Wingnut + Renew Richmond and various others head the March Against Monsanto (Richmond, VA) 2013!

As many know, Monsanto has taken on the totalitarian role of controlling food and food sourcing on a global level. This monopoly has made it so that conventional food is no longer truly food and the profit they make everyday furthers their lovely process of eugenics via commercial foods.

This year marked the first global March Against Monsanto that over 2 million people took part in. We hope to see this every year, maybe more than just annually. We the people do not need Monsanto, never have, and never will. 

Here are some pictures via the Richmond, VA march and if anyone has any others please be sure to let us know.

One personal note I would like to add in reference to corporate foods, Monsanto, and the USDA/FDA is: DO NOT FALL FOR THE CORPORATE ORGANIC SCHEME. 

“Organic” is NOT a revolution. If you eat all-organic or non-GMO marketed products/foods you are not revolutionary and are most likely actually contrary. Organic/whole/vegan/natural foods are the ORIGINAL foods of mother Earth and people this last past century or so have let despots control and poison our modern foodsource. Now the public is supposed to pay MORE for a product that is easier, simpler, better, and more ecologically friendly than conventional foods? I dont think so. Organic foods are a market and a profit for capitalism- not a revolution.

2nd: Organic, as a corporate label, is false on account that your “organic” milk most likely came from a cow that might have been fed more “natural” foods, but carries the genetics of thousands of conventionally/GMO bred cattle. Everytime something is packaged with petroleum, or stickers with chemical adhesives are stuck onto produce, or ultimately anytime something is farmed/processed/made/baked with flouridated water (the only sourced water within any and all institutions in America) it is NO LONGER organic.. Organic seeds also most likely had un-organic parents and are watered with flouridated water.

Organic isnt a new start- its taking select items on the market and using supposedly “higher quality” (simpler) means of production to then raise the price to appeal to the wealthy elite. Why would corporations want only the upper classes to have “quality” foods? This is what we call Eugenics. Weeding out the weak (poverty) and giving them the “lower status/quality” foods so that they may remain poisoned and dependent on the medical system while the white wealthy elite remains dependent on consumerism via groceries in this scenario. Isn’t this great? Capitalism is wonderful.

Until you educate yourself in agriculture, farming, survivalism, etc etc dont go telling people you eat healthier because you eat food with packages that say the “o” word on them. You have no proof they are better. Oh, studies show it? Studies also show that when officials say “studies show” people believe and buy more. So are you accurate, or just falling in line for another trend in the first-world? Who is conducting these studies? How much money does the organic industry make annually, and then to top it off, ask yourself… who the fuck owns all these companies. Bada-bing! The same banks that bring you Mcdonalds, Pepsi, Wal-Mart, etc etc also own the organic industry. Revolutionary? No. Consumerism. Period.

The greatest people I know dont have $500 worth of WholeFoods groceries in their house that they just bought. They farm, they liberate, or they dumpster food, because they are over the lies and the scams. Capitalism is capitalism no matter what you buy. Period. Stop buying the lie. The market was not designed for your health, just your money (slavery). Obtain heirloom seeds, spring water, and farm. That is the revolution.

https://www.facebook.com/MarchAgainstMonstanto?fref=ts

https://www.facebook.com/events/355658477877810/?fref=ts (Richmond sector)

Sign Making Party and Potluck for March Against Monsanto

The Wingnut Anarchist Collective is hosting a full-on SIGN MAKING PARTY for the March Against Monsanto on thursday (May 23rd) evening at 4pm-8pm. We will have some supplies but please try bringing your own signage and supplies if possible. This is also a non-GMO potluck and we encourage people to even bring local produce if they know anyone who would want to buy/trade them. Learn your locals, get active and come visit us at The Wingnut for various other workshops and events around richmond. Thank you all. Be safe. It’s hot out there.

 

Event Page link:

https://www.facebook.com/events/355658477877810/?fref=ts

MⒶrch AgⒶinst MonsⒶnto 2013! This year in CⒶrytown!

Hey everyone! This year on Saturday, May 25th the Wingnut and various other groups are heading the peaceful March Against Monsanto in Carytown at 2pm.

Instructions/commentary/information can be found on the Facebook event page:
https://www.facebook.com/events/355658477877810/?fref=ts 

We are excited to see some amazing costumes, artwork, photography, and activism during the march!

