Peace & Human Rights Events

MN, Minneapolis: Occupation 101, a film by Sufyan Omeish and Abdallah Omeish

Chip — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 13:44:14 -0500

Start: 12/06/2009 - 4:00pm

Timezone: Etc/GMT-4

Minnesotans plan trip to Gaza for Gandhi-inspired march | Press Release

CODEPINK: Women for Peace and the Minnesota Gaza Freedom March Participants' Committee Present Occupation 101, a film by Sufyan Omeish and Abdallah Omeish

Date: Sunday, December 6, 2009, 4:00 pm

Location: Hennepin Methodist Church, 511 Groveland Ave., Minneapolis, MN 55403

Cost: suggested donation $10 at the door, no one turned away

Minneapolis, Minnesota, December 6th, 2009 - A group of passionate Minnesotans are planning to participate in a bold, Gandhi-inspired peace march in Gaza, 'the world's largest open-air prison'. The group calls itself the “Minnesota Gaza Freedom March Participants' Committee” and today they are exhibiting a documentary film that highlights the injustice they hope to correct through participating in a non-violent mass action in Gaza with participants from around the world. The documentary, Occupation 101, is being shown as fundraiser. At least 3 members of the group are committed to traveling to Egypt and Palestine, with airline tickets already purchased. Others are excited to go, if only enough funds can be raised. A local march is being planned in the Twin Cities area simultaneous with the nonviolent march in Gaza, one mile to the closed Erez checkpoint on the border with Israel. Discussion and trainings on their organizing strategy follow the heart-wrenching film.

The idea came to the Twin Cities initially as a result of one of the organizers' participation in a healthcare reform lobbying effort that took him to Washington, D.C. In July. "I was in D.C. for the rally and citizen lobbying day hat marked the 44th anniversary of Medicare, on July 30th, and a little early for a fundraiser for the 'Healthcare NOT Warfare' campaign at Busboys and Poets, when an affiliated group, CODEPINK, had an event in that space the hour before our event started. I sat in on the meeting, and as soon as I heard about Gandhi being the inspiration of the Gaza Freedom March, I knew I had to participate in this," says Soren Sorensen. "Healthcare and the economy remain the issues that most Americans care about, according to polls, but it is hard to ignore the desperate plight of the Palestinians in Gaza. The have no access to healthcare, and the average Palestinian in Gaza earns $600 a year. The U.S. Governments support for this inhuman siege is, no doubt, reducing the favorability of U.S. Goods and services abroad. If the U.S. Aligns itself with international law and human rights, it could help our economic recovery. So there is some self-interest for us, but for me it is a greater issue of conscience."

"I am an American Jew, the daughter and granddaughter of Holocaust survivors and victims, who has followed the situation in the Middle East with despair for many years." say march participant Sylvia Schwarz. "Human rights abuses, land expropriation, targeted assassinations, house demolitions, and increasing repression was the price Palestinians had to pay because of their existence, and this repression was framed as a just, nationalist fight to right the wrongs of persecution against Jews. Only in the last few years has there been any type of movement which a person without political power could join to express opposition to human rights abuses. Several movements have been growing around the US and around the world, and now we have an opportunity to march in the spirit of Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Jr., a non-violent, world-wide expression of solidarity with the Palestinian people and an effort to end the brutal siege of Gaza. "

The Minnesota Gaza Freedom March Participants' Committee shows the film Occupation 101, a thought-provoking and powerful documentary film on the root causes of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Unlike any other film produced on the conflict, Occupation 101 dispels many widely-held misconceptions of the issue by presenting a comprehensive analysis of the facts and hidden truths surrounding it.

