UN World Indigenous Peoples & NuclearFree Future Day; Weekend marches and more
August 5th, 2020 wnypeace.org
Dear Friends
These exciting days remind us of what has been told as an old curse: “And may you lead an interesting life!” It’s been all too interesting and plenty busy!
We hope you’ll watch our press conference tomorrow August 6 @ 1:00 pm when Indigenous Women’s Initiatives & WNYPC will present a gift from the Hibakusha to the Buffalo History Museum 75 years after the bombing of Hiroshima. We will present photos and petition to abolish nuclear weapons, and info about the August 9 – United Nations International Day of World Indigenous Peoples and day for a NuclearFree Future!
We also invite you to join us on August 9, 4pm-dusk, on United Nations (UN) declared International Day of the World’s Indigenous People. The event celebrates the United Nations’ Declaration on Indigenous Peoples Rights to exist with prior, free and informed consent. We celebrate by acknowledging an oldest continuing government in North America the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy- the Seneca, Tuscarora, Cayuga, Onondaga, Oneida and Mohawk. We’ll start and end with the traditional Haudenosaunee Ganonyok, and have much singing and dancing, as well as multiple speakers – and Poet Jillian Hanesworth!
You’ll be able to watch it on Facebook live, at https://www.facebook.com/WesternNewYorkPeaceCenter/ or https://www.facebook.com/IndigenousWomensInitiatives/ or https://www.facebook.com/TheBuffaloHistoryMuseum/
We’ll also have an Interfaith Prayer service with Toro Nagashi, the Japanese Lantern Ceremony, From 7:15 to dusk, it will also be on The Buffalo History Museum ZOOM (https://zoom.us/j/94367842616…
Passcode: 735284) We’ll be commemorating those lost to the nuclear bombs, racism (Black Lives Matter!), COVID, cancer, children and others who died at the Border, and more. You can make your own lantern, too, at home to participate more fully and intentionally. Instructional videos are on the event calendar on our website here. So is the day’s agenda, the names of those who’ve died at the Erie County Holding Center, and more.
There are two marches as well this weekend, at 3pm Saturday, 8/8, starting and ending in Cazenovia Park in South Buffalo (from the center of the Seneca St side), and at Harlem Rd Community Center on Sunday, 8/9, 1-4pm. Both are sponsored by the WNY Liberation Collective and the WNY Peace Center.
We want to remind you that through August, contributions of $100 are fully match funded by the Fr. Joe Bissonette Fund for the WNY Peace Center! We cannot say it enough – this work can only be done with your support, for which we are so grateful!
You can also go to Resource:Art to purchase artist Amanda Besl special original portfolio of 20 limited edition linoleum prints each, of ‘React’, ‘Resist’, and ‘Reform,’ reflecting “ the current social justice crisis facing our nation.” They can be purchased on ArtFare, Facebook, and Instagram. She’s donating the full proceeds to the WNYPC, and so you’d get the inspiring art, a peacenik WNYPC membership, your choice of membership gift, and your donation fully matched.
Lastly, we are excited to announce that we’ll be holding a series of Collective Nonviolent Direct Action Studies with the WNY Liberation Collective cosponsoring. The first – held July 26 with 35 enthusiastic participants – will be repeated and recorded by popular request. Date TBD.
Please see other special events etc this week below, and regularly scheduled events, campaigns, fundraisers, and more elsewhere on wnypeace.org, on our Facebook page, Twitter (@wnypeace), and Instagram (@wnypeace)!
Peace, thanks, solidarity and yes – love.
<3 <3 <3 <3 <3
*** Please refer to our website for details on our *UPDATED* REGULARLY SCHEDULED (monthly/weekly) EVENTS and ‘Helping Hands’ resources. We also update our SPECIAL EVENT CALENDAR often as we learn of new events, so please be sure to check back regularly! ***
UPCOMING SPECIAL EVENTS
THURSDAY, AUGUST 6TH @ 1:00 PM: PRESS CONFERENCE FOR A NUCLEARFREE FUTURE: 75 YEARS SINCE HIROSHIMA. See above.
