From: contact@whoisleonardpeltier.info
Subject: WELCOME BILLIE "LAKODA" ROBIDEAU
Date: Wed, 21 Oct 2009 10:06:11 -0700 (PDT)


Leonard Peltier Defense Offense Committee October 19, 2009


Welcome Billie "Lakoda" Robideau
Please welcome our new support branch coordinator, Billie "Lakoda" Robideau. Lakoda, nephew of Bob Robideau, is also Leonard's cousin and lives in Portland, Oregon. LPDOC support branches may contact Lakoda at Lakoda@whoisleonardpeltier.info. Lakoda replaces Ben Carnes and Wanbli Tate. We extend our gratitude to Ben and Wanbli for their hard work and dedication during this past year, and wish them well in all of their pursuits.


We still need your support ~ Until Leonard is FREE!
Hello to all our friends and supporters, I hope this finds you as well as can be. It has been about two years since my brother asked me to serve this organization, this case, and even the bigger issue of political prisoners.

During these months, I've been blessed to know so many who have worked for justice for so long. I've been fortunate as well to meet those who have just begun to learn about our work, and the history behind our endeavor. One thing that has become clear to me during this period is that the only way so much could have been accomplished, the only way for all of you to have carried so much of this burden for all these years, is that we have all been touched or impacted in some way by my brother's case.

I believe we have all accepted that what has happened to Leonard Peltier could happen to any of us. Or rather, that what has been done to him has been done to all of us.

Each one of you, every supporter, every support group, is like a pillar, the foundation this organization is built upon. We are so very thankful for everything you have done and all that you do. No contribution, however big or small, is immaterial. However, it is clear that the level of our support and specifically our donations is far below historical levels. Many of the individuals and support groups who helped us over the years remain dormant since our rebirth. This organization has a mandate of work, which includes phone calls, mailings, travel to meetings and events, merchandise, and all manner of miscellaneous expenditures that arise from day to day. Simply put, we are nowhere near meeting our needs to carry on the work of the last three decades. I know the economy has been very tough on people of late. I know that for many of you right now sending an email or a fax is the limit of what you can do, and that is appreciated. If this is the case, please sit down right now write to your three congressmen on Leonard's behalf, and forward the responses to our office.

We need to relight the fires of activism many of you stoked over the years. I sense that we have the ability together to do more. We have developed a national and international strategy focused on holding the president to his words, a centuries-long struggle for Native peoples. But we cannot even dream of accomplishing any of these without an increase in donations. I talk to many of you and I know what potential we have for the future. This could very well be a new morning for us and all that has been done up to now. I think of my brother in a cage, and I believe in the righteousness of our cause. I believe this organization and this effort can rise again but that depends heavily on the support of all of you. So I simply ask you this; please do all that you can do. If you can talk to raise awareness, then speak to your church or civic organization and ask them to pass a resolution of support. If you can organize fundraisers, then organize. If you can write letters, then write . If you can buy a T-shirt, then buy it-and wear it proudly. Now more than ever, we need your all. Whatever that may be, we are appreciative and will do our best with.

Thank you for your time, your support, and your understanding.

Betty Ann Peltier-Solano

Executive Coordinator
LPDOC


La Pena Cultural Center Exhibits Leonards Art Work
La Peña Cultural Center and Polu Manu Productions proudly presents:
The artwork of Native American political prisoner Leonard Peltier

The highly-praised artwork of Native American activist, political prisoner and six-time Nobel Peace Prize nominee, Leonard Peltier - curated by Bird Levy Strain of Polu Manu Productions, SF - will be exhibited in Berkeley's La Peña theater from October 19 until November 30, 2009.

The exhibit can be viewed either during show times (with admission ticket only) or by appointment; call 510-849-2568. Opening Reception Date: Friday, Nov. 13. 6:30 - 8pm.

www.lapena.org/index.php?s=116


Continue Calling White House
CALL THE WHITE HOUSE ~ 202-456-1111 ~ ASK PRESIDENT OBAMA TO FREE LEONARD PELTIER.


Buy a Piece of History
There are many paintings available, which vary in price and size. All of his paintings are original native expressions of portraits of his visions. Leonards oil paintings are collected by various people, including well known names, such as Chelsea Clinton, Oliver Stone, Val Kilmer, Jane Fonda and so many more admirers. His work will be enjoyed for centuries to come and we encourage everyone to purchase an original painting or a lithograph of Leonards work.


