Works in Progress Volume 29, No. 7 Serving the Olympia community and the cause of social justice since 1990. January 2019 Two pivotal years ahead: Organizing, building alliances, voting Max Elbaum ting in place policies that will simul- but it will lack any of the substance. 1980s. It infused the anti-Trump mo- taneously ensure a cheap labor force tion with dynamism and inspired re- The next phase of our long-haul strug- blocked from fighting for its rights Build on 2018 gains cord numbers to vote against the GOP. gle for a radically different world will and provide Trump’s “base” with a Resistance to every aspect of this Here’s a small sampling of the charac- be extremely ugly and extremely con- dehumanized scapegoat to blame agenda will be needed in the streets, ter and scale of activity that provides sequential. on picket-lines, in the courts and in a foundation to build on: the battle for public opinion The danger we face for the next two years. This E The Texas Organizing Project (TOP), The special danger stemming day-in, day-out confrontation with its strong base among Lati- from the 2016 capture of the Re- nos and African publican Party by white national- Americans, went ism and Trump’s drive toward a If the Trumpists retain power all out in the most racialized authoritarian state has populous red state. given rise to a surge of popular the US might retain the TOP deployed at resistance. That outpouring has trappings of democracy, but it one time 575 staff, combined militant street protests reached 882,000 with large-scale electoral engage- will lack any of the substance. voters, knocked on ment. The GOP’s loss of control 300,000 doors, and of the House of Representatives was key in flip- this year and Republican losses in will build to the 2020 election, ping two congressional seats and various state contests puts some where ending GOP control of electing three DAs, putting Texas check on the administration’s ca- the White House must be the squarely on the map in the fight pacity to implement its agenda. top priority both for minimiz- against mass incarceration. Breakthrough victories by numer- ing further damage and prepar- E The progressive state table in Florida, ous progressives – including many ing a new cycle in which pro- which ranges from the Dream De- women of color and several social- Photo by Lindsey Dalthorp gressives can start driving the fenders to Florida New Majority and ists – along with increased strength country’s agenda. SEIU, pushed through Prop 4, which in the social justice movements for their continuing hardships; restored voting rights to 1.4 million that pushed them forward are signs The growing strength and maturity of formerly incarcerated people. E Abandon diplomacy in favor of mil- today’s social justice eco-system offers that the US left is emerging from years E Collaboration between the Working of marginalization. itary force and give aid and comfort hope of meeting this challenge. The to racist authoritarian regimes and progressive wing of the anti-Trump Families Party and New Georgia But the racist Right still holds the main leaders worldwide. majority consists of a loose alignment Project in Georgia, the leadership levers of national power. The Trump- No one should underestimate the of social justice organizations rooted in parts of Stacey Abrams’ cam- ists remain determined to hrestructure danger of this package. It adds up to especially in communities of color, paign by people from the Move- society in ways that have huge nega- imposing an “everything-for-the-Rich” and among youth, women, the labor ment for Black Lives Electoral tive consequences for the vast majority economic arrangement and a semi- and environmental movements, and Justice section, the fact that the of people in the US, but especially for apartheid “solution” to the “problem” the LGBTQ community. This sector National Domestic Workers Alli- those most disadvantaged and vulner- of a growing people of color popula- threw itself into the 2018 electoral fray ance deployed the largest indepen- able. Key elements of their agenda in- tion via an authoritarian regime. If the in ways not seen since the Rainbow dent field operation in that state - clude: Trumpists retain power the US might Coalition/Jesse Jackson surge of the 4Pivotal years, page 15 E Gutting economic and social wel- retrain the trappings of democracy, fare programs that benefit poor and working class people and destroy- since sold out to the powers that be ing the labor movement; and from which little can be expect- A political animal in ed), and because a small progressive E Doubling down on climate change denialism, dismantling already in- beachhead was gained by the election adequate environmental protec- of social democrats and women of col- tions and turning energy policy extreme times or, including the first Muslim women (and public land) over to the fossil to be elected to Congress. John Bellamy Foster A beachhead in the 2018 election fuel industry; The biggest danger that Trump repre- The essence of politics in E Reinforcing racism by ending Jus- The question of my political work fol- sents, though, is to the planet and the community tice Department Civil Rights en- lowing the November 2018 elections future of human civilization, as his My own politics, however, are not forcement, further militarizing the is a difficult one for me to answer, as policies are designed to speed up glob- generally aimed at electoral politics or police, reversing policies designed US electoral politics rarely have any al warming resulting from the burning political reform and regulation—or in- to break the school-to-prison pipe- direct impact on what I do, and cer- of fossil fuels. The current strategy of deed limited to the United States. Aris- line for people of color, giving free tainly not mid-term US elections. An the Trump White House, the billion- totle famously said that human beings rein to nakedly white supremacist exception, in my case, was the No- aire class, and the fossil fuel industry, are political animals. Political activity thugs and expanding racist voter vember 2016 elections, which led me taken together, seems to be to smash in this sense extends far beyond the suppression mechanisms; to write my 2017 book, Trump in the attempts to address climate change state, and beyond electoral politics, E Reversing gains made by women White House: Tragedy and Farce. That until it is too late to act, in which case and is related to community, going all over the last 40 years with special work raised the issue of the dangers they can go on burning fossil fuels all the way from the personal to the glob- emphasis on attacking abortion associated with Trump’s rise to politi- the way to oblivion. al. Politics thus rightly encompasses cal power and the rapid spread of neo- rights; The November 2018 elections thus all of our social actions. Fighting rac- E Stacking the judiciary with right- fascist tendencies in the United States, ism, sexism (patriarchy), and LGBTQ defined by the alliance between big took on greater importance than usual wing toadies and undermining in the context of countering a malign oppression are all crucial—along with what remains of a free press; capital and a largely white (and racist) the class struggle, without which real lower middle class. Trumpism (even if the instrument E Demonizing immigrants and put- was a Democratic Party that has long 4Extreme times, page 12 Page 2 Works In Progress January 2019 Works In Progress Works in Progress (WIP) is a com- Special events munity newspaper based in Olympia, Dear Reader, Tenants of the South Sound Washington and published monthly. January marks the beginning of a new Weekly meetings to plan for a February The paper was established by the Thur- January theme and cover year for Works in Progress, our volun- event. If you are a tenant and would like ston County Rainbow Coalition which Political Work to help organize, please join Tenants of published the first issue in May 1990. teers and our readers. We continue the South Sound Membership group. Stimulated by the successful French Contact us through Facebook, email at Our mission. The aim of WIP is to con- to look for new members of the team protests, but recognizing that our [email protected], or front injustice and encourage a partici- that each month pulls together stories demands are very different, friends phone (360) 602-1392. patory democracy based on justice in and photos that make up another is- of WIP and volunteer staffers put on Semicircle reading group the economic, political, environmental sue of this local, print news journal. and social realms and across classes, these fluorescent vests because—like January 9 and 23. At Last Word WIP has been around for 25 years. races and genders. the people of France—and every other Books With your help, we’ll continue for ___ listen to local writers share creative How WIP is produced. WIP depends country—we are in a disaster zone! (your number here) more years. and/or personal work every 1st and 3rd on a volunteer managing editor, sup- Wednesday. Want to be a feature? Mes- ported by the Publishing Committee, to Our demand is to confront the disas- Reporters, writers, stringers. We’d sage our email address: olysemicircle@ see to the accomplishment of nearly all ter of rising inequality (exacerbated gmail.com love to add reporters and stringers— organizational, administrative and edi- by our economic system), the elimina- Advocacy Training torial tasks. people who call or write in with inter- tion of regulatory safety nets (by the January 10 and 29, 10-12 noon, at How WIP is supported. First and fore- esting items we could give some vis- Trump Administration and followers), Washington State Labor Council most, WIP depends for survival on ibility in the community. on Columbia St. the contributions and participation of and the reality of climate collapse al- WA Fair Trade Coalition. Learn the details writers, activists, students, organizers, Cartoonists, graphic artists, photo- ready destroying our communities. to understand US workers’ vision of trade and other members of the community, shoppers. Our pages always need liv- policy when Congress considers the new Yellow vests recognize that we are all broadly defined. We also receive sup- ening up, and our ideas often outstrip NAFTA this spring. port from the Workers’ Defense Fund “first responders” in the crises we face. our talents, so anyone with these skills Bridge Music Project whose purpose is to strengthen organi- In this issue we have several articles January 11, 7:30 pm, Traditions would be enthusiastically welcomed. zations that engage in struggle against that address the political and ecological Café, 300 5th Ave. SW the powerful for the empowerment of In 2018 photographers Ricky Osborne nature of this disaster—and what kinds Heartsparkle Players. the powerless. and Lindsey Dalthorpe became regu- The Bridge Music Project teaches youth of things people are doing to survive it Guidelines for writing for WIP. Our lar contributors. how music and music-writing can be priority is to focus on stories that are so we can make a healthier world. used as tools to deal with life’s challenges. ignored or misrepresented in the main- Book reviewer? Columnist? There Heartsparkle Players does impromptu skits from incidents in the project’s his- stream media, especially those that re- is a spate of exciting and demanding February theme tory and from audience suggestions. Do- late directly to our mission. new books out there—current and Rural Life and the urban/rural divide. nation $7.00-12.00 (No one turned away) To this end, we seek well-researched future politics, etc. If you’d like to re- WIP is distributed in 4 counties of which Bernie Meyer reports on his trip news stories, serious analyses of is- view one, contact us and we will get three, Mason, Lewis and Grays Harbor to India sues confronting our communities are mostly rural. What is it like to live and accounts of personal experiences the book for you at Last Word Books. Sunday, January 13, 7:00 pm at or reflections by local writers. We also Want to take on one of our regular fea- in “the county?” Community-supported Traditions Cafe agriculture might be thriving but the tax Global Youth Peace Festival, the Chan- consider poetry, graphics, cartoons and tures: “Then this happened” or “Past/ digarh Inauguration of the World Peace articles that challenge the boundaries Present”? Let us know. base is small. Election results from 2018 Dome in Pune, and the World Parliament of conventional journalism. and earlier differ markedly between for Science, Spirituality and Philosophy Submitting your writing: Send an Distributers. A team of 4 or 5 volun- rural precincts and the Olympia-Lacey- Presentations out of the Children’s Peace Palace in Rajsamand. email to [email protected] with teers distributes 3000 copies of WIP in Tumwater concentration. But do those the word SUBMISSION on the subject four counties, but more are needed, in- Why Libertarianism is Wrong line. 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SPSCC [email protected] washingtoncenter.org/event/18-19-sp- The Pit Stop on Boulevard scc-winona-laduke/ Proofreading Meeting Sunday, January 27, 1pm Other coffee shops etc. Buck’s Fifth Avenue, upstairs And beyond... On the cover: Tous ensemble is the ral- Centralia For a comprehensive listing of events lying cry of France’s gilets jaune—we Shelton and activities of interest to the South are with them, “all together” in the fight Grays Harbor College Sound’s politically active community and friends, go to the Community to create a new future for humanity. Hoquiam Farmer’s Market Ricky Osborne took this photo of WIP Calendar at LocalMotive.org. volunteers and friends on the switch- And….If you’d like an indoor WIP rack or an outside box, or want For WIP listings visit our FB page. back below the Capitol. to be a pick up location, please contact us at [email protected] January 2019 Works In Progress Page 3 County commissioners shape our future, literally Emily Lardner claim is made: “We need to encour- improving environmental quality.” have joined with other Northwest trea- age free market environmentalism ty tribes to develop “a unified tribal County commissioner elections don’t as a solution to environmental issues. The free market—opposition to habitat strategy” that “aims to preserve always generate the interest that a Markets and the protection of prop- climate initiatives and a carbon tax and restore the natural functions and hotly contested race for mayor or state erty rights act as a solution for solv- Another proponent of free market en- connectivity of our river, marine and representative might. Yet county gov- ing many environmental issues.” This vironmentalism is ALEC, the Ameri- upland ecosystems, and to seek ac- ernment actions are consequential: principle, attributed not to community can Legislative Exchange Council. countability for decisions on the use many decisions about criminal justice, members, but to the commission of our lands and waters.” housing, public health, and environ- itself, comes with no support- mental protection fall to county gov- ing evidence or examples. What Will Ecology notice and try A NW tribal strategy for ernment to resolve. does advocacy of “free market to address the clashing ecosystem health in the long environmentalism” really mean? term Land-use planning as a key contradiction between free Lorraine Loomis, chair of the county duty Property + markets + growth = Northwest Indian Fisheries Com- Buried within what appear to be the improved environmental quality market environmentalism and mission, wrote in November, sprawling responsibilities of county Free market environmentalism 2018, that this habitat strategy is government is a critical one: land use is trumpeted by the Heartland careful planning for the future? based on “what we know is actu- planning. Land use planning at the Institute. In the 1990s, the Heart- ally needed to achieve ecosystem county level governs uses of land out- land Institute worked with Philip health, not what we think is pos- side incorporated cities and towns— Morris to question the science linking ALEC drafts model policies for conser- sible to achieve given current habitat determining the future of our built second-hand smoke to health risks. vative lawmakers, including one de- conditions. It is not a retreat to the environments as well as the future of A 2012 leak of Heartland Institute signed to guide state withdrawal from past, but a long-term vision for a fu- open space, forests, and shorelines. As documents revealed their planned regional climate initiatives. Another ture with healthy