CONTENTS:
PHILLY AREA ACTION:
WEEKLY EVENTS:
NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL ACTION:
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PHILLY AREA ACTION:

* MEMORIAL SERVICE FOR BELOVED FRIEND, MARGE PAULMIER *


        Saturday January 30, 2005 at 2PM.
        Germantown Friends Meeting, 47 W Coulter St. Phila PA 19144
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IRAQ FOR SALE / Veterans For Peace Chapter 31 Film Series Produced and Directed by Robert Greenwald

        Thursday, December 14 at 7 PM
        Friends Center, 1501 Cherry Street  Rufus Jones Room
Kelly Doughtery, Iraq veteran and Ex Director of Iraq Veterans Against The War
will be at the showing.  Kelly is featured in the film.
For information, call 610-832-7028
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A SOLDIER'S QUESTION- Demonstrate Against The War

Dec 17, Sunday 2:00 until 4:00 pm
Schoolhouse Lane, between Henry Ave and Gypsy Lane, in East Falls.

In December 2004, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld was visiting Kuwait when
a soldier asked him, "Why do we soldiers have to dig through local landfills
for pieces of scrap metal to up-armor our vehicles?"  Rumsfeld replied, "You
go to war with the army you have." Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-NE) called that "a
flippant comment," and Sen. Trent Lott (R-MS) called for Rumsfeld's replacement.
        Twenty peace groups, including the Green Party of Philadelphia (GPOP), Granny Peace Brigade Philadelphia and the Northwest Greens, will demonstrate near the home of Senator Arlen Specter.
They will ask Specter to author a bill like HB 4232 which will cut off all Pentagon
funding in Iraq, except money needed for an orderly withdrawal of all U.S. troops.

For more information about the Dec 17 event, contact PRAWN, the Philadelphia
Regional Anti-War Network, 215-307-7980, or:  info2506@prawnworks.net.
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Town Hall Meeting to Discuss Youth Violence and Other Issues Relating to Youth

Frankford Group Ministry at 4620 Griscom St(a block from Frankford Ave and Orthodox St.   -   December 20, 2006 6-7:30 PM
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EVENTS OCCURING EVERY WEEK:

Thursday

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.

Friday

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, wibswarthmore@hotmail.com.

6:00-8:00 p.m. Mt. Airy Community Computer Center Open Access (& Tues.)
Offers free computer access to the community
Mt. Airy Presbyterian Church lower level, 17 East Mt. Pleasant Ave., Philadelphia, PA
For info, call 215-247-0870.

Saturday

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

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

Tuesday

5:30-7:00 p.m. Speak Out of Turn Poetry Workshop
Aspace, 4722 Baltimore Ave., Philadelphia, PA
Sliding scale fee $7-10. For info, call 215-435-6621.

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

Wednesday

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

5:00 p.m. Vigil for Peace
Outside Unitarian Society of Germantown, 6511 Lincoln Dr., Philadelphia, PA
For info, see www.northwestpeacecoalition.org.

6:00 p.m.  Movement Class taught by Sophia Hoffer-Perkins
A-space, 4722 Baltimore Ave., Philadelphia, PA
Sliding scale donations  For info, call 215-727-0882.

7:00 p.m. Peace Vigil
Germantown Ave. & Bethlehem Pike, Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia, PA
For info, see www.northwestpeacecoalition.org.every
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NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL ACTION:

Join AFSC and President Carter in Standing for Peace,

                                        by Adam Horowitz, For AFSC's Faces of Hope Campaign

As we enter the holiday season there are several reasons to be hopeful about a new direction for U.S. policy towards the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. In the last month two new important voices have come to the forefront of the issue in the United States. Both Jimmy Carter and the Iraq Study Group have made similar recommendations for dialog and negotiation as the key for resolving the conflict. President Carter has made an especially important call for peace in his recent book Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid.

It is important that we tell Congress that we stand with President Carter in his belief that the United States has an important role to play in working to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict by supporting human rights, international law and diplomacy. As President Carter points out "The United States is squandering international prestige and goodwill . . . by unofficially condoning and abetting the Israel confiscation and colonization of Palestinian territories."

