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Alert #186 November 19, 2008
The annual vigil to close the SOA/WHINSEC is held in November outside the army base that houses the facility. The vigil commemorates the massacre at the Central American University in El Salvador on November 16, 1989. On that day, Julia Elba Ramos, her 14-year-old daughter Celina, and six Jesuit priests were brutally murdered by a unit of the Salvadoran army led by military officers trained at the SOA. This year's vigil is notable for two reasons. First, Jon Sobrino, S.J., the Jesuit priest who survived the 1989 massacre, will attend the annual vigil. In addition, four days ago in Spain, a criminal case was filed against Alfredo Cristiani Burkard, former Salvadoran President, and 14 Salvadoran officers and soldiers, for their role in the Jesuit massacre. The defendants include many graduates of the SOA. The SOA made headlines in 1996 when the Pentagon released training manuals used at the school that advocated torture, extortion and execution. Five Latin American countries have announced withdrawals from the training facility, citing its history of human rights abuses. However, the involvement of SOA/WHINSEC graduates in human rights abuses continues. In October of this year, Colombian Army commander General Mario Montoya resigned in the wake of a scandal over army killings of civilians that a UN official called "systematic and widespread." Montoya not only received training at the SOA, but also taught soldiers as an instructor. General Montoya has been replaced by General Oscar Gonzalez, also an SOA graduate. After research revealed that WHINSEC continues to train known human rights abusers, and that instructors have been involved in numerous crimes, the Pentagon reacted by classifying the names of all WHINSEC officers, soldiers and instructors. Fortunately, thanks to the work of thousands of grassroots activists, support for WHINSEC is eroding in Congress. In June 2007, a McGovern (D-MA)/Lewis (D-GA) amendment to the FY 2008 Foreign Appropriations bill that would have prohibited funding for WHINSEC lost by a margin of only six votes. Over thirty Representatives who voted to keep WHINSEC alive lost their seats in Congress in the November election. In your five minutes for peace today, please support the thousands of activists on their way to Fort Benning in two critical ways:
Cheryl Wertz Peace Action of New York State info@panys.org |
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Thursday, November 18. Refreshments 7:30 pm, Meeting 8:00 pm GREAT NECK. Great Neck Library, 159 Bayview Ave. at Grist Mill Lane. 
"THE TYRANNY OF OIL" - ANTONIA JUHASZ"A timely, blistering critique ... white hot ... Explosive fuel for the raging debate on oil prices" -Kirkus Reviews. In a a chilling expose, the latest book from author-activist Antonia Juhasz pulls back the curtain on the world's most powerful and secretive industry. Why do oil prices rise and fall so quickly? How much oil is left and how will "Big Oil" get it? What is the cost to our economy, environment and foreign policy? What we must do to stop it? For information and directions: 516-487-3786. 
Tuesday, Dec. 9, 7:30 pmBAY RIDGE, BROOKLYN. Union Church Parish House, 81O1 Ridge Blvd. (R train to 86th Street - 2 Blocks to Ridge Blvd.) NEW YORK SAVE THE GUARD Speakers:
Thursday, November 20, 7:00 pmFORT GREENE, BROOKLYN. Lafayette Avenue Presbyterian Church, 85 South Oxford Avenue, near DeKalb Ave. IRAN & THE UNITED STATES: CONFRONTATION OR DIPLOMACY? WITH ERVAND ABRAHAMIAN. Presented by Fort Greene Peace. Ervand Abrahmian is a Distinguished Professor of History at Baruch College, author and expert on Iran. He is the author of “Iran between Two Revolutions,” “The Iranian Mojahedin,” “Khomeinism,” “Tortured Confessions: Prisons and Public Recantations in Iran,” and most recently “A History of Modern Iran.” Light refreshments will be served. Free admission--Donations accepted. For more information see www.fortgreenepeace.ne1.net or call (347) 243-4646. Sunday, November 23, 9:30am – 5:00 pm PARK AVENUE NYC. Central Synagogue, 123 East 55th Street, between Park and Lexington. JEWS UNITING TO END THE WAR AND HEAL AMERICA: ORGANIZING FOR ACTION. 
Yesterday America decided, but what happens next? Join hundreds of domestic and international policy,
human and civil rights, peace and Jewish community experts and activists from across the nation for a
daylong call to conscience and strategy session focused moving the incoming Presidential Administration
to end the war in Iraq, attend to pressing domestic issues and shift to a saner foreign policy.
