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http://www.panys.org/alerts/196.htm
Alert #196 February 10, 2009
Surprise! The Senate's proposed cuts to the economic stimulus package include $13.9 billion in cuts to Pell Grants for college students and $1.1 billion in cuts to to Head Start. But at the same time, some Senators have managed to add something that wasn't in the House bill - $1 billion for nuclear weapons! The Senate vote has just passed. Please act now. Tell them to cut the nuclear pork. Remind them that President Obama has pledged to "set a goal of a world without nuclear weapons, and pursue it." A billion dollars to feed the nuclear weapons complex is irresponsible and wasteful. The final bill has to go back to the House, so we have a chance to cut this waste in the final version. Start now. Click here to send an urgent message to your Representative, Senators, and President Obama. Then, please take an extra moment to sign the "BE FREE" petition to President Obama from our our coalition partners, the Campaign for a Nuclear Weapons Free World. In Peace, Cheryl Wertz, Peace Action New York State info@panys.org |
Wednesday, February 11, 7:45 – 10:30 p.m.BAY RIDGE. Hotel Gregory – Best Western. 8315 4th Avenue, at 84th Street A DOCTOR'S FIGHT AGAINST TOXIC DEPLETED URANIUM Thursday, Feb. 12, 9:00 a.m. – Friday, Feb. 12, 9:00 a.m. MIDTOWN NYC. World Zionist Organization and the Jewish Agency, 633 Third Avenue between 40th and 41st Streets. 24 HOUR STREET PROTEST, JEWS SAY NO: NOT IN OUR NAME. We must not be silent. We will not be silent. In solidarity with the people of Gaza, who are being forced by the Israeli government to live in inhuman conditions under a brutal occupation, please join us for a 24-hour street protest in front of the offices of the World Zionist Organization and the Jewish Agency, which promote and defend Israeli policies. It’s not the rockets, it’s the occupation. Jews say no to the massacre. Jews say no to the blockade. Jews say no to the occupation. Jews say yes to justice for the Palestinian people. Never again: Not in Gaza, not anywhere. Please come for an hour, 2 hours, 4 hours, or more – during the day or night! Allies are encouraged to join us. Signs and visuals will be available. For more information, and to add your name as an endorser, e-mail jewssayno@gmail.com. 
Thursday, February 12, 7:00 – 10:0 p.m.LOWER EAST SIDE, NYC. Sutra Lounge, 16 1st Avenue MAKE OUT NOT WAR! This week let's share the love with our friends in Iraq. CODEPINK is hosting a happy hour benefit for the Collateral Repair Project - a group aiding Iraqi refugees. DJ, cupcakes, and free kisses. Share the love -- with dance, drink, cupcakes -- and help Iraqi refugees! Friday, February 13, 7:00 p.m. FINANCIAL DISTRICT, NYC. Alwan Center for the Arts – 16 Beaver Street, 4th floor, between Broad and Broadway. 
PROF. JUAN COLE: FROM GAZA TO IRAQ: CAN OBAMA END THE OTHER OCCUPATION? The Arab world has faced two military occupations in the 21st century: the Israeli occupation in Gaza and the West Bank, and the American occupation in Iraq. Such occupations produce resistance but also displacement, expropriation, denial of human dignity and sovereignty and a death toll for civilians. The Obama administration says it is committed to ending the Iraq occupation, and to resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. What challenges will it face in doing so, and what would be the consequences of failure? Co-sponsors: Brooklyn For Peace and ADC-NY (American-Arab Antidiscrimination Committee, New York) Free Admission; Open to the Public. Questions? Call 718-624-5921 or e-mail bfp@brooklynpeace.org. Tuesday, February 24th, 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. PARK AVENUE SOUTH AREA, NYC. Baruch College, Engleman Recital Hall, Performing Arts Center, 55 Lexington at 24th St ROUGH CUT SCREENING OF “LYNNE STEWART: AN AMERICAN STORY”  A new film by Francis
van den Heuvel, featuring Noam Chomsky,
Amy Goodman, Ramsey Clark and others. The cliché after the September 11th
attacks was that "the world had changed forever." And in some ways this is true. But
more than the Twin Towers may have been destroyed - since that day centuries of judicial
protections and procedures have been under attack. In the name of a "War on Terror"
there has been a war on justice - and there may be no better example than the prosecution
and conviction of one of New York's best known defence attorneys,
Lynne Stewart. Her case forms the backbone of this film.