MOTHER EARTH’S PANDEMIC: THE DOCTRINE OF DISCOVERY
August 6 @ 6:00 pm – 8:30 pm
Webinar. Thursday 6, 13 and 20 August 2020, 6-8 PM EST followed each day by small group discussions. Webinar variable registration rate of $10-$30-$50 for all three days https://indigenousvalues.org/mother-earths-pandemic/
The “Doctrine of Discovery,” better described as the “Doctrine of Christian Discovery and World Domination,” established the worldview thatnot only brought devastation to the natural world, but also impaired the ability for human beings to live in proper relationship with the Earth. 15th century Papal Bulls, issued by the Vatican, justified the assault upon Indigenous Peoples as an artificial justification to take possession of their bodies, lands and resources in order to finance their New World Order. This worldview advanced the Age of Discovery as an extension of the Crusades, and was the conceptual framework behind the Protestant Reformation, the establishment of Nation States around the world, and later secularized to define colonialism, white supremacy and global capitalism.
This conference will connect the dots between our current pandemic, environmental devastation, the Doctrine of Discovery, and a way forward. Speakers include Tadodaho Sid Hill, and Oren Lyons (Keynote: Mother Earth’s Pandemic: The Doctrine of Discovery) on Aug 6. More info on website calendar entries.
Mitch Better Have My Money
August 6 @ 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
At Bidwell & Elmwood, Buffalo NY 14222. #mitchbetterhavemymoney is a national day of protest on August 6 to tell our Senators that we cannot survive with cuts to unemployment and state aid as this pandemic worsens. Bring your empty pot and bang on it! Bang in solidarity for those that truly cannot survive without extending
Honoring the Victims of Erie County Jails
August 7 @ 3:30 pm – 5:30 pm
At Elmwood Ave & Bidwell Pkwy. 30+ Headstones with Names will be on Display. All are welcome! Prisoners’ Rights Taskforce. #PrisonersRightsAreHumanRights
South Buffalo March for Change
August 8 @ 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Start and end at Cazenovia Park. We the People / We the Change. Bring your voices. Bring a sign. Bring your friends. Bring a mask. Stay Hydrated. Join the WNY Liberation Collective and the WNY Peace Center.
SUNDAY, AUGUST 9TH: UN INTERNATIONAL DAY OF WORLD INDIGENOUS PEOPLES & COMMEMORATING 75 YEARS SINCE US NUCLEAR BOMBING
Hybrid event on Facebook live from 4pm on and on Zoom from 7:15pm. See above and lots more on the website event calendar and the Facebook event page.
CAMPAIGNS
Northern Access Pipeline (NAPL) – Take Action!
Recently, the courts have blocked all legal attempts to stop the NAPL pipeline running through their properties. The only thing preventing NAPL from being built is a required permit which the US Army Corps of Engineers has yet to grant. Here’s where you can do your part:
Your message:
I request that USACE NOT issue a 404 Permit for the Northern Access Pipeline without a clear NYSDEC 401 Water Quality Certification in place. FERC’s arbitrary claim that NY did not rule on time is wrong and is being contested in court. NY did NOT waive its Clean Water Act rights. NYSDEC denied the 401 due to the significant impacts this 97 mile pipeline would have as it trenches through 192 Western NY waterways and wetland areas. I am relying on the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to protect NY’s rights and waterways. Despite requirements and calls to do so, FERC has not prepared and Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). Especially in light of NYSDEC’s findings of significant environmental impacts, an EIS is necessary.
Send this message to:
Buffalo Office US Army Corps of Engineers
Choose Regulatory and Permitting under Recipient. Address message to: Major General, Robert F. Whittle Jr.
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U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Headquarters Washington, DC : https://www.lrd.usace.army.mil/Contact/ Address message to Lieutenant General, Todd T. Semonite
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U.S Army Corps of Engineers Great Lakes and Ohio River Division: https://www.lrd.usace.army.mil/Contact/. Choose Regulatory and Permitting under Recipient. Address message to: Major General, Robert F. Whittle Jr.
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More info: Diana Strablow dstrablow@gmail.com of the Sierra Niagara Group
#UNITE | #OneLove | #WeShallOvercome | #SiSePuede!