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Our “Tour” to the Office of Our Congressperson, Rep. Peter DeFazio, Opposing Forced Psych Drugs

Posted by on November 6, 2016 in Activism, Legislature, Mental Health | 1 comment

We are hearing a lot about how the Democratic and Republican parties are so separate. But when it comes to psychiatric survivors, both parties have been willing to throw our folks under a bus. The US Congress simply does not represent us. Our local alternative newspaper, Eugene Weekly, described our event this way: International Association for the Advancement of Creative Maladjustment says it hosts a “little peaceful Speak Out Against Psychiatric Dosing” event in Kesey Square 1:30 pm Friday, Nov. 4, 2016. Organizer David Oaks says,...

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My Debate With My Congressperson In the Letters to Editor

Posted by on November 3, 2016 in Activism, Mental Health | Comments Off on My Debate With My Congressperson In the Letters to Editor

Here is my most recent letter, published by the Eugene Weekly, November 3, 2016. Below that is Rep. Peter DeFazio’s note about my concerns, published by the Eugene Weekly on October 20. Below that is my original letter published by EW October 6. As part of a tour, “Keep Eugene Weirdest,” I will visit the office of Rep. Peter DeFazio tomorrow, Friday, November 4, 2016. For more info, and to join us, click here. MENTAL HEALTH BILL In Eugene Weekly, Rep. Pete DeFazio (D-OR) and I have been debating a bill he is co-sponsoring,...

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I, David Oaks, PsychoQuad, 1st “Stand-Up Comedy” July 30, 2016, “Bleepin’ Funny” Sam Bond’s Garage, Eugene, Oregon (Both 5 & 10 min versions)

Posted by on November 2, 2016 in Disability, Mental Health, Peer Support | Comments Off on I, David Oaks, PsychoQuad, 1st “Stand-Up Comedy” July 30, 2016, “Bleepin’ Funny” Sam Bond’s Garage, Eugene, Oregon (Both 5 & 10 min versions)

UPDATE: Both a five-minute edited version and a ten-minute full version of my Sam Bond’s Summer 2016 comedy can be found below now for your viewing pleasure. In a while we will post the February 2017 return to the stage, thanks David Zupan, you are a real friend! We have also updated additional info after the videos, including links. Below, you can watch the both a five-minute and ten-minute video of me, David W. Oaks, getting laughs and a standing ovation, with captions, of my stand-up comedy, Summer 2016. Before I broke my neck in...

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Keep Eugene Weirdest! “We’re the Crazy Ones?”

Posted by on November 1, 2016 in Activism, Disability, Legislature, Mental Health, Peer Support | Comments Off on Keep Eugene Weirdest! “We’re the Crazy Ones?”

You can download a PDF flyer about this event here: 11-4-2016-keep-eugene-weirdest On Facebook, find this event: https://www.facebook.com/events/360892380927309/ This Friday, Nov. 4, 2016 — Free Walking Tour Keep Eugene Weirdest! “We’re the crazy ones?” Your tour guides: Slug Queen Mark Roberts (wearing Donald Trump mask), David Oaks, Michael Hejazi, Ian McTeague, R. Drake Ewbank and David Zupan.     1:30 pm: Intro & icebreaker start at Kesey Square. 2 pm: Tour walks east on Broadway to office of Rep. Peter...

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My Response to Rep. Pete DeFazio About His Mental Health Bill

Posted by on October 22, 2016 in Activism, Legislature, Mental Health | Comments Off on My Response to Rep. Pete DeFazio About His Mental Health Bill

Below is the letter I just emailed to Eugene Weekly, which has published a back and forth between me and Rep. Pete DeFazio (D-OR) over his mental health bill.  At the bottom are links to more info, including our published letters this month, October 2016. Dear Eugene Weekly Editor: In Eugene Weekly, Rep. Pete DeFazio (D-OR) and I have been debating a bill he is co-sponsoring, H.R. 2646. This complex proposal, more than 100 pages, is mis-named “Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis Act of 2016.” It should be called “The Mental Health...

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The Struggle Against Dakota Access Pipeline Is Directly In Front Of Us

Posted by on October 21, 2016 in Peer Support | Comments Off on The Struggle Against Dakota Access Pipeline Is Directly In Front Of Us

Native American water protectors resisting the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL) may seem remote. From here in Eugene, Oregon, it is about 1,500 miles to Standing Rock, which is the gathering site this year of thousands of indigenous people and their allies from all over this hemisphere. But there is a way this climate crisis issue is directly in front of me and many people throughout the U.S.A. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is one of the main groups championing DAPL and the petrochemical industry rape of Earth. The climate defender group 350 has...

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Eugene Weekly: Why I’m a Write-In Candidate to Replace Rep. Pete DeFazio (D-OR)

Posted by on October 6, 2016 in Activism, Disability, Legislature, Mental Health, Peer Support | 9 comments

Eugene Weekly: Why I’m a Write-In Candidate to Replace Rep. Pete DeFazio (D-OR)

Update 22 October 2016: At the bottom you will now find a rebuttal from Rep. DeFazio.  The main alternative paper here in Eugene, Oregon ran my letter to the editor about why I am running (or rolling) as write-in candidate to replace Rep. Pete DeFazio. Eugene Weekly, October 6, 2016: MENTAL HEALTH LAWS  Rep. Pete DeFazio sadly co-sponsored the worst piece of mental health legislation I have seen in 42 years of human rights activism. HR 2646 is more than 100 pages long, so mainly lobbyists seem to know the details. The worst part is that this...

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Call Me Loony, But Al Gore Gave Me Hope Today About Climate Crisis

Posted by on October 5, 2016 in Activism, Environment, Normalgeddon, Peer Support | 3 comments

My wife Debra insisted this morning that I load up and watch with her a TED (Technology Entertainment Design) Talk that Al Gore made earlier this year, February 2016. Al explains why he is optimistic about addressing the climate crisis, if we all jump on board right now. The last few years I have watched hundreds of documentaries, including countless TED Talks, however this one is indeed special. So call me loony, but with Debra, I did watch Al Gore’s latest TED presentation, 25 minutes, and I gained positivity: Are you optimistic or...

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Crazy Good Buzz: Labeled Mental Health & Disability Leaders to Launch New Project — You Are Welcome!

Posted by on September 18, 2016 in Activism, Disability, Environment, Mental Health | Comments Off on Crazy Good Buzz: Labeled Mental Health & Disability Leaders to Launch New Project — You Are Welcome!

In the near future, a number of mad movement and disability movement leaders plan to launch a new project, and you are invited to be one of the visionaries before the launch. The motto is ” Label Me Revolutionary.” Psychiatric survivors who have been working for decades in this social change movement are brainstorming to assist me, David Oaks, also known as PsychoQuad, in this endeavor. We are working on a new website for this campaign, to transform labels — mental or physical disability — into social change. Here...

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You Are Invited to a Free Event Everywhere: Ken Kesey Birthday & 5th Anniversary of Occupy

Posted by on September 13, 2016 in Peer Support | 2 comments

PDF of one page flyer with this info, here: 917-poster Ken Kesey Birthday & Fifth Anniversary of Occupy THIS Saturday, 17 September 2016 4 PM to 7 PM free free free yes yes yes Kesey Square, Broadway & Willamette, Eugene (If you are not in Eugene, celebrate wherever you are!) This would be the 81st birthday for author Ken Kesey. This is also the fifth anniversary of the start of Occupy Wall St. movement. Peaceful, legal, family-friendly, fun, unscripted gathering! Bring drums. Open mic. hosts: YOU! Plus Debra Nunez, Sue Barnhart,...

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