"There is nothing rational about rebellion. To rebel against insurmountable odds is an act of faith. And without this faith the rebel is doomed. This faith is intrinsic to the rebel the way caution and prudence are intrinsic to those who seek to fit into existing power structures. The rebel, possessed by inner demons and angels, is driven by visions familiar to religious mystics. And it is the rebel alone who can save us from corporate tyranny. I do not know if these rebels will succeed. But I do know that a world without them is hopeless." ~ Chris Hedges It is an honor to have Backbone Campaign listed with our other allied "revolutionist" organizations. I prefer "Radical Solutionary" but whatever label rocks the change we need, works for me.

Check it out! Photos from Backbone Campaign's action on 1st Anniversary of Citizens United vs FEC on Moyers&Company with great article by Craig Holman of Public Citizen.

Check it out! Photos from Backbone Campaign's action on 1st Anniversary of Citizens United vs FEC on Moyers&Company with great article by Craig Holman of Public Citizen.

Check it out! Photos from Backbone Campaign's action on 1st Anniversary of Citizens United vs FEC on Moyers&Company with great article by Craig Holman of Public Citizen.

If you are in Portland, join the fun on Oct. 16.

Thanks Popular Resistance! You are the best ally for the most efforts out there. Bill Moyer Backbone Campaign

Thanks Popular Resistance! You are the best ally for the most efforts out there. Bill Moyer Backbone Campaign

Thanks Popular Resistance! You are the best ally for the most efforts out there. Bill Moyer Backbone Campaign

Alert from Railroad Work: "A rogue gaggle of General Committee members from the conductor's union is trying to push through an agreement for single person operated trains. Not only will this decimate our work force, but it will put the entire nation and the communities we love in danger. " "They were able to pull this off despite support from our internationals for two-person crews because this legislation is not in place. BNSF "says" the agreement won't apply to oil and coal trains, but since it's not mandated yet, we have little reason to believe we can keep them to their word. They can and WILL do whatever they want. We rails already struggle fr fatigue and long hours. You saw what happened in Lac Megantic with a one-man crew. He'll, you've seen what's happened in the states with two workers in the cab!This is a recipe for environmental disaster." "There is very little support from the politicians for this bill. We're asking you to help change that. You know how to organize. You know how to put pressure on the politicians. We need your help! Pass HR 3040! Please share!"

Don't miss the 2014 Chocolatada! June 28 in Seattle. Supporting Backbone's Action Camps for frontline change agents has never been more delicious! Evening with Glorious Aerialist Quynbi Innamorata, Phenomenal Musician-Bard Paul Benoit, with the Brilliant-Hillarious Steffon Moody as Emcee promises spectacular, inspirational art to animate your chocolate intoxication. Reserve a Table for 4 or single ticket TODAY at http://2014chocolatada.bpt.me/

Do you have Backbone Campaign's back? We need you to today. We launch our first ever Localize This! Great Lakes Basin Action Camp this Tuesday at the Circle Pines Center near Kalamazoo, MI. We don't turn anyone away for lack of funds. That means that in this depressed part of the country, where it is already hard for people to take a week off work, we end up covering more of the cost of housing, food, and training for participants. We believe that it is worth this investment. These change agents are working at the Ground Zero for democracy, economic and environmental justice. We did the numbers yesterday. Room and board for 50 activists and 10 trainers for a week PLUS travel support, fees, equipment rental and final action expenses total close to $14000, not including Backbone Campaign or Circle Pines Center staff time. Registrations, donations, and pledges are about $7000 right now. Yesterday, a new $1000 matching gift was pledged by a friend of Backbone who grew up in Michigan. Please, help us claim that generous Pledge and get to our IndieGoGo Goal of $4400. We are 25% there - and we need your help to get the rest of the way. In Gratitude & Collaboration, Bill Moyer

K2 Vashon Town Plan/ZONING- What is allowed and what isn't? For better and for worse: Dow Constantine's proposed amendments to the Vashon Town Plan are here (Pages 13 and 16 are most relevant):http://tinyurl.com/vashontpwithnfa I think Dow did a great job balancing interests, considering the division of his constituents. That said, King County CUP (Conditional Use Permit) processes for marijauna growing do seem arduous for the small producer. To understand where the proposed changes are in the King County process, start by reading Shango Los' report on Yesterday's King County Council TrEE committee meeting about the Vashon Town Plan amendment and Conditional Use Permit (CUP) rules.http://vimea.org/vimeablog/2014/4/2/no-one-wins The result of yesterday's committee meeting are that the CUP requirements that seem appropriate for large grow operations, but onerous for smaller ones remain in tact for 2000 sq. ft and above. The CUP on properties identified by WA State Dept. of Ecology (DoE) as contaminated or suspected to be contaminated triggers a No Further Action (NFA) letter process with DoE through their voluntary cleanup program. This remains in the legislation headed to the King County Council for approval. This is good news for those of us who believe that the community deserves an actual characterization of the site before K2 Sports/Jarden Corporation leave our community. As Shango describes, the processing required by EdiPure/Bakkhos (potential buyer) is both "Processing 1" and "Processing 2." Processing 1 is allowed on Parcels zoned as Community Business, but Processing 2 is not. Processing 2 is however allowed on parcels zoned "Industrial." Both parcels used to be zoned Industrial. The parcel with the buildings was rezoned CB (Community Business) by the K2 Commons project/K2 Sports some years ago. The vacant land on the north side is still zoned Industrial. According to the amended town plan, processing 2 is allowed in Industrial and therefore a processing 2/extraction facility could be put there. This is clearly back asswards as that more intensive processing should likely happen in the existing buildings. (Perhaps that could be allowed through a Conditional Use permit - I don't know.) I will paste links to parcel information below. Ironically, the problematic public process that created this current zoning reality was objected to by islander Tom Bangasser years ago. He was summarily demonized by "the mob" for his protests. Yet, I think what Tom has consistently been trying to tell us all is that Vashon-Maury lacks a community-based process for creating and ENFORCING these sort of planning decisions. He has been correct all along. The recent efforts by VMICC are commendable. And eventually, we will need an institution - perhaps connected to VMICC - that can legitimately interface with King County, State, and Federal authorities to access resources for market and feasibility studies, etc. Until that happens, our community will likely remain unable to manifest the aspirations articulated through any visioning process. I believe that a Public Development Authority (PDA) is exactly the kind of institution/tool that our community needs to gain the power we need to both craft and actualize the kind of future sustainable economic and cultural vitality so many of us deserve and long for. Learning to utilize the KC iMap tool has been very useful to me: http://www.kingcounty.gov/operations/GIS/Maps/iMAP.aspx, you will learn that there are 2 tax lots that K2/Jarden is selling together. If you don't want to struggle with that tool, see these property descriptions: http://info.kingcounty.gov/Assessor/eRealProperty/Detail.aspx?ParcelNbr=3123039161 AND http://info.kingcounty.gov/Assessor/eRealProperty/Detail.aspx?ParcelNbr=0622039100

We have 210 more tickets to sell in the next 7 days. Anyone willing to make 10 calls to Backbone members to remind them to show up for the Moisture Festival Benefit on March 30? Eric Ross is coordinating outreach, so give him a call 805-776-3882 if you can pitch in. We'll put up info for your calls at http://BackboneCampaign.org/MoistureFest If you just want to commit to getting your own pals to show up, please send them to http://moisturefestival.strangertickets.com/events/10710344/moisture-festival-2014-variet-matinee It is gonna be a HOOT!

Excellent coverage! Thank you Beachcomber. It would be fascinating to know why the Washington resident backed out as we had heard something about a partner concerned with the same issues Backbone is raising. It would also be very valuable to get a clarification from K2 Sports/Jarden Corporation about when they intend to enroll in the voluntary cleanup program and what scope of participation that will entail. They are using the "No Further Action letter" language of the petition, but clarifying whether the testing of the Recognized Environmental Conditions in their own Phase 2 will be addressed or not. We need to know what is the source and extent of the probable carcinogen TCE that was found 14' below the serface on the SE section of their property, the condition of soil and groundwater under the Machine Shop sump, and all the other RECs they mention in their Phase 2. K2 Sports/Jarden Corporation also mentioned the 1963 date in its letter, but their property has uses that are of public concern dating back to the 1940s. In terms of "lies," Bergin should clarify what he means. The language of liability is slippery and it was Anglin who confirmed some level of indemnification in our meetings. True, liability for harms off the property line cannot be passed on. We've been clear about this - but litigating future harms is not the highest public benefit. Acceptance of a property "As is, Where is" would allow a seller to not do the appropriate testing to AVOID future harms - which as Bergin stated "serves no purpose." We agree, buying a contaminated property at least not without a plan for cleanup isn't good for anyone. When we first approached Bakkhos/EdiPure it was in a spirit of collaboration. We'd love to return to that, and the information we are providing is in their and everyone's interest to address. Truly, it would be GREAT news that all the parties intend to do the right thing and are committed to closing the former chapter at K2 responsibly. That is clearly the only way that we can welcome the next chapter enthusiastically. Today, it seems as if we may be on that path - but let's be certain. For those interested in what specifically concerns the Backbone Campaign, the authors of the Phase 1 report, and the 453 signers of the petition asking K2/Jarden to acquire a site-wide No Further Action (NFA) letter should visit http://http://tinyurl.com/K2VashonAnalysis to learn more about the status of testing. If they share our concerns they can help us let Jarden Corporation/K2 Sports and other know by signing our petition at http://tinyurl.com/VashonProtectOurWater In community, Bill Moyer Backbone Campaign Vashon, Washington

CLARIFICATION: the purpose of the Backbone Campaign meeting TONIGHT (Wed. Feb 12) is ONLY to answer questions about our petition and discuss what to do about corporate responsibility for environmental assessment and potential need for cleanup. Those who wish to have a respectful conversation about these issues, support or challenge the Backbone petitions merit are welcome. Tonight's discussion will NOT be about whether Marijuana production is a good or bad idea. It will NOT be about the Zoning questions. It will not be about other visions for K2 I encourage people to come to the meeting if the purpose fits. If you have other questions or concerns please attend a meeting that will address your particular concerns. In community, Bill Moyer

CLARIFICATION: the purpose of the Backbone Campaign meeting TONIGHT (Wed. Feb 12) is ONLY to answer questions about our petition and discuss what to do about corporate responsibility for environmental assessment and potential need for cleanup. Those who wish to have a respectful conversation about these issues, support or challenge the Backbone petitions merit are welcome. Tonight's discussion will NOT be about whether Marijuana production is a good or bad idea. It will NOT be about the Zoning questions. It will not be about other visions for K2 I encourage people to come to the meeting if the purpose fits. If you have other questions or concerns please attend a meeting that will address your particular concerns. In community, Bill Moyer

We must stand up for those with the courage to sacrifice so much. Join me in calling out for the safe return of Kareen Khan.

Let's do all we can for our sister who are in jail defending our common good.

Article on Leak features Popular Resistance/Backbone "Don't Fast Track a Train Wreck!" action photo!

Go Maine! Thanks again to the rockin work of Punk Patriot and Acronym tv.