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oregon & cascadia

Cascadia is the northwest coastal region of North America, including the area surrounding the Cascade mountain range extending from Humboldt County, Calif., to the Alaskan panhandle, and covers much of Oregon, Washington and British Columbia.

A narrower definition of Cascadia refers to the area influenced by the Cascade mountain range and the 100 miles of coastal lands between it and the Pacific Ocean. Cascadia is a Pacific Rim nation-state concept and a possible basis for regional autonomy, as plans are made to secede from the respective countries that envelop the Cascadia bioregion. For many residents of the Pacific Northwest, Cascadia is a state of mind fostered by the lifestyle of this unique biosphere and has become a geographical identity spoken of with pride.



animal rights 05-May-2008 09:17

Breaking News: Six Sea Lions Dead

From the open publishing newswire: Four California sea lions and two Steller sea lions were found shot to death below Bonneville river at noon today. The area is now sealed off as a crime scene, since the killing involved gunshots at a federal facility. The sea lions were found dead at the traps. ...at the TRAPS.
This killing is a direct result of the government's recent proposal to kill sea lions. This is what we all knew would happen, up and down the river, from now on. A killing frenzy. Sea lions have been scapegoated for the human-induced salmon crisis, and fishermen have whipped themselves up into a frothing vengeance. As we knew it would, they have taken the government's decision as permission to kill. As they were meant to.

These, by the way, are the very fishermen who have been screaming about how "aggressive" the sea lions are when they try to haul out into their boats. I think it's pretty clear which species is truly aggressive, and truly destructive here. The sea lions were apparently caged in the traps at the time of the shooting, and although the finger on the trigger was apparently some beer-soaked fisherman (who remains free tonight) rather than an ODFW official, the government is directly to blame for putting these sea lions into harm's way in this manner. Please let them know what you think.

And please get to the river and keep watch. There will likely be more shootings like this now. Do what you must to protect the sea lions from human aggression.

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legacies 04-May-2008 16:05

Letter To Olympia From An Anarchist

From the open publishing newswire: I attended the march in Olympia on May Day. As I was involved in absolutely no illegal activity on that day, I feel no fear in speaking my mind. I saw everything that happened and was present from the beginning to the end of that day's activities. What I saw inspired, sickened and encouraged me. There were many good things that happened, just as there were many bad things. But most of those bad things were initiated and enacted by the police. I do not wish to give a blow-by-blow recounting of the actions of those involved, given that others have done this already. I wish to ask some questions.

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green scare | prisons & prisoners 04-May-2008 16:03

Tre Arrow -Trial date changed

From the open publishing newswire: Tre's Legal Update.
From Paul Loney, Tre's attorney...

Hi folks,

Tre's 5/6/2008 Jury Trial has been reset for 7/8/2008 at 09:00AM
before Judge James A. Redden. We needed to set a new trial date
because additional time is needed for pretrial investigation and trial
preparation. So there is no court appearance for May 6th. The July 8th
date is also subject to change.

 http://www.trearrow.org

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energy & nuclear 03-May-2008 07:53

Students at Pacific U. Denounce LNG

LNG Pipeline Route From the open publishing newswire: In Forest Grove - the location of Pacific University - we live in direct contact with communities threatened by the largest dirty energy project proposed for Oregon: Liquefied Natural Gas. Yesterday, a group of us set out to educate our campus about the problems with LNG development.

Farmers and property owners in western Washington County - as in many other parts of our state - face the prospect of having their land seized through "eminent domain" to make way for LNG pipelines. Here in Forest Grove, we don't have to look to the oil fields of Ecuador or the coal-ravaged towns of Appalachia to find real people being displaced by the fossil fuel industries; they are right here, almost literally in our backyard.

To show just what an LNG pipeline means for property owners, our student group constructed a fake section of pipeline which we laid out on an often-frequented path. We strung out a length of red ribbon 25 feet to either side of the pipeline, marking off the size of the property "easement" rendered permanently unusable for tree farming and other practices involving deep-rooted crops or ploughing. The text accompanying our display asked viewers to "Imagine this is your property," and also spelled other problems with LNG development, which include contributions to global warming, and an increase in our dependence on foreign fuels. This dirty energy source means bad news for Oregon all around, and its time to let ALL our elected officials know it.

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actions & protests 02-May-2008 05:50

Bank Of America, US Bank Attacked In Olympia May Day March

From the open publishing newswire: Today in Olympia there was a march that followed a rally in Sylvester Park. During the rally people spoke about the plight of immigrant workers and the raids by ICE carried out in our communities. The hip-hop group Sound Asylum performed a short set and then the crowd marched up Capitol Blvd towards the Capitol Building.

When the march reached the Capitol, people flooded inside. Some people threw up tags on the marble walls and others chanted in front of the Governor's office. Afterward, people listened to speakers on the Capitol steps. The outline of a large circle (A) was still visible on the Roman columns above the speakers. The march then headed to City Hall where people listened to more speakers. When the march set off again, it headed down one-way 4th Avenue into the heart of Downtown Olympia. When the march passed the US Bank, multiple rocks were thrown and multiple windows were shattered. The march continued onward and soon passed a Bank of America. Multiple rocks were thrown, multiple windows were broken. And then the police attacked.

Three people were singled out and arrested. As of now this author is only aware of these three. Undercover cops pulled out their pistols and pointed them at people. Many people were hit and shoved by the police. The crowd stayed around the police and their cars as more police arrived. One officer started firing into the crowd with pepper balls at point-blank range. When the police had taken away the hostages the crowd went to the jail.

Another Mayday Reportback - more arrests in Olympia

Photogs from Portland's Mayday | 1st of may Hamburg, Germany: heaviest riots since 30 years | Mayday repression in Turkey | Mayday rally crushed in Istanbul

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animal rights 02-May-2008 05:26

National Call In Days for Sea Lions!! (Friday & Monday)

Help Save Me!!!! From the open publishing newswire: This week a sea lion was murdered at the hands of the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife after trapping, stressing, branding, and anethesizing numbers of sea lions that are supposed to be protected, but instead are being sold to Sea World in Florida.

Please call the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW), and Governor Kulongoski Friday and Monday. Let them know that you want the Sea Lion trapping to stop and you don't want them to kill anymore Sea Lions.

We are their voice!
Call many times!

 http://www.pdxanimaldefense.org

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community building | energy & nuclear 02-May-2008 05:23

Climate Convergence Open Meeting May 4th 2pm

From the open publishing newswire: Organizing for this years West coast Convergence for Climate Action has been coming together really well and we are looking for organizations and individuals who are interested in plugging in, however they see fit. We are hoping to broaden the perspectives that are represented both while organizing the event and within our list of workshops.
  • WHAT: Open Meeting for the 2008 West coast Convergence For Climate Action
  • WHERE: It's A Beautiful Pizza, 3342 SE Belmont
  • DATE: Sunday May 4th
  • TIME: 2 - 4 pm

climateconvergence.org

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30-Apr-2008 07:29

Reportback from April 17th Action at Mexican Consulate

From the open publishing newswire: Members of Portland State University student groups M.E.Ch.A., Las Mujeres, North American Solidarity, Amnesty International PSU, and community groups Portland Central America Solidarity Committee, Cascadia Root Force, Oregon Oaxaca Solidarity [held] a march and rally outside the Mexican Consulate to demand a thorough investigation of the ambush and murder of two women community media activists in Oaxaca, Mexico. These groups also condemn the paramilitary repression of indigenous women and community media projects.

