Tax resister Frank Donnelly of Maine will be interviewed on WERU community radio, 89.9 FM by Larry Dansinger. Tune in to hear about Frank’s impending court appearance for war tax refusal, and to learn more about war tax resistance.

The program will air on Tues., Feb 9 from 4-4:30pm. It can also be heard online live or from the archives at www.weru.org.

Please join us Wednesday, February 10th for the next MFTC board meeting. We’ll go over our 2010 budget and fund raising plan, which is important now more than ever. We will also plan our 2010 strategy to get Senator Snowe on the TRADE Act.

Wednesday, February 10th 1:30-3:30 pm IBEW 1837, 16 Old Winthrop Road in Manchester

Please RSVP so we know who to expect. We will send out documents in advance of the meeting early next week.

What: WIM Cinema is the showing of a thought-provoking DVD followed by discussion. This month’s film is “In Our Right Minds,” a one-woman comedy/musical/dramatic performance celebrating women, the sacred feminine, and the right brain, by New Englander, Dale Allen. This is appropriate for teens through adults, a great way to open up discussion amongst generations of women in your family!

About the performance: http://tinyurl.com/y8acczc

Video Preview of the film: http://tinyurl.com/y9mbr2y

Video Audience Comments: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F3q_ultNK3I

When: Wednesday, February 10, 7:30 PM

Where: The Yoga Center, 449 Forest Ave., Portland, 2nd floor (above CVS and Leapin’ Lizards)

Cost: free! (A small donation towards the cost of the room is always welcome!)

Bring: Bolsters and folding chairs available. Feel free to bring your own beach chair for added comfort!

RSVP always appreciated to: Laurie at womensinstituteme [at] gmail [dot] com or 883-6170

Thursday, February 11, 2010 8:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Hall of Flags, Maine State House, Augusta

• Connect with other women from around the state.
• Learn how the legislative session will affect women.
• Develop your advocacy skills.
• Use your voice to influence the political process.

For more information, contact:
Maine Centers for Women, Work and Community at 1-800-442-2092.

To register, e-mail: lhilton [at] maine [dot] edu OR register online at www.womenworkandcommunity.org, click on “news and events.”
Registration deadline is February 9.

To see the agenda for the Day at the State House, go to: www.mejp.org

Morning coffee and refreshments will be served. Please bring a bag lunch or purchase your lunch at the Cross Cafe on the State House grounds

The Coalition for Maine Women steering committee AAUW ● Family Planning Association of Maine ● League of Young Voters ● Mabel Wadsworth Women’s Health Center ● Maine Centers for Women, Work and Community ● Maine Coalition Against Sexual Assault ● Maine Equal Justice ● Maine Women’s Health Campaign ● Maine Women’s Lobby ● Maine Women’s Policy Center ● National Coalition of Jewish Women Southern Maine ● Planned Parenthood of Northern New England ● Wage Project

Please join us for two public forums in February. The first will take place on February 11, 2010 at the Maine Historical Society from 7:00 to 9:00 PM, and the second on February 25, 2010 at Shaarey Tphiloh Synagogue, 76 Noyes Street, from 7:00 to 9:00 PM.

The purpose of these forums is to engage with the public and stakeholders about the thematic content of the art project, and what the community preferences and aspirations are for the site and the MLK recognition. This site has been created in order to provide specific information on the courageous and profound life of Martin Luther King, Jr. and to keep you informed about the on-going development of a permanent memorial being created in his honor. It is our sincere hope that this material will also nurture a better appreciation of the complexity, genius, and legendary public ministry that was central to his life.

The process for establishing the memorial and related educational initiatives is just beginning. We welcome your participation and extend an invitation to you for any ideas, areas of expertise that you can contribute, stories of inspiration or creative ways in which the memorial can be best expressed for our city.

In the words of Charles Johnson, a National Book Award winner and co-author of “King: The Photobiography of Martin Luther King, Jr., “How soon we forget that King was not only a civil rights activist, but also this country’s preeminent moral philosopher, a spiritual aspirant, a father and husband, and that these diverse roles –- these multiple dimensions of his too brief life -– were the foundations for his singular “dream” that inspired millions worldwide.”

Here now, we get to understand Martin Luther King, Jr. in all his aspects: as husband and father, powerful preacher, courageous leader of the civil rights movement, martyr for the cause of racial justice, and finally American icon.

Thank you for your interest and support for this extraordinary journey the city of Portland will take to commemorate the life and legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr.

