Baltimore Activist Alert Nov. 3 – Nov. 9, 2013

Baltimore Activist Alert Nov. 3 – Nov. 9, 2013 "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 & stickers 2] Web site for info on federal legislation 3] Join Nonviolent Resistance lists 4] Buy coffee through HoCoFoLa 5] Vietnam Photograph Exhibit – through Feb. 23 6] Amnesty International Mid-Atlantic Regional Conference – Nov. 2 & 3 7] “Animal Liberation and Social Justice: What’s the Connection?” – Nov. 3 8] Peace and Pancakes – Nov. 3 9] Youth Organizing in the 21st Century – Nov. 3 10] WOMAN LAWYER: THE TRIALS OF CLARA FOLTZ -- Nov. 3 11] Jewish-Islamic Dialogue Society meeting – Nov. 3 12] Four Days in Chicago film screening – Nov. 3 13] Green Neighbors meeting – Nov. 3 14] Women of Color Guardians of Culture and Identity – Nov. 3 15] William Penn House Potluck – Nov. 3 16] Pentagon Vigil – Nov. 4 17] Marc Steiner on WEAA – Nov. 4 – Nov. 8 18] Libya: From Revolutionary Legitimacy to Constitutional Legitimacy – Nov. 4 19] Documentary “A Place at the Table” – Nov. 4 20] Alternative Histories Film Series – Nov. 4 21] Pledge of Resistance/Fund Our Communities meeting – Nov. 4 22] Companion animal bereavement support group -- Nov. 5 23] Philadelphia Peace Vigil – Nov. 5 24] Protest JHU’s drone research – Nov. 5 25] Change the Name Now! – Nov. 5 26] Organizing Against the Academic Industrial Complex – Nov. 5 27] Maryland Crossroads 2013 at the Annapolis Tour Stop – Nov. 5 ----- 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] – An-My Lê's photographs come to the Baltimore Museum of Art's Front Room. 21 Black-and-white and color photographs explore the roles of the military and war, showing tensions between nature and human influence and machinery. The exhibit runs through Feb. 23 at the Baltimore Museum of Art, 10 Art Museum Drive. Call 443- 573-1700. Go to http://artbma.org. 6] – The Amnesty International Mid-Atlantic Regional Conference was scheduled for the weekend of Nov. 2 and 3rd at the Washington Court Hotel. The conference has a few sessions on drones and other important issues. Register at http://www.amnestyusa.org/events/regional-conferences/mid-atlantic-regional-conference. 7] – Usually, the Baltimore Ethical Society, 306 W. Franklin St., Suite 102, Baltimore 21201-4517, meets on Sundays, and generally there is a speaker and discussion from 10:30 to noon. The platform address on Sun., Nov. 3 is “Animal Liberation and Social Justice: What’s the Connection?” Pattrice Jones, author and activist, will deliver it. An ecofeminist, she will analyze the links between animal exploitation and social/environmental injustice. Speciesism is foundational to intra-species forms of oppression, such as racism and homophobia, providing ideological, psychological, and material support to injustice among people as well as to despoliation of the environment (which also hurts people). In explaining these connections, Jones will explain the concept of “intersectionality” as it is understood by feminist and antiracist scholars and activists, as well as the ecofeminist concept of the “logic of domination.” In closing, she will offer tips for building bridges across the animal, environmental, and social justice movements. Call 410-581-2322 or contact Kathryn Sloboda at katamui@gmail.com. Go to http://bmorethical.org/; Twitter: @bmorethical; or Facebook: http://fb.com/bmorethical/. 8] – Join the Kadampa Meditation Center for Peace and Pancakes on Sundays at 10:30 AM at KMC Maryland, 2937 North Charles St. All are invited to participate in guided meditation and chant praying for world peace. There will be a talk based on Buddhist thought followed by brunch. Call 410- 243-3837. Brunch is $5. 9] – We Got Now: Youth Organizing in the 21st Century will be discussed on Sun., Nov. 3 from 2 to 3:30 PM at the Gelman Library at the George Washington University, Suite 702, 2130 H St. NW, WDC 20052. Presented by the GWU Progressive Student Union and the D.C. Student Justice Alliance, hear from several young organizers as they share their experiences--Allison Burkett from Unite Here Local 23 (the labor union that represents the campus food service workers); Isaiah Toney, a GW alum, from the Student Labor Action Project; and Joshua Dedmond from UAW Global Organizing Institute. See https://www.facebook.com/events/537437479669430/?ref=3&ref_newsfeed_story_type=regular. 10] – Barbara Babcock talks about her new book, WOMAN LAWYER: THE TRIALS OF CLARA FOLTZ, which tells the story of the first woman admitted to the California Bar at the Enoch Pratt Central Library on Sun., Nov. 3 at 2 PM. Famous in her time as a jury lawyer, public intellectual, leader of the women's movement, inventor of the role of public defender, and legal reformer, Foltz has been largely forgotten until recently. Barbara Babcock recreates Foltz's eventful life and also casts new light on the turbulent history and politics of the late 19th century and the many links binding the women's rights movement and other movements for civil rights and legal reform. She is Judge John Crown Professor of Law, Emerita, at Stanford University, and was the first woman appointed to the regular faculty at Stanford Law School. She was the first director of the Public Defender Service in Washington, D.C., and served as an Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Division in the Carter administration. Go to www.prattlibrary.org. 11] – The Jewish-Islamic Dialogue Society is meeting on Sun., Nov. 3 at 2:30 PM at the Muslim Community Center, 15200 New Hampshire Ave., Silver Spring. There will be two presentations. The first part of the meeting will explore the relationship between dialogue and activism and he second part of the meeting will be a discussion of JIDS' mission and the extent to which we as an organization should be willing to endorse social causes or events in the future. Go to http://www.jids.org/new/. 