Wednesday, May 6, 2020

Baltimore Activist Alert -- May 6 - 12, 2020


42] Food donations needed May 6
43] Covid-19, Oil Prices, and Prospects for Iran – May 6
44] "Nonviolent Resistance to Nuclear Weapons and War" – May 6
45] Food Pantry Pick-up – May 6
46] Rent relief – May 6
47] Driving Towards Privacy Protection May 6
48] "Health Effects from Gas Stove Pollution" – May 6
49] Climate Science Crash Course – May 6
50] Bird-Friendly Garden Design – May 6
51] Nurses Week – May 6 - 12
52] COVID-19 crisis in Iran under brutal U.S. sanctions May 6
53] Food Rescue May 7
54] Sexual and gender-based violence and intimate partner violence – May 7
55] Black health and the fight against coronavirus – May 7
56] Weekly Solar Hours – May 7
57] Baltimore City Pesticide Hearing May 7
58] Progressive Maryland webinar – May 7
59] Baltimore's lawsuit against Big Oil – May 7
60] Maryland's Electricity Grid – May 7
61] Conservation Conversations – May 7
62] Reopening Safely after COVID-19 – May 7
63] Protecting a Generation from COVID-19 Globally – May 7
64] Maryland Poor People's Campaign meeting – May 7
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42] – On Wed., May 6 through Sun., May 31 from 6 AM to 6 PM, get involved with the ACTC Food Drive at Havenwood Presbyterian Church, 100 E Ridgely Road, Lutherville 21093. Havenwood Presbyterian Church is a collection center for ACTC. There are two coolers outside the main office door for drop offs. These are collected daily, brought inside for safe keeping, and delivered on a weekly basis to ACTC for distribution. May is traditionally the Month when Havenwood hosts a Stock the Pantry drive - helping ACTC with specific needs. While all donations are welcomed, and needed. ACTC has asked Havenwood to provide mac and cheese and diced tomatoes - as they have an extreme shortage of these items right now.

The Assistance Center of Towson Churches (ACTC), formed in 1985, is an ecumenical consortium of 50 congregations (Havenwood is a founding member) joined to efficiently and effectively reach out with help for the needy in communities.  ACTC is open Monday to Friday from 10 AM to 2 PM to provide fresh and non-perishable food to neighbors in need.
Check out

43] – On Wed., May 6 from 10 to 11 AM, get caught up with Covid-19, Oil Prices, and Prospects for Iran-GCC Relations, hosted by Middle East Institute.  Go to www.mei.edu. The concurrent crises of COVID-19 and tumbling oil prices are deeply felt across the Gulf region. The U.S.-led sanctions, already a huge burden on Iran’s economy, massively limit Tehran’s foreign trade options and export revenue as the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbates the country’s economic troubles. On the other hand, the energy-exporting states of the Gulf Cooperation Council are facing a steep decline in oil and gas export revenues for the foreseeable future. These economic shocks coincide with a sharp and a financially expensive competition for influence across the Middle East.

How might the present deteriorating economic realities impact the geopolitical calculations of Iran, the GCC states, and U.S. interests in the Gulf region? Will the economic downturn shape the willingness of the GCC states to stand with the Trump administration in confronting Tehran leading up to the US elections in November? Is there any opportunity for Iran and the GCC states to consider a reset in relations that have been contentious since 1979? MEI is pleased to host a panel to discuss these questions and more. Visit https://www.facebook.com/events/3069607626434360/.

44] - Participate in a webinar on Wed., May 6 from 10:30 AM to noon EDT.   Register at https://www.nonviolenceinternational.net/webinar_registration?fbclid=IwAR1xRpkj2-kH7FUB94vSzIze0NXQI9e4qUbcxDVAj8kN5Dfc5YkbJqAFb3A.  "Nonviolent Resistance to Nuclear Weapons and War" is an interactive webinar featuring presentations by Plowshare activists, Patrick O’Neill and Martha Hennessy, who are both facing additional prison time for their disarmament action at the Kings Bay Submarine Base; Alyn Ware of Abolition2000 and winner of the 2009 Right Livelihood Award, Mani Shankar Aiyar, a former Indian parliamentarian and diplomat, and Divina Maloum, the co-winner of the 2019 International Children Peace Prize.