There was a vibrant turnout of 40 students and allies, who marched from PSU with three banners, two coffins to symbolize the deaths of these women, and chants for justice. Once arriving at the consulate, a delegation of four students from M.E.Ch.A., Las Mujeres, North American Solidarity, and one person from Oregon Oaxaca Solidarity went into the Mexican consulate to deliver the letter. Ursula Rojas greeted us and listened to our grievances and demands for justice. We were told that a copy of the letter would be sent to Ulises Ruiz Ortiz, governor of Oaxaca. We also spoke of our concern that US military aid under Plan Mexico would be used for further repression under the guise of the War on Drugs. We held a sit-in until 5pm at which time we left together peacefully. Below are the demands we made as well as the contact information we gave so that the Consulate officials may respond:

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immigration 27-Apr-2008 05:32

Tacoma: Anti-ICE March Attacked

From the open publishing newswire: Police Attack March

The march today in Tacoma has just ended. There have been two confirmed arrests. There are still people unaccounted for. The massive police presence attacked the march at its end. There will be another update when we have confirmed everything.

~ Tacoma Smash ICE

Tacoma Smash ICE Live Blog

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animal rights 26-Apr-2008 16:35

ALF Cascadia - 40 Mink Freed in Jefferson,OR

From the open publishing newswire: anonymous communique: "04-21-08: We, the masked avengers of the Animal Liberation Front released around 40 Blue Iris mink from the breeding stock at Jefferson Fur Farm, 1477 SE Talbot Road, Jefferson, OR. Breeding records containing genetic history were also permanently destroyed. It will be a hard road ahead for these mink and their offspring, but with our help they now have a chance at survival. These animals are not capitalist commodities to be bought and sold for fashion or vanity, but unique individuals deserving of liberation from human exploitation. Even if some of the mink do not make it we feel it is better to die free, then at the hands of their speciesist captors.

To the Posches, owners of Jefferson Fur Farm: Consider this your first warning. Tear down this death camp and let the mink live free. If you don't we will be back to finish the job.

We want to make it very clear that we will not be intimidated by the states continued witch hunt against the earth and animal liberation movements. Draconian prison sentences and repressive legislation will not deter us from our goal of total earth, animal, and human liberation. For every liberator you throw in prison, there will two more to take her place. For every activist's house you raid, there will ten times that many cages emptied. You can take our freedom, but you will never extinguish the flame that burns in our heart. Let your passion mirror the animals oppression and our persecution. ~ALF-Cascadia"

www.directaction.info

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animal rights 26-Apr-2008 05:15

BREAKING NEWS: Sea Lions safe for now

"These sea lions are not responsible for the salmon crisis" From the open publishing newswire: Judge overturns Mosman's ruling

Last week, Judge Mosman refused to grant an injunction to postpone the killing of sea lions until the trial has come to a close. This week, another judge granted an appeal to that ruling, allowing safety to the sea lions for now. Still a lot of work to be done, so don't rest yet!

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immigration 26-Apr-2008 05:14

March Against ICE: Saturday, April 24th, Tacoma

From the open publishing newswire: Rally @ 12 PM---March @ 1 PM
This coming Saturday there will be a rally starting in People's Park at 12 PM in the Hilltop district of Tacoma. At 1 PM we will leave the park and head down the hill.

As it stands right now, no one even knows about the existence of the Northwest Detention Center. The families affected by the raids and those who support them are aware of its existence. But the general population does not know.

This blackout and secrecy has gone on for too long. Those of us with the privilege and ability to do something have done nothing. Those of us least affected by the raids have sat by for too long while the process of detention, removal and terror continues unabated.

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animal rights 26-Apr-2008 05:09

EVENT - This Sunday 5pm WWAIL Candle Light Vigil!

From the open publishing newswire: In remembrance of countless beings who have and continue to live, suffer, and die in labs throughout the world.

In recognition of our commitment to- and solidarity with those who suffer - You are invited to a very special candle light vigil this Sunday at an undisclosed location.

- Meet 5pm Sunday at Red & Black Cafe 400 SE 12th Ave, Portland, OR
- Bring $5 for public transportation
- Wear comfortable walking shoes
- Dress warm enough to be out for several hours
- Bring a few candles :-)

Please plan to come out and voice our opposition to the continuing, failed disgrace that is animal testing!

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