"Hacking Democracy" screens in Peterborough, NH

The documentary "Hacking Democracy" will be shown on Wednesday, September 7 at the Peterborough, NH Town Library, 2 Concord Street. The film starts at 7 p.m. You can reach the library at (603) 924-8040.

The documentary, first broadcast on HBO, exposes the dangers of voting machines widely used in the US. Electronic voting machines count approximately 90% of our votes in county, state and federal elections. The technology is also increasingly being used across the world, including in Canada, the United Kingdom, Europe and Latin America. Filmed over three years, Hacking Democracy follows a team of citizen activists and hackers as they take on the electronic voting industry, targeting the Diebold corporation, and uncovers incendiary evidence from the trash cans of Texas to the ballot boxes of Ohio, exposing secrecy, discarded votes, hackable software and election officials rigging the presidential recount.

Ultimately proving our votes can be stolen without a trace, "Hacking Democracy" culminates in the famous 'Hursti Hack'; a duel between the Diebold voting machines and a computer hacker from Finland - with America's democracy at stake.

Even though this is not a new film, easily-manipulated electronic voting equipment continues to threaten the integrity of our elections. Come see the film and talk with others about what can be done to protect the vote.

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Pricele$$ screens in Laconia, NH

Pricele$$ the Documentary will be shown tomorrow night in Laconia, NH, sponsored by the Belknap County Democrats, followed by a Q&A with the filmmaker, Steve Cowan. Admission is free.

The film will be shown starting at 6:30 p.m., at the Multi-Purpose Room, Laconia Middle School, 150 McGrath Street.

Pricele$$ examines the forces that control and drive industry in the United States, campaign financing. Pricele$$ asks the question, "How is big money corrupting politics in Washington and how can we fix it?"

A Concord based non-profit, Americans for Campaign Reform, is working hard on these very questions, providing voters with the information they need to make informed decisions. Pricele$$ attempts to tackle two major issues in our economy, food and energy. The film shows us that in order to be an elected official, campaigners need to seek funding from "large donors such as the oil & gas industry, agrichemical companies, health insurers, and Wall Street...you know...the type of companies they're supposed to be regulating."

The film is being shown as part of The Green Living Series.

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"Granny D Day" bill will be signed in Concord, NH tomorrow

New Hampshire's Gov. John Lynch will sign SB 173 tomorrow, proclaiming January 24 as Granny D Day in the Granite State. The signing will take place 11 a.m. in the Executive Council Chamber at the state capitol building in Concord, and the public is welcome to attend to honor a remarkable and inspiring woman.

A bronze bust of Granny D will also be on display, before heading to the Granny D archives at Keene State College in Keene, NH, where it will be formally unveiled at the opening of the archives in September.

New Hampshire clean elections activists have long campaigned for public funding, and despite state and federal level setbacks, are still dedicated to carrying on their work. If you'd like to know more about clean elections in New Hampshire or this specific event, please email grannydconcert@aol.com.

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Remembering Bill McCann

We're saddened to note the death of Bill McCann, New Hampshire organizer for the Alliance's Defending Water for Life campaign. Bill was badly injured this winter and despite several months of rehabilitative care, passed away May 6.

Defending Water for Life campaign coordinator Ruth Caplan recalled, "I first met Bill in 2005 at a gathering of US/Canada water activists in Traverse City Michigan. We bonded around the idea that water is a fundamental right for people and nature, a right to be protected by local communities. Thanks to Bill, this idea was brought to NH and within a year, Barnstead passed the first ordinance in the country declaring water to be a fundamental right which could not be taken away by corporations. Now there are four such ordinances in New Hampshire and two in Maine.

"Bill worked with Defending Water for Life for the next six years. His work on protecting NH's groundwater is just one of many legacies he has left to future generations. It was a gift to know and work with him.

"Thank you Bill! May we all be inspired by you and carry on your work."

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New Hampshire legislation helps towns protect groundwater

Thanks to the diligent work of Bill McCann, AfD's New Hampshire organizer for the Defending Water for Life Campaign, New Hampshire now has a state law that enables towns to pass local ordinances to protect groundwater. Serving on the NH Groundwater Commission established by the state legislature, Bill held hearings around the state on the issue of local control and then built on this base to get the state law passed. The law makes it unlikely that the state will challenge local ordinances like the one passed in Barnstead in 2006, with support from AfD's Defending Water campaign. The Barnstead ordinance has now been replicated in three other NH towns. The law goes into effect on September 18th.

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