Historically, any peacemaking process is easy to disrupt.. One incident involving a small group or individual could bring the chemical weapons removal process to a halt as accusations fly and participants retreat, especially if the incident were to involve the use of chemical weapons, Successful removal of chemical weapons from Syria is important for the well-being of the Syrian people, the region and the world.

Our children have worked hard for this opportunity! This is the last year of the TCAPS and the new Common Core standardized tests will be implemented. We suggest the MNPS school board wait and see how the students perform on these tests before changing anything. The problem may resolve itself. Allow the students who are currently enrolled at HEAD to fulfill the promise that was given to them of attending MLK in the 7th grade if they qualify. Dr. Tonja Williams stood at the podium in the auditorium in August and said our children WILL QUALIFY FOR MLK by scoring an advanced/proficient in both math and English on the TCAPS, as well as being on the A/B honor roll. By changing this and not allowing them to be grandfathered in, and then subjecting them to new testing procedures puts these particular children in grades 5 & 6 at Head in double jeopardy, while at the same time being used as guinea pigs in the new system. Moving forward, the incoming 2014 fifth graders will know what is expected of them instead of changing the rules midstream on the current student body. Making this sudden change puts the cart before the horse when we are entering a completely new way of qualifying children and their academic performance. No one has seen these new tests, yet alone knows how any child will perform. It may cut the number of children qualifying back anyway...it remains to be seen, does it not? So the predictability of increasing volumes of children qualifying for MLK are not entirely true are they? There is simply no way of knowing at this point. Parents were told at the meeting on Sept. 16th that the Head and Rosa Parks pathway does not allow for other countywide seats to be open for MLK, but in essence it does. If children want to attend MLK, they can enter Head in the 5th grade just like our kids did through the lottery when there are over 250 seats WIDE OPEN! Just like Meigs leads to Hume Fogg. Show Nashville that there are wise people on the board...people who actually care about our children's education and do what is right by voting NO. After that, let's implement more opportunities for all of the incredibly smart and gifted children in the system. The low economic and academically challenged children are served with more charter schools. As the Tennessean newspaper reported on Sept. 10th, "Metro school officials have raised alarm over the $61.3 million price tag expected to cover 22 charter schools that will operate by next year." This all became an issue because of a deficit in funding. These charter schools have an expected 6,212 students attending them! What about our kids? Where are they suppose to go? They deserve a challenging and exemplary education without having to go to a private school. Plan a two year change where the current 5th and 6th graders at Head will continue on to MLK as promised, at the same time, make Head an all academic magnet school like Meigs. With the number of children on waiting lists for Meigs this district can certainly use another all academic magnet if not two. Vote NO on the MLK/Head change.

Imagine if your husband is risking his life for his country fighting overseas, but your home state says that if something happens to him, you won't be entitled to equal access to health and death benefits. That's happening. Even though the Department of Justice and Department of Defense issued directives to provide benefits to same-sex spouses, Oklahoma announced that it intends to deny equal access to military benefits for National Guard families. Most states are already allowing federal coverage for health and death benefits to be processed for same-sex spouses the same way that they are processed for everyone else - even if state constitutions ban marriage for same-sex couples. However, Oklahoma is putting needless, discriminatory roadblocks in the way by forcing service members’ spouses to travel miles out of the way to a separate federal facility to access the benefits they are legally entitled to. The Department of Defense deserves great credit for updating their policy to provide equal access to benefits regardless of sexual orientation. Now it's up to the governor to use his authority over the National Guard to provide equal care for all Oklahoma service member families. American service members risk their lives every day to protect liberty and equality all over the world. It's time to show them the same basic fairness when it comes to protecting their own families in their home state.

Imagine if your husband is risking his life for his country fighting overseas, but your home state says that if something happens to him, you won't be entitled to equal access to health and death benefits. That's happening. Even though the Department of Justice and Department of Defense issued directives to provide benefits to same-sex spouses, Louisiana announced that it intends to deny equal access to military benefits for National Guard families. Most states are already allowing federal coverage for health and death benefits to be processed for same-sex spouses the same way that they are processed for everyone else - even if state constitutions ban marriage for same-sex couples. However, Louisiana is putting needless, discriminatory roadblocks in the way by forcing service members’ spouses to travel miles out of the way to a separate federal facility to access the benefits they are legally entitled to. The Department of Defense deserves great credit for updating their policy to provide equal access to benefits regardless of sexual orientation. Now it's up to the governor to use his authority over the National Guard to provide equal care for all Louisiana service member families. American service members risk their lives every day to protect liberty and equality all over the world. It's time to show them the same basic fairness when it comes to protecting their own families in their home state.

