Calendar
Stop by and pick up farm produce.
Farm Stand 3:00 – 5:00 pm at San Pablo Gate
Information, discussion, community! Monday Night Forum!!
Occupy Forum is an opportunity for open and respectful dialogue
on all sides of these critically important issues!
Historical context, response, and vision for the future
On July 13, Sandra Bland became the latest casualty in the war on black lives and bodies. Pulled over for the minor infraction of changing lanes without signaling, Sandra Bland was brutalized, arrested, and three days later found dead in her Texas jail cell. Her arrest and death has sparked national outcry for answers after police reported that Bland committed suicide.
OccupyForum will bring together activists working to address the racism and brutality that continues to tear apart our society. We will hear from Open Circle and the Idriss Stelley Foundation (including Mesha Irizarry), ground zero for families who have suffered a death at the hands of police; The Anti-Police Terror Project committed to ending state sanctioned murder of Black, Brown & Poor People; and CODEPINK which helped amplify the voices of mothers who have lost their children to police brutality. We will also have a representative from the Oscar Grant Committee in Oakland and a historians to situate state/police repression in America.� We will be attempting to contextualize the Sandra Bland case, and talk about the vision ahead to move from protest to the broadest movement to stop the murder of African Americans on the systemic level.
Mesha Irizarry: (whose son was killed in 2002 by police) Idriss Stelly Foundation
Antoinette Gaggero: Open Circle: Addresssing Police Terror and Systemic Oppression
Jeremy Miller: Idriss Stelly Foundation
Dr. James Garrett, Historian
Nancy Mancias: CODEPINK
Cat Brooks: Anti-Police Terror Project
Francis (Civil Rights Singer)
Facilitated by: Gerald Smith, Black history scholar, longtime member of the Black Panther Party, and the Oscar Grant Committee (Investigating Cases of Police Brutality)
LINKS:
Anti Police Terror Project Cat Brooks: https://vimeo.com/124791337
http://www.bet.com/news/national/photos/2015/07/everything-you-need-to-know-about-sandra-bland.html#!072115-national-Sandra-Bland-prison-death-case-2
http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonkblog/wp/2015/07/22/what-cops-are-saying-about-the-sandra-bland-video/ (this has a video of the arrest)
http://yourblackworld.net/2015/07/21/third-woman-who-police-claim-committed–suicide-while-in-police-custody/
https://localwiki.org/oakland/Oscar_Grant
http://www.cnn.com/2015/07/23/us/sandra-bland-arrest-death-main/index.html
ON TWITTER: #sandyspeaks, #sandystillspeaks, #sandrabland, #sandrablandmurder, #sayhername
Come learn about continuing developments in the battle save the Berkeley Post Office and the Postal Service from privatization, support our Occupiers and help us plan our next steps in opposition to the theft of our public commons.
The postal service wanted to sell the post office to Hudson-Mcdonald, a local developer. The City of Berkeley sued the post office to stop the sale. Hudson-Mcdonald backed out of the deal in early December.
Federal Judge William Alsup decided to dismiss the lawsuit in April because the Postal Service says it is not currently selling the building. But we’re not fooled. The Postal Service could “find” a buyer at any moment. Fortunately, the Judge ordered the Postal Service to provide 42 days notice before any sale, so that the lawsuit could be refiled.
Check out the Community Garden at the Post Office.
In the latest developments, Berkeley has Declared War on Its Homeless, and an ordinance criminalizing the homeless came before the City Council on June 30th (see here and here) but was tabled until September.
Also check out our website and the Save the Berkeley Post Office website, and First they Came for the Homeless Facebook for updates.
BPOD is an offshoot of Strike Debt Bay Area, which itself is an offshoot of Occupy Oakland and a chapter of the national Strike Debt movement, which is an offshoot of Occupy Wall Street.
Injured workers have been under a vicious corporate insurance attack in California that has prevented them from getting their injuries taken care of in a timely fashion. Governor Brown and his supporters have set up an obstacle course called Independent Medical Reviews that stall getting injuries treated. Workers then have to fight to get medication to deal with the pain that injured workers have. Doctors who subscribe opiates are then blamed for a rise in addiction among California injured workers.
The rise of opiate addiction among injured workers is a direct result of Governor Brown/DIR Director Christine Baker’s SB 863 which prevents workers from getting their injuries taken care of promptly and the use of corrupt companies like Maximus to use anonymous doctors to make medical determinations. Governor Brown and DIR director Christine Baker gave a $40 million no bid contract to Maximus to contract out state work on making determinations on care for California injured workers.
