Let's think ahead about the common good.

Making derogatory comments about a group of people is not responsible journalism. Giving accurate information to help the people in Haiti through the storm should be a priority and not the time to make racist and demeaning comments.

Medicare Should Include Dental Care Whether or not you're a senior citizen, hopefully, you will be someday. When that happens, you're going to want complete health care. One of the most important, and least covered healthcare costs for seniors is dental care. And yet, dental care is not included in most post-retirement insurance plans, including Medicare. In other plans, it's a very expensive option. Medical research has linked poor dental health to the most serious health hazards including Heart Disease, Diabetes, and many other age-related diseases, including a weakened immune system, which gives rise to Pneumonia, Influenza and other infectious conditions. Improved dental care could help reduce and delay the onset of these serious diseases in this vulnerable segment of our society. If we could reduce the incidence of these diseases, we could significantly reduce illness, reduce the case load on our medical and hospital systems, and promote better, more efficient health care for yourself and your family. Providing dental benefits will improve the overall health of seniors. It will also result in a healthier Medicare and medical insurance system. Sooner or later, that will benefit everyone.

If something "probably" causes cancer, it's time to stop using it. The World Health Organization's International Agency for Research on Cancer has identified the herbicide glyphosate, commonly sold as Roundup, as a “probable human carcinogen." Americans are being regularly exposed to glyphosate through their air, water, and food – and that’s not right. It's time for the EPA to suspend the use of glyphosate until a meaningful evaluation of the herbicide's carcinogenicity is done. The FDA should also begin monitoring and enforcing tolerance levels for glyphosate residues immediately. Sign the petition to urge EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy and FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg to protect public health and end the use of Roundup!

Bayer and Monsanto are already giant corporations. If allowed to merge, they would control enormous market share in GMO seeds and related pesticides. This is the latest in a series of big agriculture company mergers — leaving just a few companies with control over the building blocks of our food system. This consolidated market leaves farmers with fewer options and higher prices, and it results in fewer real options for everyone at the grocery store. Monsanto and Bayer already exert outsize influence to downplay the negative consequences of their products, including neonicotinoid pesticides, which harm bees and monarch butterflies, and glyphosate, a probable human carcinogen. Federal regulators should block this merger to prevent further corporate control of our food supply. Sign the petition to the Department of Justice to reject this mega-merger!

There are no rules or laws protecting birds in the food industry; yet 98% of the animals living in factory farms are poultry. The Humane Slaughter Act actually excludes poultry along with other species of animals. That is wrong. All animals need protection.

Chained dogs suffer from the weather, from boredom and loneliness, lack of socialization and other neglect. Chained dogs become twisted around stationary objects and are at risk of attack from other free roaming animals. Dogs are social animals and they should not be chained outside 24/7.

To get my brother out of prison. He has been wrongfully accused.

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

Developers are proposing new market rate apartments at 2902 Adeline, threatening to increase neighborhood rents, exacerbate parking and traffic problems, and continue the ongoing process of gentrification and displacement in the Bay Area. If our neighborhood is to be developed, the community demands that these negative impacts be mitigated. Through a community-led process involving over 300 people, local residents developed these six demands and sent them to the developers on August 12, 2016. We requested but did not receive a response from the developers within 30 days.

Bill Clinton is an American hero, and a masterful saxaphonist. He is best remembered for balancing the federal budget, negotiating the Oslo Accords, and playing saxophone on Arsenio wearing sunglasses. With 100,000 signatures he will have no choice but to obey the will of the people and play "Baker Street" at his wife's inauguration ball next January.

Lawyer Ousainou Darboe and 18 officials of the opposition United Democratic Party of The Gambia; Momodou Sanneh, Lamin Dibba, Kemeseng Jammeh, Femi Peters, Fakebba Colley, Lamin Jatta, Junkunda Suso, Lamin Ceesay, Tapha Makalo, Fanta Darboe, Amadou Sawo, Kebba Khan, Fatmatta Jawara, Fatou Camara, Nogoi Njie, and more, have been sentenced to three years in the notorious Mile Two Prison for engaging in a peaceful demonstration. They were demanding the body of Ebrima Solo Sandeng, a UDP official murdered in government custody for leading a peaceful protest for electoral reforms, and the release of the other protesters tortured by government agents. Some of the women were beaten, raped, and locked up with serious life threatening injuries. Instead of respecting the constitutional rights of the UDP officials and activists, the government, on April 16, got them arrested and had them on trial in a kangaroo court. We are deeply troubled by their convictions. Most of the officials are elderly men over 65 years, and some of the women are mothers with young children. Already another UDP member, Ebrima Solo Krummah, died in custody without official explanation. These were not isolated incidents. Rather, they fit into a disturbing pattern of Yahya Jammeh’s 22-year iron-fist rule. In the words of Amnesty International, they are part of a "continuing downward spiral for human rights in The Gambia.” And according to Human Rights Watch, “Sandeng’s senseless death in custody appears to be the latest in a long line of abuses against the political opposition in Gambia. …This case heightens concerns that the Gambian government will intensify its crackdown on independent voices ahead of elections in December.” In recent months, for instance, he summarily fired and detained dozens of senior officials, including Sarjo Jallow, a veteran Foreign Ministry official, at the notorious National Intelligence Agency headquarters. They are still not charged with any crime or released, in clear violation of the Constitution. The UDP is the largest opposition party in The Gambia. And Lawyer Darboe is a popular opposition figure and prominent human rights attorney. Yahya Jammeh perceives him and his party as a threat. Hence, the clampdowns, arrests, abductions, detentions, sham trials, and murder. Please join us, Gambians and friends of The Gambia, to call on The Gambia Government to release the UDP officials and activists and all political prisoners. We need your voice to end the tyranny. By Fatou Jaw Manneh Human Rights Activist/ Exiled Journalist Note: I do not belong to/affiliate with any of Gambia's political parties or candidacy. http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-36853700