This campaign started with strikes at two companies: Potomac Disposal and Unity Recycling and Disposal. Potomac Disposal has now signed a fair agreement with its employees. Thanks so much for speaking up for these workers! And thanks to Potomac Disposal for doing the right thing! Unfortunately, the Unity Disposal and Recycling still won’t recognize the workers’ union or discuss their demands for fair wages or affordable health insurance. Currently, Unity only offers health insurance to some employees, and it’s not affordable. Furthermore, several workers have come forward with paystub evidence of missing wages or overtime pay and uncompensated work hours, in addition to potential Montgomery County living wage law violations that we are currently investigating. Several workers say they have been met with harassment or intimidation when they’ve tried to resolve these problems on their own. The workers want a union contract to give them the resources and procedures to resolve wage problems like these without facing retaliation, as well as to negotiate for affordable health insurance and fair wages. The workers are headed back to work tomorrow to show their commitment to the community, but they will be continuing the conversation in their workplace. You can help by contacting Unity Disposal at: 301-490-8604 or 301-990-2049 and telling them that their employees deserve a fair contract. Then, SIGN THE PETITION to let us know you called. We can't trust Unity to count your calls accurately. Signing on will make sure we can tell Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett exactly how many residents support us. Thanks so much for your support!

Because animals are defenseless against unscrupulous humans who respond to an irrational belief in "unknown demons".

Mississippi ranks at the bottom of nearly every positive indicator when it comes to a well functioning, productive, prosperous, and equal society for all. This must come to an end. The unjust and unequal treatment of Mississippi's women is directly tied to this very unfortunate reality. Our elected officials must take swift and decisive action to ensure that Mississippi's women and girls are treated as full and equal citizens of our state. It is time for Mississippi to enter the 21st Century, demonstrating we have moved beyond our often difficult past and into a bright and positive future we know our state can achieve. Supporting the adoption of the above resolution is critical to achieving these goals. Mississippi Ranked as the Worst State for Women in the US: Time Magazine: "And, at last, we come to the worst of all U.S. states for women to live in. Perhaps the female citizenry of Mississippi already suspects this, since 22% of women are impoverished, they earn the lowest average wages in the country, with a median income of $28,879, and college-graduation rates are grim at only 21%. Also, while 68% of Mississippi women are overweight or obese, nearly a quarter of the state’s women have health insurance. With such a depressing state of affairs, is it really any wonder that Mississippi has never had a woman in Congress or as governor — and the state legislature is only 15% female?" Read more: http://newsfeed.time.com/2012/03/23/top-5-worst-u-s-states-for-women/#ixzz2iJi5KW9T

The Beaverdam Road community does not agree with this future dog park. It not only will be built on a dangerous road, but will be sitting on a flood plain. This could be very hazardous to residents living along side the creek, and even to Beaver Lake. The dog park is not only putting others at risk, but is also trying to push a family living near the site into a "fish bowl" living space. There is no reason to put this dog park in the Beaverdam Road community. It's not the smartest location. For more details visit rasheville.blogspot.com

Here are three good reasons to support the Stop Tax Haven Abuse Act: 1. It would raise $220 billion to replace budget sequester cuts and to invest in America. 2. It would close tax loopholes that encourage U.S. corporations to move jobs, profits and operations offshore and prevent them from paying their fair share of taxes. 3. It would help level the playing field between big corporations and small businesses.

As an artist I believe in the importance of promoting peace internationally. Artists from around the world can create sculptures based on peace and exhibit them on the White House lawn. The Peace Sculpture Garden will be a symbol of the United States commitment to a peaceful world.

The San Rafael Swell is one of Utah's most unique landscapes. It covers 2,000 square miles of narrow canyons, hoodoos, towering cliffs, and breathtaking views; it is truly an desert paradise and an outdoor lover's dream, visited by thousands of tourists every year. Recently, the Bureau of Land Management announced its plans to lease 80,000 acres in and around the San Rafael Swell--including areas that have been proposed for wilderness designation. These leases will hit the auction block on November 19th. Please sign this petition in support of protecting the San Rafael Swell from oil and gas development. Let the BLM know that these 80,000 parcels need to remain untouched.

VICTORY UPDATE: We saw a partial victory on this campaign. The DOJ made a $2 billion portion of the settlement - the portion that is explicitly considered to be a "fine" - non-deductible for JPMorgan. This is excellent news and will save taxpayers $700 million. This is an exciting step in the right direction, though it's still far too little - we still have a long way to go to permanently end these tax breaks for corporate misdeeds. Background: JPMorgan is negotiating $13 billion in settlements with the Department of Justice for mortgage lending abuses they allegedly committed during the housing crisis. However, taxpayers could end up underwriting more than $3 billion of those settlements. That's because JPMorgan is likely to claim the settlements as tax deductions. Even though settlements like these are thought of as punishment for corporate wrongdoing, companies claim their settlement costs as tax write-offs all the time. They treat it as just another business expense. We can’t let that happen. The financial crisis caused by banks’ irresponsible practices landed us in a recession that we’re still struggling to recover from. Taxpayers shouldn’t have to pay any more for JPMorgan’s bad actions. Just last week, the Federal Housing Finance Agency, which houses Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, made a separate $5.1 billion settlement with JPMorgan. And, sadly, the FHFA let JPMorgan take that settlement as a write-off - effectively handing JPMorgan a $1.5 billion tax deduction. We need the Department of Justice to do better. The DOJ has the power to include a provision in JPMorgan's settlement that prohibits them from taking the settlement as a tax write-off. We just need to convince the DOJ to do the right thing. They've done it before, including with one of BP's settlements for the Gulf oil spill.

I am passionate about saving orangutans from potential extinction.

I worked at Walmart for nearly 10-years before being severely persecuted and fired in direct retaliation for reporting the manager's abusive bullying of a handicapped female colleague. Many other employees saw and heard the abuse and hysterical crying, but due to the catstrophic and devastating effects of massive gross systematic corporate corruption on our American culture, society, and worklace today, they were all afraid to report it, and despite my grueling 2-year legal battle in which I provided absolute proof of flagrant violations of civil and labor laws, and even a police statement proving Walmart's lying to federal investigators with intent to defame me and obstruct justice, nothing was done. End the massive gross systematic corporate corruption that strips our great American citizen/ Walmart workers of their civil and human rights, right to justice under the law, and their very honor and dignity. "No American Citizen Should Have to Live and Work With a Fear in Their Heart of Reporting Abuse of Another Human Being in the Workplace."

I love New York Comic Con, I'm sure everyone who attends loves it too but I don't think it's fair that tickets go on sale way before the panels and guest details get announced. Before tickets go on sale we should know what panels will happen on what day and what guest are available for photo ops or autographs. I think this is possible for NYCC2014. -Thanks for your support!

Archer Daniels Midland, a highly profitable company, is demanding over $20 million in tax breaks to keep its headquarters in Illinois. With net profits of $1.7 billion dollars in 2012, on which they paid state taxes of less than 1% instead of the statutory requirement of 9 1/2%, ADM does not need more tax breaks. Their spokesperson admitted as much when it was said that the only reason they are requesting a tax break is because Illinois set a "precedent" by giving other profitable companies undeserved tax breaks. With Illinois financial situation in a state of crisis, it is time to break with that precedent and say "no" to tax breaks for profitable companies.