CONTENTS:
PHILLY & LOCAL ACTION:
NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL ACTION:
COMMENTARY:
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{NOTE: Marlena Santoyo, age 68 has been doing Political Allies
Newsletter since 2000. Would you like to help with posting, so it
can continue. Contact Marlene at marlsan@cavtel.net.}
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PHILLY & LOCAL ACTION:
Upcoming GRANNY PEACE BRIGADE Philadelphia Events:
October 15: Time: 10:45 AM *
Granny Marlena speaks at the Ethical Society
Location: Southwest corner of Rittenhouse Square (a white building with
outside steps.)
October 15:**
Granny Nina will be passing out Granny flyers at the AIDS Walk as
walkers begin their walk around Fairmount Park. If you want to
join her, you are welcome.
October 17 6:30- 8:30PM **
Granny, Poet and Performance Artist, Sonia Sanchez will appear on the
Travis Smiley Show
at the Constitution Ctr. 525 Arch St.
All are invited. The show airs on PBS in Philadelphia at 11:30PM
October 24: 10:00 AM **
Grannies attend Mural Dedication at Benjamin Franklin High
School. The Mural celebrates nonviolence.
Location: Benjamin Franklin High School - 550 N. Broad St.
December 1, 2006 9:00 AM
GRANNY PEACE BRIGADE Philadelphia - Court Date
PLACE: 1401 ARCH STREET, 2ND FLOOR @ 9:00 AM
For info go to: http://GrannyPeaceBrigadePhiladelphia.org
or call Nina at 215-528-6130
_________________________________
Philly Beyond Oil 2006 Conference
Sat, Oct, 14, 2006,
8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Friends Meeting House 4th
and Arch Sts., Philadelphia
Registration $20; with lunch $35. Register online:
www.FossilFreePhilly.org
Phone contact: Dennis Winters, (215) 988-0929 x 242
Conference co-sponsors:
Energy Coordinating Agency, Delaware Valley Regional
Planning Commission, Sierra Club of SE PA, Perks Reutter Associates,
Clean
Air council, White Dog Foundation, Earthcare Working Group of PYM
(Quakers),
Henry George School, Farm to City.
Conference Supporters:
ActionPA/Energy Justice Network, Alliance for a
sustainable Future, Green party of Philadelphia, Sustainable Business
Network
______________________________________________________________
OCTOBER 13- 15TH
Six Actors in Search of a Plot(A
Palestinian/Israeli Theater Initiative)
The Painted Bride
Theater, 230 Vine St For info: www.paintedbride.org.
Tickets are $25 For
info, email lilab1924@yahoo.com.
____________________________________________________
Vietnam Resistance Peace Event, 10/15.
On October 15, 1965, the National Coordinating Committee to End the War
in Vietnam staged the first public burning of draft cards. From 2:00
until 4:00 pm on Sunday, October 15, 2006, 20 peace organizations will
demonstrate near the home of Senator Arlen Specter on Schoolhouse Lane
(between Henry Avenue and Gypsy Lane) in East Falls. They want Specter
to author a bill which will cut off all Pentagon funding in Iraq (the
current Vietnam), except money needed for an orderly withdrawal of all
U.S. troops. More information from Philadelphia Regional Anti-War
Network (PRAWN) at 215-307-7980 and <info2506@prawnworks.net>.
__________________________
NW Peace & Justice will meet on
October 17
You may sign the Declaration of Peace in Iraq at the Northwest
Peace and Justice Movement monthly meeting at 7:00 pm on Tuesday,
October 17, in the Parish Center behind Saint Vincent's Church, 109
East Price Street in Germantown. For more information: 215-843-4256 or
<nwgreens@yahoo.com>.
____________________
Saturday, November 11
All day African People's Solidarity Day Conference
(continues through 11/12)
International House, 3701 Chestnut St., Philadelphia, PA See
www.apscuhuru.org.
