How is it legal for golf courses to pollute so much? Whole ecosystems are destroyed and waterways polluted and air polluted so a few can hit a ball with a stick. Look at the cost to benefit ratio. I have health issues because I lived near a golf course. Most people don't realize that golf courses are one of the biggest polluters in our country.

Rudwan Dawod spent six months in Sudan and South Sudan last year leading a number of humanitarian projects and was featured in an Al Jazeera documentary titled, "How to Mobilize a Million" (watch it on YouTube). In his most recent trip back to South Sudan at the end of May, he was leading a reconciliation effort in which Muslims would help re-build a Catholic church in protest to a recent church-burning in Khartoum. The government of Sudan was aware of Rudwan's plans to enter his native country and they were waiting for him. Approximately ten days after he arrived in the north, Rudwan was arrested along with a dozen others in Al Haj Yousif at a demonstration he helped organize through Girifna, a youth movement calling for change in Sudan through peaceful, non-violent protests. They were speaking out against the austerity measures and increasing cost of food and basic goods, and against the violent crimes of the government. The police beat Rudwan unconscious and then went to his home to arrest his father and brother. They vandalized their home, stealing their money and valuables. Shortly after, Rudwan was taken to the NISS headquarters while the others remained in Haj Yousif Police Station. He was deprived of sleep and was tortured for days as they mocked and insulted him for his work in re-building the church in South Sudan. They beat him on his back and feet until he fainted, trying to coerce a false statement from him that he was CIA. Local government-controlled papers featured front page stories that a “terrorist cell” had been arrested and the leader was married to an American. It claimed we were part of a Darfur military movement supported by South Sudan to bomb several market places in Khartoum. While initially held incommunicado with visits denied to any lawyer or family member, Rudwan was soon transferred to a prison in Omdurman by order of the court after he appeared visibly exhausted and unable to walk well. We believe media pressure also played a key role in his transfer. The others being held in Haj Yousif were brought to Omdurman Prison to join Rudwan, where they remained until everyone except Rudwan and Ahmed Kawarti were acquitted on July 25th. There are five (5) charges against Rudwan and Ahmed, including Attempt, Abetment, Rioting (with violence), Calling for opposition to public authority (with violence), and Criminal and terrorist organizations (with violent intent). The most serious charge is punishable up to ten years in prison or the death penalty. The court will make their decision on August 13th. Armed with only a flyer, Rudwan and Ahmed are completely innocent of any of these accusations and fabricated lies. The flyer called for others to demonstrate against the lack of food, increasing transportation fees due to loss of oil subsidies, and unemployment rate after graduation. They asked others to take to the streets and protest against the corruption of the government that caused the secession of the south, destruction and death in Darfur and the mass killings in Nuba Mountains and Blue Nile. (Copy of flyer available upon request.) Please help us keep the pressure on Sudan 's government to release Rudwan, Ahmed and the thousands of other peaceful protestors being held. It is NOT a crime to call for peace, equality, justice and democracy in Sudan !! For the love of his country, it was Rudwan’s conscience-duty. “The only guide to man is his conscience; the only shield to his memory is the rectitude and sincerity of his actions. It is very imprudent to walk through life without this shield, because we are so often mocked by the failure of our hopes and the upsetting of our calculations; but with this shield, however the fates may play, we march always in the ranks of honor.” Winston Churchill Nancy Dawod Springfield, Oregon

The Virgin Islands Montessori School, which has been in existence for over 40 years, is seeking to amend the Title 34 Virgin Island's Code, Section 383 (b)(4) to exempt the AMI Certified Montessori Primary Classroom from the Department of Human Services jurisdiction as a daycare facility. Currently, AMI (Association Montessori Internationale) certified primary classrooms teach children starting at the age of 3 years old in a multi-age classroom. The Department of Human Services, has jurisdiction over daycare facilities, which may include 3 year old children, but the AMI (and AMS-American Montessori Society) certified Montessori programs teach 3 year olds in a primary classroom, and not a daycare facility or setting. We are calling on VI Senators of the 29th Legislature to support our efforts to maintain the AMI Certification of the Virgin Islands Montessori School by amending the VI Code to exempt the AMI and AMS Montessori certified primary classrooms, and allow them to continue educating Virgin Islands children in the multi-age 3-6 year old classroom utilizing the proven Montessori methods and philosophy. Some of the mandatory rules governing daycare facilities are counter to the methods, philosophies and practice for AMI classrooms, and if implemented, would negate the AMI certification of the only certified Montessori program in the territory.

Politicians are more busy chasing the money and even bound by it in order to get re-elected rather than being held accountable to its public as should be in our democracy.