Come to this hearing and speak out about the corruption and failure of the state to take care of injured workers and blaming doctors for oversubscribing opiates because the insurance controlled Governor Brown, the CHSWC and DIR Director Christine Baker are representing the bosses and insurance companies rather than injured workers.
In anticipation of a major development in one of the most significant cases brought by prisoners in the struggle against solitary confinement, Ashker v. Brown, activists, prisoners’ family members and loved ones, and prisoner advocates will be holding a press conference and rally.
Come out and support those struggling against solitary confinement.
solitary-confinement-settlement
No agenda or other information provided.
I
n February, Emeryville police killed Yuvette Henderson, a 38-year old Black woman and mother of two after she was assaulted at the Home Depot. It was clear from the different sizes of the bullet holes that multiple weapons, including an AR-15 assault rifle, had been fired at her.
It has been more than 6 months and not one official police report on Yuvette’s killing has been made public. The Alameda coroner is unnecessarily withholding the autopsy results of Yuvette’s death, which is key to the family’s ongoing fight for answers and accountability.
Come to the Emeryville City Counsel meeting to demand that the Council directs the coroner to release Yuvette’s autopsy report to her family.
Visit www.showingupforracialjustice.org for more info
OptikAllusions is a digital filmmaking collective dedicated to social change, based in Oakland, California. We share resources, skills and knowledge to help each other tell stories that might otherwise remain untold. We make films in a spirit of collaboration and solidarity, share a lending library of film equipment for creative projects, organize free, at cost or donation-based workshops.
Join us for our weekly meeting and a workshop!
We usually, meet briefly and then work on projects. It’s open to all!
Statewide action to expose and address racial profiling by law enforcement. The action seeks to ensure that the Senate passes, and the Governor signs AB 953 (racial profiling reporting bill).
WHAT WE NEED: As many people to attend the action as possible.
To attend the event and/or get a ride, register at: tinyurl.com/statewideaction
Communities United Coalition is calling for a statewide day of action to demonstrate the urgency for the California Legislature and Governor Brown to take action that will curb racial profiling and demonstrate that black and brown lives matter in California and improve public safety for everyone.
There will be a public program on the Capitol lawn and delegations will meet with California State Senators.
BACE Timebank General Meeting
Every 1st Wed of the Month @ the Omni.
The Bay Area Community Exchange (BACE) Timebank promotes and facilitates the use of Time instead of money in the exchange of goods and services. The foundation of the Timebank is a free, open source online directory, reputation and accounting system.
These exchanges help develop stronger, more resilient connections between individuals and community service organizations which participate in them, by improving communication and the distribution of skills and resources among our participants. We work to help people meet their needs regardless of economic status.
Please join our Meetup Group:
And our timebank at:
http://www.bace.org
Join Oakland Privacy Working Group to organize against the Domain Awareness Center (DAC), Oakland’s citywide networked mass surveillance hub, and other invasions of privacy by our benighted City Government, to support privacy ordinances now being considered by the Oakland City Council emerging from the effort to fight the DAC, oppose Urban Shield, fight against Predictive Policing, Stingray and help in other fights to preserve and restore our privacy around the Bay Area, in California and nationwide.
OPWG was instrumental in stopping the DAC from becoming a city-wide spying network, and its members helped draft the Privacy Policy that puts further restrictions on the now Port-restricted DAC.
Stop by and learn how you can help guard Oakland’s right not to be spied on by the government & if you are interested in joining the Oakland Privacy Working Group email listserv, send an email to:
oaklandprivacyworkinggroup-subscribe AT lists.riseup.net
For more information on the DAC check out
PLEASE JOIN US FOR A “TEACH-IN” ON URBAN WARFARE IN OUR BACKYARD.
WHY ARE OUR POLICE BEING MILITARIZED?
WHY IS THIS TREND SO DISTURBING?
WHAT IS THE “URBAN SHIELD” CONFERENCE?
HOW CAN WE ADDRESS THIS ISSUE?
PANEL INCLUDES:
George Lippman – Berkeley Peace and Justice Commission
ADDITIONAL SPEAKERS ARE BEING CONFIRMED – CHECK WEBSITE FOR UPDATES
6 PM Potluck, 7 PM Presentation
This is a FREE EVENT— Please bring a dish to share if attending potluck.
Tax deductible donations will be accepted to help us cover costs.
PLEASE REGISTER FOR THIS EVENT SO THAT WE CAN KEEP YOU INFORMED AS SPEAKERS ARE CONFIRMED AND TO ASSESS SPACE NEEDS. GO ONLINE TO: www.ourpeacecenter.org
Presented by Mt. Diablo Peace & Justice Center
The Bay Area Public School will be hosting a free, horizontally-organized, art critique group every other Thursday starting August 6th. The crit group will be geared towards the creation of new works, with each artist presenting work each class.
