Living Peace Sign
Friday, March 16th, 6:00 PM
Washington Square Park (4th St. @ 5th Ave.)
On the eve of the fourth anniversary of the Iraq War, Greenwich Village will be illuminated by a living peace sign in Washington Square Park, where hundreds of torch-bearing New Yorkers will be demanding an end to wars and nuclear arms.
The human peace sign will be one of dozens simultaneously constructed in cities around the world, including Rome, Paris, Budapest, Bogota, Sydney, Athens,
London, Madrid, Maputo and Mumbai.
Contact: Aaron Freimark
abf@mac.com
917-459-2626
Sponsored By:
Humanist Movement, Community of Silo's Message, Queens Anti-War Committee, NICE, Movimiento por La Paz en Colombia, Diversity Center of Queens, Ecuatorian International, Humanist Center of Cultures
NYC March to End the War
Sunday, March 18
Assemble at 1:00pm,
East of 6th Ave. on 35th–39th Streets
March at 2:00pm
WHY we are marching:
After 4 years of death and destruction in a war that should never have been launched, we are marching to say NO MORE!
We who live in the city that directly experienced the tragedy of 9/11--the tragedy that was inexcusably used by the Bush administration to justify the invasion of Iraq--have a special responsibility to let the world know that the vast majority of New Yorkers strongly oppose this war.
Contact: United for Peace and Justice for more infrormation
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
March 17 DC March on Pentagon goes forward
1) Free Speech Victory! Pentagon March Route is Now Set
2) Pro-impeachment organizations uniting for Pentagon March
3) Speakers list for the March on Pentagon
Pentagon March Route is Now Set
The Free Speech battle with the State of Virginia has been won! The attempt to obstruct the demonstration has collapsed. More than 2,000 people sent letters to the Virginia Attorney General and people everywhere expressed their outrage that Virginia would attempt to create barriers preventing demonstrators from marching to the Pentagon. This could not have happened without everyone's participation. This combined political and legal challenge, waged with the assistance of the Partnership for Civil Justice, made all the difference.
At a meeting of a new coalition of a large number of organizations that are supporting impeachment, held in New York City on Feb.17, it was decided to mobilize for the March on the Pentagon on March 17 to demand, "End the War and Impeach Bush Now!"
The coalition of organizations that have united in this effort is called Impeach07.
The March on the Pentagon speakers list includes:
- Malik Rahim, Founder of Common Ground Collective
- Cindy Sheehan, Gold Star Families for Peace
- Howard Zinn, Author, A People's History of the United States
- Ramsey Clark, Former U.S. Attorney General
- Melida and Carlos Arrendando, whose son and stepson was killed in Iraq
- Congressman John Lewis (Georgia)
- Mahdi Bray, Executive Director of Muslim American Society Freedom Foundation
- Mounzer Sleiman, TV commentator & Vice Chair, National Council of Arab American
- Leonard Weinglass, Civil Rights Attorney
- Mara Verheyden-Hilliard, National Lawyers Guild
- Jonathan W. Hutto Sr., Navy Petty Office Third Class, Co-Founder Appeal for Redress
- Liam Madden, Former Sgt. USMC, Appeal for Redress, Bellows Falls, VT
- Anita Dennis, Organizer with Courage to Resist, Military Families Speak Out member
- Helga P. Aguayo, Wife of Conscientious Objector Agustín Aguayo
- Debra Sweet, National Coordinator, World Can't Wait
- Brian Becker, National Coordinator, ANSWER Coalition
For further information contact A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition or March on Pentagon
2) Pro-impeachment organizations uniting for Pentagon March
3) Speakers list for the March on Pentagon
Pentagon March Route is Now Set
The Free Speech battle with the State of Virginia has been won! The attempt to obstruct the demonstration has collapsed. More than 2,000 people sent letters to the Virginia Attorney General and people everywhere expressed their outrage that Virginia would attempt to create barriers preventing demonstrators from marching to the Pentagon. This could not have happened without everyone's participation. This combined political and legal challenge, waged with the assistance of the Partnership for Civil Justice, made all the difference.
At a meeting of a new coalition of a large number of organizations that are supporting impeachment, held in New York City on Feb.17, it was decided to mobilize for the March on the Pentagon on March 17 to demand, "End the War and Impeach Bush Now!"
The coalition of organizations that have united in this effort is called Impeach07.
