Petition Tag - protection

There is absolutely too much violence occurring at Waffle Houses throughout the Tri-City region.

After the incident that took place this morning, KPD should have taken the initiative to man the popular restaurant located on Stone Dr. However, that did not take place. Nevertheless, we are going to work together to get them on their job.

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Fathers and Mothers who have been convicted of child cruelty to their children still have contact in a contact centres or have another member of their family supervise the visit in their own home. This has to stop now.

If they abuse the children in a contact centre or whilst supported or supervised the courts still give them access! The contact centres say they did not see anything as they are busy watching up to 10 children coupled with 10 fathers or mothers, if one needs the toilet that is makes up to 38 people to be watched during that time, this is when the parent strikes out at the kids, whisper in their ears and the abuse starts all over again. Nobody but nobody is doing anything to stop this.

It is unbelievable that this country would send a victim to the offender week after week to be abused. The courts don’t hear the children telling them of horrendous things of bruises on their little bodies or see tiny children aged 2 And 3 lift their tops to show bruises.

Please help me to change the law. No contact of any description for any parent convicted of any violent or sexual offence to their children until the child is 18 years of age. Sign my petition for our kid’s sake!

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Plastic bags are a heavily consumed product of the non-renewable resource petroleum, when they break down they pollute the sea, the earth, the crops and the animals. Animals can think they are food and choke and die, or have them trapped in their digestive system. It is far from a painless death.

Plastic bags take many years to biodegrade, they are a danger to the health of humans and animals alike. Sign to keep the Canadian environment pristine, beautiful and safe for all life.

We need to get rid of these harmful plastic bags that fill up our precious landscape with landfills. It would make a very significant, positive difference to make biodegradable plastic bags mandatory.

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On the 14th of February protestors took to the streets of Bahrain demanding the introduction of a constitutional monarchy and constitutional reform that promotes basic human rights, civil liberties, power sharing, equal access to employment, and the right to choose a new prime minister.

The government’s crackdown came to involve nighttime raids on the homes of pro-democracy protestors or anyone suspected of supporting them. Many were threatened, sexually harassed, raped, brutally tortured, arrested and even murdered. The regime's arrest campaign came to include women, children, doctors, teachers, human rights activists and anyone who could be a potential opposition member. This systematic intimidation campaign is continuing and a sense of despair seems to be engulfing the citizens of Bahrain wherever they maybe.

The invasion from neighboring Saudi and the United Arab Emirates has made the situation worst and a sectarian dimension has now been brought into the mix. Many Bahraini's are from the Shia majority and can’t help, but feel the brunt of the hate and utter disregard these occupying forces have shown toward their Bahraini brothers and sisters.

Students from Bahrain who are attending universities overseas are not in isolation from these events as many of them have family members or friends who were directly affected by the brutality of the regime. They are also saddened by the lack of media coverage of the severity of the situation and the way the plight of the people of Bahrain has been ignored by the international community and as a result some of them decided to demonstrate on their behalf.

As a consequence, the government of Bahrain has now started to indiscriminately target students studying abroad. Government sponsored students had their scholarships and financial support revoked by the government a few days after participating in demonstrations or writing comments on social networks. The termination of the scholarships with immediate effect is creating a dire financial need, as well as emotional and mental distress. They are all now living in fear for our safety and wellbeing and know that we are likely to be detained on our return to Bahrain. There are many documented cases of students disappearing on returning to Bahrain. The students of Bahrain really have no idea where this is heading for them and don’t know what will become of them.

Links: The Mule – government targeting Bahrain Students in Britain
http://manchestermule.com/article/bahraini-protestors-in-manchester-targeted
CNN Video on crackdown in Bahrain:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3WgyTR1oEZg&feature=player_embedded
Recent Report on situation in Bahrain from Amnesty International:
http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/asset/MDE11/017/2011/en/e8a103c8-4b20-4a8e-8340-e798ad731646/mde110172011en.html
Press TV on government suppressing students in Bahrain:
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/173405.html

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We, all the undersigned agree on and support Hungary’s Government’s new Media Law

As responsible European citizens and Hungarian Civil women, we proclaim that we are committed to all European moral values and we commit to respect the legal laws of the community.
Accordingly, we welcome the new provisions that have been made with the new media law of the Hungarian Government focusing on child and family protection.

With this Declaration we support the following:
• Media should inform authentically the society
• Media should serve the physical, spiritual and mental development of people
• Media, as it is a mediator of values, should present justice, goodness and beauty
• Media should protect public morality, moreover educate and encourage everyone to it
• Media should not present sin as a virtue, should not encourage to sin, and to commit criminal acts
• Media should not popularize any forms of violence and pornography
• Advisements should not use children for commercial purposes.

The mission of the Hungarian Women’s Alliance is the confession of our female vocation at the same time: ”As it is the woman, like is the family, as it is the family, like is the society.”
The most genuine vocation of a woman is giving life and raising children and this can be fulfilled only in the family. The woman being in charge of the hearth of the family, takes an integral part in the formation of our society.
Accordingly, the media is called to present female dignity in a respectful way and to strengthen the values of marriage, family and motherhood.

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Vicious Mutilation of Family Cat



Our family pet cat was recently found dead and mutilated with many of his body parts missing.

The post-mortem that followed could not determine a cause of death since vital body and organ identifiers had been removed. However, the examination did prove that the mutilation was deliberate and that further, several parts were removed post mortem.

On notifying the authorities of this atrocity; we have been informed that the police cannot pursue any sort of investigation as a criminal offence has apparently not taken place under the jurisdiction Greater Manchester Police force. The explanation given for the lack of police intervention is that interference with our cat’s body occurred after his death.

