Community Calendar, 2003

Friday, May 30th, 4:30pm-6:00pm
RALLY: NO WAR ON WORKERS
AT HOME OR ABROAD !

RALLY at 5:30pm:
No War on Workers at Home or Abroad !

Join South Bay Labor for Peace and Justice at the community
Friday Peace Vigil as we say:

Stop the wars abroad! No occupation of Iraq!
Stop the wars at home! End Bush's privatization scheme!

Info: l4pj_southbay@hotmail.com
(408) 265-9253

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WHAT ARE WE PROTESTING?

IN IRAQ:
- Working-class people and families, both Americans and Iraqis, have been the chief victims of the war. At least 4,000 Iraqi civilians, and probably many more, have been killed by the US military.
- Poor and working-class Iraqis now face a humanitarian crisis. Many have no clean water and no working sanitation system. Food is scarce, and diseases like typhoid are spreading. But Bush is more concerned with oil than with people.
- The U.S. and its corporations are now engaged in the theft and privatization of Iraq's industry and resources. Corrupt and anti-worker companies are getting taxpayer money to take over business in Iraq. For example:
- MCI - formerly known as WorldCom Inc., which committed "the largest case of accounting fraud in U.S. history" and is now under protection of a bankruptcy court - has been awarded a contract by the Bush Administration to build a cellular phone network in Iraq.
- Stevedoring Services of America (SSA) - a notorious anti-union shipping company, called "the biggest obstacle to completing a fair contract" in negotiations with the International Longshore and Warehousing Union last fall -- was awarded a $4.8 million contract from the U.S. to run the key Iraqi port of Umm Qasr. Coincidentally, SSA's president is a major donor to G.W. Bush.


IN THE UNITED STATES:
- Bush plans to force federal agencies to privatize at least 850,000 federal jobs.
- Under privatization, contractors will actually be rewarded for cutting wages and benefits, denying workers their rights, cutting corners to create unsafe working conditions, and transforming good, family-supporting jobs into poverty jobs.
- Critical federal programs from food safety to Social Security will be turned over to corporations whose only goal is profit.
- Since most of the criteria for bids are subjective, politicians will be able to award juicy federal contracts to corporations that have supported their campaigns. In most cases, federal employees will not have the chance to compete for the work, even if they can do it better and cheaper than the private companies.
- This privatization is part of an ongoing war on labor waged by the Bush Administration. Shamefully, Bush and his supporters have repeatedly manipulated the Iraq war and the tragic Sept. 11th attacks to further their war on working people, accusing union members of being "unpatriotic" and taking away the right to collective bargaining in the name of national security. Tom DeLay, Republican House Majority Leader, signed a letter saying: "We in Congress who care about winning the war. . . are doing all we can to counter the power-hungry union kingpins."

Join us in front of the Federal Building as we rally against Federal privatization and for peace and justice in Iraq!

Thursday, May 29th, 6:30pm (doors open at 6:00pm)
Iran Unraveled: Temptations of Tradition and Modernity in Iran
Free Event !

Prominent experts discuss internal and external paths toward change in Iran, followed by an audience Q&A session.

Dr. Abbas Milani - Framework for Modernity in Iran
Hoover Fellow, Stanford University

Dr. Behnam Tabrizi - Status of Contemporary Iran
Professor, Stanford University

Fereydoun Hoveyda - Iran, the Middle East, and US Foreign Policy
Iran's Ambassador to the United Nations, 1971-1978

Trita Parsi - Engagement of Iranian-American Community
President, National Iranian American Council
PhD Candidate, Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies

Location:
Stanford University - Building 420, Room 40
This event is free and open to the public.

Sponsored by ASSU Speakers Bureau
Click this link to bring up the Stanford map to Building 420.


For more information, contact: Lily Sarafan at lsarafan@stanford.edu

Wednesday, May 28th, 7:00pm-9:00pm
Silicon Valley for Civil Rights
General Meeting

It's no secret that since September 11th, the federal government has engaged in a massive crackdown on civil liberties. Muslims, Arabs, and South-Asians have been rounded up for interrogations, detentions, and deportations. FBI agents have been authorized to spy on political and religious gatherings. And the Patriot Act threatens all of us with its provisions for expanded surveillance and invasions of privacy.

75 cities and counties nationwide have passed resolutions opposed to the Patriot Act and this crackdown on civil liberties. With the Bush Administration about to introduce "Patriot Act II", it is important for Congress to know that there is local opposition. That is why it is critical that Santa Clara County take a stand for civil liberties and pass a resolution against the Patriot Act. We've been meeting regularly, and our next meeting in on Wednesday, May 28th as described above.

