Petition Tag - petition

Our brother was killed on Noosa / Cooroy road recently due to traffic stopped to turn into a dangerous drive way on this road. It is 100 km an hour with no over taking lanes and you just don't have the time to prepare yourself for what may be around the corner.

Myself and my family are taking on the Minister for Roads to reduce the speed limit on this horror stretch or to widen the road so that other cars doing the 100 km speed limit have somewhere to go other than up the back of the car infront.

Many similar accidents just like this one have happened along this horror stretch and it is honestly one of the most dangerous roads that many know of on the Sunshine Coast.

This has not been the only incident of its kind recently. Since losing Jayden, there have been at least 3 other similar situations and I am sure that there will be plenty more unless something is done about this. The police and residence of this area have also been fighting to have something done.

If these roads were in the middle of suburbia, the speed limit would be nowhere near this high. But for some reason, just because the only thing on either side of the road is grass, this somehow makes it safe to hit triple digits on the speedometer?

If you are here to sign this petition and you find that it wont let you because your details are already listed, this is because you have already signed our petition when we were walking the streets asking for signatures and we have transferred your name onto this online one. I hope this is ok. We have not entered any street names or such, just first & last names and suburb.

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The government has taken several steps to try to crack down on those who breed and trade dangerous dogs, as well as those who own them.

The Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 is the most prominent of the various laws that cover dog ownership in the UK.

The act bans the breeding and sale or exchange of four kinds of dog - pit bull terriers, Japanese Tosas, the Dogo Argentinos, and the Fila Brasileiros. Cross-breeds of those dogs are covered by the law.

The dangerous dogs Act 1991 states 'to enable restrictions to be imposed in relation to other types of dog which present a serious danger to the public;'

[25th July 1991]

Rottweilers were the number two breed of dog named in fatal human attacks from 1979 to 1998 in a report by the CDC. Dangerous behavior in Rottweilers results from their original breeding for aggressive guard dog traits. This tendency may extend towards other animals as well. Often injuries and maulings occur when an owner or passerby tries to separate fighting dogs, or unintentionally triggers a guarding behavior in a dog. In most cases, the type of behavior a Rottweiler exhibits is the result of past training (or lack thereof).

Rottweilers may either be dangerous or benign, depending on the action taken by the owner in socializing the dog. The portrayal of Rottweilers as evil dogs in several fictional films and TV series, most notably in The Omen, has added to their negative publicity. Rottweilers are banned in many municipalities, some scattered countries, and are sometimes targeted as dangerous dogs by legislation. Many owners of Rottweilers are forced to obey state leash/muzzle laws, as in Germany and in France.

Examples of the breed’s potential danger are provided by the recent deaths of two infants on 29 December 2007 – a 9 week old girl in Melbourne, Australia, and a one year old boy in Wakefield, England.

In the Melbourne death, a rottweiler that regularly showed his aggressive nature by violently barking and jumping at the fence as people walked by his master’s house, took the family’s first born from her cot and mauled her to death.

In the Wakefield death, the one year old baby was being held by a seven year old girl when the rottweiler bitch grabbed him from the girl's arms and then mauled him, inflicting terrible injuries. The victim died at the local hospital a short time later. The family owning the dog, reportedly told police she had not previously shown any signs of aggression.

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Imagine you were riding your bike peacefully on a bicycle track and suddenly a couple holding hands and had their backs turned to you was there. BOOM! Not pretty. You crashed into them.

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As an aspiring writer who looks to Shakespeare as a role model, I would consider it an honour to present this petition to the Honourable members of the Scottish Parliament with due respect.

Today as we see some of the writers across the world and in the UK, produce literature that are viable to raise roars and threats, a country which prides its freedom of expression cannot shut the doors for the writers, neither can they open doors to the extremists.

But writers who use racial discrimination and gender discrimination as their motif should be seriously punished so that no other writer does that and that the literature that the future British generation is reading, does not promote the same traits in them. If not done, this would lead to the promotion of the values which the British flag does not promote; as UK is and has been the main source of literature for the rest of the world.
What should be our stance in such a situation?

I propose that we should have a legislation passed that sees that both the writers and the readership living in the UK are not disturbed and that peace and harmony can be maintained in the UK. If we are to give our next generation quality literature to read then I believe that this petition should be the first step in doing so.

I propose the following for the petition and anticipate that the Honourable members of the Scottish Parliament will approve of the petition:

1. Freedom of speech is the basic right of every writer.

2. In case of threat, necessary arrangements must be made to ensure the protection of the life, property and career of the writer.

3. Writer involved in any genre should not commit any of the following during his or her writing, and the educational authorities and institutes should see to it that no such work be published in any form:
• Defaming the deities of any religion, including the prophets and saints of that religion and this extends to the families of the prophets and saints
• Degrades any Royal household, including all form of use of words.
• Uses any elements of discrimination in his writing
• Promotes religious hatred.

4. In the event that a writer is found involved in such activities, the following penalties may be imposed.
• Request for the imprisonment and further legal actions sent to the UK Government.
• Request for the honours to be conferred sent to the UK Government.
• Request for the financial penalties sent to the UK Government.

5. The writer must act accordingly to protect him or her being penalized by the law.

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Haven't our children been moved enough already?

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We the People of Laurlewood Vista Heights HOA sign this petition in support to lower our monthly association Dues.

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First established as a group on Facebook on October 29th 2007, it became clear after only one week and over 1,500 members that this was a subject the UK’s rugby lovers felt very strongly about. After 6 weeks, there were over 14,500 members.

What we all want to see is a ‘regular’ terrestrial TV slot dedicated to show highlights from the weekend’s rugby union action across the UK. All too often Rugby Special concentrated on the Guinness Premiership and I like many others, would like to see Magners League coverage as well as other aspects of the game itself.

Football has more than it’s fair share of coverage on Match of the Day, the repeat and Match of the Day 2, not to mention Football Focus and other round up programmes.

Ok, so football has a greater following and it’s all about viewing figures at the end of the day, but how many people are you realistically going to get tuning in to watch Rugby Special at midnight on a Sunday night or some of the other crazy times it was on?

Considering all of our 4 home nations are in the top 10 IRB World Rankings, no real effort is made to try and capture this audience and we need to prove to the BBC via our campaign petition and through your support spreading the word, that the UK rugby lovers have a voice.

The BBC:

• holds rights to show highlights of the Guinness Premiership.


• holds exclusive rights to show the Anglo-Welsh EDF Energy Cup.


• holds joint rights to show the Celtic League, Wales, Ireland and Scotland's top league along with Setanta Sports.


• BBC Sport produces the Welsh-language S4C's coverage of the Celtic League and EDF Energy Cup under the Y Clwb Rygbi brand.

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Sociology of Sexuality (Soc 69) is, after Fall 2007, no longer being offered at UC Irvine.

Please sign this petition to ensure that this beloved course becomes available for future students!

Also, we will be sending this to the Dean of Students and School of Social Sciences, so please keep your language clean and appropriate. Thanks!

EDIT: Please note in the comments section if you are currently taking the class, have taken it, or are an alum! Provide your UCI email as proof that you are a student!

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We do not want a business in our residential neighbor-hood making & selling fire-wood.

Such a business will depreciate the value of our properties due to, the increased noise level of the machinery & equipment & the semi trucks & other vehicles & trailers coming & going.

The visual appearance will also be depreciating due to the large log piles & skid piles laying all over.

We are asking the Zoning board to stop the operation of the business known as Back Acres Firewood LLC on County Rd. E, Abrams, WI, and not to rezone the property where such a business can operate.

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This petition is to try and get Derek Acorah back on Most Haunted.

Derek used to be on Most Haunted and Most Haunted Live but he got sacked under false meanings and I want him back.

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Did you know that all sea turtles are endangered? Many reasons cause these turtles lives to be difficult. Some reasons are being dealt with, most are not.

A big problem is garbage on the beach and in the water where the sea turtles roam. We are trying to make a law against garbage where sea turtles are known to be.

