Sunday, May 12, 2019

Baltimore Activist Alert – May 12 – July 25, 2019


Baltimore Activist Alert – May 12 – July 25, 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] Lawyers Against War
6] “Explore & Live Palestine” from July 11 through July 25, 2019
7] SUPPORT AMAZON WORKERS OF CONSCIENCE
8] CODEPINK NEEDS YOU AT THE VENEZUELA EMBASSY
9] Shadows and Ashes: The Peril of Nuclear Weapons – through May 31
10] Mother’s Day at the Franciscan Center – May 12
11] Feed the hungry -- May 12
12] “Be Here Now” -- May 12
13] Mother’s Day Rally to End Family Separation and Child Detention – May 12
14] Adopt a cat. – May 12
15] Animal Mothers – May 12
16] Mother’s Day for Peace at the Venezuelan Embassy – May 12
17] Black Lives Matter Vigil – May 12
18] On the Call for the NRA – May 12
19] Pentagon Protest – May 13
20] Food Rescue – May 13
21] Decommissioning – May 13
22] The Wahhabi Code – May 13
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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] – Urgent: CODEPINK needs you at the Venezuela Embassy, 1099 30th St. NW, WDC 20007, through all of next week.   A group of activists have been living in the embassy to protect it from a hostile takeover by the opposition, in violation of international law.  We’ll also have events all week long. For a list of all the activities, see https://www.codepink.org/washington_dc_24_7_protection_of_dc_venezuelan_embassy.

The events are part of an ongoing presence at the Venezuelan embassy by the Embassy Protection Collective. We have been staging a round-the-clock vigil inside the embassy for the past two weeks, including overnight shifts, and organizing activities at the embassy every night. The opposition already took over the Venezuelan military attaché office in Washington, DC and the Venezuelan consulate in New York City in violation of Article 22 of the Vienna Convention and has announced its intention to take over the Embassy next week.  Call 415-235-6517.

9] – An important art exhibition continues at the Takoma Park campus of Montgomery College through May 31.  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

10] – On Sun., May 12 from 10 AM to noon, get over to Mother’s Day at the Franciscan Center, 101 W. 23rd St., Baltimore 21218.  All are invited to help celebrate this beautiful holiday. Visit https://www.facebook.com/events/390386171525743/.

11] – On Sun., May 12 from 10 AM to noon, Neighbors Without Walls: Feeding the Homeless & Hungry at the Terra Cafe Bmore, 25th and St. Paul Sts., Baltimore. 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. 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. Our "Neighbors" come to expect our giving and support. Terra Cafe is grateful to be in our 10th year of giving back to our Community! Thanks everyone, for your generous support. Together, we really can make a difference. Love offerings and donations are welcome. See https://www.facebook.com/events/413038186102928/.

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., May 12, the platform address is “Be Here Now.”  So much of our lives are lived in distraction. We are constantly reacting to the world around us. We get sucked into regrets of the past or anxiety about the future. We forget where we are in time and space. What if we accept some simple profound advice: be here now. How can we set aside constantly “doing” so as to cultivate respect for “being”? Can we remember the amazing fact of our existence on this fragile planet hurtling through space? Can we bring ourselves more fully present so we can be in the moment, comfortable with ourselves and with others? Hugh Taft-Morales explores how this all fits into Ethical Humanism.  Taft-Morales 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., May 12 from noon to 2 PM, join a Mother’s Day Rally To End Family Separation and Child Detention, hosted by Military Families For Families at the Ulysses S. Grant Memorial, 1st St. NW, WDC 20004. Tickets are at mothersdayrally.com. Check out www.mothersdayrally.com and https://www.facebook.com/events/2187281868190704/permalink/2208368946081996/.

14] – On Sun., May 12 from noon to 3 PM, there is an Adoption Event & Mother's Day Photos at the Mount Vernon Pet Valu, North Charles St. BARCS Animal Shelter will be here with adoptable cats looking for forever homes! Mother's Day Photos will be $5 and proceeds will benefit BARCS!  Call 410-230-0410! See https://www.facebook.com/events/2399141933706052/.

15] –  On Sun., May 12 from 2 to 3 PM, check out Animal Mothers, hosted by Friends of Soldiers Delight NEA, 5100 Deer Park Rd., Owings Mills 21117.  Come celebrate Mother's Day at Soldiers Delight by learning about all different kinds of animal mothers. Look at eggs, nests, and live animals. Some animal mothers will impress you while others will leave you wondering how their young survive! The cost is free, but donations are welcome.  Call 410-922-3044. Visit www.soldiersdelight.org and https://www.facebook.com/events/765075910556412/.

