Join Jay Trainer Band, Felsen, Corner Laughers, and Liz O. for some great music for a great cause!

50 Mason Social House
Wednesday, December 5
8:00pm

Why? Felsen has been hosting bands through their SF UNDERGROUND MUSIC FEST residency to celebrate San Francisco's thriving music scene, and we're excited to be a part of it.

We're also thrilled to say that this event is a Toys for Tots toy drive.

Check out our Facebook invite and spread the word!

8:00PM
21+OVER
$5 COVER
WHEEL CHAIR ACCESSIBLE

Three bands, art from local artists, and all for a great cause! Join us at Berkeley's legendary Irish pub, the Starry Plough, for our next event and help support solar energy awareness!

Indie-Rock, Gritty Americana, and blues rock from:

• JAY TRAINER BAND
• FAT OPIE
• FLEETING TRANCE

• Doors @ 8:30pm // Show @ 9:30pm //
• $7-12 sliding scale // 21+ // wheelchair accessible
• 3101 Shattuck Ave @ Prince St.   (2 blocks from Ashby BART)
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Artfulchange continues our work with NorCal Solar and, we are proud to say that part of ticket and art proceeds go to fund their mission "to foster the development and application of solar energy through the exchange of information."

We are thrilled to be working with a group of artists from the California College of the Arts who have contributed paintings that will be on display at the show. Their work will be hanging in the pub and available for purchase. Here are two examples:

Rachel Rosenson is an artist who splits her heart between documentary work and music. Hailing from Chicago, she recently moved out to the Bay Area to attend California College of the Arts where she plans on studying the art of storytelling through photography, film and writing. Additionally, she is a concert photographer and a music blogger for www.beatdropping.com. More of her work is available to be seen on her website.

Adelya Tumasyeva gained most of her art education in Moscow, Russia by studying at an art school supported by Moscow University of Art and Design since age 7. Over time, she fell in love with the US and moved to the Bay Area. Currently, she is a student of California College of the Arts, majoring in Illustration, with also an interest in graphic design and web design.

Mandy Han grew up in Taiwan and moved to Bay Area around 5 years ago.  Currently an illustration major at California College of the Arts she is also interested in graphic design! See more of her work at: https://www.facebook.com/TheArtOfMandyHan

Andrea Carazo is an artist who works in her own way, making sure that, with her work, she is totally happy. Coming from Guatemala, she is now in the Bay Area studying at California College of the Arts majoring in Graphic Design, but also interested in photography and painting. Some of f her artwork is available in www.acarazo.wix.com/andcarazo.

Taylor Gersbach is a well-rounded artist who strives to connect her work within a social aspect. Within each medium, she challenges the traditional by layering a multitude of textural planes out of recycled and discarded material. Born and raised in Central Texas, she has currently been living and working as a resident in Berkeley. She attends California College of the Arts as an Individualized Major- studying a hybrid of Community Arts, Sculpture and Painting. You can contact her by email at tgersbach@yahoo.com or check out her work on her website: www.tgersbach.carbonmade.com.

A portion of the proceeds from the Jay Trainer Band Album Release show will benefit NorCal Solar, a nonprofit, member-supported association for ongoing education on the many aspects of solar energy.

The NorCal Solar mission: To foster the development and application of solar energy through the exchange of information The Jay Trainer Band mission: Rock hard and raise awareness for solar energy! Jay and NorCal Solar are also working together on a Kickstarter project to produce the album and greater awareness around solar energy.

Community Outreach for Independent Creatives

Wednesday, July 25
6:00-8:00pm
367 9th Street (@ Folsom), Upstairs

Cost: $35

Being and independent artist is hard. If you're like me, you want people to enjoy and (hopefully) buy the work you put your heart and soul into. I know I do. If you're like many of the talented writers, musicians and artists I meet, though, a lot of times you make something great, then watch it sit on a shelf or a website gathering dust. I'm here to help.

One year ago I decided to write, publish and market my own novel. I have five years of experience in marketing as a day-job, so I was able to use a lot of what I know. It turns out I'm good at what I call community outreach, which is about getting the word out about your work with the network of people you already know.

I'm offering a class for fellow authors, musicians, artists, artisans, and crafts-people who want to get better at marketing their work. My goal is to tell you the truth about what works and get more people seeing and enjoying your books, art, and music.

Community Outreach for Independent Creatives

You will learn how to:

•    Set the right outreach goals
•    Use your limited time more effectively
•    Write better emails, social media posts, and event materials
•    Strengthen and grow your existing network of contacts
•    Take 22 specific actions you can start doing tomorrow. Why 22? You'll find out at the class.

The class will help you learn better strategies for Community Outreach and marketing for your projects, events, and campaigns. I would love to see you there.

KFC is wreaking havoc on Indonesian rainforests. They are using timber sourced from Asia Pulp and Paper for their packaging. Packaging that results destruction of the Sumatran Tiger's habitat. Unfortunately, the Colonel still refuses to acknowledge this. Tell KFC that trashing rainforests for chicken buckets is unacceptable!

You can pledge your support and join the fight.

Read the Report.

What else you can do to help: (courtesy of Greenpeace)

Step 1) Pick up the phone and call KFC headquarters at 502-874-8300 between 9:00 am and 5:30 pm EST.

