Baltimore Activist Alert -- January 6 - 15, 2021

33] Taiwan Relations Act – Jan. 6

34] Thinking about the Next Phase of Iran Nuclear Diplomacy – Jan. 6

35] Coffee and a Column -- Jan. 6

36] Virtual Human Rights Delegation to Colombia -- Jan. 6

37] Assange’s extradition hearing – Jan. 6

38] Check out peace seeker – Jan. 7 -- 15

39] Special Emergency Election Protection Zoom -- Jan. 7

40] Food Rescue – Jan. 7

41] Town Hall on Beltway Expansion – Jan. 7

42] Virtual Lobbying to Close Guantanamo -- Jan. 7

43] Indivisible National Activist call – Jan. 7

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33] – On Wed., Jan. 6 from 9 to 10 AM ET, hear a Conversation with former Congressperson Lester Wolff, hosted by the Global Taiwan Institute/https://www.facebook.com/globaltaiwaninst/.  This online conversation with Wolff, the author of the new book “The Legislative Intent of the Taiwan Relations Act: A Dilemma Wrapped in an Enigma.” Since its passage in 1979, the Taiwan Relations Act has served as the foundation of the US relationship with Taiwan, providing a legal framework for navigating the complex state of affairs in the Taiwan Strait. Now, as tensions between the United States and China have reached their highest point in decades and as China ratchets up its pressure against Taiwan, the TRA has only grown in salience. During his time in Congress, Wolff was deeply involved in the US-China-Taiwan relationship, leading a congressional delegation to China and serving as one of the key architects of the TRA. The webcast will be broadcast live on the website and on YouTube. Questions may be sent by email to contact@globaltaiwan.org, through the chat function on the YouTube page, and via Twitter by tweeting @globaltaiwan. 

34] – On Wed., Jan. 6 from 1 to 2 PM ET, check out Thinking about the Next Phase of Iran Nuclear Diplomacy.  Join this Online Event at https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/presidential-transition-event-thinking-about-next-phase-iran-nuclear-diplomacy?fbclid=IwAR2jeD1tzKECVhgKtoyfPoK_-P2T1eZX_4p0wJHdR5LToMSXKLT6JkcP12Q. Visit the host The Washington Institute for Near East Policy at washingtoninstitute.org. President-elect Biden has said he wants to re-enter the Iran nuclear agreement from which President Trump withdrew in May 2018. Yet renewing that process will be no simple task given Iran’s subsequent violations of the JCPOA, persistent reservations among key U.S. allies, and congressional skepticism about further negotiations with Tehran. Threading this needle will require an innovative approach that reengages Iran while addressing allied concerns and preserving leverage for future talks. Ambassador Dennis Ross—who held the Iran portfolio on the National Security Council staff during President Obama’s first term—outlines just such a policy in the first installment of The Washington Institute’s 2021 Presidential Transition Memo Series.

35] – Jim Zogby (jzogby@aaiusa.org] is inviting you to join him on Wed., Jan.  6 from 2 to 2:30 PM ET for Coffee and a Column. This week, he reflects on the past two decades of US policy in the Middle East and public opinion in the region to see what can be done in the upcoming decade to move the region forward. Check out his latest column, "Setting the Stage for the Third Decade of the 21st Century," at https://gulfnews.com/opinion/op-eds/two-seminal-events-that-defined-two-decades-in-middle-east-1.76243865?emci=870e2f78-c34e-eb11-a607-00155d43c992&emdi=27808113-6f4f-eb11-a607-00155d43c992&ceid=389907.  Register at https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJcocuytrDIrGNNgQaQ3wFR0Z1FoU77kBJul?emci=870e2f78-c34e-eb11-a607-00155d43c992&emdi=27808113-6f4f-eb11-a607-00155d43c992&ceid=389907, and you will automatically get the dial-in information for the call.

36] – Join the first of a four day Virtual Human Rights Delegation to Colombia. The theme for this Wed., Jan. 6 at 7:30 PM discussion will be: “Exploitation of Natural Resources” with guest speakers: Juan Mayr, Peace Negotiator and former Minister of Environment, and Joselina Klinger, Director of Mano Cambiada Org.  You can watch and participate in this event via Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88170044754; Twitter https://t.co/V6RsqZ3AaC. @TaskAmericas @FriendsLatinAm https://t.co/kj6ELnJrXo and https://twitter.com/hey_ter/status/1346489943741190144?s=20 and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/100000046015883/posts/3934332816578213/?d=n. This is organized by the New Good Neighbor Policy Campaign.  See https://www.facebook.com/NewGoodNeighborPolicy/.

