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Alerts, January-March 2005
	More Recent Items \| Earlier Items \| JANUARY-MARCH 2005

29 Mar 2005 (Tue), 5:35 p.m. PST / Wed 01:35 GMT [UPDATES/ALERTS]

	Myers Still Doesn't Belong on Bench: Bush tries again to put a former cattle-industry lobbyist and committed anti-environmentalist on Western-states appeals court.
28 Mar 2005 (Mon), 5:35 p.m. PST / Tue 01:35 GMT [UPDATES/ALERTS]

	Demand Transparent Government: New bill aims to stop trend toward government secrecy by strengthening the Freedom of Information Act.
27 Mar 2005 (Sun), 2:45 p.m. PST / 22:45 GMT [UPDATES/ENVIRONMENT]

	Alaska Refuge Battle Isn't Over Yet: Despite Senate's vote, pressure on Congress and corporations could still prevent drilling in ANWR.
22 Mar 2005 (Tue), 5:10 p.m. PST / Wed 01:10 GMT [UPDATES/ALERTS]

	Don't Roll Back Family Leave Act: Business organizations reportedly pressing the Bush administration to weaken law that gives workers right to time off for personal and family medical needs.
21 Mar 2005 (Mon), 1:15 p.m. PST / 21:15 GMT [UPDATES/ENVIRONMENT]

	Urge Carmakers to Use Safer Plastics: Auto manufacturers continue to make heavy use of plastics that contain toxic materials, even though safe, practical alternatives are available today.
20 Mar 2005 (Sun), 6:15 p.m. PST / Mon 02:15 GMT [UPDATES/ALERTS] Updated 26 May 2005 (Thu), 5:50 p.m. PST / Fri 00:50 GMT

	Don't Give the U.N. the Finger: The nomination of John Bolton to be U.S. ambassador to the United Nations is a resounding declaration of contempt for the organization and the rest of the world. Dems force delay until June; Republican urges rejecting Bolton.
17 Mar 2005 (Thu), 7:20 p.m. PST / Fri 03:20 GMT [UPDATES/MIDEAST]

	Join Antiwar Demos March 19-20: On the second anniversary of the U.S. attack on Iraq, marches, rallies, teach-ins, and other events are planned in more than 725 cities in all 50 states.
15 Mar 2005 (Tue), 6:40 p.m. PST / Wed 02:40 GMT [UPDATES/MIDEAST] Updated 17 Mar 2005 (Thu), 6:20 p.m. PST / Fri 02:30 GMT

Oppose Funding for Bush's Wars: House votes on Bush's request for another $81 billion to continue the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

As expected, House has approved funding.

	15 Mar 2005 (Tue), 6:04 p.m. PST / Wed 02:04 GMT [UPDATES/NUCLEAR ISSUES]
		Remind Reps: No Means no on New Nukes: Congress last year killed funding for new nuclear weapons, but Bush budget tries to bring it back.

14 Mar 2005 (Mon), 9:55 p.m. PST / Tue 05:55 GMT [UPDATES/ENVIRONMENT] Updated 16 Mar 2005 (Wed), 5:15 p.m. PST / Thu 01:15 GMT
	Red Alert on the Arctic Refuge: The fate of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is likely to be decided within days. The Senate voted to allow oil drilling in the Refuge; final passage not assured.
13 Mar 2005 (Sun), 1:40 p.m. PST / 21:40 GMT [UPDATES/ALERTS]

	No U.S. Military Aid to Indonesia: Bush wants to let Indonesia resume participation in a U.S. military training program, even though its military continues to violate human rights and evade accountability for past crimes in East Timor and elsewhere.

11 Mar 2005 (Fri), 6:15 p.m. PST / Sat 02:15 GMT [UPDATES/ALERTS]

	Support New Election-Reform Bills: Urge your legislators to co-sponsor bills that would set fair, uniform national standards for elections and require paper ballots and other safeguards for machines. [11 Mar 2005]
9 Mar 2005 (Wed), 11:15 p.m. PST / Thu 07:15 GMT [UPDATES/ALERTS] Updated 23 Mar 2005 (Wed), 9:30 p.m. PST / Thu 05:35 GMT

	Ask India to Keep Making Generics: Generic retroviral drugs from India have been a lifeline for hundreds of thousands of AIDS victims in developing countries, but now India is weighing a law that could make future production impossible. India passed a new patent law that is slightly less restrictive than was feared. More.
8 Mar 2005 (Tue), 6:15 p.m. PST / Wed 02:15 GMT [UPDATES/ENVIRONMENT]

	End the Violence, Save the Amazon: Urge government of Brazil to follow up on its recent pledges with quick and effective action to stop illegal logging and development of rainforest region.
7 Mar 2005 (Mon), 4:50 p.m. PST / Tue 00:50 GMT [UPDATES/ALERTS]

	Keep Public Review for Forest Plans: Bush administration wants to exempt federal forest-management plans from public environmental review.
5 Mar 2005 (Sat), 4:55 p.m. PST / Sun 00:55 GMT [UPDATES/ALERTS]

