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August 19, 2009
This October 7th marks the eighth year of the NATO and US-led war and occupation in Afghanistan. Military operations, carried out in the name of the United States, continue to bombard the Afghan people with daily attacks that kill innocent civilians and establish another generation of Afghans who know only war and occupation. Earlier this year, President Obama announced his 10 year plan for Afghanistan. But we have a better plan: focus on diplomatic cooperation and humanitarian aid, mitigate civilian casualties by scaling back military force. But the administration won't change its course until the public demands it. We need to educate the American public about the need to remove foreign forces from Afghanistan and increase international support of Afghan-led aid and development. To build momentum around this campaign, Peace Action chapters around the country are holding house parties on Afghanistan. These events will help us to reach out to the broader community about this very important issue. To get involved, get together with other friends and activists in your area and host a party. Check out Peace Action's "House Party Central" at www.peaceforafghanistan.org for some great resources that will help you throughout the hosting process. This is a national movement. Once you've decided to host your event, register it on the national Peace Action site. Registration benefits Peace Action by increasing our lobbying power, allowing Peace Action chapters to connect with one another. Registration also provides party hosts with an easy way to invite guests and show solidarity with Peace Action chapters around the nation. If you can't host a house party, but would still like to get involved, use Peace Action's search tool to look for house parties in your area. Remember, the new administration will only end the war in Afghanistan when the public demands it. Now is the time to tap into the political momentum for peace.
In peace,
Cheryl Wertz, E.D.
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Sunday, August 23, 8:00 – 11:00 p.m. EAST VILLAGE. Bowery Poetry Club, 208 Bowery between East Houston and Bleeker 
BENEFIT FOR THE WORLD MARCH FOR PEACE AND NONVIOLENCE AND WORLD WITHOUT WARS. We are inviting artist of all verbal expressions. From traditional poets, slam poets, rappers, musicians, songwriters and people who want to commit to peace and its ability to transform and change our lives in a major way. It will be a night where we come to NYC and stand in solidarity with our peace marchers and organizations who traverse cultural barriers to spread a message of courageous peace. We invite artists and yourselves to this event where our words are used to express human thoughtfulness. We are not limiting people to just standard prose. It can be a short skit, an acoustic performance or a short story read out loud. We will be giving each artist(s) and speaker(s) 10 min. per act to talk about the state of violence in the world and our lives and what we can do to commit to peace? What does peace mean to you and how can we overcome violence? To book your performance contact: Tamara Brown at browns@gmail.com or Hilda Mater at hildapurple@yahoo.com. Wednesday, August 26, 7:00 p.m. BROOKLYN. Brooklyn Friends Meeting House, 110 Schermerhorn Street. ELIZABETH DEWAN AND RAED JARRAR OF AMERICAN FRIENDS SERVICE COMMITTEE 
SPEAK ON THE IRAQ REFUGEE CRISIS. The Iraqi Refugee Crisis presentation covers basic issues concerning Iraqi civilians who have been made refugees from the 2003 invasion and occupation, including the number of refugees and where they are, what their living conditions are like, and the challenges they are facing. The presentation also includes information about Iraqi refugees in the U.S., specifically those living in New York and New Jersey, and will be followed by a Q&A and details on how communities can become involved with Iraqi refugee work. 
Thursday, August 27, 7:00 p.m.MANHASSET. Unitarian Universalist Church, 48 Shelter Rock Road PRESENTATION BY TYLER BOUDREAU, IRAQ COMBAT VETERAN AND AUTHOR OF “PACKING INFERNO: THE UNMAKING OF A MARINE.” Veterans For Peace Long Long Island is pleased to host Tyler Boudreau, former Marine Corps Captain, Iraq combat veteran, and author of the highly acclaimed memoir and commentary Packing Inferno: The Unmaking of a Marine during his stay in New York (www.tylerboudreau.com.) Tyler is on the final leg of his 77 day cycling trek across America in an effort to re-acquaint himself with the land, to reintegrate with his community and family, and to positively re-invest his strength in America. Please join us on August 27 at 7PM at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Shelter Rock in Manhassat to meet and listen to this remarkable young man. September 16 – October 11 
