Thank you Cindy
It was with great surprise that we read Cindy Sheehan’s message about her decision to pull back from her activism in the antiwar movement. Surprise, because we know how deep her commitment is to this struggle, and because we know how much of herself she has poured into this work.
At the same time, we were not surprised that she needed a break. Cindy, like many of us, has been working to end the war in Iraq for many years. But like very few, she put most of the rest of her life on hold as she tirelessly traveled the country, spoke to groups large and small, marched and rallied and lobbied and participated in acts of nonviolent civil disobedience, did media interviews and so much more every single day. And we cannot forget for one moment that all of this was done not only as someone opposed to an unjust and immoral war but also as a grieving mother, a parent whose son was senselessly killed in a war that never should have happened, a war that has taken so many Iraqi and U.S. lives. Her clarity and her energy helped to inspire others to activism, people who also lost loved ones in Iraq and much wider circles of people as well.We are saddened by Cindy's decision, even though we respect it and know she is doing what is right for her and her family.
But what is most sad is how long this deadly, costly, outrageous war has gone on. Hundreds of thousands of Iraqis are dead and their nation is in ruins. More than 3,400 U.S. servicepeople are dead, and tens of thousands will live with debilitating wounds for the rest of their lives. Our national treasury has been robbed of over $400,000,000,000 and now Congress has agreed to give Bush another $96 billion for this war and occupation. What we are most sad and angry about is how stubborn the so-called leadership in Washington is and how hard it is to end this war.
However, we are inspired when we think about Cindy's work and the journey she has been on. Her ability to turn personal grief into public action for the greater good should serve as a model for others. What Cindy did was a reminder that the actions we take as individuals do make a difference, and that the impact of those actions is amplified when we join with others. Cindy’s individual contribution has been enormous, but she was part of a much larger movement. Without that movement, her presence in Crawford, TX, would not have resonated the way it did. Without that movement, her ongoing activism would not have had its power or ability to reach so many others. And that's a critically important lesson for us all:
We each must find our voice and take the action that's most appropriate for us as individuals – and inspire others to do so as well -- that is how we make the strongest contribution toward the growth of our movement.
Our movement also needs to take this moment to reflect on how we support one another. We have taken on an extremely difficult challenge: We seek to change the policies of the largest, most deadly military force in human history. We are confronting the economic, cultural and social power of the rulers of this nation, and we are demanding profound changes. Doing this work takes a toll on us, and yet we push forward. There are differences among us and there always will be. The goal shouldn’t necessarily be to eradicate those differences but rather to find new, constructive ways to deal with them. We’re going to need every ally and every tool in the toolbox – and probably some others that haven’t been dreamed up yet – to end this war!
We thank Cindy for all that she has done, and wish her well in regaining her strength. And we take this opportunity to recommit ourselves to the hard work ahead -- the work of building and strengthening our movement and the work of ending the war and bringing all the troops home!
We look forward to taking this mandate into our upcoming National Assembly in Chicago. Hundreds of delegates from UFPJ’s member groups around the country will gather June 22-24 to discuss the next stage of our work. Keep an eye out for updates -- together we will end this war!
Yours, for peace and justice,
Leslie Cagan
UFPJ National Coordinator
Week of May 31, 2007
For a complete and updated East End Report click here ,
AOLers: go to www(.)eastendrep(.)blogspot(.)com - replace "(.)" with "."
In this week's report: [ click on any of the bold headers below or scroll down]
From United for Peace & Justice - Stop Funding War
End the Occcupation: Rally in DC
Progressive Radio News Program May Be Axed
Peace & Justice Calendar
Suffolk Peace Vigils
Long Island Climate Solutions Network - Calendar
Counter Recruiting Schedule
Alternative Media for Eastern LI
Democracy Now!
Non-corporate news hour with Amy Goodman and Juan Gonzalez:
on Riverhead/Southampton/Southold/Shelter Island Channel 20:
Monday 9 pm - Tuesday 9 pm - Wednesday 9 pm - Thursday 11 pm -
Friday - 8 pm- Saturday - 10 pm
Also on WUSB 90.1 FM 5pm Mon-Friday and East Hampton LTV Ch 20
See WPKN Today for program details on WPKM heard at 88.7 Montauk to Water Mill and WPKN 89.5 Bridgeport to Southampton and Southold.
