The Gathering ~ Sunday, May 4th, 7:00 - 9:00 PM ~ Dances of Universal Peace ~ at The Blankenship Ballet Company of Venice - 132 Brooks Avenue at Abbot Kinney & Main St., Venice

The Unity-and-Diversity World Council presents 

 The Gathering

 an ongoing Sunday evening celebration

 

May 4th, 2008

7 — 9 PM

 

Dances of Universal Peace

with Rev. Tasnim Hermila Fernandez

 

Dances of Universal Peace are simple, meditative, multi-cultural, circle dances.  We will use sacred phrases, music and movements from many traditions to touch the spiritual essence within ourselves and others.  The dances promote peace and integration within individuals and groups worldwide.  There are no performers nor audience, new arrivals and old hands form the circle together.  Prior experience is unnecessary; movements, words and melodies are taught for each dance.

 

v      Rev. Tasnim Hermila Fernandez is an internationally acclaimed leader and mentor of the Dances of Universal Peace.  She is the co-founder of the International Network for the Dances of Universal Peace, traveling widely to teach the dances. She was initiated in 1971 by Pir Vilayat Khan into the Sufi Order International. She serves as a senior teacher (Murshida). 

 

The Gathering is an interfaith weekly event honoring and celebrating our common heart, common spirit, common earth, and our rich diversity within our collective unity…not a church or religion, but a non-exclusive, non-traditional gathering of spiritually oriented, peace and justice loving people who wish to participate in a community of creativity in music and the arts, in spoken word and dialogue, and in reaching out to each other with love and non-violence, addressing concerns, empowering positive action.

 

à Refreshments by A Taste of Life ß

 

at The Blankenship Ballet Company of Venice

132 Brooks Avenue at Abbot Kinney & Main St., Venice, 90291

$10.00 donation

POSTED BY Administrator ON 05.02.08 @ 3:10 pm | 0 Comments

New Book From Howard Zinn - “A People’s History of American Empire” - Watch Animated Video (8:35) - Narrated by Viggo Mortensen

A People’s History of American Empire
 
 Animated video of People’s History of American Empire (voiceover by Viggo Mortensen)  

Empire or Humanity?Empire or Humanity?

What the Classroom Didn’t Teach Me about the American Empire by Howard Zinn 

Narrated by Viggo Mortensen - Art by Mike Konopacki - Video editing by Eric Wold

Watch Video (Duration: 8:35)

A People’s History of American Empire                   A New Book by Howard Zinn, Paul Buhle, Mike Konopacki 
 

Adapted from the bestselling grassroots history of the United States, the story of America in the world, told in comics form. 

 
 
 

Since its landmark publication in 1980, A People’s History of the United States has had six new editions, sold more than 1.7 million copies, become required classroom reading throughout the country, and been turned into an acclaimed play. More than a successful book, A People’s History triggered a revolution in the way history is told, displacing the official versions with their emphasis on great men in high places to chronicle events as they were lived, from the bottom up.

Now Howard Zinn, historian Paul Buhle, and cartoonist Mike Konopacki have collaborated to retell, in vibrant comics form, a most immediate and relevant chapter of A People’s History: the centuries-long story of America’s actions in the world. Narrated by Zinn, this version opens with the events of 9/11 and then jumps back to explore the cycles of U.S. expansionism from Wounded Knee to Iraq, stopping along the way at World War I, Central America, Vietnam, and the Iranian revolution. The book also follows the story of Zinn, the son of poor Jewish immigrants, from his childhood in the Brooklyn slums to his role as one of America’s leading historians.

Shifting from world-shattering events to one family’s small revolutions, A People’s History of American Empire presents the classic ground-level history of America in a dazzling new form.

"At the heart of this wide-ranging comics indictment of American Empire are the terrific human stories of those who have resisted — including wonderful autobiographical episodes from author Howard Zinn’s own courageous and inspiring life."-Joe Sacco, author of Safe Area Gorazde ht

See the Boston Globe review:

"No ordinary comic book"
March 27, 2008
http://www.boston.com/ae/celebrity/articles/2008/03/27/no_ordinary_comic_book/

Author Biographies:

Howard Zinn, author of numerous acclaimed histories, taught history at Spelman College and Boston University, and has received the Lannan Literary Award, among many others. A People’s History of the United States was a finalist for the 1980 National Book Award. He lives in Massachusetts.

Mike Konopacki has collaborated on five collections of cartoons, and his work is regularly syndicated. He lives in Madison, Wisconsin.

Paul Buhle is a senior lecturer in history at Brown University and the editor of the Encyclopedia of the American Left, among other books. He lives in Providence, Rhode Island.

