We need your help TODAY, to lobby for federal legislation requiring voter-verified paper ballots (VVPBs). While you are reading this, many states, counties, and towns are rushing to buy unreliable, unverifiable paperless touchscreen voting machines. They are poised to spend more than a billion dollars of taxpayer funds on machines that cannot provide a reliable recount or an accurate audit.

Unless you act now, tens of thousands of these paperless e-voting machines will be coming to precincts across the country within the next few months.
Ask Your Senators to Co-Sponsor S.330

Voter-verified paper ballots make it possible for voters to verify their votes are recorded as intended and for election officials to conduct meaningful recounts and audits. VVPBs also make it possible to recover from e-voting machine malfunctions, such as those experienced last year in California, Georgia, North Carolina, and elsewhere, without having to re-run a costly election from scratch.

ONLY a law requiring VVPBs will halt the ongoing purchase of paperless e-voting machines nationwide.

Take action:
Urge your senators to co-sponsor of Senator Ensign's "Voting Integrity and Verification Act" (VIVA, S.330).

Please ACT NOW to be heard on this important issue, visit our Action Center today at
http://democracyinaction.org/dia/organizations/vevo/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=388

Thank you,
Will Doherty
Executive Director
VerifiedVoting.org

The Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (NWHI) -- home to one of the largest and healthiest coral reef ecosystems, rare sea turtles, seals, sea birds, and other rare sea life -- need your help again. Send a message supporting the strongest possible protections for this culturally important and unique habitat.

Take action or find out more:
http://actionnetwork.org/campaign/nwhi5/i5sxe84zj8bewt

Spread the word. Invite friends to take action:
http://actionnetwork.org/campaign/nwhi5/forward/i5sxe84zj8bewt

A Few Days Left to Comment! Campaign Expires midnight, April 17,
2005.


** Protect Hawaii's Coral Reefs **

The Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (NWHI) -- home to one of the largest and healthiest coral reef ecosystems, rare sea turtles, seals, sea birds, and other rare sea life -- need your help again.

While the public overwhelmingly supports strong protections for the islands, one powerful federally-funded council mandated with protecting them has been found instead misusing public funds to weaken these protections, according to award-winning journalist Paul Koberstein at the Cascadia Times. The Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council (Wespac) has proposed allowing coral harvesting, reef fishing, re-opening crashed lobster fisheries, and expanding bottom fishing in feeding grounds of the highly endangered Hawaiian monk seal, all violations of existing NWHI Reserve protections.

Take Action:
Let Wespac and Department of Commerce officials know that the public supports the strongest possible protections for this culturally important and unique habitat. Urge a full investigation into the use of public funds.


RESPOND VIA THE WEB:
http://actionnetwork.org/campaign/nwhi5/i5sxe84zj8bewt

Your letter will be addressed and sent to:
Ms. Kitty Simonds, Executive Director, Wespac

----THIS LETTER WILL BE SENT IN YOUR NAME----
Dear [decision maker name automatically inserted here],

I support the strongest possible protections for the NWHI Coral
Reef Ecosystem Reserve and proposed sanctuary. I oppose Wespac's
proposals to violate existing protections for the NWHI and to
promote coral harvesting, reef fishing, the re-opening of the
crashed lobster fishery and bottomfishing. These activities are
planned for the feeding grounds of the highly endangered
Hawaiian monk seal and are inconsistent with the goals and
objectives of the proposed NWHI sanctuary, which is mandated to
strengthen protections for the NWHI.

I am also deeply concerned about Wespac's inappropriate use of
tax-payer funds to defy public support for protecting this
public resource, to undermine existing law, misrepresent
scientific information, and make false claims to the public -
all to the detriment of this public trust. I urge the Department
of Commerce and Congress to investigate this use of public funds
and take firm disciplinary measures.

The NWHI are a rich marine ecosystem, serving as a nursery for
fisheries in the main Hawaiian Islands, where thousands fish for
a living. Protecting the NWHI as a public trust is key to
helping local fishers and the $800 million ocean recreation
industry in the main islands.

I support the call of Native Hawaiian elders and scientists who
state that commercial use of the remote and vulnerable islands
is not culturally appropriate, economically or ecologically
sustainable. The plans for the NWHI must be consistent with the
existing law, the NWHI executive order, and goals and objectives
of the proposed sanctuary. Please ensure implementation of
existing protections, including the Coral Reef Ecosystem
Reserve, and guarantee that additional protections for this
region -- mandated under the executive order be put in place,
should a sanctuary be established.

----END OF LETTER TO BE SENT----

Sincerely,

cc:
Mr. William Hogarth

We've all seen the baby harp seal pictures -- adorable dark eyes staring out at us benevolently from pillowy white fur. But cruelty season is fast-approaching in Canada. Sign the petition: http://www.care2.com/go/z/21459

In a month's time, hunters armed with clubs and rifles will bludgeon and shoot to death hundreds of thousands of baby harp seals out on the ice floes of Eastern Canada. Shockingly, at least 95% of the seals killed will be less than three months old and more than 40% may be skinned alive.