12] – D.C. Free School does Four Days in Chicago Film Screening on Sun., Nov. 3 from 3 to 5 PM at the Peace House, 1233 12th St. NW. Academy Award-winning filmmaker and lifelong activist Haskell Wexler takes a personal look at Chicago over four days in May 2012 -- four days filled with politics, protest and police. The Occupy movement, the National Nurses Union, Iraq Veterans Against the War, Code Pink and others converged on Chicago to tell President Obama and Mayor Emanuel to stop the insane spending on wars around the world, and bring the money home for housing, schools and healthcare. Police were brought in from other states, and Mayor “1%” Emanuel spent $27 million to secure the city against the “threat” of citizens speaking out. Visit https://www.facebook.com/events/659874407378239/. 13] – Green Neighbors meets on Sun., Nov. 3 from 3 to 4:30 PM at the Petworth Library, 4200 Kansas Ave. NW, WDC, downstairs in the conference room. Green Neighbors is an all-volunteer group of residents of the Petworth, Parkview and Brightwood neighborhoods. Their mission is to lower neighborhoods’ emissions of carbon and other pollutants that contribute to global warming and to make renewable energy and other sustainable resources more accessible to everyone in the community. They see themselves as part of a larger District-wide, regional, national and international movement to preserve the climate and planet for future generations. Plan the campaign to encourage neighbors to switch to wind energy, and to get ready for an event being organized on Nov. 17. 14] – This month, A.C.T.O.R. (A Continuing Talk on Race) discusses Women of Color Guardians of Culture and Identity on Sun., Nov. 3 from 5 to 7 PM at Busboys and Poets, 14th & V Sts. Women are often the unsung s-heroes of any revolution/progressive movement and work diligently to make positive change and uplift their communities. We want to explore the unique challenges women of color face in their work and lives. Our distinguished panelists include Ruth Edwards, Ph.D. and author of "Becoming a Black Woman: A Theory of Internalized Collective Consciousness;" and Deepa Iyer, executive director of SAALT (South Asian Americans Leading Together). A.C.T.O.R. is a monthly Busboys and Poets produced discussion series that provides the opportunity for people to come together and speak openly and honestly about issues of race. Regular discussions take place on the first Sunday of every month. Email press@busboysandpoets.com. 15] – Get over to the William Penn House Potluck on Sun., Nov. 3 from 6:30 to 9 PM at 515 E Capitol St. SE for a discussion of incarceration, human rights and prison ministry. Citizens United for Rehabilitation of Errants (CURE) is a grassroots organization that was founded in Texas in 1972. It became a national organization in 1985. They believe that prisons should only be used for those who absolutely must be incarcerated, and that those who are incarcerated should have all of the resources they need to turn their lives around. They also believe that human rights documents provide a sound basis for ensuring that criminal justice systems meet these goals. The William Penn House hosts monthly potluck and dialogue evenings, led by Quakers and others who share their work on issues of peace, community, spirituality, justice, and equality. Go to http://williampennhouse.org/Nov.2013.Potluck. 16] – 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., Nov. 4, and it is sponsored by the Dorothy Day Catholic Worker. Email artlaffin@hotmail.com or call 202-882-9649. 17] – The Marc Steiner Show airs Monday through Friday from 9 to 11 AM on WEAA 88.9 FM, The Voice of the Community, or online at www.weaa.org. The call-in number is 410-319-8888, and comments can also be sent by email to steinershow@gmail.com. All shows are also available as podcasts at www.steinershow.org. 18] – On Mon., Nov. 4 at 5:30 PM at the CCAS Boardroom, Intercultural Center 241, Georgetown University, 3700 O St. NW, catch up with this lecture, Libya: From Revolutionary Legitimacy to Constitutional Legitimacy, This is a philosophical/political reflection on the situation in Libya today. Exploring architectonic and structural sources of tension that have led to a multiplicity of crises, it goes on to explore a set of possible remedies and solutions. The notions and realities of 'revolutionary' and 'constitutional' legitimacy are approached theoretically and pragmatically. The lecture concludes with an outline of a 'Libya Disaster Recovery Plan' aimed at stabilization and national thriving. RSVP at http://libyalegitimacy.eventbrite.com/. 