NEW YORK PEACE NETWORK Alert #259

Featured Event

Tuesday, June 8, 6:00 - 11:00 p.m.
LOWER EAST SIDE. East Fourth Street Theatre, 83 East 4th St.

AN EVENING WITH NOAM CHOMSKY AND ANN WRIGHT; BENEFIT PERFORMANCE OF "PROPHECY"

6:00 p.m.: Wine Reception. You will have the opportunity to meet and speak with Noam Chomsky.

7:30 p.m.: Private performance of Prophecy.

10:00 p.m.: Talk-back with Noam Chomsky and Ann Wright, Gaza Flotilla eyewitness.

Cast of Prophecy: Kathleen Chalfant, 2-time Obie, Drama Desk, Lucille Lortel, Outer Critics Award winner, Tony nominee; George Bartenieff, 4-time Obie winner (Acting & Producing), Drama Desk; Najla Said, Author of Palestine, her one-woman play; co-founder of Arab-American theater collective Nibras; André De Shields, 2-time Tony, 4-time Drama Desk, Audelco and Obie winner; Brendan Donaldson. Wine reception only: $100. All three parts: $150. RSVP ASAP to kitty@panys.org or call Kitty Reddington, 646-723-1749.

New York Metro Area Events

Monday, June 7, 7:30 p.m.
GREENWICH VILLAGE. NYU, Skirball Center, 566 La Guardia Place (at Washington Square South).
BLUEPRINT FOR ACCOUNTABILITY
Culture Project's fusion of theater, film, journalism and debate. Tickets: www.skirballcenter.nyu.edu.

Wednesday, June 9, 7:00 - 9:00 p.m.
UPPER EAST SIDE. All Souls Unitarian Church at 1157 Lexington Avenue (80th St.)
REPORT-BACK FROM GAZA FREEDOM FLOTILLA
Ann Wright, retired US Army Colonel and former diplomat, and Iara Lee , from Culture of Resistance, will talk about their experiences with the Free Gaza flotilla which was violently attacked by the Israeli Navy on May 31. The talk will be followed by questions and answers and a discussion of how to move forward to end the siege of Gaza.

Wednesday, June 9, 7:30 p.m.
UPPER WEST SIDE. Medicine Show Theatre, 549 West 52nd Street, (10th and 11th Ave.—Third Floor)
SPOKEN WORD: PAUL MULDOON AND JOHN ASHBURY
Medicine Show’s 26th annual celebration of Spoken Word. Artistic excellence in theatre setting. Writers present. Discussion may follow. $5, more if you can.

Thursday, June 10, 4:00 p.m.(start)
BROOKLYN. Start: St. Mark's Catholic Church, Ocean Avenue and Avenue Z.
End (with food!): 2812 Voorhies Ave (between 28th and 29th St)
7TH ANNUAL CHILDREN OF ABRAHAM PEACE WALK
Join Jews, Christians, Muslims, and all people of good will, as we walk together in a spirit of peace. Questions? E-mail tomnmartinez@gmail.com.

Friday, June 11 – Saturday, June 12
UPPER EAST SIDEHunter College West Building, 695 Park Avenue at Lexington
ANNUAL CONFERENCE ON ENDING VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN
The National Council for Research on Women in Partnership with the US National Committee for UNIFEM Annual Conference 2010: Strategic Imperatives for Ending Violence against Women: Linkages to Education, Economic Security and Health. Please visit http://www.ncrw.org for more information, or send an email to: :conference@ncrw.org.

Friday, June 11, 8:00 p.m.
HEWLETT. Hewlett-Woodmere Public Library, 1125 Broadway
AFGHANISTAN AND THE BUSINESS OF WAR
Speaker: Christopher Vongsawat. Our speaker joined the Army in 1998 and was commissioned in 2004 as an Ordnance Officer in the NY National Guard. In 2008 he was deployed to Afghanistan as a military advisor to the Afghan National Army where he helped train Afghan soldiers, including Afghan Lieutenants. Chris was discharged from the US Army as a conscientious objector in December 2009, ending over ten years of service. Sponsored by Five Towns Forum. Contact: Rochell Dorfman(516) 623-5689.

