Baltimore Activist Alert - January 17 - 31, 2018

23] Support Enoch Pratt Library through Jan. 31

24] Bedouin Women in the Negev Today – Jan. 17

25] Peace A Pizza Fundraiser – Jan. 17

26] PMD Montgomery Happy Hour -- Jan. 17

27] Brain Stimulation -- Jan. 17

28] #BaltimoreVotes – Jan. 18

29] Annual Environmental Legislative Summit – Jan. 18

30] Protest Daniel Pipes, an Islamophobe – Jan. 18

31] Civilian Review Board Meeting – Jan. 18

32] Direct Action Training – Jan. 18

33] Defender of Liberty Award – Jan. 18

34] PMD Montgomery Chapter Meeting – Jan. 18

35] Offshore drilling – Jan. 18

36] Legislative Session Preview – Jan. 18

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23] –   The Enoch Pratt Free Library FINALLY won State funding from the Maryland General Assembly in 2016 to expand branch hours beginning July 1, 2017.  The State considered withdrawing the already-approved, much-much-needed funds in early 2017.  Nonetheless, the funding went through for the 1st year, with the funding for the 2nd through 5th years contingent upon Pratt Library showing a higher utilization than before the increased hours.

The statistics used to judge usage of Enoch Pratt Free Library are from the month of January 2018.  THIS is the month to reserve books, to go and check out books, and use any branch of Pratt Library.  Circulation is significant, and the main collection of Central Pratt is in an alternate property for several years of renovating Central Pratt Library.  IF books are not on the shelf of any branch that you visit, they have to be requested from a warehouse on Baltimore-Annapolis Blvd. in S.W. Baltimore -- but do NOT let that discourage you from HELPING  TO  IMPROVE  LIBRARY  USAGE  STATISTICS  THE  VERY  MONTH  THEY  COUNT.

24] – On Wed., Jan. 17  at 8:30 AM, hear Bedouin Women in the Negev Today, a talk by Amal Elsana Alh'jooj on the progress, challenges, and leadership of these women.  Alh'jooj is one of Israel's most highly regarded civic activists, a founder of AJEEC-NISPED, an Arab-Jewish NGO focused on social change, and her talk is at the Siegel Jewish Community Center, 101 Garden of Eden Rd., Wilmington 19810.  This talk is hosted by the Jewish Federation of Delaware.  Email Dana@ShalomDel.org or call (302) 427-2100.  Visit https://www.facebook.com/events/532557033786205.

25] – On Wed., Jan. 17 from 4 to 8 PM, come to Peace A Pizza Fundraiser, hosted by Arbutus Elementary PTA at the Catonsville Peace A Pizza, 15 Mellor Ave., Catonsville 21228. Join us for a fundraiser at Peace a Pizza Catonsville! Dine in or carry out and mention you're with Arbutus Elementary School.

26] –  On Wed, Jan. 17 from 6 to 8 PM at Republic, 6939 Laurel Ave., Takoma Park 20912, PMD Montgomery is hosting a Happy Hour. Contact Garrett Mannchen at gmannchen@gmail.com.

27] – On Wed., Jan. 17 at 7:30 PM at Red Emma's Bookstore Coffeehouse, 30 W. North Ave., Baltimore 21201, turn out for a BALTIMORE SCIENCE CAFE: BRAIN STIMULATION.  This month's speaker is Dr. Pablo Celnik, a researcher and clinician in the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine.

In the last two decades, significant advances have been made demonstrating that it is possible to augment brain function in humans using non-invasive brain stimulation. Using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), or transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), new findings have proven possible to enhance learning attention in humans, recollection of memories, language processing, reduction of pain and depression, and change risk-taking behaviors. These reports have caught the attention and interests of the medical and military community, athletes, gamers and the general population. But, is it true that we can affect all these behaviors? Can we make humans behave like super-humans? In this conversation, Dr. Celnik will discuss scientific advances using non-invasive brain stimulation and its implications to humans currently and in the future. Call 443-602-7585. RSVP at http://www.redemmas.org. 

28] – #BaltimoreVotes is a campaign, dedicated to providing everyone in Baltimore, without prejudice or bias the information and motivation they need to engage in every election confidently. At this Lunch and Learn, current Baltimore Corps fellow, Eean Logan will share exciting updates about resources being used around the country for the #BaltimoreVotes community to explore. On Thurs., Jan. 18 from noon to 1 PM, come to the Impact Hub Baltimore, 10 East North Ave., Baltimore 21202, hosted by Mile 22 Associates & Baltimore Corps.  Register at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/baltimorevotes-lunch-learn-join-the-challenge-tickets-41410642346.

29] – The 23rd Annual Environmental Legislative Summit in Annapolis is on Thurs., Jan. 18 from 4 to 6 PM organized by the Maryland Chapter of the Sierra Club at the Miller Senate Office Building, 11 Bladen St., Annapolis 21411.  Contact Mark Posner at    legislation@mdsierra.org or 301-277-7111.  As part of the Citizens Campaign for the Environment Legislative Summit, come hear about important environmental priorities for the 2018 Maryland General Assembly session. Meet legislators and environmental leaders from across the state Hear from advocates and elected officials about Maryland's environmental legislative priorities, with Bob Perciasepe, former MDE Secretary and Deputy Administrator of EPA, as the keynote!

There will be a bring your own lunch workshop from noon to 3 PM about advocacy training and conversations to go more in depth on upcoming environmental legislative priorities and network with fellow advocates! For parking, go to https://annapolisparking.com/parking-locations/.