The Occupation 101 shows the desperate conditions the Gaza Freedom March participants hope to alleviate by creating awareness that may lead to the lifting of the illegal siege of Gaza that has existed since 2007.
Refer to these sites for more information on the film and other organizations involved in this event:

NY, NYC: Press Conference & Action for Rape in the Military Awareness Week

Chip — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 20:54:54 -0400

Start: 10/13/2009 - 10:30am

Timezone: Etc/GMT-4

Veterans for Peace | PRESS RELEASE

What: PRESS CONFERENCE and Action for Rape in the Military Awareness Week

When: 10:30am, Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Where: In front of the Armed Forces Recruiting Station, Times Square, Broadway and 42nd, New York City, NY

For further information call:

Ann Wright, event coordinator, 808-741-1141;
Michael McPherson, Executive Director of Veterans for Peace, 314-303-8874
Mike Ferner, National President, Veterans for Peace, 419-360-3621
Leah Bolger, National Vice-President of Veterans for Peace, 541-207-7761
Sandy Kelson, National Rape Awareness week coordinator, 814-382-4887

Participants:

Ann Wright, Colonel, 29 year veteran of the US Army and US Army Reserves
Leah Bolger, retired US Navy Commander and National Vice President of Veterans for Peace
Sandra Lee, US Army soldier survivor of sexually assault while in the military
Eve Ensler, author and playwright of the Vagina Monologues and V-Day

Due to the incredible epidemic of rape in the military in which 1 in 3 women in the military have been raped or sexually assaulted, Veterans for Peace, a national veterans organization has designated October 12-16 as “Military Rape Awareness Week.” .

VFP chapters will have actions during that week at Armed Forces Recruiting stations around the country to demand that military recruiters alert women who are thinking about joining the military about the high possibility they will be raped while in the controlled, highly disciplined military environment.

Retired Army Colonel Ann Wright said, “It is a responsibility of us as veterans to warn young women that according to Veterans Administration studies, one in three women are sexually assaulted or raped while they are in the military.”

On Tuesday, October 13 at 10:30am members of Veterans for Peace, Iraq Veterans against the War, Granny Peace Brigade, Codepink: Women for Peace, World Can’t Wait, Artists Response Team and We will not be Silent will warn potential women recruits at the Armed Forces Recruiting Station in Times Square about the alarming rates of sexual assault and rape of women in the military. Several victims of military rape may speak.

Following the press conference, members of Veterans for Peace and other organizations will warn women thinking about joining the military by plastering the windows of the recruiting station with stickers that state: "1 in 3 women are raped while in the military.

Background:

Sexual assault and rape of women and men in the US military increased so dramatically during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan that in 2005 then Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld formed a task force on sexual assault—however, the task force did not meet until 2008.

Nearly one-third of a nationwide sample of women veterans who sought health care through the Veterans Administration said they experience rape or attempted rape during their service. Of that group, 37 percent said they were raped multiple times and 14 percent reported they were gang-raped. Department of Defense has been reluctant to release statistics on sexual assault of men in the military, but anecdotal evidence indicates that the statistics are alarmingly high.

Over the past 10 years, more than 700 US Army Recruiters have been accused of sexual misconduct or rape.

60 years of US military studies and task forces since women began entering the military in larger numbers have not lessened the incidents of assault and rape.

We call on the Department of Defense and the US Military Recruiting Commands and the Military Entrance Processing Stations to formally notify women and men of the statistics on the incidence of the criminal acts of sexual assault and rape of women and men in the military committed by fellow members of the military, many in their chains of command.

References:

“Factors Associated With Women’s Risk of Rape in the Military Environment” AMERICAN JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL MEDICINE 43:262–273 (2003),

Veterans for Peace Sexual Assault and Rape Response Resource Page

Helen Benedict, The Lonely Soldier, The Private War of Women Serving in Iraq,” Beacon Press, 2009

Ann Wright, “Sexual Assault in the Military: A DoD Cover-Up?”, Truthdig, August 1, 2008

Ann Wright, “Is There an Army Cover Up of Rape and Murder of Women Soldiers?”, Commondreams, April 28, 2008.

Aimee Allison, "Recruiter Sexual Abuse: Friendly Fire at Home?" AlterNet, July 24, 2007.

Bryan Bender, "Pentagon Acts to crack Down on Recruiter Misconduct," Boston Globe, March 19, 2007.

