Sunday, April 14, 2019

Baltimore Activist Alert April 14 – 16, 2019


Baltimore Activist Alert April 14 – 16, 2019

"I speak as an American to the leaders of my own nation. The great initiative in this war is ours. The initiative to stop it must be ours." -Martin Luther King Jr.

Friends, this list and other email documents which I send out are done under the auspices of the Baltimore Nonviolence Center.  Go to www.baltimorenonviolencecenter.blogspot.com.  If you appreciate this information and would like to make a donation, send contributions to BNC, 325 East 25th Street, Baltimore, MD 21218.  Max Obuszewski can be reached at 410-323-1607 or mobuszewski2001 [at] comcast.net.

1] Books, buttons and stickers
2] Web site for info on federal legislation
3] Get involved with NCNR   
4] Buy an Anti-War Veteran hat  
5] “Explore & Live Palestine” from July 11 through July 25, 2019
6] Lawyers Against War
7] SUPPORT AMAZON WORKERS OF CONSCIENCE
8] Protest Trump’s veto of the War Powers Act
9] Arms Control Association Annual Meeting – April 14
10] Veg Fest – April 14
11] Feed the Homeless – April 14
12] The Ups and Downs of Sexual Identity – April 14
13] Sunday at the Movies April 14
14] NONVIOLENT PEACEMAKING INITIATIVES – April 14
15] Film BORN IN GAZA – April 14
16] Pentagon Protest – April 15
17] Shadows and Ashes: The Peril of Nuclear Weapons April 15 – May 31
18] Food Rescue – April 15
19] Tax Day – April 15
20] Plastic Pollution meeting – April 15
21] Lessons from the Hawaii Nuclear Missile Scare Apr. 15
22] Food Rescue Pop-Up – April 15
23] China’s Climate and Energy Policies – April 15
24] Meatless Motivation Monday – April 15
25] Get the Money Out conference call – April 15
26] Extinction Rebellion DC Day of Action – April 16
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1] – Buttons, bumperstickers and books are available.  “God Bless the Whole World, No Exceptions” stickers are in stock. Call Max at 410-323-1607.

2] – To obtain information how your federal legislators voted on particular bills, go to http://thomas.loc.gov/.  Congressional toll-free numbers are 888-818-6641, 888-355-3588 or 800-426-8073. The White House Comment Email is accessible at http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/.

3] – THE ORGANIZING LIST will be the primary decision-making mechanism of the National Campaign of Nonviolent Resistance [NCNR].  It will be augmented by conference calls and possibly in-person meetings as needed.  It will consist of 1 or 2 representatives from each local, regional, or national organization (not coalitions) that wishes to actively work to carry out the NCNR campaign of facilitating and organizing nonviolent resistance to U.S. wars.

To join the ORGANIZING List, please send your name, group affiliation, city and email address to mobuszewski2001 at Comcast dot net.  Different local chapters of a national organization are encouraged to subscribe.  

4] – Get a good-looking black hat which says Anti-War Veteran in the front and Viva House 50th in the back.  The cost is $10. Contact Max at 410-323-1607 or mobuszewski2001 at Comcast dot net.

5] – Jeff Ross, an attorney in Maryland, is interested in gathering with other lawyers to discuss ways in which the legal profession and the law generally can be conceptualized as a peace-building and war-resisting institution and redirected to these ends. Areas to explore might include: 1) ways in which this group could support with legal analysis/writing those lawyers who are representing peace-builders/war-resisters in criminal prosecutions; 2) ways in which, from a more theoretical perspective, the law might be grounded in an ethic of non-violence; and 3) ways in which law students and young lawyers might be exposed to a non-violent vision of the law. All religious, philosophical, and critical perspectives on the law are welcome. The group might want to call itself Lawyers Against War. Jeff can be reached at 443-690-6872 and jross50@hotmail.com.

6] – If you are 18 to 35, don't miss this unique opportunity to visit Palestine! Registration is Now Open at https://kthps.org/join. For more information, please visit: https://kthps.org/.  Know Thy Heritage, Inc. is offering a Leadership Initiative “Explore & Live Palestine” from July 11 through July 25, 2019.  This is a program of The Arab American Institute.  Visit http://www.aaiusa.org/.

