Baltimore Activist Alert - March 18-24, 2014

16] A Republican Political Year? We Doubt It. – Mar. 19
17] Anatomy of Colombian Government Collusion in Indigenous Corruption – Mar. 19
18] Accomplishments of women during the civil rights movement – Mar. 19
19] "Russian Missile Modernization" – Mar. 19
20] Lobby Rep. Sarbanes Mar. 19
21] Celebrate the life of Robin Romano – Mar. 19
22] Book talk "Protecting Water and People and the Planet Forever" – Mar. 19
23] Get Money Out of Maryland meeting – Mar. 19
24] Gender, Democracy, and Human Rights: Challenges Facing Muslim Communities – Mar. 19
25] "Strategic Implications of North Korean Nuclear Missiles" – Mar. 20
26] Climate and public health training – Mar. 20
27] Peacebuilding techniques – Mar.20, Mar. 27 & Apr. 3
28] U.S. – Africa Environmental Justice Tour – Mar. 20-21
29] Ringling Brothers Circus Protest – Mar.20-23
30] Film "An Injury to One" – Mar. 20
31] Climate Justice Strategy Session – Mar. 20
32] “Looking Back, Thinking Forward: Organizing to Breach Baltimore’s Racial Divide” – Mar. 20
33] Ecumenical Advocacy Days – Mar. 21 - 24
34] "Is the Indian Nuclear Tiger Changing its Stripes?” – Mar. 21


16] – On Wed., Mar. 19 at 8 AM at the AFL-CIO, 815 16th Street NW, Stan Greenberg, PRESIDENT/CEO, GREENBERG QUINLAN ROSNER RESEARCH, will address the topic A Republican Political Year? We Doubt It. Greenberg will talk about the evolving economic message of Democrats and Republican as we approach the 2014 congressional and 2016 presidential elections. He will also describe the mood of the voters – based on a wealth of recent polling and focus groups – and what they want politicians to address and avoid. We’ve asked Stan specifically: If the polls still tell us the public thinks the economy is terrible, can Democrats win by telling voters the economy is in great shape or on the mend?

17] – Amazon Watch Invites You to a "Green-Bag Lunch" Presentation J'accuse: Anatomy of Colombian Government Collusion in Indigenous Corruption with Carlos Salinas of Healing Bridges on Wed., Mar. 19 from noon to 1:30 PM at Amazon Watch / CIEL conference room, 1350 Connecticut Ave. NW #1100 (South Dupont, above Panera / Cosi). In December of 2012, a blatant electoral fraud was perpetrated in the Kofan reservation of Santa Rosa del Guamuéz (Putumayo, Colombia). The traditional authorities denounced this fraud repeatedly to local and national authorities. Despite many such communications, in August the Interior Ministry's Director of Indigenous Peoples ratified the fraud, despite repeated assurances that he had not done so. This is the same official which trots out to Washington twice a year to defend Colombia's deplorable indigenous rights record before the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights.

In November 2011, Salinas denounced the Colombian Army's ill-treatment of a Kofan sacred tree by the Colombian Army. Now, the tree is dead. But the Kofan traditional authorities continue to resist. For the last thirteen years, Carlos Salinas has been working in the Colombian Amazon with indigenous groups to protect their traditional knowledge and legacy. From videotaping the historical memory of the elder shamans and their wives to defending Kofan ancestral territory from encroachment by the Colombian Army, Salinas has logged close to 50 field visits, mostly to Santa Rosa del Guamuéz. Prior to this Carlos Salinas was Amnesty International USA's lobbyist on Latin America, serving one year as its Acting Director of Government Relations.

18] – On Wed., Mar. 19 from noon to 2 PM at Battelle-Tompkins Atrium, American University Campus, in honor of National Women's History month, a group of scholars and social activists will profile the accomplishments of women during the civil rights movement and how the Jewish community supported the cause. They will examine the impact the Civil Rights Movement had on the nation then (1964) and now (2014).

19] – On Wed., Mar. 19 from 3 to 4 PM, Paula DeSutter, former Assistant Secretary of State for Verification, Compliance, and Implementation, and Mark Schneider, National Institute for Public Policy, will ponder this issue--"Russian Missile Modernization: Developments and Implications for U.S. Security." The talk is sponsored by Marshall Institute, and will be held in 2212 Rayburn House Office Building, WDC. RSVP at 571-970-3180 or info@marshall.org.

