PHILLY AREA ACTION:

 

**The 2008 Planned Parenthood Voter's Guide is here!**

 

Planned Parenthood Pennsylvania Advocates and PAC have brand new technology this year for our Voter's Guide. Simply go to our

website: http://www.ppaction.org/ct/Gp_3Xd61Mr2N/! All you have to do is enter your address, and your Personalized Voter's Guide will appear! You can even print a copy to take with you to the polls.

      We still have two weeks to go, and we need VOLUNTEERS on the ground with us to help change the face of the Pennsylvania legislature and the nation! Can you share even a few hours of your time? If so, please reply to this email and we will connect you with local Planned Parenthood election efforts! *We especially need volunteers for the four days leading up to Election Day!*

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NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL ACTION:

URGENT- Israel blockades Gaza conference

 

We learned on Friday that Israel has denied access to all 150

international participants of the Gaza Community Mental Health Program

conference "Seige and Mental Health" scheduled for 27-28 October in

Gaza City and co-sponsored by the World Health Organization.  Please

see and distribute the press release below and attached from GCMHP.  We

internationals will be holding a press conference on the morning of 26

October (press release to follow), then traveling to the Erez Crossing

to attempt entry and protest if refused.

        Please do what you can to contact your governmental representatives,

press contacts etc. to try to expose this unconscionable behavior on

the part of the government of Israel.

        The conference has been organized to serve as a forum for professional

discussion and scientific exchange concerning the impact of the Gaza

siege on children, families, and communities and peace-making efforts.

The plan is to gather top researchers and academics from around the

world to build bridges for dialogue, mutual acknowledgment, and peace.

Some 120  participants from universities around the world were

scheduled to attend. 25 of them are presenting papers and original

research. The main themes of the conference are addressing

professional, mental health and human rights matters.

        If Israel imposes strict siege on the whole population of Gaza strip

for "security reason", as claimed, we wonder, how could such a

conference constitute a threat to the Israeli security.

 

These actions represent a profound blow to the rights of academic

freedom, free speech, education, and cultural dialogue?

            Despite all the challenges, we are determined that the conference will

go ahead. We plan that the internationals will participate in Ramallah

with a video link to Gaza for the local participants who are prevented

by the Israelis from leaving.

 

We affirm that, If Israel can impose siege on our bodies, they cannot

besiege our minds and interaction with the outside world. Despite the

unjust decision, we have the determination to continue with the

conference as planned. We aim to be able to achieve goals of the

conference as well as raising awareness about the catastrophic

humanitarian consequences of siege on the civilian population of Gaza .

        We demand the Israeli authorities to change their decision and allow

conference participants to enter Gaza.

Finally, we urge our participants, friends, solidarity groups, human

rights organizations, and mental health communities, to protest against

this decision, denounce it, and expose the ongoing Israeli policies and

violations of human rights.

 

For more information, please contact Husam El-Nounou

Public Relations Director Gaza Community Mental Health Programme

0599 862595

08-2825700

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Hey grandma? It's me.

You might have heard the news that Sen. Obama has taken time off the campaign trail to be with his sick grandmother in Hawaii.  Hearing that made me think of my own grandma who I haven't seen for months.

Our grannies have done so much for each of us, isn't it time we did something for them?  So, today, join me and take a minute to call your own grandmother. And, while you're at it take this rare opportunity to tell her about how Sen. John McCain's health care plan will affect her life. We've put together a video and a few talking points to make this easier.

Watch the video and tell your granny
http://www.TellYourGranny.com

After you're done with the call, or if you are a granny yourself, please be sure to send this around to any grandchildren and grandparents you know. Our grandparents just can't afford John McCain's health care plan. It's on us to spread the word.

If you received this message from a friend, you can sign up for TrueMajority.

__________________________________________________________________

 

ญญญญญญญญญญญญ____________________________

The coal industry just doesn’t get it.

They have spent over $40 million on slick advertising to mask the truth about coal. They think we can be fooled, that we will simply ignore things like ‘science’ or ‘facts.’

But we know better than to simply believe whatever they say.