7:30 p.m. Dances of Universal Peace
Villanova University Corr Chapel, Ithan Ave. Entrance, Villanova, PA
Cost is $12 For info, see www.suficaravan.com.
____________________________________________________________
LT. WATADA ORGANIZING MEETING SET FOR WEDNESDAY,
OCTOBER 18TH
Meeting to prepare for the Watada tour coming to Philadelphia on
Thursday, November 9th has been set for October 18th.
Place: 1606 Walnut St, -
Time: 6:30-9PM
Contact: Bill Perry-Veterans of America; 215-945-3350, Larry:
215-563-6357
____________________________________________________________
Pennsylvania health leadership committee action
conference #1
November 10, 2006 - 10:00 am
to 4:30 pm
Board Room - Pa. United
Church Center, 900 S. Arlington Ave.,17109Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
In 2006 Apathy and Special Interests Combined to Stall Consideration of
the Pennsylvania:
Balanced and Comprehensive Health Reform Act- SB1085/HB2722
With the Election Over, And
New Leadership in the General Assembly, 2007 Can Be The Year for
Passage of This Essential Universal Health Care Legislation - But Only
If We Organize Across the Commonwealth and Pull Together - Join Us.
Co-Convenors
Nadine Bean - President, Pa. Chapter, Nat'l Association of Social
Workers
Rev. Sandra Strauss - Director of Public Advocacy, PA. Council of
Churches
Charlie Crystle - CEO - Mission Research Software
Steven B. Larchuk, esq. - chair - Pa. healthcare solutions
coalition
Scott Tyson, M.D. - President - Pennsylvanians United for Reform
in Health Care
Chuck Pinnacchio - Co-Founder - Citizen Solutions for Pennsylvania
Sandra Orr - Executive Director, Just HealthCare /PUSH
Jeff Garis - Director - Pennsylvania Action
Complimentary Lunch and Beverages Provided -
Questions and RSVP please - 412-749-1882
_________________________________________________
Call for Artists: CHINATOWN IN/FLUX 2009: Future
Landscape
Chinatown Neighborhood Tour (optional): Saturday, November 18, 2006
Artist Application Deadline: Monday, January 15, 2007
Initial Presentation & Planning Retreat: Friday & Saturday,
March 30-31, 2007
Final Presentation & Project Selection: Thursday, May 31, 2007
Exhibition: April - September, 2009
Asian Arts
Initiative (215) 557-0455
www.asianartsinitiative.org
How to Apply- Please submit the following no later than MONDAY, JANUARY
15, 2007:
1. Your name, address, phone number, and e-mail address.
2. A description of your proposed project concept (1 to 2
pages) that articulates your artistic vision and specific site
requirements necessary for your installation/project. The project
concept should also describe your approach to engaging local community
members, and how you expect your project to impact the local community
in the long-term. In addition to a narrative description, please feel
free to include any sketches or images that will help us to understand
your project.
3. An artist statement (up to 1 page) that explains your
relationship to the Chinatown community and what motivates your
participation in Chinatown In/flux: Future Landscape.
4. An artistic resume (up to 5 pages) that includes your
experience working with site-specific installations, public art works,
and community-based arts projects.
5. A CD with up to 20 images (1240 x 1240 ppi/dpi maximum
size) labeled with titles, medium, and dimensions formatted in
Powerpoint for Mac. DVDs with up to 10 minutes of video documentation
of past projects may also be submitted, if appropriate. Please include
a separate numbered slide list or work sample description.
6. A self addressed envelope with necessary postage for
return of materials.
* All materials must be received by MONDAY, JANUARY 15, 2007. Please
send to:
Asian Arts Initiative, Attn: Rana Sindhikara, Project Manager
1315 Cherry Street, 2nd Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19107
215-557-0455 rana@asianartsinitiative.org <mailto:rana@asianartsinitiative.org>
<http://asianartsinitiative.org>
===============
NATIONAL ACTION:
TORTURE BECOMING "LAWFUL" - CONSTITUTION DYING - REVIVE IT THRU ACTION
On Tuesday morning, the President is planning to sign the Military
Commissions Act of 2006, which lets him define what torture is and who
are the "enemy combatants" who can be tortured, with no recourse to the
courts.
