2020 Action

Don't Withhold Payment to WHO When It's Most Needed

May 2020 - With projected eventual infection rates of 25% or 50%, and 81% in the absence of mitigation, this Covid-19 virus could be a catastrophe of the first order. Daily, we hear of anguished choices made in hospitals. We hear of financial disaster faced by suddenly unemployed workers, and of our faltering economy.

But ..... We must expect a much deeper disaster to develop in the densely populated cities and the desperately poor villages of the third world. Many millions have no clean water, let alone soap or sanitizer or masks or tests. Crowded into one room, people cannot keep social distance. The WHO (World Health Organization) has played a leading role in eliminating smallpox, almost eliminating polio, and developing an Ebola vaccine. WHO is the world's leader in this life-or-death struggle against this virus, yet Pres.Trump chose this moment to withhold payment of our obligation to it. This is beyond shameful: With no prospect of vaccines for 12—18 months, this could develop into a catastrophe comparable to World War I and II.

Pres. Trump has used the Defense Production Act to order US corporations to produce these supplies needed in the US. This order must be increased so we can also send supplies abroad, unless we are content to watch, with our hands folded, as many millions in the third world die preventable deaths.

TAKE ACTION: We desperately need the WHO. Urge your Representative and Senators to enforce Congress's decision to make this payment. And urge them to pass a law that calls forth America's humanitarian instincts to massively produce these basic, inexpensive supplies, that could literally save tens of millions of lives when shared around the world.

CONTACT: Your Representative & Senators in Congress

• Web: Find their names and links to their websites at senate.gov, www.house.gov; send an email or leave a message via ‘Contact’ on his/her website
• Tel: 202 224-3121 (Capitol switchboard-ask for his/her office & leave a message)
• Mail: Senator or Representative (first & last name) U.S. Senate, Washington, D.C. 20510
or
  S. House of Representatives, Washington, D.C. 20515

Multiply this Message: Write a letter to the editor about this important & timely issue. This is a powerful way to educate and mobilize others.

Come to the Anti-Nuclear Weapons Rally in NYC, Sunday, April 26th

March - Here's why. When Pres. Reagan took office in 1981, he frightened many Americans with his warlike stance and his nuclear buildup. The very next year, there were one million people rallying in NYC's Central Park to demonstrate against his nuclear weapons policies, probably America's largest rally ever. Partly in response to this rally, he and Pres. Gorbachev signed the Intermediate Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty which removed all intermediate range nukes from Central Europe, and significantly defused the threats of the Cold War.

We are again at such a crossroads. Pres. Trump is blowing up all barriers to a new nuclear arms race. He canceled the INF, he canceled the nuclear deal with Iran, he plans to let the New START treaty run out on Feb. 5, 2021. This treaty is crucial, because it caps deployed nuclear weapons and it allows intrusive inspections which reduce nuclear instability and risk. Instead, our country has embarked on a huge 30-year "Nuclear Modernization" program, projected to cost up to $2 trillion!!! Russia is now following suit.

We must act to prevent this tightening of the nuclear noose. Come to NYC, and call for: 1.)  Congress to pass the ‘No First Use law’ that will keep the US from starting a nuclear war; 2.) the US to renew the New START treaty—all it takes is for Putin and Trump to sign, and Putin has called for it; and 3.) the US to  start negotiations to eliminate nuclear weapons worldwide, as we solemnly committed to do in the Non-Proliferation Treaty, the NPT. 

The April 26th rally follows the ‘World Conference 2020’ about nuclear weapons, and is just before the NPT Review Conference that begins at the UN on April 27th. It's the 50-year anniversary of the NPT, and 75-years since the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. So please come to NYC for the rally, and the conference if you wish. If you can’t make it to NYC, attend related events in your area.

National and international sponsors are at worldconference2020.org. Time and place to be posted soon.

TAKE ACTION: Make your plans now to attend and forward this email to your friends & contacts.

