Past Events 2008

Past Events 2008:

BNP Monthly Meeting…BNP Store Clearance Sale…Food Pantry Fund Raiser.. .Social Gathering
Thursday, December 18, 7:00 -9:00 pm
Bethlehem Town Hall
445 Delaware Ave, Delmar Come discuss, plan, eat, socialize! We will have a short meeting at 7:00, and then from 7:30 – 9:00pm, a chance to socialize, and browse at the BNP store. This will be a pot luck event: snacks, desserts and non-alcohol beverages.

After 5 years of BNP selling peace paraphernalia across the state, we’ve decided it is time for a holiday sale and clearance. The sale will include many historic buttons, books, shirts, and stickers as well as newer items. This is your chance to stock up on peace paraphernalia before the holidays! We will donate profits on all clearance items to the local food pantries.

Stop the War! Change the World! What is next for the peace movement locally and globally? Help create our upcoming events and actions. So, bring a snack to share and join us for an evening of fun. Information 439-1968

Solidarity Committee- Film: “What Would Jesus Buy?”
Saturday, December 20, 7:30 pm
First Unitarian Universalist Society of Albany
405 Washington Avenue (across the street from the downtown SUNY campus)

The Solidarity Committee of the Capital District continues its 2008-2009 film series with a screening of “What Would Jesus Buy?” (2007, 91 minutes). This comic documentary follows the Reverend Billy and the Church of Stop Shopping Gospel Choir as they go on a cross-country mission to save Christmas from the Shopocalypse: the destruction of the world through consumerism and the fires of eternal debt! Engaging in retail interventions, corporate exorcisms, and good old-fashioned preaching, the Reverend Billy takes us into the heart of America—exorcising the demons at the Wal-Mart headquarters, seizing the center stage at the Mall of America, and heading to the Promised Land (Disneyland). Don’t miss this hilarious critique of corporate culture and globalization! The film-showing—-cosponsored by Bethlehem Neighbors for Peace and Upper Hudson Peace Action—-will take place at the First Unitarian Universalist Society of Albany, located at 405 Washington Avenue (across the street from the downtown SUNY campus). Admission is free. Refreshments will be served. Everyone is welcome. More information: 466-1192

 

Peaceful Economic Conversion
Thursday, December 4, 7:00 – 8:30 PM
Bethlehem Public Library
451 Delaware Ave., Delmar NY 12054

Tom Ellis, a local activist and educator, will talk with us about the potential for a Peaceful Economic Conversion of the US economy. He will describe efforts that were made in the past to initiate it, and the benefits of replacing military industries with civilian ones. This will be a very interesting and encouraging presentation. Contact: 466-1192 for further information.

 

THE ISRAEL-PALESTINE CONFLICT: A TURNING POINT
Saturday, November 22, 3:00 p.m.
Bethlehem Public Library
451 Delaware Ave., Delmar NY 12054

With new leadership in the United States, Israel and Palestine, what will be the new challenges and opportunities for achieving peace? GAITH AL-OMARI, “Palestinian Perspectives on the Israel-Palestine Conflict” and DIANE BALSER, “The Israel-Palestine Conflict, American Politics and American Jews”. Presented by Brit Tzedek v’Shalom & Bethlehem Neighbors for Peace.

DIANE BALSER is Executive Director of Brit Tzedek v’Shalom. She has been active in Middle East peace and women’s issues, and has been instrumental in developing strong ties between Brit and U.S. public policy leaders. She has consulted for Hadassah and the Israeli Women’s Network. Balser earned her Ph.D. at Brandeis, and teaches in the Women’s Studies Department at Boston University.

GHAITH AL-OMARI is Policy Director of the American Task Force for Palestine and Senior Fellow at the New American Foundation. He was advisor to Arafat and Abbas, participated in the Camp David and Taba negotiation, and was the lead drafter for the Palestinians of the Geneva Initiative. A graduate of Georgetown and Oxford, he taught international law in Jordan and was active in human rights advocacy there.

Admission free: donation appreciated

Solidarity Committee- Film: “No Logo”
Saturday, November 22, 7:30 pm
First Unitarian Universalist Society of Albany
405 Washington Avenue (across the street from the downtown SUNY campus)

The Solidarity Committee continues its 2008-2009 film series with a showing of “No Logo” (2003, 40 minutes). “No Logo, based on the best-selling book by Canadian journalist and activist Naomi Klein, reveals the reasons behind the backlash against the increasing economic and cultural reach of multinational companies. Analyzing how brands like Nike,The Gap, and Tommy Hilfiger became revered symbols worldwide, Klein argues that globalization is a process whereby corporations discovered that profits lay not in making products (outsourced to low-wage workers in developing countries), but in creating branded identities people adopt in their lifestyles.” An additional short film, TBA, may also be shown. The film-showing—cosponsored by Bethlehem Neighbors for Peace and Upper Hudson Peace Action—will take place at a new location: the First Unitarian Universalist Society of Albany, located at 405 Washington Avenue (across the street from the downtown SUNY campus). More information: 466-1192

Election Forum and Discussion
Thursday, November 6, 7:00 – 8:45 pm
Bethlehem Town Hall, Rm. 107 (PLEASE NOTE THE CHANGE IN LOCATION OF THIS EVENT)
445 Delaware Ave, Delmar , Delmar

Wewill have a discussion of the election results, the economicsituation, the peace movement, and the future of ourcountry. Was the vote counted accurately?… What is the make up of the newly elected House and senate? …How will the candidates just elected deal with the followingissues: war in Iraq and Afghanistan, health care, the bailout,rising unemployment, climate change, peak oil, loss of civilliberties?…
There will be an open mic session at the end ofthe discussion. Bring your poetry, songs, and your ideas forfuture organizing. Should we organize to go to Washington for theinauguration? Do we need to have a local march to focus onthe need to bring all of our troops home now? Have our pasttactics been effective and how do we need to change to be moreeffective with the new administration? How can we best promotepeace in the coming months? How will the current economicsituation affect our organizing and what should our priorities benow? Join us in this important discussion. See youthere. More information 466-1192.

