The invention of plastic in 1907 is considerably recent. Since then, it has started to accumulate in the environment, our water, our blood, and we have only recently learned some of the biggest consequences of this material. Only about 9% of plastic is ever recycled and 12 billion metric tons (13.2 billion US tons) will enter landfills or the environment by 2050 if current trends continue. Chemicals leached from some plastics used in food/beverage storage are harmful to human health. Correlations have been shown between levels of some of these chemicals, and an increased risk of problems such as chromosomal and reproductive system abnormalities, impaired brain and neurological functions, cancer, cardiovascular system damage, adult-onset diabetes, early puberty, obesity and resistance to chemotherapy. Many plastics contain phthalates (DEHP) and the chemical BPA., these chemicals make their way into our food and into our bodies. Both chemicals are potentially harmful to human hormones, reproductive systems, and early childhood development. Dangerous chemicals such as BPA are found in more than 90% of the human population. We know huge concentrations of plastic debris cover large swaths of the ocean, what we don't know is if the Mississippi has dodged this plastic infestation? The plastic mass between California and Hawaii is the size of the state of Texas. Sea creatures eat or get ensnared in plastic debris and can be killed or maimed. Plastic that is consumed by marine organisms, as well as the toxins they absorb from the water, accumulate up the food chain making seafood potentially dangerous for humans as well. According to a study by Plymouth University, one third of the fish caught in the UK had plastic inside.Scientists predict that if nothing changes in our plastic consumption habits, by 2050 there will be more plastic in the oceans than there are fish (by weight). Each year, more than a million marine creatures and other birds and animals die from plastic pollution in their habitats.

These fish help control populations of pan fish that are destroying other fish’s reproduction. Fish such as the white perch eat bass fry and deplete the population. Tiger musky are apex predators integral to keeping a balance in their waterways. These fish cohabitate with pike populations and bring anglers to the area as a very desired sport fish.

We need people who represent the hard working, ethical people of North Dakota. Civil rights should be important to the people who represent us. The constitution was written for all!

Throughout Donald Trump’s presidency, Rudy Giuliani has been a central figure in scheme after scheme. Just last year, Common Cause filed complaints against Giuliani for illegally soliciting foreign help in the 2020 election -- in the form of a Ukraine government investigation into Joe Biden, which was at the heart of Trump’s impeachment. And Giuliani is currently representing Trump in several baseless, futile post-election lawsuits designed to undermine Americans’ faith in our democracy. Now, even though he hasn’t yet been charged with any crimes -- the New York Times is reporting that Giuliani has discussed with Trump the possibility of receiving a broad pardon, pre-empting any charge or conviction. That’s outrageous -- if Giuliani committed crimes, he should be held accountable. And, this could explain why Giuliani is one of the few people remaining who are willing to parrot Trump's conspiracy theories: he thinks it's his best bet to evade the rule of law. Trump has already issued politically-motivated pardons to individuals like Michael Flynn -- who was convicted for lying to the FBI during the Mueller investigation -- as well as far-right figures like Sheriff Joe Arpaio and Dinesh D’Souza. He uses these pardons to ensure loyalty from his associates, rile up his base, and distract us from his ongoing attacks on our values. Trump and Giuliani must come clean -- if they’re discussing a pre-emptive pardon, possibly as part of a quid pro quo, the American people deserve to know. It’d be just another effort by Trump to have one set of rules for his friends, and another set for the American people. We must demonstrate that Americans are united in defense of the rule of law -- and that we’re ready to speak out against any official who abuses their power. Join in by adding your name today.

Iranian scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh was assassinated in broad daylight from a sudden, well-executed, technologically sophisticated ambush. A remote controlled machine gun mounted to a Nissan shot the scientist and then self-detonated. Trump spent the last 4 years fanning flames with Iran and now President-Elect Biden will inherit a powder keg with a short fuse. But there’s a way out of this. President-Elect Biden can restore the Iran deal that Trump broke apart in 2018. And now he needs to make that a priority. Sign the petition: Tell President-Elect Biden and Congress to pledge to restore the Iran deal! Under Obama, the Iran deal was a major step forward in easing tensions with Iran and protecting US interests. But just like with the Paris Climate Accord, Trump was eager to shred Obama’s legacy wherever he could. When the US pulled out of the Iran deal, they set the stage for this deeply disturbing, high tech assassination. If Iran retaliates, Trump could use the last few weeks in power to launch an offensive, and leave Biden to clean up not just a pandemic, a climate crisis, an immigration crisis at the border, but now a new war in the Middle East. Restoring the Iran deal needs to be a Day 1 priority for both the Biden administration and Congress now. If President-Elect Biden can double-down now on his campaign promise to bring back the Iran deal, tensions could soften, and we could stop Trump from permanently destroying US foreign policy on his way out of the White House. Sign the petition: Tell President-Elect Biden and Congress to pledge to restore the Iran deal! Source https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/28/world/middleeast/israel-iran-nuclear-deal.html