MIDTOWN. Signature Theatre’s Peter Norton Space, 555 West 42nd StreetWORLD PREMIERE OF “MAHIDA’S EXTRA KEY TO HEAVEN” BY RUSSELL DAVIS. Presented by Epic Theatre Ensemble. Directed by Will Pomerantz. Featuring Roxanna Hope, Arian Moayed, Tony Award Winner Michele Pawk, Epic co-founder James Wallert. Mahida’s Extra Key To Heaven is a poetic and haunting love story about crossing human and political borders in this time of unyielding violence. It begins when a young American painter visiting his mother on an island in the Northwest encounters a frightened Iranian college student abandoned by her brother and waiting alone for a ferry that will never come. It ends in a way that is horrific, beautiful, and unforgettable. ALL PERFORMANCES will be followed by a POST-SHOW DISCUSSION. For discount tickets call 212-352-3101 and 866-811-4111. Saturday, September 19, 5:00 p.m. CENTRAL PARK. Bandshell, enter at 72nd Street and 5th Avenue VIGIL FOR INTERNATIONAL PEACE With Rev. Susana Bastarrica. Produced by the United Nations. Sunday, October 11, 12 noon – 2:00 p.m. HUDSON RIVER. Depart from Bateaux New York, Pier 62, West 23rd Street at 12th St. FELLOWSHIP OF RECONCILIATION FIRST PEACE BANQUET AND BOAT CRUISE. Three annual FOR Peace Prizes will be awarded during the luncheon banquet. The recipients include an extraordinary network of Iraqis using nonviolence in the midst of war and occupation, and two outstanding individuals working on the front lines for peace and social justice. (A fourth prize, the Youth & Militarism Resistance Award will be presented later this year.) FOR's 2009 honorees are La’Onf, Cynthia Brown and Frances Pratt. Our keynote speaker is Rev. Michael Lapsley, the Director of the Institute for the Healing of Memories in Cape Town, South Africa. Thursday, October 23, through Saturday, October 24. CHELSEA. SVA Theatre, 333 West 23rd Street. SVA'S "VISIONS OF WAR" CONFERENCE: PLAY, FILMS, PANELS The Humanities and Sciences Program at the School of Visual Arts is presenting a four-day conference, "Visions of War: the arts represent conflict" at the Algonquin Hotel from Thursday October 21 through Saturday October 23. Part of the conference this year are the following events, free and open to the public, held at the brand new SVA Theatre: 
Thursday, October 23, 7:00 p.m.PLAY: THE WARRIOR by Jack Gilhooley, with Talk Back session The Warrior is a play about a veteran of the Persian Gulf War and two tours in Iraq, the damage her absence has done to her family, and to her mental health. After the performance there will be a Talk Back session which includes questions from the audience and answers. Preview for The Warrior. Friday, October 24, 7:00 p.m. PANEL DISCUSSION Sponsored by Stephen Frailey, Chair, BFA Photography. More information to come. Saturday, October 23, 2:00 - 6:00 p.m. FILM SERIES: AFTER THE WARS Film series hosted by Reeves Lehamna, Chair, Film Video and Animation Department. More information to come. Saturday, October 23, 6:30 8:30 p.m. PANEL: THE SCARS OF WAR: HEALING THROUGH THE ARTS. Moderated by screenwriter/playwright/Vietnam combat veteran David Berry, a member of the SVA Film Department faculty. Panelists include film artists/combat veterans (screenwriters and directors), a psychologist with over three decades of experience treating Vietnam veterans, and a retired Army Colonel who has become a major spokesperson for those demanding official recognition and treatment of female victims of violence in the military. Sunday, November 8, 1:30 – 5:00 p.m. UPPER EAST SIDE. Hunter College/CUNY, 68th Street at Lexington Avenue END US MILITARIZATION OF THE PACIFIC The Granny Peace Brigade’s Fourth Teach-in will focus on U. S. military bases in Japan/Okinawa, the Philippines and South Korea, and their deplorable effects on the host countries’ populace and the environment. The event will be free and open to the public. Details on program and speakers will be forthcoming. For more details, please see www.grannypeacebrigade.org/. Friday Aug 21st, 6:00 -10:00 p.m. WHITE PLAINS. WESPAC White Plains Headquarters, 255 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, 2nd Floor. SCREENING OF “911 CHRONICLES- TRUTH RISING” BY ALEX JONES The film will begin at 6:00 p.m. At 8:00. 911 Truth movement leaders will speak. At 9:00 p.m. there will be an organizer’s conference on breaking the American censorship. $5 donation. For additional information, contact Scott at 914-382-8765. Sunday, August 23, 11:00 a.m. to 12 noon YONKERS. ShopRite Supermarket, 25-43 Prospect St. at the corner of Riverdale Ave, SECOND WOMEN IN BLACK PALESTINE SOLIDARITY VIGIL Wear black if you like. Men are encouraged join the women. We will gather on the sidewalk on Riverdale Ave. where shoppers turn into the parking lot. There is also some pedestrian traffic there. Sponsored by CodePink Westchester. 914-376-5429 Friday, August 28, 2009, 8:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. WHITE PLAINS. Westchester Jewish Community Services, 845 N. Broadway UNDOING RACIAL DISPARITIES IN CHILD WELFARE 
Westchester Child Welfare advocates are invited to a breakfast! Learn
how the "Undoing Racism" Workshop helped achieve dramatic results in
reducing racial disparities in child welfare in Texas and Kentucky!
