Baltimore Activist Alert - Dec. 4-6, 2013

23] Green Bag Lunch – Dec. 4 24] Boycott from Within – Dec. 4 25] The nuclear deterrent?? -- Dec. 5 26] Lobby senators – Dec. 5 27] Rally in Support of Low-wage Federal Contract Workers – Dec. 5 28] Protest the ALEC Annual Meeting – Dec. 5 29] Protest coal road – Dec. 5 30] Fast Food Workers on Strike – Dec. 5 31] Drone Wars -- Dec. 5 32] Protest killer drones – Dec. 5 33] An evening with Dr. David Himmelstein, M.D – Dec. 5 34] Activists at Georgetown U. – Dec. 5 35] Celebrate Heather’s birthday – Dec. 5 36] Climate change -- Dec. 5 37] Fair Pay Campaign D.C. Fundraiser – Dec. 5 38] Film "Living for 31" – Dec. 5 39] Film BETTER THIS WORLD – Dec. 6 ---- 23] – Amazon Watch Invites You for a "Green-Bag Lunch" Presentation: UN Climate Talks Do They Matter Anymore? Hear Lou Leonard, World Wildlife Fund, and a panel of NGO climate experts on Wed., Dec. 4 at 12:30 PM at Amazon Watch/CIEL conference room, 1350 Connecticut Ave. NW, #1100, (south of DuPont, above Panera/Cosi), WDC. The annual meeting of the UN climate talks wrapped up several days ago in Warsaw, Poland. The gathering was meant to be the first of two stepping stones toward a new climate deal to be finalized in Paris in 2015. On the heels of super-typhoon Haiyan slamming into the Philippines, that country's lead negotiator launched a hunger strike calling for more ambition in the talks. Haiyan helped to put a concrete face onto the contentious discussions about a new mechanism to help vulnerable countries address "loss & damage" from extreme climate impacts. Meanwhile, the Polish Government host designed the meeting as a showcase for the coal industry, which is prominent in Poland. And the countries of Japan and Australia took steps to rollback their existing climate targets. Email andrew@amazonwatch.org. 24] – Boycott from Within: A Talk with Eran Efrati and Maya Wind is happening on Wed., Dec. 4 at 8 PM at American University, 4400 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Ward Circle Building Room 1. Eran is a former Israeli combat soldier and chief researcher for Breaking the Silence, and Maya is a conscientious objector who has worked with New Profile, the feminist movement to demilitarize Israel. Today, they are both active with Anarchists Against the Wall and Boycott from Within. Visit https://www.facebook.com/events/397767557020044/. 25] – On Thurs., Dec. 5 at 10 AM, hear Evan Montgomery, Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments, discuss "The Future of America’s Strategic Nuclear Deterrent." The event, sponsored by the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments, will be held at SVC-215 Capitol Visitor Center, WDC. RSVP at http://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-future-of-americas-strategic-nuclear-deterrent-tickets-9551672309. 26] – Join Progressive Democrats of America on Senate visits on Thurs., December 5 and Fri., December 6. One-hundred years ago, progressives in this country secured ratification of three vital amendments to the United States Constitution in the period of about seven years: the federal income tax, the direct election of U.S. Senators, and the right to vote for women. It is time for a new progressive era of constitutional reform. Visit selected Senate offices on behalf of these amendments and for a budget that reflects the values of the people, versus the multinational corporations. Meet each day at 10:30 AM in the cafeteria in the Dirksen Senate Office Building. For Thursday, go to http://salsa3.salsalabs.com/o/1987/p/salsa/event/common/public/?event_KEY=75008; and for Friday, see http://salsa3.salsalabs.com/o/1987/p/salsa/event/common/public/?event_KEY=75009. 27] – Rally in Support of Low-wage Federal Contract Workers at the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum on Thurs., Dec. 5 at 10:30 AM at Seaton Section Park, 6th & Maryland SW (park across the street from Smithsonian Air & Space Museum). Because corporate profits and CEO pay are at $7 billion, but most of us are still only making around $8.25. Government contractors are getting rich, while their workers are struggling to survive. RSVP at https://www.facebook.com/events/1440204979540646/?ref=22. 28] – Protest the ALEC Annual Meeting on Thurs., Dec. 5 from 11:30 AM to 1 PM. Meet in Franklin Square, 13th and Eye St. NW, and march to the Grand Hyatt D.C. ALEC will bring corporations and state legislators together behind closed doors. 29] – There is a Federal Highway Administration Rally on Thurs., Dec. 5 at noon at the Federal Highway Administration, 1200 New Jersey Ave. SE, WDC 20590. The Coalfields Expressway is a Virginia highway project that has been hijacked by the coal industry so that it can seize land through eminent domain, blow up mountains, bury streams with mining waste and ignore environmental protections while doing so. Federal Highways will determine whether this project moves forward without any additional review or whether it is put on hold until the environmental impacts are fully considered. RSVP at http://ilovemountains.org/cfx-rally-rsvp. 30] – Fast food workers are going out on another national strike on Thurs., Dec. 5. They're asking us to support them at lunch break rallies across the country. Protest from 12:30 to 1 PM at a Baltimore fast food restaurant. RSVP at http://www.popularresistance.org/a-major-fast-food-strike-is-coming-to-100-cities-this-week/. 