Verify the Vote - Stand Up for Accountable Elections!
Democracy is government by the people, and the right to vote is
critical to determining what each of us wants of our government.
Nearly one-quarter of American voters - more than 35 million people
- will exercise that right using electronic voting (e-voting)
terminals in the next presidential election. Unfortunately, some
e-voting equipment has been hastily developed and poorly tested,
putting your right to vote in greater jeopardy than ever before.
There are widespread reports of voting terminal failures, and
growing concern about the (in)security of these machines is
fueling fierce debate over how to ensure the integrity of our
elections.

Two key problems are that many machines cannot be audited to
verify that they are correctly recording each person's intended
vote, and that many do not allow real recounts. And while new
voting technology promises fully accessible, private voting for
Americans with disabilities and non-English speakers, machines
that cannot verifiably record and tally votes break that promise.
This is not an acceptable foundation for our democracy.

EFF, VerifiedVoting.org, Moveon.org, True Majority, CalVoter.org,
and Working Assets/Act For Change have joined forces to let you,
the voters, know what the challenges are for making computerized
voting work, and how you can help.

~ The Challenges

1. Electronic voting machines must provide voter-verifiable paper
audit trails. Future election systems may provide integrity
through other means, but for now, paper trails are necessary.
2. There must be fully accessible, private voting for Americans
with disabilities and non-English speakers.
3. There must be transparency in voting-system development and
testing, and especially in computerized voting. Computer code
used in elections must be open to independent scrutiny.

EFF has made progress on several fronts, including launching a
grassroots activism campaign that helped convince California
Secretary of State Kevin Shelley to mandate voter-verifiable paper
trails for state elections by 2006. This is a great start -
but we need your help to take the fight nationwide.

~ How You Can Help

1.) EFF is launching a 3-month "Verify the Vote" campaign:
<http://www.eff.org/e-vote/> Help us raise $250,000 by
July 1st, and we'll use the funds to keep the fight for
voter-verifiable elections alive through the 2004 election
and beyond. Every dollar counts, so donate today at
<https://secure.eff.org/>
2.) Write your representatives and ask them to support the
Voter Confidence and Increased Accessibility Act of 2003
(S. 1980 and H.R. 2239), which requires openly reviewed
software and voter-verifiable paper audit trails for all
new e-voting machines.
3.) Since decisions to purchase e-voting machines are made at
the county level, let your local elections officials know
that any machines purchased should have voter-verified paper
audit trails.
4.) Contact your Secretary of State to encourage him or her to
pursue policies that establish responsible criteria for the
types of e-voting machines that can be adopted by your
state.

Finally, we encourage you to support the other organizations
joining this campaign. If we work together now, we can help
save the November elections, as well as provide a roadmap for
preserving our democracy in the years to come.

 
Help Save the Children of Northern Uganda
For nearly two decades northern Uganda has been caught in a conflict between the Ugandan Government of President Yoweri Museveni and an armed group called the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) led by Joseph Kony. Over a million people have been displaced, hundreds killed and over 20,000 children have been abducted by the LRA. Experts estimate that there are 10,000
children currently serving as soldiers in the LRA and the Ugandan People Defense Forces. After 18 years of conflict, the Ugandan Government must be persuaded to utilize non-military options to resolve the crisis.

Please contact your Senator and urge them to support the Northern Uganda Crisis Response Act. S.2264. To take action, click on this link or paste it into your Web browser:
http://takeaction.amnestyusa.org/ctt.asp?u=635814&l=8652

Children abducted by the LRA are used for forced labor, sexual slavery, and forced armed combat. Children are treated cruelly, live in constant fear for their lives, are drugged, and forced to commit acts of violence in combat and within their ranks such as beating, hacking off limbs, maiming and even killing other children who disobey orders.

Thank you for taking the time to defend children's rights.

Amnesty International USA

 
FCNL: Cut Funding for Missile Shield (4/29/04)
CUT FUNDING FOR MISSILE SHIELD: The House and Senate Armed Services Committees are expected to begin “marking up” their respective versions of the annual defense authorization bill in early May. Among other things, they will be considering whether to support the Bush Administration’s request for another $10.2 billion to continue developing and deploying a
ballistic missile shield. The Administration is determined to begin deploying a limited shield by September 2004, even though the system has yet to be tested or proven effective.

This reckless effort forges ahead despite the negative impact it may have on our strategic relationship with Russia and China, repeated test failures, and the unlikely threat of a long-range missile attack on the U.S. Most importantly, wasting money on a provocative, untested missile shield diverts scarce resources from other, far more urgent budget priorities, which could advance human security for the country and world in the years ahead.

Amendments to cut the missile shield budget will likely be offered in both the House and Senate. While the thrust of the amendments will likely be to shift missile shield funding to other military priorities, we need to send a different message.

ACTION: Please contact your members of Congress. Urge them to support amendments to cut funding for the ballistic missile shield. The missile shield will do nothing to advance national or human security in the years ahead. Rather, it may undermine security by provoking a global nuclear arms race. Urge them to shift funding to support international arms control and disarmament or address real human security concerns such as affordable housing, halting the HIV/AIDS pandemic, and protecting the environment.

CONTACTING YOUR MEMBERS OF CONGRESS IS EASY: Start with the sample letter posted in our Legislative Action Center, personalize the language, then email or fax your message directly from our site. You can also print it out and mail it. To view the sample letter click here http://capwiz.com/fconl/utr/1/AKIXDHWLPR/LEMQDHWLTK/
then enter your ZIP code and click Go in the Take Action Now box.

BACKGROUND: Proponents of building a ballistic missile shield have been pressing their cause since the 1950s. In 1972, the U.S. and the Soviet Union signed the Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) Treaty which forbad testing and deployment of ballistic missile defense systems. The preamble of the treaty rightly argued that effective limits on anti-missile systems would be a “substantial factor in curbing the race in strategic offensive arms.” The U.S. went on to deploy a limited system in North Dakota, as permitted under the treaty in the 1970s, but then dismantled it.

