July 3rd, 2007 — Events
Richard Becker of Pastors for Peace discuss the annual pilgrimage to Cuba. Becker discusses history of Cuba colonialism and the effects of the blockade.
Brain Labor Report - July 3, 2007
“It is a policy of trying to starve somebody into submission…”
~ Richard Becker on Cuba Blockade
Pastors For Peace
What is the Cuba Caravan? On 14 separate routes, participants and vehicles travel through the US and Canada, making pre-arranged stops in cities along the way. Speakers discuss what is happening in Cuba and the purpose of the trip.
Humanitarian aid is gathered, consisting of medical and educational supplies and equipment, and also computers, bicycles, tools and sports equipment. These are items difficult or very expensive to obtain in Cuba, due to the 45-year-long economic blockade imposed by the US government.
This project offers concerned US citizens an opportunity to demonstrate solidarity, and an alternative foreign policy based on justice and mutual respect, towards our neighbor country, only 90 miles away.
July 1st, 2007 — Actions
Parade morning we line up by 9:30 a.m. on Liberty St. just above Iowa St.. Come join us! There will be banners to carry and Jobs with Justice placards people can hold… Our float is for anyone who can not walk, come aboard. And the float will house the sound system so we can crank out labor tunes for the parade theme “American Music”
FREE SPEECH has been Bought ‘n Paid for! We PAID an additional $70. so to satisfy Ashland’s Chamber of Commerce who runs the parade. This was in response to being told we could NOT be political or carry any political banners. Bush bashing is now legal and we can target Walden and Smith, too! We paid - so now we can say what we want!
We will be preparing “the float” this evening (after 4:30 p.m.) where it sits at my house, 298 Garfield Street in Ashland. We will need to add some Jobs with Justice placards, a patio table/chairs/umbrella, perhaps test the sound system and otherwise prep for parade day… The float will have plenty of ice cold water which is good since the weather is predicted to get close to 100 degrees on July 4th!
The float will leave my house between 9 and 9:10 a.m. on the morning of July 4 and be taken to the line up position on Liberty St… Again, please join us no later than 9:30 a.m. on Liberty St…
Any questions? Please call me at 541-482-6988.
In solidarity,
Wes Brain, Chair
Southern Oregon Jobs with Justice
June 30th, 2007 — Actions
Medford To Host New Exhibit on Human and Economic Cost of the Iraq War to Oregon
“Eyes Wide Open” exhibit features boots for Oregon soldiers killed in Iraq; memorial to Iraqi casualties and interactive display on economic cost of the war to Oregon
Monday, July 2, 2007, 10 AM to 6 PM
Vogel Plaza @ Main and Central next to Ginger Roger’s Craterian Theater in downtown Medford
EYES WIDE OPEN - click for flyer -
The Cost of War to Oregon
“EYES WIDE OPEN” EXHIBIT IN MEDFORD, OREGON
WHAT: A new exhibit on the human and economic cost of the Iraq war to Oregon will be on display in Medford on July 2nd at Vogel Plaza, corner of Main Street and Central Avenue. The exhibit consists of a memorial to those who have lost their lives in the Iraq war, including a pair of boots to honor each of the fallen soldiers from Oregon or who have a strong Oregon connection. The exhibit also recognizes the more than 100,000 Iraqis that have died in the war. It also features an interactive display on the cost of the war to Oregon. The public will have the opportunity to view the exhibit, make prayer flags participate in reading of the names of the fallen and a silent vigil and closing ceremony to honor each of the dead soldiers.
WHEN: From 10 am to about 6 pm on Monday, July 2, 2007. A silent vigil will be held from 5 to 5:30 pm followed by a ceremony to honor each of the U.S. Iraq War dead until about 6 pm.
WHERE: Vogel Plaza in the heart of downtown Medford by the Craterian-Ginger Rogers Theater at the intersection of East Main Street and North Central Avenue (Highway 99). From Interstate-5 take either the north or south Medford exit and follow the signs to downtown Medford. (Take Court Street to Central Avenue from the North I-5 interchange and Barnett Road right on Riverside Avenue left on Main Street from the South I-5 interchange.)
