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Saturday, Sept 29, 2007
Call to Action to Demonstrate Against Visit by President Bush
The
Lancaster
Coalition for Peace and Justice is calling for a peaceful protest
of President Bush's planned visit to the County on October 3rd.
This coming Tuesday,
October 2nd, concerned citizens are asked to meet at Penn Square at 7
pm to demonstrate. This event will mark a massive opposition to Bush's
continued failed policies, both domestic and international.
 Bush is
expected to arrive in the county Wednesday October 3rd in the morning
or early afternoon. This demonstration will also be used as to
announce actions for the following day.
Time and time again
throughout his tenure, this president has ignored the will of
Americans, both minority and majority opinions. Because this president
oversteps checks and balances afforded in our constitution, we need to
come together in mass to deliver a message that George W. Bush, his
record, and his presence are not welcome in our town!
The demonstration
will be hosted by the Lancaster Coalition for Peace and Justice, and
will be a peaceful, community event. They encourage peace groups,
religious organizations, student groups, our elders, children, and
everyone who rejects this President's agenda to join us in this
protest.
Participants should
bring their own signs, banners, and any other form of non-violent
communication to make their voices heard.
For more information
contact
lancasterdemwomen@gmail.com.
Thursday, Sept 27, 2007
Public Health is YOUR Health.
The Partnership
for a County Public Health Department will be hosting two public
forums in October. The first to be held on Oct. 10th at the Eden
Resort Inn is entitled “How Does the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
Deliver Health Services in Lancaster County?” and will include
representatives from Departments of Health, Agriculture and
Environmental Protection who will explain what state agencies do, and
how a local public health department could help.
The second event will be
held at the Eden on the 24th and is entitled "What
Are the Local Public Health Concerns in Lancaster County?" It will
feature local health care providers and environmental and agricultural
experts who will discuss the local public health issues and describe
how a local public health department could address these concerns.
The Partnership for
a County Public Health Department is a coalition of organizations
exploring the establishment of a local public health department to
safeguard the health of children and families of Lancaster County.
Support for this initiative comes from Ephrata Community Hospital,
Heart of Lancaster Regional Medical Center, Lancaster General,
Lancaster Osteopathic Health Foundation, Lancaster Regional Medical
Center, St. Joseph Health Ministries and United Way of Lancaster
County Success by 6.
View
flyer for more details...
Tuesday, Sept 25, 2007
Anabaptist
Training and Skill Development Program
Lancaster
Interchurch Peace Witness is offering an Anabaptist Training and Skill
Development Program on October 18-20 at the Akron Mennonite Church.
The purpose of the workshops is to to equip participants with the
theological, analytical, organizing and communication skills they will
need to begin the process of antiracist transformation in their own
institutions. Read more and register...
Monday, Sept 24, 2007
Reading of the
Names
from
Tony & Christine Crocamo
A reading of the
names of U.S. servicemen and women who have been killed in Iraq will
be held at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 27, at the gazebo on Fulton
Quadrant, Penn Square, downtown Lancaster.
This is an event
that is open to everyone, and the public is invited to volunteer to
read some of the names. There will be no political statements, no
speeches, or signs. A simple reading, that we may acknowledge those
who have died and think about them.
If you have
questions please email
tonychris1971@yahoo.com
or call 717-684-3877.
Saturday, Sept 22. 2007
So will evil triumph? Is good dumb?
by F. Patrick
O'Keeffe Lititz, PA
So will evil triumph? Is
good dumb? Well, evil is definitely better organized and financed, as
evidenced by The Gathering of Eagles. Fascists love to march around in
groups, get organized, listen to authority. They are known for making
the trains run on time. Big business loves this about them and is
happy to finance them. Politicians love the part about listening to
authority. At the other extreme, we have the anarchists. Not
antichrist, but anarchist, someone who believes in anarchy. Get out
your encyclopedia and look up anarchist organizations. You’ll find it
listed under oxymorons. Will Rogers used to say, "I belong to no
organized political party, I’m a Democrat." I’ve seen with my own eyes
the difficulty in getting these leftist groups together and moving,
they are never on time, and seldom stay on topic. Stop The War! Save
The Rocky Mountain Spotted Owl! Really, the whole group suffers from
ADHD. How will they ever stop a war?
