The Pope preaches global tolerance and he's been fighting corruption from day one at the Vatican. Kutesa, President of the United Nations General Assembly and a senior official in a government that promoted an anti-LGBT law does not exemplify the values of Pope Francis or the ideals of the United Nations -- fighting corruption and ensuring human rights for all regardless of race, religion, national origin, and sexual orientation.

The actions of these organizations have been extensively documented in peer reviewed academic research (Brulle, 2013) and in recent books including: Doubt is their Product (Michaels, 2008), Climate Cover-Up (Hoggan & Littlemore, 2009), Merchants of Doubt (Oreskes & Conway, 2010), The Climate War (Pooley, 2010), and in The Climate Deception Dossiers (Union of Concerned Scientists, 2015). Successful prosecution of the tobacco industry under the RICO (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations act) is a valid example of the power and effect of this act. It's high time to apply it to the fossil fuel industry it's CEOs and it's paid propagandists.

A prime reason for the wave of refugees washing into Europe is the deterioration of the conditions Syrians face in Lebanon, Jordan and Turkey, a worsening largely caused by sharp falls in international funding, the New York Times reports. [1] The UN Syria Regional Refugee and Resilience Plan had by the end of August received just 37% of the $4.5 billion appeal for needed funds this year. It would cost less than a billion dollars to close the U.S. share of this shortfall, and increased U.S. contributions would encourage other countries to step up. A billion dollars might seem like a lot of money, but compared to U.S. military spending and tax breaks for the super-rich, it’s small change. The Treasury Department says closing the “carried interest loophole” that allows super-rich hedge fund managers to pay a lower tax rate would alone save $18 billion over 10 years [2]; one expert says the number is far higher [3]. In June, the Washington Post reported that the CIA was spending $1 billion this year in military aid to Syrian rebels that both Democrats and Republicans said wasn’t working [4]. That’s different from the Pentagon’s program to aid Syrian rebels, which Democrats and Republicans said this week is also not working. Congress appropriated half a billion for the Pentagon program in 2015 and the Pentagon is asking for even more money next year. [5] Urge the Administration and Congress to fully fund UN efforts to aid Syrian refugees in the Middle East by signing our petition. References: 1. http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/20/world/un-funding-shortfalls-and-cuts-in-refugee-aid-fuel-exodus-to-europe.html 2. http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/18/business/with-trump-as-foe-carried-interest-tax-loophole-is-vulnerable.html 3. http://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/06/business/dealbook/how-a-carried-interest-tax-could-raise-180-billion.html 4. https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/lawmakers-move-to-curb-1-billion-cia-program-to-train-syrian-rebels/2015/06/12/b0f45a9e-1114-11e5-adec-e82f8395c032_story.html 5. http://thehill.com/policy/defense/253816-general-only-four-of-five-us-trained-rebels-in-syria

“A destruction, an annihilation that only man can provoke, only man can prevent.” -Elie Wiesel 50 million people are currently displaced by conflict around the world. Responding to displacement has required spending billions to support life-saving humanitarian assistance and other cost-intensive interventions. The crisis in Syria is a stark example. Four years of conflict have resulted in the deaths of over 200,000 civilians, a crushed economy, and the biggest refugee crisis since World War II. Experts estimate that even if the war ends tomorrow, it will take 40 to 50 years for Syria’s economy to recuperate. Yet, in this context, the Atrocities Prevention Board (APB), the only high-level U.S. body focusing on preventing genocide and mass atrocities, is at risk of being dismantled. Founded in 2012, the APB has facilitated vital information-sharing between government agencies and helped the US respond to crises in Burundi and Central African Republic. Without Congressional authorization, the APB risks abolishment by the next presidential administration, regardless of party. Now, more than ever before, it is vital that the U.S. invest in genocide and atrocity prevention. As we have seen in Darfur, South Sudan, and Syria, we are in vital need of prevention mechanisms to save lives before conflict escalates. As we reflect on the lives lost in conflicts such as Armenia and Namibia at the beginning of the 20th century, the Holocaust in the 1940s, Rwanda and Bosnia in the 1990s, and those living with the consequences of such atrocities today, we commit ourselves to fighting for a world without genocide and mass atrocities. We urge Congress to support the swift and uninhibited institutionalization of the Atrocities Prevention Board. The U.S. has been a leader in the fight to end genocide -- we must continue to lead on this vital bipartisan issue, lest more lives be sacrificed as we fail to prevent.

