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<TITLE>Join Us in Organizing for Economic Human Rights in Maine</TITLE>
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<FONT SIZE="2"><FONT FACE="New York">If you are interested in organizing around Economic Human Rights in Maine:<BR>
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</FONT><FONT FACE="New York">In early April, Cheri Honkala of the Poor People's Economic Human Rights Campaign spoke about organizing around economic human rights efforts in Maine.<BR>
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</FONT><FONT FACE="New York">As a result of Cheri's talks and other recent activities around health care and foreclosures, we are hoping to have an active Economic Human Rights campaign in Maine that will work toward those rights as well as having a connection to national efforts. We want you to join with us to make noise, make a difference, and make change. <BR>
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</FONT><FONT FACE="New York">We especially are appealing to lower income Mainers who can be a large part of the leadership of this campaign, and to others who can be supportive allies to a movement with a predominently lower income leadership.<BR>
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</FONT><FONT FACE="New York">Toward that goal, you invited to help in several ways:<BR>
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</FONT><FONT FACE="New York">(1) Included are a set of economic human rights, some approved by MAIN (Maine Association of Interdependent Neighborhoods) and a second list written a decade ago. IF YOU OBJECT TO ANY OF THESE ECONOMIC HUMAN RIGHTS ON EITHER LIST, PLEASE SAY SO. IF YOU DON'T OBJECT, WE WILL CONSIDER A COMBINED LIST TO BE AN ENDORSED LIST FOR OUR CAMPAIGNS IN MAINE. If you have objections to any of these in principle (not just because you think they could be written or stated better), contact Larry Dansinger by letter, phone, or email.<BR>
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</FONT><FONT FACE="New York">(2) You are invited to a meeting on May 30, 9:30 AM at the office of Maine Equal Justice, 126 Sewall St., Augusta (directions below) to plan strategies for making economic human rights a goal and reality for every resident in Maine. Depending on our numbers and willingness to commit time and energy, we can work toward ending poverty in our state, and/or establishing universal and equal health care for everyone, and/or ending foreclosures and evictions for homeowners, and/or supporting the right to join a union or making the minimum wage a Living Wage, and/or insuring an adequate income or welfare benefit for every Maine person. <BR>
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</FONT><FONT FACE="New York">We can't do everything, but we can start to make economic rights as important as political rights for all Maine people. Following the meeting at 12 noon, there will be a large "Feet on the Street" rally for "National Health Care For Everyone--For Life" next door at the State Capitol Building in Augusta.<BR>
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</FONT><FONT FACE="New York">(3) If you can't attend the May 30 meeting but have ideas or want to be active on some part of an economic human rights campaign, send your idea and/or what you want to do to help the campaign to Larry Dansinger. But, coming on May 30 will be much better. We hope a number of you will each take on some small piece of this effort, whether you come that day or not. Please volunteer, no matter how small you think your contribution might be (it will all help).<BR>
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</FONT><FONT FACE="New York">(4) The Poor People's Economic Human Rights Campaign and the Social Welfare Action Alliance are sponsoring a national conference on abolishing poverty on July 16-19 in Louisville, Kentucky. Look for more information on the www.socialwelfareactionalliance.org web site. We want a few people from Maine to attend. If you want to go, see this website or contact Larry Dansinger. We hope to raise some money for those who want to go but need help with travel or other expenses.<BR>
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</FONT><FONT FACE="New York">Larry Dansinger, 161 Stovepipe Alley, Monroe, ME 04951, (207) 525-7776, <FONT COLOR="#0000FF"><U>rosc@psouth.net<BR>
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</FONT><FONT FACE="New York">DIRECTIONS TO MAINE EQUAL JUSTICE OFFICE, 126 SEWALL ST., AUGUSTA, FOR MAY 30 MEETING. MAINE EQUAL JUSTICE OFFICE LOOKS OUT ONTO THE PARKING LOT OF THE STATE HOUSE AND THE MAINE STATE LIBRARY, SO IF YOU FIND THE STATE CAPITOL COMPLEX, YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO FIND THE OFFICE:<BR>
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</FONT></FONT><H5>Directions to Maine Equal Justice - From I - 95 (from south or north or west)<BR>
</H5><FONT SIZE="2">Take Exit 109A Augusta. On the ramp there is a fork, bear right (Augusta) onto Western Avenue. (From Lewiston/Winthrop, take Route 202 into Augusta, where it becomes Western Avenue.)<BR>
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</FONT>Take Western Avenue to the 4th set of traffic lights (the Armory will be on your left and Fire Station on your right) and turn right onto Armory Street. <BR>
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</FONT><B>Directions to Maine Equal Justice - From I - 95 (</B>take you left around a big corner and turns into Capitol Street. Go down the hill to the traffic light at the intersection with Sewall Street. You will see the State House with the Dome. Go right on Sewell St. down to MEJP at 126 Sewall, right hand side, grey house.<BR>
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</FONT></FONT><H5>Directions to Maine Equal Justice - From the East (Route 3/Belfast or 17/Rockland or 27/Wiscasset)<BR>
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</FONT></H5><FONT SIZE="2">Take Route 3 or 17 or 27 to Cony Circle in Augusta on east side of Kennebec River. Go from the circle onto the Memorial Bridge (just after Border Trust on the circle) to traffic circle on other side. Continue straight through the circle onto Western Avenue (four lanes). Take Western for two short blocks to the first traffic light (Sewall St., federal building on left side, Flošs on the right). Turn left, go one long block thru another light, then look for 126 Sewall St. on the right. <BR>
