Venezuela’s Mega-elections

The Bolivarian Revolution in Venezuela has provided international leadership to the anti-imperialist struggle and a promise that a better world is possible. Consequently, it has been targeted for regime change by the US, which has illegally blockaded the country causing immense human suffering. The extreme right opposition will be participating in the November 21 mega-elections, rather than boycotting, for the first time in years.

If the extreme right does well, the US and its sycophantic press will proclaim that socialism has failed in Venezuela and the (in fact, blackmailed) people have spoken. If the extreme right does poorly, the US and its allies will visit even more misery on Venezuela, claiming the true voice of the people had been suppressed. Our speaker, Roger Harris, will report back on his observation of the elections in Venezuela and what the popular movements and their leadership have accomplished.

Roger D. Harris is a member of the ICSS program committee. He is active with the human rights organization, the Task Force on the Americas, and is on the executive committee of the US Peace Council. His political writings may be found at Counterpunch, Dissident Voice, Mint Press News, Popular Resistance, and the Orinoco Tribune. Earlier this year, Roger observed and wrote on elections in Ecuador (https://orinocotribune.com/us-role-behind-the-defeat-of-ecuadors-leftist-presidential-candidate/) and Nicaragua (https://dissidentvoice.org/2021/11/nicaragua-has-a-public-relations-problem-not-a-democracy-problem/).

LOGIN INFORMATION

We Intend to start the presentation as close to 10:30 am as possible, but the Zoom room will be opened up, as usual, at 10:15 for anyone to join and discuss technical matters, catch up with each other, say Hi, etc.. The program (and recording) will end at 12:30, but the Waiting Room will remain open until about 1 pm for informal discussion.

THIS ZOOM LINK IS GOOD FOR

ICSS Sunday Morning at the Marxist Library
Sunday, December 5, 2021  Roger Harris – Report Back: Elections in Venezuela

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88171014297?pwd=dXZDRjNxc0RFRU5QTlkyeTNJS3Zqdz09

Meeting ID: 881 7101 4297
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Passcode: 804517
Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kdVN0k8euW

NOTE: During the Plague Year of 2020 GA will be held every week or two on Zoom. To find out the exact time a date get on the Occupy Oakland email list my sending an email to:

occupyoakland-subscribe@lists.riseup.net

The Occupy Oakland General Assembly meets every Sunday at 4 PM at Oscar Grant Plaza amphitheater at 14th Street & Broadway near the steps of City Hall. If for some reason the amphitheater is being used otherwise and/or OGP itself is inaccessible, we will meet at Kaiser Park, right next to the statues, on 19th St. between San Pablo and Telegraph. If it is raining (as in RAINING, not just misting) at 4:00 PM we meet in the basement of the Omni Collective, 4799 Shattuck Ave., Oakland. (Note: we tend to meet at 3:00 PM during the cooler months from November to early March after Daylights Savings Time.)

On every ‘last Sunday’ we meet a little earlier at 3 PM to have a community potluck to which all are welcome.

OO General Assembly has met on a continuous basis for over six years, since October 2011! Our General Assembly is a participatory gathering of Oakland community members and beyond, where everyone who shows up is treated equally. Our Assembly and the process we have collectively cultivated strives to reach agreement while building community.

At the GA committees, caucuses, and loosely associated groups whose representatives come voluntarily report on past and future actions, with discussion. We encourage everyone participating in the Occupy Oakland GA to be part of at least one associated group, but it is by no means a requirement. If you like, just come and hear all the organizing being done! Occupy Oakland encourages political activity that is decentralized and welcomes diverse voices and actions into the movement.

General Assembly Standard Agenda

Welcome & Introductions
Reports from Committees, Caucuses, & Independent Organizations
Announcements
(Optional) Discussion Topic

Occupy Oakland activities and contact info for some Bay Area Groups with past or present Occupy Oakland members.

