Dearest All,

Good day, thanx for the invite, I'm glad to be here. Thanx for posting! I hope you and yours are well and will continue to be. Cool group. Good lines of inquiry and questions. One needs only to compare European crime and punishment systems with the US to understand clearly that "we, the people" are allowing our gov't, with its injustice system, to devolve our society by manufacturing a permanent underclass by which the permanent overclass only makes ever increasing amounts of gov't welfare; feeding on taxpayers. See Finland's for example! We incarcerate 30 % of the world's prisoners, while we're only 5 % of the world's population! I've never been a prisoner, yet, could have been due to my political and social work, yet, avoided it for my for my families' sake. Pass them on 
STOP CHILD EXECUTIONS: Here and abroad  A.I.
http://www.geocities.com/alabamajuveniles/AI_petition.html
CHILD EXECUTIONS: A History
http://www.amnestyusa.org/abolish/juve.html
Alabama juvenile Death Penalty Project
http://www.geocities.com/alabamajuveniles/
Death Penalty Information Center
http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/index.php
American Bar Association Juvenile Justice Center
http://www.abanet.org/crimjust/juvjus/home.html
www.congress.org or www.fcln.org
http://www.petitiononline.com/LERA/petition.html

Act Now:
http://takeaction.amnestyusa.org/ctt.asp?u=253792&l=10673
- - - - - - - - - - - -
RESOURCES ONLINE
 The Program to Abolish the Death Penalty updates the information below on
a regular basis. Follow the links below for the latest information on these topics.
 Pending Executions:
http://takeaction.amnestyusa.org/ctt.asp?u=253792&l=10595 
 Case Updates:
http://takeaction.amnestyusa.org/ctt.asp?u=253792&l=10596 
 Select State and National Updates:
http://takeaction.amnestyusa.org/ctt.asp?u=253792&l=10597 
 Upcoming Events:
http://takeaction.amnestyusa.org/ctt.asp?u=253792&l=10598
All, what do you think? Lest "we" forget, if you don't exercise responsibility, its Siamese sister, freedom, will wither, as well. Sadly, now, it first needs to be exorcized before its exercised. Copy, share, as you will. Enjoy an estival eve'. I look forward....
 
Matutinally Yours,        james m nordlund      reality (aja)
 
Disabled Greens News and discussion
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DisabledGreensNews/ ,
Abuse in Therapy  http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/AbuseinTherapy/
Diffabled, Mental Health, all related issues, advocacy, and professionals:
Invite link: http://passport.care2.net/invite.html?g=880   Homepage:
http://www.care2.com/c2c/group/Diffabled_MentalHealth_Action  Bye.

 [ send green star]

From: "james m nordlund" <reality@kans.com>
To: <gaias-cafe@gn.apc.org>
Subject: [CUADPUpdate] MOVEMENT DISPATCH: ABOLITION DAY is upon us!
Date: Wednesday, February 23, 2005 5:05 AM

Sent to EVERY Abolitionist - at least once!
Please excuse cross-posts, Please forward

The following is brought to you as a service from Citizens United for
Alternatives to the Death Penalty (CUADP).  Visit CUADP on the web at
http://www.CUADP.org

****************************************************
INTERNATIONAL DEATH PENALTY ABOLITION DAY IS JUST DAYS AWAY....

Citizens United for Alternatives to the Death Penalty (CUADP) reminds you
that March 1st, International Death Penalty Abolition Day, is just DAYS
away....  Visit http://www.cuadp.org/abolitionday.html for details.

GET IN THE PRESS RELEASE
CUADP will issue a press release regarding Abolition Day events nationwide
on Thursday, February 24th, 2005.  Please submit your plans via the CUADP
Upcoming Death Penalty Related Events Calendar submission form at
http://www.cuadp.org/upevents.html .  All events will be listed on the
calendar and on the Abolition Day site at
http://www.cuadp.org/abolitionday.html .

AGAIN:  Please submit your events as soon as possible, and not later than
8pm WEDNESDAY, February 23 to be included in the national press
release.   ALL EVENTS BETWEEN NOW AND MARCH 21 CAN BE INCLUDED!!!

It's not difficult to add your event.  Go to
http://www.cuadp.org/upevents.html , click on "LIST YOUR EVENTS" and
filled
in the very simple form.  Or send the details to  <pam@cuadp.org>, who
will
format your submission and put it on the web site.  People do look at this
site - more than 400 distinct visitors every day!  Let CUADP help attract
people to YOUR events!

PLANNED EVENTS FOR WHICH WE HAVE RECEIVED DETAILS ARE POSTED AT
http://www.cuadp.org/abday2005.html - INCLUDING EVENTS IN

OHIO
TENNESSEE
PENNSYLVANIA
FLORIDA
GEORGIA
MASSACHUSETTES
NEBRASKA
OREGON
TEXAS
CALIFORNIA
CANADA

WE KNOW THERE IS MUCH MORE GOING ON - PLEASE SUBMIT YOUR EVENTS!

****************************************************
WALK THE TALK, WITH ABOLITIONWEAR!

Amy Luftig, Amnesty International's Area Coordinator for Washington State,
recently e-mailed...

"I got the shirt and LOVE it.  You should know that I wore it to breakfast
in my Seattle neighborhood last weekend, and got a few "thumbs up!" from
restaurant patrons and passers by."

                IF YOU'RE NOT WEARING THE MESSAGE
          YOU'VE MISSED AN OPPORTUNITY TO EDUCATE

Let AbolitionWear do the talking!  One of our challenges is to heighten
the
visibility of the anti-death penalty movement.  Wear a T-shirt,
sweatshirt,
hat, or a button and give the cashier, the bank teller, or whomever else
you encounter the chance to get the facts from someone who knows why the
death penalty is bad public policy.  Or if you don't like to talk, simply
hand them one of the handy dandy fact sheets that comes with any order!

All shirts are 100% preshrunk cotton.  Minimum donation is $14 for 1, $13
each for 2-5, $12 each for 6 or more.  Please note that these suggested
minimum donations are the same for all sizes, from  small - XXXXXL*.  (*
Sadly, our printers can't always get quality 100% cotton garments in the
larger sizes (4x & 5x).  Therefore, sometimes the material for these sizes
will be 50/50.  We regret that manufacturer bias limits our ability to
give
you the same as everyone else.  BUT, know that while our cost to produce
these is higher, your minimum suggested donation is exactly the same as
that for those who wear size small.  We love all abolitionists!)

Check out AbolitionWear at http://www.cuadp.org/abolitionwear.html

*******************
OTHER CALENDAR EVENTS

Check out the Calendar of Upcoming Death Penalty Related Events at
http://www.cuadp.org/upevents.html

This page is now linked from many other activist organizations and
calendars, and is one of the most visited pages on the CUADP site.  The
calendar allows you to sort by state, and it also archives past events so
you can see what others have done to set some ideas for things you and
your
group can do!  Check it out!

****************************************************
GET CUADPupdate!

Get much more on CUADPUpdate.  If your subject line does not start with
"[cuadpupdate]", then you are not reading this message via CUADPUpdate. 
If
you want more of this sort of news, as well as many other useful tidbits,
not more than 15 times a month, then try CUADPUpdate by sending a message
to <cuadpupdate-subscribe@cuadp.org>.  Join nearly 4,000 other
abolitionists who receive CUADPUpdate - give it a try!

****************************************************
SUPPORT CUADP!!!

It doesn't happen without YOUR help....

Please join those who have kept CUADP/FADP going with whatever amount you
can offer  [ send green star]

New Orleans: Prisoners Abandoned to Floodwaters: Human Rights Watch
From: http://hrw.org/english/docs/2005/09/22/usdom11773.htm
HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH
New Orleans: Prisoners Abandoned to Floodwaters
Officers Deserted a Jail Building, Leaving Inmates Locked in Cells

 [ send green star]

Yes, tragic....

jmn

 [ send green star]

Dear All,

Hello. Good Day. Very cool responses, thanx!  I hope you and yours are well and will continue to be.  Happy holidays!  I've been an advocate/activist on homelessness, et al, for 31 years of my 46; please, do what you can for humanity.     Dylan Thomas' poem comes to mind     "...and death (murder) shall have no dominion...".; as others might say, "we, the people..." can make it so!  What do you think?   From the heart in the heart of the heartland.  Some groups I  moderate    Disabled Greens News and discussion, Group home page
"http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DisabledGreensNews/" ,
Abuse in Therapy, Group homepage
"http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/AbuseinTherapy/"
Diffabled, Mental Health, all related issues, advocacy, and
professionals:
Invite link: "http://passport.care2.net/invite.html?g=880" Homepage:
"http://www.care2.com/c2c/group/Diffabled_MentalHealth_Action"
"Painting is poetry which is seen and not heard, and poetry is a
painting which is heard but not seen." ~ Leonardo da Vinci  Enjoy a festive eve' as you can. Copy, share, as you will. Lest "we" forget, if you don't exercise responsibility, its Siamese sister, freedom, will wither, as well.  Sadly, now, it first needs to be exorcized be fore its exercised. Viva la evolution!

Matutinally Yours,             james m nordlund   reality (aja)

For those interested  "of or pertaining to the morning, day: relating
to or happening in the morning or in the early part of the day (formal),
(Mid-16th century, from late Latin matutinalis, from Matuta, goddess of the dawn.)" Music is life's song accompanying the abundance of joy's Spring.  I look forward to hearing from you. Goodbye.

 [ send green star]

Upcoming Events: Discussion on Life without Parole for Child
Offenders; AGM Early Bird Deadline Approaches
Ask Amnesty: Life without Parole for Child Offenders in the United
States

Please join David Berger, pro bono counsel to Amnesty International
USA, to discuss the key findings of the report, The Rest of Their
Lives: Life without Parole for Child Offenders in the United States,
and learn why the sentence of life without the possibility of parole
is never appropriate for youth offenders.

Around the world, children can and do commit terrible crimes. But
the United States is one of only a handful of countries that
sentence children to life imprisonment without parole.Today, there
are 2,225 such youth in prisons throughout the country. In the
thirteen other countries that still have laws allowing for the
sentence, there are only about a dozen youth serving life without
parole. Such worldwide rejection of the sentence is due in part to
the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which prohibits
sentencing child offenders to life without the possibility of
release.

The recently released report by Amnesty International and Human
Rights Watch, The Rest of Their Lives: Life without Parole for Child
Offenders in the United States, is the first ever study of youth
offenders sentenced to life without parole in the United States.
Drawing on unique data analysis and hundreds of letters and
interviews, this report presents the history of the life without
parole sentence, explores the rate and prevalence of its use
nationwide and state by state, and examines the backgrounds of youth
serving the sentence as well as their experiences in adult prison.

Please join David Berger, pro bono counsel to Amnesty International
USA, to discuss the key findings of the report, and why the sentence
of life without the possibility of parole is never appropriate for
youth offenders.
» Submit a question

http://www.amnestyusa.org/askamnesty/live/display.php?topic=49

» Read more

http://www.amnestyusa.org/news/document.do?id=ENGUSA2005101205002

Amnesty International USA Annual General Meeting Early Bird
Registration Deadline Approaches

You are cordially invited to participate in the 2006 Annual General
Meeting (AGM) April 28-30 in Portland, Oregon. Now more then ever,
the victims of hate, torture and injustice need the members and
activists of Amnesty International USA to make some noise for human
rights at high volume! Sign up by January 31st and save on
registration.
» Register now

+++++++++++++++++++++++
Do not reply to this message. Messages sent to this email address
are not read. If you have a question or comment, please use our
interactive online help system.





Tell the truth about torture, Mr. President
Two weeks left until the STATE OF THE UNION JAN 31 2006
Dear Friend,

The White House has dodged the truth about torture for too long.
With reports of American acts of torture in the news every day, it
is imperative that the President and his administration end the
secrecy and end the torture.

You and I have a critical opportunity right now to demand that
President Bush tell the truth and to call for accountability through
an independent investigation. Click here to ask President Bush for
the truth during his State of the Union address and demand that
torture in our names is never committed again.

With your help, Amnesty International can continue our unwavering
pursuit of truth and justice by urging the United States to defend
human rights principles. Secret prisons and the outsourcing of
torture to countries including Syria and Egypt are unacceptable and
undermine human rights.

Together we can tell the Bush administration that torture is not a
part of our American values. We can urge Congress to stop the
President from allowing any future acts of torture and inhumane
treatment. And we can join together as Americans who will not allow
our government to hide the facts about torture any longer.

We only have two weeks until President Bush addresses our nation.
Join us and demand the truth about torture and justice for acts that
have already been committed. Click here and call for the end of
torture.

Sincerely,

Bill Schulz
Executive Director

http://www.tellthetruthabouttorture.org/site/c.fgLRI3OCKnF/b.1354133/
k.B617/TellTheTruthAboutTortureorg/apps/ka/ct/contactcustom.asp?
msource=ttat1dp&auid=1343401

P.S. After you sign the petition, spread the truth. Pass the
petition along to friends and make sure the President comes clean
about American acts of torture.

http://www.tellthetruthabouttorture.org/c.fgLRI3OCKnF/b.1344283/k.8F74/Spread_the_Word/siteapps/email/spreadWord.aspx?
sid=106088110&msource=ttat1dp&auid=1343403&kntaw13987=2EC48C3A2D6748F
693DA40FACD55558F

 [ send green star]

Greetings!
Anti-Death Penalty Alternative Spring Break is next week, March 13-17. The
workshops and activities are open to everyone, so take a look at the
schedule below and email Texas Students Against the Death Penalty at
hooman@texasabolition.org, if you would like to attend any or all of the
events.

