Mn-prog-events Mailing List: Progressive Calendar 05.18.06

[David Shove (shove001]

            P R O G R E S S I V E   C A L E N D A R     05.18.06

1. Stadium home demo  5.18 7pm

2. Save LulasJazzCafe 5.19-21 8am
3. Autism/Asperger    5.19 8:30am Duluth MN
4. Immigration        5.19 12noon
5. Counter recruit    5.19 12noon
6. Schultz/AM950      5.19 5pm
7. PEACE/Northside    5.19 7pm
8. BoysBand/GLBT      5.19 7:30pm
9. AmInd/concert      5.19 8pm
10. Biomed tech risks 5.19 time?

11. Free nature event 5.20 7:30am
12. NOW conference    5.20 8:30am
13. Haiti justice     5.20 9am
14. Choice            5.20 9am
15. Iran              5.20 9:30am
16. Protest McGuire   5.20 10am
17. Peace first       5.20 1:30pm
18. Labor hist tour   5.20 2pm
19. YAWR/metro-wide   5.20 3pm
20. US torture/play   5.20 7pm
21. Wind/v mercury    5.20
22. Art-a-whirl       5.20-22

23. Matthew Rothschild - Pelosi capitulates on impeachment
24. Bill Van Auken - Pentagon prepares "use of force" on Mexican border
25. ed             - Fuehrer Bush (poem)
26. ed             - Retractable promises (poem)

--------1 of 26--------

Date: Thu, 18 May 2006 07:27:19 -0500
From: Dave Bicking <dave [at] colorstudy.com>
Subject: Stadium home demo 5.18 7pm

Dear friends and fellow activists,

Tonight we will continue our protests, following up successful
demonstrations the last two nights in front of the homes of key
legislators Margaret Anderson Kelliher and Steve Kelley.  We will start at
Kelley's house again tonight, due to his key role and the visibility of
the location.  We will later move together for a brief picket in front of
the home of Rep. Barb Sykora of Excelsior.  Full announcement below.

It's time to get out and protest!  We really need you all, and you can
make a difference!  This is a most critical time in the stadium
negotiations, and we are targeting the people with the most power to
influence State action.  (A little more comment on where the process
stands is at the end of this email.)  I hope you have kept tonight free
based on my recent emails announcing the last two nights' actions.

Last night's demonstration was very visible and very well received by
passers-by.  We gathered at 7pm with our signs for an informational picket
along the very busy street in front of Kelley's house.  We passed out
nearly 100 flyers to homes in the general area.  The protest was
mentioned, along with a picture and a short quote, in the StarTribune's
lead article on the stadium negotiations. (Online at:
http://www.startribune.com/587/story/438814.html ).  It is probably safe
to say that no popular opposition to the stadiums would have made it into
that article if we had not done this last night.

[I should mention that the caption with that picture is inaccurate - it
comes from the StarTribune, not from what we said.  This is not officially
sponsored by the Green Party itself.  Also, though the call was initiated
by Mpls Green Uprising, the caption fails to acknowledge that we do not
represent all of the demonstrators - much credit should go to other
dedicated stadium opponents who have helped make this possible.]

I understand that demonstrating in front of someone's home may seem
extreme - or scary - to some.  I have never done that before.  But it is
certainly not unprecedented, and it reflects the urgency of the situation
- and the way public opinion has been so blatantly ignored.  It has gone
very well without incident the last two nights.  Please come join us
tonight!!

The full announcement:
---
NO STADIUM TAX WITHOUT A REFERENDUM!

We can still stop this plan!

We continue to protest in front of the homes of a few key members of the
State Legislature Conference Committee.  These have been peaceful, legal
expressions of our opposition to their support of a new tax to subsidize
corporate greed.

Thursday Night, May 18, 7PM (but please come and join some of us as early
as 5:30PM if you can) - Senator Steve Kelley (DFL)  District 44.  At home
address: 121 Blake Road S., Hopkins 55343.  We plan to leave there around
7:45PM and go as a group to the home of Barb Sykora (R) District 33B.  At
home address:  4835 Highcrest Drive, Excelsior 55331.

Steve Kelley is the chief author of the stadium bill in the State Senate.
He introduced and supported the original House version of the bill, back
when it included only the Twins stadium, with a Hennepin County sales tax
and no referendum.  Under his leadership, this morphed into a monstrosity
including both Twins and Vikings stadiums, plus transit, all supported by
a 1/2% sales tax in the entire 7 county metro region.

That version, which was passed and sent on to the conference committee,
does include a referendum.  But before the conference committee even met,
Kelley said that he was not personally committed to requiring a citizen
referendum, even though his bill called for doing so. "I can support a
bill that does not have a referendum," he said.  That certainly undermines
any chance for him to be a tough negotiator for our right to a referendum!

Senator Steve Kelley is the co-chair of the powerful Conference Committee
that is negotiating critical differences between the Senate and House
bills.  Contact his office at 651-297-8065.  He can be emailed only
through the email form on his Senate website:
http://www.senate.leg.state.mn.us/members/member_emailform.ph
p?district=44

Representative Sykora voted FOR the House version of the Twins stadium
bill, which would impose a .15% Hennepin County sales tax without any
referendum.  She voted AGAINST an amendment that would have required a
referendum.  She is also on the Conference Committee.  Contact her office
at 651-296-4315 or email:  rep.barb.sykora [at] house.mn

They have listened to the begging of billionaire team owners; we will
gently remind them how much debt they are giving us and future
generations.  Similar demonstrations will continue as long as the
Conference Committee continues its work, and as long as they continue to
deny us a referendum.