How you can help
Write letters, make phone cals, and fax your Representatives in the House and Senate. Ask them to both support an investigation into this case and support the declassification of thousands of documents. To find out who yoru representatives are and how to contact them, call the congressional switchboard: 202-224-3131 or visit www.vote-smart.org

LPDOC website: www.whoisleonardpeltier.info

Date: Tue, 20 Oct 2009 17:08:28 -0700
From: Ben Wikler - Avaaz.org avaaz@avaaz.org
Subject: This Saturday, 4000 events

Dear friends,

 

Saturday, October 24 is the 350 global day of climate action. Learn more and find a local way to join in --

Last month, from events in hundreds of cities, we flooded world leaders' phone lines with the Global Climate Wake-Up Call. This Saturday is the next global day of action on climate change--a worldwide wave of extraordinary events that will show leaders the accelerating breadth, power, and clarity of the global climate movement.

On Saturday, thanks to more than a year of organizing by our friends at 350.org and others, citizens have assembled more than 4000 extraordinary climate actions across nearly every country, from the bottom of the Great Barrier Reef to the summit of Mount Everest. Now, by joining actions in our own communities, we can supercharge the day and make the climate movement impossible to ignore. Click below to see the events map and find an event nearby:

www.avaaz.org/en/350_map


The 350 day of action is named for 350 parts per million, the amount of carbon in the atmosphere that scientists say would be the safe for the climate. (At the moment, we're at 387 parts per million and climbing fast.) Already, thanks to organizing around the world, 89 countries have now committed in principle to setting 350ppm as a worldwide goal -- and the number has become a kind of shorthand for the fair, ambitious, and binding climate treaty that we are all working for.

On October 24th, at each event -- at rallies and parties and deep-sea dives -- we'll take a photo centered around the number 350. The photos from around the world will be handed over to waiting reporters, broadcast to the world's media on giant screens in New York's Times Square, and delivered directly to hundreds of world leaders and politicians in the coming weeks.

Gathering to pose for a 350 photograph might seem like a small action --- but when it's being done thousands of times in thousands of cities, it grows in force, showing global leaders a snapshot of the massive, vibrant groundswell of worldwide citizens demanding solutions on climate change. Let's make this huge. Find a local event and sign up to attend:

www.avaaz.org/en/350_map


In less than 50 days, our governments will meet in Copenhagen, Denmark, to negotiate a new global treaty to prevent a climate catastrophe. At the moment, the negotiations are stalling, and a fair ambitious and binding treaty looks a long way off. But it is precisely at times like these when people power, with hundreds of thousands of us working together, can make the difference.

With hope for October 24 and Copenhagen,
Ben, Luis, Taren, Iain, Alice, Pascal and the rest of the Avaaz team

____
ABOUT AVAAZ Avaaz.org is an independent, not-for-profit global campaigning organization that works to ensure that the views and values of the world's people inform global decision-making. (Avaaz means "voice" in many languages.) Avaaz receives no money from governments or corporations, and is staffed by a global team based in Ottawa, London, Rio de Janeiro, New York, Buenos Aires, and Geneva. Click here to learn more about our largest campaigns. Don't forget to check out our Facebook and Myspace and Bebo pages! You can also follow Avaaz on Twitter!

To contact Avaaz, please do not reply to this email. Instead, write to us via the webform at www.avaaz.org/en/contact. You can also call us at +1-888-922-8229 (US) or +55 21 2509 0368 (Brazil).

Date: Wed, 21 Oct 2009 13:07:32 GMT
From: Ashley Schaeffer, Rainforest Action Network <jels@ran.org>
Subject: Save Rainforests from U.S. Agribusiness Giant Cargill


RAINFOREST ACTION NETWORK 
 

Dear --,

Thanks for joining us in celebrating World Rainforest Week last week!

Even though the week of celebration is over, we need to continue working to take action against deforestation, which accounts for 20 percent of the global greenhouse gas emissions. Today, we need you to join in our global call-in day for the rainforests by making a call to Cargill CEO Gregory Page before more rainforests are cut down for palm oil plantations.

Home to half the plant and animal species on earth, tropical rainforests are being cleared and burned to make way for palm oil plantations. Palm oil is an ingredient used in 50 percent of all consumer goods from lipstick to breakfast cereals. It's only grown in tropical countries like Indonesia, Malaysia and Papua New Guinea, countries that are home to some of the world's last intact rainforests.

