Tricounty DFA Update: 4th On the 4th! Our "Green" DFA Meeting Next Week,Video, Iraqi Family, More
Hello Everyone!

First, next week we will be celebrating our Fourth Anniversary as a group. I regard it as a great gift and personal honor every time we have a meeting or call an event and people come. You have made all of this, and the real change that is coming here, possible. I am ever humbled and grateful to all of you.

In This Update:

1. A "Green" DFA Meeting Next Wednesday, April 4th-- Our 4th Anniversary!
2. Video Agenda: Killowatt Ours
3. An Iraqi Family Appeal
4. Writer's Project At ACC On Middle East
5. Nominate Pete Seeger
6. Friday Night Film Fest
7. Real Family Values & A Must Read


1. A "Green" DFA Meeting Next Wednesday, April 4th-- Our 4th Anniversary!

Next Wednesday, April 4th, at 7pm the Rockhill Bakehouse Cafe in downtown Glens Falls, is going to be a big day for Greater Glens Falls DFA: Our Fourth Anniversary! We began as the Howard Dean Campaign, transitioned to Democracy For America and opened our arms to all area progressives, especially after Governor Dean ran for the Chair of the Democratic Party and became the leader of all Democrats everywhere.

We will be having a special "green" themed meeting: first, we'll take up our Circular Letter On Climate Change. We'll also discuss what we can do for green issues in May, particularly Bill McKibben's Step It Up initiative and Earth Day.

Green energy has been a big issue with us ever since we took the DFA lead a year ago when we hosted Jim McAndrew of Adirondack Windpower and endorsed the Barton Mines windpower farm.

We've been asked to figure out how to do a carbon offset for having our meeting. I think sponsoring a 27 megawatt wind farm pretty much nails that!

2. Video Agenda: Killowatt Ours

For the second half of the meeting we will be screening the Northcountry premier of a special video, Killowatt Ours.

From DFA" "Kilowatt Ours is an advocacy documentary film produced by Jeff Barrie and the Southern Energy Conservation Initiative. The film demonstrates the connections between a homeowner's energy use and mountain top removal, coal mining, global warming, and nuclear power. A key aspect of the film is that it demonstrates actions that apartment renters, homeowners, schools, and governments can do to save energy and reduce demand for unsustainable energy." The video is 60 minutes long and looks absolutely terrific.

3. An Iraqi Family Appeal

Lisa Scerbo sends this appeal about Capital District peace activist May Safar, who is from Iraq, and in real need. For all the enormity of the Iraq disaster, we still mustn't let the fate of individual families become lost:

"May Safar still has family in Iraq and her brother has fled to Jordan with his family. She has registered them for refugee status, but because the U.S . government is only allowing 7000 Iraqi refugees to come to the U.S. May needs us to write letters to our representatives in Congress asking for their help. Can you write letters on behalf of her family? Can you ask others to help too? We have an opportunity to help a few people from Iraq who have had their lives turned into a hellish nightmare. I hope we all can take advantage of this moment and encourage our representatives in congress to help May's family. Also May's brother did some work for the coalition so he and his family are put in danger as a result. "

From May herself:
"Your letters should be focused on the humanitarian support of my desire to bring my family here, and why you support their resettlement in the Capital region. No financial or any other support is required in this process. It's the number of individual letters sent to our representatives and senators that will speed up this process.
You will need the following names of the family members to include in your letters (I applied for them already):
First family: My parents, dad's name: Mohammed Hassan Al Saffar (head of household) family of two.
Second family: My brother, name: Haythem Al Saffar (head of household) family of four.
Third family: My cousin, name: Basil Al Saffar (head of household) family of five. "

"Also, for those of who want to know a little bit about me, I am including the following short biography:
Name: May Saffar, resident of Clifton Park, NY, has lived in the Albany area for 13 years, English as a Second Language (ESL) teacher and an adjunct at Hudson Valley Community College and College of St. Rose.
Mother of three kids, and a graduate of University at Albany, 2005. "

Here are the addresses you will need to write to the representatives and senators:
Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton
Leo O'Brien Federal Office Building
1 Clinton Square, Room 821
Albany, NY 12207
Phone: (518) 431-0120
Fax: (518) 431-0128

Senator Chuck Schumer
Leo O'Brien Federal Office Building
1 Clinton Square, Room 420
Albany, NY 12207
Phone: 518-431-4070
Fax: 518-431-4076

For 21st Congressional District:
Representative Michael McNulty
Leo O'Brien Federal Office Building
1 Clinton Square, Room 827
Albany , New York 12207
Phone: (518) 465-0700
FAX: (518) 427-5107

For 20th Congressional District:
Representative Kirsten Gillibrand
446 Warren Street
Hudson, New York 12534
Phone: (518) 828-3109
Fax: (518) 828-3985

If you could forward me a copy of your letters, to
mayziyadeh@yahoo.com
I would appreciate it. Thank you!
May Saffar"

4. Writer's Project At ACC On Middle East

Rebecca would like to alert us to an opportunity to really learn more about Iraq, from Iraqis:

"The Writers Project at Adirondack Community College presents "Voices from the Middle East," readings by two Iraqi exiles and an Arab-American author. The presentations are free and open to the public, and all take place in the Visual ARts GAllery (Dearlove Hall). The audience is invited to ask questions after each reading. For more information, call coordinator Lale Davidson at 743-2210 or email davidsol@sunyacc.edu "

"Wed, March 28, 7 to 9 p.m.:
Sinan Antoon, an Iraqi exile, co-directed the documentary "About Baghdad" and has written a book of poetry (A Prism: Wet with Wars) and a novel (Diacritics) which will soon be released in English.

"Fri., March 30, 1 to 2:30 p.m.:
Diana Abu-Juber, an Arab-American who grew up in Syracuse and Jordan, wrote the award-winning novels "Arabian Jazz," and "Crescent." Her latest book, "The Language of Baklava," is a culinary memoir.

