Alert #162  June 9, 2008

TIME TO TALK TO IRAN
Tuesday June 10
National Call-In Day for Diplomacy
PEACE DEMANDS ACTION.
 one email, one action, five minutes a week for peace
view this message online: http://www.panys.org/alerts/162.htm
Dear Peace Networker,

In your five minutes for peace this week, please support the Campaign for a New American Policy on Iran's (CNAPI) June 10th event, "Time to Talk with Iran". By participating, you are promoting Peace Action's belief in diplomacy as a means of resolving heightened tensions.

The current administration has repeatedly threatened Iran with military force without UN or Congressional authorization. These threats have resulted in a false hostility between the citizens of the U.S. and Iran. CNAPI's "Time to Talk with Iran" will dispel this tension by allowing Members of Congress, former officials, celebrities, and regular citizens to use a row of 1960's-era red "hotline" telephones to talk directly with Iranian citizens.

As you know, despite serious concern regarding the Government of Iran's past statements, Peace Action believes diplomacy is the best means of alleviating tensions between the U.S. and Iran. Military force would just turn into a war that mirrors the one in Iraq, and sanctions are counterproductive and harmful to Iran's citizens.

On Tuesday, June 10th please "Call-in to Congress for Diplomacy with Iran". This is a great opportunity for you to tell your Senators & Representative that you do not support a military attack on Iran. Please click the following link to download materials for the National Call-in Day:


While you are speaking to your Representative, ask them to support H.R. 5056, the "Iran Diplomatic Accountability Act of 2008". This Act calls for the appointment of a high-level U.S. representative for Iran for the purpose of easing tensions and normalizing relations between the U.S. and Iran. It also concludes that the best solution is a diplomatic one that includes direct, bilateral, and unconditional comprehensive talks with Iran. The U.S. representative would also be responsible for consulting with other countries and international organizations as well as acting as a liaison with the U.S. and international intelligence agencies.

It is imperative to make sure this Act gets through Congress, and this is a crucial time, as the bill is only in the first step of the legislative process. Please call your Representative and Senators and tell them that it is time to support REAL diplomacy with Iran, and stop making military threats.

Thank you,
Marissa Brescia
Peace Action New York State

info@panys.org
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FEATURED EVENTS

Wednesday, June 11, 7:30 pm
LONG ISLAND. Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Shelter Rock, 48 Shelter Rock Road, Manhasset
“SAY NO TO TORTURE.”
A LECTURE BY FR. LOUIS VITALE
Fr. Louis is a Franciscan priest, peace activist and co-founder of “Pace e Bene” Non-Violence Service that fosters a more peaceful and just world. Suggested donation $5. Sponsored by the Long Island Alliance for Peaceful Alternatives, Pax Christi LI, and The Shelter Rock Forum. For more information contact 516-627-6560 x122.
New York Metro Area and Long Island Events
 
