ACTION ALERT: 7 Actions to Protect Live Music.....

[Pivot]

CONGRESS WANTS TO TAKE AWAY YOUR RIGHTS
SEVEN THINGS TO DO ABOUT IT

Your right to dance, sing, DJ, listen to good music, and run your own
business is under attack. The federal government may soon have the
power to shut down dance clubs, rock, country, and Hip Hop concerts,
gay and lesbian bars, and anything else federal officials don't like.

As you may know, Congress is considering three bills that could land
many event promoters, bar and nightclub owners, and stadium owners in
jail if even one person uses drugs at their events. If enacted,
these
bills could prevent you from hearing your favorite band or DJ live.
Every musical style would be affected.

The three dangerous bills are the RAVE Act (H.R. 718), the CLEAN-UP
Act (H.R. 834), and the Illicit Drugs Anti-Proliferation Act (S.
226). While aimed at the very real problem of substance abuse, the
bills go too far by punishing business owners for the drug offenses
of their customers and threatening to shut down concerts, circuit
parties, dance clubs, and other forms of entertainment. Business
owners could be jailed for enacting health measures that save lives -
such as teaching their staff first-aid. You could even go to jail for
20 years for throwing a party in your own home.

Drug Policy Alliance worked with dozens of organizations to stop
these bills last year. Tens of thousands of voters urged their
Members of Congress to oppose the bills. Two of the original co -
sponsors withdrew their support and House and Senate leadership never
dared to bring the bills up for a vote. Supporters of these draconian
bills, however, are determined to pass them this year. They will
become law unless you help.

Drug Policy Alliance staff are heading down to Miami next week for
the 2003 Winter Music Conference to work with business owners,
artists, and fans to develop a comprehensive plan for stopping these
bills and protecting music and dancing. Even as you read this e-mail,
however, politicians in Washington, DC are plotting to quickly make
these laws and give the government broad new power over your life.
They will succeed, unless you ACT NOW.

SEVEN THINGS TO DO

***ACTION ONE: SUPPORT US

Contribute to the national campaign to stop these bills. Without your
help, these bills could become law by the end of the year. Drug
Policy Alliance Network needs to raise at least $180,000 in emergency
funding to stop Congress and protect music and dancing. In
particular, we need to hire a high-profile Washington lobbying firm
that can voice the concerns of promoters, DJs, and nightclub owners
directly to Members of Congress and pressure them to oppose these
bills. We also need vital funding for grassroots and public education
efforts.

Without emergency funding from people like you, we will not be able
to squash these draconian bills and protect music, dancing, and all
your rights.

Contribute on-line at
http://www.nomoredrugwar.org/donate
Any size gift will make a difference.

***ACTION TWO: CONTACT YOUR MEMBERS OF CONGRESS

Contact your Members of Congress. Tell your Representative to oppose
the RAVE Act (H.R. 718) in its entirety and to oppose Section 305 in
the CLEAN-UP Act (H.R. 834). Tell your Senators to oppose the Illicit
Drugs Anti-Proliferation Act (S. 226).

Fax your Representative for free by going to:
http://actioncenter.drugpolicy.org/a...ep=2&item=1516

Fax your Senators for free by going to:
http://actioncenter.drugpolicy.org/a...ep=2&item=1448

Organize a group of voters in your area to meet with your elected
officials directly. Information on organizing a meeting with your
Members of Congress can be found at
http://www.nomoredrugwar.org/music/capbasics.htm

***ACTION THREE: HOST AN EVENT

Hold an event in which part of the proceeds goes to the cause.
(E-mail bpiper@drugpolicy.org if interested). For instance, Buzzlife
Productions and Maze Nightclub are having an event in Miami in which
the ticket sales go to our fight in Congress. Tickets for this
benefit can be purchased at:
http://www.*************.com/ordersy...%2BProductions

You do not have to attend the event to buy a ticket, and all proceeds
go to Drug Policy Alliance and the Electronic Music Defense Fund
(EMEF) for our fight against the RAVE Act.

***ACTION FOUR: PUT A BANNER AD ON YOUR WEB SITE

Tell people about the fax campaign. Link to our banner ad. Here is a
link to the code you can cut and paste on our website:
http://www.nomoredrugwar.org/music/link_rave.htm

***ACTION FIVE: EDUCATE THE PUBLIC

Raise public awareness by distributing flyers at events, sending
action alerts to e-mail lists, using drug policy activists soundbites
in your music and more. Find out more at:
http://www.nomoredrugwar.org/music/whattodo.htm

***ACTION SIX: SUBMIT A LETTER TO YOUR LOCAL NEWSPAPER

Write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper urging your
Members of Congress to oppose these bills. After you submit the
letter, send a copy of the letter to your Members of Congress, along
with a personal note. This is a good way to show your elected
officials that you not only care enough about the issue to write
them, but that you also care enough to write a letter to the local
newspaper.

To find out the contact info for newspapers in your state see:
http://www.mapinc.org/media.htm
For tips on writing a letter to the editor, including talking points,
see:
http://www.nomoredrugwar.org/music/media.htm

To find out who your Representative is see:
http://www.house.gov

To find out who your Senators are see:
http://www.senate.gov

***ACTION SEVEN: FORWARD THIS ALERT

Forward this action alert to your friends, co-workers, and family
members, as well as e-mail lists. We need thousands of voters to take
action.

For more information on these bills and the war on dancing and music
see:

http://www.drugpolicy.org/communities/raveact/
and http://www.nomoredrugwar.org

Please consider giving to our campaign to protect your rights.
Without your help, Congress may soon destroy music and entertainment,
as we know it. Contribute on-line at: www.nomoredrugwar/donate
<http://www.nomoredrugwar/donate>.

PS: MIAMI WINTER MUSIC CONFERENCE

If you will be in Miami the week of March 17th, check out the
following:

Wednesday, March 19th
Music Benefit for Drug Policy Alliance and EMEF
Maze Nightclub
1290 18th Street
Miami Beach, FL
10pm-5am, $15
(Special thanks to Buzzlife Productions!!! <http://www.buzzlife.com>)

Friday, March 21st
"No to S. 226", Music and Fun
The Laundry Bar
721 Lincoln Lane
South Beach Miami, FL
10pm-5am || Giveaways from sponsors all night
(North East corner direction of the Sony Music Building)
This is a FREE event
(Special thanks to LuvChild Entertainment!!!
http://www.luvchildentertainment.com)

Drug Policy Alliance will have booths at both of these events, as
well as numerous other events during the Winter Music Conference. If
you are attending Remix Hotel (<http://www.remixmag.com>), make sure
to stop by our booth in the exhibit area.