If you would like to participate in this effort, please RSVP to sbery@aclunc.org.

RSVP: Sanjeev Bery, ACLU Advocate, sbery@aclunc.org
Location: 2nd Floor Conference Room
South Bay Mobilization
480 North First St, Suite 205 in downtown San Jose

Tuesday, May 27th, 7:30pm
Bush's Economic and Social War Against the People of the USA
Doug Dowd, Political Economist

Doug Dowd, Political Economist
- Lecturer in International Economics at Johns Hopkins University School for Advanced International Studies
- Former Chair, Economics Department, Cornell University

"Bush and his crowd are cooking up a disaster. It’s the 20’s all over again, this time with
an ideological drive behind it: ‘Let’s see how fast we can make the rich richer and
the devil take the hindmost.’” ~ Doug Dowd

Presented by Peninsula Peace and Justice Center

Location:
Fellowship Hall, First Presbyterian Church
1140 Cowper Street, Palo Alto
$5 - $10 suggested donation, No one turned away for lack of money
Wheelchair accessible
Help spread the word! - Download a copy of the flyer

“Doug Dowd’s long and distinguished career has been characterized by a fruitful marriage of scholarship and activism. He belongs within an indigenous American tradition of dissenting radicalism whose most famous—perhaps notorious—representatives are Thorstein Veblen and C. Wright Mills. Dowd has been an articulate and persistent critic of the American experience for more than 40 years, engaging both students and the wider public.” - Z Magazine

Doug Dowd is the author of numerous books, including The Waste of Nations: Dysfunction in the World Economy, The Twisted Dream: Capitalist Development in the U.S. Since 1776 and Blues for America.

Monday, May 19th, 7:30pm-9:00pm
Speaker's Training
Silicon Valley for Civil Rights

Sanjeev Bery, an Advocate for the ACLU will be handing out an information packet and presenting tips and techniques on how to speak about and against the Patriot Act #1 and #2.

Location: 2nd Floor Conference Room
South Bay Mobilization
480 North First St, Suite 205 in downtown San Jose

Saturday-Sunday, May 17-18th
National Conference Against War, Colonial Occupation and Imperialism
New York City
Know Your Rights Training - Free !

Where is Bush going ? What's next for our movement ?

Join anti-war organizers and activists from around the country for:
- Strategy
- Analysis
- Evaluation and assessment
- Plenaries and workshops

Including:
- US plans for war & occupation: Iraq, Syria, Iran, Lebanon, Palestine
- The US and Iraq in historical perspective
- The US, Israel & the Palestinian national liberation movement
- "National Security Strategy of the USA" blueprint for global domination
- Fighting for national liberation & the right to soveriegnty from the Philippines to Zimbabwe to Columbia
- Why working people of all nationalities - in the US and around the world - have nothing to gain from Bush's war for empire

212-633-6646 - 202-544-3389
www.InternationalANSWER.org
info@internationalanswer.org

Saturday, May 17th, 10:00am-5:00pm
Teach-In/Speak-Out: Countering the Myths of the US War & Occupation of Iraq

The effects of the war at home & abroad.
Strategies for building the antiwar movement.

Panel discussion & audience participation. Speakers include:
Dr. As'ad Abukhali, Alexander Cockburn, Sharam Aghamir, Leuren Moret, Jackie Cabasso, Alison Weir... and You !

Location:
Noe Valley Ministry, 1021 Sanchez St, San Francisco
Directions:
Near 24th St J-Church MUNI; MUNI bus #48; 1/2 mile from 24th St. BART
Lunch & refreshments available
Admission $15 (include lunch)
No one turned away for lack of funds
For more information and to pre-register,
call 415-487-6431 (voice mail) or call 415-824-8730
E-mail: info@bauaw.org
Sponsor: Bay Area United Against War

Saturday, May 17th, 11:00am-2:00pm
COPWATCH
Know Your Rights Training - Free !

Prepare yourself to deal with police by knowing your rights. Whether you are in a huge protest or on a lonely street, you can empower yourself by knowing your rights and how to document police encounters. We will introduce participants to scanners and basic video techniques. Location is wheelchair accessible.

2022 Blake St, Berkeley
For info call: 510-548-0425

Saturday, May 16th and Wednesday May 21st, 6:00pm
Join the South Bay Latino Community to
Stop U.S. Aggression Against Cuba

Join together to protect the people of Cuba and Latin America against the aggressions of
G.W. Bush and his shadow government.

George W. Bush, with his drive for world domination and in the context of “Unending War”, is now turning his gun sights on Cuba. He's calling it a threat to the US and claims that Cuba is imprisoning journalists and so called “dissidents”. He also claims that Cuba harbors terrorists and has offensive biological warfare capabilities. These are lies and pretexts for the administration’s imperial colonial ambitions.

