Save the Redwoods/Boycott the Gap
Boycott the Gap: A Better World Is Possible--LET'S GO FOR IT!!!
Posted by Mary Bull (chalicenew@earthlink.net)
Friday, November 9, 2001
Greetings, Environmental & Social Justice Activists Around the Globe!
In the aftermath of 911, many Americans are waking up and discovering for
the first time that we are in the belly of the beast--that our manic
consumerism in the Global North, particularly in the US, is fueling the
destruction of the planet and creating nations of slave laborers and
starving children, that our political representatives are serving the
interests of a Corporate Elite, including themselves, and not the Common
Good. We must keep that awareness growing, and through our CREATIVE and
COURAGEOUS actions, inspire others to act--for peace, for justice, and for a
sustainable planet! During these last two months of 2001, we have MANY GREAT
OPPORTUNITIES to do that! ...In this newsletter and call to creative action:
>Nov 8: Internat'l Call To Action to STOP THE BOMBING of Afghanistan!
>Nov 9,10: ***GLOBAL DAYS OF PROTEST AGAINST THE WTO!***
>Dec 01: ***INTERNATIONAL DAY OF ACTION AGAINST THE GAP!***
>Urgent: Stop the West Papua Bloodbath: BOYCOTT CONOCO (JET PETROL)!
>Urgent: Call Your House Rep: Stop FAST TRACK (800 number below)!
>Other Critical Upcoming National & International Actions & Events:
--->Nov 13: National Day of Action Targeting Staples!
--->Nov 16-20, Ottawa: Protest the G20, World Bank, & IMF!
--->Nov 16-18, Ft.Benning: Protest the School of the Assassins!
--->Nov 16-17, NYC: Globalization and Resistance Conference!
--->Nov 23: BUY NOTHING DAY & Gap Boycott Anniversary!
--->Dec 08: International Day of Action for Mumia!
--->Urgent: Stop Philippine Sex Slave Camps!
--->Ongoing: TACO BELL BOYCOTT Going Strong: L.A. Cardinal On Board!
>Important Upcoming Bay Area & North Coast Actions & Events:
--->Nov 11, Hum: Hole in Headwaters Armistice Day March!
--->Nov 13, SF: Get Staples to Stop Buying Old Growth!
--->Nov 13, Oak: End Environmental Racism: IES Planning Meeting & Update!
--->Nov 15, Sac: End Racism: Fight the LockDown in SacTown+++!
--->Nov 29, SF: Sneak Preview of TREE SIT--Feature-length Documentary!
--->Dec 01, SF: Internat'l Day of Action Against Gap: Call For Volunteers!
--->Urgent: Stop the Logging of the Hole in Headwaters: Forest Action Camp!
***NEWS FLASH: In a surprise statement this afternoon, Mexico's President
Vicente Fox announced the release of two earth defenders, Rodolfo Montiel
and Teodoro Cabrera--the farmers who ousted Boise Cascade--in prison since
May 2, 1999, for crimes they confessed to under duress of torture. At this
hour, both men are out of prison and are safe. HURRAY!!!!***
***NEWS FLASH: The Fresno Gap 20 WON the law suit that Fashion Fair Shopping
Center filed against them for leafleting in the mall!!! See
http://www.fresnoalliance.com/home/victory.htm ***
***NEWS FLASH: It looks like Public Power Won in SF--and boy are those
consumer-bilking corporate monopolies--PG&E, AT&T, & PAC TELESIS--mad!!!
Stay Tuned!!!***
****Since so much of it is about OIL, let's start riding our bikes and using public transportation whenever possible!!!!****
Nov 8: Nat'l Call To Action to STOP THE BOMBING of Afghanistan!!!
****************************************************************************
Sorry this is such short notice--but it's a great idea for a peace action
that can be done any time--the sooner the better! From the SF Town Hall
Committee to Stop War and Racism: "Day of Urgency" Calls for Immediate Halt
to Bombing! Nationwide Call to Action Thursday, November 8, 3pm-10pm.
**Millions at Risk of Starvation as Winter Approaches**
Act to save Afghan lives by taking a direct action in a public location in
your area. This "Day of Urgency" will bring national attention to the need
to stop bombing so that food aid can be distributed in Afghanistan before
the onset of winter. We urge you to participate with us, or organize your
own local event, to demand that we stop the bombing.
In San Francisco, we are staging a direct action at KRON, a TV station, to
ensure media coverage (*details at end of this email). We urge you to
demonstrate anywhere, and in any way that will be covered by the media. San
Francisco activists are organizing street theater, including a symbolic
"die-in," and vigil to mourn victims everywhere. Other cities are holding
candlelight vigils to send the message that the bombing must be stopped now
so food can be brought to the Afghan people. Please join this call to
action!
Details of San Francisco action:
What: "Die-In" and Creative Resistance (People lie on the ground to
represent the deaths of innocent victims in the US and around the world.
