CONTENTS:

PHILLY AREA ACTION:

NATIONAL and INTERNATIONAL ACTION:

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Forum: WHY ARE WE IN AFGHANISTAN?

 

Friday, April 30, 7:00-9:00 pm,

Yarnall Auditorium, Germantown Friends School, 47 W. Coulter St., Philadelphia, PA 19144.

 

The program is sponsored by the

Peace and Social Concerns Committee of Germantown Friends Meeting.

Highlighting the forum will be:

•     "Why Are We in Afghanistan?"--a 15-minute film on the war, sponsored by US Labor Against the War (USLAW). Formed in 2003, USLAW has grown to include hundreds of union affiliates—from locals to international associations—that together constitute almost one-third of U.S. union membership.

•     Phyllis Bennis will be the featured speaker.  Ms. Bennis directs the New Internationalism Project at the Institute for Policy Studies, and is currently a fellow of the Transnational Institute in Amsterdam, a writer, analyst, and activist on Middle East and UN for many years. She has countless articles and over a dozen books to her credit, including the recent  Ending the US War in Afghanistan: A Primer.

After her presentation, the audience can follow with questions from the floor.

•     Refreshments afterward in Yarnall’s lobby- The program is free and open to the public.

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From Granny Peace Brigade Philadelphia
Jean Haskell-- 215-977-9382/215-870-3886

Tax payers young and old are invited to join the Granny Peace Brigade Philadelphia on Tax Day, Thursday, April 15, 2010, for a Clothes Line Exhibit showing where our taxes go---to pay for war instead of schools, health care, and creating new jobs.

The Exhibit will be on view from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm in front of the Post Office at Broad and Sansom Streets.

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                                                            [PhilaWILPF] Tax Day

 

On Tax Day next Thursday please join your Philly friends at these local post offices to pass out the flyers as we do every year.   ("Do you know where your tax $$$$ are going?")  We'll be at Chestnut  Hill P.O. on Germantown Ave  11:00 to 1:00 and  then to Mt. Airy P.O on Germantown Ave. at Philalena  2:00 to 4:00.

            Strongly urge your  Congressmen to vote against any new funding for additional troops in Afghanistan  -  and that current funding be redirected to the economic needs of  Americans at home.  The federal budget is a reflection of our country's moral values.  "War is not the answer!" (AFSC)   "War is not solving problems - it's creating many more!"  (WILPF)             

            Oppose the  Philadelphia taxes for wars that have cost the U.S. $979,938,569,033  billion since 2001  -  soon to be $1 trillion by end of this year, while our city  and state budgets are broken.   You can make a difference by calling today:

     Senator Arlen Specter.....215-597-7200

     Senator Robert Casey......215-405-9660

     Rep. Chakka Fatah...........215-387-6404   

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Abortion, Morality and the Liberation of Women - please forward program!

 

April 17th, SATURDAY, 1pm

Robins/Moonstone Arts Center, 13th and Sansom street(2nd floor)

Video screening followed by discussion

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*** PA Statewide Earth Day Protest of Environmental Protection Offices ***
 
Contacts and Coalition Partners:
 Green Party of Pennsylvania:  www.gpofpa.org – Jay Sweeney: 570-587-3603  
Citizens for Clean Water: www.nepagasaction.org Vera Scroggins 607-237-9685
NoDrill NEPA: baldwin@epix.net
Don Williams: djw444@gmail.com – 215-380-6166 (Harrisburg event)
Energy Justice Network www.energyjustice.net
Gas Drilling Awareness Coalition www.gasdrillingawarenesscoalition.wordpress.com
Friends of Animals - Pennsylvania Chapter www.friendsofanimals.org
 
On Thursday, April 22, the aforementioned groups will be gathering outside
the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection’s regional offices -
as one - to call for:
•       an immediate moratorium on all horizontal hydrofracturing in the
Commonwealth, including in our state forests and on floodplains,
•       an immediate freeze on all new Marcellus Shale drilling permits
throughout Pennsylvania,    
•       the immediate suspension of the Delaware and Susquehanna River Basin
Commissions’ authority to approve drilling-related water withdrawals
anywhere in their respective watersheds, and, if necessary, 
•       the immediate resignation of DEP Secretary John Hanger. 
 