resources for every- we look ahead to an increasingly un- campaign, supported by the Charles model aims to help lawmakers craft a one.” stable climate and sea level rise, deci- G. Koch Foundation, to systematical- resolution opposing a carbon tax. Like The Department of Ecology will re- sions we make about how to develop ly attack the credibility of scientific Heartland, ALEC argues for free mar- spond to Grays Harbor County’s pro- or preserve land matter. findings that fossil fuel emissions en- ket environmentalism, declaring on posed updates to the Shoreline Mas- danger the long-term welfare of the their website that “technological in- Many of these consequential decisions ter Plan. Will Ecology notice and try planet. novation and free market incentives lie in the hands of county commission- have allowed us to promote economic to address the clashing contradiction ers. Tasked with land use planning, The Heartland Institute website de- prosperity while improving environ- between free market environmental- not all commissioners understand or scribes their stance on free market en- mental health, protecting wild lands, ism and careful planning for the fu- agree with the need to plan for climate vironmentalism like this: “Free-Market and conserving resources.” They cite ture? And whose vision of the future change reduction, mitigation, and ad- Environmentalism is an approach to no examples to support this claim. of our watery region will prevail—that aptation. A way to see that locally is by environmental problems that focuses of Heartland Institute or that of the looking at Shoreline Master Plans. on improving environmental quality The public comment period for the Northwest treaty tribes? using property rights and markets.” Grays Harbor County Shoreline Man- Plans must use best available The website also states: “Markets, agement Plan ended on December Emily Lardner is a member of the WIP science -- except... property rights, and the rule of law are 3, 2018. The Quinault Indian Nation, Publishing Committee and a resident of All 39 counties in our state must pre- fundamental to economic growth, and whose reservation lands fall within Grays Harbor County. pare Shoreline Master Plans to be re- economic growth is fundamental to the outline of Gray Harbor County, viewed and approved by the Depart- ment of Ecology based on established guidelines. Washington state requires heart of the city. This was a dem- counties to develop Shoreline Master onstration that intended to be heard. Plans based on best available science. Swept up in France’s Mass disruption was the goal—no But the state doesn’t specifically re- more business as usual. quire counties to incorporate the sci- ence of climate change or sea level yellow vest protests Protesters shattered windows and set rise into their plans. fire to construction vehicles and food stands. Entire sections of the cobble- No American-style Taxed Enough The current Shoreline Management Chris Brooks stone street were missing, as if a giant Already (TEA) party protest Plan Handbook states: had rolled up the road and walked off I’ve never been tear gassed before. “These protests are not a backlash The Shoreline Management Act with it for a living room rug. The smell is similar to fireworks and against the presence of the French (SMA) and the Shoreline Master the effect is explosive—and effective. I state in the economy,” said Cole Stan- The protesters had wielded stones, but Program (SMP) Guidelines contain immediately wanted to get as far away gler, a labor journalist who reports the riot police had armor, shields, ba- no requirements for SMPs to ad- as I could from the noxious source of from Paris. “Many yellow vests are tons, and guns; and lots of tear gas. dress climate change or sea level burning eyes and throat. rise. However, they require local just asking that it act more fairly, infu- Streets made impassable jurisdictions to take into account I was in Paris when France’s “yel- riated by a government that asks them The demonstration fanned out through scientific and technical information low vest” (gilet jaune) movement shut to give up more income each month at central Paris as the police fired can af- pertinent to shoreline management down the center of the city. the same time as it grants tax cuts to ter can into the crowds and the streets issues. The Guidelines require lo- the super-rich.” There were thousands of demonstra- became shrouded in a fog of poison. cal governments to use “the most tors, all wearing the bright yellow safe- The protesters represent a broad sec- current, accurate and complete sci- ty vests drivers are required by law to tion of working-class France, and their Police and demonstrators reached entific and technical information have in their cars. They had come from anger is wholly understandable. While standoffs in some of the small side available [WAC 173-26-201(2)(a)]. all over the country. The Paris demon- the French economy has recovered streets that Paris is known for. The Guidelines also encourage local stration was the latest escalation in a in the sense that business is booming, governments to consult Ecology’s Lines of militarized police stood be- leaderless movement organized by ac- the standard of living for the average hind makeshift fencing they erected guidance for applicable new infor- tivists through social media. French family has not improved since mation on emerging topics such as on one end of a boulevard while pro- the 2008 global economic collapse. Ma- testers gathered around fires they set sea level rise [WAC 173-26-090(1)]. The movement originated out of re- cron’s administration has doggedly pur- sentment over a hike in the price of in the middle of the road at the oppo- sued the interests of corporations and site end. Environmental science or “free diesel gas announced by President the rich, reducing taxes on the rich to market environmentalism” Emmanuel Macron as part of his ef- the tune of billions of dollars per year. Tourists caught in the middle and try- Grays Harbor County commissioners forts to address climate change. The ing to get out were frustrated in their elected not to address the topic of sea price of gas in France is already the More power to employers attempt as central Paris became a level rise in their Shoreline Master equivalent of $6.74 a gallon. Rural Macron has also paved the way for maze of impassable streets. Plan. Neither does the Plan mention families dependent on vehicles would companies to sidestep the sectoral climate change. Instead, in the open- be stretched even further with the gas agreements that set industry stan- Macron caves to ing section, under a heading called tax hike. dards and protect workers, instead overwhelming demand “Best Management Practices,” this negotiating individual company con- According to polling in France, the yel- tracts with unions. In an executive or- low vest movement is supported by der, he made it easier to fire workers— two-thirds of the public. This stands in and thousands have been terminated sharp contrast to Macron, whose ap- as a result. Unions claim that compa- proval rating is barely above 20 percent. nies are seizing the chance to expel se- Feeling the heat from the barricades, nior, higher-paid workers and fill those Macron announced this week that the positions with younger, lower-paid tax hikes will not be enacted in 2019. replacements. Macron claims these changes are necessary to address high The future of the yellow vest unemployment—it has stood at over 9 movement is unclear percent for a decade—by further shift- As with the leaderless Occupy move- ing the balance of power away from ment in the U.S. in 2011, major workers, towards employers. union confederations haven’t backed France’s movement, but local unions No more business as usual have turned out members and their The protest began at the Arc de Tri- sympathizers to the yellow vest pro- omphe and commenced down the tests. Champs-Élysées, Paris’s most opulent commercial boulevard right in the 4Yellow vests, continued on page 9 Page 4 Works In Progress January 2019 by increasing the number of tribal people who register and vote. Ev- Native Americans scored election erywhere the rez-to-rez tour went, it stressed participation and the power of the vote. “We’re stronger together,” says tour participant Tim Reynon, a wins in Washington and beyond Puyallup tribal council member. He noted the I-940 effort as proof. “This Stephanie Woodard unless they have acted with “malice,” Haaland of Laguna Pueblo and Sharice was such an important election for us.” which had put prosecuting attorneys Davids of the Ho-Chunk Nation will TACOMA, WASH.—Chester Earl, and in the difficult position of trying to be heading to the U.S. House of Rep- Chester Earl adds that the tour began about 300 members of Washington prove an officer’s mental state. A Se- resentatives to represent New Mexico reassembling the statewide tribal co- state tribes—from Tulalip, Yaka- attle Times study showed that un- and Kansas, respectively. Natives also alition that was instrumental in de- ma, Lummi, Quinault, Port Gamble won a slew of state and local races, feating Washington’s then-US Senator S’Klallam, Earl’s own Puyallup including Yvette Isburg, who won in 2000, a Republican known as an community—and more—gath- The Puyallup tribe worked with the post of auditor for the Crow “Indian fighter,” replacing him with ered at an election night party in Creek Sioux reservation’s South Maria Cantwell, a Democrat who sits a Tacoma catering hall, singing, Lummi and Quinault officials Dakota county. Auditors, called on the Senate’s Committee on Indian drumming, dancing, feasting and recorders in some states, control Affairs and is perceived as responsive watching returns from around to put together a get-out- critical on-the-ground implemen- to Native issues. the state and country. “It’s in- tation of elections. credible,” Earl exclaimed as the the-vote tour, confident they “The ‘other Washington’ being the way big news came in: Initiative 940, would earn public support That’s important for Native vot- it is nowadays,” Earl continues, refer- a Washington state ballot initia- ers, who have been disen- ring to D.C., “we need to elect people tive which approves new police franchised in a variety who will protect the rights of Native people, women, LGBTQ people, immi- reform measures, passed with more der that statute, 213 police-caused of ways. For example, grants, and more.” than 60 percent of the vote. deaths from 2005 to 2015 resulted the nearest registra- tion sites and poll- in just one prosecution. There’s a proven way to do that, Earl Earl and about 15 of the attendees re- ing places may be far says: “We will awaken the Native vote, turned from a two-week reservation- The legislature passed the bill in from reservations. In get our people registered, and get to-reservation tour, N8tive Vote 2018. March, after which the state Su- North Dakota, histori- The tour held rallies on the state’s preme Court decided it needed to be cally high Native turnout them out to vote.” 29 tribal homelands and encouraged approved by voters. The Puyallup tribe proved the state couldn’t suppress the This article was published by In members to get to the polls, particu- worked with Lummi and Quinault of- Native vote, as it tried to do with an larly to say yes to I-940, among other These Times as a web-only feature on ficials to put together a get-out-the- 11th-hour demand that voters provide November 8, 2019.http://inthesetimes. reforms, makes it easier to prosecute vote tour, confident they would earn IDs with detailed street address infor- law enforcement officers who misuse com/article/print/21569/native- public support. I-940 was officially en- mation that tribal members typically americans-scored-big-election- deadly force. dorsed by the state’s tribes, several po- don’t have. Young Native voters par- wins-in-washington As In These Times has previously re- lice associations, the Seattle Times and ticipated avidly in North Dakota, part ported, Natives are killed by police 10 other newspapers, the American of a national swell of youth voter turn- Stephanie Woodard is a contributing at the highest rate of any population Federation of Teachers of Washington out. writer to Rural America In These Times group—which is rarely chronicled in and 22 more labor unions, progressive and an award-winning journalist whose political parties and elected officials, Washington state’s tribes and tribal the media. One victim was Earl’s cous- members may have been eager to see articles on American Indian rights and in and tribal member Jacqueline Saly- and some 100 church groups, educa- other topics have been widely published. tion organizations, veterans associa- I-940 approved, but, more broadly, ers, a 32-year-old pregnant mother of they want to amplify the Native voice four, shot and killed in January 2016 as tions and more. she pulled out of a parking space. Po- “The results give me such relief,” Saly- lice were seeking her boyfriend, who ers’s mother, Lisa Earl, said on elec- was in the passenger seat. The officer tion night. “The people spoke. Jackie who shot her in the head claimed that didn’t get killed and die in vain. We the moving car was life-threatening, have worked so tirelessly for so long which Salyers’ family disputes. The of- and have succeeded in doing some- Solving Local ficer was cleared of wrongdoing. thing that will help preserve future The shooting galvanized the Puyallup generations. She has been with me the tribe to join with other advocates to whole way.” Environmental help craft new police accountability Lisa Earl believes the new law will measures. The group then gathered make everyone safer, building trust nearly 360,000 signatures (100,000 Problems between officers and the public. “We more than needed) from people all want to reach out and help everyone,” The January 2019 interview on Preservation, www.olyecosystems. across the state—not just on reserva- she says. “I don’t know how I would “Glen’s Parallax Perspectives” series org tions—to bring a reform bill to the leg- feel if my tribe had not wrapped its (see below for info about watching We explained basic concepts such islature. The bill requires that police arms around me with love after Jack- it through your computer or TCTV as “ecosystem,” “sustainability,” officers receive training to de-escalate ie’s death. We want our police officers channel 22) will help us understand and “best available science.” We ex- situations, recognize mental-health to learn compassion. We want them to and solve some environmental prob- plained some of the local environ- crises, and give first aid to those they have the skills they need when they’re lems in the Olympia area, especially mental problems (especially the wa- harm. It also requires independent running into situations, perhaps with- in the Deschutes River, Capitol Lake, ter-related ones), and we proposed investigations of deadly and harmful out backup. Nurturing is what we are Budd Inlet, Puget Sound, and the smart, practical solutions. We ad- incidents. about.” surrounding land areas. dressed problems and solutions re- The law also eliminates the current The election night partygoers also cel- This program’s scientific insights lated to water quality, salmon, orcas, language on the books in Washing- ebrated historic wins by Native Ameri- will also help people elsewhere to blue herons, and so forth. ton that excuses officers for a killing can candidates across the country. Deb understand and solve their local problems. We also addressed some “big picture” context and related issues, such We clearly explain the science so as climate disruption that causes anyone can understand the prob- warmer temperatures and sea-level lems and the solutions we propose. rise. Enter into Friday stillness Two very knowledgeable guests Local environmental groups and Fridays from 10:00 am to 6:30 pm • 1604 Union Avenue SE, Olympia help us explore these problems and other non-profit organizations are solutions: working hard to solve the problems. Please stop by for five minutes, an hour, or spend all day. They know good solutions and Sue Patnude has a master’s degree could accomplish more if they had in public policy. She has worked A time of individual and communal prayer, singing/chanting, studying, more volunteers and more financial extensively in public policy related support. We really do need more journaling or art as we pray for peace in our world. to science and the environment in people’s help, including people who a variety of roles for 30 years. Now have not already participated in en- she is the Executive Director of New Schedule vironmental