So the Washington Region of the Religious Campaign Against Torture
(RCAT) is calling for a vigil at Lafayette Park in Washington, across
from the White House, at 9 am on Tuesday to mourn the dying of our most
cherished values
** In addition, we support a creative initiative proposed by
RHR,(Rabbis for Human Rights/ North America (RHR /NA) as well as many
groups from other traditions,.For those of us outside Washington: We
encourage you to take an hour as near to 9 a.m. as you can and head to
your local Post Office, with copies of RCAT's statement for the public
to sign.
"Don't mourn -- organize!" -
"It's time to do both."
Click or put in your browser: HTTP://www.wrrcat.org or http://www.nrcat.org/
Organizers remind us that the White House schedule can change, so
double-check the website for the latest information about the vigil
at -- HTTP://www.wrrcat.org
THIS WEEKEND, IN YOUR CONGREGATION, PLEASE ANNOUNCE THIS VIGIL AND ASK
YOUR FELLOW-CONGREGANTS TO JOIN. Click to http://www.nrcat.org/
Whether you go to Lafayette Park or to your local community centers, do
notify your local press of your plan by submitting a press release to
them. Write your own or click to the RCAT sites for a sample press
release.
RHR is also gathering signatures for the Jewish Statement Against
Torture, which brings the voice of the Jewish community to this
national struggle. For copies of the Jewish Statement Against
Torture click to http://www.rhr-na.org
If you need help to get organized for next Tuesday (including locating
clergy participants in your area who are active with the National
Religious Campaign Against Torture), please contact Rabbi Melissa
Weintraub at meweintraub@rhr-na.org.
Ahmeyn, amen, ahmin --Rabbi
Arthur Waskow [shalomctr@aol.com]
_________________________________________________________________________
Impending War with Iran: What You Can Do , A
Project of the Tikkun Community
If the Bush Administration believes that it can shift the elections by
attacking Iran, the only thing that might restrain them would be for
Democratic Party leaders to say that such an attack scheduled to
influence voting, would be an impeachable offense. Could that happen?
And how likely is an attack on Iran?
But can anything prevent this? Well, one thing might make a difference.
If the Democratic Party leadership (not the Kucinich's and other
relatively isolated voices, but the Nancy Pelosi's and John Edwards's
and other centrists) were to announce immediately that launching a war
in the weeks before an election (when there is no evidence that waiting
for another few months would cause any serious damage to the US or to
world peace) would be an impeachable offense. It would be very helpful
to get moderate Republicans to speak out about the possibility of an
attack on Iran in the next 3 weeks before the election being an
impeachable offense.
The only thing that could make that happen would be an extraordinary
outpouring of public sentiment to their Congressional and Senatorial
representatives demanding that they take this position publicly. And
that means you and your friends. This is not meant to be a critique of
the Republicans, because at the moment the usual timidity of the
Democrats is just as much responsible for Bush thinking he might be
able to get away with all this. But at this moment, appealing to the
Democrats and sensible Republicans is all we can do.
Please read the articles on the possibility that the war is being set
in motion right now:
http://tikkun.org/rabbi_lerner/News_Item.2006-10-11.5241
to get a fresh perspective on what is currently happening. One of the
articles is by Chris Hedges, whom you may remember as the level-headed
NY Times reporter who has become a leading analyst of the war in Iraq
and of US military strategy.
To call your Senators or Congressional representatives, dial 1 202
224-3121 and ask for the office
of your Senator or Congressperson. In this case, timing is everything.
