Baltimore Activist Alert August 6 – August 9, 2017
"I speak as an American to the leaders of my own nation. The great initiative in this war is ours.
The initiative to stop it must be ours." -Martin Luther King Jr.
Friends, this list and other email documents which I send out are done under the auspices of the Baltimore Nonviolence Center. Go to www.baltimorenonviolencecenter.blogspot.com. If you appreciate this information and would like to make a donation, send contributions to BNC, 325 East 25th Street, Baltimore, MD 21218. Max Obuszewski can be reached at 410-323-1607 or mobuszewski2001 [at] comcast.net.
1] Books, buttons and stickers
2] Web site for info on federal legislation
3] Join Nonviolent Resistance lists
4] Two friends are looking to buy a house in Baltimore
5] D.C. Hiroshima-Nagasaki Commemorations – August 6 & 9
6] “Emotions in Ethical Life and Moral Philosophy” – Aug. 6
7] Adopt an animal – Aug. 6
9] Laurie Penny at Red Emma’s – Aug. 6
10] Commemorate Hiroshima – Aug. 6
11] Hiroshima-Nagasaki vigil – Aug. 7
12] Take Action Anne Arundel County meeting – Aug. 7
13] Reading Program at the Maryland SPCA – Aug. 8 & 12
14] Peace vigil – Aug. 8
15] Book Launch: "Baltimore: A Political History" – Aug. 8
16] See the film SCHINDLER’S LIST – Aug. 8
17] Animal Rights – Aug. 8
18] Film “Occupation of the American Mind” – Aug. 9
19] Commemorate Nagasaki – Aug. 9
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1] – Buttons, bumperstickers and books are available. “God Bless the Whole World, No Exceptions” stickers are in stock. Call Max at 410-323-1607.
2] – To obtain information how your federal legislators voted on particular bills, go to http://thomas.loc.gov/. Congressional toll-free numbers are 888-818-6641, 888-355-3588 or 800-426-8073. The White House Comment Email is accessible at http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/.
3] – THE ORGANIZING LIST will be the primary decision-making mechanism of the National Campaign of Nonviolent Resistance [NCNR]. It will be augmented by conference calls and possibly in-person meetings as needed. It will consist of 1 or 2 representatives from each local, regional, or national organization (not coalitions) that wishes to actively work to carry out the NCNR campaign of facilitating and organizing nonviolent resistance to the war in Iraq.
To join the ORGANIZING List, please send your name, group affiliation, city and email address to mobuszewski at Verizon.net. Different local chapters of a national organization are encouraged to subscribe.
THE NOTICES LIST will include only notices of NCNR actions and related information and is open to any interested person to subscribe. It will be moderated to maintain focus & will include periodic notices about getting involved in NCNR national organizing. To join the NOTICES List, send an email message to ncnrnotices-subscribe@lists.riseup.net. You will get a confirmation message once subscribed. If you have problems, please write to the list manager at ncnrnotices-admin@lists.riseup.net.
4] – Janice and Max are looking to buy a house in Baltimore. Let Max know if you have any leads—410-323-1607 or mobuszewski 2001 at comcast dot net.
5] -- join with the Dorothy Day Catholic Worker, and co-sponsors Pax Christi Metro-DC, Columban Center for Advocacy and Outreach, Isaiah Project, Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns, the Sisters of Mercy—Institute Justice Team and Pax Christi USA, in two nonviolent acts of public witness at THE White House and the Pentagon to repent for the U.S. nuclear bombings of Japan on August 6 and August 9, 1945 and to call for the abolition of all nuclear weapons in the U.S. and worldwide. An Apology Petition for the U.S. use of nuclear weapons against the Japanese and signed by over 700 people was presented to an A-Bomb survivor on August 6, 2016 during a prayer service of repentance outside the White House. This Petition will be offered again during this YEAR’S Prayer Service.
Seventy-two years ago, on August 6 and 9, the U.S. Government did the "unspeakable: and dropped two atomic bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, thus beginning the Nuclear Age. As a result of these bombings, it is estimated that over 135,000 people died in Hiroshima and more than 64,000 in Nagasaki. In the subsequent months and years, many more have died from the effects of burns, radiation sickness and other injuries.
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The U.S. has never repented for the use of these weapons of indiscriminate mass murder. Moreover, it has continued to build even deadlier weapons which endanger all of creation. Today the U.S. possesses nearly 7,000 nuclear weapons, many of which are on hair-trigger alert, and proposes to spend an estimated $1 trillion over the next 30 years to modernize its existing nuclear arsenal.
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On Sun., Aug. 6 at the White House from 7:30 – 8:30 AM, There will be a Nonviolent Witness and Prayer Service of Repentance outside the White House. Meet on north side of White House on Pennsylvania Ave.--across from Lafayette Park. (8:15 AM is the exact time that the bomb was dropped in Hiroshima).