45] –   On Wed., May 6 and Thurs., May 7 from 11 AM to 1 PM, and continuing May 20 and 21, there is a Food Pantry Pick-up at Saint Wenceslaus Roman Catholic Church, 2111 Ashland Ave., Baltimore 21205. The Lucielle Fitzgerald Outreach Center is open to provide food to those in need.  Due to COVID-19 concerns, please come to the handicapped entrance on Duncan St. Look at https://www.facebook.com/events/168099294325936/?event_time_id=168099314325934.

46] – On Wed., May 6 from 1:05 to 1:45 PM, check out a Land Use Hearing: Baltimore City Covid-19 Renter Relief Act, hosted by Council President Brandon M. Scott. This hearing will examine the Baltimore City COVID-19 Renter Relief Act for the purpose of prohibiting the increase of rent during and after certain declared emergencies; prohibiting certain notices to tenants; requiring certain notices to tenants; prohibiting certain late fees; defining certain terms; providing for a date of termination of the prohibitions; providing for a special effective date, and generally relating to protecting Baltimore City tenants.  Watch the meeting online at charmtvbaltimore.com/watch-live or on CharmTV (Channel 25/1085HD). Call in to listen live at +1-408-418-9388, Access code: 712 728 719. Information and an agenda for the hearing can be found here: https://baltimore.legistar.com/MeetingDetail.aspx?ID=783016&GUID=B2251F08-A12A-441C-A181-B17D866B0B1A&Options=&Search=.  See https://www.facebook.com/events/653491928539528/.

47] -- The next webinar in the monthly Winning in the States series will be “Driving Towards Privacy Protection: Defending DMV Data.” Each month, National Immigration Law Center’s Winning in the States initiative delves into priority state and local-level policy challenges and strategies, with help from leaders in the field. Share practitioners’ best practices and facilitate robust discussions on how policy challenges are being tackled in real time.   The webinar will equip advocates with tools and ideas to address the problem and to take steps in their states to limit data-sharing by their state’s department of motor vehicles. The WEBINAR is on Wed., May 6 at 2 PM ET.  Register https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/2313556489413067276?eType=EmailBlastContent&eId=c17208f2-7dc4-4c71-8cad-76d441c1cf7f&sl_tc=WITSwebinar21.

48] – More than a third of U.S. households cook meals primarily with gas. Yet most of us don’t know that when we do, we may be harming our own health. A new report, "Health Effects from Gas Stove Pollution," presents the scientific evidence documenting dangerous levels of indoor air pollution from using a gas stove; measures we can take to reduce the risks to health; and research and policy actions needed to address this problem at its root. Join representatives of Physicians for Social Responsibility, Rocky Mountain Institute, Sierra Club and Mothers Out Front to hear the most important findings of this report on Wed., May 6 from 3 to 4 PM ET. Register at https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/3154948966960213008?emci=e50f3787-cd8b-ea11-86e9-00155d03b5dd&emdi=62d68c26-e28b-ea11-86e9-00155d03b5dd&ceid=130901.

49] – On Wed., May 6 at 7 PM, the  Chesapeake Climate Action Network is holding a second option for the Climate Science Crash Course in case you can't make the first. This event will focus on impacts and solutions in Maryland. RSVP today https://act.chesapeakeclimate.org/page/18604/data/1?utm_medium=email&utm_source=engagingnetworks&utm_campaign=utm_EarthDay2020&utm_content=Earth+Day+FINAL+email+w.+Mike+Edits+4.21.20&ea.url.id=448408&forwarded=true. 

50] - Gardening Workshops via Zoom: Spread It Like Wildflower! Register for the Patterson Park Audubon Center’s Wildlife Gardening Workshop -- Bird-Friendly Garden Design. Building on what is known about native plants for birds, dive into bird-friendly garden design and maintenance. You’ll learn the best methods to plan a beautiful landscape and sustain your native garden while supporting beneficial wildlife. This workshop is intended for more advanced gardener. It is FREE, but registration is limited for this Wed., May 6 from 7 to 8:30 PM EDT. RSVP at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScT50esH3CTEXAGwib-2-lJ4m-glS8YmxLyf7mGJyI9cPNmow/closedform.

