Friday, October 1, 2010

Activist Alert

80] PDA to lobby – Oct. 1                                 

81] WIB Frederick vigil – Oct. 1

82] Witness Against Torture in D.C. -- Oct. 1 & 2

83] 10 Commandments of the Environment – Oct. 1

84] Film THE MOST DANGEROUS MAN IN AMERICA – Oct. 1

85] Bruce Gagnon at Dorothy Day – Oct. 1                                 

86] Keep Space for Peace Week – Oct. 2-9                               

87] Get on the Peace Bus – Oct. 2

88] Ward Morrow fundraiser – Oct. 2 

89] Alice Walker at Bus Boys – Oct. 2

90] WIB Towson vigil – Oct. 7

91] First Thursday vigil against FBI raids – Oct. 7

92] Pledge travels to NSA – Oct. 9

93] Casa Baltimore Celebration – Oct. 9                                

94] Support AFSC-Baltimore peace program

95] Support Haitian youth who want an education

96] Apartment available

97] Mankekolo has a new book

98] Teen Empowerment

99] Buy a red maple tree

100] Join Global Zero campaign

101] War Is Not the Answer signs for sale

102] Publish your peace article

103] Click on The Hunger Site  

104] Fire & Faith   

105] Join Peace Park Antinuclear Vigil

 

80] – LOBBY DAY PLANNED FOR FRIDAY, OCTOBER 1.  The two co-chairs of Progressive Democrats of America's Healthcare Not Warfare Caucus, Norman Solomon and Donna Smith, have written to members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus asking them to change their ways. "Many PDA members--and millions of other progressives--were disheartened by the course of events with healthcare legislation," write Smith and Solomon. "We saw that most of the CPC threw down the gauntlets about minimally 'robust' reform, but later picked them up, acquiescing to corporate interests and White House pressure. Please, do not do that with Social Security. Please, do not do that with Medicare."

 

PDA's letter also goes after CPC members for their weakness in opposing war funding and urges them to all cosponsor Congresswoman Barbara Lee's H.R. 6045 which would restrict military spending on Afghanistan to paying for U.S. withdrawal.  So members and allies of PDA will lobby their representatives for an end to wars, investment in jobs, and commitments not to cut, weaken, or privatize Social Security.  Headquarters on Oct. 1 from 9 AM to 3 PM will be the Rayburn House Office Building, Room 2226.  A reception is planned from 4 to 5 PM at the Capitol Visitors Center with the Co-Chairs of the Congressional Progressive Caucus Raul Grijalva and Lynn Woolsey, Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus Barbara Lee, Rep. Dennis Kucinich, PDA Board Members Bill Fletcher, Jr and Medea Benjamin, and Co-Chair of Strengthen Social Security Nancy Altman. Contact Laura Bonham at Laura@pdamerica.org or 435-336-2123. Go to http://pdamerica.org.

 

81] – WIB holds a silent vigil mourning all violence, the first Friday of the month.  The next vigil is Oct. 1 from 12 noon to 12:30 PM, War Memorial Park, intersection of W. 2nd & N. Bentz Sts. in Frederick.  Please dress in black; no additional signs.  Call 301-834-7581 or email wibfrederick@mizmail.com.

 

82] – Witness Against Torture will be in D.C. on Fri., Oct. 1 and Sat., Oct. 2 and staying at St. Stephens Church, Harvard Ave.  On Friday, WAT will host a protest at the Justice Department at 2:30 PM.  Email daloisio&earthlink.net for further details. In the evening, there is an invitation from TASSC International to Commemorate the Life & Legacy of Patrick Rice (1945 - 2010), human rights activist and survivor of torture.  It will be from 7 to 8:30 PM at St. Aloysius Catholic Church, N. Capitol & “Eye” Sts., near Union Station on the Red Line. Call 202-529-2991. If you plan to sleep at St. Stephens, email Frida Berrigan frida.berrigan@gmail.com.  Go to http://www.witnesstorture.org/.  

 

At 8:30 AM on Sat., Oct. 2 depart for the One Nation Rally.  At 10 AM, gather at the south east corner of 15th St. & Constitution Ave.