Four recent Howard Zinn articles  
"Beyond the New Deal"
The Nation
April 7, 2008
http://www.thenation.com/doc/20080407/zinn

"Empire or Humanity? What the Classroom Didn’t Teach Me About the American Empire"
Tomdispatch.com
April 1, 2008
http://www.tomdispatch.com/post/174913

"Locura electoral"
La Jornada (Mexico)
March 9, 2008
http://www.jornada.unam.mx/2008/03/09/index.php?section=opinion&article=030a1mun

"Election Madness"
The Progressive
March 2008
http://www.progressive.org/mag_zinn0308

New People’s History nonprofit launched  
A new nonprofit — Voices of a People’s History of the United States — has been launched and awarded a $50,000 challenge grant from the Lannan Foundation! (http://www.lannan.org/)

After three and a half years touring the country with dramatic readings and special performances from the book Voices of a People’s History of the United States, we’ve launched a new non-profit organization of the same name to carry on the work in a systematic way and to raise funds to bring this inspiring work to every school, town hall, community theater, and public space in the country.

Howard Zinn is on the board of directors of Voices of a People’s History of the United States and there’s a Teachers Advisory Board of public high school and college teachers to help guide the programs. Other advisory board members include civil rights leader Julian Bond and artists such as writers John Berger and Arundhati Roy, film directors Paul Haggis and John Sayles, actors Mark Ruffalo and Marisa Tomei, and South African poet Dennis Brutus.

Any donation to Voices is tax-deductible and will be matched one to one by a generous donor who has given us our first challenge grant.

We are also looking for in-kind donations and pro bono support in launching our web site and creating an infrastructure for the organization. Laptops anyone? Low-rent office space in New York? Top flight graphic design or web hosting? Let us know!

The goal of Voices of a People’s History of the United States is to encourage civic engagement and to further history education by bringing the rich stories of dissent and activism in the United States to life through public readings of primary-source materials — letters, poems, speeches, songs, courtroom arguments.

Voices seeks to make known the great range of voices from U.S. history, including those of women, African Americans, immigrants, and laborers, and in doing so, to educate contemporary audiences about the role of ordinary citizens in shaping our nation’s story. Voices works to remind people of the eloquence of ordinary people, as well as extraordinary and well-known figures from our history.

By involving celebrated actors and public figures in readings, we hope to inspire audiences to delve more deeply into historical texts and also to see history as a lively, relevant, and contemporary subject, not just a matter of books sitting on the library shelf.

But rather than rely on professional actors alone, Voices also arranges for readings combining actors with students and activists to engage at all levels of the dramatic and educational process, from selecting texts, to interpreting them, to adding new voices to the performances.

In doing all of this, Voices hopes to help develop a truly participatory citizenry.

Checks can be made payable to "Voices of a People’s History of the United States" or "VPHUS" and sent to:

Voices of a People’s History of the United States
130 West 25th Street
Room 12A
New York NY 10001-7472

Inquiries about Voices can be faxed to 212-366-6868, mailed to the address above, or e-mailed to .

Voices of a People’s History now on Facebook  
Be our friend at: http://www.facebook.com/s.php?k=100000080&id=1201681257
 
  

POSTED BY Administrator ON @ 6:22 am | 0 Comments

Screening of Powerful New Film - “Vietnam: American Holocaust” - Narrated by Martin Sheen - Friday May 2nd, 7:45 PM at YOGA DESA - 120 Topanga Canyon Blvd, Topanga

***Film Night***Film Night***Film Night***

Topanga Peace Alliance Presents a New Film by Clay Claiborne 

"VietNam: American Holocaust'’
Narrated by Martin Sheen

FRIDAY May 2nd, 7:45 PM
 at
YOGA DESA
120 Topanga Canyon Blvd, Topanga 90290

On April 30th, 1975 the U.S. puppet government in Vietnam collapsed and Vietnam could finally declare "Mission Accomplished" in it’s 30 year struggle for independence. On the 33rd anniversary of that People’s Victory I am pleased to announce the posting of the finished version of Vietnam: American Holocaust, with Martin Sheen  narration and a new Epilogue to Google Video. The first public showing of this version will take place this Friday.
Clay

Yoga Desa is in the Pinetree Center (across from the Post Office)
Located 4 miles north of Pacific Coast Hwy , on the right and 8 miles south of the 101 on the left (across from Old Topanga, the Post Office, and Abuelita’s).  
Snack Potluck at 7:45, film starts at 8 PM or as soon as setup is complete.  Please bring wine, cheese, dip, fruit or crackers. 
Requested Donation $10.00  (No one turned away) Donations to benefit peace & justice causes.

Pot luck is outside a few steps north of the studio. 
RSVP to Susan at 818 642-0734s

Clay Claiborne, ProducerLinux Beach116 Rose Ave, Ste. 9Venice Beach, CA 90291(310)581-1536
	
(323) 219-6507


POSTED BY Administrator ON @ 6:21 am | 0 Comments

BRING OUR TROOPS HOME MISSION TO BE ACCOMPLISHED VIGIL - Friday, May 2nd, 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM - Westchester Christian Church - 8740 La Tijera Blvd., Westchester

Westchester Democratic Club Presents   


BRING OUR TROOPS HOME MISSION TO BE ACCOMPLISHED VIGIL

  Friday, May 2nd ~ 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM

Assembly:  Westchester Christian Church

     8740 La Tijera Blvd., Westchester, CA

Vigil Location:  Sidewalks on Sepulveda Blvd. between

Manchester and La Tijera Blvd. Westchester 

END THE OCCUPATION – BRING OUR TROOPS HOME!

