On August 31 all housekeepers at Hyatt's three Boston area hotels were called into meetings and fired. They were given their last paychecks, told to clean out their lockers and leave.
Some had worked for the hotels for more than 20 years.
They weren't laid off because of a lack of guests. They were replaced by a subcontractor Hyatt brought in which would pay workers $8/hour with no benefits.
Hyatt made $1.3 billion profit from 2004-2008, and had $1.2 billion in cash as of early August.
On May 11, 2009 the Cambridge City Council passed a resolution recognizing that we are facing a climate emergency. How would you address the challenges of climate? Climate and its implications are difficult problems that are here, today, and we all need to address this crisis together. Please join us on September 17 for an open discussion on climate to share your questions and ideas, and to hear what your neighbors are thinking. For further information, contact Steve Wineman, (617) 876-4753, steven.wineman@gmail.com.
Five Iraqi labor federation leaders will share their views and stories. What will the next five years look like in Iraq? Workers, activists, and veterans will have an opportunity to share their struggles in dialogue with the Iraqi brothers. Don’t miss this opportunity for inspiration, education, and solidarity.
Welcome back from US Labor against the War’s previous tours:
• Hassan Juma’a, President, Iraqi Federation of Oil Unions (2005)
• Falah Alwan, President, Federation of Workers Councils and Unions in Iraq (2005)
And welcome for the first time:
• Rasim Awadi, President, General Federation of Iraqi Workers
• Nabil Mulhim, Foreign Affairs Officer, Kurdish General Workers Syndicates in Iraq
• Sardar Mohammed, President, Iraqi Kurdish Workers Syndicates and Unions
Bhopal-Natyam: A dance tribute to human resilience is a fundraiser being organized by the Boston Coalition for Justice in Bhopal.
The event will showcase vibrant and effusive Indian classical dance performances by six leading dance schools from the New England area.
This fundraiser is being organized in dedication to the 25th anniversary of the worlds worst chemical disaster, which took place in Bhopal, India.
There will be refreshments and merchandise(Shirts, Books etc) for sale.
Followed by a potluck lunch (Bring a dish to share)
Family High Holiday Service from 1:30 – 2:30 for parents and children.
Come together as a community rooted in a Jewish commitment to social justice for a program of readings, reflection, and singing. Whatever your upbringing – whatever your level of Jewish knowledge – however you might define your own spirituality – we invite you to join us!
Film screening and discussion w/ award-winning Irish
independent filmmaker Rod Stoneman
The Consulate of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela in Boston Presents: Film Screening, Book Signing and Discussion with: Rod Stoneman
Executive producer of the acclaimed documentary “The Revolution Will Not Be Televised” and author of the book “Chávez: The Revolution will not be Televised; A
Case Study of Politics and Media”
Rod Stoneman is the Director of the Huston School of Film & Digital Media, National University of Ireland in Galway. He previously served as Chief Executive of Bord Scann
Nonviolent Peaceforce is offering 2 basic workshops in third-party intervention, a special type of peacebuilding based on mediation in cross-cultural settings. To sign up contact jrk1956@comcast.net or call Judy 617 876-5485.
NP an unarmed, civilian peacekeeping force that is invited to work in conflict zones. Our mission is built upon Gandhi’s ultimate vision: to create a Shanti Sena, or an army of hundreds of peacekeepers. The Boston Chapter of NV Peaceforce started a few years ago and offers trainings for those interested in peacebuilding. You don’t have to enlist in the shanti sena, but can use the workshop to build your command of mediation skills in your family, organization or neighborhood.
Endorsers (list in formation): Iraq Veterans Against the War Chapter 61, Pittsburgh; PA State Senator Jim Ferlo; Veterans for Peace Chapter 047, Pittsburgh; National Assembly to End the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars and Occupations; Thomas Merton Center Pittsburgh; Codepink Pittsburgh Women for Peace; Bail Out The People; Green Party of Allegheny County; World Can’t Wait; ISO (International Socialist Organization); WILPF (Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom) Pittsburgh; Socialist Action; Ohio Valley Peace
Students and workers, home owners and tenants, immigrants and veterans will speak out together with Art MacEwan, Carlotta Starks, Jill Stein, Charlie Derber, Brian Corr, and City Life at an interactive People's Summit!