7] -- SUPPORT AMAZON WORKERS OF CONSCIENCE.  We are in a deep struggle to support conscience within the high tech community, which may be the only way to prevent a major leap into artificial intelligence warfare that we see the beginnings of in the expanding global U.S. drone war system.  This may be of particular interest to Johns Hopkins' Navy-funded researchers, some of whom have been working on swarming drone technology.

These are not major asks and can be a powerful reinforcement of conscience at an extremely critical moment.  Please consider circulating this link to your lists encouraging people to sign the linked RootsAction petition - https://www.knowdrones.com/blog/2019/3/6/support-amazon-workers-who-dont-want-to-work-for-war and leafletting Whole Foods in your areas. This is a link to the leaflet -- https://gallery.mailchimp.com/dd110b000ca250d868d4f419b/files/107fc695-8af9-4f7e-a523-ecd1d1dfd28f/Wholefoods_Leaflet.pdf. Should you have interest in circulating the links and possibly leafletting, contact Nick Mottern at  nickmottern at gmail.com.

8] – In a great victory for the peace movement, the House and the Senator passed a resolution invoking the War Powers Act to end U.S. military involvement in attacking the people of Yemen. However, Trump has threatened to veto the resolution.  If Trump veto the resolution, gather outside the War Memorial, 101 N. Gay St., Baltimore, MD 21202. If the attack is before 2 PM local time, then the event will begin at 5 PM, local time. If the veto happens after 2 PM local time, then the demonstration will occur at noon, local time, the following day. Contact Max at 410-323-1607 or mobuszewski2001 at Comcast dot net.

9] –  On Sun., April 14 from 9 AM to 3:30 PM, attend the 2019 Arms Control Association Annual Meeting at the Washington Court Hotel, Atrium Ballroom, 525 New Jersey Ave. NW, WDC. Tickets are at www.armscontrol.org.  Hear about New Risks and New Arms Control Solutions: North Korea, Disruptive Technologies, and the New Arms Race.  The Meeting will bring together members and colleagues in the field, journalists, U.S. and international officials, and prominent experts and policymakers to discuss today’s most critical arms control challenges.  See https://www.facebook.com/events/847942935551544/.

10] –  On Sun., April 14 from 10 AM to 5 PM, come to Fairfax Veg Fest, 200 Spring St., Herndon, VA 20170. The event will be held @ Northwest Federal Credit Union Headquarters. Go to the website @ www.FairfaxVegFest.org! The Fest will take place on the surface parking lot between the NWFCU Building and the W&OD Trail. Visit https://www.facebook.com/events/300580434070083/.

11] – On Sun., April 14 from 10 AM to noon, be a part of Neighbors Without Walls: Feeding the Homeless & Hungry at Terra Cafe Bmore, 101 E 25th St., Baltimore 21218.  Homelessness is by far one of the largest issues that plague our city and there is something, no matter how small, we all can do to about it. This event will also happen on Sun., Apr. 14 at 10 AM. Terra Cafe is the proud sponsor of Neighbors Without Walls. On the 2nd Sunday of each month at 10 AM Terra Cafe and a group of volunteers, prep, package and distribute meals, water, clothing and care packages to homeless residents of Baltimore City. See https://www.facebook.com/events/413038186102928/?event_time_id=413038192769594.

12] –Usually, the Baltimore Ethical Society, 2521 St. Paul St., Baltimore 21218, meets on Sundays, and generally there is a speaker and discussion at 10:30 AM.  On Sun., April 14, the platform address is “Pride and Shame: The Ups and Downs of Sexual Identity.”  For many people, sexual identity and expression are an important part of life.  Shouldn’t Ethical Humanism support these people as sources of energy, joy, and pride! Unfortunately too often American culture wraps up sexuality in layers of shame, and this can hurt everyone, but especially people seen as not conforming to traditional stereotypes.  And unlike guilt, which is usually about something we did, shame is about who we are. Such shame can be traumatic and even lead to dysfunctional relationships and depression. Hugh Taft-Morales explores the damage done by shame and the joy that should flourish without it.  He joined the Baltimore Ethical Society as its professional leader in 2010, the same year he was certified by the American Ethical Union as an Ethical Culture Leader. He also serves as Leader of the Ethical Humanist Society of Philadelphia. Call 410-581-2322 or email ask@bmorethical.org. 

