The power of your voice

548,063,161 people taking action

On Change.org, people connect across geographic and cultural borders to support causes they care about.

avatar
avatar
avatar
avatar
avatar
avatar
avatar
avatar
avatar
avatar
avatar
avatar
avatar

Impact report

Our Impact Report describes how we pursue our mission: empowering people to create the change they want to see. Click below to explore the details.

Download report

Signatures become victories

People on Change.org work with decision makers to find new solutions to the big and small issues that impact their lives.

104,429 victories in 196 countries

Nearly every hour, a petition on Change.org achieves victory

Victory highlights

Powered by members

Our most committed users contribute a small amount monthly to keep Change.org free and open for everyone.

Become a member

Your voice matters

These petitions need your help to achieve victory.
  • Petition to Protect Topanga and LA County from Toxic Waste Sorting Site
    The community of Topanga, citizens of Los Angeles county strongly oppose the Environmental Protection Agency's proposed Palisades fire debris staging site located at the base of Highway 27 and the PCH (a California State Park)  We understand the importance and urgency of this issue but ask the EPA to consider alternatives as it will very likely have detrimental effects on our environment, economy, cultural history and the health and safety of our community. The site is dangerously close to Topanga creek a vital watershed that is home to the federally endangered steelhead trout. The site is on land that is sacred to the Indigenous tribes of this region. We are deeply concerned that contaminants from the debris could leach into the soil and waterways. Not to mention the toxic particulates that could make their way into our air and carried by onshore winds directly to our town of Topanga where people live, work and play. The risk this poses to ocean water quality is also alarming.  Local businesses are already struggling and this would deter visitors to our town that relies on tourism. These serious environmental, economic, and public safety risks cannot be overstated. I urge you to stand with us in opposing the proposed EPA fire debris staging site near Topanga lagoon and the PCH. Please sign this petition to protect our homes, preserve our environment, sustain our economy, and safeguard our families' health. FURTHER DETAILS 1. Environmental Threat to Waterways and the Ocean Toxic waste stored near water sources poses a severe contamination risk. Topanga Creek, which feeds directly into the ocean, is particularly vulnerable. Study: Surface Water Contamination from Hazardous Waste Storage Sites (EPA, 2005) found that hazardous waste leached into soil and waterways when stored on unprotected ground, leading to long-term pollution in local water sources.Example: The Superfund Research Program at UC Berkeley has documented severe groundwater contamination caused by improper hazardous waste storage, affecting communities for decades.California Coastal Commission Report (2022): Stresses that coastal areas should not be used for hazardous material storage due to high risks of leaching into marine ecosystems.Safer Alternatives Exist:Instead of placing toxic waste in a sensitive coastal watershed, safer options such as Will Rogers State Park’s parking lot (an impermeable surface) or Malibu’s Carnival Grounds (a designated event space) should be considered.   2. Fire Risk and Lack of Evacuation Routes Topanga residents remain barricaded inside the canyon while Malibu residents receive PCH access passes. This creates a serious safety risk—especially since the proposed toxic waste site is at the base of one of our only two emergency exits. California Department of Forestry & Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) Report (2023): Lists Topanga as a Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone and emphasizes that limited evacuation routes increase wildfire casualties.Study: Wildfire Evacuation and Road Access (UC Davis, 2020) found that blocked exits during wildfires significantly increase loss of life.Case Study: The 2024 Topanga landslide already isolated the community and highlighted the dangers of limited evacuation options. A similar scenario during a wildfire could be catastrophic.Topanga residents need unrestricted access to PCH, just as Malibu residents do. Blocking one of only two escape routes for a toxic waste facility puts thousands of lives at risk. As such we are also working with the county, and pleading with the county, to provide PCH passes to the Topanga residents   3. Route Access and the Dangers of Using Highway 27 Using Highway 27 as a route for toxic waste transport is highly dangerous and irresponsible, yet we have no written confirmation that this route will not be used. Topanga Canyon Blvd (Hwy 27) is notoriously treacherous, with frequent mudslides, rockslides, and accidents—especially on the S-Curve, one of the most dangerous stretches of highway in Los Angeles County.Exiting the Topanga Ranch Motel site requires making a left turn onto a high-speed, high-traffic highway—an extremely dangerous maneuver for large hazardous waste trucks.In contrast, Will Rogers State Park offers a safer option: trucks would turn right at a signalized intersection, directly onto PCH, improving traffic flow and reducing accident risk.Population Density: Topanga is home to nearly 13,000 residents and active businesses, all of whom depend on Hwy 27 for daily life. In contrast, traffic at Temescal and Will Rogers has drastically decreased due to the fires, making those locations far less disruptive and much safer.Supporting Data on Road Safety: California Highway Patrol Accident Data (2023): Identifies the Hwy 27 S-Curve as a high-risk zone due to frequent accidents.Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Study (2021): Shows that left-hand turns onto busy highways significantly increase accident risk—whereas right-hand turns at traffic signals reduce collisions by up to 60%.  4. Risk of Accidents Due to Hasty Cleanup & Dangerous Location Near a Gas Station The 30-day EPA deadline increases the likelihood of serious errors in handling toxic waste. U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) Report (GAO-20-73): Warns that rushed hazardous waste cleanup leads to mismanagement, accidental exposure, and contamination risks.Study: Hazardous Waste Management Under Time Constraints (Environmental Science & Technology, 2019) found that shortened deadlines increase human error in waste handling.Additionally, the proposed site is directly across from a gas station—a critical safety hazard. National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Study (2022): Shows that toxic chemicals stored near fuel sources dramatically increase the risk of explosions.EPA Risk Management Plan (RMP) Rule (2019): Requires minimum buffer zones between hazardous waste sites and flammable fuel sources—this site fails to meet those safety requirements.Example: The West, Texas Fertilizer Plant Explosion (2013) was caused by improper storage of hazardous materials near combustible substances, leading to mass casualties.This combination of rushed cleanup, hazardous transport conditions, and dangerous proximity to fuel sources makes this site completely unsuitable for toxic waste storage.   5. Protection of Indigenous Cultural and Sacred Land The Topanga Ranch Motel site is sacred land to the local Indigenous Tongva and Gabrielino tribes. California Native American Heritage Commission (NAHC) Designation: Recognizes this area as culturally significant to Indigenous communities.Federal Cultural Protection Laws (e.g., National Historic Preservation Act, Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act): Typically forbid hazardous projects on sacred lands, yet this protection appears to have been waived due to emergency status.Community Responsibility: We must respect and protect these lands rather than desecrate them with toxic waste storage.  Conclusion: Why This Matters Scientific research confirms that rushed hazardous waste removal increases risks.EPA and environmental studies warn against storing toxic materials near water sources or flammable sites.Fire and evacuation experts stress the importance of open access routes in high-risk fire zones like Topanga.Safer, more logical alternative locations exist that minimize environmental and public safety risks.The proposed site is culturally significant and should be protected, not contaminated.We demand that this site be removed from consideration immediately. Instead, hazardous waste storage must be placed in a safer, more appropriate location that does not endanger our homes, environment, and heritage. Please sign and share to protect Topanga and our community.  Read more
    Bonnie Wright
    14,460 Supporters
  • Firefighters demand restored access to critical detox treatment
    On March 6, the California State Board of Pharmacy (BOP) is expected to pass a set of regulations that would make it virtually impossible for firefighters to access glutathione – a critical breathing treatment – just as many of us need it the most. "Glutathione has the potential to be an absolute game-changer for firefighters across the country. It's confusing to me to me that it's so difficult to access this. I hope we can find a solution where glutathione becomes as common as washing a firefighter's turnouts after a fire." - Fire Captain David Marquez, Pasadena Firefighters Local 809; first responder on the Jan. 2025 Eaton Fire; petition author         Glutathione is an antioxidant made in the liver and lungs. Environmental medicine doctors who treat firefighters report that just one month of inhalable glutathione treatment can reduce or even eliminate respiratory symptoms associated with long-term occupational exposure to smoke. (Links to glutathione research and preliminary data from the glutathione-centric Firefighter Detox Pilot Program being conducted in Sonoma County can be found here.) Many of us who got sick from working the Eaton and Palisades Fires have had the opportunity to nebulize glutathione with environmental doctors who deployed to our base camps and fire stations.          Firefighters nebulize glutathione at the Rose Bowl; Eaton Fire 2025 The treatment has helped with our acute exposures. Our coughs subsided. The pain in our chests lessened. It works and we're grateful for that. But intermittent treatment under doctor supervision does not address the deeper, chronic exposures we face in the course of a career. We need longer-term, at-home glutathione treatment, but we can’t get it in California. Doctors can legally write a prescription for nebulized glutathione, but no pharmacist in the U.S. will compound it for California patients because, since 2020, the California BOP has unfairly regulated and disciplined pharmacists who do so. The last batch of nebulized glutathione ever dispensed in California was in June 2023, for a Firefighter Lung Detox Clinic in Sonoma County. Those firefighters have been without treatment ever since. The BOP's behavior is baffling and unjust and, as a result, patients – firefighters – are needlessly suffering. Glutathione is safe, legal, and allowable by the FDA – and it’s available in 49 other states. California is the outlier."The breathing treatment I had today has really helped out within the first half hour after I had it. I've seen a lot of firefighters affected by cancer... I've seen the suffering they go through. This will prevent a lot of suffering."