Calendar
Join a statewide day of rallies to save rooftop solar in California!
So many of us resisted the Public Utilities Commission’s proposed attack on rooftop solar that they backed down—a little. But their new proposal would still make it much harder for people who don’t currently have solar to get it.
The revised proposal eliminates the planned fee that rooftop solar owners would have to pay for connection to the grid. But new solar owners would still have to pay a $15/month “electrification charge.”
And, like the previous proposal, the new one would drastically cut the rates paid to rooftop solar owners for electricity they sell back to the grid—by an average of about 75% for homeowners, and even more for churches, schools, and small businesses. This would eliminate the financial benefits of going solar. And it would take people many years to recover the amount they invested in the solar panels, making that investment impossible for many homeowners and small businesses.
These changes would not affect current solar panel owners, but apply to new solar users starting April 2023. When changes like these have been implemented elsewhere in the US, solar adoptions have dropped by a lot.
The CPUC will vote on this proposal December 15. Join a rally telling them not to stop rooftop solar from growing!
WHERE
San Francisco, Bakersfield, Chico, Fresno, Los Angeles, Palm Springs, San Diego, San Luis Obispo, Santa Cruz, Stockton
Exact locations to be announced
More info/sign up here
More info:
See a replay of a Solar Rights Alliance webinar about the proposed changes and learn how to reach out to Newsom and the PUC here.
Check out the explanations and responses to this latest proposal from environmental organizations:
Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85817209915
Agenda Packet: https://cao-94612.s3.amazonaws.com/documents/Privacy-Commission-Agenda-Packet-12-1-22.pdf
4. Federal Task Force Transparency Ordinance: OPD – US Marshals Services (USMS), Alcohol Tobacco Firearms (ATF)
a. Review and take possible action on the draft memoranda of understanding with federal partners (MOU)
5. Surveillance Technology Ordinance: DOT – Mobile Parking Payment Proposal
a. Informational Report by CSU Law Clinic – no action will be taken at this meeting
Tickets are still available for Medea’s KPFA event at the Hillside Club Thursday evening. KPFA just added a number of “student/financially challenged” tickets, available at this Eventbrite link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/medea-benjamin-war-in-ukraine-making-sense-of-a-senseless-conflict-tickets-462001277257
I cannot recommend strongly enough attending the event. As you likely know, Medea is an expert– knowledgeable, straightforward, correct and convincing about the war in Ukraine and what we in the U.S. need to do to end it. If you’re concerned about the conflict, and fearful as many are about the consequences of it continuing and escalating, please consider coming on Thursday night both to hear Medea and ask questions. Mickey Huff, the terrific host of Project Censored on KPFA and professor at Diablo Valley College is hosting the discussion with Medea. We love Mickey.
Eleanor and I went out to Rossmoor in Walnut Creek today for Medea’s book event, sponsored by the Friends of the Diablo Valley Peace and Justice Center. They expected maybe 20 people; instead there were at least 90 people and more chairs had to be brought in. So many people bought books and contributed for Medea’s travel expenses. The presentation was riveting, followed by a great discussion. Very worthwhile for thinking about and hearing about the path to peace in Ukraine.
FOR ANTI-FASCIST FUTURES
CONTRIBUTORS
“Every Liberal is a Socialist. Every Socialist is a Communist. Every Communist is Moscow’s Spy.” So went a poster used in an anti-May Day “Loyalty Day” march in the high cold war period after WWII.
But anti-Communism went far beyond traditional conservative and reactionary groups and became the foundation of a “cold war consensus” for U.S. domestic and foreign policy in the post WWII period. In my presentation I will examine the relationship between color racism as the model for anti-radicalism at home and in U.S. imperialism abroad, and the role of the Communist Party USA in its struggle against both.
Our speker, Norman Markowitz, was born in 1943 and grew up in the South Bronx in a poor predominantly Jewish neighborhood that became a poorer predominantly Puerto Rican neighborhood. He developed an interest in socialism as a teenager, given the conditions in which he and his friends and neighbors lived.
He attended the then free tuition City College of New York (1962-1966) and the University of Michigan on a “National Defense Act” Fellowship and received his PhD in 1970. He taught history at Northern Illinois University (1969-1971) and at Rutgers University/New Brunswick (1971-present).
His doctoral dissertation, The Rise and Fall of the Peoples Century: Henry A. Wallace and American Liberalism, 1941-1948 was published as a book in 1973. He has written numerous articles for various print and internet publications, scholarly journals, encyclopedia, and Marxist and Communist publications and websites on topics which include the history of the Communist movement in the U.S. and its activists, and the role of anti-Communism in U.S. history.
