FACT: One-third of Nestle’s chocolate is from West Africa, where over 286,000 children are working in slave-like conditions on cocoa (chocolate) farms.

FACT: Dole is the largest distributor of cut-flowers in the world, the majority of which are imported from Columbia and Ecuador, where farmers and flower workers (often adolescent girls) are exposed to 127 different chemicals, including neurotoxins and carcinogens.

FACT: The three private owners of M&M/Mars Inc. are each “worth” $10.4 billion, while the West African farmers growing the cocoa for M&Ms chocolate are paid an average of $108 annually.

FACT: Despite record profits in 2006, Hershey’s has been accused of buying from contractors who utilize child labor and child slavery on cocoa farms on the Ivory Coast.

TAKE ACTION: Send a message to the chocolate and flower giants to stop child labor, illegal toxic chemical use, union busting, and to pay their farmers a living wage.

Replacing Sandra Day O’Connor with Samuel Alito would set women back decades. Alito’s vote would tip the Court’s balance on many issues and take us back to the days:

- when sexual harassment and sex discrimination were “all in a day’s work” for women;

-when women were routinely excluded from law schools, medical schools and elite colleges;

-when there were no female firefighters, and no women on the police force;

-when women could be fired for becoming pregnant, or getting married;

-when employment ads were divided into “Help Wanted - Male” and “Help Wanted - Female;”

-when illegal, unsafe abortions, were the norm, and reliable birth control was outlawed as well.

We are determined not to turn back the clock.

Join National NOW’s campaign to save the Court and women’s rights. Visit NOW’s Enraged and Engaged campaign for more information.

To read about what’s happening in Rhode Island, visit www.rifj.org
Providence Journal article
Pawtucket Times article

RI NOW Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 29, 2005

Rhode Island NOW (RI NOW) joins activists across the country today in a nationwide day of action, demanding that emergency contraception (EC) be made available to all women, without a prescription.

“It is disappointing, to say the least, that after promising a decision on this matter by September 1, the FDA has yet again delayed its decision on broadening access to EC,” said Meaghan Lamarre, President of RI NOW, “and it is disturbing that any forthcoming decision to make EC available over-the-counter will exclude women under the age of 17. EC is a proven safe and effective method of preventing unplanned pregnancy, and should be available to all women without restrictions.”

“Given the recent incident of a pharmacist at a CVS in Coventry refusing to fill a prescription for Plan B,” continued Lamarre, “Rhode Islanders are especially concerned about women’s unrestricted access to emergency contraception. As we wait for a clarification of CVS’s policy on this issue, we are reminded of how important it is that the FDA allow EC to be sold over-the-counter.”

NOW’s actions on August 30 are part of the organization’s long term commitment to accessible, affordable and comprehensive women’s health care. Emergency contraception is safe and legal birth control. If taken within 24-72 hours after rape, unwanted sexual activity or birth control failure, women can dramatically reduce their odds of facing an abortion or unwanted pregnancy. NOW demands that the FDA promote and protect our health and safety, not the political whims of the White House, the pharmaceutical industry, or anti-women politicians.

Take Action:

• Call the FDA, general comment line: 1-888-463-6332
• Call the office of FDA Commissioner Lester Crawford 301-827-2410
• Call the Office of Women’s Health 301-827-0350

Call or Email the New England Regional Office of the FDA

• Joseph Raulinaitis (508) 793-0422, Joseph.Raulinaitis@fda.hhs.gov
• Susan Small (781) 596-7779, Susan.Small@fda.hhs.gov
• Mary B. Yebba (781) 596-7779, Mary.Yebba@fda.hhs.gov

Read more in the following statement from Kim Gandy:

Statement of National Organization for Women President Kim Gandy

The National Organization for Women calls on women’s health advocates to join in a National Day of Action on Tuesday, August 30, protesting the decision by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regarding emergency contraception (EC).

Today’s announcement by the FDA, on Women’s Equality Day no less, is insulting on so many levels that I hardly know where to begin.

First, FDA commissioner Lester Crawford lied to the United States Senate to achieve his confirmation to this post. Senators Patty Murray and Hillary Clinton had put a hold on his nomination, and released their hold (thus enabling his confirmation) after his absolute assurance that the FDA would finally make a decision on non-prescription availability of emergency contraception by September 1.

