Thursday, December 14, 2017

Baltimore Activist Alert - December 15, 2017 to May 6, 2018

42] Donate toys for cats and dogs – through Dec. 31
43] Peace vigil at White House – Dec. 15
44] WIB peace vigils – Dec. 15
45] Gift of Life to an Animal – through Dec. 31
46] Black Lives Matter vigil – Dec. 15
47] Communities United's Annual Holiday Party – Dec. 15
48] See the film THE STONES CRY OUT – Dec. 15
49] Ballroom Dancing – Dec. 15
50] Healing Ceremony – Dec. 16 - 17
51] Progressive Maryland Member Orientation – Dec. 16
52] Maryland Democratic Party canvassing -- Dec. 16
53] West Chester peace vigil – Dec. 16
54] Holiday Party for the Homeless – Dec. 16
55] Festival of Lights & Holiday Market Dec. 16
56] Rally for Jerusalem – Dec. 16
57] Seminar on Medicare – Dec. 16
58] Feeding the Homeless for Christmas – Dec. 16
59] One DC Appreciation Party – Dec. 16
60] Help deliver a Healthcare not Warfare petition – Jan. 11 & 12, 2018
61] Conference on U.S. Foreign Military Bases -- Jan. 12 - Jan. 14
62] Catonsville Nine Commemoration – May 4 – 6
63] JONAH HOUSE NEEDS WORKERS FOR PEACE AND JUSTICE
64] Donate books, videos, DVDs and records
65] Do you need any book shelves?
66] Join the Global Zero campaign
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42] – Throughout December, the Maryland SPCA is collecting toys for the cats and dogs in its adoption center. The goal is to collect enough toys in one month to entertain the homeless animals in the shelter throughout the coming year by filling its sleigh! You can help by bringing new cat and dog toys and treats to the Maryland SPCA's adoption center, 3300 Falls Road, Baltimore 21211 or Project Adopt in White Marsh Mall, 8200 Perry Hall Blvd, Baltimore 21236. Some of the toys which are needed are kongs, hard rubber chew toys, soft treats, toy mice (without catnip) and small cat balls w/ bells. Providing toys for the animals is more than a nice touch. Having toys and treats in the shelter environment helps socialize animals, reduces stress and improves health. See http://www.mdspca.org/updates/detail/presents-for-pets.

43] – On Fri., Dec. 15 from noon to 1 PM, join the Dorothy Day Catholic Worker in a vigil urging the powers that be to abolish war and torture, to disarm all weapons, to end indefinite detention, to close Guantanamo, to establish justice for all and help create the Beloved Community! This vigil will take place at the White House, 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. Contract Art @ artlaffin@hotmail.com or at 202-360-6416. 

44] – On Fri., Dec. 15 from noon to 1 PM, join a Women in Black peace vigil. A vigil will take place in McKeldin Square at the corner of Light and Pratt Sts. Enjoy lunch afterwards.  Bring a brown bag lunch or something to share. Another one is at Roland Park Place, 830 W. 40th St, Baltimore. 21211. Wear black. Dress for who knows what kind of weather. Bring your own poster or help with the "NO WAR IN MY NAME" banner.  When there are others to stand with, you don't need to carry the burden alone. Do this to be in solidarity with others....when everything around us says “Be afraid of the stranger.” Carpool and parking available. Just send an email that you need a ride [mailto:wibbaltimore@peacepath911.org].  Peace signs will be available.

45] –  Continuing through Dec. 31, you can have the Gift of Life Adoption Special, hosted by BARCS Animal Shelter, 301 Stockholm St., Baltimore 21230.  On Fri., Dec. 15, for example, the shelter will be open from 2 to 6 PM.  Go to https://www.facebook.com/events/174440716485060/?event_time_id=174440769818388.

   On Sat. Dec. 16 at 11 AM get the Gift of Life Adoption Special at the BARCS Animal Shelter.  Give the animals the gift of "home," the Gift of Life! This holiday season, BARCS' adoption fees are $0 thanks to many generous friends who are sponsoring adoption fees right this very minute through online and mailed-in donations. This holiday season, BARCS has hundreds of homeless animals in the shelter who need families. These precious animals are spending the holiday season at the shelter through no fault of their own. Help us given them a second chance by choosing adoption. Please consider sponsoring an adoption fee of an animal in the shelter by making a donation this holiday season!

46] – There is usually a silent vigil on Fridays, from 5 to 6 PM, sponsored by Homewood Friends Meeting, outside the Homewood Friends Meetinghouse, 3107 N. Charles St.  The next scheduled vigil is on Dec. 15. Black Lives Matter.  

