Let The Sunshine In! (Feb Actions)

DON'T FORCE DIVORCE rally today!
Marriage Equality Rally
When: Friday February 13, 2009 11:30a - 1:30p
Where: Ventura County Government Center 800 S Victoria Ave, Ventura, CA (Meet at the fountain)
What: Join the Ventura County Rainbow Alliance, Stonewall Democrats of Ventura County, and COLOR for a rally to show our resolve to overturn Prop 8 and to show support for the 18,000+ same-sex couples who were legally married in 2008

Season for Nonviolence continues!
The Season for Nonviolence continues with daily mantras designed to increase our awareness of ourselves, each other, and our planet! Here is a handful of current ones, and you can check in each day on the Ojai Post:
Feb 13: Today, I will speak with kindness, respect, and patience to every person that I talk with on the telephone.
Feb 14: Today, I will affirm my value and worth with positive "self talk" and refuse to put myself down.
Feb 15: Today, I will tell the truth and speak honestly from the heart.
Feb 16: Today, I will cause a ripple effect of good by an act of kindness toward another.
Feb 17: Today, I will choose to use my talents to serve others by volunteering a portion of my time.

Be A Citizen Diplomat for Iran
I believe in a peaceful solution to conflict with Iran, and elsewhere.
I believe that our country's leadership must seek those solutions, but that citizens like me have a role to play too.
I pledge to be a citizen diplomat, so I will:
... Stay informed and learn about Iran.
... Talk to friends and family, and ask for their help.
... Take action to support the new administration in pursuing diplomacy.

Sound good? Sign on with Peace Action West HERE.

I ♥ You, Our Planet, & Other Humans!
copied from The Ojai Post, by author Raymond Powers:
I want to encourage everyone to start thinking now , if you are going to give gifts, about buying fairtrade/organic chocolate for Valentines day, cards from recycled materials and organically grown flowers.

http://www.organicconsumers.org/valentines/index.cfm

Over 40 percent of the world's conventional chocolate (i.e. non-organic and non-Fair Trade) comes from Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast), where the International Labor Organization (ILO) and US State Department have reported widespread instances of child slavery. Exploitation of cacao farmers and farm workers is the global norm in the chocolate industry, rather than the exception.

Meanwhile organizations such as the Pesticide Action Network point out that commercial flowers, produced in countries such as Colombia, are the most toxic and heavily sprayed agricultural crops on Earth. The high profits of the transnational flower exporters are derived from poisoning the land and farmers, while forcing workers in the flower industry, often young women, to work 18 hour days for poverty wages during peak flower buying times such as Valentine's Day.

Aquarians, Arise!
You know the song (even if you know it best from the end credits of The 40-Year-Old Virgin), and now it's here! According to its Wikipedia entry, the Age of Aquarius begins tomorrow and is marked by "electricity, computers, flight, democracy, freedom, humanitarianism, idealists, modernization, rebels and rebellion, mental diseases, nervous disorders, and astrology. Other keywords and ideas believed associated with Aquarius are nonconformity, philanthropy, veracity, perseverence, mankind and irresolution."

Sounds fun, huh? Most of us are probably more familiar with The Fifth Dimension's 1969 lyrics:
When the moon is in the Seventh House
And Jupiter aligns with Mars
Then peace will guide the planets
And love will steer the stars
This is the dawning of the age of Aquarius
Age of Aquarius
Aquarius!
Aquarius!

Harmony and understanding
Sympathy and trust abounding
No more falsehoods or derisions
Golden living dreams of visions
Mystic crystal revelation
And the mind's true liberation
Aquarius!
Aquarius!

Green Coalition's "Solar Night"
The Ojai Valley Green Coalition presents this presentation is designed for Ojai Valley residents to learn about solar electric systems. Members of the Energy Committee will show a comprehensive slide show about the solar electric industry, followed by a panel discussion and Q&A with solar specialist on the committee. Attendees will learn about utility power, solar power, costs and financing, and how to determine if you're a good candidate for solar power.
Wednesday February 25, 2009 * 7:00 - 8:30pm * $2 donation appreciated

Nonviolent Communication in March
It's not too early to think about putting another tool in your Peace belt (or sharpening it if you've already got it) by attending Marshall Rosenberg's annual Nonviolent Communication training in Santa Barbara!This year it'll be on March 28-29 at Santa Barbara City College's Schott Center. HERE is a contact form for more info, or you can contact me and i'll see about setting up a carpool!You can learn more about this life-affirming language model at The Center for Nonviolent Communication's website.

