09-03-14 SEPTEMBER CALENDAR
Hudson Valley Activist Calendar, Issue #684
Send event announcements or to reach us: jacdon@earthlink.net
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For the latest Newsletter, click on 8-29-14 Activist Newsletter
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Attention Readers: We update each calendar online as new events are announced until the next full calendar is posted. The additional items will begin with this mark: √.
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Wednesday, Sept. 3, KINGSTON: Citizen Action of NY is sponsoring a 6:30 p.m. meeting titled “Good Jobs, Good Schools” at Mariner's Harbor Restaurant, 1 Broadway. The purpose is to “show registered voters who are unlikely to vote in a non-presidential year where statewide candidates stand on issues like a minimum wage increase and fair funding for public schools.” Information, kfisher@citizenactionny.org, http://citizenactionny.org.
Thursday, Sept, 4, WHITE PLAINS: Jewish Voice for Peace-Westchester is holding a 5:45 p.m. press conference at City Hall, 255 Main St., and is asking supporters to join in. Here’s why:
“On July 17, 26 public officials of Westchester rallied on the steps of City Hall to support the Israeli attacks on Gaza. To demonstrate that they did not speak for a significant portion of their constituents, we will gather today to address the media, to present the hundreds of signatures gathered on our petition disavowing their position and to press the demands from Concerned Families of Westchester, Jewish Voice for Peace-Westchester, and WESPAC. These are: • Stop the massacre of civilians. • End the Occupation of Palestine. • End the siege of Gaza. • Stop U.S. military aid to Israel.”
Saturday, Sept. 6, MOUNT KISCO: A vigil to protest Gov. Cuomo’s refusal to extend clemency to even one inmate in the state’s prison system. The event, called Candles for Clemency, will beheld 6-7 p.m. at the intersection of Crow Hill Rd. and Milwood Rd. Station (Rt. 133). There will also be a candlelight march to Cuomo’s nearby home. Here is a partial list of supporters: The National Organization for Women New York State, Village Independent Democrats, Chelsea Reform Democratic Club, Coalition for a District Alternative (CODA), Ansonia Independent Democrats, McManus Democratic Club, Greater NYC for Change, RAPP (Release of Aging People in Prison) Sheila Rule and Think Outside the Cell, Our Children and Village Zendo. Information, clehrer@hvc.rr.com.
Sunday, Sept. 7, NEW PALTZ: A free showing of the climate change film “Disruption” will start at 6 p.m. at the horse farm at the corner of Dug & Springtown Road (1Dug Rd.), upstairs in the farmhouse. “You can see the trailer, and find more screenings outside New Paltz, at http://act.350.org/signup/disruption_pledge/. After the screening, we'll have a short discussion about what we can all do together about climate change.
√ (New meeting dates) Monday, Sept. 8, KINGSTON: The End the New Jim Crow Action Network! (ENJAN), a Hudson Valley network dedicated to fighting racist policies of racial profiling, police brutality, and mass incarceration (the "new Jim Crow"), meets 6 p.m.-8 p.m. at the New Progressive Baptist Church, 8 Hone St. (Also meets here Tuesday, Sept. 22.) Information, (845) 475-8781, http://www.enjan.org.
Monday, Sept. 8, 2014, OLD CHATHAM: The Quaker Meeting will screen “The 800 Mile Wall” at 7 p.m. at the Old Chatham Quaker Meetinghouse 539 County Rt. 13, Old Chatham, across from Pitt Hall Road and Powell House. This documentary highlights the construction of the new border walls along the U.S.-Mexico border as well as their effect on migrants trying to cross into the U.S. It looks unflinchingly at a failed U.S. border strategy that many believe has caused the death of thousands of migrants, and offers some thoughts on how the current human rights crisis may be resolved. Free and public. Refreshments will be served and a moderated discussion will follow. Information, (518) 794-0259. Directions, www.oldchathamquakers.org.
Tuesday,
Sept. 9, NEW YORK STATE, ELSEWHERE: Today is the Democratic Party primary. The disappointing centrist
Gov. Cuomo will undoubtedly win his reelection primary and go on to swamp his
throw-away Republican rival. But many liberals and progressives are angry at
his performance on many matters including his pandering to the state’s wealthy,
refusal to carry through on promises to clean up corruption in the state and
his silence on fracking. Even the New York Times won’t back him and abstains on
the governor’s race. There are two insurgent choices for governor on the
primary ballot. One is the liberal team of Zephyr Teachout and Tim Wu, candidates
for governor and lieutenant governor respectively. The Times backed Wu in the
primary. The second Democratic primary gubernatorial candidate is Randy
Credico, who is positioned to the left of Teachout as “the most progressive
candidate since Franklin D. Roosevelt.” The hope is that if enough New Yorkers
vote for primary opponents, Cuomo may pay more attention to a liberal agenda,
or frankly, probably not except for rhetoric. Information, http://www.teachoutwu.com/,
http://www.credico2014.com.
