Urgent: Acts to defend Old, Kids, Women, Disabled, et al :)

Acts to defend Old, Kids, Women, Disabled, et al   :)
These actions on Disabled Greens News and discussion:
Acts to defend Old, Kids, Women, Disabled:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DisabledGreensNews/message/9093 

This petition on change.org: Act, defend Old, Kids, Disabled, et al:

http://www.change.org/petitions/act-defend-old-kids-disabled-et-al-actions-and-advocacy-to-defend-old-kids-women-disabled-et-al?share_id=XSAvrzIRSz&pe=pce



Time to Do Right:
Don't vote for Social Security cuts.
Share this action on Facebook
 Share this action on Twitter
 RootsAction has posted a chart recording which members of Congress have publicly committed to protecting Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid from cuts.
 Your representative is NOT among them.
 Now is the time to demand that he or she make that basic commitment.
You can do so and find out which members of Congress have promised to protect our basic safety net here.
 This link will work for folks living in different districts, so please ask your friends to join in regardless of where they live.

http://act.rootsaction.org/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=4544

 Sincerely,
 David, Aimee, Sarah
 and the RootsAction Team


S&P has gone too far.:
Tell the SEC:
Revoke Standard & Poors Authority as a Credit Ratings Agency.  Stop S&P from escaping responsibility for their role in the 2008 financial crisis.
» Sign the petition.

First, Standard & Poors threatened to downgrade the US credit rating if cuts were not made to Social Securty and Medicare to reduce the deficit.

Then, two days after a bipartisan Senate committee found S&P's misleading mortgage ratings to be a 'key cause' of the 2008 financial crisis, the agency issued another downgrade threat.

A few months later, after the SEC announced they would investigate agencies like S&P for fraud, S&P issued yet ANOTHER downgrade threat, this time with the arbitrary ransom of $4 trillion in deficit reduction which would likely include deep cuts to Social Security and Medicare benefits.

Is S&P blackmailing the White House into absolving them of any responsibility for the 2008 crash by threatening downgrades every time there's an attempt to hold their feet to the fire? If that's the case, big benefit cuts are on their way.

Sign our petition demanding the SEC revoke S&P's government seal of approval for using ratings downgrades as political weapons to avoid responsibility for the 2008 crash.

Click here to sign: http://action.firedoglake.com/page/s/revoke-sp

he White House is more worried about the political fallout from a downgrade than they are a default, according to numerous news reports. That gives S&P tremendous power to drive this debate, and force the political class to cave to whatever demands they make. No voter, regardless of party, should want an organization to have that much power to determine the course of the US economy or to play kingmaker in Presidential elections.

S&P's political agenda is clear. The agency never said a word about extending the Bush tax cuts last December, which punched the $4 trillion hole in the deficit that they now say must be compensated to avoid a downgrade of US debt.

In recent months, S&P has been lobbying furiously to de-fang Dodd-Frank provisions that demand greater accountability for credit ratings agencies. S&P Managing Director David Beers has also been holding private meetings with big Wall Street investors about his thoughts on a US debt downgrade, but not the public.

S&P is abusing its power as a ratings agency by meddling in politics and forcing a false choice between sweeping benefit cuts to reduce the deficit or destroying the US credit rating and world economy. Their role in the 2008 financial collapse alone is more than enough reason for the SEC to strip S&P of their government seal of approval.

Tell the SEC to take away S&P's authority as a credit rating agency for their role in the 2008 financial meltdown.

S&P has seriously overstepped their authority and put the world economy at risk. Together, we can blow the lid off their attempts to control the outcome of the debt ceiling negotiations and the 2012 election.

Deepest thanks,

Brian Sonenstein
 Digital Strategy Director
 Firedoglake.com
Actions:
http://fdlaction.firedoglake.com/

PS: For more on S&P's efforts to avoid accountability, check out Jane's post at Firedoglake.com, "Is Standard and Poor's Manipulating US Debt Rating to Escape Liability for the Mortgage Crisis?"
Firedoglake's community of 350,000 activists is supported by small donations from people like you.
Can you chip in to keep us strong? Click here to contribute.


Public Citizen:  Actions:
http://www.citizen.org/Page.aspx?pid=4803

Citizen Works: Actions:
http://www.citizenworks.org/actions/index.php


Clean:
"No cuts. No deals. End this madness now and pass a clean debt ceiling increase so America doesn't default."
Sign the Petition!
Dear MoveOn member,
This insanity has gone too far. In just four days, America could be forced into default for the first time in history.
With time running out and no compromise on the horizon, the best way to avoid default is to pass a "clean" bill that simply assures the rest of the world that America pays its bills.
Most Democrats in the House have already signed on to a bill that does just that.1 And more and more Senate Republicans are indicating that they agree that we can't let America default.2
But we have to seize this opening before it's too late. So we're joining with our friends at Rebuild the Dream to send Congress this emergency petition telling them to do the right thing. We'll deliver the signatures throughout the weekend. Will you sign?
Tell Congress to pass a clean debt ceiling bill, now.
Representative Peter Welch has already pulled together 139 Democratic Representatives to support a "clean" debt ceiling increase.3 And even Republican Minority Leader Senator Mitch McConnell has proposed a plan that would end this crisis without resolving the debate over spending cuts.4
We have a very small window where we may be able to resolve this hostage crisis peacefully. With more and more chatter in Washington about passing a "clean" debt ceiling plan to protect seniors' Social Security checks, soldiers' paychecks, and the good credit of the United States, we have to act now.
But we need a huge outcry if we're going to push this plan over the edge before it's too late. Click below to you add your name to the petition now so we can deliver it over the weekend.

http://civ.moveon.org/cleandebtceiling/?id=29341-1718406-SHUYNex&t=4

Thanks for all you do.
–Daniel, Elena, Adam Q., Michael, and the rest of the team
Sources:
1. "America Pays its Bills; Don't Default," Peter Welch, July 27, 2011
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=261959&id=&id=29341-1718406-SHUYNex&t=5
 2. "McCain criticizes some tea-party-linked lawmakers on debt ceiling," The Washington Post, July 28, 2011
 http://www.moveon.org/r?r=261962&id=29341-1718406-SHUYNex&t=6
 "Republican Sen. Bob Corker Echoes President Obama On Debt, Pans John Boehner Plan," Huffington Post, July 27, 2011
 http://www.moveon.org/r?r=261963&id=29341-1718406-SHUYNex&t=7
 3. "Happy Hour Roundup," The Washington Post, July 27, 2011 
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=261960&id=29341-1718406-SHUYNex&t=8
 4. "McConnell unveils debt 'back up plan' that gives Obama more power," July 12, 2011
 http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20078884-503544.html


Send Your Fax To Washington: The Big Lie Of Conservative Economics:
It's come to this. Either more of us will howl and louder about the
ongoing debt ceiling debacle in Congress, or this country is headed
straight for the next Great Depression, do not pass go, do not
collect $200 (or its value adjusted by hyperinflation). The story
today is that that the regular phones in Congressional offices are
already jammed, but you can still get your message, "Hands off Social
Security and Medicare, End The Wars and Tax The Wealthy Instead",
through using our state of the art fax system.