	Don't Let Bush Wreck Social Security: Tell your legislators to stand firm against Bush-backed "reforms" that would wreck a vital program that works.
1 Mar 2005 (Tue), 11:00 a.m. PST / 19:00 GMT [UPDATES/ENVIRONMENT] Updated 3 Jun 2005 (Fri), 8:35 a.m. PDT / 15:35 GMT

	Keep Untreated Sewage Out of Rivers: EPA has shelved plan that would let sewage authorities dump partially treated, pathogen-laden wastewater into nation's waterways.
26 Feb 2005 (Sat), 10:35 a.m. PST / 18:35 GMT [UPDATES/ALERTS] Updated 13 Mar 2005 (Sun), 1:35 p.m. PST / 21:35 GMT

Reject U.S.-Funded Discrimination: House is set to vote on a bill that would allow organizations receiving federal funds to discriminate in hiring on the basis of religion.

House passed the bill; now goes to Senate "HELP" Committee.

24 Feb 2005 (Thu), 6:25 p.m. PST / Fri 02:25 GMT [UPDATES/ALERTS]
	Block Sneak Attack on Arctic Refuge: While friends of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge propose to give it permanent protection, drilling lobby plots to slip its plan into a must-pass budget bill.

22 Feb 2005 (Tue), 5:40 p.m. PST / Wed 01:40 GMT [UPDATES/ENVIRONMENT]

	Don't Let Ancient Trees Go Down Toilet: Paper maker Kimberly-Clark relies on virgin fiber, including pulp from Canada's precious boreal forest, to make tissues and toilet paper.
21 Feb 2005 (Mon), 3:45 p.m. PST / 23:45 GMT [UPDATES/ALERTS]

	Tell Wal-Mart to Recognize Union: Protest retail giant's plans to shut down Canadian store where workers had formed a union.
19 Feb 2005 (Sat), 6:45 p.m. PST / Sun 02:45 GMT [UPDATES/ALERTS]

	Stop Harassment of Russian Critic: Noted human-rights defender may face prosecution for publishing articles critical of Russian government policies in Chechnya.
16 Feb 2005 (Wed), 3:45 p.m. PST / 23:45 GMT [UPDATES/ENVIRONMENT]

	Push Washington for Climate Action: The Kyoto Protocol on global warming went into effect on 16 Feb 2005 - without U.S. participation. Demand that the United States take action to cut greenhouse-gas emissions.
13 Feb 2005 (Sun), 6:50 p.m. PST / Mon 02:50 GMT [UPDATES/ALERTS]

	Keep Tracking Data on Women's Work: Tell Bureau of Labor Statistics not to stop collecting data on women's employment.
11 Feb 2005 (Fri), 1:35 p.m. PST / 21:35 GMT [UPDATES/ALERTS]

	Fairness in Flowers - and Candy: If you're buying candy or flowers for Valentine's Day, think of the farmers and workers who produced them, and consider the organic option.
9 Feb 2005 (Wed), 2:15 p.m. PST / 22:15 GMT [UPDATES/ALERTS] Updated 10 Feb 2005 (Thu), 1:05 p.m. PST / 21:05 GMT

	Don't Let Homeland Security Ignore Laws: House passed a bill with a provision that would exempt Department of Homeland Security from all federal and state laws when building near borders. Urge your senators to kill it.
7 Feb 2005 (Mon), 6:00 p.m. PST / Tue 02:00 GMT [UPDATES/ALERTS] Updated 16 Feb 2005 (Wed), 3:10 a.m. PST / 11:10 GMT

	Call Congress to Oppose War Funding: Oppose another $80 billion for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
6 Feb 2005 (Sun), 3:10 p.m. PST / 23:10 GMT [UPDATES/ENVIRONMENT] Updated 19 Feb 2005 (Sat), 6:45 p.m. PST/Sun 02:45 GMT

	Felony charges dropped; as activists begin their (non-felony) jail time, send support messages to them (click "new topic") and tell Pennsylvania to force polluter to clean up. Free the Smokestack Six: Greenpeace activists face felony charges for scaling a polluting smokestack and unfurling a banner reading "The Bush Energy Plan Kills - Clean Energy Now!"
4 Feb 2005 (Fri), 10:50 p.m. PST / Sat 06:50 GMT [UPDATES/ALERTS]

	VIVA Verified Voting: Bipartisan Voter Integrity and Verification Act (VIVA) would require that electronic voting machines produce a verifiable paper trail by 2006.
3 Feb 2005 (Thu), 4:05 p.m. PST / Fri 00:05 GMT [UPDATES/ALERTS]

	Help Immigrant Meatpackers Keep Union: Workers at a Tyson meatpacking plant - most of them Latino, Bosnian, and Vietnamese immigrants - are battling a management campaign to break their union.
1 Feb 2005 (Tue), 1:59 p.m. PST / 21:59 GMT [UPDATES/ALERTS]

	Free Rights Activists Held in Sudan: Leader of organization monitoring violations of human rights in Darfur region detained by Sudanese security forces.
30 Jan 2005 (Sun), 3:50 p.m. PST / 23:50 GMT [UPDATES/ALERTS]

