Support the Earth First! Journal and Purchase One of Marie Mason’s Paintings

The Earth First! Journal is holding their First Annual Art Auction as part of their big fundraising drive to cover the printing costs for the 2014 year.  Marie has donated her two most recent paintings- Banana Slug and Northern Lights, Melting Ice to the event.  The auction is taking place online November 18th.  Be sure to check out her and the many other artists’ original works and bid generously to support one of the best radical publications out there.

 

1st Annual Earth First! Journal Art Auction 

A painting of a banana sl

A painting of a banana slug.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Northern Lights, Melting Ice

Banana Slug

A painting of a banana slug.

A painting of a banana slug.

Northern Lights, Melting Ice

Northern Lights Intro

Northern Lights, Melting Ice

Marie Mason Composes Two Songs- Monsanto Blues, The Door Swings Both Ways

From Marie,

So these two songs are an attempt to put music to a friend’s lyrics (and to collaborate on lyrics, as well- Rick’s given me a lot of license to adjust for rhythm and to add lyrics for the bridges). It’s such a different process, a real challenge and I hope to learn a lot from it.

I think Rick originally wrote the Monsanto Blues about a farmer in Michigan that got some uninvited GMO pollen in his organic corn field. Then they (Monsanto) tried to sue him for non-payment for the GMO corn. Which was ironic, as it ruined his crop from being certified organic- which had been his intended crop when he planted.

Sadly, he lost both ways- the pollen belonged to Monsanto and he had to wait 5 years to be re-certified organic. Not too surprising that the court sided with the big corporation. Now Michigan can’t seem to certify any organic cornfields- they’re all contaminated.

I’ve included both notation and tabs (with chords and lyrics, too)- just because this is the first time trying to share songs and not just poetry. Tab can be put on line, just use 6 lines for the guitar strings and numbers for the frets. I always use standard tuning, but have been trying to learn to play in open G and D tunings. There’s a bunch of cool, old Stones tunes, blues standards and some recent Civil Wars songs that use these alternate tunings. Of course, couldn’t get to the guitar while I was on lock- so it was really nice to get to play for a few minutes last night.

Monsanto Blues

Monsanto Blues Notation

Monsanto Blues Notation 2

 

Monsanto Blues tabs

 

The Door Swings Both Ways

The Door Swings Both Ways

The Door Swings Both Ways- lyrics page 1a

The Door Swings Both Ways- lyrics page 1b

The Door Swings Both Ways- tabs

Write the BOP director and ask that Marie be moved

NOTE: We are asking supporters to send letters through November 25, 2013.

Please help get Marie Mason moved out of FMC Carswell by writing a letter to the Bureau of Prisons Director. We are asking as many people as possible to write letters and organize letter writing events so that we can show the BOP just how many people recognize her position as unjust, and support the idea of her being moved into a general population unit closer to her family.

Below is the address to send all letters to, and a sample letter. Please remain firm but polite in your communications with the BOP.

Charles E. Samuels, Jr. , Director,
Federal Bureau of Prisons,
320 First St., NW,
Washington, DC  20534
USA

Dear Director Samuels:

I write on behalf of Marie Mason #04672-061, who is currently incarcerated
in a special isolation unit at FMC Carswell in Fort Worth, Texas.  Marie
has been unjustly placed in this unit – without notice or cause- in a move
that is strictly punitive on the part of the BOP. She has had no
disciplinary incidents since her incarceration, poses no threat or danger
to the prison or other inmates and has worked hard to make her life and
the life of her fellow inmates better for the last 5 years. There is no
reason for her to be in this unit – 1000 miles from friends and family.
In fact, you said in a memorandum written to all federal prisoners in June
2013 to reaffirm the importance of parenting that, “there is no substitute
for seeing your children, looking them in the eye, and letting them know
you care about them.”  Marie would love the opportunity to do this.

I urge you to transfer Marie to a lower security facility – closer to her
family and friends – so that she can serve the remainder of her sentence
in a facility where she can be housed with the general population.

Her sentence would best be served in a facility consistent with her
peaceful personality and constructive nature.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.  If a reply is possible, it
would be appreciated.

Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Address Optional]

“Move Marie” color brochure, b&w flyer

The campaign to have Marie moved from her special isolation unit is underway! Please write a letter today.

You can download the “Move Marie” pamphlet here:

trifold color brochure (smaller version, 600KB)

trifold color brochure (larger version)

A black and white half-page flyer with a different design and dates for the upcoming events on the 21st and 25th is available here.

The text version and a sample letter are available here.

