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June 23, 2009
As the global news focuses on the people’s movement for a more representative government in Iran, it is important for us to remember that our own democracy does not always serve the true interests of its citizens. In February of this year, President Obama vowed to eliminate costly war contracts, promising to “reform our defense budget so that we’re not paying for Cold War air weapons systems we don’t use.” One such cold war relic is the F-22 jet fighter, which was first developed in 1986 in response to United States Air Force (USAF) demand for “air superiority fighters” to combat Soviet Union fighter aircraft. "The reality,” says Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, “is we are fighting two wars, in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the F-22 has not performed a single mission in either theater. So it is principally for use against a near peer in a conflict, and I think we all know who that is.” And yet, on last Wednesday (June 17th), the House Armed Services Committee passed an amendment to the 2010 Defense Appropriations Bill, voting 30-31 to set aside $369,000,000 as a down payment for twelve more fighters. Six Democrats crossed the aisle for this vote, including Eric Massa (NY 29), shifting over $2 billion away from funds set aside for the Department of Energy to clean up nuclear waste in America and into the hands of Lockheed Martin. It is clear that the Congresspersons who voted for this amendment are not just ignoring the agenda of Secretary Gates and President Obama, but the needs of the American people as well. On Monday, Congressman Barney Frank, prime advocate of a 25% reduction in military spending, introduced a counter-amendment that would strip out the extra funding for the F-22's. The vote for the bill is coming up soon. Please call or email your Congressperson now. Remind them that the needs of the citizens should come before the pocketbooks of Lockheed Martin. In peace,
Cheryl Wertz |
Wednesday, June 24, 3:00 p.m.STATEN ISLAND. Unitarian Church, 312 Fillmore St. at Clinton Ave. CINDY SHEEHAN SPEAKS TRUTH TO POWER MYTH AMERICA 10 BIGGEST MYTHS OF THE ROBBER CLASS AND THE CASE FOR REVOLUTION. Tickets $10, $5 senior citizens and students. No one turned away. See below for two other NYC area events featuring Cindy. click for flyer Wednesday, June 24, 4:00 p.m. UPPER WEST SIDE.Walter Reade Theatre/Film Society of Lincoln Center, 165 W 65th Street MY NEIGHBOR MY KILLER The Human Rights Watch International Film Festival New York City Premiere. Director: Anne Aghion, Country: USA, Release: 2009, Runtime: 80 min. In French and Kinyarwanda with English subtitles. 
In 1994, hundreds of thousands of Rwandan Hutus were incited to wipe out the country’s Tutsi minority.
In 1999 the government began Gacaca - open-air hearings with citizen-judges. As part of this experiment in
reconciliation, confessed genocide killers are sent home from prison, while traumatized survivors are asked
to forgive them and resume living side-by-side. For close to a decade, award-winning filmmaker
Anne Aghion has charted the impact of Gacaca on survivors and perpetrators alike.
Through their fear, anger, and inconsolable sadness, she captures the emotional journey to coexistence. For tickets see http://wwww.hrw.org/en/iff/neighbor-killer. Wednesday, June 24, 7:00 p.m. BROOKLYN. Brooklyn Friends Meeting House, 110 Schermerhorn St. between Brooklyn Bridge Blvd & Smith Street) AFGHANISTAN: HOW DID WE GET IN? HOW CAN WE GET OUT? Come hear Elizabeth Gould and Paul Fitzgerald, authors of “Invisible History: Afghanistan’s Untold Story.” As the US expands its wars from Iraq to Afghanistan to Pakistan, we need to understand the history of our involvement in the region and the roots of the current crisis. What strategy will promote a peaceful resolution of these conflicts? The authors have traveled to and reported on Afghanistan for over 30 years. They will lead a discussion and answer questions regarding this war which is destroying the lives of thousands in Afghanistan, undermining domestic reform in the United States, and may yet become the next Vietnam. Sponsor: Brooklyn For Peace. Co-sponsors: Fort Greene Peace; Peace and Social Action Committee of Brooklyn Monthly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) Thursday, June 25, 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. UPPER EAST SIDE. Reidy Friendship Hall, All Souls Church, 1157 Lexington Avenue at 80th (#6 train to 77th St Station) CINDY SHEEHAN, "THE PEACE MOM" Special Guests: Professor Irwin Corey, "The World's Foremost Authority"; Richard Corey, Peace Singer; Susan Cushman, former Chair of All Souls Peace Task Force; Les Jamieson, Activist/Organizer; Alisha Ritt, Classical Pianist; Rick Ulfik, Founder and Board Chair of We, The World Joan Wile, Grandmothers Against the War. Original Songs: Reverend Lewis Pell and Sister Sandra Robinson Cindy is traveling across the U. S. A. on her "Seat of the Pants Tour" to spread the message of her new online booklet, "Myth America: Ten Greatest Myths of the Robber Class and the Case(y) for Revolution" Cindy will be pleased to autograph her booklet for you. Please visit her website, www.cindysheehansoapbox.com, purchase an online copy of "Myth America" for $10, download/print it and bring it to the event. RSVP: Linda Rousseau & Sallie Elkordy at (718) 268-2914 or at ceaseforpeace@aol.com. Donations are gratefully accepted to help fund "Cindy Sheehan's Soapbox: Speaking Truth to Power" and keep her speaking across the USA.
