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Using photographs and stories Skip will present his experiences from his last journey to the land of troubles. On a small pilgrimage part of his larger pilgrimage, Skip visited the apparent site of the 2003 killing of Rachel Corrie, a young woman working with Palestinians in Rafah. He toured the area near the Egyptian border wall which four days later Gazans breached in a nonviolent attempt to break the siege. While in Gaza Skip worked with the American Friends Service Committee youth program, teaching and photographing.
Flyer attached, please feel free to circulate. Our community is holding its regular monthly potluck that day from about 11:45 to 12:45 so the presentation and lunch will interweave. Feel free to come for food or just for the show.
Preview here: http://www.teeksaphoto.org/Levant2007/Subsites/Gaza_8_RafahGasCorrie/index.html.
Asian American Civil Rights March and Speak-Out
10:00 am - Gather at China Trade Center
10:45 am - Arrive front of State House, 11:00 am - Speak-Out in the Great Hall
CONTACT:
Lydia Lowe or Lisette Le (617) 357-4499
Caroline Chang (617) 338-4339
Elaine Ng (617) 635-5129 x1006
Ruth Moy (617) 426-1628
Asian Americans Struggle to Keep Voting Rights
An African American man could become president, but many of Boston's Asian American citizens will lose equal access to the vote in this November's election.
On June 23, in honor of African American Emancipation Day, the Asian American community will call for action to protect their voting rights through a Civil Rights March and Speak-Out, and pay tribute to the struggles of African Americans, which paved the way for other communities' voting rights.
Chinese and Vietnamese bilingual ballots, launched by Boston's 2005 agreement with the US Department of Justice, are due to expire in December of this year. Chinese-speaking voters lost their voting rights even earlier, due to Secretary of State William Galvin's opposition to including candidate names in Chinese characters on the ballot.
Chinese transliteration of candidate names has been practiced successfully in New York for 13 years, as well as for elections in Los Angeles County, Alameda County, Orange County, San Francisco County, Santa Clara County, and most recently in the City of Boston in 2007.
Boston City Council voted 13-0 last month on a Home Rule Petition to extend Chinese and Vietnamese bilingual ballots for Boston voters and to allow inclusion of candidate names in Chinese characters for a fully bilingual ballot. The bill is now filed at the State House, where it needs approval of the legislature and the governor, but less than two months remain in the formal legislative session.
Bilingual ballots are most needed by the elderly, who have the most difficulty learning English, and who are allowed to pass the US citizenship exam in their native language if they have had permanent residence for upwards of 15 years. The ballots would be available only in those neighborhoods where Chinese Americans and Vietnamese Americans have a concentrated population, and election officials affirm that the cost is negligible.
This November's election will be the last cycle of Vietnamese bilingual ballots, but Chinese bilingual ballots will exclude transliteration of candidate names. Transliteration is a way of transferring a word from one writing system into another. Unlike Spanish or Vietnamese, the Chinese language does not use the Western alphabet. Without fully bilingual ballots, most elderly Chinese voters try to find out the order of candidates on the ballot to locate the candidate of their choice, which may often lead to mistaken votes. Others rely on a bilingual assistant to accompany them to the voting booth.
"There are so many English names on the ballot, and I get confused," says elderly voter Fook Pui Chan, who hopes to vote in the presidential election. "A ballot that is in Chinese but that doesn't have the candidates' names in Chinese is useless."
In 2007, when fully bilingual ballots were provided to Chinese-speaking voters, Asian American voter turnout exceeded the general turnout for the first time in Boston's history.
SUPPORT ARAMARK STRIKE
Rally Monday June 23rd 5 PM
At the BCEC
425 Summer Street, Boston
The 350 food service workers at the Hynes Convention Center and
the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center have been in contract
negotiations with their employer, ARAMARK since September 2007.
Throughout these negotiations there has been an atmosphere of
fear and intimidation. ARAMARK has allegedly:
Fired 3 union activists, including 2 negotiating committee
members, for their union activity.
Threatened to fire employees for talking about our union while
at work.
Threatened to take away benefits for raising workplace issues.
Ripped union literature out of the hands of union members and
tore it up.
Spied on employees while we have been engaged in union activity.
Refused to negotiate for more than a month because we wouldn't
agree to limits ARAMARK tried to impose on the number of
advisors that we could have present at negotiating sessions.
Workers have filed charges with the National Labor Relations
Board (NLRB) for ARAMARK's alleged unfair labor practices.
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!
They will be on strike starting at 7AM on June 21, 22 and 23 and
have called for a boycott of ARAMARK at the Convention Centers.
"Kilowatt Ours", a one-hour documentary by Jeff Barrie, examines the environmental and social consequences of America's voracious appetite for coal-generated electricity and suggests solutions that are surprisingly accessible and affordable.
The event also includes a brief presentation on energy efficiency by Michael Berry of MA ENERGY STAR Homes/ICF International.
Complimentary light appetizers will be available. Suffolk University will be distributing free compact fluorescent light bulbs.
Co-Sponsors: Beacon Hill Civic Association, Boston Climate Action Network, Clean Water Action, and Mass Energy Consumers Alliance. Free and open to the public. RSVP: lglick@cleanwater.org or 617-278-1885.
