46] 5 Days for the Cuban Five -- May 30-31
47] Book talk on peacemaking, faith and U.S. policy – May 30
48] Pentagon Budget Happy Hour -- May 30
49] Max is seeking a place to live after June 30
50] Support the Transform Now Plowshares
51] Student looking for an internship
52] Drones Quilt Project
53] Death Penalty Referendum Watch
54] SOA Watch job
55] Just Vision job
56] Critical Exposure has four job openings
57] David Swanson book--When the World Outlawed War
58] Support Red Emma’s in its move
59] Sign up with Washington Peace Center
60] Join Fund Our Communities
61] Submit articles to Indypendent Reader
62] Donate books, videos, DVDs and records
63] Do you need any book shelves?
64] Join Global Zero campaign
65] War Is Not the Answer signs for sale
66] Fire & Faith
67] Join Peace Park Antinuclear Vigil
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46] – The SECOND “5 DAYS FOR THE CUBAN 5 IN WASHINGTON D.C.” goes from Thurs., May 30 to Thurs., June 5. On May 30, there is a 9 AM press conference with Wayne Smith, Dolores Huerta, Ignacio Ramonet, Yeidckol Polevnsky, Fernando Morais, lawyers and other guests at the National Press Club, 529 14th St. NW, 13th Floor, Bloomberg Room, WDC. From 9:30 AM to 5 PM, there will be a booth with information about the Cuban 5 at the Latin American Studies Association (LASA) conference, Washington Marriott Wardman Park, 2660 Woodley Road NW, WDC. At 5 PM, there will be an orientation meeting at Howard University Hospital, 2041 Georgia Ave. NW, Ambulatory Care Center/Towers Building, Auditorium, First Floor, WDC 20060, (There is parking in back of the hospital and also an entrance off of 5th St., between Elm and V Sts.) The orientation will be followed by the 7 PM meeting at the same location about the Role of Cuba in Africa and the Cuban 5 in Angola. Email apoyojornada@gmail.com.
On Fri., May 31 from 9:30 AM to 5 PM, there will be a booth with information about the Cuban 5 at the Latin American Studies Association (LASA) conference. From 10 AM to 5 PM, engage in Washington area outreach. Pick up literature and assignments for distributions at busy Metro stops and other public places at the Institute for Policy Studies, 1112 16th St. NW, Suite 600, WDC. At 7PM, catch the Role of Cuba in Africa and the Cuban 5 in Angola, as part of an interactive panel discussion with representative of the Cuban Interest Section in Washington, representatives from the Embassy of Namibia, Eugene Puryear from the ANSWER Coalition, Mary-Alice Waters from Pathfinder Press and Glen Ford, co-founder and Executive Editor of Black Agenda Report." It takes place at Howard University Hospital, 2041 Georgia Ave. NW, Ambulatory Care Center/Towers Building, Auditorium, First Floor, WDC 20060. Email Netfa Freedman at netfa@ips-dc.org,
47] – On Thurs., May 30, from 3 to 4:30 PM, Dr. Eli McCarthy will share a bit about his book on peacemaking, faith and U.S. policy ("Becoming Nonviolent Peacemakers: A Virtue Ethic for Catholic Social Teaching and U.S. policy"), followed by a conversation about some of the core practices that can respond to critical issues that the church and nation face today. See the table of contents at http://www.amazon.com/Becoming-Nonviolent-Peacemakers-Catholic-Teaching/dp/1610971132#reader_1610971132. In the book, Dr. McCarthy looks at the limits of rule-based and strategic-based approaches to nonviolence; the ways Jesus, Gandhi, and Khan illuminate a virtue-based approach; prominent approaches to NV in U.S. policy discourse and how virtue could address some limits; aspects of human rights to draw on; impact on Catholic Social Teaching and U.S. policy with 7 core practices; and finally a case study that applies this to the period of genocide in Sudan. The discussion will occur at the Washington Home of Stewart R. Mott, 122 Maryland Ave. NE, WDC 20002. Call 202-546-3732.
48] – The Pentagon Budget Campaign is pleased to invite you to a Happy Hour on Thurs., May 30 at 5:30 PM at the Stewart R. Mott House, 122 Maryland Ave. NE. Invite other colleagues and put a face to the name of all the hardworking people behind the Campaign. RSVP to Stephanie at stephanie@budgetpriorities.org.
49] – As of June 30, Max is seeking a place to live. Let him know of any possibilities. He can be reached at 410-366-1637 or mobuszewski at verizon.dot net.
50] – You can support the Transform Now Plowshares resisters by writing the judge and the prisoners. Greg Boertje-Obed, Michael Walli and Megan Rice are currently in the Irwin County Detention Facility in Ocilla, GA, awaiting their sentencing on September 23, 2013. The three were found guilty by a jury in Tennessee in May on two counts. Judge Amul Thapar revoked their pre-trial release saying they were technically guilty of a crime of violence and must be held.