Thursday, June 25, 6:00 - 9:00 p.m.MIDTOWN EAST. U.N. Church Center 777 U.N. Plaza. Enter on 44th Street just west of First Avenue. 2nd Floor Conference Room. THE MUSEUM OF COMEDY PRESENTS: STAND UP FOR PEACE! With CINDY SHEEHAN ON "MYTH AMERICA" AND THE CASE(Y) FOR REVOLUTION. Host: Sallie O. Elkordy. Jesters Performing: Bill Mc Carty, Robin Montague & Santos. Activists Speaking on Peace, Human Rights & Civil Liberties: Sister Sandy Robinson, Ombudswoman for Homeless Teens; Molly Klopot, Women's International League For Peace And Freedom; Jennifer Thomas, Project Congo; Joan Wile, Grandmothers Against The War; Vinie Burrows, Women's International Democratic Federation; Father Frank Morales, Community Activist; Elaine Brower, Military Families Speak Out; Sally Jones, Peace Action NYS; Barbara Harris & Anne Gibbons, Codepink NYC; Bernard Velinsky, On Socially Responsible Teaching; Reverend Lewis Pell, Spiritual Progressives; Marianne Perez, New Yorkers For A Department Of Peace; Edwin Schantz, Independent Bikers, Toys For Tots; Cesar Fuentes, Red Hook Food Vendors Vs. 'Gentrification'; Robin Andersen, Fordham Peace & Justice; Debra Sweet, The World Can't Wait; Edward Daniels Ii, Incarcerated Veterans Consortium; Leslie Kielson, NYC United For Peace & Justice; Big T & DQ, New Perspective Productions; Carol Smolenski, ECPAT/USA; Mary Elizabeth Elkordy, The Women's Party. If you are bringing food to share, contact Mary to coordinate. RSVP to sallieandmary@aol.com or call (718) 268-2914. This event will air on Cindy Sheehan's Soapbox & Sallie Elkordy's TV show. Tuesday, June 30. 6:15 p.m.: Welcoming Remarks and Discussion. 7:30 - 8:30 p.m.: Cocktail Reception. NEW YORK CITY. Baruch College, Newman Conference Center, 151 E 25th Street, 7th floor WHO GETS A VOICE? IMMIGRANTS AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT Hosted by the World Policy Institute and Demos. The promise of American democracy is that all members of our society should have a voice in the decisions that govern their lives. Yet today, record immigration has created a population where nearly 20 million adults in the United States cannot vote. More than half of this group - or an estimated 12 million people - do not even have legal authorization to live and work in the United States. Beyond this, immigrants often stand apart from the communities in which they live and experience social exclusion. Join us for a discussion with panelists Maria Teresa Petersen of Voto Latino, Tamar Jacoby of Immigration Works USA, Gara Lamarche of Atlantic Philanthropies and Hiroshi Motomura of UCLA. Moderated by Michele Wucker of the World Policy Institute. Opening remarks by Miles Rapoport of Demos. This event is free and open to the public, but seating is limited. RSVP to events@worldpolicy.org or call the events line at 212-481-5005x2. Saturday, July 18 and Sunday, July 19 DOWNTOWN NYC. National Association of Social Workers, NYC Chapter. 10th floor, 50 Broadway (between Exhachange Pl. and Morris St.) UNDOING RACISM WORKSHOP. Cost is $350, which includes tuition and a light breakfast. 50% student scholarships are available. (If you have participated in an Undoing Racism workshop in the past, you can “brush up” free of charge if space is available.) To register, see www.antiracistalliance.com. For more information call Sandy Bernabei 914-522-5997. Participants are required to attend the entire workshop. To organize a workshop for your own group, contact People’s Institute Northeast at 718-918-2716. Tuesday, July 14, 6:00 – 8:30 p.m. GREENWICH VILLAGE. Brecht Forum, 451 West Street (between Bank & Bethune Sts, near 11th St.) CODE PINK REPORT BACK FROM GAZA AND THE WEST BANK. Hear eye-witness accounts from members of delegations trying to break through the blockade of Gaza - some successfully and some not. Hear first hand their experiences challenging the Egyptian and Israeli governments and their experiences working with Israeli and Palestinan peace activists. Hear what is going on in Gaza and the West Bank and how Palestinians are fighting to survive. Invited speakers:
Sponsors: Adalah-NY, CODEPINK NYC, Committee for Open Discussion of Zionism, Jews Against the Occupation,
Jews Say No!, Women in Black.