Action Page: http://www.peaceteam.net/action/pnum1081.php

There was a certain demagogue in the last century who said the key to
a "big lie" was to keep repeating it until people no longer
questioned it. The big lie of our era is that tax cuts for wealthy
people creates jobs. Republican House Speaker Boehner recently stated
that the American people "know" that tax increases kill jobs. That's
what they keep telling us anyway, despite all empirical evidence to
the contrary. Because all we have had for the last 10 years are more
and more tax cuts for the wealthy, while the job market just keeps
deteriorating, and the Republican prescription is still, you guessed
it, MORE tax cuts for the wealthy. Unbelievably, the so-called gang
of six calls for actually reducing tax rates even more as a basic
plan to reduce the deficit.
The truth is that only one thing really creates jobs and that is when
people who are NOT wealthy, which is the majority and the rest of us,
have more money to spend on goods and services. Businesses hire more
people ONLY when they have more customers than they can handle with
their current work force. And the WORST thing they could possibly do
now is to decimate Social Security and to gut Medicare, two programs
that work, and operate with their own surpluses. These cruel proposed
cut backs would do nothing but take even more money out of the hands
of the poorest among us, those who can least afford it, and deposit
it in the pockets of self-interested corporations looking to take
over and profit off what has always worked best as government
services.
We PAID for these services, to create these surpluses that have been
raided to pay for foreign wars of sheer aggression still ongoing and
without end as far as the eye can see, to pay for bail outs of rich
Wall Street gamblers, to pay for hand outs to oil companies making
money hand over fist on their own. 15% of every wage dollar in
America goes into Social Security. We own this program, it's ours,
and any politician who even dares to suggest we cut anything from
either of these two programs, while there is a even a single unwanted
occupying soldier in the Middle East, while the rich pay even a
single penny less in taxes than during the 60s (when our overall
economy was booming), any such politician must be thrown out on their
ear in the next election.
Last War Crime Movie Production Progress Report
In the meantime, we have been working around the clock for months on
end on post production for the new feature length film, "The Last War
Crime", which finally tells the truth about what really happened in
the manufacturing of a false case for invading Iraq, and why Cheney
and his gang of intelligence cookers should have been, and should
still be, indicted for using torture to make that happen. After you
submit the action page above you can request one of the new bumper
stickers for the movie, and there is no charge, not even shipping,
unless you want to voluntarily make a contribution to help us finish
the production. Or you can get one directly here, where you can also
see and video clip from the movie's dramatic closing argument to the
grand jury.
Last War Crime Bumper Stickers:

http://www.peaceteam.net/bumper_stickers_lwc.php

The only reason it is taking longer than we would have liked to get
this out (we wrapped principal photography back in March) is because
we have such a high standard of what we want to final screen quality
to be. Dozens of scenes in the movie were shot against what they call
a green screen, with the intent that we would create photo-realistic
backgrounds for all the various White House offices and conference
rooms, etc. This green screen footage is incredibly tedious to
assemble to get the look we want, we'll probably end up with tens of
thousands of individual mattes, many of which must be touched up by
hand to get them as perfect as we want, and we have people working on
this around the clock.
But take heart. We are making substantial progress day by day, and
with your kind and enthusiastic support we will soon enough have this
movie in real theaters up on the big screen, mobilizing people to
finally demand some accountability for the war crimes that have cost
us our national honor, and now possibly our entire economy to pay for
it all.
And here is the Facebook link for the Protect Social Security and
Medicare action page further above.
[Facebook] Action Page:

http://apps.facebook.com/fb_voices/action.php?qnum=pnum1081

And this is the Twitter reply for this same action
@cxs #p1081
Please take action NOW, so we can win all victories that are supposed
to be ours, and forward this alert as widely as possible.
Contributions to The People's Email Network are not tax-deductible
for federal income tax purposes.
If you would like to get alerts like these, you can do so at

http://www.peaceteam.net/in.htm 


Enough!:
They are reckless. In the negotiations to avoid a government default, Speaker John Boehner and Republican leaders insist on severe cuts to Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid — while refusing to eliminate tax loopholes and subsidies for millionaires and prosperous corporations. Under the Boehner plan, Congress would be forced to agree to cuts to Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid within six months.

There is no shared sacrifice in Boehner’s plan. Instead, they reserve all of the pain for working families, seniors, children, the disabled and even veterans. And they are recklessly holding our economy hostage to these demands.

They are engaging in political brinkmanship that threatens to force the nation into default, kill jobs and drive up interest rates on our mortgages, credit cards and student loans.

Send a message to Congress now. Tell your representative and your senators to oppose the Boehner plan and to leave Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid alone.

http://action.afscme.org/c/51/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=2582&tag=advE_Enough_blast-46373&track=advE_Enough_blast-46373

I have been in Washington a number of years, and without exaggeration I can tell you this is the worst I’ve ever seen it. The President has already conceded to painful spending cuts, but he insists on a balanced plan that does not put the entire burden of deficit reduction on working families. And the American people overwhelmingly support a plan that asks millionaires and prosperous corporations to pay their fair share.

Have you had enough? Please take action now to make sure your elected officials oppose the Boehner plan.

We cannot let John Boehner and House Republican leaders hold our economy hostage so they can protect the wealthiest CEOs while forcing working families to bear the entire burden.

Click here to act now!

http://www.afscme.org/action/


In Solidarity,

Chuck Loveless
 Legislative Director
 AFSCME


Enough is Enough! Tell Congress: Don't Destroy the American Dream:
Take Action Now: Call your members of Congress today, toll-free at 888-907-1485, and tell them not to balance the budget on the backs of struggling, low-income and middle-class families, minorities, people with disabilities, and seniors. Demand a budget plan that reduces the deficit responsibly and works for all Americans – not just millionaires and corporations. Urge Congress to raise the debt ceiling and balance the budget by enhancing revenue and preserving Medicaid, Medicare, and Social Security.

In this exceedingly dangerous moment in our country, Congress must make some hard choices. Lawmakers must not try to fix our nation’s debt by eliminating longstanding programs that have helped low-income and working class families for decades, and have kept the middle class from sliding into poverty and the impoverished from living on the streets. Instead, Congress should create a fair budget plan that protects and preserves our nation’s commitment to providing a safety net and expanding opportunity to millions of the most vulnerable communities. There is no other choice.
Federal default is not an option for disadvantaged communities who are already on the wrong side of the widest wealth gap ever recorded.
The government needs a balanced approach to lowering deficits, including increased revenue to make good on spending commitments that Congress has already made to provide both opportunity and a safety net for middle-class and impoverished families.

With the fate of our whole country hanging in the balance, it is more important than ever that your voice is heard. We must demand that Congress stop holding America hostage to protect tax breaks for millionaires and corporations.
Call your members of Congress today, toll-free at 888-907-1485, and tell them not to balance the budget on the backs of the most vulnerable communities. Urge Congress to raise the debt ceiling and balance the budget by enhancing revenue and preserving Medicaid, Medicare, and Social Security.
Stay Connected with The Leadership Conference
Actions:

http://www.civilrights.org/action_center/

Sent by The Leadership Conference Education Fund, 1629 K Street NW, 10th Floor, Washington, DC 20006 - (202) 466-3311

About The Leadership Conference

http://www.civilrights.org/about/

~ Contact Us ~ Privacy Policy


Killing the safety net:
Medicare, Social Security and college financial aid are on the cutting block.  Tell Congress and the White House: "Don’t balance the budget on the back of the poor and working class."  Republicans are trying to push forward a plan that would gut America's social safety net -- and unless we act now, they may get their way.

Congress needs to raise the debt ceiling before August 2nd so that the government doesn’t default on its debts, which would wreak havoc on the economy. But Republicans are refusing to vote to raise the debt ceiling unless they can also pass massive cuts to Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, student aid, and other important programs that create opportunity and protect the most vulnerable among us.

Democrats in Congress are holding the line, saying that they won't accept any cuts to these programs without asking huge corporations, millionaires and billionaires to contribute their fair share.