The treaty remained in force for the next two decades. However, research was resumed during the Reagan Administration (“Star Wars”), and Congress spent increasing billions during the Clinton Administration to accelerate research and development (R&D) based on rising fear that North Korea would soon be able to launch a nuclear missile attack against the U.S. In 2002, President Bush withdrew from the ABM Treaty, arguing that the treaty was a Cold War relic, and promised to deploy a limited shield before the end of his first term. For FY2005, the Administration has requested more than $10 billion for missile shield R&D – more than double the cost of the second most expensive weapon system in the President’s budget.

The U.S. has already spent tens of billions of dollars over the past 20 years on ballistic missile defense R&D – with little to show for it. A recent report from the General Accounting Office (GAO) estimated that missile defense programs will cost $53 billion between 2004 and 2009. Others think the price tag could go much higher than that. A January 2003 study estimates the future costs of the Administration’s ballistic missile shield to be $800 billion to $1.2 trillion.

In addition to the enormous costs, a deployed missile shield may lead to a new arms race. Under the Administration’s plan, the U.S. would maintain its current overwhelming superiority in offensive nuclear weapons over all nations and add to it a ballistic missile shield. While the Administration claims that a missile shield is solely defensive, other nations may view this system--coupled with U.S. strategic offensive weapons--as a precursor to a first strike nuclear attack.

In response, Russia could decide to modernize its nuclear forces to maintain its deterrent capability. China may deploy dozens more intercontinental ballistic missiles with more nuclear warheads on each missile to be able to overwhelm the U.S. missile shield and thus maintain its deterrent. India would likely respond to China's build-up, and Pakistan may then follow suit. An accelerated Chinese nuclear weapons program could also move Japan to re-militarize or even go nuclear, pushing South Korea to do the same.

A missile shield plus a huge offensive nuclear arsenal are provocative and dangerous – even if it has not been tested or proven to be effective. It is a colossal waste of taxpayer dollars. International cooperation for arms control and disarmament will do far more than a missile shield to advance lasting peace and security, and at much lower cost.

*****
CONTACTING LEGISLATORS
Capitol Switchboard: 202-224-3121

Sen. ________
U.S. Senate
Washington, DC 20510

Rep. ________
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515

Information on your members is available at http://capwiz.com/fconl/utr/1/AKIXDHWLPR/LEVQDHWLTL/

*****
CONTACTING THE ADMINISTRATION
White House Comment Desk
Phone: 202 456-1111
Fax:202-456-2461
Email:president@whitehouse.gov
Web site: http://capwiz.com/fconl/utr/1/AKIXDHWLPR/ACQLDHWLTM/

President George W. Bush
The White House
Washington, DC 20500


*****

Friends Committee on National Legislation
Mail: 245 Second St. NE, Washington, DC 20002-5795
Email: fcnl@fcnl.org
Phone: (202) 547-6000
Toll Free: (800) 630-1330
Fax: (202) 547-6019
Web: http://capwiz.com/fconl/utr/1/AKIXDHWLPR/JLOODHWLTU/

 
Planned Parenthood Demands Apology
Demand That Karen Hughes Apologize!

On April 25, presidential adviser Karen Hughes invoked the memory of 9/11 to defend President George W. Bush's anti-choice policies. When asked by CNN's Wolf Blitzer about the impact of abortion rights in this year's campaign, Hughes replied, "I think after September 11th the American people are valuing life more...and I think those are the kind of policies the American people can support, particularly at a time when we're facing an enemy, and really the fundamental difference between us and the terror network we fight is that we value every life."

Speak out and sign on to the "Apologize, Karen Hughes!" campaign by signing the petition letter below and demanding that Hughes apologize for equating reproductive rights advocates with terrorists!

http://www.ppaction.org/campaign/hughes

 
Oklahoma Committee for Conscientious Objectors forms
After conversations with lots of folks both online and in person, we now
have time set for an informational meeting for this project.

The meeting will be held on Thursday, May 6th at 7 p.m. at Joy Mennonite
Church (504 NE 16th in Oklahoma City - the church is in a house at the
corner of NE 16th & Lincoln Blvd, just south of the state capitol).

Topics of discussion will include...

I. Military/Draft Counseling
1. Plans for training for military counselors who can assist folks
currently in the service who want to be discharged.
2. Plans for training for Draft counselors to be ready in the event
a draft is called.
3. Discussion on how we can educate the public on what would happen
if the draft is reinstated and how to prepare for it.
4. Logistical details for setting up a local hotline for folks who
need military/draft counseling
5. Discussion on working with the GI Rights Network nationally.

II. Countering Military Recruitment
1. Discussion for this fall on how to counter the lies of military
recruiters on high school & college campuses.
2. Discussion on how to provide another perspective to youth with
regards to JROTC programs.

The meeting is open to all who would like to become involved with either
of these areas of concern, but we particularly want to extend a welcome
to faith communities and other non-profit groups that wish to partner
together in this important work. (If you are unable to attend this
meeting but would like to get involved please email me so I can add you
to our mailing list and keep you updated.)

James Branum

P.S. Please forward this to folks who you think would be interested in
attending this meeting.

PPS. You can subscribe to this new group's discussion list here: http://gypsyresort.com/mailman/listinfo/okco_gypsyresort.com

 
Oklahoma CODEPINK blooms again
__Oklahoma CODEPINK is back!____

I've decided to revive Oklahoma CodePINK. I wasn't part of the previous incarnation, but from what I've
heard of it, there was some good energy and some great actions. I hope to rekindle that. (Those who first
got the group going here no longer live in Oklahoma.) If you were involved before, please get in touch and
work with us again.

Oklahoma CODEPINK is for women (and men) who want to work for peace through joyful direct action, establish
bonds of friendship across differences -- especially with disenfranchised women, women in developing
nations and most especially women in the Middle East, particularly Iraq, where the U.S. government through
its military might is currently doing so much to prevent and discourage true peace.

The 411 for interested but busy people: Subscribe to a low-volume newsletter to keep up with the most
important info. mailto:okcodepink-subscribe@yahoogroups.com or go to http://groups.yahoo.com/group/
okcodepink/ and click the "Join This Group!" button. This is NOT an open discussion list. When I have some
news, or a direct action event is scheduled, I'll let you know. Pink, yes. Fluffy, no.

