http://www.petitionspot.com/listpetitions/humanrights Petitions that are categorized as Civil & Human Rights Fri, 27 Nov 2009 21:0:54 CST en-us 3 http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/tygabewbs/ Fri, 27 Nov 2009 21:0:54 CST Tyga needs to show her bewbs. It is the right of every American, Canadian, and Brazilian citizen to be able to see and wank off to Tyga\\\'s bewbs. http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/leeyongdaeinafanmeet/ Fri, 27 Nov 2009 21:0:09 CST Lee Yong Dae is a Famous Korean Badminton Player in Indonesia. http://leeyongdaeina.multiply.com is the First n the largest Lee Yong Dae\\\' Fansite in Indonesia .. In Indonesia Open 2010, When Lee Yong Dae come to Join the Tournament, We really want to make a Fan meeting for him ... We want he knows that we really love n support him ... Because Lee Yong Dae come to Indonesia maybe only once a year, we don\\\'t want miss this chance ... So, if u guys an Indonesian, n really love yongdae n want to meet him in a Fan meeting, please Help us to make your dream come true by fill n Join this Petition .... Thanks for your support .... Regards, Lee Yong Dae Indonesian Fansite\\\'s Admin http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/RoyMercer221isaFake/ Fri, 27 Nov 2009 12:0:29 CST Likes to post lies on the site that he KNOWS are outright lies. He is a manipulative asshole, is trying to slander other people, and is duping every one of you with his posts. You should think twice about believing anything this jerk has to say. Above is his link to the site so that you know what to avoid and ignore. Please also take notice that the coward does not even sign all his petitions with his real name in the fear that the people he tries to slander find out who he really is and what he is really trying to do. He is a pathetic and lonely little man that just agrees with anything controversial in an attempt to gain attention. You should pity this ignorant jerk. He truly is pathetic. http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/wwwdarkevilcom/ Fri, 27 Nov 2009 10:0:46 CST is it free FREE yay honest yay im quite happy horray http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/banalgerianow/ Fri, 27 Nov 2009 06:0:54 CST Due to the latest happenings in football history, we request FIFA to ban algeria from football now. http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/Emily386/ Fri, 27 Nov 2009 04:0:16 CST Ok the reason I want to bring Justin Bieber West Virginia is because there are lots of fans here that love him to death. Just because we live in West Vairginia means that we are hillbillies. He travels all over the world and the one place he doesn\'t come to is West Virginia. And I want him to come I\'m a really big fan And there are huge fans here. I\'ve been to one of his concerts and I want everyone else here to experants one of the best concerts on earth. So please please please please help me to get 500 hundred signatures to get here to come. :) :) http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/crazyfromspace/ Fri, 27 Nov 2009 03:0:24 CST Chat room bullying at noesis chat ltd is rising ... staff are main cause of this ... people dont like being banned and mentally tautured by there stupid ways its not to end i need it to end please help. x. http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/llbnfbcfaoh/ Thu, 26 Nov 2009 23:0:28 CST I wish to bring Myself and my llbnfbcfaoh together. We are seperated and in need of quality time together please help us by signing for our cause! http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/abortionhaterz/ Thu, 26 Nov 2009 22:0:11 CST STOP KILLING INNOCENT,HARMLESS,ADORABLE CHILDREN AROUND DA WORLD!! IT IS NOT A BLOB OF TISSUE,IT IS A KIVING BREATHING CHILD WHO DOESNT DESERVE 2 DIE!! NO MATTER WHAT RELIGION,STATE,RACE,YOU ARE,PLEASE SUPPORT THIS PETITION 2 SAVE THE CHILDREN OF THE WORLD,LIKE MICHAEL JACKSON TRIED 2 DO. http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/loveprotectkangin/ Thu, 26 Nov 2009 22:0:23 CST Spread the love and your supports toward Super Junior Kangin!Eventhough he look rough and harsh,but deep down in his heart,he is a kind and loveable person!We can see his love towards his dongsengs(younger brother) n hyung(elder brother) especially in Suju!There will be something missing when we allowed this kind of treats toward kangin,till he have to leave SUJU!!!! And we as E.L.F WILL NEVER..I REPEAT..WILL NEVER LET THIS KIND OF THING HAPPEN TO KANGIN OPPA!!!!!SO...E.L.F OUT THERE..PLEASE SUPPORT HIM..AS now he need our support!!!! Suju Hwaitng,Kangin Oppa hwaiting n E.L.F hwaiting!!! http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/bnmbnm/ Thu, 26 Nov 2009 17:0:11 CST cool jfjkkfjo k drju j er r er6n un re n er birkyhetr847487tetj89goji573jipty8u6tjktyi8rtkgfiy56jklhgui8yt6i5ii8oy56uo8rtu6yuyiurtitykitkgiotkgigktkgigkroiflkfoe9orkgig9tkgigkottttttttttttttttttttttttttttoeoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooogggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggg http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/cutexxkaomixx/ Thu, 26 Nov 2009 14:0:19 CST http://www.petitionspot.com/static/images/start_help.png http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/uoftblackface/ Thu, 26 Nov 2009 14:0:19 CST PUBLIC STATEMENT FROM FACULTY AND STUDENTS CONDEMNING THE UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO ADMINISTRATION’S INAPPROPRIATE RESPONSE TO THE “BLACKFACE” INCIDENT On Tuesday, November 24, at public hearings before the Canadian Parliamentary Commission to Combat Anti-Semitism, Robert Steiner, Assistant Vice President of Strategic Communications for the University of Toronto, informed those present that the University of Toronto administration had taken the lead in working with concerned students to organize and facilitate a public town hall meeting on a recent incident of “Blackface” at the university. As the students and faculty who organised and spoke at that town hall, we are appalled, angered and dismayed that Mr. Steiner has falsely represented the University’s role in the sequence of events that have ensued as a result of this “Blackface” incident. Contrary to which Mr. Steiner has claimed, the university played no part whatsoever in organising the town hall event. In fact, even as Mr. Steiner was issuing his public comments, students and faculty were trying to get the University administration to issue a public statement affirming its commitment to equity on campus. Despite repeated requests to issue a statement the University has failed to do so. In light of Mr. Steiner’s comments we feel it is absolutely imperative that the university community and the wider public be made aware of the University’s true role in this serious breach of equity and trust on its own campus. On Halloween night (29 October) five University of Toronto students dressed up in “costume” as the Hollywood version of the Jamaican bobsled team from the film Cool Runnings for a party hosted by three of the university\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\'s colleges: St. Michael\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\'s; University; and Victoria. Four of the students wore blackface as part of their “costumes”; the fifth wore a white painted face. When students on campus raised concerns, controversy arose concerning what was meant by the “costume.” Many students and faculty (including several who are not black) immediately recognized the \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\"costumes\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\" as blackface and voiced their collective dismay, given the long history of blackface performance and minstrelsy in demeaning black people and systematically caricaturing black cultures. Members of the Black Students Association (BSA) approached those students and colleges involved to request a public apology. They also took the initiative to make the incident a “teachable” moment, bringing diverse constituencies together to learn about the historical and contemporary hurt and pain caused by enacting blackface. On November 10 the BSA, supported by the University of Toronto Student Union (UTSU), organized a town hall meeting that was attended by more than 300 people. After the