CONTENTS:

PHILLY AREA ACTION:

NATIONAL and INTERNATIONAL ACTION:

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Spiral Q Open House- Tuesday, May 31 6-8pm

 

Open House event. We have been busy around here making changes and we want you to see all the hard work we and our partners and communities have been doing! The Open House is from 6-8 PM at the Spiral Q Living Loft and Studio on Tuesday, May 31st. Hope to see you there! p: 215-222-6979

Spiral Q Puppet Theater's Justice Works Program, 3114 Spring Garden Street - Philadelphia, PA 19104

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Mishkan Shalom, Wednesday, June 1, 7PM, 4101 Freeland Ave.

 

Jewish Voice for Peace Rabbinical Council member Rabbi Rebecca Alpert will moderate a panel with a diverse range of views on BDS (Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions).

Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions of Israel

o     Is it ever okay to use these tactics against Israel?

o     Is BDS an effective way of influencing the Israeli government?

o     How can we better understand this movement and determine whether or not it is something each of us wants to support?

o     What exactly is BDS?

 

Updated Featured Speakers:

Rebecca Vilkomerson

is the Executive Director of Jewish Voice for Peace. She has been working on social justice issues in the U.S. and in Israel/Palestine for over 15 years. From 2006-2009 she lived in Israel with her family. In 2010 she was named one of the "Forward 50": the 50 most influential Jewish leaders of the year.

Burt Siegel

retired in 2008 as the Executive Director of the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) after 35 years with the organization. He was one of the founders of the Congregation of the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College, now known as Or Hadash

Sarra Lev

is a professor of Gender and Judaism, associate professor of rabbinic literature and the co-chair of the Department of Rabbinic Civilization at the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College as well as the acting director of Kolot: The Center for Jewish Women’s and Gender Studies

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Yiddish Melodies with Soul

Sunday, June 5, 2011 at 2:00 PM, FREE 

Parkway Central Library, Auditorium, Info: 215-686-5316 or 5309.

 

The Friends of the Central Library present a free afternoon concert of Yiddish and Jewish music, featuring the Philadelphia Workmen's Circle Chorus with Cantor Naomi Hirsch and accompanist Evelyn Goldhammer, and the Ben Holmes Klezmer Trio with Ben Holmes, Uri Sharlin, and Karen Waltuch. This program was made possible by the generosity of Connie and Joe Smukler and the Friends of the Free Library

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First Friday June 3rd Viewing Party at Philly CAM, Writers and poets, etc

Public Access TV, 232 Vine St. Painted Bride, from 5 to 11 pm.

 

A The party will be hosted by “fiercest poet around” J Mase III. MUSIC BY:Kuf Knotz (hiphop), Henny & Els (lady funk/hiphop duo) & Peace Love Power The Unity (jazz trio).

 

…SPOKEN WORD, FICTION AND POETRY PERFORMANCES include:

- Michelle Myers of Yellow Rage - Warrior Writers, US veterans and writers - Karen Rile, anthologized in Best American Short Stories - Philadelphia Youth Poetry Movement - Crucial, host of Panoramic Poetry - Poet Jim Cory - Novelist Janet Mason - Philadelphia Slam Finalist Warren Longmire

 

APIARY #2 includes work from 37 local writers, including Nina ‘Lyrispect’ Ball, co-founder of premier spoken word collective Spoken Soul 215; Justin Ching, head of UPenn’s award-winning poetry group the Excelano Project; Isabel Ramos, winner of the Philadelphia Young Playwrights competition; Enrique Sarcerio Gari, Cuban expat and poet; letters between Lamont Steptoe and anti-apartheid literary lion Dennis Brutus. 

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Heeding God's Call and Neighborhood Partners to End Gun Violence friends and partners,

 

Where: Delia’s Gun Shop, 6104 Torresdale Avenue, Philadelphia 19135.  This is in northeast Philadelphia.  From Roosevelt Blvd, go east on Cheltenham at Oxford Circle, then north on Torresdale.

Upcoming actions: June 7, June 21, July 5, July 19 and every first and third Tuesday following, from 4:30 – 5:30 pm at the same location.

      What we will do: We will be a peaceful and prayerful presence. 

Please help us swell our numbers and create a strong witness.  Feel free to contact us.

Bob Fles and Linda Noonan, Co-Coordinators

Neighborhood Partners to End Gun Violence (NPEG)

rfles@msn.com / lindanoonan@mac.com / 215-242-9321 ext. 5

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NORTHWEST GREENS ANNOUNCEMENTS.

Always call or email to confirm that the event is still scheduled.

