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HEALTHCARE NOT WARFARE VIGILS IN 82 DISTRICTS ON MARCH 17 | Press Release

Labor and advocacy groups organized "brown bag" lunch vigils against war funding in 22 congressional districts in January and 67 in February. Currently 82 are planned for March 17th, with more being added. Organizations participating include: Progressive Democrats of America (PDA), AfterDowningStreet, the Backbone Campaign, Democrats.com, the California Nurses Association / National Nurses Organizing Committee, Healthcare Now, CodePINK, and United for Peace and Justice.

On March 10th, 65 members of Congress voted to end the occupation of Afghanistan. Yet only 14 have publicly committed to voting No on funding the same war. A $33 billion supplemental spending bill for the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq is expected to be voted on in April or May. 
Brownbaggers are asking members of the House to publicly commit to voting No on any bills that fund wars, and to publicly urge their colleagues and the House leadership to make the same commitment. As lesser steps in the same direction, the Brown Bag Vigils are encouraging congress members to cosponsor HR 2454, calling for an exit strategy from Afghanistan, and HR 3699, prohibiting any increase in the number of U.S. Armed Forces in Afghanistan. Congress members' commitments are tracked at http://defundwar.org.

Vigil participants, who support a shift in resources from warfare to healthcare, are also asking their representatives to join the growing movement calling for "Medicare for All" by demanding passage of the Kucinich amendment facilitating state-level single-payer healthcare and by offering their support to single-payer efforts moving forward in state legislatures, including in California, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Maine, Minnesota, Ohio, and Pennsylvania.

Kimber Heinz of the War Resisters League wrote:

Join us as we lead up to WRL actions at the NPT Review Conference this May!

Join the War Resisters League in NYC April 30-May 3 for four days of creative nonviolent protest and support a call for unilateral U.S. disarmament at the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference at the UN Headquarters.

In 1982, the War Resisters League initiated "Blockade the Bombmakers," organizing mass actions at the Missions to the United Nations of each of the five nuclear powers on the first day of the United Nations Special Session on Disarmament. In total, nearly 1,700 people were arrested in the blockades, which followed a march involving an estimated one million people.

Today, there are nine nuclear powers and the dangers of nuclear proliferation are even more acute than 28 years ago. Despite the White House's pledge to seek a world without nuclear weapons, the 2011 federal budget for nuclear weapons research and development is likely to be more than $7 billion and could (if the Obama administration has its way) reach $8 billion per year by the end of this decade. This steady and growing investment stands in stark contrast to the promising U.S. rhetoric of disarmament.

The 2010 NPT Review Conference represents a key juncture in the work for nuclear disarmament and a vital opportunity to put pressure on the U.S. government and kick-start the anti-nuclear movement. The War Resisters League is organizing a Monday, May 3rd action to deliver a strong message to the United Nations delegates. We are also organizing a WRL contingent and panel discussion for the Disarm Now! international march and alternative conference happening that weekend as WRL joins with thousands of anti-nuclear activists from around the world in resistance to nuclear build-up and global militarism.

Join us to demand complete and unilateral nuclear disarmament and to insist that action for disarmament, not more talking, is needed. We will be meeting in-person and by phone to shape and finalize the action over the next month and will offer nonviolence training on Sunday, May 2nd. To find out more and to sign up or get involved, please email WRL Organizing Coordinator Kimber Heinz at kimber@warresisters.org.

NYT and the ACORN Hoax
Why can't paper admit its mistakes? | FAIR

Ignoring calls from numerous critics, the New York Times refuses to own up to mistakes in the paper's coverage of the now-famous right-wing videotapes attacking the community organizing group ACORN. Instead, the paper's public editor, Clark Hoyt, is relying on an absurd semantic justification in order to claim the paper does not need to print any corrections.

As conventionally reported in the Times and elsewhere, right-wing activists James O'Keefe and Hannah Giles dressed up as a pimp and a prostitute and visited several local ACORN offices, where office workers gave the duo advice on setting up a brothel, concealing a child prostitution ring and so forth. But many of the key "facts" surrounding the videos are either in dispute or are demonstrable fabrications.

Though O'Keefe appears in various scenes in the videos wearing a garish and absurd "pimp" costume, he in fact did not wear the outfit when he appeared in the ACORN offices (Washington Independent, 2/19/10); he was dressed in a button-down shirt and slacks. This fact undermines one of the key contentions of the ACORN smear--that the group is so hopelessly corrupt that they would dispense advice to an obvious criminal.

What's more, the "advice" that they received, according to the transcripts released by O'Keefe and Giles, does not appear to be as incriminating as it was portrayed in the videos--and echoed in outlets like the New York Times.

