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[Sustain] Secret Meeting On Delta Water Policy, Flees From Citizen Witnesses
by Eric Brooks 09 Oct '10

09 Oct '10

http://blogs.alternet.org/danbacher/2010/10/08/ Secret Meeting Participants Flee From Delta Residents, Fishermen <http://blogs.alternet.org/danbacher/2010/10/08/secret-meeting-participants-…> POSTED: <http://blogs.alternet.org/danbacher/2010/10/08/secret-meeting-participants-…> 1:49 pm, October 8, 2010 COMMENT NOW! <http://blogs.alternet.org/danbacher/2010/10/08/secret-meeting-participants-…> Photo: Participants in the closed door Bay Delta Conservation Plan meeting convened by the California Department of Water Resources chose to leave rather than allow four Delta advocates stay in the room. Here we see some of the meeting participants conferring before moving to an undisclosed location. Photo by Dan Bacher. 640_img_0403.jpg original image ( 3456x2304) *640_img_0403.jpg* <http://www.indybay.org/uploads/2010/10/07/img_0403.jpg>original image ( 3456×2304) <http://www.indybay.org/uploads/2010/10/07/img_0403.jpg> Secret Meeting Participants Flee From Delta Residents, Fishermen by Dan Bacher The 50 participants in a secret meeting deciding the fate of the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta on September 30 decided to leave rather than to allow four Delta advocates to listen to the proceedings. Bill Jennings, chairman/executive director of the California Sportfishing Protection Alliance (CSPA); Jim Crenshaw, president of CSPA; Bret Baker, a Delta pear farmer, biologist and Restore the Delta board member; and I disrupted the meeting of Bay Delta Conservation Plan (BDCP) to protest the closed process. We arrived at the meeting of "principals" of the BDCP at the Farm Bureau office in Sacramento just as the meeting was getting started. You could feel the tension and sense the surprise by the federal and state agency officials, water agency leaders, corporate agribusiness officials and others gathered there as we walked into the back of the room. The Department of Water Resources has told legislators that they're not welcome at meetings of signatories to the BDCP, the plan that state water exporters have undertaken to secure their water supplies. Many advocates view the BCDP as a thinly-veiled attempt by the Governor to put in place the plans for a peripheral canal/tunnel before he leaves office. The meeting facilitator, Betsy, announced our unexpected arrival. "We have guests in the room. Would you please identify yourselves?" We all introduced ourselves and then the meeting stopped. The facilitator talked to us about the process and why they had to meet in secret so there would be no "attribution" of comments by participants. "We have had to say no to other people who wanted to come to the meetings," she stated. "This is not a definite plan we're coming up with. This is a temporary process to give advice to the permanent process. We were asked not to report the names of any of the participants or attribute quotes to them. We refused. ' She emphasized, "The policy of non-attribution governs everything said in this room. We don't let anybody from the press come to these meetings since in the past the newspaper has served as the vehicle of negotiations -- and we don't want that to happen." Jennings responded that "the state and federal agencies are sending the wrong message here. I have worked on protecting the estuary for 3 decades, but I have no representatives here. The representatives from two Senate offices weren't allowed here either." Baker and Crenshaw agreed with Jennings and myself that we had the right to stay in the meeting. Betsy went back to the group and they said they wanted to take a break to decide how to deal with our presence. After a long delay, Betsy came back and stated, "The group as a whole has asked you to leave." Jennings, after asking under whose authority or jurisdiction we were being asked to leave, said, "Are you prepared to have us arrested?" Betsy received word from Natural Resources Secretary Lester Snow that rather than having us arrested, they would not continue meeting in that room unless we left. The participants then began leaving from the room, disbanding the meeting. After the meeting was disrupted, Jennings said, "I'm astounded that four people involved in Delta issues for decades walked into a room and had everybody walk out from continuing the discussion about the future of the Delta." "What I'm really disturbed by is the corruption of this public process and how the participants are deciding the fate of the Delta behind closed doors." Jim Crenshaw noted, "I find it incredulous that these meetings are not open to public." Bret Baker added, "Today I feel like a proud American. I understand the meaning of Margaret Mead's statement that 'Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful people could change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.'" Representatives from the California Natural Resources Agency, California Department of Water Resources, California Department of Fish and Game, Westlands Water District, Metropolitan Water District, federal agencies, environmental NGOs and other organizations attended the closed-door session at the Farm Bureau before the four of us disrupted it. Sandy Cooney, deputy secretary for communications for the California Natural Resources Agency, was critical of our effort to attend the secret meeting in the Central Valley Business Times on September 30. "There's a lot of discussions that are happening in the course of developing the Bay Delta Conservation Plan that will go into the public process of how the plan is eventually developed," Mr. Cooney claimed. "No decisions, not a single decision, is going to be made if it doesn't eventually go through the public process and the steering committee of the Bay Delta Conservation Plan." "Mr. Cooney insists that plans for the Delta, the largest estuary on the west coast of the western hemisphere, will be done in a transparent way," the article added. Mike Wade of the California Farm Water Coalition also slammed our attempt to attend the BDCP closed-door meeting. "The action taken by these four individuals have probably done more to set back efforts to resolve California's water crisis and protect the Delta than any one action in recent memory," Wade stated. "What a shame." In reaction to Wade's comment, Jennings quipped, "I don't know whether to take a bow or to open the champagne. Unfortunately, the principals convened their secret session at another location after we left and then again at an undisclosed location the following day." These meetings have been going forward behind closed doors since August in what Resources Secretary Lester Snow told lawmakers was "a key procedural component of the public BDCP Steering Committee process." Speaking seats at the meeting had been reserved for "principals," representatives of the entities who have financed the planning process. I observed representatives from the California Natural Resources Agency, California Department of Water Resources, California Department of Fish and Game, Westlands Water District, Metropolitan Water District, federal agencies, environmental NGOs and other organizations at the closed-door session at the Farm Bureau. Jonas Minton of the Planning and Conservation League noted that exporters had withdrawn from the public BDCP process when confronted with overwhelming scientific evidence that exports from the Bay-Delta would have to be reduced to save the Estuary. "They've been frantically trying to come up with some kind of agreement that could be signed before this Governor leaves office," said Minton. A sharply worded letter sent on September 16 by Members of Congress and the California legislature urging Lester Snow and Interior Secretary Ken Salazar to open the BDCP talks to the public and include Delta representation preceded our visit to the secret meeting. State Senator Lois Wolk (D-Davis), Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg, and Congressional Representatives John Garamendi, Doris Matsui, Jerry McNerney, George Miller and Mike Thompson officially requested that the meetings be more inclusive and transparent. State Senator Mark DeSaulnier and State Assembly Members Bill Berryhill, Joan Buchanan, Alyson Huber, Tom Torlakson and Mariko Yamada also signed the letter. A similar push to the BDCP by the Governor has driven the Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA) process going forward in coastal Northern California, noted Barbara Barrigan-Parrilla, campaign director of Restore the Delta. "The MLPA Initiative, like the BDCP process, has been characterized by attempts to bypass open meeting laws," said Barrigan-Parrilla. " In that case, MLPA officials limited media coverage of their 'work sessions,'which they distinguish from public meetings. One independent journalist was arrested for trying to film "work session" proceedings." Newspaper industry and civil liberties attorneys protested, saying the process violated the Bagley-Keene Open Meetings Act and the First Amendment. Under political pressure, MLPA Executive Director Ken Wiseman opened up the "work sessions" to videographers and photographers. For more news coverage of the meeting, go to: http://www.centralvalleybusinesstimes.com/stories/001/?ID=16448. For more information about Restore the Delta, go to: http://www.restorethedelta.org <http://www.restorethedelta.org/>.

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[Sustain] Valero Oil & Rendering Giant Darling Launch Noxious Agrofuel Venture
by Eric Brooks 04 Oct '10

04 Oct '10

Hi all, Prop 23 is not Valero Oil's only evil move on energy policy... See: Valero plans JV biodiesel plant with Darling International http://cleantech.com/news/5020/valero-darling-jv-biodiesel-vlo-adr Not only will such a move start a worldwide further ramping up of the incredibly environmentally disastrous factory animal ag industry, but under such a scenario, the current users of Darling's tallow and other fats (cosmetics, soap, paint and feed producers) will switch to crop based fats; most likely palm oil - because it is the cheapest alternative to rendered fats. This, combined with an inevitable resulting increase in factory based animal agriculture, will simply perpetuate and expand the same problem of excess greenhouse gas releases via land use shifting and deforestation, that is already being caused by -direct- plant based biofuel production. Darling is making a move locally -now- which may reach a final vote in San Francisco on Tuesday October 12th. See: http://www.biofuelsdigest.com/blog2/2008/09/09/darling-international-enters… More Details & International Implications Also see attached, a new report commissioned by the UK Department Of Transport 'Tallow_Biodiesel_Report_AEA' which shows that greenhouse gas emissions will -increase- when tallow rendering plants like the Darling facility are converted to produce biodiesel. Note too that the UK report is very limited in scope and doesn't even consider the problems of land use shifting and deforestation. This is not just a local issue. Darling is planning to do this with its rendering plants all over the world, and the move must be stopped in San Francisco, in order to keep it from getting press hype and spreading. Eric Brooks 415-756-8844

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[Sustain] Earth At Risk Conference, October 16
by Dennis Brumm 01 Oct '10

01 Oct '10

Sorry, I forgot to attach the flyer to this. I'll just put it up here, if anyone is interested just download it: http://www.brumm.com/tempo/EAR-Color-wCynthia.pdf

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[Sustain] Fwd: Want your problem fixed on TV? KGO and YouTube can help
by Eric Brooks 01 Oct '10

01 Oct '10

-------- Original Message -------- Subject: Want your problem fixed on TV? KGO and YouTube can help Date: Thu, 30 Sep 2010 12:58:59 -0700 From: You Fixit <abc7ufixit(a)gmail.com> To: Dear Community Group, Send us video of a problem that needs fixing in your neighborhood, or a government service that isnt working, and well help you get it fixed. KGO-TV is collaborating with YouTube to keep local governments accountable and improve everyday life in your community. We need to hear from you -- What needs fixing in your neighborhood? Upload your video on the uReport <http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/feature?section=resources&id=7562842> section of our web site www.abc7news.com <http://www.abc7news.com/>. Dont forget to include your name and a phone number where we can call you. You can also email us a description of the problem, along with your phone number, at this email address: abc7ufixit(a)gmail.com <mailto:abc7ufixit@gmail.com> Here are some of our recent stories: Problematic Potholes Finally Get Attention <http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=news/iteam&id=7694942> September 29, 2010 Playground Condition Causes Concern <http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=news/iteam&id=7668208> September 15, 2010 Feel free to pass this email on to anyone you think we might be able to help. We look forward to hearing from you. Regards, *uFIX IT*** KGO-TV / ABC7News

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[Sustain] Fwd: Want your problem fixed on TV? KGO and YouTube can help
by Eric Brooks 30 Sep '10

30 Sep '10

-------- Original Message -------- Subject: Want your problem fixed on TV? KGO and YouTube can help Date: Thu, 30 Sep 2010 12:58:59 -0700 From: You Fixit <abc7ufixit(a)gmail.com> To: Dear Community Group, Send us video of a problem that needs fixing in your neighborhood, or a government service that isnt working, and well help you get it fixed. KGO-TV is collaborating with YouTube to keep local governments accountable and improve everyday life in your community. We need to hear from you -- What needs fixing in your neighborhood? Upload your video on the uReport <http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/feature?section=resources&id=7562842> section of our web site www.abc7news.com <http://www.abc7news.com/>. Dont forget to include your name and a phone number where we can call you. You can also email us a description of the problem, along with your phone number, at this email address: abc7ufixit(a)gmail.com <mailto:abc7ufixit@gmail.com> Here are some of our recent stories: Problematic Potholes Finally Get Attention <http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=news/iteam&id=7694942> September 29, 2010 Playground Condition Causes Concern <http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=news/iteam&id=7668208> September 15, 2010 Feel free to pass this email on to anyone you think we might be able to help. We look forward to hearing from you. Regards, *uFIX IT*** KGO-TV / ABC7News

