Monday, January 30, 2023

Baltimore Activist Alert -- January 31 -- February 15, 2023

36] US embassy on stolen Palestinian land? – Jan. 31

37] Hate in the Headlines -- Jan. 31

38] Can Peace Be Preserved across the Taiwan Strait? -- Jan. 31

39] Election Protection phone bank – Jan. 31 and Feb. 2, 3 & 5

40] Holding Russia Liable for Invading Ukraine -- Jan. 31

41] Hearing on the Anti-Animal Abuse Advisory Commission -- Feb. 1

42] Support MD landfill methane rule -- Feb. 1

43] Freedom Day webinar on prison labor -- Feb. 1

44] Roseate Spoonbill Cover Story -- Feb. 1

45] Ukraine War & its Implications for Taiwan -- Feb. 1

46] Community Solar -- Feb. 1

47] Woman's National Democratic Club phone bank -- Feb. 1

48] Better Democratic Framing & Messaging -- Feb. 1 & 15

49] Social Media Best Practices -- Feb. 1 & 5

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36] –  On Tues., Jan. 31 at 1 PM ET, join the Center for Constitutional Rights for a discussion on the U.S. State Department’s plan to build their embassy on stolen Palestinian land in Jerusalem. The plan – a violation of international law – entails the embassy’s construction on private Palestinian property that has been illegally confiscated by Israel, the owners of which include numerous U.S. citizens. Panelists will outline what the plan entails, its illegality, and what you can do to stop the U.S. government from moving forward with the plan! RSVP at https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_0xhZPHneSTWPN1NtWkIkeQ.

37] – Pen America is hosting HATE IN THE HEADLINES: JOURNALISM AND THE CHALLENGE OF EXTREMISM on Tues., Jan. 31 at 1:30 PM ET, a digital event.  As extremism has increasingly penetrated mainstream politics, journalists, especially political reporters, face new challenges. Some news organizations have dramatically reframed coverage and created new beats to track the surge in extremism, but fundamental changes are still needed if audiences are to get a full and accurate view of how anti-democratic forces are infusing civic life, from local school board meetings to nationwide elections. A recent report published by PEN America, Hate in the Headlines, found that without hypervigilance from journalists and editors, propaganda and disinformation can slide into reporters’ stories, especially as extremists deliberately target them to convey their messages to the broader public. But the report also identified lessons learned as journalists have reckoned with this shifting political landscape, and from reporters who have long covered extremism. Join PEN America and the National Press Club Journalism Institute for a virtual discussion of how the mainstreaming of political extremism is affecting journalism, and how journalists and newsrooms are–or could be–shifting their practices in response. Please contact Hannah Waltz with any questions or concerns, including accessibility requests, at hwaltz@pen.org. RSVP at https://pen.org/event/hate-in-the-headlines-journalism-and-the-challenge-of-extremism/.

38] – On Tues., Jan. 31 at 3 PM ET, there will be a hybrid event -- Can Peace Be Preserved across the Taiwan Strait? The event is sponsored by Stanford University, and the speaker Kharis Templeman is with the Hoover Institution. Taiwan lies at the heart of the growing confrontation between the United States and the People’s Republic of China (PRC), and it remains the only issue that could plausibly trigger a war between the two countries. Taiwan is claimed by the PRC as Chinese territory, and its government is unrecognized by all but a handful of states today. But it is also a prosperous liberal democracy of more than 23 million people, a major trading partner of both the U.S. and the PRC, and the source of more than 90 percent of the world’s most advanced semiconductor chips. This talk will cover how the US-PRC-Taiwan relationship got to this point, what each side’s foremost interests and long-term strategies are, and how those have changed in recent years with Xi Jinping’s centralization of power and the shifting balance of economic and military power in the region. It will also touch on the current debates in Washington over Taiwan policy and how best to ensure that peace can be maintained across the Taiwan Strait for the indefinite future. Sign up at https://fsi.stanford.edu/events/seminar-kharis-templeman.

