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Petition Tag - puerto rico
1. Stop Massive U.S. Rum Subsidies in the USVI and Puerto Rico 
The future of Caribbean rum is under assault.
On January 1, 2013, U.S. President Barack Obama signed into law the bill averting the threatened "fiscal cliff" of higher taxes and spending cuts. Unfortunately the legislation included special gifts to a number of U.S. corporations.
Tuesday’s agreement included a provision extending a 1917 law that imposes a $13.50 tax on each gallon of rum produced in or imported into the United States. But the taxes paid by the rum distillers of Puerto Rico (PR) and the U. S. Virgin Islands (USVI) are returned to their benefit. Even taxes paid by other Caribbean distillers are rerouted to the USVI and Puerto Rico.
Worse yet Diageo (Captain Morgan) and Fortune Brands (Cruzan) have received huge special subsidies and incentives from the USVI totalling nearly $4 Billion dollars.
Diageo, based in Britain, will get a new plant built at taxpayer expense, exemption from all property and gross receipt taxes, a 90 percent reduction in corporate taxes, plus marketing support and production incentives totaling tens of millions a year.
These incentives are so rich they are double the cost of actually producing the rum.
Fortune Brands (Cruzan) was awarded $1 Billion dollars and will receive an assortment of tax-financed incentives, including $100 million for improvements to its distillery on the island and a wastewater treatment program. The agreement also ensures that the company will pay no more than 16 cents a gallon for molasses, the main ingredient of rum, now selling for more than $2 on the open market.
Big Winners: Bacardi, Diageo (Captain Morgan) and Fortune Brands (Cruzan).
Big Losers: All other Caribbean rums, especially distillers from the Barbados, Jamaica, Guyana, the Dominican Republic and the Bahamas who actually pay their taxes, and who receive no significant benefits.
Damage: Severe. According to Sir Ronald Sanders "The reduction of sales in the US market, and the EU due to this legislation will have an adverse effect on Caribbean CARICOM distillers financial capacity to survive, let alone continue to manufacture rum at a competitive price.
CARICOM (the Caribbean Community Common Market), speaking through its forum (CARIFORUM) speaks for 16 Caribbean members, plus 7 observer members and 3 French Departments. These include:
Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Suriname, Saint Lucia, St. Christopher and Nevis, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago - all member states.
Observers include Anguilla, Aruba, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Montserrat, Turks and Caicos Islands, and the Netherlands Antilles.
The French Departments include French Guiana, Guadeloupe and Martinique.
Needless to say the CARIFORUM is furious. Their legal opinions indicate at least three violations of WTO (World Trade Organization) Rules by the self-serving actions of the USVI, Puerto Rico, and the United States. CARICOM is well represented and feels that pursuing recourse by the WTO is both winnable and essential.
All lovers of rum in American and abroad are seriously affected as well, as this legislation will great reduce the availability of fine Caribbean rums both by their absence and/or greatly increased prices. These subsidies are opposed by smaller American distillers as well. Keen observers of your local stores shelves will have already noted the takeover by Bacardi, Captain Morgan, and Cruzan.
The U.S. legislation and special subsidies have struck at the both the heart and history of rum, particularly those from the Dominican Republic, Bahamas, Jamaica, Barbados and Guyana. This legislation is anti-competitive, anti-selection and anti-quality.
It must be reversed, now.
With greatest hope,
All true lovers of rum...
2. Bring System of a Down to Puerto Rico
https://www.facebook.com/SOADinPR
3. Puerto Rico Wants One Direction
Puerto Rico directioners want One Direction to make a concert here :)
And we think we deserve a chance :)
4. ¡Queremos un cambio ahora, no en el 2012!
· En 2008, el pueblo votó y depositó su confianza tras una campaña que nunca anunció su intención de realizar despidos, privatizar, desmantelar las leyes relacionadas al ambiente y la destruir las organizaciones profesionales del pueblo.
· Estas propuestas NO fueron presentadas en las elecciones.
· Proponemos una Consulta Especial al Pueblo... Una salida democrática a la crisis. Que el País se exprese sobre una agenda que no ha sido avalada por los ciudadanos y cuidadanas.
