At this moment, our oceans are filled with 315 billion pounds of plastic, which collects in giant sinks. Think of a plastic soup seasoned with toxic chemicals like bisphenol A (BPA). These toxins are harmful to humans, the marine environment, and our ecosystems. So what is the first step in solving this problem? Stop using unnecessary plastics like bottled water, which are expensive and detrimental to our environment: 1. Bottled water is 2,800 times more expensive than tap water. 2. Chemical additives found in plastic water bottles can be harmful to human health. 3. Bottled water is not always safer since bottled water companies are not required by law to report quality testing results or to disclose their water sources to consumers. 4. Five of every six plastic water bottles are not recycled, crowding landfills and polluting the environment. 5. The total amount of energy required to produce every bottle is equivalent to filling a plastic bottle ¼ full with oil. 6. It takes 3 liters of water to produce 1 liter of bottled water. 7. More than 25% of bottled water brands are drawn from municipal water supplies, the same place that tap water comes from. A number of universities, including Washington University in St. Louis and Loyola University Chicago have already banned the sale of plastic water bottles on their campuses. Our Engineers for a Sustainable World team, Pura Playa, seeks to ban the sale of plastic water bottles on Northwestern University’s Evanston campus (note: this does not include non-water drinks like soda, juice, etc.). Help us restore our oceans to their natural states by signing the petition below. Sources: 1. 5 Gyres Institute 2. Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health 3. Environmental Protection Agency 4. U.S. Government Accountability Office 5. National Geographic 6. Pacific Institute

Republican senators killed this important job-creating legislation in Congress before the 2012 election. With a larger majority in the Senate and a national mandate to create jobs for veterans, we need to remind Republicans that opposition and obstruction to this common-sense legislation hurts all Americans.

There is a real danger of tampering of votes cast on electronic voting machines, which are created and programed by private corporations. I've read of several instances where I.T. people have deliberately compromised the programs, in an effort to show how easily voting results can be skewed. Harper's Magazine (Oct 25, 2012) ran an article by V.Collier entitiled "How to Rig an Election". It was chilling. This issue should be at the top of our Political List!

Pain pills almost killed me; and marijuana is much safer for pain and depression, and less addictive than man-made pills.

Pain pills almost killed me, and marijuana is much safer for pain and depression, and less addictive than man-made pills.

Wall Street, thru their Congressional advocates, Republicans and so called-Third Way- " Center " Democrats is focused on its traditional Objectives: dismantling gradually our Nation safety net (to decrease expenses so the 1% can pay less taxes), and to privatize, also bit by bit, Social Security (which would generate billions of income fees for them, as financial advisors, and would make their large Banks and Brokerage firms more than "too large to fail", for if their Investments failed, thousands of small investors would be left in poverty, so the Government would have to come to their rescue with our taxpayer's money). There is, on the other hand a clear mandate for this second Obama Administration to pursue and enact Progressive legislations as shown by the proportion of voters that sided with the issues addressed by them (60%) in exit polls taken this past Elections. So, this is a unique opportunity for the Obama Administration to stand firmly and become a truly transformational Presidency like FDR's and LBJ'S.

Recently the CEO of PPJ decided that the underpaid sometimes part time workers do not deserve the benefits of the Affordable Care Act. It is my contention that if this is his postion. Our positions should be his company does not deserve to have customers

There has been many commentators such as Glenn Beck and Fox News who are constantly making racial and hateful statements. These views or comments, do not identify with all Americans. These comments create discord among the races in this county and there has to be someone held accountable with the views presented by the stations and their employees. I'm calling for those that feel these commentators views are not there own to join in the fight against racism and bigotry.

When President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act [VRA] of 1965 into law, it was an historic turn of events in the Civil Rights Movement. The VRA is crucial voting rights legislation that provides protections to ensure the nation's most vulnerable voters (minorities) are enabled to defend against unfair and illegal efforts to obstruct their access to the vote. Every American citizen has a right to the full exercise and enjoyment of his and her franchise. Every American citizen has a vested interest in democracy. Please sign the Petition to "Preserve the Voting Rights Act [VRA] of 1965"!

All Senate and House of Representative Members should be subject to any and all legislation passed by the Federal Government, in the same manner as which it applies to the citizens of the United States of America, whom these elected politicians work for. It is not fair that these politicians can pass laws impacting us, yet they do not have to follow and obey themsleves.

Our country should be focusing on the many who are experiencing poverty, homelessness, hunger and devastation. Our elected officials speak often of caring for those who are most in need and this is a time in our lives to make a difference. The resources spent on the one day of the Presidential Inauguration should be used in ways to help those in dire need. Former adminstrations that have taken this action were Presidents Wilson and Harding; President Carter also streamlined the events. By cancelling these extravagant parties, and chanelling the resources to those in need would be a life-changing experience and this action would speak volumes to our children. This is a petition to call on Washington, D.C. to make a difference in the lives of many of our fellow citizens and cancel these parties.

Since I've recently become a Widow after 38 years of filing as 'married filing jointly', I find it quite obscene and unfair to be considered 'single'! Perhaps, for dating purposes, widows, widowers and divorcees can be considered single again, but NOT when it comes to our Income Tax status! Unlike back when I was 21 and single, now I have 'STUFFf' to deal with ,by myself, that most real single people do not have; such as property, houses, cars, timeshares, memberships, debts, loans, family members, children, grandchildren, social security and retirement issues, medical bills, life insurance, auto insurance issues, etc.! Not to mention, maybe no longer having a mortgage interest deduction, no exemptions and dependents, and now, not even your spouse! There needs to be a special status and/or special worksheet created for us ASAP!, before the next tax season. I can help come up with one! If you agree with this, please sign this petition. This is URGENT ! Thank You!