http://www.theactionblog.com Fri, 29 Feb 2008 19:02:01 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Meet Sam. Like all four year olds, Sam has a brain like a sponge. In fact, children's most important brain development occurs before they turn five. Sam could do well in school, graduate, and go on to college—or not. Much of Sam’s future depends on what Sam learns now – ... http://www.theactionblog.com/2008/02/29/taking-action-for-sam/ If the current Administration won't put an end to torture, let's make sure the next one will. Mock drowning, hypothermia, "outsourcing" torture to other countries... These techniques are not only shameful, they also do not work. Torture is unreliable, it undermines our values, and it hardens hearts and minds against ... http://www.theactionblog.com/2007/11/13/end-torture-with-the-next-president-%e2%80%93-sign-today/ Update: This alert is now expired. Thanks to everyone who took action! The Bush Administration wants to sacrifice one of the world’s most important ecosystems in Arctic Alaska to the oil industry. We need your help to stop this shortsighted plan. Up to a million birds, more than 45,000 caribou, ... http://www.theactionblog.com/2007/10/24/save-arctic-habitat-from-drilling/ This summer, all of us who care about reducing global warming pollution achieved two major milestones: In June the Senate passed an Energy Bill requiring automobiles go farther on a tank of gas. And in August the House passed an Energy Bill requiring electric utilities to obtain more power from ... http://www.theactionblog.com/2007/09/14/urge-congress-to-hold-strong-on-a-clean-energy-bill/ Is Elmo hazardous to your health? One million character toys—including Big Bird, Dora the Explorer, and Cookie Monster—were recalled this month because they might be coated in toxic lead paint - a poisonous substance that can cause learning disabilities, seizures, and even death when ingested. Before Elmo and Dora, it ... http://www.theactionblog.com/2007/08/15/don%e2%80%99t-lick-elmo/