Occupy Oakland Web Committee: (web@occupyoakland.org)
Strike Debt Bay Area : strikedebtbayarea.tumblr.com
Berkeley Post Office Defenders:http://berkeleypostofficedefenders.wordpress.com/
Alan Blueford Center 4 Justice:https://www.facebook.com/ABC4JUSTICE
Oakland Privacy Working Group:https://oaklandprivacy.wordpress.com
Prisoner Hunger Strike Solidarity: prisonerhungerstrikesolidarity.wordpress.com/
Bay Area AntiRepression: antirepression@occupyoakland.org
Biblioteca Popular: http://tinyurl.com/mdlzshy
Interfaith Tent: www.facebook.com/InterfaithTent
Port Truckers Solidarity: oaklandporttruckers.wordpress.com
Bay Area Intifada: bayareaintifada.wordpress.com
Transport Workers Solidarity: www.transportworkers.org
Fresh Juice Party (aka Chalkupy) freshjuiceparty.com/chalkupy-gallery
Sudo Room: https://sudoroom.org
Omni Collective: https://omnicommons.org/
First They Came for the Homeless: https://www.facebook.com/pages/First-they-came-for-the-homeless/253882908111999
Sunflower Alliance: http://www.sunflower-alliance.org/
Bay Area Public School: http://thepublicschool.org/bay-area

San Francisco based groups:
Occupy Bay Area United: www.obau.org
Occupy Forum: (see OBAU above)
San Francisco Projection Department: http://tinyurl.com/kpvb3rv

oscargrantcommittee-subscribe@lists.riseup.net

In alliance with the International Longshore & Warehouse Union (ILWU) we organized the October 23, 2010 labor and community rally for Justice for Oscar Grant. On that day the ILWU shut down the Bay Area ports in solidarity. Our mission is to educate, organize and mobilize people against police and state repression. Sisters and brothers! The Oscar Grant Committee invites you to join us in this vital struggle.

We meet on the 1^st Monday of each month
You can join our discussion list by sending a blank (doesn’t even need a subject) email to

oscargrantcommittee-subscribe@lists.riseup.net

This Zoom workshop, hosted by a large group of local climate justice and conservation organizations, will include presentations on the latest science on sea level rise, the potential and current impacts of sea level rise and groundwater rise to contaminated sites around the San Francisco Bay, a community panel with speakers from frontline and shoreline communities around the Bay, discussions between community and government on next steps to address this critical threat to communities, and more. You can learn more about the workshop and register HERE.

With Love and Rage and Action,

Extinction Rebellion SF Bay Area
https://www.xrsfbay.org

Protect Solar Farms In Alameda County

On Thursday, Dec 9th at 9:00am the Alameda County Board of Supervisors will be voting on a proposed moratorium for utility-scale solar farms in Alameda County. Most proponents of solar are urging a NO vote on the moratorium. See this doc for more info on how to contact your supervisor if you live in Alameda County, and how to join the meeting on Thursday to give your public comment. Info here!

This Zoom workshop, hosted by a large group of local climate justice and conservation organizations, will include presentations on the latest science on sea level rise, the potential and current impacts of sea level rise and groundwater rise to contaminated sites around the San Francisco Bay, a community panel with speakers from frontline and shoreline communities around the Bay, discussions between community and government on next steps to address this critical threat to communities, and more. You can learn more about the workshop and register HERE.

With Love and Rage and Action,

Extinction Rebellion SF Bay Area
https://www.xrsfbay.org

On line. Free.

Register here:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/christopher-w-shaw-in-conversation-with-ralph-nader-tickets-168501012063

Celebrating the release of First Class, which investigates the essential role that the postal system plays in American democracy.

Christopher W. Shaw and Ralph Nader (joining via telephone) to discuss

First Class: The U.S. Postal Service, Democracy, and the Corporate Threat by Christopher W. Shaw

published by City Lights Books

Moderated by Katherine Isaac. Ralph Nader will be joining us via telephone.

The fight over the future of the U.S. Postal Service is on. Political ideologues and corporate interests have long sought to remake the USPS from a public institution into a private business, and in 2020, during an election dependent on mail-in votes, the attacks escalated. This year, with mid-term elections fast approaching and the next presidential contest on the horizon, attempts to undermine the essential role of the USPS are gaining ground. Three states have already passed laws to limit voting by mail, with more poised to do the same. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy recently unveiled a “10-year plan” that openly promises slower delivery times, price hikes on postage, and reduced access to post offices, outlining the next stage of battle.

In First Class, Christopher Shaw provides an illuminating history of the U.S. Postal Service, exposing the various campaigns against it. He argues that current attacks have implications that go beyond the future of mail service, and will have grave consequences for American democracy if they are not stopped.