47] – You are invited to Communities United's Annual Holiday Party on Fri., Dec. 15 at 6 PM at Douglas Memorial Community Church, 1325 W. Madison Street. Enjoy fellowship and food, gifts for the kids, holiday door prizes, a tackiest holiday sweater contest and other merriment! It is FREE (though donations of food and cash to cover food and toys for the kids are most welcome). RSVP to this email so the group can be prepared with enough food -- [mailto:jane@communitiesunite.org].  Go to http://www.communitiesunite.org/.

48] – The Baltimore Palestine Solidarity presents “The Stones Cry Out”  on Fri., Dec. 15 @ 6:30 PM at First and St. Stephen's United Church of Christ, 6915 York Road, Baltimore 21212. Enjoy homemade Arabic food and pizza before and after the film.  The suggested donation is $5, but no one will be turned away for lack of funds.  Go to https://www.facebook.com/events/154654108501260/.

The BPS is continuing 'Mapping Palestine' series with The Stones Cry Out.  In 1948, tens of thousands of Palestinian villagers were driven from their homes in what was officially dubbed “Operation Broom”, intended to literally sweep tens of thousands of Palestinians from their homes in the fertile hills and valleys of the Galilee, and make way for settlers in the newly created state of Israel.  Elias Chacour, now the Archbishop of the Galilee, was just a little boy when Israeli troops ordered his family out of the Christian village of Kifr Bir’am. He left the village with a blanket on his shoulder, walking to his new home, a cave.  Today Kifr Bir’am is an Israeli national park, the houses of the village are crumbling, and the church is abandoned.  After the Galilee came the expropriation of the West Bank in 1967, the settlements, the wall. Bethlehem, the birthplace of Christ, is now hemmed in by the wall, cut off from Jerusalem, and robbed of much of its agricultural land.  All too often media coverage of the conflict in Palestine has framed it as a fight between Muslims and Jews, largely ignoring the fact that Palestine was the birthplace of Christianity, that Palestinians are both Muslims and Christians, and that Palestinian Christians have played a critical role in their land’s history and the struggle to maintain its identity.  From 1948 up to today, through wars and uprisings, leading Palestinian Christians, including the late President of Beir Zeit University Gabi Baramki, Palestinian leader Hanan Ashrawi, civil society activist Ghassan Andoni, Patriarch Emeritus Michel Sabbah and others recount the unwavering and sometimes desperate struggle of all Palestinians to resist Israel’s occupation and stay on their land.

49] – 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 on Dec. 15. Call Dave Greene at 410-599-3725.

50] – The School of Life [shantiyoga@schooloflife.org] invites you to a Consultations & Workshop with Jean Reddemann, Lakota Healer, on Sat., Dec. 16 and Sun., Dec. 17. The personal consultations--Private Healing Session, Spiritual Consultation/Reading—will occur on Sat., Dec. 16 at 4209 East West Hwy., Chevy Chase 20815.  Consults may also be scheduled for Sunday afternoon and Monday morning at 417 Rustic Way Lane, Falls Church, VA 22044.

Born with the gifts of healing and spiritual communication, Jean walks with the teachings of the indigenous women of North America. In your confidential session, Jean will counsel about what is presently in your life and what is to come.  The fee is $125 (advance payment required).  Call Patricia Gomez at 703-732-6736 or 301-367-8733 to reserve workshop or consultation slot.

The workshop, 2018 Year of Master Number 11: Practices & Principles for Unlocking Women’s Wisdom, is on Sun., Dec 17 from 11 AM to 3 PM.   Reddemann will explain in this workshop how to use the energies of the Winter Solstice to let go of beliefs that limit us or have outlived their usefulness, and stand up for values such as love, compassion, joy and generosity to uplift our planet.  The workshop is at 417 Rustic Way Lane, Falls Church, VA 22044.  The suggested donation is $100.

51] – On Sat., Dec. 16 come to a Member Orientation & Training from 10 AM to 4 PM at Startup Nest, 1401 Severn St., Baltimore 21230. Are you a Progressive Maryland member leader who wants to bring about universal healthcare, pass a living wage bill, or fight back against the bigotry and corruption by building power in your community? Come to the Orientation to learn what political power is, and how to build it in your community!  This training is for Progressive Maryland member leaders who are expanding their roles as leaders. Member leaders from any location are more than welcome to join in for the Baltimore Member Orientation! This is also an "agitation"-type training. Reach out to Brandy Brooks at brandy@progressivemaryland.orgRSVP at http://www.progressivemaryland.org/dec16memberorientation?utm_campaign=memodec112017&utm_medium=email&utm_source=progressivemarylandthe link and we’ll see you there!  Contact Brandy Brooks · brandy@progressivemaryland.org.

