Light Projection is easy, fun, and a great way to riase the visibilty of an issue!

Take action in lead up to the National Day of Action at Bank of America locations by doing your own light projection action on May 6th. The Bank of America Shareholders meeting is on Wednesday May 8th.

Listen to a song by our friend and collaborator Mark Graham.  Enjoy and help rid the world of this insane, dehumanizing technology of sanitized murder. 

Download to Play: American Achilles, by Mark Graham

Team Backbone participated in the Arc of Justice march to the 2013 Inauguration in January. Thanks to Doug Skove and Evan Simmons for mobilizing our long dormant Giant Backbone, to our Code Pink  allies in DC, and all the others who prepped it for the journey. (photos below)

Backbone Campaign is opposed to war as a means for solving conflict.  We also strongly oppose the illegal use of targetted assassinations, and the terrorizing of people and communities by weaponized drones.  The killing and terrorizing of innocent people recruits more enemies than it kills, violates international law, and is utmost folly in terms of a sensible grand strategy for true and lasting National Security. 

Listen to a song by our friend and collaborator Mark Graham.  Enjoy and help rid the world of this insane, dehumanizing technology of sanitized murder. 

Download to Play: American Achilles, by Mark Graham

Emma’s Revolution: Pat Humphries and Sandy O whisk through

seattle on Friday, April 12. The stunning duo will uplift and delight

with their famous compositions, arrangements and frequent whimsy.

For more information regarding the group and location please check

out http://emmasrevolution.com/

"The epitome of great contemporary political music." Sing Out!

Here are some links:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7q36lWLqZ4 - newish piece "Change"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XbkGcA79FKo&list=PLFB5450DFEF8757CC

- they tour and record often with holly near "I aint afraid"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xPfOcw-nLo&list=PLFB5450DFEF8757CC -

pat's famous "swimming to the other side" at People's voice in NY

************************************************************

about emma's revolution

Smart, funny and informative. Like Rachel Maddow and Jon Stewart with guitars.

emma's revolution's song,

"Occupy the USA!," was featured in the Washington Post

and their anthem,"Peace, Salaam, Shalom", written in September 2001,

is sung around the world.

"Great melodies and harmonies with a driving beat that just makes you want to, well,

RISE! These are anthemic songs in the folk tradition that are calls to action . . . truly

exciting, fun, invigorating and right on point." -- WMNF Radio

With hauntingly beautiful harmonies and powerful acoustic instrumentals that deliver

the energy and strength of their convictions, emma's revolution creates new standards

in the art of social justice. Their songs have been sung for the Dalai Lama, praised by

Pete Seeger and recorded by Holly Near.

emma's revolution is the duo of activist musicians, Pat Humphries & Sandy O. Based in

the Washington DC area, the duo won Grand Prize in the John Lennon Songwriting

Contest for "If I Give Your Name", about the families of undocumented workers killed

on 9/11. "Peace, Salaam, Shalom" is sung around the world and has been called the

"anthem of the anti-war movement." emma's revolution's music has been featured on

NPR's "All Things Considered" and Pacifica's "Democracy Now!"

In the spirit of Emma Goldman's famous attribution, “If I can't dance, I don't want to be

part of your revolution,” emma's revolution brings their uprising of truth, hope and a

dash of healthy irreverence to concerts and peace & justice, labor, human rights,

environmental, LGBT and women's rights events around the world. Touring over 200

days a year, emma’s revolution has performed at hundreds of events from Canada,

Chile, Korea, Scotland, England, Israel/Palestine, Nicaragua, Cuba and throughout the

US spreading their message of peace and justice. emma’s revolution consistently

delivers performances that are an uprising of hope and harmony so powerful audiences

leap to their feet.

Light Projection is easy, fun, and a great way to raise the visibilty of an issue!

Take action in lead up to the National Day of Action at Bank of America locations by doing your own light projection action on May 6th. The Bank of America Shareholders meeting is on Wednesday May 8th.

 Order your gobos (metal stencils) by sending us an email and making your $50 contribution to Backbone before next Thursday May 2nd (by 9am PST) and we'll send you a 4-pack of gobos that read "Bad For America," "Too Big To Exist," "Dislike," and "Pay Your Fair Share," for your own light project action.

