A-Infos (en) US, nefac newengland, e-Bulletin - Vol. 2, No. 2

Action Alerts - 1) Rally to Protect Our Community Safety-Net Hospitals (Metro Boston) -- 2) Justice 
for Jason Meeting (Metro Boston) ---- 3) Candlelight Vigils To Stop The State Budget Cuts (Vermont) 
4) Economic Stimulus Package Hearing (Metro Boston) ---- 5) Rally to Oppose Budget Cuts (Vermont) 
6) Stop The Provider Conscience Rule (Central Mass.) ---- 7) Break Up with Bank of America on 
Valentine's Day (Metro Boston) ---- News & Views ---- 8) Worcester Activist's RNC Charges Dismissed 
9) Spotlight on Anarchism Conference Report Back ---- 10) Fighting the Layoffs: Unions Bucking the 
Corporate Trend in Connecticut ---- 11) Back Home: Announcing a New Anarchist Blog in Connecticut 
12) The New Hampshire Independent Media Center Needs Your Help ---- 13) Wall Street Gets Bailed 
Out, Philly Gets Thrown Out ---- 14) What About Closing Angola, Mr. Obama: Torture at a Louisiana 
Prison ---- 15) YES, We Will Struggle for a Dignified Life


Events

16) Barre Healthcare Human Rights Hearing (Vermont)
17) Education or Incarceration: The Future of Democracy (New Hampshire)
18) Reflect & Strengthen Open House (Metro Boston)
19) Resistance & Recovery Tour (New England-wide)
20) Sludge & The Buffalo Creek Flood (Metro Boston)


Action Alerts

1) Rally to Protect Our Community Safety-Net Hospitals

Thursday, January 29th
4pm
Massachusetts State House
Beacon St., Boston, MA

Help Tell Governor Patrick: Put Patients First!
Protect Community Safety-net hospitals. Protect patient care.

Community members, patients, and healthcare workers will rally together at
the Massachusetts Statehouse in Boston to protect our community safety-net
hospitals and the vital health services our families and neighborhoods
depend on.

Recent health care funding cuts by Governor Patrick could financially
devastate care delivery and patient services at the hospitals and clinics
that low-income and minority neighborhoods depend upon the most to keep
our families healthy.


2) Justice for Jason Meeting

Friday, January 30th
6-8pm
UMass Boston, Wheatley Hall, RM 122 (4th floor)
Morrissey Blvd., Dorchester, MA

On February 3, 2008 Jason Vassell, an African-American student at the
University of Massachusetts Amherst, was the victim of a racist hate
crime. He has been further victimized by a racist prosecution. We, a
coalition of community organizations, students and faculty, seek
solidarity in challenging this racist prosecution. We, a coalition of
community organizations, students and faculty, seek solidarity in
challenging this racist prosecution.

Sisters and Brothers, this is a great opportunity in the face of tragedy.
We have a choice: to continue to sit idly by as the police, the justice
system and those with institutional power continue to murder, pillage and
take away our freedoms; or we can take a stand. We can demand an end to a
racist system which enslaves us all. This is a moment when Justice for
Jason means so much more. The struggle for Justice for Jason is not too
different from the struggles for Justice for Oscar Grant, Sean Bell,
Annette Garcia, and countless others. A win for Jason is a win for the
racial justice movement everywhere.

Yours in Struggle,
Jasmin Torrejon, Dan Keefe, Malcolm Chu, and Jason Behrens
Coordinators, The Committee for Justice for Jason Vassell

Link: http://www.justiceforjason.org


3) Candlelight Vigils To Stop The State Budget Cuts

February 2nd
5-6pm
Burlington, Brattleboro, St. Albans, St. Johnsbury, Bennington, Rutland,
Morrisville, Montpelier, VT


4) Stop the Provider Conscience Rule

Tuesday, February 3rd
5pm
Worcester City Hall
455 Main St., Worcester, MA

On January 20th, the Bush Administration instituted a midnight regulation
known as the Provider Conscience Rule. This rule allows workers in any
federally funded health care facility to refuse to do work that offends
their religious or personal beliefs – such as providing treatment to
transgender people, bisexuals, lesbians, or gays. It may allow providers
to deny services such as basic birth control and HIV tests, or even
emergency procedures for certain people, if doing so would offend their
beliefs.

We demand the Obama Administration immediately reverse the Provider
Conscience Rule.

A brief skit by community members will be followed by a speak out

Confirmed speakers include:
Joe O'Brien (Representative James P. McGovern's Office)
Rev. Judith Hanlon (Hadwen Park Congregational Church, UCC)
Sara N. B. Connor (Nurse Practitioner, UMASS Care Mobile)
Jesse Pack (Mass Transgender Political Coalition)
Ron Madnick (American Civil Liberties Union)


5) Economic Stimulus Package Hearing

Tuesday, February 10th
5:30-8:30pm

A Public Hearing on What Communities of Color Want and Need from Boston's
Economic Stimulus Package


6) Rally to Oppose Budget Cuts

Tuesday, February 10th
12-1pm
State House
115 State St., Montpelier, VT


7) Break Up with Bank of America on Valentine's Day

Saturday, February 14th
Nation-wide
Info: valentinesday@risingtideboston.org

Mass Day of Account Closures
Stop All Evictions and Foreclosures!
Stop Financing Coal and Climate Change!

