Send quick email to Obama to tell him to END NAFTA!

We know from our experience in Colombia that military solutions to drug-related violence do not work, yet the U.S. government recently doubled funding for the Mexican military's war on drugs. (Click here for a recent article about the Merida Initiative for background).

This Thursday President Obama will make his first state visit to Mexico. The escalating violence in Mexico is being used as an excuse for further U.S. military aid, and our partners in Mexico are worried about the increasing human rights violations committed by Mexican military and special police forces in the name of the war on drugs.

The media coverage of his Mexico visit provides us with an important opportunity to set the record straight on what Mexico really needs to reduce drug-related violence.

Please send a letter to the editor to your local paper this week. Just click the title of this posting!!!!

Letters to the Editor are the most-read part of any newspaper (especially by policymakers). That' s why we want to flood newspapers around the country with letters this week - this is an important way to push for a sane approach to U.S.-Mexico relations instead of more military violence.

This week is a critical time to take action, as President Obama will be in Mexico on April 16 and 17, just prior to the Summit of the Americas.

Please take just a couple minutes to send a letter to the editor to your local newspaper. We have a new tool that makes it easy to personalize a letter to the editor and will automatically send your letter to your local paper of choice. Try it out - it's quick and easy.

Thank you for taking action at this critical time for U.S.-Mexico relations!

In solidarity

Queer Awareness Week!

Queer Awareness Week 2009
Join the QRC for a week’s worth of activities April 13-17

Sex Toys 101
4/13/09 from 12-1:30pm in SMSU 236

I'm Gonna Pop! Renegotiating Self-Inflicted Substance Abuse (performance)
4/13/09 from 3-3:30pm in Parkway North (Smith Cafeteria)

Trans Basics: The 411 on the Gender Revolution
4/14/09 from 12-1pm in SMSU 333

Interpersonal Violence in the Queer Community
4/14/09 from 2-3:30pm in SMSU 333

You Want Put That Where? Consent and Boundaries
4/15/09 from 2-3pm in SMSU 236

Queer People of Color Movie Showing
4/15/09 from 12-1:30pm in the QRC

Exploring History: Sexism and Homosexuality
4/16/09 from 12-1pm in SMSU 333

The Importance of Only Spaces in the Queer Community
4/16/09 from 2:30-3:30pm in SMSU 333

QProm 2009 - Night of Noise (a benefit for SMYRC)
4/17/09 from 9pm-1am at the Jupiter Hotel $8 Students


QProm 2009 - Night of Noise (a benefit for SMYRC)

“Night of Noise”, an all ages GLBTQ community fundraiser to benefit
the Sexual Minority Youth Resource Center, will take place Friday,
April 17 from 9pm-1am at The Jupiter Hotel on 800 E Burnside St. The
event is organized by the Portland State University Queer Resource
Center, SinnSavvy Productions, and local promoter Kaki Marshall.

Night of Noise will celebrate self expression and the strengths of the
GLBTQ community, with entertainment from SinnSavvy Productions artists
the Rose City Sirens, the River City Riders, the B.B. Dolls,
Burlesquire, and Angelique DeVil, followed by the sounds of the
fabulous DJ Automaton and DJ Linoleum. The dreamBOX at the Jupiter
Hotel will house a cash bar separate from the dance floor, to provide
an all ages celebration. Tickets are $8 for students and $10 general
admission, and will be available at the door & through Ticketmaster.
All ticket sales will benefit SMYRC, to support their relocating from
their current home on Belmont which suffered severe damage during the
winter snow storms.

"Night of Noise" is a follow-up to National Day of Silence, where
students & their supporters are silent during day to raise awareness
around and express solidarity with GLBTQ folks who are silenced daily
through harassment, bias, and violence. Visit
http://www.dayofsilence.org for more information on events taking
place nationwide.

"What is Rape Culture" This Thursday at the GHC

This Thursday, April 9th: Allies Against Rape Culture (AARC) will be presenting an interactive workshop on Rape Culture.

The term “Rape Culture” is used to describe a culture in which rape and other sexual violence (usually against women) are common and in which prevalent attitudes, norms, practices, and media condone, normalize, excuse, or encourage sexualized violence. Learn more about what creates rape culture, and what we can do to dismantle 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 and knowledge so that we can work together toward ending rape culture.

What: AARC interactive workshop on rape culture
When: Thursday, April 9th. Vegan potluck at 5:30, workshop at 7:00—we will start on time!
Where: The Greenhouse Collective, 4407 SE Tibbetts St. 97206—between Division and Powell, off Clinton bikeway, and buses: 4, 14, 9.

See you in a few days!

xoxo

The Green House Collective

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!