 

Camilo Mejía: The Private Rebellion of a Staff Sergeant
Tuesday, October 28, 7:00 pm
Sanctuary for Independent Media
3361 6th Avenue, Troy NY

After serving in the Army for nearly nine years, Staff Sergeant Camilo Mejía was the first known Iraq veteran to refuse to fight when he applied for discharge from the army as a conscientious objector, citing moral concerns about the war and occupation. The principled stand described in his memoir, “Road From ar Ramadi: The Private Rebellion of Staff Sargeant Camilo Mejia” (just published on Haymarket Books), helped rally the growing opposition and embolden other soldiers. He was eventually convicted of desertion by a military court and sentenced to a year in prison, prompting Amnesty International to declare him a prisoner of conscience. BNP is co-sponsoring this film with the Sanctuary for Independent Media. More information: 466-1192

 

 

CONFERENCE – How To Prevent War On Iran AND On The U.S. Constitution

Saturday, October 18, 2008
9:00 am (sharp) to 5:00 pm
Berkshire Community College
Directions to Berkshire Community College
Susan B. Anthony Building, Pittsfield, MA

Featured Speakers: Scott Ritter, Joseph Gerson, Brian Corr and Joe Lombardo. Ritter was a chief UN weapons inspector who correctly predicted there would be no weapons of mass destruction found in Iraq. In both August and September he will travel to Iran. On another occasion before the conference, he will meet with several Nobel Peace Prize winners on the subject of avoiding war with Iran, a topic on which he has written a book, Target Iran. He has also written: Waging Peace – The Art of War for the Antiwar Movement, a fascinating and challenging account of how techniques used by the military can instead be used in the pursuit of peace. Gerson is Program Director for the American Friends Service Committee in Cambridge, MA. He has written numerous books on global affairs and has traveled widely in the Middle East and elsewhere. He is familiar with Ritter’s sentiments and likewise aspires to the goals of warding off war with Iran and creating a more effective peace movement able to induce our government to abide by the Constitution, honor the truth and serve the people. However, his many years of experience working with AFSC have led him to somewhat different views on strategies and tactics from those of Ritter. For More Information: Contact George Desnoyers: Tel. 413-443-4298 e-mail: [email protected] Sponsored by Global Issues Resource Organization (GIRO) of BCC, Berkshire Citizens for Peace and Justice, Bethlehem Neighbors for Peace. Registration from 8:30 am – 9: 00 am. Admission: $10.00, Seniors $8.00, Students $5.00

Solidarity Committee- Film: “Hacking Democracy”
Saturday, October 18, 7:30 pm
First Unitarian Universalist Society of Albany
405 Washington Avenue (across the street from the downtown SUNY campus)

The Solidarity Committee continues its 2008-2009 film series with a showing of “Hacking Democracy” (2007, 81 minutes). This HBO documentary provides a modern-day David and Goliath story—a tenacious grandmother from Seattle and a band of citizen-activists who take on the voting machine corporations and government officials who subvert democracy at the polls. Examining the record in recent elections, “Hacking Democracy” uncovers incendiary evidence from the trash cans of Texas to the ballot boxes of Ohio, thereby exposing secrecy, votes in the trash, hackable software, and election fraud. As Americans prepare to cast their ballots once again this November, it provides a timely reminder of the fragility of democracy. The film-showing—cosponsored by Bethlehem Neighbors for Peace and Upper Hudson Peace Action—will take place at a new location: the First Unitarian Universalist Society of Albany, located at 405 Washington Avenue (across the street from the downtown SUNY campus). More information: 466-1192 Although we initially planned for the film screening to start at 7:00 PM, an article in “Solidarity Notes” reported it as beginning at 7:30 PM. Therefore, we have revised this notice to indicate a starting time of 7:30 PM.

 

BNP Film Night: Commander ‘N Thief
Thursday, October 2, 6: 45- 8:45 pm
Bethlehem Public Library
451 Delaware Ave, Delmar

Greg Palast, introduces the documentary and also provides staggering information in the body of the film about the RNC’s purposeful and targeted strategies for disenfranchising millions of minority voters across the United States, including African-American soldiers serving in Iraq.
The outcome of the election is that the wrong candidate was sworn in as President of the United States. The evidence presented in this documentary, “Commander ‘N Thief,” should be seen as a warning that our democracy is now in peril and that ordinary citizens must act quickly and forcefully to restore honesty, transparency and verifiability to the
American electoral system. More information 466-1192.

