Baltimore Activist Alert – May 4 – Aug. 10, 2014

Baltimore Activist Alert – May 4 – Aug. 10, 2014

55] “The Ethical Journey from Punitive to Unitive Justice” – May 4
56] Peace and Pancakes – May 4
57] Celebrate a drone wedding at the White House – May 4
58] Interfaith Youth for Climate Justice Service Day – May 4
59] ANNUAL SPRING AWARDS GALA AND CONCERT is "AN EVENING WITH PAUL." – May 4
60] Pentagon Vigil – May 5
61] Film “Stone Cold Justice” – May 6
62] Debate for candidates running for governor – May 8
63] Save the date! - Aug. 10
64] Max is seeking a place to live
65] Ronda Cooperstein on social media
66] Sign up with Washington Peace Center
67] Join Fund Our Communities
68] Donate books, videos, DVDs and records
69] Do you need any book shelves or file cabinets?
70] Join Global Zero campaign
71] War Is Not the Answer signs for sale
72] Join Peace Park Antinuclear Vigil

55] -- 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 AM to noon. On Sun., May4, the platform address is The Ethical Journey from Punitive to Unitive Justice” by Sylvia Clute, Alliance for Unitive Justice. Common phrases, like “the punishment must fit the crime,” “I want to get even” or “an eye for an eye” are actually describing proportional revenge, the moral principle that underpins the punitive western model of justice. Answering harm with more harm is deemed moral, so long as the harm you do is proportional to the harm done to you. Two moral standards are required for proportional revenge to work, one that says the harm done by us, the “good” people, is moral, while condemning the harm done by those whom we have deemed “evil” or “immoral” – even when both are doing essentially the same thing. It is our system of punitive justice that has brought about mass incarceration in the U.S. – one out of every 100 adults in the US in presently incarcerated, and for minorities the rate is much higher. But we have another choice: unitive justice.

Unitive justice is based on the moral principle of loving-kindness, and it applies equally to everyone. Whatever the circumstances, harm to another is not condoned as moral. The power of unitive justice lies in this internal moral consistency, a power demonstrated in the movements led by Gandhi, King and Mandela. Safety is achieved, not by physical force, but by creating a system owned by the community in which harm is not condoned. Clute, program coordinator for the Alliance for Unitive Justice, is a former trial attorney. For over twenty-five years she has been researching and developing “unitive justice” as a parallel model of justice and a structure for community organization. While unitive justice has ancient roots (loving-kindness, the Golden Rule, non-violence), Sylvia teaches how it may be adapted to today’s culture and needs. Call 410-581-2322 or email ask@bmorethical.org.

56] -- 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.

57] -- Riding the momentum of the April Days of Actions, CODEPINK DC and Noor Mir (former drone campaign coordinator at CODEPINK, now working at the Washington Peace Center) are recreating the wedding party in Yemen hit by a US drone strike–– in front of the White House on Sun., May 4 at 1 PM. This is a chance to educate the public about the horrors of drone strikes using this street theater, sending a message far and wide by making it into a video. Actors are needed to play various roles in the wedding!! See https://www.facebook.com/events/1441593806082697/.

58] – Got Teens? Join the Interfaith Youth for Climate Justice Service Day on Sun., May 4 from 1 to 5 PM at Fort Mahan Park, NE DC. Get outside, meet teens from different faith backgrounds, and make a difference at this youth service day, co-hosted by Interfaith Youth for Climate Justice (IYCJ) and Groundwork Anacostia.

Volunteers will be removing invasive species and planting native species, so be prepared to get dirty! End the day with a meaningful dialogue on the importance of environmental service. Snacks, gloves and tools will be provided. The suggested donation is $5 per participant. IYCJ is a youth development program for high school students in the D.C. area that combines interfaith dialogue, environmental education, and social action.

Fort Mahan is part of Fort Circle Park and is located across from the Marshall Heights Community Development Organization, 3939 Benning Road NE. Drivers are able to park in this lot or on the street. Groups taking public transportation can metro to the Benning Rd. station and walk or take the U8 bus toward Minnesota Ave. Email Meredith at meredith@iycj.org.

