NSP Meetings Nov & Dec 2007

Mon Nov 19 7:30 pm Mo-PG-Ho NSP group
3215 Powder Mill Road, Adelphi, Maryland 20783-1097
DIRECTIONS: http://www.pbuuc.org/info/directions/index.html
info 443-803-8546 or nspmaryland@gmail.com
The 20+ folks at the Oct. meeting heard the latest from NSP national organizer Nichola Torbett about NSP national's training on spirituality and politics and then gathered in small groups to vision future chapter goals. See a draft of this visioning here, covering:

• Inclusion and relevance and sharing our values with people who are different
• "Peace University"
  
• Meetings - Debby S. is interested in having a conf. call or meeting on transformational processes that can enhance our meetings and our activism - see her paper here, and email nspmaryland@gmail.com to get in touch with her.
• Building Communities of openness
  

And see "What is an NSP Chapter" which envisions each NSP chapter as: a practice arena; a consciousness-raising force; a loving community; a network of social healers. Read this inspiring article here on the NSP national website.

NSP Baltimore meets Sat Dec 1 at 10 AM in a private home.
Email Jerry Raitzyk for directions jraitzyk [at] hotmail.com

See Peace Activism here.

See Climate Change, Tax Fairness and other Activism here.

Peace Activism

Fri 11/9 7 -9:30 pm - 25th Anniversary Celebration of Anne Arundel Peace Action
Annapolis Friends Meeting, 351 Dubois Road, Annapolis, Md.
Ray McGovern, a retired CIA analyst who has been an outspoken critic of the Bush administration’s foreign policy, will deliver the keynote talk, and there will be a presentation of Generation of Peacemakers Awards.

Monday, Nov. 12, 2007, 7:30 PM Howard County Coalition for Peace and Justice
Owen Brown Interfaith Center

Fri - Nov 16 http://iraqmoratorium.org/
The THIRD FRIDAY of every month beginning Friday September 21st
Join with millions to:
Wear and distribute black ribbons and armbands
Buy no gas on Moratorium days
Pressure politicians and the media
Hold vigils, pickets, rallies, and teach-ins
Hold special religious services
Coordinate events in music, art, and culture
Host film showings, talks, and educational events
Organize student actions: Teach-ins, school closings, etc

November 18 (Sunday), 3 pm: Dramatic Performance: A Land Twice Promised.
At The Meeting House, Oakland Mills Interfaith Cnt, 5885 Robert Oliver Place, Columbia,MD
Israeli-born acclaimed performance artist Noa Baum began a heartfelt dialogue with a Palestinian woman while living in the United States. A Land Twice Promised weaves together their memories and the stories of their mothers to create a moving testimony illuminating the complex and contradictory history and emotions that surround Jerusalem for Israelis and
Palestinians alike. Adults $10, Teens $5 in advance; Adults $15, Teens $8 at the door. Information: 410-461-2040. See short excerpt on YouTube here .

Israel Peace Mission. Come with NSP/TIKKUN to Israel and Palestine
2008 - the last week in May and the first week in June. Details to come for those getting Tikkun email (if not, write pete@tikkun.org and ask to be put on email list).

LOCAL PEACE INFO
Washington Peace Center - http://www.washingtonpeacecenter.net/
Women in Black - Baltimore - www.peacepath911.com/
Women in Black - Frederick - www.wibfrederick.org/
American Friends Service Committee Mid-Atlantic - www.afsc.org/midatlantic/baltimore/
Maryland United for Peace and Justice - www.mupj.org
Peace Action Montgomery County Md - www.peaceactionmc.org/

Cllimate Change and Other Activism

Sat Nove 3 - Stepping it Up for Climate Change Solutions www.stepitup2007.org Enter your zip code to find events near you.
On November 3rd, Americans will demand real leadership on global warming. From coast to coast, we'll rally in our communities and invite our politicians to join us. We'll see who rises to the occasion and who has a real plan to tackle the defining challenge of our time. One year before the election, let's make sure the world witnesses our national call to action: "Step It Up: It's Time for Climate Leaders"

The Alliance for Global Warming Solutions in Maryland has a number of Town Hall meetings coming up in November. For complete list of town halls see: http://www.mdlcv.org/issueslegislation/pinksybill

1/17/2008, 11 am - 1 pm Flood Annapolis Lobby Event!
Maryland State House, Annapolis, MD
Join the Alliance for Global Warming Solutions and hundreds of activists as we descend on the streets of Annapolis to demand that our elected officials find solutions to global warming.

