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Secretary of Defense Carter: Release Mohamedou SlahiMohamedou Slahi has been unlawfully imprisoned for 14 years by the U.S. government. Thirteen of those years have been at Guantánamo Bay prison, where he was subjected to gruesome torture. The U.S. has never charged Slahi with a crime. The U.S. government's justifications for holding Slahi fail because he has never taken part in any hostilities against the United States. And he poses no threat to the United States. A former chief military prosecutor in the Guantánamo military commissions, Colonel Morris Davis, has said he couldn’t find any crime with which to charge Slahi. In 2010, a federal judge ordered Slahi’s release, rejecting the government's arguments since evidence was tainted by torture and coercion or was otherwise not credible. But the government appealed. The U.S. is currently holding him indefinitely despite his innocence. Soon Slahi will have the Periodic Review Board hearing he should have had four years ago, where he can prove he’s not a threat to the United States. Will you urge the Department of Defense to free Slahi?67 of 100 SignaturesCreated by Ginny Simmons
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Massachusetts: End shell companies that aid opioid crisisWith 1,526 overdose deaths in Massachusetts in 2015, we need to leave no stone unturned in combating the opioid crisis. One easy to way to make it harder to move drugs in Massachusetts? Make it a lot harder to move the money. Most businesses have nothing to hide, but if you do have something to hide, it's easy: You just set up an anonymous shell company -- which in America, requires less personal information than it takes to get a library card. Since you don't even have to report who owns the company, anonymous shell companies are a favorite tool to hide all sorts of unsavory behaviors, from terrorism and drug cartels to tax dodging. “Shells are the No. 1 vehicle for laundering illicit money and criminal proceeds,” explained Lanny A. Breuer, former Asst. U.S. Attorney General to the New York Times. [1] Much of the opioids that are trafficked in Massachusetts come from drug kingpins based in Mexico or Colombia. [2] The biggest of Mexico’s drug gangs is the Los Zetas cartel. From 2008, the Zetas used anonymous companies, including from Oklahoma, in a scheme to launder millions of dollars of drug money into the United States, with the true ownership hidden behind front-men. The money was hidden behind the purchase of race horses, some of whom were given names such as ‘Number One Cartel’ and ‘Morning Cartel’. [3] The Government Accountability Office estimates of the $39 billion in drug money leaves the country each year. Of every $100 that goes south, U.S. law enforcement officers intercept only 25 cents. [4] The ease of money laundering makes it all that much easier to flood our streets with cheap drugs. As Massachusetts communities deal with public health problem created by the rising opioid crisis, we can also help make it harder to launder money through shell companies. But given how money is hidden in shell companies, there is a lot of pressure to maintain the status quo. That's why we need people like you to speak out. 1. http://goo.gl/3JhHc4 2. https://goo.gl/4UNWf1l 3. https://goo.gl/Hz8Tb3 4. http://goo.gl/WXbbTo23 of 100 SignaturesCreated by Nathan Proctor
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Bipartisan Free Fair Election Reform to ensure DemocracyFree and Fair Elections are the foundation of every Democracy, along with education. The two party system is archaic, outdated and easily corruptible. I'm asking for you support in ending the Electoral College, and giving Americans an easier path to participate. Rank Voting, which requires a simple majority, would increase participation, expand dialogue and end the feeling that many of us have, of either holding our noses or wasting our votes. We've heard testimony of Voting Machines being rigged, votes being stolen and citizens being excluded and disenfranchised. If we are to bother with a democracy at all, it most be equal and fair for all.193 of 200 SignaturesCreated by Van Glandon
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Water for WaukeshaExposure to radon can cause multiple kinds of cancer; allowing the use of Lake Michigan water to replace radon contaminated water can literally save lives. And the water will be returned to the lake, allowing for no net loss of water from the Lake Michigan watershed.22 of 100 SignaturesCreated by Thomas Leszczynski
