CONTENTS:
PHILLY & PA ACTION
Debbie Bell : An Eyewitness Account: Speaking on Her Recent Trip to the Gulf Coast
Register for the honoring of Cindy Sheehan, Jeffrey Dekro, Judy Wicks, and Celeste Zappala
Minimum Wage Meeting with Rep. O'Brien
Join the Trenton Anti-War Organizing Committee for a counter recruitment conference
FREE Special Screening of "Waslala: Past Present Future"!
Northwest Peace & Justice Movement
PennEnvironment : Stop Risky Philly Energy Plan
"Playgrounds for Palestine Fundraiser Sunday, February 12"
RSVP for the Jobs with Justice Community and Labor Strategic Planning Retreat
EVENTS OCCURING EVERY WEEK: (see below)
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Job Announcement/ Job Developer
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NATIONAL ACTION:
ACTION: Akbar Ganji Subjected to Harsh Prison Conditions in Iran
When will U.S. women demand peace? by MEDEA BENJAMIN
Please join Global Exchange in showing your Valentine's Day love for Fair Trade
HEALTHCARE NOW! Now Is The Time To Act!
Hundreds of strikers arrested in Tehran- your protest messages needed today
"Major peace mobilization set for April 29" - UFPJ
==================

PHILLY & PA ACTION:
Debbie Bell : An Eyewitness Account: In Recognition of  African American History Month
Speaking on Her Recent Trip to the Gulf Coast


        Friday, February 3, 2006,7 pm,
        DuBois Center, 4515 Baltimore Ave. 
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Register for the honoring of Cindy Sheehan, Jeffrey Dekro, Judy Wicks, and Celeste Zappala

This Sunday (Feb 5) from 2 p..m. to 4 p.m.
Mishkan Shalom congregation in Roxborough - 4101 Freeland, off Shurs Lane a few blocks above Main Street. 
        $36 a person - if you are a student, under 13 years old, or constricted-income, $18.
        Email  Lisa Tuttle, at - tuttles@cavtel.net
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Minimum Wage Meeting with Rep. O'Brien

        Friday Feb. 3 at 11AM at 9811 Academy Rd. Philadelphia- Lower level.
A1:The Republicans in the House Labor Relations Committee this morning used their majority to kill the discharge resolution that would have forced the House to vote today on the minimum wage issue.  They voted to recommend the minimum wage increase out of committee with a negative referral.  A move by Democrats to force a vote on the minimum wage issue was held yesterday with not one single Republican voting to allow the minimum wage to come to a vote.  We know Perzel and Republican members have been promising to bring the bill to a vote.  I would encourage people to hold them to their promises and to let them know this will be an important issue where their support is needed.

B1: Yes its true.  But the fact is that HB 2021 (with the $7.15 and cola intact) was reported out of committee.  It had a negative recommendation so the Ds walked out on the vote, but it is now on the table for floor vote.  The fear is that they will call for a fiscal note so that it will be referred to Appropriations Committee where it would die.  The Ds are talking of moving to suspend the rules so that the bill does not go to Appropriations.  The bottom line is we need to demand that House members support a vote on the floor of HB 2021.
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Join the Trenton Anti-War Organizing Committee on Saturday, February 4 for a counter recruitment conference

Westminster Presbyterian Church 1140 Greenwood Ave. Trenton, NJ.-two stores down from the corner of Olden and Greenwood
 Saturday, Feb. 4, 9:30 - 2:30 (lunch will be served)
        The Conference will feature panels on the current political context, anti-war organizing, and military counter-recruitment             strategies, as well as a screening of the new film, Before You Enlist and discussion with the filmmakers.
        Sponsored by the Trenton Anti War Organizing Committee, TCNJ Progressive Student Alliance, Rutgers Against the War (RAW), The College Anti-war Network (CAN)  Contact: 609. 394. 7617<emattek@aol.com>If you are coming, please let us know so we can plan food. Thanks, John K.
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FREE Special Screening of "Waslala: Past Present Future"!!!

