Petition Tag - agreement

I live next to the High School, in Biddeford, Maine. During renovations at the High School, Ledgewood Construction damaged a fence that separates my property from the High School. The School Department wanted Ledgewood Construction to replace the fence.

In order to replace the fence along my property, Ledgewood Construction Company would have to cut down 10-12 trees on my side of the fence, that had grown into the fence over the years. The Facilities Director came to my property and we negotiated a deal to allow Ledgewood Construction to cut down the trees.

The deal was, I would suffer the loss of the trees and they would put in an 8 foot stockade fence. After the trees were cut down, the fence was replaced with another chain link fence.

City of Biddeford Code; Section 53 Primary and secondary schools, fraternal organizations, and not-for-profit clubs. [Ord. No. 2001.45, 5-16-2001]
Schools, fraternal organizations and not-for-profit shall be permitted as a conditional use in accordance with the provisions below:

A. The buffers standards of this ordinance shall be met.

B. No building shall be closer than 50 feet from any property line.

C. When adjacent to residential properties, parking areas and outdoor activity areas shall be effectively screened from view by a continuous vegetative barrier, or stockade fence, not less than six feet in height.

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The gains obtained after decades of joint search for peace should not be put to naught by a single or even series of isolated incidents such as what happened in Basilan and subsequently in Zamboanga Sibugay province.

Encounters should not be limited to the battlefield. As a matter of fact, the most ideal corridor to address this current stain to having final peace in Mindanao is by way of resuming the stalled peace talks between the GPH (Government of the Republic of the Philippines)-MILF (Moro Islamic Liberation Front).

All-out war or other means of reprisals will no longer resuscitate and bring back to life the 19 soldiers and 7 rebels. On the other hand, it will only compound the miseries there and double our losses in terms of precious lives and damages to property.

Ceasefire is a condition sine qua non to a sober search for justice and punishment of those who transgress the limits of Jihad and other instruments of redress installed on the ground (in Basilan or anywhere else in Muslim Mindanao). The case of Amiril Umra Kato can be made the precedent.

End the present dilemma and similar cases of violence by way of returning to the peace table and ink a lasting political settlement with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. Indeed, it would be a double whammy for the Aquinos: the late President Cory Aquino for initiating the 1996 Peace Agreement (with the Moro National Liberation Front) and President Benigno Simeon Aquino III to finalize it with the MILF.

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I want to call attention to some legitimate issues with the NRMP match agreement. There is no better time to address these issues; the NRMP is once again moving to require 100% of PGY1 and PGY2 positions go through the match. Please sign the petition which is at the bottom of the page. For further information regarding the points of the petition, read below. This petition has no official affiliation with the NRMP, but their website is listed above for reference.

My first grievance is the ability of the NRMP to permanently ban an applicant from the match, and the low threshold at which the NRMP uses this power. With the vast majority of positions going through the match, the permanent ban gives the NRMP the power to effectively end a young physician's career before it has even started. Dishonesty or any other match violation, intentional or unintentional, should be punished, but ending a young physician's career goals is excessive. I believe the permanent ban should be reserved for very serious offenses or separate repeat offenses.

Second, I believe the NRMP should release all data on the number of waivers, respective violations, and the punishments received for each violation. Our judicial system is fair from case to case and not overly harsh because it is based on very public, past precedence. NRMP has a very tight lipped policy on this data citing “we do not want this data to be taken out of context." Making this data public would ensure a fair violation system and force the NRMP to justify the punishments it lays out for violations (ie the permanent ban). Once again, releasing this data would not reduce the integrity of the match. If anything it would increase the integrity because residents and directors would be more cognizant of the consequences of match violations.

My final grievance is the loose wording the NRMP uses in its match agreement. For example a sanction bans an applicant from “training” at an NRMP affiliated program. In the past the NRMP has interpreted training to mean anything career related, including research positions. The term “training” in the National RESIDENT Match Program contract, should only include residency training. Allowing sanctioned applicants to perform research would not reduce the integrity of the match, it would merely allow applicants to improve their resume and maintain their clinical knowledge base until their sanction is complete.

The NRMP was established in 1952 to protect medical students' rights. During this time, there were far fewer medical students than positions, and program directors used aggressive tactics to force applicants into a contract. Since that time, the NRMP has grown tremendously, and the once benevolent dictator, in my opinion has lost sight of its goals. Also, there are now far more medical students and applicants than open residency positions. The NRMP’s contract poses much more of a threat to your career than any aggressive program director. Those in a powerful position, like the NRMP, directors, and state license boards, should not hide behind legality, but should make decisions based on logic and a certain level of compassion. The Match Agreement does not require draconian career ending powers to maintain integrity. There is no logical reason for permanently banning one time violations, preventing sanctioned applicants from performing research, or concealing data pertinent to a transparent violation system. The NRMP is once again pushing for 100% of PGY1 and PGY2 positions to go through the match, which would put an end to signing outside the match. Medical students, you might not fully appreciate these points yet but they will affect you very soon. Residents, you have already gone through the match but please voice your opinion for the younger generation. Also, first comes the push for 100% of PGY1 and PGY2 positions, next comes 100% of fellowships. Most people survive the match unscathed, but we should make a point to help those who don’t.

The Match Agreement should insure match integrity but also perform its original objective, protecting medical students and applicants. Please sign this petition, pass it along to your friends, colleagues, residents, and attendings. Send it to contacts at other medical schools. If you are involved in the AMA, please support our resolution.

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Shutterstock have introduced a new taxation scheme. This states that if you are in a country which has a double taxation agreement with the US, you will need to fill in a form, involving private information, and send notarised copies (expensive) of your passports to the US. If this form is not filled in, then 30% of ALL your earnings will be deducted for US tax. If you live in a country without a tax agreement with shutterstock, then you will automatically be leaving 30% of your earnings with the IRS.

Shutterstock is attempting to censor debate on their forums by banning contributors who disagree with their point of view. For an open uncensored debate on the issue of IRS taxation on our earnings, feel free to use this forum. Details such as when the petition will be handed in and negociations with shutterstock will be discussed there too.