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Stop U.S. Funded Genocide In YemenAs Americans, we are proud of our history of freedom and representation. However, through the sale of weapons to Saudi Arabia, the U.S. has funded the genocide of innocent Yemenis. It is time we investigate the use of the weapons we sell, as the U.K. has done, and end the funding of genocide in Yemen. Watch our advertisement here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g0MFtmTX1j0&feature=youtu.be195 of 200 SignaturesCreated by John Staunton
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37 Main Johns Creek - Noise OrdinanceTwo years ago 37 Main was established in Johns Creek, GA. The live entertainment venue was then given the green light to open by city officials in the commercially zoned area. The city is now changing the "rules" and ticketing the establishment for noise violations. However, there is currently not a noise reading of dB levels in Johns Creek. We are asking for your support to help get this resolved with the city as a fair reading of dB levels like the ones used in surrounding area cities.2,153 of 3,000 SignaturesCreated by 37 Main Johns Creek
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Help refugees Come into the CountryI'm starting this petition because this refugee crisis is a real problem. Refugees have to take a deadly journey to find a safe place to live. And most of these refugees get sent back to their country. PLEASE help solve this problem.148 of 200 SignaturesCreated by Elias Waitz
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Stop Trying Juvenile Kids As AdultsI'm personally affected by any child unfairly treated as something they're not. A child is a child not an adult; they do not have the mindset, understanding, comprehension nor self-control as an adult is expected to have. Despite the actions of the juvenile, trying them as adult is an injustice and is unjustifiable.33 of 100 SignaturesCreated by Ranika Moore
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End the Application of 2,4-D and Other Noxious Substances at Peppermint ParkSome Facts About 2,4-D: 2,4-D was first used in the United States in the 1940s. Agent Orange, an herbicide used during the Vietnam War, contained both 2,4-D and 2,4,5-T. Pets may be exposed to 2,4-D if they touch grass or other plants still wet from spraying and then groom their feet or fur, if they drink the pesticide, or possibly if they eat grass that has been treated with 2,4-D. Dogs may be more sensitive to 2,4-D than other animals. In 2015, the International Agency for Research on Cancer declared 2,4-D a possible human carcinogen, based on evidence that it damages human cells and, in a number of studies, caused cancer in laboratory animals. More conclusive is the proof that 2,4-D falls into a class of compounds called endocrine-disrupting chemicals, compounds that mimic or inhibit the body's hormones. Dozens of epidemiological, animal, and laboratory studies have shown a link between 2,4-D and thyroid disorders. There are reports that 2,4-D can decrease fertility and raise the risk of birth defects. But even though fetuses, infants, and children are at highest risk of these, no studies have looked directly at the effects of 2,4-D on those groups. Also problematic: 2,4-D sticks around in the environment. Depending on the formulation, it can drift through the air from the fields where it is sprayed or be tracked inside homes by pets or children. By the EPA's own measure, 2,4-D has already been detected in groundwater and surface water, as well as in drinking water. It can also poison small mammals, including dogs who can ingest it after eating grass treated with 2,4-D. Sources of the Above Facts: (https://www.nrdc.org/stories/24-d-most-dangerous-pesticide-youve-never-heard) (http://npic.orst.edu/factsheets/24Dgen.html)51 of 100 SignaturesCreated by Kaia Elinich
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University Staff Congress- In Support of the Faculty of UW and Their No Confidence VotesThe UW Board of Regents’ insufficient action on the matters of tenure and Civil Service changes dramatically affects the entire state by stifling the ability of the UW (as a statewide entity) to serve its historic mission of being committed to the “search for truth” and to “improve the human condition”.120 of 200 SignaturesCreated by Nathan