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[Sustain] Fwd: Alioto-Pier CEQA Amendments at Land Use, Mon, Sept. 27
by Eric Brooks 17 Sep '10

17 Sep '10

Hi all, Please pass around to others. Supervisor Alioto-Pier is proposing changes to local CEQA processes. As yet, we don't have the text, but here is a message from Sue Hestor that gives her brief assessment.. Date: Thu, 16 Sep 2010 12:15:36 -0700 From: hestor(a)earthlink.net To: fjosephbutler(a)hotmail.com Alioto-Pier CEQA amendments at BOS Land Use Committee Monday, Sept. 27 Please spread the word that the *Alioto-Pier amendments to SF CEQA procedures will be heard INITIALLY at Land Use on Monday Sep 27 at 1pm at Land Use*. They do NOT foresee sending it OUT from this hearing, but _it all depends on people actually showing up and raising issues_. PLEASE COME. Importantly it includes *TIMING AND BRIEFING SCHEDULES FOR ENVIRONMENTAL APPEALS TO BOS*. Among the issues I know or is the current practice of handing/HIDING environmental exemptions (aka as Categorical Exemptions -- "Cat.Ex."). I personally have had the ENVIRONMENTAL FILES in TWO New Construction case - on difficult sites, sloping sites - not produced when neighbors ask for the project files. I have sent an email to staff demanding that the practice of not automatically producing environmental files be HALTED. (If you do not know who handles these files, Brett Bollinger is the custodian. But Environmental Review is where records of NEGOTIATIONS ON A PROJECT OCCUR.) Please spread the word to anyone who might should be paying attention to this. Sue Hestor

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[Sustain] Tell the FDA you won’t eat GMO salmon
by Eric Brooks 14 Sep '10

