HUDSON VALLEY ACTIVIST CALENDAR
November 30, 2013, Issue #677
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Sunday, Dec. 1, WHITE
PLAINS: Protests are taking place in a number of cities in opposition to
the sale of SodaStream carbonation products which are produced in an illegal
Israeli settlement through the exploitation of Palestinian land, labor, and
resources. In White Plains, demonstrators will gather at 2 p.m. at the
kitchenware entrance to Macy’s, 100 Main St. and Court. “We will hold posters outside the store
and give handouts to shoppers. Some of us will go into the store to
distribute handouts and ask to meet with the manager. After meeting with
the manager, depending on time, we will walk to Target and/or
Walmart to repeat our action. We will sing carols with SodaStream lyrics as
part of the holiday shopping event.”
For more than a year, Palestine solidarity organizations
have been challenging Target and other U.S. vendors asking them to stop selling
SodaStream. Activities are taking place between Nov. 29 (the International
Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People) and Dec. 10 (Human Rights Day). A two-minute video explaining the action
is at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SVNR2gxfhrk&feature=youtu.be. A
petition is at http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/641/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=12341.
Sponsored by the U.S. Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation, http://www.endtheoccupation.org/section.php?id=456.
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| Post Civil War slavery by another name. |
Monday, Dec. 2, KINGSTON:
The free, public documentary “Slavery By Another Name (part 1)” will be
screened at 7 p.m. at the new Progressive Baptist Church, 8 Hone St. This
90-minute 2012 film describes “the era of the Re-Enslavement of Black Americans from the Civil War to
World War II.” We’re told: “A
huge system of forced, unpaid labor, mostly affecting Southern black men,
lasted until the beginning of the 1940s in America. Based on the Pulitzer Prize
winning book by Douglas Blackman, the film tells the story of men unjustly charged
with crimes like vagrancy who were bought and sold, abused and subject to
sometimes deadly working conditions as unpaid convict labor.” A discussion
will be led by Odell Winfield, founder of ENJAN (End the New Jim Crow Action
Network) and Rev. G. Modele Clarke, Pastor of New Progressive Baptist Church.
This film, which is recommended for adults and high school students, is part of
the “Who Is Jim Crow?” Film Series. The next showing — part 2 of “Slavery By
Another Name,” is Monday, Jan. 6, 7 p.m., same location. The series is
sponsored by ENJAN, New Progressive Baptist Church, Move To Amend, Unitarian Universalist Congregation (Kingston), Social Justice Committee
Woodstock Jewish Congregation, Task Force to End the New Jim Crow, N.Y. Citizen
Action (Hudson Valley), Sadie
Peterson Delaney African Roots Library (Family Services, Poughkeepsie N.Y.),
American Association of University
Women (Kingston). Information, Odell
Winfield, (914) 388-3092.
Monday, Dec. 2, OLD
CHATHAM: The Quaker Meetinghouse at 539 County Rt. 13 is the venue for a 6
p.m. potluck and 7 p.m. showing of “In the Family” — a documentary about “Chip,
a precocious six year old, who has only known life with his two dads, Cody and
Joey. And a good life it is. When Cody dies suddenly in a car accident, Joey
and Chip struggle to find their footing again. Just as they begin to, Cody's
will reveals that he named his sister as Chip's guardian. The years of Joey's
acceptance into the family unravel as Chip is taken away from him. In his now
solitary home life, Joey searches for a solution. The law is not on his side,
but friends are. Armed with their comfort and inspired by memories of Cody,
Joey finds a path to peace with the family and closer to his son. Free and
public. A moderated discussion will follow. Information, (518) 766-2992.
Directions, http://www.oldchathamquakers.org.
Tuesday, Dec. 3, NEW
PALTZ TO NYC: Many environmental organization are organizing an
anti-fracking demonstration outside the Roseland Ball Room 5:30-7 p.m., just
before Gov. Cuomo's birthday fundraiser inside
the famous hall at 239 W. 52nd St. in Manhattan. NYPIRG is organizing
transportation from SUNY New Paltz (leaving campus at 4 p.m., returning at 9
p.m.). For bus information contact Eric Wood immediately at ewood@nypirg.org. We’re
informed: “Cuomo will make a decision on fracking before elections next year.
That means it's time to come out in force to show the Governor what he'll be
seeing at every one of his campaign events over the next year: droves of
concerned citizens telling him to protect their water and ban fracking.”
