S.H.E. Kindness Policy Program
2025 Take Actions
Join Tony Robbins, Terry Lewis, Stevie Wonder and Other Superstars in Ending Hunger – The Next Verse
Can you think of a better way to end the year than joining with millions of people around the world in stopping the starvation of 400 million people by providing 100 billion meals over 10 years? Plus, you can help create the next verses of We Are the World on the fortieth anniversary of this inspiring global anthem.
This is the brain child of best-selling author and transformational life coach Tony Robbins, Grammy Award-winning music producers Terry Lewis and Jimmy Jam and a host of music superstars from Stevie Wonder and Janet Jackson to Jon Bon Jovi, John Legend, Usher, Bruno Mars and Andrea Bocelli.
Tell Congress to Stop Trump’s Plan to Drill in the Pristine Waters and Lands of the Arctic
By Katherine Tamburrano, Alliance Intern from the University of Texas at Austin 27’
In a moment where renewables are becoming cheaper than fossil fuels and reducing our carbon footprint, the Trump administration is going the wrong direction. They’re attempting to halt them and regress previous progress by dramatically boosting oil production through their “drill baby drill” policy, including a proposed plan to sell off public lands of Alaska in the northern Arctic.
Trump’s plan would allow the government to hold “21 sales of leases through 2031 off the coast of Alaska, the Arctic Coastal Plain, and in an isolated region stretching more than 200 miles offshore that is home to polar bears, bowhead whales, ice seals, walruses and other wildlife,” according to the New York Times.
These remote Arctic lands are so pristine that these lands have never seen industrialization, and no company has ever drilled for oil in the “icy high Arctic,” so it would require development of the precious lands to implement the oil infrastructure.
Not only would the development of the land and coastal waters destroy ecosystems, including those for endangered species like caribou, wolverines, and migratory birds, but it would also open the door for dangerous impacts from fossil fuel drilling, such as potential spills, water and air pollution, and of course greenhouse gas emissions which contribute to climate change.
However, the Arctic is more prone to and has been feeling the effects of climate change for years. It is warming 3-5 times faster than the rest of the planet. The rapid rise in temperatures produce dangerous consequences such as permafrost thaw, rising sea levels, the loss of sea ice, and coastal erosion, all of which are harming Alaska communities and accelerating the climate crisis.
As the Arctic is suffering from climate change due to our global emissions, expanded drilling will only make it worse. This threat of industrialization and oil development would be Trump’s way of further destroying the pristine lands and ecosystems of the Arctic and kicking them while they’re down.
If Trump’s plan to drill in the Arctic were to go through, it would cause irreparable harm to wildlife, birds, fish, and people who depend on this habitat. Please join the Alliance in signing this Earth Justice letter to Congress demanding our public lands belong to us and not fossil fuel companies and that we must protect them to protect the Arctic and American people.
Let the Public Know the Impacts of AI Data Centers — Stop Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs)
By Katherine Tamburrano, Alliance Intern from the University of Texas – Austin ‘27
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a rapidly expanding technology that is affecting nearly every aspect of our everyday lives, including our own backyards. Massive, football field-length AI data centers are rapidly being built nationwide to meet demand. However, there are serious energy, environmental, health and even economic threats from these centers that are being masked by a troubling lack of transparency with the public that must be addressed.
Water, Energy, Environmental and Health Challenges
In too many cases, the public is not aware of the significant impacts AI data centers pose for their way of life, well-being and community.
First, cooling these data centers requires massive amounts of water, up to 5 million gallons a day. This can lead to severe water shortages and even pollution from the chemical additives to the drinking water.
Second, data centers require massive amounts of energy – using more electricity than some cities, and even entire US states, according to companies developing the facilities. They can demand a gigawatt or more of power — one billion watts — or about twice the residential electricity consumption of the Pittsburgh area last year.
Third, while some developers are building renewable sources, many are resorting to climate-impacting natural gas. For example, Elon Musk’s massive new and embattled “Colossus” AI Data Center in Memphis requires 35 unpermitted temporary gas turbines that are pumping out hazardous pollutants. Environmentalists claim they are pumping out a level of emissions that is exacerbating the health issues of an impoverished minority community already crushed by decades of pollution and environmental injustice.
Lack of Transparency from Non-Disclosure Agreements
In too many cases, the companies developing data centers are requiring local officials to sign non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) preventing transparency about what exactly is being built and its impacts, despite centers often being built in proximity to our neighborhoods. In Hermantown, MN, one data center proposer made non-disclosure agreements with 20 government staff and at least 4 elected officials, according to the Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy (MCEA).
Both city staff and elected officials are responsible to their citizens to be fully transparent about proposed developments in their community. These officials are also responsible for conducting environmental reviews of developments like data centers to inform citizens about their impact on “access to water, electricity bills, and quality of life,” according to the MCEA.
However, if these same officials that are supposed to tell us the potential risks of such a development are under an NDA, they are bound by companies to not disclose. How can we trust them to be fully transparent about sharing this vital information with the public?
There is so much essential environmental impact information about data centers that could be lost through the use of NDAs. This includes how much electricity bills will rise as data centers tap into the same grid we use, draining its energy and skyrocketing prices. Some predictions show that by 2039 electricity bills will double due to data centers. And if gas turbines are used, the data centers will both pollute the local community and increase climate impacts, likely countering the best efforts and goals to counter climate action plans.
