It is no surprise to anyone that I am "a crazy cat lady". What most people don't know is that I have been in cat rescue for more years than Facebook has been around, or longer than my husband and I have been together. All of the cats we have now are all the product of feral cats breeding - All of them. I have also been a caretaker for a feral cat colony for the past 8 years. I've laughed and cried over these guys. I've held kittens while they've died in my arms from sickness, and tricked adults into taking medicine when they were sick. I've lost sleep on nights it was frigid during the winter, and have brought toys and catnip so they can play. I've also taken about 100 kittens from there. Not all of their's, mind you. Some were dumped because people figured out that someone is taking care of cats there (there is a BIG apartment complex just above my colony) I even found a litter of 4 that were tied up in a garbage bag and tossed into a dumpster (all 4 live with me now - Chicken, Sadie, Lilly and Monet). I've done this virtually alone because they are considered "nuisance animals", throw-aways, degenerates, disease carriers; I don't have to go on. The saddest thing is.... the original matriarch of the colony was probably an abandoned, not spayed cat from the apartment complex. It wasn't their fault that they have to live this way, and they didn't choose this for themselves. I also work with a rescue. ALL of the kittens, this year, were a direct result of feral females birthing kittens. In fact, we are at kitten capacity now because of it! We've had to turn away adults because of it - perfectly adoptable adults. The same is true at other rescues. The animal shelters, during kitten season, have to euthanize perfectly adoptable adults because of overpopulation. And guess what? It's going to get worse unless we find a solution, besides euthanasia, that will stop feral cats from breeding. In NYC "Intakes fell 35 percent, to 18,219 in 2013 from 27,940 in 2009, according to Animal Care and Control of NYC, a nonprofit organization that has a contract with the city to take in rescued animals. Euthanasia numbers (excluding requests from owners) fell 63 percent, to 3,044 in 2013 from 8,122 in 2009." Results.... proactive, not reactive. The TNR bill that was vetoed was an important tool for us who work with feral cats. This bill, unlike most, would not increase taxes or be a burden to taxpayers. The monies to fund the program would come from the Agricultural and Markets budget. The opposition (mainly PETA and Audubon) says it doesn't work. They opposed it without doing their own research. There have been NUMEROUS studies that show it DOES work! Governor Cuomo couldn't be bothered to even read the bill or do his due diligence before vetoing the bill. He turned a blind eye to a need that is unmet in this state. NOTHING will change, unless we override this veto. I speak on behalf of the homeless, abandoned and forgotten cats, the ones without voices. Please support this petition. Julie Moses

The City/Museum's land grab attempt needs to be stopped. Piecemeal annexation is detrimental. It is up to LAFCO (Local Agency Formation Commission), the County’s public commission that makes land jurisdiction decisions, to decide the fate of this special area. We need your help to preserve the scenic Mission Canyon Corridor. We do not want to lose Oak and Sycamore trees; we need your help to maintain the character of this special area. The density for development in the City is higher than the County and potentially would disrupt the rural/urban environment and open spaces. http://www.independent.com/news/2015/aug/19/no-jurisdiction-change-museum/ http://www.independent.com/news/2015/nov/12/hazard-duty/

Deputy Ben Fields of the Richland, SC police department is seen on video body slamming a teenage girl for refusing to leave class. This happened in school and in front of other students and the teacher. Turns out, Deputy Fields has a reputation for brutality towards students in Spring Valley High. Criminalizing the behavior of Black students in school does not help them or the school. This is not just about a bad apple, but a bad way of thinking about an entire segment of this society. We must stop the school-to-prison pipeline by ending the use of police to solve normal childhood behavioral issues.

The New York Times reports that Republicans in Congress are nearing a budget deal with the White House that could include cuts to Social Security and Medicare. Three years ago, the national conversation was about cuts. Together, we changed that. Now, expanding benefits for millions of Americans is the mainstream Democratic position. Democratic presidential candidates have called for expanding Social Security benefits. 42 of 44 Senate Democrats voted for the Warren-Manchin resolution that called for expanding Social Security benefits. And a national poll by the Progressive Change Institute shows expanding Social Security benefits is popular among 2016 70% to 15%. The President and Congress must see that any deal that cuts Social Security, Medicare, or Medicaid benefits would be unacceptable policy -- and would be wildly unpopular with voters. We will share this petition with them to make sure they do.