Hearing for Boston Taxi Drivers!
The Taxi Drivers of Boston have organized to demand a fare increase and oversight of the taxi regulatory agency- Hackney Division. Come stand in solidarity with the Boston Taxi Drivers Association in demanding a reasonable fair wages and respect for these drivers!
Tuesday, June 24th
9:00 AM Rally
Roxbury Crossing T Stop
10:00 AM Hearing
Media Arts Auditorium
Roxbury Community College
1234 Columbus Ave., Roxbury MA
For more information contact Sandy Wright at sandwr1@yahoo.com or (617) 268-1171 or Jennifer Doe at jennifer@massjwj.net or (617) 524-8778.
The Cambridge Peace Commission is hosting a reception to welcome its new Executive Director, Brian Corr. They are hosting a reception for him on Tuesday, June 24 from 4:30-6:30 p.m. in the Ackermann Room at City Hall, 795 Mass. Ave., Cambridge.
Please come meet and welcome Brian, introduce yourselves, and share your ideas about the Peace Commission.
The average American views three thousand ads in one day. Yet remarkably, most of us believe we are not influenced by advertising. In this lively exposé, Jean Kilbourne reveals how deeply advertisers insinuate themselves into our daily lives. Advertisers do far more than influence our taste - they manipulate our desires so that their products will become our closest friends.
According to Jean Kilbourne, "The stories that most influence our children these days are the stories told by advertisers."
Jean Kilbourne, Ed.D., the award-winning creator of the Killing Us Softly film series, has twice been named Lecturer of the Year by the National Association of Campus Activities. She is a widely published writer and appears frequently on national interview programs. She has spent many years researching and compiling examples of media images and their effects on young people, especially women. Her book, Deadly Persuasion: Why Women and Girls Must Fight the Addictive Power of Advertising, was published in 1999. The paperback version, Can't Buy My Love, is available from Simon and Schuster, New York.
The event is free and open to the public. Viewers are invited to stay for discussion or to just listen. Refreshments are served.
Presenters:
Doris Tennant and Ellen Lubell
Newton lawyers working pro-bono in defense
of a young man imprisoned at Guantanamo
Co-Sponsored by: Newton Dialogues on Peace and War, Social Workers for Peace and Justice, Human Rights Commission of Newton, Historical Society of Newton Donations to support this ongoing work may be made at the presentation.
We now have copies of DVDs of former UN Weapons Inspector, former Marine Intelligence Officer, and current outspoken critic of the invasion of Iraq Scott Ritter's talk that we sponsored in Februrary You can borrow a copy or purchase a copy to send to friends. Please contact Allan Rubin (a_rubin@comcast.net) if you are interested.
A local member of Veterans for Peace has compiled a 53 minute high quality video of the Winter Soldier hearings. The videos can be viewed at http://smedleyvfp.org/page27/page27.html. We are told that a set of videos on DVD with the full 3 days of testimony to be available from Iraq Veterans Against the War some time in the next few weeks, but until then, you might want to have a look at this video online. Many of us were unable to find any place to watch the original event or for other reasons couldn't watch them live - this video shows some of the more compelling parts of the testimony.
Come join us in the spirit of solidarity and take a stand on immigration policy!!!
"Welcoming Massachusetts"
Official Kick-Off Event of the Campaign
Place: Outside the State House
On Beacon St, Boston
On the steps in front of the dome
Date: June 25th, 2008
Time: 11:00 am-Noon
Wear red or a white shirt and come hear about what we can do to help make a difference in our own communities as we make Massachusetts a welcoming state
We will have a small potluck at the end of the event as we all, immigrants and non-immigrants, come and break bread together!!!!
The CCI Rapid Response Team is a network of volunteers who are willing to participate in antiracist actions in the Boston area and who will inform and encourage others to join them. This meeting will be an opportunity for you to meet the CCI Rapid Response team and take both leadership and support roles as together we plan ways to maximize our impact and increase our membership. We will brainstorm ideas for the team, discuss how we can be more effective, and develop a process for implementing our ideas. So come with your energy, your ideas, your passion for social justice.
To be a member of the CCI Rapid Response Team, it is not necessary to answer every call for action, but rather to be willing, when possible, to stand up for racial justice with others. Actions you can take at home or in your office, such as making phone calls, writing letters, encouraging your friends and colleagues to take action with you, etc, are also important.
REFRESHMENTS WILL BE SERVED!!!!!
Directions: take the Red Line to Park Street Station, walk up the hill toward the State House to Beacon Street. Turn right onto Beacon, cross Park Street. 14 Beacon is on the right side of the street kitty-corner from the State House.
Questions? Comments? Ideas? Suggestions? Contact Janet at 617-523-0555 or above email.
Super Size Me is a 2004 documentary film written, produced, directed by And starring Morgan Spurlock, an American independent filmmaker. Spurlock's Film follows a 30-day time period (February 2003) during which he subsists Entirely on food and items purchased exclusively from McDonald's, and the film Documents this lifestyle's drastic effects on Spurlock's physical and psychological well-being and explores the fast food industry's corporate influence,including how it encourages poor nutrition for its own profit. During the filming, Spurlock dined at McDonald's restaurants three times per day, sampling every item on the chain's menu at least once. He also super sized his meal every time he was asked. He consumed an average of 5,000 kcal (the equivalent of 9.26 Big Macs) per day during the experiment.
