A Clear Case of Environmental Racism

Join the Rally in Tauranga to support Elvis and the stand he made to protect our waters from deep sea oil drilling.


Fri 29 April - 12 noon - Herries Park, Tauranga
ON Saturday one of the vessels in the deep sea oil protest flotilla was boarded by police and the skipper - Elvis Teddy - arrested.

Aboard the San Pietro, Elvis and his crew including te Whanau a Apanui tribal leader Rikirangi Gage were stationary and fishing in their customary fishing grounds as they have done for generations. Yet the police, with navy support, chose to ignore their right to defend their waters and fish, and instead acted on behalf of the foreign oil interests. (You can hear their last radio broadcast here -http://www.stopdeepseaoil.org.nz/audio.html -it's powerful stuff).


Elvis will appear in court at 8.30am tomorrow (Friday 28 April) in Tauranga. The other flotilla boats have entered Tauranga harbour to support their fellow skipper for his appearance in court. We are inviting all our supporters in the Bay of Plenty and elsewhere to stand beside Elvis Teddy and show appreciation of his bravery in defence of our treasured oceans from the dangers of deep sea oil drilling.

If you can make it to Tauranga please join us, bring a placard and bring a friend for a peaceful gathering at 12 noon, Herries Park, Central Tauranga [map]

If you can't make it, leave a message of support online here-http://www.stopdeepseaoil.org.nz/message.html .

The flotilla will also take on provisions before returning to the deep ocean of the Raukumara Basin to continue protesting deep sea oil exploration and drilling.

No Deep Sea Oil - Clean Energy Now!

- Nick and the crew


PS The Flotilla Needs More Boats!
If you've got a boat and capable crew and you want to join the flotilla email flotilla@greenpeace.org.nz

PPS There is already an Elvis Teddy Facebook page and talk of a t-shirt so watch this space!


http://www.stopdeepseaoil.org.nz/message.html

Solidarity with Australasia and beyond...

Believers in Movements for Peace, Justice, and Sustainability Unite!

Read On...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 


April 12, 2011


CONTACT:Food Not Bombs cofounder Keith McHenry

575-770-3377 menu@foodnotbombs.net

FEDERAL COURT RESTRICTS FOOD NOT BOMBS RIGHT TO CALL FOR REDUCTION IN MILITARY SPENDING AS THE GOVERNMENT CUTS VITAL SOCIAL SERVICES

The Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta Rules City Of Orlando can restrict Food Not Bombs Free Speech to twice a year per public park. Volunteers to defy order and urge global resistance by sharing food and literature in public spaces. In an outrages decision during the debate on federal spending priorities the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the City of Orlando can restrict Food Not Bombs from seeking to build public support for the funding of social services using savings from reductions in the military. The need to have as much impact as possible on the issue of redirecting military spending towards healthcare, education, food and other social services has never been greater. To restrict Food Not Bombs to expressing their message to two days a year per city park not only deprives the cities hungry of desperately needed food and reduces the ability of the all volunteer group to communicate with the community. The Citizens United court ruling allows military contractors unlimited "free speech" while this ruling restricts the publics attempt to counter the devastating message of Citizen United to twice a year in each location. Food Not Bombs is an all volunteer project that shares free vegan meals and literature at regular times in high visibility public location to inspire community discussion about ending poverty and hunger. The impact of experiencing volunteers sharing food with the hungry under the banner Food Not Bombs with literature about changing our national priorities is very powerful. Restricting this powerful expressive message to twice a year and force the hungry and public to search for the meal and message is a violation of our basic right to free expression. Nearly half the federal budget is spent on the military while 17 percent of American's go hungry each month and teachers are being laid off. The United States is spending over $700 billion this year which is nearly half of the world's total military budget. Military contractors and their supporters are free to spend as much as they want to influence the public and Congress to increase their profits while Food Not Bombs is being restricted to sharing its message. The Obama administration and Congress just agreed to cut vital social programs, increase military spending at a time when millions of people are facing hunger, homelessness and extreme poverty. Food Not Bombs is likely to defy this ruling and urge the public to join them in increasing the groups visibility and distribution of food and information.

### Court upholds Orlando's homeless feeding rules

By GREG BLUESTEIN - Associated Press ATLANTA -- A federal appeals court on Tuesday tried to strike a balance in a debate over a Florida ordinance that restricts feeding the homeless at city parks, saying giving food to the needy in public spaces was protected by the First Amendment but efforts to regulate the gathering by Orlando lawmakers were reasonable.The decision by the full 11th Circuit Court of Appeal comes after lengthy litigation over the 2006 Orlando ordinance, which required groups to get a permit to feed 25 or more people in parks in a downtown district. The rules also restrict the groups to two permits per year for each park.Orlando Food Not Bombs, a group of political activists who believe food is a fundamental human right, claimed in a lawsuit that the restrictions violate freedom of speech and religion. The city countered that the restrictions were needed to protect parks and disburse large gatherings, as routine mass feedings would strain city resources and cause safety problems. A federal judge originally blocked the city from enforcing the ordinance, but a three-judge appeals panel partially reversed the ruling on a 2-1 vote. In a rare move, the full 11th Circuit decided to review the case and both sides offered oral arguments in February.The court's 10-0 decision - one judge abstained - said that the mass feedings were "expressive and entitled to some protection under the First Amendment." But the decision said the city didn't violate free speech rights because there was no outright ban on the feedings or restrictions targeting political rallies or other expressive activities."The city has a substantial interest in managing park property and spreading the burden of large group feedings throughout a greater area," the ruling said, "and those interests are plainly served by the ordinance."