Others hold signs of mourning and of remembering, and others hold candles.
Where: KRON TV station, 1001 Van Ness (at O'Farrell), San Francisco
When: Thursday, November 8, join us any time between 3 and 10pm
For more info: Call SF Town Hall Committee to Stop War and Racism
415-675-5826 stopstarvation@yahoo.com
Nov 9, 10: ***GLOBAL DAYS OF PROTEST AGAINST THE WTO!!!***
****************************************************************************
**
Two years after its defeat in Seattle, the World Trade Organization (WTO)
will meet again, November 9-13, in Doha, Qatar, a Persian Gulf dictatorship
where protest is all but illegal. In response, people across the globe are
localizing their resistance to once again stop the WTO's destructive agenda.
After the tragedies of September 11, as the world mourns, as the US
government bombs Afghanistan, as racist attacks take place, as our freedoms
come under fire, and as the government manipulates this tragedy to push
"free trade" agreements including dangerous new WTO agreements at the
November meeting, it is now more important than ever to stand up for global
justice as the foundation for real security. Our work for global justice is
inseparable from our local community efforts against the day-to-day impact
of the global system at the root of our social, economic and ecological
problems, environmental racism, skyrocketing incarceration, attacks on
immigrant rights, housing displacement, low wages, lousy working conditions
and cuts in social services.
***Don't forget that Don Fisher, founder of the Gap, help to draft these
free-trade rules to pave the way for the proliferation of sweatshops, while
minimizing corporate accountability!***
Events are planned in at least 36 cities around the world to coincide with
the 4th Ministerial of the World Trade Organization (WTO) in Qatar. Check
out the following for the event nearest you. Following this list are the
details regarding the wonderful Bay Area events! JOIN US!!!
www.tradewatch.org
http://www.nadir.org/nadir/initiativ/agp/free/qatar/
http://www.attac.org/nonewround/mob/index.html
www.canadians.org
www.wtoaction.org
www.indymedia.org
www.protest.net
In the Bay Area:
GLOBALIZE JUSTICE- NOT WAR!
GLOBAL DAYS OF ACTION AGAINST THE WTO MEETING IN QATAR
FRI NOV 9, 12 NOON. FESTIVAL OF ALTERNATIVES, MARCH TO PG&E
JUSTIN HERMAN PLAZA, SF Foot of Market St. (Embarcadero BART)
SAT NOV 10, 12 NOON PEACEFUL MARCH FOR GLOBAL JUSTICE,
NOT ENVIRONMENTAL RACISM.Richmond BART 2 pm: Festival at Chevron Refinery,
Point Richmond.
On Friday, November 9 and Saturday, November 10, we will support local
environmental justice movements' fights against the toxic pollution from
PG&E facilities across San Francisco and from Chevron and other industries
in Richmond. PG&E and Chevron epitomize the corporations that benefit from
WTO "free trade" policies, devastating local communities and environments
across the globe from San Francisco, to Richmond, to Nigeria and everywhere
in between. November 10 is the anniversary of the execution of Nigerian
environmentalist and Ogoni leader Ken Saro Wiwa. On the agenda for the WTO
meeting in November are ways to expand corporate control over energy and
oil, among other devastating negotiating topics.
Another world is possible and a global & local movement is rising up to make
it happen. Join us!
ACTION FOR LOCAL/GLOBAL JUSTICE
www.globalizethis.org action4justice@onebox.com (510)343-2139 x5462
Dec 01: ***INTERNATIONAL DAY OF ACTION AGAINST THE GAP!!!***
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******
Over 150 individuals and groups across the globe including Japan, Canada,
and the UK--have committed to take action for redwoods and workers on
December 1, the International Day of Action Against the Gap!!!
WHOOPEEEEE!!!! AND THANK YOU ALL!!! YOU ARE HEROES, YOU ARE THE BEST!!! If
you are not already among them, please JOIN US!!!
Despite our MONUMENTAL EFFORTS over the past THREE YEARS--and a 51% drop in
Gap profits!--there are still thousands of Consumers of Conscience who do
not know about Gap exploitation of desperately poor garment workers or the
Fisher family's destruction of redwood forests! That's why we devised Gap
Campaign 2001 and the International Day of Action--to connect with these
people, and ask them to withhold their shopping dollars until the Gap pays
its workers a living wage and the Fishers make their redwood holdings a
desperately needed wildlife preserve! ***If we win this campaign, it will
be a wake-up call to ALL corporate exploiters--a huge blow to the corporate
infrastructure, a huge milestone in the struggle against Corporate Rule--and
WE CAN WIN IT!!!***
Attached is our new Gap Boycott Pledge, please consider gathering signatures
on it as well as leafleting at your local Gap, Banana Republic, or Old Navy
stores! We will be delivering these pledges personally to the Fisher Family
at their homes in San Francisco, along with our Sign-on Letter (signed by
well-known non-profit groups and peers of the Fishers) hopefully on
Christmas Eve!!!
