Published by the Thomas Merton Center
PITTSBURGH’S PEACE & JUSTICE NEWSPAPER
VOL. 43 No. 3, March 2013
IN THIS ISSUE - Pittsburgh’s Women’s Movement Celebrated - page 8 - Deconstructing Sequestration - page 5 - The Pope has Resigned, What Next? - page 13 - Full Table of Contents - page 2 (Story on page 11) Four dozen opponents of the Keystone XL pipeline, including Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and environmental activist Bill McKibben (center, top row), were arrested after engaging in civil disobedience near the gates of the White House. The arrests preceded the Climate Rally on February 17, in Washington, D.C., which 40,000 protestors attended. McKibben, of 350.org, will receive the Thomas Merton Award on November 4th.
Martin Sheen an Activist for Peace
International Women's Day Call to Action
Correction to February Edition: The name of Ken Boas, author of “Planting Olive Trees in Our Hearts,” was incorrectly spelled in the first paragraph. Link to the full unedited article at: http://tinyurl.com/amjo8zm.
Keep Toxic Tires Out of Crawford County
by Michael Deckebach
by Edith Bell and Scilla Wahrhaftig
by Bob Concilus
Martin Sheen, an Emmy and Golden Globe award winner, is one of America’s best known actors. Celebrated for his role as President Josiah Bartlet in the TV series “The West Wing,” Sheen has a long filmography dating from 1960 to today that features prominent roles in television, cinema, Martin Sheen , from SOAW and documentaries. Sheen has used his fame in Hollywood to bring about change and to advocate for those who need it the most. In fact, as Craig Kielburger, founder Source Creative Commons of Free the Children, once put it, “[Sheen has] a rap sheet almost as long as his list of film credits.” His involvement includes First!, Free the Children, Help Darfur Now, and School of the Americas (SOA) Watch, among others.
“For women, the dangers of war go far beyond the violence of combat. In situations of armed conflict, women suffer some of the greatest health and social inequities in the world. They risk human rights violations, suffering and death that must be prevented. “When rape is used as a weapon of war, and lawlessness prevails, women become targets from all sides in a conflict. Sexual violence is systematically employed to harm and demoralize individuals, break apart families and terrorize communities. For women and girls, the threat of violence remains long after fighting ends.
A controversial electric power plant in rural Crawford County, Pennsylvania, is planned for construction. This plant will burn 900 tons of used car and truck tires to produce electricity, and it will be the largest facility of this type in the United States and possibly in the world. The combustion of tires to produce electricity results in the creation of very large amounts of toxins, especially dioxins and furans, which are among the most toxic chemicals on earth. They can cause cancer and endocrine imbalances in humans as well as congenital anomalies. The Love Canal in New York State is a well known site for dioxin contamination. Dioxins are long-lasting substances, and when they are found in humans they have a seven to twelve year elimination half life. In addition, tire combustion produces as much carbon dioxide per kilowatt as does coal combustion, making this form of energy production a significant contributor to climate change.
Continued on page 8 Stop the Violence! Watch & Take Action “The Invisible War”— March 8, 7-9 PM Friends Meeting Hours (Oakland)
Continued on page 11 Continued on page 15 TMC works to build a consciousness of values and to raise the moral questions involved in the issues of war, poverty, racism, classism, economic justice, oppression and environmental justice. TMC engages people of diverse philosophies and faiths who find common ground in the nonviolent struggle to bring about a more peaceful and just world. March 2013
NEWPEOPLE - 1
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New People Editorial Collective Robin Clarke, Rob Conroy, Ginny Cunningham, Michael Drohan, Jona Dudley, Russ Fedorka, Martha Garvey, Carol Gonzalez, John Haer, Xinpei He, Shahid Khan, Bette McDevitt, Charles McCollester, Diane McMahon, Kenneth Miller, Jonathan Reyes, Joyce Rothermel, Molly Rush, Marcia Snowden, K. Briar Somerville, Jo Tavener
TMC Staff, Volunteers, & Interns Managing Director: Diane McMahon Office Coordinator: Marcia Snowden Office Volunteers: Kathy Cunningham, Monique Dietz, Mary Clare Donnelly, RSM Finance Manager: Roslyn Maholland Assistant Bookkeeper: Mig Cole East End Community Thrift Store Managers: Shirley Gleditsch, Shawna Hammond, Dolly Mason Interns from the University of Pittsburgh: Mike Deckenbach, Dara Fedrow, Minghua He, Xinpei He, Shahid Khan, Stephanie Maben, Russell Noble, Michael Rosenberg, K. Briar Somerville
2013 TMC Board of Directors Ed Brett, Rob Conroy, Kitoko Chargois, Kathy Cunningham, Michael Drohan, Patrick Fenton, Carol Gonzalez, Mary Jo Guercio (President), Wanda Guthrie, Shawna Hammond, Ken Joseph, Edward Kinley, Chris Mason, Jonah McAllister-Erickson, Francine Porter, Joyce Rothermel, Molly Rush, Tyrone Scales, & M. Shernell Smith
TMC Standing Committees Board Development Committee Recruits board members, conducts board elections Building Committee Oversees maintenance of 5123-5129 Penn Avenue sites Development Committee Guides the strategic growth and expansion of the Center Membership Committee Coordinates membership goals, activities, appeals, and communications Editorial Collective Plans, produces and distributes The NewPeople newspaper Finance Committee Ensures financial stability and accountability of TMC Personnel Committee Oversees staff needs, evaluation, and policies Project Committee Oversees project applications, guidelines, and policies Special Event Committees Plans and oversees TMC fundraising events with members and friends Youth and Student Outreach Committee Coordinates outreach efforts with younger members of TMC
East End Community Thrift Celebrating 20 Years! This is a big year for Thrifty, twenty years strong and still dedicated to service in the community! Stop by to say happy birthday and shop, volunteer, or donate on Tuesday through Friday 10-4, or Saturday from 12-4. Help us spread the love around at the East End Community Thrift Store! 412-361-6010. courtesy Kenneth Miller
March New People Table of Contents Page 1 Martin Sheen, Activist for Peace International Women's Day Call to Action Keep Toxic Tires Out of Crawford County Page 3 New Economy Group Touring Detroit Community Bill of Rights Referendum 2 - NEWPEOPLE
Community Rights Workshop Deep Democracy Page 4 Corbett’s 2013—2014 Budget Proposal Corbett’s Liquor Reform Page 5 Deconstructing Sequestration Page 6 Conscience of China
March 2013
TMC Projects:
TMC Affiliates:
Anti-War Committee info@pittsburghendthewar.org www.pittsburghendthewar.org
Allegheny Defense Project, Pgh Office 412-559-1364 www.alleghenydefense.org Association of Pittsburgh Priests Sr. Barbara Finch 412-716-9750 B.a.finch@att.net
Book‘Em: Books to Prisoners Project bookempgh@gmail.com www.thomasmertoncenter.org/bookem
Amnesty International info@amnestypgh.org www.amnestypgh.org
Capital’s End (724) 388-6258, iamholtz@iup.edu
The Big Idea Bookstore 412-OUR-HEAD www.thebigideapgh.org
CodePink: Women for Peace codepinkpgh@aol.com, 412-389-3216 www.codepink4peace.org
Black Voices for Peace Gail Austin 412-606-1408
East End Community Thrift Shop 412-361-6010, shawnapgh@aol.com
CeaseFirePA
Economic Justice Committee drohanmichael@yahoo.com
www.ceasefirepa.org
Environmental Justice Committee
Global Solutions Pittsburgh 412-471-7852 dan@globalsolutionspgh.org www.globalsolutionspgh.org
environmentaljustice@thomasmertoncenter.org
Fight for Lifers West 412-361-3022 to leave a message fightforliferswest@yahoo.com
http://fightforliferswest.mysite.com
info@ceasefirepa.org
Citizens for Social Responsibility of Greater Johnstown Larry Blalock, evolve@atlanticbb.net Haiti Solidarity Committee jrothermel@gpcfb.org 412-780-5118 www.thomasmertoncenter.org/hs
Formerly Convicted Citizens Dean Williams (412) 295-8606 Human Rights Coalition / Fed Up (prisoner support and advocacy) 412-802-8575, hrcfedup@gmail.com www.thomasmertoncenter.org/fedup
marcellusprotest.org
PA United for a Single-Payer Health Care www.healthcare4allPA.org www.PUSH-HC4allPa.blogspot.com 2102 Murray Avenue Pgh, Pa 15217 412-421-4242
New Economy Working Group MollyRush@verizon.net
Pittsburgh Area Pax Christi 412-761-4319
Pittsburgh Anti-Sweatshop Community Alliance 412-867-9213
Pittsburgh Committee to Free Mumia 412-361-3022 pghfreemumia@gmail.com
Marcellus Shale Protest Group melpacker@aol.com 412-243-4545
Pittsburgh Campaign for Democracy NOW! 412-422-5377, sleator@cs.cmu.edu www.pcdn.org Roots of Promise 724-327-2767, 412-596-0066 rootsofpromise@gmail.com spiritualprogressives.pgh@gmail.com Pittsburgh Darfur Emergency Coalition jumphook@gmail.com; www.pittsburghdarfur.org Urban Arts Project mbbpgh@yahoo.com Progressive Pittsburgh Notebook Call 412-363-7472 tvnotebook@gmail.com www.progressivepghnotebook.blip.tv Westmoreland Marcellus Citizens Group/ Roots of Promise 724-327-2767 murrysvillemarcellus@gmail.com Whose Your Brother? 412-928-3947 www.whoseyourbrother.com
Pittsburgh Cuba Coalition 412-563-1519 lisacubasi@aol.com Pittsburgh Independent Media Center info@indypgh.org www.indypgh.org North Hills Anti-Racism Coalition 412-369-3961 www.northhillscoalition.com Pittsburgh North People for Peace 412-367-0383 pnpp@verizon.net Pittsburgh Palestine Solidarity Committee info@pittsburgh-psc.org www.pittsburgh-psc.org Raging Grannies 412-963-7163 eva.havlicsek@gmail.com
www.pittsburghraginggrannies.homestead.com
Religion and Labor Coalition 412-361-4793 ojomal@aol.com School of the Americas Watch W. PA 267-980-4878 nobler@thomasmertonccenter.org SW PA Bread for the World Donna Hansen 412-812-1553 United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America (UE) 412-471-8919 www.ueunion.org Urban Bikers urbanbikes@yahoo.com
TMC is a Member of: Pennsylvanians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty Martha Connelly 412-361-7872 osterdm@earthlink.net Pennsylvania Interfaith Impact Network 412-621-9230 office@piin.org
Veterans for Peace icwheaties@aol.com Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF) Eva 412-963-7163 edith.bell4@verizon.net
For General information about the Thomas Merton Center: www.thomasmertoncenter.org To Make a New People Article, Photo or Poem Submission: www.thomasmertoncenter.org/newpeople/submit-article To Submit an Event to The New People or Calendar: www.thomasmertoncenter.org/calendar/submit-event
Domestic Intelligence in Jordan Page 7 Labor Union Reform in China Factories Report From Bangladesh Page 8 Women’s Day Action Women’s History Exhibits Page 9 Drone Warfare Review Drone Activists Arrested
the drone operator is sick Page 10 Solar Panel Ordinance in Monroeville Wind Power in PA Page 11 Toxic Tire-Burning Plant Fracking and Your Health Retreat: Unfrackable KXL Pipeline Rally Page 12 Merton and Dorothy Day
Page 13 Merton Study Circle Pope Resigned Page 14 Affordable Chic Page 15 RIP Margaret McCoy Meet New Board Member Ed Brett Fight For Lifers West Receives Award Grant Martin Sheen continued
Building Democracy New Economy Group Touring Detroit March 15-17
by Molly Rush
9-11 is a date that has conjured up memories of the destruction of the World Trade Center since 2001. By coincidence, because my former intern Sarah Byrnes was in town, THE NEW ECONOMY WORKING GROUP met this past September 11th. On this date, we looked forward, to discover what is already happening right here to build a local, green economy of, by, and for the people, and how we could support and develop a broader vision of how to work together to make that happen. I'd caught Gar Alperovitz's inspiring speech on the subject at the Green Party Convention on Democracy Now. Then I learned that Sarah worked for the Institute for Policy Studies, which is a key player in a growing national grassroots movement to extricate ourselves from the stranglehold of corporate control of our politics and the global economy. Six meetings later, the Western Pennsylvania New Economy Working Group is taking off to Detroit for a tour of the inspiring work going on in that devastated city under the leadership of the James and Grace Boggs Center. They have invited us, thanks to troubadour Mike Stout, to bring along local neighborhood activists for a tour. They will house and feed us. We just have to provide transportation.
