-----Forwarded Message-----
From: "Leslie Kielson, NYC-UFPJ"
Sent: Nov 19, 2009 12:24 AM

Subject: Act Now: No Escalation in Afghanistan

United for Peace and Justice joins Veterans for Peace in their Call to Action

 

It is possible that any day now President Obama may decide to escalate the war in Afghanistan. Here in the U.S. and no doubt around the world, people will react in pain, anger and sorrow, knowing what tragedy and suffering will follow.

 

Act NOW to pressure the President to choose otherwise.  If he does decide to send more troops, join NYC-UFPJ, Iraq Veterans Against the War, CodePink NYC and Peace Action NYS at the Times Square Recruiting station on the day AFTER the announcement at 6:00 PM.

 

An escalation will mean at a very minimum that the U.S. will occupy Afghanistan for several more years, sending home dead and wounded soldiers while killing and wounding many times more Afghans.  The suffering in Afghanistan today will grow by orders of magnitude and the U.S. will be that much less secure in direct proportion. In addition, the U.S. economy today still teeters at the abyss.  Escalating the Afghanistan war will not just be the ruin of desperately needed domestic programs but may very possibly destroy the entire economy.

 

For these reasons and many more we call upon our members and every U.S. citizen with a love of humanity in their heart to pledge to at least the following actions:

1.   Within the next few days, conduct any of a wide range of local activities -- from calling Members of Congress to nonviolent civil resistance and everything in between -- demonstrating our opposition to and disgust with any decision to widen the war in Afghanistan.  To show unity of purpose, we suggest local "March of the Dead" to Federal Buildings, local Congressional offices and government buildings of any sort. List your events on the UFPJ calendar.

2.   Flood the White House with calls!  202-456-1111 Call today and again next week as a part of the National Call-In Days on Monday, Nov. 23 - Wednesday, Nov. 25. 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. eastern time.

3.   On the day immediately following an announcement to escalate the war in Afghanistan, respond again in a variety of ways.  To show unity of purpose, we suggest

 a.  Reach out to a group in your community -- a church, union, civic group, etc. -- and make an appointment that day to go and speak with them about the war.

b.   Return to the streets.  Join NYC-UFPJ for a vigil at the Times Square Recruiting Station on Broadway between 43rd and 44th Street or plan an action in your neighborhood.  Post your event here.  Be prepared to comment to the news media about the escalation of the war.

Endorsed by: United for Peace and Justice, Veterans For Peace, Iraq Veterans Against the War, Military Families Speak Out, the A.N.S.W.E.R Coalition, National Assembly, National Campaign for Nonviolent Resistance, Pledge of Resistance, Voices for Creative Nonviolence and World Can't Wait.

UNITED FOR PEACE AND JUSTICE
www.unitedforpeace.org | 212-868-5545
PO Box 607; Times Square Station; New York, NY 10108

To subscribe, visit www.unitedforpeace.org/email

 

The state senate may vote on marriage equality as early as Monday or
Tuesday, and several local senators are still officially undecided.
We have been phonebanking, calling people in Senator Onorato's and
Senator Monserrate's district.

This weekend, we'll be adding Senator Addabbo, who campaigned on a
promise to vote for the bill but has recently gone silent on the
issue.  He needs to hear from his constituents, and we're going to
reach out to them, probably this Saturday afternoon, and possibly
Sunday afternoon as well.

We have one location set up in Astoria, and I'd like to add one in
Sunnyside.

If you can help, let me know.  Also, if you have a space available let
me know about that as well.

Dan

-15.pdf (386.8 Kb) attached


Subject: Fwd: Oct. 23 - 7:30 PM - Meet the Green Party Candidates - In Sunnyside







Join your neighbors and NYC Greens for refreshments and meet the Green Party
Candidates for Queens!
 
When: Friday, Oct. 23 at 7:30 pm
 
Where: All Saints Episcopal Church - 43-12 46th Street in Sunnyside (One block
north of the 46th St-Bliss St. stop on the #7 Local train)
 
Who:
Reverend Billy Talen for Mayor of NYC
Green Candidates for City Council:

Lynne Serpe, District 22, Astoria
Evergreen Chou, District 20, Flushing
 
Sponsored by West Queens Greens (718) 482-0170

 


Veterans for Peace NYC Chapter 34 
presents "Rethink Afghanistan", a Brave New Films production, by Robert
Greenwald
Screening Date: Friday September 25th at 7:30 PMLocation: All Saints Episcopal
Church at 43-12 46 St, Sunnyside, Queens. One-half block North of Queens
Blvd., # 7 local subway train to 46 St/Bliss St station. 
Not wheelchair accessible, 2 steps downstairs.
There is a Municipal Parking area on Queens Blvd., directly under the #7 train
line.

