I wanted to post something similar, since there are some spots left for Democracy School this Friday and Saturday, and since Margaret stated the reason attending is so important, I thought I'd just pass along her note.
An added note: there are funds available for scholarships, thanks to donations from various individuals, so please do not let the $150 fee keep you from attending. Let us know if you need a scholarship and we'll work with whatever you can pay. Thanks, Eric ----- Forwarded Message ---- From: Margaret McCasland <[email protected]> To: [email protected]; Shale Shock <[email protected]> Sent: Tue, November 10, 2009 12:27:09 PM Subject: [Shaleshock] Democracy School: carpool, spots still open THIS Fri night, Sat day Spots are still open for the Democracy School to be held Friday evening, 6-9:30 and Saturday 8:30-5:30. [Registration form and contact info below.] I urge anyone who can spare the time to attend. Given the threats to our communities from major corporations anxious to extract gas which is "tightly-embedded" in the Marcellus Shale, learning how we can take back of our communities and safeguard our water and other precious resources is more important than ever. The Marcellus will be drilled using "unconventional" techniques (official geological term for a new and significantly different form of drilling which uses orders of magnitude more and nastier chemicals, millions of gallons of water per well, and widespread physical alteration of our landscape). While "conventional" gas drilling sometimes uses fracking to improve gas flow, it has been a very different, much safer form of fracking, which nonetheless has caused serious problems (pushing methane into water wells, etc). Democracy School teaches us skills and principles that help us protect and restore the rights of local communities to "the commons," essentials for life which extend beyond private property: clean water, clean air, a safe and healthy ecosystem, and a viable economy for ALL people (not just for the far-away executives of multinational corporations). I just signed up and am interested in car-pooling from Ithaca. --Margaret McCasland 272-2544 From Eric Banford, who has attended a previous Democracy School. Please consider attending, it is an enlightening and empowering experience. And please pass this along to other appropriate lists, and friends who might be interested. Thanks, Eric Democracy School for the Southern Tier presents: The Daniel Pennock DEMOCRACY SCHOOL Friday evening November 13th & All day Saturday November 14th at the Spencer Municipal Building, Main Street, Spencer, NY Registration information: Eric (607) 277-0183 or Jamal (607) 425-5477 Do the rights of corporations to make a profit supersede the rights of citizens to health, safety and well-being? How and why do corporations have the power to over-ride the democratic will of the people? How can we use home rule to protect our rights? This forum will examine the options that other communities are using to prevent damages caused by corporations to community, the economy and the environment. Guest lecturer Ben Price from the Community Environmental Legal Defense fund will address this and more. For more information on the project visit www.celdf.org The school runs Friday November 13th from 6pm to 9:30pm and Saturday November 14th from 8:30am to 5:30pm. The Spencer Municipal Building is located on Main Street, in the back of the library. Please call for directions. All attendees should bring a bag lunch on Saturday. Light refreshments will be provided. Two weeks before the school, attendees will receive a curriculum in the mail for reading prior to the school. Some topics for discussion will include: -What is Law? How is Law Used and for What Purpose is it Used? -Traditional Organizing and Corporate Power -A History of Peoples’ Movements in the United States -From a Slave State to a Corporate State -Building New Models of Organizing (The Pennsylvania Model) -Our History of Collaterally Challenging Illegitimate Corporate Authority -Reframing Single Issues by Rethinking Several Issues -An Exploration of Jurisdictions and Arenas, -Other Constituencies -Critical Mass: Doing it Together and Building a Movement -Groups Across the United States Applying New Models -Discussion: How Do We Make Real the Promises of Democracy? There is space for 20 students, the first 20 registrants. Tuition for the school is $150. Our effort is volunteer. All tuition goes directly to pay for the curriculum and the lecturers. Access to education is important. If you cannot afford the full tuition, please send a check for the amount you can afford. We have a limited scholarship fund. If you support this cause and would like to contribute a donation, this will help us fund future classes and scholarships. Please make your checks payable to our 501(c) 3 sponsor: Social Ventures Inc. Be sure to write “Spencer Democracy School” in the memo. [added by MM: Because this is so close when the School will be held, call Eric (607) 277-0183 or Jamal (607) 425-5477 to confirm your spot or to ask any questions.] Mail the completed registration form along with your check to: Jamal Diboun 200 Nobles Hill Rd Van Etten, NY 14889 Please indicate if you cannot attend this date but would like to attend a future school. _____________________________________________________ Spencer Democracy School Registration Form Name__________________________________________________________________________________________ Adderess______________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________ Phone_______________________________________email____________________________________________ Check enclosed for $________________________( ) check here if you need a scholarship ( ) Check if you would like to donate to our scholarship fund $______________________ ( ) I cannot attend this date. 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