tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-78174221627077790062024-02-21T07:05:20.038-08:00No Border Wall - Take Action!Join No Border Wall in opposing the walls mandated by the Secure Fence Act.NO BORDER WALLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16705064894973061623noreply@blogger.comBlogger67125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7817422162707779006.post-3866342286444537052013-08-14T21:44:00.000-07:002013-08-14T21:44:49.966-07:00Bringing the Border to the Bay - San Francisco film screenings in September
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Three
Bay area events will highlight the human and environmental costs of border
militarization.<o:p></o:p></span></b><br />
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<u><span style="color: black; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Free</span></u><span style="color: black; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"> film screenings will occur on September 19<sup>th</sup>, 21<sup>st</sup>,
and 22<sup>nd</sup> sponsored by the Sierra Club Borderlands Team and the Marin
Task Force on the Americas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Afterwards
there will be a Q&A with people who live along the U.S.-Mexico border, and
who know the situation first-hand.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Our immigration system is broken.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Thousands languish in immigrant detention centers, including private
prisons that warehouse detainees to cut costs and increase profits.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Border enforcement inflicts tremendous harm
upon border communities and the environment, as border walls tear through
cities and wildlife refuges alike.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">It is important to understand the problem if we want to find
solutions. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">“Right now Congress is hammering out immigration legislation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If they do it right, it could benefit
millions of people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But if Congress
sticks to the “enforcement first” model, with more border walls and for-profit detention
centers, they will squander the promise of immigration reform,” says Dan Millis
of Sierra Club Borderlands.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“There should
be a pathway to citizenship without hundreds of miles of new border walls or
the waiving of environmental laws.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Everyone is invited to come see these films on the impacts of current
U.S. border policy on immigrants, border communities, human rights, and the
environment:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<em><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Immigrants
For Sale</span></b></em><span style="color: black; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"> (2013, 33 min.) is a ground-breaking on-line documentary series
that goes inside the private immigrant-detention industry through the lens of
those most impacted and the players behind the trade, examining the
multi-billion dollar profits that fuel it all.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Wild
Versus Wall</span></i></b><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"> </span></i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">(2010, 20 min.)<i> </i>covers the ecological effects of the 651
miles of border wall already constructed along the U.S. boundary with Mexico.
The Department of Homeland Security waived 37 federal environmental-protection and
other laws along our borderlands, resulting in a brutalized landscape and a compromised
legal system.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">The
Fence</span></i></b><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"> </span></i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">(2010, 30 min.)<i> </i>award-winning filmmaker Rory Kennedy’s HBO
documentary includes candid interviews with Border Patrol agents, ranchers,
environmentalists, and voices from both sides of the border-security debate.
Kennedy uses humor to highlight contradictions and politically driven
misinformation, as well as the ineffectiveness and costliness of the
controversial border barrier.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">“It is critical that people in the Bay
area see for themselves the impacts of our current immigration policies, so
that they can push members of Congress to correct the situation instead of
making it worse,” says Millis. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<u><span style="color: black; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Times and locations:<o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Thursday, September 19,</span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"> 6:30 pm, Eric Quezada Center
for Culture and Politics, 518 Valencia Street, San Francisco.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Co-sponsored by the Eric Quezada Center and
the Bay Area Latin America Solidarity Coalition.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Saturday, September 21,</span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"> 6:30 pm, First United Methodist
Church, 9 Ross Valley Drive at Fourth Street, San Rafael.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Co-sponsored by the Marin Peace and Justice
Coalition.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Sunday, September 22,</span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"> 4:30 pm, Berkeley Fellowship of
Unitarian Universalists, 1924 Cedar Street (at Bonita), Connie Barber Room,
second floor (sorry, no wheelchair access).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Co-sponsored by the Social Justice Committee of the Berkeley Fellowship.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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NO BORDER WALLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16705064894973061623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7817422162707779006.post-17138396217108051152013-04-12T10:43:00.000-07:002013-04-12T10:46:37.701-07:00April 25 "Fences and Floods: New Border Walls in the Rio Grande" at the University of Texas Pan AmericanScott Nicol, Sierra Club Borderlands Team chair and LRGV Sierra Club Conservation co-chair, will be speaking at the University of Texas Pan American on April 25 about the flood risks and environmental damage that will come with <a href="http://notexasborderwall.blogspot.com/2012/09/will-walls-worsen-rio-grande-flooding.html">new border walls </a>slated for the Rio Grande floodplain. Through Freedom of Infomation Act requests Scott has uncovered documents showing that Customs and Border Protection plans to condemn private lands and take parts of the Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuge to build these walls. For years the US section of the International Boundary and Water Commission rejected these walls as posing too great a flood hazard to communities on both sides of the river, but a year ago they caved in to pressure from CBP and approved walls in the floodplain.<br />
<br />
At 6pm on April 25 the Sierra Club will screen the 20 minute film <a href="http://www.sierraclub.org/borderlands/film.aspx">Wild vs. Wall</a>, followed by a discussion of the hazards posed by these <a href="http://notexasborderwall.blogspot.com/2013/04/border-residents-kept-in-dark-about-new.html">new walls</a>. The event will occur at the UT Pan American Health Auditorium (HSHW 1.404), and is free and open to the public. You can see a campus map <a href="http://www.utpa.edu/files/campusmap.pdf">here</a>.<br />
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NO BORDER WALLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16705064894973061623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7817422162707779006.post-22029731404780050412012-10-05T06:56:00.000-07:002012-10-05T06:56:10.861-07:00Sierra Club Borderlands event in Utah October 12
Sierra Club hosts a discussion of Borderlands Accountability<br />
October 12, 2012<br />
6:30 - 8:00 pm<br />
Weber State University<br />
Shepherd Union Building, room SU 312<br />
Ogden, Utah<br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">An
extreme assault on America’s public lands and environmental laws recently passed in the U.S. House of Representatives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> T</span>he misnamed “National Security
and Federal Lands Protection Act,” (HR 1505) will waives 16 environmental
laws on federal land along the entire U.S. – Mexico border and the entire U.S. – Canada border.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
lawless zone would extend 100 miles into the United States from the
borders for any activity of the Border Patrol. National Parks from Glacier to Olympic to Big Bend, along with wildlife refuges, wilderness areas, and national forests could see new walls and roads, towers and forward operating bases, with no concern for the environmental impact.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Utah Representative Rob Bishop, author of the bill, has a long history of attacking environmental laws and federal lands. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The Sierra Club's <a href="http://sierraclub.org/borderlands/" target="_blank">Borderlands Team</a> and the Utah Chapter will present a Borderlands Accountability event at Weber State University in Ogden, Utah to discuss the impacts that border enforcement measures such as border walls have already had, and the tremendous damage that HR 1505 could inflict. Coincidentally, Ogden is in the heart of Representative Bishop's congressional district.</span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">The Department of Homeland Security has not requested either the waivers
or carte blanche on protected lands.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
“National Security and Federal Lands Protection Act” has nothing to do with
security.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is simply an assault on
environmental laws and federal lands, using national security as a cover.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">For campus directions go <a href="http://www.weber.edu/weberstatemap/" target="_blank">here</a>.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span><br />
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NO BORDER WALLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16705064894973061623noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7817422162707779006.post-75766139443729734542012-08-22T19:49:00.003-07:002012-08-22T19:51:14.772-07:00U.S. IBWC meeting to defend their approval of dangerous border walls in the Rio Grande floodplain<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">In response to mounting criticism, the
U.S. section of the International Boundary and Water Commission (IBWC) has
agreed to host a public meeting to discuss their decision to approve the
construction of border walls in the Rio Grande floodplain.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The
meeting will be held on Wednesday, August 29, from 6:00-8:00pm in Rio Grande
City at the Holiday Inn Express located at 5274 East Highway 83.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Rio Grande City, along with Roma and
Los Ebanos, will see miles of border wall built in the floodplain adjacent to
homes, farms, and businesses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These new
walls will also repeatedly slice through the Lower Rio Grande Valley National
Wildlife Refuge.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Since 2007 both the U.S. and Mexican
sections of the International Boundary and Water Commission have rejected the
construction of walls in the Rio Grande floodplain due to concern that during a
flood event they would act as dams.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In
the United States water could be trapped in communities, unable to drain into
the river.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Flood water could also be
deflected into Mexico, worsening flooding there, and potentially pushing the
river into a new channel, which would change the location of the international
border.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">IBWC demanded that walls built in
other parts of south Texas either be placed north of the levees or inserted
into them, so that they would not impact flooding.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Roma, Rio Grande City, and Los Ebanos are not
protected by levees, so walls have not been built there.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">In February of this year the U.S.
section of IBWC caved in to years of pressure from Customs and Border
Protection and reversed their rejection of these walls.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mexico continues to reject these walls.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If the U.S. acts unilaterally it will be in
violation of the treaty that established the border.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">U.S. IBWC claims that a flood model
commissioned by Customs and Border Protection in July 2011 shows that if the
Rio Grande were to engulf border walls after a hurricane, debris lodged in the
walls would only block 10-25% of the water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>That model contains no explanation of where this number came from.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By starting with the assumption that walls
will not block water, the result of the computer model is essentially predetermined.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">In Arizona Customs and Border
Protection have constructed nearly identical border walls – 6-inch wide posts
with 4-inch gaps between them – across a number of washes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In places these walls have trapped debris to
a depth of nearly six feet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Walls then
act as dams, diverting water into nearby homes and businesses or causing severe
erosion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>U.S. IBWC should explain how it
is that walls of the same design trap debris and act as dams in the real world,
but allow water to pass harmlessly though in the computer model that they are
relying upon.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">These
walls have the potential to do serious damage to communities and refuges near
Roma, Rio Grande City, and Los Ebanos.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The Sierra Club Borderlands Team and No Border Wall urge RGV
residents to attend this public meeting and ask the U.S. IBWC tough questions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These decisions are being made in Washington
DC for political reasons, but it is our homes, and possibly even our lives,
that are at stake.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">#####</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">For more
information about these border walls, please read the recent Texas Observer
piece:</span><br />
<br />
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<a href="http://www.texasobserver.org/oped/new-border-walls-designed-to-flood-texas-towns"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">http://www.texasobserver.org/oped/new-border-walls-designed-to-flood-texas-towns</span></a></div>
NO BORDER WALLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16705064894973061623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7817422162707779006.post-70944007989675966582012-07-08T15:36:00.000-07:002012-07-08T15:37:49.454-07:00The Fence and Wild v. Wall screening in McAllen, TX<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 20pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Fence</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> and </span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 20pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Wild vs.