You can get everything you need--leaflets, alternative shopping guides,
posters, media and legal guidelines, fun ideas for props & banners, songs &
skits, etc--for your action on Dec 1 from the Action Packet at
www.gapsucks.org! Terrific Repurposed Christmas Carols can be found on the
Holiday Campaign 2000 page! Send us a report and pictures of your action,
and we will post them at the web site!!! If you're planning a shopping mall
action, contact us for special guidelines, if you haven't already! See below
for what we are planning in the Bay Area for Dec 1!!!
Urgent: WEST PAPUA: Stop the Murder of People &
Planet!******************************************************************
From International Action for West Papua (IAWP) http://www.koteka.net/
Date: Sun Nov 4, 2001 4:35pm
Subject: Papuan blood flows into petrol pumps
West Papua BOYCOTT JET PETROL (CONOCO) - Ecologist Magazine
North of Australia lies the huge island of Papua divided into Australian
controlled Papua New Guinea and the Indonesian colony of West Papua. In the
mountains and jungles of West Papua live around I million tribal people.
Their cultures are hugely diverse and they perfectly fit
into the land of which they see themselves a part. Unfortunately these
peoples, their life style and their very land have been under ceaseless
attack from western oil, logging and mining companies protected by the
Indonesian Military (see focus vol.31/7 of the Ecologist Magazine).
However, the Papuans have not accepted being forced off their land by
massive industrial developments; and setting themselves up as the OPM (Free
Papua Movement) they fight against the Western armed Indonesian army. In
this struggle over 200,000 Papuans have been killed - nearly one fifth of
the entire population. Papuan blood flows all the way to petrol pumps in
Britain. Conoco - known in the UK as Jet Petrol - are pushing ahead with
oil drilling in the Lorentz National Park, West Papua. Lorentz National Park
is so valuable it is classified as a UNESCO Biosphere reserve; encompassing
more than two million hectares of wilderness, including snow-capped Mount
Jaya. All seven of West Papua's major environments are represented in the
park, from Alpine regions, glaciers down through upper and lower mountain
forests to grasslands and mangrove swaps. The reserve is home to more than
350 bird species (20 endemic) and at least 123 mammal species. It is also is
home to Papuans from eight tribes. Houston-based Conoco (www.conoco.com),
formerly a unit of chemical giant DuPont, explores for oil and gas in 20
countries and owns or has stakes in nine refineries in the US, Europe, and
Asia. The company operates more than 7,000 gas stations in the US, Europe,
and Thailand. Its power division also markets and trades electricity and gas
and develops and builds power plants.
For the last year Conoco/Jet Petrol have been drilling in the park. Tribes
occupied the drilling equipment until the Indonesian military started
killing local people. Since then villages have been raised, river systems
polluted and forest cleared. This is only the beginning. So far Conoco/Jet
Petrol are carrying out exploratory work -the situation will become far
worse when extraction starts. Papuans believe that action and boycotts in
the west in support of their grassroots struggle could force Conoco out of
Lorentz. Otherwise they fear Lorentz will go the way of other parts of West
Papua; devastated by the deadly partnership of oil exploration and military
conquest.
Make a difference: Write to Conoco telling them you are boycotting them and
why. Conoco Centre, Warwick Technology Park, Warwick, CV34 6DA or call
them 01926 - 404000. Copy your letters to Archie W. Dunham, Chairman,
President, CEO, & Director, Conoco, 600 N. Dairy Ashford, Houston, TX 77079,
USA. Please copy your letters to: OPM SG (BRIGHTON), 43 Gardner Street,
Brighton, BN1 1UN; email:opmsg@eco-action.org For more information visit
www.eco-action.org/opm/
West Papua is the next East Timor! Help prevent another humanitarian
disaster on a grander scale about to happen. http://www.koteka.net - On
guard, for West Papua.
Urgent: There's Still Time: Call Your House Rep: NO FAST TRACK!!!
****************************************************************************
RIGHT NOW, If you are a US citizen, PLEASE pick up the phone and call the DC
office of your HOUSE REP (you can call toll-free courtesy of the AFL-CIO by
dialing 1-800-393-1082 and entering your zip code to connect to your rep's
office (you can also find out who your house rep is and get his/her DC
number from the phone book under US government listings or from
http://www.house.gov/ ). Ask to speak to his/her TRADE STAFFER, tell her/him
that you are against Fast Track--the signing over of Congressional trade
authority to the Executive Branch, that your Rep should vote NO ON THE
THOMAS BILL (H.R. 3005), and that you want a WRITTEN RESPONSE to your
request. Fast Track is necessary for establishing the Free Trade Area of the
Americas, a trade policy that will put all the remaining natural resources
of the Western Hemisphere, as well as its people, governments, educational
institutions, health, and public services at the complete mercy of corporate
interests. Check out www.tradewatch.org and http://www.stopftaa.org for
more info.