Sponsored by Minneapolis Green Uprising and friends.  For more
information, contact 612-276-1213 or dave [at] colorstudy.com

(directions to 121 Blake Road S., Hopkins:  Go west on Excelsior Blvd,
turn left on Blake Road, about 2 miles west of Hwy 100.  Kelley's house is
about a block south of Excelsior Blvd, directly across the street from the
entrance to Blake School.  We will go as a group to 4835 Highcrest Drive,
Excelsior.  Go west on Hwy 7, 4 miles past I-494, turn right on Vine Hill
Road, left on Rosedale Ave., and right on Highcrest Drive.)

We have had successful demonstrations the last two nights in front of the
homes of Rep. Margaret Anderson Kelliher and Sen. Steve Kelley.  At this
critical time for the stadium bills, let's have a really large turnout
tonight!

---
Now, just a bit of an update on the state of the negotiations in the
Conference Committee.  They met last night until very late, so I could not
be there.  They are not meeting this morning, so they will reconvene after
the full House and Senate sessions adjourn - probably in the evening
again.  I understand that the Vikings stadium proposal is nearly dead -
agreement could not be reached on state funds for a subsidy.  However, as
long-time stadium opponents, we know that stadiums are capable of multiple
miraculous reincarnations!

I understand that the referendum provision that was contained in the
Senate bill has been dumped - no surprise there!  The Twins stadium
construction would require only the approval of the Hennepin County board.
The tax for transit is now cut in half to 1/4%, metro-wide.  However, that
would have to be approved by all seven county boards in the metro area.
That is almost certain to kill that (intentionally, I would guess).
Transit supporters have been badly used and abused as pawns in this game.

Everything could still change.  It appears the deal has been done.  But
these kinds of deals are very shaky and can fall apart easily.  If several
legislators, or even one key legislator, get cold feet due to public
opposition, it could still all fall apart.  That's where we come in - what
we are doing is important.  Please join us tonight!  A large presence can
make a difference - we have already been noticed.  This is too important
to give up now.

Dave Bicking H:  612-276-1213 W:  612-729-8580


--------2 of 26--------

From: Lydia Howell <lhowell [at] visi.com>
Subject: Save Lula's Jazz Cafe 5.19-21 8am

Please spread the word about Lula's fundraiser this weekend. This a really
great all-ages community jazz space and coffee shop (they also have a
separate community meeting room).

Excerpt from a previous StarTribune article:
Lula's, which hosts live jazz groups weekend evenings, also is adorned
with jazz-related art, literature and classic instruments, as well as 22
tables Booker made himself, complete with local-artist renderings of jazz
musicians on the tops.

FYI - Rosalind Lewis (who owned Francine's before Lula's) still cooks
delicious soups, breads and cakes for Lula's. There will be chicken and
steak dinners available for this fundraiser.

Fri, May 19th 8am-8pm
Sat, May 20th 8am-8pm
Sun, May 21st 2pm-8pm

Lula's Coffee & Jazz Fundraiser
3400 Nicollet Avenue South (across from the YMCA)
Minneapolis, MN 55408
612-221-6284

Wish you all the best,
Karen Lyu 612-327-0050 www.globaljazz.net www.westbankmusic.org

--
Subject: Fundraiser to save Lula's
Date: Wed, 17 May 2006 08:44:54 -0700 (PDT)

As you may or may not know, Lula's Coffee & Jazz has been temporarily
closed due to financial difficulties. As a stand against this, we have
planned a fundraiser this weekend beginning at 8 am on Friday, May 19th,
in an effort to raise funds and save the business. Lula's singers/bands
will be performing and Lula's Catering will be selling chicken and steak
dinners... and much, much more! Come on out to celebrate and support the
fight along with us.

Let's keep the rich heritage of jazz in the community.

The doors will be open from 8 am - 8 pm Friday and Saturday, and 2 pm - 8
pm Sunday. We truly hope to see you there. If you'd like to help out with
the fundraiser in any way, please contact David at 612-221-6284 or Leslie
at 763-232-5000. All efforts are appreciated.

Yours, David Booker and Leslie Jamila

--------3 of 26--------

From: humanrts [at] umn.edu
Subject: Autism/Asperger 5.19 8:30am Duluth MN

May 19 - High Functioning Autism and Asperger s Syndrome: Differential
Assessment, Implications for Management and Treatment. Time: Registration
8:30am  Program 9am-Noon.

Presenter: Sheila Merzer, M.A., LP

About the Program: On the higher end of what is currently known as the
Autism Spectrum is an ever-growing number of children, adolescents, and
adults who present with an uneven developmental profile. They may have
well developed, even gifted abilities in some areas, but struggle with
social judgment and social reasoning, information processing, and
modulation of both affect and behavior. When misdiagnosed and/or
misunderstood, these individuals are at risk for severe behavior,
significant depression, self-isolation, and highly restricted lives.

When provided with interventions that are sensitive to their unique
processing style and given support to learn to advocate for themselves,
many of these individuals can be highly successful at home, at school and
in the community.

The focus of this presentation is on differentiating High Functioning
Autism (HFA) and Asperger s Syndrome from other developmental and
behavioral disorders, on understanding the unique processing and rea!
soning style of this population of individuals and on designing
appropriate and effective management and treatment strategies. This
program has been approved for three continuing education hours by the
Minnesota Board of Psychology.

For more information and to register, visit:
http://www.mnpsych.org/displaycommon.cfm?an=1&subarticlenbr=40
Location: St. Luke s Hospital, 915 East First Street, Duluth, MN
55805


--------4 of 26--------

From: Charles Underwood <charleyunderwood [at] hotmail.com>
Subject: Immigration 5.19 12noon

Friday, 5/19, noon to 1:15, Immigration in America: the Intersection of
Faith and Immigration, with rabbis/pastors/imams/lawyers, Fredrickson
&Byron, P.A., US Bank Plaza, 200 S 6th St, suite 4000, Mpls.

