New York Peace Network

Alert #147
March 4, 2008
 
Still Planning New Nukes
Speak up now on DoE's
"Nuclear Weapons Complex of the Future"

PEACE DEMANDS ACTION.
SPEAK UP NOW - APRIL 10 DEADLINE.
Dear Peace Activist,

As we move toward the 5th anniversary of the U.S. invasion of Iraq, it is important not to lose sight of our increasing number of victories. In 2007, for the first time in years, no new money was allocated to building or researching new nuclear weapons. That is an achievement to be proud of.

But it was not an easy victory. In 2006, Peace Action chapters and our allies around the country sent 33,000 comments to the Department of Energy in response to their open hearings. We asked them to invest resources and time into sustainable, safe, and environmentally friendly energy solutions instead of the horror of nuclear weapons.

This year the Department of Energy has changed the name of its project from "Complex 2030" to "Complex Transformation," but the basic MO is the same - hold little advertised public hearings, announce public support and then fund new nuclear weapons technology. This year the Bush administration is seeking public comment on plans to sink $150 billion of our tax dollars into a program designed to produce 125 new nuclear weapons every year. This is closely linked with the Reliable Replacement Warhead program.

Luckily, we didn't fall for this plan in 2006 and we know what we have to do to prevent the funding of these weapons. We have until April 10, 2008 to submit thousands of public comments to the Department of Energy.

The Department of Energy is hosting 12 public hearings around the country, none of which are in or near any part of New York State or the Northeast. But the Department of Energy has created a mechanism for people who live outside of the area where hearings are going to be held to participate in the process. You can:
  1. Hold your own hearings in your neighborhood. Either record the event or have someone transcribe the conversation. Ask community members to provide testimony on why the U.S. should not fund new nuclear weapons. Hearings are an opportunity to show the groundswell of public opposition in your area and stand up in front of your neighbors, the Department of Energy and the media to share an alternative message of moving toward a nuclear free world. Mail the tapes or the transcripts to:
    Mr. Theodore A. Wyka
    Complex Transformation
    SPEIS Document Manager
    Office of Transformation, NA-10.1
    Department of Energy
    1000 Independence Ave., SW
    Washington DC 20585
  2. Send a letter to Mr. Wyka at the Department of Energy at the above address. Let them know what you think about the need for safe, sustainable energy research.

  3. Send an electronic message to the Department of Energy. Use this Peace Action web page. Feel free to personalize the prepared message as you see fit. This web page has already generated more than 11,000 comments, but if we are going to stop this program for another year, we need to let them know that the vast majority of Americans oppose this plan.
Whatever you do, don't wait to do it. The DoE's public comment period ends on April 10th.

As always, thanks for all you do.

Cheryl Wertz
 Peace Action Fund of New York State
info@panys.org 

PS - Remember, the 5th Anniversary of the U.S. invasion of Iraq is March 19th, only a few weeks away. Peace Action New York State and our thirteen chapters around the state will be participating in a series of events, including visits to every Congressional office in New York State. If you can help, please call me at 646-723-1749. For a full list of anniversary events, please see www.5yearstoomany.org.
Click to Act
Send a message
to the DoE
See the DoE's plans
Call Congress
Register to
Vote in NY
NYC Metro Area Events
Upstate Events
Out-of-State & Nationwide Events
Ongoing Events
Our Web Site



The Myth of the Surge
by Nir Rosen
Rolling Stone 3/6/08
UPCOMING EVENTS

 
 NYC Metro Area Upstate NY Out-of-State & Nationwide
FIFTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE IRAQ WAR (WED. MAR. 19)
 
