Contents:
Philly area action:
National and I will nternational action
=================================

Cherelle Parker hosts senior workshop on legal documents

If you or someone you know is 55 or older, please join me at a senior
workshop on legal documents from 10 a.m. to noon Thursday, April 16 at
the Finley Recreation Center, 7700 Mansfield Ave. in Philadelphia.
The free seminar will feature presenters, giveaways and a
continental breakfast. Because I am committed to the health, wellness
and special needs of our senior community, For more information, please
contact my constituent service office at 215-242-7300, visit the office
at 1536 E. Wadsworth Ave., or send me an e-mail through my Web site at
www.pahouse.com/parker.nating to the Iraqi Donation Drive -- Donations
accepted at Civic House from May 11th - morning of May 15th.
===

From: Penn Arab Student Society [mailto:upennarab@gmail.com]
PASS EVENTS:
Iraqi Refugee Donation Drive:
The Penn Arab Student Society, in cooperation with Civic House would
like to invite you to participate in the first Donation Drive for Iraqi
Refugees. Around 200-300 families are expected to come to Philadelphia
in the next few months, and they are in need of any and all donations.
Things they would like include toiletries, kitchen supplies, and
stationary. Used but usable clothing is now acceptable, but the
priority  needs are household and kitchen supplies.
Please drop off donations at CIVIC HOUSE (3914 Locust Walk).
DONATIONS ACCEPTED FROM MAY 11th (MONDAY) TO THE MORNING OF MAY 15th
(FRIDAY).
Civic House Hours are:
Monday-Wednesday:        9am-10pm
Thursday:                       9am-8pm
Friday:                            9am-5pm
* donations will be picked up in the morning*
Donations will be handled by the Nationalities Services Center which
works closely with refugees and immigrants. More info can be found on
www.nationalitiesservice.org and you can donate to them personally even
after the drive officially ends on Penn's campus.
Best,
PASS Board
__________

Cherelle Parker hosts senior workshop on legal documents

If you or someone you know is 55 or older, please join me at a senior
workshop on legal documents from 10 a.m. to noon Thursday, April 16 at
the Finley Recreation Center, 7700 Mansfield Ave. in Philadelphia.
The free seminar will feature presenters, giveaways and a
continental breakfast. Because I am committed to the health, wellness
and special needs of our senior community, For more information, please
contact my constituent service office at 215-242-7300, visit the office
at 1536 E. Wadsworth Ave., or send me an e-mail through my Web site at
www.pahouse.com/parker.
_____________________________________

NORTHWEST GREENS ANNOUNCEMENTS.
Always call or email to confirm that the event is still scheduled.
May 13, 20 and 27. Every Wednesday, a vigil for peace,
7:00-8:00 p.m. (in any and all weather) at the intersection of
Germantown Avenue and Bethlehem Pike in Chestnut Hill. More information
from 215-843-4256 and nwgreens@yahoo.com.
May 16. Collection of #5 plastics for recycling from 10:00
a.m.
until 1:00 p.m. at Weavers Way, 610 Carpenter Lane (near Greene Street)
in West Mount Airy. More information from william.ewing@verizon.net.
May 16. Eyewitness report from Gaza by Regina Birchem, noon
until 3:00 p.m., Aulenbach House, 29 West Tulpehocken Street in
Germantown.
More information and reservations for potluck luncheon ($5/person) from
Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF),
stellesheller@yahoo.com and 215-848-3544.
May 17. U-2 Peace Event, 23 peace groups (including
Northwest
Greens) will demonstrate from 2:00 until 4:00 p.m. near Senator Arlen
Specter's home on West Schoolhouse Lane (between Henry Avenue and Gypsy
Lane) in East Falls. They want Specter to cut off funding for the U.S.
occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan and to bring the troops home now. On
this date in 1960 the Peace Talks in Paris, France, were terminated
before they started because U.S. President Eisenhower refused to
apologize for spying on the Soviet Union. A Soviet missile had brought
down a Pentagon U-2 spy plane taking pictures of Soviet military
installations. For more information, please contact nwgreens@yahoo.com
and 215-843-4256.

May 19. Primary Election Day. Get out and vote for
candidates approved by
the Philadelphia Bar Association,
http://www.philadelphiabar.org/page/CurrentRatings.

