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Ban Brutal Sport of Cockfighting

Originally published on September 5, 2014, at ForceChange.com

Target: Alejandro Garcia Padilla, Governor of Puerto Rico

Goal: Outlaw the brutal sport of cockfighting in Puerto Rico

Although cockfighting is illegal in all 50 States, this cruel animal sport is still legal in the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico. Subjected to horrific abuse, gamecocks risk mutilation and death every time they are forced to enter the ring. Demand the Puerto Rican government ban this excessive continuance of animal cruelty.

Because of its inhumane brutality, cockfighting has been outlawed in all 50 states. It is even illegal to watch a cockfighting event in over 40 states. As a U.S. territory, Puerto Rico has refused to ban cockfighting because of blind traditionalism. Instead of acknowledging the pervasive animal cruelty, Puerto Ricans place bets on which roosters will live and which ones will die.

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Demand Justice for Brutally Assaulted Journalist

Originally published on September 3, 2014, at ForceChange.com

Target: Ilham Aliyev, President of Azerbaijan

Goal: Investigate the ruthless attack against a journalist reporting on human rights abuses

Known for raising international awareness about human rights violations in Azerbaijan, investigative journalist Ilgar Nasibov was severely beaten by unknown assailants. After receiving multiple death threats in the past two years for his work, Nasibov had been visiting his wife’s office when the attackers broke in and brutally assaulted him. The government of Azerbaijan must provide justice to Nasibov and his family by investigating this horrific attack and prosecuting those responsible for the assault.

On August 21, several unidentified assailants entered the Resource Center for Development of NGOs and Democracy and ruthlessly attacked Nasibov. After beating him unconscious, they ransacked the office and fled. Nasibov was left seriously injured with broken ribs, cheekbones, nose, and a concussion. Nasibov had initially been taken to a local hospital for immediate treatment. Fearing further attacks against her husband, Nasibov’s wife chose to move her husband back home for security purposes.

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Stop Human Rights Abuses and the Killing of Activists

Published on September 3, 2014, at ForceChange.com

Target: Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, King of Bahrain

Goal: Hold corrupt cops accountable for killing protesters and torturing prisoners

Since the Arab Spring uprisings, Bahrain security forces have killed dozens of activists and wounded hundreds of others. Indiscriminately gunning down and viciously beating protesters, the police cover up their crimes and rarely face prosecution. Many of those arrested are subjected to torture and horrific threats to their families. Arrested children receive the same mistreatment. The government of Bahrain must investigate these human rights abuses and punish the cops committing these crimes.

During protests, police in riot gear have repeatedly killed and crippled activists by shooting them with birdshot. In one case, Mahmood al-Jazeeri was killed when a cop fired a tear gas canister at his head at close range. According to the U.S. State Department, an eight-year-old child reportedly died from inhaling tear gas dispersed by the police.

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Protect Monarch Butterflies from Extinction

Originally published on September 3, 2014, at ForceChange.com

Target: U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid

Goal: Provide protection to monarch butterflies under the Endangered Species Act

With their population in rapid decline, monarch butterflies have lost over 165 million acres of habitat. Herbicides, pesticides, the loss of the milkweed plant, and illegal logging in Mexico have contributed to the massive reduction in monarch butterfly populations. The U.S. government needs to protect the monarch butterflies under the Endangered Species Act before it is too late to save them.

Butterfly monarch populations have declined by 90 percent in less than twenty years. During the 1990s, roughly one billion monarch butterflies migrated to fir forests in the winter. Scientists estimate that only 33 million monarch butterflies remain today.

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Demand Justice for Handcuffed Suspect Shot in the Chest by Police

Originally published on September 2, 2014, at ForceChange.com

Target: Bobby Jindal, Governor of Louisiana

Goal: Investigate the alleged “suicide” of a handcuffed black suspect who police claim shot himself in the chest

Notorious for excessive brutality and corruption, police officers in Louisiana are attempting to cover up the murder of 22-year-old Victor White III by falsely labeling his death a suicide. At first, law enforcement officials claimed White produced a hidden gun and shot himself in the back. The autopsy report refutes their claims by revealing White had been shot in the chest with his hands cuffed behind his back. An investigation into the shooting of White must be launched to provide justice for his family and punishment for his killers.

According to the police, White had been arrested for a fight he was not involved in and taken into custody. After searching him twice and claiming to find drugs on him, the police cuffed White’s hands behind his back and placed him inside the back of the patrol car. As they arrived at the station, police claim White became uncooperative and refused to exit the vehicle. Even though they searched him twice, White allegedly pulled out a hidden gun and fatally shot himself in the back.

