Medicare Action
The Embargo on Cuba Page 6
Fracking Pages 1, 3
THE
– Pages 8, 10
PITTSBURGH‘S PEACE AND JUSTICE NEWSPAPER Published by the Thomas Merton Center
VOL. 41, No. 7 September, 2011
A TASTE FOR FRACKINADE By Viv Shaffer
Water Act. The ―loophole‖ was inserted into legislation during the administration of President George W. Bush, whose vicepresident, Dick Cheney, is the former Chief Executive Officer of Halliburton Corp. a major oil and gas field supply and private security corporation.
The August 5 ―Unblurred― gallery crawl on Penn Ave. featured an ―Iced Frackin‘ Tea Party‖ at the Thomas Merton Center. TMC was joined by representatives of the Marcellus Protest Group and the Westmoreland County Marcellus Community Group. A highlight of the event was the Pittsburgh Student Environmental Coalition and their fabulous ―frackinade stand.‖
At the other end of the same table Passersby were invited to members of PSEC sample a ―delicious‖ had glasses filled Photo by Frank Carr concoction which they with some of the described as sweet. When actual chemicals they asked what the solids used in the Photo by Lindy Hazel LaDue were in the brew they were ―fracking‖ process, Lorraine Keeler and John McElhattan from the Pittsburgh Student Environmental Coalition outside the Merton informed that the which were isolated Center during UnBlurred. ingredients could not be and identified disclosed because of the through laboratory ―Halliburton Loophole.‖ exempts hydrofracturing companies specific chemicals used in the shale analysis. (More fracking pg.3) (the complete name for the fracking gas extraction process, effectively Viv Shaffer is the Office Coordinator The ―Halliburton Loophole‖ process) from having to disclose the barring enforcement of the Clean of the Thomas Merton Center
HUNGER PLAGUES ALLEGHENY COUNTY By Adam MacGregor, Communications Coordinator of Just Harvest
This report, titled Food Hardship in America separately examines food hardship rates (the inA newly released report shows that this region‘s ability to afford enough food) for households with rate of hunger follows the national trend. Across and without children nationally and in every state, the four congressional districts in Allegheny every congressional district, and one hundred of County, nearly 25 percent of families with chilthe country‘s largest metropolitan statistical ardren have reported that they have not been able to eas (The full report is available at frac.org). afford adequate amounts of food over the past year, according to a report released yesterday by The analysis shows that food hardship rates are the Washington D.C.-based Food Research and very high both for households with children and Action Center (FRAC). for households without children. Nationally, from
2009 to 2010, the food hardship rate for households without children was 14.9 percent, and it was 23.4 percent for families with children. Allegheny County is comprised of congressional districts 4, 12, 14, and 18. The average rate of food hardship among households with children in these districts is 21 percent, ranging from 17.5 percent in District 18 (Tim Murphy) to 25.4 percent in District 14 (Michael Doyle), which includes the city of Pittsburgh. Continued on page 8
TMC works to build a consciousness of values and to raise the moral questions involved in the issues of war, poverty, racism, classism, economic justice, oppression and environmental justice. TMC engages people of diverse philosophies and faiths who find common ground in the nonviolent struggle to bring about a more peaceful and just world. September, 2011 NEWPEOPLE - 1
PERMIT NO. 458 PITTSBURGH, PA
THOMAS MERTON CENTER, 5129 PENN AVE. PITTSBURGH, PA 15224
PAID U.S. POSTAGE NON-PROFIT ORG.
TMC HOURS of OPERATION
IS PUBLISHED MONTHLY BY THE THOMAS MERTON CENTER 5129 PENN AVE., PITTSBURGH, PA 15224 Phone: 412-361-3022 — Fax: 412-361-0540 — Web: www.thomasmertoncenter.org Editorial Collective Mana Alibadi, Erica Augenstein, Frank Carr, Nicole Coast, Rob Conroy, Deyja Donohue, Michael Drohan, Russ Fedorka, Rory Henc, Steven Green, Charles McCollester, Kenneth Miller, Francine Porter, Jordana Rosenfeld, Molly Rush, Florence Wyand TMC Staff, Volunteers and Interns Viv Shaffer, Thomas Merton Center Coordinator Roslyn Maholland, Bookkeeper / Mig Cole, Assistant Bookkeeper Shirley Gleditsch, Manager, East End Community Thrift Store Shawna Hammond, Manager, East End Community Thrift Store Dolly Mason, Furniture Manager, East End Community Thrift Store Jordana Rosenfeld, Summer Intern TMC Board of Directors Casey Capitolo, Rob Conroy, Kathy Cunningham, Michael Drohan, Mary Jo Guercio, Wanda Guthrie, Edward Kinley, Shawna Hammond, Jonah McAllister-Erickson, Charles McCollester, Diane McMahon, Jibran Mushtaq, Francine Porter, Dominique Reed, Chadwick Rink, Molly Rush, Courtney Smith, Carole Wiedmann
10 am — 3 pm Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday CONTACT INFORMATION General information ..................... www.thomasmertoncenter.org/contact-us/ Or info@thomasmertoncenter.org Submissions .................................. newpeople@thomasmertoncenter.org Events & Calendar Items ............. www.bit.ly/tmcevents
In this Issue Page 3
Fracking in PA
Page 6
International News: The Embargo on Cuba, Women’s Conference for Peace
Page 9
Winona LaDuke to speak in PGH
Page 10
Human Rights Lobbying
Page 11
Plan for Progressive Progress
Page 12
Fed Up! With Prison Abuse and a poem from a prisoner
Page 14
The Merton Center turns 40!
STANDING COMMITTEES Board Development Committee (Recruits board members, conducts board elections) Building Committee Oversees maintenance of 5123-5129 Penn Ave. Membership Committee Coordinates membership goals, activities, appeals, and communications Editorial Collective Plans, produces and distributes The NewPeople Finance Committee Ensures financial stability and accountability of TMC Personnel Committee Oversees staff needs, evaluation, and policies Technology Team Provides technical advice and assistance to TMC Special Event Committees Plan and oversee TMC fundraising events with board and staff (Events include the spring New Person Awards and the fall Thomas Merton Award Dinner) Anti-War Committee info@pittsburghendthewar.org www.pittsburghendthewar.org Book‘Em (books to prisoners) bookempgh@gmail.com www.thomasmertoncenter.org/bookem CodePink (Women for Peace) codepinkpgh@aol.com, 412-389-3216 www.codepink4peace.org
Demilitarize Pittsburgh: War-Profiteering Education & Action Network 412-361-3022, info@demilitarizepittsburgh.org www.demilitarizepittsburgh.org Diversity Footprint (art, justice, community) draw3rd@verizon.net
Pittsburgh Campaign for Democracy NOW! 412-422-5377, sleator@cs.cmu.edu www.pcdn.org
Association of Pittsburgh Priests Molly 412-343-3027 molly.rush@verizon.net
Pittsburgh Darfur Emergency Coalition jumphook@gmail.com; www.pittsburghdarfur.org Sustainable Living Project landslide@riseup.net, 412-551-6957
East End Community Thrift Shop 412-361-6010, shawnapgh@aol.com
Three Rivers Area Medics (TRAM) 412-6419191 or thefunnysmith@yahoo.com
Economic Justice Committee economicjustice@thomasmertoncenter.org
Urban Arts Project mbbpgh@yahoo.com
Fight for Lifers West 412-361-3022 to leave a message fightforliferswest@yahoo.com http://fightforliferswest.mysite.com Food Not Bombs pittsburgh_fnb@yahoo.com http://fnb-pgh.2ya.com
Pittsburgh Progressive Notebook Call 412-301-3022 for more info The Palestine Film Festival Call 412-301-3022 for more info Westmoreland Marcellus Citizens Group Wanda Guthrie 724-327-2767 murrysvillemarcellus@gmail.com
In Sisterhood: The Women’s Movement in Pgh 412-621-3252, pmulbrich@yahoo.com Literacy for Ziguinchor 724-549-4933, elainekuhar@gmail.com
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September, 2011
Allegheny Defense Project, Pgh Office 412-559-1364 www.alleghenydefense.org Amnesty International info@amnestypgh.org www.amnestypgh.org
Roots of Promise 724-327-2767, 412-596-0066 rootsofpromise@gmail.com (Network of Spiritual Progressives) spiritualprogressives.pgh@gmail.com
Human Rights Coalition / Fed Up (prisoner support and advocacy) 412-802-8575, hrcfedup@gmail.com www.thomasmertoncenter.org/fedup
The Africa Project 412-657-8513, peterokema@gmail.com www.africaproject.net
Pittsburgh Anti-Sweatshop Community Alliance 412-867-9213
Pittsburgh Works! (labor history documentaries) connections05@hotmail.com
Conscience 412-231-1581 www.consciencepgh.blogspot.com
TMC AFFILIATES and FRIENDS
The Pittsburgh Totebag Project Sue Kerr, 412-228-0216 P.O. Box 99204 Pittsburgh, Pa 15233 www.tote4pgh.org
The Big Idea Bookstore 412-OUR-HEAD, www.thebigideapgh.org Black Voices for Peace Gail Austin 412-606-1408 Citizens for Global Solutions 412-471-7852 amy@wfap.org Citizens for Social Responsibility of Greater Johnstown Larry Blalock, evolve@atlanticbb.net Haiti Solidarity Committee jrothermel@pittsburghfoodbank.org, 412-271-8414 www.thomasmertoncenter.org/hs
412-563-1519 lisacubasi@aol.com Pgh Independent Media Center info@indypgh.org www.indypgh.org Pgh North Anti-Racism Coalition 412-367-0383 Pgh North People for Peace 412-367-1049 Pgh Palestine Solidarity Committee info@pittsburgh-psc.org www.pittsburgh-psc.org Raging Grannies 412-963-7163, eva.havlicsek@gmail.com www.pittsburghraginggrannies.homestead.com Religion and Labor Coalition 412-361-4793 ojomal@aol.com School of the Americas Watch of W. PA 412-371-9722, soapittsburgh@gmail.com United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America (UE) 412-471-8919 www.ueunion.org Urban Bikers urbanbikes@yahoo.com
PA United for a Single-Payer Health Care (PUSH) www.healthcare4allPA.org Molly Rush molly.rush@verizon.net
Veterans for Peace Icwheaties@aol.com
Pittsburgh Area Pax Christi 412-761-4319
Voices for Animals voicesforanimals@gmail.com 1-877-321-4VFA
Pittsburgh Committee to Free Mumia 412-361-3022, pghfreemumia@gmail.com
Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF) Eva 412-963-7163 edith.bell4@verizon.net
Pittsburgh Cuba Coalition
TMC MEMBERSHIPS These are organizations or coalitions in which TMC has formal membership, including payment of dues to and fulfillment of other agreed-upon responsibilities as an organizational member Abolition 2000: W. Pa. Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons 724-339-2242 / danfine@igc.org Pennsylvanians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty 412-384-4310, osterdm@earthlink.net
Fracking
What Does Hydrofracking Mean for Us? By The Shadbush Collective