______________________________________________________________________
Register to vote/absentee ballot/polling place
information go to:
To see state by state voter registration deadlines go to:
http://www.ufwaction.org/ct/r1qGZP91VcWD/localinfo
To see state by state voter registration/absentee ballot/polling
place information go to: http://www.ufwaction.org/ct/r1qGZP91VcWD/localinfo
If Rock the Vote's online voter registration tool is busy you
can also find online information how to register in your state by going
to:
http://www.ufwaction.org/ct/4pqGZP91VcWJ/bluelatinos
___________________________
* Volunteer in the Field -
With just 27 days left until Election Day, now is the time to
get involved. Just a few hours of your time a week will make a
huge difference in the outcome of this election. There are many
ways union members can get involved with Labor 2006:
* Volunteer in the Field:
Volunteering at a phone bank or
canvass is a great way to make a difference, now:
http://www.unionvoice.org/ct/qdqvCGM1Cq6i/
* Join the Online Media
Corps: As a member of the Labor 2006
Online Media Corps
http://www.unionvoice.org/ct/q7qvCGM1Cq6k/
*Working Families e-Activist
Network at:
http://www.unionvoice.org/wfean/join.html?r=b1qvCGM1SPu-E
_______________________________________________________________
A Message from Willie Nelson/ Dear Peacemaker,
I was at a concert this weekend in California to raise money for the
National Veterans Foundation. I'm an Air Force veteran, and I have
great respect for the military. I like to support the soldiers whenever
I can. But I don't support this war in Iraq.
I was against the war before it started. I always thought it was a
terrible decision, badly thought out, badly planned, and then horribly
executed. I want to see our troops come home right away, and so
do most Americans. Unfortunately, too many politicians in both parties
refuse to listen. So when will the troops come home? When we won't put
up with it anymore-when we change our government. And how will we do
that? By voting the bastards out! On November 7, you should vote for
anyone who's against the war and vote against anyone who's for the war.
It's that simple.
When I wrote the song "Whatever Happened to Peace on Earth" (http://www.givepeaceavote.org/article.php?id=1216)
at Christmastime in 2003, a lot of people were for the war, a lot of
people didn't know the facts or the truth. But people are waking up
now. They're learning that they were lied to about the war. They're
feeling lied to about this Mark Foley scandal in terms of who knew what
and when. They're questioning the leadership in this country. And that
gives us new possibilities for November 7th. If we all go out and vote
for peace candidates and get our friends to vote, and if our votes are
really counted, it's no contest. There'll be a change in the Congress,
and then we'll just have to keep building so we can get a president who
won't send our soldiers to fight a war based on lies.
We should have thrown the
bastards out years ago. Let's do it now! Give Peace a Vote! (http://www.givepeaceavote.org)
-------------------
CODEPINK was out in force at Willie
Nelson's concert, gathering signatures for our Give Peace a Vote
campaign and spreading pink messages of peace. Peacemakers around the
country have been flocking to concerts and movie openings and family
events with clipboards in hand to encourage people in their communities
to sign our Peace Vote Pledge. Just last week, a CODEPINK group
collecting signatures in Pasadena convinced their Congressman Adam
Schiff to change his mind about the war!
We need your support to put peace at the top of the ballot this year.
-- If you haven't signed our Give Peace A Vote Pledge, please do so now
(http://www.democracyinaction.org/dia/organizationsORG/codepink/petition.jsp?petition_KEY=295&t=GPV.dwt)
Ask five or twentyfive friends to pledge, as well (http://www.democracyinaction.org/dia/organizationsORG/codepink/tellafriend.jsp?tell_a_friend_KEY=839&t=GPV.dwt)
______________________________________________________
Iraq War Teach-Ins Gain Momentum! Historians
Against the War
With election day on the horizon, Historians Against
the War (http://www.historiansagainstwar.org/) has
sparked Teach-Ins across the country to address the
continuing occupation of Iraq, the threat of a new war
in Iran and the current assault on civil liberties and
international law. Between October 17 and Election Day,
November 7, there is a growing list of scheduled events
in every region of the United States.
