Based on the invitation of the tribal leader Almir Suruí Narayamoga, the Amazon Conservation Team was able to expand its biocultural conservation mapping and management methodology into the indigenous rainforest lands of the Suruí people of Rondônia. As always in ACT's ethnocartographic process, the information assembly procedure commenced with an extensive introductory methodological and technical training workshop for indigenous researchers.

The campaign to reform catalog industry heats up - "Candace the Caribou," a costumed activist representing a caribou evicted from its Canadian forest habitat due to logging, led a summer tour of activist protests across the country. The demonstrations spotlighted the enormous role that forests play in protecting us from global warming, and took place at the retail locations of several major companies engaged in forest destruction to make catalogs, including J. Crew, Eddie Bauer, JC Penney and Crate & Barrel.

Center for a New American Dream wants to help legitimize nonmaterial gifts and make green giving the norm, too! Starting this month, you can request "alternative" gifts in a fun, non-preachy way on our online Alternative Gift Registry. A natural extension of our "Simplify the Holidays" work, our Alternative Gift Registry is geared toward weddings and new babies, but can be easily adapted for many major events.

On July 26, 2007, the ACLU won a landmark decision striking down an anti-immigrant local ordinance in Hazleton, Pennsylvania. This harmful ordinance, enacted in July 2006, sought to punish landlords and employers for doing business with undocumented immigrants. Supporters of the law had clearly stated that their goal was to drive so-called “illegal aliens” out of town. Many Hispanics, including legal U.S. residents, have left Hazleton, and Hispanic-owned businesses have had to close down because of the hostile environment created by the ordinance. The ACLU brought this lawsuit on behalf of Hazleton residents, landlords, and business owners, in collaboration with the ACLU of Pennsylvania, the Puerto Rican Legal Defense and Education Fund, the Community Justice Project, and the law firm of Cozen O’Connor.

"ICED! I Can End Deportation," Breakthrough's much-talked about game has been the "item to watch" on and off-line. This 3D downloadable game, teaches players about the unjust nature of U.S immigration policy and the harsh 1996 laws, which affect legal permanent residents, asylum seekers, students and undocumented people. These laws are violating human rights and tearing families apart.

The Innocence Project was instrument in the release of Jerry Miller, who was exonerated in Illinois after serving 24 years in prison for a crime he did not commit. Jerry was interviewed by Stephen Colbert of Comedy Central's The Colbert Report and recommended that states should grant access to DNA testing for prisoners trying to prove their innocence.

Advocates for Youth's communications strategy is designed to expose adolescent reproductive and sexual health policies that promote ultraconservative ideology as opposed to public health science. During the past year, Advocates' media outreach resulted in stories on issues such as abstinence-only, the President's misguided budget priorities, the HPV vaccine, and emergency contraception in newspapers and on radio shows around the country. As one strategy, Advocates conducted interviews to highlight the absurd change in federal regulations.