Mn-prog-events Mailing List: Progressive Calendar 03.01.06

[David Shove (shove001]

              P R O G R E S S I V E   C A L E N D A R   03.01.06

1. Dakota treaty      3.02 8am
2. Greens/Capitol     3.02 12noon
3. Welfare rights     3.02 12noon
4. Arts/rights        3.02 4pm
5. Eagan peace vigil  3.02 4:30pm
6. Fairview/union     3.02 5:30pm
7. E-democracy        3.02 6:30pm
8. Haiti              3.02 7pm
9. Venezuela/WSF      3.02 7pm
10. Dept of peace     3.02 7pm
11. War/allure/poison 3.02 7:30pm Red Wing MN
12. Cam/CRA/police    3.02 7:30pm
13. Bush family/CTV   3.02 8:30pm

14. Ffunch/eat/talk   3.03 11:30am
15. Counter recruit   3.03 12noon
16. Palestine vigil   3.03 4:15pm
17. Shop unchained    3.03 6pm
18. VaginaMono/Indian 3.03 6:45pm
19. Child soldiers    3.03 7pm
20. Cuban film        3.03 7pm
21. Workingman/film   3.03 7:15pm
22. Elias Khoury      3.03 7:30pm
23. Energy campaign   3.03-05 Madison WI

24. Wendy Wilde pod
25. March 18 YAWR antiwar lit

26. Rudo de Ruijter - The dollar the euro and the attack on Iran
27. ed              - No way not US (poem)

--------1 of 27--------

From: Susu Jeffrey <susujeffrey [at] msn.com>
Subject: Dakota treaty 3.02 8am

Support Dakota Treaty Rights
Support the U.S. Constitution

Rally for the 1st Court Appearance
Thursday March 2   8am
180 East 5th Street, St. Paul

United States of America versus
Jim Anderson, Cultural Chair, Mendota Mdewakanton Dakota Community
Susu Jeffrey, founder, Friends of Coldwater
Chris Mato Nunpa, Indigenous Nations and Dakota Studies professor, Southwest
MSU at Marshall

Court begins at 9am
Supporters should be prepared to show government-issued photo I.D. and
submit to airport-type security.


--------2 of 27--------

From: Information <Info [at] mngreens.org>
Subject: Greens/Capitol 3.02 12noon

Dear Green Party Members and Supporters,

We are fast approaching the 2006 MN State Legislative session and once
again we will have "Greens at the Capitol".

The Green Party of MN and our Locals have run candidates over the last 10
years and received many thousands of votes from people who believe in
Green Party values, and want Green Party policy implemented in the state;
those voters deserve to have a voice and influence toward our goals.

I have been hired to convene gatherings of concerned Greens at the Capitol
and spend time lobbying. Please take advantage of this and help us
maintain our presence with the legislature and state officials.

This is a great opportunity for all of us to learn and participate in the
process of lawmaking and either change it or become motivated to run as
candidates and move forward Green Party of MN policy.

We will gather twice/week on a regular basis in the Transportation Building
Cafeteria. (Look for directions below)

Days and times in March:
Thursday-2nd @ Noon
Wednesday-8th @ 10:30am
Thursday-9th @ 9:00am
Tuesday-14th @ 9:00am
Thursday-16th @ 9:00am
Tuesday-21st @ 9:00am
Tuesday-28th @ 9:00am
Thursday-30th @ 9:00am

Days and times in April:
Tuesday-4th @ 9:00am
Thursday-6th @ 9:00am
Monday-10th @ 9:00am
Tuesday-11th @ 9:00am
Tuesday-18th @ 10:30am
Thursday-20th @ 9:00am
Tuesday-25th @ 9:00am
Thursday-27th @9:00am

Most of the time I will try to convene at these times, although some of
these days I may have appointments with legislators so I may not be
available to meet. (Take my cell phone # to connect with me at any time.)

I will be active at the Capitol outside of the specific days above; anyone
is welcome to join me on visits with legislators or to committee hearings.
My main policy focus will be to protect our status as a party and enhance
policy toward a greater multi-party democracy in MN.

If anyone from Greater MN cannot make it to the Capitol, please
communicate with me about the issue you're concerned about. I can set an
appointment with your legislator on your behalf or testify in committee
about your issue. If there is group from your area who want to come in to
visit the Capitol on a specific day I will attempt to be available to you
as a guide/helper.

Please Take my Cell phone # with you incase you need to contact me at any
time.

For democracy, justice and a healing planet.
Ken Pentel
(612) 387-0601

LOCATION: Transportation Building Cafeteria

DIRECTIONS

If you're facing the Capitol from the mall the Transportation Building is
second building down on the left-hand side. Transportation Building 395,
John Ireland Boulevard, Saint Paul, MN 55155 or www.dot.state.mn.us

Bus routes to or very close to the capital are:
94B,C, or D, 16, 78, 71, 68, 3 Contact Metro Transit at: (612) 373-3333 or
http://www.metrotransit.org/serviceInfo/index.asp

BY CAR:
The Capitol complex is to the north of I-94 just minutes from downtown St.
Paul. It is accessible from the east and west on I-94, and from the north
and south on I-35E.----Or----I-94 eastbound: Exit at Marion Street. Turn
left. Go to Aurora Avenue (Just before University Ave) and turn right.
---Or---I-94 westbound: Exit at Marion Street. Turn right. Go to Aurora
Avenue and turn right. Go one block and enter Parking Lot AA.---Or---I-35E
northbound: Exit at Kellogg Boulevard. Turn left. Go to John Ireland
Boulevard and turn right. Metered parking spaces line both sides of the
boulevard.---Or---I-35E southbound: Exit at University Avenue. Turn right.
Go to Rice Street and turn left. Go one block, turn right and enter
Parking Lot AA.

