Monday, February 13, 2023

Baltimore Activist Alert -- February 14 - 19, 2023

30] Support Councilmember Jacob Bennett – Feb. 14

31] Access to Care Rally – Feb. 14

32] Polling Ukrainians – Feb. 14

33] China & Russia relationship -- Feb. 15

34] Conversation with Wendy Sherman -- Feb. 15

35] Assessment of Russia’s invasion -- Feb. 15

36] Defend the Guard legislation -- Feb. 15

37] We Keep You Safe -- Feb. 15

38] Women in Nicaragua Delegation Report-back -- Feb. 15

39] Cost-free College -- Feb. 15

40] Get with Social Media Best Practices -- Feb. 15 & 19

41] AFSC’s work on open housing – Feb. 15

42] Progressive legislation in Maryland – Feb. 15

43] Why You Should Join DSA -- Feb. 15

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30] – Councilman Jacob Bennett finally has a date for his court hearing. Join Progressive Harford County by attending his hearing on Valentine's Day at 20 W. Courtland St., Bel Air, MD 21014 at 9:30 AM. He feels strongly, as he always has, that a school teacher is neither a state nor county employee and that there is no common law conflict of interest preventing any school employee from holding local office. The hearing is open to the public. If you do attend, be sure to bring your best manners to ensure a smooth hearing experience.

31] – Since its establishment in 2010, the Affordable Care Act has allowed for 28 million people across the country to gain access to affordable care. Unfortunately, undocumented immigrants are ineligible for care through this program. Maryland can change that by passing the Access to Care Act: SB365/HB588. Join an Access to Care rally on Wed., Feb. 15 at 11:30 AM in Lawyers Mall in Annapolis.

32] – The Quincy Institute <newsletters@quincyinst.org> invites you on Tues., Feb 14 at noon ET to a webinar Ukrainian Public Opinion and the War. As the war in Ukraine moves into a possibly critical phase with the likelihood of upcoming Ukrainian and Russian offensives, it is imperative that American policymakers and commentators develop a deeper and more nuanced understanding of the attitudes of ordinary Ukrainians to issues of war and peace.

 To discuss and analyze Ukrainian public opinion, including in the areas occupied by Russia, the Quincy Institute is hosting a panel with leading scholars and journalists with first-hand knowledge about opinion in Ukraine: Volodymyr Ishchenko, a Ukrainian research associate at the Institute of East European Studies, Freie Universität Berlin, who is currently working on a collective monograph "The Maidan Uprising: Mobilization, Radicalization, and Revolution in Ukraine, 2013-14;" Albina Kovalyova, a British documentary director/producer, with a focus on Russia, Ukraine, and Eastern Europe whose  latest documentary is “Occupied,” a personal account of a family living under Russian occupation in Ukraine; Gerard Toal (Gearóid Ó Tuathail), a Political Geographer and Professor at Virginia Tech, whose latest book is Near Abroad: Putin, the West and the Contest for Ukraine and the Caucasus;” and Anatol Lieven (Moderator), the Eurasia program director and senior research fellow at the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft. Register at https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/9816746830712/WN_AwcrH0qyRrOkZvFYmZG-Fw?mc_cid=05fc4a460c&mc_eid=cf411e8177.

33] – Nearly twelve months ago, Russia launched a large-scale land invasion into Ukraine, upending the post-Cold War landscape in Europe. While the United States and NATO quickly coalesced around the defense of Ukraine, many countries in Asia and the developing world have carefully balanced their relations between Russia, Ukraine, and the West. China, for its part, has straddled several competing objectives–calling for an end to hostilities in Ukraine, yet maintaining a close strategic partnership with Russia.

  Amid the war in Ukraine, trade between Beijing and Moscow is on the rise. Chinese and Russian diplomats maintain frequent contact. Bilateral military exercises continue unabated. Still, little evidence suggests that China is evading Western sanctions, and Chinese diplomats continue to express rhetorical support for territorial integrity in Ukraine. How is the Ukraine war impacting China-Russia relations? Are there limits to the China-Russia partnership? Will relations between Moscow and Beijing grow more or less asymmetric in the years to come? On Wed., Feb. 15 at 8 AM ET, join the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace for a conversation featuring Alexander Gabuev, Li Mingjiang, Hoang Thi Ha, and Paul Haenle on the state of China-Russia relations, as well as the implications for Southeast Asia. RSVP at https://carnegieendowment.org/2023/02/15/china-russia-relations-one-year-into-ukraine-war-event-8029.

34] – On Wed., Feb. 15 at 11:30 AM ET, get with a Conversation on the US Approach to the People's Republic of China with Deputy Secretary of State Wendy R. Sherman hosted by the Brookings Institute.  China is a global actor whose influence can be felt on every continent and in every major functional area. China’s increasingly assertive behavior around the world continues to dominate headlines, as recent events have shown. How is the United States approaching the challenge posed by China? How is the Biden administration working with allies and partners to address this challenge?  Deputy Secretary Sherman will engage in conversation with Brookings Senior Fellow Ryan Hass and David M. Rubenstein Fellow Patricia Kim. RSVP at https://www.brookings.edu/events/a-conversation-on-the-us-approach-to-the-peoples-republic-of-china-with-deputy-secretary-of-state-wendy-r-sherman/.

