November 12 to 18, 2014
Transkript
November 12 to 18, 2014
******************************************************************************************* THE WESTERN NEW YORK PEACE CENTER'S WEEKLY UPDATES November 12 to 18, 2014 A Compilation of News and Upcoming Events of Interest to the Local Progressive Community ******************************************************************************************* Peacemakers, Please send all notices you want publicized to: weeklynews@wnypeace.org Send them in by Tuesday, November 18th to ensure their inclusion in the November 19th to 25th Weekly Updates. Also, please mention whether or not you want some rolling notices such as articles or videos taken down (for reasons of timeliness or other) and new ones put in their place, in order to save on space and keep the Updates fresh. In case the entire Updates are not readable through your email account, a basic PDF text file of this week's news and announcements is attached for download. Your comments and suggestions to make the Updates more useful are VERY much appreciated. Thank you! - Jeff O'Connell =========================================================== PLEASE CONTACT OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS, CONCERNS, ACTIVISM IDEAS, AND/OR WISH TO VOLUNTEER FOR THE WESTERN NEW YORK PEACE CENTER! WE WILL PURSUE MANY ACTIVITIES FOR 2015! :-) The Rev. Justo Gonzalez II Phone: (716) 989-9207 Email: jgonzo2@gmail.com =========================================================== THANK YOU FOR ALL WHO ATTENDED OUR ANNUAL DINNER ON SATURDAY!!! We will be fully thanking everyone who participated and organized in a separate email soon (with a PDF attached of the dinner program). Dinner Photos: http://tinyurl.com/o2odtdh Unedited livestream of the dinner (an edited higher-quality version will be available in the near-future): http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/55148628 Photos from workshops Anthony held during his stay in Buffalo from Friday to Sunday: "Save The Kids Workshop" (PUSH-Buffalo: Friday, November 7) http://tinyurl.com/l4u83yn http://tinyurl.com/nngqyr6 "Organize Against The School To Prison Pipeline: Youth Justice To Transformative Justice" (Burning Books: Sunday, November 9) http://tinyurl.com/mg5frt8 http://tinyurl.com/m2h6sd2 =========================================================== TABLE OF CONTENTS: I. WNY Peace Center Special Announcements, Board Meetings, Websites, Videos, Etc. II. Notable Events This Week III. Keep The Date Open IV. Task Force News & Events V. Allied Organizations News & Events VI. Other Items Of Note =========================================================== I. WNY PEACE CENTER SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS, BOARD MEETINGS, WEBSITES, VIDEOS, ETC. ************************************ The next WNY Peace Center Coordinating Board Meeting will be held next month on Monday, December 8, from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.., at the Network of Religious Communities (1272 Delaware Ave, Buffalo, NY 14209). All are welcome! ************************************ CHECK OUT THIS ARTICLE!!! On the International Day Of Non-Violence ( http://www.un.org/en/events/nonviolenceday/), Michael Zak, a board member of the WNY Peace Center, took part in a panel discussion moderated by the Association For India's Development (AID) – Buffalo Chapter at the University at Buffalo Law School on October 2, 2014. The topic was “Martin Luther King and Gandhi: Are They Still Relevant?” The other panel members were Barry Gan, a professor of philosophy at St. Bonaventure University; Juhi Roy, a member of the Graduate Student Employee Union in UB; and Durgham Alyasiri, a senior biology and health and human services major and president of the Organization of Arab Students. “UB Panel Applies Teachings Of Gandhi And King To Today” (UB Spectrum, Aylin Erdogan: October 5 2014) http://www.ubspectrum.com/news/view.php/850406/UB-panel-applies-teachings-of-Ghandi-and Facebook Event Page: https://www.facebook.com/events/310091859175190/ Photos From AID-Buffalo's Twitter: https://twitter.com/AID_BUFFALO/media ************************************ WNY PEACE CENTER WEBSITES (Check For Updates!): Main Website: http://wnypeace.org/new/ Blog: http://wnypeacecenter.blogspot.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WesternNewYorkPeaceCenter/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/WNYPeaceCenter/ Vimeo Channel: http://vimeo.com/user22770463/ YouTube Channel: http://tinyurl.com/kzlf2ac/ =========================================================== II. NOTABLE EVENTS THIS WEEK (Listed in order of date): ************************************ 1. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12 "No More Fracking Lies! Protest" 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. Hyatt Regency Hotel 2 Fountain Plaza (assemble at Pearl and West Huron Streets) Buffalo, NY 14202 The Independent Oil & Gas Association of NY (IOGA) is the chief oil and gas lobbying organization in New York, spending millions backing fracking and natural gas development in the state and opposing environmental safe-guards. IOGA will be holding their 2014 Annual Meeting in Buffalo from November 11th to 12th. The oil and gas industry doesn't have science behind them so they resort to lies and innuendo invented by highly paid law firms. Berman and Co seems to be the leader in this effort -- getting millions of $$. Our presence outside of their meeting will demand that our legislators not listen to gas industry lies! We're calling on YOU to stand against the bull-dozing of the truth by joining us on November 12th. Sponsors include PAUSE, the Renewable Energy Task Force of the WNY Peace Center, Western NY Drilling Defense, Food & Water Watch, and the New Yorkers Against Fracking coalition. Facebook Event Page: https://www.facebook.com/events/486799784794821/ ************************************ 2. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12 "Thomas Merton Center Honors Jeremy Scahill" 6:00 p.m. Sheraton Station Square Hotel 300 W. Station Square Drive Pittsburgh, PA 15219 “Jeremy Scahill is a Puffin Foundation Writing Fellow at The Nation Institute, an award-winning investigative journalist, and one of the founding editors of The Intercept. His book, 'Dirty Wars: The World Is A Battlefield' (Nation Books, 2013) debuted at #5 on the New York Times Best Sellers list. “He is the also the author of the bestselling 'Blackwater: The Rise Of The World’s Most Powerful Mercenary Army' (Nation Books, 2008). Scahill is a producer, writer, and lead character of the film version of 'Dirty Wars,' which won the Cinematography Award for a US Documentary at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival and was nominated for an Academy Award. “A former national security correspondent for The Nation, Scahill was also a longtime senior producer and correspondent for Democracy Now, and he remains a frequent contributor to the program. “He has reported from Afghanistan, Iraq, Somalia, Yemen, the former Yugoslavia, and elsewhere across the globe. Scahill is a frequent guest on a wide array of programs, appearing regularly on the Rachel Maddow Show, Real Time with Bill Maher, and Democracy Now! He has also appeared on Fresh Air, ABC World News, CBS Evening News, NBC Nightly News, CNN, PBS NewsHour, and Bill Moyers Journal. “Scahill’s work has sparked several Congressional investigations and won some of journalism’s highest honors. He was twice awarded the prestigious George Polk Award, in 1998 for foreign reporting and in 2008 for his book 'Blackwater.' Traveling around the hurricane zone in the wake of Katrina in September 2005, Scahill exposed the presence of Blackwater mercenaries in New Orleans. His reporting sparked a Congressional inquiry and an internal Department of Homeland Security investigation. (Source: The Nation Institute) Admission Prices Patron Admission: $100 – patrons will be listed in the program as a valued supporter Individual Admission: $50 Table of Ten: $500 Low-Income or Student Admission: $30 (Limited Number of Seats) (PLEASE NOTE: There is a limited number of low income admissions due to the need to cover the cost of the venue. To receive a low-income rate please email registration@thomasmertoncenter.org to receive your registration code) Make reservations here: http://tinyurl.com/ny74249 For more information, visit: http://thomasmertoncenter.org/scahill/ ************************************ 3. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 13 “Indigenous Women's Initiatives (IWI) Talking Circle” 12:00 to 3:00 p.m. Network of Religious Communities 1272 Delaware Avenue Buffalo, NY 14209 Please bring an organic snack to share at noon and the Circle will open at 12:30 p.m. Parking and entrance in the rear of the building. Come on out to join us! For More Information, contact: Agnes Williams Phone: (716) 332-6988 Fax: (716) 332-6998 Email: info@iwinitiatives.org ************************************ 4. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 13 Why Are UB And The Region So Serious About Solar?" 5:30 p.m. (Reception) / 6:15 p.m. (Program) The Saturn Club 977 Delaware Avenue Buffalo, NY A lecture by Dean Robert Shibley followed by a panel discussion and Q&A with leading solar researchers and developers. Join us as we illustrate how Buffalo’s renaissance looks “back to the future” by taking a similar approach with a different green energy source: solar. From SolarCity’s recent announcement of creating the Western Hemisphere’s largest photovoltaic solar manufacturing site in South Buffalo, to the growth in local solar companies, to the groundbreaking research occurring right here at UB – solar is no longer a theoretical possibility, it is the cornerstone of a new strategy that not only positions Buffalo-Niagara as a leader but combats the serious challenges of climate change and skyrocketing energy prices. Please RSVP by Wednesday, November 12 to Jerry Kelly at gerald@geraldkelly.com ************************************ 5. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 13 TO SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 15 “ 'End Days' by Deborah Zoe Laufer” Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays 8:00 p.m. Subversive Theatre Collective Manny Fried Playhouse Great Arrow Building (3rd Floor) 255 Great Arrow Avenue Buffalo, NY LAST WEEK!!! DON'T MISS!!! In END DAYS, Laufer offers a wry twist on the Second Coming as Jesus Christ and Stephen Hawking vie for the hearts and minds of an anything-but-ordinary middle American family still reeling from 9/11. It’s a sharp, inventive, sweetly-understated comedy with a serious message about blind faith, love, and family in Twenty-First Century America. Tickets: $25/General Admission $20/Students, Seniors, and Subversive Theatre members. All Thursday shows are Pay-What-You-Can. For more information, call (716) 408-0499 or visit our website – where tickets can be purchased online at: http://www.subversivetheatre.org/buy_tickets2 Main Event Page: http://www.subversivetheatre.org/productions/end_days/teaser.htm Facebook Event Page: https://www.facebook.com/events/379512752200899/ ************************************ 6. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 15 “Buffalo Adjunct Movement (BAM!) Planning Meeting” 4:00 p.m. Casa Di Pizza (in the backroom) 447 Elmwood Avenue Buffalo, NY Calling all adjuncts! Join the movement! For more info about BAM!: Phone: (716) 725-2193 Email: buffaloadjunctmovement@gmail.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100004142538281&fref=ts Twitter: https://twitter.com/BuffaloAdjuncts ************************************ 7. SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 16 "Rev. Justo Gonzalez" 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. (Program) / 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. (Potluck) Riverside-Salem Environmental Cottage 3449 West River Road "Grand Island, NY 14072 ************************************ 8. MONDAY, NOVEMBER 17 "CEJ's Magic School Bus Field Trip" 11:15 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Coalition for Economic Justice (begins at main office) 237 Main Street, Suite 1200 Buffalo, New York 14203 Join CEJ and friends for a Magic School Bus Field Trip to help make sure all jobs Industrial Development Agencies create with taxpayer dollars pay workers a living wage in Western New York. Like the PBS Magic School Bus television show, this will be an entertaining and educational adventure. Corporations like Gold’s Gym, the Marriot, and others are bulking-up with taxpayer money while creating low wage jobs that keep workers in poverty. Our search will also take us to another company that did the right thing and used public subsidies to keep 165 good, living wage jobs here in Buffalo. Facebook Event Page: https://www.facebook.com/events/1492658171003639/?notif_t=plan_user_invited =========================================================== III. KEEP THE DATE OPEN (Events are listed in order of date): ************************************ 1. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 19 “Covering Up The Iran Contra Affair” 7:00 p.m. Burning Books 420 Connecticut Street Buffalo, NY 14213 A tangled tale of politics, drugs, hostages, weapons, assassinations, covert operations and the ultimate plan to suspend the constitution of the United States. Presented by the Buffalo chapter of the Leonard Peltier Defense Offense Committee. Event Page: http://burningbooksbuffalo.com/ai1ec_event/covering-up-the-iran-contra-affair?instance_id=357 Event Poster: http://burningbooksbuffalo.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/11-19-2014LPDOC1.jpg ************************************ 2. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 21 "' 'Bhopal: A Prayer For Rain' Movie Screening & Discussion" 7:00 to 10:00 p.m. UB North Campus 206 Furnas Hall Buffalo, NY 14260 Almost 30 years after the world's worst industrial disaster, millions of people are still suffering from long-term effects. Survivor's of bhopal gas disaster are still fighting an uphill battle for justice. Lets meet to watch the movie "Bhopal: A Prayer for Rain" (Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch? v=rO6xCAsv4s4) and have a discussion after the movie to discuss the status of surviour's struggle, regulatory framework to prevent another such disaster, chemical toxicity in our local communities and what each one of us can do to help. We will be having a representative from Clean Air Coalition of WNY at the event leading the discussion! Sponsored by the Association For India's Development (AID)-Buffalo Chapter. Movie Websites: IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0839742/ Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhopal:_A_Prayer_for_Rain Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/APrayerForRain ************************************ 2. MONDAY, NOVEMBER 24 “LASC Coffeehouse: 'Understanding Honduras and Venezuela' ” 7 to 9 p.m. Canisius College Science Hall 2001 Main Street Buffalo NY 14208-1517 This program features Raul Burbano, the program director at Common Frontiers, a multi-sectional NGO that undertakes research and political action with a focus on Latin America. He has travelled extensively through the region, most recently to Honduras and Venezuela, where he met with various social movement leaders and communities in resistance. ************************************ 3. MONDAY, NOVEMBER 24 "Prisoners Are People Too, Inc. Monthly Meeting" 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. Pratt-Willert Community Center 422 Pratt Street Buffalo, NY 14204 All monthly Prisoners Are People, Too, Inc. programs are sponsored by the Circle of Supporters for Reformed Offenders and Friends of BaBa Eng. For more information, contact: Karima Amin Phone: 716-834-8438 Email: karima@prisonersarepeopletoo.org George BaBa Eng Email: g.babaeng@yahoo.com ************************************ 4. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 25 "U.S. Friends Of Soviet People Screening: 'Reds' (1981)" 7:00 p.m. El Buen Amigo 114 Elmwood Avenue Buffalo, NY The Buffalo branch of U.S. Friends Of Soviet People (http://usfriendsofthesovietpeople.org/) will be hostign a FREE screening of the 1981 film "Reds," directed by and starring Warren Beatty, co-starring Diane Keaton and Jack Nicholson. Refreshments will be served. ************************************ 5. ANYTIME BETWEEN TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 12 AND SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 30 "Day After Demonstration: Turn Up For Mike Brown" 5:00 p.m. Anytime Between November 12 and 30 (on the day after the Ferguson Grand Jury Decison) Bailey Avenue and Millicent Avenue Buffalo, NY An announcement will soon be made about the grand jury's decision in the case of Darren Wilson. Preliminary leaks appear to indicate that Wilson will not be charged by the grand jury with the murder of Mike Brown. Planning is ongoing for a nationwide response. We want to see Buffalo act alongside other cities across the country in solidarity with Ferguson and against racist state sanctioned harassment and brutality in our own city. We demand real justice! We demand an end to the violence! We will #turnupformikebrown ! Facebook Event Page: https://www.facebook.com/events/1499900210294598/ =========================================================== IV. WNY PEACE CENTER TASK FORCE NEWS AND EVENTS Anti-Fracking (AF) Community Economic Empowerment (CEE) Global Economic Justice (GEJ) Latin American Solidarity Committee (LASC) Middle East (ME) Peaceful Conflict Resolution (PCR) Prisoners' Rights (PR) Renewable Energy (RE) Resist Militarism (RM) =========================================================== ANTI-FRACKING (AF) ************************************ "No More Fracking Lies! Protest" 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. Hyatt Regency Hotel 2 Fountain Plaza (assemble at Pearl and West Huron Streets) Buffalo, NY 14202 The Independent Oil & Gas Association of NY (IOGA) is the chief oil and gas lobbying organization in New York, spending millions backing fracking and natural gas development in the state and opposing environmental safe-guards. IOGA will be holding their 2014 Annual Meeting in Buffalo from November 11th to 12th. This year the keynote speaker is Jack Hubbard who lecture on "Big Green Radicals: Winning Public Opinion, Undermining the Activist's Credibility and Changing the Debate." Jack Hubbard works for a Washington D.C. law firm Berman & Company who specializes in anti-environmentalist PR, and is currently engaging in an intentionally controversial public relations campaign against environmentalists, using shell non-profit groups, to distract from the facts and science showing the dangers of fracking. Berman & Company's latest report is entitled "Big Green Radicals." Last Friday the NY Times published a secretly recorded talk given by Hubbard's colleague, Richard Berman. Besides being anti-environment, Berman is strongly anti-union. The transcript of his talk is here: http://tinyurl.com/BermanTalk The NY Times article is here: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/31/us/politics/pr-executives-western-energy-alliance-speech-taped.html The oil and gas industry doesn't have science behind them so they resort to lies and innuendo invented by highly paid law firms. Berman and Co seems to be the leader in this effort -- getting millions of $$. Our presence outside of their meeting will demand that our legislators not listen to gas industry lies! We're calling on YOU to stand against the bull-dozing of the truth by joining us on November 12th. Sponsors include PAUSE, the Renewable Energy Task Force of the WNY Peace Center, Western NY Drilling Defense, Food & Water Watch, and the New Yorkers Against Fracking coalition. More articles on Berman: "Why Dr. Evil Is Targeting Anti-Fracking Activists As ‘Big Green Radicals’ " http://ecowatch.com/2014/11/01/richard-berman-big-green-radicals/ "PR Firm To Advise New York Oil & Gas Group To 'Win Ugly' " http://www.alternet.org/pr-firm-advise-new-york-oil-gas-group-win-ugly ************************************ COVERAGE OF THE GLOBAL FRACKDOWN IN BUFFALO ON OCTOBER 18, 2014, FEATURING ZEPHYR TEACHOUT! http://buffalo.twcnews.com/content/news/778292/activists-rally-at-global-frackdown-in-buffalo/ ************************************ PHOTOS FROM THE ANTI-FRACKING RALLY IN FRONT OF THE GUBERNATORIAL DEBATES IN BUFFALO ON OCTOBER 22, 2014!!! http://tinyurl.com/ljktga7 ************************************ “Ban Fracking Community Meeting: Amherst” Thursday, December 18 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. Williamsville Public Library 5571 Main Street Williamsville, New York 14221 Facebook Event Page: https://www.facebook.com/events/358948600948278/?unit_ref=related_events Fracking is a natural gas drilling technique that goes miles underground to break up shale rock using water, sand, and toxic chemicals. In Pennsylvania residents living in areas with fracking have reported flammable tap water, unexplained health problems, increased municipal costs, degradation of air quality, huge increases in truck traffic, and the list goes on. New Yorkers must not sacrifice our state to the gas & oil industry for corporate profits! With fracking posed to happen in New York State if we don't stop it - now is the time to act. WNY Drilling Defense are community members united to prevent fracking through education, action, and policy. We are a group of water defenders, gas and oil resisters, environmental justice activists – and a front against fracking! Join the next open community meeting and help ensure that New York stays frack-free! To find out more or get involved, contact Rita at ryelda@fwwatch.org. ************************************ "Petition To Ban Fracking In Amherst, NY" It is time for Amherst, NY to protect our health and safety by passing a ban on fracking and its toxic waste. Fracking for oil and natural gas has led to drinking water contamination, public health problems and dangerous explosions in states across the country. The toxic waste it produces is often radioactive, and it contains an array of cancer-causing chemicals. Yet due to oversight, it's mishandled at municipal treatment plants and has even been spread on local roadways as an ice-melting agent. There is no safe way to treat this toxic waste — which is why we need to keep it from being disposed of here in Amherst. Now is the time to tell the Amherst Town Board to protect us from fracking! Please sign the petition below. We'll deliver your signature and additional message directly to your elected officials. http://tinyurl.com/kghqsxv/ ************************************ WNY Drilling Defense / Anti-Fracking Task Force Rita Yelda Phone: (716) 507-2077 Email: ryelda@gmail.com and wnydrillingdefense@gmail.com Frank Gage Phone: (716)893-5584 Email: snowbird1967@roadrunner.com Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/WNYDrillingDefense/ ============================================================= COMMUNITY ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT (CEE) ************************************ “The Responsible Banking Ordinance” Make banks invest in our communities! Support the Responsible Banking Ordinance! Responsible Banking has brought BILLIONS OF DOLLARS to communities around the country. Buffalo currently has its money invested in 3 major banks, one of which has no branches and doesn't give out any loans in the City of Buffalo. Why are we investing our money in a bank that gives nothing back to our community? What does a Responsible Banking Ordinance (or RBO) do? * Forces banks to make 2 YEAR COMMUNITY INVESTMENT plans to show how they will invest in our communities and make all of Buffalo a better place. * Review all lending and Banking practices in the area to show people what they are doing for community, and how they could do it better. * Gives the Community a voice when it comes to banking so we can hold banks accountable for Racial Discrimination and Financial Abuse * Use the people's money to PUSH banks to start getting our money's worth for our City Deposits by telling banks we don't invest in them unless they INVEST IN US. GET INVOLVED IN SUPPORT THE RESPONSIBLE BANKING ACT FOR THE CITY OF BUFFALO! For more information, contact John Washington (Community Economic Empowerment Task Force co-ordinator for the WNY Peace Center, and Community Organizer for PUSH-Buffalo) at: Phone: (716) 884-0356 (ext. 111) Email: john@pushbuffalo.org ************************************ “Workers Rights / Jobs + Training Drop-In Sessions @ PUSH Buffalo” Need a job? Training? Know your rights at work? For those looking at improving their work/employment opportunities, we've teamed up with BETC for a series of bi-monthly, neighborhood employment drop in sessions at 271 Grant St, and 460 Massachusetts Ave. We also believe in promoting workplace equity and we will have a lawyer on hand to answer any employment related questions you might have. Attend our drop-in hours held twice each month at the following locations and times: JOBS + TRAINING First Thursday Of The Month 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. PUSH Buffalo Main Office 271 Grant Street Buffalo, NY JOBS + TRAINING + WORKERS RIGHTS Third Thursday Of The Month 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. PUSH Buffalo Satellite Office 460 Massachusetts Avenue Buffalo, NY Sponsored by PUSH Buffalo, the Buffalo Employment & Training Center (BETC), and the WNY Worker Center. Contact us for more information: Phone: (716) 884-0356 Website: http://pushbuffalo.org/ ************************************ WNY Peace Center Community Economic Empowerment Task Force John