This Friday! Feb. 26 * Dismantling Corporate Personhood * talk by Paul Cienfuegos

Empowering the People:  Is a truly sustainable society achievable as long as corporate rights trump the rights of people? * Paul Cienfuegos Lecture and Reception

Friday February 26th, 2010

First Unitarian Church, Eliot Chapel; 12th and SW Salmon, Portland

6:00 p.m.  Doors open/7:00 p.m.  

Lecture by Paul Cienfuegos

$5 to $15 at the door no one turned away

Americans already want better environmental protection, and they are willing to pay for it according to polls. But our elected officials continue to allow the rapid degradation of our environment.  Americans are strongly in favor of bold legislative responses to the climate crisis, but our elected officials hem and haw.  Why? Because we, the people are no longer the primary constituents of the people we elect...corporations are! Why?  Because corporate constitutional "rights" trump the rights of people. And how do we tend to respond to this travesty?  By continuing to struggle against one corporate harm at a time, one corporation at a time, mostly via the regulatory agencies.  We cannot possibly win in these arenas. We MUST change our tactics and start boldly challenging the constitutional RIGHTS of corporations to participate in American democratic processes.  Only then can we achieve a truly sustainable society.Paul will also discuss the importance of the recent Supreme Court decision expanding the Constitutional "rights" of corporations.

NOTE: Paul is also offering a two-day intensive workshop about corporate personhood on Feb. 27-28. Contact jennyleis@gmail.com for more information.

Sponsored by:  Alliance for Democracy, City Repair, Economic Justice Action Group, First Unitarian Church of Portland, Real Wealth of Portland, Jobs With Justice, TransitionTowns PDX and WILPF. Bio for Paul Cienfuegos

Paul Cienfuegos has been doing grassroots community organizing since the late 70's. He co-founded Democracy Unlimited of Humboldt County (California) in 1996 <http://www.DUHC.org>.  He is the co-author of 'Measure F: The Arcata Advisory Initiative on Democracy and Corporations' which was passed by the voters in 1998.  Paul was a founding member of the City of Arcata Committee on Democracy and Corporations which had its origins in 'Measure F'. It is the first committee of its kind in US history, and works to "ensure democratic control over corporations conducting business within the city..." Paul (and co-author) are currently working on a book for mainstream Americans on how to dismantle corporate rule. Over the years, dozens of Paul's articles and speeches have been published in journals and online; many of them are accessible at <http://www.PaulCienfuegos.com>. Paul also owns an online bookstore: <http://www.100fires.com> which carries thousands of books to help create a better world. He can be reached at: <paul@100fires.com> or 707-443-4483 or <http://www.PaulCienfuegos.com>.