FRIDAY, DEC. 10, 10 AM – 3 PM, 2363A San Pablo Ave, Oakland: Serenity House will be hosting a free COVID vaccine event for all ages 5+. Hot meals & $50 gift cards available. All 3 vaccines available (including boosters). No appointment or ID required. pic.twitter.com/NiUYZSrE13

— Supervisor Keith Carson (@Keith_Carson) December 3, 2021

Join us for an Eviction-Free BBQ on Saturday, December 11 from 1-3 pm in the Panhandle! Join us on the corner of Fell and Baker Streets, meet some neighbors, get help with eviction protections and rent relief, and bring the fight against evictions into the new year! pic.twitter.com/AYVZaemxVB

— DSA San Francisco (@DSA_SF) December 6, 2021

Registration Info

More info:

End Gun Violence Summit Flyer

Just back from Ukraine, where he is reporting for Moscow-based RT and making a documentary on Donbass, correspondent Don Courter will give an update on recent events in the Russian Federation and the situation in Ukraine

Our speaker,  Don Courter, is  a Moscow-based RT correspondent and host of The Revolution Report.

LOGIN INFORMATION

We Intend to start the presentation as close to 10:30 am as possible, but the Zoom room will be opened up, as usual, at 10:15 for anyone to join and discuss technical matters, catch up with each other, say Hi, etc.. The program (and recording) will end at 12:30, but the Waiting Room will remain open until about 1 pm for informal discussion.

THIS ZOOM LINK IS GOOD FOR

Raj Sahai is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: Raj Sahai’s Zoom Meeting
Time: Dec 12, 2021 10:15 AM Pacific Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/2591082607?pwd=b1pkMkxxM0JhRkw2SUI2b1BUQklTQT09

Meeting ID: 259 108 2607
Passcode: ICSS1212rs
One tap mobile
+16699006833,,2591082607#,,,,*1640513979# US (San Jose)
+13462487799,,2591082607#,,,,*1640513979# US (Houston)
Dial by your location
+1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)
+1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)
+1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)
+1 929 205 6099 US (New York)
+1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)
+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
Meeting ID: 259 108 2607
Passcode: 1640513979
Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kc4RrpvAiQ

NOTE: During the Plague Year of 2020 GA will be held every week or two on Zoom. To find out the exact time a date get on the Occupy Oakland email list my sending an email to:

occupyoakland-subscribe@lists.riseup.net

The Occupy Oakland General Assembly meets every Sunday at 4 PM at Oscar Grant Plaza amphitheater at 14th Street & Broadway near the steps of City Hall. If for some reason the amphitheater is being used otherwise and/or OGP itself is inaccessible, we will meet at Kaiser Park, right next to the statues, on 19th St. between San Pablo and Telegraph. If it is raining (as in RAINING, not just misting) at 4:00 PM we meet in the basement of the Omni Collective, 4799 Shattuck Ave., Oakland. (Note: we tend to meet at 3:00 PM during the cooler months from November to early March after Daylights Savings Time.)

On every ‘last Sunday’ we meet a little earlier at 3 PM to have a community potluck to which all are welcome.

OO General Assembly has met on a continuous basis for over six years, since October 2011! Our General Assembly is a participatory gathering of Oakland community members and beyond, where everyone who shows up is treated equally. Our Assembly and the process we have collectively cultivated strives to reach agreement while building community.

At the GA committees, caucuses, and loosely associated groups whose representatives come voluntarily report on past and future actions, with discussion. We encourage everyone participating in the Occupy Oakland GA to be part of at least one associated group, but it is by no means a requirement. If you like, just come and hear all the organizing being done! Occupy Oakland encourages political activity that is decentralized and welcomes diverse voices and actions into the movement.

General Assembly Standard Agenda

Welcome & Introductions
Reports from Committees, Caucuses, & Independent Organizations
Announcements
(Optional) Discussion Topic

Occupy Oakland activities and contact info for some Bay Area Groups with past or present Occupy Oakland members.