Wall<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Border Wall Films Showing at Cine el
Rey<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Cine el Rey * 311 S. 17th Street, McAllen,
TX<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Tuesday,
July 31<sup>st</sup>, 7:00 pm <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Join
us on Tuesday, July 31<sup>st</sup> for a free screening of 2 short
documentaries that explore the issues and controversies surrounding the recently
constructed U.S./México border wall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This free screening is part of Cine el Rey’s Sustainability Film Series,
and is sponsored by the Sierra Club.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Hundreds
of border residents have had their land condemned, and the erection of border
walls through Wildlife Refuges and Wilderness Areas has already done tremendous
damage, especially since the Department of Homeland Security has been able to
use the Real ID Act to waive all relevant environmental laws.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">In
February the US half of the International Boundary Water Commission approved
construction of new border walls in the flood plain at Roma, Rio Grande City,
and Los Ebanos.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If they are built, these
border walls will channel flood water into these communities, and also deflect
flood water into Mexican homes and property on the other side of the Rio
Grande.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">The
event at Cine el Rey will feature two documentary films, with a short
discussion to follow-<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16pt;">The Fence</span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Award-winning filmmaker Rory Kennedy’s HBO
documentary features candid interviews with Border Patrol agents, ranchers,
environmentalists and voices from both sides of the border security
debate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Kennedy uses humor to highlight
contradictions and politically-driven misinformation, as well as the
ineffectiveness and costliness of the controversial border barrier.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16pt;">Wild vs. Wall</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Sierra Club film by Tucson filmmaker
Steev Hise is an overview of the environmental effects of current border
policies, including insightful interviews and impressive footage demonstrating the
long-term ecological impacts of border walls.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt;">Admission is
FREE<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3BjjK0sms7UDkfUWEgVEqQfIfc8xXdUM_rnPN9gvPfAZS4-H5lCUkzdfgGqHro8_CqLJvXOSKSAER3MFs_CrBoRT3yMJEN1qTq2wIj6eSWWk1gwbt45aItALEi7fY-0JB5HW-5WzVZQM/s1600/cine+el+rey+border+wall+screening+poster+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3BjjK0sms7UDkfUWEgVEqQfIfc8xXdUM_rnPN9gvPfAZS4-H5lCUkzdfgGqHro8_CqLJvXOSKSAER3MFs_CrBoRT3yMJEN1qTq2wIj6eSWWk1gwbt45aItALEi7fY-0JB5HW-5WzVZQM/s320/cine+el+rey+border+wall+screening+poster+copy.jpg" width="207" /></a></div>NO BORDER WALLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16705064894973061623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7817422162707779006.post-29787657660261523972012-02-21T07:53:00.000-08:002012-02-21T08:34:26.799-08:00Borderlands event in Austin March 4<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsPvoJfS6y4nFoQUJl2hMOMiNG2EF58oItl6hSMNvQ6fKgejiuqfKGUz991M_Pmhubk1oJoFjdckXeMhMbP5djuYdyJQaMqZ2rdtvp0Ihoin7XzX2_jp8Fb7xfI_DVIc-gb93Ubd4aNPg/s1600/borderlands+team+austin+boot+heel+drag+copy.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 400px; height: 267px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5711618141782984722" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsPvoJfS6y4nFoQUJl2hMOMiNG2EF58oItl6hSMNvQ6fKgejiuqfKGUz991M_Pmhubk1oJoFjdckXeMhMbP5djuYdyJQaMqZ2rdtvp0Ihoin7XzX2_jp8Fb7xfI_DVIc-gb93Ubd4aNPg/s400/borderlands+team+austin+boot+heel+drag+copy.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Please join with some of Austin's finest bands in supporting the <a href="http://sierraclub.org/borderlands/">Sierra Club's Borderlands Team </a>on Sunday, March 4, from 4pm - 7pm, at the <a href="http://www.spiderhousecafe.com/upcoming-events/march-4th-2012-boot-heel-drag-iii-presents-no-border-wall.html">29th Street Ballroom</a> (next to Spiderhouse Cafe on the University of Texas campus). Along with live music from Designer Genes and BitterHeaRt Society they will screen the short Sierra Club documentary <a href="http://sierraclub.org/borderlands/film.aspx">Wild vs. Wall</a>, which shows the damage dome by border walls in Texas and along the entire U.S.-Mexico border. Admission is free; donations for the Borderlands Team are welcome.<br /><br />Unchecked by environmental protections, the walls that began in California’s borderlands now extend over 600 miles, inflicting tremendous damage upon many sensitive ecosystems. In Texas the walls that slice through the <a href="http://www.defenders.org/programs_and_policy/habitat_conservation/federal_lands/border_policy/lower_rio_grande_valley_nwr.php">Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuge</a> have fragmented habitat that is critical for the survival of endangered ocelots. In Arizona the border walls that cross washes and streams in the <a href="http://www.nps.gov/orpi/naturescience/upload/FloodReport_July2008_final.pdf">Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument</a> have caused severe erosion and flooding. Border walls built in New Mexico’s Playas Valley block the movement of one of the <a href="http://www.ilcp.com/?cid=162">last wild herds of bison</a>, whose range straddles the U.S. – Mexico border. And wall construction in California's Otay Mountain Wilderness Area has involved dynamiting steep mountainsides, sending hundreds of thousands of tons of rock into the Tijuana River below.<br /><br />The Sierra Club's Borderlands Team is working to prevent further walls and greater destruction along both borders. It is trying to head off legislation that would call for hundreds of miles of new border walls, or waive environmental and other laws along both the northern and southern borders. And the Team is pushing for the Department of Homeland Security to mitigate some portion of the damage that their actions have already inflicted.<br /><br />Please come out to the 29th Street Ballroom on March 4, and show your support for local music and for our borderlands.<br /><br />Directions: <a href="http://www.spiderhousecafe.com/contact/spider-house-cafe.html">http://www.spiderhousecafe.com/contact/spider-house-cafe.html</a>NO BORDER WALLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16705064894973061623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7817422162707779006.post-45713066493360454092011-09-21T07:29:00.000-07:002011-09-21T07:38:33.868-07:00Draft programmatic environmental impact statement released for the entire northern border - CBP has announced public meetingsCustoms and Border Protection has prepared a draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement for unspecified enforcement activities along the entire US - Canada border, from Maine to Washington. These could include new or expanded forward operating bases, fencing, roads, towers, and just about anything that they think of over the next decade or so. The PEIS is extremely vague on exactly what might be done and where. It can be viewed here:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.northernborderpeis.com/about-the-peis.html">http://www.northernborderpeis.com/about-the-peis.html</a><br /><br />The public and interested organizations should offer comments, either online or at one of the scheduled public meetings along the northern border. Public meetings will be held from 7-9PM at the following locations:<br /><br /> <br />October 4, 2011 <br />Massena, NY VFW<br />101 W. Hatfield St.<br />Massena, NY 13662 <br /><br />October 6, 2011 <br />St. Albans, VT <br />St. Albans Historical Museum<br />9 Church Street<br />St. Albans, VT 05478 <br /><br />October 5, 2011 <br />Augusta, ME <br />The Senator Inn & Spa<br />284 Western Ave.<br />Augusta, ME 04330 <br /><br />October 4, 2011 <br />Caribou, ME <br />Caribou Inn and Convention Center<br />19 Main Street<br />Caribou, ME 04736 <br /><br />October 11, 2011 <br />Rochester, NY <br />Holiday Inn - Rochester<br />Airport 911 Brooks Avenue<br />Rochester, NY 15624 <br /><br />October 12, 2011 <br />Erie, PA <br />Ambassador Banquet Center<br />7794 Peach Street<br />Erie, PA 16509 <br /><br />October 6, 2011 <br />Detroit, MI <br />Holiday Inn Express<br />1020 Washington Boulevard<br />Detroit, MI 48226 <br /><br />October 17, 2011 <br />Washington, DC <br />Crystal City Marriott at Reagan National Airport<br />1999 Jefferson Davis Highway<br />Arlington, VA 22201 <br /><br />October 3, 2011 <br />Duluth, MN Holiday Inn<br />200 West First Street<br />Duluth, MN 55802 <br /><br />October 13, 2011 <br />Naples, ID <br />The Great Northwestern Territories Event Center<br />336 County Road 8<br />Naples, ID 83847 <br /><br />October 5, 2011 <br />Bottineau, ND <br />Twin Oaks Resort and Convention Center<br />10723 Lake Loop Road<br />Bottineau, ND 58318 <br /><br />October 11, 2011 <br />Bellingham, WA <br />Hampton Inn<br />3958 Bennett Drive<br />Bellingham, WA <br /><br />October 6, 2011 <br />Havre, MT <br />The Town House Inn<br />627 1st Street West<br />Havre, MT 59501NO BORDER WALLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16705064894973061623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7817422162707779006.post-6761401351789245872011-08-02T09:25:00.000-07:002011-08-02T10:41:32.302-07:00Border Wall Film Festival in Austin August 18<strong>Austin Border Film Festival<br />Violet Crown Cinema * 434 W 2nd Street, Austin, TX<br />Thursday, August 18th, 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm</strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><div align="left"><br />Join the Sierra Club's Borderlands Team Thursday, August 18th for a free screening of 3 short documentaries that explore the issues and controversies surrounding the recently constructed U.S./México border wall<br /><br />-Featuring Three Documentary Films and a short discussion to follow-<br /><br />• Fencing the Border and its Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s gives an inside perspective on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s concerns about the wall's possible effects on wildlife and protected refuges in south Texas – 7 minutes.<br /><br />• Wild vs. Wall, Sierra Club’s produced by Tucson filmmaker Steev Hise, is an overview of the environmental effects of current border policies, including insightful interviews and impressive footage demonstrating the long-term ecological effects of border infrastructure – 20 minutes.<br /><br />• The Fence, Award-winning filmmaker Rory Kennedy’s HBO documentary features candid interviews with Border Patrol agents, ranchers, environmentalists and voices from both sides of the border security debate. Kennedy uses humor to highlight contradictions and politically-driven misinformation, as well as the ineffectiveness and costliness of the controversial border barrier – 30 minutes.<br /><br /><strong>Admission is FREE</strong><br />Donations to the Sierra Club Borderlands Protection Campaign gladly accepted at the door.<br /><br />This film festival is dedicated to the memory of long time borderista Mary Grisco</div>NO BORDER WALLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16705064894973061623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7817422162707779006.post-78885008649913249472011-07-15T08:10:00.000-07:002011-07-15T10:32:32.048-07:00Presentations on the border wall's impacts in South Texas August 22 & 23The rugged deserts and mountains of Arizona’s southern border can be a treacherous place. Josseline was fourteen years old when she and her little brother crossed the U.S.-Mexico border, hoping to reunite with their mother in California. Walking for days, Josseline got sick and fell behind her group and the coyote that led them.