HUDSON
VALLEY ACTIVIST CALENDAR
September 15, 2013, Issue #671
Send event announcements to jacdon@earthlink.net
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| One of many demonstrations for peace with Syria. |
Mass opposition by the people has temporarily halted a U.S.
attack on Syria. An attack could take place during or after the current
negotiations about removing chemical weapons. The ANSWER Coalition has
organized a petition campaign to the president and members of Congress opposing
any new attack. When you “sign” the online petition, including your Zip code,
it will automatically fill in the address of your representatives: http://www.answercoalition.org/national/news/tell-congress-and-president.html.
The next Activist Newsletter will publish several articles on this subject in
order to unravel the story behind the story. For instance, why has Washington
not made public the actual evidence that the Assad regime launched a chemical
attack? Why did Obama swiftly make an about-face just as he was going to take
action? The answers are far more complex than the government told us.
If an attack does occur a protest demonstration will be held
THE DAY AFTER in New Paltz, 4-6 p.m. on Main St. in front of the New Paltz
Plaza (the one with the theater). Bring signs. We can supply some. Sponsored by
The Hudson Valley Activist Newsletter, Mid-Hudson WORD (Women Organized to Resist and Defend),
Mid-Hudson ANSWER. Information, jacdon@earthlink.net.
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Activist
Events:
Tuesday, Sept. 17, KINGSTON: Today is a national day of action to expose
the negative aspects of the Trans Pacific
Partnership (TPP) — a trade deal engineered by Washington that critics consider
a “threat to our democracy and sovereignty.” Local activists are participating
in a demonstration opposing the TTP in front of the office of Rep. Chris Gibson
(19th CD), 721 Broadway. The
Obama Administration seeks to “fast track” the legislation through Congress,
limiting debate and disallowing amendments. Opponents, including the AFL-CIO,
say, “If we can stop Fast Track, we can stop TPP” —especially the most onerous
elements.
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| Protests against TPP have taken place in several countries, including the U.S. This one is from Asia. |
The U.S.-dominated TPP is focused on the Asia/Pacific
region. Critics
charge the TPP “is being written by 600 corporate ‘advisors,’ but Congress and
the American public are being kept in the dark. It would allow corporations to
sue nations for anticipated loss of profits, voiding environmental and labor
laws; offshore millions of American jobs; bring unsafe food and products into
the U.S.; increase cost of medicines; strangle internet privacy and free speech,
and much more.” Another objective of the trade pact is to strengthen the U.S. in
the region to “contain” China’s influence. A petition to Congress demanding, “Don‘t renew fast
track authority,” plus background on the TTP, is at
http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/congress-dont-renew-fast. Two local articles
are at
http://hv4nogmos.blogspot.com/2013/09/tpp-global-monsanto-protection-act.html
and http://www.clearstreammedia.blogspot.com/2013/08/tpp-opposition-grow. A five minute video explanation is at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0V1isuUe-ao. Among the sponsors are New Paltz Women in
Black and local MoveOn. Information Barbara Upton at AnahataSun@aol.com, https://www.facebook.com/events/421537034631062/
Wednesday, Sept. 18, SARATOGA
SPRINGS: A free public
screening of the extremely moving documentary “Five Broken Cameras” will take
place 7-9 p.m. at Unitarian
Universalist Congregation of Saratoga Springs, 624 North Broadway. The film is “a Palestinian farmer's chronicle of
his nonviolent resistance to the actions of the Israeli army. It was shot
almost entirely by Emad Burnat, who bought his first camera in 2005 to record
the birth of his youngest son. The footage was given to Israeli co-director Guy
Davidi, who edited it to be structured around the violent destruction of each
one of Burnat's cameras. The filmmakers' collaboration follows one family's
evolution over five years of village turmoil. The
showing is part of the Saratoga Peace Fair Week. It is sponsored by 10
progressive, peace and church groups. Information, (518) 584-1555, Saratoga.peace.fair@gmail.
