Sunday, December 21, 2014

Baltimore Activist Alert - December 16 - 18, 2014

18] Support the people of Bahrain – Dec. 16
19] Nuclear deal with Iran – Dec. 16
20] Philadelphia Peace Vigil – Dec. 16
21] No JHU Drone Research – Dec. 16
22] Amy Goodman at Busboys – Dec. 16
23] Write prisoners, including Chelsea Manning – Dec. 16
24] "U.S. Nuclear Arms Control Policy" – Dec. 17
25] “U.S.-South Korea Nuclear Cooperation Negotiations" – Dec. 17
26] Improve cocoa farmers' livelihoods – Dec. 17
27] Stop Exelon – Dec. 17
28] Housing for All meeting – Dec. 17
29] Police brutality & Capitalism– Dec. 17
30] Black lives matter – Dec. 17
31] Celebrate CNED – Dec. 18
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18] – Go to 3502 International Drive NW, WDC 20008 on Tues., Dec. 16 at noon and join activists in front of the Bahrain Embassy. Stand in solidarity with the Bahrain people! December 16th marks the day that the Bahraini ruling family was elevated to royal status with the coronation of Emir Isa bin Salman, the father to today's King of Bahrain. This self declared elevation took place four months after Bahrain achieved independence from the British Empire on August 15th, 1971. Instead of celebrating independence and self-determination, Bahrain National Day celebrates autocracy and oppression.

The people of Bahrain are still calling for a more representative government and have historically marked this day by engaging in pro-democracy protests. This is co-sponsored by the U.S. Foreign Policy Activist Cooperative, Society for Ethics, Peace and Global Affairs (SEPGA) at American University and Freedom House. See https://www.facebook.com/events/1422308001324982/?ref=6&ref_notif_type=plan_user_invited.

19] – On Tues., Dec. 16 from 1 to 2 PM, Larry Hanauer, RAND, takes on "Congressional Options and Their Likely Consequences for a Nuclear Deal with Iran." The presentation, sponsored by RAND, will take place in B 369 Rayburn House Office Building, WDC. RSVP http://www.rand.org/congress/activities/2014/12/16/registration.html.

20] – Each Tuesday from 4:30 - 5:30 PM, the Catholic Peace Fellowship-Philadelphia for peace in Afghanistan and Iraq gathers at the Suburban Station, 16th St. & JFK Blvd., at the entrance to Tracks 3 and 4 on the mezzanine. The next vigil is Dec. 16. Call 215-426-0364.

21] – Vigil to say "No Drone Research at JHU" each Tuesday at 33rd & North Charles Sts. Join this ongoing vigil on Dec. 16 from 5:30 to 6:30 PM. Call Max at 410-366-1637.

22] – Visit Busboys and Poets, 5th and K Sts. NW, WDC on Tues., Dec. 16 from 5:30 to 7:30 PM as WPFW welcomes award winning journalist, author, producer and host of "Democracy Now," Amy Goodman, for a reception. She will discuss current events and her book "The Silenced Majority." This is a fundraiser for radio station WPFW 89.3 FM, and tickets are $100. Call 202-588-0999 ext. 344 or email membership@wpfw.org.

23] – On Tues., Dec. 16 from 6 to 8 PM, join Amnesty International, black and pink and Casa Ruby at Busboys and Poets, 2021 14th St. NW, WDC 20009, (14th and V Sts.). This event is being held as part of a week of Amnesty International's solidarity events with Chelsea Manning, whose birthday is on December 17th. Come together to write birthday cards to Manning and letters to the US government asking for her immediate release. Support the Casa Ruby LGBT Community Center, and send letters and holiday cards to members of the LGBTQ family in prison through black & pink.

AI will provide all card-making materials and specific instructions about what not to write or include in your mailing to ensure that it passes through to the other side. Feel free to bring your own materials. Enjoy soulful beats by DJ Ayescold. Refreshments will be provided. Email Noor at nmir@aiusa.org.

24] – On Wed., Dec. 17 from 10 to 11:30 AM, Rose Gottemoeller, Undersecretary of State for Arms Control and International Security, will examine "U.S. Nuclear Arms Control Policy" at the Brookings Institution, Falk Auditorium, 1775 Massachusetts Ave. NW, WDC 20036. RSVP at http://connect.brookings.edu/register-to-attend-nuclear-arms-gottemoeller.

25] – On Wed., Dec. 17 from noon to 1:30 PM, Scott Snyder, Council on Foreign Relations, will address "Breaking the Stalemate in U.S.-South Korea Nuclear Cooperation Negotiations" at Global America Business Institute, 1001 Connecticut Ave. NW, Suite 435, WDC. RSVP to Christina Sookyung Jung at csjung@thegabi.com.

