MI Congressman opposed states implementation of Great Lakes compact.

"When it comes to protecting the Great Lakes and our great state of Michigan, we should not settle for second best."

That's the reason we should all follow Rep. Stupak's lead and close the leak that lets Great Lakes water be bottled and sold for profit.

TOWN HALL MEETING: Water Concerns & Solutions

Thursday, November 29

Wayne County Community College Community Room 236
1001 West Fort Street; Detroit, MI

5:30pm Reception (refreshments provided)

6pm Water Town Hall Meeting


The Great Lakes hold one-fifth of the world*s freshwater supply and currently provide drinking water to over 42 million people. Yet each day, our Lakes are damaged economically and ecologically by untreated sewage, toxic pollution, and invasive species. Furthermore, residents fear water turnoffs. Unless we invest in a solution today, the price we pay tomorrow will be much higher and future generations may never experience our lakes and rivers as we know them.

Join us in being part of the solution!


TOPICS & SPEAKERS INCLUDE:

Sewage Overflows
Mr. Phil Argiroff, Michigan Department of Environmental Quality

Storm Water Pollution
Wayne County Department of Environment

Industrial Pollution and Fish Advisories
Mrs. Roshani Dantas, Detroiters Working for Environmental Justice

Water Turnoffs
Mrs. Marian Kramer, Michigan Welfare Rights

Environmental Justice
Ms. Rhonda Anderson, Sierra Club Environmental Justice Program


If you are able to volunteer at the event, please call or email Melissa Damaschke, 248-549-6213 or melissa.damaschke@sierraclub.org. We need volunteers to help with refreshments and at the sign-in table.

Melissa Damaschke
Sierra Club Conservation Organizer
Phone: (248) 549-6213

Together, we will keep the Great Lakes GREAT!

Marian Kramer wins Purpose Prize

Congratulations to Marian Kramer on receiving the Purpose Prize for her work on water affordability in Highland Park, Detroit and around the world. The Detroit Greens are proud to work with Ms. Kramer, the Michigan Welfare Rights Organization and many others on the issue.

Meet Marian Kramer.

Water is a human right.

Green Party of Michigan State Membership Meeting

State Membership Meeting -- November 17, 2007

The Fall 2007 state membership meeting will be held on November 17 (Saturday) at the Hopewell Baptist Church, 756 Highland Avenue, Benton Harbor, Michigan, 49022.
Proposed Agenda:
Saturday, November 17

9:00 am - Begin Registration
9:20 am - Welcomes and Introductions - Ken Mathenia
9:30 am - Richard Wunsch and discussion of granting voting rights for the SMM
9:50 am - Officer Reports
10:15 am - Committee Reports

10:30 am - Break

10:45 am - Benton Harbor update and discussion - Rev Pinkney

12:00 Lunch Break

1:00 pm - Dismantling Racism workshop/discussion (continue Benton Harbor discussion if needed)
2:00 pm - Discussions of 2008 elections, who's running in Michigan, candidate recruitment (BANCO, MECAWI, etc.)

2:45 pm - Break

3:00 pm - GPUS delegate selection process discussion
3:45 pm - Building GPMI, helping committees to function, next Green Light, next SMM and forum, fundraising, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), and any other items added to the agenda
5:30 pm - adjourn

A Political Response to US Social Forum

Saturday Nov 17, 2007
11:00 AM to 1:00 pm

Central United Methodist Church
23 East Adams at Woodward Ave

9000 registered for the US Social Forum, 15000 showed up.

WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE WITH THE POWER WE'VE GENERATED?

Community Potluck, bring a dish to share.

Hear Speakers, Devise Strategy, Take Action!

Download flyer here.

Rally to Support Part-Time Faculty at Wayne State - Nov. 15

Union of Part-Time Faculty at
Wayne State University launches first contract campaign

Informational Demonstration Nov. 15

Media contacts:
Amanda Hiber: 313-720-2861
Rayfield Waller: 313-212-8321
Bryan G. Pfeifer: 313-832-7902
_____________________________________________________________

DETROIT -- The Union of Part-Time Faculty-American Federation of
Teachers at Wayne State University (WSU) will hold an informational
demonstration Nov. 15 at Noon at Gullen Mall at WSU. The UPTF begins
formally negotiating its first union contract with the university
administration Nov. 16.

"This demonstration will show the broad support for our union on
campus and in the larger community. Part-time faculty are absolutely
crucial to this university's operation, like all campus workers. It's
time the administration compensated us for the indispensable work we
do," said Amanda Hiber, UPTF member.

There are about 900 part-time faculty teaching in all of the
departments and colleges at the WSU main campus and at the extensions
of the university. Some professors have taught every term for 35
years, some are teaching their first semester. Some have full-time
jobs elsewhere and teach only one course; others are trying to patch
together a living teaching at WSU and at two or three other colleges.
The part-time faculty overwhelmingly voted for union representation
based around the issues of salary increases, benefits, job security
and other concerns.

"We do what we do because we care about the community; like nurses,
everybody needs us. But we are not getting enough compensation, we
don't receive health benefits and professional respect is minimal
although we are the ones closer and more accessible to students and
the larger campus community. We know that the power of a union is the
only way to win and deepen real democracy in our workplaces and larger
society," said Rayfield Waller, UPTF member

The UPTF is part of a nationwide movement to unionize part-time
faculty, who make up an increasingly greater fraction of college
faculty. Much like the corporate trend toward a part-time workforce,
universities are relying more on part-time instructors, who generally
receive a fraction of the pay of full-time faculty, and no benefits.
Non-tenure track faculty at the University of Michigan have been
represented by Lecturers Employee Organization (LEO) since 2002-2003,
and part-time faculty organizing campaigns are currently underway at
both Henry Ford Community College and Michigan State University.

___________________________________________

WSU Union of Part-Time Faculty / AFT, AFL-CIO
51 W Hancock
Detroit, MI 48201
313-832-7902 / uptf@aftmichigan.org

Great Lakes in Peril Citizen Town Hall Meeting

Monday, November 5th
6:30 - 8:00pm
St. John Fisher Chapel University Parish
3665 E. Walton Blvd. Auburn Hills, MI

Every day our Great Lakes waters are threatened by private companies looking to make a profit from our water. Meanwhile, all across the state Michigan residents are struggling to maintain access to a safe, affordable water supply. Michigan is the heart of the Great Lakes, and as residents of this great state it is our responsibility to protect our water resources.

Our Great Lakes quality of life depends on it. Now is our chance to strengthen Michigan’s water use laws so that our Lakes get the protection they truly deserve. Your lawmakers need to hear that they have your support when it comes time to vote to strengthen Michigan’s water use laws.

November 5th is your chance to have your voice heard!

For more information or to RSVP contact: Lynna Kaucheck, Clean Water Action, Community Organizer (248) 336-3460 or lkaucheck@cleanwater.org or Gayle Miller, Sierra Club gayle.miller@sierraclub.org

Local sponsors of this event include:
Clean Water Action, Clinton River Watershed Council, East Michigan Environmental Action Council, Environment Michigan, League of Women Voters, Michigan Citizens for Water Conservation, Michigan Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life, Michigan Environmental Council, Michigan Interfaith Power and Light, Michigan League of Conservation Voters, Raging Grannies, Sierra Club