Baltimore Activist Alert - November 4 - 5, 2014

21] Book Talk: “The End of American World Order” – Nov. 4
22] Challenges of Chemical Weapons Proliferation and Use – Nov. 4
23] Book about negotiations with Cuba – Nov. 4
24] Philadelphia Peace Vigil – Nov. 4
25] No JHU Drone Research – Nov. 4
26] Election Night party – Nov. 4
27] Monthly pet bereavement support group meeting –Nov. 4
28] Book talk IRAN DIVIDED – Nov. 5
29] National Campaigns to Diminish Corporate Power – Nov. 5
30] CPHA Annual Meeting – Nov. 5
31] Documentary “Waking in Oak Creek” – Nov. 5
32] 350 D.C. meeting – Nov. 5
33] Shared agreements – Nov. 5
34] First, Do No Harm: Taking Action for Health – Nov. 5
--
21] – The School of International Service at American University, New Mexico and Nebraska Aves., WDC 20016, is hosting a Book Talk: “The End of American World Order” with Amitav Acharya, SIS and Miles Kahler, SIS, on Tues., Nov. 4 from 11 to 1 PM in the Abramson Family Founders Room. It is sponsored by the Global Governance, Politics, and Security program and the Comparative and Regional Studies program. Go to http://dc.linktank.com/.

22] – Challenges of Chemical Weapons Proliferation and Use will be discussed on Tues., Nov. 4 from 12:30 to 2PM. RSVP at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1TnoxX0u28xbEEyZFzhxmlqtWf0B5Dk_bcBEXdQDzTGU/viewform. Chlorine gas attacks are back. Recent developments in Syria and Iraq are a faint echo of the mass slaughter from poison gas attacks a century ago, reminding us that more needs to be done to prevent the possession, proliferation, and use of chemical weapons. The Chemical Weapons Convention has helped to strengthen these norms, and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, now 17 years old, received the 2013 Nobel Peace Prize "for its extensive efforts to eliminate chemical weapons." The OPCW, the United States and other member states explored new territory with the Syrian demilitarization effort, but there is obviously more work to be done.

The panel discussion will be at the Stimson Center, 1111 19th St. NW, 12th Floor, WDC, 20036. The featured speakers are Ambassador Robert Mikulak, the U.S. Permanent Representative to the OPCW; Andrew Weber, retired from the Pentagon to help accelerate the global Ebola response at the State Department; John Parachini, senior international policy analyst and director of the Intelligence Policy Center at the RAND Corporation; Dr. Amy Smithson, senior fellow at the Center for Nonproliferation Studies and the author of numerous publications, including Germ Gambits: The Bioweapons Dilemma, Iraq and Beyond, based on in-depth field research about dual-use chemical and biological technologies, weapons proliferation, threat reduction mechanisms, defense, and homeland security; and Michael Krepon, the moderator and founding president and CEO of the Stimson Center from 1989 to 2000. Contact Julia Thompson at jthompson@stimson.org.

23] – On Tues., Nov. 4 at 3 PM in the Butler Board Room in the Butler Pavilion, American University, WDC, William LeoGrande and Peter Kornbluh will talk about their new book chronicling the untold history of attempts at rapprochement and reconciliation between the United States and Cuba-- BACK CHANNEL TO CUBA: THE HIDDEN HISTORY OF NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN WASHINGTON AND HAVANA. From John F. Kennedy's offering of an olive branch to Fidel Castro after the missile crisis, to Henry Kissinger's top secret quest for normalization, to Barack Obama's promise of a "new approach," LeoGrande and Kornbluh reveal a fifty-year record of dialogue and negotiations, both open and furtive, indicating a path toward better relations in the future. See http://www.american.edu/clals/upcoming-events.cfm%20.

24] – 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 St. & JFK Blvd., at the entrance to Tracks 3 and 4 on the mezzanine. The next vigil is Nov. 4. Call 215-426-0364.

25] – Vigil to say "No Drone Research at JHU" each Tuesday at 33rd & North Charles Sts. Join this ongoing vigil on Nov. 4, but note today demonstrators will be there from 5:30 to 6:30 PM. Call Max at 410-366-1637.

26] – On Tues., Nov. 4 at 7 PM, there is an Election Night Party with congressional and county candidates to watch the returns. Will you join them at the Rockville Hilton, 1750 Rockville Pike, Rockville?

27] – Andrew Mazan leads a free monthly pet bereavement support group that meets the first Tuesday of every month at 7 PM at Baltimore Humane Society, 1601 Nicodemus Road. RSVP at 410-833-8848. Private counseling is also available. Go to http://www.baltimorehumane.org.