After the Summit, come to a Happy Hour with Annapolis Green Drinks at Galway Bay Irish Restaurant and Pub.  RSVP at https://sierra.secure.force.com/events/details?id=7010Z000001OzOMQA0&formcampaignid=7010Z000001P1eMQAS&data=b6e24884ef874d561f720648fa7f24c728d130c0ee61950ee534052d92e2b46bad2d2286ded8e97bd08adac88591a989.

30] – The American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee calls on the Baltimore Council on Foreign Affairs to Cancel Lecture by Anti-Arab and Anti-Muslim Agitator Daniel Pipes.  He has spent years promoting anti-Arab and Islamophobic rhetoric at his Middle East Forum (MEF). A report by the Center for American Progress on Islamophobia cited MEF as one of the outfits “primarily responsible for orchestrating the majority of anti-Islam messages polluting our national discourse today.” And the Southern Poverty Law Center has condemned Pipes for "vilifying Muslims." He has characterized Arabs and Muslims in Europe as “brown-skinned peoples cooking strange foods and not exactly maintaining Germanic standards of hygiene.”

 Join concerned citizens in protesting Pipes visit to Baltimore at 4:30 PM on Thurs., January 18.  We will gather at Calvert and pratt Streets before proceeding to the World Trade Center, 401 E. Pratt Street.  RSVP to max at 727-543-3227 or mobuszewski2001 at Comcast dot net. 

31] – On Thurs., Jan. 18 from 6 to 9 PM, come to the Civilian Review Board Meeting, hosted by Baltimore City Office of Civil Rights and Wage Enforcement at the University of Baltimore College of Public Affairs, 10 W. Preston St., Baltimore 21201. The meeting will occur in the Liberal Arts and Policy Building, Suite 111. Meetings are open to the public, all are welcome! All meetings are also broadcast on Facebook Live. See https://www.facebook.com/events/380321519096091/.

32] – On Thurs., Jan. 18 from 6 to 9 PM at the Covenant Baptist United Church of Christ, 3845 S. Capitol St. SW, WDC 20032, attend a Direct Action Training: Resisting Chaos Through Organized Resistance, hosted by Black Lives Matter D.C. Marches, shutting down highways, banner drops, and blockades are examples of direct actions. This training is geared toward people new to direct action but all are welcome. The training includes: basic skills in safety, technique, action planning, and your rights and the law regarding protesting in D.C. Email at DirectAction@blmdc.org.  Go to https://www.facebook.com/events/687070761498437/.

33] –   The COMMITTEE FOR THE REPUBLIC invites you to the Defender of Liberty Award on Thurs., Jan. 18 at 6:30 PM in the Congressional Auditorium in United States Capitol Visitor Center, First St. NE, WDC 20515.  The Committee will present Congressperson Jim McGovern the Award for his unwavering devotion to the Constitution and the Declare War Clause. At 6:30 PM, there will be a presentation of the play Republic for Which We Stand. McGovern will then give remarks on his legislative efforts to end our nine ongoing presidential wars, and participate in a question and answer session. Admission is free. 

Doors open at 6 PM.  Register at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/republic-for-which-we-stand-tickets-41158427966. Email James@committeefortherepublic.org.

34] – On Thurs., Jan. 18 from 7:30 to 8:30 PM, there will be a PMD Montgomery Chapter Meeting at Marvin Memorial United Methodist Church, 33 University Blvd. E, Silver Spring 20901. Find out what is coming up from canvassing to pushing for affordable housing. RSVP to Sam Dueweke at duewekes@gmail.com or 2696153306.

35] – Trump’s Department of the Interior has proposed opening 90% of America's coasts to offshore drilling -- from Maine to the Gulf, and from Alaska down to Southern California. If Trump's plan becomes reality, spills will be inevitable -- and devastating. The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) is holding hearings in coastal states throughout January and February. On January 16, there was a BOEM hearing in Annapolis. On Thurs., Jan. 18 from 3 to 7 PM the next BOEM hearing will be at the Holiday Inn Dover Downtown, 561 North Dupont Highway, Dover 19901. RSVP at https://sierra.secure.force.com/actions/National?actionId=AR0100204&id=7010Z000001P4ikQAC&data=b6e24884ef874d561f720648fa7f24c728d130c0ee61950ee534052d92e2b46bad2d2286ded8e97bd08adac88591a989&utm_medium=email&utm_source=sierraclub&utm_campaign=beyonddirtyfuels&utm_content=offshore. Contact Zack Gerdes at zack.gerdes@sierraclub.org.

36] – On Thurs., Jan, 18 from 7 to 8:30 PM, come to the 2018 Legislative Session Preview with Progressive Maryland, hosted by Take Action AAC. It is happening at Edgewater Branch, 25 Stepney Lane, Edgewater 21037.  Join Take Action AAC in a discussion with Jennifer Dwyer, Policy and Legislative Coordinator for Progressive Maryland. Jennifer will provide an overview of the bills Progressive Maryland is focused on for the 2018 session. Join the discussion to decide which legislation Take Action AAC will advocate for in the 2018 state legislative session. Go to https://www.facebook.com/events/309271942921822/.

To be continued.

Donations can be sent to the Baltimore Nonviolence Center, 325 E. 25th St., Baltimore, MD 21218.  Ph: 410-323-1607; Email: mobuszewski2001 [at] comcast.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