Baltimore Activist Alert - December 23, 2016 -- January 20, 2017

25] Peace vigil at White House – Dec. 23

26] WIB peace vigils – Dec. 23

27] Kwanzaa celebration and marketplace – Dec. 23

28] Black Lives Matter vigil -- Dec. 23

29] HumanLight Party – Dec. 23

30] Ballroom Dancing – Dec. 23

31] West Chester peace vigil – Dec. 24

32] Volunteers are needed for the cooking and clothes distribution -- Dec. 24

33] Toys for animals – through December

34] Resist Trumpism – Jan. 20

35] Need photos of the antinuclear vigil in front of the White House

36] Sign up with Washington Peace Center

37] Donate books, videos, DVDs and records

38] Do you need any book shelves?

39] Join the Global Zero campaign

40] Join the Peace Park Antinuclear Vigil

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25] – On Fri., Dec. 23 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, 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. Contract Art @ artlaffin@hotmail.com or at 202-360-6416. 

26] – On Fri., Dec. 23 from noon to 1 PM, join a Women in Black peace vigil. A vigil will take place in McKeldin Square at the corner of Light and Pratt Sts., and another will take place outside Roland Park Place, 830 W. 40th St., across from the Rotunda.  Stay for as long as you can. Wear black. Dress for who knows what kind of weather. Bring your own poster or help with the "NO WAR IN MY NAME" banner.  When there are others to stand with, you don't need to carry the burden alone. Do this to be in solidarity with others....when everything around us says “Be afraid of the stranger.” Carpool and parking available at both locations. Just send an email that you need a ride [mailto:wibbaltimore@peacepath911.org].  Peace signs will be available. 

27] – There is a Kwanzaa celebration and marketplace for all ages. Come out and connect with the village it doesn't matter if you are just learning about Kwanzaa or have been celebrating it for many years. Enjoy family friendly activities including a drum circle, Kwanzaa education, musical performance, kid’s corner, free face painting from 5 to7PM, qigong and health, book reading and signing, mini African fashion show, spoken word, a DJ and black business owners vending. This community event is free to the public and all are welcome on Fri., Dec. 23 from 4 to 9 PM at the St. Frances Academy Community Center, 501 East Chase St., Baltimore 21202. Go to https://www.eventbrite.com/e/buy-black-kwanzaa-marketplace-tickets-29774670842.

28] – There is usually a silent 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. 23. Black Lives Matter.

29] - The Baltimore Ethical Society is asking you to come to the HumanLight Party and Potluck Dinner with a holiday party with music, dancing and balloon twisting. It is on Fri., Dec. 23 from 6:30 to 10 PM with dinner starting at 7 PM at First Unitarian Church of Baltimore, corner of Charles and Franklin Sts. Enter through hall on Charles St.  For the potluck, sign up at http://goo.gl/KZ3rov.  Go to https://www.facebook.com/events/390798764598331/.

Join Baltimore Coalition of Reason friends for HumanLight, a celebration of the winter season conceived by the New Jersey Humanist Network as a humanist or secular alternative to traditional religious celebrations.  HumanLight features music and the lighting of three candles celebrating Reason, Compassion, and Hope.  HumanLight was first celebrated in 2001 in New Jersey and has since spread throughout the country.  This year is the seventh celebration of HumanLight by the Baltimore Coalition of Reason.  Visit http://www.HumanLight.org/. The Organic Family Band is back by popular demand!  They will entertain with Irish jigs, Klezmer tunes, and Bundeslieder songs.  Jacob Woolcutt will demonstrate balloon twisting! Email BmoreCoR@gmail.com or call 443-267-8585. 

30] – 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. 23. Call Dave Greene at 410-599-3725.

31] – 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.

32] –  Once a year the School of Life distributes Thermals, Hats, Gloves, and Socks, with funds raised from a raffle, to 120 homeless persons who live on the streets of D.C. Will you participate? Tickets are $2 each.  A prize will be drawn Fri., Jan. 6 and awarded on Wed., Jan 11.  The item being raffled is a Wine and Country Basket full of scented bath items-- soap bars, lotions, skin brushes, and so on--it is a generous assortment, and comes in a nice container that may be used when all the goods have been used. Please note this gift basket is donated to the center, and it is not natural or organic. Reply to shantiyoga2@earthlink.net stating how many tickets you would like to purchase.  Then mail or drop off payment (check or cash is fine.) at 4217 East West Hwy., Bethesda, MD 20814. If paying by check, please write "homeless raffle" in the memo. 

Volunteers are needed for the cooking and clothes distribution on Sun., Dec. 25. RSVP to victor@theessenechurchofpeace.org  or call 240 483 9458.  Each Sunday, volunteers get together at the School of Life to prepare a Hot, Healthy Vegetarian meal for 150 homeless people. VOLUNTEERS TO COOK ARE NEEDED on DEC 25TH.   Cooking starts at 7:30 AM and goes until about 10:15 AM. No experience is necessary; all are welcome, including children. Email shantiyoga2@earthlink.net.

33] – Throughout December, the SPCA is collecting toys for the cats and dogs in the adoption center. The goal is to collect enough toys in one month to entertain the homeless animals in the shelter throughout the coming year by filling the sleigh! You can help by bringing new cat and dog toys and treats to the Maryland SPCA's adoption center, 3300 Falls Road, Baltimore MD 21211, or Project Adopt in White Marsh Mall, 8200 Perry Hall Blvd, Baltimore 21236. Some of the toys in short supply are Kongs, hard rubber chew toys, soft treats, toy mice (without catnip) and small cat balls w/ bells. Providing toys for the animals is more than a nice touch. Having toys and treats in the shelter environment helps socialize pets, reduces stress and improves health. Go to http://www.mdspca.org/updates/detail/presents-for-pets.

34] – Join the National Campaign for Nonviolent Resistance in an Inaugural Action on January 20, 2017.  According to Forbes Magazine, Nov. 9, 2016, “President Trump Is Likely To Boost U.S. Military Spending By $500 Billion To $1 Trillion.” So we need a strong presence in D.C. for the inauguration to call for an end to all warfare, including drone warfare.  NCNR is organizing an action of nonviolent civil resistance on the day of the inauguration, Friday, January 20.  Some of us will be risking arrest, and we need others there in support and solidarity.  We will meet in the lower level food court at Union Station at 10 AM on the day of the inauguration for our final planning meeting.  We will have a final planning meeting knowing we have to keep things fluid because there is no certainty as to what will happen that day.

 The idea will be to process as near as possible to a checkpoint and make us visible to the crowds.  Then perhaps we can do a die-in.  We will have model drones, coffins, signs, banners, and leaflets to get our message across.  If you have ideas on messaging, please share over email.  Again, this will be a very fluid experience, and we will come together and make decisions as we go along. Contact Max at 410-323-1607 or mobuszewski at Verizon dot net.

35] – Ellen Thomas [et@prop1.org or 202-210-3886 (cell and text)] sent this message: Hi, good friends and (hopefully) fellow photographers! There are so many great stories in the photos of the antinuclear vigil in front of the White House from 1981 to 2016 - see my growing collection at https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/0B0FRCou5r5zOQk5JbHlTWWYwbHc.  If you have any photos or stories you think should be added, please send them to me <et@prop1.org> or post them on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/groups/Thomas.Memorial/. 

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

37] -- If you would like to get rid of books, videos, DVDs or records, contact Max at 410-323-1607 or mobuszewski at verizon.net.

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

39] -- 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.

40] – 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