3-5PM: Rally to Colonnade Maintenance Workers!
Join members of the Area
Trades Council, Jobs with Justice and other activist at a rally
at the Colonnade Hotel http://www.colonnadehotel.com/location/
on from 3:00 to 5:00PM. For more information on this struggle
contact Dick Monks at (781) 769-1877.
SABEEL CONFERENCE--SAN DIEGO
June 27 & 28, 2008
Telling the Truth: Prospects for a Just Peacein Palestine and Israel Co-sponsored by: The Joan B. Kroc Institute of Peace and Justiceand The International Center, University of San Diego Purpose: to educate North American Christians, Jews, and Muslims on how to support a just peace in the Holy Land based on a two-state solution in Palestine and Israel-as defined by international law and existing United Nations resolutions.
We invite everyone who opposes the war and occupation to attend an open democratic national antiwar conference to place on the agenda of the entire US antiwar movement a proposal for the largest possible united mass mobilization to stop the war and end the occupation.
Speakers include:
Donna Dewitt, President, South Carolina AFL-CIO
Fred Mason, President of the Maryland AFL-CIO; one of the National
Co-Convenors of U.S. Labor Against the War
Greg Coleridge, Program Director, Northeast Ohio American Friends
Service Committee; Coordinator, Northeast Ohio Anti-War Coalition
Jonathan Hutto, Navy Petty Officer, author, Anti-War Soldier and
co-founder of Appeal for Redress
Jeremy Scahill, Author, of "Blackwater: The Rise of the World's Most Powerful Mercenary Army"
Jesse Diaz, Organizer of the May 1, 2006 immigrant rights boycott
Riham Barghouti, ADALAH (NYC)
Brian Becker, A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition
Leslie Cagan, United for Peace and Justice
Colia Clark, veteran of Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee and civil rights activist;
Cindy Sheehan, by video
To register or for more information.
Local Contact: John Harris, john.r.harris@verizon.net, 617-230-9382. Transportation is being organized.
The venue is set. The workshops are scheduled. Registrations are pouring in. It is not to late to join us, you can register at: http://organizerscollaborative.org/conference.
Lowell is a beautiful, historic city that still remembers its working-class roots The intersection of rivers and canals make it a wonderful place to be on an early summer day. So join us for some engaging connections and some rock-solid knowledge sharing.
Speakers, alternative energy and conservation displays, workshops, and a playground for the kids. Cosponsored with ACORN. Learn about the Green Wave Campaign and find out how to save energy at home.
Grover Cleveland School, 11 Charles Street, across the street from the Fields Corner T-station.
Marti Kheel, PhD, is a prominent writer, activist, and author of the book, Nature Ethics: An Ecofeminist Perspective (Studies in Social, Political, & Legal Philosophy). Her articles have been widely published in journals and anthologies in the U.S. and abroad. Over the years, her primary goal has been to develop an ecofeminist philosophy that integrates the seemingly disparate movements and philosophies of feminism, animal advocacy, environmental ethics, and holistic health.
Rather than developing theories for why people should care for other-than-human animals, she draws on the model of holistic health to understand why empathy and care are absent to begin with and what can be done to nourish them. Similarly, rather than trying to rationally defend her choice to be a vegan, she urges meat eaters to examine the social and political factors that support their choice to eat meat. She co-founded Feminists for Animal Rights in 1982 and holds a doctorate from the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley CA, where she is currently a visiting scholar.
Her book Nature Ethics (Rowman & Littlefield) will be for sale and signing. Event Price $25 (regular $29.95) Cash or check
5:15 PM - SOCIAL DINNER - let us get to know you!
WHAT TIME IS IT?
IT IS TIME TO TAKE BACK AMERICA!
Come hear Dr. Bob Bowman
Lt Col, USAF, ret.;
recipient of the President’s Medal of Veterans for Peace
Reform Party candidate for President in 2000;
Democratic candidate for the US Congress in 2006.
Dr. Bowman will propose a strategy for creating a government that:
Follows the Constitution
Honors the Truth, and
Serves the People.
Help bring Dr Bowman’s 2008 Patriot Tour to town and view portions of the remarkable filmed testament to the power of Non-Violent Action
"A FORCE MORE POWERFUL"
Let’s bring together the Anti-War Movement, the 9/11 Truth Movement, the Global Justice Movement and the Movement for Fiscal Responsibility, along with environmental groups, labor unions, churches, and civil rights groups to create a powerful and effective Peace and Justice Movement that will "Take Back America" for all of us!
Requested Donation: Tickets are $10 in support of the educational work of the Boston 911 Truth Committee. We will also be "passing the hat" to support the Patriot Tour of Dr Bob Bowman.
Sponsored by the Boston 911 Truth Committee.
A universal single-payer health plan has again been introduced in Congress by Rep. Conyers (D-MI), this time with the support of 90 other members, numerous unions, and independent groups.
