Action Groups on the Internet

Community groups fighting for Justice
Other Non-Profit Groups
Politicians & Politics: Keeping Voters Informed
Senior Citizen Sites
Sites by and for Veterans

Community groups fighting for Justice

American Friends Service Committee
Actively helps workers and citizens struggling for justice in places like Mexico.

Amnesty International Online
Launches campaigns to defend human rights around the world. Since this winter has been focusing on China, where one-fifth of the world's people live.

Children's Defense Fund
Keeps up on what's happening around children in legislation and in society. Valuable research, and alerts us to issues relating to children.

Citizens for Tax Justice
Offers information on how to make taxes more just for the average person.

Clean Air Coalition of Southeast Michigan
Includes the UAW and major corporations, including the auto companies and reports on ozone levels, etc.

Defenders of Wildlife
A 50-year-old group dedicated to defending the environment for humans as well, plus a well-designed web site.

Emily's List
Current information on progressive women running for public office.

Envirolink
Bills itself modestly as "the largest online environmental information resource on the planet." But it probably is. Includes news, a library, and green marketplace.

Families USA
The consumer voice for health care offers lots of information and works actively for policies that are good for families. Also, check out their site, Fair Drug Prices

Holy Cross Student Labor Action Committee
What a delight to discover these students supporting worker rights on the web as well as on campus. It's a well-done frequently updated site to keep people informed about worldwide labor and human rights issues and campaigns.

Human Rights Watch
A compelling site with lots of timely information on worldwide abuses we can't afford not to know.

Kids Campaigns
A center for children's advocates and those interested in finding a variety of Information about kids. Featuring the most recent statistics and news about children's issues. Offers a nation wide data base, and search engine and a number of good links.

Laid Off & Left Out: America's Workers Deserve Better
A site developed by the National Employment Law Project to help the unemployed learn about their benefits, find support resources in their communities and take action to strengthen federal unemployment insurance. The site includes an on-line forum created especially for the nation’s jobless and underemployed workers to share their experiences and concerns.

League of Women voters
From a group well-known for getting the facts to voters and encouraging people to participate in the democratic process. Its Election Central gives you voting info for your area, and its Urgent Lobby Requests help viewers speak out on issues like the Patients Bill of Rights.

National Employment Law Project
The National Employment Law Project (NELP) has advocated for over 30 years on behalf of low-wage workers, the poor, the unemployed and other groups that face barriers to employment and government systems of support. The site includes fact sheets and other materials to assist workers in understanding their workplace rights and accessing benefits.

National Labor Committee
This small group's campaigns against sweatshops and child labor worldwide has forced major clothing labels like Liz Claiborne, Ralph Loren, and the Gap to change their ways, and they've taken on the worldwide employment abuses of the Disney empire.

Natural Resources Defense Council
An excellent site with news about our environment worldwide, features on our parks, beaches and zoos, an Earth Action page, and lots of other goodies.

People for the American Way
This group stands up for the U.S. bill of rights, including freedom of religion and expression, by fighting right-wing attacks on education, information, etc.

Public Citizen
Founded by Ralph Nader, focuses attention on consumers, energy, good government and other issues.

Stand for Children
Their mission is to support activists who want more attention paid to kids and families, and their site has timely news on happenings important to children. They're building Children's Action Teams with the annual Stand For Children Day and other events. It's affiliated with the Children's Defense Fund.

The American Civil Liberties Union
A very large, well-done site giving lots of information on the many causes the Civil Liberties Union is involved in. Check out the Workplace Rights section.

The Feminist Majority Online
Revamped site includes info on women workers, including fighting sweatshops, along with other issues important to women.

The National Farmers Union
This site has been beautifully redesigned. Here you find issues we're all concerned with, plus links, facts, legislative news, research and a list of contacts of interest to the 300,000 family farmers and ranchers in America.

The Progressive Directory
From the Institute for Global Communications (IGC), this gives a comprehensive list of groups that fight for a clean environment, peace, labor, human and women's rights. Includes links to labor groups and individuals.

The Sierra Club
This respected environmental group -- whose workers belong to the UAW -- has put a wealth of information online on everything from saving the forests to your next trip to action alerts and U.S. trade policy.

UNESCO United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
A wonderful, browser-friendly site. UNESCO aims to contribute to peace and security in the world by promoting collaboration among nations through education, science, culture and communication. Includes reports and interesting statistics, such as public spending on education and the number of people viewing newspapers and TV in each country.

United for a Fair Economy
The rich are hiking their own multi-million-dollar salaries at a dizzying pace, reaping huge windfalls from stock options and taking an ever-bigger share of our nation's wealth, while the rest of us struggle to get by. Is there anything we can do about it? On this site you'll find out about shareholder campaigns and other popular actions you can join.

