The Republican held congress isn't even in session and already they're threatening to "end the Iran talks" and considering strikes on Iran. Sadly these aren't fringe ideas - one Democrat, Senator Menendez has already publicly supported such moves. We know diplomacy works - it's already meant that Iran has agreed to daily inspections and frozen their nuclear program. The good news is we can stop this train before it's out of the station by ensuring that Democrats don't support any such moves. Democrats are already under huge pressure from pro war lobby groups to undermine the talks and the President. If even a few of them go down this path we could be facing a veto proof bill that would torpedo the talks and drag us into another senseless war in the Middle East. We know that our voices matter on this issue - when Congress tried a similar tactic earlier this year we froze the bill in it's tracks. One senate staffer even told MSNBC the incredible turn around was because: "of more voters contacting the Hill with phone calls and emails, voicing opposition to the bill." References: Sen.-Elect Tom Cotton: 'Put an End' to Iran Nuclear Talks Sen elect Tom Cotton put an end to iran nuclear talks, ABC News radio online. Menendez pushing new economic sanctions on Iran before session ends, New Jersey News. MSNBC, Support for new Iran sanctions wanes, Steve Benen, January 17, 2014.

Georgia’s outdated law preventing local craft brewers from selling their product to brewery visitors is hurting Georgia’s fledgling craft brewing industry. The restrictive law -- a remnant of the Prohibition era -- is still on the books in only four other U.S. states. Modernizing state laws to allow our craft brewers to sell directly to brewery visitors will: -Support small businesses -Create jobs in Georgia -Encourage new small business start-ups -Attract out-of-state craft brewers to Georgia Currently, only about 2.2 million of the 6.2 million cases of craft beer Georgians drink each year are actually made by the Peach State’s 34 craft brewers. Giving Georgia’s craft brewers the ability to earn extra revenue will allow the companies to reinvest in their business and in the local economy. Georgia winemakers are allowed to sell wine directly to vineyard visitors, so the same freedom should apply to Georgia’s brewers. Updating Georgia’s brewery laws will help small businesses and the communities they serve.

There may have been too much conflicting evidence to indict Darren Wilson for the shooting of Michael Brown, but the refusal of a New York City grand jury to indict Daniel Pantaleo for the video-taped chokehold death of Eric Garner reveals a systematic denial by our legal system of oppressive police policies and practices, especially against people of color. As a white man I have never been stopped by a police officer except for traffic violations of which I was guilty. I am ashamed of the gratuitous harassment and injury inflicted upon law-abiding people of color for my ostensible protection. I believe it's time for the nation to recognize the extent of this problem.

PLEASE PUT YOUR DEPARTMENT AND GRADUATION YEAR IN THE COMMENTS SECTION We, as students of public health, feel outrage, frustration, anger, and sadness at the events that have unfolded over the past few weeks. The deaths of unarmed people of color at the hands of police and the subsequent failure of grand juries to indict the officers responsible for these events is a justice issue that profoundly impacts and underlies the health of populations. Because we are Mailman, we have power and responsibility. We must all hold ourselves accountable to the Public Health Oath, knowing that “public health represents the collective actions necessary to protect the health of all people”. Silence from our respected institution is not acceptable. Petition created by concerned Mailman students and endorsed by the Black and Latino Student Caucus (BLSC), and the Association for Justice and Health (AJAH).

We are a group of teen leaders from Beyond Differences, an organization dedicated to ending social isolation among students in middle school. Social isolation is a growing epidemic that affects young people both in school and online. Due to the often hateful and derogatory anonymous comments, Ask.fm poses a serious threat to the safety of teens around the world. Ask.fm was recently purchased by Ask.com -- and we believe that Ask.com has an opportunity to display leadership in the effort to make social media safe and inclusive for everyone. We request that Ask.com change Ask.fm in the following ways: * Remove the option to post questions or comments anonymously. * Provide a help-line pop-up when keywords such as “suicide,” “want to die”, “depressed”, or other phrases that may indicate self-harm are entered. * Provide a positive redirection pop-up whenever bullying, hostile, prejudiced, or harassing comments are about to be submitted. * Allow users to flag comments as bullying, hostile, prejudiced or harassing and then immediately alert the poster of those comments that someone has flagged their comments and ask the poster to delete them. * We also ask that a board of teens be appointed and empowered to advise Ask.fm on its privacy and safety policies and monitor the implementation of these changes. Please sign our petition and make your voice heard. Jasmine K, Gabi F, Lily M, Brooke C, Jake H, Sophia R, Kaya L, Leela L, Sonali L, Sydney W, Genevieve C, Julia K, Kendra L, Maggie S, Annie A, Emma W, Audrey S, Adam K, Carl H.S., Edyn J, Bailey C, Nina B, Aislinn C, Maggie D, Rose L, Maya R, Abigail S, Sophia S, Sinead S

