HUDSON VALLEY ACTIVIST CALENDAR
May 18, 2013, Issue #669
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Sunday, May 19, WOODSTOCK: This is a
very special occasion — read on: Tim DeChristopher is a young man who derailed
an illegal federal oil and gas lease auction for 22,000 acres of public land in
southern Utah in 2008. He was high bidder for the land at $1.7
million, but of course had no money. Ultimately,
his action effectively safeguarded thousands of acres of Utah land. The land
has been saved, a movement grown, and DeChristopher spent two years in federal
prison for deceiving the system. He was released recently on Earth Day 2013 and
will be at Upstate Films at 132 Tinker St. in Woodstock to talk about his
actions and his perspective on the climate justice movement. The talk and a new
73-minute documentary, “Bidder #70, about Tim’s incredible exploit, will be
begin at 2 p.m. Admission is $10. At 5 p.m., for those who are interested, there
will be a reception at New World Home Cooking in Saugerties, 1411 Rt. 212.
(Tickets for reception to be announced.) Frack Free Catskills, Catskill
Mountainkeeper, and Woodstock Film Festival sponsor this event. A three minute
film trailer is at http://www.bidder70film.com/#!trailer/cxbx. Information,
(845) 246-3449, rosenberg.sue@gmail.com.
Sunday, May 19, ELLENVILLE: The 2012 documentary "Heist:
Who Stole the American Dream?" will be screened at 4 p.m. at Empowering
Ellenville, 159 Canal St, Ellenville. A discussion and general meeting will
follow the film. We’re told “Heist” traces “the development of the sociopathic
plutocracy from the 1940s to present times, and names names.” Information,
Barbara Kidney (
845) 313-8035.
Monday, March 20, RHINEBECK: A Rally for Justice and Dignity
in support of the healthcare workers at Ferncliff Nursing Home will take place
at 5 p.m. at Star Park, 80 W. Market St. The sponsor is 1199SEIU, backed by the
Hudson Valley Area Labor Federation. Information, esoto@hvalf.org.
Wednesday, May 22, TROY: Award-winning journalist Jeremy
Scahill, will speak at The Sanctuary for Independent Media at 7 p.m. He is the
national security Correspondent for the Nation magazine and the author of the
just published "Dirty Wars: The World Is a Battlefield." (The
documentary film "Dirty Wars,” based on the book, will be released next
month.) Scahill also wrote "Blackwater: The World's Most Powerful
Mercenary Army." The Sanctuary is located in a former historic church at
3361 6th Ave. (at 101st
St.) in North Troy. A donation of $10 is suggested, $5 student/low
income). Advance tickets are available. Information, (518) 272-2390,
http://www.mediasanctuary.org.
Saturday, May 25, NEW PALTZ and INTERNATIONAL: Worldwide
protests against the biotechnology company Monsanto will take place today in 36
countries and 47 states. One of many events in the U.S. will be a March Against Monsanto
in New Paltz starting from Peace Park across from Village Hall, 25 Plattekill
Ave., a block south of Main St. The event begins at 2 p.m. with sign making. A
half-hour rally starts at 2:15 p.m. follow by the march through town. Monsanto
has come under attack from environmentalists, agriculturalists and average
consumers over the company’s genetically modified organisms and genetically
engineered foods. Congress passed, and President Obama signed, a biotech rider
known as the “Monsanto Protection Act” by its critics that allows companies to
plant and sell genetically altered products without gaining federal permission
or labeling. Speakers will include Liana
Hoodes, Director of the National Organic Coalition;
Joel Tyner, Dutchess County Legislator; Barbara Upton, New Paltz Women in
Black; Billiam van Roestenberg, Liberty View Farm and Beth Dulay, who has a
personal story to share on the dangers of GMOs. Sponsors include GMO? OMG! Hudson
Valley for No GMO’s, Hudson Valley Seed Library, Occupy New Paltz, Occupy Poughkeepsie, Occupy Northern
Dutchess, Gomen Kudasai, Climate Action
Coalition, New Paltz Women in Black, Veterans for Peace
of the Hudson Valley, Four Winds Farm, Liberty View Farm, Evolutionary
Organics Farm, Occupy Kingston, Occupy South Ulster, the Hudson Valley Activist Newsletter, the
Hudson Valley Chapter of WORD. The
official website for the global March Against Monsanto is http://www.march-against-monsanto.com. Information,
Elizabeth Dulay ehdulay@gmail.com, Barbara
Upton anahatasun@aol.com.
Saturday, May 25, MONTGOMERY: The anti-Monsanto event in this
Orange County town about a dozen miles east of Newburg will begin at 6:30 p.m.
with a picnic and family activities at the Wallkill River School, Patchett
House, 232 Ward St. We’re told it’s “featuring information tables, short
documentaries, a speakers corner, GMO-free nibbles, tug-of-war, mask making,
and bean bag toss. We encourage you to BYO Non-GMO picnic, blanket and/or
chairs. At 8 p.m. there will be an outdoor movie followed by a discussion
(indoors if rain).” Occupy Orange is the sponsor. Information,
oorangeny@gmail.com. You may RSVP online at https://www.facebook.com/OccupyOrangeNY.
