WNPJ Action Alert - White House meeting with torture survivors and more

Action Alert 1: Urge the White House to meet with SOA Watch
Action Alert 2: Call to Move the Money - Milwaukee
Action Alert 3: Sign on in support of Ho-Chunk land claim - Organizations
Action Alert 4: Vote for OutReach to get a piece of the "pie"

Action Alert 1: Urge the White House to meet with SOA Watch
Background: The human rights group SOA Watch has campaigned for decades to close the School of the Americas (SOA) / Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation (WHINSEC), a combat training school in Georgia for soldiers from Latin America and elsewhere around the world.  Following SOA Watch delegations, Nicaragua and Ecuador recently ended their participation in SOA / WHINSEC.  A high-level SOA Watch delegation including torture survivors, labor and religious leaders, academics and legislators is now seeking a meeting with the Obama administration, to urge them to respect other countries' self-determination, turn away from military "solutions" and close the SOA / WHINSEC.
Take Action: Write a letter to Denis McDonough, Deputy National Security Advisor to President Obama, urging him to meet with the SOA Watch delegation.  Send the letter to him at the White House, 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20500.
Contact for more info: Sister Maureen McDonnell, 608-257-1259, mcdonnel@edgewood.edu

Action Alert 2: Call to Move the Money - Milwaukee
Background: Did you know that the U.S. military budget could be cut by 80% and still be the largest in the world?  That's just one of the clauses in Peace Action's "Move the Money" resolution calling on Milwaukee's Common Council to resolve that money currently spent on the military industrial complex should be spent on education, health care and jobs.  The resolution goes before the city's Judicial-Legislative Committee on September 17, followed by the full Council on September 25.
Take Action: If you live in Milwaukee, please call your Alderperson and tell them that you support Peace Action's upcoming resolution to bring money currently wasted on military spending back to our communities for jobs, education and health care.  All Alders can be reached at 414-286-2221; click here to find out who represents you on the Council.
Contact for more info: Peace Action Wisconsin, 414-964-5158, info@peaceactionwi.org

Action Alert 3: Sign on in support of Ho-Chunk land claim - Organizations
Background: In 1988, the Ho-Chunk Nation filed a claim for excess property at the Badger Army Ammunition Plant, an area within their aboriginal territory containing significant historical, cultural and sacred resources to the Ho-Chunk people.  The Ho-Chunk Nation's plans for the land, which are strongly supported by the surrounding community, include historic and cultural resource protection, natural resource enhancement, education, employment and economic development.  But last year, the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs refused to transfer the land from the U.S. Army to the Ho-Chunk, claiming it could not afford to conduct an environmental assessment.
Take Action: Organizations and tribes are invited to sign onto a letter in support of the Ho-Chunk Nation's land claim by September 13, by emailing your name, title, organization or tribe, mailing address, phone number and email to info@cswab.org.
Contact for more info: Citizens for Safe Water Around Badger, 608-643-3124, info@cswab.org.

Action Alert 4: Vote for OutReach to get a piece of the "pie"
Background: OutReach, south central Wisconsin's LGBT community center, has been nominated to be part of Chase's Community Giving Campaign.  Nominated organizations from across the country are now competing, via online votes, for a share of a $5 million charitable "pie."
Take Action: Before September 19, vote for OutReach on Facebook or the Chase website to receive some of the grant funds, so that they can strengthen their work for the LGBT community.
Contact for more info: OutReach, 608-255-8582, angier@lgbtoutreach.org