PA 100505

PHILLY AREA ACTION;

From: Ali Kronley <akronley@reformimmigrationforamerica.org>
Date: Tue, May 4, 2010 at 3:43 PM

Today, with the introduction of Rep. Metcalfe’s HB 2479, Pennsylvania joins the lists of states attempting to replicate Arizona style anti- immigrant legislation. Quite simply, congressional inaction has created a void, allowing state representatives to propose hateful policies. We cannot allow this to continue.

Please join us this Thursday, at 10 AM, as we rally at Sen. Casey’s office (2000 Market St) and demand that he protect Pennsylvania from wrongheaded policies by showing leadership in Congress to pass fair, humane, and practical comprehensive immigration reform this year.

The 10 AM rally at Sen. Casey’s office (2000 Market) will be followed by a march down Market Street to Love Park, where faith leaders will join with the Mayor’s National Day of Prayer event, to offer prayers on behalf of immigration reform. Bring posters, American flags, noisemakers, and as many people as possible with you -- together, we must send a strong message that we will not stand by and let our state follow in the footsteps of Arizona.

Rep. Medcalfe’s proposal is exactly the wrong approach to our broken immigration system, because it will strain law enforcement to the breaking point, will undoubtedly lead to racial profiling, and will inevitably lead to lawsuits that cost the taxpayers of Pennsylvania. Instead, we need reform that will help our economy while creating jobs, protect our workers, create a fair and practical path to citizenship, and make us safer with smarter enforcement.

One more thing:
Today! Call President Obama. Let him know about the introduction of this bill in PA, and tell him you are counting on him to deliver on his promise to pass immigration reform this year.
Toll Free Numbers: English line: 866-956-8590 Spanish line: 866-584-3906
RSVP for Thursdays rally: marchforamericapa@gmail.org

Ali Kronley, akronley@reformimmigrationforamerica.org, 267 408 5582

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TEACH - IN AND STRATEGY SESSION
   BEYOND WAR: A NEW ECONOMY IS POSSIBLE

Tabernacle Church, 3700 Chestnut St, Philadelphia,Pa
United for Peace&Justice, Delaware Valley Network,
          11:00 AM - 2:00 PM - Saturday, May 8th
Judith Le Blanc of UPJ and PeaceAction will speak of    "What in the World is Going On? An Overview"
   Bob Smith of the Brandywine Peace Community on " How Corporations Run Our Foreign Policy
            There will be three simultaneous workshops on the Relationship of the U.S. to the oil rich area of the world, the Cost of Our Current Wars in money and human lives, How can citizens get Better Information from the Media? After questions, we 'll be getting suggestions from the participants regarding how we can arrive at solutions to the above problems plus how we can energize Congress for collaborative and constructive actions and how we can prevent dis- tructive conflict in the future.
            There will be a break so that people can eat the bag lunches they have brought with them. Drinks will be provided.
            After the Teach In, the acclaimed movie, Rethinking Afghanistan will be shown for those who would like to see it. (Donations for the day are requested:$5.00 or whatever you can afford. No one turned away.)
           http://www.ufpj-dvn.org/ 215-382-1531

2. Please call your Congressional Representative and ask her/him to become an original co-sponsor of Dennis Kucinich's new (priviledged) resolution to withdraw troops from Afghanistan this year. This is the kind of resolution that must be discussed om the floor - an opportunity for a wide ranging consideration of why and how we go to war. Thank You!!

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From: Committee of Seventy [mailto:lpillsbury@seventy.org]
Sent: 2010 May 4 Tuesday 9:56 AM

Subject: Election Day Countdown: Absentee Ballots (and more!)

If you're having trouble viewing this email, you may see it online.

The May 18th Primary Election is just two weeks away. Check your calendar - will you be out of town or unable to make it to your polling place? If so, you may be eligible for an absentee ballot.

Absentee and Alternative Ballots: Tuesday, May 11th is the last day to apply for an absentee or alternative ballot - though we encourage you to apply immediately. To download an application or for more information visit our absentee and alternative ballot section.

There's more:

Candidates and Ballot Questions: For listings of all the official candidates on the ballot and ballot questions visit: www.seventy.org/elections.

Also check out Seventy's "Featured House Races" page for the inside scoop on the some of the local state representative races.

