July 12, 2010, Issue #644
Send event announcements to jacdon@earthlink.net
—————————————————
Editor's Note: As usual, activist events drop off in the summer months, resuming again by mid-September, but there are some quite interesting offerings here, and more will be announced. We will be biking in Canada and Vermont for the next three weeks, so the following calendar will be in mid-August.
—————————————————
Saturday, July 17, BOICEVILLE: The award-winning environmental documentary "Gasland" will be shown at 7:30 p.m. in the Harry Simon Auditorium of Onteora High School, 4166 Route 28. The showing is part of the Woodstock Film Festival, and the suggested donation is $5. We're told: "Gasland reveals the practices of the largest domestic natural gas drilling boom in history, a boom that creates real dangers for many communities. Developed by Halliburton, Hydraulic Fracturing — known as 'fracking' — has swept across the United States, opening up new territory in 34 states to extensive drilling. In New York State the drilling target is the Marcellus Shale — a vast formation that underlies most of the state including the New York watershed and the Catskills. Following the film will be a Q&A with director Josh Fox and Rep. Maurice Hinchey. Information, http://www.gaslandthemovie.com/.
Wednesday, July 21, NEW YORK CITY: A one-hour rally demanding Justice for the "Newburgh Four" will begin near the steps of Manhattan's City Hall Park at 1 p.m. The four Muslim men, arrested in the Hudson Valley town of Newburgh, are now jailed and awaiting trial on "terrorism" charges. Supporters believe they were entrapped by the FBI. We're told: " Many people believe the four — James Cromitie, David Williams, Onta Williams, and Laguerre Payen — were unfairly bribed into participating in a government-created terror plot. One had mental problems, one was a cocaine addict, and one was homeless. The agent reportedly offered them tens of thousands of dollars to join the conspiracy. Entrapment, a practice in which law officials trick people into breaking the law (which the defendants would have not broken otherwise) is becoming a more common tactic since the U.S. government began its War on Terror. The legality of this practice under the Constitution is debatable." This action has a permit and is endorsed by WESPAC Foundation, Project Salam, the Peace and Justice Foundation, the Newburgh Four Support Committee, DRUM, Middle Eastern Law Student's Assn. at CUNY Law School, Coalition to Free Mumia Abu-Jamal NYC, Masjid Al-Tawheed Peekskill, Al-Awda NY and World Can't Wait. Information, Ayesha Hoda, ahoda@wesleyan.edu, or Alicia McWilliams, aliciamcwllms@yahoo.com.
Thursday, July 22, WOODSTOCK: The Middle East Crisis Response group of Hudson Valley residents opposed to Israeli and U.S. policies toward the Palestinians meets 7-8:30 p.m. at the Library, 5 Library Lane, just off Tinker St. All welcome. Information, (845) 876-7906, http://www.mideastcrisis.org, gale@mideastcrisis.org.
Friday-Sunday, July 23-July 25, ALBANY: A three-day National Antiwar Conference will feature a variety of speakers and workshops at the Crown Plaza Hotel, N. Pearl St, and Ten Eyck Plaza. Speakers include Noam Chomsky, the internationally renowned political activist, author, and critic of U.S. foreign and domestic policies; Donna Dewitt, President of the South Carolina AFL-CIO; Joel Kovel, Dahlia Wasfi, Leila Zand, Cheri Honkala, Medea Benjamin, Kathy Kelly, Michael McPhearson, Nada Khader, Larry Holmes, Glen Ford, Blanca Misse, Pam Africa, Cindy Sheehan, Fahima Vorgetts, Isabel Garcia, Ann Wright, and more. Here's the schedule: FRIDAY, beginning 7:30 p.m., Introductions and overview of weekend; panel discussion on "Strategies and Tactics in the Struggle to End the Empire's Wars and Occupations"; presentation of co-sponsors' action proposal; presentations of attendees proposals. SATURDAY, beginning, 8:30 a.m., Keynote speakers; questions, comments; workshops; lunch w/ speaker; discussion and debate on the co-sponsors' action proposal, amendments, additional demands, resolutions; dinner break. At 7:30 p.m., Public meeting with speakers and cultural presentations; caucuses, social hour. SUNDAY, beginning at 8:30 a.m., Concluding discussion, debate and vote on action proposal, amendments, demands, resolutions; workshops; and concluding plenary session. The event is co-sponsored by 26 national organizations. The cost is $40 to $80. Information, (518) 439-1968, jlombard@nycap.rr.com, http://nationalpeaceconference.org.
Sunday, July 25, ALBANY: A "March and Rally In Support of Muslims Targeted by Preemptive Prosecution" will take place here today. Supporters will gather at 1 p.m. by the east steps of the Capitol (Washington and State Sts.). The march will start at 1:30 p.m., ending at 2 p.m. at the Masjid As-Salam mosque, 278 Central Ave., for a rally with speakers (and a pizza lunch will be served). The Muslim Solidarity Committee and Project SALAM (Support And Legal Advocacy for Muslims) are organizing the event "commemorating the sixth anniversary of the arrests of two Muslim men from the Albany community, and all Muslims preemptively prosecuted by the U.S. government." Information, Lynne Jackson, (518) 434-6659, lynnejackson@mac.com, http://www.projectsalam.org/events/07-25-10.html.
Friday-Monday, July 30-Aug. 2, HIGH FALLS: The annual summer conference of the Union for Radical Political Economics — to which the public is invited — will have as its theme "Global Climate Change and Capitalism." The annual lecture will be delivered by Professor Minqi Li, University of Utah. His topic is "Climate Change: Barbarism or Socialism?" Plenary speakers are Michael Dorsey, Joel Kovel, Diana Wu, Helen Scharber, Rachel Smolker, and Brian Tokar. There will be workshops on various topics. The events takes place at Epworth Center, a camp and retreat at Epworth Center in High Falls, 8 Epworth Lane. Registration by July 15 is preferred. Information, http://www.urpe.org, (413) 577-0806, or urpe@labornet.org.
Saturday, July 31, WOODSTOCK: An 11 a.m.-1 p.m. rally will take place on the Woodstock Green (6 Tinker St.) to support a boycott of "Ahava" cosmetics, which are made at the Mitzpe Shalem illegal settlement in the Occupied West Bank. The event is sponsored by the Middle East Crisis Response, and Hudson Valley Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions to end Israeli apartheid. Information, jane.toby7@gmail.com, http://MidEastCrisis.org, http://HudsonValleyBDS.org.
