Though Japan regained its sovereignty in 1952, the U.S. military continued to occupy Okinawa for another twenty years. Okinawa is less than 1% of Japan’s total area, yet is occupied by three fourths of the U.S. military bases in the country. [1] The island is choked top to bottom with war machinery and troops — built on land seized from Okinawans — which have caused extreme noise pollution, deadly accidents, destruction of natural environments, and assaults against women by American soldiers. The construction of new helipads in Takae is only the most recent effort by the U.S. to project its military presence in the region over the voice of Okinawans. Residents who engaged in sit-ins and other peaceful protests at the construction site have been forcibly removed by violent riot police. [2] The central government of Japan, bending to the will of the U.S., has even filed a lawsuit against two residents called “strategic lawsuit against public participation,” or SLAPP. These retaliatory lawsuits are intended to silence, intimidate or punish people who have used public forums to speak, petition or otherwise move for government action on an issue, and have been made illegal in many jurisdictions around the world. [3] When national leaders refuse to budge from unjust policies, it’s at the local level that we can have the most impact. In September 2015, Berkeley passed a resolution on opposing the construction of a U.S military base in Henoko, Okinawa. [4] We are proud that it became the first such resolution passed by a city council in the United States, giving tremendous hope to people in Okinawa. It is time to continue our support of Okinawans in their ongoing fight against the devastation of their communities. Sources: 1. http://fpif.org/okinawa-small-island-trying-block-u-s-militarys-pivot-asia/ 2. http://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20160722/p2a/00m/0na/013000c 3. http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/08/12/national/social-issues/film-depicts-okinawans-fight-against-ospreys/#.V_07tlUrKVM 4. http://www.cityofberkeley.info/recordsonline/export/16874673.pdf

I'm tired of the bloodshed in Aleppo, Syria. The Russians and Syrian government won't allow U.N. aid convoys into Aleppo. I want the U.S. Air force to start an airdrop of crucial supplies to the innocent civilians of Aleppo.

Following a bombing attack by Saudi-led forces on a funeral in Yemen, the White House announced an “immediate review” of U.S. support for the Saudi Arabia-led military campaign in Yemen. "U.S. security cooperation with Saudi Arabia is not a blank check," the White House statement said. [1] Connecticut Senator Chris Murphy said: "Saudi airstrikes, with support from the United States, have killed thousands of civilians in Yemen. ‎Yesterday's attack on large funeral party follows months of attacks on schools, homes, and hospitals…we are past the point of strongly worded statements. If the U.S. is serious when it says our support for Saudi Arabia isn't a blank check, then it's time to prove it -- because it's clear the Saudi-led coalition isn't listening. The administration should pull U.S. support for the Saudi-led war in Yemen because it's harming America's national security, enabling terrorist groups to thrive, and killing innocent civilians.” [2] Oxfam said: "This weekend’s attack on a funeral home in Sana’a was a gruesome act that served no purpose except to deepen Yemen’s misery. With more than 140 dead and more than 525 injured according to early reports, this was a massacre of civilians, apparently carried out by Saudi warplanes fueled and supported by the United States…. the US announced that it will immediately review its support to the Saudi-led coalition. This review ... should conclude immediately, with the withdrawal of all US support, including the sale of arms, to the parties. Any other choice signals ongoing indifference to the thousands of Yemenis killed by airstrikes and the millions on the verge of starvation thanks to a senseless, preventable conflict. The US must throw its full weight behind a political settlement, it cannot be a peace broker and an arms broker at the same time." [3] Urge President Obama and Congress to end U.S. support for the Saudi bombing campaign in Yemen by signing our petition. References: 1. https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2016/10/08/statement-nsc-spokesperson-ned-price-yemen 2. https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-us-must-end-support-for-disastrous-saudi-bombing-campaign-in-yemen- 3. https://www.oxfamamerica.org/press/saudi-led-coalition-airstrike-on-a-funeral-in-sanaa-killed-and-injured-hundreds-of-people/

It is time to end the war in Afghanistan. In this election year, you would expect that those hoping to be the next Commander in Chief of America’s military would be putting forward their plan to end America’s longest war. Yet none of the candidates have put forward a clear, actionable, public plan for peace. This is unacceptable. Please take a moment to demand that all candidates release a plan that will finally end America’s longest war, bring all our troops home, and put forward a plan for peace in Afghanistan.

