Thursday, October 30, 2008

Baltimore Activist Alert - Part 1

Baltimore Activist Alert Oct. 30, 2008 – April 4, 2009

 

"I speak as an American to the leaders of my own nation. The great initiative in this war is ours.

The initiative to stop it must be ours." -Martin Luther King Jr.

 

Friends, this list and other email documents which I send out are done under the auspices of the Baltimore Nonviolence Center.  Go to www.baltimorenonviolencecenter.blogspot.com.  If you appreciate this information and would like to make a donation, send contributions to BNC, 325 East 25th Street, Baltimore, MD 21218.  Max Obuszewski can be reached at 410-366-1637 or mobuszewski [at] verizon.net.

 

The Baltimore IndyMedia Center publicizes peace-related events. Go to http://www.radicalendar.org/group/_baltimore.

 

1] Books, buttons and stickers

2] Web site for info on federal legislation

3] Join Nonviolent Resistance lists  

4] Eyes Wide Open exhibit available

5] Baltimore CASH Campaign

6] Nonviolence Film/discussion series – Oct. 30 & Nov. 6

7] Human rights films – Oct. 30                   

8] WIB Inner Harbor peace vigil – Oct. 31

9] WIB Roland Park vigil – Oct. 31

10] White House vigil – Oct. 31

11] Atomic bomb exhibit & discussion – Oct. 31

12] Capitalism is creepy march – Oct. 31

13] Silent vigil at Homewood Friends – Oct. 31

14] Vigil at Walter Reed – Oct. 31

15] Ballroom dancing – Oct. 31

16] Station North Fleamarket – Nov. 1

17] Peace vigil in Chester, PA – Nov. 1

18] Peace vigil at Capitol – Nov. 1

19] World Bank specialist to speak – Nov. 1

20] Olney vigil to end the war – Nov. 1                               

21] Atomic bomb exhibit & discussion – Nov. 1

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1] – Buttons, bumperstickers and books are available.  “God Bless the Whole World, No Exceptions” stickers in stock. Call Max at 410-366-1637.

 

2] – To obtain information how your federal legislators voted on particular bills, go to http://thomas.loc.gov/.  Congressional toll-free numbers are 888-818-6641, 888-355-3588 or 800-426-8073.

 

3] – THE ORGANIZING LIST will be the primary decision-making mechanism of the National Campaign of Nonviolent Resistance [NCNR].  It will be augmented by conference calls and possibly in-person meetings as needed.  It will consist of 1 or 2 representatives from each local, regional, or national organization (not coalitions) that wishes to actively work to carry out the NCNR campaign of facilitating and organizing nonviolent resistance to the war in Iraq.

 

To join the ORGANIZING List, please send your name, group affiliation, city and email address to donmuller@msn.com.  Different local chapters of a national organization are encouraged to subscribe.  

 

THE NOTICES LIST will include only notices of NCNR actions and related information and is open to any interested person to subscribe.  It will be moderated to maintain focus & will include periodic notices about getting involved in NCNR national organizing.  To join the NOTICES List, send an email message to ncnrnotices-subscribe@lists.riseup.net. You will get a confirmation message once subscribed.  If you have problems, please write to the list manager at ncnrnotices-admin@lists.riseup.net.

 

4] – The Baltimore American Friends Service Committee office has assembled an exhibit Maryland Eyes Wide Open which details the Human Cost of the Iraq War and reflects the costs of war to the state of Maryland. The exhibit consists of at least 40 pairs of combat boots, representing the US military deaths from Maryland; civilian shoes, tagged with names and ages of a very small fraction of the tens of thousands of innocent Iraqis who have died; a representative pair of combat boots and 7 red poppies, representing the estimated number of wounded US military personnel (approximately 7 times the number of dead); and signs and literature detailing the human and financial costs of the war on the cities and counties of Maryland.

 AFSC will help with logistics and contribute to your planning for auxiliary events or activities presented in conjunction with the exhibit.  For information on obtaining and displaying the exhibit, call 410-323-4200, extensions 20 or 21 or e-mail at tsteele@afsc.org or ggillespie@afsc.org.  Go to www.afsc.org/midatlantic/baltimore-programs.htm.   

