WNPJ Action Alerts - Week of June 28

Submitted by admin on Sat, 06/26/2010 - 6:35pm

Action Alert 1 - Madison: Attorney General Holder to hear comments on lack of competition in dairy industry
Action Alert 2: New opportunity to bring pressure against $33 billion war-escalation bill
Action Alert 3: Demand Commission of Inquiry into torture; two new educational videos available
Action Alert 4: Thank judge for freeing SOA protester
Action Alert 5: Close NRA loophole in campaign disclosure bill
Action Alert 6: Milwaukee Tech College "Boycott Arizona" resolution provides a model



Action Alert 1 - Madison: Attorney General Holder to hear comments on lack of competition in dairy industry
Background: Corporate control and consolidation in the dairy industry has reached the point where one company (Deans) now controls 40 percent of all conventional fluid milk sold in the U.S. As a result, farmers now receive only 97 cents for every $2.99 gallon of milk and less than $1.00 for every $4.99 pound of cheddar cheese produced. In 2008, Dairy Farmers of America (DFA) was fined $12 million for market manipulation at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME), yet the dairy giants continue the same illegal practices today.
Take Action: On Friday, June 25th, Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsak and Attorney General Eric Holder will be in Madison for a public forum on the lack of competition in the dairy industry. Please attend the expert panel and public comment period, from 9:00 am - 6:00 pm at the UW-Madison Memorial Union, WI Union Theater and join family farmers, consumer advocates, and others in calling upon the USDA and DoJ to take strong anti-trust action now. Pre-register here... Family Farm Defenders has other related events this week here...
Contact for more info: John Peck, Executive Director, Family Farm Defenders, 608-260-0900, familyfarmdefenders@yahoo.com

Action Alert 2: New opportunity to bring pressure against $33 billion war-escalation bill
Background:  For more than a month, the House Appropriations committee has been considering a request from the Obama administration for $33 billion to pay for sending 30,000 additional U.S. troops to Afghanistan. Now, Appropriations chair Dave Obey has announced he will block the war-funding bill until Congress also appropriates funds for domestic programs including Medicaid assistance, money to prevent teacher layoffs, and unemployment insurance extension. Senate Republicans successfully filibustered an unemployment insurance extension, ensuring that the impasse will continue into next week.
Take Action: This standoff provides additional time to bring pressure on House members to vote against war-escalation funding. Please contact your member of Congress to urge them to vote against the $33 billion in war-escalation funding when it finally does come to the floor of the House, regardless of what other positive measures may be attached to it (earlier drafts of the bill included aid to Haiti, a perverse way to help the people of Haiti by harming the people of Afghanistan.)
Contact for more info: David Swanson, WarIsACrime.org, contact here...

Action Alert 3: Demand Commission of Inquiry into torture; two new educational videos available
Background: In June, Physicians for Human Rights unveiled a report  detailing the alleged involvement of U.S. military and intelligence health professionals in experiments utilizing "enhanced interrogation techniques" on detainees captured after 9/11. These revelations give new urgency to establishing a Commission of Inquiry to undertake a comprehensive investigation into our nation's use of torture - including its use in medical experiments.
Take Action: 1) Call your Congressional Representatives to urge them to demand a Commission of Inquiry into U.S. torture practices. 2) Help educate the public using materials from the National Religious Campaign Against Torture - organize a showing in your place of worship or other public venue for two short videos, "Accounting for Torture: Being Faithful to our Values," and "Ending U.S.-Sponsored Torture Forever."
Contact for more info: Wisconsin Council of Churches, wcoc@wichurches.org

Action Alert 4: Thank judge for freeing SOA protester
Background: Last week, Michael Walli was sentenced to six months in federal prison for crossing on to Fort Benning property while engaged in a protest against the U.S. Army's School of the Americas, a site notorious for its role in training many human-rights abusers in the militaries of many Central and South American countries. But only three days after his sentencing, Michael was freed by order of U.S. Magistrate G. Mallon Faircloth, who had initially sentenced Michael but later reduced Michael's sentence to time served.
Take Action: Please contact Judge Faircloth (Judge G. Mallon Faircloth, U.S. Magistrate Judge, Post Office Box 117, Columbus, GA 31902-01) to commend him for doing the right thing in Michael Walli's case. Please also ask him to order the release of other Prisoners of Conscience that he incarcerated, who are currently serving time for protest actions against the SOA. You can also call Courtroom Clerk Terrie Smith (706-653-2942) to leave a message of thanks.
Contact for more info: SOA Watch, 202-234 3440, contact form here...

Action Alert 5: Close NRA loophole in campaign disclosure bill
Background: In an attempt to undo some of the damage caused by the Supreme Court's decision in the Citizen's United case, some members of Congress have authored the Disclose Act, which would require corporations, labor unions and non-profit organizations that oppose or support candidates in political campaigns to disclose their major funding sources.  But the National Rifle Association has threatened to muster its formidable lobbying power against the legislation unless it was exempted from key donor disclosure requirements. In response to the NRA's threat, Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) created a carve-out for the NRA and a few other powerful organizations by creating a two-tiered system that exempts the biggest special-interest organizations.  
Take Action: Wisconsin Anti Violence Effort (WAVE) has created an online petition urging Congress to remove the NRA exemption and restore integrity to the bill. Please sign the petition here...
Contact for more info: Wisconsin Anti Violence Effort, 414-351-9283, wave@WaveEdFund.org

Action Alert 6: Milwaukee Tech College "Boycott Arizona" resolution provides a model
Background: Two weeks ago, the Board of Milwaukee Area Technical College voted to join the growing "Boycott Arizona" movement with a ban on any purchase by the college of goods and services from Arizona-based businesses, in response to Arizona's enactment of SB1070, a harsh anti-immigrant bill that requires police to stop and question any person if they have a "reasonable suspicion" that the person lacks proper immigration documents. Since then, a College representative reports that phone calls praising the decision are greatly outnumbering calls in opposition.
Take Action: Please consider introducing a similar "Boycott Arizona" resolution in your own place of worship, union, educational institution or town council. Language from the MATC resolution is here...
Contact for more info: Cindy Breunig, Voces de la Frontera,  414-643-1620, cindyvoces@gmail.com
 

WNPJ posts these weekly alerts, based on information received from member organizations, individual members and national affiliates. If you are a WNPJ member and have an alert you would like posted in this weekly WNPJ Action Alert e-bulletin, please send it for review to Steve Burns, WNPJ Program Director at: outreach@wnpj.org