Thursday, May 7, 2009

Baltimore Activist Alert - Part 1

Baltimore Activist Alert May 7 – June 1, 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] Max is seeking housing/peace house is available

5] Buy Mankekolo’s book

6] Buy coffee through HoCoFoLA

7] Used stamps for humanitarian causes

8] Rebuild the playground – through May 12

9] First Thursday protest of the war – May 7

10] PeaceAction Montgomery meeting – May 7                      

11] WIB Inner Harbor peace vigil – May 8

12] WIB Roland Park vigil – May 8                  

13] White House vigil – May 8                   

14] Support The Congo demo – May 8

15] Silent vigil at Homewood Friends – May 8

16] Vigil at Walter Reed – May 8

17] Talk and Meditation – May 8

18] Ballroom dancing – May 8

19] Green Party Assembly – May 9

20] Olney vigil to end the war – May 9                         

21] Peace vigil in Chester, PA – May 9

22] DIY Fest – May 9                         

23] Peace vigil at Capitol – May 9                                       

24] Bring Peace Home on Mother’s Day – May 9

25] Mother’s Day at the White House – May 9

26] Westminster WIB vigil – May 9                                       

27] Amnesty International – May 9

28] Drum for peace – May 9

29] Hire a Baltimore Worker – May 10

30] African Service – May 10

31] Bridge peace vigil – May 10

32] Film on wisdom of elders – May 10

33] Bethesda peace vigil – May 10

34] Red Emma’s needs volunteers – May 10

35] Pentagon vigil – May 11

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1] – Buttons, bumperstickers and books are available.  “God Bless the Whole World, No Exceptions” stickers are 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] – Max is in need of housing.  If you have any leads, please call him at 410-366-1637.  Note that there may be an opportunity for two or three people to move into a “peace house.”  If interested, call Max.

5] – Rev. Dr. Mankekolo Mahlangu-Ngcobo has returned to live in Baltimore, and is writing her autobiography.  Consider purchasing her book" One A Day: Spiritual Vitamins. Be ready with daily Spiritual Vitamins from January 1 to December 31 in 2009.”  Send a donation of $10 with $3 shipping and handling to 3315 Mondawmin Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21216.

6] – You can help safeguard human rights and fragile ecosystems through your purchase of HOCOFOLA Café Quetzal. Bags of ground coffee or whole beans can be ordered by mailing in an order form. For more details and to download the order form, go to http://friendsoflatinamerica.typepad.com/hocofola/fair_trade/index.html.

Be sure you indicate ground (G) or bean (B) for each type of coffee ordered. Make the check out to HoCoFoLA and send it with your order form to HoCoFoLA, PO Box 94, Columbia, MD  21045. Contact Pat McLaine at 410-964-0960 or pamcl@aol.com.  The coffee will arrive some time the following week and you will be notified where to pick it up.

7] – Brad Hathaway spearheads an effort to sell donated used stamps to raise money for different humanitarian causes around the world. Go to www.mattapoisettquakers.org, and click the link for the stamp ministry.  Carefully clip canceled postage stamps and send to Quaker Missions, PO Box 795, Mattapoisett, MA 02739. Send no small flag stamps or Liberty Bell Forever stamps.

8] – Help rebuild the Stadium Playground from 8 AM to 8 PM each day through Sun., May 10, near the YMCA, Waverly/Charles Village, 900 33rd St. Call 443-756-6198 or email friendsofourplayground@gmail.comGo online to register for one or more shifts: http://www.stadiumplayground.org!

9] – The Pledge of Resistance-Baltimore hosts an End the War! End the Occupation! rally on Thurs., May 7 from 5 to 6:30 PM in Mount Vernon at Centre & Charles Sts.  The Pledge gathers in Mount Vernon on the first Thursday of the month to protest the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.  Call Max at 410-366-1637.

10] – PeaceAction Montgomery, meets every first Thursday, next being May 7, at 7 PM at the Cedar Lane Unitarian Church, room 16 in the basement, 9601 Cedar Lane, Bethesda, Maryland 20814-4099.

11] – Women In Black sponsor a peace stand/vigil on Fri., May 8 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.

 

12] – There is also a noon vigil on Fri., May 8 at Roland Park Place at 830 W. 40th St.  Call 410-467-9114. 

 

13] – 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.

14] – There is a peace vigil to support the Congo every Friday, 4 to 6:30 PM at the Rwandan Embassy, 1714 New Hampshire Ave, NW.  Call the Rwandan Embassy at 202-232-2882 and register your concern about Rwanda's aggression towards the Congo.

15] – There is a silent vigil on Fri., May 8 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 and Stony Run Meetings.

16] – 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. 

 

17] – A Talk & Meditation by Cho Tab Khen Zambuling (Alfredo Sfeir-Younis) entitled Collective Existence As The Compass Of Human Transformation: Awareness Of Our Collective Vehicle will be presented on Fri., May 8 at the Shanti Yoga Ashram, 4209 East-West Highway, Chevy Chase MD 20815, at 7 PM.  RSVP at 301-654 6759.  The speaker, founder of the Zambuling Institute for Human Transformation, is dedicated to conveying the message of the power of silence through the practice of silent peace meditation.  Go to www.schooloflife.org.

 

18] –  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 May 8. Call Dave Greene at 410-599-3725.

 

19] – The Maryland Green Party Assembly 2009 is on Sat., May 9 beginning at 10 AM and ending at 5 PM at The Maryland Inn in Annapolis. Email marylandgreens@gmail.comElect officers, hear engaging speakers, network, workshop, and grow the Green Party in Maryland. Two of the speakers are Brent McMillan, executive director of the Green Party of the United States and Rosa Clemente, 2008 Green Party vice-presidential candidate.  Go to www.mdgreens.org/2009assembly.html.

 

20] – Friends House, 17715 Meeting House Rd., Sandy Spring, MD 20860, hosts a peace vigil every Saturday, 10:30 to 11:30 AM, on the corner of Rt. 108 and Georgia Ave. in Olney, MD.  The next vigil is May 9. Call Chuck Harker at 301-570-7167. 

 

21] –  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.

22] – On Sat., May 9 starting at 11 AM, the DIY FEST 2009 will be happening at 2640, St. John’s Church, 27th & St. Paul Sts.  If you're interested in helping out, or giving a workshop or having a table, check out http://www.diyfest.org/. Go to http://2640.redemmas.org.

23] – There will be a peace vigil on the West Lawn of the Capitol at noon on Sat., May 9. 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.

24] – On Sat., May 9, from noon to 4 PM, participate in "Bring Peace Home on Mothers' Day" at the Arch Street United Methodist Church, Broad & Arch Sts., Philadelphia, PA.  The event will begin with a light lunch.  The day will include music and poetry, a reading of Julia Ward Howe's proclamation by Celeste Zappala, Gold Star Families for Peace, and workshops. Call United for Peace & Justice - Delaware Valley Network at 215-528-6130.  Go to www.ufpj-dvn.org.   

25] – Join Code Pink for a special 24-hour Mother’s Day vigil from 1 PM to Sat., May 9 to 1 PM on Sun., May 10 in Lafayette Park.  Celebrate Julia Ward Howe’s original Mother’s Day call to disarm.  Help knit a pink cozy for the White House and enjoy music, celebrity speakers, trainings, activities for children & more.  Go to http://www.mothersdayforpeace.com for the Mother's Day for Peace.

Code Pink is looking for some radical knitters to contribute to a massive 150-foot cozy that will don the White House fence on Mother's Day. Contribute some knitted squares or host a local knitting circle! Learn more here: http://codepinkalert.org/cozy.

26] – Westminster WIB hosts a vigil the 2nd Saturday of the month from 2 – 3 PM in front of the War Memorial on Main St. The next vigil will be May 9. Email wibwestminster@mizmail.com.