Other Non-Profit Groups

Economic Policy Network
The Economic Policy Institute, Families USA, 20th Century Fund, and other progressive policy groups all in one place.

National Committee for Quality Assurance
Non-profit group that takes a hard look at managed-care health organizations and then lets you know how health plans score in quality management, preventive health services, etc. The UAW is listed as one of the unions using its services.

United Way of America
Shows you the good work they’re up to and tells about the groups they fund, including how to volunteer.

United Way of Northwest Michigan
A useful site bringing together helpful community groups in the Traverse Bay area -- including the AFL-CIO Community Service Program.

Politicians & Politics: Keeping Voters Informed

All Politics
From CNN and TIME magazine; competes well with Politics Now and includes interesting multi-media features

Center for the American Woman and Politics
Not very exciting to look at, but offers basic on women and politics that can be useful.

Democratic National Committee
Highlights key issues and events; includes action alerts

Democratic Socialists of America
DSA is the largest socialist organization in the United States. The site offers "Left Links" to web pages in the labor movement and other progressive arenas.

Dnet a.k.a. The Democracy Network
Funded by foundations, this non-partisan site works with groups like the League of Women Voters to inform you about candidates, ballot questions and elections in key states (and also Venezuela!) When we checked, was being expanded to all states for the 98 election season. Here you can see how the candidates handle debates, find out about ballot propositions, discuss the issues and more, to varying degrees in each state.

Emily's List
Current information on progressive women running for public office.

Freedom Forum
An attractive, up-to-date and well-designed site that gives the latest news and discussion on freedom of speech developments and controversies, including various lawsuits. Although this might be mostly of interest to journalists, it also includes plenty of late-breaking news on our other basic freedoms, including our right to freedom of assembly and religion

Gongwer News Services Michigan Report
A valuable source of legislative news on what's going on in Michigan. At a time when unionists don't want to read Detroit's union-busting newspapers, this is a real eye-opener and excellent service. Also has government links and info on elected officials.

How You Can Register & Vote
Complete information on voting rules and opportunities in each of the 50 states. Just click on your state to get the low-down.

Political Site of the Day
A really nice line-up of articles you can find on the web about what's happening and around government and how it affects us -- one new site featured each day.

Project Vote Smart
Excellent way to check up on elections and politicians, including financial information, voting records, how U.S. government works, state government, and even political humor. Look up your representatives!

Republican National Committee
A well-designed site on Republican priorities and P.R.

The New Party
An alternative political party running grass-roots level candidates.

Who's Getting the Election Money
The latest reports on campaign spending, straight from the Federal Election Commission. Look up your favorite (or most hated) politician, and see how much money they're getting -- in easy-to-read charts. Site includes other info on elections, too.

Women's Voting Guide
A non-partisan, voting guide where you can get behind the TV ads and find out where politicians really stand. Compare your positions on key issues with the stands of both current U.S. Senators and Representatives and their challengers.

Senior Citizen Sites

Aging Well
This health and wellness village was designed by New York State for mature adults who want to start or maintain a healthy lifestyle, it offers information on nutrition, fitness, healing, medications, safety and more.

Alliance for Retired Americans
The Alliance was launched in January 2001 by a coalition of AFL-CIO unions and community-based organizations dedicated to economic and social justice. The organization works at the national, state and local level to gain universal health care; protect and expand Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid; add a prescription drug benefit to Medicare; protect the rights of nursing home patients; and on a host of other public policy issues affecting retirees and older Americans.

Congress of California Seniors
The Congress of California Seniors takes stands on issues of importance to midlife and older persons and their families. The site provides a wealth of information for residents of California and elsewhere, as well as lots of links to other sites of interest and importance to seniors.

Elderhostel
If you think it's too late to travel the world or you're alone and need traveling companions, this site will open your eyes. Elderhostel is a nonprofit group providing educational adventures around the world to adults aged 55 and over. A well maintained site with on-going listings for courses and trips. Physically challenged people are welcome.

Health Insurance Information, Counseling and Assistance
Although it's designed for New Yorkers, it looks like this site would help any senior get consumer help with Medicare, managed care, Medigap insurance, long term care insurance.

Partnership for Caring: America's Voices for the Dying
A non-profit organization devoted to raising expectations and increasing consumer demand for excellence in care near the end-of-life. This is the organization that invented living wills in 1967. Their site offers information about the latest legislation, publications, and a toll-free phone number to help people get counseling about living wills.

Senior Sites
Looks like a good source for seniors and their families who are interested in finding non-profit housing and services. Featuring a data base for non-profit housing in the United States, Guam and Puerto Rico, with over 5000 communities listed.