*** Keynote speakers and scheduled activities will commence at noon at the
following DEP Regional Offices: Norristown / Wilkes-Barre / Pittsburgh /
Williamsport / Meadville / Harrisburg ***
               DEP Regional Office locations can be found at: 
http://www.depweb.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/regional_resources/13769
 
        This April 22nd marks the 40th anniversary of the first Earth Day!
 
        Today, drilling for natural gas in the Marcellus Shale formation - utilizing
horizontal hydrofracturing - is a serious and growing threat to our
Commonwealth's precious clean waters and majestic state forests. 
        Pennsylvania’s Constitution states that "All power is inherent in the
people".(.. William Penn) This April 22, it is time to come together - as one - to protect
our Commonwealth's public natural resources and to renew the promise of the
first Earth Day for generations yet to come.
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7th ANNUAL INTERFAITH WALK FOR PEACE & RECONCILIATION
Sunday, April 25, 2010 2:00-5:30


Partial list of participants:  Al-Aqsa Islamic Society, Arab American CDC, Bawa Muhaiyaddeen Fellowship, Calvary United Methodist Church, Chester County Peace Movement, Church of the Advocate, Hickman Temple AME Church, Interfaith Center of Greater Philadelphia, Interfaith Walk for Peace and Reconciliation Group, Kol Tzedek, Lenape Nation, Mishkan Shalom, Philadelphia Commission on Human Relation, Philadelphia Sikh Community, Quba Institute, Soka Gakkai, St. Francis de Sales Parish, Usiloquy Dance, West Philadelphia Mennonite Fellowship

Date:  Sunday, April 25, 2:00-6 p.m.

Route:       Starting point:      Hickman Temple AME Church, 5001 Baltimore Avenue
          Mid-point:      St. Francis de Sales Parish, 5627 Springfield Avenue
          Endpoint:     Calvary Center for Community and Culture (Calvary United Methodist Church, Kol Tzedek,

                                      West Philadelphia Mennonite Fellowship), 801 S. 48th Street

The Philadelphia Walk began when a group of Jews, Muslims, and Christians came together to increase dialogue and understanding across the traditional divisions of religion, culture, and race.  We have since happily expanded beyond the Abrahamic faiths, and this year look forward to welcoming the Walk's first Lenape and Hindu participants.  Last year the Walk drew some 800 people from all over the Philadelphia area.  Everyone is invited to participate, to pray with their voices and their feet.

Coming from Center City and South Philadelphia: at 12:30 p.m. there will be a pre-walk gathering at Al Aqsa Islamic Society, 1501 Germantown Avenue. At 1.30 p.m. a bus will bring people to Hickman Temple for the start of the walk at 2:00pm For more information about the walk and the group's other activities, visit
www.interfaithpeacewalk.org or call Frank and Linda Toia (215) 393-4748; Lance Laver (610) 668-9845; Renate Woessner (215) 438-6821; Steve Newman (215) 983-8905; or Neomosha Nelson (267-973-0755).

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Rally for the Rights of All Workers: MAY DAY USA

 

May Day is the Global day to Honor All Workers. Come and Learn the True American History of May Day and its Origins in Chicago During the Struggle for the 8 Hour Day.

 

        Saturday, May 1- Noon til 2 PM

        Elmwood Park @ South 71^st St. & Buist Ave. in Southwest Philly

Join us for the Dedication of a Labor Monument in the Park That Will Honor Eugene V. Debs; The Wobblies; Bread and Roses; Child Labor Reform;  Si Se Puede!; I Am a Man and Karen Gay Silkwood.

Guest Speakers:

     _Reverend Chester Williams_- Pres., Natl Alliance of Postal and

        Federal Employees Local 509

     _Cathy Brady_- Friends of Elmwood Park/SEIU Healthcare Pa.  

