Tuesday, February 12, 2019

Baltimore Activist Alert -- February 13 - March 28, 2019


34] Maryland Food Bank Benefit through Mar. 28
35] FOIA and You – Feb. 13
36] School of Food and Food Rescue Baltimore – Feb. 13
37] Call in for $15 minimum wage – Feb. 13
38] Counter-Radicalization in Colombia – Feb. 13
39] See the documentary “Maroons” – Feb. 13
40] Talking Elections & Organizing – Feb. 13
41] Thrive DC Monthly Dinner – Feb. 13
42] Take Action Anne Arundel County Meeting – Feb. 13
43] "Living Plastic Free" -- Feb. 13
44] Protest Wells Fargo -- Feb. 14
45] Advocacy Day for Prescription Drug Affordability – Feb. 14
46] Designing Sustainable Cities – Feb. 14
47] See the film “Chisholm ’72: Unbought and Unbossed” Feb. 14
48] Challenge and Opportunity of Paid Family Leave – Feb. 14
49] Power Hour with Rabbi Jonah Pesner – Feb. 14
50] Democracy Amendment Resolution - Senate Hearing – Feb. 14
51] Korea’s Dark History – Feb. 14
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34] – On Wed., Feb. 13 through Sun., Mar. 31, 2019, there is a Maryland Food Bank Benefit, hosted by The Admirals Cup - Fells Point, Baltimore, 1647 Thames St., Baltimore 21231. Do we give so we shall receive, or give because it feels good?  Giving has never felt better or made a more significant impact than this unique opportunity. The Maryland Food Bank and Harbor Magic Hotels presents “HOLIDAY GIVEBACK.”   Experience the adventures of the Fells Point at one of the two beautiful Harbor Magic Hotels: The Admiral Fell Inn or the Inn at Henderson’s Wharf.  Gracefully awaken to the aromas and tastes of a fabulous breakfast and set sail on your day in one of the most amazing places in America. Harbor Magic is donating 10% of dollars generated from this promotion to benefit the Maryland Food Bank. BOOK NOW at https://www.admiralfell.com/en-us/packages/maryland-food-bank-holiday-giveback-special?page_id=4266673. Call (410) 534-5555. See https://www.facebook.com/events/349755175583179/.

35] – On Wed., Feb.13 from 1 to 3 PM, get caught up with FOIA and You: Tips, Tricks, and War Stories, hosted by The Cato Institute, 1000 Massachusetts Ave. NW, WDC 20001. Tickets are at www.cato.org.  Since its passage over 50 years ago, the federal Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) has become a critical tool for citizens, journalists, lawyers, and advocacy organizations. It also has inspired state-level legislation that mirrors the original federal FOIA in promoting government transparency.  FOIA has been used to expose waste, fraud, abuse, and even criminal conduct on the part of officials at the federal and state levels. It also has been used to help the public better understand the decision making process inside government, often over the objections of government officials. Examine the history, uses, and challenges of employing FOIA at the federal and state levels with some of the leading experts in the field.  REGISTER at https://www.cato.org/events/foia-you-tips-tricks-war-stories.  If you can’t make it to the event, you can watch it live online at www.cato.org/live and join the conversation on Twitter using #CatoFOIA. Go to https://www.facebook.com/events/329920090951619/.

36] – On Wed., Feb. 13 at 2 PM, and every Wednesday until July 24, 2019, School of Food and Food Rescue Baltimore will give out food at 1412 N. Wolfe St., Baltimore 21213. Bring a bag, bring a friend, and take delicious, nutritious, free rescued food. See https://www.facebook.com/events/2105994779640314/.

37] – On Wed., Feb.13 from 2 to 8 PM, do help out with Fight for $15 phone banking, hosted by Jews United for Justice, 2221 Maryland Ave., Baltimore 21218.  JUFJ and Communities United will be coming together to host a phone banking event on Feb 13th in support of a strong, clean minimum wage bill. Come anytime between 2 and 8 to lend a hand! Founded in 2010, the mission of Communities United (CU) is to organize and empower low income Marylanders to achieve transformative change on issues of racial, economic and social justice. More than 600,000 Maryland workers work full-time but don’t earn enough to make ends meet. A $15 minimum wage means a better Maryland for all of us. Raising the wage would lift hundreds of thousands of families out of poverty, create new customers and profits for local businesses, and strengthen our neighborhoods.