Increasing demand from Western countries is pushing palm oil cultivation into the rainforests -- destroying habitats for endangered species, displacing communities, and making Indonesia the world's third largest greenhouse gas emitter as carbon from felled forests is released into the atmosphere.

We're working to stop this destruction by asking Cargill, the biggest importer of palm oil into the United States, to make a commitment to stop converting forests into palm oil plantations and to start respecting the rights of communities who need intact forests for their livelihoods. And we need your help!

Take a moment to pick up the phone and let CEO Gregory Page know that you care about rainforests, communities and the climate.

Cargill has the potential to become a leader in socially and environmentally responsible palm oil production but they need to hear your message loud and clear that it is unacceptable to clear rainforests for palm oil.

Take part in our global call-in day and be a part of the change!

-> http://ga3.org/campaign/callcargill


In solidarity,

Ashley Schaeffer
Rainforest Agribusiness Campaigner  

 
Send a message to Cargill today!

____
RAN
221 Pine Street, 5th floor, San Francisco, CA 94104 USA
415 398 4404 415 398 2732 fax

(c.) Rainforst Action Network

www.survivalinternational.org/news/4979

Bulldozers destroy uncontacted tribe's land

Survival International
8 October


 
Bulldozers being brought in for illegal deforestation in territory of uncontacted Ayoreo Indians. - (c.) GAT/Survival



Bulldozers have been photographed entering an uncontacted tribe's territory in one of the remotest corners of South America.

The devastation wreaked by the bulldozers has been caught on satellite photographs. They have been hired by a Brazilian company, Yaguarete Pora S.A., to clear the land to make way for cattle-ranching in northern Paraguay. They are alleged to be hired from Jacobo Kauenhowen, owner of a large bulldozer business in the nearby Mennonite colony of Loma Plata.

The bulldozers' entry onto the tribe's land is completely illegal after Yaguarete had its licence to work in the area suspended by the government.


 
Ayoreo-Totobiegosode land cleared by Yaguarete Pora, Paraguay - (c.) GAT/Survival


The tribe, the Ayoreo-Totobiegosode, is the only uncontacted tribe in South America outside the Amazon. Thousands of hectares of their land, in an area called the Chaco in northern Paraguay, were destroyed by Yaguarete and another company, River Plate SA, last year.

Some Totobiegosode have already been contacted and have relatives among those who are still uncontacted in the forest.

According to a local organisation supporting the Totobiegosode, Yaguarete has made it clear to them that "it does not respect indigenous rights nor Paraguay's laws".

Uncontacted tribes are exceedingly vulnerable to any kind of contact because of their lack of immunity to outsiders' diseases. In an emergency report to the UN last year, Survival described the threat to the Totobiegosode as "the most serious threat to tribal peoples anywhere in the world".

Survival director, Stephen Corry, said today, "The bulldozers must be stopped and withdrawn from the Totobiegosode's territory. What kind of government would stand by while this continues?"


Act now to help the Ayoreo
Please write to the President of Paraguay and the President of INDI, the Paraguayan government's Indian affairs department, to urge them to title the Ayoreo-Totobiegosode's remaining lands to them without delay.
You can use this sample text or write your own:

-- sample letter --

To His Excellency Fernando Lugo
Presidente de la República del Paraguay
Paraguayo Independiente c/ Ayolas
Asunción
Paraguay

[insert Date]

Your Excellency,

I am extremely concerned to learn that several of the Brazilian companies who own land within the ancestral territory of the Ayoreo-Totobiegosode Indians in the Chaco have been clearing it illegally. This is in flagrant violation of injunctions which prohibit any such work in the area.

The Ayoreo-Totobiegosode have been claiming a small part of their ancestral territory since 1993, but have still only recovered a fraction of it. Some members of the tribe are still uncontacted, and their survival is seriously at risk as more and more of the forest where they live is being destroyed.

The deforestation is also in clear violation of Paraguay's laws and Constitution, which explicitly recognise the right of the indigenous population to the ownership of their traditional lands.

I urge you to ensure that the Ayoreo-Totobiegosode's land is titled to them without delay.

Yours sincerely,
[Your full name and address]

-- end sample letter --


____
(c.) Survival International, 2009 Registered charity no. 267444 501(c)(3) registered nonprofit