When States can use discrimination to suppress the vote it creates devastating social and economic problems on Reservations. The State of South Dakota continued denial of equality have placed Reservations as the poorest counties in the United States to this day.

These rebel flags, which are being erected along our highways, by the Virginia Flaggers, represent division and serve only to terrorize those who have to view these flags on a daily basis. This symbol has only one place ~ in a museum. One only has to read the Cornerstone Speech of the Confederacy to be reminded of the hate that accompanies this symbol: "Our new government is founded upon exactly the opposite idea; its foundations are laid, its corner- stone rests, upon the great truth that the negro is not equal to the white man; that slavery subordination to the superior race is his natural and normal condition. This, our new government, is the first, in the history of the world, based upon this great physical, philosophical, and moral truth. This truth has been slow in the process of its development, like all other truths in the various departments of science. It has been so even amongst us. Many who hear me, perhaps, can recollect well, that this truth was not generally admitted, even within their day. The errors of the past generation still clung to many as late as twenty years ago. Those at the North, who still cling to these errors, with a zeal above knowledge, we justly denominate fanatics. All fanaticism springs from an aberration of the mind from a defect in reasoning. It is a species of insanity. One of the most striking characteristics of insanity, in many instances, is forming correct conclusions from fancied or erroneous premises; so with the anti-slavery fanatics. Their conclusions are right if their premises were. They assume that the negro is equal, and hence conclude that he is entitled to equal privileges and rights with the white man. If their premises were correct, their conclusions would be logical and just but their premise being wrong, their whole argument fails. I recollect once of having heard a gentleman from one of the northern States, of great power and ability, announce in the House of Representatives, with imposing effect, that we of the South would be compelled, ultimately, to yield upon this subject of slavery, that it was as impossible to war successfully against a principle in politics, as it was in physics or mechanics. That the principle would ultimately prevail. That we, in maintaining slavery as it exists with us, were warring against a principle, a principle founded in nature, the principle of the equality of men. The reply I made to him was, that upon his own grounds, we should, ultimately, succeed, and that he and his associates, in this crusade against our institutions, would ultimately fail. The truth announced, that it was as impossible to war successfully against a principle in politics as it was in physics and mechanics, I admitted; but told him that it was he, and those acting with him, who were warring against a principle. They were attempting to make things equal which the Creator had made unequal."

Nearly 300 billion plastic bottles are thrown out each year, but this wasted resource can be used to make products and create jobs. Waste plastic is a global crisis that affects everyone and is a problem we can solve with the help of beverage companies. The Reuse Everything Institute (REII) has developed a technology that converts waste plastic bottles into low-cost roofs. We have also developed a program to get this technology into the hands of people around the planet that can install REII’s low-cost roofing while improving their environment and earning a living wage within their communities. We need the financial and logistical support of the major beverage companies to make this vision a reality. These companies created this global waste problem and benefit from the sale of these beverages, they should contribute a small amount to cleaning up the waste. The program developed by REII will help address the waste plastic bottle problem, create better low-cost roofing and make better jobs available. What's not to like? - Less waste, Less poverty; Better housing and a Cleaner environment - We all win! Help us get the message to these global beverage companies. Thank you for your support! Visit www.reuseeverything.org for more details.

After a decade of declining summer beach closures in Rhode Island, they are back on the rise in 2013, with over 100 closures around the state already this summer. EPA was supposed to propose a new rule to curb this pollution in June, but we’re still waiting. Let’s urge EPA to keep our beaches safe from sewage.

Start supporting Organic/local farmers. Stop buying GMO and GE foods. Start eating food the way that we are meant to eat food...Organically. We were given ORGANIC food from the very start of time, and to make food in a LAB is not the way it is supposed to be. The rise of cancer and disease, definitely has a lot to do with eating FAKE food. Doesn't everybody see what's going on here? Eat Organic and support your local Organic Farmers.

