From the open publishing newswire: This year Cascadia made home to the now annual Trans & Womyn's Action Camp.
Cascadia hasn't hosted a camp of this sort in a few years, unfortunately. This camp alone brought out so many new faces and introduced them to the radical environmental movement that we decided it must continue out here, in coordination with other Trans and Womyn's spaces that correlate with future Earth First! Rendezvous.
Taking place in workshops spaces such as Learn First! and Share Garden, the schedule was widely diverse with issues of forest defense techniques, tactics of non-violent direct action, strategic campaigning, supporting mental health wellness & burnout, gender identity, sex work, DIY reproductive health (where many women saw a cervix for the first time!), how to call out oppressive behavior in a constructive way, etc. There was a large focus on anti-oppression by having three unique AO scheduled workshops, with additions of an impromptu critical discussion on privilege and oppression in the larger EF! movement, which eventually turned into a discussion about environmental racism and environmental justice. And prior to that there was an in-depth discussion on how to incorporate the safer space of TWAC- trans-inclusiveness, solidarity, and anti-oppression- at the upcoming EF! Round River Rendezvous, which eventually turned into trying to rally folks to attend the EF! RRR.

Beyond having some really amazing & critical workshops, we also had lots of fun ones!

From the open publishing newswire: PDX QUEER TOWN HALL
7pm Tuesday, July 7th, 2009
The Q Center (4115 N Mississippi)

ABOUT
Over PDX Pride weekend 2009, multiple members of our community experienced harassment, violence & queer-bashing, as well as inadequate police response. A group of us who were pretty directly involved in the incidents, came together to create space to talk about what happened, and move toward some positive & empowering solutions; thus the Town Hall concept was born. We see this Queer Town Hall as a space to share our experiences & resources, and to catalyze action that can help keep ourselves and our communities safer in the future. The meeting itself will begin with a short introduction, followed by breakout groups which will be spread around the room. This is an opportunity to hear about ideas that are currently in the works, to get involved, and share!

From the open publishing newswire: Le Pigeon, at SE 8th & Burnside, and Sel Gris, at SE 18th & Hawthorne, weren't expecting 50+ activists to roll up on Saturday night to call them out on grotesque animal abuses. Charged chanting and severe shaming went non-stop for almost an hour at each foie gras restaurant Saturday night. Force-feeding geese and ducks until they die is a cruel tradition for a disgusting delicacy of despair. You can do what you want, I'm going to act to remove foie gras from menus and markets whenever possible.

Dr. Eliott Spindel was cooling out in his Lake Oswego castle on Sunday night when around 40 demonstrators, most with their identities concealed behind bandannas and hoodies, sent him vocal hell for a half hour. Next, Ungar Furs owner Horst Grim was paid a visit all the way in Happy Valley where the defenders of fur bearers raised an uproar for another 30 minutes. Just after the activists drove away in a bio-diesel bus named "Cool", a cop cited a legal observer for littering when a piece of video camera tape wrapper was accidentally dropped. Otherwise they were as kind as defenders of animal abusers and greedy corporate capitalism could be.

From the open publishing newswire: Former Sandy Cop, and murdering, stalking, drunk driving, thug, William Bergin plead guilty to a very reduced charge last Thursday: From the original indictment by a (not so) grand jury, for felony identity theft, first-degree official misconduct and use of an invalid driver's license, he was allowed by the infamous John Foote (DA for Clackamas County), to plead guilty to misdemeanor "official Misconduct," and to do the perp walk to jail for a very harsh sentence: twenty four freakin hours in jail, no doubt in the VIP suite. WTF?

Mr. Bergin, for those who do not remember, is one of two (protect and serve) officers from Clackamas County, who, finding a badly burned, injured, naked (clothes burned off his body) and totally unarmed, "catatonic" according to their statements, Fouad Kaady, could think of no way to help him, so they tasered him until their alter penises were completely discharged of electricity, and then pumped five shots into his body.

From the open publishing newswire: A 10 lane bridge, while still too big, would be preferable to the current 12 lane concept, and there are signs that a smaller bridge might become the new concept
One of the things that jumped out at me from the fact sheets I got at the recent Columbia River Crossing "open house", (last Wednesday), was a projection from a sheet titled, "Traffic Effects of 8, 10 and 12 Lane Scenarios." This sheet compares the "local streets impacted by I-5 backups" in a 10 lane and 12 lane bridge scenario. In the 12 lane scenario, of course, there are no local streets impacted by an I-5 backup, either in Portland or Vancouver.

But in the 10 lane scenario, there are six streets or highways that are impacted. All but one of them are in Vancouver. So this really is a Clark County thing. The new bridge must be as large as possible so drivers from the northernmost reaches of Clark County, and probably beyond, can get to Portland in time for...whatever.

From the open publishing newswire: Racist propaganda found
Recently in the NW district there have been overtly racist stickers being put on signs, posts, newspaper dispensers, phone booths, etc. The stickers are for a group or individual called WILD (White Identity Love Defense). Some stickers have a picture of a tiger, and read, "WILD Portland," while others simply state, "White Identity." However, this weekend a new variety that reads, "Resist The Jews" was seen, so be on the lookout, not just for these, but any new variety of racist propaganda. The heavy concentration of the stickers has been on NW 21st and 23rd avenues. Furthermore, they have been quickly replaced once taken down. Some of these stickers have a website on them. The website itself is not much more than a hub with links to other sites, however the sites that the creator linked to is cause for concern. Some are anti-Semitic, some bemoan immigration (not merely undocumented immigration, but all immigration that "threatens a white majority."), and one is to Stormfront, the leading far-right forum whose members have celebrated such recent tragedies as the murder of Dr. Tiller in Kansas.

