[Iowa-dx] Fwd: Don't Miss Events & Vote For Your Favorite Quote . . . ~ LTNews 2.12

hhart@blue.weeg.uiowa.edu hhart@blue.weeg.uiowa.edu
Wed, 6 Sep 2006 22:13:53 -0500


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LIBERTY TREE
Foundation for the Democratic Revolution

http://www.LibertyTreeFDR.org
~ Liberty Tree News 2.12 ~
       September 6, 2006

Liberty Tree News 2.12

Statewide Meeting to Save Higher Education in CT. . . Building =20
Democracy in Western MA. . . Local Democracy Convention. . .T-Shirt =20
Poll. . .

  * * * LIBERTY TREE EVENTS * * *

I. Calling all students, faculty, and staff at universities and =20
colleges across Connecticut...Please come to the STATEWIDE MEETING TO =20
SAVE HIGHER EDUCATION

    Tuition is going up↑ / Services are down↓
    Class sizes are up↑ / Access is down↓
    War spending is up↑ / Academic freedom is down↓
    Isn't it time to turn our campuses around?!?

    With: Guest speaker Ben Manski, a fellow with the Liberty Tree =20
Foundation and one of the nation's leading experts on the corporate =20
takeover of higher education

    What: Connect the dots on what is happening to higher education in =20
Connecticut. Develop a plan of action for reversing the tuition hikes, =20
union-busting, and other aspects of corporatization.

    Why: Access to a quality education is one of the chief pillars of =20
any democracy. If students don't lead the way in fighting for higher =20
education, who will?

    Who: UConn students are hosting this meeting. We've already heard =20
from other students, faculty, staff, and community members at other =20
campuses who plan to attend. We hope you'll join us.

    Where: Student Union, Room 320, University of Connecticut, Storrs

    When: Tuesday, September 12th, 2006 at 7:30pm

--> For further information about our Democratizing Education Program, =20
visit our website: http://www.LibertyTreeFDR.org


II. Building Democracy Retreat in Western Mass

    With: Kaitlin Sopoci-Belknap, a fellow with the Liberty Tree =20
Foundation and Campaign Manager for Measure T in Humboldt County, CA =20
and Ward Morehouse of the Program on Corporations, Law and Democracy.

    Kaitlin is fresh off spearheading a local victory that bans =20
corporate campaign donations and asserts citizen authority over =20
corporations. Ward will share over 12 years of national anti-corporate =20
democracy work that has help spawn grassroots movements across the =20
country.

    What: A participatory weekend strategy retreat on shifting power
    from corporations to citizens in the Pioneer Valley & Berkshires =20
of Western Mass.

    Why: To explore together how we can reclaim our rights to =20
democratic self-governance, and why democratic self-governance is =20
impossible when corporations wield so much power. We will examine =20
strategies we can use to fight corporate power in our Western Mass =20
region; while also addressing proven ways to create a culture of =20
solidarity among local organizers, communities, and independent =20
businesses. Such connections provide fertile ground for local =20
empowerment and region-wide efforts to challenge corporate rule.

    Who: This retreat is hosted by Shays 2 and is open to organizers, =20
activists, students, teachers and citizens of Western Massachuesetts.

    Where: Sirius Community in Shutesbury, MA

    When: Saturday, September 16 and Sunday, September 17

--> Get more information or register for this event at the Shays 2 =20
website: http://www.shays2.org/


III. Local Democracy Convention: The Community Power Road to Democracy

    Where: Madison, Wisconsin

    When: September 28-October 1, 2006

    What: The US President says he's the decider. Congress and the =20
Federal courts seem generally to agree. US military forces occupy Iraq =20
and Afghanistan, among other countries. A national police state keeps =20
watch on tens of millions of Americans. As the Federal government =20
consolidates power further and further away from the people of the =20
United States, now is a moment that evermore, to borrow from Thomas =20
Paine, tries our souls.

          Across the United States, and around the world, the verdict =20
is coming in: People are choosing local democracy over global =20
oligarchy. The local alternative is becoming a movement:

          Did you know that . . .

            * Voters in 40 Vermont towns and 24 Wisconsin =20
municipalities have put their communities on record for immediate =20
withdrawal from Iraq? And that the war and presidential impeachment =20
will be on the ballot nationwide come November?

