HUDSON VALLEY ACTIVIST CALENDAR
May 12, 2011, Issue #664
Send event announcements to jacdon@earthlink.net
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Dedicated to Helping Build Activist
Movements in the Hudson Valley
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Editor's Note: The following events supplement the larger May calendar sent May 1 and which is listed directly below.
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ACTIVIST EVENTS
Friday, May 13, MILLBROOK: The Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies is hosting an advance screening of "The Last Mountain," a new documentary about mountaintop removal. The free and public 7 p.m. event will be held in the auditorium, 2801 Sharon Turnpike (Rt. 44). A discussion with producer Clara Bingham and Institute president William Schlesinger will follow the showing. The 95-minute film "explores how coal companies are using a destructive mining process to the detriment of the environment and human health. To date, more than 500 mountains have been leveled by mountaintop mining, leaving behind spoiled forests, streams, and rural communities." Information, (845) 677-7600, ext. 121, freemanp@caryinstitute.org.
Friday, May 13, COOPERSTOWN: A concert intended to help raise money to fight shale gas hydrofracking in upstate New York will be held here today at Brewery Ommegang, 656 County Highway 33. The Levon Helm Band and special guest Arlo Guthrie will perform. The food, music and other events begin at 4 p.m. For information on costs, etc., http://www.ommegang.com/events.
Monday, May 16, POUGHKEEPSIE: A vigil/rally to ban fracking in New York State will take place 12:30-1:30 p.m. in front of the offices of State Sen. Stephen Saland and Assembly member Joel Miller, 3 Neptune Rd. (just off Rt. 9, north of Red Lobster). Information, joeltyner@earthlink.net.
Saturday, May 21, NEW ROCHELLE: Women in Black Westchester will hold a 2-3 p.m. vigil in solidarity with the Palestinian people at Main St. and Memorial Highway. It is sponsored by WESPAC and CodePink Westchester. Information, ceilie@aol.com, (914) 654-8990.
Saturday to Tuesday, May 21 to 24, WASHINGTON: "Move Over AIPAC" is the topic of several days of education and action here. (AIPAC is the acronym for the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, the principal U.S. lobbying group for Israel.) The purpose of the event, which is backed by a coalition of over 100 peace and justice groups, is to "expose AIPAC and build the vision for a new U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East." Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to address the AIPAC conference and the U.S. Congress during this time. The Move Over AIPAC coalition consists of CodePink, Global Exchange, U.S. Palestinian Community Network, Jews Say No!, Interfaith Peace-builders, the Fellowship of Reconciliation, Jewish Voice for Peace, U.S. Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation and many others. Different events take place every day, including many workshops, speakers, educational seminars, Congressional lobbying and a protest outside AIPAC's gala banquet. Among the speakers are John Mearsheimer and Stephen Walt (authors of "The Israel Lobby"), Holocaust survivor Hedy Epstein, writers Nadia Hijab and Phyllis Bennis, Palestinian blogger Laila El Haddad, Jewish Voice for Peace director Rebecca Vilkomerson, human rights lawyer Noura Erakat, Israeli researcher Dalit Baum, clown doctor Patch Adams, Rabbi Lynn Gottlieb, union organizer Bill Fletcher, human rights advocate Anna Baltzer, Janet McMahon from the Washington Report on Middle East Affairs and many more. All the information you will need is at http://www.moveoveraipac.org/, http://www.moveoveraipac.org/endorsers/.
