Youth Vow to Appeal Decision in Landmark Federal Litigation Concerning Climate Change

jacob — Thu, 23 May 2013 20:22:11 +0000

Youth plaintiffs vow to appeal a string of decisions in their precedent-setting federal litigation over climate change. The case places the youth of America against the federal government and the fossil fuel industry over the government’s failure to protect the atmosphere from irreversible damage. Their claim is rooted in the public trust doctrine, a legal doctrine that imposes a fundamental, fiduciary obligation on all governments to protect our shared natural resources, including our air and water.

Our Walmart Files Over 30 New Counts of Unfair Labor Practices Against Walmart For Attempts to Silence Associates

jacob — Thu, 23 May 2013 19:58:08 +0000

Today OUR Walmart filed over 30 new counts of unfair labor practices with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), alleging widespread and egregious attempts by Walmart to silence workers who have been calling for a change of course at the company. The charges include counts of retaliation against associates in six states—Colorado, California, Florida, Massachusetts, Texas, and Washington State.

Shareholders Vote for McDonald’s to Assess Its Health Impacts

jacob — Thu, 23 May 2013 19:49:04 +0000

Today shareholders voted on a resolution requiring McDonald’s to assess whether it’s doing enough to address increasing concerns and pressure to limit the fast-food environment. The resolution received a 6.3 percent vote; an impressive showing considering the Board’s opposition.

McDonald’s Workers and Supporters Protest Shareholder Meeting, Call for $15 / Hour and Right to Form a Union Without Intimidation

jacob — Thu, 23 May 2013 19:09:18 +0000

McDonald’s shareholders were greeted at the company’s annual conference Thursday by a hundred workers and supporters calling for decent wages to support their families, and the right to form a union without interference.

Workers who had participated in recent unprecedented fast food and retail strikes in Chicago, Detroit, Milwaukee and St. Louis converged outside the meeting on the McDonald’s corporate campus in Oak Brook, IL, welcoming shareholders with chants and rally speeches.

Citizen Activists Confer With US Attorney Urging an Indictment Against US President, CIA Director, and Other for War Crimes

jacob — Thu, 23 May 2013 17:53:45 +0000

WHO: Members of the National Campaign for Nonviolent Resistance (NCNR) and others have taken action to call attention to, and bring an end to the crimes of the United States government since the Iraq war began in 2003.

Older Americans Act Reauthorization Introduced

jacob — Thu, 23 May 2013 17:51:11 +0000

Sen. Bernie Sanders, chairman of the Senate Subcommittee on Primary Health and Aging, today introduced legislation to reauthorize and strengthen the Older Americans Act which supports Meals on Wheels and other critical programs for seniors.

“With 10,000 Americans turning 65 every day, our country’s growing population of seniors includes many who rely on these critical programs to help them stay in their own homes and communities,” said Sanders (I-Vt.).

Opposition to Keystone XL Tar Sands Pipeline Increases While Support Wanes in House Vote

jacob — Thu, 23 May 2013 16:18:39 +0000

The House voted last night on an extreme bill that would take the President out of the process, eliminate critical environmental and national interest reviews and immediately approve the risky Keystone XL tar sands pipeline. But Keystone proponents lost momentum. Not only did they fail to get enough votes to override a Presidential veto, but many more members voted against this bill than the last time the House attempted to legislatively approve this project.

Senate Votes on Food Labeling Amendment

jacob — Thu, 23 May 2013 15:45:55 +0000

The Senate today rejected by a vote of 71 to 27 an amendment by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) to let states require labels on food or beverages made with genetically modified ingredients.

ACLU Statement on Proposed 20 Week Abortion Ban

jacob — Thu, 23 May 2013 15:13:49 +0000

The House Judiciary Committee Subcommittee on the Constitution today held a hearing on the so-called Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, which would ban abortion after 20 weeks of pregnancy. As introduced, the proposed ban would apply only to the District of Columbia, but its sponsor, Rep. Trent Franks (R-Ariz.), recently announced his intention to expand it nationwide.

New Report Documents a Decade of Safety Violations by Compounding Pharmacies

jacob — Thu, 23 May 2013 13:07:13 +0000

The contaminated drug that caused last fall’s fungal meningitis outbreak and killed 55 people is just the tip of the iceberg of an industry-wide problem, according to a new report released today by U.S. PIRG. The meningitis outbreak was simply the latest and deadliest in a long line of errors and risky practices by compounding pharmacies.