As the Women’s Marches around the world demonstrated, the people listen, the streets listen, and a vast, strong community seeks a world of greater compassion and justice. Politicians listen too, when there are enough people in real and virtual streets.
Cultural Weekly is beginning a column called Nation Watch, highlighting topics you may wish to take action on.
Who are your representatives?
Find your Senators here: https://www.senate.gov/senators/contact/
Find your Representative here: http://www.house.gov/representatives/find/
Arts and Cultural Programs
The Trump administration plans to privatize The Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and eliminate entirely the National Endowment for the Arts and National Endowment for the Humanities. Source: The Hill.
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Public Information
The Trump administration has banned federal agencies from providing updates on social media or to reporters. These agencies include the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Agriculture, and the Department of Transportation. Source: The Guardian.
Studies and data in process at the EPA are being vetted by White House political staff. Source: The Washington Post.
Environment
References to climate change have been removed from the White House website. Source: CNBC.
Disabilities
References to people with disabilities have been removed from the White House website. Source: Disability Scoop.
LGBTQ
The White House page on LGBT issues has been removed. Source: Tech Crunch.
Reproductive Rights/Health
President Trump instituted a global gag rule on international NGOs who receive any health funding from the federal government, barring them from discussing or performing abortions. It is the most far-reaching version of these strictures ever enacted. Source: Slate. In response, the Netherlands is putting together an international fund dedicated to reproductive rights and health issues. Source: CNN.
Dakota Access and Keystone KL Pipelines
President Trump signed orders reinstating these two controversial projects. Source: Reuters. The Dakota Access pipeline has been the site of protests by the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe in North Dakota.
Human Rights
On Friday, the North Dakota legislature will vote on a bill introduced by Rep. Keith Kempenich that would make it legal for car drivers to “accidentally” run over protesters who are on the highway. Source: CNN.
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Next week’s Nation Watch.
Prepared by Adam Leipzig.
Top image by Hassified, under Creative Commons license.