Here are the addresses: Gregory Boertje-Obed 22090 Irwin County Detention Center 132 Cotton Drive, Ocilla, GA 31774; Michael Walli 4444, Irwin County Detention Center, 132 Cotton Drive, Ocilla, GA 31774; and Megan Rice 22100, Irwin County Detention Center, 132 Cotton Drive, Ocilla, GA 31774. You must make sure to include your entire return address on the outside of the envelope. No staples or paperclips can be included in your mail; no oversized envelopes. Magazines and books must be sent directly from the publisher or bookstore/Amazon. Photocopies of brief articles are likely to be permitted (based on our past experience). If you include inappropriate material or fail to comply with these rules, your mail will not get through—it will be returned to you.
The second thing you can do is send a letter to Judge Thapar. We have suggested guidelines for your letter, and we are asking people to send their letter to Bill Quigley, lawyer for Mike Walli (address below), so they can be collected and delivered to the judge. If you want to send a copy of your letter to us, that would be great—our address is also below. Invite Judge Thapar to think about sentencing in light of the fact that this was an act of nonviolent civil disobedience intended to awaken the conscience of the nation, and no evidence was presented that it was an act of terrorism meant to harm anyone. You could write that you share the court's concern that Congress would write a law that wouldn’t allow a judge to distinguish between peace activists and terrorists, and are disturbed that the government defines the crime they stand convicted of as a violent "crime of terrorism.” As testimony of the defendants showed during trial, they carried out their action in a spirit of nonviolence and hope. Without making it the focus of the letter, you could mention that the action was carried out with the clear understanding of the illegality and immorality of nuclear weapons, and intent to uphold higher laws. Encourage him to consider downward departures from the high guidelines for the charges, and to use his discretion at sentencing to bring more justice into the situation by recognizing that the defendants are NOT violent terrorists as the government has implied through its interpretation of the crime; and remind him of the intentions of the three nonviolent activists: to follow the words of the prophet Isaiah to beat swords into plowshares, and build a safer and more secure world for all. Our purpose with these letters is not to reargue the case, nor is it to condemn nuclear weapons production—the judge is not engaging those issues at this time. Our purpose is to address the legal system’s distortion of the nonviolent action of the TNP resisters and to provide support to the judge for a sentencing decision that takes into account the nature of their action and their nonviolent behavior throughout their action.
Letters should be sent to US District Judge Amul R Thapar, c/o Professor Bill Quigley, Loyola Law Clinic and Center for Social Justice, 7214 St. Charles Ave., Campus Box 902, New Orleans, LA 70118. If you care to send a copy to OREPA that would also be appreciated--orep@earthlink.net or OREPA, PO Box 5743, Oak Ridge, TN 37831.
51] – "Anna Wijatyk is graduating in May with a Biochemistry degree and is pursuing an MD/MPH. She speaks four languages (English, French, Polish, and Spanish), and, last year, she spent 7 months volunteering as a hospital assistant and community health education assistant in Chad, Africa. In Chad, Anna came to understand the influence that a physician can have by having knowledge of public health. She hopes to obtain a public health internship this summer to allow her to build on her prior experience, and to explore how she can make a difference in the fields of maternal and child health and international development."
52] – The launch of the website to support the U.S. version of the Drones Quilt Project was developed to memorialize the victims of U.S. combat drone strikes. Leah Bolger has about 185 names, and at present there are over 40 completed blocks. Soon the blocks will be sown together to create panels of quilt blocks. She will create educational information about killer drones to accompany the quilts as part of a traveling exhibit. To support the project visit www.dronesquiltproject.wordpress.com. The completed blocks are shown on the web site. The web site also contains information about creating a block, anti-drone resources and endorsing organizations. Follow the project on Twitter: @dronesproject.
53] – The death penalty repeal has been signed into law. However, two Democrats from Baltimore County – State's Attorney Scott Shellenberger and state Senator James Brochin – have joined with Republican Delegate Neil Parrott in a joint effort to petition repeal of the death penalty to the 2014 ballot. Parrott is the owner of MDpetitions.com.
The petition campaign was launched Friday, May 3. Keep a lookout for anyone collecting signatures FOR the referendum. If you see petitioning, please share where, how many volunteers, when and anything else at 301-779-5230 or info@mdcase.org. The time frame is short – one third of the signatures (18,579) are due on May 31 and those remaining of the total 55,736 signatures required are due June 30. Go to http://www.mdcase.org/.
If you live in Baltimore County, call State's Attorney Shellenberger at 443-798-1375! Tell him you are disappointed that he has decided to push for a broken system that does NOT make our communities safer and has proven to be at the detriment of justice and even to murder victims' family members.
