from: Network of Spiritual Progressives

The intent of the framers of this Amendment is to:

1. Protect the planet and its inhabitants from environmentally destructive economic arrangements and behavior, and to increase environmental responsibility on the part of all corporations and government bodies.
2. Increase U.S. citizens’ democratic control over American economic and political institutions and ensure that all people, regardless of income, have the same electoral clout and power to shape policies and programs.
3. Promote the well-being of citizens of the United States by recognizing that our well-being depends on the well-being of the planet and all its inhabitants, which in turn requires an end to poverty, wars, and violence, and the rise of a new global ethic of genuine caring and mutual interdependence.

Invite friends over to your home to watch the video with you and discuss the Environmental and Social Responsibility Amendment, ESRA, which you can find out more about by clicking here.

And if you really like it, ask your Congressperson to endorse House Res. 156 which endorses the Environmental and Social Responsibility Amendment, ESRA. get your City Council to endorse it, state legislators, local pollitical party, civic organizaitons, etc.

Let us know, please, if you'd like to be involved in building this campaign! You are probably as fed up as we are with the way corporations and the super-rich seem to have control over most elections and hence are getting a free pass to continue to exploit and hurt the planet, prevent meaningful reform, and undermine the needed care for the most vulnerable people in our society. The change we need will only come when we can reduce their power--and this is the way to do it.

Want to be involved in this campaign? (e.g. meet with elected representatives, write emails and letters to them or to community organizations seeking their endorsement, approach media people, organize house meetings, outreach on the web, other ideas...etc. Send to miriam@tikkun.org

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email: info@spiritualprogressives.org

Copyright © 2010 Network of Spiritual Progressives®.

Over 50 major peace and justice groups are organizing a gathering in Washington DC to protest against the Israeli lobby in shaping U.S. foreign policy.

Women for Peace (Code Pink), Global Exchange and the U.S. Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation together with over 50 peace and justice groups, are organizing a gathering in Washington DC from May 21-24, 2011, called "Move Over AIPAC: Building a New U.S. Middle East Policy." moveoveraipac.org

HIGHLIGHTS

Timed to coincide with the annual policy meeting of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), they intend to bring activists and concerned citizens from around the country to learn about the extraordinary influence AIPAC has on U.S. policy and how to strengthen an alternative that respects the rights of all people in the region. Codepink.org

As the world observes historic people's uprisings across the Arab world, the Israeli government and The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), its lobbying arm in the United States, are increasingly worried. Early in March, Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak announced Israel may ask for an additional $20 billion in military aid-over and above the $3 billion a year Israel already receives-in order to "prepare for possible threats." democracyinaction.org

AIPAC's unconditional support for Israel's illegal policies-separation walls, settlements, the siege of Gaza-has been devastating for Palestinians and the rest of the Middle East. moveoveraipac.org

A total of over 90 peace and justice groups, change makers and activists have endorsed the event to date.

FACTS & FIGURES

AIPAC Policy Conference is held annually in Washington DC. aipac.org

On Monday, March 22, 2010, Code Pink staged a demonstration in front of the Washington, DC Convention Center protesting AIPAC. thepeoplesvoice.org

Israel receives about $3 billion from the U.S. in direct foreign assistance each year, which is roughly one-fifth of America's foreign aid budget. ifamericansknew.org

Late May 2011 will be the one year anniversary since the Gaza Flotilla and the IDF assault on the Mavi Marmara. moveoveraipac.org

http://www.presstv.ir/usdetail/172608.html

For Further Information- Jeff Paterson, Kevin Zeese - Bradley Manning Support Network press@bradleymanning.org 1-202-640-4388

Mistreatment of Manning Criticized by Leading Law Professors & UN Torture Investigator - Hundreds of Thousands Write Obama Urging End to Manning Abuse - Retired Colonel: “Obama Could End Torture of Manning With One Phone Call”

Washington, DC: The eight months of solitary confinement of Bradley Manning at Quantico has drawn national and international criticism in the last week. Support is growing for him around the world with 500,000 writing President Obama in the last few days and with hundreds of top U.S. legal scholars criticizing his conditions of confinement.

Lawyers representing every leading law school in the United States have written an open letter to President Obama criticizing the conditions of Manning. Among the law professors is Lawrence Tribe who was President Obama’s law professor at Harvard and served in his administration until recently. The letter, Private Manning’s Humiliation, raises questions about President Obama saying: “President Obama was once a professor of constitutional law, and entered the national stage as an eloquent moral leader. The question now, however, is whether his conduct as commander in chief meets fundamental standards of decency.”

Col. Ann Wright (ret) who served 29 years in the military noted that “President Obama could end the treatment of Manning with one phone call. As Commander-In-Chief he is responsible for the actions of the Marines at Quantico. Certainly he understands the constitutional right to be convicted before punished and that the condition of Manning violates protection from cruel and unusual punishment.”

The UN Rapporteur on Torture Juan Mendez reprimanded the United States for blocking an official visit with Manning to investigate his treatment. The UN torture investigator has been reviewing Manning’s case since December but the United States will not allow a private meeting with no tape recording. The military has also refused a U.S. Congressman’s request for an official visit to Manning, Rep. Dennis Kucinich, as well as a visit from Amnesty International.

Daniel Ellsberg, a veteran who graduated from Quantico and is noted for leaking the Pentagon Papers commented: “It seems likely that the Pentagon's refusal to allow Amnesty International and the UN Rapporteur on Torture to hold unmonitored discussion with Bradley Manning (as the UN mandate demands) reflects well-founded fear that such experts on abusive conditions and torture could conclude that Manning's treatment is not only ‘ridiculous, counterproductive and stupid’ -- as State Department spokesperson P.J. Crowley was forced to resign for saying-- but criminal.”

This comes at a time when the U.S. and China are challenging each other on human rights. China issued a lengthy report regarding human rights violations in the United States this week. As PJ Crowley, former Assistant Secretary of State said when he resigned the Manning case would be an embarrassment to the U.S. internationally, highlighting “the broader, even strategic impact of discreet actions undertaken by national security agencies every day and their impact on our global standing and leadership. The exercise of power in today’s challenging times and relentless media environment must be prudent and consistent with our laws and values.”

Around the world there is growing anger at the treatment of Manning. Five hundred thousand people have sent letters to President Obama urging him to “immediately end the torture, isolation and public humiliation of Bradley Manning.” The petition was put out by Azaaz.org and is addressed to President Obama, Secretary of State Clinton and Secretary of Defense Gates.

“A half million people have taken a stand in support of Bradley Manning. It's certainly a challenge to President Obama to get on the right side of history here and finally put an end to the extreme and illegal pre-trial punishment,” said Jeff Paterson, a veteran speaking on behalf of the Bradley Manning Support Network. “After he ends the mistreatment of Manning, he could then ensure that Bradley receives the fair and public trial that is guaranteed under the Constitution.”

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Call the White House and tell President Obama end the torture of Bradley Manning: Comments: 202-456-1111. Switchboard: 202-456-1414