Earth Charter Marin
Commemorating international Earth Charter Summit day
Why the Environmental Crisis has Arrived, How it Affects You and What You Can Do About It.
Guest Speaker: Betsy Rosenberg, Producer of "EcoTalk: Sound Solutions for a Healthier Planet" radio program

Thursday, October 6, 2005, 7:00 to 9:00 pm
San  Rafael  Public Library,  1100  E Street, San Rafael (5th and Mission)
Free

Collaborating organizations include:
YES! Magazine (www.Yesmagazine.org)* Club of Budapest U.S.A. (www.cobusa.org), Sustainable Marin and Sustainable Novato
415-897-0822), Earth Charter Committee of SGI-USA Marin (www.sgi-usa.org)

*Yes!  Magazine  has recently developed an Earth Charter Curricular Module for  students  as well as offering a free one year magazine subscription to teachers. For more info: Muriel Adcock at adcock@cobusa.org, 415 492-2880;
Bonnie Hunter at BonnieSkip.hunter@comcast.net or http://earthchartersummits.org

Your Help is Needed! 
Please come and help phone bank --- it is actually fun!  Snacks are provided. The Alliance for a Better California (ABC) is phone banking:
Every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evening from now until the election on November 8, at The California Teachers' Association , 210 N. San Pedro Rd., San Rafael. 5:30-8:00 P.M.
More people are needed to call Democratic voters and urge them to vote "NO" on the Schwarzenegger Propositions.  There are eight Propositions on the Ballot, numbered 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79 & 80.  The Schwarzenegger Propositions are the first six, nuimbers 73-78.   

The ABC is focusing on Propositions 74-76.  Using the term "Schwarzenegger initiatives" really seems to get people's attention, so why not inform people that there are SIX Schwarzenegger propositions numbered 73-78? People don't seem to want to know what the propositions are about.  They just want to know which ones to vote "No" on.  You can say, "Nix the six" or "Vote no on the first six propositions."

The ABC provides a script regarding Propositions 74 -76.  This script can easily be expanded to include all six of the Schwarzenegger Propositions.  Or you can follow the script as written.  The important thing is to pick a Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday evening and make some calls.  You'll be glad you played a part in helping to pave the way for a Democratic governor in 2006.  
Below are the State Democratic Party Recommendations. 
Propositions  Six No / Two Yes:
The Official California Democratic Party Positions on the Ballot Props

 VOTE NO on Proposition 73
Termination of Minor's Pregnancy. Waiting Period and Parental Notification. Proposition 73 just the latest attempt by right-wing conservatives to take away a woman's right to choose. Instead of creating another law that would increase the health risk of teenagers, we should focus our energy on preventing teen pregnancy. Prop. 73 unwisely tries to legislate family communication and unrealistically expects teenagers to navigate through a cumbersome and confusing judicial process. Vote No on Proposition 73 and let our daughters have the freedom, privacy, and choice to make their own decision. For more information:Campaign for Teen Safety.
 
VOTE NO on Proposition 74
Public School Teachers. Waiting Period for Permanent Status. Proposition 74 does NOTHING to help improve public education. Currently, we have a system in place that allows a school to dismiss a teacher they find to be deficient during their first two years of service without a hearing. In fact, every local school has a system in place to deal with struggling teachers. In a time when we should be encouraging young adults to choose a career in teaching, Prop. 74 will hurt those recruitment efforts by not affording due process to those in the teaching profession who do so much for California's children. For more information:California Federation of Teachers;California Teachers Association.

VOTE NO on Proposition 75
Public Employee Union Dues. Proposition 75 would silence the voice of working men and women. Prop. 75 would let Big Business spend freely, while public sector unions would be silenced and in turn shut out from participating in the political process. Vote No on Proposition 75 and protect the voice of advocates who want decent funding for schools, better quality health care and higher standards for public safety. For more information:No on Prop 75 Committee.
For more information:  No On Prop 75 Committee.
 
VOTE NO on Proposition 76
School Funding. State Spending. Proposition 76 is an Arnold Schwarzenegger power grab that gives him the power to bypass the legislature and make cuts to the budget without any oversight or public approval. Prop. 76 does not protect education funding and it would reduce long-term Prop. 98 school spending by $4 billion per year. Under Prop. 76, local governments could lose hundreds of millions of dollars for police, firefighters, health care and social service programs. Vote No on Proposition 76 and protect those vital services that make our communities a better place to live. For more information:California Teachers Association.
 