If you agree please sign this petition as soon as you can.We need your help to make this a law to help save these turtles. Thank you.

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هذه الوثيقة اطلقت في دول مجلس التعاون لرقعها من شعوب المنطقة الى القادة
اثناء اجتماعهم القادم في الدوحة
بداية الشهر القادم. الرجاء ممن يرغب التوقيع عليها من المنظمات والافراد ان
يرسله الجمعية البحرينية لحقوق الانسان على فاكس رقم 17826836
او البريد الالكتروني bhrs@bhrs.org
او الاتصال بالجمعية على رقم 17824825.
الرجاء التعميم من اجل الحصول على اكبر عدد من التواقيع للتعبير عن وجهة نظر شعوب مجلس التعاون
شكرا لكم

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You should not block pandora.com because it is not hurting anyone by letting us listen to it.

It helps us stay on task and is not affecting our work conditions.

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In regard to the recent abortion of a H.O.A. meeting you held last week.

To the majority leaders of the H.O.A, I truly hope that there is a way to recall
everything that you have done.

Maybe the community should start looking at alternative ways to resolve the problems we have within the H.O.A with other means of leadership.

In the last meeting the majority agreed to let RV's park in the H.O.A. for a "brief period" up to 24 hours. Gentlemen the word "brief" is described in any
dictionary as a "short duration", not 24 hours. The majority then added to this
insult to confuse the issue even more and let emergency work be done to an
RV, which is a conflict in the CCR's as it is clearly stated "no work can be
performed on any vehicle".

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This fee is being promoted by students, for students. The end product will be new and improved programming for learning, research and development in climate issues. The fee is the result of a group of students taking the lead to fight climate change, and will provide more opportunities to get involved and make a difference.

One toonie goes to…

Jobs for Students: Fighting Climate Change.
This fund would provide challenging, relevant, on-campus employment for students each year as part of a larger strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Some of these jobs would be linked to the UBC Farm’s climate change-related initiatives; others would be linked to new greenhouse-gas reduction projects on campus.

The other toonie goes to…

Support for Students: Hands-on Learning at the UBC Farm. Last year, more than 2,000 students used the UBC Farm. The 34 courses involved represented 11 different faculties and schools. The Farm’s ability to support this number of students was largely thanks to a short-term grant which ends this year. We want to continue to welcome students at the farm and expand our programming to meet the rising demand for practical sustainability learning. With this toonie, the farm will:

• Maintain a staff position to provide student-centred program management (80 cents – wages and benefits)
• Introduce a staff position to provide new curricular connections to existing courses and support for innovative student projects on site (60 cents – wages and benefits)
• Assist with overall operating costs to ensure the facility is managed in an innovative, sustainability-focused manner (60 cents – materials, supplies, and equipment, general purpose operating)

How will this fee stop climate change?

By itself, obviously, it won’t. The fee does, however, get us started on the larger task ahead. It will help UBC Farm and other campus organizations to develop programming that will address climate change through demonstrating and exploring new models for the food system. By promoting linkages between groups on campus, this fee will ensure a lasting legacy of climate action work on campus.

What does the UBC Farm have to do with Climate Change?

The UBC Farm provides a key link between students and the larger food system. On a global scale, our current system of producing, distributing, and consuming food contributes to at least 10% and may be responsible for as much as 25% of worldwide greenhouse gas emissions. The UBC Farm demonstrates, promotes, and explores new food system models that greatly reduce these emissions.

Will this fee “Save the UBC Farm?”

If you’re interested in having a UBC Farm on campus in the future, this fee will certainly help! The long-term prospects for the UBC Farm are roughly related to its proven contribution to UBC’s academic mission. Maintaining and expanding strong programs for innovative student learning is a key strategy in demonstrating this academic benefit. This fee would go a long way toward helping the UBC Farm maintain and expand its academic programming.

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For 60 years Korea has been separated on the 38 parallel. But in spirit the Korean family is not separated!

Korea is a country that has many problems: by the japanese, by the chinese, etc.... but the Korean people are strong, intelligent, and very good people!

If you sign please also do something extra for Korea like:

- buy Koran goods;
- visit Korea;
- learn about Koran culture.

Please help the Korean people for peace in the world!

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This Petition is for grade at school.

We just need feedback

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Anglers of this country are fed up with the Eastern Europeans coming to our shores & plundering our waterways to steal carp for food.

We spend a great deal of time & money protecting these beautiful creatures & to see what is now happening is nothing less than a disgrace.

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After the dismal performance by England's mens football team that resulted in the failure to qualify for EURO 2008, we call upon these players to donate their earnings to the England Womens team as a gesture of goodwill.

England's male players are sure to earn thousands of pounds for failing dismally whilst their female counterparts earnt a lowly £40 for reaching the World Cup Quarter Finals in China. Having to work extra shifts to recoup their lost earnings and missing out on training as a result.

Let's get together to support success rather than rewarding failure.

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Please sign this petition and ask Jake to get these guys from under his arm and let's see them fight.

This will be a sold out crowd.

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Mission hill was a great show created by former writers of The Simpsons and The National Lampoon.

It lasted 13 episodes and had half a dozen that weren't completed. This series has many fans and is truly a work of art.

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On the 23rd of April 1927, Fred Keenor climbed the famous Wembley steps to receive the FA Cup from the King. His team, Cardiff City, had become the first, and as yet the only, Welsh team to win the coveted trophy.

The victory was a momentous and much celebrated occasion in the history of Wales. That morning a Welsh newspaper had printed a picture of the Cardiff City captain knocking Lloyd George off a pedestal labelled `the most important man in Wales'.

The game made Keenor a Welsh national hero in a way that the rugby stars that preceded him had not been. South and north celebrated Cardiff City's achievement and Fred Keenor was at the centre of that triumph.

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This petition is started to give Mr. Robert Dziekanski justice, and also justice to his mother and family. It is started as well to protect all of us that live in Canada. If this incident is allowed to "disappear" and be quietly "resolved", then it WILL happen again.

It is high time that the R.C.M.P. be held truly accountable for their actions this time. The R.C.M.P. have demonstrated that they have no respect for either the weapon (Taser Gun) or the people of whom they inflict it upon.

This gentleman had died at the R.C.M.P.'s hands in less time than it takes to make a cup of coffee and they made ABSOLUTELY NO ATTEMPT to help him. Please see the video link below for the tragedy that unfolded.

Please see video here.

The above video courtesy of CTV News, with appreciation.

This man was dead in minutes.

If they (R.C.M.P.) are allowed to continue onwards WITHOUT any reprimand whatsoever, what does that say for our quality of life in Canada, and how we as Canadians regard it? More importantly, what does that say about how we that live in Canada will be treated by the R.C.M.P. in the future?

If it happened to him, it can happen to anyone. That has been shown now, as the latest incident at the Vancouver International Airport clearly demonstrates.

**RCMP arrived shortly after 1:30 a.m. and Dziekanski was dead within minutes.**

** Above Excerpt** from the CTV website, article: With a report from CTV British Columbia's Peter Grainger in Vancouver.

**The incident is being investigated by the RCMP's civilian oversight body.**

** Above Excerpt** from the CTV website, article: With a report from CTV British Columbia's Peter Grainger in Vancouver.

How can any justice be served when the R.C.M.P are being investigated by their "civilian Body"???

The answer is simple. It can't. Period.

Before someone else's father, son, brother, or even sister, daughter, mother dies this way again, we MUST ban Taser guns. 17 people to this date have died in Canada since 2003.

The following is courtesy of A. Cameron Ward & Company
BARRISTERS & SOLICITORS, Vancouver, BC.

