We have to Stop Killing Machine in Egypt & Save Lives

While Russia disdains LGBT athletes and their supporters at the 2014 Olympics, let America express our support for them by wearing a rainbow colored symbol on our nation's uniforms. We want the American Olympic Committee to create an affirmative response to Mr. Putin's negative approach to human rights for everyone. At the Olympics, The world's children should see examples of love and acceptance rather than rejection and hate.

It is not fair to the American people, who Congress, The Senate and The President are elected to serve to bypass the legislative process and "fast track" an agreement that no one has even been able to see yet! The text that has been leaked so far shows that this goes far beyond simple trade matters. It gives corporations rights over and above our own domestic public policies. This is not how a Democracy should work. Jobs and our safety have to take precedence over the corporate profit machine.

The Egyptian military perpetrated a coup against a democratically elected government. Whether you support Islamists or not, they won a free election and are entitled to govern. The military regime has now embarked on a campaign of mass murder--with the help of the $1.3 billion a year in US military aid. Time for this to stop!

Government employees who share information with journalists in the public interest should never face charges of "aiding the enemy" under the Espionage Act of 1917. Urge Congress to fix the law so it can't be used to intimidate whistle-blowers and journalists with the charge of "aiding the enemy."

Russia's elected leaders are out of control -- and we can't stand for it any longer. First came a ban on the adoption of Russian-born children not only to gay couples but also to any couple or single parent living in any country where marriage equality exists. Then came a law allowing police officers to arrest tourists and foreign nationals they suspect of being homosexual, lesbian or “pro-gay” and detain them for up to 14 days. And then the "gay propaganda" law, making any parent who tells their child that being gay is okay, any Pride parade organizer, any health official distributing information regarding safe sex between same-sex partners, even a judge or lawyer, can be subject to arrest or fine. Already people are being arrested, beaten, intimidated and more. One lawmaker even vowed that foreign nationals attending the 2014 Sochi Olympics would be subject to this. The city of Philadelphia has a “Sister City” relationship with Nizhny Novgorod, the fifth largest city in Russia. The Nizhny Novgorod Assembly passed a "gay propaganda" law, legalizing it in 2012. Philadelphia City Council failed to take action then, and Russia took the law nationwide recently. It is time for action now. If we build enough pressure in advance of the 2014 Sochi Olympics, Russia will be forced to act. Sign with me to tell the Philadelphia City Council: sever your sister city relationship with Nizhny Novgorod.

The following information was excerpted from a similar MoveOn petition to the Los Angeles City Council. Russia's elected leaders are out of control -- and we can't stand for it any longer. First came a ban on the adoption of Russian-born children not only to gay couples but also to any couple or single parent living in any country where marriage equality exists. Then came a law allowing police officers to arrest tourists and foreign nationals they suspect of being homosexual, lesbian or “pro-gay” and detain them for up to 14 days. And then the "gay propaganda" law, making any parent who tells their child that being gay is okay, any Pride parade organizer, any health official distributing information regarding safe sex between same-sex partners, even a judge or lawyer, can be subject to arrest or fine. Already people are being arrested, beaten, intimidated and more. One lawmaker even vowed that foreign nationals attending the 2014 Sochi Olympics would be subject to this. Recent anti-gay violence in Charlotte sister city Voronezh is concerning and is cause for action. Charlotte should send a clear message that violence against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender citizens of Voronezh is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. Mayor Kinsey and Charlotte City Council should vote immediately to pass a resolution to sever ties with our sister city, Voronezh.

Although the Iranian regime has been one of the worst human rights offenders in the world and has been unwilling to allow inspections of nuclear power plants, they are on the crest of a new presidential inauguration. To pass more sanctions now sends a bad message and gives the hardliners more ammunition against the US. The timing of the House vote has raised sharp questions about the kind of message it would send to Iran’s president-elect, Hassan Rouhani, before he takes office. MJ Rosenberg: "Since his election he has made clear that his goal is to resolve the US-Iran stalemate over Iranian nuclear development through negotiations... There is not one reason for passing this punitive bill before the new president takes office, unless, of course, AIPAC’s goal is to insult Rouhani and the Iranian nation in order to push him toward becoming another Ahmedinejad." Let's not sabotage any possibility of resolving this or our own reputation around the world by attacking the Iranian people with new sanctions... especially not NOW! Read more: http://mjayrosenberg.com/2013/07/31/house-to-pass-new-aipac-iran-sanctions-bill-to-keep-war-option-hot/ by MJ Rosenberg Update: 16 House members led by Rep. Jim McDermott, WA, say House action on #Iran is wrong. Signed Letter: http://www.mcdermott.house.gov/images/pdf/iranletter.pdf

• Initiators: New School for Democracy, Taiwan Association for Human Rights, Taiwan Democracy Watch, Covenants Watch, Cross-Strait Agreement Watch, Taiwan Association for China Human Rights, Taiwan Society for Democracy

The July 2013 military coup in Egypt and the kidnapping of a democratically-elected president and his wife represents a critical setback for democratic progress in the region and the world.If the United States is committed to democracy and respect for the rule of law, it will insist that Fatah El-Sisi and his tyrannical cohorts act in accordance with the democratic process, release all the political prisoners, stop the violence and the use of force currently being exerted without regard for human rights and modern diplomacy. In addition, we ask that all military aid be halted.

When old guard Cuban Americans in Congress were forced to accept that Beyonce and Jay-Z had visited Cuba legally, their response was to get the House Appropriations Committee to change the law and stop everyone from going on the same kind of licensed people to people trip. Members of the House and Senate and the President must hear from us. We need to tell them to reject the exile politics of a shrinking minority who are afraid of Americans seeing Cuba for themselves. The President should now treat all of us the same way he did Cuban Americans, universities and religious organizations four years ago by authorizing a general (no application needed) license for all purposeful non-tourist travel. Only sun and sand holidays separated from average Cubans should be precluded. That way we can all enjoy the same opportunity as Beyonce and Jay-Z, but at a lower cost, staying in privately owned bed and breakfasts and self-selected hotels, using public transportation and rental cars, organizing our own programs or joining meaningful group trips. Also important is that all US travel agents and tour operators must be free to book flights, hotels and programs for legally authorized travelers instead of the near monopoly currently held by 250 licensed Travel Service Providers. [Note: Cuban American travel and remittances will be crippled by this legislation. Text and analysis here: http://cubapeopletopeople.blogspot.com/2013/07/legislation-aims-to-destroy-people-to.html]

The US military holds 166 foreign captives at the detention camp in Guantanamo Bay. According to the latest official figures 106 are currently participating in a hunger strike in protest over their continued detention, with 45 being force-fed as of July 8, 2013.