Nov 13: National Day of Action Targeting STAPLES!!!
***********************************************************
From Forest Ethics: Stop Staples from Selling our Forests on November 13!
Join the National Day of Action Targeting Staples!
Can you imagine walking into any office supply store and not seeing
clearcut forests being sold for paper? Can you envision a world where
recycled and tree free paper was the norm? That vision won't become reality
until Staple's, the world's largest office supply store, stops selling
virgin fiber paper products and paying for clearcutting around the world!
The facts are that less than 4% of our old growth forests in this country
remain; 1/3 of the timber cut from our National Forests is pulped for paper;
and more than 2/3 of the paper in the United States comes from Southern
forests (the region containing the greatest biodiversity in the continental
U.S). Until Staples converts to all recycled and tree free paper, they will
continue to drive the destruction of our world's forests.
Join ForestEthics, the Dogwood Alliance, Free the Planet, the National
Forest Protection Alliance, SEAC, Rainforest Action Network, American
Lands, Sierra Student Coalition, Rethink Paper, and many others on November
13th for the Day of Action to Stop Staples!
On November 13, tell a Staple's near you that selling paper from native
forests is no longer acceptable! They must immediately stop selling products
from old growth fiber and US public lands, immediately eliminate all
products that are made from 100% virgin fiber, and switch to products made
from 100% post-consumer recycled paper, agricultural residues, or
alternative fibers such as hemp and kenaf.
On November 13th, take part in the National Day of Action. Plan a
demonstration at your nearest Staple's store (you can find it using the
store locator at http://www.staples.com). Present street theater, carry
signs, make some noise! Host a "clearcut forests tour" through the paper
aisle of Staple's. Get out, get creative and raise your voice for the
forests!
Call new CEO Ron Sargent and welcome him to his new job. Jam his fax
machine. Tell him it's time for a new beginning on forests.
For Information, an action packet, and to tell us what you're doing
contact: ForestEthics toll free at 1-866-FEthics or
paper@forestethics.org; In the Southeast, contact Dogwood Alliance at
828-251-2525 or info@dogwoodalliance.org www.stopstaples.net
Liz Butler, National Organizer/ForestEthics
*202-299-9075 ph*/ 202-285-6758 cell 509-471-6884 fx/ liz@forestethics.org
*1752 Columbia rd NW 4th floor*Washington,DC 20009
www.forestethics.org www.stopstaples.net
Nov 16-20, Ottawa: Protest the G20, World Bank, & IMF!!!
******************************************************************
A CALL TO ACTION AGAINST THE WORLD BANK,
INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND AND THE G20
From Global Democracy Ottawa (GDO):
From November 16 - 18, the Finance Ministers and central bank governors of
the Group of 20 (G20) nations, as well as key segments of the World Bank
(WB) and International Monetary Fund (IMF) will meet in Ottawa, Ontario,
Canada. We call on people of conscience from around the world to come to
Ottawa during these meetings to protest and expose these nefarious
institutions and actively work to create a better world.
The IMF and the World Bank, controlled by the G20 governments, are the
primary architects of neo-liberal globalization. Already hampered by the
cancellation of their September meetings, the World Bank and IMF are feeling
pressure to have a successful round of talks here in Ottawa.
We therefore encourage any and all groups or individuals who envision a
world free of exploitation and oppression to come together in Ottawa from
November 16 - 19 to actively resist the G20, the World Bank and the IMF.
It is imperative that all those who support global economic justice send a
clear message to these institutions and the planet: despite the current
climate of fear and uncertainty, the movement for global justice continues
to grow, and will not stand for continuing efforts by these institutions to
structure the world for the benefit of corporations and the wealthy and to
deny basic justice to the majority of the world's people.
Global Democracy Ottawa and many other groups from Ottawa, Toronto,
Montreal and Quebec City have begun to mobilize for diverse and varied
actions, teach-ins and marches to be held throughout the duration of the conference. We invite any groups planning on coming to Ottawa to join us in
spokescouncil -- our method for organizing, which is based on an
understanding of the realities of protest and mutual respect. We envision a
process of democratic decision making where all groups can come together to
share information, resources and ideas.
For more information, contact Global Democracy Ottawa: info_N17@flora.org
http://www.flora.org/gdo (613) 237-0730.
Nov 16-18, Ft.Benning: Protest the School of the Assassins!!!