Syria is a sovereign country that is no threat to the U.S. By international and US constitutional law, an occupation or an invasion of a sovereign state without a declaration of war is strictly prohibited and therefore illegal. These actions by the U.S., NATO, and Allies place many more innocent civilians lives at risk and poses a major war with Russia and Iran. Russia and Iran were asked to assist by invitation from the Syrian government, whereas the U.S. was not invited. There is no declaration of war with Syria, therefore there is no legal reason for the U.S., Allies, or its proxies to be in Syria. The U.S. has placed itself as above the law which, by definition, sets itself above all other nations. Theses aggressive acts by the U.S. in Syria are promoting even more destruction, violence, and chaos that are compromising world peace and the unthinkable, a nuclear confrontation. The U.S. has placed our military personnel in harm's way and is utilizing our men and women to advance this illegal action. As a military person, you have taken the oath to secure and defend the laws of our nation and international law. If given orders that contradict or challenge your promise to secure and defend the Constitution or international law, you have the right and are compelled to reject those orders. The phrase used often by those in authority, “I was just following orders,” does not give you immunity from those illegal and immoral actions no matter what position or status you hold. With the recent uncertainty of the U.S. fueling attacks on Assad and on Syrian/Russian forces, Russia and the U.S. are set for a direct confront. Moscow has recently opened their underground shelters in preparation for a war with U.S. and NATO (which is controlled by the U.S.). The Western news and presidential debates are a deliberate distraction from the matters that need to be exposed for what they are -- the aggressive and unwarranted actions of the U.S. is a threat to the quality of life for millions and even the extinction of life on Earth. Being complacent, doing nothing, you have made a decision. I can say, I did my best to make the public aware so that action can take place by the thousands to help save humanity. I am not a special person, I’ve just set aside the time to construct this petition as a call for action. Like you, I’ve spent thousands of hours on my computer. However, without a doubt, this is the most important thing this machine or myself has been tasked to do. May you also realize the utter importance of this call to action.

Some members of Congress are calling for U.S. military action against Russian and/or Syrian military forces in Syria. [1] Under the Constitution and the War Powers Resolution, such U.S. military actions must not occur without a prior vote by Congress to explicitly authorize them. Members of Congress who want the U.S. to take military action against Russian or Syrian military forces in Syria should introduce an authorization for the use of military force to enable these actions so that the proposed military actions can be publicly debated and critiqued before plunging the U.S. into yet another war. Urge your Senators and Representative to insist that Congress debate and vote on an authorization for the use of military force before any U.S. military action against Russian or Syrian forces by signing our petition. References: 1. http://thehill.com/policy/defense/298800-four-military-options-for-obama-in-syria

This was supposed to be the year that a woman was finally elected to run the United Nations, after seven decades of men at the helm of the world’s foremost diplomatic organization. Having a woman secretary-general matters because so many of the issues the occupant of the office focuses on – development, education, health, among them – are areas where women hold the keys to progress, many global development experts say. And several of the women candidates were widely considered to be among the most qualified in the field of 12. But it looks like the old-boy system is pushing back against them! As Melissa Labonte, a professor of political science at New York’s Fordham University and an expert in UN issues says, "The pool of female candidates included some of the most competent women we’ve seen on the world stage, so I’m befuddled as to why they haven’t been ranked more highly, [but] either these women are being judged by a different standard, or we're seeing that the patriarchy of the UN system is alive and well.” Please sign this petition and forward it to everyone you know who wants our UN to be led by a highly qualified woman for a change!!!

On September 23, President Obama vetoed the bipartisan Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act [JASTA], setting up a veto override fight over whether 9/11 families will be allowed to sue the Saudi government over its alleged role in the 9/11 attacks. JASTA, which passed the House and Senate unanimously, makes no claim about the Saudi government's involvement in the attacks. It simply removes the Saudi government's legal immunity from lawsuits concerning terrorist attacks on U.S. soil. Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders both support JASTA. [1] Supporters of JASTA have charged that the Administration is simply trying to protect the U.S. government's too-cozy relationship with the Saudi government, which has recently come under long-overdue Congressional scrutiny. On September 21, 27 Senators voted to block a billion dollar arms deal with Saudi Arabia, with many citing Saudi use of U.S. weapons against civilians in the catastrophic Saudi war in Yemen. [2] House Members have introduced a companion bill to disapprove the Saudi arms deal, HJ Res 98. [3] On June 16, 204 Members of the House voted to bar the transfer of cluster bombs to Saudi Arabia. [4] Administration claims that the principle of sovereign immunity is in peril if JASTA becomes law are unserious. There are already exemptions to sovereign immunity in U.S. law, including for terrorism. (We will pass over the Administration's support of the TPP, which would allow brand-name pharmaceutical corporations to sue governments in corporate tribunals to block the introduction of cheaper generic drugs.) JASTA would simply expand the current terrorism exemption to sovereign immunity of existing U.S. law to countries like Saudi Arabia that are not on the State Department list of state sponsors of terrorism. [5] The State Department list results from opaque determinations that include issues besides terrorism. The Administration wants to maintain the unilateral power of the executive branch to give a government a pass on support of terrorism if the executive branch - especially the Pentagon and the CIA - perceives that government to be useful in other ways. The majority of Americans have no interest in maintaining this unilateral, unaccountable executive power. And if people in other countries want to sue U.S. officials over alleged U.S. support for terrorism in their countries, those families also deserve their day in court. If that prospect might be a deterrent to Pentagon and CIA adventurism overseas, the majority of Americans will shed no tears. Urge your Senators and Representative to vote to override the President's veto of JASTA by signing our petition. References: 1. https://news.vice.com/article/hillary-clinton-bernie-sanders-9-11-bill-sue-saudi-arabia-new-york-primary 2. http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=114&session=2&vote=00145#position 3. http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/congress-support-diplomacy?r_by=1135580 4. http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2016/roll327.xml 5. http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/296862-obama-vetoes-9-11-bill

