ACTIVE NONVIOLENCE & PEACEMAKING

TAKE ACTION: Send Tillerson toNorth Korea for Peace Talks

With North Korea’s nuclear weapons program and its recent tests of intercontinental ballistic missiles that may reach the United States, there is an urgent need to break the cycle of threats and testing. It’s time for a bold initiative by those with the power to move forward a peace treaty. CodePink urges us to tell President Trump to give Secretary of State Rex Tillerson the opportunity to make the peace deal of the century. TAKE ACTION

U.S. Crowd Counters See Uptick in Protest Participation

The Crowd Counting Consortium - a public service organization led by Erica Chenoweth, Devin Finn and Jeremy Pressman - reported more protest participation in the U.S. in June 2017 than any month since January. The group tallied 818 protests, demonstrations, strikes, marches, sit-ins and rallies in the United States, with no less than one in each state and the District of Columbia. MORE

Why Violence Undermines Protest

Every nonviolent movement is a commitment to living in freedom and justice, once power is shared fairly by everyone. Violent action sabotages that commitment because turmoil in the streets will be quelled by repression. The International Center on Nonviolent Conflict explains why the success of civil resistance depends on the resilience of a diverse movement that remains nonviolent. MORE

NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT

TAKE ACTION: Tell Congress that Nuclear Weapons Are Banned

The Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons is an important step toward the elimination of nuclear weapons. Unfortunately, the U.S. has stated, "We do not intend to sign, ratify or ever become party to it.” The Nuclear Age Peace Foundation urges us to tell our elected representatives about the new nuclear ban treaty and ask them to consider this as they make decisions on funding nuclear weapons programs. TAKE ACTION

What Arguments Motivate Citizens to Demand Nuclear Disarmament?

Why is the global public so apathetic about nuclear disarmament? To answer this question, a report from the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists examines the various arguments made in support of policies meant to rid the world of atomic weapons. The authors argue that the approach with the highest chance of successfully stimulating political activism focuses on the current costs of maintaining nuclear arsenals. MORE

IMMIGRATION

Donald Trump Proposes Law to Cut Immigration Numbers by Half in 10 Years

Donald Trumpannounced plans for new immigration laws last week that would cut the total number of immigrants admitted to the US by half over a decade and prioritize those who can speak English or are well educated. The proposed legislation would also cap the number of refugees admitted to the US every year at 50,000. MORE

Taking on the Private Prison Industry’s Corporate Backers

The Justice Department has walked back an Obama-era vow to step down the use of private prisons. This news sent stock soaringfor the two companies that dominate the industry, Geo Group and CoreCivic (formerly Corrections Corporation of America). Now activists are working to reduce the use of for-profit prisons. Their focus is not the prison companies themselves, but the big banks that prop them up. MORE

Olympic Stadium In Montreal Turned Into Welcome Center For Refugees From U.S.

Faced with a flood of asylum seekers traveling from the United States into Quebec, Canada, local authorities have repurposed Montreal's Olympic Stadium and turned it into a refugee welcome center. A spokesperson for the local government agency that helps refugees,reports thatmore than 1,000 asylum seekers crossed the border into Quebec last month. MORE

ENVIRONMENT

TAKE ACTION: Tell Congress to Vote No on the Smoggy Skies Act

Due to legal pressure from 15 states, the EPA announced it would stop trying to delay a rule reducing pollution from smokestacks and tailpipes. But Congress is trying to get around the EPA’s decision. The House recently passed the "Smoggy Skies Act” -- which would delay the rule for nearly a decade. Friends of the Earth provides a way to tell our Senators to vote no on the Smoggy Skies Act. TAKE ACTION

Scrapping Climate Protections Would Erase $300 Billion in Benefits

The Trump administration has been systematically dismantling the nation's climate change regulations, often claiming a high cost of compliance as justification. But a new study says keeping those rules would actuallysave nearly $300 billion a year by 2030. MORE

Solar Project in Tunisian Sahara Would Help Power EU

A development company has filed paperwork with the Tunisian energy ministry to build a solar plant that would tap into the Sahara Desert's resources to provide energy to the European Union. If approved, the plant would be built in southwest Tunisia with undersea connections to Italy, France and Malta. MORE

HUMAN TRAFFICKING

More Than 1,000 Arrests in Sex Trafficking Operation

A pastor, a state trooper and a convicted sex offender were among 1,000 people arrested in a month-long period trying to sell or buy sex across the country. The arrests were part of the National Johns Suppression Initiative, a series of stings aimed at reducing sex trafficking in the United States. During the sting operation from June 28 until July 31, authorities cracked down on three Illinois brothels and arrested a convicted child molester in Seattle. MORE

The State Department Just Released Its Human Trafficking Report

The State Department has released its annualTrafficking in Persons reporton human trafficking. The big headline was that China was downgraded to Tier 3, the lowest ranking, suggesting that the Trump administration had decided to rebuke China by grouping it with the likes of Syria, Iran and North Korea. MORE

How Companies Can Lead Fight Against $150 Billion Human Trafficking Trade

A company's board of directors is responsible for determining the issues that the company should be reporting on. The board's duty is not, as is commonly believed, to put shareholder's interests first and foremost. In certain industries such as agriculture, food products, and manufacturing, failure to eliminate human trafficking in their supply chain can damage the long-term viability of the company. MORE

POVERTY & SOCIAL JUSTICE

TAKE ACTION: Protect Health Care

After the August recess, the Senate will begin hearings to potentially draft another bill intended to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Clearly, the American people want to keep the ACA protections. Any type of reform needs to be bi-partisan and transparent. People for the American Way urges us to tell Congress that repeal of the ACA is not an option. TAKE ACTION

Globally, Over 1 Billion People Lack Access to Electricity

In 2014, around 15 percent of the world’s population, or 1.1 billion had no access to electricity. Nearly half were in rural areas of Sub-Saharan Africa and around a third were rural dwellers in South Asia. Just four countries - India, Nigeria, Ethiopia and Bangladesh are home to about half of all people who lack access to electricity. MORE

Don’t Lie to Poor Kids About Why They’re Poor

Work hard and you’ll get ahead — that’s the mantra driven into young people across the country. But for children born into poverty, that’s not always possible. As new research shows, as children reach adolescence, belief in a fair and just system of returns starts to run head-on into reality for marginalized kids. When they see people that look like them struggling despite working hard, they’re forced to reckon with the cognitive dissonance. MORE

DEATH PENALTY

TAKE ACTION: Halt the Execution of Marcellus Williams

Marcellus Williams is scheduled to be executed by the state of Missouri on August 22 for the murder of Felicia Gayle. Please hold Marcellus, Felicia, their families and the people of Missouri in prayer. TAKE ACTION

TAKE ACTION: Halt the Execution of Mark Asay

Mark Asay is scheduled to be executed by the state of Florida on August 24 for the murder of Robert Lee Booker and Robert "Renee" McDowell. Please hold Mark, Robert, Renee, their families and the people of Florida in prayer. TAKE ACTION

TAKE ACTION: Halt the Execution of Steve Long

Steven Long is scheduled to be executed by the state of Texas on August 30 for the murder of Kaitlyn Briana Smith. Please hold Steven, Kaitlyn, their families and the people of Texas in prayer. TAKE ACTION