Occupy Erie

Events of Interest ~ May 16, 2013

pjulienne — Thu, 16 May 2013 21:36:09 +0000

CALENDAR

May 16 – Erie County Democratic Party Candidates Night Party 6-9PM. Dem HQ 1305 State, Erie PA Free admission. All welcome! Refreshments provided. This is your opportunity to be informed of the issues important to all of us to hear from the candidates directly. Sponsored by the Erie County Democratic Party http://www.eriedems.com/node/2201

May 16 – Erie County Executive Candidates Debate WQLN-TV 8pm, repeats on WQLN-FM (radio) at Sat 7am and Sun 4pm.

May 17 -18 –“Loving the Land Through Working Forests” Conference, with Wendell Berry Renowned author and environmentalist Wendell Berry speaks 7:00 pm on Fri 5/17, Ford Chapel at Allegheny College. Free and open to the public. Conference will continue on Saturday, May 18 with in-the-field sessions at a site north of Titusville off Route 8. Although conference events are free, pre-registration is requested for the Saturday in-the-field sessions. Conference details and registration information can be found at the foundation’s web page under the Events/Links page tab or by emailing Info@FoundationForSustainableForests.org.

May 18 – Bike Around the Bay Sponsored by Environment Erie. Support Environment Erie, the non-profit youth environmental education program.

May 18 – Hands-On Jamestown 8am-noon Comprehensive community wide clean-up. Mulshing, weeding, raking, planting.

May 19 – Buffalo’s First Annual Action Against Incarcerating Youth. Event page link “We are looking for individuals and groups to join together for the first ever Global Day of Action Against Incarcerating Youth (Sunday, May 19)! Buffalo’s Day of Action will start at Burning Books bookstore (420 Connecticut St.) with a screening of the 30 minute film “The Jena 6.” Afterwards, if the weather is nice, we’ll stroll a couple blocks over to the newly established Normal Ave Community Garden (corner of Vermont St. and Normal Ave.) for a community speak-out. Endorsing groups: Save The Kids Buffalo, Animal Allies of Western New, Anarchy In Action, Burning Books, PeaceQueen EduTaiment.

May 21- Frontline: The Untouchables 54.1 – WQLN HD 10pm An investigation into why Wall Street titans have avoided prosecution for the roles their institutions played in the 2008 financial meltdown.

May 22 – Pollinator-Friendly Gardening Program 6:30-8:30 at LEAF Education Center, Lake Erie Arboretum at Frontier Park, Erie. Register in advance.

May 25 – March Against Monsanto

May 27 – Women in Black invite you to march with them in Meadville Memorial Day Parade, Women in Black has have made a long term commitment to march in Meadville’s Memorial Day Parade every year. They march in silence. All are welcome to join the contingent. Gathering time is between 8:30 and 9:30 am. The parade will begin at 10:00am If you get lost on the way call 814-853-5716. NOTE CHANGE OF ROUTE THIS YEAR… Check NWPA Peace website http://www.nwpapeace.org/ a few days before the event to get the most updated information. (construction along route has caused this change).

May 31-Jun 2 – Allegany Nature Pilgrimage “Arrive at the pilgrimage and you are instantly part of a community; there is a sense of family. Each nature enthusiast is eager to explore the forests, fields, lakes, and streams, to share knowledge, to embrace learning, to celebrate this incredible planet, and to soak up the salve that nature is to the soul. Old friends re-unite; new friends are made.” T he pilgrimage has been made possible through the efforts of volunteers from these organizations since 1959: Jamestown Audubon Society, Buffalo Audubon Society, Presque Isle Audubon Society, Burroughs Audubon Nature Club

Jun 1 – Rally for Bradley Manning at Fort Meade (Maryland) Some folks driving from Erie to participate. National week of action June 1-8. Lodging and travel info here. Join Pentagon Papers whistle-blower Daniel Ellsberg, LGBT activist US Army Lt. Dan Choi, former US diplomat US Army Col. Ann Wright (ret.), and former soldier Ethan McCord–who rescued the wounded children in the van in the Collateral Murder video—and hundreds of our supporters of heroic WikiLeaks whistle-blower Bradley Manning at Ft. Meade

Jun 3 – Cleveland Green Drinks Networking night for people interested in sustainability in Northeast Ohio. Great Lakes Brewing Tasting Room Carroll Ave. and W. 26th St.Cleveland, OH 5:30-8pm

Jun 14 – Sheryl Crow @ WYRK 2013 Taste of Country – Buffalo, NY

Jun 15-16 Buffalo Juneteenth Celebration

Jun 17-19 – Games for Change Festival NYC. Last year sold out so register early if you plan on attending. You can also watch it online.

Jun 20-23 – Netroots Nation

Jun 22 – Euclid Wind Fest 11am-7pm. Shore Cultural Centre 291 E. 222 St.Euclid, OH All things wind-themed, from kites to kazoos. There will be wind chimes, paper sailboats in the fountain, pinwheels, turbines, wind instruments, local and regional music, the Taste of Euclid food court and beer and wine in a park setting, all with free admission. More information: http://www.shoreculturalcentre.com/windfestival

Jun 24-29 Fearless Summer “This summer we’re escalating the movement against extreme energy.” Maintaining a movement calendar of events for the summer Check it out.

Jul 8 – Gasland II Part of HBO Documentaries series. The provocative follow-up to Josh Fox’s 2011 Academy Award^®-nominated “Gasland,”

Jul 14 – Bill Maher at Kleinhans in Buffalo

Jul 26-27 – Burning River Fest 2013

MARK YOUR 2014 CALENDARS…

Mar 1, 2014 “American Idiot” at the Warner

May 8, 2014 – Erie Benedictines for Peace will bring in Simone Campbell SSS, Executive Director of NETWORK.

NEWS & VARIOUS

21 Avril la Marche pour la Terre Montreal Earth Day events, photos… to translate click below the blurb.

Update on changes to Pennsylvania’s proposed “ag-gag” bill

Pa. legislature introduces statewide LGBT nondiscrimination bills

How to have a “green” picnic (National Geographic)

Photo album: 2003 Erie County Greens picnic (when we tried to make it more “green”)

No Drones Niagara Mothers Day coverageNiagara

Dozens Gather for Anti-Drone Protest in Niagara Falls (WKBW video)
Demonstrators protest drones at Niagara Falls air station (Buffalo News)
Drone protestors sound off at airbase (WIVB video and text). Covers the protestors’ side as well as the “drones=jobs” side.

This & That is published now and then for the Erie area progressive community. Always good to double-check dates and times. Event submissions should have “T&T” in subject line, send to moonkat2014@gmail.com . If you don’t want to receive this please reply with “Unsubscribe” in subject line. Also posted to http://occupyerie.net and www.erielead.org

Events of Interest ~ Apr 30, 2013

pjulienne — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 16:40:34 +0000

CALENDAR

May 1 – May Day – International Workers Holiday

May 1 – May Day March for Immigrant Rights

Cleveland noon meet at Market Square Info Don Bryant 216 772-6788
Pittsburgh 5pm, Wednesday May 1–Pittsburgh Federation of Teachers Hall, 10 s 19th St., Pittsburgh, PA 6pm—March to IBEW Local 5 Hall, 5 Hot Metal St, Pittsburgh PA http://fightbackpittsburgh.org FB event page

May 1 – Erie Crawford Central Labor Council Candidates Forum 7:30pm USW 3199 Hall 703 French St., Erie, PA

May 2 – Greater Erie Awards Night: Reconsidering John Nolen Masonic Temple Ballroom, 32 West 8th Street, Erie.Greater Erie Awards Night is being held in celebration of National Historic Preservation Month.To learn more about Preservation Erie, visit www.preservationerie.org.To learn more about Preservation Erie, visit www.preservationerie.org. Some of the work of Civitas can be found at www.JohnNolenProject.com.

May 2 STUCK Tour Cleveland Cedar Lee Theatre Documentary presentation about international adoption from the Both Ends Burning Campaign.

May 3 – STUCK Tour in Pittsburgh Southside Works Cinema

My 4 - Erie to sponsor 1 day electronics collection Also tire recycling

May 4 PSU Behrend Trash to Treasures Sale 7:30am-noon. Benefits United Way, keeps end-of-school- year discards out of the landfill!

May 7-8 –Destination Erie: A Regional Vision “Join conversation in Girard, Erie, Harborcreek, Waterford… Destination Erie is working together with citizens throughout Erie County to build a more sustainable region by creating a plan to meet the economic, social and environmental challenges of the 21st Century.

May 8 – Julian Bond speaks at Law Day luncheon

May 10 – David Francey at Fredonia Opera House.