Do NOT park in the Sears Parking lot. The best meters for street parking
are on Aurora Ave, just north of Sears Automotive Service Station.


--------3 of 27--------

From: Welfare Rights Cmte II <welfarerights [at] qwest.net>
Subject: Welfare rights 3.02 12noon

Join us in the opening days of the MN state legislative session:
Protest and Rally
Thursday, March 2, 2006
12noon
MN State Capitol - Front Steps

Free bus rides - schedule at the bottom of this email. Download a flyer at
www.welfarerightsmn.org Contact WRC to add your group to the list of
endorsers for the rally!

Its time to send a message to MN politicians: Fund children's needs, not
rich people's greed! Undo the Cuts! Tax the Rich!

We demand:
 --Undo the $125 MFIP SSI penalty & --Undo the $50 MFIP housing cut (these
cuts represent the biggest welfare cuts in MN history)
 --Undo MA co-pays (many are going with out medical care because of the
co-pays)
 --Undo childcare cuts (Childcare is hard to find because of all the cuts
in 2003.)
 --Stop attacks on immigrants (Republicans are using a "divide and
conquer" tactic with their racist immigrant bashing.)
 --Raise the grants (Welfare grants have not had a cost of living increase
since 1986 - that's 20 years!)
 --Give back the state 'surplus' to the poor

More info:

The Welfare Rights Committee and the MN Welfare Rights Coalition is
inviting you to join us on the front steps of the state capitol on
Thursday, March 2 for a rally on the second day of the MN legislative
session.

In 2005, we won back money in welfare & health care, and stopped many
deeper cuts.  This year we are back to fight for more!

We will be sending a message to the government: Fund children's needs, not
rich people's greed. We will be calling for the cuts of 2003 to be undone
(see flyer, next page), including all health care cuts to non-citizens,
which will serve as counter against Governor Pawlenty's racist immigrant
bashing. We are also calling for a long overdue (since 1986) MFIP grant
cost of living increase. The governor's salary has increased 150% since
1986!

The people of the MN have been suffering with these cuts because of
legislators' stubborn refusal over the past several years to make the
wealthy pay their fair share of taxes. The upper-bracket tax cuts of the
late 1990s should have been undone immediately in 2003, but instead the
politicians balanced the budget on the backs of poor, elderly, ill, young
and working people. Besides that, an increasing number of sham "foreign
operating" corporations - which make their money in MN but have a plaque
on the wall in another country or state - are getting out of paying the MN
taxes they owe, to the tune of over $100 million per year. We will use
some of that money to undo these cuts.

We have name for the $300+ million budget "surplus" that Pawlenty was
crowing about: Blood money. That money was stolen from poor and working
Minnesotans and we demand it be given back to undo the cuts. No matter
what happens with the tobacco lawsuit, that money represents the pain of
the most vulnerable in this state.

Finally, we will be demanding the replacement of the $13 million federal
TANF award that the governor tried to steal in November. The governor
bragged about using the $13 million in welfare money for energy assistance
- but the need for that program is closer to $130 million! All of the
money for energy assistance should come out of the general fund, not from
one-time money intended for welfare.

We will have bills this year to undo the cuts, funded by taxing the rich
and sham corporations. Please join us at our rally, Thursday, March 2,
12:00 noon on the front steps of the capitol to stand up for justice!

Free bus rides to protest:  Minneapolis Bus Rides-11AM- Sabathani Community
Center (3rd Ave & 38th St South):
11:15AM- Pilot City / North Point (1315 Penn Ave N.);
11:30AM Brian Coyle Community Center (420 15th Ave S)

St. Paul Bus Rides- 11:15AM -Roosevelt Homes;
11:30AM -McDonough;
11:45am Mt. Airy


---------4 of 27--------

From: humanrts [at] umn.edu
Subject: Arts/rights 3.02 4pm

March 2 - Community Dialogue: the Intersection of Arts and Human Rights.
4pm.
Pangea World Theater Studio, 711 W Lake St, Ste 101, Minneapolis

Come speak with Donal O'Kelly about his work in human rights and arts and
his advocacy work in Ireland. He initiated the creation of two major
organizations that work with human rights.

This event is free and open to the public. For more information, please
visit www.pangeaworldtheater.org


--------5 of 27--------

From: Greg and Sue Skog <skograce [at] mtn.org>
Subject: Eagan peace vigil 3.02 4:30pm

CANDLELIGHT PEACE VIGIL EVERY THURSDAY from 4:30-5:30pm on the Northwest
corner of Pilot Knob Road and Yankee Doodle Road in Eagan. We have signs
and candles. Say "NO to war!" The weekly vigil is sponsored by: Friends
south of the river speaking out against war.


--------6 of 27--------

From: Minneapolis Central Labor Union Council <betsy [at] mplscluc.com>
Subject: Fairview/union 3.02 5:30pm

Building a Healthier Community
A Community Forum on Healthcare and Holding Fairview Accountable
to Their Mission:

Thursday March 2
5:30-7pm
Bethany Lutheran Church 2511 E. Franklin Ave Minneapolis, MN 55403

Join us at a Community Forum to hold Fairview Health Services accountable
to its mission to improve the health of the community it serves!
Fairview's new health insurance plan for its workers is a sign of things
to come. We need a health system that ensures everyone in our community,
including hospital employees, has access to quality, affordable healthcare
now - the health of our community is at stake.


--------7 of 27--------

From: St.Paul Team <stpaul-comments [at] e-democracy.org>
Subject: E-democracy 3.02 6:30pm

St. Paul E-Democracy will be celebrating the official launch of our newly
formed organization on March 2nd, 2006 at 6:30. The HUGE event, will be at
the Paul and Sheila Wellstone Center for Community Building, at 179 Robie
Street East.

This is going to be a BIG EVENT! We're hoping for 150 or more friends and
supporters.

