1/23/12 OCCUPY YOUR BODY: Awaken Your Heart: Global Dance Wave

Calling all Believers in MOVEMENT! You are invited to participate in OCCUPY YOUR BODY: Awaken Your Heart, A Global Dance Wave on January 22, 2012 at 12 noon.
We as Conscious Dancers would like to add our wisdom to the collective vision emerging from the Occupy Movement. Here in Eugene, we will be hosting an additional Occupy Your Body dance from noon until 2 p.m.
OCCUPY has a message of transformation, a message about the need for change. We as dancers and spiritual seekers know the pathway of personal transformation. It is time for us to apply our wisdom to help bring about state, national and global transformations. We as dancers know the power of Embodiment. We know that when we are connected to our bodies, true transformation is possible. We know that when we connect the mind and the body and awaken the heart, we will be able to make the changes necessary. We offer OCCUPY YOUR BODY as a prayer for this awakening and our global transformation. On Sunday, January 22, 2012 at 12 noon, Conscious Dancers will dance a wave of movement that will circle the globe. Together, we are
ONE WAVE. ONE BODY. ONE HEART.On January 22 (as close to 12 noon as possible), dancing communities including Rhythms, Ecstatic, Conscious Dance, Soul Motion, Nia and any other kinds of conscious movement, will gather and dance, holding this prayer of EMBODIMENT, each with our own particular flavor, all with the same intention to allow the power of embodiment to be part of the global conversation in whatever way it can serve.Movement is needed. LET’S MOVE.

For more information and to post your participation, go to the FACEBOOK PAGE OCCUPY YOUR BODY: A Global Dance Wave or you can contact Amara directly at amara@amarapagano.com

A film being edited now by Jeff Wayman will be available next week introducing OCCUPY YOUR BODY and inviting people to participate. There will also be a video made with footage submitted from the various participants. Please post on Facebook your participation and make sure to send a photo or any film you can take of your OCCUPY YOUR BODY prayer.

1/23/12 Urban Ninja Banks March

Larger version of flyer.

A day of Direct Action Against the Banks!

At noon on January 23rd 2012 we will rally at Wayne Morse Free Speech Plaza through Non-Violent Direct Action against the banks! Dress like a ninja! Wear black! Form affinity groups!

We are requesting donations of black fabric, black ski-masks, black clothing and flyer and banner making supplies. If you have materials you wish to donate please contact Tango Down either by sending us a message on Facebook or email us at oetangodown[at]gmail.com

Here is one video example of Ninja Awesomeness from Occupy Wall Street:

Below are the guidelines outlined by Tango Down, the organizers of this action, and in the interests of solidarity please respect these parameters. The parameters outlined below apply to this march. This goes both ways – please be respectful enough of the event to not pursue certain actions at this time if they are being put on the “please don’t” list; likewise, if you are uncomfortable with someone performing an action that is acceptable within the march parameters do not interfere with them.

This is respect for diversity of tactics, and also proper solidarity in the face of our common enemy. There will come a day that these practices, discipline and restraint will serve us well as a unit.

If you cannot follow the parameters do not attend. They will be read before the march during the rally. People will be given the opportunity to back out if they feel they cannot respect the tactics, with no loss of face.

This is not a march intended for people who are not fully comfortable with a diversity of tactics. You are not recommended to attend if you are not willing to wear black, or are not down with ninjas, as you will stand out among the rest.

Action Purpose: To hold corporate banks accountable for their assault on our community and our earth. The most appropriate way to do this is through the disruption of capital. Use your imagination!! See the video link above :-)

Tango Down Action Parameters: No damage to “private property” of any kind: people’s cars, local Eugene businesses – these are off limits.

Split-off marches and autonomous actions are encouraged
. If you do decide to go your own route, please respect the above parameters. If you decide to split off, do your autonomous actions away from the main march, not right next to it. You are encouraged to be creative – autonomous actions can begin hours prior to the primary action, during the action, or even later in the day. Large banks, huge international corporations, and governmental offices/property are not considered private property for the purposes of the parameters.

We are not encouraging anyone to attack any property whatsoever, but some property is more acceptable than others if you really must risk your freedom by doing something of that nature. Please keep in mind the legal and social ramifications of all of your actions, and be aware of how your choices affect the movement as a whole.

NINJA: If you hear the call, “NINJAS!” it is in your best interest to clump together with the main group in tight formation. Be aware of distance and do not string out along the march route. Do not give the police an opportunity to snatch you and plant evidence on you to conflate charges with.

We are all adults. We are all comrades. We have a common enemy and we will have to learn to work as a unit. Thank you for your cooperation.

*This is an OFFICIAL Occupy Eugene Event, per approval through the Occupy Eugene Actions Committee.*

1/28/12 William Stafford Celebration – Speaking Truth to Power

“Speaking Truth to Power: The Poetry of William Stafford and the Occupy Movement.”

Where: Tsunami Books, 2585 Willamette St, Eugene

When: Saturday, January 28, 4-6 pm (The public is invited to a free poetry writing workshop led by Ingrid Wendt and Ralph Salisbury from 2 pm to 3:30 pm immediately before the reading.)