 Thursday, June 12, 7:30 pm
UPPER WEST SIDE. Church of the Holy Name of Jesus, St. Mary of the Angels Chapel (the lower church), 207 West 96th Street at Amsterdam
 “SAY NO TO TORTURE”- A LECTURE BY FR. LOUIS VITALE
 Fr. Louis is a Franciscan priest, peace activist and co-founder of “Pace e Bene” Non-Violence Service that fosters a more peaceful and just world. Suggested donation $10. For more information, contact 212-749-0276x 23 or holynamenyc@aol.com.
Thursday, June 12, 7:00 pm
FORT GREENE, BROOKLYN. Lafayette Avenue Presbyterian Church, 85 S Oxford St. @ Lafayette Ave.
 SEAN BELL CASE: RACIAL PROFILING AND POLICE BRUTALITY IN NYC
Hosted by Fort Greene Peace. Guest speakers: NY State Senator Eric Adams and Norman Siegel, civil rights lawyer and former head of the NY Civil Liberties Union.
Saturday, June 14th, 12:00 – 3:00 pm
VALLEY STREAM. American Muslim Voice, 45 Cohill Road.
 OPENING OF THE EAST COAST OFFICE OF AMERICAN MUSLIM VOICE.
American Muslim Voice does not do teach-ins or speeches. They have just one rule to follow. Nurture old friendships and sow the seeds of new friendships to create an inclusive nation. Please bring family, friends and chairs. They will provide a free Pakistani lunch, kids activities and a cultural experience. To RSVP, please contact Malik Nadeem Adid at 917-513-0904 or mnabid@gmail.com. Co-sponsored by AMV National, Kashmir Mission USA, ICNA Relief and Code Pink.
Saturday, June 14th, 2-5 pm
MIDTOWN. Martin Luther King Jr. Labor Center, 310 West 43rd Street
 ANNUAL BETTER WORLD AWARDS LUNCHEON.
 Speaker, Judith Le Blanc of United for Peace and Justice and CPUSA. 2008 Better World Award Honorees: Estelle Katz, Co-Founder of Chelsea for Peace. $40, $20 for low-income or youth. To benefit the People’s Weekly World/Nuestro Mundo. For information or reservations, contact 646-437-5355 or nyfriends@pww.org.
Saturday, June 14, 12 noon
UNIONDALE. Begin on the corner of Nassau Road and Mollineaux Place, Roosevelt (Western Beef Parking lot). March to Argyle Avenue and Nassau Road (Greenfield Cemetery entrance.)
 COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT MARCH.
 Sponsored by S.T.R.O.N.G. Youth, Inc and endorsed by more than 24 community organizations, the march will educate and empower citizens to address the problems of violence plaguing our communities, leading to far too many young lives lost to prisons and cemeteries. For more information contact S.T.R.O.N.G. Youth at 516-408-3798.
Wednesday, June 18, 1:15 to 2:30 p.m.
MIDTOWN. Quaker House, 247 East 48th Street, between 2nd and 3rd Avenues
 AN AFTERNOON BOOK DISCUSSION WITH HELENA COBBAN
AUTHOR OF “RE-ENGAGED! AMERICA AND THE WORLD AFTER BUSH”
 FCNL is co-hosting this event with the Quaker United Nations Office. Helena will be on hand to sign copies of the book, available for $14.95. A light lunch will be provided. If you would like to attend the book party, please RSVP by June 13. To learn more about the book, visit www.re-engage.net.
Wednesday, June 18, 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm
LOWER EAST SIDE. Cake Shop, 152 Ludlow Street.
 AN EVENING BOOK DISCUSSION WITH HELENA COBBAN,
AUTHOR OF “RE-ENGAGED! AMERICA AND THE WORLD AFTER BUSH”
Blogger Tony Karon of Rootless Cosmopolitan and analyst Bill Hartung of the Arms and Security Initiative at the New America Foundation will help us kick off what we hope will be a spirited discussion of the issues Helena raises in the her new book. Helena will be on hand to sign copies of the book, available for $14.95. If you would like to attend the book party, please RSVP by June 13. To learn more about the book, visit www.re-engage.net.
Saturday June 21, 7 pm through Sunday June 22, 7 pm.
QUEENS. The Diversity Center of Queens, 76-11 37th Avenue, 2nd floor.
24 HOUR CULTURAL MARATHON
TO SUPPORT THE NY COALTION TO EXPAND VOTING RIGHTS.
Come hear poetry, music, videos, and dancers for 24 hours! Only $5 to get in. Stay for 10 minutes or 24 hours of entertainment! Sponsored by the New York Coalition to Expand Voting Rights and Poetas en NY. For more information contact 917-650-5988, 908-764-4365 or 347-813-3695.


Upstate Events
Tuesday, June 10, 7:30 pm
HASTINGS-ON-HUDSON. Public Library, 7 Maple Avenue.
FREE SCREENING OF “UNCOUNTED: THE NEW MATH OF AMERICAN ELECTIONS” “Uncounted” is an explosive new documentary that shows how the election fraud that changed the outcome of the 2004 election lead to even greater fraud in 2006 – and now looms as an unbridled threat to the outcome of the 2008 election. For more information call 917-478-3848.
Thursday June 12, 4:30 - 6:00 pm
COLONIE. Billboard, south side of Central Avenue, about 1/2 mi. west of Route 155 between Fern and Dunning Streets.
DRIVE-TIME BILLBOARD VIGIL FOR DIPLOMANCY/NOT WAR WITH IRAN.
Parking available on Dunning St. and nearby residential streets. Join Upper Hudson Peace Action in this last demo before the billboard comes down on June 15. We will have our "No War in Iran" banners and photos of Iranian people, and we'll create a "Burma Shave" type demonstration, e.g. "Bush & Cheney -- Don't Bomb Iran -- Diplomacy's -- A Better Plan!" RSVP: easter@nycap.rr.com. More information: mesola@earthlink.net
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
Saturday, June 28 & Sunday, June 29, 2008
CLEVELAND, OHIO
AN OPEN NATIONAL ANTIWAR CONFERENCE
TO SUPPORT THE DEMANDS: STOP THE WAR IN IRAQ1 BRING THE TROOPS HOME NOW! We invite everyone who opposes the war and occupation to attend an open democratic national antiwar conference to place on the agenda of the entire US antiwar movement a proposal for the largest possible united mass mobilization to stop the war and end the occupation. Speakers include: Donna Dewitt, Fred Mason, Greg Coleridge, Jonathan Hutto, Jeremy Scahill, Cindy Sheehan, by video. To register and for more information, log on to: www.natassembly.org.
Friday-Sunday, July 18-20
WASHINGTON DC. Trinity College, 125 Michigan Avenue.
PEACE ACTION 50TH ANNIVERSARY
NATIONAL CONGRESS,
STUDENT PEACE ACTION NETWORK CONVERGENCE
 With speakers Jeremy Scahill, Raed Jarrar, Antonia Juhasz, Trita Parsi, and Max Kampelman
 plus issue, skill-building, and Peace Voter workshops.
Click here for Peace Action information and registration.
Click here for SPAN information and registration.
Monday-Tuesday, July 21-22
WASHINGTON DC.
CONGRESSIONAL EDUCATION DAYS
Peace Action activists from around the country visit Congressional offices
Going out of state? Check UFPJ's national Events Calendar: http://www.unitedforpeace.org/calendar.php.