Under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES), the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service regulates the export of animal pelts. The Service has illegally failed to evaluate the export program, resulting in the trapping and killing of native and endangered species. Western Environmental Law Center is a nonprofit, environmental law firm whose expert attorneys are dedicated to defending the wildlife of the American West. WELC attorneys filed suit against U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in May.

One year ago, on July 17, 2015, Eric Garner, was killed by numerous police. The murder was recorded on camera. His words, "I can't breathe" were heard around the world and further compelled the movement for justice in our country. But the Department of Justice investigation has not yet resulted in charges against the officer who took Eric Garner's life. As the anniversary approaches, it is important to note that Erica Garner, Eric's daughter and her family have not had any closure. Activist Erica Garner was invited to the ABC's Presidential Town Hall with the promise that her voice would be heard—that she and other family members who have lost their loved ones to police violence would be able to ask the important questions our country must face in order to heal. But ABC broke its promise, and denied the invited family members of police violence the opportunity to speak. The Garner family grieves along with the families of Mike Brown and all other victims of police violence. They deserve to speak and air their grievances just as the families of the fallen Dallas officers and police authorities had a chance to do. Their lives matter and the town hall with the President of the United States was a disrespectful step backwards for all the families working to achieve justice. This is why we say #BlackLivesMatter.

We have all been deeply affected by the racial tensions ongoing since the time of slavery. Our country needs the Truth and Reconciliation program to heal the PTSD that has been passed down for centuries, and to educate the communities of both victim and perpetrator as to how trauma and PTSD is healed. Tutu set up a panel of nonjudgmental empathic listeners to hear the trauma stories, which began a healing process that has led to forgiveness and reconciliation. The program is deep and wide and needs to be studied in-depth to be implemented in the way Tutu chose, which has been successful in its scope and application. Just imagine what it would be like to live in this country without the tragedies caused by racial tensions, to be free of the fear, hatred and violence, to experience forgivness, reconciliation and unity for the first time ever!

Our family loves Annie's Mac and Cheese! But we need more cheese for our mac and cheese because sometimes there are a few on the side that don't get enough cheese. But if you go into a different box to get the cheese from *that* box, then that box won't have enough cheese, and on and on until you end up with an empty box. If Annie's makes individual cheese packets, then we can have as much cheese as we need in our mac and cheese and not end up with an empty box. --Kennedy, age 9

This petition is in response to the signing of a law to withhold recorded body & dash camera video from public viewing. I'm starting this petition in light of the recent deaths of two African American men in which camera video will provide a pivotal outcome in those two ongoing cases. Also having access to ANY & ALL body & dash camera video in the state of North Carolina will help protect us as citizens as well as the police.

This petition is to put an end to the road side drug testing of motorists. This is a pilot program for 5 counties in Michigan and the state police have not named the counties involved. This testing started 7/13/16 and it will run a year. If somebody is swerving and weaving they already have sobriety testing in place. This is just another attempt to harass motorist and another spin on driving while black. It is a violation of our constitutional rights to be drug tested on the side of the road for weed, cocaine and heroin. Please help put a stop to this harassment .

Washington State Ferries is about to shut down at least 3 local women- and minority-owned businesses and replace them with an out-of-state, multi-national corporation. More than 100 jobs could be in danger. This process needs to be STOPPED. Revenues and jobs need to STAY IN WASHINGTON!

We want a new trial and new venue. We want to be able to question the jurors and we ask that the Federal Judge be dismissed for practicing institutional racism.

Americans should have access to acupuncture as a healthcare choice. Acupuncture can help with the side effects of PTSD and possibly reduce the 22 veteran suicides per day. Help the 50 million Americans that wake up every day with chronic pain and improve quality of life for seniors by providing an alternative to opioid use. Acupuncture can help reduce healthcare costs and increase workforce productivity. Please ask your congressperson to sign-on as a co-sponsor of HR3849. Please find you congressional representative and forward them this petition by going to: http://www.house.gov/representatives/find/

More than 20 million Americans have been made second-class citizens for LIFE because of a fraudulent arrest for marijuana. The rest of the country is terrorized by this insane war. - Promises mean nothing now. We need ACTION before the election or we will choose Gary Johnson or Jill Stein.

Last week, 54 African leaders gathered in Kigali, Rwanda for the 27th Annual African Union Summit. Only 22 years ago, Rwanda was the site of a horrific genocide, leaving over 800,000 civilians dead, prompting massive refugee flows into surrounding countries, and propelling regional instability, the repercussions of which are still being felt today. Today in Burundi, less than an hour’s drive from the Summit, the similarities to Rwanda in 1994 are haunting. Hate speech is rife, with words such as “dogs,” “snakes,” and “terrorists,” being used against political opponents - much as they were used during the genocide in Rwanda. There are reports of youth being armed, and up to 67 people are killed each month. Additionally, there are over 6,000 political prisoners, including over 500 youth recently arrested for doodling on photos of President Pierre Nkurunziza. According to the UN, there have been 345 recorded torture cases, including by electrical shock and use of acid. Testimonies show women forced to strip naked to see relatives in prison, and Human Rights Watch has reported gang-rape of women by youth militia members as part of attacks on perceived opponents. Nearly 300,000 refugees have fled to neighboring countries, living in camps where many feel unsafe. Over the past 12 months, the world has failed to respond as hundreds have died in Burundi. As the crisis escalates and peace talks stall, the time to act is now. As such, we urge the African Union to prioritize the lives of Burundian civilians, whatever their political leanings, by creating and implementing a plan for civilian protection. There may be a short window to effect change in Burundi before chaos breaks out – please learn from the lessons of Burundi’s northern neighbor and stand on the right side of history. We urge the African Union to prioritize Burundi at the AU July Summit, and to do the following: 1. Publicly condemn hate speech from all parties in Burundi; 2. Urge the UN Security Council to support Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s proposal for a robust 3,000-member police protection mission in Burundi; 3. Work with African Union member states, as well as the UN, to fulfill the agreed-upon 200 human rights and military monitors for Burundi; 4. Urge the East African Community to support former Tanzanian president Benjamin Mkapa as a peace talk facilitator by giving him more independence as lead facilitator; and 5. Include non-governmental representatives from Burundi, including civil society in exile, refugees, women, youth, and other minority groups, in dialogue about next steps for peace in Burundi.

Western Pennsylvania is already plagued by poor air quality and resulting health problems like asthma and high rates of cancer -- yet Shell is trying to build a massive ethane cracker plant in Beaver County. This facility would be another major air polluter for the region; if built, it could emit up to 10 times as much volatile organic compounds as Clairton Coke Works, a notorious nearby air polluter. Call on Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection to put public health first and reject Shell's ethane cracker permit.