The purpose of this petition therefore, is to close the gap in the law that relates to the act of purposeful mutilation and theft of body parts from the carcass of family pets regardless as to the original cause of death.

We understand that in certain areas such an act is found to be criminal and is thus covered by the Criminal Damage Act, 1971. Justification of this stance is given to the fact that; within the law a domestic animal is and should be viewed, as the absolute property of its owner.

Why can there not be a consistent course of action for animal cruelty offences, before and after death, pursued throughout every police force in England?

To be considered further is the proven link between the mutilation of animals by individuals and their tendency to progress onto further, more violent crimes. We believe that there has to be a deterrent within the law against this type of behaviour and to protect our communities.

Clearly, at this time, the law is not in our favour and as such, we would petition for action to be taken to enforce criminal damage suits against proven offenders and that moreover, the police are permitted to investigate such barbarous acts of crime against family pets and indeed all animals with a serious intent to prosecute offenders.

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Home Office Ref: S1391610/2

Shrouk El-Attar has been living in the UK for the last three years, she feels that she can express herself openly here and has a large community of friends around her but she is now under threat of deportation back to Egypt.

At age 16, Shrouk ‘came out’ as being gay to her friends and expressed her sexuality on ‘facebook’. In 2010, Shrouk decided to claim asylum as a refugee under the 1951 Geneva Convention to which the UK is a signatory. A Tribunal Court dismissed her claim for asylum on the 25th of October 2010.

On hearing about the dismissal of her claim for asylum Shrouk stated:

“I’m terrified about the possibility of being forcibly deported to Egypt. As a gay person, life in Egypt would be impossible for me. I would never be able to express my true self and would have to live my life in hiding.”

Shrouk fears that if she were to return to Egypt she would be persecuted by both the Egyptian authorities and by her own extended family. She is afraid that she will be forced into marriage, suffer Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and risk an honour killing if she resists.

We believe that the current Home Office policy of considering Egypt as a “safe” country does not reflect the reality of cases like hers.

If you would like to get involved or to be updated on Shrouk’s campaign, please e-mail savetheshrouk@hotmail.co.uk or join the facebook group ‘Asylum for Shrouk El-Attar’

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Sanctuary for Mrs S and family

Home Office ref: S1391610

Mrs S and two of her children arrived in the UK in November 2007 after suffering 15 years of violence in Egypt. Her youngest daughter remained behind and was helped by the Home Office to be reunited with the family safely in the UK. Despite this her case has now been refused and all rights of appeal have been exhausted. The whole family is under serious threat of honour-based violence and possibly even death if deported back to Egypt.

Mrs S has been seeking sanctuary from an abusive and cruel husband whose acts endangered her and her children’s lives for over 15 years to the extent of death and rape. The Egyptian authorities ignored this domestic abuse as her husband has close links with police, judges and other officials.

Mrs S should be granted international protection under the UN Refugee Convention as she holds a real and well-founded fear of persecution of her own life and that of her family. We call upon the Immigration Minister to grant Mrs S and her children the right to remain in the UK on compassionate grounds.

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Hello all,

My name is Natashia,

It has come to my realization that these majestic creatures have been under attack for century's. I have spoken to and have had a lot of debates with others on this topic, and to be fairly quoted "more people need to care". I can't imagine a world without the presence of these highly exquisite additions to the sea. It is my hope and my goal that the whales will be here for many more century's to come, with the support and love of all of us, I would love to be able for my children and my children's children, to have the pleasure of seeing them in the ocean one day.

For years there have been many whales killed and then meat traded under objection, in 1986 200 sperm whales, 2 brydes, 311 minke whales were killed in Japan totalling 513 whales. In Norway same year, 379 minke whales were also killed. USSR 3,028 minke whales were killed.

That brings us to today, and we ask the question will it ever stop?

From 2000 to 2008 over 5, 727 whales have been killed in Norway alone, this keep in mind is not including 2009 and 2010.

To give a general idea of how many were talking about here lets say in Norway Japan and Iceland were looking at 20, 248.

Come one people is this really necessary? The sad part is, is Japan says half of the whales they are catching are going towards whale research that must be successful being as that they are ending up on their plates!, and the government doesn't seem to mind a taste either.

In 1986, the IWC instituted an indefinite ban on commercial whaling. This ban is still in effect, with certain exceptions, countries such as Japan and Norway have not honored the ban.

Unfortunately I know it all comes down to money and economic pressures. However us a people can make a difference, there are other ways of profiting aka making money, but it doesn't mean we have to kill our neighbors. Whale watching has become very popular and it's still safe for the whales.

I certainly don't want to be showing my children a whale at the bone museum, they should be apart of our future, not our past.

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After luring a baboon into a trap by using bread as bait, a Wilderness man fired about 20 shots into the animal, using a .22calibre gun. The baboon suffered abominably, taking hours to die. Police called to the scene were so traumatised, they were unable to put the animal down themselves and called a professional hunter in to end the baboon's suffering. The man was arrested but only charged with firing a weapon in a residential area.

The SPCA is prosecuting the perpetrator under the animal Protection Act for cruelty to animals.

Baboon Matters Trust believes that this and other
related incidents could have been prevented if
CapeNature (Responsible for nature conservation in the Western Cape) and SA National Parks implemented pro-active baboon
management into baboon affected areas.

KILLING SO-CALLED “PROBLEM ANIMALS” DOES NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM.

The outdated belief that the only way to solve a problem caused by the inability of man to live alongside wildlife, is to eliminate the wildlife needs to be changed. Killing so-called “problem animals” does not solve the problem. It has been proven that pro-active management reduces conflict and helps solve the problem eliminating the need to hurt, maim or torture any animal.

