Act Now!

Toward Copenhagen

By Peter Rothberg

This post, which will appear in condensed form in this week's issue of The Nation, was co-written and researched by Andrea D'Cruz

As we approach the Copenhagen UN Climate Change Conference, December 7 to 18--the world's last chance to secure an emissions reductions agreement that will replace the Kyoto Protocol before it expires--activists racing against a ticking environmental bomb are channeling their energies at the UN talks and beyond. Join them.

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November 18, 2009

Palestine in Queens

By Peter Rothberg

Controversy is growing over a November 21st fundraiser at the New York Mets' new stadium Citi Field for the Brooklyn-based Israeli settlement group the Hebron Fund. Settlement supporters have called for letters praising the Mets for standing with the Hebron Fund, while justice and human rights groups issued an alert demanding cancellation of the dinner.

This video from Adalah-NY, opposing the dinner, shows why the protests are growing so feverish.

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November 13, 2009

Turn Back the Assault on Women's Rights

By Peter Rothberg

The House of Representatives voted yesterday to pass its health care reform bill (HR 3962) only after approving an amendment introduced by Rep. Bart Stupak that would prohibit any plan purchased with any federal subsidy from covering abortion services--even with private funds.

Stupak argues that women with subsidized insurance policies could buy separate abortion-only "riders" with their own money much like they might purchase a dental or vision rider. The problem here, as my colleague Emily Douglas points out, is that "such an abortion rider doesn't exist now, and the legislation does not provide for its creation."

Moreover, even if new legislation is written, the result would be the essential equivalent of a ban on abortion coverage because most women are unlikely to buy additional coverage for something they don't expect to ever need. In other words, women would have to plan in advance in the event they need an abortion despite the fact that abortion is a legal medical procedure for women concerned with unplanned pregnancies.

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November 10, 2009

The Wall Comes Down

By Peter Rothberg

The Moment the Barriers Came Down.

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November 9, 2009

Equality Across America

By Peter Rothberg

This post was written by Nation intern and freelance writer Daniel Chandler.

Over the weekend of October 10/11, more than 200,000 people took part in the National Equality March in Washington, and thousands participated in strategy and activist events, in a bold attempt to kick-start a movement for full civil equality for LGBT people in all 50 states.

As the march's organizers, a coalition of activists called Equality Across America, kept reminding marchers, the weekend was just the beginning of a movement that they hope will transform the strategy for securing LGBT rights, shifting the focus to the federal level, and refusing to accept ‘fractions of equality'. They called on the crowds assembled in front of the Capitol to go home and create Congressional District Action Teams (CDATs) in all 435 districts.

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November 5, 2009

The Most Terrifying Video You'll Ever See

By Peter Rothberg

Thanks to Nation reader Sarah Emily Labance for introducing me to this brilliant and frightening video. It's the best argument I've seen yet for taking immediate action on climate change. The logic would seem undeniable even for the denialists.

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November 2, 2009