Sponsored by The Shalom Center, Workmen's Circle/Arbeter Ring and
 Jewish Currents. Confirmed speakers include Congressman Jerrold Nadler
, D-NY; Michael Ratner
, Center for Constitutional Rights; Amy Goodman, Democracy Now!;
Leslie Cagan, United for Peace and Justice; Honorable Elizabeth Holtzman
, former Congresswoman; Rabbi David Saperstein, Religious Action Center;
Sammie Moshenberg, National Council of Jewish Women; Rabbi Peter Knobel
, Central Conference of American Rabbis; Rabbi Rachel Kahn-Troster,
Rabbis for Human Rights-North America; Diane Balser, Brit Tzedek V’Shalom;
Jeremy Ben Ami, JStreet; and many more!
(Complete list of speakers and strategy sessions at:
www.circle.org/jewsuniting.
Registration $36-72/Sliding Scale; $18/Low-Income No one turned away for lack of funds
Register now online
Monday, December 1, 7:30 pm UPPER WEST SIDE, NYC. 382 Central Park West, (entrance on 97th street), basement lounge. WEST SIDE PEACE ACTION MEMBERSHIP MEETING. Come join members of West Side Peace Action in discussing how to build the peace movement and where we go from here. Special guest speaker, Cheryl Wertz, Executive Director, Peace Action of New York State. For more information contact 212-580-1404. Saturday, November 22. NANUET. Corner of Route 59 and Middletown Road 6TH ANNIVERSARY OF OUR PEACE VIGILS. For six long years, we never give up. We persistently carry out our vigils every Saturday in a peaceful manner to promote the message “End the War NOW! Bring Troops Home NOW!” Bring your family and your friends to join this special peace vigil to commemorate the unbeaten human spirit for peace! (Please make sure that you park either at the Macy mall or at the following designated parking area authorized by the manager of the Rockland Plaza: In the rear parking area off Middletown Road (at the North end of Middletown Road along the trees, far away from the Dog House Restaurant) (vicinity of annual Christmas tree sales area) away from the customer parking area.) Saturday, November 22, 4:30 pm SCHENECTADY. First United Methodist Church on Chapel Street, in the library JOIN SCHENECTADY NEIGHBORS FOR PEACE IN THE SCHENECTADY HOLIDAY PARADE! This will be fun! The more, the merrier! Invite all peace minded folk to join in and help build our theme of PEACE IS NOT A FAIRY TALE (the parade has a fairy tale theme) Dress: Wear a costume with a fairy tale theme. Please bring your own sign, if needed (Witches Against War; Pied Piper for Peace; Giants for Justice, etc. We will also bring the peace pinnies, so if you want an easy costume, wear a stocking hat or pom-pom hat and wear the pinnie as a peace elf. Do not dress as Santa! (There’s just one.) Remember, this is a family event and keep all images and signs appropriate for kids. The parade is a rain or shine event and is about two hours. We are planning to have one vehicle in the parade, for those who might need to ride or get out of the weather. It would be helpful to know who is coming. Please email or call Elaine 346-0517. Sunday, November 23, 2:00 pm ALBANY. Hubbard Interfaith Sanctuary, College of Saint Rose, 959 Madison Avenue. 
GHAITH AL-OMARI SPEAKING ON THE ISRAEL-PALESTINE CONFLICT: A TURNING POINT.
Moderated by Rabbi Debora S. Gordon of Congregation Berith Sholom. With new leadership
in the United States, Israel and Palestine, what will be the new challenges and opportunities for
achieving peace? Ghaith al-Omari is Policy Director at the American Task Force for
Palestine and Senior Fellow at the New America Foundation. He was advisor to Arafat and Abbas, participated
in the Camp David and Taba negotiations, and was the lead drafter for the Palestinians of the Geneva
Initiative. A graduate of Georgetown and Oxford, he taught international law in Jordan and was active
in human rights advocacy there. He will address Palestinian perspectives on the Israel-Palestine
conflict. Admission is free; donations appreciated. Presented by Capital District Chapter
of Brit Tzedek v’Shalom, Sidney and Beatrice Albert Interfaith Lecture Series Board,
The Interfaith Alliance of New York State, Commission on Peace & Justice of the Roman Catholic
Diocese of Albany. For further information: Jack Alexander 674-8582
Sunday, Nov. 23, 2:00 – 3:00 pmROCHESTER. Sacred Heart Cathedral, 287 Flower City Parkway PRESENTE! A PRAYER VIGIL COMMEMORATING THE JESUIT MARTYERS AND IN SOLIDARITY WITH SOA WATCH 2008. Sponsored by Pax Christi Rochester. SOA/WHINSEC at Fort Benning, GA trains security personnel from Latin American countries. SOA graduates are responsible for some of the worst human rights abuses including torture and assassination committed in their home countries. SOA Watch is a nonviolent movement which works through protest, legislative and media work to close the SOA/WHINSEC. For more information: Vivian Rightmyer 293-3299 