Why? On September 24 and 25th, central bankers and finance ministers from the 20 most powerful countries will gather in Pittsburgh to make deals behind closed doors about our jobs, homes, health, and environment!
Sponsors: Mass. Global Action, Jobs with Justice, American Friends Service Committee, CISPES, Democratic Socialists of America, Progressive Students Association, and the Majority Agenda Project.
The flyer is attached, please print and distribute.
Twenty years ago, it seemed like a miracle was happening when the Cold War ended peacefully. We were handed the chance to walk away from the nuclear nightmare and redirect billions of Cold War dollars to neglected needs at home. The promise of a "peace dividend" remains, however, unfulfilled.
Now we are spending more money on the military than we ever did during the Cold War. The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and the excessive costs of the Military Industrial Complex are depleting our public resources amidst a global economic crisis. But we also now have the best chance in twenty years to challenge rampant military spending, and to reclaim the post-Cold War promise of a demilitarized economy.
Come celebrate 25 years of accomplishments, and recognize BNB’s founder and current International Programs Director, Carl Kurz, as he departs for a two year sabbatical.
On July 4, 1984 - 25 years ago - Bikes Not Bombs was born on a flight from Boston to Managua, Nicaragua. Carl Kurz was on board with two bicycles, brought south to support health workers, labor unions and teachers working to rebuild a land ravaged by war.
The September Moving Vigil of MetroWest Peace Action will be in Wayland at the intersection of Rt. 27 and Rt. 20 with a meeting to follow at Wayland Library.
Healthcare - not Warfare, Military Out of Afghanistan
We are a coalition of individuals and groups in the area between Boston and Worcester whose aim is to strengthen the voice and impact of peace groups in the area through application of non-violent principles.
We welcome anyone interested in these goals and all vigils and meetings are open to the public.
Live Music, Potluck (bring food to share), and Kids' Games-- People before Profit!
Bank Tenants Association (City Life /Vida Urbana) members have occupied a vacant foreclosed building to fight against banks' greed and provide housing for those in need. This is just the beginning... Come celebrate the struggleand show your support!
For more information, call 617-524-3541 or visit www.clvu.org.
Learn about Microlending to Reduce Poverty at the Al Filipov Peace & Justice Forum
Al Filipov was among passengers and crew aboard American Airlines flight 11 which was directed into the World Trade Center on September 11th 2001. The Al Filipov Peace & Justice Forum was established to articulate those issues about which Al cared deeply and to demonstrate how one person can make a profound impact on the lives of those in his or her community. This year's speaker is Jessica Jackley, co-founder of Kiva.org, the world's first peer-to-peer online microlending website. Kiva's mission is to connect people, through lending, for the sake of alleviating poverty.
MARTINA M. CRUZ
"Working Families and the Economic Crisis"
Martina Cruz is a member of the Lawrence School Committee and active with
Latinos United for Justice. She is an endorser of Welcoming Massachusetts, a
pro-immigrant organization working toward just and humane immigration
policies. In 2006, she was one of eleven Latino elected officials from the
U.S. chosen as international observers during the presidential election in
Venezuela.
Since she came to the U.S. nearly 25 years ago, Martina has led a life of
activism based on Liberation Theology. Because of her efforts organizing for
the rights of immigrants, women & workers and against war, she was asked to
run for School Committee. She won and now continues her social justice work
there and "in the streets", where she assists indigent families in crisis to
The Under The Hood Cafe ( http://underthehoodcafe.org/ ) is a center
of GI resistance and an active duty chapter of Iraq Veterans Against
The War at Fort Hood, Texas - the largest army base in the country.
