Alert #156  May 7, 2008

Yet another $170 Billion
up in smoke?
PEACE DEMANDS ACTION.
 one email, one action, five minutes a week for peace
view this message online: http://www.panys.org/alerts/156.htm
Dear Peace Networker,

Here we go again. The House could vote as early as this Thursday on yet another $170 billion in supplemental funding for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Many members of Congress, like many Americans, are resigned to waiting for the next President to make a significant change in our Iraq policy. For the military personnel in the Middle East and the Iraqis living in fear, nine months is too long to wait. This may be the last opportunity for our Democratic Congress to rise to the occasion and take the kind of bold action that we elected them to take.

Click here to use the web technology of our sister organization, Peace Action West, to demand that your Representative oppose funding unless it is used to withdraw U.S. troops from Iraq.

The details of this supplemental funding bill haven’t been released yet, but it seems likely that the House will take 3 separate votes: one on unrelated domestic spending, one on $170 billion in funding for the war and one on policy provisions such as a timeline for withdrawal of U.S. troops and a declaration that any agreement between the U.S. and Iraqi government needs to come through Congress.

I know that it is frustrating to see yet another alert about more funding for the war in Iraq. As we call on Congress to fulfill its overdue mandate to end the war, we must also fulfill our duty as concerned citizens by keeping this issue at the forefront. Now is a critical time to let Congress know that we are paying attention and that we will remember in November. Remind them that the Iraq war is a tragedy with profound human cost, not a political battle to be pushed off for a more convenient time.

Click here to tell your representative to support only funding for withdrawal.

As always, thank you for your tireless efforts to bring the war to an end.

In Peace,

Cheryl Wertz
Executive Director, Peace Action of New York State
info@panys.org
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UPCOMING EVENTS

 
 NYC Metro Area Upstate NY Out-of-State & Nationwide
FEATURED EVENTS
Wednesday, May 7, 3:00 pm
NEW YORK CITY. 1 Police Plaza
JOIN UNITED FOR PEACE AND JUSTICE AND THE NATIONAL ACTION NETWORK IN RESPONSE TO THE SEAN BELL VERDICT.
All welcome to attend. There will be a safe space for those not interested in risking arrest. Anyone interested can engage in civil disobedience. If you plan on risking arrest, please register at the National Action Network. For more information, see www.nationalactionnetwork.net.

Thursday May 8 – Saturday May 17
ROCHESTER, ITHACA, UTICA, SYRACUSE AND POINTS BETWEEN TO FORT DRUM.
NEW YORK STATE MARCHES TO A DIFFERENT DRUMMER
A PEACE MARCH TO FORT DRUM TO SUPPORT IRAQ VETERANS
AGAINST THE WAR AND THE DIFFERENT DRUMMER CAFÉ.
New Yorkers will be marching across the state to bring support to our active duty soldiers and Iraq Veterans Against the War. This march will be an act of re-birthing civic duty and responsibility to defend our Constitution and strengthen our resolve to stop the damage this unjust, illegal, and immoral war is doing to our families, communities, the world and most of all, soldiers. Support Iraq Veterans Against the War and the Different Drummer Café at Fort Drum. For more information, feeder march routes, and dates, see www.nysmarchesforpeace.org.
New York Metro Area and Long Island Events
 
