Line in the Sand: Stand Up for the Planet at Ventura Beach Rally and Clean-Up Sat. 2/11

Our planet is at risk. But on Sat. Feb. 11, 2017, we can help turn the tide! Join us as we promote unity and planetary protection at a PEACEFUL positive protest and family-friendly gathering open to all who would like to see Trump and his band of billionaires ushered out of the White House immediately. Similar events are happening on the same day in Ventura, San Francisco, and New Zealand as well as other locations.

No Ban, No Wall, Climate Justice for All

The current administration poses a significant threat to the planet and all species that inhabit our world. Trump claims that climate change is a hoax, he is anti-regulation, and pro-business, and his cabinet reflects that. With the Senate committee approval of Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt to head the Environmental Protection Agency (which Republicans accomplished by overriding a Democratic boycott of the vote and changing the rules of confirmation), they are ready to install a wolf in the hen-house, a climate change denier who has sued the EPA many times to block climate and pollution-related rules to lead the EPA. Update: Read the LA Times editorial on the topic here “Putting Scott Pruitt in charge of the EPA risks irreversible damage to the planet.” The Senate has also confirmed as US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson who is the former CEO of the world’s largest fossil fuel corporation, Exxon Mobil. What kind of message does this send to the world?

Yet companies like Patagonia and many others argue that what’s good for the planet is ultimately best for business: While Trump says he is the “CEO President” who will work to make America more business friendly,  “more than 700 companies — including Monsanto, Staples, Starbucks, Adidas, Adobe, DuPont, Unilever, eBay, Gap, Biogen, The North Face, Tesla, Campbell Soup, Intel, Ikea North America, Salesforce, Virgin, Vans, Levi Strauss & Co. and Lyft to name just a “few” of the heavy-hitters — are asking him to consider how a changing climate could impact how they do business.”

Please join us at the Ventura Beach by the pier at 1pm Sat. Feb 11 or at Ocean Beach in SF at 10:30am as we rally together to “draw a line in the sand” with our bodies to protect people and and planet from the practices of the current administration. 

 

When you arrive on February 11 (in Ventura between 1pm and 1:30pm), the message will have already been etched into the sand (possibly wet – please bring a blanket or tarp to sit or lie on).

You will be directed where to go for each part of this 3 part event. Please join us for one or all three parts.

PART 1 (Ventura at 1:30pm): We will be spelling out with our bodies an enormous message communicating that Trump simply has to go — now! — so that we may promote unity to preserve our peaceful planet. A photographer and videographer will record the message from high above and photos and video should be in worldwide circulation by evening. Please arrive at the site before 1:30pm. We hope to have a helicopter arrive overhead at 2:30pm.

PART 2 (Ventura at 2:30pm): When we get the signal that those photos are complete, we will all move to the waterline and form a chain stretching down the beach, holding hands. This sign of unity will be filmed from above as well. These two events should be completed by 3:30 p.m. There is a super low tide at 4pm.

PART 3 (Ventura at 3:30pm): We will make a human line in the sand that will march from the shore to the promenade to pick up trash on the beach.

Note: The Ventura event is a sister event to ones being organized in San Francsico where 3K people are expected to participate. We are in contact with SF organizer Brad Newsham who has hosted a dozen similar events since 2007 including the events depicted in the beach photos (not the heart one).

Brad reports that the mood at each was peaceful and celebratory and fun — a gathering of the tribe– simlar to the feeling at the recent Women’s March.

The 10 Day weather prediction shows dry weather. You and your friends are invited to join us. If you can come, please mark your calendar.

LOCATION: The exact location will be somewhere in the vicinity of the Ventura Pier or on Ocean Beach near the Cliff House. Get yourself anywhere in the vicinity and everything else should be obvious and almost “take care of itself.”

GETTING THERE: If possible please use public transportation, walk, bicycle, or carpool. In Ventura, the train station is about .5 mile away. There are places to lock bikes along the promenade and the pier. There are parking garages in downtown Ventura three long blocks away and another off California near the site. The Ventura State Beach, located about .5 mile away from the pier, has a large parking lot; parking costs $10.

TRASH: We will leave the beach cleaner than we found it. Please take your trash with you, or drop it in a trash can, or in the plastic garbage bags that will be provided (or bring trash bags!). Thank you.

BRING: Water, sunscreen, trashbags, snacks. Please wear blue or green for the planet but we love pussy hats too! We will be asking for donations to cover expenses. In return, if you complete a self-addressed label, you will receive a postcard in the mail with a copy of the image.

It will be good to join together in this action. Please stay tuned!