Humanity is at a critical turning point. If we want a viable future, there is only one thing we can do: shut down the fossil fuel industry. That means millions of people joining communities on the front lines in mass, global civil disobedience right on the doorsteps of the largest, most dangerous fossil fuel projects in the world. And you can do that…RIGHT NOW…by joining 350.org's Break Free 2016, happening now through May 15th at a strategically selected fossil fuel project site near you.

So, it turns out that April is “Fair Housing Month” - a time to celebrate the Fair Housing Act which passed in 1968 in the aftermath of Dr. King’s assassination. It is considered the final great legislative achievement of the civil rights era. But sadly, as we’ve just heard, economic injustice, racism, white flight and gentrification are plaguing residents of affordable housing and the neighborhoods they live in, and the fundamental issue of access is still a critical concern. In fact, in 2016, 3.9 million extremely low-income families in the US lacked access to affordable housing. 

Silicon Valley companies talk a lot about “disrupting” the market, but side-stepping regulations that protect the public and ignoring basic worker rights doesn’t make a company “revolutionary” or “innovative” - it just hurts everyone. Any common criminal can operate a business in this way and no one would praise them for it. It’s the money they make that blinds us to their deep flaws. 

You’ve reached the activism portion of today’s show. Now that you’re informed and angry, here’s what you can do about it. Today’s activism: Ending the federal ban on gun-related violence.

With 89 people dying every day because of gun-related violence, experts now estimate that guns may soon pass vehicle accidents to become the country’s leading cause of death. The president has repeatedly urged Congress not to let this become “the new normal.”

The biggest impediment to finding viable solutions is the National Rifle Association sponsored Dickey Amendment — named for its author, Former Rep. Jay Dickey of Arkansas. For almost two decades, the Center for Disease Control has been prohibited from researching the effects of firearms ownership on public health.

Despite Dickey now publicly and repeatedly declaring, “I wish we had started the proper research and kept it going all this time,” the NRA is a major spender at election time— to pro-gun candidates in both parties. So, it’s hardly a surprise to continue hearing sentiments that echo former House Speaker John Boehner’s “a gun is not a disease” defense of the governmental research ban.

With the recent high profile mass shootings dominating news coverage right before Monday’s Sandyhook anniversary, a new effort to end the ban and find a way to end gun violence is being lead by Doctors For American and Everytown for Gun Safety.

The segment notes include the Doctors For America letter in support of reinstating research funding for you to pass on through your networks to ensure that as many medical professionals as possible can sign on. Then sign and share the public letter to the House and Senate telling them to #EndTheBan on gun violence research through Everytown's Change.org petition — also available at DrsForAmerica.Org/Act and Everytown.org. The update to the petition includes links to automatically tweet your support using the #EndGunViolence and #EndTheBan hashtags as well as to connect directly to your senators and tell them to take action.

TAKE ACTION:

SHARE: "Doctors and Public Health Professionals: End the CDC Gun Violence Research Ban” from Doctors For America

SIGN, Tweet, & Call your senators: #EndGunViolence, #EndTheBan via Everytown for Gun Safety

Sources/further reading:

"Gun violence research: History of the federal funding freeze”

"Congressman Whose Amendment Ended Federal Gun Research: 'I Have Regrets’” via Talking Points Memo

National Rifle Assoc Funding Stats via OpenSecrets.org

"Ex-Rep. Dickey Regrets Restrictive Law On Gun Violence Research” via NPR

"Physicians Demand End To 20-Year-Old Ban On Gun Violence Research” via ThinkProgress

"A Lot of People Are Telling Congress to Repeal Its Gag Order on Gun Violence Research” via MotherJones

"Over 2,000 Physicians Urge Congress to End the Ban on CDC and NIH Gun Violence Research” from Doctors For America

"Why So Few Scientists Are Studying the Causes of Gun Violence” via The Smithsonian Magazine

"In First Post-Charleston Gun Vote, Congress Preserves CDC Research Ban” via The Trace

Hear the segment in context:

Episode #976 ”Another day in America"

Written by BOTL social media/activism director Katie Klabusich

You’ve reached today’s activism segment. Now that you’re informed and angry, here’s a reminder that certain awful things don’t go away quickly, so we have to stay vigilant and keep fighting them until we succeed. Today’s update: Stop the Fast Track of the Trans Pacific Partnership.

It appears there is something the president and the GOP-lead Congress can agree is a good idea: ceding our nation’s economic autonomy to an international corporate conglomerate in a trade deal that has been repeatedly called “NAFTA on steroids.”

