Desert Dispatch Media

LXCL:Your donation to Desert Dispatch, a project of the <a href="https://thedamn.org" class="lxcl-link" dir="ltr">Desert Media Advocacy Network</a>— the only 501(c)(3) nonprofit media company focusing on the North American deserts, their environmental issues, and the people who work to protect them. Home to <a href="https://www.90milesfromneedles.com" class="lxcl-link" dir="ltr">90 Miles from Needles: The Desert Protection Podcast</a> and more.

Tax-deductible donation

LXCL:(1) copy of our limited run, first edition, color Desert Dispatch Riso zine for fundraising— October 2026 release and distribution, domestic shipping included

Desert Dispatch Riso zine

LXCL:(3) copies of our Riso zine for fundraising— October 2026 release and distribution, domestic shipping included

Rizo zines 3-pack

LXCL:(1) one-of-a-kind Desert Dispatch Riso zine proof print + (1) copy of our Riso zine for fundraising— October 2026 release and distribution, domestic shipping included

One-of-a-kind Riso zine proof print + (1) Riso zine

Desert Dispatch is documenting Southwest stories in the fight against inhumane tech: a movement opposing uncontrolled AI buildout, industrial extraction, data centers, mass surveillance, militarization, and other socio-economic harms. WHATWe&rsquo;re producing a community-led documentary film on regional responses to threats from the AI buildout. Stories and collaboration from within frontline communities are prioritized. <a fr-original-style="" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/matsonspina" style="text-decoration-color: currentcolor; -webkit-user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">Melinda Matson Spina</a>, <a fr-original-style="" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/jodi-darby-42b07537" style="text-decoration-color: currentcolor; -webkit-user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">Jodi Darby</a>, and <a fr-original-style="" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/lee-ziesche" style="text-decoration-color: currentcolor; -webkit-user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">Lee Ziesche</a> are co-facilitators for the project. Primary footage will be collected by four lead filmmakers in the region&#39;s four quadrants, who will also have access to community-contributed footage. The production crew will include a regional director and editor. The documentary will be distributed for educational purposes after a general release and theatrical run. Along with the gathering of footage in the field, our pre-production employs the following activities to spark subject matter and connections for additional footage, including interviews: <ul fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><a fr-original-style="" href="https://spinanovoa.studio/#home/" style="text-decoration-color: currentcolor; -webkit-user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">Spina/Novoa</a> is producing a Desert Dispatch color Riso zine.</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Desert Dispatch is gathering an online library from community-contributed footage.</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Project ally, the <a fr-original-style="" href="https://nodesertdatacenter.com/" style="text-decoration-color: currentcolor; -webkit-user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">No Desert Data Center Coalition</a> is screening a 10-15 min Desert Dispatch catalyst video as a conversation starter at assemblies with panel discussions in Tucson AZ, October 23-28, 2026. Desert Dispatch is offering impact production support to regional community groups that host sister-assemblies, including the video for screening at their discretion. Groups will be given previews of the video beforehand.</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><a fr-original-style="" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/kairand-bellinger-93501463" style="text-decoration-color: currentcolor; -webkit-user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">Kairand Bellinger</a> is the Impact Production Facilitator for regional sister-assemblies.</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">The catalyst video media artist is <a fr-original-style="" href="https://www.jodidarby.com/" style="text-decoration-color: currentcolor; -webkit-user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">Jodi Darby</a>. The score musicians are <a fr-original-style="" href="https://linktr.ee/sagebond" style="text-decoration-color: currentcolor; -webkit-user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">Sage Bond</a> and <a fr-original-style="" href="https://www.youtube.com/@kevinv6639" style="text-decoration-color: currentcolor; -webkit-user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">Kevin Van Winkle</a>.</li></ul> WHYAI supply chain incentives that put hardware, expansion, and profit before people are disastrous for working-class, rural, and Native Nations&rsquo; communities. The crisis is also giving rise to a rapid consolidation of <a fr-original-style="" href="https://www.wsj.com/economy/the-ai-boom-is-transforming-the-american-economy-beyond-recognition-c7825b31" style="text-decoration-color: currentcolor; -webkit-user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">extreme power</a>, and makes the region a very <a fr-original-style="" href="https://www.csis.org/analysis/data-now-front-line-warfare" style="text-decoration-color: currentcolor; -webkit-user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">high value target</a> for military strikes and terrorism. It is not widely known that the United States&rsquo; economic choke-zone and domestic epicenter of threats from the <a fr-original-style="" href="https://sonoransown.substack.com/p/the-elephant-in-our-desert" style="text-decoration-color: currentcolor; -webkit-user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">uncontrolled AI buildout</a> is the Southwest&mdash; due to its confluence of geography, militarization, technology, mineral resources, and legacy harm. We are working to increase awareness of this crisis and to make connections between allied regional groups. VISION<a fr-original-style="" href="https://thedamn.org/desertdispatchmedia/" style="text-decoration-color: currentcolor; -webkit-user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">Desert Dispatch</a> is a project of the <a fr-original-style="" href="https://thedamn.org/" style="text-decoration-color: currentcolor; -webkit-user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">Desert Advocacy Media Network</a>, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, and is being undertaken by a collaborative of artists, producers, community members, and supporting organizations. We are uplifting public dialogue and resources for unified power in the hands of all peoples, to respond more effectively to <a fr-original-style="" href="https://gssr.georgetown.edu/the-forum/topics/technology/democracy-dies-in-data-centers-how-artificial-intelligence-empowers-authoritarianism/" style="text-decoration-color: currentcolor; -webkit-user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">autocratic tendencies</a> emerging through inhumane incentives related to technology, now and into the future. We are deeply grateful for the work and encouragement of our Community Supporters:<a fr-original-style="" href="https://www.sierraclub.org/borderlands" style="text-decoration-color: currentcolor; -webkit-user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">Sierra Club Borderlands</a><a fr-original-style="" href="https://www.patagoniaalliance.org" style="text-decoration-color: currentcolor; -webkit-user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">Patagonia Area Resource Alliance</a><a fr-original-style="" href="https://heartofthegila.org" style="text-decoration-color: currentcolor; -webkit-user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">Heart of the Gila</a><a fr-original-style="" href="https://peacefulchiricahuaskies.com" style="text-decoration-color: currentcolor; -webkit-user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">Peaceful Chiricahua Skies</a><a fr-original-style="" href="https://www.coppercanyontrails.org" style="text-decoration-color: currentcolor; -webkit-user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">Copper Canyon Trails</a><a fr-original-style="" href="https://www.nukeresister.org" style="text-decoration-color: currentcolor; -webkit-user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">Nuclear Resister</a><a fr-original-style="" href="https://tucsonantiwar.org" style="text-decoration-color: currentcolor; -webkit-user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">Tucson Anti-War Committee</a><a fr-original-style="" href="https://deflocktucson.com" style="text-decoration-color: currentcolor; -webkit-user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">Deflock Tucson Coalition</a><a fr-original-style="" href="https://desertrisingtucson.org" style="text-decoration-color: currentcolor; -webkit-user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">Desert Rising Tucson</a><a fr-original-style="" href="https://www.artistsengaged.com" style="text-decoration-color: currentcolor; -webkit-user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">Artists Engaged</a><a fr-original-style="" href="https://tempestmag.org" style="text-decoration-color: currentcolor; -webkit-user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">Tempest Collective</a> JOIN THE MOVEMENT &nbsp;<a fr-original-style="" href="mailto:desertdispatchmedia@proton.me" style="text-decoration-color: currentcolor; -webkit-user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">DesertDispatchMedia@proton.me</a> <a fr-original-style="" href="http://thedamn.org/desertdispatchmedia" style="text-decoration-color: currentcolor; -webkit-user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">thedamn.org/DesertDispatchMedia</a><a fr-original-style="" href="http://instagram.com/desertdispatchmedia" style="text-decoration-color: currentcolor; -webkit-user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">instagram.com/DesertDispatchMedia</a> Here are some <a fr-original-style="" href="https://drive.proton.me/urls/W9MNDJMMN4#t0amft665nv7" id="isPasted" style="text-decoration-color: currentcolor; -webkit-user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">project documents</a> if you want a deeper dive!

