Baltimore Activist Alert - May 13-15, 2014

11] Promote Net Neutrality – May 13 - 15
12] Successful leadership – May 13
13] "The Role of Women of Faith in the Service of Building and Keeping Peace" – May 13
14] Philadelphia Peace Vigil – May 13
15] "North and South Korea: What’s Next?" – May 13
16] "No Drone Research at JHU" – May 13
17] Do you care about the food you eat? – May 13 & 15
18] Buy a ticket to an O’s game and support nonprofits – May 14
19] GLBT Town Hall – May 14
20] National Webinar: Health and Hydraulic Fracturing - Part 2: “Understanding Hydraulic Fracturing” – May 14
21] Protest NRA – May 14
22] Gubernatorial Accountability Forum – May 14
23] "Making Democracy Fun: How Game Design Can Empower Citizens and Transform Politics" – May 14
24] Voices of South Sudanese Civil Society – May 15
25] Interfaith Power & Light presentation – May 15
-----
11] – A group of dedicated Net Neutrality activists have gathered outside the FCC's headquarters at 445 12th St. SW, WDC--all day, all night, until May 15. Food, coffee and Wi-Fi are available. They didn't just bring banners and signs -- they brought their sleeping bags, too. They are camping out in front of the FCC day and night in advance of the May 15 meeting on rules proposed by FCC chief Tom Wheeler that would end the Internet as we know it.

On Thurs., May 15, there will be a rally from 9 to 10:30 AM as the FCC meets to begin its rule-making process. Demand Progress members are pouring thousands of emails and phone calls into Congress and the FCC urging them to stand up for Net Neutrality and an equal Internet. Go to http://www.occupythefcc.com/.

12] – On Tues., May 13 from 9:30 to 11 AM, join the Conflict Prevention and Resolution Forum for a conversation between Jerry White, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Operations, U.S. Department of State, and Susan Collin Marks, Senior Vice President at Search for Common Ground, on successful leadership at Johns Hopkins University SAIS, Kenney Auditorium,1740 Massachusetts Ave. NW. Are we born leaders, or do we learn to become leaders? Leaders are human beings like the rest of us with flaws and shadows – can we minimize the fallout from their weaknesses while maximizing their strengths? Is failure the mark of flawed leadership, or the measure of willingness to experiment and risk? How do we practice ethical leadership in today’s competitive world? What do leaders need to prevent burnout? What about compassion, empathy and power dynamics? And can we imagine leaders who are loyal to the whole rather than their party or faction or group? Go to https://www.sfcg.org/events/cprf-may-2014/.

13] – The forum "The Role of Women of Faith in the Service of Building and Keeping Peace" is taking place on Tues., May 13 from 2:30 to 5 PM in the Cannon House Office Building, Room 441 (directly adjacent to Capitol South Metro South stop) at the cross section is 1st Ave. and Independence Ave. Call 301-577-6876.

14] – 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 May 13. Call 215-426-0364.

15] – On Tues., May 13 from 5:15 to 7 PM, Glyn Davies, U.S. Special Representative for North Korea Policy; Elise Labott, CNN; and Victor Cha, Center for Strategic and International Studies, "North and South Korea: What’s Next?" Hear the discussion at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, 1616 Rhode Island Ave. NW, WDC. RSVP at http://my.csis.org/csis/CSIS1700/CSISCreateAccount.aspx.

16] – Vigil to say "No Drone Research at JHU" each Tuesday at 33rd & North Charles Sts. Join this ongoing vigil on May 13 from 5 to 6 PM. Call Max at 410-366-1637.

17] – Do you care about the food you eat? Where it comes from? Is its journey to your table healthy for you? Your children? The earth? How do we educate our children, family, friends -- even policymakers -- about healthy food? How do we make healthy food accessible for everyone?

If you care about these and other questions about the food we eat, come to one or both of the town hall meetings. On Tues., May 13 from 7 to 9 PM, Join the Center for Livable Future's Food & Faith Project and Interfaith Power & Light for a Good Food Gathering, a town hall meeting on Teaching Well: How can we educate our youth, adults and communities about "good food?" Marc Steiner will moderate a panel that will include the Rev. Heber Brown, pastor of Pleasant Hope Baptist Church and community leader, and then the floor will be opened to participants. Pleasant Hope, 430 E. Belvedere Ave., which is one of Baltimore's congregations that has an active and working community garden, will host the event. Email Chiquita: programassociate@gwipl.org.

On Thurs., May 15, Food & Water Watch and Assateague Coastal Trust/Coastkeeper will bring you a town hall meeting featuring author Christopher Leonard. Marc Steiner will interview Leonard about his compelling and controversial book "The Meat Racket: The Secret Takeover of America's Food Business," to catalyze a conversation around industrial farming and how it affects us in our daily lives. Following the interview the meeting will be opened up to the audience, to ask questions, make comments, and grapple with the challenges of our food system and how to effect positive change. The event will be held in the auditorium at the Central Branch of the Enoch Pratt Free Library, 400 Cathedral St. Email steinershow@gmail.com.