The astronomical water consumption by data centers also needs to be disclosed, along with its impacts. Drinking water is used to cool the technology, and it is treated with chemicals, thus turning valuable clean water into wastewater. If it’s released, it will pollute local waterways.
Require Transparency and the Right to Know: Stop AI Data Center NDAs
Clearly, the impacts of these AI data centers should not be hidden from the public by secret NDAs as they will affect the lives of you, your community and your environment. The public has a right to know.
You can take a big step in requiring transparency. Please join the Alliance in signing this MCEA letter telling your legislators and Governor Walz to forbid the use of NDAs to cover up data center development and ensure the public knows what is happening in their neighborhood.
Block the Trump Administration and Congress from Weakening Environmental Protection
By Katherine Tamburrano, Alliance Intern from UT Austin ‘27
Important environmental protections put in place to keep the federal government accountable for its impact on the environment are being thrown out like they don’t matter. A proposed law called the SPEED Act is awaiting Congressional action to accomplish just that. It “prioritizes the interests of fossil fuel, mining, and other corporate polluters at the expense of our families and communities,” according to the Sierra Club.
The SPEED Act will specifically target the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), which is a landmark law passed in 1970 that the Sierra Club says “has long been an essential tool to ensure that taxpayer dollars and public infrastructure serves the public interest and ensures a healthy environment for present and future generations.”
NEPA plays a critical role by requiring federal agencies assess the environmental impact of proposed land use, such as the construction or permitting of highways, airports or energy facilities like an oil refinery or pipeline on federal lands. NEPA can delay, alter or entirely replace projects deemed a danger to the health and safety of the community and the environment with more sustainable alternatives, which does not make developers happy.
If you don’t take the time to assess the environmental impact, the rush to development can lead to dangerous consequences. In 2023, an oil pipeline in Minnesota called Enbridge Oil Pipeline 3 breached a groundwater aquifer for the fourth time “near Moose Lake, at a wild rice lake in an area with complex wetlands and peat bogs.” Despite Enbridge’s assurances in its questionable environmental review that the pipeline would be safe, it has already caused numerous violations.
Pipeline proponents and the fossil fuel lobby have long sought ways to “reform” NEPA by eliminating as many regulations as possible that federal agencies must follow. The Trump Administration and Republican legislators are now attempting to accomplish this with the SPEED Act.
Trump has already had a huge negative impact on these protections by signing executive orders during his second term. For example, the Unleashing American Energy executive order diminishes the NEPA reviews so the agencies conducting them have less requirements to adhere to. Another act by the Administration gives the federal government to reign free with no regulation, and wreak havoc on the environment.
The SPEED Act “would further gut NEPA, limit reviews, weaken science, and eliminate government accountability when agencies fail to adequately consider the health, environmental, or economic impacts of their decisions,” according to the Sierra Club. Congress, under the orders of Trump to “drill baby drill,” will use the SPEED Act to slow the development of clean energy and put it on the back burner. This bill furthers Trump’s goal by eliminating delays, thereby favoring corporate profit over public interest.
Both the executive orders Trump signed earlier this year, as well as the proposed SPEED Act, will limit public input, which means our voices are silenced, including that of environmental justice organizations like the Sierra Club.
Don’t let corporations destroy our precious natural resources and pollute the air we breathe and water we drink to the point of no return, simply for next quarter’s profit margins.
Take a step to protect your health, the climate, and our future, and join the Alliance in signing this letter by the Sierra Club to tell your representatives to oppose the SPEED Act that dismantles our country’s bedrock environmental protections.
Stop this Farm Bill Pesticide Provision that Threatens Your Health and Wellbeing
By Katherine Tamburrano, Alliance Intern from University of Texas at Austin ‘27
You, your neighbors and farmworkers will be at-risk of dangerous pesticide exposure if agrichemical companies are successful in pressuring Congress to repeal state and local pesticide restrictions. This would threaten state and local laws that go further than the EPA’s regulations for pesticide use – local laws designed to protect vulnerable populations such as farm workers and schoolchildren, as well as endangered pollinators like bees, according to the Environmental Working Group (EWG).
This is just one of the many dangerous provisions being proposed by agrichemical companies in the 2025 US Farm Bill being deliberated in Congress. It will be voted on in December so your voice needs to be heard now, before it’s too late and we lose protections against toxic pesticides.
Corporations like Bayer’s Monsanto, which produced the notorious carcinogenic herbicide Roundup, are pressuring lawmakers to include this provision. Republicans are supporting this egregious attempt to overrule State’s rights. It’s ironic that Republicans who claim to support State’s rights are seeking to eliminate them, leaving only federal regulations in place.
Clear evidence of chemicals in Bayer’s Monsanto products causing cancer among other health conditions is certainly no barrier to corporations wanting to end state and local regulations. What gives them peace of mind is high profit-margins, not the health and safety of you and your community.
Sadly, agrichemical companies are seeking to weaken a number of other provisions protecting us from pesticides, including the removal of the right of consumers to bring forth injury lawsuits against pesticide manufacturers, thereby protecting them from litigation.
This partisan provision has resulted in bipartisan outrage and has united people across the aisle against it. MAHA advocates, like Kelly Ryerson, are saying “The audacity of elected officials voting for legislation to fully strip our legal rights away when injured by chemicals is stunning,” which goes to show how this is a problem that will affect everyone, no matter who you voted for.
This and the trampling on the rights of our local communities has been constant throughout the Trump administration. This would be yet another example if Congress submits to agrichemical companies.
Please join the Alliance in sending your Congressional representatives this letter by the Environmental Working Group (EWG) to demand state and local pesticide regulations remain in place. The power to police these pesticide corporations would be further out of our hands if they are successful in implementing their provision in the 2025 Farm Bill.
Protect Indigenous Rights and Stop Trump’s Destruction of the Boundary Waters, a National Crown Jewel
By Katherine Tamburrano, Alliance Intern from University of Texas at Austin ‘27
The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and surrounding watershed is the home for numerous tribes and a vibrant tourist economy, with more than 1,000 lakes and unspoiled forests containing 20% of all the freshwater in the entire National Forest System. It is the most-visited National Wilderness Area.
This magnificent treasure is also home to hundreds of species, including wolves, moose, loons, lynx and walleye. It offers superb camping, fishing, canoeing and hiking for every American to enjoy. Its waters also flow through Tribal reservations where wild rice has long been harvested as an essential traditional food source.
The Boundary Waters is an engine that powers Northeastern Minnesota’s outdoor recreation economy, which sustains 17,000 jobs and over $1 billion in sales every year, according to Earthjustice.
But it’s also home to precious metals like nickel and copper that Minnesota and the Federal Government have protected from highly toxic mining that would likely contaminate the pristine waters. In 2022 the Biden Administration enacted a protective measure that withdrew lands from under mining leases and placed 20-year mining bans over them.
Economic studies show that protecting the Boundary Waters would produce far better outcomes for job creation and generated income than opening the area to copper mining, according to Earthjustice.
However, the Trump Administration is trying to remove these protections of the Superior National Forest Rainy River Watershed that are the headwaters for the Boundary Waters Wilderness Area. This would open the door to Chilean mining giant Antofagasta to build another one of its hazardous mines, which have been continually cited around the world for violating environmental policies.
Despite Antofagasta’s horrible track record, the US Department of the Interior is seeking to give it exactly what it wants – to build the Twin Metals copper-nickel mine, which would likely permanently pollute this irreplaceable national crown jewel.
Sadly, Trump’s Deputy Secretary of the Interior Kate McGregor said in a July 2025 tweet: “Withdrawing the Biden Administration’s misinterpretation of the law…will unlock significant quantities of metals vital to meeting Energy Dominance goals.”
This proposed lifting of protections would allow Twin Metals to begin a copper sulfide mine that will likely release toxic pollutants that will enter the rivers and streams flowing into the Boundary Waters. This will contaminate drinking water aquifers and wildlife habitat. The hazardous chemicals from the copper mine will persist in the area long after the mine closes, making it nearly impossible to clean up in the future.
Not only is the pollution affecting Boundary Waters tourism and wildlife, but also the land, water, health and wellbeing of First Nations People. The Ojibwe Tribes harvest wild rice, fish and hunt in the Boundary Waters and its connected tributaries.
It’s been an integral part of their lives for centuries. Not only would the copper mine pollution contaminate their drinking water, but it would reduce the amount of their subsistence food, as the toxic metals harm the wild rice and the wildlife and fish that are an important part of their diet.
“We know that the waterways are connected,” says Chippewa elder Ricky DeFoe, “It’s like in the human body all the veins are connected, so it is with the waterways.” Already one out of every ten babies living in the Lake Superior Basin have unsafe levels of mercury in their bodies largely due to pollution from iron mining.
Boundary Waters outfitters, environmentalists and Native Americans have joined together to protest against the mining proposal. One would think that the combined voices of businesses and Tribal leaders would affect policy makers. However, Tribal concerns about the mining harming their way of life have been met with retribution from local politicians supporting boycotts of Native businesses in order to silence them.
The mining companies have undue influence over local politicians, who speak about the Twin Metals mine being a source of economic development and jobs, although it would only employ a small number of workers. Sadly, this is yet another example of both business and government trampling on the rights and preservation of Native American culture.
Please join the Alliance in sending this Earthjustice letter asking the Department of the Interior to oppose the proposed Twin Metals copper mine. We need to protect the rights of Indigenous people and assure a thriving local eco-tourism economy.
Majority of Americans Want to Ban Assault Weapons…Again
By Rachael Lee, Alliance Intern from University of Texas – Austin ‘ 25
Fletcher and Harper, two beautiful children with two beautiful smiles, were taken from our lives during the welcome Mass for the new school year at the Annunciation Catholic School in Minnesota on August 27.
How do we regain our sense of indignation and actually take action to stop this widespread carnage?
Nearly 47,000 people died from gun-related injuries in 2023, with 722 people dying from the FBI-classified definition of mass shootings (where four or more people get shot at once), according to the Pew Research Center.
Gun violence is the second leading cause of death of all children in the US.
Response to rising gun death rates and mass shootings led the US Surgeon General to take the unprecedented step of declaring gun violence a public health crisis.
So, what can we do? Let’s look at what actions are currently being proposed to put an end to these horrifying realities.
Are These Real “Solutions” or Just Pablum for the People?
MN Republican and Speaker of the House Lisa Demuth opposes gun control legislation and instead is calling for increasing funding for mental health treatment beds and mandatory minimum prison time for repeat shooting offenders.Have you heard these from the gun lobby and Republicans every time there’s a mass shooting? While these are necessary, do you think these actions alone will solve the problem?
Meanwhile, there’s a new “solution” being trotted out by many Republicans and the Department of Justice: Barring trans people from owning guns, since the perpetrator of the shooting is trans. Will that solve the gun violence epidemic in the US?
Are these adequate “solutions” or just attempts to dance around the elephant in the room? What effective preventative actions can we take to stop the violence before it happens?
Americans Want Real Solutions – A First Step Is Re-Banning Assault Weapons
A majority of Americans (52%) support a ban on the manufacture, possession and sale of semiautomatic guns, known as assault rifles, according to a November 2024 Gallup Poll.
Let’s listen to the parents of the Minneapolis shooting victims who pressed VP Vance to take action on gun violence during his visit to the Twin Cities. They and other parents of gun violence victims have been continually crying out for fast-enacting legislative action and restrictions on assault weapons. Youth all over Minnesota and across the country are walking out of school to support a ban.
In fact, they’re correct that a ban on assault weapons and high capacity gun magazines has proven to be one effective solution to reducing gun violence despite claims by the NRA.
“The NRA likes to say the 1994 federal Assault Weapons Ban didn’t work, but it did work. The data is clear: there were fewer mass shootings while the Assault Weapons Ban was in effect and significantly more after it expired,” according to US Senate Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Dianne Feinstein (D-CA).
Gun massacres of six or more killed decreased by 37% for the decade the ban was active, then shot up 183% during the decade following its expiration. There’s no disputing those numbers,” Feinstein continued.
These statistics are based on the work by University of Massachusetts researcher Louis Klarevas, author of the book Rampage Nation. He found the number of gun massacres dropped by 37% and the number of gun massacre deaths fell by 43% while the ban was in effect from 1994 to 2004, compared to the previous decade. After the ban lapsed in 2004, those numbers dramatically rose – a 183% increase in massacres and a 239% increase in massacre deaths.
The goal of the Assault Weapons Ban in 1994 was the same as it is today: to prevent mass shootings by beginning to dry up the supply of military-style assault weapons and high-capacity magazines. There are at least 20 million assault weapons in the US today, so no law will be immediately effective.
But as Sen Feinstein said, “By banning the manufacture and importation of new guns and implementing voluntary buy-back programs, we can again start to get these weapons of war off our streets. That’s how we’ll save lives, and we need to act now.”
We agree. Please join the Alliance in signing this petition from EveryTown for Gun Safety and demand that Congress reinstate the Assault Weapons Ban and ensure these mass-killing machines are banned!
Stop Trump’s Bid to Repeal Climate Protections — The Biggest Impact You Can Make Today for Our Planet
By Joe Parmigiani, Alliance Intern from Dartmouth College ‘28
Since 2009, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)’s Endangerment Finding has given the agency the authority to restrict climate change-causing pollution, such as carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. These regulations, based on the Clean Air Act from the 1970s, have controlled emissions, saved lives and slowed the climate crisis.
On July 29, 2025, the Trump-appointed head of the EPA, Lee Zeldin, announced a proposal that would eliminate the Endangerment Finding, specifically removing all restrictions on emissions from medium and heavy-duty auto vehicles. This proposal was accompanied by a speech delivered by Zeldin that dismissed the role of greenhouse gases (GHGs) in the climate crisis. How sad it is that the head of the “Environmental Protection Agency” thinks like this.
If this proposal goes into effect, US GHG emissions will skyrocket without bound. The Biden administration attempted to return the US to climate leadership but this action will take us backward and worsen the global climate crisis.
Even though the proposal is aimed to benefit auto manufacturers, it may be a gateway to further rollbacks of GHG protections, including for coal- and gas-fired power plants. Furthermore, the use of electric vehicles (EVs) will no longer be economically incentivized if auto manufacturers can emit without regulations.
Fortunately, a huge percentage of Americans believe that GHG emissions need to be regulated. A recent Data for Progress poll found 86% of Americans “strongly” or “somewhat” agree, including an impressive 79% of Republicans.
The proposal has not been finalized and you can comment until September 22, 2025.Don’t miss this chance to make your voice heard.
We are joining with the entire environmental movement in seeking to submit a record number of comments in our uphill battle to fight the Trump administration effort. Please share this with others and join the Alliance in sending this pre-written EarthJustice Federal Register comment to make your voice heard and oppose the proposal!
Stop Congress from Allowing Chemical Companies to Harm Farmers and Consumers
By Joe Parmigiani, Alliance Intern from Dartmouth College ‘28
It’s tragic that chemical companies often harm farmers and consumers. Fortunately, existing laws provide some protection and allow legal recourse, helping to prevent corporate irresponsibility.
However, those restrictions may soon go away due to a horrible proposed bill which grants chemical companies immunity from lawsuits relating to their products’ hazards. Furthermore, this bill would also prohibit the EPA from restricting harmful PFAS forever chemicals, directly over-riding Minnesota’s landmark ban on pesticides, known as Amara’s Law.
Immunity for Bayer/Monsanto and Other Outlaws?
“Pushed by Bayer/Monsanto and the chemical industry, the bill provides total pesticide immunity language against lawsuits that challenge chemical manufacturers who withhold information on the harm that their products can cause,” according to Beyond Pesticides.
They add, “Chemical companies have successfully lobbied for a weak federal pesticide law and then try to hide behind the law when sued for damages, telling the courts that their products are in compliance with pesticide registration standards and therefore not liable for harm.”
Meanwhile, Beyond Pesticides points out that under current law, “juries have found that Bayer/Monsanto, in the case of glyphosate (Roundup), failed to provide adequate warning through their product labeling, given the independent peer-reviewed science, including what the company knew or should have known, and a clinical assessment of the harm caused to the plaintiff.“
However, under the legislation before the Appropriations Committee in Section 453 of the bill, Beyond Pesticides emphasizes that “only EPA-approved label language consistent with a human health assessment or carcinogenicity classification previously approved by EPA is permitted — freezing EPA’s position on a pesticide in place for possibly decades, and eliminating the ability to hold chemical manufacturers accountable for damages.”
“This language would in the future prohibit cases like those filed by victims of glyphosate (Roundup), who have won large jury verdicts and compensation,” they add.
The EPA Would Be Restricted from Prohibiting PFAS
In addition, Section 507 of the bill removes funding for eliminating hazards associated with PFAS chemicals, according to Beyond Pesticides: “None of the funds made available by this or any other Act may be used to finalize, implement, administer, or enforce the draft risk assessment titled Draft Sewage Sludge Risk Assessment for Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) and Perfluorooctane Sulfonic Acid (PFOS).”
This bill would remove any incentive for chemical companies to develop safer products, therefore slowing the necessary global shift to less toxic land use and consumer practices, which is critical to protecting human health and the environment.
Take action now and join the Alliance in signing this Beyond Pesticides petition to demand your US Representative reject Sections 453 and 507 in the final House Appropriations bill!
Air Pollution Kills. The EPA’s New Ruling Could Make It Worse.
By Danbee You, Alliance Intern at Washington University, St. Louis ‘28
It is the responsibility of the government to put the public’s health first, but Trump’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is attempting to strip away protections for clean air in favor of polluting power plants.
The Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS) were the first national limits on toxic air pollution from coal and oil-fired power plants. Since being enacted in 2012 and strengthened by the Biden EPA in 2024, MATS reduced emissions by over 85% and delivered critical public health benefits nationwide.
MATS’ strengthened protections would result in fewer hospital visits, missed workdays, and premature deaths, saving Americans at least $300 million in health-related costs over a 10-year period. However, Trump’s EPA proposal to block key sections from the 2024 MATS will threaten both the environment and public health.
To stop Trump’s administration from weakening MATS, take a minute to submit a public comment to the EPA on the EarthJustice site before Monday, August 11. Simply fill out your basic information and submit EarthJustice’s pre-written paragraph or your own personalized message. These comments build a case for clean air and demonstrate to decision-makers that the public will not tolerate this rollback.
Clean air is a human right, and we must make it clear that public health matters more than letting polluters have their payday. Join the Alliance by taking Earthjustice’s Action to protect our clean air.
Stop Grocery Stores from Contributing to Climate Change
By Joe Parmigiani, Alliance Intern from Dartmouth College ‘28
Major grocery chains are major contributors to the climate crisis. The use of hydrofluorocarbons in refrigerators wreaks serious environmental havoc. A recent EPA investigation found half the stores it visited had leaks of these gases, rapidly entering our atmosphere and accelerating the climate crisis.
Ceasing the use of these gases and switching to climate-friendly refrigerants can prevent nearly half a degree Celsius of global warming — a crucial number in the 1.5 degree threshold from the Paris Agreement.
Better refrigerants could prevent 460 billion tons of greenhouse gas emissions in the coming years, equivalent to 97 billion gas passenger vehicles driven for one year, or equal to the power produced by 124 million wind turbines.
Take action now and join the Alliance in signing this GreenAmerica petition to demand that major grocery stores set a zero-tolerance policy for leaks and switch to climate-friendly refrigerants.
Save Job Corps and Ensure America’s Youth Break the Cycle of Poverty!
By Rachael Lee, Alliance Intern from UTexas – Austin ‘ 25
The Trump Administration’s Department of Labor (DOL) has authorized the closure of Job Corps, the nation’s largest free residential career training and education program for low-income adults aged 16-24. This closure cuts off essential housing and decent-paying job opportunities for the 25,000 American young people in Job Corps.
Sadly, this is just one of the many assaults on sister programs like AmeriCorps and Teach for America that help assure a positive future for the next generation.
The Job Corps students were only given a one month warning by the DOL to process the devastating news of the program closure. Their step-up in the world was abruptly taken away and they had to find new places to live.
Over the 60 years that it has been functioning, Job Corps has given 3 million individuals the necessary skills and education required to improve their quality of life and gain a professional career.
In addition to providing the necessary educational and professional background that allows students to gain control of their professional careers, most Job Corps sites provide residential services such as healthcare, counseling and food.
The end of the program will also jeopardize the futures of an additional 14,000 applicants, according to Job Corps. Many of them are homeless or in vulnerable living situations. They rely on an acceptance into Job Corps as one of their last opportunities to escape the cycle of poverty.
Furthermore, shutting down Job Corps will undermine local businesses and communities who rely on trained workers who graduate from the program, directly hurting America’s economy.
A recent holding has been filed by a US Judge to pause the nationwide closure of Job Corps. However, its future is still uncertain, left in the hands of the Trump administration that has already shut down many government-assisted programs. It is our responsibility as citizens to demand and ensure that Job Corps is not next.
Save Job Corps! Join the Alliance in signing this petition to President Trump, the DOL and your elected officials through savejobcorps.com. Send a clear message that we care about our youth and American business.
Stop the Pesticide Poisoning of the Heartland of America
By Alliance Communications Coordinator Amy Durr
Scientists have been warning for decades about the health implications and dangers of pesticide use. In agricultural areas of Iowa, where approximately 87% of the state’s land is used for farming, cancer is now “everywhere.”
The American Cancer Society is calling this a cancer “crisis.” Out of all US states, Iowa’s rate of cancer has been the second-highest for the last few years, and its rates are increasing.
When pesticides are sprayed over crops, they don’t only go into the air and onto our food – they also seep into the local water supply, harming people and wildlife and contaminating soil and water.
Authorities are trying to blame alcohol consumption, but residents are tracing their increasing rates of cancer to the use of pesticides, including glyphosate or RoundUp by Monsanto.
Join the Alliance in signing this petition from Care2 to urge Iowa lawmakers to ban toxic pesticides like RoundUp.
Stop Trump Administration Massive Cuts to Public Media — Keep PBS and NPR Strong
By Katie Block, Alliance Intern at Wellesley College ‘25
Two of the nation’s most trusted news sources, PBS and NPR, are now facing severe federal funding cuts that could limit their ability to provide critical news, educational programming and local coverage.
The White House is preparing a rescission package that would eliminate $1.1 billion in funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), which supports 1,300 local public media stations across the country.
Most people don’t realize that only 1% of NPR’s direct budget actually comes from the federal government, with the rest supported by members and sponsors. However, this small percentage is crucial for providing high-quality content that isn’t driven by corporate interests. These programs serve as a lifeline to many rural communities, offering children’s programming, local news and investigative reporting that otherwise would not be available.
This isn’t the first time public media has faced these threats. However, the threat is far more serious this time because NPR and PBS have been specifically targeted by right-wing political leaders and billionaires like Elon Musk. The entire public media network will be seriously weakened without federal support.
With these threats, it’s now up to us to protect PBS and NPR. We must demand that Congress maintain funding for these essential public services. Only by speaking up can we ensure that future generations have access to the kind of media that helps our democracy thrive.
Support PBS and NPR! Join the Alliance in signing this petition to urge Congress to keep funding these valuable institutions and ensure that high-quality, educational news and media remains available to everyone.
Stop Trump Budget Cuts Threatening Closure of 350 National Park Units
By Joe Parmigiani, Alliance Intern from Dartmouth College ‘28
The Trump Administration’s budget proposal calls for a cut of up to 75% for the National Park System. The proposed cut of more than $1 billion is the largest in the history of the National Park Service, according to the National Parks Conservation Association. “With 433 national park units across the country, that would essentially wipe out budgets and staffing for at least 350 national park units.” The administration labels this outrageous action simply, a “reduction in force.”
“The President’s proposed budget plan is beyond extreme,” according to Theresa Pierno, President and CEO, National Parks Conservation Association. “It is catastrophic. Every action taken so far by this administration has chipped away at National Parks and their staff, but this budget is the final blow. If enacted by Congress, our National Park System would be completely decimated.”
Our National Parks showcase the diverse beauty and rich history of our country, and have existed for more than 100 years. These funding cuts would decimate the system and lead to devastating losses for wildlife and visitors, the closing of parks and the canceling of hundreds of thousands of reservations.
It is already disrupting people’s summer vacation plans and laying off talented Park Service staff. This will also negatively affect already struggling local communities facing the loss of jobs and tourism.
We must act now to protect our National Parks. Join the Alliance in signing this petition from the National Park Conservation Association and demand that Congress stand up for our national parks and reject this proposal!
Our Forests Need Your Help – Defend Them from Trump’s Logging Attacks!
By Joe Parmigiani, Alliance Intern at Dartmouth College ‘28
Just a few weeks ago, the Trump Administration issued an executive order opening 59% of US Forest Service lands to industrial logging and clear-cutting, according to the Washington Post. This move represents one of the largest rollbacks of forest protections in recent history, threatening to permanently alter landscapes that are critical to biodiversity, climate resilience and the well-being of local communities.
The executive order aggressively targets irreplaceable old-growth forests in an effort to ramp up timber sales, points out EarthJustice. These forests have taken centuries to grow and cannot be replaced in our lifetimes. Logging them will destroy vital habitats protected under the Endangered Species Act, release massive amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere and significantly increase the risk of catastrophic wildfires in already vulnerable regions.
The impacts go beyond the environment. Forest ecosystems will be harmed, the outdoor recreation economy will take a hit and nearby communities will become far more susceptible to long-term environmental degradation.
We must act now to stop this reckless plan. Join the Alliance in signing this EarthJustice petition and demand that the US Department of Agriculture respect and preserve our federal forests!
Make Tech Companies Sucking Energy for AI Commit to Using Clean, Renewable Energy
By the Alliance Policy Team
Data centers and high-tech manufacturers have driven a massive surge in energy demand, especially with the rise of generative AI, putting our climate goals at risk, according to the Sierra Club. While tech companies publicly promote themselves as climate leaders, many still rely on fossil fuels and unsustainable water use to power and cool their operations.
In Minnesota alone, the Star Tribune points out eleven Big Tech billion dollar data centers are proposed or being built, and together they will use up more power than all of the residences in the state.
The result is that most will build several natural gas plants that will pollute and harm the environment for decades to come. And ultimately, this will lead to building hundreds of nuclear power plants across the country.
Not only will these data centers stress the local power grid, they will also require massive amounts of water to cool their data servers, as the Star Tribune points out.
Sadly, some of the companies are unwilling to disclose how much water they will use, which is essential because of the likelihood that the deep wells of data centers will dry up the wells of residents.
With the explosive growth of data centers, these energy-intensive industries must take the lead toward a 100% clean energy future. Corporate energy buyers can demand clean energy, but only if the public speaks up.
We must hold tech companies accountable to their climate promises. Demand that they meet their pledges by committing to clean, renewable energy around the clock. Remind Big Tech that we expect better, that the future they promise needs real action to ensure a livable planet.
Join the Alliance by signing this Sierra Club petition and help send a clear message to the biggest corporate energy users about what we want for our future.
Stop E-Waste from Your Phone, Computer and Other Electronics in Minnesota
By Abby Melendez-Cubias, Alliance Intern from University of California, Davis ‘26
Many people don’t know that they can’t dispose of electronic products with their household trash. Instead, they should be recycled. Electronic products contribute to groundwater contamination by leaching heavy metals into the groundwater. E-waste is responsible for 70% of lead pollution in landfills, according to Clean Water Action Minnesota.
Electronic products pose serious environmental and health challenges, especially in developing countries where much of our e-waste ends up. Sometimes the e-waste is burned so that it releases toxic gases. Other times they’re smashed to get at their valuable metals or just for disposal. In either case, this e-waste exposes workers to hazardous debris and dust, negatively impacting their health.
We’re seeing increasing evidence that E-batteries can cause fires because of the lithium ion they contain. A landfill fire in Rice County, MN polluted the air for thousands of citizens.
Proposed MN legislation (SF 1690/HF 1426) would require manufacturers to fund the collection of electronic waste and ensure it is recycled responsibly. There is a high demand for recovering the metals in e-waste, such as copper, gold and palladium, which can be used in new clean energy technologies. We lose $2 billion worth of valuable metals to landfills and incinerators.
You can make a difference by joining the Alliance in sending Clean Water Action Minnesota’s letter to your MN State legislators so they’ll enact this legislation today!
Protect MN from Dangerous PFAS Forever Chemicals — Defend Amara’s Law!
By Alliance Board Member and Clean Water Action MN Executive Director Avonna Starck and Staff
In 2023, Minnesota passed the strongest PFAS forever chemical prevention legislation in the country as part of the omnibus environment, natural resources, climate, and energy finance and policy bill with bipartisan support and signed into law by Governor Tim Walz.
The legislation was named Amara’s Law after Amara Strande, a young woman who grew up in an area contaminated by PFAS and diagnosed with an exceedingly rare form of cancer. Amara’s Law bans PFAS in 11 consumer product categories starting in 2025 and bans all nonessential uses of PFAS by 2032.
As a commonsense policy, Amara’s Law safeguards lives, taxpayer dollars and our water, lands and air.
It includes a clear process for exemption requests through the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, ensuring that all such requests are handled appropriately under the law’s framework.
Unfortunately this cutting edge law is now under attack, at risk of carve-outs and exemptions. We ask that the legislature, Governor Walz and Commissioner Kessler hold firm and reject any exemptions, carve outs or delays for Amara’s Law.
Please join the Alliance for Sustainability in sending Clean Water Action MN’s message to your lawmakers today to preserve Amara’s Law and protect the health of our communities.
Stop Trump Cuts — Demand Congress Assure Funding and Oversight for Environmental Protection
By Abby Melendez, Alliance Intern at UC Davis ‘26
The Trump administration has closed critical environmental enforcement offices, frozen federal funding for environmental projects and laid off thousands of workers for the sake of “Drill, baby, drill” and giving tax cuts to billionaires.
To weaken the EPA, the administration has fired essential non-partisan public servants with critical scientific knowledge. These staff have provided impartial expertise to ensure policies are rooted in equity and science while holding polluters accountable.
Congress must fight back and make sure agencies like the EPA can continue protecting the environment and our health. Weak federal agencies means weakening environmental protections!