HR676.org, PO Box 882122, Port Saint Lucie FL 34988
800-680-9310
info@HR676.org
With unprecedented rains washing away crops in the American bread basket, and a new surge of forest fires in California, it's clearer than ever that the time for a Secure Green Future is NOW!.
Indeed, global warming is advancing much faster than scientists have predicted. The Greenland ice cap is exhibiting unexpected signs of breaking up, which could create flooding that would be worse than 23 Hurricane Katrinas. British scientists just reported that massive cracks have appeared in the Artic ice cap. An article in Science presents evidence that we have passed critical tipping points, and we need to reverse carbon dioxide build-up, not just slow it down. On top of all this, the global economy is beginning to unravel as dwindling oil reserves drive up fuel costs for an oil-addicted world.
To address these emerging crises with the level of urgency they demand, the Mass. Coalition for Healthy Communities, through our Code Green project, is helping to launch a public policy question called the Secure Green Future (SGF). This advisory question calls for legislation to cut greenhouse gas emissions in Massachusetts 80% by 2020, and to shift tax incentives and subsidies at the state level from energy-intensive development projects towards building the local, green economies we urgently need.
Several districts are already up and running, and if you'd like to bring a Secure Green Future to your community (and the planet), we can help you get jump started. Most of the materials distributed at our training session are now available on the SGF website: www.masschc.org/SGF_Materials.php.
In addition, materials to help you reach out to local organizations for volunteer support, and spread the word to local papers are included below (and on the website).
Since there are only three weekends between now and July 9 (when signatures need to be turned in), it's important to seize the moment and start collecting signatures this weekend. If you don't already have petition forms, let us know and we will mail you (or otherwise get you) a packet. In any given district, you'll need to collect 300 signatures.
If you let us know where and when you'll be collecting THIS WEEKEND -- then we can email out the location and time so others can join you.
Weeknight (or day) signature collecting at farmers markets, supermarkets, shopping centers, T stops (mornings too), post offices, etc. will also be very effective.
Now is the time to fill out the volunteer form at www.masschc.org/securegreenfuture/SGF_VolunteerForm.pdf and send it in to sgf-info@masschc.org - if you haven't already done so. This ensures we can keep you in the loop and provide support to help get the Secure Green Future on the ballot in your community.
Many thanks, and good luck!
Eli Beckerman, Field Coordinator for Secure Green Future,
and the Code Green Team
Jill Stein, John Andrews, Peter Vickery
Carlos Arredondo has traveled thousands of miles with his pick up truck decorated as a memorial to his son Alex who died in Iraq . I remember when I first heard about his action as a distraught father who set himself on fire when he heard the news of his son's death. An article about Carlos appears in the Nation. Since then, as a member of Military Families Speak Out, I have come to know and love Carlos and his wife Melida as two dedicated activists for peace. You can read about Carlos' actions for peace on Democracy Now!.
Carlos and Melida would have certainly had every right to sit back and mourn the death of their son. Instead they have taken every opportunity and often at great personal expense to remind people of the true cost of war. They have traveled to every demonstration, vigil, poltiical rally, memorial and meeting with politicians to tell their story of loss, and the deep concern they feel for others who have suffered or daily face the possible loss of a family member to this endless occupation of Iraq.
Many of you have met Carlos or heard of him. You have seen his hopefulness in the face of grief. Now it's time for all of us to help put his (OUR) truck back on the road where it belongs. $20 collected from one hundred people should do it! If the travel weary truck cannot be repaired one more time, the money will go to the down payment on a new or newer truck.
Please make out checks to Carlos Arredondo and send them to me so I can present them in a lump sum
Sarah Fuhro, 8 Abbott Road Natick, Ma 01760
Job Opening: Executive Director (posted 6/8/08)
The Peace & Justice Center in Burlington, Vermont seeks a skilled and inspiring leader with a passion for social justice. This position consists primarily of fundraising and staff supervision and requires knowledge and experience in the following areas:
Wendy Coe, Office Manager
Peace & Justice Center
21 Church St, Burlington VT 05401
802-863-2345 ext 3
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Wanted: Issue Campaign Organizing Consultant (Posted 5/25/08)
The Fair Economy Action Fund is seeking an experienced organizer for full or part-time work. Seeking organizer of national campaign to enlist support for progressive federal estate tax. Activities would be largely phone and internet work out of United for a Fair Economy office at Downtown Crossing Boston.
Qualifications: Outgoing personality, excellent phone and communication skills, experience with database and Excel spreadsheets; knowledge of federal budget and legislative process ideal.
Seeking commitment for summer and ideally for the fall of 2008. $20-30 per hour, based on experience. Organizer will be paid as temporary employee.
Contact:
Chuck Collins, Director, chuckcollins7@mac.com
or Lee Farris at United for a Fair Economy:
lfarris@faireconomy.org or call 617-423-2148 x133.
OUR SOURCE: Dr. Gordon Fellman
------------------------------
Job openings on Camp Laurel Radio Staff for the summer of 2008.(Posted 5/25/08)
Complete application on-line at www.camplaurel.com
Call: 1-888-LAUREL-1
E-mail: staff@camplaurel.com
Camp Laurel is a private co-ed residential camp in Maine seeking radio staff for the summer of 2008.