35] – On Wed., Feb. 15 at 12:30 AM, get an Assessment of Russia’s 2022 Invasion of Ukraine: One Year On. There have been significant consequences for Eastern Europe and global security. Shifting military, political, social, and economic drivers have re-shaped geopolitics. As we unpack the past to better understand the present and future, please join the Belfer Center’s Intelligence Project and Russia Matters Project for a half-day virtual conference via Zoom. Practitioners and scholars will examine these issues in detail and provide an assessment with an aim to look ahead into 2023 and beyond. Register at https://www.belfercenter.org/event/assessment-russias-2022-invasion-ukraine-one-year.

36] – Scott Spaulding [defendtheguardmaryland@gmail.com] wants you to know that the Defend the Guard legislation will be heard on Wed., Feb. 15 at 1 PM ET. The bill is filed as HB0220 in the Health & Government operations committee.  To testify, you would have had to sign up before the hearing.  Go to the https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/hb0220?ys=2023RS.

37] – The 18 Million Rising Team [info@18millionrising.org] wants you to be safe, and is holding a training on Wed., Feb. 15 at 4 PM ET. After the shootings at Monterey Park and Half Moon Bay, there was grief and fear. Join the training We Keep Us Safe, a community safety training at https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_kdG4A73SSWSEdGSQObLAqw. You’ll learn from Kalaya’an Mendoza of Nonviolent Peaceforce, an award-winning facilitator of holistic safety and security.

38] – Alliance for Global Justice [eduardo@Afgj.org] thinks you will be interested on Wed., Feb. 15 at 6 PM ET to hear a Women in Nicaragua Delegation Report-back. From January 7-16, 2023, 22 delegates traveled to Nicaragua to investigate the conditions and lives of Nicaraguan women. Join us to hear the findings of this effort from some of the participants, and to learn from the stories of Nicaraguan resilience and empowerment despite two hundred years of imperialist aggression. Register at Bit.ly/reportback215. After registering, you will receive an email with the link and password to join the session.

39] – The National Campaign for Justice [info@juststrategy.org] is doing a Town Hall on Wed., Feb. 15 at 7 PM ET -- “Now is the Time for Cost-Free College” with Rep. Pramila Jayapal. In 2015, President Obama said that community college should be ‘as free and universal in America as high school.’ Yet, now almost a decade later, President Obama’s dream has not been realized. Find out about Rep. Jayapal’s plan to pass the Free College for All Act in Congress. RSVP at https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/tZwkcu2srzoiHdU8HA1Ctdkwf78KtpU6Bdx3/success?user_id=BlySYwSoT8e12ayodfEJXQ&timezone_id=America%2FLos_Angeles.

40] –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. 15 and Sun., Feb. 19.  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. Go to https://events.democrats.org/event/486853/.

41] – The AFSC [actioncenter@afsc.org] hopes you will join in on Wed., Feb. 15 at 7 PM ET for a special conversation with historian Tracy E. K’Meyer. Tracy has spent over 15 years studying AFSC’s work on open housing as far back as 1950. She published “To Live Peaceably Together: The American Friends Service Committee’s Campaign for Open Housing.” Tracy will speak about her research, her new book, and take questions from the audience.  Sign up at https://secure.afsc.org/a/live-peaceably-together?ms=EMA23AN0129&emci=ceee37cb-be9c-ed11-994c-00224832eb73&emdi=55c67569-e19f-ed11-994c-00224832eb73&ceid=764241.

42] – Our Revolution Maryland [hal@ourrevolutionmd.com] is meeting on Wed., Feb. 15 at 7:30 PM ET to review the status of progressive legislation in the Maryland General Assembly's 2023 session. RSVP at https://www.mobilize.us/ourrevolution/event/547475/?can_id=4b9d4061aec5469758759317ac0f5285&email_referrer=email_1810112&email_subject=our-third-maryland-legislative-zoom-update-is-in-one-week&link_id=1. Former State Delegate Jimmy Tarlau - Our Revolution Maryland's Treasurer - will give an update on the progress of the 10 bills highlighted to date and many others as well. Discuss how we can start racking up legislative victories in our quest for a better, fairer, cleaner, and more equitable state.

43] – Why You Should Join DSA / a New Member Orientation will happen on Wed., Feb. 15 from 8 to 9 PM ET. Email info [at] mdcdsa.org. Curious about DSA? Thinking about joining but want to hear more info first? Attended a few of our events already and ready become a member? Already a member and want to get more involved?  You'll learn about DSA, what is done, and how you can get involved in the fight for a brighter future. This chapter covers the DMV area, including the District, Northern Virginia, and Montgomery County and Prince George's County in Maryland. Use this Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83764219064?pwd=Vjl4Y0tRbDBZR0FPdEZHWkpSUU5UQT09.

44] – The Dept. of Peacebuilding Campaign call on Wed., Feb. 15 at 8 PM ET will focus on manifesting peace and steps being taken to make it so.  RSVP at https://zoom.us/j/464735321#success.

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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