Baltimore Activist Alert - March 23 - 24, 2016

36] Honor Oscar Romero – Mar. 23

37] Being Palestinian – Mar. 23

38] No to Exelon – Mar. 23

39] Inside North Korea – Mar. 23

40] Housing Advocacy Trainings – Mar. 23 – 24

41] See Josh Fox’s latest film – Mar. 23

42] Unleash the Superpowers – Mar. 23

43] Protest at the Vatican Embassy – Mar. 24

44] Asia’s Nukes – Mar. 24

45] Faith & Resistance retreat – Mar. 24 - 25

46] Development Debate – Mar. 24

47] History of Feminism – Mar. 24

48] Peace group meeting – Mar. 24

49] What’s happening in Greece with the refugees? – Mar. 24

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36] –Come to the Kay Spiritual Life Center, 4400 Massachusetts Ave. NW, WDC, on Wed., Mar. 23 from 11 AM to 1:30 PM to honor Mons. Oscar Arnulfo Romero on the 36th Anniversary of his Martyrdom. The service, to be held in the Kay Chapel, will be followed by a light lunch in the Kay Lounge. Visit http://www.american.edu/ocl/kay/.

37] –  "Being Palestinian: Personal Reflections on Palestinian Identity in the Diaspora" with Sharif S. Elmusa is happening at The Palestine Center, 2425 Virginia Ave. NW, WDC, on Wed., Mar. 23 from 12:30 to 2 PM. The Jerusalem Fund will be hosting a discussion with Elmusa on his personal reflections on Palestinian identity in the diaspora. Go to http://www.thejerusalemfund.org/events/upcoming/being-palestinian-personal-reflections-on-palestinian-identity-in-the-diaspora-with-sharif-s-elmusa.

38] – PowerDC is inviting you to the Public Service Commission, 1325 G St. NW, Suite 800, WDC, for a hearing on Wed., March 23 at 1 PM. It is believed the Commission will issue a final decision regarding Exelon and its attempt to merge with PEPCO. Show the commissioners that this is a bad deal for the people of D.C.

39] – On Wed., Mar. 23 from 2:30 to 4 PM, Linda Lewis, American Friends Service Committee, will tackle "Inside North Korea Today: Working for Peace on the Korean Peninsula" at George Washington University, 1957 E St. NW, Conference Room 505, WDC. RSVP at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1RUViC29uqZmCfhQITCxCAX_VpbxQHbDBeoSSVsDLgBg/viewform?edit_requested=true.

40] – There is CNHED Housing Advocacy Training at WeWork, 641 S St. NW, WDC, on Wed., Mar. 23 from 6 to 8 PM.  There is another Housing Advocacy Training at the Shalom House, 1876 4th St. NE near the Rhode Island Metro, WDC, on Thurs., Mar. 24 from 6:30 to 8:30 PM. Do you want to speak out for affordable housing? Want a hands-on training to make you a better advocate? Each week will focus on a new area of how to speak out and tell your story. Learn about the DC’s budget process, elected officials and their roles, practice writing and giving testimony, and meet other advocates.  Childcare and Spanish interpretation available upon request. These sessions will be offered twice, once on four consecutive Wednesdays and once on a Thursday. It is recommended to attend as many as possible as they build on each other. RSVP to Elizabeth Falcon, Housing For All at (202) 745 -0902 x205.  Go to https://www.cnhed.org/housing-for-all-campaign/campaign-events/?utm_source=CNHED+List&utm_campaign=4a483c6d44-H4A+Writing+Competition+and+lunch+%28free%29&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_cb8a4cc81a-4a483c6d44-74687889.

41] – 2640docs and Chesapeake Climate Action Network present the Baltimore premiere of “How To Let Go of the World -and Love All the Things Climate Can't Change” by Josh Fox on Wed., Mar. 23 at 6:30 PM at 2640 St. Paul St. Josh will be there, as well as Aria Doe, one of the people in the movie and an activist in Far Rockaways, NY. There will be a panel discussion after the movie. Josh’s goal for this movie is to invigorate local groups to fight fossil fuels. See www.howtoletgomovie.com  at https://www.facebook.com/events/1522514708052411/.