meeting and in online discussions of media coverage of the event, both local and national, the BSA and its president have been victims of a disturbing backlash that has the cumulative effect of questioning the right of some students to claim full membership of the university community. The university has failed to use its normal communicative channels to stand in support of the students who organized the town hall and who have faced intimidation following the event. The university\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\'s dereliction of duty sent a message that black voices in our midst do not matter, or matter less than those of other groups who raise similarly serious concerns. A meeting took place on November 19 in the office of the Vice-Provost, Students. Following a seemingly positive discussion, BSA and UTSU student representatives, as well as concerned faculty, expected that the university would distribute a public statement to address the issues raised in the meeting. To our surprise when an official response did arrive it was sent in the form of a private communication to the two students leaders and four faculty who had met with administrators. The letter\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\'s recipients were asked to distribute the statement themselves to the wider university community. After a query as to whether this constituted the extent of the University\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\'s response, we received an e-mail yesterday (November 24) informing us that the letter had been posted on the Equity web site and that of the Vice-Provost, Students-where it would likely never be accessed by the wider university community. This piecemeal approach on the part of University Administrators is a serious failure of public leadership. As was made evident at the earlier town hall meeting and in subsequent meetings with senior administrators, the blackface incident is representative of much deeper issues and fissures on campus. Typically, on matters of importance to the U of T community, senior administrators draw on a range of communicative strategies to reach the widest audience possible. The actions, or lack thereof, of the senior administration of the university suggest that black students are not equally valued members of the university community and that concerns about the alienation of other nonwhite students can be ignored and sidestepped. We refuse to accept such a position. We call on the senior administration to publicly affirm that our community is a safe place for producing knowledge, discussing ideas, and for building a multicultural and cosmopolitan community that becomes a genuinely global model of intercultural learning and academic excellence. The University of Toronto belongs to us all, and that commitment-to value us equally in our diversity-needs to be publicly demonstrated and reiterated. In light of this history Mr. Steiner’s comments represent the exploitation by the University of the pain of students who have felt targeted as a result of this “Blackface” incident and the hard work of courageous student organizers. It also represents a breach of trust with members of its own faculty who spoke at the event, none of whom was contacted by the university prior to the town hall of November 10. We demand a full public apology from Mr. Steiner and senior University administration for having exploited us all in this manner. Signed, Daniella Kyei, University of Toronto Students’ Union, Vice-President Equity Dawn Samuel, President of the Black Students’ Association Sean Hawkins, Associate Professor of History Melanie Newton, Associate Professor of History Alissa Trotz, Associate Professor of Women and Gender Studies, Director, Caribbean Studies Rinaldo Walcott, Associate Professor of Social Justice and Cultural Studies ---------------------------------------------------- Added by: Concerned about \"Blackface\" at U of Toronto on November 26, 2009, 2:55:37 pm ---------------------------------------------------- PUBLIC STATEMENT FROM FACULTY AND STUDENTS CONDEMNING THE UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO ADMINISTRATION’S INAPPROPRIATE RESPONSE TO THE “BLACKFACE” INCIDENT On Tuesday, November 24, at public hearings before the Canadian Parliamentary Commission to Combat Anti-Semitism, Robert Steiner, Assistant Vice President of Strategic Communications for the University of Toronto, informed those present that the University of Toronto administration had taken the lead in working with concerned students to organize and facilitate a public town hall meeting on a recent incident of “Blackface” at the university. As the students and faculty who organised and spoke at that town hall, we are appalled, angered and dismayed that Mr. Steiner has falsely represented the University’s role in the sequence of events that have ensued as a result of this “Blackface” incident. Contrary to which Mr. Steiner has claimed, the university played no part whatsoever in organising the town hall event. In fact, even as Mr. Steiner was issuing his public comments, students and faculty were trying to get the University administration to issue a public statement affirming its commitment to equity on campus. Despite repeated requests to issue a statement the University has failed to do so. In light of Mr. Steiner’s comments we feel it is absolutely imperative that the university community and the wider public be made aware of the University’s true role in this serious breach of equity and trust on its own campus. On Halloween night (29 October) five University of Toronto students dressed up in “costume” as the Hollywood version of the Jamaican bobsled team from the film Cool Runnings for a party hosted by three of the university\'s colleges: St. Michael\'s; University; and Victoria. Four of the students wore blackface as part of their “costumes”; the fifth wore a white painted face. When students on campus raised concerns, controversy arose concerning what was meant by the “costume.” Many students and faculty (including several who are not black) immediately recognized the \"costumes\" as blackface and voiced their collective dismay, given the long history of blackface performance and minstrelsy in demeaning black people and systematically caricaturing black cultures. Members of the Black Students Association (BSA) approached those students and colleges involved to request a public apology. They also took the initiative to make the incident a “teachable” moment, bringing diverse constituencies together to learn about the historical and contemporary hurt and pain caused by enacting blackface. On November 10 the BSA, supported by the University of Toronto Student Union (UTSU), organized a town hall meeting that was attended by more than 300 people. After the meeting and in online discussions of media coverage of the event, both local and national, the BSA and its president have been victims of a disturbing backlash that has the cumulative effect of questioning the right of some students to claim full membership of the university community. The university has failed to use its normal communicative channels to stand in support of the students who organized the town hall and who have faced intimidation following the event. The university\'s dereliction of duty sent a message that black voices in our midst do not matter, or matter less than those of other groups who raise similarly serious concerns. A meeting took place on November 19 in the office of the Vice-Provost, Students. Following a seemingly positive discussion, BSA and UTSU student representatives, as well as concerned faculty, expected that the university would distribute a public statement to address the issues raised in the meeting. To our surprise when an official response did arrive it was sent in the form of a private communication to the two students leaders and four faculty who had met with administrators. The letter\'s recipients were asked to distribute the statement themselves to the wider university community. After a query as to whether this constituted the extent of the University\'s response, we received an e-mail yesterday (November 24) informing us that the letter had been posted on the Equity web site and that of the Vice-Provost, Students-where it would