Our impressive Speakers Bureau, which lists dozens of
experts on US foreign policy, the history and politics
of the Middle East and civil liberties/international
law, can help campuses think in new and complex ways
about these issues. Among these are: Pulitzer Prize-
winning author Kai Bird, Richard Falk, Blanche Cook,
Lloyd Gardner, Phyllis Bennis, Rahul Mahajan, Irene
Gendzier, and many others. Also included are leading
antiwar activists, notably Hany Khalil and Judith
LeBlanc from United for Peace and Justice, Frida
Berrigan of the War Resisters League, David Swanson
from AfterDowningSteet.org, Gael Murphy from Code Pink,
and Iraq veteran John Bruhns.
If you have not already done so, consider organizing an
event on your campus. This can be as simple as showing
a film followed by discussion or as complicated as
planning a multi-day conference. Our website has
suggestions for how to organize a Teach-In, a film
list, our Speakers Bureau, and other resources
(http://www.historiansagainstwar.org/teachin/).
Please
be sure to let us know about your event as soon as you
know when and where it will be taking place so we can
add you to our growing list. You can contact the Teach-
In committee directly at teachin@historiansagainstwar.org.
________________________________________________________
Organize a Buy Local Day in your city on
Saturday, November 18th!
http://www.globalexchange.org/campaigns/buylocalday.html
Organize Buy Local Day actions as a Global
Exchange Chapter
(http://www.globalexchange.org/chapters).
To join or start a chapter contact chapters@globalexchange.org
_________________________________________________
Smokefree law quickly improves health of bar
workers
- To send letters urging your elected officials to enact smokefree
legislation that protects ALL workers, go to http://www.smokefree.net/alerts.php
Scotland Smoking Ban Quickly Improved Worker Health, Study Says By
Kevin Orland, Bloomberg
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601102&sid=asizknb5NKP0&refer=uk
________________________________________________________________________
Untold stories: A shadow hearing on immigration
On August 29, the AFSC Denver office held a "shadow" hearing as a
direct response to the exclusion of immigrant voices at a U.S. Senate
Budget Committee hearing scheduled for the following day. The "shadow"
hearing, which received significant media coverage, included the
voices of immigrants, citizens and workers who shared their
testimonies before a panel of Denver civic leaders.
Please follow the link below
to read see and hear more.
(http://support.afsc.org/site/R?i=9vYMb3lMhCmPXIhoJMkihQ..
)
_________________________________________________________________
Invitation to the National Conference on
Arts and Aging: Creativity Matters November 3-4, 2006.
For more info on the conference, see http://guest.cvent.com/EVENTS/Info/Summary.aspx?i=A1C4FD2B-39A9-4C30-8848-FE0C3F91A1EA
You are invited to the National Conference on Arts and Aging:
Creativity Matters on
Research confirms a direct correlation between creative expression and
healthy aging. Yet, despite the growing recognition that creativity
matters, older adults lack ready access to the arts. Moreover, the
quality of much of the programming that is available is limited. The
National Conference on Arts and Aging will bring together for the first
time the leading organizations and professional community-based artists
from across the country to address these problems and identify steps to
their solution.
The Conference will build the capacity for and expertise in "arts and
aging" programming of attending organizations and artists by: 1)
highlighting research findings pointing to the physical, social and
psychological benefits of cultural programming on older people; 2)
providing an overview of "best practices;" 3) providing professional
artists and organizations with the opportunity to exchange expertise;
4) exploring the obstacles that prevent older adults from having full
access to the arts and the steps needed to overcome them; and 5)
disseminating the findings of the conference to professional artists
and arts organizations through the publication of a Conference Report
and an Arts and Aging Best Practices Toolkit, which is a joint effort
between NCCA, NJPAC and the National Guild for Community Schools in the
Arts (NGCSA).