Friday, March 14, 7:00 pm
MANHATTAN. The Quad Cinema, 34 W. 13th Street
SCREENING OF “WAR MADE EASY.” Benefit for Progressive Democrats of America. There will be a post-show reception with authors Laura Flanders and Norman Solomon in the Kaplan Room in the GLBT Center 208 W. 13th Street. Proceeds from this event will help PDA's 2008 organizing efforts in New York Congressional Districts and elsewhere. Tickets are $100. RSVP, more information: Frances Anderson, msfrancesa@gmail.com.
Tuesday, March 18, 8:00 pm.
DUMBO. St. Ann's Warehouse, 38 Water Street at Dock (directions).
SPEAK UP! A BENEFIT CONCERT FOR PEACE IN IRAQ & JUSTICE AT HOME. With Laurie Anderson, Antony, Blonde Redhead, David Byrne, Norah Jones, MEN, Moby, Lou Reed, Damien Rice, Scissor Sisters, emcee Richard Belzer, and more. Exhibition of photos from “Alive Day Memories,” portraits of soldiers injured in the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars by Timothy Greenfield-Sanders. All proceeds benefit United for Peace and Justice and Iraq Veterans Against the War. Tickets $65, 718.254.8779 [Already SOLD OUT, but watch here for news of SPEAK OUT EVENT to be held "down the street" before the event.] More info: http://www.stannswarehouse.org/current_season.php?show_id=22.
Wednesday, March 219, 11:00 am.
NORWICH.
DELEGATION TO THE UTICA OFFICE OF REP. MICHAEL ARCURI.
The group will deliver messages as  part of a call from Peace Action NYS that visits be made at this time to all our 29 CDs. Send communications for the Congressman to Chris Brunner at c_brunner@roadrunner.com.
Wednesday, March 19, 12 noon – 2:00 pm.
BAY RIDGE, BROOKLYN. Bay Ridge Offices of Vito Fossella – 85th Street and 4th Avenue
DEMONSTRATION TO DEMAND THE REP. FOSSELLA STOP VOTING FOR WAR AND BRING THE TROOPS HOME. Rep. Fossella is the only Congress Member in Brooklyn to has consistently voted for funding the war in Iraq with no timetable for withdrawal.
For more information, contact Bay Ridge Peace Action at bklynpeaceaction@yahoo.com.
Wednesday, March 19, 4:30 PM: Solemn vigil. 5:30 - 6:30 PM: Gathering inside church. .
GENESEO. St. Michael’s Church, 23 Main St.
 SOLEMN COMMEMORATION OF THE START OF THE 6TH YEAR OF THE U.S. OCCUPATION OF IRAQ. For more information, contact GVCP at 585.271.2678.
Wednesday, March 19th. 5:30pm.
MANHATTAN. Beginning at St. Paul and St. Andrew Church on 86th Street and West End Avenue.
Ending at Verdi Park on Broadway between 72nd and 73rd Street.
CANDLELIGHT VIGIL ON BROADWAY.
For more details call West Side Peace Action at 212-580-1504.
Wednesday, March 19, 5:30 – 7:30pm
NORWICH.Corner of North Broad Street and Main
CANDLELIGHT VIGIL. Distribution of Cost of War info.
For more information, contact Chris Brunner at c_brunner@roadrunner.com.
Wednesday, March 19, 6:00 pm.
PROSPECT PARK TO DOWNTOWN BROOKLYN.
Starting at Grand Army Plaza, ending at Flatbush & Livingston.
FLASHLIGHT MARCH AND VIGIL AT RECRUITING STATION.
Email iraq@brooklynpeace.org to help with outreach and organizaing for this event.
Wednesday, March 19, 6:00 pm.
SYRACUSE.
DIRECT ACTION with Peace Action Central New York and the Syracuse Peace Council.
For details, call PACNY at 315-478-7442.
Saturday, March 22, 2:00 pm.
ALBANY. West Capital Park.
5TH ANNIVERSARY MARCH AGAINST THE WAR: REMEMBERING THE FALLEN.
Stop the War; Bring the Troops Home Now; Reparations for the Iraqi People; Full Benefits for Returning Veterans; Money for Jobs, Health Care, Education and Community Needs. Sponsored by Northeastern Peace and Justice Action Coalition (NEPAJAC). Upper Hudson Peace Action is a co-sponsor. 
More Information:  391-2830
Saturday, March 22, 11:30am – 2:00pm.
MANHATTAN. 14th Street between Avenue A and 11th Avenue.
RIVER TO RIVER: 5 YEARS TOO MANY! JOIN HANDS FOR PEACE
A human chain from River to River along 14th Street. Grab your friends and family and find a spot anywhere along the south side of 14th St. between Avenue A and 11th Avenue. Bring your signs as we make a strong statement for peace! We will gather between 11:30 and noon, stand shoulder to shoulder until 1:00. Both ends will then march toward each other, converging at 5th Avenue for a march around Washington Square and back up University Place for a rally. Get maps, leaflets to download, and specific meet-up locations of organizations at www.unitedforpeace.org/nyc.
Saturday, March 22, 12:00 - 2:00 pm.
STATEN ISLAND. Central Baptist Church, Van Duzer and Wright Street
Family Life Center, 59 Wright Street.
GATHERING TO COMMEMORATE 5 YEARS IN IRAQ.
Music, speakers, etc. See www.panys.org/SI for further details.
Tuesday, March 25th (*NOTE THE NEW DATE*)
GENESEO. SUNY Geneseo campus.
DAY OF PEACE ON SUNY GENESEO CAMPUS. Students from Students for a Peaceful Solution in Iraq and Progressive Students Coalition plan a full day of peace activities to commemorate the start of the sixth year of the occupation of Iraq, and also (sadly) the 4,000th reported U.S. military death in Iraq.
New York Metro Area and Long Island Events
 
