Baltimore Activist Alert - October 23 -24, 2014

32] Foreign policy talks – Oct. 23
33] Nuclear Negotiations with Iran – Oct. 23
34] Cut the nuclear arsenal? – Oct. 23
35] Islam, Gender and Democracy - Since the Arab Awakening – Oct. 23
36] Bill Barry on the 1877 Railroad Strike – Oct. 23
37] Reforming the Church Today – Oct. 23
38] GW’s radical history – Oct. 23
39] A tour of queer readings – Oct. 23
40] Risk, Recruitment & Retention: Engaging Foreign Publics in High Threat Environments – Oct. 24
41] Food Day – Oct. 24
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32] – On Oct. 23 from 1:15 to 4:45 PM, Scott Busby, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, will address "North Korea's Human Rights." Ken Gause, Center for Naval Analyses, will discuss "North Korea's Leadership." And Ely Ratner, Center for a New American Security, reflects on "U.S.-China Relations in the 21st Century: Challenges and Opportunities." The talks are sponsored by ICAS Liberty Foundation, and will be held in B-318 Rayburn House Office Building, WDC. Register at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1eVBbpNP4pEXp33b2MJQUtXPMHgYMGup9KjSafg8C5n8/viewform?c=0&w=1.

33] – On Oct. 23 at 5 PM, Wendy Sherman, Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs, will explain EU-Coordinated P5+1 Nuclear Negotiations with Iran at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, 1616 Rhode Island Ave. NW, WDC. The talk will be sponsored by Syracuse University and the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs. RSVP at https://www.maxwell.syr.edu/moynihan/moynihan_Challenge_Iran_Keynote/.

34] – On Oct. 23 from 6 to 8 PM, Adam Mount, Council on Foreign Relations, Tom Collina, Ploughshares Fund, Matthew Kroenig, Georgetown University, and Thomas Moore, Wilson Center, will opine on the question "Debate: Should the United States Cut its Nuclear Arsenal?" The debate will be at the George Washington University, Room B17, 1957 E St. NW, WDC. RSVP at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/debate-should-the-united-states-cut-its-nuclear-arsenal-tickets-13531692657?invite=&err=29&referrer=&discount=&affiliate=&eventpassword=.

35] – On Thurs., Oct. 23 from 5 to 6:45 PM a panel of scholars will examine Islam, Gender and Democracy - Since the Arab Awakening. The question of women's rights has become, in the view of Western commentators, a litmus test for Muslim societies in the age of democracy and liberalism. The issue is often framed as the opposition between liberal advocates of secular democracy and religious opponents of women's full equality. Participants will provide a broader comparison across religious traditions and cultures through a discussion of religion, secularism, democracy, and gender equality in France, Iran, Turkey, Tunisia, Egypt, and the United States.

This event will be held at Riggs Library, Healey Hall, Georgetown University, and is cosponsored by the Berkley Center and the Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace, and Security. A reception will follow. RSVP at http://berkleycenter.georgetown.edu/events/rsvp?id=islam-gender-and-democracy&utm_source=Berkley+Center+Master+List&utm_campaign=7afd007e6d-Event_announcement_10_23_2014&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_66160ba037-7afd007e6d-354093.

36] – Bill Barry will be talking about the 1877 railroad strike (or was it a riot by the rabble?) and his book “The 1877 Railroad Strike in Baltimore” at the Hamilton Branch Library, 5901 Harford Road, on Thurs., Oct. 23 from 6 to 7 PM. You can contact Bill at [mailto:wbarrymd@hotmail.com].

37] – On Thurs., Oct. 23 from 7 to 9 PM, Call to Action will host Catholic Tipping Point Tour: People of Conscience—Reforming the Church Today, a conversation with Fr. Tony Flannery. The program will be held at Faith Presbyterian Church, 5400 Loch Raven Boulevard, Baltimore. Enjoy refreshments following the Q & A. Register by contacting New Ways Ministry—matthew@NewWaysMinistry.org. Go to www.catholictippingpoint.org.

38] – Did you know that in 1969 forty members of Students for a Democratic Society seized George Washington University's Maury Hall, home of the Sino-Soviet Institute, to protest University complicity with the Vietnam War? Or that more than 2,000 students attended a rally in the University Yard opposing the House Un-American Activities Committee with speakers including Jerry Rubin and Abbie Hoffman? Find out more about the tradition of social activism at GW. Come to a discussion sponsored by Lessons of the 60s, a project to document and archive local social justice organizing in Washington, D.C. 1960-1975. This event on Thurs., Oct. 23 from 7 to 9 PM, is a part of the “Traveling Hopefully” series, and will be held at 2121 I St. NW, Gelman Library, Room 702, WDC 20052. It is co-sponsored by Institute for Policy Studies. Email DCPROJECT60@gmail.com.

39] – On Thurs., Oct. 23 at 7:30 PM @ Red Emma's Bookstore Coffeehouse, 30 W. North Ave., Baltimore 21201, hear about “Crushes and Mountains: A tour of queer readings, films and the prayers of Elisha Lim and Vivek Shraya.” Shraya will read from his new novel “She of the Mountains,” which weaves a passionate, contemporary love story between a man and his body, with a re-imagining of Hindu mythology. Both narratives explore the complexities of embodiment and the damaging effects that policing gender and sexuality can have on the human heart. The illustrations are by Raymond Biesinger, whose work has appeared in The New Yorker and the New York Times.

Lim will read from their new graphic novel “100 Crushes” - an infatuated journey through four continents of queer communities. Lim will also screen a selection of their short animations, including “Queers Who Pray,” and an excerpt from their book "100 Crushes Chapter 6," which won Best New Director at the 2014 Toronto Inside Out LGBT Film Festival. Call 443-602-7585. Go to http://www.redemmas.org.

40] – On Fri., Oct. 24 from 8:30 AM to 1:45 PM, be at Risk, Recruitment & Retention: Engaging Foreign Publics in High Threat Environments held at U.S. Institute of Peace, 2301 Constitution Ave. NW. In an era where "zero-risk" environments abroad no longer exist, how does the United States address the question of risk for American civilians who want to pursue productive careers in diplomacy and development? With non-state actors increasingly shaping the international system, how can American diplomats and development workers engage effectively in environments critical to the defense of U.S. national interests in the 21st century? And how do we recruit, retain and support a new generation of men and women to do so? RSVP at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/risk-recruitment-retention-engaging-foreign-publics-in-high-threat-environments-tickets-13201928323. All guests are required to enter via 23rd street entrance for building access. Please arrive at least 30 minutes in advance.

41] – On Fri., Oct. 24 from 9 to 11:30 AM, join Food Day, Food Chain Workers Alliance, and dozens of other organizations and individuals to celebrate Food Day at the National Press Club, First Amendment Room, Ste. 1300, 529 14th St. NW, WDC. The Food Justice Panel Discussion includes Barry Estabrook, writer and author of “Tomatoland,” co-producer, Food Chains; Rosalinda Guillen, executive director of Community to Community, domestic winner of the 2014 World Food Sovereignty Prize; Jose Oliva, associate director, Food Chain Workers Alliance; and Ricardo Salvador, Union of Concerned Scientists. The moderator is Michael F. Jacobson, Food Day Founder and Executive Director, Center for Science in the Public Interest.

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