39] – On Tues., Jan. 31 from 4 to 6 PM, Thurs. Feb. 2 from 5 to 7 PM, Fri., Feb. 3 from 4 to 6 PM & Sun., Feb. 5 from 6 to 8 PM ET,  from 4 to 6 PM ET, there is a Common Cause organized Election Protection phone bank.  These phone banks will continue until April 2, 2023.  Work together to demand bold changes to our democracy to create a government that represents all of us, not big corporations or special interests. Register at https://www.mobilize.us/dfadcoalition/event/376178/?followup_modal_context=organization_newsletter_custom_recommendations. Register for a shift to make calls to recruit poll monitors to support nonpartisan Election Protection efforts in the GA Run-Offs.  Join in to make calls Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and/or Sundays.

40] – On Tues., Jan. 31 at  6 PM ET, check out Holding Russia Liable for Invading Ukraine - Can It Be Done? This is sponsored by Johns Hopkins University, and it will take place at SAIS, Room 500, 1717 Massachusetts Ave. NW, WDC.  The speakers are Chiara Georgetti, University of Richmond and Brian Egan, former Legal Adviser, U.S. Department of State. Hear a discussion on establishing a reparations regime with funding to hold Russia financially liable for its invasion of Ukraine -- topics would include assets seizure and a claims mechanism. Sign up at https://sais.jhu.edu/campus-events?trumbaEmbed=view%3Devent%26eventid%3D805445768#/?i=2.

41] – The Baltimore City Anti-Animal Abuse Advisory Commission has not been functioning.  Its last report was issued in 2013.  It was very negative, and the Commission members were clearly disillusioned.  However, there is now an opportunity to revitalize the effort and a hearing will be held in the Baltimore City Council Chambers at 10 AM on Wed., Feb. 1.

42] – Team Climate Action [info@chesapeakeclimate.org] wants you to attend a virtual hearing on Wed., Feb. 1 at 10 AM ET to support MD landfill methane rule.  ‌ ‌The Maryland Department of Environment is holding a virtual public hearing on their new rules to rein in methane from our landfills.  Sign up at https://act.chesapeakeclimate.org/page/48273/petition/1?utm_medium=email&utm_source=engagingnetworks&utm_campaign=utm-mdnnff&utm_content=MD-NNFF-Landfill+methane+hearing+SINGLE-01233-c4&ea.url.id=1610858.

43] – Freedom United [team@freedomunited.org] is hosting a Freedom Day webinar on prison labor on Wed., Feb. 1 at noon ET. Register at https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_EWqDH5PuS9a2QxPWe0A8Kg?trk_msg=5SDHDG3VMTB456CC3UHG8NGNS8&trk_contact=CLM465Q1ION47L3FT15J0RGU94&trk_sid=NKAABLDQ15HDDIKU6J6QJ1FKQS&trk_link=98PFH4HJL7E4T88Q7HG758QP94&utm_source=Listrak&utm_medium=email&utm_term=Reserve+your+spot!&utm_campaign=FU-EN-JAN-25-2023-AMEND-13TH-WEBINAR-actives&utm_content=FU-EN-JAN-25-2023-AMEND-13TH-WEBINAR-actives.  February 1 is Freedom Day – the day the resolution that would later become the 13th Amendment was signed by Abraham Lincoln.  Did the 13th Amendment really abolish slavery?

44] – National Audubon Society [audubonconnect@audubon.org] thinks you would be interested in a webinar: The Story behind the Roseate Spoonbill Cover Story on Wed., Feb. 1 at 4 PM ET. Listen to a conversation with Audubon magazine senior editor Hannah Waters, photographer Mac Stone, and Audubon Florida research director Jerry Lorenz.  The cover story explores Roseate Spoonbill research at the Everglades Science Center and lessons the bird's movements hold for climate change.  https://act.audubon.org/a/story-behind-spoonbill-cover-story?contactdata=KaSLzCx2bhhbYCTyCFpGfJ1qHPUWj7C%2fIOlWYMNfsg3uuFcCBgAKJmDuo68q1arNHTPXU5IMNW%2b3yyxLV6W4euIEYsa%2fdre4A8sIyOegLQrZFxbHExbA3UV2x%2bVbffO61b7y9jRB6BzvXaJ%2bQIFHwd7%2b8z95gN4%2bh%2b%2bOgKG%2bq7Nv0oGGDquWX8YqNdNKozWLmnM5meFI60WFClB%2fJXmhhLkgu8OyQmZIp7rDWpcJjKBKq3ISuzXj5BJZNkxgm2DMc%2bAFwKTx06w5fKszza8vHQ%3d%3d&ms=digital-eng-email-ea-x-engagement_20230117_eng-email_spoonbill-webinar&utm_source=ea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=engagement_20230117_eng-email&utm_content=spoonbill-webinar&emci=67884f4a-7f96-ed11-994c-00224832eb73&emdi=c288a6da-a596-ed11-994c-00224832eb73&ceid=2504878. 