√ Tuesday, Sept. 9, New Paltz (SUNY campus): “Out of Africa — The Contribution of Slaves to the Cuisines of the Americas,” is the title of a new book and author Raymond Sokolov’s free public lecture at 5:30 p.m. in the Coykendall Science Building auditorium. Sokolov will explore how the ingenuity of African slaves in preserving their African regional foodways enriched the dining vocabulary of an entire hemisphere. A book signing will be from 5-5:30 p.m. and there will be a reception after the lecture. Sponsored by the Friends of the Sojourner Truth Library. Campus map: http://www.newpaltz.edu/map/
Wednesday, Sept. 10,
POUGHKEEPSIE: The End the New Jim Crow Network will meet 6-8 p.m. at the
Sadie Peterson Delaney African Roots Library, Family Partnership Center, 29 N
Hamilton St. (NOTE: Also meets here Wednesday, Sept. 24). Information, (845)
475-8781, http://www.enjan.org.
Thursday, Sept. 11,
WOODSTOCK: Middle East Crisis Response, a group of Hudson Valley residents
joined together to promote peace and human rights in Palestine and the Middle
East, will hold its regular meeting tonight, 7-8:30 p.m. at Woodstock
Public Library, 5 Library Lane. Next meeting Thursday, Sept. 25. Information,
(845) 876-7906, http://www.mideastcrisis.org.
Friday, Sept. 12, NEW PALTZ: What might socialism look like in the United States? Inquiring Minds Bookstore, 6, Church St., is hosting a 7 p.m. talk and book signing by co-editors Michael and Debby Smith. The book, also edited by Fran Golden and published a few months ago, is titled, "Imagine: Living in a Socialist USA," and is available in paperback. The book features essays by many prominent people, including Michael Moore, Angela Davis, Frances Fox Piven, Martín Espada, Rick Wolff and Juan González. Times seem to be changing in the U.S. as incomes and jobs fall and political gridlock overtakes Washington. According to a recent Pew poll, 49% of people under the age of 30 had a favorable reaction to socialism. Information, (845) 255-8300.
Friday, Sept. 12, NEW YORK CITY: Today is the 16th anniversary of the arrest of the Cuban Five and the beginning of their political prosecution by the U.S. government for defending Cuba from U.S.-backed terrorism. A rally in defense of the Cuban Five takes place 5-7 p.m. at 26 Federal Plaza, Manhattan (Take the 4, 5, or 6 to Brooklyn Bridge-City Hall). The National Committee to Free the Cuban Five have been very active, along with the ANSWER Coalition since its early days. Among the NYC sponsors is The Popular Education Project to Free the Cuban Five. Information: (718) 601-4751. The National Committee is at http://www.freethefive.org.
Friday, Sept. 12, MILLBROOK: Achieving a sustainable society requires moving from an economy that tolerates environmental damage to one that does not. At 7 p.m. there will be a lecture by Dr. Steven Cohen, Executive Director of Columbia University's Earth Institute, on the topic of The Path to Sustainability — science-based environmental policy using four case studies: congestion pricing in New York City, hydraulic fracturing for natural gas, electronic waste, and global climate change. The free event will be held in the Cary Institute auditorium, 2801 Sharon Turnpike (Rt. 44). Information, (845) 677-7600, ext. 121, or freemanp@caryinstitute.org.
√ Sunday, Sept. 14, ALBANY:
Citizen advocate Ralph Nader is coming here today to support Green Party
candidates for governor (Howie Hawkins), comptroller, and the 21st CD. The
public is invited to the 4:30-6:30 p.m. meeting at First Unitarian
Universalist, 405 Washington Ave.
√ Saturday, Sept. 13,
NEW PALTZ: Hasbrouck Park on Mohonk Ave. is the venue for "New
Possibilities for Public Education: Rally for Kids and Schools." The 2-4 p.m. gathering is organized by Rethinking Testing: Mid-Hudson Region, which
says: “Come together with others in our communities to celebrate the progress
made in pushing back against high-stakes standardized testing, invasion of
student/parent privacy rights and efforts to privatize public education.... Be
part of a movement to reclaim education for the public (not corporate) good!”