Co-sponsored by United for Action, Food & Water Watch, Sierra Club, NYPIRG,
New Yorkers Against Fracking, Environment New York, Catskill Mountainkeeper,
Catskill Citizens for Safe Energy, Frack Action, CREDO Action, Progressive
Democrats of America, Green Party of New York State, Three Parks Independent
Democrats, Citizen Action of New York, Brooklyn Food Coalition, MoveOn.org,
Sane Energy Project, Brooklyn College Democrats, Occupy the Pipelines, Brooklyn
For Peace, Coalition Against the Rockaway Pipeline (CARP), Center for Health,
Environment, and Justice, John Jay College Democrats, NYH2O, 350.org, System
Change-Not Climate Change, Surfrider, Clean Ocean Action. Facebook information,
http://www.facebook.com/events/552255824848585/?ref_dashboard_filter=upcoming.
Tuesday and Friday,
Dec. 3 & 6, ROSENDALE: In recognition of International Human Rights
Week, the Amnesty International USA Mid Hudson Valley Chapter is organizing two
events. On Tuesday, Amnesty’s 3rd
Annual Human Rights Film showing starts at 7:15pm, at the Rosendale Theater
(408 Main St.). “Half the Sky: Turning
Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide” is a documentary film
inspired by the widely acclaimed book of the same name by Nicholas Kristof and
Sheryl WuDunn. (Contributions requested.) On Friday at 8 p.m. in the Rosendale Café, 434 Main St., DJ Michael
Wilcock will be spinning a mix of funk, soul, top 40 and classics. Information,
group1003@aiusa.org.
Tuesday, Dec. 3,
ALBANY: Opposition to Washington’s Trans Pacific Partnership (TTP) and the
demand for “Fair
Trade not Free trade” will be articulated during a demonstration starting at 12
noon at State and Pearl Sts. The event is sponsored by Occupy Albany, which
declares: “The TPP
is a major so-called 'free trade' agreement that’s
currently being
negotiated in secrecy among the U.S. and 11 other countries.
It has been called
‘NAFTA on steroids’ because it is in the mold of the
North American Free Trade
Agreement but is expected to be even worse. Most of TPP’s chapters don’t even
deal with trade, but would create
new privileges and immunities for
corporations and investors.” Information, pr@occupyalbany.org, http://www.occupyalbany.org.
Wednesday, Dec. 4,
ROSENDALE: “The Wisdom to Survive:
Climate Change, Capitalism and Community,” a new 56-minute documentary,
will premiere at 7:15 p.m. at the Rosendale Theatre, 408 Main St. Present for
the screening will be the filmmakers, Anne Macksoud and Ulster County local
John Ankele. We’re told: “In discussions with thought leaders and activists, the film explores how unlimited
growth lies behind climate disruption, and is devastating the planet’s life
support system, the social fabric, and the lives of billions of people. The
film features Bill McKibben (350.org); author Joanna Macy, whale scientist
Roger Payne, Herschelle Milford (Surplus People Project), Quincy Saul
(Ecosocialist Horizons), and more. They provide insights, answers, and hope.
What becomes clear is, we already have the tools we need to change our economy
and lifestyle. Our attention must focus on taking action and building
community.” Tickets are $7 general admission, $5 for members. A trailer for the
film is at http://olddogdocumentaries.org.
Friday, Dec. 6,
MILLBROOK: Writer Verlyn Klinkenborg
will talk about his new book, a collection of pieces from his New York Times
column The Rural Life.
Klinkenborg writes eloquently of life on his upstate New York farm, including
his animals, the weather and landscape, as well as broader issues about our
agricultural system and the disconnect from our food sources. The free public
event starts at 7 p.m. at the Cary Institute auditorium
2801 Sharon Turnpike (Rt.
44). Information, (845)
677-5343.
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| West Bank: Attacked while being interrogated. |
http:// www.mideastcrisis.org.
Wednesday, Dec. 11, NEW PALTZ (SUNY campus): Fukushima and You — a community dialogue to learn about the ongoing dangers of the widespread radiation from the meltdown of the Fukushima nuclear facility. Sponsored by Cancer Awareness Coalition and Occupy New Paltz. The free public event begins at 7 p.m. at the Coykendahl Science Building Auditorium. Information, Michele Riddell, (845) 255–5482
Tuesday, Dec. 17, NEW PALTZ: The MidHudson Valley Chapter of Amnesty International holds its monthly meeting at 5:30 p.m. at New Paltz Village Hall, 25 Plattekill Ave. (a block south of Main St., Rt. 299). “We welcome new members.” Information, group1003@aiusa.org.
Thursday, Dec. 19,
MILLBROOK: A Scientific
seminar, featuring
Brian
Lutz of Kent
State University, will compare the impacts on water resources of mountaintop
removal, coal mining
and hydraulic
fracturing (fracking). It takes place at 11 a.m. at the
Cary Institute
auditorium
2801 Sharon Turnpike (Rt. 44). Information,
(845) 677-5343.