TIME IS SHORT! Please contact me ASAP at <molly.rush@verizon.net> if you wish to know more or if you can recommend someone who would to like to apply for what promises to be a great opportunity to learn, to build relationships and come home inspired to connect and build together a stronger and more flexible and green community. Molly Rush is the chair of the New Economy Working Group, co-founder of the Thomas Merton Center and current board member, and co-chair of the New People editorial collective.
Deep Democracy The Nature and Spirit of Our Work DeepDemocracyPittsburgh.wordpress.com practiced in circles of trust that open the political door wide and help people walk through it. Join us on Sunday, March 10, from 2:00 to 4:00 pm, at Pat Buddemeyerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s house: 5808 Black Street (between North Euclid and North Beatty), East Liberty. Call 412-860-9524 for directions. Focus for the gathering is: Continuing a study of Parker Palmerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s book Healing the Heart of Democracy. Please bring a snack to share.
Community Bill of Rights Referendum In Progress We are working on a strategy for a Referendum Campaign in Pittsburgh that will place Community Rights on the November ballot. If you are interested in being part of the Strategy Conversation for a November Community Rights Ballot Referendum - or if you simply want to learn more about the why, the how, and the petition drive please contact Pat Buddemeyer at buddem@att.net and visit communitybillofrightspittsburgh.wordpress.com. We are also considering what it would take to help create a Pennsylvania constitution that protects the rights of people, communities, and nature by securing our inalienable right to local self-government, free from corporate and state interference. A Westmoreland Chapter of the Community Rights Network is forming. Email: environment@thomasmertoncenter.org
Local Democracy and Justice Matter! Second Community Rights Workshop Friday evening, March 29 6pm to 9pm Saturday, March 30, 9am to 6pm Friends Meeting House 4836 Ellsworth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA The first workshop was such a great success that we are offering it again! The Pennsylvania Community Rights Workshop takes an in-depth look at how Pennsylvania's political and legal structures have been set up to protect the interests of an elite minority, at the expense of the majority of Pennsylvanians. We'll look at how Pennsylvania's constitution has continually evolved since the American Revolution to protect wealth and privilege over community self-government; we'll look at how corporations in Pennsylvania have received more rights and protections than those of you living in your community; and we'll look at how Pennsylvanians have pushed back against these oppressive structures to reclaim democracy in their communities.
Space is limited to 35 maximum. Sign up early and please tell others.
To register: email <environment@thomasmertoncenter.org> or call Wanda Guthrie at 412-596-0066. The total cost of the workshop is $60 per person. A partial payment of $25 must be paid by March 25 unless a special arrangement is made.
March 2013
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Pennsylvania Politics Corbett Unveils 2013—2014 Budget Proposal program. Fortunately, after a tremendous outcry from citizens and conservation and farming Gov. Tom Corbett unveiled a organizations statewide, funding $28.4 billion General Fund budget for both programs was before a joint session of the unanimously restored in the General Assembly on Tuesday. House. Funding for the Department of Afterward, Gov. Corbett began Environmental Protection (DEP) praising Commonwealth and the Department of investments in state parks and Conservation and Natural other public lands as he traveled Resources (DCNR) in the the state. And this year, Corbett proposed budget is essentially flat. proposed increasing funding for This means that the cuts made to farmland preservation by $10 the agencies’ budgets over the past million and even highlighted the few years stay, with no allowance idea during his budget address. for inflation, let alone increases for Some might see these actions staff or enforcement. as hypocritical. We prefer to see The budget also removes all them as personal and political funding from the state for growth, stemming from Corbett's Conservation Districts, the boots interactions with Pennsylvanians on the ground for environmental throughout the state, and their love protection. The only funding the and support for Penn's Woods. districts will receive will come Now, if only he could understand from drilling impact fees. that the proper level of financial Conservationists are also support for our public lands troubled by the fact that DCNR, should not be solely dependent the state's conservation and public upon extraction of the resources lands agency, must increasingly under those lands, or impacting rely on funds from oil and gas the health of the forests that drilling and timber leases to populate its surface. manage our public parks and forests. A welcome step on The education of Tom Corbett? transportation funding Last year, Gov. Corbett ignored In last year's budget, Gov. the detailed recommendations of Corbett proposed permanently his Transportation Funding eliminating funding for the Advisory Commission to start Keystone Recreation, Park and addressing the estimated $4.5 Conservation Fund — the state's flagship conservation program — billion shortfall in funding for the Commonwealth's highways, and Pennsylvania's nationally recognized farmland preservation bridges and public transportation systems. This year, while the Originally published by Penn Future
overall level of funding falls short of what is ultimately needed, Gov. Corbett unveiled a series of welcome proposals to increase transportation funding. The most significant proposal would raise $1.8 billion over five years by removing the cap on the pricing mechanism used to calculate the Oil Company Franchise Tax. There is strong bipartisan support for increasing transportation funding, especially in the Senate. Look for action in the coming months now that the governor has finally taken a stand on fixing our vital transportation problems. Loosening Grover's leash on Harrisburg Nobody elected Washingtonbased anti-government zealot Grover Norquist to run PA, and Norquist clearly doesn't care about Pennsylvania's environment, our quality of life, or the safety of our roads, bridges, or public transportation. Norquist is on record for wanting to shrink the size of government so it can be "drowned in a bathtub." But all this hasn't stopped dozens of Pennsylvania politicians from genuflecting before this poobah despite their constituents' wishes, even checking in with Norquist to make sure votes or proposals are acceptable. Gov. Corbett signed the Norquist "no-tax" pledge as a candidate for governor, and has generally toed the line during his
first two years in office. Some say that the convoluted county option drilling impact fee under Act 13 was created in order to appease Norquist, and even then Norquist said it was a "tax." Norquist will now proclaim that Corbett is raising a tax by uncapping the Oil Franchise Tax. Good for Corbett. Grownups in Pennsylvania need to do what is best for Pennsylvania, and sometimes that means creating new revenue and making new investments.
Commission isn't inclined to actually determine if and how shale drilling and water withdrawal may be harming this vital resource. The risk of ignorance is too great. Tell Gov. Corbett and the Army Corps of Engineers to direct the Susquehanna River Basin Commission to conduct a comprehensive study on how shale drilling and water withdrawal is impacting the Susquehanna River and its tributaries.
Water, water everywhere, but 6 million people might not find a drop to drink The Susquehanna River provides drinking water for 6 million people, so you'd think the people in charge would be really careful about endangering it. Yet the Susquehanna River Basin
PennFuture's “Session Daze” publications are designed to be a brief, informative and occasionally humorous look at public policy in Pennsylvania. For more information about PennFuture, please visit www.pennfuture.org
through beer distributors (something that does not affect the state stores directly) as opposed to being able to purchase it in supermarkets and convenience stores. Another issue is marijuana decriminalization, whether for medical or recreational purposes. I am not endorsing legalization, but whether it’s in two, five or ten years, change is coming. We simply cannot afford the hundreds of thousands of unnecessary incarcerations with the consequent loss of youth employability and productivity because of the widespread use of a substance anyone can grow and no worse in its effects than alcohol. The primary roadblock faced by states trying to change existing legal controls on cannabis is how to regulate, control and tax either its medical distribution or commercial sale. Pennsylvania has the governmental structures in place to regulate commercial sale responsibly, educate about health effects, and tax like alcohol. Republicans historically prefer sin taxes to wealth taxes, so here is a golden source of untapped governmental revenue generated
presumably by the sins of others. In the old days, the red political “T” in Pennsylvania (the rural central and northern regions) was anti-liquor, anti-gambling, Republican, and often antiCatholic. Pittsburgh and Philadelphia were despised as places festering with “Rum, Romanism and Rebellion.” Now a Catholic from Pittsburgh is getting Republican legislators to embrace expanded gambling opportunities at the local tavern while doubling the state’s liquor outlets! Our best hope is that a rebellion is brewing that will unite cities and countryside against an administration that is relentlessly undermining educational opportunity, reliable mass transportation and the environment. It’s time to unite against policies that erode a commonwealth that belongs to us all.
Corbett’s Liquor Reform: It’s Not Progress by Charles McCollester Cynics in Pittsburgh assert that the Post-Gazette’s enthusiastic endorsement of Governor Corbett’s “liquor reform” is rooted in the newspaper’s expectation of a revenue windfall from private advertisers of booze. I value the Post-Gazette (P-G) as a vital community asset and might even accept that outcome as a positive factor, but the newspaper’s recent editorial in favor of privatization of the Liquor Control Board is completely unconvincing. First, the proposal by our benighted governor to replace educational appropriations that should be enshrined as a long-term governmental commitment and social investment with a one-time sale of state assets is cynical to say the least. To chop support for state universities and public schools with one hand and then to hold out with the other a vague promise that sale of a revenue-generating state asset might replace some cuts, guarantees future crises as the windfall is expended. Second. Who benefits? Certainly not the 3,500 state store workers who make a decent lower middle-class wage of $30,000 to 4 - NEWPEOPLE
$50,000. They will be replaced by a small group of opportunistic entrepreneurs (undoubtedly with connections to influential politicians) who will become rich. But the bulk of their private sector employees will earn between $15,000 and $30,000 a year, lacking stability and training a civil service job and union contract provide. Thoughtfully, the governor provides a tax break for new owners who deign to hire former workers at half the present rate. A man of the people! Third, the P-G editorial implies we should take solace from a proclaimed renewed focus on enforcement by the state government. Can any vow of strict enforcement be made with a straight face by an administration that has not enforced air and water or community and worker right-toknow standards on Marcellus gas drillers? While the gas wells suck wealth for outside interests without compensation to the “commonwealth,” state “enforcers” don’t even seem to know how many gas wells exist, let alone effectively monitoring their level of adherence to fundamental health and safety standards. (Dare we
March 2013
mention state vigilance in terms of the enforcement of child molestation statutes?) Finally, the Post-Gazette uncharacteristically seems to salivate at the thought of the Republican Party attaining a great ideological victory. One of America’s great newspapers seems to endorse the notion that having a governmental system for regulating controlled substances makes us a “political and social backwater” (we are, but for completely unrelated reasons). We have a comprehensive system of well-lit stores with a good general selection and professional employees. This defines a backwater? In neighboring states a population center with Pittsburgh’s regional population might have several warehouse outlets, boutique highend stores in select suburbs, and for the rest of us small, often poorly stocked, dirty and occasionally dangerous outlets. The governor’s plan also invites corruption on several levels and guarantees the rebirth of the liquor lobby, once notorious in state and local politics. Public pressure is greatest for a change in the way beer is sold
Dr. Charles McCollester, president of the Battle of Homestead Foundation, is a retired professor of industrial and labor relations at IUP ( Indiana University of PA) who lives in Mt. Washington.
