Public Policy & NGOs
Here's a look at documents from public policy and non-governmental organizations
Featured Stories
CRIME DOWN, GUN CARRY UP REFLECTS NATIONAL TREND
BELLEVUE, Washington, Nov. 27 [Category: Political] -- The Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms issued the following news release:
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CRIME DOWN, GUN CARRY UP REFLECTS NATIONAL TREND
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BELLEVUE, WA - News outlets in Seattle, Washington have been reporting a decline in gun-related violence this year in surrounding King County, but the announcement overlooks a significant fact which unintentionally derails one of the greatest gun control myths of all time, that more guns equal more violent crime.
The Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms, whose national
... Show Full Article
BELLEVUE, Washington, Nov. 27 [Category: Political] -- The Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms issued the following news release:
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CRIME DOWN, GUN CARRY UP REFLECTS NATIONAL TREND
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BELLEVUE, WA - News outlets in Seattle, Washington have been reporting a decline in gun-related violence this year in surrounding King County, but the announcement overlooks a significant fact which unintentionally derails one of the greatest gun control myths of all time, that more guns equal more violent crime.
The Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms, whose nationalheadquarters is in King County, notes this crime decline has happened while the number of active concealed pistol licenses (CPL) in the county has climbed. It is actually following a national trend, as crime has dropped around the country while gun ownership nationally has increased.
CCRKBA Chairman Alan Gottlieb noted the irony of these declining crime reports when balanced against the rise in gun ownership and concealed carry, not just locally, but around the country.
"For decades," he observed, "we have seen one gun control myth after another used as excuses to restrict our Second Amendment rights. Yet here we are, when those rights are being gradually restored thanks to strategic court victories, when 29 states have adopted permitless carry laws, when more people own guns and more people are legally carrying them for personal protection, and the data shows violent crime involving guns is declining. Looks like we've been right all along, and the establishment media essentially is confirming it."
For King CountyWashington's most populous and most liberalit is simply a matter of math, Gottlieb said. August ended with 114,826 active carry licenses in the county, and September finished with 115,363 CPLs in circulation. October finished with 115,457 licenses. Nationally, the Crime Prevention Research Center estimates more than 21 million citizens are licensed to carry, and there are even more legally-armed citizens in the 29 states where no permit is required, who are carrying without a "government permission slip."
"Gun sales are continuing steady," Gottlieb added, "which is not surprising, considering reports of police manpower declines in many jurisdictions. In Seattle, there have been two high-profile incidents where legally armed citizens stopped criminals in their tracks this year. Around the country, people are fighting back. Maybe the criminal element is beginning to get the message.
"We're delighted violent crime is on the decline while gun ownership is on the rise," he said. "It demonstrates that responsible armed citizens are not part of the problem, but are part of the solution."
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Original text here: https://ccrkba.org/2025/11/27/crime-down-gun-carry-up-reflects-national-trend/
Brady Responds to Shootings of Two National Guard Members in Washington, D.C.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 27 -- The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence issued the following news release on Nov. 26, 2025:
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Brady Responds to Shootings of Two National Guard Members in Washington, D.C.
The two National Guard members were gunned down just blocks from the White House.
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Today, West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey confirmed that the National Guard members brutally shot near the White House were deployed from his state and sustained critical injuries from firearms while on patrol.
Brady, the nation's leading gun violence prevention organization, released the following statement
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Nov. 27 -- The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence issued the following news release on Nov. 26, 2025:
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Brady Responds to Shootings of Two National Guard Members in Washington, D.C.
The two National Guard members were gunned down just blocks from the White House.
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Today, West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey confirmed that the National Guard members brutally shot near the White House were deployed from his state and sustained critical injuries from firearms while on patrol.
Brady, the nation's leading gun violence prevention organization, released the following statementcondemning this heinous act of violence and calling for urgent action.
Brady President Kris Brown said:
"This is a horrific, terrifying tragedy. Our military shouldn't be at risk of losing their lives on domestic soil to gun violence. But nowhere and no one in America is safe from gun violence: not when they're steps from the White House and not when they're trained law enforcement or National Guard members. My heart goes out to the victims, their families, survivors, and all of West Virginia, and I pray for a recovery of the victims.
