Dear Supporter,
Please forward to your lists and congregations:
Jerusalem Women, Amish Nonviolence, TransAmerica, Immigrant Rights Bulletin Insert
People of Faith CT e-newsletter
Monday, October 16, 2006
CONTENTS
Politics
"An Inconvenient Truth" Film and Discussion, Mon., 10/16, West Hartford
Presentation of Letters Opposing Nuclear Strike on Iran, 10/17, Old Lyme
Protest Outside Senatorial Debate, Wed, 10/18, Hartford
Guantanamo Bay: Detention, Torture and Human Rights, 10/19, New Britain
Suppressing the Black Vote: Free DVD for house showings
A Step Towards Totalitarianism -- Garrison Keillor
"Out of Balance: ExxonMobil's Impact on Climate Change" (film)
"Quiet Revolution" exposes Right-Wing Campaign (film)
Middle East Peace
"Jerusalem Women Speak: Three Faiths, One Shared Vision," Tues, 10/17, N. Britain
The Palestinian/Israeli Fight for a Democratic Secular Palestine, 10/19, N. Britain
End The War on the Middle East -- Commentary by Khalil Iskarous
Immigrant Rights
Republicans Attack Columbia Students, Online Video & Petition
Bulletin Insert on Immigrant Rights from a Catholic Perspective
Economic Justice
Petition Campaign for a State Earned Income Tax Credit
Queer Rights
TransAmerica: Film and Discussion, Tues., 10/17, Hartford
Anne Stanback Induction into CT Women's Hall of Fame, 10/17, Hartford
Emerson Brass Concert to benefit Love Makes a Family, Sun., 10/22, Hartford
Marriage Equality Election Day Campaign -- Register Today
Nonviolence
Amish Christian Nonviolence Stuns the United States - J. Chittister
Environmental Justice
2nd Annual Environmental Justice Conference, Sat. 10/22, Hartford
========================================================
Politics
"An Inconvenient Truth" Film and Discussion
Monday, October 16
7:00 p.m.
Hoffman Auditorium, located on the first floor of The Bruyette Athenaeum
St. Joseph College
Asylum Avenue, West Hartford
Al Gore’s documentary on global warming, "An Inconvenient Truth"
will be followed by a panel discussion and question-and-answer session
featuring Saint Joseph College faculty members
Dr. Mark Johnson, assistant professor of Biology,
Dr. Peter Markow, professor and chair of the Department of Chemistry,
and Dr. Shyamala Raman, professor of Economics and International Studies.
Admission to the event is free
R.S.V.P. requested via
international@sjc.edu
or
860.231.5470.
========================================================
Presentation of Letters Opposing Nuclear Strike on Iran
at the Debate Of candidates
for the 2nd Congressional district
Tuesday, October 17
Meet at 6 PM
Old Lyme Middle School
53 Lyme Street
Help NONUKES/NOWAR present 1000 signed letters
opposing the use of a nuclear weapon
against the people of Iran
and supporting a peaceful solution
to the impasse between the Bush Administration and Iran.
Directions
Exit 70 off of Route 95
Follow Rt. 156, slight right onto Neck Road
Left onto Ferry Road
Left onto Lyme Street
Info: Joe Wasserman 860-561-1897
joewass64@yahoo.com
========================================================
Protest Outside Senatorial Debate
Wednesday, October 18
3 PM
Bushnell Theater
166 Capitol Ave., Hartford
(Verify date/time of debate by calling Bushnell at 987-5900)
All 4 candidates for US Senate will be debating inside
the Bushnell.
[Eds. Note: Sen. Lieberman has supported Bush's Iraq War
and the Torture/Citizen Noncombatant Act.
Neither Lieberman nor Lamont would vote to withhold funding
for the war.
While Israel invaded Gaza and Lebanon, both Lieberman
and Lamont remained silent as the government of Israel
killed thousands, displaced hundreds of thousands and
deployed thousands of cluster bombs.]
Sponsored by the CLASH Collective,
a small group of radical Left activists in and around Hartford
involved in several different movements, including but not limited to
antiwar, LGBTQ, labor, youth and immigrant.
