Baltimore Activist Alert October 2 - 7, 2016

Baltimore Activist Alert October 2 - 7, 2016

"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 mobuszewski [at] verizon.net.

1] Books, buttons and stickers

2] Web site for info on federal legislation

3] Join Nonviolent Resistance lists  

4] Two friends are looking to buy a house in Baltimore

5] Democracy Spring Maryland Training – Oct. 2

6] “BUILD One Baltimore.” – Oct. 2

7] Local Love: a FREE Humane Education Event – Oct. 2

8] BALTIMORE GREEN FORUM – Oct. 2

9] Continuing Talk on Race -- Oct. 2

10] UPA Benefit Concert – Oct. 2

11] Pentagon Vigil – Oct. 3

12] Forced From Home Community – Oct. 3 - 7

13] Marc Steiner on WEAA – Oct. 3 – Oct. 7

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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 the war in Iraq.

To join the ORGANIZING List, please send your name, group affiliation, city and email address to mobuszewski at Verizon.net.  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] – Janice and Max are looking to buy a house in Baltimore.  Let Max know if you have any leads—410-323-1607 or mobuszewski at Verizon dot net.

5] – You are invited to the first ever Democracy Spring Maryland Training, taking place on Sun., Oct. 2 from 9 AM to 6:30 PM at Real News Network, 231 N. Holliday St., Baltimore.  This free, one-day, intensive program will cover Democracy Spring's DNA: its structure, story and strategy.  It will be an opportunity to learn, build community as a team, and prepare to take direct action along with dozens of other teams across the country. Together we can launch a flood of powerful, decentralized actions around the country that will build the mandate for reform and win a real democracy. Register at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdCvxJN07r6FZRd02_A9fm-jvBGVqEDDAAHb5_QNSG8MoPxSg/viewform?c=0&w=1.  Make contact at dsfieldteam@gmail.com. Check out Democracy Spring at http://www.democracyspring.org/.

6] – Usually, the Baltimore Ethical Society, 306 W. Franklin St., Suite 102, Baltimore 21201-4661, meets on Sundays, and generally there is a speaker and discussion from 10:30 AM to noon.  On Sun., Oct. 2, the topic is “BUILD One Baltimore.”  Baltimoreans United In Leadership Development is a broad-based, non-partisan, interfaith, multiracial community power organization rooted in Baltimore’s neighborhoods and congregations. BUILD is dedicated to making our city a better place for all Baltimoreans to live and thrive. For more than 35 years, BUILD has worked to improve housing, increase job opportunities, and rebuild schools and neighborhoods, among other issues. It is affiliated with the Industrial Areas Foundation, a coalition of like-minded organizations in cities across the United States. In 2015, BES joined BUILD and has been actively participating in their work on voter registration and the Port Covington TIF. Come learn more about BUILD and how you can help out. Visit BUILD on the web at www.buildiaf.org. Call 410-581-2322 or email ask@bmorethical.org.

7] – The Maryland SPCA hosts Local Love: a FREE Humane Education Event at White Marsh Mall on Sun., Oct. 2 from 11 AM to 4 PM for the first ever family fun day at White Marsh Mall. There will be food trucks, face-painting, photo booth, games and prizes, mascots, crafts, Adoptable Pets and more! Contact Katie Flory at katie@mdspca.org.

Learn more at http://www.mdspca.org/updates/detail/local-love. 

8] – The BALTIMORE GREEN FORUM, a monthly environmental education and discussion forum, takes place on Sun., Oct. 2.  The presentation and Q&A goes from 4:00 to 5:15 PM, followed by announcements & networking from 5:15 to 5:45 PM.  Finally there will be a Roundtable Discussion from 5:45 to 6:30 PM.  The forum is at 1105 Providence Road, Towson 21286. Go to http://www.mpchurch.org/location-2/.  Hear about “Rising to the Challenge: The Transition Movement and People of Faith” by author Ruah Swennerfelt, an activist, homesteader, blogger, and author working on environmental issues as General Secretary of Quaker Earthcare Witness and on the boards of Vermont Interfaith Power and Light and Transition Town Charlotte, Vermont. This book is the result of a decade of experience with the Transition Movement, numerous interviews in Europe, Palestine, Brazil, and the United States. Learn about the Transition Movement: real people coming together to re-imagine and rebuild our world.  From the website transitionsus.org:

“The Transition Movement is comprised of vibrant, grassroots community initiatives that seek to build community resilience in the face of such challenges as peak oil, climate change and the economic crisis. Transition Initiatives differentiate themselves from other sustainability and “environmental” groups by seeking to mitigate these converging global crises by engaging their communities in home-grown, citizen-led education, action and multi-stakeholder planning to increase local self-reliance and resilience.