For those that do not know, Monsanto is an organization responsible for outlawing at-home gardening, creating Round-up & Agent Orange (Used primarily in Vietnam), hoarding stockpiles of organic heirloom seeds so that the public has no access to them, striking at the organic food industry, etc etc…

Essentially Monsanto can be linked to obesity, cancer, and various other health ailments within America and we aim to strike them as well as the FDA, USDA, GMA, and any other GMO supporting industry down.

There will be an informal meeting headed for all interested at Ellwood Thompsons this Sunday (12th) at 4pm. Please attend for more information and to meet all of the fellow like-minded activists.

Documentary About Occupy Richmond at Gallery 5

Our friend Kontra has made a documentary about the occupy Richmond movement and it’s gonna be screened this Wednesday at 7pm in Gallery 5 (200 W. Marshall Street).  Some of the folks who were at the first occupation of Monroe Park (including the lovely Eric and the redoubtable Ozzie) will be on hand to talk about their experiences.  All of Richmond’s coolest kids will be there, and afterwards there’s going to be a march to the (re)occupation of Monroe Park.

Updates on Jeremy’s run in with the law.

On September 27th, several of us went to the Manchester court building to support Jeremy at his preliminary hearing for the charges filed against him by the VCU Police. For those of you who might not know, Jeremy was arrested on charges of slashing 7 VCU car tires, worth $1,330.00, making the charge a felony destruction of property. Jeremy and his public defender, at the hearing, were allowed to see some of the evidence that VCU has against him, and surprise surprise, without having any physical evidence (besides a few pictures of Jeremy AFTER he had been arrested and the picture of a tool confiscated after his arrest), the judge ruled that the case would be continued in a Grand Jury hearing on November 7. The Commonwealths’ attorney, Christopher Toepp, is the same friend of the police who tried to convict those arrested in the Monroe Park Occupation at the beginning of the year, as well as the Defenders in the African Burial Ground protest. He lost both of those cases,  but Jeremy was also told that he specifically requested this trial because “he wants to see it done right” and that he is looking for a felony conviction and jail time for Jeremy.

Jeremy will be sticking with his public defender for the time being, and has been fundraising for the last month or so to raise money for another attorney. Unfortunately, lawyers are unrightfully expensive, and the person he has in mind to represent him requires a $2,500 retainer fee to even start working on the case. Any help would be greatly appreciated, whether it be financial, advice, a friendly word, or  helping to put on a fundraising event to benefit his legal fund.  Also Jeremy has requested that as many people who can attend further trial dates as supporters is essential and appreciated, the more eyes and ears during this ordeal the better.  There has been no word yet as to whether or not Jeremy will be able to attend the Nov. 7 date, as it is usually private to the judge and attorneys involved.

Anyone who wishes to donate can do so using our handy PayPal button on the website, and be sure to specify what you want the money to be used for.

Thanks everyone for your support so far and in the future!

Urgent call for legal support!

To update on Jeremy’s predicament with the VCU Police:

After the arraignment on Tuesday morning (to which several people from the city showed up in solidarity), Jeremy was released on a $5000 noncommittal bond, and a court case was set for September 27th, at 11 AM. We encourage anyone and everyone who takes umbrage with not only VCU Police, but all police everywhere, to show up to this and any subsequent court cases Jeremy might have to endure. These charges are publicly about a few car tires, but privately there is a deeper trend of police oppression at work. We believe that this trend must be brought to light, and must be talked about openly among all communities in this city, not just those with an anarchist message.

Jeremy is currently exploring other avenues of legal help, and has a couple good leads, but unfortunately a good lawyer for a serious charge is almost never cheap. Jeremy has requested any form of support that interested or sympathetic parties might be willing to donate, be it spreading the word about the case in your home town, sending a kind word or relavent literature to the Wingnut, and of course monetary donations towards legal fees would be greatly appreciated as well (we have a convenient Paypal button on the website… if you tell us exactly where you want your donation to be used, we will make sure it is allocated accordingly.)

Post Copwatch Field Trip to Lockup Proves to be No Fun At All

After a long and relatively uneventful night of doing Copwatch for first fridays on Broad Street, S and I were ready to make the trek back to the Wingnut to review the footage acquired over the course of the night. It had been an evening of very large groups of very bored pigs, standing in groups of up to ten up and down Broad St., most likely very upset that there were no younger folks of color to push around to pass the time on a Friday night. After a humorous impromptu interview with the 4th precinct commander, Mike Strawder, S and I had made it back to our bikes, parked in front of the New York Pizza restaurant. S had unlocked his bike, and as I bent to unlock my bike, I felt handcuffs close over my left wrist as another pair of hands closed around my right arm. I looked up, and there were at least 15 VCU and Richmond police officers surrounding S and I, and I was promptly told that I was under arrest and that I had a felony warrant out on my head, though they were not, at that moment, very forthcoming about what I the warrant was for. S jumped to his feet and immediately had his camera trained on the officers and myself, and watched as they moved me to an alley “where  no one could see me”. My pockets were searched, my knife confiscated, and my bag taken from me as two undercover agents kept their video cameras trained on me throughout the ordeal.