likely never be accessed by the wider university community. This piecemeal approach on the part of University Administrators is a serious failure of public leadership. As was made evident at the earlier town hall meeting and in subsequent meetings with senior administrators, the blackface incident is representative of much deeper issues and fissures on campus. Typically, on matters of importance to the U of T community, senior administrators draw on a range of communicative strategies to reach the widest audience possible. The actions, or lack thereof, of the senior administration of the university suggest that black students are not equally valued members of the university community and that concerns about the alienation of other nonwhite students can be ignored and sidestepped. We refuse to accept such a position. We call on the senior administration to publicly affirm that our community is a safe place for producing knowledge, discussing ideas, and for building a multicultural and cosmopolitan community that becomes a genuinely global model of intercultural learning and academic excellence. We publicly commend University College for thus far being the only administrative unit in the University to issue a full public apology, and call on the administration and student councils of Victoria and St. Michael’s College to do the same. The University of Toronto belongs to us all, and that commitment-to value us equally in our diversity-needs to be publicly demonstrated and reiterated. In light of this history Mr. Steiner’s comments represent the exploitation by the University of the pain of students who have felt targeted as a result of this “Blackface” incident and the hard work of courageous student organizers. It also represents a breach of trust with members of its own faculty who spoke at the event, none of whom was contacted by the university prior to the town hall of November 10. We demand a full public apology from Mr. Steiner and senior University administration for having exploited us all in this manner. Signed, Daniella Kyei, University of Toronto Students’ Union, Vice-President Equity Dawn Samuel, President of the Black Students’ Association Sean Hawkins, Associate Professor of History Melanie Newton, Associate Professor of History Alissa Trotz, Associate Professor of Women and Gender Studies, Director, Caribbean Studies Rinaldo Walcott, Associate Professor of Social Justice and Cultural Studies http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/Deadmau5XD/ Thu, 26 Nov 2009 11:0:33 CST Deadmau5, an amzin\\\\\\\' DJ who will totally rock the house along with Kaskade (; I would love to see him there ! Who wouldn\\\\\\\'t ?! http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/donuts4all/ Thu, 26 Nov 2009 04:0:46 CST help stop donut shortages around the world sign this petition http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/vthanh/ Thu, 26 Nov 2009 04:0:58 CST http://www.petitionspot.com/start-a-petition/http://www.petitionspot.com/start-a-petition/ http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/speakfortheunheard/ Wed, 25 Nov 2009 23:0:23 CST stand up for whats right be a voice for the unheard. since approx. in 1973 50milliion babies were aborted Number of abortions per year: Approximately 42 Million Number of abortions per day: Approximately 115,000 Where abortions occur: 83% of all abortions are obtained in developing countries and 17% occur in developed countries. © Copyright 1996-2008, The Alan Guttmacher Institute. (www.agi-usa.org) UNITED STATES Number of abortions per year: 1.37 Million (1996) Number of abortions per day: Approximately 3,700 Who\\\'s having abortions (age)? 52% of women obtaining abortions in the U.S. are younger than 25: Women aged 20-24 obtain 32% of all abortions; Teenagers obtain 20% and girls under 15 account for 1.2%. Who\\\'s having abortions (race)? While white women obtain 60% of all abortions, their abortion rate is well below that of minority women. Black women are more than 3 times as likely as white women to have an abortion, and Hispanic women are roughly 2 times as likely. Who\\\'s having abortions (marital status)? 64.4% of all abortions are performed on never-married women; Married women account for 18.4% of all abortions and divorced women obtain 9.4%. Who\\\'s having abortions (religion)? Women identifying themselves as Protestants obtain 37.4% of all abortions in the U.S.; Catholic women account for 31.3%, Jewish women account for 1.3%, and women with no religious affiliation obtain 23.7% of all abortions. 18% of all abortions are performed on women who identify themselves as \\\"Born-again/Evangelical\\\". Who\\\'s having abortions (income)? Women with family incomes less than $15,000 obtain 28.7% of all abortions; Women with family incomes between $15,000 and $29,999 obtain 19.5%; Women with family incomes between $30,000 and $59,999 obtain 38.0%; Women with family incomes over $60,000 obtain 13.8%. Why women have abortions 1% of all abortions occur because of rape or incest; 6% of abortions occur because of potential health problems regarding either the mother or child, and 93% of all abortions occur for social reasons (i.e. the child is unwanted or inconvenient). At what gestational ages are abortions performed: 52% of all abortions occur before the 9th week of pregnancy, 25% happen between the 9th & 10th week, 12% happen between the 11th and 12th week, 6% happen between the 13th & 15th week, 4% happen between the 16th & 20th week, and 1% of all abortions (16,450/yr.) happen after the 20th week of pregnancy. Likelihood of abortion: An estimated 43% of all women will have at least 1 abortion by the time they are 45 years old. 47% of all abortions are performed on women who have had at least one previous abortion. Abortion coverage: 48% of all abortion facilities provide services after the 12th week of pregnancy. 9 in 10 managed care plans routinely cover abortion or provide limited coverage. About 14% of all abortions in the United States are paid for with public funds, virtually all of which are state funds. 16 states (CA, CT, HI, ED, IL, MA , MD, MD, MN, MT, NJ, NM, NY, OR, VT, WA and WV) pay for abortions for some poor women. together we can end abortion! http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/hotdogmachine/ Wed, 25 Nov 2009 22:0:39 CST i really have no reason to want this, it would cost alot too, but it would be cool ---------------------------------------------------- Added by: hotdogeater on November 25, 2009, 10:35:59 pm ---------------------------------------------------- i really have no reason to want this, it would cost alot too, but it would be cool ---------------------------------------------------- Added by: hotdogeater on November 25, 2009, 10:38:30 pm ---------------------------------------------------- This just in, tax revenues from one trillion sold hot dogs could fix economic recession. http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/ucgradestrike/ Wed, 25 Nov 2009 22:0:46 CST To Faculty, Students and Staff, We are furious and so, so deeply upset seeing the videos of police brutality from UC Berkeley and UCLA: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1PuiY4Go8Y http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rOI5l2_RghQ and as if it weren\\\'t enough, now many students are facing felony charges: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=183824131771&ref=nf We are willing to pledge to withhold grades until the charges against students are dropped. If you are too, please sign this petition! With the current passage of the 32% fee increase on UC students statewide, major cuts to student enrollment, and the ongoing series of devastating cuts and reductions to campus workers, staff and faculty. We hope that you will sign this petition and pledge to withhold grades to express our anger against the current state of public higher education in California. We stand in solidarity with students, workers, staff and faculty organizing against the cuts at the CSU and CCC systems, and for us all to unite together in the fight to defend public higher education in California. ---------------------------------------------------- Added by: Gracelynne West on November 27, 2009, 3:11:09 pm ---------------------------------------------------- By