Baltimore Activist Alert - April 30 - May 1, 2014

Baltimore Activist Alert - April 30 - May 1, 2014

22] SAVE & REPAIR PUBLIC HOUSING – Apr. 30
23] Venezuelan Constitutional Expert Hermann Escarrá speaks – Apr. 30
24] Violence and Displacement in Colombia's Main Pacific Port – Apr. 30
25] Film “The Ghosts of Jeju,” – Apr. 30
26] Music for Peace – Apr. 30
27] Busboys and Poets presents "The Admission" – Apr. 30
28] D.C. Court of Appeals hearing on fracking – May 1
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22] – SAVE & REPAIR PUBLIC HOUSING, and Rally before Attending a Hearing on Wed., Apr. 30 from noon to 3 PM at the John A. Wilson Building, 1350 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. Join Empower D.C. for a rally outside, before packing the budget hearing before the District of Columbia Housing Authority. Demand renovation of vacant units for homeless families and funding needed repairs for residents, and a stop to the demolition of public housing! Visit https://www.facebook.com/events/642853122448226/.

23] – The Venezuelan Constitutional Expert Hermann Escarrá speaks on Wed., Apr. 30 from noon to 1:30 PM in the IPS Conference Room, 1112 16th St. NW, Suite 600. Join IPS' Foreign Policy In Focus for a talk with Venezuelan law professor, Hermann Escarrá, about the current situation in Venezuela, the dialogue for peace underway, and the constitution as an apt legal framework for resolving the political differences that exist. The discussion will be moderated by IPS board member, James Early. Escarrá is a professor of constitutional law at the Central University of Venezuela (UCV) and has also taught abroad. He is an Emeritus Professor, Honorary Professor, and holds three honorary doctorates. He co-authored the law on the Protection of Constitutional Rights, as well as the Venezuelan Constitution of 1999. RSVP to netfa@ips-dc.org.

24] – On Wed., Apr. 30 at 12:30 PM through Thurs., May 1 at 1:30 PM, check out Violence and Displacement in Colombia's Main Pacific Port: Addressing the Humanitarian Crisis at the Washington Office on Latin America. It will feature Max Schoening, Colombia Researcher, Human Rights Watch and moderated by Gimena Sanchez, senior associate, WOLA. Schoening, Colombia Researcher from Human Rights Watch, will present the new report on the crisis in Buenaventura and outline possible steps to curb the expanding control of paramilitary successor groups in the city. WOLA Senior Associate Gimena Sanchez will moderate the discussion and comment on WOLA’s recent trips to the region. She will also highlight labor rights violations in the port, civilian movements against the violence, and proposals to create an urban humanitarian zone in the city. Contact Adam Schaffer at aschaffer@wola.org or 202-797-2171.

25] – On Wed., Apr. 30 from 4 to 6 PM, see “The Ghosts of Jeju,” a shocking documentary about the struggle of the people of Jeju Island, South Korea. Set in the context of the U.S. presence in Korea after World War II revealing horrible atrocities, the film is the first English language film about the struggle of the brave people of Gangjeong Village. Besides the screening, have a discussion with the director, Regis Tremblay, at the Pryzbyla Center, Room 321/323, 620 Michigan Ave. NE, WDC 20064. A reception will follow.

26] – Music for Peace is taking place on Wed., Apr. 30 at 7:30 PM, last Wednesday of the month, at HI Baltimore Hostel, 17 W. Mulberry St. Discover music as a means to communicate and connect across cultures. Listen, play, or learn. The event will feature an open mic forum, guitar lessons, and the chance to meet and connect with other musicians in the city. Call 410-576-8880 or visit http://www.baltimorehostel.org.

27] – Busboys and Poets presents "The Admission" on Wed., Apr. 30 at 7:30 PM through Sun., May 18 at 7:30 PM at the Studio Theatre's Mead Theatre, 1501 14th St. NW. The production will feature Leila Buck, Hanna Eady, Danny Gavigan, Elizabeth Ann Jernigan, Kimberly Schraf, Michael Tolaydo and Joel Reuben Ganz. It is an Original Workshop Production performed at Theater J. The running time is 2 hours with a 15 minute intermission. This is an Israeli homage to All My Sons set in Haifa during the first Intifada featuring a "virile, magnetic" performance by Danny Gavigan in the lead role of Giora as a young Israeli professor engaged to Neta but in love with Samya (Leila Buck), the Palestinian daughter of a family friend who becomes troubled when Giora's father's company begins building on the site of a battle that took place 40 years ago. Giora struggles to find the truth about his father's war-time secrets, confronting the causes of his brother's death and how Giora came to incur his own war-time injuries in Lebanon.

From the author of “Pangs of the Messiah” and the winner of the Prime Minister of Israel Award for Writers, and staged by a groundbreaking team of Israeli, Palestinian, Jewish-American and Arab-American artists, including the director of the heralded production of “Return to Haifa.” Go to https://www.facebook.com/events/544699282314250/.

28] – There is an important D.C. Court of Appeals hearing on fracking on Thurs., May 1at 9:20 AM, but you are urged to be there at 8:45 AM. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit is located at 333 Constitution Ave. NW, WDC 20001. Bring a valid photo ID. Oral arguments will be presented before Circuit Judges Kavanaugh, Millett, and Wilkins. For more information on these judges, and the courthouse itself, visit www.cadc.uscourts.gov.

Seating arrangements are somewhat important in the courtroom. The first row behind counsel will be reserved for the small MREPS group (Minisink Residents for Environmental Preservation & Safety), the petitioners in the case. Behind them, the next one or two rows will be for those of the Minisink community who are able to attend. Behind Minisink would be supporters. Visit www.minisinkmatters.org/. "The ramifications of this case will be critical to the larger network of gas infrastructure battles in the Northeast and elsewhere. Developments are being closely monitored by both industry and frontline community advocacy groups; the conflict and ensuing case began in June of 2011. With two large gas-fired power plants and several new miles of lateral pipeline hinged on the viability of the Minisink compressor station, Minisink’s success in the upcoming proceedings would be a critical blow to the industry’s plans for the state of NY.

Represented by the D.C.-based attorney, Carolyn Elefant, ten community-appointed Minisink residents, collectively known as ‘Minisink Residents for Environmental Preservation and Safety’ (MREPS), are the Petitioners in the case. As Respondent and Intervenor in the case, respectively, FERC and Millennium Pipeline’s legal representation will be compelled to split the allotted time for corresponding argument.

In July of 2012, Minisink set rare legal precedent with a 3-2 split vote at FERC to approve the Minisink Compressor Station, with two commissioners dissenting- both the Chairman at the time, Jon Wellinghoff, as well as Commissioner Cheryl LaFleur. FERC has an overwhelming 99% approval rate of all projects that come before them. The findings of the U.S. Court of Appeals will have far-reaching implications for the industry, a host of communities across the country currently and soon to battle infrastructure expansion, and advocacy and alliance groups across the region."

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