<br /><br />Three weeks later, Dan Millis was among the humanitarian aid volunteers that stumbled across Josseline's lifeless body in a remote canyon along the border. Since then, Millis has come to know that the costs of fatally flawed U.S. border policies extend beyond the tragic deaths of border crossers like Josseline. Walls push crossers into more remote desert terrain. Border ecosystems and the federal laws that protect them have also been cast aside by costly, ineffective, environmentally destructive, and inhumane attempts to "secure the border."<br /><br />The Lower Rio Grande Valley Sierra Club is proud to co-sponsor presentations by Dan Millis in Brownsville on Monday, August 22, and in San Juan on Tuesday, August 23 respectively. Millis will tell how he was ticketed, dragged to court, and convicted of "littering" after leaving drinking water for migrants along border desert trails shortly after he found Josseline. Now working for the Sierra Club in Tucson, Dan will also discuss the environmental impacts of border walls and other enforcement measures. He will share stories of trans-national friendship and offer tips on which border walls are easiest to climb. Most importantly, Millis will speak up for the people and places victimized by border walls and enforcement-only politics and invite you to join in the fight.<br /><br /><strong>Please join us Monday, August 22 at Galeria 409 in Brownsville, TX and Tuesday, August 23 at St. John the Baptist Parish Hall in San Juan, TX.</strong> Both presentations begin at 7:00pm. Refreshments will be served.<br /><br /><strong>Monday, August 22 at 7:00pm Galeria 409 in Brownsville, Texas</strong><br />Directions to Galeria 409, 409 E. 13th St.: From Expressway 77/83 in Brownsville, exit International and go south. Turn right onto Washington. Turn left on E 12th. Turn left on Levee St. Turn left onto E 13th. Galeria 409 is on the left in the middle of the block between Levee and Elizabeth streets. Parking is available at meters on Levee and Elizabeth, and there's a big parking lot on Levee and E 12th.<br /><br /><strong>Tuesday, August 23 at 7:00pm St John the Baptist Parish Hall in San Juan, Texas </strong><br />Directions to St John the Baptist, 216 W. 1st St.: From Expressway 83, exit Raul Longoria/Nebraska exit in San Juan and turn south on Nebraska. Turn right on 1st St. You will see the tower on the right. The Parish Hall is just past the tower. Parking is on the west and north side of the church complex.NO BORDER WALLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16705064894973061623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7817422162707779006.post-85375722528492882772011-07-11T08:08:00.000-07:002011-07-11T12:41:26.083-07:00Write your member of Congress - Oppose HR 1505An assault on America's public lands and environmental laws has been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives, bearing the ironic name "National Security and Federal Lands Protection Act" (HR 1505).<br /><br />Over 30 federal protection laws would be waived in a zone that extends 100 miles into the United States from all land borders and coasts. Roughly two-thirds of the U.S. population lives in the area targeted by this waiver. Cities from San Francisco to Boston and national parks from Glacier to Everglades could be put at risk.<br /><br />And if that weren't enough, HR 1505 prohibits the Departments of the Interior and Agriculture, which oversee our national parks, wilderness areas, and wildlife refuges, from taking any actions to preserve the natural integrity of the lands that they oversee if their actions or advice conflict with the desires of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).<br /><br /><br /><br /><object width="640" height="390"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/W0zHg6Wfu5g&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&version=3"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><br /><embed height="390" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="640" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/W0zHg6Wfu5g&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&version=3" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always"></embed></object><br /><br />HR 1505 is using national security as a cover to attack environmental laws and protected lands. DHS has not expressed a need for these harmful provisions. In fact, DHS testifies that public land managers are not getting in the way of their operations. Last October, the Government Accountability Office found that "most [Border Patrol] agents reported that land management laws have had no effect on Border Patrol's overall measure of border security."<br /><br />Visit the Sierra Club page to send an email to your member of Congress, telling them to oppose HR 1505:<br /><br /><a href="https://secure2.convio.net/sierra/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=6239">https://secure2.convio.net/sierra/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=6239</a>NO BORDER WALLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16705064894973061623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7817422162707779006.post-72216928544135334992011-02-04T11:31:00.000-08:002011-02-04T11:38:31.570-08:00Sierra Club online action - write your Senator opposing more border wallsThe Sierra Club has an online action that is now live. Click on the link, fill in your information, and send an email to your Senators telling them to reject any proposals to build more border walls.<br /> <br /> o Border action alert update – Sierra Club live now! <a href="https://secure2.convio.net/sierra/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=5621">action.sierraclub.org/demintwall</a> <br /><br />Nearly 670 mills of fences and walls have already been constructed along our Southwestern International border, separating families, fracturing wildlife corridors, and scarring the region’s unique natural and cultural resources.<br /><br />Now a number of politicians have called for yet another set of walls along the US / Mexico border, which would continue to come at great expense to local communities, ecosystems, and the American Taxpayer.<br /><br />Please write your senators and say ‘NO’ to another set of border walls.<br /><br />For more info. on the strong likelihood that the new Congress will push for more border walls, read the No Border Wall blog:<br /> <br /><a href="http://notexasborderwall.blogspot.com/2011/01/new-congress-will-try-to-build-more.html">http://notexasborderwall.blogspot.com/2011/01/new-congress-will-try-to-build-more.html</a>NO BORDER WALLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16705064894973061623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7817422162707779006.post-77357538530774094652010-12-02T19:49:00.000-08:002010-12-02T19:55:05.510-08:00Border Film Festival in Tucson Dec. 11Border Film Festival<br />The Loft Cinema<br />Date: Saturday, December 11, 2010<br />Time: 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM<br />Address:<br />3233 E Speedway Blvd<br />Tucson, AZ 85716<br /><br />If you'd like to attend this event you can RSVP online.<br /><br /><a href="http://action.sierraclub.org/site/Calendar?id=148602&view=Detail">http://action.sierraclub.org/site/Calendar?id=148602&view=Detail</a><br /><br />Much of the American public is unaware of the devastation caused by U.S.-Mexico border policy. The most destructive component is the newly constructed border wall. More than 600 miles of walls have been built from the Pacific Ocean to the Gulf of Mexico, fragmenting endangered species habitat, causing erosion and flooding, and tearing apart fragile ecosystems.<br /><br />The wall also has a human toll. The border wall reroutes migrants into the remote deserts of Arizona where dehydration and exposure are rampant. As a result, the number of border-crossing deaths has more than doubled since 1995.<br /><br />Join us at this film festival to learn more and to find out what you can do to help.<br /><br />Admission is FREE!!<br /><br />Sponsored by Sierra Club, Center for Biological Diversity, Coalition de Derechos Humanos, Defenders of Wildlife, No More Deaths, and Sky Island Alliance.<br /><a href="http://sierraclub.org/borderlands/"><br />http://sierraclub.org/borderlands/</a>NO BORDER WALLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16705064894973061623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7817422162707779006.post-494192257848384542010-11-16T19:43:00.000-08:002010-11-16T19:46:50.661-08:00Wild Versus Wall: The environmental impact of our border policyMonday, November 29 · 7:00pm - 8:30pm <br /><br />--------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br /> <br />St. Andrew United Methodist Church <br />3350 White Bay Drive<br />Highlands Ranch, CO<br /><br />a free screening of Sierra Club's documentary Wild Versus Wall in Highlands Ranch, CO!<br /><br />Much of the American public is unaware of the devastation being caused by harmful U.S border and trade policies. The most symbolic and destructive infrastructure resulting from these bad policies is the newly-constructed U.S.-Mexico border wall. Over 600 miles of border wall have been built from the Pacific Ocean to the Gulf of Mexi...co, fragmenting endangered species habitat, causing erosion and flooding, and tearing apart fragile ecosystems found within Wilderness Areas and Wildlife Refuges, National Monuments and National Forests, and other protected private and public lands.<br /><br />This presentation begins with a screening of the Sierra Club border film, "Wild Versus Wall," which has been newly-updated for 2010. It shows the ecological effects of enforcement and infrastructure in the four states that share boundaries with Mexico. It also showcases the unique natural landscapes of our border southwest. The film demonstrates the ineffectiveness of this kind of enforcement-only approach to border security, and stresses the importance of addressing root causes such as unfair trade policies and quality of life issues.<br /><br />Following the film, Dan Millis, Borderlands Campaign Organizer for Arizona’s Grand Canyon Chapter of the Sierra Club, will present a slideshow featuring more in-depth aspects of the areas that have been affected, different types of border wall, and its costs to taxpayers.<br /><br />Born and raised in Arizona, Dan has worked on border issues there since 2005. He is also a volunteer with the border humanitarian aid group No More Deaths, and is the recipient of the 2010 Derechos Humanos Corazon de Justicia Award for environmental work. <br /><br />To learn more about the Sierra Club Borderlands Campaign and take action, check out their website at: <a href="http://www.sierraclub.org/borderlands/">http://www.sierraclub.org/borderlands/</a>NO BORDER WALLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16705064894973061623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7817422162707779006.post-63488877290481769352010-10-06T14:14:00.000-07:002010-10-06T14:18:47.805-07:00Sierra Club Borderlands Campaign: Continental Divide, a Photo Exhibit of the BorderNovember 2-5, 2010<br />Cabot Lodge, 2375 North State Street<br />Jackson, Mississippi<br />Located at State Street and Riverside Drive<br />Free!<br /><br />Much of the American public is unaware of the devastation being caused by harmful U.S border and trade policies. The most symbolic and destructive infrastructure resulting from these bad policies is the newly-constructed U.S.-Mexico border wall. Over 600 miles of border wall have been built from the Pacific Ocean to the Gulf of Mexico, fragmenting endangered species habitat, causing erosion and flooding, and tearing apart fragile ecosystems found within Wilderness Areas and Wildlife Refuges; National Monuments and National Forests; and other protected lands, both public and private.<br /><br />Recently, the International League of Conservation Photographers sent a team of world-renowned photographers to the borderlands of the United States and Mexico to document the wildlife, ecology, and effect of the border wall on this landscape. This region is a shared conservation treasure of international importance that harbors some of the most biodiverse landscapes on the continent. Many species here are found nowhere else in the US, and nowhere else in Mexico and some are found nowhere else on Earth. The photographs taken are now on exhibit, touring the United States. A sample of photos in the exhibit can be viewed here.