Support Mexico and Puerto Rico and #KillTheBill

My Fellow Resisters,

Here are new updates and recommended actions from PAGE (Progressive Action Global Exchange) followed by inspiring reading/watching/listening suggestions from our own Kathy Sherretts (STOP, LOOK, LISTEN).
 
Check it out and leave comments!

In solidarity,
Sage

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PAGE Actions

It has been another heartbreaking week full of disasters. Mexico has experienced several earthquakes in the last 2 weeks (one just happened Friday). The strongest in Mexico City has claimed nearly 300 lives. Hurricane Maria has devastated Puerto Rico. The entire island is without electricity and communication coming out of the island has been spotty, but all indications are that the rebuilding process will be long and costly. We cannot count on the Trump Administration to help people in need in Mexico and Puerto Rico.

In these tragic times, Trump administration and the GOP senate have not relented their attacks against poor and sick people. The latest Obamacare repeal effort, Graham-Cassidy, may be voted on by the Senate this week. We’ve stopped repeal efforts before; let’s do it again!

Priority Actions

• Show solidarity with disaster victims. As a general rule, we recommend to give money, not items of clothing or other goods. People on the ground know what they need best and money will let them buy it.
  • Donate to Mexican relief efforts after the 7.1 earthquake. We recommend to give to Topos Mexico.
  • Hurricane Maria has devastated much of the Caribbean, with Puerto Rico being hit the hardest. Most of the island is without electricity and will be for months to come. We recommend to give to Unidos por Puerto Rico.
• Healthcare for all, not tax-breaks for the rich. The GOP is back with one more try to repeal Obamacare AGAIN. It is estimated that 32 million people would lose health care under the Graham Cassidy bill. Please call your Senators and let them know you oppose the bill. If you are represented by one of the following Senators, your voice can be particularly impactful McCain (Arizona), Murkowski (Alaska), Collins (Maine), Portman (Ohio) Capito (West Virginia) and Paul (Kentucky).
  • Dial in some constituents! Our friends at Indivisible have developed a neat tool just for activists abroad! Use this tool to call constituents around the USA, who live in states with Senators who could swing on this issue. The tool is super sleek and will connect you directly to constituents - no dialing! Also, if you reach someone who wants to tell their Senator to oppose the bill - you can connect them directly to their office!.
  • Share your health care experience with people back home! Many PAGE members live in countries with universal health care that is much more generous than the US system. We know that a better health care system is possible. Check out this video of people sharing their experience living in other countries. Write a letter to the editor of your local paper; you can adapt this example if you like.

*** Thank you for your progressive action!***​

STOP, LOOK, LISTEN! by Kathy Sherretts

I hope everyone with connections in Houston, Florida, Puerto Rico, or Mexico City have heard that family and friends are safe. (Here's a reminder that when we want to support communities in a natural disaster, charitynavigator.org can help us help.)
Kathy Sherretts

Article:
Washington Post: Mormons are among the few who want less federally protected land. Their history explains why. By Christine Colbert
Mormon lawmakers are the most prominent in fighting to take back federal lands.

Podcast:
TEDTalks  Radio: A Black Man Goes Undercover in the Alt-Right 
Theo E. j. Wilson tells of becoming Lucius25, white supremacist lurker, and the unexpected compassion and surprising perspective he found from engaging with people he disagrees with. 

Article:
Slate Magazine: Healthcare.gov is offline on Sundays
A special bonus reminder of how mean and petty this administration can be: