Windham County Action Network (WeCAN)

Happy Sunday WeCANners! Consider this your weekly reminder and invitation to Resist, Persist, and Insist. 

• Resist those ideologies that go against equality, equal opportunity, inclusion, and fairness.
• Persist in conversations with legislators, in solving problems, and in your daily and weekly actions for change, and
• Insist on justice, accountability, and a voice for all. 

Now, let's get to work. 


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HAPPENING TODAY, SUNDAY, AUGUST 6TH, 2017

Share the Harvest Stand 
sponsored by Edible Brattleboro
Sunday, August 6th, 2017 at the Elliott Street Park (on Elliot Street in Brattleboro, VT, 05301) from 11am-1pm.
Edible Brattleboro is launching its weekly “Share the Harvest” Stand! In addition to produce from our gardens, we are accepting donations of fresh produce from local gardeners and farmers. The stand will be set up at the Elliott Street Park from 11am-2pm. Everything is available to the community at no cost. Please drop off your surplus to our stand as close to 11am as possible.
We need volunteers to keep this going through the season. Please visit http://signup.com/go/GmYCbae to sign up for a spot. It's real easy, and your contact information is never shared. Brattleboro Time Traders can earn hours, too!
In order to keep this going through the season, we need volunteers to help out with gleaning from the Farmers’ Market on Saturdays from 1:30-2:30pm, and operating the stand on Sundays from 10:40am-1:15pm. You may sign up for a time slot at http://signup.com/go/GmYCbae.




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HAPPENING THIS WEEK MONDAY, AUGUST 7TH, 2017-SUNDAY, AUGUST 13TH, 2017

Protest Vigil at TD Bank
sponsored by Post Oil Solutions
Brattleboro
Friday, August 11, 2017 (and every Friday) in front of TD Bank Brattleboro (215 Main St, Brattleboro, VT 05301). Noon-1pm. 
Signs will be provided.
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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The Bi-Weekly Solidarity Vigil
sponsored by Post Oil Solutions
Friday, August 11th, 2017 at the Windham Hotel corner, across from Flat Iron Café in Bellows Falls. 1pm-2pm. 
A vigil of community, solidarity and diversity. We are one cause of peace, freedom & social justice for all living beings. Bring signs expressing your passion and concerns.

Sauti (Voice): A Documentary Film
presented by Carry Me Home 
Friday, August 11th, 2017 at the Hooker-Dunham Theater (139 Main St #407, Brattleboro, VT 05301). 6pm.
The award winning documentary film, Sauti (voice) will be screened at the Hooker-Dunham theater in Brattleboro. The film follows the story of five young women living in the Kiyangwali refugee settlement in Uganda. It highlights the struggles that face women refugees in particular. Carry me Home is organizing this event as a benefit for COBURWAS International Youth Organization to Transform Africa (CIYOTA). CIYOTA was founded over 10 years ago by displaced youth living within the Kiyangwali settlement, and their mission has been to provide opportunities for youth to pursue education and leadership training. Following the screening there will be a discussion led by one of the women from the film, and CIYOTA member, Favourite Regina, who will be visiting from Uganda, as well as Brattleboro community member and CIYOTA co-founder, Bahati Kanyamanza. 
This promises to be a unique opportunity to hear from two remarkable individuals who have experienced the struggles of refugee life and are working on the ground to make a change. 
Admission is $15 and all proceeds go to CIYOTA and the young women at Kiyangwali. 




