This weekend in Portland, Oregon!

Portland's Alliance for Democracy hosts two events for their regional member convention: Here's the info from coordinator David Delk; or see the chapter website.

One day: Saturday, November 7th
Two events: (1) Alliance for Democracy Regional Conference and (2) screening of the new video TAPPED.
Who is invited: You are. Everyone who has a concern about democracy, economic and social justice, political process, the economic crisis and how we move forward.

Alliance for Democracy teams up with the Economic Justice Action Group of the 1st Unitarian Church to sponsor the AfD Regional Conference on Democracy. They are both joined by the Community for Earth of the 1st Unitarian Church in sponsoring the video TAPPED.

Here are the details:

(1) Alliance for Democracy Regional Conference on Democracy

Democracy demands an informed citizenry

Join the Alliance for Democracy for their Regional Conference as we interact with Portland activists like:

• Barbara Dudley - PSU political science professor, former head of the National Lawyers Guild, and Greenpeace USE
• Margaret Butler - Exec Director of Jobs with Justice
• Arthur Stamoulis - Oregon Fair Trade Campaign Exec Director

(Barbara, Margaret and Arthur will address the current economic crisis and steps required to resolve it.)

• Dan Meek - public interest attorney speaking on the US Supreme Court case which likely will increase corporate power. Dan is well known for writing and advocating for campaign finance reform.
• Janice Thompson- director of Common Cause Oregon on Voter Owned Elections (public funding of candidates)
• Judy Barnes – AfD supporter speaking on Renewal Energy Payments. Judy was the individual who first suggested that Public Utility Districts be formed in the Portland metro area to replace Enron/PGE.
• Nancy Matela – AfD supporter on the crisis of water. She is well known as the convener of the Oregon Voter Rights Coalition opposing the use of electronic voting machines. Now she is back to her original concern, water and the dangers of privatization.

Time: 1 PM to 4:30 PM; doors open at 12:30 so we can start right at 1 PM.
Admission: No charge but donations will be welcome.

(2) TAPPED
From the producers of Who Killed the Electric Car

Is access to clean drinking water a basic human right, or a commodity that should be bought and sold like any other article of commerce?

From the plastic production to the the ocean in which so many of these bottles end up, this inspiring documentary trails the path of the bottled water industry and the communities which were the unwitting chips on the table. A powerful portrait of the lives affected by the bottled water industry, this revelatory film features those caught at the intersection of big business and the public's right to water.

Video will be followed by discussion with Alliance for Democracy water activist, Nancy Matela, who has been working opposing Nestle's plans to open a bottled water plant in Cascade Locks.

Time: 7- 9 PM, doors open at 6:30 PM.
Admission: $5 - $20 but no one turned away for lack of funds.
More info on the video at www.tappedthemovie.com