Canada's seal hunt is the largest deliberate slaughter of marine mammals in the world. The government has set a legal quota of up to 319,500 seals this year. The seal pelts are served up to the fashion industry, with additional profits from meat, oil, and the sale of genitalia to Asian markets. But the killing of baby seals doesn't make sense economically or ecologically, nor is it sustainable.

The Canadian government wants the media and public to believe that no one cares about the innocent blood spilled each year. That's why we must create a public outcry!

Tell the Canadian Parliament that you DO CARE about the cruelty inflicted upon these seals and that the hunt is indefensible!

Sign the petition: http://www.care2.com/go/z/21459

Thank you for taking action today!

- Dawn S
Care2 and ThePetitionSite team

From: "Working Families e-Activist Network" peoplepower@aflcio.org

Take action now:
Sign the petition to Wal-Mart's CEO

The world's largest retailer is choosing to destroy the livelihoods of nearly 200 working families rather than accept a fair and impartial agreement on workers' wages and benefits.

Wal-Mart announced Feb. 9 it will shut down the Canadian store where workers had formed a union six months earlier to have a voice on the job. Workers at the Jonquiere, Quebec, store had been negotiating with Wal-Mart for several months, attempting to reach a fair agreement on wages and benefits. The company pulled the plug when workers appealed to the Quebec Labor Ministry to start a process to establish a wage and benefit settlement.

Please click the following link to sign the petition telling Wal-Mart's CEO: Do the right thing. Reverse plans to close your store. And negotiate in good faith with Wal-Mart workers.

http://www.unionvoice.org/campaign/walmart_accountable

The message from the world's largest and wealthiest retailer to consumers, communities and workers worldwide is clear: Wal-Mart would rather close stores, eliminate workers' jobs and make an entire community suffer than reach an agreement with workers for fair wages and benefits.

Please sign our petition to Wal-Mart's CEO Lee Scott. Tell Mr. Scott to respect workers. Wal-Mart can't shut down stores because it doesn't want to pay workers fairly.

This is not just a fight for Wal-Mart workers. With Wal-Mart's unprecedented size and growth—$280 billion in revenues last year—we are fighting for everyone. And this fight needs all of us, working together.

Click here to sign the petition:
http://www.unionvoice.org/campaign/walmart_accountable

Together, as consumers and as activists, we have the power to stop Wal-Mart's attack on workers—and to hold corporations accountable for Wal-Marting jobs. This is a battle about the kind of society we want to live in and the kinds of jobs we want our children to have. You can make a difference.

Click here to sign the petition to Wal-Mart's CEO:
http://www.unionvoice.org/campaign/walmart_accountable

And once you have signed the petition, please click the following link to invite others concerned about working families to sign the petition as well:

http://www.unionvoice.org/campaign/walmart_accountable/forward

Thank you for all you do for working families.


In solidarity,

Working Families e-Activist Network, AFL-CIO
Feb. 11, 2005


Informant: Martin Greenhut



Low Prices — At What Cost?

Pass It On: The People vs. Wal-Mart

by SEIU

Wal-Mart's fancy new ad campaign to scrub its image is up against a grassroots network of citizens fact- checking the real cost of those low, low prices. Watch this animated map to see the network grow.

http://walmart.purpleocean.org/?src=dems

Source: http://www.tompaine.com/index.php#passiton

Republicans are attacking Senator Reid with "unwarranted, unfounded, and unfair personal attacks propagated by the RNC." The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee is fighting back and asks you to sign a petition: http://action.dscc.org/campaign/reid


copyright Virginia Metze

Nebeneinkünfte: Campact-Aktion an den Ältestenrat zeigt Wirkung
http://omega.twoday.net/stories/674002/

Freitag, der 11. Februar 2005

Für Berliner: Nehmen Sie am kommenden Dienstag an unserer Aktion vor dem Bundestag teil!

Weisen Sie Freunde und Bekannte auf die beiden Online-Aktionen hin!

Unsere Kampagne befindet sich auf der Zielgeraden. Die Entscheidung über eine Veröffentlichung von Nebeneinkünften von Abgeordneten steht nun unmittelbar bevor: Am nächsten Montag will sich die rot-grüne Fraktionsspitzen auf einen gemeinsamen Vorschlag verständigen. Am Dienstag soll dieser Vorschlag beim Treffen der Parlamentarischen Geschäftsführer der Opposition vorgelegt und eine Einigung erzielt werden.

