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.

The danger of huge releases of radiation during impending operations at the Fukushima Dai'ichi Nuclear Power Plant requires the utmost cooperation, skill, and finesse of the finest scientific and engineering minds from around the world. The United States must take the lead at this critical time to see that such a group is gathered and in place when the fuel rods are moved. The continued viability of life on Earth is at stake. It is a global issue.

Deloitte LLC and its subsidiaries are DIRECTLY responsible for unknown damages to Federal, State and Local Government's financial computer systems resulting in MILLIONS OF TAXPAYING INDIVIDUALS suffering EXTREME HARDSHIP. These hardships were cruel and inhumane and the direct consequence of Deloitte LLC and their subsidiaries USING BAD BUSINESS PRACTICES AND SELLING NON-FUNCTIONAL TECHNOLOGY AND COMPUTER SOFTWARE. Therefore, WE THE PEOPLE DEMAND THAT ALL ELECTED OFFICIALS CEASE AND DESIST SPENDING ANY FURTHER TAX DOLLARS TO HIRE, CONTRACT OR OTHERWISE DO BUSINESS WITH DELOITTE LLC AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES.

We at Sand Springs PAAT are listening to you, our parents. We are giving you multiple opportunities let the State know what these high stakes testing madates are doing to your children, their teachers, their school districts and the institution of public education. This is another way that you can let your voice be heard in Oklahoma City.

Deloitte LLC and its subsidiaries are DIRECTLY responsible for unknown damages to Federal, State and Local Government's financial computer systems resulting in MILLIONS OF TAXPAYING INDIVIDUALS suffering EXTREME HARDSHIP. These hardships were cruel and inhumane and the direct consequence of Deloitte LLC and their subsidiaries USING BAD BUSINESS PRACTICES AND SELLING NON-FUNCTIONAL TECHNOLOGY AND COMPUTER SOFTWARE. Therefore, WE THE PEOPLE DEMAND THAT ALL ELECTED OFFICIALS CEASE AND DESIST SPENDING ANY FURTHER TAX DOLLARS TO HIRE, CONTRACT OR OTHERWISE DO BUSINESS WITH DELOITTE LLC AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES.

Mandy has done an amazing job as Director and we feel the position was unfairly taken from her.