For this petition to have the maximum impact with the shutterstock management, we need to get a maximum number of signatures. Because shutterstock is deleting posts from the forum refering to this petition, we need to get the word out as many contributors are unaware of this petition and the potential benefits that it will bring if successful. So please make details of the petition known as widely as possibly. This is for the benefit for every non-US contributor at Shutterstock.

Thank you.

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The Autrey Mill Nature Preserve and Heritage Center, is a unique facility in the bustling City of Johns Creek GA. It features 46 acres of forest, woodland trails, winding creek, heritage gardens, historic buildings, and animal exhibits.

The beautiful Autrey Mill of today was built over a 20-year period under the leadership of the non-profit Autrey Mill Nature Preserve Association (AMNP) Board and its talented staff, with the vital help of generous public and private supporters, and by harnessing the indispensable work of volunteers.

With the stability provided by a 30-year lease agreement (originally with Fulton County and now with the City of Johns Creek) AMNP has been able to conduct long-range planning; receive major grants; undertake larger, multi-year projects; and accept donations of heirlooms and important historic items. Operating under this lease, the AMNP Board has provided responsible stewardship of the land and continually made improvements.

On March 11, 2009, the City of Johns Creek took the extraordinary step of suing the AMNP non-profit corporation operated by community volunteers. In its lawsuit the City seeks to invalidate the 30-year lease and seeks control over the historic items that have been donated to AMNP over the years.

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We the people and workers of Massachusetts believe we should have the right to work for whom and where we want and should not be limited by our employers.

Some employers are restricting employees in which employers they can work for by requiring employees to sign Non-Compete Agreements and/or clauses therefor Violating our Right to to be employed in most experianced line of work.

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SUPPORT THE STRUGGLE OF CONTRACT WORKERS AGAINST EXPLOITATION

BY HOLCIM IN CHHATTISGARH

Chhattishgarh is a mineral rich state that provides perfect opportunity to produce cement at most competitive prices. Raipur- Bilaspur belt provides the best location where both man and material is available cheaply. Government of Chhattisgarh gave lots of concessions with intentions that it will help in creating employment and contribute to the welfare of the people of the state. This resulted in mushroom growth of the cement industries in the area. Ultratech, Grasim, Century, Ambuja and Lafarge have come up with huge capacities in this belt. HOLCIM a Swiss based multinational has appeared on the scene by acquiring the ACC, AMBUJA etc.

Even though the natural mineral resources are exploited by those companies at a throw away prices, land forcibly acquired from the farmers at the cost of tears, Corporate cement companies are busy playing dirty games by not even respecting the rehabilitation package, as many of those land losers have been shown the exit door.

Very recently, it has come to light that few major companies have formed a cartel, resulting in abnormal hike in cement prices. Ten major cement producing companies are already served notices to that effect by the authorities.

As if this is not enough, the cartel is now busy to systematically exploit labours by squeezing them to exploit in a unified manner, which is a very serious matter.

Even "Cement Wage Board" agreement in force in the Indian cement industry which is the result of negotiations between the All India Cement Manufacturers Association and a group of central trade unions in the cement industry, which has been ratified from time to time, is not honored.

According to this agreement, contract labour is prohibited in the entire production process in the cement industry all over India, and even in the limited areas in which it is permitted - such as the loading and unloading of raw materials, contract labour are to paid at the same wage rate as regular employees.

Holcim, Lafarge, Century, and Ultratech have formed the Chhattisgarh Cement Manufacturers Association (CCMA). This Association has challenged the very jurisdiction of the State Government to make a reference in the first place, vide a writ petition before the Hon’ble Chattishgarh High Court, challenging the notification dated 31/12/60 bringing the cement industry under the purview of the MPIR Act, after more than 45 years! It is shocking to learn that the cartel has even managed to influence the concerned Respondent officer of the Central Government to support their case. If the CCMA succeeds in its conspiracy, it will intensify the attack against the already beleaguered working class of Chhattisgarh.

We appeal to all who feel strongly about this kind of exploitative stranglehold of big corporations - particularly foreign multinationals, to support the effort of the struggling contract workers in the cement industry in Chhattisgarh. Join the campaign against Holcim, Lafarge and Ultratech by exposing their misdeeds against workers, by signing the online petition and also declare your solidarity with Pragatisheel Cement Shramik Sangh C/o Chhattisgarh Mukti Morcha Office. Labour Camp, Jamul
Bhilai, Chhattisgarh, India

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India’s communists have always opposed India’s strategic embrace of the U.S.

It believes that the U.S. is a hegemonic, deeply destabilizing power and India cannot become a close ally of Washington without sacrificing or compromising its policy independence and narrowing its room for manoeuvre in world affairs.

Second, the left argues that the text of the "123 agreement" differs significantly from the statements that Singh made in Parliament, promising that it would address all of India's concerns about full civilian nuclear cooperation with the U.S. and autonomy for the Indian nuclear programme.

The left says there are specific differences between the agreement and a law passed last December in the U.S. Congress as a prelude to "123", called the Henry J Hyde Act. The act mandates annual certification by the U.S. President that India is behaving in conformity with American foreign policy objectives, and also imposes a few other conditions that India said were not acceptable to it.

According to the left, the Hyde Act will prevail over the "123" agreement and can be used arbitrarily to terminate nuclear cooperation with India.

The act, it says, falls short of guaranteeing full-scale nuclear commerce with India, which was promised when Singh and President George W Bush inked the deal in July 2005. For instance, the U.S. will not export uranium enrichment or fuel reprocessing technologies to India.

The act, argue the communists, will erode India's sovereign decision-making in respect of its nuclear programme. Since the "123 agreement" essentially derives from the Act, it must be opposed.

In addition, the left is concerned at the likely impact of "123" on India’s traditional advocacy of universal nuclear disarmament. It says that by getting "accommodated in a U.S.-led unequal nuclear order", India’s leading role in championing nuclear disarmament "as a major country of the non-aligned community" will be given "the go-by".