He served on the editorial board of Political Affairs, the theoretical journal of the CPUSA for many years and is currently a member of the International Department of the CPUSA.
ZOOM LINK
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81133350622?pwd=dUUyUWppbWt6djVTaElISUhocXpSUT09
Meeting ID: 811 3335 0622
Passcode: ICSS2717rs
Dial by your location
+1 669 444 9171 US
+1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)
Bay Area! Come out for FUN and learn how we can end HIV in our community. Bring your friends and family. Day party, spades tournament, food, & prizes. https://t.co/Ba1TYl8xao #OEBAC #power2endthis #DST1913 @AIDSHealthcare @rsscllc @GileadSciences @ViiVHC @BBAACDST pic.twitter.com/dKps3foHeY
— Natalie Wilson (@NatalieWilsonNP) November 27, 2022
In a surreal meeting last Tuesday, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors approved on first reading a military equipment use policy that explicitly allows the use of robots outfitted with bombs to blow people up. The policy allows 3 high-level command officers to employ robot bombs based on their “evaluation” that other things wouldn’t work. The Robocop policy passed on an 8-3 vote.
This isn’t the world we want to live in. The “evaluations” of a police department which received 272 recommendations to improve its racist policing practices just six years ago, aren’t adequate. The supervisors admit that virtually everyone who has written to them says no to the killer robots.
The second vote is on Tuesday afternoon. It needs to come out differently. Here is what you can do to make this happen.
1) Come to a rally and press conference at SF City Hall
2) Email the Board at Board.of.Supervisors@sfgov.org. (Several members of the board have taken umbrage at the term “killer robots” as hyperbole. Therefore, when you write to the Board, we suggest you use the term “robots that kill” instead).
Background: David Chiu, then a State Assembly member and now the SF City Attorney, authored AB 481 to require governmental transparency about the use and acquisition of militarized equipment by civilian police agencies. Governor Newsom signed the bill into law. The law requires policies for existing equipment stocks. SF owns 17 robots, which were purchased for bomb and suspicious package disposal. This policy would set out the rules of the road for the 17 robots. No legislative body in the Bay Area has yet explicitly permitted the use of robots outfitted with weapons (bombs or guns) against civilian populations.
COVID-19 testing is available at Allen Temple! Our drive-thru testing site is open Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 10am to 4pm! Testing is quick, easy & free! Results available in 3 days. Appointments recommended; make yours at https://t.co/G3MPStVccj pic.twitter.com/OwdThvrBIT
— Allen Temple Baptist Church (@allentemplebc) November 21, 2022
Labor rally at UC Berkeley tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/EfJwjDr9uj
— Only Italian Fans (@lesuperburp) December 5, 2022
Online. Register here
Retiring fossil fuels means we’ll need more and more electricity—so it’s crucial that the electric grid be not only clean, but reliable and just. Join The Climate Center for Building a Resilient and Equitable Grid for the Future, the second in their series, Envisioning a Climate-Safe California: Stories and Solutions.
The webinar will lay out a vision for the future of California’s electricity system and highlight the people and organizations working to create it. It will explore the role of local governments, Community Choice Agencies (CCAs), and others in helping to plan for the use of clean, distributed energy in a way that maximizes benefits to the community and provides reliable, affordable electricity for all.
Speakers:
Jesse Hernandez, urban sociologist
Alexandra McGee, director of strategic initiatives, MCE
Lorenzo Kristov, energy systems consultant
COVID-19 testing is available at Allen Temple! Our drive-thru testing site is open Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 10am to 4pm! Testing is quick, easy & free! Results available in 3 days. Appointments recommended; make yours at https://t.co/G3MPStVccj pic.twitter.com/OwdThvrBIT
— Allen Temple Baptist Church (@allentemplebc) November 21, 2022
COVID-19 testing is available at Allen Temple! Our drive-thru testing site is open Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 10am to 4pm! Testing is quick, easy & free! Results available in 3 days. Appointments recommended; make yours at https://t.co/G3MPStVccj pic.twitter.com/OwdThvrBIT
— Allen Temple Baptist Church (@allentemplebc) November 21, 2022
BILL OF RIGHTS DAY 2022
PEAGUSUS BOOKS
BOOKS INC.
Professor Klinenberg is a sociologist and scholar of urban studies, culture, and media. His book, Palaces for the People: How Social Infrastructure Can Help Fight Inequality, Polarization, and the Decline of Civic Life, demonstrates that beautiful, respectful, community-supporting spaces are key to well-being.