13] – On Sun., April 14 from 2 to 5 PM, check out Sunday at the Movies, hosted by League of Women Voters of Montgomery County, 311 Kent Square Road, Gaithersburg 20878-5727. Join us for LWVMC’s major fund-raiser of the year - Sunday at the Movies.  Rolling Stone investigative reporter Greg Palast takes a deep dive into secret, behind the scenes operations that he alleges stole the 2016 election. He investigates the claim that 7.2 million people in 29 states may have voted twice – massive voter fraud or a false allegation? The movie examines the data and confronts those who support the claim. You decide what you think about it, and discuss what can be done to protect our democracy.

Come out to support our efforts to make democracy work for everyone. You'll enjoy drink, cheeses and more with discussion to follow. Get a raffle ticket for a basket of wonderful treats. Raffle tickets are $5 each, or five for $20. You can buy them at the event or contact the LWVMC office to purchase in advance or if you can't attend, but want to participate in the raffle.  LWVMC is a 501(c) 3 organization and your donation is tax deductible to the fullest extent approved by law (EIN #52 -0824326).  See https://www.facebook.com/events/339231756718959/.

14] – You are cordially invited to a Forum on NONVIOLENT PEACEMAKING INITIATIVES presented by Maryland United for Peace and Justice/Institute for Positive Action on Sun., April 14 from 2:30 to 4:30 PM at Adelphi Friends Meeting, 2303 Metzerott Road, Adelphi 20783.  There will be a panel discussion with three participants: M.J. Park, Little Friends for Peace http://www.lffp.org/, Eli McCarthy, D.C. Peace Team https://dcpeaceteam.com/ and John Ericksson, Global Peace Services https://www.globalpeaceservices.org/. A Q & A will follow. RSVP to Tony Langbehn at 301-390-9684 ortonylang4peace@gmail.com in order to have the proper amount of refreshments available. Donations will be gratefully accepted.

15] -- On Sun., April 14 from 6 to 8:30 PM, Baltimore-Palestine Solidarity presents "BORN IN GAZA" at Homewood Friends Meeting, 3107 N. Charles St., Baltimore 21218 in the basement (next to the side entrance).  See a trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=isHYsAQpxh0.  "BORN IN GAZA" provides an intimate, deep look – leaving aside political debates – of how violence transforms the lives of ten children. A deeply human vision of the war and its consequences. The film ends three months after the end of the Israeli offensive, allowing us to see what has become of these children while highlighting their struggles to overcome the horrors suffered and regain some normalcy in their lives.

Through observational footage and interviews, Hernán Zin provides, with sensitivity, individual stories that go far beyond news coverage of the events and offer children the opportunity to be heard. In doing so, he also provides space for dialogue and healing. ‘The situation is really complicated. We have a war every two years’, states 13 year old Mohamed. ‘I often think about our situation and I never see the end.’ The film is 70 minutes long and will be followed by brief discussion. Homemade Arabic food will be available before and after the film. A suggested donation is $5. No one will be turned away for lack of funds.  This film contains graphic scenes and descriptions of the violence and death Palestinians faced under the 2014 Israeli assault on Gaza. https://www.facebook.com/events/323675888349145/.

16] – There is a weekly Pentagon Peace Vigil from 7 to 8 AM on Mondays, since 1987, outside the Pentagon Metro stop.  The next vigil is Apr. 15, and it is sponsored by the Dorothy Day Catholic Worker.  Email artlaffin@hotmail.com or call 202-882-9649.  The vigil will be outside the Pentagon's south Metro entrance and in the designated "protest zone" behind bicycle fences across from the entrance to the Metro.  By Metro, take Yellow Line and get out at the "Pentagon" stop. Do not go to the Pentagon City stop! Go up south escalators and turn left and walk across to protest area. By car from D.C. area, take 395 South and get off at Exit 8A-Pentagon South Parking. Take slight right onto S. Rotary Rd. at end of ramp and right on S. Fern St. Then take left onto Army Navy Dr. You can "pay to park" on Army Navy Dr.,  and there is meter parking one block on right on Eads St. Payment for both of these spots begin at 8 AM.  No cameras are allowed on Pentagon grounds. Restrooms are located inside Marriott Residence Inn on corner of S. Fern and Army Navy Dr.  

