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Upcoming Event: Reasserting Community Rights -- Going Beyond Single Issue Activism<br>
<br> Are you frustrated by the apparent inability of local communities
to stop corporate destruction of the natural world (unnecessary road
building, fracking, sludge dumping on farmland, bottling and removal of
water from local rivers, use of toxic pesticides in forests, oil
drilling in pristine areas, etc.)? Are you wondering why the public
seems to be powerless to stop these abuses of corporate power? This
workshop will illuminate how and why the law has been used to
progressively expand corporate powers. It will also provide a new and
proven way to reestablish community rights, the power of community
self-determination, and the power to stop destructive practices through
local ordinance writing. Used in more than 160 communities in ten states
across the USA, local ordinances are enabling local communities to
assert their right to protect themselves and nature from corporate
domination and control. In support of this, the California Constitution
says: "All political power is inherent in the people. Government is
instituted for the protection, security, and benefit of the people; and
they have the right to alter or reform the same, whenever the public
good may require it."<br>
<br>
Well-known community rights organizer, and partner with the Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund<br>
(CELDF.org), Paul Cienfuegos will be leading this intensive two-day workshop at the Community Center of Mendocino<br>
(998 School St., in the town of Mendocino), on President’s Day weekend -- <span tabindex="0" class=""><span class="">February 15-16, 2014</span></span>.
This two full day event includes two potluck lunches. Paul is the
founder of Democracy Unlimited in Humboldt County, which models new ways
of working on a variety of ecological and social justice issues such as
forest clear-cutting, weakening organic food labeling standards, and
big box store take-over of local business. He also co-founded
CommunityRightsPDX.org, which is Portland<br>
Oregon’s first community rights organization. More information about his
38 years of local activism, and the many workshops and presentations
that he has delivered across the country, can be found at
PaulCienfuegos.com.<br>
<br>
The last workshop delivered by Paul, a few months ago in Willits, was
over-subscribed and filled up fast. To make sure you have a place in
this one, you must register in advance. There is a sliding scale fee
based on income, ranging from $60 to $260. To sign-up, contact Charles
Cresson Wood, with Mendocino Coast Transition Towns, at <a href="mailto:ccwood@ix.netcom.com" target="_blank">ccwood@ix.netcom.com</a> or <a href="tel:707-937-5572" value="+17079375572" target="_blank">707-937-5572</a>.
This event is co-sponsored by the Alliance for Democracy, the Mendocino
Coast Chapter of Move to Amend, and Community Rights Organization
Willits (CROW).</div>