The Prison Industrial Complex in VT, the U.S., and the Globe

Christine Desan, Professor of Law at Harvard Law School, joins us in a special episode of Dirt & Democracy. She examines to the evolution of the monetary and financial system from the barter system to modern central banking and it's impact on people and the land. She details the impact of the development of the financial system over time on both people and the landscape government delegated money creation to private investors, institutionalized the profit motive as the engine of the political economy, and privileged credit allocation by banks, which distribute the money supply as they expand it, and invites us to creatively design the systems of the future.View Video here: https://youtu.be/kckm4keXiTU

Special Episode Alert: This week on Dirt & Democracy, we focus on rural regeneration efforts in present-day China. Professor SIT Tsui addressed the challenges and opportunities involved in these efforts and emphasized their importance in addressing current global crises such as pandemics and climate change. The presentation is divided into two parts. The first part provides a brief overview of the history of the Rural Reconstruction Movement in modern China. The second part will covers the government and grassroots organizations' current rural regeneration work. This presentation includes discussions on political-economic initiatives, organizational structures, and cultural and educational projects aimed at mobilizing people from both urban and rural areas, particularly the younger generation. The presentation includes examples, as well as accompanying photos and videos. Watch on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2r1CmC6h4B0BiographySIT (Surname) Tsui (name)SIT Tsui is an Associate Professor at the Institute for Rural Revitalization Strategy, Southwest University, Chongqing, China. She is also a Founding Member of Global University for Sustainability. She has been involved in the Rural Reconstruction Movement in China for over two decades and mainly works on research, publication, and international networking.

Special Episode: This is an audio recording of a recent Dirt & Democracy meeting. This week on Dirt & Democracy, we are joined by long-time Coordinating Director of the North American Marine Alliance (NAMA) and Executive Director of National Family Farm Coalition (NFFC) board member and treasurer Niaz Dorry. Niaz is leading an innovative shared leadership model with NFFC and NAMA. Learn more about Niaz Dorry here. Niaz will speak about the grassroots food sovereignty movement across North America and how to get involved and engage in conversation about making the work and movement more effective.Since 1986, the National Family Farm Coalition has mobilized family farmers and ranchers to achieve fair prices, vibrant communities, and healthy foods free of corporate domination. The Coalition has 24 member groups in the US. Through NFFC, those groups, including Rural Vermont, are members of La Via Campesina North America. La Via Campesina is an international organization of hundreds of millions of peasants, landless workers, indigenous people, pastoralists, fishers, migrant farmworkers, small and medium-sized farmers, rural women, and peasant youth worldwide.Dirt & Democracy is a summer series focusing on building a democratic, agrarian social movement. Every other Sunday evening, join us online or at in-person watch parties throughout Vermont to learn from agrarian movement leaders from across the globe.Watch previous Dirt & Democracy episodes here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUlkKxmG_UmafscIBv0yr9Ea2eD_Jp1EISign up for Dirt & Democracy here: www.whiterivernrcd.org/dirt-and-democracy

Special Episode Alert! This is an audio version of a recent workshop we held on the history, purpose, and potential of our national, decentralized, democratic, locally-led infrastructure of the Conservation Districts from White River NRCD Director, Jennifer Byrne.Dirt & Democracy is a summer series focusing on building a democratic, agrarian social movement. Every other Sunday evening, join us online or at in-person watch parties throughout Vermont to learn from agrarian movement leaders from across the globe. Sign up for Dirt & Democracy here: www.whiterivernrcd.org/dirt-and-democracyWatch the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dh1wt-Zn2TI&list=PLUlkKxmG_UmafscIBv0yr9Ea2eD_Jp1EI&index=3&t=1s

Special Episode Alert! This is an audio version of a recent workshop we held on Consensus decision making, led by Sarah Coffey of the National Lawyers Guild.Dirt & Democracy is a summer series focusing on building a democratic, agrarian social movement. Every other Sunday evening, join us online or at in-person watch parties throughout Vermont to learn from agrarian movement leaders from across the globe. This week, Sarah Coffey of the National Lawyers Guild trained us in consensus decision-making processes.Sign up for Dirt & Democracy here: www.whiterivernrcd.org/dirt-and-democracyWatch the video here:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yA7KVf91c8Q&list=PLUlkKxmG_UmafscIBv0yr9Ea2eD_Jp1EI

We sat down with local super hero, Cat Buxton, to talk about the living soil, composting, recycling, being neighborly, and the Super Compost Project!Resources Shared on this Episode:Compost 101 with CatQuorum Sensing in the Soil Microbiome - Dr. Christine JonesSoil Sponge - Didi Pershouse (Instagram Post)Composting Association of Vermont"Make Big Oil Pay" Law Act 122 - VermontUniversal Recycling Law Act 148 - VermontBIPOC Community SurveyDirt & Democracy

Newbury Selectboard candidate Susan Culp highlights her ideas for economic development, climate adaptation, and land use in the Town of Newbury!Reach out to Susan's campaign: [email protected]: get out and vote in your Town Meeting Day, Tuesday March 5th!VTDigger Article on the Newbury Youth Detention CenterVPR Guide to Vermont Town Meeting Day 2024VT Supreme Court Decision, Dissent beginning on page 12

We are finally ready to announce our brand new workforce development program, in partnership with the Virgin Islands Department of Agriculture and the Virgin Islands Women in Agriculture Association!Resources referenced in this episode:Register for White River NRCD Local Working Group Feb 22 @ 6:30Conservation Careers Workforce Development ProposalArticle on difficulty of accessing EPA Environmental Justice GrantsThe Jones Act

As promised, here is our first episode on the prison system in Vermont, the US, and the globe. For more information on the topics shared today visit:https://doc.vermont.gov/ - VT Dept of Corrections websitehttps://www.bop.gov/inmates/custody_and_care/unicor_about.jsp#benefits - Unicor's Program Detailshttps://oig.justice.gov/reports/2016/i1608.pdf - DOJ's findings of fraud by Unicor and ArmorSource

Resources from this pod: Small Business Technical Assistance Exchange Grant www.rdcsofvermont.org ; VT Contract Bid Website: www.vermontbusinessregistry.com ; Federal Contract Website www.fbo.govOn this episode we share stories about getting government contracts, writing plans vs TAKING ACTION, and broken-things we have experienced in our work relating to language access barriers, the farming community, student loans, and disaster relief. With love, from Vermont!