Baltimore Activist Alert -- February 1 - 7, 2023

50] Drone Warfare – Feb. 1

51] Nuclear weapons in the Middle East – Feb. 2

52] Germany's Foreign Policy Shift -- Feb. 2

53] Support SB51 -- Feb. 2

54] Deterrence in the Nuclear Age -- Feb. 2

55] Welcome Congress Campaign – Feb. 2

56] Brady Organizing Team for a virtual training – Feb. 2

57] Election Protection phone bank – Feb. 2, 3, 5 & 7

58] Defend the Atlanta Forest – Feb. 2

59] Protect the PA House Majority! -- Feb. 2

60] Stop the F-35 – Feb. 2

61] Implications of China’s Nuclear Buildup – Feb. 2

62] Progressive Legislation in 2023 General Assembly -- Feb. 2

63] Get Solar Energy grants – Feb. 2

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50] – The National Religious Campaign Against Torture [nrcatlist@nrcat.org] is asking you to join with the Interfaith Working Group on Drone Warfare for a webinar on Drone Warfare: Mobilizing for Change on Wed., Feb. 1 at 10 AM ET.  Panelists include Elizabeth Beavers, the Vice President of the NRCAT Board of Directors. Elizabeth will join Adotei Akwei of Amnesty International USA and Kevi Snow of the Friends Committee on Legislation for a 45 minute panel discussion, followed by a 30 minute Q&A session. Register at https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_78AWovCpR8SwVGzKWsGrtg?eType=EmailBlastContent&eId=af0ff976-12ba-4671-a0a3-16065a6bcb8f.

51] – On Thurs., Feb. 2 at noon ET, check a CISSM Global Forum: Comparative Reactions to Israel’s Nuclear Posture & Egypt and Iran's Divergent Nuclear Decisions. It will take place at the University of Maryland, SPP Building, Room 0102, College Park. Email DENTRIK@UMD.EDU. The overarching goal of the presentation is to conduct an investigation of regional perspectives on the impact of Israel’s nuclear monopoly on nuclear decisions in the Middle East. In so doing, the presentation addresses the question as to why Egypt and Iran have taken divergent nuclear paths relative to Israel’s nuclear posture. The point of departure for this inquiry is whether the ‘introduction’ of Israel’s nuclear weapons has ever played a pivotal role in the nuclear decisions and escalation dynamics in the Middle East.  The speaker is ElSayed, an Egyptian diplomat with 18 years of experience in international and regional security. His exposure to key files has provided him with a solid perspective of the technical and political imperatives of arms control, nuclear disarmament, and nuclear nonproliferation.  Register at https://cissm.umd.edu/events/cissm-global-forum-comparative-reactions-israels-nuclear-posture-egypt-and-irans-divergent.

52] – On Thurs., Feb. 2 at 1 PM ET, hear about One Year On: Germany's Foreign Policy Shift and the War in Ukraine, hosted by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, WDC.  You can participate online.  On 27 February 2022, three days after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced a set of transformative measures for Germany’s foreign and defense policy. One year on, to what extent has the war in Ukraine changed not only German politics and public opinion, but that of its allies? Looking ahead, how will the “Zeitenwende” impact relations with actors like Russia and China?  Hear from Julia Ganter (Körber-Stiftung) and Jacob Poushter (Pew Research Centre), who will share brief insights on German and U.S. public opinion based on the survey results of the annual report The Berlin Pulse. A panel discussion will follow with Emily Haber, Oksana Markarova, Dan Baer, and Sophia Besch. RSVP at https://carnegieendowment.org/2023/02/02/one-year-on-germany-s-foreign-policy-shift-and-war-in-ukraine-event-8008.

53] – Join Jews United at upcoming hearings, either virtually or in Annapolis.  Contact Molly Amster at info@jufj.org.  On Thurs., Feb. 2 from 1 to 5 PM ET, Support SB51 (Reduce Unnecessary, Harmful Interactions with Police). Transforming Public Safety Hearing: Support SB51 will take place in the Maryland Senate Office Building, 11 Bladen St., Annapolis 21401.  Sign up at https://jufj.org/event/sb51/?emci=07716425-ef98-ed11-994c-00224832eb73&emdi=671af88c-f098-ed11-994c-00224832eb73&ceid=3403859.

54] – On Thurs., Feb. 2 at 3:30 PM ET, tune into The Fragile Balance of Terror: Deterrence in the Nuclear Age [Hybrid], hosted by Stanford University. Register at https://cisac.fsi.stanford.edu/events/rose-mcdermott-and-amy-zegart-february-2023. The foremost experts on nuclear policy and strategy offer insight into an era rife with more nuclear powers. Some of these new powers suffer domestic instability, others are led by pathological personalist dictators, and many are situated in highly unstable regions of the world—a volatile mix of variables.  The increasing fragility of deterrence in the twenty-first century is created by a confluence of forces: military technologies that create vulnerable arsenals, a novel information ecosystem that rapidly transmits both information and misinformation, nuclear rivalries that include three or more nuclear powers, and dictatorial decision making that encourages rash choices. The nuclear threats posed by India, Pakistan, Iran, and North Korea are thus fraught with danger.

The Fragile Balance of Terror, edited by Vipin Narang and Scott D. Sagan, brings together a diverse collection of rigorous and creative scholars who analyze how the nuclear landscape is changing for the worse. Two speakers will discuss the book: Rose McDermott is the David and Mariana Fisher University Professor of International Relations at Brown University and a Fellow in the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.  Amy Zegart is a senior fellow at the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies and Professor of Political Science by courtesy at Stanford University.

55] – HIAS [info@hias.org] wants you to join an advocacy team for the Welcome to Congress Campaign on Thurs., Feb. 2 at 4 PM ET. Take Action for Refugees and Asylum Seekers. This program will provide a policy overview of some of the critical issues we expect to face in this Congress, a training on best ways to be successful gathering signatures to send to your members of Congress, and an opportunity for your community to take action toward systemic change during or just after your Refugee Shabbat programming. Register at https://hias.org/events/welcome-congress-take-action-your-congregation-community-refugees-and-asylum-seekers/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=hias.org&utm_campaign=230130_RefugeeShabbatInvite_e3&utm_content=230130+RefugeeShabbatInvite+e3.

56] – On Thurs., Feb. 2 from 5 to 6 PM ET, get with the Brady Organizing Team for a virtual training. Do you need support from Brady’s organizing team? Have new ideas to combat gun violence, but don’t know how to get them off the ground? Every week, a member of the organizing team is here to support your work. Sign up for the shift that works best for your schedule. If you can't find a time that works for you, email rgonzalez@bradyunited.org to schedule time to talk. RSVP at https://www.mobilize.us/mobilize/event/380248/?followup_modal_context=nonexclusive_newsletter_closest.  This will continue on Thursdays through Dec. 21.

57] – On Thurs., Feb. 2 from 5 to 7 PM ET, Fri., Feb. 3 from 4 to 6 PM, Sun. Feb. 5 from 6 to 8 PM, and Tues., Feb. 7 from 4 to 6 PM ET, there is a Common Cause organized Election Protection phone bank.  These phone banks will continue until April 2, 2023.  Work together to demand bold changes to our democracy to create a government that represents all of us, not big corporations or special interests. Register at https://www.mobilize.us/dfadcoalition/event/376178/?followup_modal_context=organization_newsletter_custom_recommendations. Register for a shift to make calls to recruit poll monitors to support nonpartisan Election Protection efforts in the GA Run-Offs.  Join in to make calls Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and/or Sundays.