This Valentine’s Day, February 14th, 2009, join Rising Tide Boston (RTB)
in demanding that Bank of America stop its funding of the dirty and deadly
coal industry and demanding, in solidarity with City Life/Vide Urbana,
stop its unjust foreclosures and evictions of working families. Closing
your account with Bank of America (BOA) is an important step in bringing
closure to this unhealthy relationship. In Boston, we are planning a day
of coordinated bank account closures in at least two locations, and
encourage people in other places to organize something similar.

It is completely within Bank of America’s power to stop evicting people
from their homes, and such a step wouldn’t be unprecedented. Mortgage
giant Fannie Mae recently announced a moratorium on evictions of tenants
in foreclosed houses after facing pressure from housing justice activists.
Now is [the] time to let BOA know in no uncertain terms that we won’t
allow them to push any of us or our neighbors out of our homes, and that
we’re certainly not going to trust them with our money.

Soledad Lawrence, a community organizer with City Life / Vida Urbana says
that the racist foreclosure crisis is “like Katrina without the water.” We
will not allow Bank of America’s predatory lending practices to displace
poor people and people of color in our city or anywhere. The same
working-class communities that are most oppressed by the economic system
these greedy banks support are now facing the worst effects of the
environmental devastation that it causes. While communities in Boston
continue to struggle in the face of the ongoing disaster of foreclosures
and evictions, communities in Appalachia are fighting back against the
disaster of the coal industry, which is poisoning their water and
displacing them from their homes. Climate change is a social justice
issue, and we must build alliances now to confront the corporations who
put profit before people and the planet.

Recently, Bank of America attempted to salvage its relationship with the
movements working to end mountaintop removal coal mining (MTR) by
releasing a statement on Coal Policy, in which the bank failed to commit
to a timeline or any concrete action to halt their financing of MTR. In
this “policy”, BOA touts “advanced technologies such as carbon capture and
storage” as solutions to climate change. BOA does not seem to understand
that we need is a livable planet that hasn’t been turned into an
overheated toxic wasteland, not token gestures or promises to support
false solutions. The recent devastating coal-ash spill in Tennessee is a
reminder that we already have enough ongoing and imminent disasters from
the coal industry- we don’t need any more. BOA’s first step should be the
immediate cancellation of loans to destructive corporations such as
Peabody Energy, Massey Energy, Arch Coal, Dominion, and all others
involved with mountaintop removal and trashing the climate.

We encourage everyone who does business with Bank of America to take time
this Valentine’s Day to tell them “it’s over between us.” In Boston, we’re
encouraging people to pledge ahead of time, so we can know how many people
to expect and let them know which branch we will be at. Even if you don’t
have a bank account at Bank of America, you can still participate at a
support rally. We are calling on social and environmental justice groups
around the country to work together organize account closings in their
communities on this day. Without our money, greedy banks cannot continue
to destroy the planet and exploit marginalized communities.

Link: http://www.risingtideboston.org


News & Views

8) Worcester Activist's RNC Charges Dismissed
by Anne (Worcester Indymedia)

Link: http://worcester.indymedia.org/node/46001


9) Spotlight on Anarchism Conference Report Back
by Deric (Hog River Collective)

Link:
http://queerswithoutborders.com/wpmu/blog/2009/01/27/spotlight-on-anarchism-conference-report-back/


10) Fighting the Layoffs: Unions Bucking the Corporate Trend in Connecticut
by Peter Goselin (Two Good Hands blog)

Link:
http://twogoodhands.wordpress.com/2009/01/25/fighting-the-lay-offs-bucking-the-corporate-trend-in-connecticut/


11) Back Home: Announcing a New Anarchist Blog in Connecticut
by Matt (An Anarchist in Glastonbury, CT)

Link: http://glastonburyanarchist.wordpress.com/2009/01/25/back-home/


12) The New Hampshire Independent Media Center Needs Your Help
by Rob (New Hampshire Indymedia)

Link: http://nhindymedia.org/newswire/display/6437/index.php


13) Wall Street Gets Bailed Out, Philly Gets Thrown Out
by Sean West (NEFAC-Philly)

Link: http://www.nefac.net/en/node/2463


14) What About Closing Angola, Mr. Obama: Torture at a Louisiana Prison
by Jordan Flaherty

Link:
http://panafricannews.blogspot.com/2009/01/what-about-closing-angola-mr-obama.html


15) YES, We Will Struggle for a Dignified Life
by Oscar Olivera Foronda (Federación de Trabajadores Fabriles de Cochabamba)

Link: http://www.anarkismo.net/article/11620


Events

16) Barre Healthcare Human Rights Hearing

January 29th
7-9pm
Old Labor Hall
46 Granite St., Barre, VT

Local residents "put the healthcare system on trial", all are welcome.