========================================================
Panel Discussion on Guantanamo Bay:
Detention, Torture and Human Rights
Thursday, October 19
2:00 PM
Marcus White Living Room,
Central Connecticut State University
New Britain
Panelists:
Ghassan El-Eid, Political Science
Jan VanRiper, Philosophy
Paul Petterson, Political Science
Mark Rutkowski, Student
David Blitz, Panel Chair
Sponsored by the Peace Studies Program, Political Science Department,
Philosophy Department, and the Middle Eastern Studies Program of IAS
========================================================
Suppressing the Black Vote: Free DVD for House Showings
"American Blackout" shows how the Black vote was
systemically suppressed in 2000 and 2004
and it sets the stage for making sure it never happens again.
American Blackout has received standing ovations in screenings
across the country and racked up numerous awards,
including the Special Jury Prize at Sundance.
The film's power will only be realized if enough people see it.
Can you help by having a viewing party at your home,
place of worship, or other local venue?
It's easy. All you need is a DVD player and a TV.
You can choose to have a private showing,
or you can allow other ColorOfChange members who live near you
to sign up for your party online.
Best of all, we'll provide you the DVD for free.
Not only does it expose the problems plaguing our elections,
it plants the seeds for fighting back and will inspire you to act.
We believe this film has the potential to start a national dialogue,
which is why we're committed to getting it seen.
View the trailer, get the video, sign up to host a screening:
http://www.colorofchange.org/blackout/host.html?id=2208-92145
========================================================
A Step Towards Totalitarianism
"If the government can round up someone and never be required
to explain why, then it's no longer the United States of America
as you and I always understood it.
Our enemies have succeeded beyond their wildest dreams."
-- Garrison Keillor, creator of "A Prairie Home Companion"
Read his entire op-ed:
http://www.courant.com/news/opinion/op_ed/hc-keillor1003.artoct03,0,6371089.story
========================================================
"Out of Balance: ExxonMobil's Impact on Climate Change" Film
The documentary is an expose´ of the oil giant,
with a primary focus on ExxonMobil's funding of PR firms
out of which climate change "skeptics" have worked for years.
The so-called skeptics have fostered confusion
in the public about the human impact on climate,
and dragged out any significant action against climate change,
while EM continues to make record profits.
There are two trailers and one 11 minute "preview" available:
http://www.worldoutofbalance.org
========================================================
"Quiet Revolution" Film exposes Right-Wing Campaign
"Quiet Revolution" reveals the ongoing ultra-conservative campaign
to tilt our laws and our federal courts to the right,
so the Right Wing can carry out its political agenda.
That agenda means less protection for consumers and our environment,
and more government intrusion into our personal lives.
The film is provocative and aggressive.
It connects the dots between the Right's think tanks, its funders,
its advocacy groups, its politicians and its federal judicial nominees,
peeling away the conspiracy of the ultra-conservative movement layer by layer.
View film online or order Free DVD:
http://www.afj.org/student/student_action_campaign/index.html
========================================================
Middle East Peace
"Jerusalem Women Speak:
Three Women, Three Faiths, One Shared Vision"
Tuesday, October 17
2:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m.
Davidson Hall Room 123
(Administration Building)
Central Connecticut State University, New Britain
"Jerusalem Women Speak" will feature the voices of three women -
a Christian, a Jew and a Muslim,
who are living the realities of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
These women have come to the United States
to call an end to war and suffering in the Middle East
and to share their experiences and hopes
for a just peace with American audiences.
For information, contact Dr. Ali Antar
(860) 832-2931
antar@ccsu.edu
This event is FREE and open to the public.
Sponsored by the Middle East Studies Committee,
Women's Studies, and Peace Studies.
Proudly endorsed by People of Faith CT
========================================================
Matzpen: The Palestinian/Israeli Fight
for a Democratic Secular Palestine
Thursday, October 19
7:30 PM
Sprague Hall (Room 118) Student Center –
Central Connecticut State University, New Britain
The Arab/Israeli conflict does not originate from religious
or national differences.
Israel occupies land that it took away from the Palestinians by force.
To maintain hegemony Israel perpetually deepens and expands
the subjugation of Arab peoples within and beyond its territorial borders.
War and violence in the region are over land,
power and rights, not religion.
Consequently, forming a common struggle across ethnic
and religious lines is far from impossible for Israelis and Palestinians.
In fact it has historical precedent.
Join us in viewing a short film about Matzpen: an organization
of Israelis and Palestinians who, from the 1960s till the 1980s
fought to turn Israel and its occupied territories
into a secular democratic Palestine with full rights for all –
and who fought to overthrow the capitalist regime that oppresses
Palestinians and Israelis alike.
Daniel Piper, a local anti-war activist, will give a brief introduction
to the film and the nature of the conflict that it depicts.