As Lori Wallach reported in The Nation back when the TPP first got press almost three years ago, the agreement is essentially an assault on democracy.

Wallach wrote:

"Countries would be obliged to conform all their domestic laws and regulations to the TPP’s rules—in effect, a corporate coup d’état. The proposed pact would limit even how governments can spend their tax dollars.”

The Obama administration has asked Congress to “Fast Track” legislation to approve the trade deal. Fast track authority accelerates the process by which a bill becomes law by preventing amendments and only requiring a majority vote in the senate, rather than the now typical supermajority. Most of the Congressional Democratic Caucus is opposed to Fast Track for the TPP, but there may not be enough republican opposition to prevent it from happening without public outcry — which is going to be hard to drum up because trade deals are BORING.

Super important and super boring. As our friend Lee Camp says: “boring evil is The Worst.” It’s terrifyingly easy to get things past a busy, struggling or apathetic public when words like “trade deals” and “tax policy” and …. There, see? I’ve lost you.

The Communication Workers of America are making it easy to care and easy to act. Their petition at MoveOn.org simply says: "Tell Congress: We Can't Afford to Outsource More Jobs.” You can find it at the MoveOn homepage, then just click and sign to tell your representatives you expect them to vote no on Fast Track authority.

The CWA is also phone banking to let legislators know they oppose thoughtlessly approving a corporate power grab that would eliminate their jobs. If you want to join them, simply dial 855-980-2256 and enter your zip code when prompted. You will be connected to your rep’s staffer to whom you simply say:

"I'm a constituent and I've had enough of bad trade deals negotiated in secret like the Trans-Pacific Partnership. Congress needs to read the deal and not vote to Fast Track it before even knowing what's in it. I urge you to vote no on Fast Track authority for the TPP.”

Simple. Direct. And, yes, legislators do still keep a record of calls on issues and House members are pretty much already running again and need to listen when you call.

Opposing Fast Track won’t stop the TPP from eventually becoming law. It will, however, make the process public and lengthier and give less engaged citizens an opportunity to hear about the deal and weigh in. As part of the highly engaged and involved group within the citizenry, it’s basically on us to run around sounding the alarm. Visit MoveOn.org, sign, and then share the petition.

Update!

Obama administration asks for fast tracking of TPP: "Democrats oppose Obama's demand for fast-tracking Pacific trade deal” by Siri Srinivas at The Guardian

Follow-up/new Action!

SIGN: Tell Congress: We Can't Afford to Outsource More Jobs via MoveOn.org and the CWA

Sources/further reading:

”Tell Your Congress Member: No Fast Track For the TPP!” via the Communications Workers of America

"NAFTA on Steroids: The Trans-Pacific Partnership, which would grant enormous new powers to corporations, is a massive assault on democracy” by Lori Wallach at The Nation

"The Top Secret Deal Between 11 Countries That Will Affect Your Life" - MOC #186 — Lee Camp

Hear the segment in context:

Episode #896 "Resisting global corporate takeover (Trans-Pacific Partnership)"

Written by BOTL social media/activism director Katie Klabusich

You’ve reached the activism portion of today’s show. Now that you’re informed and angry, here’s what you can do about it. Today’s activism: Fight Strike Vote — the Fight for $15 Voter Pledge.

The Fight for $15 campaign has had a busy year with wins in Seattle, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and New York and with measures before city councils and on ballots to raise the minimum wage. While $15 an hour is still short of a true living wage, it is more than double the federal rate of $7.25 an hour which no one — single or supporting a family — can live on in any corner of the country. It also keeps the pressure on places like Rhode Island and Maryland which recently enacted increases that fall short of $15.

According to Michelle Chen’s reporting at The Nation, almost half of all American workers make less than $15 and hour. As the movement has gotten increasingly intersectional — emphasizing the disproportionate affect on women and people of color, they have also gotten more political. Strikes last month ahead of Black Friday and the launch of the holiday shopping season featured workers declaring “Come get my vote.”

Now you can add your support to their campaign.

At FightFor15.org you’ll find the "Fight for $15 Voter Pledge” created with the SEIU. It states “I’m ready to join millions of Americans to build a better future for everyone who works. I pledge to vote for candidates who support the Fight for $15 Voter Agenda in 2016.” That agenda includes:

• $15 *AND* union rights;
• Affordable child care;
• Quality long-term care;
• Addressing racism toward Black America; and
• Immigration reform.