waste-water have legally been disposed of into these drinking water sources without being fully Industry spokespersons and politicians have tested or treated for contaminants; illegal dumppainted a picture of shale gas drilling as a ing, spills and groundwater pollution add to the ―golden opportunity for the entire region.‖ rivers‘ burdens Widespread drilling will also They‘ve boasted about thousands of new jobs, significantly increase air pollution throughout dangled the lure of instant wealth for landown- the region. While air pollution is often invisible ers who sign leases, and even argued that it‘s its effects on health are insidious, increasing patriotic because it will reduce our dependence childhood asthma, many cancers and heart dison energy from overseas. However, independent ease deaths. Whose child will live in fear of not examination suggests many of these claims are being able to breathe, whose father will die beexaggerated, and that the costs to our health fore his time on an unusually smoggy day? may be substantial. Drilling at the predicted massive scale will profoundly change our state‘s landscape of rolling Life at ground zero Residents of areas where drilling has begun are farmland and wild forests, treasured by both already experiencing alarming problems. Alrural and urban residents for hunting, fishing though the industry says it is impossible, perma- and quality of life. It damages the landscapes nent contamination of well water is now a fact potential for sustainable economies in farming, of life for many. Strange new health problems timber and recreation: who can farm with poiare cropping up in children and adults who have son water, and who wants to vacation in an inbeen exdustrial landscape? Even The Shadbush Collective produces posed to as local food sources are the Shalefields Grassroots Reporter, becoming increasingly contaminated water a paper that features personal stories important, as they were and air. for previous generations, of people affected by fracking and an we risk contaminating Only a frac- in-depth look at all aspects of the the farmland that protion of these drilling process. Visit them at vides this life-giving cases ever bounty. www.shadbushcollective.org/. become public, because Path to energy indecompanies pendence? offer immeIndustry argues that gas diate finanwill free us from foreign cial compenenergy sources, with the sation if the added benefit that natupeople who ral gas is clean and have been green. However, the effected will same energy gains can sign agreebe made through conments promcentrated efforts to inising not to crease efficiency and The NewPeople would like to thank talk about through conservation, their prob- the Collective for allowing the reprint- which also creates thoulems. Many ing of the above article and the list of sands of jobs and leaves did not ana more sustainable legticipate the active environmental organizations to acy for future generathe right . profound tions. Furthermore, plans disruption to are in development for their quality of life from lights, noise and traffic new infrastructure to transport the gas overseas at all hours. They‘ve been kept up at night a for sale. compressors and other drilling equipment grind around the clock; they have seen roads deNatural gas from shale beds may not even destroyed by thousands of heavily loaded trucks serve its green reputation. While natural gas running to and from every frack site. They are does burn cleaner than coal, new calculations also finding that hidden clauses in their leases demonstrate that because so much energy is mean their financial gain is far less than adver- used to extract the gas, and so much carbon ditised, even as their property values are unexoxide and methane are relased in the process, its pectedly compromised. greenhouse gas footprint may be equal to coal‘s when the full life cycle of production is considAlthough contamination does not occur at every ered. well site, and not all landowners are shortchanged, it is safe to say that the problems that Communties at crossroads have come to light so far are only the tip of the There is a large supply of natural gas trapped in iceberg. Over 7,000 wells have already been the shale, but if it comes at the price of our permitted in Pennsylvania, only 2,500 have yet health and our region‘s long-term prospects, is it been drilled, and 60,000 more are planned beworth it? What legacy will it leave for our chilfore the gas rush plays out. (Figures are from dren and can we do better? Our communities the PA Land Trust Association, October 2010.) must decide; although the doors have been thrown open for the industry, many people across the region are asking questions, organizImpacts felt throughout the region Rural residents and leaseholders are not the only ing to make their voices heard, and together we ones who will be impacted. The millions of peo- can be a powerful voice for true democracy. ple ion New York City, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and across the many states impacted by drilling all rely on drinking water supplies that flow in from the Hudson, Delaware, Allegheny and other affected watersheds. Millions of gallons of
Regional Fracking Activist Groups: Beaver County Marcellus Shale Organizing Committee tinyurl.com/BeaverCountyMarcellus Center for Coalfield Justice www.coalfieldjustice.org A not-for-profit based in Washington, PA whose mission is education, assisting citizens‘ efforts to defend their rights, and working to improve and enforce laws and public policy. Group Against Smog and pollution www.gasp-pittsburgh.org A not-for-profit citizens‘ group in Southwestern PA focused on environmental education, litigation and policy especially related to air quality in the Pittsburgh region. Lincoln Place Action Group www.lpactiongroup.com A group focused on providing information and action regarding gas drilling in Pittsburgh‘s Lincoln Place neighborhood. Marcellus Protest www.marcellusprotest.org 724-485-9835 An aliance of Western PA groups and individuals building a broad coalition to stop destruction of our environment and communities. Mountain Watershed Association www.mtwatershed.com 724-455-4200 Not-for-profit concerned with the conservation, protection and restoration of the Indian Creek Watershed in Westmoreland and Fayette Counties. Murrysville Marcellus Community Group www.shalethreat.com 412-596-0066 or 724-3272767 A group specifically for the exchange of information and ideas for Murrysville community members who are combating fracking. Peters Township Marcellus Awareness www.ptmsa.com Pittsburgh Student Environmental Coalition pittsburghsec.wordpress.com PSEC is a collective of youth-run environmental organizations. Shadbush Collective www.shadbushcollective.org Confronting the root causes of ecological destruction, climate change and oppression in Pittsburgh and its bioregion. Sierra Club Allegheny Group www.alleghenysc.org Local branch of the national group protecting communities, wild places and the planet itself since 1892. Three Rivers Waterkeeper (Pittsburgh) www.threeriverswaterkeeper.org 412-589-9411 Protecting waterways throughout the region and actively investigating water threats. Upper Burrell Citizens Against Marcellus Pollution ubcamp@gmail.com 724-337-7470 Westmoreland Marcellus Citizens Group murrysvillemarcellus@gmail.com A grassroots group working to pass ordinances and bans in local municipalities and to educate and reach out to communities.
September, 2011
NEWPEOPLE - 3
ADVERTISEMENT
2011 TMC Award Dinner
Honoring Dr. Vandana Shiva November 3, 2011 Sheraton Station Square Register at www.thomasmertoncenter.org
Dorothy Day biographer, Jim Forest October 14 & 15, 2011 Public Lecture & Book Signing - Friday, Oct 14th, 7:30 pm
Who was Dorothy Day? Why Should We Care?
“All is Grace: A Biography of Dorothy Day‖ St George Antiochian Orthodox Cathedral, 3400 Dawson, Pgh, PA, 15213. $5 donation
&
Day of Reflection - Saturday, Oct 15th, 10 am – 4 pm
Dorothy Day was a person of contradictions: activist and contemplative, political radical and a theological conservative. Intending to found a newspaper, "Dorothy Day: A Saint for Our Times?" The Catholic Worker, she ended up founding a movement. The most imporat Holy Family of Nazareth tant monuments to her are the over 200 houses of hospitality that stretch from 285 Bellevue Rd. Pittsburgh, near Perrysville exit off 279N San Francisco to Amsterdam. Seeking not only to provide hospitality to the $30.00 donation includes lunch homeless as ―guests‖ during the Depression of the 1930s but to help build a nonviolent society which would not treat people as throw-aways, she was arrested again and again in protest actions. She continues to open doors for many, in terms of spiritual life, community building, the healing of division, service of the poor, and the renewal of churches, offering us graced inspiration and courage to continue the work for peace and social justice in our day. Many regard her as one of the saints of our time; a formal canonization process is now underway. Jim Forest, worked with Dorothy Day during the last 20 years of her life. He is the author of a new and comprehensive biography of her, All is Grace. Jim helped start the Catholic Peace Fellowship in response to the Vietnam War and has worked with the Fellowship of Reconciliation, as well as his current role as International Secretary of the Orthodox Peace Fellowship. Jim will be leading a day of reflection hosted at the community where Dorothy Day made her retreats with Fr. John Hugo, a Pittsburgh diocesan priest. Sponsors include: Pittsburgh Area Pax Christi, The Thomas Merton Center, Tri-Diocesan Sisters Leadership Council, APP (Assoc of Pgh For additional info & retreat registration details, contact: Priests), The Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh, CLC-Pgh. (Ignatian Christian Life Community), Sisters of Divine Providence, Mimi Darragh mimidarragh@aol.com, 831-8312, Pax Christi Holy Family Friary, peace and justice comCarol Gonzalez Teacher41@aol.com; 412.322.2189, CLC Molly Rush molly.rush@verizon.net, The Thomas Merton Center. mittees of St. Thomas More (Bethel Park) and St. James (Wilkinsburg), with endorsements from FOCUS (Fellowship of OrthoNumerous positive book reviews are available. See also: dox Christians United to Serve) and PIINhttp://www.jimandnancyforest.com/2006/03/24/all-is-grace/ Pgh Interfaith Impact Network * Dorothy Day by Robert Lenz, OFM * Photo of Dorothy picketing with farmworkers by Bob Fitch
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September, 2011
Pennsylvania
A Vigil for Leonard Peltier On August 6, 2011, more than seventy people gathered outside the Federal Penitentiary in Lewisburg, PA to hold a candlelight vigil and demonstration on behalf of jailed Native American leader Leonard Peltier. Peltier, serving a life sentence for the killings of two Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agents on the Pine Ridge, South Dakota, Reservation in 1975, has been placed on 23 hour lockdown, sparking the demonstration. Officials at the Penitentiary found him in possession of ―contraband currency,‖ having received a 20 pound note from a woman in Scotland. The note, however, was not discovered until Peltier tried to mail it to a friend, knowing he was not allowed to possess currency. Among the protesters was Peltier‘s sister, Betty Ann, who drove from North Dakota because she believes her brother was ―set-up‖. She was quoted in the Lewisburg Sunday Item edition as saying, ―I know they set him up. You mean to tell me they didn‘t check his mail coming in, but they did going out?‖
Photo by Gary R. Davidson Protestors at a vigil for Leonard Peltier, a Native American leader serving life in prison.
cited him for ―disruptive behavior‖ and possession of a weapon although details were not available.
