Saturday, October 5, 2013

10-05-13 Activist Calendar


HUDSON VALLEY ACTIVIST CALENDAR
October 5, 2013, Issue #675
Send event announcements to jacdon@earthlink.net
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1. NOTE: IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR THE OCT. 3 ACTIVIST NEWSLETTER, IT IS POSTED  JUST BEFORE THIS CALENDAR. 

 2. Note correct time for Oct. 12 Monsanto rally (below) is 2 p.m., not noon.

Monday, October 7, OLD CHATHAM: A free public screening of the documentary “Five Broken Cameras” will take place 7-9 p.m. at Old Chatham Quaker Meetinghouse, 539 County Rt. 13 (across from Pitt Hall Rd.). . The film is “a Palestinian farmer's chronicle of his nonviolent resistance to the actions of the Israeli army. It was shot almost entirely by Emad Burnat, who bought his first camera in 2005 to record the birth of his youngest son. The footage was given to Israeli co-director Guy Davidi, who edited it to be structured around the violent destruction of each one of Burnat's cameras. The filmmakers' collaboration follows one family's evolution over five years of village turmoil.” Information, (518) 794-0259, Bob Elmendorf poetapoetus@taconic.net.

Monday, Oct. 7, NYC/UNITED STATES: Today is the 12th anniversary of the U.S. invasion an occupation of Afghanistan. In New York City at 5 p.m. there will be a protest-commemoration at
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Plaza
, 55 Water St. Sponsors include Veterans for Peace, Military Families Speak Out (Metro), NYC War Resisters League, Code Pink NY, Grannies Peace Brigade, Brooklyn For Peace, Grandmothers Against the War, Manhattan Peace Action, Peace Action NYS. This ill-conceived imperial war is supposed to end when U.S. troops pull out at the end of 2014, having achieved little but death, destruction and stalemate. President Obama, however, wants to keep thousands of U.S. Special Forces soldiers, CIA agents and drones in the country until 2024 if a deal can be worked out with the Kabul government.

Tuesday, Oct. 8, ALBANY: Today is the 74th birthday of imprisoned progressive lawyer Lynne Stewart, who was unjustly sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for zealously advocating for her client. She has stage four breast cancer but the federal Bureau of Prisons has so far refused her request for compassionate release. A “Rally for Compassionate Release” will start at 12 noon at the U.S. Federal Building, 1 Clinton Ave. Speakers include: Doug Bullock, Dominick Calsolaro, Steve Downs, Joe Lombardo, Kathy Manley and Mark Mishler. The rally is sponsored by Bethlehem Neighbors for Peace, Muslim Solidarity Committee, National Lawyers Guild, Project SALAM, NYCLU Capital District Chapter, The Solidarity Committee of the Capital District, VFP Chapter 10, and Women Against War. For information about Lynne’s case, http://lynnestewart.org. To sign a petition to support her release, http://www.change.org/petitions/new-petition-to-free-lynne-stewart-support-compassionate-release. Information, mkathy1296@gmail.com, http://www.projectsalam.org.

Wednesday, Oct. 9, POUGHKEEPSIE: “To Jail or Not to Jail?”  is the title of a public forum starting at 7 p.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 67 South Randolph Ave. Three panelists will discuss the options being considered for Dutchess County regarding its corrections system: Marc Molinaro, Dutchess County Executive; Mary Ellen Still, Director of Probation for Dutchess County and lead author of a study by the Dutchess County Criminal Justice Council; and Diane Jablonski of the Dutchess County Democratic Women’s Caucus, which has also published a  report on the county corrections system. The Poughkeepsie Journal’s John Penney will moderate. The sponsor is the Social Justice Committee of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship. Information, Pat Lamanna, patla42@gmail.com, (845) 452-3013.

Wednesday, Oct. 9, TROY: Malalai Joya, the famed Afghan activist and writer, will speak at a 1 p.m. public meeting in Bush Memorial Hall on the Russell Sage Campus at 45 Ferry St. (at Congress St.). She will also speak in Albany at 7 p.m. (see directly below). We are informed by the organizers: “Malalai Joya, 35, first gained international attention in 2003 when she spoke out publicly against the domination of warlords in Afghanistan. She was at that time serving as an elected delegate to the Loya Jirga that was convened to ratify the Constitution of Afghanistan. In 2005 she became one of 68 women elected to the 249-seat National Assembly. An extraordinary young woman, raised in the refugee camps of Iran and Pakistan, Joya became a teacher in secret girl's schools, hiding her books under her burqa so that the Taliban couldn't find them.” This important event is sponsored by Women Against War, Bethlehem Neighbors for Peace and numerous other local organizations. The tour is sponsored by The United National Antiwar Coalition (UNAC). Information, (518) 466-1192, Trudy Quaif, tquaif@yahoo.com.

Wednesday, Oct. 9, ALBANY: Malalai Joya, the famed activist and writer from Afghanistan, will speak at a 7 p.m. meeting at the First Unitarian Universalist Society of Albany, 405 Washington Ave. (See above for details). Sponsors are Women Against War, Bethlehem Neighbors for Peace and numerous other local organizations. The tour is sponsored by The United National Antiwar Coalition (UNAC). Information, (518) 466-1192, Trudy Quaif, tquaif@yahoo.com.

