Kimberly Caselman was shocked when she was forced to leave work—without pay. After all, she loved her job at Pier 1. She was doing her work well and counting on the income since there was a new baby on the way. But what she didn't realize is that Pier 1 has an illegal policy on its books--pregnant workers are given 8 weeks of light duty and then forced to take unpaid leave, whether they want to or not. It's not only blatantly discriminatory, but also against the law--California mandates that employers provide "reasonable accommodation" for pregnant workers if their doctor recommends it. For Caselman, that request couldn't be more "reasonable"--she simply asked not to climb ladders or lift more than 15 pounds at her doctor's request. But there is one silver lining to this story--until Caselman spoke up, few people outside the company knew about Pier 1's discriminatory policy. Pier 1 markets heavily to women and, as a home goods retailer, cares a lot about its family friendly image. If its executives feel backlash from thousands of people for their appalling policy, they will have to change it or face a public relations nightmare that will hurt its bottom line. Will you stand up for women like Kimberley facing discrimination?

Dear Director of Federal Bureau of Prisons, Nelson Mandela once said, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” Data from Education Crime Prevention has revealed that the illiteracy rate of prison inmates is over four times that of the adult population. This is an injustice and we are failing our inmates across the United States. We are writing on behalf of these inmates and the future of our country. We urge you to provide more opportunities for these inmates to access general education or vocational schooling. As of 2012, there were over 1.5 million people in the United States prison population. In 2012, over 630,000 inmates were released from prison. Of those released, 72% were age 44 or younger. Among the adult prisoners incarcerated before the age of 18, 90% of them will return into society without a high school diploma or GED. Once released, these inmates have a minimum of two decades to contribute to the U.S. labor force and earn their living expenses before they reach the minimum age of retirement. We need to equip these men and women to be productive members of society. The Federal Bureau of Prisons can accomplish this through an increase of GED programs and vocational schooling, offered in both state and federal prison. In 2011, African Americans made up 37.8% of all inmates while they only made up 13.6% of the total U.S. population. Of these inmates, 37.2% had less than a high school education, 9.1% high school GED, and 2.1% some college. Hispanics were 22.8% of the prison population and only 16.3% of the total U.S. population. 53% of Hispanic inmates have not completed their GED. Both of these minority groups are disproportionately represented within the United States prison system. These groups typically have lower education attainment and face more educational obstacles as they enter the prison system. An increase of GED programs and vocational schooling in prisons would greatly benefit these minorities and all inmates by increasing their life opportunities when they re-enter society. According to the prison studies project, 95 out of every 100 people incarcerated will be released and nearly 7 in 10 people who are released will commit a new crime. Education is one factor that reduces the repetition of crime. Through inmate education programs we can lower the risk of repeat offenders and illegal activity. The California Department of Correction and Rehabilitation is committed to preparing inmates for a successful reintegration into their communities in order to reduce re-victimization. These academic courses have a standardized curriculum aimed at achieving high school diplomas. Inmates study English, computation, analytical and critical thinking skills, and life skills. Help us create a better society and improve lives by educating incarcerated men and women. Do not disable these inmates and leave them without educational resources once they are released. “Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day; show him how to catch fish, and you feed him for a lifetime.” Sincerely, Amanda Manley, Britnie Hopkins and Katie Clark

Senators Elizabeth Warren, John McCain, Maria Cantwell, and Angus King have introduced a bill that would make the biggest banks simpler and smaller and once again end the public subsidy to Wall Street speculation. By requiring banks to focus on lending to the real economy, the 21st Century Glass-Steagall Act would point the way toward a financial system that better serves consumers, small businesses and the nation as a whole.

Although many people know the origin of the puppies sold at wvpuppy.com are out of state private breeding facilities, some still do not and innocently buy a pet thinking that they are helping that puppy. Recently, a shipment of puppies was seized by the Berkeley County Sheriff's Department and Berkeley County Animal Control and the Journal reported on it. However after a short break, they began again to advertise this "business." We are asking the Classified section to stop running ads for wvpuppy.com and any other pet stores in the area that sell puppies. 95 % of these puppies are "cash crops" originating in out of state puppy mills that are then brokered to local pet stores.

Pride Alliance has been using our office in McGauvran to provide LGBTQ students with a safe space to receive resources, discuss gender identity and sexual orientation issues, and participate in free and open discussion without fear of being outed or overheard. In the move to University Crossing, that space is being taken away. Please sign if you believe that UMass Lowell should allow Pride Alliance to continue our work by supplying us with an office in the new University Crossing building.

The destruction of Holy Jim Dams is being included in the steelhead trout recovery plan. All studies show these old dams have no impact. Removing the dams won't make a difference. After over 70 years of dams...the area is completely in sync with them. This movement to keep the dams was created by a Forest Superviser of the Cleveland National Forest. The conservationists want it returned to its original state, just because!!! The Sierra Club does some good work but also some less than desireable work too. I vividly remember running upstream, leaping from rock to rock with the pure joy of nature. The dams have become a beautiful part of nature as have the rock walls in Hawaii. Let the next generation and every generation after them enjoy this sacred place of nature in the midst of this concrete world.

Animal kill shelters they need to go we need to save these fur babies we need to get rid of these places as a huge animal advocate and there voice these places are inhumane

Drilling is set to begin around Mandeville but will potentially extend across the state along the Tuscaloosa Marine Shale Ridge. The toxic chemicals that fracking releases into the ground water, water reservoirs, and the air surrounding the fracking site contaminate the environment and increase the risks of illness, infertility, birth defects, and cancer. In a state so dependent on the natural landscape and the water for food, transportation, commerce, recreation, and tourism, it proves nonsensical to support practices that endanger those activities and the people who depend upon them. This state has a beautiful ecosystem and a proud heritage of people who live with the land. The proposed site sits in the Tuscaloosa Marine Shale Ridge, and successful drilling would lead to further drill sites throughout the Ridge, further contaminating the ecosystem of the state. Fracking is bad for the people, the ecosystem, and the economy. In short, fracking is destructive to the traditions and lifeways that make us proud to call Louisiana home.

We have always had a progressive tax system, and we need to include the rich and super rich into our tax code. It's not fair to the 99% to foot the bills of the country, when the rich and super rich have over 40% of all the money.

This petition is about restoring a fair playing field in our voting system by providing a national ID card that is accepted by all 50 states. We are all disadvantaged when one is disadvantaged. Let's stop talking, and start getting this done. We should have started this immediately after the 2012 election. Let's make sure not one American citizen is disadvantaged ever again where voting rights are concerned.

I am starting this petition because I firmly believe that our right to vote is being severely impaired by the GOP. Democrats do nothing but complain about what the GOP is NOT doing, while the GOP is busy making it harder for ALL citizens to vote. Something like this should have been proposed immediately after the 2012 election, but democrats, yet again, did nothing but talk. I am personally affected by this - we all are. Let's get it together. Stop the talk, and walk the walk!

SO MANY MEN AND WOMEN ARE PROSECUTED FOR DRUG POSSESSION AND DRUG TRAFFIC. THE BANK SHOULD NOT BE TREATED ANY DIFFERENTLY! HOLD THEM RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR ACTIONS!!!!!!!