Link TV - What You Can Do!

Litigating Disaster

Twenty years ago, toxic chemical gas spilled from the Union Carbide plant in Bhopal, India, killing thousands, poisoning hundreds of thousands, and changing life forever for the inhabitants of that city.

Litigating Disaster is an account of the battle that the city's residents have faced in getting Union Carbide (a subsidiary of Dow Chemical)�to clean up and take responsibility for the toxic spill.

Watch a preview clip, and don't miss the film's premiere broadcasts around the December 3rd anniversary.

Greenpeace urges you to write to your representative to support Congressional Resolution 503 on Bhopal, and to get involved in their international campaign to clean up this toxic hotspot.

The International Campaign for Justice in Bhopal has a list of 20 things you can do to commemorate the day, and join the fight for justice for the victims of the Bhopal disaster.

These companies are your companies! Hold U.S.-based firms accountable for their practices overseas. Friends of the Earth has a current campaign for the International Right to Know Law�it would require American companies to disclose environmental, labor, and human rights information about their operations abroad.

Students for Bhopal and CorpWatch are two other organizations that are involved in the Bhopal campaign, and offer ways to take action.

The Hole in the Wall


		The "Hole in the Wall" Minimally Invasive Education Experiment, founded by Dr. Sugata Mitra, is working to close the digital divide in India, in an innovative and efficient way. Computers are placed in protective but accessible kiosks in small villages, and children quickly teach themselves the basics of�computer and Internet use. Support their work with funding, equipment, sponsorship, or proposals for developing more "hole-in-the-wall" sites.

FAQs: About Military Manpower and the Draft

Link TV's new live talk-show series, FAQs, launches on Tuesday, October 26th, at 11pm Eastern, 8pm Pacific, with a show "About Military Manpower and the Draft." (The series continues with shows on October 27th and 28th.) These call-in shows allow you to participate in the debate. In this series you can share your questions and feelings about the Iraq War, talk about any personal war-time experiences, and explore the possibility of a military draft.

The question of a draft looms, despite denials by both George W. Bush and John Kerry that they would use this method to increase the ranks of military personnel. Concerned about how you can take action, as a potential draftee, as a parent, or as a concerned citizen? Here's What You Can Do!:

Get informed/learn more:

�-A reprint of an Atlantic Monthly article from March 2004 discusses some of the main problems facing the military in terms of funding and manpower.

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-Truthout.org reprints a New York Times article on the draft issue, and the presidential candidates' attempts to avoid it.

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-The LA Times follows the buzz around the draft, and how it grew.

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-A recent CBS news report on how some military families are facing serious financial difficulties�and how communities are responding.

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Want to help a soldier or military family?

-Soldiers' Angels was started by Patti Patton-Bader, a military mother whose son was stationed in Iraq. He wrote to her when he noticed that some soldiers didn't get much mail from home, and she was moved to ask her friends to each write to a soldier or two. Her initial efforts have now grown into a non-profit organization that supports deployed and returned soldiers in a variety of ways.You can�even�"adopt-a-soldier."

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-A Million Thanks is gathering a million letters, card and e-mails of appreciation to send to military men and women. It was started by 15-year-old Shauna Fleming of Orange, CA.

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-Operation Gratitude is a non-profit organization with no political affiliation, that supports our deployed troops by sending care packages. It is yet another project based on one person's initiative--in this case, Carolyn Blashek of Los Angeles, CA, who was inspired by the soldiers she saw leaving for Iraq. She still runs much of the operation from her house.

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-Donate groceries to military families.

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-Help support wounded soldiers when they return to the U.S., as they transition back into civilian life.

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-Paul Reickhoff is a soldier who served a tour of duty in Iraq lasting from April 2003 to February 2004. He appeared on FAQs, and has a list of other suggestions to help soldiers and their families, on his web site, Operation Truth.

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Are you a soldier, vet or a military family that needs help?

-The National Military Families Association is "The Voice for Military Families." They have set up a 24-hour information and referral service to provide information and assistance in such areas as parenting and childcare, educational services, financial information and counseling, civilian legal advice, elder care, crisis support, and relocation information.

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-Operation Comfort will connect you with therapist who will work with you for FREE. Use their web site or call their toll-free phone number, 1-866 NEAR 2 U, to find a free counselor in your area.

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-You can locate readjustment counseling for returned veterans, with this Department of Veteran Affairs state-by-state directory.

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-In the military and have questions about being there�need advice or help? Call the confidential GI Rights Hotline at 1-800-394-9544, or check their web site.

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Wondering about the draft?

�-The Selective Service's guide to what happens in a draft.