--- http://www.ca11.uscourts.gov/opinions/ops/200816788op2.pdf

Read more: http://www.ledger-enquirer.com/2011/04/12/1536545/court-upholds-orlandos-homeless.html#ixzz1JMlEPylm

Diversity Inc.

An interesting interview on NPR lead me to this link: http://www.diversityinc.com/department/105/Ask-the-White-Guy/ I see many good questions that foster useful dialogue for our purposes of promoting peace, justice, and sustainability. We should delve deeper in this...

Do you live in Southern Califonia? Support FNB in LB 3/17

A message from the Long Beach, CA Food Not Bombs Chapter:

Hello all fellow FnB-er, near and far!
My name is Kyle Veremans. I volunteer in Long Beach and I am putting on a fundraiser and food drive for our group. I am sending this email to every chapter that has a website listed in CA for FnB in hopes that some of you can make it out to show your support and/or help me spread the word about this event to optimize our success. Also if you would like info on getting your own fundraiser and/or food drive happening I'd love to help!
Here is the event info!

\\

FnB ST. PATTY'S DAY PINCH (name subject t change, suggestions??)

Long Beach Art Works and Robots And Angels proudly present a St. Patricks Day Food Not Bombs Fund Raiser and Charity Food Drive. March 17th at The Blue Café Underground (217 Pine Ave. DTLBC) Featuring an installation of the electrifying and mind-blowing 3D light Art of Dave Wrathall (davewrathall.org) and live music all night.



The Florida Orange Band 9:30

myspace.com/thefloridaorangeband



Papercrown 10:30

facebook.com/pages/Papercrown/166527316691566?v=wall



Iceplant 11:30





Fox and Bear 12:30

http://www.myspace.com/foxbearband



DJ Rahfee Zahkee and a special surprise DJ!




$5 with a can of food or $10 w/o a can of food (so bring a can, dummy)



21+ w/ drink special all night. Doors open at 9pm



Wear your most green outfit/costume for a chance to win the costume contest



Proceeds will go to the Long Beach Food Not Bombs, which feed the homeless community healthy meals every week here in Long Beach.



“Food Not Bombs shares free vegan and vegetarian meals with the hungry
in over 1,000 cities around the world to protest war, poverty and the destruction of the environment.” (www.foodnotbombs.net/)



Party hard while making a direct difference in your community!

Thank you for all your support, One love!



//


Thank you for your help and long live FnB!!!!!

Sincerely,
Kyle Veremans
310.908.3177

What Petition Would You Create?

An intersting idea from MoveOn.org: http://www.moveon.org/signon/survey.html

Reformist? Yes. Potential? Yes.

The message reads:

If the events of the last few weeks have proven anything, it's that Margaret Mead was right: "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."

As it happens, that's also the story of MoveOn. In 1998, when a Republican Congress was focusing all its efforts on impeaching President Clinton, two people with no political experience started a simple online petition: "Censure President Clinton and Move On to Pressing Issues Facing the Nation."

They shared their petition with their friends, and within days they had hundreds of thousands of signatures. Today, MoveOn has over 5 million members—mostly folks who got involved by signing an online petition, and have stayed active in helping to fight for a progressive America.

That's why we're launching a new website where you can start your own online petition and invite your friends to sign it. We'll send the most popular petitions to other MoveOn members to help build support for your cause.

To help get ready, we're taking a quick survey. If this website was available today, do you have an idea for a petition you'd like to create?

Ban the Bag!

I sincerely look forward to a day when all we create goes back into the Earth from which is came in a naturally degrading manner. Until then, Read Cradle to Cradle, and check out this film if you're in the Portland area! Thank You Surfriders!

The Hollywood Theater in Portland presents..... Bag It!


This is a humble documentary that makes a lasting impression about the prevalence of plastic in our daily lives.

WHAT: Bag It Oregon! The Movie, The Bill, The Chance

WHEN: March 4th - March 10th

WHERE: The Hollywood Theater, 4122 NE Sandy Blvd. Portland, OR

COST: $7 (seniors and kids $4)

For more information click here

If you are interested in volunteering at this event, contact Staj staj.pace@oregonsurfrider.org


The grand premiere, on Friday March 4th, Senators Hass and Cannon will be present for Q&A. Also present will be Junk-to-funk fashion, and live music. There will also be a raffle!


The first Ban the Bag public hearing was February 8th. Listen to the testimony of Jeff Murray - Far West Fibers, Jim Gilliam - NW Grocery Association, and Gus Gates - Surfrider Foundation To watch the video highlights from the hearing click here and go to "arguments for.."

Take Action: We need your support! Please take a minute to hand write your personal letter to your Senator expressing why this issue is important to you. Find your representative by going to: http://www.leg.state.or.us/findlegsltr/

Own a business and support the bill? Let us know! Reaching out to business owners for and endorsement or support of the bill is still critical to winning statewide support. Reach out to your local businesses and send the business name, name of contact (owner/manager), business address, email, and phone number to oregon@surfrider.org

Have you signed the petition?
Please sign our Statewide Petition here. Share with your friends and post this on Facebook!

Also, be sure and check up on what's happening by visiting our blog at: www.banthebagspdx.com

Looking for something good to do on this Valentine's Day?

Then why not go over to Amnesty International and send a love letter to Zimbabwe?

http://www.amnestyusa.org/individuals-at-risk/priority-cases/vote-for-love---sending-letters-to-zimbabwe/page.do?id=1691017&ICID=I1102A01&msource=WI1102A02&tr=y&auid=7770174

Or send some love to people and salmon in Alaska;

http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/676/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=5130&tag=EWemail

Or even send a free e-card that provides food for the hungry;

http://www.thehungersite.com/clickToGive/ths/composeecard/ecard-THS-incented-LoveSoup

Everday is a chance to spread love! Enjoy!