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Stop The Fracked Gas Pipeline Planned For The Upper Valley
a rally in the park sponsored by:Action Together Upper Valley, Upper Valley 350, Upper Valley Young Liberals, Upper Valley Democrats, Upper Valley Affinity Group, Sierra Club/Upper Valley Group and The Upper Valley Transformational Action Affinity Group
Saturday, August 12th, 2017, on the Green in Lebanon, NH. 
12pm-2:30pm. 
For more information go to:  www.nopipelinehere.org.
Music by: * Wool * The Cat and Laura Duo * and * The David Clark Band *
Speakers will include:  Rachel Smolker, Gregory Wilson and NH Representative Lee Oxenham.
THE BACKGROUND: Late last year Liberty Utilities, a Lebanon, NH company owned by Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp, applied to the New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to expand its gas franchise into Lebanon and Hanover, NH by building a pipeline.  Liberty's application followed its earlier failed attempt to pipe gas to the two communities. There’s no gas pipeline near the Upper Valley, so the plan involves trucking fracked liquefied natural gas and compressed natural gas to a site near a landfill on route 12A in West Lebanon. Gas would be stored there in large above ground tanks before being run into the proposed pipeline for distribution in Lebanon and Hanover. Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp, partnering with pipeline giant Kinder Morgan, is interested in developing high volume pipelines carrying gas from the fracking fields of Pennsylvania to terminals on the coast, where it would be liquefied for export  overseas by tanker. The recent problem for Algonquin and Kinder Morgan, is that so far they have not been unable to demonstrate enough demand for the gas to win project approval from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Algonquin and Kinder Morgan failed to sign contracts for enough of the gas they planned to move through their huge  Northeast Energy Direct pipeline and that project was suspended last year. But make no mistake, as Liberty’s effort to gain a foothold in the Upper Valley indicates all too clearly, Kinder Morgan and Algonquin have not given up. There’s no doubt that Liberty's parent company is seeking to build demand -- or at least the appearance of demand – within New England to justify their huge gas export project. For more on the Liberty/Algonquin/Kinder Morgan grand scheme see:   “Liberty Utilities and the Bigger Picture”. In written testimony to the PUC two New Hampshire government bodies have described Liberty’s plan as “deficient” and even “unviable”. The Town of Hanover has been granted full party status as an “intervenor” in the PUC review process. West Lebanon resident Jon Chaffee, who opposes the project, has been granted "citizen intervenor" status. Liberty must submit written testimony to rebut the written testimony of the state agencies and John Chafee by August 24. The PUC will convene in Concord, NH on September 7. The gas company will then give oral testimony and be cross examined by the other parties to the case. Representatives of the state agencies, the Hanover Town Manager and Jon Chaffee will also testify and be cross examined. The hearing begins at 10 AM and is open to the public. It is not clear how long it will take after that for the PUC to decide if the Liberty fracked gas pipeline should be permitted.

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Share the Harvest Stand 
sponsored by Edible Brattleboro
Sunday, August 13th, 2017 at the Elliott Street Park (on Elliot Street in Brattleboro, VT, 05301) from 11am-1pm.
Edible Brattleboro is launching its weekly “Share the Harvest” Stand! In addition to produce from our gardens, we are accepting donations of fresh produce from local gardeners and farmers. The stand will be set up at the Elliott Street Park from 11am-2pm. Everything is available to the community at no cost. Please drop off your surplus to our stand as close to 11am as possible.
We need volunteers to keep this going through the season. Please visit http://signup.com/go/GmYCbae to sign up for a spot. It's real easy, and your contact information is never shared. Brattleboro Time Traders can earn hours, too!
In order to keep this going through the season, we need volunteers to help out with gleaning from the Farmers’ Market on Saturdays from 1:30-2:30pm, and operating the stand on Sundays from 10:40am-1:15pm. You may sign up for a time slot at http://signup.com/go/GmYCbae.


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Local Love Brigade: Postcard-Making Gathering
Sunday, August 13th at the Brattleboro Museum & Art Center (10 Vernon St, Brattleboro, VT 05301). 11:30am-1:30pm.
Join the Local Love Brigade! Drop by BMAC and make postcards to send out in an avalanche of love to support victims of hate. You will be part of a movement that has begun to illuminate the power of fierce love. There will be refreshments and plenty of materials to make a card. All are welcome.
Also, the brand new Local Love Brigade bumper stickers are in and they'll be at the gathering, available to purchase for $3. Love is on the move!
http://www.brattleboromuseum.org/2017/06/17/postcard-party-with-vts-local-love-brigade-2/




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The Putney Huddle Meeting
Sunday, August 13th, 2017 at the Putney Public Library (55 Main St, Putney, VT 05346). 1:30pm-3:30pm. RSVP HERE.
The Putney Huddle invites you to join us at our Sunday, August 13th meeting with State Treasurer, Beth Pearce. It will take place at the Putney Public Library from 1:30-3:30. Because of limited time we are asking that you email any questions you may already have for her in advance to [email protected].