14 Sep '10

**Tell the FDA to say NO to GMO Salmon! ** <http://action.fooddemocracynow.org/go/247?akid=202.5168.Sw3CEV&t=1> <http://action.fooddemocracynow.org/go/247?akid=202.5168.Sw3CEV&t=2> **Act today to keep this freaky fish off your plate! ** <http://action.fooddemocracynow.org/go/247?akid=202.5168.Sw3CEV&t=3> Sign this petition and send your message to the FDA: I urge you to reject the approval of AquaBounty's genetically modified GMO salmon. As the first transgenic species to be intended for human consumption, AquaBounty's GMO fish has failed to meet the most basic requirements of peer-reviewed sciencific standards. Unfortunately, the FDA has failed to require rigorous independent scientific testing to adequately protect the safety of human health, wild fish populations and the environment. It is unacceptable that consumers continue to be denied their right to know what's in their food and how it's produced. Also, under current law, these genetically engineered salmon would not have to be labeled, therefore leaving consumers in the dark about what they are eating. Clicking below will add your name to this petition. <http://action.fooddemocracynow.org/go/247?akid=202.5168.Sw3CEV&t=4> *Tell the FDA you won't eat GMO salmon!* <http://action.fooddemocracynow.org/go/247?akid=202.5168.Sw3CEV&t=5> Massive mutant GMO salmon, genetically engineered to grow twice as fast as wild salmon, are coming to a table near you if you don’t act today. On September 3rd, a panel of three Food and Drug Administration (FDA) officials declared that genetically modified salmon were “safe” for human consumption. [1] Somehow, the elite FDA panel arrived at this "decision" based on “scientific research” provided by AquaBounty Technologies, the same company that stands to profit from introducing its patented genes onto our plates. With the potential approval of GMO salmon, Americans are now entering an alarming new era of genetic experimentation with food animals, nature and the human population. Already the scientific community is warning against the real risk that these unnaturally engineered fish pose to wild species, the environment and human health. *Act today to stop the FDA from allowing this disaster to happen! Click here to automatically sign your name to the petition demanding that the FDA halt approval of GMO salmon <http://action.fooddemocracynow.org/go/247?akid=202.5168.Sw3CEV&t=6>*. *http://action.fooddemocracynow.org/go/247?akid=202.5168.Sw3CEV&t=8 <http://action.fooddemocracynow.org/go/247?akid=202.5168.Sw3CEV&t=7>* Known as “macro-mutants”, AquaBounty’s GMO salmon are designed to ignore natural cycles of food sources and wild fish mating patterns that have existed for eons. [2] While AquaBounty's GMO salmon are only days away from being approved, the FDA has only seen scientific studies provided by the company that stands to profit from these patented genes. Since AquaBounty's GMO salmon are being regulated under the FDA's new animal drug provision, real independent scientific studies were not required. [3] If history and the law of unintended consequences has taught us anything, the FDA’s approval of transgenic GMO mutant fish will be a disaster. For years independent scientists have been warning us about the dangers posed by these GMO salmon. *Once again, corporations and our government are trying to place profits over people.** Act today to stop the FDA from allowing this disaster to happen! Click here to automatically sign your name to the petition demanding that the FDA halt approval of GMO salmon <http://action.fooddemocracynow.org/go/247?akid=202.5168.Sw3CEV&t=9>*. *http://action.fooddemocracynow.org/go/247?akid=202.5168.Sw3CEV&t=11 <http://action.fooddemocracynow.org/go/247?akid=202.5168.Sw3CEV&t=10>* *What will these GMO salmon do to the environment?* One key problem with AquaBounty’s current business model is that they intend to sell the patented GMO salmon eggs to giant aquatic fish “farms” and not raise the fish themselves. [4] By becoming the Monsanto of aquaculture in simply selling the seed stock, AquaBounty solves a key infrastructure problem, but opens the door to mismanagement of its product and potential extinction of wild species. While the FDA states that the patented GMO salmon will be raised on inland fish farm facilities, there is no guarantee that the sold eggs might not accidentally end up in open-water ocean net pens or accidentally be spilled during transport. If this happens, it could spell disaster. Even more alarming is the fact that, according to the Environmental Assessment that AquaBounty submitted to the FDA*, *these GMO salmon eggs are to be hatched