Friday, April 12, 2013

Baltimore Activist Alert Apr. 12, 13, 2013

Baltimore Activist Alert Apr. 12 – Apr. 18, 2013


"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 410-366-1637 or mobuszewski [at] verizon.net.

Tune into the Maryland Progressive Blog at http://mdprogblog.org.

1] Books, buttons & stickers

2] Web site for info on federal legislation

3] Join Nonviolent Resistance lists

4] Buy coffee through HoCoFoLa

5] Jerusalem Fund Gallery exhibit – through Apr. 12

6] Fasting for the climate – through Apr. 30

7] LIGHT by Art Spirit – through May 12

8] Homage to Harriet – through June 23

9] White House vigil – Apr. 12

10] Debating Taboo's – Apr. 12

11] WIB Roland Park vigil – Apr. 12

12] Justice for Palestine/Israel vigil – Apr. 12

13] See a drone on JHU’s Homewood campus – Apr. 12 & 13

14] Silent peace vigil – Apr. 12

15] MUPJ annual conference – Apr. 12 & 13

16] Discussion with ADINA BASTIDAS – Apr.12

17] The Common Ground – Apr. 12

18] Ballroom dancing – Apr. 12

19] Activate Your Inner Citizen – Apr. 13

20] Olney peace vigil – Apr. 13

21] West Chester, PA demo – Apr. 13

22] Silent vigil at Capitol – Apr. 13

23] Say No to Drone Warfare – Apr. 13

24] Theatre of the Oppressed Workshop – Apr. 13

25] JFK's Commencement Address – Apr. 13

26] "A Walk in the Woods" – Apr. 13





1] – Buttons, bumperstickers and books are available. “God Bless the Whole World, No Exceptions” stickers are in stock. Donate your books to Max. Call him at 410-366-1637.



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 the war in Iraq.



To join the ORGANIZING List, please send your name, group affiliation, city and email address to donmuller@msn.com. Different local chapters of a national organization are encouraged to subscribe.



THE NOTICES LIST will include only notices of NCNR actions and related information and is open to any interested person to subscribe. It will be moderated to maintain focus & will include periodic notices about getting involved in NCNR national organizing. To join the NOTICES List, send an email message to ncnrnotices-subscribe@lists.riseup.net. You will get a confirmation message once subscribed. If you have problems, please write to the list manager at ncnrnotices-admin@lists.riseup.net.



4] – You can help safeguard human rights and fragile ecosystems through your purchase of HOCOFOLA Café Quetzal. Bags of ground coffee or whole beans can be ordered by mailing in an order form. Also note organic cocoa and sugar are for sale. For more details and to download the order form, go to http://friendsoflatinamerica.typepad.com/hocofola/2010/02/hocofola-cafe-quetzal-order-form-2010.html. The coffee comes in one-pound bags.



Fill out the form and mail it with a check made out to HOCOFOLA on or before the second week of the month. Be sure you indicate ground or beans for each type of coffee ordered. Send it to Adela Hirsch, 5358 Eliots Oak Rd., Columbia, MD 21044. Be sure you indicate ground (G) or bean (B) for each type of coffee ordered. The coffee will arrive some time the following week and you will be notified where to pick it up. Contact Adela at 410-997-5662 or via e-mail at adela4peace@verizon.net.



5] – "Undefeated Despair: Precarity, Public Art, and Solidarity in Palestine and Lebanon" closes Fri., Apr. 12 at 6 PM at The Jerusalem Fund Gallery, 2425 Virginia Ave. NW, WDC 22037. This exhibit brings together examples of work from three mural projects coordinated by Break The Silence Media and Arts Project. Based in San Francisco, BTS/MAP works in the intersection of trauma, memory, creativity, resilience and resistance, aims to engage people on multiple levels through murals, video, art/research, multi and trans media projects to see and imagine new possibilities, think critically and organize to reveal hidden histories and the connections between struggles for social justice globally. Visit http://www.thejerusalemfund.org/ht/d/sp/i/9242/pid/9242.



