Truth and Justice Radio

WZBC 90.3
Sunday AM 6-10


LOCAL EVENT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Week of 25 June 2006

Sun

Mon

Tues

Wed

Thur

Fri

Sat

Future


ASSOCIATED WITH “THIS WEEK IN PALESTINE”

SUMMER OPPORTUNITY

Palestine Summer Encounter 2006
Volunteer - Study Arabic - Live with a Family - Be a Witness for Peace!

Palestine Summer Encounter participants live with a local family, study Arabic and volunteer with a local church, school, hospital, nonprofit or humanitarian organization. They also have an opportunity to visit sites of historic, political and religious significance such as Jerusalem, Jericho, the Galilee, Hebron, Nazareth and the Dead Sea. Participants can join the program for 1, 2 or 3 months.

More information is available at middleeastfellowship.org

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PURCHASE OLIVE OIL PRODUCED IN PALESTINE

“Olive Branch” Extra Virgin Olive Oil is raised without pesticides or sprays and First-Cold-Pressed. This year we are importing the oil directly from the Palestinian Agricultural Relief Committee (PARC), a non-governmental, non-profit organization in Ramallah which has been on the forefront of supporting Palestinian agriculture since the 1980’s. PARC buys its olive oil from 85 different small farmer cooperatives in the West Bank. It takes care of testing, quality control, bottling, labeling and marketing. Available in 750ml bottles, by the case (12 bottles), or more. Now more than ever, important to Palestinian farmers. For ordering and other info, please email us at palestinebostonoliveoil@yahoo.com or call Susie at 781-648-6307.


Continuing Solidarity Alert!

Justice at Starbucks

Despite its attempt to create a socially responsible image, Starbucks' failure to meaningfully embrace Fair Trade coffee has left coffee farmers and their children teetering on the brink of starvation in the Global South. A new documentary, Black Gold (blackgoldmovie.com), reveals in detail the pained existence of coffee farmers under the purchasing practices of Starbucks and other multinational corporations. In Starbucks cafes, baristas are paid a poverty wage and the company insures a lower percentage of employees than Wal-Mart. Starbucks baristas are organizing a union (starbucksunion.org) with the Industrial Workers of the World for a better life on and off the job. In response, the company has waged a fierce and relentless anti-union campaign that tramples on workers' rights. In this union-busting operation unburdened by the law, Starbucks routinely retaliates against baristas for supporting the union. In addition, Starbucks Chairman Howard Schultz recently broke the union of roasting plant employees. If you or your group is interested in getting involved with the campaign on the ground floor please contact IWW organizer and Starbucks barista Daniel Gross at dgross@iww.org or 917-577-1110.


SUNDAY, JUNE 25, 2006

11 AM: THE COMMUNITY CHURCH OF BOSTON
SUNDAY SPEAKERS FORUM presents
“The World Social Forum and the Bolivarian Revolution”

Boston Community Church
565 Boylston, Copley Square

PART TIME JOB OPENING AT COMMUNITY CHURCH OF BOSTON

Program Director of Sunday Social Justice Education for Kids age 6-15; part time 12 hr/wk; salary is $10,500 annually. We expect to hire the Director by mid-July 2006, and the expectation is for the SJE program to begin September 2006. Go to commchurch.org/ssjdirector.doc for a detailed job description. Application requested by 7/1/06.

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4:00 PM Seminar with vegan activist Erik Marcus (FREE)
5:15 PM Vegan Buffet Dinner (not free)
No RSVP needed, just come on by!

LOCATION for seminar and dinner:
Grasshopper (an all-vegan restaurant)
1 North Beacon St., Union Square, Allston (Boston)

Erik Marcus is the author of two significant books that have become classics in vegetarian and animal advocacy literature: Meat Market: Animals, Ethics, and Money, and Vegan: The New Ethics of Eating.

Known for impeccable research, straightforward and insightful presentation, and inspiring, thought-provoking ideas, Erik's books are ones to buy, read, and most important -- get into the hands of other people. Meat Market, his latest book, will be available for sale and signing.

