The dogs and cats of the Yulin Festival are being made to suffer horrific means to an end, simply to justify an outlandish tradition while making a profit. The dogs are dragged from overstuffed cages and are stabbed in different parts of their bodies and left to bleed to death. They are also electrocuted, hung to death, skinned alive, and some possibly cooked before they are completely dead. To add Horror to Horror, some dogs and cats are burned alive (fully conscious) while being beaten with sticks. We need to unite and make a stand against The Yulin Meat Festival. We must urge every citizen to come to the aid and rescue of these helpless animals who are doomed. We must reach out to the people of the Province of Guangxi as well as the city of Yulin and implore them to come to an agreement in which dog/cat meat is banned and made illegal perpetually. They are concerned with the loss of profits and that seems to be the driving force. We need to figure out a solution, another more humane and civil Festival that will not affect the livelihood of the locals while freeing the dogs and cats once and for all...and if that’s not an option, Death to the Yulin Meat Festival nonetheless. I love all animals, yet none touch my heart as much as dogs. I love cats very much although. The unconditional love and loyalty these animals give naturally, show you they have a higher purpose and we have a duty as human beings to protect these Divine Creatures. Every dog I see, I am looking into the eyes of my own family.

After notifying and complaining to the seller and received two emails promising to remove this item from their website, no action has been gaken. Now I am filing my petition in reference to the item “Islamic HM020823M Rug,” being sold on line on the following URL: https://kayleeandtepid.com/product/islamic-hm020823m-rug  It appears that the company manufacturing this item as a rug and those involved in marketing and selling this, are not aware of the extreme disrespect and sacrilege to Islamic religious scripture that this will cause. Muslims (followers of Islam – about 1.9 Billion people around the world) believe in One God – Allah, and his last messenger Prophet Muhammad – Peace be upon him, and the Holy Book, the Quran, that was revealed to mankind through Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). The Quran is the direct Word of Allah and Muslims around the world respect it as such and show it the utmost reverence. The writing on the so-called rug is called Surah Al-Ikhlas and is in fact the 112th chapter of the Quran. While we appreciate it that the manufacturer was taken by the beauty of the Arabic calligraphy used to depict this text, it is highly disturbing to see it displayed on a rug which is designed to be walked upon. Muslims around the world will find it deeply disrespectful to God and His Last Scripture, His direct Word, the Quran if this picture or the knowledge that such a rug is being sold by your company.  We humbly request the seller to immediately withdraw this item from the market and issue a statement that you were not aware of the significance of this to the world’s Muslims. It is of paramount importance that this action is taken immediately without delay, as millions and millions of eyes are watching this right now as well as sharing it with each other via social media and instant messaging. Majority will assume this to be another attack on Islam and may make judgement calls or take decisions based on those judgement calls. Please understand the urgency of this matter and take action immediately. Thank you for your time.

Given the unprecedented drought that California is facing, the idea that Nestlé, Coca-Cola, PepsiCo and other water bottlers are tapping California's scarce water supply to sell, is unconscionable. California's agricultural industry raises over a third of the country's vegetables, and two-thirds of the country's fruits and nuts. California is the most populous state in the Union. California suffers from devastating wildfires every year. Yet none of this concerns Nestlé, Coca-Cola, PepsiCo and other water bottlers; who put their needs for profit over the needs of the state of California and its residents. Please join me in demanding that all tapping of California municipal water supplies, natural springs, groundwater supplies and any other naturally occurring water resources by private corporations who resell that water, be outlawed!  And demand that those corporations who continue to bottle California water, be required to replace that water in California (from non-California resources), drop for drop, at their own expense in addition to levying steep fines for doing so!