59] – On Sun., May 4 at 6 PM, Central Maryland Ecumenical Council’s ANNUAL SPRING AWARDS GALA AND CONCERT is "AN EVENING WITH PAUL." This is a concert performance featuring the music of Paul Robeson with dialogue, starring Jason McKinney as PAUL ROBESON and Baltimore's own - Christopher A. Bagley as Lawrence Brown. The evening will feature the presentation of the awards to Three Outstanding Leaders in Ecumenical Service and Leadership Reverend Dr. William C. Calhoun Sr., Reverend David Casey, and Reverend Maria Hammons.

The suggestion donation is $25 for adults. and $10 for Students, for the event at the Faith Presbyterian Church, 5400 Loch Raven Blvd.(Woodbourne and Loch Raven). Contact Gary Gillespie at 443-703-6498 or cmecouncil@gmail.com. To reserve tickets, visit http://www.cmecouncil.org/Donate.html

60] -- There is a weekly Pentagon Peace Vigil from 7 to 8 AM on Mondays, since 1987, outside the Pentagon Metro stop. The next vigil is Mon., Apr. 28, and it is sponsored by the Dorothy Day Catholic Worker. Email artlaffin@hotmail.com or call 202-882-9649.

The vigil will be outside the Pentagon's south Metro entrance and in the designated "protest zone" behind bicycle fences across from the entrance to the Metro. By Metro, take Yellow Line and get out at the "Pentagon" stop. Do not go to the Pentagon City stop! Go up south escalators and turn left and walk across to protest area.

By car from D.C. area, take 395 South and get off at Exit 8A-Pentagon South Parking. Take slight right onto S. Rotary Rd. at end of ramp and right on S. Fern St. Then take left onto Army Navy Dr. You can "pay to park" on Army Navy Dr., and there is meter parking one block on right on Eads St. Payment for both of these spots begin at 8 AM. No cameras are allowed on Pentagon grounds. Restrooms are located inside Marriott Residence Inn on corner of S. Fern and Army Navy Dr.

61] – The Committee for Palestinian Rights, Howard County, is sponsoring a showing of the documentary film “Stone Cold Justice,” on Tues., May 6 at 7 PM at the East Columbia Branch Library, 6600 Cradlerock Way, Columbia 21045. The film, produced by Four Corners, an Australian investigative journalism/current affairs TV program, explores the Israeli government’s systematic strategy of threats, arrests, and detention of Palestinian youth. After the film, there will be a discussion led by Philip Farah, co-founder of Washington Interfaith Alliance for Middle East Peace. The showing is free and open to the public. Email CPR-Maryland@yahoo.com.

62] – On Thurs, May 8 at 7 PM, BRIDGE Maryland is hosting a debate for candidates running for governor at Israel Baptist Church, 1200 N. Washington St. Doors open at 6 PM, and music will be performed. The following candidates are confirmed: Anthony Brown, Doug Gansler, Charles Lollar and Heather Mizeur. Invited are David Craig and Larry Hogan. Call 443-857-0831. Raise Maryland and Casa de Maryland are co-sponsors at the debate.

63] – SAVE THE DATE!!!!! Get over to "Family Fun" night to raise funds for Dr. Mutulu Skakur and the development of a Truth and Reconciliation Commission to free our Political Prisoners/Prisoners of War. It will take place at Skateland North Point, 1113 Old North Point Rd.,
Baltimore 21222, on Sun., Aug. 10 from 4:30 to 7:30 PM. Admission is $10 which includes skate rental. Contact Abdul-Jabbar at 610.621.0699 (Maryland State Jericho). Go to http://mutulushakur.com/site/.

64] -- 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.

65] -- Ronda Cooperstein has taken to social media, and is recording her opinion pieces on You Tube. Check out her latest essay - THE WASHINGTON POST WITH TOAST: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ffj-Scno-5Q.

66] -- The Washington Peace Center has a progressive calendar & activist alert! Consider signing up to receive its weekly email: info@washingtonpeacecenter.org.

67] -- 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.

68] -- If you would like to get rid of books, videos, DVDs or records, contact Max at 410-366-1637 or mobuszewski at verizon.net.

69] -- Can you use any book shelves? Can you use any file cabinets? Contact Max at 410-366-1637 or mobuszewski at verizon.net.

70] -- 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.

71] -- 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.

72] – A 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