organizations. Govern- the Deschutes Estuary Restoration Meditation/Centering Prayer from 5:30-6:30 pm every Friday. ments are limited in several ways, Team, www.deschutesestuary.org. so non-profit organizations and vol- New Study Opportunities from 1:15-3:00 Daniel Einstein has a Ph.D. in Bio- unteers are necessary if we are to January 4 - a communal time of praying for each other and our needs engineering and has worked for de- solve the problems. cades in a variety of professional sci- January 11 – “The Cost of True Love: A Conversation between Cynthia entific roles. In addition to working Questions? Bourgeault and Ilia Delio” as an assistant professor at St. Mar- tin’s University, he also volunteers Contact Glen Anderson, January 18 – Ilia Delio study, “God Born Again and Again” vigorously to protect our local en- the TV series’ producer/host vironment, especially through the at (360) 491-9093 Sponsored by Brigid’s Well – a community devoted to contemplation Olympia Coalition for Ecosystems [email protected] and the needs of those who are poor and marginalized. For more information please contact Kathleen at [email protected] Glen’s Parallax Perspectives January 2019 Works In Progress Page 5 proaches. It would be counterpro- ductive to criticize any one measure A renewed chance to move because it doesn’t provide a fully com- prehensive solution. We need a large toolbox to reform our economy from away from fossil fuels the one creating our current climate crisis: the carbon fee and dividend in noose on carbon polluters thus tilting of carbon pollution and encourage HB 7173 will be a vitally important tool. Rich Harris the playing field toward clean energy. countries not yet ramping off carbon Reading the news lately about man- The bill is currently labelled HB 7173 pollution to join us. The current bill A key role for citizens kind’s continued assault on the earth’s and a similar, bipartisan bill has been Let’s all urge all members of Washing- climate can easily leave one feeling introduced in the Senate. The climate crisis is ton’s Congressional Delegation to join disheartened. The Trump administra- the current co-sponsors of 7173 and its tion’s attack on science, its reflexive Well-aligned incentives such a multi-faceted companion in the Senate, and dedi- support of fossil fuel industries, and Because fossil fuels can’t disappear cate ourselves to getting it enacted. its total denial of the climatic conse- overnight, and because we’d all be problem that we’ll need Citizens’ Climate Lobby, a national quences of business-as-usual, is noth- paying more for goods produced multiple approaches group with 501 active local chapters ing less than immoral abdication of from them, such a fee in isolation everywhere (including Olympia) and our responsibility to our children and would be both regressive and unpop- influence in Congress, is working hard the other creatures with whom we ular (and unsustainable). Thus, the also exempts fuels used specifically in and leading the charge. The headwinds share the earth. bill returns revenues collected (minus farming, which should blunt opposi- in D.C. remain strong, but social change modest administrative costs) to each tion from powerful agricultural inter- often seems impossible until the dam Recent setbacks on progress of us in the form of a dividend. ests. This may be seen as regrettable, suddenly breaks when the public has In France, strong opposition forced In short, your cost of consuming fossil but is a reasonable accommodation spoken with sufficient force. President Macron to retreat from his fuels and related products would rise, that will only modestly diminish the proposal to reduce fossil fuel reli- but the government would send you a speed with which carbon pollution is Rich Harris lives in Olympia with his ance by adding new taxes on gasoline. check related to that cost. Because the reduced while garnering support in wife, and works at the Department. of We’ve recently learned that, contrary dividend would be the same for us all, a sector that would typically be op- Fish and Wildlife. He has also lived in to promises made in Paris, CO2 emis- those using relatively less fossil fuel posed. With time, the development Montana and the Tibetan Plateau of sions from most countries, which had would end up ahead, while those with of energy-efficient or carbon-free Western China. He is active with the been falling slowly, are again increas- larger carbon footprints would expend technology hastened by the fee-and- Olympia Chapter of Citizen’s Climate ing. And particularly frustrating here more than their dividend. Govern- dividend should allow the agricultural Lobby. In his copious spare time, Rich in Washington State was the second ments and businesses would face the sector to reduce their emissions well. attempts to tame his French horn. defeat in as many elections of an ini- same economic logic, thus motivating Not the be-all and end-all but a tiative (I-1631) that would have taxed support for innovation in renewables, Contact Thurston Climate Action at carbon emissions and put our state in crucial start (https://www.thurstonclimateaction. and the most painless possible transi- Unlike 1631, HB 7173 doesn’t create the vanguard of a clean energy future. tion away from carbon pollution. org/). Other organizations working on a fund to support innovative green this issue are Citizen’s Climate Lobby, Thinking and acting strategically Other strategic elements of HB 7173 projects – but no single bill does ev- Creation Care and Our Climate. Links A few ideas have emerged to help us HB 7173 also includes a border ad- erything one might like. The climate can be found in this article at www. understand why I-1631 failed. Clearly, justment to discourage outsourcing crisis is such a difficult, multi-faceted olywip.org. the vast sums spent on negative adver- problem that we’ll need multiple ap- tising by oil and gas interests played a part. And although awareness of the climate crisis is high, taxes are unpop- building social movements. ular even here in Washington, particu- In times of disaster, Processes that strengthen larly when the benefits of those taxes movements are intangible and not necessarily lo- The Southern Movement Assembly is cal. The same electorate passed other infrastructure is power a collaborative, multi-organizational progressive measures, but voted down process initiated in 2012 to converge two that contained additional taxes in Stephanie Guilloud to one another, the ways we learn, the Southern forces and coordinate our di- support of progressive policies. ways we communicate, how we take Infrastructure building is a strategy. verse efforts across multiple frontlines. care of our homes, the operating proce- Project South is one of the anchor or- What to do now? Above all, keep work- There are many strategies to grow and dures and mechanisms we use to gov- ing hard and strategically, and don’t exercise power, and social move- ganizations. Groups organize commu- lose hope. Part of maintaining hope ments require the use of all our nity and frontline assemblies to prac- is taking responsibility for actions we tools all the time. Disaster is one tice independent political governance. perform daily. Another part is sup- area, a growing one, across terri- We grow our numbers and leadership porting efforts in our local commu- tories that are massive in terms of across the region through building re- nities. In Olympia, for example, the geography and temporal in terms lationships and cross-pollinating. We Thurston Climate Action Team is par- of the window of time that opens. facilitate political and popular educa- ticularly active and worthy of support. Disasters are most certainly not the tion to develop and strengthen lead- only urgent problems we are facing. ership and experiment with innova- Getting behind a fee-and-dividend Social movements are contending tive communication strategies. The approach with generational poverty, struc- Southern Movement Assembly orga- Still, to avert the worst of the costs tural white supremacy, and political nizations implement a shared plan flowing from the changing climate, we crises on every frontline. People are of action called the Southern Peoples need policy on a larger scale. Thus, it shaping policies and practices with- Initiative based in our analysis and was heartening to learn in November, in state and institutional apparatus. shared vision synthesized over years 2018, of the introduction in Congress People are innovating new econom- of collective work. of the “Energy Innovation and Carbon ic projects and building independent ern ourselves and our environment. The need for new institutions Dividend Act.” The bill is sponsored by political power. People are organizing One of the visions of the Southern Peo- both Democrats and Republicans, and and fighting and surviving. All of these For organizers in the South, we often ples Initiative is the development of represents a forward-looking, achiev- strategies are necessary. say that our movement infrastructure able, and tangible action we can all get is based in relationships. We do not Mutual Aid Liberation Centers. These behind: gradually but inexorably in- Infrastructure takes many forms share the same scale of funding and centers are forming in already exist- creasing the costs of carbon pollution Infrastructure refers to the fundamen- intermediary institutions as other re- ing spaces. There is a long history of while providing citizens, businesses, tal facilities and systems required for gions. We do, however, have long-last- mutual aid during Reconstruction in and governments with funds to transi- society to function. On one level that ing and cross-regional relationships. the South when free Black folks were tion to clean energy. means bridges, roads, gas stations, and Organizers travel across thirteen state displaced from resources but built tens of thousands of schools, churches, In short, the bill would impose a fee telephone lines. On another level it lines, across expansive cities, into riv- means a web of institutions including er deltas and mountain hollers to work and social networks. We are crafting of $15/ton, at the most upstream these Mutual Aid Liberation Centers possible site, on substances emitting schools, hospitals, courts, and banks— with each other. We share practices, systems created to produce and distrib- we deepen each other’s capacities, to be widely inclusive and resourced carbon into the atmosphere. The fee enough to provide many levels of in- would increase $10/year, providing ute knowledge, information, services, and we share analysis. These relation- and resources. On a third level it means ships, when facilitated to converge, co- frastructure during every phase of di- predictability for businesses and gov- saster on every terrain it occurs. ernments, and a gradually tightening something larger—the ways we relate ordinate, and initiate, are vehicles for Disaster takes place on multiple ter- rains. Climate disasters endanger our land, water, and food and alter our Centralia Square Antique Mall ecosystems. Disasters displace us from our physical, cultural, spiritual Antiques•Restaurant•Hotel place. Poverty and violence displace millions of people from their homes Directions from Olympia and then criminalize migration across South on Interstate 5 militarized borders. The financial sys- Off at Exit 82 (Factory Outlets) tems, largely driven by debt, create East on Harrison both the slow-boil of impoverishment Right on Pearl but also the acute disasters of debt 201 S Pearl & Locust bubbles, stock market crashes, and currency crises. Mass shootings, po- Open 7 days lice murders, and public health crises 10am–5pm 4Infrastructure, next page Page 6 Works In Progress January 2019 Books and reading and time on your hands In December, Brenda Big Eagle con- the Nisqually jail. For the majority of ring outside of East Coast cities. He life before he was incarcerated. It’s tracted Mitigation Specialist for the inmates, reading is one of few activi- liked to read about the kinds of people quite possible that there are people Thurston County Public Defense and ties allowed. Big Eagle stated that the he’d not met growing up in Washing- just like Michael in our jail—and that Athena Brown, Diversion/Reentry inmates were beyond ecstatic and ex- ton and that were set in places he’d with this new collection of books, they specialist for the Thurston County tremely grateful with the arrival of the never visited.” Michael tells the librar- will become readers too. Jail, organized a group of dedicated new books. ian that he never read a book in his volunteers to help collect and sort The importance of books for people new books for the county jail. The Below, Brenda Big Eagle unloading some of the many boxes of books transported collected books replaced severely who are incarcerated is captured in a and stored by Bob Brennand and his wife as people collected them. damaged books currently being uti- new book (of course) by George Pele- Below left, some of the many library project volunteers waiting to move thousands The Man Who Came Uptown lized at the jail. Last Word Books gra- canos, . of books into the jail. Photos by Ricky Osborne ciously accepted donations on behalf Among other characters, there is a li- of the project. The community heard brarian who recommends books for a the need and the response was over- twenty-eight-year-old African-Amer- whelming. Over 4,000 donated books ican inmate named Michael Hudson. were delivered to the jail on Decem- Pelecanos writes, “In the past year, ber 15th in a happy one-day marathon. since he had first been incarcerated Another 1,200 books were donated to [Michael] had become a voracious reader. His tastes ran to stories occur-

106.5 KOWA FM Radio enlightens your ears Lisa Ganser Quarks and many more. KOWA’s intentional programming in- Founded by Media Island Interna- cludes Progressive Masculinity, and tional, KOWA is a licensed non-profit LGBTQ+ segments. Progressive Com- radio station whose mission is to give edy and Spoken Word shows help ern region. A small corner of land in voice to individuals, organizations and Infrastructure move us forward in the work to help From previous page rural Hondo Texas was the original movements working for gender, racial get these underrepresented voices site of Mexican mutual aid associa- and social justice, economic democ- out into the community. KOWA-LP represent systemic violence to our in- tions that collected funds for burials, racy, ecological sustainability, and streams and can be heard live through- dividual and collective bodies. Each raised food, and supported civic en- environmental justice. Our goal is to out Olympia—to the border of Lacey! disaster reinforces multiple forms of gagement—and is now connected to help build the foundation which could systemic oppression. Hurricanes are this assembly of multitudes. enable actual peace. Tune it to some of these unique pro- not just about water and wind, but re- grams: Weekdays 5-6 pm for Hard Linking paths through the wreckage KOWA is a Pacifica Network affiliate inforce social control through milita- Knock Radio, the daily drivetime Talk During disasters, these spaces should and airs many amazing programs from rized response, financial exploitation Show for the Hip Hop Generation. light up the map. Each center should across the country and around the through land grabs and privatization, It features hosts Davey D, Weyland be alive with all the efforts that people world, including the daily and weekly and depopulate areas to diffuse politi- Southon, Anita Johnson and Tsadae are willing to give during these mo- news programs Democracy Now!, Ris- cal participation. Abeba Neway who hit the air everyday ments of urgency. We all have a role ing Up With Sonali, Sojourner Truth, Mon-Fri offering news, views, breaks, The vision of the Mutual Aid Libera- to play. Teams of researchers, nurses, the Ralph Nader Radio Hour, Alter- and beats. Also check out Feminist tion Centers reflects a desire to grow healers, and regular folks who are native Radio, Native America Calling, Hour from 9:00 to 10:00 am Thursdays our power on multiple terrains at moved to respond and support. Train- Black Agenda Radio, Letters and Poli- and Out Agenda from 9:00 to 10:00 am once. The big vision is a regional con- ings for first-responders, street med- tics, Guns and Butter, Economic Up- on Mondays. stellation of local sites that provide ics, and self-defense. Harm reduc- date with Richard Wolfe, Quirks and resources, sanctuary, and governance. tion, mental health, and sexual assault The Mutual Aid Liberation Centers are counseling. Spaces for