Ruckus raised at enviro-camp

Two students from Students for Unity are attending a training camp for activists this week. The camp will provide participants with nonviolent tactics to protest injustice in corporate America.

Jeremy Rosenbloom and Angie Cesario are attending a Biojustice Action Camp this week in the San Diego area sponsored by the Ruckus Society. According to their Web site, “the Ruckus Society provides training in the skills of nonviolent civil disobedience to help environmental and human rights organizations achieve their goals.”

The Biojustice Action Camp is designed to bring together people opposed to genetically engineered foods, including farmers, activists, scientists and concerned citizens. Workshops and activities throughout the week-long event aim to help budding activists protest more effectively.

“Both [Jeremy and Angie] are very interested in what is happening with biotechnology,” said Ann Bujold, a representative for Students for Unity.

“They’re going to incorporate what they learn into their work at PSU, and focus on educating students.” The two students’ attendance at the camp is being sponsored by the Rearguard, a monthly PSU newspaper.

The camp started out with workshops on the philosophy of nonviolence, organizing grassroots movements and legal considerations for civil disobedience. Over the course of the week, participants will learn about climbing techniques, blockades, banner construction and public relations for activists. Presentations will also be given on genetically engineered foods and the human genome project.

Bujold explains that Students for Unity advocates for both environmentally- and worker-friendly farming practices, and that they support both workers rights and the use of sustainable farming practices. “We think that if it’s bad for you, it’s bad for the environment,” Bujold said. “We also believe in living wages and justice for workers ���� it’s not all about the environment, it’s about people, too.”

The Ruckus Society is a nonprofit organization founded in 1995 that focuses on training activists in the use of nonviolent civil disobedience. Activist camps are held approximately four times per year. For more information about future camps or the society, go to www.ruckus.org. For more information on Students for Unity or to get involved, visit their office in the Smith Center sub-basement or call (503) 725-8777.