Join Animal Defense League – San Francisco and No New Animal Lab in an evening of support for political prisoners and hear from organizers about the global grassroots campaign to stop Skanska USA from building an underground animal laboratory at University of Washington.

In addition to learning how to get involved locally with No New Animal Lab, we will be taking donations for Nicole and Joseph’s court support.

Nicole and Joseph are local community members currently being indicted under alleged conspiracy to violate the AETA (Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act). For more information about how to support Nicole and Joseph, visit:
SupportNicoleAndJoseph.com.

This is a free event and supplies for writing letters will be provided.

To learn more about the No New Animal Lab campaign, visit NoNewAnimalLab.com

San Francisco, CA – In response to the oil industry effort to lobby Congress to lift the decades-old ban on shipping crude oil abroad, environmental justice, community, faith and environmental groups are uniting to launch a national campaign to uphold the congressional ban.

The campaign will kick off Thursday, August 20, 2015 with protests in San Francisco, Houston and Chicago. The San Francisco event will take place at 11 am at the Federal Building, 7th and Mission Streets. An even larger protest is planned for September 8th at 12 noon at the Federal Building.

In July, the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee – chhaired by Senator Murkowski of Alaska – approved the Energy Policy Modernization Act of 2015 that includes a dangerous measure to lift the decades-old crude oil export ban. H.R. 702 would amend the Energy Policy and Conservation Act to repeal authority to restrict the export of: (1) coal, petroleum products, natural gas, or petrochemical feedstocks; and (2) supplies of materials or equipment necessary to maintain or further exploration, production, refining, or transportation of energy supplies, or for the construction or maintenance of energy facilities within the United States.

Exporting crude oil – and other fossil fuels – to foreign countries will encourage even more fracking and tar sands mining, causing increased health, environmental and climate problems in the US and abroad. Major protests have also taken place in the Bay Area and nationally against the increase in rail transport of toxic and explosive crude oil through communities and sensitive ecosystems.

At the same time Bay Area groups are joining this national effort to keep the ban on crude oil exports in place, they are also working to prevent a controversial plan to import coal from Utah for export out of a proposed terminal in West Oakland.

“We must stop Congress from caving in to Big Oil and the fossil fuel industries that profit off of the health of people, the environment and the planet,” said Bradley Angel, Executive Director of Greenaction for Health and Environmental Justice. “We need clean, renewable energy instead of dirty fossil fuels that need to stay in the ground.”

“Exporting US oil for refining will put more lives in danger and contribute more CO2 emissions to the environment which will increase the negative impacts of climate change due to a serious lack of regulation and oversight in other countries. The best storage for crude is underground,” said Hilton Kelley of the Community In-power Development Association based in Port Arthur, Texas, coordinator of this national effort.

2nd Protest Wednesday, September 8th at Federal Building SF at noon.

.@CatsCommentary announced press conference for #RichardLinyard who died during OPD chase. Noon, Aug 20th, City Hall. pic.twitter.com/Ybs256N7sy

— Dave Id (@DaveId) August 15, 2015

Join us Thursday August 20th from 4-7 pm at the UC Gill Tract Community Farm, for an afternoon of knowledge sharing with Professor Miguel Altieri. Learn about the key agroecological principles for the design and management of productive and resilient urban farms. Stick around after the work shop for healthy food, food wine, and better conversation. Come meet and learn with other urban farmers from the Bay Area!

Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/urbanagroeco?fref=ts
POSTS

“Each year officially since 1979 we have used the month of August to focus on the oppressive treatment of our brothers and sisters disappeared inside the state run gulags and concentration camps America calls prisons. It is during this time that we concentrate our efforts to free our mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, uncles, aunts, and all other captive family and friends who have been held in isolation for decade after decade beyond their original sentence. Many of these individuals are held in the sensory deprivation and mind control units called Security Housing Units (S.H.U. Program), without even the most basic of human rights.” – BAOC

…THE ROOTS OF BLACK AUGUST
Black August originated in the concentration camps (prisons) of California in 1979 and its’ roots come from the history of resistance by Black/New African/African brothers in those prisons. It’s original purpose is to honor and commemorate the lives and deaths of several fallen Freedom Fighters, amongst them were Jonathan Jackson, George Jackson, W.L. Nolan, James McClain, William Christmas and Khatari Gaulden; to bring education and awareness to family members, friends, associates and communites about the conditions for the Black/New Afrikan prisoners held within those concentration camps (in particular in California) and to educate our people about and honor the history and actions of continued resistance of Black/New Afrikan/Afrikan peoples to oppression, colonization and slavery in the U.S. and throughout the Diaspora, with particular emphasis on freedom fighters and historical acts of resistance.”