20] – The Pledge of Resistance-Baltimore usually delivers a letter to Rep. John Sarbanes’ Towson office on the third Wednesday of the month at 4:30 PM. On Mar. 19, help deliver the letter to Suite 303, 600 Baltimore Avenue, Baltimore 21204. This month’s letter makes three requests of Sarbanes: 1] speak out and to vote against The Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities Act [H.R. 3830], any “Fast Track” legislation, as well as the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) itself; 2] publicly support the “Better Off Budget,” & 3] and condemn the use of killer drone strikes.

21] – The International Labor Rights Forum will celebrate the life of Robin Romano on Wed., Mar. 19. In November 2013, an inspirational leader in the fight to expose and eliminate child labor, U. Robert "Robin" Romano was an amazing photographer and cinematographer who told the personal stories of those affected by the global tragedy of child exploitation. ILRF worked closely with Robin on projects such as Stolen Childhoods, the first feature-length documentary ever produced about child labor, and The Dark Side of Chocolate, which exposed the child labor and human trafficking underpinning cocoa harvesting in Ghana and Cote D'Ivoire.

The celebration takes place from 5:30 to 7:30 PM at the National Education Association, 1201 16th St. NW. RSVP at https://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/eventReg?oeidk=a07e8zj0sn4071130fa&oseq=&c=&ch.

22] – On Wed., Mar. 19 from 6:30 to 8 PM at Busboys & Poets, 14th and V Sts. NW, IPS senior scholar Maude Barlow will talk about and sign her new book on "Protecting Water and People and the Planet Forever." This book, the final installment of Maude's "Blue" trilogy, includes inspiring stories of struggle and resistance from communities across the globe, as well as examples of government policies that work for people and the planet. A call to action to create a water-secure world, this is, in the end, a book of hope. See http://www.ips-dc.org/events/author_event_blue_future.

23] – The MONTHLY MEETING of Get Money Out of Maryland is Wed., Mar. 19 from 7 to 8 PM at the Church of the Redeemer, 5603 N. Charles St., Baltimore 21210. Call 410-435-7333. The urgent issue is to get resolutions SJ 6 and HJ 7 out of committee and through the full Senate and House. Come learn about the issue and help with the effort. The focus will be on phone-banking, with full instructions and real sample calls. Your action could very well make the difference!

24] – Gender, Democracy, and Human Rights: Challenges Facing Muslim Communities Worldwide is to be talked about on Wed., Mar. 19 at 7 PM in the Leavey Program Room, 3800 Reservoir Road NW. This event will be moderated by the Muslim Life Director Imam Yahya Hendi. Speakers will include Dalia Mogahed, chairperson and CEO of Mogahed Consulting, and Abdulaziz Sachedina, professor and Endowed IIIT Chair in Islamic Studies, Dept. of Religious Studies at George Mason University. Call 202. 687.8375 or email acmcu.georgetown.edu.

25] – On Thurs., Mar. 20 from 10:30 AM to noon, Sugio Takahashi, deputy director of Strategic Planning, Japanese Defense Ministry, will speak about "Strategic Implications of North Korean Nuclear Missiles" at the Carnegie Endowment, 1779 Massachusetts Ave. NW, WDC. RSVP at http://carnegieendowment.org/events/forms/?fa=registration&event=4362&lang=en.

26] – Chesapeake PSR and Maryland Environmental Health Network are having a climate and public health training on Thurs., Mar. 20 from 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM at the Maryland Nonprofit Center, 1500 Union Ave. Lunch will be provided. RSVP to allison@mdehn.org. Contact Tim Whitehouse at 240-246-4492.

27] – Calling all students, teachers, coaches, counselors and conflict resolution educators, as Little Friends for Peace is hosting its 2nd Peace Academy to introduce peacebuilding techniques to adult mentors. The academy is happening on Thursdays, Mar. 20 & 27 and Apr. 3 from 6:30 to 8:30 PM. The cost is $50 a session, and $135 for all 3 classes and the certificate. Go to http://lffp.org/peace-academy-certificate-program. Call 301-927-5474 or email mjpeace@gmail.com.

28] – One Struggle, Many Fronts: U.S. – Africa Environmental Justice Tour starts on Thurs., Mar. 20 at 6:30 PM through Fri., Mar. 21 at 8 PM in Monroe Hall, Room 110, George Washington University. Climate change and fossil fuel extraction are global problems. Global problems require international solidarity, and international solidarity requires international relationships. This national tour, the first of its kind, will move the world closer to a unified movement for health, sustainability and justice. Contact Will Lawrence at usan.climatejustice@gmail.com.

