Heard on the Street and in the Forest | May 2021 Newsletter |
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EAN activities are only possible through the support of individuals just like you. Thank you for your generosity. |
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From the Street – to Inform Us
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Corporations Are Not People --
Money Is Not Free Speech!
In a series of decisions over the past 40 years, the Supreme Court has radically expanded constitutional rights for corporations. Its most impactful decision was the 2010 Citizens United v. FEC ruling, which granted corporations First Amendment rights -- ruling that corporate political spending was protected speech. It was based on the assertion that corporations deserve constitutional protections because they are just assembled people.
This decision has resulted in a deluge of big money that has drowned our political system, along with policies that are not aligned with most American’s views, and significant erosion of the public’s faith in the integrity of our democracy.
Most Americans agree that corporations are not people and that when Congress receives “persuasion money” it is not "free speech." We need to amend our Constitution to establish these points.
Elders for Sound Democracy is supporting Joint Resolution 48 providing that the "rights extended by the Constitution are the rights of natural persons only." It needs to be passed by both the Senate and House of Representatives (each by two-thirds majority) to continue the adoption process after which the State legislatures would ratify it to become our 28th Amendment. This is a big task that may take several sessions of Congress and state legislatures to accomplish. But, we Elders can do our part, and the will of Americans can prevail. –John Sorensen
What Can You Do?
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Why Use Twitter? It Could Be Your New Best Friend!
Think of Twitter as a “Let’s talk about what I want to talk about” format. Whatever your issue might be – climate change, social justice, regenerative farming, etc. – Twitter allows you to put a hashtag in front of it and then Twitter does the work.
Concerned about the increase in gun violence during the pandemic? Enter #EndGunViolence in the Twitter search field and suddenly you’ve found others whose interests match yours. Then, it’s a simple matter to click the “follow” button; and, then their tweets will show up in your timeline – no waiting to be accepted.
Ever feel like your voice doesn’t matter? Twitter allows you to advocate on news, politics, social issues – anything at all, in real-time. You can: let other voters in your area know you support a certain politician; support protestors living across the globe; ontact your city officials and tell them you want affordable housing. Think of Twitter as your “Letter to the Editor” in 140 characters or less. Use Twitter to amplify your voice.
With so many advantages, it’s no wonder that www.sociallystacked.com reports that Twitter has shown a 79% increase in the 55-to-64 age bracket since 2012. For elder activists, it is a way to engage the world for real change. –Teri Whitehair, based on “3 Reasons Why Twitter May Be An Older Person’s Best Friend”, Huffpost, 2015
Want to learn to use Twitter?
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Sustainability Team suggests:
Zero Waste = Zero Trash. As in nature, we too can turn waste into new material by purchasing (recycled) items that can be (again) recycled or repurposed, composting, capturing rainwater, sharing, and more. Learn more about this “Cradle to Cradle” movement...WATCH THIS ( Thanks to Melissa Ribner)
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AntiRacism Spotlight:
The Sikh community, my community, is grieving – the massacre has opened the wound of longstanding anti-Sikh and anti-Asian hate in the United States. But we are not just victims – we have wisdom to offer America about longevity and resilience in our labors for justice...Sikh stories, music, and prayer. When people who have no obvious reason come together to grieve, they give rise to new relationships, even revolutions. –Valerie Kaur, See No Stranger
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What's Happening Within EAN? |
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September 10, 2021
Why Elders? Why Now?
In answer to the question,“Why Elders?”
we offer Maggie Kuhn's model of social activism:
We must act as elders of the tribe, looking out for the best interests of the future and preserving the precious contract between generations…The old – having the benefit of a lifetime of experience, the time to get things done, and the least to lose by sticking their necks out – are in a perfect position to serve as advocates for the large public good. Stay tuned for more information to come...
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Amplify Your Voice Through Twitter
Learn WHY and HOW to use Twitter in this hands-on workshop.
Tuesday, June 22 | 10:00 – 11:00 am PT / 1:00 – 2:00 pm ET
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Volunteer with EAN
Make an impact, reach other elders, and in the process get to meet other concerned and interesting folks.
Help with the planning and outreach for our National Gathering in September.
Join our Facebook team to help build engagement and address the important issues we all care about.
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Elders for Sound Democracy (ESD)
H.R.1/S.1, the For the People Act, is the most important federal voting rights legislation in 50 years. Tell Congress that you support protecting voting rights, and counteract the many bills being passed by state legislatures to suppress voting. Make your voice heard. TAKE ACTION!
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Elders for Regenerative Living (ERL)
Rewilding the World, Rewilding Ourselves – Join us for a special Sunday morning with Alan Watson Featherstone, Ecologist, Natural History Photographer, Inspirational Speaker and Founder of the Award-winning Conservation Charity Trees for Life. Sunday, June 6 at 9:00 – 10:30 am PT / 12:00 – 1:30 pm ET | LEARN MORE & REGISTER
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Elders for Social Justice (ESJ)
...is continuing its focus on the plight of children immigrating to the U.S. with a look at “ Women Peacemakers” and how they can encourage our compassion and action. ESJ meets on two successive Thursdays each month (May 20 & 27). LEARN MORE & JOIN US!
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Elders Climate Action (ECA)
Electric school buses are the smart way to get to school! ECA is joining with Mom’s Clean Air Force to tell Congress to pass the CLEAN SCHOOL BUS ACT to transition from diesel school buses to 100% clean electric power. Help protect our grandchildren and all children!
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JOIN ECA'S NATIONAL CALL – May 25 at 4:00 pm PT / 7:00 pm ET: Brandon Dennison works to develop the potential of Appalachian workers by unlocking people’s creative power to face the challenges of our economic transition. LEARN MORE & REGISTER
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Our EAN programs are open to all ages! |
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From the Arts – to Inspire Us
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The message is that we have been hijacked by corporate greed and corrupt politicians – but, we can be empowered by our ideas using art to move us towards a world of oneness and freedom. This short video features Vandana Shiva, an elder, scholar, environmental activist, and food sovereignty advocate, who travels the world spreading a powerful message of oneness and interconnectedness.
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Beautiful. Powerful. Moving.
Inspiring. Comforting. Chilling.
Worth the time to listen.
A gift from our younger generation.
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From the Forest – to Awaken Us
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The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity.
...Fears are paper tigers. You can do anything you decide to do. You can act to change and control your life and the procedure. The process is its own reward.
–Amelia Earhart
Amelia Earhart chased her own dreams, and this quote inspires us to do the same regardless of the challenges. You can have as much determination as you want, but to reach your goals you also have to take the difficult step of acting on that determination.
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From Our Coalition of Elder Activist Groups |
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WALK FOR OUR GRANDCHILDREN 2021 – June 20 - 27th Join Elders and Youth to demand that the Biden administration make an uncompromising transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy. Details HERE
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Why Elders?
It would be entirely fitting if the angry troublemakers came from the ranks of those of us who are older. For one thing, we’re the ones who caused the problem. If someone has to sit down on the tracks of the coal train and get arrested it should be the grandparents who have been pouring carbon into the atmosphere for half a century. …. But there’s something else: the greatest moments in the lives of the baby boomers were precisely the times when they raised their voices when they declared their selfless devotion to peace or civil rights. For too many, the decades that followed have made a quiet mockery of that earlier idealism. It turns out that we’ve excelled, most of all, at consuming.
Now is the boomer’s chance to reclaim their better natures and end their run as they began. – Bill McKibben, The Last Best Chance for the Boomers
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It takes all of us. Become a supporter of EAN. |
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