58] – Food Not Bombs will host a film screening of The Animal People (2019) on Thurs., Feb. 2 at 5 PM ET as a benefit to Defend the Atlanta Forest. The screening and fundraiser will be held at The Outrage, 1811 14 St. NW, WDC. Tickets are available on a sliding scale from $5-$25. Enjoy free drinks, snacks and ‘zines. Masks are required. Tickets are at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/film-screening-fundraiser-for-defend-the-atlanta-forest-tickets-524019294817?link_id=42&can_id=4b9d4061aec5469758759317ac0f5285&source=email-metro-dc-dsa-weekly-newsletter-for-january-20-2023&email_referrer=email_1798616&email_subject=metro-dc-dsa-weekly-newsletter-for-january-27-2023.

59] – On Thurs., Feb. 2 at 6 PM ET, help during Special Election VBM Calls to Protect the PA House Majority! There are three crucial special elections in Allegheny County coming up to fill seats in PA's HD 32, HD 34, & HD 35! Join the Zoom phone bank and reach out to Democrats to request and then chase mail-in ballots. Help elect Democrats & protect the majority in the PA House! Training & support is provided during every phone bank! Sign up at https://www.mobilize.us/mobilize/event/547049/?followup_modal_context=nonexclusive_newsletter_most_popular_virtual.

60] – On Thurs., Feb. 2 at 6 PM ET, CODEPINK is holding a virtual Ground the F-35 Letter Writing Party at https://www.codepink.org/f35_letterwriting.  Promote it on social media! 

61] – Massachusetts Peace Action [info@masspeaceaction.org] on Thurs., Feb. 2 from 7 to 8 PM ET is holding an online  webinar -- Myths, Realities, and Implications of China’s Nuclear Buildup. The Pentagon’s annual report on Chinese military power, released on Nov. 29, 2022, claims that China’s nuclear stockpile will jump from some 400 warheads today to an estimated 1,500 warheads in 2035. This claim has been seized upon by military hawks in Congress to fuel their clamor for increased military spending, approving a record $858 fiscal year 2023 Pentagon budget – $45 billion more than President Biden requested. Most of the increased spending was earmarked for weaponry to counter China.  Register at https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_w2CR0SRRTwKiIV2wtifwUg.

While most observers agree that Beijing is expanding and modernizing its very small (as compared to those of the U.S. and Russia) nuclear force, there is widespread debate as to the scale and rapidity of those endeavors. With many in Washington now citing the Pentagon’s claims of a Chinese nuclear buildup to justify the further expansion of America’s already vast nuclear arsenal, it is essential to interrogate the claims of the Pentagon’s China military power report lest we all be drawn into a new, profoundly dangerous arms race.

The Committee for a Sane U.S.-China Policy invites you to join three outstanding experts to learn more about China’s nuclear buildup, the debate over its scale and intent, and how all this might inform U.S. foreign and military policy. The panelists are Michael Klare, co-chair of the Committee for a Sane U.S.-China Policy and a senior visiting fellow at the Arms Control Association in Washington, D.C.; Hans Kristensen, director of the Nuclear Information Project at the Federation of American Scientists; and Zhao Tong, a senior fellow in the Nuclear Policy Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

62] – Our Revolution Maryland [hal@ourrevolutionmd.com] on Thurs., Feb. 2 at 7:30 PM ET is holding a meeting on Progressive Legislation in 2023 General Assembly. Former State Delegate Jimmy Tarlau will provide a status update on several progressive bills in the MD General Assembly. Learn how to promote passage of this legislation. The calls to action are at www.ourrevolutionmd.com.  RSVP for the meeting at https://www.mobilize.us/ourrevolution/event/547475 - to get the Zoom link. 

63] – Solar United Neighbors [advocacy@solarunitedneighbors.org]on Thurs., Feb. 2 at 8 PM ET wants you to learn about grants to help farms & rural small businesses go solar. Visit https://solarunitedneighbors-org.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_aDl3b0U-RkuPFf4TtXfnrQ.

To be continued.

Donations can be sent to Max Obuszewski, Baltimore Nonviolence Center, 431 Notre Dame Lane, Apt. 206, 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