preparation places to gather, learn, practice gover- before actions and debrief afterwards. nance, provide health care, support in Each center is a monument of com- Cartridge Care Inc. emergency, and shelter during disaster. munity infrastructure of land, build- To farm if there is land, to distribute ings, and supplies as well as political THE PRINTER EXPERTS since 1990 food if there’s plenty. In a time full of space for leadership development, ed- crises, trusted institutions are essential. ucation, and decision-making. TONER - FILM - INK JETS Claiming spaces to make our own The vision is that these centers will infrastructure grow, offer support, inspire each other, Remanufactured and new - Hundreds in stock A historic Black church in Chattanoo- locally and regionally. That they will ga opened one of their small build- become more than the sum of their REPAIR - SERVICE - SALES for ings to community education classes, parts. As each site and center devel- Printers - Fax - Copiers - Plotters built a garden, and hosted the sixth ops, the visions and possibilities deep- Southern Movement Assembly when en and spread. the city (in lockstep with the develop- My political life has been shaped and Free Pick Up & Delivery ers of a recently privatized hospital) informed by disasters. But I have also would not allow the Assembly to be in been shaped by witnessing the power 1314 Lebanon St. SE - Lacey 360-459-8845 a public park. A strip mall adjacent to and tenacity of people carving new the largest housing projects in Dothan, paths through the wreckage. I believe Alabama, houses an office, a church, that we can transform the patterns a community radio station, a barber and create new arrangements led by shop, a natural wellness remedy shop, social movements. I am 41 years old a restaurant, and an organization led now, and I look to my own history, by formerly incarcerated people and the history of social movements, and their families. global examples of growing collective A community center built by the consciousness, creating bold visions, Methodist women in 1944 was rescued and organizing strategically to achieve from irrelevance by community lead- what we believe is possible. ers in the 1990s to become a home to an organization working to end hunger Stephanie Guilloud is a Texan by birth, a in Georgia and an institution growing graduate of The Evergreen State College movement capacity across the South- and works as Co-director of Project South. January 2019 Works In Progress Page 7 Rise of vegan businesses in Olympia: a concern for animals and the earth Heather Sundean restaurant in Olympia? cooking for many years, will be spon- eral Store (500 Capitol Way, S.). Liana sored under the Wayside’s name this and I sat down bright and early for a Kevin: Seattle and Portland have long been We saw the absence of any sit- January. cup of coffee at Batdorf and Bronson. known as great places to live if you are down vegan restaurant as a gap that a vegan. For those who abstain from should be filled. After a long day at the Wayside, what do What sort of hopes and dreams do you you go home and cook for yourself? have for the Little General Store? consuming or using animal products, Why did you create an all-vegan menu, these two cities offer a vibrant array of as opposed to just offering vegan options? Kevin: Something boring, like pasta or Liana: My main goal is to transition restaurants and stores. pizza. OK, arugula and kalamata olive the Little General to an all-vegan es- Kevin: As longtime vegans, it was im- pizza. tablishment. When I first set out to Olympia is nestled between these portant to us that the Wayside be all two “vegan Meccas” and has many buy the store, that goal wasn’t clear plant-based. Animal rights is a foun- in my mind, but as a longtime vegan restaurants that offer vegan options, dation of our business, so we never but for years, vegans in Olympia have Q I came to realize that including ani- considered including animal products Next I interviewed Lesli Baker, a plant- mal products in my inventory wasn’t longed for more all-vegan restaurants, on the menu. stores, and services. Vegans now have based nutritional therapist and yoga something I wanted to do. reason to celebrate. As more people Jamie: If you’re serving any animal instructor. Lesli and I settled in for a chat over the phone after Lesli’s long Do you see running a vegan business as in our community become aware of products, you are contributing to having a bigger purpose than just a job? and concerned about animal exploita- harming animals. day of yoga instruction. tion, more all-vegan businesses have Liana: Yes. It is something much big- Do you consider running an all-vegan How does a plant-based or vegan sprung up. ger. I see it as being a part of the solu- business to be a form of activism? approach fit with your job as a tion to many problems in our culture, In December, I spoke to three own- nutritional therapist? Jamie: Every vegan has their own way and addressing important issues such ers of local vegan businesses to learn of doing activism, and I think it’s im- Lesli: Clients come to me with a vari- as environmentalism, animal rights, what inspires their plant-based busi- portant to show people, through good ety of health issues, such as stomach and health. It is a great job to be able ness model. food, that they do not have to settle issues, fatigue issues, hormonal is- to offer that type of employment, too Kevin Rainsberry and Jamie Vulva for anything that doesn’t fit their per- sues. When a client contacts me seek- – employees want to be a part of some- are co-owners of the Wayside Cafe & sonal values. I’ve actually heard from ing help, I let them know that to work thing that matters. Deli (609 Capitol Way, S), an all-vegan several community members who with me, they will need to transition to a plant-based diet. I make sure to work Is there anything that you’ve been comfort food restaurant that opened are considering veganism for the first obsessively cooking lately? its doors last summer. I met with Kev- time, as a result of their experience with clients where they’re at, and start in and Jamie as the delicious smell eating here. I believe it has the power the conversation by sharing the health Liana: Vegan, gluten-free waffle toasts. of something pan-seared (barbequed to change people’s minds. reasons why a plant-based diet is im- And trying to push the boundaries of tofu?) rolled off the grill. portant and can help them heal. what can possibly be cooked in an In- Kevin: The Interfaith Works Eye-2-Eye stant Pot. What inspired you to start an all-vegan fundraiser dinner, where I’ve done the Do you feel that your work aligns with your personal convictions? Heather Sundean is a Tumwater resident, Lesli: Yes—if you think of veganism as longtime vegan, and animal rights an umbrella, all of the reasons for be- activist. ing vegan (environmentalism, health, Moving the needle and animal rights) fit really comfort- For more information, ably under the umbrella. The um- Wayside Cafe & Deli: www.facebook. moving the needle, as Mississippians brella is big enough for everybody to com/thewaysideolympia Susan Glisson be vegan for their own reasons. That did. While President Trump won the Interfaith Works Eye-2-Eye fundraiser [Ed note: The Democratic candidate for being said, moral veganism is really state by eighteen points, organizing dinner: https://www.iwshelter.org/ US Senate in Mississippi lost a run-off a very important part of my own per- in that state cut the GOP advantage in events.html vote, prompting one outsider to conclude the Senate race by more than half, to 8 sonal philosophy with regard to diet. voters are “still a bunch of hateful white points, even though Republicans out- Founding a vegan business is a big Plant Based Nutrition and Yoga Ther- people no matter spent Democrats investment, considering you are serving apy: www.facebook.com/lpbplant- how we try. We 4 to 1. More folks a niche clientele. Would you consider basednutrition need to cut our We are awake in showed up to vote having a vegan business to be a form of losses and focus Little General Store: www.littlegen- Mississippi on a new day. in Hinds County activism? eralolympia.com, https://www. on the states for the runoff that will make Lesli: I think any small role we can facebook.com/littlegeneralfood- There are children than voted in the shop, www.lianafrancisco.com real change.” regular election. play to plant the seed in someone’s Here is a more to feed and elders to love That is unheard mind about going vegan is a form of resolute view.] and minds to change. of, people! And activism. Just by being vegan, you are that work didn’t setting an example by saying, “look Thank God Mrs. at me, I am healthy and happy and Hamer and just happen in the last six months. physically active. And I’m thinking for Medgar Evers didn’t “cut their losses.” myself. Wouldn’t you like to also do all They and others toppled segregation of those things?” I think representing in spite of a “bunch of hateful white We’re awake and there’s work to do Beyond this one election, I hope what’s yourself out loud as a vegan in your people.” And some of those white community is a form of activism. folks learned and did better... also been lost is the illusion that we can change Mississippi (or this nation) Is there anything exciting on the horizon There are no shortcuts without hard work. I hope some of us for you? In our culture of immediate gratifi- lose the myth that organizing doesn’t cation, we expect difficult cultural work and doesn’t deserve support. I Lesli: Stay tuned in 2019 for vegan change to occur in an instant, by fiat hope we’ve lost the idea that if we ig- lifestyle transition workshops, as or tweet. It never has and never will. nore racism it will just go away. well as workshops on how to adopt a A meat- There are no shortcuts to the every- plant-based diet, and even workshops We are awake in Mississippi on a new for those experiencing specific issues day process of building inclusive rela- day. There are children to feed and el- tionships and trust in order to change (such as women experiencing peri- centered diet ders to love and minds to change. We Animal agriculture is the second mindsets and actions. An election is menopause symptoms). More infor- have work to do and no time to coddle largest contributor to human-made not a movement. mation will be available on my Face- mercurial attention spans. book page. greenhouse gas emissions after fos- A movement for liberation requires sil fuels. A recent study shows that long-term commitment. It requires This quote is excerpted from a statement in an average American diet, beef truth-telling and courage and patience. by Susan Glisson in Facing South, the Q consumption creates 1,984 pounds And a movement should celebrate on-line magazine of the Institute for My last interview was with Liana Fran- of CO2e annually. Replacing beef Southern Studies. cisco, the new owner of the Little Gen- with plants would reduce that fig- ure 96 percent, bringing it down to just 73 pounds of CO2e. In order to accommodate the 70 Birthing Roots Midwifery billion animals raised annually for human consumption, a third of Home Birth Midwifery Care the planet’s ice-free land surface, Stacey Callaghan as well as nearly sixteen percent of global freshwater, is devoted to LM, CPM, ICCE, CD growing livestock. Furthermore, a 360-789-9969 Thursdays third of worldwide grain produc- Noon to 1 pm tion is used to feed livestock. Cat- www.birthingroots.org Parallel with host tle are by far the biggest source of [email protected] University Kim Dobson emissions from animal agriculture. -- from Climate Nexus Radio Show KAOS 89.3 FM Page 8 Works In Progress January 2019 The way forward is solidarity and friendship: Santo Tomás and Olympia Jean Eberhardt or disappeared. nomic uncertainty, and an escalation president of Honduras, ignores the cor- by the likes of John Bolton. This new ruption scandals of Guatemala’s lead- “We have lessons to teach each other Our current newsletter includes dif- US National Security Advisor calls Ni- er and applauds ultra-right presidents and stories to tell each other about fering perspectives from our friends caragua, Cuba and Venezuela the “Axis in Argentina, Chile and Brazil. It’s how to survive and resist and thrive in Santo Tomás and from various web- of Evil” in the Western Hemisphere. clear that the appointment of Bolton is even when times are scary and dan- sites. As always, the Thurston Santo With funding already going to anti- not about bringing democracy to these gerous. There is a way forward and Tomás Sister City Association (TST- government groups in those three “axis of evil” countries that have pub- the way forward is solidarity and SCA) stands firmly against US Inter- countries through USAID and the Na- lic access to medicine and education. friendship and figuring out the ways vention in Nicaragua in any shape or tional Endowment for Democracy, we Whatever one believes about the lead- in which our interests are actually form. Neither do we accept violence fear Bolton’s declaration may be the ership of Nicaragua, Cuba and Venezu- perpetrated by the Nicaraguan gov- deeply aligned with one another.” — prelude to much greater intervention. ela, can we agree these are sovereign ernment or the protestors. Leo Ferguson, Movement Building Or- nations that the US should respect? The US supported the military coup ganizer at Jews For Racial & Econom- Nicaragua has shifted from an acute, and subsequent electoral fraud by the The steering committee of the TSTSCA ic Justice, from in an interview with several month crisis to a protracted decided we needed to cancel visits by On the Media on November 2 on the period of simmering tensions, eco- subject of the Synagogue Shooting in our summer community delegation as Pittsburg, PA. well as a proposed winter delegation due to instability in the country. As This is the story of our relation- our relationship in deeply grounded ship with Santo Tomás, born in in cultural and educational exchang- a time of war imposed by our es, we look forward to resuming the government, that continues visits to and from our sister town. At now to the very hard times the this time, we do not know when that Nicaraguan people are facing. will be. In the meantime, we continue to raise critically important funds for While hosting a wonderful 12th our sister community in Nicaragua. delegation from our sister town (please support our Rummage Sale; in April-May, we watched in shock see ad below). Read wildly differing from a distance as many anti-govern- firsthand accounts from friends in ment protests erupted in Nicaragua Santo Tomás in our Dec. newsletter on and ended with hundreds of deaths, our website: oly–wa.us/tstsca/ with many more wounded, locked up