On Tuesday, May 20th, President Bush is scheduled to present a major speech on Cuba. Those who are concerned about Cuba know this administration's plans will have serious and possibly disastrous consequences for Cuba and for all of Latin America.

A military attack should not be ruled out as a probable course of the Bush Administration as Cuba has been a target of US aggression for over 40 years and wrongfully remains on the US list of terrorist nations. Your help is needed as the Cuban leadership has stated "millions of Americans who reason and think can act decisively for justice."

Therefore, the South Bay Mobilization has initiated a committee in solidarity with Cuba and Latin America. The convening meeting will be on Friday, May 16th at 6pm. In addition, there will be an emergency meeting on Wednesday, May 21st, at 6pm, the day after Bush's speech.

All issues and appropriate responses will be open for discussion. Each meeting will be at 480 N. First St., Suite 205 in San Jose at 6:00 pm. Please mark your calendar and attend one or both meetings.

In Solidarity,
South Bay Mobilization Cuba & Latin America Committee

Location: Second floor conference room at the
South Bay Mobilization Office
480 North First St, Suite 205 in downtown San Jose

Evening viewing of this award winning documentary, followed by a discussion with Veteran's for Peace:

Dennis Kyne, Gulf War Veteran
Brian Muller, US Navy
Maureen Griswold, U.S. Army

These veterans will discuss the US military, the Gulf War, and why they oppose Bush's doctrine of pre-emptive and unending war on the world.
Suggested Donation $3- No one turned away for lack of funds

Screening to be held in the second floor conference room at the
South Bay Mobilization Office
480 North First St, Suite 205 in downtown San Jose

Monday, May 12th, 5:00pm - 9:00pm
Non-Violent Community Picket for Peace and Justice, Oakland Docks
Meet: West Oakland Bart, Oakland

Come out, bring friends, stand up for our right to resist-- from Oakland to Iraq,
and never back down.

The PEACE NAVY will sail and paddle to be a visual presence in the Bay off the docks. Every one with non-motorized boats welcome . Gather 4:30 at the CCK dock at Jack London Square, 409 Water Street, Oakland. Please bring safety equipment such as a CG approved PFD and a white flare(i.e. waterproof flashlight). Helmets at own discretion. (contact: peacenavy@riseup.net)

BIKES NOT BOMBS: Riding together, we'll be a powerful mobile presence that says No to Oil Wars! No to Police Brutality! Bicyclists will want to leave San Francisco a little early, as bikes are banned from the East-West commute from about 4:20 on. (Bikers in the East Bay have no restrictions heading West-East to West Oakland BART.) You can check the BART schedule online to workout a favorable schedule:http://www.bart.gov

A solidarity picket will take place at SSA World Headquarters in Seattle

APL: STOP WAR PROFITEERING
SSA: STOP THE CORPORATE INVASION OF IRAQ
O.P.D./BROWN: NO POLICE BRUTALITY AT THE DOCKS & IN OUR COMMUNITIES

On April 7, 75O community members held a community picket against war profiteers APL and SSA. After closed meetings with these corporations, Oakland Police opened fire on protesters with potentially-lethal wooden bullets, metal-shot filled bags and concussion grenades. 3 members of the media, 9 longshore workers and 50 community members were injured.

APL corporation profits from shipping ammunition, like that used in Iraq by the US Government to kill and injure thousands of civilians and dozens of Iraqi anti-war/occupation protesters.

SSA will profit from the second corporate invasion of Iraq. The US Government, refusing to consider Iraqi's, has awarded SSA a three year monopoly contract with guaranteed profit to run Umm Qasr, Iraq's major port.

Oakland Police and Jerry Brown must respect our right to protest and end their war at home; long term brutality and injustice against the people-- particularly communities of color-- of Oakland.

Join us and help catalyze mass movements to challenge corporate and government power and create socially just, directly democratic, ecological,peaceful alternatives to the war for empire and the system behind it.

This is a nonviolent community picket, not a civil disobedience action. Our intent is not to risk arrest, but to keep up a lively picket line and encourage everyone to honor it. While we can not guarantee the behavior of the Oakland Police, many measures are being taken to curb and de-escalate their behavior, including asking everyone who supports the right to protest to come out and make it safer with numbers. This is a pro-worker, anti-war picket; we are committed to maintaining our alliance between trade unionists, anti-war and community activists.

