11-2-13 Activist Calendar

HUDSON VALLEY ACTIVIST CALENDAR

November 2, 2013, Issue #676

Send event announcements to jacdon@earthlink.net

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EDITOR’S NOTE: Here are three excellent videos for after you check out the calendar:

1. This is a must-see 4-minute video: “12-year-old takes on North Carolina Governor about voting rights.” In that state, 16 year olds can pre-register to vote when they become 18, but the governor wantS to end this right. Find it at http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/30/north-carolina-voter-id-kid_n_4176141.html.

2. Here’s a 4-minute local video of the Sept. 7 march and rally for women’s rights in New Paltz organized by Mid-Hudson WORD. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=11jPWHAymhg.

3. This one’s an hour-long feature documentary, and worth every minute. It’s “UNMANNED: America's Drone Wars,” Robert Greenwald's newest full-length feature. You have a chance to watch it free for a limited time before it hits the theater circuit. It is at http://unmanned.warcosts.com, or http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IfF0sjv4_ps#t=64.

NEW EVENTS IN NOVEMBER:

Saturday, Nov. 2, SARATOGA SPRINGS: A new film about two American Unitarians who volunteered to help rescue refugees from Nazi persecution in World War II —  "Two Who Dared: The Sharps' War" — will be screened at 7 p.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 624 North Broadway. The title is taken from the names of the two protagonists, Martha and Waitstill Sharp. Charlie Clements, Executive Director of the Carr Center of Human Rights at the Harvard Kennedy School, will present the film and participate in the discussion that follows. The Social Justice Committee is sponsoring this free public showing. Information, mlmceltic@msn.com, http://Saratoga-uu.org.

Monday, Nov. 4, Old CHATHAM: Appropriately enough, given that 48 million Americans have just had their food stamp benefits cut, the investigative documentary on hunger, "A Place at the Table," will be screened at 7 p.m. at the Quaker Meetinghouse, 539 County Rt. 13 (at Pitt Hall Rd.) This 84-minute 2012 film “examines hunger in America through the lens of three people struggling with food insecurity: a single Philadelphia mother, a Colorado fifth-grader who often has to depend on friends to feed her, and a Mississippi second-grader whose asthma and health issues are exacerbated by her meager diet. The film shows us how hunger poses serious economic, social and cultural implications for our nation, and that it could be solved once and for all." This free public meeting is sponsored by Old Chatham Quaker Meeting. Information, poetapoetus@taconic.net.

Tuesday, Nov. 5, UNITED STATES: Today is Election Day. There are six constitutional amendments. We recommend, as did the New York Times, that “the amendment to expand casino gambling in the state should be rejected.” The others seem okay to us. Some towns have local initiatives. In New Paltz, for instance, voters decide whether to increase funding for the Elting 
Library, a worthy cause. Regarding the candidates running for many jobs in each of our districts, 
we recommend that readers vote for the most left wing candidate running in each race.

Seymour Hersh

  

Tuesday, Nov. 5, NEW PALTZ (SUNY campus): Professor Robert Miraldi will discuss and sign copies of his new book, "Seymour Hersh: Scoop Artist" at 6 p.m. in the Honors Center. Hersh, a Pulitzer-Prize winning investigative journalist, is perhaps best known for his revelations about the My Lai massacre in Vietnam. He had many scoops during a long journalistic career — and he’s still accumulating them at the age of 76, publishing mainly in the New Yorker. He has written nine books so far. Campus map: http://www.newpaltz.edu/map/. Information, ivana@newpaltz.edu.

Tuesday, Nov. 12, and Tuesday, Nov. 26, KINGSTON: The End the New Jim Crow Action Network (ENJAN) will meet these Tuesday nights at 6-7:30 p.m. at the New Progressive Baptist Church, 8 Hone St. ENJAN is a Hudson Valley group dedicated to fighting racist policies of racial profiling, police brutality, and mass incarceration (the "new Jim Crow"). Information, (845) 475-8781, http://www.enjan.org.

Wednesday, Nov. 13 and Nov. 27, POUGHKEEPSIE: The End the New Jim Crow Action Network (ENJAN) will meet these Wednesday nights at 6-7:30 p.m. at the Sadie Peterson Delaney African Roots Library, Family Partnership Center, 29 N. Hamilton St. ENJAN is a Hudson Valley network dedicated to fighting racist policies of racial profiling, police brutality, and mass incarceration (the "new Jim Crow"). Information, (845) 475-8781, http://www.enjan.org.

Wednesday, Nov. 13, TROY: Dr. George Tiller, medical director of Women's Health Care Services in Wichita — one of only three clinics nationwide to provide late-term abortions at the time — was murdered in 2009. “After Tiller” is a 2013 documentary film directed by Martha Shane and Lana Wilson that offers “an intimate, award-winning exploration of the highly controversial subject of third-trimester abortions in the wake of Tiller’s assassination.” Lana Wilson will be present for discussion and answering questions. Admission is by donation ($10 suggested, $5 student/low income). The Sanctuary for Independent Media is located at 3361 6th Avenue (at the corner of 101st St.) in North Troy. The film website is at http://aftertillermovie.com. Information and directions, (518) 272-2390.