"Mon, April 2, 12:30 to 2 p.m.:
Dunya Mikhail, a Baghdad-born poet who fled Iraq to escape harassment, has published four Arabic language books. "The War Works Hard," her first English book, was published to critical acclaim in 2005."

5. Nominate Pete Seeger

Our 2004 Congressional Candidate Doris Kelly sends something that will be dear to the hearts of many who remember the voice of Pete Seeter:

"I have just signed the petition entitled Pete Seeger Nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize and thought you would be interested in adding your support.

"Pete Seeger has been a crusader for Peace and Social Justice over the course of his 83 year lifetime. As a prominent musician his songs, messages and performance style have worked to engage other people, particularly the youth, in causes to end the Vietnam war, ban nuclear weapons, work for international solidarity, and ecological responsibility. It is time that a cultural worker receives the recognition that this work has great influence and global reach, that it is not only a medium of entertainment but of education, compassion and fraternity.

"To read about the petition and to sign it just visit http://www.petitionthem.com/default.asp?sect=detail&pet=3774

6. Friday Night Film Fest

The Rockhill Bakehouse Cafe's Friday night progressive film fest continues this week at 7:30 wtih:

Mar 30 FIDEL: THE UNTOLD STORY (2001) Estela Bravo 91 min.
What do Alice Walker, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Nelson Mandela, Sidney Pollock, Charles Rangel, Ramsey Clark, Ted Turner, and a former CIA agent have in common? They each appear in this documentary reflecting on or interacting with Cuban leader Fidel Castro. We also see Castro swimming with bodyguards, visiting his childhood home and school, joking with Nelson Mandela, Ted Turner and Muhammad Ali, meeting Elian Gonzalez, and celebrating his birthday with members of the Buena Vista Social Club. This film offers a riveting and rare portrayal of one of the most influential and enigmatic personalities of our time, following his life from his childhood home, through the Cuban revolution and the Cold War, even into Harlem, New York.


Drew sends this along, and it is the must see of the week-- what real family values are, Republican and Democratic, in the form of Newt Gingrich and John and Elizabeth Edwards:
http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i213/barhege/cwjmo070326.gif

The contrast couldn't be more stark.

And if you haven't read Carter National Security Adviser's Zbigniew Brzezinski's piece in the Washington Post, this is the must read of the week: "How A Three Word Mantra Has Undermined America"
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/23/AR2007032301613.html

Thanks everyone! See you all at our meeting next Wednesday!

Larry Dudley
- posted by Larry Dudley @ 12:24 AM 0 comments

 
Tricounty DFA Update: Successful Vigil, War Bill News, Cats and more
Hello Everyone;

First, a salute to the Glens Falls Area Interfaith Council for organizing the large vigil, march and service Sunday, and to everyone who participated in Glens Falls, in Albany or went to events in Ticonderoga Friday or Lake Luzerne Monday, which got some very nice coverage in the Tuesday Post Star.

In This Update:

1. Rep. Gillibrand To Vote For Supplemental
2. Lee Amendment Still In Play?
3. Bush Daughters: Whose Kids Die?
4. Governor Dean On Democrat's Future
5. Fundraiser For Rep. Gillibrand
6. The War Tapes Video At UU
7. Votes For DC
8. Zonta Forum On Human Trafficking
9. Friday Night Film Fest
10. A Pair of Good Democrat Cats

1. Rep. Gillibrand To Vote For Supplemental

Yesterday Rep. Gillibrand's office announced that she will be voting for the supplemental war funding bill currently before the House.

This bill has proven to be highly controversial, along with the refractory role of some conservative Democrats, and has generated enormous confusion. At latest reports, it continues the war for another year and a half, does not contain provisions to block Bush from launching a new war of aggression against Iran and privatizes the Iraqi oil industry, which, obviously, will feed and legitimize the insurgency in the eyes of the Iraqi people.

The main claim for the bill seems to be that it establishes the basic principle the US will someday leave Iraq, even if that doesn't happen for some time. Bush may veto it.

Other DFA groups and members around the country have come out in opposition. The Out Of Iraq Caucus and the Progressive Caucus have been against the measure, favoring a bil that would only fund a withdraw. But some progressives may now vote for it, anyway, while some conservative Democrats may vote against because they don't want any timeline at all. As I noted, it is a confused situation. For more perspective go to:
http://www.thenation.com/blogs/thebeat?bid=1&pid=176130 or http://www.mydd.com/story/2007/3/20/184411/091

3. Lee Amendment Still In Play?

However, the latest reports that I have received is that the Lee Amendment may be offered as an amendment from the floor, if allowed. It is identical to HR. 455, which we unanimously asked Rep. Gillibrand to vote for at our last meeting. It would only provide funds to protect the troops and bring them home by the end of this year.

If you are concerned about this situation, want the amendment offered and favor a positive vote on the amendment, then I would suggest you contact Rep. Gillibrand's office, if you have not done so.

We have yet to receive any response from Rep. Gillibrand's Washington office as to our resolution in favor of HR 455, now the Lee Amendment. I did receive a prompt and courteous response from Lisa Manzi in the Glens Falls office, to whom I cc:'d it.

4. Bush Daughters: Whose Kids Die?

From the very beginning this war has been about someone else's kids dying-- not the power elite.
Kitty Kelly writes a powerful piece in the L.A. Times on George and Laura Bush's "celebutard" daughters and their other relatives.

"None has enlisted in the armed services, and none seems to be paying attention to the sacrifices of military families. Until Jenna's trip to Panama, the presidential daughters performed community service only when mandated by a court after they were cited for underage drinking..."
http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-kelley19mar19,1,2865502.story

5. Fundraiser For Rep. Gillibrand

There will be a cocktail reception fundraiser for Rep. Kirsten Gillibrand on Saturday, March 24th at the Gideon Putnam Hotel, Saratoga Springs, New York, from 7 PM - 9 PM. There will also be a thank you and VIP Reception from 6 :30 PM – 7 PM.

