par-newhaven.org

Progressive Action Roundtable: A forum for progressive groups in the Greater New Haven Area where actions and ideas may be publicized so that others are aware of peace, health, justice, energy, environmental and other issues for the common good.

Archive for June, 2010

This issue dedicated to Ruth Emerson

Jun 1

Posted by Progressive Action Roundtable in Events, Memorial | No Comments

This issue is dedicated to Ruth Emerson, long-time New Haven activist and humanitarian, who passed away on April 25 at Connecticut Hospice in Branford. The PAR Planning Committee gives our sincere condolences to her family and friends. In addition to being a PAR subscriber, for many years she was a PAR proofreader. All who knew Ruth will greatly miss her. Her intelligence coupled with her fierce sense of justice and sense of humor made her a most remarkable activist and a wonderful friend and colleague in the struggle for a more peaceful and just world.

Please join family and friends for a memorial service on June 26 at 2 p.m. at The People’s Center,

37 Howe St. New Haven. For information, contact Sherman Malone (203) 675-4770. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Haiti Marycare, Inc., 55 King St., Danbury, CT 06811 or Defending Dissent, 1100 Wayne Ave. #1020, Silver Spring, MD 20910.

Peace Conference For Nuclear Disarmament In NYC Apr. 30-May 2

Jun 1

Posted by Progressive Action Roundtable in Human Rights, Peace | No Comments

by Nancy Eberg, GNH Peace Council

During the weekend of April 29-May 2, a series of incredible events transpired in NYC. On Friday and Saturday, nearly 1000 participants from around the world attended a conference on the Abolition of Nuclear Weapons at Riverside Church. Hoping to influence the UN Review Conference on the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons held the following week, the workshop tracks were abolition, peace, economic justice/human needs, and environmental sustainability. Experts in all fields participated, including locals from the Greater New Haven Peace Council—Henry Lowendorf and Al Marder. Henry, along with leaders of the World and Canadian Peace Councils, spoke about struggles against global imperialism; Al, with Cora Weiss, president of the Hague Appeal for Peace, and former Ambassador Sylvester Rowe of Sierra Leone discussed the Luarca Declaration that peace is a human right.

Three plenaries were held that included such noted speakers as Ban Ki-moon, UN Secretary General; Terumi Tanaka, head of the organization of bomb survivors; Mayor Akiba of Hiroshima; Princeton professor Zia Mian; noted author on nukes Joseph Gerson; and president of the World Peace Council, Socorro Gomes. The conference hoped to greatly expand the momentum started by Obama’s Prague speech and the negotiations between him and Medvedov for the new START Treaty. Highlights of the conference were Ban Ki-moon’s affirmation that he has proposed a nuclear weapons convention toward nuclear abolition and supports the Japanese timetable of 2020 for total abolition – commitments that should have an energizing effect on abolition proponents.

The Sunday march from Times Square to the UN was aimed in part to deliver the 7 million signatures collected worldwide to abolish nuclear weapons. Since Japan was the only country to experience the devastating bomb effects on an urban population, it sent nearly 2000 marchers. Estimates of total attendance varied from 10-15,000 (American newspapers) to 25,000 (Japanese newspapers). In spite of the unseasonably hot, humid, 90-degree weather and too-long pre-rally, spirits soared. Jubilant marchers sang and chanted, passing out innumerable origami peace cranes. Hope for a world without nuclear weapons permeated the group. It was an unforgettable experience that hopefully will have positive results.

The plenary sessions were live streamed during the conference, and most are now available for viewing (the closing session with Ban Ki-moon will be available soon).

For more on the speech by Ban Ki-moon, see the United Nations’ release.

See pictures taken by New Haven’s Henry Lowendorf here.

Fight The Hike: Gov Vetoes Energy Bill, U.I. To Buy 3 Gas Companies

Jun 1

Posted by Progressive Action Roundtable in Events, Fight the Hike | No Comments

by Paula Panzarella

On May 25, the same day that United Illuminating announced it intends to buy three gas companies for $885 million, Gov. Rell vetoed S.B. 493, the energy legislation that would have helped lower electric rates, promote renewable energy and call for corporate accountability of the electric companies.

It’s imperative that the politicians call for a special session and override Gov. Rell’s veto. Please call your representative and senator (see page 3). If you don’t know who they are, go to http://votesmart.org and enter in your zip code on the upper left portion of the screen.

Find out how they voted on S.B. 493 here: http://tiny.cc/046qr and here: http://tiny.cc/e9tn9. Thank them if they voted in favor, and demand they work to override the veto. If they didn’t vote for the bill, tell them you expect them to do right by Connecticut consumers and businesses and vote now for an override. Remind them that the Energy and Technology Committee worked on the legislation since mid-March, and held public hearings on the issues presented in S.B. 493 (at that time, the bills were named H.R. 5505, H.R. 5507, H.R. 5508, and S.B. 463).

Tell Gov. Rell that by vetoing S.B. 493 she betrayed the people and the businesses of Connecticut. Her phone number is 1-800-406-1527. Her e-mail is Governor.Rell@ct.gov.

