HUDSON VALLEY ACTIVIST CALENDAR
May 2, 2012, Issue #660
Send event announcements to jacdon@earthlink.net
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Dedicated to Helping Build Activist
Movements in the Hudson Valley
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Editor's Notes:
• The Calendar's late because our email system crashed 10 days ago. We got it back yesterday, though a few hundred addresses were lost for good. We sent out the Activist Newsletter yesterday, and now the Calendar.
• What a pleasure to see May Day activities make a comeback in the U.S. yesterday. Millions of Americans have had their consciousness raised during the Great Recession and its continuing aftermath. The concept of 99% is simple, direct and it's working. Here's a rundown of all the May 1 activities:
http://www.alternet.org/story/155240/%27festive%2C_righteous_anger%27%3A_occupy_makes_may-day_comeback_with_massive_demonstrations.
• Three recent programs from Democracy Now! deserve your attention:
(1) Today's (May 2) Democracy Now! has some good May Day coverage and perceptive comments by Tariq Ali on Obama's trip to Afghanistan yesterday, http://www.democracynow.org/.
(2) On April 25 the program included a most important segment on Mumia-Abu-Jamal, America’s best known political prisoner, who has become a national voice for peace and justice despite being locked up in Pennsylvania for over three decades. Amy Goodman interviewed Mumia from prison and he delivered an important message. Video, radio or text is at http://www.democracynow.org/2012/4/25/hundreds_protest_at_doj_to_demand.
(3) On April 24, the program featured an extraordinary exclusive report on the beating/tasering murder of a Mexican immigrant by U.S. Border Patrol Agents who were acting like Nazi thugs. http://www.democracynow.org/2012/4/24/death_on_the_border_shocking_video.
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ACTIVIST EVENTS
Thursday, May 3, DELMAR: Bethlehem Neighbors for Peace presents the documentary, "The Last Mountain" at the Bethlehem Public Library, 451 Delmar Ave. at 6:45 p.m., followed by a discussion. The film follows citizens in Virginia's Coal River Valley, as they campaign to prevent Massey Energy Company from expanding mountaintop removal mining in their community.
Information, (518) 466-1192, jlombard@nycap.rr.com.
Thursday, May 3, POUGHKEEPSIE: Dutchess Peace will screen Michael Moore's documentary "Capitalism: A Love story," at Crafted Kup, 44 Raymond Ave., at 7 p.m. The film focuses on the financial crisis of 2007-2010, and the power exercised by Wall St. and the corporations over the U.S. government, political system and the 99%. Information, (845) 876-7906, fred@acornfilm.com.
Friday, May 4, ELDRED: A public hearing on fracking will begin at 6:30 p.m. at the Junior/Senior High School. Eldred is in the Town of Highland in Sullivan County. Said supervisor Andrew Boyar: “I prevail on everyone to let your voice be heard at that time.”
Saturday, May 5, ALBANY and INTERNATIONAL: The climate change organization 350.org is organizing a worldwide protest today "from Vietnam to Vermont" titled "Connect the Dots" between extreme weather and climate change. The theme of Albany's "Climate Impacts Day" is "Connect the Dots: Weird weather, climate change, greenhouse pollution." A climate change awareness walk and rally, with a tour of sites affected by recent severe weather, is what's planned. People will meet by the foot bridge over Rt. 787 to Corning Preserve at Broadway and Pine St., at 2:30 p.m. The will move on to the bike path by the Hudson that was flooded by Hurricane Irene, then on to the Broadway office of Chesapeake Energy (fracking corporation), the N.Y.S. Department of Department of Environmental Conservation, across the street, to the O'Brien Federal building, ending up with a 3:30-4:30 p.m. rally in front of the State Capitol. (In bad weather, rally under the overhang on the State St side of the Capitol.) The sponsors are 350.org and Occupy Albany. Information, (518) 466-9339, http://www.occupyalbany.org.
Saturday, May 5, MILLBROOK: The Cary Institute Auditorium, 2801 Sharon Turnpike (Rt. 44), is the venue for a 9 a.m.-12 noon forum exploring hydrofracking, the dangerous process of extracting natural gas from shale, of which New York has an abundance. Opposition to fracking is one of the biggest movement issues in a large part of the state. Speakers will include: Cary Institute President William Schlesinger; Avner Vengosh, Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University; Radisav Vidic, chairman of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Pittsburgh; Bernard Goldstein, dean emeritus of the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health; Mark Boling, executive vice president and general counsel of southwestern energy; Simona Perry, science and technology studies, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Emma Rosi-Marshall of the Cary Institute will moderate the Q&A. Free and public, but an RSVP is required and name tags will be provided at sign in. Information and registration, http://www.caryinstitute.org/fracking.html.