A discussion will follow.
Sponsored by Youth for Socialist Action
Proudly endorsed by People of Faith CT
Directions: http://www.ccsu.edu/viewbook/find_us.htm
Info: 860-547-0122
========================================================
End The War on the Middle East
The President of the United States has peppered his recent speeches
with frequent references to “Islamofascism” and the Pope has quoted a
Byzantine Emperor saying, "Show me just what Muhammad brought that
was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such
as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." These
remarks by the leaders of the world’s superpower and largest Church
have emphasized a perceived difference between Western and Middle
Eastern moral and behavioral codes. While the West operates by
rational thinking, we are told, Middle Easterners operate by passion
and violence. And it is Islam’s affinity for violence, we are told,
that is responsible for the problems of the Middle East. We have seen
this view repeatedly expressed and assumed by commentators and by
ordinary people justifying ongoing wars. Does this view correspond to
reality?
Let’s first consider the notion that Islam is a religion of violence
that spread by the sword. As Uri Avnery, an Israeli commentator has
recently written, “For many centuries, the Muslims ruled Greece. Did
the Greeks become Muslims? Did anyone even try to Islamize them? On
the contrary, Christian Greeks held the highest positions in the
Ottoman administration. The Bulgarians, Serbs, Romanians, Hungarians
and other European nations lived at one time or another under Ottoman
rule and clung to their Christian faith. Nobody compelled them to
become Muslims and all of them remained devoutly Christian.” Also
Arab countries like Egypt, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Palestine, and
Jordan have for more than a thousand years had strong Christian
communities. Egypt, for instance, still has about 10 million
Christians (of which I am one). If Islam forced people to convert by
the sword, such communities would not exist. Indeed, all these
countries also had protected Jewish minorities that thrived when the
Crusades, Inquisition, pogroms, and Holocaust of the West were
thriving. That Islam is a religion of violence that sought to kill or
convert non-Muslims has little to do with historical events.
Then there is the matter of Western civilization being rational and
civilized. It is hard not to be too negative when we list the
barbaric crimes committed in this civilization: the Crusades, the
Middle Passage, the Inquisition, Slavery, Genocide of the Natives of
America and Australia, the Holocaust of 6 million Jews as Pope Pius
XII watched, the killing of two million in Vietnam, Cambodia, and
Laos, and the massacre of hundreds of thousands of peasants
throughout the Americas by U.S.-sponsored death squads.
The point I am making is not that Western Civilization is evil, while
Middle Eastern Civilization is wonderful. Such a proposition is as
silly as its opposite.
Now for the roots of current violence in the Mideast. One possibility
is that people in that part of the world are predisposed to violence.
Consider a different possibility.
From 1991 to 2003, the sanctions that the U.S. and U.N. placed on
Iraq led to the death of somewhere between half a million and a
million Iraqi children, because we thought that Saddam Hussein may
have Weapons of Mass Destruction. Of course he didn’t.
Since 2003, our war and occupation of Iraq have led to the killing of
more than one hundred thousand people (Lancet, October 2004). Besides
the many thousands killed by our own troops, we have also fueled a
civil war by fighting on behalf of one of the warring groups and a
government that operates death squads.
U.S. policy has led to the death of more than a million people in
Iraq. Could this have anything to do with the conflict we see today?
Could the death of a million Arabs possibly lead Arabs to be upset?
Consider this as well: There are 10 million Palestinians. Half live
under repressive occupation and the other half live as refugees. Why?
International law says that occupation is illegal and that refugees
can return home, but the U.S. and Israel have basically said that the
lives of Israelis are more important than the lives of Palestinians.
So 10 million Palestinians continue to live under occupation or as
refugees. Could this have anything to do with the conflict we see today?
The cause for the conflict we see is the utter disregard of the U.S.
and its allies for Arab rights and Arab lives. It is not
“Islamofascism” or “evil and inhuman” Islam that are responsible.
Attacks on Islam have one purpose only: to justify more killing of
Arabs and Muslims. The real reason for the U.S. and Israel's War on
the Middle East is not "islamofascism". As it's always been, this is
a war for power and resources. The U.S. wants power and oil and
Israel wants the West Bank land and Arab Water (two thirds of
Israel's water comes from the West Bank, South Lebanon and Syria).
That is why we have war in the Middle East. There is no clash of
civilizations. The clash is just an excuse for the killing and a
diversion from the real reason for the War on the Middle East.