**2006 Taser-related death toll: 65
January 3, 2007

Sixty-five more people died in North America after being Tasered by police in 2006, bringing the total number of such fatalities to 232. The Taser is a controversial "less than lethal" weapon that is designed to inflict excruciating pain and incapacitate subjects with 50,000 volts of electricity. Despite the number of Taser-related deaths, and the deaths of a number of animals as well, the manufacturer and law enforcement officials maintain the weapon is safe.**

This is also courtesy with thanks from A. Cameron Ward & Company, BARRISTERS & SOLICITORS, Vancouver, BC.

http://www.cameronward.com/tasers/

**An unidentified man died after he was Tasered by RCMP at the Vancouver International Airport early this morning. He is at least the 283rd person to die in North America after being shocked with the Taser's 50,000 volt electrical output. Sixteen of those deaths have occurred in Canada since 2003, and the latest is the sixth BC fatality. The RCMP has been involved in eight of the Canadian deaths.

The police will investigate this incident themselves and clear the Taser of any responsibility, perhaps blaming the unfortunate man's death on "excited delerium", which is not a recognised medical condition.

The Taser was quietly introduced into Canada in 2000, without any public debate or prior independent safety testing. Although electric fences and cattle prods must undergo rigorous tests before being sold, the Taser is subject to no such control.**

For the latest list in Canadian Fatalities, please click the link below:

http://www.cameronward.com/tasers/


The following is courtesy of AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL, at the following link:

http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGAMR200032007

**AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL

Public Statement

AI Index: AMR 20/003/2007 (Public)
News Service No: 110
14 June 2007

**In a recently released report, Amnesty International outlines how the use of tasers by law enforcement officers in Canada raises a number of concerns. The first is the more serious, but less widespread incidence of death following taser use, while the second is the pervasive inappropriate use of the weapon.**

Need I say more?

We must serve the proper justice to his Mother and to Robert Dziekanski himself. Most importantly, we must use the freedom of speech that we value and cherish to ensure that this never happens again, and speak up NOW!

After all, if we don't, then who will?

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This petition is for those who do not want to pay for Xbox Live anymore , to those who a sick of paying $60 a year to get xbox live.

If Nintendo's Wii and Sony's ps3 can give free access why can't Microsoft's Xbox 360 do the same thing?

They dumped tons of money into an online framework that would allow for online gaming on another level, and have succeeded in offering a service that none of their competitors can even come close to matching.

It's time that WE xbox 360 users take a stand , we will be heard and we will win. So please brothers and sisters join me and other xbox 360 users in this petition Xbox live should be free!!

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NEVER GIVE UP HOPE, ONE DAY THEY WILL SEE THAT WE NEED THEM IN BRISBANE!!!!

IT MAYB 2MORO IT MAYB NEXT YR BUT NEVER GIVE UP HOPE 1 SIGNATURE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

IT WILL TAKE ONLY 1 MIN PLZ SIGN HERE!!!!!

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People are encouraged to read through and sign as this is NOT a petition in favor of outright military rule, but one that supports the measures taken by Musharraf to eradicate corruption and place Pakistan on the right path to democracy. As Pakistanis, we must appreciate a man who has confronted corruption and created a system under which the voice of the people can be heard.

Pervez Musharraf has been the centre of a lot of criticism lately, and this petition is an attempt to show support for his vision and rule in Pakistan. We understand some actions by the current government in Pakistan are drastic and some may argue against them, but it is up to us to realize the ground realities and act responsibly in deciding who to support. Opposition parties are exploiting the mass public by using democracy as an excuse to regain power and destabilize a government that has achieved a lot in the last eight years. Religion is also being used by some in the media to incite the public, which has gone about its daily routine with no interest to come out on the streets. Objectivity amongst reporters on international broadcasts of Pakistani news is rare. This is an attempt to show that there is a large movement that supports the President. Outlined below are highlights of Musharraf’s achievements, there is a section on reasons for imposition of emergency rule as well.


POSITION ON OPPOSITION PARTIES

Nawaz Sharif’s incompetent government and Benazir’s corruption (wife of Mr. Zardari who is popularly known in Pakistan as 'Mr. 10%') left Pakistan in a dismal state. Thus prior to Musharraf’s debut on the stage of Pakistani politics in 1999,

* The country was almost bankrupt;
* Pakistan was on the verge of being declared a “failed” and “terrorist” nation;
* It was listed as being the second most corrupt nation in the world (the first being Nigeria)
* During the time of Benazir and Sharif, the KSE 100 index was less than 1300. Now it is over 12000.
* Atrocities such as judicial killings of opponents took place shamelessly throughout Pakistan, particularly in Karachi, for which Benazir and Sharif were both primarily responsible.

