Rainbow Family Gathering 2007

NO PERMIT needed
For Rainbow Family Gathering 2007 Event
FALLSVILLE, Ark


Ozark National Forest in northwest Arkansas July 1-7

Rainbow Family Gathering 2008
Forest Service Conference March 17 2008 1pm

Rainbow Family Gathering 2007
Friday June 29, 2007 4:46 AM

FALLSVILLE, Ark. (AP) - The U.S. Forest Service said it won't require members of the Rainbow Family to get a permit for their annual gathering in a national forest, and have worked with members to come up with a plan to protect the forest.

The mix of eccentrics, young people and hippie types from around the country has been meeting for decades each year in a national forest somewhere in the U.S. to pray for peace and to celebrate love.

About 3,000 people had arrived in the Ozark National Forest in northwest Arkansas for the July 1-7 gathering as of Thursday, Newton County Sheriff Keith Slape said.

"25,000 expected to attend the 4th of July Prayer for Peace circle"

Instead of requiring a permit for the group to use the land, a team drafted a plan that includes requirements on distances between campsites and water sources, as well as sensitive areas to avoid.

Rainbow Family members say they have a constitutional right to assemble where they choose without a permit, but the Forest Service requires a federal permit for any gathering of more than 74 people.

``The Rainbow Family is making an effort to comply with our Forest Service regulations and trying not to make an impact on the land,'' said Denise Ottaviano, an information officer with the agency team.
``For the most part, they are complying and there's not too much confrontation.''

About 50 federal or state wildlife officers and county deputies were patrolling the event. Slape said nearly 30 arrests had been made on various charges, including drugs, alcohol, and disorderly conduct.

Fallsville is 150 miles northwest of Little Rock.

U TUBE Video: Young man from England on Rainbow
Michael's first trip to the States, talks about his Rainbow experience

Peace, love, freedom: The summer of '67

By WOLF SCHNEIDER | For The New Mexican
July 14, 2007

Forty years ago, hundreds of hippies came to Northern New Mexico to launch the back-to-the-land movement on communes, in search of peace, love and freedom

As Scott McKenzie crooned about wearing flowers in your hair and The Doors urged us to break on through, San Francisco’s Haight-Ashbury swelled during the summer of 1967 with the influx of 100,000 hippies in love beads and peace signs, drawn there by the new values of peace, love, personal freedom and mind expansion.

Heeding the Pope of Dope himself, Timothy Leary, who advised them to “Turn on, tune in and drop out,” teenagers and twenty-somethings also began gathering in Northern New Mexico, attracted by the back-to-basics natural lifestyle, inexpensive real estate, nonconformist artistic permissiveness and Indian mysticism. The region become a magnet for hippie communes such as New Buffalo, Morning Star, Lama, Reality Construction Company, Lorien, Five Star, the Hog Farm and Magic Tortoise.

Among those who arrived then? A pregnant photographer named Lisa, lured by a place where she could have her baby with natural childbirth for just $200. Linda, a former Playboy Bunny from New York. A New York schoolteacher named Iris who would chronicle the era 30 years later in a book titled Scrapbook of a Taos Hippie. A contemporary Indian artist named Doug, driving a faded red VW convertible, whose paintings would come to hang in Santa Fe’s ritziest hotels. Another Doug, just out of the Army, who’s now a leading Santa Fe jeweler. And Rick, a 25-year-old poet from the University of Pittsburgh who dropped out and used his trust fund to buy 100 acres and launch New Mexico’s most famous commune.

Read full Article: The earliest arrivals


It was groovy: 19 '60s experts remember the Summer of Love

UPDATE July 12 2007

Rainbow Gathering Colorful but Not As Expected

By Connie Las-Schneider

Expectations for trouble and drama ran high as the colorful Rainbow Family clan gathered last week in the woods north east of Franklin County last week. Rumors, too.

It's been a tough job separating facts from rumors about the "Rainbow Family" gathering in the Ozark National Forest near Fallsville last week, said National Forest Service Information Officer and "rumor control" specialist, Scott Roberts.

Despite the Rainbow Family of Living Light's new-age name and its claim as the "largest non-organization of non-members in the world," the group defies most stereotypes, said Roberts.

"It's been very surprising to see the cultural diversity of people attending the week long event. We've had doctors, lawyers, engineers, environ- mentalists and mainstream religious groups, as well as metaphysical new-agers, hippies and gypsies," said Roberts. Most seemed peaceful and respectful of the land, said Roberts. Many greeted each other and outsiders equally with warm smiles and peace signs, said a photographer from Hartman.