 

At 6 PM until 8:30 PM, there will be a planning meeting for Jan. 11-22, 2011 in Washington, DC at the Dignity Center (offices of Dignity Washington), 721 8th St., SE, WDC.  Take the Orange and Blue Metro subway lines to Eastern Market Metro Station.  Exit the subway station and walk through the Eastern Market little park towards 8th St. and take a right down.  Walk about three and a half blocks to the Dignity Center on the right side of the street. The building is right next to The Ugly Mug. Email frida.berrigan@gmail.com if you plan on attending.

 

83] – On Fri., Oct. 1 from 7 to 8:45 PM, catch POPE BENEDICT XVI’S “TEN COMMANDMENTS OF THE ENVIRONMENT” WITH FATHER CHARLIE CORTINOVIS.  Close to the Oct. 4 feast of St. Francis of Assisi, patron saint of the Environment, St. Raphael’s Earth Community will present a program honoring him, featuring long-time environmentalist Cortinovis. Father Charlie earned a Masters Degree in Environmental Science and Management, and a Juris Doctor Degree.  St. Raphael's is on Falls and Dunster Rds. in Rockville.  Call Sylvia Diss at 301-251-1058.

84] – On Fri., Oct. 1 at 7 PM watch THE MOST DANGEROUS MAN IN AMERICA: Daniel Ellsberg & The Pentagon Papers, which is being shown as part of the "JUST-REEL” First Friday Free Film Series at the Peace Center of Delaware County, 1001 Old Sproul Road, Springfield, Delaware County, PA. The evening will include light refreshments and an after-film discussion. It is co-sponsored by the Brandywine Peace Community. Call 610-544-1818. Go to www.delcopeacecenter.org. The film is a timely depiction of undocumented workers seeking justice.

85] – Stop the Militarization of Space! Bring the War $$ Home! As part of the monthly Clarification of Thought series, Bruce Gagnon, secretary/coordinator of the Global Network Against Weapons and Nuclear Power in Space, will address these issues on Fri., Oct. 1 at 7:30 PM at the Dorothy Day  Catholic Worker, 503 Rock Creek Church Rd. NW, WDC 20010. He is the author of: "Come Together Right Now: Organizing Stories from a Fading Empire” and has been working on space issues for the past 25 years and helped create the GN in 1992.  More recently, he also helped found the "Maine Campaign to Bring Our War $$ Home." Go to http://www.bringourwardollarshome.org/ Call Art @ 202-360-6416.

86] – From Sat., Oct. 2 through Sat., Oct. 9, participate in Keep Space for Peace Week: International Week of Protest to Stop the Militarization of Space; No Missile Defense; Stop the Drones; Convert the Military Industrial Complex; and Bring Our War $$ Home.  There are events planned around the world.  The Pledge of Resistance-Baltimore will be at Fort Meade on Sat., Oct. 9 at 10 AM to present a letter to the director of the National Security Agency.  Join us by contacting Max at 410-366-1637 or mobuszewski at verizon.net.  

87] –On Sat., Oct. 2 join the One Nation rally at the Lincoln memorial from noon to 4 PM to demand “jobs, economic security, comprehensive immigration reform, a safe and renewable energy policy and a reversal of national priorities from making wars to meeting human needs.” This rally was initiated by SEIU Local 1199 and the NAACP and supported by AFL-CIO and many other groups.  Go to http://www.onenationforpeace.org/2010/09/10-2-10-the-plan/.

 

Demand a change in the direction that the nation is heading. Many will join this march to demand jobs, an end to the wars in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Pakistan, and for a society that is fairer, more equal and more just. Be there to help create a counterweight to Glenn Beck, the Tea Party, and Republicans, their reactionary politics, ruthless economics and their racism.

 

However, not all groups share the goals of the AFL-CIO, the NAACP, and other organizations which will continue to support Barack Obama and the Democratic Party in the national elections on November 2. The goals of a full employment economy, real environmental sustainability, and peace cannot be achieved by our capitalist system and the corporations motivated only by profit. Nevertheless, many of these groups plan to feed into the One Nation rally.  For example, the Socialist Contingent will be there.  Go to http://socialistcontingentoct2.blogspot.com/

 

 These are some of the groups who will join the rally: Campaign for America's Future, CCAN, Code Pink, Healthcare-NOW!, Human Rights Campaign, Partnership Together, Peace Action, Progressive Democrats of America, Public Citizen, The US Campaign to End the Occupation, True Majority, United for Peace and Justice and United National Anti-War Committee. Several area groups have buses available.