The left also says that it is "debatable" whether nuclear power, which would be promoted under the U.S.-India deal, is a sustainable solution to India's energy problem.

"The bulk of the left’s current opposition to the agreement derives from procedural arguments (about Singh’s assurances to Parliament), and from differences between its text and what was promised in July 2005, and again in March and August last year," says M.V. Ramana, a physicist and energy expert attached to the Centre for Interdisciplinary Studies in Environment and Development, Bangalore told IPS.

The present position of the left parties significantly differs from its original stand on the U.S.-India nuclear deal two years ago, which emphasised its negative consequences for India's advocacy of global nuclear disarmament.

For decades, said the left parties in July 2005, India "was …committed to nuclear disarmament… The BJP-led government had begun the journey of accepting a junior partnership of the U.S. in return for a de facto recognition as a nuclear weapon-state… The current agreement marks an end to India’s nuclear disarmament policy".

Nevertheless, the communists have decided not to press for a vote on the "123 agreement" under Parliament's rules of procedure, unlike most of the non-UPA parties. A negative vote could lead to the fall of the Manmohan Singh government.

"The left is loath to topple the UPA government because it fears that that will pave the way for a return of the BJP," says Achin Vanaik, a professor of international relations and global politics at Delhi university.

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Dear IAQA members and AmIAQ certificate holders:

AmIAQ has recently decided to publish the examination reference sources, including exact page numbers, on its website beginning on June 1, 2007. This will make it very easy for new certificate candidates to pass the certification exams without having to fully study and learn the material. This action will greatly diminish the value of AmIAQ certifications, and it has clearly broken the spirit of unification agreement.

The differences between the organizational philosophies between IAQA and AmIAQ have finally surfaced. IAQA is a member-based organization with a democratically elected Board of Directors. However, AmIAQ and IESO are not. Due to their structural differences, the goals of these three organizations' leaders may or may not have been aligned with the best interests of the members after the unification.

Instead of constantly fighting over these differences, it is important for IAQA members and AmIAQ certificate holders to act now in order to ensure that all three organizations operate on behalf of the members and certificate holders.

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The climate is changing and we need to be aware of what is going to happen in our future and find ways to prevent it because it's not a case of If it happens but When it happens.

More floods are predicted, intense storms, heat waves and storms. A rise of 1.4 to 5.8 degrees Celsius is expected throughout the globe in the next 100 years.

John Howard has refused to sign up to Kyoto untill all the other countries do. Reports show that if we don’t act now, the world will face a depression worse than that of 1930.

We do need to act now, we need Australia to cut its greenhouse gas emissions and we need to do this by signing on to Kyoto.

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In the month of I can't remember.... you all attended a cooking class and we were going to get together for a meal.... probably one of our last.... so please read on and make your comments ...only require your name and nod of agreement...

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May 24, 2006

Her Excellency URSULA PLASSNIK,
The Foreign Minister of Austria
(The Presidency of EU)
Austrian Federal Ministry for Foreign Affairs
Minoritenplatz 8
A-1014 Wien
Austria
May 24th, 2006

Her Excellency,

Re: The European Union ban of the LTTE will not yield peace in this troubled nation.

The International Community(IC) and European Union (EU) had failed to put adequate pressure in action on the Sri Lankan leaders to address the legitimate Tamils grievances which was widely accepted by the IC for well over fifty years.

Especially within the last four years of peace process, the Government of Sri Lanka (GOSL) had the best opportunity to put forward an alternate solution through negotiation with Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). There were number of agreements reached between the negotiating parties.

Instead of implementing those agreements to move forward the peace process towards the permanent peace the State cunningly used the peace time to divide the Tamils and the LTTE and unleashed the worst form of terror against them covertly and overtly.

If EU is to take serious note, any decision arrived in these last four years of peace talks never implemented by the GOSL on the ground. The latest and most deplorable act of the GOSL was failure of the non implementation of IC and EU pushed the Post-Tsunami Operational Management Structure (PTOMS) agreement which was signed between LTTE and GOSL.

The PTOMS agreement merely an aid distribution mechanism to the Tsunami affected Tamil victims. This agreement was also tossed by the state into dust bin but IC or EU was not able to force or penalize the Sri Lankan state for the non implementation of that agreement.

These are the real reasons for the current impasses for the peace process and the upsurge of violence in Sri Lanka. This violence was systematically unleashed by the Sri Lankan state to distract and divert the attentions of the IC and EU.

The Tamils were continuously denied their legitimate rights after the British rule and all form of democratic expressions of the non violent Tamils were dealt with brutal heavy handedly by the Sri Lankan rulers and its forces.

The genocide against the Tamils were systematically unleashed in 1958, 1961, 1974 and 1977 where thousands of thousands Tamil men, women and children were massacred in cold blood and perished in the hands of the terror state of Sri Lanka. Millions of Tamils were forced to displace from their homes and their hard earned properties were destroyed to call the Tamils into submission.

The LTTE was not existed in the time of the above genocides against the Tamils. The sustained state terrorism against their own Tamil citizens only forced the Tamils to defend themselves; the LTTE came into existence to defend the grand agenda of Total annihilation of Tamils from Sri Lanka by the state rulers.

We Tamils are oppressed for well over fifty years by the successive Sri Lankan governments. We should not be victimized and vilified by the International Community when we turn to LTTE to protect us from horrific sustained state terror against us for so long. Tamils used the arms struggle as a last resort to protect themselves from the complete annihilation by the Sri Lankan Sinhalese rulers and its armed forces.

It is the global and moral duty of the International Community including EU to do everything possible to see the true plight of Tamils and help them from total annihilation by the Singhalese rulers in Sri Lanka and
help them to achieve just and fair solution to their longstanding
legitimate struggle.

