions, has a notoriously poor environmental track record. The enormous, rapidly-growing nation accounts for nearly half the world’s coal use, with repeated record-breaking Air Quality Index measures reported over the last six months. The New York Times noted on January 12 of this year – with an Air Quality reading of 755 – that “all of Beijing looked like an airport smokers’ lounge.” It’s worth noting that the Air Quality Index runs on a scale from 0-500, yet Beijing has repeatedly broken the upper bound, going enormously “Beyond Index” in EPA vernacular. (The Environmental Protection Agency established particle pollution regulations and the Air Quality Index in 1971, assuredly without foreknowledge of the current environmental and health crisis facing China.)

Chinese municipal and national government leaders repeatedly dismissed criticisms during the worst of the hazardous air conditions while also balking at calls to release more comprehensive air quality data publicly. Nevertheless, as ThinkProgress and The Guardian reported this week, China may be turning a corner. Shenzhen, a major southern Chinese trading city, is set to implement a new carbon trading problem. This program is the first of seven “pilot programs” in various major cities and industrial provinces, with full implementation expected by 2014. Much more ambitiously, China’s 21st Century Business Herald also reported that China might be weighing an all-out cap on carbon emissions, slated to go into effect by 2016.

Despite a lurid record, China has an exceptional opportunity to reverse course and prevent additional environmental and human health deterioration. Applaud these ongoing efforts and encourage Chinese President Xi Jinping to push for a responsible, authoritative cap on carbon emissions.

PETITION LETTER:

Dear President Xi Jinping,

As the world’s leading industrial polluter, China receives enormous criticism domestically and globally for inaction over rapidly rising CO2 emissions. Your government’s recent efforts to implement a carbon trading program, however, mark an important first step toward addressing unsustainable environmental and public health concerns.

We, the undersigned, are urging you to fully implement this smart proposal, as well as the recently-reported CO2 emissions cap proposal still under consideration. Together, these two programs would radically alter China’s standing as a global economic leader and, hopefully, encourage your allies, trading partners, and other export-led economies to follow your lead. A globally sustainable, environmentally-sound future is simply impossible without you.

Sincerely,

[Your Name Here]

Image Credit: 大杨 via Flickr

Goal: Thank filmmakers for bringing awareness to endangered sea turtles in Mexico

Students from New York City’s Pace University recently completed a documentary film entitled “Viva La Tortuga” about the struggle between giant sea turtles and fishermen. According to environmental news source Mother Nature Network, the short film spotlights one Mexican environmental protection group, Grupo Tortuguero, whose goal it is to save sea turtle from death and capture in Magdalena Bay on the Baja Peninsula. Specifically, the group brainstorms and introduces alternate sources of revenue for the area’s fishermen.

Maria Luskay and Andrew Revkin, professors of Pace’s documentary film courses, are partially to thank for this powerful new piece. According to Revkin, who is also an environmental blogger for the New York Times, each film has sustainability at its core, combined with bold new economic ideas. Students in the classes are both graduates and undergraduates of various academic and cultural backgrounds.

Contemporary with the release of the film, the Mexican government admitted that the increased disappearance of the endangered loggerhead turtle is due largely to overzealous fishing tactics. Students feel as though the release of their film was astutely timed with this major admission. Luskay, Revkin, and their students deserve praise for bringing awareness to the issue of endangered sea turtles in Mexico, and especially for highlighting income solutions for those fishermen who otherwise depend on the turtle catch. Those interested in the group’s work can visit their social media sites, including a blog, as well as Facebook and Twitter accounts. The film “Viva La Tortuga” can be seen on YouTube. Praise these students and instructors for their filmmaking efforts.

PETITION LETTER:

Dear Pace University Documentary Filmmakers,

You recently released your film “Viva La Tortuga!” about endangered sea turtles in Magdalena Bay on the Baja Peninsula in Mexico. The film release was well-timed, as the Mexican government simultaneously admitted that endangered loggerhead turtles are dying more frequently thanks to fishing gillnets. The increased media focus on sea turtles will surely bring the public eye to an issue that needs immediate attention if these creature are to remain safe.

Perhaps most compelling about your story is the inclusion of ideas for alternative economic income for fishermen. In communities that have depended on fishing for generations, these fresh ideas must seem both profound and bold. I thank you for bringing attention not only to the plight of sea turtles, but also to the fiscal adaptation of fishing communities wishing to preserve the turtles and their livelihood.

Sincerely,

[Your Name Here]

Photo Credit: Max Smith via Wikimedia Commons

Goal: Establish a minimum age for marriage in Saudi Arabia.