Erik's presentation for us will be almost as eclectic as his weekly podcasts on Erik's Diner.

617-424-8846 Boston Vegan Society
617-254-8883 Grasshopper

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1:30pm. Weekly Peace Vigil

Mass. Ave., and Garden St., next to Cambridge Common.

MONDAY, JUNE 26, 2006

12:00 noon: RALLY TO "KEEP MARIO HOME"

outside JFK building, Government Center, Boston
Calling all students: Immigration is going to deport
one of our friends unless we do something about it!

Mario is a Chelsea High School graduate where he was an honors student and involved in his school and community. Mario didn’t do anything wrong. His only 'crime' is to follow his parents to this country when he was 12 years old in search of a better life.

Please come and join us, for more info or if you wish to help please contact us at 617-350-5480 x200 (Carlos).

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Net Neutrality Vote in US Senate

Your Senator, John Kerry, will cast a vote this week that could determine the fate of the Internet. The House has already voted to gut Net Neutrality -- the principle that keeps the Internet free and open to all. We cannot allow the same thing happen in the Senate. Tell Senator Kerry not to let companies like AT&T and Verizon become gatekeepers on the information superhighway. Your phone calls can actually make a difference. Call now and urge Senator Kerry to support the bipartisan Snowe-Dorgan Internet Freedom amendment in the Commerce Committee. Sen. John Kerry via Capitol Switchboard 888-355-3588.

Ask Senator Kerry to support the Snowe-Dorgan Net Neutrality amendment to the larger Telecom Act (S. 2686). Net Neutrality will prevent the largest phone and cable companies from blocking or slowing access to Web sites that don't pay their added tolls. More than a million Americans have already voiced their support for Internet Freedom. But companies like AT&T, Verizon and Comcast are spending tens of millions of dollars to drown out the public outcry. Make your voice heard. Timothy Karr, Campaign Director, Free Press

It’s important, while considering Net Neutrality, to consider who is fighting against it in the Senate: Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Stevens. The Commerce Committee is set to vote on the latest Net Neutrality bill on Thursday. We cannot sit back and wait for the results. Keep calling your senators and getting the message out to the public. Although he "threatened" to quit the Senate last December, Stevens is still handing out taxpayer money and resources to his corporate buddies. Oh yeah, and he was one of nine in the Senate who voted for torture. Now he’s messing with the Internet. Among the latest news is this gem: In a change favorable to cable, Stevens stripped from the bill language that would have forced Comcast Corp. to sell its Sports Net Philadelphia to DirecTV Inc. and EchoStar Communications Corp. Also gone are provisions allowing competitors to file FCC complaints to gain access to regional sports networks not owned by cable operator but to which a cable operator has exclusive rights. So now he’s floating a new "compromise" for Net Neutrality: An Internet Bill of Rights, which is actually a toothless smokescreen, intended to appear as if there’s any real protections for Net discrimination. If you can prove your ISP is messing with the services you use, you can complain to the FCC. Eventually, they may levy a fine up to $10,000. "Under the current language, network operators will have the ability to dictate what the Internet of the future will look like, what content it will include and how it will operate. The question is whether the general public will be fooled. Pick up a phone and call your senators. Call your local radio stations. The clock is ticking.

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NIRS Action Alert

Call U.S. Senate Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee Leaders
on Monday to Head Off Radioactive Waste Disasters in the Making!
Call the Capitol Switchboard during business hours
to be plugged into Members' offices: 888-355-3588

The U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Energy and Water Appropriations will likely mark up its Fiscal Year 2007 funding bill next Tuesday, June 27th. Rabidly pro-nuclear Senator Pete Domenici of New Mexico, not only the Republican chair of this subcommittee, but also chairman of the powerful Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, told reporters this week that he's come up with another $1.25 billion (on top of the $29.5 billion he already had!) for next year's funding bill, meaning he can fully fund - or even fund at levels higher than the Bush administration has requested -- such nuclear nightmares as the Global Nuclear Energy Partnership (GNEP), reprocessing and regional "interim" storage of commercial high-level wastes at Dept. of Energy or private (such as the Skull Valley Goshute Indian Reservation in Utah) sites across the U.S., as well as MOX (re-use of dismantled U.S. nuclear weapons plutonium in fuel for commercial nuclear reactors) and the dangerous Yucca Mountain dump.