Mayor Coleman has agreed to join us and say a few words.

We're ordering appetizers and beverages for all!!!

Hosts for the event include:
  * Anne Carroll, School Board
  * Tom Conlon, School Board
  * Kazoua Kong-Thao, School Board
  * Pat Harris, City Council
  * Lou Kanaviti, SPPS Superintendent
  * Willie Nesbitt, SPPS Exec Dir of Community Ed

We're inviting everyone in St. Paul to this big celebration. It will be the largest
gathering of SPIFer's ever! Don't miss it!!!!

The St. Paul E-Democracy Team
St. Paul Team
All, St. Paul
More info: http://forums.e-democracy.org/stpaul/contacts/stpaulteam


--------8 of 27--------

From: carydberg <carydberg [at] comcast.net>
Subject: Haiti  3.02 7pm

March 2 - Laura Flynn, an assistant to President Aristide (1994-2000)
and active member of the Twin Cities Haiti Justice Committee, will discuss
the current situation in Haiti at the Northwest Suburban Citizens for
Peace, St. Joseph's Church, 36th and Boone, New Hope, 7 PM.  All welcome.
Note meeting date has been changed from Wednesday to Thursday.


--------9 of 27--------

From: Lydia Howell <lhowell [at] visi.com>
Subject: Venezuela/WSF 3.02 7pm

*World Social Forum Report Back at Macalester College in St. Paul, MN*

THURSDAY, MARCH 2
KAGIN BALLROOM
MACALESTER COLLEGE
7-8:30pm

"Uncovering Activism in an Upside-Down World" - A Conversation with
Professor Rose Brewer

What is the World Social Forum?
How do we address gender, race and class in this context?
Can we connect Caracas, New Orleans and the Twin Cities?
What is the local / global significance of recent changes in Venezuela?

Dr. Rose Brewer, a scholar-activist and faculty member in the African and
African-American Studies Department at the University of Minnesota, will
speak about her trip to Venezuela and participation at the WSF. She will
discuss these and other questions with students from Macalester, U of M,
and other local schools. Over the years, she has worked with a number of
local political struggles. She has published widely in areas of Black
feminism, race and class, political change and social transformations. Her
forthcoming book is titled "The Color of Wealth" (The New Press, 2006).

This event is free and open to the public.


--------10 of 27--------

From: scot b <earthmannow [at] comcast.net>
Subject: Dept of peace 3.02 7pm

Do you wish we could balance the influence of the Secretary of Defense
with a Secretary of Peace?   Well with your help maybe we can.

Come to the St Croix Valley Peacemakers meeting on Thursday March 2nd at
7pm at Ascension Episcopal Church 214 No 3rd Street in Stillwater [ 3rd
building north of postoffice ] hear Mary Jane LaVigne share her expertise
on the Department of Peace Campaign.

Mary Jane is one of the State of Minnesota coordinators for the department
of peace movement and will share with us a brief history of the proposed
department, the roll it is designed to perform, the latest developments
and it's current status.

Most importantly she will provide us with a direction for individuals and
our group to contribute to the creation of a national Department of Peace.


--------11 of 27--------

From: Andy Hamerlinck <iamandy [at] riseup.net>
Subject: War/allure/poison 3.02 7:30pm Red Wing MN

Presentation by Michael Orange re "The Allure and Poison of War," March 2
@ 7:30 at Red Wing Legion Hall, 218 W. 4th St. sponsored by Vets for
Peace, Chapter 115.


--------12 of 27--------

From: Cam Gordon <camgordon333 [at] msn.com>
Subject: Cam/CRA/police 3.02 7:30pm

Meeting to discuss Mpls's CRA Internal Working Group

I will be at the
Second Moon Coffee Cafe at 23rd and East Franklin Ave.
Thursday, March 2, from 7:30-9pm

to discuss MInneapolis' Civilian Police Review Authority and the
establishment an internal working group to be responsible for addressing
outstanding issues and the recommendations of the Civil Rights
Department's Police and Process Report.

I will try to have copies of the report available. If you have any
questions or concerns about this internal working group that I have been
working to get going in City Hall and ideas about how we can make sure it
helps improve and strengthen civilian oversight of the police please
consider attending.

Feel free to email or call me if you have any questions, Cam 612 296-0579


---------13 of 27--------

From: leslie reindl <alteravista [at] earthlink.net>
Subject: Bush family/CTV 3.02 8:30pm

Thurs Mar 2, 8:30pm:  St. Paul cable access channel 15, Altera Vista
presents "Bush Family Fortunes," a Greg Palast Investigation.


--------14 of 27--------

From: David Shove <shove001 [at] tc.umn.edu>
Subject: Ffunch/eat/talk 3.03 11:30am

Meet the FFUNCH BUNCH!
11:30am-1pm
First Friday Lunch (FFUNCH) for Greens/progressives.

Informal political talk and hanging out.

Day By Day Cafe 477 W 7th Av St Paul.
Meet in the private room (holds 12+).

Day By Day is non-smoking; has soups, salads, sandwiches, and dangerous
apple pie; is close to downtown St Paul & on major bus lines


--------15 of 27--------

From: sarah standefer <scsrn [at] yahoo.com>
Subject: Counter recruit 3.03 12noon

Counter Recruitment Demonstration
 Our Children Are Not Cannon Fodder
Fridays   NOON-1
Recruiting Office at the U of M
At Washington and Oak St.  next to Chipolte
for info call Barb Mishler 612-871-7871


--------16 of 27--------

From: peace 2u <tkanous [at] hotmail.com>
Subject: Palestine vigil 3.03 4:15pm

Every Friday
Vigil to End the Occupation of Palestine

4:15-5:15pm
Summit & Snelling, St. Paul

There are now millions of Palestinians who are refugees due to Israel's
refusal to recognize their right under international law to return to
their own homes since 1948.