Professor Klinenberg will discuss how cities like Berkeley can design and invest in support of social infrastructure.His special love for public libraries mirrors our community’s and the parallels he draws invite us to consider dedicating the same care to our shared outdoor and other civic spaces.
Every year on December 10th, people across all nations, from all different backgrounds, religions, creeds, and orientations, come together to celebrate, commemorate, and remember the day the United Nations General Assembly implemented the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Originally ratified on December 10th, 1948, the UDHR is the most translated document in the world. It is the first official landmark of its time documenting the inalienable rights which everyone is inherently entitled to as a human being “regardless of race, color, religion, sex, language, political opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or another status.
We at EthicsInTech.com believe that every human being is entitled to the inalienable rights described by our founding forefathers and that every human being has a voice – and a choice to stand up and speak up for what they believe in. We understand that our world does not receive redemption nor judgment for the acts of only a few people. It takes the heart, soul, and action of every individual to build and form a nation. It is only after we educate and boost the well-being of all countries that we will be able to come together to form a better world.
At EthicsinTech.com, we believe that technology has the power to do amazing things. Technology gives us more power to do, act, and promote social justice and change. We believe that with this immense power of Big Tech comes immense responsibility – to use this new instrument ethically, humanely, and responsibly to improve the lives of ALL human beings versus just an elite few.
One of the most severe, widespread human rights violations that still exist today is digital censorship, digital rights, women’s rights, and the right of the disabled. Whether we are reviewing cases of imprisonment, violence, or social inequity in the workplace, multiple studies have shown us that our society still has a long way to go to support, raise awareness and promote digital rights, women’s rights, and human rights.
On December 10th, EthicsInTech.com will host a special event to present the inhumanity faced by digital rights and civil liberty activists from around the world. We will host a panel of speakers, activists, and technology leaders to hear their journeys, perspectives, and wisdom on how to do better to promote equal digital rights with dignity and respect for all.
Host:
Vahid Razavi -A technology Veteran of Silicon Valley. Vahid has founded, advised, and worked in senior management roles in Silicon Valley. He has published two books, The Age of Nepotism and Ethics In Tech and Lack Thereof. As a lifelong activist and humanitarian, he has published hundreds of articles and videos on various social issues, including the tech industry and social injustice. He has previously worked for companies such as Amazon Web Services, Fast Search, Exodus Communications, Qwest Communications and was the founder of the Cloud Computing Company BizCloud and Ethics In Technology.
Speakers:
Norman Solomon is the national director of RootsAction.org and the executive director of the Institute for Public Accuracy. He is the author of a dozen books, including “War Made Easy.” His next book, “War Made Invisible: How America Hides the Human Toll of Its Military Machine,” will be published in Spring 2023 by The New Press.
Peter B. Kaufman is Senior Program Officer at MIT Open Learning. He is the author of The New Enlightenment and the Fight to Free Knowledge and a forthcoming book called The Fifth Estate. He also has served as president and executive producer of Intelligent Television; Associate Director of Columbia University’s Center for Teaching and Learning; a member of the Audiovisual Research Alliance at Netherlands Sound and Vision; co-chair of the JISC Film & Sound Think Tank in the United Kingdom; co-chair of the Copyright Committee of the Association of Moving Image Archivists; a member of the Scholar Advisory Committee of WGBH’s American Archive of Public Broadcasting; a member of the American Council of Learned Societies Commission on Cyberinfrastructure in the Humanities and Social Sciences; and a consultant to the Library of Congress’s National Audiovisual Conservation Center, the largest archive of moving images and recorded sound in the world. He also speaks Russian, and nobody knows why.
Tracy Rosenberg has worked as Media Alliance’s Executive Director since 2007. She has organized and advocated for a free, accountable, and accessible media system, focusing on the protection and sustainability of alternative media outlets, monitored the mainstream media for accuracy and fair representation, and facilitated the training of numerous nonprofit organizations and citizen’s groups in effective communications. She blogs on media policy and is published frequently around the country. Tracy currently sits on the board of the Alliance for Community Media Western Region, serves on the anchor committee of the MediaJusticecoalition, and co-coordinates Oakland Privacy, the Bay Area surveillance coalitionthat works regionally to defend the right to privacy and enhance public transparency and oversight regarding the use of surveillance techniques and equipment. Oakland Privacy won an EFF Pioneer Award on September 12, 2019, and two James Madison Freedom of Information Awards from the Society of Professional Journalists in 2021 and 2022.