"As Americans travel to loved ones and prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving, we're confronted once again with the unmatched severity of our country's gun violence epidemic. It's on all of us, including elected officials across the country, to take sensible action to end this uniquely American public health crisis. In the meantime, my heart breaks for all those impacted by today's tragedy."
Brady experts are available for comment and interviews live, via phone, or Zoom. To be connected with an expert, please contact gcrews@bradyunited.org.
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Brady has one powerful mission -- to unite all Americans against gun violence. We work across Congress, the courts, and our communities with over 90 grassroots chapters, bringing together young and old, red and blue, and every shade of color to find common ground in common sense. In the spirit of our namesakes Jim and Sarah Brady, we have fought for over 45 years to take action, not sides, and we will not stop until this epidemic ends. It's in our hands.
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Original text here: https://www.bradyunited.org/press/national-guard-members-shot-dc
[Category: Political]
US Congress Should Protect Child Workers Harvesting Crops
NEW YORK, Nov. 26 [Category: International] -- Human Rights Watch posted the following news:
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US Congress Should Protect Child Workers Harvesting Crops
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As families across the United States prepare to gather for Thanksgiving this Thursday, too many children face danger cultivating and harvesting the foods that will end up on our tables.
A new Los Angeles Times investigation has found children working back-breaking 10-hour shifts on farms across the US state of California. Many said they began working when they were between 11 and 13 years old.
The children's stories are eerily familiar.
... Show Full Article
NEW YORK, Nov. 26 [Category: International] -- Human Rights Watch posted the following news:
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US Congress Should Protect Child Workers Harvesting Crops
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As families across the United States prepare to gather for Thanksgiving this Thursday, too many children face danger cultivating and harvesting the foods that will end up on our tables.
A new Los Angeles Times investigation has found children working back-breaking 10-hour shifts on farms across the US state of California. Many said they began working when they were between 11 and 13 years old.
The children's stories are eerily familiar.My colleagues and I have interviewed hundreds of children working on US farms who also worked 10 or more hours a day in extreme heat and reported injuries, illness, and chronic pain.
Many children we spoke with were exposed to toxic pesticides while they worked, with some becoming violently ill afterward. "I got so sick one time after they sprayed," a 15-year-old girl told me. "I got really dizzy and I saw black. I sat down and threw up several times." Pesticide exposure can be especially harmful to children because their bodies and brains are still developing.
US labor law leaves child farmworkers unprotected from these dangers. Under the Fair Labor Standards Act, children as young as 12 can work unlimited hours on farms of any size with parental permission, as long as they do not miss school. At 16, child farmworkers can do work considered hazardous, while in all other sectors, workers must be 18 to do hazardous work. Enforcement of even these weak protections is often lacking.
A bill before Congress would close these gaps and provide child farmworkers with the same protections as other working children. Last week, Congressman Raul Ruiz of California reintroduced the Children's Act for Responsible Employment and Farm Safety (CARE Act), which would raise the minimum working age in agriculture from 12 to 14, and prohibit those under 18 from performing hazardous work.
Child labor in the US and worldwide is driven by economic need, and ensuring living wages, social security, labor rights protections, and free education are all key to protecting children from hazardous child labor. But strong legal frameworks and robust labor enforcement, coupled with other human rights protections, can help eliminate child labor.
For Thanksgiving, members of Congress should support the CARE Act and use their power to protect child farmworkers.
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Original text here: https://www.hrw.org/news/2025/11/26/us-congress-should-protect-child-workers-harvesting-crops
India's Sporting Ambition Needs Rights Safeguards
NEW YORK, Nov. 26 [Category: International] -- Human Rights Watch posted the following news:
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India's Sporting Ambition Needs Rights Safeguards
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India will play host to the centenary Commonwealth Games in 2030 in Ahmedabad, Gujarat state, which is also the proposed host city for the country's 2036 Olympic and Paralympic Games bid.