54] – SOA Watch is Looking for a Development and Operations Coordinator! The job is based in Washington, D.C. for a minimum of 2 years. The position is full-time with health benefits, paid vacation and holiday time, and there are opportunities for skills development. The salary is $35,000 per year. Please send resume, a cover letter explaining what qualities you would bring to this job and three references to arturo@soaw.org. If you have questions about applying, call Arturo Viscarra at 202-234-3440. The hope is to fill the position as soon as possible. Go to http://www.soaw.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=756.
55] – Just Vision (www.justvision.org) is a nonprofit organization that informs local and international audiences about under-documented Palestinian and Israeli civilian efforts to end the occupation and resolve the conflict nonviolently. The group is based in Washington, D.C., Jerusalem and New York City. There is an open position--Media and Public Engagement Manager. The person hired will join the D.C.-based team and be responsible for building a U.S. and international outreach strategy to engage thought leaders, policymakers, think tanks, journalists and other high profile influencers to generate attention and support for Palestinian and Israeli grassroots nonviolence leaders, as well as visibility for Just Vision's work, including films, public education campaigns and multimedia projects.
To apply, submit a resume, three one-page writing samples, three references, links to public speaking or media appearances if any, and a cover letter to: info@justvision.org. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
56] – Critical Exposure, a social justice education organization that teaches youth to use photography as a tool for social change, is now hiring for 4 AmeriCorps VISTA members to join the team in Washington, D.C. for a year beginning August 2013. Please see full job description for details and contact hiring@criticalexposure.org with resume and cover letter.
VISTA members working with Critical Exposure will have the opportunity to take on significant responsibility and will be an integral part of helping to support and strengthen the organization's growth and operations. VISTAs will be encouraged to take initiative on projects addressing areas of need that they identify and will have the opportunity to work closely with Critical Exposure's four permanent staff members.
The position provides a stipend of $15,840, as well as an education award or a post-service stipend upon completion of service. The position is a year-long, full-time commitment with a strongly encouraged, although not guaranteed, second year extension opportunity. Email hiring@criticalexposure.org or call 202-745-3745 x20. Submit your application through the AmeriCorps*VISTA online process: https://my.americorps.gov/mp/listing/publicRequestSearch.do or submit a resume and cover letter to hiring@criticalexposure.org.
57] – David Swanson’s latest book is When the World Outlawed War. Go to http://davidswanson.org/outlawry This is an account of how people in the United States and around the world worked to abolish war as a legitimate act of state policy and won in 1928, outlawing war with a treaty that is still on the books. Swanson's account of the successful work of those who came before us to insist that war be outlawed points us toward new ways of thinking about both war and political activism.
Buy the paperback at your local independent bookstore, which can order it through Ingram. (The list price is $15.) Or you can get 10 copies for $60, or 50 copies for $200, or more (all with free shipping) here. http://davidswanson.org/outlawrybulk. Donate free books to nonprofit educational groups at http://davidswanson.org/outlawrygive.
Buy the iPad/iPhone version at the iBookstore. Get any of these versions for $2 here: Kindle: http://davidswanson.org/outlawry, Epub: http://davidswanson.org/outlawry, PDF: http://davidswanson.org/outlawry, and Audio book (mp3), read by the author: http://davidswanson.org/outlawry.
58] – Red Emma's is in the process of closing down the location at 800 St. Paul St., and reopening in a much larger new space on North Avenue in the fall. The collective is seeking your help. It's time to reinvent the project started in 2004 to build a self-sustaining progressive space in Baltimore, committed to providing a daily reminder that another world was possible and that there were people working in the city to build it.
Here's how you can help: donate money, buy books at the current store, provide skilled help, and share these needs. Email john@redemmas.org or go to http://indiegogo.com/redemmas2.
59] – The Washington Peace Center has a progressive calendar & activist alert! Consider signing up to receive its weekly email: info@washingtonpeacecenter.org.
60] – Fund Our Communities campaign is a grass roots movement to get support from local organizations and communities to work together with their local and state elected officials to pressure Congresspersons and senators to join with Congresspersons Barney Frank and Ron Paul, who have endorsed a 25% cut to the federal military budget. Bring home the savings to state and county governments to meet the local needs which are under tremendous budget pressures. Plan to join FOC on the March 23 Peace Bus from Baltimore to D.C. Go to www.OurFunds.org.
61] – MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD. Baltimore's Indypendent Reader is looking for individuals interested in creating media - written, photo, audio, or video - that relates to issues like...economic justice, race, prisons & policing, environment, gender & sexuality, war & peace and more! If you would like to create social justice media, then email indypendentreader@gmail.com. Visit http://www.indyreader.org.
62] – If you would like to get rid of books, videos, DVDs or records, contact Max at 410-366-1637 or mobuszewski at verizon.net.
63] – Can you use any book shelves? Can you use any file cabinets? Contact Max at 410-366-1637 or mobuszewski at verizon.net.
64] – 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.
65] – 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.
66] – 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/.
67] – 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. Go to http://baltimorenonviolencecenter.blogspot.com/.
"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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