Keynote Speakers:

Congresswoman Maxine Waters, Chair, Out of Iraq Caucus
Councilman Bill Rosendahl

On May 1, 2003, President Bush stood on the USS Abraham Lincoln and gave a speech stating that this was the end to major combat in Iraq. Mission Accomplished.” Five years later we have lost over 4,000 of our America’s finest men and women and thousands of our troops have sustained life-altering injuries.

JOIN US and let our troops know they are not forgotten. Show your support for bringing the troops home!

Bring candles, and signs reading:

Information: Contact B. Sanford ( 310) 494-0477

programs@westchesterdemclub.org

Vigil Sponsors:  LAX Area Democratic Club, 53rd Assembly District

Democratic Congress, Lawndale Democratic Club, San Pedro Democratic Club

and West L.A. Democratic Club  

 
 

POSTED BY Administrator ON @ 6:20 am | 0 Comments

Anna Baltzer Returns to Southern California with Her Presentation: LIFE IN OCCUPIED PALESTINE: EYEWITNESS STORIES & PHOTOS - I Highly Recommend Anna, Her DVD & Book

Anna Baltzer  

Returns to Southern California with Her Presentation:
 
LIFE IN OCCUPIED PALESTINE: EYEWITNESS STORIES & PHOTOS 

See Her Schedule Below 
 
I Highly Recommend Seeing Her, Watching Her DVD and Reading Her Book
 
Anna’s Book is:
Witness in Palestine: A Jewish American Woman in the Occupied Territories
 
Anna’s DVD is: 
Life in Occupied Palestine: Eyewitness Stories & Photos

www.AnnaInTheMiddleEast.com/presentations/schedule


Upcoming Events Open To Public:

Apr 30; 8:30PM; KPFK Radio Interview; LA & SANTA BARBARA**

May 1; 7PM; Sacred Heart Church; PALM DESERT

May 2; 11:30AM; Claremont School of Theology; CLAREMONT

May 2; 8PM; Islamic Institute of Orange County; ANAHEIM

May 3; 2PM; All Saints Episcopal Church; PASADENA**

May 5; 7PM; George’s Cafe; PASADENA**

May 6; 12PM; Cal State Long Beach; LONG BEACH**

May 7; 7:30PM; Holy Cross Melkite-Greek Catholic Church; PLACENTIA

May 8; 2:30PM; Cypress College; CYPRESS

May 9; 7:30PM; Four Points Sheraton Hotel; SAN DIEGO**

May 10; 7:30PM; Unitarian Universalist Church; STUDIO CITY

May 12; 7PM; First Congregational Church; LONG BEACH

May 14; 12PM; University of California; IRVINE**

May 14; 6PM; University of California; LOS ANGELES**

**Starred events will be some variation of a normal talk, such as a DVD-screening followed by Q&A or part of a larger series of events commemorating the Nakba. Check website for details: www.AnnaInTheMiddleEast.com

Events subject to change. Please check website for addresses and details. At all events, Baltzer will also be selling and signing copies of her updated book: ‘Witness in Palestine: A Jewish American Woman in the Occupied Territories.’


 

Anna Baltzer, a Jewish American Columbia graduate, Fulbright scholar, granddaughter of Holocaust survivors, and volunteer with the International Women’s Peace Service, is touring the United States with her acclaimed presentation and book describing her experiences documenting human rights abuses in the West Bank and supporting Palestinian-led nonviolent resistance to the Occupation.

Providing photographic documentation and critical information often misrepresented or ignored in the Western media, Anna’s presentation covers checkpoints, settlements, demonstrations, Israeli activism, the 1948 war & refugees, censorship, the Separation Wall, and more. For further information about Anna’s work and tour, please visit www.AnnaInTheMiddleEast.com


Visit: www.AnnaInTheMiddleEast.com/presentations/schedule for details.

FACT SHEET accompanying  PRESENTATION


Life in Occupied Palestine: Eyewitness Stories & Photos


Facts, Sources, and Ways You Can Help

 

FACTS:                                                    

 

Killed in the conflict in 2007: 373 Palestinians, 13 Jewish Israelis; in 2006: 633 Palestinians, 31 Jewish Israelis. Since Sept 2000: 4497 Palestinians, 1030 Jewish Israelis [MEPC Oct 2007: www.mepc.org/resources/mrates.asp].