Contura Energy subsidiary Republic Energy has applied for another mountaintop removal permit on Coal River Mountain: 1,085 acres (1.7 square miles) adjacent to their existing 6,555 acres (10.2 square miles) of mountaintop removal and toxic waste sludge dams. This process involves blasting the mountain with ammonium nitrate and fuel oil, releasing clouds of dust, mostly carcinogenic silica, into the communities below. With some neighborhoods enduring the daily equivalent of 20 Tomahawk missiles (which the West Virginia Dept. of Environmental Protection calls a "small blast") and dozens of scientific studies documenting the significant health impacts, coal companies dismiss residents' concerns. In response to Coal River Mountain Watch's objection to this permit, the $2-billion coal company Contura Energy states that they are "required to comply with WVDEP's air quality rules related to controlling fugitive particulate matter." However, we have aerial footage from Nov. 13, 2020, showing their massive dust cloud from an existing site filling the valley below, obscuring the homes in the neighborhood, and traveling more than two miles downwind. This new permit is right above another nearby neighborhood and comes within 300 feet of some homes. Other hazards of mountaintop removal include structural damage to homes from blasting, pollution of streams from runoff, and increased risk of flooding. West Virginia Dept. of Environmental Protection has the duty and obligation to provide and maintain a healthful environment. To approve this permit, subjecting neighboring residents to carcinogenic dust clouds during a deadly pandemic, is to abdicate this responsibility. WVDEP must do the right thing and deny permit S301419 proposed by Contura Energy subsidiary Republic Energy.

On October 2, 2018, Jamal Khashoggi, a Washington Post journalist and resident of the Washington DC Metropolitan Area, was murdered in the Consulate of Saudi Arabia in Istanbul, Turkey by agents of the Saudi government. The CIA has concluded that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman ordered this assassination. Soon thereafter, activists in DC launched a petition to rename the Northbound portion of New Hampshire Avenue, adjacent to the Saudi Embassy after Mr. Khashoggi. Almost 10,000 people signed a petiton demanding it. However, that effort did not succeed because DC law prohibits naming any public space after a person unless they are deceased for at least two years. October 2, 2020, marked two years since the horrific murder of Jamal Khashoggi. It is now time to rename the street. Please sign this petition to DC Council and Mayor Muriel Bowser asking them to do so immediately.

At this formative moment for racial justice in our society, CUNY must use its naming rights to elevate someone who reflects the multiply diverse backgrounds--in terms of race, class, gender, sexuality, immigrant origins--of the student population. Otherwise, there will never be a building named after someone who reflects the backgrounds of CUNY students and who can therefore truly inspire them.

Many West Virginians struggle every day, and since COVID started those struggles has simply multiplied. If the government passes this second stimulus package, and see to it that it goes to the people that actually need it, we feel that it would not only benefit the people who are struggling through these hard times, that it would also benefit small businesses who struggle to stay aloft. Small businesses this state relies on.

These long-suffering Elders have already been forced to survive four, five and nearly six decades of torturous confinement. Many were victims and survivors of the U.S. government's admittedly repressive "counter-intelligence programs" to discredit and destroy African American leadership and our Black organizations. They deserve immediate release and return to their families and our communities. Thank you.

The rationale is pointed out in "Let Us Make Them the Last Two Lies" https://www.opednews.com/articles/Let-Us-Make-Them-the-Last-by-Carmine-Gorga-Ph-Party-Politics-Republican_Politics_Religion-Politics_US-Politics-Government-201126-613.html). President Trump says he won the election. This is a lie. The second lie with which he justifies the first is that he lost because of a huge "Democrat" conspiracy theory. It is this second lie that is truly dangerous, because it is believed by a large majority of his followers and they will believe it long after he is gone. The legitimacy of our electoral process is at stake. The existence of our democratic republic is at stake. Which other means do we have to ascertain the will of the people but our vote? Besides, there is important urgent work to be done. People are dying because of President Trump's antics and those of his violent followers. People are unnecessarily suffering because of them. People's lives are being unjustly threatened because of them. Gabriel Sterling, the voting systems implementation manager for the Georgia secretary of state's office, a Republican, addressing President Trump at a press conference has stated: "It's all gone too far... stop inspiring people to commit potential acts of violence. Someone's going to get hurt, someone's going to get shot, someone's going to get killed, and it's not right." "Be the bigger man here and stop -- step in," Sterling added. "Tell your supporters, don't be violent, don't intimidate. All that's wrong, it's un-American." Dangerous issues of national security also call for President Trump's immediate removal.

NYC DOT’s own policy as per its website (http://bit.ly/DOTAdopt) is that “Highways can be adopted by individuals, companies, or organizations (but not political candidates and campaigns).” This sign should have been removed in 2015 and, according to DOT’s policy should not be in place now, as Trump has stated an intention to run again in 2024.