Summer vacation idea

Wow, this is scenic, and you'd meet interesting people!

Info Here

http://footprintsforpeace.tripod.com/

TRINITY TO TRIDENT INTERFAITH PEACE WALK

FOR NUCLEAR FREE FUTURE& RESPECT THE MOTHER EARTH JUL. 6 MON. – AUG. 10 MON. 2009 EACH STEP WILL BE A PRAYER TOWARDS WORLD PEACE, A NUCLEAR FREE FUTURE NA TRINITY TO TRIDENT INTERFAITH PEACE WALK is an opportunity for all people to come together in a non-violent, spiritually motivated action to reclaim the future. MU Especially we expect the progress of the Nonproliferation Treaty conference on 2010 at UN. Now, we have a president who have a will to prepare considering the abolition of MYO nuclear weapons. The time is come that public opinion of nuclear free future must go up! So, we will walk and pray at Trinity, the first testing site of Nuclear bomb & Los HO Alamos, NM. Livermore, the H bomb lab. in CA. Hanford & Bangor Subase, WA. for Hiroshima & Nagasaki Day. Above all, How America the West (the mother earth) was REN desecrated last 500 years that Native American refered. Peace walkers will average about 17 miles per day along the way. The Walk is open to all GE who sincerely believe in extinguish the violent fire of nuclear annihilation: Peace & Joy

Coverage of Earth Day Vigil

Herald News gave us both a write-up and youtube video. 

http://www.heraldnews.com/archive/x360591438/Mother-Nature-no-match-for-Mother-Earth

Mother Nature no match for Mother Earth Crowds in Somerset brave the rain for Earth Day rally  By Derek Vital Herald News Staff Reporter Posted Apr 22, 2009 @ 06:56 PM Somerset —  Young and old alike dodged the raindrops for an Earth Day vigil at Slade’s Ferry Park on Wednesday. The event was co-sponsored by the Greater Fall River Committee for Peace and Justice and the Somerset chapter of the Massachusetts Clean Air Coalition. Around 20 people were in attendance for the event, which focused on the need for renewable fuels. Event organizer Reverend James Hornsby saw Earth Day as a natural tie-in to the rally.  “The purpose of this rally is two-fold,” he said. “We are hoping to inform people of the ongoing campaign looking for alternate sources of energy to coal. Also, we would like to make people aware that there is a connection between peace, justice and a planet that is getting hotter and hotter.” Among those in attendance was attorney Shanna Cleveland of the Conservation Law Foundation, who announced CLF’s intent to sue NRG Energy Inc., owner of the Somerset Power coal-fired energy plant. NRG received notice on Wednesday and has 60 days to respond or a suit will be filed in federal district court. The suit is calling for NRG to improve its standards or shut down by 2010.  “There is compelling evidence that the numbers submitted as part of their permit application are not correct,” Cleveland said. “If they had used the appropriate numbers for their modeling then it would have shown a significant increase of carbon monoxide emissions from the plant. That is a direct contributor to ozone pollution.” Most of the people in attendance at the rally held some sort of sign opposing the coal plant. Hornsby held a sign that read “Coal is a Killer” and others included “Coal is not Green” and “If not coal then what? There is a better way.” Fall River City Councilor Steven A. Camara joined the group sporting an American flag. Camara, who said he tries to attend as many Earth Day celebrations as possible, stressed the importance of making a difference in the community. “We need to take seriously the responsibility of being good stewards of the planet,” Camara said. “We should be thinking globally and acting locally.” E-mail Derek Vital at dvital@heraldnews.com.

And the video HERE:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LTlDUgEGBZk

I can't say they picked out best moment.....

