Pieces
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Jobs with Justice Annual Dinner, 3/15, 6 pm reception, 7 pm dinner & program; Suffolk Downs Race Track Clubhouse, 111 Waldemar Ave, East Boston MA; Join JwJ in celebrating 15 years of solidarity & honoring workers' struggles & the power of solidarity in 2006; honorees include the Personal Care Attendants' campaign, the Goodyear Strikers & their local allies, & the Simmons College Student Labor Action Project; for table reservations or more info, call 617/524-8778
Christian Peace Witness for Iraq; 3/16, Washington DC and in local communities; themes: End the occupation, Support the troops -- bring them home, Commit to rebuild Iraq, Say "no" to torture, Say "yes" to justice; In DC, there will be: a service at the National Cathedral, a candlelight procession to the White House, a prayer vigil, possible civil disobedience actions, pre-witness workshops & training, and post-witness organizing and strategizing; 520/780-6928, Christianpeacewitness@gmail.com, www.christianpeacewitness.org
Let's Care: An Evening to Help Save the People of Darfur; 4/22, 7pm; Proceeds to help CARE and Doctors Without Borders' work in Darfur, Peacework is a co-sponsor of the event. Royal Sonesta Hotel, 40 Edwin Land Boulevard, Cambridge, MA, info@bostonnightfordarfur.com, www.bostonnightfordarfur.com
Gatherings
From Every Village Green, 3/17; From Kittery to Fort Kent, from Kennebunk to Lubec, Mainers will peacefully gather to commemorate 4 years of war in Iraq, demanding an end to the continuted killing & spending on the war in Iraq & to call all troops home now; to learn more and get involved call Ron, 207/288-8225 or visit www.everyvillage-me.us
Facing Race, 3/22-24; New York City NY; a conference bringing together key policy advocates, academics, researchers, organizers, & activists interested in exploring innovative strategies & successful models for changing public policy to produce more racial equity; three primary tracks: policy change, media, and organizing; sponsored by the Applied Research Center & the Center for Humanities at CUNY Graduate Center; 32 Broadway #1801, New York NY 10004; 212/513-7925; www.arc.org
Walk for a Nuclear-free Future, 3/24--4/1 (including a day of public fasting on 3/28; to observe the anniversary of the 1979 nuclear accident at Three Mile Island, Citizens Awareness Network & the Buddhist order of Nipponzan Myohoji will coordinate a walk through Vermont towns to support safe, sustainable energy choices & abolish nuclear power & nuclear weapons; host communities & colleges will discuss issues surrounding Entergy's application for a 20-year license extension of the Vermont Yankee nuclear reactor & the dangers Vermont Yankee creates for New England; support vehicles will be available for anyone needing assistance; this is a drug- & alcohol-free event; contact CAN at can@nukebusters.org or call Deb Katz, 413/339-5781
Women, Action, & the Media, 3/30-4/1; Cambridge MA; Build skills & brainstorm in over 30 program sessions, including "Making the Most of Digital Media," "Feminist Action for Media Accountability & Justice," "Making Documentaries for Social Change," & "The Web as a Site for Black Girls' Resistance"; keynotes by Ellen Goodman & Thenmozhi Soundararajan; plus strategy sessions, film screenings, vendors, & more; sponsored by the Center for New Words, 617/876-5310; www.wam2007.com
Achieving Global Energy Security, 4/13, 8:30 am-4 pm; University of Southern Maine, Portland ME; a conference to connect the ork of organizations & individuals concerned about energy policy, nuclear issues, global warming, preemptive war strategy in general and the Iraq War in particular; with Mary-Wynne Ashford, Michael Renner, Catherine Thomasson, & Cameron Wake; for more information or to register in advance, contact the Maine chapter of Physicians for Social Responsibility, 207/772-6714; www.psrmaine.org
Alternatives to Empire: Latin American Solidarity Conference, 4/14-15; Chicago IL; US grassroots solidarity activists will be joined by activists & organizers from Latin America & the Caribbean to plan, evaluate, & celebrate the growing US Latin America solidarity movement; participants will exchange information & develop action plans; art & culture will be a strong component of the conference; sponsored by the Latin America Solidarity Coalition, www.lasolidarity.org
Clean Clothes & Fair Food: A Conference to Promote Justice in Factories & Fields, 4/27-29; Columbia Law School, New York City; the conference will provide information & skills to support communities, groups, & individuals in creating more socially responsible economic models that ensure the human rights of workers & respect the environment; learn more & register on-line at www.sweatfree.org
Why Dialogue? (and when, and how, and where?) A Conference for community Groups, Researchers, teachers, Students, & Others, 6/15-16; New York City; We will consider the place of dialogue in democratic & global societies, examine the uses of dialogue in education, negotiation, & conflict resolution, examine the challenges in engaging in dialogue, & provide forum for networking; sponsored by the Network for Peace through Dialogue, 212/426-5818; www.networkforpeace.com
Quaker Initiative to End Torture (QUIT) 2nd Annual Conference, 6/1-3; Greensboro NC; QUIT is the spiritual work of Quakers to end torture. Minutes of support for this new work have come from numerous Monthly and Yearly Meetings to declare that torture is always immoral, illegal, and abhorrent. We began with a conference held in June 2006 for education leading to action. We will begin in the silence of worship, waiting upon that leading to surrender our worldly obstacles, and continue in reverence, as the work is large and will take more than good intentions or a mere generation. Keynote by Alfred McCoy; for more information visit www.quit-torture-now.org
US Social Forum, 6/27-7/1; Atlanta GA; come to connect with others, share your story, gain leadership skills, get inspired, link with a global movement that is changing the world; www.ussf2007.org
Campaigns
