Causes

by GrowMap · 7 comments

Do you have a cause, charity or non-profit you feel deserves more visibility?  Tell us why in the comments of this page – and do include any relevant links (their site, blog, Twitter, Facebook, etc.).  Comments with many links do go into moderation but we will rescue them!

Participants in our contest are encouraged to write about and submit entry posts about any of these or their own favorites. Posts may be about a specific solution or the issue in general and link to many solution providers.

These posts will be judged and count towards the total score necessary to win the cash prizes.

Reform CPS

Families are being torn apart by a corrupt system that incentizes removing children and threatens case workers with job loss if they try to actually help families. Imagine how YOU would feel if they took YOUR child away from you. Get informed. Speak out. Find out more:

Homeless Shelters and Other Homeless Assistance Programs

The enormity of the homeless problem is impossible to measure because most people hide their situations even from their closest friends and family. The number of people who are hungry, homeless, or without utilities will continue to worsen as the dollar declines. Too many assume it could never happen to them. They assume wrongly.

Cities often respond to homelessness by making it illegal.
Over 50 cities have criminalized homelessness by making feeding
them or letting them camp out or live in their cars illegal.

“Bans on feeding and camping often leave people with nowhere to eat or
sleep because many cities lack emergency food services and shelters.”

If you know of people who are making sure others are not going hungry and without shelter, please leave a comment and links to their information so we can add them here – or better yet – get them added to the Homeless Shelter Directories below.

Federal Judge William H. Yohn Jr. released a 56-page opinion blocking
Mayor Michael Nutter’s ban on feeding the homeless in public spaces
but within hours of Yohn’s preliminary injunction on Friday, Nutter’s administration
filed notice of appeal with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.

Innocents in Prison

Our American prisons are full of innocent people and political prisoners. If we don’t want to be next we need to get these people released. One place to see the evidence and act is The Innocence Project.

  • Political Prisoners

    • “Amnesty International considers Leonard Peltier to be a political prisoner… Amnesty International believes that Leonard Peltier should be immediately and unconditionally released.”

Food Rights

Food Banks

Hunger Wars: Predictions of How the 2012 Drought Will Impact Food Prices

Stop Debtor’s Prisons

Most Americans believed that debtor’s prison – putting someone in jail who could not pay their debts – were made illegal decades ago.  Collection agencies and government programs desperate for money have found a way to make an end run around imprisoning people for the debt itself and have them thrown in jail for “contempt of court” for failure to pay fees or fines.

Think it couldn’t happen to you? What about a medical emergency bill you don’t pay? l Think again:

How did breast cancer survivor Lisa Lindsay end up behind bars? She didn’t pay a medical bill — one the Herrin, Ill., teaching assistant was told she didn’t owe. “She got a $280 medical bill in error and was told she didn’t have to pay it,” The Associated Press reports. “But the bill was turned over to a collection agency, and eventually state troopers showed up at her home and took her to jail in handcuffs.”

Stop Asset Forfeiture

Across America (and probably elsewhere around the world) people are having their cash, vehicles and assets seized without being charged with any wrongdoing. Unless they have the resources to wage a protracted legal battle they never get them back. As the size of law enforcement and government grows and tax revenues shrink due to the economy, taking people’s property to pay salaries and cover overhead is getting more common and the methods used are more aggressive. This is unconstitutional and just plain theft.

I’m sure you have seen all those auctions promising vehicles and real estate for pennies on the dollar. That property was STOLEN from your fellow humanity. Almost none of it is actually taken from anyone doing anything illegal. You and yours are likely to be next if we don’t put an end to this!  Support these organizations working to reform asset forfeiture:

Stop Arcane Foreclosures

Did you know that even if your house or land is totally paid for that it can be taken away from you and auctioned off?  Many are losing their homes because they could not pay a utility bill or because of fines, fees, interest and penalties tacked onto small debts.

Water Rights

Governments are taking away our rights to water – something we MUST HAVE to survive:

Animal Rescues and Causes

  • NetPosse / Stolen Horse International (SHI) – To a horse lover, horses are family – not livestock – and their greatest fear is their horse being stolen. Law enforcement was rarely helpful and the odds of recovery dismal – until Debi Metcalfe took what she learned in recovering her own stolen horse and turned it into an organization that actually recovers stolen horses, saddles, trailers and tack. Every horse lover needs to join NetPosse / Stolen Horse International (SHI) and learn what to do NOW to make sure if a thief hits them they know what to do. They have a huge network that immediately spreads the word the minute a theft report is filed. You can help spread the word online and off and share their Stolen Horse International Facebook alerts. They need volunteers and donations or you can support them by buying products from the new Netposse Store. [Note: Although they sell microchips and scanners, I do NOT recommend chipping any animal for privacy and health reasons. Chips do NOT deter theft. FreezeMarking is the best option. ~Gail~]

Environment

  • Earth Day ~ While Earth Day is officially April 22, every day needs to be earth day.

While I know that many have had bad experiences with organized religion and churches and I respect each person’s beliefs, many of us have personal relationships with Jesus and believe following His example is the most important thing in our lives. Even some who have not decided to follow Him ARE following His example by supporting what He would have us do.

I put Jesus first in my life, but knowing that many aren’t ready to think about that just yet, He is not first on this page. Regardless of your own beliefs today, I encourage you to be tolerant of others and care as much about all people as you do for yourself. Remember that this life is short and we are not promised tomorrow, so you may want to make considering The Case for Christ a priority in your own life. ~ Gail ~

  • Connect: a Christ Centered Video Project – How the teachings of Jesus apply to our everyday lives. Please support this project on Kickstarter by clicking the link and pledging $5 and by spreading the word online.

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    { 3 comments… read them below or add one }

    Stephen January 10, 2013 at 3:39 am

    It’s awful the things people do to one another. We need some real reform. Many of these problems are not new to me. I don’t know the solution, but I know part of the problem is the size of the nation. Many great things have come from the growth of our nation. I’m not so sure the good has out weighed the evil we have done. Government should be kept small and local to meet the needs of the local population. When a nation grows the gap between the majority and the minority gets wider and it is not long before a great many get hurt. What is good for Joe in Detroit may be a nightmare for Bob in San Francisco, but since there are a whole lot more Joe’s; Bob has no choice but to suffer. Democracy is good when kept small and local.
    Stephen recently posted..Project HopeMy Profile

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    GrowMap February 15, 2013 at 9:06 pm

    Hi Stephen,

    The problem is that the money of the few wealthy elite who control the media and multi-national corporations has allowed them to corrupt our governments, the agencies that are supposed to be keeping them in line, and even the judiciary.

    The solution is to downsize centralized control and for good people who understand the dangers of Agenda 21 / Sustainable Development plans that are being rolled out across the country so we can put an end to them.

    If local land owners really knew what was going on and people in general knew how the banking system works they SHOULD demand reform – but they most likely will not because they are drugged into submission by what is in the food, water, and “medicines” they consume and the propaganda they were raised with on TV and in the schools.
    GrowMap recently posted..Why Small Businesses Should Take Advantage of These Business Directory Discounts – and Bloggers Should, Too.My Profile

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    gia4 good cause January 31, 2013 at 10:04 pm

    Wow! This is one good cause. My admiration for keeping these advocacies. And I must say that I agree that we should make everyday and earth day.
    gia4 good cause recently posted..Is Crowd Funding Fraud? A Pyramid Scam?My Profile

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