Talk by Rogoberta Menchu April 6 at UMass Dartmouth

Human Rights & Social Justice: How We Can Make A Difference A talk by Nobel Peace Prize Winner, Rigoberta Menchú TumHost: International Law Students Association - ILSA at SNESL Type: Education - Lecture Network: Global Date: Monday, April 6, 2009 Time: 3:00pm - 4:00pm Location: UMass Dartmouth City/Town: North Dartmouth, MA Phone: 5089998015 Email: publicaffairs@umassd.edu Description UMass Dartmouth presents: Human Rights and Social Justice in the New Millennium: How We Can Make A Difference A talk by Rigoberta Menchú Tum 3 p.m. Rigoberta Menchú Tum, an indigenous woman from a humble background in Guatemala, was witness to and a survivor of the massacres of the Guatemalan civil war during the 1970s and 1980s, which claimed the lives of most of her family. More than half of the 626 documented massacres took place in her home province of El Quiché. Human rights groups estimate that 83 percent of the more than 200,000 people killed during the war were indigenous. Menchú Tum belongs to the Maya K'iche ethnic group and shares her ethnic and geographical origins with the vast majority of Guatemalans now living in New Bedford.  This is a free event that is open to the public.  Reservations are strongly suggested because seating will be limited. To reserve seats at the presentation, please call the Office of Public Affairs at 508.999.8015 or email publicaffairs@umassd.edu.

April 4 in NYC

March on Wall Street: Saturday, April 4, United For Peace and Justice The time is now for the movements for peace and social and economic justice to do what Dr. King advocated on April 4, 1967: break the silence about the deeper ills in our country that hold us back from a more just and peaceful world. Outrage over the bank bailouts and AIG bonuses is growing, but so are the ranks of the unemployed, the number of foreclosed homes, the struggles of working people, and the budget cuts that will crimp spending on our most important human services. Now is the time to step up and demand that our tax dollars be used to rebuild our communities and help, not hinder, working people in their struggle for jobs, health care, housing, and a better future. And while the economic crisis takes its toll, we must stay focused on our demand for an end to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Not only do the wars continue to cause death and destruction in both countries, but they are also draining our national treasury and, in turn, our efforts to rebuild and re-imagine our communities. On Saturday, April 4, Dr. King's vision is our calling: we will take our demand for a new set of national priorities to our nation's financial center: Wall Street. There, we will renew our commitment to build a movement that will struggle for racial and economic justice, as well as an immediate end to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Join United For Peace and Justice on Saturday, April 4, to herald in this new era of our work!   * Assemble at 11:00 AM on Leonard, Franklin and White Streets, between Broadway and Lafayette, south of Canal Street in lower Manhattan. The march will begin at 12 noon.   * Register your bus.   * Download this email announcement to forward on listservs and post on Facebook.    * Download the general leaflet available in both Spanish and English, as well as a leaflet for labor unions.    * Endorse the call to action.   * Finally, if you can participate in the activities being planned by the Bail Out the People Movement on Friday, April 3, we encourage you to do so. For those who are not able to make it to New York City on Saturday, April 4, we strongly urge you to help us out by spreading the word far and wide. You can forward this message or send your own. And please be sure to help ensure the success of this effort by making a generous donation today. Thank you so much!

Afghanistan

This from Jim Wallis at Sojourner:

The War in Afghanistan has dragged on for more than seven years and, by all accounts, is getting worse. We believe only a surge in funding for diplomacy and development -- not more military escalation -- will bring long-term peace to the troubled region. Call on President Obama to continue supporting more economic development, not more military escalation, in Afghanistan. I will personally take this petition to the White House, expressing our opposition to further military escalation, and our support for diplomacy and non-military assistance. Simply sending additional troops will not provide security and stability for the Afghan people. Civilian deaths caused by American airstrikes and ground assaults are rapidly turning Afghan public opinion against our troops. Last month, the head of the U.S. military’s Joint Special Operations Command halted some raids in Afghanistan, implicitly acknowledging this fact. (1) A recent report published by The Carnegie Endowment for International Peace concluded, “The mere presence of foreign soldiers fighting a war in Afghanistan is probably the single most important factor in the resurgence of the Taliban.” (2) And David Cortright, president of the Fourth Freedom Forum, wrote in Sojourners, “Few things are certain about the complex insurgencies raging in Afghanistan and Pakistan, but one thing seems clear: A military surge and escalation of the war will make matters worse, not better.” (3) Tell the president you believe that escalation of the war in Afghanistan will not bring peace and stability.  Now is the right time to support solutions that could lead to a lasting peace. Some economic development activity is already taking place in Afghanistan, and we applaud the president’s budget request to Congress to increase non-military assistance, providing additional funding for governance, reconstruction, and other development activities that will help counter extremists. However, instead of increasing our military profile, the U.S. should shift funding from military offensives to providing security and protection for civilian efforts to erect schools for young women, strengthen civil society institutions, promote traditional justice mechanisms that encourage the rule of law, help to remove old weapons and land mines, foster local agricultural projects, and make similar efforts. Providing a better life for the people will provide greater stability than sending additional military forces. Take action with me today to voice your support for full funding of development assistance to Afghanistan, and oppose continued offensive military strikes. I encourage you to keep the people of Afghanistan and our troops in your prayers. Blessings, Jim Wallis (1) “U.S. Halted Some Raids in Afghanistan,” Mark Mazzetti and Eric Schmitt, The New York Times, March 9, 2009; http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/10/world/asia/10terror.html?scp=5&sq=afghanistan&st=cse (2) “Focus and Exit: An Alternative Strategy for the Afghan War,” Gilles Dorronsoro, Visiting Scholar, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, http://carnegieendowment.org/files/afghan_war-strategy.pdf (3) “'Winning' in Afghanistan,” David Cortright, president, Fourth Freedom Forum, http://www.sojo.net/index.cfm?action=magazine.article&issue=soj0903&article=winning-in-afghanistan

