Weekly E-mail Update 6-26-17
Happy Summer! As we welcome the warm weather into our area, we at WeCAN would like to gently remind you to be an active part of your community by checking on your neighbors and fellow townspeople when the temperatures rise. Some residents in need don't have anyone that is able to check on them regularly to ensure they aren't dehydrated or overheated and you may be the closest lifeline they have. News stories like this may very well be preventable when we take the practices we learn at activist meetings into our homes and neighborhoods.
Remember: a stranger is only a friend you haven't met yet. Be bold and (safely) introduce yourself! Who knows...they may even want to accompany you to an upcoming event listed below!
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HAPPENING TODAY SUNDAY, JUNE 25th, 2017
Resistance Summer Community Potluck
Sunday, June 25th, 2017 at the Putney Public Library (55 Main St, Putney, VT 05346) at 11:30am.
RSVP through the event link and comment with your dish or call Laura Chapman at 802-380-4379.
Join with MoveOn, The Putney Huddle, friends, and neighbors at Putney Public Library for a Resistance Summer Community Potluck. We'll enjoy good food, spend time with friends old and new, and celebrate all we've accomplished so far in resisting the radical agenda of the Trump administration. Followed by the regular Putney Huddle Meeting with guest speaker Jaime Contois leading us in a Social Justice conversation and Isaac Grimm, lead organizer for Rights and Democracy will talk with us about their work and how we can combine efforts. All are welcome! Come for part are for all of it!
Many hands make light work! Pitch in by bringing a dish and/or drinks, helping to greet attendees, taking pictures, or tidying up after the potluck. If you can bring your own table ware to reduce waste.
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Women Marching Forward
Sunday, June 25th, 2017 at the Vermont Learning Collaborative (471 Putney Road, Dummerston, VT). 4pm-6pm. Please call 802-451-1941 or 802-579-5975 for more information. All are welcome.
One of the activities is watching the movie, "Pray the Devil Back to Hell", just over an hour. Here are a few words from Patti Whalen about the first time she saw the movie and why we chose it for Women Marching Forward.
"I saw this movie a few years ago at the Sarajevo Film Festival in Sarajevo. Watching it with an audience that understood the difficult divide of communicating across differences, that understood the devastating impact of feeling you do not have the power to create change and an audience that experienced similar suffering was powerful and humbling. We rose as one at the end of the movie to give respect to the women who fearlessly brought down Charles Taylor. There are lessons for us to learn here ....perhaps the most important is to value our resistance. Come see for your self and savor the inspiration. We need to hang on to this in the coming months and years."
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HAPPENING THIS WEEK MONDAY, JUNE 26TH, 2017 - SUNDAY, JUNE 2ND, 2017
Solidarity with Nurses at Baystate Franklin Medical in Greenfield, MA Monday, June 26th, 2017 at Baystate Franklin Medical Center (164 High St, Greenfield, MA 01301) from 6am onwards. For a carpool leaving around 12:30 on Monday, contact Ellen Schwartz: [email protected].
These nurses have been bargaining for months about issues like workload, safe staffing, and health insurance. As RN Donna Stern puts it, "“This one-day strike is about protecting our patients and allowing nurses to live healthy, quality lives. We have worked hard for months to reach an agreement with local management that properly values and respects nurses, patients and our community. Unfortunately, it is clear that decision-makers in Springfield are unwilling to bargain in good faith on issues like nurse workload and health insurance.”
They are holding a one-day strike on Monday, and in anticipation of the strike, Baystate is locking the nurses out starting at 7 p.m. Sunday.
Schedule below, but people can show up at any time during the 24-hour strike to support the nurses.
RN Public Schedule for Sunday - Tuesday
7 p.m. Sunday, June 25: Nurses will be removed from the hospital or stopped from going in to care for their patients by Baystate because of its announced lock out. PRESS AVAILABILITY
6 a.m. Monday, June 26: One-day strike begins. Nurses and supporters will gather outside the main entrance of the hospital. Picketing will continue through the duration of the 24-hour strike.
12 p.m. and 5 p.m. Monday, June 26: Rallies outside the hospital with nurses, staff, community supporters and local leaders.