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An article in the Sacramento Bee on September 10, 2007 by Washington correspondent David Whitney summed up automatic citizenship: "Although Congress has never passed a law saying so, no president has ever ordered it, and no court has ever ruled on the issue, each of these babies automatically becomes a U.S. citizen when it takes its first breath." This is a taxpayer injustice.

Our citizens' movement will launch the national debate we need to bring an END to illegal "birth tourism" and AUTOMATIC CITIZENSHIP in the United States of America. The movement will uphold the recorded words and real intent of God, Jesus Christ, and the authors of our Constitution. To the authors and the states which passed the 14th Amendment "subject to the jurisdiction" is to mean that citizens are born to parents who are "NOT subjects of a foreign power."

The goal to stop illegal automatic citizenship is critical toward reducing the crime problem. A major reason deported criminal illegal aliens return immediately to the United States after deportation is because they have left behind children born here. Michael Chertoff, Homeland Security, reported there are two million criminal illegal aliens.

Illegal alien births: Approximately half of all births in Los Angeles County, 65% at Los Angeles County General Hospital, and 70% of all births at San Joaquin General Hospital. Now 10% of all births in the U.S. are to illegal aliens, about 385,000 annually. In California, 25% of all births are to illegal aliens, or about 300 births per day, one anchor baby born every five minutes in California.

84 hospitals, 65 emergency rooms and more than 70 acute care hospitals have closed in CA. in the last 10 years. $8.6 billion unreimbursed emergency care costs in 2007.

Most Californians do not know this, and the Democrat controlled Legislature is not going to tell them: Illegal aliens are paid 18 years of welfare checks for the anchor child in a child-only Cal-WORKS case, while federal regulation allows a five year maximum for citizens. (The initiative will prohibit the issuance of this welfare program to illegal aliens.)

From a NY Times Editorial referencing information from the Center for Disease Control: Hispanic girls have the highest teen birth rate, twice the national average, one-quarter of the girls are mothers by age 20, 50% of those births are illegitimate, for El Salvadorans 73 illegitimacy, Jamaican 86%. The Latin teenage birthrate is the fastest growing segment of the United States population, three times more than white, 1.5 more than black. Unmarried Hispanic birthrate increasing faster than any other. Unmarried teenage births: Mexican, 93 births per 1,000, white 27 per 1K, Asian, 17, black, 65, Italy 6.9, Japan 3.9.

Statistics show that teenage pregnancy produces high school dropouts, increases the chances of the offspring dropping out, earning less, using welfare, belonging to a gang, and these children are eight times more likely to be incarcerated. This Third World birth rate puts us on the fast track to unstoppable family breakdown and an exploding, expanding permanent underclass in the United States.

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Our judicial system is failing to protect children by continually handing out meagre sentences to perpetrators of vile and horrific acts of abuse. It is time for the enforcement of penalties that truly reflect the impact of these crimes.

In October 2009 a 24 year old Sunshine Coast man was sentenced to only nine years jail for brutally attacking a 2 year old boy in his care. The boy suffered life threatening injuries including a punctured bowel after being brutally thrown at a wall several times, kicked in the eye and jaw, raped and penetrated with a sharp object. He was then left in the alley where the crimes took place and would have died had he not been found.

The prosecution argued the man should be sentenced to 10-12 years. The Judge said that in his 15 years as a judge he had never come across an episode of violence towards a child so horrific and so shocking and yet he did not sentence him accordingly. The Hon Lawrence Springborg has called for the Attorney General to launch an appeal in this case, however something clearly needs to be done for future cases coming before the courts. Your signature on this petition will help to make that happen.

YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS WILL NEVER BE DISPLAYED ON THIS WEBSITE.

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Whereas, the public health concerns of existing outdoor wood boilers are well documented and recognized by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, the Environmental Protection Agency, the American Lung Association, and countless other local boards of health across the United States, we are hereby signing this petition in support for Rutland residents who wish for the institution of a summer ban for existing outdoor wood boilers in the Town of Rutland, Massachusetts.

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Whereas, the public health concerns of existing outdoor wood boilers are well documented and recognized by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, the Environmental Protection Agency, the American Lung Association, and countless other local boards of health across the United States, we are hereby creating this petition for the institution of a summer ban for existing outdoor wood boilers in the town of Rutland, Massachusetts.

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The "child protection policy undermines parents rights". It infringes on, Life liberty and security of a person! Parent’s right to be free from the psychological harm, caused by the apprehension of a child especially when
a decision to deprive natural parent's, of their children was particularly due to serious consequence, of the states conduct!

Make Ministry for Children and Families accountable! Deprivation is one of the Most distressing of all Human emotions, what is equally distressing is
when parent's have been wrongfully deprived of their children!

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Creating a Special Commission to Review Legislation Impacting the Health and Welfare of Young People in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Preamble:
Whereas, laws affecting children and adolescents in the name of child protection have been passed episodically through the legislature over the past two hundred years¬¬—many of which are still in force, and in many respects too costly.

Since some of these statutes impacting the conditions in which our young people live and develop have been studied extensively by many experts, and found to be ambiguous, contradictory, antiquated, counterproductive, unconstitutional, or otherwise harmful to the health and welfare of young people in the Commonwealth, we believe it is necessary to carefully improve upon all laws impacting child development and maturation.

Considering that many of our statutes, in some measure, no longer serve the function of protecting the health and welfare of young people, nor promote their well being, it is the consensus of the vast majority of experts in child development and education that although statutes which attempt to create laws that better protect our young people’s health and welfare is indeed an important and compelling subject of thoughtful legislative action, it is crucial that the issues be carefully examined by specialized experts to implement consistency throughout our laws, regulations and policies.