Over the years I have signed many petitions against the cruelty involved in factory farming.  I have learned that the sad reality is there are no federal laws protecting the farm animals. Without enforceable laws the animals that fall victim to factory farming are subjected to hideous abuse and brutal death. Recently, I joined a group of activists and gave water to pigs that were arriving to a slaughterhouse in Los Angeles. They were piled in trucks and hadn’t been given food or water for days. They were treated like inanimate objects. We were on street and still heard their screams from inside the slaughterhouse. They haunt me still.  Pigs are intelligent social animals. They are very aware. They are confined in cages that restrict their movement. They are forced to endure being shipped in trucks without food or water. They eventually end their short painful lives with a violent death at a slaughterhouse. I don’t eat meat. However, you don’t need to be a vegetarian or vegan to agree that pigs should be provided with food, water, and space to move around and interact with each other, without being subjected to fear and pain.  It’s time to push for laws protecting the pigs from abuse. It’s time to hold factory farming accountable for the treatment of the pigs.  Congressman Brad Sherman, we commend you on your proven track record as an advocate for animal rights. We are asking you to introduce a bill protecting pigs from abuse in factory farming. Profits and efficiency are not justification for inflicting pain and suffering on intelligent sentient beings. Please stand up for the pigs that are tortured every day.  

Current marriage age exception laws in CA offer dangerous loopholes to predators who can and do use them to exploit children. My Story: My name is Sara Tasneem, and I am a child marriage survivor who is advocating to end child marriage in California. At just fifteen, I was forced by my father to marry a 28 year old stranger. Sadly, I am not alone, a recent report showed that: "Between 2000 and 2015, at least 207,459 minors were married in the United States", and 86% of child marriages happen to girls marrying adult men. Many Americans are unaware that children across the United States are legally able to marry. State laws govern marriage age laws and 46 out of 50 states allow children under the age of 18 to marry with parental consent, or if there is a pregnancy involved. Join me in fighting to end child marriage in CA today! Child Marriage is legal in 43 out of the 50 states in the US Ending child marriage in the United States is an uphill battle because each state must approve new bills limiting the age of marriage to 18.  Many states, including California, are reticent to pass such bills because of age-old patriarchal views of marriage and pregnancy. Recently, Delaware and New Jersey passed the marriage laws to limit the age of marriage to 18 with no exceptions. After the age of 18 individuals are considered adults and they can access the vital services that they might need if they experience abuse, or want to divorce their partners. Child marriage in California: In California there is NO age limit for a minor to marry with parental consent and Judicial review.  What is problem with these laws? Minors are easily coerced and forced into marriages especially when raised in an abusive household. Parental consent can mean force and abuse if a minor does not comply with a marriage chosen for them. Once they have been forced into a marriage it is extremely difficult to leave. Child Marriage is considered a HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSE internationally and domestically, but there are very few laws which prevent it. Here is a small list of significant roadblocks that minors face in California when trying to leave an abusive forced marriage. Minors who marry are THREE TIMES more likely to experience abuse within their marriages. Shelters will not take minors in without parental consent, and often minors are turned away or sent to youth shelters where there is a lack of bed space. Minors cannot enter into contracts thus, it is difficult to find an attorney that will take on a minor’s divorce. Minors are not allowed to get driver’s licenses until after 16 (with parental consent). Minors are not allowed to work in some states until 15-16 years old (with parental consent). Many minors who marry are often forced to drop out of school limiting their ability to get jobs, or future opportunities. Minors who marry are faced with serious health risks, and often have more children than their adult counterparts. Minors who marry suffer from higher complications in childbirth, and higher rates of mental health issues.   Forced child marriage can often be inter-generational and many minors who are forced into marriages suffer from multiple layers of abuse. The solution: END CHILD MARRIAGE FOR GOOD, limit marriage to adults only (18 years+).   References: http://apps.frontline.org/child-marriage-by-the-numbers/ Learn more: https://endchildmarriageus.org/ My advocacy work and contact information: https://tasneemsfadvocacy.home.blog/