Providence 6th anniversary of the war -- AFSC-SNE

From: Martha Yager Greetings Friends   Unfortunately the 6th anniversary of the start of the Iraq war is March 19th and we are only a bit closer to its end. I think that it is important to keep the pressure on President Obama to end the occupation now – and not shift troops to Afghanistan. There are HUGE vested interests that would like to see this occupation continue. His announcement of a timetable, slower than he had pledged, raises questions. The White House Website contains the information that the 50,000 troops will be withdrawn according to the Status of Forces Agreement in 2012, but there again are rumors of plans to renegotiate that agreement. And no mention is made of the thousands of contractors that are there. If we are going to get everyone home, without permanent bases left behind, we are going to have to keep the pressure on. The anniversary is a good opportunity for that. In the next week I will post some resources on the www.afsc.org/sene website for use at local vigils or other events you might plan to mark the anniversary in your community. Please let me know what you are planning – I will list them on the website. Also please let me know if there are addition resources that would be helpful.    We will be organizing a vigil in Providence at the War Memorial near the intersection of College Ave. and South Main Street at 5pm on Thursday March 19. We plan a simple vigil lasting about an hour. There also will be the regular Declaration of Peace vigil outside the Federal Building (corner of Exchange ST and Kennedy Plaza) at 4:30 pm on March 20th.   

NYC April 4 March on 7th anniversary of Afghan War

UFPJ plans for April 4 march       http://unitedforpeace.org/article.php?id=4034   PLANS FOR THE DAY Please check back here periodically for more details and any changes. United For Peace and Justice has negotiated with the NYC Police Department and we have been given permits for the following plans for our mobilization on April 4. Assembly Time: 11:00 AM Assembly Location: Leonard, Franklin and White Streets, between Broadway and Lafayette St. This is just south of Canal Street and close to several subway stops. Canal Street stops on the J, M, Z lines at Centre Street 6 line at Lafayette Street N, Q, R, W lines at Broadway A. C, E lines at Sixth Ave. Franklin Street stop on the 1 line, at Varick St. Please check back here right before April 4th and we will post any changes in subway service for April 4th. Contingents: Check back for updates on additional contingents. If you are interested in organizing a contingent please let us know as quickly as possible: contingents@unitedforpeace.org Veterans, Military Families and Others Associated With the Military -- Leonard Street Labor -- Leonard Street Students and Youth -- Franklin Street March Step Off-Time: 12:00 PM noon March Route: South on Broadway to Stone St., East on Stone to Broad St., North on Broad to Wall St. This route is a little less than 1.5 miles and takes us through the heart of the financial district, ending right in front of the NY Stock Exchange.