Jerry Gatchell, Martha Gatchell and Ingrid Wendt are the hosts of this reading and invite you to bring a favorite Stafford poem and/or anecdote to share and one of your own poems written in the spirit of Stafford’s commitment to social justice. Many Stafford poems can be found at http://williamstaffordarchives.org/browse/poems. Contact: Ingrid Wendt idwendt@comcast.net if you want to read a poem or share an anecdote.

A slideshow of Occupy Eugene sites, compiled by poet-photographer  Robert Hill Long, will accompany the reading.

A portion of the proceeds from this event will benefit Occupy Eugene!  Please plan to attend!  The Zinn/Chomsky Library of Occupy Eugene is happy to announce that OE poets and writers are invited to share one William Stafford Poem and one of their own. (Remember to contact Ingrid Wendt at idwendt@comcast.net if you wish to read.)

Press Release: January 20th “Occupy the Courts”

OCCUPY-EUGENE-HEADER

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: press@occupyeugenemedia.org
occupyeugenemedia.org, @OccupyEugene

January 20th “Occupy the Courts”
On January 20th, Occupy Eugene will join forces with other Occupations gathering at Federal Courthouses across the Nation and with “We the People Eugene” to rally on the second anniversary of the Supreme Court’s “Citizens United” ruling, which removes all restrictions on corporate political contributions. Corporations are not People! Money is not Free Speech!

Join Occupy Eugene at 11:00am for a rally at the Wayne Morse Free Speech Plaza, 8th & Oak St. From there, we will march to the new Federal Court house and join up with the Eugene chapter of “We the People.”

The rally at the Federal Courthouse kicks off at noon with labor activist Gordon Lafer of the UO Labor Education and Research Center.

Paul Cienfuegos, and political scientists John Davidson and Stan Taylor will join Occupy speakers at an open mike during the rally. There will also be live performances featuring guitarist David Rogers, the Occupy Street Theatre, Choirs, and Mr. Big. Hot chocolate and cookies will be served! This is a chance for everyone to celebrate, be informed, network and to let your voice be heard.

We call on the Eugene City Council to take action to get corporate money out of politics by passing a resolution like those passed recently in New York and Los Angeles opposing corporate personhood. Help us Occupy the Courts Friday January 20 from noon ‘til 5. It’s time to get together, get active, and get corporate money out of politics!
This press release is from the Communications Committee of Occupy Eugene that has been empowered to speak on behalf of the larger Occupy Eugene body.

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1/4/12 Health Care for All Oregon Meeting

Wed. Jan 4, 7-8:30 pm
EWEB Community Room, 500 E 4th, Eugene (near river and fountain).

Mad as Hell Doctors from Corvallis will give us Single Payer health care information and speaker training! We will be focusing on a new organizing strategy, goals for the coming year, and orientation for new volunteers, particularly from the Vermont Workers’ Center event. It’s the perfect time to get involved–make universal health care your New Year’s resolution!

1/5/12 Cascadia Direct Action Training

Have you ever wanted to effectively execute a rowdy non-violent direct action with your affinity group?Have you ever wondered what the term “affinity group” actually means?

All are encouraged to participate, We hope to see you there! Hosted by Cascadia Forest Defenders. Learn the language of the movement!

Occupy Eugene V, 1274 W. 7th Ave (7th and Polk), Eugene, Oregon: 11:00am-3:30pm

1/5/12 Occupy Eugene Benefit Concert

Sam Bonds GarageThis event will be MC’d by Plaedo.

Bands featured will be Solseed, Brandon Reid, Josh Brute and Garden Goat. This event has been organized by the OE Fundraising committee. Please contact us if you would like to offer any assistance. Sliding scale admission is $5 – $20.  Thanks!

When: Thurs, Jan. 5, 8pm
Where: Sam Bond’s Garage

Facebook event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/104817609639567/

1/11/12 Another Victory Against The Banks!!!

Due to pressure from an ongoing campaign by SEIU 503 and ESSN, as well as timely collaboration with multiple Occupy groups throughout Oregon,  State Treasurer Ted Wheeler announced yesterday, several key changes to the State’s Reliacard program that is contracted through US Bank. Many people had complained about excessive user fees instituted by US Bank against Reliacard users and our collective efforts to reign in these excessive bank fees have paid off!  We CAN change things when we work together!

Among the new changes:

Continue to make point-of-sale purchases and receive cash
back with no charge, like any debit card, at any merchant that accepts
VISA-branded debit cards.

Be able to visit bank tellers for free and an unlimited
number of times at any bank that accepts VISA-branded credit cards.
That’s a significant improvement from the current contract, which
allows cardholders only two free teller visits a month.

Have free and unlimited withdrawals from US Bank-branded
ATMs. That is a significant improvement from the current contract,
which allows cardholders only two free ATM visits a month.

Continue to have two withdrawals a month from non-US
Bank-branded ATMs, without US Bank charges. That is a unique benefit
in Oregon’s contract that was negotiated because of the understanding
that not all Oregonians live near a US Bank branch.

No longer be exposed to overdraft fees. As a result of
congressional action, the new contact will eliminate an opt-in
overdraft protection option, which had allowed cardholders to exceed
their balances.

Continue to make point-of-sale purchases and receive cash
back with no charge, like any debit card, at any merchant that accepts
VISA-branded debit cards.

Celebrate this victory!!!