Baltimore Activist Alert - Part 2

29] Ecumenical Advocacy Days – Mar. 25

30] Strategies for Transforming Conflicts – Mar. 25

31] White House vigil – Mar. 25

32] WIB Inner Harbor vigil – Mar. 25

33] WIB Roland Park vigil – Mar. 25

34] Justice for Palestine/Israel vigil – Mar. 25

35] Silent vigil at Homewood Friends – Mar. 25

36] Vigil to End the Wars – Mar. 25

37] Terrorism against Cuba – Mar. 25

38] Hiroshima/Nagasaki meeting – Mar. 25

39] Torture – Mar. 25

40] Walter Reed vigil – Mar. 25

41] Ballroom dancing – Mar. 25

42] Environmental film – Mar. 25

43] Farmers Market – Mar. 26

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29] – From Fri., Mar. 25 through Mon., Mar. 28, catch Ecumenical Advocacy Days in Washington, DC, a high impact weekend sponsored by national Christian denominations and organizations working ecumenically. It is grounded in the shared traditions of justice, peace and integrity of creation. The goal is to mobilize for advocacy on a wide variety of U.S. domestic and international policy issues.  The topic this year is Development, Security and Economic Justice: What's Gender Got to Do with It?  Go to www.advocacydays.org.

30] – Strategies for Transforming Conflicts - Middle East, Palestine/Israel will be introduced on Fri., Mar. 25 at  9:30 AM at Search for Common Ground, 4th floor, 1601 Connecticut Ave., NW, Dupont Metro North Exit, WDC.  The JOHAN GALTUNG WORKSHOPS & LECTURE/RECEPTION with Diane Perlman has the theme Outside the Box Strategies for Transforming Seemingly Intractable Conflicts. There are several workshops with a lecture/reception from 4:15 to 5:30 PM.  The cost is $60.  

 Dr. Johan Galtung is a pioneer in peace research and conflict transformation, founder and co-director of Transcend, originator of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe.   Diane Perlman, PhD is a clinical and political psychologist, Visiting Scholar Institute of Conflict Analysis and Resolution, George Mason U., a member of Transcend, Mediators Beyond Borders, and Psychologists for Social Responsibility, and Abolition 2000. To reserve a space, email EnduringSecurity@gmail.com or call 202 775  0777.

31] – A peace vigil takes place every Friday from noon to 1 PM at Lafayette Park facing the White House.  Join the Dorothy Day Catholic Worker and friends. Contact Art Laffin: artlaffin@hotmail.com.   

 

32] – Every Friday from noon to 1 PM, Women in Black, Baltimore, host a vigil at Pratt and Light Sts. in the Inner Harbor. Peace signs and flyers about the siege will be available. See http://www.peacepath911.com/ or write wibbaltimore@hotmail.com or call 410-467-9114.

 

33] – There is also a noon vigil, weather permitting, on Fri., Mar. 25 at Roland Park Place at 830 W. 40th St.  Call 410-467-9114.

34] – A vigil for Justice in Palestine/Israel (now in its 8th year) takes place every Friday from noon to 1 PM at 19th & JFK Blvd., Philadelphia (across from Israeli Consulate.  It is sponsored by Bubbies & Zaydes (Grandparents) for Peace in the Middle East. Email cswartz@pil.net. Go to http://phillyjewishpeace.org/.

35] –  There is a silent vigil on Fri., Mar. 25 from 5 to 6 PM outside of Homewood Friends Meeting, 3107 N. Charles St., in opposition to war in Afghanistan, Iraq and Pakistan. Placards say: "War Is Not the Answer." The silent vigil is sponsored by AFSC, Homewood Friends and Stony Run Meetings. 

 

36] – On the last Friday of the month, join a vigil, Mar. 25, from 5 to 6 PM at Broad & Arch Sts., Philadelphia. It is a Vigil to End the Wars, with a Gold Star Mother for Peace, Celeste Zappala.  Email czappala1@yahoo.com.

 

37] – On Fri., Mar, 25 at  7 PM, the Cuban Interests Section in Washington, DC and the Embassy of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela presents Voices from the Other Side: An Oral History of Terrorism Against Cuba with Keith Bolender and an introduction by Noam Chomsky at Bolivarian Hall, 2443 Massachusetts Ave. NW, WDC 20008.  RSVP at Cultura@venezuela-us.org.

 

38] – The initial meeting of the Hiroshima/Nagasaki Peace Committee will be held on Fri., Mar. 25 at Peace House, 1233 12th St NW, WDC. It will start with a potluck supper at 7 PM followed by the meeting.  Agenda items are to include inviting the Hibakusha;  sending a youth delegate to the World Conference Against A & H Bombs; responding to the current nuclear crisis; and fundraising to support Hibakusha living in the crisis zone. Call John at 703-822-3480.

 

39] – On Fri., Mar. 25, 7 to 9 PM, Torture: From Kentucky to Abu Ghraib to Quantico will be led by Susan Rosenberg and Ray McGovern at The Festival Center (main conference hall), 1640 Columbia Road NW,  WDC  20009.  Free-will offerings are welcome.  Rosenberg is an author focusing on issues of social justice. In her new book, An American Radical: Political Prisoner in My Own Country, she draws on her experience in prison before President Clinton granted her clemency. (The book will be on sale at this event.) Call 202-328-0072,

 

Rosenberg was one of the first to experience the "High Security Unit" (HSU) in the basement of the federal prison in Lexington, Kentucky. The government used this unit as a laboratory to refine techniques like isolation, 24-hour surveillance, frequent strip searches, and sharply curtailed access to exercise and visitors.  These dehumanizing techniques — and other refinements — were later used in Afghanistan, Guantanamo, Abu Ghraib, and now — for Army Pvt. Bradley Manning — at the Marine brig in Quantico.

 

Ray McGovern is a former Army infantry/intelligence officer and then a CIA analyst for a total of 30 years, Ray has been showing how our government lost its very soul when it blessed torture. Such abuse is one of the "accumulated evils" which the post-WWII Nuremberg Tribunal noted would inevitably flow from what the Tribunal called the "the supreme international crime, a war of aggression."

 

40] – The Walter Reed Vigil continues on Fridays from 7 to 9 PM at the Hospital, 7150 Georgia Ave., NW (at Horseshoe, between Dahlia and Elder), WDC. The vigil calls for peace, care for the wounded, and full benefits for all veterans.  Contact DC CODEPINK at dc@codepinkalert.org or 202-290-1301.

 

41] –  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 Mar. 11. Call Dave Greene at 410-599-3725.

42] – The 2011 Environmental Film Festival in the Nation's Capital will show the movie "We Still Live Here: As Nutayunean" on Fri., Mar. 25 at 8:30 PM at the Carnegie Institution for Science, Elihu Root Auditorium, 1530 P St., NW (Metro: Dupont Circle, 19th St. exit. Red Line.)  This is a free event, and no reservations are required.

 

43] – Go to the West Baltimore Farmer's Market for fresh fruits, vegetables, breads and other treats every Saturday from 8 to noon.  CPHA has worked with the West Baltimore Marc TOD and Transit Inc. (WBMTTI) to establish a Farmer's Market at the West Baltimore Marc Train stop at Smallwood Road at Franklin and Mulberry Sts.  Since opening in June, over 300 people buy fresh groceries there every Saturday morning. WBMTTI will continue to include the community in the transit-oriented developments on the west side and continue to improve the area around "the highway to nowhere" until it becomes the highway to somewhere. Go to www.cphabaltimore.org.

 

To be continued.