Second, despite years of study, despite strong support from the FDA’s professional staff, despite extensive public hearings and commentary, and despite the near-unanimous recommendations of not one but two FDA advisory panels, this newly appointed Commissioner has again delayed women’s access to emergency contraception (EC) — and with the lame excuse that they need more time for “public comment.”

Third, the one thing that was made clear in today’s announcement is that women under 17 will be left out altogether, and this time the excuse is even more ridiculous: that the “target” users will not be able to understand the directions. Since Plan B consists only of two small white pills, and the directions are to take one pill after unprotected intercourse (within 5 days) and to take the second pill 12 hours after the first one, it is apparent that any teenager with 6th grade reading ability could follow these directions. My 12-year-old daughter could follow those directions easily. And even if the directions weren’t followed properly, EC is extremely safe — so there would be no adverse health consequences to justify extreme measures to keep it out of the hands of young women.

So the FDA’s “reason” is merely an excuse to deny young women access to the means to prevent pregnancy, and at a time in their lives when an unwanted pregnancy would wreak havoc on their young lives and limit their future. And if a young woman can’t understand such a simple label, do we honestly think that the alternative should be motherhood?

Finally, the FDA says it is not making EC available without prescription to women 17 and over because they can’t figure out how to prevent access to those under 17. C’mon — as if they haven’t seen drugstores deal with alcohol, cigarettes, and the nicotine patch for years. This is just another in a long line of decisions that make women’s health secondary to right-wing politics. This administration is determined to turn the FDA into an arm of the Republican Party - carrying out the fondest desires of Bush allies who oppose women’s use of contraception.

Over-the-Counter Emergency Contraception

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) promises a decision on over the counter Emergency Contraception by September 1.

After more than two years of foot dragging during negotiations with the makers of the “morning after pill,” the FDA once again is promising to issue a decision about emergency contraception (EC). NOW activists and others who support the health and safety of girls and women, have been demanding that the FDA allow the sale of EC without a prescription. We must remind them one more time that their job is to promote and protect our health and safety, not the political whims of their patrons, be they the pharmaceutical industry or the politicians controlling the White House and Congress.

Read more.

NOW Calls for FDA Probe, Questions Integrity of Panel’s Recommendation on Breast Implants

Today we call on the United States Congress to step in and fully investigate the entire circumstances surrounding the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) decision to send an approvable letter regarding dangerous silicone gel breast implants — from the allegations of fraud and deception made under oath by managers of the company that makes these implants, to the role of a senior manager at the FDA who acted more like a representative of the manufacturer than a person carrying out a public trust.

Read more.

Thursday, August 11, 2005
5:30-6:00pm
Kenneday Plaza, Downtown Providence

Join us as we rally for our reproductive rights, as we talk about the fragility of Roe v. Wade, and share our concerns about Judge Roberts’ nomination to the Supreme Court.

Poster-making party on Wednesday, August 10, 2005. 6:30pm at the offices of 2to1: the Coalition to Preserve Choice, 1192 Westminster Street, Providence.

Family child care providers across Rhode Island are forming a union to protect and improve our child care system. Providers, parents and child care advocates are supporting legislation that will allow child care providers to form a union without being state employees. This is a win-win situation for everyone: providers win a voice in the child care system and no new state employees will be created. Please support the historic struggle of providers for justice and dignity on the job.

Take action here.

Senator Chafee needs to hear from supportive Rhode Islanders and asked to co-sponsor the Baucus Amendment.

Call or e-mail Senator Chafee and ask him to support the Baucus Flexibility Amendment on Welfare’s Abstinence-Only-Until-Marriage programs.

Please phone the Senator at 202-224-2921 or send him a message by going to chafee.senate.gov/webform.htm

• The United States Senate is currently considering the nation’s welfare law. Part of that law sets aside $50 million per year to states for the purposes of doing abstinence-only-until-marriage programs that must adhere to a strict eight point definition of what abstinence means.
• This definition hamstrings states in that they may not use the money for anything beyond abstinence-only-until-marriage. There is an opportunity to create flexibility with these funds and an amendment will be offered by Senator Max Baucus (D-MT) that will allow states to continue funding programs that adhere to the 8-point definition, or they can fund more comprehensive efforts that best meet the needs of their states. In other words, the amendment would empower states in funding efforts to prevent teen pregnancy,HIV/AIDS and STDs that best meet their needs.
• Senator Lincoln Chafee is currently considering supporting this amendment and being a lead Republican in this effort. Senator Chafee needs to hear from supportive Rhode Islanders and asked to co-sponsor this amendment.
• This is an enormous opportunity for us to change the destructive course that abstinence-only programs have been having across the country.