signing this petition, we refuse to be complicit in tuition increases, layoffs, furloughs, the selling off of public education and the criminalization of student dissent! WHEN YOU SIGN: Please specify YOUR UNIVERSITY AFFILIATION with your name, affiliation (undergraduate student, graduate student, worker, staff, faculty), department, and campus Thank You! in solidarity, SAVING UCSD Coalition http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/NODBM/ Wed, 25 Nov 2009 20:0:18 CST WE MUST PUT AN END TO THIS*S*-*H*-*I*-TY *F*-*U*-*C*-K I CALL TO YOU TO SAY NO MORE DBM !! NO MORE DBM !!! NO MORE DBM !!!! NO MORE DBM !!!!! STOP THIS MADDNESS DB IS DEAD !!! http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/khalidquyyumawan/ Wed, 25 Nov 2009 17:0:47 CST The following short note comes from them:- KHALID When we first began corresponding with Khalid Awan in 2007, we had no idea why he was serving time in U.S federal prison.We soon discovered Awan was one of the first of thousands of Muslims taken prisoner in the post-9/11 U.S \\\"terror War\\\". As the story began unfolding in our letters, we began to realize that this honest, humble and sincere man was not only innocent, but the ongoing injustice being done to him provides critical insight into the mindless, mean-spirited, bureaucratic-yes-men idiocy fueling the illegal U.S. \\\"War on Terror\\\" (and just about everything else that is going wrong in this country). At our insistence, Awan wrote his story and supplied us with whatever documents we requested. And now, after three months of cooperative efforts, the story of Khalid Awan can be told. We have come to know Awan as a peaceful man engaged in peaceful work, who has been wrongfully accused, detained and repeatedly convicted of crimes he did not commit because he was a Muslim with international connections and an office in New York on 9/11. Anyone who might of the Muslim belief, especially a person raised overseas who has difficulty understanding our language and our corrupt judicial system, can be arrested and detained indefinitely in this country, certainly without a trial before a jury of his peers. Khalid is one of these Muslims. We present this to you in faith that you will realize a deeper understanding of the levels of complicity necessary for the \\\"land of free\\\" to tolerate the phony war on terror year after year and in hope that Awan --- and all the other million or more political prisoners being held by this country---will one day be reunited with their families. (Thanks from the bottom of my heart to you, Mr. Don Harkin and Ms. Anne W. Chaimberlain for your devoted, caring attention in helping me expose my plight and injustices being suffered by myself and others. Your humanitarian devotion, on-going help and attitude truly an inspiration to me in my life!) Khalid Qayyum Awan (From USA Federal Prison) CONTACT OR MAILING ADDRESS IS GIVEN BELOW Khalid Awan # 50959-054 USP Marion P.O.BOX : 1000 Marion, IL 62959 USA http://khalidawan.wordpress.com/ http://www.freekhalidawan.com/, http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=60131110841&ref=ts, http://www.facebook.com/apps/application.php?id=59208244450&ref=ts, http://www.facebook.com/pages/Khalid-Quyyum-Awan/63615441262?v=info, http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=60600467317 http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/olympicsponsorswomen/ Wed, 25 Nov 2009 16:0:33 CST In a letter sent last week, Vancouver COPE city councilors David Cadman and Ellen Woodsworth, called on Olympic sponsors to pressure the IOC to allow women ski jumpers to compete in the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympic Games. The letter reads, “While the court recognized that women are being discriminated against, it ruled that the responsibility for eliminating that discrimination lies with the International Olympic Committee (IOC).” It is the COPE councillors’ hope that – while the courts might not be able to enforce the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms – corporate sponsors might be able to leaverage their power to pressure the IOC. Last week, the letter was sent to worldwide Olympic sponsors (which include Coca Cola and Visa) and national Olympic sponsors (which include The Hudsons Bay Company and Petro Canada). The letter is also being sent to Olympic supporters and suppliers (which include media sponsors and Air Canada) this week. The entire letter is copied below. As of today, none of the CEO\\\'s have responded. Sign onto this petition and tell Olympic sponsors to do the right thing -- or you\\\'ll act with your consumer dollars! -- Dear Olympic sponsors, As you are likely aware, 14 elite international female ski jumpers have gone to court in British Columbia requesting that female ski jumpers be allowed to compete in the 2010 Winter Olympics. Justice Fenlon, who made the British Columbia Supreme Court ruling, acknowledged that prohibiting female jumpers is a violation of Canadian law, specifically Sections 32 and 15 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. While the court recognized that women are being discriminated against, it ruled that the responsibility for eliminating that discrimination lies with the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Vanoc and the City of Vancouver have both endorsed female ski jumpers\\\' call for equal participation in the 2010 Olympics. Vanoc has also stated that if instructed to include the women\\\'s participation in the upcoming Olympics, it would do so. We ask you to approach the IOC to request that women be allowed to participate as equals in all Olympic events. As a corporate sponsor committed to excellence, you may be interested to know that the current jump record for the small hill at the Whistler Olympic facility is held by a woman.We request that you act quickly to help redress this discrimination, which contravenes United Nations policies, Canadian law and City of Vancouver practices by discriminating against women -- who make up over 50 per cent of your consumer base. We urge you to communicate forthrightly with the IOC and make clear that you cannot support discrimination against women under your corporate sponsorship. Sincerely, David Cadman and Ellen Woodsworth Vancouver city councillors http://cope.bc.ca/content/olympic-sponsors-asked-take-a-stand-discrimination-against-women http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/mconnelly/ Wed, 25 Nov 2009 15:0:09 CST why can ppl not have a second chance in ther life,s bringing up there own children instead off social service taking them into care i,ve been throw it twice in my life i,m fighting to get them back in my care http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/FlexyCensor/ Wed, 25 Nov 2009 11:0:55 CST Flexy Censorship Bar. It needs to git real gone, like yesterday. As inventor of the intarwebz, I demand decensorfied booty. Super, super serial you guys. http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/organdonorincentives/ Wed, 25 Nov 2009 10:0:18 CST I agree that allowing 7,000 Americans to die every year while waiting for a transplant is unacceptable. I request that my representative in Government attempt to change US law and allow for significant indirect financial incentives to be given to families who agree to donate the organs of a family member who has died (cadavaric donation) and also for significant indirect financial incentives to be given to anyone who is willing to donate his or her kidney when they are alive. We ask that all medical risks be disclosed to the potential donor, that significant indirect financial compensation be given to the donor, free health care for the donor for a period of 2 years after the donation, a cooling off period of 6 months from the time the potential donor states his desire to donate to the time he is allowed to donate, distribution of the kidney to the national list on a medical needs basis without regards for the wealth of the recipient, and government oversight and regulation of the whole process. http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/stopreadingcounts/ Wed, 25 Nov 2009 08:0:12 CST sholastic reading counts. you read a book. you take a test on the book. we have to be in a certain lexile level. how boring!!!!!!!! who hates