Peltier‘s attorney, Michael Kuzma, said Peltier ―Was in good spirits about what is going on out here.‖
Peltier suffers from a cardiac condition and concerns were raised about his health.
A leader of the American Indian Movement before his arrest, Peltier was involved in a 1975 shootout at Oglala, South Dakota, where the FBI agents were killed. Many native Americans conAmong those attending the demonstration were Betty Ann Peltier claims her brother is being held members of Veterans for Peace, New York City sider him a political prisoner and Amnesty Interin ―solitary confinement,‖ which prison officials Chapter, visitors from Germany and Hawaii and national has voiced repeated concerns about his dispute. They maintain he has a cellmate. But he Wilkes-Barre policeman Mark Hampton. Officer conviction. Peltier maintains his innocence, was removed from the general population and claiming witnesses against him committed perHampton, of Native American descent, believes moved to a ―special housing unit‖ where he is jury. Peltier should be freed. He was quoted by the held 23 hours a day. He takes his meals there Daily Item as saying, ―In my profession I am sup- (Based on wire service reports, the Lewisburg also. He was also docked 100 days of ―good beSunday Item coverage of August 7, 2011 and reposed to stand up for what is right and I believe havior‖ time for possessing the currency and lost this is wrong.‖ ports from Gary R. Davidson of Veterans for commissary privileges. Prison officials have also Peace, New York City Chapter.) Fracking happens all throughout Pennsylvania. In efforts to extract natural gases from the earth, poisonous chemicals are pumped into the ground, potentially rendering any local water supplies toxic. Here‘s a list of some of what ends up in that toxic water.
Identified Fracking Fluids: Hydrofracturing fluid contains many toxic chemicals such as diesel fuel, benzene, ethylbenzene, toluene, xylene, napthalene, polycylic aromatic hydrocarbons, methanol, formaldehyde, ethylene glycol, glycol ethers, hydrochloric acid and sodium hydroxide. Even in small quantities chemicals such as benzene are capable of contaminating millions of gallons of water causing causing cancer and other health problems. Three hundred and sixty two chemicals involved in ―fracking‖ were analyzed for potential health effects. When fluid is pumped out of the ground it also contains radioactive minerals and salts the were embedded thousands of feet below the surface. Buried so deeply is it harmless but when released into our ecosystem such natural radiation can be extremely harmful. Even chemicals we don‘t consider harmful, like salts, will kill animal and plant life when concentrated. Many of the other chemicals used in the hydrofracturing process are unrevealed to the public as they are considered ―trade secrets.‖
Pennsylvania Network Against Torture Conference The first conference of the Pennsylvania Network Against Torture (PANAT) will be held October 28-29, 2011 at the Market Square Presbyterian Church in Harrisburg, PA. We are inviting individuals and organizations to come together to coordinate training, public education and action planning across the state, with a focus on: Ending U.S. Sponsored torture and rendition Ending torture in our domestic prisons Training for professionals and volunteers who support survivors of torture, war trauma and solitary confinement.
and creative action. Attorney King Downing, the AFSC's Program Analyst for Healing Justice work, will overview how groups around Pennsylvania facilitate consideration of draft legislation that PANAT plans to introduce to end the torture of prolonged solitary confinement in Pennsylvania.
Our keynote speaker, Dr. Kate Porterfield, clinical psychologist at the Bellevue/NYU Program for Survivors of Torture, will share reflections on her work as a psychologist in the context of the "war on terror‖ and the hundreds of hours at Three speakers will address these issues and then Guantanamo Bay with such detainees as Omar facilitate action planning sessions with organiza- Khadr who were minors when they were impristions and individuals from around the state: oned at Guantanamo. Dr. Porterfield has regularly trained and supervised professionals, volunteers John Humphries, NRCAT‘s Director for Program and organizations across the nation from a wide Coordination, will facilitate workshops for those variety of disciplines and will lead Saturday working to end U.S.-sponsored torture through workshops on how to better care for survivors of local educational programs, legislative advocacy torture, war trauma, and solitary confinement. She
will also facilitate action planning for future training and Pennsylvania partnerships to share resources for care of survivors. Whether you are an individual activist, a professional hoping to better serve your clients, or a representative of an organization working to build action partnerships, please join us to help end torture and care for survivors. For more information about the conference and to register, please visit our website: www.panetworkagainsttorture.org or call Scilla Wahrhaftig of the American Friends Service Committee at 412-371-3607 or Helen Gerhardt at 412-508-7382. (412) 371 3607
September, 2011
NEWPEOPLE - 5
International
Ending the Embargo on Cuba By Michael Drohan
bargo by the U.S. is to prevent the virus that Cuba represents from spreading. The virus in question I visited Cuba with the 22nd Pastors for Peace is ―the danger of the success of an alternative sysCaravan from July 21-31, 2011. During that time tem to capitalism‖. We have to seriously ask ourthe Caravan tried to get as broad an experience of selves if the real reason why we are denied the the country as possible, and at every juncture of freedom to visit Cuba is that the government fears our experience, the Caravan was struck by the the contamination that a successful example of pervasiveness of the effects of the longstanding socialism could cause. Surely, it is not that the U.S. embargo against Cuba. One could give hundreds of examples. Cell phones are practically non-existent in Cuba. To make a one minute cell phone call in Cuba would cost one day‘s pay, therefore it is out of the question. The U.S. denies Cuba a cable connection, so the country is constrained to build an undersea cable with Venezuela. Computer connectivity is very difficult for the same reason. I spent 30 minutes in one of the most expensive hotels in Havana trying to send an email to the U.S. without success. These are but a few of the hardships imposed on Cuba by Photo by Michael Drohan the embargo.
world. In regard to personal safety, I walked in Havana at all hours of day and night in perfect safety, which was a first for me at least in the global south. I would not and do not claim that Cuba is akin to the garden of Eden or that it has eliminated social ills and poverty. However, when I saw that health care was universal and free, I found it astounding and exemplary. Education is likewise universal and free. Cuba has reduced infant mortality to a level lower than that of the U.S. with its health care system based mostly on preventive measures. And in all this, one has to remember that Cuba is relatively poor in natural resources. It truly shows what is possible with imagination and a commitment to equality and social justice for all. Labels are in a sense irrelevant when one talks about Cuba and the U.S.. What is important is the substance of the social policies that are followed.
The 22nd Caravan to Cuba was a particularly important one in that it was the first after the death of the founder and initiator of the Friendshipment Caravans, the Rev. Lucius Walker who passed away in Sept 2010. Lucius Walker is almost a household name and highly revered figure in Cuba and rightly so. The movement that he Group of Caravanistas before departure from McAllen, Tx started is unique, being one of the few movements The U.S. has embargoed trade and that have opposed the embargo consistently and travel with Cuba since almost the beginning of government does not want us to see whatever hor- continuously for 22 years and has done so by the Cuban Revolution in 1959. Two Congresrors may exist there since we are quite free to breaking it. Within Cuba, Lucius Walker is consesional Amendments, the Toricelli Amendment of visit many of the world‘s most violent countries quently highly revered in all echelons of society. 1992 and the Helms-Burton Amendment have to see their human rights violations for ourselves: He represents for Cubans the kind of person with made the embargo even more punitive and harsh. Zimbabwe, Myanmar and The Democratic Rewhich they would like the U.S. to be filled, a huThe embargo on Cuba is immoral and illegal as it public of Congo. The Soviet Union and Cuba‘s man being who stands for love and solidarity bepunishes people and their government who have link to it long served as a pretext for denying free- tween all human beings and peoples. never committed any act of hostility towards the dom to visit Cuba, but the Soviet Union has long U.S. or ever threatened to do so. The embargo since been laid clearly violates all international law. However, it to rest and the is one of those criminal situations which the embargo conAmerican public, by and large, has learned to live tinues. U.S. with, overlooking its truly harsh nature. citizens‘ freedom to visit The reason that most of us have come to live with China, a selfthis criminal situation is enshrined in the embargo described Comitself. The embargo denies U.S. citizens, except in munist country, a few legalized situations, the freedom to visit shows that the Cuba and see for ourselves the good, the bad and embargo has the ugly that goes on in that nation. Yet further, if nothing to do one does visit Cuba and exercises one‘s first with Cuba‘s amendment rights, one could be slapped with se- espoused ideolvere punishments of monetary and legal natures. ogy. The emThe consequence of this situation is that most citi- bargo‘s purpose zens come to accept the unjust situation and live can only be to with it just as with the air they breathe. As for deny us, the Photo by Michael Drohan myself, I have wanted to visit Cuba for the long- people, the freeest time so as to make up my own mind in regard dom to see that an- Protest by subgroup of the Caravan at Mexican Customs and Immigration to what the Fidel revolution has wrought on this other way of orgasmall Caribbean island. I have refrained from nizing society, based on values other than those of My last words: Visit Cuba and learn for yourself, breaking the embargo for the reasons enunciated profit and greed, is truly possible. Don‘t take my word. Don‘t be terrorized by emabove, but this Summer I finally took the plunge. bargoes. nd I decided to be a part of the Pastors for Peace 22 Caravan to Cuba to bring about 100 tons of huWhat I saw and heard in Cuba during my brief Michael Drohan is a political economist spemanitarian aid to the people of Cuba. Lisa visit is truly amazing given the omnipresent em- cializing in analysis of Third World economies Valanti, the local heroine of solidarity with Cuba, bargo. In further articles I will elaborate more on and a member of The Thomas Merton Cenplayed a large part in getting me on board with this, but just to give a few examples: for all my ter‗s Board of Directors. this quite unforgettable trip. time in Cuba I was never bitten by a mosquito, Cuba has eliminated them together with all the It has often been said that the reason for the em- diseases they cause in most countries of the
2011 Thomas Merton Award Dinner Honoring Dr. Vandana Shiva November 3, 2011 Sheraton Station Square Register at www.thomasmertoncenter.org 6 - NEWPEOPLE
September, 2011
International ―I visited Cuba with the 22nd Pastors for Peace Caravan from July 21-31, 2011. During that time the Caravan tried to get as broad an experience of the country as possible, and at every juncture of our experience, the Caravan was struck by the pervasiveness of the effects of the longstanding U.S. embargo against Cuba.‖ ~Michael Drohan (far right) with his fellow Caravan members in Cuba
International Women‘s Conference for Peace Meets in Costa Rica By Susan Smith
Thoughts from a First-Time Participant
For the past several days I have been attending the international congress for WILPF (Women‘s International League for Peace and Freedom). I decided to attend because other Pittsburgh WILPFers encouraged me to do so. I wasn‘t sure what it would be like, so I came with an open mind.
