Just say NO to the "Food Safety Modernization Act of 2009"

US House and Senate are about (in a week and a half) to vote on bill that will OUTLAW ORGANIC FARMING (bill HR 875). There is an enormous rush to get this into law within the next 2 weeks before people realize what is happening.

Main backer and lobbyist is (guess who) Monsanto – chemical and genetic engineering giant corporation. This bill will require organic farms to use specific fertilizers and poisonous insect sprays dictated by the newly formed agency to "make sure there is no danger to the public food supply". This will include backyard gardens that grow food only for a family and not for sales. If this passes then NO more heirloom clean seeds but only Monsanto genetically altered seeds that are now showing up with unexpected diseases in humans.

The name on this outrageous food plan is Food Safety Modernization Act of 2009 (bill HR 875).

THIS IS REAL, FOLKS! PASS THIS ALONG TO ALL CONCERNED ON YOUR MAILING LISTS & CALL YOUR SENATE REPRESENTETIVES TODAY! Not only does this bill stop organic farming and kills the small farmer, it will also be very detrimental to countries like Mexico who import so much of our food during the winter months. They will be forced, like many of us, to stop organic farming, eradicate all heirloom plants, and convert immediately to Genetically Modified crops. PLEASE Get on that phone and burn up the wires. Get anyone else you can to do the same thing. The House and Senate WILL pass this if they are not massively threatened with loss of their position.... They only fear your voice and your vote.

The best thing to do is go to www.house.gov/writerep all you have to do is put in your zip and it will give you your congressperson and how to get in touch with them. When you call their office someone will
answer the phone, just tell them (politely) that you are calling to express your views on HR 875. Tell them your views, they'll take your name and address and pass your comments along to the congressperson. The following link
http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm is
a list of the U.S. senators and their contact info.

Invisible Children at The Green House this Tuesday!!

This Tuesday Invisible Children, an incredible organization based out of San Diego, California, will be at the Green House Collective. Named after the organization's 2003 film with the same title, IC's goal is to end a 20 year war that has been raging in Northern Uganda. This war has forced families into displacement camps where many children are kidnapped and taken as child soldiers by the LRA(Lord's Resistance Army). The LRA is led by Joseph Kony and their main goal is to overthrow the government.

In light of the current situation and a nearing peace, Invisible Children is addressing the need for access to education and economic development through three innovative programs on the ground.

The Creators of Invisible Children: Rough Cut have now put together "The RESCUE", Invisible Children's newest Spring 2009 Film.

The new film is dedicated to the rescue of the child soldiers and to saving Northern Uganda from Joseph Kony and the L.R.A. (Lords Resistance Army)


Come watch a premeir of Invisible Children's most recent film, The Rescue this Tuesday at the Green House Collective. There will be a vegan potluck to start off the evening and discussion to follow. Invisible Children will be present and available for a Q&A.

We look forward to seeing you!

WHAT: The Rescue
WHEN: Tuesday, March 24
Vegan Potluck at 6:00
Film and Discussion at 7:00
WHERE: The Green House Collective
4407 SE Tibbetts St.
*off buslines 14,75,9, and 4...and the Clinton St. Bikeway!

See you tuesday!

In Peace, Love, and Solidarity!!

The Green House Collective

"All humanity is one undivided and indivisible family, and each one of us is responsible for the misdeeds of all the others. I cannot detach myself from the wickedest soul."

-Mahatma Gandhi

Thur. March 12 The Roots of Migration with Witness for Peace NW

This Thursday, March 12, Witness for Peace Northwest Organizer Beth Poteet will lead a workshop on the root causes of migration, focusing on the effects of free trade on Mexico and Central America. The workshop will include activities, discussion, and viewing of a film by CIEPAC, a Chiapas, Mexico based NGO. Donations will be accepted for a scholarship fund for the "Stories of Migration" delegation that will visit Oaxaca, Mexico and the US-Mexico border in May 2009. For more information, visit www.witnessforpeace.org/northwest.

As always:
Vegan Potluck at 6pm
Workshop at 7pm

See you there!

Thurs. March 5th DIY Notebook-making Workshop!!!

Hello wonderful people!

Do It Yourself Workshop on how to make your own Journal!!! We decided that we
wanted to start this month off with a little hands-on project that will have
everyone leave with a skill that one can carry with them always. We will walk
everybody step by step through the process of journal/notebook making, and by
the end everyone will have at least one new journal in hand!

Our goal here is to have some fun learning a new and valuable skill ~ teach
just one more simple way to avoid consumerism ~ all in the beauty of building
community

By now you all know out style, and of coarse we have this project coupled with
another. At the end of the night we will ask those who are willing to donate
their new journals, so that we can offer them to an organization that hands
out materials to the houseless folk - who doesn't need a new journal???