 

            June 4, 11, 18, 25. Vigil for peace every Wednesday, 7:00-8:00 p.m. (in any and all weather) at the intersection of Germantown Avenue and Bethlehem Pike in Chestnut Hill. Endorsed by Northwest Greens. More information from 215-843-4256 and nwgreens@yahoo.com.

            June 2. Meeting to Discuss Earned Sick Time, 10:00 am, City Hall, 15th and Market Streets in center city Philadelphia. More information from Action United, (215) 839-3390 and jmrivera@gm.slc.edu.

            June 3. First Friday, anti-war outreach organized by CODE PINK Philadelphia, Second Street north of Market Street in Old City, Philadelphia. More information about the time from dzubow@pccy.org.

            June 3. "Walk on Water," First Friday Free Film: 2005, 103 minutes, unusual psychological spy thriller, 7:00 p.m. at the DE County Peace Center, 1001 Old Sproul Road, Springfield, PA. More information from

610-544-1818 and contact@delcowagepeacejustice.org.

            June 4. Green Night Out, speaker to be announced, 7:00 p.m. at Singapore Vegetarian Kosher Chinese Restaurant, 1006 Race Street in Chinatown, Philadelphia. Admission is $25/person for all you can eat. More information from Green Party of Philadelphia, 215-243-7103 or gpop@gpop.org.

            June 6. Meeting with our Water Department concerning flooding in Germantown, 7:00 pm, Waterview Recreation Center, 5836 McMahon Street in Germantown. More information from Action United, (215) 839-3390 and jmrivera@gm.slc.edu.

            June 7. Anti-Fracking and Lobby Day, This all-day event in Harrisburg will include an appointment to talk with your legislator and a rally on the steps of the State Capitol. Five buses from southeast Pennsylvania (including one from 30th Street Station). More information from

215-243-7103 or gpop@gpop.org.

            June 9. City Council VOTE on Earned Sick Time Bill, 10:00 am, City Hall, 15th and Market Streets in center city Philadelphia. More information from Action United, (215) 839-3390 and jmrivera@gm.slc.edu.

            June 9. Philly Against War meeting, 6:30 pm, Room 21, Friends Center, 1501 Cherry Street in Center City Philadelphia. More information from 856-313-1680 and phillyagainstwar@gmail.com.

            June 11. Quarterly meeting of Green Party of Pennsylvania, 12:30 pm, Days Inn, 240 South Pugh Street in downtown State College, PA. More information from 215-243-7103 or gpop@gpop.org.

            June 12. Conflict Resolution in the Middle East with AFSC's Michael Merryman-Lutze, Brandywine pot-luck supper at 4:30 p.m., program at 5:30 p.m., University Lutheran Church, 3637 Chestnut Street, University City, Philadelphia. More information from Brandywine Peace Community,

610-544-1818 and brandywine@juno.com.

            June 17. Vigil in Solidarity with Palestine, 4:30 p.m., outside the Israeli Consulate, 19th SAtreet and kennedy Boulevard in Center City Philadelphia. More information from 856-313-1680 and phillyagainstwar@gmail.com.

            June 19. Father's Day,

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Father%27s_Day.

            June 21. Action United Meeting, 7:00 pm, Waterview Recreation Center, 5836 McMahon Street in Germantown. More information from Action United, (215) 839-3390 and jmrivera@gm.slc.edu.

            June 23. Green Party monthly meeting, 7:30 pm in the Chestnut Hill Friends Meetinghouse, 100 East Mermaid Lane in Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia. More information from Green Party of Philadelphia,

215-243-7103 or gpop@gpop.org.

            July 6, 13, 20, 27. Vigil for peace every Wednesday, 7:00-8:00 p.m. (in any and all weather) at the intersection of Germantown Avenue and Bethlehem Pike in Chestnut Hill. Endorsed by Northwest Greens. More information from 215-843-4256 and nwgreens@yahoo.com.

            July 1. "Budrus," First Friday Free Film, 7:00 p.m. at the DE County Peace Center, 1001 Old Sproul Road, Springfield, PA. More information from 610-544-1818 and contact@delcowagepeacejustice.org.

            July 2. Declare Peace Fair with music, poetry and story-telling, 1:30 p.m. at Independence Visitors Center, Sixth and Market Streets in old-ciy Philadelphia. Reserve your table-space at , 610-544-1818 and brandywine@juno.com.

            July 4. Independence Day,

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independence_Day_(United_States)/

            July 9. Green Night Out with Josh Mitteldorf discussing election fraud in the U.S. (including Wisconsin), 7:00 p.m. at Singapore Vegetarian Kosher Chinese Restaurant, 1006 Race Street in Chinatown, Philadelphia.

Admission is $25/person for all you can eat. More information from Green Party of Philadelphia, 215-243-7103 or gpop@gpop.org.