Please call or e-mail Senator Chafee and ask him to support the Baucus Flexibility Amendment on Welfare’s Abstinence-Only-Until-Marriage programs. Please phone the Senator at 202-224-2921 or send him a message by going to chafee.senate.gov/webform.htm

Action Needed:

The United States Senate will begin floor discussions of the Budget
Resolution today, Monday, March 14. Please urge your Senators to
oppose plans by George W. Bush and the Republican leadership in
Congress to cut funding for Medicaid:
http://www.now.org/congress/mail/oneclick_compose/?alertid=7206976

Medicaid is the single largest health care program in the U.S. and is
the only source of reproductive health care for millions of poor and
low income women. Women comprise 71% of adult Medicaid beneficiaries.
Bush claims that programs such as Medicaid need to be cut in order to
control spending and reduce the federal deficit—a deficit that he and
right wing Republicans created through their huge tax cuts for the
wealthy combined with the costs of the war in Iraq.

The Senate will be voting on the budget this week and an amendment
will be offered on the Senate floor by Senators Gordon Smith (R-Ore.)
and Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.) to strike the Medicaid cuts from the Senate
budget resolution. This amendment has a good chance of passing,
especially if we let our Senators know that we value this important
and often life-saving health care program. Several moderate
Republicans have indicated that they think the cuts to Medicaid would
hurt vulnerable constituents and shift the cost burden to
budget-stressed states—and they especially need to hear from you
today.

Contact your Senators today:
http://www.now.org/congress/mail/oneclick_compose/?alertid=7206976

Background:

Medicaid is a critically important program which guarantees coverage
to all eligible adults and children. It is funded by both federal and
state governments and provides the only source of health care coverage
for 53 million poor and low-income people, including 38 million
low-income children and their parents along with 15 million seniors
and people with disabilities. Under Medicaid, some 16 million
low-income women are provided basic health care, reproductive health
services and coverage for long-term care. Women are 71% of all adult
beneficiaries of Medicaid.

Total Medicaid spending, including both federal and state outlays, is
projected to be $329 billion in 2005, accounting for 17 % of all U.S.
health care expenditures (2003), and a slightly larger amount than the
federal government pays for seniors’ Medicare program. From 2000 -
2003, because of the downturn in the economy and job losses, nine
million more people became eligible for Medicaid and costs accelerated
at double-digit rates.

However, Medicaid is quite efficient compared to private health
coverage, holding down per capita growth and maintaining
administration costs that are four to six percent of claims paid
compared to commercial health insurers’ costs of 15 to 20 percent of
claims paid, according to a study prepared for the National Governors’
Association.

Despite this great record of success and our still huge uninsured
population, leaders in Congress plan to cut federal funding for
Medicaid by an even larger amount that the President’s proposed $45
billion over the next ten years. These cuts also suggest structural
changes for Medicaid that would likely involve spending caps (without
regard to need) and a possible block-granting of funds to states so
that states will bear future cost increases. The effect of such
changes would be to shift more funding responsibilities to the
states—something that many fiscally-strapped states would have
difficulty managing. As a result, states would begin to eliminate
benefits or raise eligibility standards in order to throw thousands
off the rolls. The already huge number of uninsured—some 45
million—would undoubtedly begin to grow. Elderly disabled women who
depend upon Medicaid coverage to help pay for long term care services
may end up with no care. Many reproductive health care services could
be curtailed.

Medicaid covers a range of reproductive health care services
including: family planning, pap smears and other preventative
screening, pregnancy related care (prenatal, childbirth, postpartum),
and STD testing and treatment.

Send your message to Senators today:
http://www.now.org/congress/mail/oneclick_compose/?alertid=7206976

Resources:

Medicaid Under Attack: Women May Lose Vital Source of Health Care
Coverage
http://www.now.org/issues/legislat/031405medicaid.html

National Women’s Law Center’s analysis of the impact of the
President’s proposed budget on state Medicaid programs
http://www.nwlc.org/details.cfm?id=2171&section=health

Center on Budget and Policy Priorities analysis of the Senate Budget
Committees proposal
http://www.cbpp.org/3-10-05bud.htm