 

Checkpoints: Barriers manned by Israeli soldiers &/or border police used to monitor &/or prevent Palestinian movement. Most checkpoints are not on the Green Line (between Israel & the 1967 Occupied Palestinian Territories [OPT]), but mainly between Palestinian towns & villages, hindering teachers, doctors, farmers, schoolchildren, etc. Most checkpoints are closed overnight, blocking sick or pregnant villagers from getting to the hospital in emergencies.

 

Roadblocks: Concrete barriers or earth mounds to prevent Palestinians from using their vehicles on their roads— housing & transport within the OPT are segregated—disabling the Palestinian economy & civilian movement.

 

Settlements: Jewish-only colonies on internationally-recognized Palestinian land.

  • There are currently about 500,000 settlers living illegally on Palestinian land (275,000 in the West Bank & 225,000 in East Jerusalem). In 2005, 8,000 settlers were evacuated from Gaza, while 13,000 new settlers moved into new or expanding settlements in the West Bank & East Jerusalem [B’tselem].
  • International law prohibits an occupying power from transferring citizens from its own territory to the occupied territory [Fourth Geneva Convention, Article 49]. Yet Israel spends more than $400 million/year encouraging Jewish citizens & businesses to move from Israel into the OPT by offering financial benefits such as government tax breaks & real estate subsidies [Mother Jones magazine].
  • 80% of settlers say they came primarily for economic benefits & would be willing to leave the OPT if offered compensation [Peace Now: Settlement Watch]. The remaining 20% are known as ideological settlers, many of them armed & protected with impunity even after killing Palestinians or poisoning animals & fields.

 

The Wall:

  • … will separate 34.4% of Palestinians from each other or their land, and Israel will annex approximately 15% of the West Bank, including 60-80% of the region’s most fertile land and water resources [UN OCHA].
  • >80% of the Wall doesn’t touch the Green Line, rather it weaves through the West Bank, trapping 274,000 Palestinians between the Wall & the 1967 border, & completely surrounding >50 communities [UN OCHA].
  • >1,000,000 Palestinian fruiting trees have been uprooted for the Wall & other expansion [MIFTAH].

Imprisonment:

  • About 10,000 Palestinian political prisoners are being held in Israeli prisons; roughly 10% are administrative detainees, meaning they can be held without charge or trial, indefinitely. About 40% of adult male Palestinians in the OPT have spent time in Israeli detention [Mandela Institute for Human Rights].
  • Torture, brutalization, & humiliation of Palestinian prisoners are widespread & systematic [Amnesty Int’l].

 

Recommended: Read the 1973 UN International Convention on Apartheid. In short, “apartheid” is defined as systematic oppression, segregation, & discrimination to maintain domination by one racial group—‘demographic group,’ in Israeli parlance—over another, as through denial of basic human rights & freedoms, including the right to work, education, movement, & nationality; torture or inhuman treatment; arbitrary arrest & illegal imprisonment; & “any measures designed to divide the population along racial lines by the creation of separate reserves & ghettos,… the expropriation of landed property belonging to a racial group… or to members thereof”

 

Israel is the highest recipient of US foreign aid—$5 billion/year = $15 million/day! (IfAmericansKnew.org)—& the only country not held accountable for how its aid is spent, even though it has violated more UN Resolutions than Iraq, Iran, or any other country in the UN. As Americans, it is our right & responsibility to speak out against violations of human rights & international law carried out with our own tax dollars. (See back for ideas on taking action.)

 

LITTLE KNOWN HISTORY about the origins of the Occupation & conflict:

 

1870 - 7,000 Jews in Palestine (2% of population). Large-scale Zionist immigration begins in early 20th century.

1930-40s - Jews fleeing Nazis seek haven in Palestine. By 1946, land ownership is 92% Palestinian, 8% Jewish.

1947 - UN Partition Plan proposes 54% of land for a Jewish state, provided it doesn’t harm the native population.

1947-49 – Zionist forces expel >750,000 Palestinians (75% of the native population), to achieve the Jewish majority necessary for a Jewish state. Halfway through the expulsions, surrounding Arab countries invade. Israel triumphs over 78% of historic Palestine & refuses return of Palestinian refugees, who total about 6 million today.

1967 - Israel occupies all remaining Palestinian lands in Six-Day War. The Occupation has continued for >40 years.

1994 - First Palestinian suicide bomber. Palestinian resistance, mostly nonviolent, sometimes violent, continues.

