How you can make a positive difference with Oct. 4th “Day of Action to Stop Smart Meters” just around the corner

What have you got planned for Thursday, October 4, 2012, “National Day of Action To Stop Smart Meters“?

Organizations, groups and individuals — from Washington, D.C., to Hawaii, and around the globe — are scheduling a variety of Action Day events, demonstrations, rallies, and activities to protest against smart meters, and to increase public awareness about why we need to stop smart meters now.

The utility and smart meter industries have attempted to marginalize No-Smart-Meter proponents, similar to how the BPA and GMO industries like to dismiss health advocates and right-to-know consumers, as “a small but vocal minority.”  But thanks to actions big and small taken by people like you and me, we are growing in numbers as the masses increasingly become aware about the smart meter issue and why protecting our basic rights to health, privacy, security, public safety and quality of life is the right thing to do.

So how can you become a part of history and contribute to helping move humanity forward on that day? If you don’t come up with any ideas right away, don’t panic.  Organizers are reminding us, “make your event fun and easy“:

“Any action against smart meters will fit, whether it be a protest, door-to-door flyering, a teach-in or a meet up.”

Event organizers advise you simply follow these 3 steps:

You can find other local supporters, make some signs, and locate your utility office or government regulatory agency- then take some photos or video to show the rest of the world why you are fed up with the forced smart grid.  It’s as easy as 1,2,3!

1.  If you are planning an event in your local area, please send an e-mail to info@actiondaytostopsmartmeters.org and we will add you to the Event List.  If you need advice or support, we are here to help!

2.  Use our materials to spread the word about your event.  You can adapt our press release to send out to local media.  Download posters and flyers to distribute in your area.

3.  Send us photos or a video recording of your action. A short 3 minute or less video would be sufficient. You can use a regular digital camera to film the video. An example can be seen in this DC protest.  Please post your video on Youtube or Indymedia and send us a link so we can compile a gallery of all Action Day events!

Thanks to the Center for Electrosmog Prevention, for also recommending these easy action ideas:

1. Plan and participate in a protest in your area, on busy freeway overpass, or main intersection, or in front of the local utility office.

2. Call and write the White House if you can’t participate in a protest event on October 4th. The phone number to call is 1-202-456-1111, and you can also write to the White House at http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/submit-questions-and-comments. We encourage you to do both and to have everyone you know do the same!

 You may wish to say, “Dear President Obama, I oppose wireless smart meters because of serious health risks and health problems after their installation, loss of privacy, hacking , cyber security risks, fires, and increased costs. Please stop encouraging their use. I would like you to help with a nationwide ban on the use of smart meters and a moratorium on the federal funding of smart meters. Many of my family and friends feel the same way. In fact, a large number of communities including counties and cities have come out against smart meters due to these problems, even to the point of criminalizing their installation. The federal government should not be encouraging or paying for such dangerous and intrusive technologies. This issue may impact my votes in November.” Add your personal reasons. Sign and provide contact info.

Organizers also ask that you “Call your friends in other states and countries to encourage them to take part.  If they are planning something-= even small- please have them e-mail a contact, time, date, and place to info@actiondaytostopsmartmeters.org“

Here are more fun and easy ways you can participate:

1.  Need a good excuse to get together with friends or loved ones? Call them up and  schedule it for Thursday.  Or plan an action with your children as a lesson in civics and community building.

2.   Do a group action together — in addition to getting together for a fun meal or coffee/tea or dessert, pass out flyers at your local health food store (ask the owner if it’s okay first).  Or write letters to President Obama, your City Council (here in Burbank, it’s CityCouncil@ci.burbank.ca.us), County Supervisors, State Legislators, Congressional Representative and Senators, and state Governor. Remind our elected officials, as our good residents here in Burbank have pointed out, that we “Elect to Protect” and we want the no-cost right and freedom of choice to have or keep our traditional electromechanical analog meters whenever and wherever we live.

3.  Post a group photo or video of you or yourselves on Facebook or Twitter holding your own personal sign or message about not wanting Smart Meters on your home or in your community.  Then don’t forget to e-mail the link to Action Day organizers (at info@actiondaytostopsmartmeters.org), as mentioned above, who are compiling a gallery of all Action Day events.

And remember — you don’t need to be a giant to move mountains.  You also don’t need to be many, several or some.  Even you as an individual can contribute to Action Day by doing a variation of the any of the above suggested actions,  or coming up with your own idea.   It only takes the power of one to make a positive difference in this world!

The National Day of Action Against Smart Meters is being spearheaded by the National Campaign to Stop Smart Meters and the Wireless Radiation Protection Coalition to coincide with “Gridweek” in our nation’s capitol — where industry, lobbyist & government officials will be holding a ‘Smart Grid’ industry conference.

Flyer and poster artwork, at top and middle of this post, are courtesy of National Campaign To Stop Smart Meters and the Wireless Radiation Protection Coalition. You can get free downloads of these and other professional-style materials that you can use and share with others at the “Day of Action To Stop Smart Meters” website: http://actiondaytostopsmartmeters.org/?page_id=22