31] – "The McCain Institute" is hosting Drone Wars: Are We Going Too Far? The debate will be at the United States Navy Memorial, Burke Theater, 701 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, WDC 20004 on Thurs., Dec. 5 from 5 to 6 PM. Enjoy a reception at 4:30 PM. Are lethal drone strikes the most effective way to keep the US safe without costly, drawn-out grounds wars? Or have we become addicted to low-risk killing, without proper Congressional and public scrutiny? Are drones an effective tool for combating terror networks, or are they creating a new generation of anti-American terrorism? What happens when other nations also start using lethal drone strikes as they see fit? What rules should apply? RSVP at http://mccaininstitute.org/events/upcoming/mccain-institute-debate-and-decision-series. Go to www.MCCAININSTITUTE.ORG or email Meghan.latcovich@asu.edu. 32] – Join the Pledge of Resistance in a vigil to say "No Drone Research at JHU" on Thurs., Dec. 5 from 5:30 to 6:30 PM at Centre & Charles Sts. The Christmas Lighting of the Washington Monument will be taking place in Mount Vernon that evening. Call Max at 410-366-1637. 33] – Healthcare-NOW! of Maryland encourages you to spend an evening with Dr. David Himmelstein, M.D. co-founder of Physicians for a National Health Program on Thurs., Dec. 5 at 5:30 PM in Davidge Hall, 522 W. Lombard St. Join medical professionals from around the state for a presentation by Dr. Himmelstein on the current state of the healthcare industry, followed by a lively discussion on how physicians and medical providers can reclaim their profession from those forces that have devalued medicine by turning it into a commodity, rather than a calling. Donations will be requested but are not required. Refreshments will be served. Email hchrmaryland@gmail.com or call 443-562-6562. Dr. Himmelstein is professor at the CUNY School of Public Health at Hunter College and visiting professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School. As a co-founder of Physicians for a National Health Program, he co-edits PNHP’s newsletter and is an author of many influential articles on healthcare published in peer reviewed journals including JAMA, New England Journal of Medicine and Health Affairs along with PNHP Co-Founder, Dr. Steffie Woolhandler, M.D., M.P.H. 34] – Activists Will Potter and Jake Conroy are at Georgetown University on Thurs., Dec. 5 at 6 PM at 3700 O St. NW, WDC 20057. The lecture will be in the Lannan Center for Poetics and Social Practice on the top floor of New North at Georgetown U. See https://www.facebook.com/events/242282965925508/?source=1. 35] – Her new running mate, Rev. Delman Coates, will be joining Heather Mizeur and her best supporters for her big birthday celebration on Thurs., Dec. 5 from 6:30 to 8 PM at the home of Elizabeth Leff and Mark Verschell, 7300 Baltimore Ave, Takoma Park. This will be the first time to hear the Mizeur-Coates ticket in action, and you won't want to miss it! RSVP at ajarboe@heathermizeur.com or 301-328-5841. Go to www.HeatherMizeur.com/BirthdayParty. Individual friends should donate $100, and $150 for couples. Individual champions will donate $250, and $300 for champion couples. Thursday: Join a lunch-break rally in Baltimore in support of fast food workers. 36] – Will climate change ever move into the White House and Congress for good? On Thurs., Dec. 5 from 6:30 to 9:30 PM at the Goethe Institute, 812 Seventh St. NW, WDC 20001-3718, you're invited to an evening of inspiration, action, and conversation in a changing climate with the Human Impacts Institute and Transatlantic Climate Bridge of Germany. Visit https://www.facebook.com/events/471707326282972/. 37] – Get over to the Fair Pay Campaign D.C. Fundraiser on Thurs., Dec. 5 from 6:30 to 9:30 PM at Local 16, 1602 U St. NW. Enjoy a happy hour, and hear more about the fight to end unpaid internships, and the plans for the future. If you're an unpaid intern, and you'd like to attend but wouldn't be able to afford the ticket cost, email info@fairpaycampaign.com for a free ticket. RSVP at http://www.eventbrite.com/e/fair-pay-campaign-dc-fundraiser-tickets-8940135185. 38] – Beyond the Classroom presents the film "Living for 31" and a Discussion Forum about Campus Security on Thurs., Dec. 5 at 7 PM at 1102 South Campus Commons, Building 1, University of Maryland. The film vividly portrays the reality of the Virginia Tech shootings and raises important questions about the effectiveness of current gun laws and other efforts to curb gun violence. Visit https://www.facebook.com/events/345964302214233/. 39] – Since this is a First Friday, on Dec. 6 at 6:30 PM there will be a potluck dinner at Homewood Friends Meetinghouse, 3107 N. Charles St., Baltimore 21218 after the vigil. Then there will be a film screening. The Hiroshima-Nagasaki Commemoration Committee and others are continuing the FILM & SOCIAL CONSCIOUSNESS DVD SERIES. The DVDs will be shown at Homewood Friends Meetinghouse on the First Friday. After the peace vigil, there will be a potluck dinner. At 7: 15 PM, a DVD will be shown with a discussion to follow. There is no charge, and refreshments will be available. See BETTER THIS WORLD [USA, 2011], a documentary, by filmmakers Katie Galloway and Kelly Duane de la Vega. It hones in on Brad Crowder and David McKay who went to protest at the 2008 Republican National Convention. While there, they are accused of manufacturing (but not using) Molotov cocktails. What unfolds is that an FBI informant, Brandon Darby, sets up the two unsophisticated protesters. Contact Max at 410-366-1637 or mobuszewski@verizon.net. 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