Washington Phone: (716) 860-2848 Email: johnarchiewashington@gmail.com PUSH Buffalo Phone: (716) 884-0356 (ext. 111) PUSH Buffalo Email: john@pushbuffalo.org Michael Zak Phone: (716) 868-2927 Email: michael.james.zak@gmail.com =========================================================== GLOBAL ECONOMIC JUSTICE (GEJ) ************************************ “Buffalo Adjunct Movement (BAM!) Grade-In For Action: Articles & Photos” On Friday, October 24 at 3 p.m., members of Buffalo Adjuncts gathered together in Lafayette Square in downtown Buffalo, NY to speak out and protest against unfair working conditions being fostered upon adjunct professors and graduate student teaching assistants by institutions of higher learning in the WNY area. ARTICLE: “UB Adjunct Professors Stage Rally Downtown; BAM! Pushes For Better Treatment & Higher Salaries” (UB Spectrum; October 26, 2014) http://www.ubspectrum.com/news/view.php/852539/UB-Adjunct-professors-stage-rally-downto ARTICLE: “Adjunct Professors Protest Unfair Treatment By Colleges” (YNN Buffalo: October 25, 2014) http://buffalo.twcnews.com/content/news/780069/adjunct-professors-protest-unfair-treatment-by-colleges/ ARTICLE: “Buffalo Adjuncts To Gather Friday For Fair Wages, Benefits” (Canisius Griffin: October 25, 2014) http://canisiusgriffin.com/?p=9833 Photos From BAM!'s Twitter Account: https://twitter.com/BuffaloAdjuncts/media http://tinyurl.com/q7js79q Facebook Event Page: https://www.facebook.com/events/839875526057954/ ************************************ Global Economic Justice Task Force Eric Gallion Phone: (716) 310-4292 Email: egallion@verizon.net =========================================================== LATIN AMERICAN SOLIDARITY COMMITTEE (LASC) ************************************ MONDAY, NOVEMBER 24 “LASC Coffeehouse: 'Understanding Honduras and Venezuela' ” 7 to 9 p.m. Canisius College Science Hall 2001 Main Street Buffalo, NY 14208-1517 This program features Raul Burbano, the program director at Common Frontiers, a multi-sectional NGO that undertakes research and political action with a focus on Latin America. He has travelled extensively through the region, most recently to Honduras and Venezuela, where he met with various social movement leaders and communities in resistance. A convenient parking lot is located on Main Street, near Delevan Avenue. This event is sponsored by LASC and Canisius College (Campus Ministry, the Department of Latin American Studies, and the Department of Modern Languages, Literature, and Cultures). ************************************ MONDAY, DECEMBER 15 “LASC Holiday Party” 7:00 p.m. El Buen Amigo 114 Elmwood Avneue Buffalo, NY ************************************ Latin American Solidarity Committee (LASC) Phone: (716) 876-3872 Main Website: http://www.lascwny.org/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/LASC-wny/143873822377380/ WNY Peace Center Page: http://wnypeace.org/program/lasc.php/ ============================================================= MIDDLE EAST (ME) ************************************ “Vitamin Channel” The Vitamin Channel, started in Gaza, Palestine in 2012, is a health program (Arabic language) that cares about spreading awareness of health issues and life extension, spreading pure information and serving people by presenting health and medical consultations. In addition, the program, which has weekly installments on YouTube, provides the latest news about health conferences and world health centers. YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/1Vitaminchannel Keep in touch with us on Facebook and Twitter! Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Vitaminchannel Twitter: https://twitter.com/Vitaminchannel For information about how you can financially support our program, please contact us at: Phone: +972 59-736-6888 Email: vitamin.channel2012@gmail.com Sample Video: “Healthy Feeding, Good School Day” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X6N6WfMwu-0&list=UUx_VVGZ2i6WnxdphXN4jpOw ************************************ "Compassionate Vigil For Peace In Israel & Palestine" Every Sunday 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. Elmwood Avenue and Bidwell Parkway Buffalo, NY An otherwise unaffiliated group of WNY Muslims, Jews, Christians and supporting friends will be holding a Compassionate Vigil for Peace in Israel and Palestine every Sunday from 2:00-3:00 PM at Bidwell and Elmwood. Our intention is to avoid any traces of bias or blame and to bear witness to empathy, compassion and love. We believe that in spite of all the arguments, diplomacy and military efforts, there cannot ever be a lasting peace between Israel and Palestine until we can all sit at the same table together, look into each other's eyes and see ourselves in whoever the "other" might be for us. With that spirit in mind, and with the sad presumption that it will likely still be a long time until a just and lasting peace is realized, we plan to continue these vigils for some time. We will fly four flags: an apolitical peace flag, a Palestinian Flag, an Israeli flag and a Multi-Faith COEXIST flag. Signs are welcome, but only those that speak clearly for solidarity and peace between Israel and Palestine without a trace of bias or blame. Samples of signs that will be welcomed: Peace for the People of Israel and Palestine Peace for the People of Palestine and Israel Peace for the Lands of Palestine and Israel Peace for the Lands of Israel and Palestine Peace For All War for None We Shall Never Be Enemies For more information, contact: Jim Whitlock: jowhitlock@gmail.com Faizan Haq: haq@faizanhaq.net Cynthia Lehman: cynthia.lehman@gmail.com Rabbi Drorah Setel: dsetel@gmail.com Facebook Event Page: https://www.facebook.com/events/1459090427692759/ Photos and Documents from previous vigils: http://tinyurl.com/lbc4swu/ ============================================================= PEACEFUL CONFLICT RESOLUTION (PCR) ************************************ Victoria Ross Peaceful Conflict Resolution Coordinator Phone: (716) 884-0582 Email: victoryross9@gmail.com ============================================================= PRISONERS' RIGHTS (PR) ************************************ "Weekly Vigil At Erie County Holding Center (ECHC)" Every Wednesday 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. ECHC 40 Delaware Avenue Buffalo, NY 14202 In light of a recent spate of suspicious deaths at the Holding Center (specifically, Rosie Mendez, aged 26, and David C. Liddick, aged 41), the Prisoner Support Vigil will resume on a weekly basis. We will stand in front of the Holding Center every Wednesday from 4 to 5 p.m. until justice is done. Our presence tells staff and community that there is still work to be done. It also tells inmates that we are trying to keep hope alive. All are invited to join. This vigil is being presented by the Erie County Prisoners' Rights and the WNY Peace Center. ************************************ Prisoners' Rights Task Force Chuck Culhane Phone: (716) 228-2076 Email: culhane9@gmail.com Website: http://wnypeace.org/program/Prison%20Action%20Committee.php/ ============================================================= RENEWABLE ENERGY (AE) ************************************ Why Are UB And The Region So Serious About Solar?" Thursday, November 13 5:30 p.m. (Reception) / 6:15 p.m. (Program) The Saturn Club 977 Delaware Avenue Buffalo, NY A lecture by Dean Robert Shibley followed by a panel discussion and Q&A with leading solar researchers and developers: * * * * Ian Diamond, Project Manager, SolarCity Qiaoqiang Gan, Assistant Professor, UB Department of Electrical Engineering Vladimir Mitin, SUNY Distinguished Professor, UB Department of Electrical Engineering Tarunraj Singh, Professor, UB Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Over 100 years ago here in Buffalo-Niagara, electricity was successfully harnessed for the first time in a carbon neutral form (hydro). This success was largely responsible for 50 years of strong economic growth which built the region. Join us as we illustrate how Buffalo’s renaissance looks “back to the future” by taking a similar approach with a different green energy source: solar. From SolarCity’s recent announcement of creating the Western Hemisphere’s largest photovoltaic solar manufacturing site in South Buffalo, to the growth in local solar companies, to the groundbreaking research occurring right here at UB – solar is no longer a theoretical possibility, it is the cornerstone of a new strategy that not only positions Buffalo-Niagara as a leader but combats the serious challenges of climate change and skyrocketing energy prices. Please RSVP by Wednesday, November 12 to Jerry Kelly at gerald@geraldkelly.com ************************************ Renewable Energy Task Force Charley Bowman Phone: (716) 688-2374 Email: CandABowman@verzion.net Website: http://wnypeace.org/new/projects.html ============================================================= RESIST MILITARISM (RM) ************************************ “Niagara Falls AFB Drone Protests: Pro-Drone & Anti-Drone Sides Face Off” Reporting by Phillip Gambini of the Niagara Gazette covering both the biweekly Anti-Drone vigils held by the WNY Peace Center, and the Pro-Drone, Pro-Military opposition that has sprung up to counter our efforts in opposing the arbitrary killing machines. POINT: ARTICLE: “Drone Supporters, Opponents Gather Outside Air Base On Saturday” (October 11, 2014) http://tinyurl.com/oyxtx7t COUNTERPOINT: ARTICLE: “Drone Protestors Make A Stand At The Air Base” (October 24, 2014) http://tinyurl.com/mdom6v4 VIDEO: “Drone Protest (with Victoria Ross)” http://www.niagara-gazette.com/video_0b78cb1c-d2c9-5187-b63b-fd7e2ee6c491.html ************************************ "Anti-Drone Vigil At Niagara Air Force Base" Every 2nd and 4th Thursday of the month, from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m., outside the main gate at the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station (2026 Lockport Road, Niagara Falls, NY 14304). The next vigils will happen on November 20 and December 11. Carpooling for the vigils begin at 2:30 p.m. as the University at Buffalo South Campus Park and Ride (Main Street, Buffalo, NY), and leaves at 2:45 p.m. sharp. Signs and musical instruments are welcome. ************************************ “War Comes Home: The Excessive Militarization Of American Policing” (ACLU Report) https://www.aclu.org/war-comes-home-excessive-militarization-american-policing/ PDF of the Main Report: https://www.aclu.org/sites/default/files/assets/jus14-warcomeshome-report-web-rel1.pdf ************************************ “Search Engine Of National Records Of Military Equipment Purchases By Domestic Law Enforcement” Search by State and County: http://bridge.caspio.net/dp.asp?AppKey=36701000b255adcfe6ca4b13a8a4/ ************************************ Resist Militarism Task Force Russell Brown Phone: (716) 570-5200 Email: hobadoxa@me.com Website: http://wnypeace.org/program/ResistMilitarism.php/ =========================================================== V. ALLIED ORGANIZATIONS NEWS AND EVENTS Association For India's Development (AID)-Buffalo (AB) Buffalo Adjunct Movement (BAM) Buffalo Barn Raisers (BBR) Burning Books (BB) Citizen Action (CA) Clean Air Coalition Of WNY (CACWNY) Coalition For Economic Justice (CEJ) Food Not Bombs (FNB) Genesee Valley Citizens For Peace (GVCP) Indigenous Women's Initiatives (IWI) International Action Center Buffalo (IAC) Network Of Religious Communities (NRC) Partnership For The Public Good (PPG) Peace Action NYS (PA) Peace Education Fund (PEF) Prisoners Are People, Too, Inc. (PAPT) Re-Energize Buffalo (REB) Riverside-Salem Environmental Cottage (RS) Sierra Club-Niagara (SC) Subversive Theatre (ST) Syracuse Peace Council (SPC) Talking Leaves (TL) VOICE-Buffalo (VB) WNY Muslims (WNYM) Women In Black (WIB) =========================================================== ASSOCIATION FOR INDIA’S DEVELOPMENT (AID)-BUFFALO (AB) ************************************ FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 21 "' 'Bhopal: A Prayer For Rain' Movie Screening & Discussion" 7:00 to 10:00 p.m. UB North Campus 206 Furnas Hall Buffalo, NY 14260 Almost 30 years after the world's worst industrial disaster, millions of people are still suffering from long-term effects. Survivor's of bhopal gas disaster are still fighting an uphill battle for justice. Lets meet to watch the movie "Bhopal: A Prayer for Rain" (Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch? v=rO6xCAsv4s4) and have a discussion after the movie to discuss the status of surviour's struggle, regulatory framework to prevent another such disaster, chemical toxicity in our local communities and what each one of us can do to help. We will be having a representative from Clean Air Coalition of WNY at the event leading the discussion! Movie Websites: IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0839742/ Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhopal:_A_Prayer_for_Rain Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/APrayerForRain ************************************ ARTICLE: “UB Panel Applies Teachings Of Gandhi And King To Today” (UB Spectrum, Aylin Erdogan: October 5, 2014) http://www.ubspectrum.com/news/view.php/850406/UB-panel-applies-teachings-of-Ghandi-and On the International Day Of Non-Violence ( http://www.un.org/en/events/nonviolenceday/), AID–Buffalo moderated a panel discussion at the University at Buffalo Law School on October 2, 2014. The topic was “Martin Luther King and Gandhi: Are They Still Relevant?” The four panelists of the event were Barry Gan, a professor of philosophy at St. Bonaventure University; Juhi Roy, a member of the Graduate Student Employee Union in UB; Michael Zak, a board member of the WNY Peace Center; and Durgham Alyasiri, a senior biology and health and human services major and president of the Organization of Arab Students. Facebook Event Page: https://www.facebook.com/events/310091859175190/ Photos From AID-Buffalo's Twitter: https://twitter.com/AID_BUFFALO/media ************************************ OUR MISSION: Compassion wherever there is suffering. Conviction that the compassion is strong enough to eliminate suffering. Courage to make this conviction a reality. This is AID. DESCRIPTION: Association for India's Development is a volunteer movement promoting sustainable, equitable and just development. AID supports grassroots organizations in India and initiates efforts in various interconnected spheres such as education, livelihoods, natural resources including land, water and energy, agriculture, health, women's empowerment and social justice. The AID Buffalo chapter was started by professionals and students from Buffalo, NY. ************************************ Main Website: https://sites.google.com/site/aidbuffalochapter/home Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/Buffalo.AID Twitter: https://twitter.com/AID_BUFFALO AID Worldwide: http://www.aidindia.org/main/ =========================================================== BUFFALO ADJUNCT MOVEMENT (BAM!) Buffalo Adjunct Movement (BAM), a coalition of adjunct professors and graduate students working in various colleges in Western New York (including the University At Buffalo, Canisius College, Buffalo State College, D'Youville College, and many more) advocating for fair pay and working conditions for all teachers in higher education, regardless of status. ************************************ “Buffalo Adjunct Movement (BAM!) Grade-In For Action: Articles & Photos” On Friday, October 24 at 3 p.m., members of Buffalo Adjuncts gathered together in Lafayette Square in downtown Buffalo, NY to speak out and protest against unfair working conditions being fostered upon adjunct professors and graduate student teaching assistants by institutions of higher learning in the WNY area. From the Facebook event page (https://www.facebook.com/events/839875526057954/): “No office space? Nowhere on campus to grade? No place to host office hours? On Friday, October 24th, BAM! is organizing a GRADE-IN at the downtown library! We are aiming to get 100 adjuncts and allies to meet at Lafayette Square at 3p.m. and march to the library, where we will grade our students' work in public in order to highlight issues adjuncts face such as lack of office space, job insecurity, low pay, and much more. We encourage participants to be use their creativity, bring signs that express their grievances, and invite students. We will invite the media so that all of Buffalo hears what we have to say! “ Coverage of the Event: ARTICLE: “UB Adjunct Professors Stage Rally Downtown; BAM! Pushes For Better Treatment & Higher Salaries” (UB Spectrum; October 26, 2014) http://www.ubspectrum.com/news/view.php/852539/UB-Adjunct-professors-stage-rally-downto ARTICLE: “Adjunct Professors Protest Unfair Treatment By Colleges” (YNN Buffalo: October 25, 2014) http://buffalo.twcnews.com/content/news/780069/adjunct-professors-protest-unfair-treatment-by-colleges/ ARTICLE: “Buffalo Adjuncts To Gather Friday For Fair Wages, Benefits” (Canisius Griffin: October 25, 2014) http://canisiusgriffin.com/?p=9833 Photos From BAM!'s Twitter Account: https://twitter.com/BuffaloAdjuncts/media http://tinyurl.com/q7js79q ************************************ SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 15 “BAM! Planning Meeting” 4:00 p.m. Casa Di Pizza (in the backroom) 447 Elmwood Avenue Buffalo, NY Calling all adjuncts! Join the movement! What we want: * * * * Fair pay & benefits Protection and job security A voice at work Inclusion, Equal treatment, & respect ************************************ For more info about BAM!: Phone: (716) 725-2193 Email: buffaloadjunctmovement@gmail.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100004142538281&fref=ts Twitter: https://twitter.com/BuffaloAdjuncts =========================================================== BUFFALO BARN RAISERS (BBR) "People who do stuff." MISSION: Do stuff. Host stuff. Learn stuff. Teach Stuff. Most importantly, have fun. COMPANY OVERVIEW: The Buffalo Barn Raisers are, in short, people who do stuff. By creating a monthly calendar of events, most of which are not advertised elsewhere, we hope to bring people together, strengthen our community, and have fun. DESCRIPTION: All events listed are officially FREE, but some may come with a suggested donation to help the host cover the cost of materials provided. Some of these events are a one time deal, and some will occur weekly -- make sure to read the description carefully. Each event has a host who can be contacted directly if you would like to RSVP, need more information, or just want to send some love. GENERAL INFORMATION: The Buffalo Barn Raisers are dedicated to building a culture of cooperation, collectivity, and autonomy in Buffalo. We do this by creating and distributing a monthly calendar of events. On this calendar, you will find information for events, workshops, skill shares, and work holidays going on in your community! Do you just want to get out of the house once in a while and do stuff? Maybe learn how to knit, juggle, speak Spanish, bake bread or fix your plumbing? How 'bout sharing delicious potluck meals while building new and meaningful friendships with your community members? And maybe, while you're at it, build the amazing solidarity and supportive energy that makes Buffalo great? Sweet. See you there. OFFICIAL WEBSITE (featuring July 2014 Calendar Of Events): http://www.buffalobarnraisers.com/ FACEBOOK PAGE: https://www.facebook.com/BuffaloBarnRaisers/ BARN RAISER PHOTOS (2013 & Earlier): http://www.buffalobarnraisers.com/2013-and-earlier/ SUBMIT AN EVENT: http://www.buffalobarnraisers.com/event-form/ REQUEST AN EVENT: http://www.buffalobarnraisers.com/request-an-event/ CONTACT EMAIL: buffalobarnraisers@gmail.com Links To Other Community Calendars, Activities, & Organizations (Newspapers, Non-Profits, Workshops, Etc.): http://www.buffalobarnraisers.com/links/ =========================================================== BURNING BOOKS (BB) Upcoming Events listed in order of date. ************************************ WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 19 “Covering Up The Iran Contra Affair” 7:00 p.m. A tangled tale of politics, drugs, hostages, weapons, assassinations, covert operations and the ultimate plan to suspend the constitution of the United States. Presented by the Buffalo chapter of the Leonard Peltier Defense Offense Committee. Event Page: http://burningbooksbuffalo.com/ai1ec_event/covering-up-the-iran-contra-affair?instance_id=357 Event Poster: http://burningbooksbuffalo.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/11-19-2014LPDOC1.jpg ************************************ Photos from Anthony J. Nocella II's workshop "Organize Against The School To Prison Pipeline: Youth Justice To Transformative Justice" at Burning Books on Sunday, November 9: http://tinyurl.com/mg5frt8 http://tinyurl.com/m2h6sd2 ************************************ "U.S. Out Of My Living Room - European Tour" We're at the very beginning stages of booking dates throughout several non-Commonwealth European countries for a US Out Of My Living Room European tour! We're gathering together a great group of local organizers and are looking for more to get on board. If you know of anyone in Europe, please encourage them to get in touch with us about it. Even if you don't know anyone in Europe, you can help spread the word by "sharing" and "liking" this Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/lesliejamespickeringeurope/ With your help we will be bringing word of Burning Books and our fight against federal surveillance and state repression across the Atlantic! ************************************ "Become A Friend Of Burning Books!" If you'd like to help ensure that the kind of crucial, radical and empowering ideas that Burning Books has fostered remain alive and kicking, please take a moment to sign up for Friends of Burning Books at: http://burningbooksbuffalo.com/become-a-friend-of-burning-books/ Burning Books 420 Connecticut Street Buffalo, NY 14213 Phone: (716) 881-0791 Main Website: http://www.burningbooksbuffalo.com/ Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Burning-Books/263128823706195/ =========================================================== CITIZEN ACTION (CA) ************************************ Citizen Action WNY 49 Virginia Place Buffalo, NY 14202 Phone: (716) 855-1522 Fax: (716) 855-1521 Main Website: http://citizenactionny.org/category/regions/western-new-york/ Brian Trzeciak (Community Organizer): btrzeciak@citizenactionny.org Paul Perez (Community Organizer): pperez@citizenactionny.org =========================================================== CLEAN AIR COALITION OF WESTERN NEW YORK ************************************ Our Mission: The Clean Air Coalition of Western New York is a community-based organization that informs and organizes residents to prevent and reduce pollution. Our members envision a WNY where residents have the information, skills and desire to make their communities healthy, sustainable and green. CAC is creating a constituency of citizens that hold leaders accountable for our communities health and creates a political cost for those who fail to take necessary action. Western New York is one of the most heavily polluted communities in the nation. In the past, we have allowed high levels of pollution because of a lack of political will among our elected officials and among our citizens. There have been no consequences for the leaders who fail to protect our communities. CAC belives that a large and diverse group of Western New York citizens do care deeply about the levels of pollution in our communities. If we come together, we know we can make Western New York cleaner. ************************************ The Clean Air Coalition of W.N.Y. 52 Linwood Avenue Buffalo, NY 14209 Phone: (716) 852-3813 Fax: (716) 852-2741 Email: info@cacwny.org Main Website: http://www.cacwny.org/ Blog: http://www.cacwny.org/press/blog-2/ Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Clean-Air-Coalition-of-WNY/125963472695 Press inquiries about the Clean Air Coalition should be directed to: Erin Heaney Executive Director Phone: (716) 852-3813 Email: erin@cacwny.org Complaints about smells, smogs and other concerning indicators can be sent to the DEC. Contact: NYSDEC 270 Michigan Avenue Buffalo, NY 14203 Phone: (716) 851-7130 Please let us know you've sent in a complaint. We want to know what's happening in your neighborhood! =========================================================== COALITION FOR ECONOMIC JUSTICE (CEJ) ************************************ "CEJ's Magic School Bus Field Trip" Monday, November 17 11:15 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Coalition for Economic Justice (begins at main office) 237 Main Street, Suite 1200 Buffalo, New York 14203 Join CEJ and friends for a Magic School Bus Field Trip to help make sure all jobs Industrial Development Agencies create with taxpayer dollars pay workers a living wage in Western New York. Like the PBS Magic School Bus television show, this will be an entertaining and educational adventure. Corporations like Gold’s Gym, the Marriot, and others are bulking-up with taxpayer money while creating low wage jobs that keep workers in poverty. Our search will also take us to another company that did the right thing and used public subsidies to keep 165 good, living wage jobs here in Buffalo. Facebook Event Page: https://www.facebook.com/events/1492658171003639/?notif_t=plan_user_invited ************************************ Coalition For Economic Justice 237 Main Street, Suite 1200 Buffalo, NY 14203 Phone: (716) 892-5877 Fax: (716) 852-3802 Email: info@cejbuffalo.org Main Website: http://www.cejbuffalo.org/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Coalition-for-Economic-Justice-Buffalo-NY/228202110526262 Twitter: https://twitter.com/cejbuffalo/ =========================================================== FOOD NOT BOMBS (FNB) ************************************ Cook For Peace! Buffalo Food Not Bombs shares free vegetarian meals twice weekly: Mondays and Saturdays at Lafayette Square at 1 p.m., as a protest the amount of money wasted on the military while so many people are hungry. Volunteers to help cook and share are always welcome and needed. Rain or shine! Cooking occurs on Mondays and Saturdays at 10 a.m. Also, FNB is always looking for donations. Please email if you would like to donate non-perishables or anything else. Contact BuffaloFNB@gmail.com or visit: http://www.facebook.com/BuffaloFNB/ =========================================================== GENESEE VALLEY CITIZENS FOR PEACE (GVCP) ************************************ Genesee Valley Citizens For Peace (GVCP) P.O. Box 363 Geneseo, NY 14554 Phone: (585) 624-3673 Website: http://www.gvcp.org/ Founded 1972: "Human Race, Not Arms Race" GVCP is proud to be affiliated with PANYS. =========================================================== INDIGENOUS WOMEN'S INITIATIVES (IWI) ************************************ “Talking Circles” Second Thursdays of Every Month 12:00 to 3:00 p.m. Network of Religious Communities 1272 Delaware Avenue Buffalo, NY 14209 The next Talking Circle will be held this week on Thursday, November 13. Please bring an organic snack to share at noon and the Circle will open at 12:30 p.m. Parking and entrance in the rear of the building. Come on out to join us! ************************************ For More Information about IWI events and activities, contact: Agnes Williams Indigenous Women's Initiatives 1272 Delaware Avenue Buffalo, NY 14209 Office Hours: Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday afternoons or by appointment Email: info@iwinitiatives.org Phone: (716) 332-6988 Fax: (716) 332-6998 Main Website: http://www.iwinitiatives.org/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IndigenousWomensInitiatives/ =========================================================== INTERNATIONAL ACTION CENTER BUFFALO (IAC) ************************************ ATTENTION: BUFFALO IAC OFFICE HAS MOVED!!! Our new location is: 712 Main Street (neat Tupper Avenue) Room 113-B Buffalo, NY ************************************ “Workers World Monday Nights” First and Third Monday of each month, at 7 p.m. ************************************ “Ukraine Anti-War Alert – Stop Odessa Massacre Cover-Up And NATO Expansion” (I.A.C.: October 24, 2014) http://no2nato.org/ukraine/odessanov2/ ************************************ "Day After Demonstration: Turn Up For Mike Brown" 5:00 p.m. Anytime Between November 12 and 30 (on the day after the Ferguson Grand Jury Decison) Bailey Avenue and Millicent Avenue Buffalo, NY An announcement will soon be made about the grand jury's decision in the case of Darren Wilson. Preliminary leaks appear to indicate that Wilson will not be charged by the grand jury with the murder of Mike Brown. Planning is ongoing for a nationwide response. We want to see Buffalo act alongside other cities across the country in solidarity with Ferguson and against racist state sanctioned harassment and brutality in our own city. An indictment is not a conviction, and a conviction does not mean a sentence! For killer cops, a sentence does not even mean serving time! Oscar Grant's killer only served 11 months for a supposedly involuntary manslaughter. We will keep the pressure up to let it be known that we will fight systematic racial violence against black and brown people. We will not rest until it ends! We demand real justice! We demand an end to the violence! We will #turnupformikebrown ! Facebook Event Page: https://www.facebook.com/events/1499900210294598/ ************************************ “Workers' World Party 2014 National Conference” Saturday, November 15 and Sunday, November 16 The Auditorium 45-35 Van Dam St. (at Thomson Avenue) Long Island City (Queens), NY 11101 Dear sisters and brothers, The Capitalist System is to Blame! Capitalism = racism, mass incarceration, police terror, endless war and occupation, unemployment, low wages and union-busting, sexism, LGBTQ bigotry, homelessness, anti-immigrant attacks, discrimination against people with disabilities. What will it take to defeat it? We would like to extend a special invitation to you to attend this year’s Workers World Party National Conference on Nov. 15 and 16. Why is it important to come? We are in the midst of a deepening capitalist global crisis, which has unleashed imperialist war on Iraq, Syria, Gaza, Africa and the world, and militarized racist police terror here at home. It has brought about the widespread impoverishment of the working class and oppressed peoples, many of them migrants and women, on a worldwide basis. At the same time, we have witnessed the heroic resistance of the people, especially the youth of Ferguson, Mo., Palestine, and Ukraine — and the rising movement of low-wage workers at home and abroad. What better time for revolutionary socialists to get together and discuss our perspectives and strategies for building a struggle for revolutionary socialism? In the words of Che Guevara: “The revolution is not an apple that falls when it is ripe. You have to make it fall.” This gathering will strengthen you politically. There, you will get a chance to talk to and meet with revolutionary socialists of all ages and nationalities from around the country. Be prepared to not only listen, learn and discuss, but afterwards to go back to your city, town or region ready to fight for an anti-capitalist, pro-socialist future. It is important to make plans as soon as possible as conference organizers need to arrange for adequate housing, food, day care and more. If you cannot attend, please help to sponsor through your donations those who do not have the financial means to travel, especially younger and low-income participants. We hope to see you on Nov.15 and 16. In solidarity, Larry Holmes (WWP First Secretary) Sharon Black (National Committee member) Berta Joubert-Ceci (Mundo Obrero/WW newspaper Editorial Staff) Colleen Davidson (Baltimore Fight Imperialism, Stand Together [FIST] ) Register and/or Donate Online here: http://www.workers.org/wwp/2014-national-conference/registration/#top Download the Conference Leaflet: http://www.workers.org/wwp/wpcontent/uploads/downloads/2014/09/2014Conference.pdf ************************************ Find us on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/buffalo.iac?fref=ts/) or subscribe to our Western NY listserv for event notices by emailing us at iacbuffalo@peoplesmail.net IAC Buffalo 712 Main Street (neat Tupper Avenue) Room 113-B Buffalo, NY Phone: (716) 604-9515 =========================================================== NETWORK OF RELIGIOUS COMMUNITIES (NRC) ************************************ "Kaleidoscope" Programs about the religious communities of Western NY. Broadcasts 5:30 a.m. Saturday and Sunday on WKBW-TV 7. This program rebroadcasts each 6:30 p.m. Friday over Time Warner Cable Network 20, and 8:00 p.m. each Sunday over Time Warner 6 in Olean, NY. For information or to comment, call (716) 882-4793 (ext. 201) ************************************ "Help Combat Hunger In WNY" Donate food or volunteer at the NRC Food Pantry (1272 Delaware Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14209). Call 716-8824793. The Pantry is open Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and Wednesdays from 2 to 6 p.m. Decrease in Food Stamp benefits will increase demand on pantries. Please support your local pantry and the Network of Religious Communities Pantry. Host a Food Stamp event at your congregation. Call 716-882-7705. We service Erie and Genesee Counties. http://www.foodpantries.org/li/network_of_religious_communities_14209/ ************************************ Network Of Religious Communities 1272 Delaware Avenue Buffalo, NY 14209 Open Monday to Friday: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Phone: (716)882-4793 Main Website: http://www.religiousnet.org/ Facebook: http://tinyurl.com/mvhrz87/ =========================================================== PARTNERSHIP FOR THE PUBLIC GOOD (PPG) ************************************ Sam Magavern Co-Director, Partnership For The Public Good 237 Main Street, Suite 1200 Buffalo, NY 14203 Phone: (716) 852-4191, Ext. 117 Email: sam@ppgbuffalo.org Website: http://www.ppgbuffalo.org/ =========================================================== PEACE ACTION NEW YORK STATE (PA) ************************************ “Rochester Peace Vigil” Every Sunday 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. Corner of South Goodman Street and East Avenue Rochester, NY Hi WNY Peace Center friends, Do you think peace activists should get to know each other and have more fun? Join a small group of Peace Action members and ecumenical folks at our weekly Rochester Peace Vigil at South Goodman Street and East Avenue, lcoated at the corner nearest the Rochester Museum & Science Center (657 East Avenue, Rochester, NY). The exact location is here: http://tinyurl.com/nqt5zj2 We have been holding this weekly vigil for a decade, starting before the 2003 Iraq Invasion, and continue to get community support. We use temporary signage, and have signs to share. Include the Rochester Peace Vigil in your personal travel. We also encourage you to visit our walkable local nearby museums before and after the vigil, such as the Rochester Museum and Science Center (http://www.rmsc.org/), the George Eastman House (http://www.eastmanhouse.org/), and the Memorial Art Gallery of the University at Rochester (http://mag.rochester.edu/). Hope to see you soon, and look forward to your WNY news, as well as your Elmwood Avenue vigils (Women In Black and Compassionate Vigil For Peace In Israel & Palestine) in Buffalo. Best wishes, Hal Bauer Town of Sparta, NY The contact information for the Rochester affiliate of PANYS is here: Peace Action & Education Mike Connelly, Member 151 Cypress Street Rochester, NY 14620 Phone: (585) 271-2678 Email: mconnel5@rochester.rr.com ************************************ Alicia Godsberg Executive Director Peace Action Fund of New York State (PANYS) Phone: 646-723-1749 Email: alicia@panys.org Main Website: http://panys.org/ NYS Chapters: http://panys.org/WordPress/about-us/chapters-and-affiliated-allies/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/15446992366/ =========================================================== PEACE EDUCATION FUND (PEF) ************************************ Dear Friends, We would like to let you know about an opportunity to help fund people and projects promoting peace education in Western New York. For the past 10 years the Peace Education Fund (PEF) has been providing small grants and awards to local peace people and projects; now we need a boost to maintain our level of giving. Some of the projects we have helped to fund include: Journeys of Solutions (4 Walls Project in El Sauce, Nicaragua) Latin American Solidarity Committee (LASC) NETO for Healing at the Heart of Niagara PeaceJam Prisoners Are People, Too, Inc. "Reaching Out To Africa" (medical supplies to Sudan) Support for travel to Nevada Desert Experience Tom Potts' dental clinic Trips to Washington D.C. for environmental witness Voices for Creative NonViolence walk in Iowa Please visit PEF's website (http://www.fundpeace.org/) to learn more. Thank you & Peace, The PEF Committee =========================================================== PRISONERS ARE PEOPLE, TOO (PAPT) ************************************ “Have You Heard? Buffalo SNUG Is Here!” by Karima Amin It was December of 2009 when Senators Malcolm A. Smith and Antoine Thompson announced the advent of “Operation SNUG” (“guns” spelled backward) and we learned that several Erie County community organizations would receive $500,000 for the prevention of gun violence. At that time, Senator Smith said, “Today marks a turning point in community safety…. Gun violence affects us all- white or black, rich or poor, illegal guns terrorize neighborhoods and tear apart families. For too long, the deadly specter of illegal guns has gone unchecked. In cities across the state, our children are dying at the hands of gun violence, but through our commitment to SNUG, we can put a stop to that deadly trend now and return our streets to their rightful owners, the people of New York.” Senator Thompson concurred, saying, "Gang violence and illegal gun use has been a problem in Buffalo and across the state for too long. Operation SNUG will hopefully cut down on excessive gang violence that many communities face." On February 5, 2014, Senator Tim Kennedy announced the re-launching of “Operation SNUG,” awarding $366, 400 to Back to Basics Outreach