Single Payer Meeting Tonight

This is a reminder about tonight’s meeting for those who would like to organize specifically in support of a single payer approach to reforming our health care system:

Tuesday, Sept. 1, from 7 – 9 pm
Room 204, Olympia Community Center in downtown Olympia
222 Colombia St. NW

* * * * *

Mad as Hell Doctors Care-A-Van

One item we will discuss tonight is the Mad as Hell Doctors Care-A-Van, which will launch its journey across the U.S. a week from today.

From the MAHD website:

www.madashelldoctors.com

On Tuesday, Sept. 8, the caravan departs from Portland on its way to Seattle.

>It will stop briefly between 2:30 – 3:00 pm at St. Francis Hospital in Federal Way (34515 9th Ave S, Federal Way).

This will be an opportunity to join the caravan on its way to Seattle where it will wind through downtown Seattle at minimum speed for high visibility.

Those who wish to join the caravan in Federal Way should contact David McLanahan at pnhp.westernwashington@comcast.net to get on a listserv for updates.

Let’s Rally for Single Payer TODAY and BEYOND

TODAY

I strongly encourage single payer advocates to show up a couple hours in advance of Rep. Baird’s town hall at the Washington Center for Performing Arts today.   People will gather at Sylvester Park and along Capitol Blvd between Legion & 7th to rally for health care reform.

It’s important for those of us who support single payer to specifically advocate for it at these rallies and in the town hall meeting itself.  The media will definitely be there and I think we should do everything we can to GET SINGLE PAYER ON THE TABLE.

Let us make our voices heard today for a single payer health care system for all.
Today, Monday, August, 31st 5 P.M--Rally at Sylvester Park
7 P.M--Town Hall meeting with Brian Baird

BEYOND

Whatever else happens, whatever direction this “debate” takes in the short-term, the best thing we can do for the long-term is to continue to push for and educate the public about single payer: by far the most efficient and effective option for providing health care to all.

For those who would like to organize locally – specifically in support of a single payer approach to reforming our health care system – there will be meeting tomorrow night:

[For all of you looking for an opportunity to resist OUTGOING war shipments:]

Saturday, May 2, Stryker combat vehicles, and other equipment belonging to the 5th Stryker Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, began moving from Ft. Lewis into the Port of Tacoma for eventual shipment to Afghanistan ... the soldiers will follow at a later date.  While previous campaigns of Olympia Port Militarization Resistance may have removed the Port of Olympia from the military's list of deployment options, we now call on the people of Olympia to support the resistance in Tacoma.  

In order to better publicize and generate support for the current Tacoma campaign, we will hold daily vigils at Percival Landing from 4-6pm.  Carpools to the GI coffee house  will leave daily from the Artesian Well at 6pm.  Planning and coordination meetings are scheduled for 7pm every night at the GI Coffee House for as long as the campaign continues.  So far, we have had more passengers than cars can hold -- drivers are much needed.  (One driver on Sunday evening made three separate trips.) 

The US wars and military occupations in Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan will never end until we the people withdraw our participation and acquiescence.  So, please support the current campaign of resistance in Tacoma in whatever way you can.

Dust off all the "Not in Our Port" and related anti-war, anti-empire signs and banners and meet us on the 4th Avenue Bridge today (Monday) at 4pm.

In solidarity,

-Sandy

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 19, 2009

Resistance to war in Afghanistan declared in Olympia, Washington

“As long as US military attacks continue against the people of Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan, we will continue to block military equipment from moving through our public port.” – Olympia Port Militarization Resistance

With the announcement of President Obama’s plans to escalate the US war in Afghanistan, Olympia Port Militarization Resistance gathered to affirm its commitment to engage in nonviolent civil resistance in order to block military shipments from moving through the Port of Olympia. Previously OlyPMR was focused on blocking shipments to Iraq, but now recognizes the importance of blocking shipments destined for Afghanistan and Pakistan as well. Subsequently, the revised OlyPMR mission statement reads:

“The goal of Olympia Port Militarization Resistance is to end our community’s participation in imperialist wars and occupations abroad, including Iraq, Afghanistan, and Pakistan, by stopping the US Military’s use of the Port of Olympia.”

Within five days of the President’s announcement, a coalition of dozens of grassroots groups around the country quickly organized a campaign demanding congressional hearings on Afghanistan. But in the South Puget Sound region of Washington State, many antiwar activists are convinced that demands alone are insufficient.

Deployments of three Stryker Brigade Combat Teams, based at Ft. Lewis, are scheduled for later this year. One deployment is destined for Afghanistan, while the other two will be deployed to Iraq. In anticipation of the equipment being shipped through regional ports, a concerted campaign of resistance has been formulated.

I'd like to look up an article published in the Duck a few years back. I can't find a website -- does anyone know if there is one? Or an online archive?

Thanks,

Sandy

This is to announce that the February issue of Works In Progress went to press on Friday and has been delivered to most of the usual locations around town: both food coops, libraries, books stores, coffee shops, etc. 

As is so often the case, eight pages is all we could afford this month, but it’s pretty much eight pages of solid gold, so be sure to pick up a copy.  Once again, both Janet Blanding and Phan Nguyen have applied their considerable skills, devoting untold hours of research, to provide top-notch coverage of issues important to ours readers. This, and so much more!  To be posted on the WIP website at a later time. 

Here’s what you’ll find inside:

but vague off-the-mark characterizations ... not so much.

I spent a good chunk of time writing a response to a criticism of WIP posted by non illegitimi earlier today. I just went to post my reply and found that the original content has been removed. I don't have the full text of non illegitimi's “critique,” nor would it be appropriate for me to publish if I did. But I have written this reply to specific criticisms and I think there might be value to posting nevertheless.

For those who did not see it,  non illegitimi's critique was that WIP presents a "narrow world view," to the "exclusion" of other perspectives.  It always sounds the same, repeatedly pointing out that "condos are bad .. . any newspaper is bad ... [and] nobody listens."  Non illegitimi concluded by saying that more and better should be expected from a media collective and asked WIP to "please improve."

[Posted by Peter Bohmer on the OMJP list]

Support Clint Burelson, President of the Olympia local of the American Postal Workers Union, who was recently fired from his job at the post-Office for standing up for other postal workers, which he has the right to do. Clint is a long-time labor and social justice activist. He is the chief shop steward and president of the postal workers union. In these roles, he has consistently stood up for other workers to protest against their unjust treatment and also to work that all postal workers be treated with dignity and respect. He has been very effective in this role. Clint Burelson has consistently advocated and organized against privatization, for worker rights, against management acting as dictators and against consolidation of the post office and for better customer service. For this he has been suspended many times and was fired once before. He always has gotten his job back with back pay. We need to show solidarity for this courageous postal leader.

Join the picket in support of Clint Burelson being rehired,

Monday, January 12th, 2009 from 11:00 A.M to 1:00 p.m. at the main Olympia post Office, 900 Jefferson St.

For more info, contact Louie Mackie, (360) 357-6231

Phan Nguyen will host Free and Fair tonight. Highlighting Arab voices, the topic will be the Israeli blockade and siege of Gaza.

Tonight from 8:00-9:00 pm on KAOS 89.3 FM.

Phan Nguyen is the author of an article in the January issue of Works In Progress entitled, "The (not-so-hidden) Facts Behind Israel's Gaza Invasion."

This is to announce that the January issue of Works In Progress went to press late yesterday afternoon and stacks have been distributed to most of the usual locations: both coops, libraries, coffee shops, book stores, etc. and will be posted on the website at a later time.

There's not as much eye candy as last month, but there is certainly no shortage of excellent reading.

Gaza coverage: