A monument to racism and treason may soon fall in Virginia. The removal of the divisive Robert E. Lee statue, site of many protests against racial injustice, has been ordered by Governor Ralph Northam. Applaud the potential end of this endorsement of America at its worst.
Two officers who reportedly shoved a 75-year-old peaceful protester to the ground were charged with felony assault, thanks to a decision made by district attorney John J. Flynn. Applaud Mr. Flynn for holding police accountable and bringing justice to the man who was reportedly shoved to the ground.
The Minneapolis City Council voted to dismantle their police force which was responsible for the death of George Floyd. This comes after tireless protesting and organizing by Black Visions Collective, the Black Lives Matter movement and thousands of Americans nationwide. Applaud Black Visions Collective for protecting the black community from police brutality and working to dismantle the police department.
The baby duckling that was allegedly thrown from a high bridge in a video that appeared on Snapchat may soon be given justice, thanks to the hard work of the police. Because they took this case seriously, the accused may spend time in prison and be required to pay hefty fines if he is found guilty of this horrible act of animal cruelty. Thank the police for their part in helping to ensure that this innocent animal gets justice.
Two African Americans, Breonna Taylor and David McAtee, died by deadly police force in Louisville in separate incidents. Their controversial killings and the police department responsible for both are now being investigated at the local and federal level. Applaud these needed steps in accountability and ultimate justice.
Twitter has introduced fact-checking labels on Trump’s false statements, drawing ire from the tweet-happy president. Although Trump has threatened to strip the rights of social media companies in retaliation, Twitter is standing strong. Thank the social media company for taking an important step toward mitigating the president’s misuse of their platform.
An animal rights organization succeeded in rescuing 1,000 chickens from mass euthanization at an Iowa egg farm. Animals across the country are being put to death because of the coronavirus, many of them having lived their entire lives in cramped, inhumane conditions. Praise the animal rights activists who fought back against this cruelty.
Uganda’s government will soon remove encroaching farms, mines, and factories
from its wetlands and lakes, preserving threatened species from extinction and giving conservationists the opportunity to better understand rare animals. Congratulate the minister responsible for his decisive action.
Australia’s government has committed to spending millions of dollars to aid in the protection of wildlife affected by recent bushfires. This is a huge step forward for the overall continent, which has a poor track record in handling wildlife crises due to climate change and the logging industry. Sign this petition to thank the government for taking this important step.
The endangered monk seal has been given a second chance at a former prison island turned conservation paradise. The island has been repurposed to provide the perfect protected habitat for a species threatened by hunting, fishing, and coastal development. Thank those responsible for this conservation success.
The federal government’s game of hide-and-seek with crucial Native American relief money is about to come to an end. Billions of dollars will soon reach some of the citizens hit hardest by COVID-19: tribal populations. Applaud the arrival of long-needed humanitarian and healthcare aid.
Two men who reportedly shot and killed a Georgia black man while he was jogging were recently charged with murder. This comes after months of nationwide protest from “I Run With Maud,” a movement started by the victim’s best friend. Thank the movement for all of their hard work bringing justice to Ahmaud Arbery.
Trees that have developed a resiliency against the effects of climate change have been given a chance to thrive, potentially saving forests from extinction due to global warming. Amazon has funded a grant which will help forest owners to protect climate-resilient forests and reduce their carbon footprint. Thank Amazon for its dedication to the environment.
Ozone holes around the world are healing, closing dangerous gaps in environmental protection. Applaud these significant recoveries for Earth’s strongest shield against global warming.
Wolves are returning to the wild in Belgium, heralded by the arrival of four adults and the pregnancy of a female wolf who found a mate recently. Sign this petition to thank the Flemish environmental minister for helping to protect the returning wolves.
A second city in China recently banned consuming the meat of cats, dogs and other pets. Thank the Mayor of Zhuhai for his help, as well as other activists for fighting hard to try and make sure this practice ends. If we keep fighting to try and ensure that eating these animals is outlawed, this practice may one day be banned in all of China.
The destructive Keystone XL Pipeline has been denied an essential river crossing permit. While this may not be a permanent solution to this misguided project, it is a setback for fossil fuel companies and a victory for the organizations who fight hard to protect the environment and the people living in the affected communities. Thank the National Resources Defense Council for doing whatever possible to make sure this detrimental pipeline is stopped.
The Department of Health and Human Services will no longer be allowed to share notes from minors’ confidential therapy sessions with ICE if a recently-introduced bill passes. This is an important step for children and young adults who have already suffered too much. Sign the petition to thank those who sought these protections.
Liberty University’s president refused to suspend in-person classes during the pandemic, claiming that the coronavirus was being exaggerated by the media. Virginia governor Ralph Northam has issued a statewide mandate to end in-person classes, which will force Liberty University to close its campus and stop forcing its students to risk exposure to the virus. Commend Governor Northam for protecting students’ and faculty’s health when their own university would not.
Unrestrained oil production has slowly poisoned Earth for decades. Production of this destructive fossil fuel will now be slashed drastically. Applaud the decline of a prominent global polluter.
Bernie Sanders endorsed Joe Biden for president in a live stream on Biden’s social media. Bernie is putting party unity first and ensuring that Biden will take the progressive part of the Democratic Party very seriously in the coming election to beat Donald Trump. Thank Bernie for supporting party unity.
The National Marine Fisheries Service has been found guilty of failing to prevent Right whale deaths due to entanglement in fishing gear. This is a landmark conservation victory which will lead to better protection for Right whales. Thank those who demanded justice for this vulnerable species.
A ridiculous ban on the use of words like “burger” and “sausage” in plant-based food labels has been dismissed in the Netherlands. This ban would have forced plant-based food companies to sell their products using such unappetizing terms “veggie discs” or “protein tubes.” Sign this petition to thank the Dutch Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport for their wise decision to reject this unnecessary ban.
Hundreds of inmates have been released from US prisons, which have been likened to “matchboxes” waiting to go up in flames with the coronavirus. This is a huge step forward in slowing the spread of the virus and winning justice for prisoners forced to risk infection in unsafe conditions. Commend the Connecticut Department of Corrections for releasing over 700 prisoners to combat the spread of the coronavirus.
Firefighting foam that contains dangerous, cancer-causing chemicals may soon be phased out, thanks to research done by the United States Air Force. In addition, the Air Force agreed to work with communities contaminated with chemicals and clean them up. Thank the U.S. Air Force for prioritizing the health of firefighters, the public and the environment by working to provide a safer firefighting foam.