Sara Corbett, "The Women’s War," New York Times Sunday Magazine, March 18, 2007.

Amy Goodman, "The Private War of Women Soldiers: Female Vet, Soldier Speak Out on Rising Sexual Assault Within US Military," DemocracyNow.org, March 8, 2007.

Helen Benedict, "The Private War of Women Soldiers," Salon.com, March 7, 2007.

Martha Mendoza, "Sexual abuse by Military Recruiters," CBS News and the Associated Press, August 19, 2006.

Rose Aguilar, "Female Soldiers Treated 'Lower Than Dirt'," AlterNet.com, July 14, 2006.

Ruth Rosen, "A Wave of Sexual Terrorism in Iraq," AlterNet, July 14, 2006.

Marjorie Cohn, "Military Hides Cause of Women Soldiers’ Deaths," Truthout.org, January 30, 2006.

Damien Cave, "U.S. Army Recruiters to Get a Day of Ethics Retraining," New York Times, May 13, 2005.

Suzanne Goldenberg, "I Reported the Rape, the Watched My Career Implode," Salon.com, October 25, 2004.

R.Jeffery Smith, "Sexual Assaults in Army on Rise," Washington Post, June 3, 2004.

Cathy Hong, "When Will the U.S. Military Tackle the Problem of Sexual Assault?" Salon.com, May 18, 2004.

DC: 33rd Annual Letelier-Moffitt Human Rights Awards

Chip — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 01:32:44 -0400

Start: 10/15/2009 - 5:30pm

Timezone: Etc/GMT-4

Institute for Policy Studies Invites you to the

33rd Annual Letelier-Moffitt Human Rights Awards

Thursday, October 15, 2009

National Press Club Ballroom, 13th Floor
529 14th Street NW, Washington, DC

5:30 PM: Reception and Light Fare
7:00 PM: Human Rights Program

* * *
RSVP & Reservations
Early Bird tickets: $40 through September 30th

About the Recipients

Domestic Workers United

Domestic Workers United (DWU) is an organization of Caribbean, Latina, and African nannies, housekeepers, and caregivers. Founded in 2000, DWU is dedicated to building power, establishing fair labor standards, and raising the level of respect for over 600,000 domestic workers in the New York area. Currently, they are the driving force behind a "Domestic Workers Bill of Rights" that is moving through the New York State legislature and could serve as a national model. This membership organization engages not only in political action but also in community activism. It educates workers about their rights, offers classes in English as a second language and basic computer literacy, and runs a leadership training program. DWU is helping build a powerful movement that will one day end exploitation and oppression for all.

Presented by Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis (invited)
About Domestic Workers United

La Mesa Nacional Frente a la Minería en El Salvador

La Mesa Nacional Frente a la Minería en El Salvador has struggled against huge odds to make El Salvador the first country in the world to ban gold mining. Historically high gold prices have spurred increased exploration and exploitation worldwide, yet this grassroots movement has succeeded in blocking permits for mining in El Salvador. This represents an incredible victory for those who have fought against the environmental devastation and community displacement caused by open-air pit mining. Currently, however, global mining firms are attempting to undermine this victory by suing the government of El Salvador, alleging violations of the investment rules in the Central America Free Trade Agreement. By standing up to these major mining companies, La Mesa Nacional is setting an example of civic engagement and improving the quality of life for all the people of El Salvador.

Presented by U.S Representative Michael H. Michaud (D-ME)

About La Mesa Nacional Frente a la Minería

Special Guest: Quique Aviles, Poet, actor, and community activist whose work is dedicated to addressing social issues through performance and poetry.

Selection Committee

* Sarah Anderson, Institute for Policy Studies
* Fred Azcarate, AFL-CIO
* Marie Dennis, Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns
* Joe Eldridge, Chaplain, American University
* Jill Gay, Activist
* Adam Isacson, Center for International Policy
* Peter Kornbluh, National Security Archive
* Isabel Morel de Letelier
* E. Ethelbert Miller, Howard University
* Joy Olson, Washington Office on Latin America
* Barbara Shailor, AFL-CIO
* Joy Zarembka, Institute for Policy Studies

* * *

lm.ips-dc.org

Questions? Contact Sena Tsikata: sena@ips-dc.org; (202) 787-5277

Artwork by Naúl Ojeda.