All media are welcome. Time based work should be limited to 8 minutes of work per artist per meeting. Work can be at any stage of development.
For more info:
https://bayareapublicschool.org/events/art-crit-group/
http://bayareapublicschool.prg
Inspired by Dr. Vandana Shiva’s book, Soil Not Oil, the 2015 Soil Not Oil Conference examines the crisis on food security while highlighting the implications of oil-based agro-chemicals and fossil fuels in soil depletion and climate change. The first edition of this conference will focus on educating, through national and international experiences, about the multiple problems and possible practical solutions that surround the profound consequences resulting from synthetic enhanced agriculture in industrialized nations.
The conference organizer, Soil Not Oil Coalition, is a cross-sector, multi-level and inter-ethnic alliance of over 50 organizations, scientists, farmers, businesses and individuals coordinated by the Biosafety Alliance.
Join international leaders, farmers, scientists, community members and environmental and food justice advocates for workshops, presentations and networking opportunities.
Get the knowledge you need to support the movement and advocate for a sustainable future for all living beings. For more information, registration or volunteering opportunities go to: http://soilnotoilcoalition.org/application-for-conference-proposals-2/about-the-conference/
or contact us at: soilnotoilcoalition@gmail.com
Dr. Vandana Shiva keynote speech is on Friday, Sept. 4, 7:00 pm
Focuses on Regenerative “Carbon Farming” to Mitigate Climate Change
Dr. Vandana Shiva keynote speech is on Friday, Sept. 4, 7:00 pm
International conference on agriculture and climate change, Soil Not Oil, Sept. 4-5, in Richmond, CA, features speakers Vandana Shiva, Fritjof Capra, Anna Lappé, former EPA senior scientist Ray Seidler, soil scientist Rattan Lal, agro-ecologist Miguel Altieri, environmental and land use attorney Claire Hope Cummings, and others.
Richmond, CA (July 29, 2015) — Getting to the root of global climate change, the 2015 Soil Not Oil International Conference will bring together farmers, ranchers, scientists, policy makers, NGOs and community leaders on Sept. 4-5, 2015, at the Memorial Civic Center Complex in Richmond, CA, to explore how sustainable, regenerative agriculture practices can help mitigate the planet’s global warming.
Soil Not Oil speakers include, from left: Dr. Vandana Shiva, Fritjof Capra, Anna Lappé and Ronnie Cummins.
“The goal of the two-day conference is to provide practical information, research, and networking to help society create a more vibrant, healthy future via better farming practices. Along with reduced reliance on fossil fuels and increased availability of green energy, we need to shift to carbon farming to mitigate climate change,” said Miguel Robles, conference organizer and Director of the Biosafety Alliance.
Vandana Shiva Headlines Conference
Inspired by Dr. Vandana Shiva’s book, Soil Not Oil, the 2015 Soil Not Oil International Conference examines the crisis on food security while highlighting the role of oil-based agro-chemicals and fossil fuels in soil depletion and climate change. The conference will focus on practical carbon farming solutions including cover crops, planned grazing, compost application on range land, tree planting and other holistic land use practices.
The conference will feature a keynote address by Dr. Vandana Shiva on Friday, Sept. 4, 7:00 pm, along with presentations featuring noted soil scientist Rattan Lal; author Fritjof Capra; environmental and land use attorney Claire Hope Cummings; Earth Guardians director and youth leader Xiuhtezcatl Martinez; author Anna Lappé; agro-ecologist Miguel Altieri; Adelita San Vicente Tello, Ph.D., director of Seeds of Life; Regeneration International and Organic Consumers Association co-founder Ronnie Cummins; John Roulac, CEO and founder of Nutiva; and other international leaders, farmers, researchers, climate change experts, and environmental and food justice advocates.
“We are pleased to host this important gathering in the San Francisco Bay Area, the heart of the organic food industry,” said Richmond-based John Roulac, founder and CEO of organic food leader Nutiva. “To secure a livable planet we need to both de-carbonize energy and re-carbonize our soils via regenerative agriculture.“
Carbon Farming Defined
Carbon farming (also known as regenerative agriculture) is an agricultural system that improves the rate at which CO2 is removed from the atmosphere and converted to plant material and/or organic matter in the soil. Today, mainstream industrial food and farming and unsustainable land use generate the majority of all greenhouse gas emissions, with carbon that is stripped from the soil ending up in our atmosphere and oceans, creating acidic conditions that threaten plant and animal species. In removing carbon from the atmosphere and oceans by implementing the practices of regenerative organic agriculture, we can sequester carbon into the soil and expand the soil’s water-holding capacity.