6 a.m. Tuesday, June 27: One-day RN strike ends. Nurses will gather outside the hospital and those scheduled to work plan to enter BFMC to care for their patients.
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Mother Up! Monthly Meet-Up
Monday June 26th, 2017 at KidsPLAYce (20 Elliot Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301).
5:30pm-7:30pm. RSVP helpful, but not required. Contact Abby Mnookin for more info at [email protected].
Mother Up!: Parents Exchange for Change is a project of 350Vermont that brings together families to talk about the tough realities of climate change and to participate in the transition to a healthier and safer world. Inspired by the "Food Not Lawns" movement, this month we'll be talking more about turning yards into gardens, and Marilyn Chiarello from Edible Brattleboro will share more about local efforts to create edible landscapes in our community. A simple vegetarian meal and childcare for ages 8 and under will be provided.
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Climate Change Café: A Community of Concerned Citizens
“Council on the Uncertain Human Future”
a project of Post Oil Solutions
Tuesday, June 27th, 2017 at the Brooks Memorial Library (224 Main St, Brattleboro, VT 05301). 6:00pm.
FREE. Light Refreshments Available
For further Information please call 802.869.2141 or email [email protected].
Now more than ever, there is an immense need to stop and listen to one another, to recognize our shared humanity, and to seek cooperative solutions to our collective challenges, especially climate change.
Council is an ancient practice that brings people together into a talking circle for candid and heartfelt conversation. Each person has a voice, speaks from the heart, and all the others listen. Council draws on the life experience and wisdom of all participants to generate new understandings of the problem and new possibilities for solutions. It fosters attentive listening and authentic expression, supporting a deep sense of community and recognition of our interconnectedness as it does so.
By using the Council to consider the full scope of the climate crisis, participants slow down and listen well, to both themselves and others. . Sitting in a circle with heart communication creates connection and acceptance; a more collective consciousness gradually develops. Fears, anger, guilt, despair and other feelings may be experienced, perhaps transformed; new levels of awareness, possibility, and agency may emerge.
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Turn the Vote - Phone Bank
Tuesday, June 27th, 2017 at Oak Meadow (132 Main St, Brattleboro, VT 05301) in the Conference Room. 5:30pm-8:30pm. Drop by anytime.
Planned Parenthood Defenders of Southern VT is responding to the GOP's health care bill, which cuts all Medicaid recipients off from using Planned Parenthood. This bill is also gives states the option to eliminate important health care coverage for woman. Please join us in defending Reproductive Health Care For All.
There is a good chance we can turn the Senate vote for Maine. We will call Planned Parenthood Supporters in Maine, telling them to contact their Republican Senator, Susan Collins immediately with their support for PP.
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Brattleboro Democracy Forum
Wednesday, June 28th, 2017 (and every Wednesday in July and August) at the Robert H. Gibson River Garden (157 Main Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301) from 12pm-1pm.
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Pink Out the Night Sunset Rally
Wednesday, June 28th, 2017 at the Brattleboro Planned Parenthood Health Clinic (402 Canal Street, Brattleboro, VT 05301). 8pm.
Planned Parenthood Defenders of Southern VT is responding to the GOP's health care bill, which cuts all Medicaid recipients off from using Planned Parenthood. This bill is also gives states the option to eliminate important health care coverage for woman. Please join us in defending Reproductive Health Care For All.
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Protest Vigils at TD Bank
sponsored by Post Oil Solutions
Brattleboro
Friday, June 30, 2017 (and every Friday) in front of TD Bank Brattleboro (215 Main St, Brattleboro, VT 05301). Noon-1pm. Signs will be provided.
Bellows Falls
Friday, June 30 (and every Friday) in front of the TD Bank Bellows Falls (2 Church St, Bellows Falls, VT 05101). 1pm-2pm. Please bring your own signs.
TD is a major investor in Tar Sands. TD helps to fund the Dakota Access Pipeline. The State of Vermont Keeps Most of Our Cash in TD.
What You Can You Do (besides attending the vigils):
If you’re a TD depositor, change banks!
