Friday, March 12, 7 p.m.

First Unitarian Church, Eliot Chapel

1011 SW 12th, Portland

Portland Public Schools is
getting ready to vote to accept Department of Defense funding for the
STARBASE program this year. Come out on March 8 to protest. E-Mail the
board with your opposition.
RALLY AGAINST STARBASE MILITARY RECRUITMENT IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS

Monday March 8th - 6:00 pm

BESC Building 501 North Dixon

(2 blocks from the east end of Broadway Bridge)

News Conference at 6:00 pm followed by rally/Board meeting inside at 6:30pm

At their regular March 8 meeting, the PPS Board of Education is
scheduled to vote on a $320,000 revenue contract for STARBASE, a 25
hour "educational" program funded out of the Department of Defense
recruitment budget. Elementary school students in the Starbase program
get 25 hours of so-called science, math and technology instruction at
local military bases. Portland Public Schools has participated in
STARBASE since 1993.

For More Info: http://ppsequity.org/2010/03/05/starbase-rally-monday-evening/

Ali Abunimah
Israel and Palestine:

Two States or One?

Has Israel’s attempt to “change the facts on the ground” in Palestine been successful?
Is the “two-state solution” a viable option any more? Has it ever been? And what next?

Ali Abunimah, founder of Electronic Intifada and author of "One Country, A Bold Proposal to End the Israeli-Palestinian Impasse" will lay out the arguments…

Friday, March 5, 2010
7:00 pm
First Unitarian Church
Main St Sanctuary
1011 Southwest 12th Avenue
Portland, OR 97205

Download the event flyer here.

Ali Abunimah is a renowned writer and commentator and frequent guest on CNN, MSNBC, the BBC and more.

Sponsored by
Peace Action Committee of the First Unitarian Church,
Americans United for Palestinian Human Rights,
Students United for Palestinian Equal Rights
Cosponsored by
Lutherans for Justice in the Holy Land - A Ministry of Central Lutheran Church, Portland Peaceful Response Coalition

www.auphr.org

Film Screening: Jornaleros

VOZ Workers’ Rights Education Project will be premiering their new documentary “Jornaleros.” Through music, poetry, and art, "Jornaleros" documents the lives and creative work of five Portland day laborers.  The film humanizes the debates on immigration and immigrant labor in the US by showing these day laborers, first and foremost, as artists and activists in the community. The documentary will premier on March 11, 2010 at 7 PM at the Clinton Street Theatre located on 2522 SE Clinton Street. Tickets will be sold for $6 general admission/$5 Students/$4 Seniors and can be purchased at the theatre.

Jornaleros challenges prejudices, enhances understanding and gives an educational point of view of the Latin-American people and immigrants, as well as their many talents and cultural contributions. The objective is to enhance the sensitivity and awareness towards a local vulnerable group who is often used as scapegoats or deemed as “illegal” or criminals. This documentary portrays immigrants and day labors as survivors, active community members, and most importantly, humans. As humans they also form a valuable and productive workforce and have the right to a dignified life and humane working conditions.  This documentary will challenge the perception of and give positive media representation to a group who is often the back lash of anti-immigration groups. It will show the story of people’s lives, even if the rest of society condemns them for simply existing.

Labor and Democracy Under Seige in Honduras
Touring Secretary General of major Labor Federation in Honduras explains the crisis.

Since the June 28th coup d'etat deposing the democratically elected President of Honduras, union activists, community leaders, and human rights advocates are under attack. Hooded death squads roam neighborhoods looking for youth. Dissident media outlets have been shut down. Is this really 2010?

Though Barack Obama initially condemned the coup, his administration expressed no qualms with the human rights abuses denounced by the international community, and has recognized the elections farce that took place on November 29th amidst de facto military rule in Honduras.

The situation in Honduras is dire, but the resistance continues. The labor movement in Honduras has played a central role in the national movement against the coup, mobilizing millions of workers to protest the repression of the de facto regime and advocate for a constitutional assembly to initiate changes needed to support working families.

Mr. Baquedano, who is also co-founder and President of the Mental Health Workers Union in the Honduran capital of Tegucigalpa, welcomes the opportunity to tour the West Coast and meet with the rank-and-file and union leaders of the US and to share with them a vision of resistance and hope.

Mr. Baquedano will be speaking in Portland on Thursday January 28, 2010 from 7-9pm at the SEIU Local 503 Hall (6401 SE Foster Rd.). There will also be a reception with food and refreshments from 6-7pm.

This is a message from member group, SUPER, Students United for Palestinian Equal Rights

Supporters and Friends,

Even though 50-80 marchers have been let into Gaza, including two students from the Oregon contingent, the Gaza Freedom March has decided to reject Egypt's offer and continue protesting until they get everyone into Gaza to participate in this march and break the siege! 450 French Delegates continue to sit in in front of the French Embassy and Holocaust Survivor Hedy Epstein continues her hunger strike in Egypt. And now the Egyptian police have begun to physically attack peaceful protesters, see video below.