in a facility on Prince Edward Island in Canada and raised at an inland facility in Panama! [5] That's right, designed in Canada, raised in Panama, and ready for your plate here in America. Something smells fishy about this arrangement. If GMO salmon escape into the wild, scientists warn that just 60 GMO salmon released into a population of 60,000 could lead to the extinction of the wild population in just 40 fish generations. [6] With wild Atlantic salmon already on the list of endangered species, the approval of AquaBounty’s patented GMO mutant fish may very well be a death sentence for wild salmon. One has to ask, what profit could possibly be worth such an outcome? *How will GMO salmon impact human health*? Because independent scientific studies of AquaBounty’s patented salmon have not been allowed, the human health impacts of GMO salmon are not currently known. Shockingly, the FDA is relying on scant scientific documents provided by AquaBounty itself. In fact, the FDA’s own assessment AquaBounty’s studies to determine whether GMO salmon are safe for human consumption states that the studies contain “technical flaws” and provide “insufficient data”. For two of the studies submitted, AquaBounty used sample sizes so small that they have no scientific credibility, with only 12 fish tested for one study, while the study on possible allergic reactions in humans involved only "6 fertile fish and 6 infertile fish.” [7] Despite this scant evidence, the FDA is currently on the verge of approving the companies GMO salmon. Serious questions remain about eating fish engineered to grow faster and how that genetically manipulated trait can impact human health, especially that of our most vulnerable populations such as pregnant mothers and children. *Act today to stand up for human health, food safety and the environment. Click here to automatically sign your name to a letter that tells the FDA that there are consequences to meddling with nature <http://action.fooddemocracynow.org/go/247?akid=202.5168.Sw3CEV&t=12>*. <http://action.fooddemocracynow.org/go/247?akid=202.5168.Sw3CEV&t=13> *http://action.fooddemocracynow.org/go/247?akid=202.5168.Sw3CEV&t=15 <http://action.fooddemocracynow.org/go/247?akid=202.5168.Sw3CEV&t=14>* Thank you for participating in food democracy! - Dave, Lisa and The Food Democracy Now Team *Please consider donating to Food Democracy Now! today – whether it’s $10, $25 or $50 <http://fdn.actionkit.com/go/donate/133?akid=202.5168.Sw3CEV&t=16>*. http://fdn.actionkit.com/go/donate/133?akid=202.5168.Sw3CEV&t=18 <http://fdn.actionkit.com/go/donate/133?akid=202.5168.Sw3CEV&t=17> We rely on folks like you to keep us going and couldn't do it without you! Thanks again for your support. *Sources*: 1. “Aqua Bounty Biotech Salmon OK to Eat-FDA Staff,” Lisa Richwine, /Reuters/, September 3, 2010. http://action.fooddemocracynow.org/go/243?akid=202.5168.Sw3CEV&t=20 <http://action.fooddemocracynow.org/go/243?akid=202.5168.Sw3CEV&t=19> 2. “Methods to Assess Ecological Risks of Transgenic Fish Releases", William M Muir and Richard D Howard, /Genetically Engineered Organisms/, Chapter 13, CRC Press 2002. http://action.fooddemocracynow.org/go/248?akid=202.5168.Sw3CEV&t=22 <http://action.fooddemocracynow.org/go/248?akid=202.5168.Sw3CEV&t=21> 3. "GE Animals Regulated Under New Animal Drug Provisions", FDA.gov website, FDA Releases Final Guidance on Genetically Engineered Animals, January 15, 2009. http://action.fooddemocracynow.org/go/251?akid=202.5168.Sw3CEV&t=24 <http://action.fooddemocracynow.org/go/251?akid=202.5168.Sw3CEV&t=23> 4. "Modified Salmon is Safe, FDA Says", Andrew Pollack, /The New York Times/, September 3, 2010 http://action.fooddemocracynow.org/go/249?akid=202.5168.Sw3CEV&t=26 <http://action.fooddemocracynow.org/go/249?akid=202.5168.Sw3CEV&t=25> 5. "Enviornmental Assessment for AquAdvantage Salmon", provided to FDA by Aqua Bounty Technologies Inc., FDA.gov website http://action.fooddemocracynow.org/go/250?akid=202.5168.Sw3CEV&t=28 <http://action.fooddemocracynow.org/go/250?akid=202.5168.Sw3CEV&t=27> 6. “Mutant Salmon Coming to a Kitchen Table Near You”, Ariel Schwartz, /Fast Company/, July 12, 2010 http://action.fooddemocracynow.org/go/244?ak_proof=1&akid=.96984.GhQb69&t=1… <http://action.fooddemocracynow.org/go/244?ak_proof=1&akid=.96984.GhQb69&t=1…> 7. “Would You Eat Genetically Altered Salmon?”, Deniza Gertsberg, /AlterNet.com/, September 11, 2010 http://action.fooddemocracynow.org/go/246?akid=202.5168.Sw3CEV&t=32 <http://action.fooddemocracynow.org/go/246?akid=202.5168.Sw3CEV&t=31> -- <http://action.fooddemocracynow.org/cms/unsubscribe/unsubscribe/?akid=202.51…>