As a 2014 Rodale Institute report states, “Organically managed soils can convert carbon CO2 from a greenhouse gas into a food-producing asset.” In fact, says Rodale after conducting more than 30 years of ongoing field research, regenerative, organic farming practices and improved land management can move agriculture from one of today’s primary sources of global warming and carbon pollution to a potential carbon sink powerful enough to sequester 100% of the world’s current annual CO2 emissions.
Or, as the Wall Street Journal reported in May 2014, “Organic practices could counteract the world’s yearly carbon dioxide output while producing the same amount of food as conventional farming…”
About the Soil Not Oil Coalition
The conference organizer, Soil Not Oil Coalition, is a cross-sector, multi-ethnic alliance of over 60 organizations, scientists, farmers, businesses and individuals coordinated by the Biosafety Alliance to promote research and further understanding to optimize soil carbon sequestration and sustainability to aid in the development of adequate food production for future generations and to help reverse of the effects of global warming. We believe that restructuring land management practices is key to combating climate change, restoring water cycles, reducing global environmental pollution, stopping ocean acidification, re-establishing biodiversity, improving food production and revitalizing local economies across the planet. For more information, registration or volunteering opportunities visit www.soilnotoilcoalition.
Soil Not Oil Conference Sponsors include Nutiva, Dr. Bronner’s, RSF Social Finance, Good Earth Natural Foods, Burroughs Family Farms, International Development Exchange, Organic Consumers Association, Regeneration International and Food Democracy Now.
1990 American documentary film directed by Jennie Livingston. Filmed in the mid-to-late 1980s, it chronicles the ball culture of New York City and the African-American, Latino, gay, and transgender communities involved in it. The film is considered to be an invaluable documentary of the end of the “Golden Age” of New York City drag balls, and critics have praised it as a thoughtful exploration of race, class, gender, and sexuality in America.
Group discussion will follow the film. Snacks will be served.
Solidarity With John Crawford & Walmart Workers
“How can a black man walk into walmart and Not come out alive?”
It’s been a year since the police killing of John Crawford at an Ohio Walmart. Local “OW” and racial justice activists are linking walmart police brutality with walmart economic brutality. “Shopping while black is not a crime and working for walmart should not be a death sentence” We Demand Justice for John Crawford and demand a living wage for walmart workers.
Urban Shield is a county-wide war games, swat training and weapons expo, held each year involving hundreds of local, federal and international agencies including those from Apartheid Israel. The Stop Urban Shield Coalition successfully stopped the Urban Shield expo from being hosted in Oakland any longer. But activities still take place in Oakland, and the expo still happens in our backyard and still involves local agencies, local money and targets our local communities. Join us in a town hall on why we should all join forces to stop this from happening anywhere.
Featuring:
Art exhibit curated by Art Forces, art and sign making for upcoming actions, and community testimonies.
Part of Art Forces Dispossession(s) event series.
Hosted by The Stop Urban Shield Coalition
This Friday Sept 4th is First Friday in #Oakland once again, and while the vibe out on the street may not be what it used to be, what happens insideThe Alan Blueford Center For Justice is by the people & for the people, and so therefore, it is amazing every 1st Friday up in Alan‘s House where our message has been #BlackLivesMatter since the day we opened our doors heart emoticon
When I say that 1st Fri is “by the people”, I specifically express my deep gratitude to Tatu Vision, De Anna, Alicia Marie Cornish, Mike Brown, Jada Imani, Maleik Dion, Shawn Carter, & Stoney who I am pretty sure doesn’t mess w/FB but definitely BRINGS IT every 1st Fri;)
This Friday! At Alan Blueford Center for Justice! 2434 Telegraph Ave., Oakland. We will have a showcase of artists, food, and good vibes. 7-10 p.m.
Barcelona has been a site of squatting and community building for several decades, and has been especially influential in recent years. In 2009 it was the birthplace of Spain’s PAH (Movement for People Affected by Mortgages), which pursues direct action to stop evictions and secure housing rights. Out of the 2011 “Indignados” movement came Can Batlló, an autonomous community workspace in the city’s Sants district, which was the site of an abandoned factory planned for development. Activists took over this space and have transformed it and held it for four years, building on earlier projects such as the residential community of Can Vies. This year has seen the recuperation of el Ateneo Enciclopedico Popular, a historical free cultural center in the Raval District. Iban Ek and Aina Gallego are longtime Barcelona activists who will discuss these projects and the culture of community that has created them.