Running Time: 48 minutes; open discussion to followAdmission:  FreeVeterans
For Peace is showing this important documentary as part of a nation-wide
effort to raise consciousness among the public about the unwinnable and
counterproductive endless war being waged in Afghanistan. A recent poll shows
that 54% of American voters want to end our involvement in Afghanistan, bring
our troops home, and use the money saved to fund domestic needs, such as
health care and education. General McChrystal has stated that we are losing
the war in Afghanistan, after 7 long years and the recent surge of 21,000
additional troops. 
Rethink Afghanistan is a ground-breaking documentary focusing on the key
issues surrounding this war. We hope to raise critical questions regarding
Afghanistan that Congress must address in oversight hearings, which inform the
public and challenge policymakers. We strive for more discussion among experts
on Afghanistan, in order to reverse the current US policy of increased
escalation of the war.We have invited 6 local Congress-Members to the
screening, to demonstrate that we voters care about this issue. Members of the
press will also be in attendance.The film interviews experts from the U.S.,
Afghanistan, and Russia explaining the issues surrounding this war, including
its history, cost, and casualties, and why we need greater congressional
scrutiny. The movie demonstrates that there is no military solution to the
situation in Afghanistan. In fact, the longer we stay in Afghanistan, and the
more US troops and civilians killed, the less secure we will be at home from
another terrorist attack. 

Endorsed by: West Queens Greens


    CHAPTER 34 NEW YORK CITY


VETERANS FOR PEACE NYC CHAPTER 034
P.O. BOX 8150, JAF STATION New York, NY 10116-8150
Voice Mail (212) 726-0557
Email:  HYPERLINK "mailto:pbronson1@..."info@...
National website: veteransforpeace.org

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On September 15, Jerrold Nadler introduced H.R.3567, the "Respect for
Marriage Act."  This bill repeals DOMA, and also requires the federal
government to recognize marriages legally performed in any state, and
where the marriage is performed outside the United States (officially,
"outside any State") the federal government must recognize it if any
State would have performed such a marriage..  The bill currently has
94 cosponsors, including 15 from New York, but Rep. Crowley is not
(yet!) among them.

Rep. Crowley's DC office # is 202-225-3965, and his Queens office is
718-779-1400.  You can write him at:
74-09 37th Avenue, Suite 306B
Jackson Heights, NY  11372
(Note: Don't write him at his DC office; due to post-anthrax security
those letters take a long time to be delivered.)

Dan

Please join me in supporting Standing Up For The Public Option!

To see details and contribute now please go to
http://www.actblue.com/page/theytookthepledge/recipient/674450
While I am still working for Single Payer, a robust, affordable comprehensive
public option -- without the need for extra insurance policies to fill in gaps
(and thus a boondoggle for the insurance industry) is the compromise which
could/should lead to single payer. By contributing to those who have pledged to
oppose any healthcare bill without a robust public option you are thanking and
supporting them in their commitment to a good healthcare bill -- not some weak
watered-down bill that can please a few Republican.

Thanks and Peace Hugs!
Kate Anne


---
An ActBlue fundraiser has sent you this email inviting you to join
their action.  Your email address has not been added to any mailing
list. If this email has reached you in error, we apologize.

CONTACT NYC COUNCIL & OTHER LEGISLATORS
TO SUPPORT MEDICARE FOR ALL BILL
Dear PNHP NY Metro Members and Friends,

We are excited to learn that a bill urging the U.S. Congress to
pass John Conyers' “United States National Health Insurance Act,” H.R.
676 (“Expanded & Improved Medicare For All”) has been introduced into
the New York City Council by Oliver Koppell from the Bronx. Local
initiatives like this are critical to building a movement for single
payer national health insurance. If you are in New York City , please
help to get this bill passed: visit, call or write your City Council
member and ask him or her to let you, Mr. Koppell and the public know
of their support for the bill. The text of the bill is below.

A list of NY City Council members is at the end of this message.
Please call or visit yours. The most effective way to let him or her
know that you care deeply about this issue is to make a personal visit
by yourself or, better yet with a group of others from medical groups,
churches, synagogues, labor unions, community groups etc. (if people
can't say they represent a particular organization, they can just say
they are a member.) Let me know if you plan to make a visit and would
like other PNHPers to join you -- I'll try to facilitate it. And if
you can't go in person, do express your support by writing, calling or
emailing. It can make a big difference!

If you are outside New York City , try to get a similar bill
introduced into your city or country legislative bodies.

In the not too distant future, we will also be working with our
fabulous new Albany PNHP Chapter on a campaign to get the New York
State Senate and Assembly to support HR676. If PNHPers from New Jersey
and Connecticut show interest, we can do the same in those states as
well.

To find out who your New York City Council representative is and
how to get in touch with him or her, go to
http://www.gothamgazette.com/city/ and follow the prompts from "Find
Your District " (you may have to use street addresses that are not
precisely yours, but you can figure it out.)

All the best
Joanne Landy , MPH
Executive Director
Physicians for a National Health Program-NY Metro Chapter


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

---------

NEW YORK CITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION NO. 75
Resolution strongly urging the United States Congress to pass H.R.
676, which would provide universal healthcare for all Americans.

By Council Members Koppell, Fidler, Foster, Gentile,
Gerson, Mark-Viverito and Sanders Jr.