*******************************************************************
Every year thousands gather to protest the Western Hemispheric Institute for
Security Studies, formerly called the School of the Americas (SOA), in Ft
Benning, Georgia, where Latin American military personnel are taught how to
torture, terrorize, murder, and overthrow democratically elected
governments. Graduates of the SOA have overthrown the democratically elected
governments of Chile, Guatemala, and Brazil. They have also been arrested
for murder and torture. A torture manual was found on the premises, and the
Attorney General publicly apologized for it--but that somehow isn't enough
for people of conscience. WE WANT TO SHUT IT DOWN! For more info, contact:
202-234-3440. soawatch@hotmail.com www.soaw.org
Nov 16-17, NYC: Globalization and Resistance Conference!
******************************************************************
CUNY Graduate Center, 365 Fifth Avenue (between 34th and 35th), NYC
November 16-17, 2001 (doors open at 9:00 am, space is limited)
This conference hopes to educate activists to the broad range of issues
raised by globalization and to generate a dialogue among the various strands
of the emerging global justice movement. In light of the attacks on the
World Trade Center and Pentagon, the emphasis of the conference will also
include broad ranging discussion and action plans on the effects and
implications of these attacks and the war on Afghanistan.
Confirmed Speakers: Tariq Ali, Rabab Abdulhadi, Stanley Aronowitz, Barbara
Bowen, Peter Bratsis, Jeremy Brecher, Dennis Brutus, Alex Callinicos, Mike
Davis, Bill DiFazio, Silvia Federici, Francis Fox-Piven, Barbara Garson,
Susan George, Michael Hardt, David Harvey, Howie Hawkins, Doug Henwood,
Forrest HyltonL.A. Kauffman, Joel Kovel, Manning Marable, Kim Moody, Robert
Naiman, Michelle Robidoux, Andrew Ross, Bill Tabb, and Rob Weissman.
$25 for both days; $15 for students and low income. For program information,
contact: Heather Gautney at The Center for the Study of Culture, Technology
and Work (CUNY Graduate Center) - hgautney@gc.cuny.edu.
BUY NOTHING DAY!!!
*************************
From the Culture Jammers Network: President Bush and other Western leaders
are urging us to save our faltering economies by hitting the mall. San
Francisco mayor Willie Brown's staff are distributing 15,000 posters
featuring an American flag with shopping-bag handles (see below).
Consumption is being cast as "fighting the good fight."
Let's get real. Yes it's a delicate moment. It's time to grieve, it's time
to reflect. But it's certainly *not* time to stifle discussion and reverse
progress on what, though it has been bumped from the news agenda, remains
the world's biggest long-term problem: the unsustainable consumer binge of
Western nations. In fact, now may be the time to take the sustainable
consumption debate to a new plane.
November 23 is Buy Nothing Day. This year, celebrants in more than 50
countries will opt not to spend any money for 24 hours, but instead to enjoy
pranks, parades, street parties, credit-card cutups - and some quiet time
with family and friends. Why don't you join us?
Our website http://adbusters.org/campaigns/bnd/ is a font of information for
BND enthusiasts. There you'll find posters, images, event ideas and contact
information for organizers in your area.
We want to know what you're planning. Be sure to keep us up-to-date on your
group's activities by emailing buynothingday@adbusters.org. Contact us there
if you need more information or assistance.
Remember: On November 23, don't let anyone call your efforts trivial or
treasonous or unpatriotic. At a time like this, getting public attention
back on the big picture may be the most charitable thing any of us can do.
P.S. If you'd like to make your Buy Nothing Day activities a little more
edgy, contact Paul Dechene at .
Dec 08: International Day of Action for Mumia!!!
*****************************************************
AN INTERNATIONAL DAY OF SUPPORT TO FREE MUMIA
Date: Saturday, December 8th. (20 years since the attempted murder and
frame-up of Mumia on Dec. 9th, 1981)
Everyone who can is being asked to come to Philadelphia on that date. The
action is projected to start at noon and include a march through the Black
community, ending in a Black church. Further details will be forthcoming.
Make plans to join us in Philadelphia on December 8, even as we prepare for
emergency actions after any decision by state court judge Pamela Dembe on
the question of reopening Mumia's state appeal. We have no way of knowing
when Dembe will announce her ruling, and we cannot simply stand by and wait
for it to happen. We must continue to focus public attention on Mumia's
case.
A SPECIAL APPEAL IS MADE AT THIS TIME TO ANTIWAR COMMITTEES AND COALITIONS
NOT TO SCHEDULE CONFLICTING EVENTS ON DECEMBER 8 SO FOLKS CAN COME TO
PHILADELPHIA TO SUPPORT MUMIA. Please pass the word to antiwar organizers in
your area.
Urgent: Stop Philippine Sex Slave Camps!!!
**********************************************
Sign the worldwide petition calling on the Philippine government to close
the prostitution slave camps of Angeles:
http://www.PetitionOnline.com/44441212/petition.html
From Susan Bryce, Angeles Human Rights Watch, Angeles Child Rescue,
Concerned Citizens Of Angeles: A woman or child is raped or killed on average every six seconds in Angeles City, Philippines. An estimated 150,000 girls work in Angeles City, Philippines as prostitutes, of that about 30,000 are girls as young as six years of age. Despite the fact that prostitution is illegal in Angeles not one person has been convicted of this crime.
