Just Foreign Policy

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• Force House Vote on Saudi War in Yemen to Stop Cholera & Famine

  On June 15, the UN Security Council unanimously called for a cease-fire in the conflict between the Saudi-UAE coalition and the Houthi-Saleh forces in Yemen. "The U.N. Security Council urged the warring parties in Yemen on Thursday to immediately agree on a cease-fire and keep all ports open for humanitarian aid to confront the threat of famine and the rapid spread of cholera," AP reported. [1] On June 13, the U.S. Senate narrowly failed to block an arms deal with Saudi Arabia. Senators opposed to the deal stressed the need to end the humanitarian crisis in Yemen rather than escalate it. [2] "The Saudi-led war in Yemen has created a humanitarian disaster," Senator Bernie Sanders said. "Millions are at the risk of starvation...chaos in Yemen has also been strategically disastrous for the United States, providing fertile ground for the extremist groups like Al Qaeda and ISIS...it is long past time that we begin to take a very hard look at our relationship with Saudi Arabia...it is important that we begin to discuss...the decades long effort by Saudi Arabia to export an ultra-reactionary form of Islam throughout the world." [3] "The human rights and humanitarian concerns have been well documented and are important,” Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said. “Of equal concern to me is that the Saudi government continues to aid and abet terrorism via its relationship with Wahhabism and the funding of schools that spread extremist propaganda throughout the world." [4] But the Trump Administration plans to escalate U.S. participation in the Saudi bombing of Yemen, with U.S. military advisers in the Saudi air operations control center in Riyadh. [5] U.S. participation in the Saudi war in Yemen has never been authorized by Congress. [6] House Members can challenge U.S. participation in the war with amendments on the National Defense Authorization Act and the Department of Defense Appropriation. In addition, a single House Member can invoke Congressional war powers force to a debate and vote on withdrawing U.S. participation from the Saudi war in Yemen - which the UN Security Council has unanimously said should stop immediately to save Yemen from cholera and famine. The last time the House voted on any aspect of U.S. participation in the Saudi war was June 2016, when the House narrowly failed to prohibit the transfer of cluster bombs to Saudi Arabia. [7] Urge your Representative to force a House vote to withdraw U.S. backing from the Saudi war and blockade in Yemen by signing our petition. References: 1. https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/un-urges-yemen-cease-fire-and-open-ports-to-confront-cholera/2017/06/15/ec92b4b8-5219-11e7-b74e-0d2785d3083d_story.html 2. https://petitions.moveon.org/sign/saudi-yemen-war-famine?r_by=1135580 3. Senator Bernie Sanders, "We Must Reevaluate Our Relationship With Saudi Arabia," https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YqbebpDHCnE 4. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/chuck-schumer-trump-saudi-arabia_us_593ec911e4b02402687bae98 5. https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/14/world/middleeast/saudi-arabia-arms-training-yemen.html 6. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2017/05/02/alarm-grows-in-washington-as-saudi-coalition-attack-on-yemen-port-appears-imminent/; https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/global-opinions/wp/2017/05/19/trump-may-be-helping-to-create-a-famine-in-yemen-congress-could-stop-him/ 7. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-naiman/obama-heeding-close-house_b_10516480.html

  165,079 of 200,000 Signatures

  Created by Robert Naiman
• Maryland: Remove attack on anti-occupation speech from budget bill

  A provision that defines boycotts against Israeli policies towards the Palestinians as anti-Semitism (1) was inserted into the House version of the Maryland budget bill without any vote or public hearing (2). This language is not in the version of the budget passed by the Senate. The two versions of the budget bill will go to a conference committee which will decide the final language. The Maryland Senate and House will then vote on the bill, but no further changes will be allowed. A similar resolution has been defeated in Illinois. (3) Similar legislation is pending in New York, Florida, Kansas, and the U.S. Congress. (4) South African Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu, a leader in the boycott, divestment, and sanctions movement that helped overthrow apartheid in South Africa, has challenged the Maryland provision and similar legislation as an attack on free speech in support of justice in Israel and Palestine. (5) Maryland legislators and Governor Martin O'Malley should insist that the offensive anti-boycott language in the House version of the budget bill be removed. References: 1. “Amendment to senate bill 170, as amended,” http://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2014RS/amds/bil_0000/sb0170_92322801.pdf 2. “New Developments on Anti-Boycott Efforts in MD State Legislature: Immediate Action Needed,” http://www.freespeechfreestate.org/final_action 3. “Anti-Boycott Resolution Rejected in Illinois State Senate Committee,” Center for Constitutional Rights, http://palestinelegalsupport.org/2014/04/02/anti-boycott-resolution-rejected-in-illinois-state-senate-committee/ 4. “Questions about free speech, anti-Semitism roil debate on academic boycott of Israel,” Renee Schoof, McClatchy, March 17, 2014, http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2014/03/17/221495/questions-about-free-speech-anti.html 5. “Statement from Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu on US anti-BDS legislation,” http://www.justforeignpolicy.org/node/1502

