Virginia Grassroots (yahoo group list newsletter)

[Catchawave]

Quote of the Week
"We cannot seek achievement for ourselves and forget about progress and prosperity for our community...Our ambitions must be broad enough to include the aspirations and needs of others, for their sakes and for our own." Cesar Chavez


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Rant of the Day
There are 2, count 'em, 2 rants this week with the kernels of a third contained within. The first concerns the issue of health care for Virginians. Seems that, if you've been following the press lately, health care providers are responsible for a huge chunk of the rise in health care costs. The cause? Their own inattention to detail and short-cutting. I mean why shouldn't they? Think about it - you get to spend less money on hospital maintenance (a non-billable expense) which, in turn, makes existing patients sicker (a billable event). Funny thing is that it also kills patients. Now, it would seem self-evident that the industry would recognize the error of their ways. Not, as the Brits say, bloody likely. Let me make a prediction here... We're going to see the traditional rhetoric from health care conglomerates and politicians about making changes and then we will see no change in the spiraling costs of health care. In addition, we will see no additional legal or regulatory accountability in the health care industry. Why? Follow the money. It's business as usual in the business and political worlds. So, we'll hear talk about how medical providers are VOLUNTARILY going to kill and bankrupt fewer people and the government/politicians will do nothing. Pathetic. This issue is an opportunity for the grassroots to do 2 things - Raise awareness of health care issues and FOLLOW THE MONEY in politics all the way down to how political wallets are linked to the votes the cast and the policies they support.



Context is king. After taking a vacation outside the beltway (Central NY), I'm struck by how few of the issues are on the radar. It got me thinking again about how we need to get people who don't live for politics into a mindset where they see community activism as an imperative.



I'm very interested right now in the links between union labor and economic justice. I'm waiting to see what comes out of the Chicago labor meetings.



Ex-felons rights. We're in preliminary talks with the Advancement Project about worker on restoration of felon voting rights in Virginia. If you have an interest in the topic, call or visit these folks. More later.

http://www.sentencingproject.org/rights-restoration.cfm

http://www.advancementproject.org/


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Virginia Grassroots Coalition Events VGC events are FREE.
Saturday, July 30, 2005, 1 to 3 pm VGC Media and Communications Group hosts Guest Speaker, Mo Elleithee, From the Kaine Campaign at Mason District Government Center, 6507 Columbia Pike, Annandale, VA. Mo is Communications Manager for Lt. Governor Tim Kaine¹s governor¹s race and will have interesting observations about the communications process in the state of Virginia. Info - [e-mail]

Sunday July 31st, 3:00pm WMD: Weapons of Mass Deception. The VGC Media group hosts a screening at the George Mason Regional Library, 7001 Little River Turnpike in Annandale, VA. "Weapons of Mass Deception" reveals: How the Iraq war was sold to the American public through professional P.R. strategies. Contact [e-mail] for more.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

VGC Action Alerts
Show Rove the door to a prison cell. http://political.moveon.org/lte/lte_t.html?zip=22301-2229<e_campaign_id=26%20&id=5842-3253888-54WLNYf9gjKDjf1h2OgI7A&t=4

Take the "No Wal-Mart" Pledge. http://www.wakeupwalmart.com/feature/school/pledge.html

The Downing Street Memo http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/?q=node/526
Social Security Activist Guide. http://www.movingideas.org/content/en/ssaguide.htm
Set the Iraqis Free http://www.ncccusa.org/news/SpeakOutDraft.html
Demand a REAL Energy Plan. http://action.apolloalliance.org/petition/


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

VGC GLBTS


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

VGC Labor [e-mail]
Labor's Future. http://www.thenation.com/doc.mhtml?i=20050801&s=fine

Union Survival. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/07/21/AR2005072102451.html

Defection. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/07/19/AR2005071901775.html

Wal-Mart Workers Rights. http://action.americanrightsatwork.org/campaign/walmart2005

House of Labor Blog. http://houseoflabor.tpmcafe.com/

LabourStart. http://www.labourstart.org/

Learning the ropes. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A26456-2004Jun8.html

On Productivity. http://www.tompaine.com/articles/20050714/the_productivity_problem.php

Working Life. http://workinglife.org/

The Anti-Wal-Mart. http://www.dsausa.org/lowwage/walmart/2005/the%20Anti-Wal-Mart.html

Department of Defense Workers. http://www.uniteddodworkerscoalition.org/


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

VGC Media [e-mail]

Saturday, July 30, 2005, 1 to 3 pm VGC Media and Communications Group hosts Guest Speaker, Mo Elleithee, From the Kaine Campaign at Mason District Government Center, 6507 Columbia Pike, Annandale, VA. Mo is Communications Manager for Lt. Governor Tim Kaine¹s governor¹s race and will have interesting observations about the communications process in the state of Virginia. Info - [e-mail]

Sunday July 31st, 3:00pm WMD: Weapons of Mass Deception. The VGC Media group hosts a screening at the George Mason Regional Library, 7001 Little River Turnpike in Annandale, VA. "Weapons of Mass Deception" reveals: How the Iraq war was sold to the American public through professional P.R. strategies. Contact [e-mail] for more.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

VGC Education [e-mail]


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

VGC Reproductive Rights [e-mail]

Eric Alterman on the issues. See the part about Roberts and Roe v. Wade. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3449870/