May 11 – Erie Bluffs Hike

May 11 -12 – No Drones Niagara Mothers Day Weekend events:

May 11 – Educational event at Hallwalls Hallwalls Contemporary Art Center 341 Delaware Ave., Buffalo, NY. “Join us for an educational event featuring speaker Ed Kinane, as well as a panel of local civil resisters”. A short bio of Ed can be found here: http://vcnv.org/speaker-bio/ed-kinane
May 12 – No Drones Niagara at Niagara Falls Air Base 2720 Kirkbridge Dr., Niagara Falls, NY 1PM “We will be protesting at the gate of the base against drone program which has already cost the lives of so many innocent mothers and children. If you are able to give a ride, or need a ride, from Buffalo to Niagara Falls, we’ll be meeting at noon on the 12th in the Park and Ride lot of University Station next to UB’s South Campus. Driving directions from there to the base can be found here: http://goo.gl/maps/kWBmh No Drones Niagara is a grassroots organization in Buffalo, NY working to prevent the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station from adding a drone operation. Part of the Upstate Coalition to Ground the Drones and End the Wars”. Visit nodronesniagara.org

May 12 – Click here for antiwar origins of Mothers Day

May 15-16 Buffalo Juneteenth Celebration

May 16 – Erie County Executive Candidates Debate WQLN-TV 8pm, repeats on WQLN-FM (radio) at Sat 7am and Sun 4pm.

May 18 – Bike Around the Bay Sponsored by Environment Erie. Join hundreds of tri-state bicyclists on Saturday, May 18, 2013 at the Intermodel Transportation Center on the Bayfront Parkway. Bike 10 Miles – Town Tour, especially designed for families and less experienced riders; 30 Miles – Bay Tour, for casual riders or 50 Miles – Endurance Tour, for seasoned riders. All riders bike along Presque Isle Bay and Lake Erie. Cost: Individuals are $20.00, families are $40.00. Group rates available: scouts, churches, youth groups, etc. Support Environment Erie, the non-profit youth environmental education program.

May 18 – Hands-On Jamestown 8am-noon Comprehensive community wide clean-up. Mulshing, weeding, reaking, planting.

May 25 – March Against Monsanto

Buffalo – Niagara Square 2pm
Erie – nothing planned yet.

Jun 1 – Rally for Bradley Manning at Fort Meade (Maryland) Some folks driving from Erie to participate.

Jun 14 – Sheryl Crow @ WYRK 2013 Taste of Country – Buffalo, NY

Jun 17-19 – Games for Change Festival NYC. Last year sold out so register early if you plan on attending. You can also watch it online.

Jun 20-23 – Netroots

NEWS & VARIOUS

GE & UE 506

HEALTH CARE

Pennsylvania Health Access Network (PHAN) statewide action (photos)
Report: PA stands to gain $5 billion Pennsylvania would realize an economic boost of $5 billion if Gov. Corbett approves expansion of Medicaid, a new report by the Pennsylvania Economy League found.

LGBT

ANTI-FRACKING PROTEST AT DEP OFFICE IN MEADVILLE

Special thanks to Scott Hrsina for collecting most of these links to local and area coverage of the event

Erie Times-News
WICU/WSEE (12/35) Erie TV News
WJET/WFXP 66 (YourErie.com)
Protesters Voice Their Concerns to DEP About Fracking (full text)
Meadville Tribune
Marcellus Outreach Butler (FB photo album)
· Photo of march–Erie newspaper: and/or here
· Erie Times-News write-up

UPSTATE NY PEACE CONVERGENCE

Very good coverage of Sunday’s anti-drone events at Hancock AFB at Syracuse Peace Council Facebook page and http://www.peacecouncil.net/
30 arrested at drone base outside Syracuse April 28

VARIOUS

Union Trades Memorial Day 2013 Suzanne Boone’s photoset
Gov Tom Corbett Protest at Erie Co GOP Dinner Mark Haller’s Photos
Crawford County Tires to Energy plant under construction
Europe bans pesticides in hopes of restoring bees
PA Poll: Everyone beats Tom Corbett
‘Tainted by radical feminism’? More like ‘living the Gospel’ Sr Joan Chittister | Apr. 24, 2013

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THIS CHANGES EVERYTHING… I HOPE

Oh, how I wish every American would sit down and listen to the testimony given by this young Yemeni in the Senate on April 23, 2013. In just six minutes Farea Al-Muslimi breaks hearts and opens American minds in an unprecedented way. The video of his testimony has already gone viral. Please share with everyone. [ Continue reading here ]

Share from: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151583455524653&set=a.101638599652.88574.54124414652&type=1&theater

You can cut all the flowers but you cannot keep spring from coming. ~Pablo Neruda

Events of Interest ~ Apr 12, 2013

pjulienne — Sat, 13 Apr 2013 19:50:06 +0000

CALENDAR

Now thru Apr 21 SUNY Fredonia: ‘Seeds of Change’ global climate crisis exhibit showing now in Reed Library, free and open to the public.

Apr 12 – 13 – Erie Reader Staged Reading Series: “8” by Dustin Lance Black (PACA – Performing Arts Center & Theater, 1505 State St, Erie, PA 16501) Portrays the legal argument and witness testimony of the Perry v. Schwarzenegger trial, which led to the overturning of California’s anti-marriage equality Proposition 8. Using actual transcripts from the court case, Black has crafted a heartbreaking and compelling look at this monumental legal case. Free admission – no reservations needed. 8 PM both nights. Contact: Mark Tanenbaum. Phone: (814) 434-0687 Browse to http://www.paca1505.com. For more on “8” click here

Apr 12-14 – SpiritQuest Film Festival Edinboro University campus. Focusing on the human experience, from day to day relationships to matters of life and death, war and peace, science and spirituality

Apr 12-20 – SUNY Fredonia: Mainstage Series: “The Diary of Anne Frank” Tcikets (716)673-3501 or fredonia.edu/tickets.

Apr 13 – Thomas Merton 2013 Award Honoring Martin Sheen 5 PM Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall – 4141 Fifth Ave Pittsburgh, PA 15213

Apr 13-21 – Earth Week at SUNY Fredonia All events free and open to the public. To learn more, visit www.fredonia.edu/earthweek or contact Dr. Sherri “Sam” Mason, SUNY Fredonia’s Associate Professor of Chemistry and Earth Week Coordinator, at (716) 673-3292 or mason@fredonia.edu.

Apr 16 – Gate Rally to show your support 2:30-3:30pm at GE Transportation East Gate. Called by UE 506

Apr 16-18 Birds and Vines

Apr 17 – Staged reading “8”at Allegheny College, Meadville PA. 7pm @ Arter Hall Little Theater. About the CA court case challenging the constitutionality of Prop 8 that is now headed to the U.S. Supreme Court. Talkback to follow. Collaboration with Student Experimental Theater. [Ally Week event] email queersnalliesac@gmail.com with any questions. For more on “8” click here

Apr 18 – Rally to Expand Health Care Coverage 10:00 AM Voices for Independence 1107 Payne Avenue, Erie. “Pennsylvania can accept $43 billion in federal funds to expand coverage to 700,000 Pennsylvanians or leave that money on the table…and a half million Pennsylvanians uninsured. Tell lawmakers: Don’t Leave the Money on the Table! The Erie rally is part of a state-wide day of action. Help us make it a HUGE success. Be there. RSVP Now.” Sponsored by PA Health Access Network. For more information or if you have a story about being uninsured email Erin at egill@pahealthaccess.org

Apr 18 – Candidate Forum on LGBT issues Avalon Hotel 10^th & State. 7PM Free and open to public.

Apr 18 – SUNY Fredonia Earth Week keynote address: “The Perils of Plastic: Notes from the Oceans and the Great Lakes 7 p.m. in Rosch Recital Hall. The event is free and open to the public.

Apr 20- Presque Isle Cleanup More info at the park office 2nd floor of Tom Ridge Environmental Center (TREC) or at (814)833-7424.

Apr 20 – SUNY Fredonia Environmental Film Festival Free and open to the public.

Apr 21 – Film: “Earth Wins” at TREC Following the debut of the film, engage in an Expert Panel discussionPanel discussion with Steve Ropski, Ph.D. — Gannon University, Kelly Grant, Ph.D. — Gannon University, Dave Skellie — PA Sea Grant, Pat Lupo, OSB — Benedictine Sisters of Erie $5 adults/$4students Visit www.trecpi.org/or 814-838-4123. Showtimes thru Apr 28. Seats are first come, first served.

Apr 21 – Wild & Scenic Film Festival Bradford PA

Apr 21 – EarthFest 2013 Cleveland “This year’s theme is “Celebrating Advanced and Renewable Energy.”… Ohio’s largest environmental education event and the longest running Earth Day celebration in the nation.

Apr 21 – Earth Day Celebration at Asbury Woods

Apr 21 – “The Importance of Less” Presentation by Tom Meara at Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Jamestown 1255 Prendergast Ave., Jamestown NY 10:30am “John E Carrol wrote that the usage of the word ‘sustainability,’ whether by institutions or by individuals, refers to a shallow superficial and cosmetic form which does not reflect sustainability at all and is inaccurate, perhaps even dishonest. In a world where our climate is becoming unstable and the very biosphere upon which all life depends is threatened, we will explore the morality of our current lifestyle and the need for a deep and fundamental change in the way we live.”