Check out our video that cuts through the spin from the coal industry and lays down the facts on some of their most recent ads. 
        Go to www.CoalIsNotTheAnswer.org to learn the truth.
Watch the video and then comment on what you think about coal. See a bogus local TV and newspaper ad on coal? Let us know on the website and we’ll make sure it gets a thorough fact check.
        Thanks for protecting the planet.
        Bruce Nilles, National Director , Sierra Club Coal Campaign

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


WALL STREET'S 'DISASTER CAPITALISM FOR DUMMIES',  From MarketWatch, online at:
http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/14-reasons-main-street-loses/story.aspx?guid={F63EC448-D9C1-4138-AC18-97BF0FE68EE3}&siteid=yahoomy

Doctor Laments Brush-Off of Iraqi War Dead
http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2008/10/24

Police Declare 'Mutilation' of McCain Worker in Pittsburgh a Hoax -- After Media Raise Doubts
http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2008/10/24-10

Peter Dreier/John Atlas | The GOP's Blame-ACORN Game
http://www.commondreams.org/view/2008/10/24-0

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

 

WHERE HAVE ALL THE BANKERS GONE?
Tune:  "Where have all the flowers gone?" by Pete Seeger
Words:  Gloria Hoffman and other Granny Peace Brigade Philadelphia members

Where have all the bankers gone?  Long Time Passing.
Where have all the bankers gone?  Long Time Ago.
Where have all the bankers gone?
Gone to BAILOUTS, every one.
When will we ever learn?  When will we ever learn?

Where have all the workers gone?  Long Time Passing.
Where have all the workers gone?  Long Time Ago.
Where have all the workers gone?
Gone to SOUP LINES, every one.
When will we ever learn?  When will we ever learn?

Where have all the families gone?  Long Time Passing.
Where have all the families gone?  Long Time Ago.
Where have all the families gone?
Gone to FORECLOSURES, every one.
When will we ever learn?  When will we ever learn?

Where have all the young folks gone?  Long Time Passing.
Where have all the young folks gone?  Long Time Ago.
Where have all the young folks gone?
Gone to WARS, every one.
When will we ever learn?  When will we ever learn?

_________________________________

 

WOW!  Stay of execution for Troy Davis

 

This is wonderful news! Thanks to Amnesty International for your persistence. And thank you to those who joined up to support Mark Konrad’s work releasing political  prisoners.

 

marlena santoyo

 

From: Amnesty International USA [mailto:alerts@takeaction.amnestyusa.org]
Sent: 2008 October 24 Friday 8:34 PM
To: Marlene Santoyo
Subject: Stay of execution for Troy Davis

 

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Last night Amnesty International held a Global Day of Action for Troy Davis.
Today, three days before the scheduled execution, the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals granted a stay!

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I am delighted to share some good news with you! Troy Davis received a stay of execution based on a new last-minute appeal filed this past Wednesday to the federal appeals court in Atlanta. As a result, he will not be executed on Monday, October 27th, as originally scheduled.

Your action has succeeded in putting a spotlight on Troy's case worldwide and bringing about this victory. At least 300,000 individuals have written letters in support of Troy. Additionally, prominent leaders such as former President Jimmy Carter, the Pope, and Archbishop Desmond Tutu have all called for justice in this case.

Yesterday, Amnesty International organized a Global Day of Action in which hundreds of activists in dozens of countries around the world came together to stand in solidarity for Troy. From Atlanta to Seattle, New York to Paris and Milan– hundreds of supporters gathered at rallies wearing T-shirts and holding signs that read "I am Troy Davis." On Wednesday, the European Legislature issued a statement calling for Troy's execution to be halted.

While we pause to celebrate this good news, we cannot forget that Troy still faces the very real possibility of execution—despite the fact that no physical evidence tied him to the 1989 murder of a police officer in Savannah, GA, and that 7 of the 9 eyewitnesses have since recanted their testimony.

This case has taken many twists and turns. On September 12th, the Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles denied clemency for Troy Anthony Davis, and scheduled his execution for September 23rd. The U.S. Supreme Court stayed Davis' execution just hours before it was scheduled to take place. But in deciding not to hear his case, the court lifted its stay and a new execution date was set for Monday, October 27th.

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Global Day of Action

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On Thursday October 23, in 30 cities around the globe, activists stood up for justice and in support of fairness for Troy Davis.

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We now await the decision of the federal appeals court, which will determine whether Troy's case warrants a new hearing. We believe their ruling could happen at any time during the next month.

I want to thank you again for playing such an essential part in Amnesty International's efforts to bring justice for Troy Davis. That's why I hope you'll take a minute right now to join Amnesty International and help us keep up this fight.

To stay informed about Troy Davis' case and to find out how to take additional actions, please visit:
www.amnestyusa.org/troydavis

In solidarity,

Sue Gunawardena-Vaughn
Director, Death Penalty Abolition Campaign
Amnesty International USA

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ฉ Copyright 2008 | Amnesty International USA | 5 Penn Plaza | New York, NY 10001 | 212.807.8400