The prostitution trade is controlled by foreign gangs who rake in millions
while the girls suffer on a bowl of rice a day. Young girls are forced to
work up to twenty hours a day and are expected to service up to 100 customers a
week. Most of the gangs that run the prostitution trade are foreigners. They
pay off corrupt police, military and city hall officials. The girls are
locked away to sleep watched over by armed security guards who carry batons,
electric prods and shotguns.
The buildings are surrounded by razor wire as used in prisons. The average
life expectancy of a bar girl is 25 The gangs control prostitution, drugs,
extortion, gun running, pedophile movies and a host of other criminal
activities. Anyone who speaks out is quickly disposed of by the gangs...
Susan goes on to recount the horrifying testimonials of children who
escaped these camps, usually left for dead.
TACO BELL BOYCOTT Going Strong: L.A. Cardinal On Board!
**********************************************************************
Help Florida Farmworkers who live and work in unconscionable conditions!!!
BOYCOTT TACO BELL!!! Send a Postcard!!! From Greg Asbed, CIW, the latest
from the Taco Bell Boycott:
1) Cardinal Roger Mahoney of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles and the
Los Angeles County Federation of Labor join the fight!
2) Get your Taco Bell postcards here -- make your voice heard by
sending a postcard to Emil Brolick, CEO, supporting the boycott.
Cardinal Roger Mahoney, a long-time, staunch supporter of farmworkers
and labor in general, Bishop Jaime Soto of the Diocese of Orange in
California, and the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, an
extremely powerful voice for labor both in California and on the
national level, all joined the growing list of people and
organizations calling on Taco Bell to meet with the CIW and help
improve wages for the farmworkers who pick their tomatoes. You can
see the full text of their letters and/or endorsements on the CIW web
site at www.ciw-online.org.
The second piece of news is the launching of a new initiative in the
boycott -- a postcard campaign that we need your help to get out to
as many people as possible around the country.
You can see this powerful new card, front and back, on our website
(again, www.ciw-online.org!). You can choose to either use the text
on the back of the card to send your own letter to Taco Bell, or --
if you think you have some family, friends, co-workers, or members of
your church that might be interested -- we would be happy to send you
10, 20, 50, or even 100 cards that you could help get signed and into
the mail to Taco Bell. It's a great -- and convenient -- way to
send a message to Taco Bell, so email us now if you think you could
use some cards in your school, church, union, or community.
Armistice Day March Sunday, 11/11 @ 11am to the Hole in the Headwaters
****************************************************************************
*******
From Darryl Cherney: Activists Hang American Flags in Redwood Logging Plan
MAXXAM Helicopters Exempted from No-fly Zone
While MAXXAM/Pacific Lumber helicopter loggged large redwoods this week in
a government ordered no-fly zone within a 10 mile radius of a closed
nuclear power plant, activists plan an Armistice Day hike to the boundary
of that same timber harvest plan for Sunday, November 11, at 11 am. Earth
First! activists also hung dozens of American flags this week on both
standing and fallen trees in the area. To get to this gentle, 8 mile round
trip hike, take Hwy. 101 to the Elk River Rd Exit, just south of Eureka.
Follow the signs to Elk River Road 7 miles till it dead ends at the
Headwaters Preserve.
Columbia Helicopter Logging, sub-contracting to MAXXAM/PL, operated under
an exemption granted by the FAA, despite a no-fly zone established to
prevent a potential terrorist attack on the nearby closed Humboldt Bay
nuclear power facility. That no-fly zone was lifted Wednesday night, Nov.
7. While small aircraft were grounded and Murray Airfield in Eureka was
closed, the huge twin-propeller helicopters which can carry a 14-ton
payload were allowed to operate freely in the area. Complaints were filed
with Federal Aviation Administration inspector John Condon (510/273-7155).
US Senate Chair Harry Reid (202/224 3542) of the sub-committee on
Transportation, Infrastructure and Nuclear Safety was notified. "I
suppose national security precautions don't apply to Fortune 200 companies
like MAXXAM, " said Earth First! Redwood Action Team activist Darryl
Cherney. "National security seems to be only implemented as an excuse to
suppress the civil rights of regular people. We weren't allowed to do
aerially monitor the logging, but they were able to aerially log. George
Bush is giving Bin Laden and Charles Hurwitz exactly what they want by
trampling on the Bill of Rights."
Veterans, in particular, and others who ascribe that environmental
protection is in the national interest are encouraged to attend and being
asked to bring flags or symbols of their choice to re-take the land for the
public. The area of contention, known as the "Hole in the Headwaters," was
left out of the $480 million deal cut by Senator Diane Feinstein and
Charles Hurwitz of MAXXAM, even though the 705-acre stand of 75-year-old
second growth and residual old growth redwood and Douglas fir is actually
within the boundaries of the Headwaters Forest Preserve. Activists
contend the omission constitutes government ineptness at its worst.