CONTACT: Write a letter to the editors of your local, regional or state newspapers to let more people know about this event.

Nuclear Weapons: Armageddon Overlooked?

October 2019 - President Trump is recklessly dismantling the world's defenses against nuclear war: 

1. He withdrew from the Iran nuclear deal which Iran had complied with faithfully. But now Iran has resumed enriching uranium. 
2. On August 2, 2019, Pres. Trump's withdrawal from the INF (Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces) Treaty (agreed upon by Presidents Reagan and Gorbachev) took effect. Pres. Putin is following suit. Together Trump and Putin are trashing the treaty that led to the end of the Cold War! Both countries are now building weapons prohibited by the treaty.
3. Trump has said he will let lapse the New START Treaty which caps the number of long-range US and Russian nuclear weapons, which make up 90% of the world's long-range nuclear arsenal.
4. At an estimated $496 BILLION nuclear weapons budget over 10 years, the US is leading the way in military spending; preparing to fight an actual nuclear war—not merely deterring a war.

While Pres. Trump recklessly ratchets up the nuclear dangers, the American people living in their cities and towns are objecting loudly through the voices of their mayors. On July 1, 2019, the US Conference of Mayors, UNANIMOUSLY—DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS—voted to call on all presidential candidates to make known their positions on nuclear weapons, and to pledge, if elected, to initiate negotiations to eliminate nuclear weapons worldwide. 

TAKE ACTION: Contact as many presidential candidates as you can with a short urgent message and questions:

1. We don't want to die in a nuclear war. It's getting scarier.
   Ask each one, his or her position on nuclear weapons.
2. Do you pledge, if elected, to start negotiations to eliminate nuclear weapons worldwide?

Multiply this Message: Write a letter to the editor about this important & timely issue. This is a powerful way to educate and mobilize others.

End U.S. Unconstitutional Participation in Saudi War on Yemen

August 2019 - The Saudi war on Yemen has resulted in unprecedented starvation and death.  U.S. participation in this war is unconstitutional, unauthorized under the War Powers Act of 1973, and immoral. The House and the Senate have both separately passed the Yemen War Powers Resolution, SJRes7, authored by Rep. Ro Khanna, which requires an end to the unauthorized involvement of the U.S. military in this war. This language was also included in the House version of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).

When the House-Senate Conference Committee meets in September to agree on the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), Speaker Pelosi has another chance to end our participation in this war. She must ensure that the provisions of the Yemen War Powers Resolution are included in the NDAA.

Congress is now in recess for six weeks. This gives time to put pressure on our Representatives to press the message of her opportunity and responsibility on Speaker Pelosi.  

TAKE ACTION

Contact your Representative in Congress. Ask him or her to urge House Speaker Pelosi to appoint Representative Ro Khanna to the NDAA Conference Committee. This will help ensure that the Committee includes the language about Yemen that is in the House version of the Act in the final agreed upon NDAA. If this bill becomes law, it will end all U.S. support for Saudi Arabia’s devastating war on the population of Yemen.

CONTACT: Your Representative in Congress

• Web: Go to: house.gov; send an email or leave a message via ‘Contact’
• Tel: 202 224-3121 (Capitol switchboard-ask for his/her office & leave a message)
• Mail: (first & last name), U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, D.C. 20515

Multiply this Message: Write a letter to the editor about this important & timely issue. This is a powerful way to educate and mobilize others.

Act Now to Prevent War with Iran

June 2019 - Chances of war have risen sharply in the Persian Gulf. John Bolton, the national security advisor, has for decades been intent on finding paths to regime change in Iran, and now joined by Sec. of State Pompeo, he has hardened his talk. President Trump is sitting on the fence: he wants US troops out of Syria and Afghanistan, and denied that there is a plan to send in 120,000 troops for war with Iran, but added that if there is a war, we'd "send in a hell of a lot more than that."