Carpool to Gaza Protest, Saturday January 10

Ventura County Caravan to
National Day of Emergency Mass Action
in LA at Westwood Federal Building
(11000 Wilshire Blvd)

Ojai, 9:30 am at Full of Beans parking lot on 11534 N Ventura Ave Ojai. RSVPhola2tanya@yahoo.com or call 805-421-9708

Ventura, 10 am at Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, 4360 E. Main St. corner with Telephone Rd.
Call 805-641-1789 if you are interested. No calls, no ride! (Go to TO instead.)

Thousand Oaks, 10:30 am at TO Trans Center, Rancho & Hwy 101

Contact organizers at 805-241-0708 or answervc@riseup.net

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Gaza: Two More (Online) Actions
1. Sign this email letter to our Senators and Representatives urging support for immediate ceasefire, ending the blockade on Gaza, and diplomatic efforts in the region.
Sponsored by Peace Action West.

2. The Network of Spiritual Progressives is planning to run a full-page ad in some major newspapers, appealing to President-Elect Obama to get involved in the Middle East peace process. Read the proposed ad's text HERE, and sign onto it (with an option to donate) HERE.
Sponsored by Network of Spiritual Progressives.

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Push YOUR Issues to the Top!
There are TONS of vital issues scrambling for priority on Obama's desk, all asking for supportive votes to make it into the coveted "Top Ten". Whatever YOUR favorite issues are, find them and support them at Change.org so that the new Administration takes them to heart!

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E-Waste Recycling Event, 402 W. Ojai Ave
January 10, 2009 9:00am-1:00pm

In partnership with Ojai Community Bank, Ojai Valley Directory and Gold Coast Recycling & Tranfer, the Ojai Valley Green Coalition will hold a recycling event Saturday, January 10 in the bank parking lot located at 402 W. Ojai Avenue from 9am to 1pm. Gold Coast will be accepting for recycling most types of electronics including computers, monitors and all accessories, TVs, radios, stereos and small appliances, such as toasters and microwaves. The Coalition will be accepting household batteries (limit 5 pounds), ink and toner cartridges, cds and dvds, ipods, cell phones and incandescent holiday lights. The event is open to all Ojai Valley residents and businesses.
from ojaievents.com

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Annual MLK Day Celebration - Monday, Jan. 19, 2009 in Libbey Park fountain area (rain location Matilija Jr. Hi auditorium). Sponsored by the Ojai Valley Youth Foundation. Youth lead a celebration of Dr. King's life with music, art and activities..all for Free!

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The Truth: Still Inconvenient, but now Updated and Revised!
The Ojai Valley Green Coalition welcomes Al Gore-trained Climate Jedi Gretchen Lewotsky to our Ecology and Community series Wednesday January 28, 2009 · 7:00 pm $5 donation.

Download the PDF event flyer HERE.

Inconvenient Truth slideshow and discussion with Gretchen Lewotsky Currently VP of State & Local Government Affairs and Environmental Operations for the Fox Entertainment Group, in January 2007 Gretchen was chosen by Al Gore's The Climate Project to be one of the 1000 persons selected world-wide to be trained by Al Gore to present his An Inconvenient Truth slideshow.
from the Ojai Valley Green Coalition.

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Season for Nonviolence begins January 30th
January 30th is the memorial date of Gandhi's assassination (this year is the 61st), and the Season for Nonviolence runs the 64 days between this date and Martin Luther King Jr's assassination date, April 4th.

One practice of this national campaign has been to dedicate each of the 64 days to a different mantra, committing oneself to nonviolence in thought, feeling, and action. Beginning on January 30, the first handful of mantras that i've traditionally used follows:

Jan 30: Today, I will reflect on what peace means to me.
Jan 31: Today, I will look at opportunities to be a peacemaker.
Feb 01: Today, I will practice nonviolence and respect for Mother Earth by making good use of her resources.
Feb 02: Today, I will take time to admire and appreciate nature.
Feb 03: Today, I will plant seeds--plants or constructive ideas.
Feb 04: Today, I will hold a vision of plenty for all the world's hungry and be open to guidance as to how I can help alleviate some of that hunger.
Feb 05: Today, I will acknowledge every human being's fundamental right to justice, equity, and equality.
Feb 06: Today, I will appreciate the earth's bounty and all of those who work to make my food available (i.e., grower, trucker, grocery clerk, cook, waitress, etc.)
Feb 07: Today, I will work to understand and respect another culture.
Feb 08: Today, I will oppose injustice, not people.
Feb 09: Today, I will look beyond stereotypes and prejudices.