A review of the Times coverage:

We are very excited to bring you an exclusive online live video chat with Michael Moore as part of the DVD and Blue-ray release of ‘Capitalism: A Love Story'.

The 30 minute session will be on Tuesday, March 16th at 3:00 pm EST at Brave New Films site:
http://bravenewfilms.org/michaelmoore

By David Swanson

The tea and coffee parties have cornered the market on vacuous meanness and niceness, respectively.  But brownbagging is where the substance and sustenance are.  Every third Wednesday of the month, those who want war defunded and everything useful funded are bringing brown bag lunches to vigil at their congress member's local office.  This month that means March 17th, St. Patrick's Day.  And that means more than food: Kicking off the Green Beer Party.

Ask 14 congress members to withhold support for a healthcare bill unless language is restored allowing states to create healthcare solutions.

http://twitter.com/davidcnswanson

March 3, 6pm-7:30pm, Busboys and Poets at 5th and K NW, Washington DC.

Join Andy Shallal from Busboys and Poets and Medea Benjamin from CODEPINK in a discussion of how to build support to stop the city of Washington DC from offering Northrop Grumman $25 million in subsidies to relocate to DC. Not only is this an outrageous waste of taxpayer money, but Washington DC does not need another war company that will use its beefed up presence in the nation’s capitol to lobby for even more money for war. Let’s work together to KEEP NORTHRUP GRUMMAN OUT OF WASHINGTON DC. To generate jobs, we should support our local businesses, not war profiteers.

If you can’t come to the meeting, but want to help in the campaign, call 415-235-6517.

THE Z MEDIA INSTITUTE
NEW DEADLINE: Applications are being accepted now THROUGH MARCH 5 for the 2010 Z Media Institute, which is to be held June 6 to June 14.

Z Media Institute (ZMI) was started in 1994 by the cofounders of Z Magazine and South End Press to teach radical politics, media, and organizing skills; the principles and practice of creating non-hierarchical institutions and projects; and a special emphasis on vision and strategy for social change. Classes are held in Woods Hole, Massachusetts. Over 700 students have attended ZMI since 1994, with ages ranging from 16 to 82.

To learn more, there is a video introduction, sample course and faculty listings, and a downloadable PDF application form on our website at: http://zcommunications.org/zmi/zmi.htm.

POLITICAL COURSES INCLUDE: principles of workplace democracy, foreign policy, ecology, political science, queer theory, women and revolution, labor, race, history, vision and strategy for a participatory society, and more.

MEDIA COURSES INCLUDE: analysis of mainstream media; starting a media project (newspaper, radio, video, magazine, Internet, organizing); challenges of alternative media; media activism; video activism; and more.

SKILLS COURSES INCLUDE: finances, promotion, fundraising, design, production, promotion, editing, facilitating meetings, writing for revolution, research and investigation techniques, political theater workshop, and more.

By David Swanson

Canada did not create a civilized healthcare system nationally until its provinces led the way.  Clearly Congress is dragging behind the states in our country, and it is through state successes that we will eventually compel the U.S. government to provide our people with this basic human right.

Contact your senators and tell them to insist that Senators Reid and McConnell deliver a vote on the Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act, without further stalling or delay. Tell them that ten years is long enough to pass rights so that those who defend the public can defend themselves. Go to the Make It Safe Action Center to send a message now.

by Linda Milazzo

UPDATED: Feb, 28, 2010/5:40AM (local Chile time)

CNN International is now reporting 101 aftershocks have been recorded in Chile since yesterday's 8.8 earthquake with 7 at 6.0 or higher. Over 300 fatalities have been reported with 60 reported missing.

Japan is seeing tsunami flooding on its northern island of Hokkaido. The tsunami projection from NOAA reports a wave of 4 feet has just arrived. 320,000 coastal residents have been evacuated. The tsunami warning for Russia has been lifted.

UPDATED: Feb, 28, 2010/3:40AM (local Chile time)
The death toll in Chile is now confirmed at 300. Chile has not yet asked for help from other countries. More than one million buildings have been damaged. More than a half million houses have been completely destroyed and two million people affected. President Bachelet has been coordinating services steadily for nearly 24 hours since 5AM yesterday.

By Dave Lindorff

The civilian death toll in the US media-hyped and much government-touted Battle of Marjah is now up to 21, about a third of them children. But that’s only part of this ugly story.

While the slaughter goes on in this pointless display of Marine power, civilians have been dying at American hands elsewhere in Afghanistan. On Thursday a US airstrike allegedly targeting “insurgents” ended up hitting and killing seven Afghani policemen. And yesterday, another airstrike, this time on a “convoy” of three vehicles, killed an astonishing 27-33 civilians and injured at least 12 more--and given the vicious nature of American weaponry, it’s a fair bet that many of those who were injured will end up dying of their wounds too.

