NEW YORK PEACE NETWORK. Peace Action of New York State. PEACE DEMANDS ACTION - one email, one action, five minutes a week for peace
Alert #209     View message online: http://www.panys.org/alerts/209.htm
May 20, 2009
Dear Peace Activists,

The $90+B Afghanistan/Iraq Supplemental bill, which is more than 90% military spending and less than 10% for economic aid, reconstruction, and diplomacy, just passed the House with only 60 dissenting votes. It will be voted on in the Senate as early as today, and will likely sail through with little difficulty.

What can we do? First, call Senators Schumer (202-224-6542) and Gillibrand (202-224-4451.) Ask them to support a strategy based less on weapons and more on economic assistance, reconstruction, and diplomacy - especially when both Secretary of Defense Robert Gates and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton testified, in introducing this bill, that these were the the only real solutions in Iraq and Afghanistan. Be sure to make the connection between out-of-control military spending and the state of our economy here at home.

Don't be disheartened. Changing American public opinion is a long haul, and Congress is the last to catch up. Very few politicians dare to lead. Most wait until they can be sure they're following a safe, sure majority opinion. Our real task is changing public opinion at the grassroots level, and every day more resources become available. Here are a few just came out last week:

From the New America Foundation:

  • NUCLEAR BAILOUT: Costs and Consequences of Renovating the US Nuclear Weapons Complex. Best resource to date on the issue, with a terrific focus on tying it to the economic crisis.
  • Streaming audio of Upgrades to Nuclear Weapons Facilities, Leonard Lopate's May 14 Underreported interview of NAF's Bill Hartung on WNYC. Exposes the glaring contradiction between Obama's Prague speech and his current nuclear weapons budget.
  • Letters to the NY Times by Mr. Hartung, and many others, deflating the May 10 Week In Review lead article, "The Trouble with Zero."

From the National Priorities Project, updated 2009 war-spending analysis tools:
From United for Peace and Justice's Afghanistan Working Group:
Finally, please join in UFPJ's National Media Day of Action on Afghanistan tomorrow. Get this real information out there. Make the connection between the state of the economy and the under-reporting of massive military spending. Speak out, change minds. Keep that energy building.

Once again, thank you for your continuing efforts for peace.

In Peace,

John Bostrom and Cheryl Wertz
Peace Action Fund of New York State
info@panys.org
646-723-1749
Featured Events
Saturday May 23rd and Sunday May 24.
(Press conference Saturday, May 23 at 11:00 a.m.)
STATEN ISLAND. Father Capadanno Blvd. & Seaview Avenue on the beach,
next to the fishing pier, South Beach (Ocean Breeze)
ARLINGTON NEW YORK STATE (AND BEYOND):
A WAR MEMORIAL FOR THOSE KILLED
IN IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN.
This emotionally moving visual display reminds us all of the human costs of war. Visitors will witness a sea of crosses, and other representations of faith, as well as combat boots representing fallen soldiers provided by the American Friends Service Committee “Eyes Wide Open Exhibit”, including civilian shoes representing Iraqis who were killed. The new display will go beyond “New York State,” with an additional 600 markers, a small representation of the over 5,000 military deaths as the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan rage on. All are invited to participate in setting up a “memorial marker”, by coming to the beach during the day.  Organizers will give you one to place in the sand. Vigil candles will be lit at sundown, and then a free movie will be shown on the boardwalk.  Presented by:  Movement for a Democratic Society-Staten Island (MDS-SI), Military Families Speak Out-Staten Island, Peace Action of Staten Island, American Friends Service Committee. For more information visit our website at www.mfsony.com.
Thursday, May 21, 7:00 p.m.
BUFFALO. Talking Leaves, 3158 Main Street.
BOOK SIGNING WITH DR. HENRY LOUIS TAYLOR
AUTHOR OF “INSIDE EL BARRIO: A BOTTOM-UP VIEW OF NEIGHBORHOOD LIFE IN CASTRO’S CUBA”
Enjoy a book signing with University of Buffalo Professor Dr. Henry Louis Taylor, author of Inside El Barrio: A Bottom-up View of Neighborhood Life in Castro’s Cuba. This book is the product of 10 years of fieldwork and research conducted in Cuba and provides a community perspective on life in Cuba. Books will be available. The event is free and open to the public.
New York Metro Area and Long Island Events
 