Apr 22 – Earth Day

Apr 22 –Earth Day Action at Meadville Regional PA DEP Office. 11am – 1pm Beginning at Diamond Park, Main St., proceeding to DEP Office at 230 Chestnut Street, Meadville, PA. ‘A coalition of statewide “green” groups, large and small, have decided to do a coordinated action to occur at each of the 6 regional DEP offices to highlight shortcomings of the DEP’s oversight of shale gas extraction – particularly its impact on water. The actions will occur on Earth Day. Each region is to plan their own action but the goal should be to raise awareness of citizens in each region.’ They would like the largest turnout possible. Contact: Diane Sipe, Marcellus Outreach Butler (724) 272-4539 sipediane5@gmail.com

Apr 22 – Erie’s Needs for a Healthy Built Environment Mercyhurst College

Apr 22 – Green Drinks Earth Day Happy Hour 6:30-8:30PM 103 Center for The Arts Buffalo, NY 14260 Join leaders from across Buffalo-Niagara for an evening of fun at the UB Solar Strand. Learn about our region’s sustainability initiatives through exhibits and presentations by local and student affiliated environmental groups. Enjoy a relaxing evening with music and local food, and round it out with a tour of the Strand! The evening will end with Ecology & Environment’s presentation of the Green Awards to those who have made outstanding sustainable contributions over the last year. By Greenworks Buffalo Niagara

Apr 22 – PA Deadline to register to vote in primary

Apr 24 – Jamestown Community College Earthfest 2013 Free and open to public

Apr 26 – Gov Tom Corbett at Bel Aire in Erie 5pm.

Apr 26 – First Annual Festival of Community PRIDE (Promoting Respect for Individual Differences for Everyone) Lillian V. Ney Renaissance Center 119 W. 3rd St. Jamestown NY. Begins with a potluck buffet at 5:30 , community discussion at 6:00 pm. Many organizations will be participating: Congregation Hesed Abraham, Cornell Co-Operative Extension, Catholic Charities, Jamestown Community College, The Resource Center, YMCA Eastside and YWCA Jamestown and PFLAG. For more information, call YWCA Jamestown at 716-488-2237 Also visit Stand Against Racism

Apr 30 – “The Invisible War” 6:00 pm Groundbreaking investigative documentary about one of America’s most shameful and best kept secrets: the epidemic of rape within the U.S. military. Presented by Crime Victim Center of Erie County, Inc. Co-Presented by Mercyhurst University and Mercyhurst Veterans Association Taylor Little Theater 501 East 38th Street Erie, PA More Information: (814) 455-9414 www.cvcerie.org

May 1 – May Day – International Workers Holiday

May 2 STUCK Tour Cleveland Cedar Lee Theatre Documentary presentation about international adoption from the Both Ends Burning Campaign.

May 3 – STUCK Tour in Pittsburgh Southside Works Cinema

May 10 – David Francey at Fredonia Opera House.

Jun 1 – Rally for Bradley Manning at Fort Meade (Maryland)

Jun 14 – Sheryl Crow @ WYRK 2013 Taste of Country – Buffalo, NY

Jun 17-19 – Games for Change Festival NYC. Last year sold out so register early if you plan on attending. You can also watch it online.

Jun 20-23 – Netroots Nation

DRONE AWARENESS ACTIONS

April Drone Awareness Actions: For updates on regional events and actions regarding weaponized drones click here.

NEWS AND VARIOUS

“List of the Harmed” List of those harmed by Fracking in PA
The secrets of meat: Pennsylvania should support investigations of abusive farms House Bill 683, which is awaiting a hearing in the PA House Judiciary Committee, would make it a felony to record an abusive image inside a factory farm.
Erie Benedictine Prioresses issue Statement on the Prevention of Gun Violence
CREDO Petition: Tell the PA Legislature: Pass a moratorium on fracking
Video of Kathy Kelly at Benedictine Monastery
Mandatory Negotiations Could Affect Size of GE Layoff
Erie Reader: “GE: Greed Exposed”History and photo
CARE Benefit Crawford-County based group opposed to tire-burning plant had successful fundraiser in March, see pics here.
Invention of the Day: Bladeless Wind Turbine
FBI Arrests by Race 2011 “White individuals were arrested more often for violent crimes than individuals”
History and Photos of Erie’s United Electrical Workers
Report: Ohio is illegally throwing poor people in jail for owing money
Shareable image of large number of recent oil spills There are images floating around FB that say there’ve been 3 or 4 different oil “events” in the past week or two. It’s actually much worse than that. If you have a better alternative to this let me know.

ETC.

David Francey singing his song “Ashtabula.” David will be at the Fredonia Opera House in May.

Events of Interest ~ Mar 22, 2013

pjulienne — Sat, 23 Mar 2013 00:04:57 +0000

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Mar 23 – Community Day of Peace concert Bay Breeze 25 E 10^th, Erie. 4PM $5 admission, proceeds benefit Mothers Against Teen Violence. Article in Showcase. Contact Lora 814-838-9649 morningstar7@verizon.net

Mar 23 – Earth Hour 2013 This Saturday, March 23 at 8:30PM, hundreds of millions of people will unite for Earth Hour 2013. It’s an hour of inspiration, where we gather to celebrate what we have done and what we are committed to do in the year ahead for our planet.

Mar 24 – “Choosing Compassionate Consumption” Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Erie. (UUSC Justice Sunday) “Our Principle of “the inherent worth and dignity of every person” is extended to the rights of workers for our food system. What can we do to improve the economic “food chain?” It includes “ethical eating” and goes beyond leaving a “healthy tip.” Rev. Steve will share his message based on the book Behind the Kitchen Door by Saru Jayaraman.

Mar 26 – Light the Way to Justice Vigil Marriage Equality or PA is sponsoring the Light the Way to Justice Vigil at the Federal Courthouse (7^th & State) in Erie PA 7pm until 8:30 PM. “This is not a march, a fight or a demonstration – this is a peaceful display of solidarity and a stand for love, not hate. Make signs to hold, bring candles and help show our desire to be equal under the law. This is a grassroots movement.” For more information, click the link on: http://www.me4pa.org. Please join us.

Mar 28 – Global Voices Give Us the Money Bob Geldof, Bono and Bill Gates discuss their anti-poverty efforts. WQLN

Mar 29 – 33^rd Annual Good Friday Pilgrimage for Peace 11am. If you wish to drive to Mt. St Benedict, you may go by chartered bus to the Cathedral. The bus leaves the Mount at approximately 10:30 am. The bus will return to the Mount from 6th and State. There is a prayer service at the Mount beginning at 9AM that you may wish to attend before boarding the bus. There will be cars accompanying the Peace Pilgrimage for those who choose to ride for all or any part of the Pilgrimage. Sponsored by Erie Benedictines for Peace (http://www.eriebfp.org/ ) Full details here

Apr 2 – Pittsburgh gets BikeShare system What is bike share and why Pittsburgh? It is a system of shared bicycles available for short-term use by annual or short-term (24-hr) members. The bikes are used for “point-to-point” trips and can lock into any of the 50 solar-powered stations planned throughout the City of Pittsburgh. The 500 bikes are designed to be sturdy, vandal-proof and with safety in mind.

Apr 3 – Bike Erie Coalition meets at Whole Foods Co-op 5:45pm. Open to public.

Apr 3 – Beyond Coal Wed, April 3, 7:30pm – 9:30pm Penn State Erie, The Behrend College Burke Hall, Room 180 (map) Learn about Pennsylvania’s role in global warming and what is being done in the state by the Sierra Club’s Beyond Coal campaign to fight against climate change what can be done in northwestern Pennsylvania. “We have made progress by creating incentives for clean renewable energy sources like wind and solar power. And we have put in place a law that requires utility companies to reduce electric consumption, while saving rate-payers money.” Jeff Schmidt, Director of Sierra Club’s Pennsylvania Chapter will talk about ways to influence those in Harrisburg and Washington to make the right decisions that will benefit all of us and future generations. Free and open to the public.

Apr 3 – Lecture by Spike Lee at Clarion University Part of the Spike Lee Film Festival.

Apr 4 – PSU Behrend Speaker Series: Sapphire, author of “Push” (film adaptation was called Precious), The Kid (2011) Poetry Meditations on the Rainbow: Poetry (1987), American Dreams (1994), Black Wings & Blind Angels: Poems (1999). Part of the Penn State Behrend Erie Sixth Annual Gender Conference Apr 4-5.

Apr 8 – “The Invisible War” 7-9pm –Groundbreaking investigative documentary about the epidemic of rape within the U.S. military. Presented by Passages, Inc. Clarion University 840 Wood Street Clarion, PA More Information: (814) 226-7273

Apr 11 - Kane Smego at Venango Campus of Clarion University, Robert W. Rhoades Center, Oil City P A. 7:30PM. Kane “Novakane” Smego is a nationally-recognized spoken word poet and Artistic Director of Sacrificial Poets whose dynamic workshops explore the power of stories and voice as tools for self-transformation, non-violent resistance, and community engagement. Immediately following the popular revolutions in Tunisia and Egypt in January 2010, Kane recorded the stories of the young people driving these powerful movements, teamed up with two other young poets and a film-maker and created the multimedia project “Poetic Portraits of a Revolution.” 7:30 p.m. Robert W. Rhoades Center”All the events, unless otherwise noted, are free and open to Venango College students, their families, and the local communities.”