When Republicans take over the Senate in the new year, defending diplomatic engagement with Iran is going to get tougher. A key problem is that a few Democratic Senators are backing Republican demands to pass new sanctions on Iran. Such a move would violate the interim nuclear deal—and would likely kill the talks, along with any prospect that they will lead to a comprehensive agreement to address international concerns about Iran’s nuclear program. Michigan Senator-elect Gary Peters is one of the Democrats helping Republicans try to kill diplomacy. [1] While retiring Senator Carl Levin defended the decision to extend the talks and the interim agreement with Iran, Peters, the Democrat taking over Levin’s seat, has demanded that Congress enact “tougher sanctions,” even though that would violate the agreement and kill the talks. Urge Senator-elect Peters to change his position and support diplomacy by signing our petition. References: 1. “On Preventing Iran War, Gary Peters is No Carl Levin,” Robert Naiman, Huffington Post, 12/01/2014, http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-naiman/on-preventing-iran-war-ga_b_6251076.html

The whole nation is affected and has been affected for far too long by these inhumane policies and behaviors by police toward men and women of color. If I don't speak up, I am guilty too.

The City of Long Beach says it will lay off five firefighters on Jan. 1, when a $910,530 federal grant — which allowed the Fire Department to bring back personnel two years ago — comes to an end. As Residents, we need to collectively voice our concern over this decision and implore the City to find the funds to keep our Fire Department staffed at its current level. Upon reviewing the financials, our elected leaders must find room in the budget or other sources of funding, our very lives depend on a solution. Our Long Beach Fire Fighters are also advanced medical technicians and save lives which may otherwise be lost without their dedication and expertise. As a coastal community, our families, children and neighbors will unnecessarily suffer from these eliminated positions. Please show your support by signing this petition to demonstrate our communal support.

The White House released an action plan this week in response to the national outcry demanding justice for the murder of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri. While we applaud the Obama Administration for taking action, they failed to reach the root of that which causes instigation between minorities and those in authoritative roles…that root being implicit bias. Implicit (or unconscious) bias affects our understanding, judgments, and can ultimately impact our actions. While no one is immune to the subconscious biases we accumulate through the course of our lives, studies have found that biases can be reduced through training. The expectation is the courses will lead to fewer excessive force complaints, greater understanding, and a heightened feeling of connection between officers and those they are hired to serve. Law enforcement personnel and community leaders in Baltimore, Las Vegas, Philadelphia, Durham, and Tampa have already undergone trainings to enhance fair and impartial policing and found that for the trainings to be most effective, they must include classes for academy instructors, recruits, patrol officers, supervisors, and top-ranking officials. Additionally, trainings should include examination of biases beyond race, such as: gender identity, sexual orientation, ethnicity, religion, and socioeconomic status. How many more of our citizens must die at the hands of those sworn to protect them before we force a change? Make your voice heard and demand that Implicit Bias Training be mandatory for all law enforcement officials.

As a resident of Park Circle, it is my goal to promote safe and pleasant conditions for non-motorized street users while maintaining the safe movement of local vehicular traffic.

One of the greatest loves of my life, my niece who I raised as my daughter, had a psychotic break June 2011. She stabbed me and killed herself. We never saw this coming!!! I started a national non-profit, Mental Health In The African American Community, Inc. We are a 501c3 agency. We need funds to execute our grassroots mental health programs. Please release federal funds so we can save lives and enhance lives in the African American Community. America is experiencing a major mental illness epidemic in the African American Community. We must remove the stigma and break the chains of silence of mental illness so people can receive the professional help that they need. Help us with this fight!!! Please post this petition on your Facebook and other social media sites. Forward this email to your contacts. Help us achieve our monthly goal, which is to get 1,000 signatures a month. We would like to deliver 5,000 signatures to President Obama in April 2015. I encourage you to include comments because I read all of them. Also, your comments will be delivered to President Obama. Carolyn McKenzie

Teachers are the only professionals who are not respected enough to be allowed to assess their "clients," in this case, students and their learning gains. Teachers are the ONLY professionals trained to do this, yet we take the power out of their hands with endless hours of standardized testing that serves only to line the pockets of the major corporations that produce these tests. Enough is enough!