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[Sustain] Action: Stop Vattenfall's import of tropical timber for power plants
by Eric Brooks 02 Sep '10

02 Sep '10

info(a)regenwald.org wrote: Dear friends of the rainforest, In accordance with the Senate of Berlin, the power company Vattenfall has announced plans to increase the production of biomass energy â by employing tropical wood as source material for new German power plants. One million tons of timber will be needed and Liberia's rubber plantations are supposed to fill in, without thinking about the impact on the environment, the encouragement of rubber cultivation, the prospect of an ever increasing market demand for tropical timber. Please support the local non-governmental organizations in Liberia and take part in our protest campaign! http://www.rainforest-rescue.org Many thanks, Best regards, Reinhard Behrend Rettet den Regenwald e. V. 22337 Hamburg 49 +40+ 4103804 info(a)regenwald.org http://www.rainforest-rescue.org http://www.facebook.com/StopAgroenergy

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Re: [Sustain] [SFGP-A] BART board endorsements
by barry＠hermansons.com 11 Aug '10

11 Aug '10

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[Sustain] Urgent: Tell Google: Don't Be Evil - Verizon Deal Would Destroy Open Internet
by Eric Brooks 07 Aug '10

07 Aug '10

SavetheInternet.com <http://free.convio.net/site/R?i=roZtsN2wByQjnRb7vXLLCw..> Google: Don't Be Evil <http://free.convio.net/site/R?i=6J8I1Oe-ZLkmkfpa2AQw6A..> Tell Google: Don't Be Evil <http://free.convio.net/site/R?i=vvT33zFZiyq3DUeL3oRxGA..> Google is about to cut a deal with Verizon that would end the Internet as we know it. According to a front-page /New York Times/ story, the deal allows "Verizon to speed some online content to Internet users more quickly if the content's creators are willing to pay for the privilege." It would create fast Internet lanes for the largest corporations and slow lanes for the rest of us. That's why we're starting a mass protest by Google users to stop these two companies from joining forces to sell out millions of people like us who use the Internet. *If Millions Join Our Call, We Can Stop this Deal: Tell Google, "Don't Be Evil"* <http://free.convio.net/site/R?i=htp_bfAtoRWYEGZDdflNfA..> Google's motto is supposed to be "Don't Be Evil." But this deal puts the company in bed with the devil. From the beginning, the Internet has been a level playing field that allows everyone to connect to one another and the world of content available online -- whether it's ABC News or your cousin's wedding video. There's only one Internet, and it shouldn't matter who your provider is or whether you're logging on from home or your cell phone. This deal will change all of that, allowing Google and Verizon to pick what websites you can see over others. The result couldn't be bleaker for the future of the Internet and for free speech and independent voices online. Founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin created Google to make information freely available to everyone online. But this deal is a complete reversal that abandons their core principles: *Sign this letter and tell Google's founders: "Your Verizon deal IS evil, and it must be stopped."* <http://free.convio.net/site/R?i=gQUSEFFV7GeJKc-C5PqJnA..> It's up to the millions of people who use Google every day to tell the company to do the right thing. Google must walk away from this bad deal, and make sure Internet users everywhere can enjoy the entire open Internet wherever, whenever and however they want. Thank you for taking action, Josh Silver President Free Press www.freepress.net www.savetheinternet.com P.S. Google and Verizon don't make Internet policy. The FCC and Congress do. After you sign the letter, *tell our public officials to step in and protect the public interest* <http://free.convio.net/site/R?i=Z9xc_BfZ_W-PKPkojAhoJQ..> and not to be bullied by a few large corporations. /Want to learn more? Join us on /Facebook/ <http://free.convio.net/site/R?i=3wNzOrzt-DabgfnxnB0LgA..> and follow us on /Twitter/ <http://free.convio.net/site/R?i=Mx7qy8gH11pGcIdAwXK4ww..>./ /If you haven't already, you can also /join our E-Activist list/ <http://free.convio.net/site/R?i=O_M7gO7aQGpOfbrqVfKvNQ..>./ / /

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