My name is Ian Swanson. If you signed my letter to Ronald McDonald last year, THANK YOU SO MUCH! If you didn’t, thank you for reading this message now and for considering to join me this time. Last year, I got very upset when I heard that McDonald's and many other fast food companies were stealing from workers by not paying them for the work they do. My parents taught me to share and never take what does not belong to me. I really didn’t like it that Ronald was not being fair to workers. So, my grown-up friends helped me write a letter to Ronald. More than 1,500 signed my letter — I was so glad to see that many other people were just as upset as I was. This week, my godmother told me that the workers are still not being paid right AND that many of them get hurt or burned while making our fries. That’s really bad…and I can’t have a Happy Meal when I know that the people who make them are getting injured and being mistreated. Again, I want to help the McDonald’s workers, but I am just a kid and sometimes I need an adult to help me do things. I want to ask McDonald’s to stop hurting workers by not paying them fairly and not giving them the help they need when they’re hurt. Will you join me? *Ian is a fifth-grader from Chicago. To learn more about the struggles of fast food workers and ways to support them, visit www.iwj.org*

If Ethanol is so bad, why has Brazil been producing, exporting and using Sugar Cane Ethanol in their vehicles for over 45 years and Indy 500 racers have also been using 100% Ethanol in their high maintenance vehicles? Do the research and learn the truth about the benefits of Ethanol that the oil companies don't want you to know about.

Duke Energy has repeatedly over pruned trees, which destroys the aesthetics of home and neighborhood landscapes. They have also sprayed chemical herbicides to kill plants by powerlines without informing residents they are planning to do so. This could be dangerous for individuals, animals, children and the hives of local beekeepers. Please sign this petition to ask Duke Energy to work with residents by maintaining the health and aesthetics of nature when pruning trees to protect the power lines. Educate residents by providing arborist recommended guidelines and give homeowners the option of maintaining their own landscape. Please inform residents before using herbicides or other chemicals and give them a choice to opt out of herbicidal and other chemical applications. Incorporate transparent policies and procedures when working with homeowners. Please respect the personal property of homeowners and residents as we are Duke Energy paying customers.

I know people whose credit was destroyed by these loans. I am very worried that Rep. Justin Woodsen, under pressure from the payday lenders lobbyists, will kill the bill by failing to call the hearing.

On March 17, the House unveiled a new plan which slashes billions of dollars from the program that does the most to help hungry kids, and we need to push back. For decades, Republicans and Democrats have come together to support these programs, but thanks to repeated cuts, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) currently only provides $1.38 per meal, barely enough to buy a pack of gum. SNAP benefits are currently around $125 per person, per month -- which works out to about $1.38 per meal. It might seem like a small benefit -- and to be sure, SNAP benefits are the lowest they’ve been in five years -- but to those struggling to put food on the table, it makes a critical difference. Together we can make sure America's kids are getting enough to eat and have a fair shot at a better life. We need to let Rep. Coffman knows that we expect better than a budget which leaves kids hungry.

On March 17, the House unveiled a new plan that would slash billions of dollars from the program that does the most to help hungry kids, and we need to push back. For decades, Republicans and Democrats have come together to support these programs, but thanks to repeated cuts, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) currently only provides $1.38 per meal on average, barely enough to buy a pack of gum. The truth is, when kids are hungry they struggle to learn. Ending childhood hunger is not only the right thing to do, it’s a smart investment in our future. SNAP benefits are currently around $125 per person, per month -- which works out to about $1.38 per meal. It might seem like a small benefit -- and to be sure, SNAP benefits are the lowest they’ve been in five years -- but to those struggling to put food on the table, it makes a critical difference. Together we can make sure America's kids are getting enough to eat and have a fair shot at a better life. We need to let Rep. McClintock knows that we expect better than a budget that leaves kids hungry.

On March 17, the House unveiled a new budget plan which slashes billions of dollars from the program that does the most to help hungry kids, and we need to push back. For decades, Republicans and Democrats have come together to support these programs, but thanks to repeated cuts, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) currently only provides $1.38 per meal, barely enough to buy a pack of gum. The truth is, when kids are hungry they struggle to learn. Ending childhood hunger is not only the right thing to do, it’s a smart investment in our future. SNAP benefits are currently around $125 per person, per month -- which works out to about $1.38 per meal. It might seem like a small benefit -- and to be sure, SNAP benefits are the lowest they’ve been in five years -- but to those struggling to put food on the table, it makes a critical difference. Together we can make sure America's kids are getting enough to eat and have a fair shot at a better life. We need to let Rep. Roskam knows that we expect better than a budget which leaves kids hungry.

Teachers, counselors, and health and human service professionals at Alliance College-Ready Public Schools (Alliance) announced on March 13, 2015 that in order to achieve the highest quality learning environment for their students and working environment for themselves they are organizing a union at their schools. With 550 teachers, counselors, and health and human service professionals, Alliance serves 11,000 students at 26 schools and is the largest charter operator authorized by the Los Angeles Unified School District. Educators at Alliance have decided to form a union to achieve an effective voice in the decision making process and ensure student-focused, teacher-led collaboration. They are calling on the Alliance to respect their collective decision, to not exercise influence or interference, and to come to an agreement with them for a fair and neutral process to organize their union.