Section 620M (22 U.S.C. 2378d) of the United States Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, otherwise known as the Leahy Law, prohibits US aid to any unit of a state's security forces that commits “gross violations of human rights” (FAA, 1961, p.236-237). The United States has continued to provide support to Israel’s military despite its abysmal record of human rights violations against Palestinian civilians, most of which have targeted defenseless children and residents of internationally recognized Palestinian territories that have been illegally occupied by Israel.  The first category of gross human rights violations Israel commits against Palestinians involves illegal settlements. The 1947 UN Partition Plan clearly specifies Gaza and the West Bank as part of Palestinian territory, but Israel’s occupation of Gaza and continued construction of illegal settlements on the West Bank and East Jerusalem violates this international mandate. Amnesty International maintains that Israel's illegal settlement activity violates "the Hague regulations, the Fourth Geneva Convention, and is a war crime under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court." Further, in 2016, UN Security Council Resolution 2334 determined Israel's settlements to have no legal basis, and that the state of Israel is and has been "in violation of international law." Moreover, various NGOs report widespread abuses of Palestinians who have been forcibly removed from their own homes by IDF and Israeli  forces, murdered by Israeli settlers, shot at by IDF forces, extra judicially killed by IDF forces, arrested for protesting against Israel’s abuses, and tortured while in IDF custody. The second category of Israel’s gross violation of human rights involve reported violations of the Geneva Convention’s International Law of Armed Conflict. The Law of Armed Conflict of the Geneva Convention prohibits the use of chemical weapons, and it states that parties to a conflict must “allow and facilitate impartial humanitarian relief for civilians in need.”  In September 2007, Israel began to enforce a blockade against Palestinians, which has since obstructed Palestinian civilians’ access to humanitarian aid, including medical supplies, food, and tools necessary to rebuild homes destroyed by violent conflict. In December 2008, Israeli forces destroyed the humanitarian aid ship The Dignity, which was carrying medical volunteers and supplies that were bound for Gaza. In March 2009, Israel committed war crimes against Palestinian civilians when it detonated white phosphorous munitions over Gaza, causing Palestinian men, women, and children to suffer extensive burns, cardiovascular collapse, organ failure, and/or death upon exposure. On June 30, 2009, Israeli forces obstructed the humanitarian aid ship, The Spirit of Humanity from reaching Gaza, where they arrested and imprisoned at least 19 human rights workers that were on board this ship. In May 2010, Israel obstructed the Turkish humanitarian aid ship, Mavi Marmara  from reaching Palestinian civilians besieged in Gaza, where at least nine human rights workers were killed by Israeli forces. In June 2010, Israel destroyed the humanitarian aid ship, MV Rachel Corrie that was bound for Gaza. The MV Rachel Corrie was named after US activist Rachel Corrie who was crushed to death by an armed Israeli bulldozer as she attempted to stop him from destroying a Palestinian home in March 2003.  In October 2012, Israel obstructed the humanitarian aid ship, Estelle, from reaching the besieged Palestinian civilians of Gaza. In 2017, Israel destroyed EU-funded humanitarian projects meant for Palestinian civilians on the West Bank in order to make room for illegal Israeli settlements. Humanitarian relief is vital to the survival of Palestinian civilians besieged on Gaza and the West Bank, but the intentional obstruction of such relief by Israeli forces has not allowed for the facilitation of impartial humanitarian relief for Palestinian civilians. Israel's obstruction of aid has caused Palestinian civilians to endure uninhabitable conditions, and these constitute gross violations of human rights. The third category of gross violations of human rights are reportedly against Palestinian children and in violation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, the United Nations Convention Against Torture, and the United Nations Convention on Civil and Political Rights. IDF forces have been slammed by the United Nations, UNICEF, Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, and Watch for Children in Armed Conflict for its continued abuses of Palestinian children. The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child reports that Israeli forces routinely deny Palestinian children “registration of their birth and access to health care, decent schools, and clean water,” and “continuously use Palestinian children as human shields and informants.” The use of children or civilians as human shields in armed conflict is in violation of Geneva Convention Law of Armed Conflict Rule 97 as well. UNICEF (2017) reports “child arrests and detention frequently occur in East Jerusalem. Harassment by Israeli Security Forces at check-points, violence from settlers and the demolition of houses and other infrastructure are an ongoing feature of daily life affecting children and families across the West Bank.”  