Brett Wilkins is a staff writer at Common Dreams and a communications coordinator for San Francisco Bernicrats. He has published articles at Salon.com, Truthout, the Asia Times, teleSur, the Jakarta Post, and Yahoo News, among other outlets. He was also a member of Collective 20, whose members included Michael Albert, Medea Benjamin, Noam Chomsky, Bill Fletcher Jr., and other leftist writers and activists.
Rev. Dr. Dorsey Odell Blake, Faculty Associate, Leadership and Social Transformation, was officially installed as Presiding Minister of The Church for The Fellowship of All Peoples in October 1994. Dr. Blake served as Dean of Faculty and Visiting Professor of Spirituality and Prophetic Justice at Starr King School for the Ministry for six years. He continued to serve on the Core Faculty until his resignation in January 2015. He currently serves as a Faculty Associate, Leadership and Social Transformation at the Pacific School of Religion.
Dr. Karen Melander-Magoon discovered Unitarian Universalism in 2004. In her studies, writings, and songs, she draws on all spiritual traditions—the multi-layered Sufi stories, the Christian, Hindu, and Buddhist traditions, and the complexity of secular and spiritual values that allow us to reach out and connect with each other. Dr. Melander-Magoon holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Music from Indiana University, sang major roles in opera for two decades in Europe, and has composed four one-woman musical portraits of historical figures, including Clara Barton, Georgia O’Keeffe, Lillie Langtry, and the French poet, Colette. She is listed in the European Publishers VIP Who is Who. Karen has a Master in Education and Counseling from Boston University, a Master of Divinity equivalency through the G.T.U., and her Doctor of Ministry from San Francisco Theological Seminary.
Sonya Nahid, from Oklahoma City, OK. Sonya has a Bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry from the University of Oklahoma and has recently left medical school to pursue her passion for flying. Her father was the youngest helicopter instructor pilot for the Shah of Iran. He refused to salute the new revolutionary flag of the Islamic Republic of Iran and was then offered to be court marshaled or leave the country. He left and thus endured extensive hardship, as many immigrants do. She is inspired by her country’s brave people and continues fighting for them even though she is far away.
Our program will address current events in Iran and the international reaction to them. US-led forces are exploiting events in Iran to push for violent regime change. Unilateral and illegal economic sanctions imposed by the US are killing Iranians. These sanctions are responsible for much of the Iranian people’s suffering and anger. They have served as a background for the outburst of different protests and are intentionally aimed at destabilizing the Iranian society through instigating a “velvet revolution.” Iran is targeted by the imperialists because of its key role in an emerging multipolar world through strategic alliances with countries and movements such as Syria, Russia, China, and Venezuela, and Hezbollah.
Our speaker, Bahman Azad, an Iranian-American peace activist, is the president of theUS Peace Council, a representative of the World Peace Council at the UN, and on the Administrative Committee of the United National Antiwar Coalition (UNAC). He has also served as co-chair of Venezuelan Embassy Protectors Defense Committee, coordinator of the Coalition Against US Foreign Military Bases and the Global Campaign Against US/NATO Military Bases, and co-coordinator of the Hands Off Syria Coalition. He has a master’s degree in economics and a Ph.D. in sociology and is the author of the book: Heroic Struggle, Bitter Defeat: Factors Contributing to the Dismantling of the Socialist State in the USSR.
ZOOM LINK
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81133350622?pwd=dUUyUWppbWt6djVTaElISUhocXpSUT09
Meeting ID: 811 3335 0622
Passcode: ICSS2717rs
One tap mobile
+16694449171,,81133350622#,,,,*5892135124# US
+16699006833,,81133350622#,,,,*5892135124# US (San Jose)
Dial by your location
+1 669 444 9171 US
+1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)
“What These Walls Won’t Hold” Screening and Panel discussion
LIMITED SEATS!
Buy you tickets here today
Join us for our annual birthday party for our namesake, Ella Baker! This year, we’ll be celebrating займ 10000 рублей на карту the art and organizing of Adamu Chan and the organizers of the #StopSanQuentinOutbreak campaign. Join in community to learn more about this campaign, its successes, and how it’s pushed the movement forward.
Help us get fire inspection ready!to support the building prepare for their fire inspection! |
|
|
|
|
 |
The final vote on the state’s new draft Climate Scoping Plan is coming up fast on December 15. It’s not too late to send written comments to the California Air Resources Board, and public comments will be needed at the Sacramento hearing as well. Luckily, there’s a wealth of local expertise on the proposed Scoping Plan, and a number of those folks will be with us at this monthly webinar to help prepare us to testify. This will be lively, interactive coaching session. Bring your questions! Please register to receive the Zoom link.
Co-sponsored with 350 Bay Area.