I love the outdoors and our many and varied natural resources. The more we understand about how natural systems work, the better we can manage them and maintain our quality of life in Wisconsin.

Unexpected awesomeness happened last week: Gwyneth Paltrow, after ending her food stamp challenge, urged people to fight for fair pay & increased access to healthy food through.... MomsRising!!! [1] Gwyneth tried (and failed) to live on a $29 weekly food budget, the average per-person benefit level provided by SNAP (food stamps). Should she have bought seven limes? Probably not ... but the online discussions have created an opportunity to raise awareness about the importance of protecting SNAP from further cuts. Thank you, Gwyneth. Help us channel coverage of the food stamp challenge into action on our "Hands Off SNAP” message to Congress. Sign on to MomsRising's petition and message below, which we'll deliver to Congress. _________________________________________ Dear Member of Congress, The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is one of the strongest tools our country has in combating hunger and poverty. I strongly urge you to reject current proposals to make massive funding cuts to SNAP. In addition, I ask that you vote against any measures that would restrict access to the program for qualifying individuals or change the successful structure of the program, including block granting and allowing states to shift funds away from food assistance to other purposes. Forty-six million people—including one in five children, the elderly, and people with disabilities—rely on SNAP to feed themselves each day. Cutting funding or changing the structure of SNAP puts millions of our children and families at serious risk. Moreover, a 2013 USDA study found that SNAP is a key public benefit program, which also serves as an economic stimulus, creating an economic boost that ripples through the economy when new SNAP benefits are redeemed. I hope you will stand up for our economy and families who are struggling to feed their children by protecting SNAP and rejecting any funding cuts or structural changes to the program. Sincerely, [1] Goop, My $29 Food Stamp Challenge—and the Recipes (& Brouhaha) That Ensued

I am starting this petition because keeping Wisconsin's land, waters, and wildlife in pristine condition is so very important.

I feel that we need more qualified candidates running for the office of president in 2016

All of Hawaii's public employees, elected officials and their staff deserve the protections that come from our inclusive non-discrimination policies and they should not lose the protections they have here in Hawai'i when they travel on official business. As well as none of Hawaii's tax-payer dollars should be used to support a state or city that does not have an inclusive non-discrimination policy.

This petition is important so our state troopers have the resources needed to protect the state.

Sign our letter to remind President Obama that seven years ago Iowans embraced his call for change and were the initial boost in his journey to the White House. In 2012, a majority of us rewarded him with our votes yet again, in large part because we understood the difficult economic waters he had to navigate. We are a better country today because of President Obama's stewardship – but it could all be stalled with the fast-tracking of the Trans-Pacific Partnership. He has worked throughout his Presidency to keep the promises he made to Iowans seven years ago. We ask him to continue to keep those promises.

WE NEED YOUR HELP! Melida and her daughter Estrella – who celebrated her 4th birthday in detention -- are asylum seekers from Guatemala who have now been incarcerated for more than 8 months. They are being held at the family detention facility in Karnes City, Texas, where 78 mothers recently initiated a hunger strike to protest prolonged detention and deplorable conditions. Melida also has a 10-year-old U.S. citizen daughter, a sister with a green card, and other family members all living in New York with whom she desperately wants to reunite, but ICE has refused to exercise its Prosecutorial Discretion to release her. Melida’s sister in law was murdered by a gang member in 2012 and her family testified against the murderer. He was convicted, and his family seeks revenge. Melida and Estrella have suffered horribly from more than 8 months in detention. Little Estrella was hospitalized for acute bronchitis and also suffered from acute pharyngitis, ear aches, fevers, diarrhea, and vomiting. Melida was diagnosed with PTSD, adjustment disorder with anxiety, and major depressive episode. For months she has watched helplessly as her child suffered. Melida has been fighting for protection under U.S. asylum law. But her time in detention has been too painful for her and her 4 year-old, and she can’t take detention any longer and is being driven to give up. No mother should have to choose between protecting herself from life threatening gangs or facing detention. Melida’s case exemplifies everything that is wrong with what ICE is doing to asylum-seeking families. ICE has the power to release her but won’t. If Prosecutorial Discretion means anything, it means Melida and Estrella should be released from Karnes. ACT TODAY! Don’t let Melida give up! Tell ICE to exercise Prosecutorial Discretion and release her!

I suffer from seasonal depression. Stopping this would make my life so much easier to live.

Across this country, police seem to be out-of-control, killing with impunity unarmed defenseless citizens. The government needs to do something to protect citizens from the police.