SOURCES of Facts and More Information:

 

AIC, Alternative Information Center: www.alternativenews.org  

Amnesty International, International Human Rights Protection: www.amnesty.org

B’tselem, Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories: www.btselem.org

Badil, Resource Center for Palestinian Residency & Refugee Rights: www.badil.org

Breaking the Silence: Testimonies of former Israeli soldiers: www.breakingthesilence.org.il

Electronic Intifada, Leading Palestinian Portal for News and Analysis: www.electronicintifada.net

Gush Shalom, the Israeli Peace Bloc: www.gush-shalom.org/english

Ha’aretz, Left-Mainstream Israeli Daily Newspaper: www.haaretz.com

ICAHD, Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions: www.icahd.org

If Americans Knew, What Every American needs to know about Israel/Palestine: www.ifamericansknew.org

Mandela, Institute for Human Rights: www.mandela-palestine.org

MIFTAH, Palestinian Initiative for the Promotion of Global Dialogue & Democracy: www.miftah.org

Palestine Monitor, News from Palestinian Civil Society: www.palestinemonitor.org

Palestine Remembered, al-Nakba 1948 : www.palestineremembered.com

Passia, Palestinian Academic Society for the Study of International Affairs: www.passia.org

Settlement Watch, a project of Peace Now: www.peacenow.org.il/site/en/peace.asp?pi=51

Stop the Wall, by PENGON (Palestinian Environmental NGO Network): www.stopthewall.org

UN OCHA, UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs: www.reliefweb.int/hic-opt

 

Recommended reading on the history of the conflict (by Jewish & Palestinian scholars):

  • Tanya Reinhart, Israel/Palestine: How to End the War of 1948, NY: Seven Stories Press, 2002.
  • Just about anything by Ilan Pappé, Noam Chomsky, Edward Said, or Norman Finkelstein on the subject.

 SILENCE IS COMPLICITY. What can YOU do to help bring peace & justice to the people of Palestine & Israel?

 

1.       Do Your Own Research – See above sources or consider going to Palestine to see for yourself. Some ideas:

·         Holy Land Trust (HLT): http://hlttravel.org (Palestinian-led tours)

·         Global Exchange: www.globalexchange.org/tours

·         Middle East Children’s Alliance: www.mecaforpeace.org/DelegationIntro.html

·         Birthright Unplugged: www.birthrightunplugged.org (Jewish American-led tours)

·         Faculty for Israeli-Palestinian Peace: www.ffipp.org/delegations.html (for faculty & students)

·         Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions (ICAHD): www.icahd.org (Israeli-led tours)

 

2.       Get involved locally – Air Anna’s DVD on your local Public Access TV channel! Join a local group—many are listed on www.endtheoccupation.org & www.unitedforpeace.org. Write a letter to local press to protest US-funded atrocities &/or biased reporting (Local media are listed on www.congress.org/congressorg/dbq/media).

 

3.       Join the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) Campaign against Israel - BDS is a nonviolent way to mobilize & put pressure on Israel in a style similar to that used against South Africa to help end Apartheid there. Find companies profiting from the Occupation at InterfaithPeaceInitiative.com/ProfitingFromOccupation.htm

Learn what organizations have already divested and how your community can too: www.bds-palestine.net

 

4.       Work in Palestine - Document human rights abuses & support Palestinian-led nonviolent resistance with:

·         International Women’s Peace Service (IWPS) – www.iwps.info

·         International Solidarity Movement (ISM) – www.palsolidarity.org

·         Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT) – www.cpt.org/hebron/hebron.php

·         Michigan Peace Team – www.michiganpeaceteam.org (for people from any state, religion, gender)

 

5.       Call, write, fax, &/or visit your representatives – Demand that the US stop using American tax dollars to fund Israel’s illegal construction of the Wall, expansion and settlement of colonies, military operations, etc. Find &/or write your representatives at www.congress.org; call (202) 224-3121 to be transferred to their DC offices.

 

6.       Talk to your friends and families – Do your own research, and open a dialogue with people around you about the issue. You have the power to affect others in your community—use it!

 

***Highly recommended: Global Exchange’s Activist Toolkits give excellent step-by-step instructions & tips for all the above actions & many others (town hall meetings, demonstrations, teach-ins, etc). Call (800) 497-1994 ext. 251 to order one ($5) or download a free copy at GlobalExchange.org/Countries/Mideast/Palestine/Toolkits.html

 

Anna’s Website (get more stories & photos, sign-up to receive Anna’s eyewitness accounts from Palestine, purchase her book Witness in Palestine or a DVD of the talk, invite her to present, etc): www.AnnaInTheMiddleEast.org



 

POSTED BY Administrator ON @ 6:09 am | 0 Comments

Screening of “APRIL 9, 1948″ - Saturday, May 3rd - 7:00 PM - At the Peace Center in LA - MOST ACCLAIMED COLOMBIAN DOCUMENTARY ON THE ASSASSINATION OF JORGE ELIÉCER GAITÁN

Screening of 

 
“APRIL 9, 1948”

(9 DE ABRÍL 1948 )

 

MOST ACCLAIMED COLOMBIAN DOCUMENTARY ON THE ASSASSINATION  

 OF JORGE ELIÉCER GAITÁN  AND THE  BLOODY AFTERMATH

 

A HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE VIOLENCE AND ANTI-GOVERNMENT SUBVERSION IN COLOMBIA AFTER APRIL 9, 1948 

 

  Saturday, May 3rd - 7:00 PM 

 Peace Center  - 8124 W. Third St., Los Angeles 90048

Directed by : Maria Valencia Gaitán

Spanish with English subtitles,  59 minutes

A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE VIOLENCE IN COLOMBIA AFTER APRIL 9, 1948 WILL BE PRESENTED BEFORE THE SCREENING.