Federal Budget SEQUESTRATION
Deconstructing Sequestration by Michael Drohan In the February issue, my article addressed the question of the so-called fiscal cliff that Congress built for itself to fall over. This eventuality was avoided by a last ditch effort to cobble together an agreement on letting taxes rise by 2% on individuals earning $400,000 or more and families earning $450,000 or more. Any decisions on spending reduction were suspended for two months, after which there would be automatic cuts across the table on all discretionary spending of the government, that is, on spending that is not part of entitlement programs amounting to $840 billion over ten years. An additional spending cut of $1.5 trillion was to be identified by a super committee of Congress and would include both discretionary and entitlement programs. Cumulatively, these automatic cuts, which are supposed to kick in by March 1, 2013, if Congress does not come to an agreement before that date, constitute what is called sequestration. Fallout from Possible Sequestration It is calculated that the automatic cuts envisaged from sequestration amount to a cut of 5.1% in all
programs from WIC, Defense, Parks and Recreation, Agriculture and so on. Specifically, for WIC, as a non-exempt nondefense discretionary program, it would entail a cut of 600,000 participants from the program nationwide. There is no area of government programs that would not be adversely affected by such measures. As I pointed out last month, the state of the economy in which these measures are on the verge of being implemented is anything but healthy. Unemployment is still at an unacceptable high level and has been since 2008. Economic growth is tepid to say the least and for the last quarter for which we have figures (4th quarter of 2012) the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) contracted. Under such conditions, implementing government spending reductions is literally economic suicide. Such policies have been implemented in the last few years by many European countries such as Ireland, Greece, Britain and Spain with disastrous results. These so-called austerity programs have especially exacerbated the unemployment situation in those countries and brought their economies to the point of collapse. How is it, then, that in
the face of economic facts readily available for all who have eyes to see that the U.S. Congress or certain elements within Congress persist in pursuing suicidal economic policies? It would seem to be driven by certain ideological convictions which are impervious to facts. The first conviction is that the national debt and the government deficit are the most serious economic problems that face the country at this moment. Related to this is the second conviction that government is far too big and that the Democratic Party is hell bent on expanding government. The third strand of conviction is that government spending takes away resources that could be better spent and used by the private sector. There is a problem of sincerity with these allegations of fiscal irresponsibility leveled at the Obama administration at this moment. In recent decades, the really sharp increases in the national debt of the U.S. were built up during Republican administrations, specifically during the presidency of Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush. During their administrations they increased spending enormously through
defense expenditures most notably and tax reductions especially for the wealthy. While this was in progress there was no outcry of fiscal irresponsibility by Republican lawmakers. George W. Bush bequeathed to Obama an economy in the midst of the worst recession since the Great Depression with unemployment at a level that had not been seen since the 1930s. Such a situation calls for vast stimulus and increase in government programs to put people to work and restore demand in the economy. But instead of support for such programs, the Republican House seems determined on bringing the country back into a state of recession once more. What Is to Be Done? At the beginning of 2013, the Republican Party would not agree on the proposition of letting taxes return to the level they had been at before President Bush reduced them in 2008 for those with incomes above $250,000 a year. The Republicans would only agree on taxes being increased for those with incomes above $400,000. In this they revealed themselves to be the party ruling on behalf of the interests of the people with incomes between $250,000 and $400,000 a year. Mitt Romney put it another way when in a private conversation in West Palm Beach, Florida, with wealthy supporters he claimed that 47% of the population of the U.S. were takers and wanted the government to look after them. Beyond the present sequestration crisis, this is the problem that we face, namely a Congress where the majority of the elected representatives see themselves as governing on behalf of the wealthy. So until â&#x20AC;&#x153;we the peopleâ&#x20AC;? change the makeup of Congress we will be facing more fiscal cliffs and walls and having our homes, our incomes and our lives sequestered by those who consider the people as moochers and takers. Michael Drohan is a member of the board of the Thomas Merton Center and of the editorial collective.
A Distributive Injustice by Diane McMahon Photo from www.Jobs-not-wars.org.
Sequestration is a term adopted by Congress that describes a fiscal policy first proposed by the Gramm-RudmanHollings Deficit Reduction Act of 1985. The act states that if Congress cannot agree on ways to cut back the total deficit (or does not pass a new, Budget Resolution with a higher limit), then an "automatic" form of spending cutback takes place. This automatic spending cut is known as "sequestration." (Source: http://tinyurl.com/ azxvkby) The total sequestration package that has been put forth in 2013 by President Obama is about 1.2 trillion dollars, to be accomplished over the next 10 years. In theory, the sequestration package requires every agency to have the same percentage of its appropriation withheld in order to limit excessive spending on an "across the board" basis. If proportional sequestration occurs, cutbacks in already severely pared down safety-net programs would have a crippling impact on the poorest and most vulnerable Americans. At the same time enormous Pentagon budgets that drive acts of war and re-occurring military contracts (e.g., drone warfare) would feel little impact because their budgeted allocation is already disproportionally higher than what is allotted to already diminished safety-net programs. To date, Congress has been unwilling to let these inhumane cuts happen....but it appears that the moratorium is coming to an end. Balancing the budget is something to aspire to, but only if we realize that large military budgets fund war(s), destabilize international relationships, and drive our federal coffers into a state of financial ruin. If we are to survive ourselves, we must prioritize economic, environmental and humanitarian values, which work for the common global good. Please join us in the fight for distributive justice, become a member of the Merton Center and participate in the activities that we are supporting and organizing for to combat local and global injustice. Diane McMahon is Managing Director of the Thomas Merton Center and member of the editorial collective.
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International Perspectives Speak Out, Never Sorry forward and three steps back in political and social reforms, people began to doubt not only the ruling party’s ability and sincerity, but its legitimacy as a government of the people, by the people, for the people. Not all things are dark. by Nima Congratulations to China’s Source: Creative Commons unprecedented success in Twitter China Must Remember: improving massive numbers of lives since its 1978 reform-andThe Conscience of opening policy! (Really improved? China The answer may be “yes” while measured by average income, and Wearing the hats of a “no” while measured by Catholic, an activist, and distribution inequality.) But the an NGO practitioner at the economic success deemed same time makes me the minority of the unsustainable could in no way offset and justify minority among Chinese, both in the U.S. and human mistreatment. This is not a zero-sum China. However risky and marginalized as game: gain of one thing means loss of seen by the silent majority, I feel strongest from another. China’s unwillingness and/or inability within. The synergy to be created by the three to shift its attention from making money for the hats such as a Christian social movement for vested interests, to making life meaningful for human rights, like the Buddhist monks its people, reflect the authority’s devaluation of organizing Burma’s pro-democracy protests, is an individual life and fundamental humanity. In what the regime fears most. addition, the pervasive culture of shortWhen Communist China chose to act against sightedness and quick results in the Chinese the whole world in universal human values, and system is crippling the emergence of this jailed Liu Xiaobo (listed with Aung San hollow superpower. In my opinion, the above SuuKyi, Nelson Mandela, Mahatma Gandhi, devaluation, and culture, shouldn’t have been as Martin Luther King, etc. as top 10 political devastating as they are today if China was prisoners by TIME), China’s first Nobel Peace deeply influenced by Christianity (or any major Prize winner, 2010, Liu said in court, not with anger but grace, “I have no enemies.” Now let me ask you: shouldn’t you learn not to hate the regime, and do your own part to by Fernando Bolles help make change happen? Did you speak for the voiceless in your own country, let Living as a reasonable citizen in republican alone for the persecuted in the distant democracy, one of the most vexing frustrations land? For an individual, being part of the is being forced to exist side-by-side with living silent majority is immoral; for a unending, visceral hypocrisy. To watch the news nation, doing business with a regime that or to read the newspaper is to be battered by treats its people inhumanely without at least instances of those in government reneging on pointing out the evil is immoral, too. “No promises, violating principles, and holding longer weeping for others’ sufferings is the themselves to a lower standard than what we greatest tragedy of our time,” said Ai. He might imagine this nation—or any like it—was was not a Christian, yet testified to this founded upon. Whether it involves invading biblical prophecy which is happening today sovereign nations or forcing them to prostrate for many in China and some in America. themselves to our will through economic means, What’s dangerous is dictatorship; what’s living in America too often means abetting more dangerous is no one speaking. As the breaches of common-sense morality. statesman Edmund Burke thought, “the only In nations founded upon equality, concern for thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for the well-being of their citizens, and the good men to do nothing.” Bringing China (I encouraging of upward-mobility, there is no mean the mastermind, Chinese Communist greater slap in the face to those principles than Party), a regime fearful of nobody and no the maintenance of a pervasive intelligence divine power, to the right moral track is in apparatus, operating against perceived enemies, the best interest of the international both foreign and domestic. In nation after community. Like it or not, America has long nation, the presence of such an apparatus been trusted and counted on by the world’s presents an immense temptation to suppress repressed to support their cause, press for political opposition and enforce a culture of their release, and combat evil. America, a subservience and ideological homogeneity. nation under God and the de facto human There are few clearer case studies of this than in rights defender, has been fulfilling this the Kingdom of Jordan. noble duty. It should be honored, and Jordan prides itself on being a bastion of deserves to be the envy of the world. moderation and modernity in the Middle East, America, along with other major consistently doing its level best to demonstrate democracies, has no choice but to share this commitment to democratic ideals and rising responsibility to defend justice, at a time above the tribal conflict saturating its neighbors. when China mistreats its own people and In reality, however, these resolutions are harbors other extreme dictatorships, such as undermined by Jordan’s reliance on its North Korea, to commit greater evil. intelligence agency in running its affairs, Comparatively, America, although ensuring that no ideological minority grows too struggling with its own democracy, has a powerful and that the country stays in lock-step system well designed to avoid dictatorship with the wishes of the Western world on whom and correct human errors. When the it is dependent. Chinese regime failed historic turning In Jordan, much ado is made regarding the points, 1949 founding, 1978 reform-andopenness of their democracy and their tolerance opening, 1989 Tiananmen Massacre, and for public protest, but, in truth, opposition 1997 Hong Kong’s return to stride toward leaders and even the occasional bystander are democratization, and when it moved a step
This is Part III of a series that ran in the January, and February editions of The New People. This is the third and final installment of the story.
religion), which, more or less, teaches altruism, faith, compassion, abstinence, and eternal afterlife over tangible worldly pleasures. My last advice: China’s national image ads in Times Square should not, at least not exclusively, feature good people faking smiles to the West as part of its propaganda. It should also showcase (or lambaste as it wants) bad guys: Ai Weiwei, Liu Xiaobo, GaoZhisheng, Hu Jia, Tan Zuoren, Li Wangyang, Cheng Guangcheng and see how the rest of the world reacts (or does not react). Admirably, these faithful pioneers are pushing the dictatorship in a direction that may not be politically impeccable, but most importantly, morally justified to assure each human being’s dignity. (Hey, boss, also inform us where these expensive ads appear on the government budget, and where to find this budget? Don’t tell us this is another state secret.) Every drop of blood shed and every minute in prison are not in vain; they are for you and for me. Perpetrators judgment is near; justice must be done. The conscience of China living and dead, inside and outside of the regime’s seemingly robust walls, awaits the big day to come. Amen. Nima now lives in the United States and can be contacted at usacnm@gmail.com.
Jordan-Domestic Intelligence vs. Democracy
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www.bbc.co.uk
targeted by the shadowy intelligence agency that has eyes in every government office and on every street corner. The General Intelligence Directorate, or mukhabarat, is an agency spoken of in whispered tones and barely concealed bitterness. When religious extremists disrupt protests, it is generally understood in Jordan that the mukhabarat has organized the disturbance. When government ministers go missing or suddenly withdraw from office, everyone knows who is responsible. This author interviewed a male schoolteacher, a young man living with his parents, who breached Islamic taboo by getting an arm tattoo of the band Slayer. When the man went to get his passport renewed he was referred to the mukhabarat, who accused him of being a Satanist and beat him viciously before letting him go. There can be no true democratic equity when state-sanctioned policing of thought and deed is pervasive and endemic in the character of a nation. Jordan and other nations like it have come to rely on their respective intelligence services as a crutch to keep order, when in the long term they do something far worse: undermine whatever cherished principles nations wish to be steered by. Fernando Bolles is a writer and activist living in New York.
Sweatshop News Foxconn Labor Union Reform in China by Jianyu Hou It is no exaggeration to say that every person in the world who enjoys the convenience of an Apple electronic device benefits from the drudgery of Foxconn workers. The manual workers in this world’s largest factory suffer dehumanizing working and living conditions, but luckily, at the end of February 2013, after the Chinese Lunar New Year, Foxconn will hold a new union election that really represents the rights of workers. Foxconn is the most typical sweatshop in China, the world’s factory. After its first factory was established in 1988 in Shenzhen, it quickly grew to become the world’s primary factory for electronic devices. As of the end of 2012, Foxconn has 31 factories and 1.2 million workers in mainland China. The majority of its profit rests upon the simple and mechanic manual work. Now its main client is Apple Company. In recent years, as the Apple epidemic has exploded on a global scale, Foxconn has been abusing manual labor more severely in order to gain more profit, which has led to a series of tragedies. In 2009, a video named Guard in Beijing Foxconn Beating Workers was published; in 2010, dozens of workers around age twenty intermittently committed suicide by jumping from buildings; in 2012, at Foxconn in Zhengzhou, more than 3,000 workers went on strike,
protesting the high pressure work and low salary; in January of 2013, at Foxconn in Beijing, thousands of workers held another strike, asking for annual allowance and salary increase. There are Photo from Alternet several reasons for the victims teaching material by these tragedies: negative example. The bosses One is the problem of the emphasized the importance of management. For instance, the first rule eliminating negative thoughts about is unquestioning obedience from working and doubts about the system in workers, which is promised by place. This vicious mental circle was hierarchical and military management. broken by media advocating for public Any protest is violently suppressed by concern and workers’ awakening. guards. The basic monthly salary is The new election of a labor 1550 Yuan, on which a worker can’t union, aided by the Fair Labor maintain her basic living and must rely Association (FLA), will change the old on overtime pay. For workers enduring election process, which, they pointed longtime mental and physical pressure out, did not actually represent the that can’t be released through enough workers’ interest. This same problem rest and communication, any stimulus exists not only in Foxconn: in might be the last straw. mainland China, almost all of the labor The other reason is the unions of the companies and company culture. At the beginning of government agencies are controlled by the 2010 series of suicides, the Foxconn the management. For one thing, the higher-ups blamed the victims for their union budgets are distributed by the fragile psychological quality: that they management, which violates People’s didn't have the capability to work under Republic of China (PRC) Labor Union pressure. Workers seemed to accept Law: “Membership dues mainly come this explanation. The suicide victims’ from members’ payment, the 2% of the sense of guilt for not finishing extra total workers salary, and the part of the tasks or earning more overtime pay company’s volume of business. In case must have tortured them, as Foxconn the budget can’t be promised by the authorities would have it, considering company, the union has the right to sue
the company.” But the company can prolong the process from appeal to court decision, and during this time the company could find any excuse to fire the union representatives. From the personnel perspective, according to PRC Labor Union Law: “The union representatives should be engendered by democratic election. The administrators’ relatives should avoid being the candidate.” But actually, the representatives are appointed directly by the management. Although Foxconn and other companies violate the PRC Labor Union Law, due to Chinese citizens lacking the belief in and the knowledge of the law since childhood, they have almost acquiesced and adapted to this social environment. The new reformed election of the Foxconn Labor Union will be a milestone in the human rights history of China mainland, since this is the first time workers will elect their own union representatives. The elections will be held every five years, by ballot, without any interruption from management. My only concern is that this union reform is being conducted by international visitors, not Chinese. I hope one day that Chinese citizens will be able to fight for their own democracy. Jianyu Hou is a former intern at the Thomas Merton Center and is currently a religious affairs policy analyst.
Report from Bangladesh: Yet Another Garment Factory Fire Kills Seven Young Women by Amirul Haque Amin A rally organized by All Party Garment Workers Unity, a body of different garment workers federations, was held on January 27 in front of the National Press Club in Dhaka City to protest the killing of garment workers in a fire in the Smart Export Garments Ltd. factory the day before. Seven women, two of them teenagers, were crushed to death as workers raced to escape the fire. Leaders of large numbers of workers’ federations participated in the rally, which was followed by a procession through the streets of Dhaka expressing condolence and solidarity. A five-point list of demands from this All Party Garment Workers Unity protest and rally was presented to the government and to the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA): 1. The owner of Smart Export Garments Ltd. should be arrested immediately. 2. The families of all the dead
workers should be compensated under “loss of earnings” guidelines. 3. Advanced medical treatment should be provided to all injured workers. They should be paid adequate compensation. 4. A safe workplace should be ensured in all Dhaka, Bangladesh, December 31, 2012. Demonstration by the National Garment Workers garment Federation of Bangladesh . Amirul Haque Amin, NGWF president, holds the microphone. factories. Buyers, business people, the government and workers, free trade union rights and Europe’s major garment labels to trade unions should come forward to equal rights for woman stand up to guarantee that achieve this. workers. More than 70 percent of Bangladesh’s nearly four million 5. Job security should be given to all the workers at the Smart Exports garment workers finally have the workers In case the factory could factory were young women. right to organize an independent not be open, arrears wages and Staff members from the union and to bargain allowances should be paid, including Institute for Global Labor & Human collectively. The workers do not highest compensation. Rights were able to enter the Smart need more codes of conduct. Rather, On February 1, the 12th Exports factory after the fire and they need and want their legal rights. biannual Congress of the National found labels of major companies that Garment Workers Federation have adopted European Corporate Merton Center Editorial Collective (NGWF) was held in Dhaka and Codes of Conduct. In reality these Member Kenneth Miller has resolved to launch a movement in codes are rarely if ever implemented, provided us with this material from the next two years to establish the leaving Bangladesh’s garment NGWF president Amirul Haque garment factory as a safe workplace workers without legal rights, while Amin and with information from with factory-based unions, and to trapping them in misery. Charles Kernaghan of the Institute introduce living wage for garment It is long overdue for for Global Human Rights. March 2013
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Women’s History Month 19,000 cases of rape in the military, a large majority of which went unreported — because the crime of rape is far easier to endure than the humiliation, shunning and Continued from page 1 punishment that usually accompany its report. Women raped or abused in the military often have to continue to Once having escaped the conflict, they still may be work with their abusers; if they speak up they will find forced to exchange sex for survival and protection of the burden of proof is on them, and in a male dominated their children. During displacement, they also face a society proving the abuse or rape will be a challenging, growing threat of domestic violence.” -- from The humiliating experience. Often reporting the rape or Forgotten Frontline: The Effects of War on Women, a abuse will have detrimental repercussions on their report by the International Rescue Committee. careers. On this Women’s International Day of Peace we will Women and children make up 85% of the victims of be focusing on women and war and the need for wars and occupations. As the men go off to fight, the protections for women. The international community women are left to care for the children and the elderly. Tens of thousands suffer from sexual violence, rape and realizes that a just and lasting world peace cannot be achieved without full and equal participation of women lack of access to lifesaving health care. Hundreds of in matters of peace and security, since women are thousands of people have been displaced during the disproportionately affected by armed conflict, rape and wars in Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria and other Mid-Eastern countries, as well as in Africa. Armed conflict increases domestic violence. The UN Convention on the a woman's risk of becoming a victim of sexual violence. Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) was passed in 1979 and signed by Women have shown amazing resilience and courage President Jimmy Carter, but the U.S. Senate has never and strength to keep themselves and their families ratified it. together, and it is important to support them in their UN Security Council Resolution 1325 was adopted struggle for survival. in October 2000. It mandates participation of women in Violence against women in war is also experienced within the armed forces. In this country, according to the all levels of decision making in conflict, post-conflict, peacekeeping mission and conflict prevention. Each Pentagon’s own Sexual Assault Prevention and country was tasked with developing a National Action Response Office, in 2010 there were an estimated Plan (NAP). The U.S. released its NAP in December
International Women's Day A Call to Action — March 8
2011, but it deals mostly with protection of women, not access to decision making and prevention. President Obama's new cabinet has no women members. We see more hope for the Senate, where we have more women senators than ever before. Now is the time for the U.S. to ratify CEDAW by addressing this with our Senators. This year as we celebrate International Women’s Day we need to take up the work to address the impact of war on women both as innocent victims of violence, rape and displacement in the civilian population as well as the impact of abuse within the armed forces, and work towards empowerment and inclusion of women in decision making. International Women's Day will be recognized with a screening of the Academy Award-winning film, The Invisible War, about the abuse of women in the military, followed by a discussion and Q & A. The event will be held on Friday, March 8, at 7:00 pm at the Friends Meeting House, 4836 Ellsworth Avenue in Oakland. All are welcome to this free community building event. Edith Bell is the coordinator of Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom. Scilla Wahrhaftig is the director of American Friends Service of PA.
Pittsburgh's Women's Movement Celebrated at Indiana University of PA At the center of all this activity is Patricia Ulbrich, a retired sociologist, who extended “I’d like to see more men.” It might have seemed a her research on race, gender and health into strange statement, coming from a bright, young, black community work. In 2002, while cowoman at an exhibition celebrating the women’s founding the Women and Girls Foundation movement, but it indicates something about the of Southwest Pennsylvania (she also served movement’s accomplishments, about feminism and its as president). Ulbrich learned there was no evolving status. These accomplishments are being written written history of the vibrant women’s into history and opened up for discussion in joint movement in Pittsburgh. Ulbrich created the exhibitions now on view at Indiana University of In Sisterhood project to fill the historical Pennsylvania’s University Museum. gap. Through its affiliation with the Thomas In Sisterhood traces the history of the women’s Merton Center, In Sisterhood was awarded movement in the Pittsburgh region from 1967 to 1989, a $45,000 regional grant from the Pittsburgh highlighting the enormous accomplishments of the 250 Community Connections Initiative, movement’s leadership and supporters, both regionally which was launched on Pittsburgh’s 250th and nationally. Across the hall, Bridge Builders explores anniversary to promote pride and encourage civic the encounter between the women’s and civil rights engagement in the region. Trained as a sociologist, movements. Black women both critiqued and forged Ulbrich had never held a video camera or organized an partnerships with the women’s movement, folding issues exhibition before, but she learned—with the help of a of race and class into the fight for gender equality. But professional team of multimedia artists. describing what these exhibitions are about doesn’t go far One of these was Dino DeStefano, a sound designer enough in explaining what they really are: a celebration and talented photographer, who was commissioned to and affirmation, a historical performance, a social event, create a series of portraits of the women who contributed an oral history, a critique, a question (or many) about the oral histories. These stand out as one of the highlights of future of women’s rights. the show, offering a visually rich and sensuous Remarkably, the installation at IUP is only the most counterpoint to the many historical documents. Perhaps recent and largest of a run of no less than nine In more importantly, a counterpoint to our culture at large, Sisterhood exhibitions, which in turn is merely the most which is deficient when it comes to images of black, visible of a series of other efforts including 45 oral middle aged elderly women, as well as women of histories recorded on digital video, to be donated to the different sizes. DeStefano’s portraits are surprisingly University of Pittsburgh archives. intimate (his sitters almost always look back with a self-aware, intelligent gaze) and achieve a satisfyingly complex and dignified portrayal, rather than a merely flattering one. He has met the challenge of making technical perfection serve its subject, not itself, so that individual personalities shine through. I felt wiser and more courageous after encountering these women in their portraits. The wall labels, which offered quotes drawn from their oral histories, permitted them to speak directly to the viewer. The heterogeneity of the objects, including banners, quilts and movement buttons also make for an engaging photo by Donna Cashdollar experience, showing the movement’s In Sisterhood and Bridge Builders sense of humor. One quilt was stitched Exhibit, Opening Night
by Alexandra Oliver
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photo courtesy In Sisterhood
together from movement t-shirts (which, until recently was functional), another, collectively produced by Pittsburgh Action Against Rape, is a riot of texture and color, inspirational and whimsical. The “Healing Tree” is represented with leaves decorated with rainbows and sparkles; it lies next to the logo of the School of Martial Arts for Women, while a printed fabric path urging women to Take Back the Night (in 1989) strikes an urgent note. One of the most compelling objects is a video featuring interviews with pioneer black women who integrated the Pittsburgh police force in 1976—a teaser for the full-length documentary that Ulbrich still hopes to produce. After contemplating the portraits and artifacts, seeing the women come to life on film seemed both the perfect conclusion and the kernel of a promising future project. The University Museum of Indiana University of Pennsylvania is located in Sutton Hall, 1011 South Drive, Indiana, PA 15705. Phone: 724-357-2397 Free admission. Hours: Tues., Wed., Fri. 2–6:30 p.m., Thurs. 12–7:30 p.m., Sat. 12–4 p.m. The exhibition runs through March 16.
