My name is Rudy Howell, and I am a poultry farmer in North Carolina. My wife and I raised chickens for a major poultry company for over 25 years—that is, until they terminated me for telling the truth about how this industry hurts workers, animals, and the environment. Years of being a top producer and never having had a single disciplinary action against me, and still they sent me packing for speaking up about the consequences of corporate influence in the food industry. Utterly discouraged by inaction from my company and regulators, I brought in videographers to discuss public health concerns, animal welfare, and unfair business practices I and my fellow farmers endured at the hands of poultry industry. It was shortly after the scenes from the video of my chicken house were published that I was given my walking papers. Well, I am not about to stay quiet. Currently, only a handful of corporations control our food from farm to fork. Over the past 50 years, fewer and fewer multinational agribusiness corporations have come to control more and more of our food system, shutting out local and family farmers in the process. With unchecked power, companies have standardized exploitative practices that are harmful to farmers, to rural communities, to the animals themselves and to our environment. But it doesn’t have to be this way! I’m not the only farmer they did this to, and there are countless others too afraid to talk for fear the poultry companies will do them the same. This system pits farmer against farmer, with the lowest performing paying the bonus of the top performer. The system operates to keep farmers from talking with each other and sharing information. Their dark-money ties and big-shot lobbyists have done a hell of a job keeping farmers like me quiet and consumers like you blissfully unaware. That’s why I was so pleased to see things finally starting to change earlier this summer in the antitrust Executive Order Promoting Competition in the American Economy that President Biden signed, but the USDA and Congress must ensure that family farmers are part of the solution by updating the Packers and Stockyards Act (PSA) to address the treatment of livestock and poultry farmers by meatpackers, swine contractors, and poultry companies. These reforms are long overdue, and it is critical that we move as expeditiously as possible to complete this rulemaking process. Concentration of corporate power has contributed to a host of problems such as racial inequity, climate change, rural degradation, animal cruelty, and worker/farmer exploitation. Recently, the administration took an important first step in showing its commitment to increasing competition across the agriculture sector and rectifying the situation. The Department of Agriculture announced that it was going to improve the Packers and Stockyards Act to protect farmers of color from discrimination, assure that farmers can associate freely and that whistleblowers are protected from retaliation, and improve court access for farmers who wish to bring lawsuits against industry bad actors—but it must have congressional support to enact truly meaningful change. When companies have this much power, they can cut corners and bend the rules in their favor, even at the expense of farmers, rural communities, workers, our environment, and consumers. In this David-and-Goliath dynamic, good people could lose everything if they speak out against unsafe practices, corruption, and injustice. For the safety and sustainability of our food system, we must break the culture of fear and retaliation in industrial agriculture. Farmers need a #FairShake. Sign my petition if you agree!

Walmart is a great place to find a wide array of low-cost essentials among other things. However, recently it has caught my attention that Walmart stores are still selling MyPillow brand pillows. I like Walmart for the quality products I get for a specific price point. With the CEO of MyPillow supporting the capitol insurrection and the lies about election fraud, I’m disheartened by Walmart’s refusal to cease the sales of these products. I worry that allowing CEOs to lie publicly and spark unnecessary discourse about our democratic elections. Hopefully with enough signatures, we can let Walmart know that we’d like to continue shopping at their stores, but not while they sell products who’s profits go towards overturning a democratic election.

Amazon continues to feel the heat in Alabama. Earlier this month the NLRB ruled that Amazon unfairly tampered with the union vote in Bessemer, Alabama.1 Amazon used their massive power to pressure the postal service into putting a mailbox at the workplace in Alabama -- which may have caused workers to feel Amazon could see when and how they voted, potentially influencing the result. This is just further proof that Amazon has too much power, and is abusing it to undermine workers' rights. One way we can help fight back: pressure the federal government to break up Amazon. Sign the petition: Tell the federal government to support workers and break up Amazon! Amazon isn't just a tech giant, it's a global monster with tentacles gripping nearly every part of daily life. And Amazon workers, especially Amazon warehouse workers, continue to feel the squeeze. Amazon warehouse working conditions are notoriously bad. So much so, the National Council of Occupational Safety and Health named Amazon one of the most dangerous employers in the country.2 On top of that, during the historic heatwaves earlier this summer, Amazon warehouses pushed workers to their physical brink, without providing air-conditioning. But the tide is turning. Activists like you and me are speaking out and demanding Amazon be held accountable. In Alabama, that might mean a new worker union election. But we can't stop there. Amazon has proven time and again that they have too much power and influence, and use it to undermine their workers and their right to a safe workplace. So now it's time for action. Together we can raise our voices and pressure Congress to act boldly to break up Amazon's monopoly. Sign the petition: Tell the federal government to break up Amazon! Sources: 1. Vox, “The Amazon union drive isn't over yet,” August 3, 2021. 2. Futurism, “After Deaths, Amazon Lands on List of Most Dangerous Employers,” October 18, 2019.