India last hosted the Commonwealth Games in 2010 in New Delhi amid allegations of corruption, forced evictions, labor rights abuses, and trafficking of women and girls. As Indian authorities undertake new construction for sports infrastructure and public transport,
... Show Full Article
NEW YORK, Nov. 26 [Category: International] -- Human Rights Watch posted the following news:
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India's Sporting Ambition Needs Rights Safeguards
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India will play host to the centenary Commonwealth Games in 2030 in Ahmedabad, Gujarat state, which is also the proposed host city for the country's 2036 Olympic and Paralympic Games bid.
India last hosted the Commonwealth Games in 2010 in New Delhi amid allegations of corruption, forced evictions, labor rights abuses, and trafficking of women and girls. As Indian authorities undertake new construction for sports infrastructure and public transport,they should put human rights, including workers' rights, at the center of these efforts.
India has increased its investments in sport facilities beyond the game of cricket and has taken some steps to develop youth and grassroots programs. In July, the government announced the National Sports Policy 2025, promising athlete welfare, a legal framework for sport governance, and inclusion of women, persons with disabilities, and people from economically and socially marginalized communities. This was a needed step, but poor governance and abuse is entrenched in Indian sport so implementation and enforcement are key.
In 2024, the nongovernmental Sport and Rights Alliance documented systemic abuse and sexual harassment in Indian women's wrestling, finding that Indian sports bodies and the justice system failed to protect women athletes from abuse or provide effective remedies. A 2023 UN Women and UNESCO report found that "approximately one third of female athletes in India experienced sexual abuse, harassment or inappropriate behaviour by a male coach."
Since India last hosted the Games, Commonwealth Sport (formerly known as the Commonwealth Games Federation) took its own steps to embed respect for human rights, in line with the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. It has outlined commitments to support athletes' freedom of expression and introduced a Safeguarding Policy, both applying to athletes during the Games.
As India prepares for the 2030 Commonwealth Games, the government should ensure strong human rights safeguards for athletes, women and girls, construction workers, and all affected communities. As part of this process, Commonwealth Sport should act to ensure that the Indian authorities conduct meaningful stakeholder engagement with a wide range of diverse stakeholders, including from religious and ethnic minorities, Dalits, and other marginalized communities.
India has an opportunity to set a new standard for the Commonwealth Games, one that safeguards human rights, and by doing so, can also give its Olympic bid a boost.
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Original text here: https://www.hrw.org/news/2025/11/26/indias-sporting-ambition-needs-rights-safeguards
CAIR Condemns Israeli Occupation's Massive Attack on West Bank As 'Latest Act of Ethnic Cleansing'
WASHINGTON, Nov. 26 [Category: Sociological] -- The Council on American-Islamic Relations posted the following news release:
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CAIR Condemns Israeli Occupation's Massive Attack on West Bank As 'Latest Act of Ethnic Cleansing'
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The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation's largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today called condemned the Israeli occupation forces' ongoing massive attack on the northern West Bank city of Tubas and called on the Trump administration to demand an end to the violence.
Troops stormed Palestinian homes in the early morning hours
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Nov. 26 [Category: Sociological] -- The Council on American-Islamic Relations posted the following news release:
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CAIR Condemns Israeli Occupation's Massive Attack on West Bank As 'Latest Act of Ethnic Cleansing'
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The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation's largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today called condemned the Israeli occupation forces' ongoing massive attack on the northern West Bank city of Tubas and called on the Trump administration to demand an end to the violence.
Troops stormed Palestinian homes in the early morning hoursin the towns of Tammun, Tayasir and Aqaba, turning several houses into military barracks. Residents were forcibly removed from their homes. According to local media, Apache helicopters were seen flying over the city, reportedly firing arbitrarily at civilian homes. Several videos posted online appear to show Israeli forces setting up equipment on the roofs of civilian homes. Additional footage shows troops blocking ambulance crews attempting to reach Palestinians in need.