Ministries, which is implementing a targeted neighborhood violence prevention project. Believing in the promise of “Operation SNUG,” Senator Kennedy said, “This funding will target neighborhoods hardest hit by street violence and apply a tried-and-tested model of street outreach and violence intervention to cut down on gang activity and reduce violent crime from the frontlines.” Pastor James E. Giles, President/CEO of Back to Basics Outreach Ministries said, “These state resources will allow us to implement a Cure Violence program, enhance the work of the Buffalo Peacemakers and keep violence interrupters on the streets looking out for our neighbors and preventing crime.” Back to Basics is one of seven groups across the state that have received state funding to implement a coordinated, community-based strategy that seeks to prevent violent crime and encourage high-risk youth to avoid criminal activity and instead pursue positive opportunities. Time has passed. Has SNUG been a success? Is there more or less gun violence today than we had in 2009? What has been the community’s response to “Buffalo SNUG?” At Prisoners Are People, Too, Inc's monthly meeting on October 27, 2014, the presenter was Rahel Weldeysesus, the Program Manager for “Buffalo SNUG.” She previously served as the Program Development Director at Back to Basics. For two years, she was the Community Relations Director for New York State Assemblyman Sam Hoyt. When I first met her, she was the Development Coordinator for Prisoners’ Legal Services of New York. She is diligent and passionate about her work. ************************************ "Prisoners Are People Too, Inc. Monthly Meeting" Prisoners Are People Too, Inc. meets on the last Monday of every month from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Pratt-Willert Community Center (422 Pratt Street, Buffalo, NY 14204). All monthly Prisoners Are People, Too, Inc. programs are sponsored by the Circle of Supporters for Reformed Offenders and Friends of BaBa Eng. The next meeting will be held on Monday, November 24. For more information, contact: Karima Amin Phone: 716-834-8438 Email: karima@prisonersarepeopletoo.org George BaBa Eng Email: g.babaeng@yahoo.com Prisoners Are People Too, Inc. Main Website: http://www.prp2.org/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PrisonersArePeopleTooInc/ =========================================================== RE-ENERGIZE BUFFALO (REB) ************************************ EVENTS THIS WEEK: Wednesday, November 12: PRESENTATION - “Global Sustainability: Interconnectedness, Resilience, & The Path Forward” by Roger-Mark De Souza (director of population, environmental security and resilience), and Lisa Palmer (public policy scholar), both of the Wilson Center; 4:00pm at UB Student Union Theater (North Campus), Amherst, NY Thursday, November 13: FUNDRAISER - "PUSH-Buffalo Annual 'Building Blocks' Breakfast;" check in at 7:30 a.m. breakfast from 8 to 9 a.m.; RSVP first to PUSH-Buffalo (http://www.pushbuffalo.org/); Temple Beth Zion, (805 Delaware Avenue, Buffalo, NY) Monday, November 18: EVENT - Roundtable Discussion with Les Leopold, The Labor Institute cofounder/director, and Blue-Green Alliance strategic consultant; sponsored by the Clean Air Coalition; 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. at SEIU 199 Office (2421 Main Street, Buffalo, NY) ************************************ Main Website: http://renewnrg.blogspot.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ReEnergizeBuffalo/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/ReEnergizeBflo/ =========================================================== RIVERSIDE-SALEM ENVIRONMENTAL COTTAGE (RS) ************************************ All programs will be held on Sundays from 4 to 6 p.m. (with a potluck to follow) at the Riverside-Salem Environmental Cottage (3449 West River Road, Grand Island, NY 14072), unless otherwise indicated. ************************************ November 16: Rev. Justo Gonzalez, the WNY Peace Center's new Executive Director November 23: Rev. Gerard Williams - “Spirituality & Sexuality;” Rev. Williams is pastor of Unity Fellowship of Christ Church in Buffalo and on the Board of the WNY Peace Center. November 30: Rev. Kirk Laubenstein, newly ordained UCC minister installed as the Director of the Coalition for Economic Justice (CEJ) December 7: Nehzat Goshtasb on her path from Iran to the US Friday, December 14: December 16: "Christmas In The Woods" choral sing with Nan Hoffman and all in the Cottage! December 25: No Service December 31: New Year's Celebration at Dave Baker's house (21 Parkside Avenue, Buffalo, NY) ************************************ Riverside-Salem Environmental Cottage (UCC/DC) 3449 West River Road Grand Island, NY 14072 Phone: (716) 773-1426 Email: cathy@riversidesalem.org Main Website: http://riversidesalem.org/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Riverside-Salem-Environmental-Cottage/77651998977/ =========================================================== SIERRA CLUB-NIAGARA (SC) ************************************ “Climate and Clean Energy Writers Group” Monday, December 1 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. Unitarian Universalist Church Of Buffalo Alliance Room (2nd Floor) 695 Elmwood Avenue Buffalo, NY As part of a public education and outreach project of the Sierra Club Niagara Group Energy Committee, we have set up a Climate and Clean Energy Writers Group to encourage a stronger voice for local advocates in the regional dialogue on climate change and renewable energy. We meet monthly to hear a short presentation on a relevant topic, discuss energy related news, letters and articles, and encourage each other to write for publication on topics of interest. We are seeking writers of all ages and are very interested in getting the word out via various media, including print and the internet. You are encouraged at any time to write letters to the editor, op eds, blogs – any way to express your opinion about climate and clean energy issues. There is no process required. If you would like us to help you with fact checking or editing, or any form of encouragement, please contact billnowa@gmail.com. We meet the first Monday of each month. The monthly meetings are meant to provide stimulating information and a chance to talk together, but if you can’t make a given meeting, don’t let that stop you from expressing yourself. ************************************ Sierra Club Niagara Group Main Website: http://niagarasierraclub.wordpress.com/ Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/190113647727688/ Newsletter: http://niagarasierraclub.com/newsletter/ =========================================================== SUBVERSIVE THEATRE (ST) ************************************ “ 'End Days' by Deborah Zoe Laufer” Thursday, October 30 to Saturday, November 15 Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays 8:00 p.m. Manny Fried Playhouse Great Arrow Building (3rd Floor) 255 Great Arrow Avenue Buffalo, NY LAST WEEK!!! DON'T MISS!!! For the second show in Subversive Theatre’s twelfth season, we’re excited to present the off-beat, irreverent comedy END DAYS by one of America’s freshest emerging playwrights, Deborah Zoe Laufer. This past year alone, Laufer’s idiosyncratic dramas have stormed onto America’s stages with 20 different productions of seven of her full length plays appearing at renowned venues from Rochester’s Geva Theatre to the Cleveland Playhouse and even Chicago’s Steppenwolf Theatre. In END DAYS, Laufer offers a wry twist on the Second Coming as Jesus Christ and Stephen Hawking vie for the hearts and minds of an anything-but-ordinary middle American family still reeling from 9/11. It’s a sharp, inventive, sweetly-understated comedy with a serious message about blind faith, love, and family in Twenty-First Century America. Directed by Michael Lodick Starring Wendy Hall, Philip Farugia, Eliza Vann, and Michael Wachowiak Sound Design: John Shotwell Set Design: Lauren Millman Lighting Design: Emily Pedersen Costume Design: Kaitlin Russo Tickets: $25/General Admission $20/Students, Seniors, and Subversive Theatre members. All Thursday shows are Pay-What-You-Can. For more information, call (716) 408-0499 or visit our website – where tickets can be purchased online at: http://www.subversivetheatre.org/buy_tickets2 Main Event Page: http://www.subversivetheatre.org/productions/end_days/teaser.htm Facebook Event Page: https://www.facebook.com/events/379512752200899/ ************************************ The Subversive Theatre Collective Manny Fried Playhouse Great Arrow Building (3rd Floor) 255 Great Arrow Avenue Buffalo, NY Directions: http://www.subversivetheatre.org/directions/index.htm Phone: (716) 408-0499 Email: info@subversivetheatre.org Website: http://www.subversivetheatre.org/ Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Subversive-Theatre-Collective/57600382770/ =========================================================== SYRACUSE PEACE COUNCIL (SPC) ************************************ Syracuse Peace Council 2013 East Genesee Street (2nd Floor) Syracuse, NY 13210 Phone:(315) 472-5478 Summer Hours: Monday to Thursday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Website: http://www.peacecouncil.net/ Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Syracuse-Peace-Council/19823264540/ Recent Newsletters (HTML and PDF formats): http://www.peacecouncil.net/pnl/ =========================================================== TALKING LEAVES (TL) ************************************ Talking Leaves Books 3158 Main Street Buffalo, NY 14214 Phone: (716) 837-8554 Fax: (716) 837-3861 Email: tleaves@tleavesbooks.com Website: http://www.tleavesbooks.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/talkingleavesbooks/ "Independent and idiosyncratic since 1971" =========================================================== VOICE-BUFFALO (VB) ************************************ VOICE Buffalo-Gamaliel 345 Franklin Street Buffalo, NY 14202 Phone: (716) 842-6571 Main Website: http://www.voice-buffalo.org/ VOICE Buffalo-Gamaliel Website: http://www.voice-buffalo.org/_spotlight_VB_PM_2013.html =========================================================== WNY MUSLIMS ************************************ JOB ANNOUNCEMENT: “Non-Profit Looking For A Dynamic Outreach Representative” “WNY Muslims is looking for a dynamic person with qualified organizational and communication skills to join our team. The current position is part-time (25-30 hours week) for a Community Outreach Representative and is available immediately. “WNY Muslims is a community-based organization that serves Western New York by creating awareness, encouraging diversity, and providing service. Our mission is to empower Muslims and non-Muslims to voice, connect, and contribute by utilizing creative media...” For more information about the position, visit: http://buffalo.craigslist.org/npo/4663001985.html ************************************ WNY Muslims 4011 Bailey Avenue Buffalo, NY 14226 Phone: (716) 923-4386 Email: wnym@wnymuslims.org Main Website: http://wnymuslims.org/ WNY Muslims Blogs: http://wnymuslims.org/all-blogs/ “The Echo” Newsletter: http://wnymuslims.org/newsletter/ Facebook: http://facebook.com/wnymuslims Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/wnymuslims YouTube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/wnymuslims Vimeo Channel: http://vimeo.com/wnymuslims =========================================================== WOMEN IN BLACK (WIB) ************************************ Every Saturday from 12 to 1 p.m. Bidwell Parkway at Elmwood Avenue Buffalo, NY This silent vigil for peace is held regardless of weather. All are invited. Wear black if you can, stand silently, and make a public statement in support of peace. Women in Black Buffalo stand in weekly silent vigils for peace, with a focus on war perpetrated by the USA and solidarity with women around the world. We first gathered to oppose the US bombing of Afghanistan in 2001. We have stood vigil every week but one (when a snowstorm shut down the city) since October 13, 2001. Some of our signs: STUDY PEACE WILL WORK FOR PEACE PEACE ALSO TAKES COURAGE BUCKS FOR BOOKS NOT BOMBS SUPPORT HEALTHCARE NOT WARFARE THIS IS MY HOMELAND SECURITY ACT EDUCATION NOT DEVASTATION ... plus various signs on Iraq, WMDs, Uranium in weapons, no war with Iran, Afghanistan escalation, a running tally of US soldiers and Iraqis killed, et cetera. Pete Seeger at the Women In Black vigil on November 9, 2013: http://www.wnypeace.org/new/Images/PeteSeegerWIB11-09-13_1718.JPG Email: wibbuffalo@ymail.com Website: http://www.womeninblack.org/en/buffalo =========================================================== VI. OTHER ITEMS OF NOTE Anima Foundation Because, I Love Peace Breaking The Silence Free Jalil Muntaqim Helping Hands Laura Aiisha: “We Stand Strong” - Official Music Video No/Know