Bethlehem Neighbors for Peace

Friday, October 10, 2008, Witness for Peace Fall Speaking Tour + 25th Anniversary, "The Colombia Free Trade Agreement: Not Free, Not Trade, Not an Agreement" , Pastoral Center, 40 North Main Avenue (between Western & Washington), Albany. We will begin with a potluck supper at 6pm; the program is at 7pm.  Everyone is welcome. Freddy Caicedo, a compelling, human rights advocate and community organizer will provide an insider's perspective on the proposed trade deal as he travels throughout the Mid-Atlantic region with Witness for Peace.   Ben Beachy, WFP Mid-Atlantic coordinator, and a translator will accompany Freddy. The evening also celebrates the 25th anniversary year of Witness for Peace;  since 1984 dozens of Capital Region residents have traveled to Latin America with WFP and many others have supported those trips.  Returned WFP delegates and volunteers are invited to bring photos and other mementos. Caicedo has investigated the extermination of Afro-Colombians and Indigenous Colombians; worked alongside trade unionists under death threat; run a community center to remember the war's victims and chart strategies for peace; and organized with Christian base communities.  He holds a degree in economics and has taught human rights courses in public schools. Local organizers and sponsors are: the Commission on Peace and Justice (Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany);  Albany / Capital District Labor Council for Latin American Advancement (LCLAA);  Rosa House Peace Community, Troy Catholic Worker; Solidarity Committee of the Capital District and the Troy Area Labor Council.   A free will offering will help with tour expenses and support WFP organizing in the Mid-Atlantic region.

SOLIDARITY COMMITTEE-- 25th Anniversary Celebration !!!  The Solidarity Committee of the Capital District will hold its 25th anniversary celebration on Saturday, October 11.  Starting at 6 pm, the event will be held at the First Unitarian Universalist Society of Albany, 405 Washington Avenue, in downtown Albany.  There will be musical entertainment, speakers recalling exciting past Solidarity ventures and personalities, a slide show, and an open microphone.  Although this is a potluck event, beverages and sandwiches will be provided.  Bring a dish to share as well as a contribution of $25 for 25 years of Solidarity's work for a just society.    This anniversary celebration will include many longtime friends, members and supporters of the Solidarity Committee who will travel accross the nation to attend.     DO NOT MISS THIS IMPORTANT EVENT!  To purchase tickets, contact Doug Bullock (dbull@capital.net) or Larry Wittner (wittner@albany.edu), giving your name & postal address.  Tickets will be mailed to your home.  Or call John Funiciello at (518) 673-2602.   SOLIDARITY FOREVER AND EVERYWHERE! 

Saturday, October 11th, 2008, DISSIDENT FOLK & ARTS FEST at Howland Cultural Center ,  6PM - 11PM,  477 Main Street, Beacon NY 12508 845-831-4988Price: $8. The 2008 edition of the DISSIDENT FOLK & ARTS FESTIVAL, occuring annually in the Hudson Valley city of Beacon, will surely be the best yet. Hey, this is the year we need to mobilize people to get out and vote...as well as the year in which we prepare for the end of the Bush-Cheney criminal syndicate. Expect some great things to happen among the musicians, poets, performance artists and guest speakers. Currently performers will include noted protest singer BEV GRANT and her group THE DISSIDENT DAUGHTERS, THE FLAMES OF DISCONTENT in collaboration with Revolutionary Dramatist MICHAEL STRONG offering a TRIBUTE TO BERTOLT BRECHT (performing militant anti-fascist songs and poetry from the 1920s and 30s for which Brecht collaborated with composers HANNS EISLER and KURT WEILL), musician/activist CHRIS RUHE & vocalist ALVIN BELL in a set of Freedom Songs of the Civil Rights Movement, improvisational theatre troupe THE HUDSON RIVER PLAYBACK THEATRE, folk expansionists HOPE MACHINE, Mexican revolutionary musician ZENOTE SOMPANTLE, radical poets ROBERT MILBY, SANA SHABAZZ, ADDISON GOODSON and LAWRENCE SOHNEL, Hip-Hop poet OL SOUL, and more. Plus special guest speakers include JOHN CONNOR of the Pennsylvania-based Grassroots Coalition for Environmental and Economic Justice, TRACY GIVENS of the Dutchess County for Obama organization and a representative from the Industrial Workers of the World. We will be closing the show with a song-circle tribute to labor and folk music legend Utah Phillips who recently passed away. Let's kick-off the last days of the White House-corporate criminal conspiracy in style!

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Contingency Plan in Case of Overt Attack by US or Israel on Iran
 
  At the request of NEPAJAC, Women Against War's Iran Project has developed a contingency plan for a community-wide protest demonstration in the case of an overt attack by the US or Israel against Iran. Please share this plan immediately with your organization' s members and save it to send out again with a specific date if an attack occurs.

    *       When there is a news report (any time before 7 PM of that day) of an overt military attack by the US or Israel against Iran, the protest demonstration will occur on the following day. E.g., a news report before 7 PM on a Tues will trigger a demonstration on a Wed; a news report after 7 PM on a Tues or before 7 PM on a Wed will trigger a demonstration on Thurs.
    *       Demonstration at Wolf Road & Central Ave. from 5-6:30 PM.
    *      Dress all in black if you can.
    *      Bring a large print sign.
    *      Bring pots and spoons to bang and other noise makers.

   We have focused this demonstration on overt action because the US is already engaged in covert actions against Iran. A permit will not be required for this sidewalk demonstration, and we will ensure there is a plan to notify the media. We will bring our Iran banners, photos and a new banner urging calls to Congress. If a US blockade situation is developing, we will consult with other NEPAJAC members about an appropriate trigger for a response. Let's all keep working hard to prevent this demonstration from ever needing to happen! If anyone has questions, please contact Maud Easter, easter@nycap. rr.com.

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