WHEN: A two-day strategic training retreat on Thursday, Nov. 8, 2012, from noon to 6:00 PM and Friday, Nov. 9, 2012, from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
WHERE: First Unitarian Universalist Church, 5212 South Claiborne Avenue, Sanctuary
DEEP DEMOCRACY TRAINING: Participants learn how corporations captured our democracy; share and practice skills for campaign building and rights-based community organizing, and design campaigns for their community and state to reclaim (or create) local self-governance – rule by the people. As part of the local rights-based campaigns, Riki will introduce template municipal ordinances and resolutions for banning toxic chemicals, currently used in oil disaster response.
WHY ATTEND: The presidential election is behind us, and it wasn’t very satisfying. Two corporate candidates split the vote, and neither discussed the crucial issues we face: environmental degradation, climate change, infrastructure decline, over-militarization, exorbitant imprisonment, corporate control of politics, and so many more. In some counts, the popular vote went to one candidate and the electoral vote to the other.
The Gulf States People’s Convention took place October 27 and organized itself around the principle of people’s needs, not around political parties (http://www.occupythestage.net/1/category/gulf%20coast%20peoples%20convention736c147e23/1.html
). Dr. Ott’s ‘’Rethinking Democracy and Organizing for Change’’ is her surprise offering to South Louisiana on this same subject, particularly as it applies to the Deepwater Horizon disaster. At the end of Dr. Ott’s training, she will present a new film about the disaster, ‘’Dirty Energy’’, hopefully with its director, who is stopping in New Orleans on his way to Amsterdam Film Festival (http://www.dirtyenergymovie.com/about.html ).
Dr. Ott’s presence and the screening of the film were offered only this past week, so its late announcement may preclude your participation, but if you are able to attend you are welcome. Light snacks and coffee will be served.
We know the BP disaster isn’t over. BP has left a legacy of lies, leaking oil, injured workers, sick families, mounting debts, and collapsed fisheries. We would like to share information and skills so together, we can make it right. For real. Ourselves.
You are invited – on very short notice! – to a deep democracy training and strategic retreat. As part of the training, Riki Ott will share templates for municipal ordinances and resolutions to ban toxic chemicals, including Corexit, as part of a national action.
Thursday, Nov. 8, 2012, from noon to 6:00 PM
Friday, Nov. 9, 2012, from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Dirty Energy movie screening
Friday, Nov. 9, 2012, from 7:00 to 9:30 PM
Overnight accommodations are available at the church for out-of-town guests. $40 per night, including kitchen facilities for cooking meals. Contact Deanna Vandiver, [email protected]
Cell: 504.333.2718
Office: 504.866.4170
For more information please contact Lisa Marie Jacobs at [email protected]