51] – Nurses Week begins on Wed., May 6 and culminates on Tues., May 12 in honor of Florence Nightingale's birthday – considered by some to be the founder of modern nursing. Too often during Nurses Week, break room treats and tote bags overshadow what this week should be about – giving nurses what they really need to do our jobs.  To kick off a week of activities and actions in honor of National Nurses Week, check out a live art show this on May 6 at 8:30 PM ET. RSVP at https://act.medicare4all.org/signup/art-show-rsvp/?source=em20200504-37096&t=1&akid=37096%2E162593%2EiUr8Jn.  You will be sent an email reminder with a link to join in live.

52] – Last month, CODEPINK hosted a webinar with six Iranian-Americans about the COVID-19 crisis in Iran under brutal U.S. sanctions. The discussion was so fantastic that it has been picked up by Link TV.  Join the CODEPINK team to watch it as it premiers on Wed., May 6, at 11 PM ET.  Or you can watch it anytime online on Link TV’s website: https://www.linktv.org/shows/mosaic/episodes/covid-19-and-us-sanctions-on-iran.

53] – On Thurs., May 7 from noon to 1 PM, get over to Food Rescue at Pratt Library Orleans Street, 1303 Orleans St., Baltimore 21231.  Food Rescue Baltimore partners with Baltimore’s esteemed Enoch Pratt Free Library. Come to the library, bring a bag, and take home delicious free food. Look at https://www.facebook.com/events/520045111963240/?event_time_id=520045138629904.

54] - Join Physicians for Human Rights for an exclusive briefing on the coronavirus moderated by Physicians for Human Rights Director of Programs, Karen Naimer, JD.  The combination of precautionary COVID-19 shelter-in-place and quarantine requirements, economic stresses, and increased anxieties about the future is contributing to a global surge in reported cases of sexual and gender-based violence and intimate partner violence.  On Thurs., May 7 at 1 PM EDT, join the eighth webinar in an ongoing series, as medical, public health, and human rights experts will participate in a conversation addressing how the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the crisis of sexual and gender-based violence and intimate partner violence.  

The webinar will include an overview of the issue in the global context, how existing response programs may be adapted to protect survivors amid restrictions on movement during the pandemic, and possible solutions and policies to protect survivors and prevent and/or reduce violence in the long-term. Featured contributors are Claudia Garcia-Moreno, MSc, who heads the World Health Organization’s Department of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Research unit addressing vulnerable populations. Lori Heise, PhD, who is professor of gender violence and health at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, with a joint appointment in the School of Nursing. Wangechi Wachira, MA, is executive director of the Centre for Rights Education and Awareness (CREAW) in Kenya. You can submit questions for consideration at webinar@phr.org. Sign up for the webinar at https://phr.org/issues/covid-19-pandemic/events-and-webinars/. Pre-registration for this call is required.

55] – Black people are twice as likely to die from the coronavirus as white people, and majority-Black counties are facing three times the infection rate and six times the death rate as white Americans. Tune in for a town hall with advocates, experts, and elected officials about Black health and the fight against coronavirus on Thurs., May 7 from 3 to 4 PM ET. Text “OnTheLine” to 52886 to get the link as soon as it gets started! Check it out at https://www.facebook.com/events/242301903546458.

56] – On Thurs., May 7 from 5 to 6 PM, check out Weekly Solar Hours, hosted by Neighborhood Sun.  Zoom in for a casual Q&A hangout and note community members can save money during this challenging time, and that's where community solar can help.  If you pay an electric bill, you can get a share of a local solar farm and have that clean energy delivered to your home or apartment, all at a cost that is lower than what the utility company charges for their standard electricity. If you're already a community solar customer, come with questions about your bill, your solar credits, or how to help spread the word. See https://www.facebook.com/events/867067973769565/?event_time_id=867067977102898.