News on WPKN / WPKM:
Free Speech Radio News Mon-Fri at 6pm: News from Pacifica Reporters Against Censorship - world wide report of news not heard on corporate media. This program may be dropped by WPKN. See Progressive Radio News Program May be Axed
WPKN/M Local News at 6:30 pm (Mon-Fri) has occasional reports from the East End.
WPKN / WPKM Programs Available on the Net:
Rev. Holly Haile Davis and the Thunderbird Sisters at the Southold UU
Originaly broadcast on March 29.
WPKN presents the Reverend Holly Haile Davis and the singing Thunder Bird Sisters of the Shinnecock Nation on Long Island. The program was recorded as they led the Sunday service at the First Universalist Church of Southold, New York on January 14 of this year.
Reverend Holly Haile Davis is the first Native-American woman ordained as a Presbyterian minister.
The program includes musical selections by the Thunder Bird Sisters and stories from the gospel according to some Native Americans.
Counterpoint: Scott Harris Host
To hear in-depth analysis you'll rarely hear in corporate media, listen to "Counterpoint" LIVE on WPKN-FM Monday nights from 8 to 10 pm
An archive of Counterpoint programs are accessible for free at http://www.whiterosesociety.org/ Some segments of Counterpoint are edited for re-broadcast on the syndicated Between The Lines radio newsmagazine.
Gordian Raacke on WPKN:
"Going Solar" - In this special program, our guest, renewable energy expert Gordian Raacke, will explain how solar energy systems can be used in existing homes.
Originally broadcast April 15, 2007. Interviewer: Ken MacDermotRoe
http://mdrtalk.org/
For more Information on Peace Activism on LI
see North Fork People of Conscience at www(.)nfpofc(.)blogspot(.)com
see Suffolk Progressive Vision at www(.)spv(.)active(.)ws
___________________________________________
The East End Report is compiled by Tony Ernst
Send corrections or comments to eastendreport@yahoo.com
___________________________________________
Peace & Justice Calendar - Starting May 31
* June 4 ( Tuesday): Suffolk Peace Network Meets in Bellport at 7 pm
* June 9, 10 (Saturday, Sunday): Solar Fest in Brentwood from 11am-7pm
* June 10 (Sunday): Shepards Singers in Flanders at 4pm* June 10 (Sunday): Rally in DC- End the Occupation - Transportation
* June 10 (Sunday): Cultural Program in DC; including Poetry with Kathy Engel, Alexis de Veaux, others at 7:30pm
* June 15 (Friday): We Begin Here-Poems for Palestine & Lebanon in Sag Harbor at 6pm
* June 28 (Thursday): "Civil Liberties in a Time of War" Stan Gewanter, NYCLU Suffolk President in Huntington at 7 pm
________________________________________________
Repeating Events:
* Second Friday of Month: US Dept. of Labor Rep at OLA's Water Mill Office
* Demonstration at Patchogue Recruiting Station 12-1:30 pm
* Every Thursday evening - Book Study Group in Water Mill
* "Herstory" Writing Workshops on Wednesdays in Farmingville (Spanish and English) 3 to 5 pm and Thursdays in Spanish only in East Hampton at 7 pm
* Second Tuesday of Month: South Fork Chapter of LI Progressive Coalition Meets in Water Mill at 6:30 pm
Details Follow:
_________________________________________________________________
June 4 ( Tuesday): Suffolk Peace Network & Vets for Peace Meet in Bellport at 7 pm
Suffolk Peace Network will meet jointly with Vets for Peace at the Bellport UU Meeting House on Browns Lane from 7 to 9:30pm
info: Karen at rksrc@optonline.net
_____________________________________________
June 9, 10 (Saturday, Sunday): Solar Fest in Brentwood from 11am-7pm
The 4th Annual New York Solarfest 2007/Fiesta del Sol 2007 will take place on June 9th and 10th from 11am to 7pm on the grounds of the Solar Café. Come help raise awareness of Global Warming and celebrate the solutions renewable energy can provide. The Solarfest will feature a solar-powered stage with musicians and performers throughout the weekend. There will also be arts vendors; hybrid vehicles; educational lectures; environmental organizations; green businesses; children’s theatre; and food vendors. The NYSolarfest Drum circle will take place on Saturday June 9, 2007 at 4:00pm. Admission to the Solarfest is free.
