Last Thursday I actually followed through with my "Thursday is for letters" habit, but didn't quite finish up the post. This week Thursday didn't go well, so now it's Saturday and I am doing my letter.
Last Thursday I wrote emails to both my Senators to ask them to co-sponsor the PETS Act, based on this alert from the Humane Society. My email to them is below the cut. Feel free to adapt and send to your own Senators - but check the Humane Society list of who has already co-sponsored first. If your Senator has co-sponsored, thank them!
I know that email may not have as much impact as a paper letter, but since I know it will arrive more quickly it's hard to resist the temptation. And while I'm trying to establish this habit, I'm going to do what I can and build from there. If you're pressed for time, you can also use the Humane Society page to send an email to your own Senators.
On a more grim note, 18-year old Iranian girl Nazanin Mahabad Fatehi, who was sentenced to death by hanging for killing a man who ambushed and tried to rape her, has had her death sentence overturned by the Iranian head of judiciary and it has been sent back to a lower court. Save Nazanin has more info.
They are requesting that letters be sent to Iran asking that she not be re-sentenced to death. My letter to the Iranian embassy in the U.S. is below the cut, and as always feel free to adapt and send your own. I'll be mailing mine today.
PETS Act Emails
To Senator Hutchison and Senator Cornyn:
I'm writing to ask you to co-sponsor the The Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards Act (PETS Act), S. 2548. I was heartbroken when I saw news coverage of people being torn away from their beloved pets during Hurricane Katrina - and worse, refusing to leave their pets and then falling victim to the storm. And then the abandoned animals caused health and safety hazards for rescue workers!
If it was a choice between people and pets, I would choose people, but we don't have to make that choice. With planning for the needs of both, we can ensure more successful and humane responses to disasters. The PETS Act requires state and local authorities to take into consideration the needs of people with pets and service animals in the event of a major disaster.
Austin had space for pets when we received Hurricane refugees last season, and people volunteered to go help take care of them. If we can do it with almost no lead time, it can be done!
Thank you.
Letter for Nazanin
Mr. Fariborz Jahansoozan
Interests Section for the Islamic Republic of Iran
2209 Wisconsin Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20007
I am a 31 year old woman living in the United States. I have heard of the case of Nazanin Mahabad Fatehi who has recently had her death sentence overturned. I welcomed this news, as I cannot imagine the fear she must have gone through during the attack on her and the horrible conclusion to that incident.
Since Iran is a signatory to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which states that "sentence of death shall not be imposed for crimes committed by persons below eighteen years of age," I request that she not be re-sentenced to death. From what she has said, the killing was unintentional and committed in self-defense to save her niece and herself. I ask that this will be duly considered by the judges in the new trial. I also ask that in the interim, she be released from solitary confinement at once, and that she will be allowed to receive visits from her family.
I will be monitoring this case with great interest until it is resolved.
Thank you.