I urge the Your Excellency, not to yield to the pressure by the Sinhalese leaders to ban the Tigers in EU countries. The EU ban will further strengthen the Sinhalese hardliners' and hawkish rulers' grand agenda of committing genocide against the Tamils by isolating the Tamils and LTTE from the International Community.

Yours truly,
Tamils around the world

More informaion and Photos

http://nesohr.org/human-rights-reports/
http://www.tchr.net
http://tamilink.org.uk/tl/
http://www.tamilcanadian.com/eelam/hrights/
http://www.tamilnation.org/humanrights.htm
http://www.nitharsanam.com/?art=17276
http://www.nitharsanam.com/?nav=5785

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May 14, 2006

U.S. Climate Protection Act.

Global warming places an urgent threat on our environmental, economic and national security and the public health of our communities.

I'm setting out to get the mayor of San Diego, Jerry Sanders to sign an agreement to reduce green house gas emissions, causing global warming. When federal leadership failed to lead, mayors across the country are rising to the occasion. While 162 countries have ratified the Kyoto Protocol to address global warming, The United States has not.

Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels.. "I got ticked. I was embarrassed that our country didn't sign the Kyoto Protocol, so I committed to do something on behalf of the people of Seattle." That something is the Climate Protection Act. To date, 224 mayors - representing some 43.7 million Americans in 38 states - have joined with Mayor Nickels. Jerry Sanders has not.

The U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement, initiated by Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels, was introduced on February 16, 2005 the same day that the Kyoto Protocol international global warming treaty took effect for participating countries.

The agreement calls for Mayors of our cities to implement carbon dioxide restrictions on a local level, and is quickly gathering support around the country, recently earning the backing of the U.S. Conference of Mayors.

This is the actual Agreement:

The U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement

A. We urge the federal government and state governments to enact policies and programs to meet or beat the Kyoto Protocol target of reducing global warming pollution levels to 7% below 1990 levels by 2012, including efforts to: reduce the United States' dependence on fossil fuels and accelerate the development of clean, economical energy resources and fuel-efficient technologies such as conservation, methan recovery for energy generation, wind and solar energy, fuel cells, efficient motor vehicles, and biofuels;

B. We urge the U.S. Congress to pass the bipartisan Climate Stewardship Act
sponsored by Senators McCain and Lieberman and Representatives Gilchrist and Olver, which would create a flexible, market-based system of tradable allowances among emitting industries; and

C. We will strive to meet or exceed Kyoto Protocol targets for reducing global warming pollution by taking actions in our own operations and communities such as:

1. Inventory global warming emissions in City operations and in the
community, set reduction targets and create an action plan.

2. Adopt and enforce land-use policies that reduce sprawl, preserve open
space, and create compact, walkable urban communities;

3. Promote transportation options such as bicycle trails, commute trip
reduction programs, incentives for car pooling and public transit;

4. Increase the use of clean, alternative energy by, or example, investing in "green tags", advocating for the development of renewable energy resources, and recovering landfill methane for energy production;

5. Make energy efficiency a priority through building code improvements,
retrofitting city facilities with energy efficient lighting and urging
employees to conserve energy and save money;

6. Purchase only Energy Star equipment and appliances for City use;

7. Practice and promote sustainable building practices using the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED program or a similar system;

8. Increase the average fuel efficiency of municipal fleet vehicles; reduce the number of vehicles; launch an employee education program including anti-idling messages; convert diesel vehicles to bio-diesel;

9. Evaluate opportunities to increase pump efficiency in water and
wastewater systems; recover wastewater treatment methane for energy
production;

10. Increase recycling rates in City operations and in the community;

11. Maintain healthy urban forests; promote tree planting to increase shading and to absorb CO2; and

12. Help educate the public, schools, other jurisdictions, professional
associations, business and industry about reducing global warming
pollution.

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The time has come for you to act now and make a forceful statement of your support to the historic transformation in U.S. - India relations. We are witnessing a shifting of paradigms, and you can play a critical role at this juncture when the entire world is watching the outcome of the civil nuclear agreement between the U.S. and India.

You can act and make a difference. A difference that will be remembered by generations to come. Or you can choose to do nothing.

President Bush's visit to India has brought the story of India to the fore of global attention like never before, and opponents of enlightened U.S. - Indian interests are out in force and trying to change the opinions of individual Congressmen and Senators. We cannot afford to let them scuttle the visionary path of U.S. - India relations. Those who oppose the civil nuclear deal oppose the rise and development of India.

We urge you to act. We urge you to act by signing the following petition to U.S. Congress.

The Issue

The U.S. and India have resolved to progress on civil nuclear power cooperation between the two countries on March 2, 2006, during President Bush's visit to India. This agreement requires certain laws to be changed and amended in the U.S. Congress, for which the Bush administration will soon approach the Congress. The Congress has to give its approval to the deal. By signing this petition you will convey to the Congress that you strongly support this deal.

USINPAC has been working in support of civil nuclear cooperation since its beginning stages, including meeting with key Members of Congress in both the House and Senate, and also senior officials from India, in support of this cooperation. By signing this petition you will add significantly to U.S. - India relations.

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November 16, 2005

Not only has AOL been disrespecting it's PAYING customers by taking features such as AIM and Journals and GIVING IT AWAY FOR FREE, they have further begun selling, trading, sharing and/or giving away ad space and displaying the ads in the form of banner ads atop PAYING AOL members Personal Journals, without thought or regard as to whether the Person who created the Journal supports the banner even being there, nor if she or she is in agreement with the ad.

PAYING AOL members respectfully wish AOL to IMEDIATELY REMOVE the banner ads from Paid member Journals.

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The time remaining befre the WTO ministerial affords the people at the grassroots level to have a say on the issues affecting their human rights and their livelihood.

The fifth World Trade Organization's Hong Kong Ministerial will take place in December 2005, where vital TRADE issues/agreements will be decided. The time prior the ministerial affords us the opportunity as the citizens to influence our WTO ministerial not to sign for issues that affects our human rights and that exacerbate the level of poverty in our country and other developing nations.