Nice work Gen. Stanley McChrystal. Your newly professed “concern” about protecting civilians is working out nicely.

By Dave Lindorff

City leaders and the downtown business community in Philadelphia are wringing their hands and calling for “tough action” against a horde of some 150 high school kids from eight of the city’s decrepit and failing high schools who rampaged late Tuesday afternoon through the Center City district’s shops, from the Gallery mall at 10th Street to Macy’s near City Hall, frightening tourists and suburban shoppers, and knocking over shopping displays.

By evening, police had reportedly locked up 15 kids who were charged with violent offenses, such as beating other kids or bystanders, or destroying property (Macy’s claimed damages to its flagship store totalling $700). Some of these kids were held overnight on lesser charges such as shoplifting or disturbing the peace.

I’m not going to diminish the seriousness of the incident. Nobody should be trashing stores or stealing things, and certainly nobody should be hurting other people.

This Thursday afternoon, ProsperityAgenda.us and A New Way Forward are announcing the "Break Up with Your Bank" campaign that we hope you'll love. In 3 days it'll be Valentine's Day -- the perfect time to end your abusive relationship with the big banks. Move your money to a local bank, cut up that big bank credit card and join us for flyering at 400 events around the country. We're making the break-up easy on you:

Break Up With Your Bank at BankBreak.org

We're anxious to hear how much money you can move and see your pictures too.

If you're still banking with one of the Big 4 Banks -- Bank of America, Chase, Citi, Wells Fargo -- you should take this moment, the season of love, to think seriously about ending that relationship and banking with a local bank or credit union instead. Their fees are fairer, their interest rates are lower, and, instead of gambling your money away, they lend to your community and help to create jobs.

You can start by simply moving some of your money from the big bank into a new account at a smaller bank. And cut up that big-bank credit card in a matter of minutes. We have a page of tips to make it super easy.

We see this as the beginning of a new boycott and outreach campaign we hope to work on together. There's plenty of ways to to keep pushing this move your money campaign, we hope you can join us.

You already know these big banks are destroying our economy and distorting our politics. We've been fighting for these big banks to be broken up by Congress. Instead they've been allowed to grow even bigger than they were when they once be too big to fail.

If Congress won't break them up, we, the people, will break up with them. Start by breaking up with them for Valentine's Day. And then get your loved ones something nice with the money you're going to save from banking with a local bank.

Tell us how it goes.

Send us your pictures.

Happy Valentines Day!!

We love you!

Donny, Stephanie, Bruce, and all of ANWF and PA!

A New Way Forward and ProsperityAgenda.us

CBS attempts to silence IndictBushNow movement! | Indict Bush Now!

The IndictBushNow movement has captured the imagination and support of hundreds of thousands of people.

This is a grassroots movement and it is a classic example of the people acting together to defend democracy and the Constitution from government law-breakers.

The struggle for government accountability has entered a new phase. This movement needs your active participation.

Powerful corporate forces who have bowed in the past to pressure from the Bush-Cheney gang are now trying to block this movement from getting our message out.

IndictBushNow had spent weeks communicating with CBS representatives for the launch in Washington, D.C., for our wrap-around bus ads that read: "TORTURE is not just wrong ... it is ILLEGAL. Because NO ONE is above the law," followed by our organization's website address.

But now, CBS officials have suddenly changed their tune. In a communication we have just received from CBS Outdoor (which has the contract for the placement of bus ads in the nation's capital), the advertising media giant rejected our bus ad, suddenly claiming it constituted "attack advertisement." Read more, take action.

You can join the rest of the country on Valentine's Day in breaking up with the big banks and making these too big to fail monstrosities too failing to be big:
http://www.bankbreakup.org

Come on.

A little less talk and a lot more action.

2010 Fire Dogs: Kucinich, Grayson and Weiner Win
By Jane Hamsher | FireDogLake

After a week of voting that saw over 110,000 votes cast, the winners of the FDL 2010 Fire Dogs Contest are:

First Place: Dennis Kucinich, 24,967 votes
Second Place: Alan Grayson, 17,296 votes
Third Place: Anthony Weiner, 13,160 votes

Each of these members of Congress will all receive a $10,000 FDL ActBlue fundraiser, and the FDL community will phone bank into their districts to ID 500 likely voters for GOTV efforts. At that point, we’ll open up the contest for Round 2, and start it again in a contest for three more candidates.

Donate and sign up for phone banking now!

So, what’s the secret? How do these three get their supporters to show up for them like that? Having worked with many many progressive members of Congress, this is what these Reps do that others don’t:

1. Treat online supporters like others treat lobbyists: Grayson, Kucinich and Weiner treat the online community like Jim Himes treats Goldman Sachs. Whereas Himes calls up his bankster donors before he takes a votes, these three go online and made their case to online activists. Read more.