Hi <span contenteditable="false" data-custom-variable="{{firstname}}" fr-original-class="fr-deletable styled-tag-chip" fr-original-style="" style="color: rgb(42, 42, 196); overflow-wrap: anywhere; -webkit-user-select: none; background-color: rgb(248, 248, 255); border: 1px solid rgb(191, 191, 255); border-radius: 4px; margin: 0px; padding: 1px 8px; font-size: 11px; display: inline-block; box-sizing: inherit;">First name, As a community backer of the Desert Dispatch documentary film, you have our sincere gratitude. Desert Dispatch is a project of the <a fr-original-style="" href="https://thedamn.org/" style="text-decoration-color: currentcolor; -webkit-user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">Desert Advocacy Media Network</a>, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. We will very occasionally email you announcements related to our production events and activities. When the time comes, you will be emailed your ticket for an invitation to the Desert Dispatch documentary film premiere. If we want a humane future for the desert region, our country and the world, we&#39;re going to have to build it together. Please consider spreading the word about this project to your family, friends, and associates. Thank you again for joining this movement with your invaluable support. In solidarity,the Desert Dispatch team<a fr-original-style="" href="mailto:desertdispatchmedia@proton.me" style="text-decoration-color: currentcolor; -webkit-user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">desertdispatchmedia@proton.me</a>Follow <a fr-original-style="" href="https://www.instagram.com/desertdispatchmedia" style="text-decoration-color: currentcolor; -webkit-user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">@desertdispatchmedia</a>

