So, what to do? What is the antidote to all of this? Activate and organize!
We're starting a renewed, all-out effort to recruit people (YOU!) to get involved - and we've given our new effort a name - Stop Injustice Now! - the acronym for which, of course, is S.I.N.! It is, after all, all injustice, whether it be the eroding of the Clean Water Act or the Endangered Species Act, weakening worker safety laws, cutting welfare benefits, cutting services for "illegal aliens", going after Affirmative Action, etc., ad infinitum.
Anyone can S.I.N.!, and there are a myriad of ways in which to S.I.N.! One (or more) of them is just for you. Obviously, we can't possibly name all of the ways, but we will mention a few to pique your interest, and encourage you to call the MEC, 468-1660, to sign up to S.I.N.!
´ Join the Alliance for Human Rights. (See article elsewhere in this issue of the MEC Newsletter.) This group formed to oppose any form of implementation of Proposition 187, and to advocate for the rights of Latinos in our community. It is expanding to include advocacy for the rights of all people of color, and to oppose and stop the rampant civil rights abuses by law enforcement officers. The group meets the first Monday of each month at 6:00 P.M. Call the MEC for location of the meetings, and for meeting times of the subcommittees of the Alliance.
´ Join the Round Valley Community Support Coalition. (See related story in this Newsletter). This group is working with, and in support of, the Native people of the Round Valley Indian Community whose rights are consistently abused, but are being even more so now, as a result of the tragic events of mid-April when Leonard (Acorn) Peters was brutally killed by law enforcement officers in what clearly appears to be a case of mistaken identity. Subsequently, a Sheriff's Deputy was shot and killed by an unknown assailant. Law enforcement believes Bear Lincoln to be the suspect in the death of Deputy Bob Davis, and they have launched an all-out man-hunt for him. Their man-hunt has included and continues to include blatant and wanton abuses of the rights of many, many people in the community, including infants and elders. Fund raising is needed for the legal efforts which must ensue; a campaign has been launched, and must be amplified, to demand an independent investigation into this whole situation; many, many tasks need to be done. There will be a community meeting in Covelo on June 17th, to which supporters and potential supporters are invited. Call the MEC for time and location of the meeting, and for carpooling.
´ A local chapter of former Governor Jerry Brown's group We The People is forming. The purpose of this group is to work for political reform and social justice. Contact Suzanne Rouger at (707) 485-5552, if you are interested in exploring this group.
´ Help form a Labor Advocacy Coalition. Many of us are interested in establishing a labor-environmental coalition. We met initially following the talk by Tony Mazzocchi of the Oil, Chemical and Atomic Workers Union at EnviroFest on April 29th, and agreed that such a coalition is needed. We wish to find ways to advocate for workers rights and the health of the Earth, because environmental justice and justice for workers is one and the same thing. Call the MEC at 468-1660 if you wish to help form this Labor-Environmental Coalition.
´ Help form a Land-Use/Development Watchdog Group. Development and land-use proposals are submitted to the city and county planning departments all the time. Ukiah is just going through a General Plan revision process. For lack of enough people being involved, many of the progressive changes suggested and fought for by members of the Growth Management Steering Committee are being gutted by the Ukiah City Council. The County will soon embark on their General Plan revision process. We need a strong, committed group of people who want to dedicate themselves to this effort that will be so critical to ensuring the environmental health and sustainability of the County into the future.
´ Help form an Advocacy Team that can provide immediate response and advocacy for people who are encountering harassment or civil rights abuses, need assistance dealing with agencies or bureaucracies, need emergency childcare, need emergency food, need emergency rides, etc. Call the MEC to assist in forming this team that is urgently needed to fill the gaps left by agencies.
´ Get involved in efforts to enact National Ocean Sanctuary. Tabling, letter writing campaigns, phone-banking, etc., are needed for this effort. Call the MEC to find out more.
´ Sign up for Direct Action. Direct action will probably be called for this summer for the forest - in Headwaters, in Albion and elsewhere. Other needs for Direct Action arise also, as when we wanted to blockade America's Most Wanted's filming of the so-called "re-enactment" of the tragedy in Covelo. Call the MEC and ask to be put on Earth First's! Direct Action Alert list.
´ Join Citizen's for a Healthy Ukiah (CHU) and help put a stop to Masonite's toxic emissions. Help is needed with research, mailings, phoning, and organizing a community education effort. Call the MEC to be put on CHU's list.
´ Help Staff the MEC. We need volunteers to help answer phones, do phoning, help with mailings, do photo copying and information dissemination, computer entry, newsletter production, run errands, put up posters, etc. Call the MEC to join our Office Staff Volunteers.
This is but a sampling of the ways in which you can S.I.N.! The important thing is to start S.I.N.ning now. We know from both recent and past history that "The People United, Will Never Be Defeated". We stopped off-shore drilling in 1988. Willits stopped the MRF in 1995. We've halted, at least, for now, LP's plans for an oriented strand board plant in Ukiah. Just think what we can do with even larger and stronger coalitions!
Call the MEC and sign up to S.I.N.!
Copyright Mendocino Environmental Center 1995