<br /><br />The Borderlands Team of the Sierra Club is bringing this exhibit to Jackson, Mississippi. The team is comprised of Sierra Club staff and volunteers from across the nation. You can learn more about the team by visiting and joining the Activist Network or by visiting www.sierraclub.org/borderlands.<br /><br />Dates exhibit is open for viewing:<br />Tue Nov 2 5:30pm - 8:30pm<br />Wed Nov 3 5:30pm - 8:30pm<br />Thu Nov 4 5:30pm - 8:30pm<br />Fri Nov 5* 9am - 9pm<br /><br />* Join us for a screening of the Sierra Club produced film, Wild Versus Wall, at 5:15 pm on Friday, November 5th. The film details the ecological effects of enforcement and infrastructure in all four southern Border States. The film demonstrates the ineffectiveness of this kind of enforcement-only approach to border security, and stresses the importance of addressing root causes such as unfair trade policies. A five minute trailer for the film can be viewed here. Refreshments will be provided for the screening! <br /><br />The Exhibit is being held in conjunction with the Unity Conference sponsored by MIRA and SCLC. <br /><br />For more information about the Sierra Club's Borderlands Campaign, visit <a href="http://sierraclub.org/borderlands/">http://sierraclub.org/borderlands/</a>NO BORDER WALLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16705064894973061623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7817422162707779006.post-76781812804920389422010-08-04T15:18:00.000-07:002010-08-04T15:25:02.474-07:00Sierra Club screening Wild vs. Wall in San Diego August 21The Sierra Club’s Borderlands Team will be screening the film <strong>Wild vs. Wall </strong>in San Diego at the Joyce Beers Uptown Community Center on Saturday, August 21, beginning at 7:30pm. Wild vs. Wall is a 20 minute documentary about the environmental effects of the border wall.<br /><br />Dan Millis, who works for the Sierra Club out of Tucson, will speak after the film and answer any questions. He has extensive knowledge of the southern Arizona borderlands and the environmental and human impacts of enforcement measures border-wide.<br /><br />More than 600 miles of border walls and barriers have been constructed in all four southern border states. Using the power to waive laws granted by the Real ID Act, 36 federal laws, including the Endangered Species Act, the Clean Water Act, and the National Environmental Policy Act, have been brushed aside to speed up construction. Border walls have been built through National Monuments and Wildlife Refuges, state parklands, and Nature Conservancy and Audubon sanctuaries. Wall construction has involved the condemnation and bulldozing of thousands of acres, the fragmentation of crucial habitat for endangered species, the triggering of flooding, and large-scale erosion. Border walls have also led to the deaths of thousands of immigrants by funneling them into remote, and often deadly, terrain.<br /><br /><strong>Wild vs. Wall<br />Joyce Beers Uptown Community Center<br />1220 Cleveland Avenue<br />Suite M-100<br />San Diego, CA 92103</strong><br /><br />For directions and information on parking, visit <a href="http://joycebeers.com/">http://joycebeers.com/</a><br /><br />For those unable to attend, Wild vs. Wall can be viewed on the Borderlands Team’s website, <a href="http://sierraclub.org/borderlands/">http://sierraclub.org/borderlands/</a> , where you can also tour the border using Google Earth, get more information about the border wall’s impacts, learn about the Real ID Act, and find out how you can help.NO BORDER WALLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16705064894973061623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7817422162707779006.post-60092951027630237972010-02-25T10:55:00.000-08:002010-02-25T10:57:09.642-08:00ARTE CONTRA EL MURO/ ART AGAINST THE WALLARTE CONTRA EL MURO/ ART AGAINST THE WALL<br /><br />EXHIBITION TO OPEN IN BROWNSVILLE ON SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 28<br />Hope Park, 12th and St. Charles, noon – 5 pm<br />Galeria 409, 409 E. 13th St.<br />Contact Mark Clark (956) 455-3599<br /><a href="mailto:Galeria409@yahoo.com">Galeria409@yahoo.com</a><br />www.galeria409.com<br /><br />Artists opposed to the construction of the Department of Homeland Security's new border wall will hang an exhibition of paintings and sculptures on the wall itself at noon on Sunday, February 28th at the once scenic Hope Park in historic downtown Brownsville, Texas. The exhibition is designed to draw attention to the waste of tax dollars used to produce this 18 foot tall, six hundred mile long barrier that cost an estimated 12 to 18 million dollars a mile. 34 federal, state and local laws and regulations were waived to facilitate construction of the iron fence that many Mexicans and south Texas residents now refer to as "El Berlin". <br /><br />Construction of the rusting wall was recently completed through Hope Park, located at 12th and St. Charles Street, which was the site of the Homeland Security chief's press conference announcing the kickoff of the controversial project. The site was apparently selected as a backdrop for Chertoff's remarks because of its once picturesque view of the Rio Grande and the Gateway Bridge to Matamoros. <br /><br />Numerous trees were removed for the right of way for the fence and historic marble plaques marking the start of the Chisolm Trail, the beginning point for many nineteenth century cattle drives, now butt up against the iron wall.<br /><br />Organizers selected the date for the one day exhibition to coincide with Brownsville's annual Charro Days celebration during which Matamoros mayor Eric Silva and Brownsville's mayor Pat Ahumada came together on the bridge to exchange "abrazos", and pledges of brotherhood between the two cities.<br /><br />Following the five p.m. closing of the one day outdoor show, the art work is slated to move to Galeria 409, a block away from the park at 409 East 13th Street, for a one month long run. <br /><br />The Galeria 409’s laconic director, Mark Clark states he'll "do almost anything legal to oppose the border fence. It's going to block my view of the river". His 158 year old gallery building overlooks a bend in the river that will soon disappear behind this iron curtain. <br /><br />Galeria 409’s hours are from twelve to five on Saturday and Sunday and by appointment during the week by calling (956) 455-3599.NO BORDER WALLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16705064894973061623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7817422162707779006.post-62935285249699096572009-07-29T15:34:00.000-07:002009-07-29T15:41:24.613-07:00Tell Senator Schumer that Border Walls are NOT Immigration Reform!Senator Charles Schumer will be crafting Comprehensive Immigration Reform legislation over the August recess, and has announced that he will introduce it around Labor Day. While it should be good news that immigration reform may finally be addressed, it looks like Schumer plans to include more border walls in the bill. If walls are part of the bill that he introduces it will be extremely difficult to strip them out. We may even see a repeat of 2006, in which border walls were part of competing immigration reform bills in the House and Senate. Those reform efforts died, and their border wall provisions were turned into the Secure Fence Act.<br /><br />In a June press release, Schumer listed 7 principles that will form the basis of Comprehensive Immigration Reform. Principles 1 & 2 are:</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black;">1. Illegal immigration is wrong, and a primary goal of comprehensive immigration reform must be to dramatically curtail future illegal immigration. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black;">2.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span>Operational control of our borders--through significant additional increases in infrastructure, technology, and border personnel--must be achieved within a year of enactment of legislation.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black;"><a href="http://schumer.senate.gov/new_website/record.cfm?id=314990">http://schumer.senate.gov/new_website/record.cfm?id=314990</a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Senator Schumer recently voted for Senator DeMint's amendment, which calls for hundreds of miles of border wall.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black;"> It is critical that we pressure Senator Schumer to keep border walls out of his immigration reform bill. A good start would be to flood his office with phone calls, faxes, and emails. Below is a sample letter that anyone can copy and send along, but it is important to remember that phone calls and personal letters will have more impact. The important thing is to stress that border walls must NOT be part of immigration reform.<br /><br />There is a form on Schumer's website that you can use to write to him here:<br /><a href="http://schumer.senate.gov/new_website/contact.cfm">http://schumer.senate.gov/new_website/contact.cfm</a><br />But again, phone calls and personalized letters will be the most effective.<br /> <!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br /> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black;">Senator Charles Schumer<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black;">313 Hart Senate Building<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on"><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black;">Washington</span></st1:city><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black;"> , <st1:state st="on">DC</st1:state> <st1:postalcode st="on">20510</st1:postalcode></span></st1:place><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black;">202-224-6542<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black;">Dear Senator Schumer,<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black;">I was extremely disappointed by your vote for Senator DeMint’s amendment calling for more border walls, and I am worried that you plan to include border walls in Comprehensive Immigration Reform. While immigration reform is needed, border walls should not be part of it.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black;">The walls that already scar the borderlands have not stopped desperate immigrants from entering the <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">United States</st1:place></st1:country-region> . Border Patrol spokespersons refer to them as “speed bumps,” and say that they only slow crossers by 5 minutes. The Congressional Research Service determined that border walls have “no discernible impact” on the number of undocumented immigrants who successfully cross our borders.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black;">While they fail at their intended purpose, border walls have serious negative impacts, including:<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"><span style=""> </span></span><span style="font-size: 7pt; font-family: Arial; color: black;"><span style=""> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black;">Pushing thousands of border crossers into the desert, where hundreds die each year. The GAO found that after walls were built near <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">San Diego</st1:place></st1:city> the number of annual deaths in the desert doubled, and in the past decade over 5,000 bodies have been recovered.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"><span style=""> </span></span><span style="font-size: 7pt; font-family: Arial; color: black;"><span style=""> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black;">Inflicting tremendous environmental damage, including the severing of wildlife migration corridors, the destruction of endangered species habitat, the sedimentation of rivers, and unprecedented harm to designated Wilderness Areas, National Monuments, Wildlife Refuges, and preserves owned by Audubon and the Nature Conservancy. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"><span style=""> </span>Condemning the property of hundreds of landowners who live along the border. Farmers, ranchers, and homeowners, some of whose property has been passed down for generations, have been hauled into court and had their lands taken to make way for border walls.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"></span><span style="font-size: 7pt; font-family: Arial; color: black;"><span style=""> </span><span style=""> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black;">$3.1 billion has already been spent on border walls, and the DeMint amendment will cost another $2.7 billion. Our nation cannot afford to waste billions more on “speed bumps.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black;">Including more border walls in Comprehensive Immigration Reform would sacrifice more landowners, ecosystems, and the lives of hundreds of immigrants just to attract a few votes. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black;">As Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said this past February, <a href="http://borderwallinthenews.blogspot.com/2009/02/napolitano-outlines-immigration.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: black; text-decoration: none;">“you cannot build a fence from San Diego to Brownsville, Texas, and call that an immigration policy.”</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black;">Border walls have no place in immigration reform. Don’t sacrifice the border to pass the bill.<o:p></o:p></span></p>NO BORDER WALLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16705064894973061623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7817422162707779006.post-71165404426157117532009-07-10T07:29:00.000-07:002009-07-10T07:36:19.793-07:00The Wall documentary screens in McAllen July 17 and San Antonio July 18<span style="font-family: Verdana; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 10pt;"><div>A new documentary about the border wall will screen in McAllen, Texas at the Cine el Rey theater on July 17, and in San Antonio at the Guadalupe Theater on July 18. With the recent Senate vote to build more walls, it is important to understand the history and human impacts of the border walls that have already been built. Below is the press release for the film. Spread the word!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">***<br /></div><br />A controversial new film about the border fence is coming to South Texas. <span style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; cursor: pointer; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1247236158_2">The Wall</span>, a documentary about the construction of a fence along the US/Mexico border will play two dates in <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1247236158_3">Texas</span>, <span style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(0, 102, 204); cursor: pointer;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1247236158_4">July 17th</span> at McAllen's El Cine De Rey and <span style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(0, 102, 204); cursor: pointer;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1247236158_5">July 18th</span> at San Antonio's Guadalupe Theatre. The film, which takes place in Arizona, California, and Texas, took 3 years to complete.</div><div><br /><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://s40.photobucket.com/albums/e219/onetimekcw/?action=view&current=climbingwallphoto.jpg"><img src="http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e219/onetimekcw/climbingwallphoto.jpg" alt="the wall documentary" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Director <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1247236158_6">Ricardo Martinez</span> captures many perspectives impacted by the fence. The Wall follows several <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1247236158_7">law enforcement officials</span>, <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1247236158_8">border town residents</span>, and the Minutemen as they each faced the reality of having a 25 foot Wall being built in their backyard. Border residents like Gloria Garza of Granjeno watch as the fence is erected and new problems start to arrive.</div><div><br /></div> <div><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://s40.photobucket.com/albums/e219/onetimekcw/?action=view&current=gloriasitting.jpg"><img src="http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e219/onetimekcw/gloriasitting.jpg" alt="the wall documentary,gloria garza" border="0" /></a></div> <div><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://s40.photobucket.com/albums/e219/onetimekcw/?action=view&current=contstructionMSsmall.jpg"><img src="http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e219/onetimekcw/contstructionMSsmall.jpg" alt="the wall documentary,secure fence act" border="0" /></a></div> <div><br /></div><div>Ricardo and his crew even managed to follow and track several undocumented immigrants in <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1247236158_9">Mexico</span> as they prepared to cross the border, and ultimately climb The Wall. Using never before seen surveillance footage and night vision cameras, a mysterious and sometimes dangerous world emerges.</div><div> <br /></div> <div><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://s40.photobucket.com/albums/e219/onetimekcw/?action=view&current=survellaincetunnelfootage2.jpg"><img src="http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e219/onetimekcw/survellaincetunnelfootage2.jpg" alt="the wall documentary" border="0" /></a></div> <div><br /></div><div>On the other side of the spectrum, the film features many border town residents and local officials. Small towns like Arivaca, McAllen, Granjeno, and Brownsville all make appearances in the film. Capturing a moment in time, the film tracks the No Border Wall Coalition's grassroots efforts to organize <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1247236158_10">Rio Grande Valley residents</span> against the fence. Showing the power of community, watch as Valley residents protest and unite to change the fence plan.</div><div><br /></div> <div><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://s40.photobucket.com/albums/e219/onetimekcw/?action=view&current=protestholdingfreegranjenosign.jpg"><img src="http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e219/onetimekcw/protestholdingfreegranjenosign.jpg" alt="the wall documentary,gloria garza" border="0" /></a></div> <div><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://s40.photobucket.com/albums/e219/onetimekcw/?action=view&current=protestmcallen.jpg"><img src="http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e219/onetimekcw/protestmcallen.jpg" alt="the wall documentary,McAllen" border="0" /></a></div> <div><br /></div><div>The filming was not always sunny and nice. Ricardo's film crew often had to scale back equipment and camp out deep in the desert to catch traffickers, immigrants, <span style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(0, 102, 204); cursor: pointer;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1247236158_11">Border Patrol</span>, and vigilante groups on camera. Vigilante groups like the Minutemen make a particularly unsettling appearance in The Wall as Martinez captured a few of them making some 'controversial' statements about the US and Hispanics.</div><div><br /></div> <div><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://s40.photobucket.com/albums/e219/onetimekcw/?action=view&current=guybeingpickedup.jpg"><img src="http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e219/onetimekcw/guybeingpickedup.jpg" alt="the wall documentary,minutemen" border="0" /></a></div> <div><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://s40.photobucket.com/albums/e219/onetimekcw/?action=view&current=minutemenlookingMS.jpg"><img src="http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e219/onetimekcw/minutemenlookingMS.jpg" alt="the wall documentary,minutemen" border="0" /></a></div> <div><br /></div><div> At one point, the film crew traveled to Altar, Mexico to interview immigrants preparing to cross the border illegally. Made up of 'huespedes' or safehouses, the town was essentially run by the Carteles in the area, which didn't reassure the film crew of their safety.</div> <div><br /></div><div> "Thinking back, that probably was against my better judgment, but I felt like it made a helluva story on camera," says Ricardo grinning. "The local priest and church basically told us as long as we stuck with him, we'd be fine. We did and in the end, it was actually kind of a nice town."</div> <div><br /></div><div> The film plays <span style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(0, 102, 204); cursor: pointer;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1247236158_12">on Friday, July 17th at 8:00 PM</span> at El Cine De Rey in McAllen and <span style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(0, 102, 204); cursor: pointer;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1247236158_13">Saturday July 18th at 8:00pm</span> at the Guadalupe Theatre in <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1247236158_14">San Antonio</span>. Tickets are $5. Q&A and reception follow. Screening Details and information can be found at <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://thewalldocumentary.com/"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1247236158_15">thewalldocumentary.com</span></a> or <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://cineelrey.com/"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1247236158_16">cineelrey.com</span></a>.<br /></div><div> For any questions regarding this press release, to review the film for your publication, or to contact the filmmaker email <span style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(0, 102, 204); cursor: pointer;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1247236158_17">info@thewalldocumentary.com</span>. To watch clips of the film visit <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://thewalldocumentary.com/">thewalldocumentary.com</a>, <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://youtube.com/thewalldoc"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1247236158_18">youtube.com/thewalldoc</span></a>, <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://vimeo.com/thewall"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1247236158_19">vimeo.com/thewall</span></a>, or friend our <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Wall-Documentary/79446782983"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1247236158_20">Facebook page</span></a>!</div> <div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"><b><u><strong><br /></strong></u></b></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"><b><u><strong>Official Synopsis</strong></u></b></span></div> <div><br /></div><div> In 2006, Congress passed The <span style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(0, 102, 204); cursor: pointer;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1247236158_21">Secure Fence Act</span> calling for the construction of over <span style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(0, 102, 204); cursor: pointer;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1247236158_22">700 miles</span> of fence along the US/Mexico border. Fueled by the War on Drugs and the debate on Immigration Reform, politicians jumped at the chance to "secure our borders". They were not prepared for what followed.</div> <div> Filmed over two years, The Wall, a feature documentary, chronicles the impact of constructing a border fence along the Southwest. From policy makers to citizens of <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1247236158_23">border towns in Texas</span>, <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1247236158_24">Arizona</span>, and <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1247236158_25">California</span>, the debate elevates as residents respond to having a fence built in their backyard.