The WTO has implemented agreements that have had a negative impact on people's human rights as enshrined in the Universal Declaration on Human Rights and other Human Rights instrument such as the International Covenant on Economic, Social and cultural rights e.g. The Trade Related Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) that allows the multinational companies the right to patent access to live saving drugs like ARVs (aids DRUGS) for people living with HIV/AIDS, this agreement violates the people's right to health, the Agreement on Agriculture that benefit the developed countries yet violating people in developing countries the right to food and adequate standard of living by allowing the developed nations (e.g. The US and EU) to continue subsidizing their exports flooding the domestic markets of developing nations such as South Africa and therefore resulting in job loses and poverty.

Another agreement that has had a negative effect on the livelihood of the people is the General Agreements of Trade on Service, privatizing essential human needs such as health, water, education and technology thereby increasing the level of poverty and inaccessibility to essential services.

Sign this petition and mandate of government not to sign for any agreement that will negatively affect our human rights as the citizens of the developing nation.

On the upcoming Hong Kong Ministerial the delegation will sign for the new agreement that was put forward by developed nations called the JULY FRAMEWORK, that will give more power to emerged economies to continue to bully the developing nations and to increase subsidies of imported goods in South Africa and thereby causing more job loses and poverty, making our farmers uncompetitive as a result of cheap imported goods that are less than our domestic cost of production.

SIGN FOR FAIR TRADE AND STOP TRADE LIBERALIZATION THAT BENEFIT THE RICH WHILE THE POOR SUFFER.

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We are writing to inform you that we have a big problem with chaotic parking in our road, so we are writing with a signed petition from all residents who are all in agreement with this letter.

The problem parking is caused by parents collecting children from Langley Grammar. This disturbance is occuring five days of the week between 3.00pm & 3.30pm during term time only. We have cars parked bumper to bumper both sides of the road, all residents feel very strongly that this problem must change.

We understand these children need collecting from school! But so do our children! This disturbance prevents us leaving or entering our own road, let alone parking in our road, this kind of parking is very inconsiderate/ hazardous and obstructive, this kind of parking will day obstruct emergency services entering our road and we are not prepared to wait untill that situation occoured this cannot continue, this disturbance must stop.

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HELP SAVE OUR CROSS AND ARTWORK depicting the BLOOD of JESUS. Soul Chasers Prayer and Outreach Center has only been open in Amarillo, Texas since May 1st, 2005. We completely renovated our building which we lease from the San Jacinto Masonic Lodge No. 1330, the Masons welcomed our Christian Evangelistic Ministry with open arms.

The Master of the Lodge gave his approval on behalf of the Lodge for the placement of the Cross on the roof. In addition approval was granted for the painting of the cross on our back door. The Master of the lodge in agreement with our Lease gave us full aproval to paint the outside of the building and create signs and artwork.

The only sign on the building which is on the front wall, consisting of a flat plywood board, was painted in red paint with "JESUS SAVES" written on it. On the corner of the building and directly under the rooftop cross our artist painted red blood flowing down the side of the building. Written inside the red paint are different quotes, concerning the Blood of Jesus, such as "The Blood of Jesus Sets you Free".

Upon completion of all the outside artwork the Master of the Lodge advised us to cease from any further painting, as members of the lodge had complained about the blood artwork. They found the Blood artwork to be disturbing. The Director of our organization contacted the City of Amarillo Code Enforcement Department to obtain what rules, regulations and laws pertained to all the work done during the renovation of the building.

Per the City of Amarillo, no permits were needed for the artwork, as it is not considered to be signage under city ordinances. String lighting (Christmas lights) were placed on the border of the roof outlining it in white lighting. The Cross was lit up with red christmas lights. These lights are not regulated by the Code Enforcement Department and are not considered to be electrical work which normally needs permits and inspections.

On August 15, 2005 Six months into our lease we received notifcation from our Landlord - San Jacinto Masonic Lodge No. 1330, that they wanted the Cross removed from the roof, the Cross removed from the back door. They found the lighting on the cross and roof to be a hazard (in their opinion) and therefore disconnected all lights.

They demand immediate removal of all artwork painted with red paint on the outside of the building. The sign and the artwork of the Blood of Jesus. They state that their membership voted on the issue and want it all removed. They state that it violates the Grand Lodge laws which prohibits the Lodges from placement of any signs or emblems denoting a particular religion.

We are in full compliance with our lease agreement. During the renovation and placement of the artwork and crosses the Master of the Lodge and other members were involved and get informed on a daily basis. They consistly gave their approval for all our work, citing we had done a wonderful job and they were very pleased to have us as tenants.

In addition, the supplied equipment such as ladders for us to place the cross on the roof, and to install the lighting. The Master was constantly encouraging us to paint the outside of the building (since it was in poor condition) and told us to paint whatever we wanted. Furthermore, we had even negotiated with the Lodge about possibly renovated a large historical murial on the North wall of the building, which had started to peel and fade.

We presented them with plans of painting a depiction of Jesus Christ surrounded by drug addicts, prostitues and homeless people. The Master of the Lodge stated we had his approval.
Upon consulting with City Officials and our Attorneys, we our in full compliance with the law and followed proper procedure for approval per our lease agreement.

We therefore refuse to comply with the demands for the removal of these items. In addition, we request your support in standing with us on this issue. The Masonic Lodge is only offended by the Christian emblems of the Cross and the Blood of Jesus, because they despise both and teach against them.

The members of the Masonic Lodge are the only individuals that have made any negative comments about our artwork. The cross and the Blood artwork have drawn the comments and attention of every person that frequents sixth street in Amarillo, Texas.

We have been overwhelmed with compliments from all types of people from various faiths, beliefs and backgrounds. The cross and the Blood Artwork have become the Outreach's Identity as it is located on Historic Route 66 amongst Antique shops, biker bars and clubs. We will stand strong for the CROSS and we Proclaim once again that THERE IS POWER IN THE BLOOD OF JESUS.

