Call on President-Elect Obama to prioritize Gulf Coast recovery efforts

from Amnesty International USA:

Change has not yet come for the tens of thousands of people who remain displaced more than three years after Hurricane Katrina. But the new administration gives us a new opportunity in the Gulf Coast.

President-Elect Obama ran on a pledge "to partner with the people of the Gulf Coast to rebuild now, stronger than ever". It's up to us to support him in fulfilling that promise. Sign our petition and tell Obama's transition team to prioritize Gulf Coast recovery.

Every Katrina survivor has a human right to return home. But a lack of affordable housing remains a crucial obstacle to returning. Ongoing demolitions of public housing have made the problem even worse.

Join Amnesty International, the Equity and Inclusion Campaign, Oxfam and other national and Gulf Coast organizations: ask President-Elect Obama to follow through on his commitment to rebuild the Gulf Coast.

Thank you for standing with us,

Monika Gerhart
Gulf Coast Project Coordinator
Amnesty International USA
New Orleans

It's Time to Re-Power America!

Change is in the air.

After a long election season and months of headlines about our failing economy, I for one am ready for a big change.
from Environment Maryland:

As you know, we endorsed President-elect Barack Obama in his run for the White House because his environmental record indicated he could be the change we need to see on energy, global warming and so many other environmental issues.

In a speech to governors earlier this week, he called for more investment and support for clean energy solutions for America. He said:

"When I am President, any governor who's willing to promote clean energy will have a partner in the White House. Any company that's willing to invest in clean energy will have an ally in Washington."

Will you join with us to show President-elect Obama that we support his efforts to repower America?

http://www.environmentamerica.org/action/energy/obama-letter?id4=ES

Revoke Mormon Church's Tax-Exempt Privilege!

From http://lds501c3.wordpress.com/

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (also known as the “Mormon” or LDS Church) has gone too far in promoting the 2008 California Proposition 8, which would claims to amend the California state constitution to define marriage as one man and one woman in order to supersede a state supreme court opinion issued earlier this year. [Whether the proposition was a lawful amendment or a revision that cannot legally be made by a voter initiative remains an open question.]

Section 501(c)(3) of US Code Title 26, which governs tax-exempt organizations, reads (emphasis added):

(3) Corporations, and any community chest, fund, or foundation, organized and operated exclusively for religious, charitable, scientific, testing for public safety, literary, or educational purposes, or to foster national or international amateur sports competition (but only if no part of its activities involve the provision of athletic facilities or equipment), or for the prevention of cruelty to children or animals, no part of the net earnings of which inures to the benefit of any private shareholder or individual, no substantial part of the activities of which is carrying on propaganda, or otherwise attempting, to influence legislation (except as otherwise provided in subsection (h)), and which does not participate in, or intervene in (including the publishing or distributing of statements), any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for public office.

(The “otherwise provided” clause does not apply, as the LDS Church, being a church, is a disqualified entity as described in subsection (h).)

The LDS church, through inciting its members to donate time and means to support Proposition 8 (resulting in millions of dollars of cash contributions from its members and countless volunteer hours), and in-kind campaign contributions to a group that supports Proposition 8, has now made a substantial part of its activities attempting to influence legislation.

You can help! Send the IRS an official complaint about the LDS Church’s activities, either by email, fax or US Mail.

1. Prepare a copy of the Official LDS Prop. 8 Letter read in all LDS churches in California on 29 June 2008.


2. Prepare one or more other articles of your choice (you can use these links, or do your own research) showing the LDS Church’s substantial activities attempting to influence this legislation.


3. Prepare this Pre-Filled IRS Form 13909 and add your personal information, or fill out a Blank IRS Form 13909 from scratch with the information in the pre-filled form (these links and an alternative filled form are copied below in RESOURCES.)


4. Don’t forget to date your referral at the top and include your submitter information. If you are a member of the Church, you may wish to check the box marked “I am concerned that I might face retaliation or retribution if my identity is disclosed.”


5. Send it to the IRS, either by:
   * Email: Prepare your documents as PDF’s or web links, and send your complaint form with supporting documentation toeoclass@irs.gov.
   * Fax: fax your documents to (214) 413-5415
   * Mail: mail your documents to
   IRS EO Classification
   Mail Code 4910DAL
   1100 Commerce Street
   Dallas TX 75242-1198