Tuesday, March 7, is election day. The Republicans and Democrats are holding
primaries. Please get out and vote in the primary of the party of your
choice. After you vote, return to the voting place at 7:15 PM an attend the
precinct convention of whichever party primary you voted in. One of the
tasks at the conventions will be to consider resolutions. Here is a
moratorium resolution written for the Republican Party and here is a
moratorium resolution written for the Democratic Party.Take a copy of the
resolutions to the convention you attend and ask that it be passed.

The first of four executions scheduled in Texas this month takes place March
15, which is a Wednesday. Take action against the execution of Tommie Hughes
by sending an email to Governor Perry.

http://www.democracyinaction.org/dia/organizationsORG/tmn/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=2867

When writing Governor Perry to express your opposition to the execution,
please remember to ask him to express your sympathies to the friends and
families of Foluke Erinkitola and Roxanne Mendoza, who were the victims in
this case.

We are renting a bus and making a trip to Huntsville on March 15 as part of
alternative spring break to protest the execution on March 15. If you would
like to get on the bus and go with us, email hooman@texasabolition.org to
get on the list. Spring Break participants have first priority on the bus
seats, but there should be a few extra seats available. Former death house
chaplain Rev Carroll Pickett will meet with the group in Huntsville to talk
with them about his experiences ministering to 95 people before their
executions.

MTV is also coming along to Hunstville as part of their coverage of spring
break.

We continue to get some amazing submissions to our death penalty art show,
Justice for All?: Artists Reflect on the Death Penalty. The deadline for
submissions is March 20.

If you would like to help us pay for the bus trip to Hunstville, please
consider sending us a donation by check to Texas Moratorium Network, 3616
Far West Blvd, suite 117, Box 251, Austin, Tx 78731 or just click here and
donate by paypal.

We recently discovered a cool new service called TextPayMe, which allows you
to send money to others via a text message on your cell phone.

Click the banner below to check it out and sign up for free. They'll even
deposit five dollars in your TextPayMe account when you sign up. No kidding.
You get $5 for free. It costs you nothing. So sign up by clicking on the
link below, get your $5 for free, and then you can help us out by donating
the $5 to Texas Moratorium Network, so that we can raise some funds to help
pay for the bus trip to Huntsville.

And, if 35 more people sign up via the link below, TextPayMe will give us an
XBOX 360, which we will then auction on Ebay and raise some more money for
the trip.

It is very easy to use. To donate to TMN, just follow the instructions and
text the message to the cell phone number 512-689-1544.

.
Sincerely,

Your Friends at Texas Moratorium Network

Anti-Death Penalty Alternative Spring Break, March 13-17 in Austin.

Texas Students Against the Death Penalty is working hard preparing for this
year's Anti-Death Penalty Alternative Spring Break, March 13-17 in Austin.
Plans for this year include a bus trip from Austin to Huntsville to protest
the scheduled execution of Tommie Hughes on March 15. There will also be a
visit to the Texas Prison Museum in Huntsville.

Google Video has a 13 minute video of last year's anti-death penalty
alternative spring break produced by Sarah Garrahan. We encourage everyone
to video their anti- death penalty events and post them to Google Video.

This will be a hands-on experience for students, who will plan and carry out
various activities, including a protest in Huntsville. Students will gain
valuable training and experience in grassroots organizing, lobbying,
preparing a direct action, media relations and other skills. They can apply
what they learn against the death penalty or in their activities involving
other issues.

Housing is available for a fee of $25 We will house participants in rooms at
a dormitory near the University of Texas at Austin. Most students will be at
The Goodall Wooten, a few people will stay somewhere else. Students will
share the room with one or two other people. To register, contact Hooman
Hedayati at: hooman@texasabolition.org

There is no participation fee for the Anti-Death Penalty Alternative Spring
Break except for those people who need housing. The fee for housing is $25,
which covers the entire week.

email: admin@texasmoratorium.org
phone: 512-302-6715
web: http://www.texasmoratorium.org

 [ send green star]

2 Executions in Texas in last week of April
 April 24, 2006
in this issue

Call the Governor to Protest the Executions of Pedro Sosa and Derrick
Frazier

Death Penalty Art Show

Volunteer with us at the Democratic State Convention in Fort Worth

Prosecutor Owns Up to Going After Innocent Man

Update on Ruben Cantu Case

Volunteer With Us!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Quick Links
Cell Phone Text Alerts on Execution Days

Texas Students Against the Death Penalty

Find out who represents you in the Texas Legislature

Houston Crime Lab Scandal

Death Row Database

Balancing the Scales Video - Why Texas Needs a Moratorium on Executions

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Please Contact

Governor Rick Perry
Office of the Governor
PO Box 12428
Austin, TX 787112418
Phone: (512) 463 2000
Fax: (512) 463 1849

Board of Pardons and Paroles
Attn: Rissie L. Owens
Executive Clemency Section
PO Box 13401, Capitol Station
Austin, TX 78711
Phone: (512) 406 5852
Fax: (512) 467 0945

Write a Letter to the Editor

Austin American Statesman
P.O. Box 670
Austin, TX 78767
Phone: (512) 445-3667
Fax: (512) 445- 3679
Email: Online Form to Send Letter to Statesman

Dallas Morning News
2726 S. Beckley
Dallas, TX 75224
Phone: (214) 977- 8494
Fax: (972) 263-0456
Email: Online Form to Write a Letter to DMN

Houston Chronicle
P.O. Box 4260
Houston, TX 77210
Phone: (713) 220- 7491
Fax: (713) 220-3575
Email: viewpoints@chron.com

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

Statewide Execution Vigils
Huntsville - Corner of 12th Street and Avenue I (in front of the Walls Unit)
at 5:00 p.m.

Austin - At the Governor's Mansion on the Lavaca St. side between 10th and
11th St. from 5:30 to 6:30 PM.

Beaumont - Diocese of Beaumont, Diocesan Pastoral Office, 703 Archie St. @
4:00 p.m. on the day of an execution.

College Station - 5:30 to 6 PM, east of Texas A &M campus at the corner of
Walton and Texas Ave. across the street from the main entrance.

Corpus Christi - at 6 PM in front of Incarnate Word Convent at 2910 Alameda
Street

Dallas - 5:30 pm, at the SMU Women's Center, 3116 Fondren Drive

Houston - In March and April, execution vigils will be held from 5:30 to
6:20 on days of executions on Houston Ave. at Lubbock, across Houston Ave.
from the Municipal Courts Buildings. The parking lot of St. Joseph's Church
is at this corner and will be available for parking.

McKinney - St. Gabriel the Archangel Catholic Community located at 110 St.
Gabriel Way @ 6:00 p.m. on the day of an execution.

San Antonio (Site 1) - Archdiocese of San Antonio, in the St. Joseph Chapel
at the Chancery, 2718 W. Woodlawn Ave. (1 mile east of Bandera Rd.) at 11:30
a.m. on the day of execution. Broadcast on Catholic Television of San
Antonio (Time-Warner cable channel 15) at 12:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. on the
day of execution.

San Antonio (Site 2) - Main Plaza across from Bexar County Courthouse and
San Fernando Cathedral - Noon

Spring - Prayer Vigil at 6 PM on evenings of executions at St Edward
Catholic Community, 2601 Spring Stuebner Rd for the murder victim, for
family and friends of the murder victim, the prison guards and correctional
officers, for the family of the condemn man/woman, for the man/woman to be
executed and to an end to the death penalty.

Visit Our Website

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

 More Quick Links...
Our Website
Death Penalty Information Center
Texas Department of Criminal Justice Death Row Page
More About Us
  Greetings!
There are two executions scheduled in Texas this week. Take action against
the execution of Pedro Sosa on April 25 by sending an email to Governor
Perry. When writing Governor Perry to express your opposition to the
execution, please remember to ask him to express your sympathies to the
friends and family of the victim - Ollie "Sammy" Childress.

Take action against the execution of Derrick Frazier on April 27 by sending
an email to Governor Perry. When writing Governor Perry to express your
opposition to the execution, please remember to ask him to express your
sympathies to the friends and family of the victims - Cody and Betsy Nutt.

If you would like to volunteer at the TMN booth at the Texas Democratic
Party June 8-10 in Fort Worth, please reply to this email and let us know. We need about 10 volunteers to help us collect petition signatures at the convention. In 2004, we collected more than 1700 signatures at the convention in Houston with the help of a dedicated group of volunteers. In 2004, TMN's Scott Cobb was on the platform writing committee prior to the convention and he persuaded the party to endorse a moratorium in the party platform. This year, our goal is to keep support for a moratorium in the platform. We need your help though, so please volunteer! 

Our death penalty art show is right around the corner.

Read the rest of the article

:: admin@texasmoratorium.org
:: http://www.texasmoratorium.org

:: 512-302-6715

 [ send green star]

Get Ready for the National Weekend of Faith in Action on the Death Penalty!
Amnesty International USA's National Weekend of Faith in Action on the Death
Penalty (NWFA) will take place October 20-22. The NWFA is an occasion for
faith communities, interfaith groups, human rights activists, and
individuals to examine the death penalty from the perspective of their own
faith traditions and values. Set aside some time that weekend for an
activity or event that focuses on the death penalty, using the ideas and
resources provided by AIUSA as your guide.
» Join us today!

http://www.amnestyusa.org/faithinaction/index.html?tr=y&auid=1943690

RESOURCES ONLINE

The Program to Abolish the Death Penalty updates the information below on a
regular basis. Follow the links below for the latest information on these
topics:
Pending Executions | Case Updates | Select State and National Updates |
Upcoming Events

National Weekend of Faith in Action
October 20-22

Crosses placed to mark the 1000th execution in the U.S.© AI

Register for the NWFA and receive an organizing packet with all of the
resources you will need to hold an event in your community.

DEATH PENALTY NEWS
» Read our blog for the latest news and reports

http://blogs.amnestyusa.org/death-penalty?tr=y&auid=1943697

The Journey of Hope... from Violence to Healing
The Journey of Hope is an annual event in which murder victims' family
members, exonerated death row inmates, and families of the executed, share
their personal stories, speaking from their hearts. It begins on October 13
in Northern Virginia (near Washington, D.C.) and will continue throughout
the state and reach Richmond on the second weekend, where Sister Helen
Prejean will join the Journey. This will be a special weekend for the
Journey as it is also Amnesty International's National Weekend of Faith in
Action. The Virginia Journey will conclude in conjunction with the annual
NCADP Conference in Fairfax, Virginia on October 27-29.

 [ send green star]

Thanx a bunch  

Disabled Greens News and discussion:
http://www.groups.yahoo.com/group/DisabledGreensNews/ 
Abuse in Therapy:
http://www.health.groups.yahoo.com/group/AbuseinTherapy/ 
Diffabled, Mental Health, activism and advocacy, for all...
http://www.care2.com/c2c/group/Diffabled_MentalHealth_Action   
reality's webpage/blog   http://360.yahoo.com/jamesmnordlund 

 [ send green star]

World Day of Action, Tuesday
Dear James,

Join us on Tuesday, October 10, as activists around the world mark the
annual World Day Against the Death Penalty.

http://www.amnestyusa.org/abolish/worldday.html?tr=y&auid=2046755

Help us raise awareness on the egregious failures of justice occurring in
China, Iran, Saudi Arabia, the U.S. and Nigeria by taking action on five
individual cases.

The cases highlight five critical aspects of injustice involving the death
penalty:

Innocence

http://takeaction.amnestyusa.org/siteapps/advocacy/index.aspx?c=goJTI0OvElH&b=953489&template=x.ascx&action=7574&tr=y&auid=2046874

Execution of child offenders

http://takeaction.amnestyusa.org/siteapps/advocacy/index.aspx?c=goJTI0OvElH&b=953489&template=x.ascx&action=7576&tr=y&auid=2046889

Discrimination against foreign nationals

http://takeaction.amnestyusa.org/siteapps/advocacy/index.aspx?c=goJTI0OvElH&b=953489&template=x.ascx&action=7553&tr=y&auid=2046904

Mental illness

http://takeaction.amnestyusa.org/siteapps/advocacy/index.aspx?c=goJTI0OvElH&b=953489&template=x.ascx&action=7578&tr=y&auid=2046924

Unfair trials

http://takeaction.amnestyusa.org/siteapps/advocacy/index.aspx?c=goJTI0OvElH&b=953489&template=x.ascx&action=7579&tr=y&auid=2046929

Get involved »

http://www.amnestyusa.org/abolish/worldday.html?tr=y&auid=2046701

And please join us for an online discussion with Georgetown Islamic studies
professor Najam Haider, who will answer your questions about the death
penalty in classical Islamic law on Tuesday from 12-1pm EDT.
Submit your questions in advance »

http://www.amnestyusa.org/askamnesty/live/display.php?topic=75&tr=y&auid=2046829

Thank you for your participation in this Fourth Annual World Day Against the
Death Penalty!

Sincerely,
Kristin Houlé
Program to Abolish the Death Penalty Associate
Amnesty International USA

 [ send green star]

National Coalition to Abolish the

 Death Penalty

 e - @ b o l i t i o n i s t
October 2006

Please forward and cross-post

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 http://tinyurl.com/jym7e
Seven Inmates scheduled for execution in October

Seven inmates are scheduled to be executed in

October.  The first execution is scheduled for Oct. 18,

with three final executions scheduled to occur on Oct.