Check out the Facebook group!

I Need Your Help in Winning This Poll at firedoglake.com

Dear Friends,

Popular progressive blog, Firedoglake (FDL), has launched a new poll to identify three 'Fire Dogs' in Congress. Firedoglake will provide the winner with get out the vote tools, voter lists, in district voter registration and fundraising support. This support will help us in our re-election campaign.

We are currently 2nd in the poll out of all the Democratic members of the U.S. House of Representatives. I need your help in getting us into 1st place. Please log onto http://action.firedoglake.com/page/content/fdlpacvote and click the link on the right-hand side of the page to vote for FDL Fire Dogs. Then please enter your contact information and select me as your first choice. After selecting all three choices, then click 'Submit Form'

Firedoglake is evaluating candidates on three criteria:
1) Pledged to vote against any war funding that does not have troop withdrawal provisions
2) Voted against June 2009 war supplemental
3) Pledged to vote against any health care bill that does not have a public option

I've been a leader in the effort against the Afghanistan and Iraq wars and led the efforts against funding for the wars. This week I will introduce legislation in Congress on the question of withdrawal from Afghanistan. Together with Representative John Conyers, I've led the effort on single-payer, passed an amendment in committee to protect the rights of states to pursue single-payer and voted in committee for the bill that had a public option. I will continue to oppose any healthcare bill that does not have a robust public option. I will never give up on the dream of Medicare for All! Your continued support makes it possible for me to take strong progressive positions.

I need your help in winning this poll. Please log now onto firedoglake to help us get to 1st place!

Thank you for your support!

Dear UFPJ member groups,

The UFPJ Steering Committee decided on February 1 to move forward, adapting to current economic and political realities by working as a network of its member organizations. This letter provides more detail on our plans.

The peace and justice movement faces a new situation compared to the time when UFPJ was founded, in 2002, to oppose the Iraq war. Eyes have turned to the economic crisis, and this has reduced attention to peace issues, even as the Obama Administration rapidly escalates the Afghanistan war and asks for a record-breaking military budget that continues to devastate the U.S. economy.

As a result, UFPJ faced political, organizational and financial challenges in 2009. We addressed reduced income and a large debt by transitioning to an all-volunteer operation. In this way we were able to pay off much of the debt. While more work remains, UFPJ can rebuild its finances in 2010.

In November, UFPJ asked member groups for your input on our future direction, asking whether we should continue as a coalition, transition to a network, or dissolve to make room for new initiatives. Over 80 member groups responded to a detailed member group survey and dozens participated in conference calls. The overwhelming majority of those who responded said that UFPJ should continue.

Excerpt from an Email promoting an upcoming conference:

Imagine stripping this out of the context of partisan thinking. Imagine supporting Reagan to be a brilliant intellectual. Imagine supporting the military to teach nonviolence. Shall we try supporting Wall Street to solve the housing crisis? We could support thieves to protect our stuff while we're out supporting hurricanes to provide gentle breezes.

Will anyone at this conference perhaps ask whether opposing everything we oppose might make more sense than supporting it? Or would that be too unsupportive?

It's an inspiration, an achievable goal, an organizing tool, and a route around the corporate media cartel: a giant billboard for what we all want but our televisions are afraid to mention.  It's a project worth supporting!

Imagine...a "Peace Blimp"- defiantly displaying a message of peace across the skies of the nation, unable to be dismissed, ignored or brushed aside. Rallies for peace greet the blimp in every city it visits. Politicians, celebrities, movie stars, athletes, war veterans and peace activists make the call to bring our troops home by boarding the blimp for a ride. Crowds flock to the events and are educated about the war. With each stop along the tour the momentum for peace grows from a dull roar into an undeniable fervor until the seemingly endless wars come to an end.

Now, let's make this a reality.

Please join us this March 20th for the largest online monetary
war protest in history. Our goal is to bring together
100,000 people to donate $10 each (minimum),
creating a one day total of millions to fly the
Peace Blimp until we the people
force our government
to end this war.

Please pledge now by entering your email address on the peace blimp site.
Then spread the word to your friends. Thank you!

Click images for large posters:

Brownbaggers Not Teabaggers
VIGILS AGAINST WAR FUNDING SPREAD ACROSS NATION

Progressive Democrats of America (PDA) organized "brownbag" lunch vigils against war funding at noon on Wednesday, January 20th, at the district offices of 22 members of the U.S. House of Representatives.

On February 17th, PDA will be joined by CODEPINK, AfterDowningStreet, Democrats.com, the California Nurses Assn./National Nurses United, and United for Peace and Justice in holding brownbag vigils outside (or inside) at least 36 congress members' offices.