Governor Pat Quinn claimed the law he supported to regulate fracking would protect Illinois' environment. That was a lie. The inadequate law cannot make fracking safe for people and our environment. After being negotiated with industry lobbyists behind closed doors, the fracking bill was rushed through the legislature with only a few hours of public debate. Now that the public has had time to review the regulation, it's clear the weak law won't protect us. The fracking law will not prevent: earthquakes after fracking in two Illinois seismic zones, water contamination, the results of flooding and tornado disasters that hit fracking sites, radioactivity of fracking waste water, the negative health impact of air emissions on people who live nearby, destruction in the Shawnee National Forest, or many other community and public health impacts of a fracking boom. It even allows an office of Mines and Minerals that's notoriously cozy with industry to waive fines and grant new permits to repeat offenders who have a history of violating the law. Key legislators who led the way in negotiating the law include Representatives John Bradley, Mike Bost, David Reis and Barbara Flynn Currie, plus Senate sponsor Mike Frerichs, and Green Caucus chair Ann Williams. They claim to care about protecting your environment. Tell these fracking hypocrites we don't believe their empty promises! The only reliable way to protect people and our environment is to ban fracking.

A mother of 2 small children was placed in jail for following the advisement of a Social Worker and 2 judges in WI to not bring her children for visitation with their father who resides in TN. The advisement given to her to not bring her kids to TN is because a third party reported to Children Protective Services in WI concerns that the children might have been abused by their father. After a forensic investigation where it was decided that the fathers visitation rights be suspended by the Social Worker in WI so the mom did not bring her children to TN (as any concerned mother would do). During the forensic investigation one of the boys stated that his father had touched him inappropriately and left him unattended on multiple occasions. Additionally there was a temporary restraining order placed against the father by 2 judges in WI thereby legally preventing the mother from bringing the children to the father in TN. If this mother had disregarded the legal advisement from WI she would have been held accountable by the WI Courts. This mother is still facing additional jail time and could potentially lose custody of her children. Because this mother followed the legal advisement in WI- the TN judge Phillip Robinson has placed this mother in jail to “make a point” that she should not have disobeyed his order… But what kind of a mother would drop her children off with someone she was just advised not to leave her children with? The community needs to know what type of “points” this judge is trying to make to mothers trying to follow the law and protect their children. This is public record. Please see more on the story here at this blog: http://onemomsbattle.com/2014/01/13/a-tragedy-in-the-family-court-system-judge-phillip-robinson-tennessee/

I'm passionate about political representation and constantly seeking simple ideas that would improve democracy and people's lives. Citizens United is a travesty and corporate influence runs our legislative bodies through organizations such as ALEC. I think that overturning Citizens United and reforming campaign finance laws would improve political responsiveness to the people's needs. The recommended amendment would declare that (1) artificial entities such as corporations do not have constitutional rights, and (2) money is not free speech. Thanks for reading, please sign and share this petition. Also, consider writing your own message for your elected officials. Please visit my blog at www.chapelboro411.weebly.com

Bangladeshi Hindus are being murdered, raped and tortured without any protection from Bangladeshi government. Source: http://www.hrw.org/world-report-2012/world-report-2012-bangladesh Luckily, our own government has enormous influence to diplomatically pursuade other governments to take corrective actions, to emphasize and elevate incidents of human rights violations to global human rights organizations - among many other peaceful diplomatic means. Please join me (a naturalized citizen of the USA who was born in Bangladesh, and who has worked as a civilian engineer in the US Navy to solicit the attention of our elected leaders in taking actions to address the blatant and on-going human rights violations in Bangladesh against the very peaceful and law-abiding Hindus.

Oregon doesn't currently have any fracking facilities, and there's no reason to support such a dangerous business. Fracking (hydro-fracturing) is the process of blasting shale with a mixture of water and chemicals to release energy. The blasting contributes to earthquakes, and only 30-50% of the fracking fluid is recovered; the remainder of the toxic chemical mixture is left in the ground, spreading to groundwater - and into people's drinking water. Furthermore, shipping oil on trains increases the possibility for oil spills. In March of 2013, a derailed train spilled up to 714 barrels of oil. Oregon is also proposing to import liquify natural gas, in the process increasing carbon dioxide usage by up to 30% compared to currently used domestic and Canadian natural gas. The proposed pipeline on the Columbia River would import fracked natural gas, liquify it, and export it. To build and run the liquifying terminal, rivers would need to be dredged, the process would use billions of gallons of water, the pollutants would affect water quality and air quality, and public safety would be reduced. This is clearly a hazard to human health and the environment; Oregon needs to stop supporting the fracking industry immediately, and move to safer sources of energy.