But as the deadline approaches, Congressional Democrats will be under immense pressure to compromise their principles, even if it means giveaways for the rich while most Americans suffer.

Please join us in calling on the White House and Congress to say NO to any deal that asks people who are already struggling in this economy to sacrifice even more, without asking corporations and the rich to pay their fair share. And please ask your friends and family to join us as well:

http://act.colorofchange.org/go/907?akid=2071.235419.3kQ7ER&t=3

The moral line is clear: the budget must not be balanced on the backs of poor and working folks while millionaires and billionaires pay lower taxes than ever. Americans oppose cuts to Medicare and Social Security by a 2-to-1 margin, and a large majority thinks that keeping benefit levels the same is a bigger priority than short-term deficit reduction.1 And an amazing 72% of Americans are united behind the idea of asking the wealthy to pay their fair share of taxes.2

By speaking out, we can help give the President and Congressional Democrats the political space they need to stand strong against the GOP's dangerous demands. It's especially important that we deliver this message to the House of Representatives, because it's likely that any budget deal will have to happen with the blessing of Democrats there. If they stand strong, we can avoid the worst of the cuts.

Why do we need to raise the debt ceiling?

Congress sets the maximum amount the federal government can borrow to pay its bills on time. If our debt rises above the limit, the government will begin to default on its commitments. And when that happens, there will be far-reaching consequences for everyone, but especially poor and working folks.

If the government doesn't pay its bills, it's a lot like when you or I don't pay our bills -- it ruins our credit, and makes buying goods and services more expensive. Worse, it makes even having debt more expensive, which means that money the government will have to pay higher interest rates -- money that won't go to economic stimulus or preserving the social safety net.

Most reputable economists say that a government default would wreck the nation's economy, halting the already-weak recovery and possibly taking the world's economy down with it.3

That fact hardly matters to most Republicans in Washington, who are treating the prospect of default like a high-stakes game of chicken. Many see an opportunity to gut programs that they never could otherwise, such as Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security. It's a disgusting, cynical strategy.

If enough of us speak out, we can help save the social safety net and force corporations and the wealthiest Americans to pay their fair share. Please join us now:

http://act.colorofchange.org/go/907?akid=2071.235419.3kQ7ER&t=5

Thanks and Peace,

-- Rashad, James, Gabriel, William, Dani, Matt, Natasha and the rest of the ColorOfChange.org team
    July 24th, 2011

Help support our work. ColorOfChange.org is powered by YOU--your energy and dollars. We take no money from lobbyists or large corporations that don't share our values, and our tiny staff ensures your contributions go a long way. You can contribute here:

http://act.colorofchange.org/go/205?akid=2071.235419.3kQ7ER&t=7

1. GOP Divided Over Benefit Reductions: Public Wants Changes in Entitlements, Not Changes in Benefit," Pew Research Center for People and the Press, 7-7-2011
http://act.colorofchange.org/go/908?akid=2071.235419.3kQ7ER&t=9

2. "Poll: Taxing the rich favored over Medicare cuts," Politico, 4-20-2011
http://act.colorofchange.org/go/909?akid=2071.235419.3kQ7ER&t=11

3. "To the limit," New York Times, 7-1-2011
http://act.colorofchange.org/go/910?akid=2071.235419.3kQ7ER&t=13


Elderly, handicapped, diffabled groups Actions:
Bullying: Students with Disabilities at Risk:
Study: Bullying More Common Among Students with Disabilities, via DisabilityScoop (7.29.11): by Michelle Diament
Kids with disabilities and other special health care needs are at increased risk for bullying and generally show less motivation to succeed in school, new research indicates.
The findings come from a study published this week in the journal Pediatrics that looked at more than 1,450 students in fourth through sixth grade attending three rural school districts in Maryland and West Virginia.
 >>>For the Full Article

http://www.disabilityscoop.com/2011/07/29/study-bullying/13634/

The Self-Defined Perspectives of Women and Girls with Disabilities, via the Center for Women Policy Studies (7.29.11):  
This year, the Center for Women Policy Studies launched an online series of new Barbara Faye Waxman Fiduccia Papers On Women and Girls with Disabilities. The 2011 Barbara Faye Waxman Fiduccia Papers will present the self-defined perspectives of women with disabilities - both in the USA and globally - on such topics as: access to health care, reproductive rights and health, violence against women and girls, women and AIDS...

>>>To Read the Fidducia Papers 
Disability Rights: A Global Grassroots Movement, via the Gazette (7.28.11): by Thomas M. Cook
This month marks the anniversary of an important milestone in a global movement to improve the lives of millions of people, a movement with roots in small towns in Iowa and many other places...
Over the past 21 years, the movement has continued to grow and is now utilizing innovative methods to advance the effort...
>>>For the Full Article

MODERATOR, Frankie Mastrangelo, JUSTICE FOR ALL -- A Service of the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD).
To respond to a JFA email, submit an article, or contact the moderator, email her at jfa@aapd.com. 
 ACCESSIBILITY: To request to receive a text-only version of this and every JFA newsletter rather than the html version, please contact the moderator at jfa@aapd.com.
DISCLAIMER: The JFA listserv is designed to share information of interest to people with disabilities and promote dialogue in the disability community. Information circulated does not necessarily express the views of AAPD. The JFA listserv is non-partisan.

JFA ARCHIVES: All JFA postings from 1995 through October 2007 are available on the AAPD website. Archives of news and other articles featured on JFA since October 2007 are available by category and date on the JFActivist blog.
Share JFA
Streets and Roads to Become More Accessible, by Julia Feinberg, AAPD Policy Intern
On the 21st
Anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the U.S. Access Board presented new proposed guidelines for public rights-of-way.
These guidelines include new proposed regulations for Pedestrian Access Routes (sidewalks, street crossings, curb ramps), Detectable Warning Surfaces, Multi-Lane Roundabouts, Transition Stops and Shelters, Pedestrian Signals, On-Street Parking and Passenger Loading Zones, and Street Furniture... 
>>>For Julia's Full Post 
Actions:

http://www.aapd.com/site/c.pvI1IkNWJqE/b.5607285/k.42E6/Take_Action_Make_Your_Voice_Heard.htm

American Association of People with Disabilities | 1629 K Street, NW | Suite 950 | Washington | DC | 20006