HORS D’ OUVRES & WINE for a small price will be served.


Door donation: $ 7                      

Door benefits will be destined to help buy a hearing medical device to a bolivarian activist who lost 60% of her hearing due to being ran over by a car.

Space limited,  RSVP at:   (323) 556-1932

**************

The origin of the FARC is different from that of other militant or insurgent  groups. Jorge Believer Gaitán, a Liberal and populist leader detested by the intransigent Colombian oligarchy, was assassinated in 1948. The murder of this famous figure led  to a major popular revolt, "El Bogotazo", and to La Violencia (the Violence), a long period of warfare between Liberals and Conservatives that took the lives of 200,000 people. Persecuted ferociously by the State, the Liberals and Communists took shelter in remote and inaccessible regions and resisted for more than a decade. Eventually, many of them regrouped in what would become the "Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia "(FARC) when it was founded on May 5, 1966, as a popular response to the state violence and social injustice that Colombia was living prior to, and after 1948.

 

POSTED BY Administrator ON @ 6:08 am | 0 Comments

Gore Vidal Introduces Byron DeLear - Progressive Democrat Missouri Congressional Candidate ~ Sunday, May 4th - 1:00 PM to 3:30 PM - In Beverly HIlls

Gore Vidal Introduces Progressive Democrat Missouri Congressional Candidate  
 
Byron DeLear 
 BD_HEADER_B_SMALL.4

Opposing pro-war Rep. Todd Akin in Missouri

Who: Daryl Hannah, Peter Horton, Rosey Grier, Jodie Evans, Earl Katz, Norman Lear, Michelle Phillips. Martin Sheen and Bianca Jagger are honorary members of our hosting committee. 

Guest Moderator: Marcy Winograd  

 

Sunday, May 4th - 1:00 PM to 3:30 PM 

719 Maple Drive, Beverly Hills 

Tickets $100.00 Each

 

Entertainment: Grammy-Award Nominee Chris Bennett

And KB SOLOMON: Renowned opera singer, basso profound KB Solomon has performed principal roles with major opera companies worldwide for twenty years.  His repertoire includes operas by Prokofiev, Verdi, Rossini, Bizet and Mozart, yet, he artfully and effortlessly goes from opera to R&B, pop, jazz, blues, Broadway, classical and gospel music

 

There will be a silent auction which will feature a prestigious collection of original artworks by twentieth century masters: Picasso, Chagall, Matisse, Miro, Renoir, Dali and more 

 Please RSVP via email to Event Producer Ilene PRoctor: proctor@anet.net - Telephone: 310-858-6643 

 

HELP CRAFT OUR PLATFORM TO OPPOSE PRO-WAR REP. TODD AKIN

Many say that our economy’s headed for a recession, but one thing’s for sure, for more than a decade the economic policies coming out of Washington DC have been one-sided, ineffective and have weakened our Middle Class.

Protecting and defending the economic interests of Missouri’s working families and strengthening America’s Middle Class will be a cornerstone of my candidacy and public service.

With the outsourcing of our prosperity and increasing foreign ownership of US industries, the restoration of America’s economic sectors is not only an issue of fiscal concern, but one of National Security and sovereign integrity.

I will propose a permanent economic stimulus through tax relief by reforming the payroll tax. By putting the first $30,000 of wages earned into the pockets of the folks who’ve earned it, we will immediately inject billions into the economy spent for rent, food, car payments, etc. This tax relief for lower and middle income wage earners will be paid for by removing the artificial regressive ceiling on the Social Security tax.

America will be a stronger America with a diversified and balanced economy, made of a rebuilt domestic manufacturing sector, a stronger Middle Class and the creation of Green-collar jobs.

As a Blue-Dog progressive Democrat, I believe in fiscal responsibility and restraint. I will strive to express moderation and balance in the legislative policies I support. I also believe in our elected leader’s role to provide guidance and help set priorities for the health of our economy, satisfying the Constitutional mandate of promoting the general welfare of the people.

Unfortunately, economic responsibility and restraint has gone missing in Washington for far longer than a generation.

Our elected officials have stood by while lobbyists, big money and fiscal opportunists have hijacked our government to solely serve their elitist agenda. There are 67,000 people employed by the lobbying industry in Washington DC equaling a staggering 175 lobbyists for every member of Congress.

Sadly, our democracy has become the "best democracy money can buy".

These trends have been compounding for decades, with big money running roughshod over Congress, and now, the chickens have come home to roost in the form of our nation’s severely compromised and weakened economic condition.

The sub-prime mortgage crisis made possible through unbridled greed from predatory loan practices is causing millions of home foreclosures and the suffering of families all across our nation.  

My opponent, Rep. Akin, appallingly voted to block regulating the out-of-control subprime mortgage industry in November of 2007.

