Thursday, October 6, 2016

Baltimore Activist Alert - October 6 - 8, 2016

35] Pakistan's Relations with China, India, and Afghanistan -- Oct. 6
36] Protest violation of human rights in Bahrain – Oct. 6
37] ISIS and Sex Slavery -- Oct. 6
38] Model G20 Initiative – Oct. 6
39] Ban fracking meeting – Oct. 6
40] DOUBLE EXPOSURE INVESTIGATIVE FILM FESTIVAL – Oct. 6 - 8
41] Green Party events – Oct. 7 - 8
42] The Clothesline Project – Oct. 7
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35] – Pakistan's Relations with China, India, and Afghanistan: A Luncheon Conversation with Mushahid Hussain Syed & Shezra Mansab Ali Khan Kharal is happening on Thurs., Oct. 6 from 12:30 to 2 PM at The Stimson Center, 1211 Connecticut Ave. NW, 8th Floor, WDC 20036. RSVP at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScP-ptrcf96T7_Ayb3y-IX3PG1GDgdWXyj02h_4gFOHzAp1Qw/viewform. Join the Stimson Center for a luncheon conversation on Pakistan’s regional security with Pakistani Senator Mushahid Hussain Syed and National Assembly Member Shezra Mansab Ali Khan Kharal. Michael Krepon and Sameer Lalwani will serve as hosts and moderators. The discussion will focus on Pakistan’s relations with China, India, and Afghanistan.

36] – Go to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW, WDC 20500, on Thurs., Oct. 6 from noon to 12:30 PM and join Americans for Democracy & Human Rights in Bahrain (ADHRB), as they call on the United States government to publicly pressure Bahrain to uphold and respect freedoms of expression, release Nabeel Rajab unconditionally, and stop the widespread violations of human rights in the country. Bahrain's most prominent human rights defender, Nabeel Rajab, is set to appear before a judge on Oct. 6. He faces up to 15 years in prison on charges related to his right to free expression. The Bahraini government’s charges against him include spreading ‘false or malicious news, statements, or rumors’ during wartime, ‘offending a foreign country,’ and ‘offending a public institution’ under articles 133, 215, and 216 of the Bahraini Penal Code. These charges are all in connection with comments Nabeel posted on Twitter in 2015 documenting allegations of torture at the Central Jau Prison and criticizing the Saudi-led coalition war in Yemen.

The Government of Bahrain has repeatedly targeted Nabeel in response to his human rights work. His most recent arrest occurred on 13 June 2016, and he’s been imprisoned since that time. Authorities initially placed him in solitary confinement during which Nabeel lost a considerable amount of weight and experienced health complications. Last week, the Bahraini government again moved Nabeel to solitary confinement ahead of his trial on 6 October.

In September, Nabeel penned a letter from prison, which was published in the New York Times. In response to the NYT letter, Bahrain’s Public Prosecution Office brought an additional charge carrying a possible one-year sentence of ‘intentionally broadcasting false news and malicious rumors abroad impairing the prestige of the state’ against Nabeel. The NYT issued a scathing response regarding the actions of the Bahraini government. If you’re unable to join the protest you can still show your support for Nabeel Rajab ahead of Thursday’s hearing by sharing details of his situation on social media with the hashtag #ReleaseNabeel. Email media@adhrb.org.

37] --ISIS and Sex Slavery -- How Can the International Community Move from Condemnation to Action? This discussion will take place on Thurs., Oct. 5 from 2 to 4:30 PM.  Join the McCain Institute for International Leadership and the United States Institute of Peace for an urgent discussion on unblocking the path to accountability for these horrific crimes at the U.S. Institute of Peace, 2301 Constitution Ave. NW, WDC 20037. Go to https://www.eventbrite.com/e/isis-and-sex-slavery-tickets-27832058436.

38] –  The Model G20 Initiative Inaugural Event will feature keynote speaker Angel Gurría, Secretary-General of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), who will comment on Contributions and Challenges of the G20. A View from the OECD. It will happen on Thurs., Oct. 6 at 4 PM at American University’s School of International Service, Atrium, 4400 Massachusetts Ave. NW, WDC 20016. RSVP at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/model-g20-initiative-inaugural-event-keynote-speaker-angel-gurria-oecd-tickets-27896898374.

39] --- You may know that the fracking moratorium ends in October 2017. This means that the upcoming legislative session, starting in January, is our last chance to ban fracking before it starts.   Senator Joan Carter Conway, in the 43rd district, could be the deciding vote for the bill to ban fracking.  She is the chair of the Education, Health & Environmental Affairs Committee in the Senate. This is the committee that the bill would first have to pass through in order to be introduced on the Senate floor. As the chair of this committee, Conway controls if and when the bill comes up for a vote. She needs to be held accountable, and needs to know that this is an issue that people in her district care about.  There is a meeting so people in her district can brainstorm different things do to ensure there is a ban on fracking in Maryland. A District 43 Volunteer Kick-off will happen on Thurs., Oct. 6 from 6:30 to 8 PM at Food & Water Watch Office, 3121 St. Paul St, Suite 28, Baltimore 21218. Rsvp at https://www.facebook.com/events/490673377808814/.

40] – Get over to the DOUBLE EXPOSURE INVESTIGATIVE FILM FESTIVAL which offers eight films from Thurs., Oct. 6 at 7 PM through Sat., Oct. 8 at 10 PM.  This year, Double Exposure’s film slate takes audiences from the roots of investigative reporting to works that are redefining creative and journalistic boundaries. The festival will screen eight films at the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery, 8th St NW & F St NW, Washington, DC 20001, including seven DC premieres. The festival will open with Netflix's latest real-life ecological thriller, THE IVORY GAME, and close with renowned documentary filmmaker Steve James’ ABACUS: SMALL ENOUGH TO JAIL. Go to http://investigativefilmfestival.com/films-2016/.

41] –  On Fri., Oct. 7 there will be a coordinated massive sign wave/visibility event for multiple Green Candidates in Baltimore on Charles St., including Josh Harris for Mayor, Ian Schlackman for District 12 and Stein/Baraka. The exact location and time is to be decided. RSVP at https://www.facebook.com/events/155713038219486/ or email Cristi Demnowicz at Cristi@FlowersForSenate.org.

On Sat., Oct 8 there will be a candidate rally at Douglass Homes in Baltimore from 1 to 5 PM. Let Cristi know if you can take a shift at the campaign table-- Cristi@FlowersForSenate.org.  Go to http://www.flowersforsenate.org/.

42] – The Clothesline Project is at McPherson Square, 950 15th St. NW, WDC, on Fri., Oct. 7 from 10 AM to 2 PM. The Project gives survivors an opportunity to tell their stories of abuse, despair, hope and empowerment by expressing their feelings and experiences of domestic violence through their own art on t-shirts which are displayed on a clothesline held by victims, advocates and volunteers. Contact Ana Acevedo at My Sister’s Place at 202-529-5261.

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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