Action Alert Digest - January 23, 2019

The Global Fragility and Violence Reduction Act would require the U.S. government - in collaboration with global civil society - to develop a 10-year strategy to bring down current levels of global violence and better address the root causes of violence, violent conflict, and fragility that drive recurrent global crises. The Conference of Major Superiors of Men urges us to tell Congress to pass this legislation to reduce violence in our world. TAKE ACTION

How the Yellow Vests Are Reinventing French Politics

Earlier this month 50,000 people flooded the streets of France for the first protest of 2019 organized by the yellow vests, or gilets jaunes. This protest is a continuation of a national movement for economic justice that has shaken the country since November. While the media have largely characterized the yellow vests as violent troublemakers, many people throughout France see the movement as a largely nonviolent grassroots movement. MORE

NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT

Trump Vows to Reinvent Missile Defenses but Offers Incremental Plans

President Trump vowed last week to reinvigorate and reinvent American missile defenses in a speech that recalled Cold War-era visions of nuclear adversaries - though he never once mentioned Russia or China, the two great-power threats to the United States. While the president infused the new missile efforts with his ambitions for a Space Force, the actual plans released by the Pentagon were far more incremental. MORE

UN Chief Presses for Defined Plan to Denuclearize Korean Peninsula

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is urging US and North Korean leaders to develop a plan for negotiations aimed at the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula, saying it is "high time" for serious talks between the two countries to resume. Guterres also warns that humanitarian aid to North Korea should not be used as a bargaining chip in any negotiations. MORE

Extending New START Is in America's National Security Interest

Trump has announced plans to withdraw from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty saying that Russia has violated terms of the pact. If the United States follows through on this, as seems likely, there is one agreement that would still mutually constrain the size of the U.S. and Russian nuclear forces. However, that one agreement, the 2010 New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START), is due to expire in less than three years. MORE

IMMIGRATION

TAKE ACTION: Reunite Every Child

Earlier this week, the Department of Health and Human Services revealed that not only were "thousands" more migrant children separated by the Trump administration than previously known but that they didn't even have accurate data because of failures to track families as they were being separated. MomsRising asks us to tell Congress and to immediately end these cruel policies and practices and reunite every child. TAKE ACTION

For 7th Consecutive Year, Visa Overstays Exceeded Illegal Border Crossings

As the Trump administration demands funding for a border wall to stop illegal immigration, a new study finds that for the seventh consecutive year, visa overstays far exceeded unauthorized border crossings. The report finds that people who overstay their visas account for 62 percent of the newly undocumented, while 38 percent had crossed a border illegally. MORE

Actually, the Numbers Show That We Need More Immigration, Not Less

The American myth of "mass migration," based on an arbitrary percentage decided in the early 20th century, has prevailed in recent years, but the country should actually admit one million more immigrants per year until 2050 to maintain a healthy economy, writes Shikha Dalmia, a senior analyst at Reason in an Opinion piece for the New York Times. MORE

ENVIRONMENT

TAKE ACTION: Say No to Drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge

The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is a cherished landscape owned by all Americans. Yet after decades of protection, the Trump administration is barreling forward with plans to open this irreplaceable wilderness to the fossil fuel industry for oil and gas drilling.

The Interior Department's proposed plans would open as many as 1.5 million acres of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge up to drilling. Learn MORE then TAKE ACTION

Climate Change Leads to More Wars and Refugees, Study Shows

The most comprehensive study done to assess the link between climate change, war and migration has confirmed that the warming planet is fueling conflicts that lead to more refugees. The research bolsters previous warnings from intelligence agencies that climate change could trigger more conflicts severe enough to uproot populations. MORE

HUMAN TRAFFICKING

TAKE ACTION: Save the "T Visa"

Last summer, the US issued a new rule regarding "T" visas, a category of visas given to trafficking victims that allows them to remain in the US and gives them a path to citizenship. Now if an application for a "T" visa is denied, the applicant will be automatically subject to deportation, thus discouraging victims from coming forward to report their situation. The United Church of Christ urges us to tell our lawmakers to keep the "T" visa intact. TAKE ACTION

Trump's Misleading Tales on Border Trafficking

In an effort to get support for a border wall, President Trump is misleading Americans about human trafficking at the Mexican border, with anti-trafficking experts flagging his wildly inaccurate stories. Recently he claimed women were being gagged and thrown into the back of cars by traffickers who take them across the border into the US. Yet six human trafficking experts say they have never met a victim whose story matched that of Trump's narrative. MORE

20,000 Nigerian Girls Sold To Prostitution Ring

Nigeria's anti-trafficking agency says it has received concrete intelligence that around 20,000 Nigerian girls have been forced into prostitution in Mali. Many of the girls are working in hotels and nightclubs after being sold to prostitution rings by human traffickers. Most of the girls said they were lured by human traffickers who promised them employment in Malaysia. MORE

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE & SEXUAL ASSAULT

Why Was the Definition of Domestic Violence Quietly Changed?

Without fanfare or even notice, the Department of Justice's Office on Violence Against Women made significant changes to its definition of domestic violence. The Obama-era definition was expansive, vetted by experts including the National Center for Victims of Crime and the National Domestic Violence Hotline. The Trump administration's definition is substantially more limited and less informed, effectively denying the experiences of victims of abuse. MORE

Domestic Violence Shelters Struggle with Shutdown

As the longest-ever partial government shutdown drags on, domestic violence shelters across the country face the possibility of cutting staff or ceasing operations altogether. At- or above-capacity shelters have had to discontinue services that assist victims, some of whom remain on wait lists in need of refuge. MORE

POVERTY AND SOCIAL JUSTICE

A Majority of Americans Support Raising the Top Tax Rate To 70 Percent

'Gigantic Gaps' In Health System Showing Up In Crowdfunding

Scrolling through the GoFundMe website reveals seemingly an endless number of people who need help or community support. A common theme: the cost of health care. In the nine years since the website was launched, campaigns to pay for health care have reaped the most cash. Of the $5 billion the company says it has raised, about a third has been for medical expenses from more than 250,000 medical campaigns conducted annually. MORE

Lifting the Ban on SNAP and TANF for People with Prior Felony Drug Convictions

Individuals with prior drug-related felony convictions often face "collateral consequences" in the form restrictions or complete bans on SNAP, TANF, or both. Allowing such barriers impedes returning citizens' successful reentry and does little to deter crime. SNAP and TANF help prevent food insecurity, recidivism, and financial insecurity-allowing returning citizens to support themselves and their families and contribute to society. MORE

DEATH PENALTY

NOTE: Catholic Mobilizing Network provides a simple online opportunity to send a clemency request to the governor of the state where an execution has been scheduled.

Scheduled

Executions

Robert Jennings is scheduled to be executed on January 30 by the state of Texas for the murder of Elston Howard. Please hold Robert, Elston, their families and the people of Texas in prayer. TAKE ACTION

CORPORATE PUBLIC STANDS

The Sisters of St. Francis, Clinton Iowa have taken the following corporate stands:

HOW TO CONTACT YOUR LEGISLATORS

Contacting your elected officials is one of the most effective ways to bring about positive change. You can find the names and contact information of your local members of congress by entering your zip code at:

whoismyrepresentative.com

Here are phone numbers for elected officials for Clinton, Iowa:

President Donald Trump	(202) 456-1414
Senators - Iowa Chuck Grassley Joni Ernst	(202) 224-3744 (202) 224-3254
US Representative Clinton area District 2 Dave Loebsack	(202) 225-6576
Governor - Iowa Kim Reynolds	(515) 281-5211

The main switchboard for Congress is: (202) 224-3121