--------17 of 27--------

From: wamm <wamm [at] mtn.org>
Subject: Shop unchained 3.03 6pm

Jump Out of the Big Box and Shop Unchained: Fair Trade Shopping Event at
Birch Clothing

Friday, March 3, 6-9pm Birch Clothing, 2309 West 50th Street (Penn Avenue
and 50th Street), Minneapolis.

Are you concerned that our economy has our backs up against the Wal-Mart?
Don't want to consume to devour? You are invited to exercise your dollar
power by supporting local, independent stores and services and WAMM. Birch
Clothing specializes in fashion-forward apparel of natural fibers,
constructed by small-scale producers and artisans under fair labor
conditions. 15% of all sales (including sale items) will be donated to
WAMM. FFI: Call WAMM at 612-827-5364.


--------18 of 27--------

From: Lydia Howell <lhowell [at] visi.com>
Subject: VaginaMono/Indian 3.03 6:45pm
FRI.MAR.3:"Indian Style"The  Vagina Mnolgues

Vagina Monologues
"Indian Style'

Shooting Star Hotel and Casino Mahnomen, Minnesota
Friday, March 3
Saturday, March 4
6:45 pm

Tickets at the door for $10.00
No one will be turned away if you can not afford the $10.00 - proceeds
going to the Community Resource Alliance - White Earth Reservation

Do Not Miss These Wonderful People
Music by Annie Humphrey
Great Acting to include Elaine Fleming Winona LaDuke, Annie Mulbah
Directed by Audrey Thayer


--------19 of 27--------

From: Melis Arik <melis [at] intermediaarts.org>
Subject: Child soldiers 3.03 7pm

Words! Camera! Action! Child Soldiers

Friday, March 3, 7-8pm (check back about possible 8:30-10PM
showing of an additional video)
$7 ($5 for seniors, students with ID; $3 for Intermedia Arts members;
and groups of 8 or more $3 each)

Intermedia Arts presents Child Soldiers, the March 2006 edition of Words!
Camera! Action! Combining moving images with performance, this evening
takes a hard look at the past and present involvement of children in war.
Local teen and young adult spoken word, rap and performance artists
respond to the topic of the videos to bring the message home.

"We Don't Want No War" by Edwin Daniel, Schwarbu Emile Kamara, Jane
Peters, Rashid Peters, Mohamed Sidibay
"Children Of War" by Jimmie Briggs
"An Army of Children" by the Walker Art Center Teen Arts Council
"No Child" by PTCV

Performance Artists:
ibé Kaba
Michelle Barnes (South High School Junior)
Bleed Yellow (South High School Freshman)
Nikko Sencer-Mura (Marcy Open School)


--------20 of 27--------

From: humanrts [at] umn.edu
Subject: Cuban film 3.03 7pm

March 3 - Noche Cultural: Film: The Last Supper. 7pm

The Last Supper Directed by Tomas Gutierrez Alea. Cuba. Spanish/English. A
kind and moral plantation master recreates the Last Supper, inviting his
slaves to come to the table as disciples or spiritual equals. Based on an
incident from Cuban history.

FFI: 612-276-0788.
Location: Resource Center of the Americas, 3019 Minnehaha Ave.,
Minneapolis 55406


--------21 of 27--------

From: Analiese Miller <ana [at] mnfilmarts.org>
Subject: Workingman/film 3.03 7:15pm

WORKINGMAN'S DEATH
A NEW FILM BY MICHAEL GLAWOGGER AT THE BELL AUDITORIUM
MARCH 3 -  MARCH 9

In his latest release, "Workingman's Death", Austrian filmmaker Michael
Glawogger shines his camera into five of the darkest, most grueling,
environments of hard labor around the world in a deconstructive challenge
to modern ideas of "work".  Without having to say so himself, Glawogger
shows us in this brilliant day-in-the-life- of rendering that a great
variety of lives have remained yet untouched by any sense of modern
technological advancement and that worker's own understandings of their
labors are deeply connected to notions of self, culture, and history.

Winner of the John Grierson Award at the 2005 London Film Festival,
"Workingman's Death" has been widely acclaimed for its poetic
cinematography and blatant capture of harsh realities in the manner of
Glawogger's previous exposé, "Megacities".

Unfolding in chapters, the first is titled "Heros" and uses archival
footage of the great era of Soviet mining against the present-day reality
of "the mousetrap", an illegal 16inch hole in the ground in what had once
been one of the richest of all mining districts. Today's heros of Ukraine,
these miners crawl for hundreds of meters on their stomachs to load their
baskets with only the most basic aid of a pickax or chisel.

In the second chapter, "Ghosts", Indonesian men go to the "kitchen" in
Kawah Ijen, a sulfur-belching crater at the top of a volcano.  Stuffing
cloth in their mouths, the men race over the edge with long iron rods to
chip away at the newly formed rock, and with loaded baskets of up to 250
pounds, carry it miles on their backs for a weigh-in and payment.

In "Lions", goats and bulls are driven to the Port Harcourt slaughter yard
to be featured on "the slab" where they are summarily killed, cut, washed,
cooked, bargained for, fought for, and celebrated over in a public market
setting (sensitives be warned).

"Brothers" picks up in Pakistan, where the land has just been harvested
and Pashtuns are heading north for the harvest of ships in Gaddani.  In a
remarkable cooperative effort, huge ocean vessels are reduced to
manageable sheets of salvaged steel plate, leaving only the loosed oil to
lap at the shore.

In China ("The Future"), old and new are contrasted again, this time side
by side in the steel working city of Angang where workers consider the
effects of "progress" and decide that work is work, whatever it is.

Finally, in Germany, "the future" has arrived; an amusement park made of
the ruins of yesterday's industry.

