Sen. Elizabeth Warren has heard our concerns from across the state and she deserves recognition and gratitude for taking action in support of mandatory GMO labeling. Sen. Warren has recently co-sponsored Senator Boxer’s bill, S 809, “A bill to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to require that genetically engineered food and foods that contain genetically engineered ingredients be labeled accordingly”. Senator Warren has also been recently recognized as one of “The Tremendous Ten” female senators pursuing means to force the FDA to close the 1992 loophole which exempts GMO foods from labeling in the first place. It has become clear that Warren is our ally in the pursuit of mandatory GMO labeling. Please sign this petition to thank Senator Warren for standing up for our Right to Know what we’re eating. She’s going up against some of the most powerful corporate interests in the world, so let’s let her know that she has our support!

This zoning change, if enacted, will raise taxes, spoil the education system and turn Bethany into a city. In Bethany we enjoy the rural character, the peace, the dark nights and the quiet almost entirely because of Bethany’s strict zoning regulations. If this development is allowed to proceed, subsequent proposals, as large or larger, would be right behind. Dense development will tax the water supply and likely pollute it. NO CLUSTER HOUSING OR DENSE DEVELOPMENT IN BETHANY!!

Newspapers need to stop publishing letters that deny climate change.

The Senate Select Committee on Intelligence (commonly known as the Senate intelligence committee) has passed legislation that would require the Administration to publicly report how many civilians and how many “combatants” are being killed in Pakistan, Yemen, and Somalia by U.S. drone strikes. When the committee passed this legislation, Maine Senator Susan Collins voted no. In order for the Senate to pass this legislation, it’s crucial for Senator Collins to change her position. The CIA has claimed that civilian casualties from U.S. drone strikes have been extremely rare. The record of independent reporting says otherwise. But because the CIA has never publicly stated on the record how many civilians it believes are being killed by U.S. drone strikes, the CIA has never been forced to defend its claims on the record. If the intelligence committee provision becomes law, the CIA would have to defend its claims about civilian deaths on the record, and we could have a meaningful democratic debate. Urge Senator Collins to reverse her opposition to telling the public about civilian deaths from U.S. drone strikes.

Newspapers need to stop publishing letters that deny climate change.

Newspapers need to stop publishing letters that deny climate change.

The EPA has repeatedly concluded that lead is extremely toxic to humans, wildlife and the environment and causes adverse health effects even at low doses. Yet the EPA has continued to fail to do what the law requires and address this toxic and damaging pollution in aviation gasoline. Continued exposure to leaded aviation gasoline threatens the health of airport workers, pilots, passengers, and surrounding communities—especially children. The multitude of warnings about toxins in our environment can often be confusing. But with lead there can be no confusion -- there is no safe level of lead exposure. So please tell the EPA to do for aviation gas what it started doing for automobile gas more than 40 years ago: get the lead out!

To stop the spread of diseases,the illegal tattooing of minors and the damage it causes small businesses in the tattoo industry.

Newspapers need to stop publishing letters that deny climate change.

In recent days, Catholic Bishop Paprocki of Springfield, Illinois, has launched a homophobic, potentially hatemongering crusade reminiscent of Rev. Fred Phelps of the Westboro Baptist Church (godhatesfags.com) which the bishop, in his own words, apparently plans to build upon in the future. On November 20th, Bishop Paprocki chose to conduct an "exorcism" in Springfield, Illinois, to coincide with our governor's ceremony signing the same-sex marriage bill, in order to draw media attention to his virulently anti-gay political positions regarding same-sex marriage in our State of Illinois. The Baptist Church may be unwilling or unable to hold Fred Phelps accountable for his actions, but the Roman Catholic Church is well-equipped to deal with its Bishops when they begin acting in a manner such as this. We want to put a stop to all this as soon as possible. We believe that we have a potential ally in Pope Francis, especially considering His words from last July: “If someone is gay and he searches for the Lord and has good will, who am I to judge?”

Newspapers need to stop publishing letters that deny climate change.

Newspapers need to stop publishing letters that deny climate change and the Philadelphia Inquirer should adopt such a policy immediately. Otherwise, the newspaper's credibility will be damaged.