MUSHARAF’S ACHIEVEMENTS

Under Musharraf’s regime since 1999, Pakistan has experienced tremendous growth and seen record improvement in its overall condition.

* From being #2 on the list of corrupt nations, Pakistan is now #138 – a remarkable improvement.
* Compared to being nearly bankrupt less than a decade ago, Pakistan now has reserves of close to $16 billion, and is still growing.
* Corruption has been virtually eliminated from the upper levels and significantly reduced in the lower levels.
* Musharraf actively confronted terrorism in Pakistan and employed several schemes to eradicate it from our country.
* Large-scale development is taking place all over Pakistan, with a significant amount of construction going on in Karachi and areas of Baluchistan. Previously, these areas were largely neglected, with Baluchistan left to the mercy of warlords for much of the history of Pakistan.
* Tax recovery is at an all time high.
* Pakistan’s media has flourished with Musharraf’s permittance and encouragement.
* Devolution of power- Musharraf brought the Nazim System and gave powers to the local representatives at the lowest level.
* Women's representation used to be 3.2%. Musharraf made a landmark decision and appointed 33% seats to be reserved for women in all three tiers of the local government and 17% in the national and provincial legislatures. (This also resulted in Pakistan being recognized as the country with the greatest progress in women’s representation within parliament in a comparison study of South Asian politics.)
* President Musharraf was awarded the White Ribbon Man of the Year Award 2006, in recognition of the tremendous support to the cause of women’s rights in Pakistan.
* Pakistan’s relations with India have also significantly improved. Previously, India refused to acknowledge the territory of Kashmir as a 'dispute'. As a result of Musharraf's diplomacy, Kashmir is today acknowledged as a disputed territory and both sides are working towards a peaceful resolution of the conflict.


These are remarkable achievements in an 8 year timeframe. This is not to say that things are perfect; much work still needs to be done. But, Pakistan, under Musharraf, has been heading towards the right direction and this momentum should continue. He has addressed the root cause of problems in the country thus building a foundation for democracy to prosper. The measures taken under this regime are an attempt to reform Pakistani society with a high emphasis on education. One cannot educate a nation overnight; it takes time and honest commitment. We cannot let corrupt politicians ruin 8 years of hard work.

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The last Rugby League game (Rugby League 2) is almost two years old. A sequel is not in development, nor is it planned.

We want HES to realise that there is a market for another Rugby League game, and that they should support our beautiful game.

Sidhe have done a fantastic job with the funding provided on the past two Rugby League games, and I think it is safe to say they are very popular.

Sidhe have said that they would be willing to make another game if the business terms were similar to them in the past.

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IMPORTANT UPDATE 11/16/07: BOE met last night. No supporters of the petition were present, only myself, the author. Therefore, the BOE did not take the petition seriously. It was my understanding that they felt I was the only one with a complaint about the food.
Mr. Barlow along with several board members stated that they visited the schools and sampled the food finding no problems.

Board member Mark Brown stated, "The people I have called said they did not sign the petition." He also read a letter from Nancy Gebhardt, the Regional Coordinator of the Middle TN School Nutrition Program, stating that "the nutrition program in Jackson County meets the USDA dietary standards and guidelines and is an exemplary program with many commendations."

According to Mr. Barlow, Ms. Gebhardt recently audited our school nutrition program and also ate the food. She found absolutely no problems and had no suggestions of ways in which our school nutrition program could improve upon. In fact, she stated that the students were given a choice between 3 entrees and 5 vegetables being served that day. She also took pictures of the food and menu samples in order that other schools could model their programs after. Mr Barlow further stated that Ms. Gebhardt quoted to him that 84% of our high school students eat the cafeteria food, which according to him in her words is "a very high rate compared to other high schools in TN".

Basically folks, the result is this: According to the BOE and Mr. Barlow, absolutely no problems were found in our school nutrition program. Mr. Barlow stated that they have made a few changes in the last month. Therefore, don't expect to see any other changes any time soon.