Take Action Now: Tell Congress you stand with President Carter, see our online Action Center at:
(http://support.afsc.org/site/R?i=0NtaUrWKbZEOAiSOIam36A.. )

In their recent report the Iraq Study Group echoed this sentiment. Their report states that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict will only end through negotiation, and  that "the United States does its ally Israel no favors in avoiding direct involvement to solve the Arab-Israeli conflict." One way the White House can do this is to veto the Palestinian Anti-Terrorism Act which places devastating economic and diplomatic sanctions on the Palestinian people. You can learn more about this bill at the Churches for Middle East Peace website:
http://support.afsc.org/site/R?i=QkLOaMYHwVqDaH6L8AgyqA..
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January 18th Action - with Granny Peace Brigade:

Granny Peace Brigade New York, Philadelphia & across the country will give our elected officials a civics lesson                                                   and demand an end to the war now.
        The Granny Peace Brigade of New York City has sent out a Call To Action.   We as citizens, voters, and residents of the United States have the privilege of freedom of speech.  Let's use it!   Join us to demand that Senators of the 110 th Congress follow through on their political obligations.  We will go to their offices in Washington DC as well as their local state offices and show that we are fully participating in this democracy. Our Senators will be held accountable to their constituents' wills. 
        The response has been great, but we need to recruit more.  As of now, we have thirteen states involved.   We are the spark for a new citizen participation.  We are representing constituents from Hawaii to California through the Arizona desert and the Ohio cold to the Eastern Seaboards from Massachusetts to Pennsylvania.   Let's continue to spread the word and encourage our fellow grannies (and grampies) and grandchildren to welcome the 110 th Congress with a watchful eye.  
        Please contact Tresa and Gabriel for any concerns or questions regarding this event.  To get on the email list of updates email: gpbrigade@gmail.com or visit our website www.grannypeacebrigade.org for organizational tools, press kits and other helpful suggestions!
                        In Philadelphia, contact Marlena at marlsan@cavtel.net  
        `                       .....   WE WILL NOT BE SILENT   .....
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Plant an Olive Tree in Palestine for the Holidays

This week you should be receiving in your mail a year-end newsletter from the US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation.  Below is an on-line version of this special newsletter.

We ask you to give a generous, tax-deductible contribution to the US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation by clicking here: http://www.endtheoccupation.org/article.php?id=84

For every $25 that you donate to the US Campaign, we will plant an olive tree in Palestine in your name or that of a loved one through our friends at Zatoun.
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Jan. 27 D.C. Peace March: Spread the Word!

Join us in the streets of Washington, D.C., on Saturday, January 27, to deliver a resounding message to the new Congress: We don't want half measures that will only prolong the bloodshed. It's time to bring an immediate end to the war!

Here's how you can get involved and help make January 27th the biggest possible demonstration for peace: * Help spread the word:

Forward this email widely; post it on your blog,and talk to friends, family, and colleagues about this politically crucial event. We'll post the details about the march route, starting time, the Congressional Lobby Day on Mon., Jan. 29th, and other logistical matters
Create your own video and add it to our group on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/group/jan27

Volunteer in NYC and/or Washington, D.C.: http://www.unitedforpeace.org/volunteer

Endorse this critical action: http://www.unitedforpeace.org/j27endorse

Make a much-needed donation today: http://www.unitedforpeace.org/donate

Offer or request transportation to D.C.: http://www.unitedforpeace.org/ride.php

Offer or request housing in D.C.: http://www.unitedforpeace.org/housing.php

Order your official J27 t-shirt: https://marketspace.goodstorm.com/stores/unitedforpeace
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Sabeel Middle East Peace Conference --Cleveland, Ohio-February 16-17, 2007

Hosted by Sabeel, the Interfaith Council for Peace in the Middle East and 22 other cosponsoring organizations. Scheduled to be the largest conference on this issue in the history of Ohio!
Making a Difference in Palestine, Israel and the Middle East.