Voting Machine Inspection: Join us for a voting machine inspection on Friday, May 7th. Seventy needs volunteers to help test a random sampling of voting machines as part of the Voter Protection Program. It's fun! Contact Leah Pillsbury at lpillsbury@seventy.org if you are interested in helping on Friday morning.

Volunteer on Election Day: This week is the last week to sign up to volunteer as a Voter Protection volunteer. Visit www.seventy.org/volunteer for more.

For more information about volunteering, the election or other programs contact Leah Pillsbury, Director of Civic Programs, at lpillsbury@seventy.org or 215-557-3600 ext 109

8 Penn Center 1628 JFK Blvd., Suite 1002 | Philadelphia, PA 19103 US

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Kathy Black invited you to join the Facebook group "WOMEN FOR JOE HOEFFEL FOR PA GOVERNOR".

Kathy says, "Please join this group and show your support for the most progressive, fiscally responsible, and the only 100% pro-choice Democrat running for Governor. And come out next Tuesday, May 11th to a Women for Hoeffel rally at the Warwick Hotel, 17th & Locust.".

To see more details and confirm this group invitation, follow the link below:

http://www.facebook.com/n/?group.php&gid=166489523248&mid=24a5bf5G2d1f52f1G4c34319G6&n_m=marlsan%40cavtel.net

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Mt Airy Art Garage Hosting Silent Auction/Fundraiser at the Governors Mansion in Germantown

Saturday May 15, 7 pm-10 pm

254 W.Walnut Lane, Philadelphia, PA 19144

A fun-filled evening filled with live entertainment and "light fare" while artists and art lovers bid for original fine art and handcrafts. Did we mention we are also raffling off fabulous gifts from area businesses?

For more information visit www.mtairyartgarage.org.

Its a Fundraiser, After All. Remember Space Is Limited!Tickets (check payable to the Mt. Airy Art Garage): $25 Individual $50 Family (2 adults + kids) $250 Sponsor $500 Friend

Please mail checks to Mt. Airy Art Garage, P.O. Box 18838, Phila., PA 19119. Tickets will be held, in your name, at the door. Or, for more information, call 215.242.5074. Remember, Mt. Airy Art Garage is a nonprofit and all donations are tax-deductible. $1,000 Benefactor

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Sunday May 16th, 2:00 to 4:00 - Abu Ghraib Peace Event and Vigil on West Schoolhouse Lane and Vaux Street, near Arlen Specter's home, Contact: Chris Robinson at nwgreens@yahoo.com or 215-843-4256. This is a call for Specter to cut off funding for the US occupations of Afghanistan and Iraq and the bring the troops home now.

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NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL ACTION:

Tell your congressperson - suspend U.S. military aid to Israel

jvp-talk@googlegroups.com, On Behalf Of bruce taub

Friends - this is very easy to do. tell your congressperson to vote to suspend U.S. military aid to Israel. there's still time and it's important. just go to

http://capwiz.com/pdamerica/issues/alert/?alertid=14926411, enter your zip code and your message is on its way. you can personalize your message if you wish. then, ideally, follow up with a phone call to the congressperson's foreign policy aide at 800-828-0498.

this is virtually an indispensable action ... and numbers really matter ... tell your allies and friends and if you think it appropriate forward to your lists.

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The war in Afghanistan proceeds with increasing numbers of casualties and diminishing clarity of purpose. Besides continuing educational efforts and direct action, MAKE THE FREE CALL 800-828-0498 : We must support efforts in Congress such as bill S. 3197, introduced in the US Senate by Russ Feingold, and H.R. 5015, introduced in the House of Representatives by Representatives Jim McGovern and Walter Jones, that call for President Obama to establish a timetable for the withdrawal of US military forces from Afghanistan.

Funding an escalation of war in Afghanistan with $33 billion is:
illegal,
immoral,
against the public will,
economically catastrophic,
counterproductive on its own terms, and
a cynically motivated intentional failure
READ WHY:
http://afterdowningstreet.org/node/51869

Call Your Congress Member at (202) 224-3121 and tell them that you will vote against them if they vote to fund an escalation in Afghanistan.

Sure, their opponent could be worse, but not much, and decent representation will only be possible if representatives fear the public more than they fear the funders, media, and parties.

If they tell you they want to vote for aid to Haiti or some other lipstick included in the bill, tell them those things can pass separately and constitute no excuse. You want a commitment now to vote No no matter what.