We need as many voices speaking out as possible to stop the waste being created on a daily basis at Costco. Plastic doesnt just "go away", and the fact that the manufacturers are not made to take responsibility for the trash they create is unacceptable anymore. Taking water from the earth, thereby depriving citizens of it, and bottling it to make a profit, as well as destroying the earth with plastic, is obscene and should be treated as such. Please sign and share my petition with as many people as you can, and lets see if we can change one thing that is wrong now simply by collectively speaking out! Thank you!

Hard working individuals and families across southeast Michigan have been adversely impacted by DTE Energy's continued failure as our sole electrical service provider for far too long. From frequent brownouts to complete power outages – citizens are left without much needed power and often significant financial loss resulting from damaged appliances and spoiled food with no compensation. DTE Energy continues to respond to outages with only promises made for improved infrastructure investment and maintenance that simply does not take place or produce lasting results. DTE Energy must be held accountable for the poor state of their system and make real financial investment to provide lasting and sustainable improvements that greatly reduce the frequency and duration of power outages.

Ben & Jerry’s recently announced that they would no longer sell their products in occupied Palestinian territories — after years of pressure from advocates.¹ Their decision should prompt more corporations to take a principled stance and exit the territories, and Airbnb should be among the first, since they already made that decision years ago. If Ben & Jerry’s won’t sell ice cream in illegal settlements, Airbnb shouldn’t rent homes there either. In 2018, after years of intense campaigning by grassroots activists and an internal audit by Airbnb, the company announced they’d stop allowing rentals in the occupied West Bank.² The reaction was swift — and a barrage of lawsuits coerced Airbnb to backpedal on the decision five months later.³ When Airbnb announced the reversal they also signaled the company’s ambivalence when they stated: “Any profits generated for Airbnb by any Airbnb host activity in the entire West Bank will be donated to nonprofit organizations dedicated to humanitarian aid that serve people in different parts of the world.”⁴ 146 Palestinian NGOs issued a statement saying that they would refuse any funds from Airbnb and called for humanitarian groups from around the world to also refuse funds from rentals in the occupied West Bank.⁵ Funds too controversial for Airbnb to take shouldn’t be passed on to humanitarian groups with a commitment to human rights and international law. In 2020, the UN published a list of 112 companies doing business with Israeli settlements in occupied territories.⁶ Airbnb is among a handful of U.S. companies included. In response to the UN list, Human Rights Watch stated that “to do business with illegal settlements is to aid in the commission of war crimes.”⁶ Sign the petition telling Airbnb to stop pretending to toe the line. Donating fees from rentals does not absolve the corporation. By allowing rentals in occupied Palestine, Airbnb is breaking international law and facilitating war crimes. Sources: 1. “Ben & Jerry's Says It Will Stop Ice Cream Sales In Occupied Territories,” NPR, July 19, 2021 https://www.npr.org/2021/07/19/1018039737/ben-jerrys-says-it-will-stop-ice-cream-sales-in-occupied-territories 2. “Listings in Disputed Regions,” Airbnb Newsroom, November, 2019 https://news.airbnb.com/listings-in-disputed-regions/ 3. “Airbnb Reverses Policy Banning Listings in Israeli Settlements in West Bank,” The New York Times, April 9, 2019 https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/09/world/middleeast/airbnb-israel-west-bank.html 4. “Update on Listings in Disputed Regions,“ Airbnb Newsroom, April 9, 2019 https://news.airbnb.com/update-listings-disputed-regions/ 5. “To Humanitarian Groups and NonProfits Receiving Airbnb Funds: Say No to Dirty Money,” Al-Haq, Nov. 19, 2019 https://www.alhaq.org/advocacy/16195.html 6. “U.N. Publishes List of Firms Doing Business with Israeli Settlements,” The New York Times, February 12, 2020 https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/12/world/middleeast/un-israeli-settlements-companies-list.html

Amazon wants to build a new HQ in South Africa by bulldozing over sacred indigenous land.1 And just like when Amazon tried to build a new HQ in New York City, local activists in Cape Town are pushing back. Amazon didn't choose a sacred indigenous site by accident. They know it has historical, cultural and environmental significance.2 They just want to destroy and build on it anyway. But since Amazon is a US company, they're particularly vulnerable to grassroots pressure here in the US. You can show your solidarity with indigenous activists in South Africa by calling on your member of Congress to denounce this new Amazon headquarters. Sign the petition: Tell Congress to denounce Amazon's plan to build a HQ on sacred indigenous land in South Africa! The indigenous land sits on the banks of the Liesbeek River where in the year 1510 Khoi peoples successfully fought back Portuguese intruders. The area is still a source of pride and cultural heritage for the Khoi, which also survived decades of oppression under Apartheid. But now Amazon wants to bulldoze it and build a sprawling campus. Over 50,000 residents in Cape Town signed a petition opposing the construction, but Amazon is pushing ahead anyway. That's why folks on the ground there are asking for your help! If US elected officials publicly denounce this HQ project, Amazon will face an international political and PR nightmare. Activists here in the US successfully blocked an Amazon HQ in New York City. Together you can show solidarity with indigenous activists and help block this new Amazon HQ in South Africa. Sign the petition: Tell Congress to denounce Amazon's plan to build a HQ on sacred indigenous land in South Africa! Sources: 1. Reuters, "Heritage dispute engulfs site chosen for Amazon's new African HQ," June 3, 2021. 2. Africa News, "Controversy over the location of Amazon African headquarters in Cape Town," May 14, 2021.