Watch our Light Projection as Protest VIDEO TUTORIAL

If you haven't seen our trespassing with light video from a previous Bank of America action go HERE to see how a little conflict can enhance your action.

A Light Projection Checklist will be uploaded here soon.

Below, take a peak at last years training offerings, trainer bios, and more.

Localize This! 2012

Friends Don't Let Friends Miss Localize This! Register TODAY for all or part

Full Schedule HERE Sunday 7/29: Creative Tactics (climbing, art, etc) and Organizing preview, Long Term Strategy webcast. Monday 7/30: Cultural Competence, Grand Strategy, Campaign Design, NVDA, Art & Creative Tactics, Projection as Protest Tuesday 7/31: Community Organizing, Media Skills, Canvassing*, Eviction Protection*, Evening Projection Action* Wednesday 8/1: Action Planning, Scouting, Legal, Campaign Consultations, Art & Creative Tactics, Kayak safety, Drumming for Demonstrations Thursday 8/2: Organizing Strategies, Fundraising for Community Supported Organizers, Skill Share, Kayak safety, Advanced Tactics, Action Preparation Friday 8/3: Testing our skills* Artful Actions in service of eviction protection & universal principal reduction, party & performance w/Chris Chandler & Paul Benoit Saturday 8/4: Action Assessment, Anti-Burnout, Building a Community Supported Organizer Network, Closing Inspirations *All or part in Seattle REGISTER HERE for all or part. Localize This! workshop fees cover approximately 50% of the actual cost to produce it. PLEASE Pitch In TODAY

Participant profile: Kelly Hayes is a Native American activist, Occupy organizer, street medic, and rescue scuba diver. Kelly has a background in animal and human rights, the mental health movement, and anti-deportation and home reclamation projects. She has most recently worked as an organizer with numerous Occupy groups. During the NATO summit Kelly and others succeeded in an effort to shut down Boeing. She is also involved in a memorial project to be placed in a public space, without a permit, that will honor fallen protesters abroad. Kelly is coming to Localize This training camp because she knows that "none of us can afford to stop learning." The powers mounted against us are too great and so is our collective potential. "Local communities have to be inspired to organize. Otherwise, community members will remain blissfully indifferent, or simply bemoan the corrupt nature of our system. This is why projects like home reclamation are so important. Such efforts encapsulate the overall problems we face as a society, but also drive the message home, to community members, on a personal level. I also believe that fresh approaches, and increasingly creative tactics, will bolster the confidence of those I organize with, and help keep them engaged. Incorporating new ideas into campaigns will be crucial to Occupy's survival. We all need a wider skill set to succeed."

Localize This! 2012 trainers: Complete Trainer Bios
An impressive group of people are coming together and we'll ALL be learning from each other.

Kim Marks, Portland Rising Tide (Non-Violent Direct Action Trainer, Campaign Design & Strategy)	Kyle Tanner, Itinerant Agitational Organizer (Organizing Spiral, Honest Conversations, Fundraising: Hard & Soft Money)	Ahern "Dreadsen", Multi Kulti (Expanding Allies, Security Culture, Cultural Competency, Media & NVDA)
Gedden (Climb Team & Tripod Leads)	Heather Gordon & Sue Parsons of City Life/Vida Urbana: 39 Years of Putting People Before Profits (Community Organizing & Eviction Protection Workshops)	Scott Silber, National Intervention (12 Step Counselor for Kicking the Corporate Habit)
Susie Rosett, Northern Rockies Rising Tide (Climb Team & Tripod Leads)	Tom Kertes, United Workers of Baltimore (Human Rights-based Organizing, Long Term Strategy & Building Power)	Chris Lutter, Puppet Farm Arts (Image Design/Construction/Performance specialist conducting Artful Activism Workshops)
Bill Moyer, Backbone Campaign (Host, Grand Strategy, Creative Tactics, Local Credit Union Organizing, and more)	John Sellers, Other 98% & Ruckus Society (Action Planning, Design & Making Media Count)	and more...