	Free Guatemalan Activist: On trumped-up charges, government arrests leader of peaceful grassroots campaign for reparations for victims of Chixoy dam construction and accompanying massacres.
28 Jan 2005 (Fri), 4:10 p.m. PST / Sat 00:10 GMT [UPDATES/ALERTS]

	Demand Sanitation for Farm Workers: Tell California to enforce working-condition laws.
26 Jan 2005 (Wed), 12:45 p.m. PST / 20:45 GMT [UPDATES/ALERTS]

	Stop Plan to Put Radical Right on Court: Republicans want to destroy Democrats' ability to block appointment of far-right extremists.
24 Jan 2005 (Mon), 4:15 p.m. PST / Tuesday 00:15 GMT [UPDATES/ALERTS] Updated 25 Jan 2005 (Tue), 12:40 p.m. PST / 20:40 GMT

	Last Chance: Oppose Condoleezza: Tell Senators not to approve Rice for Secretary of State. Rice confirmed 85-13 -- a record number of "no" votes.
22 Jan 2005 (Sat), 5:25 p.m. PST / Sun 01:25 GMT [UPDATES/ENVIRONMENT]

	Seek Stricter New-Plant Guidelines: Proposed FDA guidelines on new bio-engineered food plants do nothing to protect consumers, farmers, or the environment.
20 Jan 2005 (Thu), 3:30 p.m. PST / 23:30 GMT [UPDATES/ALERTS]

	Stop FBI Spying on Free Speech: Without consulting Congress, Attorney General Ashcroft restructured FBI guidelines to allow spying on religious and political activity even when there is no suspicion of criminality.
18 Jan 2005 (Tue), 3:55 a.m. PST / 23:55 GMT [UPDATES/ALERTS] Updated 3 Feb 2005 (Thu), 1:40 p.m. PST / 21:40 GMT

	Last Chance to Say No to Gonzales: Senate Judiciary Committee to vote on nomination of Alberto Gonzales for attorney general. Senate has confirmed nomination with just 60 votes.
16 Jan 2005 (Sun), 9:40 a.m. PST / 17:40 GMT [UPDATES/DEATH PENALTY] Updated 19 Jan 2005 (Wed), 12:35 a.m. PST / 08:35 GMT

	Stop Execution of Brain-Damaged Man: Jury was not told that right hemisphere of convicted murderer's brain is almost totally non-functional. Beardslee was executed Wednesday 12:29 a.m. PST. Call for death-penalty moratorium.
15 Jan 2005 (Sat), 6:10 p.m. PST / Sun 02:10 GMT [UPDATES/ALERTS]

	Cancel Poorest Countries' Debt: Urge Treasury Secretary to pursue complete cancellation of poorest countries' debts at meeting of the "Group of 7."
13 Jan 2005 (Thu), 4:10 p.m. PST / Fri 00:10 GMT [UPDATES/ENVIRONMENT]

	Arctic Refuge Battle Heating Up Again: Republican leaders in Congress pushing for quick vote on bill that would open huge arctic wildlife sanctuary for oil drilling.
11 Jan 2005 (Tue), 4:25 p.m. PST / Wed 00:25 GMT [UPDATES/ALERTS]

	Just Say No to Abstinence-Only: The federal government continues to increase funding for abstinence-only sex-education programs that are based on misleading curricula and haven't proven effective.
9 Jan 2005 (Sun), 10:45 p.m. PST / Mon 06:45 GMT [UPDATES/ENVIRONMENT]

	Keep Pharma Crops Away From Our Food: As scientists genetically engineer plants to produce pharmaceutical and industrial chemicals, ask feds to take action to prevent contamination of food crops.
7 Jan 2005 (Fri), 1:03 p.m. PST / 21:03 GMT [UPDATES/ALERTS]

	Join Counter-Inaugural Protests: Protests planned on and around Inauguration Day (20 Jan 2005) in Washington, DC and many other U.S. locations.
5 Jan 2005 (Wed), 1:50 p.m. PST / 21:50 GMT [UPDATES/ENVIRONMENT]

	Tell Domenici to Look to Renewables: Chair of Senate Energy Committee seeks suggestions from the public on what to do about rising natural-gas prices.
4 Jan 2005 (Tue), 4:15 p.m. PST / Wed 00:15 GMT [UPDATES/ALERTS] Updated 7 Jan 2004 (Thu), 11:40 a.m. PST / 19:40 GMT

	No to Torture: No to Gonzales: "Tough questions" are not enough - urge nominee for Attorney General to sign pledge renouncing torture, AND ask Senators to vote him down. CBS editor blasts Gonzales - and Dems who are expected to help confirm him.
2 Jan 2005 (Sun), 1:05 p.m. PST / 21:05 GMT [UPDATES/ALERTS] Updated Wed, 4 Jan 2005 and Thu, 5 Jan 2005

Repair Broken Electoral System: Urge Congress to pursue comprehensive election reform in next Congressional session.

Reps. Conyers, Tubbs Jones object to certifying Ohio results in House; Sen. Boxer objects in Senate; thank Boxer.

Motion fails in Senate (74-1) and House (267-31); Bush election certified.

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