Peace and justice are possible, but only when the U.S. ends its war
on the Middle East. When the 16 year war of destruction against Iraq
stops, we can hope for peace and justice. When a solution to the
Palestinian problem is found that takes into consideration the 10
million Palestinians, not only the 6 million Israelis, peace can take
place.
-- Khalil Iskarous
========================================================
Immigrant Rights
Republicans Attack Columbia Students, Online Video & Petition
On October 4th, Minutemen leader Jim Gilchrist
came to speak at Columbia University.
Gilchrist's hate speech was met with a peaceful demonstration
in which students came on the stage unfurling banners reading:
"No Human Being is Illegal" and "No To Racism."
This was 45 minutes into his speech.
The Minutemen responded to these non-violent protesters with force,
in particular targeting Latino students on and around the stage
with punches and kicks.
After assaulting the pro- Immigrant protesters,
the Minutemen ended their event early.
Please see the damning footage below
and take action to support the assaulted students.
Part I- Univision Coverage
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N41eXtVK7hA
Part II- Univision Coverage
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AwqPRmlb3Xg
On Friday, Oct 6 Columbia University President Lee Bollinger
issued a statement condemning the protesters' non-violent protest
and remained silent about the violence of the Minutemen
towards the students.
Please take action to contact President Bollinger's Office to express
your disapproval with his statement and demand that no reprisals
be taken against the protesters.
By doing anything short of retracting his statement and canceling his
"investigation" against the assaulted students, he at best
blames the victim and at worst gives cover for the use of
vigilante violence against non-violent protesters.
Please take a moment to sign an online petition at:
http://www.petitiononline.com/nominute/petition.html
President Bollinger's Statement:
http://www.columbia.edu/cu/president/communications%20files/freedomofspeech.htm
Please call and email President Bollinger's office:
phone: 212.854.9970, fax: 212.854.9973
email: bollinger@columbia.edu
Please copy/send messages of support to the Columbia Protesters' Defense
Committee at: nominutemen@gmail.com
========================================================
Bulletin Insert on Immigrant Rights from a Catholic Perspective
"The parable of the Good Samaritan challenges
us to understand that violence towards those
who are the least powerful among us can take the form of
legislative acts or of human indifference and disconnection.
Jesus asks that we who would be good disciples
be good neighbors -— be willing to think and act beyond
what has ordinarily been expected.
This is the message of the incarnation itself and
the meaning behind the message when Jesus tells the lawyer to
‘Go and do likewise.’”
Download bulletin insert:
http://www.faithCT.org/immigrantrightscatholic.pdf
========================================================
Economic Justice
Petition Campaign for a CT Earned Income Tax Credit
"To: Governor Jodi Rell, Lt.Governor Kevin Sullivan,
and All State of Connecticut Senators and Representatives
Connecticut Association for Human Services (CAHS),
Greater Hartford Interfaith Coalition for Equity and Justice (ICEJ)
and the undersigned respectfully ask the public officials of
Connecticut to work together in a bipartisan manner
to enact a Connecticut Earned Income Tax Credit
equal to 25% of the corresponding federal EITC.
A state EITC would provide tax relief to hard-working,
low-income families.
It would help them close the gap between what they earn
and what they need to make ends meet.
In 2003, over 162,000 Connecticut households (10.1% of tax filers)
received federal EITC benefits totaling over $256 million;
the average payment per household was $1,578.
A 25% Connecticut match would add another $64 million
($394 per household.)"
The goal is to collect 25,000 signatures to deliver
to the Governor and Legislature in the 2007 session.
We urge you download and print out the petition
and bring it with you everywhere you go to collect signatures.
Ask members of your congregation, organizations, neighborhood,
and family to sign on!
Download Petition
http://www.faithCT.org/eitcpetition.pdf
========================================================
Queer Rights
TransAmerica: Film and Discussion
Tuesday, October 17
Charter Oak Cultural Center
21 Charter Oak Ave, Hartford
View this Academy Award-nominated film in a new way.
Engage in a discussion following the screening
led by Trans activist, Jerimarie Liesegang,
about how Hollywood and society in general
help to create stereotypes that lead to myths
and misconceptions that stigmatize and marginalize
a community that is beautiful, rich and diverse.
Suggested Donation, $5
Sponsored by
Connecticut TransAdvocay Coalition
http://www.transadvocacy.com
and
Charter Oak Cultural Center
http://www.charteroakcenter.org
Proudly endorsed by People of Faith CT
========================================================
Anne Stanback Induction into CT Women's Hall of Fame
Wednesday, October 18
6-9pm
Hartford Hilton Hotel.