Republicans: Senator Pete Domenici (Chairman) (NM)
Senator Thad Cochran (MS)
Senator Mitch McConnell (KY)
Senator Robert Bennett (UT)
Senator Conrad Burns (MT)
Senator Larry Craig (ID)
Senator Christopher Bond (MO)
Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (TX)
Senator Wayne Allard (CO)

Democrats: Senator Harry Reid (Ranking Member) (NV)
Senator Robert C. Byrd (WV)
Senator Patty Murray (WA)
Senator Byron Dorgan (ND)
Senator Dianne Feinstein (CA)
Senator Tim Johnson (SD)
Senator Mary Landrieu (LA)
Senator Daniel Inouye (HI)

---Kevin Kamps, Nuclear Waste Specialist, Nuclear Information and Resource Service 301.270.6477x14

Additional info on nuclear waste and Yucca Mountain.

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6:30 PM: Tips From the Roots: A Celebration of Grassroots Organizing
(Worthwhile to RSVP by Wed 6/21/06)

An evening of music and stories from community organizers in the Greater Boston area that will highlight the tremendous role that community organizing has played in creating social change in Boston. Location: The Democracy Center, 45 Mt. Auburn St., Cambridge. Free dinner if you RSVP to TipsFromTheRoots@gmail.com before June 21st. Partner orgs include: Stand for Children, Jobs with Justice, Massachusetts Community Action Network, Union of Minority Neighborhoods, One Family, Mass Ballot Freedom Campaign, Keshet, JCRC, Tekiah, and the Eastern Service Workers Association. For more information, go to Tips from the Roots website .


TUESDAY, JUNE 27, 2006

9am ** PACK THE COURT**

Quincy District Court
1 Dennis Ryan Parkway, Quincy Center

Attend the pre-trial hearing where the Quincy 4 are being falsely charged on Tuesday, June 27. Packing the court to monitor the proceedings and demonstrate community support is essential! Drop the false charges!

BACKGROUND:
On April 30, 2006, Quincy Police viciously assaulted Chinese Progressive Association organizer, Karen Chen; Quan Manh Thin and Tat M. Yuen of Quincy; and Howard Ng of Somerville while they were coming home from a Chinese wedding engagement party. All are young Asian Americans.

While the victims were talking with the state trooper next to Super 88 Market, a Quincy police car pulled up. Without warning, a police officer jumped out and pepper-sprayed three of them directly in the eyes at close range.

Karen Chen, who is just over five feet tall, was then tackled by three male officers; receiving a black eye, a swollen face, and bruises from the attack. Another victim, Tat M. Yuen was knocked unconscious by the police officer. Throughout the incident, the police officers repeatedly yelled at the victims, used profanities, and called them derogatory names.

The Quincy Police took the four innocent Asian Americans to the police station in handcuffs and falsely charged them with resisting arrest and/or disorderly conduct.

SUPPORT THE QUINCY 4 AND JOIN US IN DEMANDING POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY! For more information, contact the Chinese Progressive Association at (617)357-4499.

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12 noon to 2pm: It's time to settle the contract!
Support Walnut Street Workers
Get a Union Contract Rally!

In front of 300 Somerville Ave, Somerville

Walnut Street workers are fighting for: A fair raise and economic package, fair distribution of overtime and extra shifts, rights for relief workers, a contract expiration date that allows them to join fellow union members and gives us the best chance of influencing the state, seniority rights, and reasonable work rules The negotiating team has been meeting and bargaining with Walnut Street management since January. Some issues have been worked out but key issues remain. Let?s tell Walnut Street that they must respect their workers' rights! For more information contact SEIU Local 509 at (617) 924-8509 or (800) 632-8079.