Excerpts taken from “BLACK AUGUST: THE TRUE HISTORY, CULTURE AND PRACTICE” By Mama Ayanna Mashama

In the spirit of solidarity with those who have and continue to struggle for justice from behind walls of the concentration camps of amerikkka, The Black August Organizing Commitee, MXGM Oakland andQilombo Oakland will be hosting a Black August conference from August 21st-23rd noon-10pm or (later each day) at Qilombo and Afrika Town Community Garden in West Oakland, CA. The conference will have political speakers, cultural solidarity performances and workshops around resisting the Prison Industrial Complex and promoting Women’s health.

Day 1 Will have Keynote speakers and a dialogue about Black August History and Resistance today

Day 2 Will have Cultural Solidarity performances promoting Black August Resistance and promoting Women’s health

Day 3 We will have Political Workshops relevant to Black August Resistance and promoting Women’s Health.

“They have learned that resistance is actually possible. The holds are beginning to slip away.”
George Jackson

We are resisting a development that would cut down 400+ trees including a 600 year old Oak tree, put a fancy ass restaurant along with 60 other buildings on top of the most beautiful park in Oakland. Then they would cage a bunch of beautiful animals on it gentrifying the working class neighborhood. Please join us for a weekend of fun and Direct Action to stop the Oakland Zoo! For more info about the campaign go to: http://www.defendknowlandpark.org

There will be a shuttle available stopping at Coliseum Bart and Foothill Square but If you can offer a ride or need a ride from Coliseum Bart or the 57 Bus, Oakland , Berkeley or SF please sign up here: http://www.groupcarpool.com/t/u687ix

Bands playing on Friday from Noon – 9 PM!
Star Amerasu – https://soundcloud.com/staramerasu
Dawn Riding – http://www.dawnriding.bandcamp.com
Rock and Roll Breakfast – noisey post punk
DeadFriends – Psychedelic sludgy stuff…
Rock and Roll Breakfast – Post punk –
Walle – Hardcore Punk from Tijuana – https://walle.bandcamp.com/
Moxiebeat – https://moxiebeat.bandcamp.com/

Saturday workshops!:

Workshop/discussion proposals:
Direct Action 101
Cat and Mouse
Knowland Park Defence.
Plant Walk
Scouting
Intersectionality and Deep Ecology

Sunday – Monday: Direct Action!

If you would like to propose a band or a workshop you can FB message or email us at defendknowlandpark.org

It is a donation based event so if you want to help our campaign send donations to: http://www.rally.org/defendknowlandpark and/or give us donations in person. This will help cover food, water, bathrooms, the generator, etc.

——————————————

Defend Knowland Park! Direct Action and Call-in against Chain Link Fence and Supply Inc.

http://www.facebook.com/events/953130058065883/

Chain Link Fencing and Supply Inc. (a non-union company) has started to construct a mile-long perimeter fence around the proposed development. We can find no approved building permit for this construction so this fence may be “illegal”. No permit is posted on-site and there has been no response about the fencing from the City building permit staff. Therefore, it is within our “legal” right to take direct action and stop fencing from going up .

Please Join us, Monday – August 17th at Knowland Park to demand their permit to work or if you cannot make it call and email their office repeatedly to jam their lines and respectfully demand information regarding their Work Permit for fencing construction at Knowland Park.

The park was deeded to be protected forever for privatization and not it’s our duty to uphold that deed and Defend Knowland Park

Monday – August 17th – 11 AM – Knowland Park entrance at the end of Edgemont way near Edgemont and Malcolm ave. – Oakland, CA

If you can offer a ride or need a ride from Coliseum Bart or the 57 Bus, Oakland , Berkeley or SF please sign up here: http://www.groupcarpool.com/t/gb9ejt

Chain Link Fence and Supply Inc. – 2040 Research Dr, Livermore, CA 94550 – (925) 606-8167 – INFO [at] FENCESUPPLY.ORG – OPEN M-F 8AM-4PM

http://defendknowlandpark.org/2015/08/15/d…

A festival dedicated to showcasing alternatives to our climate and economic crises. Activities include a bike-powered concert, urban farming demonstrations, preventive health screenings, farmer’s market, and more.

Entrance to the Richmond Greenway at Ohio Avenue and 16th Street.

Free and open to all.

A great time to meet a lot of people, and get them excited about 15 Now and the upcoming Berkeley city council meeting on a higher minimum wage.
So come join if you’re around, and get ready to clipboard like crazy 

This Sunday 1-5pm @ Henry J Kaiser Center, share your vision for the E12th St parcel. #E12thWishList #SaveE12th pic.twitter.com/qLiVON0GTz

— krok (@kiernanrok) August 21, 2015

Protest at the Sierra Club on Tuesday, August 25, at 4pm, at 2530 San Pablo Ave (near Dwight), in Berkeley, California.

If you want to help us stop the deforestation and poisoning of the East Bay Hills, please join the organizing and discussion list of the Coalition to Defend East Bay Forests: https://groups.google.com/forum/#!forum/eastbayhills

Over the past 15 years, tens of thousands of trees have been destroyed on public lands in the San Francisco Bay Area.  Now hundreds of thousands of trees in the East Bay are in jeopardy of being destroyed by a FEMA grant to three public land managers.  The Bay Area Chapter of the Sierra Club has actively supported all of these projects and now it has sued FEMA to demand the destruction of 100% of all “non-native” trees.

These projects have already used hundreds of gallons of herbicide to prevent the trees from resprouting and to kill the weeds that grow when the shade of the canopy is destroyed.  Now, the FEMA project intends to use thousands of gallons of herbicide for the same purpose.  These herbicides (glyphosate, triclopyr, imazapyr) are known to be harmful to wildlife, pets, and humans.

This environmental disaster will release tons of carbon into the atmosphere, thereby contributing to climate change.  It will destroy valuable habitat for wildlife, introduce poisons into our watershed, cause erosion, and eliminate our windbreak.  We call on the national leadership of the Sierra Club to prevent the active participation of the Bay Area Chapter of the Sierra Club in this environmental disaster.

The El Cerrito Democratic Club will host a talk by Sean Donahoe on “Cannabis Policy Reform in California.”

Donahoe is a cannabis policy reform advocate and owner of Operative Campaigns LLC.

Donahoe is an Oakland resident who co-founded the California Cannabis Industry Association in early 2013 after years of political consulting. He “is regularly in the Capitol or traveling around the state, speaking with activists and electeds while organizing this industry with an activist mindset. In addition to his work with CCIA, he helped write the United Food and Commercial Workers national organizing plan for the cannabis industry, served on the executive board of the Coalition for Cannabis Policy Reform, created several political action committees, and advised several local ballot measure committees last year. He currently serves on the City of Oakland’s Cannabis Regulatory Commission and has a monthly political article in Culture magazine.”

The meeting is open to the public.
The meeting starts with a 6 p.m. social time, followed by club announcements before the talk by Donahoe at 6:30 p.m.

Join the TGI Justice Project (TGIJP) and Black Lives Matter Bay Area at 6 pm tomorrow (Tuesday, 8/25) at Civic Center Plaza in San Francisco as we come together in response to the #BlackTransLiberationTuesday call to action. We are making a call to collectively mourn and speak out against the extreme violence that our Black trans* and gender non conforming women, girls and femmes face on a daily basis.

17 trans women of color have been killed in 2015. The average life expectancy of a Black trans woman is 35 years. We are in a state of emergency and the time to speak our grief, rage and love to power is now!

#BlackTransLivesMatter

Please also take a few minutes to read this article on just some of the ways we can all help show up for trans* women of color and their survival.

http://www.autostraddle.com/24-actions-you-need-to-take-to-help-trans-women-of-color-survive-300526/

No War With Iran” National Day of Action in Oakland

Where: Rep. Barbara Lee’s office (in Oakland)

What: Help keep America out of another war by joining MoveOn members and other anti-war activists at one of more than 175 events across the country, sending a unified message: No War With Iran. Join us outside the office of Representative Barbara Lee to deliver pro-diplomacy petitions and help make sure Congress supports the diplomatic deal that will prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons?

Please Come & Invite Your Friends to Special BOARD MEETING.

Background article on Berkeleyside.
YOUR presence this coming WEDS Aug 26 at 5:30 pm is
ESSENTIAL. Please plan to come and CONTACT your friends, family, neighbors to come, too!
The Board will hear public comment before discussing the performance of the library director (in closed session).

Our freedom of, and access to, information, cultural heritage and history continue to be at stake as members of the Board of Library Trustees
continue to support the director’s actions. Hard to believe, but true. They see our facts as “wild claims” and “misinformation.” They see 2
managers with a budget to buy books from one jobber (along with 4 librarians with a small “allowance”) as just as good as 34 people being
able to thoughtfully buy books from independent publishers. The Vice-Chair feels all those books needed to be tossed!

The Board continues to support its director–despite clear evidence of waste, fraud, and abuse. Change WILL come only if LARGE numbers of us show up to the meeting and speak our minds. See you on Weds at 5:30pm on the steps of Central Library (Kittredge and Shattuck).
MANY, Many THANKS!!!

Women Organized to Resist and Defend (WORD) invites you to speak out against the attacks on women’s healthcare & reproductive rights. Planned Parenthood is again facing attacks that would strip it of federal funding. This not only takes away a woman’s right to choose & have control over her own body, but is a direct assault on women’s health. These bigoted attacks are potentially dangerous to women’s health, & women’s rights as a whole. Planned Parenthood is an important resource for women’s health, not only for its reproductive services, but also for many other health issues & preventative care for women and their partners. The majority of Planned Parenthood’s services goes to providing affordable health care for poor women & their families. Their cancer screening & prevention services are crucial to poor families. We say enough! We demand affordable healthcare & the right to choose for ourselves!

defendwomensrights.org