June 3, 10, 17, 24. Every Wednesday, a vigil for peace,
7:00-8:00 p.m. (in any and all weather) at the intersection of
Germantown Avenue and Bethlehem Pike in Chestnut Hill. More information
from
215-843-4256 and nwgreens@yahoo.com.
June 12. Non-violent Response to Terrorism, with Father
Louie Vitale, 7:00 p.m. at Saint Vincent’s Church, 109 East Price Street
in Germantown. More information from jvfc3@msn.com and 215-248-3563.
June 21. Father’s Day. Do something nice for your dad or for
someone else’s.
June 21. Father’s Day Peace Event, 23 peace groups
(including Northwest Greens) will demonstrate from 2:00 until 4:00 p.m.
near Senator Arlen Specter's home on West Schoolhouse Lane (between
Henry Avenue and Gypsy Lane) in East Falls. They want Specter to cut off
funding for the U.S.
occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan and to bring the troops home now. For
more information, please contact nwgreens@yahoo.com and 215-843-4256.
July 1, 8, 15, 22, 29. Every Wednesday, a vigil for peace,
7:00-8:00 p.m. (in any and all weather) at the intersection of
Germantown Avenue and Bethlehem Pike in Chestnut Hill. More information
from
215-843-4256 and nwgreens@yahoo.com.
July 10-12. What next for peace movement? National Anti-war
Conference, LaRoche College, Pittsburgh, PA. More information from
sponsor, National Assembly to End the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars and
Occupations, natassembly@aol.com and 216-736-4704.
July 19. Battle of Guadalete Peace Event, 23 peace groups
(including Northwest Greens) will demonstrate from 2:00 until 4:00 p.m.
near Senator Arlen Specter's home on West Schoolhouse Lane (between
Henry Avenue and Gypsy Lane) in East Falls. They want Specter to cut off
funding for the U.S. occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan and to bring the
troops home now. On this date in 711, Iberian Jews, progressively
disenfranchised by Catholic kings, provided fighters to augment the Arab
invaders of Spain. Kawlah al-Yahudi distinguished himself at the head of
a mixed contingent of Jews and Berbers that defeated the Christian
Visigoths under King Roderic. In the aftermath of victory, the Jews were
commissioned to garrison Seville, Córdoba, and Toledo itself. For more
information, please contact nwgreens@yahoo.com and 215-843-4256.
______________________________________________

It's Time to Regulate the Credit Card Industry

Credit card companies have been abusing customers for years, but their
incorrigible behavior has ratcheted up since the economy started going
down the tubes.
Fortunately, Congress is taking action. The House debated and
passed the Credit Cardholder's Bill of Rights by a margin of 357-70.
Now it's the Senate's turn. Senator Bob Casey supports working
families by backing this legislation. Senator Arlen Specter hasn't
decided whose side he's on.

Please help us persuade him to stand with working families by sending
him a message today.
http://www.keystoneprogress.org/page/s/pacreditcard
___________________________________________________


Jobs with Justice -JwJ Turns Ten! Buy Your Ticket Today!- Ten Years of
Solidarity

How time flies when your having fun! Since 1999, Philadelphia Jobs with
Justice has been moving people into the streets to stand up for working
families issues. Now, it's time to celebrate!
On May 27, 2009 at 5:30 pm., instead of a birthday party, we
will have a Solidarity Reception at the William Way Center, 1315 Spruce
St. This fun and casual event will be a great place to meet with
organizers, activists and leaders from the Philadelphia labor movement
and Jobs with Justice. Don't miss your chance to meet our dynamic
network!
In addition to cocktails, snacks and networking, we will also
honor ten leaders who have be key to Jobs with Justice over the year.
This years honorees are Kathy Black, Ronald Blount, Reena Desai, Lou
Faiola, Dorian Lam, April Logan, Linda Lotz, Cecelia Lynch, Vikki
Millhouse and Rev. Schaunel Steinnagel.
This event will be made even more exciting by the appearance of
Arlene Holt-Baker, Executive Vice-President of the AFL-CIO, who will be
addressing us at the height of the effort to pass the Employee Free
Choice Act.The Solidarity Reception is this years progressive event that
you do not want to miss!

Buy Your Ticket Today at
http://www.unionvoice.org/jobswithjustice/events/phillyjwj_2009/details.
tcl
or call Fabricio at 215-670-5855
___________________________________

 
As a member of Anna Crusis Women's Choir, I want to invite you to attend
what will be an amazing concert on Sat., May 30. Spend time with us
afterwards at the reception as well! Please read below and see if your
calendars are free. It should be a great evening!!!!
 