Tax Day Cometh -- from the AFSC Providence Office

Tax Day is coming – and with it the annual opportunity to stand outside your local Post Office with information about how our taxes are spent. Though the general public seems to be in deep denial, the US still occupies Iraq, is increasing the occupation of Afghanistan and regularly carrying out attacks in Pakistan. While the violence is down in Iraq, we will probably reach the 5000 US soldier death this summer, and hundreds of Iraqis are still dying. While it is good to have an end date in sight, it is a good thing to continue to call for that being the absolute minimum – sooner would be better. In other words, war still is costing us a huge amount of money, a huge toll in lives lost, and soldiers are returning home to inadequate care. We can do better.    Secretary of Defense Gates is aware at how much money is being spent and has put out a budget that calls for cutting out-dated weapons systems. But already the defense industry is pushing back and howling about the jobs that will be lost. That is true, but there is good news. A recent study by the Institute for Policy Studies shows that for every $1 Billion of investment, some industries produce more jobs than others – and the military comes out on the bottom (could be due to the 300% cost overruns of their projects). You get 8,555 jobs from the military, 10,779 jobs created from $1B in tax rebates, 17,687 jobs when it is invested in education, 12,883 jobs if it is invested in health care, 12,804 jobs in construction and 19,795 jobs if $1B is invested in mass transit. And some of those are jobs that people doing military construction could shift to.    With the economy suffering and unemployment rising, now is the time to think about how we invest our federal money. Do we keep the military industrial complex happy because that is what we know – or do we cut old system and try some new things? We can indeed to better – but Congress has to hear from YOU and our neighbors.    That is where you come in. Visit www. http://www.afsc.org/sene/ht/display/ContentDetails/i/77773 for information on how to set up an event at your Post Office. Tax Day is an incredible opportunity to talk to people about our national priorities. At the website you will find a variety of flyers. Take the ones that strike you as most effective, grab a friend, take a stack of 3X5 cards for postcards that people can use for notes to their Congressman, and stand in front of the Post Office for an hour or two or ten. There will be events in Providence (at the main PO on Corliss St), East Providence, Barrington and Bristol. IF you plan an event – please let us know so we can post it. Watch the website – more documents will be added in the coming days. And have some fun. 

In Peace Martha Martha Yager AFSC-SENE

MYager@afsc.org 33 Chestnut St. Providence RI 02903 401-521-3584 Faith is the bird that feels the light and sings when the dawn is still dark. Rabindranath Tagore

Catholic Earthday Initiative: The St. Francis Pledge

Catholic Climate Covenant: The St. Francis Pledge to Care for Creation and the Poor Today the great gift of God’s Creation is exposed to serious dangers and lifestyles which can degrade it. Environmental pollution is making particularly unsustainable the lives of the poor of the world … we must pledge ourselves to take care of creation and to share its resources in solidarity.    —Pope Benedict XVI The Coalition is launching a nationwide ad campaign. It asks the question "Who's Under Your Carbon Footprint" and encourages widespread participation in the St. Francis Pledge. Endorsements from Bishops: Bishop Stephen Blaire of Stockton endorses Catholic Climate Covenant. See the statement and the list of prayer and actions the diocese has "taken to address global warming and its effects on our disadvantaged communities." (PDF)  Archbishop Henry Mansell of Hartford endorses Catholic Climate Covenant. The Archdiocese will "foster continued engagement on this serious issue that has profound implications for humanity, but most especially for the poor and vulnerable." See his letter here (PDF)  Archbishop Daniel Pilarczyk of Cincinnati endorses the Catholic Climate Covenant and has "authorized the creation of a Climate Change Task Force" comprised of "staff and volunteers from across the Archdiocess [who] will strategize on how we can live out the five elements of the pledge." See entire statement (PDF)  Bishop Sam Jacobs of Houma-Thibodaux endorses the Catholic Climate Covenant because "scientific and public discourse have converged in making climate change both an urgent practical concern and a moral imperative for Catholics in the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux." Click here to view his entire statement (PDF).  

The Catholic Coalition on Climate Change will be launching a unique and unprecedented initiative, A Catholic Climate Covenant and the St. Francis Pledge to Care for Creation and the Poor. This ambitious project is in response to a growing desire by the Catholic community to respond, in faith, to climate change. It will also be a demonstration of a common Catholic commitment to care for God's creation and to stand with the poor and vulnerable people in our nation and around the world who face the impacts of a changing climate.

This effort will be launched during the Easter season in 2009.  At the center of the Covenant is The St. Francis Pledge calling Catholic individuals, groups and institutions to make a serious commitment to all of the following: PRAY and reflect on the duty to care for God's creation and for the poor and vulnerable; LEARN about and educate others on the moral dimensions of climate change; ASSESS our participation-as individuals and organizations-in contributing to climate change (i.e. consumption and conservation); ACT to change our choices and behaviors contributing to climate change and; ADVOCATE Catholic principles and priorities in climate change discussions and decisions, especially as they impact the poor and vulnerable.