The March on the Pentagon speakers list includes:
- Malik Rahim, Founder of Common Ground Collective
- Cindy Sheehan, Gold Star Families for Peace
- Howard Zinn, Author, A People's History of the United States
- Ramsey Clark, Former U.S. Attorney General
- Melida and Carlos Arrendando, whose son and stepson was killed in Iraq
- Congressman John Lewis (Georgia)
- Mahdi Bray, Executive Director of Muslim American Society Freedom Foundation
- Mounzer Sleiman, TV commentator & Vice Chair, National Council of Arab American
- Leonard Weinglass, Civil Rights Attorney
- Mara Verheyden-Hilliard, National Lawyers Guild
- Jonathan W. Hutto Sr., Navy Petty Office Third Class, Co-Founder Appeal for Redress
- Liam Madden, Former Sgt. USMC, Appeal for Redress, Bellows Falls, VT
- Anita Dennis, Organizer with Courage to Resist, Military Families Speak Out member
- Helga P. Aguayo, Wife of Conscientious Objector Agustín Aguayo
- Debra Sweet, National Coordinator, World Can't Wait
- Brian Becker, National Coordinator, ANSWER Coalition
For further information contact A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition or March on Pentagon
What is it with Samuel L. Jackson and snakes?
What is it with Samuel L. Jackson and snakes?
Snakes on a Plane
Black Snake Moan
There must be movies without snakes.
Snakes on a Plane
Black Snake Moan
There must be movies without snakes.
Friday, February 23, 2007
ENCAMPMENT TO STOP THE WAR: Beginning March 12
ENCAMPMENT TO STOP THE WAR
Beginning March 12
(Before the March on the Pentagon on Saturday March 17)
In Washington DC
on the mall directly in front of the Capitol building (3rd st. bt. Constitution and Independence)
Send a message to Congress:
*CUT OFF ALL WAR FUNDING
*END THE WAR
*BRING THE TROOPS HOME NOW
WHY NOW? During the week beginning March 12, Congress will begin voting on Bush’s request for $100 billion more for the wars in Iraq and Afganistan. If Congress votes to cut off funds, they can end the war now and bring the troops home. If they approve Bush’s war funds, the killing, and dying and occupation will go on…it’s as simple as that. This vote will be the most important war related vote since Congress voted to authorized Bush to invade and occupy Iraq in October of 2002. The antiwar movement must be there to let Congress know that we won’t let them get away with it this time.
Right now, the Troops Out Now Coalition is working with local organizers, churches and mosques, unions, and community groups to prepare for a long-term occupation of Washington by the anti-war movement. Local organizers across the U.S. are organizing buses, vans, and car caravans.
Beginning March 12
(Before the March on the Pentagon on Saturday March 17)
In Washington DC
on the mall directly in front of the Capitol building (3rd st. bt. Constitution and Independence)
Send a message to Congress:
*CUT OFF ALL WAR FUNDING
*END THE WAR
*BRING THE TROOPS HOME NOW
WHY NOW? During the week beginning March 12, Congress will begin voting on Bush’s request for $100 billion more for the wars in Iraq and Afganistan. If Congress votes to cut off funds, they can end the war now and bring the troops home. If they approve Bush’s war funds, the killing, and dying and occupation will go on…it’s as simple as that. This vote will be the most important war related vote since Congress voted to authorized Bush to invade and occupy Iraq in October of 2002. The antiwar movement must be there to let Congress know that we won’t let them get away with it this time.
Right now, the Troops Out Now Coalition is working with local organizers, churches and mosques, unions, and community groups to prepare for a long-term occupation of Washington by the anti-war movement. Local organizers across the U.S. are organizing buses, vans, and car caravans.
Sunday, February 11, 2007
An open letter to Sens. Clinton & Edwards
One of the easiest things to do is Monday-morning quarterbacking. However, the great ones, the Hall-of-Fame quarterbacks do it on Sunday. That's what differentiates them from the rest of the pack.
I am well aware that your positions on Iraq are different. But basically they boil down to this,
"if I knew in 2002 what I know now I would not have voted to give the president the power to invade Iraq."
My question is, Why didn't you know then what you know now?
Surely we have learned more since then, but most of what we know now was available then. That's why many in and out of Congress knew enough then to raise serious questions about the snake oil the neo-con artists were selling. There was clearly enough information available to raise significant questions. Now-Sen. Obama spoke out then against the drum rolls for war and 23 of your colleagues voted against the joint resolution. Why didn't you have the same information they had?
There is no vote you can cast more important for our country and the world than the decision to go to war. In 2002 you failed us. We elected you to protect us from those who for their own reasons wanted - and continue to want - to send our young people to die and be maimed in Iraq, and perhaps soon in Iran. You failed to protect us. Why?
There was enough information available for many Americans and most people around the world to be suspicious of the direction Cheney and Bush were taking us. But you voted in lockstep with those who took us to war. We don't need mea culpas now. We need to know why you made the choice you made then. Why you ignored all the available intelligence that contradicted the neo-con artists pro-war smoke screen.
Now you want a promotion to a more important job. Since you failed at the moment of decision, why should we hire you for the job you now want? How do we know that you won't fail us again when you are making the ultimate decision no longer just one of 100 votes? The neo-con artists are promoting a new war - to take out Iran.