Apr 13 – Thomas Merton 2013 Award Honoring Martin Sheen 5 PM Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall – 4141 Fifth Ave Pittsburgh, PA 15213

Apr 13-22 – Earth Week at SUNY Fredonia

Apr 16-18 Birds and Vines

Apr 18 – Candidate Forum on LGBT issues Avalon Hotel 10^th & State. 7PM Free and open to public.

Apr 20- Presque Isle Cleanup More info at the park office 2nd floor of Tom Ridge Environmental Center (TREC) or at (814)833-7424.

Apr 21 – Wild & Scenic Film Festival Bradford PA

Apr 22 – Earth Day

Apr 22 – PA Deadline to register to vote in primary

May 2 STUCK Tour Cleveland Cedar Lee Theatre Documentary presentation about international adoption from the Both Ends Burning Campaign.

May 3 – STUCK Tour in Pittsburgh Southside Works Cinema

May 10 – David Francey at Fredonia Opera House.

Jun 1 – Rally for Bradley Manning at Fort Meade (Maryland)

Jun 17-19 – Games for Change Festival NYC. Last year sold out so register early if you plan on attending. You can also watch it online.

Jun 20-23 – Netroots Nation

NEWS & VARIOUS

On Point: Environmentalism’s Next Generation A new generation of “climate activists” are ready to raise Hell over the Keystone Pipeline and more. We hear from them.
DEP’s climate denier head Michael Krancur stepping down, going back through the pro-fracking revolving door from whence he came
Trailer for Wikileaks documentary “We Steal Secrets” out now. Film opens limited 5/24/13 and goes wide in June.
Paralyzed Iraq Vet Tomas Young Discusses His ‘Last Letter’ to Bush & Cheney, His Decision to Die Iraq War veteran and the main subject of the documentary, Body of War. On April 4, 2004, his fifth day in Iraq, Young’s unit came under fire in Baghdad. Young was left paralyzed, never to walk again. Released from medical care three months later, Young returned home to become an active member in Iraq Veterans Against the War.

SOME ENVIRONMENTAL PAGES AND WEBSITES IN REGION

ERIE

Western NY

GrowWNY “For all things environmental in Western New York – news, events, outdoor places, and much more!” Like here
Re-ENERGIZE BUFFALO “All things GREEN: Energy, Environment, and Economy
*Grow Clean Energy *Cut Pollution *Protect Health *Create Jobs
Greenworks Buffalo Niagara Community organization dedicated to fostering the growth and development of local green businesses and green business practices. email signup here

Pittsburgh

Greener Pittsburgh Directory, Events, Jobs, Products, etc
Pittsburghgreenstory.org
“Cool Pittsburgh”

Cleveland

GreenCityBlueLake

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Anonymous-ART-of-Revolution/362231420471759

Events of Interest ~ Mar 9, 2013

pjulienne — Sat, 09 Mar 2013 22:21:17 +0000

Thru Mar – SUNY Fredonia Women’s History Month activities

Mar 11 – Erie Benedictines for Peace present peace activist and author Kathy Kelly. 7 pm Mount St. Benedict Monastery 6101 East Lake Road, Erie PA. Kathy Kelly co-coordinates Voices for Creative Nonviolence, (www.vcnv.org) a campaign to end U.S. military and economic warfare. Q&A after the talk, then refreshments and social time in the dining room. – To RSVP on Facebook, or to request a ride. Bio here
• Leading voice questioning US policy in Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan
• Twelve trips to Afghanistan living in working-class neighborhoods of Kabul
• Lived in Baghdad during 2003 “Shock and Awe” bombing
• Led a delegation to Pakistan to study effects of US drone warfare
• Coordinator of Voices for Creative Nonviolence

Mar 13 – Women of Word/Man Made Words Dedicated group of poets performing several sets of poetic conversation. They include: Marjorie Wonner, Thasia Anne, Kat Wolper, Marisa Moks-Unger, and Tracie Morell, Darry M. Brown, Elliot Smith, and Marc Smith. In its third year, the show covers such diverse topics as domestic violence, grief processing and human trafficking. The free performance, part of Edinboro’s Women’s History Month events, at 6pm at Edinboro University’s Alexander Center. Contact 814-873-3930 or tannetaf@yahoo.com for further information.

Mar 13 – “West Side Story” (1962) Tinseltown 2 and 7pm.

Mar 14 – MATV Fundraiser at JR’s Last Laugh 14th & State Headliner: Kevin Meaney. Special Event Price: $18.00 Call (814) 461-0911 for Reservations & remember to mention Mother’s Against Teen Violence. *Dinner is available starting at 5:30pm & tickets will go on sale at 6:00pm Be sure to mention MATV when calling.

Mar 16 –“ American Coup” (2009) 2pm Link TV Check here for trailer and all broadcast times and dates. Story of the 1953 coup carried out by the CIA to topple the popularand democratically-elected Iranian Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadegh, who had nationalized Iran’s oil industry to protect Iran’s chief asset. Good complement/background to “Argo”… August 2013 marks the 60^th anniversary of this event.

Mar 16-17 – 10th Annual Taste and Tour at Hurry Hill Farm 10am to 4pm free. Progressive maple farmers Jan and Lisa hold this fun and educational event.

Mar 19 – 10^th anniversary of US-backed invasion of Iraq

Mar 19 – Special Presentation: After I Picked the Fruit Follows the lives of five immigrant farmworker women over a ten-year period as they labor in the apple orchards and fields of rural western New York, migrate seasonally to Florida, raise their families, and try to hide from the Bush-era immigration raids that were conducted in response to 9/11. Filmed in New York, Florida, and Mexico, this intimate, bittersweet, feature-length film illuminates a community that is nearly invisible to most Americans, and will change the way you look at our national ‘immigration problem.’” It will screen on Tuesday, March 19, at 7 p.m. in the Taylor Little Theatre at Mercyhurst University. Panel discussion to follow. Presented by the Mercyhurst Institute for Arts & Culture and the Mercyhurst departments of Social Work and Criminal Justice. Free and open to the public. For more information call 814-824-3000 or visit miac.mercyhurst.edu.

Mar 19 – Oscar Romero Award & Lecture 8 p.m The Mercyhurst University Department of Religious Studies is honored to present the 2013 Oscar Romero Award to Sister Mary Lou Kownacki, OSB, a tireless advocate for the poor and vulnerable. The annual award is given to persons whose lives have demonstrated in an extraordinary manner the commitment to faith, justice, and the dignity of all God’s people. Kownacki will deliver her lecture, “Turned Into Fire,” on Tuesday, March 19, at 8 p.m. in the Mercy Heritage Room of Sullivan Hall. Free and open to the public. For more information, contact Thomas Forsthoefel, Ph.D., professor of religious studies, at 814-824-2353.

Mar 20 – Sustainability Department Film: A Fierce Green Fire Walker Recital Hall This new documentary from filmmaker Mark Kitchell chronicles the development of grassroots environmental activism across the decades – and the globe – as people come together to save the planet, their homes and the future. Kitchell will be present when the film screens at the Walker Recital Hall at Mercyhurst University at 7 p.m. Q-and-A to follow. Free and open to the public. For more information, contact Marnie Sullivan, Ph.D., assistant professor of English, at msullivan@mercyhurst.edu or 814-824-3759.

Friday, Mar 22 Maria J. Langer Film Series: Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry Taylor Little Theatre Chinese artist and activist Ai Weiwei has garnered international attention as much for his ambitious artwork as his political provocations. From 2008 to 2010, Beijing-based journalist and filmmaker Alison Klayman documented Ai’s artistic process in preparation for major museum exhibitions, his intimate exchanges with family members and his increasingly public clashes with the Chinese government. @ 7:15 pm $6 for adults, $5 for seniors / students, purchase by calling 814-814-824-3000 or by visiting miac.mercyhurst.edu.

Mar 21 Mercyhurst hosts Global Gifts Fair to help empower local refugees

Mar 23 – Community Day of Peace concert Bay Breeze 25 E 10^th, Erie. 4PM $5 admission, proceeds benefit Mothers Against Teen Violence. Contact Lora 814-838-9649 morningstar7@verizon.net

Apr 13 – Thomas Merton 2013 Award Honoring Martin Sheen 5 PM Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall – 4141 Fifth Ave Pittsburgh, PA 15213

Apr 13 – My Name is Khan (2010) Venango Campus of Clarion University Oil City PA.

Apr 20- Presque Isle Cleanup More info at the park office 2nd floor of Tom Ridge Environmental Center (TREC) or at (814)833-7424.

Apr 21 – Wild & Scenic Film Festival Bradford PA

Apr 22 – Earth Day

Apr 22 – PA Deadline to register to vote in primary

May 10 – David Francey at Fredonia Opera House.

Jun 17-19 – Games for Change Festival NYC. Last year sold out so register early if you plan on attending. You can also watch it online.