We will not back down from what we belief is our right and priviledge to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus, the Death on the Cross, the atonement of our Sins throught the Blood of Jesus and by his death we obtain Salvation, and through Jesus only, not by works or by any other human means.

We are justified and washed in the Blood of Jesus. Satan ! Masons ! You are defeated in Jesus Name and we proclaim Victory so that the Lost may be Saved.

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On January 31st, Cox Communications customers in The Ark-La-Tex will lose access to KTAL and NBC programming at midnight. The retransmission agreement with Cox Communications for all their cable systems in our viewing area will expire (Bossier City, LA; Magnolia, AR; Minden, LA; Mount Pleasant, TX; Wright City, OK; Valiant, OK), and they have been unable to come to terms with our cable company for the continued carriage of KTAL's station.

They are asking Cox Communications to pay them 25 cents out of the extremely expensive cable bill that we pay every month and Cox is unwilling to do so and has decided to no longer carry KTAL.

Cox Communications is one of the most powerful media companies in the United States who not only owns cable System but also Radio Stations, Newspapers and local TV Stations like KTAL. Ironically, their broadcast Television division shares our viewpoint about being compensated for carriage by cable companies.

Cox Communications, like all cable and satellite companies, makes payments to the companies that own and operate programming networks. They pay the owners of the programming channels monthly fees, ranging as high as several dollars per month for the right to carry the programming. Cox Communications has made it very clear they do not want to pay any fees for the rights to carry KTAL.

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This is a simple request to have the speed limit reduced to 30 m.p.h. on Dexter-Pinckney Road. Due to the FACT that We in this sub- division, are having a difficult time leaving and entering our sub-division.

We are asking the road commision in agreement with the county and county police to enforce this to have the speed limt reduced.

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I am trying to get signatures for a petition to change the current statuatory rape/sexual assault on a minor laws in the state of Vermont. Currently my nephew is incarcerated for 2-15 years for a sexual assault on a minor charge when he was 19 and the minor girl was close to her 16th year birthday. He has been sentenced to 2 years to serve with a 15 year sentence suspended which he will have to remain on probation and register as a sex offender. He can not even be allowed around his nieces and nephews.

Some states have a clause in their law to state that within a 4-5 year age difference, sex between willing participants falls within the law. So many young men have lost their lives either behind bars or through having to register as a sex offender for something that was consensual. I am trying to help these individuals. If my nephew served the 2 years and it was over that would even be more understandable. However he has to register as a sex offender which means that any neighborhood he moves to when he is allowed out of prison is a set up for failure.

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My son was given a plea bargain in exchange for a guilty plea. The state offerred the agreement in good faith and my son was told that the judge would honor this . He would never have pleaded guilty except for this promise. Part of the plea bargain was for him to be released from prison on a "judicial release" after 9 months incarcerated. The state had a hearing after 11 months and decided not to honor the plea agreement stating that he has not served enough time for the charges.

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As many gamers of the lock haven university campus have noticed, we are unable to play any kind of game online. the latency or pings as gamers call it are in excess of 1000+. We are asking to give gaming a higher Privilege on the list of bandwidth management, Or come to an agreement that the university opens up the bandwidth for gaming after hours.

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Since 1993 A.D., over ten years, the Yamassee Native American Moors of the Creek Nation have been undergoing ridicule and discrimination amongst the confederate settlers in Putnam, County, GA. After careful selection and deliberation Maku: Chief Black Thunderbird "Eagle" Dr. Malachi Z. York-El traced the family lineage of the tribe to a location in Georgia only 15 miles away to a Native American landmark called Rock Eagle Mound, which was built by the Yamassee Native American Mound Builders descendants of the Washitaw Mound builders thousands of years ago. The Yamassee/Washitaw Native Americans, being the oldest indigenous people on the planet earth, according to the United Nations (File No. 215/1993)and are recognized in the Bureau Of Indian Affairs #208/1999. We have reclaimed 476 acres of our native land and erected landmarks such as those of our ancestors, dating back to the oldest known civilization, the Olmecs, Mayans who are the descendants of the Egyptians.

In 1997 A.D., Howard Richard Sills was elected Sheriff of Putnam County, and from this point on, the Yamassee Native American Moors of the Creek Nation/United Nuwaubian Nation Of Moors, have found themselves involved in civil case after civil case regarding building and zoning violations. These cases were designed to illegally extort money from the tribe by fining them ridiculous amounts of money for minor violations. Sheriff Howard Richard Sills then made it his point to find a way to discredit and degrade our nation over the next ten years. Our current legal battle is stemming from these civil cases and the fact that we were strong enough to endure. Now, this is their final attempt to once again try to extinguish the Native Americans from their land. Our talk of sovereignty and indigenous rights is what they feared.