src?? whoever think this is stupid should take the src and see how boring src is. http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/ethicalfuel/ Wed, 25 Nov 2009 08:0:29 CST The Lisbon treaty allows for Citizens\' Initiative. The aim of this campaign is to make it illegal for an EU country to buy fuel from a country that does not adhere to the UN Human rights charter. This will be in accordance with the auditing and reports that are produced by reputable organizations such as Human rights watch. The Lisbon Treaty is about to come into effect, and new light is being shed on what it means when it talks about the Citizens’ Initiative. Ordinary Europeans will have a direct influence on EU policy-making. At this stage it is not clear if the one million signatures that have to be collected are suppose to be from the same country however this is an initiative to start this campaign. The objective of the campaign is similar to the fair-trade principle where the rights of the small farmers are protected by unethical practices, but in this case it is the rights of the citizen of the fuel producing nation that will be protected. If you are sick of totalitarian oil states that hold their citizens under lock and key then please join this campaign. related links: http://www.hrw.org/en/about http://www.euronews.net/2009/11/12/citizens-initiative-fleshing-out-the-lisbon-treaty/ ---------------------------------------------------- Added by: Ramin Tork on November 25, 2009, 3:06:56 pm ---------------------------------------------------- Corresponding Facebook group is http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=229986451112 http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/bingoija/ Wed, 25 Nov 2009 03:0:59 CST Attention all IJAians,not all of us are rich.Some can barely afford to study in a private school.And the world is already experiencing crisis.Now our school is forcibly selling us bingo cards.This has to stop!!!!! http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/huegabachilleres/ Wed, 25 Nov 2009 03:0:34 CST Compañeros, y padres de familia afectados por la huelga de bachilleres. ¿Sabes porque no se resuelve la huelga? 2 razones, numero uno; el Dr. José Roberto Castañón Romo está demostrando incompetencia, y su poco interés en resolver la huelga. Numero 2 por que la mayoría de tanto padres de familia como estudiantes no estamos mostrando ningún interés en que esto se resuelva, claro hablamos del tema pero no hacemos nada. Lo que entienden como \\\"no les interesa\\\". Las peticiones de los maestros son bastante razonables: la devolución de los 112 millones de pesos que la cámara de diputados nos designo, que no haya homologación laboral con la SEP, y que se respete el contrato colectivo. Por parte de los estudiantes: reapertura de clases, una reforma de clases, un no al recorte de horas de materias básicas, y que el director general Dr. José Roberto Castañón Romo cumpla con su trabajo como servidor público y resuelva el problema. Por favor entiendan que estas son causas por las cuales TODOS deberíamos hacer algo, si no podemos irnos a acampar afuera d nuestros colegios, lo menos que podemos hacer es firmar tanto padres como estudiantes, y maestros para enviarle un sencillo mensaje a nuestro querido director general; ¡¡SI NO SIRVE PARA EL TRABAJO RETIRESE!! Firma con tu nombre y apellido, no olvides poner el plantel al que asistes, y como ultima petición NO HAGAS CASO A LO QUE VES EN LAS NOTICIAS http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/539/ Tue, 24 Nov 2009 23:0:00 CST gfcsgcbvr rwgwrgt qwrqwr redfgsgr wrtrwgtdgrt rtgfgregr!!!! http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/wwwonlinebootycallco/ Tue, 24 Nov 2009 22:0:19 CST Onlinebootycall is an offensive website. It is demeaning, and shows how low society has stooped. There are TV commercials, making fun of people who go on \"normal\" dates. It suggests that wasting time with dates is unnecessary and why bother, when you can go to onlinebootycall and have a \"booty call\" when and where you want. Im astonished that these phrases are even used on TV or online in such an open and acceptable manner. Society has enough prostition, teenage mothers, high STD rates and parentless children, to add this service into the picture. It is immoral and totally inappropriate. It should be banned! http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/alaracoso/ Tue, 24 Nov 2009 16:0:44 CST Fue la unica persona que dio mas que cualquier otra,todos conocen su caridad y el amor hacia los demas,solo lo podrian entender los que realmente lo conocieron y lo siguieron y aun lo siguen por siempre. http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/maxgames/ Tue, 24 Nov 2009 16:0:14 CST i am sicken tired of taxes people are losing homes http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/StarbuckstoSweden/ Tue, 24 Nov 2009 13:0:49 CST Sweden is one of the country\\\'s that drinks most Coffee in the whole world, Then why don\\\'t we have a Starbucks ??? http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/shirtlessdobyns/ Tue, 24 Nov 2009 13:0:07 CST I want to see the exposed flesh of Dobyns I want to see the exposed flesh of Dobyns I want to see the exposed flesh of Dobyns I want to see the exposed flesh of Dobyns I want to see the exposed flesh of Dobyns I want to see the exposed flesh of Dobyns I want to see the exposed flesh of Dobyns I want to see the exposed flesh of Dobyns I want to see the exposed flesh of Dobyns http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/MAKEITSTOPNOW/ Tue, 24 Nov 2009 12:0:06 CST ARENT YOU TIRED OF GROSS PEOPLE BOTHERING YOU AT SCHOOL LUNCHTIME? WELL THIS IS WHERE WE COME IN. WE NEED TO STOP THIS OR ELSE WELL THROW UP (BARF). I GOT GROOSED OUT BY ANTONIO ELADJO AND I BARFED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WHO WANTS TO STOP THIS JUNK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/musicth/ Tue, 24 Nov 2009 11:0:05 CST everybody loves music so here some websites to get awesome music and i hope you like my website please don\'t leave bad comments thanks i hope you enjoy www.jango.com www.playlist.com www.frostwire.com www.limwire.com www.itunes.com here are some songs. Down, empire state of mine, party in the USA, blame it. here is some bands. Skillet, jay-z, jay Sean, etc. http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/wwwwpetitioncomame/ Mon, 23 Nov 2009 23:0:08 CST why are all you american\'s setting back allowing these iummigrants to come here and make us pay for there health care benefits,as you all know all the stuff they get free comes out of your taxes,and i bet that half you people that have childern don\'t get free care 2 and i know alot of you that need ssi can\'t get or get tourned down the illegals get it come on people are we going to just sit back and allow governor patrick make us pay for the entertainment? http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/GBG/ Mon, 23 Nov 2009 21:0:44 CST Women and children are victimized sexually and often times murdered due to the lack of education and information as well as support in our communities. GBG ~ we are asking that our communities nationwide become involved in helping GBG Goddesses Blessing Goddesses in implementing The Imperial Act. The Imperial Act~ we would like to establish a law to come into effect that will revamp and provide further information that will alert communities as to sexual offenders and their acts such as: 1. Notification of offenders 2. An immediate investigation into crimes committed 3. Recent offenses and actions 4. Support for victims and their families 5. Search Warrant The Imperial Act will further protect our WOMAN and our families. http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/Bansprivatearmedg/ Mon, 23 Nov 2009 21:0:32 CST The massacre on Monday of women, lawyers, and journalists by alleged gunmen of the Ampatuan clan shocked the nation. But people in Maguindanao have always known that you defy the Ampatuans at your peril. In 2008, journalist Jaileen Jimeno, then of the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism, ventured into Maguindanao, dared probe the hold of the Ampatuans over the province, and made it out alive. She reported on a place bristling with guns and on a clan supported by the Arroyo administration because the Ampatuans can virtually guarantee victory at the polls. http://www.gmanews.tv/story/177671/in-maguindanao-no-one-dares-cross-the-ampatuans ............................................ Amid the fighting, the clan rules in Maguindanao by Jaileen F. Jimeno MAGUINDANAO — The sound of sirens precedes the passing of a long convoy of 4×4 sport utility vehicles. As if on cue, jeepneys and private vehicles begin moving to the right side of the street, where they all then ground to halt. “Kailangan tumabi ka, kasi babanggain ka nila. Palalabasin nilang kaaway ka (You have to get out of their way, otherwise they’ll hit your car. And then they’ll make it appear you’re one of their enemies),” explains an old man watching the scene by the roadside. Asked if he knows whose convoy of black, heavily tinted vehicles is whizzing by, the man replies without hesitation: “Si Governor. Ganyan ang mga sasakyan niya (That’s how his vehicles look like).” In the last two weeks, this southern province has become one of the sites of a serial cat-and-mouse battle between soldiers and rebels from a faction of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), displacing thousands of people. But the armed clashes aside, residents here know that only one family wields real power in Maguindanao: the Ampatuans, led by its acknowledged patriarch, Governor Andal Ampatuan. It may not only be peace between combatants but respite from political clans that Maguindanao needs. A FAMILIAR SIGHT. A convoy of black, heavily tinted vehicles carrying the Ampatuans around Maguindanao. [photo by Jaileen Jimeno] The Ampatuans are just the latest in a long line of political dynasties that have endured in Mindanao. Yet while the Ampatuan clan has lorded over Maguindanao only since 2001, several of its members have already managed to grab key government positions, elective and appointive, and not only in the province itself. (see Table) In 2005, Andal Ampatuan’s son Zaldy, then 38 years old, became the governor of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), the youngest ever to head the regional government. And if the results of the recent AMMM polls are any indication, the Ampatuans seem to be digging in for the long haul. The baby-faced Zaldy took more than 90 percent of the votes among seven candidates in the ARMM elections held just a few weeks ago. His closest rival Indanan Mayor Alvarez Isnaji got just a tad over two percent of the votes. It did not help Isnaji any that he was battling kidnapping charges filed by the Philippine National Police (PNP) against him and his son Haider, midway through the campaign. But Ma. Krizna Gomez of the Legal Network for Truthful Elections (LENTE) observes: “We were all surprised to not see any election campaign materials (other than Zaldy Ampatuan’s) around the province. The dynasty runs deep into the entire political set-up and this is capped by the election result itself.” Location map of Maguindanao courtesy of Wikipedia Guns, Palace blessing Andal Ampatuan has four wives and over 30 children, and intermarriages with other political clans have made his political stock stronger. But political analysts trace the clan’s formidable clout to two main factors: guns and the blessings of Malacanang. They even note that no less than the Palace made it legal for the Ampatuans to have hundreds of armed men and women under their employ. The 1987 Constitution bans private armed groups. In July 2006, however, the Arroyo administration issued Executive Order 546, allowing local officials and the PNP to deputize barangay tanods as “force multipliers” in the fight against insurgents. In practice, the EO allows local officials to convert their private armed groups into legal entities with a fancy name: civilian volunteer organizations (CVO). Interestingly, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo issued the EO just weeks after a bombing in the Shariff Aguak public market that killed five people. Andal Ampatuan, who has survived several other ambushes, was said to have been the target. According to a military officer who served for 16 years in ARMM — five of them in Maguindanao — Andal Ampatuan employs about 200 CVO members. The officer adds that Ampatuan’s sons and relatives maintain armed men, supposedly for their protection. (Andal’s eldest son Saudi was killed in a bomb blast in Shariff Aguak 2002.) “Everybody carries firearms, mga paltik (homemade guns),” says the military officer. “Or (they) either borrow from the military or the PNP, or they buy.” A soldier who spent five years on assignment in Maguindanao says of the CVOs here: “They support the internal security requirement of the capitol or the municipio.” He adds that while some of the CVOs are paid by the local government in areas where they serve, they are often “borrowed” for personal use by local officials. And whenever they board the back of spiffy pickups that are staples of Ampatuan convoys, these CVO members typically lug long firearms. At times, the convoys of 20 vehicles or more also begin and end with pickups mounted with big machine guns. Indeed, long before the military resumed chasing the MILF in earnest across the region, Maguindanao was already dotted with checkpoints. Soldiers manned entrances to municipal halls, and armored vehicles hogged major road networks. PCIJ tried for months to interview Andal Ampatuan here and during his visits in Manila, but Maguindanao provincial administrator Norie Unas repeatedly said the governor does not grant interviews. Instead, it has been Unas who has fielded questions from PCIJ. In an interview with PCIJ late last year, Unas said that the older Ampatuan’s political stance has earned his clan several enemies, hence the need for heightened security. Unas explained that while previous Maguindanao leaders played footsies with secessionist forces, “Governor Ampatuan is not really sympathetic to the MILF or other forces wishing for a separatist Muslim state.” But Datu Michael Mastura, former congressman of Maguindanao’s first district, seems less than convinced by the argument. “I will tell you, the word ‘impunity’ does not even suit it. It’s inappropriate,” he says, referring to the Ampatuans’ chronic show of force. Pointing to the clan’s numerous bodyguards and vehicles, Mastura wonders aloud: “Just imagine, how do you maintain them? How do you house them?” No one here is ready to come forward with any answers to that, but at the very least, the presence of armed men and women helps explain why residents would rather not do anything to cross an Ampatuan. One journalist who unwittingly did is certainly thankful that all he got was a dressing-down from the provincial governor. The journalist had helped a colleague get in touch with the Ampatuans for an article that the governor apparently perceived to be unflattering. The helpful journalist says he was summoned to the governor’s mansion and there received a tongue-lashing. “I just sat there,” he recalls, “and took it, not saying a word.” ‘Hello, Garci’ then 12-0 in ‘07 To some political analysts, it is easy to explain why the Ampatuans command solid hold on Maguindanao: The clan enjoys close ties with the Palace in faraway Manila, simply because the clan has managed to deliver the votes for administration candidates. In its 2007 Elections Forensics Report, the Center for People Empowerment in Governance (CenPEG) noted: “The Ampatuan dynasty based in Maguindanao province is Arroyo’s present conduit in helping ensure her influence over the whole of Mindanao, which hosts many of the country’s grizzled but otherwise powerful political clans.” During the 2004 presidential elections, “(Governor Andal) Ampatuan addressed the political requirement of Arroyo,” says Bobby Tuazon, CenPEG’s director for policy study, publication, and advocacy. “She needed somebody to control the votes.” In the controversial “Hello Garci” recordings, then elections commissioner Virgilio Garcillano was heard saying that Maguindanao would not be “much of a problem” for President Arroyo. His words turned out to be more than prophetic, with Maguindanao giving Arroyo 193,938 votes, against the 59,892 votes obtained by popular action film star Fernando Poe Jr. In Ampatuan and Datu Piang towns, Poe even scored zero, and in the capital