Drones Network Rainbow Fridays At Fililgree's Gallery The Safe and Fair Evaluation (S.A.F.E.) Parole Act This & That (Erie, PA) Update From Gaza: Noor Harazeen Upstate Coalition To Ground The Drones & End The Wars U.S. Friends Of Soviet People (Buffalo Chapter) Free Bi-Monthly Screenings =========================================================== ANIMA FOUNDATION Amina Foundation is a small organization making a big difference in the lives of the needy. Our Mission: * Provide for the needs of distressed women and children in Afghanistan, especially widows and orphans. * Ensure that goods (FOOD, blankets, clothing) get to those in need. Our Goals: * To start small, but serve as many families as possible. Donations will be combined when less thank $100 so that a significant donation of goods can be made to the families in need. * To grow a reliable team of donors in the US, Canada, and Europe and a reliable team of aid distributors in Afghanistan. Our Process: * Funds will be sent through Western Union or method of choice to reliable persons in Afghanistan. * Funds could be sent directly to reliable persons in Afghanistan or to Project Amina's treasurer (Anne McCune) in United States. * Funds will be used and goods delivered or money will be returned to donors withing 4 weeks. * Pictures and videos of goods being delivered with personal thank you videos and pictures will be sent to donors via internet. GENERAL INFORMATION Founder: Zubair Trabzada Board of Directors: Jay Durah (Co-Founder) (London,UK & New Delhi, India) Anne McCune (Orchard Park, NY) Najib Amiri (San Francisco, CA) Basir Ahmad (Toronto, Canada) Bashir Ahmad (Kabul Afghanistan) Email: animafoundation.usa@gmail.com Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/Project.Amina/timeline?ref=page_internal =========================================================== BECAUSE, I LOVE PEACE Please support Dr. Sarah AK Ahmed, of Baghdad, Iraq, and her project "Because, I Love Peace," founded in April 2013 to promote reconciliation and understanding between Americans and Iraqis through letter exchanges! Official Website: http://becauseilovepeace.org/ Please "LIKE" Because, I Love Peace on Facebook, and ask what you can do to support Sarah's project! https://www.facebook.com/Becauseilovepeace/ ************************************ VIDEOS: Sarah discussing "Because, I Love Peace" at the Peace Action NYS conference in Syracuse, NY on April 28, 2013: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xzd0vdlUK-A/ Sarah interviewed by Judy Bello about her life and work on May 9, 2013: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C8oV4-aZypQ "The Human Face Of War" - Workshop (with Sarah reading a poem written by her at 19:00) at the "Resisting Drones, Global War & Empire Convergence" in Syracuse, NY on April 27, 2013: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tu_yfOym3eQ/ Sarah being interviewed about the horrific violence being inflicted upon the Iraqi Christian minority (and other groups) by ISIS: http://tinyurl.com/pfm3w8y/ ************************************ PHOTOS AND TEXTS: Sarah is also doing amazing work assisting Iraqi refugees who have been displaced due to the current fighting and destruction happening in the country right now, working with the Foundation for Relief and Reconciliation in the Middle East (FRRME). Here are posts and photo albums: July 9: http://tinyurl.com/pd6ykx9/ and http://tinyurl.com/pqpphf5/ July 10: http://tinyurl.com/prmbkq7/ and http://tinyurl.com/moz9xq7/ July 11: http://tinyurl.com/n27d7ly/ July 14: http://tinyurl.com/pc95fmz/ July 19: http://tinyurl.com/mscw2ax/ August 7: http://tinyurl.com/pu5o3vk/ August 8: http://tinyurl.com/m48spg3/ August 9: http://tinyurl.com/kj7uv2t/ August 10: http://tinyurl.com/ohnyfce/ August 11: http://tinyurl.com/n6jrluc/ August 13: http://tinyurl.com/l7buk3e/ August 18: http://tinyurl.com/q57zppx/ August 19: http://tinyurl.com/m3y7ep2/ August 20: http://tinyurl.com/lfwpruk/ August 21: http://tinyurl.com/od4mnos/ August 22: http://tinyurl.com/n29bcgy/ September 1: http://tinyurl.com/llq2ebb/ September 4: http://tinyurl.com/m998ejp/ September 5: http://tinyurl.com/lsl6orb/ September 27: http://tinyurl.com/k9jls6j and http://tinyurl.com/olbg7bw October 6: http://tinyurl.com/phznxmh October 14: http://tinyurl.com/o9t98zp FFRME Websites: http://frrme.org/ https://www.facebook.com/FRRME http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foundation_for_Relief_and_Reconciliation_in_the_Middle_East =========================================================== BREAKING THE SILENCE "Breaking The Silence" Description from the official Facebook page (English)(https://www.facebook.com/BreakingTheSilenceIsrael/): "Breaking the Silence is an organization of veteran combatants who served in the Israeli military since the start of the Second Intifada and have taken it upon themselves to expose the Israeli public to the routine situations of everyday life in the Occupied Territories. "The organization endeavors to stimulate public debate about the price paid for a reality in which young soldiers face a civilian population on a daily basis, and are engaged in the control of that population’s everyday life. "Soldiers who serve in the Territories witness and participate in military actions which change them immensely. Cases of abuse towards Palestinians, looting, and destruction of property have been the norm for years, but are still explained as extreme and unique cases. "Our testimonies portray a different, and much grimmer picture in which deterioration of moral standards finds expression in the character of orders and the rules of engagement, and are justified in the name of security. While this reality is known to Israeli soldiers and commanders, Israeli society continues to turn a blind eye, and to deny that which happens in its name. Discharged soldiers who return to civilian life discover the gap between the reality which they encountered in the Territories, and the silence which they encounter at home. "In order to become civilians again, soldiers are forced to ignore what they have seen and done. "Breaking the Silence voices the experiences of these soldiers, forcing Israeli society to address the reality which it has helped to create." Official Website: http://www.breakingthesilence.org.il/ Email: info@breakingthesilence.org.il Database: http://www.breakingthesilence.org.il/testimonies/database/ Videos: http://www.breakingthesilence.org.il/testimonies/videos/ Publications: http://www.breakingthesilence.org.il/testimonies/publications/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/btsisrael/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/shovrim/ =========================================================== FREE JALIL MUNTAQIM ************************************ BIOGRAPHY Jalil Abdul Muntaqim (formerly Anthony Bottom) was 19 years old when he was arrested. He is a former member of the Black Panther Party and the Black Liberation Army, and is one of the longest held political prisoners in the world. Jalil was born October 18, 1951, in Oakland, CA. His early years were spent in San Francisco, where he actively participated in NAACP youth organizing during the civil rights movement. After the assassination of Dr. King, Jalil began to believe a more militant response to racism and injustice was necessary. He began to look towards the Black Panther Party for Self-Defense for leadership and was recruited into the BPP by school friends who had since become Panthers. Two months shy of his 20th birthday, Jalil was captured along with Albert “Nuh” Washington in a midnight shootout with San Francisco police. When Jalil was arrested, he was a high school graduate and employed as a social worker. Later, it was uncovered that Jalil was a victim of the FBI’s illegal COINTELPRO program designed specifically to neutralize and disrupt social movements working for racial and economic justice. Jalil was named specifically as a person to be targeted, and was subsequently charged with the murder of two NYC police officers. His conviction rested upon false evidence and perjured testimony. Jalil is currently incarcerated at Attica Correctional Facility outside Buffalo, NY. He is 60 years old, and has been behind bars for 40 years. Despite an exemplary prison record and a continued commitment to the struggle for racial justice, Jalil is consistently a victim of harassment and targeting at Attica. He is up for parole for the 5th time this June. ************************************ WHY PAROLE JALIL? While in San Quentin prison in California in 1976, Jalil launched the National Prisoners Campaign to Petition the United Nations to recognize the existence of political prisoners in the United States. Progressives nationwide joined this effort, and the petition was submitted in Geneva, Switzerland. As a result, the International Commission of Jurists then reported that political prisoners do in fact exist in the United States. Jalil was one of the founders of the Jericho Movement in 1997. Over 6,000 supporters gathered at the Jericho 1998 march in Washington DC and thousands more at a rally in the Bay Area to demand amnesty for US political prisoners on the basis of international law. The Jericho Amnesty Movement aims to gain recognition by the U.S. government and the United Nations that political prisoners exist in this country, and that on the basis of international law, they should be granted amnesty because of the political nature of their cases. Jalil has filed numerous lawsuits on behalf of prisoners. After many years of being denied the opportunity to attend college, Jalil graduated with a BS in Psychology and a BA in Sociology in 1994. During his imprisonment, Jalil has become a father and a grandfather. Jalil has worked as an educator of other inmates and practices organizing and advocacy whenever possible to ensure the most adequate, humane treatment for all people. He has been repeatedly punished for these activities, through physical abuse, formal discipline, and numerous prison transfers. Jalil is up for parole for the 5th time this June. After 40 years of incarceration, it is time for him to be free! Jalil is one of us. This is not a history lesson. The same struggles continue today. Buffalo’s progressive community continues the fight for food, housing, protection from police violence, racial and economic justice, and a self-determined community. ************************************ HELP RELEASE JALIL SO THAT HE CAN CONTINUE TO FIGHT ALONGSIDE US FOR JUSTICE AND EQUALITY. WHAT YOU CAN DO: 1. Send a personal letter in support of Jalil’s release to: Andrea W. Evans Chairwoman of Parole New York State Division of Parole 97 Central Ave Albany, NY 12206 Commissioner Brian Fischer New York State Division of Parole 97 Central Ave Albany, NY 12206 Please include Jalil’s DIN number 77A-4283, and refer to him by his given name, Anthony Bottom. If possible, a copy of this letter should also be sent to freejalilmuntaqim@gmail.com to be kept on file. Letters of support can be as in-depth as you like, and should clearly express support for his release on parole to Buffalo. 