Weekly Justice Highlights

Empowering Women: The Violence Against Women Act (S. 1925) is due for reauthorization. VAWA provides law enforcement, prosecutors and judges the necessary resources to hold offenders accountable. It also reinforces the safety in communities, supports victims in vital areas and provides critical funding for prevention and education. Urge Senators to co-sponsor and support the bill.

Nuclear Weapons: As Congress begins work on the federal budget for FY 2013, U.S. citizens are invited to call U.S. Representatives (1.202.224.3121, not free call), tell them you are their constituent and urge them to cosponsor H.R. 3974, the SANE Act, to cut wasteful nuclear weapons spending.

Care of Earth: Urge U.S. Senators to co-sponsor S. 741, the Renewable Energy Standard that provides incentives to American companies to develop technology for a clean renewable energy future.

Care of Earth: KY residents are invited to urge KY Governor Steve Beshear and House Speaker Greg Stumbo to protect KY environment and residents from dirty coal mining. 

As Sudanese civilians suffer from starvation and indiscriminate bombing attacks, al-Bashir continues on as Sudan's head of state, leaving war crimes in his wake and travelling the globe with impunity. Urge the United Nations to arrest al-Bashir and those Sudanese wanted by the International Criminal Court.

A Dutch ship transporting U.S. weapons and explosives had a destination until March 14, as Port Said, Egypt. Given the Egyptian government’s brutal repression of peaceful protesters in the last five months, tell Secretary of State Hillary Clinton that the U.S. should not be in the business of providing or funding the purchase of weapons that will be used to commit serious human rights violations.

Food labeling provides comprehensive standards to ensure all food is labeled consistently and easy for consumers to identify. Urge President Obama and U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk to appeal the World Trade Organization rule that dictates what individuals will know about the meat they buy.

Earth Hour 2012: On March 31, people around the world will turn off their lights from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. (your local time) to celebrate Earth Hour 2012. Earth Hour is intended to challenge participants to go “beyond the hour” and commit to further ongoing action to address climate change.

Louisville, KY: Join the iMatter youth March Rally and Concert on March 31 from noon to 6 p.m. from the Martin Luther King Jr. Park to Waterfront Park. More information is located here.

Louisville, KY: Want to help promote an alternative economy, consider timebanking.  Louisville Timebank is designed to strengthen community, serve people and give others a means to serve and establish relationships that meet needs of community members.