Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Baltimore Activist Alert - Part 1

Baltimore Activist Alert Sept. 14 – Sept. 20, 2011

 

"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.

 

Tune into the Maryland Progressive Blog at http://mdprogblog.org.

   

1] Books, buttons and stickers

2] Web site for info on federal legislation

3] Join Nonviolent Resistance lists  

4] Buy coffee through HoCoFoLA  

5] Used stamps for humanitarian causes

6] 11 Ways for 11 Days – through Sept. 21

7] Apiary – through Sept. 24

8] Bikes Not Bombs Tour – through Oct. 6

9] Book talk and signing – Sept. 14

10] Philadelphia peace vigil – Sept. 14

11] Tenants in Foreclosure workshop – Sept. 14

12] Film A COMMUNITY OF GARDENERS – Sept. 14

13] 24 Hours of Reality – Sept. 14

14] TRIBUTE: 911 – Sept. 14

15] Chestnut Hill Peace Vigil – Sept. 14

16] Greenhorns 101 – Sept. 15

17] Dr. Nawal El Saadawi at Morgan State U. – Sept. 15 & 16

18] No tax dollars to Israel – Sept. 15

19] RAF grant availability workshop – Sept. 15

20] Andy Bichlbaum at MICA – Sept. 15

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1] – Buttons, bumperstickers and books are available.  "God Bless the Whole World, No Exceptions" stickers are in stock. Donate your books to Max. Call him 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. The White House Comment Email is accessible at http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/.


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] – 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. Also note organic cocoa and sugar are for sale.  For more details and to download the order form, go to http://friendsoflatinamerica.typepad.com/hocofola/2010/02/hocofola-cafe-quetzal-order-form-2010.html. The coffee comes in one-pound bags.

 

Fill out the form and mail it with a check made out to HOCOFOLA on or before the second week of the month.  Be sure you indicate ground or beans for each type of coffee ordered.  Send it to Adela Hirsch, 5358 Eliots Oak Rd., Columbia, MD 21044.  Be sure you indicate ground (G) or bean (B) for each type of coffee ordered. The coffee will arrive some time the following week and you will be notified where to pick it up.  Contact Adela at 410-997-5662 or via e-mail at adela4peace@verizon.net.

 

5] – 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.

 

6] – This year, The United Religions Initiative, in consultation with The World Peace Prayer Society and Pathways To Peace are launching a campaign to build an unprecedented coalition of organizations and other change agents to take action.  To join in this global campaign of unity, visit www.we.net/11days or go to 11days11ways@WeTheWorld.org. 

 

"11 DAYS – 11 WAYS" for a more peaceful, just and sustainable world.  This campaign will highlight 11 dimensions of change which call forth the values, spirit and service needed to move us towards a culture of peace and a world that works for all. The special project of the Culture of Peace Initiative is the 11 Days of Global Unity, which begins on Sun., Sept. 11 and ends on Wed., Sept. 21, the International Day of Peace.  This year's vastly expanded program has the theme "11 DAYS – 11 WAYS".  Each day will focus on a major area of concern for humanity and will feature observances, educational programs and practical acts that support these concerns.  The UN Millennium Development Goals (MGD's) will be incorporated into these daily events.

 

On the International Day of Peace, promote global military ceasefire; call for a day of nonviolence in media; work to establish departments and ministries of peace in nations around the world; highlight our personal and collective progress towards a culture of peace; make a personal commitment to doing something in our local areas; observe a Minute of Silence at 12 noon, as requested by the UN Secretary General.

 

7] – There is a Bikes Not Bombs Tour starting on Sun., Sept. 11 from New York City with an arrival in Washington, D.C. on Thurs., Oct. 6. Go to http://www.operationawareness.org/

 

8] – Baltimore Clayworks, a non-profit ceramic art center, is housed in two historic buildings in Mount Washington, 5707 Smith Ave., presents Apiary by Leigh Taylor Mickelson.  It is her solo exhibition of botanically inspired sculptures and installations. The opening reception is from 6 to 8 PM on Tues., Sept. 13, and the exhibit continues through Sat., Sept. 24, 10 AM to 5 PM.  She explores the parallels between the bee's will to pollinate and human socialization. Call 410-578-1919.

 

9] – Author Dr. Rebecca Boehling will discuss her book, LIFE AND LOSS IN THE SHADOW OF THE HOLOCAUST: A Jewish Family's Untold Story on Wed., Sept. 14 at 4 PM at the Albin O. Kuhn Library Gallery, University of Maryland Baltimore County, 1000 Hilltop Circle. Call 410-455-3827 or got to http://aok.lib.umbc.edu/gallery.

 

10] – Each Wednesday from 4:30 - 5:30 PM, the House of Grace Catholic Worker holds a weekly vigil for peace in Iraq outside the Phila. Federal Building, 6th & Market Sts. The next vigil is Sept. 14. Call 215-426-0364.

 

11] – There are monthly workshops for Tenants in Foreclosure at the Public Justice Center.  Renters have rights during the foreclosure of the building they live in.  In particular tenants have "the right to continue renting the property after the foreclosure for the remaining lease term or 90 days after a new legal title holder sends them notice to vacate, whichever is longer." There will be refreshments and childcare.  All workshops start at 6 PM.  RSVP at 410-625-9409 x235.  The dates are as follows Sept. 14, Oct. 12 & Nov.  16, and the Public Justice Center is at 1 N. Charles St., Suite 200, Baltimore, MD 21201.