Please contact the City of Portland, Maine at (207) 874-8685 or email mlkcommission [at] portlandmaine [dot] gov for more information.

“Poignant and stirring, The Thinking Heart leaves an indelible impression. The performers transform the essence of Etty’s rich inner and outer worlds as a chronicler of life.” — Robert Bernheim, Executive Director, Holocaust & Human Rights Center of Maine.

“The Thinking Heart”, an ensemble performance work in two voices, with cello, based on the writings of a Dutch woman, Etty Hillesum, who died in the Holocaust, will be presented at The Portland Conservatory of Music, 202 Woodford Street (Woodford Congregational Church), Portland, Saturday evening, February 13, at 7:30 pm. Admission: $15. (Reduced admission on request.)

“The Thinking Heart” is an original arrangement of the diaries and letters of Etty Hillesum, constellated as poems by Martin Steingesser, and presented by him and Judy Tierney, with cellist Robin Jellis.

Etty Hillesum, a Jewish woman who lived in Amsterdam during the Nazi occupation, wrote a luminous diary and over 70 letters, collected and published together in a book, Etty: The Letters and Diaries of Etty Hillesum. The journal and letters were written over two years, between 1941 and ‘43, ending with her transport to Auschwitz, where she died at 29.

“Beautifully done, the combination of voices and cello extraordinary,” said Tricia Ryden, Assistant Director of Wiggin Memorial Library, in Stratham, NH. “Profoundly moving.”

“Etty inspires wonder, deepening appreciation for the kind of courage that affirms and celebrates life under the weight of oppressive forces,” Steingesser says. “Here is a tragic story heightened to the finest moral and aesthetic pitch by courage, determination and the ability to transform the experience in writing.”

“The Thinking Heart” is available as a CD from Old Port Records, of Lewiston, Maine (www.OldPortRecords.com).

Martin Steingesser is a poet and performer and author of a book of poems, “Brothers of Morning”. “His poems articulate the many seasons of the heart,” said Baron Wormser. Portland’s first Poet Laureate (2007-09), he was selected to receive the Maine Alliance for Art Education’s Bill Bonyun Award in 2006 “for exemplified talent and professionalism as an artist and for being an inspiration to students, teachers and the community.”

Judy Tierney has been presenting poems in Maine for several years and has been nourished in the garden of poetry over many life seasons. She was creator and host of a weekly radio program, “Walking in the Air,” celebrating poetry and its voices, on WRFR, Rockland’s community radio station.

Robin Jellis has performed in Maine for more than 10 years and has played with the Bangor Symphony. She is on the faculty of the Portland Conservatory of Music. Her music for The Thinking Heart is mostly improvisational, meditations inspired by the poems. There are quotes from Earnest Bloch’s Schelomo. Other influences include folk songs and J.S. Bach’s Suites for Unaccompanied cello. The final movement is an original piece by Jellis.

“The Thinking Heart” has been sponsored by the Maine Humanities Council & Maine Arts Commission

Martin Steingesser
Portland, Maine’s First Poet Laureate (2007-09)
www.martinsteingesser.com
www.MatchBook.org
PO Box 7575
Portland, Maine 04112-7575

We got your contact information from our peace alliances worldwide. Please take few minutes to read and share with your friends and network if you think it would benefit them.

After we accomplished our pilot project with young adults from 10 countries last February 2009 in Thailand, we’re ready to launch the Peace Revolution live project. The program is all about

Peace & Conflict Resolution

Mediation & Meditation

World Peace & Inner Peace

Self-Development & Transformation

and many more…

Presently, we have almost 900 participants from 121 countries registered for a unique online program provided free of charge. You’d better ascertain by clicking at http://www.peacerevolution2010.org/ for further details.

Also, we provide (limited) “Fellowship” to an international conference in February 2010 in Thailand especially for youth and young adult ages between 18-30 years who apply before October 31, 2009. Learn more at http://tinyurl.com/yfh5wak.

If you are the one who believe in this equation;

“Inner Peace + Outer Peace = Sustainable World Peace”,

let’s join force today!

We look forward to hearing from you soon.

With great respect and appreciation for your endeavor toward peace

Peace in…Peace out!