            * The people of Humboldt County, California, as well as =20
dozens of Pennsylvania townships, have ruled corporate personhood =20
unconstitutional?

            * The people of Venezuela have established direct economic =20
aid programs for a growing number of major US cities?

            * The "Participatory Budgeting" process developed in =20
Brazil is now on the agenda for community organizers across the US?

            * Voting rights advocates nationwide have succeeded in =20
implementing Instant Runoff Voting, public financing of elections, and =20
non-US-citizen voting rights in local elections?

            * US cities, large and small, have reinvested in public =20
power, community cable, wireless, and cooperative development?

            * Local democracy initiatives have taken root across the =20
globe, offering models for democratization here in the US?

          The Local Democracy Convention will feature some of the most =20
cutting-edge local democracy organizing going on in the US and around =20
the world. Convention participants will have opportunity to attend =20
plenaries, panels, skills-building workshops, strategy sessions, and a =20
party or two.

          Featuring presenters from around the US and the world, =20
including Uruguay, Brazil, Hungary, Philippines, and the mayor of =20
Caracas, Venezuela, Juan Barreto.

--> Read all about the Local Democracy Convention on the Liberty Tree =20
website, and REGISTER TODAY: http://www.LocalDemocracy.org


  * * * LIBERTY TREE T-SHIRT POLL * * *

Vote For Your Favorite Quote!

Liberty Tree is producing our first t-shirt in time for the Local =20
Democracy Convention! Please help us choose a quote to grace the back =20
of the shirt. You can vote for as many or as few choices as you like; =20
just rank your preferences!

--> Vote by Sunday, September 10th: =20
http://www.demochoice.org/dcballot.php?poll=3DLTTshirt

Thanks for helping out!


   * * * Join Liberty Tree today!  Sign up online at
http://www.LibertyTreeFDR.org


REMEMBER:

If someone forward this message to you, you are likely not subscribed to
the Liberty Tree News service.  In order to receive the Liberty Tree
News, you must subscribe at:
http://www.libertytreefdr.org/mailSubscribe.htm
----------------------------------------
You are subscribed to the Liberty Tree News service as =20
hhart@blue.weeg.uiowa.edu.  To unsubscribe, send email to =20
unsubscribe.112382.94292512.2096046736211736898-hhart_blue.weeg.uiowa.edu@en=
.groundspring.org.

Our postal address is
P.O. Box 260217
Madison, Wisconsin 53726-0217
United States



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LIBERTY TREE
Foundation for the Democratic Revolution

http://www.LibertyTreeFDR.org
~ Liberty Tree News 2.12 ~
      September 6, 2006

Liberty Tree News 2.12

Statewide Meeting to Save Higher Education in CT. . . Building Democracy in =
Western MA. . . Local Democracy Convention. . .T-Shirt Poll. . .=20

 * * * LIBERTY TREE EVENTS * * *

I. Calling all students, faculty, and staff at universities and colleges acr=
oss Connecticut...Please come to the STATEWIDE MEETING TO SAVE HIGHER EDUCAT=
ION

   Tuition is going up↑ / Services are down↓
   Class sizes are up↑ / Access is down↓
   War spending is up↑ / Academic freedom is down↓
   Isn't it time to turn our campuses around?!?

   With: Guest speaker Ben Manski, a fellow with the Liberty Tree Foundation=
 and one of the nation's leading experts on the corporate takeover of higher=
 education

   What: Connect the dots on what is happening to higher education in Connec=
ticut. Develop a plan of action for reversing the tuition hikes, union-busti=
ng, and other aspects of corporatization.

   Why: Access to a quality education is one of the chief pillars of any dem=
ocracy. If students don't lead the way in fighting for higher education, who=
 will?

   Who: UConn students are hosting this meeting. We've already heard from ot=
her students, faculty, staff, and community members at other campuses who pl=
an to attend. We hope you'll join us.=20

   Where: Student Union, Room 320, University of Connecticut, Storrs

   When: Tuesday, September 12th, 2006 at 7:30pm

--> For further information about our Democratizing Education Program, visit=
 our website: http://www.LibertyTreeFDR.org


II. Building Democracy Retreat in Western Mass

   With: Kaitlin Sopoci-Belknap, a fellow with the Liberty Tree Foundation a=
nd Campaign Manager for Measure T in Humboldt County, CA and Ward Morehouse =
of the Program on Corporations, Law and Democracy.

