 |
 |
|||
 |
“They robbed me of that experience with my child”
Dear Activist, About four years ago, an antibiotic-resistant infection changed the life of Nicole, a mom from Kensington, Maryland. This situation could happen to anyone and is becoming increasingly common. But we can fix it. And you can help. Tell your lawmakers to pass legislation to save antibiotics for medicine, not factory farms. Nicole leads what she jokingly calls a “pretty crunchy” lifestyle. She grows her own organic vegetable garden, sticks to local and organic meat and limits the amount of processed foods in her pantry. After three-and-a-half weeks of breastfeeding her newborn baby, Thomas, she developed mastitis. “Sometimes the milk duct can get infected and it’s very painful,” Nicole said. “You’re supposed to work through it… but it got worse and worse. On a scale of 1 to 10, the pain became a 30.” Nicole received antibiotics from her OB/GYN, but it quickly became apparent that they weren’t working. A team of doctors from different hospitals and offices soon discovered that she had antibiotic-resistant MRSA in her breast. The infection was spreading rapidly, and everyone was concerned that Nicole’s C-section incision would soon become septic as well. Nicole was stunned by the whole situation. By far the scariest part of Nicole’s infection was learning that it had spread to her breast milk, putting her newborn at risk. “It was devastating to me. The worst part of this whole thing for me was being told I couldn’t breastfeed anymore. It was worse than the pain. They robbed me of that experience with my child.” It took over four months and a lengthy stay in the hospital for Nicole to finally beat her antibiotic-resistant infection. The unfortunate reality is that she is not alone — 2 million Americans experience antibiotic-resistant infections every year, resulting in at least 23,000 deaths. And these infections can affect anyone, no matter who you are or how you live. This public health crisis is preventable. We can solve this problem. Factory farms are a breeding ground for antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Every single day, factory farms are feeding their animals regular, low doses of antibiotics to make them grow faster and to prevent disease in filthy, crowded living conditions, creating superbugs that are resistant to antibiotics. In fact, the factory farming industry uses a whopping 80% of the antibiotics sold in the U.S. They’re allowed to play by their own rules when it comes to antibiotics, while we suffer the consequences. That’s why Food & Water Watch has launched this campaign to stop factory farms from abusing antibiotics. Our members of Congress won’t act unless we spread the word and build public pressure to convince our lawmakers to pass federal legislation to save antibiotics and save lives. People like Nicole shouldn’t have to go through that kind of ordeal and miss out on some of the most valuable and rewarding experiences of their lives just so factory farms can cut corners and turn a bigger profit. Thanks for all you do, Miranda Carter |
|||
Tag Archives: United States Constitution
No justice for Amazon massacre in Peru
 |
 |
|
No Justice for Amazon Massacre in Peru Five years ago yesterday the Devil’s Curve earned its name. This wild stretch of highway outside the Peruvian town of Bagua was transformed from a peaceful protest site into a national tragedy now known as the Baguazo. Though the multi-week roadblock was due to disband that same day, militarized riot police entered by force in the early dawn and a deadly melee ensued. When the teargas and gunsmoke cleared, 34 people were dead and hundreds more wounded, including protesters and police officers. Today, 54 protesters and ostensible instigators are on trial for the infamous Baguazo. Government prosecutors have accused high-profile indigenous leaders of inciting their people to violence. Several indigenous representatives like Alberto Pizango, president of the Amazon-wide indigenous organization AIDESEP, face sentences of 35 years to life. |
Share this:
Rape … in India
 Two young girls were hanged from a tree after being gang raped in the fields outside their home in India and a high ranking government official just responded by saying that rape “is a social crime … sometimes it’s right, sometimes it’s wrong.” Let’s make sure India’s leader knows that this is unacceptable and demand he acts now to stop the rape epidemic. Sign now:
 |
Two young girls were hanged from a tree after being gang raped in the fields outside their home in India and a high ranking government official just responded by saying that rape “is a social crime … sometimes it’s right, sometimes it’s wrong.”
That is the government’s response! It’s disgusting and we can change it.
India’s new leader was just elected on a pro-business platform with increased tourism as one of his top economic growth goals. If two million of us, right now, pledge not go to India until something is done about the rape epidemic across the country, we could get his attention and force him to prioritise urgent action.
Sign now and at two million signers, Avaaz will bring our call to the major Indian tourist companies that have Prime Minister Modi’s ear and lobby for travel advisories until something is done to protect this generation of girls and women:
https://secure.avaaz.org/en/womanifesto_modi_21/?biEWLbb&v=40655
When the 14 and 15 year old girls went missing, one girl’s dad went to the police and fell in front of them on his hands and knees pleading for them to do something. They laughed at him and told him to go home. This appalling inaction happens to countless families across India that face this horror. The police, the judiciary, and even ministers are failing them! It’s a culture of acceptance of rape!
