Page 6 - Nebraska Report January/February 2012

When It’s Your Turn, Take Both COVID-19 Vaccines

by Mark Welsh, NFP Omaha Coordinator The COVID-19 vaccines do NOT tries. Drug companies have targeted sales
and Sandi Hanna, NFP Palestinian Rights stop the spread of the disease. They are to locations where profits are the highest.
Task Force different from the Measles and Polio vac- Israel’s apartheid government isn’t
cines—which prevent people from spreading giving the vaccine to any Palestinians in
There is hope in the air. COVID-19 vaccines those dangerous illnesses. After getting the Gaza, the West Bank or in Israel’s prisons.
are free in the U.S. and are being distributed two doses, people should still be required Not even to doctors and nurses in hospitals.
in the whole country. To protect yourself, to wear masks, wash your hands often Jewish prisoners and those in the illegal
and those around you, get the vaccine as for 20 seconds, socially distance and stay settlements in the West Bank, right next door
soon as it is your turn. Medical profession- away from crowded places. You can still to Palestinians, are being vaccinated. This
als and people in nursing homes are first in be a carrier and infect other people. Please apartheid treatment of Palestinians must
line followed by elderly people. Nebraskans don’t have large family gatherings until this stop. Congressmember Rashida Talib of
for Peace is urging our elected officials to is really under control. Michigan, who is Palestinian American says
prioritize Black, Indigenous, and People of How many have died? Over 400,000 her Palestinian grandmother was denied
Color in the U.S. These groups are being have died in the U.S. so far. That is the access to a vaccine.
hit the hardest. number of people who lived in Omaha during To stop this injustice, contact your three
Sadly, not everyone in the world is as the 2010 census. Hundreds of thousands members of Congress and ask them to work
fortunate as we are. There is apartheid dis- more will probably die this year. As long as to urge Israel to stop their apartheid practice
tribution in at least one country. One group bars and restaurants are allowed to serve of not vaccinating any Palestinians. Here is
is not being allowed to have the vaccine— people indoors and people are not required how to call Nebraska’s MOC:
not even doctors caring for sick and dying to wear masks, the pandemic will continue
patients in hospitals. —until almost everyone has received the • Senator Deb Fischer 202-224-6551
What do the vaccines do and not vaccine shots. • Senator Ben Sasse 202-224-4224
do? Drug companies’ profits and vaccine • Rep. Adrian Smith 202-225-6435
They prevent 95% of the people who inequalities are allowing younger, healthier • Rep. Jeff Fortenberry 202-225-4806
are vaccinated from getting terribly adults to get vaccinated before health care • Rep. Don Bacon 202-225-4155
workers and older people in poorer coun-
sick or dying.

‘Yes’ Votes!, conclusion

USE IT Act our nation’s fisheries to the impacts of in the way we do: we lobby members
Politico calls the USE IT Act “a climate change. of Congress on both sides of the aisle,
top priority of outgoing Environment The inclusion of these measures and our supporters are of all political
and Public Works Chair John Barrasso in the larger omnibus package shows stripes, because it takes a broad coali-
(R-Wyo.) that would boost carbon that CCL’s volunteer lobbying has an tion to advance on these issues.
capture and direct air capture technol- impact. And now that they’ve passed As we head into 2021, let’s
ogies.” CCL volunteers have lobbied Congress, we’re measurably closer to celebrate that three of our supporting
on this legislation since June of 2019, future bipartisan agreement and cli- asks will now be law alongside other
too, and it gained cosponsors after our mate action. “Every success makes it valuable climate and energy policies.
lobbying pushes. easier to get to the next step,” Pender- These types of wins take a long time
grass says. to achieve, so let’s savor the rare days
Climate-Ready Fisheries Act Another important lesson from when legislation crosses the finish
CCL volunteers also advocated this week’s vote is that bipartisan- line! Thank you to all our volunteers
for the Climate-Ready Fisheries Act ship is necessary to get things done. who lobbied on these bills, to our
in June of this year—the bill gained These bills had bipartisan support in legislative staff who supported those
10 cosponsors after our lobby days. and out of Congress, and they passed efforts in D.C. all year round, and to
This provision will require a report in a larger bipartisan package. This is everyone who has supported CCL to
to be prepared about efforts to adapt a powerful reminder why CCL works make it possible.
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2021 NE REPORT, P. 6