Exactly two weeks after the sudden death of our father, my brother made a terrible mistake. He entered an empty house, took a shower, ate their food, put on clean cloths, and moved some furniture around. You see, my brother has suffered from drug addiction through out his adolescence and young adult life and the grief of losing his father took this affliction to a new low. Homeless, hungry and high, his brain imagined a person had asked for his help moving. Life is not a fairy tale and he is not as cute as goldilocks. For this mistake he is facing 8 years in state prison. I was told by the district attorney that with a good lawyer, he could receive felony probation and rehabilitation but with the Public Defender his fate was all but sealed. Two months in jail has sobered him out and he wants nothing more than a second chance. However, our system only affords second chances to those who can pay for them. Public Defenders are assigned upwards of 500 felonies and 600 misdemeanors each year whereas a busy privately paid attorney generally limits his or her caseload to between 50-100. It is impossible to give each case the attention and care it requires to provide competent representation doing 10 times the work of a private attorney. The Sixth Amendment to the Constitution clearly guarantees every defendant has the right to counsel in criminal proceedings, Gideon v. Wainwright established the Public Defender Office as a fundamental right necessary to a fair trial. Through under funding we have a separate and unequal system of representation. Innocent people are being sent to prison and poor people are getting longer sentences than more affluent people committing similar crimes. Sign here to demand the legislature adequately fund the Public Defenders Office!

The history and present political consequences of the death penalty have become fully manifested in Missouri. The callous disregard for its impact on families, the social concerns, and legality under the law. Thumbs up or thumbs down when those trusted with social authority summarily decides who live or die, all of society suffers from their Imperial egos'. Here in Missouri, in the United States of America, our politics on the death penalty have become criminal. Criminal politics arises when politicians pursuade the people that they have the right to break the law to enforce the law. People are being executed and murdered with disregard for innocence or guilt and the laws of the court. 60% of citizens in the state of Missouri are against the death penalty, but the state keep killing more people than the law allows. It is illegal to kill anyone while there are any appeals pending, yet Missouri have been putting people to death as appeals are pending on lethal injections. Every executions since February, 2006, have been illegally carried out. Some of those executions have been murders of people that did not kill anyone. There is no law or constitution analysis that allows for the murder by execution of people who have not killed anyone. Without lawful rights, Missouri have murdered "Roy Roberts," "Marlin Gray," "Dennis Skilicorn," "Tony Murry," plus many more and now plans to kill Michael A. Taylor, even though he has appeals pending. The state of Missouri know that Michael A. Taylor have not killed anyone himself, the state is planning to murder a human being by execution. Under (State v. Isa), the Missouri Supreme Court recognized that it is not legal to kill or murder someone by executions who have not killed anyone. If a person is not the principal perpetrator that dealt the killing blow or act of murder, the law and the constitution says that person is actually innocent of the death penalty and can not be executed. If state officials do not follow the law when killing their own citizens, then what else are they willing to break the law for? Time after time, innocent people have been proven to be wrongfully convicted and sentenced to death. No officials conscience will let their ego consider the fact that "Larry Griffin" was innocent when the state of Missouri executed him. Even the victim that was shot along with the person that was killed said, "Larry Griffin" was innocent. If he was still alive he would be exonarated, but the victim did not know he was convicted until after he was murdered by execution. If you think they are more concerned about the welfare of the people then the life of one person. The welfare of the people is in the land from, which we draw our food, but like lethal injection they have poisoned the land, water, and air for their friends to profit. Criminal behavior does not stop once the crime is over, it starts with small animals, pets, girlfriends, wives, boyfriends, and husbands. Before you know it, they are killing us all one by one regardless of the law and will of the people. Like they did with "Emit Foster," when the execution drugs did not work. The Missouri Department of Corrections allegedly closed the curtains, turned off the lights, put their hands around his neck and choked him to death. Now they say trust them with our lives, while they violate the law to carry out executions secretly, as they kill the innocent and guilty alike without regard. "Our lives matter as much as Michael A. Taylor and his life matters as much as ours. I do not feel safe under a criminal government, if my vote do not count, my opinion does not matter! Please consider petitioning against Missouri death penalty by voting out everyone that supports the death penalty. God bless America!

