Thomas Merton Center Pittsburgh’s Peace and Social Justice Center
PITTSBURGH’S PEACE & JUSTICE NEWSPAPER VOL. 45 No. 11 December 2015
Fight for 15 Gains Momentum in Pittsburgh and Nation By Patrick Young
STRIKE FOR $15
look reveals that the $15-dollar-an-hour minimum wage won’t go into effect for more than five years— “We work, we sweat, put $15 on our checks.” not until January 1, 2021. That was the chant heard outside of the Stanwix The City of Pittsburgh wage increase is the latStreet McDonalds on the morning of November 10, est in a string of political victories for the Fight for as fast food workers and allies kicked off their strike $15 campaign, which has forced minimum wage for $15 and a union. increases in New York, Seattle, and other cities The strike was part of a global day of action across the country. demanding living wages and union representation for low-wage, service sector workers. Workers in Coalition Steps Up Efforts to Shame 270 cities around the country rallied, marched, and Opponents of Paid Sick-Leave Law went on strike demanding $15 an hour for some of A lawsuit filed by the Pennsylvania Restaurant our economy’s most marginalized workers. Association and five local businesses has successfulIn Pittsburgh the fight went far beyond Fast Activists "spotlight" Church Brew Works opposition Food Workers. Throughout the day restaurant work- ly blocked implementation of Pittsburgh’s paid sick to paid sick leave for restaurant workers. Photo by day legislation. The lawsuit alleges that requiring all Fight Back Pittsburgh. ers, hospital workers and other low-wage workers rallied at their workplaces before converging at the employers in Pittsburgh to offer paid sick days to workers violates the city’s home rule charter. The City County Building for a mass rally. Capping off the day, Mayor Bill Peduto signed City of Pittsburgh and the law’s advocates, however, and the coalition that backed the law, spearheaded by Pittsburgh United, is mobilizing to shine the spotargue the measure protects the public’s health. On an executive order requiring a $15-an-hour minimum wage for all city workers. While the order was October 27th, the City and the Restaurant Associa- light on the… lauded by many of the mayor’s supporters, a closer tion agreed to delay implementation of the new law (Continued on pg. 13) by 60 days while the legal process plays out. The City has vowed to fight the legal challenge
In this issue…
Congresswoman Barbara Lee, Vanessa German, and Bonnie DiCarlo at the 43rd Annual Merton Award. Photo by Maranie Staab. For more, see pages 8 & 10.
Responsibility For Refugees……
Page 4
The Economics of Incarceration…
Page 7
Vanessa German Interviewed….
Page 8
Merton Award Dinner…..
Page 10
Refugee Resettlement: Help Wanted By James McCarville
Nazra Kazia works long days helping refugees coming to the Pittsburgh area. It looks like she will be working even longer. Kazia is an Intern with Catholic Charities Refugee Resettlement Program, one of four such agencies in the Pittsburgh area. We have “taken in 30 people in the last six weeks and hope to aid another 90 to 100 in the next 8 months,” she said. Kazia, a recent Notre Dame graduate, came to Pittsburgh as a Franciscan “Change a Heart Vol-
You can access The NewPeople online at http://newpeoplenews.wix.com/ newpeoplenews
unteer”. She is one of only two Catholic Charities Interns available to help with this program. While people fleeing Syria have captured the world’s attention, Pittsburgh “has been taking in refugees from around the world, including the Congo, Burma, Nepal, Sudan, Somalia, Iraq and Bhutan. They may be fleeing wars or persecution. They are no longer safe in their native countries. They arrive with different skills and life experiences and little or no material possessions. They need help with clothing and furniture, with language skills, with medical, welfare and job training appointments, with interviews or just with filling out forms,” Kazia said. “This can be trying for a caseworker with more than one case for each day”, she added. While other countries host more refugees
(Turkey hosts over a million), Susan Rauscher, Executive Director of Catholic Charities, said “The US is actually the largest current re-settler of refugees in the world. Our biggest challenge is finding translators.” With the Obama administration planning to increase the number of eligible refugees from 70,000 last year to 80,000 this fiscal year and 95,000 in fiscal ’17, volunteer help will be very important. Syrian refugees are driving this latest increase, and many of them already speak some English, but they may face increased political and social pushback. (Continued on pg. 4)
The Thomas Merton Center 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.
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December 2015
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Thomas Merton Center
East End Community Thrift Store
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Tuesday—Friday: 10 am to 4 pm Saturday: Noon to 4 pm
Office Phone: 412-361-3022 — Fax: 412-361-0540 Website: www.thomasmertoncenter.org
The NewPeople Editorial Collective
Neil Cosgrove, Ginny Cunningham, Michael Drohan, Russ Fedorka, Marni Fritz, Nijah Glenn, Bette McDevitt, Thomas Mulholland, Joyce Rothermel, Molly Rush, Mary Sico, Jo Tavener, Jim McCarville
TMC Staff, Volunteers & Interns
Interim Managing Director/ Operations Manager: Marcia Snowden Finance Director / Project Liaison: Roslyn Maholland Administrative Assistant: Marni Fritz, Thomas Mulholland Support Staff: Sr. Mary Clare Donnelly, Meagan McGill Office Volunteers: Monique Dietz, Nancy Gippert, Lois Goldstein, Barbara Irons, Joyce Rothermel, Judy Starr, Tyger New People Coordinators: Marni Fritz & Tom Mulholland East End Community Thrift Store Managers: Shirley Gleditsch, Shawna Hammond, & Sr. Mary Clare Donnelly TMC Project Organizer Gabriel McMorland (New Economy),
Thomas Merton Center Interns Raphael Cardamone, Nick Furar, Nijah Glenn, Meagan McGill, Earl Pearson, Deepti Ramadoss, Miriam Reichman, Aly Smyth, Lliam Stevens, Mary Sico, Hannah Tomio, Vivian Tan, Brett Wilson, Andrew Woomer, Zheng, Peter Shou An
2015 TMC Board of Directors
Thom Baggerman, Ed Brett, Theresa Chalich, Rob Conroy, Kathy Cunningham, Mark Dixon, Art Donsky, Michael Drohan, Patrick Fenton, Mary Jo Guercio (President), Wanda Guthrie, anupama jain, Ken Joseph, Anne Kuhn, Jonah McAllister-Erickson, Joyce Rothermel, Molly Rush (co-founder), Tyrone Scales, M. Shernell Smith.
The East End Community Thrift (Thrifty) is an all volunteer-run thrift shop which provides quality, low-cost, used clothing and household goods to the surrounding community. Thrifty needs volunteers and shoppers! Please contact us at (412) 361-6010 and ask for Shirley or Shawna, or stop in at 5123 Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15224. Email shawnapgh@aol.com.
TMC Projects
TMC Affiliates
(TMC projects follow TMC guidelines and receive financial and ongoing resources and support from the Thomas Merton Center.)
(Affiliates are independent partner organizations who support the nonviolent peace and justice mission of TMC. - Articles may not necessarily represent the views of Affiliates)
Anti-War Committee awc@thomasmertoncenter.org Book‘Em: Books to Prisoners Project bookempgh@gmail.com www.bookempgh.org Capital’s End 724-388-6258, iamholtz@iup.edu CodePink: Women for Peace francineporter@aol.com, 412-389-3216 www.codepink4peace.org East End Community Thrift Shop 412-361-6010, shawnapgh@aol.com Economic Justice Committee drohanmichael@yahoo.com Environmental Justice Committee
environmentaljustice@thomasmertoncenter.org
Fight for Lifers West Greater Pittsburgh Interfaith Coalition Anne Wirth 412-716-9750 Harambee Ujima/Diversity Footprint Twitter @HomewoodNation
Human Rights Coalition / Fed Up (prisoner support and advocacy) 412-802-8575, hrcfedup@gmail.com www.prisonerstories.blogspot.com Marcellus Shale Protest Group melpacker@aol.com 412-243-4545 marcellusprotest.org New Economy Campaign gabriel@thomasmertoncenter.com Pittsburgh 350 350pittsburgh@gmail.com World.350.org/pittsburgh Pittsburgh Anti-Sweatshop Community Alliance 412-512-1709
Pittsburgh Campaign for Democracy NOW! 412-422-5377, sleator@cs.cmu.edu www.pcdn.org Pittsburgh Darfur Emergency Coalition jumphook@gmail.com; www.pittsburghdarfur.org
We are mission driven volunteers who look to build love and community by serving others in times of need.
Publish in The New People The New People is distributed to 3,000 people who belong to diverse organizations, businesses and groups each month. The deadline for all submissions is the 13th of the month for the following month’s issue. To Submit Articles, Photos, or Poems: Visit www.thomasmertoncenter.org/newpeople/submit. To Submit an Event to the TMC Calendar: Visit www.thomasmertoncenter.org/calendar/submit-event To Advertise: Visit www.thomasmertoncenter.org/newpeople/ad Advertising prices range from $15 for a business card size to $250 for a full page. There is a 10% discount when purchasing 6 months of ad space at a time, and a 20% discount when purchasing a year of ad space at a time. An additional 10% discount is available for non-profit organizations and faith-based groups.
Pittsburghers for Public Transit 412-216-9659 info@pittsburghforpublictransit.org Progressive Pittsburgh Notebook 412-363-7472 tvnotebook@gmail.com School of the Americas Watch W. PA 412-271-8414 drohanmichael@yahoo.com Shalefield Stories (Friends of the Harmed) 412-422-0272 brigetshields@gmail.com
Westmoreland Marcellus Citizens Group 724-837-0540 lfpochet@verizon.net
2 - NEWPEOPLE
December 2015
412-848-3079
The Big Idea Bookstore 412-OUR-HEAD www.thebigideapgh.org The Black Political Empowerment Project Tim Stevens 412-758-7898 CeaseFire PA www.ceasefirepa.org—info@ceasefirepa.org Citizens for Social Responsibility of Greater Johnstown Larry Blalock, evolve@atlanticbb.net Global Solutions Pittsburgh 412-471-7852 dan@globalsolutionspgh.org www.globalsolutionspgh.org North Hills Anti-Racism Coalition 412-369-3961 email: info@arc.northpgh.org www.arc.northpgh.org PA United for Single-Payer Health Care www.healthcare4allPA.org www.PUSH-HC4allPa.blogspot.com 412-421-4242 Pittsburgh Area Pax Christi 412-761-4319 Pittsburgh Cuba Coalition 412-303-1247 lisacubasi@aol.com Pittsburgh North People for Peace 412-760-9390 info@pnpp.northpgh.org www.pnpp.northpgh.org 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 SWPA Bread for the World Joyce Rothermel 412-780-5118 United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America (UE) 412-471-8919 www.ueunion.org Veterans for Peace kevinbharless@yahoo.com 252-646-4810 Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF) Eva 412-963-7163 edith.bell4@verizon.net
Page 7 Washington Court Decisions Light Way To Improved Education Funding The Economics of Mass Incarceration Page 8 Announcing the Launch of Pittsburghers For CEDAW Campaign An Interview With Vanessa German Page 9 N.O.R.T.H. Letter to the Editors Philanthropy and Privilege Calling for Proposals for the Summit Against Racism Page 10 Interview With Congresswoman Barbara Lee The Anti-war Committee and the AntiDrone Warfare Coalition Meet With Rep. Barbara Lee
TMC is a Member of TMC supports these organizations missions. Pennsylvania Interfaith Impact Network 412-621-9230 office@piin.org Pennsylvanians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty Martha Connelly 412-361-7872, osterdm@earthlink.net
Table of Contents Page 1 Fight for $15 Gains Momentum in Pittsburgh And Nation Refugee Resettlement: Help Wanted Page3 Thrifty’s Wish for 2016 The Merton Center Marks a Close to Merton 100th Anniversary Page 4 Central American Immigration: Whose Responsibility Refugee Resettlement: Help Wanted cont’d Page 5 #PrayForTheWorld It Is Three Minutes to Midnight Page 6 Support the Single Payer Health Care Plan Introduced this Fall In Pennsylvania's House of Representatives Support Builds for Postal Banking
Amnesty International info@amnestypgh.org - www.amnestypgh.org Association of Pittsburgh Priests Sr. Barbara Finch 412-716-9750 B.a.finch@att.net Battle of Homestead Foundation
Stop Sexual Abuse in the Military 412-361-3022 hildebrew@aol.com
For more information: Call 412-361-3022 or email newpeople@thomasmertoncenter.org.
Abolitionist Law Center 412-654-9070 abolitionistlawcenter.org
Page 11 Culture Watch: Are We A Middle-Class Society? The Pope Vs Corruption in the Roman Curia—A Book Review Page 12 Divest Pittsburgh Campaigns for Public Transit Gain Steam Page 13 News From the Picket Line Open Letter to the Members of the East End Food Co-op Page 14 Amnesty Write-a-thon for Prisoners “Freedom from Fracking” Concert First Friday in Garfield at the Thomas Merton Center, What Fun! Page15 Poem Political Cartoon Election Calendar
Merton Center News
Thrifty’s Wish for 2016 2015 was quite a year for the East End Community Thrift! It was a coming out party, coming out from behind the dust clouds of Penn Avenue's destructive reconstruction, that is! It lasted for a very long time for us all, patrons and Thrifty volunteers. On slow customer days the volunteer staff used the time to clean and think. We realized that one of the programs we cherish most is the Thrifty Voucher Program. It is actually the main purpose for our fair
establishment. Thrifty's voucher program provides free clothing and essential household items to those clients served by local shelters and charitable organizations. We are able to substantially meet the needs of this population.....except for one thing. We never have much, certainly not enough, intimate apparel for all: men, women and children. Yes undies!!! We really wish we had fresh packs of under garments for individuals and families facing great need. When you make up your Charitable Donations
By Shawna Hammond
To-Do list for 2016, we would love you to please think of Thrifty in this regard! Unused underwear or a monetary donation toward this end would be much appreciated. Happy Holidays to all from the Volunteer staff of East End Community Thrift! Shawna Hammond is Manager of East End Community Thrift
Center Marks the End of Merton’s 100th Anniversary By Joyce Rothermel
All are welcome to join in the Compline (night prayer) Service at Heinz Chapel on the campus of the University of Pittsburgh (corner of Bellefield and Fifth Avenues in Oakland) on Sunday, December 6, 2015 at 8 PM. Thomas Merton will be remembered through his words in prayer for this closing commemorative event. The Compline Service draws to a close an eventful series of celebrations highlighting the life of Thomas Merton during this special centennial year. Beginning last January the Merton Center hosted four times of prayer in various locations in Pitts-
burgh focusing on Merton’s life and writings. In April a 10–day-long festival of Merton featured 13 events at various locations throughout the Pittsburgh area. The Festival’s main event brought us together in celebration at the Sheraton at Station Square with Jim Forest (via skype), friend, correspondent and biographer of Merton. Last month, we showed the 2015 documentary, “The Many Storeys and Last Days of Thomas Merton,” with the film’s producer, Morgan Atkinson to an enthusiastic audience at Duquesne University. (The film was first shown in Pittsburgh during the April Merton Festival at the Pump House.) We are grateful to Duquesne’s Theology Department, the Social Justice Faculty Group, the Center for Interpretive and Qualitative Research, and the University Counseling and Wellbeing Center for cosponsoring the event. If you missed the showings, or would like to share the film with others, you can get a loan of the DVD from the Merton Center. As the Merton Center begins its 44th year in 2016, we will continue to be accompanied and inspired by our namesake, Thomas Merton.
Morgan Atkinson, producer of the film, "The Many Storeys and Last Days of Thomas Merton"
Joyce Rothermel serves on the planning committee for commemoration of the 100th anniversary of Merton's birth. Merton Center members join Jim Finley on a retreat on Thomas Merton at Villa Maria, PA this fall. From left to right– Don Kretschmann, Jim Finley, Becky Kretschmann, Evelyn Christie, and Joyce Rothermel.
TMC Board News New TMC Board Members Announced
Thanks to all TMC members who voted for new and remaining board members for a three year term: 2016-18. Joining the board in January will be Michelle Burton-Brown, Neil Cosgrove, James McCarville and Evan Schindler. We will feature each of them in the upcoming issues of The NewPeople. Renewing their terms for 2016-18 are Mark Dixon, Joyce Rothermel, Molly Rush, and M. Shernell Smith. Special thanks to retiring board members: Theresa Chalich, Kathy Cunningham, and Art Donsky. We are grateful to them for their terms of service.
2016 Board Officers Elected
Board Members who will begin their terms on the Executive Committee in January are President Rob Conroy, Vice-President M. Shernell Smith, Secretary Tyrone Scales, and Treasurer Patrick Fenton. Completing their terms as officers this month are President Mary Jo Guercio and Vice President Joyce Rothermel.
TMC Holiday Open House Another year of witness for peace and social justice is drawing to a close and the Merton Center is planning its annual open house for Saturday, Dec. 12 from noon to 4 PM. Bring your reflections from “the struggle” this past year, along with something to eat or drink you would like to share, and plan to stay for as little or as long a time as you can. Ginny Hildebrand has been invited to bring along her guitar to lead us in a few songs for the season and the movement. Together we will join in solidarity and strengthen our hopes and resolves for a more peaceful and just future here at home and around the world. RSVP’s requested but not required. Let us hear from you at 412-361-3022, or by email at info@thomasmertoncenter.org.
‘TIS THE SEASON OF HOPE Keep hope for a more peaceful and just world alive by donating to the Molly Rush Legacy Fund now or in the future. All donations, no matter how modest, are greatly appreciated. Complete, clip, and mail this form to: Thomas Merton Center, 5129 Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15224. In Honor/Memory of:___________________________________________________
Merton Center’s Molly Rush Legacy Fund Donation/Pledge: $__________________
Name(s)______________________________________________________________
Organization (if any):___________________________________________________
Address:_____________________________________________________________
City:_________________________State:__________Zip Code:________________
Email:______________________________________________________________
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December 2015
NEWPEOPLE - 3
Displaced Deserve Help, Not Blame Central American Immigration: Whose Responsibility? By Tom Webb
In August a group of seventeen interfaith clergy and lay religious leaders from across the United States made a ten-day pilgrimage to Honduras and Guatemala organized by the Interfaith Movement for Human Integrity. Our purpose was to learn from clerical and lay leaders of Catholic and Protestant denominations who provide direct services to immigrants, or from academics who researched immigration issues, about the deeper, unreported causes of the violence and poverty. The fervor surrounding the early debates for next year’s presidential elections provide evidence that immigration will be one of the more closelywatched issues in next year’s political campaigns. But how may one respond when faith leaders across northern Honduras and Guatemala point out prob-
Photo of the weekly Anatorches marches in El Progresso, Honduras. One of 89 towns and cities where such marches take place each Friday and Saturday night in Honduras to protest rampant national political corruption. Photo by Tom Webb
lems linked to the historically corrupt and militarybacked oligarchies that have held political power and economic control of thousands and thousands of hectares in order to grow bananas and African palm to benefit American consumers? What is there to say when told about the USbacked coups in 1954 and 2009 after democratically -elected presidents of Guatemala and Honduras threatened profit margins of US interests with minimal reforms? What should one say when faith leaders in northern Honduras report that a consortium of U.S.based hydroelectric interests, part of the Central American Electrical Interconnection System (SIEPAC), forcibly drive people from their small, rural communities into crime-ridden and desperate urban neighborhoods in a wild plan to subvert water for a dam which in seventy or eighty years will provide electricity to the United States? When leaders of these faith communities begin organizing community members against these interests and discover their lives are threatened on multiple levels, who is to blame? And what may one say when Chinese and U.S. mining interests in Honduras eagerly exploit gold, silver and lead and destroy the ecological systems which have sustained rural communities for generations? And when such interests are granted impunity to mine create environmental collateral damage, who should bear the burden of the cost? Or one may consider the plight of the Garifuna people, fishing people and rural farmers who’ve lived in Honduras and Guatemala since the mid-18th century. In Honduras they are now being driven from the villages on the Caribbean coast by armed, government forces and accused of “environmental terrorism.” Nearby, an internationally-financed, newly-built five star hotel spews waste into water systems. Over half of the 450 villagers left, many of whom either emigrating to trying to emigrate to the U.S. Textile firms in Honduras, some of whom are given unimaginable liberties, reign in so-called “free trade zones” and open sweatshops. They pay abhorrent wages and employ and discard young women as they see fit to compete in the global market. If one is young and seeking employment, is this a viable option?
And when a country is driven to such depths by outrageous practices which collectively crush its poorest citizens, what are they to do? According to the Catholic Bishop Alvaro Ramazzini of Huehuetenango, 98% of Guatemalans are unemployed, depending on the informal economy or parttime work to sustain themselves. Should it surprise anyone that $5.2 billion a year in remittances are sent from Guatemalans living in the United States to their families? In Honduras and Guatemala, rampant corruption on multiple levels in the national government has been endemic for generations. We were told “They’ve stolen everything from us, even our fear.” And that desperate fearlessness contributed in early September to the resignation of the former Guatemalan president Otto Perez-Molina and his entire cabinet. He has since been incarcerated on scandalous charges of skimming money from customs, amounting to 30% of the national budget. Over sixty thousand people have demonstrated since April to protest the arrogance and now proven culpability of national leaders for their crimes. In the over twenty meetings we had during our visit, every single group with whom we met fervently urged us to oppose the Obama Administration’s proposed Alliance for Prosperity. They argued it would promote radical insecurity. Of its proposed $1.2 billion in aid to the Northern Triangle countries of Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador, 60% would go to “security” purposes. While U.S. companies like Lockheed-Martin, Bell Helicopters, AM Sales and Colt will certainly benefit, the promised security will inevitably be used to crack-down on civilian dissent while drug traffickers closely aligned with national political interests will continue unimpeded. Another 30% will be doled out to transnational corporations to continue their looting of human and natural resources. Who then, we were forced to ask, is really responsible for the flight of desperate people from Honduras and Guatemala? Tom Webb is a member of the Oakland Catholic Worker staff and Pax Christi Northern California. He is also a journalist with the Oakland Voices project of the Oakland Tribune. He is also a member of the Thomas Merton Center.
Refugee Resettlement: Help Wanted Cont’d from p.1 By James McCarville
How to Help I asked Rauscher, “What do people need to know about refugees... (Continued on pg. 4) beyond the technical requirements?” Her answer was enlightening. “People need to know that these refugees have legal status and standing to be here. We need to learn to be tolerant of people who do not know our ways or our language. Before they came here they may have been professionals or craftsmen but their credentials don’t transfer easily. They may be starting all over at the bottom. While they appreciate being here, they may miss families and really wish they could be home. Maybe some others never were professionals, maybe they were dirt poor, but they had dignity before they came. Now they need to depend on someone to learn how to shop for groceries or how to interpret a note that comes home from a teacher. What they really need is someone to spend time with them, someone to be a friend.”
Action: Talk to Elected Officials
Along with Catholic Charities, Jewish Family feel welcome.” and Children’s Services (JFCS), Acculturation for Justice and Access to Peace Organization (AJAPO) Volunteers can contact these agencies at: and the Northern Area Multi-Service Center of AlleCatholic Charities: Bonnie Rollison, gheny County (NAMSC) provide similar services. JFCS has special services for children. AJAPO orig- brolis@ccpgh.org or 412-456-6696 inally specialized in resettlement of African and Caribbean people. NAMSC is the largest provider of Jewish Family and Children’s Services: Aryeh Sherman, asherman@jfcspgh.org or 412-422-7280 employment related assistance. Finally, Rauscher added, “If you have any AJAPO: Ynka Anganga Williams, heart at all to help these people, make the call. It info@ajopapittsburgh.org, 412-391-4985 will feel a little different at first, maybe a little uncomfortable, but it will make a big difference in the Northern Area Multi-Services Center: lives of these human beings.” 412-781-1175. Haydee McCarville, a close relative and immigrant who later worked with Laotian refugees, suggested ways to start small, “Offer a ride, a dinner or James McCarville is a member of the Thomas Merton Center living in Ross Township. a kind word. If you can, organize a parish or community support group. If not, just make these people
ing points in mind. 1. International organizations have asked the US to accept 65,000 new refugees; these Refugees fleeing the turmoil of Syria and the are in addition to and not instead of current Middle East may push as many as 800,000 refurefugees who may have been sitting in camps gees into Germany. International organizations for years. have suggested that the US should accept more. 2. The new refugees are fleeing the same kind Some officials will use the terror events in Paris of terrorists as those that attacked Paris. No as a reason to push back from this goal. In meetwonder they need to get out. ing with elected officials, keep the following talk3. The US has one of the toughest, if not the 4 - NEWPEOPLE
December 2015
toughest, vetting processes to screen refugees. 4. While it sometimes takes years for refugees to clear the screening process, we already have an existing backlog of hundreds of thousands of other refugees including Iraqis, and some Syrians who have been stalled in screening for years. Let's lend them a hand.
Terrorism and Nuclear Terror #PrayForTheWorld By Joy Cannon
When I initially heard about the attacks in Paris, France, my heart sunk. Stories soon surfaced of the terror that ensued on the evening of Friday, November 13th. Paris, a hub of culture, music, and sport, was, of course, busy with tourists and residents who soon found themselves on the wrong end of six coordinated and unexpected terrorist attacks that included shootings, bombings, and a hostage situation resulting in the deaths of at least 130 individuals. As these and other details emerged, media outlets were flooded with horror stories from that tragic Paris evening. It wasn’t long before my social media feeds included hashtags such as #PrayForParis, with celebrities and the not-famous vocalizing their support for Paris and those impacted by the attacks. Rightfully so, the majority of these scores of posts seemed to call for an end to widespread violence. I share the same feelings with so many of those online users that the use of violence to frighten and intimidate innocent citizens is a dangerous act and one that should not be condoned. However, a post or two among all the others shared a different sentiment, which has since left me wondering why people do not express the same concern regarding all acts of terrorism and extreme violence. These posts suggested that it is not simply Paris that needs prayers and support, but the entire world, as attacks such as this are far more common than many people are led to believe. These posts
reference attacks such as the 224 fatalities caused by a suspected bombing in Egypt in October and the 147 people killed following an attack on Garissa University in Kenya in April, among others (CNN). I, considering myself a reasonably informed citizen, was surprised to learn that the aforementioned attacks were only two of over 250 terrorist attacks this year alone. Was I unaware because of my own ignorance? I acknowledge that this is at least partially possible, but I quickly came to the conclusion that coverage of these other attacks is greatly limited. I read through online news outlets and use social media outlets almost daily, so how is it possible that I could have missed a response comparable to #PrayForParis following so many other terrorist attacks? It’s because such a response does not exist. At least one of the reasons for this neglect must be closely related to increasingly relevant debates we have all inevitably heard in recent years regarding race. The simple fact of the matter is that coverage of these other attacks is limited because the United States does not have an emotional stake in places like Egypt and Kenya, with citizens who are not white and whose cultures do not fit our preconceived notion of what is “normal”. Media coverage of the Paris attacks has been more significant than that for these other attacks not only because France has long been an ally of the United States, but because media conglomerates cannot evoke the same
compassion and viewership when the suffering do not look and act like our American majority. If this seems like a stretch, I ask you to consider responses to the Paris attacks. How many celebrities and peers posted pictures and messages of support? What about major corporations and media formats? For example, Google’s homepage included a black ribbon and Spotify quickly created playlists such as the one entitled “Peace,” both of which were dedicated “in memory of the victims of the Paris attacks”. Now, ask yourself if the same was done on such a scale in response to other terrorist attacks resulting in a comparable level of deaths, injuries, and damage, even within the past year. There’s no question that the response and outpouring has simply not been the same. Let me be clear that I do not believe that media coverage of the Paris attacks has been excessive; nor do I believe that the expression of love and support for Parisians and others affected by this act of terrorism has been unwarranted. In fact, I encourage such expressions, but they should be the case following any extreme act of violence. Media conglomerates will not change their focus until we are ready and willing to share the same compassion for any population that has been violently intimidated, which truly ought to be a point of concern for us all. Joy Cannon is an undergraduate Sociology and Social Policy student at Duquesne University.
It Is Three Minutes to Midnight Since 1947, the Doomsday Clock has provided an ominous warning. The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists observes: "The United States and Russia have embarked on massive programs to modernize their nuclear triads—thereby undermining existing nuclear weapons treaties… The clock ticks now at just three minutes to midnight because international leaders are failing to perform their most important duty—ensuring and preserving the health and vitality of human civilization." The 2015 report of the Federation of American Scientists reveals a total of 15,700 warheads worldwide, and that the US and Russia -- with approximately 7,500 each – have the vast majority. In addition, India, Pakistan and Israel are believed to have between 80 and 120 nuclear warheads, and North Korea may have as many as ten, although it may not have delivery capabilities. According to the International Campaign Against Nuclear Weapons, “The United States and Russia maintain roughly 1,800 of their nuclear weapons on high-alert – capable of being launched within minutes. Most are many times more powerful than the atomic bombs dropped on Japan in 1945. A single nuclear warhead, if detonated on a large city, could kill millions of people, with the effects persisting for decades.” The Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) entered into force in 1970. Today, 191 countries are covered, including what are termed the “five nuclear-weapon States” (the US, Russia, the UK, France, and China). The reasons cited for elimination of nuclear weapons include “the devastation that would be visited upon all mankind by a nuclear war” and the belief that “the proliferation of nuclear weapons would seriously enhance the danger of nuclear war.” Article VI therefore requires that “Each of the Parties … undertakes to pursue negotiations in good faith on effective measures relating to cessation of the nuclear arms race at an early date….” The outcome of the 2015 review process by the UN was very disappointing. The inability of the parties to move forward is illustrated by the failure to even agree upon a concluding document. The major stumbling block was the failure to set a date for a conference to discuss a nuclear free zone in the Middle East. A Resolution calling for such a zone had been approved in 1995, and the 2010 outcome document had specified that it be established by 2012. The 2015 draft outcome document was blocked by the US, UK and Canada. As explained in the Bul-
By Robin Alexander
letin of the Atomic Scientists: “In the final analysis, turning the USA into radioactive dust.’” consensus on the NPT outcome document was Nor is Russia alone in its threats. For example, thwarted by support for the objections of a non-state Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon has been party [Israel], which has for decades resisted calls to quoted as saying “in certain cases” when “we feel join the treaty.” Such a conference would not neces- like we don’t have the answer by surgical operations” Israel might take “certain steps” such as the sarily have resulted in a regional agreement, but it would likely have resulted in the acknowledgement Americans did in “Nagasaki and Hiroshima, causing that Israel possesses nuclear weapons – something at the end the fatalities of 200,000…” widely known, but still a state secret in both Israel While the Iran deal was limited in scope, let us and the US. hope that it will lead to discussions and improved Although the deal with Iran is to be applauded, as relations on broader issues. Given the increased poit eliminates the imminent threat of a nuclear Iran, litical tensions in the world, the only possible way to we face a far deeper problem. The United States, move the doomsday clock back is through negotiaRussia and other nuclear powers are all engaged in tions. We must join together in a powerful internathe process of “modernizing” their nuclear weapons, tional grassroots movement. As expressed by Rep. rather than eliminating them. Russia is introducing Barbara Lee at the Merton Center dinner, it is imperboth new land and submarine-based missiles, and ative that we “stop endless war and end the culture the United States has begun a nuclear modernization of militarism.” program that will commission new land-based misRobin Alexander is a member of the Coordinating siles, ballistic missile submarines and long-range bombers. The newly approved federal budget raises Committee of Remembering Hiroshima, Imaging defense spending to $607 billion, and it is estimated Peace. that over the next 30 years the modernization program alone will cost approximately one trillion US dollars. The failure to move forward in the NPT discussions is even more troubling given increasing threats regarding the use of nuclear weapons. As described by Eric Schlosser in the November 2015, Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists: “Thanks to Vladimir Putin, the rhetoric surrounding nuclear weapons has changed, too. They are once again being celebrated as symbols of national power. Putin has boasted about the size of Russia’s nuclear arsenal. One of his ambassadors said that nuclear weapons would be aimed at Denmark if it participated in NATO’s missile-defense scheme. And Putin’s chief propagandist, the head of an official news agency, reminded his television audience that Russia Remembering Hiroshima, Imagining Peace and Shinfujin, a women’s peace organizawas still ‘the only country tion from Japan at the anti-nuclear peace march in New York prior to the opening of the NPT meeting at the UN, April 2015. in the world capable of December 2015
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Ideas That Work For All Support the Single Payer Health Care Plan Introduced this Fall in Pennsylvania’s House of Representatives By Bob Mason
In November State Representative Pam DeLissio from Montgomery County, located near Philadelphia, introduced HB 1688, create the Pennsylvania Health Care Plan. For several months she had worked with a team of experts from Health Care 4 All PA to improve similar legislation introduced during three previous sessions. The November Plan will promote a healthier Commonwealth at a lower cost with no premiums, no deductibles, and no co-pays. It would eliminate the complexity of numerous provider networks and allow each of us to choose our health care professionals. It will also preserve the private practice of medicine and the right of people to make health care decisions in consultation with their chosen providers without the interference of an insurance plan. Pennsylvania can establish this single payer
plan because the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) allows states the option of innovating as of January 2017, as long as the state plan meets at least the same coverage standards and is more efficient and economical. The Pennsylvania Plan would cover all citizens with extremely comprehensive benefits--including prescriptions, dental, and vision--and still save the Commonwealth billions of dollars because it realizes savings by replacing today's less than efficient, often profitoriented, multiple-payer system with a streamlined Pennsylvania Health Care Trust. Instead of premiums, deductibles, and co-pays, the Plan will be funded through a 10% tax on employer payrolls and a 3% personal income tax. Approximately 90 % of Pennsylvanians will gain a lot more health care for a lot less. You can find out
more information, including a link to the bill, at www.healthcare4allpa.org. For this socially just and financially sustainable single payer legislation to succeed we need many citizens to contact their legislators and urge them to sign on as co-sponsors. You can find out your legislator's name and contact information at www.legis.state.pa.us. Bob Mason is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Merton Center member, and a founding member of Health Care 4 All PA. He has been campaigning for universal health care since 2002.
Support Builds for Postal Banking Builds Support and Faces Obstacles By Neil Cosgrove
Since the idea of postal banking as a way to break the grip of payday lenders on the working poor and to preserve good post office jobs was first recommended by the postal service’s inspector general and championed by the postal unions, as well as various civil rights and social justice advocates, the proposal has gained new support this fall from a presidential candidate and two prominent national publications. “If you are a low-income person, it is, depending upon where you live, very difficult to find normal banking. Banks don’t want you. And what people are forced to do is go to payday lenders who charge outrageously high interest rates,” Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders told an interviewer in mid-October. “I think that the postal service … can play an important role in providing modest types of banking services to folks who need it.” Around the same time, The A tlantic and The Washington Post web sites posted articles making more detailed arguments for Sanders’ position. Mehrsa Baradaran, author of How the Other Half Banks: Exclusion, Exploitation, and the Threat to Democracy, wrote in The Atlantic that “anywhere from 20 to 40% of the population must rely on check cashing or payday lending services” and spend up to 10% of their income—“more than they spend on food”—for financial services. These Americans commonly live far away from bank branches and don’t have enough assets to qualify for low-interest bank loans. At the same time, Baradaran points out, payday
lenders use money borrowed at low interest from large commercial banks to make their own high interest loans. Those banks, in turn, can loan to corporate payday lenders because of their federallyinsured customer deposits and Federal Reserve money obtained at 1 percent interest. “The truth is,” says Baradaran, “that government-supported banks serve the well off, and a ‘Wild West’ of fringe lenders and check-cashing joints answer the needs of everyone else, at a hefty price.” Postal banking existed from 1911 to 1967, writes Joe Davidson of The W ashington Post. Post offices are present in neighborhoods, towns and villages without banks, and could handle small savings accounts while offering modest loans. “Its welltrained workforce is already experienced at handling complex transactions and watching out for related fraud and other risks,” according to the inspector general’s report. Unfortunately, the postal service now seems trapped in the never-ending cycle of Washington dysfunction. Since December 2014 the postal service’s Board of Governors has only three of nine appointed positions filled (all three were appointed by George W. Bush), and that number could be reduced to one this month. Given that situation, the Board created a Temporary Emergency Committee to exercise its powers (such as setting postal rates) until a quorum of appointed members is again in place. Controversy surrounds President Obama’s five nominees to the Board, primarily because one nomi-
nee, Mickey D. Barnett, has been a lobbyist for the payday lending industry, while a second, James C. Miller III, has advocated for privatizing the postal service since the 1980s. The Leadership Conference, a coalition of civil and human rights organizations, has written the Senate leadership asking them to oppose all five nominations and Sen. Bernie Sanders, apparently in an attempt to force the issue of a limping post office that is hemorrhaging jobs and reducing service, has put a hold on the nominees. Meanwhile, various proposed bills aimed at restoring lost service and removing onerous requirements to fund 75 years of future retiree health benefits appear to be going nowhere in this Congress. Obama has seemingly given up on getting a Board of Governors more sympathetic to restoring the postal service to what it once was, and Republicans are generally in favor of privatizing the post office. Moreover, when Democrats did control the Senate they did nothing to get approval of the President’s earlier set of Board appointments, or to forcefully push reform legislation. With politicians in both parties clearly indifferent to bolstering a service that exists for the benefit of all citizens, and that could rescue poor Americans from the tyranny of payday usurers, it’s not hard to understand why many feel disinclined to vote for either party. Neil Cosgrove is a member of The NewPeople Editorial Collective.
Susan Burke & SSAM Susan Burke visited Pittsburgh to talk about sexual assault in the military. About 2600 people are sexually assaulted each year in the military. Susan Burke represents those willing to stand up to military and the U.S. government. “Alone among our American systems, the military .. places extraordinary judicatory power in the hands of the person appointed as the convening authority… not a lawyer, not a judge.. typically the commander of the alledged perpetrator” said Burke. Since Susan Burke began her work, the military can no longer uni-laterally overturn a jury conviction. “But that’s as far as we’ve gotten. The legal terrain is very difficult for us. If you are a service member, you cannot sue.” “There is a group of us who are not willing to let this continue for another decade. We are getting close.” We have to pay attention to this issue. If you are interested in getting involved with SSAM (Stop Sexual Assault in the Military), come to our follow up meeting on Thursday, December 3rd at the Friends Meeting House. 7:00 PM Free Pizza! Photos by Marni Fritz. 6 - NEWPEOPLE
December 2015
Challenging the Status Quo Washington State Court Decisions Light Way to Improved Education Funding
By Neil Cosgrove
As the Pennsylvania legislature’s failure to pass a governor-approved state budget went deep into its fifth month, politicians hoped the citizenry would remain generally unaware of the strains and hardships their inaction had created. But cries of distress, primarily from social welfare agencies and education leaders, found their way into public consciousness nonetheless. One of the most embarrassing stories involved a fight that erupted over the disposition of gaming revenue. Without a budget, school districts were not receiving their state education subsidies, forcing some to begin borrowing money in order to keep their classrooms functioning. Under the 1997 charter school law, districts are required to direct a portion of their subsidies to charters that exist in their district. Without the subsidies, neither regular schools nor charters were receiving any state money. In late October the state’s Department of Education determined that the 1997 law required that charters receive tuition reimbursement from any available state funds, meaning the gaming revenue. School districts immediately protested and state Senate Democrats convinced the state Treasurer to withhold the gaming money from both the districts and the charters. The Pennsylvania School Boards Association filed suit in Commonwealth Court to get the gaming revenue sent directly to school districts. Charter schools remain controversial in Pennsylvania and around the country, seen by proponents as a means to improve the quality of public education and to offer schooling choices to families regardless of income, and by opponents as drains on financially struggling school districts for the benefit of private entities. Regardless of an individual’s position on such schools, the recent kerfuffle over gaming money highlights an ongoing crisis in the
state concerning inadequate and inequitable support of Pennsylvania’s public schools. Setting aside, for the moment, the lack of a 2016 state budget, recall that the first-year Corbett budget cut classroom funding by close to $860 million, according to the Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center (PBPC), and $570 million of those cuts enacted in 2011 are still in place. The primary reason the current governor, Tom Wolf, was elected last year by a margin of 10 percentage points was his pledge to restore that funding to at least 2010 levels. The 2015 budget impasse is basically a fight over the importance politicians place on increased education funding, and just how such an increase should be implemented. During his campaign, Governor Wolf also called for creation of a formula that would ensure more equitable distribution of state education funds. The PBPC points out that distribution of the 2011-12 funding cuts “were three times larger in highpoverty school districts than in low-poverty ones,” while the smallest share of restored money has gone to the same low-income districts. For example, in Allegheny County the 2015 Mt. Lebanon school district per-student allocation is down $8 from 2010, and South Fayette’s is down $3, while Penn Hills’ is down $446 and McKeesport Area’s is down $466. It’s likely that if the struggle for shrinking piles of public education funding weren’t so desperate, charter school experimentation wouldn’t be notably controversial. Recent events in Washington state bear out that assertion. In early September that state’s Supreme Court declared charter schools allowed via a narrowly approved 2012 referendum to be unconstitutional. The court’s reasoning was that Washington’s charter schools were not actually public because they were not governed by elected
school boards or subject to local accountability. The Washington state constitution more clearly defines what is meant by a public or “common” school, as they are called there, while the Pennsylvania constitution more vaguely says the General Assembly “shall provide for the maintenance and support of a … system of public education.” Our Auditor General has recommended changes to the 1997 charter school law, including creation of an independent statewide charter school oversight board, a shift of direct payments to cyber schools from school districts to the state, and a requirement that charter schools present annual reports at public meetings. Predictably, the legislature has not acted on any of these proposals. The larger picture is that Washington’s constitution says its legislature has a “paramount duty” to fund its “common” schools. Consequently, the state’s Supreme Court has been fining its legislature $100,000 a day since mid-August for failing to adequately fund education, with the accrued amount to be included in either a supplemental budget come January, or in the 2017 state budget. Pennsylvania’s constitution says our legislature is obligated to fund a “thorough and efficient” educational system. Wouldn’t it be great if public outcry and a more active state Supreme Court resulted in hefty fines levied on our legislature for failing to do its constitutionally mandated job and for ignoring the electorate’s clear desire for a substantial increase in school funding? Neil Cosgrove is a member of the NewPeople editorial collective.
The Economics of Mass Incarceration By Scilla Wahrhaftig
Glenn Martin, Founder and President of Just Leadership USA said this about the economics of our criminal justice system at the recent PA Council of Churches Conference on Mass Incarceration: "We can talk about crime and punishment all day, we can talk about rehabilitation, we can talk about transformation but if we don’t talk about economics then we are not getting to the heart of where we are in our country in terms of our ability and desire and the lobbying for us to mine misery…" The prison system in this country is an 80 billion dollar business. It is the taxpayer who foots the bill and corporations that are profiting. There are huge profits for corporations involved in the prison system, with strong lobbies to make sure those profits are secure. Corporations such as CCA (Corrections Corporation of America) make profits running private prisons around the country. With private prisons an empty bed means a loss of in-
come, so there is a huge incentive to keep people in the system. Many prisons are built in small towns and Glenn talks about prisons being stimulus packages for small communities, where the main income in town is often the prison. One prison guard told Glenn as he left prison that Glenn’s being in prison would enable the guard to buy a boat, and when Glenn returned to prison it would fund his kid’s boat! There are corporations that supply food, medical services and telephone access for those in prison. Then there are the corporations that benefit from cheap labor, such as Whole Foods, Starbucks, Walmart and others, who pay prison labor a pittance, as little as 35 cents an hour. In this country we criminalize poverty. Eighty percent of those in prison are low-income, with 66% below the poverty line. Approximately one out of every three will land back in prison. “We have created a structure that really returns us to the days of debtor’s prisons,” commented Melanie Snyder, Executive Director of the Lancaster County Reentry Management Organization. Bail is the first economic hurdle for anyone entering the criminal justice system. If you can’t make bail you will stay in jail until your trial. You can plead guilty, whether you are guilty or not, and get out, or you can go to a bail bondsman for a loan at 15%. So if your bail is $5,000 you will never get $750 Please send a check to of it back. Thomas Merton Center In the system there are 5129 Penn Ave expenses for toiletries, and Pittsburgh Pa 15224 sometimes for medical services and telephone usage. All offered Or donate here: http://thomasmertoncenter.org/donate/ at exorbitant prices. If your fami-
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ly deposits money for your use the prison may take a percentage for court costs and restitution. A bill proposed in the Pennsylvania House calls for taking 75% of any money sent from home, and 25% of prison wages for court costs and restitution. Some jails around the country are charging room and board for being in prison. Returning citizens are faced with huge additional costs. There are costs for supervision for parole and probation, daily costs for any special tracking device, if needed, costs for compulsory drug or alcohol programs, and fees for mental health evaluations. If you cannot pay towards all these charges, then you will land back in prison. Add to that the difficulty of getting a job if you have been incarcerated. In PA there are 679 laws on the books limiting employment and certification and licensing for returning citizens. Housing is another major stumbling block. If you can find a landlord who will rent to you they will often demand not only the first two months of rent but also the last one as well. Not surprisingly, people turn to illegal ways of making money and land back in jail. Glenn Martin suggests with these barriers in the way, we should study the one-third who make it to find out how they did it. Clearly the system is stacked against people. It is important for us to address the inhumane conditions of confinement, but at the same time we need to address the hold corporations have on the system. We need to fight the spread of private prisons and close those already in place, while boycotting corporations who use cheap prison labor. We need to hold accountable companies that exploit those in prison; we can do so by calling for reasonable rates for services. Finally, the bail system needs to be completely revamped and people who present a low risk should be able to get out on their own recognizance. Scilla Wahrhaftig is the PA Organizer for the National Religious Campaign Against Torture.
December 2015
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Raising Women’s Voices An Interview with Vanessa German Vanessa German is an award-winning artist and creator of Love Front Porch in Homewood, an art project that encourages youth creativity. At this year’s Merton Award Dinner, in addition to providing the Art Minute, German kindly spoke with Thomas Merton Center intern, Nijah Glenn. Nijah Glenn: A lot of your work reflects off of "darky" iconography and reclaiming it. Why this particular style? Vanessa German: Because I actually don't think that it is a style. The only time people started using the terminology like "darky" is through the lens of American racism, right? What I think about first is about beauty. I'm not actually thinking about anything political first; I'm thinking about my soul. I'm not trying to make things that are someone else's idea of worthwhile or beautiful. I'm working through my own soul. NG: Do you feel as a society women of color have more representation today? VG: I think what I've honestly experienced happen is that there are more black and Latina women in a position where they're telling stories, creating images and opportunities for other women. I think that what happens is that there are women who are more visible and they are sort of opening up these secret, intimate doors for women who didn't see very many things like that. I feel like those seeds are really coming to harvest in the souls of little girls and teenagers. I think love replicates itself and that's what's happening. NG: How do you think your art makes people think? VG: It makes people think because people are so used to seeing black images ridiculed. One of the things that I think causes conversation is that it's like the black image/ representing blackness is political. To love ourselves is political, to create from a place of beauty is political, but also, the amount of cultural ignorance around racism really bubbles up around my work. Then the question becomes, does my work become educational? Does every talk back I do revolve around education, or can we talk about other things? So I think that [the art] is just blackness in and of itself. When white people paint white people, there is no "oh it's so political!"
NG: Who are your biggest influences artistically, and do you think they influenced your art as much as your identity? VG: Wow, I mean I've always loved museums. In my work, a lot of the sculptural pieces look like they are on display; There's a sort of an intentional, presentational quality to them. My mom used to drop us off at the LA County Museum of Art. We got to know the security guards. We literally ran through museums! I became fascinated with museum display and preparation. And I think a large part of my influence is seeing African art, and having it speak to me, and not being able to articulate what that feeling was. Being fascinated to a point of silence and stillness with the work; to find a place where my soul speaks with clarity and to my senses. There are more contemporary artists that influenced me, like Betye Saar, into thinking "You can use whatever you want to use!" Contemporary artists influence me in the way that they talk about art. Kerry James Marshall talks about coming to a zero place. I get that. That's so inspiring to me.
By Nijah Glenn
be given to you in any way other than through creativity. If we know that, then every 6-8 blocks, there should be creative spaces for kids and for their parents to make things, because we know how important creativity is to healing, physical health, and what your brain goes through. We have to answer their questions better. We need to show them that we are fighting for them on the other side of trauma. Nijah Glenn is an intern at the Thomas Merton Center and a member of The NewPeople editorial collective.
NG: The work you do with the Love Front Porch is incredible. What do you think the children have taught you? VG: I don't consider it work, but what it is to be fully alive, the amount of inspiration to be alive, waking up in the world we live in and not be in a stupor of depression in dealing with reality. And I think one of those elements is love. Things happen differently in your life when you work from a place of love and one of the things that the kids have taught me is that people say kids are resilient--but they're not. What they see does affect them. You have to give them a place to bounce back to, and their minds are as wise as ours are. The fact that kids are affected by gun violence--how do you as an adult make safe places when you can't answer the questions kids ask about gun violence? Like Marian Wright Edelman wrote, people don't have the will to take care of children. There are all these things, but there isn't the human commitment or Vanessa German performing at the 43rd Annual Thomas political will. One of the things that you learn Award Dinner honoring Congresswoman Barbara Lee. in art is that you are making things that cannot Merton Photo by Maranie Staab.
Announcing the Launch of Pittsburghers for CEDAW Campaign By Marcia Bandes
Pittsburgh: No Limits for Women! Monday, December 7th at 7 p.m. Frick Fine Arts Auditorium 650 Schenly Drive, Pittsburgh, PA
Come to our first event, Pittsburgh: No Limits for Women, to learn what the excitement is about! It’s free. Find out how CEDAW is changing lives around the world and in US cities. Though this important UN convention has not been signed by Congress, it is changing lives in cities around the United Women’s rights are human rights. The PittsStates. How might it change women’s lives in Pittsburghers for CEDAW coalition is ready to kick off burgh? our campaign to make Pittsburgh a CEDAW¹ City. The keynote speaker will be June Zeitlin, DiCEDAW (Convention on the Elimination of All rector of Human Rights Policy at The Leadership Forms of Discrimination Against Women) affirms Conference on Civil and Human Rights, Washingthe fundamental human rights and equality of wom- ton, DC. Ms. Zeitlin has led the CEDAW Coalition en around the world. It seeks to end sex trafficking for the past six years. She is a remarkable women’s and violence against women, expand girls’ access to right advocate. education, ensure women’s access to healthcare, fight maternal mortality, and end workplace discrim- Zeitlin has: ination against women. Represented the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) to promote women’s rights and gender equality across the region, Directed the Women’s Environment and Development Organization (WEDO), where she helped lead a successful global campaign for a new, stronger UN women’s agency, and gained international recognition of the gender dimensions of climate change, Directed programs in women’s rights, social justice and democracy and governance at the Ford Foundation, 8 - NEWPEOPLE
December 2015
Worked for several other agencies and for Congresswoman and Women’s Environment and Development Organization co-founder Bella Abzug, after receiving a JD cum laude from New York University Law School and a BA from the University of Rochester.
Registration is not required, but will help us plan. To register send an email to pgh4cedaw@gmail.com. Refreshments will be served following our event. Pittsburghers for CEDAW is a coalition initiated by the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom, New Voices Pittsburgh, and Women and Girls Foundation, and they are joined by a growing number of endorsing organizations including the League of Women Voters or Greater Pittsburgh (WVGP,) Zonta Club of Pittsburgh, Women's Law Project, ACLU of PA, Human Rights City Alliance, YWCA, Thomas Merton Center, and HealthCare 4 All PA.The event is co-sponsored by the Global Studies Center, University of Pittsburgh. Marcia Bandes is a member of the Thomas Merton Center.
Gaining Needed Perspectives “Black Lives” Inherently Affirms All Lives Dear Editor,
color of their skin. So this congregation chose to do something very American--speak out, asserting publicly that “Black Lives Matter,” a value that Rev. Rudolph and his people believe passionately, as do we, the undersigned. Shedding light on these injustices against “Black Lives” inherently affirms, celebrates, and seeks to protect all lives. There can be no other explanation for the suppression of speech and this vandalism that the Unitarian Universalist Church of the North Hills has experienced other than the specter of racism that still survives--even in these very affluent North Hills communities--despite extensive efforts by society to put it to rest. Some might say, “Oh, it’s probably just a bunch of kids vandalizing these signs.” If so, they are “kids” performing racist and oppressive acts, raising suspicion as to the values modeled for them by parents, peers, and other influential adults. We, the undersigned members of N.O.R.T.H. (Neighboring Organizations Responding Together for Hope) affirm the efforts of Rev. Rudolph’s congregation to elevate the message, “Black Lives Matter,” and in doing so, encourage conversation about the racism in our midst.
Our colleague and friend, the Rev. Scott Rudolph, and his congregation, the Unitarian Universalist Church of the North Hills, located in Franklin Park Borough, has suffered a small injustice in the midst of calling to light a much larger injustice. This church chose to purchase and display a sign on their property that stated, “Black Lives Matter.” Well, it was more than “a” sign, as they have actually had six. They have all been destroyed, vandalized or stolen. Did we mention that this church is in Franklin Park, a community we would expect views itself as educated, professional and enlightened? There are those who bristle at the “Black Lives Matter” declaration, substituting, instead, “all” for “black.” Of course all lives matter. That would be like saying “All water is wet” or “All snow is cold.” A specific injustice is being addressed by the phrase, “Black Lives Matter.” Black lives have been snuffed out by overzealous law enforcement persons in some communities across this country. Black lives have died suspicious deaths in prison cells where they were being held on minor charges. Black lives have been taken by gunwielding citizens who “felt threatened” by persons of color in their neighborhoods. Black lives are dis- Sincerely, proportionately pulled over in vehicles or are deRev. Dr. Ronald R. Hoellein, NORTH Chairperson tained and searched without cause, other than the St. Paul’s United Methodist Church
Philanthropy and Privilege At the time of year when we are all looking to make our year-end, tax-deductible gifts, it is important to reflect on our giving and its implications. As Programs Manager at a small foundation that touts itself as promoting “Change, not Charity” (as well as being a white, cisgender female) there is an even bigger reason for me to personally examine this issue. This time of year reminds me to think critically about the ways that philanthropy can help, but also perpetuate the systems of inequality that it seeks to alleviate. We frequently ask grantees to jump through several hoops to prove that they work for social change, but what is the work that we ask of donors? What is their (ours, my) personal responsibility in this giving process? In a 2012 interview, Jeffrey Solomon, President of the Andrea and Charles Bronfman Philanthropies, called foundations "the passing lane of society," given their freedom to try new ideas without rigorous public scrutiny. Examples range from funding that is ineffective or inefficient in ending social injustice to funding that downright perpetuates the system as it is (e.g. large foundations funding police departments to develop predictive crime analytics systems). Philanthropy, whether it is a small personal donation or a large foundation grant, requires serious personal self-reflection on history and identity on the part of the donor if it is going to be used to truly end systemic and historic inequalities. This personal or organizational self-reflection on the donor’s part is
Rev. Dr. Jeffrey D. Sterling St. Paul’s United Methodist Church Faith Geer St. Paul’s United Methodist Church Rev. Scott Rudolph Unitarian Universalist Church of the North Hills Fr. D. Scott Russell, Rector St. Brendan’s Episcopal Church Rev. Cynthia Jackson and Rev. Jared Jackson Carol Rosenberger Pittsburgh North People for Peace Theresa Orlando North Hills Anti-Racism Coalition
Mary Sheehan, Pittsburgh North People for Peace Ash Marwah, Indian Cultural Association of Pittsburgh Asim Kokan, Muslim Association of Greater Pittsburgh
By Sydney Olberg
often absent at all levels of philanthropy. And make no mistake, it is intentionally absent…Much of philanthropy is centered on making donors feel good or positive about a contribution that is given or bestowed out of the goodness of our hearts. It is the system that allows my white, Midwestern grandparents to feel good about sending $50 a year to an orphanage in the Philippines while consistently referring to the Indian family in their apartment building as “savages”. What this alleviation of guilt often does is to allow the philanthropic system to continue to perpetuate a lack of historical analysis about how certain groups of people ended up with concentrated wealth and power and at whose expense it was taken. There is a myth perpetuated that wealthy and middle income folks (largely white in the United States) have earned 100% of our wealth due to our own efforts and any money that we choose to “give” away is coming directly from our good or benevolent nature. This negates the reality of the historical context and how our country’s economy was structured intentionally to benefit wealthy, white folks, (men in particular) by profiting off of the land and labor of people of color (Indigenous Peoples/Native Americans, African slave trade, Texas annexation, etc.) This is why it is so essential for our giving to be rooted in a sense of justice, and even reparations. In “The Case for Reparations,” Ta-Nehisi Coates states that “Until we reckon with our compounding moral
debts, America will never be whole.” The money that we claim to “give” away out of a sense of generosity is inevitably connected to that history. Having privilege and wealth alone does not make you at fault for all systemic inequality. It does, however, require that we reflect on our identity and challenge those systems of oppression. Our giving should be rooted in a redistribution of wealth. If we aren’t interrogating our giving (both our intentions behind giving as well as where our money is directed) we can be part of the system that continues to perpetuate inequalities. Being mindful about our privilege and self-education/reflection should be as much a part of the philanthropy process as the actual giving of money itself. All of this said philanthropy can be an incredibly powerful and transformational tool for undoing these systems, both for the donor and the recipient. “Benefitting” from the system of white supremacy, however that looks, actually separates us from our collective humanity and collective liberation. To actively work against that system by redistributing wealth in an effective way that also builds relationships, and accountability reconnects us with the humanity that white supremacy and capitalism denies us. If we are to truly “do good” with our giving, we must do right. Sydney Olberg is the Programs Manager at Three Rivers Community Foundation.
Calling for Proposals for the Summit Against Racism
By anupama jain
Pittsburgh's 18th Annual Summit Against Racism is scheduled for Saturday, January 23, 2016, and our inspiration is Frederick Douglass's famous declaration “Power concedes nothing without a demand." The planning committees is now accepting proposals. We seek your vision, expertise and imagination. Please consider hosting a presentation, panel, dialogue, or workshop. Youth-led initiatives are especially encouraged to participate! The deadline for proposals is December 1st.
addition to our traditional scholarship. The Black & White Reunion will award a local organization working for racial and social justice with a grant of $2,000. With this support, the organization will be enabled to employ a "Jonny Gammage Fellow" who will have the opportunity to develop leadership skills and receive hands-on experience working for social change in Pittsburgh. Get more information, submit proposals, register for the Summit, and purchase ads for the program book online at our website www.summitagainstracism.org.
All revenue, including ads placed in the Summit Program Book, is used to fund the Jonny Gammage Scholarship, which supports law students of color. This year, we are excited to announce a new initiative in
anupama jain, PhD, is a diversity and inclusion expert, an educator, and a researcher who focuses on how people build community by sharing stories, promoting social justice, and cultivating empathy. December 2015
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Merton Center Award Dinner
A HUGE “Thank You” to everyone who participated in the 43rd Annual Thomas Merton Award Dinner honoring Congresswoman Barbara Lee! A special thank you to Celebrate & Share, our sponsors, staff, volunteers and interns.
Photos By Maranie Staab
Interview with Congresswoman Barbara Lee Before the Thomas Merton Award dinner on November 9th, Congresswoman Barbara Lee was gracious enough to sit down with members of the local Pittsburgh press. Reporters from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the New Pittsburgh Courier, and, of course, the NewPeople, were in attendance. NewPeople interns Nijah Glenn and Mary Sico had several of their questions answered by Congresswoman Lee. Nijah’s first question focused on substance abuse and treatment, asking the Congresswoman’s opinions on the “changing drug policy, now that the demographics associated with drug arrests have changed over the past few years.” Congresswoman Lee noted the growing push for rehabilitation, drug treatment, and alternatives to incarceration. Lee also stressed that many incarcerated persons “need to be treated for mental health issues or substance abuse,” and called for reform of the criminal justice system. “There is no way,” she said, “that people should be in jail for twenty years for selling marijuana, and that is what is happening.” Mary then asked Lee about her experiences as a woman of color in a Congress overwhelmingly
dominated by white men. Lee offered some insight into what this has meant for her in a very real way: having to work “ten times harder” to raise money, “all the time in small donations.” Though she prefers smaller donations, this fact also “means that a larger portion of [her] time as a black woman has to be spent running for reelection.” Lee called this a “big issue,” noting that “there are twenty-one women in the Congressional Black Caucus who all have the same issue.” Finally, Nijah asked the Congresswoman about her thoughts concerning the actual progress made by “women in the workforce, including women of color, to bridge the economic gaps” since 2009, when the Lily Ledbetter Fair Pay Act was passed during President Obama’s administration. Congresswoman Lee stressed the sobering fact that the gender wage gap is still very real, especially for women of color. Though she celebrated the fact that the Lily Ledbetter Act was the first bill signed into law after President Obama’s election, she spoke of the difficulty in having similar acts passed through Congress. Despite a push for progressive bills, Lee emphasized that there was still much to be done legislatively. “We need to have
By Mary Sico and Nijah Glenn
our paid family medical leave, our childcare bill, and our pay equity bill passed,” she said. On behalf of the entire Thomas Merton Center and its members, we would like to thank Congresswoman Lee for the time she spent with us. It was a great pleasure speaking with her. Nijah Glenn and Mary Sico are interns at the Thomas Merton Center and members of the NewPeople editorial collective.
Mary Sico, Congresswoman Lee and Nijah Glenn. Photo By Maranie Staab.
The Anti-War Committee and Anti-Drone Warfare Coalition Meet with Rep. Barbara Lee M. R. Reichman
On the evening of Monday November 9, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA.) received the 2015 Thomas Merton Award. Earlier in the day, I had the pleasure of meeting Rep. Lee at a luncheon held in her honor by the Center’s Anti-War Committee and Anti-Drone Warfare Coalition. Rep. Lee spoke about her work in and out of Congress and fielded questions from the attendees. As an elected official since 1998, Lee has consistently promoted progressive values through legislation in Congress, including sponsoring H.R. 808, which calls for the creation of a Department of Peacebuilding, and in her private life as founding chair of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Freedom Center in Oakland, CA. Lee was asked several questions, including those related to her activities in Congress, drone warfare,
Anti-War Committee lunch meeting with Rep. Barbara Lee. Photo by M.R. Reichman.
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the US relationship with Israel, her relationship with President Obama, and activists working together. Gabe McMorland, TMC Organizer, asked Ms. Lee about anti-drone legislation. Ms. Lee stated that there is current legislation on the table against the military use of drones, which would put a moratorium on their use ‘but we don’t have the movement [public support] yet’. Scilla Wahrhaftig, from the American Friends Service Committee, mentioned the disconnect between progressive activists – including those who are anti-war, proponents of civil rights, and the environment. Lee emphasized the need for those with similar agendas to work together to build coalitions in order to attain their goals. Lee spoke unswervingly about the importance of activism. Raphael Cardamone, an intern at the Merton Center, asked about organizing youth to be politically active. Lee stated the need for citizens and the youth to be active participants in the political process; as she stated, “The Obama Administration won’t do anything unless they hear from the people.” David Hughes., an activist of the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement, asked about Israel and the Occupation being an obstacle to peace. Lee reiterated her support for Israel as the friend of the U.S. in the Middle East and the need of Israel to have security and the de-
sire of the Palestinian people for statehood. Rep. Lee noted that politics is complex and right now it is hard to pass legislation ’as the Tea Party controls the show’. Still, it is important to show respect. Lee said that as a Democrat she does not always agree with President Obama. With respect for him, she can still be and sometimes is a part of a loyal opposition. While Lee has disagreed with some of the president’s policies, she has been positive about the recent Iran deal and diplomacy around Syria. This year, Lee was named by President Obama as the representative of the U.S. Congress to the United Nations. Lee also spoke about her own experience and what motivated her to fight for the underprivileged; to fight for justice. As an African–American woman she had to fight for her rights and reminded the attendees that she grew up in the segregated South. I was truly impressed by Lee’s story and her ongoing determination. When asked what keeps her motivated, Rep. Lee replied, “As a person of faith, prayer keeps me going. I have a deep commitment to live and let live.” M. R. Reichman is an intern at the Thomas Merton Center. Anti-War new monthly meeting date: 4th Saturday at 11 AM. TMC Annex, 5119 Penn Ave.
Challenging Received Wisdom Culture Watch: Are We a Middle Class Society? This month we deal with the sometimes twin terms of “middle” and/or “working” classes, how we think of them culturally and our ability or inability to build a broad, resilient movement of them. Media hyperreality inserts itself in the cultural representation of class. For the middle class we have George Bailey, forgoing his dreams of travel to take charge of the local savings and loan bank to save his community from the evil capitalist. The zeitgeist of the 1930s and 40s expressed itself through such representations of small town life, with its doctors and lawyers, small town bankers, local newspaper publisher, part of the progressive push that underwrote FDR and his New Deal. For the working class man, we have A ll In The Family, pitting the college grad son-in-law against his no-nothing, racist, sexist, blue collar father-in-law, a precursor of the very real wedge issues that underwrote the 1980s Republican strategy to elect Reagan and push the neo-liberal agenda. Have you heard the expression, “politicians campaign in poetry but they govern in prose?” In effect, they speak in symbol and metaphor of a deeply embedded national rhetoric on the campaign trail. When they reach office they bow to Realpolitik. Speaking poetically, Hillary Clinton proclaimed on Late Night with Stephen Colbert, that the “middle class was the greatest invention of the United States” and that it was her “mission to put the middle class back in the center of American politics.” So what’s the working class? Chopped liver? Who was it that built the nation, working twelvehour days for little pay? Who was it that organized dissent for the eight-hour day and other aspects of what today we describe as a middle class lifestyle?
Obviously, the working class. So, what does it mean to call ourselves a middle class society? Let’s turn back to Hillary who noted that while her grandfather had been a worker, her father became a small business Republican. She didn’t complete the story but there it was hanging in the ether. She would complete the trajectory. The daughter of a self-made man would raise herself to the office of the presidency, a present-day Horatio Alger myth--America, the land of opportunity at the moment when opportunity had all but disappeared. The self-made man has a long history in American parlance. It’s the man who starts with nothing (i.e. a blue collar worker) and raises himself by his own boot straps to begin a company. He is selfcreated, self-directing. No uber boss here. Implied is the claim that it was the entrepreneurial middle class that made America great. Not surprisingly, there is little thought given to workers, as noted by the Washington Post’s article “The Missing Working Class.” Instead, the article notes, the distinction made is between middle class and those with low paying jobs, referred to as the working poor. The dwindling industrial blue collar workers are included in the middle class, making the category so diverse as to make it meaningless. A proper class designation would take into account downwardly mobile middle class workers and the swelling rank of working poor. There is, however, hope with the growth of the New Economy Movement. Unions like SWA (Steelworkers of America) are attempting to reshape the conversation about America’s future to one that includes worker-owned cooperatives and their institutional interaction. Public banking has become part of the mix, potentially providing both a means of
By Jo Taverner
capital investment and a critique of the current banking system. The New Economy Movement could be a powerful working class weapon. Unfortunately, the progressive base of the Democratic Party has little experience with worker cooperatives. Nor have unions pressed policy recommendations upon Democratic presidential candidates for the growth of new economic organizations like coops that could create jobs and disrupt corporate class hegemony. Bernie Sanders calls for the formation of a mass movement; he is assuming a reinvigorated middle class. However, as middle class workers have lost their jobs to global competition as well, the only “middle class” that deserves such a designation are the media/entertainment, professional and managerial upper middle class who service capital in one way or another. So who is he talking about? It’s the lower 80% of Americans who are losing ground; it’s the “missing” working class. This obfuscation of the working class is vastly detrimental to the growth of a revolutionary class consciousness that includes not only traditional blue collar workers but the rest of us so-called middle class workers who form part of the collective social labor force that fuels the profits spent on the corporate neo-liberal campaign arrayed against us. We don’t need to rebuild the middle class as we knew it. We need to build an emboldened producer class with a global class consciousness willing to share the earth with all its inhabitants. That’s the new story we need to tell. Jo Taverner helped establish New York Radical Feminists. Today she is a retired instructor of media and cultural studies, and a member of the New People editorial collective.
The Pope vs. Corruption in the Roman Curia A Book Review By Robert Jedrzejewski
Pope Francis is both a monarchical sovereign of a small political state and spiritual head of over a billion religious adherents. The weight of responsibility this position entails is difficult to imagine, let alone appreciate, whether one is a believing Catholic or not. Gianluigi Nuzzi, in his shocking expose Merchants in the Temple - Inside Pope Francis's Secret Battle Against Corruption in the Vatican, lays bare the heavy burdens of this dual role. The recipient of leaked documents, the leaking rightfully decried by the Pontiff as a deplorable crime, Italian journalist Nuzzi nonetheless sheds a glaring light on the sinful as well as criminal shenanigans of Vatican bureaucrats, mostly clerics of high office, who control the inner workings of the governing and other dicasteries (departments) of the Holy See. I'm not sure however, that Pope Francis emerges as a more intrepid reformer worthy of more respect and praise for his humility and humanity than he has already been accorded. His two predecessors, as Nuzzi illustrates, were unable and to a certain extent unwilling, to get down and dirty with the mundane economic shortcomings and scandals of the entrenched Curia bureaucrats, the leaders of the departments that control the finances of the Holy See: the central bank of the Vatican, which also manages the vast real estate holdings of the Church; the Governorate, the body in charge of museums, commercial activities, contracts for maintenance of facilities, the post office and telephone services; the Prefecture for Economic Affairs, which oversees all the Vatican offices; and the IOR, the bank that administers assets earmarked for religious work and charity. Sadly, the wrongdoing of these men, for the most part Cardinals, included practices tied to procedures for beatification and canonization and the management of Peter's Pence, the money sent to Rome from all over the world to be used for relief to the poor. In July of 2013, four months after his election, Pope Francis appointed a new commission of inquiry into the Vatican finances: the Commission for Reference on the Organization of the EconomicAdministrative Structure of the Holy See (COSEA). Nuzzi's focus is mainly on this Commission and its relationship to the labyrinthine ways of Vatican
skullduggery, There are good guys, of course, in all of this, but the utter mendacity of so many, and the scope of the wrongdoing, - e.g. of the roughly 56 million Euros taken in through the 2012 Peter's Pence, 67% was spent on the Curia and another 12.4% was not used, but set aside as reserves of the Peter Pence's fund - would rival just about any other financial scandal of a purely secular governmental structure. Actual bugging of confidential meetings occurs. Break-ins of safes where sensitive documents are thought secure happens. Regal life styles of some of the Cardinals are documented, including believable excursions of a few into the demimonde of sexual depravity. Quis custodiet custodes? (Who watches the watchmen?) If one were given to fantasy and if Nuzzi's book were fiction, a hoped for denouement to the author's work would be something like a Greek drama's "deus ex machina" solution to the problem - or more fantastic, a grade school -like comic-book ending where the Bat-Priest (aka Franco Bergoglio, a lowly curate laboring in Trastevere, the poorest section of Rome ) and his sidekick Reuben (aka Ricardo Goldenson, young local CPA of another religious persuasion) suddenly swoop down from Bernini's columns in St. Peter’s Square to resolve the whole kit and kaboodle of financial mendacities. But Nuzzi's book is not fiction, alas, and not pretty at that. Its harsh reality stares us in the face. Merchants is not an easy read, though rather short, 208pp. and unhappily lacking an Index, although an organizational chart of the Vatican City State at the beginning is very helpful. A reader with a background in economics would appreciate the fine points of financial intricacy more than the average layperson, although that is not necessary, Nuzzi's language is clear, but the litany of all the deviltry in the heart of Catholic Church's governing body might be a bit depressing for some. The author
leaves some doubt as to whether Pope Francis will succeed in bringing his mission of reform to completion, but the author gives him more than sufficient praise for the courageous attempt. Robert Jedrzejewski is s retired former college instructor of philosophy, theology and literature.
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Local Activism Divest Pittsburgh “To serve as custodians of creation is not an empty title; it requires that we act, and with all the urgency this dire situation demands!”-Former Bishop Desmond Tutu In 2013 Bill McKibben was in Pittsburgh being honored by the Thomas Merton Center for his achievements on action against climate change. He spoke of things many of us are familiar with when it comes to this issue, the visible effects of climate change, the corporate and political powers that drive the energy industries. However, there was one subject that he spoke of that still had not taken off across the country; that was fossil fuel divestment. Divestment is simply the opposite of investment, to take previous financial assets and pull them out of their holdings. Divestment can be both socially and financially driven. The aim of a divestment movement is not to necessarily bankrupt an entity, but to put public pressure on a organization that is acting against a moral code. For instance one of the largest and most successful campaigns was the 1980’s divestment movement against South Africa, where the United States along with many other nations chose to divest assets and boycott further financial interactions with the country until they ended the apartheid (racial segregation and discrimination.) This particular campaign started in small interfaith organizations. It spread to colleges and universities, states and local governments, and then to federal laws and regulations. Fossil fuel divestment has already begun to build great momentum, with over 479 institutions divesting and over 2.6 trillion dollars taken out of the energy industry. Recently the states of both California and New York chose to divest from the coal industry, and the city of Providence, Rhode
By Raphael Cardamone
Island divested from coal, natural gas and oil. The Rockefeller Institution, whose wealth was built on the oil industry, has already taken it’s 879 million dollar organization out of the fossil fuel industry. Many leaders have called for divestment, including former Archbishop Desmond Tutu, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, former Irish president Mary Robinson, and, just recently Leonardo DiCaprio divested his charity and personal portfolio. This has become a worldwide movement, from small institutions to major cities and nations choosing to no longer financially support an industry that is damaging our planet beyond repair. In early 2014, after being energized by Mr. McKibben’s message, a small group of TMC members started the City of Pittsburgh’s divestment campaign. Their message was simple; immediately freeze any new investments in fossil fuels and in five years be completely out of any coal, oil, or natural gas investments. They called upon Mayor Bill Peduto, City Council, and the Pension Board to take the ethical action by withdrawing the city’s 580 million dollar pension fund from this dangerous industry. The campaign started with in-depth research into the history of divestment and its financial implications. Recently a webinar was held with the organizers, former Mayor of Seattle, Michael McGinn (who presented divestment legislation), CEO of Trillium Assets Management Matt Patsky, and members of City Council. During this discussion Mr. Patsky, whose company has been a leader on responsible and sustainable investments, gave reasons why divestment is not only the ethical action, but a wise financial decision. “These companies’ wealth is based mostly on resources that are
still in the ground; with the regulations and laws that are being passed we could see most of their wealth becoming stranded assets.” What that means is energy companies base most of their wealth in resources in the ground, and with laws like the new EPA regulations restricting ways and methods of extraction, they have seen a decline in production. Coal is down 34% in the last ten years and 46% in the last year, making it a dangerous financial investment. Oil, as predicted by Goldman Sachs could reach 20 dollars a barrel in 20 years making it a weak and risky investment. These financial reasons are out-shined by the ethical stand divestment takes. We are at the global tipping point, where if immediate action is not taken to drastically change our behavior when it comes to burning fossil fuels, we will see horrible climate disasters across the earth (if this isn’t happening already.) Divestment is a call to action. This campaign urges the cities’ leaders and residents to make a stand against corporations that have recklessly harmed the environment and all living things that encompass it. Pittsburgh was the third city to divest from South Africa during the 80’s. Let us be a global leader again and show these companies we will not stand by and allow them to continue to destroy the earth. To join the campaign, sign the petition to the Mayor, or to find more information on divestment, go to divestpittsburgh.com or follow the campaign on Facebook by searching Pittsburgh: Divest from Fossil Fuels. Raphael Cardamone is an intern at Divest Pittsburgh.
Campaigns for Public Transit Gain Steam By Casy Stelitano
Pittsburghers for Public Transit’s three community campaigns are going strong! Community meetings and canvassing in Penn Hills, North Hills, and Garfield have garnered over 500 requests for service. Residents, riders, and workers are coming together to fight for the buses that our communities need. Speakers from all three neighborhoods rose up at the Port Authority board meeting on October 21st to share the plight of their friends, family members, and neighbors. Twenty-seven different individuals shared their stories with the crowd. David Barkovich, of North Hills School District, discussed the travesty of having a county Community College branch that does not have transit service through the Port Authority (a county agency). David brought along two students, Kevin Keller and Cody Green, who spoke about friends and classmates who weren’t able to attend the college due to lack of service. Dorothy Adams of Penn Hills described how hard it is to care for a loved one in an area that does not have public transportation. Charlotte Foster described how lack of service in her community disproportionately affects senior citizens. She lost three caregivers for her father, who all relied on the bus for transportation. Nina Pettiford rocked the room with an emotional telling of the strife of her neighbors on top of the hill at Garfield Commons. Her powerful testimony resounded with supporters and board members alike. The meeting drew attention
from several local media outlets including the Post-Gazette, WTAE, WESA, and the Tribune Review. In addition, PPT is thrilled that the PostGazette editorial board has recently published an op-ed on transit deserts in Allegheny County. The article calls for all Port Authority surplus to go to servicing communities in need. We are excited to see this op-ed because it demonstrates that the media and the community at large are beginning to understand how vitally important transit is to the residents of the Pittsburgh region. PPT has spent years fending off transit cuts, and more recently, helping communities get their bus service back! Now we are helping more communities in the Pittsburgh area get the transit service they need and deserve. Nina Pettiford advocates for weekend bus service on the 89 GarAs a non-profit organization that relies field. Photo By Molly Nichols. on grants and donations to do our work, we are doing a fall fundraising campaign. If any NewPeople readers are interested in supporting our work, you can do so by donating via our website: www.pittsburghforpublictransit.org. Casy Stelitano is a PULSE fellow and Program Coordinator for Pittsburghers for Public Transit.
Molly Nichols, project manager for Pittsburghers for Public Transit, speaks at Bus Riders Unite For Service rally on November 20th. Photo by Joyce Rothermel.
Climate Rally Merton Center member James Lucius holds the TMC banner while Sr. Donna Zwigart from the Sisters of St. Francis of Millvale speaks on the impact of poor air quality to rally participants. Photo by Joyce Rothermel.
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Pittsburgh hosted a hearing on the Environmental Protection Agency's historic Clean Power Plan, the first ever national standards to cut carbon pollution from power plants last month at the federal building. The Sierra Club was joined by a coalition of climate action supporters and many Merton Center members at a rally outside the federal building to demonstrate strong support for the Clean Power Plan.
Local Labor News News from the Picket Line By Katherine Cunningham
"All we want is a fair contract," This is what the men are saying who are walking the picket line. On Sunday, October 25, I stood on the picket line at ATI (Allegheny Technologies, Inc.) in Brackenridge, PA. I listened to the plight of the locked-out skilled workers at the former Allegheny-Ludlum Steel Company. The CEO Richard Harshman has received a 70% increase in his salary. He and the next four executives made more than $19 million in 2014. The company also made billion dollar plus improvements in the Brackenridge plant. The contract between ATI and USW (United SteelWorkers) expired on June 30, 2015 and the company locked out its union employees on August 15, despite their willingness to work while contract negotiations continued. ATI wanted the union to make concessions in 57 areas. Most of them were negotiated until they got to salary provisions. The
union decided not to budge on salary concessions. Now, it has been 71 days and USW members are in it for the long haul. The workers are fighting for their jobs, their families, and communities and finally for all workers, whether unionized or not. I talked to Lance Jablonski at the USW(ATI) union hall in Brackenridge. The men think that the company wants to lower their standard of living and doesn't care who works in the plant. The steelworkers have been loyal to the company for years, even encouraging their sons to work for ATI. That is now gone. The company wants to lower costs of labor and doesn't want to pay for anything that is not directly needed to make the product. The company set aside money for the eventuality of a lockout or a strike, so this conflict was planned in advance. They have brought in scabs to cross the picket lines. Other trade unions are represented in
the plant and they cross the picket lines, since they already have contracts with the company. The local, USW 1196, is taking all kinds of help to get them through this tough time, especially getting close to the holidays. The community at large is invited to help by donating money, food, moral support. Those interested in helping or who know of anyone who is can call 724224-9000. Also call that number if you are interested in showing solidarity by standing on the picket line or joining the union by forming a human fence around the plant. All interested persons are invited and welcomed. Katherine Cunningham is a member of the Thomas Merton Center and a former member of USW community affiliate, Fight Back Pittsburgh.
An Open Letter to East End Food Co-Op Members By David Hereth
Fellow Members: I am writing this to answer some of the questions Co-op members have asked me and other staff members since we voted to form a union on September 14. We are all aware of the important position the East End Food Co-op occupies in the community: as a long-time grocery store in an under-served city neighborhood, as an alternative business model, and as a champion of natural, local, and organic food. I, like most of the workers at the Co-op are proud of the work we do and we care about the future of the store. But cooperatives, as admirable as they are, are not immune from unjust labor practices. And so I, along with 46 other staff members (an overwhelming majority) voted to form local 667 of the United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America Primarily there are three reasons why we took
this action: First, to obtain fair wages. In spite of what is claimed on the Co-op website, the current Co-op wage structure does not provide a living wage at every level of our organization, as defined by the Livable Wage models widely available on-line. In spite of huge increases in sales in recent years, employees do not share in the Co-op’s economic success. Full-time workers do get health insurance but this year must pay a much higher percentage of the cost. Secondly, workers feel that they need protection against unfair and unjust discipline that can include warnings to suspensions to firings. We want the Co-op to be held to a “just cause” standard in any disciplinary action. And third, workers want more of a say in setting policy and making decisions. Basically we want the Co-op to be accountable to its own mission and ideals: fair pay for food
workers, workplace democracy, a share of profits for workers. It is our hope that all of members of the Co -op will support our efforts. We have just begun the process of electing officers and forming committees. In the meantime, if you have any questions you can email me at: davidhereth@aol.com Respectfully, Dave Hereth Local 667 United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America This author is a staff member of the East End Food Co-op and a founding member of Local 667, United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America.
Hundreds participated in the November 10th Fight For 15 March, with stops at the Stanwix St McDonald’s, the U.S. Steel building and the city county building. Photos By Neil Cosgrove.
Fight for 15$ Gains Momentum in Pittsburgh and Nationally Cont’d from pg.1 restaurants behind the lawsuit. On October 30th, Fight Back Pittsburgh activists used a giant spotlight to project the message, “Church Brew Works Makes Us Sick,” on the side of the Church Brew Works. And just before Halloween, Pittsburgh United activists brought the “Restaurant of Horror,” complete with flu sandwiches, mucus marinara, and sneezy cookies, to Storms Restaurant. The coalition has also launched an online petition calling on the plaintiffs to drop their misguided legal challenge.
On October 20, during the company’s thirdquarter earnings conference call, ATI’s CEO admitted to investors that the first 45 days of the lockout had cost the company $50 million and that the company had lost $145 million in the third quarter of 2015. The union has filed unfair labor practice charges with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), alleging the lockout is illegal and the product of a series of violations of federal labor laws. At the time of our NewPeople deadline no new talks between the union and the company were scheduled and the NLRB was investigating the union’s allegaATI Lockout, US Steel Bargaining Continues tions. Amid Steel Industry Crisis Meanwhile, 18,500 United Steelworkers at US Steel continue working well beyond their contract’s The 2,200 members of the United Steelworkers September 1 expiration. Talks with the major steel locked out by ATI since August 15 are holding producer have stalled amid the weak market for strong on picket lines around the region. ATI’s man- steel, particularly steel tube. While there have been agement team is demanding that workers agree to no layoffs in the Mon Valley, US Steel has laid off deep and unnecessary cuts to healthcare and job se- hundreds in Alabama, Illinois, and Minnesota and is curity before returning to work. Workers argue the considering completely idling its Granite City company is using a temporary market downturn for Works plant. steel products-caused by low energy prices and an onslaught of illegally dumped imports from China- Building Service Workers Win a New Contract as an excuse to make deep, permanent cuts to their contracts. More than 1,000 commercial office cleaners
working in Downtown Pittsburgh and in the surrounding areas reached a new contract with the Managers, Owners and Contractors Association on October 30, averting a possible strike. Union leaders from SEIU 32BJ are characterizing the agreement as a victory, citing “fair wage increases” and no concessions on benefits. Negotiations opened Wednesday, September 9. The cleaners fought to keep their affordable healthcare and to gain modest wage increases. On October 27th, just days before contract expiration, faith leaders, community supporters, City Council President Bruce Kraus and more than 250 union members rallied throughout downtown before workers held a strike authorization vote in the street outside of negotiations. The cleaners work at buildings and office parks across Pittsburgh and Allegheny County, such as U.S. Steel Tower, Gateway Center, PNC Plaza and the Bayer headquarters. Patrick Young is the Financial Secretary/ Treasurer of Fight Back Pittsburgh (fightbackpittsburgh.org), an associate member program of United Steelworkers (USW) Local 3657. December 2015
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Recent and Recurring Events Amnesty Write-a-thon for Prisoners Amnesty International Pittsburgh (Group 39) will hold an annual Write-A-Thon for prisoners of conscience Wednesday, December 9 from 6 to 9 p.m. at Calvary Episcopal Church, Shady & Alder Streets. People are invited to write letters for 10-12 prisoners. The prisoners, from around the world, have been tortured and imprisoned for their non-violent protests and beliefs. A candle will be lit for each prisoner by heads of local civil rights organizations in a traditional ceremony at 8 p.m. Ayres Freitas, coordinator of Pittsburgh Group 39, emphasized the message for the 2015 Write-AThon. “Nobody should be in pris-
on, tortured or killed for who they are or what they think. We urge everyone concerned with human rights to join us at this letter-writing marathon which has been effective in saving lives and helping the plight of prisoners being tortured,” she said. Among the 2015 cases is an American, Albert Woodfox, a Louisiana prisoner held in solitary confinement for four decades in a cell the size of a parking space. Other cases include: the longestimprisoned journalist (15-20 years) in Uzbekistan, an El Salvador woman sentenced for homicide after suffering a still birth, a victim of homophobia beaten in Greece, a “disappeared” person in Syria, and cases in Mexico and Saudi Arabia. Several prisoners were tortured and
By Dorothy Miller
imprisoned for advocating democracy, speaking out against the government or forced marriages and/or organizing peaceful protests. Amnesty, a worldwide organization and Nobel Prize winner, is sponsoring Write-A-Thons across the country through its hundreds of Amnesty chapters. It hopes to generate 15,000 letters this year. Last year the local chapters wrote close to 600 letters. Pittsburgh’s North Hills Chapter will be on hand to sell Amnesty T-shirts at the event. Further information on the Pittsburgh Write-A-Thon can be found at amnestypgh.org Dorothy Miller, Amnesty International Pittsburgh Group 39.
“Freedom From Fracking” Concert, Mondays at 9 pm By Carlana Rhoten
Rachel Carson was one of the first to call attention to common practices that were killing life on our Planet Earth. In 1962, her book, Silent Spring, outraged the industries involved with pesticides and toxic chemicals. Then came many books concerning all the threats to our environment. Rather quickly, people dedicated themselves to making changes. In 1970 came the first Earth Day , which persuaded President Nixon to establish the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA.) The specter of global warming was gradually recognized as a potential catastrophe, possibly destroying the balance that had given us a healthy ecology. But the Reagan/Bush administration trashed the work Carter/Mondale had accomplished in developing renewable energy through solar and wind and conservation. The US Department of Energy eliminated every division except coal, oil, gas and nuclear. Very little was accomplished by the Clinton Administration, even though Vice President Gore was strongly committed to the environment . The Republican controlled Congress blocked any efforts to stop Global Warming, as they were determined to undo Nixon’s EPA accomplishment In 2005, Vice President Dick Cheney, former
CEO of oil-giant Halliburton, persuaded Congress to insert a dangerous provision in the National Energy Policy Act. This provision exempted the process of Hydraulic Fracturing (Fracking) from state and federal regulations to preserve clean air and clean water. Soon known as the “ Halliburton Loophole,” it removed all protection for citizens and their environment. During the ten years since, both Republican and Democratic elected officials have demonstrated their ignorance and incompetence by throwing our safety and welfare overboard in favor of the fracking industry. Unfortunately for them, there is a growing accumulation of hard facts confirming the extent of their mistakes. Pennsylvania is now being monitored for earthquakes, along with many other fracked states across our nation. Workers are becoming sick from the sand in their lungs causing silicosis, as well as being poisoned by the frack fluids. Fresh water supplies are contaminated and made unfit for humans, livestock and crops. Scientific researchers accumulate more evidence every day. Last May, Mike Stout organized a concert/rally to draw attention to Pennsylvania’s victims of the fracking industry. “Freedom From Fracking “ provides a great program. Douglas Shields served as
host to introduce participants. Patricia DeMarco, producer of “The Power of One Voice,” a recent documentary about Rachel Carson, gave the keynote address. Ron Gulla, a citizen fighting the fracking companies in Washington County, gave an account of his experiences and the efforts of people in several Southwest PA counties. He introduced several people who have lost their well water, have suffered illnesses, and have seen their property values fall. Original songs and music were provided by Mike Stout and his Human Union Band, and by Tom Hoffman and his Smokestack Lightning Band , performing an original song by William Cohen. The videographer/Editor is Rich Fishkin. Video of the concert can be found on the Internet at www.youtube.com/richfishpgh and on TV during December every Monday at 9 PM, Comcast Channel 21 and Verizon FIOS Channel 47 Carlana Rhoten is the Community Producer of “Progressive PGH Notebook TV Series.”
First Friday in Garfield at the Thomas Merton Center, What Fun! By Edith Bell
There were tables with TMC literature and books about BDS (Boycott, Divest and Sanction) in front of the annex. Inside was more literature, copies of the NewPeople, War Resisters League pie charts on the federal budget and on the wall the Bug Splat exhibit. Bug Splat is the military term for victims of drones. The photos showed some of these victims and some survivors,. People are not "Bug Splat." There were also cookies and wine. I set up a table with penny poll jars. Lots of people kept streaming into the place. Many were led in by an intern giving information about the TMC. Mike and Connie of the Anti-War Committee explained about Bug Splat, and I asked people in the room, if they wanted to take the Penny Poll. "What's that?" they asked. This was my chance to explain that the US government spends over half of our tax dollars on the military,. I used as a visual aid the colorful AFSC One Minute for Peace flyer-- a very long narrow strip with details of the Federal budget: a long bright red line for the 57% for the military, short blue and green lines for 5.5% Veterans Benefits, 6% Education, 5% health. 5.5% on Housing, etc. Then I offered my listeners 10 pennies each to demonstrate, how they would allocate the budget by distributing their pennies into the jars labeled Education, Healthcare, Food, Veterans, Housing, Military and 14 - NEWPEOPLE
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Mass Transit. They all used this chance to have their say. Many insisted on using their own money. It led to interesting questions and discussions: Why do we spend so much on the military, and how can we change it? Pentagon-related manufacturing is happening in all congressional districts. Consequently no Congress member wants to cut military spending. It will cost jobs in the district and possibly cost him/her re-election. It is true that any cuts in federal spending will lead to a loss of jobs; however, cuts in domestic spending lose more jobs. According to National Priorities Project's statistics on job creation in the various sectors of society $1 billion of federal money spent, will create 11, 200 jobs in the military or 16,800 in clean energy technology or 17,200 in healthcare or 26,700 in education. The only way to cut defense spending, is to create more peaceful jobs simultaneously through more spending in the domestic sector. I enjoyed talking about these issues with diverse groups of people. Some may not have thought about it much. Almost 50 people participated in the penny poll. They all agreed that these were hard decisions. One woman laid out her pennies in front of the jars, before she dropped them in. The partici-
pants took the poll very seriously. Here are the results of the people's vote: Education topped the list with $4.63, which included several dollar bills contributed out of attendees’ own pockets, followed by Healthcare $1.11 and Food $1.02. Housing came next with 71 cents, Mass Transit 45 cents, Veterans 39 cents, and 13 cents for the Military. The Women's International League for Peace Freedom ( WILPF), together with American Friends Service Committee (AFSC), and the Raging Grannies have been taking penny polls every year for the past 9 years on April 15, the last day to pay taxes. We display our posters and charts next to the post office in Squirrel Hill, set out our jars and hand out flyers. Most passers-by don't have the time to stay and talk, but this Friday night, people were wandering in to browse and see what was going on. (Cookies and wine may have brought them in) They had time on their hands and were eager to talk and listen. It was very rewarding. Now we need Congress to heed the people's voice. This author is a member of Women's International League for Peace and Freedom and TMC and the Raging Grannies.
Citizen Actions Trans March Of Resilience .
In and Out of Back and Forth
November 20, 2015. Folks came out to both mourn and fight for trans lives. Marching down Forbes Ave towards CMU, marchers shouted “Don’t just mourn– FIGHT FOR TRANS LIVES.” The march ended with Trans Voices: Open Letters.
By Henry Hunt
The flag that whips the wind for peace, Also trumpets war, unease. Every song for justice makes, A melody in minor for, Injustice knows its very root, Is nursery-mates with justice, too. And peace, peace since dawn defined, by war and strife and out of line.
Marni Fritz, Gabriel McMorland, Rosalie Finkelstein. Photo by Mary Sico.
For north, north is not without, The south at bottom sticking out. And up, up n'er hope to be, Without a down, I fail to see, So peace, peace is only found, Accepting there is none. Henry Hunt has an English degree from the University of Pittsburgh.
ON TV = Every Monday at 9 PM COMCAST
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DECEMBER PROGRAM Mike Stout’s Concert “FREEDOM FROM FRACKING” Videographer Rich Fishkin www.youtube.com/ richfishpgh
CS Rhoten 412-363-7472
Retraction We, The NewPeople Editorial Collective, regret to say that due to an editorial oversight, the November issue included in its cartoon an offensive term. Russ, the cartoonist, said “I used the term to address class politics. I realize that in publishing it, we were not sensitive to the use of certain metaphors and symbols that could be interpreted as having racist overtones.” It was not the intention of the collective nor the artist to perpetuate racist stereotypes. The term reinforces the negative stereotype that there are absolute qualities to being black and being white, regardless of someone’s lived experiences. We recognize the power of words, and we know that learning from our mistakes is crucial. We at The NewPeople are committed to learning and unlearning about issues of race, power, privilege, and social justice. We invite readers to contact us with their concerns. December 2015
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Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
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Pittsburgh Tour of Climate Scrooges2:00 PM– Downtown Gateway Center
Young Steel Youth Poetry Workshop 6:00pm-8:00pm Carnegie Library East Liberty
TMC E-Day of Giving!
1859 John Brown hanged for leading slave revolt.
City of Asylum Reading: Chen Guangcheng– 7-9 PM- City of Asylum 330 Sampsonia Way
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"Contributions of Muslim Spirituality: An Interfaith Perspective"- 3:00 PM - Kearns Spirituality Center, 9000 Babcock Blvd., McCandless, PA
Pittsburgh: No Limits for Women!- 7:00 PM- Frick Fine Arts Auditorium 650 Schenley Drive
Hanukkah Starts
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Saturday
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PAJC East End Christian-Jewish Dialogue 12:00pm-1:15pm Rodef Shalom
The sixth annual Benefit Concert at the Pittsburgh Friends Meeting House– 7:00 PM4836 Ellsworth Avenue
Rosa Parks found guilty of sitting in white section of bus after refusing to go to the back on Dec 1st. Bus boycott begins.
In Our Hands Community Accountability Group– 7:00 PMThe Big Idea Bookstore, 4812 Liberty Ave
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2015 Amnesty International Write-a-thon– 6:00 PM- Calvary Episcopal Church, 315 Shady Ave
Inspire Speaker Series: – 5:30 PM- Elsie H. Hillman Auditorium at the Hill House Kaufmann Center
Joyful Noise First Friday– 6:00 PMTMC Annex 5119 Penn Ave
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1956 Montgomery Bus Boycott ends after Supreme Court declares bus segregation illegal.
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Winter Solstice
Eid al-Mawlid an-Nabawī
12 TMC Holiday Open House!12– 4 PM– Thomas Merton Center 5129 Penn Ave
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Center for Coalfield Justice Holiday Party - 6:00pm -8:00pm - 184 S Main St Washington PA 15301
Holiday Jazz and Community Night 7:00pm - The Corner, 200 Robinson St Pittsburgh - $5
Fight for Lifers West—10am– 12:30pm— Thomas Merton Center
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TMC & TMC & Thrifty Closed Thrifty Closed Christmas
December 2015 Regular Meetings Sundays: Book’Em: Books to Prisoners Project First three Sundays of the month at TMC, 46pm Contact: bookempgh@gmail.com Anti-War and Anti-Drone Warfare Coalition 3rd Sunday at 11:30 am at TMC, 5129 Penn Ave., Garfield, PA 15224
Mondays:
1969 Fred Hampton killed in his bed by Chicago Ploce
Multiracial in the Workplace: A New Kind of Discrimination? 12:00pm-1:30pm 2017 Cathedral of Learning
CEDAW Meeting– 7:00 PM– Panera 3800 Forbes Ave
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Friday
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Compline Service Commemorating Thomas Merton- 8PM – Heinz Memorial Chapel– 1212 Cathedral of Learning
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Thursday
SW Healthcare 4 All PA /PUSH Meeting 1st Monday, 7:30 —9 pm Association of Pittsburgh Priests 2nd Monday, 7—9 pm, Prince of Peace Rectory 162 South 15th, Southside, Pgh. PA 15203 Amnesty International #39 2nd Monday, 7—9 pm First Unitarian Church, Morewood Ave. 15219
Wednesdays: Human Rights Coalition: Fed-Up! Every Wednesday at 7p.m. Write letters for prisoners’ rights at the Thomas Merton Center Darfur Coalition Meeting 1st and 3rd Wednesdays, 5:30 – 7:00 pm, Meeting Room C Carnegie Library, Squirrel Hill 412-784-0256 Pennsylvanians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty (PADP) 1st Wednesdays, 7-8pm, First Unitarian Church, Ellsworth & Morewood Avenues, Shadyside Pittsburghers for Public Transit 2nd Wednesday, 7pm, 1 Smithfield St., lower level
Thursdays: International Socialist Organization Every Thursday, 7:30-9:30 pm at the Thomas Merton Center Global Pittsburgh Happy Hour 1st Thursday, 5:30 to 8 pm, Roland's Seafood Grill, 1904 Penn Ave, Strip District Green Party Meeting 1st Thursday, 7 to 9 pm, 2121 Murray, 2nd floor, Squirrel Hill Black Political Empowerment Project 2nd Thursday, 6 pm: Planning Council Meeting, Hill House, Conference Room B
Fridays:
TMC & Thrifty Closed Kwanza Begins – First Day Umoja (Unity)
Unblurred Gallery Crawl 1st Friday after 6 pm, Penn Avenue Arts District, 4800-5500 Penn Ave., Friendship and Garfield 15224 Hill District Consensus Group 2nd Friday, 10 am — 12 pm, Elsie Hillman Auditorium, Kaufmann Center 1825 Centre Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15219 People of Prisoners in Need of Support 3rd Friday, 7:00pm New Hope Methodist Church, 114 W. North Ave, Pittsburgh 15212
Saturdays:
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Kujichagulia (selfdetermination)
TMC & Thrifty Closed
TMC & TMC & TMC & TMC Closed Thrifty Closed Thrifty Closed Thrifty Closed
Ujima (collective work)
Ujamaa (cooperative economics)
Aia (purpose)
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Project to End Human Trafficking 2nd Sat., Carlow University, Antonian Room #502 Fight for Lifers West 3rd Saturday, 10 a.m. to 12:30 pm, Thomas Merton Center
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