28] – At Georgetown University, ICC 260, WDC on Wed., Nov. 5 at 12:30 PM, note that Iranian politics has been marked by sharp ideological divisions and infighting. These divides, kept largely out of public view until the 1990s, came to greater light with the contested 2009 presidential elections. To explain the diverse and complex forces that led to this event and that animate Iran’s current fractured society and polity, author Shireen T. Hunter looks beyond the battle between the forces of reform and reaction, democracy and dictatorship, and considers the historic forces that created the conditions faced by Iran since the revolution. “Iran Divided: The Historical Roots of Iranian Debates on Identity, Culture, and Governance in the 21st Century” explains historical and political factors and their relevance to Iran today, shedding light on the forces behind Iranian politics and society. Email acmcu@georgetown.edu.

29] – On Wed., Nov. 5 from 4 to 5 PM EST, as part of National Campaigns to Diminish Corporate Power, Robert Weissman (Public Citizen), Mateo Nube (Movement Generation), will be part of the third of four Webinars: Building a Faithful Response to Corporate Power. The Faith Economy Ecology Transformation Working Group is hosting a four-part webinar series with faith leaders, experts on corporate power, and advocates for change. The series will explore how the role of corporations in society has changed over time, what positive alternative forms of corporations exist, and how people of faith can play an active role in confronting corporate power on a local, national, and international scale. Register to participate in the next two. Register at https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/8872230165590774530.

30] – You're invited to Citizens Planning and Housing Association, Inc.'s 73rd Annual Meeting on Wed., Nov. 5 from 5:30 to 8 PM at Chesapeake Event Space, 1707 N. Charles St., Baltimore 21202. REGISTER at http://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/event?oeidk=a07e9rhxxv675ba7681&llr=i6sdsfdab. The topic of this year's discussion is Gentrification without Displacement. Here from Thibaut Manekin, co-founder of Seawall Development, Joseph McNeely, executive director of Central Baltimore Partnership, Allison Pendell Jones, assistant director of Greater Baltimore AHC, and Ernst Valery, president of EVI Corp. and CPHA Board President.

The event will also include the presentation of the annual Ferebee Neighborhood Achievement and Froelicher Civic Statesmanship awards. Congratulations to this year's winners: Ferebee Neighborhood Achievement Award: the Friends of Library Square and Froelicher Civic Statesmanship Award: Jan Houbolt, former executive director of the Greater Baltimore Committee's Leadership Program.

31] – Go to the Shaw Public Library, 1630 7th St. NW, WDC on Wed., Nov. 5 from 6:30 to 8:30 PM for a community screening and dialogue on the documentary, “Waking in Oak Creek.” This is a short documentary that explores how the community reacted and came together after the August 2012 shooting at the Gurdwara in Oak Creek, Wisconsin. The screening is co-hosted by DC-Interfaith Network and Initiatives of Change. Refreshments will be provided by the Massachusetts Ave. Gurdwara. RSVP at https://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/eventReg?oeidk=a07ea0n8esr17f5a1be&oseq&c&ch&utm_source=Unity+Walk+Master+List&utm_campaign=5a7332a834-October+2014&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_52547bdb5b-5a7332a834-271131953.

32] – Go to 1 St. Matthews Ct., (down the alleyway between N St. and Rhode Island Ave. on 17th), WDC, on Wed., Nov. 5 at 7 PM for a 350 DC meeting. This is a strong movement for climate and environmental justice in D.C. Visit https://www.facebook.com/350DC/.

33] – At St. Stephens Church, 1525 Newton St. NW, WDC, on Wed., Nov. 5 from 7 to 9 PM, get some training on expanding the ways you use shared agreements in your work? In this skillshare, explore creating realistic and inclusive shared agreements connected to your values along with tools for honoring agreements we make. This relates to both for one time meetings and for organizations attempting to create guidelines for their longer term work, and will be facilitated by Nora Rasman and Carmen Robinson of Maximize Good.

The DC Trainers’ Network monthly skillshare is a structured, interactive space where people can share skills and gain confidence in their training abilities and everybody is both a teacher and a learner. We strive to provide an inclusive practice space to experiment with different approaches for learning and teaching. This skillshare seeks to strengthen the D.C. activist community’s ability to meet the needs of progressive social movements.

34] – First, Do No Harm: Taking Action for Health is happening on Wed., Nov. 5 from 5:30 to 8:30 PM at the Friends Center, 1501 Cherry St., Philadelphia, PA 19102. PSR Philadelphia hosts this educational event. Designed for health professionals, public health advocates, and health students, the event will feature a light reception, a student cafe, speakers panel, and dessert. Confirmed speakers include Lenore Resick, PhD, CRNP, from Duquesne University, and Yashmina Beebeejuan, PhD, from University College London. Visit http://psrphila.org/upcoming-events/2014/9/9/first-do-no-harm-taking-action-on-climate-fracking.

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