Fw: The Thanksgiving Grinch; Babies Born Deformed; 22 Year Deportation

[Guest guest]



The Thanksgiving Grinch; Babies Born Deformed; 22 Year Deportation

November 15 - November 21

TOP ACTIONS THIS WEEK

Fight Hunger in America This Holiday Season

by Feeding America

Sign the Petition »

Locked Up for Spending 22 Years in the U.S. - Bring Fredd Reyes Home for Thanksgiving

by Prerna Lal

Sign the Petition »

Tell the Apple iTunes Store to remove anti-gay, anti-choice iPhone application

by

Sign the Petition »

THIS WEEK on CHANGE.ORG

The Thanksgiving Grinch

Plus: Babies Born Deformed • 22 Year Deportation • Fast Food Health • Justice for Sara Kruzan • Delaying Homeless Assistance

Dear Joyce,

For many of us, it's a Thanksgiving tradition to drop a few coins in the Salvation Army's red kettle outside our local grocery.

It's quick, easy, and has real impact - last year, more than $139 million was raised by red kettles to provide services ranging from hot meals to warm beds for homeless and impoverished Americans.

This year the need is greater than ever, with more than 44 million Americans on food stamps. But because of the objection of a large grocery store chain, the residents of poverty-stricken Washington, D.C. are at risk of going without essential holiday services.

Giant Food, a major supermarket chain in Washington D.C. and several surrounding states, just issued new regulations severely limiting red kettle fundraisers. Why? "In order to best serve our customers, and not hinder their shopping experience," a Giant Food representative said in a statement.

Donating to the needy might not be at the top of everyone's shopping list, but that's why physical reminders of the importance of giving are needed. Caught up in the commotion of our own lives, we can all use help overcoming the distractions and indifference that prevents us from helping to alleviate suffering in our communities.

Want to prevent Giant Food from playing the Grinch this Thanksgiving? Tell Giant to get in the holiday spirit and remove their restrictions on red kettle fundraising now.

You can also join thousands of Change.org members and pledge to do your part to fight hunger in your own community this holiday season. In giving thanks this week for what we have, let's not forget to also extend a hand to those in need.

For more news and opportunities for action from the world of change this week, see the summaries from your favorite causes below.

Babies Born Deformed in ENVIRONMENT

Like too many low-income minority towns, California's Kettleman City suffers environmental health problems of the worst kind. But lately the figures have become startling: Though the city has fewer than 65 births a year, 11 babies have been born with severe birth defects in only the last three years. It doesn't take a statistician to know that's bad. Residents have had enough and are protesting against Waste Management, Inc., which operates the largest hazardous waste dump west of the Mississippi in their town and, in the face of these health problems, still plans to double its size. Read more »

22 Year Deportation in IMMIGRANT RIGHTS

Fredd Reyes' family fled death threats and persecution in Guatemala 22 years ago, never looking back. Now, the 24-year-old community college student is locked up in the infamously inhumane Detention Center, facing deportation to a strange country. It's hard to watch Fredd, who wants to be a professional performer, singing "Stand By Me" in a YouTube video without wondering at the injustice of the immigration system. Won't you stand by Fredd and help bring him home to his family for Thanksgiving? Read more »

Fast Food Health in SUSTAINABLE FOOD

The UK's Department of Health is updating its strategies to combat obesity, alcohol, and diet-related illnesses. It sounds like a noble goal-until you hear that junk food producers like Mcs, KFC, and PepsiCo are playing a crucial role in advising the department on nutrition policies. It's a plan that puts foxes in charge of guarding the hen house-with consumers playing the role of vulnerable birds. Read more »

Justice for Sara Kruzan in END HUMAN TRAFFICKING

Lloyd, a leader in the anti-trafficking movement and a former human trafficking survivor herself, understands what imprisoned child trafficking survivor Sara Kruzan went through before she shot and killed the man who pimped and enslaved her. Sixteen years ago, considering shooting her own pimp, and was prevented from doing so after being unable to get quick access to a gun. Now, she's calling for real justice for Sara, in the form of clemency with time served from Governor Schwarzenegger. Read more »

Delaying Homeless Assistance in ANIMALS

When they say everything is bigger in Texas, you would hope that would also mean a larger sense of compassion. But when it comes to dealing with homelessness, that's not always the case. The City Council of Lubbock, Texas, has once again stalled on promised plans to establish a homeless committee to address the needs of the city's homeless population at a time when outside temperatures have already begun to plummet. Read more »

Have a great week,– The Change.org Team

This email was sent by Change.org to bjoyful@...Unsubscribe from future weekly updates. Edit your email notification settings.