What to Do This Week of March 5, 2017

by Mar 6, 2017Opinion, What To Do This Week0 comments

Action Checklist for Americans of Conscience

17 weeks down, just 87 weeks until mid-term elections. Deeeeeep breaths!

The intention of this weekly document is to make clear, hype-free suggestions for action backed by well-considered research. If an issue doesn’t affect you, consider whether you would support this issue on behalf of other Americans, then act accordingly. Although diligently prepared, contents are subject to human error. Please do your own research.

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Act on your beliefs and values

I believe I can make a difference.

Create an activism plan.

Print out the Americans of Conscience Action Worksheet and make a plan. Or use this adorable pocket version by the amazing Kelly Wooten.

Oppose the REINS Act and Midnight Rules Act.

I’m committed to no-hype language in this weekly list, but if you only do one thing this week, oppose this bill and this one both in the Senate now. Please (source).

Call: Your 2 Senators–local offices preferred (lookup).

Script: Hi! I’m from _ZIP_ and want to convey my absolute, 100%, full, and unwavering opposition to both the REINS Act and the Midnight Rules Relief Act in the Senate right now. How my Senator votes on these two sneaky bills matters to me and will affect my future vote.

 

I believe in equal rights for all Americans.

Action: Support America’s vulnerable kids (source).

Call: Your local school district (lookup).

Script: Hi. I have kids in/live within the school district and am concerned about how Trump’s new bathroom bill will affect our district’s transgender students. Because they’re at a much higher risk of suicide and violence, I’d like to know what the board is doing to protect transgender kids.

Action: Support your local law enforcement in doing their job (not ICE’s).

Using local police to enforce immigration law makes communities less safe.

Call: Your local police/sheriff’s non-emergency number (lookup).

Script: I’m a resident of ___ and am calling to find out whether city/county police/sheriff plan to act on behalf of Immigration and Customs Enforcement. I’m concerned that ICE wants to use our local resources and make law enforcement’s job harder (source, source).

Action: Speak up about new directives on immigration and asylum seekers.

Oppose the wall and support bipartisan BRIDGE Act (HR 496 & S 128).

Call: All 3 MoCs (lookup).

Script: I’m a constituent from _ZIP_ calling to express support for the bipartisan BRIDGE Act. I am requesting two things: 1. For _NAME_ to co-sponsor this bill if s/he hasn’t already. 2. For _NAME_ to vote against appropriations to fund the border wall, new immigration officers, detention centers, and more immigration judges. The DHS directives calling for this funding are un-American, unnecessary, and waste taxpayer money on strategies that will not make us safer (source).

 

I believe in quality education for America’s youth.

Action: Oppose HR 610

This bill guts America’s public elementary and secondary school system, which serves 9 out of 10 of the nation’s children.

Call: Your representative in the House (lookup).

Script: Hi! I am a constituent from _ZIP_. I’m concerned about how H.R. 610 will impact rural and high-needs students if the bill becomes law. I urge Rep. _name_ to oppose this bill to shift public dollars away from public schools. Can you tell me where s/he stands on this bill? (source).

 

I believe in a government led by qualified, trustworthy representatives.

Action: Advocate for an independent investigation into Russia’s influence in US politics.

Call: All 3 of your MoCs–local offices preferred (lookup).

Script: I am a constituent from _ZIP_. I’m concerned that our president is financially tied to foreign governments. I’m asking for _NAME_ to support an independent bipartisan commission and special prosecutor like the 9-11 attacks had. Can you tell me where s/he stands on this issue?

 

Deep breath innnnnnn… Deep breath ouuuuuuuut… Only 3 more! You can do eeet!

 

I believe in quality, affordable healthcare for all Americans.

Action: Appeal to MoCs support of jobs in your state (and keep the ACA).

Lookup: Number of medical jobs your state would lose if repealed (here).

Call: All 3 MoCs (lookup).

Script: Hi! I’m from _ZIP_ and calling not just because I oppose repealing the ACA, but jobs are so important in _state_. Repealing ACA would mean losing _number_ of good-paying medical jobs. Does _name_ support ACA repeal or replacement? Does s/he have a plan to replace them? (source) (hat tip: H. Bell)

 

I believe in creating a healthy planet for future generations.

Action: Protect Great Lakes’ threatened lake sturgeon, plover, and sunfish.

Call: All 3 MoCs (lookup).

Script: Hi! I’m from _ZIP_. I am concerned about news from Trump’s upcoming budget that will slash ongoing restoration efforts in the Great Lakes. This move will threaten fragile species and compromise water quality for all. Where does my rep/sen stand on this issue? (source, source, source)

 

I believe in being a good citizen of the world.

Action: Help feed Yemen’s hungry children.

Embarrassingly, until I met Abdullah–our local falafel restaurant owner–I didn’t know where Yemen was. When I played a teeny role in helping his brother make it to the US after the immigration ban, Yemen became a place I care about. There, one in three children is malnourished due to a drawn-out, violent attempt to stabilize the government.

Donate: Help feed Yemen’s people through World Food Programme.

 

Acts of Gratitude

Get out your stamps, postcards, and sparkle markers for some gratitude mail.

Wish Ruth Bader Ginsburg a happy birthday and thank her for 24 years of service (and counting!).

Mail to: ℅ Supreme Court of the United States, 1 First Street, NE

Washington, DC 20543

Thank member of the bipartisan Climate Solutions Caucus.

Click this link (list of CSC members) and choose one or more.

Look up mailing addresses here.

Script: Express your gratitude for bipartisan collaboration and creative policy making to address the global climate crisis.

Thank Rep. Daniel Donovan (R-NY) for publicly stating he’ll not vote for ACA repeal without a replacement proposal first. (source)

Mail to: 7308 13th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11228

Recommended reading

Thought-provoking, in-depth reading that’s worth your time.

  • Five graphics that explain 45’s business conflicts of interest (source).
  • How to respond to the threat of immigration raids (source).
  • What American foreign policy currently looks like from the inside (source).
  • On wearing ashes in the age of anti-Muslim sentiment (source).
  • A deeper look at the trend of anti-protest legislation (source).
  • Two resources for inspiration and self-care for the long haul. (hat tip)

Please keep taking care of yourself. If we get tired, he wins.

 

Not Normal

Avoid normalizing this presidency and #staywoke.

 

Good news

 

Housekeeping

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Final action

If you found this checklist useful, please spread the word!

Tweet: This checklist from @inspiredjen is how I make a positive difference in this insane administration: goo.gl/ieyVqo

Email and Facebook: The lies and chaos make me run far, far away, but this activism checklist cuts through it so I can make a positive difference–and feel a little inspired, too! Check it out: https://goo.gl/ieyVqo

We’re stronger together! Believe it, sister! And bad hombres!

Off to rabblerouse,

<3 Jen