NY, NYC: NY'rs Mark Afghan War Anniversary - Ending Obama's War; Solidarity With the People of Afghanistan & Pakistan

Chip — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 10:40:34 -0400

Start: 10/07/2009 - 7:00pm

Timezone: Etc/GMT-4

Tonight: NYC Event on Afghan War Anniversary

ENDING OBAMA’S WAR: SOLIDARITY WITH THE PEOPLE OF AFGHANISTAN AND PAKISTAN

When: Wednesday, October 7, 2009 at 7:00pm
Where: Proshansky Auditorium, The Graduate Center, CUNY, 365 Fifth Ave at 34th Street [BDFV & NQRW trains to 34th St, 6 train to 33]

October 7th marks the eighth anniversary of the launch of the US led “War on Terror” in Afghanistan. Defending it as a “war of necessity,” the Obama administration is on the precipice of an enormous troop surge in Afghanistan and an escalation in Pakistan, which has already begun with drone attacks. This strategic dialogue will explore a deeper historic analysis of the realities on the ground in order to inform our resistance in the U.S. and to develop a more effective solidarity with the people of Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Speakers Include:

Jeremy Scahill: Independent journalist, author of Blackwater: The Rise of the World’s Most Powerful Mercenary Army. He is a frequent contributor to The Nation magazine and a correspondent for the national radio and TV program Democracy Now! He is currently a Puffin Foundation Writing Fellow at The Nation Institute. He has appeared on ABC World News, CBS Evening News, NBC Nightly News, CNN, MSNBC, PBS’s The NewsHour, Bill Moyers Journal. Rebel Reports

Zoya: a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee of Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan (RAWA). Like many RAWA members, Zoya has witnessed and endured more tragedy and terror than most people do in a lifetime. Zoya grew up during the wars that ravaged Afghanistan and was robbed of her mother and father when they were murdered by fundamentalists - Zoya was only fourteen. Devastated by so much death and destruction, she fled Kabul with her grandmother and started a new life in exile in Pakistan. After attending a school funded by RAWA, she joined the underground women’s organization and continues their work resisting fundamentalism and war today. RAWA

Bill Fletcher: the Executive Editor of The Black Commentator and founder of the Center for Labor Renewal. A longtime labor, racial justice and international activist, he is the immediate past president of TransAfrica Forum. Black Commentator

Adaner Usmani: works with the Labor Party of Pakistan (LPP) and Action for a Progressive Pakistan (APP). With these and other groups, he has been involved in antiwar work, principally in Pakistan but also in the US, as well as assorted campaigns for peasant and worker rights. He is currently pursuing a PhD in Sociology from NYU. Blogspot

Sponsored by the South Asia Solidarity Initiative & Center for Place, Culture and Politics.

FL, Orlando: Florida Mass March to End War Economy: Healthcare, Not Warfare

Chip — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 10:11:44 -0400

Start: 10/17/2009 - 12:00pm

Timezone: Etc/GMT-4

44,000 Uninsured Americans Die Annually While U.S. Spends $651 Billion on Military

Florida Mass March to End War Economy: Healthcare, Not Warfare

When: 12pm, Saturday, October 17th

Where: Main entrance to the University of Central Florida, Orlando (South East corner of Alafaya Blvd. & University Blvd).

ORLANDO – On Saturday, October 17, citizens from across Florida will participate in the “Florida Mass March to End the War Economy” in Orlando, Florida. The march is being held in solidarity with anti-war groups around the nation who are participating in a day of protest and action called for by the National Assembly Against the Occupations of Iraq and Afghanistan.

More than 44,789 Americans die annually for lack of healthcare services ("Health Insurance and Mortality in US Adults"), a fact recently pointed out by Congressman Alan Grayson (FL-8). The state of Florida has the second largest number of deaths resulting from lack of health insurance, more than 3,900 (report).