Purpose - A two-day educational and advocacy conference on the conflict in Palestine-Israel and how we as American citizens can make a positive impact. This conference will provide workshops for those who want basic history and information, as well as, for long term advocates to learn ways to work towards a just peace & will include: Major presentations from invited speakers; workshop sessions on history, theology, politics and advocacy; food and more!
Introductory remarks (via Sabeel video) by Archbishop Desmond Tutu

Sabeel strives to develop a spirituality based on love, justice, peace, nonviolence, liberation and reconciliation for the different national and faith communities.  The word "Sabeel" is Arabic for ‘the way‘ and also a ‘channel‘ or ‘spring‘ of life-giving water.
To register or join our list of cosponsors, visit www.middleeastinterfaith.org
Times - Friday 12:30-5:45 (Dinner at 6:00 followed by the Keynote Address)

Conference Fees
Option A $ 75 Full Conference Program (includes Fri. dinner & Sat. lunch)
Option B $ 45 Friday only (all Friday presentations, workshops, & dinner)
Option C $ 45 Saturday only (all Saturday presentations, workshops, & lunch)
Option D $ 40 Student/Seminarian (full conference program, dinner & Sat. lunch)
Option E $ Scholarships possible for clergy, religious, students and others by prior arrangement.
Email Jeff at ifc@neo.rr.com
Late Fee $ 5 after January 16th; $10 at the door.
To register (or to become a cosponsor) go to www.middleeastinterfaith.org or mail checks with registration form.
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Join "Wake Up Wal-Mart" in calling on Wal-Mart to adopt a zero tolerance policy on child labor.

Do you shop at Wal-Mart? Wouldn't you like to shop there knowing that Wal-Mart follows U.S. child labor laws and refuses to profit from overseas child labor abuses? Unfortunately, this is not the case.  This holiday season, join our partner Wake Up Wal-Mart in calling on Wal-Mart to adopt a zero tolerance policy on child labor: http://go.care2.com/e/R2.1/b0Vb/PC64

A recent investigation by the National Labor Committee revealed children, some only 11 years old, were making Wal-Mart clothes in a Bangladesh factory. The children report being routinely slapped and beaten, forced to work 12 to 14 hours a day, often seven days a week, for wages as low as 6 and a half cents an hour.
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COMMENTARY:

* MT. AIRY FEATURED IN NATURAL HOME MAGAZINE/ AMERICAS TOP 10 ECO-COMMUNITIES

        Natural Home Magazine, a national magazine devoted to Living Well/Living Wisely, has named Mt. Airy to its list of Top 10 urban neighborhoods which encourage a healthy, eco-conscious good life. Natural Home used criteria such as local shopping districts, access to public transportation, diverse populations, green spaces, the presence of environmental and/or social programs, farmers markets and community gardens to make their determination of which communities around the country best fit their description.
        Mt. Airy was singled out for its racial diversity, several thriving commercial districts, architectural diversity and strong sense of community.  Specific attractions noted by Natural Home include Weavers Way Food Coop and seasonal farmers market across the street, lots of green space, easy access to public transportation and PhillyCarShare, and a host of environmental organizations.
                        For more information, visit www.NaturalHomeMagazine.com.

* A Closing Call for Impeachment
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/120906A.shtml
"President George W. Bush has failed to preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States; he has failed to ensure that senior members of his administration do the same; and he has betrayed the trust of the American people," Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney explained in remarks prepared to accompany her submission on Friday of articles of impeachment against Bush, Vice President Cheney and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. McKinney, in her last legislative act before leaving the House at the end of her current term, represented not merely a final thrust by the Georgia Democrat against the Bush administration that she has so consistently opposed but a challenge to the new House Democratic leadership to pay more than lip service to its Constitutionally-mandated duty to check and balance the executive branch. Read the full text of McKinney's remarks.
 