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5:30 PM: Boston Common Vigil at Brewer Fountain

SUPPORT THE FIRST MILITARY OFFICER TO REFUSE
IRAQ DEPLOYMENT. TAKE ACTION IN SUPPORT
OF LT. EHREN WATADA.

UJP is organizing an enlarged Vigil to support Lt. Watada on June 27th at the Brewer Fountain in Boston Common at 5:30 PM. If you know anyone who would speak, please let Shelagh know.

BACKGROUND:
U.S. Army First Lieutenant Ehren Watada is the first commissioned officer to publicly pledge to refuse deployment to the unlawful Iraq war and occupation. A showdown with the military is imminent, with his scheduled deployment coming any day now. Supporters nationwide are mounting a national day of action on Tuesday, June 27 to draw attention to his case, highlight the illegality of the Iraq War, and demand that Lt. Watada be given an honorable discharge and no court martial.

In a public statement on June 7, Lt. Watada declared, "It is my conclusion as an officer of the Armed Forces that the war in Iraq is not only morally wrong but a horrible breach of American law. Although I have tried to resign out of protest, I am forced to participate in a war that is manifestly illegal. As the order to take part in an illegal act is ultimately unlawful as well, I must as an officer of honor and integrity refuse that order."

For more information and resources, to sign a support petition, and to sign up for updates on Lt. Watada's case, visit ThankYouLt.org.

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Tuesday Weekly Anti-War Vigil 5:30-6:30pm Copley Square


WEDNESDAY, JUNE 28, 2006

Every Wednesday, 12:00-12:30 pm
Harvard-Cambridge Walk for Peace
John Harvard Statue, Harvard Yard.

All are welcome. Meet briefly at the statue to exchange some thought, then walk silently around the Yard and nearby streets, returning to the statue by 12:30.

Supported by Mass Peace Action.

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7 PM: Toilet Training (2003)
A film by Tara Mateik and the Sylvia Rivera Law Project (30 min)

Lucy Parsons Center
549 Columbus Avenue
Boston's South End
Telephone: 617.267.6272
Web: lucyparsons.org

The video addresses the persistent discrimination, harassment, and violence that people who transgress gender norms face in gender-segregated bathrooms. Using the stories of people who have been harassed, arrested, or beaten for trying to use bathrooms, Toilet Training focuses on bathroom access in public space, in schools, and at work.

Includes discussion of legal questions of equal access, the health effects associated with "holding it", and the social consequences of experiencing pervasive discrimination in bathrooms and other gendered spaces. Interviews with lawyers, social workers, and activists explore current law and policy, and highlight recent and future policy changes necessary to enable equal bathroom access for all. Concluding with examples of policy change, Toilet Training provides a necessary foundation to public education and organizing to address this overlooked issue.

After the film, there will be a community talk back led by the Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition MTPC.


THURSDAY, JUNE 29, 2006

9 AM: Freeman Z news segment: Day of Out(R)age
Cambridge Channel 9.

Also Mondays 8:30 pm & Sundays 5pm on Channel 10
Online stream at CCTV Cambridge

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6-7 PM: Greater Lowell for Peace and Justice
"Stop the War" peace vigils in Lowell
every Thursday evening starting this week

The location will be Kittredge Park, at the intersection of Route 38 and Route 133 in Lowell. We'll have some signs but could use more if you want to bring one. It's time for the anti-war majority to show its strength!

For membership in the Greater Lowell for Peace and Justice

United for Justice with Peace, Cambridge
Left in Lowell
Think out Loud
WUML

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5-6 PM: Veterans for Peace vigil
West Side Rotary, Augusta, Maine


FRIDAY, JUNE 30, 2006

12:30 PM: Women in Black vigil - every Friday
Lithgow Library, Augusta, Maine

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4:30 PM: Protest AIPAC - every Friday

Kennedy Sch of Govnt
79 JFK St, Harvard Sq, Cambridge
Organized by AntiWar League

SATURDAY, JULY 1, 2006

WEEKLY ANTIWAR VIGILS


FUTURE EVENTS

None to Post at this time.

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