5] – The Baltimore CASH Campaign is a coalition that focuses on providing financial security opportunities for low-income Baltimore residents. Since 2001, the CASH Campaign and coalition partners have been providing free tax preparation assistance, financial education, financial counseling, housing counseling, and other programs to over 30,000 clients. More information about the coalition is available at www.baltimorecashcampaign.org.

6] – The Light Street Presbyterian Church, 809 Light St., Baltimore, MD 21230, is hosting a Film/Discussion Series on Nonviolence on Thursday evenings, 6 to 7:30 PM, through Nov. 13.  On Oct. 30, the film to be shown is LIVING WITH THE ENEMY.  During five years of Nazi occupation, the Danes’ noncooperation undermines the Germans' attempt to exploit Denmark for food and war materiel, and rescues all but a few hundred of Denmark's seven thousand Jews from the Holocaust.

 

On Nov. 6, the film is WE’VE CAUGHT GOD BY THE ARM, which is about the 1980 Gdansk Shipyard strike that wins Poles the right to have free trade unions, launches the Solidarity movement, and catapults Lech Walesa to national labor leader and eventually president of Poland.

 

  The series will be based on the six-part PBS documentary "A Force More Powerful."  Narrated by Ben Kingsley, the documentary explores one of the 20th century's most important but least-understood stories -- how nonviolent power was able to overcome oppression and authoritarian rule all over the world.

 

Each evening will include a simple supper of soup and bread, the viewing of a half-hour segment of "A Force More Powerful," and a guided discussion.  The church's pastor, Rev. Roger Scott Powers, will lead the discussions.  He is co-moderator of the Presbyterian Peace Fellowship and co-editor of Protest, Power, and Change: An Encyclopedia of Nonviolent Action from ACT-UP to Women's Suffrage (Garland, 1997).  The series is free and open to the public. Call 410-539-0125.

7] – There is a Human Rights Film Series that continues through Fri., Nov. 14 on the campus of Washington College of Law (WCL) and the campus of AU's Wechsler Theatre. All screenings are FREE and open to the public. Visit the website for film synopses and full event details. On Thurs., Oct. 30 at 5:30 PM at the Wechsler Theatre, THREE YEARS AFTER KATRINA will be shown. Email socialmedia@american.edu or call 202-885-3107. Go to http://www.centerforsocialmedia.org.

8] – Women In Black sponsor a peace stand/vigil on Fri., Oct. 31 from noon-1 PM at the Inner Harbor, corner Pratt and Light.  Everyone welcome, wear black if you can.  See http://www.peacepath911.com/ or write wibbaltimore@hotmail.com or call 410-467-9114.

 

9] – There is also a noon vigil on Fri., Oct. 31 at Roland Park Place at 830 W. 40th St.  Call 410-467-9114. 

 

10] – A peace vigil takes place every Friday from noon to 1 PM on Pennsylvania Ave., by the press gate to the White House. It is organized by the Dorothy Day Catholic Worker. Call 202-882-9649.

 

11] – On Fri., Oct. 31, 2 to 4 PM, see the Hiroshima-Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Photo Poster Exhibition at the University of Baltimore, Langsdale Auditorium, 1420 Maryland Ave. The

Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum brought this exhibit to the U.S. and a number of groups are sponsoring this event.  It includes a set of thirty posters which presents the facts of the atomic bombings. There will be a talk by Steve Leeper, chairperson, Hiroshima Peace Culture Foundation and testimony by Ms. Sigeko Sasamori, A-bomb survivor.  Contact Eric Singer at ersinger@balt.edu or 410-830-9789.

12] – Capitalism is Creepy! So join Baltimore's anti-capitalist Halloween Fest and Parade in Patterson Park on Fri., Oct. 31.  At 4:30 PM, there will be a Food not Bombs Feast before marching to the Inner Harbor at 5:30 PM.  Dress as your favorite capitalist ghoul--greedy CEO's, politicians, exaggerated pop-culture icons, destructive developers, corporate mascots, venture capitalists, recession profiteers, etc. Bring DIY costumes, noisemakers, drums, bicycle floats, stilts, fake blood, anti-authoritarian lit, zines, and vegan treats to pass out on the march! There is nothing to fear but capitalism!  Email Baltimoreresistance@riseup.net.