PHOTO OP: Volunteers will be setting up the display from about 9 am to 10 am on July 2nd. The exhibit includes a display of boots and shoes, a wall of 2,000+ colorful prayer flags and other exhibits that demonstrate the cost of the war in Iraq to Oregonian taxpayers. There will be a silent vigil from 5 to 5:30 pm and a ceremony recognizing each U.S. soldier with Oregon ties who has died in Iraq from 5:30 to 6 pm.
HOSTED BY: Citizens for Peace & Justice of Medford is the primary local sponsor. The statewide tour is sponsored and organized by the American Friends Service Committee, Military Families Speak Out—Oregon, and Rural Organizing Project. Other local co-sponsoring groups include Applegate Citizens for Political Change, Veterans for Peace of Josephine County, the Ashland chapter of Women’s International League for Peace & Freedom, the South Mountain Friends Meeting and others.
For more information, see the Citizens for Peace & Justice website
http://www.medfordcpj.org
or contact: Allen Hallmark 541-482-8515 or Mary Madsen 541-770-5274
June 26th, 2007 — Brain Labor Report
John L Campbell Jr., United Steel Worker political action committee, discuss why unions are good for society and why we should support the Employee Free Choice Act.
Brain Labor Report - June 26, 2007
“[union are] so much more than what you do in the workplace … it brings justice and democracy.”
~ John L. Campbell on benefits of union organizing.
June 12th, 2007 — Campaigns
SOJwJ’s new committee formed by the Board of Directors on 6/12/07 will do two things:
- Work with “the Ashland Plan” which is an up and running campaign to open up first the Ashland Library. Kurt Kessler is working with the Ashland campaign and he is also on ournew committee so we have a good liaison.
- To form an SOJwJ “Workers Rights Board” with the first order of business to focus on the shortfalls of plans for the privatization of the Jackson County Library System. It is the intent of the Board of Directors that this be an ongoing Workers Rights Board which will deal with other issues in the future.
June 5th, 2007 — Employee Free Choice Act
Dear EFCA lobby delegates: Campaign for the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA) The following people are joining our delegation to lobby Senator Gordon Smith (via Medford office staff)
- Howard Owens- Grants Pass, Retired United Auto Workers
- Brenda Gould- Medford, Citizens for Peace and Justice
- Smoki Donaldson- Medford, Oregon Action/Retired Communication Workers of America
- Beverly Deleonardis- Central Point, Oregon Action/Retired Communication Workers of America
- Don Monjure- Ashland, Retired California Employees Association/ Southern Oregon Socialist Action
- Allen Hallmark- Ashland, Citizens for Peace and Justice
- Bonnie Wallace- Roseburg, Oregon Nurses Association/Mercy Hospital Bargaining Team Chair
- Penny Kollen- Roseburg, Oregon Nurses Association/Mercy Hospital
- Wes Brain- Ashland, Retired SEIU
April 18th, 2007 — Events
Kicking off Independent Media Week, Southern Oregon Jobs with Justice sponsored a free concert featuring the pro-labor, anti-Bush folk music of George Mann was held at the Beanery in Ashland. The concert followed the free indy film festival at Southern Oregon University (SOU)
For more pictures Click Here.
George Mann
Singer/songwriter and producer George Mann makes music in the NYC area with 90-year-old Julius Margolin - the “George and Julius” website is here http://www.georgeandjulius.com
George Mann has worked as a union organizer and has been singing and recording since his teens. George writes and arranges many of the “George and Julius”duo’s tunes, and has produced three CDs four solo CDs and the first two “Hail to the Thief” compilations. “There’s No Way Out” is from his upcoming solo album.
Prior to the free concert at the Beanery, a documentary film about Julius Margolin debuted at Southern Oregon University. “A Union Man” is the story of Julius’ life through his own eyes as well as those he’s met and worked with. The film features guest appearances by Utah Phillips, Faith Petric and former NMU Vice President Joe Stack, and has concert performances as well. “A Union Man” is an affectionate portrait of a 90 year old rank-and-file activist still in the struggle for justice and workers’ rights. “A Union Man” was produced by George Mann and the editing was performed by Ashland videographer Steve Ryan.