July Reportback on SBH Mobile Food Pantry

On July 9th Richmond Food Bank showed up in Southern Barton Heights with enough food to provide for 200 households in our community. Here’s how it went:

Of the 200 vouchers handed out, 136 were handed in for food. In all, those with vouchers represented 227 adults, 298 children, and 88 seniors; accounting for 613 people total.

 

Having seen that there were some organizational issues to be worked out with how the Pantry has worked in the past, this month, we did things a little differently.  We have noticed over the last few months a trend in folks from Southern Barton Heights not receiving vouchers, while others from well outside of the neighborhood were receiving one, or even more. This is not to say that we don’t want other people to have food, on the contrary if it were up to us, we would live in a world where everyone had enough to keep themselves and those around them fed.  Sadly, we are only able to guarantee food for 200 families, which is by no means a small amount, but unfortunately doesn’t begin to scratch the surface of the issue of hunger in our communities. So, with that in mind, we have revamped the process by which we are handing out vouchers, in an effort to better serve our immediate community. If you have, in previous months, received a voucher for the event, yet you did not this month, please keep in mind that if you are outside of our range of delivery you will either need to contact us at 804-303-5449, or come to the mobile food pantry event the second Saturday of every month and sign up to have a voucher delivered to you.

Feedback from the Mysterious Rabbit Puppet Army show

Here is some coverage from our friend Kontra:

http://kontradictions.wordpress.com/2011/07/13/weekly-sedition-mysterious-rabbit-puppet-army-ryan-harvey/

Here’s a review from RVANews:

The Mysterious Rabbit Puppet Army Invades RVA

by Hayley DeRocheJuly 13, 2011

The Mysterious Rabbit Puppet Army is not, alas, a shadowy army of bunnies with strings holding them down. Instead, the MRPA is a puppeteer performance collective based in Chapel Hill, North Carolina that is a part of the Chapel Hill Prison Books Collective. The shows tell stories that are social justice parables. I went over to the Wingnut House (home of some of Richmond’s anarchists) to see one of their shows.

First up: Hansel and Gretel

This old story is given a new look with the puppets (Gretel is a raccoon, Hansel a fox, their mother a purple unicorn, and so on and so forth). Times are tough in this economy for the little puppet family, and cutting corners is necessary, but when their evil green-faced monster father suggests cutting the kids out of the budget their mother is distraught. But times are hard, and if the kids have to be abandoned, then so be it. (“How would you kids like to go see a movie….Pirates of the Caribbean…..4…..in Raleigh.” brings chuckles at the Pirates reference, groans at the 4 reference because really, we needed 4?, and more chuckles at the intonation of Raleigh.) So, little Hansel and Gretel are dropped off, but Hansel, being wily like the fox he is, tags streets as they go so they can find their way home again much to the delight of their magical mom. But this time, when they get left at the Durham theater, they are truly abandoned. Nobody offers them help until Mr. Turbine–who ends up locking up poor Gretel in a cage.

Results from June SBH Mobile Food Pantry

Our numbers for the June 2011 Southern Barton Heights Mobile Food Pantry have been counted.

On Saturday, June 11th, we gave out individual food portions to 191 people!

They represented the households of 140 adults, 157 children, and 56 seniors!

We also made deliveries to six households in our area for people who are elderly, disabled, or otherwise unable to attend the food pantry or carry all the food home with them.

We’re getting our system down to a science, increasing our ability to reach out to and fulfill this basic necessity for families in our area. However, there is a clear need for similar programs in different areas of the city as well; every month we meet people from throughout Richmond and beyond who come to the mobile food pantry in Southern Barton Heights.

Fortunately, setting up a Mobile Food Pantry in your area is really easy! To start one in your area, contact Warren Hammonds (whammonds@feedmore.org) of the Central VA Food Bank. It’s very easy to start one! All you need are a location, a handful of volunteers to hand out the food, and a method for voucher distribution: here we deliver them by bicycle, but other groups distribute them via faith centers, community service and neighborhood associations, or other means.

To get a voucher for the Southern Barton Heights Mobile Food Pantry, just give us a call at (804) 303-5449 and we’ll put you on our delivery list!