Senior.com
A great site, even if you aren't a senior. Try the Town Hall (links) section, and especially the financial advice section. The senior chat looks good too, with easy to follow, how-to directions.Use the community calendar to publicize an event or find out what's going on in your area and surf the senior news section for all the best on-line senior magazines. Updated daily.

SeniorNet
Helps seniors find an email pal, participate in polls and forums, help with a cyber school project and join roundtable discussions. Also sponsors free computer training for seniors in regional centers. Only trouble is, it's sponsored by the MetLife Insurance Company. The content is good, but we don't know what kind of advertising you get once you join in.

Sites by and for Veterans

A People at War
A People at War exhibit shows Americans during the Second World War through photographs and documents from the U.S. National Archives and Records Administration. The Women Who Served section of this site highlights the contributions of women pilots during WW2.

American Gulf War Veterans Association
This site's main purpose is to tell the American people the truth about Gulf War illness and the possible treatments. The site has links to several related sites including a "hall of shame," a photo gallery, interviews, live chat and how to get help.

American Legion
The American Legion was chartered by Congress in 1919 as a patriotic, mutual help, war time veterans organization. It is a community service organization which now numbers nearly three million members, men and women in nearly 15,000 American Legion Posts worldwide.

American Veterans AMVETS
The AMVETS National Headquarters home page, with links to legislative affairs, and assistance with VA claims, as well as information on AMVETS and its history, programs and services.

Department of Veterans Affairs
The official U.S. Government site for the Department of Veterans Affairs,with links to announcements, benefits, organization and policies, VA offices and medical facilities, research and how to get help.

Disabled American Veterans
Provides information about the DAV, as well as links to issues affecting disabled veterans, speeches, photos, discussion forums and other veteran links of interest.

Foundation for American Veterans
Interesting veterans links, such as a locator data base called "Where Are You Now," a section on "Veterans Hiring Veterans" and classified announcements of veterans' reunions and other events. There are also hospital, homeless veterans, and educational programs sponsored by the foundation.

Gulf War Veterans Resource
Pages serving the Gulf War veterans community, with links to help, referrals, locators, stories you can read and a form to submit your own story. Also includes a forum for live chat with other Gulf War vets.

Military Network
This is a site for the "military enthusiast," covering military weapons, rank/insignia, aviation history, armed forces and governments of the world, POW/MIA issues, patriotism, military publications, and many other subjects.

Military Woman Home Page
Useful information for women in the military, women contemplating military service and women veterans. This site has dozens of links of interest to women veterans including harassment issues and women in combat.

National Personnel Records Center
The official repository of millions of military personnel, health and medical records of discharged and deceased veterans of all services during the 20th century.

National Veterans Organization
A site dedicated to "the preservation and enhancement of veterans benefits." With links to congressional issues, the Viet Nam Wall, newsletters, live chat and other veterans issues.

Sgt. Mom's Military Link
In addition to its extensive coverage of VFW programs and events, this site also covers current news of interest to veterans.

The Virtual Wall home page
An interactive replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. As your mouse pointer touches each name on the Virtual Wall's alphabetical name lists, the status bar of your browser will show some details of the person behind the name. Clicking on a name will show you messages left by another visitor or details from the database.

UAW Region 1 Veterans Council
Created by Region 1 veterans for veterans and anyone else that wants to be kept up to date on issues and events concerning our members in Region 1. The site includes photo albums as well as a great selection of links to other veteran sites.

UAW Region 4 Veterans
Built by and for UAW veterans in Wisconsin and throughout the Midwest, this site keeps all visitors abreast of veterans' issues and events in UAW Region 4 and nationally. Special effects are blended with pictures and text to provide viewers with a powerful experience. Numerous links to other veteran's sites are also provided.

Veterans News & Information Services (VNIS)
A very informative site covering news, politics, support, surveys, chat, health issues, legislation and other areas of interest to vets.

Veterans Resources
A provider of links to selected government institutions, veterans organizations and veterans resource sites. No "bells and whistles" here, just a clean, neat path to veterans information.

Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA)
Specializing in issues concerning Vietnam veterans, this site has links to legislative issues, veterans benefits, news and resources, as well as upcoming events, publications and membership services.

Vietnam Veterans Organizations and Support Groups
This site contains information and links to Vietnam veteran organizations and support groups throughout the world. The list of links is very extensive. Are you looking for the Vietnam Helicopter Crew Members Association or the Vietnam Dog Handlers Association? You'll find them here, along with many others that you probably didn't know existed.

WWII U.S. Veterans
This site is dedicated to the millions of men and women from the U.S. who made the ultimate sacrifice for the good of free people everywhere. The site has links to the WWII Veterans Memorial Museum, live chat with other WWII vets, pictures and memorabilia from the 40s, and a locator data base for finding long-lost war friends.