Alexandra Oliver is currently completing her Ph.D. in art history at the University of Pittsburgh. Her research concerns the intersections between aesthetics and politics.
Anti-Drone Activism war, drones were flying over Yemen executing “terrorists.” There is a growing disconnect between what is being articulated as values and what is being done in practice. Ms. Benjamin's book is timely as a guide in how to respond to this incongruity. Instead of stopping the “scourge of war,” the military has simply changed the tactics from “boots on the ground to assassins in the air.” What is the problem with drones anyway? Aren't they a more efficient way of doing war, as the administration declares? The majority of Americans are not opposed to this practice, as many polls have determined. The book serves as a rebuttal of a recent statement by Jay Carney, the President's spokesperson, who declared the use of drones as “ legal, ethical, and wise.” (2.6.2013) Drones are nothing new in the military. Ms. Benjamin points out that the technology has existed for decades, going back to World War I. The development of the drone is traced in her book from the earliest use to present day use. It wasn't until 1999 that spy drones were transformed into “killer drones” in US operations, although the Israeli military had been using them for some time longer. After 2001, the use
Review of Medea Benjamin's
Drone Warfare: Killing by Remote Control by Connie ToteraHutchinson As the debate about drone warfare has been highlighted in the past few weeks in the mainstream media due to the controversial confirmation hearings of John Brennan for CIA chief, Medea's book about Drone Warfare is a must read. It is a book dedicated to the innocent victims of drone warfare and a guide to move the process of debate and action forward. This is a 241 page book that is well researched and easy to read. It highlights the growing menace of robotic warfare, which is producing the drones, where they are being used, who is “piloting” these unmanned planes, who are the victims and what are the legal
and moral implications. It also looks at what activists, lawyers and scientists are doing to ground the drones. Medea Benjamin is a cofounder of the peace group CODEPINK and the international human rights organization Global Exchange. She has been an advocate for social justice for more than thirty years. Ms Benjamin was a recent honoree at the Thomas Merton Center's Award Dinner in November of 2012. Ms. Benjamin knew in 2002 that she could never be “lulled into thinking that hightech wars were somehow more humane.” This is one of the main issues in the current debate As President Obama was being inaugurated on January 21, 2013, stating that he was putting an end to perpetual
the drone operator is sick —Joshua Zelesnick
the drone operator is sick too much shooting at targets windows used as faces in the ground what distant planet would zero in and FIRE that body’s moving and it’s a real live crawling boy roger that sickness of a building rocking inside his cockpit zeroing in with precision great american heroes puts the air in air power the drone operator is sick look at him he has gone too long without seeing for real, human is target he doesn’t recognize me, walks right past intense stares right through what, this disease he can’t see faces
Joshua Zelesnick teaches composition and creative writing at Duquesne University and at the University of Pittsburgh. He's on the Volunteer Organizing Committee of the Adjunct Faculty Association of the United Steelworkers.
of drones exploded “40fold.” In 2012, $3.9 billion was spent on drones. Many private companies are making money from these killing machines, as people are suffering from them. Capitalists profiting from the Military Industrial Complex at the expense of others is nothing new. Indeed it is a growth market, especially after 2001, and as human services are being slashed. An estimate of $94 billion will be spent within the next 10 years on research and development of drones. US companies take the lead, with General Atomics in San Diego being one of the them. They manufacture the Predator and the Reaper and are believed to be the largest manufacturer of drones in the world. Aerovironment is another company making mini drones. Raytheon, Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Northrop Grumman, are all in on the profits. In addition, and not surprising, many other countries are developing their own drone warfare. This “insane proliferation” leaves us with “nightmare possibilities,” as Barbara Ehrenreich comments. It raises the question of where do we want our money and our resources to go, toward war, or peace? As of October 2011, the US has been operating 60 bases for drones around the world, including Africa, Ms. Benjamin points out. In addition there are many classified and secretive dealings utilizing drones including the CIA , the Joint Special Operations Command ( JSOC) , and private
contractors such as government is going to kill Blackwater, according to Ms. them?” Benjamin. Citing the Bureau In addition, the drone arms of Investigative Journalism, race is underway with many Ms. Benjamin writes that countries already using drone between 2004-2011, the CIA technology and developing conducted over 300 drone more. It Reminds one that war strikes in Pakistan, killing is not over, but is just some 2500 people. The JSOC changing into that is even more secretive. And “nightmare.” all three of these agencies Connie Toterahave limited or no oversight. Hutchinson, LPC, CAC The highest profile drone is a Member of the Antistrike was that of 3 Americans war Committee of the killed in Yemen in 2011, all Thomas Merton Center. without charges or due process. The TMC Anti-War Committee Senator Ron will coordinate with a national Wyden asked push in April to end drone this question at warfare. If you would like to the recent CIA join us in the planning of this confirmation hearings: event, please attend our next : “Does a US meeting, which will take place citizen have the on March 3, at 1:30 at the right to know Thomas Merton Center. when their
Nine Brave People Arrested for Blocking Gate to Hancock Drone Murder Base in Upstate NY by David Swanson for warisacrime.org
displayed while blocking the gate. Report and photo courtesy of Ellen Grady, via Malachy Nine opponents of killing Kilbride, here's a list of 35 names human beings with missiles shot of people from across the country from drones were arrested on who will be going to court at some Wednesday nonviolently point for actions against the interfering with the drone kill drones. (Others, of course, already program (taken to include the have been to court and in some routine use of drones in cases are behind bars): Afghanistan and Pakistan as well Dan Burgevin, Jim as the targeted kill list) at Hancock Clune, Jack Gilroy, Air Base near Syracuse, NY. Martha Hennessy, Bryan The nine arrested for Hynes, Ed Kinane, Rae disturbing the war were Matt Kramer, Julienne Ryan, Carmen Trotta, Nancy Oldfield, Mary Snyder, Gowan, Bill Pickard, Bill Streit, Elliott Adams, Judy Jim Clune, Ellen Grady, Linda Bello, Mark Colville, Letender, and Mary Anne Grady Paul Frazier, Clare Flores. Grady, Mary Ann Grady Seen here is a sign they -Flores, Andrea Levine,
Bonny Mahoney, Mike Perry, James Ricks, Mark ScibiliaCarver, Paki Weiland, John Heid, David and Jan Hartsough, Sharon Delgado, Jane Kesselman, Shirley Osgood, Ann Wright, David Barrows, JoAnn Lingle, Toby Blome, Alli McCracken, Joan Nicholson, Eve Tetaz, and Jonathon Tucker.
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Local Alternative Energy Solar Panel Zoning Ordinance Adopted in Monroeville by Wanda Guthrie
U.S. leadership in the global clean energy race. Monroeville is the first In Pennsylvania, municipality in our area to PennFuture has collaborated adopt a Solar Panel Zoning with the Department of Ordinance. Environmental Protection, and The U.S. Department of they have developed a model Energy has funded and ordinance and zoning code for coordinated the SunShot solar power installation on Initiative to make solar energy homes and small businesses. cost competitive with other This was a year in the making forms of energy by the end of and is now available for all the decade. Reducing the municipalities to consider installed cost of solar energy with the hope that it will lower systems by about 75% will barriers residents and drive widespread, large-scale businesses face when looking adoption of this renewable to install new systems. energy technology and restore PennFuture has involved 24
local governments in Allegheny and Beaver counties including Upper Saint Clair, Pittsburgh, and Monaca. The model ordinance breaks down many barriers to installing a solar energy system, including filing multiple forms. PennFuture Project Manager Sharon Pillar said most Pennsylvania municipalities have no regulations for solar energy systems. "The municipalities don't know really what to ask for or how to regulate the systems,"
Pillar said on NPR recently. "Sometimes [the municipalities] are not protecting themselves or their residents, or in many cases they're over-regulating and asking for things that are burdensome, particularly on the permitting process." Pillar said that because of that, more time and money are spent on installing a solar energy system on homes and businesses than is necessary. Monroeville has already adopted the model ordinance and zoning codes, but the group isn't stopping
there. Pillar said PennFuture is now looking for a second round of funding for SunShot Rooftop Challenge #2. "We're looking for municipalities to participate in that project to consider the ordinances and the permitting process, and also an online permitting process that we're looking at," Pillar said. Wanda Guthrie is chair of the Merton Center Environmental Justice and Education and Outreach Committee and a member of the TMC board.
Wind Power is Coming on Strong in Pennsylvania by Titus North Wind power is coming on strong in Pennsylvania and across the United States. Over 40% of the new electrical generating capacity installed in the U.S. in 2012 was wind-powered. This comes despite the gas boom, which is being driven by controversial hydraulic fracturing (fracking) technology (Office of Energy Projects Energy Infrastructure Update for December 2012, http://www.ferc.gov). Wind power has been the fastest-growing source of new electric power generation for several years now. In five states, wind already represents more than 10% of electricity generation, and that number is set to grow (Annual report - American Wind Energy Association). Here in Pennsylvania, more and more consumers are seeking wind electricity, and 1000 households (mostly in Pittsburgh) have joined Citizen Power’s Green Energy Collaborative in order to switch to a 100% Pennsylvania wind plan offered by TriEagle Energy. Due to the falling cost of producing wind electricity, these households actually SAVED money on their electric bills by switching to wind. So how important is wind power? Consider the fact that America's largest nuclear operator, Exelon, campaigned vigorously against the extension of federal wind production tax credits. Exelon CEO Christopher Crane told the Chicago Tribune that the rapid pace of subsidized wind-generated electric power could ultimately force it to shutter nuclear plants. "What worries me is if we continue to courtesy Akiko Morrow
Source Creative Commons 10 - NEWPEOPLE
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build an excessive amount of wind and subsidize wind, the unintended consequence could be that it leads to shutting down plants." In the wake of Fukushima, the shutting down of nuclear plants should be one of the intended consequences of building more wind farms. Mr. Crane seems to have forgotten that the entire U.S. Department of Energy was created primarily to subsidize the splitting of atoms, both for power generation and weapons production, and most of its budget since its creation has gone towards nuclear production, maintenance, and clean-up. So there is more than just a little bit of hypocrisy when a nuclear executive complains about wind subsidies. Of course, nuclear is not the only energy source that receives subsidies and special treatment from the government. Consider the cost in terms of the military budget that has been expended to preserve access to overseas oil supplies. Consider the exemptions from the Safe Drinking Water Act and the Clean Water Act for hydraulic fracturing enjoyed by Marcellus shale gas producers. Consider the fact that the government has been receiving belowmarket prices for coal mined on Federal lands for decades. In terms of impact on the environment and public health, there is no comparison between wind on the one hand and nuclear and fossil fuels on the other. Like all human industrial activities, the generation of electricity from wind has some impact, but through design and siting improvements these have become negligible compared to other energy resources. In the early 1990s, poorly designed and sited turbines in California’s Altamont Pass killed significant numbers of large birds. However, the modern turbines that have been constructed as part of the ongoing wind boom are higher off the ground, spin more slowly, and do not provide nesting opportunities for birds. The result is that now even the Audubon Society “strongly supports properly-sited wind power as a clean alternative energy source that reduces the threat of global warming” (policy.audubon.org). Meanwhile, nuclear power has created numerous ghost towns and no-go zones around Chernobyl and Fukushima. Frequent oil spills wreak havoc with
The Thomas Merton Center is a proud consumer of TriEagle Energy. marine ecosystems. Fracking is creating Los Angeles-style smog in rural drilling areas. And regardless of what one might think about the aesthetic qualities of wind turbines on mountain ridges, mountain top removal, which is rampant in near-by West Virginia, permanently damages both mountains and the valleys below. Perhaps the most remarkable thing about the rise of wind energy is that it comes at the same time as the fracking boom. Drilling companies have come rushing into Pennsylvania in order to take advantage of inadequate environmental regulations and the absence of a severance tax on natural gas production from Marcellus Shale, with the result being a
natural gas glut that has driven down electricity prices. The fact that in such an environment there was actually more new wind generation capacity than gas generation capacity demonstrates the economic viability of wind. Just think how much faster wind and other viable sources of renewable energy could come online if it wasn’t for the all the favors that gas drillers and the rest of the dirty energy lobby weren’t extracting from our politicians. Titus North is the Executive Director of Citizen Power, Inc. For more information on Citizen Power’s Green Energy Collaborative, visit http:// www.citizenpower.com/GEC/
Environmental Activism with detailed information about the plant. Two area citizens, Robert Concilus, M.D. and Leah Humes, have appealed the DEP's Air Quality Permit in the Environmental Hearing which has the greatest Continued from Page 1 Board. Despite pro bono legal Of great concern is the location biodiversity of any stream in of the proposed power plant one Pennsylvania and contains twenty counsel by Sandy Kelson, the legal process is quite and a half miles upwind from the -five species of fresh water mussels and over eighty species expensive. A fundraising event is Geneva Marsh, Pennsylvania's planned for Meadville for March largest wetland and home to the of fish. This power plant was initially 13. Financial donations can be largest breeding population of proposed for construction in the given through the CARE website bald eagles. The Marsh is designated an Important Birding city of Erie, but local opposition or through Erie Peace and Justice, 26108 Crossingville Road, stopped its development Area by the Audubon there. Crawford County is one of Edinboro, PA 16412. Society. The water from the Marsh flows into French Creek, the poorest counties in Pennsylvania, but citizens Bob Concilus works in Crawford in that area have organized County as a physician. He is a past president of the French to stop the plant. Creek Valley Conservancy, a TMC member, and an appellant The local group, CARE, challenging the Air Quality has a website at: Permit granted by the PA Dept. www.stopburningtires.com of Protection for the plant.