It is in serious need of funds to keep going, and the Smedley Butler
Brigade of Veterans For Peace is stepping up to help. But to do that
we need *you*.
At this fundraiser we will show some videos about the cafe, share some refreshments, and have some
music. Victor Agosto (left), Afghanistan war resistor who just spent 30 days in jail for refusing to deploy in Afghanistan, will be speaking at the event.
Come together as a community rooted in a Jewish commitment to social justice for a program of readings, reflection, and singing. Whatever your upbringing – whatever your level of Jewish knowledge – however you might define your own spirituality – we invite you to join us!
Advanced payment not required. See www.circleboston.org for information about the suggested donation to attend. Contact info@circleboston.org or 617-566-6281 with questions.
Pizza and Politics with filmmaker Robert Greenwald, President of Brave New
Films and producer of "Rethink Afghanistan" among other political documentaries
Event Speakers: Robert Greenwald, President of Brave New Films and Robb
Moss, Rudolf Arnheim Lecturer on Filmmaking, Harvard University
Location: Kirkland House Junior Common Room, Harvard
Patrick Bond, radical geographer and political economist and Director of the
Center for Civil Society at the University of KwaZulu Natal, will spend next
week at Suffolk University as a Distinguished Visiting Scholar. Public
events include the following:
Tuesday, September 29, 1 PM -- lecture "Climate Change: What's Wrong with Carbon Trading" Sawyer 427/429, 8 Ashburton Place
Wednesday, September 30, 7 PM -- lecture, "South African Politics in the
Zuma Era," Donahue 311, 41 Temple Street. Preceded by reception in the
McDermott Conference Room, first floor of the same building.
Thursday, October 1, 1 PM -- debate on "The Current Crisis and the Future of
Capitalism" with Patrick Bond, David Tuerck (Director of the Beacon Hill
Verizon locals, Jobs with Justice, AFL-CIO and central labor councils are sponsoring a united labor march and rally for jobs and economic recovery. One year after the federal government gave big business and the banks hundreds of billions of dollars for the bail out, corporations aren't creating the jobs that were promised.
We need jobs and we want to work.On October 1, let's put the heat on coprporations doing business in Massachusetts to provide the good jobs our communities need!
Kickoff at the state house, march through downtown Boston and the financial district, end at the Federal Reserve Bank (600 Atlantic Ave) for a 5:30 rally.
Information: call Jobs with Justice 617-524-8778 or go to massjwj.net
Pax Christi Boston invites you to into Conversation with Voices for Creative Nonviolence.
Kathy Kelly,
Nobel Peace Prize nominee and co-coordinator of Voices for Creative Nonviolence in Chicago (www.vcnv.org) shares her insights about the costs of violence that she has witnessed in Haiti, Bosnia, the Occupied West Bank, Beirut, Jordan, Baghdad, Gaza, Pakistan, and the US.
Come Join Us as we celebrate the start of the World March For Peace and Nonviolence
Oct 2nd, Gandhi’s Birthday, 7PM
Celebrate with professional musicians, dancers, and artists followed by a candle lighting ceremony to mark the first day of the World March.
Oct 3rd, Stonewalk, 9AM
The Peace Abbey to Natick Common and back with the raising of the World March for Peace and Nonviolence banner to be displayed until January 2nd.
Each day of the ninety three days individuals are asked to pick a day to visit The Peace Abbey and light a vigil candle. You may email your chosen date or sign up on the form at The Peace Abbey.
The Consulate General of Venezuela presents:
a concert in solidarity with Palestine & Honduras
featuring:
Dame Pa Matala
revolutionary hip hop and folk music
and from Palestine: Sabreena Da Witch
with The Foundation Movement, Natural Bliss & los trovadores por Honduras FREE!
more info: 781 724 0752
cosponsored by: Boston Boycott Divestment Sanctions
Proyecto Hondureño
and MLK Bolivarian Circle
El Consulado General de Venezuela en Boston presenta
un concierto en solidaridad con el pueblo de Palestina y de Honduras
Dame pa Matala
hip hop y musica folklórica revolucionaria
con
The Agape Community Annual St. Francis Day Celebration
Speakers:
Kathy Kelly, veteran peace activist, initiator of the Voices in the Wilderness campaign in Iraq, and current coordinator of Voices for Creative Non-violence.
