Tag Archives: Florida

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Big Voting Rights Win In Florida

Voting rights activists got another victory, this time in Florida, where a federal judge said he would permanently remove harsh restrictions on third-party voter registration groups. Those restrictions, passed as part of a massive electoral overhaul and spearheaded by Gov. Rick Scott (R) had hamstrung non-partisan groups like the League of Women Voters from registering voters leading up to the November election.

U.S. District Judge Robert L. Hinkle said he would grant a motion to permanently remove the restrictions as soon as he receives confirmation that a federal appellate court had dismissed the case.

In December the League of Women Voters of Florida, Rock the Vote, and the Florida Public Interest Research Group Education Fund sued to block the restrictions. The Department of Justice also opposed the restrictions and had filed their own lawsuit challenging them. “Florida’s anti-voter law created impassable roadblocks for our volunteers, who have been bringing fellow Floridians into our democratic process for over 72 years,” said Deirdre Macnab, President of the League of Women Voters of Florida. “Thanks to today’s ruling, we can finally put these roadblocks behind us and concentrate on getting Floridians registered to vote. We are grateful the court recognized that the Constitution does not tolerate these types of barriers to civic participation and voter registration.”

The non-partisan Brennan Center issued a press release applauding the decision.“This order is a decisive victory for Florida voters,” said Lee Rowland, counsel for the Brennan Center’s Democracy Program, one of the attorneys who argued the case for the Plaintiffs. “The Florida legislature has tried repeatedly to stifle access to voter registration opportunities, and once again a federal court has stopped them in their tracks. We are thrilled that voter registration groups can now get back to what they do best — expanding our democracy.”

Rarely these days are the federal courts seen as a safe harbor for individuals aggrieved by state action, but recently in the context of voting rights, they have been. This is a big win for any citizen that believes elected officials should be forced to conduct their affairs in a fair and transparent fashion, especially when it comes to restricting essential civic rights like voting.

Read more: http://www.care2.com/causes/big-voting-rights-win-in-florida.html#ixzz258Ei8B8G

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

VIDEO: How to Fight Voter Suppressio​n!

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Creating Media That Makes An Impact

This year our country faces an important election and the Latino vote will matter more than ever before. But there are powerful groups trying to prevent us from making a difference.
Contribute $15 to help us fight voter suppression and racist voter id laws through exciting, informative and controversial videos that give power to our community.
It is projected that more than 12 million Latinos could go out and vote in this year’s election. That would be an increase of 25% from 2008! What’s even more important is that Latino voters could decide key swing states like Colorado,Nevada and Florida. Unfortunately 23 states across the country have either passed or introduced legislation that would make voting more difficult not just for Latinos, but other minority groups, as well as young voters and seniors. That is why empowering the Latino community to vote is imperative this election.

Now we need YOUR help to do more and mobilize record numbers of Latino voters!
Through key, effective and powerful partnerships with Latino organizations doing amazing work on-the-ground and Cuéntame’s innovative video and social media reach, our efforts are making an impact. Our first electoral video, “How To Fight Voter Suppression” in partnership with NCLR has garnered widespread media attention.
Please donate $15 and help us get the funding we need to get more Latinos registered and voting this November.
Your financial support will allow us to pursue more partnerships and reach Latino voters in key states. We cannot do it without you. As a token of appreciation, we will send you our commemorative Cuéntame sticker pictured below, so that you too can spread awareness about the power of the Latino vote this November! Donate Today!
~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

a message from Martin Sheen …Medicare


Help us reach 1 million signatures telling Republican that ending the Medicare guarantee for seniors to pay for tax breaks for special interests and the wealthy is unacceptable at http://www.StandUpForMedicare.com

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Death sentence for seahorses? … Pulin Modi, Change.org


Tell the National Marine Fisheries Service to protect delicate dwarf seahorses.                       
      Sign the Petition

Help Protect Delicate Dwarf Seahorses

Started by: Center for Biological Diversity, AZ.

In response to a petition from the Center for Biological Diversity, the National Marine Fisheries Service has agreed that the dwarf seahorse may warrant protection under the Endangered Species Act and is accepting comments until July 3 before making a decision. The smallest seahorse in America, the dwarf seahorse faces big problems: water quality degradation in the Gulf of Mexico, pollution from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill and cleanup and, most importantly, loss of their seagrass habitat.

Dwarf seahorses are habitat specialists, so as seagrasses disappear, the seahorses vanish with them. More than 50 percent of Florida seagrasses have been destroyed since 1950, and in some areas losses are as steep as 90 percent. These one-inch-long fish are not the only wildlife that depends on seagrass to survive, but they are the cutest.

Dwarf seahorses form monogamous pair bonds, and every morning they meet to perform a greeting dance. As with other seahorses, females place scores of eggs inside the males’ pouches, and the males then give birth to even tinier versions of adults. Boat propellers, shrimp trawlers and ocean acidification are all harming the seagrass these delicate animals need to survive.

Please take a moment right now to write to the Fisheries Service and tell it to grant dwarf seahorses the protection they so dearly need.