For those with more time/interest: I've also got a CODEPINK blog at http://www.gypsyresort.com/okcodepink
which will have more frequent news, action alerts, rants, strategies, etc., as well as an area for exchange
of ideas. You're welcome to surf into that anytime for more up-to-date goings-on. Pink. Fluffy. Perhaps
even cuddly!

You can contact me about CODEPINK mailto:okcodepink@yahoo.com


____What is CODEPINK?____

For those who aren't familiar with the group, it's an international women-initiated grassroots peace and
social justice movement that seeks positive social change through proactive, creative protest and non-
violent direct action. It started in Nov. 2002 with this call from Starhawk:

“We call on women around the world to rise up and oppose the war in Iraq. We call on mothers, grandmothers,
sisters, and daughters, on workers, students, teachers, healers, artists, writers, singers, poets and every
ordinary outraged woman willing to be outrageous for peace. Women have been the guardians of life — not
because we are better or purer or more innately nurturing than men, but because the men have busied
themselves making war. Because of our responsibility to the next generation, because of our own love for
our families and communities and this country that we are a part of, we understand the love of a mother in
Iraq for her children and the driving desire of that child for life”

The name CODEPINK plays on the Bush Administration’s color-coded homeland security advisory system that
signals terrorist threats. While Bush’s color coded alerts are based on fear, the CODEPINK alert is based
on compassion and is a feisty call for women and men to “wage peace.”

For more background and general resources, go to the main CodePINK Web page at http://
www.codepinkalert.org/.


____What's the plan for Oklahoma CODEPINK?____

My only real plan right now is to try to get other women involved, so we can discuss what we might do as a
group. But I do have several ideas for actions and campaigns that I would like to see Oklahoma CODEPINK
engage in. For instance:

* We could have a presence (a table, or just walk around with flyers and cards) at the Healthy Living Expo
next month, sharing the radical notion that "War is not healthy."

* We could join the Greens in an action for International Conscientious Objection Day (Saturday, May 15).

* We could have a Mother's Day demo, in solidarity with mothers in Iraq and in the US who are losing their
children to war.

* We could have a table at at the Paseo Art show and/or at Juneteenth, both of which the group did last
year before going on hiatus.

If you have ideas to add to these, let me know. Check out the web site above for lots of great reports from
CODEPINK activists from across the country. You'll see that this movement is colorful, humorous, unafraid
and fun. Join me in keeping Oklahoma part of it.

Serena Blaiz

 
Tell Bayer Corp. to Protect Our Antibiotics
Environmental Defense
take action for the environment...online
***************************

Tell Bayer Corp. to Protect Our Antibiotics:
In a threat to public health, the overuse of antibiotics is
reducing the strength of these drugs to fight illness in people.
Once cause: the overuse of antibiotics in poultry production.
Ask the Bayer Corp., maker of such drugs, to act responsibly and
comply with a proposed ban on use of such drugs in poultry.

Take action:
http://actionnetwork.org/campaign/bayer_abr/8x3xg72rjb5eww

Take action by June 30, 2004
------------------------------------------------------
* Tell Bayer Corp. to Protect Our Antibiotics *
The overuse of antibiotics is reducing the ability of these
drugs to fight illness in people. This is a major public health
problem. One antibiotic, Baytril, which is being overused in
poultry production, is closely related to a very important human
drug Cipro. Ask the Bayer Corporation, which makes Baytril, to
act responsibly and comply with the Food and Drug
Administration's proposed ban on use of Baytril in poultry. Urge
Bayer to immediately withdraw Baytril from the market with no
further delaying tactics. This will protect our antibiotics, and
the public's health. Take action:
http://actionnetwork.org/campaign/bayer_abr/8x3xg72rjb5eww
------------------------------------------------------

Your letter will be addressed and sent to:
FDA Baytril Decision (Docket # 00N -1571)
Mr. Attila Molnar, President and CEO Bayer Corporation

----THIS LETTER WILL BE SENT IN YOUR NAME----
Dear [decision maker name automatically inserted here],

I urge you to stop fighting a proposed ban by the Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) on the use of Baytril in treating chickens
and turkeys, and immediately withdraw Baytril from the market
with no further delaying tactics.

The overuse of antibiotics in animal agriculture has been shown
to reduce the effectiveness of these drugs in treating health
problems in humans. Although you claim that Baytril is needed
for poultry production, this argument is undercut by the fact
that six top poultry producers have announced that they no
longer use these drugs in chicken produced for human
consumption. Moreover, major chicken purchasers, including
McDonald's, have instructed their suppliers to stop using these
drugs.

Today, nearly four years after the FDA first proposed to ban use
of Baytril in poultry, rates of Cipro resistance in bacteria
that cause severe food poisoning are disturbingly high.

Please protect public health by immediately withdrawing Baytril
from the market for use in poultry, without causing further
delays by appealing the FDA's March 16 ruling upholding the
proposed ban.

----END OF LETTER TO BE SENT----

 
Overtime Pay Update: Senate Fails to Act
Dear Working Families e-Activist:

A lot is going on in the drive to block President Bush's
overtime pay take-away. Here is all the news:

* The U.S. Senate scheduled but failed to vote today on new
legislation to block the Bush Department of Labor from
implementing the overtime pay take-away.

* Unless they are stopped, it is now likely that the overtime
pay take-away will be finalized before April 1. The exact date
is up to President Bush and Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao.

* More than 500,000 people have signed the Petition to Save
Overtime Pay--a huge landmark.

Together, we're doing everything we can--but unless public
pressure forces Republican leaders in Congress and the Bush
administration to back down, more than 8 million workers
probably will lose their right to overtime pay, even though
polls show a majority of Democrats, Independents and Republicans
oppose the overtime pay take-away.

So, much more is needed. Please ask your friends, family and
co-workers to sign the Petition to Save Overtime Pay today. They
can sign online by clicking on the link below.
http://www.unionvoice.org/ct/e1qNgjS1D18Q//

Or, you can ask them to sign the petition by downloading and
distributing the printable petition form.
http://www.unionvoice.org/ct/e7qNgjS1D18Y/

While Bush and his secretary of labor are working to take away
overtime pay from millions of America's workers, more than 10
million people are out of work. Worse, President Bush's economic
report to Congress calls the avalanche of U.S. jobs being sent
overseas a "good thing." The report says it "makes sense" for
U.S. companies to make products overseas and sell them here in
America. How out of touch are these people? Who are they working
for?