Jun 20-23 – Netroots Nation

NEWS & VARIOUS

From Gasland director Josh Fox, Mar 6—“A huge day for fractivists! NY State Assembly passes a two year moratorium on hydro-fracking in NY State, activists take over the DRBC meeting forcing the commission to listen to their comments on pipelines in the river basin and Tribeca Film Festival announces that GASLAND 2 will premiere in NEW YORK CITY April 21, 2013. Wow. What an afternoon. We are rocking this folks.”

Will New York’s fracking decision impact PA?

‘State Department’ Keystone XL Report Actually Written By TransCanada Contractor

Elizabeth Warren: Banks get slap on wrist while drug deals go to jail Sen Warren takes on bank regulators about money laundering. 3/7/2013

Holder admits Big Banks Above the Law

Consulting the Zombies: Why We Invariably Turn to the “Experts” Who Were Never Right When It Comes to Iraq

GEORGE A. HUGHES PHOTOS

Hughes recently contributed several albums of photos from 1969 to about 1973 to the History and Memorabilia | Erie Pennsylvania FB page. Many are of the youth counterculture of the time. People nowadays are used to seeing photos in color, so some viewing these great black and whites might not fully appreciate how colorful the subjects were.

Erie Arts Festival 1971. A bit more countercultural and grassroots then.

1914 Tie Coffeehouse. Located on Peach near what was then the 19^th Street tracks

Peace March and Perry Square Rally (1969) This album was included here previously, but he has added to it since then.

Sullivan’s Café Looks a bit drab there, but it wasn’t really…just a neighborhood-type bar that did attract younger people, many counterculture and progressive hung out here too.

Finally some good news for the polar bears! Shell has abandoned its plans to drill for oil in the Arctic waters off the coast of Alaska in 2013. Now is Obama’s time to declare Arctic drilling ‘off limits’ for good. Write to him now: ♥ http://act.gp/Z5w3fL ♥ Share at http://www.facebook.com/#!/photo.php?fbid=10151373759923300&set=a.165558403299.117727.7297163299&type=1&theater

“There is no reason for our military to market to and recruit minors. None. This practice must stop.” From Stop Recruiting Kids, share at http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=467688869929235&set=a.423784737652982.96470.423780030986786&type=1&theater

Events of Interest ~ Feb 28, 2013

pjulienne — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 20:59:59 +0000

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Feb 28-Mar 3 – “Anna in the Tropics” Allegheny Playshop Theatre presents a Pulitzer Prize-winning play by Cuban-American playwright Nilo Cruz, Vukovich Center for Communication Arts Allegheny College, Meadville PA.. The play evokes the world of a Tampa cigar factory in 1929, when cigars were still rolled by hand and “lectores,” or readers, were employed to educate and entertain the workers.

Mar 1-31 – March events at Presque Isle and TREC

Mar 1-31 – EUP Women’s History Month Calendar

Mar 2 – Pennsylvania Progressive Summit Harrisburg

Mar 3 – Stevie Wonder with Friends: Celebrating a Message of Peace On BET 11:00AM. In In an effort to commemorate the UN and its affiliates who have worked toward the betterment of humanity throughout the world, American activist and musical icon Stevie Wonder headlined a star-studded show of some of the nation’s most inspiring artists.

Mar 3 – WNY Peace Center Director at UU of N. Chautauqua 11 AM Worship: Justice Sunday with guest speaker Charles Bowman and Worship Associates Joan and Rodney Houck Charles Bowman is the Interim Executive Director of WNY Peace Center in Buffalo. He is a retired biologist who has worked in Albany, at University of Buffalo, and the Veterans Association. His talk will focus on two connected issues: unmanned aerial vehicles and renewable energy. www.uucnc.org

Mar 5 – An Evening with Ishmael Beah Robert H. Jackson Center Jamestown, N.Y. What does war look like through the eyes of a child soldier? Learn the answers to this difficult question and more as the Robert H. Jackson Center hosts An Evening With Ishmael Beah. Beah, a former child soldier and author of A Long Way Gone: Memories of a Boy Soldier, will give a candid personal account of his experiences in Sierra Leone and share his hopes for the future of the country. To learn more about his experiences, please visit www.alongwaygone.com. A reception in Beah’s honor will be held at 5:30 p.m., prior to the 7 p.m. presentation. Both are free and open to the public courtesy of sponsors Allegheny College, Chautauqua Region Community Foundation, Lutheran Social Services, and Lake Shore Savings Bank. A limited number of complimentary copies of Beah’s book will be available to attendees. Beah on Jon Stewart

Mar 7 – What would Medicaid expansion mean for you? Public Hearing with Rep. Bizarro and Rep. Fabrizio, Blasco Library 10-1.. “Are you an uninsured Pennsylvanian? Are you a healthcare or hospital worker? Are you a taxpayer or citizen of Pa? Come stand for affordable health care, jobs for our community, and funding for our hospitals. Corbett says No we say Unite. Corbett is becoming more isolated in his decision not to accept funding. 1.3 million uninsured Pennsylvanians would be covered, 41,000 healthcare jobs will be created, and hospitals will receive valuable funding. Let’s unite and win this for our state!” Public hearing with State Reps Flo Fabrizio and Ryan Bizzarro, 10am Blasco Memorial Library, HO Hirt Auditorium, 160 E Front St Erie

Mar 7 – Civil Rights : Making the Movement 6:00 pm The Robert H. Jackson Center (Jamestown NY) will debut their new spring 2013 exhibit with a public. Features materials from the collection of Dave Crane, a history professor at Alamance Community College in North Carolina. The materials consist of buttons, badges, pinbacks, posters, photographs, pamphlets, and flyers that document the Civil Rights Movement from 1909-1976. The material culture of the freedom struggle helped the movement achieve its objectives of ending Jim Crow segregation and disfranchisement. There will also be a chronology of significant Supreme Court opinions that both aided and dismantled civil rights in America. The exhibit will be on display through September 2013. This exhibit is made possible through the support of the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation, Wegmans, and our local community.

Mar 8 - International Women’s Day: Call to Action Sponsored by Thomas Merton Center held at Friends Meeting House 4836 Ellsworth Avenue Pittssburgh, Join us in celebration of International Women’s Day on Friday, March 8! This event focuses on how women have been impacted by wars. The free event will feature a screening of “The Invisible War.” The 2012 documentary film exposes sexual assault in the United States military and is nominated for Best Documentary Feature at the 85th Academy Awards.The event also features a dramatic reading, speakers Francine Porter, Joyce Wagner, Edith Bell and Scilla Wahrhaftig and will end with a Q&A after the film.This event is sponsored by the Thomas Merton Center, Code Pink Pittsburgh, Women’s League for International Peace and Freedom and American Friends Service Committee of PA. We hope to see you there!”

Mar 8-9 – Allegheny To Host Photojournalism Conference on the Ethics and Challenges of Visual Storytelling Allegheny College will host a two-day conference, “Documents of War: the Ethics and Challenges of Visual Storytelling,” exploring the role of photojournalism and film documentaries in the context of armed conflict, on March 8 and 9. The conference, which is free and open to the public, requires no preregistration.

KATHY KELLY:
• Leading voice questioning US policy in Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan
• Twelve trips to Afghanistan living in working-class neighborhoods of Kabul
• Lived in Baghdad during 2003 “Shock and Awe” bombing
• Led a delegation to Pakistan to study effects of US drone warfare
• Coordinator of Voices for Creative Nonviolence

Mar 16-17 – 10th Annual Taste and Tour at Hurry Hill Farm 10am to 4pm free. Progressive maple farmers Jan and Lisa hold this fun and educational event.

Mar 21 Mercyhurst hosts Global Gifts Fair to help empower local refugees

Mar 23 – Community Day of Peace concert Bay Breeze 25 E 10^th, Erie. 4PM $5 admission, proceeds benefit Mothers Against Teen Violence. Contact Lora 814-838-9649 morningstar7@verizon.net

Apr 13 – Thomas Merton 2013 Award Honoring Martin Sheen 5 PM Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall – 4141 Fifth Ave Pittsburgh, PA 15213

Apr 21 – Wild & Scenic Film Festival Bradford PA

Apr 22 – Earth Day

May 10 – David Francey at Fredonia Opera House.

Jun 17-19 – Games for Change Festival NYC. Last year sold out so register early if you plan on attending. You can also watch it online.

Jun 20-23 – Netroots Nation

NEWS & VARIOUS

“Suffragists marching on State Street (1915)” Photo from Erie Co Historical Society

Erie Dems website and Facebook page if you are interested in keeping up with things of interest to local Democrats, check out these sites.

Pennsylvania:13 GOP state senators, including the senate majority leader, have formally introduced their electoral college rigging bill. Republicans need a total of 26 votes to pass the bill. They currently control the chamber and hold 27 seats total. As they also control the state house in Pennsylvania, the GOP could theoretically ram the bill through in as little as 4 days as soon as they have the votes to pass it.Pennsylvania has been at the forefront of recent efforts to rig the electoral college, with Republicans from Gov. Tom Corbett on down, first considering this scheme way back in 2011.

Dan Zmijewski disrupts open-carry rally in Perry Square In the article “Erie’s Perry Square site for rally against increased gun control”. Dave Rocco explains the ordinance concerning weapons in the park, and Doug Boldt (who organized the Bob’s Gun Shop forum) explains why he opposes the rally.