Sunday, June 13, 3:00 - 6:00 p.m.
GREENWICH VILLAGE. Casserly Hall, St. Joseph's Greenwich Village Church, Sixth Avenue and Washington Pl.
ANNUAL PEACEMAKER AWARDS RECEPTION. Pax Christi Metro New York (PCMNY) invites you to help come honor Peacemakers at their annual Awards Reception. There will be international refreshments, live music, and prizes. Donations will benefit the work of PCMNY. Contact PCMNY for further details and to register at nypaxchristi@igc.org, www.nypaxchristi.org, or 212-420-0250.

Thursday, June 24, 6:30 p.m.
UPPER EAST SIDE. Reidy Friendship Hall, All Souls Unitarian Church, Lexington Avenue at 80th St.
FIRST DO NO HARM: THE ROLE OF MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS IN U.S.-SPONSORED TORTURE
Light refreshments will be served.

Sunday, July 18 – Monday, July 19, 5 p.m. – 8 p.m.
GREENWICH VILLAGE. New York University Furman Hall Room 216, 245 Sullivan Street,
between Washington Square South and West Third Street
BORN INTO WAR: AN EXHIBIT OF PHOTOS BY FORMER CHILD SOLDIERS IN COLUMBIA
Exhibit and silent auction of photographs by former child soldiers. Short video of former child soldiers and MADRE’s project to support their recovery. Reception to launch report by MADRE and our partners to the UN Human Rights Committee. Admission: $20.00 to attend the event, Wine and Refreshments will be served. More Info: www.madre.org/index.php?s=4&news=397>

Upstate Events

Saturday, June 12
GENESEO
DISTRIBUTE FREE BUMPER STICKERS
Call Hank Stone at 585-624-3673 to schedule a two-hour shift.

Saturday June 12, 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
WOODSTOCK. 5 Library Lane
THE GREENING OF CUBA
Come and Learn. Public forum and Discussion

Sunday, June 13, 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
GRAND ISLAND. Riverside-Salem UCC/DC, "The Cottage", 3449 West River Road
TALK: PRISONERS ARE PEOPLE TOO
By Karima Amin and Chuck Culhane

Saturday, June 19, 7:30 p.m.
ALBANY. First Unitarian Universalist Society of Albany , 405 Washington Avenue
(across the street from the downtown SUNY campus)
FILM - CRUDE: THE REAL PRICE OF OIL.

Sunday, June 20, 4:00 p.m.
GRAND ISLAND. Riverside-Salem UCC/DC, "The Cottage," 3449 West River Road
FILM: THE YES MEN FIX THE WORLD

Monday, June 21, 7:00 p.m.
BUFFALO. Network of Religious Communities, 1272 Delaware Ave
LASC COFFEEHOUSE ON PASTORS FOR PEACE FRIENSHIPMENTS TO CUBA
Featuring a film and a guest speaker who has been a caravanista.

Sunday, June 27, 4:00 p.m.
GRAND ISLAND. Riverside-Salem UCC/DC, "The Cottage," 3449 West River Road
MUSIC IN THE WOODS
With Nan Hoffman, Joe Tumino, Tom & Kathy DeLoughry, Mary Bieger Bring chairs and blankets, if you can. Potluck following.

Thursday, July 1, 6:45 p.m. - 8:45 p.m.
DELMAR. Bethlehem Public Library, 451 Delaware Ave.
FILM: THE PEOPLE SPEAK
Narrated by Howard Zinn.

Sunday, July 4, 6:30 p.m.
BUFFALO/FORT ERIE. Americans meet at Front Park, Buffalo.
Canadians meet at Mather Arch, Friendship Festival, Fort Erie, Ontario
ACROSS THE BORDER
Hands Across the Border is a Peace Initiative started in 2009 by the Binational Friendship Festival of Fort Erie and Buffalo. The action is establishing a pattern to be followed into 2012 - 2014: The Bicentennial in which we celebrate 200 Years of Peace between our Countries.

Wednesday, July 7, 5 p.m. BUFFALO. Maxine's house, 74 Wellington Ave. (near Hertel)
SEND-OFF BBQ FOR THE IFCO/PASTORS FOR PEACE CARAVAN

Saturday, July 10, 1 p.m.
BUFFALO. Ephesus Ministries, 341 Grider St. (next to the Bissonette House)
ANNUAL DAY OF PLEDGING AND REMEMBRANCE
Day of Pledging Our Oath to Peace and Remembering the Buffalo area Homicide Victims of the past year. This is an annual event and many attend to hear the names of the victims read and to renew their oath to non-violence.