With the holidays around the corner, it’s also a good time to remind people to shop locally and use the #ShopLocal hashtag to post on social media when you frequent places in your community. If you need to shop at the big box stores — and a lot of us have to because of limited finances — you can use the Think Progress guide in the segment notes to see which stores force their employees to work on the holidays and which give them time off with their families.

TAKE ACTION:

SIGN: the Fight for $15 Vote Pledge

POST: when you buy holiday gifts in your community, tag stores and purchases with #ShopLocal to encourage others to do the same.

Additional Activism/Resources:

SUPPORT good business by using the Think Progress "Holiday Shopping Guide" to see which companies force employees to work holidays.

Sources/further reading:

”Almost Half of All American Workers Make Less Than $15 an Hour” by Michelle Chen at The Nation

"Republicans divided by income over government’s role in ‘safety net’ issues” via Pew Research Center

"Stronger Unions Are the Way to Rebalance Our Economy” by Dorian Warren via Newsweek

"Walmart Threatens City Council For Considering Minimum Wage Increase” at ThinkProgress

"How One City Is Making Sure Bosses Comply With Wage Theft and Paid Sick Leave Laws” at In These Times

"Truth Needle: Is $15 wage dooming Seattle restaurants? Owners say no” at The Seattle Times

"'Do unions still matter?' 5 answers I've offered to my father-in-law when he asks that question.”

Hear the segment in context:

Episode #973 "Trouble at the old pharm (Health Care)"

Written by BOTL social media/activism director Katie Klabusich

You’ve reached the activism portion of today’s show. Now that you’re informed and angry, here’s what you can do about it. Today’s activism: Tell Your Senator to Make Refugees Welcome & Support The International Rescue Committee.

As we said in last week’s activism "Oppose the American SAFE Act of 2015” — which was part of the start of our coverage of the Paris attacks, the political fall-out in this country, and the refugee crisis — congress and many of our republican governors are attempting to turn their backs on people seeking political asylum during a time of war. If you haven’t, definitely go back and sign the letter from The Nation and use ContactingTheCongress.org to let your reps know how you feel.

If signing a letter and sending a few tweets — or even making a few phone calls — left you somewhat unsatisfied as the villainizing of refugees as a potential “foreign terrorist threat” has continued unabated, today’s activism is for you. The International Rescue Committee is a non-profit founded at the request of Albert Eistein, who was himself a refugee. Their mission is: “to respond to the world’s worst humanitarian crises & help people to survive, recover, and gain control of their future.”

At the IRC site — Rescue.org — you can donate and sign their petition "Tell your Senator to Make #RefugeesWelcome” which asks congress to support Syrian and Iraqi refugee resettlement. Also through their homepage or by going directly to Gifts.Rescue.org you can choose a specific gift to send to a refugee — select from items like blankets, temporary shelters, light, emergency medical supplies and more.

Not that we should need a direct tie to a cause to feel compassion and want to help, but certainly if you need one, the refugee crisis in Syria and the surrounding area is a situation the US is at least partially responsible for. We have a humanitarian obligation to do what we can to alleviating the suffering we had a hand in creating.

TAKE ACTION:

SIGN: "Tell your Senator to Make #RefugeesWelcome: Ask Congress to Support Syrian and Iraqi Refugee Resettlement & Stand for Welcome”

DONATE: Make a lifesaving gift that supports refugee families caught in the world’s most urgent humanitarian crisis.

GIVE A GIFT: RESCUE GIFTS: Symbolic Gifts. Real Rescue.

Additional Activism/Resources:

LIKE & FOLLOW: the International Rescue Committee (IRC) on Facebook and on Twitter

RETWEET: "FACT. Entering the US as a refugee is by far the most difficult and complex of all routes in. #RefugeesWelcome” from IRC: International Rescue Committee

Related Best of the Left Action (11-23-2015): "Oppose the American SAFE Act of 2015 via @TheNation”

Sources/further reading:

Stay up on the latest via the “Refugee Crisis” page at IRC: International Rescue Committee

"Texas official threatens to sue aid group helping Syrian refugees relocate” at The Guardian

"White House promises governors more transparency on Syrian refugees” at USA Today

"Male Refugees Deserve Asylum, Too” at The Establishment

Hear the segment in context:

Episode #972 "Classic American Xenophobia (Refugee Crisis)"

Written by BOTL social media/activism director Katie Klabusich

You’ve reached the activism portion of today’s show. Now that you’re informed and angry, here’s what you can do about it. Today’s activism: Oppose the American SAFE Act of 2015.