            July 10. "In the Sights of the FBI" (premier), Brandywine pot-luck supper at 4:30 p.m., program at 5:30 p.m., University Lutheran Church, 3637 Chestnut Street, University City, Philadelphia. More information from Brandywine Peace Community, 610-544-1818 and brandywine@juno.com.

            July 16. "Trinity Vigil for Peace and the Abolition of Nuclear Weapons" on the 66th Anniversary of the first nuclear bomb explosion, at Lockheed Martin, Mall & Goddard Boulevard (behind the King of Prussia Mall), Valley Forge/King of Prussia, PA. More information from Brandywine Peace Community, 610-544-1818 and brandywine@juno.com.

            July 28. Green Party monthly meeting, time and place to be announced. Please save the date. More information from Green Party of Philadelphia, 215-243-7103 or gpop@gpop.org.

            August 3, 10, 17, 24, 31. Vigil for peace every Wednesday, 7:00-8:00 p.m. (in any and all weather) at the intersection of Germantown Avenue and Bethlehem Pike in Chestnut Hill. Endorsed by Northwest Greens.

More information from 215-843-4256 and nwgreens@yahoo.com.

            August 5. Film to be announced, First Friday Free Film, 7:00 p.m. at the DE County Peace Center, 1001 Old Sproul Road, Springfield, PA.

More information from 610-544-1818 and contact@delcowagepeacejustice.org.

            August 6. Hiroshima Day Demonstration, at Lockheed Martin, Mall & Goddard Boulevard (behind the King of Prussia Mall), Valley Forge/King of Prussia, PA. More information from Brandywine Peace Community, 610-544-1818 and brandywine@juno.com.

            August 9.  Nagasaki Day Vigil, time and place to be announced.

More information from Brandywine Peace Community, 610-544-1818 and brandywine@juno.com.

            August 21. Cost of the War on Women and Children, teach-in and strategy session, 2:00 p.m., 4th Floor, Free Library, 19th and Vine Streets, Philadelphia. More information from 267-259-7195 and info2506@prawnworks.net.

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NATIONAL and INTERNATIONAL ACTION:

 

The "Defense Authorization" bill now before Congress, HR 1750, is arguably the worst bill ever considered likely to pass into law. It includes $118 billion for wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, wars a majority of Americans wants ended. But that's not why it's the worst bill ever.

This bill also includes $553 billion for other military waste.  That's enough money to save and improve a lot of lives if it weren't being dumped into the war machine.  But that's not why this is the worst bill ever.

      The bill limits the President’s ability to implement the New START agreement unless there is full funding for the nuclear weapons complex, bars the retirement of nuclear weapons until two new nuclear facilities are completed, and bars further nuclear weapons reductions below New START levels unless approved by Congress. But that's not why this is the worst bill ever.

      The bill invests heavily in a National Missile "Defense" system based in California and Alaska. This bill revives a second engine for the F-35 that the Pentagon has no use for.

This bill bars any transfer of prisoners from Guantanamo.

      But none of that is why this is the worst bill ever. This is the worst bill ever because it gives presidents the power to single-handedly launch wars and to lock people up without trial.

This legislation, Section 1034 of the worst bill ever, undoes the limitations on one-man rule put in place by the U.S. Constitution over two centuries ago.  This is the biggest formal shift of power in our government since we've had a government.

      We have military operations now The Worst Bill Ever in Congress HR 1750   Call toll-free 1-888-231-9276in some 75 countries, and a significant war in Libya, all illegal under the U.S. Constitution and the War Powers Act.  But the worst bill ever will erase the War Powers Act, and the Constitution will simply be ignored. 

Meanwhile the significant withdrawal that President Obama promised to begin in Afghanistan has been scaled back to a withdrawal of 2.5 percent of U.S. forces

 

Call Congress today and tell your Representative and your two Senators:

Enough is enough! / End the wars!/ Bring the troops home!/ Convert the economy to peace!

And do not pass the worst bill ever!

                              * Call toll-free 1-888-231-9276.*

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IVAW puts Fort Hood Commander on watch 

Yesterday morning, 6 members of our Operation Recovery Team went to Fort Hood Commander, General Campbell's office to deliver a letter requesting he meet with us about the plight of traumatized troops under his command.  We were turned away, then surrounded by Fort Hood security officials who became sympathetic to our cause when we identified ourselves as veterans who are dealing with PTSD.  But we were ultimately escorted off base. 