It's basically the same people warning us that Armageddon will ensue if we don't change the regime in Iran. Does that sound familiar?
In "From the Wonderful Folks who Brought you Iraq" in Vanity Fair, Craig Unger says:
"Once again, neocon ideologues have been flogging questionable intelligence about WMD. Once again, dubious Middle East exile groups are making the rounds in Washington, this time urging regime change in Syria and Iran. Once again, heroic new exile leaders are promising freedom.” (Also check Amy Goodman's interview with Craig Unger)
As Paul Krugman said in Monday's N .Y.Times,
"It’s still hard to believe that they’re really planning to attack Iran, when it’s so obvious that another war would be a recipe for even bigger disaster. But remember who’s calling the shots: Dick Cheney thinks we’ve had 'enormous successes' in Iraq."
To paraphrase a popular TV commercial, "Every war begins with "W."
So! What are you going to do now? Are you going to stand up against this extension of the war into Iran or are you going to fall into the same trap again?
I am well aware that your positions on Iraq are different. But basically they boil down to this,
"if I knew in 2002 what I know now I would not have voted to give the president the power to invade Iraq."
My question is, Why didn't you know then what you know now?
Surely we have learned more since then, but most of what we know now was available then. That's why many in and out of Congress knew enough then to raise serious questions about the snake oil the neo-con artists were selling. There was clearly enough information available to raise significant questions. Now-Sen. Obama spoke out then against the drum rolls for war and 23 of your colleagues voted against the joint resolution. Why didn't you have the same information they had?
There is no vote you can cast more important for our country and the world than the decision to go to war. In 2002 you failed us. We elected you to protect us from those who for their own reasons wanted - and continue to want - to send our young people to die and be maimed in Iraq, and perhaps soon in Iran. You failed to protect us. Why?
There was enough information available for many Americans and most people around the world to be suspicious of the direction Cheney and Bush were taking us. But you voted in lockstep with those who took us to war. We don't need mea culpas now. We need to know why you made the choice you made then. Why you ignored all the available intelligence that contradicted the neo-con artists pro-war smoke screen.
Now you want a promotion to a more important job. Since you failed at the moment of decision, why should we hire you for the job you now want? How do we know that you won't fail us again when you are making the ultimate decision no longer just one of 100 votes? The neo-con artists are promoting a new war - to take out Iran.
It's basically the same people warning us that Armageddon will ensue if we don't change the regime in Iran. Does that sound familiar?
In "From the Wonderful Folks who Brought you Iraq" in Vanity Fair, Craig Unger says:
"Once again, neocon ideologues have been flogging questionable intelligence about WMD. Once again, dubious Middle East exile groups are making the rounds in Washington, this time urging regime change in Syria and Iran. Once again, heroic new exile leaders are promising freedom.” (Also check Amy Goodman's interview with Craig Unger)
As Paul Krugman said in Monday's N .Y.Times,
"It’s still hard to believe that they’re really planning to attack Iran, when it’s so obvious that another war would be a recipe for even bigger disaster. But remember who’s calling the shots: Dick Cheney thinks we’ve had 'enormous successes' in Iraq."
To paraphrase a popular TV commercial, "Every war begins with "W."
So! What are you going to do now? Are you going to stand up against this extension of the war into Iran or are you going to fall into the same trap again?
Tuesday, February 06, 2007
Congressional office sit-ins to end the war
While the corporate media are focusing all their political attention on the potential Democratic and Republican candidates for 2008, other people are taking a much more active approach to ending Bush's war in Iraq:
"10 activists were arrested on orders from Senator John McCainÂ’s office today after members of the peace groups CODEPINK, Voices for Creative Nonviolence, and Veterans for Peace tried to meet with the senatorÂ’s legislative aide to discuss defunding the war."
"10 activists were arrested on orders from Senator John McCainÂ’s office today after members of the peace groups CODEPINK, Voices for Creative Nonviolence, and Veterans for Peace tried to meet with the senatorÂ’s legislative aide to discuss defunding the war."
Monday, February 05, 2007
Ralph Nader on 2008
Many people (Democrats and independents) continue to blame Ralph Nader for Bush's elevation to the presidency in 2000 and then again in 2004. This seems to me an utterly absured line of reasoning.
First of all, in 2004 Al Gore won the popular vote and then a Supreme Court coup stole it for Bush. To blame Nader is to let those with the real power, those who totally disrespected the American people, those who chose to substitute power for democracy off the hook.
Secondly, the most important thing Nader did was to bring out people (particularly young people) who otherwise would have opted to sit out both elections. It continues to seem that to stifle Nader's voice is to stifle the essense of democracy.