Next episode we’ll dive deeper into the content devoted specifically to the Syrian refugee crisis, but with the urgency of a pending vote, we’re not waiting a week to take action on this dangerous legislation.

A sizable percentage of Congress is so terrified of Isis that they’re attempting to pass legislation to make an already excruciatingly exclusionary process — applying for political asylum — basically impossible. The US has only agreed to take 10,000 of the 4 million Syrian refugees as it is; the American SAFE Act would halt their entry into the country.

France, on the other hand, isn’t turning away the climate summit or the refugees coming to them for help. “Some people say the tragic events of the last few days have sown doubts in their minds,” French President Hollande said, adding that taking people in is a “humanitarian duty.”

TheNation.com has put out a letter reminding Congress of our country’s part in creating the climate that has lead to the current crisis, admonishing the 30 republican governors illegally refusing to take in refugees, and asking Congress to act with humanity. You can add your name through the “Open Letter to Congress: do not cede to fear” link on The Nation’s homepage.

Then, speak out against The American SAFE Act which passed the House 289-137 — a majority that includes 47 democrats.

Look up your senators and representatives using ContactingTheCongress.org where you can get everything from their mailing address to their social media handles. Then use the vote list compiled at HuffPo to let the 46 democrats in The House who voted for the bill know you’re holding them accountable. And tell your Senators to vote NO on The American SAFE Act of 2015 when it comes to the floor.

TAKE ACTION:

SIGN & SHARE: "An Open Letter to Congress: Do Not Cede to Fear” via The Nation

Find out how your reps voted: "Here's A List Of The Democrats Who Voted To Shut The Door On Syrian Refugees” via HuffingtonPost & use ContactingTheCongress.org to admonish them for their support & encourage your senators to vote no.

Sources/further reading:

H.R. 4038: American SAFE Act of 2015 via GovTrack.us</>

"After Attacks, France Increases Its Commitment To Refugees” at ThinkProgress

#AmericaWelcomes #SyrianRefugees via @MoveOn & @thenation — Best of the Left Activism via episode #959 "The angels of our better nature are being tested (Syrian Refugee Crisis)”

"Paul Ryan’s Alarmist Syrian-Refugee Move Is Playing With Fire” via The Nation

"An update on our refugee work this week” via MoveOn.org

"Could the government shut down over refugees?” via CNN.com

"8 famous Americans with Syrian roots” — including Jerry Seinfeld, Steve Jobs, & Paula Abdul via NY Daily News

"These Famous People Were Refugees” — including Sigmund Freud, Gloria Estefan, Albert Einstein, Henry Kissenger, & Karl Marx via HuffPost

"Senate Dems vow to block refugee bill”

Hear the segment in context:

Episode #971 "Trouble at the old pharm (Health Care)"

Written by BOTL social media/activism director Katie Klabusich

You’ve reached the activism portion of today’s show. Now that you’re informed and angry, here’s what you can do about it. Today’s activism: #YearWithoutTamir.

A recent study titled “Black Millennials in America” created by Black Youth Project and reported on at Colorlines found that 54% of young black people say that either they or someone they know have been harassed by police or been the victim of police violence.

Perhaps it’s no surprise, then, that the independent investigations into the killing of 12-year-old Cleveland child Tamir Rice found no wrong doing on the part of the officer who pulled the trigger. Retired FBI agent Kimberly Crawford wrote in her report that Officer Lehmann couldn’t have known Tamir’s gun was fake.

As reported in the New York Times, Crawford explained that:

“The question is not whether every officer would have reacted the same way...Rather, the relevant inquiry is whether a reasonable officer, confronting the exact same scenario under identical conditions could have concluded that deadly force was necessary.”

Cleveland.com quotes the Florida law enforcement officer and instructor who also investigated the shooting as saying:

"This unquestionably was a tragic loss of life, but to compound the tragedy by labeling the officers' conduct as anything but objectively reasonable would also be a tragedy.”

Right. Tragedy.

On the anniversary of Tamir Rice’s murder, his family has asked for our solidarity and our action. The group Ferguson Action invites people around the country to join the Rice family and the community of Cleveland to join them as they honor his life and continue to fight for justice.

At FergusonAction.com you can pledge to take action by signing on to the statement:

"I PLEDGE TO STAND WITH THE FAMILY OF TAMIR RICE AND THE COMMUNITY OF CLEVELAND. WE DEMAND JUSTICE FOR TAMIR RICE AND AN AN END TO THE WAR AGAINST BLACK CHILDREN.”