· Recogeremos un cuarto de millón de firmas para reclamar a los Presidentes de los Cuerpos Legislativos y al Gobernador de Puerto Rico que convoque un referéndum.
5. We want New Kids on the Block in Puerto Rico
New kids on the Block (known as NKOTB) started in the late 80s and became a huge pop sensation, taking the world by storm. Who can't forget songs like "Please don't go girl","You got it(the right stuff)",Ï'll be loving you forever",""Step by Step".
In April 2008, after numerous speculations, Donnie confirms what all fans have been waiting... a reunion!
The new CD is called "The Block" with a grown up image and modern new flavor in their music it's driving the fans wild again. “Summertime”,”Single”,”Sexify my love”,”Full Service”,”Don’t cry” are part of this great CD.
6. Nuyoricans Against MTV's True Life
MTV recently aired an episode called "True Life: I'm a Nuyorican" which featured the stories of three young people living with this cultural identity.
All three individuals chosen reinforced negative and socially damaging stereotypes to this culture as well as other Latino communities.
There was no balance or wholly accurate representation of the Nuyorican community, a term which is derived from the Literary and Artistic Movement begun in the 1970's and continued to present day.
The documentary was discriminatory, negative, myopic and detrimental to the perception of this community.
7. Support for the Declaration of Independence of Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico es la colonia más antigua de Latinoamérica, con una historia de más de 500 años de estar sujeta a intereses de potencias colonizadoras: estuvo bajo el control de España desde el 1493 al 1898 y bajo el control de los Estados Unidos de Norteamérica desde el 1898 al presente.
Es nuestro derecho inalienable como Pueblo y como Nación formar un País libre, independiente, y soberano, compartiendo los mismos derechos en igualdad de condiciones con los demás países del mundo.
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Puerto Rico is the oldest and last colony in Latin America, having been subjected for more than 500 years to the interests and desires of the governments of Spain from 1493-1898, and of the United States of America from 1898 until presently.
It is our inalienable right as a People and a Nation, for Puerto Rico to be a free, independent and sovereign nation sharing the same rights and being an equal to all other nations around the globe.
8. Jonas brothers for puerto rico
jonas brothers come to puerto rico
9. Reposición de monseñor Enrique Hernández
Monseñor Hernández renunció como obispo de la diócesis de Caguas en 1998 bajo una fuerte presión por lo que carecía al momento de libertad interna.
We would like to have these talented kids here in Puerto Rico, so please, sign this petition. :)
11. Save the dogs & cats of Puerto Rico
Animals in Puerto Rico are treated horribly. There are strays running everywhere and "sweeps" are often done to get rid of the dogs.
Instead of being medically treated and rehomed, the dogs are euthanized. The lack of spay / neuter programs as well as minimal penalties for animal cruelty do nothing to help the situation.
These animals have no voice of their own and someone must speak for them, as the way they are treated is unacceptable.
12. Inadequate Zoological Park: Parque de las Ciencias, Bayamon, Puerto Rico
Primates, jaguar, raccoons, deer, hippopotamus, alligators, and other animals are being kept in primordial cement slab habitats.
For more information on the citations, please visit: http://www.wildlifepimps.com/ParqueDe.html
For pictures of these animals and the deplorable conditions in which these animals are being kept, please visit: http://www.myspace.com/pranimalhelp and click on the photos link at the top of the page.
Nicole and Ashley! They need to go to Puerto Rico for Christmas Break! Their lives depend on meeting Josh Hartnett and Johnny Depp!!
Governadora,
Le escribo porque siento que se me han agotado los recursos. Mi hija fue sexualmente abusada por su abuelo paterno en mayo del 2001. Este caso todavia lo tiene Fiscalia de Carolina. Han habido muchas discrepancias con relacion a este caso y mi hija todavia esta sin ningun tipo de ayuda psicologica debido al que el Dept de Justicia entiende que no puede recibir unos servicios hasta que no finalize un caso que aun no han hecho nada para someterlo.