[They are also trying to send Bush back where he came from, but there are
as yet no regularly scheduled flights to that planet. -ed]


--------5 of 26--------

From: sarah standefer <scsrn [at] yahoo.com>
Subject: Counter recruit 5.19 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


--------6 of 26--------

From: David Schultz <dschultz [at] gw.hamline.edu>
Subject: Schultz/AM950 5.19 5pm

Fridays from 5-6pm, David Schultz hosts "Minnesota Matters," on Air
America Minnesota radio, 950 AM. Progressive discussion, interviews, and
call in.

David Schultz, Professor Hamline University Graduate School of Management
MS-A1740 1536 Hewitt Avenue St. Paul, Minnesota 55104 651.523.2858 (voice)
651.523.3098 (fax) http://davidschultz.efoliomn2.com


--------7 of 26--------

From: Nonviolent Peaceforce <MelDuncan [at] NonviolentPeaceforce.org>
Subject: PEACE/Northside 5.19 7pm

Nonviolent Peaceforce invites you to PEACE Across the Northside

Join us and North side residents, churches and other organizations by
standing together, side by side holding hands across the Northside. We'll
make a collective statement that peace will prevail over violence in the
city.  Bring friends and participate in a nonviolent action and build
community.  Let our council people know how important this is. RSVP to
tkurth [at] NonviolentPeaceforce.org.

Friday, May 19 7-9pm

Where: Nonviolent Peaceforce friends are assigned the block between Girard
and Fremont Ave on 26th Avenue North.
http://maps.google.com/?q=Girard+Ave+N+at+26th+Ave+N,+Minneapolis,+MN

Arrival Please arrive by 7pm.

You may see road closed ahead signs on each block crossing 25th Ave to
alert people driving through that they cannot cross 26th Ave. Drive past
the sign and park on the block directly between 25th Ave and 26th Avenue.

Please carpool as you are able. (meet at 425 Oak Grove Minneapolis behind
St Marks Cathedral at 6:30 for carpooling)
http://google.com/maps?q=425+Oak+Grove+Street,+Minneapolis,+MN

When you arrive at your block, you will find clearly identified Block
Coordinators You will sign in and receive a memento and a chain link.
During the first ˝ hour, you may do the following:
 · Door knock on adjacent blocks to invite neighbors to participate.
 · Pick up garbage in the near vicinity.
 · Introduce yourself to others participating on your block.
 · Participate in "street activities" that you bring, such as
   sidewalk chalk, Frisbees, ball toss etc. We encourage everyone
   participating to bring a banner or sign. This could include
   a message of hope to neighbors.
 · Enjoy drill teams, stilt walker, and other entertainment.

By 7:30pm, you will line up to form the human chain along 26th Avenue.

At 8pm, we will gather at the stage where there will be more entertainment
and announcements, an interactive photo exhibit as part of the PEACE Games
called Portraits of PEACE (come and get your photo taken), and other event
activities.

The event will happen RAIN OR SHINE.

Nonviolent Peaceforce Rue Van Elewyck 35, 1050 Bruxelles, Belgium,
+49-40-655-90-940 425 Oak Grove St, Minneapolis, MN 55403, USA,
+1-612-871-0005 http://NonviolentPeaceforce.org


--------8 of 26--------

From: Lydia Howell <lhowell [at] visi.com>
Subject: BoysBand/GLBT 5.19 7:30pm

The Boys In The Band
By: Mart Crowley
Directed by: K. Jason Bryan

This groundbreaking, searing comedy-drama's place in our season seems
especially timely in these days of social and legislative turmoil
regarding gay marriage.  It is arguably the most significant gay play
ever written.

Featuring the talents of: Nickolaus Early, Andrew Fafoutakis, William
Grier, Michael Jurenek, Mark Mattison, Derek Miller, Scot Moore, Clarence
Wethern, and Matthew Vire

Set Design by Michael Hoover, Lighting Design by Mark Webb, Sound Design
by David Schliep, Properties by Greg Johnson, and Costume Design by Kat
Pepmiller

May 19 thru June 10, 2006
Thursdays - Saturdays at 7:30pm, Sunday Matinees at 2:00pm
Industry Night Monday, January 23. Pay What You Can Performance
ASL/Audio Described performance on June 4

All Performances are at The Mounds Theatre

1029 Hudson Road, in the Dayton's Bluff neighborhood just east of downtown
St. Paul.  Wheelchair accessible.
Tickets are $18 general, and $16 for students and seniors.
For reservations and information call (651) 645-3503.
You may purchase tickets online or see the press photos at
http://www.startinggate.org
Don't forget about the opening night PARTY immediately following the show!


--------9 of 26--------

From: Sue Ann <mart1408 [at] umn.edu>
Subject: AmInd/concert 5.19 8pm

Celebrate American Indian Month with the Mendota Mdewakanton Community!!

For those of you who missed Mitch's powerful performance with David
Rovics:

Mitch Walking Elk Concert
Friday, May 19   8- 11 pm
$12 recommended donation
MMDC Center 1351 Sibley Memorial Highway, Mendota MN

For specific directions or more information call 651-452-4141
Tuesday - Saturday

From Minneapolis, across the Mendota Bridge off Highway 13.

Oklahoma born and raised Mitch Walking Elk is a singer-songwriter,
musician, recording artist, political and environmental activist and
cultural educator. Mitch came on the music scene in the mid-80's with the
release of his first recording, Dreamer. Since then he has produced four
additional recordings. Recordings number two,(Indians), three (Ain't No
Simple Thing) and four (Peace With Dignity) are songs of protest and
social commentary dealing with issues of the environment, war and
Indigenous Peoples struggles. Mitch has performed throughout the United
States, toured Europe eleven times and performed in Canada, Mexico City,
Japan and Colombia South America.

