WHAT: Deep democracy training with Dr. Riki Ott entitled ‘’Rethinking Democracy and Organizing for Change’’

 

WHEN: A two-day strategic training retreat on Thursday, Nov. 8, 2012, from noon to 6:00 PM and Friday, Nov. 9, 2012, from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM

 

WHERE: First Unitarian Universalist Church, 5212 South Claiborne Avenue, Sanctuary

 

DEEP DEMOCRACY TRAINING: Participants learn how corporations captured our democracy; share and practice skills for campaign building and rights-based community organizing, and design campaigns for their community and state to reclaim (or create) local self-governance – rule by the people. As part of the local rights-based campaigns, Riki will introduce template municipal ordinances and resolutions for banning toxic chemicals, currently used in oil disaster response.

 

WHY ATTEND: The presidential election is behind us, and it wasn’t very satisfying. Two corporate candidates split the vote, and neither discussed the crucial issues we face: environmental degradation, climate change, infrastructure decline, over-militarization, exorbitant imprisonment, corporate control of politics, and so many more. In some counts, the popular vote went to one candidate and the electoral vote to the other.

 

The Gulf  States People’s Convention took place October 27 and organized itself around the principle of people’s needs, not around political parties (http://www.occupythestage.net/1/category/gulf%20coast%20peoples%20convention736c147e23/1.html

 ). Dr. Ott’s ‘’Rethinking Democracy and Organizing for Change’’ is her surprise offering to South Louisiana on this same subject, particularly as it applies to the Deepwater Horizon disaster. At the end of Dr. Ott’s training, she will present a new film about the disaster, ‘’Dirty Energy’’, hopefully with its director, who is stopping in New Orleans on his way to Amsterdam Film Festival (http://www.dirtyenergymovie.com/about.html ).  

Dr. Ott’s presence and the screening of the film were offered only this past week, so its late announcement may preclude your participation, but if you are able to attend you are welcome. Light snacks and coffee will be served.

We know the BP disaster isn’t over. BP has left a legacy of lies, leaking oil, injured workers, sick families, mounting debts, and collapsed fisheries. We would like to share information and skills so together, we can make it right. For real. Ourselves.

You are invited – on very short notice! – to a deep democracy training and strategic retreat. As part of the training, Riki Ott will share templates for municipal ordinances and resolutions to ban toxic chemicals, including Corexit, as part of a national action.

Thursday, Nov. 8, 2012, from noon to 6:00 PM
Friday, Nov. 9, 2012, from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM

Dirty Energy movie screening
Friday, Nov. 9, 2012, from 7:00 to 9:30 PM

Overnight accommodations are available at the church for out-of-town guests. $40 per night, including kitchen facilities for cooking meals. Contact Deanna Vandiver, director@celsjr.org
Cell: 504.333.2718

Office: 504.866.4170

For more information please contact Lisa Marie Jacobs at amend@rikiott.com

This is what democracy looks like in 2012.
THE FIRST PEOPLE’S CONVENTION in NEW ORLEANS


Join us at 1pm to 5pm-Saturday. October 27, 2012.

First Unitarian Universalist Church: 5212 South Claiborne Avenue, New Orleans
RSVP at this Facebook Event

The First People’s Convention in New Orleans is where the 99%, not the 1%, sets the political agenda.  We the people, as opposed to we the rich, have needs and interests that are in fundamental conflict with the 1%.

We, the people of several activist groups, wish to create a strong coalition. We seek to unite all like-minded peoples and organizations, so that all of our voices are amplified through a greater body. For all of those who understand that our grievances are connected, let us stop the plundering of our future.


Note: In this document, the network of activists that will emerge from the First People's Convention in New Orleans is being referred to as a "coalition." However, the organizers welcome proposals for different names, and hope attendees will suggest names, which will be put to a vote at the end of the convention.

Schedule

1pm - 1:30 pm: Meet and Greet Mixer and Potluck

This time allows people to get comfortable with the surroundings, allows people to get more familiar with each other, have time to eat, and gives organizers a chance to give participants a sense of direction. It also gives people a chance to show up NOLA TIME.