Read more...
comment on this news item...
Friday, Sept 21, 2007
 F&M
Professor to Moderate Commissioner Candidates Forum
A Commissioner Candidates
public forum will be co-sponsored by Democracy for Lancaster and
Progressives for Pennsylvania.
Robert J. Friedrich,
Associate Professor of Government at Franklin & Marshall College, will
moderate the upcoming County Commissioner Candidates’ forum
co-sponsored by Democracy for Lancaster and Progressives for
Pennsylvania. WGAL-TV’s Janelle Stelson and Hector Valdez of WLCH
Radio Centro (91.3 FM) will round out the panel.
All 5 candidates for
Lancaster County Commissioner will present their respective cases and
answer questions, Thursday, October 4, 6:30 – 9 pm at Bethel AME
Church, 450 East Strawberry Street, in the Churchtowne section of
Lancaster. The forum will be held in the sanctuary with a reception
following in the Heritage Center next door.
Don LeVasseur, Chair
of Democracy for Lancaster, says, “We want to make sure that voters
have an opportunity to hear each candidate’s position on the important
issues facing the county before they go to the polls in November.”
DFL usually meets
the first Wednesday of every month, but changed the day to Thursday
for this forum to accommodate the candidates’ schedules. For more
information about DFL, visit
www.democracyforamerica.com, click on “DFL link,” and enter your
zip code in the search field. You can also contact Democracy for
Lancaster’s Chair, Don LeVasseur, at 717-475-8592.
Thursday, Sept 20, 2007
Troops Out Now
Rally In DC
People for Peace and
Justice has taken over organizing the York bus to the Troops Out Now
rally on Sept 29. More detail about the rally at
http://www.troopsoutnow.org/
It is a 47 passenger
Red Lion bus, leaving from Queensgate at 8:30 am, returning about 7
pm, hopefully going right down town, but I am not sure of that right
now. Cost is $30.00, and as usual, reduced rates are available--just
ask.
Please send your
check to People for Peace and Justice, 433 Lindberg Ave., York, PA
17401. Any questions, e-mail leadadietz@epix.net, or call 717-515-0631
Monday, Sept 17, 2007
Young
People For Offers Fellowships
In 2004, People For the American Way
Foundation launched a strategic, long-term leadership initiative,
Young People For, to invest in the next generation of leaders and
build a long-term national network for young progressives. Young
People For is committed to protecting and promoting our nation’s core
values by identifying, engaging and empowering young leaders and
activists and equipping them to work toward positive social change in
their communities and across the nation.
The Young People For (YP4) Fellowship is
a year-long program for students who will be enrolled in a two or
four-year college or university for the upcoming calendar year. YP4
provides young leaders and activists with the leadership development,
networks, skills and support they need to effect positive change on
their campuses, in their communities and around the nation. To apply
for a fellowship, click here...
Friday, Sept 15, 2007
Bush Speech on Iraq and Democrats on Impeachment
Since George W. Bush
is completely ignoring the views of both the vast majority of American
citizens and the majority of the members of Congress concerning the
ending of the Iraq War, impeachment hearings should be started. Bush
will not conform to democratic norms. He will not respect public
opinion or democracy. There are plenty of reasons to hold immediate
joint impeachment hearings for both Bush and Cheney.
Read more...
comment on this news item...
Monday, Sept 10, 2007
Pitts
Votes Against Student Loans Again
 On Friday, Sept. 7th,
the U.S. House of Representatives passed HR 2669 making it easier for poor
students to obtain Pell Grants. The bill also phases in cuts in the interest
rates charged undergraduate student borrowers. The bill passed overwhelmingly
with 215 Democrats and 77 Republicans voting for it; no Democrats and 97
Republicans voting against it. Congressman Joe Pitts voted “Nay,” the only
member of the Pennsylvania delegation to vote against the bill.