In response, we held a press conference about the issue of un-treated trauma that is ravaging the Fort Hood community as well as the military at large.  We then erected a guard tower across from the gates of Fort Hood as a symbolic act to let Commander Campbell know that we are keeping watch over his actions (or lack thereof) when it comes to the health and well-being of soldiers at Fort Hood.  As we stood watch at the gates of Fort Hood, we handed out over 200 purple ribbons to soldiers entering the base.  These ribbons symbolize our solidarity with the tens of thousands of soldiers who are suffering from un-treated trauma because of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Get Involved with IVAW's Operation Recovery Campaign

There are a number of ways you can support our efforts to stop the deployment of traumatized troops at Fort Hood:

Learn more by watching this short video about IVAW's Operation Recovery Campaign at Fort Hood and meet the veteran organizers behind this effort: 

In the words of Mother Jones, this Memorial Day we pray for the dead, but we fight like hell for the living.

Thank you for your support.

Sincerely,

The Operation Recovery Deployment Team ,  Killeen, Texas

Iraq Veterans Against the War is a 501(c)(3) charity,
and welcomes your tax deductible contributions

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Weigh in Now | Strategies to Disrupt Pentagon Actions -

 

http://afghanistan101.blogspot.com/2011/05/weigh-in-now-pentagon-spending-actions.html

For more updates:  AFSC Wage Peace Campaign | Facebook

http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/AFSC-Wage-Peace-Campaign/199188769924

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* Amy Goodman: Single-Payer in Vermont, A State of Healthy Firsts

http://www.commondreams.org/view/2011/05/26-4

 

* Musical prophet: Gil Scott-Heron rest in peace

      THIRTY YEARS ago, he wrote a song that precisely predicted where we'd be today based on our"choice" of Ronald Ray-Gun for president in 1980. Something not to miss (or fail to hear again):

Video:  http://www.brasschecktv.com/page/562.html 

 

* $32 billion spent on abandoned Army weapons programs

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/capitalbusiness/army-report-military-has-spent-32-billion-since-97-on-abandoned-weapons-programs/2011/05/23/AGwuqjCH_story.html?hpid=z1

 

* Flotilla crew 'welcomes' UN concern, will still sail

BETHLEHEM (Ma‘an) 29 May -- A statement from The Free Gaza movement welcomed Sunday a call from UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urging Israel to end its blockade on Gaza, but responded to his call on world nations to stop aid ships by insisting the mission would go ahead as planned. "We are not engaged in illegal activity in the in the Mediterranean; it is Israel’s blockade of 1.5 million Palestinians that is illegal," a statement from organizers read.

http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=392092

 

* Canada  warns citizens: Avoid Gaza flotilla

AFP 30 May -- Country's top diplomat warned against Canadian involvement in a new aid flotilla that organizers say will leave in June for the blockaded Gaza Strip, calling the unauthorized efforts "provocative."     http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4076037,00.html

 

Turkish group: Israel won't dare attack us

Reuters 30 May -- IHH spokesman predicts Israel won't attack new pro-Palestinian flotilla to Gaza, will not 'repeat big mistake.' Turkish foreign minister says democratic countries cannot stop ships from heading to Strip    http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4076117,00.html

 

* Fighting Back / What the unions have learned -- and what they may still need to learn -- about fighting Wal-Mart's expansion Liza Featherstone

http://prospect.org/cs/articles?article=fighting_back

 

* As a Holocaust survivor, AIPAC does not speak for me by HEDY EPSTEIN

At the end of one of my first journeys to the Israeli-occupied West Bank in 2004, I endured a shocking experience at Ben-Gurion Airport. I never imagined that Israeli security forces would abuse a 79-year-old Holocaust survivor, but they held me for five hours, and strip-searched and cavity-searched every part of my naked body. The only shame these security officials expressed was to turn their badges around so that their names were invisible.

http://mondoweiss.net/2011/04/as-a-holocaust-survivor-aipac-does-not-spe\ak-for-me.html

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* Best Way to Save Medicare, Offer it to Everyone by John Conyers

 

America must transition to a non-profit improved Medicare-For-All program, if we are to have any chance of realistically containing over-all healthcare costs. That’ s why I have reintroduced H.R. 676, the Expanded and Improved Medicare For All Act, that would provide for a single-payer healthcare system, providing all Americans with healthcare coverage.

      Countries in Europe, Japan, and Taiwan have been able to effectively contain their healthcare costs for decades through their very successful universal healthcare systems — without waiting lines, rationed care, and out of control taxes.

America can learn invaluable lessons from other nations on how to control healthcare costs, and the time has come to be open minded about their success and honest about our need to change course from our corporate-dominated and inefficient healthcare system.

      - Rep. John Conyers, Jr. (D-MI) is the ranking member of the House Judiciary Committee and in his 24th-term representing the west side of Detroit. Readers may write him at 2426 Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, DC 20515

{Article printed from www.CommonDreams.org.  Source URL: http://www.commondreams.org/view/2011/05/20-7}