If they tell you it's the very last supplemental, tell them you didn't believe that BS last June and won't believe it now.

If they tell you they want to obey the president, ask them to read the U.S. Constitution and see what's in Article I. Ask them why they think the framers put the war power in the Congress.

If they tell you they want to "support duh troops," tell them that a No vote merely avoids or undoes an escalation, thus preventing troops from being sent to risk their lives under illegal orders.

If they tell you they're voting for a toothless non-binding request for an exit time-table, tell them a growing causus opposing the funding sends a stronger message and builds toward the ability to actually end the war. Tell them the exit strategy approach, last summer, was rightly delayed until after the funding vote, and then garnered 138 votes, to which the president merely gave a one-finger salute. Let them know that ineffective rhetoric is no substitute for action.

Ask them to commit now to whipping their colleagues to vote No.

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From: Amnesty International USA [mailto:alerts@takeaction.amnestyusa.org]
Sent: 2010 May 4 Tuesday 7:17 PM

Subject: Add your name to the ultimate petition for moms


	One mother's preventable death is one death too many. This Mother's Day, do right by all mothers. Urge Secretary Sebelius' department to create an Office of Maternal Health now!

This Thursday, May 6th, a team of Amnesty representatives is meeting face-to-face with a senior Health and Human Services (HHS) official. Our goal is to press for the creation of an Office of Maternal Health within HHS. Our motivation is to break down the barriers to care for pregnant women in the United States.

In honor of Mother's Day, we're asking you to stand up for the rights of moms everywhere. If we are going put an end to preventable maternal deaths, then HHS needs to know that we are speaking for many when we say that we demand better maternal health care.

Take action today and we'll hand deliver every signature to HHS on May 6th.

The maternal death rate in the U.S. is worse than once thought. Ours is higher than 40 other countries, despite the fact that we spend more on health care than any other country. The stark differences in risk for minorities are particularly disturbing - African-American women are almost four times as likely as white or Hispanic women to die in childbirth.

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From: Debra Sweet, World Can't Wait [mailto:debrasweet@worldcantwait.org]

Subject: 40 Years: May 4, 1970 Kent & Jackson State



The World Can't Wait Stop the Crimes of Your Government	Donate \| Local Chapters \| Store \| Previous Newsletters

Dear Marlena Santoyo,

We received notice today that Rabbi Michael Lerner's home in Berkeley CA was plastered with signs over the weekend, attacking him personally, and calling liberals and progressives "supporters of terrorism and 'Islamo-fascism."

We are concerned for his safety, as a Jewish leader who continues to speak out against Israeli Zionist policies.

Rabbi Lerner's Home Attacked by Right-Wing Zionists

Around noon, forty years ago today, 4 students were shot dead, and 9 wounded when Ohio National Guardsmen shot into a protest 0f 2,000 at Kent State University. KSU officials had banned the protest, and the Ohio governor called in the Guard after students at Kent State, like those all around the world, reacted to news that the U.S. was secretly bombing Cambodia.

These killings led almost immediately to a student strike of four million on 900 campuses. 450 campuses closed for the year, without exams. 100,000 of us went to Washington DC that weekend to protest the war and the killings. Richard Nixon was sent to Camp David "for his own safety" and the 82nd Airborne wore combat gear inside the White House. The government was worried, and we students were emboldened. We were outraged, and scared, we had right on our side, and we felt, in the words of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, "how could you run when you know?"

Gotta get down to it.
Soldiers are gunning us down.
Should have been done long ago.
What if you knew her and
Found her dead on the ground?
How can you run when you know?

Ten days later, 2 students were killed by state police at Jackson State in Mississippi. For millions of us, the idea that determined street protest would ever be viewed as tolerable to the powers that be -- much less insignificant or meaningless -- was over. The repression of Kent State showed how afraid the Nixon government was of the youth, and of the truth about the Vietnam war. The opposition to the war grew.

Four dead in Ohio, forty years ago. I am proud to be part of a generation that helped stop an illegitimate war. We need that kind of response now. The world can't wait for it! Students called for protests on 100 campuses today against Obama's wars, and Michael Morre and others are sponsoring a 40th Anniversary Kent State Truth Tribunal.

David Swanson's remarks Seven Deadly Sins in Afghanistan.