Baltimore Activist Alert - December 11 - 12, 2015

40] Forum on refugees – Dec. 11

41] PRAYER FOR JUSTICE – Dec. 11

42] Refugee Crisis – Dec. 11

43] Peace vigil at White House – Dec. 11

44] Pentagon & Climate Crisis – Dec. 11

45] Stop drone war command center – Dec. 11

46] Black Lives Matter – Dec. 11

47] Protest at Philippines Embassy – Dec. 11

48] Co-Op Power – Dec. 11

49] Ballroom Dancing – Dec. 11

50] Protest killer drones at the CIA – Dec. 12

51] Obama, save the planet – Dec. 12

52] Human trafficking – Dec. 12

53] West Chester peace vigil – Dec. 12

54] Write for Rights – Dec. 12

55] Palestinian-Israeli conflict – Dec. 12

56] Sign up with Washington Peace Center

57] Donate books, videos, DVDs and records

58] Do you need any book shelves?

59] Join the Global Zero campaign

60] Join the Peace Park Antinuclear Vigil

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40] – In the aftermath of the attacks in Paris, it will most likely remain a topic of interest for decision-makers and the public audience. IOM and ICWA are co-organizing a full day of discussions with high-level officials, leading experts, NGOs, UN representatives and journalists to explore the different facets of the crisis, including the options left to the international community to manage mass migration from the Middle East as well as the impact of media coverage on national and international policies.  Members of the refugee and migrant communities will also join to share their personal experiences and stance on the crisis at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, 1779 Massachusetts Ave. NW, WDC, on Fri., Dec. 11 from 8:30 AM to 2:30 PM.

41] – Go to the US Supreme Court, First Street NE, WDC, on Fri., Dec. 11 at 11 AM, as the Fair Immigration Reform Movement (FIRM) and CASA in Action will hold a “Prayer for Justice” and news conference in front of the Supreme Court. Directly impacted children and families, members of Congress, diverse faith leaders, and Reform Immigration FOR America will take part in the event. Several children will tell their stories, with some facing the holidays not knowing whether their mom or dad will be with them much longer due to the threat of deportation.

The Prayer for Justice kicks off the “Give the Gift of Family” social media campaign to highlight the important of the Supreme Court agreeing to hear the case regarding President Obama’s executive order to expand DACA and implement DAPA.  The Prayer for Justice is the first of a series of monthly prayer vigils, organized by various groups throughout the immigrant rights movement.  Contact cvogel@communitychange.org.

42] – Please join New America and Arizona State University in welcoming the distinguished panelists for a discussion on the refugee crisis, the current policies, and lessons to be learned on Fri., Dec. 11 from 1 to 4 PM--“AFTER PARIS – THE REFUGEE CRISIS”--at New America, 740 15th St. NW, Suite 900, WDC 20005. Ongoing conflicts around the world have displaced sixty million refugees, with the war in Syria creating an unprecedented humanitarian crisis. Half of the country’s population has been forced from their homes, and over four million Syrians have fled their homeland. Many are crossing the Aegean Sea in rafts or walking across Serbia and Hungary to reach Europe, which now faces its worst refugee crisis since World War II.

Given the severity of the situation, it is essential to examine Western policies towards these refugees. This half-day event examines the moral, legal, social, and political aspects of the challenges posed by recent mass displacement with a focus on current and future policy solutions. Participants include State Department officials such as Deputy Assistant Secretary Dafna Rand, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor and Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Simon Henshaw, Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration; Ambassador Peter Wittig, the German ambassador to the United States; New America president Anne-Marie Slaughter; author Kati Marton; Syrian community organizers Zaher and Suzanne Sahloul; and many others. RSVP at https://newamerica.cvent.com/events/after-paris-the-refugee-crisis/registration-45f07c73169e4e09af7bc45abf22dd3a.aspx?i=8e662163-4bc4-41a5-8634-2aa15a8e9326.