SEE: Israel launches major assault in West Bank city as helicopters shoot at homes | Middle East Eye
In a statement, CAIR said:
"The Israeli occupation's brutal, massive assault on the West Bank is its latest act of ethnic cleansing and mass murder. The Israeli government is seeking to remove the Palestinian people from their land bit by bit, not only in Gaza but across Palestine. We call on President Trump and the international community to demand an end to the Israeli government's out-of-control violence."
END
CONTACT : CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell, 404-285-9530, e-Mitchell@cair.com; CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert McCaw, 202-742-6448, rmccaw@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Manager Ismail Allison, 202-770-6280, iallison@cair.com
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Original text here: https://www.cair.com/press_releases/cair-condemns-israeli-occupations-massive-attack-on-west-bank-as-latest-act-of-ethnic-cleansing/
Budget 2025 - Friends of the Earth reaction
LONDON, England, Nov. 26 [Category: Environment] -- Friends of the Earth UK issued the following news release:
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Budget 2025 - Friends of the Earth reaction
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Commenting on today's Budget, Friends of the Earth's head of policy, Mike Childs, said:
"Removing some of the policy costs that successive governments have loaded onto energy bills will be welcomed by low-income households, who are struggling to stay warm and put food on the table - but bills will still be far too high. All policy costs should have been removed and funded through general taxation, so those with the broadest shoulders
... Show Full Article
LONDON, England, Nov. 26 [Category: Environment] -- Friends of the Earth UK issued the following news release:
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Budget 2025 - Friends of the Earth reaction
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Commenting on today's Budget, Friends of the Earth's head of policy, Mike Childs, said:
"Removing some of the policy costs that successive governments have loaded onto energy bills will be welcomed by low-income households, who are struggling to stay warm and put food on the table - but bills will still be far too high. All policy costs should have been removed and funded through general taxation, so those with the broadest shoulderspay the most.
"But cutting energy-efficiency funding is a backward step that reduces the money needed to stop vulnerable families freezing in damp and draughty homes. Alongside spending on roads and expanding airports, this move makes hitting the UK's climate targets even harder - and potentially impossible.
"Affordable clean energy is critical for reducing the cost-of-living pressures and boosting the UK's economic competitiveness. To get there, the UK must speed up the building of more cheap renewable energy and reform a broken electricity market where expensive gas sets the price - despite only accounting for less than a third of the power generated."
Commenting on a rise in fuel duty, Mike Childs, said:
"Even a small rise in fuel duty hits low-income households hardest, especially those who rely on cars in areas where bus services have been slashed over the past 15 years - often by more than a half outside London. Ministers must do more to invest in reliable public transport, particularly in rural communities.
"Likewise, introducing per-mile charges for electric vehicles from 2028 will be premature if public charging remains disproportionately expensive. The cost of public charging needs to be brought more in line with home-charging before this measure is implemented.
"A rapid shift to EVs is vital for cutting carbon and cleaning up our air. As the government's own climate plan makes clear, progress happens faster with incentives, not penalties."
Commenting on North Sea plans published alongside the Budget, Mike Childs, said:
"The Chancellor was right to reject fossil fuel industry calls to cut the Energy Profits Levy early. These companies made eye-watering profits off the back of households during the energy crisis, and they should pay their fair share of taxes.
"It is also encouraging to see the government reaffirming its commitment to no oil and gas licences, alongside a North Sea jobs service to help workers transition into other well paid jobs, including offshore wind.
Those calling for more North Sea extraction must be honest: it won't cut bills, but it will fuel the climate crisis. The extreme weather we see across the world is a direct result of our dependence on fossil fuels and the slow shift to cleaner energy.
Future generations will not thank us for drilling for more oil and gas when the warning signs of climate breakdown are plain to see."
Commenting on the absence of polluter pay taxes, Mike Childs, said:
"The government has missed a golden opportunity to make the biggest polluters pay for the damage they cause - a move that would curb pollution and help fund real solutions. They should have introduced progressive measures like a frequent-flyer levy and used the money raised to boost much depleted bus services."
ENDS
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Original text here: https://friendsoftheearth.uk/climate/budget-2025-friends-earth-reaction
'Mush-room for Innovation': PETA Pushes Tyson to Convert Closing Slaughterhouse to Fungi Farm: 'Save the Workers, Save the Cows!'