Peace Revolution Conference 2010

Visit our website: http://www.peacerevolution2010.org

Follow us on http://twitter.com/peacerevolution

Ms. Worakate Thangsurbkul
(PING PING)
T/F: +66-2831-2580
M: +66-83-540-6361, +66-86-334-4072

Peace Revolution pingping [at] peacerevolution2010 [dot] org www.peacerevolution2010.org

Friends of Lynne Williams, Green Independent Party candidate for governor, are putting the fun back into fundraiser.

On Sunday, February 21, 2010, 3:00 TO 6:00 PM, at Maine Street Cabaret And Lounge on Rt#1 in the center of Ogunquit

WE’RE PUTTING THE FUN BACK INTO FUND RAISER!

Jazz Trio — “Soulful Circle,” Featuring Vocalist BB Sanford

Speakers: Lisa Savage, Bruce Gagnon and Lynne Williams

All Proceeds Benefit The Lynne Williams For Maine Governor Campaign

Join The Movement!

“Let’s Elect A Governor Who Works For The People, Not Big Business”

Suggested contribution: $20 per person (but we’ll happily accept more)

STATEWIDE MAINE PPEHRC MEETING ON FEBRUARY 27, 11 AM-3 PM, PLEASANT STREET METHODIST CHURCH, 61 PLEASANT ST., WATERVILLE. (See directions to the church below)

PLEASE COME AND HELP US PUT ECONOMIC HUMAN RIGHTS ON EVERYONE’S AGENDA IN MAINE

Some possible items for the meeting (based on regional meeting on January 23, more to be added at meeting)

1. Grant funds for Maine PPEHRC and what do we do with them + set up an account to keep the money. Also, can we pay for travel for people coming to meetings?

2. Brochure for Maine PPEHRC + logo for us

3. Fall Convention—our goals, location/date, getting it started, planning committee

4. Outreach to schools, nonprofit groups, workers, etc. + film showings of “Explicit Ills”

5. Regional reports

LUNCH BREAK WITH POTLUCK MEAL. BRING SOMETHING TO SHARE.

For carpooling or if you need a ride, call or email Larry Dansinger, 525-7776 or rosc [at] psouth [dot] net

Directions to Pleasant Street Methodist Church: From I-95, take interstate to Exit 130. At bottom of ramp, turn right (if coming from south) or left (from north) onto Main Street heading to downtown Waterville. Go thru 2-3 traffic lights (Elm Plaza shopping Center), then another light (corner of Main and Eustis Parkway), then down a hill toward downtown. Just AFTER railroad tracks (before downtown), make a half right turn onto Pleasant Street (New Moon Rising food store on the right, Railroad Square Cinema sign on the left). Once on Pleasant Street, go one block to stop sign, go straight thru, then another block to a corner (Gilman Street) with Sacred Heart church on right and Pleasant Street Methodist Church just past that corner on your left. Turn left into parking lot next to the Methodist church. (The whole church has been rebuilt and is fully accessible—no steps to worry about).

16th Annual Gathering for Changing Maine “Practicing Nonviolence in Our Daily Lives and in the World ” Pine Tree State Arboretum, 153 Hospital St., Augusta

For more information Larry Dansinger, ROSC, (207) 525-7776 or rosc [at] psouth [dot] net

Why a Day to Learn about Nonviolence?

In a world filled with violence, how can we offer a different way to address problems and resolve conflicts?

Even though our ethical and religious or spiritual principles tell us not to use violence, it is the world norm. We have little knowledge of the history of nonviolence, from the abolitionists to women’s suffrage to the civil rights movement to today’s actions against oppression and the US war in the Middle East.

We revere icons of nonviolence like Martin Luther King Jr. and Mohandas Gandhi, but we don’t practice what they taught. Nor do most of us have the awareness, education, and training to use nonviolent action consistently instead of violence.

The messages we get from governments, the media, popular culture, workplaces, schools, the military and sometimes even religion and the family is that it’s OK to use violence.

Our goals for this day will be to:

• help all of us broaden our views of how nonviolence can be a force for positive change and effective action;
• help us (re-)evaluate the role of nonviolence in our daily lives;
• identify nonviolent options to use in situations where violence seems to be the norm;
• help us to practice using nonviolence on a daily basis.

Schedule for the Day:

8:30 AM — registration, read materials, relax, get ready

9 AM — Introductions

9:30 AM — What is nonviolence and why is it important?