the who, what, where, and how of the Olympia Carpenters use new tools NRB project. Intelligence gathering. First, we made an alliance with AFSCME mem- to pursue “the art of war” and win bers working as city garbage truck drivers that enabled us to get inside Mark Bean Southern Puget Sound District Coun- gan sending volunteers to these job- information on the day-to-day admin- cil of Carpenters. It was a position in sites. We would introduce ourselves to istration of the project. Some drivers [Note: This is Part 3 of a 4-part series the Carpenters Union that hadn’t been the carpenters with the aim of mak- describing steps the Olympia Carpenters were familiar to our members as we seen in maybe fifty years. It meant I ing contact and creating a list of who had all grown up in Olympia. Familiar- took to revitalize their union at a time could now put to work the skills I had these carpenters were and how to stay when good union jobs were under threat. izing yourself with those you know in developed in the New School and even in touch with them. On many job sites, the community can provide organiz- Part 1 appeared in November, and Part realize my passion to help my fellow former union members were provid- 2 in December.] ing dividends. The g-men’s assistance carpenters. ing their skills to their non- allowed us to survey the trash from union employer. Many had Organizing your organizing job the HP offices after they made their Knowing your position a story of why they were no In May 1989 I graduated from the New weekly pick up. From plastic trash Members of the Olympia Carpen- longer union members. We School for Union Organizers - a pro- bags we selected and studied project ters began researching construc- listened and learned. These gram of the Labor Center at TESC. I flowcharts and budgets the NRB job. tion activity in our county in 1990 un-represented carpenters had also been injured in a fall work- as part of our education about were surprised that union We also became privy to internal notes ing on a freeway job for Gordon Kruse where we stood within the geo- carpenters came to talk and communication among project Construction. At first, I was very graphic boundaries of Thurston with them—in their past staff. When we found notes mocking concerned about how I would earn a County. We learned that all resi- experience, the union had State Labor & Industries Safety Inspec- living. I needed spinal surgery and I dential carpenter construction in shunned them. This began tors, we shared this info with them. would have to rely at least for some the area was being performed by what would later become This brought State Safety Inspectors months on State Labor & Industries un-represented carpenters. New our District Council’s Car- to make a nest in the neighboring Li- disability benefits. commercial construction mainly in penter to Carpenter program. censing Building with a nice view of But it’s funny how disaster can lead Lacey, Olympia and Tumwater had the NRB job site. After that, the job to new beginnings. Over that summer more project jobsites with non-union Testing skills developed at the New site was shut down a few times due to someone said to me, “an organizer or- carpenters than union sites. School safety violations, which put pressure ganizes their own organizing job.” And We also encountered a special chal- on HP and resulted in some fines. One with that, my life changed and led to Making lists, listening and learning lenge when a non-union contractor ar- violation arose from the unsafe meth- my becoming an organizer with the Our local Organizing Committee be- rived in town to build the new Natural od used to lift large, heavy concrete Resources Building (NRB) on the East form panels over the heads of workers. Capitol Campus. We discussed the sit- uation and decided a little “organizing” The fines and stoppages delayed the was needed. We also wanted to prac- job schedule for HP and GA staff. It Giant Annual Rummage Sale tice and hone some of our organizing cost HP money, which ate into their Saturday, January 26th • 9am - 2pm • tactics. We saw the possibility of mak- project profit. How did we know about Lincoln School gym • 21st and Washington, Olympia ing an example that would build our the dollar consequences to HP’s job? It reputation as a group to be reckoned was in the regular project flowcharts to benefit education and nutrition programs in Santo Tomás with. We would convince the contrac- that we reviewed every week, thanks to AFSCME garbage truck drivers. We’ll accept your gently used donations on Friday, Jan. 25th tor Hensel Phelps (HP), and the state agency, Department of General Ad- Some out-of-work members and com- from 4 to 7pm (to the gym please) and then encourage you to ministration (GA), of the error of their munity folk volunteered as watch- come back the next morning to buy other people’s cool stuff. ways. This effort became a laboratory men. This enabled us to take photos Art, collectables, jewelry, kitchen stuff, books, clothing, out- and a proving ground for our New documenting a very large void in a door gear, furniture (no couches or mattresses please) School education, testing skills such concrete pour on the central building as research, intelligence gathering, core. We spread a flyer showing this Can you donate or volunteer to bottom-up organizing, salting, putting glaring mistake throughout the capitol help with the sale? pressure on an enemy, and building campus. We rallied with the help of alliances. state employees who were part of Lo- Please call or text (360) 464-5264 or e- Research. We used The Art of War by cal 443 to attend an important public mail [email protected] and our vol- Sun Tzu to instruct us in our effort. meeting by GA staff and management. Large numbers of people focused on unteer coordinator will find a shift for We understood that “war” was of vital importance to our union. Thus, we an agenda other than the one planned you! needed to make many calculations is an incredible experience. The meet- ing became a tutorial on how to turn Lincoln kindergarten and estimates in order to prevail in our battle. “Know your enemy, and what had been intended to be a PR teacher Emily Calhoun Petrie yourself, and you will be victorious” show, into a public chastisement of dancing with a lampshade at the sale! (Sun Tzu, The Art of War). We deter- 4 mined to gather information about Carpenters, continued on page 11 January 2019 Works In Progress Page 9 Growing demand and finite water resources —a challenge for Thurston County Esther Kronenberg metering, so the amount of use cannot Deschutes River Watershed (WRIA Master Builders, the Deschutes Estu- be monitored. Instead, it provides for 13). Of these, only the Nisqually has ary Restoration Team and the Thur- One of the most contentious and committees to develop projects to “off- a plan that will be finalized by Feb- ston Conservation District. fundamental issues facing Thurston set water use by permit-exempt wells ruary, 2019. New committees for the This group must balance the needs County involves water. The laws and in 15 watersheds” or “water resource other WRIAs have until 2021 to come of growing cities against water rights regulations around water are compli- inventory areas” (WRIAs). up with a plan that meets the approv- cated and involve belonging to streams, farms, aquacul- many stakehold- ture, builders and ers. There are tribal industry, and rural treaty rights, federal residents. Munici- laws, Department of palities now use the Ecology regulations, largest percentage of rural communities, the available water. municipalities, agri- That consumption culture, aquaculture amounts to only 40% and PUDs, all vying of their approved wa- for water subject to ter right, and it is un- the State’s Growth clear whether there Management Act. is an adequate supply Add 120,000 people of water to accom- who are expected modate full build- to move into Thur- out. The databases ston County by 2035 on water availability along with exacerbat- are fragmented and ing effects of climate inaccurate. The next change, and the dif- largest group of con- ficulty of ensuring a sumers of water are clean and adequate aquaculture, then ag- water supply be- riculture, followed by comes ever more industry and residen- critical. tial systems. Individ- ual residential wells The legislature account for only a modifies a small percentage of court ruling overall water use. In 2016, a new flash- point lit up the wa- Where can water for ter wars. A state Su- new development preme Court ruling, come from? known as the Hirst The stress on the water supply is readily apparent. The decision, clarified that Washington’s The committees must develop plans al of the Department of Ecology. Growth Management Act requires with actions to offset potential effects city of Yelm already faces water short- counties to ensure that there is enough on instream flows of new domestic How will stakeholder interests play water available to accommodate new wells; and include estimates of cumu- out? growth before more development can lative water use impacts for the next WRIA 13—the Deschutes Watershed be permitted. The court’s decision fol- 20 years, and result in a net ecological —covers most of Thurston County, lowed basic Washington water law that benefit to the watershed. including Capitol Lake and Budd In- holds new water rights cannot impair Thurston County is home to four let. Its Watershed Restoration Com- senior water rights, including those of WRIAs: the Nisqually River Watershed mittee consists of representatives the tribes, the environment, munici- (WRIA 11), the Chehalis River Water- from Olympia, Lacey, Tumwater, palities and farmers. shed (WRIAs 22 and 23), Kennedy- Yelm, Tenino, Ecology, the Dept. of Fish and Wildlife, the Nisqually and Tribes have the most senior rights for Goldsborough (WRIA 14) and the Squaxin tribes, the PUD, Olympia both water supply and instream flows adequate for fish. With the Hirst de- cision, rural development was shut ages. Most streams in the County run down when new wells could not be low or even dry up, like Scatter Creek, drilled until counties could verify that during the summer. Rising stream an adequate supply of water was pres- temperatures threaten salmon runs ent. State legislators from rural areas and stream life, caused perhaps by de- held the Capital budget hostage last HEALING POWDERS nuded shorelines, more surface runoff, year to compel passage of ESSB 6091, septic inflow or volcanic activity. We which significantly loosens the Hirst know that over-pumping of groundwa- ruling. For instance, it allows new de- ter depletes stream flows. Where will velopment relying on exempt wells the water for cities and new develop- to proceed without a review of water & POTIONS ment come from? The farmers? The availability. It lacks meaningful limits fish processors? The mines? Or the on water use and does not provide for Availab  streams?  enes Get your feet wet on Thurston County’s water situation The League of Women Voters is acting epartmen as an observer of the WRIA 13 discus- Yellow vests sions to protect the public and envi- From page 3 ronment. As part of the update of their 2008 Water Resource Study, which will “Meanwhile, militant railroad workers be used to inform and lobby legislators in Paris—many of the same ones who working on water and planning issues, went on rolling strikes last spring over the League is organizing at least three reforms that undermined their job se- public forums in the coming months curity—have organized a yellow vest to inform and encourage public en- solidarity march this weekend,” said gagement. Stangler. The first, to be held on February 5 at “There is anger and a willingness to the Olympia Center, will ask “Where’s keep protesting without a clear set of the Water? A Reality Check.” Kevin demands. Labor, left, and student ac- Hansen, hydrogeologist for Thurston tivists all hope to turn the movement County, will explain the relationship in a more progressive direction.” between groundwater and instream flows. David Troutt, Director, Natural Chris Brooks is a staff writer and Resources Department of the Nisqually organizer at Labor Notes. chris@ Indian Tribe will show that “Interstate labornotes.org. This article is 5 functions as a dam disrupting the reprinted with permission from Labor natural flow of the Nisqually River.” Notes. Esther Kronenberg is a member of the League of Women Voters. Page 10 Works In Progress January 2019 around three suppression techniques In the area of Voter ID and qualifica- still in use today: voter ID/qualifica- tion, Mississippi allowed every county tion requirements, voter-roll purges to choose its own standard of “literacy” and administrative rule-rigging. which could distinguish between vot- ers. Some African-Americans had to A long and fraught history read and explain part of the state’s fi- Before the Civil War, no special effort nancial regulatory code or they could was needed to limit voting to a select not register. Whites might have to read few. Each state could determine who the name on their driver’s license. was eligible to vote—and generally that excluded women, non-whites, mi- Decades later, after court cases by the 128 years of voter nors and people who didn’t own real NAACP and voter registration drives estate. by young civil rights workers, those attempting to suppress the vote re- The end of the Civil War brought the verted things such as purging voter suppression 15th Amendment, providing that the rolls, inventing new standards for re- right to vote could not be “denied or registration in predominantly African- abridged on account of race, color or American counties, a new era of ger- previous condition of servitude.” This rymandering, draconian residency called for new ways to limit the fran- requirements, putting polling places chise—and led to an era of terrorist in locations inconvenient for specific 128 years of voter mass action designed to intimidate groups of would-be voters, and other people out of voting. measures. suppression Some people rallied around the idea Anderson reports how Republicans that if you tortured or killed enough diffused and applied these techniques people who didn’t look like you, it to more and more states, and how One Person, No Vote would dissuade others from trying. the Supreme Court’s 2013 decision in by Carol Anderson It was a standby of electoral politics, Shelby County v. Holder opened up Bloomsbury Books (2018) While Washington state has an inclu- especially in the states of the former the Republican playbook to an efflo- sive and clean elections apparatus, Confederacy. Sporadic forays by the rescence of creative suppression. If Jeff Angus dozens of other states choose to con- Federal government into enforcing you’ve followed the evolution of voting tinue cleverly-designed election-fixing voting rights law during Reconstruc- requirements in Wisconsin, Georgia “The people who cast the votes decide that started as far back as 1890. tion eventually inspired the suppres- or North Carolina, you’ll get the fine nothing. The people who count the The 2018 book, One Person, No Vote, by sors to develop new tactics. They points. The Democrats’ efforts have votes decide everything.” – Joltin’ Joe would use the law and regulations been limp in the face of this offensive Stalin Carol Anderson, meticulously docu- ments this history. And while the au- instead of the noose to limit the fran- against democracy and the rule of law. chise to white men. Voter suppression, that is, preventing thor shows that technological sophis- Blessedly, Anderson also shows how, citizens from registering, preventing tication only makes voter suppression In 1890 the “Mississippi Plan” was con- in spite of the Democrats’ feckless- registered voters from voting, and pre- more effective and less traceable, she ceived as a more systematic way to ness, non-party organizers have rolled venting the accurate counting of cast also shares tactics for rolling back deny rights promised under the 15th out a model that can beat the scams. ballots, is not a recent scam in the US. much (not all) of it. Amendment. Mississippi’s model In a 2017 Alabama special Senate elec- It has a history, and by knowing its de- legislation, using all three techniques tion, community organizers, mostly- tailed history, we can win some fights Instead of a typical chronological nar- rative, Anderson organizes her history Anderson points out, became the blue- African American, took a page from against it. print for action by other states. the Civil Rights era. Adding to the Democrats’ fragile, money-centric wholesale campaigning (advertising, robo-calling, generic get out the vote arm-waving) they pursued one-on-one It’s about the money, honey outreach, worked through existing on employees “who did any work for table revenue can be warehoused, sit- community organizations and built Paul Buchheit pay or profit” during the week being ting for years or decades after a chari- new ones, relentlessly went to court and peacefully fought back. Many of us are ill-informed about cer- surveyed. That includes part-time table deduction has been taken, before tain critical economic and social is- workers who are employed for just any significant payout is made to pub- Anderson seems to see the Alabama sues. The following facts should have one hour a week. lic nonprofits.” approach as the key to overcoming been reported by the mainstream The unemployment rate also fails to As we keep shooting each other, our America’s passion for voter suppres- media, but unfortunately most of that include those who have given up look- leaders keep cutting mental health sion. Build alternative strategies that media is controlled by the very people ing for work—4% more Americans care complement Democratic party funds who have reason to hide the facts. than in the year 2000. with organizing that makes voting Why should privileged Americans easy in a country where, when people Tax haven cheating is much want to avoid this issue? Because actually vote, the bad guys generally costlier than the annual We’re gradually giving away they’re not about to make a finan- lose. safety net our country’s wealth to cial commitment to the root cause Offshore hoarding of private Ameri- of most of the violence in our coun- I knew a lot about voter suppression can wealth is estimated to be $3.3 the children of the rich try, which is the overwhelming techniques, but One Person, No Vote trillion. stress and suffering brought on by added a ton of knowledge and