First:  Take inspiration by watching others speak up to protect what we love - our home. The BoS meetings are recorded. Watch the July 11 meeting on YouTube channel here. The public comments begin right after the opening, at 17+ minutes. The unanimous vote to move forward with an ordinance came late in the meeting: 3:04. Yes - that's 3 hours, 4 minutes. Don't blink.

Next:  Show up to speak up at every BoS meeting until we get it done! Persistence and numbers! The BoS meets every second Monday.

Messaging:  Information to inspire is at VACRN website and FoB gold page. 

We want the county to assert its capacity to deny the first (special use) permit (in a long list of required permits) to any applying metallic mining company. The power of our proposed ordinance lies in the fact that it is rights-based. Read this inspiring ordinance here. 

Would you agree that people have a right not to be poisoned?  Personal property and corporate property can’t be trespassed on. We are asserting the right to be free from the toxic trespass of metallic mining.

We also assert our right to a constitutionally guaranteed republican form of government. We want our elected officials to represent and protect us from the toxic trespass of polluting industry.

And! The common sense "Prove it First" requirements: Before! getting a permit - show us another mine that has caused no harm to a community.

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Here's a sample comment for the next meeting:

Hello My name is___________. I live in District____ [OR: I own land in District___]

I urge you to adopt in full, the Toxic Trespass Ordinance proposed by the Virginia Community Rights Network and the Friends of Buckingham.   ...give your reasons.

In case you missed it:
 

All Virginians! Take Action! 
Get your comments in Now!

You know that numbers matter. It takes a village! Let them know we care! How do we do that?

1. Please submit your written comments to the National Academies of Sciences (NAS) on their website here. In the upper right hand corner click on “Provide feedback on this project”.
2. Please take one more important action. Let the State Agencies (who are the other half of this study of gold mining) also know how you feel (Can be the same comments). Please submit comments through the Virginia Regulatory Town Hall on the public comment forum on the gold mining study.

For talking points click here.
Get inspired - Watch videos of folks commenting at the NAS Listening Session in this post.
New to this? Need more info? Check out FoB's web page on industrial gold mining Here.

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We are resource rich! Check this out:

Watch the June 23 recording of 3 stellar gold mining experts: Aaron Mintzes JD is on first (Earthworks); Stu Levitt JD (land mine reclamation); Dr Ann Maest (Environmental & Human health effects). Excellent!

If you haven't watched - not to miss! May 16 meeting recording: [Password is Xk7yfPpq]  At 30 minutes Dr. Steve Emerman & at 60 minutes Dr David Pellow give compelling arguments for why there’s no place for industrial gold mining in VA.

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Check out those reports here:
SELC & CBF report
Dr. Ann Maest report.
Statewide coalition sign on letter to NAS

POWHR