During the month of May 2013 a massive tornado came through Moore, Oklahoma, leaving devastating destruction. Homes were destroyed, families were separated, and lives were lost. Not only did this tornado affect humans, it also affected animals. Animals were separated from their homes and taken to shelters. Owners only had thirty days to claim their pets until the shelters put the animals up for adoption. Natural disasters happen far too often in Oklahoma. Areas that are at a high risk for natural disasters must participate in a network of animal shelters throughout the state to protect our animals. We need to build no-kill shelters in Moore, El Reno, Piedmont, Weatherford, and Newcastle because these are often devastated by natural disasters and do not possess sufficient animal shelters to house animals that would be displaced during a tornado. Do not let a natural disaster take these animals away because the cities were not prepared. Imagine your own cat or dog being adopted out to another family without your consent because you were not able to find what shelter your pet was located in (Tuttle, 2013). This is what happened not only to pet owners that fell victim to the tornadoes and lost their pets in the confusion, but also, lost or unwanted animals are euthanized every day. If Oklahoma had more shelters like PAWS, Save Our Strays, and Second Chance, then 100,000 dogs and cats could be saved each year (“Oklahoma Dogs,” 2013). By signing this petition you will help us build more sanctuaries for pets, starting with Moore, Oklahoma. With your signatures we will send this to the Moore Assistant City Manager Stan Drake in order to save the lives of hundreds of innocent animals. *Petition updated on 3/26/14 due to new information.

Operation: Saeed Freedom “President Obama: Stand up and stop the religious imprisonment of Pastor Saeed Abedini.” Every man and woman should have the right to religious freedom, no person should suffer because of his or her religious beliefs. Freedom of religion doesn’t only exist so that we may have the freedom to practice our beliefs; it also exists so that we may have freedom from others imposing their beliefs upon us. Saeed Abedini deserves to be released from his imprisonment at Evin Prison in Tehran, Iran. He has been imprisoned at Evin Prison, one of the most notorious prisons in Iran, since September 26, 2012. As the American people, we should all come together to insure that he receives his liberty. President Obama, we need you to stand up and and continue to speak out on the injustices the Iranian government is throwing on Pastor Saeed. You must send forces over to have Saeed released. We must do whatever it takes to ensure this innocent American man’s freedom is returned. Not only his freedom of an American pastor, but also as a father, husband, and friend. As a nation that values religious freedom so highly, every man and woman should have the right to religious freedom and should not suffer because of their beliefs. If this were to be happening in the United States, there would be immediate action for the release of a prisoner like this. We need 1,000 signatures to ensure that Pastor Saeed Abedini’s story continues to spread and that President Obama takes action towards his freedom.

According to OK.gov, on average in America, nearly 12,000 people die every year in DUI-related accidents, and 900,000 are arrested each year for DUI/DWI.  In 2012, there were 4,291 alcohol-related motor vehicle crashes in Oklahoma, which represents 6.1% of the total reported crashes.  Among these alcohol-related crashes, there were 261 fatalities, which is a 7% increase from 2011, as well as 2,892 persons injured in these crashes.  Although these are broad numbers, they are still the facts of the dangers of drunk driving.  To narrow this down and make it a little more specific and relevant to who our petition is targeting, we will provide you with a few more numbers: 56 of these fatalities were persons between the ages of 16 and 25, and 44 of those 56 fatalities were intoxicated drivers.  Derived from the total number of crashes, 1,303 were caused by intoxicated drivers within this 16-25 year age range.  In the grand scheme of things, these numbers are fairly high for this age range. The facts are all here.  Accidents, injuries, and casualties do occur because of drunk driving.  This issue is a concern for the students, the university, and the community and something should be done to alleviate this problem as soon as possible.  By starting this petition out locally, we are hoping to have the support of the student body and the community, then branch out and have the support of the state, and maybe even eventually, the support of the nation.