HR
2669 was strongly opposed by the lending industry which may lose government
lending subsidies if President Bush signs the bill (and apparently he will).
Mr. Pitt's vote is consistent with his opposition to all entitlement programs
except corporate entitlements.
comment on this news item...
Saturday, Sept 7, 2007
Friend-Raiser for Bruce Slater
 Please
come to a Pig Roast on Tuesday, September 11 to meet Bruce Slater,
2008 candidate for Pennsylvania’s 16th Congressional District. The
Roast will be held in the evening from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM at the Derry
Meetinghouse, 81 Greenlawn Road, Cochranville, Pennsylvania 19330.
Directions:
An honored guest will be LOIS HERR,
author, scholar, and former candidate. For more information please
call 610-357-2520 or email
Susan Quigley.
Sunday, Sept 2, 2007
Celebrate Labor Day
Pennsylvania's history is
the history of America's working people. The first permanent Union
local was formed in Philadelphia in 1792 and the first National Trades
Union started there in 1834 - in fact, most of America's Unions can
trace their roots to the Keystone State.
Female textile workers in
Pittsburgh risked their lives striking for a ten-hour day back in
1845, and Pennsylvania passed the nation's first Child Labor Law in
1848 (making 12 years old the minimum age for commercial occupations.)
The Molly Maguires and hundreds of other brave miners stood up against
overwhelming odds to fight for fair treatment for all, and, of course,
the
Homestead Lockout put the plight of steelworkers on the map for
all to see.
If you enjoy an 8-hour
day, a 40-hour workweek, paid time off, retirement benefits and health
insurance, you owe a debt of gratitude to the brave men and women who
put their livelihoods and their lives on the line to stand up for
American workers.
Saturday, Sept 1, 2007
“Free Trade”
Policy Craze is Crazy, Like Healthcare
by Stephen Crockett, co-host of
Democratic Talk Radio
The most recent
statements coming from Ford and General Motors, demanding massive cuts
in the benefits paid to auto workers or those companies will move
their factories to low-wage countries, demonstrates the complete
failure of current government economic policies. The automobile
manufacturers should not be able to make such threats nor should they
need to make such demands. The failures of current government economic
policy makes both a reality. Changes in government economic policies
can quickly correct the situation.
comment on this news item...
Comment:
Bruce Slater, Narvon, PA
Congressman Joe
Pitts attempt at influencing world opinion by suggesting a boycott of
the Olympics has all the signs of a Karl Rove switch and bait game. He
seeks to turn our attentions away from real issues; if they are out of
sight and mind maybe they will go away. Mr Pitts if you want to give
real teeth to our policies in China, try getting on board with
imposing trade sanctions on China for all the trade laws they violate.
Trying to publicly humiliate China is also another miscalculation on
your part that will back fire. Eastern cultures do not take kindly to
a public loss of face. Trade sanctions will have a more lasting effect
then just not showing up for the games. It will also demonstrate that
the U.S. can be firm without insults.
Editor's Note: Mr. Slater is an announced Democratic candidate for the
16th Congressional District seat currently held by Mr. Pitts.
Friday, Aug 31, 2007
DiCaprio's "The 11th Hour" Playing Theaters
Now
 The
11th Hours is a new film playing in select theaters currently. The
film is produced and narrated by Leonardo DiCaprio and how we live,
how we impact the earth's ecosystems, and what we can do to change our
course. It features a field of experts from around the world,
including former Soviet Prime Minister Mikhail Gorbachev, renowned
scientist Stephen Hawking, former head of the CIA R. James Woolsey and
sustainable design experts William McDonough and Bruce Mau in addition
to over 50 leading scientists, thinkers and leaders who discuss the
most important issues that face our planet and people.
The closest
locations for this
film currently are in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.
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