 Wednesday, May 20, 7:30 p.m.
MANHASSET. Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Shelter Rock, 48 Shelter Rock Road.
 “IN THE MIDST OF AN ECONOMIC MELTDOWN, WHY WE NEED TO WORRY ABOUT AFGHANISTAN, HAITI AND SUDAN." WITH BETH COLE, US INSTITUTE OF PEACE
 Beth Cole is a product of Long Island and is coming "home" to offer some insights on being in Washington, working on some of the hardest challenges to our security. She will explain why the killing fields of Afghanistan's cities, Sudan's bush and Haiti's slums affect our own security and that of our children and grandchildren. Beth is a senior program officer in the Center for Post-Conflict Peace and Stability Operations. She leads the United States Institute for Peace’s  Civilian Peacefare Initiative that began in 2007 with a multiyear project to produce comprehensive "doctrine" for civilians in stabilization and reconstruction missions. She also co-chairs the Working Group on Civil-Military Relations in Non-Permissive Environments, an ongoing forum for the U.S. armed forces, U.S. government agencies and U.S. humanitarian assistance organizations. She serves as the lead for the USIP Afghanistan Security Project and is United States Institute for Peace’s official liaison to the U.S. Army Peacekeeping and Stability Operations Institute. For more information  516-627-6560, ext 122. Co-sponsors: LI Veterans for Peace, Pax Christi LI, Code Pink LI;LI Alliance for Peaceful Alternatives, Great Neck SANE/Peace Action
Wednesday, May 20, 5:00 – 8:00 p.m.
MIDTOWN NYC. The New York Times Building, 6th Avenue and 41st Street
 MILITARY FAMILIES SPEAK OUT PROTEST ON MULTIPLE DEPLOYMENTS.
Multiple deployments cause tragedy! Recently a soldier broke down after serving 3 deployments and shot several people including 3 soldiers in a hospital. Military Families Speak Out is an organization of people opposed to the war in Iraq who have relatives or loved ones currently in the military or who have served in the military since the buildup to the Iraq war in fall of 2002. Membership currently includes over 3,700 military families, with new families joining daily. Questions? Call: 718-624-5921 or e-mail bfp@brooklynpeace.org.
Tuesday, May 26, 6:30 p.m.
MIDTOWN NYC. Outside Radio City Music Hall, 1260 6th Ave.
 WELCOME KARL ROVE TO NEW YORK CITY
Karl Rove is appearing at an event at Radio City Music Hall. Let’s make sure he knows how New Yorkers feel about war criminals. Organized by World Can’t Wait and other allies.
Tuesday, May 26, 7:00 p.m.
BAY RIDGE, BROOKLYN. Widi Catering Hall, 5602 6th Ave.
 FUNDRAISING EVENING FOR VIVA PALESTINA CARAVAN FROM US TO GAZA. WITH ROB KOVIC AND BRITISH MP GEORGE GALLOWAY.
Support the Caravan and help break the siege on Gaza. Caravan will depart from the US 7/4/09 with the goal of raising $10,000,000 and sending 550 Trucks & Delegates. Sponsors: Al-Awda-NY, The Arab Muslim American FederationBreak the Siege on Gaza Coalition.
Thursday, May 28. gather 5:00 p.m., merge 6:00 p.m.
MIDTOWN EAST, NYC. Gather at Grand Central Station, march to Union League Club, 38 East 37th Street between Park and Madison.
JOHN NEGROPONTE GIVES GENERAL PETRAEUS AN AWARD?
 John Negroponte, Bush intelligence czar, will be presenting an award to General Petraeus, architect of the Iraq surge. The World Can’t Wait and other allies are organizing an orange jumpsuit gathering at Grand Central Station and then a march to meet them at the Union League Club. Orange jumpsuits will be provided – don’t worry if you don’t have your own.
Saturday, May 30, 12:00 – 2:00 p.m.
BROOKLYN. Bay Ridge Public Library, 7223 Ridge Boulevard, (2nd Ave. at 73rd St.)
 PUBLIC MEETING ON THE CAMPAIGN TO SAVE THE GUARD.
 Presentations by Janie Groff of Peace Action Bay Ridge, Vicki McFadyen of Military Families Speak Out, and Senator Eric Adams – New York State Senator 20th Senate District and cosponsor of a New York State Resolution to save the guard. with Senator Bill Perkins. At 2:00pm we will march from the library to the local recruiting office. NYSAVETHEGUARD is part of a national campaign to de-federalize the National Guard, bring them home now and stop deploying our state militia to Iraq.  The New York State National Guard must be at home to protect its residents in a time of local disaster.  We need our National Guard at home and the equipment that has been needlessly sent overseas. Sponsored by Peace Action Bay Ridge. For further information: (718) 680-2981 / (917) 579-6860
Saturday, May 30, 8:45 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
MIDTOWN EAST NYC. Community Church, 40 East 35th Street
 10TH ANNUAL UU ANTI-RACISM CONCLAVE
 This year's topic is environmental justice. Registration is inexpensive and the day is filled with exciting and interesting topics. Keynote Speaker is Dr. Nicky Sheats, the director of the Center for the Urban Environment of the John S. Watson Institute for Public Policy of Thomas Edison State College, where he has defined the primary mission of the Center as providing support for New Jersey's environmental justice community. He has also been a member of the New Jersey Environmental Justice Alliance, New Jersey's only statewide environmental organization that focuses solely on environmental justice issues, since its inception in 2003. For more information, email pclarke@uuma.org.