        Monday, February 6th, 7pm
        Mugshots Cafe- 21st and Fairmount Ave  Philadelphia, PA 19130
Water for Waslala (WfW) is one of the most exciting new examples of the power Philadelphia young professionals have to change the world, one community at a time. Founded in 2004 by a group of recent Villanova University graduates. Eight Villanova students spent two weeks learning the realities of life in a poor region of Nicaragua called Waslala, including fetching water from contaminated rivers every day. WfW was subsequently created to remedy the water crisis in Waslala by building sustainable water systems for each of the 50 villages in need.
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Northwest Peace & Justice Movement Meeting

Tuesday February 7, 2006 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Parish Center behind Saint Vincent's Church , 109 East Price Street, Germantown  Philadelphia, PA 19144
Phone: 215-843-4256
Please join us. We need your ideas about how to end the U.S. occupation of Iraq and to reduce militarism in our society.
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 The Philadelphia Regional Anti-War Network (PRAWN) will hold a
>President's Day Peace Event
between 2:00 and 4:00 pm on Sunday, February 19,                                                 near the home of Senator Arlen Specter, 4111 Timber Lane in East Fall.
> This will be the third demonstration in a series which began with a Winter
> Solstice Peace Event on December 18, 2005.
>
> Demonstrators will use the occasion of President Lincoln's 197th
> birthday to explain the notion of peace to Senator Specter. Specter has
> been an ardent hawk during the U.S., three year-long, military occupation
> of Iraq. Lincoln was the 16th President of the U.S. and the first
> president elected from the modern Republican Party.

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PennEnvironment : Stop Risky Philly Energy Plan

Urging opposition to PGW's dangerous liquefied natural gas (LNG) plans for NE Philadelphia.Council is expected to introduce a resolution this week declaring its opposition to any LNG plans for Philadelphia. If passed, this will essentially end the effort to place an LNG import facility in Philadelphia--a facility that would pose a serious public safety threat to Philadelphia.  The facility would bring huge ships carrying LNG up the Delaware River, and an accident on one of these vessels could injure people up to a mile away. 

To take action, simply click on the link below or paste it into your web browser:Then ask your family and friends to help by forwarding this email to them. 
http://www.pennenvironment.org/PE.asp?id=268&id4=ES
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"Playgrounds for Palestine Fundraiser Sunday, February 12" - 5pm-late Samba  714 West Girard Ave.


While you eat a delicious, fully halal dinner, a live band,  Dancers, A percussion ensemble of talented kids will rock the air. You'll learn about Palestinian children through a unique presentation. And we'll teach you a few dabkeh moves if you join us on the dance floor.  But that isn't all.  
        A silent auction,lots of gorgeous pieces of jewelry, embroidery, Hebron pottery, and other things of Palestinian beauty. For examples, please visit: 
http://playgroundsforpalestine.org/auction.htm Dinner will be served starting at 5pm and live entertainment will follow shortly thereafter. The cost is $30-50 for adults and $15 for children (cash bar). If you want to come just for dancing to arabic music at 7:30, tickets are $10 (with a cash bar).  For more information, see our website.
If you'd like to purchase a ticket in advance please mail a check to:
                Playgrounds for Palestine ,  POBox 559 , Yardley, PA 19067
Your name and place will be reserved and we'll also mail you the tickets. Or contact us via email: sjabulhawa@aol.com or lhanna@comcat.com (not comcast!!)    
http://www.PlaygroundsForPalestine.org>
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RSVP for the Jobs with Justice Community and Labor Strategic Planning Retreat

2) Get Ready for "Baby Day" at Temple University with SLAP and TUGSA
Tuesday, February 14, noon to 1:00 PM @Temple U, Student Activities Center (13th & Montgomery)

3) JwJ Updates: SLAP Leader Slams David Adamany (Temple U, Pres.).

If you received this message from a friend, you can sign up for Philadelphia Jobs with Justice at:
http://www.unionvoice.org/Phillyjwj/join.html?r=mpaizT51huIwE
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EVENTS OCCURING EVERY WEEK:

Free Tutoring for Children in TANF Families
        EPP tutors children at all grade levels on weekdays and weekends and is able to pick-up and drop-off
children at most locations.  One-on-one tutoring and group tutoring in math and reading available.
To register, call 267-253-5444 or<educationphilly@aol.com>. :DHS Prevention Services[
mailto:DHSPrevention@phila.gov]

Thursdays
10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.   Talk Radio Program with Sandra Dungee Glenn (Member, School Reform
Commission)   On WURD 900 AM--call in number is 215-426-1310.

6:00-8:00 p.m.   Workshop: "Build Your Own Computer"
Nonprofit Technology Resources, 1524 Brandywine St., Philadelphia, Pa
$25 per session   To register, call 215-564-6686.

