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March 31, 2009
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Urge New York Senators to Give Cluster Bombs the Boot!
National Call-in Day TODAY, Monday, March 30th Call Toll Free 1-800-590-6313
When nearly 100 nations including Britain, France, and Germany gathered in early December to sign a global treaty banning cluster bombs, the U.S. was conspicuously absent. And yet, the U.S. has been the world's biggest user of these weapons - which always kill more civilians than soldiers. President Obama and Congress can fix U.S. policy. In fact, they have already started. In March, Congress passed a law permanently banning the export of nearly all U.S.-made cluster bombs. Now we need Congress to prevent the use of cluster munitions by U.S. troops. Call your Senators today, Monday, March 30 and ask them to co-sponsor the Cluster Munitions Civilian Protection Act, S. 416. This legislation would prohibit the U.S. from using any cluster bombs that leave behind an unacceptably large number of landmine-like "dud" cluster submunitions - small bombs that keep on killing. It would also prohibit any use of these weapons in areas where civilians are normally present, like cities and villages. Increased support for this legislation in the Senate will show President Obama that he has the public's backing to sign this treaty and send it to the Senate for ratification. CALL BOTH SENATORS TODAY.
Neither Senator Schumer nor Senator Gillibrand are co-sponsoring this bill.
Call them toll-free at 1-800-590-6313. You will be redirected to
the Capitol Switchboard. Ask for either Senator. When the office answers,
identify yourself as a constituent and ask to speak to the legislative
aide who deals with foreign or military policy issues. If the
legislative aide is not available, ask for their voicemail and
leave a message.
Click here for a call-in script and more background information. Don't forget, this Saturday, April 4th: the Beyond War March On Wall Street. The Peace Action contingent will be meeting at 11:00 a.m. at the northwest corner of White and Lafayette, just south of Canal (one block east of the march start point.) Click here for more information, including a map of the march route. Thanks to the Friends Committee on National Legislation for spearheading the Cluster Munitions Call-in Day. And thank you, as always, for your continued efforts for peace. In Peace, Cheryl Wertz Peace Action of New York State info@panys.org 646-723-1749 |
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SATURDAY, APRIL 4, 12 Noon, DOWNTOWN NYC
Meet at Canal Street. March to Broad and Wall, in front of the NY Stock Exchange. BEYOND WAR:
A NEW ECONOMY IS POSSIBLE. 
Join United for Peace and Justice and thousands of allies in a regional
march and rally to end the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and address the economic crisis by
cutting military spending.
Click for more information, including a map of the march route.
The Peace Action contingent will be meeting at 11:00 a.m. at the northwest corner of White and
Lafayette, just south of Canal (one block east of the march start point. )
Tuesday, March 31, 7:30 p.m. MANHASSET. Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Shelter Rock , 48 Shelter Rock Road 
"SPIRITUAL AWAKENING, A NEW ECONOMY AND THE END OF EMPIRE" WITH DAVID KORTEN.Part of the Shelter Rock Forum. David Korten's classic bestseller, “When Corporations Rule the World” was one of the first books to articulate the destructive and oppressive nature of the global corporate economy. Now, ten years later, Korten shows that the problem runs deeper than corporate domination, and with far greater consequences. David Korten is a leading critic of corporate globalization and a visionary proponent of a planetary system of local living economies. Korten makes the case that we are a species with the power of choice, and that at this defining moment in history, humanity faces both the opportunity and the imperative to choose our future in a conscious collective manner. Suggested donation $5. For more information contact UUCSR Shelter Rock Forum, 516-627-6560, ext 122. Co-Sponsors: Great Neck SANE/Peace Action, Code Pink LI, YES, LI Veterans for Peace, Pax Christi LI, and LI Alliance for Peaceful Alternatives. Tuesday, March 31, 12:00 – 2:00 p.m. (lunch at 12, discussion to begin at 12:30) FLATIRON DISTRICT, NYC. Demos, 5th Floor Conference Room, 220 Fifth Avenue (between 26th and 27th Streets) "SONG AS CRIME: THE PROSECUTION OF A POP STAR, AND OTHER NEW CASES ON INCITEMENT TO GENOCIDE." 
A lunch discussion with Susan Benesch. Can speech be an international crime? Can it contribute to genocide?
What about speech that is sung to music? After World War II, Nazi propagandist Julius Streicher was found
guilty and hanged at Nuremberg for publishing hatred of Jews in a newspaper. Sixty years later, the
International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda convicted executives of a radio station of incitement to
genocide, and went on to try Rwanda's most popular singer with the same crime for his hate-filled
songs. But the courts still haven't really answered a key question: where should the line be
drawn in distinguishing "mere" hateful speech from incitement to heinous crimes? The cost of
this event is $15. The fee may be discounted for full-time students with ID and non-profit
professionals. Register and pre-pay by e-mailing
events@worldpolicy.org or calling 212.481.5005, Option 2. RSVPs must be received by noon on
Monday, March 30Wednesday, April 1, 7:00 - 9:30 p.m. (doors open at 6:30) UPPER WEST SIDE, NYC. NY Society for Ethical Culture, 2 W. 64th St (at Central Park West) "THE PEOPLE’S AGENDA: WORKING FOR AN ECONOMY BY THE PEOPLE, FOR THE PEOPLE," WITH DEAN BAKER. 
Hosted by WBAI Radio and the New York Society for Ethical Culture.
Produced by WBAI's Building Bridges: Your Community and Labor Report.
Hosted by Mimi Rosenberg and Ken Nash. An examination of the present
crisis of capitalism and peoples' demands that the road to economic
recovery lies in directly increasing their living standard and
abandoning trickle down economics. In the words of Rev. Martin
Luther King Jr. who gave his life fighting for the rights of the
Memphis sanitation workers and for a poor people's movement for
economic rights, "A true revolution of values will soon look
uneasily on the glaring contrast of poverty and wealth ... and say:
`This is not just.'" The program will include Dean Baker,
Co-Director, Center for Economic and Policy Research, Stanley Aronowitz,
Prof. of Sociology, & Urban Education, Ajamu Sankofa, Lillian Roberts,
Ex. Dir. DC 37, video message from U.S. Representative Dennis Kucinich
and representatives of the April 3 and 4 marches on Wall Street Coalitions.
Suggested donation $10, (no one will be turned away). Benefit for WBAI and
the NY Society for Ethical Culture. Further information:
buildingbridgesradio@gmail.com.
Tuesday, March 31, 7:00 p.m. WHITE PLAINS. Ethical Culture Society of Westchester, 7 Saxon Wood Rd. A PUBLIC MEETING ON UNDERSTANDING “DROP THE ROCK” 
An event sponsored by the New York Civil Liberties Union,Lower Hudson Valley
Chapter. Featuring Robert Maccarone, New York State
Division of Probation and Correctional Alternatives; and Dr. Rudy Cypser,
Citizens United for the Rehabilitation of Errants-New York; Mayo Bartlett,
Criminal Defense Attorney and Former Chief of the Bias Crimes Unit of the Westchester
County District Attorney's Office. What will make rehabilitation work?
What other options do we have? What will repair the damage and help offenders re-enter
society? For Further Information: (914) 997-7479; Email:
lowerhudsonvalley@nyclu.org.
All Welcome! Free Admission. Light Refreshments will be served!