 Thursday, March 6. 7:00 – 8:30pm.
UPPER EAST SIDE.St. Bartholomew’s Church, Park Avenue between 50th & 51st.
INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY CELEBRATION.
On the Money: Women Investing in Women. Reception to follow. Free and open to the public. For more information visit www.womensdaynyc.org or contact Carol Coonrod at csc@thp.org.
Friday, March 7. 6:00 – 8:00pm.
MANHATTAN. Community Church of New York, 40 East 35th Street
IRAN AND THE US: CONFLICT OVER NUCLEAR POWER AND HUMAN RIGHTS.
An event with Scott Ritter, Fatemeh Keshavarz and Jahangir Golstan Parast. Sponsored by the Fellowship of Reconciliation, US Tour of Duty, and the International Society for Iranian Culture (NY). For more information email iran@forusa.org or call 518-377-3844.
Saturday, March 8. 9:30 am – 5:00 pm.
UPPER WEST SIDE. Columbia University, 2960 Broadway.
INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY ACTIVIST TRAINING WORKSHOP.
Led by experienced trainers, courageous women and girls will weave creativity, political awareness, feminism and activism into a rigorous day of skill & idea sharing, community building and fun! There will also be a fantastic evening concert with Middle Eastern Folk Music Ensemble NOUR. More info, sign up or donate at www.codepinknyc.org. $20 for students & seniors/ $30 with concert or $25 general/ $35 with concert/ Free for women with their CSW badges. (All funds raised will go to supporting the trainers and panelists for the day and covering basic costs)
Sunday, March 8, 4-6 pm.
WASHINGTON SQUARE PARK.
 MARCH AGAINST THE WAR.
Join the Gabriella Network in a protest against the continuing war. Wear red, bring noisemakers or a song and hear women speak out against the war. Organized by GABNet and the Mariposa Alliance.
For more information contact 212-592-3507 or 718=753-0257.
Sunday, March 9, 7:00 – 8:30 pm.
BROOKLYN.Congregation Beth Elohim, 274 Garfield Place, near corner of 8th Ave.
PRESENTATION BY BREAKING THE SILENCE: Breaking the Silence is an organization of veteran Israeli soldiers that collects testimonies of soldiers who served in the occupied territories during the second intifada and give public witness to the impact on Israeli society of military service in the West Bank and Gaza. BTS member Dotan Greenvald will share a collection of photographs, interviews by Israeli soldiers and his own story of the daily reality of being a soldier in the occupied territories. Co-sponsored by the Brit Tzedek v'Shalom Chapter of New York City, Meretz USA, and Americans for Peace Now.
Saturday, March 30. (NOTE NEW DATE) 6:00pm.
MIDTOWN. Chashama, 217 East 42nd Street.
SCREENING OF “OPERATION LYSISTRATA”
On March 3, 2003 over 1,000 productions of the anti-war production Lysistrata were performed in all fifty states and in 59 countries. This documentary is about the production and the worldwide happening for peace that it engendered.
Upstate Events
 
