East End Report: 01/18/2009

Week of January 22 - click here for updates

Gaza Under Attack: Read, Listen and Act

They attacked from three sides

Israel, U.S. Policies Aided Hamas- Warren Stobel, McLatchy Newspapers

Rabbi Michael Lerner: Right but not smart

Israel is still using a strategy of domination in its struggle with Hamas, trying to use force to gain security. But this is a recipe for endless war.

Palestinian Legislator Mustafa Barghouthi: Palestinian Guernica and Myths of Israeli Victimhood

Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions: A Call to End Attacks and Their Cause

Let’s be crystal clear. Israel’s massive attacks on Gaza today have one overarching goal: conflict management. How to end rocket attacks on Israel from a besieged and starving Gaza without ending the impetus for those attacks, 41 years of increasingly oppressive Israeli Occupation without a hint that a sovereign and viable Palestinian state will ever emerge.

Phyllis Bennis: The Gaza Crisis

Washington Post: Obama Silent on Gaza - Activists call for Change in Mideast Policy

WPKN "Between The Lines" Interview with Free Gaza Movement's Ramzi Kysia

US based Middle East Children's Alliance (MECA) - Sending Medicines to Gaza

Make Me Do It!

We heard the following story during Pacifica Radio's coverage of the Inauguration on Tuesday.

Amy Goodman, co-host with Alice Walker, mentioned an election campaign event in Montclair, NJ. where Mr. Obama answered questions. Someone asked about Palestine and the need to promote peace and end the Israeli occupation. Mr Obama answered by telling this story:

It was 1932 and Franklin Roosevelt had taken office in the midst of the great depression. A group of people came to him to advocate for what became the Social Security system. After listening to their plan, FDR told them. "I want to do this. Now make me do it".

I take this to be an invitation by President Obama to all of us who want economic and social justice, an end to the US imperialist policies, an end to our support of repressive regimes with billions of dollars in military aid, an end to our wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, a start in funding of health care for all and restoration of our constitutional rights - whatever we advocate to fix what is broken - an invitation to make our President do it.

This will require a new birth of activism on our part.

Tony Ernst

January 28 (Wednesday): Clean Air NY Presentation in Riverhead at 7:30pm

Sponsored by The Riverhead Town Energy Advisory Committee

Riverhead Town Hall
Wednesday January 28th at 7:30 PM
The Public is Welcome to Attend

Clean Air NY is a dynamic collaboration of organizations and individuals in the New York metro area who are taking actions to improve our air quality. This initiative is sponsored by the New York State Department of Transportation and Clean Air NY wants to help New Yorkers live better and breathe easier by improving the air quality.

Clean Air NY’s presentation explains the following:

Specific travel choices that every individual can make to help improve the air quality on AQAD and year round.
The causes of poor air quality in the New York metro area and the why we are working to improve it.
How the region’s poor air quality affects every New Yorker’s health, especially sensitive groups such as people with asthma, children, and the elderly.
Air Quality Action Days (AQAD) are days when the air quality is especially poor in the area and usually occur during the summer months.
When an individual, employer, or community organization joins the Clean Air NY network, they receive an e-mail or text message update the day before an AQAD.

For more information on Clean Air NY, please visit CleanAirNY.org. http://www.cleanairny.org/exthome.htm

NAACP Luncheon - Feb 7

NAACP Long Island Branches Awards Luncheon: February 7th, 2009

Invited Keynote Speaker: Rev. Al Sharpton

Eastern Long Island Honoree: Tuskegee Airman, Lee Hayes of Amagansett

Brookhaven Town Honoree: Community Volunteer Ella McLean of Patchogue

Gary Williams Award Winner: Luis Valenzuela, Executive Director, Long Island Immigrant Alliance

Seating Begins at 11:30 a.m.

Suffolk Community College, Brentwood Campus
101 Crooked Hill Road (Exit 53 & 54 South on the LIE), Brentwood, NY 11717

Donations $100 (Partially Tax Deductible) include an assignable NAACP membership

Tickets Are Available From:

Eastern Long Island Branch Office (631) 287-7346

or elibnaacp@aol.com

Presented by the Long Island NAACP Branches:

Brookhaven – Central Long Island – Eastern Long Island – Freeport/Roosevelt – Glen Cove – Huntington – Islip Town – Lakeview – North Shore – Westbury and the NAACP Long Island Regional Director

Immigration Panel with Sen. Schumer, Rep. Bishop, others Thursday in Bridgehampton 6:30pm

AN INVITATION FROM OLA

On Thursday, January 29, 2009 from 6:30 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. OLA will be hosting an immigration panel with members of Congress, the State of New York, and representatives from various pro-immigrant advocacy groups that will discuss issues of concern within the immigrant community. For example, what immigration policy changes if any can we expect from the new administration; what can we do to begin preparing ourselves; how is the economy affecting pro immigrant legislation; etc. Please come and address your questions and share your concerns with our panel of experts.

