By Tom Wodetski, Mendocino AfD

We in the Mendocino Coast chapter (four hours north of San Francisco) believe that America won't make the basic structural transition to end corporate rule until enough Americans demand it. And for this to happen, our #1 task is to educate and activate our communities.  Write to Tom at tw@mcn.org for the details below.

Our chapter meets this task by producing monthly Town Hall public meetings, a semi-weekly radio series called "Corporations & Democracy," TV shows, a free video lending library of over 100 titles, and weekly emails of upcoming community events and selected relevant articles. We encourage other chapters and individuals to consider undertaking these educational efforts.

We’ve recently hosted Town Hall talks by David Korten, who spoke about his newest book, The Great Turning: From Empire to Earth Community, and Antonia Juhasz, author of The Bush Agenda: Invading the World, One Economy at a Time, who exposed the Bush Administration's use of corporate globalization as a weapon of war, especially in Iraq. Upcoming is retired US Army Colonel Ann Wright, a 29-year veteran plus 16 years in the US Foreign Service, who will speak on the need to end the Iraq War.

How do we get these speakers? It’s easier than you think! In fact, many are looking for audiences, especially if they have new books out. Just ask them! That's what I did after hearing Col. Ann Wright on Democracy Now!--I just emailed her and asked if she'd come and speak. That's what she wants to do!

I learned that she resigned her Foreign Service post in 2003 to protest Bush's plan to invade Iraq, spent 26 days in the ditches at Camp Casey, in Crawford, TX, with Cindy Sheehan, has been arrested numerous times since protesting the war, and was featured in the Washington Post magazine, Ms. magazine, Foreign Service Journal and the film "Uncovered: The Truth About the Iraq War." Don't you think she'll be a powerful speaker who can help persuade citizens in your community to act for peace?

If you live in an out of the way location (like Mendocino!), consider networking with other groups in your state to organize a speaking tour through several towns, thus making your request more appealing. Our last speaker, Antonia Juhasz, visited eight communities in eight nights, and filled her days with, besides driving, radio interviews and book signings at indy bookstores.

Please help educate America about corporate rule and the democratic, just, sustainable and loving world that's a possible alternative. You just have to act!