17) Education or Incarceration: The Future of Democracy

Thursday, January 29th
7-8:30pm
Paul Creative Arts Center, Johnson Theatre
Durham, NH
Info: JerriAnne.Boggis@unh.edu

Angela Davis, an icon of the radical political activism of the late 1960's
and early '70s, may have tamed her trademark Afro but her ideas remain on
the radical edge of the political spectrum. In her address, she will
express her concerns about our government's general tendency to devote
more resources and attention to the prison system rather than to
educational institutions. Davis will discuss the sobering facts about the
proliferation of prisons and the disproportionate incarceration of
minorities. She has also conducted extensive research on numerous issues
related to race, gender and imprisonment.


18) Reflect & Strengthen Open House

Saturday, January 31st
1-3:30pm
Freedom House
14 Crawford St., Dorchester, MA
Info: (617)442-2355 / alexia@reflectandstrengthen.org

Learn more about our programming and apply to join!
Free food, performances and open mic!

Reflect and Strengthen is a grassroots collective of working class women
(ages 14-30) from the urban neighborhoods of Boston who take a holistic
approach to organizing in order to create personal and social
transformation. Our programming focuses are political education, healing
from trauma, creative expression, community building and campaign work to
end racial disparities in the juvenile justice system.


19) Resistance & Recovery: Community Forum with Sit-In Strikers from
Republic Windows & Doors in Chicago
February 2-6 (New England Dates)

In December, 260 workers at Chicago's Republic Windows occupied their
plant for six days, a sit-in strike launched in response to the closing of
their plant with only 3 days notice.  Jobs with Justice coalitions along
with other community, faith and labor activists from across the country
mobilized in support of these workers, helping them win a settlement from
Bank of America and Republic owners including severance pay and
compensation for unpaid earnings.
As the economic crisis deepens, millions of people face jobs loss and
foreclosures.  Join Jobs with Justice and other groups in celebrating the
successful resistance at Republic and launch the broader campaign for an
economic recovery that puts Main Street before Wall Street.

Monday, Feb 2nd
9-10:30am
Legislative Office Building, Hearing Room 1C
210 Capitol Ave., Hartford, CT
Info: (800)546-2905

6:30-8pm
First and Summerfield United Methodist Church
425 College St., New Haven, CT

Tuesday, Feb 3rd
11:30am
Pioneer Valley Central Labor Council
640 Page Blvd., Springfield, MA
Info: (413)827-0301

7:00 pm
Vermont Workers Center
294 N Winooski Ave., Burlington, VT
Info: (866)229-0009

Thursday, February 5th
6:30-9pm
SEIU 1199
150 Mount Vernon St., Dorchester, MA
Info: (617)524-8778

Friday, February 6th
5-6:30pm
Open Table of Christ Church
1500 Broad St., Providence, RI
Info: (401)454-4766 / RIJobswithJustice@gmail.com


20) Sludge & The Buffalo Creek Flood

Wednesday, February 11th
7pm
Lucy Parsons Center
549 Columbus Ave., South End, Boston, MA

Sludge (2005) 27 min.
Directed by Robert Salyer

Sludge is a documentary that investigates a 2000 Kentucky coal waste
disaster and examines the role of federal regulatory agencies in the
coalfields. The spill was 30 times larger than the Exxon Valdez and one of
the worst environmental disasters ever in the southeastern United States,
according to the EPA. Filmed over four years, the documentary chronicles
the aftermath of the spill, the "whistleblower" case of Jack Spadaro, and
the looming threat of coal sludge ponds throughout the region. In the
United States today, coal is the largest single source of fuel for energy
production. Annually, the country mines over a billion tons of coal. Coal
waste is a consequence of this insatiable consumption. The Mine Safety and
Health Administration has estimated that there are over 235 sludge ponds
throughout the region with the potential to break into an underground
mine, as the Martin County pond did in 2000.

Link: http://appalshop.org/sludge/

The Buffalo Creek Flood: An Act of Man (1975) 40 min.
Directed by Mimi Pickering

On February 26, 1972, a coal waste dam owned by the Pittston Company
collapsed at the head of a crowded hollow in southern West Virginia. A
wall of sludge, debris, and water tore through the valley below, leaving
in its wake 125 dead and 4000 homeless. Interviews with survivors,
representatives of union and citizen's groups, and officials of the
Pittston Company are juxtaposed with actual footage of the flood and
scenes of the ensuing devastation. As reasons for the disaster are sought
out and examined, evidence mounts that company officials knew of the
hazard in advance of the flood, and that the dam was in violation of state
and federal regulations. The Pittston Company, however, continued to deny
any wrongdoing, maintaining that the disaster was "an act of God".

Link: http://buffalocreekflood.org/
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