con- deprivation in the richest nation in text, and connected the war on voting The safety net costs about $400 bil- We’re gradually giving away our coun- the world. According to the National today to the thread spun by the voter lion per year, or, including Medicaid, try’s wealth to the children of the rich Institute of Mental Health, anxiety af- suppression movement since the Civil about $900 billion per year. Taking on fects nearly one-third of both adoles- War. the tax cheaters seems like an obvi- It’s not a Death Tax, it’s a cents and adults. ous response, instead of cutting the Deadbeat Tax. Jeff Angus is an avid reader and follower safety net. But the IRS budget itself Anywhere from 35 to 55 percent of But instead of therapy, we use drugs of party politics. He was at one time a has been steadily cut. Amazingly, and U.S. household wealth is inherited. It’s to treat patients with mental problems, US Senate staffer. perversely, the Internal Revenue Ser- going to get worse. A Boston College and as a result pharmaceutical com- vice, which could be recovering much study estimated that $59 trillion will panies make billions of dollars at the of this hoarded money, has seen its be transferred from American estates expense of incapacitated Americans. staff and budget slashed 14 to 18 per- by 2061. The study calls it “the greatest Incredibly, over 96 percent of “last- cent since the recession. wealth transfer in U.S. history.” That’s resort” mental health hospital beds almost as much as the total financial have been eliminated in the past sixty Our own country is the world’s wealth in the U.S. today. But, as Rob- years. More incredibly, the 2019 bud- second biggest tax haven ert Reich notes, in 2014 only 1.4 out get for the Department of Health and While the privileged American tax of every 1,000 estates owed any estate Human Services includes a 21 percent cheaters are taking money from their tax. So most of the money to be passed decrease from the 2017 level. own country, they’re not shy about down from Baby Boomers will be go- taking from the rest of the world. Ac- Most incredible of all is the hypocri- ing to kids who never earned any of it cording to the Financial Secrecy Index sy accompanying this disdain for the and won’t have to pay any taxes on it. of the Tax Justice Network, the U.S. is needs of American adults and chil- second only to Switzerland as a tax ha- One might argue that the loss of all dren. As when Donald Trump says, ven. Their report states: “Financial se- this tax revenue is a good thing, be- “To every parent, teacher and child crecy provided by the U.S. has caused cause then philanthropists will step who is hurting so badly, we are here untold harm to the ordinary citizens up and fund the needs of society. Not for you whatever you need, whatever of foreign countries, whose elites have much chance of that. The super-rich we can do to ease your pain.” used the United States as a bolt-hole have little incentive to provide hous- for looted wealth.” ing or education or infrastructure or Paul Buchheit is the author of Disposable clean water to poor neighborhoods. Americans: Extreme Capitalism and Record low unemployment? Yes, Here’s their incentive: Donor-Advised the Case for a Guaranteed Income because one hour of work counts as Funds (DAFs). These ‘philanthropic’ (2017). Contact him at: youdeservefacts. employed funds allow big tax writeoffs, and the org. This article appeared in Common Part of the ‘booming’ economy is a ‘donated’ money can be invested and Dreams, Nov. 26, 2018. Reprinted under low unemployment rate. As noted re- reinvested with little of it going to real under a Creative Commons Attribution- cently, the Bureau of Labor Statistics causes. The report “Gilded Giving” by Share Alike 3.0 License bases the official unemployment rate Inequality.org states that “this chari- January 2019 Works In Progress Page 11 Not that public defenders are car- rying out their responsibilities in a Inadequate defense for professional manner in other areas. Hired as the “lowest bid” contractor, the “public defender either does not meet with indigent juvenile clients juveniles—the state Office of and other witnesses in advance of court hearings, ...when the public defender does discuss cases with Public Defense and clients, it is often on the day of the hearing, the afternoon before, or when court is in session for other Grays Harbor County clients, and may take place in the detention center, in the courtroom, Gary Murrell On Friday, 14 December 2018, a Su- Court to decide sometime next year. or in the hallway just outside the perior Court judge denied the state’s courtroom where confidentiality is Throughout Washington state, county The lack of independence of public motion to end a challenge to the way compromised.” officials strongly influence the crimi- the juvenile “justice” system operates defenders is especially egregious. Ac- nal justice system by passing ordi- in Grays Harbor County. The Ameri- cording to the ACLU suit, in Grays Juvenile defendants are in essence nances, establishing policies, selecting can Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) had Harbor “the Juvenile Court judge . . . is left to understand on their own such program administrators intimately involved with the selection complicated issues as pleas, detention and staff, setting public process of juvenile pub- alternatives, plea alternatives, and safety priorities and ...the public defender never challenges the lic defenders and that plea consequences. Many juveniles making funding deci- judge and [the] prosecu- are “spending excessive amounts of sions that directly af- standardized bail determination, juveniles tor regularly meet to time incarcerated pretrial, for con- fect many who come in decide outcomes of ju- tempt, and for probation violations.” contact with the law. spend prolonged and unnecessary venile court cases and amounts of time incarcerated. then inform the public If the ACLU suit is successful, it could Everyone in the United defender of what will lead to reforms across all county Pub- States has a constitu- happen to her clients.” lic Defense practices and performance. tional right to due pro- And it might restore the meaning of cess and, whether one can afford it or brought the class action suit against According to the suit, “there was the term “juvenile justice” in Grays not, to adequate legal defense in court. the state and its Office of Public De- great pressure on the Public De- Harbor County. Children are no exception. fense (OPD) in early 2017. fender to not raise certain issues, not to advocate for the clients, and Gary Murrell lives and writes from Except, that is, if the child happens At issue is the failure of the Office of Public Defense (OPD) a state agency, to limit the hearing on each case to Grays Harbor County. He is a plaintiff to be poor and live in Grays Harbor a few minutes.” Public defenders County. In Grays Harbor, the County to monitor and supervise the opera- in the ACLU suit. tion of county public defense systems. readily complied. They “rarely if Commissioners, prosecutors, judges, ever objected to onerous and over- and public defenders who are respon- OPD knew for years about violations in Grays Harbor but claimed it lacked broad conditions . . . imposed by sible for establishing a system that the Court. . . . Because the public protects that constitutional right, have the authority to provide meaningful oversight. defender never challenges the stan- actually produced a system that mas- dardized bail determination, juve- querades as justice, with children the The Superior Court judge has now niles spend prolonged and unneces- unwitting victims. kicked the case up to the Appeals sary amounts of time incarcerated.”

efforts to turn the jobs at this site into pose. National Labor Relations Board Carpenters good, safe union jobs. claims were filed from that carpenter From page 8 application party. We may not have Putting pressure on an enemy the GA. There is power in a large num- prevailed in the claims, but we exerted One day an advertisement appeared ber of people moving toward a goal, more pressure on HP (along with ex- in the Olympian, asking for carpenters 233 Division St NW when you have the moral high ground penses for attorneys). to apply for work on the NRB project. and the public interest and values are (360) 943-8044 We used the opportunity to host a job Building alliances at stake. application party on the day HP be- We also looked for resources in com- Wildwood Bottom-Up/salting: We also talked gan interviewing applicants. We were munity organizations and people we (360) 688-1234 with HP workers who we met after flagrant in our effort. Our carpenters worked with for our mutual benefit. their day’s work, and invited to meet- were some of the best qualified trades- Primarily we made alliances with gov- ings at our union hall. Some of these men in the area, and they blatantly ernment worker unions in Olympia men became members of our union showed their union membership. We that gave us additional leverage on GA 1990s was the knowledge and experi- and became “salts” for the union. Salt- were baiting the contractor to commit and the NRB jobsite. We went outside ence we had acquired in learning who ing is a tactic where someone gets a Federal Labor Law violations by refus- the usual Building Trades “club” since the other carpenters were in our area, job at a specific workplace with the in- ing to speak to or hire these carpenters they were at a loss with what to do and We bridged the gap separating us and tent of organizing a union. We learned due to their being union members. We not willing to help. understood that we were actually the much more from our salts about what even brought video cameras to record same community of carpenters. However, one can find many like- went on at the jobsite daily, and who the event. It threw HP management minded folk who see that bring- This led to the organization of a new was who in the HP construction man- into a frenzy of insecurity and fear. ing union construction jobs to town local union for residential carpenters. agement team All this was grist for our All was good fun with a tactical pur- strengthens the community. We We also became familiar with the gov- learned not to hinder our effort by ernment agencies who had oversight being closed-minded about potential of construction matters, and who we allies. We kept faith communities in- could work with in those agencies. formed of our effort and received sup- The other important institution cre- port from that quarter too. The State ated by our union was an annual Rank Department of Labor & Industries & File Carpenter School. It brought safety inspectors, and prevailing wage together union and non-union carpen- Give the gift of monitors were especially helpful. We ters to discuss, learn and create plans gave them solid evidence with which for organizing for better communities Radiance to do their jobs. The contractor con- and labor standards. The school was tinued to suffer extra costs from fines based on a popular education model massage and work stoppages. as employed by the Labor Center at jewelry  books The Evergreen State College. They be- Success changed more than the came partners in our effort. natural body care NRB project HP eventually saw that it was in their Remember; we educate people in or-  candles bulk herbs interest to sign a bargaining agree- der to organize them. After that, orga- nizing actions begin to pulse. essential oils ment with the Carpenters Union Dis- trict Council if they were to continue Next month: What does it mean to be to work in Washington state. Large an organizer? Why is it needed now? contractors coming into Puget Sound from other states and Canada also Mark Bean retired from the Carpenter’s heard of our efforts and signed agree- Union and continues to learn from his ments. New state buildings have been community. built with union labor ever since. Look at the new GA building on Capitol Way. It was built by Sellen Construc- tion, a signatory contractor. www.radianceherbs.com The community of carpenters 113 5th Ave SE, Olympia • (360) 357-5250 The finest part of the campaign by Hours: M-F: 10am–7pm, Sat & Sun: 10am–6pm Olympia Union Carpenters in the Page 12 Works In Progress January 2019 The first phase of the struggle is the battle of ideas Barbara Ransby Proposition 4 in Florida which enfran- Republicans around key issues; re- chised 1.5 million formerly incarcer- activate a hearts and minds media Andrew Gillum and Stacey Abrams ated citizens with felony convictions, campaign to win, defeat or neutralize may not have won their elections, but disproportionately poor people and the underlying racist, elitist, misogy- in trying to get them elected hundreds people of color. This is a potential nist and xenophobic ideas that feed of thousands of people were energized game changer for future elections. Trumpism’s reactionary, white nation- and set in motion. Movement organiz- alist agenda. ers now need to give them something Even though some of the more high to do. At the same time, progressives profile progressives running for office The first phase of struggle is the battle and radicals need to agree on an agen- did not win, there is much work to do of ideas—legislation and elections are da for the new Democratic majority to build on the momentum of their metrics that tell us whether we are in the House. That task cannot be left campaigns, which is what we should winning or losing. to the politicians. An anti-racist, pro- do after any election if we have a “vote working class, intersectional feminist PLUS” strategy: Activate databases to Barbara Ransby is Distinguished analysis has to inform that agenda. invite volunteers into a larger politi- Professor of African American Studies cal conversations; plan marches, vig- at the University of Illinois at Chicago Moreover, key ballot initiatives were ils, direct action tactics that keep up won yesterday, most significantly, the pressure on both Democrats and

is that the United States is the hege- ten white supremacist) populations, monic military-imperial power in the against capitalism. In a world which Extreme times but also from key sectors of the finan- world and aims to stay that way. All at- cial class. is chained by an imperialism forged From page 1 tempts by countries around the globe largely in the United States, resistance substantive changes are impossible. The imperial machine at work to free themselves from the clutches and revolts in this country matter, and What in Europe is called extra parlia- abroad and at home of multinational corporations and the are invariably heard around the world. world market are subject to political mentary politics is the very essence of The United States as Hence, for Americans, radical-revolutionary struggle. the hegemonic impe- more than any oth- rial power is at the Political activity...extends far beyond the er population in the Revolutionary struggle and the crisis center of all of these world, anti-imperial- of capitalist production state, and beyond electoral politics, and developments. Re- ism necessarily be- I am particularly concerned in my cently, I watched a is related to community ... this same gins at home, where own political activities with the global college football game imperialism finds its realm—beyond the dominant Triad imperial machine serves to a large extent and noticed that in world bastion: For- of the United States, Europe, Japan— one of the now rit- tress America. Those where more revolutionary struggles to keep our own population in line. ual celebrations of who reside in the are being played out. At present I am the US military United States have an concerned with fate of the Bolivarian ostracization, eco- it was stated, indispensable role in making room for Revolution in Venezuela, the Move- nomic sanctions, as an item of a world of substantive equality and ment Toward Socialism in Bolivia, The coups, assassina- pride, that US ecological sustainability. MST in Brazil, the peasant revolts in troops were tions, and military interventions—all India, the revolutionary movement in in 137 coun- Going beyond the failed system engineered in part Nepal, and the global climate move- tries around It is our job to support revolutionaries in Washington. It ment—as well as numerous other on the world. in the poorest and most oppressed na- is this same impe- the ground struggles. Why does the tions on earth by backing their aspria- rial machine that United States tions, and by opposing US militarism I am likewise concerned, but in a serves to a large have troops in and imperialism abroad. We should quite different way, with various neo- extent to keep our 137 countries? acknowledge the cry, Let My People fascist trends from Bolsonaro in Bra- own population in (There are only Go! Capitalism is now a failed system. zil to Duterte in the Philippines to line. Today’s mili- 195 countries But in order to go beyond it we have Poroshenko in the Ukraine to Trump tarized police forc- in the world all to fight to create a new future for hu- in the United States. The downward es are a crucial el- told.) manity, and we have to begin where spiral of contemporary capitalism is ement in the New we are, while aligning ourselves with manifested in a twofold disjuncture The United Jim Crow that has an emerging International of global of economic stagnation and ecologi- States has over eight hundred mili- put grossly disproportionate numbers struggle. Being a political animal in cal collapse that together threaten all tary bases located in seventy coun- of Black men behind bars, and which this sense, means a commitment to of civilization. This general crisis of tries. Why? In the last year in which makes Black men a principle target for the global community, and to the capitalist production has now spread Obama was in office, the United States police shootings. to the liberal-democratic state, result- dropped 26,171 bombs. Drone assassi- most oppressed of the world’s people. ing in the rise of extreme nationalist, nations were ordered by the president Resistance here matters We will not be free until they are free. racist, and neofacist currents, which every morning, with his selection The struggle against Empire thus draw their support not only from the of the specific individuals or groups begins in the United States, as does John Bellamy Foster is the editor of lower middle class, and privileged (of- to be assassinated. Why? The truth the struggle for System Change Not Monthly Review. His contact there is Climate Change, and the struggle [email protected]

