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Play FreeRice and Help End World Hunger

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In the past week, more than 30,000 ONE members have signed our petition to Barack Obama and John McCain asking them to keep their poverty-fighting commitments to the world’s most vulnerable people. Together, we’re proving that, even in tough times, we stand up for our principles. And so far, it’s working. Since our campaign began, the candidates have continued to stand by the promises they made earlier in the campaign.

Now we need to keep the pressure on, and to do that we’re going global and breaking records. This Friday, October 17th, through Sunday the 19th is the “Stand Up and Take Action” weekend against poverty, when we’ll join the Global Call To Action Against Poverty and the U.N. Millennium Campaign to set a new Guinness World Record of 67 million people standing up, literally, against poverty – 1% of everyone on earth.Add your name to the petition. Show John McCain, Barack Obama and the world that Americans are serious about keeping our commitments to meet the Millennium Development Goals and halve extreme poverty and global disease by 2015. When you do, we’ll also add your name to the millions around the globe who are standing up against global poverty this weekend.

Barack Obama and John McCain have already gone On The Record in response to the call from ONE members like you, and made historic commitments to end extreme poverty and global disease. In two weeks, we’ll deliver your petitions and give them one more chance to reaffirm where they stand on our issues. Between now and then, let’s Stand Up, set a world record, and make our voices heard as Americans, and as part of a global movement against global poverty.

Thank you for making a difference,

David Lane, ONE.org

Legislation to Curb Illegal Logging Advances: Legislation to stop U.S. imports of illegal wood was approved by the House Natural Resources Committee and many of the bill’s provisions were added to the Farm Bill passed by the Senate. That progress is great news because illegal logging, driven in part by the U.S. market for imported wood products, threatens some of the most biologically significant forests around the world.

Take Action: U.S. activists, please act now to protect Sumatran tigers and rhinos, Siberian tigers, orangutans and many other species that depend on forest habitat around the globe, if you haven’t already done so, by urging your representative to support the Legal Timber Protection Act.

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Senate Committee Votes for Law of the Sea Treaty: The prospects that the United States will join an international ocean protection treaty greatly increased when the Senate Foreign Relations Committee approved the treaty last fall. Overfishing, wildlife trade, pollution, and climate change have combined to put our oceans and the plant and animal species they sustain in peril. The Law of the Sea promotes sustainable use of marine resources at the same time that it strengthens our sovereignty and security.

Take Action: Please help win full Senate approval.

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Big Increase in Biodiversity Protection Fund: The U.S. Congress approved $195 million for biodiversity conservation in developing countries for fiscal year 2008, a huge jump over last year’s $165.5 million and a far cry from President Bush’s budget request, which would have eliminated all dedicated funding for biodiversity. The funds will help conserve species and habitats around the globe. Learn More…

Senate Approves $4.8 Billion for Conservation in Farm Bill: Currently many farmers are turned away due to a lack of funding when they seek to participate in federal programs that compensate them for protecting the environment. The Senate’s Farm Bill funding levels came close to what is needed to meet this demand. Unfortunately, the House approved only $4.5 billion and the Bush administration has recommended vetoes of both versions of the bill because of the spending levels. House and Senate negotiators are working on a new proposal. Learn More…

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More Funds for International Species Conservation: Congress provided nearly $12.3 million for fiscal year 2008 for special funds to conserve rhinos, tigers, elephants, great apes, sea turtles and neotropical migratory birds. That’s the most ever allocated for these programs and a substantial increase over 2007 levels. Thanks to the support of committed activists who are willing to speak out each year for adequate funding for international conservation, we have achieved increases for the past 8 years. Learn More…

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Manatee Protections Maintained: The state of Florida was considering changing the status of the manatee from endangered to threatened on the state endangered species list, but decided instead to maintain the manatee’s current status while it conducts a review of the state’s endangered species classification system. The review could take months or years and our hope is that it will provide a much needed overhaul of the state’s system to make it compatible with the international system for classifying imperiled species. Learn More…

Message sent by:
Jason Patlis
Vice President and Managing Director
U.S. Government Relations
World Wildlife Fund

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Please join WWF’s Conservation Action Network and let’s love the planet together!
As one we can accomplish many wonders, our voices are heard louder, as one.

Namaste
The ThinkActUnity Team