I came to this congress with the expectation of meeting many strong women from around the world working for peace. I also looked forward to speaking to people in French and Spanish, as well. These hopes were most definitely fulfilled! I have enjoyed the networking and chances to learn about many issues such as disarmament, impact of war on women, communication within the organization, Reaching Critical Will, work with the United Nations, and challenging militarism.
I know that many readers will have questions about the organization and the congress. What is WILPF? I took most of this information from the International WILPF website (http:// www.wilpfinternational.org/index.htm) ―The Women's International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF) is an international Non Governmental Organization (NGO) with national sections, covering all continents with an international secretariat based in Geneva, and a New York office focused on the work of the United Nations.
specific citations of information and input from the Palestinian delegate(s) who were not able to attend. These resolutions are to guide work within International WILPF and country sections. They also provide information about the topics. I attended a meeting of participants from the Americas. We agreed to create a newsletter that will go out 4 times a year to provide information about what sections and branches are doing so
I did not attend all sessions and working groups because there were many and they ran from 8:30 a.m. to 9 or 10 p.m. Still I feel much better informed and have a better understanding of how international programs fit with what is done locally and within the US section. Since its establishment in 1915, WILPF has There were 114 participants. Not brought together women from around the world all were voting delegates. For Photo by Susan Smith who are united in working for peace by nonexample, there were about 25 Delegates from 3 of new WILPF sections: Gabriela Rivera, Mexico; Joy violent means, promoting political, economic and women (and 1 man) from the social justice for all. USA while 6 women were voting Onyesah, Nigeria; Annie Matundu-Mbambi, DR Congo, and Amanna delegates. While we had a range Anayasodo, Nigeria. What WILPF does - Lobbies governments on international, national of ages, all participants were white. We did have representation from around and local levels that we can make more connections and do more the country, but it is my impression that there - Connects communities with the international were more from both coasts than the central part work together. If you are a WILPF member, scene, through national sections please watch for more information from members - Participates in, collaborates and networks with of the country. of the International Board on this topic. If you We met at the Radisson Hotel and Conference international institutions and global movements Center. It was the best choice of sites because of are not a WILPF member, maybe it‘s time to join! -Develops reference, education and action tools through websites, conferences, seminars and pub- the conference rooms available and the appropri- Evening activities included several films, a play, ate number of rooms for participants. Also, the lications and on the first evening there was a wonderful -Monitors and contributes to the work of the UN managers are supportive of women and their isreception with food and wonderful marimba musues and gave us a good deal on the facilities. and ensures a gender perspective‖ Some women who could not afford to stay in this sic. There was lots of conversation and dancing. hotel stayed in a nearby hostel. There were beau- A farewell dinner took place the final evening. WILPF had sections in 35 countries and 5 more tiful plants in the area. (Democratic Republic of Congo, Mexico, NigeSusan Smith, Ph.D., is a long-time educator, ria, Pakistan, and Spain) were formally added WILPF member, Raging Granny, and activist. during the current congress so there are now 40. Women from various countries (or from within one country!) have many opinions and it takes Within those sections there are 130 branches time to express them. This makes some sessions (organizations in separate cities, states, or provlong (and at times, tedious); 10 resolutions were inces). presented with 9 being accepted by the congress voting delegates. One was sent back for more September, 2011
NEWPEOPLE - 7
Local News
Hunger, continued from page 1 Tara Marks, Co-Director of Just Harvest (a cut funding to essential public safety-net proSouthside-based nonprofit that has been working grams like SNAP [the Supplemental nutritional since 1986 to eliminate hunger and poverty in our assistance program, formerly known as ‗food region) noted that the FRAC report‘s findings stamps‘] or TANF [temporary assistance to needy illustrates the disproporfamilies],‖ said SAVE THE DATE tionate, devastating effect Marks.―Programs that proTuesday, October 4, 2011. that the recession has had tect the poorest and most upon low-income famivulnerable Americans must lies. It also serves to unTony P. Hall, former U.S. Repre- remain off the bargaining derscore the gravity of the table in these debt-reduction sentative and UN Food & Agricul- proceedings,‖ she contask facing the newly ture Ambassador will speak at the cludes. formed Debt-Reduction Super-committee, of Just Harvest 23rd Annual Harvest which Pennsylvania Celebration Dinner at the Omni Yesterday‘s report is part of Senator Pat Toomey is a FRAC‘s ongoing Food William Penn. Joyce Rothermel member. Hardship in America series, will receive the Seeds of Justice which analyzes data that ―As advocates for poor Award. Stupendous Silent Auc- was collected by Gallup and people in our region, we to FRAC. The tion, too. Call (412) 431-8960 for provided hope that Senator data was gathered as part of more information. Toomey will take these the Gallup-Healthways Well numbers into considera-Being Index project, which tion in the inevitable discussion over whether to has interviewed more than one million house-
holds since January 2008. FRAC has analyzed personal responses to this daunting question: ―Have there been times in the past twelve months when you did not have enough money to buy food that you or your family needed?‖ The Food Research and Action Center (FRAC) is the lead advocacy organization working to end hunger in America through stronger public policies. For more information, visit www.frac.org. Find us on Facebook at facebook.com/ foodresearchandactioncenter or follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/fractweets. Just Harvest is a membership organization which promotes economic justice and works to influence public policy and to educate, empower, and mobilize the citizens of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania communities toward the elimination of hunger. Visit us at www.justharvest.org or Facebook.com/ JustHarvest.
YOUR AD HERE! To inquire about advertising space in next month‘s issue, email newpeople@thomasmertoncenter.org
www.thomasmertoncenter.org
Smithfield Link Renamed ―MEDICARE FOR ALL BRIDGE‖ By Molly Rush
former Labor Secretary to President Clinton, do so. called Medicare ―the solution, not the problem,‖ As Congress fought over the nation‘s debt ceiling in terms of this country‘s fiscal crisis . Prior to the bridge‘s renaming, single-payer supand Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security porters staged a street theater production in front were put on the chopping block by elected offiA single-payer system such as Improved Mediof the office of U.S. Senator Patrick Toomey, a cials of both major parties, Western Pennsylvania care for All would also enable hospitals in disRepublican, on the Southside side of the bridge. Continued on page 10 single-payer supporters paid tribute to the 46th tressed communities to be fiscally viable and reanniversary of Medicare by unfurling a large, main open, as all patient care would be reimhomemade banner and reading a proclamation bursed equally, instead of the multi-tier payment renaming Pittsburgh‘s Smithfield Street Bridge system based on type of insurance or lack the ―Medicare for All Bridge.‖ thereof that currently exists in this country. In This action comes as a rebuke to elected officials Western Pennsylvania and across the nation, selling out to corporate interests over the public hospitals in economically depressed neighborwelfare at the local and national levels. The Alle- hoods have closed, while hospitals in higher ingheny County Council, representing Pittsburgh come neighborhoods compete. The latest casuand surrounding communities, garnered a near alty in Western PA was UPMC Braddock Hosunanimous (apart from one abstention) vote on pital, the anchor of a town already devastated by June 7, 2011, to allow for ―the placement of adthe closing of the steel mills, whose emergency vertising, naming rights, or sponsorship noroom treated close to 26,000 people a year, its tices…‖ on county bridges ―as a means of gener- site now reduced to dirt. ating supplemental revenue for the County…‖ Meanwhile, the proclamation issued by the West- The issue of choice is especially painful for ern PA Coalition for Single-Payer Healthcare, many of the residents of Western Pennsylvania, Healthcare4allPA, and Save Our Community who have been roiled by the public duel between Hospitals, calls for the bridge‘s renaming ―for the the region‘s two major ―non-profit‖ health behehealth and fiscal benefits‖ of the inhabitants of moths—UPMC and Highmark Blue Cross/Blue the land as a statement in support of a universal, Shield—as the contract between Highmark, the not-for-profit, single-payer system of healthcare, dominant insurer, and UPMC, which owns a also known as Improved Medicare for All. majority of the doctor and hospital systems in Western PA, expires in June 2012. UPMC, While members of Congress and the White House which also has its own health insurance plan, is Photo by Molly Rush propose major cuts to Medicare, traditional Medi- threatening to no longer accept Highmark insurcare is less expensive than private insurance, of- ance at its medical facilities, causing patients fers greater choice of hospitals and doctors, and and doctors alike to be up in arms. Meanwhile, UPMC Darth Vader battles Highmark Darth Vader in a protects seniors and the disabled from premature Highmark is busy buying up area hospitals out- protest staged outside of Senator Casey‘s Pittsburgh death and bankruptcy. Robert Reich, Chancellor‘s side UPMC‘s domain, and is being rightly criti- office. Professor of Public Policy at UC Berkeley and cized for a 3.7 billion surplus which allows it to 8 - NEWPEOPLE
September, 2011
Local News
Winona LaDuke to Keynote ―Building Change‖ Conference By Andy Knopes
workshops, several of which are highlighted be- examine three local health care advocacy camlow. This is a great opportunity to get inspired by paigns, and analyze their effectiveness for use in Who better than a one-of-a-kind activist to kick a nationally recognized activist, then learn firstfuture campaigns. off a first-of-its kind conference for social justice? hand how to make a real impact at a local level. Winona LaDuke, Native-American activist, enviSolutions to Our Deep Crisis at the Climateronmentalist, author, and former U.S. vice presi- Building Change Workshops Energy-Poverty Nexus: The team from 3 Rivers dential candidate (1996 and 2000, Green Party), Workshops are where the rubber hits the road at Bioneers will take participants on a journey to will present the keynote speech at Three Rivers the Convergence, and there are more than 40 seek transcendent solutions to today‘s complex Community Foundation‘s Building Change: A workshops to choose from! and interconnected social and environmental Convergence for Social Justice, being held Octoproblems, using art, science, and dialogue. ber 13-15 at the Heinz History Center in Pittsburgh‘s Strip District. Poverty and Hunger: Thinking Nationally/Acting Locally: This interactive workshop will focus on LaDuke has a long and distinguished career as an advocacy efforts to end hunger and address acadvocate for a range of social justice issues. tions and policies that perpetuate hunger and povRaised in Oregon by her father, an actor and acerty in America, ending with creating an action tivist who was part Anishinaabe (Ojibwe or plan. The workshop will contrast the conditions ―Chippewa‖), and her mother, a Jewish artist, Laof the poor and the wealthy and policies benefitDuke graduated from Harvard in 1982 with a deing or harming them. gree in rural economic development. After serving as the principal of the high school on the AnReal Nonprofits of Social Media: Do you wonder ishinaabe White Earth Indian Reservation in Minhow local nonprofits are using social media to nesota, she got an M.A. in Community Economic communicate, collaborate, fundraise, and meet Development and was soon advocating on behalf their missions? In this workshop, meet members of the Anishinaabe as they struggled to recover of four local organizations that have lots of social lands promised to them in an 1867 treaty. In media experience and are willing to share their 1986, she founded the White Earth Land Recovstories of success, failure, and lessons learned ery Project to help purchase back some of the along the way. original 837,000 acres of Anishinaabe lands. In addition to these and many others, the ConverLaDuke is currently Executive Director of Honor gence is packed with activities for activists and the Earth, a Native-led organization that she concerned citizens of all ages, including training helped found in 1993 to create awareness and sessions, plenary sessions, panel discussions, support for Native environmental issues. She has the Building Change Film Festival, the 7 PathWinona LaDuke addressing a crowd written extensively on Native American and enviways to Change Art Show, an Internship Station, ronmental issues, publishing six books, including Community Organizing 101: This is a mustthe Youth Leading Change event, and plenty of The Militarization of Indian Country (2011). No- attend for anyone who isn‘t sure how to get entertainment. For more details on all that will be table honors LaDuke has received over her career started making a difference in their communities, happening during this unique event, please visit include Ms. Magazine‘s Woman of the Year in or those who need a fresh perspective on their the Convergence website at 1998, one of Time magazine‘s fifty most promis- current efforts. This workshop will cover a broad www.buildingchangewpa.org. ing leaders under 40 (in 1994), and the Reebok range of real issues facing our communities, such Human Rights Award. as organizing in rural areas, interfaith organizing, (The Thomas Merton Center is a cosponsor of the and campaign work. Building Change Film Festival.) LaDuke‘s address will take place during the ConAndy Knopes works on the Communications and vergence‘s opening session on the evening of Oc- Rules of Engagement: Healthcare Advocacy in PR Subcommittee of the Three Rivers Community tober 13, followed by two full days of hands-on Pittsburgh: In this workshop, participants will Foundation.