Meanwhile, in 2009 the U.S. has allotted $651.2 billion dollars for military spending, including emergency discretionary spending and supplemental spending (document). Orlando’s Research Park is home to four of the top 10 recipients of tax payer dollars via the United States’ bloated military budget including: Raytheon, Boeing, Northrup Grumman, and General Dynamics corporations. Together, these corporations received $96 billion dollars in tax payer dollars via the 2007 military budget.

On October 17, 12pm, protestors will march from the main entrance to the University of Central Florida (South East corner of Alafaya Blvd. & University Blvd) to the Central Florida Research Park entrance to protest local divisions of Raytheon, Boeing, Northrup Grumman, and General Dynamics.

In June 2009 the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute reported that the U.S. accounted for 42-percent of the global arms spending in 2008. The U.S. military budget is more than 7 times that of China.

More recently, the New York Times reported that “the United States expanded its role as the world’s leading weapons supplier, increasing its share to more than two-thirds of all foreign armaments deals....” U.S. weapons deals have increased from 25.4 billion in 2007 to $37.8 in 2008 or “68.4 percent of all business in the global arms bazaar....” (New York Times, “ U.S. Increases Its Share of Worldwide Arms Market,” September 6, 2009).

The “Florida Mass March to End the War Economy” is being organized by the Florida Peace Congress (FPC), a group which seeks to empower and unite peace/anti-war groups throughout the state of Florida. To date the Orlando action has been endorsed by more than 30 groups representing Miami, Tampa, St. Augustine, and Jacksonville. (List of endorsers below.)

Protest participants will call on Florida elected representatives, weapons makers’ employees, and the Florida general public to denounce the U.S. wars in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Pakistan, and militarism in general.

In his April 4, 1967 speech, "Beyond Vietnam," Rev. Martin Luther King said: “A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual death.” Organizers contend that the U.S. has a moral obligation to prioritize the funding of human needs over war profiteering. Organizers also call on President Barack Obama to take note of Rev. King’s realization that "the potential destructiveness of modern weapons of war totally rules out the possibilities of war ever serving again as a negative good."

This event is being organized by the Florida Peace Congress (FPC), a group which seeks to empower and unite peace/anti-war groups throughout the state of Florida. To date, the Orlando action has been endorsed by more than 30 groups representing cities of Miami, Tampa, St. Augustine, and Jacksonville. Endorsers include Brevard Patriots for Peace, Green Party of Florida, Florida Peace Action Network, The Poor People's Economic Human Rights Campaign, RiseUpTampaBay, Florida Coalition for Peace and Justice, Cindy Sheehan, and many more. (Complete list at website.)

Parking is available in strip mall lots on the west side of Alafaya Blvd. on both sides of University Blvd. (Beware of lots with parking restrictions and tow warnings.)

For more information Email.

#######

About Humanists for Peace

Humanists for Peace represents both nonreligious and religious humanists who oppose militarism and seek to reform the United State’s historically unethical foreign policy.

Taking its place among specifically religious peace organizations, Humanists for Peace draws its commitment to peace, justice, and pluralism from humanist ethics. As such, Humanists for Peace is comprised of atheist/humanist/nonreligious people who believe that peace and social justice are no less significant than the separation of church and state.

Founded by Jeff Nall, a certified Humanist minister, Humanists for Peace aims to take up the anti-war/pro-peace legacy left by a long-line of humanist peace activists including Erasmus, Condorcet, Mark Twain, Helen Keller, Albert Einstein, Freud, and Bertrand Russell.

“Once people are enlightened they will know that they have the right to dispose of their own life and wealth as they choose; they will gradually learn to regard war as the most dreadful of scourges, the most terrible of crimes” – Condorcet, 1793

In the news: “Peace--Following in a Humanist Tradition,” by Ruth N. Geller HumanistNetworkNews.org (March 18, 2009)

NY, West Point: "Army - Don't Go To Iraqistan!" Rally

Chip — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 17:06:59 -0400

Start: 10/23/2009 - 10:30am

Timezone: Etc/GMT-4

Please try to attend the next "Army - Don't Go to Iraqistan" rally to be held this coming Saturday, Oct. 10 at West Point to address people arriving for the Army-Vanderbilt football game. Directions.

