CONTENTS:
PHILLY AREA ACTION:
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY:
NATIONAL and INTERNATIONAL ACTION:
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PHILLY AREA ACTION:
BDS Discussion this Sunday for Friends of Middle East Peace: You are
invited to attend a discussion on the subject of Boycotts, Divestment,
and Sanctions as possible instruments for use as we seek a just and
peaceful solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
3 pm this Sunday, Jan 10,
St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 22 E. Chestnut Hill Avenue, Chestnut Hill.
Hannah Schwarzschild of Philadelphia Jews for a Just Peace is making
arrangements. Leila Barclay of the Ecumenical Working Group for Middle
East Peace will lead discussion on Boycotts, Don Macay, Treasurer of
the same group and a Pesbyterian, will steer the Divestment
conversation, and Peter Doris, chair of the Episcopal Middle East Study
Group, will moderate the discussion on Sanctions. There will be some
Jewish participation.
Allen Bartlett [allen.jerrie@worldnet.att.net]
Chair, Ecumenical Working Group for Middle East Peace
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Films with Code Pink
Catholic Peace Fellowship, 1429 North 11th Street, Philadelphia, PA
19122
St. Malachy Rectory, January 11: 6:30 pm- double feature
Free Admission! Refreshments! Discussion to follow
Save the Dates Every second Monday in 2010
Catholic Peace Fellowship Film Series Howard Zinn: You Can’t Be Neutral
on a Moving Train
Matt Damon narrates this biographical portrait of historian and
activist Howard Zinn, now 86, author of the pivotal A People’s History
of the United States, a popular alternative American history book that
examines the story of this country from the standpoint of immigrants,
minorities and working people. The documentary chronicles his
commitment to social change through archival materials, commentary from
Zinn and interviews with Noam Chomsky, Daniel Ellsberg, Tom Hayden and
Alice Walker, among others.
America’s Bombing Policy:
Bill Moyers Journal takes a closer look at America’s history of and
current policy on bombing, explores the ethics behind these assaults
when civilians become the victims and asks: Does bombing work? Bill
Moyers sits down with historian Marilyn Young, author of Bombing
Civilians: A Twentieth Century History and former Pentagon official
Pierre Sprey, who developed military planes and helped found the
military reform movement.
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Upcoming Catholic Peace Fellowship Film Series
February 8: Pray The Devil Back to Hell (2008)
March 8: Iraqi Women: An Interview With Nadje Al-Ali, Untold Stories
from 1948 to the Present
April12: Operation Homecoming
May 10: The Singing Revolution
June 7: Taxi to the Dark Side Contact:M. Dolores Vera
[mailto:msm.vera@comcast.net]
______________________________________________________________________________________
Come See “Why Are We In Afghanistan?”
a 28-minute film produced by members of US Labor Against the War
Monday, January 11, 5:30-7:00 PM
Pennsylvania Federation of the Brotherhood of Maintenance of
Way/Teamsters
421 N. 7th St. second floor (betw. CallowhillSt. and Spring Garden St.)
Discussion following the film: Refreshments served.
Sponsored by Philadelphia Jobs with Justice
About the Film
This film looks at domestic pressures and geo-strategic interests that
keep the U.S. in the region, and the long history of U.S. foreign
interventions that forms the broader context for this war. Why Are We
in Afghanistan? is an educational resource for communities, unions,
veterans and active duty military, classes, and anyone who wonders why
and what to do about it.
Written and directed by Michael Zweig, Steering Committee Member of US
Labor Against the War. Illustrated by Mike Konopacki, labor illustrator
For more information contact John Braxton at morbraxton@aol.com or
215/724-1571
_______________________________________________________________________________
Phone Bank for the Upcoming Hate Crimes Bill
Help jumpstart YOUR 2010 by volunteering next week to staff the
phones and engage our supporters across the state to pass
Pennsylvania's Hate Crimes Bill. We will be hosting TWO phone
banks at our Philadelphia office next week to educate and engage
Pennsylvania constituents in specifically targeted legislative
districts, and we need YOU!
WHAT: House Bill 745, an LGBT-inclusive Hate Crimes bill is
coming to a full floor vote in the Pennsylvania House of
Representatives in just a few weeks!
WHERE: Equality Pennsylvania's Philadelphia Office at 1211
Chestnut St. in Center City, Philadelphia Suite 605
WHEN: Wednesday, January 13, 5:30-7:30pm AND Thursday, January
14, 5:30-7:30pm
RSVP: to Mason by e-mail at mlane@equalitypa.org or by phone at
215-731-1447 x18 to sign up. As usual, dinner will be provided.
_________________________________
The Peace Movement in the Age of Obama
Mel Packer, long-time peace activist, and member of the Green Party of
Allegheny County, will be in Philadelphia the weekend of January 16-17.
We have invited him to give a brief talk to the Green Party of
Philadelphia about the future of the peace movement in the age of
Obama.
When: Saturday, January 16, 2010, 7:30 PM
Where: Singapore Vegetarian Restaurant, 1006 Race Street
Tickets cost $30 and include a full dinner and a small donation to the
Green Party of Philadelphia. Please RSVP to gpop@gpop.org.
