"Downstream from Purdon Crossing", Phillip D Brown

Residents are ready to stand up to the threats of developers and unsustainable practices in their community!

14-16 November 2008
Synergia Learning Ventures and South Yuba River Citizen's League hosted a Democracy School. Local resident Debra Weistar explains "I've seen the conservationist/activists in our area celebrate a victory that looks not like a victory, but a compromise... Activists in our area work on one threat at a time -- using expensive litigation to save one mountain, one meadow, one watershed at a time. I see the only chance for real change outside of conscious evolution is to make a fundamental change in the way we govern ourselves and the way we view nature so that rights are protected across the board and we get out of this piecemeal protection."

Woolman Students

24 April 2009
Thanks to the teachers at Woolman Semester, 25 students visited Global Exchange. Committed to earth stewardship, these students discussed their knowledge of corporate agriculture, GMO's and labor practices. We then talked about rights based organizing, and local control to affirm community desires surrounding the fragile sierra watershed. We look forward to the successful projects and organizing efforts of the Woolman students as they put into practice all that they are learning during their semester in Nevada City.

Mt. Shasta

Mt Shasta citizens assert their rights!

Following the May 8-10 democracy school, Mt Shasta Residents officially launched their campaign to assert the rights of the natural community to water. In partnership with Global Exchange they are looking to pass an ordinance this Fall that will prohibit corporations from withdrawing water from the municipal aquifer and will also prohibit weather manipulation from cloud seeding. It also asserts nature's right to natural water cycles. If you are a Shasta resident and would like to find out more information, Contact Angelina Cook at 530-926-2266, or contact shannon@globalexchange.org to learn more about rights based organizing.

Have a Facebook? JOIN THE "CITY OF MT. SHASTA COMMUNITY WATER RIGHTS AND SELF-GOVERNMENT ORDINANCE" group on Facebook to show your support and keep up to date with the campaign!

Santa Cruz and Monterey

Santa Cruz, CA

In addition to sharing rich environmental histories and stunning landscapes, Santa Cruz and Monterey were both subject to aerial application of a synthetic pheromone despite community protest. The synthetic pheromone was the state's response to the "threat" of the Light Brown Apple Moth and its potential harm to local agriculture. The aerial application of the pheromone did not just occur over agricultural land, but over residential areas as well. Citizen groups formed to protest the spraying, anti-spray petitions were signed, health complaints were documented post-spray and yet the state refuses to abort plans to continue spraying these communities and many others in California.

People Against Chemical Trespass (P.A.C.T.) Organizers in Santa Cruz have been working closely with Global Exchange's Shannon Biggs and Ben Price of the Legal Defense Fund on a campaign to pass a local ordinance against Bodily Chemical Trespass and Pesticides.

YOU ARE INVITED TO A GROUND-BREAKING,ONE-DAY, SEMINAR ON TAKING BACK OUR RIGHTS: ONE-DAY SANTA CRUZ DEMOCRACY SCHOOL Sponsored by People Against Chemical Trespass (PACT)

DATE: Sunday, Nov. 8th, 8am - 6pm PLACE: 200 Washington St., downtown Santa Cruz COST: $45 - $60 sliding scale, scholarships available

Taught by Ben Price (Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund) & Shannon Biggs (Global Exchange)

QUESTIONS? WANT TO REGISTER?

CONTACT: PACT.ordinance@gmail.com Phone: 831 425-3365

REGISTRATION DEADLINE: Oct. 23rd, 2009

Read what local media is saying about the ordinance.

Interested in hosting a discussion on rights-based organizing or passing an ordinance in your community? Start by attending a Democracy School. Visit the Democracy School Page

For more information or to inquire about a campaign where you live, contact Shannon Biggs, shannon@globalexchange.org or 415.575.5540