26] –Join the International Labor Rights Forum on Wed., Dec. 17 from 2 to 4 PM to explore how to improve cocoa farmers' livelihoods! Despite nearly two decades of projects aimed at improving education, increasing productivity, and implementing cocoa certification, farmers in Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire still make significantly less than $2 a day. Such meager earnings leave farmers vulnerable to even minor economic or climate shocks, and fuel abuses such as child labor and labor trafficking.

ILRF will release a report analyzing these trends and convene a panel discussion about how to change the cocoa industry for the better. The panel discussion A Fair Share for Cocoa Farmers: How to Foster a More Just Trade in Chocolate's Main Ingredient is taking place at the American Federation of Teachers, 4th floor conference room, 555 New Jersey Ave. NW, WDC, and will include Judy Gearhart, executive director, International Labor Rights Forum, Jeff Morgan, director of global programs, Mars Chocolate, Kevin Willcutts, deputy director, International Labor Affairs Bureau, U.S. Department of Labor and, as the facilitator, Marina Colby, senior counter-trafficking in persons fellow, Center for Excellence on Democracy, Human Rights and Governance, USAID. RSVP at http://action.laborrights.org/p/salsa/event/common/public/?event_KEY=13303.

27] – Join the Nuclear Information and Resource Service on Wed., Dec. 17 to fight the Exelon takeover & then get over to the party. NIRS is launching a new coalition--PowerDC--to oppose Exelon's takeover of Pepco in Washington, DC and mobilizing D.C. residents for the first public hearing. RSVP at http://salsa3.salsalabs.com/o/50105/p/salsa/event/common/public/?event_KEY=80213.

Gather at 5 PM at the Center for American Progress, 1333 H St. NW, 10th Floor. There will be a press conference announcing the coalition at 5:30 PM. Then go downstairs to the Public Service Commission hearing at 6 PM. Afterward, everyone is invited to a party back at the Center for American Progress on the 10th Floor. There will be snacks and drink!

Exelon is the nation's largest nuclear power utility and it is foundering. It is also aggressively anti-wind power and other renewables. It wants to take over our local utility, Pepco, in order to be able to start paying dividends to its shareholders--who haven't been getting much in recent years--not to improve our electricity service or help DC become the leader in clean energy that so many have been working for. The DC Public Service Commission can block the merger (which would also affect Exelon’s takeover of Pepco in Maryland) simply by recognizing that it wouldn't be a good deal for DC ratepayers. The PSC needs to hear from all of us that we don't want Exelon in DC!

28] –On Wed., Dec. 17 at 6 PM, the third Wednesday of each month, help shape the Housing For All Campaign, be actively involved in your government, and help connect new people to affordable housing advocacy! Come to Coalition for Nonprofit Housing & Economic Development, 1432 U St. NW (in the alley behind City First Bank), WDC. Refreshments will be provided. RSVP at http://www.cnhed.org/housing-for-all-campaign/.

29] – At the ECAC, 733 Euclid St. NW, WDC, on Wed., Dec. 17 from 6:30 to 8:30 PM, come out and share some hot cocoa, tea and cookies as the All-African People's Revolutionary Party (AAPRP) discusses the relationship between capitalism and police terrorism. Of course, this is taking place in the wake of the recent killings of many African youth in the U.S. The party recognizes that police terrorism is a symptom of capitalism, and it is not an isolated issue that only impacts Africans in America. See http://www.aaprp-intl.org/event/capitalism-and-police-terrorism-family-affair-washington-dc-us.

30] – The Jewish community stands against police brutality. This Hanukkah some of them hope to dedicate themselves to making a world in which Black lives truly matter. Help amplify Black, Jewish and gentile voices and combat racism and the targeting of Black people. At the Sixth and I Historic Synagogue, 600 I St. NW, WDC 20001, on Tues., Dec. 16 at 7 PM, bear witness, say Kaddish for the victims of police brutality, and light the first candle in hope and commitment to racial justice. Email rebecca@jufj.org. The evening is hosted by Jews United for Justice and Sixth and I Historic Synagogue. RSVP at http://org2.salsalabs.com/o/5483/p/salsa/event/common/public/?event_KEY=72782.

31] – Celebrate the Coalition for Nonprofit Housing & Economic Development CNED at the Mead Center for American Theater at Arena Stage, 1101 Sixth St. SW, WDC, on Thurs., Dec. 18 from noon to 2 PM. Also meet the new executive director Stephen Glaude review of the 2014 accomplishments, look towards the goals in 2015, and vote for their board members.

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

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