Sunday, May 5, 2019

Baltimore Activist Alert – May 5 – 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] “Environmental Benefits of Native Plants” – May 5
11] Discussion on transportation issues – May 5
12] Walk to End Poverty – May 5
13] Maryland's Women's Suffrage Movement Lecture – May 5
14] Rally for a Green New Deal – May 5
15] Moms Demand Action – May 5
16] Pentagon Protest – May 6
17] Stop the Pipelines – May 6 - 9
18] Food Rescue – May 6
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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] -- 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 5, the platform address is “Environmental Benefits of Native Plants.”  This presentation is about beautiful native plants and their environmental benefits. Participants will learn how to select the right plant for the right place and how to avoid invasive species. The discussion will cover why responsible citizens of Maryland, the nation and the world need to care about the types of plants growing here. Ecologist Judy Fulton will discuss both botanical and ethical considerations of choosing and managing our landscapes and wild areas. Fulton, founder of EcoPlant Consulting, is a native plant, invasive plant and ecology consultant. Call 410-581-2322 or email ask@bmorethical.org. 

11] – On Sun., May 5 from 11 AM to 1 PM hear a discussion on transportation issues, hosted by Councilmember Tom Hucker at the Silver Spring Civic Center, 1 Veterans Plaza.  Get tickets at tomhucker.com.  There will be a Town Hall on the proposed project. Confirmed speakers include County Executive Marc Elrich, Council President Nancy Navarro, State Delegate Kumar Barve, staff for Treasurer Nancy Kopp, and Carol Rubin with M-NPPC. Visit https://www.facebook.com/events/413793762751741/.

12] – On Sun., May 5 from noon to 4 PM, Walk to End Poverty, hosted by A Wider Circle. Tickets are at runsignup.com. Walk, run, bike or ride to the Center anytime from noon to 4 PM to engage in an afternoon of volunteer service projects and children’s activities.  A Wider Circle also invites area schools, faith-based congregations and businesses to host community walks. Community walks are held on your own property from May 5 – May 11. In addition, participating organizations can engage in educational presentations prior to the Walk to raise awareness about the issue of poverty in our community. Email volunteer@awidercircle.org to request a speaker from A Wider Circle at your event.

Walk to End Poverty sponsorships are available and include numerous opportunities with full branding and exposure as a community partner. This is a tremendous opportunity to join the movement to end poverty and ensure that individuals and families are given a chance to thrive.  Go to https://www.facebook.com/events/2273994596204735/.

13] – On Sun., May 5 from 1 to 2 PM, there is a Maryland's Women's Suffrage Movement Lecture at the C. Burr Artz Public Library, 110 E Patrick St., Frederick. Go to https://www.preservationmaryland.org/programs/six-to-fix/projects/current-projects/womens-suffrage/.  See https://www.facebook.com/events/2319043941675513/.

14] – On Sun., May 5 from 1:45 to 4 PM, Rally for a Green New Deal with M4TR at 10485 Armstrong St., Fairfax, VA 22030-3627.  Please join M4TR and members of the Northern Virginia Climate Coalition for the 3rd Annual Mother's Day Climate Rally to advocate for a Green New Deal. "Revolution rock" band M4TR is happy to support this important event for the second year by providing live music entertainment. We'll be playing original music and covers to help motivate people to action.

The Green New Deal is an ambitious comprehensive climate proposal circulating through the halls of the U.S. Congress to transform the American economy in order to embrace renewable energy technologies, provide next generation green jobs and empower frontline communities impacted by climate change. The Green New Deal is being spearheaded by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Sen. Edward Markey and has been endorsed by dozens of Congresspersons and Senators including 2020 presidential candidates Kamala Harris, Kirsten Gillibrand, Elizabeth Warren, Cory Booker and Bernie Sanders. Youth-led climate activist group, Sunrise Movement, is planning a series of events in the presidential election cycle to make climate action and justice a key issue in the 2020 election.  Visit https://www.facebook.com/events/376596346507776/.

15] – On Sun., May 5 from 3 to 5 PM, meet the Moms Coffee, hosted by Moms Demand Action at Panera Bread, 413 West Baltimore St., Baltimore 21201. Get tickets at act.everytown.org.  Join Baltimore Area Moms Demand Action leadership team for coffee and conversation. This is a great way to learn about what is going on and how to get involved in the movement to end gun violence. You will hear about how you can be a part of our biggest event of the year - Wear Orange, June 7-9! Everyone is welcome, and bring a friend!  RSVP at https://act.everytown.org/event/moms-demand-action-event/21836/.  Look at https://www.facebook.com/events/397687117483344/.

15] – 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 6, 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] – On Mon., May 6 at 10 AM to Thurs., May 9 at 5 PM, get with Stop the Pipelines DC!  This is happening on the National Mall, WDC 20817. The VOICES (Victory Over In-frack-structure, Clean Energy inStead) coalition is planning an art installation, lobby days and action. The centerpiece of the event will be a living sculpture on the National Mall, right on Congress' doorstep that will illustrate and enumerate the harms done to our communities by pipelines and related fossil fuel infrastructure.  Use the sculpture as a jumping off point and conversation starter to meet with key members of Congress and ask them to hold hearings and open an investigation into FERC (the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission) and their many assaults on our rights and the rights of nature.  https://www.facebook.com/events/320370585253539/.

18] – On Mon., May 6 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/.

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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