Ticket: $125
VIP: $300
(VIP Reception and Picture w/ Congresswoman)
Host Committee $1,250
(2 Tickets to VIP Reception, table with 10 tickets)
Sponsors: $2,500
(6 tickets to the VIP Reception, 10 tickets to the reception)
Chairs: $5,000
(10 tickets to the VIP Reception, 12 tickets to the reception)

For information or to RSVP please contact
Ross Offinger (718) 344-8025 ross@kirstengillibrand.com.

6. Governor Dean On Democrat's Future

Governor Dean has not been heard from much lately, and he is always a breath of fresh air, in his uncommon clarity of mind and purpose. He spoke recently in California:

"The problem with the Democrats is that we run away from controversial issues," he said, "and that turned out to be a big mistake."
and, "The Bush people rely on us to be chicken to talk about the tough issues." Another must read: http://www.whittierdailynews.com/news/ci_5463816

6. The War Tapes Video At UU

For those who missed it-- which is too bad, because it is a can't miss-- The War Tapes video will be shown this Sunday at 4 PM (March 25) , at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation, followed by a pot luck supper. The War Tapes follows a group of New Hampshire National Guardsmen to Iraq and back, and is entirely composed of video the soldiers themselves shot. It is an extraordinary look at the utter madness US service members are actually confronting. The UU is located at 21 Weeks Road in Queensbury.

7. Votes For DC

Our Washington, D.C, counterpart, DC For Democracy, is asking DFA people across the country to support the District of Columbia House Voting Rights Act of 2007. This bill would correct an injustice that prevents residents of the District of Columbia from being represented in Congress like other Americans. From DC For Democracy:

"The House of Representatives is currently considering a bill that would give the residents of the District of Columbia voting representation in the House, something they've never had. The legislation has bi-partisan support, but members of Congress need to hear from real people who support this bill. That's where you come in. Please take a minute and help end the disenfranchisement of over a half-million of your fellow American citizens."

Please help out and send Congress a message of support: http://www.freeandequaldc.com/

8. Zonta Forum On Human Trafficking

The Glens Falls Zonta Club will hold a Status Of Women dinner with a forum on the trafficking of women and children for sexual exploitation. Guest speaker will be Nola Theiss, Executive Director and Founder, Human Trafficking Awareness Partnership, Inc. Theiss, a former mayor, has spent the last three years raising awareness of the growing world wide crime of human trafficking.

Date: Tuesday, March 27
Place, Queensbury Hotel, downtown Glens Falls.
Cocktails at 5pm, with dinner at 6pm, desert at 7pm.
Dinner and program is $30, desert and program $15.
Please RSVP at glensfalls@zontadistrict2.org or mail check payable to Zonta Club of Glens Falls at P.O. box 251, Glens Falls, NY 12801.

9. Friday Night Film Fest

The Rockhill Bakehouse Cafe Friday Night Progressive Film Fest continues at 7:30 with:

Mar 23 KEEP THE RIVER ON YOUR RIGHT (2001) David Shapiro & Laurie Gwen Shapiro 94 min.
In 1955, Tobias Schneebaum disappeared into the depths of the Peruvian Amazon. He had no guide, no map, and only he vaguest of instructions: Keep the river on your right. A year later Schneebaum emerged from the jungle...naked, covered in body paint, and a modern-day cannibal.Titled after Schneebaum’s 1969 cult classic memoir about his formative experiences living in the Amazon, KEEP THE RIVER ON YOUR RIGHT is the extraordinary stranger-than-fiction story of Schneebaum’s return to the jungle, 45 years after his original visit, to reunite with the very tribesmen he loved and who gave him nightmares for nearly half a century.

10. A Pair of Good Democrat Cats

If I can beg your indulgence for an irregular note: I recently became responsible for the affairs of a pair of elderly friends who recently had to permanently go into a nursing home. This is always very sad, but doubly so when they have pets, in this case, a pair of lovely cats who were used to much love and attention. One is a yellow male tabby with a lot of pep named Sammy, the other a grey female tuxedo cat named Mitzie with the sweetest personality who explodes into purrs with the slightest attention.

After living for some years with the doting attention of an older couple, consignment to a shelter will be a cruel fate. They are having a hard time adjusting to being alone. If anyone is in need of a cat, or has room and heart for one, please let me know at ldudley@nycap.rr.com

By the way, I know these cats are good Democrats! ;-) And as we all know, Democrats have to stick together!


Many Thanks Everyone!

Larry Dudley
- posted by Larry Dudley @ 12:56 AM 0 comments

 
Tricounty DFA Update: War Anniversary Vigil Sunday, Contacting Reps. On War
Hello Everyone:

In This Update:

1. 4th Anniversary of Iraq War This Weekend
2. Join Vigil For Peace and to Support Our Troops
3. Blue Dogs Attempting To Block Democratic Majority?
4. HR 455 Now Lee Amendment
5. Contact Rep. Gillibrand
6. Friday Night Film Fest


1. 4th Anniversary of Iraq War This Weekend

This weekend will be the fourth anniversary of the beginning of the war in Iraq. On Saturday the Iraq War will pass the Civil War in length- also longer than World War Two, the Korean War, World War One, or the 19th century wars with Spain, Mexico and the British Empire.

Many members of this group first came together in a long, wintry series of peace vigils, essentially begging our congressional leaders not to authorize force in Iraq. That opposition has been vindicated.

2. Join Vigil For Peace and to Support Our Troops

There will be a major vigil this Sunday, March 18th in City Park in downtown Glens Falls at 3pm. It has been organized by the Glens Falls area interfaith council. Glens Falls DFA wholeheartedly endorsed this vigil at our last meeting. After the vigil, which begins at 3pm, there will be a march ending at the Baptist Church where there will be an interfaith service at 4pm.