They also add, “Bring the whole family for live music, face painting and sign
making.” Speakers include such educators as Arielle Chiger, Jeanette
Deutermann, David Greene, Lisa Rudley, and Bianca Tanis. Special guests include
Zephyr Teachout, one of Gov. Cuomo’s opponents in the Democratic primary Sept.
9, and Howie Hawkins, Green Party candidate for governor in November. Information, Nancy Schniedewind, (845)
255-8004, https://www.facebook.com/events/948533851832702.
√ Saturday, Sept. 13, NEW PALTZ: Brian Jones, Green Party
candidate for lieutenant governor, will speak at a 2 p.m. meeting in Hasbrouck
Park on Mohonk Ave. just west of campus. Information, http://www.howiehawkins.org/
and http://www.dutchessgreens.org
√ Saturday, Sept. 13, POUGHKEEPSIE (Vassar campus): Brian Jones,
Green Party candidate for lieutenant governor, will speak at a 6 p.m. meeting
in Center Multipurpose Room (#223), 240 Raymond Ave.Information, http://www.howiehawkins.org/
and http://www.dutchessgreens.org
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| 350's Bill McKibben. |
√ Wednesday, Sept. 17, ALBANY:
An Anti-Drones vigil, 12 noon-1 p.m.,
takes place at Capitol Park West including a large drone replica, photos of
drone victims and survivors, a big banner proclaiming "Drones Kill
Civilians," and more. This event is sponsored by Grannies for Peace (Women
Against War). Information, info@womenagainstwar.org, http://www.womenagainstwar.org/wordpress/.
√ Friday, Sept. 19, NEW PALTZ: A free public showing of a documentary
about the virtues of organic farming will begin at 8:15 p.m. in Elting Library, 93 Main St. It is titled "One
Man, One Cow, One Planet." We are informed the film is about “Peter
Proctor, New Zealand's father of biodynamic agriculture, a higher form of
organic farming.” The trailer is at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zcmzK_Mzx5k.
√ Saturday, Sept. 20, NEWBURGH: The New Jim Crow Film Series presents a
second showing of "Hard Road Home" at 1 p.m. followed by discussion
in the Children's Story Room of the Newburgh Free Library, 124 Grand St. Speaking
will be Bobby Lane, Co-ordinator of Exodus Transitional Community in
Newburgh, www.etcny.org, a
prison re-entry support group. Free, good will donation welcomed. Information,
Bobby Lane (845) 332-2222 or Rev. Steve Ruelke (845) 391-8890.
√ Saturday, Sept. 20, WOODSTOCK: For the time being there will be weekly
Saturday vigils beginning at 12 noon on the Village Green demanding the end of
the blockade of Gaza. Information,
http://www.mideastcrisis.org
√ Sunday, Sep. 21, SARATOGA SPRINGS: Visit the Saratoga Peace Fair, 12 noon-4 p.m.
at the Presbyterian-New England Congregational Church, 24 Circular St. The
mission of the Peace Week/ Fair is to empower attendees to build a more
peaceful world. Peace Week/ Fair will showcase the hard work and creative
spirit of individuals and organizations dedicated to promoting peace and
justice in all facets of our lives. Sponsored by: Albany Presbytery, The
Giving Circle, Globaissance, Presbyterian-New England Congregational Church of
Saratoga Springs, Saratoga Peace Alliance, Saratoga Religious Society of
Friends (Quakers), Saratogians for Gun Safety, The Unitarian Universalist
Congregation of Saratoga Springs, Upper Hudson Peace Action, Veterans for
Peace,Women Against War . Information, https://www.facebook.com/SaratogaPeaceWeekSept16222012, http://pnecchurch.org/wordpress/peace-ing/.
According to the organizers: “We'll be assembling in the morning on the streets in an area north of Columbus Circle; marching east on 59th St., south on 6th Avenue, west on 42nd St., and end at a closing activity on 11th Ave. between 34th and 39th Sts. This route keeps our march in the heart of Manhattan, and we’ll pass along the southern end of Times Square, making our massive numbers visible to the whole world.
“The march will be structured along a set of themes, and the many diverse contingents representing a broad range of communities and constituencies will gather within these themes. By marching in this kind of formation, we’ll communicate our collective story and our unified demand that world's leaders gathering just two days later at the UN must stop the rhetoric and get serious about dealing with the climate crisis. “
Progressive journalist Chris Hedges, who advocates civil disobedience at the UN when the environmental sessions open, says he supports the march but: “No one will reach the United Nations, which is located on the other side of Manhattan, on the East River beyond First Ave.— at least legally. There will be no speeches. There is no list of demands. It will be a climate-themed street fair." His article is at http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/the_last_gasp_of_climate_change_liberals_20140831.