CMS Releases New Funding for Housing Partnerships deadline 8-15:
                       Technical Assistance Collaborative
                        CMS Releases New Funding for Housing Partnerships
                        On July 15, 2011, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid
Services (CMS), within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, made
available approximately $2.1 million to fund State Medicaid Agencies to
develop sustainable partnerships with State Housing Agencies that will result
in long-term strategies to provide permanent and affordable rental housing for
people with disabilities receiving Medicaid services and supports in the
community. Read full funding alert.
                  FUNDING ALERT
                  CMS MAKES AVAILABLE FUNDING FOR BUILDING SUSTAINABLE
PARTNERSHIPS FOR
                  HOUSING FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES RECEIVING MEDICAID
SERVCIES AND SUPPORTS
                  On July 15, 2011, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid
Services (CMS), within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, made
available approximately $2.1 million to fund State Medicaid Agencies to
develop sustainable partnerships with State Housing Agencies that will result
in long-term strategies to provide permanent and affordable rental housing for
people with disabilities receiving Medicaid services and supports in the
community.
                  Specifically, CMS will fund State Medicaid Agencies to
engage in one or more of the following housing strategies:
                  . Strategy 1: Capitalize on new opportunities in HUD's
Section 811 Supportive Housing for Persons with Disabilities Program. Recent
Section 811 authorizes a new and innovative Section 811 option that will allow
State Housing Agencies in partnership with State Medicaid Agencies to apply to
HUD to administer Section 811 Project Rental Assistance (PRA) funds.
                  . Strategy 2: Develop a State Housing Agency HOME-funded
tenant-based rental assistance program for people with disabilities with
receiving Medicaid service and supports in the community that have incomes
equal to the value of Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits). This
strategy can be a permanent program or a "bridge subsidy" program that relies
on partnerships with local Public Housing Agencies (PHAs).
                  . Strategy 3: Develop a partnership with a State Housing
Agency that is also a PHA that administers a state-wide Housing Choice Voucher
(HCV) program that includes the creation of a new HCV waiting list preference
for people with disabilities with SSI-level incomes receiving Medicaid
services and supports in the community.
                  Funding Available
                  CMS anticipates making 4 grants to States with individual
awards to be $525,000 for a 12-month period.
                  Eligible Applicants
                  Only State Medicaid Agencies are eligible to apply. One
application per state, however, the application can propose one or more of the
above housing strategies. Applicants are strongly encouraged to include
letters of support and memoranda of agreement with major partners.
                  Application Process
                  The full funding announcement can be found online.
                  Applications must be submitted electronically through
grants.gov by August 15, 2011. Optional letters of intent may be submitted to
CMS by August 1, 2011 at Nichole.Nicholson@cms.hhs.gov
Privacy Policy. Technical Assistance Collaborative | 31 Saint James Ave | Suite 710 |
Boston | MA | 02116
NATIONAL ADAPT MAILING LIST - Adapt Community Choice Act List
http://www.adapt.org


Time is running out:
The clock is ticking.  Last minute talks in Congress and the Administration to develop a deficit reduction strategy have turned out two major proposals: the Reid plan and the Boehner plan. 
http://crfb.org/blogs/cbo-scores-reid-and-boehner-plans

Both plans could result in devastating cuts to Medicaid, Medicare and Social Security after six months of passing.  With the fate of our country hanging in the balance, should the burden of this financial crisis fall on the backs of struggling seniors and people with disabilities?  Time is running out for lawmakers to reach a decision on where our country will go from here, and who will foot the bill.
 With the pressure building, we must make sure that Medicaid is not left behind.

Call 866-324-0787 today to tell lawmakers that you oppose Boehner and Reid's proposed cuts to vital services for people with disabilities.

On this 21st anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, we must fight to protect the ADA's promise of equal opportunity and equal access.   

Don't sit on the sidelines. This fight needs you.
Call your Congressional representatives at 866-324-0787 and say that any deal that comes out of these negotiations must preserve opportunities for ALL Americans.
MODERATOR, Frankie Mastrangelo, JUSTICE FOR ALL -- A Service of the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD).
To respond to a JFA email, submit an article, or contact the moderator, email her at jfa@aapd.com. 
 ACCESSIBILITY: To request to receive a text-only version of this and every JFA newsletter rather than the html version, please contact the moderator at jfa@aapd.com.

DISCLAIMER: The JFA listserv is designed to share information of interest to people with disabilities and promote dialogue in the disability community. Information circulated does not necessarily express the views of AAPD. The JFA listserv is non-partisan.

JFA ARCHIVES: All JFA postings from 1995 through October 2007 are available on the AAPD website. Archives of news and other articles featured on JFA since October 2007 are available by category and date on the JFActivist blog.
Actions:
http://www.aapd.com/site/c.pvI1IkNWJqE/b.5607285/k.42E6/Take_Action_Make_Your_Voice_Heard.htm
Share JFA
American Association of People with Disabilities | 1629 K Street, NW | Suite 950 | Washington | DC | 20006


Action Alert: Urge the President, Congress, and the Public to Support Medicaid!:
As we approach the 21st Anniversary of the signing of the Americans with
Disabilities Act, President Obama and Congress continue to negotiate federal
Medicaid cuts that would literally undercut our freedom.  Its imperative that
we let them  and the public  know that Medicaid is important to us, that it
provides vital home and community-based services and that we can save money by
shifting away from expensive institutional placement toward these services.
1. Take less than three minutes to send a message to the White House and
Congress.
    Go to this website to TAKE ACTION:
   
http://ly.adapt.org/4
2. Send a Letter to the Editor to the Wall Street Journal or Washington Post.
Tell their readers that we need REAL Medicaid reform, not arbitrary Medicaid
cuts!  Letters should be less than 200 words.  Include your name, home
address, email address, and day/evening phone numbers.  With the 21st
anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act, now is the
perfect time to highlight that Medicaid services support our freedom and
independence.
Wall Street Journal Letters to the Editor should be sent to:
wsj.ltrs@wsj.com<mailto:wsj.ltrs@wsj.com>
Washington Post Letters to the Editor should be sent to:
letters@washpost.com<mailto:letters@washpost.com>
NATIONAL ADAPT MAILING LIST - Adapt Community Choice Act List
http://www.adapt.org

Immediate: Indigenous; Green; N.A.; Elders Actions

Indigenous; Green; N.A.; Elders Actions
These actions on Disabled Greens News and discussion:
Indigenous; Green; N.A.; Elders Actions:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DisabledGreensNews/message/9092  

This petition on change.org: Green; N.A.; Elders; Acts:

http://www.change.org/petitions/green-na-elders-acts-act?share_id=oLSYkeDMqn&pe=pce


Puma JUST DID IT:
Detox Campaign, Fabulous news!
Puma, the third largest sportswear company in the world, has leaped ahead of rivals Nike and Adidas this morning by publicly committing[1] to the elimination of all releases of hazardous chemicals from its entire product life cycle, and across its global supply chain, by the year 2020. The move comes less than two weeks into our Detox campaign, and shows the power of thousands of people challenging the industry online and in cities around the world.
The question is, who will take the Detox Challenge to the next level -- Nike or Adidas.  Please sign our our petition if you haven't yet or forward this email to your friends.  As much as 70 percent of China's rivers, lakes and reservoirs are affected by water pollution, and the clothing industry is making it worse by pouring hazardous chemicals into the mix.
Our brand choices give industry leaders like Nike and Adidas power. Now, we need them to use that power for good and help champion a toxic-free future. By working with their suppliers to eliminate the use and release of all hazardous chemicals in their supply chains and products, these brands can detox our sportswear, detox our water, and detox our future.
Click here to visit our site and sign the petition

http://www.greenpeace.org/international/en/campaigns/toxics/water/detox/Tell-Nike-and-Adidas-to-Detox/?utm_source=SilverpopMailing&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=GPI%20detox%20now%20petition%20followup%20(Puma%20success)%20(1)&utm_content=

Round one of the Detox challenge belongs to Puma who has sent a clear message to its competitors that allowing suppliers to use and discharge toxics is simply not acceptable. But Nike and Adidas could still steal the lead by matching Puma, and then going further by coming clean about the hazardous chemicals released during the production of their products.
It's working - please spread the word today!
The Greenpeace Detox Team
P.S. Please forward this email to friends if you have already signed the petition, and help spread the word about this urgent issue by making sure everyone you know is “all in” for a toxic-free future!
Actions:

http://www.greenpeace.org/international/en/getinvolved/

[1] Read more about Puma's leap forward on our blog
To no longer receive these messages, please click...
Or send a postal mail to: Ottho Heldringstraat 5, 1066 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands


Changes Proposed to Violence Against Women Act, Grants for Tribal Energy, and Appropriations News:
A MESSAGE FROM FCNL
Native American Legislative Update- July 2011
Changes Proposed to Violence Against Women Act, Grants for Tribal Energy, and Appropriations News
In this update:
*  Hearing Discusses Changes to Violence Against Women Act [ #1 ]
*  Legislative News: Education, Self-Governance and Emergency Preparedness [ #2 ]
*  Department of Energy Awards $6 Million to Tribal Energy Projects [ #3 ]
*  House Appropriations Committee Approves Interior Appropriations Bill [ #4 ]
*  Oversight Hearing on Tribal Emergency Preparedness [ #5 ]
*  White House Launches New Native American Website
[ #6 ]
[ #6 ] Hearing Discusses Changes to Violence Against Women Act
On July 14, the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs [ http://fcnl.org/r/B/MTU1NTIy/NDYzODY/0/0/aHR0cDovL2NhcHdpei5jb20vZmNvbmwvZGlyZWN0b3J5L2NvbW1pdHRlZXMudHQ_Y29tbWlkPXNpbmRpIyEjIQ ]
(SCIA) held a hearing on “Native Women: Protecting, Shielding, and Safeguarding
Our Sisters, Mothers, and Daughters.” In historic testimony, the Department of
Justice’s Associate Attorney General Thomas Perrelli testified [ http://fcnl.org/r/B/MTU1NTIz/NDYzODY/0/0/aHR0cDovL2luZGlhbi5zZW5hdGUuZ292L2hlYXJpbmdzL3VwbG9hZC9QZXJyZWxsaV9UZXN0aW1vbnlfRklOQUxfXzEzSlVMMTFfLnBkZiMhIyE ]
that the Department of Justice supports legislative changes to the Violence
Against Women Act (VAWA) that would strengthen protections for Native American
women, including in cases of domestic and dating violence perpetrated by a
non-Indian boyfriend or husband. Perrelli expressed support for new legislation
which would amend the VAWA in three specific ways:
* Recognize the authority of certain tribes to exercise concurrent criminal
jurisdiction (along with state or federal jurisdiction, depending on the
tribe) over domestic violence cases, regardless of whether the defendant is
an Indian or non-Indian,
* Clarify the full civil jurisdiction of tribal courts to issue and enforce
certain protection orders against Indians and non-Indians, and
* Amend the federal assault statute to increase the maximum sentences from six
months to one to ten years for three types of assault frequently committed
against Indian women if such assault is committed by a non-Indian against an
Indian woman in Indian Country.
The Department of Justice formally submitted a legislative proposal [ http://fcnl.org/r/B/MTU1NTI0/NDYzODY/0/0/aHR0cDovL3d3dy50cmliYWxqdXN0aWNlYW5kc2FmZXR5Lmdvdi9kb2NzL2xlZ2lzbGF0aXZlLXByb3Bvc2FsLXZpb2xlbmNlLWFnYWluc3QtbmF0aXZlLXdvbWVuLnBkZiMhIyE ]
to accomplish these goals on July 21 to President of the Senate and Vice
President Biden, and to House Speaker Boehner. Tribal advocates are lobbying
Congress to support these proposals to amend and reauthorize the Violence Against
Women Act this year. See FCNL’s Indian Report [ http://fcnl.org/r/B/MTU1NTI1/NDYzODY/0/0/aHR0cDovL2Zjbmwub3JnL2Fzc2V0cy9wdWJzL2luZGlhbl9yZXBvcnQvSVJfV2ludGVyXzIwMTAucGRmIyEjIQ ]
on domestic violence in Indian Country.
[ http://fcnl.org/r/B/MTU1NTI2/NDYzODY/0/0/aHR0cDovL2Zjbmwub3JnL2Fzc2V0cy9wdWJzL2luZGlhbl9yZXBvcnQvSVJfV2ludGVyXzIwMTAucGRmIyEjIQ ] Legislative
News: Education, Self-Governance and Emergency Preparedness
On June 23, SCIA Chairman Daniel Akaka (HI) introduced the Native Culture,
Language and Access to Success in Schools Act (or Native CLASS). The bill (S.
1262) [ http://fcnl.org/r/B/MTU1NTI3/NDYzODY/0/0/aHR0cDovL2NhcHdpei5jb20vZmNvbmwvaXNzdWVzL2JpbGxzLz9iaWxsPTUyMzM5NTA2IyEjIQ ]  would amend a
handful of laws such as the Elementary and Secondary Education Act and the
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to improve many aspects of Indian
education. Among its many provisions, the bill would do the following:
* Direct the incorporation of Native language and culture in educational
programming,
* Increase culturally appropriate curricula for at-risk children,
* Provide for alternative licensure of Native language instructors and
authorize the use of a Native language as the language of instruction,
* Increase funding for teacher recruitment and retention,
* Authorize new programs, including an Indian school turnaround program for
poorly-performing schools, programs for at-risk youth, alternatives to
detention, and Native language instruction training, and,
* Increase consultation requirements for state and local education agencies
with tribes.
The SCIA held a hearing [ http://fcnl.org/r/B/MTU1NTI4/NDYzODY/0/0/aHR0cDovL2luZGlhbi5zZW5hdGUuZ292L2hlYXJpbmdzL2hlYXJpbmcuY2ZtP2hlYXJpbmdJRD0zZDkwMzFiNDc4MTJkZTI1OTJjM2JhZWJhNjBlZjk1YyMhIyE ]
on Native CLASS on June 30. Among the committee members, federal agency
representatives, tribal organization witnesses, and tribal education witnesses,
there was little debate surrounding the importance of education grounded in
Native language, tradition, and culture; and the need for strategies to improve
education in Indian Country. Witnesses raised some additional issues including
teacher training and retention, limited research on culture-based education,
cultural bias in testing, and coordination with states.
On July 7, Rep. Dan Boren (OK) and others introduced legislation called the
Department of the Interior Tribal Self-Governance Act of 2011 ( H.R. 2444 [ http://fcnl.org/r/B/MTU1NTI5/NDYzODY/0/0/aHR0cDovL2NhcHdpei5jb20vZmNvbmwvaXNzdWVzL2JpbGxzLz9iaWxsPTUyMzM5NTU2IyEjIQ ] ),
which would amend the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act. The
amendment would guarantee greater legal authority to tribes which wish to pursue
the transfer of authority from the federal government’s Department of the
Interior to tribal program administration.
On June 24, Rep. Raul Grijalva (AZ) and others introduced legislation ( H.R. 2380 [ http://fcnl.org/r/B/MTU1NTMw/NDYzODY/0/0/aHR0cDovL2NhcHdpei5jb20vZmNvbmwvaXNzdWVzL2JpbGxzLz9iaWxsPTUyMzM5NTc2IyEjIQ ] )
that would define procedures for effective consultation and coordination by
federal agencies with federally recognized Indian tribes. It would ensure that
meaningful tribal input would be an integral part of federal decision-making
processes that affect Indian country. The bill was referred to the House
Committee on Natural Resources.
[ http://fcnl.org/r/B/MTU1NTMx/NDYzODY/0/0/aHR0cDovL2NhcHdpei5jb20vZmNvbmwvaXNzdWVzL2JpbGxzLz9iaWxsPTUyMzM5NTc2IyEjIQ ] Department of Energy
Awards $6 Million to Tribal Energy Projects
On July 21, the Department of Energy awarded a total of $6.3 million over two
years in grants to 31 tribal energy projects to promote energy development in
Indian Country. The funds were approved last year as authorized under Title V of
the Energy Policy Act of 2005. The awards will go towards feasibility studies,
first steps planning, and installation projects. See the DOE press release [ http://fcnl.org/r/B/MTU1NTMy/NDYzODY/0/0/aHR0cDovL3d3dy5lbmVyZ3kuZ292L25ld3MvMTA0MzcuaHRtIyEjIQ ]
and find out more [ http://fcnl.org/r/B/MTU1NTMz/NDYzODY/0/0/aHR0cDovL3d3dy5lbmVyZ3kuZ292L2luZGlhbmVuZXJneS9kb2N1bWVudHMvQ2xlYW5FbmVyZ3lQcm9qZWN0c29uVHJpYmFsTGFuZHNfUHJvamVjdF9EZXNjcmlwdGlvbnNfMDcyMDExLnBkZiMhIyE ]
about the projects.
[ http://fcnl.org/r/B/MTU1NTM0/NDYzODY/0/0/aHR0cDovL3d3dy5lbmVyZ3kuZ292L2luZGlhbmVuZXJneS9kb2N1bWVudHMvQ2xlYW5FbmVyZ3lQcm9qZWN0c29uVHJpYmFsTGFuZHNfUHJvamVjdF9EZXNjcmlwdGlvbnNfMDcyMDExLnBkZiMhIyE ] House
Appropriations Committee Approves Interior Appropriations Bill
The House of Representatives has been debating funding levels for the Department
of the Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs and Bureau of Indian Education, and
many other Native American programs. The bill for fiscal year 2012 was approved
by the House appropriations committees in mid-July , and includes an increase of
$392 million over the 2011 level for the Indian Health Service. The full House
must pass the bill and it could do so this week, but imminent passage seems
unlikely due to the pressure on Congress to address the debt ceiling.
See press releases and bill text [ http://fcnl.org/r/B/MTU1NTM1/NDYzODY/0/0/aHR0cDovL2FwcHJvcHJpYXRpb25zLmhvdXNlLmdvdi9TdWJjb21taXR0ZWVzL1N1YmNvbW1pdHRlZS8_SXNzdWVJRD0zNDc3OCMhIyE ]
related to 2012 funding for Native American programs.
[ http://fcnl.org/r/B/MTU1NTM2/NDYzODY/0/0/aHR0cDovL2FwcHJvcHJpYXRpb25zLmhvdXNlLmdvdi9TdWJjb21taXR0ZWVzL1N1YmNvbW1pdHRlZS8_SXNzdWVJRD0zNDc3OCMhIyE ] Oversight
Hearing on Tribal Emergency Preparedness
On July 21, the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs (SCIA) held an oversight
hearing [ http://fcnl.org/r/B/MTU1NTM3/NDYzODY/0/0/aHR0cDovL2luZGlhbi5zZW5hdGUuZ292L2hlYXJpbmdzL2hlYXJpbmcuY2ZtP2hlYXJpbmdJRD0zZDkwMzFiNDc4MTJkZTI1OTJjM2JhZWJhNjFiMmRmNSMhIyE ]
entitled, “Facing Floods and Fires - Emergency Preparedness for Natural Disasters
in Native Communities,” to hear witnesses discuss this year’s fires and floods in
the Southwest and the Great Plains areas. The committee asked representatives
from several federal agencies to explain their roles and programs related to
emergency preparedness and disaster response in tribal communities. The committee
also heard testimony from Santa Clara Pueblo Governor Dasheno, whose community in
New Mexico has been affected by the Las Conchas fire and the upcoming monsoon
season.
Senator Tim Johnson (SD), in his opening statement, touched on a topic that
received quite a bit of discussion during the hearing: the need for Congress to
amend the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (H.R.
1953), introduced on May 24 by Rep. Nick Rahall (WV) and others and discussed in
last month’s update [ http://fcnl.org/r/B/MTU1NTM4/NDYzODY/0/0/aHR0cDovL2Zjbmwub3JnL2lzc3Vlcy9uYXRpdmVhbS9saXN0L25hbHVfanVseV8xXzIwMTFfb3ZlcnNpZ2h0X2hlYXJpbmdzX2FuZF9sZWdpc2xhdGl2ZV9uZXdzLyM0IyEjIQ ] .
[ http://fcnl.org/r/B/MTU1NTM5/NDYzODY/0/0/aHR0cDovL2Zjbmwub3JnL2lzc3Vlcy9uYXRpdmVhbS9saXN0L25hbHVfanVseV8xXzIwMTFfb3ZlcnNpZ2h0X2hlYXJpbmdzX2FuZF9sZWdpc2xhdGl2ZV9uZXdzLyM0IyEjIQ ] White
House Launches New Native American Website
The White House Office of Public Engagement recently announced the launch of a
new website which is intended to provide Indian Country with an additional tool
to help navigate federal agencies and their services to tribal communities, and
to learn about how President Obama’s agenda will impact Native Americans. The new website [ http://fcnl.org/r/B/MTU1NTQw/NDYzODY/0/0/aHR0cDovL3d3dy53aGl0ZWhvdXNlLmdvdi9uYXRpdmVhbWVyaWNhbnMjISMh ]  is called “Winning the
Future: President Obama and the Native American Community.”
About
http://fcnl.org/r/B/MTU1NTQx/NDYzODY/0/0/aHR0cDovL2Zjbmwub3JnL2Fib3V0IyEjIQ
Contact US
http://fcnl.org/r/B/MTU1NTQy/NDYzODY/0/0/aHR0cDovL2Zjbmwub3JnL2NvbnRhY3QvIyEjIQ
Tell a Friend
http://fcnl.org/r/B/MTU1NTQz/NDYzODY/0/0/aHR0cHM6Ly9mY25sLm9yZy90ZWxsLyMhIyE
Donate
http://fcnl.org/r/B/MTU1NTQ0/NDYzODY/0/0/aHR0cHM6Ly9mY25sLm9yZy9kb25hdGUvZmNubCMhIyE
Visit us on
Facebook: http://fcnl.org/r/B/MTU1NTQ1/NDYzODY/0/0/aHR0cDovL3d3dy5mYWNlYm9vay5jb20vcXVha2VybG9iYnkjISMh
Twitter: http://fcnl.org/r/B/MTU1NTQ2/NDYzODY/0/0/aHR0cDovL3R3aXR0ZXIuY29tLyMhL2ZjbmwjISMh
Copyright FCNL