Participants: Congressman Tim Bishop, Senator Chuck Schumer, Assemblyman, Fred Thiele, representatives from AILA, Luis Valenzuela, Executive Director, LIIA, representatives from New York Immigration Coalition, attorneys Millicent Clark and David Sperling.

Come to the Community Room, Bridgehampton National Bank, 2200 Montauk Highway, Bridgehampton, NY 11976.

Two remanufactured computers will be raffled during the evening.

Sunday Feb 8 - Vigil for Dead Construction Worker in Southampton at 2pm

From Long Island Immigrant Alliance:

Facundo Gonzalez, killed on January 5 at a Southampton construction site, was the third worker killed on LI in several months.

He is the second immigrant worker killed in two months. Hector Fuentes was killed in December in Northport. Many other day laborers, across the nation, have been grievously hurt, losing limbs and being incapacitated for life.

This is a terrible trend and we know that nationally about 1,000 immigrant workers are killed on the job each year.

Reportedly, the construction company involved in the Southampton job has been issued civil summonses, suggesting that gross negligence may have played a part in this tragedy.

Join the vigil to:

Remember Facondo and try to help is family.

Raise public awareness about this often hidden side of the sacrifices made by immigrant workers on LI -- that they are getting killed and seriously hurt in dangerous jobs, jobs few others are willing to do.

NYCOSH and the Centro de Derechos Laborales health and safety committee and Long Island Immigrant Alliance are co-sponsors.

Date: Sunday, February 8^th, 2 pm
Location: 232 North Sea Road , (at Hillcrest Ave), Southampton, NY

More Info: Long Island Immigrant Alliance 631 789-0720

From Zatoun to Zatoun An Invitation from North America to Gaza

In days of darkness we seek the light. Olive oil has been a source of physical and spiritual light to many cultures. It enlightens minds to greater understanding and lights hearts to compassion.
Zatoun, through the sale of fair trade olive oil, has built a diverse community of support in North America for Palestinians and Palestine. At this difficult time for the people of Gaza, we want to reach out to another "Zatoun" community in Gaza to show solidarity and caring. Its formal name is "Al-Zaytoun," and it is a very poor neighbourhood in eastern Gaza City. Not much is to be found about it on the Internet other than it was the site of heavy bombardment and casualties including a report of 25 members from one family killed by a missile.
Zatoun has made a $2,500 contribution in aid of families living in the Zatoun neighbourhood of Gaza City.

We invite members of the Zatoun community in North America to make their own personal financial contribution to Zatoun families in Gaza. The aid will be delivered by the Red Crescent Society for the Gaza Strip. It is a respected and effective humanitarian aid organization on the ground. It is a member of the International Red Cross movement.

Our channel in North America to the Red Crescent Society for the Gaza Strip is through the CPFQ-Child Sponsorship Program - Financial Appeal for Gaza Families. Donors will be issued an immediate receipt (in pdf format and tax deductible to Canadian residents) by CanadaHelps.org. More information about the ongoing work of the Child Sponsorship Program is available at their website.

Please make an online contribution using this link. Use the "Donate Now" button. IMPORTANT : Please specify in the "message box" that the contribution is directed to Zatoun in Gaza City. The funds will be distributed at the cessation of hostilities.

It may be a small gesture yet, like buying olive oil, it serves an important symbolic purpose. It tells the people of Zatoun in Gaza that there is another Zatoun in North America which recognizes their dignity and situation. What the people of Gaza and all Palestinians seek most from the world is recognition. They need our recognition to help overcome the denial of grave historic injustices, and assert their claim to identity and human rights.

In closing, Zatoun wishes a true Zatoun community for the world.
experience ~ learn ~ share

ZATOUN : fair trade olive oil from PALESTINE
info@zatoun.com; www.zatoun.com

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