9:40 AM — “Empathy for Activists”

10:45 AM — Break with “light n’ lively”

11:00 AM — “Communication Circles: an Exercise Exploring the Art of Talking and Listening”

12 noon — Lunch (potluck, bring food to share)

1:30 PM — Small groups looking at how to practice nonviolence in the world—Nonviolent Direct Action, Nonviolent Lifestyles, “Pro-Peace Messaging,” Nonviolence in Schools/Reducing aggression in children, Restorative Circles

3:00 PM —Break + light and lively

3:15 PM — Summary of highlights from small groups, sharing experiences, etc.

3:30 PM — Feelings about the day, where can we go from here, evaluation of the day.

4:00 PM — Finish and clean up

Some Facilitators (others to be added) of Small and Large Groups Include:

Peggy Smith — Maine Nonviolent Communications Network Peggy is the first Mainer to be certified by the Center for Nonviolent Communication (www.CNVC) as a trainer; offering workshops, seminars, and coaching to individuals, organizations and businesses.

Sue Rudalevige — Coordinator, Maine Alternatives to Violence Project Sue believes there is no peace without justice and has been an advocate for change in the criminal justice field for over 30 years.

Linda Coté-Small — Facilitator, Alternatives to Violence Project workshops Linda volunteers for the Alternatives to Violence Project (AVP) in Maine prisons, and has facilitated many workshops, including ones on “being peace” and the Earth Charter.

Wells Staley-Mays — Program Director for Peace Action Maine and Secretary, Maine Freedom Trails. Wells is a fan of writers and practitioners such as Adin Ballou, Gandhi, King, Tolstoy, and Alice Paul and has studied nonviolent movements, particularly the abolition of slavery, labor history, and the struggle for women’s rights.

Sally Breen — Action Committee, Peace Action Maine Sally is a long-time activist seeking to abolish nuclear weapons and all forms of war.

Chuck Saufler — Safe Schools for All Chuck was the coordinator of the Maine Project Against Bullying (1997-2000) and is founding member of the International Bullying Prevention Association.

Bob St. Peter — Director, Food for Maine’s Future Bob grows food and seeds with his family in Sedgwick and is editor of “Saving Seeds,” Maine’s food sovereignty journal.

Andrew Donaldson — Former Board Chair, Good Life Center Andrew lives on a small, non-electric homestead in Sedgwick.

April 10, 2010 St. Mary’s Nutrition Center, Lewiston 8:30am - 4:30pm

Food for Maine’s Future is pleased to announce that we are partnering with Lots to Gardens for our 5th Annual Local & Sustainable Food Conference. The theme of this year’s conference is Building Urban and Rural Alliances. We invite you to join us in starting a conversation about how Maine’s urban and rural communities can work together to build a just and sustainable food system in Maine.

The conference will be followed by our annual…

MUD SEASON DINNER

5:00pm
Great Maine food & keynote address followed by live music!

You are invited to participate in the HOPE Festival that will be held on Saturday, April 24th from 11-4 at the University of Maine in Orono.

Organizational Table Applications: http://tinyurl.com/y8lh47f

Food Vendor Applications: http://tinyurl.com/yg7ktr5

Program Advertising Applications: http://tinyurl.com/ybtb74a

We look forward to hearing form you soon!

Each spring the HOPE Festival (Help Organize Peace Earthwide) renews the hope we all have for a peaceful and sustainable future. Helen Nearing was the featured speaker at the first HOPE Festival fifteen years ago. While Earth Day was organized to raise awareness about the need to take care of the earth and practice conservation, the HOPE Festival has expanded to raise awareness around Earth Day about the many organizations working to take care of the earth and each other in our communities. This year more than 70 organizations, working in their own ways for a better world, will share information, provide demonstrations, sell buttons, t-shirts, and other products, and encourage participant involvement.

We are excited to be returning to the light and airy University of Maine Student Recreation and Fitness Center this year. It is an award winning Green Building with lots of windows. Highlights of this year’s festival will be a keynote talk by Betty Burkes, former president of Women’s International League for Peace & Freedom, a performance by renowned folk singers Emma’s Revolution, the amazing juggling of Zachary Field, songs from the Voices of HOPE Community Choir, and other lively entertainment, as well as fun and educational children’s activities and delicious food for sale from local producers.

Last year we strengthened the “Green Expo” component of the festival to highlight organizations working on environmental sustainability. This year we plan to have lots of interactive ways for people to learn how they can be active participants in saving the planet. We encourage groups working on issues of sustainability to bring information and plan demonstrations and activities to engage participants. Let us know if you have special projects we can promote ahead of time.