Watch “Inocente” episode. Oscar-winning documentary about a talented 15-year-old Latina who, as an undocumented homeless immigrant, fiercely pursues her dream of becoming an artist. First Kickstarter film to win an Oscar.

“A Place at the Table” In theatres, available on iTunes and on demand March 1. examines the shocking paradox of hunger in the wealthiest nation on earth, through the stories of three Americans who face food insecurity daily. The feature-length film features interviews with Oscar-winning actor Jeff Bridges, author Raj Patel, Top Chef’s Tom Colicchio and original music by Grammy award winning indie-folk duo The Civil Wars and Grammy – and Oscar – winning producer/composer T Bone Burnett. Piece on NPR Piece on NPR

“Only You Can Prevent Faucet Fires” made a big splash at Keystone event here is the source http://lmnopi.blogspot.com/2013/02/i-haz-t-shirt-store.html

The case for closing liquor stores “Violent crime has intractable causes like poverty, drugs and guns. But one cause — the number of businesses selling booze in a neighborhood — could be directly controlled. Should it be?”

Indoor compost video Those who have tried this recommend an old cotton T-shirt over top of the top layer to control odor. The shirt will become compost.

The Obnoxious Tea Party Leaders Have Vanished from the Political Stage — Palin, Beck, DeMint, Paul, Bachmann… Poof! Every single prominent Tea Party leader has either lost their job or abandoned being a voice of the movement.

A Better World is Possible!

T-shirts and other items from artist at http://lmnopi.blogspot.com/2013/02/i-haz-t-shirt-store.html

Suffragists marching on State Street (1915)

Events of Interest ~ Feb 13, 2013

pjulienne — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 22:48:17 +0000

Feb 15 – On Screen/In Person: Cafeteria Man Mercyhurst. The documentary chronicles the ambitious effort to “green” the public school diet serving 83,000 students in Baltimore. Leading the charge to replace pre-plated, processed foods with locally grown, freshly prepared meals is New Orleans chef Tony Geraci, whose bold vision includes school vegetable gardens, student-designed meals, meatless Mondays and nutrition education in the classroom. This film will screen on Friday, Feb. 15, at 2:15 p.m. and 7:15 p.m. in the Taylor Little Theater at Mercyhurst University and will include a Q-and-A session with the director following both screenings.

Feb 17 – “Forward on Climate” Rally “Largest Climate Rally in History” with the Sierra Club
Sunday, February 17, 2013 Washington, DC On Join this historic event to make your voice heard and help the president start his second term with strong climate action. Rally will feature critical action, inspiring speakers, and a march to the president’s doorstep to show him that we can’t afford to wait any longer.

For more information about rides, housing and answers to Frequently Asked Questions, visit http://forwardonclimate.org
BUS FROM PITTSBURGH: Please contact Peter Wray, Chair, Conservation Committee Allegheny Group, Sierra Club pjwray@verizon.net 412-244-9907 BUS FROM BUFFALO: Email Linda or Sara at rmc.law2511@yahoo.com to reserve a space.

Feb 18 – Author Peter Annin on “The Great Lakes Water Wars” Penn State Erie

Feb 18 – “Death: The Great Adventure” with Mary Hembrow Snyder PhD 7pm Mount St Benedict, 6101 East Lake Rd, Erie. Dr. Snyder has authored or edited three books. “The Christology of Rosemary Radford Ruether (Twenty-Third Publications, 1988); “Liberation Theology: An Introductory Reader (Orbis, 1992); and “Spiritual Questions for the Twenty-First Century: Essays in Honor of Joan D. Chittister” (Orbis, 2001). Free and open to the public. 814-899-0614 ErieBenedictines.org

Feb 19-24 – American Idiot Heinz Hall Pgh. Tour website at http://www.americanidiotthemusical.com/

Feb 21 – A Priest Speaks His Conscience: The Struggle for Gender Equality in the Catholic Church (Film and Presentation) 7 PM Market Arcade Theater, 639 Main St./ 628 Washington St., Buffalo The documentary Pink Smoke will be shown at 7:00pm and a presentation by Fr. Roy Bourgeois will begin at 8:00pm. Fr. Roy has spoken at National CTA Conferences as well as many venues around the United States not only as a leader of S.O.A. Watch, but also as a leading advocate for the ordination of women in the Catholic Church. On Nov. 19, 2012, after 36 years in the Priesthood, Fr. Roy bourgeois discovered he had been “expelled from the Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers, his religious order and faith community for 46 years and the Vatican had removed his priesthood – all for his refusal to be silent about his support for womens’s ordination.” The talk is free and open to the public. A Free will offering will be taken. Contact: Lucille Gervase (716) 837-8685. Convenient parking is available on Washington St. Sponsored by Upstate NY Call To Action.

Feb 26 – Makers: Women Who Make America 8:00pm 54.1 – WQLN HD (PBS-Erie) The modern women’s movement is chronicled. Included: first-person accounts from movement leaders (Gloria Steinem, Eleanor Holmes Norton); opponents (Phyllis Schlafly); celebrities (Oprah Winfrey, Katie Couric); political figures (Hillary Clinton).

Mar 2 – Pennsylvania Progressive Summit Harrisburg

Mar 11 – Erie Benedictines for Peace present peace activist and author Kathy Kelly. 7 pm Mount St. Benedict Monastery 6101 East Lake Road, Erie PA

Apr 8 – “Invisible War” 7-9pm –Presented by Passages, Inc. Clarion University 840 Wood Street Clarion, PA More Information: (814) 226-7273

Apr 12 – Apr 13 (Fri – Fri) – Erie Reader Staged Reading Series: “8” by Dustin Lance Black (PACA – Performing Arts Center & Theater, 1505 State St, Erie, PA 16501) Portrays the legal argument and witness testimony of the Perry v. Schwarzenegger trial, which led to the overturning of California’s Proposition 8. Using actual transcripts from the court case, Black has crafted a heartbreaking and compelling look at this monumental legal case. Free admission – no reservations needed. Performance time is 8 PM both nights. Contact: Mark Tanenbaum. Phone: (814) 434-0687 . Email: director@papa1505.com. Browse to http://www.paca1505.com.

Apr 13 – Thomas Merton 2013 Award Honoring Martin Sheen 5 PM Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall – 4141 Fifth Ave Pittsburgh, PA 15213

Apr 21 – Wild & Scenic Film Festival Bradford PA

Jun 20-23 – Netroots Nation

NEWS & VARIOUS

FOOD CO-OP Deserves to be said again: Erie’s Whole Foods Co-op is not affiliated with Whole Foods Market. Whole Foods Co-op is a local, member-run cooperative whose one store is located in Erie. Whole Foods Market is a Texas-based national chain of supermarkets, whose CEO has been quite a jerk lately. Nice article about the co-op in the Erie Times-News, featuring one of their chefs and schedule for their monthly full moon dinners. Also here is a WICU/WSEE story on the co-op from last year. The community center is now a reality, and available for use by community members and groups.

ART Two art shows of interest: Q2 at Glass Growers (through Feb 28) and Lincoln exhibit stirs the soul at Erie Art Museum Check out this video of the new, green LEED-certified Erie Art Museum, and remember second Sundays of the month is free admission.

FRACKING NY Group Praises New York’s Common Sense Schedule for Fracking Regulations Health impact review will precede final rules on fracking, not vice-versa

CORBETT BUDGET PROTESTS Erie: Erie budget protest Harrisburg: Protestors provide backing track to Gov. Corbett’s budget address, disrupt some of normal postgame show at Capitol

GUNS CeaseFirePA Applauds Attorney General Kathleen Kane for Closing “The Florida Loophole” From Erie Times-News: “Pat Howard: Flap over gun forum illuminates how political ground has shifted” “Feds: Erie felon possessed gun, cocaine” “McCrorey obtained one of the handguns in December after he lied about his identity in paperwork he filled out at Bob’s Gun Shop in McKean and also falsely indicated that he had no felony conviction, the indictment charges.”