 

A bus will leave from AFSC, 4806 York Road, Baltimore 21218 at 9 AM with a return at 6 PM.  To reserve a seat, call 410-323-9200 or email ggillespie@afsc.org.  The suggested donation is $10 plus the D.C. Metro fare.  No one will be turned away for a lack of funds.  Many Baltimore organizations are supporting One Nation Working Together.

 

Join with the Job Is A Right Campaign and get on its buses at 2011 N. Charles St. (near North Ave.) or from Northwestern High School. Call 410-218-4835 to reserve a seat.  Buses will be leaving at 8 A.M. sharp and returning to Baltimore between 6 - 7 P.M. depending on traffic.  Seats are FREE to unemployed, students, low income and community activists. A box lunch will also be provided. Thank the AFL-CIO of Maryland/D.C. and Fred Mason, president of the AFL-CIO Maryland/D.C. for generously donating buses to the community at large! 

 

 Get on the ONE NATION bus from Columbia to D.C on Sat., Oct. 2. The Howard County Coalition for Peace and Justice bus will depart at 8 AM from Broken Land Park and Ride, West Lot, Columbia, MD.  It will travel to the Greenbelt Metro, where fare cards will be provided to ride the Metro into D.C. Singing, chants, and general merry-making and peacebuilding will take place on the bus -- Bring an instrument, and a friend!  Boxed lunches will be provided - But, bring plenty of water, sunscreen, snacks and don't forget your cell phone! Suggested minimum contribution $10 (to support the work of HCCPJ).  The bus will return from the Greenbelt Metro at 5 PM.  Contact Steve at 410-740-5583. 

 

 During the rally, from 1 to 3 PM, Marc Steiner and others will co-anchor Free Speech TV's live coverage of the event.  Steiner will be doing interviews throughout the day.  Tune in at www.freespeech.org (DISH channel 9415, DirecTV channel 348) for their live coverage!

 Putting America Back To Work; Pulling America Back Together.  ONE NATION WORKING TOGETHER seeks to transcend our superficial differences and bring us together in a common quest for equal opportunity and justice for all.  One Nation Working Together is about reordering our nation's priorities to invest in our most valuable resource- Our People.  The peace contingent is meeting at 14th & Constitution Aves. from 9 to 11:30 AM.  Use the Federal Triangle Metro stop. Pick up placards and leaflets to hand out to the tens of thousands of people from One Nation.  Call 518-227-6947 or email unacpeace@gmail.com. 

88] – Ward Morrow invites you to a "Fundraiser for James Ward Morrow for House of Delegates.” on Sat., Oct. 2 at 4 PM at the Billy Goat Tavern, 500 New Jersey Ave. NW # 1, WDC 20001-2005. Call 202-783-2123 or go to http://www.facebook.com/l/e488c;billygoattavern.com.

 

89] – The Furious Dance Party with Alice Walker is taking place at Busboys and Poets, 5th & K Sts., 1025 5th St. NW, WDC on Sat., Oct. 2 at 8 PM. Join WALKER, the NAACP's BEN JEALOUS, Code Pink, Teaching for Change, TransAfrica Forum and many others as they celebrate the publication of Walker's new volume of poetry: "Hard Times Require Furious Dancing". Purchase tickets at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/126420.

 

90] – There is a WIB peace stand on Thurs., Oct.  7, noon-1PM in Towson at northwest corner of Washington & Chesapeake Aves., across the street from the post office, near the courthouse. Contact mbrainzo@aol.com. This vigil takes place on the first Thursday of the month.

 

91] – The Pledge of Resistance-Baltimore hosts an End the FBI Raids Against Nonviolent Activists on Thurs., Oct. 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 usually to protest the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.  But this Thursday, the group intends to condemn the illegal FBI raids on dissidents.  Call Max at 410-366-1637.

 

92] – The Pledge of Resistance-Baltimore will visit the National Security Agency at Fort Meade, Maryland on Sat., Oct. 9 at 10 AM.  Contact Max at mobuszewski at verizon.net or 410-366-1637. 

 

93] – The CASA BALTIMORE/LIMAY 25TH ANNIVERSARY celebration is Sat., Oct. 9 at 5:30 PM at St. John's Church, 27th & St. Paul St. Contact Brandi Rhone bnrrclb at gmail.com.  