Preparation of Info Tables

Groups invited to the convention will be notified about availability of info tables if they would like to display leaflets or educational materials about the group they represent (this is not required). Tables will be pointed out when first groups arrive. The rest should follow suit.

1:30 - 1:50 ORIENTATION with 2 Speakers

Speaker 1 (Mike Howells) explains the theme of the convention, that all our grievances are connected and the Budget Act of 2011 and Fiscal Cliff. Reassures everyone that preserving group autonomy is as critical as working together. Explains the convention itself and democratic process. Emphasizes we are not here to support a candidate and that we are non-partisan.

1:50 to 2:00 – Speaker 2 (Tara Jill) explains the participatory workshops and process of the convention. The Convention and workshops will reach agreements based on a 2/3 Democratic rule. 

The workshops will be an opportunity to develop a demand or series of demands and a proposal for an action. At the convention, people will form break-out groups/workshops based on specific issue(s) (i.e. housing, student debt, etc) they'd like to focus on including:



·      Environmental Concerns

·      Workers Rights

·      Prison Industrial Complex

·      Healthcare

·      Military Industrial Complex

·      Education - student rights - student debt.

·      Civil Rights

·      Crooked two party system/Politics

·      Agriculture/Monsanto

·      Gentrification

·      Social Aid/Housing

·      SFUABS (shit’s fucked up and bull shit) Solidarity

Workshop participants will also spend time deciding on future meeting times, objectives, and choosing which month would be the best for group protest related to the issue they've chosen. If a group has a month or date for their action, they should include it in the group "report back". These groups will be set up to secure the longevity of this coalition/network of activist groups that will emerge.

Some groups may need to consolidate for the purpose of monthly protests. Ideally, each month will have a theme related to an issue on the list above (note: this list is not intended to be all inclusive or "set in stone;" groups and individuals are encouraged to add their specific grievances.

Proposals:

Proposals prepared in advance regarding the organization, name, structure of the network of activists groups will be presented at this time. These proposals will be considered/entertained in workshop groups and voted on later to give everyone enough time to consider them carefully.

When workshop groups meet, they will also have the opportunity to create proposals as to how the coalition should continue to organize,  which will be voted on at the end of the convention. Paper and pens will be provided so these proposals can be submitted in writing.

The organizers ask that each working group clearly write out any proposal to submit for archiving (so groups may need to write two copies).

When voting on proposals takes place, decisions will be reached by a 2/3 vote.

2:00 - 2:30 INTRODUCTIONS, GROUP RECOGNITION and Speakers

This time will be used to allow groups and individuals to introduce themselves and speak on their issues.

Slots for 5 minute speakers from individuals/groups attending. We ask that folks speak, if they like, on the issues that they are concerned with.

1. Speaker from Socialist Alternative will discuss Coal Miners' Strike.

2:30 - 2:45 Break/WORKSHOPS SIGN UP and CREATION

Convention attendees will create participatory workshops based on the issue they'd like to address. We have materials to make a sign for each workshop created. This is also time for a break while people organize into work groups.

Organizers of convention will keep track of a master list of workshops/groups and issues. We ask each group to select a representative that can report back to the larger group with the demands and proposals from their particular working group.

 

2:45 – 3:30 WORKSHOPS

Issues
Workshops will begin. If a group has a month or date for the action they are planning, the group can report it. Groups will spend time deciding on future meeting times, objectives, and choosing which month would be the best for group protest. For instance, a group working on Student Debt might choose to have its monthly protest in September. Many groups may have much of this in place already in which case they can check out other workshops or just mingle.



Proposals

Workshop groups can use this time to review proposals regarding how we will move forward as a coalition or alliance and continue to organize and grow. During workshops it is also a time to consider when we will hold our next convention.   Workshops might also discuss possible names for the coalition that will emerge from this network of activists. Workshop groups are encouraged to draft their own proposals regarding when and where future conventions will take place; groups are welcome to consider hosting future conventions/ planning meetings.