Monday, July 25th from 7-9pm, Planned Parenthood Community Outreach Training in DC!: On We will be leading a Community Outreach workshop for volunteers interested in helping with our Put Prevention First campaign. We have a list of various festivals, concerts, and events at which we'll be tabling all summer. Workshop participants will get first dibs on these exciting events! This workshop will be a great way to learn proper tabling techniques to make the most out of any event. The training will be held in Washington; please click http://www.ppaction.org/ppav/events/cotrainingdc/details.tcl?member_key=38335b2a53njne& for details. 202 347-8500 x7605

Saturday, July 30th, Live Action Camp from Planned Parenthood The newest trend in activist training - join us for a full day of learning and action. We will spend the morning learning about specific choice issues and discuss the importance of framing and messaging, then we will spend the afternoon taking action steps to identify new pro-choice supporters and conclude with a sign-wave. More details [e-mail] or 202 347-8500 x7605

NARAL Pro-Choice America is organizing an intern brown bag lunch series. It is being co-sponsored by several progressive organizations. The goal of the series is to provide information about the work being done by local organizations and offer an opportunity for interns to network with each other. The kick off is Thursday, July 7th at 12 pm. The lunches will be held every Thursday at 12 pm thru August 18th.
Time: 12-1 pm every Thursday
Where: Each brown bag will be held at the office of the sponsoring organization.
Dates:
Thursday, July 28th: People for the American Way
Thursday, August 4th: American Association of University Women
Thursday, August 11th: Leadership Conference on Civil Rights
Thursday, August 18th: Wake Up Wal-Mart


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

VGC Environmental [e-mail]


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

VGC Faith Outreach [e-mail]


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Outreach and Events Around The Region
These listings are designed to keep you aware of opportunities to work in the community, provide feedback to policy makers, meet future leaders, and get involved in the community. Most events are free and all are open to the public. To submit an event for consideration, email [e-mail]



Monday, July 25, 1:00 pm. Boost Judith Miller's Morale Rally; Support a Free Press Rally. At Alexandria's Market Square, 301 King Street in Old Town Alexandria. Join our elected officials, including Congressman Moran and Alexandria Mayor Bill Euille. Info: Andrew H. Macdonald, Member of the Alexandria City Council, (Cell: 703-512-9379; (w) 703-548-7572 or Andrea Stowers (C) 703-622-1111.



Friday, July 29th thru Sunday, July 31st , 2005 ACS National Convention: The Constitution in the 21st Century. www.acslaw.org



Monday, August 1st , 5pm. Protest the treatment of day laborers in Herndon. Herndon Council Chambers, 765 Lynn St., Herndon, VA. Please come and show your support----We can start the day before: July 31st to organize. and August 1st to stand in front if the town council and be heard. Info and RSVP to - Ricardo Cabellos, [e-mail]



August 13th, Rally for Prison Reform in DC. http://www.journeyforjustice.org/



August 12th-14th Dismantling Racism Workshop Virginia Organizing Project will sponsor a weekend Dismantling Racism workshop August 12-14, 2005 at the Richmond Hill Retreat Center, 2209 East Grace Street, in Richmond. The session begins at 4:00 p.m. Friday, August 12 and ends at noon Sunday, August 14. Contact Laura Ramirez at 434.984.4655 or [e-mail]



Sept. 24th--26th End the War on Iraq. Massive Mobilization in Washington, D.C. http://www.unitedforpeace.org/article.php?id=2854



October 21-23, 2005 Virginia Forest Watch Seventh Annual Membership Meeting & National Forest Protection Alliance Seventh Annual National Convention in the forest near Harrisonburg, Va. To invigorate the statewide and national effort to protect and restore national forests, this year's convention will focus on how organizations can protect their forests through the marketplace and ecologically-based restoration. Contact [e-mail] 434-293-7401 or [e-mail] 276-479-2176


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Weekly Reader
Don't Register for Web Sites. http://www.bugmenot.com/
The Black Vote. http://www.alternet.org/columnists/story/23690/

Ivins on Energy. http://www.alternet.org/columnists/story/23493/

Fauquier County hears about the Downing Street Memo. http://www.timescommunity.com/site/tab2.cfm?newsid=14886799&BRD=2553&PAG=461

Hate in Herndon. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A58434-2004Sep28.html

The new face of America?? http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/eibessential/illustrating_absurdity/tshirts.guest.html

Inside/Outside Strategy. http://www.alternet.org/story/23600

Why Worry? http://www.alternet.org/story/23670

PFAW on Roberts. http://media.pfaw.org/roberts.pdf

Truth is a Casualty. http://thinkprogress.org/2005/06/29/state-department-doctors-bono-quote

Doctored Health News. http://www.prwatch.org/node/3850

Ideopolis. A great blog. http://www.movingideas.org/minblog/

A Community Approach. http://www.wakeupwalmart.com/community/


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Fun Stuff
The RoveBoat. http://www.americanprogress.org/site/c.biJRJ8OVF/b.3457/?tr=y&auid=1005271

All the News That's Fit to Fake. http://www.americanprogress.org/site/apps/nl/content3.asp?c=biJRJ8OVF&b=677601&content_id={8C970519-436C-425A-8643-B6EF256211AE}¬oc=1

Roving Target. http://www.alternet.org/columnists/story/23547/


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

To unsubscribe --. http://www.democracyinaction.org/VAgrassroots/unsubscribe.jsp To subscribe, send and email to [e-mail] Tell a friend.



----------

To unsubscribe or change your address, visit - http://lists.vagrassroots.org/mailman/listinfo/vgc-announce






To unsubscribe from this group or change to digest mode simply reply with UNSUBSCRIBE or DIGEST in the subject line.
Yahoo! Groups Links

<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/USDemocrat-Virginia/

<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
[e-mail]

<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/