Zumindest Rot-Grün scheint auf unsere Forderung einzugehen: Abgeordnete sollen ihre monatlichen Einkünfte danach in Einkommensgruppen veröffentlichen müssen
http://www.campact.de/aktuellemeldungen . Damit wären wir fast am Ziel. Entscheidend wird sein, wie fein diese Abstufung ausfällt und ob Wähler/innen hieraus klar abschätzen können, wie stark die Abhängigkeit des Abgeordneten von seinen Geldgebern ist.

Doch noch ist nicht alles in trockenen Tüchern. Sowohl im Regierungslager als auch in der Opposition droht es weiterhin Widerstand zu geben. Deswegen müssen wir den Druck erhöhen. Gestern hat Campact bereits in einem Offenen Brief gemeinsam mit dem BUND, Transparency International und Mehr Demokratie die Parlamentarischen Geschäftsführer aufgefordert, sich am nächsten Dienstag auf eine Veröffentlichung von Nebeneinkünften zu einigen
http://www.campact.de/offenerbrief .

Am kommenden Dienstag sind wir dann unmittelbar vor Ort: Vor dem Treffen der Parlamentarischen Geschäftsführer werden wir mit schwarzen und weißen Schafsmasken, überdimensionalem Geldkoffer und großem Transparent symbolhaft eine Veröffentlichungspflicht fordern. Unterstützt wird Campact bei dieser Aktion von Attac, BUND und Mehr Demokratie. http://www.campact.de/aktionberlin

Machen Sie mit!

- Wenn Sie am nächsten Dienstag in Berlin sind: Beteiligen Sie sich an der Campact-Aktion. Treffpunkt Dienstag 15.2. 9.30 Uhr an der Südwestecke des Bundestages Scheidemannstr. Ecke Simsonweg. Bitte vorher bei Christoph Bautz anmelden: bautz@campact.de

- Unterzeichnen Sie die Sammelpetition an den Bundestag http://www.campact.de

- Schicken Sie – falls noch nicht geschehen – Ihren Abgeordneten die Wahlkreis-Email und fordern Sie die Veröffentlichung von Nebeneinkünften: http://www.campact.de

- Schicken Sie Freunden und Bekannten eine E-Mail und fordern Sie sie auf, an den Aktionen teilzunehmen. Einen E-Mail-Text zum Weiterleiten haben wir für Sie am Ende dieser E-Mail vorbereitet.


Günter Metzges



E-Mail-Text zum Versenden an Freunde und Bekannte:

Liebe/r

mit dieser E-Mail möchte ich Dich auf die Kampagne des Online-Netzwerks Campact für eine Offenlegung von Nebeneinkünften von Abgeordneten hinweisen. Wähler müssen wissen, welche Abgeordneten wirklich ihre Belange und welche in erster Linie die Interessen einzelner Unternehmen vertreten. Auf der Webseite http://www.campact.de kannst Du eine Sammelpetition an den Bundestag unterschreiben und per E-Mail Deinen Wahlkreisabgeordneten auffordern, sich aktiv für eine Offenlegungspflicht für Nebeneinkünfte einzusetzen. Die Aktion wird von Transparency International unterstützt. Weitere Infos: http://www.campact.de/

Mit herzlichen Grüßen

--------

Aktion vor dem Bundestag fordert Veröffentlichung von Nebeneinkünften (15.02.05)

In einer Aktion vor dem Bundestag hat am Dienstag ein Bündnis von BUND, Attac, Mehr Demokratie und Campact für die Veröffentlichung von Nebeneinkünften der Bundestagsabgeordneten demonstriert. Die Aktion fand im Vorfeld der Verhandlungen der Parlamentarischen Fraktionsgeschäftsführer statt, die über Konsequenzen aus den Skandalen der vergangenen Wochen berieten. "Nur durch mehr Transparenz können Bürger die schwarzen Schafe in der großen Zahl von Abgeordneten ohne relevante Nebeneinkünfte ausmachen", so Christoph Bautz, Pressesprecher von Campact. "Sie dürfen hierbei nicht länger auf Enthüllungen und Indiskretionen angewiesen sein."

Die ganze Nachricht im Internet:

http://www.ngo-online.de/ganze_nachricht.php4?Nr=10448

--------

Lobbyismus entschärfen - Nebeneinkommen offen legen
http://omega.twoday.net/stories/488263/

Lobbyismus schadet Wirtschaftsstandort Deutschland
http://omega.twoday.net/stories/468471/

Das Who ist Who - Kritisierte und Debatierte Fälle von Nebeneinkünften
http://omega.twoday.net/stories/488351/

Parteipolitik und Lobbyismus behindern Umweltschutz
http://omega.twoday.net/stories/459492/

Aufruf gegen Lobbyismus
http://omega.twoday.net/stories/464200/

Siemens bezahlte Vorsitzende des Forschungsausschusses
http://omega.twoday.net/stories/462540/

Chemiekonzern Bayer in poltischen Ämtern aktiv
http://omega.twoday.net/stories/464082/