There is currently no minimum age for marriage in Saudi Arabia, where women and girls suffer under a male guardianship system. The Saudi Ministry of Justice recently proposed a minimum age of 16 and marriage preconditions for girls under the age of 16. Urge the Saudi government to adopt and implement this proposal and take further steps to meet international standards for women and girls.

The proposed regulations would set the minimum age for marriage to 16 and establish preconditions for marriage, including requiring approval from the girl’s mother, approval of an application to a designated court, and requiring a social worker, psychologist and gynecologist to vouch for the girl’s readiness for marriage.

In 2010, advocacy group Equality Now took on the case of 12-year-old child bride Fatima, whose father had the right under Saudi Arabia’s current male guardianship system to marry her off to a 50-year-old man who had another wife and 10 children. Fatima ran away six months after her marriage and fought for a divorce; she was granted one in 2013. According to Equality Now, however, Fatima is currently fighting psychological damage from her ordeal, including shame from living as a divorced child.

Currently in Saudi Arabia, there are few regulations stopping children from entering forced or early marriages. Under male guardianship, a girl has no right to select her own marriage partner, choose whether to attend school, or make her own major life decisions. Urge Saudi Arabia to adopt the minimum age for marriage, and take the first step toward expanding the rights of women and girls.

PETITION LETTER:

Dear King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud,

I urge you to adopt and implement the proposal from the Ministry of Justice to set the minimum age for marriage to 16. The proposed regulations would expand protections for women and girls in your country, and set an example for others to follow around the world.

I support the efforts of Equality Now and other international advocacy groups to expand the rights of women and girls and end child marriage in Saudi Arabia. The 2010 case of Fatima, who was granted a divorce in 2013 and who still faces psychological damage from her ordeal, shows that there is still much to be done to protect the country’s children.

Take the first step to protect the rights of women and girls and implement a minimum age for marriage immediately. The next step would be to set a minimum age of 18 to comply with international standards and end child marriage. The rights of women to select their own marriage partner, choose to pursue their education and make their own life decisions are human rights, and I encourage you to end male guardianship over women.

Sincerely,

[Your Name here]

The Navy wants to conduct training with sonar and explosives that could kill thousands of whales and other marine mammals. Intense sonar will bombard whales with noise so powerful that it can cause their internal organs to hemorrhage; high-powered explosives detonated by Navy ships have the potential to fatally injure lungs and other organs. Based on testimony from the Navy itself, there will be thousands of marine animals killed and millions of incidents in which whales and other mammals are harassed and harmed.

Yet the Navy refuses to put common-sense precautions in place that would protect whales during routine training — even though taking such steps would in no way compromise our national security. For example, the Navy could avoid key habitats where whales are known to migrate and raise their young.

Make your voice heard immediately. Sign the petition to Navy Secretary Ray Mabus, calling on him to put safeguards in place that will save whales from the deadly impact of the Navy’s sonar and explosives.

1. Click “Sign Petition” Button:

*This petition is in collaboration with Care2, thereby allowing all signatures to appear in a single location.

2. Please spread the word:

Goal: Stop the development of golf courses and luxury homes that will harm California condors.

Tejon Ranch is situated near the southern San Joaquin Valley, the Tehachapi Mountains, and Antelope Valley at a cross section of Central and Southern California. This land is home to threatened or nearly threatened species such as Bell’s vireo, the kit fox, southwestern willow flycatcher, western yellow-billed cuckoo, the Tehachapi slender salamander, the bald eagle, and one of the most endangered species in the world, the California condor.

There are around 160 California condors alive today. In the 1980s they were on the brink of extinction with a total population of twenty individuals. Extensive conservation efforts must continue in order to protect condors and other species, and that requires true habitat protection and observation of endangered species laws that prohibit harassment of animals and incidental take.

Federal officials have approved of the development of a large resort, luxury homes, and golf courses at Tejon Ranch, stating that they had reached a ‘conservation agreement’ allowing for plans of development to move forward. Under this agreement 129,000 acres are to be permanently conserved, yet Dan Ashe of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service admits that the plan allows for California condors to be harassed.

Harassment of California condors violates the Endangered Species Act, the environmental law that serves to protect imperiled species from extinction, by causing stress which increases the likelihood of injury to wildlife by annoying it as far as to disrupt its behavioral patterns, breeding, feeding, or ability to find shelter.  The infringement on their much needed habitat will harass California condors who need to fly about one hundred miles each day to forage. In order to survive in the wild, they need to be able to spot food, shelter, and a water source, which is increasingly difficult with habitat fragmentation.