Moreover, since we now have amassed over a century of experience with existing statutes and policies gathered by hospitals, psychologists, university professors, social workers, teachers, activists, psychiatrists, doctors, sociologists, child development specialists, politicians, parents, churches and many other individuals and institutions which act to serve the interests of young people, we now have access to more salient, complete and relevant data through expert studies and empirically determined observations as to what conditions are detrimental to our young people and which are helpful. We therefore find it prudent to reform the entire set of interlocking laws, regulations, rules, institutions, entitlements and policies which impact upon our young people, retire those statutes that do not work or cause harm to our youth, revise those statutes which can be transformed into positive contributions to the well being of our society in general, and frame new legislation to address problems not currently addressed by existing statutes or institutions to make the Commonwealth a place that does all in its power to promote the well being of our young.

We also believe that a more comprehensive approach to reviewing the existing context of laws influencing child development and maturation requires specialized consideration of all related areas, which therefore requires a large enough body of experts to competently examine which laws are harmful and to suggest the necessary reforms.

Be it proposed that the House of Representatives, Senate, and Governor review this legislation and deliberate in all due haste its implementation in order to reduce unnecessary harm being done to young people by laws which, while well intentioned themselves, are causing a economic burden to the Commonwealth and harm to the public safety, and to young people in particular, who are negatively impacted by their unintended consequences as a result of their misdirection—having been passed during times we were less familiar with the facts about child development and maturation.

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Dear animal lover,

animal welfare society Ärzte für Tiere e.V. creates a forum for stray animals rights in Europe by launching online platform STARS.

In Europe stray dogs and cats suffer tremendous torments each day - they are hunted and maltreated, beaten up and poisoned; they are caught and kept in so-called »animal shelters« that provide no escape: in these camps thousands of stray animals are penned up to meet a cruel death.

Despite the existence of animal protection laws stray animals have become a questionable source of income in many European countries: their capture, custody and killing offer good business opportunities by involving public money originally designated to improve the stray animals situation.

EU parliamentarians Alain Hutchinson, David Hammerstein and Neil Parish have written a declaration on the welfare of pets and stray animals (PDF). The declaration claims hard punishment for abandoning and maltreating pets and stray animals.

EU Member States are requested to commit themselves to regulate the overpopulation of stray animals and to lay sterilization and vaccination down in law and to implement them accordingly.

A vote on this declaration will be held in EU parliament shortly - the time limit to sign this declaration is May 5th, 2009. It is crucial that a majority of the EU parliamentarians’ votes are obtained for this declaration.

Please support us by asking EU parliamentarians to sign this petition! Please forward this petition to friends and colleagues!

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A damning report by Ofsted recently revealed that up to 4 children die every week in England from abuse or neglect. Two thirds of the victims were less than a year old.

Experts say that 1 in 10 UK children suffers abuse or neglect and that most maltreated children are not known to the authorities. In the UK it is estimated that one million children are affected each year.

An average of 57 sexual offences against UK children were recorded DAILY by police in 2008. In more than 800 cases the victim was aged under four.

The current judicial system does not adequately reflect the serious nature of these crimes. The death of a child through abuse or neglect is often punished with a prison sentence ranging from only 1-14 years, most of which are automatically halved with parole. This needs to change now.

WE PETITION THE GOVERNMENT TO:

1. Increase the maximum sentence of 14 years for ‘allowing or causing death of a child’ to a discretionary life sentence, naming this new ruling ‘Peter’s Law’, as it was the murder of Peter Connelly that opened the nations eyes to the injustice of the current tariff.

2. Review sentencing guidelines for ALL crimes relating to child abuse, increasing both minimum and maximum tariffs.

3. Introduce a law concerning fatal abuse without fatal injury where death as a result of complications from failure to seek medical attention; illness in a child whose immune system is impaired by the stress of chronic abuse or neglect; or abuse or neglect of a child already impaired by chronic illness, is labeled murder.

4. Ensure that sentences for child abuse run consecutively.

5. Abolish parole for all crimes against children.

6. Life sentences should mean LIFE.

7. Close the legal loophole which allows abusers to escape jail when the child survives, by blaming each other for the abuse.


Please see the accompanying document for a thorough explanation of our law proposals & examples of the injustice of our current legal system.


In light of the tragic and avoidable death of Baby P and the more recent serious child protection failings in Doncaster and Birmingham, we call for urgent improvements to child protection nationwide to include:

1. The NSPCC say that babies & toddlers are particularly vulnerable to physical abuse. If regular compulsory health checks were introduced, at least 4 times a year for ages 0-2 and three times a year for ages 2-5, they would help to reveal any signs of abuse or neglect. Social Services should be alerted if appointments become overdue.

2. Social workers & health visitors should be allowed to physically examine young 'at risk' children. A child on the 'at risk' register means that child is considered to be at risk of significant harm. Examinations should therefore be compulsory at every visit of an at risk child or when any new child is brought to the attention of the authorities where there are reported concerns of abuse as this is the easiest, quickest & most effective way to determine if a child is being physically abused or not.

In the news recently was a 3 year old Carlisle toddler who was tortured by her father Reuben Williams her entire life. Because a Health Visitor determined after speaking to the mother that there were no child protection concerns without ever seeing the child and because 3 months later, a Social Worker did not examine the child despite renewed allegations of abuse, she was subjected to a further completely avoidable 18 months of being whipped, burned, punched, scratched and bitten. Her body is now permanently disfigured by nearly 200 scars and the emotional harm done is incalculable. Points 1) & 2) should hopefully avoid unnecessary & prolonged suffering of this kind.