42] –On Wed., Mar. 23 from 6:30 to 8:30 PM, catch up with Unlocking Our Superpowers For Good: An Evening with Impact Hub DC, 419 7th St. NW, 5th floor, WDC.  Today, new tools and frameworks are available for channeling capital for social impact. Values-based investing. Social impact outcomes. Money and meaning. Here in DC, there is a growing community of social entrepreneurs, impact investors, NGOs, fund managers, philanthropists, and public officials who are actively working to accelerating the flow of capital to address the world’s most challenging problems.  Join in on an evening of inspirational conversation and networking with peers who share your commitment to social impact in DC. This event will kick-off a year- long impact investment initiative!  Daryn Dodson is a Private Equity & Venture Capital Consultant to the Board of Directors of the Calvert Funds, & founding member of Impact Hub DC. He will share his personal journey into the world of impact investing, including insights into how we can each unleash our personal superpowers to achieve new levels of equity and impact. Go to https://www.eventbrite.com/e/unlocking-our-superpowers-for-good-registration-21789600281.

43] – Come to a Holy Thursday Foot Washing Ceremony and Protest For Gender Justice in the Roman Catholic Church on Thurs., Mar. 24 at 10 AM at the Vatican Embassy, 3339 Massachusetts Ave. NW, WDC. After the ceremony, three priests will post a letter on the door of the embassy. They will then hold banners and risk arrest. TO POPE FRANCIS AND THE CATHOLIC CHURCH: “Where there is injustice, silence is complicity. We have come to the Vatican Embassy in Washington, D.C., to speak out against the grave injustice being done to women and gay people by the Catholic Church.

Jane Via, Ph.D., J.D. is a former professor of theology, a retired county prosecutor and an ordained Roman Catholic Woman Priest.  Janice Sevre-Duszynska, D.Min., a retired teacher and journalist, is an activist priest in the Association of Roman Catholic Women Priests and an international leader for women's equality in the Roman Catholic Church.  Roy Bourgeois served as a Catholic priest for 40 years. He is a Purple Heart recipient and a Nobel Peace Prize nominee.  In 2012, he was expelled from the priesthood and the Maryknoll Fathers because of his public support for the ordination of women. Contact Janice Sevre-Duszynska at 859-684-4247 or rhythmsofthedance1@gmail.com.

44] – On Thurs., Mar. 24 from noon to 1:15 PM, Mark Fitzpatrick, International Institute for Strategic Studies, will do a book discussion of “Asia's Latent Nuclear Powers: Japan, South Korea and Taiwan” at the University of Maryland, 1203 Van Munching Hall, College Park 20742. This is a Center for International and Security Studies at Maryland Forum/Development Circle. Mr. Fitzpatrick is a founding member of the EU Non-Proliferation Consortium. He is also a member of the World Economic Forum Global Agenda Council on Nuclear Security. Email cissm@umd.edu or call 301-405-7601.  Go to http://cissm.umd.edu/events/cissm-forumdevelopment-circle-asias-latent-nuclear-powers-japan-south-korea-and-taiwan%E2%80%9D.

45] – HOLY THURSDAY & GOOD FRIDAY FAITH AND RESISTANCE RETREAT & WITNESS starts at 1:30 PM on Mar. 24 and concludes on Mar. 25 at 1 PM, As we enter into Holy Week to commemorate the Last Supper, arrest, torture, trial and crucifixion of Jesus, join in a time of prayer, community building and acts of nonviolent resistance focusing on the theme: "PUT AWAY THE SWORD" (Matthew: 26:52). Also remember in a special way Archbishop Oscar Romero, as March 24th marks the 36th anniversary of his martyrdom. Gather at St. Stephen and the Incarnation Church (Auditorium), 1525 Newton St. NW, WDC 20010 (corner of 16th St. and Newton). Overnight hospitality will be provided. There will be a Pentagon peace witness early on Good Friday. Then at noon, there will be a nonviolent witness at the White House focusing on the contemporary crucifixion's taking place in our world today. The closest Metro is Columbia Heights-Green Line. This retreat/witness is sponsored by the Dorothy Day Catholic Worker. Call 202-882-9649 or email artlaffin@hotmail.com.