On the morning of July 4, most participants kept a silent prayer vigil until noon. The photographer said it was "really spooky" being surrounded by thousands of seemingly unorganized people without hearing any talking."

Despite rumors to the contrary, 'dumpster diving' and shoplifting have not been big problems, said Roberts, who made a tour of local businesses and communities impacted by the event. One area shopkeeper said she was happy to have the extra business, while others saw no impact. The only major complaints Roberts heard was the over-use of bathroom facilities and that some Rainbow family members seemed to need a hot, soapy shower.

One rumor, that certain "Rainbows" had washed their hair under produce water misters so the fruit and vegetables would be thrown out, is untrue. According to an office worker at Harvest Foods in Clarksville, where the hair washing incident allegedly took place, it "never happened."

Another food rumor, that Rainbows had eaten produce before it was purchased at that same Harvest Food

Store, "happened only once," said Gregory. "We did put up a sign warning shoppers not to eat food before paying for it, after one man ate a peach. Otherwise, there weren't any problems. Actually, Rainbows purchased quite a bit of groceries," he added.

A manager from WalMart in Clarksville, said there was "not a bit of problem" from the influx of Rainbow goers. At the Clarksville bus station and Shell gas station at I-40 exit 57, the manager said although hundreds of people from as far away as England and Germany landed at the bus stop enroute to the event, he had not encountered any problems.

Rumors often disguise reality, too. "Judging from everything we heard (about the Rainbow gathering), we expected our jail to be full," said County Sheriff, Jimmy Dorney. Instead, "everything has been very calm and less than 10 arrests have been made, mostly for loitering or panhandling," said Dorney on Thursday. He also said many Rainbow goers had shopped at local stores and this helped the local economy.

Another rumor, that some Rainbows had attempted to camp near the Mulberry River but were kicked out, is untrue.

According to the group's original "non-plan", a permit was issued to have part of the "family" camp near Shore Lake by the Mulberry River. Being "very democratic" the group decided not to use the facility, so the gathering did not materialize, said a National Forest Service employee in Ozark.

With 6,000 people gathered in a 70-acre area of the Ozark National Forest for up to a week or more, accidents and incidents were bound to occur.

To combat problems and keep the "love" flowing, the Forest Service and several county, state and national agencies supplied over 100 people, some with holiday pay. A National

Incident Management Team (NIMT) was assembled to command the operation. GPS tracking was done of the site to insure personnel could get to problem spots quickly, added Roberts.

Unfortunately, there were some medical emergencies, said Roberts. The most severe health problem was one confirmed case of infectious meningitis, said Larry Morse, Administrator of Johnson Regional Medical Center. Morse estimated three or four patients were seen in emergency every day, some suffering from snake bites and falls, said Morse.

Another rumor, that E-Coli food poisoning had occurred was unknown to the local health officials interviewed and not substantiated by AR Dept of Health, who monitored the event.

One woman did suffer from a serious allergic reaction to poison ivy, and many people, not used to the local insects here, were bothered by tick and chigger bites, said Roberts. No drug over-doses were reported, he added, although this may have been managed internally, as the Rainbow group had their own medical facility at the site, the Center for Alternative Living Medicine.

To handle unlawful behavior, a temporary remote court was set up at the Forest Service Work Center in Deer. As of July 7, 370 violation notices and 89 arrests were made.

Violations included public nudity, drug and alcohol violations, disorderly conduct, interference with law enforcement officers, outstanding warrants, and many traffic and vehicle violations. US Magistrate Judge Marchewski heard approximately 65 cases and issued 39 warrants for failure to appear.

Some rumors are proving true, however. These mainly impact the land.

Parking was a problem of nightmare proportions, said Roberts. Thousands of cars, from beat up hippy busses to luxury vehicles bearing license plates from all over the US were jammed into berms and ditches along the narrow 3 mile service road to the main encampment or parked along AR Hwy 21. Many vehicles became mired in the mud and muck from heavy rains and had to towed out, scaring the road sides with their struggles. Some vehicles will probably be abandoned.

"One of our primary environmental concerns is soil impaction. When the ground is heavily trampled, vegetation can take years to start growing back. Recent rains also caused some areas to become huge mud holes," said Roberts. Damage to live trees and other vegetation used for firewood and other purposes will also have to be accessed, said Roberts.