3. Social Workers should carry out a task list at every visit which should be adopted nationwide and include:

- check the cleanliness/hygiene of all living quarters
- check for evidence of undisclosed people living at the property & Criminal Record Bureau Check all residents & regular visitors
- check there is sufficient food and other essential supplies
- physically interact with the child
- physically examine the child
- insist children in nappies be changed to reveal any cases of serious nappy rash
- insist any food, ointment, paint etc be removed from the child
- ensure they see the child unrestrained & moving, crawling or walking to assess any difficulty with movement & possible injury
- see children old enough to speak on their own in the presence of another professional, so that the child can talk uninhibited away from its carers
- check for signs of drug use or alcohol abuse as these are often linked to cases of child abuse & neglect
- observe family's interaction with pets as abusive behaviour may be indicative of domestic violence
- check for any other dangers

4. If a social worker strongly suspects physical abuse, they should have the power to remove the child immediately while the matter is investigated, with or without police aid.

5. Social workers must be aware of 'red flags' that could be cause for concern and should check on the child without delay every time one is raised as the child may have already sustained injury or be in poor physical condition. These should include:

- carers failing to attend any appointments
- being denied access to a child or its living quarters
- carers regularly appear not to be at home or who say a child is unavailable (confirm child's whereabouts immediately)
- carers saying that they can't see anyone for a period of time

6. Up to 80% of Social Workers' time is spent on administration. Free up this time to be spent with vulnerable children instead with adequate admin support. Also, main focus needs to be protecting vulnerable children - not meeting targets, budgets or red tape.

7. An urgent review of the criteria required to have a child taken into care. In Baby P's case 2 doctors, the police and a Social Worker stated separately that Baby P should not be returned to his mother and yet lawyers said there was insufficient evidence to start care proceedings.

8. Introduction of the whistleblowers' hotline for the use of all child protection agencies and the public to expose internal bad practice. Better protection for whistleblowers and a ban on gagging orders in such circumstances as they only serve to hush up bad practice and allow it to continue unchecked.

9. Provide a suitable and adequate alternative to the Children's database which must be used and accessed by the NHS, Social Services and the police to help strengthen communication between the agencies. Currently 66% of hospitals fail to check if an injured child is involved with social services and a lack of communication was cited in 75% of child death Serious Case Reviews.

10. to recruit and retain adequate numbers of high quality, well trained Social Workers & Health Visitors.

11. If abusive pet owners can be banned from keeping animals, a similar law should be in place to protect children from abusive carers or carers who allow a child to be abused or neglected. Abusers should forfeit all visitation & parental rights. Why should children have less rights to protection than animals?

12. A child's welfare must always take priority over keeping a family together.

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There are currently 31 other states that have an early voting option for its citizens, and it has worked well to provide more equitable access to the election process. It is time for Pennsylvania to empower its citizens, too.

Early voting makes it easier to vote, and this means more people exercise their right. Research by Curtis Gans, Director of the Committee for the Study of the American Electorate, shows that in the 11 states that had early voting in both 2002 and 2004, turnout increased by an aggregate average of 7.2 percentage points.

This measure will also simplify election administration for all of Pennsylvania's 67 counties by allowing more time to process ballots, lifting strain on voting systems that occurs on Election Day, eliminating serpentine election day lines, and reducing the number of poll workers needed while allowing more time for the poll workers who remain to become familiar with new or updated voting systems.

While the law currently provides protections for citizens to be excused from their work to vote on election day, for too many hard-working Pennsylvanians that is not realistic. Limited transportation, some occupations, family obligations, emergencies, or physical conditions can prevent voters from standing for an hour or more in line at their polling place on election days.

All citizens must have the opportunity to cast their ballot protected by our government.

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In the light of the Baby P Tragedy, please petition 10 Downing Street to better protect vulnerable children and request that the government adopt the following recommendations for the future handling of children 'at risk' cases:

** Represents known areas where Baby P was badly let down

1.** If on 2 occasions the authorities (police/medical) advise against a child being returned to its family, Social Services should not be allowed to overrule this.

2.** Social workers should insist that all clothing be removed & chocolate/paint/ointment etc be cleaned off at every visit as these may hide a multitude of sins. Children old enough to speak may be too afraid to do so.

3.If a social worker strongly suspects physical abuse, they should remove the child immediately, with or without police aid, while the matter is investigated.

4.Social workers must make regular unannounced and out of hours visits.

5.If a social worker is denied access to a child or living quarters by its carers or suspects that a carer is pretending not to be at home, then social workers should call on the police to gain immediate access, as the child may have already sustained serious injuries or be in poor physical condition.

6.If a carer says a child is with someone else, this must be verified immediately.

7.** If the carer fails to attend any appointment set by social services, the child must be seen without delay, as again they may be injured.

8.If abusive pet owners can be banned from keeping animals, a similar law should be in place to protect children from abusive carers or carers who allow a child to be abused or neglected. Why should children have less rights to protection than animals?

9.** If Social Services refer a child for assessment, the doctor must do a full examination.

10.** If someone is assigned by the council to check on or live with the child at risk's family, that person must be monitored to ensure they are performing their duties.

11.** If a carer tells social services or equivalent that they can't see anyone for a period of time, the child must be seen immediately before this is granted, as the child may be injured.

12.** A child's welfare must always take priority over keeping a family together.

13.Carers should be told that they won't be judged if they admit to not loving a child or that they resent looking after a child or that they simply can't cope and that they can choose to have the child put into care, if only temporarily.

14.All the above points must be made known to carers on the social workers first visit to ensure that carers are fully aware that it won't be so easy to hoodwink social workers, to make excuses or to hide signs of physical abuse and that there is only a small, finite number of chances to get it right if they don't want to lose a child.