On September 21, the Senate voted on a resolution offered by Senators Chris Murphy [D-CT], Rand Paul [R-KY], Al Franken [D-MN], and Mike Lee [R-UT] to block an arms sale to Saudi Arabia. The Murphy-Paul-Franken-Lee resolution was a challenge to U.S. support and participation in the Saudi war against Houthi rebels in Yemen. The Saudi war in Yemen has been sharply criticized by human rights groups for causing a humanitarian catastrophe, for violating international humanitarian law, and for violating U.S. laws against targeting civilians with U.S. weapons. Senator Warren and Senator Markey voted against killing the Murphy-Paul-Franken-Lee resolution, effectively voting against continuing to arm Saudi Arabia. [1] S.J.Res.32, sponsored by Senators Chris Murphy, Rand Paul, Brian Schatz, and Sherrod Brown, would increase Congressional oversight over U.S. weapons exports to Saudi Arabia. [2] Thank Senator Warren and Senator Markey and urge them to co-sponsor S.J.Res.32 by signing our petition. References: 1. http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=114&session=2&vote=00145#position 2. https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/senate-joint-resolution/32

On September 21, the Senate voted on a resolution offered by Senators Chris Murphy [D-CT], Rand Paul [R-KY], Al Franken [D-MN], and Mike Lee [R-UT] to block an arms sale to Saudi Arabia. The Murphy-Paul-Franken-Lee resolution was a challenge to U.S. support and participation in the Saudi war against Houthi rebels in Yemen. The Saudi war in Yemen has been sharply criticized by human rights groups for causing a humanitarian catastrophe, for violating international humanitarian law, and for violating U.S. laws against targeting civilians with U.S. weapons. Senator Sanders and Senator Leahy voted against killing the Murphy-Paul-Franken-Lee resolution, effectively voting against continuing to arm Saudi Arabia. [1] S.J.Res.32, sponsored by Senators Chris Murphy, Rand Paul, Brian Schatz, and Sherrod Brown, would increase Congressional oversight over U.S. weapons exports to Saudi Arabia. [2] Thank Senator Sanders and Senator Leahy and urge them to co-sponsor S.J.Res.32 by signing our petition. References: 1. http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=114&session=2&vote=00145#position 2. https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/senate-joint-resolution/32

On September 21, the Senate voted on a resolution offered by Senators Chris Murphy [D-CT], Rand Paul [R-KY], Al Franken [D-MN], and Mike Lee [R-UT] to block an arms sale to Saudi Arabia. Senator Heinrich was a co-sponsor of the bill. The Murphy-Paul-Franken-Lee resolution was a challenge to U.S. support and participation in the Saudi war against Houthi rebels in Yemen. The Saudi war in Yemen has been sharply criticized by human rights groups for causing a humanitarian catastrophe, for violating international humanitarian law, and for violating U.S. laws against targeting civilians with U.S. weapons. Senator Heinrich and Senator Udall voted against killing the Murphy-Paul-Franken-Lee resolution, effectively voting against continuing to arm Saudi Arabia. [1] Senator Heinrich was a co-sponsor of the Murphy-Paul bill. S.J.Res.32, sponsored by Senators Chris Murphy, Rand Paul, Brian Schatz, and Sherrod Brown, would increase Congressional oversight over U.S. weapons exports to Saudi Arabia. [2] Thank Senator Heinrich and Senator Udall and urge them to co-sponsor S.J.Res.32 by signing our petition. References: 1. http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=114&session=2&vote=00145#position 2. https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/senate-joint-resolution/32

On September 21, the Senate voted on a resolution offered by Senators Chris Murphy [D-CT], Rand Paul [R-KY], Al Franken [D-MN], and Mike Lee [R-UT] to block an arms sale to Saudi Arabia. The Murphy-Paul resolution was a challenge to U.S. support and participation in the Saudi war against Houthi rebels in Yemen. The Saudi war in Yemen has been slammed by human rights groups for causing a humanitarian catastrophe, for violating international humanitarian law, and for violating U.S. laws against targeting civilians with U.S. weapons. Senator Merkley voted to kill the Murphy-Paul resolution, effectively voting in favor of further arming Saudi Arabia. Senator Wyden voted against killing the resolution, effectively voting against continuing to arm Saudi Arabia. [1] S.J.Res.32, sponsored by Senators Chris Murphy, Rand Paul, Brian Schatz, and Sherrod Brown, would increase Congressional oversight over U.S. weapons exports to Saudi Arabia. [2] Thank Senator Wyden for his vote, challenge Senator Merkley to explain his vote, and urge both to co-sponsor S.J.Res.32, by signing our petition. References: 1. http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=114&session=2&vote=00145#position 2. https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/senate-joint-resolution/32