His strengths are his powerful vocal abilities in which he moves easily
between high and low ranges from baritone to falsetto and his song writing
skills of powerful thought provoking lyrics. His music is a kaleidoscopic
blend of folk, rock, soft rock,country and blues influences. His most
recent recording, Time For A Woman, a blues recording, gives testament to
the fact that his music spans a broad range of genres and definitely
challenges the "folk singer" label he has acquired over the years.

Of music Mitch says that "it is the accepted avenue of expressing every
aspect of the human emotion. But ultimately, it is the catalyst for the
expression of the soul."


--------10 of 26--------

From: Consortium <lawvalue [at] umn.edu>
Subject: Biomed tech risks 5.19 time?

The Risks Posed by New Biomedical Technologies:
How Do We Analyze, Communicate and Regulate Risk?

a full-day conference sponsored by the University of Minnesota in
partnership with Consortium on Law and Values in Health, Environment & the
Life Sciences Joint Degree Program in Law, Health & the Life Sciences

Friday, May 19. Mondale Hall Room 25 . University of Minnesota Law School

Featured Speakers:
* Prof. Neil D. Weinstein, PhD--Rutgers University
* Philip Noguchi, MD--Amgen
* Prof. George J. Annas, JD, MPH--Boston University
* Arthur Levin, JD--Arnold & Porter, LLP
* Prof. Mauro Ferrari, PhD--Ohio State University
* Prof. Eric T. Juengst, PhD--Case Western Reserve University
* Prof. R. Alta Charo, JD--University of Wisconsin
* Prof. Edward R.B. McCabe, MD, PhD--UCLA

Featured Topics:
* How Do We Understand and Perceive Risk?
* Gene Therapy Research--Attempting Maximal Prevention
* Benefit Beyond Measure: Do Risks Matter in Assisted Reproductive
Technologies?
* Drugs, Vaccines, and Devices--Public Health, Private Industry, and the
Limits of Regulation
* Biomedical Nanotechnology--Identifying Risks
* Human Enhancement Technologies--Addressing Physical and Societal Risk
* Stem Cell Interventions & Regenerative Medicine--Risk and Politics
* Genomic Medicine--A Future Flooded with Risk Information

For more information about registration, continuing education credits,
agenda and speakers, please visit our conference website:
http://www.lifesci.consortium.umn.edu/conferences/risks.php

Or contact the Consortium office at: Email: lawvalue [at] umn.edu Telephone:
612-625-0055

The University of Minnesota designates this continuing medical education
activity for a maximum of 6.5 category 1 credits toward the AMA
Physician's Recognition Award.  Each physician should claim only those
credits that he/she actually spent in the educational activity.  This
activity offers 7.80 contact hours of continuing education and is designed
to meet the MN Board of Nursing criteria for mandatory continuing
education for licensure renewal.  Continuing legal education credit (CLE)
for attorneys will be requested (7 hours).

It is the policy of the University of Minnesota's Office of Continuing
Medical Education to ensure balance, independence, objectivity and
scientific rigor in all of its sponsored educational activities. All
participating faculty, course directors, and planning committee members
are required to disclose to the program audience any financial
relationships related to the subject matter of this program. Disclosure
information is reviewed in advance in order to manage and resolve any
possible conflicts of interest.

This conference is intended for students, faculty, researchers,
scientists, policymakers, patients, health care professionals and
organizations, and interested community members.  Following this
conference, participants should be able to:

* Explain the process by which people perceive and analyze risk.

* Identify the risks associated with developing biomedical nanotechnology.

* Describe the risks associated with gene therapy research, human
enhancement technology, and reproductive technology.

* Analyze the strengths and limits of regulation directed at new drugs and
biomedical devices.

* Suggest policy approaches to dealing with risks associated with stem
cell and regenerative medicine.

* Determine risks that may be posed by genomic medicine in the future.


--------11 of 26--------

From: Diane J. Peterson <birch7 [at] comcast.net>
Subject: Free nature event 5.20 7:30am

Saturday, May 20, from 7:30am to 8:30pm.

Wild River State Park Celebrates Spring With Free Admission, Native Plant
Sale, Prairie Seed Sowing, Storytelling, Bluegrass Music, and more

Come to Wild River State Park on Saturday, May 20, and you'll get in free.
The park's annual Open House Day coincides this year with its 23rd annual
spring special event, Seegwan.  You can help plant a prairie, see a live
specimen of Minnesota's largest species of snake, listen to a master
storyteller and a bluegrass band, go on a bird hike, take out your
frustrations by yanking European buckthorn out by the roots, and much more.
Seegwan provides a full day of family fun and hands-on learning about
preserving and restoring some of Minnesota's rarest landscapes: prairie and
oak savanna.  You'll also be able to buy native plants to take home to make
your own yard more beautiful and attractive to butterflies and birds.  Your
purchase will help support Friends of Wild River State Park, the
organization which sponsors Seegwan and the park's annual Candlelight Ski
and special summer guest presentations.

The park's 23rd annual Seegwan, A Celebration Of Spring, will take place on
Saturday, May 20, from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.  Programs will begin at
various locations in the park, as listed below.  All programs are free and
open to the public.  Because May 20 is Wild River's annual Open House Day,
there is no fee to enter the park.  You may still purchase Minnesota State
Park vehicle permits at Wild River State Park's office if you wish.  An
annual permit good for 12 months at any Minnesota State Park costs $25.00.