Toxic Tire-Burning Plant in Crawford County
SAVE THE DATE FOR A
STATEWIDE RETREAT! UNFRACKABLE: Coming Together After Our Communities Come Apart
May 30, 2013, Crystal Lake Camps, Hughesville, PA The arrival of the natural gas industry in our communities has brought some benefits and it has also brought disruptions in our lives, our peace of mind, our land, and our relationships with our neighbors. How do we live with the challenges that come at us from without and the fear, grief, and convulsion we feel within our own hearts? This will be a weekend to rest, rejuvenate, share feelings with others, explore creative, lifeaffirming ways to live with what’s happening and experience friendships and even joy in the process. This is a time to take a break from protest and action and join with others to revitalize ourselves and celebrate our communities and Earth. Environmental Justice Committee and Radical Joy for Hard Times member Joanne Martin is available for more info at jsmartin56@aol.com
Fracking and Your Health Public Health Perspectives * What common health problems do residents experience? * What are the sources of exposure? * How can you reduce your exposure? * What public health studies are being done?
Speakers: Nadia Steinzor - Earthworks Raina Rippel - SW PA Environmental Health Project Linda Headley - a resident of a Southwest Pennsylvania affected family Dr. Ralph Miranda - Greensburg Physician, Moderator
Where: Fred Rogers Center Saint Vincent College, Latrobe, PA When: Tuesday, March 19, 7:00 - 9:00 pm Q and A will follow Free Admission
Sponsored by: Mountain Watershed Association Westmoreland Marcellus Citizens' Group
D.C. Rally to Stop the KXL Pipeline: Two Experiences by Minghua He On Feb. 17, Thomas Merton Center members joined thousands of others in Washington D.C. to fight to stop the construction of the Keystone XL pipeline from Canada. Two buses were organized from Pittsburgh to Washington D.C. and left the University of Pittsburgh in Oakland at 7 am. During the journey we signed letters to President Obama to express our objection to the KXL. The Keystone XL Pipeline Project is dangerous and expensive. It would double our reliance on Canada’s high carbon and destructive tar sands oil and send it for the first time in significant volumes to refineries on the U.S. Gulf Coast. The 1,179 mile pipeline through the heart of America would contaminate the Ogallala, ArbuckleSimpson, Antlers, and CarrizoWilcox Aquifers. Everyone is familiar with oil spills and their devastation in coastal areas, but the same damage often occurs on land. At 11:15 am, we arrived in Washington D.C. and gathered together under the Washington Monument. Some speakers inspired the crowd to raise their voices in unison opposing the pipeline. Coming to the microphone were many knowledgeable speakers including Bill McKibben from 350.org, Sierra Club President Allison Chin, Indigenous Environmental Network organizer Marty Cobenais, and Gulf Coast activist Cherri Foytlin. Approximately 35,000 people came together for the rally. After the assembly, people marched around the White House. They chanted, "Hey Obama, we don't want no climate drama," and "Michelle Obama, tell your man, stop that dirty pipeline plan!" This march and rally were amazing. It was good to take to the streets, and to once again make it clear: this pipeline is not a done deal,
and Americans don't want it. We by Xinpei He want clean, renewable energy, a The Climate Rally on stopping KXL Pipelines stable climate, and a real future. The was a great experience for me as I had never joined crowd was awesome, made up of such an event before. I was impressed by people I people of all ages from 28 states met during the rally and everything I saw that day. across the country. Everybody was “We can’t eat money and we can’t drink oil,” said fired up on this issue, including one of the speakers. Indeed, we should pay more thousands of people who couldn't be attention to climate change and green energy, as it is there in person but joined us via live necessary for us to consider our future. The stream. environment shouldn’t be a It is sacrifice for economic unforgettable for development, and we should me, a Chinese girl make an effort to inform who just arrived in people about it. It is not easy, America last year. but we have to do something. Even though the There were various signs climate was really which are interesting and freezing, I saw meaningful. In different ways, people of different people expressed their ages walking and feelings freely and creatively. chanting around Meanwhile, people kept the White House. coming up with different They believe their slogans which are full of conviction and power. I was really touched actions can change by one: “Show me what the government’s democracy looks like? This is decision and keep courtesy Joe Guthrie what democracy looks like!” the planet safe for Then I said to myself, yes, our descendants. The people on our this is how people fight for their rights and lives! bus were mostly seniors. I was We need to make our voices heard. Among the amazed at their enthusiasm. In people, there were seniors, middle-aged, young China, the grandparents of their age people, children and even babies. There were people would be staying at home. Their from different states with diverse backgrounds. children wouldn’t let them take part Everyone can choose to make a difference, in such rigorous activities in the cold regardless of their race, gender or age. I was inspired weather. But this group of seniors a lot. Sometimes we keep silent because we are was so strong minded and the cold afraid; sometimes we keep silent because we don’t weather didn’t stop them. I saw believe we can change something; sometimes we students from different universities keep silent because we are worried about what participating there. They care about others think about us. What we need is just to move the environment and the planet. forward, even a tiny step. They let me know that if Minghua He and Xinpei He are both we put our interns at the strength and Thomas Merton energy Center, and they are together we both students at the can make a Graduate School of big Social Work at the difference to University of the world. Pittsburgh. courtesy Joe Guthrie March 2013
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Faith in Practice Resistance is Creating the Alternative by Dylan Rooke
The Jesus that Dorothy emulated spoke of a We‘ve failed, had hurt feelings, and have said new kingdom in his “Sermon on the Mount,” one farewell to more than one housemate as we try to Several years ago I played bass in a punk different than Empire, where liberation meant learn from our mistakes. Yet, we can certainly band. We played in the rundown, east end of serving one another, the poor, the outcast, where celebrate one year of this crazy little thing we do. Nashville, staying regularly at some dear friends’ the last become first and the first become last – an Life together is never easy, but I believe I can community house. It had the usual aesthetic of almost paradoxical circle of jubilee-distribution of honestly say it’s been worth every moment. these types of communal ramshackle dwellings. value for all people. The alternative to this “filthy rotten system,” as Hanging above the kitchen sink was a simple rag, I’d found the first of many “saints” in my life. Dorothy called it, only finds its solution in love for probably once used for some utilitarian purpose, Despite my Charismatic Protestant upbringing, I one another. This kind of love is not often found in with a simple inscription sewn into it, “Everyone found that of my many spiritual heroes, a large the systems and structures we’ve been handed. We wants a revolution, but no one wants to do the number are Roman Catholics. Of all the recent can’t wait for our hierarchies to fix the problems dishes — Dorothy Day.” Who saints I’ve come for us; we’re the leaders we’ve been waiting for! I was this person? Her simple across in my believe we need to create and cultivate these spaces challenge struck my soul so Greenway Community ecumenical journey where more than a Band-Aid is applied, where the tenderly; I desired more of this of reconciliation, whole person in all our brokenness can be wisdom she had to share. House of Hospitality Thomas Merton has embraced. Back home, I began a been my guide into a Though we shouldn’t delude ourselves by journey to find something out renewed thinking we can solve all the problems we see, let’s about her and her life. I picked understanding. He begin taking steps together doing what we can for up a $2 copy of Dorothy Day’s stretched and the causes of justice, peace, and love. Plenty of autobiography, The Long challenged me to the opportunities lie directly before us; greeting us in Loneliness, at Eljay’s Used core. small ordinary ways. Books, then on the South Side. I’m a busybody, a go The balance of Dorothy and Merton invites us The simple, frail figure -getter, always trying to live a humble yet active journey that demands portrayed on the front cover to maximize my giving and receiving, marching and sitting in beckoned me to dive in productivity on stillness, community and solitude. We can’t do this immediately - which doesn’t whatever project is alone, we need each other – a network of cohappen often to this hesitating on my to-do list. conspirators willing to work with calloused hands, reader. I grew up equating Dorothy’s work but tender hearts. reading with school – a spoke my language Resistance is creating the alternatives, and like negative connotation for this of action, but it was Momma Teresa said, “Let us do small things with recovering, young punk. the partnership with great love.” Let’s get washing these dishes! With each page I was more Merton that brought To learn more about the growing Pittsburgh and more drawn into her story, balance to that action Catholic Worker Network, contact Source: Greenway Community walking right along with her. – a balance I find I need to maintain the journey. pittsburghcatholicworker@lists.riseup.net; for info Her portrayals of the New York slums, May Day in His words often echo when I find myself trying to about the monthly Merton Study Circle, contact Union Square, and her journalism with the take on too much in some sort of messianic Carol Gonzalez, Teacher41@aol.com or facebook: Socialist papers spoke to my story, my struggle to complex: “To allow oneself to be carried away by https://www.facebook.com/ find myself, my ‘kick-against-the-pricks’ attitude a multitude of conflicting concerns, to surrender to groups/300631609998427/ that was fueled by my love for punk and anything too many demands, to commit oneself to too many against the status quo. I wished I’d been alive in Dylan Rooke currently serves as Building projects, to want to help everyone in everything, is those stories, raging in the streets alongside Manger at Hot Metal Bridge Faith Community in to succumb to the violence of our times.” comrades, screaming at the corruption of a system the South Side and as Peace Discernment It’s now a little over a year since we purchased that imprisoned radicals demanding a new system Organizer & National Committee Member of the our humble little house in the historic – for the people! My heart was there, thinking I Presbyterian Peace Fellowship. He is an ordained neighborhood of Hazelwood. Things are slower knew where the story was going. Then, the Presbyterian elder and currently resides as than an earlier version of me would hope to see, character of Peter Maurin surprised me as it did Founder/ Care Taker at The Greenway but I can celebrate the slow subversive work of Dorothy. Community House of Hospitality - A Catholic trying to create a new community. We call She struggled with his foreign philosophy of Worker expression in the neighborhood of ourselves the Greenway Community House of “Personalism” where revolution wasn’t about Hazelwood, Pittsburgh. Hospitality (thegreenwaycommunity.org). We picketing Washington for change. Revolution strive to live the tradition and example of the didn’t wait to be handed to you with permission Catholic Worker Movement. After volunteering from governing authorities. You had to ignite a with some dear friends in Kansas City who revolution, one person at a time, heart to heart. Active Nonviolence ... run the Cherith Brook Catholic Worker, I “The best way to meet the man on the street is by must unmask the contradiction of a society that is knew this was the work I had to get my meeting the man on the street!” This was against based on force. Unfortunately, the affluent industrial hands calloused and dirty doing. the top-down mentality of most radicals at that society, with all the freedom it presumes to offer its After all, if I wanted revolution, the time. It had a sort of offensive but refreshing sting people, is a society that survives because it lives by dishes need to be done. So, four to five of to it, and it got me thinking. The Catholic Worker systematic greed and a subtle violence that makes us live together in a simple rhythm of the affluent richer and the nonaffluent poorer. Those Movement was born out of this tension and the prayer, meals, shared resources, and who practice nonviolence will almost of necessity find love for the poor and the desire to stand in hospitality. Currently space is available for themselves at odds with such a society. At the same solidarity with the oppressed for liberation. It drew two resident guests, with hopes that after time they must beware lest their own values be subtly fresh breath into the hearts of many, who, like me, renovations we can double that capacity. subverted by the disvalues so easily disseminated by desired the true gospel – one that stepped down a society dedicated to profit and motivated by greed. It Already we’ve learned so much about our from the tiers of power and was among the poor -was no accident that Merton continually urged own limits and healthy ways to build of spirit, and of pocket. followers of nonviolence to guard against the violence consensus and make decisions together. “Any act of war aimed indiscriminately at the Association of Pittsburgh Priests destruction of entire cities or extensive areas along with their population is a crime against God and man himself (sic). It merits unequivocal and unhesitating condemnation. The unique hazard of modern warfare consists in this: it provides those who possess modern scientific weapons with a kind of occasion for perpetrating just such abominations; moreover, through a certain inexorable chain of events, it can catapult men (sic) into the most atrocious decisions. That such may never happen in the future, the bishops of the whole world gathered together, beg all men (sic), especially government officials and military leaders, to give unremitting thought to their tremendous responsibility before God and the entire human race.” --Vatican Council II, The Church in the Modern World, Chapter V, The Fostering of Peace and the Promotion of a Community of Nations. 12 - NEWPEOPLE
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and the aggressiveness so easily hidden undetected in their own persons...I am forgetting the contemplative oneness that links me to brother and sister, to friend and enemy. Every time I let go of my aggressiveness and pettiness and act in genuine unconditional love, I am releasing a wonderful healing, purifying, unifying power that can bring peace and harmony to my own life and the lives of those with whom I live and work....More and more people are discovering nonviolence as a "creative, lifeaffirming way to resolve conflict, to overcome oppression, establish justice, protect the earth, and build democracy. --William Shannon on Merton, Something of a Rebel: Thomas Merton, His Life and Works.