13] – There is a silent vigil on Fri., Oct. 31 from 5 to 6 PM outside of Homewood Friends Meeting, 3107 N. Charles St., in opposition to war with Iraq. Placards say: "War Is Not the Answer." The silent vigil is sponsored by AFSC, Homewood Friends Meeting and Stony Run.

14] – SHED LIGHT ON US WAR CASUALTIES: FROM THE FRONT LINE TO THE BACK DOOR of Walter Reed Army Medical Center (North Gate), every Friday night, from 7 to 9 PM in the middle of the 7100 block of Georgia Ave., NW. Call 202-441-3265. Go to http://www.codepinkalert.org/Local_CODEPINKs_Washington_DC.shtml

15] –  There is an opportunity to participate in ballroom dancing, usually every Friday of the month, in the JHU ROTC Bldg. at 8 PM.  Turn south on San Martin Dr. from the intersection of Univ. Parkway and 39th St.  Drive on campus by taking the third left turn.  The next dance will be Oct. 31. Call Dave Greene at 410-599-3725.

 

16] – Don’t forget the Station North Artists Flea Market on Sat., Nov. 1  (the last one until spring) from 9 AM to 2 PM at the Howard Street Bridge - 100 block of West North Ave. in the Station North Arts & Entertainment District.  For $10 a spot, vendors will be selling mid-century modern and post modern maybes.  Plus there will be the usual casual junk, precious fake jewels and more than a few useful items you didn’t think you needed.  Go to

http://www.loadoffun.net/fleamarket.html or call David at 410-962-7075.

 

17] – Each Saturday, 11 AM – 1 PM, Chester County Peace Movement holds a peace vigil in West Chester in front of the Chester County Courthouse, High & Market Sts. This vigil has been the target of counter-demonstrators and harassment from the "Chester County Victory Movement" but has grown and persisted.  Go to www.ccpeace.org.

18] – There will be a peace vigil on the West Lawn of the Capitol at noon on Sat., Nov. 1.  Look for the blue banner with the message, "Seek Peace and Pursue It. --Psalms 34:14." The vigil lasts one hour and is silent except when one responds to the occasional questions. Go to http://www.quaker.org/langleyhill/seekpeace.htm or email seekpeacevigil@yahoo.com.

19] – On Sat., Nov. 1, from 1 to 3 PM, Claudia Sobreville, senior biodiversity specialist at the World Bank, will be sharing data about "Indigenous Peoples' Contributions to Peace." The sharing will occur at 4209 East West Hwy., Chevy Chase, MD 20815.  The afternoon will include interfaith prayers, a song for world peace and a peace meal--a hot vegetarian lunch.  There is no charge, and children are welcome.  RSVP to justlikeatree@hotmail.com.

20] – Friends House, 17715 Meeting House Rd., Sandy Spring, MD 20860, hosts a peace vigil every Saturday, 3:15 to 4:15 PM, on the corner of Rt. 108 and Georgia Ave. in Olney, MD.  The next vigil is Nov. 1. Call 301-774-9792. 

 

21] – On Sat., Nov. 1, 3:30 – 9 PM, with a program at 4 PM, see the Hiroshima-Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Photo Poster Exhibition at the Greenbelt Community Center, 15 Crescent Road, Greenbelt. The Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum brought this exhibit to the U.S., and the Peace & Justice Coalition, Prince George’s County, is the local sponsor.  It includes a set of thirty posters which presents the facts of the atomic bombings. There will be an introduction by John Steinbach, Hiroshima/Nagasaki Committee for Washington DC Metro Area.  Then there will be a talk by Steve Leeper, chairperson, Hiroshima Peace Culture Foundation and testimony by Ms. Sigeko Sasamori, A-bomb survivor.   

 

To be continued

 

Donations can be sent to the Baltimore Nonviolence Center, 325 E. 25th St., Baltimore, MD 21218.  Ph: 410-366-1637; Email: mobuszewski [at] verizon.net

 

"The master class has always declared the wars; the subject class has always fought the battles. The master class has had all to gain and nothing to lose, while the subject class has had nothing to gain and everything to lose--especially their lives." Eugene Victor Debs

 

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