7:00-9:00 p.m.
International Concerned Friends & Family of Mumia Weekly Meeting
4601 Market St., 5th floor, Philadelphia, PA   For info, call 215-476-5416.

Fridays
Noon-1:00 p.m. Vigil- Oppose the Occupation - S. 15th Street above Locust (because of construction we are standing closer to Walnut Street)Our presence is very important at this time.  We must support the Israeli peace movement and the Palestinian people in this post election time!<cswatz@pil.net>
   
4:30 p.m.   Anti-war leafleting and picket
Market & 11th Sts., Philadelphia, PA   For info, email pawf@critpath.org

5:00 p.m.   Vigil--Women in Black
Swarthmore Train Station, Park Ave. & Chester Rd., Swarthmore, PA   For info, email wibswarthmore@hotmail.com.

Saturdays 
 10:00 a.m. to noon
"Talking Union" weekly call-in radio show, 1340 AM

noon-1:00 p.m.   Peace Vigil   Rte. 38 & Cherry Hill Mall Dr., Cherry Hill, NJ
For info, email greatercamdenunitycoalition@yahoo.com

1:00-2:00 p.m.   Protest at Ferber Furs
1708 Walnut St., Philadelphia, PA   For info, email phillyar@yahoogroups.com.

Mondays
5:00-7:00 p.m.   Radio Show: "Labor to Neighbor" with hosts Janet Ryder, Pat Eiding &
Pete Matthews   900 AM WURD--215-634-8065.

6:00-9:00 p.m. Weekly ACT UP Meeting
St. Luke's Church, 330 S. 13th St., Philadelphia, PA For info, email actupphilly@critpath.org

Tuesdays
7:00-9:00 p.m.   Organizing Meeting   Toviah Thrift Shop   Chestnut St. (between 42nd & 43rd)
Call (215) 382-7251 or (215) 474-6459 box 1 for more info  - Sponsored by Neighbors Against McPenntrification

7:30 p.m.   Books Through Bars Packing Cafe   The A Space, 4722 Baltimore Ave., Philadelphia, PA
Help pack books to send to prisoners.   Email info@booksthroughbars.org

Wednesdays
THREE PEACE VIGILS
4:30-5:30 p.m. - Federal Building, 601 Market St., Philadelphia, PA
Sponsored by House of Grace Catholic Worker   For info, email brandywine@juno.com .

5:00 pm - 6:00 pm - Outside Unitarian Society of Germantown
Street: 6511 Lincoln Drive (between Wayne & Horter) in West Mount Airy,  Philadelphia, PA 19119
- Candles and signs welcome. Let's make them "HONK FOR PEACE!"

7:00 pm - 8:00 pm - Outside Borders Book Store, Germantown Avenue at Bethlehem Pike in Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia, PA 19118    Note: Dress warmly and bring your candle and sign. (Try this in your neighborhood.)
--
7:30 p.m.   International People's Democratic Uhuru Movement Weekly Meeting
Uhuru House, 1021 S. 49th St., Philadelphia, Pa   For info, see www.inpdum.org.

====================================

Job Announcement/ Job Developer

The Philadelphia Unemployment Project(PUP) is looking for a job developer to find jobs for unemployed Philadelphians
.                         The position will focus on placements in the Philadelphia suburbs as part of a new reverse commute project, which will provide van pools to get city residents to suburban jobs.

We are looking for someone with a car and the ability to get around in the suburbs.  Knowledge of the suburbs or a good sense of direction and an ability to read a map is required.  Experience as a job developer is also important.  You will need to be able to approach employers and secure job leads for our clients.  You will also help clients with interviewing skills, job search skills and job retention activities. 
        Women and persons of color are encouraged to apply.
        Competitive salary, excellent benefits, including fully paid health insurance with dental, eyeglasses and dental, good  vacation policy.  Union membership.
 Send resumes to PUP 1201 Chestnut St. Room 702 Philadelphia, PA 19107 or fax to 215-557-6981 or email to JDODDSPUP@aol.com

===============

NATIONAL ACTION:

ACTION: Akbar Ganji Subjected to Harsh Prison Conditions in Iran


Serving a six year sentence for his investigative journalism
exposing the government's involvement in the murder of
dissidents, Ganji continues to be a leading voice holding the
Iranian authorities accountable for serious violations of human
rights and advocating non-violent resistance to the government.
        Weakened by chronic illness, years of imprisonment and by hunger
strike protests he conducted last year, Akbar Ganji remains in poor health.