Saturday, May 25, ALBANY: The 90-minute, 2011 documentary
“Where Soldiers Come From” will be screened
at 7:30 p.m. at First Unitarian Universalist Society of Albany (FUUSA)
405 Washington Ave. From a snowy small town in northern
Michigan to the mountains of Afghanistan and back, this Emmy award-winning
documentary follows the four-year journey of childhood friends, forever
transformed by a faraway war. It looks at these young men as they are changed
from reckless teenagers to soldiers looking for bombs in Afghanistan and,
later, to veterans dealing with the silent war wounds of traumatic brain injury
and PTSD. The New Yoek Times reviewer said it was "quietly devastating.... The real cost of
distant political decisions is softly illuminated, as well as the shame of a
country with little to offer its less fortunate young people other than a
ticket to a battlefield." The Solidarity
Committee of the Capital District, Bethlehem Neighbors for Peace, and Upper
Hudson Peace Action are the sponsors of this free public event. Information, (518)
426-0883, dbull34@verizon.com. About the film, http://www.wheresoldierscomefrom.com.
Thursday, June 3, OLD CHATHAM: The documentary “Killing Us Softly” will be screened at 7 p.m. at Powell House Quaker Conference and Retreat Center, 524 Pitt Hall Rd., off County Rt. 13.We’re informed this film “takes a new and refreshing look at how advertising traffics in distorted and destructive ideals of femininity.” Refreshments will be served and a moderated discussion will follow. Free and public. Information (518) 766-2992.
Friday, June 7, KINGSTON: This month’s selection in the Films of Palestine Series is "Roadmap to Apartheid." A free public screening begins at 7 p.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Catskills, 320 Sawkill Rd. This feature-length documentary by filmmakers Ana Nogueira (a white South African) and Eron Davidson (a Jewish American-Israeli), is an extremely ambitious project that is largely successful in achieving the difficult goals it sets for itself. The film is the very first documentary to offer an in-depth exploration of the parallels between South African and Israeli forms of apartheid. The screening will be followed by an audience discussion. Sponsored by: Middle East Crisis Response and Hudson Valley Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions. Information, Jane.toby7@gmail.com, (518). 678 2076.
Friday-Sunday, June 7-9, HIGH FALLS: The annual summer gathering
of the People's Music Network (PMN) will take place this long weekend at the
Epworth Camp and Retreat Center, 8 Epworth Lane,. Participants will swap songs,
share experiences, attend workshops on music for social change and musical
skills, and give music performances. The weekend will begin with a Friday
evening concert featuring Pat Humphries and Sandy O, who together form “emma’s
revolution.” Also performing will be Bev Grant, Bernardo Palombo, Evan Greer
and Ted Warmbrand. There is a lot more information and details about all three
days — lodging, prices, workshops,
meetings, etc, on the website, http://www.peoplesmusic.org. Other info, Diane
Crowe, diacrowe@yahoo.com, (413) 548-9394.
Sunday, June 9, GARRISON: The Hudson
Valley Chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America is sponsoring a 7
p.m. screening of the 40-minute, 2010 documentary “Living for 32.” This
free public showing “is about the 32 people murdered in the
2007 Virginia Tech shooting, and how survivor Colin Goddard subsequently became
a leading advocate for gun reform.” A moderated discussion will follow the
showing. The venue is the Depot Theatre, 10 Garrison's Landing. Seating is
limited. Reservations are strongly recommended via https://www.facebook.com/events/481496618585570/,
or nyhudson.gd@momsdemandaction.org,
(845) 323-3595.
Sunday, June 9, ELLENVILLE: “Hydrofracking: Environmental
Impacts” is the topic of a talk by Karen Schneller MacDonald, an ecologist with
Hudsonia. This 4 p.m. event is at Empowering Ellenville, 159 Canal St.
Information, Barbara Kidney
(
845) 313-8035.
Wednesday, June 12, NYACK: The Hudson
Valley Chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America is sponsoring a 7
p.m. screening of the 40-minute, 2010 documentary “Living for 32.” This
free public showing “is about the 32 people murdered in the
2007 Virginia Tech shooting, and how survivor Colin Goddard subsequently became
a leading advocate for gun reform.” A moderated discussion will follow the
showing. The venue is the Nyack Library, 59 South Broadway. Seating is limited.
Reservations are strongly recommended via https://www.facebook.com/events/481496618585570/,
or nyhudson.gd@momsdemandaction.org,
(845) 323-3595.
Saturday, June 15, KINGSTON: the First Annual Juneteenth
Celebration in Kingston, will take place 5-8 p.m. at New Progressive Baptist
Church, 8 Hone St. Juneteenth, of course, is a celebration of the end of
slavery and has deep roots and a long history in the African American
community. The event is being put
together by the church and ENJAN (End The New Jim Crow Action Network). Information,
Odell Winfield at (914) 388-3092, odell_winfield@yahoo.com.
Thursday, June 20, DELMAR: "The Hyping of the North Korean Threat"
is the topic of an important talk by Maud and
David East, beginning at 7 p.m. at the Bethlehem Public Library, 451 Delaware
Ave. They will discuss their experiences visiting North Korea in 1980, and
share their analysis of the current hostilities between the United States and
North Korea. There will be a Q&A discussion following the presentation. Bethlehem
Neighbors for Peace is sponsoring this free public event. Information, (518)
466-1192, jlombard@nycap.rr.com.