Join Us At Our National Meeting and GreenFest!:
Back to
http://www.GP.org

Give to the Green Party
Join us for New York Green Fest and Green Party Annual National Meeting, August 5-7, 2011 on the campus of Alfred University, Alfred, NY
For all the details, check out the New York Green Fest's website here.
http://nygreenfest.org/http://nygreenfest.org/
 It is not enough to oppose toxic drilling and injustice, we need alternatives. The most difficult questions of sustainability are not about technology; they are about implementing our values. At the New York Green Fest and Green Party Annual National Meeting we will explore the politics that enable us to live in a sustainable world.
For NY Green Fest 2011, Greens will return to the beautiful campus of Alfred University in Alfred, NY. Join Greens from across the country and Canada coming to the 2011 Green Party Annual National Meeting, which is being held in conjunction with Green Fest this year.
 The program features more than 30 great workshops on politics, energy, media and ecology, four forums and great music on our solar stage. Presenters include Elizabeth May, Canada's first elected Green Party member of Parliament, David Korten, author of Corporations Will Rule the World and co-founder of YES! Magazine, Tina Clarke from the Transition Towns Movement, David Cobb, 2004 Green nominee for President, and many others! Several Green Party candidates and officeholders from New York and other states will attend. And we want you to attend as well!
 For a full schedule of events, click here.
 Dorm rooms, camping and the Saxon Inn are available for lodging on campus at reasonable cost. Swimming is available at the Foster Lake campground this year from 11 am to 7 pm. Meals prepared from locally-grown food will be served at the Alfred University dining hall. You may register and reserve a camping space, dorm room or meals online at the New York Green Fest website.
 July 28th is the deadline for reserving meals and lodging, so register today
 If you need a ride, or can offer a ride, visit our ride board here. Public transportation is available to Alfred by bus and to Rochester and Buffalo by train. Bus service between New York City and Alfred is available three times a day. For more details on anything, check out the New York Green Fest website.
 We look forward to seeing you in two weeks in lovely Alfred, NY!
 Support the Green Party!
 Contribute today. A Greener future is within our reach. Your donation today can help us bring the vision we share a little closer to reality.
 You can sustain the Green Party by making a monthly contribution here.
Spread our message by joining us on Facebook and Twitter.  Thank you!
Actions:
http://www.gp.org/action/


