Baltimore Activist Alert -- March 19 - 20, 2019

33] Talking trash and recycling – Mar. 19

34] Farming While Black – Mar. 19

35] Film WELCOME TO SODOM -- Mar. 19

36] Maryland Food Bank Benefit – through Mar. 28

37] Witness Wednesdays – Mar. 20

38] Future of Nuclear Arms Control – Mar. 20

39] School of Food and Food Rescue Baltimore – Mar. 20

40] Japan-South Korea Relations in Crisis -- Mar. 20

41] Film RBG -- Mar. 20

42] Real Talk Tho – Mar. 20

43] World Water Day – Mar. 20

44] Maryland's Women's Suffrage Movement Lecture – Mar. 20

45] “Eating Tomorrow” – Mar. 20

46] Kaye Whitehead will speak at the Church of the Redeemer – Mar. 20

47] Liberation from Gaza to D.C. – Mar. 20

48] Caring for Our Common Home – Mar. 20

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33] – On Tues., March 19 from 7 to 8:30 PM, come to the Conservation Café: Talking Trash & Recycling with Julie Lawson, hosted by the Audubon Naturalist Society, 8940 Jones Mill Rd., Chevy Chase 20815. Tickets are at anshome.org. Why do people litter? How can we change that behavior? As Director of Mayor Muriel Bowser’s Office of the Clean City in Washington, DC, Julie Lawson works closely with the Mayor and District agencies to execute the Clean City initiative. See https://www.facebook.com/events/2490789174285345/.

34] – On Tues., Mar. 19 from 7 to 9 PM, Leah Penniman presents "Farming While Black" at Red Emma's Bookstore Coffeehouse, 1225 Cathedral St., Baltimore 21201.  She said this: “Stewarding our own land, growing our own food, educating our own youth, participating in our own healthcare and justice systems—this is the source of real power and dignity.”

https://www.facebook.com/events/382884212505161/. Discrimination and violence against African-American farmers has led to their decline from 14 percent of all growers in 1920 to less than 2 percent today, with a corresponding loss of over 14 million acres of land. Further, Black communities suffer disproportionately from illnesses related to lack of access to fresh food and healthy natural ecosystems.

  Soul Fire Farm, cofounded by author, activist, and farmer Leah Penniman, is committed to ending racism and injustice in our food system. Through innovative programs such as the Black-Latinx Farmers Immersion, a sliding-scale farm share CSA, and Youth Food Justice leadership training, Penniman is part of a global network of farmers working to increase farmland stewardship by people of color, restore Afro-indigenous farming practices, and end food apartheid.  Call (443) 602 7611 or go to https://www.redemmas.org/. See https://www.facebook.com/events/360086784804088/.

35] -- On Tues., March 19 at 7:45 to 9:20 PM, come to the Environmental Film Festival to see the U.S. Premiere of “Welcome to Sodom,” hosted by AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center, 8633 Colesville Rd., Silver Spring 20910.  Tickets are at silver.afi.com. This dark and sensuous film is set in a landfill in Ghana where more than 250,000 tons of electronic waste from the West are being recycled under near-apocalyptic conditions. It is an unforgettable experience, told by the workers themselves — more than 6,000 men, women and children — who eke out a perilous living in the massive garbage dump they call Sodom.  The dialogue is in English and German with English subtitles. The Environmental Film Festival in the Nation's Capital runs through March 24. For the full schedule of films screening at AFI, visit: http://bit.ly/2U5cvex.  See https://www.facebook.com/events/355691338369425/.

36] – On Wed., Mar. 20 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/.

37] – On Wed., Mar. 20 from 9 to 11 AM, come to Witness Wednesday at Friends Committee on National Legislation – FCNL,  245 2nd St. NE, WDC 20002.  Tickets are at act.fcnl.org. Be at the Quaker Welcome Center every Wednesday for Witness Wednesday!   On Wednesday mornings, people can participate in a lobby training and talk to an FCNL staff person who will be on hand to help people prepare for lobby visits. RSVPs are strongly encouraged.  Then from 5:15 to 6 PM, there will be silent reflection.  This is in keeping with the Quaker practice of silent worship. The Quaker Welcome Center is located through the garden to the right of FCNL's office building. Visit https://www.facebook.com/events/170498007153740/?event_time_id=170498023820405.