 Wednesday, May 7. 7:30 pm refreshments, 8:00 pm program starts.
GREAT NECK. Great Neck Library, Bayview Avenue and Grist Mill Lane
 AN IRAQ VETERAN BRINGS THE WAR HOME.
 Guest Speaker: Kristopher Goldsmith. Mr. Goldsmith is an Iraq War veteran, and a native of Long Island who saw the Twin Towers fall and enlisted in the army to serve his country. He’ll share his experiences in Sadr City and his thoughts on Stop-Loss. Kris has a powerful and moving story to tell. For more information, please call 516-487-3786 or 516-466-5560.
Saturday May 10, 2-5 pm
EAST VILLAGE. Theater for the New City.
155 First Avenue (between 9th and 10th Streets)
 CELEBRATION OF THE LIFE OF RALPH DIGIA
Music, film, photos, remembrances, and time to share stories with each other. Childcare available. Food and drink will be served. RSVP by May 1 to the Ralph DiGia fund: 212-334-2292 or email ralphparty@yahoo.com
Sunday, May 11th, 11 a.m.,
UPPER WEST SIDE. Merchants Gate at Columbus Circle (59th Street and Central Park)
 GRANNY PEACE BRIGADE MOTHER’S DAY STROLL
 A festive peace stroll lead by a mobile band. We will go up the West Side, into Central Park, and to the Metropolitan Museum. Bring your grandmother, your mother, your children, your grandchildren, partners, spouses, friends, and dogs. If it rains, the parade is cancelled, but we WILL proceed under cloudy skies. For more information, contact the Granny Peace Brigade at 212-533-2125.
Monday May 12, 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm
GREENWICH VILLAGE. Cantor Film Center, 36 East 8th Street (Between University Place and Greene Street.) Theater 101
 SHOWING OF DOCUMENTARY,
"GRANNIES AGAINST THE WAR" 
 Q&A with filmmaker Nina Krstic after the showing.
Six other short documentaries will also be screened.
Tuesday May 13th, 7 pm – 9:30 pm
EAST VILLAGE. The Bowery Poetry Club,308 Bowery @ Bleecker St.
JAZZ MEANS PEACE SALUTES GRANDMOTHERS AGAINST THE WAR AND THE GRANNY PEACE BRIGADE.
WITH SPECIAL GUEST VOCALIST JOAN WILE.
A Jazz series dedicated to building a permanent alternative peace culture by supporting Peace Organizations and celebrating America’s unique classical musical art form; JAZZ. “Deconstructing The Great American Songbook” $8 admission + 1 drink minimum. For tickets and information see, www.grandmothersagainstthewar.org.
Friday, May 16, 1:00 – 6:00 pm.
MIDTOWN. Dag Hammarskjold Park, 47th Street between 1st and 2nd Avenues
 NAKBAH RALLY AND MARCH.
New York  and New Jersey Palestinian and Arab American community rally and march to commemorate the Nakbah. The program is exciting and the organizers are anticipating large numbers of participants. For more information, contact Wespac at 914-449-6514. http://nakbah1948.org/May%2016%20Rally.htm
Saturday, May 17. 5:45 – 8:00 pm.
STATEN ISLAND. Unitarian Church Parish Hall, 312 Fillmore St.
PEACE ACTION STATEN ISLAND
GENERAL MEETING AND POT LUCK DINNER.
Saturday, May 17, 8:00 pm (doors open at 7:30)
QUEENS. Richmond Hill High School, 89-30 114th Street.
 TARA'S CROSSING.
 One performance only! From Houses on the Moon Theatre Co. comes this off-Broadway hit, the remarkable odyssey of a transgender asylum seeker who flees Guyana, only to wind up in the isolation of U.S. Immigration detention, where she struggles to win her freedom. The play was inspired by true events. All seats $20.00 ($15.00 with discount code: “TC Discount.” For advance tickets contact Broadway Fashion 718-848-7593 or in person at 106-06 Liberty Ave.)
Wednesday, May 21, 7:00 pm.
BROOKLYN. Brooklyn Friends Meeting House – 110 Schermerhorn Street at Boerum Place
MAY 1948 – A NEW STATE FOR ISRAELITES,
A NAKBA (CATASTROPHE) FOR PALESTINIANS.
A panel discussion on the issues and emotions associated with the events of 1948 and why they still matter. With Nadia Hijab, a Senior Fellow at the Institute for Palestine Studes, Adam Horowitz, founder of Jews Against the Occupation, Zachary Lockman, a Professor in the Dept. of Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies at NYU. Sponsored by Brooklyn for Peace and the Peace and Social Action Committee of the Brooklyn Monthly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends. Free admission. For more information, call 718-624-5921 or see www.brooklynpeace.org.
Thursday, May 22. 8:00 pm
WEST FINANCIAL DISTRICT. Church Street School for Music and Art. 74 Warren Street.
 PERFORMANCE OF COOPERATIVE VILLAGE: A FUNDRAISER FOR
THE NEW YORK COALITION TO EXPAND VOTING RIGHTS.
 “Cooperative Village,” written and performed by author Frances Madeson, is a boldly comic social and political satire offered up to progressive people everywhere as a rallying cry in opposition to the Bush administration and the institutions and values that prop it up. Called “smart, macabre satire of the War on Terror” by Washington City Paper and selected as the National Organization for Women (NOW) NYC’s June ’08 Book Club pick, the wickedly uproarious novel is now an equally outrageous one-woman show. Ticket prices are $50 with a free, signed copy of the book, $20 without. All proceeds to benefit the New York Coalition to Expand Voting Rights, the campaign to reinstate municipal voting rights for document non-citizens who live, work, raise families and pay taxes in New York City. For more information, contact the Diversity Center of Queens at 917 378 8758. To purchase tickets, click here .
Saturday, May 31, 2:00 – 6:00 pm
GREENWICH VILLAGE. Church of the Village, 48th St. Mark’s Place (between 1st and 2nd Avenues)
 WHAT'S NEXT AFTER MAY DAY?
A FORUM ORGANIZED BY THE MAY 1 COALITION FOR IMMIGRANTS’ RIGHTS
 2:00 – 4:00 pm: Building the movement in solidarity with immigrants and workers, organizing labor, students and the progressive movement for social change.
4:00 pm: “Teatro Callejera: No Abres La Puerta.” 4:30 – 6:00 pm: Panel discussion on rights, organizing and what to say if ICE comes to your home. Refreshments will be served. Donations accepted. For more information, see www.may1.info.
Saturday, May 31. (Rain date June 7th)
Registration and check in, 10:00 am. Ride starts 11:00 am.
CENTRAL PARK, 110th Street and Adam Clayton Powell Blvd.
 PEDAL FOR PEACE 2008: A FUNDRAISER FOR
NYC UNITED FOR PEACE AND JUSTICE.
Be a part of the cycle of peace! A Family Friendly 15-mile Ride. It is a permitted ride that will wind through East Harlem, Harlem and the Upper Westside.  It is a great combination of cycling through neighborhoods and more open tree-lined roads (Edgecombe and Riverside Drives).  We will keep a gentle pace to encourage families and less experienced riders to participate.  For the hardcore cyclists, it will be more like a stroll giving you an opportunity to take in the sites as we go.  Most importantly, we will be making a statement as we ride: Fund our communities, Not War! Bring all the Troops Home Now!  Registration is $40 or $25 low-income/student.  Children under 18 ride free.  All riders get a fabulous Pedal for Peace t-shirt.  Everyone is encouraged to also get sponsors.  There are great gifts for those who raise $250 or more! The first 50 riders to register, as well as all children, will get a safety flag with a peace symbol on it.  We encourage you to get creative and decorate your bike with messages of peace! Click here to register today.

Upstate Events
Saturday, May 10, 11:00am – 4:00 pm
Gallery dedication at noon, Eastern Woodland history at 1:00 pm.
CROTON ON HUDSON. Croton Point Park
GRAND OPENING AND RECEPTION
FOR ARTISTS BARBARA HUNT AND JEANNE D. SHAW
Honoring the Spirit of the Wood. Featuring The Nimham Mountain Singers: a unity drum group that sings eastern woodland songs. Sponsored by Riverdrifters Gallery: Fine Art Works. For more information contact Wespac Foundation at 914-449-6514.
Tuesday, May 13th, 7 pm
PLEASANTVILLE. WESPAC, 17 Marble Avenue in Pleasantville. 
ACTIVIST NETWORKING MEETING.
Come hear updates from YouthPAC, WESPAC's Middle East Committee, the Free Mumia Coalition, the Center for Racial Justice, No War Westchester, WESPAC's Environmental Committee, the Women's Circle, and WESPAC's Friends of Turtle Island.  If you have been active on an issue and would like to share your work with us, please plan on attending.  For more information contact Wespac Foundation at 914-449-6514.
Tuesday, May 13, 4:00 pm
WHITE PLAINS. Barnes and Noble, 230 Main Street, City Center.
 CHRIS HEDGES DISCUSSION AND BOOK SIGNING.
Former New York Times columnist Chris Hedges will be discussing and signing his latest book “I Don’t Believe in Atheists.” It is a compelling work about the debate between religious fundamentalists and the “new atheists” who have created, according to Hedges, another form of fundamentalism. Hedges has also written “American Fascists: The Christian Right and the War on America,” “War is a Force that Gives Us Meaning” and “Losing Moses On the Freeway.”
Monday, May 19th, 4 to 6 p.m.
WHITE PLAINS. City Library, 100 Martine Avenue between South Lexington Ave. & MLK Jr. Blvd.
 REGIONAL MEETING (WESTCHESTER AND LOWER HUDSON VALLEY)
OF THE HEALTH CARE FOR ALL COALITION.
 Come find out what’s happening here in New York, and an exciting new statewide campaign for universal health care reform! For more information, contact 845-802-0039.or jwisneski@citizenactionny.org
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
Monday, May 12, 7:00 pm.
GREENWICH, CT. Cole Auditorium, Greenwich Public Library - 101 Putnam Ave
THE ROLE AND IMPACT OF THE ISRAEL LOBBY
IN SHAPING US FOREIGN POLICY.
With Professor Stephen Walt, Harvard University, Co-Author of The Israel Lobby.
For more information, contact Wespac Foundation at 914-449-6514.
Going out of state? Check UFPJ's national Events Calendar: http://www.unitedforpeace.org/calendar.php.