Do you like music? Enjoy working with children? Any DJ experience? Teach campers the creative and musical side of on-air broadcasting. Our camp radio station is the home to camper radio shows throughout the day. Spin vinyl and conduct on-air interviews. Strong technical experience is NOT a requirement. We would be excited to speak with any individuals you believe are well-fit for a summer position at our camp. Please call me at 1-888-LAUREL-1, complete an application on-line at www.camplaurel.com or e-mail me at staff@camplaurel.com. Please feel free to forward this to members of your radio station, clubs or organizations, sororities, fraternities, teams and friends. We look forward to hearing from any interested applicants. Sincerely,From Environment Massachusetts
Massachusetts is tantalizingly close to taking an action that [assertedly] will slash our state's global warming pollution down to a size that can help cool the planet. Our Global Warming Solutions Act could land on Gov. Patrick's desk this summer -- but first we've got to win in the Massachusetts House of Representatives. Please ask your representative to make passing the Global Warming Solutions Act his or her top priority this summer.We've already won in the Senate. In the House of Representatives, as of last night, 110 representatives, out of 160 total, have told us they'll vote for our bill. But with Beacon Hill being Beacon Hill, we're not ready to pop the champagne open quite yet -- especially with only 60 days left to go in the 2008 session.
Sign petition against US missile offense in Poland
In a few days, the US government will likely sign an agreement with the Czech Republic government allowing the US to place a radar satellite system in that country. The satellite system is part of the US "missile defense" installations designed to be placed in Poland.
We can join our voices in support of the Czech people to say "no" to a US radar system in their country.
Please add your voice to support this effort by signing the petition.
Understanding that this empire-building strategy by the US could lead to a new arms race which threatens the Czech people, the majority of whom oppose this project. The opposition which began with a few activist voices now includes over 70 percent of the population who oppose any US military presence in the Czech Republic.
Even thought the Czech President may sign the agreement, it has to be ratified by the Czech Parliament. And the situation is far from clear, because the government has a very small mandate - not even have a majority. They were only able to pass a confidence vote after seven months of negotiations, and thanks to some two members of parliament that didn't vote against them. So they have a very weak mandate, and it is far from clear how the vote will go.
The Czech people have asked for support from around the world to bolster their campaign. They are looking for a million signatures on their petition to take to the parliament to defeat the agreement.
Sign petition on McCain/Obama stmts to AIPAC
FROM Jewish Voice for Peace...
We are deeply concerned by statements that both Senator McCain and Senator Obama made at the AIPAC Conference. Please sign our petition calling on Senators Obama and McCain to moderate their stances in the interests of a peaceful future:
In particular:
1) Senator Obama declared that Jerusalem "must remain undivided." We believe the future status of Jerusalem must be negotiated.
2) Both Senators McCain and Obama promised enormous sums of unconditional military aid to Israel. We believe the U.S. must hold Israel accountable for using U.S. weapons against civilians.
3) Both Senators McCain and Obama continued to demand the exclusion of Hamas from the negotiating table. We believe peace agreement cannot be achieved without Hamas at the table.
Travel to Venezuela’s Andean region and learn Spanish with Global Exchange while seeing the Bolivarian Revolution. Both short-term and SEMESTER-ABROAD programs are available.
At the crossroads of a profound political and social transformation, Venezuela is a country in the international spotlight. The Bolivarian Revolution has caught the attention and imagination of people around the world and yet continues to be sorely misunderstood and misrepresented. Come get the perspectives of communities that are being affected by and pushing forward this political experiment to build a new model of society. Meet with rural agricultural workers, labor unions, community activists, human rights activists, journalists, government leaders, as well as opposition figures.
Global Exchange has partnered with the highly acclaimed language school, the Iowa Insitute, located in the beautiful city of Merida to provide a Spanish immersion program while giving students the unique opportunity to build ties with Venezuelan communities and social activists.
*Study in an intensive Spanish language program while
living with a local family in Merida, Venezuela, at
the foot of the Andes.
*Travel to educational and health care social programs
(the "missions") and dialogue with participants and
community leaders.
*Visit with members of cooperatives and community
organizations and learn about the efforts to create a
grassroots social economy.
Program Dates:
2008
July 3, 2008-July 20
July 31, 2008-August 17
2009
May 30-June 16
July 04-21
August 01-18
Cost: $1885
Prices Includes:
*Home stay accommodations
*Two meals per day
*Transportation to and from Merida
*Transportation to and from all programmed activities
*Intensive Spanish language classes five days a week
*Guides and translators
*All program activities and reading materials
*Honoraria to all host speakers, organizations and communities.
Contact the Venezuela Program Coordinator for more
information or call (415) 575-5524
Shirley Golub is running against Rep. Nancy Pelosi for the democratic nomination for that post.
Our so-called Democratic leadership is not only planning on lying down immediately for another $100 billion to senselessly squander in Iraq, they are talking about adding on another $70 billion of war profiteer booty, to save the White House from the trouble of throwing another foot stomping tantrum in the fall.
This is looking like the mother of all gutless
surrenders. And there is only one dynamic that can
possibly stop it. Nancy Pelosi MUST be
defeated in San Francisco in the June 3 primary, and
see it coming fast. And ONLY Shirley Golub can do it,
with contributions on the page above to run her
"Rubber Chicken" ad now.