No War with Iran! Resistance to a planned military strike on Iran is growing in Congress, but it needs your help! Sign an on-line petition to Congress and to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice at democracyinaction.org, or contact Peace Action for more information; PA, 1100 Wayne Ave #1020, Silver Spring MD 20910; 301/565-4050
Student Labor Week of Action, 3/28-4/4; The rising cost of college tuition, federal and state financial aid cuts, and harsh anti-immigration policies have made it almost impossible for many students to attend college. And while the salaries of university administrators are on the rise, attacks on worker's rights, increasing pay cuts, lack of healthcare, unsafe and unsanitary working conditions and glass ceilings have made the campus workplace all but "ivy league." Sisters and brothers, it's time for us to take back our campuses! We invite you to join us as we demand: the eradication of corporate influence on education; living wages for all campus employees; university codes of conduct that support workers' rights; an end to union-busting tactics used by school administrators; the right to organize and bargain collectively for all workers; and much more! For more information call 202/393-1044 x221 or visit www.jwj.org/projects/slap, where you can also download an organizing kit and other materials; sponsored by Jobs with Justice
Campaign for the Employee Free Choice Act; (HR 800), Restore US workers' freedom to choose a union by: 1) establishing stronger penalties for violation of employee rights when workers seek to form a union and during first-contract negotiations; 2) Providing mediation and arbitration for first-contract disputes; & 3) Allowing employees to form unions by signing cards authorizing union representation; www.aflcio.org
Help Build Support for Genetic Nondiscrimination Legislation; although no laws currently exist to address the potential abuses of sensitive genetic health information, the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA) was introduced in January in Congress; This legislation would prohibit discrimination on the basis of genetic information with respect to health insurance & employment; GINA provides strong, enforceable protections against the misuse of genetic information, the definition of which includes family health history in both health insurance coverage & employment decisions; you can help build support for this important bill by asking your reps and senators to cosponsor GINA; for more information contact Genetic Alliance, 4301 Connecticut Ave NW #404, Washington DC 20008-2369; 202/966-5557; www.geneticalliance.org
The Road To Freedom Bus Tour to Restore the Americans with Disability Act; a national awareness campaign inspired by the journey of Justin and Yoshiko Dart to mobilize support for passage of the ADA; year-long, cross-country bus journey launched from Washington, DC on November 15th; engages audiences across the US in the history of the disability rights movement; inspires participants to extend the legacy, www.adawatch.org; sign the petition to restore the ADA at www.ipetitions.com/petition/ADARestoration/
An Appeal for Redress from the War in Iraq; Many active-duty, reserve, & guard service members are concerned about the war in Iraq & support the withdrawal of US troops. The Appeal for Redress provides a way in which individual servicemembers can appeal to their Congressional representatives to urge an end to the US military occupation. To read or join the Appeal, visit www.appealforredress.org
Opportunities
Study Peace & Conflict Resolution at the European University Center for Peace Studies (EPU), Stadtschlaining, Austria; join a select group of 44 students from around the world in an intensive course in peace and conflict studies; all courses taught in English, by leading specialists in their fields from around the world, including Johan Galtung, one of the founders of the academic discipline of peace research & frequent mediator in international conflicts; applicants should have a BA or equivalent & preferably some professional experience; application deadline for Fall 2007 term is 4/15; for a detailed explanation of the program and a catalogue with course descriptions, visit www.epu.ac.at
Transforming Whiteness workshop, 3/10, 9am-1pm; Leading from Spirit, 4/27-28; Boston MA; trainings & workshops to create a world that works for all; Women's Theological Center, 140 Clarendon St, Boston MA 02116; 617/585-5655; www.thewtc.org
Resources
Where Your Income Tax Money Really Goes; WRL's annual piechart, Copies: 10¢ each (1-199), 7¢ each (200 or more), 6¢ each (500+) plus 20% postage. Single copies for download free at www.warresisters.org/piechart.htm
2007 International Voluntary Service Directory ($30 priority mail), an annual booklet (500+ pages) listing over 3400 opportunities, through the group Volunteers for Peace, for meaningful travel throughout Wetern & Eastern Europe, Russia, Africa, Asia, Australia, & Latin America; our projects are affordable ways for Americans of all ages to promote international goodwill through community service projects in more than 100 countries; 2-3 week programs are $250 including room & board; VfP, 1034 Tiffany Rd, Belmont VT 05730; 802/259-2759; www.vfp.org
Reporters without Borders Annual Press Freedom Survey; The survey reports on press freedom in 98 countries and includes the main violations of journalists' rights in 2006 and regional aspects of media and Internet freedom; "The report lists the worst violations in repressive countries, including major culprits North Korea, Eritrea, Cuba, and Turkmenistan, but also looks at democracies, where progress needs to be made too," the organization says. the report (in English, French, Spanish & Arabic) can be read at www.rsf.org and downloaded in its entirety or by region
Choices Program Curriculum Resources for Grades 9-12 in World History, US History, & Current Issues; all materials provide a balanced approach to contested public policy issues; materials include extensive readings, primary sources, & a framework of policy options that challenge students to consider multiple perspectives on current or historical international issues; most units are intended for 1 week and help your students meet national & state standards in social studies; Watson Institute for International Studies, Brown University, Box 1948, Providence RI 02912; 401/863-3155; www.choices.edu