38] –  On Wed., March 20 at 12:30 PM catch up with the Future of Nuclear Arms Control at the Stimson Center, 1211 Connecticut Ave. NW, 8th Floor, WDC 20036.  Hear from Linton Brooks, National Defense University; Kristin Ven Bruusgaard, Stanford University; Brad Roberts, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory; and Heather Hurlburt, New America Foundation. Visit https://www.stimson.org/content/future-nuclear-arms-control. The Trump administration and the Kremlin have given notice of intent to withdraw from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty. New START may be next on the chopping block. Even if New START can be extended, what steps might usefully follow? Are numerical constraints still feasible? Stimson is convening a series of brainstorming sessions on our nuclear future and how best to shape it.  A light lunch will be served.

39] – On Wed., Mar. 20 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/.

40] – The GW Institute for Korean Studies & the Sigur Center for Asian Studies present “Japan-South Korea Relations in Crisis: Prospects for Reconciliation and Security Cooperation in East Asia” on Wed., March 20 from 2 to 4 PM in the Lindner Family Commons, Room 602, Elliott School of International Affairs, George Washington University, 1957 E St. NW, WDC 20052.  Register at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1RqZ_NlaXlQlikoRBBK88kU6zhN4fv1YPjqz43uF1w-Q/viewform?edit_requested=true.

Japan and South Korea are both democracies and allies of the United States, and they share many security and economic interests. Yet relations between these two countries have deteriorated to their worst point in recent memory.  The South Korean Supreme Court’s ruling in November regarding forced labor claims has aggravated long-standing disputes about the colonial past and World War II, and the December radar lock-in incident has revealed an alarming level of mistrust between Japan and South Korea. This program will examine the causes and consequences of the current tensions between Tokyo and Seoul, assess the prospects for reconciliation, consider the future of bilateral security cooperation, and discuss the implications for U.S. interests and foreign policy. See gwiks@gwu.edu.

41] – Don’t miss RBG hosted by Environmental Law Institute on Wed., March 20 from 5 to 8 PM at Wiley Rein LLP, 1776 K St. NW, WDC 20006. Tickets are at www.eli.org.  To celebrate Women’s History Month, Environmental Law Institute—Women in Environmental Law & Leadership invites you to a screening of the acclaimed Ruth Bader Ginsburg documentary, RBG. This ELI-WELL event is free and open to the public. RSVP at https://www.facebook.com/events/2336703199875300/.

42] – On Wed., March 20 from 6 to 8 PM, join in Real Talk Tho, hosted by The Real News Network at Ida B's Table, 235 Holliday St., Baltimore 21202.  When was the last time you felt like your voice really mattered? The Real News is launching a series of community editorial committee meetings called Real Talk Tho. Bringing people from all walks of life together to talk about the issues that matter to them the most. Join your neighbors, friends, family and colleagues in open and honest discussions about systemic racism and class, jobs, crime, education, climate change, society, culture, politics, economy, foreign policy and more. The Real News is dedicated to reporting on the underlying reasons for chronic problems facing our communities and in the search for effective solutions. Share your opinion, help us improve our work and help us make real news. See https://www.facebook.com/events/411287406304255/.

43] – On Wed., March 20 from 6 to 10 PM, celebrate World Water Day with Global Sustainable Partnerships at Smith Commons, 1245 H St. NE, WDC 20002.  Tickets range from $50 to $500.  Enjoy live music and a silent auction. The fundraiser will raised money to purchase Hydraid Filters for 100 families including Albino families, people living with HIV, pregnant mothers and the elderly. Provide the gift of clean water for children and their families in Tanzanian. Visit https://www.facebook.com/events/2033371676776447/?event_time_id=2033380643442217.

44] – On Wed., March 20 from 6:30 to 7:30 PM, catch the Maryland's Women's Suffrage Movement Lecture, hosted by The Star-Spangled Banner Flag House, 844 E. Pratt St., Baltimore 21202.  As the USA approaches the 100th anniversary of women gaining the right to vote, Preservation Maryland will host a traveling lecture series with historian Kacy Rohn which will unravel the history of the suffrage movement in Maryland and a look at the historic places where this story unfolded.  This free hour-long program will explore the history and current preservation efforts aimed at documenting this important moment in American history. Go to https://www.facebook.com/events/2319043941675513/.