Stop the attempted murder of Mumia through medical neglect! Demand that Mumia be released to a hospital immediately! Keep the pressure on! APRIL 25, 2015 UPDATE: U R G E NT ►Mumia's Condition Grave Take Action NOW! On Friday, April 24, Mumia Abu-Jamal was visited by his spouse, Wadiya Jamal, who reported that his condition has worsened. She saw him again today and he appears even more gravely ill. Everyone is asked to call the prison and the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections immediately. If they hang up, call again. Please continue to call on Sunday, Monday and throughout the coming week. Mumia was released from the prison infirmary three days ago even though he was in no condition to be in general population. His request to be seen by independent medical specialists was denied by the PA Department of Corrections. Yet he is in need of 24-hour care and supervision. He is too weak and in this state he may not be able ask for help. He may lose consciousness. This is what happened before he was rushed to the hospital on March 30 when another prisoner, Major George Tillery, complained to the guards that Mumia needed immediate medical attention. In retaliation the prison moved Tillery to another unit. Mumia has severe swelling in his neck, chest and legs. His skin rash is worse than ever with open sores. No longer in a wheelchair, he can only take baby steps. He was nodding off during the visits with his wife and unable to feed himself. These are symptoms that could be associated with hyper glucose levels, diabetic shock, diabetic coma, and with kidney stress and failure. Please call the numbers below, and any other numbers you have for the Prison and the Governor. Along with Mumia's name his prison number is AM 8335 Call local news sources in your area that would report on this crisis. Share this email with your contact lists. Get out the information via any social media you use especially Facebook and Twitter using the hashtag #MumiaMustLive. Demand that prison officials call Mumia’s wife and his lawyer Bret Grote to discuss his condition. Demand that Mumia Abu-Jamal see a competent doctor immediately, that he be taken to the hospital for emergency care and not be left to go into a diabetic coma. It is clear that Pennsylvania prison officials are intent on carrying out their plans to murder Mumia through medical neglect. This situation is urgent. Every call matters Every action matters. We need to be in the streets. Call your friends, your neighbors. We must speak out now before it’s too late. 1) John Wetzel Secretary of the Deparment of Corrections [email protected] 717-728-4109 • 717-728-4178 Fax 1920 Technology Pkwy, Mechanicsburg PA 17050 2) John Kerestes, Superintendent SCI Mahanoy: 570-773-2158 x8102 570-783-2008 Fax 301 Morea Road, Frackville PA 17932 3) Tom Wolf, PA Governor: 717-787-2500 • [email protected] 508 Main Capitol Building, Harrisburg PA 17120 Susan McNaughton, Public Information Office PA DOC DOC Press secretary: 717-728-4025 PA DOC [email protected] [email protected] Department of Corrections Deputy Press Secretary 717-728-4109 • 717-728-4178 Fax 1920 Technology Pkwy, Mechanicsburg PA 17050 Public Information Officer, SCI Mahanoy, Jane Hinman 570-773-2158; then dial zero SCI Mahanoy: 570-773-2158 x8102 • 570-783-2008 Fax 301 Morea Road, Frackville PA 17932 Central Office by phone: (717) 728-2573 Michael Klopotoski, Deputy Secretary Eastern Region (717) 728-4122 or 4123 Theron Perez, Chief Counsel, PA Department of Corrections (717) 728-7763 Shirley Moore Smeal, Executive Deputy Secretary (717) 728-4110 PA Department of Corrections General, News, etc: [email protected]

According to Valerie Strauss writing in the Washington Post newspaper, ALEC (American Legislative Exchange Council) is an organization that writes model laws for state legislators. According to Strauss, "What it actually is is an organization that writes "model legislation" ...that... legislators use in state after state to make new laws that promote privatization in every part of American life: education, health care, the environment, voting rights, etc." and "its efforts to privatize public education, for example, have resulted in the expansion of voucher programs in a number of states." The purpose of the voucher systems, like the one pushed through by Louisiana Governor Jindal, is to gut public education institutions in order to produce profits at private for-profit schools and for their corporate owners. ALEC is an organization funded by large corporations which meets to produce legislation favorable to the profit-making interest of large corporations. ALEC is corporations dictating legislation to its legislative and gubernatorial dupes. It is voraciously greedy corporations trying to wring the last drop of profits from citizens by undermining state institutions and regulations. ALEC has an education task force that represents for-profit higher education corporations. This anti-public-higher-education task force dictates to state legislators, from Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. According to Robert Mann, who has a great deal of experience in journalism and politics in Louisiana and who holds the Manship Chair in Journalism at the Louisiana State University (LSU) Manship School of Mass Communication, writing at his blog bobmannblog.com, "(Louisiana Governor Bobby) Jindal...is a committed ALEC disciple...(and) received a prominent award for his adherence to ALEC's principles." One of ALEC's principles is cutting taxes. Especially on corporations who run the show. No taxes, more profits. Jindal cut taxes so much for his corporate dictators that Louisiana can no longer afford a system of higher education. LSU, and its statewide system of universities, is about to declare bankruptcy. Gutting Louisiana's and other state's public higher education institutions will increase profits at for-profit colleges and universities and reap profits from students and their families who will have to pay through their noses. Students and their families will pay (in higher fees for education) the taxes that Jindal exempted his corporate dictators from paying. Tell Bobby Jindal, big corporations' majordomo in the Louisiana governor's mansion, to fund Louisiana's system of public higher education and prevent LSU from going bankrupt.