Following the horrific abuse of Ahed Tamimi and her family, Human Rights Watch issued a report citing widespread abuses of Palestinian children and unjust treatment in military courts by Israeli forces. Amnesty International writes that the IDF had “tortured and otherwise ill-treated Palestinian detainees, including children, particularly during arrest and interrogation, with methods including ‘beating with batons, slapping, throttling, prolonged shackling, stress positions, sleep deprivation and threats.’” A fourth category of gross human rights violations involves the slaughter of non-combatants, including medical practitioners, journalists, and civilians.  The killings of non-combatants are war crimes and in violation of Geneva Convention IV. Article 20 of Geneva Convention IV prohibits the killing of medical personnel. It states: "Persons regularly and solely engaged in the operation and administration of civilian hospitals, including the personnel engaged in the search for, removal and transporting of and caring for wounded and sick civilians, the infirm and maternity cases, shall be respected and protected. In occupied territory and in zones of military operations, the above personnel shall be recognizable by means of an identity card certifying their status, bearing the photograph of the holder and embossed with the stamp of the responsible authority…" While the Geneva Convention clearly protects medical personnel in occupied territories, Israeli Defense Forces have reportedly targeted medical facilities and killed medical personnel who were treating wounded individuals. Between 2008 and 2009, IDF forces were reportedly involved in attacks against an estimated 15 hospitals, 43 primary health care clinics, and 29 ambulances. At least 16 health workers were killed and 25 were injured while tending to wounded persons. In 2012, at least 16 hospitals and clinics, and 6 ambulances were reportedly attacked during Israeli military offensives. At least 3 medical workers were injured. In 2014, at least 17 hospitals, 56 primary health care clinics, and 45 ambulances were reportedly attacked during Israeli military offensives. At least 23 medical personnel were killed and 78 were injured. In 2015, at least 34 medical facilities were reportedly attacked, at least 92 ambulances were damaged, and at least 147 medical workers were injured during Israeli military offensives. Physicians for Human Rights- Israel documented at least 11 attacks on medical facilities and medical personnel in 2016. In 2017, the Coalition of Safeguarding Health in Conflict documented at least 93 attacks against medical personnel and medical facilities, mostly committed by Israeli Defense Forces. Between March 30 and May 27, 2018 alone, IDF forces have reportedly launched attacks affecting 245 health workers and 40 ambulances. On June 1, 2018, IDF shot to death Razan al-Najjar, a 21-year old female Palestinian paramedic who was tending to injured protesters when she was slain. Israel’s attacks on protected persons such as medical personnel are war crimes, and they constitute gross violations of human rights. While the number of deaths and casualties of non-combatants remains disputed across different sources, no sources examined dispute the fact that Israel continues to commit war crimes and human rights violations against non-combatants in the illegally occupied territories. The actions of Israel clearly violate human rights; therefore, we, the undersigned demand freedom and justice for Palestinians, that the Leahy Law be enforced, and that the United States cease all material support to the Israeli military.  Material support that the United States must stop providing to the Israeli military includes but is not limited to: Funding the Israeli military and/or any Israeli agency or Israeli organization that can execute violent operations Providing any weapon to the Israeli military and/or any Israeli agency or Israeli organization that can execute violent operations. Weapons include but are not limited to:            a. Small arms including but not limited to: ammunition, handguns, rifles,                       carbines, sub-machine guns, assault rifles, and light machine guns, land                   mines,            b. Light Weapons including but not limited to: general-purpose machine                       guns, medium machine guns, heavy machine guns, rifle grenades, grenade launchers, automatic grenade launchers, anti-tank rifles, recoilless rifles, rocket-propelled grenades, man-portable anti-tank missiles, man-portable air-defense systems, and mortars            c. Large arms including but not limited to: drones, air craft carriers, all                         military air craft, laser-guided missiles, laser-guided bombs, ballistic missiles, intercontinental ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, glide bombs, tanks, air strikes            d. All internationally banned weapons pursuant to the Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons Which May Be Deemed to Be Excessively Injurious or to Have Indiscriminate Effects (CCWC) and Customary International Humanitarian Law Rule  71 3. Providing intelligence to the Israeli military and/or any Israeli agency or Israeli organization that can execute violent operations 4. Providing any training to the Israeli military and/or any Israeli agency or Israeli          organization that can execute violent operations 