52] – On Sat., Dec. 16 from 10 AM to 4 PM, do Phone Banking and Canvassing, hosted by the Baltimore County Democratic Party with the Maryland Democratic Party.  The MDP summer of Resistance and Renewal has become the autumn of Resistance and Renewal - but not until data is collected from the county's voters to help Democratic candidates in the 2018 race. Join them each Saturday through the remainder of 2017! RSVP your availability to Noah Stewart at nstewart@mddems.org. Go to https://www.facebook.com/events/2046544972245656/?event_time_id=2046544992245654.

53] – 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.

54] – On Sat., Dec. 16 from 11 AM to 5 PM, attend the Holiday Party for the Homeless at the First Unitarian Church, Franklin St., Baltimore 21201.  Direct QUESTIONS at BONNIE "RAVEN" LANE at 443-494-9569 or FIGHTINJUSTICE247@GMAIL.COM. The Parish Hall-entrance is on Charles Street.  Homeless guests will enjoy a holiday feast and live entertainment, and receive much needed winter items.  Respect all guests & volunteers! You can donate funds at https://www.gofundme.com/holiday-party-for-the-homeless-2017 or send checks to Alisia Moore (treasurer), 4132 E. Joppa Rd., Suite 110-854, Nottingham 21236.

55] – On Sat., Dec. 16 from noon to 8 PM, come to the Riverdale Park Festival of Lights & Holiday Market at the Riverdale Farmers' Market, 6108 Rhode Island Ave., Riverdale 20737.  Enjoy live music, kid’s activities, artisans and farmers indoors and out.  Go to https://m.facebook.com/RPFMarket/   (scroll down to Upcoming Events).  You will be able to purchase Afghan handicrafts to benefit the Afghan Women’s Fund.  Contact Alicia Lucksted at alucksted@gmail.com.

56] – Join the Rally for Jerusalem, called for by the US Council of Muslim Organizations (USCMO), the largest coalition of national, regional, and local Muslim organizations.  Join in on Sat., Dec. 16 at noon, near the White House on the Ellipse.  Go to www.ICNA.org or call (718) 658-1199.

57] – On Sat., Dec. 16 at 2:30 PM go to a seminar/information session on Medicare by independent and retired DuPont engineer Ashoke Chatterjee at the Hindu Temple, 760 Yorklyn Rd., Hockessin, DE.  Visit https://www.facebook.com/Delaware-Pacem-in-Terris-56622935259/.

58] – On Sat., Dec. 16 from 3 to 6 PM, get involved with Feeding the Homeless for Christmas at the Baltimore Rescue Mission, 4 N. Central Ave., Baltimore 21202.  Bring a dish ready to serve for a traditional Christmas Dinner. In the comments section, indicate what you will be able to bring. RSVP at https://www.facebook.com/events/1979018535694907/.

59] – On Sat., Dec. 16 from 5 to 10 PM, be a part of ONE DC Member Appreciation at the Thurgood Marshall Center, 1816 12th St. NW, WDC 20009-4422. Member Appreciation is the annual end-of-year event to celebrate the wins, actions, and accomplishments of members, donors, supporters, & volunteers. All ages welcome. There will be musical performances, free food, speakers, and a special awards ceremony. Long-time members and new supporters are welcome!
Childcare will be provided. Call ONE DC at 202-232- 2915 if you need transportation. RSVP at onedconline.org/appreciation2017. Childcare will be provided. Call ONE DC at 202-232- 2915 if you need transportation. RSVP at onedconline.org/appreciation2017.

60] – Please note that the National Campaign for Nonviolent Resistance will organize on Thurs., Jan. 11 at 10 AM a visit to the office of Minority Whip Steny Hoyer, 1705 Longworth House Office Building, WDC 20515 to Say No US Support for Saudi Arabia’s Assault on Yemen.  We will first meet at 9 AM in the Longworth Cafeteria. The plan is to deliver a letter to Hoyer’s office.  Contact Max at 410-323-1607 or mobuszewski2001 at Comcast dot net if you want to sign the letter.

  On Fri.,  Jan. 12 at 11 AM, we will deliver a Healthcare not Warfare petition to Captain Mark A. Kobelja, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, 4494 North Palmer Road, Bethesda 20889.  We are still gathering signatures on our petition.  If you want to sign it, please provide name, hometown and your organization to Max. RSVP to Max if you can join NCNR on Jan. 11, Jan. 12 or both days.  

61] – Attend a Conference on U.S. Foreign Military Bases from Fri., Jan. 12 through Sun., Jan. 14, 2018 at the University of Baltimore, Learning Commons Town Hall, 1415 Maryland Ave., Baltimore 21201, hosted by the Coalition Against U.S. Foreign Military Bases.  Prior to the conference opening on Fri., Jan. 12, there will be a demonstration from 3 to 5 PM at Centre & Charles Sts. in the Mount Vernon neighborhood of Baltimore.

