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Monthly Archives: October 2014
Buy Nothing Day 2014 Essay
I write this on World Food Day. Ken Payne’s op ed in the ProJo today recounts for us how many Rhode Islanders are food insecure and the potential for employment if we grew more food here. Growing food is also building resilience as the climate changes. Think about vegetable prices if California’s Drought continues. For the skeptics and the deniers, the last 12 months, October 2013 to September 2014, is the warmest 12 month stretch in modern history.
I write this as I prepare to testify on October 27 at the public hearing on the Draft RI State Economic Development Plan, a plan guaranteed to sit on a shelf because it is a plan for a Rhode Island in another dimension, not the one we live in. Laa dee dah, we will grow the economy using the same strategy that has failed for more than 40 years, put more money in the hands of the speculators. More funny money, fewer jobs. Climate change denial is funded by the hydrocarbon industry and carried out by the same PR firms that told us smoking tobacco does not cause cancer. And the same paid liars tell Rhode Island to give more away to the rich. My officially submitted comments are found here https://prosperityforri.com/comments-on-the-september-2014-ri-economic-development-draft-plan/
Even as it warms, Polar Vortexes like last winters the result of global warming, not a refutation, the growing divides in our society as we slip towards empire and oligarchy mean that more people who can not afford winter coats need them. The statistic that the economic growth rates in RI from 1979 to 2010 tracked at exactly the national average while employment grew well below the national growth rate tells us that RI’s policies favor the wealthy way too much already. But in the ways of the wealthy, those who always talk of private enterprise creating jobs seem to always have their hand out for a subsidy, 38 Studios just the latest example. And we face constant pressure to undo the rules that protect the community includng what might be the most useful law the US ever passed, the Clean Water Act. Think of Watefire without clean water, or rather lets not. I remember what the rivers of New England used to smell like.
One way to turn this economy around is to have more democracy in it, not less. If communities were consulted more about what their communities need, if they could actually direct investment in the communities to the right places, if it was easier for communities to stop BAD projects, projects that poison communities or create flooding, then a lot more of the investment would go where it actually does us some good rather than filling just a few pockets. Some how the public private partnerships that we hear so much about end up as public cost and private profit, and only economic democracy along with a stronger political democracy is going to solve the problems of poverty, hunger, and climate change. As Ken Payne pointed out, growing more food in Rhode Island, in ways that heal the soil, is exactly what Rhode Island needs.
Christmas shopping will not ever save the economy. Retail therapy is what we do as communities break down. So throughout November people all over Rhode Island are collecting winter coats, and on November 28, for the 18th time, winter coats shall be given out to anyone who needs one at more than 10 locations in Rhode Island from South County to the Blackstone Valley and Newport. Each event is organized and managed locally. The people who get these emails, all 1500 of you, deserve much credit as you make it happen.
After 18 years the event remains the same, if a little bigger. If you need a coat, come get one. If you can donate a coat, please do. And on November 28 join Rhode Islanders from all walks and stations of life as we swap closet space and winter coats and make all of us happier.
2014 Buy Nothing Day Rhode Island sites
Rhode Island Buy Nothing Day Winter Coat Exchange
Buy Nothing Day the international day to point out how consumerism is destroying our planet and our communities. We collect and give away winter coats to give back to the community while pointing out how consumerism is a dead end
Friday November 28, 2014
Providence: State House Lawn brick patio across from the mall
Collection and give away Friday November 28 9 AM to 1 PM
Rain location Gloria Dei Lutheran Church 15 Hayes Street Providence
Contacts Greg Gerritt: 331-0529; gerritt@mindspring.com;
Phil Edmonds: 461-3683; philwhistle@gmail.com
Pawtucket : 175 Main St Blackstone Valley Visitors Center
Coats accepted at the Blackstone Valley Visitors Center and many other locations in Pawtucket all through November during business hours.
Collection at November Winters Farmers Markets Wednesday evening and Saturday morning at Hope Artiste Village
Coats given away Friday Nov. 28 10AM -2PM
Contact Arthur Pitt ; kingarthur@yahoo.com 401-369-1918
http://www.neighborhoodlink.com/NAP-_Neighborhood_Alliance_of_Pawtucket/home
Cumberland St. Patrick’s Church lawn 301 Broad Street, Cumberland, RI 02864
Friday, November 28, 2014 9am- 11am
For more information or to donate coats, contact Molly Cabatingan at (401) 334-9639 or at troop415cumberland@gmail.com
East Providence Bridgepoint 850 Waterman Ave
Coats collected and given away Friday November 28 9 AM to 1 PM
Coats collected throughout November at various locations in East Providence and Seekonk including the Newman YMCA.
Contact David or Lisa Spencer
401- 965-9099 Dspencer@atlanticpaper.com
Newport St Paul’s Church 12 West Marlborough St.
Coats collected and given away Novewmber 28 10 AM to Noon
Contact Reverend Johanne Dame 401-846-0966 RevDame@gmail.com
Coats also available at other church events
Wakefield –St. Francis Church, 114 High Street,
Coats Collected and given away November 28 10AM to noon
Contact Tom Abbott 401-364-0778 dawgdays@cox.net
Warwick Woodbury Union Church, in Conimicut Village, 58 Beach Avenue on November 28th from 10am to 12 noon.
Good condition winter coats, jackets, vests, gloves, mittens, and scarves. Church phone number 401-737-8232. E-mail contact: jtarring@verizon.net.
Greater Providence YMCA sites
All sites collecting coats throughout November Most sites distributing Coats on November 28 9 AM to 1 PM
East Side/Mount Hope
Drop off coats throughout November Not a distribution site Coats distributed via the Providence site
Contact Christy Clausen
Welcome Center Director
East Side/Mount Hope
438 Hope Street
Providence, RI 02906
Drop off
401-521-0155
Providence Youth Services (640 Broad Street, Providence)
Drop off coats throughout November Not a distribution site
Coats distributed via the Providence site
Christy Clausen
Welcome Center Director
East Side/Mount Hope
438 Hope Street
Providence, RI 02906
Drop off
401-521-0155
West Bay Family YMCA Branch
Collection and distribution site Distribution Friday November 28
Contact Kaitlyn Rooney
Welcome Center Director
West Bay Family YMCA Branch
7540 Post Road
North Kingstown, RI 02852
Drop off and Pick up site
401-295-6501
Cranston YMCA
Collection and distribution site Distribution Friday November 28
Contact Andrea Champagne
Senior Director
Cranston YMCA
1225 Park Avenue
Cranston, RI 02910
Drop off and pick up site
401-943-0444
Bayside YMCA
Collection and distribution site Distribution Friday November 28
Sandra Carney
Welcome Center Director
Bayside YMCA
70 West Street
Barrington, RI 02806
Drop off and pick up site
401-245-2444
Kent County YMCA
Collection and distribution site Distribution Friday November 28
Patricia Driscoll
Welcome Center Director
Kent County YMCA
900 Centerville, Road
Warwick, RI 02886
Drop off and pick up site
401-828-0130
Newman YMCA (Seekonk, MA)
Collection of coats only Distribution via East Providence site
Paula Roy
Welcome Center Director
Newman YMCA
472 Taunton Avenue
Seekonk, MA 02771
Drop off site
508-336-7103