The US alleged that 4 tankers were attacked by Iran or its proxies, but gave no evidence. US accusations that Iran had stepped up its provocations were contradicted by the top regional British commander. But were used as license for us to send in an aircraft carrier group and
B-52 heavy bombers. Iran installed missiles on some of its speed boats. The region is a proverbial tinderbox: a slight misunderstanding could set off a ladder of escalation. We need to remember that Iran can shut the Gulf of Hormuz, through which flows 40% of the world's oil.

TAKE ACTION

War with Iran would be catastrophic. Urge your Representative to co-sponsor H.J.Res.58 and H.R.2354, and your Senator to co-sponsor S.1039, each of which reinforces the Constitutional requirement that the US can't go to war without approval by Congress. Urge them also to have hearings on Iran, and to speak out against war with Iran in media opportunities.

CONTACT: Your Representative & Senators in Congress

• Web: Find their names and links to their websites at senate.gov, www.house.gov; send an email or leave a message via ‘Contact’ on his/her website
• Tel: 202 224-3121 (Capitol switchboard-ask for his/her office & leave a message)
• Mail: Senator or Representative (first & last name) U.S. Senate, Washington, D.C. 20510
  or U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, D.C. 20515

Multiply this Message: Write a letter to the editor about this important & timely issue. This is a powerful way to educate and mobilize others.

Save Mercury Pollution Standards

February 2019 - The Trump administration’s proposed reversal of the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS) is a disgraceful attack on safeguards put in place to keep children and families safe from the dangers of mercury and other hazardous pollutants in our air, water and food. Andrew Wheeler, current Administrator of the EPA, recently stated that the control of mercury is not “appropriate or necessary.”

Health impacts of U.S. mercury emissions are large and disproportionately affect children and other vulnerable populations. The science is clear: mercury emission standards in place since 2011 have markedly reduced mercury in the environment and improved public health. Recent research has indicated that the benefits of these standards are greater than anticipated—and the costs of implementing the regulations are lower than expected.

The administration must be held accountable for its shameless assault on children and families through their proposed rollback of the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards.

ACTION: Contact your Senators and Representative. Encourage them to push back against all efforts of the administration to cripple current protections for Americans from mercury, arsenic, lead and other dangerous chemicals currently limited by MATS.

CONTACT: Your Senators and Representative

• Web: Find their names and links to their websites at senate.gov, www.house.gov; send an email or leave a message via ‘Contact’ on his/her website
• Tel: 202 224-3121 (Capitol switchboard-ask for his/her office & leave a message)
• Mail: Senator or Representative (first & last name) S. Senate, Washington, D.C. 20510
  or U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, D.C. 20515

Multiply this Message: Use this information to write a letter to the editor about this important & timely issue. This is a powerful way to educate and mobilize others—our job now & in the coming years!

A NEW NUCLEAR ARMS RACE THREATENS!

January 2019 - The Intermediate Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty of 1987 between the US and Russia eliminates all ground-launched mid-range nuclear weapons. This contributed greatly to the end of the Cold War. In recent years, each party has charged the other with some noncompliance of the treaty, which the other denies. Recently, Pres. Putin has called for dialogue and possible renegotiation and extension to include other nations, while on Dec. 4, the US gave Russia a 60-day ultimatum to come into compliance or the US would start the six-month withdrawal process. Meanwhile, the US has been exploring design options for building non-treaty-compliant weapons in the event of leaving the treaty. Russia has threatened to respond in kind, which would start a new destabilizing arms race—this time at the mid-range level—likely drawing in other Asian nuclear states.

Sen. Merkley (D-OR) has sponsored a bill, S.3667, the Prevention of Arms Race Act of 2018. It prohibits US spending to procure or deploy short- or mid-range ground-launched nuclear systems, unless the Sec. of Defense, in consultation with the Sec. of State and the Director of National Intelligence, issues a report that 1) certifies that dialogue has been tried and failed, 2) contains an assessment of need, of alternatives, and of likely ramifications of the collapse of the treaty, and 3) includes a commitment from at least one other nation to deploy these arms on its own soil.