Wednesday, Nov. 13, DELMAR: Valley Activists Paul Rehm and Alice Brody will discuss “Israel/Palestine, Children and the Face of Occupation" starting at 7 p.m. at  the Bethlehem Public Library, 451 Delaware Ave. Rehm is a steering committee member of Upper Hudson Peace Action and has worked with Christian Peacemaker Teams in Israel/Palestine during seven of the past nine years. Brody was a labor union educator and activist, before retiring. She now advocates for single payer healthcare and Palestinian Rights, and is a member of Women Against War’s Iran Working Group. This free public event is sponsored by Bethlehem Neighbors for Peace. Information, jlombard@nycap.rr.com.

Thursday, Nov. 14, NEW PALTZ: A collaboration between Amnesty International USA (Hudson Valley Chapter) and Hudson River Playback Theatre titled “Light A Candle,” will begin at 8 p.m. at the Community Center (behind Town Hall) at 130 N. Chestnut St. (Rt. 32) at Veterans Drive. We’re told: “A team of improvisers will enact harrowing, yet hopeful, stories from prisoners of conscience, individuals at risk, and other survivors; to shine a light on the darkest of places where human rights abuses take place. Audience members are invited to share their responses and tell their own stories, then watch as those stories are acted out on the spot, along with music.” A donation will be appreciated. Sponsored by Amnesty and the Playback Theater. Information, group1003@aiusa.org, (845 255-7716), http://www.hudsonriverplayback.org.

Friday, Nov. 15, NEW PALTZ (SUNY campus): The School of Education at the State University of New York at New Paltz will hold its 19th annual Multicultural Education Conference titled, “A Million Moments for Ensuring Equity and Creating Change,” from 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m., in the Student Union Building. More than a dozen workshops will also be offered. The keynote speaker Enid Lee, a consultant who works with school districts on equity and anti-racist practices. Her talk is titled “Changing Our System for Equity: Reaching Every Student. A cultural arts performance, titled “Creativity & Hip Hop Performance: A Catalyst for Intrinsic Motivation for Learning & Action,” will be performed by the Hip Hop Psychology Performing Arts Movement. For program information contact Professor Nancy Schniedewind, at (845) 257-2827 or schniedn@newpaltz.edu. For registration information, contact Christine Waldo-Klinger at conferencing@newpaltz.edu or call (845) 257-3033. Tickets cost $40 for adults and $8 for students.

Wednesday, Nov. 20, POUGHKEEPSIE: Light Up The World (LUTW) is a Canadian non-profit organization dedicated to promoting safe and efficient lighting in remote, poor agricultural communities of Central and South America. Speaking at 7 p.m. will be Jean-Claude Fouere who recently completed a field trip for LUTW in the High Andes of Peru. He will discuss how he and others installed low power solar systems and LED lights at the home of 30 alpaca herder families, providing far better and safer lighting than polluting, fire-prone candles. We’re told, “approximately 1.3 billion people do not have access to electricity. Access to renewable energy creates a healthy and safe home environment, enhances opportunities for education and contributes to economic development by increasing disposable income and encouraging entrepreneurship.” This free public event will be held at the Unitarian Fellowship of Poughkeepsie , 67 South Randolph Ave. Information., (845) 471-6580.

Thursday, Nov. 21, ALBANY: Rashid Khalidi, Edward Said Professor of Modern Arab Studies at Columbia University, will discuss his new book, “Brokers of Deceit; How the U.S. Has Undermined Peace in the Middle East,” at 7 p.m., Albany Law School, 80 New Scotland Ave. He will be welcomed by school Dean Penny Andrews, and introduced by Rabbi David Gordis, past president of Hebrew College. This free public event is sponsored by Palestinian Rights Committee of Upper Hudson Peace Action, Albany N.Y. Chapter, National Lawyers Guild, The Solidarity Committee of the Capital District, Women Against War, Muslim Solidarity Committee, and Project Salam. Information, (518) 465-5425, gdamm@nycap.rr.com.

Monday, Nov. 25, POUGHKEEPSIE (Vassar Campus): The extraordinary 2011 award-winning documentary “Miss Representation” will be screened 5-6:30 p.m. at the College Center Bookstore.

We’re told: “The film examines the powerful influence of mainstream media in our contemporary culture... showing how it creates a generation of women defined by beauty and sexuality and not by their capacity as leaders." The campus main entrance is at 124 Raymond Ave. As you enter, the Main Building is straight ahead. The Campus Center is in the back of Main. The bookstore is hosting the this free, public event. A campus map is at http://www.vassar.edu/visitors/pdfs/map.pdf. Information, Susan Vinett, suvinett@vassar.edu, (845) 437-5870. A film trailer is at

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6gkIiV6konY.

Thursday, Nov. 28, AMERICA: We don’t proselytize much for animal rights and vegan/vegetarianism in the calendar, except around Thanksgiving, which is today.We’d like to talk turkey about turkeys. All told throughout the year, about 300 million turkeys are raised for slaughter, nearly 47 million for this single day of gluttony. Their lives are short and brutal. Many never leave the cruel factory “farm” until they are about to be killed. “The symbolism surrounding the Thanksgiving turkey, much like the modern domestic turkey itself, has been largely manufactured by cynical commercial interests. There is neither compelling historical precedent nor meaningful rationale for associating the butchered carcass of a turkey with our national day of thanksgiving.” This information comes from a brief article titled “The History of Thanksgiving” on the Farm Sanctuary website, http://www.farmsanctuary.org/giving/adopt-a-turkey/adopt-a-turkey-history-of-thanksgiving/. Google “Vegetarian and vegan recipes for Thanksgiving” and you will find some very delicious recipes.