October 25- International Kick Off to Move Marie Mason Campaign

 In 2009, environmental activist and community organizer Marie Mason was sentenced to almost 22 years in prison for the arson of an office which housed genetically modified organism (GMO) research and for the destruction of logging equipment.  Marie is now serving the longest sentence of any activist in the U.S. for environmental direct action.  Her sentence is part of a larger crackdown by the state on environmental activists, which has come to be known as the Green Scare.  The Green Scare, much like the Red Scare and COINTELPRO, targets people for their politics.  The government’s use of tactics such as entrapment, the spread of disinformation by paid informants, media smear campaigns, trumped up charges, and harsh prison sentences are all too familiar to folks who know their history.
Marie’s persecution has continued throughout her sentence.  Without notice or cause, Marie was transferred from the low security FCI Waseca Prison to the notorious FMC Carswell.  Over a thousand miles from friends and family, Marie is cut off from the general prison population, in a special isolation unit known for its frequent lockdowns and added restrictions on communication.
Marie was unjustly moved to this restrictive unit for what appears to be completely punitive reasons – even though her disciplinary record since her incarceration is spotless and she poses no danger or threat to the prison or other inmates. Marie has, in fact, worked hard to make the lives of other inmates better since her time in prison.
Marie should not be in this unit at FMC Carswell.
No one should be in this unit at FMC Carswell.
We’re launching a campaign to Move Marie out of FMC Carswell to a medium security prison closer to family and friends.  This campaign will also highlight the continued attacks on the environmental movement, the appalling conditions in FMC Carswell and other high security prisons, and the use of isolation and long-term solitary confinement against prisoners.
We’re calling on fellow environmentalists, radical parents, prison abolitionists, labor organizers, opponents of GMOs, musicians, artists, and other rabble rousers to join us as we kick this campaign into high gear.  This will be a time to put pressure on the Bureau of Prisons and to take part in creative actions across the world, amplifying the campaign to Move Marie, and to Free Marie and All Political Prisoners.
You can help by participating in October 25th!
Join the Free Marie Campaign 
  • Join the Free Marie Campaign is a simple commitment to serve as a point person in the campaign. It can be as simple as serving as a contact in your local area for organizing events and coordinating actions.
  • We’ll send out action alerts, event announcements, and updates on October 25th to keep you in the loop. Sign up for the Move Marie announcement list-
  • Follow Support Marie Mason on Facebook and on @FreeMarieMason on Twitter
  • Organizers: join the Campaign by emailing us at movemarie@riseup.net and organize an event below.
Organize a campaign event 
  • Organize a phone tree to flood the BOP on the 21st with calls demanding Marie’s transfer
  • Organize a letter writing party (we can help with the materials)
  • Screen a relevant film, such as If a Tree Falls, or the show Orange is the New Black
  • Host a vegan dinner to fundraise
  • Put on a benefit show or letter writing event
  • Anything else creative that helps contribute to the campaign!
  • Contact us at movemarie@riseup.net and we’ll help you link up with others in your city to help you act on October 25th
Donate time and funds to the campaign 
  • We’ll be producing short films, launching a legal campaign, developing outreach materials, and more – all of which costs money.  The more we get from donations, the less time we need to spend fundraising to pay for these important pieces, and the more time we spend working on getting Marie out of Carswell.
  • We need your talent!  We especially need the help of musicians, artists, graphic designers, web developers, and lawyers/paralegals.
Spread the word
  • Use the hashtag #MoveMarie on social media
  • The more people who know about Marie and this campaign, the more successful we’ll be.
  • Tell your friends and family about her case
  • Distribute Move Marie materials (we’ll even mail them to you free of charge)
Send Marie your Support
  • Leave a comment on her blog and we’ll mail that out to her-
  • Send her a postcard, letter, comic strip, interesting article, story from a campaign you’re involved in, a cute anecdote about your kids, whatever!
  • Include all the information below:
Marie Mason #04672-061
FMC Carswell
Federal Medical Center
P.O. Box 27137
Fort Worth, TX 76127

Join the Move Marie Campaign

Marie Mason is being held in a highly restricted prison unit for her political beliefs. Join the movement to get her moved out of Carswell and stop the political targeting of her. For more info see the Move Marie page.

Until We Are All Free Radio Documentary

Listen to the radio documentary on Marie Mason and Eric McDavid here.

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Get on the Listserv

Send a Book

Write to Marie Mason

We encourage everyone to write to Marie Mason in prison:

Marie Mason #04672-061

FMC Carswell

Federal Medical Center

P.O. Box 27137

Fort Worth, TX 76127

Under no circumstances mention any illegal acts. Letters that mention other Green Scare prisoners may be rejected. Mason has a list of 100 pre-approved people she can write to; if you are not on that list, she will be able to receive your letter but not write back.

Everyone must use their first and last name when writing. All letters must be entirely in English. Be sure to include your return address on the envelope. You should also write her name and prisoner number on each piece of correspondence, as the prison tends to discard the envelope and then may "lose" track of who the letter is going to.

Last, do not send anything that is "affixed" to the letter or card - such as glitter and glue. Pen, pencil, crayon and paint are fine.

About Marie Mason

Marie Mason is a loving mother of two and a long-time activist in the environmental and labor movements. In March 2008, she was arrested by federal authorities for charges related to two acts of property destruction that occurred in 1999 and 2000; no one was injured in either of them. She accepted a plea bargain and was sentenced on February 5, 2009 to just under 22 years. She is now serving the longest sentence of any "Green Scare" prisoner.

The “Green Scare” is the name given to the recent arrests of animal rights and environmental activists who have been charged with acts of economic sabotage. Federal authorities have sought outrageous sentences (often Life in prison) and have publicly and legally labeled the activists as “terrorists” – despite the fact that no one has been killed or injured in any of the acts.

Supporting Marie Mason does not mean agreeing with the actions that she took -- but it does mean opposing the fear-mongering tactics of the federal government and the outrageous sentences they have imposed.

Background on the Green Scare

For more information on the Green Scare see here

Contact

supportmariemason@gmail.com

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