In addition to the threat of lost habitat, Tejon Ranch has also been given an incidental take permit that would allow California condors to be harmed, wounded, harassed, and even killed during the construction and operation of proposed developments. This is the first time that any kind of take permit has been issued for the endangered condor.

By signing this petition, you can urge the federal agency, U.S .Fish and Wildlife Service, to reevaluate the ‘conservation plan’ so it actually protects wildlife and habitat, rather than finding a loophole that will degrade the environment, harm endangered species, and reduce biodiversity for the purpose of developing a resort.

PETITION LETTER

Dear Dan Ashe, Director of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Tejon Ranch possesses a multitude of unique natural resources that if conserved adequately will maintain a healthy ecosystem, full of biodiversity and beauty much appreciated by future generations. In order to protect our critically endangered California condors and other vulnerable wildlife species that inhabit Tejon Ranch, I urge you to halt the development plans in this area and to rethink the ‘conservation agreement’ that permits California condors to be harmed during this process.

Development projects such as the construction of luxury homes, golf courses, and a resort resulting in harassment of California condors is a violation of the Endangered Species Act. Harassment of California condors and disruption of the behavior of other vulnerable wildlife on Tejon Ranch will surely lead to a loss of biodiversity, as many species already encounter difficulty in finding suitable habitat that is safe from dangerous human interference.

Issuing an incidental take permit for California condors during construction projects on Tejon Ranch contradicts the laws that are in place to protect endangered species. Without laws that make sense, companies are able to violate environmental statutes without consequences, and wildlife is at risk of being harmed on a greater scale.

For the benefit of the community, endangered species, and threatened or nearly threatened wildlife, please consider an alternative conservation plan that embodies true habitat protection and prohibits harassment of animals and incidental take.

Sincerely,

[Your Name Here]

Goal: Improve protection and treatment of orcas in captivity

Keeping orcas, AKA “killer whales,” in captivity is a controversial issue.  At times, orcas are kept in captivity for protection, as they are threatened in some locations.  Other times they are kept in exhibits for entertainment purposes, their man-made environments having little in common with their natural habitat.  Either way, the treatment and protection of these creatures is often inadequate.

Even famous orcas experience maltreatment in captivity.  Lolita, an orca from the Miami Seaquarium, has spent over forty years in a concrete tank in complete isolation.  Orcas are very social creatures, and the effects of this isolation have certainly taken a psychological toll on Lolita.  On top of that, she continues to be used for entertainment purposes underneath the scorching Miami sun without adequate shelter and protection.  Shamu – the original one – experienced similar circumstances at Sea World, and the stress ended his life after only a short six years in captivity.

In the wild, orcas form “pods,” which are similar to human families and social circles.  Orcas taken into captivity are often ripped away from their pods and kept in isolation.  Orca’s also have very sensitive hearing, and unnatural sounds such as human voices, cleaning equipment, and water pumps cause anxiety.  Tanks are also smaller than their natural environment, limiting mobility and the ability to swim freely.

These beautiful creatures deserve respect.  If humanity is going to continue to keep orcas in captivity, then their environment must be made more similar to that of their natural habitat.  Please write to the National Marine Fisheries Service demanding improvements in protection and treatment of orcas in captivity.

PETITION LETTER:

Dear National Marine Fisheries Service,

Orcas kept in captivity are not treated as respectfully as they deserve.  These man-made environments seldom resemble anything similar to what they would naturally experience in the wild.  If orcas are going to be continued to be kept in captivity, laws and guidelines must be improved and enforced.

When being brought into captivity, orcas are often taken away from their pods, leaving them lonely and isolated.  The tanks they are kept in are often far too small for optimal movement, and the unnatural sounds and stimuli cause great distress.  Each of these factors contribute to significantly shorter lifespans, which is counterproductive to orcas kept in captivity for protection.

If you enforce animal welfare and protection more strictly, and improve man-made habitats for orcas, they will lead much longer and happier lives.  Fixing the flaws in these habitats will not be difficult to do and will make a huge difference.  I ask that you please improve protection and treatment of orcas in captivity.

Sincerely,

[Your Name Here]

Photo Credit: Terabyte via de.wikipedia

Goal: Stop transporting patients at mental health facilities out of state without access to continued care.

The City of Los Angeles has launched a criminal investigation against a Las Vegas, Nevada psychiatric hospital that buses its patients out-of-state, allegedly dumping them on the streets with little access to continuing care. Commend City Attorney Carmen Trutanich for pressing forward with the investigation of this case, which will hopefully make patient dumping an untenable option for medical facilities in the future.

