April 2010
29 posts
Rally, march in solidarity with immigrants...
The importance of coming together as a community to support comprehensive immigration reform is elevated in a time when Arizona has legalized racial profiling and the persecution of an entire community.
Stand with the Chester County immigrant community this Saturday, May 1, in solidarity with brothers and sisters in Arizona and with immigrants everywhere.
Rally and March in Kennett Square,...
Putting a face on immigrants: The homeless hero...
Immigration is big in the news now and will continue to be with Arizona’s passage of draconian legislation that would make Hitler proud and with the growing push for federal resolution.
Last week this newspaper published a letter charging that immigrants just need to “work hard,” implying they are a lazy bunch whom our “good” (read “white”) society...
Congo: Sowing hope amidst war and rape....Zawadi...
The Democratic Republic of the Congo’s fourteen-year civil war has led to the deaths of more people than any other conflict since World War II. Yet, news of this conflict is hard to find. Come and hear first-hand experience of what is happening in this country and the projects that are taking place to help address the deep wounds the war has caused - Kendal at Longwood Auditorium, Sunday, May 2,...
Any takers for an interfaith march for peace &...
Some of us just spent a wonderful rainy, cool afternoon in University City, West Philadelphia, today at the 7th Annual Philadelphia Interfaith Walk for Peace & Reconciliation. Many, many religious organizations organized this march. My guess, based on past turnout, was that about 600 (give or take a hundred or so) marched this afternoon.
This very colorful march, with all manner of religious,...
Yes, you can can - for Haiti relief on May 8….
Volunteers are needed to “can” for Haiti relief efforts at the Chester County Courthouse, High & Market Sts., West Chester, on Saturday, May 8, 10-3. All proceeds will go to Partners in Health, Dr. Paul Farmer’s healthcare organization that is playing a key role in Haiti medical relief. (See www.pih.org, and Tracy Kidder’s award-winning book about PIH and Dr. Farmer,...
6 banks control 60% of GNP - Is U.S. at...
If the teabaggers could get past their racism, this is what they should be focusing on - and they’d join the left if they truly believed in the “ideals” they espouse.
This article has more on the on the ruling economic oligarchy by the superb Bill Moyers:
“Six Banks Control 60% of Gross National Product — Is the U.S. at the Mercy of an Unstoppable Oligarchy?”
...
Your heart will break: The dancing boys of...
Last night (Tuesday), I watched a PBS “Frontline” program called “The Dancing Boys of Afghanistan,” and it was heartbreaking and shocking. We know about young girls forced into slavery and prostitution worldwide, but we rarely hear about the boys. You can (and should - must viewing) watch it here:
...
Youth & environment: Friends School Day of the...
Friends School Day of the Earth
3:00 p.m. Friday, April 23, to 6:00 p.m., Saturday April 24
Westtown School, Lower School Gathering Room, in Westtown
Public welcome
Who: High school and young adult environmental activists motivated and energized to bring about action and change for our schools and communities.
What: Led by high school students at Quaker, independent, and public...
Rally to support Paycheck Fairness Act...
The American Association of University Women (AAUW) will hold a rally on the Chester County Courthouse steps, Thursday at noon (West Chester, High & Market), to support the Paycheck Fairness Act. Bring friends and sandwiches.
This Tuesday, April 20, is Equal Pay Day, the symbolic day when women’s earnings catch up to men’s from the year before. In honor of this day, the AAUW...
Sing! At Tanguy (Glen Mills), Saturday, April 24
This monthly sing-along is absolutely delightful! Join a great group of people to sing and have a wonderful, relaxed, no-frills evening - and it doesn’t matter if you’re a good singer - I’m not, and nobody cares! It goes like this: You sit around informally (very informal attire, jeans most common), and if you want to sing something, you just call it out - the group...
The trials of lawyers in the era of torture:...
As a lawyer and a human being, I am most deeply concerned about this subject; and it has changed my life more than any other issue in the past few years. Even beyond war and other heinous ventures this country has waged, the torture of prisoners has redefined this country as no longer the place I had always thought it was (a perhaps mistaken vision I had adhered to despite other wretched policies...
“I write in the name of the living that they, in turn, may not stand in a silent,...”
– Yelena Vladimirova, Till My Tale Is Told, a collection of women’s memoirs of the gulag (my inspiration today)
Join the tax revolt! Follow the money…..
Stop perpetual war by refusing to pay for it!
Most people in the “tea parties” cheer for wars that are bankrupting our country, never stood with us to oppose either the Iraq or Afghanistan wars but egged them on - then don’t want to pay for them. Well, “the left” doesn’t want to pay for the wars, either - and we have opposed them from the start, without...
“War is a racket. It always has been. It is possibly the oldest, easily the most...”
– Maj. Gen. Smedley Butler, West Chester, PA, war hero turned peace activist
The Rev. Bob Edgar to receive Global Stewardship...
The Project for Nuclear Awareness will present its 2010 Global Stewardship Award to the Reverend Bob Edgar on Tuesday, May 18.*
The Global Stewardship Award recognizes an individual who has demonstrated superior commitment to the sustainability. protection, and preservation of the earth and its people. The Reverend Edgar will be honored with this award for his lifetime work and leadership in the...