25.  Those scheduled to be executed include one man

whose trial depended upon testimony from an

unreliable man and another who suffers from

alcoholism and possible post traumatic stress disorder

from his service in Vietnam. 

Michael Johnson, who maintains his innocence, is

scheduled to be executed by the state of Texas on

Oct. 19.
Arthur Rutherford is scheduled to be executed on

Oct. 18 by the state of Florida, despite the fact that

his counsel failed to present his mental and

psychological problems during his trial.

Read more about these and the other cases below -- and ACT!
Do Not Execute Michael Johnson!

Michael Johnson maintains that his accomplice, David

Vest, is responsible for the murder of Jeff Wetterman. 

Vest confessed to the crime, yet the prosecutor

withheld this information from the defense counsel. 

The prosecutor then called Vest as a witness, who

stated under oath that Johnson killed Wetterman.  In

return, Vest received a lighter prison sentence for his

confession.  The state illegally withheld this

confession, and also allowed Vest to commit perjury by

making two different statements under oath. 

This demonstrates that death row inmates often do

not receive effective counsel.  One judge even

acknowledged the “troubling record of the State’s

inconsistent pretrial and trial strategy with respect to

the two codefendents.”

ACT NOW by contacting Gov. Rick Perry requesting

that he stop the execution of Michael Johnson! Read

More and Take Action at:

http://tinyurl.com/groxs

<MORE at links>

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Help Prevent HIV in Federal Prisons

Request for Organizational Sign-on

There is a disproportionately high rate of HIV/AIDS among incarcerated
persons, especially for African-American and Latino inmates. Approximately
25 percent of people living with HIV/AIDS in the U.S. pass through
correctional facilities each year, and the rate of confirmed AIDS cases is
three times higher among incarcerated individuals than in the general
population.

Please sign on to the statement below and join the list of organizations
endorsing Rep. Barbara Lee's new bill in Congress for evidence-based HIV
prevention measures in federal prisons. The JUSTICE Act of 2006 (H.R.
6038)
would allow community-based organizations to provide condoms to inmates,
encourage increased voluntary testing and counseling, and require the
Attorney General to develop a five-year plan to reduce STI incidence.

To sign-on, send an email to sean@champnetwork.org with your organization
as
you would like it to be listed and the city/state where your main office
is.
Deadline to sign-on (although weąll continue taking endorsements):
November
10th.

This sign-on statement and JUSTICE Act legislation are available for
download at http://www.champnetwork.org/index.php?name=JUSTICE-Act

Please contact me at sean@champnetwork.org if you have any questions.

October 26th, 2006

Statement of Support for the JUSTICE Act of 2006

We the undersigned organizations endorse the Justice for the Unprotected
Against Sexually Transmitted Infections among the Confined and Exposed
(JUSTICE) Act of 2006[1], introduced by Representative Barbara Lee on
September 14, 2006.  We are local, regional, and national HIV/AIDS
organizations representing people living with HIV/AIDS, advocates, and
providers who are committed to evidence-based approaches to disease
prevention in our communities.

The JUSTICE Act would have a substantial impact on reducing transmission
of
HIV and other STIs by allowing community-based organizations to make
condoms
available in federal prisons, as well as expand STI education and
voluntary
testing and counseling.  In addition, the legislation would expand
research
on STIs in correctional settings and require the Attorney General to
develop
a five-year plan to reduce STI rates in those settings.

There is a disproportionately high rate of HIV/AIDS among incarcerated
persons, especially for African-American and Latino inmates.
Approximately
25 percent of people living with HIV/AIDS in the U.S. pass through
correctional facilities each year, and the rate of confirmed AIDS cases is
three times higher among incarcerated individuals than in the general
population.  A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) study in
2005 confirmed that HIV transmission does occur in prisons and recommended
prison authorities consider making condoms available.[2]

Successful condom availability programs are already underway in statewide
prison systems in Mississippi and Vermont, the District of Columbia, and
in
county jails in Los Angeles, New York City, Philadelphia, and San
Francisco.
Common arguments against making condoms available have been refuted by the
experience from these programs.  There is no evidence that condoms have
been
used as a weapon or otherwise posed major threats to security, or that
their
availability has led to increased sexual activity among inmates.  This
public health intervention has also been endorsed by leading HIV and STI
prevention experts like the American Public Health Association (APHA) and
the World Health Organization (WHO).

We urge members of Congress to co-sponsor this visionary legislation that
will help incarcerated persons protect their health and the health of the
communities that the vast majority of them will ultimately return to.

Signed,

[List in formation]

ACT UP Austin, Austin, TX
ACT UP Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA
AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), Lose Angeles, CA
AIDS Project Los Angeles (APLA), Los Angeles, CA
BIENESTAR, Southern California
Center for Health Justice, West Hollywood, CA
Community HIV/AIDS Mobilization Project (CHAMP), Providence, RI
Gay Menąs Health Crisis (GMHC), New York, NY
National Minority AIDS Council (NMAC), Washington, DC
San Francisco AIDS Foundation (SFAF), San Francisco, CA
Southern California HIV Advocacy Coalition (SCHAC)
The AIDS Institute (TAI), Washington, DC

[1] Bill number H.R. 6083

[2] CDC. HIV Transmission Among Male Inmates in a State Prison System ---
Georgia, 1992<2005. MMWR 2006:55:421-426.
--
Lei Chou, Director of Mobilization
CHAMP - Community HIV/AIDS Mobilization Project
32 Broadway, Suite 1801
New York, NY 10004
t. 212.937.7955 x. 4
c. 646-342-4191
F. 401.633.7793
leichou@champnetwork.org
www.champnetwork.org

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Immigrant Detainees Treatment Unconstitutional; US Death Exceed 9/11 Count;
Bush's Worst Lies of '06; McCain's Shameless Call / Escalation in Iraq;
Soldiers Call / Iraq Withdrawal; Powell: Army Is Almost Broken; FBI:
Military Recruiters Ran Cocaine; Cheney to Be Defense Witness: CIA Leak Case

US Deaths in Iraq Exceed 9/11 Count
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/122606J.shtml
On Tuesday, the US military announced the deaths of six more American
soldiers, pushing the US military death toll since the beginning of the Iraq
War in March 2003 to at least 2,978 - five more than the number killed in
the September 11 attacks in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania.

Eleanor Clift | Bush's Worst Lies of 2006
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/122406A.shtml
"In the spirit of holding our political leaders accountable, this year-end
review will tabulate the worst lies told by Bush and company, along with
several stories that were underreported in the media," says Eleanor Clift.
"Much of what was generated got lost in the fog of war, but the long arm of
history will retrieve these moments."

Cheney to Be Defense Witness in CIA Leak Case
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/121906R.shtml
Vice President Dick Cheney will be called as a defense witness in the CIA
leak case, an attorney for Cheney's former chief of staff told a federal
judge Tuesday.

FBI: Military Recruiters Ran Cocaine
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/121806A.shtml
A Midtown strip mall that should have housed the best of the best served as
Corruption Central in Tucson. Two military recruiting stations sit
side-by-side there, one run by the Army, the other by the Marines. Between
them, a total of seven recruiters were on the take, secretly accepting
bribes to transport cocaine, even as most spent their days visiting local
high schools. They had help from several more recruiters at an Army National
Guard office, where one
recruiter was said to be selling cocaine from the trunk of his recruiting
vehicle.

Colin Powell: "Army Is Almost Broken"
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/121806J.shtml
Former secretary of state Colin L. Powell said today that the United States
is losing what he described as a "civil war" in Iraq and that he is not
persuaded an increase in US troops there would reverse the situation.

FOCUS | About Face: Soldiers Call for Iraq Withdrawal
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/121606Z.shtml
An organized, robust movement of active-duty US military personnel has
publicly surfaced to oppose a war in which they are serving. Those involved
plan to petition Congress to withdraw American troops from Iraq. Not since
1969, when some 1,300 active-duty military personnel signed an open letter
in the New York Times opposing the war in Vietnam, has there been such a
dramatic barometer of rising military dissent.

Allan Uthman | McCain's Shameless Call for Escalation in Iraq
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/121506A.shtml
Allen Uthman writes: "Early indicators of the depths to which McCain will
stoop to win include his freshly-appointed campaign manager, professional
scumbag Terry Nelson. Nelson, Bush's national political director for his
2004 re-election campaign and an unindicted co-conspirator named in Tom
Delay's money-laundering indictment, is responsible for the infamous
below-the-belt white bimbo ad that helped sink Harold Ford Jr.'s senatorial
campaign this year by
exciting the powerful anti-miscegenation Neanderthal demographic in
Tennessee.  The appallingly racist ad drew so much heat that Nelson was
fired by Wal-Mart, but McCain apparently has lower standards."

Judge: Immigrant Detainees' Treatment Unconstitutional
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/121406R.shtml
In the first legal decision on a federal law that denies access to US courts
to detainees in the war on terrorism, a federal judge ruled Wednesday that
foreign prisoners held at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, could not sue for freedom.
But, in a split decision, US District Judge James Robertson also ruled that
the law's denial of that right to the more than 12 million legal immigrants
living in the United States was unconstitutional.

VIDEO | Army Targets Truthout for Subpoenas in Watada Case
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/121306J.shtml
In a case that cuts right to the heart of the First Amendment, a US Army
prosecutor has indicated he intends to subpoena Truthout Executive Director
Marc Ash, a Truthout reporter, and two of the nonprofit news organization's
regular contributors, to authenticate news reports they produced and edited
earlier this year that quoted an Army officer criticizing President Bush and
the White House's rationale for the Iraq War.  Go directly to our issues page: http://www.truthout.org/issues.shtml

 http://www.truthout.org
Click to SUBSCRIBE -> http://truthout.org/subscribe.htm

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death penalty
Two events of interest on the death penalty.
______________________________________________________________________
Journey of Hope:
Justice for Justin

Date: Sunday, January 28th
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Location: 4775 SW 21st St., Topeka

No matter if one favors or opposes capital punishment, all agree that no
innocent person should face the death penalty by the state. Since 1973, 123
innocent individuals have been exonerated from death row. Now the
Commonwealth of Virginia is preparing to execute Justin Wolfe, despite a
signed affidavit of confession by the real killer. Amnesty International
member Bill Lucero explains how this is not only possible but highly
probable unless immediate action is taken. Please come hear this moving
story at 7:30 p.m., following a potluck supper at 6:30 p.m., Sunday, January
28, at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship. (If you plan to attend the
potluck supper, please bring a covered dish.)  Child care will be provided.

Bill Lucero is a long time death penalty abolitionist from Topeka. Five
years following the murder of his father, Lucero helped found the Kansas
Coalition Against the Death Penalty. He is a charter member of Murder
Victims' Families for Reconciliation and has served on its national board as
well as the National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty. He is the
recipient of the Roger Baldwin Civil Libertarian of the Year Award and the
Living the Dream Award in recognition of his abolitionist work. Lucero is a
retired psychotherapist.
______________________________________________________________________

Ray Krone:
The 100th Exoneration

Date: Tuesday, January 30, 2007
Time: Noon -- 1:00 p.m.
Place: 2nd floor Rotunda, Statehouse

With no guarantee of adequate representation, the possibility of a Kansas
Court convicting and executing an innocent defendant remains entirely
plausible. Since 1973, 123 individuals have been exonerated from death rows
across the country. In his book, The Death Penalty on Trial, Kansan Bill
Kurtis noted that the case of Ray Krone helped change his view to opposing
the death penalty. Krone was the 100th innocent defendant released following
his incarceration of 10 years on Arizona's death row. He will be the
featured speaker at the 100th abolition anniversary observance at the State
Capitol, Tuesday, January 30th at noon. The event is cosponsored by the
Kansas Coalition Against the Death Penalty, Murder Victims' Families for
Reconciliation and Witness to Innocence. The public is invited to
participate.

Background: The Kansas Legislature abolished the death penalty in an act
that was signed by Governor Hoch on January 30, 1907. As we commemorate that
100th anniversary, we recognize that Kansas' current death statute remains
similarly flawed to the previous capital punishment law. Since the death
penalty's reenactment in 1994, capital cases have been characterized by jury
misconduct, judicial error, arbitrariness in charging and sentencing,
inadequate defense representation, withheld evidence, disparity in
sentencing, prosecutorial misconduct and racial biases. As a result we have
already experienced mistrial, sentence reversal, conviction reversal and
post death sentencing plea bargaining, contributing to a financial cost far
above providing a life without parole sentence.

"The administration of justice is complicated, too complicated to make death
its product."      -Bill Kurtis, The Death Penalty on Trial

Bill Beachy, Ex. Dir.
Topeka Center for Peace and Justice
1248 SW Buchanan Topeka, KS  66604
phone 785-232-4388
fax 785-232-4145
email TopekaCPJ@aol.com
web www.TopekaCPJ.org

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Next LD Talk
LD & the Juvenile Justice System: Understanding At-Risk Behavior
and Ensuring Effective Services and Supports

Individuals with learning disabilities (LD), and especially
teenagers and young adults, are at increased risk of involvement
with the juvenile justice system. Many people with LD (and
ADD/ADHD) struggle to stay focused and well-organized, have
trouble with expressive and receptive language, are poor
listeners and experience delays or deficits in listening and
reading comprehension, and are prone to process information too
quickly or too slowly and inefficiently.

It is especially important to know how to recognize features
associated with LD in matters involving juvenile justice so the
actions and intentions of these teens and young adults can be
properly understood so they can be provided the services and
protections they deserve. Join us on January 23rd at 2:00 p.m.
for an hour-long live online discussion with Peter Leone and
Lili Garfinkel, two national experts on this topic, who will
answer questions and reflect upon the specific types of
behaviors that place kids with LD at-risk. The chat will provide
information and resources about how parents, schools, mental
health providers, juvenile justice professionals and others can
provide options, appropriate treatment, solutions and resources.