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Wisconsin Legislators: Save IRIS. Leave our Long-term Care Alone.Governor Walker and the Wisconsin Legislature eliminated IRIS, the nation's largest self-directed services program, in the 2015-2017 WI state budget when they voted to completely overhaul our long-term care system in favor of big insurance taking over. The people did not want this and aging and disability experts advised against it. The WI Department of Health Services & legislators said this overhaul had to happen to control costs. Facts show that this is not true. Health care costs, the real cost-driver, can be addressed without disrupting our long-term care system. We ask the legislature to listen to the people & the experts and to follow the facts, not the big insurance lobby. Please Save IRIS and leave Family Care alone.1,342 of 2,000 SignaturesCreated by Nancy Gapinski
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Free Cody BakerHello, My name is Paula. I used to think that the worst thing imaginable I could have happen is a knock on the door by the highway patrol in the middle of the night telling me about the death of one of my children. But, I never imagined that the next to the worst thing would be seeing my child broadcast on local television as a murderer. My son had dated a young lady for 8 weeks. After 3 weeks, she invited him to move into her parents home with her and her baby. After 6 weeks he was asking me if we would help with him adopting this beautiful, sweet, delightful little girl. To which I reflexively replied, "Of course, we will." It was all happening so fast. He told everyone in our family he was marrying the young lady and adopting this amazing child. At 8 weeks after he started dating the baby's mother, he awoke to the sound of the baby gurgling. His CPR attempts were unsuccessful. He yelled immediately for his girlfriend to call 911. She took her phone to an adjacent room and calmly and quietly spoke to the 911 operator. After 1 min and 19 seconds the operator asked if she was in the same room with the baby and my son administering CPR. She told her no. The dispatcher asked if he knew infant CPR, she said she didn't know. The dispatcher told her to go to the room where he was doing CPR and talk him through it. You could hear my son sobbing in between breaths and the mother remained calm and emotionless. The ambulance driver asked the mother if she wanted to ride to the hospital with them, she said no. The ER DR asked if she wanted to come into the bay where they were making efforts to revive her, she said no. After the Dr pronounced the sweet baby girl dead, the Dr asked the mom if she'd like some time with her to say goodbye, she said no. Upon returning home, she asked her brother and my son to pick up all her belongings and take them out of her sight and close the door of the baby's nusery. They did as she asked. At this point the Dr had told her and my son it was likely SIDS. My son was wrongly accused, convicted and though the mom spent 7 of her 11 hour interrogation saying my son "NEVER HURT HER BABY!" She is free on probation and he received 30 years. There was no DNA, NO Witnesses, NO sounds!! NO signs he'd ever been anything other than loving and doting to this precious baby, the prosecutor suborned perjury from the mother. She admitted to that during the trial. It's in the transcript! For her proffer "she had to say whatever the prosecutor told her to." 36 people wrote or testified to my sons love and commitment to children and especially this baby. All saying it was impossible that he did this. Yet, the day of sentencing- an uncle who left my daughter a voice message and told her that the prosecutor was forcing him to testify and it was "all lies". The sentencing hearing was made up of the underbelly of the most detestable likes. One mother who had already had her child removed from her for abuse and was charged again, was now claiming my son had something to do with her son's injuries. And the best part- her attorney was my son's attorney! She told her dad and stepmom and the doctor that the injuries were from another child on the playground! The lady forewoman was a former friend and student attending William Woods Business Administration at the same time as the baby's grandfather. Another juror was good friends for over a decade with the aunt and sister in law of the grandparents (she sat in the courtroom making eye contact with the the friend) the grandma- a licensed clinical social worker never came to the trial or sentencing hearing. Her daughter, the baby's mother suffered from rage disorder and depression and was drinking the day of the death. She told her mom that she dropped her little girl. A mandatory reporter did not take the baby to a hospital. The mandatory reporter did not seek medical attention. The mandatory reporter knows my son is innocent! Please help us to get my son out of prison. Please show that you want the courts to be right and not throw people's lives away because it isn't your son. Please Jeremiah, do what you know is right. Sincerely, Paula Wilson29 of 100 SignaturesCreated by Paula Wilson