Earlier this summer, my neighbor found a dead doe in her woods. Soon, she heard the crying of two, days old fawns. She was told that if the Fish and Game Department was called they would shoot the fawns, so she listened to them cry of two days. When she told me, I went into the woods and was able to bring one fawn out. My neighbor and I cared for her for a week while I tried to find a safe rehabilitation center to bring her to. At the end of the week, just hours before transporting her to a safe place, a Fish and Game Warden arrived at my home while I was away, searched my property (without a search warrant), found the fawn on my back porch, seized her and shot her. This kind of cruel and traumatic behavior will continue each spring in Vermont unless people speak out and strongly object to this policy. Please help.

Did you know that the U.S. Constitution excludes "women" from participation? Did you know the U.S. Constitution never says, "she" once, but it says "he" 27 times? The Constitution never says "her" or "herself," but it definitely says "him" and "himself." The very amendment (19th) which is about women having the right to vote. . . does not even mention the word "women."

Around 3:00 a.m. on March 24, 2012, Molly Young was called to the Carbondale apartment of a former boyfriend, Richie Minton (a dispatcher for the Carbondale Police Dept.) with a plea of "Help me." He had been drinking the night before. She was killed by a gunshot wound to the top left side of her head (Molly was right-handed) shortly afterwards. Her former boyfriend's father and lawyer were at the scene before Illinois State Police were able to arrive on scene, and the Carbondale Police allowed her former boyfriend to wash his hands and change his clothing before evidence was gathered. He also refused to submit to any forensic testing or to even be interviewed. Molly was left to lay in his bedroom floor for 7 hours after the 911 call until search warrants were signed. There are many more inconsistencies and errors in the handling of this case by local police. The Jackson County State's Attorney made no charges after his investigation and a coroner's jury decided the cause of death as undetermined. Information pertaining to this case can be found at the Carbondale Times website. http://carbondaletimes.com/021413young

Innocent people are being wrongly convicted without sufficient evidence. This is a big problem in the USA. Not everyone can afford a good attorney and you have your public defenders who are suppose to protect you, but because they are overwhelmed with so many clients they don't even remember your case and will do anything to move on to the next case. We as the people should help the innocent. Why is it so easy for information to be falsified to hurt the innocent? For example football player (Brain Banks) who was innocent, he was convicted and did time in prison. All for what because of a lie. We need to defend the innocent.

On February 1, 2013, My brother took me out to a bar for my birthday, during which we were accosted by police. They beat my brother unconscious, and wrote on the report that he was hostile and needed to be restrained. My brother suffers from a disorder where he is incapable of violent behavior, and I have notified the FBI about the criminal behavior of the police, but it is not enough. Our story is one of thousands.

Our Immigration System is broken and must be fixed. The Senate has passed Comprehensive Immigration Reform Legislation that "Provides a Pathway to Citizenship that Keeps Families Together". Now it is up to members of the House to act in the same moral spirit.

We need your immediate help. During the August congressional recess, lasting from August 2 to September 3, we are escalating the pressure to urge Republican U.S. Rep. Kevin McCarthy, the House Majority Whip, to stand up for real immigration reform. We need McCarthy to oppose all piece meal immigration bills that do not feature a path to citizenship, including the bill by GOP House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte, H.R. 1773. McCarthy needs to vote for commonsense immigration reform that includes a roadmap to citizenship. As Majority Whip, Rep. Kevin McCarthy is a top Republican leader in Congress. His leadership gives him the ability to influence other Members of Congress. Sign the petition today telling him that his responsibility to his district and this nation is to vote for a real solution – comprehensive immigration reform with a pathway to citizenship. The House Judiciary Committee has passed four piece meal bills. One of those measures includes H.R. 1773, sponsored by Rep. Goodlatte. Goodlatte’s bill does not include a new immigration process. His bill is a farm worker guest worker bill that bears much closer resemblance to the infamous 1942-1964 bracero guest worker program than it does to the immigration changes needed in the 21st Century. House members cannot take a vote on proposals that do not fix our broken immigration system. We urge Rep. McCarthy to use his leadership to defeat the Goodlatte bill and give us a vote on citizenship. All through the August recess we will continue holding actions throughout California until House GOP lawmakers and leaders like Rep McCarthy take a stand on immigration reform with a path to citizenship. Take action today. Sign the petition to urge McCarthy on a vote for citizenship. We need to go forward, not backward.