How to Participate:

Submit advance questions for the discussion now
or join in at discussion time to http://www.ldtalk.org/ .

No special equipment other than Internet access is needed to
participate in this text-based discussion. A transcript will be
posted shortly after the discussion.

About the experts:

Lili Garfinkel is the coordinator of the Juvenile Justice
Project at the PACER Center in Minneapolis (www.pacer.org).
PACER is a parent center for families of children and young
adults with physical, emotional, cognitive and learning
disabilities. PACER provides workshops, resources, individual
advocacy, training and technical assistance for parents and
professionals both in Minnesota and nationally. Educated at the
University of Manitoba in Winnipeg, with some post graduate work
in Minnesota, Mrs. Garfinkel has worked with underrepresented
groups in Canada and Minnesota. She coordinated the Lets Prevent
Abuse project for PACER in 1984-87, and started the Juvenile
Justice Project in 1994, the first in the United States to
consider the relationship between Juvenile Justice and the
presence of disabilities. From 1999-2006 she was a member of the
National Center on Education Disability and Juvenile Justice, a
unique partnership which provided research, training and
technical assistance as well as parent advocacy in this emerging
field. Mrs. Garfinkel has been published widely and has
presented across the country on a variety of topics pertaining
to mental health, juvenile justice, special education and
working with families. She has developed a handbook on Juvenile
Justice and Mental health titled "Unique Challenges, Hopeful
Responses," which is currently being revised and expanded to
include more disability information, new IDEA regulations and
issues including competency in court. She also co-authored a
book with Dr. Andrew Slaby, "No One Saw My Pain" (Norton, 1994).

Peter Leone is a professor in the Department of Special
Education at the University of Maryland. A former middle school
special education teacher, Peter has spent a number of years
studying the challenges faced by youth with disabilities who
come into contact with the juvenile and criminal justice
systems. He has directed the National Center on Education,
Disability, and Juvenile Justice (EDJJ.org), worked with the
courts and advocates in ensuring that incarcerated youth receive
services to which they are entitled, and has published studies
and reports related to school discipline, exclusion, and
prevention. Dr. Leone received his B.A. in history and M.A. in
Special Education from the University of Iowa and received his
Ph.D. in special education at the University of Washington. He
and his wife Diane have three children, Andrew, 19, Kimberly 16,
and Matthew 10.

Our discussion will be moderated by Laura Kaloi, Director,
Public Policy at the National Center for Learning Disabilities.

How to Participate

Submit advance questions for the discussion now or join in at
discussion time to http://www.ldtalk.org/ .

No special equipment other than Internet access is needed to
participate in this text-based discussion. A transcript will be
posted shortly after the discussion.

Transcripts of previous discussions are available for your
review at
http://www.ncld.org/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=899 .

The National Center for Learning Disabilities brings you
LDTalk.org, the Internet's only Web site featuring discussions
on issues critically important to people with learning
disabilities.

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

Visit the web address below to tell your friends about this.

http://ga3.org/join-forward.html?domain=ldnews&r=PdqEZZ61_YFi


http://ga3.org/ldnews/join.html?r=PdqEZZ61_YFiE

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SAVE HABEAS CORPUS: Sign the Petition!
Habeas Petition Status Report:

The response to our original email was overwhelming -- thanks to
the thousands of you who lent your names to the petition and
joined our effort to restore habeas corpus.

But we REALLY want to make our voice heard. If you haven't
signed on yet, now is the time to join your friends and sign the
petition (below) to restore habeas corpus and protect our
Constitution and our rights.

Remember to forward this message on to your friends!
The more signatures we accumulate, the more powerful our voice.

*********

RESTORE HABEAS CORPUS
Sign Online Petition and Forward to Your Friends

Last September, Congress passed the Military Commissions Act of
2006 (MCA), which restricted habeas corpus rights, allowing the
government to continue holding prisoners at Guantanamo
indefinitely with no access to a fair hearing in court.

Indefinite imprisonment without a fair trial or hearing is
unconstitutional and fundamentally un-American. Senators Arlen
Specter (R-PA), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), and Christopher Dodd
(D-CT) have authored legislation to restore the right of habeas
corpus.

The impact of the habeas corpus restrictions in the new MCA go
far beyond the walls of Guantanamo prison. The law allows the
government to arrest any non-citizen -- including permanent
residents in the United States -- and hold them indefinitely
without charge and with no access to an attorney or a fair
hearing.

WHAT YOU CAN DO...There are three important steps you can take:

1. Add your name to the national on-line petition supporting
restoration of full habeas corpus rights - you can read the
petition online or below.
To add your name, included below or online, email us at:
allianceforjustice@afj.org
with your name and organization.

2. Forward this email or our web page to your friends and
encourage them to sign the petition.
Our web page for the campaign to restore habeas corpus is at:
http://ga1.org/campaign/restore_habeas_corpus_2007/explanation

3. Send a letter to your Senators and House members supporting
the Specter-Leahy-Dodd legislation to restore habeas corpus
rights by going to:
http://ga1.org/campaign/restore_habeas_corpus_2007

The restore habeas corpus petition is BELOW and online at

http://www.afj.org/restorehabeascorpus.pdf

************************

PETITION TO RESTORE HABEAS CORPUS

We call on the United States Congress to enact legislation that
will restore our Nation's commitment to law and freedom.

In the fall of 2006, Congress passed a law governing military
commissions, which included a provision that stripped certain
detainees of their habeas corpus rights. Habeas corpus has been
the bedrock of our justice system for centuries. The Supreme
Court asserted that it "is the fundamental instrument for
safeguarding individual freedom against arbitrary and lawless
state action." Without habeas rights, detainees are denied a
fair hearing in federal court to challenge the lawfulness of
their detention. The government is left free to imprison people
indefinitely without charge or trial or other fair hearing, no
matter how inhumane the conditions of confinement or the
treatment of the detainees. Such a policy is not only
unconstitutional, it is also fundamentally un-American and
undermines our national character.

It is time to join the scores of lawyers, law deans and
professors, politicians, religious leaders and military
officials who have condemned the denial of habeas corpus rights
to detainees and have called for a restoration of our
constitutional values. It is incumbent upon Congress to ensure
that our laws reflect who we are as a society, that we are a
people committed to accountability and basic fairness. In the
face of adversity, adhering to our values does not make us less
secure, but rather strengthens us as a nation.

Protect freedom, fairness and due process of law. Restore habeas
corpus.

[YOUR NAME HERE]
--------------------------------------------------

Visit the web address below to tell your friends about this.

http://ga1.org/join-forward.html?domain=afj&r=JdxuL6615XEe

If you received this message from a friend, you can sign up for
Alliance for Justice at:

http://ga1.org/afj/join.html?r=JdxuL6615XEeE

 [ send green star]

FCNL Legislative Action Message - March 1, 2007

You can read this message online at: http://www.fcnl.org/action/alert.htm

The new Congress has the chance to restore one of the oldest and most
important checks on arbitrary governmental power, the protection of
habeas corpus. This principle -- that no government is above the law
and that all detainees can challenge the fairness of their detention in
front of an independent court -- has been a cornerstone of Anglo-Saxton
legal systems for 800 years.

In 2006, at the president's request, Congress changed U.S. law so that
certain detainees who are not citizens can now be denied the ability to
question whether they are being wrongfully detained. We at FCNL believe
a majority of senators support restoring habeas corpus rights for
non-citizen detainees, but these senators need to be encouraged to act.

The Habeas Corpus Restoration Act (S. 185), -
http://capwiz.com/fconl/issues/bills/?bill=9251101 - a bipartisan bill
introduced by Senators Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Arlen Specter (R-PA),
the chair and ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, would
restore the right of detainees held by the U.S. at Guantanamo Bay,
Cuba, and elsewhere around the world to challenge the legality of their
detention in a U.S. federal court. As of March 1, the legislation has
six co-sponsors. In order for the Senate to move forward on this bill,
it needs more members' support, much more support.

*Take Action

Please contact your senators and ask them to cosponsor S. 185, the
Habeas Corpus Restoration Act. If they are already cosponsors, thank
them and urge them to encourage their colleagues to schedule a hearing
and a vote on this bill:
http://capwiz.com/fconl/issues/alert/?alertid=9253661&type=CO

*Background

U.S. detainees labeled "unlawful enemy combatants,"
imprisoned at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba and elsewhere around the world,
currently do not have any procedure by which they can petition an
independent judicial body to claim that they are being wrongfully
detained. In October 2006, with the passage of the Military Commissions
Act (MCA), Congress and the president stripped non-citizen detainees of
the ability to question the legality of their detention in U.S. federal
courts.

The Habeas Corpus Restoration Act (S. 185) is a short, simple bill that
would repeal the habeas corpus-stripping provision of the MCA. The
bill, introduced by Senators Leahy and Specter, is cosponsored as of
March 1 by Senators Sherrod Brown (OH), Dianne Feinstein (CA), Frank
Lautenberg (NJ), Russ Feingold (WI), Hillary Clinton (NY) and Ken
Salazar (CO). We at FCNL are urging more senators to cosponsor this
legislation, to urge the Senate to hold hearings on the bill, and to
schedule a vote.

Habeas corpus has been a part of Anglo-Saxon legal tradition for nearly
800 years. It is a fundamental principle of the rule of law, protecting
detainees from wrongful imprisonment. The Habeas Corpus Restoration Act
would right the shameful legislative action in the MCA, and would allow
independent courts to examine U.S. detention of non-citizen individuals
labeled by the administration as "unlawful enemy combatants."

*Read More

The Military Commissions Act at a Glance:
http://www.fcnl.org/issues/item.php?item_id=2135&issue_id=70

More on habeas corpus:
http://www.fcnl.org/torture/
_______________________________________

The Next Step for Iraq: Join FCNL's Iraq Campaign,
http://www.fcnl.org/iraq/

Contact Congress and the Administration:
http://capwiz.com/fconl/dbq/officials/

Order FCNL publications and "War is Not the Answer" campaign
bumper stickers and yard signs:
http://www.fcnl.org/pubs/
http://www.fcnl.org/forms/forms.php?type=bump

Contribute to FCNL:
http://www.fcnl.org/donate/

Subscribe or to this list:
http://capwiz.com/fconl/mlm/.

Subscribe to other FCNL legislative, policy, and action alert lists:
http://www.fcnl.org/forms/forms.php?type=ls.
________________________________________

Friends Committee on National Legislation
245 Second St. NE, Washington, DC 20002-5795
fcnl@fcnl.org * http://www.fcnl.org
phone: (202)547-6000 * toll-free: (800)630-1330

We seek a world free of war and the threat of war
We seek a society with equity and justice for all
We seek a community where every person's potential may be fulfilled
We seek an earth restored.

 [ send green star]

United Students Against Sweatshops
23 Students Arrested at the UC Berkeley Poverty Center!

Dear James M Nordlund,

At approximately 1:45 pm today, 5 students from UC Berkeley and 18 students
from UC Santa Cruz took over the poverty center on the Berkeley campus to
send the message that there is poverty right here on the UC Campuses. The
entry went smoothly and the police were slow to respond. A rally of about
100 custodians, union workers and students marched to the center and held a
rally to support the students who were sitting in inside. At 6:30 pm,
students were arrested for this peaceful action.

Send a letter to the following decision maker(s):
Chancellor Robert Birgeneau
UC Santa Cruz Chancellor George Blumenthal

Below is the sample letter:

Subject: Drop the Charges!

Dear [decision maker name automatically inserted here],

I am extremely disappointed to hear that, instead of entering into a
dialogue with students engaged in a peaceful civil disobedience, the
university has attempted to silence their voices through police
intimidation. The University of California, as one of the leading public
institutions in the world, has an obligation to set an example for the rest
of the university community to follow. By choosing to arrest students for
taking a principled stand on an issue that, to be quite honest, the
university ought to have resolved long ago, the University of California is
sending the message that they will stop at nothing, even if it means
resorting to police intimidation, to silence the voices of its students.

I would strongly urge the University of Califonia to ensure that all charges
are dropped, and that there is no further action taken against any of the
students in question. The community at large takes the University's actions
so far to be a direct assault on our most basic right to free speech, and
will not stand idly by while the university punishes students for doing what
is right.

In addition, I would urge the University of California to take its own
students seriously. They have been urging the University of California to
support workers' rights and pay workers a living wage. Your students have
presented you with an opportunity to be a leader in the struggle for
workers' rights, and I would urge you to take it.

Sincerely,

James M Nordlund

http://www.unionvoice.org/campaign/ucsitin_followup/3wbi3s2vbbitw3?

 Take Action!
Instructions

Tell-A-Friend:
Visit the web address below to tell your friends about this.
 ;Tell-a-Friend!

What's At Stake:
Students and workers at UC Berkeley and UC Santa Cruz are sitting in to
demand a living wage for campus custodians. Please show your support and
call the Regent now. In an October 12, 2006 letter to UC President Dynes,
President pro Tempore of the State Senate Don Perata and Speaker of the
Assembly Fabian Nunez wrote: "Over the past year, employees represented
by... AFSCME Local 3299 have been asking the UC to solve the long standing
problem of pay equity at several campuses. Unfortunately little has been
done to address this important issue... Upon our meeting with the leadership
of AFSCME Local 3299 we agreed to seek additional funds to address pay
equity for custodians... It is our hope that you will immediately respond to
this issue and instruct the appropriate campuses that they should move
forward and resolve this festering issue...." The UC administration has
continually ignored the demand for a living wage. Workers and students are
currently sitting in to protest the Universities' lack of commitment to
workers rights.