Since 1982, the Governor's School for the Sciences has been the premier science program for thousands of Pennsylvania's brightest high school students. As a '15 alumni of the program, I know firsthand that the learning, social, and experiential bonds PGSS cultivates are truly special. By discontinuing funding for PGSS, Governor Wolf, you will sincerely be doing a great disservice to thousands of Pennsylvania's next innovators, discoverers, and scholars for years to come.

Deputy Fields has to be fired. We cannot let him get away with this because if he does, he will continue to do it. What if it was your daughter or son dragged out of a desk and flung across the classroom? SIGN the petition now!

I recently discovered why all the CNA's [Certified Nursing Assistants] I work with are uninformed regarding politics in this country. Many work 2-3 jobs to afford basics [food, shelter, car] and many confided that they can not afford what is called "expanded cable" [too expensive for them]. The poor are being disenfranchised. This is NOT Democracy.

We are hearing reports that Congress is rushing towards a deal that will prevent the U.S. Government from defaulting on the debt ceiling and keep the government funded through the 2016 elections. But, if The New York Times is correct, there could be cuts to Medicare and Social Security benefits in the deal. We don't know all of the details yet, but people who rely on Social Security are already stretched thin, and just found out that they won't receive an annual increase this year. We need to make our voices heard to keep cuts out of any potential deal: No cuts to Social Security, Medicare or Medicaid benefits!

Nine out of ten voters agree: big money has too much influence over our elected officials. From shadowy SuperPACs to billionares buying influence, the candidates are all complaining about the influence of money in politics -- but no one has grilled them on the solutions. After three presidential debates, no moderator has asked Democratic or Republican candidates what they'll actually do to solve the problem of money in politics. We can fix that. The moderators at the next debate will have a chance to get candidates on the record for specific reforms -- but only if they hear from enough of us.