More information can be found at www(.)nysolarfest(.)org
The Solar Café is located at 1 First Avenue, Brentwood, New York. The Solar Café is the nation's first solar powered café. It is built on the grounds of the reclaimed old Brentwood train station. It is immediately west of Brentwood Road and south of Suffolk Avenue. The phone number for the Café is 631-348-7182.
________________________________________________
June 10 (Sunday): Shepards Singers in Flanders at 4pm
The Shepherd's Singers!, a multi-denominational Christian music ministry
Come experience the Spirit!
Sunday, June 10, 2007 at 4:00 PM
Flanders United Methodist Church
1193 Flanders Road
Flanders
For more information, please contact Patricia Fox at 631-727-2168
No Admission!
A Free-will offering will be taken
www(.)theshepherds(.)info/
_________________________________________________
June 10 (Sunday): Rally in DC- End the Occupation - Transportation
End the Occupation - Click Here for info on June 10 DC event
_______________________________________________________
June 10 (Sunday): Cultural Program - with Kathy Engel and Friends in Washington DC at 7:30pm
Kathy Engel, Sarah Browning, Richard Schaaf, Melissa Tuckey, Alexis de Veaux and more - at National City Christian Church, 5 Tomas Circle NW, Washington DC
__________________________________________________
June 15 (Friday): We Begin Here-Poems for Palestine & Lebanon in Sag Harbor at 6pm
Kathy Engel, Kathryn Levy, Naomi Lazard and Margaret Gibson will read from "We Begin Here - Poems for Palestine and Lebanon" edited by Kamal Ballata and Ms. Engel at Canio's Books, Friday June 15 at 6pm.
Info at www(.)caniosbooks(.)com
_____________________________________________________________
June 28 (Thursday): "Civil Liberties in a Time of War" Stan Gewanter, NYCLU Suffolk President in Huntington at 7 pm
On June 28, 2007 beginning at 7:00 pm, at a public meeting room in the Huntington Public Library (Main Street in Huntington Village, NY) Stan Gewanter (President of the Suffolk County Chapter of the NYCLU) will present an "interactive lecture" on the subject of "Civil Liberties in Time of War" for the Long Island Progressive Coalition's Patriot Forum.All are welcome to attend. Questions and comments are encouraged, and "Polite Heckling" may be allowed, but no tomatoes or ripe fruits may be brought to or launched at the lecture.
There will be no admission charge, and the lecture will be videotaped for future airing on local public access television channels.
Info: Stan Gewanter Smgewanter@aol.com
__________________________________________________
Repeating Events:
See Suffolk Peace Vigils for a complete list of weekly and monthly vigils.
See Recruiting Schedule for a listing of weekly and monthly demonstrations
_______________________________________________________
Second Friday of Month: Labor Dept Reps in Water Mill from 11am to 1 pm
Bilingual Latino representatives from the US Dept of Labor's Wage and Hour Division are available the second Friday of every month in the OLA office, from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m., to answer questions concerning workers' rights and to help workers--whether documented or undocumented--recover pay owed them.
If your employer has not paid you for time you've worked or if you know someone in this situation, visit the OLA office at 1152 Montauk Hwy in Water Mill to find out what you can do.
Call 631-726-6526 ( 726 - OLA6).
_________________________________________________
Saturday Demos in Patchogue Recruiting Station at 12-1:30pm
We will continue our regular protest in Patchogue on Saturday with informational leafletting against recruiters in our public schools and deceiptful recruiting practices. Signs, flyers, petitions will be provided.
Where: 116 Main St., Patchogue, west of Route 112, east of N. Ocean Ave.
When: 12:00 noon - 1:30 p.m. Come for 1/2 hour or the whole time.
Why: To make the public aware of military recruiting practices in our public schools. We want equal access into our schools alongside military recruiters with information regarding the realities of the military. We want an adult present when a student speaks with a recruiter.
Contact: 631-875-8647
________________________________________________
Thursday evening Book Study Group in Water Mill at 7 pm
The Thursday night group invites you to a Lively discussion starting March 1.