More Info here http://www.catholicsandclimatechange.org/

Press Release -- our Earthday Standout

The Greater Fall River Committee for Peace and Justice, along with the Somerset Chapter of the Massachusetts Clean Air Coalition, announce an Earth Day Vigil on Wednesday April 22nd beginning at 4 p.m. near the Somerset side of the Brightman Street Bridge.    The Earth Day Vigil, announced the event spokesperson, Rev. James Hornsby, will focus on the need for renewable fuels which do not contribute to global warming, environmental pollution and war to gain control of oil and gas.   “We are encouraging anyone to come, bring signs or not, and simply spend an hour so on Earth Day thinking, praying or meditating about our planet and how we may improve our environment. We chose this location because it so close the two coal-burning power plants, but we hope that we reduce sharply the use of all fossil fuels.”   “The idea began with the Greater Fall River Committee for Peace and Justice, which sees competition for oil and gas as a contributor to war and injustice; the folks in the Clean Air Coalition, who in March held a demonstration against coal plants, readily agreed to join us and co-sponsor the event,” he added.  Parking is available at the Somerset Park ‘n Ride at the intersection of Routes 6 and 138 (Riverside Ave); people will gather at the public park, then go to the sidewalk. The general public is invited.

info from    The Rev. James H. Hornsby, licsw   Rector Emeritus   Saint Luke’s Episcopal Church   Office and home: 260 Lake Avenue, Fall River, MA 02721-5423   Tel. 508-672-6607 fax 508-676-1876 email jjhornsby@aol.com

Support Michelle Obama's Garden!

ubject: Tell Pesticide Peddlers: We support Michelle Obama's organic garden. Dear Friend, The Mid America CropLife Association (MACA) has a bone to pick with Michelle Obama. MACA represents chemical companies that produce pesticides, and they are angry that - wait for it - Michelle Obama isn't using chemicals in her organic garden at the White House. I am not making this up. In an email they forwarded to their supporters, a MACA spokesman wrote, "While a garden is a great idea, the thought of it being organic made [us] shudder." MACA went on to publish a letter it had sent to the First Lady asking her to consider using chemicals -- or what they call "crop protection products" -- in her garden. Michelle Obama and has done America a great service by publicizing the importance of nutritious food for kids (she's growing the garden in partnership with a local elementary school class) as well as locally grown produce as an important, environmentally sustainable food source. I just signed a petition telling MACA's board members to stop using Michelle Obama's garden to spread propaganda about produce needing to be sprayed with chemicals. I hope you will, too. Please have a look and take action. http://act.credoaction.com/campaign/wh_garden/?r_by=3454-701061-GTGsSFx&rc=paste Thanks!

Petition supporting defense cuts

I got this from True Majority: 

Some of us wondered if this day would ever come. Yesterday the Secretary of Defense explained to Congress exactly the points TrueMajority members have been making for years: wasting taxes on weapons which don't work and have no conceivable use against real-world enemies makes us LESS strong as a nation1.

Show Congress we're ready to invest in True Security -- sign the petition. http://act.truemajorityaction.org/p/7002/petition?petition_KEY=105 More than 35,000 TrueMajority members have signed on already, if we can get to 50,000 we will deliver your petition in person. This is a big deal. For years we've called Congress, run opinion columns, put ads on the air and in the newspaper, released reports and held press conferences about wasteful programs like the F-22 fighter jet, designed to fight countries that don't exist anymore. Admirals, generals and even a former Asst. Secretary of Defense have all said these things are unneeded -- we only keep building them because they make a lot of money for defense contractors and lobbyists. Now the Secretary of Defense is on board. Yesterday Robert Gates called for ending the F-22 program, scaling back star-wars missile programs, and more2. It's an amazing, historic day to get the head of the Pentagon to support the idea of fixing our military spending. And we need to tell Congress WE AGREE, loud and clear. - Darcy Darcy Scott Martin TrueMajority / USAction 1 - cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/04/06/gates.budget.cuts/ 2 - google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5idcsRSLw6_ppJCceAZXPgvBEfojgD97D4TG00