     _Pedro Rodriguez_- Member, Phila. Civil Service Commission

     _Royce Adams_- Int. Longshoremans Assoc. (ILA) Local 1291

     _Fabricio Rodriguez_- Lead Crdntr, Phila. Security Officers Union

     _Tom Paine Cronin_- Dir. Comey Inst. of Industrial Relations @ St.  Joes Univ., Pres. (Ret.) AFSCME DC 47

     _Kathy Black_- Pres., CLUW (Phila. Chapter), Co-Convener of USLAW,  Health & Safety Director AFSCME DC 47

     _Barbara Rahke_- Executive Director, Philaposh

               -- { Music & Entertainment } --

Sponsored By: The Penna. Labor History Society (PLHS) and the Phila. Area Project on Occupational Safety and Health (Philaposh)

Contact us at 215-301-2633 or _www.maydayusa.org  <http://www.maydayusa.org/>_

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Event: April 20-22, EARTH WEEK for NUCLEAR ABOLITION, Philly, PA!

Start Time: Tuesday, April 20 at 10:00am End Time: Thursday, April 22 at 9:00pm

Where: Philadelphia, PA

 

To see more details and RSVP, follow the link below:

http://www.facebook.com/n/?event.php&eid=103114323063093&mid=227de3bG2d1f52f1G499288dG7&n_m=marlsan%40cavtel.net

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               U n i t e d  f o r  P e a c e  a n d  J u s t I c e -

                  D e l a w a r e  V a l l e y  N e t w o r k

 

SAVE THE DATE: It's our future - JOBS!!! NOT WAR!!!!

Teach-in and Strategy Session - Beyond War: A New Economy is Possible

11:00 AM - 3:00 PM, Saturday, May 8th, 2011 at the Tabernacle Church,

3700 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19104.

 

 Speakers:

- Judith Le Blanc, National Field Organizer for Peace Action, formerly National Co-chair of United for Peace and Justice (UFPJ) - Bob Smith, Brandywine Peace Community

        To co-sponsor or endorse this event, send a message to: rlg3526@ix.netcom.com

        Please go to the web site located at - http://www.ufpj-dvn.org/

        Leaflet is at: http://www.ufpj-dvn.org/flyer_teach-in_100508_02.pdf

Contact: Elisabeth Leonard, United for Peace and Justice - Delaware

Valley Network Telephone: 215-382-1531 Electronic Mail: elisabeth_leonard@verizon.net

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From: Committee of Seventy [mailto:lpillsbury@seventy.org]



The 2010 Pennsylvania Primary is Only Five Weeks Away

Here is what you need to know:
 

Voter Registration Deadline: The deadline to register to vote in Pennsylvania is Monday, April 19th. Voter registration forms, including change of address applications, must be postmarked by April 19th. Click here to register to vote.

 

Volunteer on Election Day: Become one of Committee of Seventy's Voter Protection Program volunteers. Volunteers work throughout Philadelphia on Election Day helping voters in the field or staffing the 1-866-OUR-VOTE voter protection hotline. Go to www.seventy.org/volunteer to learn more or to sign up.

 

Go to a Candidates' Forum: The candidates for Pennsylvania Governor will be in Philly this week. Zack Stalberg, Seventy's President and CEO, will moderate the Urban Sustainability Forum at the Academy of Natural Sciences on Thursday, April 15th. On Monday, April 19th, The National Constitution Center will host "Investing in a Prosperous Pennsylvania," a forum on the future of Pennslyvania's work force and economy.

 

Many local candidates' forums and civic events are happening across the region. For these events and more visit Seventy's events calendar. Don't see your forum or event? Send us the details and we'll add it do the calendar.

 

Get to Know the Candidates: For listings all of the official candidates on the ballot in May, check out Seventy's election section www.seventy.org/elections.

 

For more information about volunteering, other programs or posting an event contact Leah Pillsbury, Director of Civic Programs, at lpillsbury@seventy.org or 215-557-3600 ext 109

Image removed by sender.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

8 Penn Center 1628 JFK Blvd., Suite 1002 | Philadelphia, PA 19103 US



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NATIONAL and INTERNATIONAL ACTION:


Where Do Your Tax Dollars Go?