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</FONT></FONT><FONT SIZE="2"><FONT FACE="New York">IF YOU DISAGREE WITH ANY OF THESE BILL OF ECONOMIC HUMAN RIGHTS STATEMENTS (or don't think any of them belong in this bill of economic human rights), PLEASE REPLY TO LARRY DANSINGER. IF YOU DON'T REPLY, WE WILL ASSUME YOU DON'T OBJECT TO ANY OF THEM.<BR>
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</FONT><FONT FACE="New York">MAIN's Bill of Economic Human Rights<BR>
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</FONT><FONT FACE="New York">Everyone in Maine has the right to have their basic needs met regardless of their financial capabilities. Society must guarantee that these basic needs will include but are not limited to: work with dignity; food and clothing; secure, affordable, permanent shelter; accessible and affordable health care; quality, accessible and affordable child care; and to a standard of living that is adequate for their economic security and well-being.<BR>
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</FONT><FONT FACE="New York">The following rights are guaranteed by society: <BR>
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</FONT><FONT FACE="New York">1) Every individual has a right to human dignity, and to be treated with respect.<BR>
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</FONT><FONT FACE="New York">2) Every individual has the right to the opportunity to provide the basic needs of her/his family through each person's own best efforts and the shared commitment of everyone in Maine by productive work and quality public services.<BR>
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</FONT><FONT FACE="New York">3) Every individual has a right to a safe and clean environment that will be sustained economically in a way that protects and preserves the environment for future generations.<BR>
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</FONT><FONT FACE="New York">4) Every individual has the right to participate in the political decision-making processes that affect all of our lives.<BR>
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</FONT><FONT FACE="New York">5) Every individual has a right:<BR>
*to productive work with equal pay for equal or comparable work,<BR>
*to seek ones choice of employment,<BR>
*to protections against the ill effects of unemployment, and<BR>
*to freedom from discrimination in obtaining their basic needs.<BR>
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</FONT><FONT FACE="New York">6) Every individual has a right:<BR>
*to form and join labor unions and other groups which protect their interests,<BR>
*to bargain collectively on issues such as pay and working conditions,<BR>
*to strike without fear of reprisals, and<BR>
*to work in businesses or cooperatives which provide maximum opportunities for economic democracy.<BR>
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</FONT><FONT FACE="New York">7) Every individual has a right to education or training to obtain the skills that allow her/him to participate in the Maine economy, and at a level that will provide all of their family's needs.<BR>
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</FONT><FONT FACE="New York">8) Every individual has a right to access financial resources and services, including but not limited to, savings or checking accounts, loans and IRA's.<BR>
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</FONT><FONT FACE="New York">9) Every individual has a right to access quality legal services regardless of their ability to pay.<BR>
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</FONT><FONT FACE="New York">BILL OF ECONOMIC HUMAN RIGHTS FOR MAINE RESIDENTS:<BR>
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</FONT><FONT FACE="New York">1. Every Maine resident has a right to basic needs--adequate food and clothing; secure, warm, affordable, and permanent shelter; accessible and affordable health care; and to a standard of living that is adequate for their health and well-being.<BR>
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</FONT><FONT FACE="New York">2. Every Maine resident has a right to income--either through employment and/or entitlements--to secure those basic needs.<BR>
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</FONT><FONT FACE="New York">3. Every Maine resident has a right to a clean environment that is sustained economically in a way that allows future generations to utilize its resources in obtaining needs.<BR>
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</FONT><FONT FACE="New York">4. Every Maine resident has a right to equal economic opportunity to succeed and thrive.<BR>
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</FONT><FONT FACE="New York">5. Every Maine resident has a right to work, to a free choice of employment and protection against unemployment, and to favorable conditions of work.<BR>
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</FONT><FONT FACE="New York">6. Every Maine resident has a right to equal pay for equal work and freedom from discrimination in obtaining their basic needs.<BR>
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</FONT><FONT FACE="New York">7. Every Maine resident has a right to human dignity and respect for their participation in the Maine economy.<BR>
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</FONT><FONT FACE="New York">8. Every Maine resident has a right to form and join labor unions and other groups which protect their interest and to work in businesses or cooperatives which provide maximum opportunities for economic democracy.<BR>
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</FONT><FONT FACE="New York">9. Every Maine resident has a right to education and training to obtain the skills to allow them to participate in the Maine economy.<BR>
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</FONT><FONT FACE="New York">10. Every Maine resident has the responsibility to exercise these rights to their maximum ability.<BR>
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