If you want to participate in the event, but can't come during the event time, please contact Rebecca at rebecca@communitiesunite.org or (347) 224-1860. Check out https://www.facebook.com/events/401618830382355/.

38] – On Wed., Feb. 13 from 4 to 5:30 PM, be at the Counter-Radicalization in Colombia: A Case Study, hosted by The Institute of World Politics, 1521 16th St. NW, WDC 20036.  Christine Balling will discuss her counter-radicalization work in Colombia, what methods were successful there, and what lessons we can draw from this experience that can be applicable elsewhere.  Balling joined the American Foreign Policy Council as Senior Fellow for Latin American Affairs in May 2015. She is the founder of Fundación ECCO, a Colombian-registered nonprofit organization that promoted democracy and youth leadership in areas of conflict. In 2014, the Colombian Army incorporated Ms. Balling’s community-relations model into the non-kinetic component of its mission.  Go to https://www.facebook.com/events/813799612345367/.

39] – See the documentary “Maroons” which is about people of African descent who were able to escape from enslavement during the transatlantic slave trade. The Maroons created free societies (villages), hidden in thick densely forested regions that they protected with their lives in order to ensure that they would never be caught and forced to return to the plantations from which they escaped. While most people have no idea that such places ever existed, even fewer people realize that some of the villages still exist to this day. The village of Palenque San Basilio in Colombia, South America (Palenque), the first of such places in the world, was established in 1603 when Benkos Bioho, who was transported to Colombia as part of the South American Slave trade, rebelled and obtained his freedom and the freedom of over thirty other enslaved people. This documentary focuses on Palenquero identity, relationships, music, culture, and what this group may be able to contribute toward making humanity better. The film also highlights some of the challenges that Palenqueros are experiencing as villagers begin to rely more on the nearest metropolitan city (Cartagena) for jobs and resources.  See https://vimeo.com/ondemand/maroonage

   On Wed., Feb. 13 from 6 to 8:30 PM, in Honor of Black History Month, see this documentary at the Mt. Pleasant Neighborhood Library, 3160 16th St. NW, WDC 20010.

40] -- On Wed., Feb. 13 from 6:30 PM to 9:30 PM, catch Talking Elections & Organizing, hosted by Only If We Organize: Conversations on Social Change at Busboys and Poets, 2021 14th St. NW, WDC 20009. This is an intimate conversation about the connection between community organizing and elections. Drawing on decades of experience, a cross-generational group of leading community organizers will share stories and discuss how work in elections has factored into their larger vision for social change.  The speakers will be from the Southern Elections Fund, Square One Politics, Midwest Academy and Indivisible.  Go to https://www.facebook.com/events/1656829381283210/.

41] – On Wed., Feb. 13 from 7 to 9 PM, L.A. Kauffman presents: "How to Read a Protest" at Red Emma's Bookstore Coffeehouse, 1225 Cathedral St., Baltimore 21201. Call (443) 602 7611 or go to https://www.redemmas.org/.  When millions of people took to the streets for the 2017 Women’s Marches, there was an unmistakable air of uprising, a sense that these marches were launching a powerful new movement to resist a dangerous presidency. But the work that protests do often can’t be seen in the moment. It feels empowering to march, and record numbers of Americans have joined anti-Trump demonstrations, but when and why does marching matter? What exactly do protests do, and how do they help movements win?

In this original and richly illustrated account, organizer and journalist L.A. Kauffman delves into the history of America’s major demonstrations, beginning with the legendary 1963 March on Washington, to reveal the ways protests work and how their character has shifted over time. Using the signs that demonstrators carry as clues to how protests are organized, Kauffman explores the nuanced relationship between the way movements are made and the impact they have. How to Read a Protest sheds new light on the catalytic power of collective action and the decentralized, bottom-up, women-led model for organizing that has transformed what movements look like and what they can accomplish.

L.A. Kauffman has been a grassroots organizer and movement journalist for more than thirty-five years. She was the mobilizing coordinator for some of the largest demonstrations in U.S. history—the massive Iraq antiwar protests of 2003 and 2004—and has played key roles in many other movements and campaigns. See https://www.facebook.com/events/271396130142007/.