 

94] – Like most nonprofit groups in these perilous times, American Friends Service Committee-Baltimore is suffering from a lack of funding.  Our friend, Gary Gillespie, could lose his program unless some $7,000 in donations are secured.  Consider sending a (tax deductible) donation to Urban Peace Program, American Friends Service Committee, 4800 York Road, Baltimore MD 21212.

 

95] – There is a project to assist young refugees from Haiti, now residing in the Dominican Republic.  The founder of the project needs funding to providing education to the youth as a way out of desperate poverty.  Try to imagine the poverty in Haiti, and then realize that these young refugees are considered low caste in the Dominican Republic. We are talking about the poorest of the poor.  Consider making a small donation, and realize that most pledges to Haiti to assist hurricane victims have not been sent.  To maintain a web site presence at Global Giving, there must be traffic.  So help out with this extremely worthy cause. Go to

https://www.globalgiving.org/projects/scholarships-for-dominican-and-haitian-youth/.

 

96] – There is a one-bedroom apartment in Lauraville available in September, which is a half a block from the Safeway.  Good references are required.  Call Dick Ochs at 443-846-6638.

 

97] – Rev. Dr. Mankekolo Mahlangu-Ngcobo is excited by her new book: RESTORE ME: 40 Healing Sermons. The book is available for $19.95 plus $5 for shipping and handling--ISBN: 978-1 -4502-1631-9 (sc), ISBN: 978-1 -4502-1633-3 (dj) or ISBN: 978-1 -4502-1632-6 (sc). She would appreciate if you ordered the book from her: checks payable to Mankekolo Mahlangu-Ngcobo and sent to 3315 Mondawmin Ave., Baltimore, MD 21216.  The publisher is iUniverse.com, and it can be called at 1-800-288-4677.

 

98] – The National Black TEEN Empowerment Expo: NYC’s First TEEN Newspaper is promoting the idea of joining a Youth Movement in several cities including Baltimore.  Email rgordon@uniteedesign.com.  The National Black TEEN Empowerment Expo (NBTEE) is building a national youth movement, community by community, to collectively discuss, determine and deliver better ways to reach and teach today’s young generation. It believes in strength in numbers, which will mean social, economic and political power that can help the children’s needs be a greater fulfilled priority.  Call 734-395-3079 or visit www.uniteedesign.com.

 

99] – I have one red maple tree for $5 from the Trees for Baltimore program.  Buy a tree, plant it and contribute to saving the planet.  Call Max at 410-366-1637

 

100] – Join an extraordinary global campaign for the elimination of nuclear weapons: http://www.globalzero.org/sign-declaration. A growing group of leaders around the world is calling for the elimination of nuclear weapons and a majority of the global public agrees.  This is an historic window of opportunity.  With momentum already building in favor of Zero, a major show of support from people around the world could tip the balance. When it comes to nuclear weapons, one is one too many.  

101] – WAR IS NOT THE ANSWER signs from Friends Committee on National Legislation are again for sale at $5.  To purchase a sign, call Max at 410-366-1637.

102] – Publish Your Peace Article. Daniel Frasier is soliciting peace articles for the biweekly series of commentaries Paths to Peace in the Frederick News Post Religion and Ethics section. For details, email path2peace07@yahoo.com.

 

103] – The Hunger Site was initiated by Mercy Corps and Second Harvest, and is funded entirely by advertisers.  You can go there every day and click the big yellow "Give Food for Free" button near the top of the page; you do not have to look at the ads. Each click generates funding for about 1.1 cups of food.  So consider clicking.  

 

104] – Go online for FIRE AND FAITH: The Catonsville Nine File. On May 17, 1968, nine people entered the Selective Service Offices in Catonsville, Maryland, and burned draft records in protest against the war in Vietnam. View http://www.prattlibrary.org/digital/.

 

105] – Peace Park Antinuclear Vigil takes place every day in Lafayette Park, 1601 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, 24 hours a day, since June 3, 1981.  Go to http://prop1.org; call 202-682-4282.

 

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

 

"One is called to live nonviolently, even if the change one works for seems impossible. It may or may not be possible to turn the US around through nonviolent revolution. But one thing favors such an attempt: the total inability of violence to change anything for the better" - Daniel Berrigan

 

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