Peter Lems and Mary Zerkel, AFSC:[actioncenter@afsc.org]

        View this message as a web page.

        http://support.afsc.org/site/R?i=BdggIlHKSm-E_blEyThnGw..

 

This Thursday, April 15, is Tax Day.  We expect that the news will be full of stories about Tea Party activists who don't think we should pay taxes.  But we both know that they are a vocal minority.

        We hope you'll join us in spreading the word that taxes are important as long as they pay for human needs - like job creation, healthcare, and education - NOT the military budget.  Make sure that the Tea Party folks aren't the only ones vocal about taxes this week.

 

Three easy ways you can help get out the message:

 

1.   Inform others:

We've created a great Tax Day flyer.  Please share it with your co-workers, family and friends.  Also consider being one of thousands of people around the country who will stand in front of their local postoffice and hand out the flyer to folks coming to mail their taxes.

http://support.afsc.org/site/R?i=6hh5xhguQYLWd14PcLV0pA..

 

2.   Tell Congress how to spend your money:

Congress will vote soon on whether to approve an additional $34 billion in emergency funding for the escalation of U.S. troops in Afghanistan. Please join nationwide efforts to tell Congress to stop funding war in Afghanistan and Iraq. Call the Congressional switchboard:  866-220-0044.

 *  We want the government to fund priorities that bring true security to our country, like job creation, healthcare and education.

 *  We want the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan to end; do not spend our tax dollars to continue to fund these wars.

 *  We should be supporting civilian-led repair and reconstruction in Afghanistan.

 *  Military spending should focus on withdrawal; we need a clear exit strategy from Afghanistan.

 

3.   Learn more about the federal budget and anti-war work:

Join us for a strategy call with Jo Comerford executive director of the National Priorities Project and an expert in military spending and the federal budget.  The presentation will tell you more about where your tax dollars are going, what it means for your community, and how you can help to end the wars.

http://support.afsc.org/site/R?i=IzbRujeEnZl5v_y6ezP9SA..

 

Send us questions you want Jo to answer during the call: at questions@afsc.org

Call in details:

Where Do Your Tax Dollars Go?

Jo Comerford, Executive Director of the National Priorities Project

Thursday April 15, 8 - 9 p.m. Eastern

To join the call: dial 1-866-740-1260 (toll-free) Conference Access Code 2414586#

        Wage Peace, Peter Lems and Mary Zerkel

Forward this message to friends. http://support.afsc.org/site/R?i=4RpzUz8VBWABkHC555xq2w..

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Ensure candidates supporting the closing and investigating of the SOA/ WHINSEC are elected to federal office!


 SOA Watch has compiled a set of informational resources for this year's elections on our 2010 Elections Page. These resources include:

·  The SOA/ WHINSEC Hall of Fame/Hall of Shame chart, along with the primary election dates for every seat in the House of Representatives

·  Media contacts for your region and a sample letter to the editor that you can send online through the SOA Watch webpage to publicize the SOA/ WHINSEC voting record of incumbents (Please take 2 minutes to send your letter to the editor now.)

·  Bird-dogging tips to be vocal on the campaign trail.

Your vote is an important part of your voice! Take the time this year to make history and cast your vote for candidates that will effectively represent your views in Washington DC!
               For more information on the SOA Watch Legislative Campaign, visit www.soaw.org/legislative. For more information about the April 17-19 Lobby Days, click here.

Come to Washington, DC - Join us for the SOA Watch Lobby Days: April 17-19, 2010. (click here for a schedule of events and more information.)

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AFL- CIO Labor Union to Protest on Wall Street: Thurs, April 29th from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. 

 http://gothamist.com/2010/04/10/labor_union_to_protest_on_wall_stre.php

 

 The AFL-CIO labor union is planning a protest during the trading day on April 29th, demanding regulations on the banking industry, taxes on financial transactions and higher levies on hedge funds and private equity. AFL-CIO president Richard Trumka told the Post, "It's an unprecedented, grassroots campaign that says: Good jobs now; make Wall Street pay."