We need to make this vigil the biggest one ever. We are asking every single member of this list to not only attend, but act as group organziers themselves, to call their friends, relatives, neighbors, acquaintances and co-workers and each bring a group of people with them. Please come to the vigil and march. It is critical to show support for ending the war at this moment because Congress is wavering on taking action.

I appreciate that there are people who want to go to Albany and march there. But we really need a large turnout in this district to demonstrate how strong opposition to the war is here. There are false perceptions of the area by people who are not familiar with it. We know this area does not support the war.

Martha sent this reflective article from the Guardian:
"Was I a good American? How good an American was I? Did I do what I could to resist the takeover of my country and the brutalisation of my fellow human beings? How much further could I have gone?"
http://www.guardian.co.uk/print/0,,329744438-103677,00.html

3. Blue Dogs Attempting To Block Democratic Majority?

You may have read that the Democratic House leadership has been trying to craft a supplemental defense appropriation bill that would place conditions on our involvement in Iraq, eventually ending the war. This is what the American people voted for last November.

What you may not have heard is that a small group of conservative Democrats known as the Blue Dogs have been attempting to remove from the bill almost any provision that George Bush wouldn't like. Specifically:

*A timeline for getting all US forces out of Iraq
*Requirements that any forces sent to Iraq be certified as ready for combat
*A requirement that Bush come to Congress for permission before attacking Iran

Accordingly to many reports, the Blue Dogs threatened to vote with the Republicans unless some or all of these provisions were removed, or unless the vital timeline were rolled back to a very late date, that would probably leave the war going into 2009.

The blogs have done great work in covering this very fast moving story:

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2007/3/13/11140/5202
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2007/3/13/181450/628
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2007/3/13/235039/676

This piece at mydd.com makes a key point about all this: "In other words, progressives get whipped into voting for a compromise, and Blue Dogs get to "vote their conscience." Progressives are expected to compromise their beliefs, but then the leadership won't even stand up and fight for a compromise they wrangled out of the progressives." http://www.mydd.com/story/2007/3/13/215741/945

4. HR 455 Now Lee Amendment

At our last meeting we asked Rep. Gillibrand to co--sponsor HR 455, The Bring The Troops Home And Protect Them Act of 2007. This bill has now transitioned into the very similar Lee Amendment. Dick and Pat and I have been in contact with her office and are still waiting for an answer as to Rep. Gillibrand's position as to these initiatives.

On entering Congress Rep. Gillibrand did join the Blue Dog caucus, because, she said, she liked their position on fiscal responsibility. However, she is not required to vote with them to be a member of this caucus.

A group of retired veteran intelligence officers, Veteran Intelligence Professionals For Sanity, have come out with thoughtful and powerful analysis of the situation in Iraq, and have specifically called for Congress to adopt the Lee Amendment as the only responsible course for the United States at this time.
http://www.tompaine.com/articles/2007/03/14/a_lifeline_out.php

5. Contact Rep. Gillibrand

Please contact Rep. Gillibrand's office and urge her to vote for the Lee Amendment, which will bring US forces home by the end of this year. The American people voted last November to end the war in Iraq. Democrats must keep this covenant with the American people, including the 20th Congressional District, if we expect them to support us in the future.

Rep. Kirsten Gillibrand
120 Cannon House Office Bldg.
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: (202) 225-5614

or email at http://www.gillibrand.house.gov

If turns out that the supplemental bill has been so eviscerated as to be useless, we should join other progressives in asking her to vote against the bill. A supplemental bill does not have to be passed right away. Congress can wait 60 or 90 days to get it right, and must.

The Working Families Party has also called for funding only for bringing US forces home, and have put up an online petition: http://www.democracyinaction.com/dia/organizationsCOM/WFP/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=1860


6. Friday Night Film Fest

The Rockhill Bakehouse Cafe's Friday Night Progressive Film Fest continues at 7:30 with:

Mar 16 ONE BRIGHT SHINING MOMENT: The Forgotten Summer of George McGovern (2005) Stephen Vittoria 125 min.
Retraces George McGovern's bold grassroots presidential campaign of 1972 - a campaign that fought to the bitter end for peace and justice, a campaign that positioned ideas and people first, and, a campaign crushed in workmanlike fashion by Richard Nixon. The tragedy of the '72 campaign is this: George McGovern might have been the only candidate to run for President in the 20th century who truly understood what an incredible monument America could be to the human race. The film features interviews with a patchwork of historians, activists, the candidate himself, foot soldiers from his campaign, and others, including Gore Vidal, Gloria Steinem, Warren Beatty, Dick Gregory, Gary Hart, Frank Mankiewicz, Howard Zinn, Jim Bouton, Sen. Jim Abourezk, Rev. Malcolm Boyd, and Ron Kovic. Narrated by Amy Goodman and featuring an original music score and traditional folk ballads, the story incorporates songs from Leon Russell, Bob Dylan, Robbie Robertson, Donovan, ! and Elvis Costello. The ultimate political defeat of the American Century may also be its high watermark. And if so, what does that say about the electoral process, the American government, and more importantly, what does it say about the forces at work on the American people - then and now?

Thanks Everyone! See you all Sunday at 3pm.

Larry Dudley
- posted by Larry Dudley @ 1:17 AM 0 comments

 
Tricounty DFA Update: Meetup Report-- A Resolution To End The War
Hello Everyone!

First, an announcement: Rep. Kirsten Gillibrand will be at the Hyde Museum at 1:30pm Saturday March 10 for a Town Meeting forum on Healthcare. There usually is an open question and answer period after the initial topic. The venue will be the downstairs auditorium and everyone interested is urged to attend.