Another impact on the environment is water pollution. As the only permanent on-site water source available to Rainbow campers and participants, a tributary to the Buffalo River was used for bathing and boiled for consumption. Because of this, a Forest Service Hydrologist tested the water daily.

Most sanitation facilities were primitive latrines and ditches. Heavy rains probably washed some waste products and other refuse into the river, said Roberts. The impact on the aquatic eco-system of the near-pristine Buffalo River may be compromised, he added. Land based wildlife whose homes were disturbed by the gathering will also be affected, he said.

One televised rumor, that the group did up to one million dollars in environmental damage to the forestland may be overstated. According to Roberts, the NIMT team has a budget of $750,000, not including personnel cost to rehabilitate the site. Roberts said the teams budget is more than he expected, judging from the damage he saw at the site.

As the group camped in hilly forested terrain, rather than in an open meadow or field as they usually do, the damage is harder to access, said Roberts.

Getting rid of the garbage and rehabilitating the site will still be a major undertaking, although Rainbow organizers promised to provide a clean-up crew to lessen the gathering's environmental impact.

The Forest Service distributed a rehabilitation plan to assist Rainbow family members and Forest Service personnel with trash removal, obliteration of user-created trails, filling and covering silt trenches and latrines and dismantling man made structures. The rehabilitation plan is expected to be completed by August 8.

Roberts said along with garbage and deserted vehicles, a few of the many dogs at the gathering will probably be abandoned at the site. However, as a few hundred members are still camped there, it may take weeks to get an accurate count.

"This is public land paid for by tax dollars, so the land is open to anyone. We tried to respect their (Rainbows) right to do that," said Roberts. The Rainbows seemed to show respect for the land, too, he added. Some deer camps have suffered far more eco-damage than what he saw at the Rainbow gathering, Roberts said.

Rainbow UTUBE Video

UPDATE 9/7/7

Arkansas-Award Winning Gathering!


Hey Family,
Thanks to everyone for making this Gathering so great.

Here are some rumors we were spreading at the Gathering:
Healthy men and women were everywhere, carrying supplies, digging
super shitters, gathering firewood, cooking awesome meals.
There were about 22 million hugs exchanged.
The Dating Game Show at Granola Funk was hilarious. How do they
think up those questions?
The Variety Show on the evening of the 4th was huge. The
violenist from Czech Republic was amazing. Dave was, as usual, amazing.
I presented awards to some of the deserving at the Variety Show on the 4th:
Here's some of the Awards handed out:

1. Rodney King Award ("Can't We All Just Get Along.") went to: KARIN ZIRK
2. Craziest AGR Quote of 2007 Award: ("I should have killed you 30
years ago when I had evil in my heart.") went to: S. Principle
3. Multiple Email Personality Award: Mike Two (or is that 4) Feathers
4. Should Really Not Have Pressed the Send Button Award: Sailor
5. The No-Shit Sherlock Award" (for "they're reading our emails!
they're reading our emails!"): Hawker
6. Best Buns in the Ovens: Abraham sizzle sizzle
7. "You Talkin' To Me?" Award: Bob of the Ovens
8. Best Ovens: Lovin' Ovens
9. Rising Above the Political Fray Award: Rob Savoy
10. Best Tatoo: Adriana
11. Most Interestingly Dressed: Matti
12. Delusional Optimism and Unending Faith in the Forest Service
Award: Garrick
13. Best Brunch on July 5: Purple Gang
14. Barry Plunker Award: Person Who Talked More than Barry
Plunker: No one. Title remains firmly with Plunker.

We had a blast and a million laughs. We prayed on the 4th and a
hologram of the secret leader appeared above the peace pole. A hawk
flew in circles around our silent circle and we ommmmmmmmmed and
ommmmmmmmmed a long long time. The children's parade came into the
circle from each end and it was so so beautiful.
The usual suspects are suspected of creating excellent
meals. There was food in abundance; lots of hammocks and we were
practicing safe swinging. The mixed hardwood forest had lots of elm,
sweetgum, maple, red cedar. A lot of our firewood came from the red
cedar. The shuttle drivers were always fun, funny, helpful. Vermin
was, as usual, Supreme.
Some folks were swimming in an ocean of calomine lotion due to
poison ivy. We need to invent little tiny condoms for chiggars
because there were far too many hungry chiggar babies. The swimming
was spectacular. The Purple Gang's brunch on the 5th was
unbelievable!! Five gallons of mimosa were premade; the nori rolls
were the best I've ever eaten; the baked apples, baked potatoes, the
two varieties of stir fry, the fruit, it was just awesome!!
Now mind you, I didn't get around much but from my office job at
Info, everyone was having a great time. The map this year is a topo
map so folks to label the camps themselves and learn to read a topo map.
No one could make this stuff up: there was lots of love everywhere
-- I had the time of my life!!
Your pal for pink peace,
Kitten from Maui
Meow!