ACTION: Urge your Senators to support and speak out loudly on behalf of S.3667. Also, urge your Representative to introduce the same legislation in the new House. A withdrawal from the INF, and possibly from the New START Treaty, could spell the end of nuclear arms control, possibly forever.

CONTACT: Your Senators and Representative

• Web: Find their names and links to their websites at senate.gov, www.house.gov; send an email or leave a message via ‘Contact’ on his/her website
• Tel: 202 224-3121 (Capitol switchboard-ask for his/her office & leave a message)
• Mail: Senator or Representative (first & last name) S. Senate, Washington, D.C. 20510
  or U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, D.C. 20515

Multiply this Message: Use this information to write a letter to the editor about this important & timely issue. This is a powerful way to educate and mobilize others—our job now & in the coming years!

2018 2020 Action Report & Request

Dear member and friend of 2020 Action,

You and I live in volatile and dangerous times.

Nuclear weapons and climate change remain the biggest threats to our country and the world—
and these fundamental issues will remain the focus of 2020 Action.

I am so grateful that you have been a part of 2020. Your actions, combined with those of other members, have led to 32 years of having a positive influence on hundreds of important policies. Our 2018 Action Report shows some of the many achievements you have helped to bring about.

Together we strengthen each other by amplifying our voices. We are redoubling our efforts, being creative, strategic, and finding the places where we can affect positive change.

Everything we love about life, our country, our democracy, and our environment is in danger right now. And to ‘disengage’ in frustration would be tragic.

I need your help now so that 2020 Action can engage even more people in effective action. More than ever, our democracy depends on well-informed engaged citizens. Donate now at 2020Action.org.

This is the time of year when many people make their most significant donations to organizations they trust, in support of causes they believe in deeply. I hope 2020, with its 32 years of persistence and success, is on your list and that you’ll send a special donation.

We need your help now so that working together we can flex the muscle of citizen participation that is vital to our democracy. With your help we will inform more Americans and engage them in taking effective action on these critical issues. Much is at stake, so I hope you will be generous. Click to here to donate on our website: 2020Action.org, or send a donation to 2020 Action, PO Box 63, Amherst, MA 01004.

With gratitude for your caring and generosity, and best wishes for the New Year,

Lois Barber,

Founder and Executive Director

 

P.S.  Jo Comerford, a long-time 2020 member, was recently elected to the Massachusetts State Senate!  Jo writes, “2020 was a first step for me into my life of social engagement — waking up to the world — and I will be forever grateful.” Read more of Jo’s story below. Your donation today will help us reach out and engage more young people like Jo. Donate now at 2020Action.org

“2020 was a first step for me…”
A Story from Jo Comerford, State Senator Elect, Massachusetts

“My dad was a high school history teacher. He and my mom were very active -- from marches on Washington to participation on school committees, to work in the environmental movement, and as advocates for public education funding. I watched, but wasn’t really involved.

When I graduated from college, dad bought me a membership in 2020 Vision (now 2020 Action). And I remember him saying that it would be the doorway for me to find my own activism, my own purpose, my own sense of agency.

When the first postcard came in the mail, I remember reading the background piece and thinking to myself that I needed to know more. I remember how excited I was when I wrote my first letter based on the action postcard and put it in the mail. Later that week, I picked up and read The New York Times much more in-depth than I had done before. Later that year, I began volunteering at a shelter for women who were without homes. 2020 was a first step for me into my own life of social engagement -- into my own waking up to the world -- and I will be forever grateful.”

In November 2018, Jo was elected to be State Senator in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. She will be sworn in in January.

Please make a generous donation to 2020 Action today so that we can reach out and engage more young people and help them take a “First Step in their own life of social engagement and waking up to the world.”