If you’re a Vermonter, demand that state funds not be deposited with a bank investing in fossil fuels.
Contact your state legislators to support the bills in the House & Senate calling for a commission to explore the possibility of a State Bank.
Founded in 2005, Post Oil Solutions is a 501c3 community organizing project in Southeastern Vermont whose mission is to help empower the people of the Central Connecticut River Valley bioregion to develop sustainable, resilient , collaborative, and socially just communities leading to a self- and community-sufficient post petroleum society. For more information please contact [email protected] or 802.869.2141
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Local Love Brigade Gathering
Thursday, July 6th, 2017, 2pm - 4pm at the Brooks Memorial Library
Wednesday, July 19th, 2017 at 10am at Bradley House
Sunday, August 13th, 11:30am - 1:30pm at the Brattleboro Museum and Art Center
In the meantime, we'll keep sending out postcards to folks that need it. Here are the addresses from past week's incidents. Let's keep the love flowing.(If you missed the great article in the Commons about the impact the Love Brigade is having, you can check it out here.)
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Brattleboro Area Rights and Democracy
Thursday, July 6th, 2017 at the Brattleboro Food Coop (2 Main Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301) in the Community Room from 6:30pm-8pm. Please use the entrance at 7 Canal Street)
We will plan our Democracy Summer Town Hall coming up in late July. We'll also be talking about doing some canvassing on our Political Revolution agenda for Vermont, also in late July. Come join us. Refreshments provided.
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The Southern Vermont Dance Festival
Thursday, July 13th, 2017 - Sunday, June 16th, 2017.
Locations and times vary.
This year’s theme is Diversity and throughout all of the classes, the community events, and the gala performances you will see themes of our times. Resistance, free speech, diversity, equality and beyond will all be represented. SVDF is arranging a special Resistance/Social Justice Promenade on Saturday July 15th from 10am to 1pm. Come to the River Garden and get your map to the acts. Then at 1pm, come on down to the Latchis for a short performance on the Story of Harriet Tubman called "Sister Moses". For more information on the community events, to take classes, and to get your tickets to the galas please go to www.southernvermontdancefestival.com
Come to the One and Only Brattleboro as the streets come alive with Movement!
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Vermont Health Connect Testimony Needed
sponsored by the Vermont Workers’ Center
Thursday, July 20th, 2017 at City Center (89 Main Street, Montpelier, VT). 9am.
Time TBD. Carpools from Windham County will be available. For more information contact [email protected] or 257-4436.
Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) of Vermont has requested a 12.7% average premium hike for next year’s Vermont Health Connect plans. While many of us are focused on the draconian healthcare legislation proposed by the Republicans in Washington, these hikes are imminent and will affect over 70,000 people in Vermont.
The Vermont Workers’ Center’s Healthcare Is A Human Right campaign is organizing resistance to these rate hikes. This is the time to make your voice heard. If you are on one of these plans, you can tell the GMCB how the premium increases will affect you and your family. Any Vermont resident can submit testimony, so even if you are not on a VHC plan you can tell the GMCB to say no to the rate hikes. You can also voice your support for universal healthcare as the solution that would transform our healthcare system by putting people before profit.
Visit www.workerscenter.org/healthcare/share-your-story to submit a testimony online. You can also sign up there to go to the public hearing in person.
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SAVE THE DATE
Racial Justice Fundraiser
Saturday, July 29th, 2017 at Super Fresh Organic Cafe (30 Main Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301). 6:30pm-8:30pm.
Live Music
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ONGOING SUMMER EVENTS
Vigil at TD Bank in Montpelier
sponsored by the Upper Valley Affinity Group
The Second Thursday of Each Month Through the Summer and Fall. At the Corner of State and Main Streets in Montpelier, VT.
11:30am-1pm.
Ride share from Exit 5 off I91N. Departs at 10am. Contact Tim at 802.869.2141 or [email protected],net.]
Come and stay as long as you can to peacefully protest TDBank’s huge investments in climate and water destroying pipeline infrastructure.Urge the State of Vermont and other depositors to close their TDBank accounts.Support moving swiftly to 100% renewable energy and a state bank for Vermont.\
We will be bearing witness and distributing fact sheets about TD's extensive financial support for pipelines.