15.Legal & child care costs may deter councils from taking child abuse cases to court. To stop this happening, there should be a central government fund in place for these expenses.

16. The NSPCC say that babies & toddlers are particularly vulnerable to physical abuse. Babies are at greatest risk of being murdered in their first year of life than any other age. It should therefore be compulsory for babies & toddlers to have health checks at least every 3 months, for the first year or two, to help detect any signs of neglect or physical abuse. If carers fail to attend a health check, social services should be alerted and the child seen without delay. Responsible carers already take their children to health centres regularly, so this system should only serve to highlight any irresponsible, neglectful or abusive carers.

17. Child abusers and those responsible for a child's death through abuse or neglect must be punished with tougher prison sentences and no parole. The current judicial system is far too lenient.

NOTES:

*'Social Worker' can also mean Health Visitor or equivalent.
*Please sign and forward onto friends and family.
*Please note that your email and street address will NOT be displayed on-line.

Thank you.

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The Persian or Iranian Leopard is a secretive animal, like all leopards, and is seldom seen in the wild. Residing in hilly and forested areas. It is a solitary feline that faces a variety of threats in it's natural habitat and is struggling to survive in nature.

There are fewer than thirteen hundred Persian Leopards in the wild today and the highest number are in Iran with around six to eight hundred reportedly existing. There are some conservation projects underway, at the moment though, this magnificent animal is classified as Endangered. This is due to poaching for fur, trophy hunting, poisoning, fires, and habitat and prey loss, also continued warfare within it's geographical range.

The Leopard is a flag species, and it's presence shows the health of the entire ecosystem.

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Η «Πρωτοβουλία Πολιτών για την Προστασία του Υμηττού» διακινεί το κείμενο που ακολουθεί και συγκεντρώνει υπογραφές, τις οποίες θα δημοσιοποιήσει.
Αν συμφωνείτε, υπογράψτε κι εσείς και προωθήστε το κείμενο στην παρέα σας, την γειτονιά σας, στην συλλογικότητα που συμμετέχετε.

ΓΙΑ ΤΗΝ ΔΙΑΣΩΣΗ TOY YMHTTOY

ΕΚΚΛΗΣH

Η Αθήνα επεκτείνεται. Ο Υμηττός τις τελευταίες δεκαετίες, όπως και οι άλλοι ορεινοί όγκοι που την περιβάλλουν, δέχονται συνεχή πλήγματα : Πυρκαγιές-εμπρησμοί, καταστροφή δασικών εκτάσεων, καταπατήσεις δημόσιας γης, οικιστικές επεκτάσεις (νομότυπες ή αυθαίρετες), στρατιωτικές εγκαταστάσεις, κτιριακά συγκροτήματα πραγματικών ή δήθεν «κοινωφελών» εγκαταστάσεων τύπου «αναψυκτηρίου» Μαγγίνα, λατομεία, κεραίες Ραδιο-Τηλεοπτικών σταθμών, συνθέτουν πλέον ένα εφιαλτικό «περιβάλλον» στο οποίο είμαστε υποχρεωμένοι να ζούμε.

Το ισχύον Προεδρικό Διάταγμα προστασίας του Υμηττού (Π.Δ 544 Δ’/1978), φαίνεται ότι δεν μπορεί να ανακόψει την επέλαση όσων επιβουλεύονται τον ελέυθερο χώρο του βουνού για να προωθήσουν τα σχέδιά τους. Ωστόσο, αντί οι αρμόδιες κρατικές και κυβερνητικές αρχές να προωθήσουν ένα πρόγραμμα μεγαλύτερης και αποτελεσματικότερης προστασίας του Υμηττού, στην πράξη ανέχονται και καλύπτουν κάθε είδους αυθαιρεσίες, ερχόμενοι εκ των υστέρων να τις νομιμοποιήσουν. Κάτι τέτοιο φαίνεται να επιδιώκουν και με την εξαγγελθείσα τροποποίηση του Π.Δ 544 Δ’/1978, προκαλώντας έτσι ακόμα μεγαλύτερα πλήγματα στο βουνό.

Εξ’άλλου, πριν λίγες εβδομάδες ανακοινώθηκαν τα σχέδια του ΥΠΕΧΩΔΕ για την κατασκεύη νέων αυτοκινητόδρομων στόν Υμηττό τά οποία περιλαμβάνουν την επέκταση της Αττικής Οδού προς νότο πάνω από την Καισαριανή, τον Βύρωνα την Ηλιούπολη, την Αργυρούπολη, μέχρι τη Γλυφάδα,το Ελληνικό και την παραλιακή Λεωφόρο Ποσειδώνος. Ακόμη το ΥΠΕΧΩΔΕ προγραμματίζει νέα διόδια, ανοιχτούς-ανισόπεδους κόμβους σύνδεσης με το υπάρχον τοπικό δίκτυο των όμορων Δήμων, σύνδεση του Λεκανοπεδίου της Αθήνας με το Κορωπί και τα Μεσόγεια μέσω σήραγγας στον Υμηττό που θα ξεκινάει από τη περιοχή του Στρατοπέδου Σακέττα (δίπλα στον Καρέα), καθώς και νέους επιφανειακούς αυτοκινητόδρομους στον δασικό χώρο της Ανατολικής πλευράς του Υμηττού, μέχρι την παραλία Αγ. Μαρινας, στο Σαρωνικό.