Rabbi Sheila Peltz Weinberg, poet, educator, a founder of the Institute for Jewish Spirituality (IJS), speaking on the Jewish Roots of Nonviolence.
Raymond Helmick SJ, Boston College School of Theology, who has worked for reconciliation for years in the Middle East.
Skip Schiel, photo-journalist, teacher, Quaker, Agape Mission Council, photos and comment on this year's multi-year trip to Gaza and The West Bank.
Talal Eid, an Imam beyond borders, peace lover and activist, educator, advocate of freedom of religion, believes in reviving the Abrahamic connections.
Members of UJP and its affiliated groups will gather on Saturday, October 3, from 1-5pm, for our next strategy conference. This time, we'll meet at the Democracy Center, 45 Mt. Auburn St., in Harvard Square. The agenda will include a new film on Afghanistan, building the October 17 protest, revising the UJP structure, and reports from UJP task forces.
To start off the program we will view the powerful and thought-provoking new film, Rethink Afghanistan, by noted documentary filmmaker Robert Greenwald. The film, which has been released in installments over the past four months, is now complete and addresses the 2009 escalation, the costs of the war, the impact on Pakistan, on Afghan women, the civilian casaualties, and the security implications for Americans. We will also mention how UJP members who view the film Oct. 3 can organize screenings in their communities or house party screenings in their own homes. View the trailer at left.
The film will be followed by a discussion on the peace movement's response to the Afghan war. While Democratic Sen. Russ Feingold and conservative columnist George Will have come out against escalation in recent days, and while 51% of the American public opposes the war according to polls, the Pentagon and much of the Washington establishment appear determined to send more troops and escalate the conflict once again. The peace movement must raise our voices and continue to increase the political cost of escalation so that the Obama Administration "rethinks" its war policy.
Afghanistan is in the news again.What really is happening there?What impact is the growingUnited States’ military presence having in this war-torn country?What role should we play in Afghanistan?Andrew Bacevich, professor of International Relations at Boston University, is joined by Charles Sennott, founder of GlobalPost, to discuss the challenges the Obama administration faces in Afghanistan.
For three weeks, Maya Wind and Netta Mishly, both from Israel, have been explaining to audiences across the country why they refuseto serve in the Israeli military.They refuse to rule over an occupied people. They refuse to detain Palestinians without charge. They refuse to guard checkpoints, to enforce a siege, to usher in a humanitarian disaster.
Wednesday, October 7th is the 8th anniversary of the war on Afghanistan, a war which UJP was formed to oppose.
To mark this date, the Cambridge and Somerville/Medford UJP community groups will be standing out at T- stops from 5:30 to 6:30 PM. We will be distributing information about the costs of the war, for Afghans, for US troops and for our communities, and alerting people to the Oct. 17th anti-war rally at Copley Square. We will gather at the Central Sq., Harvard Sq., and Porter Sq. T-stops in Cambridge and at Davis Sq. in Somerville.
With Gene Roberts, Hank Klibanoff authored The Race Beat, winning a Pulitzer for the work in 2007. Klibanoff, former managing editor of the Atlanta Constitution and a distinguished journalist (with a successful stint at the Boston Globe), is currently managing editor of the Cold Case Truth and Justice Project.
Benefit to send Boston youth on the Gaza Freedom March
New Year’s Day, 2010
Human Rights Watch has called the siege of Gaza “a serious violation of international law”.The conscience of humankind is shocked.Yet the siege of Gaza continues.Join people from around the world on January 1, 2010 on the mile long march to Gaza.The world will be watching.www.gazafreedommarch.org
The Monthly Peace & Justice Film Series is presenting “Rethink Afghanistan” — its October film — on THURSDAY, OCTOBER 8 (the second Thursday of each month at the YMCA).