  286 of 300 Signatures

  Created by Robert Naiman
• Stop the violence in Yemen

  Escalating conflict in Yemen is making a dire humanitarian situation worse. We must do all we can to push for a permanent and immediate ceasefire. Before the current conflict, Yemen was already the poorest country in the Middle East. Over 10 million people were going hungry, including 1 million acutely malnourished children. This number has increased by nearly 2 million since the conflict began. [1] There was a moment of hope when an announcement came that airstrikes would stop but they have since resumed. Violence has damaged homes, schools and even hospitals. Over 400 civilians have lost their lives and over 150,000 people have been displaced. Food and diesel, which is needed to pump clean water, are increasingly in short supply and their prices are rising – putting these basic necessities out of reach for ordinary families. And at a time when people desperately need them, vital supplies can't enter the country. That could prove disastrous, because Yemen relies on imports for 90 per cent of its food. Escalating violence is making an already dire humanitarian situation much worse. The conflict must stop. It is critical that the US government pushes for an immediate and permanent ceasefire, so that vital humanitarian assistance can be delivered to people in Yemen. We must do all we can to prevent any further suffering to those who already desperately need help. References: 1. Oxfam, “Stop the violence in Yemen,” https://act.oxfam.org/international/yemen-crisis

  10,003 of 15,000 Signatures

  Created by Robert Naiman
• Congress: Debate and Vote Before New Libya War

  The Obama administration is drawing up plans to significantly escalate U.S. military action in Libya. Administration officials say the campaign in Libya could begin in a matter of weeks. This escalation is being planned without a meaningful debate in Congress about the merits and risks of a military campaign, the New York Times notes. Pentagon officials have not made a case that the proposed military action has achievable goals, and airstrikes could lead to a ground war. [1] If Congress takes no action, endless war will likely be extended to a new country, without time limit, without restrictions on the use of U.S. ground troops, and without any limit on who can be targeted, even if they have never attacked the United States nor shown any public inclination to do so. Urge Congress to exercise its responsibilities under the Constitution and the War Powers Resolution by debating and voting on U.S. military escalation in Libya before it happens by signing our petition at MoveOn. References: 1. http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/26/opinion/opening-a-new-front-against-isis-in-libya.html

  7,021 of 8,000 Signatures

  Created by Robert Naiman
• Support the #DemocracySpring Pro-Democracy Bills

  More than 400 pro-democracy protesters staging a sit-in against the influence of big money in politics and congressional inaction to reverse it, as well as against the erosion of federal protection of voting rights, were arrested on the steps of the U.S. Capitol April 11, the first day of a week-long series of demonstrations. [1] Pro-democracy protesters are highlighting support for five pro-democracy bills: the Government by the People Act [2], the Fair Elections Now Act [3], the Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2015 [4], the Voter Empowerment Act of 2015 [5], and the Democracy for All Amendment [6]. Urge Congress to support the #DemocracySpring pro-democracy bills by signing our petition. References: 1. http://www.cnn.com/2016/04/11/politics/democracy-spring-arrests-protests-washington/; http://www.nbcnews.com/video/-democracy-spring-stages-capitol-hill-protest-663564355890; http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/04/11/473874785/hundreds-protest-gerrymandering-campaign-finance-laws-on-capitols-steps; http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2016/04/11/us/politics/ap-us-capitol-protests.html 2. http://www.demos.org/publication/government-people-act 3. https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/114/s1538/summary 4. http://vrafortoday.org/current-legislation/ 5. https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/114/hr12/summary 6. http://freespeechforpeople.org/the-amendment/democracy-for-all-amendment/

  5,719 of 6,000 Signatures

  Created by Robert Naiman
• Nominate Paul Krugman for Treasury Secretary

  Press reports say President Obama will soon nominate a new Treasury Secretary . Press speculation has centered on candidates likely to support the Wall Street agenda of cuts to Social Security and Medicare benefits and other domestic spending rather than government policies to create jobs. We want President Obama to nominate Nobel prize-winning economist Paul Krugman, who opposes austerity and wants the government to focus on creating jobs.