Pegasus, a spyware created by Israeli company NSO, surveilled over *50,000* individuals — including private citizens — through their phones: tracking their messages, monitoring their locations, and even remotely activating their microphones to listen in on their conversations. This kind of mass surveillance is a threat to each and every one of us. That’s why we’re calling on Congress to protect our privacy and implement oversight of Pegasus spyware. Will you add your name to join us in calling for an end to unchecked surveillance?

Airbnb has joined other digital platforms in allowing COVID-19 misinformation to spread without an effective plan to stop it. Months ago, after a guest exposed a cabin rental listing in Montana which had a “no vaccinated guests” policy, Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky vowed to take action to stop hosts from posting conspiracy theories and myths that could endanger public health.¹ Since then, amid a 52% increase in bookings on Airbnb due to the slowing of the pandemic, Chesky has done little to stop hosts from spreading dangerous COVID-19 misinformation.² He’s chosen a path similar to other large platforms like Twitter and Facebook, both of which have taken fairly slow steps to suspend accounts that actively spread misinformation about COVID-19. People in the U.S. are traveling again because of the effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccines. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the vast majority — close to 99% — of COVID-19 deaths in the U.S. are of unvaccinated people.³ And, as the highly contagious Delta variant spark a new outbreak, the head of the CDC warns that “this is becoming a pandemic of the unvaccinated.”⁴ The last thing we need is for Airbnb, the world’s largest accommodations provider,⁵ to give anti-vaxxer hosts a platform. They are putting our public health in danger. Airbnb needs to tighten up their platform rules and immediately remove misinformation about the vaccine — and the hosts who believe conspiracy theories and misinformation that contribute to the spread of COVID-19. Sign the petition to let Brian Chesky know that he must immediately locate and remove hosts who spew anti-vaccine conspiracies. Sources: 1.”Airbnb CEO on vaccine misinformation: 'We are willing to take responsibility and take action if we have to,’” Yahoo Finance, May 25, 2021 https://finance.yahoo.com/news/airbnb-ceo-brian-chesky-coronavirus-vaccine-misinformation-221751171.html 2. “Airbnb Bookings Up 52% | Post-Vaccination Surge?” Tech Times, May 14, 2021 https://www.techtimes.com/articles/260233/20210514/airbnb-bookings-up-52-post-vaccination-surge.htm 3. “Nearly all COVID deaths in US are now among unvaccinated,” AP, June 29, 2021 https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-health-941fcf43d9731c76c16e7354f5d5e187 4. “C.D.C. Director Warns of a ‘Pandemic of the Unvaccinated,’” The New York Times, July 20, 2021 https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/16/health/covid-delta-cdc-walensky.html 5. “Airbnb's Total Worldwide Listings Is More Than the Top 5 Hotel Brands Combined,” Business Insider, August 10, 2017 https://www.businessinsider.com/airbnb-total-worldwide-listings-2017-8

Today the entire mainstream media is owned by only FIVE corporations, all of which are run by people who are invested in weapons and war. The result is a media that always starts with a pro-interventionist position and is staffed by former intelligence officials and generals that protect the government narrative instead of the truth. Additionally, it is extremely rare for mainstream media outlets to have on opposing viewpoints, especially from the left, to have debates and discussions. We need a return to fairness, truth and civil debate.

1. Workers are proud to work at Great Lakes. The beers they craft are a Cleveland institution. The workers have made the success of Great Lakes possible and they must be treated with the respect and dignity all workers deserve. 2. Labor unions are the best way to ensure fair treatment and long term stability, for both employees and the company. 3. Great Lakes management must voluntarily recognize the union and not interfere with the worker’s right to collectively bargain. Cleveland is a union-friendly town that respects working families – not union-busters!

The fate of the open internet is in the hands of two Trump appointees -- unless Joe Biden acts now. Ajit Pai, who as Federal Communications Commission chair under Donald Trump led the repeal of net neutrality, resigned from the FCC when Joe Biden became president. Nearly half a year later, the fifth FCC seat remains empty. Meanwhile, two of Trump's appointees are still on the FCC. With a 2-2 deadlock, they can continue to block key priorities until the vacancy is filled. In order to reinstate net neutrality and protect internet users from corporate control, we need President Biden to fill the fifth seat.