Town Hall Meeting

U.S. political leaders and their megaphone (also known as the corporate media) are using the Terry Schiavo case to distract Americans from issues that actually affect their lives. If they care about life so much, then how can they let a single Iraqi civilian die from their bombs? And if they believe dying means they get to go be with God, why won’t they let this woman go to heaven when it is obviously her time to go?

Sign MoveOn’s new petition to leaders of Congress to stop using a couple’s tragedy for political gain.

Sign ActForChange’s petition to prevent Congress from slashing the budget for Medicaid, which would genuinely help America’s sick.

I attended one of the protests around the world today, this one in Los Angeles. I was hoping to see 1,000 people come out, on this rainy day. By the time the march through Hollywood started, there were about 10,000 people there. It was a beautiful event, everybody was on the same wavelength-no more war, stopping the ruling elite from killing for their profit, and there is no mistake about the connection of Iraq and Palestine. This protest is just another example that if this many people are willing to march in the rain, how many more are out there that want this vicious, illegal war to end? Of course, if you watch the chicken shit American media tonight, you won’t hear a peep about these protests. 100,000 people protested in London alone today. There were protests all over the world. The people want change, and are showing strong solidarity. The mainstream media is doing everything they can to muzzle us. I have not yet seen (I know, it won’t happen) news coverage from corporate media that actually interviews the protestors or shows footage of some of the speeches. Corporations are against us, but it is very encouraging to see the mass amount of support out there today.

Tie a Green Ribbon

Unite Around the Arctic Refuge

America’s Arctic Refuge is in danger. This week, oil interests came one step closer to ruining the wild coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge with sprawling oil development. In a backdoor scheme cooked up by drilling proponents, the U.S. Senate has included language in the Federal Budget that could remove protections prohibiting oil development in the biological heart of the Refuge. But the fight is far from over!

Make a statement today. Show your solidarity for America’s Arctic Refuge with a visible symbol — a green ribbon. Tie it in your yard, hang it on your home, pin it on your clothes or wear it around your wrist. Then pass it on. Give ribbons to your friends and family.

Millions of Americans feel strongly about this issue — and together we will NOT be ignored. Show your support until Congress assures us that the Arctic Refuge is safe from oil drills.

For more information contact The Wilderness Society www.wilderness.org

Mark the second year of war on Iraq by demonstrating your opinion in solidarity with millions of others. There will be demonstrations everywhere. Find one in almost all 50 states here, or go to our “Get Involved/Demonstrations” page. Read this amazing speech, from the World Social Forum, about why showing our disgust with this war is so important.

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* WILDALERT — Friday, March 11, 2005
* Brought to you by The Wilderness Society
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ARCTIC REFUGE ACTION NEEDED

This week, the House and Senate budget committees split over
whether or not to include proposals to allow drilling in
America’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to be included in the
federal budget. The Senate budget has such a provision; the
House bill does not.

During the next 4-5 days, we ask you to bear with us as we ask
you to again take action. Today and Monday, we urgently need
your phone calls and faxes to your representative in the House.
Early next week we will ask you to contact your senators. More
detail is below.

CALL NOW

You can call the switchboard 202-224-3121, or use our online
contact directory to look up the direct phone number for your
representative.

Your message:
Please do all you can to ensure that the House Budget does not
allow drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
If you cannot call, please click here to send an email.

BACKGROUND

House Bill Free of Arctic Refuge Provision

This week, the House and Senate Budget Committees marked up the
budget. The House budget resolution has no Arctic provision in
it.
But drilling proponents may still have opportunities to slip
Arctic drilling past the House through the budget process, if
House Members are not actively vigilant. We need you to keep
pressure on your Representative to make sure that this cannot
happen.

Senate Bill Includes Arctic Refuge Drilling

In the Senate, Senate Budget Committee Chairman Judd Gregg
(R-NH) decided to include the controversial drilling provision
in the Senate version. Despite opposition from several Senators
in his own party, Senator Gregg said he thought it was
“reasonable” to assume that the drilling provision would remain
in the budget. Our WildAlert members in New Hampshire are
working hard to deliver a message to Sen. Gregg that this
position is unacceptable.

During the budget committee meeting, Senator Russ Feingold
(D-WI) offered an amendment to strip the Arctic drilling
provision out of the budget resolution. The amendment failed on
a straight party-line vote, 10-12.

Next week, the Senate is scheduled to have a floor debate on the
budget resolution. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) will go to the
Senate floor with an amendment to remove the provision that
allows drilling in America’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
Please take action today or Monday!

As you can see, our efforts to protect the unequalled Arctic
Refuge are far from over.

WE NEED YOUR CALLS AND EMAILS TO THE HOUSE TODAY AND MONDAY!

Call the switchboard 202-224-3121 or use our online contact
directory to look up the direct phone number for your
Representative.

Your message:
Please do all you can to ensure that the House Budget does not
allow drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

If you want to say more:
Opening the Arctic Refuge to drilling through the budget process
would be fiscally irresponsible, since no one knows the amount
or value of oil that is there. Moreover, it would ruin a
wilderness and wildlife habitat that is unequalled any where on
earth. This is one place where drilling must not take place.

After you call, or if you cannot call, send an email.

Our WildAlert members have done a remarkable job contacting
Congress on this issue. Thank you! With your continued help, we
can ensure the protection of the Arctic Refuge.

WORDS TO INSPIRE

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed
citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that
ever has.” – Margaret Mead

Kathy found this link that will help people find a place in their community where they can get together and help stop the appointments of right wing ideologues to permanent positions in the Federal Judicial system. They will also be discussing privatization of Social Security, the war on Iraq, and winning Congress in 2006. People are meeting this Thursday, March 10.

The U.S. government sold us binary choices, and some people are starting to buy it. They told us “You are either with us, or against us.” Aren’t there other choices?

Jill found this article about a liberal that became a neo-conservative because of September 11.

Kathy found this video defining what fascism is (about 2 minutes) and alluding to what the U.S. government has been doing that falls under the definition.

Listen to this speech given in 1988 (about 3 minutes) by a Democrat who won the state of Michigan by 55% to 28% in that years primary. Democratic leaders today should listen and know that this is what popular Democrats used to stand for. The speech is taken from the documentary by Pacifica called A Passel Of Pomp & A Circus Of Circumstance.