   Kaitlin is fresh off spearheading a local victory that bans corporate cam=
paign donations and asserts citizen authority over corporations. Ward will s=
hare over 12 years of national anti-corporate democracy work that has help s=
pawn grassroots movements across the country.=20

   What: A participatory weekend strategy retreat on shifting power
   from corporations to citizens in the Pioneer Valley & Berkshires of Weste=
rn Mass.

   Why: To explore together how we can reclaim our rights to democratic self=
-governance, and why democratic self-governance is impossible when corporati=
ons wield so much power. We will examine strategies we can use to fight corp=
orate power in our Western Mass region; while also addressing proven ways to=
 create a culture of solidarity among local organizers, communities, and ind=
ependent businesses. Such connections provide fertile ground for local empow=
erment and region-wide efforts to challenge corporate rule.

   Who: This retreat is hosted by Shays 2 and is open to organizers, activis=
ts, students, teachers and citizens of Western Massachuesetts.=20

   Where: Sirius Community in Shutesbury, MA=20

   When: Saturday, September 16 and Sunday, September 17=20

--> Get more information or register for this event at the Shays 2 website: =
http://www.shays2.org/


III. Local Democracy Convention: The Community Power Road to Democracy

   Where: Madison, Wisconsin

   When: September 28-October 1, 2006
=20
   What: The US President says he's the decider. Congress and the Federal co=
urts seem generally to agree. US military forces occupy Iraq and Afghanistan=
, among other countries. A national police state keeps watch on tens of mill=
ions of Americans. As the Federal government consolidates power further and =
further away from the people of the United States, now is a moment that ever=
more, to borrow from Thomas Paine, tries our souls.=20

         Across the United States, and around the world, the verdict is comi=
ng in: People are choosing local democracy over global oligarchy. The local =
alternative is becoming a movement:

         Did you know that . . .

           * Voters in 40 Vermont towns and 24 Wisconsin municipalities have=
 put their communities on record for immediate withdrawal from Iraq? And tha=
t the war and presidential impeachment will be on the ballot nationwide come=
 November?

           * The people of Humboldt County, California, as well as dozens of=
 Pennsylvania townships, have ruled corporate personhood unconstitutional?

           * The people of Venezuela have established direct economic aid pr=
ograms for a growing number of major US cities?

           * The "Participatory Budgeting" process developed in Brazil is no=
w on the agenda for community organizers across the US?

           * Voting rights advocates nationwide have succeeded in implementi=
ng Instant Runoff Voting, public financing of elections, and non-US-citizen =
voting rights in local elections?

           * US cities, large and small, have reinvested in public power, co=
mmunity cable, wireless, and cooperative development?

           * Local democracy initiatives have taken root across the globe, o=
ffering models for democratization here in the US?

         The Local Democracy Convention will feature some of the most cuttin=
g-edge local democracy organizing going on in the US and around the world. C=
onvention participants will have opportunity to attend plenaries, panels, sk=
ills-building workshops, strategy sessions, and a party or two.

         Featuring presenters from around the US and the world, including Ur=
uguay, Brazil, Hungary, Philippines, and the mayor of Caracas, Venezuela, Ju=
an Barreto.

--> Read all about the Local Democracy Convention on the Liberty Tree websit=
e, and REGISTER TODAY: http://www.LocalDemocracy.org


 * * * LIBERTY TREE T-SHIRT POLL * * *

Vote For Your Favorite Quote!

Liberty Tree is producing our first t-shirt in time for the Local Democracy =
Convention! Please help us choose a quote to grace the back of the shirt. Yo=
u can vote for as many or as few choices as you like; just rank your prefere=
nces!

--> Vote by Sunday, September 10th: http://www.demochoice.org/dcballot.php?p=
oll=3DLTTshirt

Thanks for helping out!