The Bell Auditorium is located in the Bell Museum of Natural History at 10
Church Street SE on the East Bank Campus at the intersection of University
and 17th.  Parking is available in area lots, and is free on Sundays in
the Church Street lot.

Admission is $8 general, $6.50 seniors/students, and $5 members. Shows run
at 7:15 and 9:15 nightly, with additional showings on Saturdays and
Sundays at 5:15.

Check out our website at www.mnfilmarts.org for more information.


--------22 of 27--------

From: Sarah Caflisch <scaflisch [at] loft.org>
Subject: Elias Khoury 3.03 7:30pm

Friday, March 3, 7:30 p.m.
MIZNA: MIDEAST IN THE MIDWEST

ELIAS KHOURY and artists from the Arab, Muslim, West Asian and North
African communities.

Elias Khoury is a journalist, literary critic, novelist and dramaturge. He
was born in Beirut in 1948. He studied history and sociology at the
Lebanese university in Beirut and at the university in Paris. Khoury
supported the interests and rights of the Palestinians, [Khoury was a
member of the Palestinian Liberation Movement in the 1960s], and worked at
the PLO Research Center in Beirut from 1973 to 1979. In the mid-seventies
he stopped doing militant work and started a career as a journalist. From
1976 to 1979, together with the Palestinian lyric poet Mahmud Darwish
<http://www.barghouti.com/poets/darwish/>, he published the newspaper
Su'un filastiniya (Palestinian Affairs). In 1979, as editor for
literature, he switched to the daily paper As-Safir, where he worked until
1991. Since 1992 Khoury has been publisher and editor-in-chief of the
culture and literary supplement to Beirut's daily paper An-Nahar.

Elias Khoury is considered one of the leading contemporary Arabic
intellectuals and writers. His literary work includes, among things, eight
novels. This includes the novel al-Jabal al-Saghir that was published in
1977 (The Little Mountain, Engl. 1989), Rahlat Gandhi al-Saghir of 1991
(The Journey of Little Gandhi, Engl. 1994), and Abwab al-Madinah of 1993
(Gates of the City, Engl. 1993). In 1996 the novel The Kingdom of
Strangers was published, which shows the Lebanese capital as the scene of
warring historical and political powers, as the scene of the
Israeli-Lebanese war, which breaks apart at the seams of its various ethic
groups, languages, and religions during the civil war. The novel Bab
Al-Shams [Gate of the Sun] that was published in 1998 was translated into
Hebrew and received the Palestine Prize.

Elias Khoury also is the author of numerous theater pieces, which have
been performed... in Beirut, Cairo, Paris, and Vienna.  Elias Khoury lives
in New York and Beirut. -bio from Lettre Ulysses Award

Several years of research into Al-Nakba, the Catastrophe, which is the
mass expulsion of Palestinians from Palestine, spawned Khoury's work on
Door to the Sun. He examined Palestinian oral accounts of Palestinian
history, as well as Israeli chronicles of the Palestinian tragedy and the
creation of Israel. It included peoples' memoirs, such as Ben Gurion.
Also, Khoury spent five years in Palestinian refugee camps. -Ramallah
Online $5 general public


--------23 of 27--------

From: Alan Carlson <discern [at] visi.com>
From: 	Energy Action <info [at] energyaction.net>
Subject: Energy campaign 3.03-05 Madison WI

Regional Youth Energy and Climate Summits

Are you running a local energy campaign or do you want to learn how?
Join hundreds of youth from around the country to learn, teach and build
the movement together.  This year Energy Action members including: Climate
Campaign, Greenpeace, Global Exchange, Southern Alliance for Clean Energy,
Sierra Student Coalition, Student PIRGs and others are joining with the
Apollo Alliance and other ally organizations across the country to make
history by bringing over 1200 youth to these regional conferences!

We hope you can join us...

Midwest Student Energy Conference
University of Wisconsin, Madison
March 3-5
http://www.energyaction.net/midwest

Northeast Climate Conference
Yale University, New Haven CT
April 7-9
http://www.climatecampaign.org/

Southeast Student Renewable Energy Conference
University of Tennessee, Knoxville
April 7-9
http://energyconference.utk.edu


All events will feature:
 - Presentations from scientists, policy experts and youth leaders
 - Case studies on campus energy efficiency/renewable energy victories
 - The Campus Climate Challenge http://www.campusclimatechallenge.org
 - Networking opportunities with organizations and youth in your state and
    region
 - Trainings on all aspects of local, regional and national organizing
 - and plenty of fun and late night festivities

http://www.energyaction.net/summits


--------24 of 27--------

From: Wendy Wilde <wendywilde [at] gmail.com>
Subject: Wendy Wilde pod

Progressive DFL candidate Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer is challenging Congressman
Martin Sabo for his Fifth District Congressional seat.  What are the issue
that make Nelson-Pallmeyer different than Sabo, and why is he jumping into
the race just one month before the March 7 caucuses?  Wendy Wilde gets the
answers in a podcast interview with Nelson-Pallmeyer this week.  Listen on
your personal computer or on your ipod by going to
www.insideminnesotapolitics.com .

Plus commentary and discussion on political issues in the news by Wendy
Wilde and Producer Michael McIntee.
www.wendywilde.com


--------25 of 27--------

From: Lydia Howell <lhowell [at] visi.com>
Subject: March 18 YAWR antiwar lit

Hello Youth Against War & Racism supporters,

We have printed up thousands YAWR leaflets for the March 18th antiwar
protest (details below), and we have volunteers who can deliver a stack of
hundreds of these leaflets to your school or home. All you have to do is
send me an email to tytymo [at] gmail.com <mailto:tytymo [at] gmail.com> or call
612-760-1980, and we can make arrangements to get the leaflets in your
hand.