On May 8, 2002 A.D., Maku: Chief Black Thunder Bird "Eagle" was arrested in a parking lot of a K-Mart Shopping Center in Milledgeville, GA, by FBI and over 100 law enforcement officers. While this was taking place, over 300 law enforcement officers from Putnam County, Baldwin County, Columbus County, and Jones County, with the Department of Natural Resources, FBI and US Forestry, and 400 heavily armed troops raided our Sacred and Holy Land, which is called Wahanee "Golden City" as found on Native American Maps of the United Nuwaubian Nation of Moors/ Yamassee Native Americans. At the time of this raid only women and children were present and a handful of men. All were unarmed. These incidents occurred because the FBI was given false allegations of child abuse by Sheriff Howard Richard Sills, who coerced teenaged tribal members to make false statements about their chief. None of these interviews were audio recorded or video taped. Maku: Chief Black Thunderbird "Eagle" has written over 460 books on various topics dealing with World Religions and Cultures. He has been successful in raising the awareness amongst the Native Americans who are made up of all races and colors stemming from the Nubian race. With all respect for all religions and races of people across the globe, his favorite phrase is "No one wins the race in racism". Yet Sheriff Howard Richard Sills has sought our to character assassinate our Maku. Maku: Chief Black Thunderbird "Eagle" has been held in the worst prison conditions because of who he is, during pre-trial detention. According to the law of Presumption of Innocence, Chief Blackthunderbird "Eagle" is innocent until proven guilty. Yet in his case he was deemed guilty until proven innocent by the Federal Court Magistrate Judge Claude Hicks. He was compared to Jim Jones and Jimmy Baker, Jimmy Swaggart, who were given the due process of law before being proven guilty. All charges against Maku are fabricated rumors and hearsay. The state and federal governments have no factual proof to back the claim. None of the so-called victims have ever given sworn testimonies in regards to the allegations. Yet after being in custody of the Federal Government he was illegally transferred to the State Government to be tried in their system, which was a clear violation of Maku: Chief Black Thunderbird's right to a speedy trial. An illegal grand jury, sequestered (gathered) by Sheriff Howard Richard Sills, indicted Maku three times before the current indictment, because they had to cover up their mistakes. Judge William Prior according to the Trial Calendar was not supposed to be on this case, yet the courts doctored the calendar to make sure, this "buddy" of Sills would reside over the case against Maku. These are blatant civil rights violations, yet Maku's cries are falling on deaf ears. Because of pretrial publicity the Judge was asked to change the venue, which he did just a measly 20 minutes away. With the odds weighed against him and after being mentally and physically tortured, with no signs of a fair trial in sight he was forced to sign a bogus plea agreement. Now we find ourselves 6 months after the bogus pela agreement he was forced to sign while under duress, with the next phase being the sentencing. The Judge denied the plea agreement because it was done illegally. He has also recused (excused) himself off of this case because of how many mistakes the federal prosecutors have made. He has been mentally and physically tortured into signing a plea agreement in both the state and federal court cases. This case has become a media frenzy of yellow journalism (one sided and biased). Maku: Chief Black Thunderbird "Eagle" is innocent of all charges and now they are trying to deny him his sovereignty in open court, only to be ignored and ridiculed by the public media because his skin is dark. Maku: Chief Black Thunderbird "Eagle" has thousands of tribal members that acknowledge him as their Commander in Chief. This case is not about child abuse, it is about driving the Yamassee Native American Moors of the Creek Nation off of their land. Both governments know that all the lands from Savannah to the borders of Alabama belong to the Yamassee Native Americans and was illegally purchased, which is known as "The Yazoo Land Scandal". We are the Yamassee Native Americans who the Federal government thought they killed off and we have returned home to live peacefully on 476 acres of land that is rightfully, by birthright our Holy Land, Wahanee. FOR MORE INFORMATION GO TO WWW.UNNM.COM

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To all of the Elder Scrolls 3 Forum users: It has become painfully clear that the moderator situation has grown out of control. Moderators with too much power are oppressing the forums users, and they are using their power to fulfill personal vendettas that they may have with certain users.

Supervision of these Moderators is almost non-existant, because only TWO Administrators actually lay claim to the responsibility of maintaining the forum and its moderators. As anyone can tell, there is too large a load for too few people to handle, and this is why ALL the users of the forums demand a reform of the Moderator staff and power.

We feel the new Moderator Structure should be as follows:

1.) Moderators do NOT have the power to BAN users from the forums.
2.) Specific individual Moderators shall be assigned a specific forum and is held responsible for actions in their forums.
3.) Only Administrators shall be permitted to BAN users, AFTER a hearing has taken place with the Moderators about the offending user.
4.) If a BAN is executed, the BANNING ADMINISTRATOR shall issue a detailed email to the BANNED user stating, in depth, the details of their offence, the reason for their ban, and where in the User Agreement they violated the terms they agreed to when they signed up.

To elaborate these reform options:
1.) Too many chiefs and not enough braves is the sentiment there. If every moderator is allowed to ban any user at whim, a vulgar display of power is inevitable, such as the current state of the forums!
2.) If you read the forum information, you'll notice a huge moderator/administrator mix is responsible for ALL the forums. This is too much work, and more than HALF those listed Moderators/Administrators are actively involved in Moderating the forums. If you assign two or three Moderators to a forum, its much easier for them to keep it under control, and you have no overlapping and hasty desicions made.
3.) This is a given. If every policeman was allowed to carry out Judge, Jury, and Executioner with every person he arrested, you would have many many dead people. Simply because the wrong people have all the power. Responsible Administrators should be responsible for making banning decisions, based on a general Moderator consensus that deals with the problem causing user, the number of offences they made, and where exactly in the user agreement they are violating. Only after this is accomplished can a ban be executed with 100% flawlessness and justice.
4.) Banned users have a RIGHT to know WHY they were BANNED. A simple vague reason provided by the forums with a equally vague error message is NOT good enough! Banned users need to know what they did wrong, where they violated their user agreement, and what their being banned for. This way, there is no way a user can have any grounds to cause more trouble or question the decisions made against them.

This petition is to establish order on a ramshackle slip-shod poorly managed forum, whose users are FED UP with being miss-treated by the power-abusing Moderators, and the unprofessional methods of their actions.

The forum users want JUSTICE!

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This is a petition that has come about as a result of the lack of action on the part of the city to build adequate locker rooms for the professional minor league team in O'Fallon, Missouri.

Point 1. Part of our agreement with the Frontier League to secure the Rascals was an agreement to provide adequate showering and changing facilities for both the home team and the visiting team. Currently there is not even a restroom which is alloted to the visiting team, let alone showering facilities.

2. The City agreed to build the locker rooms as a part of the original agreement with the ownership of the River City Rascals organization and has failed to build those facilities.

3. Currently the home team must change and shower in a woefully inadequate trailer behind the right field wall. This facility is not only a blight to the city and team, but is a source of difficulty for the team to recruit the league's best available players.

4. The City points the finger at the Rascals for reasons as to why the facility is not built and the team has pointed back at the city. This is childish on both parts and it is time to put aside the bickering and get the facility built.

5. The city agreed to build the facility last year at the same time the 'St. Charles County Hall of Fame' was built on the grounds and once again defaulted on their promise.