Campaign Expiration Date:
June 8, 2007

If you received this message from a friend, you can sign up for United
Students Against Sweatshops.

 [ send green star]

Cara All,

Gutten hagen. I hope you and yours are well and will continue to be.  Cool, thanx for the replies, et al  Your posts and sites are great.  I've been an advocate/activist on all issues, et al, for 32 years of my 48; please, do what you can for humanity. Dylan Thomas' poem line comes to mind, "...and death (murder) shall have no dominion..."; as others might say, "we, the people...", can make it so!  Some groups I moderate:
Disabled Greens News and discussion, home page:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DisabledGreensNews/ ,
Abuse in Therapy:
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/AbuseinTherapy/ ,
Diffabled, Mental Health, all related issues, advocacy, and
professionals: Invite link: http://passport.care2.net/invite.html?g=880 Homepage:
http://www.care2.com/c2c/group/Diffabled_MentalHealth_Action ,
reality's 360 page and blog http://360.yahoo.com/jamesmnordlund
reality's My Space page, blog http://myspace.com/jamesmnordlund
Rights for Imprisoned People with Psychiatric Disabilities: United to Demand Justice and Social Change
http://rippdnycnetwork.ning.com/profile/realiteee
Prison Abuse Social Network: Welcome to all Abolitionists
http://sdicks4msnetwork.ning.com/profile/realiteee
reality's Windows Live Space
http://jamesmnordlundreality.spaces.live.com/default.aspx?
owner=1&wa=wsignin1.0  
"Painting is poetry which is seen and not heard, and poetry is a
painting which is heard but not seen." ~ Leonardo da Vinci. Enjoy an estival eve' as you can. Copy, share, as you will. Lest "we" forget, if you don't exercise responsibility, its Siamese twin sister, freedom, will wither like a muscle, as well. Sadly, now, it first needs to be exorcized, before its exercised. Viva la evolution, viva Green Party!

                          james m nordlund    reality (aja)

 [ send green star]

Feel Free to Forward
Greetings All!

As the holiday slowdown kicks in, I wanted to offer a few easy
actions that you can take to help further our cause, either directly
or indirectly.

#1 - Thank New Jersey Statesmen

Please contact these three leaders, who deserve our gratitude for
their leadership.  If you are a family member of a murder victim,
please state that when you make contact.

Contact: New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine, PO Box 001, Trenton, New
Jersey 08625
Tell him:  "Thank you Governor Corzine and the members of the New
Jersey Legislature for your leadership in showing the world the way
to justice.  Your action to abolish New Jersey's death penalty has
given countless people hope."

Contact: Governor Richard J. Codey, New Jersey Senate President, 449
Mount Pleasant Avenue, West Orange, New Jersey 07052-2734
Tell him:  "Thank you Governor Codey and the members of the New
Jersey Legislature for your leadership in showing the world the way
to justice.  Your action to abolish New Jersey's death penalty has
given countless people hope."

Contact: Assembly Speaker Joseph Roberts, Brooklawn Shopping Plaza,
Route 130 and Browning Road, Brooklawn, New Jersey 08030-2797
Tell him:  "Thank you Speaker Roberts and the members of the New
Jersey Legislature for your leadership in showing the world the way
to justice.  Your action to abolish New Jersey's death penalty has
given countless people hope."

***********

#2 - Send Christmas/New Years greetings to former Illinois Governor
George Ryan, now in the pokey, but still a hero to our movement for
studying the issue, changing his mind, and clearing Illinois' death
row as he left office a few years ago.  Let him know he is not forgotten.

George Ryan, Sr. 16627-424
FCI Oxford
Satellite Camp
P.O. Box 1085
Oxford, WI 53952

*************

#3 - The Innocence Project writes:

Death row exonerees join the call for DNA testing in Alabama

In the last two weeks, 1,200 people have written letters to Alabama
Gov. Bob Riley calling on him to grant DNA testing to death row
inmate Tommy Arthur before allowing the state to execute a man who
may be innocent. Today, six men who were sentenced to die and served
time on death row but were ultimately exonerated through DNA testing
urged Riley to immediately order DNA testing in Arthur's case.

They wrote: "If we had never been granted DNA testing, we might not
be alive today. Few people have been in Mr. Arthur's position, but we
have and that's why we're appealing to you to order DNA testing in
this case. His execution has been delayed by the U.S. Supreme Court
for other reasons, leaving plenty of time for DNA testing to be
completed if you order it now."

If you haven't already sent an email to Gov. Riley asking for DNA
testing for Tommy Arthur, you can send one right now through the
Innocence Project's website. It takes just 30 seconds to send a clear
message that you support truth in justice. Arthur has spent more than
two decades on Alabama's death row for a murder he says he didn't
commit. DNA testing could provide compelling evidence of his
innocence or guilt, but the courts and the governor have denied
testing. Riley has the power to order testing in this case, and he
needs to hear from all of us.

Send Gov. Riley an email here:
http://ip.convio.net/site/R?i=JqFPoAFYiNFh8JOFRQZj1Q..

Read today's letter from the six exonerees here:
http://ip.convio.net/site/R?i=w70fp7l1mnB4ge_ISY0WvA..

***************

#4 - Vote for the best blues album.

What????  What's that got to do with the death penalty?  Our friend
Dale Baich, a Federal Public Defender who handles capital appeals writes:

>Dear Abe,
>
>As you may remember, in my spare time, I run a small record
>label--Blue Witch Records.  This year I released three CD's and one
>of them -- "I'm Here Baby" by Big Pete Pearson -- has been nominated
>for two Independent Music Awards as best blues album and best blues
>song.  The winners are selected by popular vote.
>
>I am asking for your help.  On every Blue Witch release, four to
>date, the message "stop the death penalty" is noted.  We also post
>the message on our website at the bottom of the home
>page  <http://www.bluewitchrecords.com>www.bluewitchrecords.com
>Dave Riley, one of our artists, is a former Illinois prison guard
>and has expressed concerns about prison conditions and opposes the
>death penalty.  In fact, we arranged for him to appear at a benefit
>for the Alabama Post-Conviction Project in Montgomery, Alabama on
>November 8.  Bill Wax, a XM Radio DJ mentioned the benefit on a
>number of occasions and talked about the importance of death row
>prisoners having attorneys.
>
>If we win a nomination, not only will some great blues music get out
>to more people but our message "stop the death penalty" will as well.

SO, please go to
<http://www.bluewitchrecords.com>www.bluewitchrecords.com
Instructions for rating the CD and the song are right there.  it's a
simple process that will take a couple of minutes, but hey, why not?

#5 - Support CUADP with a contri  [ send green star]

http://www.bluewitchrecords.com

 [ send green star]

To honor Dr. King: Challenge the Ohio prison system on Jan. 19

In 1995 five innocent men were sent to death row in connection with the
prison uprising in Lucasville, Ohio in 1993. Siddique Abdullah Hasan, George
Skatzes, Jason Robb, Namir Abdul Mateen, and Bomani Hondo Shakur (Keith
Lamar) were convicted of capital murder in relation to the deaths of a guard
and nine inmates.

Four of the five were actually involved in negotiating a resolution of
grievances and ending the uprising. The fifth, Bomani Shakur, was one who
simply refused to testify falsely. None of the Five had any involvement in
these killings or the decision to carry them out. Other inmates had their
sentences reduced in exchange for perjured testimony, which some of them
have now recanted. When the African-American and specifically the Muslim
defendants were on trial, the prosecution appealed to racism and
anti-Islamic prejudice.

They have been in solitary confinement for almost 15 years and their appeals
are running out.

Twenty-five other prisoners are still in prison in connection with the
Lucasville uprising, with sentences ranging from 25 years to life. In many
cases, charges were brought against these men because they would not provide
false testimony against the Five. Some of these prisoners are also in
solitary confinement.

YOU CAN HELP REVERSE THIS HORRIBLE INJUSTICE! JOIN US FOR TWO EVENTS
HONORING DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.'S BIRTHDAY

*Gather at 12:00 on January 19 for a press conference at 1:00 pm at St.
Augustine Episcopal Church, 614 Parmalee Ave., in Youngstown, OH. The
Lucasville prisoners have joined with prisoner advocacy organizations to
launch a campaign for contact visits with family members and loved ones for
all death-sentenced prisoners. Eleven states allow regular full contact
visits for death row prisoners but Ohio does not. For prisoners in solitary,
hugs should be a human right!

*Demonstrate January 19 at 2:00 PM outside the Ohio State Penitentiary
(OSP). OSP is a supermax prison located at 878 Coitsville-Hubbard Rd.,
Youngstown, OH. Four of the Lucasville Five are held in OSP as well as most
of Ohio's 183 other death row prisoners.

Transportation is being organized from Cleveland. For bus reservations or
more info, call (216) 481-6671 or email pfcenter@sbcglobal.net.

*On February 4, participate in the National Unity Day of Action. Demand that
Ohio Governor Ted Strickland overturn the wrongful convictions of all
prisoners with charges related to the Lucasville rebellion. Write to him at
Riffe Center, 30th Floor, 77 S. High Street, 30th Floor, Columbus, Ohio
43215, FAX (614) 466-9354, call him at (614) 466-3555 or email him at
http://governor.ohio.gov/.

Anyone can subscribe.
Send an email request to
Action.News-subscribe@organizerweb.com

Subscribing can also be done on the Web at
http://www.organizerweb.com/mailman/listinfo/action.news

 [ send green star]

Hello Stop Family Violence Activists!

http://capwiz.com/sfvo/callalert/index.tt?alertid=10942181&type=CO

President Bush's 2009 budget proposal proposes a devastating  $120 million
cut in Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) funds, caps Victim of Crime Act
(VOCA) funding at the lowest level in 6 years, does not provide any
increases for Family Violence Prevention and Services Act (shelter) funding,
and ELIMINATES the $2 billion in the VOCA reserve.

"The Administration's budget for Violence Against Women Act programs is an
outrage," said Sen. Joe Biden, author of the Violence Against Women Act.
"Domestic violence impacts one in every four women, yet the Administration
proposes cutting spending by almost a third. If allowed to go forward, this
Administration's disastrous budgeting priorities could roll back more than a
decade of success in investigating, prosecuting and preventing domestic and
sexual violence."

YOU CAN HELP!!

http://www.stopfamilyviolence.org/ocean/host.php?page=0

CLICK HERE to learn more and to get a toll free phone number and script to
call your legislators and ask them to restore full funding to these
lifesaving programs.  Then fill in our form so we know which offices have
been called!

If you've never called Congress before, don't worry - it's easy, and
empowering too! Just give the staff person who answers the phone your name,
city and state and then follow the script we've provided.  They won't quiz
you - they'll just take notes on what you have to say.  If you want, you can
also say something personal about why this funding is important to you.

Thanks for making the call that will make a difference!

Your messages last year helped secure an additional $17 million for programs
to keep victims safe.
PLEASE HELP US AGAIN AT THIS CRITICAL TIME!

CONTACT YOUR LEGISLATORS NOW!!

Thanks for your quick response on this.

Together, we can.. http://www.stopfamilyviolence.org

Irene Weiser

 [ send green star]

3/17 CHAMP Teleconference Training on Prison Sentencing Reform & HIV
TELECONFERENCE TRAINING
Prison Sentencing Reform and Its Potential for HIV Prevention Justice

Monday, March 17: 2pm Eastern

http://www.preventionjustice.org/

Please join us for a teleconference to discuss how sentencing reform could
ease the burden of HIV on individuals and communities affected by
incarceration.

Monday, March 17, 2008
2:00-3:00p Eastern / 1:00-2:00p Central / 12:00-1:00p Mountain /
11:00-12:00p Pacific

Domestic dial-in: 1-866-247-3147, passcode 4277#
International dial-in: 1-212-990-8010, passcode 4277#

Please register by clicking here.

If you require assistance with registration, please contact Josh Thomas:
josh at champnetwork dot org / 401-427-7030

Everyone is welcome to join the call!

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

MODERATOR:
* Kenyon Farrow, Director of Communications, CHAMP, New York, NY

PRESENTERS:
* Bill McColl, Political Director, AIDS Action, Washington, DC
* Mimi Budnick, Community Organizer, Direct Action for Rights and Equality
(DARE), Providence, RI

Our presenters will:
Share their experiences with legislative efforts to end mandatory minimums
and other sentencing practices;
Offer opportunities for individuals and groups to join promising reform
efforts;
Describe how:
sentencing practices drive high rates of imprisonment and target members of
communities of color at risk of HIV,
incarceration creates community-level vulnerability to HIV by destabilizing
neighborhoods, families and interpersonal relationships, and
formerly incarcerated people are denied rights that limit their social and
economic participation in the community.

A discussion/Q&A period will follow the presentations. Please feel free to
email questions to the presenters in advance by clicking here.

Background:

According to a new Pew Center report, the United States incarcerates a
higher proportion of its population than any other country, with over 2.3
million people - 1 in 100 Americans - behind bars. Policing and sentencing
practices in the US disproportionately affect people of color, especially
African Americans. In addition, they significantly impact people living with
HIV/AIDS. More than 25% of all HIV+ persons in the US are or have been
incarcerated.