Imagine if your husband is risking his life for his country fighting overseas, but your home state says that if something happens to him, you won't be entitled to equal access to health and death benefits. That's happening. Even though the Department of Justice and Department of Defense issued directives to provide benefits to same-sex spouses, Mississippi announced that it intends to deny equal access to military benefits for National Guard families. Most states are already allowing federal coverage for health and death benefits to be processed for same-sex spouses the same way that they are processed for everyone else - even if state constitutions ban marriage for same-sex couples. However, Mississippi is putting needless, discriminatory roadblocks in the way by forcing service members’ spouses to travel miles out of the way to a separate federal facility to access the benefits they are legally entitled to. The Department of Defense deserves great credit for updating their policy to provide equal access to benefits regardless of sexual orientation. Now it's up to the governor to use his authority over the National Guard to provide equal care for all Mississippi service member families. American service members risk their lives every day to protect liberty and equality all over the world. It's time to show them the same basic fairness when it comes to protecting their own families in their home state.

Over the past year, the Obama Administration has ordered the Environmental Protection Agency to shut down one fracking-related water contamination investigation after another. When early results of investigations in Dimock, Pennsylvania, Parker County, Texas and Pavillion, Wyoming showed that the EPA had evidence linking gas drilling and fracking operations to groundwater contamination, your administration chose to "see no evil" and abandon the investigations -- and the communities suffering the impacts of oil and gas development as a result. We want to remind President Obama that he represents the American people, not the oil and gas industry.

Rev. Acree excels in... Progressively raising awareness of issues while developing answers with action plans. Organizing community members to promote cross generational civic engagement. Working programs that educate, culturally expose and develop social and emotional growth amongst neighborhoods. Engaging diverse groups to become financially empowered and fight for economic equality as well as quality health care for ALL. Revolutionizing cultural moral by instilling a positive mindset that equips people with a loving pride that enhances the quality of their life. Sign this petition in support of his candidacy and your belief in the NAACP's desire to grow even more.

The numbers are startling. Each day, an average of 71 cases of sexual assault happen in America's military. That's more than 26,000 per year. To make matters worse, these victims are unable to have their cases heard by independent military prosecutors. Instead, these cases work their way through the chain of command, where they're often ignored and swept under the rug. Led by Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, bipartisan leaders in the U.S. Senate have proposed the Military Justice Improvement Act, to ensure that these victims of sexual assault get justice. Here's the problem: As of this moment, Arizona's U.S. Senators, John McCain and Jeff Flake, have not signed on to co-sponsor this critical legislation. As Senator McCain himself has said, we've been talking about the issue for years and talk is insufficient. The time is now. And you have a voice. Sign our petition and demand that Senators McCain and Flake co-sponsor the Military Justice Improvement Act today.

Because we the fans want this show to come back for a 3rd Season!!!!

When Marylanders learned of the risks posed by fracking, they fought hard to protect the safety of their communities, earning a temporary moratorium on this controversial natural gas extraction technique. But this hard work could all be undone if Dominion Cove Point is allowed to build a major liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal on the Chesapeake Bay to export fracked gas. Help stop this project by writing to Gov. Martin O’Malley! The Dominion Cove Point LNG export terminal would be the first of its kind on the East Coast and would open up the natural gas reserves in the Eastern part of the country to foreign markets. If this facility is approved, it would encourage the oil and gas industry to frack as much and as quickly as possible so that they can sell the gas overseas where the price is higher, while hiking up the price of natural gas here at home. In addition to the immediate environmental destruction of a renewed gas rush, the upward pressure on natural gas prices could threaten existing moratoriums in Maryland and other places where fracking has been put on hold. Maryland has a pivotal role to play in this historic fight. That’s why we need your help!

The Los Angeles City Abatement Department spends roughly $28 million dollars per year to paint over tagging and art work from private and public properties. With the recently lifting of the decade old mural ban, we see an opportunity for youth to learn about civic empowerment through the permit process at the district and city levels. We feel education and hands on experience through our ART PEACE PARK initiative can help ensure the new outdoor murals ordinances are understood and used in a manner all can enjoy. We are asking The City of Los Angeles to dedicate 1% of the budget they are spending on the current abatement program for educational initiatives like Art Peace Park.

San Franciscans have a right to redeem their bottles and cans for the California Redemption Value they pay at the store. Without the recycling centers that Safeway hosts, San Franciscans will lose a convenient way to get their money back.