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UPCOMING EVENTS

 

Climate Change Café: A Community of Concerned Citizens 
“We the People 2.0”
a project of Post Oil Solutions
Tuesday, August 22nd, 2017 at Brooks Memorial Library (224 Main Street, Brattleboro, VT 05301). 6pm. 
FREE. Light Refreshments Available
A New Democracy Movement Is Building, Elevating Community And Natures Rights Over Corporate “Rights.” This excellent film is a visual essay about the loss of democracy in the United States, and how people are taking it back. It describes a profound change in thinking at the grassroots level where people are building a movement, not just in this country, but around the world. It shows how and where it all began.
This event is a great lead-in to the Community Rights Awareness Workshop by the Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund (CELDF) that  Post Oil Solutions and Rights and Democracy will sponsor on Sunday, September 10, @ the Brattleboro Food Co-op, 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM.
For more information please contact802.869.2141 or [email protected].

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Community Rights Awareness Workshop
presented by the Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund (CELDF) and sponsored by Post Oil Solutions & Rights and Democracy
Sunday, September 10th, 2017 at the Brattleboro Food Coop (2 Main Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301) in the Community Room (please use the entrance at 7 Canal Street). 10am-1pm.  FREE, but registration required: [email protected]. Refreshments will be provided. 
In this workshop, we take an in-depth look at how political and legal structures have been set up to protect the interests of an elite wealthy minority, at the expense of the majority of people and community self-government. We’ll look at how corporations have received more rights and protections than real people living in communities. Most importantly, we’ll look at how communities have pushed back against these oppressive structures to reclaim democratic self-government in their communities, and at the state level with a proposed Community Rights Amendment.

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STANDING REGULAR MEETINGS


350Brattleboro Regular Meetings
350 Brattleboro will be taking a break from our regular schedule for July and August. We will return to our regular meeting times from September onwards. To be kept in the loop follow us at facebook.com/350brattleboro and sign up for our email list by emailing [email protected]. Thanks!

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Lost River Racial Justice, Black Lives Matter-South, and People Of Color Caucus Regular Meetings
Reoccurring racial justice organizing meetings every 2nd Monday at The Root Social Justice Center (The Whetstone Studio of the Arts, 28 Williams Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301) on the First Floor. 
6pm-8pm. 
Childcare provided. Fragrance & nut free space.  

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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 
SisterDistrict 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] or [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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Exchange Student Hosts Wanted
PAX (Program of Academic Exchange Vermont) is looking for families who are interested in hosting a high school exchange student for Brattleboro HS and Bellows Falls for the upcoming school year.  Clara is one such student, a 15 year old girl from Spin whose interests include skiing, scouting and gymnastics.  Could you open your home to one of these students?
Host families come in all shapes and sizes - they represent the diversity of American culture, with varied economic, religious and racial backgrounds. Among those who truly enjoy the exchange experience are parents looking to give their families a glimpse of the world and introduce them to new customs and cultures, without having to travel the globe.
Many of our host families do not have high school age children, while others have adult children who no longer live at home. They say that hosting an exchange student gives them an opportunity to enrich their own lives and connect with their community in a whole new way.
If you've considered hosting but have questions, please contact Kimberly at [email protected] or 802-824-3792.

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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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Thank you, as always, for your time, effort, and incredible dedication to your County, State, and Country. We are all in this together and together we will succeed. 
Have a wonderful week and we can't wait to see you at an upcoming event. 


Your Friendly WeCAN Admins,
Ann and Joanna