Shariff Aguak and other Maguindanao towns, received just a handful of votes. In the 2007 congressional and local elections, the 12 senatorial candidates of the administration’s Team Unity slate made a clean sweep of the polls in Maguindanao, or scored 12-0, to be exact. Family members and allies of the Ampatuans who ran for local positions also clinched wins. Maguindanao officials have since brushed off suspicions of election fraud, saying local candidates did not bother campaigning for their own seats. They say that “negotiations” were held before the elections to “amicably” settle the battle for positions. Besides, they note, many of the Ampatuan candidates had run unopposed and thus had devoted time to campaign for the administration’s senatorial slate. In his interview with PCIJ last year, Maguindanao provincial administrator Unas said political contests here are settled even before any balloting through “consultation and consensus-building.” “People are critical of our system and ridicule us for the manner by which we choose our leaders,” he said. But, he asserted, it is a system that works for the province, “not that demo-democracy.” “We know that the Manila system does not fit us,” Unas said. “We have stabilized the political landscape because there’s no contest every election. This is one better way for us Muslims coming out with our leaders.” CenPEG fellow Ely H. Manalansan Jr., however, insists that shura or the Islamic practice of consultation was not a factor in Team Unity’s 12-0 win in Maguindanao. He says that even Islamic experts dismiss such an assertion, adding, “(It) merely serves as a justification for the widespread and systematic fraud perpetrated by the administration during elections in Mindanao.” Last year, public schoolteacher Musa Dimasidsing had also revealed that days before the 2007 vote, he had seen teachers and students writing and then putting their thumbmarks on ballots. Days after he spoke up, Dimasidsing was shot dead; his murder remains unsolved. No ‘Big Man’ monopoly CenPEG’s Tuazon, though, cautions against stereotyping this conduct of elections as unique to Maguindanao and ARMM. “Oligarchs also rule in Luzon and Visayas, and you will see a lot of similarities in what is happening there in the Moro homeland,” he says. “Ampatuan is no different from (Luis) Chavit Singson,” points out Fr. Eliseo Mercado Jr., who briefly chaired the government peace panel with the MILF. Singson, former governor of Ilocos Sur in northern Luzon, has built a reputation for keeping an iron grip on his home province. Unas himself acknowledges the perception that Ampatuan is a warlord. Reached by phone by PCIJ recently, he said, “May katotohanan din siguro. The same way na may perception na warlord sina Joson (of Nueva Ecija) at Singson, (Probably there’s truth to that. The same way there is a perception that the Josons and the Singsons are warlords).” But the provincial administrator denied that the capitol pays for the CVOs protecting Ampatuan and his clan. He said that the CVOs are hired and funded by town mayors, while those who guard the governor are made up of soldiers, policemen, and civilians “who, as Muslims, will die for their leader.” This relationship between leaders and the governed, said Unas, has its roots in the history of Muslim communities down south, and is found not only in Maguindanao. Poverty, mega projects In Mercado’s view, the resiliency of the Ampatuan clan will rest mainly on its ability to deliver the needs of its constituents. Then again, if Mercado is right, the Ampatuans’ days in power may be numbered, based on the province’s sorry showing in several sectors. For one, despite the Ampatuans’ expanded powerbase, Maguindanao’s poverty numbers are worsening. In 2000, the poverty incidence was recorded at 59.3 percent. It grew to 60.4 percent in 2003, and rose further to 62 percent in 2006, turning Maguindanao into the third poorest province in the country. For another, Maguindanao’s spending for education remains low, even as the elementary teacher-to-pupil ratio has worsened to 51 in school year 2005-06, from 43.9 in school year 2000-01. These bad statistics are among the reasons why, according to the Philippine Human Development Report (PHDR) of 2005, only 39.7 percent of adults in Maguindanao have six years of basic education, compared with the national average of 84 percent. Too, the PHDR reveals that Maguindanao has the second lowest life expectancy in the Philippines at 52 years, edged out only by Tawi-Tawi’s 51.2 years. The National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB) reports as well that the number of health stations in the province has remained stagnant at 163, from 2000 to 2006. Amid worsening poverty and education services for its population of 600,000 as of last year, Maguindanao has been pouring money into new town halls and a bigger capitol. The latter is now estimated to cost the province about P116 million, or nearly twice as much as the original price tag of P60 million. According to Unas, Andal Ampatuan had asked President Arroyo for help in funding the new capitol project. Arroyo, Unas said, committed an initial P20 million, paving the way for construction work to start. The renovation project has since evolved into a government center that will feature other huge structures, including a sports-and-culture center that would cost P80 million. Young guns, young terror ALL OVER the world, the practice of engaging children and teenagers in criminal gangs and private armies continues unabated. The Philippines is no exception. A little-known academic study documents how minors are being recruited down south in private armies better known as civilian volunteers organizations or CVOs. These groups help keep village adults in a perpetual state of fear and obeisance, even if some of the “volunteers” have not moved past puberty. The 80-page study was conducted across a five-month period in 2003 by researchers led by Agnes Zenaida Camacho of the University Center for Integrative and Development Studies (UCIDS) at the University of the Philippines. It focused on three towns of Maguindanao and the use of minors by the pagali or clan to keep itself in power. The researchers interviewed 10 young CVO members, who had to be assigned pseudonyms in the report, for their own protection. Most of the young CVO members were recruited into the armed group as replacement for their fathers who had been killed in action, the researchers learned. Of the 10 interviewees, only two were 18 years old at the time they started working for a pagali. One interviewee was drafted into CVO service when he was only 10 years old, and the seven others, in their early teens. Read more… Maguindanao is not lacking in funds. On top of benefiting from foreign and ARMM-funded projects, it received an internal revenue allotment (IRA) of P555 million in 2005, which grew to P633 million the following year. Yet of the P590 million budget the capitol lined up for 2006, P124 million or 21 percent was set aside for the provincial governor’s office alone. Over P185 million or 31 percent, meanwhile, went to the salaries and benefits of the capitol’s 587 employees. The people’s view The people in Maguindanao offer a common opinion of Andal Ampatuan as “mabait (a good person).” One resident says, “If you need a job, he’ll provide one for you.” Another intones, “We don’t say no to him because he takes care of us.” But such positive comments almost always come with a caveat: “Basta sundin mo ang gusto niya (As long as you do as he says).” “He is like a pharaoh, that’s what people call him,” says Mastura, himself a member of one of Mindanao’s prominent families. “You don’t go against his wishes.” The one person who has tried to keep the Ampatuans in check, albeit in his own turf, is Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte. Over the years, Duterte, who is known for his tough stance against crime, has repeatedly warned various clans — not only the Ampatuans, to be sure — against “misbehaving” in Davao City. But Duterte has also zeroed in on younger Ampatuan scions for using sirens whenever they drive around Davao. In 2006, Duterte let it rip when three Ampatuan youths were arrested in his city for possession of high-powered firearms, including rifles fitted with