6] – Through Tues., Apr. 30, join fasting for the climate, go to http://www.1future.net.



7] – The Arts Council of Metropolitan Memorial United Methodist Church presents LIGHT by Art Spirit, an Arts Collective, through Sun., May 12 at the Great Hall, 3401 Nebraska Ave. NW, WDC 20016. The exhibition hours are Monday-Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM, and Sundays, 9 AM to 12:30 PM. Call 202-363-4900 or go to www.nationalchurch.org.



8] – Homage to Harriet, works about and inspired by the life and legacy of Maryland-born abolitionist Harriet Tubman, continues through June 23 at Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History and Culture, 830 E. Pratt St. Call 443-263-1800. Go to http://www.africanamericanculture.org/.

9] – A peace vigil takes place every Friday from noon to 1 PM at Lafayette Park facing the White House. Join the Dorothy Day Catholic Worker and friends. However, on Good Friday, it takes place from 11:30 to 12:30 PM. Contact Art Laffin: artlaffin@hotmail.com.

10] – Debating Taboo's is happening on Fri., Apr. 12 at noon at the Carnegie Institution of Washington, 1530 P St. NW. Ralph Nader invites you to the fifth debate in the series: What are the Pitfalls and Benefits of Ballistic Missile Defense? Hear from James Woolsey, chair of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, Rebeccah Heinrichs, The Heritage Foundation, MIT Professor Ted Postol and Kingston Reif, Director of Nuclear Non-Proliferation at the Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation. The moderator will be Desmond Butler of the Associated Press. A complimentary light lunch will be held following the debate. Email info@csrl.org,

11] – There is also a noon Women in Black vigil on Apr. 12 at Roland Park Place, 830 W. 40th St. Call 410-467-9114.



12] – A vigil for Justice in Palestine/Israel takes place every Friday from noon to 1 PM at 19th & JFK Blvd., Philadelphia (across from Israeli Consulate. It is sponsored by Bubbies & Zaydes (Grandparents) for Peace in the Middle East. Email cswartz@pil.net. Go to http://phillyjewishpeace.org/.



13] – The Human Rights Working Group at Johns Hopkins University will host a drone warfare and surveillance exhibition at the university’s Homewood campus as part of Spring Fair. The exhibition will feature an 11’ scale model of a MQ-9 Reaper drone, which will patrol the campus providing live surveillance video to a computer monitor. The Reaper, one of the drones used to carry out military strikes in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Yemen, Somalia, and elsewhere, is among the robotic weapons systems that engineers at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory have helped develop. The exhibition is part of the HRWG’s campaign for a moratorium on Pentagon-funded drone research at Hopkins pending a full discussion about the ethics of the university's involvement. The exhibition will take place on Fri., Apr. 12 from 4 to 7 PM and Sat., Apr. 13 from 4 to 7 PM in the Keyser Quad (by Gilman Hall).

14] – There is a silent peace vigil on Fri., Apr. 12 from 5 to 6 PM outside Homewood Friends Meetinghouse, 3107 N. Charles St. Placards say: "War Is Not the Answer." The silent vigil is sponsored by Homewood Friends and Stony Run Meetings.

15] – The 28th Annual Peace, Justice, & Environment Conference: “Building Bridges; Creating the Beloved Community” starts on Fri., Apr. 12 at 5 PM, and continues through 7 PM on Sat., Apr. 13 at 7201 16th Place, Hyattsville. Hosted by the Maryland United for Peace and Justice, Inc., on Friday enjoy the traditional potluck dinner and hear Ray McGovern speak about peace work. On Saturday, Wallis Baxter, a PhD candidate from Howard University, will be speaking on Howard Thurman’s idea of the Beloved Community, Gustavo Torres, Director of CASA Maryland, and David Swanson who will talk about links between the peace community and other groups (labor, minorities, etc.). There will be 10 workshops, one session in the morning and one in the afternoon.