42] –  Take Action Anne Arundel County has Monthly Chapter Meeting on Wed., Feb. 13 at 7 PM at the Edgewater Community Library, 25 Stepneys Lane, Edgewater 21037. The topics are State and county legislation such as Paid Family Leave, Environment, Education, Cell Tower/Wireless/5G, and Collective Bargaining.  Also of interest is $15 minimum wage, Healthcare, Fair Elections, and Mass Incarceration. Go to https://www.facebook.com/events/376588272889473/.

43] – On Wed., Feb. 13 from 7 to 9 PM, attend the Greenbelt Climate Action Network  Meeting and discuss "Living Plastic Free" with Beth Terry in the  Greenbelt Community Center, Room 114, 15 Crescent Road, Greenbelt.  See https://www.facebook.com/events/2511611655532032/. Terry will share her journey from self-confessed plastic addict to empowered plastic-free activist, and explain why we can’t just recycle our way out of this mess. Contact Lore Rosenthal, Greenbelt Climate Action Network, at lore@simplicity-matters.org or 301-345-2234.

44] – There is a Wells Fargo protest in Baltimore telling the bank no more investments with private prisons.  Join immigrants and allies in Baltimore on Thurs., Feb. 14 at 9 AM at 7 St. Paul St., Baltimore 21202.  Demand that Wells Fargo get out of the dirty business of deportations and mass incarceration. More than 100,000 CREDO members signed petitions demanding that big banks divest from private prison and immigrant detention corporations. This Valentine's Day, Credo is turning up the pressure on Wells Fargo in Baltimore. RSVP at https://www.facebook.com/events/395408551007052/.

45] – On Thurs., Feb.14 from 10 AM to 1:30 PM, this is Advocacy Day for Prescription Drug Affordability, hosted by Maryland Health Care for All, 2600 Saint Paul St., Baltimore 21218. Meet with legislators, learn about the issue, and advocate for prescription drug affordability! Lite fare to be provided. Press conference is to be held at 12 PM. Register at RxAdvocacyDay.eventbrite.com. Go to https://www.facebook.com/events/2237681596473758/.

46] – On Thurs., Feb. 14 from noon to 1:30 PM, get over to Designing Sustainable Cities: What About the People? It is hosted by WRI India at World Resources Institute, 10 G St. NE, Washington, District of Columbia 20002.  Tickets are at www.wri.org. Can urban planning and design make cities more resilient? Join WRI’s Robin King and University of Oxford’s Cathy Baldwin as they answer this question, which they address in their new book, "Social Sustainability, Climate Resilience and Community-Based Urban Development: What About the People?" See https://www.facebook.com/events/304507946872743/.

47] – On Thurs., Feb. 14 from noon to 1:30 PM, see the film “Chisholm ’72: Unbought and Unbossed,” hosted by US National Archives, 700 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, WDC 20004.  Tickets are at www.archivesfoundation.org.  This 2004 documentary (77 minutes) by Shola Lynch takes an in-depth look at the 1972 Presidential campaign of Shirley Chisholm, the first black woman elected to Congress and the first to seek nomination for the Presidency. Visit https://www.facebook.com/events/385037768924608/.

48] – On Thurs., Feb. 14 from noon to 1:30 PM, get involved with The Challenge and Opportunity of Paid Family Leave, hosted by the National Economists Club at Chinatown Garden, 618 H St. NE, WDC 20002. Tickets are at www.national-economists.org.  The issue of paid family and medical leave is getting more and more attention— and for good reason. Working class families are increasingly struggling with work-life balance. Access to paid leave has been shown to promote labor force attachment, especially for women, which is vital for economic growth. This is critical because research shows that the proportion of working women in the U.S. has fallen behind that of other countries, partially due to a lack of paid leave. At the same time, children do better since parents can leave work temporarily to care for them. While these benefits are well-documented in the literature, the critical challenge of providing paid leave is balancing the generosity of benefits provided and the costs imposed on employers, employees, and the federal coffer. Recently, a diverse group of academics, policy thinkers, and economists from across the ideological spectrum came together under the umbrella of the AEI-Brookings Working Group on Paid Leave to dissect this issue. At this talk, discuss some of the learnings from this diverse group, and their recommendations for a federal paid leave policy.  Aparna Mathur is a resident scholar in economic policy studies at the American Enterprise Institute, where she researches income inequality and mobility, tax policy, labor markets, and small businesses. She also directs the AEI-Brookings Project on Paid Family and Medical Leave, for which she was recognized in the 2017 Politico 50 list. See https://www.facebook.com/events/2053953988230281/.