telescopic sights, and rounds of ammunition. “Davao City is not your kingdom,” a fuming Duterte had reportedly said. “If you want to show off, you better do it in your place, not here.” Unfortunately for Duterte, Maguindanao has no known nightlife to keep privileged youths entertained and occupied. Once the sun sets in this province, the roads turn empty, save for one or two vehicles rushing to their destinations, and the occasional convoy of huge, black cars and pickups flashing their lights and sounding their sirens. Invariably, the convoy carries an Ampatuan as passenger. http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/pedophileDYLG/ Mon, 23 Nov 2009 19:0:03 CST AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAAA http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/weedinwisconsin/ Mon, 23 Nov 2009 19:0:14 CST I know theirs a lot of people that want to have weed legalized in all U.S states, but right now I\\\'m worried about the legalization of it where I live, so when I\\\'m out on my porch toking up, I don\\\'t have to hide it every time a car drives by, and so I can smoke publicly, out in the open without having to hide anything at all. i know a lot of people wish that, and with Barack Obama\\\'s help I know I can do this, with you guys\\\' help it would be on step closer to the LEGALIZATION OF MARIJUANA. http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/legalizweednow/ Mon, 23 Nov 2009 17:0:20 CST Look we all know or are a person who smokes weed. I\\\'m pretty sure there is a lot of petitions of legalizing weed. I mean really its less harmful the cigarettes and alcohol combined. It just calms you down when you feel like its the end of the world. We need to get it legal. I mean half of us do it any ways. So whats it matter? Sign your name if your with me. http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/endhumantrafficking/ Mon, 23 Nov 2009 17:0:37 CST Human trafficking is todays form of slavery. Its happening in every country around the world including yours. Every year over 800,000 men, women, boys and girls are trafficked into the sex and business trade. You can help stop this and make a difference just by signing this petition. http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/humantrafficking/ Mon, 23 Nov 2009 17:0:21 CST Human trafficking is todays form of slavery. Its happening in every country around the world including yours. Every year over 800,000 men, women, boys and girls are trafficked into the sex and business trade. You can help stop this and make a difference just by signing this petition. http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/teamtaylorasjacob/ Mon, 23 Nov 2009 15:0:07 CST We need to save Taylor Lautner from getting replaced. He might get replaced over something very unfair. They will lose a lot of viewers if they do replace him. Taylor was the heart and sole of new moon and most everyone who saw it loved it. It is said that they will replace him with Michael Copron. What is putting someone who doesn\\\\\\\'t even know how to be Jacob going to help the movie? It wont help the movie at all. People who dont want Taylor to be in Eclipse just say it doesnt fit the book. They say he go from kid to man. They also say he looks to young. What do they expect him to look like? If you watched New Moon you would see that from the last movie he does turn more into a man, very much. Everyone who agrees with me please sign this and leave comments. http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/mimikaulitz/ Mon, 23 Nov 2009 15:0:57 CST Moja najveca zelja je da th dodju u Beograd...I duguju nam to jos od prosle godine kada je koncert otkazan...Nema reci kojima bih mogla da pokazem svu ljubav prema njima... http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/legalizedrugs/ Mon, 23 Nov 2009 13:0:47 CST The country is $12 TRILLION DOLLARS in debt, by not incresing taxes, how will we pay off this debt? Well, let\'s create a new tax that not everyone has to pay. By legalizing Marijuana,Cocaine,LSD,Heroin,etc. we could begin to pay off the debt. If the states sell Marijuana for $500 a gram, $800 for Cocaine, $1000 for Heroin and $1400 for LSD plus a 10% tax you figure there are 305 million people in the US if only 21.5 million people say they won\'t do drugs that leaves us with 286.5 million people that will. If 101 million people buy just 5 grams of marijuana each (which some people will buy more that others) that right there is about 28 billion dollars (after all the expenses of the people who grow are taken away, the marijuana will be grown in every state that it can be grown in, if one\'s state does not grow marijuana, they can buy it from another state) 28 billion dollars JUST FROM MARIJUANA sales! States will mail forms to individual citizens and those that are interested in purchasing any kind of drugs will fill out the form and send it back to the state with the money inside, specifying how much they would like. If all drugs are taxed 10% we could make just about 250 BILLION DOLLARS in drug sales yearly (if everyone buys 5 grams of pot and 1 gram of cocaine,heroin and LSD each) (that number is based on estimates) If we make 250 billion dollars yearly just from drug sales, we could put a small dent in the debt. We could also use hemp for paper and fuel (which would be more enviromentally friendly) While if the hemp crop burns it could cause a big health hazard for the surrounding area and could cost the US millions of dollars in hemp investment, it wouldn\'t RUIN the total revenue from narcotics. While I would not purchase a lot of drugs, others will. NOTE: THE AGE TO DO DRUGS WOULD BE 18 AND 21 (BASED ON THE POTENTIAL HARM THAT THE DRUGS COULD CAUSE) We\'d make between 270 and 290 billion dollars from hemp/drug sales yearly. We OBVIOUSLY need to legalize drugs. http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/manhood101/ Mon, 23 Nov 2009 12:0:36 CST This petition is designed to rally men together to join us in our fight for equality. You may think that, as a man, you have it great. Why even bother complaining? But what you fail to realize is that your civil rights are being chipped away, one double standard at a time. Women have TONS of support groups and social outlets. Men don\'t. Women have TONS of free and government subsidized resources to help them get ahead. Men don\'t. Women have TONS of media support and political action committees. Men don\'t. Women are given access to male-oriented jobs by dangerously lowering the entrance standards (fire & police depts.) while men are expected to take up the slack. Women benefit from divorces under Feminist laws protecting their interests while men suffer financial ruin. Women are allowed free into night clubs while men have to pay. Women are given tons of dating advice while men are demonized as perverts and pedophiles if they become competent at socializing. Women\'s causes (breast cancer, presidential councils, etc.) are supported by the government and popular media while men\'s causes are belittled and ignored. Women can falsely accuse men of rape, ruining their lives and reputations, without any punishment. Women are absolved of blame and men are automatically arrested in any so-called \"domestic violence\" incident. Enough is enough. It\'s time for men to start caring for their civil rights. It\'s time for men to start caring about their own needs for a change. If you are a man, and you want to preserve your rights and start receiving government support for your causes just like women already do, then join us in demonstrating your will. Make your voice heard TODAY. Check out our completely free resource for men: http://manhood101.com ---------------------------------------------------- Added by: manhood101.com on November 23, 2009, 12:45:44 pm ---------------------------------------------------- Also check out our free online ebook detailing what you can do today to start receiving the same benefits women already receive: http://www.scribd.com/doc/21733512/Principles-101 http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/laszczow/ Mon, 23 Nov 2009 11:0:23 CST Petycja w sprawie uniemozliwienia kolejnego wystapienia Michala \"Kaczki\" Karczmarczuka, zwanego rowniez \"puszek okruszek\" w nastepnym odcinku programu \"Jaka to melodia\"