Take Action:
http://action.humanrightsfirst.org/campaign/Ganji_III/iguw5d5rajntkkn?

Learn more about the case of Akbar Ganji:
http://action.humanrightsfirst.org/ct/JdMIInK12cPH//explanation
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When will U.S. women demand peace? by MEDEA BENJAMIN:
http://www.thenation.com/doc/20060206/benjamin

   Join us in building this global call, sending it to our friends at home and abroad to get at least 100,000 women on board. Please commit to doing a local action on March 8--shut down a recruiting center, sit in at a Congressional office, hold a vigil on a crowded street corner, paint a peace mural. Or join us in Washington, DC, where Iraqi, US and British women--including Cindy Sheehan--who have lost sons in this war will try to meet with US women leaders, from Condoleezza Rice to Hillary Clinton, to push our peace plan.

    Let's make March 8 a day when we revive the fighting spirit of International Women's Day and unleash the power of women across generations, races, ethnicities, religions and borders. Let's make it a day to show our anger over the war, our compassion for our sisters in Iraq, our disgust with our leaders and our determination to change course. And let's commit to building, over the long term, a women's peace movement that will make our global sisters--and our grandmothers--proud.

    So a few weeks ago, CodePink drafted a Global Women's Call for Peace in Iraq with the idea of asking women around the world to sign on and then march to US embassies on March 8, International Women's Day.
[See: "Let's do something historic," January 12, 2006,
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nwgreens/message/1414.] We thought that the idea of women worldwide putting pressure on the US government would inspire US women to stand up as well.
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Please join Global Exchange in showing your Valentine's Day love for Fair Trade! Here's what you can do

*Order a Heart-Shaped Box of Fair Trade Valentine's Day Chocolate 
http://www.globalexchangestore.org
Our Fair Trade Valentine's Day Chocolate Heart Boxes include a dozen dark chocolate hearts swirled with white chocolate, packaged in a recycled heart box, biodegradable red cellophane, a heart ribbon, and a lokta paper gift tag. 

*Check Out Our Valentine's Day Action Kit - with retro-style Valentines!
http://www.globalexchangestore.org
Global Exchange is also offering a Valentine's Day Action Kit, which includes a heart-shaped box of Fair Trade Valentine chocolates, a package of retro-style Valentines cards with the message "I Choo Choo Choose Fair Trade" proudly displayed, a soapstone Fair Trade mini heart in an organza bag, and an "I Love Fair Trade" iron-on, compliments of Transfair USA, all bundled together in a red, recycled Kraft bag.  The Valentines are addressed to Nestle USA and ask Nestle to end its use of illegal child labor by sourcing Fair Trade certified cocoa.


*Fax Nestle USA and Demand Fair Trade on February 14th
http://www.globalexchange.org/getInvolved/actnow/nestleslavery.html
Along with other major players in the chocolate industry, Nestle USA committed to ending child labor on cocoa farms by July 2005. But little has been accomplished and the problem continues unabated. Call Nestle USA at 1-800-225-5570 and demand they take seriously their responsibility for ending forced and abusive child labor on their farms by using Fair Trade Certified cocoa. You can also send a fax right now from our fax action page thru the link above.

Thanks, as always, for your hard work on behalf of peace and justice,
Global Exchange
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HEALTHCARE NOW! Now Is The Time To Act!

Please, tell your newspapers about the healthcare we need and the president's failure to address it.  Call the talk shows and tell your story. Then, send us contact information of other people who would like to work for national healthcare so we can build this movement strong to win during this election year.

DRAFT:
Dear Editor:  The President tonight cut short his healthcare crisis remarks - but his whole speech proposed the same solution for every problem - more privatization.  Interestingly, he didn't spend a lot of time selling his "Wealthcare" programs, but glossed over details by calling for "helping people afford the health insurance they need."   The language is intentionally obscure, but the intent is clear -- to provide more public money to the insurance and HMO profiteers.  Under his plan, government will help increase the profits of the health insurance industry.  This is yet another scheme like his failed attempt to put Social Security into Wall Street accounts. The Bush Prescription Drug Plan is another.  He didn't take credit for that plan tonight because everybody knows it hasn't done much to provide prescription drug relief to most Seniors, but it has succeeded in taking money from Medicare to make the drug stockholders and CEOs even more wealthy.