We will gather at 10:30 a.m. in Highland Falls by the clock at the southern most tip of the public park at Main Street and West Point Highway, just south of West Point's Thayer Gate. The rally will end at noon, kickoff time.

Eleven of us attended the rally there this last Saturday, and we found the experience very worthwhile.

We came to West Point because it is the nation’s top training center for young people entering Army leadership and because it is a way to reach out to people who are directly affected by the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. The photos below are graciously provided by Andy Courtney.

We all were very surprised at the numbers of people who gave us thumbs up, honked horns or showed other signs of approval.

For example, when we got into town we set up shop across from the park on the shoulder of the road. A man, who seemed to be from Highland Falls be cause he knew the name of the person in front of whose driveway we were standing, stopped his car and suggested that we move to the park because this would increase our visibility and would put us on public property, thus avoiding a complaint by the driveway owner, who, the motorist told us, could be quite contrary.

We did not receive this warmth at earlier anti-war protests at the same spot. We also got some of the customary signs of disapproval, but this was outweighed by the positive responses.

In addition, we found the Highland Falls police extremely cordial and agreeable to our presence in the park; they asked only if the park was where we intended to hold the rally. A police car stood by during the event, and at one point a man stopped to talk to the officer in the car, pointing at us. But nothing was said to us by the police beyond our initial encounter.

As we prepared to depart at noon, Chuck Bell suggested that we shout out Margaret Eberle’s name and then shout “Presente”, which we did three times; for although she has passed from us we felt her very much with us on Saturday and continue to do so.

This is a link to a report of the rally appearing on the MidHudson News website.

Again, we urge you to attend the next rally this coming Saturday. If we have enough people, we will set up a rally point at West Point's Stony Lonesome Gate off of 9W, just north of Highland Falls, where people also enter to attend the game. You will feel that you are making a difference.

Please RSVP if you will be able to attend. Note that we plan to hold similar rallies on Oct. 23 and Nov. 14, also home games for Army.

NY, West Point: "Army - Don't Go To Iraqistan!" Rally

Chip — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 16:44:03 -0400

Start: 10/10/2009 - 10:30am

Timezone: Etc/GMT-4

Please try to attend the next "Army - Don't Go to Iraqistan" rally to be held this coming Saturday, Oct. 10 at West Point to address people arriving for the Army-Vanderbilt football game. Directions.

Eleven of us attended the rally there this last Saturday, and we found the experience very worthwhile.

We all were very surprised at the numbers of people who gave us thumbs up, honked horns or showed other signs of approval.

We did not receive this warmth at earlier anti-war protests at the same spot. We also got some of the customary signs of disapproval, but this was outweighed by the positive responses.

This is a link to a report of the rally appearing on the MidHudson News website.

Please RSVP if you will be able to attend. Note that we plan to hold similar rallies on Oct. 23 and Nov. 14, also home games for Army.

CA, San Diego: "What Do You Really Know About War?" & "Bring Their Buddies Home" Vigil

Chip — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 15:07:53 -0400

Start: 11/08/2009 - 11:30am

End: 11/08/2009 - 4:30pm

Timezone: Etc/GMT-4

What do you really know about war? Hear from the people who have been there:

Iraq

Afghanistan

GI Resistance

Women in the Military

Homeless Veterans

Military Families

When: Sunday, Nov. 8th, 11:30 AM - 4:30 PM Where: Multi-Purpose Rm - Student Services Center

Keynote Address by Rep. Bob Filner (CA-51), Chairman of Veterans Affairs with highlights from Arlington West & Cross My Heart, by Peter Dudar & Sally Marr. Music by Kevin "Mac Mac" McCoy.