We have just over two weeks left to get the word out in our schools, so
don't wait. Get your leaflets this week and start passing them out to your
classmates, at lunch, etc. Check out the leaflet here: LEAFLET:
http://www.yawr.org/files/march18-2up.pdf
<http://www.yawr.org/files/march18-2up.pdf>

Ty

...on the third anniversary of the U.S. invasion of Iraq, join millions
worldwide...

ANTI-WAR PROTEST
BRING THE TROOPS HOME NOW!
Saturday, MARCH 18th

12:00 PM  Join the " Youth Bloc" called by YAWR
Protest the Military Recruitment station at Lake and Lyndale, Mpls
Followed by a youth march to join the main rally at...

1:00 PM MAIN RALLY and MARCH
Gather at Library Plaza near Hennepin and Lagoon, Mpls
followed by a march to the Basilica by Loring Park for an end rally.

...after the end rally, don't miss the...
3:30 PM  YOUTH MEETING to plan the student walkout on April 28th.
Loring Park Community Arts Center - 1382 Willow St. on east side of park
between 14th St. & Grant
http://www.minneapolisparks.org/default.asp?PageID=88&parkid=198
<http://www.minneapolisparks.org/default.asp?PageID=88&parkid=198>

DOWNLOAD fliers to copy and pass out in your school
POSTER: http://www.yawr.org/files/march18-8x11.pdf
<http://www.yawr.org/files/march18-8x11.pdf>
LEAFLET: http://www.yawr.org/files/march18-2up.pdf
<http://www.yawr.org/files/march18-2up.pdf>

ORGANIZERS
YOUTH AGAINST WAR AND RACISM is organizing the "Youth Bloc" at 12:00 PM,
which will march at 12:30 to join the main rally at 1:00 PM, which is
organized by a broad "March 18th Coalition" that brings together
numerous area antiwar groups.
Contact YAWR: www.yawr.org <http://www.yawr.org> / against.war [at] gmail.com
<mailto:against.war [at] gmail.com> / 612.760.1980


--------26 of 27--------

The Dollar the Euro and the Attack on Iran
How can the Dollar Collapse in Iran?
By Rudo de Ruijter

The Iranian Oil Bourse threatens the historic role of the US dollar as the
world's reserve currency.

In 2002, most journalists did not see what was behind the accusations that
Iraq had WMDs. Today, most people do not know what is behind the accusations
that Iran has plans for nuclear weapons.

Iran's threat is not nuclear, but far more dangerous to the US. If Iran can
open its upcoming euro-based Oil Bourse in Tehran on March 20th 2006, Iran
will threaten the US dollar.

                         Dollar Hegemony

Up to 1971, each US dollar represented a fixed amount of gold. During the
Vietnam War, the US had printed and spent more money than their gold
reserves allowed. President Nixon had to abandon the gold guarantee. Since
then the dollar value is determined by the law of offer and demand on the
exchange market.

Normally, the exchange rates between currencies reflect the health of their
countries' trade balances. Countries that export more than they import will
see their currency rise in value, and countries that buy more than they sell
will see the value of their currency decrease.

This is the case for all other currencies, but not for the US dollar. For 30
years the US has imported much more than it exported, and the trend is
worsening. Normally, this should make the currency fall in value, but the
dollar has not fallen. How is that possible?

The same year Nixon abandoned the gold standard, the Oil Producing and
Exporting Countries (OPEC) agreed they would only accept US dollars in
payment for their oil. This has a major advantage for the US: all other
countries would have to buy dollars first before they can obtain oil. This
creates a permanent demand for dollars.

Those foreign countries account for roughly 85 percent of the international
oil trade. This is the part of the oil trade that takes place outside the
US, between oil producing countries and foreign countries.

                    Foreign Oil Trade Dollar Cycle

Call it the foreign oil trade dollar cycle: dollars are bought on the
exchange market and spent in oil producing countries, which spend them in
countries around the world. Those countries offer their dollar surplus on
the exchange market and the cycle restarts.

Oil commerce always consumes more dollars. Global consumption increases,
which raises demand for the dollar and allows the US to increase its
production of dollars.

Since they are needed outside the US, they have to be made available abroad.
This is where it becomes very interesting. There is only one way to get the
new notes outside the US: spend them and do free shopping around the world.
(These notes have only cost the paper and the ink.)

Of course, this creates a debt, for the foreigners could use these notes
some day to buy goods, services, shares, buildings or land from the US. But
since they are now needed in the always-growing money cycle for the oil
trade, there is no need to worry about that.

This system works like a fairy credit card. Although the US has already much
too much debt, suppliers cannot refuse to deliver goods, because they need
the dollars for their oil purchases.

There are more sources of demand for dollars. Dollars disappear from the oil
trade cycle for use in international trade between countries abroad. They
form a huge amount of dollars that stays outside the US, only because of the
preference of traders to use this currency.

Nearly the whole world needs dollars, so they are accepted nearly
everywhere. Central banks, when they can, keep reserves in foreign money to
protect their own currency. To explain it simply: if ever the money market
would be glutted by their own currency, they could buy it back and offer the
foreign currency in exchange.

These foreign banks traditionaly choose to build up their stategic reserves
in the best accepted currency on the market: the US dollar.

                      Global Reserve Currency

For decades, the amount of dollars outside the US was generally growing.
Each additional dollar abroad has meant it had to leave the US, the US has
spent it abroad, and it has increased the US debt. Oceans of dollars are
outside the US today. However, when traders lose their preference for the
dollar, huge waves might overflow the exchange market and make the dollar
drop.

The US Treasury, the Federal Reserve, has an efficient way to pull dollar
surpluses away from the exchange market: it offers bonds with interest. It
is a good way to control the rate of the dollar. Pull more dollars from
the market to see the rate go up, and pull fewer dollars from the market
to see the rate go down.