Medea Benjamin, co-founder of CODEPINK Women for Peace; Felice Gelman, leader of New York delegation to Gaza, member WESPAC; Phillip Weiss, journalist, MONDO WEISS blog; Manijeh Saba, Iranian-American human rights activist, member of delegation to Israel/Gaza. Tuesday, July 28, 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. GREENWICH VILLAGEJudson Memorial Church, 239 Thompson Street* ISRAEL-PALESTINE: PRACTICAL STEPS TO PEACE IN THE MIDDLE EAST Join us in an unbiased discussion of the current Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Speakers will address non-violent resolutions, challenge our personal biases, and promote diplomatic relations. With David Wildman, Executive Secretary, Human Rights & Racial Justice, General Board of Ministries, United Methodist Church. $10 suggested donation, no one will be turned away. *By subway from the 8th street/NYU R and W stop, the West 4th street A, C, E, F, and V stop or the Christopher Street/Sheridan Square 1 and 2 stop. Saturday, June 27, 2009, 8 p.m. BUFFALO. University Presbyterian Church, Main Street, across from UB South VIGIL AGAINST TORTURE: STANDING WITNESS AND BEGIN HEALING Sunday, June 28, 2009, 2 p.m. BUFFALO. Pilgrim St Luke UCC, 335 Richmond Avenue SWEET SOUNDS OF PEACE: A CONCERT FOR PEACEMAKERS Featuring Nan Hoffman, Glen Wallace, Strike the Rock & Jim Brucate. Donations of $5, to benefit LASC of WNYPC & Pilgrim St. Luke Peace People. Call 716-885-9443 for tickets August 15-16, 2009 WOODSTOCK WOODSTOCK PEACE ECONOMY FORUM A weekend of information, discussion, arts and strategy for a peace economy. Several local organizations, including the Dutchess Peace Coalition, are working on this conference. The focus will be on weapons manufactures and their role in lobbying for war, polluting the environment, and taking resources away from more productive enterprises. It is an ambitious project, targeted for the anniversary of the Woodstock Festival. Take a look at: http://www.woodstockpeaceeconomy.org/ A weekend of information, discussion, arts and strategy for a peace economy. Fred Many local peace groups hold regular events, vigils, "Honk for Peace" actions, etc. See our list: www.panys.org/ongoing.htm July 10 - 12 PITTSBURGH, PA. La Roche College NATIONAL ASSEMBLY TO END THE IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN WARS AND OCCUPATIONS NATIONAL MEETING The purpose of this conference is to bring together antiwar and social justice activists from across the country to discuss and decide what we can do together to end the wars, occupations, bombing attacks, threats and interventions that are taking place in the Middle East and beyond, which the U.S. government is conducting and promoting. This will be the National Assembly's second conference. The first was held in Cleveland last June and it was attended by over 400 people, including top leaders of the antiwar movement and activists from many states. After discussion and debate, attendees voted - on the basis of one person, one vote - to urge the movement to join together for united spring actions. The National Assembly endorsed and helped build the March actions in Washington D.C., San Francisco and Los Angeles, and the April actions in New York City. For more information, please visit the National Assembly's website at www.natassembly.org, email us at natassembly@aol.com, or call 216-736-4704. July 30 to August 11 JAPAN. SUMMER STUDY ABROAD IN HIROSHIMA & NAGASAKI Sponsored by The Nuclear Studies Institute of American University. Live and study with Japanese and other Asian students, professors, peace activists, and policy experts. Meet with atomic bomb survivors and hear moving firsthand accounts of their experiences. Learn about Japanese aggression against other Asian peoples. Participate in a broad range of commemorative events in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Visit peace museums and relevant cultural and historical sites in Kyoto, Hiroshima, and Nagasaki, including the Kyoto Museum for World Peace, the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, the Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum, the Radiation Effects Research Foundation, and peace parks in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Earn three history or SIS credits (graduate or undergraduate), or participate as a non-degree seeking student. Click for PDF flier. For more information, go to www.american.edu/nsi, or contact Professor Peter Kuznick: kuznick@american.edu or 202-885-2408. Going out of state? Check UFPJ's national Events Calendar: http://www.unitedforpeace.org/calendar.php. |