In This Update:

1. Meeting Report: Resolution On Iraq
2. March Against The War On The 18th
3. War Tapes At UU On March 24

1. Meeting Report: Resolution On Iraq

We had another successful meeting last Wednesday at the Rockhill Bakehouse Cafe in downtown Glens Falls. At the end we showed The War Tapes video for those who hadn't seen it, so the somewhat shorter meeting was dominated by discussion of the Iraq War. The Circular Letter On Climate Change was tabled until April

The main course of business was a request early this week by other DFA groups in New York State to join them in endorsing House Resolution H.R. 455, the "Protect The Troops And Bring Them Home Act of 2007."

This legislation was written by Rep. Jerry Nadler of Manhattan. It's goal, exactly as the title states, is to bring all us forces home by the end of this year-- not 2008, or even 2009. I was on a lengthy leadership liaison group conference call this week with the other coordinators, and this position is essentially the consensus position of DFNY.

HR 455's strength is the fact it has the simplicity of an ice pick. Simplicity and extreme clarity is what is required in these extreme circumstances.

After discussion, a resolution asking Rep. Gillibrand to join with Reps. John Hall, Maurice Hinchey and others as co-sponsors, was adopted unanimously. The full resolution is at the bottom.

To follow up, we urge everyone to contact Rep. Gillibrand's office to urge her to join as a co-sponsor, or attend the meeting Saturday.

2. March Against The War On The 18th

In Glens Falls:
We also endorsed the peace vigil and march that will be be held marking four years of war with Iraq on Sunday afternoon, March 18th at 3:00 p.m. in City Park in downtown Glens Falls. Everyone is urged to attend (or one of the other events). This march is organized by the Glens Falls area interfaith council. The group will assemble in City Park and then march to the First Baptist Church on nearby Maple Street. A worship service at 4pm will be held for those who wish to attend.

In Albany:
There will be a march on Sunday, March 18 at 2 PM from the Capital Plaza Museum stairs to the Federal Building. People will carry the name of
one US GI who was killed in the Iraq war. Lisa Scerbo will make up a placard in memory of a fallen soldier for anyone who wishes to go but cannot make their own. (She brought one to Wednesday's meeting and they are very professionally done.) The organizers want one person for every fallen service member and they are still short. Contact her at LScerbo@gmail.com

In Ticonderoga:
There will be a peace march in Ticonderoga, NY on Friday, March 16, at 12 noon starting at the Glens Falls National Bank. The walk will be from the Bank to the Black Watch Library in Ticonderoga and back. For information phone Helenmarie, 499-1238 or Stan, 585-7015

3. War Tapes Video Showing At UU

The War Tapes video will be shown at the Unitarian Universalist Association Church on Weeks Road in Queensbury on Sunday, March 25th at 4pm. There will also be a potluck supper afterwards.

If you haven't seen it, you should. This is a powerful video and a must see to grasp the folly and insanity of the war in Iraq. The story of American soldiers of the New Hampshire National Guard cuts through the fog of obfuscation and rationalization that for some reason still seems to be surrounding the war in Iraq. Thanks to Linda Thompson for setting this up!

The resolution asking Rep. Gillibrand to co-sponsor HR 455 is below.

Thanks everyone!

Larry Dudley


********

WHEREAS:

A very substantial majority of the American people voted in the last election to change course in Iraq. Ending the war is now the mainstream, middle of the road position, especially here in upstate New York.

Further, the war issue prevents the Democratic majority from making progress on other issues. The Democratic majority in Congress had a great run in the 1970s-- passing everything from energy conservation like the CAF-E standards, pollution control, energy indepenence, civil rights or the Church Act reining in the intelligence gencies. But that was only possible because the Vietnam War was taken off the table.

H.R. 455 has a number of attributes that make it a distinctive and politically viable option for bringing the Iraq conflict to a reasonable conclusion.

•H.R. 455 is tied to war funding. It would be attached to the appropriations bill so, if it is not removed in conference, the Senate would have to pass it and the President would have to sign it in order to continue funding for the war. Funding is "the only real way to force a change of direction in Iraq." H.R. 455 can actually work.

•Because it maintains funding for the troops (albeit for their removal) it cannot be tarred with the Republican talking point that it "cuts off funding for the troops."

•Because it maintains funding for Iraqi reconstruction, it avoids the argument that we are abandoning the Iraqi people in the same way Congress supposedly "abandoned" the people of South Vietnam.

•The bill establishes a firm and reasonable deadline for troop withdrawal (12/31/07) that will provide an incentive for the Iraqi government to take control of their own political and military destiny. The deadline is well after the six months that General Petreaus has specified as critical for establishing security.

•The bill’s simplicity prevents it from being subverted in practice. Complexity appears to be part of the reason other measures to end the war, for instance by Rep. Murtha or Rep. Woolsey, have faltered.

•The bill does not raise constitutional separation of powers issues by micromanaging the President: funding is an undisputed congressional power. This also appears to have been a major problem with the other bills cited above.

THEREFORE,

BE IT RESOLVED:

Democracy For The Greater Glens Falls Area respectfully urges and requests Rep. Kirsten Gillibrand to join with New York Representatives John Hall, Maurice Hinchey, Carolyn Maloney, Jose Serrano and Edolphus Towns and author Jerry Nadler in co-sponsoring HR 455.

*******

Thanks to the DFNY Leadership Liaison Committee, especially Tracey and Heather at Democracy For New York City, for their help and also Progressive Christian on dKos for some language.
- posted by Larry Dudley @ 11:31 PM 0 comments

 
Tricounty DFA Update: Meetup reminder, more!
Hello Everyone!

In this update:

1. DFA Meeting Wednesday
2. DFA Nightschool Tuesday
3. Gillibrand Town Meeting Saturday
4. Ann Coulter Advertisers?
5. Bush At 29% Approval Rating-- 23% on War
6. March For Peace On War Anniversary
7. War Tapes Video Showing At UU
8. Friday Night Film Fest


1. DFA Meeting Wednesday

On Wednesday, March 7th, we'll be holding our monthly Democracy For The Greater Glens Falls Area "meetup" or Link-up. We will be meeting as usual at 7pm at the Rockhill Bakehouse Cafe on the corners of Elm and Exchange Streets and Hudson Ave. in Downtown Glens Falls.