These loans cost interest. To pay for the interest the Fed issues new
loans, which adds to the interest to be paid. As a spiral the annual
amounts have gone up and continue to increase. The national debt is
increasing explosively now, at over eight trillion dollars
($8,000,000,000,000). 45 percent is owed to foreign creditors. You have to
be very optimistic to believe that this debt will ever be paid back.

The only difficulty for the Fed is to find enough foreigners to buy their
bonds. Traditional buyers are growing more reluctant. Often these are
foreign banks and companies, which already have invested a lot in dollars.
They fear that if the dollar collapses, their investments will be
worthless too.

To keep the dollar miracle going, the buyers still continue to buy bonds.
If they are shortsighted, they will think they get interest. If they
observe better, they will notice they have to buy additional bonds first
and that the interest is paid with their own money.

Each year the US buys more goods than it sells. For the year 2004, the
shortage on US commercial balance was six hundred and fifty billion
dollars ($650,000,000,000), meaning that in average each US citizen
enjoyed $3,000 more imported products than he or she earned.

You can express it as "the average productivity is too low" or "the
government spends too much money". For instance, on the high military cost
to fulfil the neoconservative dream to rule the world. It will be an
empire on credit, based on a strategy to keep the demand for dollars
going, the dollar rate high enough, and Treasury Bonds attractive.

                              Iraq

Of course, Iraq's destiny had already been sealed in the
neo-conservatives' plans even before Bush Jr. entered the White House. In
their eyes it is natural that the US should dominate the Middle East.

The US is world's biggest oil consumer (25 percent of global oil
consumption) and most of world's oil reserves are in the Middle East:
Saudi Arabia (26 percent), Iraq (11.5 percent), Kuwait (10 percent) and
Iran (13 percent).

Iraq seemed already under control, as it had been paralysed since 1991 by
the embargo. The UN and US had inspected the country during many years
without finding anything suspicious. Sadam seemed already beaten.

However, he still had a trick. Since 1997, Iraq had been allowed to export
oil in the Oil For Food program. In 2000 Sadam asked the UN to convert the
account of the Oil For Food program from dollars into euros. The UN had no
legal base to refuse it and from November 2000 Iraq sold its oil in euros.

Graphic of Dollar rate versus euro from 1998 to 2006, made with data from
http://fx.sauder.ubc.ca/data.html

As a result, the oil trade dollars became superfluous and overflowed the
money exchange market. They were soon followed by 10 billion dollars from
the Iraqi reserve fund, and the dollar rate went down. Seeing the dollar
rate lowering, many operators in the rest of the world trade switched to
the euro too, which lead to new waves of dollar offers on the exchange
market and lowered the dollar rate further.

For the US it normally does not seem a big deal to absorb surpluses of
dollars by issuing Treasury Bonds, as long as there are enough foreigners
to buy them. Once the dollars are absorbed, offer and demand would be
stabilized again.

Nevertheless, Iraq's switch to the euro reduced the market share for the
permanent demand for dollars, and thus this reduced the upward force on
the dollar rate.

When the world oil price would rise again, there would not be any extra
dollar needed in the Iraqi oil trade. It would permanently limit America's
free shopping. Most painful, the US had no unlimited access to Iraqi oil
anymore. It had to buy euros to dispose of it.

In 2002 the fall of the dollar became more dramatic. The White House
spread lies about WMDs and prepared to invade Iraq. Unfortunately the
international community appeared to be reluctant. Meanwhile the dollar
continued falling.

In March 2003, the US overruled the Security Council and attacked Iraq. On
June 6, 2003 the Iraqi oil trade was switched back from euros to dollars.
[10]

                                 Iran

In spite of Iraq's switch back to dollars, the fall of the dollar merely
halted. In the spring of 2003 Iran had started to sell their oil in euros
too. (Iran had announced its intention already in 1999, but Sadam actually
switched to the euro in November 2000).

Iran's move to the euro is logical if you realize that Iran sells 30
percent of its oil production to Europe and the rest mainly to India and
China. The Iranian oil price was still labeled in US dollars, but
customers did not have to exchange their money into dollars anymore.

From August 2003, the euro continued its march upwards and the dollar
continued to go down. Again huge amounts of superfluous dollars from the
oil trade overflowed the exchange market and had to be mopped up by
issuing Treasury Bonds. However, this would not repair the needed
permanent demand level.

It was not feasible to Invade Iran and turn the oil trade back into
dollars, so a less popular method had to be used. The oil price should
rise. This pumps the dollars into the oil trade again. For each extra
dollar needed by the US, seven times more dollars are needed abroad (as 85
percent of the international oil trade takes place outside the US).

To make up for the loss of the Iranian trade the price increase had to be
substantial. US' military spending needed extra credit, and thus extra oil
price increases. The prayers of the treasury have been heard. Between July
2004 and September 2005, spot prices doubled. A few hurricanes helped US
citizens, and the rest of the world's oil consumers, accept the new
policy.

To see Iran in the euro-camp is not pleasant for the US. It creates a
growing demand for euros. On the contrary, the market share for the
permanent dollar demand becomes narrower and so does the acceptance of the
dollar in international commerce. Between July 2004 and July 2005 the part
of the dollar in world trade went down from 70 percent to 64 percent. A
little bit less than half of those 64 percent represents America's part in
world trade.

                       Oil bourse in euros

However, the biggest change has to come next month. On March 20, 2006, the
Iranians want to start an oil bourse in Teheran, with prices in euros.

This can have big effects on the exchange rate between dollars and euros.
If the oil price in euros gets lower than the oil price in dollars, there
will be a rush on euros. And if it the oil price in euros gets higher than
its price in dollars, there will be a rush on dollars.