NYS, Hudson Valley Special buses and trains:
New Paltz buses may leave from the Thruway park and ride but that is to be determined, as is the time of boarding and returning. It will all be known soon. Round trip tickets are $25, ($15 student/low income). Send your check in advance to New Paltz Climate Action Coalition, PO Box 671. New Paltz, NY 12561. You are advised to reserve early to secure a seat. There is information about this bus on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/events/305349609625695/.
(Note: click on buy, More info or Email for what you want.)
Albany, Bus, Buy a ticket here.
Contact info: Kathleen Horvath, Email, 703-297-7576
Depew, Train, More info.
Contact info: Jennifer K., Email, 415-766-7728
Kingston, Bus, Buy a ticket here.
Contact info: Annabelle Vinois, Email, 845-443-0880
Rochester, Train, More info.
Contact info: Jennifer K., Email, 415-766-7728
Saugerties, Bus, Buy a ticket here.
Contact info: Annabelle Vinois, Email, 845-443-0880
Schenectady, Train, More info.
Contact info: Jennifer K., Email, 415-766-7728
Syracuse, Train, More info.
Contact info: Jennifer K., Email, 415-766-7728
Utica, Train, More info.
Contact info: Jennifer K., Email, 415-766-7728
Woodstock, Bus, Buy a ticket here.
Contact info: Annabelle Vinois, Email, 845-443-0880
√ Monday, Sept. 22, POUGHKEEPSIE
(Dutchess Community College campus):
Community and advocacy groups from across the Hudson Valley will hold a series
of events to raise awareness about human trafficking and human rights
violations throughout the Fall season. This is the first event —a 6 p.m. screening
of the powerful new documentary “Not My Life” (see http://notmylife.org/) and community discussion about
trafficking. This will be followed by expert commentary and Q&A in the
campus theatre. Panelists include Taina Bien-Aime, Director, Coalition Against
Trafficking in Women; Nimmi Gowrinathan, author and UN consultant, and S. Ilgu
Ozler, associate professor of political science and international relations,
SUNY New Paltz. A campus map is at http://www.sunydutchess.edu/aboutdcc/campusmap.html.
Information, Andrew Rieser, (845) 431-8513, rieser@hvworldaffairscouncil.org.
√ Tuesday, Sept. 23, ROSENDALE: The documentary film “Not my Life” will
be screened at 7:15 p.m. in the Rosendale Theater, 408 Main St. (Donation
appreciatced). We’re informed this “is the first film to depict the cruel and
dehumanizing practices of human trafficking and modern slavery on a global
scale. Filmed on five continents, in a dozen countries, ‘Not My Life’ takes
viewers into a world where millions of children are exploited every day through
an astonishing array of practices including forced labor, domestic servitude,
begging, sex tourism, sexual violence, and child soldiering.” Sponsored by
Hudson Valley Amnesty International and the World Affairs Council. The film
will be followed by a community discussion led by S. Ilgu Ozler, associate
professor of political science and international relations, SUNY New Paltz.
(Contact: Amnesty USA Hudson Valley, amnesty1003@aiusa.org)
Wednesday, Oct. 1, ALBANY: Betty Medsger, the author of a 2014 book, “The Burglary: The Discovery of J. Edgar Hoover’s Secret FBI,” will speak at the Peace Action Awards Dinner, today at 5:30 p.m., St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, 10 North Main Ave. Upper Hudson Peace Action is the sponsor. The public is invited. A freewill donation will be requested. “The Burglary,” tells the story of nonviolent activists who broke into an FBI office in 1971 and discovered Hoover’s counterintelligence program (COINTELPRO), which spied upon and disrupted activist groups. Information, (518) 595-9324
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| Stop the drones, Oct. 4. |
Saturday, Oct. 4, ALL OVER: CodePink and other groups are organizing the “first-ever Global Action Day Against the Use of Drones for Surveillance & Killing” to take place today. According to CodePink’s Medea Benjamin: “People around the world are organizing anti-drone events in their communities, including protests, vigils, teach-ins, kite flying — the sky is the limit. Please consider taking part in this historic event by organizing an event in your community. The deadline for actions is coming up! Get the word out by listing your event on our online calendar, and check out what else is happening near you.” Information or to announce an action, Anastasia@codepink.org.