"Saving Jesus (from the Religious Right)"
To view an introductory video, go to
http://www.livingthequestions.com/samples/cbw.htm
Meeting begins at 7:00 pm with Taize (Candlelight, Silence, Simple Chants, Scripture), Simple Soup at 7:30 , DVD and discussion from 8:00 until 9:00
The group meets at the Lutheran Church at Hayground Road and Montauk Highway
on Thursdays at 7pm
Contact Pastor Vita at 631-537-1187 or pastorvita(at)verizon(dot)net
____________________________________________________
"Herstory" Writing Workshops in Spanish and English
Wednesdays in Farmingville:
Herstory Writers Workshop meets every Monday afternoon at the Farmingville branch of the Workplace Project from 3 to 5. Both English-speaking and Spanish-speaking women come together to share and shape their life experiences through memoir writing. The workshop is conducted in both English and Spanish. Call 631-723-0150 for more information and directions to the center.
Thursdays in East Hampton:
Every Thursday Spanish-speaking women come together to share their writing with one another and receive feedback on how to structure and shape their lifewriting. The East Hampton workshop is open to East Hampton Town residents and is conducted entirely in Spanish. It meets every Thursday, 7-9 p.m., at the Senior Citizens Center, 128 Springs-Fireplace Road.
Call 631-723-0150 for more information.
___________________________________________________
Second Tuesday each month: South Fork Chapter - LI Progressive Coalition Meets in Water Mill at 6:30pm
The regular monthly meeting of the South Fork chapter of the Progressive Coalition is at 6:30pm on the 2nd Tuesday of each month at the Lutheran Church on Montauk Highway & Hayground Rd. between Water Mill and Bridgehampton. Info: 516-541-1006, ext.55 or www (.)lipc(.)org
_____________________________________________________
Sundays: Bush is a Liar Choir" rehearses in Lindenhurst from 7 to 9pm
Join political action singing group. Participate in songs regarding environment, anti-war, labor, multiculturalism, civil rights, and other issues. Sing historic songs of struggle and social change.
Contribute to the progressive movement while becoming culturally enriched. If you've ever wanted to be in a singing group, now is your chance! Experienced and non-experienced singers are welcome.
All we ask is that you are able to sing on pitch. We need sopranos!
Rehearsals take place, Sunday nights from 7:00 to 9:00 in Lindenhurst.
Call Lisa Fishbein at: (631) 957-4954
____________________________________________
Please send event listings
for next week's report (PLAIN TEXT Please)
by 5 pm on Tuesday to
eastendreport@yahoo.com
Suffolk Peace Vigils - starting May 30
Wednesday in Mastic-Shirley: 4:30 pm - Montauk Highway and William Floyd Parkway *
Friday in Sayville: 4pm at Railroad Ave and Main St
Saturday in Bellport: 11am at Station and South Country Roads
Saturday in Setauket: 11:00 am - Route 25A and Bennets Road
Sunday in Bridgehampton: 5pm at the Monument (Ocean Rd & Rte 27)
___________________________________________
* Wednesday vigil - contact: Susan at SMc1270236@msn.com ____________________________________________
East End Women in Black vigil for peace in the middle east and an end to the occupations of Palestine and Iraq on the first and third Sundays in Bridgehampton and Sag Harbor. The vigil started in August of 2002.
The next vigil is on Sunday June 3 at the Monument in Bridgehampton at 5pm.
For the summer months vigils we be held at 5pm on the first Sunday each month in Bridgehampton and the third Sunday each month at the Sag Harbor Wharf.
More info at East End Women in Black web site or call 631-259-2482 _______________________________________________________
South Country Peace Group, South Country Women in Black and Pax Christi Sponsor a vigil in Patchogue on the last Sunday of each month. The next memorial candlelight vigil will be on Sunday, June 24 at the Four Corners in Patchogue—where Ocean Avenue crosses Main St/Rte 27A at sundown. There will be a reading of the names of those killed in Iraq . Organized by the South Country Peace Group, Bellport Women In Black and St Joseph the Worker Pax Christi. This event takes place on the last Sunday of each month at or right after sundown.
For update on time contact Dennis Urlaub at dmu7@optonline.net ________________________________________________
Veterans For Peace and Code Pink will vigil for peace on the second Saturday each month at the Armed Forces Plaza in Hauppauge in front of the Dennison State Office Building on Route 347. The next vigil will be Saturday, June 9 between 4:00 & 6:00 pm. To confirm and for more info: email to ltbrin@earthlink.net