Detroit's Wayne State University President Allan D. Gilmour has moved to have the Center for Peace and Conflict Studies closed, with a final vote of the Board of Governors to be decided in December. The Dean of the College of Liberal Arts (where the Center resides), Robert Thomas, has given a directive to have a formal annual commitment of $177,000 as a pre-condition to withdraw its request for closure by a self-defeating deadline of October 21, 2011. We are intent on taking a collective stand on the import of keeping the Center for Peace and Conflict Studies open.

Taos is going through rough economic times. That means that tourists come less, buy less, and make decisions based upon their experience. Taos has a lot to offer, but litter isn't one of the good things. Encourage our town government to engage in radio public service announcements and enforce the laws about litter. To stop depending on its good hearted citizens to clean up after the inconsiderate. No one tells them not to litter. Clean up Taos and boost morale.

Joliet & Romeoville will soon be deciding whether to give a "Tax Break" to Midwest Generation's Coal plants by including them into the Desplaines Valley Enterprise Zone Their decision will affect all taxpayers Will County & in IL. Like the tollways we are still paying for something that should have been paid off years ago. Total impact of Local & State sales tax exemptions thru 2018 is estimated to be $1.2 Billion - IL is broke how can we afford to give their tax break. Midwest Gen wants a tax break to upgrade their facilities. Tax payers of IL have already paid for these upgrades & are still paying for the upgrades on these coal plants. Edison International, their parent company states they're more profitable than other like industry & that their assets total more than $36 billion. Let them pay the taxes. Enough is enough!

UofL hospital is merging with Catholic Health Initiative, Jewish Hospital, St. Mary’s Healthcare, and Saint Joseph Health System. Due to this, 70% of the hospital will now be under Catholic rule. Reproductive services will be altered due to this. Many basic procedures will no longer be available at the University hospital location. Tubal ligations, among other procedures will be moved to Baptist East, causing student training and client accessibility to be taken into question. Merger information: http://louisville.edu/ocm/hospital-merger.html

35% of America's workforce reports being bullied at work. Bullies intentionally subject the target to a hostile work environment. The toxic environments have an extremely adverse effect on the employee and also the organization. Laws compel employers to enact correction and prevention plans that will have a positive effect on individuals and businesses. The Healthy and Safe Workplace Act (H.B. 3015): http://tinyurl.com/HB3015

Our lakes are having toxic algae blooms... development and the human impact are the main culprits. And the data clearly shows long-term deterioration. It will take some time and education to turn this around. Ask the County to fund an increased community outreach plan. The monies are already there... collected by state law specifically for the protection of the environment in the Stillaguamish Clean Water District. Ask them to use it... or lose our lakes!

There is a place in New York, that is 1/3 real and 2/3 magical and it is about to disappear... unless we do something now. For 30 years it has nurtured artists writers, poets, but mostly musicians. It has a new landlord and he wants to triple the rent. We cannot fight him; he is too strong. The only way forward is to appeal to his better side and reason with him not to snuff the life out of this cherished haven of hope and encouragement for young artists. Our aim to urge our landlord not to increase our rent to an amount we can never come up with in 685 sq ft of space. We want to be fair to him and want him to be fair to us: All we are asking is that he charge us the fair market rent.

The Paid Sick Time Act, which would guarantee that workers in New York City can earn up to 5 paid sick days and would allow all workers to use their days when a child is ill, has the support of 83% of New Yorkers and a veto-proof majority of votes on the City Council. But New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn has blocked the bill. Tell Christine Quinn to protect the health of workers and children and bring the bill to a vote! Across the world, 145 nations guarantee workers paid sick time. Yet, 44 million Americans—and more than one million in New York City alone—lack a single paid sick day. Paid Sick Days would reduce health care costs, reduce the spread of contagion, protect people’s jobs and financial security, and boost businesses’ productivity. After San Francisco enacted a paid sick time law in 2007, job growth was stronger there than in surrounding counties that lacked the law, proving that paid sick time does not prevent hiring and is not a burdensome cost. We’ve waited long enough. The time has come for Paid Sick Days in New York! You can view the full bill here, http://legistar.council.nyc.gov/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=655220&GUID=8FEF6526-0C00-45D5-BD0B-617353F90F06

House Joint Resolution 78 proposes a Constitutional Amendment overruling the Citizens United decision. The Amendment would allow Congress to limit corporate spending on political campaigns. This is essential to restore citizen control of our democracy. This petition asks Congress to support the Resolution and start the amendment process.

According to Dr. Pepper, only women drink diet. That's the idea behind Dr Pepper Ten, a 10-calorie soda Dr. Pepper Snapple Group is releasing under the slogan, "It's not for women." It was developed after research found that men are reluctant to purchase diet beverages that aren't perceived as "manly" enough. Send Dr. Pepper the message that pigeonholing men and women into gender roles isn't excusable, even as an advertising tool. Tell them to take this product off the market immediately.

NOTHING else (we do) will matter if this isn't resolved.

Affirmed by the Executive Committee of the Alliance of Baptists, the Association of Welcoming and Affirming Baptists (AWAB) and Baptist Peace Fellowship of North America (BPFNA). We call upon community leaders and persons of faith in all communities marred by violence toward transgender persons to work together with persons from that community to seek just solutions to this blight of violence and hatred.