Consolidation of Contact Info

Groups should collect contact info within workshops and make sure everyone has all contact info within workshops. Since each group will have a "Representative", these "Reps" can compile contact lists to help create a master contact list. Each group will give one copy to the convention organizers and keep one for themselves.

3:30 - 4:00 "Report Backs" from Workshops

Working groups will share their plans including:

·      Future meeting times for the group

·      Objectives (actions/demands)

·      Potential date for action/protest

·      Proposals (for the group and for the convention)

4:00 - 4:20 Calendar

Date of our first action, and plan for organizing for that action. Synching of calendar and month allotment for protest themes and planning

4:20- 4:40 Voting and Proposals

Proposals presented earlier will be voted upon. Any working groups that created proposals will present them for a vote.

4:40 - 5:00 Closing speeches and announcement of future conventions based on proposals. We can ask for closing comments from attendees.

A Call to Action: Give Governors Jindal and Walker a 99 Percent Unwelcome to New Orleans Friday, August 17 4pm Protest against Jindal, Walker, & Austerity: 4pm Friday, August 17th.

Meet on neutral ground at Tchoupitoulas & Andrew Higgins (2 blocks from Morial Convention Center in the CBD).



WE DEMAND

• Louisiana opt in to federal Medicaid expansion.
• Keep Southeast Hospital open.
• Jindal and company restore recent funding cuts to higher education including UNO, SUNO, and Delgado budgets.
• Jindal and company restore recent funding cuts to public education and public healthcare.
• Jindal and company repeal the Louisiana Right to Work Law.
• Walker keep hands off workers’ rights to organize

Bring signs, chants, megaphones, chalk, friends, Family, and most importantly yourself.

Wherever the 1% is plotting the plunder of Louisiana’s 99%, you can bet Governor Bobby Jindal is nearby!  So it should come as no surprise that Jindal will be pimping himself out to the super-rich at Friday’s $25,000 a plate fundraiser for the Louisiana GOP at Calcasieu Ball Room  in the Warehouse District of New Orleans. Governor Jindal is the chief architect of the 1 percent’s historically unprecedented plunder of public hospitals, public healthcare, and public education in Louisiana. This plunder, unfortunately, is still underway.  Governor Scott Walker of Wisconsin is a natural match for sharing the stage with Jindal.  He is the nation’s best known gubernatorial union buster. Join us to voice your demands.



Flier for protest is below!

Get your sidewalk chalk ready!

The Occupy NOLA Direct Action Working Group met August 2 and has declared August 9 a Day of Chalkupy in response to Occupy Los Angeles’ #A9 Call for Global Day of Action – Chalkupy the World

We will meet at 11:am at Duncan Plaza and chalk the city! Meet us there, meet up with us, or Chalkupy your neighborhood and send us pictures! We'll have a route  and details soon!

"On August 9th, Occupy Los Angeles calls for you to fill your squares and take your streets and sidewalks with chalk. Call to all people everywhere to show that dissent is as simple as writing your grievances on the sidewalk, as accessible as hopscotch in the streets- reclaiming public space and engaging in public dialogue and expression. Join us (if you're close enough) for a day of solidarity and fun to celebrate the human spirit and chalk for our collective liberation. Together we will remake the art of public life in our alley ways, on the doorsteps of banks whose only allegiance is to profit, and in the streets built by our labor.  In solidarity, regardless of all nations and borders, we will engage in willful public expression against political repression."

They ask that you SUBMIT CHALK PHOTOS HERE: http://chalkitout.tumblr.com/

You can also share your photographs on the Chalkupy Facebook page!

The Fresh Juice Party has a wonderful Chalkupy gallery for inspiration!

This is a creative way to show solidarity while exercising your first amendment rights.


#ChalkTheWorld #ChalkAllTheThings #OpChalk #ChalkIsNotACrime #Chalkupy