Benefit for the North Shore Coalition for Peace and Justice
DEAN STEVENS, folksinger, songwriter, and peace activist, has delighted audiences of all ages throughout the Americas for over 25 years. An exuberant performer, he has established himself as a formidable creator and interpreter of a wide spectrum of songs in English and Spanish. His own material explores a variety of personal and social topics, paints sketches of people and places, celebrates the Earth, and annoys the narrow-minded.

I am writing to some of you for the first time and to others with new information about the American Association for Palestinian Equal Rights (AAPER).They have asked me (along with Paige Austin of the Kennedy School at Harvard) to help coordinate a Silent March in Boston on October 10 to call attention to the injustices faced by the Palestinian people.We need all of the help we can get…and that means people who would commit to walking with us.
Where are we headed on the Social Justice Tour? Mattapan Square, Blue Hill and River Street, Mattapan/Dorchester Border, Blue Hill Ave and Morton St, Dorchester – Codman Square, Washington St and Talbot Ave, Dorchester/Roxbury – Grove Hall, Blue Hill Ave towards Warren St – walk to the Save A Lot on Warren St, Note: ACORN Members may be planning a neighborhood action as well.
Fabulous items; Silent Auction; Raffle; Samosas! Don’t miss out!
Grassroots International is a great JP based group that supports organizing by farmers all over the world on the issue of resource rights (land, food, water). If you have anything in your basement you don't want and would like to contribute to the yard sale, please bring it to the yard sale in Jamaica Plain on October 3. Come to shop and have fun!
Join Boston WILPF and local Congolese activists at a vigil to raise awareness of the devastating war in the Democratic Republic of Congo and the sexual violence accompanying it.
It will take place on Saturday, October 10 from 2:00 to 4:00 PM in Harvard Square to begin "Breaking the Silence/Congo Week”.
The rain date is Sunday, October 11 from 2:00 to 4:00 PM.
We are doing the Honk! Festival again this fall, on October 9-11, at Davis Square and environs, and we are fully expecting it to be as exciting as it was last year. (For images of last year's festival, including the parade, see www.honkfest.org.)
Some exciting aspects planned for this year's Honk! Festival include:
Friday afternoon and evening honking by guest bands and local host bands, traveling by MBTA to East Cambridge, East Boston , Boston Common, and other communities in the metropolitan area.
Guest artists from Rome (Titubanda) and New Orleans (the Pinettes, an all-woman brass band).
On October 10-11, 2009, we will gather in Washington D.C. from all across America to let our elected leaders know that now is the time for full equal rights for LGBT people. This is simply a major national strategy to kick start our national grassroots Equality Across America campaign. We will gather. We will strategize. We will march. And we will leave energized and empowered to do the work that needs to be done in every community across the nation. This is only the beginning.
Our single demand: Equal protection in all matters governed by civil law in all 50 states.
Our philosophy: As members of every race, class, faith, and community, we see the struggle for LGBT equality as part of a larger movement for peace and social justice.
Open House. On the 150th anniversary of abolitionist John Brown's attack on the federal arsenal at Harpers Ferry, view an exhibit of personal papers and other documents related to his raid, trial, and execution; find evidence of continuing arguments about the morality and meaning of Brown's actions.
The exhibition "John Brown: Martyr to Freedom; American Terrorist -- or Both?" will be open for viewing at the Massachusetts Historical Society from October 12 - December 23, 2009.


Steve Early is the author of "Embedded with Organized Labor: Journalistic Reflections on the Class War at Home" (Monthly Review Press, 2009). Steve is an experienced labor organizer and journalist, spending many years fighting alongside sisters and brothers in the Communication Workers of America.