The 11" x 17" American flags bore slogans written on them such as "Stop the
Attack on America's Forests," "MAXXAM Bin Loggin," and "Don't Fall for
MAXXAM." One tree with two trunks sits right on the boundary of the
Headwaters Preserve and the MAXXAM/PL logging plan. Astoundingly, MAXXAM
marked half the tree for logging. An American flag adorns that 6 foot
diameter majestic double redwood with the slogan "United We Stand, Divided
We Fall."
"While bombs fall on Afghanistan, MAXXAM is turning our redwood forest into
a moonscape," said Cherney. "MAXXAM cost the American taxpayers $1.6
billion for a failed savings and loan. It laid off 2000 Kaiser Aluminum
workers for going on strike for better working conditions. It charged the
American taxpayers over $400 million for a tiny piece of redwood forest.
Charles Hurwitz and MAXXAM are destroying this nation as surely as any
foreign adversary could."
Nov 13, SF: Get Staples to Stop Buying Old Growth!!!
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Join 175 other groups on the National Day of Action! November 13, 2001,
12:00 - 1:00, Staples San Francisco Store, 1700 Van Ness @ Sacramento.
Staples overall copy paper sales across all brands consist of 97% virgin
forest fiber - a scant 3% comes from recycled fiber. Come show Staples that
you want to be able to buy environmentally responsible paper. They are the
biggest - They need to be the best! Contact Heather at
heathersarantis@hotmail.com for more inf about this action!
Nov 13, Oak: End Environmental Racism: IES Planning Meeting & Update!
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*****
From Green Action: NEXT COALITION MEETING TUESDAY NOV. 13 AT 6 P.M.
The next meeting of the Coalition for Healthy Communities and Environmental
Justice will be held Tuesday, November 13, 6 pm at the National Latina
Health Organization, 3507 International, Oakland, near the Fruitvale BART.
We will discuss the next steps in our campaign to get IES to replace the
incinerators, including community outreach and mobilization, encouraging
hospitals to stop sending waste to IES, and pressuring the Bay Area Air
District to deny the Title V Clean Air Act permit.
NOVEMBER 7 PROTEST SUCCESSFUL!
Following a moratorium on action in the wake of the September 11 terrorist
attacks, our coalition resumed our peaceful protests at IES last night.
Over 75 people, including lots of kids and senior citizens, attended the
spirited protest.
In the middle of the protest, IES tried to drive a truck through us, and
the truck actually did hit several people - no one was hurt. The crowd
remained peaceful, despite IES' reckless provocation, but people were
determined and did not allow the waste truck to proceed. IES called
Oakland police, who arrived and unnecessarily pushed and shoved people
including Hal Carroll, an 82 year old long time resident and PUEBLO member.
We refused to be intimidated, and completed the rally. We left at 6:30
p.m., promising to return!
READ THE FEATURE STORY IN THE SF BAY GUARDIAN, NOVEMBER 7, 2001
Nov 15, Sac: End Institutionalized Racism: Fight the LockDown in SacTown!!!
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********
From Youth Force Coalition and Books Not Bars: The Alameda County board of
supervisors have already cut the size of the proposed juvenile hall from 540
to 450, 420 all because of the pressure from Youth Force Coalition, Books
not Bars and all the allied folks who have come out to actions, delegations,
and everything else we did. But theyıre still trying to build a hall thatıs
almost 3 times the size of most counties that are the same size as Alameda
County. Now itıs time to ride down to Sacramento to a state Board of
corrections meeting to make sure they know how we feel about Alameda County
getting away with building one of the largest per capita juvenile halls in
the country. Vans will be leaving at 9:00 am and returning around 4:00pm,
hit us up if you are interested in going to reserve a spot. Assemble @ YEC
@9:00am, 1357 5th St., near West Oakland Bart. To RSVP or for more info
call YFC @ 510-451-5466 ext. 302
For a complete calendar of non-stop actions to stop the SuperJail for Kids
and other acts of racism and fun and empowering community events, contact
Zachary or Bernadette at Books Not Bars 415.951.4844 x28 and Youth Force
Coalition youthforce@youthec.org.
Nov 29, SF: TREE SIT--Sneak Preview at Cell Space
************************************************************
Earthfilms.org presents: A special sneak screening at Cell Space, 2050
Bryant St. San Francisco
***Thurs. Nov 29, 7:00pm*** TREE-SIT: The Art of Resistance, a film by James
Ficklin & HAVC Howard Zinn describes TREE-SIT as: "Truly inspiring".
*Winner of Earthvisions Film Festival award, "Best Forest Documentary".