Go directly to the Localize This! registration page HERE (or fill out registration form below)

Localize This! 2012 Draft Schedule HERE

Artful Activism - Strategy, Creative Tactics & Community Organizing Intensive When: July 29-August 4, 2012 Where: BEAUTIFUL Vashon Island, WA (20 min. Ferry from Seattle) Cost: Sliding scale $200-$400 for all 8 days (No one will be turned away for lack of funds*) Per day $25-$50 (suggested) All Camping, Trainings, and Food are included! (Bring a sleeping bag & a tent if you have one.) REGISTER by June 30 and we'll do our part to help you raise funds to defray your camp or travel costs. We can help you fund raise for camp using IndieGoGo.com. See examples from last year HERE. Contact Backbone Campaign if you have questions: 206.408.8058 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. * FYI - The real cost of camp for Backbone is over $350 per person. Please consider increasing your payment to $400 or more in order to help us cover the cost of scholarships. Skill Sharing & Building All Week Long! Eviction protection, credit union organizing, and other community-based organizing strategies Community organizing skills, fundraising, and local strategies Coal trains/Coal ports/Tar sands/Fracking resistance Nonviolent direct action training & blockade techniques Arts for social change such as giant puppet, inflatables, and prop construction Campaign design: grand strategy, creative tactics, and earned media Water-based nonviolent tactics, kayaking and boating skills Giant banner construction and deployment (overpasses, helium-powered, etc.) Light & video projection as protest Rappelling for banner drops and forest protection   Friends and Allies, Join us on our beautiful home base of Vashon Island for the fourth annual Localize this! Creative Tactics for Land and Sea Artful Action Camp. We had such a great time the past three years that we want to host another gathering of committed, action-oriented activists. This year we will continue to expanding the program to include exciting community organizing strategies and essential skills. Camp will be held at the Vashon Youth Hostel again this year, within minutes of the beach where we hold the water-based trainings on Puget Sound. We'll be organizing kitchen & other volunteers, as everyone pitches in with camp chores. There are enough tent sites for hundreds and teepees for rent at extra cost. We are expecting 75-150 of our movement's finest (including you!) to make this part of their summer plans. For those who cannot attend the entire week, Please REGISTER anyway and indicate which days you plan to be there. Forward Together! Team Backbone Contact Backbone Campaign if you have questions: 206.408.8058 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. "The only war that matters is the war against the imagination All other wars are subsumed by it." ~ Diane di Prima Register TODAY!

This camp is made possible partially by the generous support of the: Nathan Cummings Foundation, Puffin Foundation West, and others. Please Join them in supporting this movement building work. Donate TODAY toward scholarship for deserving emerging activist leaders. There are people from around the country who need your support to attend camp and we will not turn anyone away for lack of funds. We can only do this thanks to the generosity of people like you. Contribute HERE Today Help spread the word about the 4th annual Localize This! Artful Action Camp Please copy and SHARE/Tweet/email to friends this link http://LocalizeThis.org Invite Facebook Friends to our FB event page HERE. Download 4 per page handbill HERE. Download poster HERE. Partner with Us! If you would like your organization listed as a Partner, please call the Backbone Campaign office 206-408-8058 Highlights from Localize This! 2011 - More photos HERE Fun video from 2011 w/press coverage interwoven: 2010 Localize This! Action Camp came to an amazing finish with song and dance and almost 2 million views on Youtube. Photos from 2009 & 2010 below: Check out the strategic media coverage of our 2009 camp: Larger versions of slideshows from 2009 and 2010 camps:

Organizer, Non Violent Direct Action Trainer, and Artful Activism Innovator

Affiliated Organization: Heartland Coalfield Alliance

Areas of Training: Intro to Blockades, Advanced Blockades, Action Scouting, Giant Banner Building and Overpass Bannering, Action Planning, Know Your Rights, NVDA 101, Advanced NVDA, Community Organizing, Become the Media

Community Organizer

Affiliated Organization: SEIU and We Are Oregon

Areas of Training: Organizing Conversations, Building and Maintaining Organizing Relationships, Relational Canvas (Building Community One Door at a Time!), Campaign Strategy, Home Defense/Move-Ins in a Box

NVDA Trainer

Affiliated Organization: Occupy Rogers Park in Chicago

Areas of Training: Non-Violent Direct Action, Mass Mobilizations, Facilitation, and more.

(Descriptions Coming Soon)

Show or Hide Training Description