  * * * Join Liberty Tree today!  Sign up online at
http://www.LibertyTreeFDR.org


REMEMBER:

If someone forward this message to you, you are likely not subscribed to
the Liberty Tree News service.  In order to receive the Liberty Tree
News, you must subscribe at:
http://www.libertytreefdr.org/mailSubscribe.htm
----------------------------------------
You are subscribed to the Liberty Tree News service as hhart@blue.weeg.uiowa=
.edu.  To unsubscribe, send email to unsubscribe.112382.94292512.20960467362=
11736898-hhart_blue.weeg.uiowa.edu@en.groundspring.org.

Our postal address is=20
P.O. Box 260217
Madison, Wisconsin 53726-0217
United States


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1" height=3D"151" /></td>

<td id=3D"bannerBack" width=3D"528" align=3D"right" bgcolor=3D"#339933">
  <div class=3D"quote">=20
    <strong>We have it in our power to begin the world over again.
    </strong> ~  Thomas Paine=20
    </div></td>
</tr>
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  <tr valign=3D"top">=20
    <td width=3D"285" bgcolor=3D"#FFFFFF"><div align=3D"center"><strong><fon=
t color=3D"#000000" size=3D"-2">J</font><font color=3D"#FFFFFF" size=3D"-2">=
<font color=3D"#000000">OIN=20
        TODAY: <a href=3D"http://ent.groundspring.org/EmailNow/pub.php?modul=
e=3DURLTracker&cmd=3Dtrack&j=3D94292512&u=3D888454" target=3D"_blank">LIBERT=
Y=20
        TREE Foundation for the Democratic Revolution</a></font></font></str=
ong></div></td>
    <td width=3D"289" bgcolor=3D"#FFFFFF"><div align=3D"center"><a href=3D"h=
ttp://ent.groundspring.org/EmailNow/pub.php?module=3DURLTracker&cmd=3Dtrack&=
j=3D94292512&u=3D888455">=20
        <img src=3D"http://www.groundspring.org/button/black_med.gif" border=
=3D0 alt=3D"DonateNow"></a>=20
      </div></td>
  </tr>
  <tr valign=3D"top">=20
    <td colspan=3D"2"> <h2 align=3D"center">Liberty Tree News 2.12</h2>
      <p align=3D"center"><em><font color=3D"#990033">Statewide Meeting to S=
ave Higher
            Education in CT. . . Building Democracy in Western MA. . . Local
            Democracy Convention. . .T-Shirt Poll.=20
      . . </font></em></p>
      <p align=3D"center">September 6, 2006</p>
      <br> <hr noshade=3D"noshade" /> </td>
  </tr>
  <tr valign=3D"top">=20
    <td colspan=3D"2"> <h3 align=3D"center">=20
        <p><strong>LIBERTY TREE EVENTS</strong>=20
        <p></h3>
      <p><strong>I. Calling all students, faculty, and staff at universities
          and colleges across Connecticut...Please come to the STATEWIDE MEE=
TING
          TO SAVE HIGHER EDUCATION</strong></p>
      <p>Tuition is going up&uarr; / Services are down&darr;<br>
        Class sizes are up&uarr; / Access
        is down&darr;<br>
        War spending is up&uarr; / Academic freedom is down&darr;<br>
        <strong><em>Isn't it time
        to turn our campuses around?!?</em></strong></p>
      <blockquote>=20
        <p><strong>With:</strong> Guest speaker <a href=3D"http://ent.ground=
spring.org/EmailNow/pub.php?module=3DURLTracker&cmd=3Dtrack&j=3D94292512&u=
=3D888456" target=3D"_blank"><strong>Ben
            Manski</strong></a>, a fellow with the Liberty Tree Foundation
          and one of the nation's leading experts on the corporate takeover =
of
          higher education</p>
        <p><strong>What:</strong> Connect the dots on what is happening to h=
igher education in
          Connecticut. Develop a plan of action for reversing the tuition hi=
kes,
        union-busting, and other aspects of corporatization.</p>
        <p><strong>Why: </strong>Access to a quality education is one of the=
 chief pillars of
          any democracy. If students don't lead the way in fighting for high=
er
        education, who will?</p>
        <p><strong>Who:</strong> UConn students are hosting this meeting. We=
've already heard
          from other students, faculty, staff, and community members at othe=
r
        campuses who plan to attend. We hope you'll join us. </p>
        <p><strong>Where:</strong> Student Union, Room 320, University of Co=
nnecticut,
        Storrs</p>