On the agenda this month is the final draft of the Circular Letter on Global Warming/Global Climate change, Marches on the 18th and a possible encore showing of The War Tapes at the end of the meeting, time allowing.

2. DFA Nightschool Tuesday

The acclaimed DFA Night School starts again on Tuesday. The first session is something very pertinent at the moment: "Holding Elected Leaders Accountable." The time and date: March 6th – 8:30pm Eastern
You will need to RSVP to get the number and passcode. Go to: http://www.dfalink.com/event.php?id=18353

3. Gillibrand Town Meeting Saturday

From Lisa Manzi at the Glens Falls Gillibrand office:

"There will be a Health Care Town Hall Forum with Rep. GIllibrand on Sat. March 10th starting at 1:30 PM in the Hyde Collection Auditorium, at 161 Warren St. in Glens Falls. "

4. Ann Coulter Advertisers?

We've all probably heard about right wing nut case Ann Coutler calling presidential candidate John Edwards by a slur that we've all heard but probably shouldn't repeat. There's an effort tonight to contact the advertisers on her website and complain: there are some significant companies-- Verizon, for instance. She is making money off her website, from advertisers we all patronize-- and why should we help pay for hate language? Check out the list:
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/3/4/105236/4618 Just pick one and send an email-- for instance, if you own a Toyota, tell them that.

5. Bush At 29% Approval Rating-- 23% on War

This didn't seem to make the headlines it deserved: According to the NY Times/CBSnews poll, Bush has now dropped to a 29% approval rating. The Times says, "Over all, Mr. Bush’s job approval remains at one of its lowest points, with 29 percent of all Americans saying they approve of the way he is doing his job, compared with 34 percent at the end of October. Sixty-one percent disapproved, compared with 58 percent in October, within the margin of sampling error."

"Twenty-three percent of those polled approved of the way Mr. Bush is dealing with the situation in Iraq. Twenty-five percent approved of his handling of foreign policy."

"Even the president’s campaign against terrorism, long his signature issue, is seen positively by only 40 percent of those polled, while 53 percent disapprove."

Only 23% approve of Bush's handling of the most important issue of the moment, the war in Iraq. That's below the number that forced Nixon from office during Watergate. And that includes bright spots like Texas and Alabama. It's no wonder Republican politicians' knees are knocking. As anyone around here knows, almost all the "W" stickers have vanished from cars and it's getting hard to find anyone who will admit to still supporting Bush.

But the real question is, why aren't there more calls to end the war, along with calls to impeach the perpetrators of this monstrous crime?

6. March For Peace On War Anniversary

If you want to raise your voice, the moment is coming. Sunday March 18th is the 4th anniversary of the beginning of the Iraq War. There will be marches, vigils and services in both Glens Falls and Albany.

In Glens Falls:

An interfaith group is starting a peace vigil for Sunday, March 18th, at 3:00 p.m. There will be march together from City Park to the First Baptist Church for a worship service beginning at 4:00 p.m. ALL are welcome to attend and participate.

For more info, contact Regina Haag, pastor
Adirondack Friends Meeting
793-3755

In Albany:

There will be a march on Sunday, March 18 at 2 PM from the Capital Plaza Museum stairs to the Federal Building. People will carry the name of
one US GI who was killed in the Iraq war.

for more information call Joe Lombardo at 518-439-1968, jlombard@nycap.rr.com, www.nepajac.org "

7. War Tapes Video Showing At UU

The War Tapes video we showed on February 15 will be shown at the Unitarian Universalist Association Church on Weeks Road in Queensbury on Sunday, March 25th at 4pm.

This is a powerful video and a must see to grasp the folly and insanity of the war in Iraq. The story of American soldiers of the New Hampshire National Guard cuts through the fog of obfuscation and rationalization that for some reason still seems to be surrounding the war in Iraq. Thanks to Linda Thompson for setting this up!

8. Friday Night Film Fest

Finally, the Rockhill Bakehouse Cafe's Friday Night Progressive Film Festival contines at 7:30 with:

Mar 9 TYING THE KNOT (2004) Jim De Seve 83 min.
When a bank robber's bullet ends the life of police officer Lois Marrero, her wife of thirteen years, Mickie, is honored as her surviving spouse but denied all pension benefits. When Sam, an Oklahoma rancher, loses his beloved husband of 22 years, long-estranged cousins of his late spouse try to lay claim to everything Sam has. As Mickie and Sam's lives are put on trial, they are forced to confront the tragic reality that in the eyes of the law their marriages mean nothing. From an historical trip to the Middle Ages, to gay hippies storming the Manhattan marriage bureau in 1971, "Tying the Knot" digs deeply into the past and present to uncover the meaning of civil marriage in America today.

Thanks Everyone!

See you all Wednesday,

Larry Dudley
- posted by Larry Dudley @ 11:49 PM 0 comments

 
Tricounty DFA Update: Meetup Next Week, Online Actions, More
Hello Everyone!

In this update:

1. Monthly DFA Meetup Next Week
2. Action Appeals From Al Gore, Governor Dean, Bo Lipari
3. New Draft: Circular Letter
4. Confusion On War?
4. DFA Nightschool
5. Friday Film Fest
6. On the Lighter Side


1. Monthly DFA Meetup Next Week

The first Wednesday of the month rolls around a week from today, on March 7th, which means it is time for our monthly Democracy For The Greater Glens Falls Area "meetup." We will be meeting as usual at 7pm at the Rockhill Bakehouse Cafe on the corners of Elm and Exchange Streets and Hudson Ave.

On the agenda this month is the final draft of the Circular Letter on Global Warming/Global Climate change, Marches on the 18th and a possible encore showing of The War Tapes at the end of the meeting, time allowing.