29] – There is a Ringling Brothers Circus Protest to run from Thurs., Mar. 20 at 6:30 PM through Sun., Mar. 23 at 6:30 PM at the Verizon Center, 601 F St. NW. Elephants in Ringling's possession are chained inside filthy, poorly ventilated boxcars for an average of more than 26 straight hours—and often 60 to 70 hours at a time—when the circus travels. Even former Ringling employees have reported that elephants are routinely abused and violently beaten with bullhooks (an elephant-training tool that resembles a fireplace poker), in order to force them to perform tricks. Please join local PETA supporters to rally against the use of animals in circuses. Go to https://www.facebook.com/events/799362516760134/

30] – See the film "An Injury to One" on Thurs., Mar. 20 at 8 PM at Rocketship, 1223 Decatur St. NW. After years of searching, Rocketship has tracked down a copy of "An Injury to One," an amazing movie about mine workers in Montana organizing themselves. You can read more about the movie at http://icarusfilms.com/new2003/inj.html. Visit https://www.facebook.com/events/665602500152127/.

31] – There is a Climate Justice Strategy Session on Fri., Mar. 21 from 10 AM to noon at the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), Financial Freedom Center, Thurgood Marshall Building, 1816 12th St. NW. The meeting will conclude with a plan that includes a set of objectives, actions, events/activities to be executed over the coming months, including actions around the Ban Ki Moon Summit, Conferences of the Parties (COP) 20 in Lima, COP 21 Paris and other local and global foci through linking grassroots mobilization with local, state, national, and global policymaking. Contact Jacqueline Patterson (director of Environmental and Climate Justice Program) at jpatterson@naacpnet.org or call 443-465-9809.

32] – Research Associates Foundation invites you to attend “Looking Back, Thinking Forward: Organizing to Breach Baltimore’s Racial Divide” on Thurs. Mar. 20 at 7:30 PM at Red Emma’s, 30 West North Ave. The panel includes Marc Steiner, Betty Robinson, Paul Coates and C.D. Witherspoon. Lester Spence will moderate. The event is free and open to the public, but a freewill donation is requested to support RAF's ongoing efforts. RAF’s main business is giving small grants to local activist groups and individuals. Since 2010, 45 grants totaling $112,000 were distributed. The grantees are listed on www.rafbaltimore.org.

RAF funds came mainly from the proceeds of the sale of the Progressive Action Center in 2009. Consequently, each grant lowers the principal. Tax-deductible donations from generous folks will permit RAF to sustain this vital grant program for many years to come. You may donate online by going to www.rafbaltimore.org and clicking on the “donate” link. Or you may send a check to RAF, PO Box 39448, Baltimore MD 21212.

33] – The National Religious Campaign Against Torture (NRCAT) is pleased to co-sponsor the 2014 Ecumenical Advocacy Days for Global Peace with Justice. It will be held from Fri., Mar. 21 through Mon., Mar. 24. Attend the Interfaith Strategy Session that NRCAT is hosting on March 21 from 2 to 4 PM. The session will include an issues briefing and break-out time for discussion of solitary confinement, detainee treatment & accountability and anti-Muslim bigotry. The strategy session will be held at the conference’s hotel, the Doubletree Hotel, 300 Army-Navy Dr., Crystal City, VA. There is no cost to attend the strategy session, but RSVP at https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/ZG9NSFG.

The theme of this year’s Ecumenical Advocacy Days is Jesus Weeps – Resisting Violence, Building Peace. While the Ecumenical Advocacy Days conference is aimed at the Christian community, as reflected in many of the speakers and the worship services, everyone is welcome. As a multi-religious organization, NRCAT is pleased to co-sponsor both interfaith events and faith-specific events. The Friday afternoon strategy session is interfaith. Email campaign@nrcat.org or go to www.tortureisamoralissue.org. Learn more at www.advocacydays.org or call 202-543-1126 and register now!

34] – On Fri., Mar. 21 at 9:30 AM, Toby Dalton, Carnegie Endowment, and Guarev Kampani, Norwegian Institute of Defense Studies, will tackle "Is the Indian Nuclear Tiger Changing its Stripes? Data, Interpretation and Fact" at Atlantic Council, 12th Floor, 1030 15th St. NW, WDC. RSVP at http://www.atlanticcouncil.org/events/upcoming-events/registration/a08i000000ItoDEAAZ.

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