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View this message online: http://www.panys.org/alerts/195.htm
Alert #195  January 28, 2009
Dear Peace Activists,
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Some weeks there is so much news that it is hard to condense it all down to one alert. President Obama has vowed to close Guantamo Bay. He's told Defense Sec. Gates that he will not support funding for new nuclear weapons. Former Senator George McGovern has published an open letter to Obama calling for a "five-year time out on war," not a another headlong military rush into Afghanistan.

But the big news of the week for New Yorkers is new Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, taking over for Hillary Clinton.

On our key Peace Action issues, Senator Gillibrand's voting record is mixed. Here's a breakdown:

    On Iraq
  • Gillibrand has consistently voted for legislation that requires the redeployment of troops from Iraq.1
  • She has also voted in opposition to U.S. permanent military bases in Iraq twice.2
  • But she is not a member of the Out of Iraq Caucus, and has also voted for funding the Iraq War without ties to a timeline for withdrawal.3
  • According to her web site, Senator Gillibrand believes that troops should be redeployed from Iraq so that they can “focus on fighting terrorism and creating stability in other troubled areas of the Middle East.”
    • On Iran
  • Gillibrand voted in support of strong legislation that tried to prevent military action against Iran4
  • But she also co-sponsored H. Con. Res. 362, a hawkish resolution calling for a naval blockade of Iran.
    • On the military budget
  • Gillibrand voted against legislation that would have required the Sec. of Defense to justifying the cost of Cold War weapons and against funding cuts for missile defense.5
    • On nuclear weapons
  • On a defense authorization amendment which would have cut $10 million in spending on renewable energy, and instead spent it on funding for the Reliable Replacement Warhead, Gillibrand did not vote.6
  • In several recent media outlets, she has been reported as supporting nuclear energy.
  • But her position on reducing U.S. nuclear weapons is not clear.

As of yesterday, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand represents all of us. Today is the first day that her office is open. Let’s make sure that the first 100 calls that she gets are to support the passage of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty. You can reach her new Senate office at 202-224-4451.

As always, thanks for all you do. Together, we will make New York a safer place.

In Peace,

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

NOTES
1 HR2237 and 2956
2 Amend. 196 to HR 1585 and HR 2929
3 HR 2206 and 2764
4 Amend. 93 and 31 to HR 1585
5 Amend. 193 to HR 1585 and Amend. 188 to HR 1585
6 Amend. 7 to HR 5658
Featured Events
Saturday, Feb. 7. 9:00 - 5:00 p.m.
ROCHESTER. Rochester Friends Meeting House, 84 Scio Street.
PANYS ANNUAL MEETING:
WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?
Peace Action has chapters, allies and friends in all 29 Congressional Districts in New York State. How can we use our political strength to influence the new Administration, improve U.S. foreign policy and generate positive change?
  • 9:00: Business wetting. All welcome.
  • 10:45: Welcome & registration
  • 11:30: Keynote Address by Kevin Martin, & Paul Kawika Martin, Executive and Political Directors from the National Office of Peace Action.
  • 12:30: Lunch & networking
  • 1:45: Subject workshops on Israel/Palestine; Nuclear, CTBT & NPT; Militarization, Afghanistan & Iraq; National Guard; Sustainability/Environment
  • 3:00: Strategy workshops on student organizing/counter-recruitment; working with active duty military and vets; media; and organizational growth
  • 4:00: Wrap-up and closing.
Fee of $15 includes lunch, but no one will be turned away. To RSVP contact Yolanda Rose Votto, Peace Action NYS, (646) 723-1749 or yolandarosevotto@yahoo.com   
Wednesday, February 11, 7:45 – 10:30 p.m.
BAY RIDGE. Hotel Gregory – Best Western. 8315 4th Avenue, at 84th Street
 EVENING WITH PROF. GLEN LAWRENCE,
AN AUTHORITY ON DEPLETED URANIAM TOXICITY.
Featuring Professor Glen Lawrence, Dept. of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Long Island University. During the current Iraq War the U.S. use of radioactive DU weapons increased from 375 tons used in 1991 to 2200 tons. Geiger counter readings at sites in downtown Baghdad record radiation levels 1,000 and 2,000 times higher than background radiation. Over one million U.S. soldiers have rotated into Iraq. Today, half of the 697,000 U.S. Gulf War troops from the 1991 war have reported serious medical problems and a significant increase in birth defects among their newborn children. We will show the award-winning documentary “The Doctor, the Depleted Uranium and the Dying Children.” Hosted by Peace Action Bay Ridge & The Bay Ridge Interfaith Peace Coalition. For further information call (718) 680-2981, email bklynpeaceaction@yahoo.com, or see www.panys.org/BR.

