Can a private group sponsor applicants for citizenship?

Can a nonprofit bridge the gap and support humanitarian goals?

Can a group of folks in Olympia, WA make a difference by choosing to spend their money on a "immigration support services center", instead of continued consumerism bereft of meaning?

What ideas do you have for making the world a better place?

I want to provide a stable landing pad for folks that want out of the meat grinder that is our modern world--

I want to learn by doing and to see the world through the eyes of those that I would be as a guest to (as in, those that host when I travel).

There has to be a more effective way to support progessive change, and I think that sponsoring immigrants/applicatnts would dbe a great place to start--

Any thoughts? Suggestions?

OK, we have info from the FBI (thxs Norm), and lots of input across the board--

Now to the real issue: if we have a handle on what we-all as a community think terrorism is, what terrorism means, then I ask...

Is the self-bomber a terrorist or a freedom fighter?

I know that most don't agree with my calling the Oly PMR (or any PMR for that matter), a terrorist action, etc...albeit I said "mild form of..."(for what that is worth).

But what I'm trying to do is to get us all thinking about this stuff...

I totally agree with the PMRs (ethically): I just can't condone the blockade.

So, where are we? I wanna do this:

I think the real issue is that the US is no longer a melting pot, open, and free.

I want to promote immigration to the US.  I think that this process is easier for folks if they have a sponsor in the US--

I believe that "open arms" are better than "armed response", and I want to promote world peace by starting with my house, my property, my neighborhood.

I want to go beyond "hostel" and move to a full-on 501(c)(3) nonprofit that supports and facilitates immigration and establishment of citizenship for folks.

Where you are born is a chance (random).  What are the odds of being born in the US?

What up you little rascals,

On Sunday March 11th from 3-5pm @ Media Island (316 Adams St, SE) there will be a planning meeting for this months Westside Artwalk 3 (March 31st) (yes I  did made a mistake with a earlier post) as well as next months Eastside Artwalk/Procession of the species after party? (April 28th).  If we're lucky we might even get to some other development stuff too.  Come get involved and then stick around to cook, eat, or clean with Food Not Bombs who will also be catering a benefit/speaking event on St. Patties Day for  Camp  Quixote (nettle soup anyone) .  If you live on the east or west side and would like your house to be a venue or are a artist. crafter, filmmaker, musician, ect then come to this meetup or email us raccooncollective@gmail.com to participate.

ARTS NOT ARMS  www.raccooncollective.org
                       http://raccooncollective.blogspot.com/  (the Den) --news, updates, video, riff raff

--
*BEWARE:we never hibernate!

I work in that area of Tumwater where the infamous red wing blackbirds dive bomb human pedestrians and peck at their craniums. Last year one of these birds left a nice welt on the top of my head, as they seem to go for those of us who are a bit thin in the hair department.

Anyway, today I saw a big black bird perched on a tree that has been previously known as a launching pad for the red wing blackbird. My heart froze in terror. But then the bird made a noise and revealed itself to be a harmless crow.

So, as you can see, there was no caws for alarm.

A group of us are meeting weekly to discuss plans for May Day this year. We welcome anyone who wants to add an element to the festivities (a Maypole?! Woody Guthrie?!) or participate in the discussion. The meetings are every Tuesday evening at 1320 8th Ave (Bread & Roses House of Hospitality) from 5 until about 6:30. Food provided!
EDIT: yeah, that's right now... I better get cookin'!

from Olympia Poetry Network's March, 2007, News and Letters

On Thursday, March 8, OPN will sponsor the next in our series of free workshops at the Olympia Timberland Library, beginning at 7 p.m. This workshop will feature two poets well known to the Olympia area poetry community: Jeanne Lohmann and Don Freas. These workshops usually involve some craft advice and some exercises on site, so bring pen and paper and prepare for a lively evening of poetry saturation.

Press Release from Senator Pam Roach

Ways and Means Committee OKs Sen. Roach's foreign language pilot project bill

March 6, 2007

OLYMPIA…The Senate Ways and Means Committee last night approved a bill prime-sponsored by Sen. Pam Roach, R-Auburn, that would make foreign language instruction a higher priority in Washington schools.  

Substitute Senate Bill 5714 would create a two-year Spanish and Chinese language instruction pilot program in which two Washington school districts could participate. 

SSB 5714 now goes to the Senate Rules Committee, the final hurdle before a full Senate vote.  

“We’re one step closer to starting a program that could have a very positive and profound impact on Washington’s elementary schools,” Roach said. “We are one of the few nations that don’t teach a second language to elementary school students, so that puts our kids at a disadvantage. It’s time to change that. We should make learning a world language as high a priority in our elementary schools as learning math, reading and spelling.”     

Roach said individuals become more fluent and proficient at speaking a second language if they start when they are very young.  

“That’s what happens in other countries, and the results speak for themselves. Kids in elementary schools can soak up a new language like a sponge. Besides, it’s fun and something new for them to learn. Kids who learn a second language will have higher WASL scores because they will be mentally stimulated. That should matter to parents, teachers and administrators alike,” Roach said.  

“Unfortunately, most Washington students don’t have the chance to learn any language other than English until they are in high school,” added the 31^st District lawmaker.

 

For the rest of the story, follow this link.

As I have made clear on several occasions, my interest in childhood education is in part parental bias. Other biases of mine being pro-human survival and development, I think we are fools to not support education developments like this. As greater and greater evidence piles up regarding the benefits of multilingualism and the human brain, we come to a crossroads of explicitly supporting or eschewing future human potentials.

Evidence of the benefits of multi-lingualism: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6.