17] – An important art exhibition opens on Mon., April 15 at the Takoma Park campus of Montgomery College, continuing through May 31.  The opening reception, to which you are cordially invited, begins at 7 PM on April 17.  The exhibit is named Shadows and Ashes: The Peril of Nuclear Weapons, and features works by photographer Gary Schoichet; drawings by the child survivors of Hiroshima; ceramic masks by multimedia artist Marion Held; the poetry of John Canaday; and the Program on Science and Global Security at Princeton University  This is a traveling exhibition from Princeton University, sponsored by Montgomery College’s Institute for Race, Justice, and Civic Engagement, Peace Action Montgomery, and Prevent Nuclear War/Maryland, and it will be on view at Montgomery College’s Cultural Arts Center, 7995 Georgia Ave., Silver Spring. It will be accompanied by various events, including films, lectures, and discussion.

This exhibition of art and science examines the role of nuclear weapons in our society and reflects on their results. By combining artwork and scientific information, it opens conversations on the practical and the philosophical implications of humans’ continued efforts to create and to dismantle nuclear weapons. This multi-faceted exploration of the implications of nuclear weapons includes photographs, drawings, masks, and technical information. Photographer Gary Schoichet provides portraits and reflective comments of Hiroshima survivors, as well as documentary photographs of the historic 1982 Anti-Nuclear Rally in New York City. All Souls Church in Washington, D.C., contributes Hiroshima Children’s Drawings in crayon from 1947 by young survivors. In commemoration of the human catastrophe in Japan, multimedia artist Marion Held has made ceramic masks as a response to her exploration of the site of the bombing at Hiroshima. Related events will be posted throughout the time of the exhibition on the website, www.peaceactionmc.org/. For information on exhibit hours and parking, visit mcblogs/montgomerycollege.edu/cac

18] – On Mon., Apr. 15 at noon, there will be a Food Rescue at Land of Kush, 840 N. Eutaw St., Baltimore 21201. Food Rescue Baltimore is honored to partner with The Land of Kush each and every Monday to bring access to free vegan/plant-based food in the community. Bring a bag. Take what you want from noon to 1PM or while supplies last. No purchase is necessary to take advantage of the Food Rescue Baltimore give away. Items from The Land of Kush's menu are not included in the give-away but will be available for sale. See https://www.facebook.com/events/415842178868197/.

19] – On Mon., April 15 from noon to 1 PM on Tax Day, the U.S. federal budget should fund human needs, not war and militarization. Join Pacem in Terris at Rodney Square, 1000 N Market St, Wilmington, DE 1980, for a demonstration on where our tax $ are going— and should be going. This is part of the Global Days of Action on Military Spending (GDAMS).Visit http://demilitarize.org/gdams-usa/.

20] – On Mon., April 15 from noon to 1 PM, there is a Plastic Pollution Coalition DC Meeting at 1025 Connecticut Ave. NW, Suite 200, WDC 20036-5407.  It will feature David Azoulay, Geneva Managing Attorney and Environmental Health Program Director.  He will present a report Plastic & Health: The Hidden Costs of a Plastic Planet, which highlights the full lifecycle impacts of plastic on human health.  RSVP REQUIRED at coalition@plasticpollutioncoalition.org.  Go to https://www.facebook.com/events/415702669196068/.

21] – On Mon., April 15 from 2 to 3:30 PM, learn some Lessons from the Hawaii Nuclear Missile Scare at the Wilson Center, 6th Floor Flom Auditorium, 1300 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, WDC 20004. The Kennan Institute is pleased to announce the rescheduled "Lessons from the Hawaii Nuclear Missile Scare," which is co-sponsored by the Nuclear Proliferation International History Project. Against the backdrop of escalating tension with North Korea and unraveling U.S.-Russia nuclear treaties, the January 2018 Hawaii false missile alert came as a shocking reminder of the reality of a nuclear threat. Cynthia Lazaroff and Bruce Allyn experienced the alert firsthand, which drove home the importance of their research and interviews with leading Russian and American nuclear experts. They will share their findings and some possible steps to reduce today’s nuclear danger. Read Lazaroff’s account of the incident here: https://thebulletin.org/2018/08/dawn-of-a-new-armageddon/.  RSVP at https://engage.wilsoncenter.org/onlineactions/5ZdR0CtR2UGQ51aNmnGUlA2.

