Reclaimin' the Commons

A mass mobilization is afoot from June 3-9 in San Francisco to oppose the
hostile corporate takeover of the necessities of life, and to demonstrate
the solutions to corporate power that already exist. I’m forwarding this
because it’s very much a grassroots effort, and we are what makes up those
grassroots…

The mobilization is “Reclaim the Commons” -- the commons being defined as
those things that the people of this planet once held in common, but which
are being privatized by corporations and their politicians at an
ever-increasing pace: our genes, our food, health care and education
systems, public spaces, our air waves, the forests, oceans and all other
ecosystems and our government itself.

Please go to reclaimthecommons.net or call 877.806.2871 for much more
information.

The people working on this mobilization are doing wonderful work, and they
can use your help in getting out the message that the commons should be
held in public trust, not for private gain.

WAYS YOU CAN HELP:
** Spread the word! Send this message on to your acquaintances and
friends, and check-in with us online – at reclaimthecommons.net &
indybay.org/globalization – to keep in touch.
** Look at the schedule below and see what events you can attend – people
are especially encouraged to take the day off on Tuesday, June 8th to take
to the streets with us. Direct action (and many other) trainings are
listed on the Reclaim the Commons website
** If you can’t take to the streets, you can support the people who do
from your home – if you can house people on your floor, couch or have
tent-space in your backyard visit our housing board at
reclaimthecommons.net/housing.php or send an email to
bayareahousing [at] hotmail.com– if you can watch and tape TV or radio
reports and share them with our media team, contact lunastouch [at] yahoo.com
--if you can help the legal team with the paperwork and phone banking
that’s
inherent when mass arrests take place, contact markissimo [at] lycos.com – if
you can donate funds via check or credit card go to reclaimthecommons.net
and follow the “Donate” links.

There are many, many other ways for individuals, affinity groups or
networks of friends to plug in to the mobilization. Please come to the
reclaimthecommons.net website and follow the “Get Involved” link.

You can read the media reaction to Reclaim the Commons here:
http://www.reclaimthecommons.net/article.php?id=65


WHY NOW? WHY SAN FRANCISCO?
The biotech/pharmaceutical industry is a prime example of how corporations
are eroding democracy and threatening our planet – from skyrocketing
heatlth care costs & intentionally mutated food to designer babies &
biological weapons. They're having their 'BIO2004' meeting this year in
San Francisco, June 6--9. At the same time, the G8—the group of 8 most
powerful countries in the world & a prime example of governments serving
corporate interests--is meeting off the coast of Georgia.

OUR SCHEDULE:
June 3-5: Deconstructing Empire Teach-Ins in San Francisco! From
globalization & the Iraq war to GMOs – what’s the scoop and What You Can
Do About It. Register at the website.

June 5: 11am Meet at UN Plaza to march against the Iraq war in a Reclaim
the Commons bloc. 4pm Help establish a Temporary Autonomous Zone in Golden
Gate Park – specific location TBA.

June 6: 12noon Meet at SBC Park for a Biodiversity parade to the Really,
Really Free Market in Union Square from 2-4pm. Be part of an alternative
to greed - bring something fabulous to give...art, knowledge, stories,
counseling, food, <insert your idea here>. Then from 5.30 – 7pm a Food
Fight at Fort Mason, host to the first BIO2004 gala event of the week –
bring your least favorite GMO food. Throw it.

June 7: 10am Kick-off the Racial Justice Day of Actions with a rally at
the SF Federal Building to denounce torture in Iraq & California, followed
by autonomous actions throughout the city. That night from 6.30 - 10pm,
World Cafe: Biotech. A radical means to rational discourse. Location TBA.

June 8: 6.30am MASS DIRECT ACTION TO SHUT-DOWN the BIO2004 meeting in SF
on the day that the G8 starts in Georgia. Skip work or school, wake up
early and meet at Market & Powell for an orientation or proceed directly
to Moscone Center. BIKES NOT BIOTECH/CYCLE THE COMMONS contingent meets at
Union Square between 6.00-6.30am. Reconverge at 5pm at UN Plaza for an
anti-G8 march and Reclaim the Streets (http://www.rts-sf.org).

June 9: Day of Eco-Actions. Demonstrations of green solutions to corporate
rule -- start scouting good guerrilla gardening spots now. Details online, or plan your own action.
Then at 6pm meet for the Biodiversity Gala & Commoner’s Ball street party
near SBC Park – location TBA.