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    Another world is possible
  • Dialogue on Newtown

    Hand grenade for Hello Kitty.
    Niche market for ammunition
    Assault weapons swept in on tide of fortune.

    Truth rubbing a lie,
    “Guns don’t kill, people do.”
    The gun turns and addresses its owner,

    “A gun is a product.
    A gun embodies the labor of the people who produced it.
    The sale of a gun creates profit.”

    In my minds eye I see the ancient Greeks battling it out.
    Bare skinned under an honest sun.
    It’s when they started talking that things got bad.

    PassMass Press Release

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    MEDIA ALERT

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

    November 9, 2013

    PRESS RELEASE FOR THE “PASSMASSAMENDMENT BALLOT INITIATIVE”

    BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS

    The PassMassAmendment Ballot Initiative (www.PassMassAmendment.org), is a 3+ year process to ask Massachusetts voters to amend (clarify) the state Constitution to declare:

    “Corporations Are Not People, Money Is Not Speech”

    Late last year, we began the formal ballot initiative process with a meeting at the Attorney General’s office of the Commonwealth. On August 7, 2013, we filed our formal petition. Over the summer PassMassAmendment organized petition teams and allies to engage the public to gather 68,911 valid signatures this September 18th through November 20th.

    Hundreds of PassMassAmendment petitioners have been gathering signatures around the state since September 18th, on street corners, in parking lots, in churches, and in meeting halls. Today, PassMassAmendment launches its “print-sign-mail” petition campaign to draw in voters! People who want to sign the petition can print, sign and mail the petition form to town clerks around the state for their signatures to count!

    Once enough signatures are gathered, the Amendment will need 25% of two consecutive Legislative Sessions voting in favor, for it to be on the 2016 Ballot. The proposed amendment already has more than 20% of that support in the Legislature.

    The formal language, and the legal discussion can be found at: www.PassMassAmendment.org.

    Over the last century and more, the people have been losing their influence over our democratic process. We believe that the root of this issue is the corrupting influence of corporations and money on our political process. We have asked our legislators to rectify this. The “Clean Elections Law” passed in 1998 by a 2 to 1 majority by ballot initiative. But our legislators refused to fund it and ended it by voice vote. We have passed resolutions around the state asking our legislators to act to amend the US Constitution to rectify this.

    They have not acted. As a result, we believe that it’s time for citizens to act. Absent of action by our legislators, we intend to amend (clarify) the Massachusetts Constitution ourselves.

    Endorsed by:
    U. S. Congressman Jim McGovern, State Reps: Cory Atkins, Ellen Story, Denise Provost, Timothy J. Toomey Jr, Sean Garballey, Jennifer Benson, Carl Sciortino, Jason Lewis, Harold Naughton, State Senators:Katherine Clark, Barry Finegold, Karen E. Spilka (Majority Whip) Other (in order of appearance): Noam Chomsky, Ironworkers Local 7, Occupy Winchester, Greater-Boston Chapter of the Green-Rainbow Party, The Somist Institute (led by Dr Carmine Gorga), Bill McKibben (Founder of 350.org), Cape Cod Move to Amend, Assabet River Valley Chapter of the Green Rainbow Party, Occupy Falmouth, Cathedral Church of St. Paul (Boston),
    North Shore Move to Amend.

    PRESS CONTACT: Terra Friedrichs 978 808 7173 terraf “at” compuserve dot.com

    GA Summary – 3 September 2013

    Most of tonight’s GA focused on revisiting (and amending) the disbursement proposal from July 9th.

    We decided to liquidate Occupy Boston’s remaining credit union funds. Assuming we got the math right, this breaks down as follows:

    • $4294 for the street medics
    • $908 for strike debt
    • $2000 for Mesob’s food truck (see minutes)
    • $1000 for Bobbi’s Urban Pioneer proposal (see minutes)
    • $492 for Food Not Bombs
    • $492 for E5

    GA Minutes: http://wiki.occupyboston.org/wiki/GA_Minutes_Tue_Sep_03_2013.

    GA Summary – 9 July 2013

    Proposals passed during the July 9th 2013 General assembly.

    Natgat Endorsement

    The general assembly agreed to endorse Natgat 2013.

    Proposed by Aria. Passed in the consent bucket

    Natgat Funding

    We agreed to donate $500 to Natgat.

    Proposed by Aria. Passed by consensus

    Puppet Collective Funding

    We agreed to give $1500 to a Puerto Rican puppet collective, to rent a van and travel to Bread and Puppets 50th anniversary.

    Brought by David and Dey. Passed by consensus

    Legal Aid

    We agreed to give Linda $253 for legal aid and court costs.

    Brought by Linda. Passed by consensus

    Occupy Boston remaining funds

    We agreed to hold $500 of Occupy Boston’s remaining funds in reserve (for operating expenses), and disburse the rest as follows:

    • 50% to street medics,
    • 30% to E5,
    • 10% to food not bombs, and
    • 10% to strike debt.

    Future income will be set aside for operating expenses.

    Proposed by Dana. Passed by consensus

    (Note: this proposal is subject to reconsideration at the next GA)

    Next GA: September 3rd 7pm

    Minutes: http://wiki.occupyboston.org/wiki/GA_Minutes_Tue_July_09_2013

    July 2nd GA Postponed to July 9th

    Occupy Boston July General Assembly is postponed from July 2 to July 9: 7-7:20 potluck, 7:20-9pm meeting, at the Community Church of Boston. The GA has been postponed because a significant number of regular attenders had conflicts and requested a change.

    Contact us

    Occupy Boston Media <Media@occupyboston.org> • <Info@occupyboston.org> • @Occupy_Boston