Contact: Earthfilms 415-820-1635 - www.treesit.org
or Cell Space 415-648-7562.
Dec 01: Internat'l Day of Action Against Gap, SF Action: Call For
Volunteers!!!
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Please contact chalicenew@earthlink.net/415-731-7924 if you want to be part of the SF
action!!! Perhaps we'll parade around Union Square and its FIVE GAP STORES
with the 200-foot Boycott Gap clothesline. IDEAS WELCOME!
Stop the Logging of the Hole in Headwaters!!!
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EARTH FIRST! ACTION CAMP ANNOUNCEMENT
Hole in the Headwaters Logging spawns Earth First! Action Camp
Camp will be at Grizzly Creek State Park, Nov. 3rd-17th
For immediate release Wednesday, October 31st, 2001
Contact: NCEF! P.O. Box 28, Arcata, CA 95518, (707) 825-6598 or page
(707)269-9731
The Humboldt Forest Defenders, including North Coast Earth First!, will be
hosting an action camp, in Humboldt County, California, beginning on
November 3rd. MAXXAM/Pacific Lumber has already begun loggin the Hole in the
Headwaters, 705 acres of 2nd growth and residual old growth redwoods
actually within the boundary of the Headwaters Reserve. Loggers have
boasted that they'll be done in 30 days. The camp will offer trainings,
such as non-violence, backwoods, jail solidarity, and tree-climbing, as well
as food, fire, songs, and an Old Growth Redwood atmosphere.
The camp will be held at Grizzly Creek State Park, around seventeen miles up
Highway 36, which runs east off of Highway 101, just south of Fortuna. Once
you get onto Hwy 36, follow it past Carlotta, Swimmer's Delight Campground,
and the Grizzly Creek State Park signs. Within a mile, you will see the
Grizzly Creek Campgrounds sign on your left, and you will turn to the right,
and park; the camp will be to your right. If you are coming from the East,
on Hwy 36, then the sign will be on your right, and you will turn to your
left, and the camp will still be to your right. People are encouraged to
bring tents, sleeping bags, warm clothes, extra food, a few dollars to help
pay for the site (optional), rain gear, and a good spirit (necessary).
MAXXAM and the Corporate industrial forestry Complex continue to ravage
Humboldt County, and must be stopped, before it is too late. Already, mills
are shutting down, due to the liquidation logging that has been destroying
Humboldt County's local economy, while millions of dollars in timber revenue
is being spent thousands of miles from our local communities. Big Timber is
going after the last of the Old Growth, clearcutting on insanely steep
slopes, and threatening to decimate the last viable Coho Salmon and
Steelhead Trout runs on the North Coast. We continue to suffer the effects
of herbicides, diesel fuel, siltation, landslides, and the loss of a local
economy, all for the luxurious lives of a few greedy people.
Non-violent, civilly disobedient direct action is a long-standing tradition
of dissent, giving the people a voice, and a chance to communicate with each
other about the issues that are important to everyone. Please come and
learn more about the art of resistance, and take part in this historical
movement of good-hearted peace-seeking people, standing up to corporate
greed and inequalities. The Hole in the Headwaters is being cut, new timber
harvest plans are being processed for the Mattole, and many other plans, all
over Humboldt County, are being approved, everyday. We have the capacity to
accommodate over one hundred people, so come on over to Humboldt County, and
take a stand for the trees!
If you have trouble getting an answer from NCEF! at 707/825-6598, you can
also page Shunka at (707)269-9731, for more information. This is a
numerical pager number, so enter your phone number at the beep, and you'll
be called back promptly. Hope to see you soon!
___________________________________
...And in the US, let's keep hammering away at our US Reps: tell them to
stop bombing Afghanistan and Iraq, to rescind the unconstitutional
Anti-Terrorist Act, to release the names, charges, and places of detention
of the over 1100 immigrants detained since 9-11 (demand DUE PROCESS for
these people!)--and to your Senators: NO OIL DRILLING IN THE ARCTIC
WILDLIFE REFUGE! (the schleps in the House already voted FOR it!), and tell
them you want a written response to your requests. Their numbers are in the
phone-book, in the front under US Government listings (use the 800 above for
your House rep)!
Thanks for Your Activism! See you in the Streets!
Mary Bull
Save the Redwoods/Boycott the Gap Campaign
252 Frederick Street, San Francisco, CA 94117
chalicenew@earthlink.net 415-731-7924 http://www.gapsucks.org
FOR REDWOODS & WORKERS:
BOYCOTT GAP, BANANA REPUBLIC, & OLD NAVY!!!
FOR PEOPLE & PLANET:
STOP "FAST TRACK" & THE FTAA!!! http://www.stopftaa.org
TO END INSTITUTIONALIZED RACISM:
STOP THE SUPER JAIL FOR KIDS!!!
http://www.booksnotbars.org
For questions and comments please e-mail us!
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