Let's all show them the difference we can make when we speak out
together. Spread the word about this petition! Forward this
e-mail to your friends, family and co-workers.

Thanks for all you do. Look for more updates soon.

In Solidarity,

Working Families e-Activist Network, AFL-CIO
March 4, 2004

P.S. Check out this short animation on the Bush overtime pay
take-away from cartoonist Mark Fiore.
http://www.unionvoice.org/ct/edqNgjS1D18R/

 
Our kids vs. Bush campaign contributors
From Moveon.org:

Under energy industry pressure, President Bush’s EPA plans to defer controls on mercury emissions by power plants
for at least a decade. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that 4.9 million women of
childbearing age in the U.S. -- that's 8 percent -- have unsafe levels of mercury in their blood. The people hit
hardest will be new-born infants -- every year over 630,000 infants are born with levels of mercury in their blood
so high they can cause brain damage.

We have just a few weeks to get public comments to the EPA on this plan to defer mercury controls. It's time to
tell the EPA and the White House that our kids come first. You can submit your comment by clicking this link:

http://www.moveon.org/mercury/

From a public health standpoint, the EPA's new policy is a disaster. But for Bush's energy industry allies, who are
responsible for most mercury pollution, it's yet another bonanza. Increased pollution levels will allow these
companies to save millions, while their top managers keep writing big campaign checks to support George W. Bush --
it's a pretty sick cycle.

On January 30th, the EPA announced its intention to weaken its own earlier proposal that would have required a 90
percent reduction in mercury pollution by power plants by 2008. The new proposal doesn't force every power plant to
limit mercury pollution, leaving many communities vulnerable. It would also delay implementation of even these
weaker requirements until 2018, leaving a whole new generation of kids needlessly at risk.

The first responsibility of the Bush administration and the EPA is to protect our nation's most vulnerable citizens.
Time and again, we've seen the Bush administration try to weaken environmental protections, starting with its
proposal to roll back stricter limits on arsenic in our drinking water. We must boost the visibility of the mercury
issue so that, as with arsenic, the Bush administration is shamed into adopting a more rigorous standard.

Please join our effort to protect our environment and our children from the debilitating effects of mercury
poisoning. Your comments will bolster the efforts of MoveOn members and other concerned people who are showing up
today at public hearings on this issue in Chicago, Philadelphia and Raleigh.

Tell the Bush administration to protect children's health by reducing power plant mercury emissions by 90 percent by
2008 and ensuring that these reductions occur at each and every power plant, by clicking here:

http://www.moveon.org/mercury/

Thanks for all your efforts.

Sincerely,
--Joan and Wes
MoveOn.org
February 25th, 2004

P.S.: See our link above for more background on mercury and the harm it can cause.

 
Let the Sun Set on PATRIOT - Section 206
From the Electronic Frontier Foundation:

"Roving Surveillance Authority Under the Foreign Intelligence
Surveillance Act of 1978"

Welcome to part two of "Let the Sun Set on PATRIOT," an EFFector
series on the battle to let some of the most troubling provisions
in the USA PATRIOT Act expire, or "sunset." Each week, we profile
one of the 13 provisions set to expire in December of 2005 and
explain in plain language what's wrong with the provision and why
Congress should allow it to sunset. This week we look at
section 206, which allows the FBI to conduct "John Doe" roving
surveillance.

~ What Section 206 Does
Imagine that the FBI could, with a single search warrant, raid
every house or office that an individual suspect has visited over
an entire year - every single place, whether or not the
residents themselves are suspects. Suppose that the FBI could
do this without ever having to identify the suspect in question.
This is what Section 206 allows in the communications context.

Section 206 authorizes intelligence investigators to conduct
"John Doe" roving surveillance - meaning that the FBI can
wiretap every single phone line, mobile communications device
or Internet connection that a suspect might be using, without
ever having to identify the suspect by name. This gives the
FBI a "blank check" to violate the communications privacy of
countless innocent Americans. What's worse, these blank-check
wiretap orders can remain in effect for up to a year.

~ How Section 206 Changed the Law
Section 206 amended the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act
(FISA) so that a wiretap order issued by the secret FISA court
no longer has to specify what type of communications that the
order applies to. This allows investigators to engage in
"roving" surveillance, using a single wiretap order to listen
in on any phone line or monitor any Internet account that a
suspect may be using - whether or not other people who are not
suspects also regularly use it.

~ Why Section 206 Should Sunset
Roving wiretaps are allowed in regular criminal investigations,
so it might seem reasonable that the PATRIOT Act made them
available to intelligence investigators. But FISA wiretaps lack
many of the safeguards that prevent abuse of criminal wiretaps.
For example, orders are issued using a lower legal standard than
the "probable cause" used in criminal cases, are subject to
substantially less judicial oversight and typically last at least
three times longer than criminal wiretaps. Surveillance targets
are never notified that they were spied on. Most important, and
also unlike criminal wiretaps, the FISA court can issue "John
Doe" wiretaps that don't even specify the surveillance target's
name.

The bottom line: further relaxing controls on FISA surveillance
by adding roving capability is a recipe for abuse and likely
violates the Fourth Amendment's requirement that search warrants
"particularly describ[e] the place to be searched, and the
persons or things to be seized."

~ Conclusion
EFF strongly opposes renewal of Section 206, and urges you to
do the same. We also support the Security and Freedom Ensured
Act (SAFE Act, S 1709/HR 3352), a PATRIOT reform bill that would,
among other things, limit the damage done to privacy by Section
206 - it would allow the FBI to get roving wiretaps on identified
suspects, and John Doe taps on specific phone lines and Internet
accounts, but not John Doe roving taps. We encourage you to
visit EFF's Action Center today to let your representatives know
you support the bill:
http://action.eff.org/action/index.asp?step=2&item=2866

 
Lift the curtain on e-voting
From Media for Democracy:

Millions of American voters will use electronic voting systems
when they cast their vote for president this year. Many of these
machines will get their first test on March 2, Super Tuesday,
when voters head to polls in ten states. If more states install
these new machines, the repercussions for American democracy
could be worse than any hanging chad.

Since election reporting began last fall, network news coverage
of the switch to e-voting has been little more than a blip.
Media for Democracy analysis shows that since October 2003, ABC,
NBC and CBS nightly news programs broadcast only four stories on
e-voting machines. A look at CNN.com and FoxNews.com yields an
even smaller assortment: a total of three reports between
September 2003 and February 20, 2004, all on CNN.

Despite the already checkered history of the new machines --
which includes evidence of political favoritism by the
executives of the primary manufacturers of e-voting terminals,
and tests that reveal extensive flaws to their software -- the
networks have failed to consider electronic voting worthy of
coverage. As a result, few voters will see news reports about
these glitch-riddled systems before they come face to face with
the voting machines on Election Day.

Handing over control of America's electoral system to a handful
of corporations constitutes the privatization of America's most
public endeavor. Media for Democracy members must pressure
mainstream media to focus more reporting on this important
threat to democracy.

Tell news executives today that the problem of e-voting is a
story they can't ignore.

You can take action on this alert via the web here.


Visit this web to tell your friends about this.


We encourage you to take action by November 2, 2004

Lift the Curtain on E-Voting

INSTRUCTIONS TO RESPOND VIA THE WEB:
If you have access to a web browser, you can take action on this
alert by going to following this link:


Your letter will be addressed and sent to:
ABC Anchor Peter Jennings
CBS Anchor Dan Rather
CNN Managing Editor Aaron Brown
CNN VP of News Susan Bunda
Fox News Managing Editor Brit Hume
Fox News Senior VP John Moody
NBC Anchor Tom Brokaw

----THIS LETTER WILL BE SENT IN YOUR NAME----

Dear [decision maker name automatically inserted here],

Election Data Systems estimates that 50 million Americans will
use electronic ballots when they vote for a president on
November 2.

Judging from your light treatment of this important story -- as
revealed by Media for Democracy monitoring of your coverage
since September 2003 -- few voters will see news reports about
these glitch-riddled voting systems before they come face to
face with the machines on Election Day.

Handing over control of America's electoral system to the
handful of politically biased corporations who control most of
these machines constitutes the privatization of America's most
public endeavor. It poses a threat to democracy, on which you
need to focus more of your reporting.

Many e-voting machines will get their first test in the upcoming
Super Tuesday primary. You owe it to your viewers to educate
them on the controversy surrounding these machines before voters
head to the polls.

Please devote more airtime to the problem of e-voting, before
voters are left with no other option.

----END OF LETTER TO BE SENT----

Sincerely,

 
FCNL: Iraq Advocacy Days - March 19
FCNL LEGISLATIVE ACTION MESSAGE - 02/26/04

The following action items from the Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL) focus on federal policy issues currently before Congress
or the Administration.

TOPICS: IRAQ ADVOCACY DAY, MARCH 19

IRAQ ADVOCACY DAY, MARCH 19: MEET WITH YOUR MEMBERS OF CONGRESS! March 20 will mark the one year anniversary of the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq.
Memorials, demonstrations, and other activities are being planned around the globe. As part of this worldwide organizing, FCNL is working
with colleague organizations and the United for Peace and Justice (UFPJ) network to coordinate a national lobby day for Friday, March 19.
People across the country will meet with their members of Congress in their district offices to deliver the message that WAR IS STILL NOT THE
ANSWER, to urge them to help stop the suffering in Iraq, and to uphold the principles of democracy and international law. Act now to schedule
face-to-face meetings with your members of Congress for Friday, March 19.



SCHEDULE YOUR IRAQ ADVOCACY DAY MEETINGS TODAY: The U.S. Senate will be on recess during the week of March 15-19, and many House members will
return to their districts on Friday. That makes March 19 an excellent day to schedule visits for with your elected representatives in their
home district offices. For your members' contact information, go to http://capwiz.com/fconl/dbq/officials/ (or go to www.fcnl.org, click on
"Legislative Action Center" and then "Elected Officials") and enter your ZIP code. Call the district offices and ask for face-to-face
meetings with your senators and representative to discuss your concerns related to Iraq. Many offices will request a faxed letter or email
detailing the nature of the meeting. Be prepared with a simple letter describing the purpose of your visit, listing who will attend, and
requesting to meet with the member of Congress personally.



BE PART OF A DELEGATION: Your message is amplified when you join with other constituents from your community. UFPJ is providing a forum for
sharing information about congressional delegation meetings and linking up with others in your area.



* Check out the UFPJ web site to find information on events in your area and meetings with your members of Congress that have already been set
up. Go to http://www.unitedforpeace.org/article.php?id=2294 and enter your state in the "Upcoming Events" section on the left. Under "Event
type," select "March 19 Advocacy Day" to view meetings with your members that have already been scheduled.



* You can also register a congressional lobby visit that you have scheduled and invite others to contact you and join the meeting. Go to
http://www.unitedforpeace.org/calendar_gxinput.php. Under the event title, enter "Meeting with [Representative/Senator's Name]" and under
"Event type" select "March 19 Advocacy Day." Then enter in the date and time of your appointments, as well as a contact name and email
address so that others from your district will be able to get in touch with you. [Note: This information will be accessible to all those
visiting the UFPJ web site.]



For more information on the March 19 Iraq Advocacy Day and issues to raise with your members, click here: http://www.fcnl.org/issues/
item.php?item_id=748&issue_id=35. FCNL will provide further updates on our web site in the coming days. If you have questions about the Iraq
Advocacy Day or about meeting with your members of Congress, please email us at field@fcnl.org or call 800-630-1330 ext. 114.



This message supplements other FCNL materials and does not reflect FCNL's complete policy position on any issue. For further information, please contact FCNL.

Mail: 245 Second Street, NE, Washington, DC 20002-5795
Email: fcnl@fcnl.org
Phone: (202) 547-6000
Toll Free: (800) 630-1330
Fax: (202) 547-6019
Web: http://www.fcnl.org

 
NALU: Increase Transportation Money for Indian Country (02/27/04)
FCNL NATIVE AMERICAN LEGISLATIVE UPDATE--(02/27/04)

The following action items are from the Friends Committee on National Legislation's (FCNL) Native American Program.

