6-2-15 CALENDAR

JUNE CALENDAR

June 2, 2015, Hudson Valley Activist Calendar, Issue #691

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Online: http://activistnewsletter.blogspot.com/

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For The Latest Activist Newsletter Click: 06-04-15 NEWSLETTER
For the Hegemony Games article click 5-31-15 Newsletter 

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The calendar is updated with new events every few days throughout the month. new items begin with this mark: √√.

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                                           Some say June is our loveliest month in the Valley.

  

Wednesday, June 3, DELMAR: A free public screening of the documentary "The Koch Brothers Exposed 2014," begins at 7 p.m. at the Bethlehem Public Library, 451 Delaware Ave. This hour-long documentary is an updated version of a Robert Greenwald film originally released in 2012. The updated information shows how the Koch brothers have used their vast fortunes to oppose government programs such as Medicaid, Medicare and Social Security, as well as obstruct efforts to raise the minimum wage, tackle climate change and expand voting rights.  A discussion will follow the film.  Sponsored by Bethlehem Neighbors for Peace. Information: (512) 466-1192.

1948: The Palestinian displacement

Friday, June 5, KINGSTON: The 2013 Israeli film "On the Side of the Road" will be screened 7-8:30 p.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Catskills, 320 Sawkill Rd. Directed by former West Bank settler Lia Tarachansky, the film examines Israelis' collective amnesia of the fateful events of 1948 when the state of Israel was born and most of the Palestinians became refugees. She follows the transformation of Israeli veterans trying to uncover their denial of the war that changed the region forever. Free and public. Sponsoredby  Middle East Crisis Response. Information, (845) 876-7906, http://www.mideastcrisis.org.

A film well worth seeing.

Saturday, June 6, 2015, OLD CHATHAM: The marvelous and truly uplifting 2014 British film "Pride" will have a free public screening starting at 7 p.m. at the Old Chatham Quaker Meetinghouse, 539 County Rt. 13 across from Pitt Hall Road and Powell House. A potluck dinner will begin at 6 p.m. for those who wish to partake. "Pride" is inspired by a true story.  It’s the summer of 1984, right wing anti-union Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher is in power and the National Union of Mineworkers is on strike, prompting a London-based group of gay and lesbian activists to raise money to support the strikers’ families.  Initially not encouraged by the union, the group identifies a tiny mining village in Wales and sets off to make their donation in person.  As the strike drags on, the two groups discover that standing together makes for the strongest union of all. A moderated discussion will follow. Information, call (518) 766-2992; directions, www.oldchathamquakers.org.

Last year's Pride march in New Paltz.

Sunday, June 7, NEW PALTZ: This town will host a Gay Pride Parade and festival today. People and groups from throughout the region will participate. The march begins promptly at 1 p.m. from the Middle School, Main St. and Manheim Blvd., proceeding down Main St. and turning to Hasbrouck Park, across from Village Hall for the festival, which ends around 4 p.m. There are many events into the evening, some of which charge admission (A Pride Pass is available for $25. The event is organized by the LGBTQ Community Center, which has more information at http://lgbtqcenter.org/events/pride-march-and-festival/.

√√ Friday, June 12, NEW PALTZ: Despite recent rhetoric about reducing greenhouse gas emissions, the Obama Administration's energy policy has transformed the U.S. in the last year into the world’s largest oil and natural gas producer, overtaking both Saudi Arabia (oil) and Russia (gas). In addition to opening up much of the East Cost to oil drilling, President Obama announced May 11 that oil giant Royal Dutch Shell has been given permission to drill for oil in the Chukchi Sea off Alaska's North Slope — threatening not only an environment jewel but the entire Arctic Ocean. A demonstration against Shell will take place at 5 p.m. outside Elting Library on Main St. Bring your own signs and musical instruments if you can. Information, newpaltzclimateaction@gmail.com.

Saturday, June 13, 2015, KINGSTON: The 150th anniversary of Juneteenth, the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the U.S., will be celebrated here today starting promptly at 5 p.m. at New Progressive Baptist Church, 8 Hone St. Keynote speaker at the event is long time civil rights activist Colia Clark, about whom  Kingston Mayor Shane Gallo Proclaims June 13th as Colia Clark Day, a well deserved recognition. There will be other speakers and entertainment including the New Pro Choir and Josh Otero, a master at using Poetry and Hip Hop to help change consciousness. The event is free, "including a delicious southern style dinner." Sponsors of this third annual celebration are New Progressive Baptist Church and Kingston ENJAN (End the New Jim Crow Action Network). Information, (845) 475-8781, http://www.enjan.org.

Saturday, June 13, ALBANY: The Capital Pride Parade and Festival steps off from Washington Park at 12 noon at the intersection of Robin and State Sts. From there it proceeds down State St., over Lark St., up Madison Ave. and back into the park at the intersection of Madison and New Scotland Aves. The festival is in the park. There are a number of events in the days leading up to Saturday sponsored by The Pride Center of the Capital Region. Information is at http://www.capitalpridecenter.org/pride/.

√√ Wednesday to Sunday, June 24 to June 28: PHILADELPHIA: Activists from Eastern states will gather here for the third U.S. Social Forum. (Western states will gather in San Jose, California.) The Social Forum "is a movement-building process. It is not a conference but a space to come up with the peoples’ solutions to the economic and ecological crisis.... [It] is a tool to connect our various fronts of struggle to the developing movement toward becoming a political force for transformation." For information about this event and registration contact the Answer Coalition at http://www.answercoalition.org/attend_the_u_s_social_forum

or the Social Forum website at https://www.ussocialforum.net.

Big Apple Pride March 2014.

Sunday, June 28, NEW YORK CITY: The biggest Pride march in the world will take place here, of course. The march starts at 12 noon at 36^th St. and Fifth Ave. and ends at Christopher and Greenwich Sts. in the Village. Many Valley residents, gay and straight, will head to the City to march or watch a great parade. There are events in the days leading to Saturday and in the evening after the march. All the information is here. http://www.nycpride.org/events.

                              The next Hudson Vally Activist Newsletter will arrive in 2 or 3 days.