Με βάση όλα όσα αναφέρονται παραπάνω, πιστεύουμε ότι δεν θα πρέπει να προχωρήσουν τα καταστροφικά σχέδια του ΥΠΕΧΩΔΕ γιά τη δημιουργία νέων αυτοκινητόδρομων στον Υμηττό και να αναζητηθούν διαφορετικές λύσεις για την αντιμετώπιση των πραγματικών αναγκών και προβλημάτων που αντιμετωπίζουμε. Συγκεκριμένα προτείνεται αντί της πριμοδότησης της χρήσης του Ι.Χ, η επέκταση των δημόσιων μεταφορικών μέσων και ειδικώτερα των μέσων σταθερής τροχιάς (μετρό, τράμ, προαστιακός) καθώς και η δημιουργία εκτεταμένου δικτύου λεωφορειολωρίδων, ποδηλατόδρομων, πεζόδρομων. Ακόμη προτείνεται η διαφορετική διαχείριση του υπάρχοντος οδικού δικτύου της περιοχής (διαχωρισμός της τοπικής από την υπερτοπική κυκλοφορία οχημάτων, ενοποίηση ελεύθερων-κοινόχρηστων χώρων κ.α.)

Οι υπογράφοντες αυτό το κείμενο, απευθύνουμε έκκληση προς όλους όσους προτάσουν την διάσωση του Υμηττού από τους σχεδιασμούς του ΥΠΕΧΩΔΕ, για συσπείρωση και κινητοποίηση, ώστε να αποτραπούν οι « λύσεις» πού προωθούνται.

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We object to the proposed development (P/2007/102/PA/900) at the bottom of Moorside Lane as it would lead to loss of Green Belt land.

Neither is it in accordance with the Ellesmere Port and Neston Local Plan supported by the Council’s Position Statement in December 2007 on managing supply of housing land which restricted development to Brownfield sites and only then if it meets strict conditions.

The Green Belt is an integral part of the locality and is a facility enjoyed by all residents and many people from outside the immediate area.

In particular the development is against policies GB2, GB4, ENV6, ENV12 and REC7 of the Local Plan covering the Green Belt, the Area of Special County Value for Landscape, the Dee Coastal Zone and the Dee Coastal Path.

We urge the Local Planning Authority to reject the application and confirm its commitment to the Local Plan.

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Requested Legislation for Requirements of Credit Reporting Agencies

The three major credit reporting agencies are partially responsible for the housing crisis in this country and it is time that the Federal Government make them more responsible for their actions.

They have set some guidelines with The Fair Debt Collection Act and the Fair Credit Reporting Act, but there is much more that needs to be done to hold these agencies accountable.

Complaint:

1. Credit reporting agencies are not held liable for inaccurate information on your credit report. They are required to remove it if they can not prove the information is accurate. However, they don’t send the consumer detailed proof of their investigation. They only tell the consumer that the information was verified. There is no penalty enforced for inaccurate information, therefore there is no motivation to verify the information or remove it. In fact, the credit reporting agencies are paid by the companies to post the information on a consumer’s credit report.

2. Credit reporting agencies distort information about late payments. They will list that you had a late payment on your credit report indefinitely, even if a consumer has held the account for 20 years and was only late on one payment 16 years ago. This provides an inaccurate portrayal of the consumer’s credit worthiness and artificially lowers the consumer’s credit score.

3. Credit reporting agencies do not verify the original date of a debt that has gone to collection. A debt that has gone to collection should be kept on a credit report for only 7 years plus 180 days from the date of original default on payment. The credit reporting agency will list the item as a new debt from the date the collection company purchases the debt. This occurs over and over as a debt is bought and sold by various collection companies. This artificially lowers the consumer’s credit score.

4. When a consumer disputes a debt on their credit report, the credit reporting agency only lists that the consumer disputes the debt. They do not list the exact words of the consumer. This does not provide the consumer the ability to properly defend themselves regarding inaccurate information on their report.

5. Credit reporting agencies list collections for medical bills. Medical information is not disclosed, but the collection account for a medical bill is disclosed. This is against the privacy rights of the consumer.

6. Collection agencies are not required to verify the accuracy of a collection account before posting the debt on a consumer’s credit report. This allows inaccurate information to be posted that artificially lowers the consumer’s credit score.

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With a mouthful of teeth, shark’s do not seem to need much protection.
However, sharks have little or no protection from humans who hunt them for almost every part of their body to make leather, jewelry, soup, cosmetics, and other items.

Sharks are also hunted for sport and many are inadvertently caught in fishing nets or in nets placed to protect humans. Sharks have a great deal to fear from humans. Compared to the 10-15 people killed by sharks each year; over 100 million sharks perish at the hands of humans annually and many populations may face extinction. Sharks are killed for many reasons, including fear;
However; the product that drives the market are the fins. After drying, collagen fibers are extracted from them, cleaned, and processed to make 'shark fin soup'. In spite of the fact that these fibers have little flavor or nutritional value, the soup is considered a delicacy, and may sell in the Orient for more than $100 ( £65) a bowl.

Often the fins are sliced off when the shark is still alive and the mutilated shark is dumped back into the water to die a slow and agonizing death.

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Le WWF veut encourager les revendeurs de meubles de jardin du marché belge à proposer plus de meubles en bois provenant de forêts bien gérées (portant donc le label FSC).

Faites entendre votre voix !
Faites savoir aux revendeurs de meubles de jardin que vous choisissez du "bon bois" : demandez-leur d'élargir leur offre en meuble de jardin en bois FSC.

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May 26, 2006

This Petition will be mailed to All Australian Members of the Senate in Parliament.

Child abuse is way out of control and it is time to turn the light on these sex offenders who have been getting away with the most Unacceptable... Who have been interfering with the rights of others, who have denied and exploited their responsibility as role-model and guardian.

We must All make ourselves accountable… it is time to face this front on, together!

What's needed is Prevention and Zero tolerance!!!

What's needed is Greater public awareness through Education!