The majority party has a very slim margin in Congress so every message from constituents truly counts. Please join the Alliance and sign the EarthJustice petition to make Congress act now!
Stop Trump’s Firing of Inspector Generals Doing Oversight of Federal Agencies
By Alliance Intern Joe Parmigiani from Dartmouth College ‘28
Across the federal government, President Trump has fired at least 17 Inspectors General (IGs) across 18 agencies, effectively destroying independent, nonpartisan oversight of all agency decisions.
You might wonder why should I care? IGs perform an essential role in stopping government abuse by Democrats and Republicans. They assure that laws passed by Congress are carried out with integrity.
IGs assure accountability by acting independently of politics and agency heads to investigate corruption, fraud and abuse and report to Congress. They also protect whistleblowers who come forward with information about misconduct within an agency. Without them, there are few guardrails to protect our democracy.
Trump’s firing of the IGs is a violation of our laws as they were passed by Congress. The Inspector General Act of 1978 provides that the President may remove an IG, but states, “If an Inspector General is removed from office…the President shall communicate in writing the reasons for any such removal or transfer to both Houses of Congress, not later than 30 days before the removal or transfer.”
Because Trump failed to provide the 30-day notice and justification as required by law, it appears the action is illegal. Those fired should be reinstated immediately.
Trump even fired the Interior Department IG Mark Greenblatt, who he appointed five years ago. Greenblatt told the NY Times: “This raises an existential threat with respect to the primary independent oversight function in the federal government. We have preserved the independence of inspectors general by making them not swing with every change in political party.”
This really matters for sustainability. For example, the IG of the EPA has investigated and taken the agency to task for permitting harmful pesticide use and endocrine disrupting chemicals, while not protecting workers’ rights, as pointed out by Beyond Pesticides.
We need you to take action on a topic that may seem in the weeds, but is essential to sustainability and the proper functioning of our democracy. Please join the Alliance in sending Beyond Pesticides’ letter to put pressure on your members of Congress to address this unacceptable situation and assure nonpartisan oversight.
Which is More Wicked? Comcast’s Film or Its Energy Policies?
By Abby Melendez-Cubias, Alliance Intern from University of California, Davis ’26
Comcast — the owner of NBCUniversal and much of US cable — is responsible for a whopping 2.5% of global greenhouse gas emissions, according to Green America.
much of the electricity that Comcast and the communications sector use to power their networks is sourced from fossil fuels. Green America’s Hang Up on Fossil Fuels campaign found Comcast didn’t fare well compared to other companies. They are using little renewable electricity and are lacking in robust goals to get to 100% wind and solar.
Today Show, made a connection between extreme weather events and climate change. Hopefully, Al will speak up and persuade his network to get clean.
Comcast must make changes now by switching to clean renewable energy – such as solar and wind – to help address the climate crisis and use their market power to benefit the health of their community, workers and the planet. This would also help alleviate environmental justice issues because so much conventional energy is polluting poorer communities, often with a high percentage of people of color.
With the harsh impacts of the climate crisis already being felt by communities from LA to island nations, we need aggressive commitments now. There is no time to waste. Join the Alliance in signing Green America’s petition and demand Comcast switch to renewable energy and stop contributing to harmful fossil fuel pollution!
Protect Forests and Our Air by Blocking Non-Renewable Biomass Burning
By Alliance Intern Katie Block from Wellesley College ‘25
California is considering the approval of two massive wood pellet-burning energy plants. Proponents falsely claim this biomass energy is “clean” and “renewable”, even though burning wood and other organic materials for energy produces 50% more carbon emissions than coal, according to Green America.
Burning woody biomass worsens climate change, encourages deforestation and contributes to environmental injustice by harming communities near biomass plants. “Residents near these sites often suffer from respiratory illnesses” and “must endure dust and noise pollution,” points out Green America.
They add that one of the partners proposing two massive wood pellet-burning plants “has a notorious record, with 189 violations of Canadian environmental law and extensive opposition in the US Southeast due to the pollution from its plants.”
This is the wrong direction for California, which has long been a leader in climate action. It should not move forward with this polluting energy source that works against its climate goals.
The solution is clear: California should redirect funding to truly renewable, clean solutions like wind and solar. It can meet its climate commitments and protect public health. Join the Alliance in signing Green America’s petition to get CA Gov. Newsom to block these two plants and support sustainable solutions that protect our climate, wildlife, forests and the health of vulnerable communities.
Forever Chemicals, Forever Harm — Act Now to Protect Our Water
By Katie Block, Alliance Intern at Wellesley College ‘25
PFAS chemicals, often called “forever chemicals,” are a hidden menace in our water systems. For decades, industrial polluters have released these dangerous substances into the environment, contaminating drinking water and ecosystems. Exposure to PFAS has been linked to cancer, immune system suppression and reproductive harm, and the EPA is only now beginning to address the problem. With millions of Americans at risk, we must quickly demand stronger regulations to protect public health.
Regulating industrial PFAS emissions is a critical step toward solving this crisis. By targeting pollution at its source, the EPA can help reduce contamination in our drinking water and protect vulnerable communities. This solution holds polluters accountable while safeguarding future generations. Join us in signing Earthjustice’s petition to demand action now.