On Wed., Aug. 9 at Pentagon from 12:30-1:30 PM, There will be a Nonviolent witness and Prayer Service of Repentance at the Pentagon. For those driving, please meet on corner of Army-Navy Drive and Fern St. at 12:15 PM and process to vigil site at 12:20 PM. If you are coming by metro, please get off at Pentagon stop--Yellow Line. Take south exit coming out of metro. When you reach the top of escalator go left and then right on the sidewalk going away from building toward South Parking lot. Vigil site is down on the left side behind a bicycle fence. call Dorothy Day Catholic Worker at 202-360-6416 or email artlaffin@hotmail.com.
6] – Usually, the Baltimore Ethical Society, 306 W. Franklin St., Suite 102, Baltimore 21201-4661, meets on Sundays, and generally there is a speaker and discussion from 10:30 AM to noon. On Sun., Aug. 6, the Sunday Platform is “Emotions in Ethical Life and Moral Philosophy.” People often associate Western philosophy with a passionless, logical approach to problem solving. Philosophers like Kant, Bentham and others described rational principles as the sole judge of right and wrong, and emotions as morally irrelevant. But Aristotle, Spinoza and others believed that logic and emotion were intimately connected and equally important for ethics. Dom Eggert will tell this story as he investigates the question: What role should emotions play in ethical life? Eggert studied philosophy for nearly a decade at Pennsylvania State and Vanderbilt Universities and still practices philosophy as a hobby. Call 410-581-2322 or email ask@bmorethical.org.
7] -- Come to the Adoption Event at PetValu on Sun., Aug. 6 at 11 AM at 2570 Quarry Lake Dr., Baltimore 21209-3759. Baltimore County Animal Services will be having an adoption event through 2 PM. Meet some adoptable animals there hoping to find a home as well as some information about our shelter. Stop by to talk to us about programs and services.
8] -- On Sun., Aug. 6 at 1 PM, attend the Baltimore Ceasefire Peace Walk & Vigil starting at the Phoenix Shot Tower. This signifies the last day of the Baltimore Ceasefire, and continue to call for peace, and make a commitment to do the work required to heal our city. In calling for peace, we will remember those who have lost their lives to violence. Take a short walk from the Shot Tower to City Hall. Carry pictures of loved ones you have lost to violence. At City Hall, call out the names of the people Baltimore has lost to violence from January 1st through August 6, 2017.
9] – On Sun., Aug. 6 at 3 PM at Red Emma's Bookstore Coffeehouse, 30 W. North Ave., Baltimore 21201, meet Laurie Penny and her collection of essays. The essays take an unflinching look at the definitive issues of our age, from the shock of Donald Trump's election and the victories of the far right to online harassment and the transgender rights movement. Penny is lyrical and passionate in her desire to confront injustice, and she's writing at the raw edge of a revolution-hungry zeitgeist, a time when it has never been more vital to actively question and fiercely dispute all forms of complacency, including social norms. Call 443-602-7585. RSVP at http://www.redemmas.org.
10] – There is a HIROSHIMA COMMEMORATION on Sunday, August 6. At 5:30 PM, outside Homewood Friends Meetinghouse, 3107 N, Charles Street, demonstrate in favor of the treaty prohibiting nuclear weapons: Fifty nations must ratify the Convention to Ban Nuclear Weapons, and ratification begins on September 20. One hundred and twenty two countries signed on to the convention, but they must take it back to their nations for ratification by whatever means each nation has for ratification. Commemorate Hiroshima.
At 6:30 PM inside Homewood Meetinghouse, savor a potluck dinner with members of the peace and justice community. David Eberhardt will again share some poetry, and Joseph Byrne will perform some dulcimer music.
At 7:15 PM, the program will begin with Dr. Gwen DuBois, Chesapeake Physicians for Social Responsibility, who will discuss her work in New York City during the gathering at the United Nations to ban nuclear weapons. Then a statement will be read from Rev. Dr. Mankekolo Mahlangu-Ngcobo, who will share her thoughts about living in apartheid South Africa. Rev. Mahlangu-Ngcobo will be in South Africa on August 6 for a Prayer Intercession in Parliament. Note that South Africa is the first nuclear nation to end its program. Call 410-323-1607 or email mobuszewski2001@comcast.net.
11] – On Mon., Aug. 7 from noon to 1 PM join a PeaceSeeker vigil for Hiroshima /Nagasaki Nuclear Weapons Abolition in Rodney Square, Wilmington, DE.
12] – Take Action Anne Arundel County, part of Progressive Maryland, fights for social, racial, economic and environmental justice in Anne Arundel County and beyond. It supports and encourages progressive candidates and legislation, and works to involve the people in the county in the legislative process, and help the people of Anne Arundel County get their voices heard. Meetings at 5:30 PM on the first Monday of each month at 49 West St., Annapolis; and then the group will walk together to the Anne Arundel County Council meetings at 7 PM. During these meetings, there will be a guest speaker or two, and the discussion covers many issues. The next meeting is on Mon., Aug. 7 from 5:30 to 7 PM at 49 West Coffeehouse, 49 West St., Annapolis 21401. Call 410.295.3225.