This will NOT COST A THING!!!! However you can help us out by bringing
neccesary Materials:

1.) old six-pack bottled beer containers
2.) Scissors
3.) A Glue stick
4.) Dental Floss
5.) a Sewing Needle!!! (this one a must)

We will provide all that we can (including paper) in case you can only bring a
few things or nothing at all

What: DIY notebook-making workshop
Where: The Greenhouse Collective 4407 SE Tibbetts St 97206 - off clinton bike
highway, and buses: 4, 14, 9
When: Thurs. March 5th - Vegan potluck at 6, workshop at 7
Why: Community!!!!!!!!!!

Come one come all

Substance Free! Safe Space Policy! Lotta Love!

Thurs. Feb 26th ~ Open Mic Night!!!

Helloooo!!!!

Wow. Last week was incredible - we'd really like to thank all of you for such
an awesome evening, and a special thanks to AARC for their presentation. It's
been a great month all in all ~ presentation on Bolivia at PSU, Risingtide
Cascadia, and AARC - thanks to all of you! And to wrap up the month we like to
ease back with an open mic

Come play song, sing a song, read some poetry, tell a story, dance a dance, or
simply sit back and enjoy in a comfortable space with a group of wondeful and
supportive people!! You've got talent and we know this - here's your chance
to let Everyone else know too!

What: open mic
Where: The Greenhouse Collective at 4407 SE Tibbetts St (between Division and
Powell) 97206. Off the Clinton bikeway, and buses:4, 14, 9
When: This Thursday 2/26 6:00 with a vegan potluck, and get the open mic
rolling around 7:00
Why: well to build community of course

This is a Public Event free of charge
This is a substance Free event
This is - a lot of fun

Be Well

Thurs. Feb 19th: Interrupting oppressive language/behavior - AARC

Hello people!!!

Thank you to all who made it out last week for a great presentation by Risingtide Cascadia! It was a fun, active, and engaging presentation. This week we are set up for another fantastic event

Allies Against Rape Culture (AARC) will be presenting an interactive workshop on Interrupting oppressive behaviors/language. Skills and techniques for interrupting oppressive comments, jokes, and behaviors will be the focus of this presentation through the use of roleplay.

Have you ever been in a situation where comments or jokes were made that you didn't feel comfortable about, but didn't know what to say??? Or perhaps behaviors that caused uncomfort? Or maybe you yourself have been interrupted and weren't quite sure how to feel about it? We often know that something isn't appropriate or doesn't feel good, but might not know what we can do about it.

Whether this is a completely familiar or absolutely new concept for you, please come to this engaging and fun workshop to gather new tools so that we can confidently speak out to oppressive language and/or behaviors. These are priceless tools to gather that can educate, liberate, and create safe space!!!

What: AARC interactive workshop on interrupting oppressive language/behavior
When: Thurs 19th!! Vegan potluck at 5:30, workshop at 7:00- try to be on time!
Where: The Greenhouse Collective 4407 SE Tibbetts St. 97206 - in between Division and Powell, off Clinton bikeway, and buses: 4, 14, 9

This is a workshop free of charge and open to the public (donations appreciated)
This is a substance free event
Bring a dish and bring a friend and lets ACTIVATE!!!

Check out our blog for other info and events!!!!

Wednesday2/4/09: Urban Ecological Action to Save the World: a presentation

This special evening presentation is free, brought to you by your friends at Food For Thought Cafe and the (new!) PSU Permaculture Guild. Invite your friends and spread the word.

Mark Lakeman, artist, architect and co-founder of the Portland-based non-profit City Repair, will be giving a presentation titled:
Urban Ecological Action to Save the World! on Wednesday, February 4th from 6:30-8:30pm at Food For Thought Cafe in the basement of Smith Student Union.

How can we rise above the urban grid? Are cities for cars or for people? Is public space for the public? How can we transform spaces into places and build community in the process?

These are some of the questions that will be explored through stories and images as we take a close look at how the work of City Repair--and specifically its annual event, The Village Building Convergence--takes these questions head-on.

This presentation will explore how changing our social and physical environments can have a profound impact on how we relate to each other and the places we live. There will also be an opportunity to discuss how students and groups can get involved, either by hosting a project here at PSU or assisting in the multitude of roles that are necessary every year to put on this nationally-recognized 10-day event.

The FFT Cafe gallery will also be exhibiting the visionary work of Mark Lakeman and the artistic posters of City Repair from February 3rd through 6th. Stop in for lunch and check it out!

For more information on this event, see the attached poster. For info about City Repair and the Village Building Convergence, visit www.cityrepair.org.

Food For Thought Cafe--located at the heart of PSU--serves fresh, local organic vegetarian breakfast and lunch Monday-Friday. Bagels from scratch. Vegan cookies. Stumptown coffee. Word.



The PSU Permaculture Guild is planning more speakers, events and activities for the spring of 2009. Email cameros@pdx.edu for more info!