Thirteen prominent peace and justice organizations in the United States are collectively organizing this conference.  Some of the groups are Black Alliance for Peace, CODEPINK, Global Network Against Weapons and Nuclear Power in Space, Popular Resistance, Veterans For Peace, Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom and World Beyond War.  The conference will feature national and international experts. Several expert panels will discuss the economic, political, environmental and health costs and impact of U.S. foreign military bases in various regions of the world, including South America, Asia-Pacific, Africa, the Middle East, and Europe. The conference will be live streamed for the international audience.  For more information and to register for the conference, go to http://noforeignbases.org/conference-on-u-s-foreign-military-bases/?epl_action=process_cart_action&cart_action=add&event_id=723&_rand=59d50af323702.

62] –   Save the Dates.  The fiftieth anniversary of the Catonsville Nine draft board raid will be commemorated  There will be a CATONSVILLE NINE SYMPOSIUM on FRIDAY, MAY 4, 2018 from 4 to 10 PM at the Shriver Center, University of Maryland – Baltimore County, 1000 Hilltop Cir, Catonsville, MD 21250. Enjoy Films, Lectures, Discussion Panels and Dramatic Readings.  There will be more CATONSVILLE NINE COMMEMORATION ACTIVITIES on SATURDAY, MAY 5, 2018 from 9 AM to 2 PM at the Baltimore County Public Library Catonsville Branch, 1100 Frederick Rd., Catonsville, MD 21228.  Enjoy more Films, Lectures, Discussion Panels and Dramatic Readings.  On Sun., May 6 there will be an opportunity to engage in direct action and later participate in a prayer service.  Go to http://www.catonsville9.org/50th-anniversary-commemoration/.

63] – JONAH HOUSE NEEDS WORKERS FOR PEACE AND JUSTICE

After 44 years of resisting weapons and war, Jonah House is Baltimore is in danger of shutting down. Two of the three core members have announced their intention to leave the community as of May 2018. That leaves one core member, Joe Byrne, who will remain to recruit and re-form intentional community. But if no one steps forward, Jonah House will have to close.

Jonah House was founded by Phil Berrigan, Liz McAlister, and others, in 1973, during the Vietnam War. It was a center of resistance to that war. When the war ended, the focus of resistance became the nuclear arms race. This resistance blossomed into the Plowshares movement. Jonah House members have spent years in jail for Plowshares disarmament actions. Other members have spent years supporting them, and doing the work of the community in their absence. Resistance to weapons and war continues at Jonah House. More recently, Jonah House has also become involved in racial justice efforts in Baltimore, and the environmental justice movement.

Jonah House is planted in the middle of a 22-acre, mostly-wooded cemetery in West Baltimore called St. Peter’s. Maintaining and slowly restoring St. Peter’s Cemetery is the work that pays the bills for the community. Jonah House also uses the property to serve the living as well as honor the dead. Our gardens and orchards feed the Jonah House community, and the surrounding neighborhood community, via a food pantry and weekly food distribution to low-income neighbors. We envision the cemetery—particularly the 11-acre forest patch—as a haven for the people of the neighborhood, international peace activists, and numberless living beings.

Jonah House is also an interfaith spiritual community. We pray or meditate together daily, and our spiritual practice informs and empowers everything we do, whether in the fields or in the streets.

To continue the vision, Jonah House is looking for a few new core members willing to commit to a two-year stint. We are also open to short- and long-term interns (3 months to a year). The work of radical peacemaking, direct service to the poor, and stewarding the land requires workers. We pray that God will send laborers to the vineyard (yes, we have that too) and that Jonah House will continue to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable for another 44 years!  For more information, call 443-804-3410, or email us at engage@jonahhouse.org

64] -- If you would like to get rid of books, videos, DVDs, records, tarps and table cloths, contact Max at 410-323-1607 or mobuszewski2001 at comcast.net.

65] -- Can you use any book shelves? Contact Max at 410-366-1637 or mobuszewski at verizon.net.

66] -- Join an extraordinary global campaign for the elimination of nuclear weapons: http://www.globalzero.org/sign-declaration. A growing group of leaders around the world is calling for the elimination of nuclear weapons and a majority of the global public agrees.  This is an historic window of opportunity.  With momentum already building in favor of Zero, a major show of support from people around the world could tip the balance. When it comes to nuclear weapons, one is one too many.

Donations can be sent to the Baltimore Nonviolence Center, 325 E. 25th St., Baltimore, MD 21218.  Ph: 410-366-1637; Email: mobuszewski2001 [at] comcast.net. Go to http://baltimorenonviolencecenter.blogspot.com/.


“One is called to live nonviolently, even if the change one works for seems impossible. It may or may not be possible to turn the US around through nonviolent revolution. But one thing favors such an attempt: the total inability of violence to change anything for the better" - Daniel Berrigan

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