18] – Lou Curran [mailto:LCurran@opd.state.md.us] is letting us know that buying a ticket to an O's game will benefit various public interest causes. On Wed., May 14 buy a $15 ticket for the O's v Tigers at 12:35 PM. Net proceeds will be split between Maryland SPCA (one of Baltimore City's main animal shelters) and the Chesapeake Center for Youth Development (a local comprehensive services center for at-risk youth).

19] – Get over to the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library, 901 G St. NW, Room A-5 on Wed., May 14 from 6 to 8 PM for a Town Hall, which will include an introduction by Director of Office of Human Rights Monica Palacio and LGBT Community Outreach Fellow Iden Campbell McCollum. The panel, consisting of government ally agencies, the Office of Human Rights, Office of GLBT Affairs and the Office of Disability Rights, will explore ways they can partner more with community members. Community members will then break into groups to discuss hot topics within the community and focus on further collaboration around community issue areas. See http://www.eventbrite.com/e/lgbt-townhall-tickets-11403948517.

20] – The second PSR webinar can be heard on Wed., May 14 at 7 PM. The topic is the technical how-to of fracking and the resulting releases of methane. It will feature Anthony R. Ingraffea, Ph.D., who will address “Understanding Hydraulic Fracturing.” Visit http://www.psr.org/news-events/events/health-and-fracking-2.html.

PSR is increasingly concerned about the impacts of natural gas operations, especially hydraulic fracturing (fracking). Recent reports suggest that methane emissions from the full life cycle of gas operations may have a greater greenhouse gas impact than coal-fired power plants! In addition, fracking can contaminate the water and air, with devastating effects on the health of people living nearby. With both the climate and the conventional health impacts in mind, PSR is presenting three webinars on fracking.

21] – On Wed., May 14 from 10 to 11 AM, join the monthly NRA Gun Violence Prevention Vigil (in remembrance of the Sandy Hook Elementary School Shootings on December 14, 2012). It is held in front of the NRA Headquarters, 11250 Waples Mill Road, Fairfax, VA 22030.

22] – The MD IAF Gubernatorial Accountability Forum will bring together leaders from BUILD (Baltimore City and County) and sister Industrial Areas Foundation organizations PATH (Howard Co) and AIM (Montgomery Co) on Wed., May 14 from 7 to 9 PM @ St. Matthews Catholic Church, 5401 Loch Raven Blvd., Baltimore 21239.

23] – Josh Lerner presents "Making Democracy Fun: How Game Design Can Empower Citizens and Transform Politics" on Wed., May 14 at 7:30 PM @ Red Emma's, 30 W. North Ave., Baltimore 21201. Is this the best democracy can offer? "In Making Democracy Fun," Lerner—the director of the Participatory Budgeting Project—offers a novel solution for the sad state of our deliberative democracy: the power of good game design. What if public meetings featured competition and collaboration (such as team challenges), clear rules (presented and modeled in multiple ways), measurable progress (such as scores and levels), and engaging sounds and visuals?

Drawing on more than a decade of practical experience and extensive research, Lerner explains how games have been integrated into a variety of public programs in North and South America. He offers rich stories of game techniques in action, in children’s councils, social service programs, and participatory budgeting and planning. With these real-world examples in mind, Lerner describes five kinds of games and twenty-six game mechanics that are especially relevant for democracy. Call 410-230-0450. Go to http://www.redemmas.org.

24] – On Thurs., May 15 from 10 to 11:30 AM, there is a discussion Voices of South Sudanese Civil Society at the U.S. Institute of Peace, 2301 Constitution Ave. NW, WDC 20037 RSVP at http://www.eventbrite.com/e/voices-of-south-sudanese-civil-society-tickets-11468182643.

Violence continues to tear South Sudan apart, while negotiations between the government and armed opposition have made little tangible progress. Furthermore, the coming rains could produce a humanitarian disaster. Amid deepening despair, it is more important than ever to listen to those who are not involved in the fighting. As a young country itself, South Sudan's civil society is still nascent, but stands to play a critical role in addressing the current crisis and speak for people desperately seeking a better future.

Join a discussion with four of South Sudan's leading civil society representatives, who will share their visions for how the country can move forward and recover from the recent turmoil and devastation. Featured Speakers are David Deng - Research Director, South Sudan Law Society; Lona James - Executive Director, Voice for Change and Civil Society Activities; Rev. James Ninrew - Executive Director, Assistance Mission for Africa; and Edmund Yakani, Executive Director, Community Empowerment for Progress Organization.

25] – On Thurs., May 15 from 10 AM to 8 PM at Glen's Garden Market, 2001 S St. NW, WDC [near Dupont Circle] hear how Interfaith Power & Light (DC. MD. NoVA) can help you with whatever project you’re implementing or whatever problem you’re facing. Director Joelle Novey has years of experience helping green leaders work with their congregations. Email Elizabeth at program@gwipl.org.

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