390 E. Commercial St. Willits

COMMUNITY BILL OF RIGHTS (Free) WORKSHOP FOR “WE, THE PEOPLE”

A “Community Bill of Rights” is on the ballot for November 2014 as Measure S. Its intent
is to assert the rights of all residents, natural communities and ecosystems of
Mendocino County to live free from contamination, harm and chemical trespass by
unconventional hydrocarbon extraction - or “fracking”.

The Ordinance bans fracking in Mendocino County by establishing the Right to selfgovernance,
the Right to clean air, soil and water, the Rights of Nature to exist and
flourish, and the Right of residents, natural communities and ecosystems in Mendocino
County to live free of chemical trespass.

A conversation-based workshop to explore this Ordinance has been scheduled during
October. It will be an opportunity for people to work and learn together.
These conversations will enable people to have a more nuanced understanding of the
Ordinance, of Community Rights and will provide good quality information for coping
with the controversies that will arise toward the time of the election when advertising
against the Ordinance is likely to swamp the air waves and tilt public opinion away from
rational consideration of the issues.

The workshop structure raises questions like: What exactly does the Ordinance
contain? How will it impact people personally? What are Community Rights? What
consequences might occur if the Ordinance passes? Who decides that fracking can
happen in Mendocino if the Ordinance does not pass?
There will be a very brief presentation of history highlights and explanations of some
legal terms.

Participants will be provided with a hard copy of the Ordinance text accompanied by
illustrative diagrams designed to aid understanding, remembering and sharing with
others.

The workshop has been designed, and will be presented by Willow Rain. Her
background is in teaching and group facilitation. She has studied Community Rights
issues for several years and has attended the formal training about Community Rights
that is provided by the Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund (CELDF.org).