NEW YORK PEACE NETWORK. Peace Action of New York State. OBAMA IS LISTENING. TALK TO HIM NOW. PEACE DEMANDS ACTION -one email, one action, five minutes a week for peace
View this message online: http://www.panys.org/alerts/189.htm
Alert # 189  December 10, 2008
Dear Peace Advocate,

On December 10, 1948 the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted and proclaimed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Today, please join thousands of members of Peace Action New York State in celebrating this landmark anniversary in one of three ways:
  1. Educate yourself and others about the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The vast majority of Americans have never read the document. It contains some of the core concepts that Americans have enshrined in our Constitution – protection from arbitrary arrest and slavery, the right to belong to associations and freedom of expression. But it contains some other rights that are not reflected in American law – the right to an education, the right to marry, the right to work.
    Please print out as many copies of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as you can and share it with others. Can you post it in your school, work place or apartment building? Leave copies on the counter at a local store? Post it on your blog? Before we can all truly accept the concept of human rights for all, we all have to know what they are.
  2. Support the recognition of human rights in the United States. Tell President-elect Barack Obama, as well as your Senators and Congressional Representative, that you want the United States to participate more fully in the international human rights regime. 193 countries have signed and ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child. That’s every country in the United Nations except the United States and Somalia. We cannot be leaders in the international movement for human rights, if we are not participants in the international movement for human rights.
  3. Finally, support the work of activists around the world working to bring human rights home to their own countries. For instance, there is a movement of women in Iran struggling to get one million signatures on a petition for women’s rights in their country. Unfortunately, their web sight is often inaccessible from inside Iran, and the movement’s leaders have been arrested and jailed. By educating ourselves about their campaign and their work, we are providing them with a small layer of protection. Click on the "contact us" link on their web page to let these courageous human rights activists know that they are not alone.
I know that I will see many of you at some of the dozens of Human Rights Day events that are happening around New York State today, but in case I miss you, thanks for all you do!

In Peace,

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

Click buttons below for our online calendar of upcoming events.

 
 NYC Metro Area Upstate NY Out-of-State & Nationwide
Featured Event
Saturday, December 20, 3:00 p.m.
ALBANY. Crossgates Mall.
 ANNUAL CROSSGATES MALL STROLL.
Time to stroll the mall and bring our peace messages again. Meet at 3 p.m. at the Best Buy entrance, the media will be invited.  We will then wander the mall, wearing our peace tee shirts and "shopping".  We will then gather at the food court at 4 p.m. to sing alternative Holiday songs. Bring your voice, your Peace Tee Shirt, a guitar, a friend and a desire to sing for PEACE!  Sheets of Peace Music will be provided, bring songs to share!  If need more info call Wendy @ 518-542-4194.    Neighbors for Peace Tee Shirts available, call Wendy in advance to order. 

