Let your reps know today you don’t want predatory payday lending in our state!
Category: Action Alert
TPP protest this Sunday
People want to know why I have such a skeptical attitude about Obama? Last night, he talked about all the wonderful trade agreements he’s signing that are creating jobs. Sure they are – for $1 an hour in other countries. This is the agreement that not only gives media corporations all the same intellectual property laws that were already beaten down in the SOPA fight, it also permits corporations to override environmental protection laws. No wonder they don’t want anyone to see a copy!
WHAT: More than forty labor, environmental, public health and community organizations will hold a rally outside the Lansdowne Resort on Sunday, September 9 demanding a public voice in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade negotiations taking place inside.
The secretive pact is poised to become the largest free trade agreement in U.S. history, and is expected to affect the economy, the environment and consumer safety in Virginia and beyond.
Protesters are demanding that U.S. negotiators tell the American public what they have proposed in our names.
WHO: Allison Chin, President, Sierra Club
Ron Collins, Chief of Staff, Communications Workers of America
Matthew Kavanagh, Director of U.S. Advocacy, HealthGAP
Erich Pica, President, Friends of the Earth US
Occupy Wall Street and many others
WHERE: Outside the Lansdowne Resort
44050 Woodridge Parkway
Lansdowne, VA 20176
WHEN: Sunday, September 9, 3pm
Important
US Congressional Representatives Ron Wyden and Darrell Issa insist that the American people have a right to know what the US is seeking in the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPP) with respect to
intellectual property rights (IPR). They have co-authored a letter to Ron Kirk [PDF], the head of the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) that is leading the US delegation in the TPP
negotiations, asking him to reveal what the USTR is seeking in the intellectual property chapter.
Specifically, they call attention to its provisions that will impact digital freedoms:
Disciplines related to IPR could impact how people gain access to the Internet and could constrain what people may say online or how they can collaborate and share content. It is imperative that the IPR
chapter of the proposed TPP agreement not inappropriately constrain online activity. Poorly-constructed IPR disciplines that erode Internet freedom could impede innovation, economic growth, and speech.
Given the Internet’s increasing role in facilitating American exports of digital goods and services, it is crucial that they do not tip the balance in IP enforcement in a way that will only further restrict
Internet freedoms and users’ digital rights. The letter concludes with their request that the USTR convey to the American people whether other obligations they are pursuing in the agreement will promote an
open and free Internet.
EFF welcomes this Congressional effort in fighting for a democratic and transparent process. The terms of international free trade agreements do not just impact the way in which businesses engage in
international commerce; these agreements actually shape many domestic policies. As EFF has reported in the past (check out our infographic), the TPP is a secretive, multi-national trade agreement that threatens to extend restrictive IP laws across the globe and rewrite international rules on IPR enforcement. TPP is a terrible model for trade agreement for the 21st century, and its main problems are two-fold:
(1) IP chapter: Leaked draft texts of the agreement show that the IP chapter would have extensive negative ramifications for users’ freedom of speech, right to privacy and due process, Internet liability, and hinder peoples’ abilities to innovate.
(2) Lack of transparency: The entire process has shut out multi-stakeholder participation and is shrouded in secrecy, which has raised concerns on its constitutionality.
Help us call on all Congress members to step-up and join this letter [PDF] to fight back against these backroom dealings to regulate the Internet!
Peasants watch party
On Thursday as Mitt Romney accepts the Republican party’s presidential nomination, local community members will gather at the Borough Pub in Bristol at 8:00pm for a “peasants” watch party in mock-celebration of what many are calling a “coronation.”
Former Congressman and MSNBC commentator Patrick Murphy will be making a guest appearance. A group of local RNC protesters who just returned from Tampa will also be in attendance and will share their experiences. Click here, here and here for clips of the PA 99% protesters in action.
WHAT: Romney Coronation Peasants Watch Party
WHO: PA Working Families
WHERE: The Borough Pub, 1800 Farragut Ave, Bristol, PA 19007
WHEN: Thursday, August 30, 8pm
Don’t forget to say goodbye to Mike Fitzpatrick
Community members will wish the “delegates” well and contribute items to a “gift basket from the 99%” meant to connect with Mitt Romney, a candidate who is often seen as out-of-touch with regular people. The gift basket will be filled with items that represent the struggles of local working families like empty pill bottles, tax returns and keys to foreclosed homes.
WHAT: RNC 99% Delegation Send-Off Event
WHEN: Friday, August 24, 5:00pm
WHERE: Levittown SEPTA Station, 801 Oxford Avenue (Bristol Pike & Levittown Parkway) Bristol
Volunteer!
Penn Action will be participating in virtual phone banks this Tuesday and Wednesday evening about PA new Photo ID law and there’s plenty of space for you to join in. Would you like to make calls to ensure that your PA neighbors know what they’ll need to be able to vote in November?
What’s a virtual phone bank?
You call from home using your phone and a computer that can hook up to the Internet. People you call do not see your phone number. Everything you need is available on your computer via the Internet. A short training will be provided before the calling starts and tech support will be available all evening to make the whole process as easy as possible.
If you are interested in making calls on either Tuesday or Wednesday, please RSVP at the following links by the end of the day on Monday. Sorry for the short notice!
Tuesday phone banking from home: Click here to RSVP
Wednesday phone banking from home: Click here to RSVP
Since July, Penn Action supporters have been working hard in Bucks County to reach out to citizens most likely to be at risk of lacking the government-issued photo ID they’ll need to vote in November. On Tuesday and Wednesday, we’ll be reaching out across the state to do the same. We’d love to have you join us in this important effort.
Waiting for the trickle down. Oh wait, that’s….
Oh dear. I guess this means Mike Fitzpatrick won’t get to relax and enjoy himself:
LEVITTOWN/TAMPA—Republican delegates and politicians won’t be the only Pennsylvanians descending on Tampa for the Republican National Convention. A group of unemployed and outsourced Bucks County residents will travel to the RNC, along with a delegation from western PA, to march in the streets, rally outside high-dollar fundraisers and call on elected leaders to make the economy work for everyone, not just the richest 1%.
A send-off event is scheduled for Friday, August 24 at 5pm at the Levittown SEPTA station. Community members will wish the “delegates” well and contribute items to a “gift basket from the 99%” meant to connect with Mitt Romney, a candidate who is often seen as out-of-touch with regular people. The gift basket will be filled with items that represent the struggles of local working families like empty pill bottles, tax returns and keys to foreclosed homes.
WHAT: RNC 99% Delegation Send-Off Event
WHEN: Friday, August 24, 5:00pm
WHERE: Levittown SEPTA Station, 801 Oxford Avenue (Bristol Pike & Levittown Parkway) Bristol
Please
I’m asking my Texas readers to take a look at this and sign this petition. Thanks!
Sept. 17 in NYC
ActBlue
Mudcat Saunders is working to take down a bunch of teabaggers, including Paul Ryan (which, for some reason, doesn’t interest the DCCC). Your Democratic party!
If you have a few bucks to spare, chip in.