27] – On Sat., May 9 from 3 to 4:30 PM, Amnesty International is holding a demonstration to protest the arrest and detention of two political prisoners in West Papua. Filep Karma was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment, Yusak Pakage, ten years, for raising the West Papuan flag.   Join AI at 2020 Massachusetts Ave., NW, WDC.  Get off at the Dupont Circle Metro stop.  Call 202-544-0200.  Go to http://www.amnestyusa.org/action/special/karmapakage.html.

28] – Come drum for peace every second Saturday at the Unitarian Universalists of Fallston, MD, 1127 Old Fallston Road (across Rte 152 from Fallston High).  On May 9, the drum circle begins at 7 PM.  Call Franz at 410-925-9351.

29] – Get the perfect gift this Mother’s Day, Sun., May 10.  Come to the Baltimore Workers Center and hire a worker to clean up the house, paint the kitchen, or repair that hardwood floor.  Your gift will save your loved one hours of precious time, and help a Baltimore worker at the same time. 

Come to the Baltimore Workers Center, 2224 E. Fayette St., Baltimore, MD 21231, between the hours of 6 AM and 2 PM, Monday-Saturday. Email mtrejo@casamd.org or call 410-732-2694.

30] –  On Sun., May 10, the KALAFONG AME CHURCH invites you to a Prayer for Africa at 11 AM at the HISPANIC SEVENTH DAY ADVENTIST DAY CHUCH, 5100 Edmondson Ave., Baltimore 21229.   Contact Rev. Dr. Duane Rawlings at realministr@aol.com.  Go to www.orgsites.com\md\kalafong-ame-mission-church/index.html.

31] – Maryland Bridges for Peace welcomes you to stand for peace Sundays from noon (or thereabouts) to 1 PM on the Spa Creek Bridge in Annapolis.  Contact Lucy at 410-263-7271 or mdbridgesforpeace@toadmail.com. Signs are not allowed to be on a stick or pole.   If there is interest, people will be standing on the Stoney Creek Bridge on Fort Smallwood Road in Pasadena [410-437-5379 or magicalgodmom@aol.com]. Go to http://BridgePeace.blogspot.com/.

32] – The Brandywine Monthly Potluck Supper & Program is the 2nd Sunday of the month starting at 4:30 PM with a potluck dinner at University Lutheran Church, 3637 Chestnut St., Phila., PA. Bring main dish, salad, or dessert to share. The program begins at 5:30 PM.

On Sun., May 10, there will be a screening of I CANNOT BE SILENT: Testimonies of Peacemaking. The 50 min. film documents inter-generational dialogues on peace with elder peace advocates sharing their stories of peacemaking and their timely/timeless wisdom with young people.  Their remarkable and inspiring stories address historical and current violence: escape from slavery, opposition to war, childhood escape from a Nazi concentration camp, and opposition to urban gun violence.  Among the featured elder peace activists are Quaker peace legends, George Willoughby and Lillian Willoughby (recently deceased).

 

The screening will be followed by a discussion with the film maker, Vic Compher. Call 610-544-1818, email brandywine@juno.com or go to www.brandywinepeace.com.

33] – Every Sunday until Nov. 3, from 4:30 to 6 PM at the corner of Woodmont and Bethesda Aves., near Barnes & Noble and the Landmark Theaters, there will be a peace vigil organized by Bethesda Friends. Everyone welcome to participate!  

34] – Red Emma’s needs volunteers.  Stop in to the weekly Sunday meeting at 7 PM at 800 St. Paul St. or email info@redemmas.org.  The next meeting is May 10. Call 410-230-0450.

35] – There is a weekly Pentagon Peace Vigil from 7 to 8 AM on Mondays, since 1987, outside the Pentagon Metro stop.  The next vigil is Mon., May 11, and it is sponsored by the Dorothy Day Catholic Worker.  Call 202-882-9649.

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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