57] – On Thurs., May 7 from 5 to 7 PM, get with a Baltimore City Pesticide Hearing, hosted by Environment Maryland and Maryland PIRG.  The Baltimore City Council's Health Committee will hear testimony for CB 20-0495, sponsored by Councilmember Mary Pat Clarke, which will ban the use of toxic pesticides chlorpyrifos, neonicotinoids, and glyphosate. These chemicals poison our water, kill our pollinators, and cause major health impacts.  Visit https://baltimore.legistar.com/MeetingDetail.aspx?ID=783015&GUID=A4A3B28A-7125-496D-B80E-2EE8AFC7C3EE&Options=info|&Search=.  Go to https://www.facebook.com/events/266741127694478/.

58] – Progressive Maryland is coming together as a community to respond to the deadly COVID-19 crisis. In past organizing meetings, these were the concerns -- wellness check calls and more recently how voting will work in the time of COVID, especially for the June 2 Primary. There is the importance of local elections and promoting progressive candidates Progressive Maryland has endorsed. Now there is the issue of the need for rent and mortgage relief. Join the fourth weekly COVID response call on Thurs., May 7 from 5:30 to 7 PM. Hear from Delegate Jheanelle Wilkins (D-20) who will share updates about this issue.  Find out how you can get involved in urging Governor Hogan to support housing justice.  Visit https://secure.everyaction.com/XQk_eIFI_EC58AqO9NdIzg2?emci=fa1faaa4-008f-ea11-86e9-00155d03b5dd&emdi=c7b02485-018f-ea11-86e9-00155d03b5dd&ceid=136680.


60] – Although technologies exist to support a full transition to clean, renewable energy, big energy companies are still peddling false solutions like nuclear energy expansion as a way to tackle climate change. Just this year, for instance, Governor Hogan introduced a bill (that ultimately failed) that would have made nuclear energy a large component of his climate plan. Join policy experts to talk about the nuclear energy industry's current playbook and their false promises about it being clean and renewable.

On Thurs., May 7 from 6 to 7 PM, RSVP for a webinar, which will cover Maryland's Electricity Grid and How New FERC Federal Rules Could Impact Renewable Energy: https://secure.foodandwateraction.org/act/md-webinar-ferc-renewable-energy.

61] – On Thurs., May 7 from 7 to 8 PM, get with Conservation Conversations, hosted by Environment America. RSVP at https://environmentamerica.webaction.org/p/salsa/event/common/public/?event_KEY=870.

62] –Join the Congressional Progressive Caucus Center and the American Federation of Teachers on Thurs., May 7 at 7 PM ET for a live Q&A on Zoom about the steps to safely reopen, and how we can protect workers and students! The topic of discussion is from the Frontlines: Reopening Safely after COVID-19.  Hear from Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD) and President Randi Weingarten, American Federation of Teachers. Sign in at https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/3315877591878/WN_uqFKsSwERzu7E82gKGmoow?link_id=1&can_id=4b9d4061aec5469758759317ac0f5285&source=email-zoom-reopening-safely-after-covid-19&email_referrer=email_795518&email_subject=zoom-reopening-safely-after-covid-19.

63] – On Thurs., May 7 at 8 PM ET, Save the Children will host a webinar Protecting a Generation from COVID-19 Globally. Come together to use our voices to change the future for children and the world! The Virtual Advocacy Summit continues! Contact Katy Seppi (kseppi@savethechildren.org), and look at https://www.savethechildrenactionnetwork.org/actions/summitreg/?eType=EmailBlastContent&eId=4ad0e096-3a5e-490e-a6be-c3a74d968727.

64] – The Maryland Poor People's Campaign will meet virtually on Thurs., May 7 from 8:30 to 9:30 PM, as part of the National Political Education call.  Join Via Video: https://zoom.us/j/4439876636 or Via Audio: 1-312-626-6799 PIN.

To be continued.

Donations can be sent to Max Obuszewski, Baltimore Nonviolence Center, 431 Notre Dame Lane, Baltimore, MD 21212.  Ph: 410-323-1607; Email: mobuszewski2001 [at] comcast.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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