Weekly Update – April 4, 2016

WNY Peace Center Weekly Update – April 4, 2016                  Contact: 716-332-3904

Contents:
1.  Events (WNYPC followed by allies – chronological within category)
2.  WNY Peace Center Membership Drive
3. ** Special Public Outcry Section: Sign on to STARI-Buffalo Stop Trump Rally Letter, etc.  **

Send announcements to weeklynews@wnypeace.org for possible inclusion in the Weekly Update.

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1. Events
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Nonviolence Training (for Rallies and Direct Action)
A particularly scary political season is upon us, so be prepared!! Come learn and/or practice tips so you are ready to stay safe and de-escalate any brewing violence.
Choose from 2 sessions (about 2 or more hours):
7 pm, Tuesday April 5. ‘Rafi’ Greene, Jr. Masten Resource Center 1423 Fillmore Avenue, Buffalo
6 pm, Wednesday April 13. Lincoln Memorial United Methodist Church, 641 Masten Avenue, Buffalo

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Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Service and Rally
6 pm, Monday April 4. Lincoln Memorial United Methodist Church, 641 Masten Avenue, Buffalo
Sponsored by various organizations including Concerned Clergy of WNY, BLAC, BUILD, We Are Women Warriors, WNY Peace Center and others.

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Prisoners Rights Taskforce
#JusticeForIndia
Monday April 4, 4pm Rally sponsored by BLACK Rochester, supported by BARC, WNYPC.
Wednesday April 6: 4-5 pm, Continuing Vigil. ECHC, 40 Delaware Ave, Buffalo.

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Resist Militarism! Taskforce Monthly meeting:
5-6:30 pm, Thursday April 7. WNY Peace Center, NRC Building, 1272 Delaware Ave., Buffalo.
Vigil: Disrupt the death squadron operating at Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station (NFARS).
Join us at the main gate to the NFARS on the 2nd & 4th Thursday each month (April 14) at 3:304:30pm (or pick another day of the week and bring a group with signs).
For more information, contact Russell Brown, at 716-570-5200hobadoxa@me.com.

Multifaith Anti-Drone Conference
Sunday-Monday, April 8-9 Stony Point Center, 17 Cricketown Road, Stony Point, NY  10980
Keynote speakers include Media Benjamin of Code Pink and Arun Kundnani, author of “The Muslims Are Coming!”.
Registration includes program, housing, meals and entertainment. Special rates available for students and commuters. To register and learn more, go to
www.stonypointcenter.org/anti-drone. Questions, contact (845) 786-5674 x106 or
ssmith@stonypointcenter.org

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Environmental Justice Taskforce Meeting
6:00 pm, Thursday Apr 7. Crane Library, 633 Elmwood Ave., Buffalo.

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Bissonette Evening Celebration with Kathy Kelly!
Thursday, April 21. Daemon College, 4380 Main Street, Wick Center
6:30 pm – Social and refreshments. 7:30 pm – Speaker.
The WNY Peace Center and particularly its Latin American Solidarity Committee are thrilled to invite you to the Bissonette Evening with Kathy Kelly, founder of Voices for Creative Nonviolence (vcnv.org). “Solidarity Across War Zones: Lessons Learned in Central America, the Middle East, and Central Asia”
During the cold war between the Soviet Union and the United States, the U.S. claimed to be fighting communism in Central America by training, arming and supporting various militaries and paramilitaries that committed hideous human rights abuses and slaughtered hundreds of thousands of civilians.  Now, as the U.S. provokes a new cold war with both China and Russia, the U.S. is exacerbating violence by insisting on military intervention. Kathy Kelly will discuss effects of U.S. military invasion and occupation of Afghanistan and Iraq. Kathy, nominated twice for the Nobel Peace Prize, is a courageous, eloquent, and insightful activist you won’t want to miss.  www.lascwny.org  716 332-3904
Tickets: $15 in advance, $20 at the door, students with ID are free. Patron: $25 or more per person.

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WNY Peace Center ANNUAL MEETING, Fundraiser (Peace 4 Ways), and Potluck
2 pm Saturday, April 30. St. Mary’s School for the Deaf, 2253 Main St (main building), Buffalo, NY 14214
2 pm-3:30 pm Annual Meeting (election of Board members, review of last year, and plans for this year)
3:30-4 pm Peace Market and Info-Tabling
4 pm Fundraiser to benefit 4 organizations: 1) Peace Education Fund; 2) Fun School #1 (cooperative childcare exchange); 3) Mission Improvable – Buffalo Contact Improvisation Community; and 4) WNY Peace Center.
5 pm Potluck
If you are interested in being on the Coordinating Board of the WNY Peace Center, please call the office at 716-332-3904 for information.

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Peaceful Conflict Resolution / Peace Education Project
For Teens:
PeaceJam is an international organization with 13 Nobel Laureates on its board that uses fun activities to provide youth with inspiration, education, and action.
PeaceJam also fulfills community service hours!
Wednesdays 5-6:30 pm – every Wednesday that school is in session.
(Dinner served at 5 pm. – Program starts at 5:30 pm.)
Delavan – Grider Community Center, 877 East Delavan Avenue, Buffalo, NY
Contact Vicki (716-931-3520) for more information.

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Environmental Justice Taskforce
Ban Trapping on Public Land in Grand Island!
Campaign initiated by David A. Reilly, Ph.D. and Nicole Gerber.
Pass a law that prohibits trapping on ALL public lands, not just parks and trails.  Learn more at:
https://www.change.org/p/supervisor-amp-town-board-of-grand-island-end-trapping-on-public-lands-in-grand-island-and-western-new-york?recruiter=352406760&utm_source=share_for_starters&utm_medium=copyLink

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Climate and Clean Energy Writers Group – The Sierra Club
Renewable Energy in Erie County
6-7:30 pm,  Monday April 4. Unitarian Universalist Church, 695 Elmwood (at Ferry), Garden entrance.
2nd Floor Alliance Room.  Free and open to the public. billnowak@gmail.com  for info.
Eric Walker, Erie County Director of Energy Development and Management, will speak about the County’s greenhouse gas inventory and their plans and initiatives for renewable energy.