49] –  On Thurs., Feb. 14 from 12:10 to 1 PM, get involved with the Epiphany Power Hour with Rabbi Jonah Pesner, hosted by The Church of the Epiphany, 1317 G St. NW, WDC 20005. The Epiphany Power Hour, hosted by the Reverend Glenna Huber, is a free, nonpartisan, multi-faith series that will feature local and national leaders with actionable ideas for shifting the balance of power in our community, while creating a brave space to discuss issues that impact us and our neighbors. 

Join a chat as Rev. Glenna Huber, Rector of the Church of the Epiphany, chats with Rabbi Jonah Dov Pesner. Rabbi Pesner serves as the Director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, which he has led since 2015. Rabbi Pesner also serves as Senior Vice President of the Union for Reform Judaism, a position to which he was appointed to in 2011. Named one of the most influential rabbis in America by Newsweek magazine, he is an inspirational leader and tireless advocate for social justice.

The Epiphany Power Hour will take place every Thursday, with lunch served at noon and programming beginning at 12:10 PM. The Power Hour is free, but goodwill donations are welcome (suggested donation $10).  Visit http://epiphanydc.org/the-epiphany-power-hour/. Go to https://www.facebook.com/events/591340274659959/.

50] – On Thurs., Feb. 14 from 1 to 5 PM, check out the Democracy Amendment Resolution - Senate Hearing, hosted by Get Money Out - Maryland and Wolf-PAC Maryland in the Miller Senate Office, Room 2 West. Show your love for democracy by attending this crucial hearing on Valentine's Day. The Democracy Amendment Resolution is the most powerful act that the Maryland General Assembly can take to promote political equality and counter the corruption of big money in politics.  If the Resolution passes, Maryland will join five other states in petitioning Congress for a convention where state delegates could draft a US Constitutional Amendment to repeal Citizens United v. FEC and related decisions. These decisions, spanning more than 40 years, make it impossible for Congress or state legislatures to properly regulate raising and spending of money intended to influence elections.

The Senate Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs Committee will conduct its public hearing on SJ 1. This same Committee fell one vote short last year of issuing a favorable report that would have led to a vote on the floor of the Senate, where a majority of members had co-sponsored the Resolution. There is strong support in the House of Delegates where it passed last year by a vote of 94-42 and where Speaker Michael Busch has signed a Pledge to support this legislation. Thus, a favorable report by this Senate Committee could lead to ultimate passage.  Other legislation will be heard in this session. The exact starting time and ending time cannot be predicted. Visit https://www.facebook.com/events/585908765204902/.

51] – "The Jeju 4.3 Incident, Korea’s ‘Dark History,’ and its Implications for North Korea Policy" will be explored by John Merrill, GW Institute for Korean Studies, on Thurs., Feb. 14 from 1:30 to 3:30 PM at the Elliott School of International Affairs, Room 505, The George Washington University, 1957 E St. NW, WDC 20052. Register at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1InNJn6imo5K8Ie094VjJxdJZivZgayAs-O_J1K8IDPE/viewform?edit_requested=true.

Korea’s “Dark History” continues to slowly come to light. One occasion was last year’s 70th anniversary of the Jeju uprising, in which 30,000 people were killed—the vast majority by government forces. American advisors were present throughout and helped to direct many operations. Other recent revelations include the ROK Navy's Pearl Harbor-style raid on the North’s west coast fleet in August 1949 that destroyed a large part of the DPRK’s navy. One aspect of the raid that remains to be explored is how it may have influenced Stalin’s decision to support the June 1950 invasion. Rhee’s executions after the war broke out of 100,000-plus jailed communists and suspected sympathizers is another chapter in this hidden history. Likewise, ignored in most discussions of the North Korean nuclear issue is the impact of US massive bombing of North Korean cities during the war, subsequent nuclear threats, and the deployment of 950 U.S. tactical nuclear weapons in South Korea through the 1960s. This hidden, forgotten, and distorted history has greatly influenced Washington’s traditional “crime and punishment” approach to dealing with North Korea. In the last few years, Presidents Moon and Trump have wisely broken with this traditional approach and switched to “smile diplomacy”—which, despite a chorus of nay-sayers, promises to produce far better results.

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


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