As usual, the Fred Benjamin Peace Awards will also be taking place. This event sponsors high school students to write essays or poems, and create art and music about the theme of the conference. Each participating school receives a large Peace Pole to place in a prominent place. The students also receive a smaller Peace Pole and certificate of participation. Call 301-390-9684.

16] – In honor of the return of democracy and the democratically elected PRESIDENT HUGO CHAVEZ FRIAS on April 13, 2002 and the upcoming presidential election in Venezuela on April 14, 2013, you are invited to a discussion with ADINA BASTIDAS, former Venezuelan Vice President and current representative of Venezuela to the Interamerican Development Bank. It will take place on Fri., Apr. 12 at 7 PM at the Bolivarian Hall, 2443 Massachusetts Ave. NW, WDC.



The event is co-sponsored by numerous organizations, including the All Peoples Congress and the Baltimore Peoples Power Assembly. Call 410-218-4835. There will be a CAR CARAVAN from Baltimore. Help decorate the cars, and leave promptly at 4 PM. Let APC know if you can drive or if you need a seat.

17] – On Fri., Apr. 12 at 7 PM @ Red Emma's, 800 St. Paul St., hear scott crow make a presentation Black Flags and Windmills: Hope, Anarchy and The Common Ground Collective. crow uses his book as a foundation for a visual, fast moving and engaging presentation of stories to show what ordinary people can do to change their own worlds and create power from below without governments. The presentation seeks through a collection of stories to show how the philosophy of anarchism has shaped and changed modern political movements. Anarchism’s influence on organization and actions has allowed spaces for projects like the Common Ground Collective, the largest anarchist organization in modern US history to come into existence after Hurricane Katrina, the Occupy uprisings, and the environmental climate change movements across the US. The presentation which is equal parts personal story, radical history and organizing philosophies asks questions about how we engage in social change, the real and perceived challenges presented by the state and dares us to rethink our grassroots movements in how we engage for the future.



18] – There is an opportunity to participate in ballroom dancing, usually every Friday of the month, in the JHU ROTC Bldg. at 8 PM. Turn south on San Martin Dr. from the intersection of Univ. Parkway and 39th St. Drive on campus by taking the third left turn. The next dance will be Apr. 12. Call Dave Greene at 410-599-3725.



19] – The Activate Your Inner Citizen: University series is happening at Coppin State Univ. on Sat., Apr.13 from 8:30 AM to 12:30 PM. A number of workshops and resources will be available for Baltimore residents to learn what it takes to manage a community association and coordinate neighborhood improvement projects. This will also be a great opportunity for citizens to meet community leaders from Baltimore City. The event is free, but pre-registration is required. Call CPHA at 410-539-1369 x107.



20] – Friends House, 17715 Meeting House Rd., Sandy Spring, MD 20860, hosts a peace vigil every Saturday, 10:30 to 11:30 AM, on the corner of Rt. 108 and Georgia Ave. [Route 97] in Olney, MD. The next vigil is Apr. 13. Call Chuck Harker at 301-570-7167.



21] – Each Saturday, 11 AM – 1 PM, Chester County Peace Movement holds a peace vigil in West Chester in front of the Chester County Courthouse, High & Market Sts. Go to www.ccpeace.org. Email ccpeacemovement@aol.com.

22] – There will be a peace vigil on the West Lawn of the Capitol at noon on Sat., Apr. 13. Look for the blue banner with the message, "Seek Peace and Pursue It.--Psalms 34:14." The vigil lasts one hour and is silent except when one responds to the occasional questions. Go to http://www.quaker.org/langleyhill/seekpeace.htm or email seekpeacevigil@yahoo.com.

