Movement-Building, Strategic Planning; and more

Dear Friends      50th Year  wnypeace.org    716-332-3904; 716-931-3520

The national scene is incredible – hard to believe, and yet it was predictable. We resist the attack on the common good and the planet: all together now! Here we go! You can always check our Calendar – better by computer than by phone! – and our Facebook page.

Our 50th Annual Membership Meeting and Potluck/Snack-Luck, 2pm on this Saturday, May 20, will be an opportunity to put our heads together for strategizing and planning. We’ll also enjoy the great spirit and yes love that we all share or we would be doing this work together!! Join us at the WNYPC/NRC, 1272 Delaware Ave (entrance & pkg round back). See you there! Aloha! Si, se puede!!

Many Thanks, Peace, Solidarity, and yes Love.

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UPCOMING EVENTS

Protest (Highly-Radioactive) Nuclear Waste Shipments!
May 19 @ 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm
About 6M Gallons of HIGHLY Radioactive liquid Nuclear Waste are going over the Peace Bridge approx every 2 weeks for the next 4 years! The environmental risks are huge!! One quart of this highly radioactive liquid is enough to destroy the water supply of any North American city. Join us at Front Park (by the tennis courts), Buffalo NY to protest. (Enter Front Park from Porter Ave; Front Park entrance is just before traffic circle.)

There’s no need to transport these materials through hundreds of communities, over public roads and bridges, when the processing of nuclear waste could have been carried out on-site in Canada, as originally planned. We should not endanger the Great Lakes and other sources of drinking water in NY, PA, OH, VA, NC, and SC. Please bring signs….Sponsors: Environmental Justice Taskforce of the WNY Peace Center; and WNY Drilling Defense

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WNYPC 50th ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING
Saturday, May 20, 2-4:30pm. Meeting and potluck/snackluck at WNYPC/NRC (1272 Delaware Ave, entrance & pkg round back). While we meet quarterly, the Annual Meeting is particularly significant, especially now in view of current events. Remember though, Crisis = Opportunity.
Topics include taskforces, events, campaigns, finances, personnel (board, staff, interns), fundraising, membership, priorities, and more! All are welcome, though only members can vote. Come out for an update and planning for our organization and activism. Community-building, movement-building, and diversity are also on the agenda, as is inspiration! See you there.

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Latin American Solidarity Committee May Peace Coffeehouse
Understanding ICE and Border Patrol in WNY
Monday, May 22, 7-9pm, WNYPC/NRC, 1272 Delaware Ave (entrance & pkg round back).
We need to hold Customs and Border Protection practices accountable, and to control any harmful and aggressive operations in our border-zone communities. Learn how. Guest speakers:
John Lory Ghertner MD (Migrant Support Services Wayne County, and Greater Rochester Coalitionfor Immigration Justice), recognized specialist and devoted activist; (Rural and Migrant Ministry), advocate, immigrant, community outreach worker and US citizen; and John Curr III (New York Civil Liberties Union {NYCLU} Western Regional Office Chapter Director), expert on civil rights and accountability, and dedicated to justice. Light refreshments.

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Awake – Dream from Standing Rock – Film Viewing
Tues, May 23, 7-9pm, 420 Connecticut St. (Burning Books), Buffalo.
Buffalo Stands with Standing Rock is hosting a showing of ‘AWAKE’, with a panel discussion to follow with local water protectors who travelled to Standing Rock last year. In 2016, Standing Rock, North Dakota became one of the most watched places on earth. Josh Fox James Spione Myron Dewey Digital Smoke Signals are honored to present a new feature length documentary ‘AWAKE, A Dream From Standing Rock,’ which captures some of the many stories of the Native-led resistance against the Dakota Access Pipeline, which forever changed the way people approach the fight for indigenous sovereignty and the stand against Big Oil, fossil fuel infrastructure, and climate change. Executive Producer : Doug Good Feather, Amy Ziering and Lauren Taschen. Co-Written by Floris White Bull, Josh Fox, Myron Dewey. Featuring songs from Prolific The Rapper, Nahko and Medicine for the People and Matene Strikes First.


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Map the Power in Buffalo!
Thurs, May 25, 7-8:30pm, at Burning Books, 420 Connecticut St, Buffalo.
Who really has power in our society? How can understanding networks of powerful individuals and entities help us in our organizing? The Public Accountability Initiative and the Buffalo Research Collective will present on the important role that power research plays in journalism, organizing, and activism. We’ll look at historical and current examples of effective power research and dive into LittleSis, the database watching back at the powers that be!