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Women In Black – weekly vigil for nonviolence. Every Saturday, noon to 1pm, Bidwell and Elmwood. Signs provided. (You don’t need to be a woman or wear black.)

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2.  WNY Peace Center – Membership Drive!

You know how important our mission is right now. Please help us stop militarism, racism and weaponized drones and work for human rights, justice (including economic and environmental) and peace education. Your donation is a key ingredient to making it all happen!

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If your membership has lapsed, now’s the time to renew. That’ll enable you to vote on anything that comes up, and support the work you know is so important!! So . . .
Please RENEW your current or previous membership and/or
JOIN and be a NEW member!

Although knowing that you are a part of the solution is the best reward, we offer you Thank-You gifts to show our deep gratitude.
*  Bumper sticker at the $10+ Student/Low Income membership level
*  T-shirt + Bumper sticker at the $50+ Peacenik level
*  Noam Chomsky DVD at the $125+ Sustainer’s Circle level
*  “Blood on the Tracks,” a book by S. Brian Willson + Chomsky DVD when you join the Director’s Circle at $250+
*  Book, DVD, T-shirt and Bumper sticker when you join as a Major Donor at $1000+ or a Lifetime Membership for $2,500+

To join:
Make a check payable to: WNY Peace Center, and mail it to: WNY Peace Center, 1272 Delaware Avenue, Buffalo NY, 14209. Please write “Membership” on the memo line of your check.
or:
Pay securely on-line via PayPal with your credit card. Go to http://www.wnypeace.org/new/membership.html

The Peace Center is a 501(c)(3) organization. Your membership is tax-deductible. A copy of our latest annual report may be obtained, upon request, from the WNY Peace Center (1272 Delaware Ave., Buffalo NY 14209) or from the NYS Charities Bureau (120 Broadway, 3rd Floor, New York, New York 10271).

Thank you so much!

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3. ** Special Public Outcry Section

The fear-, hate-, and war-mongering that is going on in the presidential campaign is alarming and must be stopped. We particularly do not want to see Donald Trump or any equivalent activity in our City of Good Neighbors. Please do one of the following:
Sign on to the following letter, either as yourself individually or for an organization that authorizes you:
http://diy.rootsaction.org/p/Stop-Trump-Rally
Sign on to the following on-line petition:
https://www.causes.com/campaigns/100255-stop-donald-trump-from-hosting-a-rally-in-wny
OR go to the following Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/NeverTrumpPeaceRally/?fref=ts
to like, comment, or share.

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General Info :
PEACE CENTER CONTACT INFORMATION
For questions, comments, inquiries, suggestions, and concerns regarding the Peace Center, contact our Executive Director at:
Victoria (Vicki) Ross
Phone: (716) 931-3520
Email: victoryross9@gmail.com

Our Weekly Office Hours (for drop-in visits, calls, etc.) are:
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday:  1-3 p.m., or by appointment.
1272 Delaware Avenue (use back entrance and ring buzzer to get inside), Buffalo, NY 14209
Phone: (716) 332-3904

PEACE CENTER TASKFORCE CONTACT INFORMATION

ECONOMIC JUSTICE:
Eric Gallion
Phone: (716) 310-4292
Email: egallion@verizon.net

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE:
Charley Bowman
Phone: (716) 688-2374
Email: CandABowman@verzion.net
Website: http://wnypeace.org/new/projects.html
and
Frank Gage
Phone: (716)893-5584
Email: snowbird1967@roadrunner.com

LATIN AMERICAN SOLIDARITY COMMITTEE (LASC):
Phone: (716) 876-3872
Main Website: http://www.lascwny.org/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/LASC-wny/143873822377380/
WNY Peace Center Page: http://wnypeace.org/program/lasc.php/

PEACEFUL CONFLICT RESOLUTION/PEACE EDUCATION PROJECT:
Victoria Ross
Phone: (716) 884-0582(716) 931-3520
Email: victoryross9@gmail.com

PRISONERS’ RIGHTS:
Chuck Culhane
Phone: (716) 228-2076
Email: culhane9@gmail.com
Website: http://wnypeace.org/program/Prison%20Action%20Committee.php/

RACIAL JUSTICE TASKFORCE
Heron Simmonds-Price
Email: heronimousphunk@gmail.com
Phone: (716) 768-2986

RESIST MILITARISM! TASKFORCE
Russell Brown
Phone: (716) 570-5200
Email: hobadoxa@me.com
Website: http://wnypeace.org/program/ResistMilitarism.php/

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DONATIONS AND MEMBERSHIPS
Student/Low Income: $10
Peacenik: $50
Sustainer’s Circle: $125
Director’s Circle: $250
Major Donor:  $1000
Lifetime Membership: $2500
Other Donations (you may indicate any reason):
Send Checks and/or Money Orders (made out to “WNY Peace Center”) to:
Western New York Peace Center, 1272 Delaware Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14209.
Please write “Membership” or your purpose for your donation on the memo line of your check.
You can also pay with your credit card via PayPal at www.wnypeace.org

PEACE CENTER WEBSITES
Main Website:  http://wnypeace.org
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/WesternNewYorkPeaceCenter/
Scribd: https://www.scribd.com/wny8peace8center/
YouTube Channel:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-irmY8IAJdDGF8oFTB98nA/feed/

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