16] – There is a Call to Mobilize: Mother’s Day for Peace at the Venezuelan Embassy on Sun., May 12 at 3 PM at the Venezuelan Embassy, 1099 30th St. NW, WDC 20007.  It’s been exactly one month now that activists have been legally residing inside of the Venezuelan embassy in D.C to protect it from the takeover by Venezuelan opposition forces. The Guaido opposition, assisted by PEPCO and the U.S. Secret Service, have shut off electricity from our embassy protectors, creating an emergency situation for activists inside, and have not let food in for the last ten days.  Support the Embassy Protectors and come to the Venezuelan Embassy this Mother’s Day to echo the original Mother’s Day call for peace, honor all mothers around the world, and demand an end to U.S. intervention in Venezuela and the crisis at the embassy.  They may have cut off the power in the building, but they can’t cut off the power of the people.  That’s why we are sending this call out to everyone to come out this Mother’s Day to call for peace in Venezuela and around the world. Bring flowers and a snack to share. RSVP at https://www.codepink.org/dc_mother_s_day_2019?utm_campaign=dc_mother_s_day_2019&utm_medium=email&utm_source=codepink.

17] – On Sun., May 12 from 4 to 5 PM, get over to a Black Lives Matter Vigil at Governor Warfield Pkwy and Windstream Drive, Columbia.  On the second Sunday of each month, gather to give public witness to the problem of anti-Black racism in our neighborhood, our nation, and our world. Show that all lives WILL matter when Black Lives Matter. Look at https://www.facebook.com/events/306216133337529/?event_time_id=306216146670861.

18] – On Sun., May 12 from 4 to 5 PM, get on The CALL - ERA Education Program at Katrina's Dream, PO Box 32003, WDC 20007.  Tickets are at www.katrinasdream.org.  Please come each Sunday and help build the groundswell. The collaboration of grassroots organizers, lobbyists, and professionals is dedicated to promoting and educating folks across the United States of America to empowering women around the world.

The CALL IN NUMBER is 563.999.2090, the CONFERENCE NO: 898879#.  Visit https://www.facebook.com/events/1710130249022424/?event_time_id=1710130255689090.

19] – 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 May 13, 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. 

20] – On Mon., May 13 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/.

21] – On Mon., May 13 at 2 PM, get over to Decommissioning: A New Era in the U.S. Nuclear Power Industry; a Critical Need for Congressional Oversight will get a hearing in Room 2318, 2318 Rayburn House Office Building, WDC [Independence Ave. SW and South Capitol St. SW.} See https://www.eesi.org/briefings/view/051319nuclear.  The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) invites you to a briefing on the new era of the U.S. nuclear power industry as its electricity generation winds down and decommissioning of nuclear power plants ramps up. Decommissioning is the process of dismantling a closed plant, securing or removing its radioactive waste, and lowering a site’s residual radioactivity. Getting it right is critical to communities’ health and safety. Getting it wrong could pose existential threats. Contact Amaury Laporte at alaporte@eesi.org or (202) 662 1884.

22] –  Terence Ward will be speaking at the Woman's National Democratic Club on Mon., May 13 from 6:30 to 8 PM at 1526 New Hampshire Ave. NW WDC 20036.  His talk is about his book “The Wahhabi Code: How the Saudis Spread Extremism Globally.”                                                                                                                             

    It is said that war is how Americans learn foreign geography and history, now that our schools no longer teach much of either. Since 9/11, the American people have become aware that the split between Shi`ism and Sunni Islam is an important element in the animosity between Saudi Arabia and Iran and a driving factor in the savage civil strife in Iraq, Syria, and Yemen. But few understand the schism in contemporary Sunni Islam, which is experiencing divisions reminiscent of those that catalyzed the Thirty Years War in Christendom. Wahhabism — the ultra-conservative doctrine of Saudi Arabia – parallels and in some ways inspires the Salafist (“originalist”) theologies of ISIS, Al-Qaeda, the Taliban and Boko Haram, though these Jihadi movements have distinctive origins, histories, and goals. Does this make Saudi Arabia a potential ally or a hidden enemy in international efforts to hold Islamist terrorism at bay?  Terence Ward’s new book takes a critical look at the role of Saudi Arabia in fostering Salafist extremism in the Muslim world. It asks questions like: Will Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (aka MBS) face a Muslim as well as a Western backlash from the Khashoggi murder, the war in Yemen, and the imprisonment of women activists? Will MBS bring about a more moderate Islam or is he setting the stage for a conflict with Iran that could plunge America into yet another unconstitutional forever war? Given the fervent support by some Saudis for political Salafism in other lands, would the transfer of nuclear technology to the Kingdom by the United States or others entail unacceptable risks? What should US-Saudi relations look like in the future? Ward will address these and other critical questions.  RSVP at https://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/eventReg?oeidk=a07egagj6ac7f96a471&oseq=&c=&ch=.

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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