</div> <div>Gloria Garza sat on her porch, in Granjeno, Texas. She was enjoying her stretch of land by the <span style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(0, 102, 204); cursor: pointer;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1247236158_26">Rio Grande River</span>, when a man from the Department of Homeland Security arrived with a piece of paper. He asked her to sign a letter granting permission to build a 25 foot wall on her property. She thought it was a joke.</div> <div> In <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1247236158_27">Nogales, Arizona</span>, Sheriff Tony Estrada, completed his routine check of the border wall. Since the border fence had been built, violence and immigrant deaths are steadily rising. This is not a policy he could believe in, but few were listening.<br /> Determined to stop immigrant crossing, the Minutemen had taken matters into their own hands. They patrolled the area intercepting immigrants and notifying border patrol. Armed with ammunition and an ideology, they openly advocated more fencing to help their objectives.</div> <div> At the epicenter of this controversy, Wilfredo and Adan are <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1247236158_28">undocumented immigrants</span> with a lot at stake. Wilfredo is trying to get across the border and will have to pass several layers of fencing and security. Adan waits for his father who must make the same dangerous trip he himself took several years earlier. How will their lives be changed by The Wall?</div> <div> Director, Ricardo Martinez brings The Wall to life; intertwining rare surveillance footage and controversial interviews. He and his crew often risked their own safety while filming.<br /> At the forefront of the debate, the film includes commentary by The Texas Border Coalition, The Southwest Border Sheriff's Coalition, No Border Wall Coalition, the Minutemen, Border Patrol officers, congressional hearings, and more.</div></span>NO BORDER WALLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16705064894973061623noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7817422162707779006.post-13571967487353570982009-07-08T06:33:00.001-07:002009-07-08T06:36:36.148-07:00Friends of Friendship Park press conference in San Diego July 8<p class="MsoSubtitle" style="margin-left: 0in;">What: <span style="font-size: 12pt;">release of open letter to DHS Secretary <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1247060029_0">Janet Napolitano</span></span></p> <p class="MsoSubtitle" style="margin-left: 0in;">When: <span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(0, 102, 204); background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; cursor: pointer; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1247060029_1">Wednesday, July 8, 10 a.m</span>.</span></p> <p class="MsoSubtitle" style="margin-left: 0in;">Where: <span style="font-size: 12pt;">U.S. <span style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; cursor: pointer; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1247060029_2">District Court</span>, <span style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(0, 102, 204); background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; cursor: pointer; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1247060029_3">940 Front Street, San Diego, CA</span></span></p> <p class="MsoSubtitle" style="margin-left: 0in;">Who: <span style="font-size: 12pt;">Friends of Friendship Park; <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.friendshippark.org/"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1247060029_4">www.friendshippark.org</span></a> </span></p> <p class="Contact"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">Contacts:</span><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span><em><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">John Fanestil (</span></em><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(0, 102, 204); cursor: pointer;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1247060029_5">619-823-6223</span>; <a rel="nofollow" ymailto="mailto:john@%20foundation4change.org" target="_blank" href="mailto:john@%20foundation4change.org"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1247060029_6">john@ foundation4change.org</span></a>); <em><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Jill Holslin (</span></em><span style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(0, 102, 204); cursor: pointer;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1247060029_7">619-804-8030</span>; <a rel="nofollow" ymailto="mailto:jholslin01@gmail.com" target="_blank" href="mailto:jholslin01@gmail.com"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1247060029_8">jholslin01@gmail.com</span></a>); <em><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Rosemary Johnston (</span></em><span style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(0, 102, 204); cursor: pointer;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1247060029_9">619-384-6852</span>; <a rel="nofollow" ymailto="mailto:rjohnston@interfaithshelter.org" target="_blank" href="mailto:rjohnston@interfaithshelter.org"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1247060029_10">rjohnston@interfaithshelter.org</span></a>); <em><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Enrique Morones </span></em>(<span style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(0, 102, 204); cursor: pointer;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1247060029_11">619-977-9467</span>; <a rel="nofollow" ymailto="mailto:enriquemorones@cox.net" target="_blank" href="mailto:enriquemorones@cox.net"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1247060029_12">enriquemorones@cox.net</span></a>); <em><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Pedro Rios (</span></em><span style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(0, 102, 204); cursor: pointer;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1247060029_13">619-370-5908</span>; <a rel="nofollow" ymailto="mailto:john@foundation4change.org" target="_blank" href="mailto:john@foundation4change.org"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1247060029_14">prios@afsc.org</span></a>); <em><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Dan Watman (</span></em><span style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(0, 102, 204); cursor: pointer;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1247060029_15">619-954-9710</span>; <a rel="nofollow" ymailto="mailto:dan.watman@%20gmail.com" target="_blank" href="mailto:dan.watman@%20gmail.com"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1247060029_16">dan.watman@ gmail.com</span></a>)</span><span style="font-size: 10pt;"></span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in;"> </p> <p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-left: 0in;"><span style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; cursor: pointer; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1247060029_17">California State Attorney General</span> <b>Edmund G. Brown, Jr.,</b> together with local, state and federal elected officials, has joined some 70 community-based organizations and over 130 community leaders in a joint letter to <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1247060029_18">Secretary of Homeland Security</span> Janet Napolitano, calling for the restoration of routine public access to Friendship Park, the historic location overlooking the <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1247060029_19">Pacific Ocean</span> where for generations people have gathered with friends and family at the U.S.-Mexico border fence.</p> <p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-left: 0in;">Elected leaders signing on to the joint letter include Lt. Governor <b>John Garamendi,</b> Members of Congress <b><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1247060029_20">Susan Davis</span></b> and <b><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1247060029_21">Bob Filner</span>,</b> <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1247060029_22">State Senators</span> <b>Denise Ducheny</b> and <b><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1247060029_23">Christine Kehoe</span>,</b> State Assemblymembers <b><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1247060029_24">Mary Salas</span></b> and <b><span style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(0, 102, 204); cursor: pointer;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1247060029_25">Lori Saldaña</span>,</b> and <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1247060029_26">San Diego City Councilmembers</span> <b>Marti Emerald, <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1247060029_27">Donna Frye</span>, Todd Gloria, Ben Hueso</b> and <b><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1247060029_28">Tony Young</span>.</b></p> <p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-left: 0in;"> </p> <p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-right: 57.75pt; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><i>The text of the joint letter will be released at a press conference <span style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(0, 102, 204); cursor: pointer;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1247060029_29">on Wednesday, July 8</span> at 10 a.m. in front of the U.S. District Court, <span style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(0, 102, 204); background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; cursor: pointer; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1247060029_30">940 Front Street, San Diego, CA 92101</span>.</i> </b></p> <p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-right: 129.75pt; margin-left: 1in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0in;">Speakers will include <b>Kevin Keenan,</b> Executive Director of the ACLU of <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1247060029_31">San Diego</span> & Imperial Counties; <b>Rudy Murillo,</b> past Acting Director of the San Diego <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1247060029_32">Immigration and Naturalization Service</span>; <b>Pedro Rios </b>of the <span style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(0, 102, 204); background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; cursor: pointer; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1247060029_33">American Friends Service Committee</span>; and <b>Daniel Watman</b> of the community-based organization Border Encuentro. Mr. Watman faces Federal trespassing charges in the U.S. District Court at <span style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(0, 102, 204); background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; cursor: pointer; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1247060029_34">8:30 a.m. on Wednesday</span>, after standing in front of a bull dozer and temporarily stopping the construction of the new wall that currently restricts all access to the U.S. side of Friendship Park. </p> <p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-right: 57.75pt; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><i>The text of the letter will also be posted at 12 noon <span style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(0, 102, 204); cursor: pointer;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1247060029_35">on Wednesday</span> to the Friends of Friendship Park website: <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.friendshippark.org/">www.friendshippark.org</a>. </i></b></p> <p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-right: 57.75pt; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><i> </i></b></p> <p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-left: 0in;">Civic leaders endorsing the letter include former Ambassador to <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1247060029_36">Mexico</span> <b><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1247060029_37">Jeffrey Davidow</span>,</b> former U.S. Congresswoman <b><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1247060029_38">Lynn Schenk</span>,</b> and former State Senators <b>Lucy Killea</b> and <b>Steve Peace</b>. Also endorsing are <b><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1247060029_39">Irwin Jacobs</span>, Murray Galinson, Deborah Szekely, Christine Forrester, Marcy Krinsk</b> and dozens more.