I am a 63 year old grandmother in Oklahoma who would like to be able to tell my grandchild that every vote counts in America. I can’t, because that’s a lie! I was born in 1948 and have voted in every Presidential election since I reached legal voting age. Since I am a Democrat and Oklahoma has voted Republican, the laws of my state have made my vote meaningless. Eleven Presidential elections in a row, for 43 years of my life, my vote has counted for nothing. Yes, the candidate I voted for was elected a few times, but not because of my vote. My state voted for the loser, and my vote made no difference. This is a problem for both parties! Many Republicans see their states vote for the Democrat each time, and they feel just like I do. We are disappointed and discouraged and wondering if our only remaining option is to move to a state where we aren’t made to feel like we don’t belong. Republicans in HI, NY, RI, WA and WI haven’t had their vote matter since 1984. Republicans in CA, CT, DE, IL, MD, MI, NJ, PA and VT watch their votes cast aside in the last 5 Presidential elections. Republican voters in MN haven’t mattered since 1972. Democrats in AK, ID, KS, ND, OK, UT and WY have endured 44 years of their votes being wasted. AL, MS, SC and TX have tossed out all their “blue votes” since 1976. Democrats in AR and AZ could have stayed home for the last 4 elections. Democrats in GA and MT haven’t mattered in the last 3 Presidential elections. This is not government of the people, by the people and for the people! It’s government of the State, by the State and for the State! According to the US Constitution "Each State shall appoint, in such Manner as the Legislature thereof may direct, a Number of Electors ..." The bad news is that most State Legislatures have decided on the “winner take all” system, which leaves so many of us without a voice. But there is good news! The National Popular Vote Law has already been enacted by states possessing 132 electoral votes — 49% of the 270 electoral votes needed to activate it! 70% of Americans polled support the Popular Vote! Red voters in Blue States and Blue voters in Red States are tired of feeling oppressed, defeated and powerless. We are tired of being called “fly over states” by the media because Presidential candidates never set foot in our states. We are tired of seeing the debate and education, Party support, candidates, and money go to other states. Blue states get bluer. Red states get redder. Presidents get elected by “swing states”, to a large degree by those voters who have the most trouble making up their minds. What can we do? Blue voters in Red States and Red voters in Blue States can stand together! Republicans and Democrats with one voice as Americans! We have been inconsequential for years, but our country could certainly benefit from seeing us stand together now! It shouldn’t take a 9/11 disaster for us to find compassion for one another. Please go to http://www.nationalpopularvote.com/ and look under “Take Action” in the upper right hand corner to see what individuals can do to help. Scroll to the bottom of the page to see where your State Legislature stands. Hold a rally on the steps of your State Capital! Hold a “Red voters and Blue voters UNITED” event with neighboring States. That’s something rare and newsworthy!! I have lived my whole life with my votes for President ignored. Many in my position no longer bother to make the trip to their voting place. I will continue to vote in this flawed Democracy, as a symbol of my belief in citizen responsibility. May we work together to see my votes, and yours, begin to matter. Broken Arrow, OK

Trillions of unproductive dollars are siphoned out of our economy every year by everything from simple nepotism to cash bribery. As a result the wealth that we generate as a society has been redistributed to the top 1% where it has effectively been hoarded and taken out of productive circulation. After thirty years of labor saving technological developments this siphoning off of our collective wealth by the scam artists has left the rest of us struggling to make ends meet. As a result we can not address ourselves to society's challenges of climate change and global hunger because we are too busy trying to keep our head above water to feed our families.

The midwest is in the middle of the worst drought in a half-century, destroying crops and pushing food prices higher. Despite the drought, ethanol plants continue to waste an average of 750,000 gallons of potable water EACH every day turning corn into ethanol.

Businesses (Public & Private), Schools, etc. closed to participate in an event that is more American than "apple pie". An event that assures we remain a DEMOCRACY!!

J. Edgar is the disgraced former director of the FBI. His misdeeds are legendary as are his violations of civil and Constitutional rights. It is a national disgrace and embarrassment that his name remains on the FBI Building in our nation's capitol. This petition is to encourage members of Congress to pass legislation removing J.Edgar Hoover's name from the FBI Building.

Political campaigns waste money on expensive media ads. That money could be used for for so many other good causes (see the recent NBC nightly news segment on this point from 8/16/12). I hereby will stop giving money to political campaigns and demand that a new system be implemented that will level the field: all information about political candidates will be disseminated only by their personal websites, party websites or news media interviews and stories. No more profit for big media from political ads! I will not contribute! Change the system now! Level the Field!

Yes, I have and Millions of more American's too have been effected by it.

This guy in tampa its trying to pass a law that authorize tha county to install a toll booth in the haward frankland breach from tampa to clerwatar.