Sunday, May 6, ROSENDALE: A memorial gathering for activist Gale McGovern, who died Dec. 27 at the age of 73, will be held at 3 p.m. at the Recreation Center, 1055 Rt. 32. Gale was a long time local activist, involved in many causes. Bring a pot luck dish. If you wish to speak, contact Karen or Miriam at (845) 255-7711, kcathers@earthlink.net. There is need for volunteers to help set up at 2 p.m., break down afterwards, and other tasks. There is also a need for large coffee urns/thermoses. If you have any of those items to loan for the day, or wish to volunteer, please contact Miriam or Karen.
Sunday, May 6, OLD CHATHAM: Local activist Nancy Smith discusses "What's Wrong with Our Prisons," at the Powell House Quaker Conference and Retreat Center, 524 Pitt Hall Rd. (off Columbia County Rt.13) at 12:30 p.m. Smith spent six months in a federal prison for her nonviolent protesting of the School of the Americas in Ft. Benning, Ga. Refreshments will be served at this free event. Sponsored by Old Chatham Quaker Meeting. Information, (518) 766-2992, poetapoetus@taconic.net. http://www.oldchathamquakers.org.
Sunday, May 6, HILLBURN: Today is Environmental Day in this Rockland town. The Rockland County Solid Waste Management Authority is organizing an 11 a.m.-4 p.m. event at Torne Valley, rain or shine. The day includes a visit to the Environmental Education Center, music and food, demonstrations of how to go Green, many Green exhibitors and products, special kids events (balloon artist, face painting, a solar powered merry-go-round), etc. It's free. Information, Kerri Scales (845) 753-2200, ext. 22, http://www.rocklandrecycles.com/.
Monday, May 7, POUGHKEEPSIE (Vassar College campus): The Hudson River Environmental Society hosts a conference, "Clean Water Act at 40: Facing the Future," in the Multi-Purpose Room of the Student Building, 8:30 a.m.-6 p.m. (Invited speakers 9 a.m.-3 p.m.) Poster session and social from 3:30-6 p.m. Registration at http://www.hres.org. Information, (518) 402-9216, Chuck Nieder at http://wcnieder@gw.dec.state.ny.us.
Monday, May 7, SHOKAN: The Town of Olive board in Ulster County will hold a 7:30 p.m. public hearing at Town Hall, Bostock Rd., to consider the proposed adoption of a local law to put a moratorium on the exploration, extraction, disposal, and storage of natural gas within the Town of Olive for one year.
Monday, May 7, OLD CHATHAM: Old Chatham Quaker Meeting will screen the documentary, "If a Tree Falls: A Story of the Earth Liberation Front" at 7 p.m. at the Powell House Quaker Conference and Retreat Center, 524 Pitt Hall Rd. (off Rt. 13). The ELF was a radical environmental group that the FBI called, "number one domestic terrorist threat." The film chronicles the history of the group, which included a member who became an FBI informant and squealed on other members to save himself. Public and free. Information, (518) 766-2992, poetapoetus@taconic.net, http://www.oldchathamquakers.org.
Tuesday, May 8, NISKAYUNA: Schenectady Neighbors for Peace and Upper Hudson Peace Action hosts "Val Liveoak on Nonviolence and Healing" at 6:45-8 p.m. at Niskayuna Public Library, 2400 Nott Street East. Liveoak will discuss how people can overcome the effects of civil war, violence and poverty, and describe grassroots efforts to change cultures of violence. Liveoak is the volunteer coordinator for "Peacekeeping in las Americas," which works in Central and South America, a reservist for Christian Peacemaker Teams, and co-founder/administrator of Friends Peace Teams. Information, (518) 346-0517, elaineklein@hotmail.com.
Wednesday, May 9, POUGHKEEPSIE: The latest in a series of discussions of Michelle Alexander's outstanding 2010 book "The New Jim Crow," will take place at 6 p.m. at the Family Partnership Center, Suite 218, 29 North Hamilton St. It's in the Sadie Peterson Delaney African Roots Library. Free and public. Sponsored by the Library, and Occupy Poughkeepsie. Information, (845) 452-6008, ext. 3433, markmarinoff@gmail.com, http://africanrootslibrary.tripod.com/id4.htm.