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CAMPAIGNS

Immigrant & Refugee Justice Taskforce
Please call your NYS Assembly Members and ask them to support NYS ASSEMBLY Bill #4050. The subject Greenlight program restores access to drivers’ licenses to all community members, to avoid abusive immigration enforcement.  For more info, please go to https://www.facebook.com/GreenLightNY/

Vive la Casa, shelter for people awaiting documents and/or sanctuary, desperately needs TOILETRIES, RAZORS, TOOTHBRUSHES, SANITARY NAPKINS/MAXIPADS, STORAGE SHELVES, BASKETS FOR STORAGE AND OF COURSE, CASH (checks to Jericho Road/VIVE) 50 Wyoming St., Buffalo, NY 14211, 892-4354.

Also please support SANCTUARY CHURCH, PILGRIM ST. LUKES UCC, (Utica and Richmond, Buffalo, NY 14222), with CASH TO SUPPORT THE CONSTRUCTION OF SHOWERS, MORE INFO CALL REV. JUSTO GONZALES, (989-9207 OR 885-9443).

For more info, please go to lascwny.org/immigration.

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Latin American Solidarity Committee
On Tues, May 23, advocates, farmworkers, faith-based members and unions will travel to Albany to urge legislators to support a Fair Labor Bill, protecting farmworkers from abusive labor practices. WNYers can travel in a 7-passenger van from Brockport, leaving at 6am. For more info, please call 315-871-4031. If you cannot go, please call your NYS assemblyperson and senator to urge them to support the Farmworkers Bill.

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We urge those of you reside in Sen. Chris Jacobs NYS Senatorial District to communicate with him on the Farm Workers Fair Labor Law. It supports farm workers, and includes them in fair labor bills in New York State. Sen. Jacobs WNY phone number is: 716-854-8705 or Jacobs@nysenate.gov.

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Resist Militiarism! Taskforce

We implore you to take a moment to check out this petition from Roots Action calling for a ban of weaponized drones. Our government is setting up killer drone bases all over the country and all over the world. The 107th Attack Squadron at Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station is slated to begin assassinations from there by the end of the year, possibly the end of the summer. It is past time to grow the opposition to these horrors.
Ban Weaponized Drones:
http://act.rootsaction.org/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=6180
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REGULARLY SCHEDULED EVENTS in the One Movement, One Struggle

Riverside-Salem UCC/DC Progressive program and potluck.
Sundays, 4-7pm. Programs vary, and include a go-round, discussion, sharing, and potluck. Environmental Cottage, 3449 West River Road, Grand Island.

Talking Peace with the WNY Peace Center Radio Show on 91.3FM, WBNY Mondays, 1-3pm, with Avery Edwards, Vicki Ross, and special guests. Go to wbny.buffalostate.edu or http://tunein.com/radio/WBNY-913-s27549/.

Buffalo Supports Standing Rock Water Protectors/Nekanesakt
Tuesdays, 6-8pm. Meeting with discussion, action planning, and striving for the Good Mind, at 420 Connecticut St, Burning Books. Also supported by Indigenous Women’s Initiatives, NACS, Sierra Club, WNYPC.

Interfaith Peace Network
1st and 3rd Thursdays of the month, 8-9:30am, Network of Religious Communities Bldg, 1272 Delaware Ave. Discussion, sharing, and planning.
Breakfast-luck.

Resist Militarism! Taskforce
2nd Thursday of month, 1-2:30pm, WNYPC, 1272 Delaware Ave (entrance & pkg round back), regular taskforce planning meeting re vigils, National Bird showing(s), Infringement events, etc.

2nd and 4th Thursdays of month, 3:30-4:30pm. Vigil at Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station, Lockport Road Entrance. Call Russell 716-570-5200 for carpooling.

Fridays 6pm: Stop The Violence Coalition, United Way Bldg, Delaware and Summer Sts.

Saturdays, Noon-1pm: Women In Black. Nonviolence vigil, Bidwell and Elmwood.

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More listings on website (wnypeace.org) and in previous email posts.
Please submit possible listings for consideration to weeklynews@wnypeace.org.
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Many thanks, peace, solidarity, and yes – Love. We shall overcome!!
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