2. Spread the word! Tell others about Jalil’s case, and educate them about the importance of releasing him this June. 3. Write Jalil to express your support, and ask him directly how you can help. Anthony J. Bottom #77A4283 Attica Correctional Facility P.O. Box 149 Attica, NY 14011-0149 For More Information About Jalil and How You Can Support Him, email: freejalilmuntaqim@gmail.com , or Visit His Website: www.freejalil.com To download a brochure about Jalil, click here: http://www.jerichony.org/images21/FREE_JALIL_TRIFOLD.pdf =========================================================== HELPING HANDS Helping Hands events are held at St. Lawrence Church, 1520 East Delavan Avenue, Buffalo NY 14219 ************************************ "Children's Clinic at St. Lawrence" Quality health care for children. Uninsured are seen for low fees but no child refused due to inability to pay. Call 716-308-6302 with questions. ************************************ "Food Stamp Enrollment And Financial Education" Courtesy of Catholic Charities. Held Tuesdays from 9 a.m. to 2 pm. Any questions, call (716) 856-4494. ************************************ "Medicaid, Child and Family Health Plus, NY Health Exchange Facilitated Health Insurance Enrollments" Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Any questions, call (716) 564-3630 (ext. 22509). ************************************ "Samaritan Counseling" Do you need someone to listen? A Samaritan Counselor is available on Wednesdays from 9 to 11 a.m. If you have questions, or to schedule an appointment, call (716) 743-9117. ************************************ "Vaccines for Uninsured Children" Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Call (716)308-6302 with questions. ************************************ "WIC Outreach" The Children's Clinic does WIC referrals and prescriptions from 9 a.m. to Noon on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. If you have questions, call (716)597-0509 ************************************ Events List in PDF format: http://tinyurl.com/mqroha4/ All Services located in the Franciscan Guest House (behind the church / school buildings). There is off-street parking behind the church and on Roma Avenue. If coming by bus, use the #26 line (Erb Street stop if eastbound, Wright Avenue stop if westbound). Peace, Luke R. Dyer Practice Manager St. Lawrence Pediatrics 1520 East Delavan Avenue Buffalo, NY 14215 Office Phone: (716) 308-6302 Voice Mail: (716) 894-3090 Fax: (877) 815-9267 "Always be a little kinder than necessary." - James M. Barrie =========================================================== LAURA AIISHA : “WE STAND STRONG” - OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO https://vimeo.com/104307433 Blessings in Love Worldwide Family! It is an HONOR to share my first music video with you!!! This song, “We Stand Strong,” came through me during a writing session with my good friend, the amazingly talented Mike Corey. This song was inspired by a conflict that was happening at that time between Israel and Palestine. Check it out, share it and spread the peace forward vibrations! I desire for this song and video to be an inspiration to YOU to trust and know that World Peace IS possible in our lifetime. Big UP the refugees, all those affected on any level by war/violence, and ALL who are taking a stand for peace. This video is Livicated to: Our Ancestors, The Elders All of the lives lost & affected by war & violence And all Prisoners of War Those living in war Those taking a stand for Peace and Justice on the daily And for all Refugees Worldwide!!! Big up to River Nile Media in Buffalo, NY (https://www.facebook.com/RNM.INC) for putting together this powerful video! Highly BLESS!! Your Sistar, Laura Aiisha http://LauraAiisha.com http://LauraAiisha.com/LAH-Musique https://www.facebook.com/laura.aiisha?fref=ts =========================================================== NO/KNOW DRONES NETWORK The No/Know Drones Network is made up of Military Vets, Citizen Activists and Non-profit NGOs, all with a shared interest concerning drone killing and spying and military actions in countries we are not at war with. http://www.knowdrones.com/ https://twitter.com/KnowDrones/ http://nodronesnetwork.blogspot.com/ http://droneswatch.org/ http://www.veteransforpeace.org/ https://www.facebook.com/groups/NoDronesNetwork/ https://www.facebook.com/KnowDronesUsa/ http://www.youtube.com/user/KnowDronesNow/ =========================================================== RAINBOW FRIDAYS AT FILIGREE'S GALLERY Every Friday In November 2014 12:00 to 8:00 p.m. Filigree's Gallery & Boutique 1121 Elmwood Avenue Buffalo, NY 14222 Forget Black Friday and celebrate Rainbow Friday every Friday in November at Filigrees Gallery from 12:00 to 8:00 p.m.! Support the unique items made by local artists and entrepreneurs at a locally owned and operated boutique at the gateway to the Elmwood Village. Why shop local? * * * * Creates more local jobs Keeps money in the local community Local taxes support local public services and facilities Benefit people without transportation ************************************ “Purple Friday: November 14” iCan Clothing (25% Off) Owned and operated by Shanita Wilson and Engelic Everett, two girls with developmental disabilities. They want to promotes self confidence and self advocacy through service and action with their positive influence apparel and accessories. ************************************ “Blue Friday: November 21” Ultra Hoops (25% Off) Owned and operated by Melissa Campbell, a culture cultivator/localist and owner of Filigrees, who is promoting health and fitness benefits through her hand made hula-hoops. ************************************ “Rainbow Friday: November 28” 10% off all locally made items, featuring products created by David Derner, Sare Howard, Tamora Lee, David Licht, Melscamp, Rebel Behavior, Lightnings Native Crafts, Kates Camp and Nicole D. Brown. ************************************ For More Information, Contact: Melissa Campbell Phone: (716) 400-3144 Email: camp716@gmail.com Official Website: www.filigreesgallery.com Filigree's Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/FiligreesGallery UltraHoops Website:www.ultrahoops.com =========================================================== THE SAFE AND FAIR EVALUATION (S.A.F.E.) PAROLE ACT THE PURPOSE OF PAROLE BOARD HEARINGS SHOULD BE EVALUATION NOT PUNISHMENT The S.A.F.E. Parole Act calls for : FACE-TO-FACE VIDEOTAPED PAROLE HEARINGS • In-person interviews , which ncreases the person applying for parole’s trust in the process and in the goal of reintegration, and creates an environment in which the parole board can more fully and fairly evaluate applicants * Videotaping interviews ensures that the final record is accurate and detailed, which allows for a more effective review of the hearing, and holds everyone accountable for their conduct * The cost of videotaping hearings are offset by saving the cost of stenographers and the cost of transcripts NO SECRETS; PAROLE APPLICANT SEES EVERYTHING IN THE FOLDER THAT THE PAROLE BOARD SEES * Results in greater transparency, fairness and trust in the parole process * The applicant can address errors or other information * Ensures a more accurate portrayal of the applicant on which the parole board can base its decision RELEASE DECISIONS BASED ON REHABILITATION AND PREPAREDNESS FOR RE-ENTRY AND REINTEGRATION INTO SOCIETY * The parole board is given specific, workable criteria by which to determine the probability that the applicant, if released, will live and remain at liberty without violating the law. * The NYS Transitional Accountability Plan (TAP) provides a meaningful process by which the Parole Board can make decisions regarding rehabilitation and release to parole supervision. CLEAR AND COMPLETE INSTRUCTIONS SPELLING OUT WHAT THE PERSON MUST DO TO BE RELEASED * Alleviates the frustration and confusion experienced by parole applicants when they are not told what they can do in order to be released to parole supervision * This change holds everyone accountable — the applicant, the Department of Correctional Services & Community Supervision and the Parole Board. More information on the S.A.F.E. Parole Act: http://www.parolereform.org/ http://www.parolereformnow.org/safe/ http://open.nysenate.gov/legislation/bill/S5374-2011/ =========================================================== THIS AND THAT ************************************ "This & That" is published now and then for the Erie area progressive community. Always good to double-check dates and times. View online at http://www.nwpapeace.org/ Event submissions should have "T&T" in subject line. Send to: moonkat2014@gmail.com In-Depth Calendar posted online at http://eriebluegreen.blogspot.com/ ************************************ EVENTS CALENDAR: WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12 "Thomas Merton Center Honors Jeremy Scahill" (Pittsburgh, PA) http://thomasmertoncenter.org/scahill/ FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 28 "Made In Erie Marketplace" 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. Masonic Temple Camelog Room 32 West 8th Street Erie, PA Event Page: https://www.facebook.com/events/574741102655343/ TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9 TO TUESDAY, DECEMBER 16 "Dramashop Staged Reading Series: 'Clybourne Park' " Winner of the 2011 Pulitzer Prize and the 2012 Tony Award, features two intriguing acts set in the same house, but fifty years apart. Act One takes place in 1959, as neighbors are trying to stop an African-American family from moving to their quiet, suburban street. Act Two is present-day, and the now predominantly African-American neighborhood battles to hold its ground in the face of gentrification. Funny, witty, challenging and timely, it’s a perfect fit for Dramashop. For more information about times and location: http://dramashop.org/2014-15-season/ =========================================================== UPDATE FROM GAZA: NOOR HARAZEEN Noor Harazeen is a Palestinian journalist based in Gaza, who has been giving many up-to-date, on the ground reports about the destruction and aftermath of the Israeli attacks against Gaza. https://www.facebook.com/updatefromgaza/ https://www.youtube.com/user/Updatefromgaza/ Noor's bio (from http://muckrack.com/Noor_Harazeen/bio/): "I was born in Cairo, Egypt and brought up in the United Arab Emirates. In 2004 I moved to my parents homeland – Gaza, Palestine. "I am currently a TV English reporter working for Al-Etejah channel and an English education student in Al-azher University, and I also worked as an English Teacher for the British Academy of Languages (BAL) for 2 years. "I Started as an activist, dedicated my time in helping people and children around the Gaza strip, also worked as a volunteer teaching children and running youth camps. "In 2009, after the war on Gaza, I worked as a fixer and translator for international delegations that visited the Gaza strip working for a conflict peace process and in solidarity with the Palestinian people like Codepink, Viva Palestina, and Freedom March To Gaza. "Late in 2009, I started taking small parts in media, such as working for the EU as a media coordinator in the Gaza Strip, and then I took parts as an English video reporter in many projects for Palestine (TJP Project - GazaReport). "Shortly after one of the projects ended I started my own Facebook news and reports page from Gaza to keep the outside world updated with the news from Gaza-Palestine (see above link). During the last war 'Operation Pillar Of Cloud' on Gaza I worked as a producer, fixer, and translator for GazaReport ( http://harryfear.co.uk/blog/gazareport/) "I participated in several courses about The Rights of Journalists in War and Armed conflicts; Journalism and Child Rights in different countries (UAE-Egypt-Jordan-Palestine-Lebanon); also took a part in the ICRC International Humanitarian Law diploma. "I speak fluent English, Arabic and some French. I also got the talent for painting and poetry." More links for Noor Harazeen: Email: noorharazeen@icloud.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/Noor_Harazeen/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/pub/noor-harazeen/97/461/b46/ Crowdfunding Page: https://www.igiveonline.com/campaigns/make-palestinian-english-channel-for-gaza/ =========================================================== UPSTATE COALITION TO GROUND THE DRONES AND THE END THE WARS Hancock Air National Guard Base, home of the 174th Attack Wing, is a domestic hub for drone assassinations, support and operation, particularly in Afghanistan. The Niagara Falls Air Base is also embarking on a mission to operate weaponized drones. The Hancock efforts emerged following arrests at Creech Airforce Base in Nevada, and the Gandhian Wave of protest there has spearheaded national and international movements against the use of drones for assassination in countries we are not at war with and wars of occupation. The Upstate Coalition to Ground the Drones and End the Wars, supported by local organizations such as the WNY Peace Center, works nonviolently to stop the scourge of assassination and community terror perpetrated by weaponized drones. The Upstate Coalition to Ground the Drones is in coalition with the global movement to end the drone assassinations and to stop US imperialism and militarization. Official Website: http://upstatedroneaction.org/ Links To Anti-Drone Activist Sites and Drone Info Sites: http://upstatedroneaction.org/links.html/ =========================================================== U.S. FRIENDS OF SOVIET PEOPLE (BUFFALO BRANCH) FREE BI-MONTHLY SCREENINGS Second & Fourth Tuesdays Of The Month 7:00 p.m. El Buen Amigo 114 Elmwood Avenue Buffalo, NY The Buffalo branch of U.S. Friends Of Soviet People (http://usfriendsofthesovietpeople.org/) will be hosting FREE bi-monthly screenings of various films every second and fourth Tuesday of the month (except for December) at El Buen Amigo on Elmwood Avenue. Refreshments will be served. UPCOMING TUESDAY SCREENINGS: 2014 November 25: “Reds” (1981) 2015 January 13: “October (10 Days That Shook The World)” (1928) January 27: “Mission To Moscow” (1943) February 10: “Volga-Volga” (1938) February 24: “Why We Fight, Part 1: Prelude To War” (1942) March 10: “Why We Fight, Part 2: The Nazis Strike” (1943) March 24: “Why We Fight, Part 3: Divide & Conquer” (1943) April 14: “Why We Fight, Part 4: The Battle Of Britain” (1943) April 28: “Why We Fight, Part 5: The Battle Of Russia” (1943) May 12: “Why We Fight, Part 6: The Battle Of China” (1944) May 26: “Why We Fight, Part 7: War Comes To America” (1945)