Margery Freeman and David Billings
of The People's Institute will join us to share the success of Texas
and Kentucky in reducing racial disparities and disproportionately in
foster care placement after they trained their workforce and began to
address the issues of structural racism. We will watch a video of Texas
workers describe their work (DVD), which is an amazing example of the
work of institutional change. Discussion how we can mobilize others
in the field of child welfare to learn more about what can be done for
Westchester Children. REGISTRATION REQUIRED - RSVP 914-723-3222
Sunday, September 20th, 1:00 p.m. (Lunch), 1:30 p.m. (Meeting) GENESEO. Omega Restaurant, 4182 Lakeville Rd (Route 20A) GENESEE VALLEY CITIZENS FOR PEACE MONTHLY MEETING [Note: no regular August meeting.] GVCP member Victoria Farmer will lead a discussion on India and Pakistan and their outlook for a peaceful future. Thursday, October 9, 6:00 p.m., Host Committee Reception; 7:00 p.m., Lecture PURCHASE. Reid Castle, Manhattanville College MEMORIAL LECTURE ON THE DEATH PENALTY The Annual Henry Schwarzschild Memorial Lecture, sponsored by the Lower Hudson Valley Civil Liberties Union and the Connie Hogarth Center for Social Action. Guest speaker: Thomas Cahill, author of “A Saint on Death Row - the Story of Dominique Green.” This book was published this spring and was introduced by Archbishop Desmond Tutu at a public launch event at Riverside Church. Dominique Green was executed in Texas in 2004 at the age of 30, after spending 12 years on death row. The book raises many questions about the trial and tells the story of his family background and his 12 years of efforts to defend himself once he was placed on death row. For more information about the lecture, call (914) 997-7479. 
Thursday, October 22 - Saturday, October 24ROCKLAND. Rockland Community College PRESENTATION OF THE AIDS MEMORIAL QUILT. TOUCH (Together Our Unity Can Heal), a local HIV/AIDS advocacy and support organization, is bringing The AIDS Memorial Quilt to Rockland Community College. This will be the largest display of The AIDS Memorial Quilt in the Northeast in the past eleven years. We are looking to notify as many people as possible about the quilt’s arrival so that individuals can request panels, dedicate panels, and view the quilt. If your organization is interested in sponsoring a panel of The AIDS Memorial Quilt please contact Robert Maher at RMaher@touch-ny.org or call us at 845-268-8023 for more information. FRIDAYS THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER UNTIL LABOR DAY TIMES SQUARE. Armed Forces Career Center GRANNY TRUTH BRIGADE "RETRUTHMENT" Join the Granny Truth Brigade as they provide opportunities for "retruthment." For more info, watch a great slide show at http://www.globalphotoex.com/slideshow_eg/323.html and/or read the blog at http://www.grannypeacebrigade.org/wordpress/2009/06/12/a-few-facts-about-the-cost-of-war/ about the Grannies' first "How Much? - How Many?" demonstration at the Times Square military recruitment center. Many other local peace groups hold regular events, vigils, "Honk for Peace" actions, etc. See our list: www.panys.org/ongoing.htm Monday, October 5 WASHINGTON DC MARCH OF THE DEAD, A CALL TO ACTION October 2009 marks the beginning of the ninth year of war and occupation in Afghanistan. A coalition is forming to demand an immediate end to atrocities committed by our government. On October 5, 2009, we will bring our demands to the White House: An immediate withdrawal of ALL U.S. troops from Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as an immediate end to the illegal expansion of war into Pakistan. Accountability for those who have committed war crimes, torture, and other illegal acts, both past and present. An end to U.S. complicity in aiding the Israeli governments’ occupation of Palestine. We ask that you join in the developing coalition to plan the events of the day, and consider adding your organization as an endorser. In August there will be coalition meetings held in New York City and Washington D.C. If you would like to attend these meetings, endorse the day of action, or get more information, please call Laurie Arbeiter 917 915-6115, Sarah Wellington 201 446-2984 and/or write to wewillnotbesilent@gmail.com Thursday, Oct. 15, 5:30 – 9:00 p.m. WASHINGTON DC. National Press Club, 529 14th Street. 33RD ANNUAL LETELIER-MOFFITT HUMAN RIGHTS AWARDS. The 2009 Domestic Award will go to Domestic Workers United, a grassroots organization of Caribbean, Latina and African nannies, housekeepers, and elderly caregivers working together to end exploitation and injustice against vulnerable workers in New York. The International Award will go to La Mesa Nacional Frente a la Mineria Metalica, which has struggled against huge odds to press El Salvador to become the first country in the world to ban gold mining – their efforts will help preserve the environment and rural communities. Going out of state? Check UFPJ's national Events Calendar: http://www.unitedforpeace.org/calendar.php. |