July 23 – 25
ALBANY. Crowne Plaza Hotel, 10 Eyck Plaza, State and Lodge Streets
NATIONAL PEACE CONFERENCE: BRING THE TROOPS HOME
SCHEDULE:

Friday evening, July 23: Panel discussion on “Strategies & Tactics in the Struggle to End the Empire’s Wars and Occupations”; Presentation of Action Proposal
Saturday, July 24: Keynote Speakers; Workshops; Lunch panel on Government Repression, Defense of Political Prisoners, and Guantanamo Detainees; Plenary Discussion of Action Proposal, Amendments & Resolutions
Saturday evening, July 24: Public Forum with speakers & cultural performances
Sunday, July 25: Plenary Discussion and Vote on Action Proposal; Workshops

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS:

NOAM CHOMSKY, Internationally renowned political activist, author, and critic of U.S. foreign and domestic policies, MIT Professor Emeritus of Linguistics
DONNA DEWITT, President, South Carolina AFL-CIO; Co-Chair, South Carolina Progressive Network; Steering Committee, U.S. Labor Against the War; Administrative Body, National Assembly to End the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars and Occupations

ADDITIONAL SPEAKERS: Joel Kovel, Dahlia Wasfi, Leila Zand, Cheri Honkala, Medea Benjamin, Kathy Kelly, Michael Ferner, Kevin Martin, Michael McPhearson, Nada Khader, Larry Holmes, David Swanson, Glen Ford, Blanca Missé, Pam Africa, Cindy Sheehan, Fahima Vorgetts (partial list)
Each person attending the conference will have voice and vote. Attendees will have the opportunity to amend the action proposal submitted by conference co-sponsors, add demands, and submit resolutions for consideration by the conference.
Cosponsoring National Organizations: After Downing Street, Arab American Union Members Council, Bailout the People Movement, Black Agenda Report, Campaign for Peace and Democracy, Campus Antiwar Network, Code Pink, International Action Center, Iraq Veterans Against the War, National Assembly to End the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars and Occupations, National Lawyers Guild, Peace Action, Peace of the Action, Progressive Democrats of America, The Fellowship of Reconciliation, U.S. Labor Against the War, Veterans for Peace, Voices for Creative Nonviolence, Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, World Can’t Wait.
Get more info and register at www.nationalpeaceconference.org.

Ongoing 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 and National Events

All Summer
NEW MEXICO and other locations.
THINK OUTSIDE THE BOMB's DISARMAMENT SUMMER.
Think Outside the Bomb, the largest youth-led anti-nuclear network in the US, is organizing Disarmament Summer near Los Alamos, New Mexico, in partnership with the Tribal Environmental Watch Alliance, TEWA Women United, the Multicultural Alliance for a Safe Environment, Products of Atzlan youth group, and the Southwest Indigenous Uranium Forum. For further information please check out www.thinkoutsidethebomb.org, call (408) 676-TOTB (8682), or email Rebecca Riley, totbchicago@gmail.com or Lisa Putkey, lisaputkey@gmail.com.

Friday, June 11 - Monday, June 14
WASHINGTON DC. Lutheran Church of the Reformation, 212 East Capitol Street NE (Capitol Hill)

NATIONAL CONFERENCE: "A PROGRESSIVE VISION AND STRATEGY FOR THE OBAMA YEARS: OVERCOMING FEAR AND CORPORATE POWER WHILE BUILDING "THE CARING SOCIETY"
Convened by Tikkun Magazine & the Network of Spiritual Progressive Conference
Speakers: Congressmen Dennis Kucinich; Keith Ellison; Sister Joan Chittister; David Korten; Rabbi Michael Lerner; Rev. James Forbes; environmentalist Bill McKibben; Rev. Graylan Hagler; Medea Benjamin of Code Pink; Jeremy Ben Ami of J Street; Marianne Williamson.
For more information visit: www.spiritualprogressives.org, or call 510-644-1200.

Tuesday, June 22 - Saturday, June 26
DETROIT.
U.S. SOCIAL FORUM
"Not a conference but a space to come up with the peoples’ solutions to the economic and ecological crisis." Self-Organized Workshops; People's Movement Assemblies; Plenaries; Work Projects & Work Brigades; Detroit Expanded (DEX); USSF Village & Canopies; Arts & Culture - Performances, Exhibitions, Film Festival; Children's Social forum & Youth Camp; Detroit Local Orgnaizing; International Participation; Direct Action; Open Space; Tours; Grassroots Fundraising.

Going out of state? Check UFPJ's national Events Calendar: http://www.unitedforpeace.org/calendar.php .