Dear Supporter,
Please forward to your lists and congregations:
1. Statewide Fast for Justice & Peace, June 7
2. Palestinian Women Speak Out on Occupation, June 7
3. A Spiritual Response to Human Rights Issues, June 7
4. AFSC Annual Dinner, June 10
5. ICEJ 2006 Issues Assembly, June 15
6. Civil Liberties Under Attack, June 17
7. Citizen of the Year Award: Anne Stanback, June 20
8. Action Alert: Urge Rep. Larson to Support Nuclear Disarmament
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1.
Connecticut Statewide Fast for Justice & Peace Wednesday, June 7, 2006
Why Fast?
In response to the mean-spirited and divisive Federal Marriage Amendment
which will be re-introduced in the US Senate that week.
As in the 2004 election, the FMA is primarily designed to detract attention
from the pressing moral issues facing our state and country, among them:
Poverty, War, Immigrant Rights, Universal Health Insurance,
Protecting Civil Liberties
Craig M. Nowak, a gay Hartford Seminary student and member of the Universalist
Church of West Hartford is undertaking a day-long fast on Wednesday, June 7th.
People of Faith CT invites your solidarity by fasting from one or more meals
from sunrise to sunset that day.
Why A Fast?
Fasting is an ancient spiritual discipline that repudiates injustice and prepares
us for the true work of faith -- building a society based on justice, equality,
and peace.
How?
You may chose to fast:-- from one or more meals from sunrise to sunset on June 7th
-- as an individual or as part of a group or congregation--
anonymously or let your local news media know why you've undertaken to fast.
Join others in your local area to break/end the fast with a simple meal and discussion
on new ways to promote social justice and peace.
Join progressive faith-based and secular people throughout Connecticut fasting on
June 7th as we collectively prepare our hearts, minds and spirits to repair and
heal our broken world.
We pray that in our fasting and social justice work we may embody good news for the poor,
captive, alien and marginalized sisters and brothers among us.
Won't you join us?
More info, Download Fliers and Bulletin Inserts, or Register your participation:
www.faithCT.org/craigsfast.htm
People of Faith CT
Prophetic Activism, Progressive Politics
www.faithCT.org
(860) 841-5006
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2.
PALESTINIAN WOMEN FROM GAZA
SPEAK OUT ON OCCUPATION
LAILA EL-HADDAD & FIDA QISHTA
Wednesday June 7th
6:00 PM
Tunxis Community College
271 Scott Swamp Road
Farmington, CT 06032
860.255 3615 or 3616
Laila El-Haddad is a Palestinian journalist and mother
living in Gaza. She writes for Aljazeera.net. Her writing
has also been published in The Washington Post and on Alternet,
and she blogs for the UK Guardian. She maintains her own
blog Raising Youssef: A Diary of a Mother Under Occupation
(http://a-mother-from-gaza.blogspot.com/). Laila is a
graduate of the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard and
Duke University.
Fida Qishta is a Palestinian grassroots community educator
and activist who lives in Rafah, Gaza. Rafah is one of the
hardest hit Palestinian cities, with over 1500 homes
demolished by the Israeli army, including Fida's family's
home. Fida has worked with the International Solidarity
Movement, and founded the direct action group "Rachel's
Way" and "Life-Makers Center" for Rafah's traumatized
children.
http://observer.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,,1451112,00.html
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3.
Rabbis for Human Rights
Presents:
A Spiritual Response to Human Rights Issues
in Israel and the United States
Wednesday, June 7, 2006 - 7:30 PM
Emanuel Synagogue
160 Mohegan Drive. West Hartford
Plus, Dinner Reception with the Speakers:
Immediately prior to this event, at 5:30 PM, a Dinner Reception will be held
with the presenters at Charter Oak Cultural Center, 21 Charter Oak Ave,
Hartford.
$50 Donation Requested to assist the work of RHR. Please call 655-4179 for
dinner reservations.
There is no fee for the main talk at Emanuel Synagogue following the dinner.
Speakers:
Rabbi Arik Ascherman, Founder, Rabbis for Human Rights, Israel
Rabbi Brian Walt, Executive Director, Rabbis for Human Rights, North America
Hosted by:
Rabbi Donna Berman, Executive Director, Charter Oak Cultural Center, Hartford
Rabbi Stanley Kessler, Rabbi Emeritus, Beth El Temple, West Hartford
West Hartford Citizens for Peace & Justice
People of all faiths are welcome at both events, the fund-raising dinner and the
free talk. Reservations required for Dinner.
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4.
Saturday, June 10th
AFSC Annual Dinner
Keynote Speaker: Juan Jose Gutierrez
National Coordinator for Latino Movement USA
2006 AFSC Honorees:
DACORIM,
Jerimarie Liesegang,
Eric Stamm,
Chris Towne,
Unidad Latino en Accio'n.
Dinner at 6:30 pm.
Doors open for browsing at organization tables at 5:30 pm.