- Fire Capt. Eric Nakamaru, Member, United Firefighters of Los Angeles City, Local 112; first responder on the Palisades Fire         The March 6 BOP meeting is our last chance to block new regulations that would make it even harder for us to regain access to this potentially life-saving treatment. WHAT CAN YOU DO? 1. Sign and share this petition. If you can, please add a comment with your department or union. If you’ve experienced glutathione treatment (or would like to), include that as well. This petition will be presented to Board Members on Feb. 5 and – if their harmful regulations pass – we’ll take it to legislators too. 2. Make a public comment at the Feb. 5 meeting. The only reason the BOP didn’t pass an outright ban on glutathione years ago is because of firefighter resistance. Your voice is powerful. Make it heard. Call-in details and talking points are here. 3. Contact your labor leaders ASAP and tell them to ask California Professional Firefighters to get involved. CPF staff members have been monitoring the situation with the BOP since last summer. They’ve told us that CPF is willing to get involved but not until they hear from more unions. This is the moment! We can regain and retain access to this incredibly promising treatment, but only if we work fast and work together.          Gold Ridge Fire Chief Shepley Schroth-Cary receives a glutathione IV at his station in Sonoma County; 2020 “A number of Fire Chiefs in Sonoma County have recognized the benefit of glutathione to remove carcinogens from our members as well as ourselves. We have invested in the use of glutathione providing nebulized glutathione as well as IV glutathione for a more intense detoxification. The results of the use of both have included a reduction in respiratory congestion and stopping chronic coughs, generally feeling better, and a measurable reduction in toxins found in our bodies. We have also been provided hope that we can invest in our health and prevent cancer.  Our job regardless of preventative measures will and does expose us to toxins. We need resources to remove toxins from our bodies. Taking access away from us is cruel and unacceptable. As fires rage in southern California thousands of firefighters and millions of citizens are being inundated with toxins that are carcinogenic, increasing risk of cancer and many other health issues. Your decision will take an important tool away from us and other Californians when they need it most. “ Jan. 8, 2025 - Fire Chief Shepley Schroth-Cary (Gold Ridge Fire Protection District; participant in round 1 of Firefighter Detox Pilot Program; petition co-author)   For more information, please contact Jacqui Jorgeson, founder and Executive Director of the Sonoma County-based nonprofit, the Volunteer Fire Foundation: Email: jacqui@volunteerfire.org; Phone: 707-708-4780   Petition co-authors: Fire Capt. Eric Nakamaru, Member, (United Firefighters of Los Angeles City, Local 112); first responder on the Palisades FireFire Capt. David Marquez (member of Pasadena Firefighters Local 809); Fire Chief Shepley Schroth-Cary (Gold Ridge Fire Protection District); Fire Chief/Battalion Chief Jason Jenkins (Cloverdale Fire/Santa Rosa Fire); Engineer Amanda Newhall (President of Healdsburg Local 2604); Fire Capt. Jason Campbell (Vice-President, Sonoma Valley Firefighters Local 3593); Jacqui Jorgeson (Volunteer Fire Foundation)Read more
    Jacqui Jorgeson
    2,889 Supporters
  • Mandatory Autism & Mental Health Training for First Responders, Educators & Resources
    My Family and I are one of countless victims to police using excessive force due to a lack of understanding and empathy towards mental illnesses. A Disabled Veteran with PTSD traveling with his nonverbal autistic son should never result in civil rights violations and a wrongful arrest during a routine traffic stop. Especially when the exact same officer has repeatedly lied & harassed him & others before in the past with unlawful traffic stops with a prior stop being in the home driveway of my family member at night after cops follow them home for miles before executing stop at residence. These type of officers with repetitive actions against certain people needs their immunity revoked & terminated because training won't help those type with ego/character issues that are simply on the job to terrorize & harm innocent individuals. The training is for Police ( First Responders) & Educators who are honest & there for the community not corrupt . Corruption is a pattern & learned behavior because a bad cop or teacher will assault/violate/harass individuals even without disabilities. Link to VIDEO FOOTAGE & Contact Methods will be below ⬇️. 