Sunday, November 23, 2:00 PM ROCHESTER. Third Presbyterian Church, 4 Meigs Street, SCREENING OF “SHAPE OF THE FUTURE” Part of the Salaam-Shalom Film series. Four films that present some of the human dimensions of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Shape of the Future is a documentary that explores what an eventual Palestinian-Israel peace settlement might look like. It examines the aspirations of both Israelis and Palestinians and demonstrates the possibility of a lasting, mutually satisfactory peace. Free of charge (donations accepted) 
Friday, December 5, 7:30 pmPOUGHKEEPSIE. The Muddy Cup, 305 Main Street. SCREENING OF “WHAT WOULD JESUS BUY?” What Would Jesus Buy? follows Reverend Billy and the Gospel Choir of Church of Stop Shopping as they go on a cross-country mission to save Christmas from the Shopocalypse: the end of mankind from consumerism, over-consumption and the fires of eternal debt! From producer Morgan Spurlock (Super Size Me). The screening will be followed by an audience discussion. This is part of the "Give Peace a Film" series sponsored by the Dutchess Peace Coalition. There is no admission charge.Contact: Fred Nagel at 845 876-7906 Friday December 5, 6:00-9:30pm and Saturday December 6, 9:30 am – 3:00 pm ROCHESTER. First Unitarian Church, 220 Winton Road South METRO JUSTICE’S ANNUAL ALTERNATIVE FAIR. Put your money where your heart is ... Support social justice when buying holiday gifts. Holiday shopping for the whole family. Clothes, toys, games, pottery, jewelry, and more. Hundreds of fair trade, earth-friendly and/or locally-produced gift items. Exciting new vendors plus your old favorites. Live music, delicious food, and free child care. For more information, call Metro Justice at 325-2560. $4 suggested donation. Ages 12 and older please. 
Saturday, December 6th, 10:00 am – 5:00 pmWHITE PLAINS. Asbury Hall, Memorial United Methodist Church, 250 Bryant Avenue WESPAC FAIR TRADE FESTIVAL Crafts from a women’s collective in Guatemala, Fair Trade coffee, tea, chocolate and olive oil, Native American hand woven cotton and wool clothing and silver jewelry, Siwok crafts from Argentina, Embroidered cushion covers and accessories, Signed Ralph Fasanella prints, Handmade crafts from Rwanda, Kenya, Uganda & Ethiopia, Locally-made jewelry, Palestinian Children’s Art Exhibit and Silent Auction, Jewelry, toys and crafts from Mexico, Silk Scarves from India designed by local artist. Admission is $1 and all are welcome. Lunch and homemade baked goods will be available for sale as well. Saturday, December 6, 1:00 – 3:00 pm BUFFALO. WNY Peace Center, 2123 Bailey (Corner of Bailey & Genesee.) 4TH QUARTER MEMBERSHIP MEETING AND HOLIDAY POTLUCK. Sunday, December 7, 2:00 pm ROCHESTER. Temple B'rith Kodesh, 2131 Elmwood Avenue SCREENING OF “KNOWLEDGE IS THE BEGINNING” 
Part of the Salaam-Shalom Film series. Four films that present some of
the human dimensions of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Knowledge is
the Beginning is the story of the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra,
set up by Daniel Barenboim, where young Arabs and Jews perform
and live side by side. It is a film about what music can do; the way it can transcend
cultural barriers, bring people together, defeat prejudice and overcome religious and
political differences. Yo-Yo Ma helped too, and he appears
in several scenes. Free of charge (donations accepted)
Thursday, December 11, 7:30 pm PLEASANTVILLE. WESPAC office, 17 Marble Avenue. TOWN HALL MEETING ON WHERE WE GO FROM HERE. You are all invited and encouraged to come and participate, and to give your input as to what sort of inauguration event/action the WESPAC Community should plan for around January 20th in 2009 when President Elect Obama will take office. You will also have the chance to meet the new board members and officers of the organization. Many local peace groups hold regular events, vigils, "Honk for Peace" actions, etc. See our list: www.panys.org/ongoing.htm 
Friday - Sunday, December 12 -14CHICAGO UNITED FOR PEACE AND JUSTICE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY Join hundreds of members of United for Peace and Justice from around the country in answering some of the most pressing post-election questions for the peace movement. Where do we go from here? What will the peace movement look like and how can we be effective in the new administration? Click here for registration information or details. Going out of state? Check UFPJ's national Events Calendar: http://www.unitedforpeace.org/calendar.php. |