A Playback Theatre performance Stories of the Power of Music In collaboration with The Bridge Music Project Friday, January 11, 2019 • 7:30 p.m. Traditions Café – 300 5th Ave. SW downtown Olympia Cost: Suggested Donation $7.00-$12.00 (No one is turned away) Each month we invite a guest artist(s), community organization, arts program or social service agency to be a part of our performance. Through this collaboration we acknowledge and hon- or the work individuals and organizations do in our community. This month we collaborate with The Bridge Music Project, a Thur- ston County-based non-profit organization that teaches youth how music and writing can be used as tools to deal with life’s challenges. Through songwriting workshops, youth work together to write, record, produce and perform original music that shares their stories. Playback Theatre is a spontaneous collaboration between per- formers and audience. People tell moments from their lives, then watch them re-created with movement, music and dialogue. January 2019 Works In Progress Page 13 A new day in Mexico? President Lopez Obrador, popular festivities and financial instability

Alejandro Alvarez Bejar Mexico - charges that are double the He reiterated that the neo-liberal eco- In sum, Lopez Obrador is proposing ones imposed by the same banks in nomic model is both a foreign idea some old mega projects in indigenous On December 1st, thousands of peo- their home countries. All of this was and one that leads to de-nationaliza- territories without the detailed con- ple took to the streets of Mexico City taking place coincidentally with the tion because it concedes territory, sultation that is clearly required by to celebrate the inauguration of An- US-China trade war and a slowdown in businesses and public benefits to pri- Convention 169 of the International dres Manuel Lopez Obrador as the the global economy. vate and foreign businessmen. He de- Labor Organization. It’s also important new president of the Mexican Repub- nounced corruption as the principal to point out that it was the neoliberal Business interests used the media to lic. This took place after one of the tool of political power and noted the government of Vicente Fox (2000- attack the new government’s alleged longest transitions in recent history. importance of separating economic 2006) that proposed the Trans-Isthmus intention to change management For 6 months after the June 1 election, and political power. But he stressed all Corridor as part of the “Plan Puebla rules for pension funds, along with at- two governments existed— that of En- this right after announcing his Advi- Panama.” tacks by parties displaced from power, rique Pena Nieto and that of Lopez sory Board— made up almost entirely all trying to recover ground they lost Obrador. of the great men of Mexican business. Will there be an end to the in the June election. He did this to calm the jitters of busi- neoliberal project? A complex environment for the nessmen worried about the cancella- With regard to these projects, numer- transition In the state of Guanajuato, one of the most conservative regions of the coun- tion of the new airport. ous experts have pointed out that pred- Because financialized capital- atory modernity has already left its ism is structurally unstable, daily It was not surprising to see effect on Merida, Cancun, Campeche governance hangs by a thread that upon taking office, Lopez and Chetumal. In these cities, tourism, on the risk rating agencies. If the Obrador reiterated that he will commerce and real estate develop- government doesn’t control infla- not raise the price of gasoline, ment have destroyed biocultural patri- tion, ensure financial stability and nor increase the public debt. mony and generated “progress” that is maintain fiscal balance and bud- He will respect the signed unjust, unstable and destructive. This getary discipline, it will not pass contracts made by the previ- has occurred because there has been the confidence test of bankers and ous government and the au- no joint action between governments international investors. As a result, tonomy of the central bank of at the federal, state and municipal bankers and investors can slowly Mexico. level with local communities, peoples or rapidly undermine the credibil- and indigenous groups. For this rea- A choice to rely on the ity of any alternative government son, these experts argue publicly for military and sink any plans for change. the construction of an ecological, so- What was a surprise it was to cial and solidarity economy guided by The transition from Pena Nieto see him announce the for- a deep biocultural respect and the de- to Lopez Obrador saw the hasty mation of a National Guard, fense of life in all its forms. signing of the Mexican-US-Canada constitutionally armed or not, Treaty (a new name for NAFTA). made up of the army, marines Lopez Obrador has also stated his in- This new agreement repeats all the try controlled by the right wing PAN and Federal police which will contin- tention to cancel neoliberal educa- socially discredited aspects of NAFTA party, a limit was placed on the sup- ue the militarized strategy to combat tion reform, to offer free medical care and imposes new and substantial re- ply of gasoline. Guanajuato was the drugs. This also implies that Lopez Ob- in marginalized zones, to construct strictions on the new government and first state to open their gas stations rador is placing the guarantee of dem- a “Truth Commission” to punish the on Mexican, American and Canadian to transnational corporations in 2018. ocratic rights and freedoms in military abuse of authority and to deal with workers. This new limit on gasoline supply cre- structures. In the past, this policy has the case of the forty-three disappeared ated bewilderment and anger among Also, during this transition from one created a colossal humanitarian crisis youth from the town of Ayotzinapa. automobile drivers. government to the next, Mexicans throughout the entire country. What He announced that he will pay atten- happened to the demand for an im- tion to Mexico’s fifty-four million poor lived through the conflict-ridden exo- Corruption and the neoliberal model mediate peace that was the key factor people, give ten million scholarships dus of Central American migrants During the official inauguration in that motivated millions of people to to young people and double econom- (Hondurans, Salvadorans and Gua- front of members of the House and vote for Lopez Obrador? ic support to older adults and those temalans) to the United States. This Senate, governors and special guests, with disabilities. Without a doubt, he exodus created a crisis at Mexico’s while ex-president Pena Nieto sat by Lopez Obrador said he would live in his is listening to some of the popular de- southern border and temporarily mili- his side, Lopez Obrador castigated neo- own home and that “Los Pinos,” the of- mands for fundamental change. tarized the US/Mexican border. In cit- liberalism with its economics of in- ficial residence of Mexican presidents, ies like Tijuana, the conflict produced equality, its poverty and marginaliza- will be opened to the public. This will The hard task of converting hope the same expressions of racism, xeno- tion, its impunity and cynical respect allow people to see how ex-presidents phobia and intolerance that are the into reality for the corruption that flourished in led a luxurious life equivalent to the And finally, in a controversial move, basic ingredients of Donald Trump’s Mexico under previous governments, sheiks of the Middle East while most policies. Lopez Obrador announced that he as a true disaster for Mexico. of the country lacked basic needs. was not thinking of prosecuting func- Furthermore, during the transition, tionaries from previous governments Lopez Obrador made clear that he is A question of representation there were sudden drops in the stock because he is not motivated by ven- not only initiating a new government, After the inauguration, Lopez Obrador market and a devaluation of the peso geance. Rather, he is “in favor of for- but also a change in the politics of attended a massive gathering in the against the dollar. This was due to the giveness and forbearance.” Given the the regime itself. His changes will be capital’s Zocalo where representatives announcement of the cancellation of flagrant cases of corruption by public peaceful and orderly, yet at the same of sixty-eight indigenous communities a project to construct a new luxury officials at all levels of government time, radical and profound, because awarded him the “Baston de Mando.” airport above an aquifer northeast of under Enrique Pena, this announce- they will end corruption and impu- As he took this “baton of command,” Mexico City, along with revisions to ment could violate the rule of law and nity. Lopez Obrador exhorted the people the commissions that banks charge in perpetuate impunity. It cannot be an who filled the Zocalo “not to leave me option for an individual president to alone, without you, I am worthless— say, “I pardon you,” and forget it. He or almost worthless.” must act within existing law against After the festivities, this celebratory corrupt functionaries, otherwise their What to Wear act became controversial. First, it was crimes will go unpunished and thus criticized as too folkloric, with the perpetuate impunity. I’m confused burning of incense, prayers and in- In all of Andres Manuel Lopez Obra- vocations to the four cardinal points. Liberal snowflake or raging mob? dor’s actions, from his Inauguration to Second, and above all, it was contro- the Zocalo mobilization to the popular Which do I dress for? versial because the gathering that festivals with the hope for a changed Ballgowns and riding boots? gave the “Baston de mando” did not Mexico, everyone is aware that change represent the indigenous people. Inspired by pussy riot will not occur from one day to the next Leaders should not have spoken in the but at least there is light at the end of Angel wings and leather? name of the indigenous movement as the tunnel. If achieving this change this act appeared to suggest that they Too burningman was hard, it will be even harder to were the main interlocutors with the Anything 100%organic yet still made in a sweat shop will convert this hope into reality. The government of Lopez Obrador. do discourse versus the reality demon- The question of representation of this strates the path that we are walking. What size and color is post modern liberal hypocrisy? group is not a minor matter. Lopez Ob- Nothing yellow. rador has ratified three large projects Alejandro Alvarez Bejar is a Professor of When are those benefiting from privilege in America going as part of his development plan: the Economics at the National Autonomous Multi-Modal Trans-Isthmus Corridor University of Mexico (UNAM), a to dismantle systems of oppression? from the Pacific to the Gulf of Mexico, member of the Trinational Coalition for When it’s fashionable. the “Maya Train,” and a refinery in Ta- the Defense of Public Education and a basco. He said he would expand the Honorary Commander of the Heroico existing airport by adding two run- Batallon de San Patricio. Translation Lennée Reid is the booking agent for Cascadia Poetry Group join them on ways. by Dan Leahy Facebook Page 14 Works In Progress January 2019

Corredor Trans Istmico, en su contro- López Obrador, nuevo Presidente: vertido “Plan Puebla Panamá.” Al respecto, varios expertos insistieron en que la modernidad depredadora entre fiestas populares e ya había dejado huellas en Mérida, Cancún, Campeche y Chetumal, ciu- dades en las que los desarrollos turísti- inestabilidades financieras cos, inmobiliarios y comerciales, han destruido el patrimonio biocultural y Alejandro Alvarez Bejar de las regiones más conservadoras ciar que los expresidentes llevaban sólo han generado un “progreso” in- del país y fue la primera en abrir las una vida de lujos que no estaba lejos justo, desequilibrado y destructivo, Con ambiente de fiesta, miles de perso- estaciones de gasolina de las grandes del estilo de los jeques de Medio Ori- justo porque hasta hoy no se han ar- nas tomaron las calles de la Ciudad de trasnacionales en 2018. ente, en un país lleno de carencias ticulado las acciones de los gobiernos México para celebrar, el 1 de diciem- elementales. federal, estatal y municipales, con las bre pasado, que Andrés Manuel López El acto oficial de Toma de Posesión se comunidades, pueblos y grupos indí- Obrador se convirtió oficialmente en hizo frente a Diputados y Senadores, Tras la ceremonia en el Palacio Leg- genas. Por eso mismo, dichos expertos Presidente de la República Mexicana, gobernadores e invitados especiales, islativo, López Obrador asistió a un defendieron públicamente la después de una de las transiciones más con el expresidente Peña Ni- construcción de una economía largas de la historia reciente (durante eto a su lado: ahí, López Obra- ecológica, social y solidaria 6 meses convivieron literalmente dos dor desnudó al neoliberalismo que implica un respeto biocul- gobiernos, el de Enrique Peña Nieto y como un verdadero desastre, tural profundo y la defensa de el de López Obrador). por la desigualdad económica, la vida en todas sus formas. la pobreza, la marginación, la En el capitalismo financiarizado la impunidad y el cinismo re- López Obrador también rati- inestabilidad es recurrente, pero su specto a la corrupción que ficó su intención de cancelar gobernanza cotidiana pende del hilo florecieron en México en los la reforma educativa, de dar de las “agencias calificadoras de riesgo” gobiernos pasados. atención médica gratuita en macroeconómico. Si el Gobierno en las zonas marginadas, consti- turno no tiene control de la inflación, López Obrador remarcó que tuir una “Comisión de la Ver- asegura la estabilidad financiera, pro- no sólo iniciaba un nuevo go- dad” para castigar los abusos cura el balance fiscal y la disciplina bierno, sino un cambio de rég- de autoridad, para atender presupuestaria, no pasa la prueba de imen político. Que se iniciaba el caso de los 43 jóvenes de- confianza de los banqueros y grandes así una transformación pacífi- saparecidos de Ayotzinapa. inversionistas internacionales. Así, ca y ordenada, pero al mismo Anunció que se atenderá a pueden hundir lenta o rápidam- 54 millones de pobres, dará ente, la credibilidad y los planes de Que se iniciaba así una acto masivo en el Zócalo capitalino, 10 millones de becas para jóvenes y cambio de un gobierno alternativo. donde representantes de 68 comu- duplicará el apoyo económico para nidades indígenas le otorgaron el los adultos mayores y discapacitados. En esa larga transición, vimos la transformación pacífica y “Bastón de mando”. Al recibirlo, Sin duda, cambios fundamentales es- firma apresurada del T-MEC (Trata- ordenada, pero al mismo López Obrador pidió a la multitud cuchando reclamos populares. do México-Estados Unidos-Canadá, que llenaba el Zócalo: “No me de- nuevo nombre para repetir lo fun- tiempo profunda y radical, Finalmente, levantó polémica anunci- jen solo… Sin ustedes no valgo damental del socialmente despres- ando que no pensaba perseguir a los nada, o casi nada”. tigiado TLCAN y añadir nuevas y funcionarios de gobiernos anteriores, graves restricciones para el gobierno y tiempo profunda y radical, porque se Pasada la fiesta, este acto celebra- porque no lo animaba la venganza y para los trabajadores mexicanos). acabará con la corrupción y con la im- torio se convirtió en controversial: porque era “partidario del perdón y punidad. primero fue criticado como “folklóri- la indulgencia”. Ante casos flagrantes También vivimos un conflictivo y co” (por la quema de copal, rezos, e de corrupción de funcionarios públi- beligerante éxodo de migrantes cen- Reiteró que el modelo económico neo- invocaciones a los cuatro puntos car- cos a todos los niveles en el gobierno troamericanos a Estados Unidos (hon- liberal era extranjerizante y desnacio- dinales), pero sobre todo porque el de Enrique Peña Nieto, este anuncio dureños, salvadoreños, guatemalte- nalizador, porque fue concesionando agrupamiento que le dio el bastón de se antoja clara violación al estado de cos) que puso en crisis a la frontera sur territorios, empresas y bienes públi- mando obviamente no tenía la repre- derecho y perpetuación de la impuni- de México y militarizó temporalmente cos a empresarios privados extranje- sentación del conjunto de los pueblos dad. Porque no se trata de una opción la frontera México-EU, dando lugar en ros. Denunció la corrupción como la indígenas. No debía hablar a nombre individual del Presidente (“ te perdono ciudades como Tijuana, a expresiones función principal del poder político, del movimiento indígena, aunque es y lo olvido”), sino de actuar con la ley de racismo, xenofobia e intolerancia, de ahí la importancia que le daba a la un hecho que lo hizo proyectándose en la mano frente a funcionarios cor- que son todos ingredientes básicos de separación del poder económico y el como interlocutor del gobierno de ruptos que de otra forma, sus atracos la política de Donald Trump. político. Aunque todo eso lo remarcó López Obrador. quedarían impunes. después de haber nombrado como su Por anunciar la cancelación del lujoso Consejo Asesor (en el que están prác- Y la representatividad del grupo no En todos los actos realizados por An- proyecto de construcción de un nuevo ticamente todos los grandes hombres es un asunto menor, porque en su drés Manuel López Obrador el día de aeropuerto sobre el lecho de un ter- de negocios mexicanos), para calmar discurso López Obrador ratificó que su Toma de Protesta, brillaron la mo- reno de recarga de acuíferos en el Nor- los ánimos empresariales después de en su gobierno se concretarán tres vilización y el festejo popular con la este de la ciudad de México, o por el cancelar el proyecto del nuevo aero- obras claves de su Plan de Desar- esperanza de que México cambie, se anuncio de revisar las comisiones que puerto. rollo: el Corredor Multi-modal Trans- percibe que todo el mundo está con- cobran los bancos (que en México son Istmico (para unir el Pacífico con el sciente de que eso no ocurrirá de un del doble de la que cobran los bancos Por ello tampoco resultó raro que en Golfo de México), el Tren Maya y la día para otro, pero ya al menos parece en sus casas matrices), tuvimos ba- su llegada al Gobierno, López Obrador Refinería en Tabasco. También insis- verse una luz al final del túnel. Si el jadas súbitas en la Bolsa de Valores y reiterara que no aumentará los pre- tió en que en tres años estará lista camino para llegar fue duro, lo que to- devaluaciones del peso respecto al dó- cios de la gasolina ni la deuda pública, la ampliación del actual aeropuerto, davía falta para convertir la esperanza lar (coincidiendo con episodios de la que va a respetar los contratos suscri- el acondicionamiento con dos pistas de cambio en realidad, será durísimo. pugna comercial EU-China y/o anun- tos por los gobiernos anteriores y que adicionales del hoy aeropuerto mili- El discurso y la realidad, muestran así cios de desaceleración de la economía respetará la autonomía del Banco de tar de Santa Lucía y del aeropuerto la senda por la que ya estamos cami- mundial). México (el banco central). Pero sí sor- de Toluca. nando. prendió su anuncio de que formará Hubo reclamos empresariales airados una Guardia Nacional (que en la Con- En suma, se trata de algunos viejos Alejandro Alvarez Bejar es profesor de contra supuestas intenciones de cam- stitución es un cuerpo civil, que pu- y polémicos mega-proyectos, an- economía en la Universidad Nacional biar la gestión de los fondos de pen- ede o no estar armado) con elemen- unciados sin consulta detallada en Autónoma de México (UNAM), miembro siones (reclamos a cargo de los me- tos del Ejército, la Marina y la Policía territorios indígenas, requisito que de la Coalición Trinacional para la dios de comunicación, prensa, radio y Federal Preventiva, pues eso implica establece con toda claridad el Con- Defensa de la Educación Pública y televisión) y ataques de los partidos no sólo seguir con la estrategia mili- venio 169 de la Organización Inter- Comandante Honorario del Heroico desplazados del poder, todos tratando tar de combate a las drogas, que ya ha nacional del Trabajo. Fue el gobierno Batallon de San Patricio. de recuperar terreno tras la debacle provocado una crisis humanitaria co- neoliberal de Vicente Fox Quesada electoral que sufrieron el 1 de junio losal en todo el país, sino que implica (2000-2006) el primero en plantear el de 2018. depositar la garantía de los derechos Sin mucho ruido mediático, coinci- y libertades democráticas en órganos diendo con la toma de posesión de o estructuras militares. ¿Y así, dónde López Obrador, se vio limitado el abas- queda el reclamo de una paz inmedi- to de gasolina en el estado de Guana- ata, que fue clave en empujar a mil- juato, gobernado por el derechista Par- lones a votar por López Obrador? tido de Acción Nacional (PAN), lo que Reiteró que vivirá en su casa familiar Little Hollywood provocó desconcierto y enojo entre y que la residencia oficial de “Los Pi- A blog about the local news and events of and around Olympia, Washington. los automovilistas de ésa que es una nos” se abría al público, para eviden-

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Email Janine Gates at [email protected] January 2019 Works In Progress Page 15 First international conference against US/NATO foreign military bases The first International Conference Representatives of organizations and bases are the expression of imperial- NATO bases in Greece and Cyprus, against US/NATO Military Bases was movements struggling to abolish for- ist intervention in the lives of sover- the establishment of the new US Af- held on November 16-18, 2018 at eign military bases shared their ex- eign countries on behalf of the world’s rican Command (AFRICOM) with its Liberty Hall in Dublin, Ireland. The periences of aggression, intervention, dominant financial, political, and mil- affiliated military bases in Africa, the conference was attended by close death, destruction, and the health and itary interests. These interests exer- numerous NATO bases in Italy and to 300 participants from over thirty- environmental damage that mili- cise control of energy resources, Scandinavia, Shannon Airport in Ire- five countries. Speakers represented tary bases cause for the whole transport roads, markets land (which is being used as a military countries from all continents, includ- of humanity, along with and spheres of influence, base by US and NATO), and the bases ing Cuba, Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, the threats to and violation in clear violation of in- newly established by the United States, United States, Italy, Germany, Portu- of the sovereignty of the ternational law and France and their allies on and around gal, Greece, Cyprus, Turkey, Poland, “host” countries. the United Nations Syrian soil. United Kingdom, Ireland, Czech Re- Charter. public, Israel, Palestine, Kenya, D. R. The participants and We agreed to recommend and to sup- Congo, Japan and Australia. organizers of the con- While we call for port coordinated actions and initia- ference agreed as a mat- the closure of all tives in the coming year (2019) which This conference was the first organized ter of principle that while US/NATO military shall strengthen the global movement effort by the newly formed Global they oppose all foreign mil- bases, we consider to expand actions and cooperation Campaign Against US/NATO Military itary bases, they consider the closure of bases and while moving forward. Bases, created by over 35 peace, justice the close to 1,000 US/NATO military installations in and environmental organizations and military bases established certain countries and areas As a first step, the conference supports endorsed by over 700 other organiza- throughout the world as the main as needing special attention by the in- global mass mobilizations against tions and activists. What brought us threat to peace and humanity. These ternational movement. These include NATO’s 70th anniversary Summit in together was our agreement with the constitute the main pillars of global the Guantanamo US base in Cuba, the Washington DC, on April 4, 2919 and principles outlined in the Global Cam- imperialist domination by US, NATO US bases in Okinawa and South Korea, protests in NATO member states and paign’s Unity Statement, endorsed by and EU states and all of them must the US base in Rammstein/Germany, worldwide. the Conference participants. be closed. The NATO states’ military and in Serbia, the old and new US/ We declare our solidarity with the Cuban people’s decades-long efforts to take back their Guantanamo terri- tory, illegally occupied by the United asio-Cortez, Since her dramatic strength for greater efforts in the States, and declare our support for the Pivotal years step of joining a sit-in at Demo- pivotal 2020 balloting. Sixth International Seminar for Peace Continued from page 1 cratic House leader Nancy Pelosi’s and the Abolition of Foreign Military office this campaign has gathered Electoral urgency, grassroots all this energized young voters and Bases, organized by MOVPAZ for May steam nationwide. The latest push organizations re-energized veterans of the 1960s 4-6, 2019, in Guantanamo, Cuba. is for labor not just to join but to This exciting social justice motion op- Civil Rights Movement. play a leading role because it aims erates in a complicated environment. The participants express their most E Nationwide the work of Our Revo- to avert climate catastrophe at the The special danger posed by Trump- sincere thanks and gratitude to the lution, the National Nurses Union, same time it offers the potential for ism mandates making its defeat our Peace and Neutrality Alliance (PANA) Color of Change, fast-growing a massive increase in good-paying prime task, which requires building Ireland, for their generous hospitality Democratic Socialists of America jobs and more unity among work- the broadest possible vote-against-the- and support in hosting this historic chapters, the ers from all back- GOP alliance. Many in this alliance are Conference. Movement Vot- grounds. “moderate” voters, open to but not yet er Project and won to a consistent agenda of work- With the stakes so high, E The ongo- Adopted by the participants at the First other groups er empowerment, racial and gender ing work of the International Conference Against US/NA reached mil- no arena of struggle justice and peace. Others – mainly a Poor Peoples TO Military Bases. November 18, 2018, lions with mes- layer of corporate Democrats - are our can be abandoned. Campaign led by Dublin, Ireland sages that went political enemies. That means even as Rev. William Bar- beyond the we are allied against Trumpism, there ber fighting the “three great evils” need to defeat Trump to demand is contention among us over what identified by Dr. Martin Luther such advances as universal health agenda and message should predomi- King - racism, poverty and milita- care, a living wage of at least $15/ nate in the fight against our common rism - as well as battling climate hour for all, a thoroughly restruc- enemy, which constituencies are most change. And beyond its state-based tured criminal justice system, free crucial to victory, and more. pushes on voting rights, a living college education and a leap for- wage and other issues, the Cam- With the stakes so high, no arena of ward in ending sexual and gun vio- paign projects a “Third Reconstruc- struggle can be abandoned. Given the lence. tion” vision that taps into one of the structural constraints of the US win- Beyond galvanizing an electoral blow deepest strains of the struggle for ner-take-all, two-party system, defeat- to the racist right, these efforts in- freedom stretching back through ing Trump means contending for the spired hope and political engagement the “Second Reconstruction” of the Democratic ballot line in Democratic among millions of low-income peo- 1960s to the gains of post-Civil War primaries and voting that ballot line ple. They increased the independent Reconstruction before they were when the general election rolls around. strength of progressive organizations rolled back by Klan terror and the Until such time as progressives win and expanded the boundaries of what systematic disenfranchisement of deep reforms in the electoral system it is possible to fight for and win in African Americans. and/or can ourselves become a “first 2020 and beyond. On-going political E The push for Medicare for All which or second party,” this is the only prac- work that stems from these efforts in- has been embraced by significant tical path to defeat the far right and so- cludes: sections of the labor movement, lidify a base among the millions who E The campaign for a Green New long-time single-payer advocates, see Trumpism as a mortal threat. Deal promoted by Alexandria Oc- Democratic Socialists of America To successfully navigate that path, we and numerous community groups. need to build up organizations like This demand has now “gone main- those mentioned above, controlled by stream,” winning backing from and accountable to a grassroots pro- scores of Senators and Congress gressive base. It is crucial to strength- people including every likely con- en cooperation between such groups tender for the 2020 Democratic as Our Revolution, Working Families Presidential nomination. Party, the National Nurses Union and E The grassroots campaigns on edu- other progressive unions, state-based cation, criminal justice reform, im- organizing formations that have roots migrant rights, a domestic workers among workers and communities of bill of rights and more that have color, the nationwide community or- long been central to the work of ganizing networks, 350.org and other community and workers’ rights key social justice groups. Together organizations (such as the Texas these already influence tens of mil- Organizing Project, Virginia New lions of people. They constitute the Majority, the National Domestic building blocks of what can be an Workers Alliance and the nation- even larger progressive bloc with the wide community organizing net- potential to reshape local, state and works - Peoples Action, Center for national politics. Popular Democracy, PICO, Center for Community Change). Most of Max Elbaum is one of the editors these, and other groups, are build- Organizing Upgrade, where you can ing off the lessons learned, larger find articles elaborating on the points base and new allies gained from made here. He is author of the recently participation in the 2018 midterms re-released Revolution in the Air: Sixties to expand week-to-week non-elec- Radicals Turn to Lenin, Mao and Che. toral organizing and accumulate January 2019 Free, take one! Serving the Olympia community and the cause of social justice since 1990. Works In Progress

Writer and political activist Winona LaDuke is a widely-recognized and outspoken advocate of Native American causes, writing extensively about human rights, Native land reclamation, and environmental justice. LaDuke will hold a lecture on her causes and organizations, including the Honor the Earth and the White Earth Land Recovery Project, with time to dive deeper through a Q&A session. This issue: Political Work

January 2019 — Works In Progress — January 2019