Bring a sign, bring your friends, bring your neighbors, bring your lunch or just come and join us by yourself.
For more information contact Duncan Nichols at 802.281.2692 or [email protected].
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STANDING REGULAR MEETINGS
350Brattleboro Regular Meetings
1st and 3rd Wednesdays (Leadership Team) in the Brattleboro Food Co-op Community Room (1 Canal Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301). 6pm-8pm.
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SKILLED VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY
Childcare as a Radical Act: Sign up to Provide Childcare!
The Family Solidarity Action Network is moving forward with their next big effort to support families in local activism: a collective of folks to provide childcare for local activist meetings or events. If you or someone you know would be able and willing to offer childcare (as a volunteer, or paid) for meetings and events please fill out this spreadsheet:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1YGVI8wECe4ZDdghtAG147j7ktwgB_J5ZoWUPkwGrOhM/edit#gid=0
We are looking for people young and old with varying degrees of experience. Having a large pool of people to call on will make it much easier for organizers to arrange childcare for meetings, allowing for more voices of families with young children to participate in local activism! We will then be making this list available to other local organizations so we can be sure that childcare doesn't have to be a barrier to participation for anyone.
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VOLUNTEER AND COMMUNITY SUPPORT OPPORTUNITIES
Sister District
SisterDisrict is an organization that connects you with your local home district team to work on Sister Races in Virginia, Washington State, and Georgia. The goal? To turn Red states Blue. Support these critical races by donating to them and sharing about them on social media. Or, get in on the fun by joining your local district team for even more action items!
Here is an update from the Vermont district team:
SisterDistrict Soup
We have made a few changes to our SisterDistrict Soup project and will be offering a monthly soup subscription to benefit either SisterDistrict directly or our current candidate (subscriber's choice).
Please help us by sharing this link with friends and family who may be interested in subscribing or volunteering to help make or sell soup: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfU1Vv1oJRgTBATJ8TTp8vHUaGFIz0coVCVe28gYVOrK9K-BQ/viewform?c=0&w=1 (NOTE: for more information please email [email protected])
In addition to raising money to help get our nation onto a better trajectory, we are also committed to providing you the most delicious and locally-sourced soup that we can. Vegetarian, gluten- and dairy-free options will be available. There is no reason that you can't eat well and resist at the same time!
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ONGOING EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING
Indigo Radio
Sundays at 12pm on Brattleboro Community Radio 107.7FM
To stream live: Visit www.wvew.org
Indigo Radio, deepening understanding and making connections!
IndigoRadio is a group of area educators seeking to learn through engaging with others in our community and throughout the world. We will be talking about educational and social issues both globally and locally and connecting them to our lives and Brattleboro community.
Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/indigoradiowvew/
For archive recordings of past shows: https://soundcloud.com/user-654648353
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UPCOMING STUDY GROUP
Naomi Klein Study/Action Group
2nd Study/Action Group is Being Organized
Because the 1st group is filled, and additional people have expressed interest, Post Oil Solutions is considering a 2nd study/action group on Naomi Klein’s latest book No Is Not Enough: Resisting Trump's Shock Politics and Winning the World We Need, that was just published on June 13.
We will need a few more people to be able to do this. I’m looking for no more than 12 participants.The study/action group will begin in September so as to avoid the inevitable interruptions of the summer months.
NOTE: This is not a book club; rather this group is intended for people who are already engaged in or wish to seriously address the climate, political, economic, and social issues of our time, and will use the latest book by respected activist and author, Naomi Klein, to both inspire and advance their activism. If you are interested, contact Tim: [email protected]
A website for No Is Not Enough says the book “reveals, among other things, how Trump's election was not a peaceful transition, but a corporate takeover, one using deliberate shock tactics to generate wave after wave of crises and force through radical policies that will destroy people, the environment, the economy, and national security. This book is the toolkit for shock resistance, showing all of us how we can break Trump's spell and win the world we need.”
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So many thanks for all you do each and every week; you are appreciated. We wish you a happy, healthy, and Resistant Summer!