<html><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; "><!--StartFragment--><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"">Hello (and please pass on to others in your group or area),<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman""> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"">Are you planning to go to the US Social Forum from June 22-26, or do you know others who want to go? A large contingent of people from Maine would be a wonderful thing.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman""> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"">There are people who want to go but need help with transportation, either a donation to help them pay for travel, a space in a car if you are going or know someone who is, or a vehicle that could be borrowed and used to travel to and from Detroit. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman""> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"">IF YOU CAN HELP IN ANY WAY, SEND A DONATION MADE OUT TO MAINE PPEHRC (MAINE POOR PEOPLE'S ECONOMIC HUMAN RIGHTS COALITION) and mail to Maine PPEHRC, PO Box 105, Fairfield, ME 04937 or, if you have room in a vehicle or know of a vehicle that can be borrowed for 8-9 days, please contact Jan/Marlene, 207-453-2353. (Donations are also tax deductible if made out to ROSC.)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman""> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"">What's the US Social Forum? Here are some details below, and there's a lot more on the web site. As many as 20,000 people are expected!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman""> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"">It won't get much press in mainstream media, but this will be a big event for peace, justice, and the environment movement in the US. I hope you can support it in some way.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman""> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"">Larry Dansinger<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman""> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:#0E630F"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:#0E630F">_WHAT IS THE US SOCIAL FORUM?_<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:#0E630F"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:#0E630F">The US Social Forum (USSF) is a MOVEMENT BUILDING process. It is not a <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:#0E630F">conference but it is a space to come up with the peoples’ solutions to <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:#0E630F">the economic and ecological crisis. The USSF is the next most <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:#0E630F">important step in our struggle to build a powerful multi-racial, <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:#0E630F">multi-sectoral, inter-generational, diverse, inclusive, <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:#0E630F">internationalist movement that transforms this country, and changes <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:#0E630F">history.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:#0E630F"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:#0E630F">The US Social Forum is more than a networking bonanza, more than a <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:#0E630F">reaction to war and repression. The USSF will provide space to BUILD <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:#0E630F">RELATIONSHIPS, learn from each others experiences, share our analysis <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:#0E630F">of the problems our communities face, and bring renewed insight and <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:#0E630F">inspiration. It will help develop leadership and develop <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:#0E630F">consciousness, vision, and strategy needed to realize another world.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:#0E630F"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:#0E630F">THE USSF SENDS A MESSAGE to other people’s movements around the world <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:#0E630F">that there is an active movement in the US challenging US Policies at <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:#0E630F">home and abroad.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:#0E630F"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:#0E630F">WE MUST DECLARE WHAT WE WANT our world to look like and begin planning <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:#0E630F">the path to get there. A global movement is rising. The USSF is our <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:#0E630F">opportunity to demonstrate to the world Another World is Possible!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:#0E630F"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:#0E630F">People world-wide know that another world is needed. The SOCIAL FORUM <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:#0E630F">movement has been building for years and believes that it's possible. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:#0E630F">From June 22-26, 2010 in DETROIT, folks from all over the country will <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:#0E630F">gather to think about what kind of world is needed and how we can get <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:#0E630F">there.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:#0E630F"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:#0E630F">The US SOCIAL FORUM is a very special kind of gathering- one that has <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:#0E630F">never taken place in this country up to now. It isn't a conference <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:#0E630F">with an agenda and a program of events; it's a convergence of <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:#0E630F">movements, communities & cultures whose participants produce our own <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:#0E630F">agenda and our own programs.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:#0E630F"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:#0E630F">The mere process of planning, organizing and building relationships <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:#0E630F">will move you, the people you're working with and the rest of us <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:#0E630F">forward. The moment you think of an idea, you are already <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:#0E630F">participating in the Social Forum.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:#0E630F"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:#0E630F">Detroit & the Midwest are welcome folks from the US and abroad into <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:#0E630F">their home. Please join us.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:#0E630F"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:#0E630F">http://www.ussf2010.org <<a href="http://www.ussf2010.org/">http://www.ussf2010.org/</a>> for logistics <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:#0E630F">details, registration & exciting updates.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:#0E630F"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:#0E630F">*******<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:#0E630F">Goals for the 2010 US Social Forum in Detroit, MI, June 22-26, are to:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:#0E630F"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:#0E630F">- TO CREATE A SPACE for social movement convergence and strategic <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:#0E630F">discussion<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:#0E630F"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:#0E630F">- TO ADVANCE SOCIAL MOVEMENTS agendas for action and transformation<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:#0E630F"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:#0E630F">* TO BUILD stronger relationships and collaboration between movements<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:#0E630F"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:#0E630F">* TO DEEPEN OUR COMMITMENT to international solidarity and common struggle<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:#0E630F"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:#0E630F">* TO STRENGTHEN OUR CAPACITY to improve local social conditions, <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:#0E630F">organizing and movement building in Detroit<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:#0E630F"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman""> <o:p></o:p></span></div> <!--EndFragment-->
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