</p> <p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-left: 0in;"><b>Wayne Cornelius</b> (Distinguished Professor of <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1247060029_40">Political Science Emeritus</span>, UC San Diego), <b>David Shirk </b>(Director of the <span style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(0, 102, 204); cursor: pointer;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1247060029_41">Trans-Border Institute</span>, <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1247060029_42">University of San Diego</span>) and <b>Richard Griswold del Castillo</b> (Department of <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1247060029_43">Chicana</span> and <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1247060029_44">Chicano Studies</span>, <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1247060029_45">San Diego State University</span>) are just a few of the over 30 educators who signed the letter.</p> <p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-left: 0in;">Religious leaders supporting the letter come from almost every tradition and include Bishop <b><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1247060029_46">Mary Ann Swenson</span></b> of the <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1247060029_47">United Methodist Church</span>, Rev. Dr. <b>Arvid Straube</b> of the <span style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(0, 102, 204); background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; cursor: pointer; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1247060029_48">First Unitarian Universalist Church</span> of San Diego, Dr. <b>Jamie Gates,</b> Director of the Center for Justice and Reconciliation at <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1247060029_49">Point Loma Nazarene University</span> and Rev. <b>Ann Seisen Saunders</b> of National City’s Sweetwater Zen Center.</p> <p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-left: 0in;">San Diego’s legal community is represented on the letter by Administrative Law Judge <b>Deborah Smaller,</b> California Western Law Professor <b>William J. Aceves,</b> and <b>Eric Alan Isaacson</b> of <span style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(0, 102, 204); cursor: pointer;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1247060029_50">Coughlin Stoia</span> Gellar Rudman & Robbins LLP, among many others. </p> <p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-left: 0in;">Dozens of San Diego-based organizations are signatories to the letter, including <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1247060029_51">human rights organizations</span> like the <b><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1247060029_52">National Lawyers Guild</span></b> and the <b>San Diego <span style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; cursor: pointer; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1247060029_53">Human Relations Commission</span>,</b> religious organizations like <b>Office for Social Ministry, Diocese of San Diego</b>, and environmental organizations like the <b><span style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; cursor: pointer; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1247060029_54">Environmental Health Coalition</span></b> and <b>WiLDCOAST.</b> </p> <p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-left: 0in;">Dozens more organizations from beyond San Diego have adopted the cause of Friendship Park. Just a few of these to endorse the letter are: <b>Border Ambassadors</b> (Del Rio, TX), <b>Frontera de Cristo</b> (Douglas, AZ/Agua Prieta, Sonora), <b>Interfaith Coalition for Immigrant Rights </b>(San Francisco, CA), <b><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1247060029_55">Justice and Witness Ministries</span>, <span style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; cursor: pointer; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1247060029_56">United Church of Christ</span></b> (Washington, DC), <b>Mexican Community Center of New York, CECOMEX</b> (New York, NY), <b><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1247060029_57">Sojourners</span> </b>(Washington, DC) and <b>Western Lands Project</b> (Seattle, WA). </p> <p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-left: 0in;">“The entire border should not be reduced to a ‘no-man’s land,” said <b>John Fanestil,</b> Executive Director of the San Diego-based Foundation for Change and a leader in the Friends of Friendship Park coalition. “<span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1247060029_58">Friendship Park</span> reminds us all that a brighter future lies ahead for the borderlands and border people.”</p> <p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-left: 0in;">“We are encouraged by recent overtures from [“Border Czar”] <span style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; cursor: pointer; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1247060029_59">Alan Bersin</span> and [<span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1247060029_60">San Diego Border Patrol</span> Chief] Mike Fisher,” said <b>Enrique Morones,</b> President of Border Angels and another leader in the Friends of Friendship Park coalition. “We are confident the Park will re-open soon.”</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b> </b></p> <b><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Friends of Friendship Park – <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.friendshippark.org/">www.friendshippark.org</a></span></b>NO BORDER WALLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16705064894973061623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7817422162707779006.post-19064346059093770152009-04-27T06:00:00.000-07:002009-04-27T06:06:05.733-07:00Tell Congress to Support the Border Security and Responsibility Act<p class="MsoNormal">Last week, Representative Grijalva (D-Arizona) introduced the<b style=""> Border Security and Responsibility Act of 2009 </b>(HR 2076)<b style="">.<span style=""> </span></b>This legislation would restore the rule of law to the borderlands by repealing the Real ID waiver provision and help protect our communities, private property, and national parks and wildlife refuges from damaged caused by the border wall.<span style=""> </span> <br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">This week, dozens of concerned citizens from across the nation are traveling to </span><st1:place style="font-weight: bold;" st="on"><st1:city st="on">Washington</st1:city>, <st1:state st="on">D.C.</st1:state></st1:place><span style="font-weight: bold;"> on their own dime to walk through the halls of Congress and build support for Rep. Grijalva’s bill. </span><br /><br /><b>But you don’t have to be in DC to make a difference</b>. Please <b>take action</b> today.<span style=""> </span>Call your member of Congress and urge him or her to support the Border Security and Responsibility Act of 2009.<span style=""> </span>The congressional switchboard is <b style="">202-225-3121,</b> or find your representative’s contact information at <a href="http://www.house.gov/">www.house.gov</a>.<span style=""> </span><o:p><br /></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">With enough phone calls, we can elevate this critical issue for Congress and ensure that the damage caused by the border wall is no longer ignored.<br /><br />Thanks for making a difference, and please pass on this alert and post links to it. <br /><b style=""> </b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><o:p> </o:p>Suggested Talking Points for Phone Calls:</b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol;"><span style="">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Please cosponsor the Border Security and Responsibility Act of 2009, a bill recently introduced by Rep. Grijalva.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol;"><span style="">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->The border wall has caused significant damage to communities, water quality, and wildlife habitat. I think that Congress needs to act to address these problems that the wall has created. </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol;"><span style="">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->I am concerned by the fact that three dozen laws were waived for border wall construction. Landmark laws like the Endangered Species Act and the Safe Drinking Water Act were put in place for a reason: to protect the public’s interest. These laws shouldn’t be ignored.<span style=""> </span>An unelected official should not have the power to waive these laws. </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol;"><span style="">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Land managers, local officials, and local communities have been shut out of the decision making process.<span style=""> </span>This bill would allow them to have a say in border security decisions by requiring full public notice and participation. </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol;"><span style="">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->To address the damage that border walls have caused, there need to be robust mitigation efforts. This bill would develop initiatives to help mitigate negative impacts to communities and natural resources, including the network of congressionally protected federal lands along the border.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol;"><span style="">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Please cosponsor the Border Security and Responsibility Act of 2009 and help restore and protect the communities and natural areas of the borderlands.</p> <div> </div>NO BORDER WALLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16705064894973061623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7817422162707779006.post-13419569304364271792009-04-14T04:48:00.000-07:002009-04-14T04:51:00.685-07:00April 15 Friends of Friendship Park Vigil at Chula Vista Border Patrol Headquarters<span style="font-family: Verdana; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 10pt;"><div><b><span style="font-family:Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:85%;">What</span></b><span style="font-family:Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:85%;">: Silent vigil in front of Border Patrol headquarters, protesting the destruction of Friendship Park and the exclusion of community voices from the decision-making process which has led to the elimination of public access to the park.</span></div> <div> </div> <div><b><span style="font-family:Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:85%;">When</span></b><span style="font-family:Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:85%;">: Wednesday, April 15, 12:00 p.m. </span></div> <div><span style="font-family:Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:85%;"> </span></div> <div><b><span style="font-family:Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:85%;">Where</span></b><span style="font-family:Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:85%;">: Border Patrol Headquarters: 2411 Boswell Rd, Chula Vista, CA 91914.</span></div> <div> </div> <div><b><span style="font-family:Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:85%;">Who</span></b><span style="font-family:Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:85%;">: Friends of Friendship Park is a coalition of community organizations including (partial list): American Friends Service Committee - San Diego, Border Ambassadors (Del Rio, TX), Border Angels, Border Meetup Group, CASA (Coalition of Amigos in Solidarity and Action), Center for Justice and Reconciliation, PLNU, Center for Social Advocacy, Environmental Health Coalition, Foundation for Change, Los Caminos del Rio, MACC (Mexican American Catholic College), Mid-City Community Advocacy Network, Network of Spiritual Progressives, San Diego, Pax Christi Brownsville, Peace Resource Center of San Diego, Plan of Action in a Changing Era, Rio Grande International Study Center (Laredo, TX), San Diego Coalition for Peace and Justice, San Diego Coastkeeper, Save Our Heritage Organization (SOHO), Sí Se Puede Immigrants’ Rights Organization, Sierra Club, San Diego Chapter, St. Paul's Episcopal Cathedral, Surfrider Foundation, San Diego chapter, The Employee Rights Center in San Diego,Wildcoast – Costasalvaje.