 

12] – A COMMUNITY OF GARDENERS, Cintia Cabib's documentary, digs into the fascinating history of community gardening across the US, and on the growing scene flourishing down the road in D.C. A rich panel of Baltimore's community gardeners joins the filmmaker and audience for a discussion: Lewis Sharpe (Duncan Street Miracle Garden), Justine Bonner (Sandtown gardens), Miriam Avins (founder, Baltimore Green Space), Katie Dix (Parks and People Foundation); Coleen McCarty (Baltimore City Farms), and OSI fellow Joyce Smith. On Sept. 14 at 7 PM, be at the Creative Alliance at the Patterson, 3134 Eastern Ave. The ticket price is $8, but members get in for $3. Call 410-276-1651 or got http://www.creativealliance.org.

 

13] – People around the world will join hands to create 24 Hours of Reality beginning at 7 PM Central Time on Wed., Sept. 14.  There will be 24 presentations across 24 time zones in 13 languages as part of The Climate Reality Project. Go to http://climaterealityproject.org/reminder/.

 

14] – On Wed.., Sept. 14 at 7 PM, there will be a staged reading of Christopher Shorr's TRIBUTE: 911, directed by Michael Zemeral and performed at the Univ. of Baltimore Student Center, Lucy and Vernon Wright Theater, 21 W. Mt. Royal Ave., Baltimore 21201.  There is no charge.  Go to www.ubalt.edu/spotlightub.

 

15] – Each Wednesday, the Northwest Greens hold a peace vigil from 7 to 8 PM outside the Borders Book Store, Germantown Ave. at Bethlehem Pike in Chestnut Hill, PA. The next vigil is Sept. 14. Call 215-843-4256 or email nwgreens@yahoo.com.  

 

16] – Founder and director of the non-profit organization The Greenhorns, Severine von Tscharner Fleming will give an introductory overview of many issues surrounding new and beginning farmers. Learn more about the Greenhorns organization, receive help interpreting other institutions in the agricultural arena, and discuss how to organize and support farmers in your community and across the country on Thurs., Sept. 15 at 5 PM at the Free School, 1323 N. Calvert St. Call 517-242-5684.

 

17] – On Thurs., Sept. 15 at 6 PM, as part of the Distinguished Lecture Series, Morgan State Univ. will host acclaimed author, physician and activist Dr. Nawal El Saadawi for a series of lectures, interviews and community discussions. Her visit is the headlining event for an on-going program sponsored by the University's Office of the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs. Dr. El Saadawi will participate in a public conversation with faculty members in the Turpin-Lamb Theatre of the Murphy Fine Arts Center.  On Fri., Sept. 16, she will deliver a master class lecture on creativity and dissidence for Morgan students in the Ruthe T. Sheffey Auditorium of the New Communications Center beginning at 10 AM.

 

The College of Liberal Arts and the Program in Women and Gender Studies are cosponsors of Dr. El Saadawi's visit. She is credited with the earliest and strongest critiques of genital mutilation of Middle Eastern women, and gender oppression within patriarchal Islamic social constructs. Dr. El Saadawi's recent advocacy captured national headlines, as she was a key figure in the grassroots political protests in Egypt's Tahir Square.  Call 443.885.3333.

 

18] – DC for Palestine is holding a rally NO TAXATION FOR ISRAELI OCCUPATION on Thurs., Sept. 15 at 6:30 PM.  March from Galvez Park/US State Department to the front of the White House/23rd and D Sts. (Foggy Bottom) to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. Www.September15.org invites you to march for Palestine.

 

September 15–the International Day of Democracy--and five days prior to the Palestinian bid for UN membership–is time to take to the streets and demand that the United States government support true democracy in all of the Middle East, not just the places that are near and dear to special interest groups.  The 30 billion in US tax dollars earmarked for Israel is an obstacle to Palestinian self-determination and human rights.  

 

19] – The next cycle of Research Associates Foundation Community Grants is open, and applications are due on Oct. 14 for RAF grants from $500 - $2500, and are available to individuals and small organizations working to promote and develop social justice-oriented organizing and research in Baltimore City. Go to http://www.rafbaltimore.org.  There will be an information session before the application deadline for prospective grantees on Thurs., Sept. 15 at 7 PM at Sojourner-Douglass College, 200 N. Central Ave. in the cafeteria.

 

20] – The Contemporary Museum's New Art Dialogue series presents Andy Bichlbaum, co-founder of the Yes Men, who will discuss his recent hijinks, which includes exposing environmental damage and corporate greed by posing as a stooge from megagiants, such as Halliburton and ExxonMobil.  Anyone can pull off a prank, but hoaxing is an art. The Contemporary Museum's New Art Dialogues series brings him to MICA on Thurs., Sept. 15 at 7 PM in the Brown Center, Falvey Hall, 1301 W. Mount Royal Ave.  Call 410-225-2300 or go to www.mica.edu.  The cost is between $5 and $10.

 

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. Go to http://baltimorenonviolencecenter.blogspot.com/

 

"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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