Cracks of instability in our housing market have now connected with fissures opening up throughout our economy, weakening our dollar, blowing up inflation rates to their highest in 17 years and running up untenable levels of national debt and huge trade deficits.

Accordingly, the cost of living is skyrocketing with record prices of gasoline, health care and education, making the Middle Class and our working families more vulnerable than ever. Obsolete, worn-out theories of trickle-down, supply-side economics and free-trade doctrines have failed our country.

We have quite literally been witnessing the "Enron-ization" of the American economy.

Rep. Akin has been blindly following George Bush off this fiscal cliff by supporting the White House’s disastrous economic agenda — it’s time to see some real "Show Me" sensibility in how Missouri’s 2nd is being served and represented in Washington DC.

 There’s a reason why it is commonly said that to get to the heart of any corruption, one needs only to follow the money trail – Show Me the money.

The fact of the matter is that the control of our corridors of power by select moneyed interests has silenced the political voice of most of our citizens and undermined our representative democracy. It has us outsourcing millions of jobs, paralyzed in our addiction to oil, embroiled in costly ongoing occupations in the Middle East, engaged in unfair trade deals and denying Health Care to millions of Americans.

A political intervention must be staged: the lack of accountability and the outsourcing of American prosperity must stop.

The long term political and philosophical solution is what I like to call the "separation of buck and state".

We must erect an ethical wall between our private and public institutions to free the hands of our legislators to serve, rather than sell.

Clean Money legislation and public financing of campaigns are the achievable gradient political steps for a corrupt-free and clean democracy; a more perfect Union.  "Separation of buck and state" is the reform that makes all other reforms possible.

PROTECTING AND DEFENDING OUR ECONOMIC INTERESTS

To quote US Senator Byron Dorgan’s (D-ND) book Take This Job and Ship It,

"Trade can’t be "free" when our small businesses and working people are expected to compete with exploited workers and slave labor in third-world nations that care little about the conditions in their factories and not at all about the pollution they generate.

Our trade deficit now increases by $2 billion a day, but pharmaceutical companies have such influence in Washington that Medicare, by current law, is not allowed to negotiate lower drug prices. We import oil on an ever-increasing scale, putting ourselves into debt with the Saudis, the Kuwaitis, and other Middle Eastern nations; with their windfall profits, they continue to buy American assets. China’s booming economy and abundance of cheap labor is threatening our economic survival as America’s manufacturing base is dismantled.

We have mortgaged our fortunes, our principles, and our way of life…"

Any stock broker will tell you that a healthy and balanced stock portfolio is one that is diversified. In the same sense, the US economy needs to be diversified, with a rebuilt manufacturing sector, fair trade legislation and treaties, responsible spending practices, and a Marshall Plan to create a million Green-collar jobs.

This balanced and common-sense approach of a diversified economy has been missing for far too long in Washington DC.

As your representative, I will fight to repeal unfair trade legislation like NAFTA and CAFTA, I will protect the interests of American labor and defend worker’s rights to organize and collectively bargain.

Now, these policies do not need to turn back the clock, they can act as an economic renaissance, propelling us into the future with the urgent construction of a new economy; a Green economy. Becoming energy independent by marshalling the best and brightest of our nation in designing, developing and deploying renewable energy technology will help stop America’s economic degradation, and guarantee a sustainable, secure and environmentally sound future.

It’s time to balance the national checkbook and reconcile ourselves to the fact that as a family, we are only as strong as our weakest link.

It’s time to reverse the weakening of America’s Middle Class, stop the hollowing out of our economy, and give back to those who are truly the heart and soul of our country: the working families of Missouri and America.

Our nation still has her better days ahead of her, but we must act now — and with a little perseverance and vision, we can provide for our children a strong, healthy and vibrant economy, filled with hope and opportunity for a prosperous future.

 

Ilene PROCTOR

INTERNATIONAL PUBLIC RELATIONS

Press Contact, Ilene Proctor

310 271 5857 – email proctor@artnet.net 

 

 

POSTED BY Administrator ON @ 6:06 am | 0 Comments

Dear Friends, You Are Invited to a Special House Concert with Charlie King & The Prince Myshkins - This Saturday, May 3rd - At the Dorrel’s in Culver City - Doors Open at 7:00 PM ~ Concert at 8:00 PM

 Dear Friends,  
 You Are Invited to a Special House Concert with the Fabulous
 
Charlie King & The Prince Myshkins 
    
 This Saturday, May 3rd
Doors Open at 7:00 PM ~ Concert at 8:00 PM 
at
Frank, Jane & Emily Dorrel’s
3967 Shedd Terrace, Culver City 90232 
Directions Below  
 
 Join Us For An Evening of Music, Laughter & Togetherness
 
$10 at the Door ~ Desserts & Drinks Served 
 There Will Be Two Sets with an Intermission 
 
 
If you are looking for a good time this coming Saturday night, please join us. You won’t be sorry. 
 