Shirley's Rubber Chicken TV Ad
For those who many not be quite clear on this one point yet, Cindy Sheehan in running the November election in this district as an independent, but what we are talking about here is the June 3 Democratic party congressional primary.
Tampa Bay Coalition for Justice and Peace
April 16, 2008
Dr. Al-Arian Faces Shocking Abuse in New Facility
Yesterday morning, Dr. Sami Al-Arian was transported
by immigration agents to the Hampton Roads Regional
Jail in Portsmouth, Virginia. Since arriving at the
facility, he has been subjected to numerous, shocking
abuses, even worse than those he experienced at a
detention center in Maryland.
Take Action: call 757-488-7500
And if you haven't already, sign the petition.
See also:"USA vs AL-ARIAN"
To everyone in the Boston area progressive community, After months of development and testing by a few dozen folks, Open Media Boston, the new progressive news, views and arts web portal, has just launched and is now ready for your participation. (Site is still labeled "beta.")
We have quietly been working away at TecsChange in Roxbury to refurbish computers. We recently sent one of our bigger shipments of 15 computers to a series of radio stations in Oaxaca, Mexico.
We work most Thurday evenings and Saturday afternoons
(1pm to at least 4 PM, usually longer)
We have one day a week where daytime volunteers come in. Presently it's Mondays but it might change soon.
Please call if you are interested.
TecsChange Office
617-442-4456
Bush's FY2009 budget request for $2.55 billion in military aid for Israel, a proposed increase of 9% over actual spending in 2007, now rests with the Senate and House Appropriations Subcommittees on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs.
This proposed increase in military aid to Israel is the first installment of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed by the United States and Israel in August 2007 to increase military aid to Israel by 25%, totaling $30 billion over the next decade.
Can you think of a better way to spend $30 billion instead of funding Israel's human rights abuses and illegal military occupation in violation of U.S. laws?
TAKE ACTION
Send a Personal Letter to Members of Congress on the
Appropriations Sub-Committee Challenging Military Aid
to Israel.
US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation
Mass. House Bill #4477, if passed, would finally make it illegal for drivers of motor vehicles in Massachusetts to use hand-held phones while driving (as in NY and elsewhere). This bill recently passed the House and now is languishing in the Senate and may not come to the floor for a vote unless you phone or send a message to your friends in various towns and cities to have them urge their state senators (617-722- 5551) to vote for this bill.
According to Senate Assistant Majority Leader Marian Walsh, what needs to happen is for senators to get many phone calls from their constituents in favor of this bill. Passing House #4477 is a matter of public safety. Please call your senator and what would make a significant difference is for you to contact your friends throughout Massachusetts so House Bill #4477 becomes law.
Ed O'Reilly (PDA-endorsed candidate who advocates for single-payer health care, impeachment, stopping our current wars, and marriage equality) seeks the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate seat now occupied by John Kerry.
In addition to making sure that Ed's name appears on the ballot, this is a great opportunity to identify new supporters and expand our network. So we really hope you can participate by gathering signatures from your friends, family, co-workers, and neighbors.
To get on September's primary ballot Ed needs 10,000 signatures from registered Democrats and unenrolled (independent) voters. We need to file the signatures with city and town clerks no later than 5:00 p.m. Tuesday, on May 6, 2008.
Call the campaign (866-716-2008) and we will mail nomination signature forms for you to use.
U.S. war provocation against Iran: Another Tonkin
Gulf? Take Action NOW to Stop War on Iran!
The Bush Administration has initiated an extremely dangerous war provocation just off Iran's coast, in the Strait of Hormuz. With Bush on his way to the Middle East to mobilize a collection of oil-rich U.S. client states against Iran, the U.S. government is working overtime to create a phony public-relations incident to heighten tensions in the region and threaten a new war.
An aide to Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT) says the Lieberman/Warner climate change bill (S. 2191) “would be the most historic incentive for nuclear in the history of the United States.” (E&E Daily, February 8, 2008)...
S. 2191 is expected to be debated on the Senate floor this Spring. Your help is needed.
For more information visit the Institute for Energy and Environmental Research and the Nuclear Information and Resource Service.
Congressman Robert Wexler's campaign office says that (unlike most of our Democratic Reps) he is pushing hard to force a committee hearing on Rep. Dennis Kucinich's Articles of Impeachment, recently introduced into the House of Representatives and referred to the Judiciary Committee.
This fight is not over. We must continue the pressure on our representatives or else Congress and its fellow lackey media will take no notice. That would be a historic mistake – one we must prevent Congress from making.
We stand at a critical juncture in our efforts. Forget all of those arguments that it is too late or that we have run out of time. You can’t run the clock out on our Constitution. Those of us dedicated to this fight – Rep. Dennis Kucinich, the online community, and millions of patriotic Americans – must keep the pressure on. Please continue to spread the word and help deliver accountability to the corrupt Bush-Cheney administration.Congressman Conyers needs a huge kick in the tail.
Please sign on to Congressman Robert Wexler's petition to help push the issue.