Faith and Activism Merton Study Circle Meets Monthly as Flannery O'Connor and Walker Percy. ALL are WELCOME to participate! Inspired by the contemplative peace activism of Catholic Workers, in follow-up to the fall 2011 retreat with Jim Forest on Dorothy Day, and as part of the 40th Anniversary year celebration, a Merton —Dorothy Day, The Catholic Worker, June 1946 Center Study Group formed in the spring of In concert with the Pittsburgh Catholic Worker 2012 for contemplative conversation in together reading the signs of the times. We also Network, the Merton Study Circle continues on explored Living with Wisdom - A Life of Thomas March 13, journeying together each second Merton by Jim Forest and Conjectures of a Guilty Wednesday evening (7:00 pm) of the month at Bystander by Thomas Merton. Calvary Episcopal Church. Currently the group is reading Paul Elie's extraordinary The Life You For more info, contact Carol Gonzalez Save May Be Your Own: An American at teacher41@aol.com. Pilgrimage which weaves together the lives and “What we would like to do is change the world...By crying out unceasingly for the rights of the workers, of the poor, of the destitute… We can throw our pebble in the pond and be confident that it’s ever-widening circle will reach around the world.”
work of Thomas Merton and Dorothy Day, as well
If the Pope Can Resign, the Church Can Promote Social Justice by R/B Mertz
For several decades, the Catholic Church, one of the most powerful institutions in the world, has thrown her intellectual, political, and financial weight behind the “defense of traditional marriage” and the “fight against abortion.” Catholic politicians, priests and voters are made to conform to these particular Catholic teachings washingtonpost.com with the integrity of dogmatic theologians, though they are not removed from their offices. Often the similarly pressured to uphold the only reasoning behind why a particular Church’s stances on war, the death man was not removed from his penalty, worker’s rights, immigration, or respect for the environment. As Pope office was that his superior was mercifully willing not to disrupt his Benedict XVI steps down, amidst the life. Unlike abortion, pedophilia is an now ever-present sex-abuse scandal, it act that the Church will consider the seems time to examine the many ways context of before rushing to judgment. the Church has used her power, and to Last month, Pope Benedict call for a new age of political XVI announced his intention to retire Catholicism that is not only concerned due to health issues, though this with abortion and gay marriage, but decision is historically unprecedented. also addresses the many other social Benedict acknowledges, with his ills acknowledged by the Church, such departure from the norm, that times as war, poverty, violence against change. The popes of the Middle Ages women, and uncontrolled capitalism. didn’t have to consider what would Evangelium Vitae, the most happen if they had to go on life authoritative Catholic document about support, and life expectations were the value of human life, describes different then. The context becomes abortion as “having characteristics important, and at times even the which make it particularly serious and Catholic Church makes the decision to deplorable” while Vatican II describes break precedent. abortion as an “unspeakable If precedents are to be broken, and crime.” From these characterizations there is space to re-evaluate, perhaps come the Church’s stance on abortion, we should ask why the Church’s that it can never be condoned by political power seems so concentrated church, state, or individual. For many on these two particular issues? Why are years the sin of abortion was considered too grave to be forgiven in a some contexts so thoroughly considered and not others? Why is so parish priest’s confessional. Women were told that the sin of abortion had to much time and money spent trying to make abortion and gay marriage illegal, be absolved by a bishop. This becomes but not war or economic abuses? It is particularly troubling when we always time to ask questions like these, consider that many of the men charged and to challenge ourselves and our with absolving these women were participating in or ignoring a pedophilia religious leaders to answer them honestly, with the courage to admit, cover-up of epic proportions. always, that it is possible for a new way The excuse given for the Church’s to be better than the old one. cover up is that the understanding of pedophila was different “then.” In other R/B Mertz has a degree in theology from words, they thought these men could Franciscan University of Steubenville. change, could be forgiven, could She lives in East Liberty with her wife and redeem themselves. In other words, teaches writing at Duquesne University there is a context for the pedophilia, and Penn State New Kensington. Her and the context had to be considered poems can be found online at before these men were punished or lifeandpoems.tumblr.com.
An Open Letter To the Next Pope Your Holiness, it is truly an honor. I have (with all due respect to Benedict XVI) been anticipating your arrival for the better part of a decade, and there are a few things I have been meaning to ask you. You certainly come at a crossroads in the history of The Church. John Paul II had a dynamic papacy, the main legacy of which was his (righteous) opposition to Soviet communism. Regardless of the other, less savory, aspects of his papacy, he is easily remembered as a force for good. I hate to say it, but Benedict XVI will be remembered primarily for being something of a reactionary; for enforcing social dogma in a time of global change. And I get that; it was sort of what anyone expected. But his time as a filler pope (again, no offense to the faithful, but let’s be realistic) is apparently done with, and the new pontiff has major issues to which he must respond. In the past few decades, there have been new and increasing challenges to the dogma of the Catholic Church. Since the Second Vatican Council, the Catholic world has changed rapidly. Here in the United States, purely papist Catholicism is in its death knell. The most recent major figure of Catholicism in the U.S. was Rick Santorum, who was more of an outlet for evangelical American conservatism than the Pope, whom he renounced for his apparent environmentalism. It is clear that the new American Catholic Church, especially given the fact that it is soon to be largely Hispanic, needs leadership that understands the realities of post-NAFTA, late
capitalist life. In our country, we hope that you are as understanding of immigration as Jesus of Nazareth might have been. Issues regarding immigration and tolerance thereof should be at the forefront of Catholic thought in the US, not to mention healthcare reform and living wages. The new “frontier” for lack of a better term, of the Church, in the less developed world, hinges on what we call American social issues in a very real way, particularly in regard to birth control. In places like Haiti and Chad, the Church can no longer oppose birth control in the same breath as it does abortion. There are many places of dire need where the birth rate is far too high, and this is no longer acceptable. If there is to be a true Christian mission on earth, we must recognize the realities and limitations of our planet earth. If the Catholic Church will disseminate the word of Christ, it must care for the world as he taught us. Of course I recognize that the papacy is a self-legitimating institution, and that you are the only decider of the rules. But let’s be clear: there are two routes that the Catholic Church could go in the coming decades, transforming to meet the need of the world, or ignoring the need of the world. The choice is yours, Your Holiness. Daniel Hanson is a 2012 graduate of the College of Wooster in History and a current student in Duquesne University's Journalism and Media Arts program. He is an active member of the Democratic Socialists of America and the current editor of theactivist.org.
March 2013
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We Are Community a Community News of Activists Affordable Chic Fashion Show A Community Affair by Shawna Hammond Saturday, April 27, marks the twentieth year that the East End Community Thrift will hold its annual fashion show, Affordable Chic. Affordable Chic is the perfect example of what Thrifty is all about, volunteering and community involvement. The show has been held at the East Liberty Presbyterian Church for the past sixteen years. Thrifty’s volunteer staff, customers, and women of Sojourner’s
House contribute their time and energy by modeling and providing delicious salads and desserts.
The Silent Auction includes gift certificates from businesses in the Garfield community and gift baskets created by long time Thrifty supporter, Rose Evasovic. The Boutique table offers special low priced items that the volunteers spend all year collecting. Along with long time supporter, Sandra Talley, musicians David Boxley and Samuel McGinnis will be our musical
entertainment for the afternoon. So, come join us on Saturday, April 27th at ELPC from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm for a wonderful afternoon of fashion and fun. For ticket information contact: East End Community Thrift at 412-361-6010. Or look online at thomasmertoncenter.org Shawna Hammond is the Assistant Manager of the East End Community Thrift Store and serves on the Thomas Merton Center’s board of directors as Vice President.
The Fracking Poem —Philip Terman
Scarlet tanagers, thrushes, warblers, hawks, spotted salamanders, skunk and possum, all the invisible insects— the native shrubs, the wild flowers, all the trees cut down, the altered light patterns, the shifting forest canopy, all giving way for the gravel roads, the trucks and tankers and dust, hauling their chemical cocktails: the methanol, the isopropyl alcohol, the ethylene glycon, the crystalline silica, and all the other toxins, according to the Halliburton loophole, the industry refuses to disclose, the toxins that cause blurry vision, severe stomach cramps, burning noses, swollen tongues, headaches, hair loss, ear pressure, horses that won’t leave the barn— smell of sulphur, rotten egg, nail polish, water burning out of faucets— the heavy axles invading across our farms, compacting the topsoil, reducing plant growth, increasing the runoff, the erosion like a fully-loaded cement mixture hauling itself across a lawn after a heavy rainfall, all the way to our watersheds: the Ohio, the Susquehanna, the Delaware, the Erie, the Genesee, the Potomac— not to mention the 86, 000 miles of streams and rivers, the 161, 445 acres of lakes, the 403, 924 acres of wetlands— the drilling through aquifers, the potential for leakage, the uranium, the radioactive radon stored in that black rock that is almost 400 million years old— that shale that has survived from the Devonian age, that stone of shelled swimmers, like squids, of plant-like animals related to starfish called sea
lilies,
that earth, that earth that once we contaminate, we can never reclaim, that earth that when we frack, we frack ourselves. Philip Terman is a professor of English at Clarion University and co-director of the Chautauqua Writers' Festival. 14 - NEWPEOPLE
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Henrietta, our pig with flair, at a recent blockade to protect Pennsylvania farms from fracking. Photo courtesy of Wanda Guthrie.
Thomas Merton Center News In Memoriam, Margaret McCoy by Joyce Rothermel
Margaret S. McCoy passed away in August 2012 at the age of 94. Margaret was a long time member of the Friends Meeting (Quakers) and lived a life dedicated to education and peace. She served on the boards of Pittsburgh Peace Links and Pittsburgh World Federalists. She was active with Educators for Social Responsibility. One of four founding women of Sherwood Oaks Retirement Community, Margaret lived there for many years, adding to the quality of life of its residents and employees. Joyce Rothermel is chair of the TMC Membership Committee and serves on the board of the Thomas Merton Center.
Meet New Board Member Ed Brett by Joyce Rothermel Ed Brett has been a part of 29 of the Thomas Merton Center's 40year history. Even before arriving in Pittsburgh, Ed had learned of the Merton Center from a former Pittsburgher he knew in New Mexico who encouraged him to get to know us. Ed, his wife Donna, and their two daughters moved to Pittsburgh for Ed to begin teaching in the History Department of La Roche College in the North Hills. Ed is now a professor emeritus, having retired in 2012. Not long after Ed joined the Center, he and Donna became active in the Center's Task Force on Central America, sharing in its leadership. This was a natural next step for them because of a special interest they have had in working to change U.S. policy in Central America. Ed’s involvement at the Center has broadened to include anti-war activism in which he has taken part several times over the past two decades. Most recently, Ed has joined the efforts of Pittsburgh North People for Peace. In addition to teaching, Ed has
Fight For Lifers West Receives Award Grant by Donna Hill
organizing. Therefore, they support strategies that build community, encourage collaborations with other organizations, increase skills and/ or access to resources, and produce leadership from the constituency being most directly affected. In fiscal year 2011, RESIST gave over $342,000 to 130 organizations across the country. “Each year, RESIST funds groups like Fight For Lifers West, because their mission is to support people who take a stand about the issues that matter today, whether it’s to resist corporate globalization, promote a woman’s right to choose, or develop activist leaders,” says Board Chair Miabi Chatterji. “And we believe it’s especially important to help grassroots organizations that might be too small or too local—or too radical—for mainstream foundations.” If anyone wishes to contact RESIST about a grant or to refer someone they think may be eligible for a grant, here is their contact information: RESIST, Inc.; 259 Elm St.; Somerville, MA 02144; 617-6235110; yafreisy@resistinc.org
RESIST, Inc., which is a national progressive foundation located in Somerville, Massachusetts, awarded Fight For Lifers West (a project of the Thomas Merton Center) an award of $1, 500 to help us to advocate for more humane and effective laws for prisoners serving life sentences in Pennsylvania. We are very excited to receive this grant from RESIST and if anyone wishes to contact Fight For Lifers West, regarding this, please call or write to President Donna Hill at P.O. Box 4683, Pittsburgh, PA 15206; call 412-361-3022 or email: fightforliferswest@yahoo.com RESIST began in 1967 in support of draft resistance and in opposition to the Vietnam War. As the funder of the first resort for hundreds of organizations, RESIST’s small but timely grants and loans are made to grassroots engaged in activist organizing and educational work for social change. RESIST defines organizing as collective action to challenge the status quo, demand changes in policy and practice, and educate communities about root causes and just solutions. RESIST recognizes that there are Donna Hill is the president of a variety of stages and strategies Fight For Lifers West. that lead to community
authored three books. The first one he co-authored with Donna, titled: “Murdered in Central America.” In it they tell of the lives of U.S. Catholic and Protestant missionaries who were killed working with the poor there and the impact that people of faith have had on how we now understand U.S. policy toward these countries. Ed and Donna received the Christopher Award for their book! Ed’s second book, entitled: “The U.S. Catholic Press in Central America: from Cold War AntiCommunism to Social Justice” helped to change the outlook of the U.S. Catholic Church on Central America. Most recently, a third book has been published about the work of the African American Catholic Nuns of the Holy Family: “The New Orleans Holy Family Sisters: African American Missionaries to the Garifuna of Belize.” The Sisters worked with the poorest of the poor and were the first Catholic African American
order in the Church. The recurring theme in all of Ed’s writings is oppressed peoples’ struggle for dignity. In joining the Board this year, Ed is now a part of the Membership and the Youth Outreach Committees. He hopes to help reengage former TMC members and present the issues of the Center in ways that will be perceived by less than ‘radical’ people as reasonable! We are fortunate to welcome Ed Brett to the Board of the Thomas Merton Center! Joyce Rothermel is a member of the Editorial Collective.
Martin Sheen Coming April 13 Martin Sheen at Anti-war Protest
Source: Creative Commons
Perhaps Sheen’s own words best describe his activism: “While acting is what I do for a living, activism is what I do to stay alive.” Martin Sheen’s social justice work has been a lifelong commitment. On multiple occasions he has been encouraged to run for public office; in 2006 the Democratic Party contacted him to run for an open senate seat in Ohio. On other occasions people have halfjokingly asked him to turn his role as President Bartlet into reality. For his lifetime of work and dedication to peace and social justice, Martin Sheen will be honored by the Thomas Merton Center with the 2013 Merton Award on April 13, from 5-8 p.m., at Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall in Oakland. All members, staff, volunteers, and friends of the TMC are invited to join in the celebration of Martin Sheen and his lifetime of activism. If you or someone you know is interested in being a part of the Merton Awards Reception, you can find more information by visiting the TMC website (thomasmertoncenter.org) or by emailing Diane McMahon at McMahonD@thomasmertoncenter.org. Michael Deckebach is a junior at the University of Pittsburgh focusing on history and religious studies. He is interning at TMC and chairs the Youth and Student Outreach Committee. March 2013
NEWPEOPLE - 15
March Activist Events Sunday
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Thursday
Friday 1 Martin Delany 10am-12pm 8pm-10pm Hill House Contemporary Stations of the Cross 7-9pm Mercy Mother House
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Bread for the World Advocacy Workshop 2:00-5:00 pm The Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 4503 Old William Penn Highway Monroeville 15146
Truth is powerful and it prevails. Sojourner Truth More at http://en.wikipedia.org/ wiki/Sojourner_Truth
10 18th Annual Empty Bowls Dinner 2:00-6:00 pm Rodef Shalom, 4905 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh PA 15213 (Oakland)
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11 Cost of War— Price of Peace 7:00-9:00 pm Mount St. Benedict Monastery, 6101 East Lake Road, Erie, PA
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March 2, 9amMarch 5, 10am Join us in Washington D.C. for the 3rd annual weekend gathering to Expose AIPAC!
8 International Women’s Day: Call to Action 7:00-9:00 pm Friends Meeting House, 4836 Ellsworth Ave. Oakland 15213
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9 Project to End Human Trafficking Information & Training Seminar 12:00-1:00 pm Carlow University, Antonian Room #502 Fourth River Free Skool 2-8pm, First United Methodist
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In Sisterhood Presents The Women's Movement in Pittsburgh: 1960s to Today 6-8 pm Heinz History Center, Strip District
W.O.M.I.N. Meeting 7:30-8:30 pm St. Peter's United Church of Christ, 18 Schubert St., Pittsburgh15212
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Pennsylvanians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty (PADP) meeting 7:00-8:00 pm First Unitarian Church (Ellsworth/ Morewood, Shadyside)
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16 "In the end antiblack, antifemale, and all forms of discrimination are equivalent to the same thing antihumanism."
-- Shirley Chisholm 22
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Dear Readers, It's been a pleasure meeting you and many writers, editors, and newsmakers since I started at the New People last fall. I am the intern newspaper coordinator, a full-time undergraduate student. I get the mail, edit or find an editor for your submissions, keep track of all the content throughout each month's production, and do my best to put the puzzle pieces together at the end to produce the sixteen pages of layout you are now holding, with the help and guidance of the editorial collective (see page 2) and Diane McMahon, a part-time TMC staff person working on the newspaper. I want The New People to grow. I want more readers, more writers, more pages, more copies, wider distribution, more news. I want more attendees at political actions, and a stronger community. I believe in a competitive independent media and the power of people. I want our collective voices to be heard, and I want to push to include more voices that might not be heard otherwise. You can donate to The New People or become a member of TMC at http://tinyurl.com/aspb7gq. Thanks and Solidarity, K. Briar Somerville 24
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The woman who can create her own job is the woman who will win fame and fortune.
Amelia Earhart
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University of Pittsburgh School of Social Work Elijah Anderson “The Iconic Ghetto” FREE LECTURE 12:00-1:30 pm 2017 Cathedral of Learning, University of Pgh, PA 15213
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29 The 2013 Film Series: A New Economy (Triple Divide (2012)) 7:30—10:00 pm Indiana Theater, 637 Philadelphia Street Indiana PA 15701
The New People is more than just an alternative newspaper: it is a cornerstone organizational tool for Pittsburgh’s activist community. The New People, now in its 43rd volume has a current distribution of 3500. We need the public’s help to fund this activist publication.
$4000
Find out about our current fundraising campaign designed to cover the costs of producing the paper at http://tinyurl.com/aspb7gq. Please make a donation to help strengthen this “free to the public” progressive newspaper.
$200
Please donate NOW!
Become a Member of TMC! __$15: Low Income/Student Membership __$50: Individual Membership __$100: Family Membership __$75: Organization (below 25 members) __$125: Organization (above 25 members) Join at thomasmertoncenter.org/join-donate or fill out the box and mail it in. ONCE YOU BECOME A MEMBER, YOU WILL RECEIVE THE NEW PEOPLE IN THE MAIL! TMC membership benefits include monthly mailings of The New People to your home or email account, weekly eblasts focusing on peace and justice events in Pittsburgh, and special invitations to membership activities. You will belong to our nurturing community! 16 - NEWPEOPLE
March 2013
Weekly Meetings
Expose AIPAC 2013
Name(s): ________________________________________ Organization (if applicable):__________________________ Address:________________________________ City: __________________ State: __________ Zip Code:_______________________________ Home Phone:____________________________ Cell Phone: _____________________________ Email:_________________________________ Be sure to choose your membership level. Mail to: Thomas Merton Center, 5129 Penn Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15224. You can also join online at www.thomasmertoncenter.org.
Monday Looking for a place to do your internship or volunteer? Contact Diane at (412) 361-3022 or email McMahonD@thomasmertoncenter.org.
Tuesday International Socialist Organization Meetings -meeting weekly at the Thomas Merton Ctr. 730-9:30 PM
Wednesday Fed-Up! Write on-Letters for Prisoner Rights 7:00 PM—Thomas Merton Center
Thursday TMC often schedules potlucks on this evening. Interested in having one on an issue that’s important to you? Email JRothermel@tgpcfb.org
Friday Looking for a place to volunteer on a regular basis? Email McMahonD@thomasmertoncenter.org.
Saturday Black Voices for Peace—Vigil to End War 1:00 pm—Corner of Penn & Highland Ave. In East Liberty Citizens for Peace Vigil, 12:00—1:00 pm, Intersections of Forbes and Braddock Aves
Sunday Book’em—Books to Prisoners (meets three Sundays a month) Email: kurbaga@comcast.net Anti-War Committee Mtg. every other week. Economic Justice Committee Mtg. - varies Environmental Justice Committee Mtg.—varies 30
Monthly Recurring Meetings First Friday Action 1:30-3:00 pm Post Office Grant and 7th Avenue, Downtown Pittsburgh
First and Third Wednesdays Darfur Coalition Meeting 7:00—9:00 pm—2121 Murray Avenue Second Floor—Squirrel Hill Contact: (412) 784-0256
Second Wednesdays PUSH Meeting 6:15—8:00 pm—2101 Murray Avenue First Floor—Squirrel Hill Contact: Molly.rush@verizon.net
Second Mondays APP Meeting 7:00-9:00 pm Epiphany Administration Center
Second Sundays Women In Black Monthly Peace Vigil 10:00—11:00 am Ginger Hill Unitarian Universalist Slippery Rock
First Thursdays Green Party Meeting 5:00—7:30 pm—Room C Carnegie Library—Squirrel Hill
Third Sundays Fight for Lifers West 10 am to Noon—Crossroads Church 325 N. Highland Ave—East Liberty
Next Month Thomas Merton Award 13, 2013—Saturday 5:00 -8:00 pm Soldiers & Sailors Hall Esteemed Awardee: Martin Sheen