2. Action Appeals From Al Gore, Governor Dean, Bo Lipari

Gore
I am sure everyone was deeply moved to see President-Elected Al Gore on the stage as An Inconvenient Truth received the Oscar for Best Documentary. The accolades continued all night long, ending with a tribute from Melissa Etheridge, who won an Oscar for Best Song for her contribution to An Inconvenient Truth. That was hardly expected, but is probably a measure of how strongly members of Academy felt about the picture and its message.

Two days later Gore sent out an appeal for help: He will be appearing before Congress this month to testify on Global Warming. He is asking for as many people as possible to sign a petition he intends to bring along to present to Congress, showing the depth of support for action on the climate. Add your name at: http://www.algore.com/cards.html?sc=M0001


Brucie notes that the right is trying to smear Gore again:
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2007/2/27/164154/282

Dean
Also, Governor Dean is asking all Democrats to sign a petition on the right to unionize with a single card checkoff: http://www.democrats.org/page/petition/EFCAHouse

Bo Lipari
In 2005 we sponsored a presentation by Bo Lipari, New York's leading advocate for making voting safe and reliable with paper ballots, optically scanned. Bo has now issued an appeal:

"New York State is about to undergo an enormous change in the way our elections are conducted. Soon all our lever machines will be replaced with a new way to cast our ballots. It is crucial that the State get the choice of voting systems right the first time. Adopting flawed electronic touch screen voting machines (DREs) would be a mistake we cannot afford to make, and there's a better choice: paper ballots counted with ballot-scanners, with accessible ballot-marking devices to make sure everyone can vote independently and privately.
The current plan allows each New York State county to choose its own voting system. This will lead to a disastrous patchwork of expensive touch screen DREs administered by under-trained staff and elderly poll workers. We'll see long lines at the polls, frustrated voters, questionable results and subsequent legal challenges -- and confusion resulting from a mix of different systems around the state. Don't let this happen in New York State!

Send a fax to Governor Spitzer
-- Tell him there is only one choice for New York - a single statewide voting system using paper ballots, precinct based optical scanners, and accessible ballot marking devices. You do not need to have a fax machine. Simply click on this link.

3. New Draft: Circular Letter

With help from Jean Rikhoff we have the revised version of the Circular Letter on Global Warming/Climate Change that we discussed at the last meeting. I will paste it in full at the bottom for everyone's consideration and we will discuss it at the meeting on Wednesday. It contains an Executive Summary on the top for those who were concerned about its length, and language about energy independence.

4. Confusion On War?

There are conflicting reports tonight on whether Congressional Democrats are pulling together and sucking up the courage to end the war in Iraq, or falling apart. http://apnews.excite.com/article/20070301/D8NJ2J1O1.html

I have been informed by our DFNYC leaders Tracey Denton and Heather Woodfield that Rep. Jerry Nadler has introduced a new bill, HR. 455 to cut off funding for the war.

Democrats need to pass something, preferably soon, and then keep the ball moving-- the Murtha Plan, HR. 503, HR 455-- start somewhere.

It's time to contact our Congressional Delegation to urge them to resist the inside the beltway pressure, and show the strength Americans want-- of acting decisively and forcefully on the mandate voters gave them last November.

The addresses are: Rep. Kirsten Gillibrand
120 Cannon House Office Bldg.
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: (202) 225-5614

Sen. Hillary Clinton
476 Russel Senate Office Bldg.
Washington, DC 20510

Sen. Charles Schumer
313 Hart Senate Office Bldg.
Washington, DC 20510

4. DFA Nightschool

The DFA Night School starts again on Tuesday and they are definitely worth the time. The first session is something very pertinent at the moment: "Holding Elected Leaders Accountable"
March 6th – 8:30pm Eastern
RSVP: http://www.dfalink.com/event.php?id=18353

5. Friday Film Fest

The Rockhill Bakehouse Cafe's Friday Night Progressive Film Fest continues at 7:30 with:

Mar 2 THE NET (2006) Lutz Dammbeck 115 min.
Ultimately stunning in its revelations, Lutz Dammbeck’s THE NET explores the incredibly complex backstory of Ted Kaczynski, the infamous Unabomber. This exquisitely crafted inquiry into the rationale of this mythic figure situates him within a late 20th Century web of technology – a system that he grew to oppose. A marvelously subversive approach to the history of the Internet, this insightful documentary combines speculative travelogue and investigative journalism to trace contrasting countercultural responses to the cybernetic revolution. For those who resist these intrusive systems of technological control, the Unabomber has come to symbolize an ultimate figure of Refusal. For those that embrace it, as did and do the early champions of media art like Marshall McLuhan, Nam June Paik, and Stewart Brand, the promises of worldwide networking and instantaneous communication outweighed the perils. Dammbeck’s conceptual quest links these multiple nodes of cultural

6. On the Lighter Side

Finally Drew passes this funny along-- it's Condiland! http://www.internetweekly.org/2007/02/cartoon_condi_land.html

Thanks everyone, the Circular Letter is below.

Best,

Larry Dudley


*******



To our fellow DFA members
A Circular Letter On Climate Change
January-February, 2007

Report Summary


Our community, Glens Falls, NY, is an archetypal snow belt community. Five month winters are normal. However, December 2006 was the warmest on record. In early January, temperatures reached into the 60s.
We believe we are on the front line of climate change and must bear witness to the fact something deadly is happening to our planet. Unlike warmer communities, we can see dangerous climate change directly.
We also fear Global Warming will get much worse. An irreversible tipping point is approaching, with all the planet’s ice caps melting within the next century. The average ocean level will then rise 30 feet, leading to an end to monsoon rains around the world. Mass starvation of billions of people will occur.
In order to endorse a candidate for national office, we believe candidates should be required to meet the following criteria:

*A solid commitment to dealing with Global Climate Change.
*A specific plan of action.
*A track record on Global Climate Change that can be inspected and adequately vetted.
*A record of integrity and standing up for issues. This specifically means not knuckling under to short term corporate pressures.
*A program for clean energy independence.