To the Editor of The NewPeople: Moshe Sherman
I am a regular reader of The NewPeople, and I am quite perturbed by the fact that you rarely, if ever, publish letters to the editor! Do you have something against freedom of expression? How ironic that would be, given that you are a social justice paper. In the future, I hope to see this lack of reader input remedied. Sincerely, Angry Young Man Dear Angry Young Man, I would gladly publish ANY letter to the editor were I to ever receive one! There is no letter too angry, critical, or tersely worded I would not print. Grammatically inaccurate letters, on the other hand, are another story. If you have any friends who would like to write to The NewPeople, have them send their letters to: newpeople@thomasmertoncenter.org or The NewPeople c/o The Thomas Merton Center 5129 Penn Avenue Pgh, PA 15224 Sincerely, The NewPeople Editor
September, 2011
NEWPEOPLE - 9
Local News
Adventures of a Human Rights Lobbyist By Jordana Rosenfeld
passionate to the table, the trends would be impossible for lawmakers to ignore. I have not been What would our country look like today if lobby- in touch with more than dismally less than 1% of ing one‘s elected officials was a activity? I mean the 245 million people of which I speak, so I canso commonplace that lobbying was a rite of pas- not purport to know what those trends would be. sage, akin to voting for the first time or getting a What I do know is from personal experience: driver‘s license. If all the roughly 245 million civic involvement is good. It creates a sense of U.S. residents over the age of 14 were to sched- nationalism, ownership, and empowerment. This ule a meeting with their Federal Representative is something of which I feel the American people or Senator this year, that would mean an average need a dose. of 458,443 meetings for each Congressman or woman – 1,763 meetings per day, spread out The week of August 15th, I met with both Senaover 260 work days a year. Granted, a portion of tors Toomey and Casey‘s Southwest Regional those 245 million residents are incarcerated, hos- Directors and Representative Mike Doyle on pitalized, or handicapped in some way that would separate occasions to discuss a number of human seriously impede their ability to lobby effecrights issues of concern to both myself and hutively. Nonetheless, this would require each man rights organization Amnesty International. I elected official to hire a larger staff to handle the arrived at the two Senators‘ Pittsburgh offices on influx of lobbyists, and the results of this influx Monday with a delegation of Amnesty Internawould be utterly stupendous. If 245 million peo- tional members in tow after a substantial amount ple brought facts and succinct arguments pertain- of training on the ABC‘s of lobbying (which, it ing to the one issue about which they are most turns out, are accuracy, brevity, and courtesy). I
had been in polite and professional correspondence with the Senators‘ Schedulers for weeks leading up to the appointments, setting the dates, reviewing the agendas, and forwarding any documents to be used in the meetings for their advanced perusal, and I was pleasantly surprised at how quickly and eagerly the staff had made time to speak with constituents on behalf of their respective employers. The meetings were on the long side of normal – hovering around 30 minutes each – and as my delegation presented facts on maternal mortality (49 other countries have better maternal health care than the U.S.), Maher Arar (a Canadian citizen who the U.S. sent to Syria to be tortured because of suspected ties to Al-Qaeda), and The National Defense Authorization Act (a bill that has passed in the House and aims to keep Guantánamo Bay Prison open indefinitely), the Senator‘s Regional Directors engaged us with questions about the issues and took notes. When we met with Representative Doyle, he spent a chunk of time at the end of our meeting venting his frustrations with the bipartisan brinkmanship that has permeated the cur-
Single Payer Alternative to PA Health Insurance By Mary Pat Donegan, PhD Healthcare4AllPA Education Fund and Citizen Power, two strong Pennsylvania voices, carried convincing messages to Pennsylvania Insurance Commissioner Michael Consedine and Representatives of the Insurance Commission at the August 8th Pittsburgh Area Hearing on Federal Required Insurance Exchanges or Equivalents. Dr. Titus North of Citizen Power analyzed the way Insurance companies manipulate actuary tables in order to demand consumer rate increases. This results in millions of dollars in profits for health insurance companies. The only alternative, Titus concluded, is a state run, publicly paid, and privately provided Single Payer Healthcare system. There are a dozen states that have refused to set up an exchange. Massachusetts, the model state for the federal legis-
lation, spent $25 billion to set up its exchange. Ohio has been quoted the same price tag for their exchange development, with an annual cost of $1 million. With the Pennsylvania budget not keeping up with the need for increased consumer application for Medicaid and no increased taxes on the wealthy or corporations, there are no new revenues to pay for the exchange. Vermont, Connecticut, Hawaii, and California are developing Single Payer Options as alternatives for the exchange. PA S.B. 400, ―The Family and Business Health Security Act‖ with its Prime Sponsor Senator Ferlo, meets all the criteria of ACA, and guarantees that everyone in PA would be covered. This measure would be self sustaining and affordable at 3% of an individual or family income, and 10% of a business or municipality income wellness tax. It would save the state $2.3 billion
in municipal, school district, and state workers money, instead of costing $25 billion to set up an exchange. To view the whole testimony go to: http//healthcare4allpaedfund.org/ blog/ There will be a series of blogs at that site on the PA exchange. If you wish to send your comments about exchange options or view the video of the day of hearings, go to RA-IN-PA -HealthOptions@state.pa There will be exchange option hearings held in Philadelphia as well as Harrisburg. A summary of the stakeholder hearings will be available from the Insurance Department and eventually presented to the State Legislature.
Happy Birthday to the Thomas Merton Center! It will be celebrating its 40th birthday in 2012.
Downtown Action on Medicare, continued from page 8 After the bridge ceremony, supporters carrying the ―Medicare for All Bridge‖ crossed the bridge to the downtown office of U.S. Senator Bob Casey, Jr., a Democrat, where the street performance was re-enacted. The dramatization was filmed by local and internationally renowned filmmaker Tony Buba, Chair of Save Our Community Hospitals, and featured two Darth Vader heads dressed in business attire—one representing UPMC, the other Highmark Blue Cross/Blue Shield—engaged in a duel, with patients, care providers, and closed community hospitals (bearing ―Death Certificate‖ signs) as collateral damage. (UPMC and Highmark are engaged in a brutal and expensive battle to control the local health insurance market and our major hospitals --ED)
patient gowns or scrubs, emblazoned with stickers marked ―HR 676,‖ the number of the House bill entitled ―Improved and Expanded Medicare for All,‖ introduced by U.S. Representative John Conyers, Jr., with 65 cosponsors, including Congressman Mike Doyle of Swissvale. (Batman‘s costume may have sparked additional interest by passers-by, given that filming for the latest sequel to the Batman series was underway in Pittsburgh.)
Grystar called on Senators of both parties to ―have the courage to fight for the majority,‖ noting that ―public opinion is for taxing the rich, protecting Medicare and Social Security, and Medicare for All, yet our two U.S. Senators completely ignore the needs of the vast majority for jobs and social justice and do the bidding of their rich Wall Street and corporate benefactors who control the agenda of both major political parties.‖
Ed Grystar, Co-Chair of the Western PA Coalition for Single-Payer Healthcare, stated, ―We march and rally today to protect citizens from the predatory practices of the insurance industry represented by UPMC and Highmark, which are out of control and need to be curtailed. Currently the victim of demagogic attacks, we also The victims of that damage rise when Batman recognize the 46th anniversary of Medicare and and Robin, as the superheroes for Improved demand that it be expanded and improved for all Medicare for All, emerge to save the residents of in the USA.‖ the land. Patients and care providers donned
David Hughes, President of Citizen Power and a member of the Western PA Coalition for SinglePayer Healthcare and Save Our Community Hospitals, concurred, stating ―It is unconscionable that our government can find trillions of dollars for wars in multiple countries but can‘t seem to find the funds to provide for the basic human needs of its own citizens.‖
10 - NEWPEOPLE
September, 2011
Molly Rush sits on the Thomas Merton Center Board of Directors.
Local News
A Grand Design for Progressive Progress in Western PA By Carlana Rhoten
sive they actually are.
What is a progressive?
FOOD: farmers, grocers/distributors, restaurants, bars CLOTHING: thrift shops, recycled goods TRADES: doctors, dentists, lawyers, accountants, carpenters, roofers, plumbers, electricians, landscapers, technology repairs BARTERING: businesses/individuals who exchange goods and services.