Calling All Veterans!
Friday, October 3, 7-9pm
Friends Meeting House
727 Madison Avenue, Albany

 

Please join us for a meeting of veterans and veteran supporters who are interested in coming together to discuss forming a local veterans support network and a Capital District chapter of Iraq Veterans Against the War (IVAW). Adrienne Kinne, member of the IVAW Board of Directors, will join our meeting to help us understand how to go about forming an IVAW chapter in Albany and tell us more about the benefits of doing so. At this meeting we’ll also discuss the possibility of holding a public forum for all veterans, to help educate veterans about the benefits due to them as a result of their service. Come one, come all–and invite your friends. It’s time for veterans in the Capital District to unite! For more information call Jason or Elaine, 518-439-8262.

NEPAJAC Planning Meeting
Sunday, October 5, 3 – 5 pm
Albany Public Library, 2nd Floor Conference Room
161 Washington Avenue, NY

 

North East Peace and Justice Action Coalition (NEPAJAC) planning meeting. This will be a gathering of several regional peace and justice organizations to plan future peace and justice in the Capital Region. We will discuss: the October 11 Stop the Wars events, organizing of a local IVAw chapter, the upcoming conference at Berkshire Community College, events planned for after the elections, the No Bush Bailout event(s) and more. Join us. Information call Joe at : 439-1968.

 

Film “Body of War” and presentation by media activist Dee Dee Halleck
Friday, September 12, 7:00 pm
Sanctuary for Independent Media
3361 6th Avenue, Troy NY

Body of War is an intimate and transformational feature documentary about the true face of war today. Meet Tomas Young, 25 years old, paralyzed from a bullet to his spine – wounded after serving in Iraq for less than a week. Body of War is Tomas’ coming home story as he evolves into a new person, coming to terms with his disability and finding his own unique and passionate voice against the war. The film is produced and directed by Phil Donahue and Ellen Spiro, and features two original songs by Eddie Vedder. Body of War is a naked and honest portrayal of what it’s like inside the body, heart and soul of this extraordinary and heroic young man.Legendary community media activist Dee Dee Halleck, who played a major role in bringing this story to film, will speak after the screening. BNP is co-sponsoring this film with the Sanctuary for Independent Media. More information: 466-1192

 

BNP Film Night: In Debt We Trust -America Before the Bubble Bursts
Thursday, September 4, 6: 45- 8:45 pm
Bethlehem Public Library
451 Delaware Ave, Delmar

Film presentation of: “In Debt We Trust” ( 98 minutes), directed by Danny Schechter. “The money we owe and the bill that’s coming due”. The film explores the extent of credit card debt, and the methods the credit card companies use to encourage an increasing debt load by everyone from students to the elderly. This film also takes an in depth look at the connection between Congress, President Bush and the credit card industry. Join us. More information 466-1192.

4th Anniversary Commemoration of the Arrests of YASSIN AREF & MOHAMMED HOSSAIN

Friday August 22, 2008 from 4:30-6pm
March from Masjid As-Salam Mosque, 276 Central Ave., to Washington Avenue Armory followed by a vigil at the Armory.

The Muslim Solidarity Committee invites you to join us for this march and vigil remembering the arrests of these two Muslim men from our community after a long and costly “sting operation” waged by the Albany Field Office of the FBI.

One of the important visual effects of the march is the show of solidarity by diverse community organizations that work for peace and justice. We hope that you will carry a sign or banner proudly displaying the name of your organization (we have the sign made for your organization from last year). If you want to support this effort but can’t send a representative on August 22nd, would you be willing to have someone else carry the sign with the name of your group? This would help us to visually demonstrate the wide range of community support for our Muslim neighbors.

MUSLIM INNOCENCE PROJECT CONFERENCE
Saturday, August 23,
1-5 PM, ALBANY , NY ,ALBANY LAW SCHOOL, Matthew Bender Room.

LYNNE STEWART will speak about her experiences as an attorney and then a defendant unfairly charged and convicted for standing up for her client in the proudest legal tradition. SEAN MAHAR, Attorney for SYED HASHMI and ABU YOUSEF, Cleric, will speak about that case. www.freefahad.com KATHERINE HUGHES, Writer, will speak about the case of DR. RAFIL DHAFIR. www.dhafirtrial.net STEPHEN DOWNS, One of the attorneys for YASSIN AREF, and DR. SHAMSHAD AHMAD, President of the Masjid As-Salam Mosque, will speak about the AREF/HOSSAIN case. www.yassinaref.com and www.nepajac.org/Aref&Hossain.htm

After these presentations, we will have workshops on how to identify these cases and put together a nationwide database; how to reach out to the public, the media and other groups; and generally how to move forward from here. For more information, e-mail Kathy Manley at [email protected]

Nurturing Peace: The 10th Anniversary, Kateri Tekakwitha Peace Conference
Friday & Saturday, August 15 & 16, 2008
National Kateri Tekakwitha Shrine, Route 5, Fonda, NY

The 10th Anniversary, Kateri Tekakwitha Peace Conference. Featuring: Bishop Thomas Gumbleton, Fr. Roy Bourgeois, M.M. Colonel (ret.) Ann Wright. Workshops, Music, Lunch and more. National Kateri Tekakwitha Shrine, Route 5, Fonda, NY For complete conference information see www.kateripeaceconference.org Cost: Friday Evening, August 15th, 2008 Free Will Offering; Saturday, August 16th, 2008, Students and Seniors $10.00, Adults – $15.00 through $40.00. High School students free.

 

Col. (ret.) Ann Wright, author of Dissent: Voices of Conscience
Tuesday, August 12, 7:00 – 9:00 pm
Albany Public Library
161 Washington Avenue, NY

Ann Wright will speak at the Albany Public Library while she is in the Capital Region for the Kateri Tekakwitha Peace Conference. Ann Wright’s new book, Dissent: Voices of Conscience, profiles of those in government and active-duty military who have spoken out, leaked documents, resigned, or refused to deploy to protest the war in Iraq. The American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression named Dissent their book of the month for February 2008. Daniel Ellsberg wrote the foreword. “This … illuminating and remarkably impressive … book should be leaked into the government. … This book could awaken … officials to withdraw their complicity and … tell the truth to [the public]. This country will not escape further human, legal, and moral catastrophes, or preserve itself as a democratic, constitutional republic, if that does not happen. If you’re at all like me, you will have a whole set of new heroes when you finish reading this. …Dissent: Voices of Conscience could change your life.” — from the Foreword, by Daniel Ellsberg. Please see www.voicesofconscience.com for further information. BNP contact: 466-1192..

Reading of John Hersey’s “Hiroshima”
Wednesday, August 6, 2008, 11:00 – 3:00 pm
West Capital Park Park (S. Swan Street steps), Albany, NY

On August 6, 1945 the United States of America used the atomic bomb for the first time on the city of Hiroshima, Japan, destroying the city; on August 9, the United States used the atomic bomb again on Nagasaki, Japan. Over 200,000 people died immediately in the two bombings and over a hundred thousand more died in the following decades as a result of the effects of the radiation.
To remember those bombings and to commemorate the victims, local citizens will be gathering to read John Hersey’s Hiroshima. Seating will be on the grass, folding chairs or blankets are suggested. The event is free and open to the public. Those interested in reading can sign up to participate when they arrive, or by calling Dan Wilcox, 482-0262, [email protected].
Hiroshima was first published in the New Yorker in 1946; it tells the story of the bombing on August 6, 1945 by following the story of six of the survivors. The book version has been in print since 1946.

John Amidon: The Middle East and a Closer Look at Hezbollah and Hamas
Thursday, August 7, 7:00 -8:30 pm
Bethlehem Public Library
451 Delaware Ave, Delmar

From May 14- 27, 2008, John was part of the U.S. Academics For Peace Delegation which visited, Amman, Jordan, Damascus, Syria and Beirut, Lebanon meeting with academics, religious leaders and representatives of both Hezbollah and Hamas. Getting past the rhetoric and misinformation in the American press will help us understand and give an expanded insight into the Midldle East and the roles played by Hezbollah and Hamas. A slide presentation will accompany this session along with questions and answers.
John Amidon is a member of Veterans For Peace and has worked dilgently to close the School of the Americas, keep JROTC out of Albany Public Schools, to oppose torture and for impeachment of the criminal regime in Washington, D.C. In September of 2005, John traveled with Academics For Peace to Iran and Syria meeting with former Iranian President Mohammad Khatami and Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad. This winter (2008) John spent as interim coordinator for the Nevada Desert Experience working to abolish nuclear weapons and for environmental justice. In May of 2008 , John returned to the Middle East as a member of U.S. Acadmeics For Peace Delegation meeting with academics, religious leaders and representatives of Hezoballah and Hamas. He has served on the National Board of Directors of Veterans For Peace and on the Board of the Interfaith Alliance of NYS. John is also the founder of the Kateri Tekakwitha Peace Conference. Information 466-1192

Welcome Picnic for Iraqi Refugees
Saturday, July 19, 1:30 – 5:30 (rain or shine!)
Islamic Center of the Capital District,
21 Lansing Rd. N., Schenectady, 12204
(off Central Ave., just past Ethan Allen on the right, going west)

Pleasejoin the Iraqi Refugee Support Committee for Bethlehem Neighbors forPeace, Women’s Association for Family Affairs, and Women AgainstWar in welcoming Iraqi refugees to the Capital District. Approximately one dozen Iraqi families have been re-settled in theAlbany area in the past 6-8 months, and many new families will bearriving shortly. We hope you will join us in welcoming them toour community. The gathering will be hosted by the Islamic Centerof the Capital District. Our generous hosts will provide picnicfoods. You may bring a dish or dessert to share if youwish. We will break bread with our new Iraqi neighbors andprovide them with dictionaries and other items to help ease theirtransition into life in Albany.

This event is free and open toall members of the peace community. You will have the opportunityto make a tax deductible donation to support the Iraqi families as theybegin new lives, as well as the Iraqi student who will be studying atUnion College as part of the Iraqi Student Project(www.iraqistudentproject.org)

If you cannot attend, checks forsupport of the refugee families can be made out to the Islamic Centerof the Capital District, memo line: “ Iraqi RefugeeProject”, and mailed to ICCDNY, 21 Lansing Rd. N., Schenectady,12204. To contribute to the Iraqi student at Union College,please make your check out to Union College, memo line:“Restricted to account #45841”, and mail to Records, Attn:Kathleen D. McCann, Union College Schenectady, NY 12308. Donations to the Union fund can also be made online:http://www.union.edu/Alumni and follow the instructions. Please includethe memo: “Restricted to account #45841”

For more information contact: Carole Ferraro, 518.463.0095, [email protected] or Elaine Hills, 518.439.8262.

3rd Annual Picnic for Peace, Grafton State Park
Sunday, July 13, 9:00 AM till Dusk
Grafton State Park, Grafton MY

Entertainment will include Mother Mcrees, with singer Laura Baboulis at 2:00 pm! We have reserved Rabbit Run Pavillion near the water at Grafton State Park, Grafton NY again this year to have a restful day for the Peace and Justice Community. Come one, come all, bring friends and family,…all ages welcome. Bring a dish to share, your bathing suit, hiking shoes, kayaks, canoes and plan to enjoy the beautiful park, lake and each other. Musicians, poets, all talents welcome! More to come but for now mark your calendar and pass it on! We will also have another Peace award!
Please bring your own place setting and plan to take home any recyclables that you bring to the picnic. We would like to try to have as little garbage as possible and limit that to compostable food waste.We would like to make this a carry in, carry out event so that we can add sustainability to our theme. Thanks for your efforts to help us achieve this goal. See the Stop Trashing the Climate website, which “provides compelling evidence that preventing waste and expanding reuse, recycling, and composting programs — that is, aiming for zero waste — is one of the fastest, cheapest, and most effective strategies available for combating climate change. ”

4th and Fireworks Festival
Friday, July 4, Noon – 10:00 pm
Empire State Plaza
Albany

Bethlehem Neighbors for Peace will have a booth and will be selling our usual assortment of t-shirts, books, bumper stickers and buttons. NEPAJAC will be leafleting on issues such as : Ending the War on Iraq, No war with Iran, Climate Change, Single Payer Health Care and more. Wendy Dwyer will be selling END THE WAR! yard signs. We invite Capital Region groups that advocate for Peace and Justice, to join us and are hoping there will be some street theater. This is an event that draws 20,000 or more people. Let’s all be there to remind them that: War is Not the Answer!! Information: 391-2830.

 

BNP Film Night: Orwell Rolls in His Grave
Thursday, July 3, 6: 45- 8:45 pm
Bethlehem Public Library
451 Delaware Ave, Delmar

Film presentation of: Orwell Rolls in His Grave. ( 103 minutes) From BBC: “If Fahrenheit 9/11 lit a match under the Bush administration, this homemade documentary about the manipulation of the media by America’s ruling elites solemnly stokes the resulting flames of angry discontent. Filmmaker Robert Kane Pappas’s long-winded yet terrifyingly bleak Orwell Rolls In His Grave argues that the mainstream American media are no longer the voice of American freedom. Instead, they’re part of a repressive political power structure that has uncanny parallels with the dystopian world of George Orwell’s novel 1984… Exploding the myth of the American media’s liberal bias, the film asks tough questions: why, in March 2003, did 51% of Americans believe that Saddam Hussein was personally responsible for 9/11? Why did CBS hurriedly drop a BBC-led story about electoral irregularities in Florida after the subject of the allegations – Governor Jeb Bush – denied it was true?…” Join us. More information 391-2830.

NEPAJAC : Summer Peace Events Planning Meeting
Monday, June 30, 6:30 -8:30 pm
Albany Public Library
161 Washington Avenue, NY

North East Peace and Justice Action Coalition Meeting: What’s Next and how can we build on the success of our March 22 Walk for Peace and the Conference? One of the greatest strengths of our recent events has been that members of the many peace and justice organizations in the Capital Region, worked together to create these events. Join us as we discuss what we would like to do next to STOP THE WAR!! Join us. More information 391-2830.

 

June 21 -22, Clearwater Festival: Great Hudson River Revival. Bethlehem Neighbors for Peace will be tabling again this year at the Clearwater Festival at Croton-on-Hudson.

This is a wonderful event that brings together people all over the Northeast. The events is packed with wonderful music, awesome food, art, crafts and a variety of activists. The list of vendors, exhibitors and activists is impressive and includes: Climate Crisis Coalition, Combatants for Peace, Green Peas ( local food advocates), Iraq Veterans Against the War , Health Care Education Project ( advocating for universal healthcare), NY Green Fest, Veterans for Peace and many more. If you would be willing to help staff our BNP table for a couple of hours during the weekend, while you are visiting Clearwater, please send an email to Trudy: [email protected] More information 391-2830.

 

 

Cost of War Project

Monday, June 9, 5:00 – 6:00 pm
Bethlehem Vigil
Four Corners Intersection of Kenwood and Delaware Avenues, Delmar

TheAmerican Friends Services Committee Cost of War Banners will be at theBethlehem Neighbors for Peace vigil on June 9. Bring your sign oruse one of ours. Stay for a few minutes or an hour. Let’s stand together for peace. 391-2830 for furtherinformation.

 

 

 

 

Iran and The Threat of War: Speaker- Leila Zand, Iran Program Director for the Fellowship of Reconciliation & Film- “Bam 6.6 Humanity Doesn’t Have Borders”

Thursday, June 5, 6: 45- 8:45 pm
Bethlehem Public Library
451 Delaware Ave, Delmar

Film Showing: “Bam 6.6 Humanity Doesn’t Have Borders”which explores the humanity of the Iranian people through the prism of the devastating 2003 earthquake that struck at the heart of Bam, an ancient Iranian village. After the film, Leila Zand, Iran Program Director for the Fellowship Of Reconciliation, will speak about the threat of war with Iran. For more information: 518-439-1968

 

 

 

Filmmaker Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy
Friday, June 6, 7:00 pm
Sanctuary for Independent Media
3361 6th Avenue, Troy NY

Sharmeen Obaid-Chenoy will discuss her more recent projects and show her new film “The Lost Generation” (2008)” . At 27 she is the youngest ever nominee for the Broadcast Journalist of the Year Award. Five of Obaid-Chinoy’s films concern her native Pakistan, but she has also made documentaries about women in Saudi Arabia, Native American women in Canada, illegal abortions in the Philippines, Muslims in Sweden and the ill-treatment of Zimbabwean migrants in South Africa. Her portfolio is a global tour of gender oppression and social injustice.” Excerpt from the Guardian, June 4, 2007 The photo is from “The Lost Generation” (2008)” Co-sponsored by Bethlehem Neighbors for Peace and the Sanctuary for Independent Media. More information: 439-8262

10th Annual May Day Celebration
Thursday, May 1, 5:00 – 9:00 pm
Prospect Park, Congress St. (Route 2) just east of Troy
Troy, NY
blic Library
451 Delaware Ave, Delmar

The 10th Annual Capital District May Day Celebration of International Workers Day. This year’s theme is “Single Payer Heath Care.” Among the speakers are: Martha Livingston, Ph.D., Associate Professor at SUNY Old Westbury who gives courses on US healthcare and comparative healthcare systems, and has lectured widely on healthcare reform; and Dr. Andy Coates, Secretary of the local chapter of Physicians for a National Health Program (PNHP), member of the national board of PNHP and a local activist for peace and healthcare reform. Other speakers and entertainment to be announced; in addition there will be short video screenings and tabling by local organizations. The event is free & open to the public; refreshments will be available. TheHudson-Mohawk May Day Committee includes members from the Troy Area Labor Council, Solidarity Committee of the Capital District, The Eighth Step, New York Labor History Association, the Albany Chapter of United University Professors, Bethlehem Neighbors for Peace, the Upstate New York International Workers of the World, area labor unions and other activists. The Committee has planned educational and entertaining events on Labor history and current social justice issues held on May 1 throughout the Capital District for the last ten years. May Day is the International Workers’ Holiday celebrated in most industrial countries in the world. It began in the United States in the 19th Century, growing out of the struggle for the 8- hour work day and the Chicago Haymarket Massacre in 1886. For more information about the May Day 2008 Celebration contact Dan Wilcox, 518-482-0262, email: [email protected]; or Art Fleischner, 518- 273-2759, email: [email protected] or go to the Hudson-Mohawk May Day Committee website.

Film Night: Mother Jones: American’s Most Dangerous Woman & Made in LA
Thursday, May 1 , 7:00 -9:00 pm
Bethlehem Public Library
451 Delaware Ave, Delmar

Mother Jones: America’s Most Dangerous Woman (2007, 24 minutes) is a documentary about Mary Harris Jones, an amazing labor organizer of the early 1900’s . The documentary shows how Mother Jones’ organizing career influenced the history of early 20th century United States. Quote from Mother Jones: “I asked a man in prison once how he happened to be there, and he said he had stolen a loaf of bread. I told him if he had stolen a railroad, he’d be a U.S. Senator.” Made in L.A. (2007, 70 minutes) jumps forward a century to follow the remarkable story of three Latina immigrants working in Los Angeles garment sweatshops as they embark on a three-year odyssey to win basic labor rights from a trendy clothing retailer. Variety called it “a rousing true story of solidarity, perseverance, and triumph.” In recognition of May Day, the International Workers’ Holiday. A discussion will follow the films. More information 391-2830.

 

NEPAJAC : Peace and Sustainability Conference Highlights & Review
Monday, April 28 , 7:00 -8:45 pm
Albany Public Library, 1st Floor Auditorium
161 Washington Avenue, NY

NEPAJAC Meeting. If you missed the conference and would like to find out more about it and enjoy some of the highlights, or if you did attend and would like to discuss and provide feedback, please join us. Steve Wickham will review his Modern Day Pamphleteering workshop and talk with us about the carbon offset that we have purchased. We may have time to watch the 15 minute video that was highly acclaimed by attendees of the Sanctuary for Independent media workshop. Hopefully people who took photos or recorded events will have some of these recordings to share as well. We will take some time to review what went well at the conference and how we could improve. The final topic of our meeting will be: What’s Next and how can we build on the success of our March 22 Walk for Peace and the Conference? One of the greatest strengths of the event was that members of most of the peace and justice organizations in the Capital Region worked together to create a conference that covered a variety of issues and gave the participants options. Join us as we discuss what we would like to do next to STOP THE WAR!! ( Photo shown was taken at the April 12 Conference of Cindy Sheehan, Jason Peterson, Veteran for Peace, and members of the Iraq Veterans Against the War, attending the conference.) More information 391-2830.

Food Not Bombs co-founder Keith McHenry
Thursday, April 17 , 7:30 pm
Humanities Building, Rm. 132
SUNY Albany

Food Not Bombs co-founder Keith McHenry will give a presentation about the history of the movement and the many things it has accomplished around the world. He will show a dvd about his work in Africa and talk about how to start a Food Not Bombs group. Keith has spent over 500 days in jail for feeding the hungry. Amnesty International declared him a “Prisoner of Conscience” and worked for his unconditional release. Today Food Not Bombs is a global movement sharing vegetarian food with the hungry and working for peace and social justice. Keith has visited Food Not Bombs groups in Europe, Asia, Africa, the Americas, Australia and the Middle East and will share his experiences of cooking and feeding the hungry. BNP is a co-sponsor.

 

Reading from the anthology “Post Traumatic Press 2007: poems
by veterans”
Thursday, April 3, 6:45 – 8:45 pm
Bethlehem Public Library
451 Delaware Ave, Delmar

BethlehemNeighbors for Peace, Veterans For Peace & Post Traumatic Presspresents a reading from the anthology “Post Traumatic Press 2007: poemsby veterans”, edited by Dayl Wise. The featured readers will include Dayl Wise, Jim Murphy and Dan Wilcox. “Post TraumaticPress 2007: poems by veterans” was put together to tell the stories ofveterans with direct experience of the military. For some,the intense experience of war can only be expressed in poetry, whileothers are driven by the need to say something openly political. Thecontributors includes veterans from World War II, the Cold War,
KoreanWar, Vietnam War, peace time and the current wars in Iraq andAfghanistan. Copies of the anthology will be available andproceeds supports Veterans For Peace. This event free and open tothe public and will include an open mic for community poets. For more information, call 391-2830.

Planning Meeting for Upcoming 5th Anniversary events in Capital Region

Thursday, March 20, 7:00 pm
Unitarian Universalist Society
405 Washington Ave, Albany, downstairs, Room B3-B4

 

 

5th Anniversary March Against the War: Remembering the Fallen
Saturday, March 22,1:30 pm
March to begin at West Capital Park
Albany
This march for peace highlighted the following demands:

1. Support the Troops, Bring Them Home Now
2. Reparations for the Iraqi People
3. Money for Jobs, Health Care, Education, Community Needs, Not Occupation
4. Full Benefits for Returning Veterans
5. Restore Constitutional Government
6. Stop the Torture
7. No War with Iran

Endorsed by: Students Peace Action Network, Students for Workers Rights, Woman Against War, Veterans for Peace, Interfaith Alliance for Peace, First Unitarian Universalist Society of America in Albany, Bethlehem Neighbors for Peace and more. Sponsored by Northeast Peace and Justice Action Coalition (NEPAJAC). More Information: 518 439-1968 or 518 391-2830

 

Film and Discussion: In the Valley of Elah
Sunday, March 16, 5:30 – 8:00 pm
Bethlehem Town Hall
455 Delaware Ave, Delmar

In the Valley of Elah (100 minutes) is a film about veterans returning from Iraq. The story is based on actual events and reveals the real price that our veterans pay for giving up a piece of their humanity to the war machine. Following the film will be a discussion . Phyllis Alberici of the New York State Defenders Association will discuss the legal issues common to many Iraq veterans. Cost: Free More Information: 391-2830

 

Film and Discussion: Maxed Out
Thursday, March 6, 6:30 – 8:30 pm
Bethlehem Public Library
451 Delaware Ave, Delmar
Maxed Out ( 87 minutes, January 2006) takes viewers on a journey deep inside the American style of debt, where things seem fine as long as the minimum monthly payment arrives on time. With coverage that spans from small American towns all the way to the White House, the film shows how the modern financial industry really works, explains the true definition of “preferred customer” and tells us why the poor are getting poorer while the rich keep getting richer. Hilarious, shocking and incisive, Maxed Out paints a picture of a national nightmare which is all too real for most of us. Speaker to be announced. “The size of our problem out there is very large. I regret to say that the word billion does not encompass the nature of the problem.” -Alan Greenspan. Cost: Free More Information: (518)391-2830

 

The Situation in Iran-
Film: “Bam 6.6 Humanity Doesn’t Have Borders” and Speakers: Scott Ritter, Fatemeh Keshavarz, Jahangir Golestan-Parast

Saturday, March 8, at 2 PM
Unitarian Universalist Society of Albany
405 Washington Ave., Albany , NY 12206

Film Showing: “Bam 6.6 Humanity Doesn’t Have Borders” which explores the humanity of the Iranian people through the prism of the devastating 2003 earthquake that struck at the heart of Bam, an ancient Iranian village. Followed by a panel discussion on the situation in Iran. Speakers: Scott Ritter: former chief UN weapons inspector in Iraq and prominent critic of the US war on Iraq and threats towards Iran. Fatemeh Keshavarz: Iranian author of the book; Jasmine and Stars, reading more than Lollita in Tehran. Jahangir Golestan-Parast: Director of the film; Bam 6.6 Humanity Doesn’t Have Borders
Sponsored by: Bethlehem Neighbors for Peace – www.bethlehemforpea ce.org, Fellowship Of Reconciliation – www.forusa.org, Women Against War – www.womenagainstwar .org, US Tour of Duty – www.ustourofduty. org
For more information: 518-439-1968

Benefit Concert for Iraq Veterans Against the War: Winter Soldier Project
Saturday, March 1 , 7:00 pm
Northern Lights, 1208 Route 146, Clifton Park

A concert to raise funds for Iraq Veterans Against the War’s project “Winter Soldier: Iraq and Afghanistan” which will take place in Washington DC March on 13 to 16, 2008. Veteran and civilian survivors of the modern conflicts in both countries will give public testimony and share the eyewitness stories “… to confront the policy makers with the unvarnished truth about what they saw and did in Iraq.” Mother Mcrees, a funk rock jam band from Albany NY played at the Sep 29th Syracuse Peace Rally, and were so impressed by the IVAW members that they wanted to help out further. They gathered three other bands; Alta Mira from Clifton Park, Deep Chemistry from Orange County, and Cooper Union from Albany, to put on a benefit show at the club Northern Lights. Cost: $8 advance tickets, $10 at the door. Contact: 518 765-4386, or via the email address : [email protected] . Sponsored by: Veterans for Peace, Iraq Veterans Against the War.

Vietnam Veteran Richard Boes
Monday, February 25, 6:30 pm -8:00 pm
Java Jazz Cafe, 318 Delaware Avenue, Delmar, NY

Vietnam Veteran Richard Boes will read from his book: The Last Dead Soldier Left Alive. For more information call Java Jazz at 439-1727.

Anniversary Vigil For Peace
Friday, February 15, 6:00 pm
4-Corners ( Kenawood and Delaware Avenues), Delmar

WE WILL GATHER TO DEMAND A PROMPT END TO THE WAR IN A SOLEMN CANDLE-LIGHT PROCESSION TO THE BETHLEHEM TOWN HALL.Bring candles or flashlights. Immediately following the procession we will show a 56 minute film “Think Peace: Portrait of a 21st Century Movement” in the Fellowship Hall of the Delmar Reformed Church, which is on Delaware Avenue immediately past the four Corners. “We urge all people who want peace to join us at the Four Corners in Delmar (Delaware and Kenwood) at 6 PM on Friday, February 15th, 2008. Let’s renew our commitment to peace and once again illuminate the winter sky with the flame of peace.” -Joe Lombardo

 

Iran: Personal Experiences, Reflections, and Suggestions for Action
Thursday, February 7, 7:00 – 8:30 pm
Bethlehem Public Library
451 Delaware Ave, Delmar

People-to-People Mission to Iran. Barbara Spring and Priscilla Fairbank traveled to Iran in December 2007 with Fellowship of Reconciliation (www.forusa.org) as part of a citizen diplomacy effort. They will share their experiences, photos, and discuss issues they encountered. Come with your questions and see if their experiences match your own impressions.. Cost: Free More Information: 391-2830

Film and Discussion: Redacted
Friday, February 1 and Saturday, February 2, 8:00 pm
Sanctuary for Independent Media
3361 6th Avenue, Troy NY

There will be audience discussions following each screening of the film: Friday night–with Dr. Edward Tick (author of the groundbreaking book “War and the Soul,and founder of Soldier’s Heart, practicing psychotherapist specializing in veterans with PTSD) and Dan Black, Iraq Veterans Against the War. Saturday night–with Dan Black, Iraq Veterans Against the War.

De Palma won the Silver Lion for Best Director at the 2007 Venice Film Festival for this film, a fictional story inspired by true events. Redacted is a unique cinematic experience that pushes viewers to radically reconsider the filters through which we see and accept events in our world, the power of the mediated image and how presentation and composition influence our ideas and beliefs.Centered around a small group of American soldiers stationed at a checkpoint in Iraq, Redacted alternates points of view, balancing the experiences of these young men under duress and members of the media with those of the local Iraqi people, illuminating how each have been deeply affected by the current conflict and their encounters with each other. Sponsored by Sanctuary for Independent Media and co-sponsored by Bethlehem Neighbors for Peace. Tickets are $5-$10. Call (518) 272-2390, email info@MediaSanctuary .org, or visit www.MediaSanctuary. org for directions and more information.

Film : War Made Easy
Saturday, January 26, 7:00 – 9:00 pm
Social Justice Center
33 Central Avenue, Albany NY

War Made Easy: How Presidents & Pundits Keep Spinning Us to Death (2007, dirs. Loretta Alper and Jeremy Earp, 72 mins., http://www.warmadeeasythemovie.org/ ) A new documentary featuring Norman Solomon and narrated by Sean Penn, chronicling how propaganda has been used to sell wars to the public. Sponsored by The Solidarity Committee of the Capital District and co-sponsored by BNP and Peace Action. Cost: Free

 

Film and Discussion: SiCKO
Thursday, January 3, 6:30 pm
Bethlehem Public Library, 451 Delaware Ave, Delmar

Michael Moore’s latest documentary compares the US healthcare system to the free universal health coverage in Canada, England, France and Cuba. Following the film, Dr. Andrew Coates, Bethlehem Neighbors for Peace member, local physician and secretary of the Capital District Chapter of Physicians for a National Health Program http://www.pnhp.org/, will tell us more about Single Payer Healthcare and lead a discussion on this very critical issue. More Information: ( 518) 391-2830

“SiCKO: 18,000 Americans will die this year simply because they’re uninsured. According to the Institute of Medicine, “lack of health insurance causes roughly 18,000 unnecessary deaths every year in the United States. Although America leads the world in spending on health care, it is the only wealthy, industrialized nation that does not ensure that all citizens have coverage.” Insuring America’s Health: Principles and Recommendations, Institute of Medicine, January 2004.http://www.iom.edu/?id=19175″