Fwd: ACTION ALERT World Environmental Center Protest

[Wesley Roe and Marjorie Lakin Erickson]

>Date: Thu, 27 Jan 2000 07:08:39 -0800
>To: hopedance at omnipost.com
>From: Wesley Roe and Marjorie Lakin Erickson <lakinroe at silcom.com>
>Subject: ACTION ALERT World Environmental Center Protest
>
>*********************** ACTION ALERT *******************************
>
>World Environmental Center PROTEST
>Mon. Jan 31 @ 4:30 p.m. 
>Fess Parker Doubletree Resort - 633 Cabrillo Blvd (on the waterfront)
>
>World Environmental Center TEACH-IN
>Tues. Feb 1 @ 11:00
>Fess Parker Doubletree Resort
>
>The World Environmental Center (WEC) is conming to Santa Barbara next week
>in order to host a 3 day conference on "Global Environmental Harmonization
>in the Third Millenium."  This sounds like a good thing, but don't be
>fooled.  The WEC is a conglomerate of the most dangerous multi-national
>corporations in the world and their interest lies in anything but global
>harmonization.  Not to mention the conference costs $795 in order to
>attend.
>
>The WEC began as an independent organization in 1974 with a grant from the
>United Nations.  It currently serves as an information bridge between
>hundreds of corporations, government organizations, and academia.  The
>newly elected CEO/President of the WEO is Ray Ankers, former Environmental
>and Safety leader for Novartis, a major bio-tech company that is working
>to forever expand Genetically Engineered foods.  This goes to show that
>their interest is not with providing environmental stability for our
>world.  (there is a complete list of corporations involved with the WEC on
>their web-site, www.wec.org).
>
>Two of the main organizers in this conference are Occidental Petroleum and
>Edison Mission Energy.  If you're tuned in to current environmental and
>human rights issues around the world you know that these corporations have
>little regard for human rights and environmental protection.   
>
>Occidental Petroleum (OXY) is currently preparing to drill an oil pipeline
>through the heart of the U'wa peoples sacred land in Columbia.  Oil
>drilling in this region has proven to bring with it nothing but violence,
>environmental destruction, and cultural degredation.  In response to Oxy's
>plans, the U'wa people (5,000 strong) have vowed to commit mass suicide
>when the drilling begins.  They would rather sacrifice their lives than
>suffer the gradual demise that such an oil project will cause.  This issue
>is of particular severity as hundreds of peaceful U'wa protesters have
>just recently been removed from their land by the Columbian military.  For
>more info. visit www.ran.org
>
>On another note, Edison Mission Energy is planning to mine coal in a
>region of Arizona called Big Mountain.  This is home to the Navajo people
>and if Edison continues with their plans, they would have to evacuate the
>Navajo people in order to do so.  This is only one other issue of the many
>involved behind the irresponsibility of the World Environmental Center and
>the conference that is taking place next week.
>
>People from Los Angeles to Santa Barbara are fired up about this protest
>and ready to make our voices heard.  The two day protest will begin this
>Monday @ 4:30 in front of the Fess Parker.  This will be a creative
>combination of pickiting, guerrilla theatre, drumming, leafletting, and
>anything else we can muster together.  We will greet the media and the
>conference goers as they enter into an opening reception.
>
>The second day will begin at 11:00 in front of the Fess Parker as well,
>and will consist of a series of teach-ins for the community to learn about
>the issues involved in and around the World Environmental Center's
>conference.  Workshops will include a range of topics from globalization
>and genetically engineered food to the importance of voting third party.
>(If you have ideas for a workshop or are interested in leading one please
>email Ariana at arianak at as.ucsb.edu - right away).
>
>This protest is definitely coming on short notice but your positive energy
>and voice is urgently needed in order to bring the public's attention to
>what is really going on behind these closed doors.  We have a great
>opportunity to educate our community and ourselves about these issues as
>well as demonstrate to these corporations that the grassroots are the ones
>who will be bringing "Global Environmental Harmonization in the 3rd
>Millenium."
>
>The specifics of the protest are still being formulated and if you are
>interested in helping to prepare for next week there will be two main
>strategizing sessions.
>	Friday 2:00 EAB/ITP Rainforest Alliance office - UCSB campus
>		    2nd floor of the Associated Students building
>	
>	Sunday 2:00 6716 Pasado Road Isla Vista 
>
>(there will also be a strategizing session as part of an Increase the
>Peace Rainforest Alliance meeting this Thurs. at 7:00 on the second floor
>of the Associated Students building)  
>
>Remember this is going to be a peaceful and nonviolent action but come
>ready to make some change.
>
>In Solidarity,
>the People
>  
>
>
>--
>Christopher D Omer
>uomerc00 at umail.ucsb.edu
>
>
>
>
>_______________________________________________
>local-activists mailing list
>local-activists at rain.org
>http://www.rain.org/mailman/listinfo/local-activists
>