Baltimore Activist Alert - jan. 25-26, 2014

41] Chelsea Manning Letter Writing Party – Jan. 25 42] The Israeli-Palestinian conflict – Jan. 25 43] Climate Chaos talk – Jan. 25 44] Peace and Pancakes – Jan. 25 45] Baltimore Green Forum -- Jan. 25 46] Screening of "Las Marthas" – Jan. 25 47] Soul Kitchen Dinner Program -- Jan. 25 48] Max is seeking a place to live 49] Ronda Cooperstein on social media 50] Sign up with Washington Peace Center 51] Join Fund Our Communities 52] Donate books, videos, DVDs and records 53] Do you need any book shelves or file cabinets? 54] Join Global Zero campaign 55] War Is Not the Answer signs for sale 56] Join Peace Park Antinuclear Vigil ----- 41] – There is a Chelsea Manning Letter Writing Party on Sat., Jan. 25 from 3 to 5:30 PM at the Shaw Library, 1630 7th St. NW. In reaction to what she saw as dangerous over-classification and government abuse, in 2010 Chelsea (then Bradley) Manning leaked a trove of classified documents to WikiLeaks. While some considered the act reckless, many credit the leaks with exposing a controversial US helicopter attack that left two Reuters journalists dead as well as bringing to light diplomatic cables that helped spark the Arab Spring. She has since been sentenced to 35 years behind bars. Send notes of support to Chelsea Manning. The Manning Support Network recently announced that she can receive letters, so come by and pen a letter saying hello, or draw her a picture. It is important not to forget Manning's sacrifice. Visit https://www.facebook.com/events/calendar. 42] – Be at the Book Talk with Josh Ruebner: Why does the Israeli-Palestinian conflict remain unresolved despite more than 20 years of a U.S.-sponsored "peace process"? It takes place on Sun., Jan. 26 from 10 to 11:15 AM at the Cedar Lane Unitarian Universalist Church, 9601 Cedar Lane, Bethesda, MD 20814. Why does the Israeli-Palestinian conflict remain unresolved despite more than 20 years of a U.S.-sponsored "peace process?" Will the latest U.S. effort finally break the logjam? Ruebner, National Advocacy Director of the US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation, will discuss U.S. policy toward Israel and the Palestinians and what people can do to help bring about peace and justice. Copies of his book, “Shattered Hopes: Obama's Failure to Broker Israeli-Palestinian Peace,” will be available for purchase. See http://www.cedarlane.org/the-forum-at-cedar-lane.html. 43] – Usually, the Baltimore Ethical Society, 306 W. Franklin St., Suite 102, Baltimore 21201-4661, meets on Sundays, and generally there is a speaker and discussion from 10:30 to noon. On Sun., Jan. 26, the platform address is ““What You Can Do Today to Take Action on Climate Change,” and the presentation will be by Meagan Braganca, climate leader. The presentation will open with some brief slides on the statistics of our changing climate. Then the “Carbon Budget,” proposed by the U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), will be discussed. The IPCC proposes limiting cumulative emissions to one trillion tons of carbon dioxide. Braganca graduated with a B.S. from Vanderbilt University, and has held several positions using her Human & Organizational Development degree. She became actively involved with environmental issues in 2004, and is passionate about protecting and preserving natural ecosystems and waterways. She is the Sierra Club Howard County Political Chair and an Executive Committee member. Go to http://bmorethical.org/ or Twitter: @bmorethical or Facebook: http://fb.com/bmorethical/or email ask@bmorethical.org. 44] – 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. 45] – The Baltimore Green Forum is meeting on Sun., Jan. 26 from 4 to 5:30 PM. This monthly environmental education and discussion forum also includes an optional affinity group meeting from 5:30 to 6:30 PM at the Maryland Presbyterian Church, 1105 Providence Road, Towson 21286. See http://www.mpchurch.org/About.htm. The speaker Ian Schlackman will talk about TimeBanking, Alternative Currencies, Worker Cooperatives and the Emerging New Economy. Schlakman is a local business owner, new economy activist and political organizer. He’s worked on many different environmental, social and economic justice projects throughout Baltimore. Ian was on the board of the Baltimore BNote and founded LETSBmore a local TimeBank. Ian’s also worked nationally and internationally on TimeBanking and alternative currency software. The Purpose of the Baltimore Green Forum is to seek to improve the quality of all life in the greater Baltimore area. The contribution to this goal will be to gather monthly in order to discern the progress towards regional sustainability that has already been achieved. Discover the connections amidst the chaos of the movement and build a community of like-minded individuals. Donations to the Maryland Presbyterian Church are greatly appreciated. Go to www.baltimoregreenforum.org or email baltimoregreenforum@gmail.com or phone 410-554-0006. The Baltimore Green Forum is co-sponsored by Simplicity Matters Earth Institute ~ Chesapeake Climate Action Network ~ Baltimore Green Currency Assn. - MD League of Conservation Voters Education Fund ~ Greater Baltimore Group of the Sierra Club - Heathcote Community ~ Retrofit Baltimore ~ Creation Care Group of the Presbytery of Baltimore and Interfaith Power and Light. 46] – On Sun., Jan. 26 at 5 PM at Busboys and Poets, 14th & V Sts., see a Community Cinema Screening of "Las Marthas." It dates from the aftermath of the Spanish-American War, and the annual debutante ball in Laredo, Texas is unlike any other. The film follows two Mexican American girls carrying this gilded tradition on their young shoulders during a time of economic uncertainty and political tension over immigration. Visit http://www.itvs.org/films/las-marthas. 47] – The Soul Kitchen Dinner Program takes place on the fourth Sunday. Gimmie Shelter Productions, in conjunction with the Govans Presbyterian Church, announces there will be a catered dinner for the homeless and those in need at the church, 5828 York Road. Musicians and singers are needed to provide entertainment, and helping hands are needed to set up, serve, clean up, and perhaps give other volunteers a ride home. Call 410-435-9188. 48] – 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. 49] – Ronda Cooperstein has taken to social media, and is recording her opinion pieces on You Tube. A recent posting was her book talk on Alan Weisman's remarkable new book, COUNTDOWN. She focuses on only two chapters (Israel/Palestine, Iran). She indicates it is one of the best books she has read this past year. Check out her review at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CvyambnfIVo. 50] – The Washington Peace Center has a progressive calendar & activist alert! Consider signing up to receive its weekly email: info@washingtonpeacecenter.org. 51] – 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. Go to www.OurFunds.org. 52] – If you would like to get rid of books, videos, DVDs or records, contact Max at 410-366-1637 or mobuszewski at verizon.net. 53] – Can you use any book shelves? Can you use any file cabinets? Contact Max at 410-366-1637 or mobuszewski at verizon.net. 54] – 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. 55] – 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. 56] – 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