One important point was his call for making permanent the billions in tax cuts that he gave to the very rich in his first term.  If this transfer of wealth continues, the rest of us will pay an implicit tax in higher healthcare and other needed social services.  Restoring that money to the public treasury would help solve some of the problems with the Bush government deficit and the future retirement of the baby boomers.

His "Health Savings Accounts" promises are sly.  Think about it.  Here's what an HSA would do for a middle class family with three children and a father who has a chronic illness:

The family purchases a high deductible HSA plan.
The father becomes ill and can no longer work.  Who will pay for the HSA investments?
Deductions are required but only for "approved" medical expenses. Approved? Who knows how? Most certainly, the insurance companies will continue to deny many needed services.
The family is supposed to save money by not going to the doctor unless absolutely necessary.  Therefore the costs will skyrocket even more because primary care and prevention will be deemed to be less important.  These "frivolous" costs will be reduced because families will only go to the doctor when the situation is critical. But then their health costs will be more expensive to all of us.
The deductible must be met before the insurance company pays anything.  For a family, that deductible is expected to be no less than $2,000.
Then, the high-deductible insurance begins to pick up some of the expenses less cost-sharing and "uncovered" costs. What is uncovered?   Will the government decide? Insurance companies?
The funds in the HSA's are tax-sheltered until you are seventy (the only real reason for getting an HSA.)  If you have enough money to need a tax shelter, this will help you.  If you have a serious illness, and are barely meeting expenses, a tax deduction is the least of your worries.
People with serious illnesses, injuries or chronic diseases will rapidly deplete their HSA savings. The full brunt of skimpy benefits and a typical 20% co-pay for doctors and hospitals will probably bankrupt additional middle class families.

What we need is a real national health plan - a single payer, quality healthcare system for everybody with full choice of doctors and treatments.  

HERE'S HOW:   
We need the National Health Insurance Act -- House Resolution 676, now in Congress.  For info: www.healthcare-now.org. 
Help make it happen. Call Healthcare-NOW. 212-475-8350.

If you'd like to organize a Citizen/Congressional Hearing in your community, read about it on the web and join us. Or get a petition and materials to carry with you as you talk with people about this.  We can win this within the next four years if we help educate and elect a Congress truly in support of national healthcare for all. 

Marilyn Clement, National Coordinator, Healthcare-NOW, info@healthcare-now.org  
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Hundreds of strikers arrested in Tehran- your protest messages needed today

Just days ago, security forces in Iran began arresting "hundreds" of striking bus workers in Tehran.
The arrested strikers have been packed into the high-security Evin Prison, notorious for its torture chambers and being the scene of thousands of executions of political prisoners. Wives and children of strike leaders were dragged out of their beds and beaten.  Workers reporting to the bus depots on Saturday morning were beaten, threatened and then forced to drive the buses. In arresting these workers and trying to break their union, the Iranian government is in violation of ILO core conventions and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and deserves to be condemned by the entire world. If we do nothing, the repression will intensify.  The lives of the strikers are on the line as they come up against the full fury of one of the world's most repressive regimes

You can add your name and send a loud and clear message to Iranian President Ahmadinejad, demanding that he free the strikers now. Go to
http://www.labourstart.org/cgi-bin/solidarityforever/show_campaign.cgi?c=68    Then, spread the word.
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"Major peace mobilization set for April 29" - UFPJ

A war based on lies/ Spying, corruption and attacks on civil liberties/ Katrina survivors abandoned by government

MARCH FOR PEACE, JUSTICE AND DEMOCRACY
End the war in Iraq - Bring all our troops home now!
SATURDAY, APRIL 29, 2006 NEW YORK CITY


Unite for change - let's turn our country around! No more never-ending oil wars!  Protect our civil liberties & immigrant rights. End illegal spying, government corruption and the subversion of our democracy.  Rebuild our communities, starting with the Gulf Coast. Stop corporate subsidies and tax cuts for the wealthy while ignoring our basic needs.  Act quickly to address the climate crisis and the accelerating destruction of our environment.

Click here to endorse this mobilization:
http://unitedforpeace.org/modinput4.php?modin=119

Click here to sign up for email updates on plans for April 29th: http://www.unitedforpeace.org/email

April 29th Initiating Organizations
United for Peace and Justice
Rainbow/PUSH Coalition
National Organization for Women
Friends of the Earth
U.S. Labor Against the War
Climate Crisis Coalition
Peoples' Hurricane Relief Fund