UPDATE: 7/7/7

The one case of Meningitis did not prompt an epidemic - there never was an
epidemic (except in the media).  There was one case and 43 people identified
who had contact with that one person.  They were treated and there is no
further report of anyone having meningitis - one person having a disease is
not an epidemic.  The report that an epidemic hit is completely inaccurate.
The word potential in combo with lethal is just worse.  There was a
potential for an epidemic of a potentially lethal disease.  That would be an
accurate report based on the information provided.  In the end - nothing
happened of note EXCEPT THE LEOS ONCE AGAIN INTERFERED WITH THE PROVISION OF
MEDICAL SERVICES FOR PEOPLE AT A GATHERING and blamed non-violent Rainbow
activity in support of people using medicine and sacrament that is
recognized under State and Federal laws (the drug bust).

How do people get bacterial meningitis?

The bacteria are spread by direct close contact with the discharges from the nose or throat of an infected person. Fortunately, none of the bacteria that cause meningitis are very contagious, and they are not spread by casual contact or by simply breathing the air where a person with meningitis has been.

MEDIA HYPE!

Forty-Three Treated for Meningitis at Rainbow Gathering in the Ozarks

Views from Within Hillbilly Political Wisdom and Info for Patriots

Thousands Gather For Rainbow Family in Arkansas

++++++++++++++++++

Neisseria meningitidis

Fortunately, none of the bacteria that cause meningitis are very contagious, and they are not spread by casual contact or by simply breathing the air where a person with meningitis has been.

Neisseria meningitidis is a causative agent of meningitis, and is responsible for considerable morbidity and mortality throughout the world. Most disease-causing N. meningitidis strains belong to serogroups A, B and C. Serogroup A strains are responsible for epidemic disease in developing countries, and serogroup B and C strains are responsible for outbreaks of menigitis in the developed world

Bacterial Meningitis

Bacterial meningitis is most commonly caused by one of three types of bacteria: Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib), Neisseria meningitidis, and Streptococcus pneumoniae.


Natural Freedom: Humanity's Journey


I looked out into a pale blue sky, hovering above the horizon. The planet was pretty small and compact. The earth seemed to be dwarfed by the large hovering sky, and looking out, it seemed that the pale blue horizon was a perfect place for the soul to hide. If souls can hide.

For a moment, it seemed that the sky would deny thousands of years of human interactions of the surface dwellers below. The earth was a school, a teaching center, a place where dreams could take flight and become reality. Cohesive groups of gathering nations began to transit to the flight training stage. The technology of the pure mind.

It was a cloak the Celtic nations wear, or Tibetan, or Mayan, Native American. A cloak of identity through which they could walk through the dream of nations and into a larger cosmic dream beyond time and space. The earth was a portal, a doorway. The sky mirroring the soul. Which is why they looked to the sky, to see the mirror of reality and find their wings to fly.

The ancient cultures had refused the technology exchange, when it was offered. They preferred the non-technology of the mind, and that was where their direction was focused. Their intense interactions with the invisible realms had taught them differently than the early 20th century view: Technology equals advanced and non-technology equals backward states. The technology exchanges were in the interests of those giving the material to humans, in order to direct them into their frequency and their world. The ancients wanted nothing to do with it and continued to interact with the invisible realms, learning first about the soul and the inner force.

The wars bent the will of the humans to follow the exchange program by force. Humans did not need it. The enforcers needed it. It was part of their control. The technology limited the humans, conditioned the mind, restricted the intelligence, focused them on dependence and restriction. The group who most desired power were given bigger and better means to kill larger numbers of people. That was the essence of the technology exchange. It was about control. Nothing else.

The tribe of nations were in complete agreement that the technology exchange was not in the interests of overall planetary evolution, and that it barely served the interests of a few. The exchange was not compatible to natural human development.

The tribe of nations had always warned it would lead to extinction and an irreversible decay of the organic mind. The tribe of nations could not incarnate into a world devoid of truth. The technology would kill the planet. Bring an end to the human race.