INCREASE TRANSPORTATION MONEY FOR INDIAN COUNTRY: By a vote of 76-21, the Senate has passed a transportation bill (S 1072) called the Safe,
Accountable, Flexible and Efficient Transportation Equity Act (SAFETEA). This bill reauthorizes, for a six-year period, federal
transportation programs such as highway construction and safety funds ($255 billion), as well as mass transit funds ($56.5 billion). The
House will consider its version of transportation reauthorization in the near future. If enacted into law, $300 million would become
available in 2004 for the Indian Reservation Roads program; this amount rises each year to a maximum of $425 million in fiscal year 2009.
Senator Domenici (NM), who supported increased funding for reasons of public safety and economic development, stated, "Too many reservation
roads are in deplorable condition." The bill has some helpful features that should be incorporated into the House bill such as set aside
money for bridge construction!
, increases for the tribal transit program, and tribal safety projects.

ACTION: Please contact your representative. Let your member know of your desire for ample funding for road construction and maintenance in
Indian Country where many roads are still unpaved and even the highways that cross reservations may be narrow and without shoulders. Roads
are a lifeline for food, water, and public safety. Remind your representative that poor roads are dangerous in emergencies and undercut
employment and development. Push for Indian road funding be supported and sustained through the conference process. A few voices can make a
big difference. It is especially important to contact your member if you do NOT live near Indian Country. Legislators that represent tribes
are already more engaged with these issues.

CONTACTING YOUR REPRESENTATIVE IS EASY: Start with the sample letter posted in our Legislative Action Center, personalize the language, then
email or fax your message directly from our site. You can also print it out and mail it. To view the sample letter, click on the link below,
then enter your ZIP code and click Go in the Take Action Now box. Here is the link: http://capwiz.com/fconl/issues/
alert/?alertid=5218121&type=CO.

BACKGROUND: Tribes need far more money than has been allocated. Tex Hall, president of the National Congress of American Indians, argues that
having the transportation needs of tribes adequately addressed in the larger federal transportation bill is "of life and death importance."
In his January 2004 State of Indian Nations address Hall stated:
"Each year, there are more than two billion vehicle-miles traveled on roads in Indian Country, by tribal members and visitors alike.
Unfortunately, tribes receive far less funding for their roads than the rest of the nation: although tribal roads make up nearly 2.5 percent
of the federal roads in the country, tribes receive only 0.5 percent of federal road funding. While states spend an average of $4,000 to
$5,000 per mile for road maintenance annually, the federal government spends only $500 per mile for roads in Indian Country. Because of this
lack of funding, only 33 percent of roads in Indian Country are paved, a full quarter of the bridges on tribal lands are structurally
deficient, and 72 percent of the roads in Indian Country are officially rated as 'poor.'"

Since basic infrastructure is missing in Indian Country, transportation funds are vital for reasons of safety, economic development, and the
basic functioning of other programs such as schools and social services. Yet, for years there have been shortfalls. This means that some
native children must struggle to awake before sunrise to board school buses for a three hour torturous trip over unpaved roads. This means
that some native children miss many days of school per year and some elderly people are unable to get to their dialysis treatments because
roads are impassable and unusable due to mud, huge potholes, or erosion. This means that many American Indian and Alaska Native families
regularly lose loved ones to accidents on poorly marked, poorly maintained roads.

Highway money is needed most where roads are so poor that basic social and civic services cannot be delivered, where bridges are in danger of
collapse, and where the most traffic accidents occur. Two-thirds of the reservation roads are unimproved dirt or gravel roads and 140 of 753
bridges are deficient. While many of these roads are in isolated areas, state and federal highways go right through some reservations.
Despite these documented problems, the Indian Reservation Road program has not even achieved parity with other programs.

*******
FCNL Native American Legislative Updates are intended as a supplement to other FCNL Native American Program materials and do not reflect
FCNL's complete policy position on any issue, nor do they include all pertinent facts on any topic. For more information, or to request the
FCNL Indian Report and other background documents, please contact the FCNL's Native American Advocacy Program: (202) 547-6000, 245 2nd St. NE,
Washington, DC 20002; Indian@fcnl.org. Or visit our web site at: http://www.fcnl.org/issues/issue.php?issue_id=93.

CONTACTING LEGISLATORS

Capitol Switchboard: 202-224-3121

Sen. ________
U.S. Senate
Washington, DC 20510

Rep. ________
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515

Information on your members is available on FCNL's web site:
http://capwiz.com/fconl/dbq/officials/directory/directory.dbq

CONTACTING THE ADMINISTRATION

White House Comment Desk: 202-456-1111
FAX: 202-456-2461
E-MAIL: president@whitehouse.gov
WEB PAGE: http://www.whitehouse.gov

President George W. Bush
The White House
Washington, DC 20500
-----------------------------------------------------------------
This message supplements other FCNL materials and does not reflect FCNL's complete policy position on any issue. For further information, please contact FCNL.

Mail: 245 Second Street, NE, Washington, DC 20002-5795
Email: fcnl@fcnl.org
Phone: (202) 547-6000
Toll Free: (800) 630-1330
Fax: (202) 547-6019

 
Language Rights Emergency
Language Rights Emergency--Please call legislators NOW!

A vote is expected soon, possibly this week, on HB 1020, Lawton Representative Ron Kirby's "English Only" bill. The bill was voted out of the Rules Committee last year by one vote, when Rep. Opio toure left the room. Before being considered by the full House, it was sent back to the Rules Committee; that is where it is now. Rules is expected to vote on it soon, quite possibly this week. Some background and arguments are given below, and a list of Rules Committee members, their vote last year, and their contact information is in the attached document.

Background
HB 1020 would make English the official language of Oklahoma, and generally forbid the use of other languages by the government, either orally or in publications. Some exceptions are made for Indian languages, for federally mandated translations and for public safety.