United Illuminating has shown itself to be a dishonorable corporation, and its acquisition and control of gas companies will further impoverish Connecticut residents and businesses. Honest antitrust legislation should deny their request, but that may be determined by how much people are willing to take on this struggle. Fight the Hike’s next meeting is Thursday, June 17. For details, call (203) 562-2798.

ADAPT News

Jun 1

Posted by Progressive Action Roundtable in Human Rights | No Comments

by Heiwa Salovitz, ADAPT

ADAPT is a national grass-roots community that organizes disability rights activists to engage in nonviolent direct action, including civil disobedience, to assure the civil and human rights of people with disabilities to live in freedom. For information about an ADAPT chapter in New Haven, call (203) 887-0248 or e-mail cpmuslim@gmail.com.

One of ADAPT’s campaigns is the Community Choice Act (CCA). For a tax of six dollars a year, the CCA would help seniors to stay in their own homes instead of nursing facilities. People with disabilities would have funding available to help them live independently.

Community Choice Act: S 683 and HR 1670

Even with the recent passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (H.R. 3590), federal law still requires that states provide nursing facility care in their Medicaid programs without a similar requirement for home and community-based services. The Community Choice Act (CCA) levels the playing field and gives Americans a real choice in long term care by reforming Title XIX of the Social Security Act (Medicaid) and ending the institutional bias.

The Community Choice Act allows individuals eligible for services in a Nursing Facility, Intermediate Care Facility for the Mentally Retarded (ICF-MR), or Institutions for

Mental Disease (IMD) the opportunity to choose instead a new alternative, “Community-based Attendant Services and Supports.” Services can be provided at home, in school, at work and in the community. Assistance is available for a broad range for needs, such as bathing, dressing, meal preparation, money management and certain health related tasks.

In addition, by providing an enhanced match and grants for the transition to “Real Choice” when the benefit becomes permanent, the Community Choice Act offers states financial assistance to reform their long term service and support system to provide services in the most integrated setting

What would this program cost?

On average, a middle class taxpayer would only pay an additional $2.29-$6.07 in taxes annually for CCA, depending on CCA cost. If the cost was adjusted for inflation for 2010, the middle class taxpayer would pay an average of $2.40-$6.35 annually.

What would this program cost?  $6.07 a year.

For more information about the CCA and to learn more about ADAPT, call (203) 887-0248, e-mail cpmuslim@gmail.com or visit the website www.adapt.org

May Day Immigrant March

Jun 1

Posted by Progressive Action Roundtable in Human Rights | No Comments

by Chris Garaffa, ANSWER CT

1,400 people took to the streets for the annual May Day march in New Haven. The march proceeded from Quinnipiac Park down Grand Avenue in Fair Haven. Marchers were loud, spirited and energetic, chanting “¡Obama, escucha, estamos en la lucha!” (Obama, listen, we are in the fight!) and “Full rights now!” as people from the neighborhood joined the demonstration.

A number of groups organized for the march, and people came from New Haven and the surrounding area, and as far away as Stamford and Danbury.

As the march ended, it fed into the Federal Plaza downtown for a rally. Speakers denounced the lack of progress on real and meaningful immigration reform in Congress, Arizona’s racist SB 1070 and the terror of ICE across the country. Speakers also condemned racist police tactics in New Haven and neighboring East Haven, where recent community action and an investigation into racial profiling caused Police Chief Leonard Gallo to be placed on administrative leave in April.

This year’s May Day marches were called as a follow-up to the March 21 march in Washington, DC, which drew a crowd of 250,000. Those in New Haven joined hundreds of thousands of others in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Washington, DC, Austin, TX, Seattle, WA and across the country.

May Day On The Green

Jun 1

Posted by Progressive Action Roundtable in General | No Comments

by Paula Panzarella

Dozens of organizations came together for the 24th annual May Day celebration on the New Haven Green. It was the perfect day for labor, peace and environmental groups to reach out to the New Haven community and to network with each other for International Workers’ Day.

One of the most engaging activities was the billboard painting project from We Refuse to be Enemies and IWagePeace.org. The billboard will soon be overlooking I-95. It’s wonderful that the celebration on this international day of labor solidarity could have a part in the creation of the billboard.

The One World House, built by volunteers from New Haven/León Sister City Project, depicted the housing conditions for people in many underdeveloped countries, including Nicaragua. There was a “Free Swap” area from the Elm City Infoshop and information tables and exhibits from New Haven Green Party, Socialist Party CT, WILPF, UNA/UNIFEM, ISO, Food Not Bombs, Greater New Haven Labor History Association, New Haven Bioregional Group/ Transition, ANSWER CT, Chainbreakers, and CT Network to Abolish the Death Penalty. Joe Taylor had a display of his May Day books and historical information, and there was a DonnellyColt tent with bumperstickers, pins and t-shirts.

Activities for kids included a surprise visit from magician Amazing Andy, and someone brought many hula hoops for a spontaneous “contest.”

In addition to the various organizations’ participation, there were speakers and performers throughout the day on the stage. The website will soon be updated with photos and video: http://www.maydaynewhaven.org.

Some May Day t-shirts are still available for a donation. Please call (203) 562-2798 to get a shirt.