               Trumka says that over 10,000 supporters will participate in the "March on Wall Street," which coincides with Senate action on financial reform. Trumka told Politico.com, “People will be talking, yelling, chanting and letting America — and letting Wall Street, particularly — know that their brand of economics, where the financial economy overshadows the real economy, is no longer acceptable, that we want them to help pay for the jobs that they destroyed."

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More Divestment Bill news -

Desmond Tutu, Netanyahu's sister in law, and the Divestment Debate and Vote

 

- Nobel Peace Prize Winner Archbishop Desmond Tutu has written a letter in support of the divestment bill. Read it here:

http://www.salem-news.com/articles/april112010/desmond-tutu-dt.php

 

- Jewish Voice for Peace has been keeping track of Jewish and Israeli support for the divestment bill, including a statement signed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's sister-in-law. Read all about it here:

http://www.jewishvoiceforpeace.org/artman/uploads/jewishsupport.pdf

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Free Gaza Movement to Launch Cargo Ship from Ireland

 

    The Free Gaza Movement is now engaging in a strategy that I find absolutely brilliant:  Each of five different countries -- all European -- has been enlisted to sponsor a new Free Gaza boat, in a humanitarian flotilla to be launched for Gaza sometime in the near future.  The Irish boat will be carrying 500 tons of cement, with the Irish people, churches, mosques, communities, etc., being asked to show support for the mission by sponsoring bags of cement.  The FGM has transformed what began as a courageous blockade-busting showing of solidarity and support for the Palestinians in Gaza into a vehicle for the entire world to show its support for the people of Palestine, by each sponsoring another boatload of aid.  In a beautiful detail, the boat itself bears symbolic value:  A former floating workplace for modern slaves is transformed into a vehicle for humanitarian aid and liberation. 

    The message below is from Huwaida Arraf

 

 

Free Gaza Movement to Launch Cargo Ship from Ireland 

www.freegaza.org

 

Yesterday the Free Gaza Movement bought a 1200 ton cargo ship at an auction in Dundalk, Ireland. The vessel had been impounded a year ago following an inspection by the International Transport Federation (ITF) which found that its’ owners had exploited it’s Lithuanian crew members- not paying their wages and subjecting them to humiliating treatment. 

 

ITF Inspector and SIPTU organiser Ken Fleming said, ‘We are pleased to announce that this vessel which was used to subject workers to modern day slavery, will now be used to promote human rights for the people of Palestine’. 

      The Free Gaza Movement now owns four ships including three passenger vessels.  

Free Gaza’s ships will take part in an international flotilla taking humanitarian aid to the besieged Gaza strip this May. Passenger and cargo ships are also being organised by the Turkish humanitarian organisation I.H.H., and by groups in Greece, Sweden, Malaysia and Belgium.  

Free Gaza has launched eight missions to Gaza over the past two years. Five were successful. The last two were violently stopped by the Israeli Navy. 

The Irish ship will be taking 500 tons of cement, as well as medicines, medical equipment and educational materials to the people of Gaza. 

      Derek Graham of the Free Gaza Movement said, ‘We have international law and the conscience of the people of the world on our side. We know the Irish people will not stand by and let the people of Gaza be starved and punished by Israel any longer’. 

In preparation for the launch of the Irish ship, hospitals, trade unions, churches, mosques, families and community groups are being invited to sponsor bags of cement to help the people of Gaza to rebuild. 

      Caoimhe Butterly of the Free Gaza Movement said ‘We call upon the Irish people and government to support the safe passage of our mission. The siege is a form of collective, sustained and devastating punishment. Supporting the flotilla is a way for the people of Ireland to show direct solidarity with the 1.5 million Palestinians trapped in Gaza as they attempt to pick up the shattered pieces of their lives’.  

      The vessel, the MV Linda, will be re-named the MV Rachel Corrie, in memory of the 23 year old solidarity activist crushed to death in 2003 by an Israeli bulldozer as she attempted to prevent the demolition of a Palestinian home in Gaza. The Free Gaza Movement pays tribute to Rachel and the thousands of Palestinian men, women and children killed, wounded or imprisoned under Israeli Occupation.