Whereas, According to the National Coalition on Heath Care,
approximately 45 million Americans are without health insurance, and,
in 2003, there were 8.4 million children uninsured in the United
States; and

Whereas, Health insurance costs for Americans and the number of
Americans without health insurance continues to rise; and

Whereas, According to the Kaiser Family Foundation and the Health
Research and Educational Trust, premiums for employee-sponsored health
insurance in the United State have been rising five times faster on
average than workers’ salaries; and

Whereas, Working families are having an increasingly harder time
making ends meet, and, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, 20 percent
of the population in New York City lives at or below poverty level;
and

Whereas, According to a recent study by Harvard University
researchers, 50 percent of all bankruptcy filings were partly the
result of overwhelming medical expenses; and

Whereas, According to the National Coalition on Heath Care’s Facts on
Health Care Costs, national health care spending is 4.3 times the
amount spent on national defense; and

Whereas, Physicians for a National Health Program reports that under a
H.R. 676, the Medicare for All Plan, the country could save over $286
billion a year in health care costs; and

Whereas, In addition to helping workers, a universal healthcare system
could reduce the average cost paid by employers for employee benefits;
and

Whereas, The benefits from universal health care could include
extending the life of untold numbers of Americans who, without health
insurance, have higher mortality rates than the insured, according to
the National Coalition on Health Care; and

Whereas, Universal healthcare could benefit all Americans, especially
those most vulnerable; now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York strongly urges the
United States Congress to pass H.R. 676, which would provide universal
healthcare for all Americans.
* * * * * * * *

Below is a list of NY City Council members. To find out who your
representative is and to locate their contact information, go to
http://www.gothamgazette.com/city/

1 Alan Gerson Democrat Manhattan
2 Rosie Mendez Democrat Manhattan
3 Christine Quinn Democrat Manhattan
4 Daniel Garodnick Democrat Manhattan
5 Jessica Lappin Democrat Manhattan
6 Gale Brewer Democrat Manhattan
7 Robert Jackson Democrat Manhattan
8 Melissa Viverito Democrat Manhattan
9 Inez Dickens Democrat Manhattan
10 Miguel Martinez Democrat Manhattan
11 G. Oliver Koppell Democrat Bronx
12 Larry Seabrook Democrat Bronx
13 James Vacca Democrat Bronx
14 Maria Baez Democrat Bronx
15 Joel Rivera Democrat Bronx
16 Helen Foster Democrat Bronx
17 Maria del Carmen Arroyo Democrat Bronx
18 Annabel Palma Democrat Bronx
19 Tony Avella Democrat Queens
20 John Liu Democrat Queens
21 Hiram Monserrate Democrat Queens
22 Peter Vallone, Jr. Democrat Queens
23 David Weprin Democrat Queens
24 James Gennaro Democrat Queens
25 Helen Sears Democrat Queens
26 Eric Gioia Democrat Queens
27 Leroy Comrie Democrat Queens
28 Thomas White, Jr. Democrat Queens
29 Melinda Katz Democrat Queens
30 Dennis P. Gallagher Republican Queens
31 James Sanders, Jr. Democrat Queens
32 Joseph Addabbo, Jr. Democrat Queens
33 David Yassky Democrat Brooklyn
34 Diana Reyna Democrat Brooklyn
35 Letitia James Democrat Brooklyn
36 Albert Vann Democrat Brooklyn
37 Erik Martin Dilan Democrat Brooklyn
38 Sara M. Gonzalez Democrat Brooklyn
39 Bill DeBlasio Democrat Brooklyn
40 Yvette Clarke Democrat Brooklyn
41 Darlene Mealy Democrat Brooklyn
42 Charles Barron Democrat Brooklyn
43 Vincent J. Gentile Democrat Brooklyn
44 Simcha Felder Democrat Brooklyn
45 Kendall Stewart Democrat Brooklyn
46 Lewis Fidler Democrat Brooklyn
47 Domenic M. Recchia, Jr. Democrat Brooklyn
48 Michael C. Nelson, Jr. Democrat Brooklyn
49 Michael McMahon Democrat Staten Island
50 James Oddo Republican Staten Island
51 Andrew Lanza Republican Staten Island
Physicians for a National Health Program-New York Metro Chapter
PO Box 50193, Brooklyn, NY 11205
Phone (718) 222-9266 | Fax: (718) 222-1140 |

Please join us, really urgent.

Ann

I am part of organizing for single-payer at Joe Crowley's
like to endorse and participate (as Westside has) please let me know!
Need Single Payer Health Care!Monday August 31 4:30-6:30pm74-09 37th
discussion of solutions for the nearly 50 million uninsured Americans
attacking government run health care--despite the fact that government
run health care, in the form of Medicare, is one of the most popular,
for everyone: simply supporting the Medicare for All Bill and
private insurers and the drug companies are determined not to let
Joe Crowley and demand he represent our needs in Washington!Sponsored
by (list in formation) The Jackson Heights International Socialist
Organization, Manhattan (Westside) Green PartyR,V,E,F or 7 to 74th
Street/Roosevelt, walk two blocks to corner of 74th St and 37th Aveto



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