Jeff Reifman

Come hear about some radically new approaches to social change

I'd like to strongly encourage you to come hear Thomas Linzey speak on Tuesday evening October 4th at Town Hallor meet him Wednesday evening October 5th at our smaller gathering in the University District. Thomas is the Executive Director at the Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund (CELDF) which helped Pittsburgh ban fracking and strip corporations of judge-made "Constitutional" rights. He also helped Spokane author its community bill of rights on this November's ballot. And, he helped Ecuador add rights for nature to its Constitution.

I think it's the shear desperation of the failed progressive political movement in America that leads us to shine our spotlights on Occupy Wall Street, a semi-anarchical movement which I applaud and support, but which currently lacks much focus. On the contrary, Thomas' group is the effort I see that's actually analyzed the roots of our problems and systematically takes action in hundreds of communities around the country, largely by making and passing laws.

Learn more about Thomas' appearances in Seattle this week.

Tales of Change Picks Up On Earlier "Investing for Change"

I've started a new blog called Tales of Change to pick up on themes from my earlier Seattle Weekly feature,"Investing for Change: A Microsoft millionaire wonders if his money can express his values".

The first post is called "Empowering Ourselves to Create Actual Change" addressing the severity of the problems we face today and my approach to making new choices for myself on the blog.

Please check it out and share it with your friends.

Employment levels drop, wages drop - utilities rise

The unsustainability of our current corporate economic and government system is sometimes more clearly seen it's inflating costs vs. drops in the stock market or employment levels. This is another issue I want to try to track here.

Seattle Public Utilities announced the rising costs of providing basic services - including water and garbage:

                Typical bill       
                2008    2009    Increase
Water         $24.61      $27.74     13%
Sewer         $40.30      $46.23     15%
Drainage     $14.94      $16.85     13%
Solid waste    $23.00      $29.20     27%

So, clearly, growth in Seattle is creating an increasing load on the system - whereas many of its residents are less in the position to be able to afford them.