Date: Fri, 24 Apr 2009 11:43:09 -0700
Subject: Fight sexual violence against Native Women
From: "Amnesty International USA" alerts@takeaction.amnestyusa.org


 
This week, after powerful testimony on sexual violence against Native Women, we finally have Congress' attention and a small window to make an impact while the legislation is being drafted.
Help close the gap on law enforcement and health care for Native women.


Dear --,

Two days ago, Sarah Deer, lawyer and Native woman activist, delivered powerful testimony before Congress exposing serious gaps in law enforcement and health care for Native women. Native American and Alaska Native victims of sexual assault and rape have to navigate a complex maze of federal, state, tribal and local law and frequently perpetrators are not brought to justice.

While we have their attention, let Congress know that you care about justice for Native Women. Send a message that you want to close the gap in law enforcement and health care for Native women victims of sexual violence:
http://takeaction.amnestyusa.org/siteapps/advocacy/ActionItem.aspx?c=jhKPIXPCIoE&b=2590179&aid=12188&ICID=S0904A01&tr=y&auid=478674 .

The Appropriations Subcommittee on the Interior is drafting legislation right now that will determine the level of federal funding for law enforcement and health care in Native American and Alaska Native communities. If the committee fails to include additional funds in this bill for protecting Native women against sexual assault, yet another year will pass where survivors of rape are unable to receive proper medical attention, such as obtaining sexual assault forensic examinations.

Tell the committee leadership to increase funding for the Indian Health Service and help enable Native Women sexual assault survivors to receive adequate medical treatment:
http://takeaction.amnestyusa.org/siteapps/advocacy/ActionItem.aspx?c=jhKPIXPCIoE&b=2590179&aid=12188&ICID=S0904A01&tr=y&auid=4786747 .

Sarah Deer's testimony before the committee was a truly historic moment in this long battle for the rights of Native American and Alaska Native women. We are asking the Subcommittee to increase federal funding for programs to help combat sexual violence against Native American and Alaska Native women as well as to include specific language directing health care providers and law enforcement officials to document the number of sexual assault cases that occur, who the perpetrators are, and where the assaults take place. If we can convince them to include this important language now, there is a good chance it will become a part of the final bill.

In our report, Maze of Injustice, we uncovered that Native American and Alaska Native women are more than 2.5 times more likely to be sexually assaulted or raped than women in general in the US and that one in three will be raped in their lifetime. Astonishingly enough, experts believe these numbers to be an underestimate because sexual violence against Native women frequently goes undocumented.

Help us stop this epidemic of sexual violence against American Indian and Alaska Native women.

Thanks for your support,

Meredith Larson
Director, Stop Violence Against Women Campaign
Amnesty International USA

____
© Copyright 2009 Amnesty International USA 5 Penn Plaza New York, NY 10001 212.807.8400


+=+=+=+
[In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. section 107, this material is distributed without profit or payment to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving this information for non-profit research and educational purposes only.]

Date: Fri, 24 Apr 2009 17:29:20 -0400 (EDT)
From: "Beth Kemler, Oceana" wavemaker@oceana.org
Subject: Help keep mercury pollution out of our oceans

 

Dear --,

Yesterday, the Mercury Pollution Reduction Act of 2009 was introduced in the House of Representatives and we need your help to get it passed. HR 2065, which was originally introduced in the Senate in 2006 by then-Senator Obama, would stop the use and release of mercury at four outdated chlorine plants.

>> http://takeaction.oceana.org/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=25195

 


Even though 95 percent of US chlorine is made without the use of mercury, four outdated plants continue to use old technology and collectively release hundreds of pounds of mercury into our air and water every year.

When released to the environment, mercury ends up in our oceans, contaminating seafood. Humans and other creatures exposed to high levels of mercury in fish can experience health effects, such as delayed neurological development in children. Americans are being exposed to excessive levels of mercury in their seafood. Both the Food and Drug Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency have advised women of childbearing age and children not to eat certain types of fish due to high levels of mercury.

Emitting mercury isn't good for public health, the environment or a company's bottom line. Over 115 plants around the world have invested in mercury-free technology and have seen that modern technology is more energy efficient, eliminates environmental fines and other costs associated with using mercury and can allow companies to increase production.

Tell Congress to stop mercury pollution from chlorine plants:
http://takeaction.oceana.org/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=25195

For the oceans,
Beth Kemler
Seafood Campaign Organizer
Oceana

____
Oceana.org
Oceana 1350 Connecticut Ave. NW, 5th Floor, Washington, DC 20036   p: 877.7.OCEANA

+=+=+=+
[In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. section 107, this material is distributed without profit or payment to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving this information for non-profit research and educational purposes only.]