Sunday, Sept. 22, SARATOGA SPRINGS: The annual Peace Fair, culminating Peace Week takes place today at Presbyterian-New
England Congregational Church, 24 Circular St. There will be over 50
exhibitors, live music, family activities, calls to political action, fair
trade products, lunch vendors, and other features. Participants are asked to
bring canned food, coffee, cleaning, or paper products to benefit the Guardian
House, a local veterans' home. This free public event is sponsored by 10
progressive, peace and church groups. Information, (518) 584-1555,
Monday, Sept 23,
RHINEBECK: A rally in support of the Women’s Equality Act will be held at 4:30
p.m. in front of Northern Dutchess Hospital (on the shoulder of Rt. 9 at 6511
Spring Brook Ave.). The 10-point Women's Equality Agenda failed narrowly in
June because conservative legislators objected to the clause strengthening
abortion rights. The other nine points passed. The demonstration is in
solidarity with the N.Y. Women’s Equality Coalition, the driving force behind
Gov. Cuomo’s requested legislation. The coalition has tremendous support
throughout New York State from over 800 progressive organizations and unions.
Information, (845) 453-2105, joeltyner@earthlink.netjoeltyner@earthlink.net. About the10-point plan, http://nywomensequality.org/10-point-plan/.
Wednesday, Sept. 25,
POUGHKEEPSIE: The group End the New Jim Crow Action Network (ENJAN), meets every second and fourth Wednesday planning actions to
address the racism in the U.S. criminal justice system, resulting in a wildly
disproportionate number of inmates of color. The effort is inspired by Michelle
Alexander's best-selling 2010 book "The
New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness." The
book is about the mass incarceration rates of African Americans in the U.S.
today. An extensive outline of the book is available at
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_New_Jim_Crow. The 6-8 p.m. Meeting is at the Sadie
Peterson Delaney African Roots Library, Family Partnership Center (Suite 218),
29 North Hamilton St. Information, (845) 452-6088, ext. 3343, Odell Winfield at
odell_winfield@yahoo.com.
Thursday, Sept. 26, WOODSTOCK: The Middle East Crisis Response group meets the second and fourth Thursdays 7-8:30 p.m. to work toward peace and human rights in Palestine and the Middle East. The venue is Woodstock Public Library, 5 Library Lane. Information, (845) 876-7906, mecr@mideastcrisis.org, http://www.mideastcrisis.org.
Monday, October 7,
OLD CHATHAM: A free
public screening of the documentary “Five Broken Cameras” will take place 7-9
p.m. at Old Chatham Quaker
Meetinghouse, 539 County Rt. 13 (across from Pitt Hall Rd.). A description of
the film is above at Sept. 18. Information, (518) 794-0259, Bob Elmendorf, poetapoetus@taconic.net.
Wednesday, Oct. 9,
TROY: Malalai Joya, the famed Afghan activist and writer, will speak at a 1
p.m.public meeting in Bush Memorial Hall on the Russell Sage Campus at 45 Ferry
St. (at Congress St.). She will also speak in Albany at 7 p.m. (see directly
below). We are informed by the organizers: “Malalai
Joya, 35, first gained international attention in 2003 when she spoke out
publicly against the domination of warlords in Afghanistan. She was at that
time serving as an elected delegate to the Loya Jirga that was convened to
ratify the Constitution of Afghanistan. In 2005 she became one of 68 women
elected to the 249-seat National Assembly. An extraordinary young woman, raised
in the refugee camps of Iran and Pakistan, Joya became a teacher in secret
girl's schools, hiding her books under her burqa so that the Taliban couldn't
find them.” This important event is sponsored by Women Against War, Bethlehem
Neighbors for Peace and numerous other local organizations. The tour is
sponsored by The United National Antiwar Coalition (UNAC). Information, (518) 466-1192,
Trudy Quaif, tquaif@yahoo.com.
Wednesday, Oct. 9, ALBANY: Malalai Joya, the famed activist and writer
from Afghanistan, will speak at a 7 p.m. meeting at the First Unitarian
Universalist Society of Albany, 405 Washington Ave. (See above for details). Sponsors are Women Against War, Bethlehem Neighbors
for Peace and numerous other local organizations. The tour is sponsored by The
United National Antiwar Coalition (UNAC). Information, (518) 466-1192, Trudy
Quaif, tquaif@yahoo.com.