ALSO…

DRONES

Brought out of the shadows by the confirmation process Obama’s drone czar John Brennan…

John Brennan’s “Trust Me” is Not Good Enough by Dana Milbank
Cenk Uyger takes on the White House response to white paper on drones: “Deadly Drone Strikes – Obama is ‘Serious’
See how serious Obama really is about drones (haha, you won’t see it coming!)
Are drones already over US skies? Amid the controversy over a newly-released memo, documenting the CIA’s policy on the targeted killing of American citizens with drones, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has released a list of public organizations that have applied for a special permission to use drones over USA towns and cities.
Drone activism in central NY: “Ground the drones, end the wars” (basic, readable background on drone warfare), “History of drone activism in central NY” From Syracuse Peace Council. (“Founded in 2010, Upstate Drone Action is a decentralized, informally — organized grassroots group of mostly upstate New York activists. We seek to educate the public and Hancock Air Base personnel re the war crimes perpetrated with the MQ9 Reaper drone piloted from Hancock on the outskirts of Syracuse. We also seek to educate the public re drone proliferation and blowback dangers as well as the surveillance and civil liberties threat the Reaper and other military robots poses domestically. Legitimized by international law and by the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, Upstate Drone Action members heed our consciences and the Nuremburg mandate to expose and impede our nation’s war crimes.”)
Moyers: Obama’s cold-blooded use of drones shows seeming indifference to innocent bystanders une of drones
Wash. state residents kill Seattle Police drone program

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Events of Interest ~ Jan 25, 2013

pjulienne — Sat, 26 Jan 2013 02:25:23 +0000

This & That is published now and then for the Erie area progressive community. Always good to double-check dates and times. Event submissions should have “T&T” in subject line, send to moonkat2014@gmail.com. If you don’t want to receive this please reply with “Unsubscribe” in subject line. Also posted to http://occupyerie.net and www.erielead.org

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Jan 29 – Visiting Lecturer Sharad Lele To Speak on “Engaging Climate Change in India” Allegheny College, Quigley Hall, 7:30pm

Jan 31 – Not Everyone Loves Marineland Thursday, January 31, 2013, 7 PM Burning Books 420 Connecticut Street, Buffalo NY. In response to huge concern and outrage against Marineland, including an 800-person demonstration that stormed the facility and shut down a dolphin show last October, the company has targeted Marineland Animal Defense co-founder Dylan Powell with a $1.5 million damages suit as well as a multiple location injunction. Dylan, who will be giving presentation on the campaign and current situation at Burning Books.

Feb 2 – World Wetlands Day

Feb 3, 2013 Ethnic Heritage Ensemble Erie Art Museumat 7 p.m. Suggested donation $15 per person The amazing Ethnic Heritage Ensemble will make their annual EAm appearance during Black History Month.

Feb 4 – Protest Corbett’s Proposed Budget 4pm at Governors Regional Office, 100 State Street, Erie PA. “ Demand a budget for the 99%. Restore funding to Education, Medicaid, and Medicare. Stop taking from the People to give to the Corporations!”

Feb 5 – Bus to Harrisburg. From Molly Bechtel “We will be taking our budget fight to the state capital. We will be taking a bus from Erie.” Info: (814) 450-8652 Seating is limited.

Feb. 6. “Laurence Anyways” (2012). Erie Art Museum Film Series. Award-winner about a couple with a 10-year relationship that includes a male-to-female transsexual. Film series curator John C, Lyons is lining up a post-screening Skype interview with director Xavier Dolan. 2:48. Not rated. Drama, romance. French subtitles.

Feb 15 – On Screen/In Person: Cafeteria Man Mercyhurst

Feb 18 – Author Peter Annin on “The Great Lakes Water Wars” Penn State Erie

For more information about rides, housing and answers to Frequently Asked Questions, http://forwardonclimate.org
BUS FROM PITTSBURGH: Please contact Peter Wray, Chair, Conservation Committee Allegheny Group, Sierra Club pjwray@verizon.net 412-244-9907 BUS FROM BUFFALO: Email Linda or Sara at rmc.law2511@yahoo.com to reserve a space.

Mar 1-2 – Pennsylvania Progressive Summit Harrisburg

Jun 20-23 – Netroots Nation

NEWS & VARIOUS

Frontline: The Untouchables FRONTLINE investigates why Wall Street’s leaders have escaped prosecution for any fraud related to the sale of bad mortgages. Watch online.

Frontline Gets Its Man: Lanny Breuer Leaves DOJ After Exposé. One day after the Frontline episode The Untouchables aired, head of the Justice Department’s criminal division stepped down. Way to go, Frontline!

Switch Your Bank

UN to Probe Drone Casualties

Independent UK: Billionaires secretly fund attacks on climate science Audit trail reveals that donors linked to fossil fuel industry are backing global warming sceptics

The Second Amendment was Ratified to Preserve Slavery “In the beginning, there were the militias. In the South, they were also called the “slave patrols,” and they were regulated by the states… It’s the answer to the question raised by the character played by Leonardo DiCaprio in Django Unchained when he asks, “Why don’t they just rise up and kill the whites?” If the movie were real, it would have been a purely rhetorical question, because every southerner of the era knew the simple answer: Well regulated militias kept the slaves in chains.

The NRA once supported gun control It may seem hard to believe, but for decades the organization helped write federal laws restricting gun use

Events of Interest ~ Jan 5, 2013

pjulienne — Sun, 06 Jan 2013 02:17:59 +0000

This & That is published now and then for the Erie area progressive community. Always good to double-check dates and times. Event submissions should have “T&T” in subject line, send to moonkat2014@gmail.com . If you don’t want to receive this please reply with “Unsubscribe” in subject line. Also posted to http://occupyerie.net and www.erielead.org

Jan 8 – The Abolitionists premieres on PBS http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/films/abolitionists/

Jan 9 – Meeting for CeaseFirePA 5:30-7 PM Jefferson Educational Society, 3207 State St., Erie, PA. The topic of the program will be legislative efforts to control gun violence in PA. “ WE SEEK an end to gun violence and an end to the trafficking of illegal firearms–a plague that continues to ravage our communities. WE INVITE all area residents, community leaders (both faith and secular), activists and students to work together as a community to forge a safer environment for all generations.” http://www.ceasefirepa.org/ All are welcome.For more information and/or to RSVP, please contact Rob Conroy, Western PA Field Coordinator of CeaseFirePA, at rob.conroy@ceasefirepa.org or (412) 965-0383.

Jan 9 – Rally to Stop Fracking in NY at the State of the State Address RSVP and sign up for more info and transportation here: http://bit.ly/VmdiS7 The New Yorkers Against Fracking coalition is calling on all New Yorkers to come to Albany for a rally to keep fracking out of our beloved state. We will take our message right to the Governor as we gather outside the annual State of the State Address, delivered by Andrew Cuomo. By New Yorkers Against Fracking

Jan 11 – National Day of Action Against Guantánamo

In Erie: Please join us in demanding the closure of the detention centers at Guantanamo and Bagram. Friday, January 11, 2013 @ Erie Federal Building, 4:00-4:45pm. Called by Mary the Apostle Catholic Worker, Erie Peace initiative co-sponsoring. Share on Facebook join FB event page
Nationally: visit Close Guantanamo, also DC events by National Religious Campaign Against Torture

Jan 11– Lewis Black in Erie “The Rant is Due” Warner Theater

Jan 12 - UU Erie Black and White Movie Series is showing “Citizen Kane.”7 pmUnitarian Universalist Congregation of Erie is at 7180 Perry Highway (Route 97) in Erie, less than a mile north of I-90.

Jan 17-26 – David Mamet’s “Race” at Dramashop. One of David Mamet’s most recent works, “Race” follows “three attorneys, two black and one white, offered a chance to defend a white man charged with a crime against a black woman.” The plot unfolds as the three lawyers and defendant grapple with the evidence of the case and their own feelings about race. Socially relevant, poignant, and often biting, “Race” offers a crash course in racial tension and the nature of resolution. Renaissance Centre Theatre (2nd floor)1001 State Street Erie, PA 16501

Jan 18-26 – ‘Pageant Play’: Fridays and Saturdays, 8 p.m. at t PACA, 1505 State St. Erie PA (2^nd floor); Edgy satire that explores the totally twisted world of child pageants. Cost: $10 adv/ $15 at the door. Info: www.paca1505.com. PACA is a wonderful new space for the performing arts, right in Erie’s Entertainment District.

Jan. 18 – Martin Luther King Tribute Concert 7:30 p.m. Central Tech High School, 3325 Cherry St.presented by Gannon University’s Erie Chamber Orchestra with Shiloh Baptist Choir. Free. Info: 871-7755.

Jan 19 – All Aboard Erie Annual Membership Meeting “This is your chance to be a part of the push for improved mass transit, locally and regionally. Local author Steven Porter will speak, as well as the “e” Director of Operations Mike Tann, and then the annual elections will be conducted. You will be able to join All Aboard Erie for $10, which will allow you to vote in the elections. Please show your support of our efforts…” Saturday January 19 at 1PM, at the Brewerie at Union Station, 123 West 14^th Street, Erie. www.allaboarderie.com

Jan 20 – UU Erie Breakfast Standing on the Side of Love (an interfaith public advocacy project of the UUA) 9 am.Unitarian Universalist congregations nationwide are launching a THIRTY DAYS OF LOVE campaign — from MLK Jr. Day to Valentine’s Day — to harness love’s power to stop oppression. This special service will address issues related to LGBT equality, immigrant justice, Islamophobia, and bullying. You will be treated to a video of a rousing sermon by Rev. Gail Geisenhainer: “We Who Believe in Freedom Cannot Rest.” Service Coordinator: Al Richardson Musician: Lin Lang Su, Rebecca and Hannah http://www.standingonthesideoflove.org/

Jan. 20 – A Day of Expression Honoring Dr Martin Luther King. At Erie Art Museum, 20 E. Fifth St., Erie. Presented by The Youth Leadership Institute of Erie and Youth Service America with live performances by the Victory Christian Center alternative youth group, Kemoni Farmer with “The Legacy Of MLK” and more. $10 (donation), Info: 806-0103.