Other New York Metro Area and Long Island Events
 
Thursday, January 29, noon – 1:30 p.m.
MIDTOWN NYC. Port Authority Bush Station, South Terminal
(Entrance on 8th Avenue between 40th and 41st Streets), Main floor.
 GRANNY PEACE BRIGADE PHONE-A-THON
Sunday, February 1, 1:15 p.m.
MIDTOWN EAST, NYC. Community Church of NYC, Gallery Room, 28 East 35th Street at Park Ave.
SCREENING OF “WHAT WOULD JESUS BUY?”
With Reverend Billy and The Stop Shopping Gospel Choir. Presented by Resistance Cinema. Free, donations appreciated. The film follows Reverend Billy and the Church of Stop Shopping Gospel Choir 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! The Shopocalypse is upon us! Who will be $aved?
Other Upstate Events
 
Tuesday, February 3, 7:15 p.m.
BUFFALO. Buffalo State College, Upton Hall, Room 230
 ACTIVISM, DINNER AND A SHOW!
Hosted by Buffalo State Students for Peace. To see more details and RSVP, see www.facebook.com/n/\?event.php&eid=46591439164
Tuesday, February 3, 7:30 p.m.
WHITE PLAINS. WESPAC Foundation Office, 255 Dr. Martin Luther King Drive
 ORGANIZING MEETING FOR A WESTCHESTER COUNTY SUPPORT GROUP
FOR THE IRAQI STUDENT PROJECT.
You can help an Iraqi student attend a local college or university. Over 2.5 million Iraqi refugees have fled their country and the terror of war and sectarian violence.  As a consequence, the education and living arrangements for Iraqi families have been severely disrupted.  Iraqi refugees are not allowed to hold jobs in Jordan or Syria. With difficulty in even paying for rent and food, money for higher education is not available. The Iraqi Student Project was formed to bring undergraduate Iraqi students to study without cost at U.S. colleges. In Damascus, ISP helps with English language training, admission, and visa processes. Local support groups are being formed in the U.S. around the universities that extend tuition waivers to qualified students.  So far, 15 students have been admitted to colleges and universities around the US to study this year, and additional students are expected to come to Rockland County and Westchester County next year. For more information, contact: Andrew Courtney (914) 271-8633 or Chuck Bell (914) 830-0639.
Saturday, February 7, 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. Open Mic 7:30 – 8:00.
DOBBS FERRY. South Presbyterian Church, 343 Broadway.
 LET FREEDOM SING.
Celebrate a new beginning. A free concert to reclaim our civil liberties and restore our Constitutional rights. Hosted by Concerned Families of Westchester. Performances by Acoustic Riverrun, The Blues Mothers, Maryellen McCabe, Matt Turk, Boku, Joe Duraes, Solar Punch, Ahmed Kharem, Kelly Flint, Milton, Julia Joseph, MC Elisa Zazzera. For more info, call 914-262-0914 or email susan@peacesistersandbrothers.org.
Weekend of March 27 – 28.
WHITE PLAINS. White Plains High School Auditorium,.550 N. St. Bryant Ave.
 LOWER HUDSON VALLEY SOCIAL FORUM.
Friday night entertainment at 7:00p.m. Saturday begins at 9:00a.m. The Lower Hudson Valley Social Forum is a response to the various pressing issues that we are all facing. Our purpose is to broaden the "single issue" focus of groups that the non-profit industry has created along with a climate of competition for resources, and build a broad movement locally that is clear in opposing all forms of oppression and exploitation. We will highlight voices that are marginalized and made invisible by the corporate media. With Rebel Diaz, the Walkabout Clearwater Chorus, Evan Greer, Dr. Robin Kimmerer, Monica Walker, Dada Maheshvarananada and Deepa Fernandes. For more information see www.lhvsocialforum.org or contact Wespac Foundation at 914-449-6514 or info@wespac.org. .   
Friday, March 20, around midnight
ALBANY. Exact location TBA. BUSES TO DEMONSTRATION: U.S. OUT OF IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN NOW.
Two buses will be leaving Albany around midnight, the night before this demonstration and  return to Albany after the demonstration on March 21. Bus ticket will be $55.  Partial scholarships available. Information: Joe Lombardo at 439-1968. Reserve a bus seat today. Checks can be sent to, BNP, PO Box 473, Delmar, NY 12054 (please include name, phone and e-mail address with check)   
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, March 21.
DEMONSTRATION: U.S. OUT OF IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN NOW.
Money for jobs, health care, housing and pensions, not for wars and occupations. End US support for the occupation of Palestine. The US has been at war in Iraq for almost 6 years.  The priorities of the new administration will be set in the next few months.  The 6th Anniversary of the war in Iraq is the time to make our voices heard. Two buses will be leaving  around midnight, the night before this demonstration and  return to Albany after the demonstration on March 21. Bus ticket will be $55.  There will be partial scholarships available. Sponsored by several national anti-war groups and coalitions, including the National Assembly.  Information: Joe Lombardo at 439-1968. Reserve a bus seat today. Checks can be sent to, BNP, PO Box 473, Delmar, NY 12054 (please include name, phone and e-mail address with check)
Going out of state? Check UFPJ's national Events Calendar: http://www.unitedforpeace.org/calendar.php.