At 5pm there will be very brief greeting from DASW, PUEBLO and an ILWU member. There will be brief orientations when you arrive and shuttles will be available for people who don't march (5pm) or walk the 1 mile from West Oakland Bart. Come when you can; we will be there at least til 9pm. Dress warm. There will be snacks available, but bring food and drinks to share if you can.

Direct Action to Stop the War, (415)820-9649

Download, copy, circulate flyers/ background info and action details at:
ActAgainstWar.org

POLICE UPDATE: The Oakland Police Department have backed off their threat to stop our community picket and try to force us into a protest pen a mile away and they have been pressured into agreeing to some of our demands for safety.

A meeting was set up with Oakland Police Chief Word at DASW request by City Council members Nancy Nadel and Jean Quan. The meeting was attended by our allies: Pueblo, ILWU, National Lawyers Guild-with a letter threatening legal action from ACLU, Ella Baker Center for Human Rights, April 7 Response Coalition, Not in Our Name, Copwatch, Peoples Nonviolent Response Committee, West Oakland Residents to Stop the War, and many affinity groups.

Tuesday, May 6th, 7:00pm
Where Will the Empire Strike Next ?
Disinformation & the Hidden Agenda of U.S. Foreign Policy

Eduardo Cohen
Investigative Journalist / Lecturer

Eduardo Cohen's sharp questioning of U.S. foreign policy began in the "perfect" setting: after serving for two months in a combat unit in Vietnam, Cohen was assigned to the Press Information Office, where he refused orders to fabricate stories for the media. Later, he was among the first journalists to uncover U.S. plans for the invasion of Grenada and exposed the CIA creation and training of the Nicaraguan contras. For seven years he was host of the popular "The Other Americas" radio program on KPFA. He now lives and works in Sacramento as a free lance writer, media relations consultant and lecturer.

Community Media Center, 3200 Park Boulevard, Palo Alto
Free and open to the public - Live broadcast on Community Channel 28
Presented by Peninsula Peace and Justice Center

For more information visit the Peninsula Peace and
Justice Center web site

Sunday, May 4th, 2:00pm
Book Study Group of the Book:
"ALTERNATIVES TO ECONOMIC GLOBALIZATION: A BETTER WORLD IS POSSIBLE. A report of The International Forum on Globalization"

A Study Group Sponsored by the Globalization/Jubilee Action Group
The First Unitarian Church of San Jose

ALTERNATIVES TO ECONOMIC GLOBALIZATION:
A BETTER WORLD IS POSSIBLE
A report of The International Forum on Globalization

This is the first program of the Globalization/Jubilee Action Group. Rather than start off learning what we are against, we decided to do the opposite: start studying globalization by learning what is possible, what we can be for. This is a great book to do just that. We can then use this vision to guide us as we begin working on this issue, as a congregation and in the broader community.

The study group will take place on the following Sundays at 2pm in the Lindi Ramsden Fireside Room at the First Unitarian Church of San Jose.

1. Sunday, May 4
Discuss chapters: Introduction & A Critique of Corporate Globalization

2. Sunday, May 11
Discuss chapters: Ten Principles for Sustainable Societies & What Should Be
Off-Limits to Globalization

3. Sunday, May 18
Discuss chapters: The Case for Subsidiary: Bias Away from the Global Toward
the Local & Corporate Structure and Power

4. Sunday, May 25
Discuss chapter: Alternative Operating Systems

5. Sunday, June 1
Discuss chapters: From Bretton Woods to Alternatives & Conclusions

Suggested donation: $10-30
(the first fundraiser for the Globalization/Jubilee Action Group)

Please RSVP to Patrick O'Connell, Social Justice Coordinator, at 408-292-3858 x29, or socialjustice@sanjoseuu.org. Participation limited to 20 per session.

Books are now available at Willow Glen Books, 1330 Lincoln Ave.; Hours: M-F
9AM-9PM, Sat. 9AM-6PM, Sun. 9AM-5PM; Phone: 408-298-8141;
Email: wgbooks@att.net.

Friday, May 2nd, 8:30 am
California Says No to Bush!
Mass Protest Against George W. Bush's
Pro-War and Anti-People Policies

George W. Bush is making a speech at United Defense located at 1205 Coleman Ave in Santa Clara (near Costco). Bush will arrive between 9 and 9:30 AM on Friday and speak for an hour at the Ground Systems Division of United Defense. Please join thousands of residents in the Bay Area along with the South Bay Mobilization, California Peace Action, Direct Action to Stop the War, Global Exchange, International ANSWER, Not In Our Name, Peninsula Peace and Justice Center, Bay Area Against War, Labor for Peace and Justice, and United for Peace and Justice, and many more, as we tell him:

Money for jobs, education and people's needs, not for war!

For more detailed information, see this web page.