Maryland State Senator Joan Carter Conway and Delegate Benjamin Kramer have introduced companion bills that threaten freedom of speech and academic freedom in Maryland. These bills are opposed by the American Association of University Professors (1) and the ACLU of Maryland. (2) These bills would, by threat of a reduction in funding, prohibit public universities from reimbursing faculty participation in professional organizations that adopt resolutions that support the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions campaign against Israel for its policies toward the Palestinians. Some Maryland legislators disagree with BDS and want to punish academic associations that have declared support for it. Regardless of how one feels about BDS, it’s the First Amendment right of academics to support or oppose such resolutions, and it’s their First Amendment right to participate in professional associations that support such resolutions. (3) Hearings on the bill have been scheduled for March 5th in the Senate and March 6th in the House. (4) Urge Maryland legislators and Governor Martin O'Malley to oppose Senate Bill 647 and House Bill 998 by signing our petition. References: 1. “AAUP Opposes Anti-Boycott Legislation,” http://www.aaup.org/news/aaup-opposes-anti-boycott-legislation 2. “Who We Are,” Keep Free Speech in the Free State, http://www.freespeechfreestate.org/who_we_are 3. “Maryland bills would stifle academic freedom,” Melani McAlister, Baltimore Sun, February 12, 2014, http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/oped/bs-ed-academic-freedom-20140212,0,7489561.story 4. “Hearings,” Keep Free Speech in the Free State, http://www.freespeechfreestate.org/hearings

Jaime Arturo Valdez Reyes is the kind of leader we read about in history books. Since February 17th, Jaime had been leading a hunger strike from deep inside an Arizona detention facility. His Dad and five other families were participating outside the dentition center. They were protesting the unjust deportations tearing families apart -- families like Jaime's. Jaime's older brother was deported to Mexico and killed upon return. Almost a year ago, Jaime was arrested for a DUI. But rather than getting the maximum 10 day jail sentence, America's well-funded deportation machine turned Jaime's misdemeanor into an unjust 10 month detention. And it get's worse! Jaime has an appeal pending on his case in the 9th Circuit, but on the night of February 25th, Jaime was deported without notice to his attorney or to his family as punishment for hunger striking while in detention. It is illegal to use deportation as a punishment for exercising one's civil rights -- Jaime Arturo Valdez Reyes shouldn't have been punished for exercising his! He must be brought back to the US and allowed to continue his appeal and see his immigration case through. Please sign and share widely!

Decaying vegetation (biomass) puts many times more carbon dioxide into the air than all of human activity. If we adapt coal-fired power stations to pyrolyze (heat without oxygen) biomass, we can economically REDUCE the amount or carbon dioxide in the air (rather than merely slow down the increase). Also see: www.awesomelibrary.org/Climate_Change_Balance.html

In a split decision the court ruled that even when a person who is the subject of a law enforcement investigation has refused to have his home searched by police, the Supreme Court determined that, if law enforcement officers simply ask another person who happens to live at the same address while the investigatory target is in custody, the law enforcement agents can now accept that third party’s consent and not have to seek a judge’s order to conduct a search. This ruling will allow for unreasonable searches and seizures and our communities are already being terrorized by dirty cops who hide behind the law. We believe in the least, if entry is authorized by another party residing in the home, the only area's that should be subjected to search, should logically be only the private room of the person who agree's to allow a search without a warrant. Also, the search should be video taped to ensure the boundaries of the search are confined to only the private area of the person who consented to such search. Please sign to ask the courts to re-review, reconsider and/or overturn this ruling. Pass along the petition by sharing with all email contacts and on all social networks.

Did you know that there might be over 20 fracking wells already operating in Illinois? Even though the IL Dept. of Natural Resources has not even published their final rules on fracking yet -- so much for the Frackers, the Governor and the IDNR playing by the rules here in Illinois! There has been a report of the 2nd well being approved by Gov Quinn in Clay County, and we have reports of up to 20 others already being drilled in White County. Gov. Quinn and many IL lawmakers are chomping at the bit to FRACK ILLINOIS! Please sign and pass this petition in support of the "Green Dozen" fracking bills in the IL General Assembly this spring.

We just learned that Priceline.com is one of the growing number of huge, multinational corporations that pay nothing in income tax. While you and I paid our share, they literally did not pay a single penny. Their tax-dodging move of choice? They deduct executive bonuses from their taxable income ... meaning their executives get huge pay-days while the public gets nothing. Good thing we already have a Priceline "negotiator" to help stop this -- Mr. William Shatner, aka Captain Kirk, and the star of Priceline.com's commercials. Join us and ask Mr. Shatner to tell Priceline.com to stop dodging their taxes, and join our effort to make sure big corporations pay their fair share.

TRiO is important to those it impacts directly and indirectly. This petition is for everyone who realizes how much TRiO means to the success of students in Washington State.