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.

Now that Bernie has endorsed Hillary Clinton for president we need to do more to keep fighting for his ideas. Senate Democratic Leader is the most effective position for him to continue influencing the debate and getting action on issues that are of critical importance to most Americans. Our petition needs to reach all democratic senators before the next majority/minority leader election.

This change directly affects all property owners in the area and increases traffic in a quiet kid-friendly residential area. These homes are located in a well established neighborhood. This will also put the houses in the area at risk to theft since the road gives direct access to criminals to 30% of the homes, which homeowners only reside in during the winter.

On June 14, Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump held a rally in Greensboro as part of his national campaign to mobilize a far right movement based on hate, fear, and division. In response, a diverse crowd of hundreds from Greensboro and across North Carolina mobilized to oppose his agenda of racism, anti-LGBTQ and anti-women bigotry, anti-immigrant and Islamophobic demagoguery, fueled by more war and repression. It was a powerful and beautiful demonstration of unity and solidarity in the face the growing tide of reaction that Trump is organizing. As Guilford County Sheriff BJ Barnes took the stage to endorse Trump inside the arena, outside hundreds of local, state and federal cops brutalized and arrested protesters -- predominantly young people of color. In contrast, armed Trump supporters moved freely on the sidewalks and the streets around the arena - and even walked through the protest all while taunting and and shouting racial epithets at the demonstrators. At least twelve people were arrested and charged with an array of bogus charges. Most of those arrested suffered injuries from the police in one form or another - one of the arrestees suffered a sprained arm; a second suffered a chipped tooth, facial injuries, and broken pair of glasses that was never returned; another had their pants ripped to shreds, and they had cuts and bruises covering their arms and legs, and a giant welt on their eye after being slammed and tackled to the ground by at least 5 cops. The vicious police attack on the demonstration and Sheriff Barnes’ ringing endorsement of white supremacy are part and parcel with the role the cops play in our society -- to serve and protect the interests of the rich and the powerful, and to enforce division and oppression among working class people. We say the names of Alton Sterling, Philando Castile, Alex Nieto, Jai Williams, Mya Hall, Akiel Denkins, Sandra Bland, Aiyanna Jones, Trayvon Martin, and the countless Black and Brown people who have been killed by cops. Black Lives Matter! In response to the events on June 14 and the current environment of divisiveness and violence, we demand: -Due to the wrongful and abusive arrests of protesters, we demand that the Guilford County District Attorney immediately drops ALL charges against those arrested on June 14. -In recognition that Trump’s presence in Greensboro created a toxic and violent scenario for our city, we demand that Mayor Nancy Vaughn and the Greensboro city council declare Greensboro a “ No-Trump Zone” banning Trump from returning to our city. -Since his endorsement clearly demonstrates a willful incapacity to carry out his duties impartially, we demand the immediate resignation of Guilford County Sheriff BJ Barnes.

Everyday polls come out saying that Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump are not trusted and are seen negatively by the American people. Recently, polls have begun to include Libertarian Candidate Gary Johnson and Green Party Candidate Jill Stein pitted against Clinton and Trump and have shown that people are looking for a different solution. However, in order for these candidates to be considered for the debates they need to be at 15% or higher in the polls. This is a rule that was put in place to make sure the debates were between serious candidates. This is a hard point to get to for candidates like Johnson and Stein because they are not given a chance to make their voices heard. There is no better way to do so then on the debate stage in front of a national audience. I am asking my fellow Americans to demand that the rules be changed to allow people from established parties, like the Libertarian and Green parties, to participate in the presidential debates

"[Institutions] who "continue the use of Indian imagery and references…have simply failed to listen to the Native groups, religious leaders, and civil rights organizations that oppose these symbols…[T]he use of the imagery and traditions, no matter how popular, should end when they are offensive." --United States Civil Rights Commission of 2001 "[The National Congress of American Indians] denounces the use of any American Indian name or Artifice associated with Indian mascots; and calls upon all reasonable individuals in decision making positions to voluntarily change racist and dehumanizing mascots."(Resolution MID-GB-93-58, June 1993) I am attaching links to their website and to an old commercial. While I can't find the one they are currently running on TV, I can say that the newest one shows a white child dressed up in American Indian dress and singing a jingle with a traditional American Indian melody. http://www.reddpestsolutions.com/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q2f53d5Brco&list=PLSTPl3n_QcNXEmZ4-uMtIyeRJ3t3WD2L9 Be part of the change to end the racism this business continues to perpetuate.

HYA is paying $4750 a month on a space they are not allowed to occupy (now totaling $21, 375). We urgently need signatures by Thursday 7/14 to submit to the SF Planning Commission to reflect our widespread support. Please sign to show you support HYA's administrative office! All SF residents are invited to sign. But, if you are a Lower Haight resident, PLEASE NOTE THAT IN THE COMMENT SECTION! It's very important that the Planning Commission hears from us specifically.

Background: Public Service Company of New Mexico has asked the NM Public Regulation Commission (PRC) for permission to install electric "smart" (AMI) meters in the areas it serves. A "smart" or AMI meter is a digital, wireless, transmitting device attached to the exterior wall of your home. PNM has asked the PRC for permission to bill ratepayers for expenses related to their installation (about $130 million).  "Smart" meter installations in other municipalities have shown that they put everyone at risk of:  Large rate increases: In the application, PNM is basing their calculation of customer savings on the faulty premise that these AMI ("smart") meters will last 20 years.  In practice, these meters are failing much sooner than that sometimes needing to be replaced in as little as 5 to 7 years.   Thus, the projected savings will inevitably disappear and costs will skyrocket, this, at customers’ expense. Fires: Because they caused fires, utilities in Pennsylvania, Texas, Florida, Saskachewan, New Zealand and many other places have had to remove smart meters.  This has resulted in additional expense rate to payers. Cyber security breeches: Smart Meters, being a wireless device are an easily hackable access point into the Smart Grid.  Former CIA Director James Woolsey said , "A so-called 'smart' grid that's as vulnerable as what we've got (to hacking) is not smart at all. It's a really really stupid grid."  PNM's application does not address how to prevent or mitigate cyber attacks.     Invasion of your privacy: Detailed data about your household's power usage could be sold. This sort of information is already being sold to third parties in other states. Additionally this information could be used by thieves to determine when you are away from home. 
 Health problems: "Smart" or AMI meters transmit data using 24/7 pulsing of Radio Frequency radiation. These RFs radiate along home wiring, exposing anyone within the building to levels of electromagnetic radiation (EMR) deemed a Class 2B carcinogen by the world health organization which puts it in a category with with substances like DDT and Asbestos. How does exposure to EMR affect pregnant women, children, people with implants, people whose bedroom walls hold a "smart" meter? Do we want to be guinea pigs? Or, do we apply caution and deny PNM's request? In its application, PNM stated that if the PRC does not allow it to pass on the costs of AMI meters to ratepayers, then it will not install them. PNM also stated that the project could become "uneconomical if the number of customers opting out becomes very substantial." We therefore believe that this costly, dangerous program can be stopped--if enough of us let the PRC and PNM know where we stand about “smart" meters before the PRC makes a decision about PNM's proposal. Please sign and then share this petition with everyone you know.  TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE !  The PRC is going to rule on this in the immediate future so ACT NOW !

To encourage our City Council to "Support Our Symphony" by approving funding for the Palm Springs Orchestra in the 2016/17 fiscal budget.