An introduction to the community-rights movement will be offered from 6–9 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 19, at the Barney Community Center, 1000 E. Montgomery St., Sparta.
The program will focus on high-capacity wells, frac-sand mines, and the effect of CAFOs (concentrated animal feeding operations) on Wisconsin’s drinking water and air.
Paul Cienfuegos, who will lead the workshop, is the program director and lead trainer of Community Rights US, a nonprofit project based in Oregon. According to a press release prepared by event organizers, he is an “activist, organizer and lecturer driven to reign in corporate power at the local level through community-rights ordinances.”
In the past four years, Cienfuegos has led workshops in more than 20 rural counties across Iowa, Wisconsin and Minnesota. This is his first time in Monroe County. More information on Cienfuegos is available at www.communityrights.us.
The following statement was included the press release: “Concerned about the expanding destruction of sensitive ecosystems in our unique Driftless Region? Feeling helpless in the face of large corporate utility, mining and agricultural incursions into your community? So are many of your neighbors. Learn how to take back local control by challenging the right of the state and of corporations to destroy your water, air, property and quality of life.”