Wednesday, April 1, 7:00 p.m.ROCHESTER. Downtown United Presbyterian Church, 121 N. Fitzhugh Street (Parking across the street in City Hall lot) EL CAMPO: RURAL MEXICO’S SILENT CRISIS. Rochester Committee on Latin America (ROCLA) invites you to hear photojournalist Joseph Sorrentino's personal and moving observations, reflections, and photographs about the life of campesinos who struggle to make a living in the coffee plantations in southern Mexico. An excerpt from his article printed in Mexico’s La Journada after spending five weeks in “el campo” last fall: “The story in every village is the same: Campesinos farm 1 or 2 hectares of land, virtually all the work being done by hand with a machete as their only tool. They work bent over, using the machete to chop at weeds or to cut the tops of jicama plants, to clear away brush as they walk to their cafeteles and to cut down the caña and bamboo they sell. Their harvest is collected in woven baskets, plastic cartons or large bags which when full can weigh 30 or even 50 kilos. These are hoisted on their backs and carried to a nearby truck, up a hill to a bus stop or, in villages like San Martin, Oaxaca, 7 hours through the mountains. Their work is done under a punishing sun for 8 to 10 hours a day, 6 days a week. For this they earn a few thousand pesos a year, if they’re lucky. No one is making enough from their crops to survive.” 
Saturday, April 11th, 2:00 – 8:00 p.m.SYRACUSE. Women's Info Center, 601 Allen Street UPSTATE UPRISE AGAINST THE IMF & WORLD BANK UPSTATE NY ANARCHIST CONSULTA. Hosted by the Syracuse Solidarity Network. Come to Syracuse to share information and strategies inpreparation for the upcoming meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank (WB). There will be presentations about the IMF/WB, a variety of workshops, food, films, and networking. Come and help build a fighting anarchist community across this broken and angry expanse of stolen land called Upstate New York. Please RSVP by April 4th with how many people are coming, any food allergies or special needs, workshops that can be offered, if childcare is needed, and if overnight accommodations are needed. Sunday, April 19, 5:30 - 8:30 p.m. WHITE PLAINS. Asbury Hall, Memorial United Methodist Church, 250 Bryant Avenue. WESPAC FOUNDATION’S 27TH PEACE AND JUSTICE AWARD DINNER An evening to honor people in our community who are doing outstanding work for social, economic and racial justice: Victor Corona, Dr. Olivia Hooker and Nick Mottern. Keynote Speakers are Sheila Collins and Trudy Goldberg. RSVP by April 10 to info@wespac.org. Sliding scale contributions requested. Please consider a contribution even if you are unable to attend! www.wespac.org. Saturday, April 25, 12:30 – 4:30 p.m. SYRACUSE. NY State United Teachers Offices, Brittonfield Park, East Syracuse (just off 481, exit 7) PEACE ACTION OF CENTRAL NEW YORK’S 3RD ANNUAL PEACE CONFERENCE. “A Nuclear Free Future: Confronting Today’s Challenges to Nuclear Abolition” 
12:30 - 1:00 Registration
1:00 – 2:00 Activist Workshop with Linda Gunter, Andy Mager, Pam Jenkins, Jim and Jean Weiss.
2:00 – 2:30 Refreshments
2:30 – 4:30 Keynote speakers Linda and Paul Gunter from Beyond Nuclear with panelists
Congressman Dan Maffei and Larry Wittner, activist and author.
Price $15. For more information contact Peace Action of Central NY at 315-478-7442 or
info@peaceactioncny.org
Sunday, April 26th, 2:30 p.m. ELMSFORD. Greenburgh Public Library, Tarrytown Rd. OPEN PUBLIC MEETING ON THE ECONOMY Hosted by the Westchester Progressive Forum. 
Monday, April 27, 6:30 p.m. snacks, 7:00 p.m. programALBANY. First Unitarian Universalist Society, Emerson Hall, 405 Washington Ave. CONVERSATION WITH JOAN WILE & BARBARA WALKER FROM GRANDMOTHERS AGAINST THE WAR IN NYC. Come & Celebrate Granny Peacemakers! Joan Wile & Barbara Walker from Grandmothers Against the War in NYC share their protests, arrests, adventures, songs & why grannies oppose the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.Organized by GRANNIES FOR PEACE www.WomenAgainstWar.org. Many local peace groups hold regular events, vigils, "Honk for Peace" actions, etc. See our list: www.panys.org/ongoing.htm Going out of state? Check UFPJ's national Events Calendar: http://www.unitedforpeace.org/calendar.php. |