During the American Revolution it was a common practice for local Committees Of Correspondence, which were groups very much like ours, to compose circular letters to other groups and areas. These letters would pass on information, make observations, share opinions, propose new actions and build a consensus.

We propose this letter in a similar, revolutionary spirit.

Our community is located at the base of the Adirondack Mountains in
upstate New York. Anyone who has watched weather maps of New York or New England over many years will know that Glens Falls is always one of the coldest and snowiest spots. Glens Falls is an archetypal snow belt community. Winters here are normally five months long-- this means snow on the ground for five months, and occasionally more. To live here is to live in winter.

However, December 2006 was the warmest December on record. Temperatures commonly hovered in the 40s all month long and sometimes broke into the 50s. There was no snow accumulation. At the beginning of January, grass was still green in Glens Falls. Lakes and ponds, which have always frozen hard by mid-december, were free flowing. At their peak in early January, temperatures reached into the 60s.

We are all familiar with the lobster in the pot phenomena. If it is put in a cold pot and heated slowly, it will not attempt to escape. In a similar way, people who live in extreme conditions-- like Eskimos and polar bears-- or people like us in Glens Falls-- sometimes see changes others who live in less extreme circumstances will miss because they are more dramatic here.

If you live in Richmond, Virginia, or Little Rock, Arkansas, or Las Vegas, Nevada, where it doesn’t snow much, it might be easy to miss the fact that you are experiencing a significant climate change. No snow is no snow. But when you live with snow on the ground five months of the year and have grown up with that, the disappearance of snow comes as a shock. Unlike the proverbial lobster, we can’t ignore or miss it.

Few people live in the Arctic or in the Antarctic or atop a glacier. That means there are few people who see radical climate change first hand. We believe we are on the front line of climate change and are seeing directly for ourselves something others may not be picking up on, and must bear witness to the fact something very extreme and very deadly is happening to our planet.

Dangerous climate change is not a hypothetical event in the future. It is here now. Unlike anecdotal single year events, we have seen it unfolding for many years. We are sounding the alarm.

The recent Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report on Climate Change officially confirmed that the world is radically warming as a whole. We all should be aware that many, if not most environmental scientists believe the report was substantially watered down to suit the political demands of the Bush administration and the People’s Republic of China, neither of which wish to acknowledge the reality of Climate Change. These scientists believe the danger is much worse than the report describes.

We also fear it will get much worse. Recent scientific studies have learned that vast quantities of methane gas, trapped for eons in the arctic permafrost of Russia and Canada, will be released as the permafrost melts.

Most of the climate change we have seen so far has been driven by carbon dioxide. However, methane gas in the upper atmosphere traps 23 times more heat than CO2 per molecule. The release of methane will radically accelerate global warming. And it could be released in a very short period of time.

If that happens, an irreversible tipping point will occur. All the planet’s ice caps will melt, within a century, possibly much less. The average ocean level will rise 30 feet, inundating all the world’s major coastal cities and shores. Whole regions like Florida, Cape Cod, Louisiana will largely vanish beneath the waves.

Concomitant with that rise will be a likely change in the world’s weather patterns. Specifically, the monsoon rains around the world will cease. The desertification we see now in Africa will spread around the world into South Asia, India, Southeast Asia, Indonesia and southern China.

Renowned environmental scientist James Lovelock, who created the Gaia
hypothesis, that the world operates as a single self-regulating mechanism, now believes these events are all but inevitable. Lovelock has concluded that humanity will likely be driven to the polar regions in search of habitable terrain. There will not be enough arable land to feed the world’s population. He estimates that as many five to six billion people could possibly perish in as little as a hundred years time.

This is the most dangerous crisis facing the human race since the Black Death killed 40-60% of the world’s population in the 1350s, or since imported diseases like smallpox killed as much as 90% of the people of the Americans after European contact in the 16th and 17th centuries.

Rapid climate change is not an inconvenience. It is not about small, exotic or even seemingly whimsical species like the snail darter. Global Climate Change is about the survival of humanity. It will likely have a similar lethality to these great disasters of the past. Whatever the exact percentage, billions of human beings are going to perish. This is true even if prophets like Lovelock are only half right-- instead of four billion people perishing, two billion.

This may seem extreme. But one question has to be asked. What if Lovelock is right? What if he is only half right? Or a third right? So far his track record has been impeccable.

The potential for mass mortality of so many human beings is what makes this crisis the greatest event in human history, and dictates an appropriate course of action.

What kind of actions are impelled upon us?

The first action is to seek appropriate leadership. Then we need to entrust them with political power to address this crisis, the greatest crisis in at least 500-700 years.

We are now at the cusp of a Presidential election season. Many of us are upset about the Iraq War, civil rights, the war on the middle class, and many other issues. But Global Climate Change needs to be made the dominant issue of this selection process. It is a life or death issue for most of the human race. As horrifying as the Iraq War is, the long term judgment of history is likely to be that its principle consequence was that it delayed our addressing the climate change crisis.

Dealing with Global Climate change is also an outstanding opportunity to change America’s energy culture. The United States needs to achieve energy independence. Developing clean energy can also simultaneously meet that goal.

Accordingly, we believe as a movement we must insist on leaders who have several qualities:

*A solid commitment to dealing with Global Climate Change.
*A specific plan of action.
*A track record on Global Climate Change that can be inspected and adequately vetted.
*A record of integrity and standing up for issues. This specifically means not knuckling under to short term corporate pressures.
*A program for clean energy independence.

During the last election the DFA Test on the Iraq War was established to determine initial eligibility for a DFA endorsement. We believe these points should be a similar test this year, and that all candidates be required to meet this test before being considered for our endorsement and support.

We thank all our fellow activists in our movement for their consideration of this circular letter!
- posted by Larry Dudley @ 12:18 AM 0 comments