5. Assisting the Israeli military with any military operation and/or assisting any Israeli agency or organization that can execute violent operations with military operations 6. Aiding the state of Israel in expanding and/or maintaining its illegal settlement activity 7. Providing the Israeli state and/or its military and/or any Israeli agency or Israeli          organization that can execute violent operations with materials that may be used      to create any kind of explosive device and/or any weapon that is internationally banned pursuant to Customary International Humanitarian Law Rule 71 and the CCWC Banned for trade with Israel are materials that are used to manufacture or create:               a. Explosive materials that can be made to create IEDs               b. Chemical weapons               c. Biological weapons               d. Nuclear weapons               e. Land mines               f.  Mines               g. Poisons               h. Explosives discharged from balloons               i.  V-1 and V-2 rockets               j. Cluster munitions 8. Providing the Israeli state and/or its military and/or any Israeli agency or Israeli      organization that can execute violent operations with materials that have been      used to commit gross violations of human rights or illegal settlement activity.            These include but are not limited to:               a. Items used to demolish Palestinian homes including but not limited to:                           i.  All types of bulldozers, including armored D-9 bulldozers               b. Items used to kill activists including but not limited to:                           i. All types of bulldozers, including armored D-9 bulldozers               c. Building materials used to create illegal settlements for Israeli citizens                        on Palestinian Territory. The promise of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness is an inalienable right that must be afforded to our equals in humanity just as it is afforded to ourselves. United States elected officials must stop aiding the militias of those governments who impede individuals’ access to such opportunities. Stop providing aid to Israel’s military. Enforce the Leahy Law now!

We would like to pass AB210 to change smog exemption from 1976 to 1983. This would benfit the public, and have minimal effect on the environment. Please sign our petition, and contract our representatives to let them know you support this bill.  AB 210 recognizes the minimal impact of pre-1983 vehicles on emissions and air quality.   AB 210 acknowledges that pre-1983 vehicles still constitute an insignificant portion of the overall vehicle population and are a poor source from which to look for emissions reduction. AB 210 endorses the fact that pre-1983 vehicles are overwhelmingly well-maintained and infrequently driven (a fraction of the miles each year as a new vehicle). This would help owners or classic cars to keep them on the road as historical and show pieces. Most of these cars are well maintained, but can have issues with finding a smog station willing to test, or locatinng hard to find emissions equipment to pass visual test even actual emissions are within acceptable levels. Eliminating these unnecessary test due to lack of numbers in this area would give car owners piece of mind to know their automobile would not be subject to scrapage. 

COVID-19 has effected our lives in many ways. Sudden and unexpected loss of income for those who live paycheck to paycheck will cause serious risks for everyone. Housing security is needed for many people to carry out public health measures such as self isolation. Over the next several weeks,  governments will introduce billions of dollars in emergency measures to support “small” businesses in true terms meaning multi million dollar companies and corporations and Their workers - but we need to ensure it includes support for precarious workers, and the most vulnerable tenants, like the most renters in major cities who pay more than 50% of their income in rent. Due to the rapidly wide spread of Coronavirus and the obvious Economic Turmoil resulting in many individuals &/or families loosing their jobs &/or businesses, it is only inhuman for people having to face eviction or worry about keeping a roof over their heads. The government has a role to play in helping to protect all and to implement a temporary ban on all Evictions, Freeze for all bills and payment such as but not limited to Apartment Rent, All Mortgage Related Payments such as Mortgage Payments-Mortgage Insurance Payments-Property Insurance Payments-Property Taxes, Utilities such as Water-Electricity-Gas Bill Payments, All Automobile related bills such as Car Payments and Auto Insurance Coverage Payments, Health Insurance Coverage Payments, Internet and TV/Cable/Satellite Service Bill Payments, Credit Card Payments, Mobile/Cell Phone Bill Payments, etc. until the World Health Organization declares the COVID 19  pandemic has ended. Help yourself, your families, your community, your friends, your neighbors, your colleagues & coworkers by signing this petition. Spread the word as fast and strong as corona is spreading itself. Let us together raise our voices loud and clear and demand from our law makers to protect us in this difficult times.