Arguments against HB 1020
It is unnecessary. English is quite safe. Immigrants are learning English at a faster rate than ever before.
It is unconstitutional, restricting the speech of government employees.
It is based on the lie that it is the English language that unites us as Americans.
It is divisive, creating an "us" and a "them." In many places where English Only has passed, it has created new ethnic tensions or made existing tensions
worse.
It limits access to government services to only those with good English language skills.
It may actually discourage the learning or maintenance of other languges and cause Oklahomans to become even more monolingual, a handicap in dealings with the rest of the world. Many Indian leaders feel the exception for Indian languages is merely an attempt to divide the opposition, and that such a law, if passed, could too easily be amended later under the guise of "leveling the playing field."
It will inevitably lead to law suits which will be expensive for the state to defend against.
It makes no exception due to physical limitations, for the use of American Sign Language.
It is vaguely worded, eg. in the phrase "absent compelling circumstances." Presumably each state employee would be charged with interpreting such
phrases and memorizing the relevant exceptions. In practice, this will probably mean a chilling effect, beyond even the intended purpose of the bill.
It adds to the "mean and intolerant" image of Oklahoma.

Some of the organizatons opposing HB 1020
Green Party of Oklahoma
Intertribal Wordpath Society
League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC)
Oklahoma Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (OKTESOL)
Society of Oklahoma Linguists
Task Force on the Education of Limited English
Proficient Students in Oklahoma

Suggested Actions
Call or visit Rep. Roberts, Chairman of the Rules committee, and Elmer Maddux, Vice Chairman, and ask them not to bring this bill to a vote. If you are in the district of any other Rules Committee members, call them also, and call or email other members as you have time (if you're not in their district it won't
count as much). In any case, call your own Representative, to prepare for the possibility that HB 1020 may make it ourt of Rules and come to a vote in the full House. Many of the above organizations suggest that in addition to opposing 1020, you support Rep. Al Lindley's "English Plus" bill, which acknowledges the importance of English, protects minority language rights in Oklahoma, and encourages the use of all their languages by all Oklahomans.

Forward this message to friends and family, and ask them to do the same.

For the complete text of HB 1020 and of Rep. Lindley's Resolution (in preparation), go to http://www.lsb.state.ok.us

Thanks for bringing your concerns to the statehouse ASAP!

Alice Anderton
Ed Romo
Co-Spokespersons, Coalition for Language Diversity

 
Contact Governor Henry on behalf of Hung Thanh Le
From ACLU-OK:

We are pleading with you to contact Governor Henry

The Governor has the power to reconsider his denial of clemency for Mr. Le and stop the execution. The A.G.'s office requested a Feb. 10th execution date but it has not been set yet.

TIME IF VERY IMPORTANT --TO TRY TO SAVE MR. LE'S LIFE
Governor Henry's Pardon and Parole Board recommended by a vote of 4-0 (Patrick Morgan did not vote) for the Governor to GRANT CLEMENCY and give Mr. Le life in prison. Three of the five members of the Pardon and Parole Board are appointees of
Governor Henry. All three of the Governor's appointees voted for clemency.
_____

Emergency Actions to take

*Contact members of the Pardon and Parole Board and thank them for their NO
vote and ask them to plead with the governor to grant clemency. There is NOTHING improper or illegal about this.

*Write letters to the editor, quickly

*Call in to radio shows, to the media, ask questions as to WHY the Governor
isn't following his own Pardon and Parole Board's recommendations. Ask the media to ASK the Governor these questions.

*If you know donors to Governor Henry's campaign, ask them to call the
Governor on behalf of Mr. Le

*Take part in upcoming marches and protests on Mr. Le's behalf (action alerts will be forth-coming) If you have questions about this, contact OCADP, ACLU or Amnesty Intl. of Oklahoma.

*CALL OR FAX THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE AND ASK HIM TO PLEASE RECONSIDER

*Talk to anyone you know in the Vietnamese Community in your area. Ask them
to join with the large number of Vietnamese-Americans who came to our meeting today. We have contact information for them. They are planning to make every attempt to meet with the governor and plan marches and actions on their own.

*Talk to those you know who suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or
people who work with those who suffer from PTSD. Ask them to call the Governor on Mr. Le's behalf.

The Governor's Contact information:
State Capitol Building
2300 N. Lincoln Blvd., Room 212
Oklahoma City, OK 73105
Telephone 405-521-2342
FAX 405-521-3353

Joann Bell, Executive Director, ACLU-Ok.

 
Stop Oklahoma "Defense of Marriage" bill
STOP the passage of SJR 38 anti-GLBT legislation that has just been introduced
Take Action Now.

Senate Republican Floor Leader James A. Williamson, R-Tulsa, introduced legislation, SJR 38, to send a “defense of marriage” constitutional amendment to a vote of the people. Williamson’s constitutional amendment would define marriage as “the union of one man and one woman,” and would prohibit the state from recognizing same-gender marriages performed in other states. The amendment also states, “Neither this Constitution nor any other provision of law shall be construed to require that marital status or the legal incidents thereof be conferred upon unmarried couples or groups.”

Take Action Now! Tell your senator the you will not stand for this type of divisive, mean-spirited law that were designed to single out and marginalize an entire group of Oklahomans for unequal treatment." I ask you to tell your senator we will not marginalize any Oklahoman by voting no on SJR 38.

http://capwiz.com/federationlgbt/issues/alert/?alertid=4897001&type=ST

 
Save Overtime Pay
From AFL-CIO:
President Bush is about to finalize changes in the laws governing overtime pay that could take away overtime protections from at least 8 million people. His changes will cut paychecks for families, erode the 40-hour workweek and encourage employers to require more overtime work. The changes include a new "military penalty" that would allow employers to use military training as the basis for cutting overtime pay.

Please sign the online petition opposing President Bush's overtime pay take-away.

 
Censure Bush for misleading us
From MoveOn.org:

During the buildup to war, President Bush said the United States "must not ignore the threat gathering against us. Facing clear evidence of peril, we cannot wait for the final proof -- the smoking gun -- that could come in the form of a mushroom cloud.... We have every reason to assume the worst, and we have an urgent duty to prevent the worst from occurring." [1]

On the eve of sending troops into battle, Bush asserted that "Intelligence gathered by this and other governments leaves no doubt that the Iraq regime continues to possess and conceal some of the most lethal weapons ever devised." [2]

Now David Kay, the CIA’s chief weapons inspector, has testified before Congress that these weapons do not exist.