This year's Seegwan features storyteller Robert Gasch III back-to-back with
Pocahontas County Bluegrass as a wrap-up for the day's activities.  Gasch
will tell stories of the pioneer farming days, when tallgrass prairie and
oak savanna made way for potatoes and cows.  Pocahontas County Bluegrass
will get your feet tapping and hands clapping with their lively music.
These evening programs begin at 6:30 p.m. at the park's campground
amphitheater.  They will be relocated indoors to the visitor center if the
weather is poor.

The annual bird hike begins at 7:30 a.m. at the river access parking lot by
the park's main boat landing.  Dayle DeClercq of the Wild River Audubon
Chapter will lead the hike.  If you have binoculars, bring them.  Expect to
see a variety of spring arrivals from further south.

Interested in starting a butterfly garden or using native wildflowers in
your yard?  The Friends of Wild River State Park will have a native plant
sale from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the park's trail center as a fundraiser to
support educational/naturalist programs.  A variety of plants will be
available, and you'll be able to pick up free handouts on landscaping with
native plants and restoring native prairie.  Winning photos from the Friends
of Wild River wildflower photography contest will be on display as well, and
you'll be able to pick up a copy of the rules for the 2006-2007 contest.
Grand prize is $100, and the best wildflower photo by a child (age 12 or
under) will win $50, and there will be first-place awards of $25 in several
categories.

While you're at the trail center, you can also get involved in a matching
exercise to improve your skill at recognizing native prairie plants and do a
simple study comparing a prairie restoration with a site where nature has
been allowed to take its own course.  Kids earn an award for completing the
study.

If you like snakes or want to know more about them, take in the "BIG Snakes"
talk at the trail center at 11 a.m.  Park Naturalist Dave Crawford will
share some tips on the snakes found in this area, and bring along a live
bull snake (almost six feet long) for you to look at up close and touch - if
you dare.

After lunch, two opportunities for hands-on learning and helping restore the
park's rarest habitats - prairie and oak savanna - will begin at the trail
center.  At 1 p.m. you can test your strength by helping pull European
buckthorn that's taking over a former oak savanna, and try your hand at
thinning out aspen trees that are crowding out oaks and wildflowers.

"Help Bring Back a Prairie" beginning at 2:30 p.m. at the trail center, lets
YOU get to be one of the people who are replanting the prairie landscape
that used to occupy a large part of the park over a century ago.  You'll get
to help plant a part of the almost 50,000 dollars worth of seed collected in
the park by volunteers last year.  Every acre of prairie restored helps
bring back more wildflowers and butterflies, as well as more meadowlarks,
bobolinks, and other birds that are becoming increasingly rare in Minnesota.

Wild River State Park is located on the St. Croix River near Almelund,
Minnesota, off of Minnesota Highway 95.  For more information about Seegwan
or any of the park's interpretive naturalist programs, call (651) 583-2925.
For information about camping, lodging, or other facilities, call (651)
583-2125.

Contact person: Dave Crawford, Park Naturalist
Wild River State Park
39797 Park Trail
Center City, MN 55012
(651) 583-2925 (McElroy Visitor Center)
    dave.crawford [at] dnr.state.mn.us
http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/wild_river/index.html


--------12 of 26--------

From: erin [at] mnwomen.org
Subject: NOW conference 5.20 8:30am

Saturday, May 20: Minnesota NOW Annual State Conference: Raise Your Voice
NOW For Equality. 8:30am-3:30pm. Keynote Speaker: Farheen Hakeem. Assn of
MN Counties Building, 125 Charles Avenue, St. Paul. Info: 651/222-1605.


--------13 of 26--------

From: Rebecca Cramer <biego001 [at] umn.edu>
Subject: Haiti justice 5.20 9am

The Haiti Justice Committee meets monthly, at 9am on the third Saturday,
at the Resource Center of the Americas (27th Ave. S. and E. Lake St.), in
the Victor Jara room. Please join us this Sat. to discuss the current
political crisis in Haiti. Join our committee, learn the facts and be a
part of the growing international outrage against the murderous political
repression occurring in Haiti since the ouster, in Feb. 2004, of the
democratically-elected President of Haiti, Jean-Bertrand Aristide.  
Rebecca Cramer


--------14 of 26--------

From: erin [at] mnwomen.org
Subject: Choice 5.20 9am

May 20: Midwest Health Center for Women "Motherhood by Choice, Not Chance"
1st Annual Breakfast Celebration. 9-10:30 AM with featured speaker Haddayr
Copley-Woods, MN Women's Press Columnist. The Woman's Club of Minneapolis,
410 Oak Grove Street. 612/332-2311.


--------15 of 26--------

From: wamm <wamm [at] mtn.org>
Subject: Iran 5.20 9:30am

Report from Iran: Jay Shahidi

May 20, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Ridgedale Library, 12601 Ridgedale Drive,
Minnetonka. Hear Jay Shahidi, current president of the Iranian-American
Society of Minnesota and long-time peace, justice and environmental
activist, speak on Iran. Jay has returned to his native land twice in
recent months and he will share the thoughts and fears of the Iranian
people. All are welcome. Sponsored by: Middle East Peace Now (MEPN). FFI:
Call Florence Steichen at 651-696-1642


--------16 of 26--------

From: Lydia Howell <lhowell [at] visi.com>
Subject: Protest McGuire 5.20 10am

FREE HEALTH CARE FOR ALL NOT BILLIONS FOR C.E.O. LIKE MCGUIRE
CAP ALL C.E.O. INCOME !
BILL McGUIRE: Give your $1.6 billion windfall to the uninsured!
FREE UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE ! END CORPORATE THEFT !

PROTEST United HEAJ CEP BILL McGUIRE ! this weekend, Saturday, May 20th,
10AM, when Bill 'ionaire" (McGreed)  Mcguire will be delivering another
commencement speech, this time at St.  Thomas.