July 2011 E-newsletter: Celebrating Native American Language Revitalization in Film:
Honduras Campaign Update: Global Response Travels to Honduras
Cultural Survival's Global Response Program was invited to attend a conference held by campaign partners MASTA (Moskitia Asia Takanka) in Ahuas, Gracias a Dios, Honduras. MASTA is a local governance body of the Miskitu Indigenous people, who live in the tropical lowlands in eastern Honduras. They have united with three other Indigenous groups in the region to protest the construction of the Patuca III hydroelectric dam.  Read more.
 TAKE ACTION. 

http://www.culturalsurvival.org/take-action/honduras-dont-dam-patuca-river 

Endangered Languages Program Update: Celebrating Native American Language Revitalization in Film
Last month's Endangered Languages Program event at the Library of Congress, "Celebrating Native American Language Revitalization in Film," drew nearly 100 participants throughout the course of the day who enthusiastically participated in post-film panel discussions with Native American language apprentices, teachers, and film production professionals from a half-dozen tribal communities across the U.S. Read more.

Watch the films here:
WE STILL LIVE HERE: As Nutayunean 
Kimachipena: Let's Come Together from the Sauk Language Department  
WE ARE STILL HERE from This Land Press  
First Speakers: Revitalizing the Ojibwe Language from Twin Cities Public Television.  The Young Ancestors from producers Laura Kay Jagles and Aimee Barry Broustra  

Mexico Campaign Update: UN Human Rights Chief visits Oaxaca
United Nations Human Rights chief Navi Pillay reported recently on the state of human rights in Mexico, after a visit to the mostly Indigenous state of Oaxaca. She noted that among all of the issues facing Indigenous Peoples in Mexico today, one of the main underlying problems regards land, territories, and natural resources.  Cultural Survival's February Global Response Campaign in Mexico highlighted a specific example of this problem: the Huichol people's fight to maintain control of their land and resources in the Real de Catorce mountain range, in San Luis Potosí, Mexico.  Read more.

Ecuador Campaign Update: Indigenous People Take State to Inter-American Court
In 2003, Global Response launched a campaign to protect the Sarayaku people from oil companies CGC of Argentina and Chevron-Texaco from exploration and development in their territory.  Since then, the community has tenaciously continued the fight to defend their rights and protect their land and now are taking Ecuador to the Inter-American Court for violating their right to life, freedom of movement and consultation. Read more.  

Peru Officially Recognizes Indigenous Languages
On July 5, 2011, the Peruvian Congress officially recognized Indigenous languages by passing Law 29735, the Law for the Use, Preservation, Development, Revitalization and Use of Indigneous Languages, proposed by Congresswoman Maria Sumire. Part of implementation of international and domestic human rights law such as the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples is respecting, protecting, and fulfilling the individual and collective right to speak one's native language. Read more.

U.S. Establishes Commission to Evaluate Indian Trust Administration
The U.S. Department of Interior announced on July 7, 2011 the establishment of a new Commission on Indian Trust Administration and Reform that will evaluate in depth the Interior's trust management of Native American assets. Secretary Ken Salazar is asking for nominations from the public on candidates for the new commission, as well as feedback on the commission's proposed charter. Read more. 

Guatemala Radio Project Updates
Seeking Approval for Community Media Law in Guatemala 
Preparations are well underway in Guatemala City to host a conference and day of action on August 8 and 9, marking the International Day for Indigenous Peoples. The Cultural Survival Guatemala staff is working closely with the National Council for Mayan Organizations, (COMG) the National Council for the Implementation of the Peace Accords (CNAP) and the movement of community radio stations to realize this event. Read more. 
 

Workshop on Indigenous Rights
July got off to a busy start for the Cultural Survival Community Radio Project, with two workshops held in the Mujb'abl' Yol training center in San Mateo, Quetzaltenango. The first workshop was focused on preparations for the upcoming International Day of Indigenous Peoples, on August 9th. Read more.

"Behind the Lens" Launches in Guatemala
Next door to Cultural Survival's Community Radio Project monthly training and production session, a week-long workshop on video production was also getting underway with the help of two documentary filmmakers, Hanna Adock and Karin Stowe, from the University of Winchester, England. Behind the Lens is a citizen journalism project that teaches storytelling and documentary film-making skills to empower a group of community radio volunteers to make news and tell their stories via short films on the web.  Read more.

Cultural Survival Bazaars: Summer 2011

The Cultural Survival Bazaars are a series of cultural festivals that provide Indigenous artists, their representatives, and fair trade companies from around the world the chance to sell their work directly to the American public. More information. 
July 23 - 24 -- Falmouth, MA
July 30- 31 -- Tiverton Four Corners, RI

Cultural Survival Quarterly: Summer 2011
 • •
Safe Harbor
By Will Meadows  A portrait of a Rama environmentalist who is working to protect his community off the coast of Nicaragua.
•
The New Urban Jungle By Bartholomew Dean, Joshua Homan, Matthew Reamer, and Sydney Silverstein
 For many Indigenous people in Peru, the best way to keep their land is to move to the city and keep a foothold in both worlds. It's homesteading in reverse, giving Indigenous people new options and creating a new kind of city, one built on their terms. 

If you're not currently getting our magazine, Become a member  or subscribe  today!  
Thank you for standing with Indigenous Peoples and for your ongoing support.
Sincerely,
Agnes Portalewska

Cultural Survival partners with Indigenous Peoples around the world to defend their lands, languages, and cultures.
Learn More
To read about Cultural Survival's work around the world, click here. To explore 40 years of information on Indigenous issues use our Search function.
Do More
For ways to take action to help Indigenous communities, click here.
Donate
We take on governments and multinational corporations-and they always have more resources than we do-but with the help of people like you, we do win. Your contribution is crucial to that effort. Click here to do your part.
Actions:
http://www.culturalsurvival.org/take-action
Cultural Survival | 215 Prospect St | Cambridge | MA | 02139


Contact Amnesty International for Leonard Peltier:
Forwarded on behalf of the Leonard Peltier Defense Offense Committee
on 29 Jully 2011:
While less than a week ago, the current heat index in Lewisburg,
Pennsylvania, is 100 degrees F. The prisoners in solitary confinement
at the federal penitentiary are not sheltered from the heat. The
prisoners have to sleep on the floor at night to get some semblance
of relief.
We received word today that Leonard now has to share his very small
isolation cell with another prisoner. We're told that the cell next
to Leonard's cell is currently occupied by three prisoners!
Recently, a prisoner in solitary at USP-Lewisburg attempted suicide.
The situation at USP-Lewisburg is critical. Please take action.
Amnesty International designated Leonard Peltier as a political
prisoner a long while ago. Amnesty International's Secretariat, based
in the UK, is responsible for the majority of the organization's
research and leads AI's campaigning work. Please contact AI and urge
that organization to immediately take an active hand in this crisis:
Telephone: +44-20-74135500
Fax number: +44-20-79561157 Address:
1 Easton Street
London
WC1X 0DW, UK
Web Form: http://www.amnesty.org/en/contact
----
Time to set him free... Because it is the RIGHT thing to do.
Friends of Peltier
http://www.FreePeltierNow.org