In an attempt to evade responsibility for the misleading statements that pushed the nation into war, Bush has announced plans to form an independent inquiry to look into what went wrong. An inquiry would serve the Bush administration well: it would envelop the issue in a fog of uncertainty, deflect blame onto the intelligence services, and delay any political damage until 2005, after the upcoming election. [3]

But the facts need no clarification. Despite repeated warnings from the CIA and Defense Intelligence Agency, President Bush and his administration hyped and distorted the threat that Iraq posed. [4] And now that reality is setting in, the President wants to pin the blame on someone else. We can't let him.

Congress has the power to censure the President -- to formally reprimand him for betraying the nation's trust. If ever there was a time for this, it's now. Join our call on Congress to censure President Bush at:
http://www.moveon.org/censure/?id=2298-3497923-4ITfoEn70FmtoE48QAS9_w

It's clear that we've been mislead:

* David Kay said last week, "I'm personally convinced that there were not large stockpiles of newly produced weapons of mass destruction," and "We don't find the people, the documents or the physical plants that you would expect to find if the production was going on." Kay said these things shortly after resigning from his post as Bush's chief weapons inspector in Iraq. [5]

* Bush, in his 2003 State of the Union address, said, "the British government has learned that Saddam Hussein recently sought significant quantities of uranium from Africa." [6] Yet Ambassador Joe Wilson, who was sent to Niger in February 2002 to determine whether Iraq was trying to purchase uranium materials there, concluded that "intelligence related to Iraq's nuclear weapons program was twisted to exaggerate the
Iraqi threat." [7]

* A CIA report in February 2003 said: "We do not have any direct evidence that Iraq has used the period since [1998] to reconstitute its Weapons of Mass Destruction programs." [8]

It's also clear that the misleading was deliberate:

* The respected Carnegie Endowment for International Peace recently found that the administration "systematically misrepresented the threat" from Iraq. [9]

* The basis for President Bush's African uranium claim was known at the time to be forged [10] and not credible. "Top White House officials knew that the CIA seriously disputed the claim that Saddam Hussein was seeking uranium in Africa long before the claim was included in Bush's January address to the nation," according to the Washington Post. [11]

* Secretary of State Colin Powell became alarmed at the level of intelligence distortion. When he read the first draft of his speech to the UN -- prepared for Powell by Vice President Dick Cheney's chief of staff -- he was so upset that he lost his temper, throwing several pages in the air and declaring, "I'm not reading this. This is bullsh--." [12]

Our democracy only works when we know the truth. We now know President Bush and his administration deliberately misled Congress and the American people. Censure is the least we should expect in response.

The independent inquiry will need a year or more to come to a conclusion, according to the Bush administration. It took less time than that for the country to go to war. We don't need more investigation, we need accountability, and we need it now.

Join our call on Congress to censure President Bush at: http://www.moveon.org/censure/?id=2298-3497923-4ITfoEn70FmtoE48QAS9_w

We'll be holding a press conference in Washington on Thursday, announcing our campaign for Censure. If you sign on now, we can count your signature at the press conference. Please sign on right away.

Thank you.

Sincerely,

--Adam, Carrie, Eli, James, Joan, Laura, Noah, Peter, Wes, and Zack
The MoveOn.org Team
Tuesday, February 3, 2004

[1] http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A54353-2004Jan27.html

[2] http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2003/03/20030317-7.html

[3] http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A3980-2004Feb1.html

[4] An excellent, comprehensive rundown on the Bush administration's deliberate distortion of intelligence is available at: http://www.americanprogress.org/site/pp.asp?c=biJRJ8OVF&b=24889

[5] http://www.nytimes.com/2004/01/26/international/middleeast/26KAY.html

[6] http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2003/01/20030128-19.html

[7] http://www.nytimes.com/2003/07/06/opinion/06WILS.html
Note: Wilson's wife, Valerie Plame, had her CIA cover blown, possibly by the White House, in apparent retaliation for Wilson's contradicting the White House's line on WMDs.

[8] http://msnbc.msn.com/id/3340723/

[9] http://www.ceip.org/files/pdf/Iraq3GuideFind_SummRec.pdf

[10] http://www.nytimes.com/2003/07/08/international/worldspecial/08PREX.html

[11] http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/nation/6362092.htm

[12] http://www.usnews.com/usnews/issue/archive/030609/20030609040506.php
Note: The article with the Powell quote is available for purchase from the US News & World Report archives for $2.95.

 
Urge Congress to Reject Ashcroft's Veto Threat
From ACLU:

Despite an unprecedented public relations offensive by Attorney General Ashcroft and a veto threat from the White House, Congress is moving toward revising the Patriot Act’s most dangerous provisions.

Buoyed by the groundswell of opposition -- more than 245 communities and 3 states have passed resolutions in opposition to the PATRIOT Act -- momentum is building for legislation that would correct PATRIOT Act provisions that allow for unwarranted investigations of personal records, authorize secret “sneak and peek” searches and roll back judicial oversight.

This corrective legislation -- the SAFE Act -- would not repeal commonsense provisions in the PATRIOT Act, but would instead revise those provisions that infringe on our civil liberties without making us any safer. Yet even this modest bill drew the wrath of Attorney General Ashcroft who falsely said that it would, “make it even more difficult to mount an effective anti-terror campaign than it was before the Patriot Act was passed."

Take Action! Tell your Members of Congress to cosponsor the SAFE Act so we can be both safe and free.

Click here for more information and to send a free fax to your Members of Congress:
http://www.aclu.org/NationalSecurity/NationalSecurity.cfm?ID=13907&c=24

*****************************************************

For more information on other issues and the latest news, please visit our website.

 
Keep Facts Free!
We're surrounded by free factual information, but there's a bill in Congress that would lock it all up. The Database and Collections of Information Misappropriation Act (DCIMA, H.R. 3261) extends extremely broad copyright-like protections to collections of factual data - data like the price of a TV, the temperature in Arizona or infomation collected during scientific research. DCIMA would allow companies to sue anyone who interferes with their ability to profit from data that they collect. In other words, academic researchers, public libraries, Internet innovators and other database users would have to pay up if someone else claimed to have assembled the data first. This is not only unecessary, it's bad policy.

Make your voice heard with the EFF Action Center:

http://action.eff.org/action/index.asp?step=2&item=2857