On a certain level, it‘s easy to see how such a phenomenon can occur, since effective citizenship Generally speaking, progressives want a better as a skill is not taught in the public school sysquality of life for everyone. They are in favor of tems. And the mainstream media does not report some combination of the following: a clean envi- on local, state, and national issues in a compreronment and renewable, sustainable energy rehensive, chronological, objective, or coherent sources; non-violent resolutions to conflicts; un- fashion. As a result, the general public often does encumbered, non-privatized Social Security bene- not hear about a specific piece of legislation or a Another step would be to assemble a directory of fits; quality education and healthcare for all citi- proposed administrative action until after it has progressive organizations that lists all of the folzens; new global trade policies that would bring been passed or blocked. lowing types of organizations: environmental, currently outsourced jobs back to America; the social justice, peace, voting, legal, criminal jusU.S. Constitution and the rule of law, with the With that in mind, progressive organizations need tice, economics, job creation/training, media, laws applied equally to both ordinary citizens and to expand their memberships and take proper, healthcare/public health, education, consumer billionaires/multinational corporations; enforceeffective steps to reach out to the entire commu- protection, and worker-owned businesses/co-ops. ment of the Sherman Anti-Trust Act; a return of nity. To do so, progressive organizations need Glass/Steagall Act levying transaction fees on all much more interaction with all media outlets, as Lastly, and most importantly in terms of public Wall Street transactions; and fair taxation of all well as door-to-door canvassing campaigns that outreach, progressives should create a directory of citizens above the poverty line. Almost every one can effectively educate the public and bypass me- services to help citizens who are encountering of these issues, if not all of them, has the potential dia blackouts of news. specific difficulties relating to food, shelter, emto appeal across partisan lines to most of our area ployment, health and any other day-to-day concitizens. This article is an invitation for members of the cern. This would more effectively increase the Thomas Merton Center and other progressive or- progressive profile within each community and However, because progressives do not all agree ganizations to begin laying the foundation for a develop more meaningful relationships with comon every one of the above issues and because so stronger role in our communities, our state, and munity members. Progressives will then be able many issue-specific progressive organizations our nation. We need teams to work on specific to effectively gauge the needs of the community exist without effectively interacting with one an- ―bricks‖ that when laid together will attract more and demonstrate how progressive policies are deother, we don‘t really know how many progrescitizens to join our efforts to build the kind of signed to address such needs. sives live in Allegheny County, Southwestern PA, ―better world‖ that our 2011 Merton Awardee Dr. or the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. To add to Vandana Shiva is promoting. We do not want to spend a single minute rethe confusion, many progressives are not affiliinventing any wheels or duplicating the work of ated with any so-called ―progressive‖ organizaTo do so, we must first explicitly decide upon our others, so the first task is to find the directories tions and may not even be aware of them. overarching message. In other words, what valu- and e-mail lists that already exist, and then exable services can we offer the average citizen and pand/modify them into door-to-door handouts Although it may sound far-fetched, there may be how can our efforts become more relevant to and/or an online database for maximum public a few budding progressives who vote for conser- every citizen as they work toward a better quality awareness/understanding. Each of the above divative candidates or are attracted to the Tea Party of life? rectories could also be printed and sold as part of because fast-talking, attractive spokespersons apfundraising, if necessary. It would be great to peal to them or because one specific pseudoProgressives should work to compile directories have first drafts ready to distribute at the Novempopulist issue presented by these candidates or of progressive businesses that provide the follow- ber 3 TMC Banquet. spokespersons appeals to them, and they may not ing categories of services, and should financially be aware of the dangerous subtexts that lie just support other progressives whenever possible. Carlana Rhoten is the producer of Progressive under the surface. In other words, these would-be Here are some suggested categories: Pittsburgh Notebook. progressives may not yet know just how progres-
A Message from the 10 Years + Counting Collaborative Project Dear Friends: October 2011 will mark the ten-year anniversary of our nation continuously at war. Endless war need not be inevitable. We're writing to ask you to participate in 10 Years + Counting (10YAC), a collaborative project developed by artists and activists. 10YAC is now open to encourage, share and promote any of your efforts toward peace. 10YAC invites all - artists, activists, teachers, writers, curators, veterans, musicians, students - to mark the anniversary of our decade at war. We invite you to create and organize to reveal its tragic costs and to imagine how we might insist on new options for investing in a more peaceful world. Load songs of peace on the 10YAC YouTube channel. Post poems to our blog and artwork to our online gallery. Organize and register exhibits, performances, readings, courses, concerts or community gatherings. Develop and share projects that encourage citizens of all ages to confront the impact of war and to consider what military budgets might fund instead. There is no limit to the many ways we can creatively express our desire for peace. Together we can turn the weeks of this anniversary of devastation into an unstoppable, irrepressible explosion of imagining alternatives to war and a new beginning. To learn more, please visit www.10yearsandcounting.org. Register your activity or event to build a comprehensive listing of our collective and individual responses. We will share the results with opinion leaders, elected officials, and the media to demonstrate the urgent need for changing direction. Thanks for all that you do.
Lobbying for Human Rights, continued from page 10 rent political climate.
tion, despite the fact that all elected officials are Continued on page 11 employees of their constituents. But, it‘s like a
The meetings were productive and our requests were time-bound; I was sure to schedule followup calls with the appropriate staff members either in Pittsburgh or Washington to reassess the Congressmen‘s thoughts on our concerns and the resources with which we provided them. In the end, there is no guarantee that my elected officials will take any of the steps I recommended to combat the human rights abuses I brought to their atten-
white board in the Thomas Merton Center (where I sit as I write this) says, ―You might not be able to stop them from doing it, but you can stop them from doing it without having to hear from you about it.‖ I urge everyone reading this issue of The NewPeople to arm themselves with facts on a topic that gets their blood boiling – whether it be public education, prisoners‘ rights, health care, public transit, or any other social issue – make an
appointment with their Representative(s), and let them hear about it. Jordana Rosenfeld is a human rights activist and a high school student who is a summer intern at The Thomas Merton Center. She formatted and helped to edit this edition of The NewPeople.
September, 2011
NEWPEOPLE - 11
Economic Justice
Pennsylvanians Press Toomey on Jobs Inaction By Rob Conroy Approximately 400 angry citizens, many of whom sported red Communications Workers of America (CWA) and purple Service Employees International Union (SEIU) t-shirts, surrounded the entrance to the Landmarks Building in Station Square on August 18 and repeated a simple, forceful message for freshman Pennsylvania Senator Pat Toomey, whose Pittsburgh office is located on the second floor: ―WHAT DO WE WANT?‖ ―JOBS!‖ ―WHEN DO WE WANT ‗EM?‖ ―NOW!‖
Square ―T‖ Station. At the time of the Tstation gathering, no marshals were in attendance to ensure the safety of the crowd from oncoming traffic; as a result, the scheduled speakers‘ speeches were kept short. The Reverend Neil McCaulley, a retired Catholic priest who still presides over Masses and confessions at Epiphany of St. Mary‘s at the Point and St. Benedict the Moore on the Hill, led off the proceedings with pointed scripture readings and a short speech. ―It is a moral imperative that people have decent jobs,‖ McCaulley said. Photo by Josh Crosbie
McCaulley was followed by Shawn ―Toomey Tracker‖ Wygant, a local activist Hundred of people protested for economic justice on August 18 in Station Square. Jack Shea, the President of the Allegheny County and former SEPCO employee who has been Labor Council who was at the forefront of the tracking Senator Toomey‘s appearances action, further refined this point. ―Since Pat around Pennsylvania urging the Senator to take floor, where they attempted to reach Senator Toomey was elected, he has not put one thing on action in addressing Pennsylvania‘s widespread Toomey‘s office using two elevators. Shea, Wythe table that would create jobs,‖ he said. ―Not unemployment issue. According to Wygant, gant and approximately eight others arrived at the for the state and not for the country.‖ Senator Toomey needs to ―step up and have a Senator‘s office first, where they were stopped in town-hall meeting‖ with unemployed local work- the foyer by a male staffer who did not identify The rally, which was the latest in series of ―fight ers ―to get more jobs in Pittsburgh.‖ ―If Senator himself and who began calling the local police for a fair economy‖ actions at least partially coor- Toomey doesn‘t give us what we need,‖ he said, when Shea insisted on seeing the Senator, who dinated by One Pittsburgh, began across the street ―he‘ll be a one-term Senator.‖ was allegedly not present. The rest of the party from the Landmarks Building at the Station (including this reporter) was stopped at the SenaLast up was Michelle Sapp of tor‘s office door by security guards who were also Pittsburgh, a 19-year-old threatening to call the authorities. Eventually, mother of two who lost her Shea was able to present the job applications to a job as a dishwasher six young staffer who assured Shea, Wygant and months ago and who has been other onlookers that the Senator would receive applying to restaurants and them. retail chains ever since. ―I‘m looking for jobs and filling Although no arrests were ultimately made in the out applications,‖ she said, building, the police were on hand by the time ―but no one is calling me Shea and his group returned outside. At that back. I need benefits and I point, the majority of the crowd—led by the redneed healthcare for me and shirted CWA workers, who are currently emmy kids now!‖ broiled in a labor showdown with Verizon--began marching across the Smithfield Street Bridge to After the chanting protesters demonstrate in front of Verizon‘s downtown crossed the street to surround headquarters on Seventh Avenue. the Landmarks entrance, Shea—who was clutching ―This is not just about Verizon, it‘s about the enhundreds of completed job tire middle class,‖ said Sam Williamson, SEIU Photo by Josh Crosbie applications to present to the 32BJ‘s City Director. CWA workers on strike against Verizon in front of Senator Toomey‘s Pittsburgh Senator--and a group of office. 48 hours after this photo was taken, the strike ended, and Verizon agreed approximately 25 activists Rob Conroy is a Pittsburgh lawyer, journalist, and media representatives activist and member of the Thomas Merton to negotiate the proposed benefit cutbacks. headed for the ground Center‘s Board of Directors.
Does the Debt Deal Really Cut Military Spending? By Molly Rush
Weapons & Military Bases
So you think the debt deal will cut military spending by $350 billion in ten years? Think again. The Center for Defense Information calls this figure ―misleading…The actual amount will be decided by Congress in the future… The debt deal kicks the defense budget can down the road for this and future Congresses. People should not read precision and certainty into a political deal specifically designed to be uncertain and indistinct.‖ As Joshua Green, editor of The Atlantic, points out, the security savings would total just $10 billion over the next two years. ―The $350 billion figure is a projection…I‘d say it‘s very likely that defense cuts after the first two years will be less than 50 percent and cuts to other domestic programs more than 50 percent.‖
The U.S. spent over $52 billion in FY 2008 for nuclear weapons and related programs. President Obama, on May 10, 2010, submitted a classified report on a Congressionally-mandated plan to maintain and modernize U.S. nuclear forces for the foreseeable future (Carnegie Endowment for International Peace). A White House fact sheet stated that ―The plan includes investments of $80 billion in nuclear delivery systems to sustain existing capabilities and modernize some strategic systems‖ by 2020. A second WH fact sheet released on November 17, 2010 ―An Enduring Commitment to Nuclear-Deterrence,‖ increased the figure to $85 billion. That pre-cost overruns, folks.
The deal calls for a SuperCongress of six from each party. If they fail to achieve the deficit reduction target, only then would $600 billion in cuts come from defense spending.
Two Under-Reported Programs: Nuclear 12 - NEWPEOPLE
September, 2011
billion over the same period to sustain our nuclear arsenal and modernize infrastructure.‖ So much for the nuclear arms reduction treaty sent to the Senate last year. As for military bases, A New York Times columnist wrote: ―The United States maintains troops at more than 560 bases and other sites abroad, many of them a legacy of a world war that ended 65 years ago.‖ The Department of Defense‘s 2010 Base Structure Report states that the U.S. maintains 662 foreign bases in 38 countries. It lists 4999 total sites in the U.S., its territories, and overseas. By U.S military count, it controls close to 52,000 buildings, over 38,000 pieces of heavy infrastructure (rail lines, runways and pipelines). As Nick Turse noted in January 10, 2011 The Nation, ―The military maintains, in Johnson‘s famous phrase, an empire of bases so large and shadowy that no one – not even at the Pentagon – really knows its full size and shape.
Then Dr. James Miller, Principal Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Policy (whew!) stated, ―The Administration‘s FY 2012 budget request reflects our commitment to the modernization of our nuclear arsenal for the long term, including some $125 billion over the next ten years to sus- Molly Rush is a member of The Thomas Mertain our strategic delivery systems, and about $88 ton Center Board of Directors.
Fed Up! With Prison Abuses By Theresa Schneider
―They keep giving him lawyers who won‘t fight for him,‖ explains Grote. ―So we‘re working on
Terrell Johnson of Hazelwood, PA has spent sixteen years in prison for a crime that he did not commit. Recent evidence suggests that the supposed witness of the crime was not even present at the time. Fed Up!, a prisoner‘s rights advocacy group and affiliate of the Human Rights Coalition in Philadelphia, has been working with Johnson‘s wife, Saundra Cole-McKamey, in campaigning for his release. Despite the accumulation of evidence pointing towards his innocence, Johnson remains behind bars. Johnson was tried and found guilty of the murder of Verna Robinson on July 21, 1994, yet it soon became clear that the facts did not add up. The witness, Evelyn "Dolly" McBryde, changed her story several times, and she only offered to testify against Johnson in exchange for leniency on her own charges, which might have landed her up to fifty years in prison. Johnson won the right to a retrial in 2009, but this trial has been continually postponed. Bret Grote, an organizer for Fed Up!, attributes a large part of Johnson‘s situation to the inadequate legal representation provided by the county.
Photos by Frank Carr Bret Grote (above) and Saundra Cole-McKamey (right), dedicated Fed Up! activists and organizers.
Wake up World By Charles R.G. Washington Today is a new day Let us not take life but nurture and embrace lifesweet, sweet life. And scream WAR no more! Been there before, before and before, What‘s it truly for? Surely we‘ve seen Tooooooooooo much death, pain and tears from our fellow man and peers. Wake up World Today is a new day Let us not lock up our young and misguided children But show and provide them a better way. We don‘t have to travel far off to GITMO to fight TORTURE when it‘s right here in the prison solitary confinement units of AMERICA. Let us examine and reshape our harsh and unjust laws And submit to the universal laws of: love, truth, peace, freedom and forgiveness. Wake up World, Today is a new day. Live life. Don‘t tax it, Because living is truly free. And do away with all man‘s added hardships Because that‘s not how life was intended to be. Instead of taking from someone Give to someone and feel their heart rejoice by your sincerity.
finding the proper legal team to fight for Terrell.‖ Fed Up!, which includes ColeMcKamey‘s organization ―Justice for Terrell,‖ will be hosting a fundraiser to raise money for a competent legal defense team. It will be held at the Shadow Lounge at 8 pm on September 8th and will feature local artists such as poet Vanessa German and the student lead initiative The K.R.U.N.K. Movement. Although Johnson‘s case is unique in that he won the right to a retrial, instances of wrongful conviction are not uncommon. Grote is working on several such cases and cited similar instances featuring coerced witnesses—for example, the case of John Hall, who was convicted based on a statement given prior to the trial, despite the witness‘ admission at the trial that his earlier statement had been given under coercion. ―This only begins to touch the surface of all of the inadequacies of the process of criminal defense within the system,‖ says Grote of cases like Terrell‘s and Hall‘s.
Fed Up! was organized in 2006 by Etta Cetera, a Pittsburgh native who was workWake up World ing with prisoners from Wake up World around the country on a colToday is a new day laborative art project when she Take a deep breath of fresh air. began receiving numerous EXHALE! reports of racism, physical LIVE! abuse, and medical neglect in LIVE! prisons. Within a year, Fed LIVE! Up! had affiliated with the And squeeze every drop Human Rights Coalition, cenout of dear life. tered in Philadelphia, which was created to give voices to Precious it is. prisoners, their families, and Charles R.G. Washington is a prisoner at State Correctional Institution their communities.
The organization is currently involved in numerous ongoing projects, including documenting human rights violations, releasing a weekly prison report, and a letter writing campaign. One of the organization‘s major goals is to abolish solitary confinement, a ―solution‖ to prisoner misconduct that often targets prisoners based on race or mental health and results in racial harassment, physical abuse, and deprivation of food and medical care. ―In short,‖ says Grote, ―the state of Pennsylvania is running a system of torture though its restricted housing units, which consists of solitary confinement where these abuses are concentrated.‖ Cole-McKamey, who continues to push for her husband to be released, is grateful to Fed Up! for all they have done to further prisoner‘s rights. She has high hopes that the upcoming trial will see Johnson released from prison, but the fight will not end there. Asked what she planned to do after her husband‘s release, Cole-McKamey responded, ―I think we‘re in a situation to help a lot of other people. … I believe that‘s why we went through what we went through, so we can help others.‖ ―Bret and the whole Fed Up and the Humans Rights Coalition have been such a blessing,‖ she said. ―Not just to me and my family but to a lot of people. They really go above and beyond.‖ Theresa Schneider is a recent graduate of Allegheny College and a member of The NewPeople Editorial Collective.
The public is invited to join Fed Up! for ―Write On!,‖ a letter writing session held every Wednesday night at 6:30 at the Thomas Merton Center. For more information on events or ways to get involved with Fed Up!, email hrcfedup@gmail.com or visit http:// hrcoalition.org.
Frackville. September, 2011
NEWPEOPLE - 13
TMC Corner
The Thomas Merton Center Statement of Purpose Mission: TMC works to build a consciousness of values and to raise the moral questions involved in the issues of war, poverty, racism, classism, economic justice, oppression and environmental justice. TMC engages people of diverse philosophies and faiths who find common ground in the nonviolent struggle to bring about a more peaceful and just world.
Vision: Thomas Merton Center strives to be a coalition-building organization that follows the principles of Thomas Merton and the other great architects of non-violent resistant to encourage people to learn, grow and work in the pursuit of social justice and peace to ensure the dignity of all human beings. We strive to achieve this vision in a supportive, nurturing and facilitating manner.
Guiding Principles/Value Statements: The Thomas Center: · Supports the uniqueness, wholeness, dignity and freedoms of all people. · Enthusiastically advocates for the rights of all people as they may fully participate and contribute to the pursuit of peace, social and environmental justice. · Views all human beings as having equal and unconditional value. · Supports the pursuit of peace and justice in a nonviolent manner. · Engages in peaceful and nonviolent demonstrations. · Emphasizes cooperation in getting things done through peaceful and nonviolent acts. · Proactively supports and advocates that prisoners are entitled to basic human rights and humane treatment. · Educate others about economic justice and labor solidarity · Takes every opportunity to educate and advocate for the basic civil rights of all people. · Proactive in addressing oppression in its many forms. · Advocates for the right to educate others for the basic civil rights of people. We pledge to support these basic human rights: · The right to life, liberty and security of all persons · The right to recognize the work of human rights defenders who act in a nonviolent way to end inequality and discrimination and oppression · The right to freedom of thought, conscience, and religion · The right to peacefully convene, organize and assemble together with the aim of addressing common concerns · The right to petition social institutions for just and humane treatment · The right of solidarity in pursuit of peace and justice · The right to educate and raise awareness in issues and trends that ensure a safe and just world · The right to a safe, healthy and economically balanced environment as a human right.
CELEBRATING SOLIDARITY: Thomas Merton Center Turns 40 in 2012 By Diane McMahon Four decades ago, a social consciousness was born in Pittsburgh, that continues to grow and evolve today. Faced with an immoral war, racial injustices, and global pandemics, a small group of committed citizens joined hands, hearts and minds to fight for long lasting social change that benefits all people.
when war, economic injustice, prisoner rights, and environmental challenges beckon us to join together to not only heal ourselves, but to heal the world. We invite friends, members, donors, past board members, and all citizens to suggest ways that we might celebrate our 40th anniversary and reengage in the Thomas Merton Center's mission to create a more peaceful and just world.
Since 1972, deep ties have continued to grow between people of diverse religious, ethnic, politiFile photo cal, and spiritual origins. Each person and group realized they were that much stronger when working together. If you would like to assist in The late Ty Luokkala - TMC Member - Advocate and Pittsburgh Leader dedicated to Closing the School of the Americas this effort please email me, This coming year the board and our members will Diane McMahon, TMC Board be hosting events and opportunities to reflect on President, at DianeM677@gmail.com. our past and prepare for our future. Our purpose and vision continues to bind us together in a time
“"If you want to identify me, ask me not where I live, or what I like to eat, or how I comb my hair, but ask me what I am living for, in detail, ask me what I think is keeping me from living fully for the thing I want to live for." ~Thomas Merton
14 - NEWPEOPLE
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SUBMIT! Your stories, letters, poems, essays, cartoon, photos to the NEWPEOPLE or they may never find an audience! Please limit submissions to 600 words. Photos or art should be sent as JPEG or TIFF. Postage may be mailed to The Thomas Merton Center, 5129 Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15224 Manuscripts will not be returned. All submissions become property of NEWPEOPLE, a publication of the Thomas Merton Center of Pittsburgh, and may be edited. ADVERTISING IS AVAILABLE. CONTACT NEWPEOPLE@THOMASMERTONCENTER.ORG DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION IS SEPTEMBER 15TH THROUGH http://thomasmertoncenter.org/newpeople/submit-article/
East End Community Thrift Store 5123 Penn Avenue, Garfield (a few doors down from TMC)
Come in today Tuesday — Friday: 10 AM - 4 PM Saturday: Noon - 4 PM
What you donate, what you buy supports Garfield, supports the Merton Center.
~ TELEVISION ~ PCTV21 (COMCAST Channel 21/ VERIZON FIOS Channel 47) PROGRESSIVE PGH NOTEBOOK (check www.pctv21.org for schedule) Internet=( www.progressivepghnotebook.blip.tv )
In the coming months, we hope to televise Progressive Council Forums on a variety of issues listed above. We need Teams to make all these things happen. If you are interested, email Carlana Rhoten at Rhotencouncilforum@gmail.com or phone her at 412-363-7472.
DEMOCRACY NOW= 8 AM: AJ STREAM=9 AM ; FAULTLINES=9:30 AM CITY COUNCIL (COMCAST Channel 13 / Verizon FIOS Channel 44) Tuesdays Council Meetings; Wednesdays Standing Committees 10 AM Repeated at 7 PM / Repeated Sat & Sundays 10 AM and 7 PM (www.city.pittsburgh.pa.us/council Legislative Info Center PA “SENATE JOURNAL” & HOUSE “ I ON PA” = Tuesdays 7 – 8 AM THOM HARTMANN.COM = LINK TV (DIRECT TV Channel 375/ DISH Channel 9415/ FREE SPEECH TV)
~ INTERNET RADIO ~ ITUNES click ―Radio‖, Double Click ―News/ Talk‖ , and Click ―KPTK 1090 PROGRESSIVE TALK= THOM HARTMANN NOON – 3 PM (Check other programs on KPTK and ITUNES) LYNN CULLEN MON-FRI= 10 AM www.pittsburghcitypaper.ws
~ LOCAL RADIO ~ WRCT 88.3 FM DEMOCRACY NOW = 8 AM, MON – FRI RUST BELT RADIO = 6 PM on MON, and 9 AM on TUES FREE SPEECH RADIO = MON – FRI, 5:30 PM LAW AND DISORDER = 9 AM MON
KDKA 1020 AM “CHRIS MOORE” = SUN, 4 – 9 PM. 353-1254
CALL IN NUMBER 412-
WMMY 1360 AM ‖Dr Scott Shalaway, Birds & Nature‖ = SUN, NOON – 2 PM WKFB 770 AM “UNION EDGE RADIO TALK” = MON-FRI, NOON – 1 PM WDUQ 90.5 FM, MONDAY TO FRIDAY
BBC = 11PM—5AM MORNING EDITION = 5 – 9 AM FRESH AIR = 3 PM & 10PM ALL THINGS CONSIDERED = 4 – 7PM MARKETPLACE 6:30
SATURDAY
ALLEGHENY FRONT = 7:30 AM WEEKEND EDITION= 8 – 10 THIS AMERICAN LIFE = 12 NOON STUDIO 360 = 2PM Q SPECIALS = 3PM ON THE MEDIA = 4PM ALL THINGS CONSIDERED 5PM SUNDAY
BBC = MIDNIGHT—6AM
COMMONWEALTH CLUB = 6AM LIVING ON EARTH = 7 AM WEEKEND EDITION = 8 – 10AM STUDIO 360 = 10AM FRESH AIR = 3PM TRAVIS SMILEY = 4PM ALL THINGS CONSIDERED = 5—6PM THIS AMERICAN LIFE = 6PM LE SHOW = 10PM
Information provided by Carlana Rhoten; graphics by Mana Aliabadi
BBC = MIDNIGHT—7AM
EARTH BEAT = 7AM
September, 2011
NEWPEOPLE - 15
SOCIAL ACTION
CALENDAR
Recurring Meetings and Meet Ups SUNDAYS __________________________ Anti-War Committee meeting Every other Sunday 2:00pm - 3:30pm Merton Center, 5129 Penn Ave., Garfield Book 'Em Packing Day Meets every Sunday 4:00pm - 7:00pm Thomas Merton Center, 5129 Penn Avenue Join others sending requested books to prisoners. Bring a group. For more info call the Thomas Merton Center, 412.361.3022 Human Rights Letter-writing Salon Meets every Sunday 4:00pm - 6:00pm Kiva Han, 420 S Craig St Write letters to combat human rights abuses! Meet local Amnesty International activists and other human rights enthusiasts, change the world, and have a grand old time. MONDAYS _______________________ Weekly North Hills Weekly Peace Vigil 4:30pm-5:00pm In front of the Divine Providence Motherhouse, 9000 Babcock Blvd., Allison Park Sponsored by the Pittsburgh North People for Peace & the Srs. of Divine Providence WEDNESDAYS ______________________ Pittsburgh Darfur Emergency Coalition Meets the 1st Wednesday of every month 5:30pm - 7:00pm Squirrel Hill Carnegie Library 5801 Forbes Avenue Meeting Room B Write On! Letters for Prisoner's rights Meets every Wednesday 6:30pm – 9:00pm
Merton Center, 5129 Penn Avenue, Garfield We need help answering our 60 letters a month from people in prison dealing with abuse and neglect. Come and meet new people, learn about people in prison while advocating for their rights from the outside! Please bring food to share! Info 412-361-3022 PUSH [Pennsylvanian United for Single Payer Healthcare] Meets monthly on the second Wednesday 6:15 pm Health Care 4 All PA office, 2101 Murray Av nue, Squirrel Hill All welcome Info: drdoneagain@yahoo.com Pennsylvanians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty (PADP) meeting Monthly on the first Wednesday 7:00pm - 8pm First Unitarian Church (Ellsworth/Morewood, Shadyside) For more information, call 412-384-4310. THURSDAYS _________________________ Green Party meeting First Thursday of the month 7:00pm - 9pm Citizen Power's offices, 2121 Murray Avenue in Squirrel Hill, second floor FRIDAYS ____________________________ Peaceburgh Drumming Circle 7pm-8:00pm, Weekly Grandview Park in Mt. Washington Raise the Vibration for peace every Friday.... Consciously raise the vibration for peace!! FREE family friendly event. Bring drums, flutes, rattles, a didge (we REALLY need a didge) singing voices, dancing feet, and happy hearts!! Bring some food to share at
~ September ~ Thursday, September 1st _____________ Building Change Planning Meeting 6:00 PM United Cerebral Palsy Building in Oakland Help plan the first-ever gathering of people and organizations from across Southwestern Pennsylvania who share a common goal of advancing social justice and change in our region and world. These meetings will be planning the above event, to take place on October 13-15. Thursday, September 1st FIRST THURSDAY FORUM: Resisting Attacks on Public Education, Teachers & Students 7:30-9:30PM Friends Meeting House 4836 Ellsworth Avenue Pittsburgh, PA Documentary: "The Inconvenient Truth Behind 'Waiting for Superman'" There is a concerted and well-funded assault on public schools, on teachers, and on working-class communities by billionaires and politicians who want to run education like a business, advance privatization, and break teachers' unions. A critical documentary response will kick off a discussion of the issues.
the potluck!! We need plates, ice, forks, cups, napkins, and drinks too. BRING A CAMERA — THE VIEW IS AWESOME!! SATURDAYS ________________________ Project to End Human Trafficking Volunteer signup 2nd Saturday of each month 10:00am - 12:00pm Campus of Carlow University Project to End Human Trafficking (PEHT) offers FREE public volunteer/information. Please pre-register by the Wednesday before via smohler@endhumantrafficking.org. For more information check out our website www.endhumantrafficking.org PEHT Information and Training Seminars Second Saturday of every month 12:00pm - 1:00pm Carlow University, Antonian Room #502, RSVP by the Wednesday before to smohler@endhumantrafficking.org Open to the public. Peace Vigils to End the War Every Saturday, following locations & times Regent Square Peace Vigil Corner of Forbes and Braddock 12:00pm - 1pm *Black Voices for Peace Anti-War Protest Corner of Penn & Highland in East Liberty 1:00pm - 2:00 pm Beaver County Peace Links Peace Vigil Beaver County Courthouse, 3rd Street (Beaver) 1:00pm - 2pm
space, assemble. Through the month - eat fresh local harvest, connect to others in the community and sit for a spell, imagine yourself transported to the farm. Wednesday, September 14th________________ Planet Party 4:30 to 7:30 PM Assemble 5125 Penn Ave, 15224 This is a kid oriented event, fun and FREE. Snacks will be provided. Come work with local artists and talk about the Universe. How do you see it? What's really out there and where do you fit in? Come talk, make, and think! Ages 5 - 7 are strongly encouraged to join the fun! Friday, September 16th____________________ Park(ing) Day PGH 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM Assemble 5125 Penn Ave, 15224 Come hang out in our mini-urban park! Help us take over a parking space and turn it into a place to sit and rest! More Info: http://pghparkingday.wordpress.com/
Thursday, September 1st Pittsburgh Zine Fair 5:00 to 10:00 PM A.I.R. (Artists Image Resource) in the North Side
Saturday, September 17th Remembering Hiroshima Screening: Black Rain 7:00 PM Shadow Lounge (5972 Baum Blvd.)
Will feature over 30 vendors, workshops, hands-on demonstrations on letterpressing and screenprinting, readings, and discussions! Vendors at the fair include zine distributors, small press publishers, writers, comic book makers, illustrators, book store zine collections, and even the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh's very own zine library! Visit our website for more information about each of the vendors: www.pghzinefair.com
Remembering Hiroshima, Imagining Peace, Rethinking Nuclear Power will host a screening of Black Rain, a film that addresses the bias against atomic survivors. It follows a young woman who was exposed to the black rain that followed the blasts, and how she is shunned for years after.
Friday, September 2nd ______________________ DigitalSalad, an Edible art Project 6:00 to 11:00 PM Assemble 5125 Penn Ave, 15224 The charm of a local farmette will be installed in the urban, neighborhood gallery 16 - NEWPEOPLE
September, 2011
Sunday, September 18th ___________________ International Day of Peace Festival 3:00 to 6:00 pm Point Grove, North Park Lakeshore Drive, Allison Park 15101 "Make the World Shine" with a peaceful and healthy planet. Free food and activities for all ages. Colorful procession of 194 U. N. flags. Please bring a side dish or dessert for a 4:00 p.m. buffet.