Saturday, June 6, 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
BROOKLYN. Brooklyn Brownstone School, 272 MacDonough St (at Lewis Ave) 
 RECESSION SURVIVAL FAIR
 Brooklyn for Barack, hosted by the Stuyvesant Heights Parents' Association, is planning a Recession Survival fair! The fair will focus on how we can help each other get through the current economic downturn. It will both give attendees as much information as possible about programs that already exist, and allow us to come together as a community to trade skills and knowledge. The Recession Survival fair will have several components. First, we will have tables for organizations that offer services or programs that can give immediate help to people who've been laid off or otherwise negatively impacted by the current economic crisis. Second, we will hold panel discussions of experts who can offer concrete information on key topics affecting our community during the recession: healthy eating on a budget, health care, jobs, credit management, and foreclosure information. Third, we’re planning to create a more informal community exchange of services and knowledge that goes beyond what’s available through official channels. Whether through online barter, or some other form of exchange, we will pool our resources as a community to provide ongoing help to our friends and neighbors. If you’d like to participate in the community exchange, please email us: continuethechange@gmail.com. If you are able to help plan the event (we need volunteers right now) and/or volunteer on the day itself, please let us know.
Saturday, June 6, 5:00 – 7:00 p.m.
NEW ROCHELLE. Home of Mirene Ghossein, 170 Overlook Circle (near Iona College.)
 FUNDRAISER FOR THE IRAQI STUDENT PROJECT
 Presentations You can help an Iraqi student attend a local college or university. There will be wine, fine food, music and a great cause. ISP student Mustafa Ahmed has been accepted with a tuition waiver at Manhattanville College for the next four years to complete his education, which was suspended in Baghdad because of the war.   The Westchester Support Group for the Iraqi Student Project has been formed to raise $14,700 in living expenses for Mustafa. Mustafa has been accepted at Manhattanville College with a full tuition waiver, but without the $14,700 for living expenses, he will not be able to get a student visa, and would forfeit his tuition scholarship. You will meet Iraqi refugee students from ISP who have completed their first academic year of study here in the U.S. They will tell you about their adjustment to our culture and to American college life, as well as the importance of an active and committed support group. Other international students from Manhattanville College will be with us as well.  We hope you will be able to join us; otherwise, please consider making a generous tax deductible donation to:  ISP/ Westchester, Box 605, White Plains, NY 10602-9998 For more information, visit: www.WestchesterSupport.org.
Thursday, June 11, 7:00 p.m.
GREENWICH VILLAGE. Judson Memorial Church, 55 Washington Square South
 THE DAVE DELLING LECTURE ON NONVIOLENCE. A LECTURE BY NICHOLSON BAKER TO THE WAR RESISTERS LEAGUE.
 Nicholson Baker is the author of the acclaimed book Human Smoke: The Beginnings of World War II, the End of Civilization and seven novels, including “Double Fold” which won the National Book Critics Circle Award in 2001. “Human Smoke” is dedicated to American and British pacifists. (“They failed, but they were right.”) George Houser, who will also speak, is a World War II resister who was arrested in November of 1940 when he and eight other students at Union Theological Seminary refused to cooperate with the draft. Houser has held leadership positions with the Fellowship of Reconciliation and the American Committee on Africa. Cosponsored by the Judson Memorial Church , New York City Pax Christi and the AJ Muste Memorial Institute. Donations are requested.
Upstate Events
Sunday, June 17 1:00 p.m. lunch, 1:30 meeting
GENESEO.Omega Restaurant, 4182 Lakeville Rd (Route 20A)
REGULAR MEETING OF GENESEE VALLEY CITIZENS FOR PEACE.
 On May 10, 2009, GVCP celebrates its 37th birthday!  We’ve never stopped working for peace and justice in the U.S. and throughout the world, and we’re not going to stop now. At our next meeting GVCP member Jim Allen will lead a discussion on the war in Afghanistan.
Thursday, June 18, 7-9 p.m.
BUFFALO. Unitarian Universalists of Buffalo, 695 Elmwood Avenue (Garden Entrance)
WAR ON THE DISPLACED: SRI LANKA 101: SPEAKING OUT FOR CIVILIANS.
Join Local Members of the Sri Lanka Community and Learn about Sri Lanka
Saturday, June 20, 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
DOWNTOWN BUFFALO. Meet at Lafayette Square, March down Court Street. Program at Niagara Square.
PEACE YEARNINGS 2009: 2ND ANNUAL YOUTH MARCH FOR PEACE: PATH OF THE PEACEMAKERS.
 Youth Presenters, performers and adult peacekeepers. All participants will take a vow of nonviolence.
Saturday, June 20, 12:30 p.m.
BUFFALO. Bidwell & Elmwood Avenue.
 RALLY AROUND THE ARREST OF AUNG SAN SU KYI.
 This event is being planned by the local Burmese community. More details will follow.
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
Going out of state? Check UFPJ's national Events Calendar: http://www.unitedforpeace.org/calendar.php.