Sorry kids, I tried to make some changes for you all but failed to accomplish anything due to lack of public support from other adults in the community. Had there been an abundance of parents/teachers to voice their opinions and attend the meeting, the outcome may have been different.
____________________________________________
The lunch room food is revolting, repulsive, and sickening. The hamburgers and chicken are pink in the middle and the fries are either undercooked or overcooked. Sometimes the food is burned and is black.

All of the food is unseasoned, has no taste, and absolutely no salt or pepper is available to the students. The lettuce on the sandwiches and in the salads is brown. Foods that are served one day are being served again 2-3 days later.

They very frequently run out of food during the last lunch line and those students have to settle for whatever is available.

Whenever macaroni and cheese is served, it is considered a meal and anything else you are charged extra for. For example, they may serve pinto beans on the same day as macaroni and cheese but you can't have both items unless you pay extra. What's up with that? We pay $2.00 a day for lunch for our kids. That price should include anything they want, unless they are getting a full meal plus extra helpings or drinks. Then, I could see the reasoning for charging extra.

The ketchup at the high school is in a pump bottle and tastes a little "funky". At the middle school, no ketchup is available to students when being served hamburgers and fries but when they have pizza, ketchup is served.

None of the food tastes good. The teachers won't even eat in the cafeteria. They either order out or bring their lunches.

We also believe the lunch room workers should wear hair nets to keep their hair out of the food because there have been numerous times when hair has been found in the food.

The bottom line is this food is not edible. We need healthy food that tastes good. Our kids are not getting the proper nourishment they need in our school system because they cannot eat their lunches. Our kids come home starved to death everyday with another horrible story about the lunchroom food. We have to make a stand and do something about this. We are taxpayers and this is a public school.

We have to demand that some changes be made to improve our school lunches.

IMPORTANT NOTE: The next school board meeting is scheduled at 6 pm on November 15, 2007 at Dodson Branch Elementary School. Everyone please try to come and support our petition.

COMMENT: Your support in signing the petition is greatly appreciated. However, in order for the BOE to take our petition seriously, we need everyone who signed to attend the board meeting. I believe that will take us further in getting our voices heard. The online petition itself may not carry as much weight as we would like due to the fact there is no way to authenticate the signatures on the list.

PLEASE, we urge everyone to attend the meeting if at all possible.

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A section of Rangers fans have started a sick and despicable campaign against the late Celtic & Scotland manager Jock Stein.

They allege that he was involved in covering up child abuse in the 1970’s but their campaign is based on hatred and lies and more importantly, absolutely no concern for the victims of child abuse.

These people are using child abuse as a means to score points against their rival football team, Celtic. They use child abuse to sell t-shirts and scarves with sick slogans on them so they are even trying to make money out of this.

The Scottish media has ignored this entirely but that is nothing new. Rangers fans have been singing anti-Catholic and racist songs for 100 years and it’s only now they have been forced to stop due to UEFA intervention, not pressure from the media in Scotland so it’s no surprise they get away with this sick campaign against Jock Stein unchallenged.

Since neither the Scottish media nor Rangers FC themselves seem interested in tacking this problem, we Celtic fans are asking Celtic FC to take action themselves.

*** Please click here to go to the website for more information about this petition ***

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By the late 1990s rapid advances in the life sciences had culminated in the successful cloning of mammals, with the potential for the development of cures to major diseases. It also seemed to be merely a matter of time before a human being was cloned – a possibility declared repugnant to human dignity by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 1997.

In 2001, France and Germany initiated a process in the UN General Assembly to negotiate an international treaty banning the reproductive cloning of human beings. The three-and-a-half year negotiation that followed was intense and charged with religious overtones about the 'moral status' of the human embryo and the ethical and legal appropriateness of human embryonic stem cell research. Two distinct camps emerged: (i) those states, including the United Kingdom, favouring a narrow ban limited to cloning for reproductive purposes; and (ii) those, including the United States and the Holy See, insisting on prohibiting all forms of human cloning, including for 'therapeutic' purposes.