Here is the basic info: We can coordinate this one on the list
serve,
     joel
     Graduate:
     Saturday, May 20
     10 a.m. - Schoenecker Arena, St. Paul Campus

cludes the following schools and colleges - graduate programs: Graduate
School of Professional Psychology, School of Divinity, School of
Education, College of Arts and Sciences, and School of Engineering. The
School of Social Work MSW program candidates will participate at the
College of St. Catherine Commencement ceremony as they have a joint
program with the College of St. Catherine.

McGuire will be awarded an honorary doctor of laws degree and speak at
graduate commencement exercises. Also honored at the ceremonies will be
retired Madison, Wis., Bishop William Bullock, who will receive an
honorary doctor of humane letters degree. The graduate ceremonies begin at
10 a.m. Saturday, May 20, in O'Shaughnessy Stadium (rain site:
Schoenecker Arena). Some 900 graduate students are expected to receive
master's, education specialist and doctoral degrees

St. Thomas Commencement Alumni and Constituent Relations Kathy Schwartz
(651) 962-6969 kmschwartz1 [at] stthomas.edu

Liz Pojar (651) 962-6437 ekpojar [at] stthomas.edu


--------17 of 26--------

From: Charles Underwood <charleyunderwood [at] hotmail.com>
Subject: Peace first 5.20 1:30pm

Saturday, 5/20, 1:30 to 3:30pm,  Peace First! strategy meeting and
training, St Louis Park Recreation Center, 3700 Monterey, St Louis Park.
www.peaceintheprecincts.org


--------18 of 26--------

From: Carol Walsh <bycarolwalsh [at] hotmail.com>
Subject: Labor history tour 5.20 2pm

On Saturday, May 20, Untold Stories will feature the Crex Carpet Co. Tour.
Paul Nelson and Dave Riehle lead a free North End bus and walking tour
that focuses on the company and neighborhood that employed 900 people
making carpeting and wicker furniture from locally harvested wire grass.

Pre-registration is recommended; call 651-222-3242. The bus leaves from
the Rice Street Branch Library, 1011 Rice St., at 2pm.


--------19 of 26--------

From: Charles Underwood <charleyunderwood [at] hotmail.com>
Subject: YAWR/metro-wide 5.20 3pm

Saturday, 5/20, 3 pm, metro-wide meeting of Youth Against War and Racism (1
pm open discussion before meeting to discuss strategy and tactics) to plan
next steps into the summer, Resource Center of the Americas, 3019 Minnehaha,
Mpls.  against.war [at] gmail.com


--------20 of 26--------

From: Charles Underwood <charleyunderwood [at] hotmail.com>
Subject: US torture/play 5.20 7pm

5/20 to 5/22, 7 pm, play "When Reason Sleeps" about U.S. policy and the
implications of torture, $5 - 15, Bryant Lake Bowl, 810 W Lake, Mpls.  Vets
for Peace chapter 27, 612-821-9141 or www.bryantlakebowl.com


--------21 of 26--------

From: Cesia Kearns <cesia.kearns [at] sierraclub.org>
Subject: Wind/v mercury 5.20

Join us for the Walk for Wind and March Against Mercury

Starting this weekend, we're taking the steps - utilities and
decision-makers should, too!

Walk for Wind is a fun series of outdoor weekend walks to build awareness
about the many benefits of renewable energy, curbing climate change, and
the dangers posed by coal plants like the proposed Big Stone II expansion.
During May and June weekends, we will be walking past wind farms, towns,
lakes and prairies.  Each step and campout is a sign of our support for a
cleaner, healthier, energy future.  Join us for a couple of hours or a
couple of days in Morris, White Earth, Pipestone or other points west.
Hear local folks share their ideas and vision for a renewable energy
future.

If you would like to sign up to walk for wind, contact Cesia Kearns at
cesia.kearns [at] sierraclub.org or 612-659-9124.  For more information on
where we will be walking and when check out
http://northstar.sierraclub.org/campaigns/air/2006/walkForWind.html


--------22 of 26--------

From: Jennifer <jennifer_nemo [at] yahoo.com>
Subject: Art-a-whirl 5.20-22

ART A WHIRL May 20-22 Northeast Minneapolis Arts Association (NEMAA), a
non-profit arts agency, sponsors the annual Art-A-Whirl event in Northeast
Minneapolis.

Local politicians officiate at the opening ceremony. The bulk of the 3-day
weekend May event consists of open-studio and gallery tours highlighting
the work of local potters, tile makers, painters, sculptors, musicians,
photographers, glass blowers, printmakers, and textile designers.  More
than 300 artists participate in AAW, who will showcase their art in
warehouses, homes, storefronts and cafes. If you are interested in
volunteering send an email to office [at] nemaa.org or call 612.788.1679.


--------23 of 26--------

Pelosi Capitulates on Impeachment
by Matthew Rothschild, editor The Progressive Magazine
Published on Tuesday, May 16, 2006 by the Progressive
CommonDreams.org
http://www.commondreams.org/views06/0516-32.htm

For all you partisan Democrats, obsessed with tactics, who say we should
hold off on talk of impeachment until after November, try this one on for
size: Nancy Pelosi is against it, even if the Democrats win the House. On
May 10, Pelosi spoke to the Democratic caucus and "dismissed the idea" of
impeachment and "restated her opposition to the idea of censuring Bush
over his decision to invade Iraq in March 2003," according to an article
in the San Francisco Chronicle. It reported that "she said impeachment
wouldn't be on the table."

This amplified her comments on "Meet the Press" May 7, when Tim Russert
tried to corner her on the subject. (Russert even urged her to have John
Conyers take down his website, where he calls for the creation of a select
committee to investigate the "grounds for possible impeachment and the
censure of President Bush and Vice President Cheney.)"