-One soldier speaks: FAQs guest Paul Reickhoff, Executive Director and Founder of Operation Truth, and recently returned from his tour of duty in Iraq, has written about the draft.

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-Women? Uncle Sam might want you too.

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-The Department of Defense has released a letter from Secretary Rumsfeld to the House Armed Services Committee, stating his opposition to the draft. There are highlights here as well as a link to the full letter.

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Are you between the ages of 18 and 25?

-Polls show: the possibility of a military draft is a real concern for young people�Rock the Vote breaks it down.

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-Are you a high school student who has joined the military but now wonder if you can get out? The Delayed Entry Program is not a firm commitment�you can change your mind and the GI Rights Hotline will help you. Call 1-800-394-9544 or check their web site for info.
Are you thinking of joining the military but not sure? The Objector can also help you review the options.

-Want to learn more about what it means to be a conscientious objector?

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-Think your friends need a wake-up call? Send them a draft card.

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Are you the parent of someone who is 18 to 25?

-The No Child Left Behind Act includes sections that require schools to hand over contact information for all juniors and seniors to the Department of Defense, and to allow military recruiters on campus. If you're concerned about this, or have questions, see Just Think First's web site.

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Opposed to this war?�

-Not in Our Name is one anti-war group that has chapters across the U.S., as well we ideas about how to start your own if there isn't a group in your area.

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-Military Families Speak Out is a voice for military families who oppose the Iraq War.

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-A group of Iraq Vets Against the War have organized to speak about what they saw and experienced in Iraq that led them to conclude that the war is immoral and unjust. Their work will be featured in the upcoming November/December issue of Mother Jones.

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Support the war?

-The military is eager for new recruits. There is a recruitment office near you, where you and/or your children can join the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines or National Guard. See what they offer, and if it's the right choice for you, at Military.com.

-In addition to our suggestions above, the Department of Defense has a list of ways to support the troops.

Counting on Democracy

What really happened in Florida in the 2000 Presidential elections? The documentary Counting on Democracy, which you can watch here on Link TV, found evidence of voter roll purges that wrongly disenfranchised voters and disproportionately affected African-Americans, poorly-designed ballots, and double-standards in the ballot disqualification process. As the 2004 Presidential election approaches, voting and election issues are heating up again.

See a streamed video update to "Counting on Democracy," produced in 2004.

If you've been inspired by this film and want to know what you can do:

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Vote. (Here's where to go). And help your family, friends, and neighbors get to the polls.

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Get educated on the candidates and issues you'll be voting on on November 2nd.

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Hold an election issue party. Give all your guests an assignment: to research one issue, or one race's candidates--and have everyone share what they learned at the party. Make active democracy fun again!

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Think it was just Florida? Check out election monitoring group Votewatch's web�site for the facts on how many votes went missing last time�and why. Join with Votewatch and you can become a Mystery Voter�a Votewatcher�a Closing Voter�see the various exciting ways you take part in election monitoring on November 2nd.

Clownin


		What can a pack of silly clowns do, in a war-devastated country like Afghanistan? Famed doctor and activist-clown Patch Adams shows us---in this documentary, Clownin' Kabul, filmed in 2002 soon after the U.S.-led attacks on the country. He takes his groups of clowns on humanitarian missions all over the world, to bring moments of laughter and happiness to some of the places where they are most needed. Its depiction of the suffering that especially children endure as a result of run-ins with landmines has struck a cord in many of our viewers. If you'd like to help, there are many ways to make a difference: Get involved with Patch Adams' Gesundheit! Institute: they've got lots of suggestions of how to do good works, and not all of them involve wearing gigantic shoes and a red nose. Although it never hurts. Their next clowning trip is to Russia�and you can help them to spread their revolutionary love message by buying a copy of the film, or just plain donating. Support the doctors: The Italian medical organization Emergency and The International Committee of the Red Cross are two of the humanitarian groups whose brave work you see featured in Clownin' Kabul. Roots of Peace is an American humanitarian group working to de-mine and re-plant the schoolyards and fields of countries like Afghanistan. They have a great project to get American kids involved in helping children who live in heavily-mined areas to reclaim a normal life. And of course, join the International Campaign to Ban Landmines. The Bush Administration recently abandoned the international Mine Ban Treaty, and as the ICBL reports: -The U.S. still reserves the right to produce antipersonnel mines, along with a dwindling list of 13 other producers. -Although there is no evidence that the U.S. has used antipersonnel mines in its recent operations in Iraq or elsewhere, it still reserves the right to do so and this is cause for grave concern. The last time the U.S. used antipersonnel landmines was against Iraq in the 1991 Gulf War. See their special report on the United States and landmines. For more on Patch Adams' philosophy of true health, check out this interview he gave to a Chilean talk show, in 2003.