Bryan Koulouris is the editor of the Boston Organizer newsletter and the editorial coordinator of Justice newspaper.
This will be an important discussion following up from the October 1st demonstration against the jobs massacre. The meeting will grapple with the question: "Which way forward for the labor movement?"
FUND OUR COMMUNITIES / CUT THE MILITARY BUDGET …into the Boston Election!
JOIN US NEXT TUESDAY! Members of Dorchester People for Peace and members of other 25% Coalition groups will be outside the UMass Campus Center from
5:45-6:30pm with a banner and leaflets highlighting the demand that City Council candidates support a cut in military spending with the funds redirected to urgent local needs.
As part of 'Our Voices, Our Vote,' a civic participation campaign, Centro Presente would like to invite you to 'A New Era of Women in Politics,' a panel discussion to talk about how to increase civic participation and equal political representation of women in politics.
Not enough women, and of course not enough immigrant women, are involved in political life. As women in positions of leadership in the community it is our responsibility to promote dialogue between women active in politics and other women, in order to make political life more accessible to women from immigrant backgrounds at municipal, state and federal levels.
For more information please contact:
Patricia Montes at 617 629 47 31 ext. 211 or by email
The Grassroots Use of Technology Conference (GUT-C) brings together community organizers and technology innovators. The goal is
straightforward: To help build progressive social change by:
• bringing hundreds of organizers together
• connecting them to each others' skills and experience
• thinking critically about the state-of-the-art tech tools
• prioritizing economic and racial justice
As you know, for 10 years, grassroots activists and change makers have come together with technology geeks for this exciting conference! Now is an opportunity for you and your members to be key partners in creating this exciting conversation with a cutting edge community of critical thinkers and tech practitioners.
A broad collaborative of nonprofits, academic, and community activist organizations has come together with the Organizers' Collaborative to make this happen.
Friday, October 16 (Opening Party)
Saturday, October 17 - Sunday, November 11, 2009 (Film Festival)
Somerville (Party) & Boston (Festival)
The Boston Palestine Film Festival is proud to announce that our third annual film festival opens October 16 and extends a full two weeks through November 1. The 2009 program is available on our web site at http://www.bostonpalestinefilmfest.org/.
Please join us:
OPENING PARTY
The Center for Arts at the Armory at 191 Highland Avenue, Somerville
Friday October 16
7-11PM
Featuring live performances by Maysoon Zayid & Remi Kanazi
The Grassroots Use of Technology Conference (GUT-C) brings together community organizers and technology innovators. The goal is
straightforward: To help build progressive social change by:
• bringing hundreds of organizers together
• connecting them to each others' skills and experience
• thinking critically about the state-of-the-art tech tools
• prioritizing economic and racial justice
As you know, for 10 years, grassroots activists and change makers have come together with technology geeks for this exciting conference! Now is an opportunity for you and your members to be key partners in creating this exciting conversation with a cutting edge community of critical thinkers and tech practitioners.
A broad collaborative of nonprofits, academic, and community activist organizations has come together with the Organizers' Collaborative to make this happen.
All troops home now from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iraq!
End the siege of Gaza and all US support for the occupation of Palestine!
Fund Jobs, Health Care and Environmental Protection, not War & Nuclear Weapons!
Saturday, October 17 will be the date for a march and rally to protest the Afghanistan/Pakistan war, the continued occupation of Iraq, the militarist U.S. policies with respect to Palestine, Iran, and nuclear weapons, and the impact of the military budget on human needs at home.
As the Obama administration weighs whether to further escalate troop levels in Afghanistan, the moment could not be more timely to raise our voices in protest!
Bhopal-Natyam: A dance tribute to human resilience is a fundraiser being organized by the Boston Coalition for Justice in Bhopal.
Keep People in their Homes!
At this fundraiser we will show some videos about the cafe, share some refreshments, and have some 
The Consulate General of Venezuela presents:
Human Rights Watch has called the siege of Gaza “a serious violation of international law”.
