Your 5 Minute Activist Links for April 21, 2008

** Human Rights First **
The February elections in Pakistan marked a new beginning following martial law, demonstrations, and the assassination of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto. Since then the new government has taken some important steps to reverse the damage to the rule of law, and specifically towards reinstatement of the dozens of senior judges dismissed by President Musharraf.

However, the new government still has work to do. President Musharraf is strongly opposed to reinstatement of the judges, and internal disagreements within the new government may cause additional delays. The nascent government needs to know that the international community, including the United States government, supports the progress so far and hopes to see truly independent courts.

The Pakistani government will address the question of the judges this week, so please act quickly to urge your representatives in Congress to sign on to a letter to the Prime Minister expressing support for the lawyers' movement and for initiatives to restore an independent judiciary and rule of law in Pakistan.


** Habitat for Humanity **
Could you live on $1 a day? Could your Senators? $1 a day is barely enough for food, much less access to an adequate place to live. But with your support Congress can help cut extreme global poverty in half by 2015.

Recently, several Senators introduced a bill called the Global Poverty Act that would help improve life for the world's poorest people, including help for families currently living in inadequate housing.

This critical piece of bipartisan legislation will help ensure that poverty reduction is a major priority of U.S. foreign assistance and will call for the Bush administration to develop a strategy focused on reducing global poverty.

Send a message to your Senators now urging them to become a co-sponsor of the Global Poverty Act.

** Earthworks **
For peacefully asserting their rights and preventing mining company officials access to their lands, these Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug (KI) leaders, - known as the KI Six -- were sentenced to six months in prison. The KI Six were sentenced just weeks after Ardoch Algonquin First Nation spokesperson Robert Lovelace began serving a six-month sentence for similar charges.

The 1,200 strong KI community of hunters, fishers, and trappers is opposed to mining activities on their traditional lands in Northern Ontario., Canadian company Platinex Inc. believes their lands contain one of the world's largest platinum deposits.

Please write to the premier of Ontario today and demand the immediate release of these political prisoners. The government needs to see an overwhelming outpouring of public support.

** Defenders of Wildlife **
America’s bears are facing a poaching plague. The reason? The lucrative black market for bear parts is on the rise.

But bipartisan legislation in Congress can help put an end to this disturbing trend.

Urge your Representative to sign on as a cosponsor to the Bear Protection Act (H.R. 5534) -- a bill that would help save America’s bears.

** Oxfam America **
If you've been to the grocery store lately, you've noticed that food prices are rising. After years of remaining relatively stable, prices are being driven through the roof by a convergence of circumstances.

This phenomenon affects food prices worldwide, and it presents a major problem for poor people in developing countries. Just think about it: if you spend 50–80 percent of your income on food, then the more prices rise, the less food you can afford.

The current price increases are causing widespread hunger for millions of poor people. Yet US food aid policies require all food to be shipped halfway around the world, draining critical aid money on needless costs. Congress could change this policy in the coming weeks, and we need your action immediately.

Tell Congress to reform food aid policies to allow for food to be purchased where it is needed, rather than being shipped halfway around the world.