The Alliance for Tax Fairness - www.alliancefortaxfairness.org
Alliance for Tax Fairness Statewide Town Hall Meeting on Maryland fiscal crisis
Tuesday, November 6, 2007, 6:00-8:30 p.m.
Annapolis Elementary School, 180 Green Street, Annapolis (two blocks from the State House)
Two Alliance Principles: 1. Fully fund Md Govt. From NSP perspective, we want health care for all, educational reform, support for low income families, social justice, care for the earth and the climate and more. 2. The total tax package should be overall progressive. From an NSP perspective - we are for taxing the well-to-do proportionally more than the poor.
The special session, if successful, will establish Maryland's fiscal structure and capacity for many years to come. The Statewide Town Hall Meeting will be the only opportunity in the course of the special session for average Marylanders to come out and learn about the details of Maryland's fiscal crisis. A series of presentations will explain the background of the current situation and the choices and tradeoffs facing Maryland. At the end, attendees will fill out a ballot and "vote" on what they see as the best solution to the state's fiscal challenges. Attendees will also be urged to share their conclusions with their elected officials. See press release here. Are you in community groups that could sign on to this Alliance? But most importantly, see the resources at www.alliancefortaxfairness.org, and please contact your Maryland representatives and tell them how you feel - find how to reach them at http://mdelect.net/electedofficials/


Nov 23 - Buy Nothing Day
See the Adbusters.org web site http://adbusters.org/bnd/ for info on anti-consumerism actions on 11/23. NSP is encouraging chapters to start consciousness raising on the adverse impact of materialism. We are not born to shop/to be consumers - We are born as spiritual beings and citizens. We can gain inspiration from Buy Nothing Day! See also Rev Billy and the Church of Stop Shopping - www.revbilly.com/ Locally his film, the "What Would Jesus Buy - The Movie" opens at the The Charles Theatre, 1711 N. Charles St, Baltimore, MD 21201 sometimes on or after Nov 16 to support Buy Nothing Day.

Anti-Racism - Allies in Reconciliation
The Greater Washington Allies in Reconciliation invites us to the following events:

• Tues, Nov 6, 6:30 pm Film " Mirrors of Privilege: Making Whiteness Visible" at 2640 St. Paul St, Baltimore, MD
  
• Tues, Nov 13 7:30 pm - Archbishop Desmond Tutu speaks on "The Spirituality of Reconciliation" at the Washington National Cathedral. Register here.
• Sun, Nov 18 5-80m Greater Washington Allies in Reconciliation Celebration and Fundraiser - Eastern Village Co-Housing Common House, 7981 Eastern Ave, Silver Spring, Md
  

HEATH CARE
Health Care for Howard County residents - There will be 3 town hall style meetings to explain the new Healthy Howard Plan for those without health care.

• Nov.6 (6-8pm) at Linden Hall, 4765 Dorsey Hall Dr., Ellicott City;
• Nov. 13 (6-8pm) Glenwood COmmunjity Ctr., 2400 Rt. 97, Cooksville;
• Nov. 14th (6-8pm) Savage Vol. Fire Station, 8925 Lincoln St., Savage.

Sun 11/11 4-6 pm Interfaith Coalition for Compassion in Howard County AT: Beth Shalom Synagogue, 8070 Harriet Tubman Rd, Columbia www.beth-shalom.net/
A thought-provoking and action-eliciting event, FREE and open to the public. Join dynamic and esteemed speakers: Steve Seitz, University Park Church of the Brethren, Rabbi Susan Grossman, Beth Shalom Congregation, and Susan Rosenbaum, Director of Howard County Dept. of Citizen Services. Presented by The Interfaith Coalition for Compassion for Howard County, For more information please call 410-997-2781.

People Acting Together in Howard (PATH)
Sun 11/17 7 pm, Oakland Mills Meeting House (Interfaith Center - room 100)
public meeting addressing affordable housing, transportation and youth programs in Howard County http://www.path-iaf.org/

EVERY TUES - Radio and TV on Climate Change 10 to 11 AM - Earthbeat with Mike Tidewell & Daphne Wisham WFMW 89.3 FM DC www.earthbeatradio.org - listen online at www.wpfw.org/

Chesapeake Climate Action Network site -see this site for cutting edge local climate activism and climate activism news at www.chesapeakeclimate.org/blog/.

Simplicity Matters Earth Institute (SMEI) calendar is here . SMEI offers discussion and action circles in the MD from Balti to Frederick to Annapolis and DC on voluntary simplicity, globalization, etc, and a new popular 4 week discussion circle on global warming. Info at: SimplicityGrpsMD@aol.com . Also Bethesda and Baltimore Sunday night Forums

Greater Washington Interfaith Power and Light - www.gwipl.org/ has many great climate change resources and a local calendar here.