Step 2) When the operator answers the phone, tell them that you would like to leave a message for the company concerning its lack of a deforestation policy.

Step 3) Here’s a sample message:

"My name is _____ and I'm calling from _________.  I care about tigers and I don’t think rainforest should be destroyed to package your fast food. Despite your claims, research clearly shows you are using rainforest fiber from Indonesia. As a customer, I urge you to develop a deforestation policy in your supply chain. Thank you."

Step 4) Once you’ve made the call, let us know! Just click the button below...

I've made the call.

Yesterday, we wrote about how Chevron is damaging communities in Nigeria but sadly, they are not the only region affected by Chevron's oil pollution.

30,000 Ecuadoreans have been challenging Chevron for almost two decades. They want Chevron to take responsiblity for the oil pollution in the Amazon. This pollution has caused a water emergency in local Ecuadorean communities. The lack of clean water has created a health crisis causing a number of ailments including miscarriages, cancer, and birth defects.

They have suffered because of Chevron's destructive acts but they continue to fight for justice and for themselves. Clearwater is a community led project that supplies the Ecuadorean Amazon with safe drinking water. This project is a necessity as they continue to fight Chevron in hopes that one day they will be held accountable for the contamination they have caused.

Please support Clearwater by sharing about the project.

Watch this video to learn more:

Read more about Chevron's destructive practices in Nigeria and around the world here.

350.org has launched a new campaign to stop oil subsidies that give tax breaks to companies like Chevron. Our tax dollars are contributing to destruction in places like Nigeria and it looks like the American public wants no part of this. Over 100,000 people have signed a new bill to put an end these handouts.

Here in California, 350.org has put together two events to put pressure on Chevron.

Please join environmental leaders from Nigeria, Angola, Brazil, and Ecuador at a teach-in in Berkeley and a protest at a Chevron shareholder meeting. Details below:

WHAT: Teach-In On The True Cost of Chevron
WHEN: May 29, 2012
WHERE: David Brower Center, Berkeley
More info & RSVP on Facebook.

WHAT: 99% Spring Protest Outside Chevron’s Shareholder Meeting
WHEN: May 30, 2012
WHERE: Chevron HQ, 6001 Bollinger Canyon Rd., San Ramon, CA
More info & RSVP on Facebook.

Lakota Activists were arrested in Kyle, North Dakota for disorderly conduct for forming a blockade to stop tar sands mining equipment from passing through their land.

Debra White Plume, one of the activists talked about these mining trucks:

"They each carried a 'treater vessel' which is used to separate gas and oil and other elements. Each weighs 229,155 pounds, and is valued at $1,259,593, according to the papers we got from the truck drivers."
"They said their office in Canada made the route with the State of South Dakota to cross the Pine Ridge rez in order to avoid paying the state of South Dakota $50,000 per truck."  

Read more about it here

Watch Video of the action:

If built, Keystone XL will transport up to 35 million gallons of oil everyday through a 1,700 mile pipeline in Canada’s tar sands. The oil would travel to refineries in Texas and exported globally. This pipeline would only increase our fossil fuel dependence and speed up climate change while destroying and polluting the land and water.

Not only is it a dirty energy source, building this pipeline threatens freshwater supplies for millions and the habitats and lives of at least 20 endangered species would be in peril.

Right now in the Senate, an amendment to a transportation bill would allow for this pipeline to be built. This tar sands pipeline must be opposed to halt the construction of Keystone XL. Please contact your Senators now to ask them to oppose this amendment. Immediate action is required as a vote is expected soon.

Please take action by March 31, 2012.

Take action here.

Here is the content of the sample letter provided by The Center for Biological Diversity:

Subject: Please Oppose the Keystone XL Pipeline

Dear Senator,

I am writing to ask you to oppose the amendment to the transportation bill that would approve the Keystone XL pipeline.  

The proposed pipeline would cross U.S. wetlands, rivers, agricultural and drinking-water resources and wildlife habitat. An earlier Keystone pipeline has already leaked 14 times since 2010, and the Keystone XL pipeline is certain to spill as well. The risks of approving the Keystone XL pipeline are simply too great. Indeed, many landowners are resisting eminent domain because they don't want their land polluted by spills.

Canada's tar-sands development is one of the most destructive and dangerous activities on Earth. First, extracting oil from Canada's tar sands destroys boreal forest and wetlands where migratory birds breed; second, burning that oil creates massive, additional global warming pollution that will help commit us to devastating climate damage.

If this weren't bad enough, the Keystone XL pipeline will allow for export of dirty tar-sands oil to the global market: The American public will bear all of the pipeline's risks to line the pockets of multinational oil companies. 

I urge you to reject the amendment to the transportation bill that approves this controversial and harmful pipeline.

There is significant need among grassroots nonprofit organizations for capacity building and support services that Party Corps provide. 

Party Corps aims to build lasting community support and attract new members for our beneficiaries.  All proceeds from events go directly to the featured local cause. 

In the past, Party Corps has operated as an informal social network, throwing all volunteer-run events to raise money and support for Bay Area organizations.  We have seen how music can motivate and galvanize a community of active citizens.  Now, Party Corps is transitioning to a formal structure so we can produce better events and support more good causes.

Read More