23] – The ANSWER Coalition has organized a Sat., Apr. 13 White House Rally & March starting at noon. Say No to Drone Warfare and No to Endless War Against Africa, the Middle East, Asia and Everywhere! This is not the usual demonstration. Demonstrators are asked to do one or more of the following:



Help expose and dramatize the scale of the war crimes committed by U.S. drone warfare: carry a flag-draped coffin representing the victims of drone attacks in Pakistan, Yemen, Somalia, Afghanistan, Libya, Iraq and other countries. The symbolic coffins will be draped in the flags of the various countries where the United States is conducting these illegal and murderous attacks. Deliver these coffins to the doorstep of the White House and the D.C. offices of major corporations who make super-profits from making and selling drones to the Pentagon and CIA.



Hold a picture of one of the 5,000 people killed by drone attacks: Most of those who have been killed are civilians. Many are children. Participate in a Die-In at the offices of General Atomics Corporation, the manufacturer of the Predator Drone – the favorite killing machine of the CIA and Pentagon.



Join the Palestine Contingent: Recognizing that the apartheid regime of Israel is one of the world's largest exporters of drones and drone technology, Students for Justice in Palestine at Temple and American Universities, as well as American University Jewish Voices for Peace, are calling for all groups in solidarity with the Palestinian people to mobilize as part of the "Free Palestine" contingent. Please contact Temple University Students for Justice in Palestine at sjptemple@gmail.com if you or your organization is interested in joining this contingent. Email baltimore@answercoalition.org or call 443-759-9968.

24] – Catch a Theatre of the Oppressed Workshop on Sat., Apr. 13 from 2 to 5 PM at the Peace House, 1233 12th St. NW. Augusto Boal, a Brazilian theatre practitioner from Sao Paulo, created the Theatre of the Oppressed, which is a form of theatre that seeks to facilitate dialogue and discussion about issues of social inequality. Through the use of various techniques, such as Forum theatre, the workshop is designed to bring about a debate/ discussion about any social justice issue that the group, as a collective, decides to undertake. The workshop will begin with basic warm up games and exercises. Visit https://www.facebook.com/events/367485303359950/.

25] – On Sat., Apr. 13 from 2 to 6 PM at American University, Ward Circle 1, 4400 Massachusetts Ave. NW, WDC, ear "The Strength of Dialogue: In Honor of JFK's Commencement Address (1963-2013)" with Sergei Khrushchev, Brown University, former Rep. James Symington (MO), John Beyrle, former Ambassador to Russia, Vladimir Pechatnov, MGIMO University, Moscow, and Allen Pietrobon, American University. RSVP IRC@american.edu.



26] – Join PSR for the Quotidian Theater Company's thought-provoking, politically infused two-man play called "A Walk in the Woods" by Lee Blessing on April 13, 2013 at 2 PM at The Writer's Center, 4508 Walsh Street, Bethesda 20815. The D.C. chapter will lead a discussion about the current state of nuclear weapons after the play. In Blessing's Pulitzer-nominated play set in 1985, a Russian arms negotiator and his American counterpart meet informally after long, frustrating hours at the bargaining table in Geneva. As their talks continue, it becomes clear to both men that, despite their growing understanding and even admiration for each other, the mistrust between their governments will continue to hinder progress and cause profound frustration.



Blessing credits the play's lasting power to its subject. "While today's politics are different from those of the Cold War,” he says, “the world's no less dangerous, and the possibility of a small country touching off a major conflagration by using just one nuclear device grows greater every day. How do we negotiate now that we possess weapons we never actually want to be forced to use? Sadly, I think A Walk in the Woods may seem relevant for quite some time to come." PSR-DC has reserved a limited number of tickets at a group rate of $15/person. Contact MOHAMMAD KHALID . There is free parking across the street.

To be continued.

Donations can be sent to the Baltimore Nonviolence Center, 325 E. 25th St., Baltimore, MD 21218. Ph: 410-366-1637; Email: mobuszewski [at] verizon.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

No comments: