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April 21, 2009
Ever since the first atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima nearly sixty-four years ago, the idea of a world destroyed by out-of-control nuclear weapons has haunted the popular imagination. Nuclear scholar Jonathan Schell, author of The Fate of The Earth, has called nuclear proliferation the dominant characteristic of the twentieth century. But Schell also points out that the unfinished business of the 20th century has been the growing, almost universal popular demand to rein in that destructive power and arrive at humanity's long-cherished dream - a world without nuclear weapons. You've probably noticed that there's a lot of movement going on right now that looks like hope for abolition. The Global Zero campaign, founded last fall by an impressive collection of world leaders, has made serious talk about "zero" more than acceptable. President Obama has publicly proposed nuclear abolition (though perhaps not in his lifetime.) He's committed the country to a new START treaty by the end of the year that could bring the number of US and Russian nuclear warheads to as low as 1000. He's promised to push the Senate to ratify the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty. He's going to hold a Global Nuclear Summit next year. These are tremendous steps at the level of national leadership, but not enough people at the grassroots level know about them. None of these positive things will come to fruition without public demand. In your five minutes for peace this week, please spread the word about these developments by sharing two articles with your family, friends, co-workers, and neighbors. Please read the articles and then forward them with your personal comments. Links are below and at right.
In Peace, John Bostrom and Cheryl Wertz Peace Action Fund of New York State info@panys.org 646-723-1749 |
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Wednesday, April 29th, 7:30 p.m.
MANHASSET. Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Shelter Rock, 48 Shelter Rock Rd. "A PERSONAL REPORT ON GAZA" 
Six years ago, Ann Wright resigned from the Bush administration
and the U.S.diplomatic corps in opposition to the war on Iraq. Since then she has
worked for peace in Iraq and has traveled for peace to other parts of the world,
including Afghanistan, Cuba, Iran and Gaza. On March 8th, Ann was part of a 58-person
international delegation of women who traveled from Cairo to Gaza at the invitation
of the U.N. Works and Relief Agency (UNWRA) to celebrate
International Women's Day. This event is part of The UUCSR
Shelter Rock Forum, hosted by Great Neck Sane/Peace Action and
The LI Alliance for Peaceful Alternatives. For more information
contact Shelter Rock Forum, 516-627-6560, ext 122, LI Alliance for Peaceful
Alternatives, 516-741-4360. Co-sponsored by LI Veterans for Peace, Pax Christi LI,
Interfaith Alliance LI, and Code Pink LI.
For information & directions 516-487-3786 or www.panys.org/GN
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
Tuesday, April 21, 12:00 – 1:30 p.m.BROOKLYN. Borough Hall, Court Street near Montague, near the fountain. GRANNIE PEACE BRIGADE PHONE-A-THON. Tell City Council to get J-ROTC out of our schools! For more information see www.grannypeacebrigade.org Thursday, April 23, 7:00 p.m. MANHASSET. Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Shelter Rock, 48 Shelter Rock Road 
PANEL AND SCREENING OF “AFGHAN WOMEN: A HISTORY OF STUGGLE” A teach-in on “Why Afghanistan is not the Good War.” Hosted by the Long Island Veterans for Peace. Panelists Kathleen Foster, the filmmaker, 1st Lieutenant Christopher Vongsawat, Camillo “Mac” Bica, Ph.D., and Latifa Woodhouse. Co-Sponsored by the Long Island Alliance For Peaceful Alternatives, Suffolk Peace Network and Social Justice Committee, UUCSR. For more information email coordinator@vfpli.com or see www.vfpli.com. 
Saturday, April 25, 6:30 p.m.BROOKLYN. Brooklyn Society for Ethical Culture, 53 Prospect Park West bet 1st & 2nd St, Park Slope DISCUSSION AND SCREENING OF “FRAUDE: MEXICO 2006” Discussion regarding the Merida initiative ("Plan Mexico") will follow the film. Don't miss this exciting and important film! Contribution: $5--$10; no-one turned away, Sponsors: Brooklyn For Peace (Latin America Committee) and North American Congress on Latin America (NACLA) Sunday, April 26, 4:00 p.m. BROOKLYN. East Midwood Jewish Center, 1625 Ocean Ave, bet Avenues K & L, Brooklyn 
PANEL DISCUSSION AND SCREENING OF “UNSETTLED” "Unsettled" is an award-winning documentary about the dismantling of the settlements in Gaza in 2005. Panel discussion following the film with Dr. Stephen Cohen, former Middle East peace negotiator, Mark Rosenblum, Queens College, founder of Americans for Peace Now, and Stuart Ain, columnist for Jewish Week. Sponsored by the Institute for Living Judaism in Brooklyn. Admission: $5. This is also an opportunity to buy Olive Branch Olive Oil from Palestine. Wednesday April 29, Thursday, April 30 and Sunday, May 3 at 7:30 p.m. MIDTOWN NYC.National Comedy Theatre, 347 West 36th Street, between 8th and 9th Avenues. 