Rob Shetterly has designed a poster for us, which you may color and post in your community. Let us know if you can help promote HOPE in your neighborhood, and we will send you as many posters as you can use.

The festival is free because many volunteers, including the performers, donate their time, energy and talent to make this special day possible. Volunteers are needed, especially to set up on Saturday, April 24th from 7:00 - 10:00 a.m., throughout the day on Saturday, and to clean up. Email or call the Center if you can help before the Festival, or on the day itself.

SUNDAY, MAY 9

Church Center, 777 U.N. Plaza, 2nd Floor

New York City

Agenda

8:30 am – 11:30 am — Global Network Annual Membership Meeting

• Introductions
• Financial report
• Coordinator report
• Planning for Keep Space for Peace Week - October 2-9, 2010
• Review of plans for India space organizing conference October 9-12, 2010
• Board elections

12:00 – 1:00 pm — Lunch provided ($12 each)

1:15 – 1:30 pm — Welcome by GN Chair Dave Webb (CND-UK)

1:30 – 3:45 pm — Plenary Panel: Space Organizing Reports from Key International Activists

3:45 – 4:00 pm — Closing words

*** This GN annual meeting is being held in New York City in conjunction with other international events centered around the U.N.’s Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference.

Registration form (Please clip and return to the address just below)

__ I can provide home hospitality in NYC for people coming from a distance. Contact me.

__ I will be at the annual meeting for lunch. Enclosed is my $12

Name: ____________________________Organization: _____________________

Address: _________________________ City/State: ________________________

Postal Code: _________________

Country:_____________________________ Phone: ______________________

Email: _________________________________

(One easy way to pay the lunch fee is by using the internet. Go to our web site at www.space4peace.org and look for the red Donate Now! button and contribute via your credit card. In the comment section say it is for annual meeting lunch. This is a secure process.)

Global Network Against Weapons & Nuclear Power in Space
PO Box 652
Brunswick, ME 04011
(207) 443-9502
globalnet [at] mindspring [dot] com
www.space4peace.org
http://space4peace.blogspot.com/ (blog)

NAGPUR, INDIA

OCTOBER 9-12, 2010

October 9, 2010

11.00-12.00 Registration
12.00-13 00 Lunch
13.00-14.00 Welcome and Introduction
14.00-17.00 Plenary Session I: Can Humanity Survive?
- Weapons of Mass Destruction
- Climate Change and the role of Space Technologies
- Outcome of Nuclear Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Committee
- StratCom, Space Domination and Global Control
- Prevention of an Arms Race in Outer Space (PAROS)
- Climate Change,Violence and Political Control
17.00-18.00 Cultural Programme
18.00-20.00 Plenary Session II: Problems and Prospects of Nuclear Disarmament in Asia
- India, Pakistan and the NPT
- India Conflict with Pakistan (including Kashmir)
- India Conflict with China
- India-US Nuclear Deal
- South Korean and Japanese perspectives

October 10, 2010

09.00-11.00 Plenary Session III: The Danger of Missile Defense and Weaponization of Space in Asia
- Indian Space Program
- India and Missile Defense
- Drones in Pakistan
11.00-13.00 Plenary Session IV: Asia and Terrorism - The War In Afghanistan and the role of NATO
13.00 Lunch
15.00-17.00 Plenary Session V: Prospects of Asian Union
- Perspectives from around Asia
16.00-18.00 Adoption of Nagpur Declaration
20.00 Dinner

October 11, 2010 09.00-11.00 Global Network Annual Meeting and Strategy Discussion
11.00-12.00 Interaction with Youth Groups
12.00-14.00 Visits and presentations at Educational Institutions
14.00 Lunch
16.00-18.00 Sight seeing

October 12, 2010

Visit to Sewagram Ashram where Mahatma Gandhi spent time during the freedom struggle of India. The ashram served as the headquarters of Mahatma Gandhi for six years, from 1934 to 1940. Gandhi built the Sewagram Ashram himself, with the material that was available locally. He lived at the ashram, amidst lush green surroundings, without any facilities of electricity and telephone.

** If you have interest in attending this international space organizing conference please let us know as soon as possible so we can pre-arrange for housing, Visa’s, transportation and other important tasks. This will be an exceptional life changing experience for all of us.

Global Network Against Weapons & Nuclear Power in Space
PO Box 652
Brunswick, ME 04011
(207) 443-9502
globalnet [at] mindspring [dot] com
www.space4peace.org
http://space4peace.blogspot.com/