Before the elections there was a massive movement building to get urgent action to stop violence against women. Experts drafted a Womanifesto — a common sense plan for urgently needed reforms to stop the rape epidemic. It covers law, policing, medical and psychological support, and crucially — public education. Other major parties signed up to it, but Modi ignored it focusing on economics, and it is still languishing on his desk.
Even Modi’s staff agree with the plan. Now we just need Modi to put it into action.
If millions pledge to not visit India now until action is taken, and that call is bolstered by targeted calls to the mega travel businesses that support Modi and calls to our own governments to issue travel warnings, we could force Modi to act to save his political future. Click below to sign now:
https://secure.avaaz.org/en/womanifesto_modi_21/?biEWLbb&v=40655
The shock and horror of opening the newspaper and reading this story can sit with us, or it can spur us into action. This is our chance to come together as a global community and use our power and our hope to help and entire nation set out on the journey towards equality and safety for all.
With hope,
Alice, Alaphia, Dalia, Laura, Shreya, Ricken and the rest of the Avaaz team
More Information:
India State Minister on rape: ‘Sometimes it’s right, sometimes it’s wrong’
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jun/05/india-state-minister-rape-crimes-comment
Another girl found hanging in Uttar Pradesh. Rape attempt on judge
http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-another-girl-found-hanging-in-uttar-pradesh-rape-attempt-on-judge-1993315
Modi unveils ‘Five Ts’: BJP’s PM candidate says Talent, Tourism, Tech, Trade and Tradition are the watchwords for India’s future
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/indiahome/indianews/article-2542285/Modi-unveils-Five-Ts-BJPs-PM-candidate-says-Talent-Tourism-Tech-Trade-Tradition-watchwords-Indias-future.html
Horrified at reports of violence against women in India: US on Badaun Rape case
http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/horrified-at-reports-of-violence-against-women-in-india-us-on-badaun-rape-case-535671
UN condemns gang rape and murder of teenage girls in Uttar Pradesh and calls for justice
http://www.unicef.org/media/media_73685.html
Share this:
Keystone XL: Where Things Stand
|
|
 |
|
||
|
|
||||
 |
||||||
 |
|
|
|
|||
|
|
These bottom-of-the-barrel tactics signal that fossil fuel corporations will do anything to avoid facing up to the view that one prominent analyst voiced last week: “We have been of the opinion for nearly a year now that Keystone XL is dead.”3 This delay means another year that tar sands oil stays in the ground, instead of flowing through the pipeline. This delay is another nail in the coffin of this disastrous project. And you—the incredible grassroots tide of resolve and determination—are the ones who made this happen. Keystone would have been just another routine dirty energy infrastructure project if not for public pressure—like the unprecedented 2.5 million public comments submitted into the approvals process. People all along the pipeline route, from Alberta to the Gulf Coast—especially Indigenous communities and farming communities—mobilized against the project. Another key factor has been the threat of massive civil disobedience if President Obama approves the pipeline—one veteran environmental campaigner called it the “sharpest arrow in the quiver” of the Keystone opposition movement. Almost 100,000 people signed Keystone XL Pledge of Resistance, committing to take direct action if the administration lights the fuse of the continent’s biggest carbon bomb. So while we’re proud that the movement won a major delay, the struggle is far from over. Here at Rainforest Action Network, we’re staying vigilant on Keystone. We’re continuing to hone the cutting edge of the climate movement by training committed activists. And we’re taking fast, strategic action to block dirty energy deals. Thank you for all you’ve done.
P.S. Alongside our work on Keystone, RAN is engaged in a range of dirty energy fights. We’ve successfully pressured banks like JPMorgan Chase to move away from mountaintop removal (MTR) coal mining, and we’re approaching a tipping point with Barclays, the world’s biggest financier of MTR. Add your voice! Sources: 1. “Obama Blocks Keystone To Start Energy Takeover,” Investor’s Business Daily, May 13, 2014 (http://news.investors.com/ibd-editorials-perspective/051314-700702-obama-wants-energy-markets-fossil-fuels-under-government-heel.htm) |
||||
It’s been four weeks since the climate movement won a significant delay on the Keystone XL pipeline. Since then, the oil industry and their political and media backers have gotten increasingly desperate:
Share this:
24 states are blocking millions from access to affordable care
If you care about health care reform, this is a big one.
One of the ways the Affordable Care Act provides access to health coverage is by expanding Medicaid to millions more Americans.
However, 24 states — thanks to leaders playing political games with Obamacare — are still blocking this expansion, and 5.7 million Americans have been locked out from affordable access to health care.
That’s wrong, and we’re going to make sure folks know about it.
Today, OFA supporters across the country are joining in to expose the states with stubborn officials that are blocking access to affordable health care for millions of Americans — share this map on Facebook and Twitter today.
Be a Seed for Change 
You must be logged in to post a comment.