By following Lynne's case, Lynne Stewart - An American Story
explores how the Bush Administration used the September 11th attacks to push forward
a concerted attack on the American justice system and, in a number of cases, changed
strongly held judicial traditions like habeas corpus and the right of a defendant to
have adequate legal counsel. Most importantly, this film looks at the long-range
impact of these actions and poses the question: "Has something fundamental been
altered in the US and international justice systems, impacted individual freedoms
and the very essence of democracy - something that will outlive the Bush Administration
and persist far into the 21st century? Hosted by the Lynne Stewart Defense Committee,
www.lynnestewart.org.
Thursday, February 26, 7:00 p.m. BROOKLYN HEIGHTS, NYC. Brooklyn Friends Meeting House, 110 Schermerhorn St (corner of Boerum Place). HUMAN RIGHTS IN GAZA AND THE OCCUPIED TERRITORIES.  Join Dr. Maya Sabatello, U.S. legal advisor of B'Tselem
(The Israeli Information Centre for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories) for a discussion
on the human rights situation in the Occupied Territories and an up-to-the-mninute report on
the military campaign in Gaza. B'Tselem is a prominent independent human rights organization
which endeavors to document and educate the Israeli public and policymakers about human rights
violations in the Occupied Terrorities.Dr. Sabatello is a lawyer, member of the Israeli Bar Association, and teaches at the Center for Global Affairs, New York University. She has just returned to the U.S. after working with B'Tselem's headquarters in Jerusalen during the recent military campaign in Gaza. Co-sponsors: Brooklyn For Peace; Peace and Social Action Committee of Brooklyn Monthly Meeting of Religous Society of Friends (Quakers); Fort Greene Peace; Rabbi Michael Feinberg; Kolot Chayeinu/Voices of Our Lives; The Dialogue Project; Ethical Action Committee of Brooklyn Society for Ethical Culture; Brit Tzedek v'Shalom (Jewish Alliance for Peace & Justice.) Free admission; donations welcome! Questions? Call 718-624-5921 or e-mail is.pales@brooklynpeace.org. Saturday, March 7, 8:00 p.m. start, doors open at 7:30 p.m. MIDTOWN, NYC. People’s Voice Cafe 40 East 35th Street NYC RAGING GRANNIES PROTEST-SINGING CONCERT Friday, March 20, 7:30 p.m. MIDTOWN EAST, NYC. Saint Peter’s Church, Lexington Avenue at 54th Street 
A CONCERT FOR PEACE.Join Dr. Maya Sabatello, U.S. legal advisor of B'Tselem Hosted by The Iraqi Student Project, in collaboration with Musicians For Harmony, Saint Peter's Church and the Midtown Arts Common. Featuring the Kinan Azmeh Quartet in a celebration of Middle Eastern music, peace, and the culture of Iraq. Special appearance by ISP student pianist, Karam Salem. This concert is part of a ‘Day for Peace’ at Saint Peter’s Church to mark the 6th anniversary of the war in Iraq. Proceeds will benefit the Iraqi Student Project. To purchase concert tickets, visit this page: http://iraqistudentproject.org/nyc-concert 
Thursday, February 12, 7:15 p.m.PURCHASE. The Castle, Manhattanville College. AMY GOODMAN AND LESLIE CAGAN, WHAT ARE THE GREATEST CHALLENGES FOR US, THE PEOPLE, AND FOR PRESIDENT OBAMA? Keeping the Pressure On: Change Starts at the Grassroots. The First Seminar in the Connie Hogarth Center's 10th Anniversary series. Both speakers will discuss the power of grassroots organizing and unembedded media! For contact info:(914) 323 -7156 or hogarthcenter@mville.edu. Students: Please register by phone, email, or at the first seminar. The Community is Welcome! Cosponsored by the Connie Hogarth Center for Social Action and The Duchesne Center's Global Citizenship program. Sunday, February 15, 2:00 – 4:00 PM ALBANY. First Unitarian Universalist Society, 405 Washington Avenue. NORTH EAST PEACE AND JUSTICE ACTION COALITION (NEPAJAC) MEETING Please join other local peace and justice activists in a meeting to discuss and organize for future events. The date of this meeting (2/15) is the historic 6th anniversary of The World Says No to War. Many of us will be going to Washington for the March 21 peace demonstration. See below for bus registration to Washington , 3/21. For more information on the event at the Pentagon in Washington: Troops Home Now from Iraq and Afghanistan. Some local peace groups are discussing organizing a peace demonstration in Albany, possibly during the week prior to the Washington DC Demonstration. This meeting will be a chance for us all to be involved in planning this event. Our agenda will also include a discussion of the economic crisis and the loss of jobs in the Capital Region. Building a Peaceful, Sustainable and Green Economy in the Capital Region is important to many of us. Depending on the time available, we may want to discuss future actions and how we grow a peaceful economy, locally. We could discuss a variety of topics including the state budget, or organizing a protest of the continuing bank bailout, as examples of future actions. Join us!! Contact: Joe at 439-1968 for further information. 
Saturday, February 21, 7:30 p.m.ALBANY. First Unitarian Universalist Society, 405 Washington Avenue SCREENING OF “THE DEVIL’S MINER” A film on Bolivia. The Solidarity Committee of the Capital District continues its 2008-2009 film series with the showing of this powerful documentary, co-sponsored by Bethlehem Neighbors for Peace and Upper Hudson Peace Action . This unusual film presents the story of two brothers, twelve and fourteen years old, who work in Bolivia's Cerro Rico silver mines, a place so dark, depressing, and frightening that miners are firmly convinced it's the home of the devil. Chewing coca leaves to stave off hunger and keep their wits about them, these and other child laborers risk their lives daily in the hope of securing a better existence. Over 8 million workers reportedly have perished in Bolivia's mines since the 16th century. Admission is free, and free refreshments will be provided by the Honest Weight Food Coop. Everyone is welcome to attend. Friday, March 6 – Saturday, March 7 BRONXVILLE. Sarah Lawrence College, 1 Mead Way. 
11TH ANNUAL WOMEN’S HISTORY CONFERENCE: GENDER AND POWER IN THE MUSLIM WORLD. Keynote Speaker: Mona Eltahawy, Journalist and lecturer on Muslim and Arab issues. Presented by the Sarah Lawrence College Women’s History Graduate Program. Western discourse on Muslims overflows with images of dangerous men and downtrodden women locked into monolithic traditions sharply at odds with life in the “modern” and “tolerant” West. We aim to dismantle such stereotypes by analyzing their construction, assessing their political valence, and exploring the realities they obscure. Within this context we especially seek to challenge essentialist understandings of masculinity, femininity, and Muslim communities, societies and cultures. Free and Open to the Public. Register at http://www.slc.edu/womens-history/conference. Friday, March 13, 6:00 p.m. ROCHESTER. Gates Presbyterian Church, 1049 Wegman Road, near Tinseltown. ANNUAL RICE AND BEANS DINNER, HONORING FATHER RAY BOURGEOIS. 
Hosted by the Rochester Committee on Latin America (ROCLA). $15.00 - $25.00/person (sliding scale). Father Roy Bourgeois, founder of the SOA Watch, will receive the International White Dove Award. For 19 years Fr. Roy has led a growing number of people in protest against the School of the Americas (SOA), which has been used to train military people from Latin American countries who then return to their homeland and brutalize citizens. Fr. Roy not only has led the annual protest at Fort Benning, GA, but also has traveled extensively throughout Latin America to encourage countries to withdraw from the program. He has been successful in several cases. John Honeck, an active member of ROCLA, has been deeply committed to the SOA Watch since 1996. After actions of civil disobedience in 1998 and 1999, in 2000 he and nine others were tried in Federal Court and John spent three months in Allenwood Federal Prison Camp. For his courage and his witness John will receive the Local White Dove Award. Last year the auction was a highlight of the evening, and ROCLA is planning an exciting one this year. Go to www.rocla.org for details. Please reserve your tickets in advance. Call the Kaisers at 585-293-3194 or the Motts at 585-381-5606. Tickets will be held for you at the door. A limited number of tickets will be available at the door before the dinner. 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) Weekend of March 27 – 28. Friday night entertainment at 7:00 p.m. Saturday begins at 9:00 a.m. 
WHITE PLAINS. White Plains High School Auditorium,.550 N. St. Bryant Ave.LOWER HUDSON VALLEY SOCIAL FORUM. 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. . Many local peace groups hold regular events, vigils, "Honk for Peace" actions, etc. See our list: www.panys.org/ongoing.htm Saturday, March 21. WASHINGTON, D.C. 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 for D.C. around midnight the night before this demonstration and returning 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. |