Quotes on Charlie King - www.charlieking.org 
 
 "One of the finest singers and songwriters of our time." ~ Pete Seeger

"With encouraging regularity, Charlie King emerges from his self-reflection to remind us of the happy resilience of the human spirit. His message songs vary between the funny and the frightening, but he pulls them off with unvarying taste, musical skill, and charm." ~ Billboard

"I am struck with the ease with which he can put a difficult technical subject into every day language… If we had more Charlie Kings, I’d be less worried about the future of the world." ~ Peggy Seeger

"What this world needs is Charlie King. Luckily, we have him!" ~ Tom Paxton

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Prince Myshkins are Rick Burkhardt & Andy Gricevich. Rick plays accordion & sings. Andy plays guitar & sings. 

Anyone who aspires to write political satire should hear this brilliant duo. ~ Sing Out! Magazine

The songs are meticulous masterpieces, lyrically and musically. The Prince Myshkins are true American queer music revolutionaires….each song an American epic unto itself. ~ Scott Free, Outvoice Reviews

Brilliant musicians and astonishing political songwriters… their wordplay is unrelentingly sidesplitting.
Peter Berryman, Whither Zither

Klezmer meets Godot and Brothers Grimm….the Myshkins are first-rate musicians whose sardonic songs induce
life-threatening fits of laughter. ~ The Lounge, KPBS San Diego

Musically gripping, lyrically acerbic….The Prince Myshkins have been compared to Mark Russell as political satirists in song and Romanovsky and Phillips as a Gay folk duo singing original material, but in this interviewer’s opinion they’re far ahead of that level and within hailing distance of their self-proclaimed (or self-confessed) influences:  the Marx Brothers, Tom Lehrer, Monty Python.  Catch them as soon as you have the opportunity.
Zenger’s Magazine

Dazzlingly fast, complex, socio-political songs with musical changes that would leave Kurt Weill smiling and shaking his head with jealousy….The Myshkins leave one’s mouth gaping with their rapid-fire hilarity…they also have penned what I consider to be the greatest anti-war Song in the history of music: “Ministry of Oil.”
Brad Schreiber, A Critical Moment

A remarkably talented pair of singer-songwriters…very funny, lively, smart, and political.  Their CD "Shiny Round Object" is my favorite recording of the last millennium. ~ Charlie King

A rare combination of biting satire and great musicianship.Hysterical send-ups of current political and social issues to remarkably catchy and well-written tunes. ~ Twiggs Green Room  

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Directions to Frank & Jane Dorrel’s House

3967 Shedd Terrace (or Lauren Lane), Culver City 90232 - 310-838-8131

From Westside:

Take Santa Monica Freeway (I-10), exit on La Cienega heading south (towards LAX). Stay on La Cienega for approx. 2 miles. Go past Rodeo Road (traffic light) and Carl’s Jr. Turn right on the first road after Rodeo – which is Wrightcrest. There is no light or stop sign, but there is a big Culver City sign. (If you see turnoff for Kenneth Hahn Park you have gone too far. If so, exit at park and head back north on La Cienega and follow directions below for coming from South). Stay on Wrightcrest past two stop signs. After two stops signs Wrightcrest becomes Shedd Terrace, just after you pass Blair Hills Park on your left. As you go onto Shedd Terrace you will pass two houses then look for the Lauren Lane sign on your left (next to several mail boxes). Park as close to that sign as you can and then walk up Lauren Lane. We are the first house on your left, 3967. There is room for 3 cars in our driveway, otherwise, you need to park on Shedd Terrace and walk up. If you have someone in your car who can’t walk up the hill, you can drive up Lauren Lane and let them off at our house and then go back and park on Shedd Terrace.

From Eastside:

Take Santa Monica Freeway (I-10), exit on Washington Blvd/Fairfax. At Washington Blvd (light at end of off ramp), turn left. Turn left at Fairfax (next light). When Fairfax deadens at La Cienega, turn left. Follow directions for From Westside above.

From South:

Take San Diego Freeway north and exit on La Cienega. Take La Cienega for approx. 4 miles. Turn left on Rodeo Rd (after you passed Kenneth Hahn Park on your right). Stay in left lane. Turn left on first street (not into Cameo Woods condos) called Lenawee Ave. (there is no light or stop sign – but you turn left before you reach overhead signs telling about Jefferson). Take Lenawee to first stop sign. Turn right on Ivy and follow curve up hill (turns left into Perham). At next stop sign, turn right on Wrightcrest. Eventually Wrightcrest turns into Shedd Terrace – after you pass Blair Hills Park on your left. After road curves to right, look for the Lauren Lane sign on your left (next to several mail boxes). We actually live on Lauren Lane but our mailing address is Shedd Terrace. Park as close to the Lauren Lane sign as you can and then walk up Lauren Lane. We are the first house on left.

POSTED BY Administrator ON @ 6:04 am | 0 Comments