Desert Dispatch is documenting Southwest stories in the fight against inhumane tech: a movement opposing uncontrolled AI buildout, industrial extraction, data centers, mass surveillance, militarization, and other socio-economic harms. WHATWe’re producing a community-led documentary film on regional responses to threats from the AI buildout. Stories and collaboration from within frontline communities are prioritized. <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/matsonspina" target="_blank">Melinda Matson Spina</a>, <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/jodi-darby-42b07537" target="_blank">Jodi Darby</a>, and <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/lee-ziesche" target="_blank">Lee Ziesche</a> are co-facilitators for the project. Primary footage will be collected by four lead filmmakers in the region's four quadrants, who will also have access to community-contributed footage. The production crew will include a regional director and editor. The documentary will be distributed for educational purposes after a general release and theatrical run. Along with the gathering of footage in the field, our pre-production employs the following activities to spark subject matter and connections for additional footage, including interviews: <ul><li><a href="https://spinanovoa.studio/#home/" target="_blank">Spina/Novoa</a> is producing a Desert Dispatch color Riso zine.</li><li>Desert Dispatch is gathering an online library from community-contributed footage.</li><li>Project ally, the <a href="https://nodesertdatacenter.com/" target="_blank">No Desert Data Center Coalition</a> is screening a 10-15 min Desert Dispatch catalyst video as a conversation starter at assemblies with panel discussions in Tucson AZ, October 23-28, 2026. Desert Dispatch is offering impact production support to regional community groups that host sister-assemblies, including the video for screening at their discretion. Groups will be given previews of the video beforehand.</li><li><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/kairand-bellinger-93501463" target="_blank">Kairand Bellinger</a> is the Impact Production Facilitator for regional sister-assemblies.</li><li>The catalyst video media artist is <a href="https://www.jodidarby.com/" target="_blank">Jodi Darby</a>. The score musicians are <a href="https://linktr.ee/sagebond" target="_blank">Sage Bond</a> and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@kevinv6639" target="_blank">Kevin Van Winkle</a>.</li></ul> WHYAI supply chain incentives that put hardware, expansion, and profit before people are disastrous for working-class, rural, and Native Nations’ communities. The crisis is also giving rise to a rapid consolidation of <a href="https://www.wsj.com/economy/the-ai-boom-is-transforming-the-american-economy-beyond-recognition-c7825b31" target="_blank">extreme power</a>, and makes the region a very <a href="https://www.csis.org/analysis/data-now-front-line-warfare" target="_blank">high value target</a> for military strikes and terrorism. It is not widely known that the United States’ economic choke-zone and domestic epicenter of threats from the <a href="https://sonoransown.substack.com/p/the-elephant-in-our-desert" target="_blank">uncontrolled AI buildout</a> is the Southwest— due to its confluence of geography, militarization, technology, mineral resources, and legacy harm. We are working to increase awareness of this crisis and to make connections between allied regional groups. VISION<a href="https://thedamn.org/desertdispatchmedia/" target="_blank">Desert Dispatch</a> is a project of the <a href="https://thedamn.org/" target="_blank">Desert Advocacy Media Network</a>, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, and is being undertaken by a collaborative of artists, producers, community members, and supporting organizations. We are uplifting public dialogue and resources for unified power in the hands of all peoples, to respond more effectively to <a href="https://gssr.georgetown.edu/the-forum/topics/technology/democracy-dies-in-data-centers-how-artificial-intelligence-empowers-authoritarianism/" target="_blank">autocratic tendencies</a> emerging through inhumane incentives related to technology, now and into the future. We are deeply grateful for the work and encouragement of our Community Supporters:<a href="https://www.sierraclub.org/borderlands" target="_blank">Sierra Club Borderlands</a><a href="https://www.patagoniaalliance.org" target="_blank">Patagonia Area Resource Alliance</a><a href="https://heartofthegila.org" target="_blank">Heart of the Gila</a><a href="https://peacefulchiricahuaskies.com" target="_blank">Peaceful Chiricahua Skies</a><a href="https://www.coppercanyontrails.org" target="_blank">Copper Canyon Trails</a><a href="https://www.nukeresister.org" target="_blank">Nuclear Resister</a><a href="https://tucsonantiwar.org" target="_blank">Tucson Anti-War Committee</a><a href="https://deflocktucson.com" target="_blank">Deflock Tucson Coalition</a><a href="https://desertrisingtucson.org" target="_blank">Desert Rising Tucson</a><a href="https://www.artistsengaged.com" target="_blank">Artists Engaged</a><a href="https://tempestmag.org" target="_blank">Tempest Collective</a> JOIN THE MOVEMENT  <a href="mailto:desertdispatchmedia@proton.me" target="_blank">DesertDispatchMedia@proton.me</a> <a href="http://thedamn.org/desertdispatchmedia" target="_blank">thedamn.org/DesertDispatchMedia</a><a href="http://instagram.com/desertdispatchmedia" target="_blank">instagram.com/DesertDispatchMedia</a> Here are some <a href="https://drive.proton.me/urls/W9MNDJMMN4#t0amft665nv7" target="_blank">project documents</a> if you want a deeper dive!

Desert Dispatch Media

Desert Dispatch Documentary Production

Tax-deductible donation

Desert Dispatch Riso zine

$40

Rizo zines 3-pack

$100

One-of-a-kind Riso zine proof print + (1) Riso zine

$200