Russert asked her point-blank whether impeachment was off the table.

She fudged at first and then said, "I don't see us going to a place of
impeachment. . . . That is not what we are about."

But evidently she didn't think that was clear enough so she told the
Democrats in the House that impeachment isn't in the cards.

(For an account of how Pelosi should have responded, go to Bob Fertik's
blog.)

Russert's badgering of Pelosi echoed Chris Matthews's questioning of Bob
Shrum a month before.

Matthews: "Can you promise that if the Democrats win the majority of House
seats this fall, they get to the 218 magic number, that they will not use
the subpoena power to go after the president?"

Shrum, to his credit, said: "I think they will use the subpoena power and
should use it to investigate a whole range of issues." (See the account at
Media Matters.)

But now Pelosi has forsworn impeachment. And you can bet that the
gatekeepers of the mainstream media and the doyens of the Washington
establishment will be pressing the Russert/Matthews line. They will urge
the Democratic in-crowd to be "above politics" and to "take the high
road," and all the other platitudes they use for selling out. Democrats
like Pelosi will, in turn, say that the Democratic agenda is more
important than "settling scores," and piously they will go off to the
burial of impeachment.

Meanwhile, Bush and Cheney will never be held to account, and our
Constitution will have their poison on it. Future Presidents and Vice
Presidents would also be able to cite their lawlessness as precedent, and
our system of government will remain infected.

This shows how bankrupt the Democratic leadership is.

They worry that the mere mention of the "I" word will so galvanize
Republicans that Democrats won't gain control of the House or the Senate
and won't therefore be able to slow Bush down, much less impeach him.

This argument has two key flaws.

First, it's unprincipled. Impeachment is not a partisan issue. It goes way
beyond which party is in the White House or who controls Capitol Hill.
It's about whether we're a democracy or not.

You should support impeachment if you believe in the Constitution,
whatever party allegiance you have.

But even for those who only speak tactics, it's foolish.

If your goal is impeachment, you need to clamor for it now. You need to
build a mass base for impeachment, otherwise Pelosi will continue to
abandon this issue.

And if I were a Democratic strategist, and I'm not, I'd favor impeachment
because it galvanizes the Democratic base, and Karl Rove has proven time
and time again that you need to get your base out to win.  For years,
Democrats have taken their base for granted.

Now, with impeachment, they are doing so again.

Matthew Rothschild has been with The Progressive since 1983. His
McCarthyism Watch web column has chronicled more than 150 incidents of
repression since 9/11.

© 2006 The Progressive

[It isn't just Dem Pelosi. It's the Dem party. If it won't support
impeachment (and single payer, and out of Iraq, etc), then we need another
party, one that will. The DP is so in love with corporate cash that it
would rather die than switch. The "lesser evil" is getting more evil every
day, with no turn in sight. Hillary in 2008 et al is not a solution. The
few elected DP progressives (eg Kucinich) are drowned in a sea of
corporate DP puppets. We can't just sit back and twiddle our fingers and
expect to see a decent country in our future. -ed]


--------24 of 26--------

US: Pentagon prepares for "use of force" on Mexican border
By Bill Van Auken
18 May 2006
http://www.wsws.org/articles/2006/may2006/mexi-m18.shtml

In the wake of President George W. Bush's White House speech on
immigration Monday night announcing the deployment of National Guard
troops to the Mexican border, the Pentagon has revealed that the US
military, the federal government and state authorities have drawn up a
policy under which guard units will be allowed to use deadly force against
undocumented immigrants seeking to enter the US.

While in the speech from the Oval Office Bush insisted that his plan did
not entail the militarization of the border or the use of soldiers in an
enforcement role, a statement Tuesday by the general who heads the US
National Guard suggested just the opposite. Gen. Steven Blum, director of
the guard, spelled out that the military and local authorities are working
out "rules of engagement" and regulations governing the "use of force" by
the troops deployed to the border, underscoring that the threat posed to
immigrants by Bush's plan is hardly hypothetical.

In his prime-time address from the White House, Bush combined the
announcement of the National Guard deployment with a call for changes in
US immigration law. It appears increasingly likely, however, that the use
of armed force on the border - together with other repressive action
against undocumented immigrants - will be the sole initiatives that will
be put into effect, at least for the foreseeable future.

Republicans in the leadership of the House of Representatives remain
adamantly opposed to Bush's call for a temporary "guest worker" program
and the introduction of a path - punitive and protracted as it may be -
for at least those undocumented immigrants who have been in the US the
longest to legalize their status.

Fearful that if they follow the president's lead they will alienate their
right-wing anti-immigrant base on the eve of the November midterm
elections, it is highly doubtful that the House Republicans will reach any
compromise on what they generally refer to as an "amnesty" proposal.

Last December, the House voted in favor of an immigration bill that would
turn all 12 million undocumented workers in the US into criminal felons,
while threatening anyone who aids them with basic services, like
healthcare, education or shelter, with being criminally prosecuted as
well.

In an attempt to make the temporary worker and legalization proposals more
palatable, the Senate voted on Wednesday in favor of an amendment that
would exclude any undocumented immigrant convicted of a felony or three
misdemeanors from any chance of remaining in the US.

However, the amendment targeting what Republican senators referred to as
"the criminal element" - together with other repressive measures in the
Senate bill - appeared to have little impact on the intransigence of the
House Republicans. "It's not the kind of issue you can compromise on.
Either you're giving amnesty to people who are here illegally, or you
aren't," declared Representative Peter King (Republican, New York),
chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee.