Thursday, May 10, SAUGERTIES: Sustainable Saugerties (a transition town) will screen the documentary film, "The Power of Community, How Cuba Survived Peak Oil," at 7 p.m. in Inquiring Minds Bookshop, 200 Main St, with a discussion to follow. The film documents how Cuba creatively survived when it lost 50% of its imported oil when the USSR imploded. In the process the socialist Cuba became one of the world's most environmentally sophisticated nations. Admission is $5 donation, but no one will be turned away. Information, (347) 680-6626, sustainablesaugerties@gmail.com.
Saturday, May 12, NEW YORK CITY: The Fourth Annual Hudson River Pageant will take place at Hudson River Park in downtown Manhattan 1-5 p.m. (rain date May 13). A community based ecological art and performance project to restore the native species and habitats of the Hudson River and address climate change. We're told this will be big. Information, (212) 777-7969, eli@earthcelebrations.com, felicia@earthcelebrations.com, http://www.earthcelebrations.com.
Tuesday, May 15, ALBANY: New Yorkers Against Fracking Coalition and Finger Lakes Clean Waters Initiative Inc. are hosting a 4 p.m. rally calling for Gov. Cuomo to ban fracking in the state, at 4 p.m. on the West Capitol Lawn, followed by a concert at 7 p.m. at the Egg. The concert features Medeski Martin & Wood, Natalie Merchant, Citizen Cope, the Felice Brothers, Joan Osborne, Tracy Bonham, Toshi Reagon, Dan Zanes, Ida, The Horse Flies, and
the Ahkwesasne Women Singers, and hosted by Mark Ruffalo and Melissa Leo. Information, John Armstrong, (607) 220-4632.
Friday, May 18, BEACON: Nora Hamond-Gallardo will discuss "Organic Gardening in Cuba," at the Beacon Sloop Club (across from the railroad station) at 7 p.m. The presentation will include a short history of Cuba, including how a crisis converted the entire country to environmental awareness, with details of how the organic gardens are constructed, what's planted, and how the produce is sold. Information, (914) 879-1082 or (845) 463-4660.
Friday, May 18, NEW PALTZ: Here's an interesting question: "What If Cannabis Cured Cancer?" It's a 2010 documentary discussing what is said to be "the truth about this ancient medicine as world renowned scientists explain and illustrate their truly mind-blowing discoveries." It begins at 8:15 p.m. Free and public at the Elting Library, 93 Main St. Information, tellall45@yahoo.com.
Saturday, May 19, MONTGOMERY: The Fifth Annual Earth and Water Festival will be held 11 a.m.-5 p.m. at Thomas Bull Memorial Park, Rt. 416. This free, family-oriented festival will offer an opportunity to meet a variety of environmentally concerned businesses, groups, and others from the Hudson Valley. Food, entertainment, green expo, children's games and crafts, programs and more. Music includes: Arm-of-the-Sea Theater, Maxwell Kofi Donkor, and Snakeman Snake Show. Information, (845) 615-3868, ecruz@orangecountygov.com, http://waterauthority.orangecountygov.com/festival.html.
Sunday, May 20, CHICAGO: Join the Answer Coalition and many other organizations for an extremely important protest against the two-day NATO Summit Meeting taking place here. The action begins at 12 noon in Grant Park Petrillo Band shell. A bus will be leaving from the Albany district. It departs the CDTA Park and Ride across from Hannaford Plaza on Delaware Ave., Delmar, 5 p.m. Saturday, May 19. (Show up by 4:30 p.m.) The bus will arrive in Chicago around 11 a.m. Sunday. The returning bus will depart Chicago 6 p.m. Sunday, arriving in Albany around noon on Monday. You can leave your car at the park and ride over the weekend. Complete the mail in registration form from the links below and return with $120 for each ticket to: BNP, PO Box 473, Delmar, NY 12054. Checks made out to “BNP.” All payments must be received by May 12. Mail in Registration Form: http://www.bethlehemforpeace.org/pdf/chicagobus_May2012.pdf.
Information, lombard@nycap.rr.com. Also, (773) 463-0311, http://www.protestnato.org, info@answercoalition.org.