13] – The Summer Reading Program at the Maryland SPCA and Project Adopt helps both children by strengthening their reading skills and the animals by giving them company, which helps to reduce stress if they are anxious in a kennel environment. The Summer Reading Program runs Tuesdays from 3 to 4 PM until the end of August at the Maryland SPCA, 3300 Falls Road, Baltimore 21211, and on Saturdays from 1 to 2 PM at Project Adopt in White Marsh Mall, 8200 Perry Hall Blvd., Baltimore 21236. There is no fee for the reading program, but space is limited and registration is required. Go to the Reading Program @ the MD SPCA on Tuesdays and the Reading Program @ Project Adopt on Saturdays.
14] – Each Tuesday from 4:30 - 5:30 PM, the Catholic Peace Fellowship-Philadelphia for peace in Afghanistan and Iraq gathers at the Suburban Station, 16th St. & JFK Blvd., at the entrance to Tracks 3 and 4 on the mezzanine. The next vigil is August 8. Call 215-426-0364.
15] – On Tues., Aug. 8 from 4 to 7 PM come to a Book Launch: "Baltimore: A Political History" by Matt Crenson, hosted by Baltimore City Archives, 2615 Mathews St., Baltimore 21218. Drawn largely from City Archives holdings, it is "[a] sweeping history of Baltimore written by a true master of this subject." --Edward D. Berkowitz, Professor of History, George Washington University.
16] – On Tues., Aug. 8 at 7 PM, attend the Pacem in Terris Film Series— The Best Peace and Justice Films of the Last 50 years—and see “ Schindler’s List” at Westminster Church, 1502 W. 13th St., Wilmington. The discussant is Polly Zavadivker, director, University of Delaware, Jewish Studies Program. The film portrays the efforts of German industrialist Oskar Schindler, who arrives in Krakow, Poland in 1939 to profit from World War II. In this epic historical drama directed by Steven Spielberg, Schindler, a rather greedy businessman who joins the Nazi Party for ease of work, becomes an unlikely humanitarian by staffing his factory with displaced Polish-Jewish refugees as workers. His efforts saved more than 1,000 individuals, yet heartbreakingly hoped he could have helped more. Throughout the film, we see Schindler’s protection of his workers along with his shielding them from the Nazis, led by the evil Amön Göth. The film, which is celebrated as one the best of all time, is memorably shot in black and white as Spielberg wanted to present it as a documentary.
17] -- On Tues., Aug. 8 at 7:30 PM at Red Emma's Bookstore Coffeehouse, 30 W. North Ave., Baltimore 21201, hear about FIGHTING FOR ANIMAL RIGHTS with JAMES ASPEY. Australian animal rights activist James Aspey is out there, fighting every day to raise awareness about how we can and should think about using our individual and collective power to protect the rights of our animal friends. James hit news headlines all around the world after breaking a 365 day vow of silence during an interview on Australia’s most popular morning TV show. His first words were watched by millions and inspired countless people to make positive changes in their life. In his talk at Red Emma's, James will focus on how we can make our vegan activism more effective: we have to learn what to say and how to say it. Are you a committed vegan? A curious maybe-vegetarian? Hard-core meat-eater? All open minds are welcome at this talk! Call 443-602-7585. RSVP at http://www.redemmas.org.
18] – See the film “Occupation of the American Mind” on Wed., Aug. 9 at 1 PM at 5470 Ruth Keeton Way, Columbia 21044. There is no charge to see it. This is a stunning expose on how propaganda drives public opinion and, in turn, an understanding of reality. Here’s the story of how American perceptions of the Middle East—as well as resulting legislation and military strategy—are engineered: from focus group to talking points to mortar fire. The narrator is: Roger Waters, and the film was produced by Media Education Foundation.
19] – The NAGASAKI COMMEMORATION is on Wednesday, August 9, 2017. At 5:30 PM, demonstrate at 33rd & N. Charles Streets against Johns Hopkins University’s weapons contracts, including research on killer drones, commemorate the atomic bombing of Nagasaki, and remember Fukushima, Japan. At 6:30 PM, march to the Homewood Friends Meetinghouse, 3107 N. Charles Street.
At 7 PM, John Steinbach and Kio Kanda of the Hiroshima/Nagasaki Peace Committee of the National Capital Area will share some remarks. Then, with the help of a translator, a Korean Hibakusha, Ms. Jon Sung Lee, will address the group. Ms. Lee was 12 years old when she experienced the Hiroshima bombing. Her family were part of the large Korean community in Hiroshima forced to work in Japan during WW2. She entered Hiroshima three days after the bombing and was exposed to the radiation.
Also speaking with be Sister Megan Rice of the Transform Now Plowshares. She engaged with Greg Boertje-Obed and Mike Walli in a remarkable Plowshares disarmament at the Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge, TN. Finally, the accomplished musician David Sawyer will perform. At 8:30 PM, enjoy dinner at Niwana Restaurant, 3 E. 33rd Street, with our Korean guest.
HIROSHIMA-NAGASAKI COMMEMORATION COMMITTEE, 325 East 25th St., Baltimore, MD 21218 Ph: 410-323-1607 Email: mobuszewski2001 [at] Comcast dot net
To be continued.
Donations can be sent to the Baltimore Nonviolence Center, 325 E. 25th St., Baltimore, MD 21218. 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
John Feffer