</span></div> <div> </div> <div><b><span style="font-family:Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:85%;">Contacts</span></b><span style="font-family:Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:85%;">: <span style="color: rgb(31, 73, 125);" > </span>John Fanestil / <a href="mailto:john@foundation4change.org">john@foundation4cha<wbr>nge.org</a> / 619-823-6223</span></div> <div><span style="font-family:Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:85%;"> </span><span lang="ES-MX" style="font-family:Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:85%;">Enrique Morones / </span><span style="font-family:Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:85%;"><a href="mailto:enriquemorones@cox.net"><span lang="ES-MX">enriquemorones@<wbr>cox.net</span></a></span><span lang="ES-MX" style="font-family:Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:85%;"> / (619) 977-9467</span></div> <div> </div> <div><b><span style="font-family:Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:85%;">Why</span></b><span style="font-family:Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:85%;">:<span style="color: rgb(31, 73, 125);" > </span>This week President Obama will sit down to visit with President Felipe Calderon in Mexico. At the same time, the Department of Homeland Security is shutting down Friendship Park, where people from San Diego and Tijuana have visited with friends for generations.</span></div> <div> </div> <div><span style="font-family:Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:85%;">In solidarity with those being denied access to this historic venue, and in protest of DHS decision-making, which has excluded all community voices, Friends of Friendship Park invite you to join a Silent Vigil on the day before the presidential meeting.</span></div> <div> </div> <div><span style="font-family:Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:85%;">FRIENDSHIP IS NOT JUST FOR PRESIDENTS!</span></div> <div><span style="font-family:Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:85%;">SAVE FRIENDSHIP PARK!</span></div></span>NO BORDER WALLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16705064894973061623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7817422162707779006.post-92006652557882097882009-03-05T10:36:00.000-08:002009-03-05T10:41:48.998-08:00Border Wall Vigil in Washington DC March 17<div align="center">Sponsored by CASA</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">Vigil Against the<br />Mexico/US Border Wall<br />Tuesday March 17th, 2009<br />10am – 12pm<br />Meet us in front of the Capitol Reflecting Pool<br />at the East end of National Mall.</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">President Obama, help us tear down this wall!</span></strong><br />Vigil Sponsored by CASA (Coalition of Amigos in Solidarity & Action)</div><div align="center">A Coalition from the Rio Grande Valley, along the US/Mexico Border</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">For More Info,<br />Please contact:<br /> Ryan 956-203-6801<br /> or<br /> Elizabeth 956-459-3205</div>NO BORDER WALLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16705064894973061623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7817422162707779006.post-29607020338506580772009-02-27T16:27:00.000-08:002009-02-27T16:31:26.990-08:00Communion through the Border Wall at San Diego's Friendship Park March 1<p class="EC_MsoNormal">The <a href="http://apps.facebook.com/causes/180793" target="_blank">Friends of Friendship Park</a> coalition will return to the park this Sunday afternoon and once again seek to celebrate communion with friends in Tijuana. <br /></p><p class="EC_MsoNormal">We will meet at 2:30 p.m. at the entrance to Border Field State Park. Take Hwy 5 South, exit Dairy Mart Road, turn right and follow the winding road west to the park entrance. Wear boots for hiking and bring documents verifying residence in the United States. I hope you can join us.</p> Thank you all for your nonviolent response to the extreme conditions of our event last Saturday, February 21. To read an account of my experience last Saturday, see this <a href="http://blog.sojo.net/2009/02/27/good-guys-and-bad-guys-on-the-border/" target="_blank">blog post</a> at Sojourners on-line. <p class="EC_MsoNormal">There are several things you can do to support the effort, even if you are unable to participate on Sunday:</p> <p class="EC_MsoListParagraph" style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="">1)<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span>You can <a href="https://secure2.convio.net/sierra/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=1595" target="_blank">send a letter on-line</a> to DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano – be sure to mention “Friendship Park” when you personalize your letter.</p> <p class="EC_MsoNormal"><span style="">2)<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span>You can <a href="https://npo.networkforgood.org/Donate/Donate.aspx?npoSubscriptionId=1000308" target="_blank">donate now</a> to support the costs of our events at the Park – be sure to indicate “Friendship Park” in the “dedication” line.<br /></p> <p class="EC_MsoNormal"><i>Adelante.<br /></i></p> <p class="EC_MsoNormal">John Fanestil</p> <p class="EC_MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.foundation4change.org/" target="_blank">www.foundation4change.org</a></p>NO BORDER WALLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16705064894973061623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7817422162707779006.post-32698379794630857582009-02-17T19:37:00.000-08:002009-02-17T19:44:16.702-08:00Save Friendship Park from the Border Wall Feb. 21<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2FdPyuCg_VpdYGVfeutIt7pZqGItQHAf35xI0FFaGp4A0EJZqepi-HavJMsyGPhIBDyZM8EZIPRz6LSbU4e7ZP_aRS4EVXg4eRpIBuG2LyxJ8zBfsgHN1wq0c8VvaraFraa3wQmRSytc/s1600-h/Fing1234213923856.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2FdPyuCg_VpdYGVfeutIt7pZqGItQHAf35xI0FFaGp4A0EJZqepi-HavJMsyGPhIBDyZM8EZIPRz6LSbU4e7ZP_aRS4EVXg4eRpIBuG2LyxJ8zBfsgHN1wq0c8VvaraFraa3wQmRSytc/s400/Fing1234213923856.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303977702723649698" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:100%;"><b><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:black;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:Verdana;color:black;" >Thursday, Feb. 19</span></span></b></span><br /></div><p class="EC_MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:100%;color:black;"><span style=";font-family:Verdana;color:black;" > <b><span style="font-weight: bold;">6 p.m. Community Forum</span></b><br /> Location: <a href="http://cmpgnr.com/r.html?c=1419586&r=1418244&t=941929607&l=1&d=90609825&u=http://www.sdcity.edu/FAQ/directions.asp&g=0&f=-1" target="_blank">San Diego City College</a>, A-103<br /> Contact:<a href="mailto:prios@afsc.org">Pedro Rios</a><br /> <br /> <i><span style="font-style: italic;">We call for a halt to all construction on the U.S.-Mexico border, pending public review, and for a re-design of Friendship Park to ensure continuing public access.</span></i></span></span></p> <div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><b><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:black;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:Verdana;color:black;" >Saturday, Feb. 21</span></span></b><br /><b><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:black;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:Verdana;color:black;" > Save Friendship Park</span></span></b></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;color:black;"><span style=";font-family:Verdana;font-size:10;color:black;" ><span style="font-size:100%;"><b><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />11 a.m. Gathering</span></b><br /> at entrance to Border Field State Park (directions below)<br /><br /><b><span style="font-weight: bold;">11:30 Hike to Friendship Park</span></b><br /><br /><b><span style="font-weight: bold;">12:15 Program (contact)</span></b><br /> Bi-National Choir<br /> <br /> Bi-National Communion<br /> <br />Bi-National Garden<br /> <br /><b><i><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Carpooling encouraged. Documents may<br /> be required.</span></i></b><br /><br /><b><span style="font-weight: bold;">DIRECTIONS:</span></b> Take Hwy 5 South, exit Dairy Mart Road, turn right (West) and follow winding road to park entrance.<br /><br /></span> </span></span><img src="file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/ESCABE%7E1/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/moz-screenshot.jpg" alt="" />NO BORDER WALLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16705064894973061623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7817422162707779006.post-65240463632407356792009-02-15T06:26:00.000-08:002009-02-15T07:02:19.648-08:00Stop the Wall Event in El Paso 21 Feb<p> </p> <ul type="square"><li class="EC_MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Meet at Sunland Park and Anapra</span></span></li><li class="EC_MsoNormal" style="color: maroon;"><b><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;color:maroon;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold;">Sunday February 21, 2009</span></span></b></li><li class="EC_MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">12:00 – 2:00 PM</span></span></li></ul> <p><span style="font-family:Arial Unicode MS;font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Two purposes:</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial Unicode MS;font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">One is to show solidarity with the </span></span><span lang="ES-MX">Compañeras</span> and <span lang="ES-MX">Compañeros</span> from San Diego's Friendship Park. Just like Rio Bosque was crudely appropriated by the DHS, San Diego's Friendship Park has been under attack by the construction of the Border Wall. The Friendship Park has been a historical site for gatherings among residents of both countries. Family and friends have used this "public" area to exchange kisses, tamales and news through small gaps in the tattered chain-link fence. Now the Border Patrol and the DHS will slice trough the park, limiting access. U.S Customs and Border Patrol have begun demolishing the Pak and intend to eliminate all public access. </p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial Unicode MS;font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The second purpose is to continue with the ¡YA BASTA! --- <a href="mailto:TOD@S">TOD@S</a> CONTRA EL MURO campaign. The campaign is still focused to stop and bring down the wall. During the Peace and Unity Walk from Ft. Hancock to Sunland Park we committed to go back to the communities that received us and report back as to what has been done and listen to their proposals. The idea is to strengthen our border communities under a same cause. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial Unicode MS;font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> This is what we propose to do: </span></span></p> <ul type="square"><li class="EC_MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Meet at Sunland Park and Anapra</span></span></li><li class="EC_MsoNormal" style="color: maroon;"><b><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;color:maroon;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold;">Sunday February 21, 2009</span></span></b></li><li class="EC_MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">12:00 – 2:00 PM</span></span></li></ul>NO BORDER WALLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16705064894973061623noreply@blogger.com1