46] – In Shaken but not Dead: The Washington Consensus and the Development Debate in 2016 with Debra Efroymson is at the Kay Spiritual Life Center Lounge, American University, 4400 Massachusetts Ave. NW, WDC, on Thurs., Mar. 24 from 3 to 4 PM. Over the years the KSLC has hosted discussions on many topics about issues related to development and economic justice. Since the early 1980s, the consensus about what constitutes development has continued to shift. How much of the so-called Washington Consensus is dead, how much is just shaken, and how much rages on? Efroymson in her book talk "Beyond Apologies” will share some of her observations from the ground in Bangladesh (where she lives), Vietnam and Sri Lanka. Light refreshments will be served! To RSVP and/or to request disability-related accommodations, email KSLC@american.edu.  Go to http://www.american.edu/ocl/kay/.

47] – Go to a Workshop: History of Feminism at Watha Daniel/Shaw Library, 1670 7th St. NW, WDC, on Thurs., Mar. 24 at 7 PM.  Join femex for a workshop designed to explore the experience of feminism and women's movements in the U.S. Through discussion and activities, attendees will dive into feminist movements, explore the messages received via media, family, society, and unpack what it means to be a feminist today.  Femex is a community organization that strives to empower women through a unique approach of workshops, classes, and other programming for individuals of all genders. Femex encourages participants to examine their motivations, assumptions, and perceptions of the female identity, and to create intentional spaces to enhance the conversation surrounding gender with our communities. Go to https://www.facebook.com/DC-FemEx-143162609049072/.

48] – The Pledge of Resistance-Baltimore meets on Thursdays at 7:30 PM, and the meetings take place at Max’s residence.  There will be a meeting on Thurs., Mar. 24 at 7:30 PM.  The agenda will include Freddie Gray & local organizing, killer drones and Obama, an action at the State of the Union, the refugees, lobbying Rep. Sarbanes, Bernie’s phone, Annapolis legislation, and the unending wars. Call 410-323-1607 or email mobuszewski at verizon.net.

49] – On Thurs., Mar. 24 at 7:30 PM come to Red Emma's Bookstore Coffeehouse, 30 W. North Ave., Baltimore 21201, to hear RYAN HARVEY & MARCOS BISTICAS-COCOVES REPORT BACK ON REFUGEE CRISIS IN THE GREEK ISLANDS.  Almost 900,000 of the 1 million refugees who entered Europe last year came to Greece by sea, the majority arriving to the island of Lesvos in flimsy rubber boats provided by a vast network of human traffickers operating in western Turkey. A dangerous crossing made more deadly by the overloading of boats by smugglers; the Aegean Sea claimed 700 lives last year, while the less-taken but more dangerous crossing from Libya to Italy claimed a staggering 2,860 lives. The majority of these refugees come from Syria, Afghanistan, and Iraq.

Baltimore activist and musician Ryan Harvey helped assemble a team of American social movement activists to spend the month of February in Lesvos, Greece, one of many fronts of the so-called "European" refugee crisis, to offer solidarity and to understand the situation from a radical perspective. The team joining with other activists and volunteers in the rocky northeast point called Korakas, where dangerous boat-landings often occur in the dark early hours. Ryan will give a report back/talk about the refugee crisis in the Greek Islands. He will show photos/videos and speak about the situation in the Greek islands and what he has learned from his trip (including in interviews he conducted with Syrian revolutionaries who fled to Greece by boat).

Marcos Bisticas-Cocoves is a Greek-American activist who divides his time between Baltimore and Athens. He’s just returned from Greece, where he was working in the refugee solidarity project at the Notara squat in Exarcheia.  (He’s been mostly working with refugees in the squat’s clothes loft, folding and listening to their stories.)  He'll be talking about these stories, the situation for refugees in Athens more generally, and other solidarity activities in the city." Call 443-602-7585.  Go to http://www.redemmas.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