I also have tickets, and if you purchase from me (as I am trying to sell
10 tickets), your cost should be $15.
  Hope you can come! In Pride, Linda
 Anna Crusis Women's Choir/ Concert, Award Ceremony and Reception
Saturday, May 309, 7:30 pm
"All Our Children Can Fly"

Church of St. Luke and the Epiphany/ 330 South 13 St/ Between Pine and
Spruce St.
Tickets $20 in advance ($15 if you get them from Linda)
$25 at the door/ Tickets: www.annacrusis.org or 215.864.5991
Featuring Amy Dixon Kolar -- composer of "Rosa Sat"/ Concert by
Anna Crusis Choir
!st Annual Themis Award presented to Jane Golden, Mural Arts Program
Presented by Gloria Cesarez, Director, LGBT Affairs Mayor's Office
After concert reception, meet Amy and the Annas



]================================

National and International action

Are we really going to do this AGAIN? CODEPINK: -Women for Peace - May
12, 2009

TODAY, CODEPINK and many thinking activists are part of a national
call-in effort to protest the funding of wars, urge diplomacy, develop
an exit strategy for Afghanistan and investigate the illegal use of
chemical weapons by the United States. The Obama Administration has
asked Congress for another $94.2 billion in Supplemental funding for
military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. Members of Congress need to
hear from us that this funding bill is not acceptable!

** Call the Congressional Switchboard TODAY at 1-800-517-5696 **
Let them know that you reject more money for War! Talking points
are in the ps.

Voting on the Supplemental will be happening as early as this week.
After the recent massacre in Afghanistan--a reported 147 Afghan citizens
killed by US Air Force bombers
(http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tag/afghan-civilian-deaths)--and news of
US soldiers at their breaking point in Iraq
(http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/12/world/middleeast/12iraq.html?_r=1&ref
=global-home), we need to remind Congress that WAR is not the answer and
we need to bring our troops home now.
To educate yourself further about Afghanistan, visit our
resource page.
http://www.womensaynotowar.org/article.php?list=type&type=400
p.s. Here are some key talking points:
--At a time of economic crisis and multiplying domestic needs, the 2009
Supplemental is an appalling waste of our money.
--The Supplemental funds the increase of troops to Afghanistan,
escalating the war rather than ending it.
--The Supplemental places no restrictions on American bombings in either
Afghanistan or Pakistan
(http://www.womensaynotowar.org/article.php?list=type&type=405), despite
the disproportionate harm to civilian inhabitants.
---The Supplemental maintains a high level of American troops in Iraq
for the duration of FY 2009
------------ are you
Join FCNL and other Peace groups in a National Call-In day (Tuesday 5/12
or 13 for Afghanistan,Iraq and Pakistan.1-800-517-5696 is the nu8mber to
call.

Urge your Representative fo Vote "NO" on the Afghanistan - Iraq War
Supplemental Funding Bill and to support an Afghanistan Exit Strategy
____________

  Don’t miss the National Counter-Recruitment and Demilitarization
Conference
to be held at Roosevelt University in Chicago, July 17-19

The conference is being organized by volunteers across the country who
are working with NNOMY, the National Network Opposing the Militarization
of Youth,  www.nnomy.org
This conference will bring together a broad spectrum of people to share
skills and form the relationships needed to build a permanent resistance
to militarism. Youth, parents, educators, veterans, artists, members of
social justice organizations and others will come together for practical
training on counter recruitment, legislative challenges and public
pressure to promote nonmilitary alternatives.
will But the issue isn’t only counter recruitment. It is about
militarism. Military attitudes and values like obedience, conformity and
the use of force to solve problems have seeped into every area of our
society. It is crucial that counter-recruitment and social justice
activists, youth and all who want to do something about it gather for
this weekend of skill sharing, strategizing and solidarity.
We are committed to making sure that this conference brings
together the broadest possible range of participants, especially youth.
Scholarships are available to help cover the cost of travel and housing.
Priority will be given to youth, residents of areas with few
counter-recruitment resources and those who would otherwise not be able
to attend..
FURTHER INFORMATION AND CONFERENCE DETAILS (travel, lodging,logistics)
AT WWW.NNOMY.ORG
___________________

Stop the bloodbath

A modern day bloodbath is unfolding on the small island of Sri Lanka and
the key to stopping this humanitarian disaster lies with Sri Lanka’s
largest donor and closest partner in the region -- Japan. Let´s send a
powerful message to the Japanese Foreign Minister asking for pressure to
stop the killing.
Click here to send a message to the Japanese Foreign Minister,
who is deciding his government's next steps. Japan cares about its
international reputation and a flood of messages from abroad would
encourage them to act. If Japan moves then the Sri Lankan government
will be forced to immediately respond to protect civilians:
http://www.avaaz.org/en/stop_the_bloodbath