45] – On Wed., March 20 from 6:30 to 8 PM, Busboys Books Presents: Timothy A. Wise for “Eating Tomorrow,” hosted by ActionAid USA at Busboys and Poets, 2021 14th St. NW, WDC 20009.  Ricardo Salvador of Union of Concerned Scientists will be a host!  Here is a teaser from the book: “There is no we who feed the world. The world is mainly fed by hundreds of millions of small-scale farmers who grow 70 percent of developing countries’ food.” Buy a copy, and get it signed.  Preview the book at https://www.smallplanet.org/eating-tomorrow.  Climate change is making it difficult to grow crops, while corporate and philanthropic leaders are throwing money into industrial agriculture. Reporting from Africa, Mexico, India, and the US, Wise explores how, in country after country, agribusiness and its well-heeled philanthropic promoters have hijacked food policies to feed corporate interests.  At the same time, the hundreds of millions of small-scale farmers who grow most of the food eaten in developing countries can show us a way forward. They are not just victims in the climate drama. They are experts from whom we all have much to learn.  Wise is a senior researcher at the Small Planet Institute, where he directs the Land and Food Rights Program.  Go to https://www.facebook.com/events/2295772437325751/.

46] – On Wed., March 20 at 7 PM, Kaye Whitehead will speak at the Church of the Redeemer. 5603 N. Charles St., Baltimore. Karsonya (Kaye) Wise Whitehead is an associate professor of Communication and African and African American Studies at Loyola University Maryland, a featured Public Commentator for WYPR, and an Op-Ed columnist for the Baltimore Sun. This evening Dr. Whitehead will speak on “The Moral Arc of Justice: 400 Years of Shifting Narratives & Black Genius, Brilliance, and Survival.” Check out http://www.redeemerbaltimore.org/event/voices-series-kaye-wise-whitehead/.

47] - On Tues., March 19from 7 to 9:30 PM, check out Marching to Freedom's Land: Liberation from Gaza to D.C., hosted by Jewish Voice for Peace - DC Metro at the Plymouth Congregational United Church of Christ, 5301 N. Capitol St. NE, WDC 20011. Hear from activists from DC and Gaza, followed by dinner afterward! RSVP at bit.ly/DCtoGaza.  Ahmed Abu Artema wrote a Facebook post with a striking idea that echoed through Palestinian history: What would happen if Palestinians marched nonviolently towards the boundary fence with Israel to demand respect for their rights and challenge the Israeli-imposed blockade that has created 12 years of hardship for millions of Palestinians? Less than three months later, the Great March of Return became a reality, with tens of thousands of Palestinians marching to the fence, and with that, forcing their demands for liberation and the right of return to be heard around the world.

On this rare opportunity for him to exit Gaza and meet with communities in DC, Rev. Graylan Hagler of Plymouth Congregational UCC will welcome and host Ahmed Abu Artema, who will share his experience, views, and vision on the Great March of Return and its call for the right of return and freedom for the Palestinian people. He will be joined by three Palestinian luminaries in the US as well as three longtime local DC activists, including Noura Erakat, human rights attorney, Laila el-Haddad, award-winning Palestinian author,  Luci Murphy, with ONE DC, who focuses on international solidarity to fight for social justice locally and globally and Netfa Freeman, Institute for Policy Studies! See https://www.facebook.com/events/2292025557786374/.

48] -- On Wed., March 20 from 7:30 to 9 PM, get involved with Caring for Our Common Home: Presentation and Discussion, hosted by St. Vincent de Paul Church, 120 N Front St., Baltimore 21202. We are Called to Sustain the Earth. Looking for inspiration & ideas on how to care for God’s Creation? Join a Spiritual and Environmental presentation on the care of Our Common Home. Bonnie Sorak, Outreach Coordinator from Interfaith Partners for the Chesapeake, will discuss what the Creation story teaches about the role and responsibility in God's Creation. Learn how we can work together to make a difference at home, at church and in our communities by restoring our sacred Earth. Learn new ways in which we can continue to be part of the solution. All Are Welcome -- bring a friend! See https://www.facebook.com/events/817790458558924/.

To be considered

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