The General Assembly ultimately adopted Resolution 59/280, containing the United Nations Declaration on Human Cloning, on 8 March 2005, by a recorded vote of 84 to 34, with 37 abstentions. The text of the Declaration calls upon member states both to adopt all necessary measures to protect adequately human life in the application of life sciences and to prohibit all forms of human cloning inasmuch as they are incompatible with human dignity and the protection of human life, while avoiding the distinction between cloning for reproductive as opposed to therapeutic or research purposes.

Several countries pointed to the ambiguity of the text as a reason for not supporting the Human Cloning Declaration, including the United Kingdom (which stated that the reference to human life 'can be interpreted as a call for a total ban on all forms of human cloning'), China ('the Declaration's wording is too confusing'), Spain (which deemed that the term human life 'is imprecise and could be subject to various interpretations'), India (which voted against the Declaration 'because some of its provisions could be interpreted as a call for a total ban on all forms of human cloning'), and South Africa (which 'would have preferred much clearer language that would clearly permit therapeutic cloning'). UN Doc. A/59/PV.82, at 4-7 (2005).

UN declarations are not binding but this is not to say that they are devoid of normative content. Given the almost universal representation of the United Nations, a common understanding at the international political level as to the basic policy position on a particular issue invariably exerts normative 'weight' on the subsequent development of binding legal rules. The fact that the Declaration has a certain normative value was cited by supporters of the comprehensive ban, including Costa Rica ('we have listened with concern as some delegations have understated the value of the new Declaration … we must recognize … the undeniable moral and political authority of its recommendations'), Nigeria (which 'cannot help but see it as only a stepping stone to a comprehensive convention on the total banning of human cloning') and the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya ('This is a step forward towards a future convention that would prohibit all forms of human cloning'). UN Doc. A/59/PV.82, at 8-10 (2005).

Cast against a background of rapid developments in the science, the negotiations on the proposed ban on the cloning of human beings revealed significant differences in world view. The Observer for the Holy See said: 'Regardless of its purpose and goals, human embryonic cloning was an assault on the integrity of the human person. Cloning a human embryo while planning its demise would institutionalize the deliberate, systematic destruction of nascent human life in the name of the unknown and questionable "good" of potential therapy or scientific discovery.' UN Doc. A/C.6/57/SR.16, para. 50 (2002).

For state supporters of research into the possible therapeutic applications of human embryonic experimentation, questions of the moral and legal status of the human embryo had to be balanced against considerations of, inter alia, freedom of research and the prospect of finding cures to major diseases. Ethical considerations were also referred to in support of embryonic stem cell research. The United Kingdom maintained that it would be 'indefensible to stop [stem cell] research and deny millions of people – and their families – the chance of new treatments which could save their lives'. A number of US and European medical and scientific groups expressed dismay over the adoption of the Declaration. It is important that a message is sent to the United Nations, making it clear that a declaration on human cloning for therapeutic reasons is needed.

It is useful to also go to the official UN website to find out about the Ad Hoc Committee on an International Convention against the Reproductive Cloning of Human Beings at: http://www.un.org/law/cloning

To learn more about human embryonic stem cell research, please visit http://www.isscr.org

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HOW CAN I HELP?

Currently, we need your help in putting political pressure on the United Nations body to establish a timetable for a declaration on human cloning for therapeutic reasons. The petition below calls for this essential declaration, so that progress in this promising medical research, the goal of which is to alleviate human suffering and to treat disease and disability, is not undermined by ideological and religious beliefs. The letter you are being asked to sign will go to each of the members of the UN Sixth Committee and to UN member states that support human embryonic stem cell research.

We will also be sending this to other key UN persons of influence, such as UN Secretary-General, Dr Ban Ki-moon; the Secretary of the Sixth Committee, Ms Mahnoush H Arsanjani; as well as the President of the UN General Assembly, His Excellency Mr Jean Ping.

Should you wish to support this action, kindly sign onto the letter with your name, e-mail address (confidential), and your country. In this way, we can include you as a signatory.

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