37] – Defending Rights & Dissent [info@rightsanddissent.org] has scheduled a webinar for Wed., Jan. 6 at 8:30 PM ET to discuss Julian Assange's UK Extradition Was Rejected - What Happens Next? There is a lot to unpack in the judge’s 132 page ruling, and there is still cause for concern. The judge’s decision will be appealed. And Assange is currently still imprisoned, with a bail hearing set for Wednesday determining whether he can go free. To make sense of this, hear from Kevin Gosztola who was accredited to cover the extradition hearings and reported on them daily. RSVP at https://rightsanddissent.org/live/assange-extradition-gosztola/?eType=EmailBlastContent&eId=c9914f23-ffd5-4f5a-b4cd-646ee0455969.

38] – On Thurs., Jan. 7 from 10 AM to 3 PM EST, check out peace seeker, an installation by Katie Addada Shlon at the Arcadia-Beverly Hills Historic District.  It will continue Fri., Jan. 8, Sat., Jan. 9, Thurs., Jan. 14 and Fri., Jan. 15.  Get tickets at calendly.com/theshedbaltimore/peace-seeker.  This is hosted by The Shed.  Through their latest installation, Katie Addada Shlon asks visitors to consider how use changes what is possible. Presenting object/instruments that have been made from second hand materials, Shlon encourages visitors to touch the sculptures gently while listening for harmony in the sounds made by the interactions. They explain, “Things may fall or break with the gentlest touch, but even that will make a sound worth listening to! People should be advised that there are sharp edges on broken ceramics and metal strings… hopefully no one gets hurt!” Despite the fragility and potential risk present in the works, the experience of this installation is conducive to a meditative state.

39] – On Thurs., Jan. 7 from 5 to 6:30 PM ET, Progressive Democrats of America [info@pdamerica.org] are holding a Special Emergency Election Protection Zoom.  This meeting will take place each Thursday, through Feb. 2.   Support PDA’s Efforts to End Voter Suppression.  Sign up at https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJYldumtrjIiH9L7_KfcFV1n8ynuO3anTGwp.

40] – On Thurs., Jan. 7 from 6 to 8 PM ET, check out the Food Rescue Giveaway! This is the Thursday Evenings at Old Major, 900 S. Carey St., Baltimore, which will continue through April 29. Go to https://www.facebook.com/OldMajorBaltimore/. This is a long-awaited evening Rescue, and Rescue in Southwest Baltimore, all in one! Get prepacked boxes from the carryout window on the Herkimer Street side of the building. Use the window bell or call 443-873-7363. And please, masks must be worn at the window. 

41] – On Thurs., Jan. 7 at 7:30 PM, get over to the  Town Hall on Beltway Expansion with legislators including Transportation chair Kumar Barve. Register at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/cabe-townhall-2021-action-outlook-tickets-134543014779. Join House Environment and Transportation Committee Chair Kumar Barve, Maryland National Capital Park and Planning Commission Chair Casey Anderson, House Transportation Sub-committee Chair Marc Korman, and Jared Solomon, CABE, Sierra Club and others to hear the latest on the outlook for legislation and action on the $11 billion I-495/I-270 Luxury Lane boondoggle and MDOT's efforts to accelerate the potential threat to taxpayers, traffic, and the environment.

42] – Witness Against Torture will hold a Virtual Training on Virtual Lobbying to Close Guantanamo on Thurs., Jan. 7 at 8 PM ET. Attend the training: Lobbying in a Time of Pandemic by going to https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82786472923?pwd=R1ViM3BDd0dDdlJ1S2dKaFpHTjJSdz09&mc_cid=80d1f6dee4&mc_eid=5ae22dbd02#success.  If you can't make the training, contact Richard Sroczynski (rsroczynski@verizon.net) for handouts and information. 

43] – The Indivisible January National Activist Call is on Thurs., Jan. 7 at 8 PM ET.  This call is taking place right after the Georgia runoff elections AND after Congress meets to count the electoral votes from each state -- that’s on purpose. Register at https://indivisible.zoom.us/webinar/register/5116071014471/WN_4Z5WhczSR8SS_xfootwk4w?utm_source=email&utm_medium=link8_20201214.

To be continued

Donations can be sent to Max Obuszewski, Baltimore Nonviolence Center, 431 Notre Dame Lane, Baltimore, MD 21212.  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