Gaza Blockade Halts Kindergarten

Kate Gould, 27.07.2010 - 04:22
Kate Gould has called Jackson County home for the last 15 years. She will be speaking about her 8 months living and working in the Occupied Palestinian Territories from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 28, at the Gresham Room of the Ashland Public Library.

The following editorial was written by Kate...

"Just got back from Gaza, where I saw first hand the effects of a blockade that continues to deny Gazans the ability to rebuild their war-torn society--including the right to build this much dreamed of kindergarten."
Read more > >   

Community Rally Supports Jackson County Services

DO NOT CUT QUALITY PUBLIC SERVICES !, 15.07.2010 - 14:11
July 14, 2010 -- Medford, Oregon

Jackson County citizens rallied with strong support for county workers & for county services. Local organizations such as the Southern Oregon Central Labor Council, Oregon Action and Jobs with Justice stood side by side with workers in front of the old Jackson County Courthouse. "Enough is enough: We Demand Quality Public Services."

- CONTRACT BARGAINING PROBLEMS -
The harsh, unreasonable and unwarranted demands of county negotiators do NOT have community support. The taxes we pay get the best bang for the buck when we invest in a workforce that provides top notch services. Jackson County employees have done their share in downsizing government this last few years. At its peak several years ago the Jackson County budget supported a workforce of over 700 employees while today the numbers are below 550. Fewer workers work harder while at the same time this workforce has made concessions year after year.

Photos of Rally (click to make larger)
Read more > >   

Pastors for Peace Cuba Caravan Hits Ashland

Ivend Holen, 11.07.2010 - 05:33
An audience of about 60 people attended a meeting and lecture about the Pastors for Peace Cuba Caravan at the Presbyterian Church in Ashland last Friday evening. Richard Becker, of the International ANSWER (Act Now to Stop War and End Racism) Coalition, and Western Region co-Director of Ramsey Clark's International Action Center (IAC) spoke about US-Cuba relations and the Cuba Caravan.
Read more > >   

Move Your $MONEY$ Southern Oregon

SWITCH TO A LOCAL BANK OR CREDIT UNION!, 09.07.2010 - 00:48
Ashland, Oregon * Independence Day, 2010

Southern Oregon's MOVE YOUR MONEY campaign debuted on the main drag during Ashland's Fourth of July parade. The parade entry from Southern Oregon Jobs with Justice (SOJwJ) included the Jefferson State Rollers. The helpful swarm of female roller derby skaters blasted Ashland with thousands of tri-fold Move Your Money brochures which rank regional banks and credit unions with the big Wall Street banks. Any guess which work best for the local economy?

People want to support local economic development and are tired of Wall Street excesses that have crippled our country. Move Your Money is a campaign to move money away from the big greedy Wall Street Banks and put the bucks where they will do the most good right here at home.

Check out July 4 parade photos and look at the PDF brochure for a detailed description of Move Your MONEY Southern Oregon.

(click any photo makes it larger)
Read more > >    (1 comment)

Pastors for Peace Cuban Caravan Coming to Ashland

Mary Ann Jones, 06.07.2010 - 00:00
On Friday July 9 the Pastors for Peace Cuba Caravan arrives in Ashland, as part of the 13 routes touring 130 cities in the US and Canada, en route to Havana! This annual project is a challenge to the US government's blockade and travel ban aimed at undermining the Cuban government. Caravan members extend the hand of friendship and solidarity to the Cuban people, as ambassadors for a "people-to-people" foreign policy based on mutual respect.
Read more > >   

Save our Postal Service! -- Southern Oregon 5-Day, No Way Picket July 1st

Jim Alexander, 27.06.2010 - 00:00
On July 1st, postal workers and letter carriers are converging on several southern Oregon post offices to rally against United States Postal Service efforts to reduce postal services by eliminating Saturday mail delivery.

Pickets, informational handbills and drinking water will be provided.
JUST SHOW UP!


Read more > >    (1 comment)

Southern Oregonian report - USSF in Detroit

Ivend Holen and Wes Brain, 25.06.2010 - 13:07
Southern Oregonians Ivend Holen and Wes Brain are in Detroit, Michigan for the United States Social Forum. Here is a description of the first part of their MoTown adventure.

Most of the photos are from the opening day march
Read more > >    (2 comments)

Wobbly Free Speech Monument -- New campaign announced

SOUTHERN OREGON JOBS WITH JUSTICE, 11.06.2010 - 14:28
WHAT: Free Speech Monument Proposed for State of Jefferson
WHEN: 2011 -- the Centennial of the Wobbly Walk Through the Siskiyous
WHO: Wobbly Walk Free Speech Committee
WHY: “Those Wobblies warrant memory”

Once you know the history you will understand why a blue ribbon committee has been assembled to commemorate the 1911 Wobbly Walk Through the Siskiyous
Read more > >    (2 comments)

Why is BLM Force Removing NV's Wild Horses?

Ruby Pipeline Connections?, 09.06.2010 - 20:43
The proposed Ruby Pipeline delivering natural gas from Wyoming to Malin, OR appears to be the primary motivating factor behind recent BLM decisions to forcibly remove wild horses from large parts of their habitat.

Read more > >    (2 comments)

Vets for Peace #156 in Boatnik Parade 2010

Reported by Allen Hallmark, Member VfP #156, 29.05.2010 - 19:43
Grants Pass, Oregon - Memorial Day, 2010

Congratulations, Hal, Jim, Loree and all who worked so hard to put together our Veterans for Peace, Rogue Valley Chapter 156, entry in today's massive Boatnik parade in Grants Pass. The huge Peace Dove with the olive branch in her beak was gorgeous and impressive. It's difficult to believe how big this parade is -- our group was lucky to go down the street early and by the time we walked back to where we started, more than an hour later, there were still many groups waiting to start their journey.

Attached are a few photos that I snapped along the way (click on any to make larger)
Read more > >    (3 comments)