Contrary to popular belief, research to-date suggests that imprisonment
itself does not necessarily drive HIV transmission inside prisons and jails,
though certainly infection does occur. While the majority of prisoners
leaving prisons with HIV were already HIV-positive when they went in, our
efforts include interventions inside and outside the setting of
incarceration.

Incarceration drives the HIV epidemic by increasing community-level risk
through financial, social and interpersonal destabilization in the
communities most affected by HIV. For that reason, reducing new infections
and easing the HIV/AIDS epidemic in communities requires simultaneous and
multi-pronged HIV prevention efforts. This could include comprehensive
prevention interventions and medical care inside prison walls, as well as
structural interventions to reduce the total prison population and length of
time served.

Sentencing reform reduces the number of people living with and at risk of
HIV in the criminal justice system. Mass imprisonment itself adversely
impacts community health, and drives higher rates of HIV within communities
most impacted by policing and sentencing strategies and laws.  A high
proportion of the incarcerated are convicted of drug-related charges or
parole violation offenses, which are often subjected to mandatory minimum
sentencing laws that require judges to impose certain lengths of
incarceration instead of diversion or alternative programs.

----
Josh Thomas
CHAMP - Community HIV/AIDS Mobilization Project
232 West Exchange St., Providence, RI 02903
www.champnetwork.org
www.preventionjustice.org

(O) 401.427.7030 direct dial
(O) 401.427.2302, ext. 30
(M) 917.539.7016
(fax) 401.633.7703

Home | Subscribe | Donate | Unsubscribe

32 Broadway, Suite 1801, New York, NY 10004 â?¢ 232 West Exchange St.,
Providence, RI 02903
Tel: 212.937.7955 â?¢ Fax: 401.633.7793 â?¢ E-mail: champ at
champnetwork.org

www.champnetwork.org

 [ send green star]

1 May 2008

Greetings All,

First, welcome to everyone who has joined this list since our last post, including the folks who signed up at last weeks Amnesty International Annual General Meeting in Virginia .

CONTENTS OF THIS MESSAGE

Executions Resume - First post-Baze execution is May 6

What to Do from Far Far Away

Catching Up With Capital X

Nebraska Notes

Bumper Stickers, Buttons & Shirts

Farewell to David Elliot

EXECUTIONS RESUME - FIRST POST-BAZE EXECUTION IS MAY 6

Return to Executions

…But U.S. Supreme Court Justice Stevens Changes His Mind.

After the longest moratorium in 25 years, executions are set to resume in the U.S. next week in Georgia , where William Lynd is scheduled to be killed on May 6, 2008 in response to his murders of Virginia "Ginger" Moore and Leslie Joan Sharkey. A number of other southern states - including Oklahoma , Texas and Virginia - have also set execution dates. (Please see the top right section at http://www.NCADP.org for more details and action alerts. Especially if you have a fax machine or are willing to overnight a letter to the Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles for delivery not later than 9am Monday morning, please follow that link and take that action.)

In a way, this is simply a resumption of the status quo before the U.S. Supreme Court announced in September 2007 that it would review one state's lethal injection protocol. The Court handed down its decision on April 16, thus clearing the way for new execution dates to be set.

However it is perhaps more important to note what the Court did not consider. The Court did not argue that the death penalty is a meritorious public policy. The Court did not declare that capital punishment is free of blunders, biases and bureaucracies - blunders because of the number of innocent people sentenced to death; biases because of the class and racial inequities that plague the system; and bureaucracies because of the cumbersome and time-consuming nature of death penalty appeals.

These things about the death penalty were true before the moratorium began. They are just as true now that the moratorium has ended.

Indeed, after more than 30 years of supporting executions, Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens changed his mind and now concludes that the death penalty violates the constitutionbecause it amounts to no more than the pointless infliction of pain. In his opinion in the Baze decision, Stevens indicated that if it were up to him, he would do away with the death penalty altogether. He challenges all of us to engage in "… a dispassionate, impartial comparison of the enormous costs that death penalty litigation imposes on society with the benefits that it produces…."

As executions resume in the U.S. , it indeed is time for such a contemplation.

Today your work to oppose - and abolish - capital punishment is more important than ever before. Please click here to help NCADP pay for the work that needs to be done.

***

WHAT TO DO FROM FAR FAR AWAY

Recently Alison wrote to me:

I have been a subscriber to the newsletter for sometime now, but to tell you the truth

I live in a small town in NSW, Australia . As you know, Australia doesn't have the death

penalty anymore, but I would really like to see it stopped in the USA . Is there anything that I can do, given I am not a US citizen, or live there? I would be interested in being involved in someway if you can think of something. Anyway, it is great to read the newsletters anyway, Thanks Abe

There is a list of ten things you can do here on our web page:

Clearly not all of these ideas work for our friends outside of the U.S. , but take a look and think about how you can use the circles that you travel in to further the cause you believe in. Here's a few more ideas:

* Write a letter to the editor of your local paper about why you oppose the death penalty. When it is published, send a copy to the U.S. Ambassador to your country, and to your Ambassador to the U.S. , with a note asking them to raise this as an issue of concern with their higher ups.

* Rent a film with a death penalty film and invite friends to watch and discuss it with you, or hold a public showing and discussion at the library or a local faith community. You can add an action component such as asking everyone to write a letter protesting an upcoming execution, and/or take up a collection to help support the work of the National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty.

* Think about other things that you can do, and share those ideas with me here at abe@NCADP.org - I'll compile and share some of them every once in a while.

***

CATCHING UP WITH CAPITAL X

Esther Brown of Project Hope to Abolish the Death Penalty in Alabama writes this update on Capital X, who is walking from Trenton , NJ to Austin , TX to raise awareness about the death penalty:

Lots is happening! X will be in Birmingham in a couple of days and is open to doing speaking and or interviews. He is an extraordinary man in every sense of the word and we are grateful for his friendship.

If you would like to meet with him please contact him at 281 818 8935 or at his email

projectrevolution2010@gmail.com or call me at 334 499 0003

Esther

The video blog is here: http://onloq.com/channels/from-the-front-lines/

More is on the Journey of Hope Blog at http://www.thejourneyofhope.blogspot.com/

http://www.NCADP.org

abe@ncadp.org

mobile: 561-371-5204

 [ send green star]

UPCOMING EXECUTIONS - the For Whom The Bells Toll Campaign:

Bells Campaign: Schedule of Prisoner-Killings: 05/18/08

ADDING YOURSELF to the Tollbells Update List: Please toll your bells at 6pm local time for two minutes on the following dates. If you have elected to display the banner or another message, please do that all day. our webpage at http://www.curenational.org/~bells/

www.NCADP.org

abe@ncadp.org

202-331-4090

561-371-5204 (Mobile)

 Total killed in 2008: 1

Total killed since resumption of executions in 1977: 1100

See <http://www.cuadp.org/exinfo.html> for a complete list.

MAY

21 � Mississippi

6:00 PM EDT

Earl Berry is scheduled to be killed by the people of Mississippi in revenge for the murder of Mary Bounds.

22 � Georgia

7:00 PM EDT

Samuel Crowe is scheduled to be killed by the people of Georgia in revenge for the murder of Joseph V. Pala.

27 � Virginia

9:00 PM EDT

Kevin Green is scheduled to be killed by the people of Virginia in revenge for the murder of Patricia Vaughn.

JUNE

03 � Texas

7:00 PM EDT

Derrick Sonnier is scheduled to be killed by the people of Texas in revenge for the murders of Melody and Patrick Flowers.

10 � Virginia

9:00 PM EDT

Percy Walton is scheduled to be killed by the people of Virginia in revenge for the murders of Jessie Kendrick, Elizabeth Kendrick and Archie Moore.

6 � South Carolina

6.00 PM EDT

David Hill is scheduled to have his suicide assisted by the people of South Carolina in revenge for the murders of Jimmy Riddle, Josie Curry, and Michael Gregory.

10 � Virginia

9:00 PM EDT

Percy Walton is scheduled to be killed by the people of Virginia in revenge for the murders of Elizabeth and Jesse Hendrick, and Archie Moore.

11 � Texas

7:00 PM EDT

Karl Chamberlain is scheduled to be killed by the people of Texas in revenge for the murder of Felicia Prechtl.

17 � Texas

7:00 PM EDT

Charles Dean Hood is scheduled to be killed by the people of Texas in revenge for the murders of Roland Williamson and Traci Lynn Wallace.

17 � Oklahoma

6:00 PM EDT

Terry Short is scheduled to be killed by the people of Oklahoma in revenge for the murder of Ken Yamamoto.

25 � Virginia

9:00 PM EDT

Robert Yarbrough is scheduled to be killed by the people of Virginia in revenge for the murder of Cyril Hugh Hamby.

JULY

10 � Texas

7:00 PM EDT

Carlton Turner is scheduled to be killed by the people of Texas in revenge for the murders of Carlton Turner Sr. and Tonya Turner.

22 � Texas

7:00 PM EDT

Les Bower is scheduled to be killed by the people of Texas in revenge for the murders of Bob G. Tate, Ronald Mayes, Philip Good and Jerry Mac Brown.

31 � Texas

7:00 PM EDT

Larry Davis is scheduled to be killed by the people of Texas in revenge for the murder of Michael Barrow.

AUGUST

05 � Texas

7:00 PM EDT

Jose Medellin is scheduled to be killed by the people of Texas in revenge for the murders of Jennifer Ertman and Elizabeth Pena.

14 � Texas

7:00 PM EDT

Michael Rodriguez is scheduled to have his suicide assisted by the people of Texas in revenge for the murder of Aubrey Hawkins.

20 � Texas

7:00 PM EDT

Denard Manns is scheduled to be killed by the people of Texas in revenge for the murder of Army Spc. Michelle Robson.

SEPTEMBER

9 � Texas

7:00 PM EDT

Gregory Wright is scheduled to be killed by the people of Texas in revenge for the murder of Donna Vick.

CONTACT:

GEORGIA:

The Honorable Sonny Perdue

Governor, State of Georgia

State Capitol

Atlanta, Georgia 30334

USA

Phone: 404-656-1776

Fax: 404-657-7332

Email at:

http://gov.georgia.gov/00/gov/contact_us/0,2657,78006749_94820188,00.html

International Contact Form:

http://gov.georgia.gov/00/gov/contact_us/international/0,2657,78006749_94820188,00.html

MISSISSIPPI

Governor Haley Barbour

P.O. Box 139, Jackson, Mississippi 39205

USA

phone at 1-877-405-0733 or 601-359-3150

Fax: 601.359.3741

OKLAHOMA

Governor Brad Henry

State Capitol Building

2300 N. Lincoln Blvd., Room 212

Oklahoma City, OK 73105

USA

Telephone: (405) 521-2342

Fax: (405) 521-3353

Email at: http://www.governor.state.ok.us/message.php

SOUTH CAROLINA

Governor Mark Sanford

Office of the Governor

P.O. Box 12267

Columbia, SC 29211

Fax: 803-734-5167

Phone 803-734-2100

Email at:

<http://www.scgovernor.com/Contact.asp?sitec

TEXAS:

Governor Rick Perry

Office of the Governor

P.O. Box 12428

Austin, Texas 78711-2428

USA

Phone:

Citizen's Opinion Hotline: (800) 252-9600 [for Texas callers]

Information and Referral and Opinion Hotline: (512) 463-1782 [for

Austin, Texas and out-of-state callers]

Office of the Governor Main Switchboard: (512) 463-2000 [office hours

are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. CST]

Fax: (512) 463-1849

Email at: http://www2.governor.state.tx.us/contact/assistance.aspx

VIRGINIA:

Governor Tim Kaine

Office of the Governor

Patrick Henry Building, 3rd Floor

1111 East Broad Street

Richmond, Virginia 23219

USA

Phone: (804) 786-2211

Fax: (804) 371-6351

Email at: http://www.go

 [ send green star]

FW: first nations leaders released from prison
Good News!!

First Nations leaders to be released from prison: Attorney-General
Canwest News Service Published: Friday, May 23, 2008

http://www.nationalpost.com:80/rss/story. html?id=535888

TORONTO -- Six First Nations leaders will be released from prison today after serving more than two months for ignoring a court order to allow a mining company to drill on their traditional territory, a spokesman for Ontario's Attorney General confirmed Friday.

Six members of the Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug (KI) First Nation will be back home by this evening after a court granted a motion for a stay pending the appeal of their six-month sentence for contempt, said KI spokeswoman Susan Nanokeesic.

"We are so happy, it's overwhelming," Ms. Nanokeesic said. "This is good news."

The appeal is to be heard Wednesday in Toronto.

The jailing of the leaders in March for disobeying a court order allowing Platinex Inc. to conduct exploratory drilling has drawn harsh criticism from Canadian authors and activists.

Most recently Robert F. Kennedy Jr. sent Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty a letter decrying their incarceration as "appalling."

Earlier this week, Platinex announced it has launched a $70-million lawsuit against the province. The company said it has suffered "substantial wasted expenditures" because it has been unable to gain access to the land near Big Trout Lake in northern Ontario because of actions by KI.

Platinex claims the Ontario government failed in its duty to consult with KI and also failed to warn the company it would not enforce its mining claims.

FW: Bear Butte action alert
FYI – Letters needed to protect Mato Paha (Bear Butte).  Please send questions, etc. directly to website listed below.

***********

Action Alert~ Letters needed for Bear Butte
 
Body:
 Please forward this Action Alert in its entirety. Thank you.

*begin

Hello everyone,

The upcoming hearing for both NEW and renewal Malt Beverage applications will be held at Meade County Commissioners on Thursday, June 5th at 3:30 p.m.