When Amy Goodman asked Nader Monday morning on Democracy Now whether he would run for president again in 2008, this is what he said:
"Too early to say. I think we need more voices and choices. I think the speech by former Senator Mike Gravel indicates there’s going to be a wider debate in the primaries of the Democratic Party, along with Congressman Dennis Kucinich. There are lots of people in this country urging Bill Moyers to run in the Democratic primary. He would certainly give it more depth. And I hope more independent candidates and third-party candidates run. We’ve got to break this two-party elected dictatorship that’s being measured by how much money it raises."
Then when she asked him to expound on his comment to Wolf Blitzer on Sunday that if Hillary Clinton got the Democratic nomination he would be more likely to run, he answered:
"Well, there would be more need for a broader spectrum of views by more candidates. I don't think she has the fortitude to stand up to corporate power, whether it’s ripping off Washington by corporations or the bloated military budget or corporate crime, fraud, and abuse. It has a lot of roots right in her backyard, in Wall Street, Spitzer prosecution land. I don’t think she has it. And she has this increasingly distasteful habit of pandering and flattering in her public appearances. And she panders to special interest groups that need to be given the straight truth, and she flatters people in her audience. And I think that is a sign that she thinks she’s a frontrunner and she can play cautious."
I didn't vote for Nader in 2000 or in 2004 but I'm not at all sure what I will do in 2008. The lesser of two evils argument certainly holds less and less attraction for me. As I have said before here, the lesser of two evils is still evil. And I'm tired of holding my nose when I go into the voting booth.
First of all, in 2004 Al Gore won the popular vote and then a Supreme Court coup stole it for Bush. To blame Nader is to let those with the real power, those who totally disrespected the American people, those who chose to substitute power for democracy off the hook.
Secondly, the most important thing Nader did was to bring out people (particularly young people) who otherwise would have opted to sit out both elections. It continues to seem that to stifle Nader's voice is to stifle the essense of democracy.
When Amy Goodman asked Nader Monday morning on Democracy Now whether he would run for president again in 2008, this is what he said:
"Too early to say. I think we need more voices and choices. I think the speech by former Senator Mike Gravel indicates there’s going to be a wider debate in the primaries of the Democratic Party, along with Congressman Dennis Kucinich. There are lots of people in this country urging Bill Moyers to run in the Democratic primary. He would certainly give it more depth. And I hope more independent candidates and third-party candidates run. We’ve got to break this two-party elected dictatorship that’s being measured by how much money it raises."
Then when she asked him to expound on his comment to Wolf Blitzer on Sunday that if Hillary Clinton got the Democratic nomination he would be more likely to run, he answered:
"Well, there would be more need for a broader spectrum of views by more candidates. I don't think she has the fortitude to stand up to corporate power, whether it’s ripping off Washington by corporations or the bloated military budget or corporate crime, fraud, and abuse. It has a lot of roots right in her backyard, in Wall Street, Spitzer prosecution land. I don’t think she has it. And she has this increasingly distasteful habit of pandering and flattering in her public appearances. And she panders to special interest groups that need to be given the straight truth, and she flatters people in her audience. And I think that is a sign that she thinks she’s a frontrunner and she can play cautious."
I didn't vote for Nader in 2000 or in 2004 but I'm not at all sure what I will do in 2008. The lesser of two evils argument certainly holds less and less attraction for me. As I have said before here, the lesser of two evils is still evil. And I'm tired of holding my nose when I go into the voting booth.
Tonight (Tues.): Free Leonard Peltier
Both Ann and I were involved with the Native American movement in the 1970s and 1980s - she with the National Committee of the The Native American Solidarity Committee and I was at the International Indian Treaty Council at the UN - so we believe very strongly in freedom for Native American activist Leonard Peltier, who has be a prisoner of war for far to long. (Dan)
Free Leonard Peltier! 31 Years of Injustice is too long!
Tuesday February 6; 7-9PM
at Solidarity Center
55 West 17th Street 5th Floor (5th/6th Ave)
On the 31st anniversary of the unjust extradition and arrest of AIM leader Leonard Peltier, the NYC Leonard Peltier Support Group invites you to an evening of music, history, spoken word, open mike & updates from:
Live music hosted by Wayquay-w.I. N.D. RunningmouthRadio
Legal update by Peltier's attorneys
Special guests from near & far
Live radio interviews
Donation will be collected at door
Refreshments served
www.LeonardPeltier. net
Free Leonard Peltier! 31 Years of Injustice is too long!
Tuesday February 6; 7-9PM
at Solidarity Center
55 West 17th Street 5th Floor (5th/6th Ave)
On the 31st anniversary of the unjust extradition and arrest of AIM leader Leonard Peltier, the NYC Leonard Peltier Support Group invites you to an evening of music, history, spoken word, open mike & updates from:
Live music hosted by Wayquay-w.I. N.D. RunningmouthRadio
Legal update by Peltier's attorneys
Special guests from near & far
Live radio interviews
Donation will be collected at door
Refreshments served
www.LeonardPeltier. net
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)