43] – On Fri., Dec. 11 from noon to 1 PM, join the Dorothy Day Catholic Worker in a vigil urging the powers that be to abolish war and torture, to disarm all weapons, to end indefinite detention, to close Guantanamo, to establish justice for all and help create the Beloved Community! This vigil will take place at the White House on Pennsylvania Ave. NW. Contract Art @ artlaffin@hotmail.com or at 202-360-6416. 

44] – One year ago, the Department of Defense [sic] released its landmark Climate Adaptation Roadmap, which outlined the steps that all areas of the DoD must take to prepare for a changing climate. American Security Project will host Maureen Sullivan, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Environment, Safety & Occupational Health, responsible for overseeing the implementation of the Department’s climate change adaptation efforts. She will give an update on DoD efforts around Climate Change at the American Security Project, 1100 New York Ave. NW, 7th Floor - West Tower, WDC, on Fri., Dec. 11 from noon to 1:30 PM.  Two members of ASP’s Board of Directors, Vice Admiral Lee Gunn, USN (Ret.) and BGen Stephen Cheney, USMC (Ret.) will also report on what they have learned as a part of ASP’s national climate security tour, and how important the DoD’s efforts on climate change are for national climate preparedness. Go to https://www.eventbrite.com/e/department-of-defense-action-on-climate-change-tickets-19690022387.

45] – On Fri., Dec. 11 from 4 to 5 PM there will be a Philadelphia demonstration to protest drone war and stop the drone war command center at the Horsham Air Guard Station. The demo continues the second Friday of the month. SEPTA entrance/West side of Phila. City Hall, NW corner at 15th & Market Sts., Philadelphia.

46] –There is usually a silent peace vigil on Fridays, from 5 to 6 PM, sponsored by Homewood Friends and Stony Run Meetings, outside the Homewood Friends Meetinghouse, 3107 N. Charles St.  The next scheduled vigil is on Dec. 11. Black Lives Matter. 

47] –Come to the Embassy of the Philippines, 1600 Massachusetts Ave. NW, WDC, on Fri., Dec. 11 at 6:30 PM, as part of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence, and the Global Day of Action against Human Trafficking, GABRIELA D.C. will be hosting a protest to highlight the hundreds of victims of human trafficking during Pres. Aquino’s regime. As they reflect on the continuing violations of trafficking due to forced migration and state violence, they stand with all victims demanding justice. #Justice4FilipinoTeachers #Justice4OFWs#IDEVAW2015 #OBR2016 #Rise4Revolution#GABRIELADC #GABRIELAUSA.  Go to https://www.facebook.com/events/900829776691408/.

48] – Come to the Potter's House, 1658 Columbia Rd. NW, WDC, on Fri., Dec. 11 from 7 to 9 PM for Building Co-operative Power,  a guide and inspiration for building worker co-operatives that tells the stories of worker co-operatives in the Connecticut River Valley. It offers practical insights on co-op governance, management, and communication. In its second half BCP directly addresses the obstacles and opportunities for building regional co-operative economies. This includes the regional strategies Valley Alliance of Worker Co-operatives developed, which led to forming the Valley Co-operative Business Association with credit unions and food co-operatives. Janelle Cornwell, PhD is a Visiting Assistant Professor at Worcester State University and a member of the Community Economies Collective. Her current research focuses on the politics of race, class and gender in co-operative economic development and environmentalism. She conducted research with worker co-operatives in Western New England between 2005 and 2011.

Michael Johnson, born in the panhandle of Texas in 1942, entered a Kansas monastery in '63, left in '66…became an 'outside agitator’ at Columbia University in April of '68…worked with the desegregation unit of the Austin public school system '76-'80…co-founded the Ganas intentional community in Staten Island, NY in '80 and still there…has been active in the co-operative and solidarity economic movements since 2007 through the Valley Alliance of Worker Co-operatives (VAWC), Grassroots Economic Organizing Collective (GEO), and SolidarityNYC…regular blogger, writer, and editor at GEO…currently working on two future books, Owning our Power and Building Transformative Cultures of Empowerment and Cooperation.  Adam Trott is Staff for the Valley Alliance of Worker Co-operatives, where he supports, develops and educates about and for worker co-operatives. Adam has been a worker/member of Collective Copies since 2004 - a collectively-managed worker co-op and union print and publishing business. Visit https://www.facebook.com/events/1793281580899093/.