Trutanich has launched the investigation into Rawson-Neal Psychiatric Hospital’s alleged practice of sending its patients alone to places like Skid Row in Los Angeles with “with one-way tickets out of town, a small supply of medication and several bottles of Ensure nutritional supplement for the journey,” according to the Sacramento Bee. A month after the Bee performed its own investigation, in which it discovered that the hospital bused 1,500 patients across the nation this way over a five-year period, one third of them to California, Rawson-Neal recently changed its policy by sending patients out-of-state with a chaperone instead.

Though Nevada health officials say that the majority of patients sent out have families and support systems waiting for them, there have been several alleged cases of mentally ill patients getting dumped on the streets, where they have little access to continuing health care.

Past investigations into the hospital have led to settlements with the city involved and fines. Urge Trutanich to take the matter to court instead, where criminal charges can be pressed against people involved in the alleged patient dumping.

Help Trutanich send the message to the state of Nevada and Rawson-Neal Psychiatric Hospital that the practice of patient dumping is unacceptable. Commend the investigation and urge him to press criminal charges.

PETITION LETTER:

Dear Los Angeles City Attorney Carmen Trutanich,

Thank you for launching an investigation into the practice of “patient dumping” in your city by  Rawson-Neal Psychiatric Hospital. The practice of busing patients from out-of-state without proper care is unacceptable and cannot continue. We hope that your investigation will lead to criminal charges against the hospital and set an example for other hospitals that continue to practice patient dumping.

Even one case of leaving a patient alone and without a proper support system on the streets is completely inexcusable. Those patients who come to psychiatric facilities are in need of help, and it is the facilities’ job to provide them with the resources they need to get treatment. These patients are human beings who should not be pushed into other states’ health care systems without ensuring that they have the support and resources they need to manage their psychiatric conditions. As you know, it is nearly impossible for some of these patients to access proper care if they are homeless and living on the streets.

Don’t allow this case to lead to a mere settlement and fines. Force the hospital to face criminal charges, and become an advocate for a change in the way other hospitals handle mentally ill patients.

Sincerely,

[Your Name Here]

Photo credit: Cropped from original image by Neon Tommy via Flickr

Goal: Revoke the permit of a hog farm’s expansion near a major river and water source for local citizens

An expansion permit has been issued by the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) to C&H Hog Farms, which will now expand its factory along Big Creek, a tributary of the Buffalo river. This river is a source of roughly $38 million dollars annually in tourism and a major water source for the surrounding population. Over the last ten years, citizens have reported water shortages in wells, and the addition of 6,500 hogs and a huge factory farm would only make matters worse.

Another major concern lies in the farm’s waste management plan itself: 2 million gallons of waste will be spewed directly into neighboring grasslands each year – waste which any moderate rainfall would wash directly into the river. Such massive amounts of organic waste would produce excessive amounts of nitrates which, when added to the Buffalo River, could have devastating effects on wildlife and water quality.

Excessive nitrate levels promote algae growth. As algae decays, it strips the water of available oxygen, effectively killing existing wildlife and upsetting an already delicate and impacted ecosystem. Humans that drink water which is high in nitrates can often develop complications: the ability of red blood cells to transport oxygen throughout the body is significantly decreased.

Sign this petition to urge ADEQ to revoke C&H Factory Hog Farm’s expansion permit. Revoking the permit would protect the environment and citizens from massive waste pollution that could potentially destroy the local economy due to declines in tourism, disrupt wildlife in the river, and cause severe health complications for locals.

PETITION LETTER:

Dear Teresa Marks,

C&H Hog Farms’ expansion near the Buffalo River has received backlash from the local community, and this has raised nationwide concern. Not only is the river a major source of income for the area, providing millions of dollars in annual tourism, but it is a central force in local life. The river is a major water source for the local population, which has already seen drought and decline in their water levels.

The expansion that you have allowed of C&H Hog Farms permits them to have 6,500 hogs along the banks, which will produce roughly two million gallons of liquid waste, which the company plans to dump into surrounding wetlands. This waste will eventually make it back to the river system, and due to it’s composition of organic matter, will drastically alter nutrients in the surrounding ecosystems. This sudden influx of nutrients such as nitrate will promote algae growth, which will not only discolor the river but effectively kill off wildlife populations that depend on the river to survive.

I urge you to revoke the permit of C&H Hog Farms, not only to protect the citizens that depend on the river, but to preserve the environment surrounding the area, and to maintain a healthy ecosystem to the best of your ability. As the director of the Department of Environmental Quality, it is your responsibility to maintain the highest environmental standards possible. Allowing the expansion of this Hog Farm will severely compromise the environment you protect.

Sincerely,

[Your Name Here]

Photocredit: Graham Horn via http://www.geograph.org.uk