TOLL-FREE PHONE NUMBERS FOR THE U.S. CAPITOL SWITCHBOARD
US House of Representatives Web Sites
Another Day, Another FISA Veto Threat By The Bully In The White House
Yesterday, Bush again put the self interest of himself and his giant telecom criminal co-conspirators above our national security, by threatening to veto the FISA update bill unless we gave them all get out of jail free cards. And if Congress were to bend over yet again, he would still probably veto it to demand even more changes and/or defy other major provisions with a signing statement, as he so outrageously did with the recent defense bill.
We must be just as relentless as the criminals who are working overtime to gut our constitution. We have had two successful filibusters so far, and it looks like we're going to need a third. And we need strong opposition in the House too, for that is our last bulwark.
Tell your Congressional Representative to vote against this awful legislation, which has passed the Senate and returned to the House. The House has stood up to pressure to provide telecom immunity to date, so don't let them buckle to pressure from the White House and Senate.
S 1959 "Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act of 2007" must be stopped at all costs. (It's already been approved by the House of Representatives by a HUGE majority.)
Pick up your phone and contact our US Senators' offices to instruct them to vote "NO" on S.1959, titled "To establish the National Commission on the Prevention of Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism, and for other purposes".
If this bill is passed, and becomes law, your words and actions could be considered terrorism. S 1959 EVISCERATES FREE SPEECH, and empowers the govt. to declare ANYTHING they deem an "extremist belief system", instantly make you a terrorist, resulting in stripping of US citizenship, torture, and/or execution, with no habeas corpus rights, no ability to challenge even in the US Supreme Court.
What part of exercising power doesn't Harry Reid get? The Washington Post reports him "pleading" with the White House. And yet, it is his decision which version of the FISA bill to have the Senate consider, and by choosing to bring forward the bad one, he is knowingly forcing opponents of yet another "get out of jail free card" for Cheney cronies to get 60 votes to strip it out of the bill. Or filibuster yet again.
And what greater hero do we have than Dennis Kucinich, still standing strong as ever on every issue that matters. Here is his own leadership statement opposing telecom immunity.
And yet, even now, powerful corporations are pouring money into Dennis's district, to try to buy his seat out from under him by threatening him in his own primary. They are running malicious attack ads in heavy rotation. Please consider making a donation to Dennis now, to help him fight back.
Comcast has given us a glimpse of a world without Net
Neutrality, and it's a chilling sight.
An investigation by the Associated Press caught the
cable giant secretly inspecting online communications
and crippling users' ability to share information with
one another.
On 11-1-07, Free Press filed a legal complaint
demanding that the FCC take action to protect the free
flow of information on the Internet. By joining our
complaint, you can help stop Comcast and other
gatekeepers.
Doris Tennant and Ellen Lubell (of Newton) are representing a Guantanamo prisoner pro bono, so they are providing their time at no charge. However, their costs, including their own travel and that of a translator, translator fees, and Freedom of Information Act requests, are running at least $20,000 for this year, and will likely continue at that same pace or more. Most of the other attorneys who are representing Guantanamo detainees are members of large law firms that can cover these types of expenses, but in their case the two of them are the firm.
If you would like to make a contribution to help them defray costs, it would be much appreciated. Please make your check payable to "Tennant Lubell Detainee Fund." Your contribution will NOT be tax-deductible, but they promise to put it to good use to help provide fundamental legal rights to a man who remains in indefinite detention.
Doris Tennant, Esq.
Tennant Lubell, LLC
288 Walnut Street, Suite 500
Newton, MA 02460
617-969-9610, X 101
Fax: 617-969-9611
Action Alert: The Alliance for Democracy warns us to oppose Holt bill (HR 811). We call for a ban on the use of Direct Recording Electronic voting equipment (DREs) and to require the use of paper ballots.
AFD urgently calls upon all citizens to call their Representatives to demand amendments to rectify the defects in HR 811, specifically to ban the use of DRE voting machines and require the use of paper ballots in all elections in the United States.
1. DRE systems must be banned.
2. All voting must be by voter marks on a paper ballot.
3. All recounts must be by hand counting of paper ballots.
4. All elections must have a statistically significant verification.
5. All recounts at every level of government must be by hand counting.
6. All software must be subject to public disclosure.
7. No connections to the Internet should be allowed.
8. All election records should be available to the public.
Go to for on-line information and a link to a printable flier.
A call for all people of conscience
to donate to its Lebanon Palestine Emergency Relief Fund.
All donations will be used to help Palestinian and
Lebanese victims of the latest Israeli aggression.
Tel: 760-685-3243
Fax: 360-933-3568
E-mail link
We are happy to report that a new shipment of olive oil has arrived. The most recent harvest was excellent and per case prices are less than they were last year.
As with our previous shipments, this oil comes directly from the Palestinian Agricultural Relief Committees, PARC, a non-profit, non- governmental organization in the West Bank. PARC works with 15 different small cooperatives. This shipment comes from the Mazare' Al Nubani/ Ramallah and the Kufr Thulth, Jayous and Azzoun cooperatives. The labels are printed in the West Bank and the oil is bottled at the PARC bottling facility in Aram. PARC is a member of the International Fair Trade Association, and is the only Palestinian organization that has received the Palestine Standards Institution certification for its olive oil.