Love Makes a Family announces with enormous pride
that our Executive Director, Anne Stanback,
will be inducted into the Connecticut Women's Hall of Fame
for her achievements, inspiration, and courageous leadership
in pursuing equal rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender
people in Connecticut.
The entire Love Makes a Family community shares in this extraordinary
honor for Anne. Her strength, integrity, vision and unwavering
voice for equality has sustained us all.
--Alice Pritchard, Board President, Love Makes a Family
Info, honorees, purchase tickets:
http://www.cwhf.org/upcoming_events/annual_event.htm
========================================================
Emerson Brass Concert to benefit Love Makes a Family
Sunday, October 22
4 PM
Immanuel Congregational Church
10 Woodland Street—near Mark Twain House
[corner of Woodland Street and Farmington Ave.]
Hartford, Connecticut
EMERSON BRASS
Stephen Owens / Julia Caruk / Topher Logan / John Currie / Alan Douglass
with Organist Donald Funk
Music of Main Street, U.S.A.
Bernstein, Gershwin, Mancini, Glenn Miller, Sousa March,
New Orleans jazz, Spirituals and Barber’s Adagio
A free will offering will be received
for the benefit of Love Makes a Family.
Info: http://www.lmfct.org/events
or 860-525-7777
========================================================
Marriage Equality Election Day Campaign -- Register Today!
SIGN UP TODAY to secure your spot at the polls
on one of the most important days
for marriage equality -- November 7, 2006.
Join Love Makes a Family on Election Day
as we talk to voters in key legislative districts
and urge them to sign a postcard
that will be sent to their legislators
about their support for marriage equality.
No experience is necessary!
Each volunteer shift is just two hours
and sessions are available throughout the day.
Our goal is to have 100 volunteers
talking to voters on Election Day.
We have scheduled three trainings in Hartford, New Haven, and Norwalk
for Saturday, November 4th for one hour each.
At the trainings you will learn
critical grassroots activism skills
and also get the Marriage Equality Postcards
that you will be handing out to voters!
Sign up now!
Info: yamuna@lmfct.org
========================================================
Nonviolence
Amish Christian Nonviolence Stuns the United States
"But it was not the violence suffered by the Amish community
last week that surprised people.
Our newspapers are full of brutal and barbarian violence
day after day after day -- both national and personal.
No, what really stunned the country about the attack
on the small Amish schoolhouse in Pennsylvania
was that the Amish community itself simply refused to hate
what had hurt them.
"Do not think evil of this man," the Amish grandfather
told his children at the mouth of one little girl's grave.
"Do not leave this area. Stay in your home here," the Amish
delegation told the family of the murderer.
"We forgive this man."
No, it was not the murders, not the violence, that shocked us;
it was the forgiveness that followed it for which we were not prepared.
It was the lack of recrimination, the dearth of vindictiveness
that left us amazed. Baffled. Confounded.
It was the Christianity we all profess but which they practiced
that left us stunned.
Never had we seen such a thing.
Here they were, those whom our Christian ancestors called "heretics,"
who were modeling Christianity for all the world to see.
The whole lot of them.
The entire community of them.
Thousands of them at one time."
-- Joan Chittister
========================================================
Environmental Justice
Connecticut Coalition for Environmental Justice
2nd Annual Environmental Justice Conference
Saturday, October 21, 2006
8:30am-4:30pm
Capital Community College
450 Main Street, Hartford
FEATURING
Monique Harden
Environmental Attorney and Activist from New Orleans
&
Frank Ferraro
Vice President of Environmental Management & Policy
At Wheelabrator Corporation
Attend Workshops On:
Environmental Justice Issues in Connecticut
Organizing Youth in EJ
Intro. to Fundraising
Plasma Arc Technology
Green Technology
Global Warming in the Northeast
Asthma/Respiratory Diseases Recycling
Transportation Issues
Environmental & Institutional Racism
Host Community Benefits
Political Panel
And More!
Donation (lunch included) $ 35.00 at the door
Limited scholarships available.
Simultaneous Spanish translation available.
If you need transportation from New Haven or Bridgeport,
Childcare services or for more information please call:
Dawn Simonsen at 860-548-1133 or
dawn.simonsen@environmental-justice.org
http://www.environmental-justice.org
========================================================
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