They succeed by regeneratively using their local assets, innovating, networking, collaborating, replicating proven strategies, and respecting the deep patterns of nature and diverse cultures in their place. Transition Initiatives work with deliberation and good cheer to create a fulfilling and inspiring local way of life that can withstand the shocks of rapidly shifting global systems.”

The Baltimore Green Forum seeks to educate and stimulate dialogue about what humans can do to make modern civilization more sustainable, including adjusting to finite resource limits and preserving biodiversity and a healthy environment. We do this through 8 monthly meetings a year. The topics are far ranging. They vary from local to planetary and from philosophical to scientific to very practical.

BGF is open to the public and is free of charge, but donations to Maryland Presbyterian Church are collected during the meeting to thank the church for their generous gift of the space to us. Call Sam Hopkins at 410 554 0006 or email baltimoregreenforum@gmail.com.  Visit http://www.baltimoregreen forum.org.

9] – The A.C.T.O.R. (A Continuing Talk on Race) open discussion series is hosted by Busboys and Poets as a community service. It provides the opportunity for people to come together and speak openly and honestly about issues of race. The intent is that each person walks away from the discussion feeling something: challenged, educated, uncomfortable, enlightened, refreshed, reassured and hopefully inspired and moved to action! On Sun., Oct. 2 from 5 to 7 PM, come to Busboys & Poets, 2021 14th St. NW, WDC for "50 Conversations" with Nicole Lee.  “50 Conversations With Parents On Race” was an initiative to interview parents from different racial and ethnic backgrounds on how they approach issues of race and racism with their children. Their ages ranged from 2 to 30 years old and uncovered a variety of concerns, triumphs and challenges. More often than not, communicating with children about issues of race and difference is a top priority for parents. “50 Conversations" is the newest initiative that Nicole Lee has utilized to provide more space for discussions of social justice and anti-racism practice. A.C.T.O.R. is held on the first Sunday of every month.  Go to http://www.busboysandpoets.com/events/event/a.c.t.o.r-a-continuing-talk-on-race-50conversations-with-nicole-lee.

10] – There is a UPA Benefit Concert - A Night for Palestine - Music for Life – at 1611 N. Kent St., Arlington, VA on Sun., Oct. 2 at 6  PM.  This is an evening to raise awareness and funds for Palestinians in need. The evening will feature Palestinian musician, composer and educator Ramzi Aburedwan and the Dal'ouna Ensemble, featuring Moroccan-American singer Nidal Ibourk. Also see "Gaza Through a Child's Eyes" - a UPA Gaza children's art exhibit. The exhibit will be displayed for guests to view as they arrive and check-in from 6 to 7 PM at which time the concert will begin.  The site is located two blocks from the Rosslyn Metro Station at the Rosslyn Spectrum Theater.  TICKETS are $75.  Go to https://www.eventbrite.com/e/upa-benefit-concert-a-night-for-palestine-music-for-life-tickets-27337567400.

11] – 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 Sept., 19, 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. 

12] – From Mon., Oct. 3 through Fri., Oct. 7 check out Forced From Home, which is a free interactive, educational, outdoor exhibition designed to raise awareness about the global refugee crisis, sponsored by Doctors Without Borders.  It will be held on the Washington Monument in D.C.   It is best to register, and one will get a guided a tour by one of the Doctors Without Borders guides.  Go to http://www.forcedfromhome.com/locations/washington/Washington DC Refugee Event - Forced From Home. Go to www.forcedfromhome.com.

13] – The Marc Steiner Show airs Monday through Friday fr6m 10 AM to noon on WEAA 88.9 FM, The Voice of the Community, or online at www.weaa.org.   The call-in number is 410-319-8888, and comments can also be sent by email to steinershow@gmail.com. All shows are also available as podcasts at www.steinershow.org.

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