Local Protests Planned

From the Milwaukee Area Labor Council AFL-CIO

Friday, March 25th,2011- 7:30 A.M.
Greater Beloit Chamber of Commerce Legislative Breakfast Picket- Representitives Wynn, Knilans, and Loudenbeck to be present. Country Club of Beloit, 2327 Riverside Drive. We will picket on the sidewalk.

Tuesday March 29, 2011 - 5:00 PM
Protest Governor Walker at Forward Janesville Dinner, Holiday Inn Express & Conference Center, Janesville

March 10, Rally Milton Teachers

MILTON—The Milton Education Association, Milton’s teachers union announced that it plans to sponsor another rally in support of public employees Thursday afternoon in Milton.

According to a posting on the teachers union’s facebook site, the rally will be at 4:30 p.m. Thursday at Milton East Elementary School, along Highway 26 in Milton.

The post said the group hopes to double attendance it had at a rally last Thursday at the elementary school. The rally drew a crowd of teachers and other public employees, union members said.

The group had gathered to protest Gov. Scott Walker’s pending budget-relief bill, which seeks to curtail collective bargaining rights for public sector unions and tp force the union members to pay more for health and retirement benefits.

Forwarded by Rock County Progressives

March 9, Ft. Atkinson Rally

There will be a rally for Public Employees on Wed. March 9th on the Main St. bridge from 5-6 p.m. The Community Informational Forum will be postponed because of a need for more coordination of speakers and for the schools and city to gather more information. A key factor is that the city needs more time to gather more information on how the budget will impact it. We do not wish to give out incorrect or incomplete information.

Please bring family and friends to the rally. If all goes well, we may have another the following week before the Forum.

Jude Hartwick
FEA V.P.

Forwarded from Rock County Progressives

March 7, Harmony Town Board Meeting

Alert to all citizens that are concerned about center pivot irrigation from the proposed mega-dairy on the Rock Prairie:

What: The Harmony Town Board Meeting
When: Monday, March 7, 2011 at 7:00PM
Where: Harmony Town Hall, 440 N Hwy 14, Janesville, Wisconsin
(same side of the road, next door to Silha & Sons Excavating).
The agenda includes: Center Pivot Manure Ordinance.

Here are a couple of info links, there are many documents on line.

Johnstown Bans Center Pivot Manure Sprayers

Pivot Irrigation Study

Rock Environmental Network, Inc.
"When People Lead, the Leaders will Follow"

Alert! Farmland Protection Update

People from across Wisconsin are voicing opposition to Gov. Scott Walker's proposal to eliminate the state's program to permanently protect farmland. We need your help to reach out to lawmakers and the governor with a simple message: Don't wreck Wisconsin's farmland protection program.

Gov. Walker's budget proposes to zero out funding for the Purchase of Agricultural Conservation Easement program and wipe the program off the books. The American Farmland Trust and Gathering Waters Conservancy are helping to organize grass-roots supporters of farmland protection. We need your help.

Please contact your state representative and senator and urge them to reject elimination of the PACE program and to work for secure funding sources. Even if funding is temporarily limited, it makes no sense to eliminate the program! It was supported by a broad, bipartisan coalition of farmers, local officials, citizens and land trusts when it was created in 2009. Wisconsin does not want to lose this excellent opportunity for farmers and their families to protect farmland and pass their farms on to the next generation.

Initially funded with $12 million in bonding authority over two years, PACE has exceeded expectations in popularity with farmers eager to protect their valuable farmland for future generations. Seventy-six applications covering more than 18,600 acres of some of Wisconsin's best agricultural land were received during the program's first two application rounds - much more than could be protected with the initial funding for the program!

In addition to the governor's budget, bills have been introduced in the Senate and Assembly to eliminate PACE and its funding sources. Your legislators need to hear from you, and now.

A few facts that show the importance of this program:

Wisconsin was 9th in the nation in the amount of agricultural land developed from 2002-2007 and 4th in the nation in the amount of prime farmland - the very best farmland - developed during that same period. While pressure to convert farmland may have slowed in the last two years, history shows that when the economy recovers the loss of farmland will return. The Wisconsin PACE program is a vital hedge against the incessant push of growth and development over rural communities and farmlands.

Local groups across the state are organizing efforts to reach out to lawmakers, contact media and take other steps to save Wisconsin's farmland preservation program. We need you to join the rising crescendo.

For more information, go to www.wisconsinfarmland.org, or contact:

Bill Berry
American Farmland Trust/Protecting Wisconsin's Farm and Forest Lands
1973 Strongs Ave
Stevens Point WI 54481

Feb. 24 - Rallies Janesville-Beloit

Subject: Let's Rock Rock Valley this Thursday!

Greetings labor coalition folks,

Some may have received notice elsewhere, but we have a rally doubleheader lined up for this Thursday. Let’s send some love towards Senator Cullen and our union brothers and sisters; and some encouragement to our current elected assemblyfolks to do the right thing (“Amy, Evan Joe-this bill’s gotta go!”). As inspiring as events have been in Madison, we need to focus on our territory in keeping up support and pressure where appropriate. We cannot let the other side dismiss actions as just a “Madison thing.”

Beloit Rally: Thursday, February 24, 4:00PM, 1240 Riverside Drive

Janesville Rally: Thursday, February 24, 7:45, Downtown Courthouse (51 S Main St.) on Main St. Sidewalk.

Thanks to everyone who has taken action, and I look forward to seeing many of you this Thursday.

Solidarity!

Ted

Feb. 21: Rockin' In Madison

On Monday, Tom Morello, Wayne Kramer, Street Dogs and other musicians will join teachers, students, community members, religious leaders in the state capitol to rally against Gov. Walker’s radical proposals against workers and their union. They will call for policies that support the middle class and leaders who will respect the freedom of working people to collectively call for a better life.

Who: Tom Morello, The Nightwatchmen, Rage against the Machine
Wayne Kramer, of the MC5
The Street Dogs, featuring Mike McColgan former lead singer of the Dropkick Murphys
Ike Reilly
What: performances by artists at the Rally for Wisconsin
Where: State Capitol, Madison
When: Part of the noon and 5:00 p.m. rallies on Monday February 21st, 2011

Feb. 17 - Factory Farm

The next meeting of the Friends of Rock Prairie is scheduled for this coming Thursday evening, February 17. We will be meeting back in Janesville this time, at:

Hedberg Public Library
316 S. Main Street (by the river)
public meeting room
(ground floor, by the coffee shop)
6:30 till 8 pm

I'd like us to spend some time planning some public outreach-education events for the next month. Let me know if you have other things we should include on the agenda.

I think we should also discuss if there is a more effective way to structure our meetings. I'm wondering if it wouldn't be a good idea to rotate the focus of our meetings: have one meeting devoted to information sharing - education, and the next week's meeting focused on strategy and working, and so forth. What do you think? Please come with your thoughts, and some ideas on how you want to participate.

Contact: Tom Boswell
608/882-0758
tomboswell2002@yahoo.com

Pricele$$ Documentary At Basics

Rock County Progressives present: Pricele$$, a non-partisan documentary that examines citizens efforts to eliminate a root cause of countless social and environmental problems - the inordinate influence of special interest money in government. From the film makers who brought you Empty Oceans, Empty Nets and Farming the Seas.

Tuesday, February 22
Reception 6:00 pm
Film 6:30-7:30 pm
Basics food cooperative
1711 Lodge Dr Janesville, Wisconsin

rockcountyprogressives@gmail.com

Feb. 10 Meeting - Factory farm

The next meeting of Friends of Rock Prairie (yes, we have a name now!) is scheduled for this coming Thursday evening at 6:30 PM, February 10, at:

Clinton Senior Center
508 Front Street
(Corner of Hwy 140 & Front)

We are starting to gain traction: A lot of folks sent comments responding to the DNRs Environmental Analysis of the dairy proposal, and our attorney filed a strong statement. (I will attach it.) We had a good meeting with the Rock County Health Department this past Friday, and I think they could be a strong ally.

Now we need to think of ways to influence public opinion and influence the decision-makers who will either enable or prevent the CAFO from becoming reality. Come to the next meeting with your specific ideas on how we can do this! It's not sufficient to be "with us in spirit." I've never known a "spirit" to win a political battle, particularly against big money. It takes bodies and minds and determination and creativity and leadership.

Let's become a strong force for change to preserve and protect our community!

Hope to see you Thursday. Bring a neighbor or friend.

Sincerely,

Tom Boswell
608/882-0758
tomboswell2002@yahoo.com