* Judge Reluctant to Dismiss Torture Suit Against Rumsfeld
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/120906D.shtml
A federal judge on Friday appeared reluctant to give Donald H. Rumsfeld immunity from torture allegations, yet said it would be unprecedented to let the departing defense secretary face a civil trial. "What you're asking for has never been done before," US District Judge Thomas F. Hogan told lawyers for the American Civil Liberties Union.

** VIDEO | Keith Olbermann: We Fight for Liberty by Having More Liberty, Not Less
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/120106S.shtml
Keith Olbermann notes: "Apparently there are some of us who cannot see that the only future for America is one that cherishes the freedoms won in the past, one in which we vanquish bad ideas with better ones, and in which we fight for liberty by having more liberty, not less."

* Kucinich, Talking of Peace, to Run Again for President
In an interview with Truthdig research editor Joshua Scheer, Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio) criticizes the leadership of his own party for announcing Tuesday that it would support a massive increase in spending for the Iraq war.  http://www.commondreams.org/headlines06/1212-07.htm

* Antiwar Vietnam Vets Mentor Next Generation of Resisters By Jessica Pupovac, AlterNet
About 8,000 soldiers have gone AWOL since the 2003 invasion of Iraq, and many of them are looking to their predecessors for support. The way AWOL Iraq vet Kyle Snyder sees it, "The GI resistance was one of the main things that ended the Vietnam war, and it's going to be a very important part of ending the one we're in now." http://www.alternet.org/waroniraq/45194/

* Be All That You Can Be: Leave the Army by David Swanson
As long as there has been a U.S. military, people have been leaving it. That choice has never been more appropriate than today. Individuals who signed up to defend the United States are engaged in a war that was sold on the basis of lies, was entirely unnecessary, is making us less safe, has nothing to do with defending anyone, and which involves the horror of slaughtering men, women, and children by the hundreds of thousands. The majority of Americans want the war to end and just voted accordingly in the Congressional elections. The majority of Iraqis want the war to end. The majority of American service men and women in Iraq want the war to end. And taking part in this war is illegal, whether you are ordered to do so or not. http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/viewArticle.asp?articleID=17438

* Spc. Suzanne Swift Signs Statement with Military After Harassment Claim, AWOL Status Lead to Court Martial *
Spc. Suzanne Swift, who was arrested and confined to base for going AWOL
after her charges of sexual harassment and assault went un-addressed by the
military, on Friday signed papers with the military related to her case. We
speak with Swift's mother, Sara Rich.
Listen/Watch/Read http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=06/12/11/155237

* Mother of War Resister Ehren Watada Meets with Lawmakers on Capitol Hill to Support Son's Case *
We speak with Carolyn Ho, the mother of Lt. Ehren Watada, the first officer
to publicly refuse to serve in Iraq. He will face his prosecutors next month
at a pre-trial hearing. Ho was recently in Washington DC where she met with
lawmakers to support her son's case.
Listen/Watch/Read http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=06/12/11/155249

* Army, Marine Corps To Ask for More Troops By Ann Scott Tyson, Washington Post Staff Writer
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/12/12/AR2006121201697.html

* Why So Many Black Women Are Behind Bars By Earl Ofari Hutchinson
The idea of a woman in prison then was a novelty. It isn't anymore. According to a recent Justice Department report on America's jail population, women make up about 10 percent of the America's inmates. There are now more women than ever serving time, and black women make up a disproportionate number of those women. They are twice more likely than Hispanic, and over three times more likely than white women, to be jailed.  http://www.alternet.org/story/45149/

* Annan Bows out of UN with Attack on Bush
http://www.commondreams.org/headlines06/1212-04.htm

* Arctic's Summer Sea Ice 'Could Disappear Completely by 2040'
http://www.commondreams.org/headlines06/1212-06.htm

* Jesse Jackson | Another Iraq Casualty: US Auto Industry
http://www.commondreams.org/views06/1212-29.htm

* Medea Benjamin | Peace Women, Convicted of Trespassing, Teach the US Government a Lesson in Diplomacy  http://www.commondreams.org/views06/1212-22.htm