While neighboring countries in the Middle East and The EU have reluctantly taken in refugees, they often find themselves in either inhumane conditions or stuck in the bureaucratic web of Europe's immigration debate . No one is better equipped to assist the Syrian people more than The United States of America. Our nation has a singular tradition of support and opportunity for all those seeking a better life, be it temporary or permanent. We have the heart, and we have the resources. Our nation's citizens are good people and will help in every way we can. Our country has proven it's heart time and time again, and now at this most crucial moment we should answer the call once more.

Spotify, Pandora's main competitor, pays out six times that amount - yet their payouts are also pitifully inadequate. Music streaming services assume that the competition for online music is priced at “free,” and their value added is in curation. No, the competition for streaming is “stolen” music. Streaming services are using stolen music as the comparative justification for pitiful compensation. In this environment, artists are forced to crowd-fund their creative work, making friends and fans of the artist subsidize the creation of content from which these services profit. It’s corrupt, unethical, exploitative, and unfair.

Bicycles are being force to use busy streets that gas powered vehicles use, making transit difficult because of traffic congestion. Devoting a entire street to foot and bicycle traffic would secure a means for commuters to cross busy parts of the city.

I used Planned Parenthood when I was in college and grad school and had no insurance and was very poor. I used many of their services including contraception, check-ups, and one abortion. Without Planned Parenthood poor women would have nowhere to go for these services. I don't see why the federal government doesn't want to defund Planned Parenthood, since federal funds are not used for abortion and that seems to be what people who support defunding Planned Parenthood are worried about.

We are starting this petition to bring Kevin Roach to the attention of Warner Brothers and New Line Cinema for consideration for the role of Freddy Krueger in the Nightmare on Elm Street Remake/reboot.

Children's Protective Services (CPS) in the State of Ohio, as well as across the nation are abusing their power and violating parents and their children's Constitutional Rights by unlawfully removing children (kidnapping) from their parents and doing it for very trivial reasons, not within the scope of CPS guidelines set forth by the Federal Government. My family has personally been affected when our three youngest children were taken by Morgan County Children's Services on June 16, 2015. They did this citing the living conditions of our home calling it an emergency removal, however, no emergency/exigent circumstances existed. On the day of the removal, CPS had already visited our home unannounced at 10:30 am. They left and said they would return in three days. They returned that same evening at 7:30 pm with no warrant and no court order to justify the removal. Following the removal, no complaint was filed with the court until three days later. We were not notified of the Emergency Shelter Care Hearing that took place seven days later. Therefore, the court proceeded without us and no rehearing was held. We were not allowed to have contact with our children for 44 days. No update or status report was given by the social workers with regard to our children. Every step of the way the court process has been prejudiced with the judge showing favor to the state and having no regard for the numerous violations of law, Civil Rights as well as Ohio Revised Code and Ohio Administrative Code which governs and sets forth the conduct of state officials and employees. Our children have been detained for ninety-three days at this point. We demand as parents an investigation regarding the conduct of CPS as well as the Judiciary and Prosecuting Attorney be initiated this matter. We acknowledge that we are not alone and situations like this occur every day across the nation. All investigation performed by CPS (in every state) should have a thorough review process to insure the correct decisions are made before children are needlessly ripped from their homes thereby traumatizing not only the children but the family as a whole.

This petition is about showing the very large number of people who want, need and support the building of a self funded skate facility next to the dog park at RPV City Hall site that their city officials support their needs. Our youth need a legal place to skateboard. Skateboarding is even given as PE class credit in our PVUSD high schools. We have the support of ninety percent of the principals of PVPUSD. This petition is also meant offset the Stop the skatepark petition started by a non-resident of RPV. Social media email blast, Facebook and tweet support for our multi-use Skateable Plaza to be built now at NO cost to tax payers.

I fell at work in November of 2014 and I am still suffering from my injuries but since nothing was broken or permanently damaged I will receive no compensation. Attorneys will not even represent you unless you have permanent damage or willing to fake or exaggerate your injuries.