Friday, Oct. 11, NEW PALTZ: There will be a free showing of Josh Fox’s second film against fracking — Gasland 2 — at 8:30 p.m., Elting Library, 93 Main St. This documentary revisits families whose lives have been changed from living near fracking wells. He interviews politicians who have been trying to stop fracking and aid those affected by it. He also interviews Tony Ingraffea, Cornell Professor of Engineering, who says fracking can never be done safely. In another segment, Stanford professor Mark Jacobson argues that the U.S. could stop drilling for coal, oil and natural gas and derive adequate energy from renewable resources such as wind, high-concentrated solar power, geothermal power, hydroelectric power and tidal power. Sponsored by New Paltz Neighbors for Peace. Information, Rosalyn Cherry rosalyn@clutterkit.com.

Friday, Oct. 11, NEW PALTZ (SUNY campus): Three people will be speaking at a 1:15 p.m. public meeting in LC 102 on the topic, “New Paltz Behind Bars.” One speaker is Mika'il DeVeaux, who received his MA in Sociology from New Paltz in 1991 while incarcerated at Eastern Correctional Facility. He now runs Citizens Against Recidivism, a reentry organization for individuals coming out of prison, and is a doctoral candidate Hunter College. He will be joined by Susan and Bill Philliber, who founded and taught in New Paltz's MA program, which ran at Eastern Correctional facility from 1984 until 1994, when Pell Grants were cut for people who are incarcerated. Information, (845) 257-3756.

Saturday, Oct. 12, NEW PALTZ: A rally and march against Monsanto corporation’s genetic modification of food and certain pesticides begins at 2 p.m. at Peace Park, across from Village Hall on Plattekill Ave. (off Main St. at Starbucks corner). This is the second global action this year. In May 400 people turned out in New Paltz — and the organizers say, “come on back and bring your friends; our movement is growing.” According to Hudson Valley for No GMOs: “On Oct 12, we'll have informative speakers, free literature (including tips on how to shop GMO-free) and other  surprises. Make a sign and if you are so moved, dress up for the March (if you wish).  Activism against Monsanto is working. The Senate just voted to kill the Monsanto Protection Act. In 2014, we can get GM labeling in New York, too.” Information,


Saturday, Oct. 12, NEW PALTZ: We have been informed a “Stop Indian Point” rally will be held in Peace Park today at 3:30 p.m., immediately after the Monsanto protest. That’s all the information we have, but we will update our blog when we receive more.

Friday, Oct. 18, MILLBROOK: “The Lessons Learned From The Deepwater Horizon Disaster” is the topic of a 7 p.m. discussion by marine scientist Samantha Joye. Following the disaster, Joye and her team were the first to detect massive underwater plumes of oil and natural gas. Impacts to ocean animals, post-spill recovery, and the need for improved oil-removal technologies will be discussed. This free public event will be held in the Cary Institute auditorium, located at 2801 Sharon Turnpike (Rt.. 44). in Millbrook, New York. Space is limited. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Information, freemanp@caryinstitute.org.

Thursday, Oct. 17, TROY: The extraordinary Bread and Puppet Theater will celebrate its 50th anniversary with a special 7 p.m. performance at The Sanctuary for Independent Media, 3361 6th Avenue (at the corner of 101 St.) in North Troy. They will be performing five short shows spanning their 50 years. The shows Bread and Puppet will perform include "King Story," an early anti-war piece which was originally shown in 1967; "President and Chair," which is a performance created in 1992 that pokes fun at presidents, election campaigns and puppet shows; "The Foot," which was originally performed in the march and rally in New York City in 1982 where people demonstrated against nuclear weapons; and "A Man Says Goodbye To His Mother," which was created and performed during the Vietnam War. Admission, $10 suggested, $5 student/low income. Tickets are available for advance purchase at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/462568, or at the door.  Information, (518) 272-2390, http://www.mediasanctuary.org.

Thursday, Oct. 24, UNITED STATES: Today is the 75th anniversary of the federal Minimum Wage, without which the plight of working people in America would be worse. But it’s far too low at seven bucks and change. President Obama recently called for an increase to at least $9 an hour and proposed indexing the minimum wage to inflation. Many members of Congress prefer $10.10 an hour. That’s better, but low wage workers throughout the U.S. earning from minimum to $9 have been demonstrating for $15. That seems right to us because if the minimum had kept pace with inflation it would be $15.23 an hour today. The big corporate bosses — Walmart, McDonald’s, Wendy’s, KFC, Tacco Bell, Pizza Hut, Starbucks, etc. — can easily afford it. The corporate CEO of McDonald’s “earns” $10,669 an hour. We kid you not  (see Statistics of the Month in the Newsletter below).   

Friday, Oct. 25, ROCK TAVERN: The documentary “Bidder 70” will be screened at 7 p.m. at the Orange County Unitarian Universalist Meeting House, 9 Vance Road. The film tells the story of Tim DeChristopher, a young man who disrupted a controversial BLM Oil and Gas leasing auction in 2008. He posed as a bidder (#70) and bid $1.7 million to win 22,000 acres of land he had no intention of paying for (or drilling on). His purpose was to save the land from despoliation. Tim was federally indicted, convicted and served two years in prison for his courageous act of civil disobedience. Now free, he continues his activism. Cost: $5 - $10 donation requested; No one turned away for lack of funds. Sponsored by the UU Social Action Committee. Information, VerneMB@aol.com.

Tuesday, Oct. 29, NEW PALTZ (SUNY campus): Award winning documentary filmmaker Josh Fox, the director of the highly acclaimed Gasland, will be speaking and showing clips of Gasland 2, Fox’s continued investigation into fracking, its side effects, and the industry’s responses to the anti-fracking movement. Fox will be, discussing the fracking issue and describing his experiences since the release of his original groundbreaking expose. This free public event will be held in Lecture Center 100 at 7 p.m. Sponsored by the SUNY New Paltz Environmental Task Force, Co-sponsors include theSUNY NP chapter of United University Professions and Riverkeeper..