6. The Rascals have proven to be a source of great pride and revenue for the city of O'Fallon with thousands of persons from outside the city visiting each summer and infusing tax revenues to the city of O'Fallon in the form of taxes paid on refreshments, souvenirs and tickets prices.

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New Delhi, May 5 2001: The Shiv Sena on Saturday demanded that fast-food giant McDonalds should shut down its operations in India after it was sued in the United States over the use of animal extract.

About 60 activists of the Sena marched to the office of the Indian branch of McDonalds and
submitted a memorandum demanding closure of its outlets in the country. "Today it is a symbolic protest. We came to warn them to shut down the restaurants," Jai Bhagwan Goel, the Delhi head of the Shiv Sena told Reuters.

McDonalds reiterated that the French fries that it served in India did not contain any animal
extracts. "McDonald's India would like to assure you that French fries in India are a 100 percent vegetarian product and do not contain any beef or animal extract of whatsoever kind," the company said in an advertisement in a newspaper on Saturday.

The Press Trust of India quoted McDonalds Delhi Managing Director Vikram Bakshi as saying that all McDonald outlets were open in Delhi after taking "necessary precautions". Earlier this week a vegetarian lawyer and native Indian, Harish Bharti, filed suit against McDonalds in the United States accusing it of "secretly" lacing its French fries with beef fat.

A report on the case appeared in a leading Indian newspaper on Friday, stirring protests and attacks on the fast-food chain. "The cow is sacred to Indians. Foreign firms have made a habit of dumping things here without any regard to feelings of people," Goel said.

A group of unidentified people attacked a McDonalds outlet in Thane on Mumbai's outskirts on Friday, damaging property. A McDonalds spokesman in the United States said earlier this week the restaurant chain had never claimed to offer vegetarian food but that it gave information on ingredients in its food to anyone who sought it. However, the spokesman said that in some overseas markets McDonalds did offer fries with no animal content to conform to local cultural standards.

McDonalds has 28 outlets in India, where it began operations in 1996. The fast-food chain's staple fare in India are chicken, lamb and vegetarian burgers. (Reuters)

March 2002,

CHICAGO - (KRT) - McDonald's Corp. is close to settling lawsuits filed by several vegetarians last year who accused the burger chain of deliberately concealing the use of beef extract in its French fries.

A confidential draft of the proposed settlement offer calls for McDonald's to pay $10 million to charities that support vegetarianism, issue a public apology and form an advisory board to counsel the company on vegetarian dietary issues. Another $2.4 million would go to plaintiffs' attorneys.

The settlement would end an embarrassing episode for McDonald's over one of its most popular menu items, the skinny French fry. The agreement would cover lawsuits in five states, including Illinois, that were filed on behalf of any vegetarian who ate McDonald's fries after 1990 in the belief that they contained no meat.

That was the year the Oak Brook, Ill.-based company began saying its fries were cooked in "100 percent vegetable oil" instead of a combination of beef tallow and vegetable shortening. The change came to appease cholesterol-conscious fast-food diners.

Based on the company's marketing of the switch, the plaintiffs contend they assumed that the fries were a vegetarian product, not knowing that McDonald's continued to add a small amount of beef tallow to its fries for flavoring. McDonald's says it never made any claims about the vegetarianism of its fries, but it also did not fully disclose the use of the beef extract. In its nutrition brochures, the company described the ingredient as "natural flavor."

The plaintiffs argue that some of the chain's restaurant employees were not even aware of the beef flavoring and told them the fries were vegetarian. Three vegetarians in Seattle, including two Hindus who don't eat meat for religious reasons, were the first to file a complaint last May. Suits in California, Illinois, Texas and New Jersey followed.

Under the proposed agreement, the 12 named plaintiffs in the five pending cases would each receive $4,000.

But not all the plaintiffs are pleased with the offer. A formal settlement has yet to be filed with the court.

"Given how long the window of deception was, $10 million is a pittance," said Cherie Travis, of Downers Grove, Ill., who filed a suit in her state. "McDonald's made a lot of money telling people that the fries were vegetarian."

Travis was so unhappy she fired her attorney, Jason Shanfield of the Chicago firm Edelman, Combs & Latturner Llc, last month. Three plaintiffs in Texas also dismissed their attorney last month. Shanfield declined to comment.

McDonald's would not discuss details of the deal Wednesday. The company "has been working in good faith to resolve this matter," spokesman Walt Riker said. "It was purely unintentional, and we have been working to address this issue in a positive way." According to the draft, McDonald's does not admit to any wrongdoing as part of the agreement.

The terms call for McDonald's to donate $6 million to vegetarian organizations, $2 million to Hindu or Sikh groups, $1 million to promote children's hunger relief and another $1 million to support kosher dietary practices.

McDonald's also will publish an apology in at least six specialized publications, including Veggie Life, Hinduism Today and India Tribune. Travis said that the apology is not a big concession from McDonald's because the company posted an apology on its Web site last May for causing culinary confusion over the last decade.

She also is not happy with the advisory board because, she said, "There's nothing that bind McDonald's to any of its recommendations."

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Oklahoma Natural Gas Company is a wholly owned subsidiary of ONEOK and has violated the public trust by manipulating natural gas prices and over charging consumers. ONG has franchise agreements with a number of cities in Oklahoma and we the voters should be given the opportunity to rescind these agreements. No one should be forced to do business with crooks!

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On January 1, 1997 the Canada-Israel Free Trade Agreement came into effect. The idea of this agreement, which eliminated 80% of tarrifs between the two countries, was founded during more peaceful days in the Holy Land. Now, however, Israel is committing terrible crimes against the Palestinian people. These crimes, such as torture and harbouring war criminals, plainly violate international law.

Canada cannot continue its overly friendly relations with Israel under such conditions. The agreement while granting Israel great wealth causes Palestinian businesses to lose an estimated 6 million American dollars a day. This petition is for the cancelation of the Canada-Israel Free Trade Agreement.

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