This year’s event was organized by many people who joined the May Day Celebration Committee a few months ago. We hope people follow their lead and that more people jump in to pull together something spectacular, as next year is the 25th year of the May Day on the Green.

To stay in touch with the May Day Celebration Committee to network throughout the year and share ideas, please call Jeff Spalter at (203) 843-3069.

THANKS TO ALL THE CONTRIBUTORS TO THE 2009-2010 SEASON OF THE PAR NEWSLETTER!

Jun 1

Posted by Progressive Action Roundtable in General | No Comments

Authors, Organizations:

Oneworld Progressive Institute

Jun 1

Posted by Progressive Action Roundtable in Events, Healthcare, Human Rights, Peace | No Comments

by N’Zinga Shäni

OneWorld Progressive Institute produces educational programs and community forums for the benefit of the entire community. In 2010 our focus will be mainly on Education and Civic Engagement. Our program “21st Century Conversations” airs Mondays at 8 p.m. on Comcast, Chan. 26. Visit: www.nhtv.com/Uverse.html to find us on AT&T U-Verse. We are on all major cable systems. Viewers can order DVD copies through our on-line store. We encourage readers to browse our website.

On CTV, Ch. 26: Political Debate with Debra Hauser and Roland Lemar, Thurs., June 3, 8-9 p.m.

Mondays, 8 p.m. during summer months, watch our new Health Care Information Series with Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro, President Obama and leading CT health care experts. Our Education Series includes teen forums and workshops with principals, teachers and parents.

We encourage people to watch each broadcast.  Read these New Haven Independent articles about our recent programs.

The Kids Get Their Say by Zak Stone | Apr 28, 2010

Brainwashed: Challenging the Myth of Black Inferiority

Target: The “Brainwashing Thing”

by Zak Stone | Feb 19, 2010

Samples of comments posted about our April Teen Forum:

Pat on May 5, 2010: This is great! We need more opportunities for teens to show that they are good kids. The bad kids always steal the show. These kids are our hope for the future. Keep up the good work!

Mrs. Robles on May 5, 2010: I think all of these kids did a great job. Students should be asked for their input more frequently—too often, their thoughts and ideas are not taken seriously because many people think they are too young and/or immature to understand or talk intelligently about issues. Unfortunately, people usually gravitate towards the more sensational stories (the hijacked bus). However, if more stories like this are written, maybe this could change some people’s attitudes.

Harold on May 6, 2010: Why wasn’t this on the front page of the New Haven Register? We need to celebrate our good kids more and sessions like this do that. I’m glad I stumbled upon this article.

We encourage a desire for life-long learning; we believe that “21st Century Conversations” offer a unique opportunity to those who watch to learn a great deal about an array of issues. We at OneWorld are encouraging civic engagement and extolling Lighthouses of Knowledge. These can start at the kitchen tables; they can expand to the basement of churches and community centers. We welcome comments and feedback. OneWorld Progressive Institute,P. O. Box 8662, New Haven, CT 06531, (203) 407-0250, oneworldpi@yahoo.com,  www.oneworldpi.org.

PEPeace Debuts Peacenews.org National Peace Blog

Jun 1

Posted by Progressive Action Roundtable in Environment, Peace | No Comments

by James van Pelt

Promoting Enduring Peace (PEP) has launched peacenews.org – the beginning of what is hoped will become the national news source for the North American peace movement.

Conceived by PEP president Paul Hodel and designed by Christopher Zurcher, PEP’s website leader and the founder of CT Environmental Headlines, peacenews.org is one of PEP’s first steps in its revitalization to fit the needs of the 21st Century.

“PEP has been a nationally known peace education activist organization for more than 50 years,” said PEP board member James van Pelt. “We want PEP to be a force that brings all of the various arms of the peace movement together and increases its visibility, viability, and participation.

“One part of that involves the fusion of the peace and environmental movements where their interests coincide,” van Pelt sad. “I think our saying ‘Peace on Earth; Peace with Earth’ expresses that.”

Plans call for the website to expand over the coming months and become a vital aid to peace groups in Connecticut, then regionally, and then nationally. Those plans include adding peaceradio.org as a center to access peace-related audio and video content from all over the continent.

Voices Of Immigrant Women Speak Out

Jun 1

Posted by Progressive Action Roundtable in Human Rights, Peace | No Comments

by Anna Aschenbach, WILPF

At the May 16, 2010 monthly meeting of the New Haven County branch, Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF), we adopted the following project:
Our branch will sponsor a public meeting called Voices of Immigrant Women Speak Out. We will ask the speakers to talk of the abuses they have experienced in jobs, housing, from Immigration Control Enforcement (ICE) or from other groups and individuals in the U.S.

Our branch will ask three or four women from various ethnic origins to speak at a late afternoon public meeting in June in a free and accessible New Haven public place. We will offer each speaker an honorarium of $40. As soon as date, time and place have been established, we will send notices to our mailing list and will distribute fliers.

For up-to-date information or to suggest a possible speaker, please call Anna Aschenbach, (203) 468-8289 after 1 p.m. or leave a slow and clear message on the tape.