_______________________________________________________________
COMMITTEE ON RACIAL HEALING & WHOLENESS PROGRAM, SATURDAY, JANUARY
23:
Along with Chestnut Hill Monthly Meeting Central Philadelphia Monthly
Meeting is co-sponsoring a viewing of the award-winning film Traces of
the Trade: A Story from the Deep North. The film chronicles the journey
of 10 descendants from the largest slave-trading family in US history
as they retrace the Triangle Trade and reflect on the legacy of slavery
in the US today. The showing will be in the Rufus Jones room of Friends
Center (now on the first floor), 15th & Cherry, Phila. on Saturday,
January 23 at 1PM. After the film, there will be a discussion
facilitated by CPMM clerk Barry Scott with the film's ex. producer and
co-director, Jude Ray.
==============================
Grant Writer position available
The Philadelphia Unemployment Project is looking for a part time grant
writer to research and complete grant proposals and prepare reports to
funders. Please spread the word about the job opening. We are looking
to hire someone in the near future. Contact me for more information.
John Dodds, Director
Philadelphia Unemployment Project
112 N. Broad Street, 11th Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19102
215-557-0822 www.Philaup.org 215-557-6981(fax)
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NATIONAL and INTERNATIONAL ACTION:
Take action on this w a heroic whistle blower!
I am profoundly concerned about the terrible injustice of the
Bradley Birkenfeld case outcomes and its impacts on future potential
whistle blowers. I feel deeply that the effect of the Bradley
Birkenfeld case will be very negative for national and international
anti-corruption movements. The message could hardly be clearer: If
you blow the whistle on wealthy customers, you will go to jail far,
far longer than all of them put together!
Birkenfeld voluntarily and energetically blew the whistle on a
very deliberate tax avoidance scheme by a Swiss bank and thousands of
very wealthy USers. Outcome? He gets a 40 month sentence - more
than all sentences to the guilty US tax avoiders put togetyher!
So here's the site and, below, info you'll find at the site.
http://www.whistleblowers.org/ - or, directly, go to the "take action"
page:
http://www.capwiz.com/whistleblowers/issues/alert/?alertid=14501711&type=ML
From: Darien De Lu [mailto:conjoin@macnexus.org]
TAKE ACTION! Demand Attorney General Holder review Birkenfeld's case!
___________________________________________________________________
2010 Delegations - Travel to Latin America
Travel to Latin America 2010 Delegations- Father Roy Bourgeois to El
Salvador, Learn about ALBA in Venezuela, and Stand in Solidarity with
the People of Honduras and Colombia.
El Salvador
Travel to El Salvador - land of martyrs, with Father Roy Bourgeois on
an Oscar Romero Legacy Delegation, from March 19 to 26, 2010. Join Fr.
Roy in events commemorating the 30th anniversary of Monseñor
Romero´s
assassination at the hands of SOA graduates. Walk in the footsteps of
martyrs Ita Ford, Maura Clark, Fr. Ignacio Ellacuria, Celia Ramos and
others. Accompany SOA Watch's Partnership America Latina (PAL)
Coordinator Lisa Sullivan in visiting high level Salvadoran government
officials in asking that El Salvador send no more soldiers to this
school of assassins. For more information and to apply, write Lisa
Sullivan at LSullivan@soaw.org
Click here to download the delegation flyer (pdf).
Venezuela
Come to Venezuela from April 9-18 on the anniversary of a people's
victory in overturning a coup d'etat and learn about how the 8 member
countries of ALBA are forging a new and exciting new economic model of
cooperation and solidarity. Join SOA Watch's Lisa Sullivan in getting a
different view from within of this country where she has lived for 25
years. Meet with Colombians in exile in Venezuela and hear from them
and from Venezuelans about their concerns for US militarization along
the Colombian border of Venezuela. For more information and to apply,
write Lisa Sullivan at LSullivan@soaw.org
Honduras
Respond to the request of human rights leaders in Honduras to come to
their country to help prevent further atrocities from taking place.
World attention towards Honduras has diminished after US-approved
November elections legitimized the June coup, while assassinations of
resistance members has increased.
Leaders of the human rights community have requested a constant
presence of international visitors to bring attention to this situation
and help protect the lives of Hondurans. We are urging SOA Watch
activists to join the Task Force on the Americas delegation to Honduras
from March 13-20, 2010 (for more information write Dale Sorensen,
geodale1@earthlink.net), a Quixote Center delegation (contact Jenny
Atlee, jennya@quixote.org) or the January 24-31, 2010 Rights Action
delegation (contact Grahame Russell, info@rightsaction.org)
Colombia
With over 10,000 troops trained at the school, Colombia is the SOA's
largest customer and has the worst human rights record in Latin
America. The 8th Day Center for Justice and Witness for Peace are
organizing a delegation to Magdelena, Colombia from August 7-17, 2010.
The delegation will focus on human rights, corporate abuse, military
repression and internal displacement. Delegation participants will meet
with community leaders, displaced persons, and human rights defenders.
For more information: Contact Erin Cox, Erin@8thdaycenter.org, 312 641
5151 or Ashley Valchek, Ashley@8thdaycenter.org or email
wfpmagdelena@gmail.com.
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SOA Watch is a nonviolent grassroots movement that works through
creative protest and resistance, legislative and media work to stand in
solidarity with the people of Latin America, to close the SOA/WHINSEC
and to change oppressive U.S. foreign policy that institutions like the
SOA represent. We are grateful to our sisters and brothers throughout
Latin America and the the Caribbean for their inspiration and the
invitation to join them in their struggle for economic and social
justice. We appreciate your interest!
Contact us.
SOA Watch, PO Box 4566, Washington, D.C. 20017, USA
Our telephone: (202) 234 3440