        <p><strong>When:</strong> Tuesday, September 12th, 2006 at 7:30pm</p=
>
        <p><img src=3D"http://www.libertytreefdr.org/images/elmLeafGreen.gif=
" />=20
          For more information about our Democratizing Education Program, <a=
 href=3D"http://ent.groundspring.org/EmailNow/pub.php?module=3DURLTracker&cm=
d=3Dtrack&j=3D94292512&u=3D888457" target=3D"_blank">visit
          our website</a>.</p>
      </blockquote>
      <p>&nbsp;</p>
      <p><strong>II. Building Democracy Retreat in Western Mass</strong></p>
      <blockquote>
        <p><strong>With:</strong> <a href=3D"http://ent.groundspring.org/Ema=
ilNow/pub.php?module=3DURLTracker&cmd=3Dtrack&j=3D94292512&u=3D888458" targe=
t=3D"_blank"><strong>Kaitlin
            Sopoci-Belknap</strong></a>, a fellow
          with the Liberty Tree Foundation and Campaign Manager for Measure =
T
          in Humboldt County, CA and <strong>Ward Morehouse</strong> of the =
Program
          on Corporations, Law and Democracy.</p>
        <p>Kaitlin is fresh off spearheading a local victory that bans     =
=20
           corporate campaign donations and asserts citizen authority over c=
orporations.
          Ward will share over 12 years of national anti-corporate democracy
          work that has help spawn grassroots movements across the country. =
</p>
        <p><strong>What:</strong> A participatory weekend strategy retreat o=
n
          shifting power<br>
        from corporations to citizens in the Pioneer Valley &amp; Berkshires
        of Western Mass.</p>
        <p><strong>Why:</strong> To explore
          together how we can reclaim our rights to democratic self-governan=
ce,
          and why democratic self-governance is impossible when corporations
          wield so much power. We will examine strategies we can use to figh=
t
          corporate power in our Western Mass region; while also addressing =
proven
          ways to create a culture of solidarity among local organizers, com=
munities,
          and independent businesses. Such connections provide fertile groun=
d
          for local empowerment and region-wide efforts to challenge corpora=
te
          rule.</p>
        <p><strong>Who:</strong> This retreat is hosted by Shays 2 and is op=
en
          to organizers, activists, students, teachers and citizens of Weste=
rn
          Massachuesetts. </p>
        <p> <strong>Where:</strong> <a href=3D"http://ent.groundspring.org/E=
mailNow/pub.php?module=3DURLTracker&cmd=3Dtrack&j=3D94292512&u=3D888459" tar=
get=3D"_blank">Sirius
        Community</a> in Shutesbury, MA </p>
        <p><strong>When:</strong> Saturday, September 16 and Sunday, Septemb=
er 17 </p>
        <p><img src=3D"http://www.libertytreefdr.org/images/elmLeafGreen.gif=
" /> Get
          more information or register for this event at the <a href=3D"http=
://ent.groundspring.org/EmailNow/pub.php?module=3DURLTracker&cmd=3Dtrack&j=
=3D94292512&u=3D888460" target=3D"_blank">Shays
          2 website</a>. </p>
        <p>&nbsp;</p>
      </blockquote>
      <p><strong>III. REGISTER NOW! Local Democracy Convention: The Communit=
y
          Power Road to Democracy</strong></p>      <blockquote>=20
        <p> <strong>Where: </strong>Madison, Wisconsin</p>
        <p><strong>When:</strong> September 28-October 1, 2006</p>
        <p><strong>What:</strong> The US President says he's the decider. Co=
ngress=20
          and the Federal courts seem generally to agree. US military forces=
 occupy=20
          Iraq and Afghanistan, among other countries. A national police sta=
te=20
          keeps watch on tens of millions of Americans. As the Federal gover=
nment=20
          consolidates power further and further away from the people of the=
 United=20
          States, now is a moment that evermore, to borrow from Thomas Paine=
,=20
          tries our souls.</p>
        <p> Across the United States, and around the world, the verdict is c=
oming=20
          in: People are choosing local democracy over global oligarchy. The=
 local=20
          alternative is becoming a movement:</p>