We are requesting as many supporters as possible attend this hearing. It is important for both locals and Tribes with interest surrounding Bear Butte to attend this hearing, to voice your oppositions to this NEW license for Broken Spoke Campground, formally known as Sturgis County Line.

Many of you may already be aware, on April 14th, 2008 Jay Allen announced he was in the process of transferring Sturgis County Line, to Target Logistics Corporation dba Broken Spoke Campground, LLC. Their new General Manager David Shoe has taken over the business. Target Logistics is a multi-million dollar corporation, that has the intent of expanding and further developing Broken Spoke Campground, adjacent to Bear Butte. They recently announced they would be opening the location year round, and will be hosting biker events in June, July and August.

This issue is more critical than ever, we need your support and your opposition letters!

Enclosed is a sample letter that can be sent to Meade County, just copy and paste it into a new email and send to the provided email address for Meade County. Or create your own letter, but PLEASE use the issues in bold as your focal points, suitability of location and character are the only two legal measures, for revocation or denial of new liquor licenses or renewals.

Please don't forget to add your legal name and address in your emails, this will assure that your email is counted!

DEADLINE for letters is JUNE 4th at 5:00 p.m.

(Mountain Time)

Here is a complete list of all renewals of establishments located directly around Bear Butte:

Iron Horse Campground, Richard Arneson, Tract D & E of BH Subdivision, lying in Tract W1/2 of Sec.

32, T6N, R6E, BHM, Meade County, SD – On-Off Sale;

Buffalo Chip Campground LLC. N1/2 NW1/4, NE1/4, Sec. 8, T5N, R6E, SW1/4, Sec.

4, T5N, R6E, BHM, Meade County, SD – On-Off Sale and Off-Sale SD Wine;

Bear Butte Creek Campground, Mary Hershey Lot 2 & 3, SE1/4NW1/4, S1/2NE1/4, less portion, Sec.

5, T5N, R6E, BHM, Meade County, SD – On-Off Sale;

Full Throttle Saloon & Campground LLC, Lot B of Brennon Subdivision of the NE1/4, Sec.

12, T5N, R5E, BHM, Meade County, SD, On-Off Sale;

Glencoe CampResort, Inc. d/b/a Double J Enterprises Glencoe Subtract B Lots 1 & 5, less 7 acres (2nd revision), Sec. 1, T5N, R5E, BHM; Lots 1 thru 5 S1/2NE1/4, Sec. 6, T5N, R6E, BHM; SE1/4NW1/4, less Tract A (2nd revision), Sec. 31, T6N, R6E, BHM; SE1/4SW1/4 Lot 4, Sec. 31, T6N, R6E, BHM; Lot 1 & 2, Sec. 36, T6N, R5E, BHM; less Govt. Lot 4; SE1/4 SW1/4, SW1/4 SE1/4, E1/2 NW1/4 SE1/4 of Sec. 31, T6N, R6E, BHM, E1/2 N1/2 of Govt. Lot 1 of Sec. 1, T5N, R5E, BHM, Govt. Lot 2 of Sec.

6, T5N, R6E, BHM, Meade County, SD – On-Off Sale;

Dragpipe Saloon LLC, N1/2SE1/4 Sec.

1, T6N, R5E, BHM, Meade County, SD - On-Off Sale;

Free Spirit Campground, LLC – W1/2SW1/4NE1/4 and N1/2NW1/4SE1/4, Section 18, Township 6 North, Range 6 East, BHM, Meade County, SD (retail on-off sale malt beverage).

Crazy Coyoteys LLC., Government Lot 6 in Section 25, Township 6 North, Range 5 East, of the BHM, Meade County, SD less Fritz Subdivision thereof.

– On-Off Sale;

Ride N Rest LLC., Lot 1 & Lot 2 BH Subdivision located in the SW1/4SW1/4 of Sec.

32, T6N, R6E, BHM, Meade County, SD – On-Off Sale;

Sample Letter:

Add Today's Date: ____________

Attn: Meade County Auditor
Meade County Board of Commissioners
1425 Sherman Street
Sturgis, SD 67625
Via fax: 605-347-5925
via ema

 [ send green star]

Death Penalty Report Shows the California's Death Penalty is Costly
and Dysfunctional
Dear Friend,

We need your help.

On June 30th the California Commission on the Fair Administration of
Justice, created by the California State Senate after years of
lobbying by Death Penalty Focus and its coalition partners, released
its landmark report on the death penalty. Their findings reveal
that California's death penalty system is excessively costly and
riddled with problems leading to unconscionable inequities and
wrongful convictions.

Death Penalty Focus has worked for the past two and a half years to
ensure that our members (including law enforcement, the family and
friends of murder victims, faith leaders, experts, and activists who
oppose the death penalty) were present at every single Commission
hearing. We submitted a report detailing the serious problem of
wrongful conviction in capital cases, provided compelling testimony
at the public hearings, and helped to generate hundreds of letters -
including two letters signed by more than 50 judges, prosecutors,
cops and corrections officials - to the Commission.

Two legislative bills aimed at eliminating and remedying wrongful
convictions (SB 1589 & AB 2937), based on the Commission's
recommendations, are currently moving through the legislature,
please take just 30 seconds to send a letter in support of these
important bills: TAKE ACTION!

https://death.rdsecure.org/article.php?list=type&type=15

We also hope you will consider making a donation or making a pledge
of just $5 or $10 a month for the next year (the cost of just a few
cups of coffee a month) to Death Penalty Focus. This will allow us
to distribute this report to legislators, journalists, members of
law enforcement, teachers, and to Californians around the state.

We are at a critical juncture; now is the time to seize this
opportunity and use it to build even more momentum toward our
ultimate goal of ending the death penalty in our lifetime.

We are truly grateful to our members for their unyielding support.

Sincerely,

Lance Lindsey
Executive Director

P.S. Your donation, no matter how small, will make a genuine
difference in our work to end the barbaric practice of state-
sanctioned killing.

You received this email from Death Penalty Focus because you signed
the petition calling for a moratorium on executions in California.

Visit our website to learn more or make a donation.

 [ send green star]

[FW] LPDOC Communique
Original Message-----
From: freepeltiernow@mail-list.com [mailto:freepeltiernow@mail-
list.com] On
Behalf Of info@FreePeltierNow.org
Sent: Tuesday, July 22, 2008 6:45 PM
To: harveyarden@starpower.net
Subject: [FW] LPDOC Communique

This is being sent on behalf of contact@whoisleonardpeltier.info

URL: http://www.whoisleonardpeltier.info

*A Personal Note from Leonard Peltier*

I want to thank all of you who have shown your concern and answered
my call
for help. This medical problem has been going on now for some time,
at
least a year or so. As you know, a diabetic coma is usually fatal.
I am
feeling a whole lot better now, so thank you for helping me. You
can stop
contacting the BOP or Lewisburg officials.
Let's get back to concentrating on other important things. Again,
thank you
very much.

In the Spirit of Crazy Horse.

Doksha,

Leonard Peltier


*Birthday Activities*

Leonard will celebrate his 64th birthday on September 12. Please
continue
to lift Leonard's spirits by letting him know he is not forgotten.
Send
birthday cards and letters to Leonard Peltier #89637-132, USP-
Lewisburg, US
Penitentiary, PO Box 1000, Lewisburg, PA 17837-1000.

Get event planning tips at
http://www.whoisleonardpeltier.info/events.htm.

If you're planning an event to mark Leonard's birthday, please let
us know
as soon as possible. We'll post your event announcement on our
online
calendar and help promote your event by other means. Please send all
the
pertinent information about your event to
contact@whoisleonardpeltier.info.


*Branch News*

We invite you to partner with us to formulate strategies, devise
fundraising
ideas, and build public support. We strongly urge you to consider
establishing a branch of the LP-DOC in your area. Your participation
is
imperative to our survival and Leonard's freedom.

Support groups affiliated with Leonard's former defense committee
are very
welcome to join us, too. You're requested to formally register with
the
LP-DOC as soon as possible. As with all our branches, you'll receive
a
packet of information to help you continue your great work on
Leonard's
behalf.

For more information, see
http://www.whoisleonardpeltier.info/establish.htm and then contact
us at
contact@whoisleonardpeltier.info. Please provide your name, mailing
address, telephone number and e-mail address. We'll be happy to
send you
what you need to get started.


*Events*

July 16-31
San Francisco, CA: AIM for Freedom: A 40-Year Photography and Art
Retrospective Exhibit. Sponsored by AIM-West, an affiliate of the
American
Indian Movement. SomArts Cultural Center, 934 Brannan Street
(between 8th &
9th Streets), in The Bay Gallery. For more information, contact
Antonio
Gonzales at 415-577-1492 or Joyce Umamoto at 415-776-5833.

July 26-27 Oscoda, MI: Gagaguwon 10th Annual Pow Wow, hosted by the
Preservation of Native American Culture. This year the pow wow is in
honor
of Susie Nahgahgwon. Drop by and visit with the Saginaw Bay Area
Branch of
the LP-DOC. For information, contact Tom Higgins at 989-686-5096 or
send an
e-mail message to woodchuckmi@hotmail.com.

See more events at http://www.whoisleonardpeltier.info/calendar.htm.

###

Leonard Peltier Defense Offense Committee (LP-DOC) PO Box 7488,
Fargo, ND
58106
Phone: 701/235-2206
E-mail:

 [ send green star]

A Shout Out to Supporters/Support Groups *

October 10 is the 10th anniversary of the Jericho National March
to the United Nations on behalf of our political prisoners and
POWs. We're issuing a call to action to all Peltier supporters
-- those up and down the east coast, in particular.  Create a presence
for Leonard in NYC on Friday, October 10.  Rent a bus and bring
some friends. Make some noise!  Demand freedom for Leonard Peltier
and all political prisoners and POWs!  Attend the evening concert to
benefit the prisoners, as well.  See www.thejerichomovement.com. For
more information, call 718-853-0893 or send an e-mail to
nycjericho@riseup.net. If you can't participate in the anniversary
march in NYC, plan a solidarity event in your community.  Let us
know details so we can help you promote your event.

* Other Events *

NYC: Picnic at the Park for Leonard Peltier! Sunday, August 24,
2008, 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM at 9/11 Field at Prospect Park (Grand
Army Plaza side of the Park). Join us for a potluck at Prospect
Park, sharing your favorite grilled and barbequed summer treats
and restyling your attire to benefit Leonard Peltier's commissary
fund. A variety of Peltier stencil designs will be available for
you to create your own clothing art. So bring your family, your
friends and some clothes to support Leonard and his fight for
freedom and justice! 2, 3 trains to Grand Army Plaza; F train to
7th Ave. Sponsored by the NYC branch of the LP-DOC; co-sponsored
by NYC Jericho, Resistance in Brooklyn and In Our Hearts Network.

NYC: A Birthday Party for Leonard Peltier! September 12 from 7:00
to 10:00 p.m. at the Brecht Forum, 451 West Street (between Bank &
Bethune Streets, New York, NY 10014; Phone: (212) 242-4201; E-mail:
brechtforum@brechtforum.org. Sponsored by the NYC branch of the
LP-DOC, NYC-Jericho, Resistance in Brooklyn and In Our Hearts
Network.

* Our Birthday Initiative *

As you may recall, September 12th is Mr. Peltier's birthday. Please
remember to send him cards and letters: Leonard Peltier #89637-132,
USP-Lewisburg, US Penitentiary, PO Box 1000, Lewisburg, PA
17837-1000.

On July 11th, the Longest Walk II presented its "Manifesto for
Change" to Representative John Conyers in Washington, DC. See
http://snurl.com/37dzd. The manifesto addresses many of the concerns
in Indian Country including but not limited to the protection of
sacred places and healing of the earth. One concern was mentioned,
in particular -- the continuing illegal imprisonment of Leonard
Peltier.  Read the Longest Walk II resolution for/about Peltier
at http://snurl.com/37dxf.

In acknowledgement of Leonard's 64th birthday and his nearly 33
years of imprisonment, please send a letter to Rep. Conyers in
support of the Indigenous manifesto. Do this in Leonard's name.

In addition, ask Rep. Conyers to ensure:

1. The release of the over 100,000 documents on the Peltier case
that are still being withheld by the Federal Bureau of Investigation
(FBI) -- These documents are over 25 years old and are of historical
significance. The public has the right to know the truth about the
FBI's war against the American Indian Movement (AIM) and Leonard
Peltier.

2. the conduct of a congressional investigation into the long-term
effects of the FBI's COunter INTELligence PROgram (COINTELPRO)
-- It is well known that the FBI targeted AIM and other political
dissidents for annihilation. The FBI COINTELPRO effort resulted
in the assassination, criminalization, vilification, and the
splitting of various movements leading to their destruction,
with many political activists today languishing in prisons. Yet,
in 1974, the Senate Church Committee investigating the illegal FBI
COINTELPRO activities declared such practices unconstitutional. The
Senate Church Committee failed to complete their investigation by
examining actions taken against AIM or the Pine Ridge "Reign of
Terror" (1973-1976). Phone/fax/write to John Conyers and appeal to
him to conduct public hearings on why victims of COINTELPRO still
languish in prison over 30 years after the program was declared
unconstitutional. Also contact your congressional representative
and senators.  Urge them to enable John Conyers to reopen COINTELPRO
hearings.

Contact:

Honorable John Conyers, Jr., Chairman
Committee on the Judiciary
Committee on the Judiciary
2138 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC  20515
Fax: 202-225-0072
E-mail: John.Conyers@mail.house.gov

Here's a new approach. Share your thoughts with Rep. Conyers with
a video advocacy message in just three simple steps:

See http://snurl.com/37e09.

