Here are the details of a few upcoming local events that were discussed at the November 17 meeting of Occupy Royal Oak. People at the meeting generally had the attitude of, "OK, the election's over and not much has changed. Now what?"
It's obvious that all the issues of inequality, corporate control of government, global warming and a declining economy that we had before the election weren't even addressed in the election, much less resolved. We're going to have to do something outside the electoral process to address them. We don't know what, just yet.
We've heard some rumors of a strike by Wal-mart workers over Thanksgiving weekend. Specifically, it will be over Wal-mart cutting the company's already small contribution to health care coverage and the simultaneous announcement that the company is forcing its workers to work on Thanksgiving Day. We don't know whether this will involve a few hundred Wal-mart workers nationwide, or tens of thousands.
In any case, we are not planning on shopping at Wal-mart, but we will be open to joining picket lines if some appear locally. It's impossible to tell if this will be an event or not. Otherwise:
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For the Monday after Thanksgiving:
Monday, November 26, 2012, 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Oakland County Executive Office Building Conference Center, 2100 Pontiac Lake Road, Building 41W, Waterford, MI 48328
Landowner Oil and Gas Leasing and Michigan Oil and Gas Industry Educational Meeting
At the May 8, 2012 auction sale of State of Michigan-owned mineral rights, 18,347 acres of state owned mineral rights were committed to leases in Oakland County. The increased interest in leasing mineral rights for oil and natural gas exploration can lead to a significant income opportunity for landowners. What are the environmental impacts of these activities? What is the State doing to safeguard the environment?
MSUE is sponsoring a public meeting for landowners to educate them on the following topics:
•Michigan Dept. of Environmental Quality’s Role in Regulating the Michigan Oil and Gas Industry
•Oil and Gas Industry Perspective on Advances in Drilling Technology
•Understanding the Standard Oil and Gas Lease
•Legal Considerations in Oil and Gas Leasing
Registration fee is $10/person. ADVANCED REGISTRATION is highly recommended by Friday, November 23, 2012, but not required. To register, please contact the MSU Extension office at (248) 858-0887 or smithlin@oakgov.com. Specific questions about this meeting can be emailed to Bindu Bhakta at bhaktabi@anr.msu.edu.
Meeting Agenda:
Welcome and Introductions by Curtis Talley Jr., MSUE Farm Management Educator
The Department of Environmental (DEQ) Quality Role in Regulating the Michigan Oil and Gas Industry by Representative, Office of Oil, Gas, and Minerals, Michigan DEQ - Introduction to the Office of Oil, Gas, and Minerals; Michigan oil and gas well construction requirements; Hydraulic fracturing in Michigan - Environmental considerations and regulations
Oil and Gas Industry Perspective on Advances in Drilling Technology by Representative, Michigan Oil and Gas Association - Horizontal and vertical well construction techniques - Environmental safeguards; Can oil and gas production coincide with residential and recreation areas? What is the future for oil and gas production in Michigan?
Understanding the Standard Oil and Gas Lease by Curtis Talley Jr., MSUE Farm Management Educator - What does the language in the lease mean? - What are the long-term implications of the standard lease? - Why should I be concerned about the lease language when I am getting a bonus payment?
Legal Consideration in Oil & Gas Leasing by Larry Elkus, Attorney - Common pitfalls to avoid - Defining how the royalty is paid - Protecting groundwater quality in the lease - What can be negotiated in the lease?
Question and Answer Period
For more information about this and other upcoming MSU Extension classes and activities, visit: http://www.oakgov.com/msu/Pages/classes_activities/all_classes.aspx
For additional resources on this topic, visit the MSU Extension Oil and Gas Information web site at: http://msue.anr.msu.edu/resources/oil_and_gas_development.
[end text of official announcement]
This looks like a meeting designed to get landowners to sign leases. I plan to be there with a leaflet pointing out some of the hazards of fracking. I will not be the only person showing up to oppose fracking.
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The Wednesday after Thanksgiving:
Wednesday, November 28, 2012, 6:45 pm, Huntington Woods Library lower level
26415 Scotia Rd., Huntington Woods - south of 11 Mile Road, west of Woodward Ave.
Sponsored by the Huntington Woods Peace, Citizenship and Education Project
www.hwpeace.org
The Meaning of the November Election; Prospects for Real Change
We are delighted to have two distinguished guests who will discuss their views on what they believe might take place as a result of our last election. Please join us.
Fran Shor, Professor of History, WSU, author of "Dying Empire U.S. Imperialism Global Resistance" &
Brad Roth, Professor Political Science and Law, WSU, author of "Sovereign Equality and Moral Disagreement"
A discussion will follow.
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Saturday, December 1, 10:00 - 12:00 am, Occupy Royal Oak meeting
Coffee Beanery, on Woodward (west side) in Berkley, south of 12 Mile Road
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Thursday, Dec. 6th, 6:30-9:00pm
Sierra Club South East MI Group Monthly Program
Birmingham Unitarian Church, 38651 Woodward, Bloomfield Hills
(Just north of Lone Pine Rd; west side of Woodward Ave)
Annual Holiday Potluck Party, Slide Show & Silent Auction
It’s that time of the year again, folks…time to party with your brother & sister Sierrans as we wind out 2012! There will be the usual feasting so please bring your most festive dish to pass along with those new and/or gently used items for our silent auction. In addition, those of you willing to do so, please bring 10-15 digital images to share with the group from past adventures near and far. A fun time is guaranteed for all and we even make a little money for the group. Contact Julie Ann Wang (jawang1@comcast.net) for more information.
[end text from official announcement]
Monthly meetings are free and open to the public. You don't have to be a Sierra Club member to attend - though you shouldn't be surprised if someone asks you to join. Attending is one way for you to see if you want to join.
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Friday, Dec, 7, 7-9 pm - Alliance to Halt Fermi 3 public meeting
Dearborn public Library, 16301 Michigan Avenue, Dearborn Mi
(Between Southfield & Greenfield)
Free parking and entrance at rear
suggested donation $5 or more
The Alliance to Halt Fermi 3 is opposed to DTE's expensive, wasteful and deadly decision to build another FERMI nuclear reactor in Monroe, MI. Please join us for a talk with nationally known author and activist, Harvey Wasserman. Harvey is the editor of NukeFree.org, and has been a leading anti-nuclear activist since the early 1970s.
Write info@athf3.org for more information.
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Much later in December, the movie "Promised Land," a story about fracking in rural America, will open in 'select theaters.' From the previews, it's probably a movie we will like. We don't know what theaters in this area are sufficiently select, or when the movie will be more widely distributed. If you hear, let us know.
If you have an article you want published on the Occupy Royal Oak blog (http://occupyro.blogspot.com/), let me know. If you want to comment on any of the posts, please use the comment forms on the blog.
Thanks,
Art Myatt
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