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Stop Corporations from Illegally Destroying a National Park

Originally published on August 29, 2014, at ForceChange.com

Target: Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, President of Indonesia

Goal: Prevent illegal gold mining and deforestation from demolishing a national park

Even though it is currently illegal to deforest national parks in Indonesia, corporations are overtly breaking the law by logging and gold mining on Borneo. These rapidly depleting forests are home to the endangered orangutans and proboscis monkeys. The Indonesian government needs to enforce the law and protect its rainforests from corporate greed.

Although the Indonesian government has chosen to impose a temporary moratorium on the deforestation of their country’s rainforests, corporations continue to illegally raze the ground at Borneo’s Tanjung Puting National Park. A palm oil company is tearing down trees in order to make room for new plantations, while gold mining corporations contaminate the environment. These companies must be punished for their violations and kept out of the national park.

Refusing to perform environmental impact assessments, the corporations are allegedly bribing local officials to acquire permits. Villagers protest the decimation of their land as endangered orangutan and proboscis monkey populations are under the threat of possible extinction. Hundreds of species of birds and trees are also at risk due to this blind avarice.

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Stop the Detention and Murder of Community Leaders

Originally published on August 28, 2014, at ForceChange.com

Target: Otto Perez Molina, President of Guatemala

Goal: End the extreme violence against environmental rights activists and their community leaders

While resisting the construction of local hydroelectric plants, two community leaders were arbitrarily arrested by the police. In retaliation, the community rose up in protest against their discriminatory detention. During the protest, three Mayan community leaders were shot and killed as police brutalized the activists. The Guatemalan government needs to investigate their deaths and punish any police officers responsible for these human rights abuses.

On August 15, law enforcement officials arrested community leaders, Rafael Chen and Carmen del Cid. Large crowds gathered in protest of their unlawful arrests. The police violently attacked the protesters and reportedly shot Sebastian Rax Caal, Luciano Can Cujub, and Oscar Chen Quej to death. At least 40 activists have been arrested with many others left injured.

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Demand an End to Government-Sponsored Human Rights Abuse

Originally published on August 27, 2014, at ForceChange.com

Target: Jose Eduardo dos Santos, President of Angola

Goal: Stop the human rights abuses committed by the police and other security forces in Angola

Government officials are allowing arbitrary arrests, torture, and unlawful killings of civilians by the police. Activists are arrested for attending protests even though their constitution protects the right to assemble. With a lack of due process, suspects often face potentially life-threatening prison conditions and corrupt corrections officers. The Angolan government must root out these criminal cops to prevent further abuses against their people.

According to the U.S. State Department, widespread government corruption is responsible for the proliferation of dirty cops patrolling the streets. Two police officers reportedly shot a man twice in the head for confronting them after they had severely beaten his friend. Police regularly arrest activists without charges and utilize excessive force in order to intimidate protesters. The murders of political opponents are rarely investigated, allowing many assassins to walk free.

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Protect Endangered Black Spider Monkeys

Originally published on August 24, 2014, at ForceChange.com

Target: Dilma Rousseff, President of Brazil

Goal: Create protected sanctuaries to prevent the rapid depopulation of black spider monkeys

Because black spider monkeys inhabit tropical and subtropical rainforests throughout South America, logging and deforestation are reducing their environment and endangering their species. Although they play a vital role in the survival of their ecosystem, these monkeys are dying out as their rainforests are destroyed. Brazil and other South American countries must lead the charge to save these creatures by designating protected areas to ensure the survival of the black spider monkeys and their rainforests.

The black spider monkey is key to the growth and survival of the tropical rainforests. By contributing to seed dispersal, the monkeys take active roles helping their ecosystem to nourish and thrive. Unsustainable deforestation counteracts seed dispersal by annihilating plant life and endangering the monkeys living within those habitations.

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Demand Justice for Assassinated Environmental Rights Activists

Originally published on August 24, 2014, at ForceChange.com

Target: Juan Manuel Santos, President of Colombia

Goal: Investigate the assassinations of environmental rights activists and provide justice to their families and friends

While defending communities affected by dam construction and mining projects in Colombia, two environmental rights activists have been gunned down for their work. The current members of their organization are under surveillance, experiencing break-ins, harassment, and death threats. The government of Colombia must investigate these murders and the current harassment before another environmental rights activist is killed.

Movimiento Rios Vivos (translated Living Rivers Movement) is an environmental organization dedicated to protecting communities from ecological damages caused by mining corporations and dam construction companies. While operating in Colombia, their members and leaders have been subjected to death threats, constant surveillance, persecution, and murder. Without properly investigating these crimes, law enforcement is allowing the violence to escalate against the environmentalists.

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