The US Army has suspended its efforts to recruit teenagers through the video game platform Twitch thanks to pressure from concerned citizens. This is an important victory for human rights. Applaud those who spoke out against this practice.
International students will be granted visas even if their classes are online, thanks to the efforts of Harvard and MIT lawyers. This decision blocks a recent policy that would deport international students who can no longer attend in-person classes due to the pandemic. Thank those responsible for this remarkable human rights victory.
Women will no longer have to expose themselves to COVID-19 in order to obtain an abortion. Healthcare providers can now mail or deliver abortion-inducing medications to patients at home. Thank those who fought for this reproductive health victory.
Migrant children who are confined in US detention centers will soon be freed, thanks to the hard work of immigration advocates. This is an important development for human rights and public health in the wake of the devastating coronavirus pandemic. Thank those who fought to free these children.
The national park system will receive over 18 million dollars for maintenance and repairs in a landmark victory for environmentalists. The national park system has been underfunded for decades, as well as threatened by oil companies and hunters seeking to claim miles of unspoiled nature for themselves. Thank those who voted in favor of funding and protecting public lands.
Amazon just helped ensure its facial recognition technology is not weaponized for racial profiling and wrongful imprisonment. The influential company will ban use of its often inaccurate tech by law enforcement in most cases. Thank business leaders for this step in the right direction.
Facebook recently removed a Trump campaign advertisement that displayed a symbol used by the Nazis. The symbol, a red triangle, was used to identify political prisoners and communists during WWII. Applaud Facebook for removing Trump’s harmful and alarming use of a Nazi symbol for political gain.
The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that Trump’s administration cannot deport young immigrants who are protected by the Deferred Action on Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. This is a huge victory for immigrant rights group and activists who have fought Trump’s racist attacks on undocumented families. Commend the Supreme Court for this historic decision.
LGBT workers will finally be treated with respect, and employers will not be allowed to fire people or deny them employment based on their sexuality or gender orientation. This decision came down from the Supreme Court and was suggested by House Democrats. Thank Nancy Pelosi and the House Democrats for making this possible.
A key Republican-led Senate committee voted to remove confederate names from army bases, despite adamant resistance from President Trump. This vote would require the Pentagon to strip military bases and equipment of confederate names, monuments or symbols within three years. Thank the Armed Services Committee for working to address racism in America.
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.
Green energy companies will be granted extended deadlines to apply for vitally important tax credits, saving them from discontinuing their environment-saving work. Congratulate the U.S. Secretary of Energy for this momentous decision.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The Dakota Access Pipeline violates the rights and safety of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, and now a federal court has sided with the tribe’s lawyers against the project. Thank the Indigenous Environmental Network for their tireless fight to protect indigenous lands from the threat of this pipeline.
The Trump administration’s attempt to lease almost one million acres of public land without public comment was voided. This land is vital habitat for the greater sage grouse and other sagebrush reliant species. Applaud Western Watersheds Project for highlighting the Trump administration’s corrupt policy and protecting greater sage grouse habitat.
Banking giant Wells Fargo has dropped its financial support for oil and gas drilling in the Arctic. More big companies should follow this example. Thank Wells Fargo for finally doing the right thing.
Chris Matthews resigned from Hardball on MSNBC during a broadcast following sexist and antisemitic remarks. Thanks to pressure from activists, Matthews is making way for a younger and more progressive generation of journalists. Thank Matthews for showing remorse and stepping down.
The dangerous and highly controversial pesticide chlorpyrifos will no longer be produced by the largest manufacturer of the chemical, Corteva. This victory comes after years of advocates working to keep this product off the shelves due to its link to brain damage in children. Applaud Corteva for deciding to stop producing chlorpyrifos.
A ban on most flavored e-cigarettes will likely diminish the use of these harmful devices among youth and other vulnerable populations. This ban constitutes the first strong federal offense against an industry accused of enabling addiction and serious health problems. Applaud this needed protection for consumer health.