From the open publishing newswire: Fuck the war! On July 4th we're throwing a party to support anti-war organizing and Port Militarization Resistance (PMR). BBQ starts at 4:00 (vegan food available), DJ Arrives (read: partying starts) at 9:00. It's at 8th and Cushing, Olympia. This is a great way to get involved in anti-war organizing in the area, meet some new friends, and kick it with old ones. You won't want to miss this one!

From the open publishing newswire: Radix is an anarchist art and media collective based in Portland, Oregon. The word radix is the Latin root of the word radical, which means, "to get to the bottom of a situation." Our topics include but are not limited to anarchism, animal rights, human rights, prisoner support, and civil liberties.

From the open publishing newswire: Recent events have highlighted the fact that anti-Semitic organizers in Portland, Oregon are relying on "Leftist" spaces and groups to tolerate their efforts and ideology. On Wednesday, June 10, Valdas Anelauskas, a self-described "white separatist" who is involved with Holocaust-denial circles, gave a presentation to a group of sympathizers in Portland, Oregon. The event was sponsored by the Portland 9/11 Truth Alliance, and was initially scheduled to take place at the Laughing Horse Book & Video Collective... The Laughing Horse collective canceled the anti-Semitic event within 48 hours of being notified about its true nature. Valdas Anelauskas is a "racialist" (read: racist) activist currently based in Eugene, Oregon. Anelauskas is now active in the Pacifica Forum, a Eugene, Oregon organization which hosts Holocaust-denial speakers such as David Irving plus Mark Weber of the Institute for Historical Review.

While Portland 9/11 Truth Alliance activist Tim Titrud was one organizer for Anelauskas' talk in Portland, Titrud appears to have been assisted by a cast of several others, especially Tim Calvert... Calvert's conspiracy theories about Jewish power, and his denial of the Nazi genocide against the Jewish people, have been an open secret in Portland for years.

Rose City Antifa strongly opposes attempts to make excuses for anti-Semitism, or to pretend that it is any less poisonous than any other form of racism. Other organizations involving Tim Calvert, such as the Cascadia Education Project, are also advised to take notice. No compromise and no half-measures!

- Rose City Antifa / Portland ARA

From the open publishing newswire: As Portland's Sit/Lie ordinance is deemed as unconstitutional, there is evidence all over Portland of underground actions protesting the law. (Some popped up all over the city before the circuit court decision).
The signs the figures are holding have some of the following statements on them:

* "This city wide ordinance has been deemed unconstitutional by circuit court. Sit/Lie in unity to the supreme court. FREEDOM FOR ALL."

* "SIT LIE LAW IS A GVNMENT CURSE - Homeless Front"

Some that I spotted before the circuit court decision simply stated, "SIT LIE" and appeared to be attached with metal to what they were sitting on.

From the open publishing newswire: Friday 6/26: Special 2 hour broadcast!
The show is being aired live from Noon to 2 PM (Eastern) on WNYE (91.5 FM) in New York, an NPR-affiliated station.

Some of the line of of speakers include (but not limited to are)
Rod Knoll
Michael Geiger
John Hankins
Edward Murphy

The shows are archived on the PRN site: click "Archives" on the vertical menu and then Gary Null. Shows usually get loaded up by the end of the working day or the following morning at the latest

Please DO NOT miss this show or it's subsequent archive!

 http://www.aidsmythexposed.com
 http://www.wewebmagic.com

From the open publishing newswire: There are a lot of activists swooping into PDX for the Let Live weekend (letlivefoundation.org/conference) and the surge against animal abuse begins Friday the 26th with a rally at Ungar furs, SW 12th & Yamhill (2 blocks west of the library). If you want help animals then come "Raise your fist and your voice, (cause) fox & mink have no choice!" Ungar has been slaughtering innocent animals for 103 years and is the last furrier in downtown Portland. Although the Let Live Conference ends on Sunday night a lot of animal advocates are sticking around for another rally on Monday at Ungar.

From the open publishing newswire: Incarcerated Native American activist Leonard Peltier has been granted his first full parole hearing in 15 years. The hearing is scheduled for July 27, 2009, at the United States Penitentiary in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, where Peltier is currently imprisoned.

Recently, Lakota Chief Leonard Crow Dog spoke to a large crowd on behalf of Peltier at the Native American Student and Community Center at Portland State University. Sponsored by local Peltier supporters and hosted by the Native American Studies Department, the evening also included drumming and singing by the local chapter of the American Indian Movement, flute by Isaac Trimble, and presentations by several other speakers. Paintings and drawings by Peltier and Bob Robideau were on display, provided by Bonnie Kahn's Wild West Gallery on NW 23rd, who represents both artists locally.

[Watch the] Video of Chief Leonard Crow Dog and Delaney Bruce speaking on May 20th...

BACKGROUND: Peltier, a high-profile member of the American Indian Movement, was convicted in April, 1977, for his alleged role in the 1975 deaths of two FBI agents during a shootout on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. He received two life sentences. A model prisoner, over the past 33 years Peltier has become an accomplished painter and, from his prison cell, has spearheaded philanthropic support of Indian communities. He has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize each of the last six years. Peltier is legitimately eligible for release from prison. But, again, the FBI has launched a smear campaign to influence the parole board against him.

Letters in support of Peltier are needed now more than ever. Sample letters and more information are available at: Leonard Peltier Defense Offense Committee and Friends of Peltier