Central Connecticut State University
Constitution Room in Memorial Hall
1615 Stanley Street,
New Britain, CT
Cost: $45 per person (Students: $30) Limited Seating
Advance registration required: no later than Saturday, June 3.
Mail in coupon below or call AFSC at 860-523-1534.
Dinner Menu: Herb encrusted chicken or vegetarian lasagna,
steamed vegetables, salad, dessert, coffee/tea
----------------------------------------------------------
Name(s)
Address:
Phone: E-mial:
# of seats_______________ $_________ ($45/person; students: $30)
Or buy a table of ten seats and save 10% ___________($405)
I can't attend, but I'm sending a donation to help defray costs: $________
Dinner selection: ________Chicken _________ Vegetarian Lasagna
If you are buying more than one ticket, please list each person's name and ticket amount.
Checks payable to "AFSC/Dinner" Send to: AFSC Dinner
56 Arbor Street,
2nd Floor
Hartford, CT 06106
Phone:
860-523-1534
Fax:
860-523-1705
Email:
connecticut@afsc.org
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5.
The Greater Hartford Interfaith Coalition for Equity and Justice
2006 Issues Assembly
Thursday, June 15th
St. Patrick - St. Anthony Roman Catholic Church
285 Church Street
Hartford, CT
7 pm -- 9 pm
KEYNOTE SPEAKER: REV. MICHAEL WILLIAMS
Reverend Williams is the Associate Pastor of Faith Congregational Church
in Hartford, and Vice-President of the Board of Directors Christian
Activities Council
This Assembly is open to all members of GHICEJ and all member congregations.
At this Assembly, we will come together in prayer and thanksgiving to celebrate
our past successes and discuss our future path. We have heard your voices through
surveys, one on one conversations and small group discussions. Now it is time for
all the congregations to come together and decide what issues local and state issues
GHICEJ will commit to in the year ahead: Public Safety, Housing, Wages/Jobs
PLEASE BE PART of THIS IMPORTANT EVENT and
speak your truth!
"Justice and justice alone shall be your aim, that you may have life and possess the
land which the Lord, your God, is giving you."(Deuteronomy 16:19-20)
(Parking is available on the street and in the parking lot across from the church)
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6.
Civil Liberties Under Attack:
Why the Assault on Immigrants, Enemy Combatants and Jose' Padilla Matters to You
John C. Brittain
Chief Counsel and Senior Deputy
The Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law
Saturday, June 17
3:00 - 5:00 PM
Central Baptist Church
457 Main St.
Hartford,CT
A talk that will review:
Violations of Immigrants Rights
Illegal Detention in Guanta'namo
Denial of Habeas Corpus to Jose' Padilla
For further information contact: 860-297-4248
www.hopeoutloud.org
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7.
Anne Stanback has been chosen as "Citizen of the Year" by the
National Association of Social Workers CT Chapter,
and will be honored on Tuesday June 20 at their awards dinner at
500 Blake Street Café in New Haven at 5:30pm. Tickets are $36,
and one must order by June 12.
Registration forms: carol@lmfct.org
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8.
Action Alert: Urge Rep. Larson to Support Nuclear Disarmament
URGE REP. JOHN LARSON TO SIGN ONTO THE WOOLSEY LETTER:
Please note the following message being sent out to encourage people to
contact their Congresspersons in regard to signing on to the Dear Colleague
letter being circulated by Congressperson Lynn Woolsey. The letter is in
support of her resolution opposing first strike use of nuclear weapons
and for nuclear disarmament ( H. RES. 373). The resolution is critical
given the consideration of the nuclear option on the part of the Bush
Administration in regard to Iran. For those in the Hartford area, let's
encourage John Larson (860) 278-8888 (202) 225-2265 to sign on to this letter
and take a leadership role. Please call or write your Congressperson on this,
where ever you live, and urge that they sign this important letter.
Thanks
Joe Wasserman
Dear Colleague:
Did you know that when the U.S. ratified the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)
in 1970, we agreed to pursue negotiations relating to complete global nuclear disarmament?
Did you know that the U.S. possesses more than 5,500 strategic nuclear warheads,
actively deployed on more than 1,200 strategic nuclear delivery vehicles? Or that we
currently spend more than $6 billion a year on nuclear weapons research, development,
and upkeep, compared to the Cold War era average of approximately $4 billion a year?
Getting rid of our nuclear stockpiles should be the focus of our government, not the
creation of new weapons. That is why I have introduced H. Res. 373, the Nuclear
Non-Proliferation Treaty Commitments Act. H. Res. 373 calls on the President to
implement and observe all NPT obligations and commitments; declare unconditionally
that the U.S. will not use nuclear weapons first; and end the declared U.S. policy
of preventive warfare as a response to threats from other countries.
During this time of heightened tensions with Iran, the U.S. should lead by example
and send a message that it will pursue disarmament. If you would like to cosponsor
this legislation, please contact Eric Powers of my staff at x55161.
Sincerely,
Lynn Woolsey
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