Immediately after January 5th , 2014 election in Bangladesh, many Bangladeshi Hindus Minorities are under attack- women raped, houses set on fire, place of worship burned or vandalized and livelihood taken away. As reported in the news and social media, most of the cases Jamaat-e-Islami of Bangladesh and Bangladesh Nationalist Party instigated the violence. Sources: • http://www.hrcbm.org/ • https://www.facebook.com/HRCBangladesh • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2013_Bangladesh_anti-Hindu_violence • http://www.amnesty.org/en/for-media/press-releases/bangladesh-wave-violent-attacks-against-hindu-minority-2013-03-06 • http://www.ndtv.com/article/world/widespread-attacks-on-hindus-in-bangladesh-on-polling-day-469571 • http://bdnews24.com/bangladesh/2014/01/10/2-hindu-housewives-violated • http://bdnews24.com/bangladesh/2014/01/12/hindus-flee-after-rapes • http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/south-asia/bangladesh-postpoll-violence-hits-minorities/article5550297.ece • http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/south-asia/hindu-temple-in-bangladesh-vandalised/article5553487.ece?ref=relatedNews • http://bdnews24.com/bangladesh/2014/01/06/attacks-on-hindus-in-jessore-dinajpur • http://opinion.bdnews24.com/2014/01/08/denormalising-minority-violence/ • http://www.thedailystar.net/two-housewives-raped-for-voting-6323 • http://www.anandabazar.com/archive/1140109/9bdesh1.html • http://au.ibtimes.com/articles/533302/20140108/bangladesh-minority-hindu-attacked-arrested-election.htm#.UtIgLPRDvQM • http://www.thedailystar.net/terror-on-hindus-5670

Company Police will be able to take away the call load on the local law enforcement departments and bring safer communities to the State of Florida making it a safer and better destination for residents and tourists. Doing so will bring more tourists, jobs and funds for the State of Florida. Many times, security companies call on the local police department for a crime that they are witnessing and the local police department is tied up with another call. Allowing Company Police will bring a better response time and get more criminals off the street as well as bringing the call load off of the local police departments.

We live in central Illinois. Every town affected needs these funds to offset the cost of recovery efforts. Everyday it is delayed it puts a greater strain on local and county resources.

President Obama is selling our Democracy to the multinational corporations. If they pass the TPP, we will no longer be able to get generic medicines. They will extend the Pharma patents so that only the Brand Name will be available (at 10-15 times the price!) If they pass the TPP, even ordinary sharing of articles and pictures on the internet will be illegal with the new copyright laws. It will force ISPs to police us with a 3 strikes, and your off the internet. Our laws, both local and national will be superceded by the TPP rules that say that if our laws interfere with any corporate expected profits, the corporation can sue us, the citizens for their loss. This suit will be heard in a separate corporate tribunal manned with corporate lawyers, and their decisions will be final...no appeal. If the TPP passes, we will have to accept foodstuffs from all countries who sign without any trade barriers. This means that even if we have food safety laws, they will have no effect if the exporting country's laws don't live up to ours. Getting it now? The multinational corporations are racing to get global control even over our governments. Why are our governments selling us out? Ask them, but if you ask me, I think it's because they are mostly bought and paid for.

My mother grew up on a farm, but once she got sick and I became her care giver, I noticed that she had serious reactions to certain foods. I spend close to two hours a week grocery shopping. Not because I have that much to buy, but because I have to read the labels of everything I purchase and shop up to 4 different grocery stores to avoid buying GMO foods. GMOs are banned in other countries and should be banned here as well.

Same-sex marriage and yes it affects me I would one day like to get married.

Charles R. Snyder is a man of great faith, honor, and dignity. His 21 year leadership of All Ohio State Fair Youth Choir has positively impacted the lives of thousands of singers, including my children. He was removed from his position because he reported the alleged misconduct of a former volunteer accompanist, which led to this man's arrest and indictment. He should be returned to his position immediately.