📢This link is the video of the horrific experience my family encountered at the hands of untrained , unprofessional police  https://youtu.be/1HKXbb-EptU?si=2_MncH5-zUnphvD6 📢This link is the Petition demanding resignation or Termination for the Officer my family encountered , we were also informed by the family of another victim that a child is now on a feeding tube as a result of his actions . https://chng.it/vB5k6H9rwJ We know firsthand the pain of officers who lack the training to recognize and effectively address conditions such as Autism and PTSD. No family should experience this. Our nation urgently needs a separate emergency hotline dedicated to mental health crises such as Autism, PTSD, Bipolar Disorder, etc.Caregivers need emergency Respite Care as they can often become burnt out due to the extreme waiting list for services. A specialized line that operates distinct from 911 would help ensure appropriate responses for those suffering from mental health issues. Moreover, all first responders, daycares, and schools across the country must undergo comprehensive training on Autism and other mental health conditions. It is crucial to teach proper restraint techniques and calming strategies that protect civil rights and negate the need for weapons or wrongful arrests. We also need to implement caregiver cards for each household expressing their loved ones needs. Reducing the cost of home security systems so families can monitor their Autistic Children who elope, affordable tracking devices, Nationwide cameras in schools and daycares. Free Parent trainings to assist caregivers in helping to resolve their loved one's mental crisis before First Responders is called. Mandating a changed with the Social Security system to help families get needed services without solely focusing on the parents' income. Families shouldn't have to wait years for needed early intervention services it's time for a change. We also need more ABA Centers who accept all forms of insurance,  we need the school systems to allow aba in school globally. This link is the video of the horrific experience my family encountered at the hands of untrained , unprofessional police https://youtu.be/1HKXbb-EptU?si=2_MncH5-zUnphvD6   According to the U.S Department of Health and Human Services, there's an estimated 44 million adults with diagnosable mental health conditions in America, and 1 in every 54 children are diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (CDC, 2020). Despite these staggering statistics, our current system still falls short in its supports for those individuals.A change in emergency response protocol would mitigate unnecessary escalation and would eventually save countless lives. We propose new legislature to implement a nationwide mental health emergency hotline and require that all first responders receive appropriate training on managing mental health crises. Sign the petition today and help us better protect our citizens with mental health conditions. We can change the way we respond to mental health. We appreciate your time! Joycelynn.P (autismmom_joy)Read more
    Autismmom Joy
    26,241 Supporters
  • Petition to Protect Reche Canyon’s & San Timoteo Wild Burros and Fire Safety
    Petition to Protect Reche Canyon’s  & San Timoteo Wild Burros and Fire Safety To: San Bernardino County Officials Subject: Terminate Contract with Peaceful Valley Rescue and Support Local Efforts to Protect Reche Canyon’s Burros We, the residents of Reche Canyon, urge San Bernardino County to reconsider its decision to remove wild burros from our community and to terminate its contract with Peaceful Valley Rescue in Texas. This decision is not only harmful to our local ecosystem but also increases the fire risk for our community of over 18,500 residents. Why Wild Burros Are Essential to Reche Canyon: Reche Canyon, located in the foothills of the San Jacinto Mountains and northwest of the Badlands, lies in a high-risk Class 10 fire zone. Wild burros play a crucial role in reducing fire hazards by consuming 4-5 pounds of brush and vegetation daily, which helps minimize the fuel for potential wildfires. Our community has only one road for evacuation in case of fire, making prevention measures critical for our safety. Lessons from Tragedy:In 2018, Paradise, California, faced a devastating wildfire with a similar one-road-in, one-road-out situation. The fire resulted in the tragic loss of 85 lives. We must learn from this tragedy and prioritize proactive fire prevention strategies, including the natural fire mitigation that wild burros provide. Concerns with Peaceful Valley Rescue’s Practices: Peaceful Valley Rescue has repeatedly removed burros without consent, encroaching on private property on at least three occasions. We were informed that the city authorized only a one-acre zone for burro removal, yet these limits have not been respected. Support for Local Solutions: Donkey Land, a local nonprofit that has worked with the Reche Canyon community since 2011, has shown accountability and a deep understanding of our unique needs. Donkey Land owns 2,000 acres, with 500 acres already fenced, and has the capacity to house an additional 1,000 burros without the need for further fencing. Our Request:We call on San Bernardino County to: Terminate its contract with Peaceful Valley Rescue in Texas. Support Donkey Land as the local nonprofit better equipped to manage the burro population and address our community’s needs. Together, we can ensure the safety of Reche Canyon’s residents and protect the natural balance of our local environment. Sincerely,The Residents of Reche Canyon & San TimoteoRead more
    Chase Miller
    13,156 Supporters

Create change where you are by starting a petition today.

Start a petition