 Thursday, March 6, 7:00pm
ROCHESTER. First Unitarian Church, 220 Winton Road South,
ROCHESTER DECLARATION OF PEACE TOWN HALL MEETING WITH SCOTT RITTER AND ELIZABETH DE LA VEGA.
Scott Ritter and Elizabeth De la Vega, along with Iraq War veterans and local elected officials tackle the question “Is the Iraq War Legal?” Suggested donation $10.
For more information, contact 585-317-2367.
Saturday, March 8, 12 – 4 pm.
BUFFALO.1272 Delaware Ave.
IMMIGRATION TRAINING: Advocacy, Legality, Current Issues, How to help.
Sponsored by the Network of Religious Communities, Rural Migrant Ministries, Interfaith Peace Network, Syracuse Worker’s Right Center & WNY Peace Center. For more information, contact the WNYPC at 716-894-2013.
Saturday, March 8, 6 pm.
CLARENCE. Samuel’s Grande Manor, 8750 Main Street.
7TH ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY CELEBRATION AND DISCUSSION.
Modern India: Sacred Cows & High Tech Business. Speaker: Geeta Desai: Activist, Advocate, and International Development Consultant. Sponsored by the American Association of University Women. Tickets $35. For more information, contact Judy Weidemann 716-655-3649 or JWeide7170@aol.com
Saturday, March 8th. 12 noon protest, 2:00 speaking event
NORWICH. Corner of North Broad Street and Main,
WEEKLY PROTEST AND IVAW SPEAKING EVENT.
embers of Chenango Peace Action will be joined in their weekly protest at 12 noon by Dan Black of Iraq Veterans Against the War. At 2:00pm, Mr. Black will speak at the Guernsey Library for “A Conversation with an Iraq Veteran.” Sponsored by the Iraq-Iran Group of the Coalition for Democracy of  Central NY including Hartwich College & SUCO,  Oneonta.
For more information, contact Chris Brunner at c_brunner@roadrunner.com.
Saturday, March 15, 6:00 – 9:00pm.
ROCHESTER. Immanuel Baptist Church, 815 Park Avenue (near Culver.)
PEACE MEAL WITH PEACE ACTION & EDUCATION, A TASK FORCE OF METRO JUSTICE. Join us for a moment to be together as a peace loving community - to remember who we are, to share a fine potluck meal, and to hear some fine music. Please bring a dish to pass. We’ll have Fair-trade coffees, tea and water on hand. We do have limited kitchen access, so please also bring your own dishes, cups and utensils. We will eat around 6pm then transition to music around 7 till 9:00pm. For more information, contact (585) 325-2560.
Monday, March 17, 7-9 pm.
BUFFALO. 1272 Delaware Avenue.
NICARAGUAS AND CHIAPAS MEXICO: DOES PROGRESSIVE LEADERSHIP MAKE A DIFFERENCE?
Latin American Solidarity Committee Coffeehouse. Speakers: DR. TOM POTTS & DR. ARNIE MATLIN Sponsored by the Network of Religious Communities. For more information, contact the WNYPC at 716-894-2013.
Monday, March 17, 7:00 pm.
BUFFALO/ROCHESTER. Exact location, TBD.
INFORMATIONAL MEETING ON RECENT NYS COURT DECISIONS ON SAME-SEX MARRIAGES
Sponsored by NY Civil Liberties Union & Empire State Pride Agenda.
For more information, contact Todd Plank 585-278-4190
Tuesday, March 25. 7-9 pm.
BUFFALO. Hallwalls, in “Babeville” (formerly “The Church”) 341 Delaware Ave
PEACE ACTION FILM SCREENING: “BRINGING DOWN A DICTATOR”.
For more information, contact the WNYPC at 716-894-2013.
Wednesday, March 26th.
GENESEO. SUNY GENESEO CAMPUS.
DAY OF PEACE ON SUNY GENESEO CAMPUS.
Students from Students for a Peaceful Solution in Iraq and Progressive Students Coalition plan a full day of peace activities to commemorate the start of the sixth year of the occupation of Iraq, and also (sadly) the 4,000th reported U.S. military death in Iraq.
Saturday, April 19. Time TBD.
SYRACUSE. May Memorial Unitarian Society
 ANNUAL PEACE LECTURE BY PAUL KAWIKA MARTIN OF NATIONAL PEACE ACTION.
For more information, contact PACNY at 315-478-7442.
Tuesday, April 29. Time TBD.
ALBANY.
EQUALITY AND JUSTICE DAY.
This year the Empire State Pride Agenda, LGBTQ advocates and straight Allies will once again be making history in Albany. Last year a record 1,100 people from all across NYS lobbied their legislators on the marriage equality bill, the Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act (GENDA) and the Dignity for All Students Act (DASA). This year the goal is to bring 1,600 change agents to Albany. Make sure that your voice is heard on Equality & Justice Day by planning now to attend this super charged event. www.prideagenda.org OR Early registration can also be done by contacting WNY Field Organizer Todd Plank at tplank@prideagenda.org or by calling 585.278.4190. Scholarships are available based on need.
Saturday, May 31
SYRACUSE. Syracuse Peace Council, 924 Burnet Ave
OPEN HOUSE AT THE SYRACUSE PEACE COUNCIL.

Ongoing Local Events
Many local peace groups hold regular events, vigils, "Honk for Peace" actions, etc. 
See our list: www.panys.org/ongoing.htm

Out of State & Nationwide Events
March 13-16.
Washington DC.
WINTER SOLDIER: IRAQ & AFGHANISTAN. EYEWITNESS ACOUUNTS OF THE OCCUPATIONS.
Four days of testimony by U.S. veterans giving an accurate account of what it really happening on the ground, day after day. Live television broadcast through Dish Network and public access stations - Friday and Satruday only. Live video stream on the web all four days. Live radio broadcase via WBAI, and other Pacifica stations, Friday through Sunday. Live audio stream via KPFA's website Fri-Sun. More information: www.ivaw.org/wintersoldier.
FIFTH ANNIVERSARY EVENTS: www.5yearstoomany.org