Call to Action on Behalf of Leonard Peltier:
Forwarded on behalf of the Leonard Peltier Defense Offense Committee, 27 July 2011:
The Attorney General of the United States manages the Department
of Justice, of which the Bureau of Prisons is a part. For the
next two days, we ask supporters to contact Attorney General Eric
Holder. Whether for a week, a month, a year, or 10 years... Solitary
Confinement is Torture! Solitary is cruel and unusual and was
recognized as such by the U.S. Supreme Court a century ago. Express
your concern about the impact of solitary on the health of Leonard
Peltier, a 66-year-old man in poor health. Demand that Leonard
Peltier be immediately released from solitary and returned to the
general population at USP-Lewisburg.
By Mail
Correspondence to the Department, including the Attorney General,
may be sent to:
U.S. Department of Justice
950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20530-0001
By Phone
Office of the Attorney General Public Comment Line - 202-353-1555
By E-Mail
E-mails to the Department of Justice, including the Attorney General,
may be sent to AskDOJ@usdoj.gov. IMPORTANT: Address your e-mail to
Attorney General Eric Holder so that your e-mail will be forwarded
to his office.

August 6 and 7: End Solitary, Free Leonard Peltier:
Solitary Confinement is Torture!
Free Prisoners from Solitary! Free Leonard Peltier!
What: Candlelight Vigil and Rally
When: Saturday, August 6 and Sunday, August 7, 2011
Where: Corner of Route 15 (N. Derr Drive) and William Penn Drive,
Lewisburg, PA
* Please Circulate Widely *
Join us at 7:00 p.m. on August 6th for a candlelight vigil
to protest the use of solitary confinement in the U.S., and in
solidarity with prisoners at the federal penitentiary at Lewisburg
-- in support of Leonard Peltier, in particular. Gather at 10:00
a.m. on August 7th for a Free Peltier Rally. Native American
activist and political prisoner Leonard Peltier is currently
being held in solitary confinement at USP-Lewisburg. Rally for
his freedom -- from solitary, from prison. Demand clemency for
Leonard Peltier! Bring posters and banners, drums, candles, water,
food-snacks, etc. For updates and information on lodgings, visit
http://www.whoisleonardpeltier.info/vigil.htm. Donations welcome.
Send a check or money order to the LPDOC, PO Box 7488, Fargo, ND
58106 or donate electronically. Click on the "Donate" button on
our home page at
http://www.whoisleonardpeltier.info/index1.htm.
* Please Circulate Widely *

Liberate Leonard Peltier:
On June 27, the 66-year-old Leonard Peltier was thrown in "The
Hole" at USP-Lewisburg where he purportedly will stay for the
next six months. According to what is currently known, Leonard's
cell was searched that day. A guard allegedly was shocked by a
wire attached to an overhead light socket, a wire placed there a
long while ago by one of Leonard's former cellmates. The guard
claimed "assault" (apparently he didn't know better than to touch
an electrical wire). Leonard wasn't present during the search,
having already been removed to "The Hole".
The BOP's disciplinary procedures do not allow for legal
representation for an accused prisoner. A prisoner is tried,
convicted, and sentenced without due process. Prison authorities
claim that thorough, professional investigations are conducted in
such instances, but the cards are stacked against a prisoner when a
guard is involved because the statement of a guard is always given
more weight.
Further, the culture inside is one of collective or group punishment.
Every prisoner, that is, is deemed responsible for the actions of
another prisoner.
Leonard is no stranger to "The Hole." In the 1980s, at USP-Marion,
Leonard and others protested their ill treatment by prison
authorities, including infringement of Native prisoners' religious
rights. This led to the infamous lock down of the prison that
persists to this day. Sadly, Marion has become a model within
the federal prison system despite these conditions being widely
considered inhumane: life in a six by eight foot cell for 23 to
24 hours a day and no human contact allowed. Leonard served 18
months in "The Hole" at Marion and was often severely beaten.
The isolation alone was torture. Leonard wrote his name on the
cell floor during those dark days so that when the cell door was
opened and a shaft of light filled the cell, he could read what he
had written and remember who he was.
Leonard was imprisoned at USP-Leavenworth when a riot occurred
there on July 5, 1992. A race-related incident, Leonard and other
Indigenous prisoners were trapped in the auditorium where the
riot occurred. At Leonard's direction, the Indigenous prisoners
gathered together away from the melee and didn't participate in the
resulting violence. He was thrown in "The Hole," then too--falsely
accused of having participated in and perhaps instigating the riot.
Ironically, on this day in 1789, Parisians liberated an infamous
French prison known as the Bastille. The fortress-prison often
held people jailed on the basis of arbitrary royal indictments and
had been known for holding political prisoners whose writings had
displeased the royal government.
Friends and supporters, in the spirit of Bastille Day and the
promise of justice for all, we must liberate Leonard Peltier.
Call the BOP to protest the prison's actions against Peltier.
Please send e-mails, write letters and call BOP every single day.
Solitary confinement is torture. Tell the BOP that the world is
watching and we're horrified by its inhumane treatment of prisoners,
in general, and Leonard Peltier, in particular.
Make reference to Leonard Peltier #89637-132 and contact:
Thomas Kane, Acting Director (Dr. Kane is also the Assistant
Director)
Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP)
E-Mail: info@bop.gov
Phone:
(202) 307-3250 (Director)
(202) 307-3123 (Assistant Director)
(202) 307-3198 (Switchboard)
Fax: (202) 514-6620
Mailing Address:
320 1st Street, NW Washington, DC 20534

Mass Call-In for Leonard Peltier:
Take action now:
<http://freepeltiernow.blogspot.com/2011/07/mass-call-in-for-leonard-peltier-today.html>                        
Time to set him free... Because it is the RIGHT thing to do.

Alert: Step Up for Leonard Peltier:
Life, liberty, the pursuit of happiness... justice for all.
These are the lofty ideals celebrated each year on the 4th of
July. The government often confuses the saying with the doing,
however... like in the case of Leonard Peltier.
On June 27, Leonard Peltier was removed from the general population
at USP-Lewisburg and placed in solitary confinement. We know this
was not done for Leonard's protection. We also are certain that
Leonard has done nothing wrong. He should immediately be returned
to the prison's general population.
Our concern is two-fold. First and foremost, Leonard must not
be railroaded by prison authorities as has happened in the past.
Second, Leonard's age and health status are a concern. Leonard
suffers from diabetes and other health conditions. He must have
the means by which to monitor his blood sugar. He must receive
the proper diet. Leonard otherwise must continue to receive his
prescribed medications. He must immediately be returned to the
prison's general population.
For more information on how you can help, please visit
http://www.whoisleonardpeltier.info/alert.htm.
This Independence Day, exercise your rights. Raise your voices.
Cry Freedom!
LPDOC
PO Box 7488
Fargo, ND 58106
http://www.whoisleonardpeltier.info
-----
Time to set him free... Because it is the RIGHT thing to do.
Friends of Peltier
http://www.FreePeltierNow.org