Republican Congressman Devin Nunes hit the nail on the head when he said, "It's moronic to shut down government over this." That was after his fellow House Republicans refused to back down from their efforts to overturn Obamacare, forcing a government shutdown. Fair Share organizers are turning up the heat on key congressional members in response to the shutdown, and we need a groundswell of grassroots opposition to the shutdown to break the gridlock in Washington, D.C.

We need a comprehensive approach to Syria that can serve as a peacemaking, prosperity-building model for the region. We need to break the endless cycle and horror of sectarian violence and dictators holding power through terror and genocide. The German Marshall plan offers a model that can be followed in Syria. Join me in proposing that our national and global leaders adopt and enact a visionary solution.

Historically, any peacemaking process is easy to disrupt.. One incident involving a small group or individual could bring the chemical weapons removal process to a halt as accusations fly and participants retreat, especially if the incident were to involve the use of chemical weapons, Successful removal of chemical weapons from Syria is important for the well-being of the Syrian people, the region and the world.

Join us to call on the US Ambassador to the UN Samantha Power to do the following: take a strong role in pushing for a ceasefire and a negotiated solution for Syria during the Geneva II Convention, push for an increase in US aid to the United Nations High Commission on Refugees, and urge the United Nations to ban the use of killer drones.

In the wake of Congress' rejection of an Authorization for the Use of Military Force in Syria, the Administration has announced that the CIA is increasing its efforts to supply weapons and training to armed rebels in Syria. Since it is widely acknowledged that Al Qaeda types are the most important faction among the armed rebels in Syria, it is very likely that weapons supplied by the United States to Syrian rebels will fall into the hands of people who could use them to kill Americans. The most dangerous weapons that could plausibly be supplied to Syrian rebels are anti-aircraft weapons, because these could be used to shoot down civilian aircraft. Congress can make sure this doesn't happen by prohibiting the CIA and other U.S. intelligence agencies from supplying - or facilitating the supply of - anti-aircraft weapons to armed rebels in Syria. One opportunity to do this may come when Congress considers the intelligence authorization that establishes funding levels for U.S. intelligence agencies. Such a Congressional restriction on the paramilitary activities of the CIA would be unprecedented in recent history, and is only likely to succeed if it has very broad political support, so it is strategic to focus Congressional attention on blocking the most dangerous possible arms transfer to Syrian rebels.

Please stand up against human rights violations by China and ask that San Leandro not condone them by raising the flag of the undemocratic People's Republic of China. For more information on how you can stand up against this visit: http://sanleandrotalk.voxpublica.org/2013/09/12/council-to-vote-to-raise-peoples-republic-of-china-flag-in-san-leandro/

Sojourners is looking for people of faith who want to encourage the President to continue to pursue diplomatic alternatives in Syria. Pursuing peace is hard and long work. But our country needs to break out of the old habits of war. President Obama's renewed focus on diplomatic options is a step in the right direction. Please sign the petition below to let him know that Christians across the country stand for peace and support diplomatic solutions to the crisis in Syria.

In a matter of days the new moderate President of Iran, Hassan Rouhani will be in New York to address the United Nations General Assembly. From sanctions that are hurting thousands of Iranians, to the Syrian crisis, millions of people stand to benefit from President Obama meeting with President Rouhani in an attempt to work out differences diplomatically. The last time Iran had a moderate President, George Bush named Iran as part of an axis of evil. Those comments made it even harder for former President Khatami to pursue diplomacy, as conservatives in Iran were able to argue that reaching out to the US would only be met with hostility. We’ve already started repeating the same mistakes again. Congress recently voted to increase sanctions on Iran before the new president was even sworn in. At the moment conservative lobby groups are pushing for President Obama to further isolate Iran. However President Obama has previously said he would be happy to talk to Iran and Iranians. Unless we show the President that such a move would have public support it’s possible that he’ll cave to conservative lobby groups. We saw what happened with Syria. If people stand up and make our voices heard - it can make a real difference in our foreign policy. President Rouhani isn’t perfect - there’s no denying that. However, pushing another moderate President into a corner in Iran, thus limiting their ability to pursue progressive reforms isn’t good for anyone. With economic sanctions that are hurting everyday Iranians and with an increase in rhetoric about an attack on Iran - there’s a lot to be concerned about. There is no guarantee of success by talking, however not trying to broker solutions using peaceful means given the stakes is unforgivable.

The failure of efforts to secure a Congressional authorization for the use of military force in Syria creates an unprecedented opportunity to reform U.S. policy in the Middle East. War proponents hoped to establish a precedent for a U.S. military strike on Iran, but the opposite precedent has been established instead: a war with Iran can be stopped by public opinion and Congressional resistance. The Obama Administration should use this moment to engage the government of Iran in efforts to establish a ceasefire in Syria and negotiations to end Syria's civil war.

During a virtual town hall meeting held on Monday, September 9, Rep. Rosa DeLauro said that she was leaning toward voting FOR authorizing military force in Syria. We believe that Rosa's constituents do not want her to vote for more war, especially when there are diplomatic options still available. Let's show her that her district wants her to vote NO. Sign and share this petition, which we'll deliver directly to Rosa's office in New Haven.

Because we need to get the Hell, out of there!

Dropping bombs is not the answer to the crisis in Syria. There are other, better means to show Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and the world that chemical weapons are intolerable, such as the latest international proposal for Assad to surrender his chemical weapons. Bombing Syria could increase the refugee crisis, further destabilize the region, and commit the U.S. to open-ended conflict. Even the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Martin Dempsey, told Congress that attacking Syria would "escalate and potentially further commit the United States to the conflict."