19] – Beyond the Classroom is continuing the "Ensuring a World Fit for Children" Series on Mon., Nov. 4 at 7 PM at 1102 South Campus Commons, Building 1, University of Maryland. See the documentary “A Place at the Table” which shows how hunger poses serious economic, social and cultural implications for our nation, and that it could be solved once and for all, if the public decided – as they have in the past – that making healthy food available and affordable is in the best interest of us all. Fifty million people in the United States – one in four children – do not know where there next meal is coming from. ‘A Place at the Table” examines the issue of hunger through the lens of three people struggling with food insecurity: Barbie, a single Philadelphia mother who grew up in poverty and is trying to provide a better life for her two kids; Rosie, a Colorado fifth-grader who often has to depend on friends to feed her and has trouble concentrating in school; and Tremonica, a Mississippi second-grader whose asthma and health issues are exacerbated by the largely empty calories her hardworking mother can afford. Visit https://www.facebook.com/events/490577707706799/. 20] – Check out a Film Series: Alternative Histories. Imagine a world in which computers run our lives, food comes only in processed packets, and authoritarian governments pit people against each other in bloody battles. Wait, that sounds too familiar. Towson University professors present films dealing in worlds that are almost real to us, that start from a real point in history and go off on an alternate track. Some of the films are "2001: A Space Odyssey," "Robocop" and "Battle Royale." Each week a different professor introduces the film, and each screening is followed by a discussion. The films will be shown on Mondays at 7:30 PM through Nov. 25 at Towson University, 8000 York Road. See http://www.towson.edu. 21] – The Pledge of Resistance-Baltimore usually meets on Mondays at 7:30 PM, and the meetings take place at Max’s residence. The next meeting will be on Mon., Nov. 4. The proposed agenda will include a report on anti-drone activities, the trial of the CIA Six, possible visits to the offices of Rep. Elijah Cummings and Sen. Barbara Mikulski, and a report on Keith Alexander’s speech at Baltimore’s Hyatt Hotel. Call 410-366-1637 or email mobuszewski at verizon.net for directions. 22] – Andrew Mazan leads a free monthly companion animal bereavement support group that meets the first Tuesday of every month at the Baltimore Humane Society, 1601 Nicodemus Road. Call 410- 833-8848 to RSVP. Go to http://www.baltimorehumane.org. 23] – Each Tuesday from 4:30 - 5:30 PM, the Catholic Peace Fellowship-Philadelphia for peace in Afghanistan and Iraq gathers at the Suburban Station, 16th Street & JFK Blvd., at the entrance to Tracks 3 and 4 on the mezzanine. The next vigil is Nov. 5. Call 215-426-0364. 24] – Vigil to say "No Drone Research at JHU" each Tuesday at 34th & North Charles Sts. Join this ongoing vigil. The next vigil is Nov. 5 from 5:30 to 6:30 PM. Call Max at 410-366-1637. 25] – Change the Name Now! On Tues., Nov. 5 at 5:30 PM at the Ballston and Tenleytown/AU Metro Stations, join Change the Name Now for mass outreach opportunities to educate the DMV public about the racism behind the NFL team's name. Circulate petitions, distribute flyers and agitate publicly for change. Call 202-265-1948; visit http://www.changethenamenow.org/; or email info@changethenamenow.org. 26] – On Tues., Nov. 5 at 7 PM Red Emma's and 2640 present John Burdick and Marisela Gomez - Organizing Against the Academic Industrial Complex. Burdick will tell the story of his involvement in a grassroots neighborhood organization that has struggled to maintain independence from Syracuse University, in the context of a University-driven process of gentrification. Gomez will discuss the historical and current ways Johns Hopkins has used corporate greed and government power to expand through exploitation of people and dispossession of land and roots of people. She will discuss the role of organizing as a way of challenging these forces - particularly in the face of Hopkins' public image as a benefactor of good to distract its role as a capitalist corporation. Burdick is Professor of Anthropology at Syracuse University, and is the author of Legacies of Liberation: The Progressive Catholic Church in Brazil at the Start of a New Millennium. Gomez is a community activist, author, public health professional and physician scientist. 27 ] – On Tues., Nov. 5 from 7:30 to 9 PM join the Maryland Crossroads 2013 at the Annapolis Tour Stop at the Broadneck Auditorium, Broadneck High School, 1265 Green Holly Dr., Annapolis 21409. Learn more about the dangers of fracked gas exports at Cove Point, and shout out "Clean Energy, Not Cove Point!" Crisscross Maryland this fall -- from the mountains to the sea -- to sound the alarm on a major new environmental threat. Dominion Resources is proposing a massive industrial plan to export liquefied natural gas (LNG) out of Cove Point, on the shores of the Chesapeake Bay in southern Maryland. The plan would expand fracking for gas across our region. And it's one of the worst things our state could do for global warming. RSVP to join the Maryland Crossroads 2013 tour stop in Annapolis at http://org.salsalabs.com/o/423/p/salsa/event/common/public/?event_KEY=80895. 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