A MEMORY, A MONOLOGUE, A RANT AND A PRAYER: SELECTIONS BY EVE ENSLER, MAYA ANGELOU, ALICE WALKER, NICHOLAS D. KRISTOF AND OTHERS.
A benefit to celebrate V-Day 2009. Will be serving wine, coffee and
various goodies starting at 6:30pm. Will also include a V-drawing, a
silent auction, give aways and a souvenir shop! This event will sell
out. Reserve your seat today by calling the box office at 212-330-9357
or www.brownpapertickets.com.
General admission $25. VIP seating $50 and $100.
Thursday, May 7, 7:30 p.m. BROOKLYN. Friends Meeting House, 110 Schermerhorn Street. BROOKLYN FOR PEACE OPEN COMMUNITY MEETING 
Join us to discussion challenges for the Brooklyn peace movement. The
end of the Bush Administration has brought many welcome changes.
However, U.S. military activity in Afghanistan and Pakistan has
escalated, U.S. troop levels in Iraq remain high, and for Fiscal Year
(FY) 2010 the Obama Administration is requesting $686 billion in defense
spending. Join us to discuss: How can we in Brooklyn play an effective
role in advancing a peace agenda? How do we address ongoing crises in
Gaza and Darfur? How can we more effectively link the work for peace
with the urgent economic needs right here in Brooklyn?
Friday, May 8, 6-9 p.m., & Saturday and Sunday May 9-10, noon to 6 p.m. MIDTOWN NYC. Adaptive Design Association, 313 West 36th Street, west of Eighth Avenue OPEN HOUSE AND GET-TOGETHER WITH PHOTOGRAPHER STEVE CAGAN. For some 35 years, photographer Steve Cagan has used his skill and artistry to record a full range of human experience, as well as wildlife. This show and sale of his work covers a wide range of his projects, including: Industrial Landscapes, Working Ohio, Nicaragua, 1983 to 1987, El Salvador, Cuba, 1993 to 1997, El Chocó, Colombia and Bird Portraits. We hope you'll find some time over the weekend of May 8 - 10 to stop by....we're sure you'll be moved by what you see. All prints will be selling that weekend for 50-70% off their normal prices! There will also be posters, cards and books available! If you’d like to get a sense of what some of the images will look like, please visit his website at www.stevecagan.com. If you let us know if you’re coming, that will help with refreshments. But you’re welcome whether you reply or not. RSVPs, notes or questions can be sent to steve@stevecagan.com. Thursday, May 14, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. UPPER WEST SIDE NYC. Home of Jane Hirschmann and Ronald Levy, 175 W. 93rd St., Penthouse A LIFT THE SEIGE OF GAZA: CODE PINK FUND RAISER 
A continuous wave of Code Pink delegations will be trying to get through
the Egyptian and Israeli crossing in late May and June. We will be guests
of the UN children's committee and the money raised will pay for
playground equipment for the children of Gaza who are suffering
tremendously both physically and psychologically from the seige.
Over a hundred children lost BOTH their parents some killed right in
front of them. The siege has turned Gaza in to an open air prison and
is a war crime against innocent civilians. We will be having a reading
of "Seven Israeli Children- a Play for Gaza," Palestinian Music, and
a short video of the CodePink 60-person international delegation that
visited Gaza for International Women's Day in March.
Thursday, April 23, 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. ROCHESTER. Unite Here – 750 East Avenue. GREEN JOBS/GREEN HOMES NY TOWN HALL MEETING. 
Speakers include Eric Martin (Working Families Party), Margie Peet
(Sierra Club), Robert Trouskie (Apollo Alliance), Jeff Jones
(Apollo Alliance), David Palmer (Center for Working Families),
Emmaia Goldman (Center for Working Families), Jon Greenbaum
(Metro Justice). Green Jobs/Green Homes NY (GJ/GH NY) is a
blueprint for an unprecedented statewide initiative to retrofit
one million homes in five years. The program will make New York
homes energy efficient, lower fossil fuel emissions, and combat
climate change. It will save households an average of 30-40% of
energy consumption, produce 46,000 quality green jobs and obviate
the need to site new power plants. This public/private initiative
will be the largest residential retrofit program ever initiated:
a model for the nation at a critical moment in national energy
planning. This town hall meeting will feature a panel of experts
to talk about the economic and environmental benefits of the Green
Jobs/Green Homes NY program – and give audience members an opportunity
to learn more.