March 19 marked the 12th anniversary of the U.S. invasion of Iraq. As you may know, Win Without War was founded in 2002 by three dozen national organizations - from MoveOn.org to the NAACP to Veterans For Peace - to lead opposition to then-President Bush's disastrous war. On the back of that movement, Barack Obama ran for President by highlighting his opposition to the war. He vowed to change the mindset of Washington so that war wasn't the default answer for every foreign policy challenge. At least with the nuclear standoff with Iran, he is working to keep that vow by pursuing a negotiated settlement despite fierce opposition from many in Congress. While we have been disappointed with many features of the President's national security policy, he has delivered on his promise of diplomacy with Iran. The President helped bring Iran to the negotiating table after almost two decades of silence between the countries. Already, the negotiations have frozen Iran's nuclear program and reports indicate that a final deal will be announced in the coming days or weeks. Congress has done everything in its power to sabotage the talks, including writing a letter to the Iranian government encouraging them to walk away from negotiations. Now, they're introducing new legislation that is designed to be a poison pill for the talks. The scary thing is that they could have enough support to make the bill veto-proof. The margin is paper-thin. Twelve years ago, we came together to march against war. Last year, we went up against powerful pro-war lobby groups and managed to stop US Senator Bob Menendez from passing a disastrous bill that would have derailed talks with Iran. Together, we have created the space for diplomacy to succeed. Now that President Obama is so close to delivering on his promise, we need to give him the support he needs to see these talks through. The alternative is unacceptable: another disastrous war. Today, in remembrance of the anniversary of the invasion of Iraq, will you tell Congress not to repeat the same mistake with Iran?

Today is the ten year anniversary of the invasion of Iraq. Many of us were part of some of the biggest global anti war marches during that time. On the back of that movement President Obama was able to run on a platform of diplomacy with Iran and changing the mindset of Washington so that war wasn't the default answer for every foreign policy challenge. He's delivered on his promise on diplomacy. The President helped bring Iran to the negotiating table after almost two decades of silence between the countries. Already the negotiations have frozen Iran's nuclear program and reports are a final deal will be announced in the coming weeks as well. Congress, instead of supporting diplomacy have done everything in their power to sabotage the talks. Including writing a letter to the Iranian government encouraging them to walk away from negotiations. Now they're introducing new legislation that are designed as poison pills for the talks - the scary thing they could have enough support to make the bill veto proof. Ten years ago we came together to march against war. Together we created the space for President Obama to run on a platform with diplomacy with Iran. Now that he's so close to delivering the diplomacy we need to give him the support he needs to get these talks over the line. We know our voices matter on this issue - last year we want up against powerful pro war lobby groups and managed to stop the Menendez bill that would have derailed the talks. Today, in remembrance of the anniversary of the invasion of Iraq will you tell Congress not to repeat the same mistake?

Starting school early presents several dangers, including impaired children's health, poor academic performance, and loss of physical safety. The safety and education of our young people should be top priorities. Pushing the start times for all public schools in the Great State of Florida to 8am at the earliest would ensure better health, improved academic performance, and significantly less danger to all children in the public school system.

On January 21st thousands of home defenders took action to support Clifton Beckley's fight to stop the foreclosure of his home by HSBC - and HSBC heard you! The bank postponed the court hearing and finally agreed to review his modification documents. They requested a current appraisal, clearly considering a much-needed principal reduction for this family's over-valued mortgage. HSBC requested 2 weeks to review the paperwork and come back with an offer. AFTER MORE THAN 4 WEEKS, HSBC CAME BACK WITH AN OFFER THAT LOWERED THE INTEREST RATE BUT DID NOTHING TO THE PRINCIPAL BALANCE OF THE LOAN, ESSENTIALLY REFINANCING BAD DEBT. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE! Email HSBC CEO Stuart Gulliver today at [email protected] and let him know we will not remain silent while HSBC steals the Beckley's home! HSBC has admitted to laundering money for drug cartels and terrorist groups and is currently being investigated for helping the wealthy evade taxes. US Army Veteran Clifton Beckley didn't fight for his country so criminal enterprises like HSBC could take his home! Help us tell CEO Stuart Gulliver the stain on HSBC's reputation will continue to spread if the Beckleys lose their home. This hard-working family refinanced during the mortgage bubble, which left them with an inflated mortgage, stripped them of 15 years of equity, and shoved them into foreclosure. Now, HSBC wants to "help" by refinancing that bad debt all over again! The Beckleys really need a principal reduction, a low fixed interest rate, and forgiveness of arrears. Tell HSBC the foreclosure fighters in New Jersey are prepared to fight to save the Beckley's home!