Taxes, Peacemaking, & Conscientious Objection to...
If the tea partiers truly object to taxation, then let them take a look at those who have led the way – agreeing to pay the price – in refusal to pay taxes on the grounds of conscience. Many have spent time in prison objecting to the use of taxes to pay for wars by use of peaceful resistance. However, those who choose this path must be willing to pay the price.—KP
Irresiistible Force (the...
The Teabagger Socialist-Free Purity Pledge
I’m not sure where this came from, but it’s making the rounds and is a pretty good piece.—KP
The Teabagger Socialist-Free Purity Pledge I do solemnly swear to uphold the principles of a socialism-free society and heretofore pledge my word that I shall strictly adhere to the following: I will complain about the destruction of 1st Amendment Rights in this country while I am duly...
Tea-party crashers!!! "Outcrazying the crazies"...
This is just priceless! These people are organizing to infiltrate the teabaggers and play a little “one-upsman-ship” by taking the craziness a step (or two) further…you just have to read about it…enjoy…
http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/04/inside-man-how-a-prankster-plans-to-destroy-the-tea-party-movement.php?ref=fpa
“If hundreds of innocent individuals had to suffer in order to detain a handful...”
– Colonel Lawrence Wilkerson, aide to then-Secretary of State Colin Powell
Comment: Heartbreaking...
“If hundreds of innocent individuals had to suffer in order to detain a handful of hardcore terrorists, so be it.”
Thanks to Barbara for this heartbreaking comment.—KP
“The whole world knew this long ago. Nothing makes our country look stupider or more heartless. Perhaps the truth will finally make US free….”—Barbara
...
Monday: Water, violence, and peacebuilding...
Though most people appear to be unaware of it, water is predicted to be “the oil” with regard to conflict and poverty in the foreseeable future. People will fight their wars more and more over water - and many people will die impoverished from lack of water (exacerbated by global warming). Russian leaders, for example, know that they are sitting on the world’s most vast source of...
Coming out under fire: Gays in the military...
I try to focus in this blog on Chester County events, but many area-wide events, like this one, are of interest to Chester Countians and are extremely important for the cause of peace and justice.When I see something that’s of broad interest area-wide, I’ll publish it here.
Homophobia is what I call the last bastion of publicly accepted bigotry. Too many think it’s “OK” to be...
Chester Countians to join Philadelphia Interfaith...
This annual “Walking Dialogue” among Jews, Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, Baha’i, Hindus, and others will be held on Sunday, April 25, 2 p.m.
Chester County walkers will gather at the West Goshen Shopping Center Park-n-Ride at 11:45 a.m.(leaving promptly) for carpooling (just off 202 Paoli Pike exit, first right before going into the shopping center). Let’s have a great showing from...
WCU: "Awakening the Dreamer: Changing the Dream"...
West Chester University will sponsor the “Awakening the Dreamer: Changing the Dream” symposium - inspiring local action with global vision - on Saturday, April 24, noon-4 p.m. (registration at 11:30 a.m.). The program will focus on environmental sustainability, spiritual fulfillment, and social justice. The purpose of this international symposium, created by the Pachamama Alliance...
Haiti relief: “Can” for Haiti on May 8….
Volunteers are needed to “can” for Haiti relief efforts at the Chester County Courthouse, High & Market Sts., West Chester, on Saturday, May 8, 10-3. All proceeds will go to Partners in Health, Dr. Paul Farmer’s healthcare organization that is playing a key role in Haiti medical relief. (See www.pih.org, and Tracy Kidder’s award-winning book about PIH and Dr. Farmer,...
This week: Nonviolent Peaceforce program, West...
Mel Duncan of the Nonviolent Peaceforce (www.nonviolentpeaceforce.org), will speak at West Chester’s Unitarian Fellowship* at 7 p.m. on Friday.
Headquartered in Brussels, Belgium, the NP has many Chester County ties. For example, local peace activist Anne Moore has worked with the NP for several years, helping promote its work all over the tristate region; and one of NP’s cofounders,...
Students: How student loan reforms help you...
Big student loan reforms that will save students money were passed with the new healthcare reforms - student loan reform had to be added as an amendment to the healthcare reform bill to prevent a threatened Republican filibuster in their all-out assault on student loan reform.
In a nutshell:
Payback limited to 10 percent of a graduate’s discretionary income as of July, 2014 (instead of...
ACTIVISM 101: Yes, we can can....and you can can,...
“Yes, we can can.”—Lee Dorsey (1970)
We can can, and so can YOU! You can can on the streets to raise money for your cause - just do it! All it takes is a permit from your local municipalilty to “can” for money for your cause on the streets. You can get a permit only every so often, but it’s worth doing that.
Last spring, The Chester County Peace Movement...
World changers: Chester County educators to teach...
From time to time, I will publish news of Chester County folks who are traveling, or will travel, to other parts of the world to donate their time and talents to help others in our global community, working for global peace and justice through good works. If you know of others doing this important work, let me know; and I’ll feature them here.
Educators Dana, Tim, and Ashley Kershaw, will...