So, basically Teheran gets an influence in the exchange rate of the
currencies, which means risks for both the US and Europe. Today Teheran is
pressured and threatened by both. Fluctuations in exchange rates might
also bother China's exports to the US.

The New York based NYMEX and London based IPE would lose a lot of their
power to set the world's oil prices. Normally, since Tehran's bourse has
to be attractive for oil producers and oil consumers, it would not be
logical to expect important differences in price with the dollar-based
markets.  Maybe just a bit lower, to build up a market share.

Each loss of market share of NYMEX and IPE is a big problem for the US,
since it determines world's permanent demand for dollars. But the problem
can also become much bigger. At the moment that other oil producing
countries switch to the euro, there will be new waves of superfluous
dollars on the exchange market, which take the dollar rate down.

For the US, mopping them up by issuing bonds will then hardly be possible,
since traditional buyers and central banks will prefer to convert, as
least partly, to the euro too.

Pumping the dollars back into the oil trade with rises in oil prices
worked fine in 2004. But from March 2006 this way out can easily be
blocked by stable prices in Teheran. If prices in euros ramain stable,
prices in dollars can hardly rise.

Prayers on the NYMEX and IPE market will be rather useless then. If the US
loses its means to get superfluous dollars from the exchange market, the
fall of the dollar would be a fact.

As by coincidence the Federal Reserve has decided that from March 23, 2006
they will not publish the M3 money aggregate anymore. To put it simply,
they will keep secret how many dollars are held in non-American banks.

                     When the dollar falls

There are a lot of speculations about what would happen when the dollar
falls. In my opinion it all depends on what will be left of the permanent
demand for dollars. As long as the dollar rate is not based purely on US
imports and exports, any scenario of changings will turn out to be
temporary. I do not say these changings would not hurt, but in the end the
US would still have its credit card and can continue to buy on tick.

Normally, when dollars become cheaper, American products and services
become cheaper for foreigners. Instead of buying bonds, foreigners would
increase their imports from the US. Simultaneously, foreign goods will
become more expensive for the US. But once again, the US will profit from
the oil trade.  Oil producers will not accept a lower value for their
barrels. If the dollar goes down 10 percent, their prices will "logically"
rise 10 percent. (In this case the price converted to euros would remain
the same.)

So this would mean that the permanent demand for dollars in the oil trade
rises with 10 percent again. At some point of the fall, the upward force
on the dollar rate will be back, the US treasury will mop up the dollar
overflow and the US can continue to buy on tick again.

Outside the US many central banks detain enormous reserves of dollars and
treasury bonds. These paper mountains would shrink in value. Many
industries detain dollar denominated capital. In most cases their value
will drop.

Many banks in the world hold dollar denominated assets. They will have
troubles in meeting the obligations to their clients. These difficulties
may lead to a cascade of bankrupts.

                     Sell Oil for Any Currency

The essence of the problem is the fact you need a special currency to buy
oil. As long as the world needs dollars to buy oil, the US makes abuse of
the situation and buys on tick from the rest of the world.

The euro contains the same risks. As long as there would be a motor for a
permanent demand for euros like, for instance, an euro denominated oil
bourse in Tehran, the eurozone could make debts and let it increase
indefinitely.

To avoid such debts, the eurozone would have to export the equivalent of
all euros needed outside its borders and keep the same amount in foreign
currencies in their central bank. Why would they? The credit trick worked
fine for the US during more than 30 years!

When oil producing countries would sell oil in two or three different
currencies, this simply means that the three involved countries can do the
same trick as the US does now. In the long run it would multiply the
problem by three.

The only solution for this problem would be that oil selling countries
accept all currencies on the market. Tehran has already taken into
consideration to accept more than one currency and not just the euro. Step
by step.

For the outside world the diplomatic joust is about nukes, which seems
more exciting. However, since 9/11 the whole world knows that rather
inexpensive terrorist solutions are much more effective to do harm and
that even a big arsenal of nukes does not offer any protection. We are
asked to believe Iran did not notice that and still wants such old
fashioned nukes.

Aditional Reading
William R. Clark, Petrodollar Warfare: Dollars, Euros and the Upcoming
Iranian Oil Bourse, Media Monitors Network, August 5, 2005

Toni Straka, Killing the dollar in Iran, Asia Times, August 26, 2005

America's Foreign Owners , The Trumpet, Thursday, September 22, 2005

Krassimir Petrov, Ph. D., The Proposed Iranian Oil Bourse, 321 Gold, January
17, 2006

Martin Walker, Iran's really big weapon, United Press International, January
19, 2006

Webster Tarpley, Behind the Mad Rush to Bomb Iran, Pressbox, Jan 25 2006

What Really Happened: Iran

Petroeuro, From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Cóilín Nunan, Trading oil in euros - does it matter?, Energy Bulletin,
January 30, 2006

homepage: homepage: http://www.raisethehammer.org/index.asp?id=252


--------27 of 27--------

 No Way Not US

 However many bad things
 they say we do
 we're good.

 We have only good intentions
 just once in a while
 (hardly ever) we're misled
 or
 just not smart enuf so far
 but
 we will be
 one of these days
 just you watch
 we will be.

 If it's bad
 either
 they did it
 or
 it didn't really happen
 'cause
 we couldn't do anything
 that evil
 and besides
 someone tricked us
 we didn't mean to do it
 we're not to blame
 they are
 those tricksters
 they're
 the bad ones
 so
 don't hang us
 OK?

 However many
 third worlds we overthrow
 democracies we undermine
 dictators we install
 tyrannies we support
 millions we kill
 thousands we torture
 we're good
 never forget that.

 Or else.


------------------------------------------------------------------------------

   - David Shove             shove001 [at] tc.umn.edu
   rhymes with clove         Progressive Calendar
                     over 2225 subscribers as of 12.19.02
              please send all messages in plain text no attachments