22] –On Mon., April 15, 22 and 29 from 3 to 4 PM, there is a Food Rescue Pop-Up at Flourish, 3418 Belair Road, Baltimore 21213-1233.  Bring a bag, and take home healthy, free food! View https://www.facebook.com/events/301851223848295/?event_time_id=301851250514959. 

23] – On Mon., April 15 from 5 to 6:30 PM hear about China’s Climate and Energy Policies, hosted by SAIS Energy, Resources & Environment, Room 500, Bernstein-Offit Building,  1717 Massachusetts Ave. NW, WDC 20036. David Sandalow, Inaugural Fellow, Center on Global Energy Policy, Columbia University, and Carla Freeman, Associate Research Professor of China Studies and Executive Director of the SAIS Foreign Policy Institute, will speak. In 2006 China became the world’s leading emitter of greenhouse gases. Its policies for limiting emissions will have significant impact on the global climate for decades to come. China was an active participant in the Paris accord and has adopted climate goals including the peaking of CO2 emissions by 2030, lowering the carbon intensity of GDP, increasing the share of renewable and nuclear energy, and increasing its stock of forests.  A RSVP is required. A light reception will follow. Go to https://glfsandalow.eventbrite.com, and look at https://www.facebook.com/events/253913545485860/.

24] – On Mon., April 15 from 6 to 8 PM, get involved with Meatless Motivation Monday at The LAND of KUSH, 840 N. Eutaw St., Baltimore 21201.  Get tickets at www.mixolo.io. Vegan lovers and the vegan-curious can sit in with Mixolo for Meatless Monday with a healthy extra-cerebral additive. Also dining will be author, thought leader, and neighbor, Armentha Mike Cruise, former CEO and founder of the Aspen Group, a wildly successful multi-million international human resource staffing and consulting firm.  She is an activist and sage on the topic of wealth creation among underrepresented communities. She’ll be sharing insights from her book “Awakened Through the Passage: Using History to Influence Wealth Creation for Present and Future Generations Passage.” In the book, she uses historical perspectives from great African civilizations as a “foundation and legacy to influence wealth creation in mind, body, spirit and generational wealth to empower African-American youth. “

 Mixolo continues to bring you thought-provoking topics and out-of-the-box events. All are welcome at the community table, regardless of race, ethnicity or life experience. Registration is free for this event, but dinner is available self-pay.  Check out https://www.facebook.com/events/2353111071634474/.

25] – Join the Get Money Out of Maryland Teleconference on Monday, April 15 from 8:30 to 9:30 PM.  Call 605-475-6711, code 1136243#.  Work only on brainstorming ideas for participation in the upcoming General Election.

26] – On Tues., April 16 from 8 to 10:30 AM, come to an Extinction Rebellion DC Day of Action: The Climate Games at RNC in Spirit of Justice Park, C St. SE, WDC 20024.  This is the 31st annual installment of The Climate Games! Since the late 1980s, our nation’s leaders have ignored climate science and played games with the future of the planet, valuing fossil fuel donations over human lives. Will the forces of Greed and Capitalism maintain their 30 year winning streak? Or will underdog Team Earth finally claim victory?  This year’s Climate Games will be hosted by the Republican National Committee, which is the main fundraising arm of the Republican Party and plays a key role in determining national Republican strategy. In response to recent calls for the “Green New Deal”, the only policy proposal on the table that even comes close to addressing the climate crisis, the Republican Party has vowed to wage war against the proposal, belittling it, mocking it, and lying about it at every turn. We could think of no organization more worthy of hosting the Climate Games than the RNC. Their headquarters might even shut down to help celebrate the event!

This year’s event will include numerous climate-themed games, such as Climate Catastrophe Dodgeball and Planetary Volleyball. All attendees will have an opportunity to join Team Earth or Team Greed. The Climate Games are part of the International Week of Rebellion taking place in 30 countries around the globe, and dozens of cities in the United States. Humanity is now confronting the climate crisis like never before. Go to https://www.facebook.com/events/401248130656140/.

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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