Occupy Oakland Web Committee: (web@occupyoakland.org)
Strike Debt Bay Area : strikedebtbayarea.tumblr.com
Berkeley Post Office Defenders:http://berkeleypostofficedefenders.wordpress.com/
Alan Blueford Center 4 Justice:https://www.facebook.com/ABC4JUSTICE
Oakland Privacy Working Group:https://oaklandprivacy.wordpress.com
Prisoner Hunger Strike Solidarity: prisonerhungerstrikesolidarity.wordpress.com/
Bay Area AntiRepression: antirepression@occupyoakland.org
Biblioteca Popular: http://tinyurl.com/mdlzshy
Interfaith Tent: www.facebook.com/InterfaithTent
Port Truckers Solidarity: oaklandporttruckers.wordpress.com
Bay Area Intifada: bayareaintifada.wordpress.com
Transport Workers Solidarity: www.transportworkers.org
Fresh Juice Party (aka Chalkupy) freshjuiceparty.com/chalkupy-gallery
Sudo Room: https://sudoroom.org
Omni Collective: https://omnicommons.org/
First They Came for the Homeless: https://www.facebook.com/pages/First-they-came-for-the-homeless/253882908111999
Sunflower Alliance: http://www.sunflower-alliance.org/
Bay Area Public School: http://thepublicschool.org/bay-area

San Francisco based groups:
Occupy Bay Area United: www.obau.org
Occupy Forum: (see OBAU above)
San Francisco Projection Department: http://tinyurl.com/kpvb3rv

Celebrate the Holiday Season with old friends and new. We’ll have good fun, yummy food, and open dialogue at the 2021 Annual Potluck Holiday Party. Please bring masks and proof of vaccination (or of a negative Covid test between 12/9 and 12/12).  Note: Covid tests in North Oakland, at no charge to individuals, with a turnaround time of 24 hours, are available via: https://www.testthepeople.org/   We will also likely have an outdoor party in the first half of next year.

 
Where:
*****It’s Your Move Games and Hobbies*****

Please bring a drink or dish of your choice to share!

**See you there!**

(There will be no Green Sunday Program or Green County Council meeting in December.  We’ll party instead.  The next regular Green Sunday program will be the second Sunday in January, 2022, followed as usual by the Alameda Green Party County Council.)

https://acgreens.wordpress.com/
Express your green ideas and “like” us on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/greenpartyofalamedacounty/

Those we trust to keep our community and all of
its members safe must answer when they fail to
do so. Ongoing oversight is good government.
The US Justice Department recently found
conditions in the Alameda county jail violate
constitutional rights and subject the 40% in
custody who need mental health services to
“unlawful harm.” Law suits are costing the county
millions. Our county sheriff’s department needs a
major transformation and ongoing oversight.
Assembly Bill 1185 provides for a community-based
Oversight Board and an Inspector General
with subpoena power to help supervise sheriff’s
departments and jails. This is an opportunity for
our community to gain accountability over an
extremely problematic and costly county service.
Community Advocates have a plan:
https://bit.ly/AB1185letter

District Town Halls on oversight of Sheriff
Monday, Dec.13 – 6-8pm – D5 Supervisor Carson – REGISTER
Tuesday, Dec.14 – 6-8pm – D1 & D2 – Supervisors Haubert & Valle – REGISTER
Wednesday, Dec.15 – 6-8pm – D3 & D4 – Supervisors Brown & Miley – REGISTER

Everyone is welcome at all Community Engagement zoom Meetings, but your voice will
be most effective at your own District meeting. For information on which District is yours:
Find Your District: https://www.acgov.org/ms/addresslookup/

Additional Information and a shareable link with all of the zoom meeting
information and suggestions to advocates for the most independent,
effective & representative oversight model, HERE: https://bit.ly/3F8Hr4J

OTU’s Mission

The Oakland Tenants Union is an organization of housing activists dedicated to protecting tenant rights and interests. OTU does this by working directly with tenants in their struggle with landlords, impacting legislation and public policy about housing, community education, and working with other organizations committed to furthering renters’ rights. The Oakland Tenants Union is open to anyone who shares our core values and who believes that tenants themselves have the primary responsibility to work on their own behalf.

Monthly Meetings

The Oakland Tenants Union meets regularly at 7:00 pm on the second Monday evening of each month. Our monthly meetings are held in the Community Room of the Madison Park Apartments, 100 – 9th Street (at Oak Street, across from the Lake Merritt BART Station). To enter, gently knock on the window of the room to the right of the main entrance to the building. At the meetings, first we focus on general issues affecting renters city-wide and then second we offer advice to renters regarding their individual concerns.