        <p><em>Did you know that . . .</em></p>
        <ul>
          <li> Voters in 40 Vermont towns and 24 Wisconsin municipalities ha=
ve=20
            put their communities on record for immediate withdrawal from Ir=
aq?=20
            And that the war and presidential impeachment will be on the bal=
lot=20
            nationwide come November?</li>
          <li> The people of Humboldt County, California, as well as several
            Pennsylvania townships, have ruled corporate personhood unconsti=
tutional?</li>
          <li> The people of Venezuela have established direct economic aid =
programs=20
            for a growing number of major US cities?</li>
          <li> The &quot;Participatory Budgeting&quot; process developed in =
Brazil=20
            is now on the agenda for community organizers across the US?</li=
>
          <li> Voting rights advocates nationwide have succeeded in implemen=
ting=20
            Instant Runoff Voting, public financing of elections, and non-US=
-citizen=20
            voting rights in local elections?</li>
          <li> US cities, large and small, have reinvested in public power, =
community=20
            cable, wireless, and cooperative development?</li>
          <li> Local democracy initiatives have taken root across the globe,=
 offering=20
            models for democratization here in the US?<br>
          The Local Democracy Convention will feature some of the most cutti=
ng-edge=20
          local democracy organizing going on in the US and around the world=
.=20
          Convention participants will have opportunity to attend plenaries,=
 panels,=20
          skills-building workshops, strategy sessions, and a party or two.<=
/li>
        </ul>
        <p>Featuring presenters from around the US and the world, including =
Uruguay, Brazil,=20
          UK, Philippines, and the mayor of Caracas, Venezuela, Juan Barreto=
.</p>
        <p><img src=3D"http://www.libertytreefdr.org/images/elmLeafGreen.gif=
" />=20
          Read all about the <a href=3D"http://ent.groundspring.org/EmailNow=
/pub.php?module=3DURLTracker&cmd=3Dtrack&j=3D94292512&u=3D888461" target=3D"=
_blank">Local
           Democracy Convention</a> and REGISTER TODAY!</p>
        <blockquote>&nbsp;        </blockquote>
      </blockquote>
      <h3 align=3D"center"><strong>LIBERTY TREE T-SHIRT POLL </strong> </h3>
      <p><strong>Vote For Your Favorite
        Quote!</strong></p>      <blockquote>
        <p>Liberty Tree is producing our first t-shirt in time for
          the Local Democracy Convention! <a href=3D"http://ent.groundspring=
.org/EmailNow/pub.php?module=3DURLTracker&cmd=3Dtrack&j=3D94292512&u=3D88846=
2" target=3D"_blank">Please
          help us choose a quote</a> to grace the back
          of the shirt. You can vote for as many or as few choices as you li=
ke;
        just rank your preferences!</p>
        <p><img src=3D"http://www.libertytreefdr.org/images/elmLeafGreen.gif=
" /> <a href=3D"http://ent.groundspring.org/EmailNow/pub.php?module=3DURLTra=
cker&cmd=3Dtrack&j=3D94292512&u=3D888463" target=3D"_blank">Vote
        by Sunday, September 10th</a>. Thanks for helping out!</p>
      </blockquote>
      <p><br>
      </p>
      <p align=3D"center">=20
      <hr noshade=3D"noshade" /></td>
  </tr>
  <tr valign=3D"top">=20
    <td><p align=3D"center"><a href=3D"http://ent.groundspring.org/EmailNow/=
pub.php?module=3DURLTracker&cmd=3Dtrack&j=3D94292512&u=3D888464">=20
        <img src=3D"http://www.groundspring.org/button/black_med.gif" border=
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    <td><div align=3D"center"><strong><font size=3D"-2">JOIN TODAY: <a href=
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rack&j=3D94292512&u=3D888465" target=3D"_blank">LIBERTY=20
        TREE Foundation for the Democratic Revolution</a></font></strong></d=
iv></td>
  </tr>
  <tr valign=3D"top">=20
    <td colspan=3D"2"><p align=3D"center"><strong></strong></p>
      <p align=3D"center" class=3D"important"><strong>IMPORTANT</strong> - I=
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