6th anniversary of the war -- buses to March on Pentagon

Join us in DC on March 21! ROUND TRIP RI-DC BUS TICKETS ARE ONLY $60!     We still have choice seats available on our deluxe Van Hool coaches, so place that call today! There are two ways to purchase a ticket: 1) Call the RIMC reservations line at 814-284-4600. 2) Send an email to and use our secure online payment system.    Can't go but want to contribute to help provide scholarship seats to those who need financial assistance? Email me today for details on how to make a contribution for our DC bus scholarship fund: mcstahl3@cox.net .   Please see below for more details on the march on the Pentagon and how to secure your seats. This is the largest antiwar mobilization in over two years and is your chance to just say no to continued wars and occupations in the Middle East.       On the 6th Anniversary of the Iraq War...MARCH ON THE PENTAGON SATURDAY, MARCH 21 - Washington DC - Get on the bus from RI! ROUND TRIP RI-DC BUS TICKETS ARE ONLY $60! (Limited financial assistance is available.) Pick-ups in Providence and Richmond (see below for details.) There are two ways to purchase a ticket: 1) Call the RIMC reservations line at 814-284-4600. 2) Send an email to march21ri@gmail.com and use our secure online payment system. (In either case, please allow 24 hours for a response--we're all volunteers with day jobs!) From Iraq to Afghanistan to Palestine, Occupation is a Crime Jobs & Education - Not Wars & Occupation The RI Mobilization Committee to Stop War and Occupation (RIMC) is joining with the ANSWER Coalition, Veterans for Peace, the National Assembly to End the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars and Occupations, Iraq Veterans Against the War, the National Council of Arab Americans, US Labor Against the War, the Muslim American Society Freedom Foundation, and more than 1000 other organizations and individuals in a March 21 National Coalition to bring people from all walks of life and from all cities across the United States to take part in a March on the Pentagon on the sixth anniversary of the Iraq war. The thousands who march will demand "From Iraq to Afghanistan to Palestine, Occupation is a Crime" and "We Need Jobs and Education, Not Wars and Occupation." We will insist on an end to the war threats and economic sanctions against Iran. We will say no to the illegal U.S. program of detention and torture. Join us! ROUND TRIP RI-DC BUS TICKETS ARE ONLY $60! (Limited financial assistance is available--see the FAQ below.) There are two ways to purchase a ticket: 1) Call the RIMC reservations line at 814-284-4600. 2) Send an email to march21ri@gmail.com and use our secure online payment system. (In either case, please allow 24 hours for a response--we're all volunteers with day jobs!) For updated information from the national March 21 organizers, see http://pentagonmarch.org/. Join the "March 21: RI to DC" event on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/event.php?eid=123745335033 BUS DETAILS: Buses depart PROVIDENCE on Friday, March 20 at 11:55PM from the Branch Ave Super Stop & Shop, 333 W River St. Buses depart RICHMOND (South County) at 12:45AM from the Super Stop & Shop, 3 Stilson Rd (I-95 Exit 3A to RI-138E). Buses depart Washington, DC at 6PM on March 21, for an estimated Providence return of 4AM on Sunday, March 22. A round-trip bus ticket is only $60! (One-way tickets are not available.) To buy your ticket, leave a message at 814-284-4600 or send an email to march21ri@gmail.com with the following information: 1. Your name, and the name of everyone in your party. 2. Your phone number. 3. How many tickets you would like to purchase. 4. Where (PROVIDENCE or RICHMOND) you will board the bus. If you called, we will return your call to confirm and arrange for payment. If you emailed and wish to pay online, you will be sent an invoice with a link to PayPal. (If you use the online option, you are strongly encouraged to leave your shipping address so we can send you a physical ticket.) DO NOT EMAIL YOUR CREDIT CARD NUMBER OR OTHER SENSITIVE DATA TO US. We will hold your ticket for 24 HOURS after you are sent an invoice. If you do not pay by that time, your request will be canceled. ALL SALES ARE FINAL AS OF THURSDAY, MARCH 19! See the FAQ below for our refund policy. You are welcome to leave questions at phone/email above, but if you have technical problems or billing issues, you may contact Shaun Joseph at 401-572-1663 or snjoseph [at] gmail [dot] com. Please check the FAQ below before calling! If you'd like to help us mobilize, RIMC meets every Wednesday at 7PM at Beneficent Church (300 Weybosset St) in Providence. For more information, email . FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS Q: What kind of bus will we take? A: We have a modern VanHool 57-passenger charter from Tremblay's Motor Coach LLC, a reliable New Bedford company that we've used before. The VanHool features a lavatory, luggage bays, and VCR/DVD system. Q: Why do I always get sent to voicemail when I call 814-284-4600? A: The number is a voicemail box, not a full phone line--don't worry, we will get back to you! Q: Do I need a PayPal account to purchase tickets online? A: No. Any major credit card will do. Q: Will you see any of my private financial data if I buy online? A: No. PayPal, a secure, well-known, and trusted electronic commerce service, will process your payment. Q: Are there any extra fees/taxes for online payment? A: No, the price is the same. Q: Why does my online invoice come from a different email address than the one I sent the request to? A: The PayPal account is managed by the International Socialist Organization, Providence (ISO Providence), a member group of the RI Mobilization Committee (RIMC). The march21ri@gmail.com account has been set up as a collection point for all bus ticket requests. All proceeds from ticket sales are forwarded to RIMC; the ISO retains no portion. Q: Can I make a donation online? A: Yes! Just send an email to march21ri@gmail.com and we'll take it from there. Q: I cannot afford a full-price ticket. Is there financial assistance available? A: Yes, we have a limited amount of assistance available; please note that you need assistance in your message. Q: Can I cancel my ticket? Will I be refunded? A: Yes, you can cancel for a full refund--but inform us of your cancellation as soon as possible so that we may resell your ticket. YOU MUST REQUEST A REFUND **BEFORE** THURSDAY, MARCH 19! If you do cancel, please consider donating some or all of your ticket price to help us defray our substantial costs.