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)
-------------------------------
Job Announcement/ Job Developer
-------------------------------
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.
____________________________________________
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
___________________________________________________
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.
___________________________________________________
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.
_____________________________________
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.
________________________________________________________________
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.
_________________________________________________________________________
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.
________________________________________________________
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
_________________________________________________________________________________
"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>
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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
--------------------------
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
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
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.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
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
_______________
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
_______________________________________________________________________________
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.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
"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