45] – The Ukraine War & its Implications for Taiwan will be examined on Wed., Feb. 1 from 5 to 6:30 PM ET. The Alperovitch Institute is delighted to welcome Mr. Dmitri Alperovitch, Executive Chairman of Silverado Policy Accelerator to SAIS Hopkins, Kenney Herter Auditorium, 1740 Massachusetts Ave, NW, WDC. Dmitri Alperovitch is the Co-Founder and Chairman of Silverado Policy Accelerator, a non-profit focused on advancing American prosperity and global leadership in the 21st century and beyond. He is a Co-Founder and former CTO of CrowdStrike Inc., a leading cybersecurity company. A renowned cybersecurity visionary, business executive, and thought leader on cybersecurity strategy, state tradecraft, and great power competition, Alperovitch has served as special advisor to the Department of Defense [sic] and currently serves on the Department of Homeland Security Advisory Council and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency's Cyber Safety Review Board. Register at https://sais.jhu.edu/campus-events?trumbaEmbed=view%3Devent%26eventid%3D805463777#/?i=2.

46] – Solar United Neighbors [mdteam@solarunitedneighbors.org] hopes you will get involved on Wed., Feb. 1 from 6 to 7 PM ET with Community Solar. Register at https://www.solarunitedneighbors.org/event/no-panels-no-problem-community-solar-shares-the-benefits-of-solar-with-more-marylanders/. Learn how you can help share benefits of solar with more Marylanders. No Panels? No Problem. Community Solar Benefits All Marylanders.

47] – On Wed., Feb. 1 from 6 to 8 PM, join a phone bank organized by the Woman's National Democratic Club.  RSVP at https://www.mobilize.us/mobilize/event/548304/?followup_modal_context=nonexclusive_newsletter_more_events_of_type. Gather at the Woman's National Democratic Club, 1526 New Hampshire Ave. NW, WDC 20036. Start off 2023 by supporting Jennifer McClellan in the special election for VA-04! This session will consist of phone banking AND post-card writing, and will be a hybrid session.  Consider bringing a charged laptop and headphones with you. The WNDC is committed to creating a community and space where you can show up each week with your friends and family members to take action to protect and expand democracy.

48] – On Wednesdays Feb. 1 & 15 from 7 to 8:30 PM ET, the Fairfax County Democratic Committee will do Better Democratic Framing & Messaging.  Register at https://www.mobilize.us/mobilize/event/545753/?followup_modal_context=nonexclusive_newsletter_most_popular_virtual. Join the Central Communications Committee (C3) of the Fairfax County Democratic Committee for a series of three Zoom workshops aimed at the practice (with a little theory for context) of framing better Democratic messages. The program is based on the teachings of George Lakoff, author of the "The Little Blue Book: The Essential Guide to Thinking and Talking Democratic.”  Discuss the neuroscience and cognitive behavior that is the basis of Lakoff's framing theory; do a deep dive into our shared Democratic values; critique a few political ads; review a few influential books about the subject of Democratic messaging; and, do much discussing, questioning, and reasoning! Federico Cura, a former journalist, Op-Ed writer, and teacher, will lead the program.

49] –Get with Social Media Best Practices virtually, hosted by The Democratic National Committee on Sundays and Wednesdays from 7 to 8 PM ET.  Participate on Wed., Feb. 1 and Sun., Feb. 5.  Maximize your impact within your social network and join the social media best practices training. Whether you're just getting started on social media or already have an online presence, this training will provide you with the tools necessary to ensure you are reaching your full potential as an online organizer. Learn the essentials for utilizing platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, and Instagram for political story telling. Email williamsak@dnc.org to schedule a presentation for your staff/volunteers or with any queries about co-presenting at one or more of these events.

To be continued.

Donations can be sent to Max Obuszewski, Baltimore Nonviolence Center, 431 Notre Dame Lane, Apt. 206, 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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