TRAVIS DRUMS!

12-2 p.m. August
1, 2010

Peace Memorial (East end of the Steel
Bridge, N.E. Interstate and Oregon)

Hello. 
I am Lynn Bradach.

My
oldest son, Marine Corporal Travis Bradach-Nall, was killed by the
explosion of
a U.S. cluster bomb, during unexploded munitions clearing operations in
Karbala, Iraq, on July 2, 2003.  Since then, I have been working to end
war, clear the refuse of munitions left from war and, most recently, for
adoption of national legislation and the international Convention to
limit and
ultimately ban use of cluster munitions. 

I
was a speaker at the November 2008 Geneva meetings on the international
Convention on Cluster Munitions and was in Oslo, Norway in December 2008
for
the signing of the Convention. 

Now,
more than ever, I am pushing for U.S. adoption and ratification of the
Convention.

The
Convention comes into effect, for the 106 countries that have signed it
and 37
countries that have ratified it, on Sunday, August 1, 2010.  On that
day,
there will be a drum demonstration to bring attention to the coming into
effect
of the Convention, around the World.  Details are at:  http://www.stopclustermunitions.org/countdown/

I
am seeking drummers of every type and talent to assemble with me at
noon,
Sunday, August 1,
2010 at the Overlook section of the Eastside Portland Esplanade,
just
north of the Morrison Bridge, to drum in observance of the occasion and
to show
support for the Convention.

.

PLEASE JOIN
ME!!!! For more information, or to confirm, email me at:
lbradach@handicap-international.us

Oregon Physicians for Social Responsibility offers free
tickets to see Countdown to Zero

Reserve your free tickets to see Countdown to Zero, the new film about
modern nuclear threats from the makers of An Inconvenient Truth.

When: Friday, July 30th, 7:00pm
Where: Cinema 21, 616 NW 21st
Avenue, Portland, OR 

Film screening followed by discussion with local peace and
anti-nuclear activists about what we can do to demand zero.

Reserve your free tickets now!

As part of our Summer of Anti-Nuclear Activism campaign, Oregon PSR
is offering a limited number of free tickets to the
film opening on a first come, first served basis.

Email the names
in your party and your phone number, or call 503-274-2720 and leave the
names in your party, phone number and email address. Limit 4 tickets per
person. 

Countdown to Zero traces the history of the atomic
bomb from its origins to the present state of global affairs: nine
nations possess nuclear weapons capabilities with others racing to join
them, with the world held in a delicate balance that could be shattered
by an act of terrorism, failed diplomacy, or a simple accident. Written
and directed by acclaimed documentarian Lucy Walker (The Devil’s
Playground, Blindsight), the film features an array of
important international statesmen, including Jimmy Carter, Mikhail Gorbachev, Pervez Musharraf and Tony Blair. Countdown to Zero
makes a compelling case for worldwide nuclear disarmament, an issue more
topical than ever.

May Day Workers' March
Stands up for Civil Rights from Portland to Arizona to Honduras.

May Day March and Rally: Jobs for All! Immigrants' Rights Are Workers' Rights.

Saturday,May 1, International Workers' Day

SW Park and Salmon

11am: Entertainment and Sign-making

12pm: Rally

1pm: March

Portland, OR-- April 27, 2010 – With the recent passage of the racist anti-immigrant bill SB1070 in Arizona, which gives police the authority to stop anyone who looks undocumented, Portland labor, immigrants' rights, and community groups will be gathering in solidarity with people all over the world facing economic crisis, discrimination, and police brutality.

Organizers aim to draw attention to alarming developments locally: Already programs aiming to use police as an arm of ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) are underway, starting in Clackamas and threatening to spread across the metro region. Their role is largely unregulated and unchallenged, resulting in programs that lack transparency, accountability, and oversight.

From bean-bagging twelve-year-olds to off duty road rage to outright murder, police violence has increased over the past few months, aimed at the most oppressed groups, including African Americans and the homeless. Portlanders are demanding more citizen oversight and real consequences for police officers responsible, most of whom have a history of violations.

This year's march comes in the middle of an economic crisis that has hit Oregonians with more than 10% official unemployment, which does not include those forced to work part time or those who have dropped off the unemployment rosters. Rather than scapegoating immigrants or the working poor, labor and anti-sweatshop organizers are pinning responsibility on the large corporations, like the financial industry and Nike. While speaking out against a minor tax increase, Nike was refusing to take responsibility for its subcontractor's failure to pay severance to 1700 laid off Honduran workers.

The Portland May Day Coalition is made up of grassroots community organizations, labor unions, faith communities, and individuals.

Check out the full solidarity statement at http://maydaypdx.blogspot.com

Portlanders to Protest 7 Years
Since Iraq Invasion with Rally, March and Teach-In
Saturday, March 20, 2010

11:00 am Student Feeder March & mini-rally at PSU Park Blocks
12:00 Noon at Terry Schrunk Plaza, SW 3rd and Madison
1:00 pm Teach-in at First Unitarian Church, SW 12th and Main

Details:

Rally and teach-in:
Iraq, Seven Years Later: Change US Foreign
Policy-Bring All the Troops Home!

With the uncertain outcome of the March 7 elections continuing to have the potential
to delay the withdrawal of US combat troops from Iraq, Portlanders are gearing up to
protest the ongoing presence of the US military and "contractors" on the
anniversary of the 2003 invasion. On Saturday, March 20, an event titled "Iraq,
Seven Years Later: Change US Foreign Policy--Bring All the Troops Home!" begins
with a rally at Terry Schrunk Plaza at 12 noon (SW 3rd and Madison), continues with
a march through downtown Portland at 12:30 PM, followed by a "teach-in"
at First Unitarian Church from 1:00 to 3:30 PM (SW 12th and Main).

The themes addressed throughout the day will include the expansion of US military
presence and US support for military occupations throughout the Middle East:

• End the Occupations of Iraq, Afghanistan and Palestine

• Stop the Expanding Attacks in the Middle East: No Drone Strikes in Pakistan

• No War on Iran

• US Out of Latin America!

The day's events are being coordinated by Peace and Justice Works Iraq
Affinity Group and cosponsored or endorsed by at least 20 other organizations.

Cosponsors include: Women's International League for Peace and Freedom-Portland;
Portland Peaceful Response Coalition; Center for Intercultural Organizing;
American Iranian Friendship Council; Women in Black; American Friends
Service Committee; International Socialist Organization; Students
United for Palestinian Equal Rights (SUPER); Metanoia Peace
Community; Oregon Physicians for Social Responsibility; Portland
Central America Solidarity Committee (PCASC); Crosstrade Solidarity;
War Resisters League-Portland; Americans United for Palestinian Human
Rights (AUPHR), and The Peace Project--New Directions for American
Foreign Policy.

Endorsers include Recruiter Watch
PDX, Freedom Socialist Party, IUPAT Painters Local 10; Workers
Action, and Portland Jobs with Justice.

For more information: Peace and Justice Works, 503-236-3065 or
iraq@pjw.info

Lawrence Wittner is the historian of the world's antinuclear movement with several academic and popular books available and hundreds of articles and analysis published. He will be speaking about grassroots opposition to nuclear weapons and how that opposition has stopped nuclear war. Please join us at Portland State University's Multicultural Center, Smith Memorial Union 228, 3 p.m.

Wittner's latest book, Confronting the Bomb, is now available from Stanford University Press and will be also available at Dr. Wittner's talk. FMI: pcwtom@gmail.com

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 25, 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.

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

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.