Tag Archives: Business

McDonald’s wants you to “see what we’re made of.” Brace yourself.

The pork in your Egg McMuffin or McRib comes from pigs, of course. What you may not know is that those pigs are birthed by female “breeding” pigs who lead miserable lives, to put it mildly. They live in impossibly small enclosures called “gestation crates,” in which the pigs can barely move. These dirty, restrictive enclosures frequently cause pigs to become covered in sores, open wounds, and infections.

It doesn’t have to be that way: Burger King and Wendy’s have completely phased out gestation crates from their pork supply. Now it’s up to McDonald’s to do the same.

McDonald’s has the power to push its pork suppliers to eliminate gestation crates and improve the lives of female breeding pigs. Please add your name to the petition asking McDonald’s CEO Jim Skinner to ensure McDonald’s pork suppliers stop using gestation crates.

McDonald’s has paid lip service to freeing pigs from gestation crates; in 2007, the company even said moving away from these unnecessary enclosures was “at the top of its agenda.” Five years later, pigs at Smithfield Foods, where McDonald’s buys its pork, are still in gestation grates.

McDonald’s is the biggest customer of Smithfield Foods, the largest pork producer in the world. While Smithfield initially pledged to eliminate gestation crates entirely by 2017, the pork processing corporation went back on its promise in 2009.

Smithfield Foods initially blamed the poor economy for indefinitely sticking its pigs in cramped quarters. Yet now Smithfield is posting record profits, meaning the company can recommit to phasing out gestation crates by 2017.

Meredith Slater started a petition on Change.org asking McDonald’s CEO Jim Skinner to pressure Smithfield to renew its promise and completely phase out gestation crates by 2017. Click here to sign Meredith’s petition to bring McDonald’s in line with the rest of the fast food industry:

http://www.change.org/petitions/mcdonalds-stop-using-pork-from-abused-pigs

Thanks for being a change-maker,

– Michael and the Change.org team

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Unemployed need not apply …Jess Kutch, Change.org

08/18/2011 Nativegrl77

On Monster.com, employers are allowed to prevent anyone who is currently unemployed from applying for a job.

It’s cruel to the millions of Americans out of work — but you can put an end to it this week.

Kelly Wiedemer, who lost her job in 2008, has launched a campaign demanding that Monster.com ban these discriminatory ads. Please click here to sign Kelly’s petition. http://www.change.org/petitions/monstercom-ban-job-listings-that-discriminate-against-the-unemployed?

A nationwide backlash against the company, which treasures its reputation as a website that helps people find jobs, will force Monster.com to act.

Please sign the petition today asking Monster.com to stop discriminating against the unemployed.

http://www.change.org/petitions/monstercom-ban-job-listings-that-discriminate-against-the-unemployed?

Thanks for being a changemaker,

– Jess and the Change.org team

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Bank of America foreclosing on Seattle Nursery

07/21/2011 Nativegrl77

From her home in Seattle, Vera Johnson owns and operates the Village Green Perennial Nursery. A single mother of two kids, she opens her doors to teach her community about plants, composting, sustainability, and more.

Bank of America wants to put a stop to that: The bailed-out bank is trying to foreclose on Vera’s home and business. When Vera’s family fell on hard times, she asked Bank of America for a loan modification, which she is qualified to receive under federal law. For 17 months, Vera has provided endless copies of paperwork, and has been repeatedly told to resubmit lost or misplaced forms.

Despite Vera’s persistence, and Bank of America’s carelessness, the bank is proceeding with foreclosure.

Bank of America didn’t care to help Vera on her own. So Vera stared a petition on Change.org asking Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan to stop the foreclosure and modify her mortgage payments. Can you join Vera and sign the petition to help save her home and business?

Vera’s nursery provides classes and tours for schools and camps, and internships and training programs for local college students. One person who knows Vera and signed her petition said that her business “is a beautiful oasis that is an amazing blessing to the community.” Another of her supporters said simply, “I’d rather have one Vera Johnson in my community than a thousand Bank of Americas.”

Vera started her petition after signing the Change.org petition about Chase Bank foreclosing on a soldier’s home in Oregon, despite every effort by the homeowner to save the house. “Oh my God,” Vera said when she saw the petition. “The same thing is happening to me. I’m going to launch my own campaign.”

Within days of launching her petition, she received a call from the office of Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan. The bank promised to look into Vera’s case, but has yet to help her.

Vera has Bank of America’s attention. If enough people sign her petition, Bank of America will be forced to take action and work with Vera to save her home and business.

Please sign Vera’s petition to Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan to stop the foreclosure and modify mortgage payments for Vera’s home and business:

http://www.change.org/petitions/stop-bofas-foreclosure-on-vera-johnsons-home-business

Thank you for taking action.

– Jess and the Change.org team

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Cement in Silicon Valley …Patrick Schmitt, Change.org

07/15/2011 Nativegrl77

California keeps a list of law-abiding quarries that are allowed to sell cement to government-funded projects. The list protects citizens by preventing quarries that violate state labor, mining, and environmental laws from getting any state funding.

Unfortunately, there’s one major, glaring exception: Lehigh Southwest Permanente Cement and Quarry in Santa Clara County has gotten away with ignoring state requirements since 2002 yet sells 85 percent of its cement to state-funded projects.

Lehigh is one of the top-polluting cement plants in the country — and the largest in an urban area. Their mining operation and manufacturing process pollute the air with mercury and send poisonous byproducts into rivers and creeks.

Cupertino City Councilman Barry Chang has had enough of Lehigh’s hazardous practices and blatant disregard for the law. He’s started a Change.org petition calling on the Office of Mine Reclamation and the State Mining and Geology Board to take over from Lehigh-influenced county officials and hold the quarry accountable. Click here to sign Councilman Chang’s petition.

All cement plants emit some mercury as well as carcinogens and asthma-inducing particulates, but Lehigh expels higher-than-average levels of all of these pollutants. Its limestone is especially high in mercury, which affects brain development.

If Lehigh isn’t put in check soon, they’ll have license to continue violating pollution laws — and move forward with plans to expand that will jeopardize more residents.

The community at large has already made major progress pressuring Lehigh – and local group No Toxic Air is suing the quarry for its extreme environmental violations. But residents need more public support to defeat Lehigh.

By holding Lehigh accountable, we can set a precedent for other communities in California and around the country facing industries that endanger communities and the environment.

Lehigh has been hurting the environment and its residents for more than 70 years. That’s far too long. Sign here to keep Lehigh from receiving any government funding until it cleans up its act — or shuts down:

http://www.change.org/petitions/remove-lehigh-permanente-quarry-and-cement-in-silicon-valley-from-the-ab-3098-list-immediately

Thanks for taking action,

– Patrick and the Change.org team