You can also find an action happening this weekend in your area or create one if there isn’t an action scheduled. The hashtag #YearWithoutTamir is being used to coordinate and amplify actions around the country, so be sure to follow now through Sunday as participants post live updates.

TAKE ACTION:

SIGN: "I pledge to stand with the family of Tamir Rice…” via Ferguson Action

JOIN: #YearWithoutTamir Actions around the country via Ferguson Action

Sources/further reading:

"2 Outside Reviews Say Cleveland Officer Acted Reasonably in Shooting Tamir Rice, 12” at The New York Times

"New report finds Tamir Rice shooting tragic but reasonable” at Cleveland.com

Intersection Episode 9: "Tamir Rice Has Been Dead for a Year: Host Jamil Smith looks back at the police killing of a 12-year-old boy in his hometown, Cleveland.”

"Cleveland, On the Brink” by Jamil Smith at The New Republic

"Tamir Rice's mother to testify before Grand Jury” at WKYC.com

"Outrage Is Growing Over the Tamir Rice Investigation: Is the grand jury process stacked in favor of the cop who killed the 12-year-old?” at Mother Jones

"STUDY: Half of Black Millenials Know a Victim of Police Violence, Still See Cops as Protectors” at Colorlines

Hear the segment in context:

Episode #970 "The power of solidarity (Racial Justice)"

Written by BOTL social media/activism director Katie Klabusich

You’ve reached the activism portion of today’s show. Now that you’re informed and angry, here’s what you can do about it. Today’s activism: Save Susiya.

Susiya is a Palestinian village in Hebron Hills — part of the Occupied West Bank. Over the summer it was marked for imminent demolition by the Israeli army, which would have displaced 340 people. A campaign by Rebuilding Alliance and other groups lead to protests in the European Union and lead to Israel lifting the demolition date, but with violence continuing — over 2000 Palestinians have been injured since the beginning of October, the village is hardly safe from destruction.

Just since the beginning of October, over 2000 Palestinians have been injured and 77 have been killed. Illegal settlements in the West Bank fuel the clashes. Prime Minister Netanyahu attempted to downplay the size of the illegal settlements at the Center For American Progress this week, saying that settlement construction has made up a tiny fraction of built up land — around one-tenth of one percent. The reality is that settlements technically cover one percent of the West Bank, but with ten percent of the West Bank included in what’s called the “municipal area,” around 40% of the land is off-limits to Palestinians with hundreds of kilometers of roads that further divide and destroy Palestinian territory.

Jewish Voice for Peace — who’s mission includes seeking an end to the Israeli occupation of the West Bank, Gaza Strip, and East Jerusalem; an end to violence against civilians; and peace and justice for all peoples of the Middle East — has a petition at JewishVoiceForPeace.org asking John Kerry to pressure the Israeli government to prevent the destruction of Susiya and recognize the right of the Palestinian families who live there to plan their futures on the land they rightfully own.

A recent Mic.com photo essay — "16 Eye-Opening Photos Show What It's Like Going Back to School in Palestine and Israel” — shows why Jewish Voice for Peace and others have left up their campaigns in support of Susiya despite the threat of demolition being downgraded from imminent to “on hold.” The terrain that very young school children must navigate is overshadowed only by the threat of harassment and violence.

It isn’t enough that the demolition equipment isn’t currently stationed at Susiya’s edge. When our government regularly reminds the world that we are “a friend to Israel,” the violence and human rights atrocities committed in the West Bank have our name on them. Sign the petition at JewishVoiceForPeace.org asking Secretary Kerry to step in. You can also follow the #EndTheOccupation hashtag to keep up on the latest not reported by our corporate media.

TAKE ACTION:

SIGN: Tell John Kerry to Defend Susiya! via Jewish Voice for Peace

FOLLOW: #EndTheOccupation & #IsraeliIncitement

Additional Activism/Resources:

SIGN: "Free Political Refugees Hisham Shaban Ghalia and Mounis Hammouda From ICE custody” via Not1More

Sources/further reading:

5 Questions Prime Minister Netanyahu Should be Asked Today via Amnesty International

"Families from threatened Palestinian villages Susiya and Um al-Kheir bring their stories to the US” at Mondoweiss

"Israel, Don’t Level My Village” — Nasser Nawaja at The New York Times

"16 Eye-Opening Photos Show What It's Like Going Back to School in Palestine and Israel” at Mic.com

"Mapping the dead in latest Israeli-Palestinian violence”

Hear the segment in context:

Episode #968 "The continuing quagmire of an apartheid state (Israel/Palestine)"

Written by BOTL social media/activism director Katie Klabusich