January 21 Annual Martin Luther King March and Rally. Marchers will gather on South Perry Square next to City Hall at about 11:30 a.m. with the march kicking off at 12 noon. The marchers will walk up W.6th St. to Chestnut and then north to the Martin Luther King Center for a brief rally. Dress for weather…In observance of the Martin Luther King Holiday, Gannon will host a prayer service at 9 a.m. in the University’s Mary, Seat of Wisdom Chapel, 520 Peach St. The public is welcome to participate. Also on Martin Luther King Day, Gannon will host a light lunch from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Yehl Ballroom of the Waldron Campus Center, 124 West Seventh St. The lunch is free and open to the public.

Jan 21 – Anti-Drone protest at the Inauguration Set to coincide with the Presidential Inauguration Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and the third anniversary of the Citizens United Supreme Court ruling, the Arc of Justice rally and parade will be a determined but hopeful expression of our concern and dissent against the wars, occupations, loss of civil liberties, overwhelming corporate and big money power over our lives, environmental degradation, and many other important issues mostly abused, ignored, or minimized by recent administrations and Congress.

Feb 2 – New Strategy for Peace movement (Pittsburgh). 2:30-5pm Meeting at the Friends Meeting House 4836 Ellsworth Ave. Pittsburgh, PA 15213 Map to Meeting House ”While many groups are working for peace and are opposing the military mindset of our society, we each have been pushing our little part of it with some success, but little notice by the general public or the media. Several of us, involved with the American Friends Service Committee PA, Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, Code Pink, Peace Action, Anti-War Committee know that there are many more groups and individuals who contribute in their own way or would like to bring about a more peaceful world. We believe that if we pool our efforts and ideas, that we could be a more powerful force and have more impact on events in Washington and the world. Since President Obama’s election to a second term, he himself has said that he needs to hear from us, and so does the rest of our government.” Group of peace people from Erie are going, email Erie Peace Initiative at eriepeaceinitiative@yahoo.com or message at EPI Facebook .

Feb 15 – On Screen/In Person: Cafeteria Man Mercyhurst

Mar 1-2 – Pennsylvania Progressive Summit Harrisburg

NEWS & VARIOUS

SUNY Fredonia Study Finds High Levels of Plastic Pollution in Lake Erie The highest levels of concentration were found in Lake Erie between Dunkirk and Erie, Pa. where the research team found concentrations of over 600,000 plastic pieces per square kilometer…”That’s two times higher than any published number from any sample anywhere in the world,” explained Dr. Mason. Many of the samples included very tiny beads, and researchers believe they were flushed into the lakes by consumers using facial cleaners…”Many people don’t realize that these micro-beads, these exfoliants, that are in their common consumer products are actually plastic.” … What makes the finding so troublesome is that the micro-plastic is often the same size as fish eggs, something that is eaten by local marine life. … “If you find it in a bird, if you find it in a fish, it is in us,” warned Dr. Mason.

Gas field workers cited in Pa. hospital’s debts The CEO of a north-central Pennsylvania hospital says the facility’s first operating loss in about five years is a sign of the influx of natural gas field workers without health insurance.

Marcellus Protest page has posts about anti-Fracking activists leafletting at “Promised Land” screenings in the region

Events of Interest ~ Dec 29, 2012

pjulienne — Sun, 30 Dec 2012 00:33:47 +0000

This & That is published now and then for the Erie area progressive community. Always good to double-check dates and times. Event submissions should have “T&T” in subject line, send to moonkat2014@gmail.com . If you don’t want to receive this please reply with “Unsubscribe” in subject line. Also posted to http://occupyerie.net and www.erielead.org

Dec 31 – Emancipation Proclamation 150th anniversary “Watch Nights” observed this year.

Dec 31 –Community Board Game Night at Community United Church (CUC is a progressive congregation) 9:30- 1 am, $5 donation.Community United Church, 1011 West 38th Street. For more information visit facebook page

Dec 31 – NYE@EAM – Erie Art Museum 10 E. Fifth St. Erie, Pennsylvania

Dec 31 – Link Special: Chris Hedges – Days of Revolt 9:30am, also Jan 3 at 11:30am.

Jan 4 – Wide release of Promised Land, the highly anticipated anti-fracking film, directed by Gus Van Sant and starring Matt Damon and John Krasinski.

Jan 5 – 3rd Annual Candle Light Vigil and Talent Show in Memory of Steve Arrington II 11am-3pm, Booker T Washington Center, 18^th & Holland

Jan 9 – Meeting for CeaseFirePA 5:30 PM Jefferson Educational Society, 3207 State St., Erie, PA. The topic of the program will be legislative efforts to control gun violence in PA. http://www.ceasefirepa.org/

Jan 11 – National Day of Action Against Guantánamo – This will be the 11th anniversary of the opening of Guantanamo. There will probably be a local event, check with Erie Peace Initiative or NWPA Peace websites. Nationally, visit Close Guantanamo, also DC events by National Religious Campaign Against Torture

Jan 11– Lewis Black in Erie “The Rant is Due” Warner Theater

Jan 17-26 – David Mamet’s “Race” at Dramashop. One of David Mamet’s most recent works,“Race” follows “three attorneys, two black and one white, offered a chance to defend a white man charged with a crime against a black woman.” The plot unfolds as the three lawyers and defendant grapple with the evidence of the case and their own feelings about race. Socially relevant, poignant, and often biting, “Race” offers a crash course in racial tension and the nature of resolution. Renaissance Centre Theatre (2nd floor)1001 State Street Erie, PA 16501

Jan 18-26 – ‘Pageant Play’: Fridays and Saturdays, 8 p.m. at t PACA, 1505 State St. Erie PA (2^nd floor); Edgy satire that explores the totally twisted world of child pageants. Cost: $10 adv/ $15 at the door. Info: www.paca1505.com. PACA is a great new space for the performing arts, right in Erie’s Entertainment District.

Feb 2 – New Strategy for Peace movement (Pittsburgh). Meeting at the Friends Meeting House 4836 Ellsworth Ave. Pittsburgh, PA 15213 Map to Meeting House ”While many groups are working for peace and are opposing the military mindset of our society, we each have been pushing our little part of it with some success, but little notice by the general public or the media. Several of us, involved with the American Friends Service Committee PA, Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, Code Pink, Peace Action, Anti-War Committee know that there are many more groups and individuals who contribute in their own way or would like to bring about a more peaceful world. We believe that if we pool our efforts and ideas, that we could be a more powerful force and have more impact on events in Washington and the world. Since President Obama’s election to a second term, he himself has said that he needs to hear from us, and so does the rest of our government.”

Feb 15 – On Screen/In Person: Cafeteria Man Mercyhurst

Mar 1-2 – Pennsylvania Progressive Summit Harrisburg PA

NEWS & VARIOUS

2013: America on the cusp of social change
Gannon launches http://www.greeneriepa.org/
Good to see that Erie’s Hero BX was probably not involved with the CN Rail scandal. The hopeful movie Fuel (2008) was sponsored by Hero BX. You can watch it for free here.
“Michael Moore’s “Bowling for Columbine” streaming on Netflix, showing on Current TV and Moore invites people to watch the full version for free on You Tube. http://www.michaelmoore.com/
Glenn Greenwald, Guardian UK “Obama’s gift to al-Qaida, support for tyranny, and FBI monitoring of dissent” (aka “Why do they hate us?) Numerous individual events from this week alone signify important trends in US government policy
NY Times interview with Matt Damon about “Promised Land”
WKBN report: Youngstown anti-frackers hold rally in support of Promised Land
Preview: Dr. Martin Luther King: The Making of a Holiday
Warren Ohio Oral History Project

EATING ANIMALS

“Farm animals feel pleasure and sadness, excitement and resentment, depression, fear, and pain. They are far more aware and intelligent than we ever imagined…they are individuals in their own right.” —Jane Goodall

I just posted a listing of “More Humane Sources for Meat, Poultry and Dairy in the NWPA area” and also set up a FB page for updates. This includes “more humanely” raised animal sources, meatless and vegetarian alternatives, sentience, sustainability and more. Please note that terms like “humanely-raised,” “free-range” “grass-fed” “compassionate” and even “pastured” aren’t solid standards. It is a good idea to visit the websites and locations of the farms and businesses listed, to get more specific information about their standards. Vegans, of course, reasonably argue that “humane” would mean no animal products are consumed.
Change Is Coming: Factory Farms’ Days May Be Numbered Animal welfare advocates, rejoice Article offers courses of action.
A flying pig, farm animals singing a Broadway tune… think you could take that seriously enough that it might affect your buying habits? It’s made a major effect in Australia. Watch this and see. Discussion at Democratic Underground here.
Someone, Not Something project by Farm Sanctuary Farm Animal Behavior, Emotion, and Intelligence. A project that aims to educate the public about the sentience of farm animals. The Farm Sanctuary does promote vegan living, but carnivores who care about animals will find these well-researched pages to be very enlightening.
Leaning Vegan: NPR

A better world is possible… Much peace to all in the New Year!