OLIVE BRANCH OLIVE OIL DONATIONS
As with past shipments, a percentage of the proceeds of olive oil sales is donated back to organizations working directly with Palestinians. Past recipients include:
Palestinian Medical Relief Society Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions Birthright Unplugged American Friends Service Committee-Middle East Crisis Fund American Near East Refugee Aid Olive Harvest Coalition Union of Palestinian Women’s Committees Ibdaa Cultural Center International Solidarity Movement US OMEN Ta’ayush
THE IMPORTANCE OF OLIVE OIL TO THE PALESTINIAN ECONOMY
Olive oil is the backbone of the Palestinian agricultural economy. Eighty percent of cultivated land in Palestine is planted with olive trees, and the olive harvest provides between 25 to 50 percent of a farming family’s annual income. Olive trees, many of which are hundreds of years old, hold a deep significance in the culture and economy of the Holy Land. As the political and economic situation in Palestine continues to deteriorate, with increased restrictions on the mobility of people, goods and services, olive oil has become a matter of basic survival for many Palestinian families. Buying this oil is a constructive and tangible way to help alleviate poverty and build peace.
PARC assists at every stage of the olive oil production process, from helping farmers to reclaim rocky land, conserve water and implement sensible environmental practices (like re-cropping, dry-land farming and recycling of waste materials) to setting up regional labs for farmers to test their olive oil. PARC strictly monitors the quality of the oil, testing and re-testing it at its main laboratory to ensure that it meets all specifications. Extra-virgin olive oil comes from the first pressing of the olives, contains no more than 0.8% acidity, and is judged to have a superior taste. There can be no refined oil in extra-virgin olive oil.
Palestinian farmers traditionally care for their trees without the use of pesticides or sprays. PARC is currently working with international agricultural organizations to obtain organic certification for its olive oil, which should be finalized in the next few months. Because both light and heat are known enemies of olive oil, Olive Branch Olive Oil comes in a dark green glass bottle that is optimal for storage.
Available in 750ml bottles, by the case (12 bottles, $145), or more.
For ordering and other info, please email us at palestinebostonoliveoil@yahoo.com or call Susie at 781-648-6307.
Harvard's Palestine Solidarity Committee will be holding a vigil for Gaza from 11:45 am to 12:15 pm on the steps of Memorial Church in Harvard Yard. All who care for Palestine are invited to attend. Please wear black and spread the word widely.
These are the meetings where we decide on events and discuss strategies to end the war. Anyone is welcome -- from seasoned activists to beginners and we look forward to building a dialogue with anyone opposed to the war. Our main tenent is that we are independent of both the Democratic and the Republican Party, such that we can build an anti-war movement that survives elections and continues to oppose the war, regardless of which candidate is in office.
Meet briefly at the statue to exchange thoughts,
then walk silently around the Yard and nearby streets,
returning to the statue by 12:30pm.
Southeast corner of Rt 27 and 30 (nearest to Brooks Pharmacy).
Come for all or part. Bring a candle, lantern, or flashlight.
Organizer: Sandy Coy.
Join the Boston Tea Party Conference call,
Participant call in: 402-756-9100; Access code: 680903#
Socialist Alternative Radio, 91.5 FM Boston
listen anytime on the Web at WMFO.org. A democratic socialist, working-class view of politics and culture, including solidarity announcements, interviews, music, and more.
Write to us at BostonSAradio@aol.com.
Join a Friday fast and/or protest in solidarity with illegal detentions. The fast began in 2005 when Nobel Peace Laureates Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Adolpho Esquivel, (Argentina), along with others around the world, chose this method to seek the release of our unjustly detained and tortured brothers and sisters.
In Boston, local activists Susan McLucas and Phoebe Knopf have joined the Friday fast and will protest every Friday in front of the JFK Building from noon to one. The action, which is rooted in nonviolence, includes speakers, music, hand-outs and petitions to create public pressure to stop all illegal detentions and to try those responsible for the illegal treatment of thousands of detainees, most of whom are Arab and Muslim men. Susan and Phoebe will be wearing orange jumpsuits.
On this day, Friday and from there on!, we hereby declare the
establishment of a new DeMilitarized Zone where all those who wish can
congregate to denigrate and repudiate the war machine and celebrate the
growth of the new movement from coast to coast willing to oppose the war and opression in
this country and around the world. Bring your signs, and minds, let's
chalk, talk, play music, paint art with caring and sharing and declaring
that we are "chilling *against* the villins" in this zone to show our
independence!!!!!
We declare our solidarity with the people of the Middle East who share
the misfortune of living on top of the largest oil reserves on the
planet which is the reason behind the current war on Iraq. We declare
our condemnation of those who support this criminal war commanded by
criminals who promote a criminal ideology with criminal intent and
crimes against humanity. We repudiate with prejudice the general assault
on our rights: abuses, excuses, jailings, raids, lies, spies,
xenophobia, torture, extraordinary rendition, and the general police
state system that says we must stand together and support this
generalized oppression. We are no longer the silent generation but are
now willing to Stand Apart and against the mass murdering villins who
are doin the real killin. Join us in the DMZ!!
Chillin against the villin's!!!
Our *DMZ* and our Independence.