VOTE NO on Proposition 77
Reapportionment. Proposition 77 is a flawed redistricting initiative that requires no public input, has no accountability provision, is unfair to those most underrepresented, and quite frankly doesn't make any sense. Prop. 77 will put the process of redistricting into the hands of retired judges who would not be required to take public input and who are not accountable to the voters. Furthermore, Prop. 77 is flawed because it would require these judges to use census data that is six to eight years old, which would hurt those most underrepresented. For more information:No On Proposition 77 Committee.
 
VOTE NO on Proposition 78
Prescription Drugs. Discounts. Proposition 78 is sponsored by all the major pharmaceutical companies…need we say more? Prop. 78 is nothing more than a smokescreen to make it seem as if the pharmaceutical companies suddenly want to give drug discounts. Prop. 78 is a toothless initiative because it doesn't mandate pharmaceutical companies to comply with any state negotiated discounts and there is no accountability provision to ensure meaningful discounts. Prop. 78 limits who is allowed to participate and doesn't provide discounts to those who need it most: the uninsured. For more information:Health Access California.
 
VOTE YES on Proposition 79
Cheaper Prescription Drugs For Californians Act. State-Negotiated Rebates. Unlike Prop. 78, Proposition 79 will provide real prescription drug discounts to those who need it most. Prop. 79 will establish a pharmacy assistance program to help businesses, small employer purchasing pools and labor organization health and welfare funds, among others, receive the same pharmacy discounts and rebates from drug makers. Pharmaceutical companies would be held accountable by a state advisory board that would review access to, and the pricing of, prescription drugs under the program. Real problems need real solutions, vote Yes on Prop. 79. For more information:Health Access California.
FAQ: (html | pdf)

VOTE YES on Proposition 80
Affordable Electricity & Preventing Blackouts Act. Proposition 80 will establish an energy policy for California that guarantees that the lights stay on, protects ratepayers from the market manipulation of private energy companies, "greens" our energy portfolio by increasing environmentally clean and sustainable renewable energy sources, assures that utility industry personnel are well trained, and repeals the failed electricity deregulation scheme that exposed Californians to blackouts and cost ratepayers billions of dollars. For more information:The Utility Reform Network(TURN).
FAQ: (html | pdf)

REGISTER VOTERS AT COLLEGE OF MARIN -YOUR HELP IS NEEDED!
 This month, beginning Monday October 10 through Monday October 24th, Pam Scoggins of the Associated Students Office at College of Marin (ASCOM) is organizing a voter registration drive.  MANY volunteers are needed to help with this effort.  The hours are: 
*Mondays October 10, 17, & 24  -  9:40am to 7:30pm
*Tuesdays October 11 & 18  -  9:40am to 4pm
*Wednesdays October 12 & 19  -  9:40am to 4pm
*Thursday October 13  -  9:40am to 4pm
*Thursday October 20  -  9:40am to 7:30pm
 
If you are able to help, please call Pam Scoggins at 485-9390 (ASCOM Office) or after hours at 459-8957.  You may volunteer for as few or as many  hours as fit your schedule.  Any time at all will be greatly appreciated.
College of Marin has a wealth of newly-eligible voters each year.  Help them get excited about being a part of our democracy!
Thank you to all who give so generously of your time and talents to help "take our country back!"

No Wetlands Landfill Expansion is a concerned citizen's watchdog group created to review Redwood Landfill's proposed expansion in Novato, along the Petaluma marsh. This expansion is a critical concern for residents of Marin and Sonoma counties environmentalists throughout the Bay Area. Join with others in their efforts to halt expansion of the dump.  The current alert issue is to contact the Marin Board of Supervisors and urge them to reopen the Land Use Permit.  This hasn't been revisited since it was granted in 1958 and many feel that some conditions for use could be added.  The next "Alert" will address comments on the FEIR just completed for a request to revise the current  Solid Waste Facilities Permit.  The deadline for that is Sept. 12. For more info, regularly check out their web site: www.noexpansion.org  

This expansion is a critical concern for residents of Marin and Sonoma counties and environmentalists throughout the Bay Area. It will negatively impact the environment and surrounding communities. Citizen input is essential during the environmental review and permit process . Expansion of the landfill will turn it into a state regional dump to increase Waste Management, Inc.'s big corporate profits. It will result in a substantial increase of large truck traffic on highway 101 and increase the risk of degrading surrounding wetlands as well as air and odor pollution throughout Novato and surrounding areas. The dump is adjacent to the largest tract of preserved undiked, virgin marshland in the state of California. All wildlife near the landfill is affected by the bright lights at night and the noise cannons used to frighten away seagulls.