New York Metro Area and Long Island Events
 
 Wednesday, December 10, 2:00 p.m.
MIDTOWN NYC. L-3 Headquarters, 160 East 37th Street, between Lexington and 3rd Ave.
DEMONSTRATION AT L-3 HEADQUARTERS
Come join the Radical Student Union of The New School and demonstrate at the headquarters of one of the largest war-profiteers.  In 2007 L-3 Communications had an annual sales of $14 Billion, 80& from the Department of Defense.  They contract out "interrogators" for all the military prisons, including Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo. They even have their own private mercenary force that helps start wars and profit from them.  They armed and trained both sides in the Bosnian War in the 1990s and were doing the same in Georgia when they invaded Russia just a few short months ago.  The New School was founded by scholars fleeing oppression who spoke out against war in all its forms.  Now the treasurer of our board of trustees is the chairman of L-3 and was also a managing director of Lehman Brothers before they went bankrupt this past October.  Please join us and demonstrate at L-3 headquarters to let them know that we will not rest until they are brought to justice.  We will then head down to The New School to demand that the board of trustees remove Millard, disclose their investments, and create a committee on socially responsible investment.
Thursday, December 11, 7:30 – 10:00 p.m.
BAY RIDGE, BROOKLYN. 7825 Fourth Avenue, at 79th Street and 4th Ave. Apt. C1
 BAY RIDGE INTERFAITH PEACE COALITION FUNDRAISER AND HOUSE PARTY.
Next year we want to present an event on depleted uranium with Professor Glenn Lawrence, a recognized expert in the field, and screen the film, “Poison Dust”. Events like this cost money and we need your help to continue to bring informative programs on important issues to Bay Ridge. The use of depleted uranium for weapons is responsible for “Gulf War Syndrome” and is still making our soldiers sick. We would love to meet you and we will have a speaker to inform us of the effects of depleted uranium. If you can’t attend and approve of our work, please send something to help us continue. With Special Guest Sally Davidson of Military Families Speak Out and a 10 minute documentary on depleted uranium. No donation is too small and we want to carry on our work informing our community of the danger of the use of nuclear weapons and their byproducts. For further information call (718) 680-2981
Friday, December 12, 7:00 – 10:00 p.m.
BROOKLYN. Brooklyn Lyceum, 227 4th Avenue
43RD ANNUAL WAR RESISTER’S LEAGUE
“MAKE LEVEES, NOT WAR” FUND RAISER.
A Spectacular Celebration of Peace and Justice as we give the Peace Award to the Grassroots Movement to Save New Orleans.  This year's awardees are Shana Griffin and Kali Akuno, representatives of the greater New Orleans grassroots efforts to bring the city back to life.  Special Musical Guests include Steve Earle, Stephanie McKay, Jan Bell & the Cheap Dates, and more! $42 - $60 general admission; $25+ low income. Reception with Stephanie McKay and Steve Earle $150 (Event ticket included). Proceeds go to WRL's work at home and abroad! There's limited space so make your reservations now. For tickets or to place a solidarity greeting in the printed program, call 212.228.0450 or visit WRL's event web site.
Friday, December 12, 7:00 p.m.
BRONX. Hostos Community College, 500 Grand Concourse.
ONE NIGHT PREMIRE OF “CRIME AGAINST HUMANITY”
A play based on the real life experiences of fourteen Puerto Rican political prisoners – two of whom are still incarcerated. It will make you laugh and cry, but most of all it will make you want to do something to free them. $15. Purchase tickets at the Hostos Box Office 718-518-4455. Sponsored by the Boricua Human Rights Network. For more information see www.crimeagainsthumanity.net.
Friday, December 12th, 9:00am to 3:00 p.m.
GREENWICH VILLAGE. Kimmel Center, New York University, 60 Washington Square South
 ANNUAL NEW YORK STATE POLICY CONFERENCE:
“IN THIS TOGETHER: POLICIES FOR THE COMMON GOOD.
Panels include NYS policy solutions for tough economic times, green jobs and climate change, housing, equitable economic development and jobs, campaign finance reform. Speakers include keynote speakers Steve Fraser, author of “Wall Street: America’s Dream Palace” and Honorable Malcom Smith, NYS Senate. Space is limited. To RSVP, contact: Altaf Rahamatulla, Center for Working Families, Altaf@cwfny.org or (718) 222-5754, Ext. 240
Saturday, December 13, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
BROOKLYN. Brooklyn Society for Ethical Culture, 53 Prospect Park West
 WINTER CRAFTS FAIR
 Stock up on Olive Branch Palestinian Olive Oil for Winter Holidays! Peace Buttons and Peace Posters also available. Buy art (Brooklyn artists) to support Doctors Without Borders.
7:30 to 11:00 pm: BSEC Community Network Festivity
Tuesday, December 16, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
GREENWICH VILLAGE, NYC. Judson Memorial Church, 55 Washington Square South
 VOICES AGAINST TORTURE: WRITERS AND LAWYERS ON THE WAY FORWARD.
ACS and the PEN American Center will host a panel featuring writers and lawyers discussing their work and its relationship to combating torture. This evening of law and literature examines the roles that lawyers and writers have played, and continue to play, in exposing human rights abuses and in reminding nations of their human rights responsibilities. As lawyers have fought for legal rights to be enforced, writers have awakened the consciences of nations, reminding citizens of the values that undergird rights. This moderated conversation will bring together novelists, journalists, legal advocates, and scholars. The panel will feature Dahlia Lithwick, Anouar Benmalek, Scott Horton, Elisa Massimino, and Jane Mayer. Note: You have to register at  www.acslaw.org/node/7526. For more information contact shiller@acslaw.org.
Upstate Events
 
 Thursday, December 11, 7:30 p.m.
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. 
Tuesday, December 16, 5:30 p.m.
ROCHESTER. United Auto Workers Union Hall, 221 Dewey Ave.
 A COMMUNITY DISCUSSION ON THE STATE OF OUR ECONOMY
WITH DAVID CAY JOHNSTON.
You are warmly invited to a public forum at a Working Families Party meeting to hear Pulitzer Prize author, David Cay Johnston, speak about how and why "THE RICH GET RICHER AND THE POOR GET POORER. WHERE DOES THE MIDDLE CLASS FALL?" This event is on the same date that Governor Patterson will release a budget that we can expect will have many cuts in healthcare, education, and other services. Besides cutting important services, what solutions will there be so that working families don’t feel the brunt of the deficit? Questions? call Rosemary 520-6542
Friday, December 19, 7:00 p.m.
TROY. The Sanctuary for Independent Media, 3361 6th Avenue
 “CRIME AGAINST HUMANITY”
A play based on the real life experiences of fourteen Puerto Rican political prisoners – two of whom are still incarcerated. It will make you laugh and cry, but most of all it will make you want to do something to free them. $5 - $10. Sponsored by the Boricua Human Rights Network. For more information see www.crimeagainsthumanity.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
Friday - Sunday, December 12 -14
CHICAGO
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 and details.
Going out of state? Check UFPJ's national Events Calendar: http://www.unitedforpeace.org/calendar.php.