  240,245 of 300,000 Signatures

  Created by Danny Glover
• .@POTUS: Show How TPP Would Stop Keystone XL NAFTA Suit

  One of the most controversial aspects of the proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement is “Investor-State Dispute Settlement,” or ISDS - corporations suing governments in retaliation for laws or regulations that they claim reduce their profits. As Senator Elizabeth Warren wrote, "ISDS would allow foreign companies to challenge U.S. laws — and potentially to pick up huge payouts from taxpayers — without ever stepping foot in a U.S. court." [1] In response to criticism of ISDS provisions in the TPP agreement from Senator Warren, Senator Sanders, [2] and others, the White House promised to put "stronger safeguards" on ISDS in the TPP. [3] Now Canadian oil company TransCanada has announced that it will sue the U.S. government for $15 billion dollars under the ISDS provisions of NAFTA for rejecting TransCanada’s controversial plan to build the Keystone XL pipeline. [4] Carroll Muffett, President of the Center for International Environmental Law, said: "TransCanada has proven what concerned citizens have argued for decades – that the primary purpose of ISDS is to subvert democratic processes and the public interest, in the name of private profit. It has demonstrated to the citizens of the United States, and the world, why these provisions have no place in new trade agreements." [5] Urge the Administration to show Congress and the American people how its claimed "stronger safeguards" on ISDS in the proposed TPP would prevent the Keystone XL NAFTA lawsuit by signing our petition. References: 1. https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/kill-the-dispute-settlement-language-in-the-trans-pacific-partnership/2015/02/25/ec7705a2-bd1e-11e4-b274-e5209a3bc9a9_story.html 2. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rep-bernie-sanders/the-tpp-must-be-defeated_b_7352166.html 3. https://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2015/02/26/investor-state-dispute-settlement-isds-questions-and-answers 4. http://time.com/4170966/keystone-pipeline-canada-lawsuit/ 5. http://www.ciel.org/news/8886/

  9,035 of 10,000 Signatures

  Created by Robert Naiman
• Support Conyers, Ban Cluster Bomb Transfers to Saudi Arabia

  Reps. Conyers (MI), Grijalva (AZ), Ellison (MN), and McGovern (MA) have introduced an amendment [1] to the National Defense Authorization Act [2] which would prevent any money in the bill from being used to facilitate the transfer of cluster bombs to Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia has used U.S.-supplied cluster bombs in civilian areas in Yemen, killing and wounding civilians [3], in defiance of U.S. law. [4] Passage of this amendment would be a step towards compliance with Human Rights Watch's demand [5] that the U.S. stop the production and transfer of cluster bombs completely, consistent with the Convention on Cluster Munitions. [6] It would also be a step towards fulfilling the demands of Sens. Murphy and Paul [7] and Reps. Lieu and Yoho [8] that U.S. weapons transfers to Saudi Arabia be conditioned on efforts to limit casualties in the Saudi war in Yemen. Urge your Representative to support the Conyers-Grijalva-Ellison-McGovern NDAA amendment by signing our petition. References: 1. http://amendments-rules.house.gov/amendments/CONYER_06251116091703173.pdf 2. https://rules.house.gov/bill/114/hr-4909 3. https://www.hrw.org/news/2016/05/06/yemen-saudis-using-us-cluster-munitions 4. https://www.hrw.org/news/2016/05/06/dispatch-us-contradictions-landmines-and-cluster-munitions 5. https://www.hrw.org/news/2016/05/06/yemen-saudis-using-us-cluster-munitions 6. http://www.clusterconvention.org/ 7. http://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-paul-introduce-legislation-to-set-new-conditions-for-us-military-support-to-saudi-arabia- 8. https://lieu.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-lieu-introduces-bi-partisan-bill-establish-new-guidelines

  7,206 of 8,000 Signatures

  Created by Robert Naiman
• The Volunteer State Welcomes Refugees

  The Tennessee General Assembly is considering SJR467, a joint resolution that would stop the resettlement of refugees in Tennessee. We cannot allow this legislation to pass. People across Tennessee are already welcoming refugees and immigrants, but we all need to make our voices heard to stop politicians from pandering to fear and passing hateful, discriminatory legislation. Join with Church World Service and the Tennessee Immigrant & Refugee Rights Coalition in asking Tennessee Senators to act with moral courage and reject SJR467 by signing our petition.

  5,943 of 6,000 Signatures

  Created by Robert Naiman
• Thank @SenatorBaldwin, Rebuke @SenRonJohnson on #StopArmingSaudi

  On September 21, the Senate voted on a resolution offered by Senators Chris Murphy [D-CT], Rand Paul [R-KY], Al Franken [D-MN], and Mike Lee [R-UT] to block an arms sale to Saudi Arabia. The Murphy-Paul resolution was a challenge to U.S. support and participation in the Saudi war against Houthi rebels in Yemen. The Saudi war in Yemen has been slammed by human rights groups for causing a humanitarian catastrophe, for violating international humanitarian law, and for violating U.S. laws against targeting civilians with U.S. weapons. Senator Johnson voted to kill the Murphy-Paul resolution, effectively voting in favor of further arming Saudi Arabia. Senator Baldwin voted against killing the resolution, effectively voting against continuing to arm Saudi Arabia. [1] Thank Senator Baldwin and rebuke Senator Johnson by signing our petition. References: 1. http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=114&session=2&vote=00145#position

  375 of 400 Signatures

  Created by Robert Naiman