 

And congratulations to EarthAction, 2020’s sister organization, whose Spotlight Project won the “2018 Best Climate Solutions” international award for “Communicating Climate Change Threats and Opportunities.” I'm very proud and very grateful for your help to make this possible. This is one more example of what we're doing together for democracy, peace, and the environment.

 

Please send your donation today to the address below, or click here to donate online.

Get America Out of the War in Yemen

December 2018 - The war in Yemen is causing the world's worst catastrophe, having killed tens of thousands of civilians, and threatening famine to 8 million people, half of them children. The Saudi coalition, supported militarily by the US, is carrying out widespread bombing, including hitting hospitals, schools, and civilian areas. This war boiled up in 2015, when the Saudi coalition began the bombing against the insurgent Yemeni Houthis, who apparently received some missiles from Iran that they shot at Saudi Arabia, with little results. Saudi Arabia has now largely closed the harbor of Hudaydah, shutting off the main supply of food and medicine to Yemen.

America has stationed US troops in Saudi Arabia to help with intelligence and bomb targeting and we assist in refueling Saudi bombers. US support for this human catastrophe must stop. A bill in the Senate, S. J. Res 54, calls for the removal of US troops from Saudi Arabia, which would end US targeting assistance, and US airborne refueling. A similar bill in the House was recently voted down by only 18 votes. It will likely come back to the House in 2019. Just as the House bill was coming to the floor, the Administration announced an "intention to halt" the refueling. However, Pres. Trump has not ordered a halt to US arms sales to Saudi Arabia because, he said, the sales are so lucrative.

ACTION: Please do this action immediately as the vote may be at the beginning of December. Urge your Senators, ASAP, to support this bill to help end this horrific human tragedy. We cannot sit by while the US supports action that results in famine for 8 million people, mostly children!

CONTACT: Your Senators

• Web: Find their names and links to their websites at senate.gov, send an email or leave a message via ‘Contact’ on his/her website
• Tel: 202 224-3121 (Capitol switchboard-ask for his/her office & leave a message)
• Mail: Senator (first & last name) S. Senate, Washington, D.C. 20510

Multiply this Message: Use this information to write a letter to the editor about this important & timely issue. This is a powerful way to educate and mobilize others—our job now & in the coming years!

Stop Hurting Innocents as a Policy Tool

June 2018 - Killing and hurting innocent people as a means of achieving political ends is the very essence of terrorism, wherever it occurs. In recent weeks, Israeli forces have killed an estimated 100+ Palestinians at its border fence, supposedly to protect the soldiers and Israel, while not a single Israeli was wounded or killed. Less well known is the abhorrent treatment of Palestinian children in Israeli military prisons. This includes beatings and illegal restrictions on communication with their families that contravene human rights and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. House bill HR 4391 has been introduced in the US Congress to mandate that the US not be complicit in these inhumane Israeli acts. It would require subtracting all funds that enable these illegal actions from what the US would otherwise contribute in aid to Israel. 

We also need to change our US treatment of innocent children and abolish the horrific US policy of separating children from their mothers or fathers as they seek asylum in the US. In a case currently in court, a 7-year old girl was taken away screaming after her mother "surrendered to immigration agents and asked for asylum." (NPR 2/27/2018) Immigration lawyers report this policy is effective: Mothers drop their claims for asylum, in order to retrieve their children. 

ACTION: Urge your Representative to co-sponsor and support HR 4391, to separate the US from complicity in the inhumane, illegal treatment of children in Israeli military prisons. In addition, urge him or her to file and support a bill to end the horrific US policy of forcefully taking children from their parents at the border. These are not our values.

CONTACT: Your Representative in Congress

• Web: Find his or her name and link to their websites at house.gov; send an email or leave a message via ‘Contact’ on his/her website
• Tel: 202 224-3121 (Capitol switchboard-ask for his/her office & leave a message)
• Mail: Representative (first & last name) S. House of Representatives, Washington, D.C. 20515

Multiply this Message: Use this information to write a letter to the editor about this important & timely issue. This is a powerful way to educate and mobilize others.