Saturday, April 25, 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. ROCHESTER. South Wedge Planning Committee Building, 224 Mt. Hope Avenue REGIONAL MEETING OF NEW YORK STATE DIRECT ACTION FOR PEACE. 
NYSDAP coordinated the March to Ft. Drum last May and continues to
meet and plan future nonviolent direct actions to help end the
occupation of Iraq. Participants are asked to bring to the meeting
an inspirational slogan that will be painted onto nysdap T-shirts.
We will minimize "rhetoric" and analysis" and seek to inspire one
another and brainstorm our way into the development of coordinated,
nonviolent actions to help end the occupation. We will incorporate a
drumming circle into the day, encourage and support one another, and
remind ourselves that acting alone is not as good as collective,
coordinated actions. Great vegetarian food will be provided (participants
are asked to contribute $3-5 for food). Questions? please feel free to
call Vicki Ross: 716-884-0582 or Paul Frazier: 315-475-2811
Sunday, April 26th, 2:30 p.m.ELMSFORD. Greenburgh Public Library, Tarrytown Rd. OPEN PUBLIC MEETING ON THE ECONOMY Guest speakers will include Frank Roosevelt, Ph.D., professor of economics at Sarah Lawrence College and Farhad Ameen, Ph.D., professor of economics at SUNY-Westchester. The program will be moderated by Harry Phillips, III, member of the New York State Board of Regents, Hosted by the Westchester Progressive Forum. Monday, April 27, 6:30 p.m. snacks, 7:00 p.m. program ALBANY. First Unitarian Universalist Society, Emerson Hall, 405 Washington Ave. GRANDMOTHERS MAKE MUSIC TO STOP MAKING WAR: GRANNIES OF THE WORLD, UNITE! A 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.
Co-sponsored by: Bethlehem Neighbors for Peace, Chatham Peace Initiative,
Commission on Peace & Justice for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany,
Palestinian Rights Committee, Peace & Service Committee of Albany Friends
Meeting, Pine Hills Neighbors for Peace, Saratoga Peace Alliance,
Social Responsibilities Council of First Unitarian Universalist Society
of Albany, Solidarity Committee of the Capital District, Tom Paine
Chapter of Veterans for Peace, Troy Neighbors for Peace, Upper Hudson
Peace Action.
Saturday, May 9, 7:30 p.m. Doors open at 6:30 for an informal songfest at 6:45.  WHITE PLAINS. Memorial United Methodist Church, In Asbury Hall, 250 Byrant Ave.WALKABOUT CLEARWATER COFFEEHOUSE PRESENTS: TOM PAXTON
Tom Paxton was honored at the 2009 Grammy's with a lifetime achievement
award. Please join us for a very special evening! http://www.tompaxton.comTickets, $20 in advance online; $25 at the door; Children 6-12 $10; $15 at the door for students with ID To order tickets up until 7:30 a.m. the day of the concert, log onto: www.BrownPaperTickets.com/producer/5602. There is OPEN SEATING, plenty of parking, and fair-trade coffee and many homemade delicious desserts. Questions? 914-242-0374 or www.WalkaboutClearwater.org. 
Sunday, May 17, 12:00 noon – 8:00 p.m.WESTCHESTER. On the waterfront at Abendroth. PORT CHESTER FEST: CELEBRATING LOCAL ARTS AND CULTURE. Dance, Music, Art, Crafts, Fair Trade Vendors, Food, Children’s workshops, Open Studios, Poetry and more……Produced by: The Council of Community Services. Co-Sponsors: The Village of Port Chester, The Westchester County Board of Legislators, Arts Westchester. For more information call:(914) 935-1444 or e-mail CCSCoordinator@verizon.net. Many local peace groups hold regular events, vigils, "Honk for Peace" actions, etc. See our list: www.panys.org/ongoing.htm Saturday, May 2, 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. PARAMUS NJ. West Hall Gallery, Bergen Community College, 400 Paramus Rd. THE PEACE WORKSHOP This free, interactive event introduces students, faculty, Rotarians and the general public to the educational peace programs (scholarships) of Rotary International and provides a learning opportunity for communicating with understanding. The Peace Workshop teaches the peace-making skill called dialoguing. The Bergen Community College Center for Peace, Justice and Reconciliation and the Center for the Study of Intercultural Understanding are providing facilitators for this Golden Rule Dialogue Workshop. To register and for more information, contact Rotarian Betsy Thomason, 201-930-0557 or betsy@fitnessoutdoors.com. Going out of state? Check UFPJ's national Events Calendar: http://www.unitedforpeace.org/calendar.php. |