CONSIDER THIS: The word Victim should not be used. We do not want to encourage victimhood; 'Fear' This word implies one person is victorious over the other who is helpless, this word gives power away. The word predator should not be used...it promotes domninace to one side and instills fear and helplessness to the other side. Instead the abuser should be understood through description... as very sick, deeply immoral, deeply selfish, out of control, deficient in remorse therefore completely untrustworthy, sly, manipulative, unpredictable, harmful, violent... this would help avoid manipulation.

We can no longer function from fear...and we can no longer remain ignorant as ignorance is the greatest breeder of fear.

We are no longer victims when the so called predator sees we are the ones watching them...When what we say and what is done speaks the message that abusive behavior will not be tolerated the dominator will loose his power.

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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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February 27, 2006

Sri Nara Chandrababu Naidu.
Ex Chief Minister of State & Leader of Opposition Party.

Respected Sir,

Chilkur Balaji Temple situated in Osmansagar (Chilkur village), Hyd is the only Temple in the World that boasts of not having a 'Hundi' and does not discriminate among any devotees based on their social status.

Devotees are NOT EXPECTED to make any MONETARY OFFERINGS neither are they accepted. The temple run by the Head Priest, Sri Soundara Rajan is being maintained well & the Lord is answering devotees prayers in bountiful.

The taking over of the Temple by the Endowments Department WILL introduce the 'Hundi' system and other special darshans for the VIP's. The common man who has been able to have darshan of the Lord JUST LIKE ANY OTHER VIP will be DENIED this privilege. Devotees will have to BUY tickets to have darshan of the Lord and more than anything else, it will lead to the COMMERCIALISATION of the Temple.

As you are aware that there is currently an ongoing agitation regarding the taking over of the temple by the Endowments Department; As the Ex Chief Minister of the State and a strong Leader of the Opposition Party, I expect COMPLETE SUPPORT from YOU towards the Temple Protection Movement.

We HOPE you will HELP US in seeing Chilkur Balaji Temple being taken care of by the same Archaka family, run on the SAME PRINCIPLES.

This is POSSIBLE ONLY WHEN NOT engulfed by the Endowments.

Thanks for your support.
Snigdha Reddy.

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October 31, 2005

Mauled dog faces death after being left untreated at Lebanon Animal Control Shelter.

Seeking termination, prosecution and conviction of Josh Greer and individual(s) responsible for animal cruelty and abuse of Zania.

Zania, a 4-year-old black Labrador retriever, was a playmate to a 4-year-old boy living in Mt. Juliet. She was picked up Friday, October 14, 2005, for running loose and placed in the Lebanon Animal Control facility because Mt. Juliet has no facility of its own. Zania was placed in a pen on Saturday with three other dogs, who for several hours, continuously attacked her until she was found lying in a pool of blood Sunday afternoon.

Zania was removed from the pen, hosed off (to wash off all the blood), and left outside on the concrete floor. She lay on the cold (50 degrees), wet concrete until an anonymous phone call was made to the Director of the Humane Association of Wilson County, a nonprofit, private agency with no ties to Lebanon Animal Control.

The dog was lying apparently lifeless on the concrete floor inside a chain link fenced enclosure when the Director arrived. She discovered the dog was still alive and called the Police Department, who came with an animal control officer 30 minutes later. After another 30 minute delay, they took the dog to the Lebanon Animal Hospital. The Director confirmed with the animal control officer that Zania was a healthy dog when she was picked up. The animal control officers also confirmed they were aware Zania had been injured earlier by the other dogs, but had made the decision to let her recover on her own.

Dr. Craig, the attending veterinarian, verified Zania was in shock, had a subnormal temperature, blood loss and would not have survived over night if she had been left untreated at the animal control facility. Details of his report and pictures of Zania can be seen at:
http://www.oilydog.org/lab.htm. There is also another article at:
http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051020/NEWS01/510200410/1192/COUNTY.

When the story first came to light, Zania was facing leg amputation. Now, she is facing death because of the cruelty inflicted by Josh Greer.

According to Tennessee Code, Title 39 Criminal Offenses, Chapter 14 Offenses Against Property Part 2-Animals, under Section 39-14-202, Cruelty to animals:
(2) Fails unreasonably to provide necessary food, water, care or shelter for an animal in the person's custody;
(3) Abandons unreasonably an animal in the person's custody; and
(4) Transports or confines an animal in a cruel manner can be found committing an offense under this section and is a Class A misdemeanor.

In addition, 39-14-212 Aggravated cruelty to animals - (a) A person commits aggravated cruelty to animals when, with aggravated cruelty and with no justifiable purpose, such person intentionally kills or intentionally causes serious physical injury to a companion animal. Under this section, as of June, 2004, offenses carry felony level penalties. We believe these codes have been violated.

It is not acceptable or humane to place dogs with unknown histories in cages together especially with breeds known for fighting. Zania was denied shelter with no protection from the elements as she lay dying, compassion in her handling while in Josh Greer's and other animal control officers care, protection when she was locked and confined in a pen with a breed of animals known to fight with no means of escape or protection, and immediate vet care as she lay in critical condition. She was confined and abandoned in a cruel manner that now threatens her life.

Zania has suffered enough. Our prayers and thoughts are with Zania and her family. We respectfully ask that you act on behalf of Zania and other animals who have found themselves in similar situations to put a stop to the cruelty and abuse that exists at Lebanon Animal Control. Josh Greer and those individual(s) responsible for Zania's cruelty and abuse must be terminated. No justifiable purpose can be found in the reckless, cruel, and abusive manner in which the animal conrol officers behaved in the care, handling and decision making for Zania. We therefore petition that they be prosecuted and convicted to the fullest extent of the law.

On behalf of Zania and all animals, we thank you.

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