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Activism

• Establish a US Department of Peace — Act Now or Learn More
• Global Warming — Act Now or Learn More
• Stop the Drug War — Act Now or Learn More

Establish a U.S. Department of Peace

Efforts are being made to create a Department of Peace (we already have a Department of War which was morphed into the Department of Defense in 1949). Seems only natural to have balance. Even George Washington supported the idea in writing and debates of his time!

Act Now!

1. Contact congress and urge them to cosponsor and pass HR 808. "This landmark measure will augment our current problem-solving options, providing practical, nonviolent solutions to the problems of domestic and international conflict."
2. Donate
3. Become a local organizer

Learn More

Visit the Peace Alliance's web site and the Wikipedia page which outlines the effort.

Global Warming

Act Now!

1. Tell your family and friends about Global Warming
2. Pressure your elected officials to encourage change. The McCain Lieberman Climate Stewardship and Innovation Act would set a firm limit on carbon dioxide emissions and then use free market incentives to lower costs, promote efficiency and spur innovation. Tell your representative to support it.
3. Make small changes in your habits; find helpful suggestions at the following:
   ClimateCrisis.net
   StopGlobalWarming.org
   UndoIt.org
   NativeEnergy.com

Learn More

It's for real. "The results are in and the reality of global warming is beyond dispute or debate. It’s not just an environmental issue. It affects our public health and national security. It’s an urgent matter of survival for everyone on the planet — the most urgent threat facing humanity today. It’s going to take action from you and all of us working together. If you’re not convinced that global warming is a serious issue that concerns you then click here to learn why." [source: StopGlobalWarming.org]

Regardless of your political affiliation, please watch An Inconvenient Truth. It's very well put together and engaging to the last. Scary too, in a non-hyped, just-the-facts-ma'am kinda way. For example, if large portions of Greenland or the Arctic breaks off as scientists fear (and the signs are strong that it could happen soon, within our lifetimes), sea levels will rise 20 feet in a very short period of time.

"The science is overwhelming and undeniable." The slide which compared scientific journal articles with mainstream media on the topic of global warming was striking. In a survey of 900(0?) science journal articles (peer reviewed, etc.), not a single one gave creedence to those who say global warming isn't happening. But when it came to mass media, over 50% gave equal weight to counter arguments by pseudo-scientists. I guess that's what we get with so-called "impartial, balanced" journalism, i.e. a skewed view of reality.

Learn more at the following web sites: ClimateCrisis.net, StopGlobalWarming.org, UndoIt.org, NativeEnergy.com

(Do you live in the Chesapeake Bay area? Did you know the Bay used to freeze? This is something I was reminded of recently from a nearly 50-year-old friend, but know it hasn't happened in years… .)

Stop the Drug War

Out of nearly 1.7 million "drug abuse violation" arrests, more than 700,000 people are arrested each year for marijuana, usually for possession alone. That's double what it was in 1993. Though our population is 1/8 African American, more than half of arrests were of African American citizens. I believe the anti-drug-war movement is one of the greatest civil rights struggles of our time.

Act Now!

[Updated September 19, 2007]
There are no actions currently pending, but you can always throw your money behind your beliefs by donating to one of the following organizations, or read to learn more.

Learn More

Drug War Facts provides reliable information with applicable citations on important public health and criminal justice issues. Updated regularly, most charts, facts and figures are from government sources, government-sponsored sources, peer reviewed journals and occasionally newspapers. In all cases the source is cited so that journalists, scholars and students can verify, check context and obtain additional information.

A Position Statement I stand wholeheartedly behind, along with Stoners in the Haze — an investigative report on a Cannabis Cup held in Amsterdam — and more relevant articles, all by my lifelong friend, Andy Looney.

SaveBerniesFarm.com is for an acquaintance of mine, Bernie Ellis, who is facing losing his farm. This is the result of debt and fines associated with his legal battle against the state of Tennessee, for growing medical marijuana to ease the pain and suffering of four very sick friends — all of whom have died since. The amount of marijuana confiscated from Bernie was little more than the US government has provided for numerous patients since 1978. (Did you know our government gives marijuana to six US citizens?!) At the time of the raid, Bernie was working with the Governor of New Mexico to help develop an substance abuse recovery program for Native Americans … something he's done in other states and received numerous citations for from noteworthy elected government officials. [NOTE: Abuse is different from use (some folks use alcohol, others abuse it).]

Flex Your Rights offers a terrific DVD, Busted: The Citizens Guide to Surviving Police Encouters. Ira Glasser, former head of the ACLU, narrates this engaging video. Makes a great gift.