The United Nations Climate Change Conference of Parties (COP21) in Paris draws to a close in just a few days. This global conference is our last chance to tackle catastrophic climate change. If the negotiations fail, there is no plan B -- COP21 is effectively the end of the line. In 1992, the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) was established to "stabilize greenhouse gas concentration". Since then we have endured failed negotiations, broken promises, distant targets and shattered hope. At COP21 world leaders must commit to take effective and practical steps to prevent average global temperature increases of above 1.5°C. According to climate scientists, existing pledges by governments fall short of achieving the target of 2°C, which itself is woefully inadequate. Even now many countries are starting to feel the devastating impact of climate change. In the last 250 years, average global temperatures have already increased by 1.0°C. The Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs) submitted by governments up to now, even if fully implemented, will actually increase warming to around 2.7°C above pre-industrial levels by 2100. For decades, scientists have been warning us about the threats of climate change and its impact on the world: How parts of Africa, South Asia and Latin America will heat up more and more, with temperatures becoming increasingly intolerable; how rising sea levels will endanger billions of people, particularly those in low-lying countries such as Bangladesh, the Marshall Islands and the Maldives, as well as people in cities such as Tokyo, Shanghai, New York and London; how melting glaciers will flood river valleys and then, when they have disappeared, unprecedented droughts will occur. Pope Francis issued a dire warning to the world when addressing the UN General Assembly: “The ecological crisis and the large-scale destruction of biodiversity can threaten the very existence of the human species.” World leaders can no longer ignore the warnings. COP21 is their last chance to prevent catastrophic climate change. They must deliver a comprehensive, just and legally binding climate agreement with adequate provisions for mitigation, adaptation, loss and damage, Green Climate Fund financial investments, technology development and transfer, and implementation mechanisms, with safeguards for traditional communities, indigenous peoples’ rights and an emphasis on human rights and gender equality. They must commit to ensuring the integrity and resilience of natural ecosystems, restore degraded and deforested land and to transfer subsidies from fossil fuel and nuclear to renewable energy. We must not forget that we are fighting for our survival, the survival of our children and our children’s children – the survival of future generations. Beyond that, we are fighting for the preservation of all life on Earth. We urge you to sign this Appeal. Time is running out. UPDATE: I am very concerned about the outcome of the UNFCCC climate conference, COP21. We already had enough reasons to be pessimistic about the agreement, especially after we learnt the INDC results of 170 countries, which will put the world on course for an average warming of 2.8°C by 2100 or 3.3°C according to a new report by Global Citizens Initiative and Earth Action, which will cause irreversible and catastrophic climate change. Now, following the terrorist attacks in Paris I fear that it will be even more difficult to focus the attention of world leaders on the threat of climate change. Since the launch of the petition we have received a tremendous response and have the support and endorsement of: Bianca Jagger, Founder and President of the Bianca Jagger Human Rights Foundation Frederic Mion, President of the Paris Institute of Political Studies (Sciences Po) Craig Calhoun, Director of the London School of Economics (LSE) Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu From academia: Baroness Helena Kennedy QC, Co-Chair of the International Bar Association Report on Climate Change and Human Rights and Principal of Mansfield College John Joughin, Vice-Chancellor of the University of East London (UEL) Erik Berglof, Director of the Institute of Global Affairs (LSE) Alan Rusbridger, Principal Lady Margaret Hall and former editor of The Guardian Anna Grear, Director of the Global Network for the Study of Human Rights and the Environment (GNHRE) Karen Morrow, Editor of the Journal of Human Rights and the Environment Tom Kerns, Director of Environment and Human Rights Advisory (HRA) Damien Short, Director of the Human Rights Consortium, School of Advanced Study, University of London Rosalind Reeves, Ateneo School of Government Right Livelihood Award Laureates, also known as the Alternative Nobel Prize: Alison Linnecar, Convenor of the International Baby Food Action Network (IBFAN) Working Group Alyn Ware, Founder of the Network Parliamentarians for Nuclear Non-proliferation and Disarmament (PNND) Angie Zelter, Founder of Trident Ploughshares Anwar Fazal, Director of the Right Livelihood College Bill McKibben, Co-Founder of 350.org Bishop Erwin Krautler, Bishop of Xingu Camille Pelleger, International Baby Food Action Network (IBFAN) Chico Whitaker, Representative of the Brazilian Justice and Peace Commission to the World Social Forum David Suzuki, Scientist, Broadcaster and Founder of the David Suzuki Foundation Gino Strada, Executive Director of Emergency Jumanda Gakelebone, representative of First People of the Kalahari Hans Herren, CEO of the Millennium Institute Ida Kuklina, The Committee of Soldiers’ Mothers of Russia Jose Ramon Villarin, President, Ateneo de Manila University Kasha Jacqueline Nabagesera, Founder of Freedom and Roam Uganda (FARUG) Martin Green, Sciential Professor at the Australian Centre for Advanced Photovoltaics Paul Walker, Director of Environmental Security and Sustainability at Green Cross International Raul Montenegro, President of the Environment Defense Foundation (FUNA...

Although we have seen people die on camera, we know this program will bring a new level of accountability the people desperatly need. CAJE Community Advocates for Justice and Equality.

El lado oeste de la ciudad de San Bernardino no necesita otra tienda de licores en la esquina de Línea Base y Centro Médico. El distrito electoral 6 actualmente tiene la mayoría de las tiendas de licores que cualquier otro distrito electoral en San Bernardino. Y históricamente nuestro barrio ha sido el más valnurable a la delincuencia y la pobreza debido a su ubicación geográfica. Nuestra comunidad ha recorrido un largo camino; la emisión de esta licencia de licor traerá efectos negativos a nuestra comunidad. Esta es nuestra oportunidad para tomar acción directa y luchar para recuperar nuestra comunidad. The West Side of San Bernardino city does not need another liquor store on the corner of Baseline and Medical Center. Ward 6 currently has the most liquor stores than any other ward in San Bernardino. And historically our neighborhood has been the most valnurable to crime and poverty due to its geographical location. Our community has come a long way; the issuance of this liquor license will bring negative effects to our community. This is our chance to take direct action and fight to take back our community.