A press conference jointly organized by the Pentagon and the Department of
Homeland Security Tuesday gave the lie to Bush's claims that the National
Guard will merely be present as a supporting force, performing tasks such
as office work and construction. It made clear that the thousands of
troops that are being sent to the border will be armed and will have
definite orders allowing them to employ deadly force.

The head of the National Guard, General Blum, told the media that
intensive discussions have already been carried out on allowing the
soldiers deployed to the border to carry arms and to use them.

"The rules of engagement and the rules of use of force are absolutely
essential," declared Blum. "Any time you put uniformed military personnel
in an operational role in the United States of America, they have to meet
the intent of the Constitution."

Blum appeared before the press together with Homeland Security Secretary
Michael Chertoff, Paul McHale, the assistant secretary of defense for
homeland defense, and other officials to flesh out Bush's plans for the
military deployment, which is expected to begin early next month.

"The four Attorney Generals of the affected states are working with the
Judge Advocate and my General Counsel and the Department of Defense
General Counsel and others to make sure that we have rules of use of force
and a rules of engagement that are appropriate," Blum declared, adding,
"It's very important that soldiers know what the expectations are and what
the rules are for the area they're operating in."

It is obvious that, if the Pentagon is discussing "rules of engagement"
and "use of force" with both state and federal officials, it is because
the military anticipates National Guard troops opening fire on immigrants
along the US-Mexican border.

                         Outrage in Mexico

The plan announced Monday night by George Bush to send National Guard
troops to the US southern border has provoked widespread protest and
outrage in Mexico.

While the government of President Vicente Fox has publicly accepted
Washington's contention that this military deployment does not represent
the "militarization" of the US-Mexican border, representatives of
virtually every Mexican political party - including Fox's own PAN -
together with large sections of the media have denounced it as precisely
that.

In statements Tuesday, the Fox government emphasized Bush's claim that the
thousands of soldiers being sent to the Rio Grande would only be playing a
"support" role - a position that was ridiculed by many of the government's
critics.

The secretary of the government, Carlos Abascal Carranza, argued for this
claim, insisting that he had received a "guarantee" from US Homeland
Security Secretary Chertoff that the National Guard troops would not carry
out the enforcement operations presently performed by the Border Patrol.

For his part, Mexico's Foreign Minister Luis Ernesto Derbez stressed his
optimism that Bush's plan would yield a genuine immigration reform. He
added, however, that in light of the US troop deployment, "the first thing
that we have to do is redouble the efforts of all of our consular
representatives to assure that the protection and the guarantee of due
respect of the rights of our co-nationals is the primary question."

The Mexican foreign minister added, "If there is a real wave of rights
abuses, if we see the National Guard starting to directly participate in
detaining people...we would immediately start filing lawsuits through our
consulates." This remark drew sharp criticism from the right-wing media in
the US, such as Fox News, which attempted to whip up anti-immigrant racism
and anti-Mexican nationalism, while defending the "right" of US
authorities to do whatever they like with immigrant workers.

The deployment of the US military on the Mexican border has swiftly become
a major issue in the elections scheduled in Mexico in July. Opponents of
the government have condemned incumbent President Fox for bowing to
Washington, while questioning why the Bush administration unilaterally
declared a major change on border policy little more than a month after a
meeting of the bi-national commission on border issues, and a little more
than a week before Fox's scheduled trip to the US.

The presidential candidate of the PRI (Institutional Revolutionary Party),
Roberto Madrazo Pintado, said that the US militarization of the border
exposed the failure of the Fox government's foreign policy. "I don't like
to talk about walls, about a government on its knees, which faces the
militarization of the border and applauds it," he said. "The migrant is
unprotected in the face of the border patrol."

Andrés Manuel Lopez Obrador, the candidate of the PRD (Party of the
Democratic Revolution), denounced the Fox government, declaring that it
enjoyed no respect because it lacked a foreign policy "based on
principles." He stressed, "If there were jobs, development, investment and
respect here, those abroad would take us into account, but none of this
has happened."

Even the candidate of Fox's own PAN party, Felipe Calderón, declared that
"it is neither with soldiers nor with the army that you solve the problem
of immigration."

One of the sharpest critiques by the Mexican media of the Fox government's
sanguine reaction to the policy announced by the Bush White House came
from the leading Mexican daily, El Universal.

In an editorial published Wednesday, the newspaper stated: "It would be
regrettable if the government of President Vicente Fox would try to
disguise something that, obviously, is in plain sight: the virtual
militarization of the border between the United States and Mexico."

The editorial continued: "It is unacceptable that Fox attempts to hide the
truth, which is before us all. The northern border will be blocked to
Mexican immigrants by the National Guard, the same force that, it should
be recalled, shot to death four students at Kent State University in Ohio
on May 4, 1970, for protesting against the widening of the Vietnam War to
Cambodia. Another nine students were wounded. A later investigation proved
that the National Guard had never been in danger, even though some
students had thrown rocks at them.

"If they acted so nervously against their own young compatriots, we do not
even want to imagine what they would do against defenseless Mexican and
Central American immigrants who cross the Rio Bravo, jump over fences and
search for work in that country, crossing deserts in sealed trucks."

Basing itself on the narrowest political calculations, the Bush
administration has set into motion a policy that poses the threat of an
international crisis and potential human tragedy on the US-Mexican border.
Attempting to bridge the conflicting interests and ideologies of the US
Chamber of Commerce and the fascistic elements like the Minutemen, who
form an essential part of the Republican base, the only concrete proposal
advanced by the administration - as with so many other issues - is one of
repression and military force.


--------25 of 26--------

 Fuehrer Bush asks not
 What would Jesus do? Rather
 What would Goebbels do?


--------26 of 26--------

 Elected, they use
 retractable promises.
 Costs go through the roof.

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

   - 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