FREE but donations appreciated. REGISTER BEFORE NOV. 4TH FOR FREE LUNCH TICKET. Program followed by a sunset vigil:

Stand in silence along N. Torrey Pines Rd. (North and South of Muir College Drive) for a Sunset Vigil to honor those who have died in the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq We will provide each participant with a memorial page to wear bearing the name of a fallen soldier, or you can bring your own for someone you wish to honor.

Realities of War and Bring Their Buddies Home Vigil hosted by Human and Earth Rights Organization (HERO) and UCSD Women's Center UCSD student organizations with support from:

Coalition for Alternatives to Militarism in our Schools (CAMS)
Code Pink
GABRIELA Network San Diego
Guerrero Azteca Peace Project
Iraq Veterans Against the War
Military Families Speak Out (San Diego, Orange & Los Angeles chapters)
Peace Resource Center of San Diego
Project YANO
San Diego Coalition for Peace & Justice

For more information, go to www.HumanEarthRights.org or www.BringTheirBuddiesHome.com or call Jeeni Criscenzo at 858-534-2457

IL, Chicago: Third National Assembly: US Labor Against the War

Chip — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 16:42:12 -0400

Start: 12/04/2009 - 12:00am

End: 12/06/2009 - 11:59pm

Timezone: Etc/GMT-4

Featuring:

Iraqi Oil Worker Union Leaders
Pakistani Women, Youth & Labor leaders
Scholars and Policy Experts on Afghanistan
Antiwar Trade Unionists from Across the US
Iraq & Afghan War Veterans

We are at a turning point in US History. In 2008 the labor movement had a moment of triumph, playing a critical role in electing Barack Obama and a majority Democratic Congress. In 2009 we find ourselves still in the middle of a devastating economic crisis with wars and militarism standing between working people and the peaceful just world we seek and deserve.

This is a moment of both peril and promise. USLAW is challenged to develop a program and organizing strategy that will expand and deepen the influence and effectiveness of antiwar forces within the labor movement, while continuing to play a leading role within the broader antiwar movement.

This is the context in which USLAW will convene its
third National Assembly in Chicago, December 4-6th.

The Assembly is open to delegates from USLAW affiliates as well as individual associate members. It is the highest decision-making body of USLAW where we debate and adopt resolutions on a range of issues that establish USLAW policy and strategic direction for the next three years. The Assembly will elect the leadership that will guide the organization, and has the authority to make changes in the By-Laws that govern USLAW.

Read the Complete Text of the Call

Registration and Hotel Reservations (paid by check)

Registration and Hotel Reservations (paid by credit card)

Become a member of USLAW

Let us know if you have any questions or problems with the registration process. Please register as early as possible so that we can accurately prepare for the number who will attend.

Yours in solidarity,

Michael Eisenscher
National Coordinator

Download copy of Call

MD, College Park: David Alan Harris Speaking on Peace-Building Lessons from African Child Soldiers Oct. 14, U of MD

Chip — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 15:21:40 -0400

Start: 10/14/2009 - 7:00pm

End: 10/14/2009 - 9:00pm

Timezone: Etc/GMT-4

If, as Alice Walker reminds us in her new book, “hard times require furious dancing”, David Alan Harris knows the hard times and the furious dancing. For the young men and boys he encountered in Sierra Leone, he provided warmth and the container for fury, through a process called Dance/Movement Therapy.

Harris will share stories of the boys he worked with in a keynote address as a part of the University of Maryland’s Semester on Peace:

Atrocities, Resilience, and Healing:
Peace-Building Lessons from African Child Soldiers

Wednesday October 14, 2009
7-9 pm
Stamp Student Union, Colony Ballroom
University of Maryland, College Park

Join him as he inspires us all to dance with each other, and join us afterwards at the UMUC Marriott Inn and Conference Center to put all of our energy to music, in a celebration of resilience and healing!

The Marriott is located at the crossroads of University Boulevard and Adelphi Roads. 3501 University Blvd E Hyattsville, Maryland. Phone: 1-301-985-7300.