49] – There is an opportunity to participate in ballroom dancing, usually every Friday of the month, in the JHU ROTC Bldg. at  8 PM.  Turn south on San Martin Dr. from the intersection of Univ. Parkway and 39th St.  Drive on campus by taking the third left turn. The next dance will be Dec. 11. Call Dave Greene at 410-599-3725.

50] – On Sat., Dec. 12 from 10 to 11:30 AM, join the monthly killer drone protest at the entrance to the CIA. U.S. drone strikes violate international law and create more new enemies.  Meet at the CIA entrance on Rte. 123, 900 Dolley Madison Blvd., Langley, VA. Oppose CIA & U.S. military drone strikes. The protest is supported by Pax Christi Metro DC, Northern Virginians for Peace & Justice, Episcopal Peace Fellowship, Dorothy Day Catholic Worker of DC, Code Pink, Nova Catholic Community, Peace & International Outreach Committee of Langley Hill Friends, Washington Peace Center, Peace Action Montgomery, Little Friends for Peace and Maryland United for Peace & Justice. 

51] – Hold President Obama accountable for an unjust and scientifically flawed climate agreement!  Be at the White House, 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, WDC, on Sat., Dec. 12 from 11 AM to 1 PM.  Paris provides an opportunity to show that we demand more! This is our chance to make it clear that we’re angry about President Obama’s failure of climate leadership -- and we need to do it loudly! The international climate negotiations in Paris are happening now, and it’s clear that world leaders are not going to reach an agreement sufficient to avert the climate crisis. Visit https://www.facebook.com/events/929250520497521/.

52] – There are more than 25 million human trafficking victims in the world today. You can help change their story.  At Mount Vernon Foursquare Fellowship, 5200 Eisenhower Ave., Alexandria, VA, on Sat., , Dec. 12 from 12:30 to 6 PM, join a social justice event featuring a riveting and informative performance by a human trafficking survivor, screening of an in depth documentary on modern day slavery, and a discussion with former federal prosecutor and co-author of “The Locust Effect, “Victor Boutros. Parking is limited. This event is less than a 10 minute walk from the Van Dorn Metro Station. Email mvffinfo@gmail.com. Go https://www.eventbrite.com/e/stop-human-trafficking-tickets-2651108537.

53] –  Each Saturday, 11 AM – 1 PM, Chester County Peace Movement holds a peace vigil in West Chester in front of the Chester County Courthouse, High & Market Sts. Go to www.ccpeace.org. Email ccpeacemovement@aol.com. 

54] – Write for Rights on Sat., Dec. 12 from 3 to 5 PM at the Capital City Cheese Cake, 7071 Carroll Ave., Takoma Park 20912. Write to support human rights, including sending holiday cards to prisoners.  A great way to introduce children to human rights work! Go to https://www.facebook.com/Amnesty-International-USA-Group-297-Takoma-ParkSilver-Spring-Maryland-140896479291496/?ref=hl or http://www.amnesty-volunteer.org/usa/group297/.  Contact Randy Marks at 240 604 1754 or rmarksftc@yahoo.com.

55] – Come to St. Columba's Episcopal Church, 4201 Albemarle St. NW, WDC, on Sat., Dec. 12 from 5 to 7 PM to hear, fresh from the region, Palestinian-Israeli activist Rajaa Natour and Jewish-Israeli activist Lihi Joffe who will talk about women human rights defenders in the context of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict--emphasizing the effects of the Occupation on Palestinian women. They will focus on East Jerusalem and the events of recent weeks in the context of anti-democratic legislation efforts, limitations on civil society NGOs, and racism against Palestinians in Israel under the new and more right-wing Israeli government. Go to https://www.facebook.com/events/1650320875245414/.

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

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

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

59] -- 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.

60] – 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