If you have an issue, a question, or need advice about a tenant/landlord issue, please call us at (510) 704-5276. Leave a message with your name and phone number and someone will get back to you.

Those we trust to keep our community and all of
its members safe must answer when they fail to
do so. Ongoing oversight is good government.
The US Justice Department recently found
conditions in the Alameda county jail violate
constitutional rights and subject the 40% in
custody who need mental health services to
“unlawful harm.” Law suits are costing the county
millions. Our county sheriff’s department needs a
major transformation and ongoing oversight.
Assembly Bill 1185 provides for a community-based
Oversight Board and an Inspector General
with subpoena power to help supervise sheriff’s
departments and jails. This is an opportunity for
our community to gain accountability over an
extremely problematic and costly county service.
Community Advocates have a plan:
https://bit.ly/AB1185letter

District Town Halls on oversight of Sheriff
Monday, Dec.13 – 6-8pm – D5 Supervisor Carson – REGISTER
Tuesday, Dec.14 – 6-8pm – D1 & D2 – Supervisors Haubert & Valle – REGISTER
Wednesday, Dec.15 – 6-8pm – D3 & D4 – Supervisors Brown & Miley – REGISTER

Everyone is welcome at all Community Engagement zoom Meetings, but your voice will
be most effective at your own District meeting. For information on which District is yours:
Find Your District: https://www.acgov.org/ms/addresslookup/

Additional Information and a shareable link with all of the zoom meeting
information and suggestions to advocates for the most independent,
effective & representative oversight model, HERE: https://bit.ly/3F8Hr4J

We meet over Zoom. If you’d like to join us, and aren’t on our organizers’ list, drop us an email and we’ll send you an invitation.

If you would like to join the meeting early and get an introduction to the concepts of public banking, or more locally to who we are and what we do, please email us and we’ll see you online at 6:30.

Donate to keep us moving forward

On Dec 15th, at 7:00 pm PST, renowned economist Michael Shuman and journalist Mark Sommer will join us to discuss the potential of “green baby bonds.”

Register here.

During World War II the Roosevelt administration ran short of money to finance the war effort and turned to ordinary citizens to buy “war bonds” in denominations from $25 to $1,000, small enough to be affordable to every American adult. Half the U.S. population, 85 million Americans, bought Series E bonds, generating $185 billion in 1945 dollars. The same concept could generate trillions of dollars today to help cities meet urgent priorities for climate, solarization, affordable housing, and green infrastructure.

Here’s a recent Newsweek article where Shuman and Sommer discuss the potential of micro-bonds to self-finance a rapid build-out of microgrids, energy efficiency measures, and other resilience strategies across the country. Please join us in learning more about these bonds and how they could be integrated in our evolving concept of a public bank.

Register here.

Michael H. Shuman is an economist, attorney, author, and entrepreneur, and a leading visionary on community economics.  He is the Director of Local Economy Programs for Neighborhood Associates Corporation, and an Adjunct Professor at Bard Business School in New York City. He is credited with being one of the architects of the 2012 JOBS Act and author of several books, most recently: Put Your Money Where Your Life Is: How to Invest Locally Using Self-Directed IRAs and Solo 401(k)s.

Mark Sommer is an award-winning public radio and print journalist specializing in energy and environmental issues. Since the 1970’s he has focused both his personal and professional life on advocating a rapid transition from fossil fuels to renewable sources of energy. He was the founder and host of the international radio program, A World of Possibilities, and is the author of several books and hundreds of op-eds in major newspapers world-wide.

Donate to the East Bay Public Bank!
WORK WITH PUBLIC BANK EAST BAY
If you would like to get involved, we have lots for you to do, including advocacy with local organizations, educational events like this one, social media, and more. Our next meeting is Tuesday, 12/14, at 7pm on Zoom. Email us for the Zoom invitation to that meeting. (That’s the night before the Green Baby Bonds event.)
Our viability study is in first draft and should be ready for public release early in the New Year. Another big step toward opening the bank doors!
Donate to the East Bay Public Bank!
Together we will make change happen!

TODAY Thurday at 6pm, join the California Progressive Alliance to discuss the #OccupyWallStreet's impact on American politics over the past decade. Sign up to attend here: https://t.co/jYhUGyJXhB pic.twitter.com/NwP1BTEPt7

— Bay Area for Bernie (@BayArea4Bernie) December 16, 2021