LEXINGTON, Nebraska, Nov. 26 -- People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals issued the following news release on Nov. 25, 2025:
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'Mush-room for Innovation': PETA Pushes Tyson to Convert Closing Slaughterhouse to Fungi Farm: "Save the Workers, Save the Cows!"
Following the announcement that Tyson Foods is shutting down its Lexington slaughterhouse and will lay off over 3,000 employees in January, PETA sent a letter today to Tyson CEO Donnie King with a win-win proposal: upgrade the facility to a mushroom farm.
PETA points out that the mycelial makeover would not only allow workers to keep
... Show Full Article
LEXINGTON, Nebraska, Nov. 26 -- People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals issued the following news release on Nov. 25, 2025:
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'Mush-room for Innovation': PETA Pushes Tyson to Convert Closing Slaughterhouse to Fungi Farm: "Save the Workers, Save the Cows!"
Following the announcement that Tyson Foods is shutting down its Lexington slaughterhouse and will lay off over 3,000 employees in January, PETA sent a letter today to Tyson CEO Donnie King with a win-win proposal: upgrade the facility to a mushroom farm.
PETA points out that the mycelial makeover would not only allow workers to keeptheir jobs, but would make their work far safer and less disgusting, as they'd no longer have to go home smelling of blood and offal--and employees could be proud to bring their children to see how they make a living. And as more consumers choose vegan options, demand for healthy, protein-packed fungi will continue to grow.
"Killing and slicing up thousands of terrified cows per day is a cruel, filthy, and dangerous business, but growing tasty truffles and exquisite enokis is a job anyone can be proud of," says PETA Founder Ingrid Newkirk. "PETA encourages Tyson to do right by animals and its workers by converting its Lexington slaughterhouse to a mushroom plant."
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PETA--whose motto reads, in part, that "animals are not ours to eat"--points out that Every Animal Is Someone and offers free Empathy Kits for people who need a lesson in kindness and free Vegan Starter Kits for anyone thinking of making the switch. For more information, please visit PETA.org or follow PETA on X, Facebook, or Instagram.
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PETA's letter to King follows.
November 25, 2025
Donnie King, CEO
Tyson Foods Inc.
Via e-mail
Dear Mr. King:
I'm writing on behalf of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals--PETA entities have more than 10.4 million members and supporters globally, including many thousands across Nebraska and Arkansas--with a suggestion: We hear that Tyson will be shutting down a meat processing plant in Nebraska in January, but we'd like to urge you to rethink that closure and keep people employed by embracing the future of food, converting this plant into an indoor mushroom farm, and starting to produce zero-cholesterol, high-protein versatile mushroom products. A mushroom farm would be far less hazardous than running a slaughterhouse. People wouldn't go home smelling of blood and offal, and employees could be proud to bring their children to see how they make a living.
Plant-based proteins are far more sustainable--mushrooms require significantly less water than animal agriculture--and can be produced at much lower costs than animal products. In addition, consumers are increasingly choosing vegan options. Tyson has the scale, supply-chain expertise, and brand recognition to lead the protein industry in a bold new direction, rather than chasing a market that continues to shrink and relies on the torture and deaths of billions of animals each year.
Mushrooms are delicious and healthy, and they make a satisfying meal in dishes like vegan stroganoff, Wellington, pasta, soups, and stews. With rapid growth cycles and a nutritional profile that surpasses that of animal proteins, mushrooms offer a powerful way to help Americans lose weight and reduce their risk of heart disease, strokes, and diabetes. They also support immune function and promote brain, heart, and gut health.
We welcome the chance to discuss how Tyson could seize the opportunity to grow in this revolutionary direction and prove that there's always mushroom for innovation. Thank you for your consideration. We look forward to hearing from you.
Very truly yours,
Ingrid Newkirk
Founder
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Original text here: https://www.peta.org/media/news-releases/mush-room-for-innovation-peta-pushes-tyson-to-convert-closing-slaughterhouse-to-fungi-farm-save-the-workers-save-the-cows/
[Category: Animals]