* Voter Registration and Get-Out-The-Vote Initiative *

http://snurl.com/37e1o

If you're not registered, you can't vote.  We encourage everyone
to register to vote and urge others to do the same.

Also take the time to e-mail your contacts in your address book
several times before the general election.  Remind your friends,
families, and associates to vote.  Keep reminding them until the
last vote is cast.  Tell them: Vote for the candidate(s) of your
choice, but vote!

We'll provide more resources for Decision 2008 in the coming weeks.

 [ send green star]

Actions: Friends of a Free Tibet, act now
Diane Crebo said…
Dear friend of a Free Tibet, welcome to our network.

Thanks a lot for joining us!

For the rest 3 days our campaign Candle for Tibet you find here all
informations with this most important link on our network
www.candle4tibet.org.

More informations - for example: all vigils

http://www.candle4tibet.org/en/vigils

for the campaign day, and the newest press release.

http://www.candle4tibet.org/en/

If you want to know more about CFT please see this video interview
about the aim of CFT and enjoy this radio interview.

Spread the word if you like it about our campaign on Facebook,
MySpace, whereever you want...

We hope that you'll find your experience here enriching, educating
and fun.

One of the benefits of this network is the ease in which you can
invite your whole address book to join us.

We have since today exactly 3 days to gather 100 million people and
we'd like to ask you to invite all your friends too.

So, here's the link: http://candle4tibet.ning.com/main/invitation/new

Love & Freedom

Diane and all her friends for a Free Tibet

P.S. Please add our banner to your website! They're available in many
sizes and formats here: Banners

http://candle4tibet.ning.com/group/iwanttohelpourcampaignbutidontknowh
ow/forum/topic/show?id=2154241%3ATopic%3A9953

for your Website or Blog!

 [ send green star]

Bush's Landmark Visit to Burmese Dissidents, Refugee Camps
President and First Lady Visit Burma Dissidents and Refugees in
Thailand
Dear friends,

We wanted to let you know some good news. President Bush and First
Lady Laura Bush just visited

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hRrGykk7VYKynWDV9XJZm7YQrt-
QD92DD9T00

Burmese human rights activists in Thailand, 24 hours before they head
to Beijing Olympics. The First Lady also made a special trip to
refugee camps on the Thailand-Burma border to meet with some of the
millions of refugees who have fled Burma's military dictatorship.

One of our co-founders, Aung Din, today published an opinion article
in the Irrawaddy magazine about President Bush's trip and China's
role in propping up Burma's dictators.

Burma is an issue in the United States that crosses the fault lines
of political parties. We are very glad that Democrats and Republicans
have worked together to press for change in Burma.

We very much hope that President Bush, after his meetings, will
pressure China to make changes in its policy toward Burma. China is
the most important ally of Burma's dictator Than Shwe, providing him
billions in weapons and assistance while blocking the United Nations
from .

Despite having to face both the dictator Than Shwe and China, Burmese
human rights activists continue to stand strongly in their struggle
for democracy. Inside the country they are preparing for the 20th
anniversary of the largest uprising in Burma's history. Even as the
military has put its soldiers on alert, in the last few days
dissidents inside Burma have been secretly spray-painting the color
red all over the country's major cities -- the color is a symbol of
democracy and change in Burma. We salute their courage and bravery
and pledge to re-double our own efforts here in the United States and
internationally.

Thank you for supporting the people of Burma in their struggle for
human rights!

Sincerely,

Aung Din, Jeremy Woodrum, Jennifer Quigley, Thelma Young, Jacqui Pilch

Support 1991 Nobel Peace Prize recipient Aung San Suu Kyi and the
struggle for freedom and democracy in Burma:

https://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/1189/t/5102/shop/custom.jsp?
d






Join Us August 8th, 2008: Global Rallies for Burma
August 8th, 2008:
Global Rallies for Burma
Dear Friends,

All over the world people who care about human rights are planning
events for August 8th (and 7th). These actions will commemorate the
millions of people who marched on Burma's streets in 1988, peacefully
demanding an end to military rule.

On the 8th, many of us will also call for China to stop supporting
Burma's dictators. In 1988, thousands of Burmese were gunned down by
Burma's military dictators. Today, the same military continues to
dominate the Burmese people, due mainly to the support of China.

Below is a list of the major actions that will take place in the
United States on August 8th. To see the full list of world-wide
events, check out our 8.8.08 Event Page.

Even if you can't attend any of these events you can still do
something for Burma on that day.

Many people have already pledged to not watch the Olympic opening
ceremonies -- which have nothing to do with Olympic competition and
instead are being used to whitewash China's human rights record.
Instead of watching China's display, educate friends and family about
what is happening in Burma:

- Blog for Burma: Take the time to write a post on your blog about
why you will not watch the Olympics. Make sure that you link back to
the USCB website

- Letter to the Editor: Easily send

http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/1189/t/5102/letter/?
letter_KEY=1017

a letter to the editor of your local newspaper and let them know why
you think people should not watch the opening ceremonies

- Post a flyer in your window: This idea came from one of our chapter
leaders in Philadelphia -- post a flyer in the window of your home,
to let your neighbors know that you will not be watching the opening
Olympic ceremonies. Download the poster here.

August 8th, 2008 is a good opportunity to let the world know about
Burma. Please join us.

If you would like more info on an event or want to contact leaders of
the actions - please email us

New York - August 8th
12 PM - 2 PM: Rally outisde the Burma Embassy (10 E. 77th St.)
2:30 PM - 3 PM: Rally outside China Mission to the U.N (350 E. 35th
St.)
3:15 PM - 7PM: Rally in front of United Nations, Dag Hammarskjold
Plaza
(47th St. & 1st Ave.)

Los Angeles -August 7th
Rally outside Chinese Consulate (located at 443 Shatto Place Los
Angeles)
11:30-12:30 and from 4-6pm

Chicago - August 7th
Rally in front of the NBC building in Chicago (401 N. Michigan Ave)
from 4-7pm

San Francisco - August 8th
1. Berkeley Burma Day Burmese Flag Raising
Friday August 8, 2008, at 8:08 AM (Ceremony 7:45 - 8:30 am)
Berkeley City Hall, Berkeley
2180 Milvia Street (between Allston Way and Center St;
One block from the downtow

 [ send green star]

Friends Digest Vol. 2, No. 8
"Cowardice asks the question -- Is it safe? Expediency asks
the question --Is it politic? Vanity asks the question -- Is it
popular? But conscience asks the question -- Is it right? And there
comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor
politic, nor popular; but one must take it because it is right." --
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
*'``'*:-.,_,.-:*'``'*:-.,_,.-:*'``'*:-.,_,.-:*'``'*

* Birthday Party for Leonard in Fargo *

You are invited to join his family and friends to celebrate Leonard
Peltier's 64th Birthday.

ON: September 12, 2008
LOCATION: Lindenwood Park, Fargo, ND
TIME: 5:00 - 7:00 PM

The LP-DOC is providing a birthday cake, Indian Tacos and
beverages. You are welcome to bring food or drink to share. Those
gathered will share food, stories and prayers for Leonard's freedom.

Remember to wear your Peltier T-shirts. Don't have one yet or need
a new one? The LP-DOC will have new T-shirts, bumper stickers,
and buttons available for purchase.

Directions to Lindenwood: From I-94, take exit 351 to University
Drive. Go North on University Drive to 17th Ave S. Go East on 17th
Ave. S to 5th St.. The entrance to Lindenwood Park is located at
the S 5th Street and 17th Avenue intersection. Meet at Shelter #4.

* Birthday Cards *

Leonard has requested that any birthday cards sent to him be free of
signatures. He is into recycling. He has asked that any messages or
special greetings you want to convey be written on a sheet of paper
(signed and self-addressed) and inserted into his card. Mail your
cards and letters to:

Leonard Peltier #89637-132, USP Lewisburg, PO Box 1000, Lewisburg,
PA 17837.

Monetary gifts should be sent to Leonard's commissary account in
the form of a U.S. Postal Service money order (made payable to
Leonard Peltier #89637-132). Mail money orders to:

Federal Bureau of Prisons, Leonard Peltier #89637-132, PO Box 474701,
Des
Moines, Iowa 50747-0001.

* Peltier Statement *

The following is Leonard's statement for the Political Prisoners
March and Rally today, August 25, Denver, CO (on the occasion of the
Democratic National Convention). Read here: <http://snurl.com/3jdka>

* Graywolf Show: Interview with Ben Carnes *

Ben Carnes on AIM and Leonard Peltier on August 26,
2008 (Tuesday evening) at 9:00 PM CST. To listen, go to
<http://www.blogtalkradio.com/Graywolfuncensored>. The Call-in
Number for the show is (347) 996-3652.

* LP-DOC Update *

Activities, newsletter, fundraising... Read here:
<http://snurl.com/3jew2>.

*'``'*:-.,_,.-:*'``'*:-.,_,.-:*'``'*:-.,_,.-:*'``'*
"Never cease in the fight for peace, justice, and equality for all
people. Be persistent in all that you do and don't allow anyone to
sway you from your conscience." -- Leonard Peltier
*'``'*:-.,_,.-:*'``'*:-.,_,.-:*'``'*:-.,_,.-:*'``'*

-----

Please circulate to family and friends and otherwise widely
post our listserv announcements. Also frequently visit our
Blog at <http://FreePeltierNow.blogspot.com> or receive our
blog postings by Web feed (download a free newsfeed reader at
<http://www.feedreader.com>):

Atom: <http://FreePeltierNow.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default>

RSS: <http://FreePeltierNow.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default?alt=rss>

Or register to receive e-mail announcements. It's easy. Go to our
homepage at <http://www.FreePeltierNow.org/welcome.htm>. Scroll
down the page until you see "Join Us" on the left sidebar. Enter
your e-mail address in the text box. Then point to and
click on "Subscribe". Or send a blank e-mail message to
<FreePeltierNow-on@mail-list.com>.

You also can Bookmark our home page and/or blog. Click on the
Bookmark button provided at each of these sites to use any program
you wish by which to save the sites to your list of browser
favorites. Visit us often to learn more about efforts to win
Leonard's freedom and find out what you can do to help.

We encourage other sites to link to our Web site and blog. No prior
permission is required. Feel free to use one of our banner ads at
<http://www.FreePeltierNow.org/banners.htm> to link to our resources.

Visit us on MySpace (<http://www.myspace.com/FreePeltierNow>) and
Facebook (<http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1192424201>), too.

Disclaimer: Listserv postings from sources other than "Friends of
Peltier" are made for the purpose of information dissemination. Views
expressed by secondary sources may not reflect the views of "Friends
of Peltier," and posting of information doesn't imply endorsement.

-----

Time to set him free... Because it is the RIGHT thing to do.

Friends of Peltier
http://www.FreePeltierNow.o

 [ send green star]

Write to BOP Regarding Peltier's Transfer
Forwarded on Behalf of contact@whoisleonardpeltier.info
Urgent!!!! Write to the Federal Bureau of Prisons on behalf of
Leonard Peltier regarding his transfer!!!!!

October 16, 2008

As we reported in a previous email, Leonard is once again being
uprooted and relocated to another prison. Although this seems
to be a strategy by the federal government to disrupt his defense
committee, we can take advantage of the limbo Leonard is in right now
by demanding that the Bureau of Prisons transfer him to a facility
closer to his home reservation. Turtle Mountain is requesting that
Leonard be transferred to the reservation's custody, and in the
meantime there are federal facilities in Sandstone, Minnesota and
Oxford, Wisconsin which could accommodate him.

Please send the following correspondence or similar as soon as
possible to:

Federal Bureau of Prisons
Designation and Sentence Computation Center (DSCC)
Grand Prairie Office Complex
U.S. Armed Forces Reserve Complex
346 Marine Forces Drive
Grand Prairie, TX 75051

Re: Leonard Peltier #89637-132

Dear DSCC:

I am contacting you seeking consideration for Mr. Leonard Peltier
who will be transferred from Lewisburg, Pennsylvania in the near
future. Mr. Peltier has been a model prisoner and deserves to
be transferred to a lower security prison. Also, Mr. Peltier
should be transferred to a facility close to his home based on
the hardship policy of the Bureau of Prisons, because his family
has grown older, is on a fixed income which limits the time they
can visit him. Mr. Peltier has served over 32 years in prison and
deserves to be close to his family during this crucial time in their
lives. For these reasons I ask that you transfer Mr. Peltier to the
Turtle Mountain Reservation’s custody as soon as possible. The
alternatives that would help satisfy this request are either the
federal facility in Sandstone Minnesota or Oxford Wisconsin as both
are near in proximity to his family.

In the name of all things good and humane, I ask you to do the
right thing for compassion ?Ts sake in the transfer of Leonard
Peltier today. Thank you and may the Creator bless you.

Sincerely,

Your Name
Your Street Address
Your City, State, Zip Code

Mail UPS or E-mail to: GRA-DSC/PolicyCorrespondence&AdminRemedies@bop.gov
Or Fax to: 972-352-4395

Please help us get my brother home,
Thank you

Betty Ann Peltier-Solano
Executive Coordinator
Leonard Peltier Defense Offense Committee

Time to set him free... Because it is the RIGHT thing to do.

Friends of Peltier
http://www.FreePeltierNow.org

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~Reach into Your Conscience~
~Are you getting this email?  If so, please reply with GOT IT! on the
subject line.  Thanks!~

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*<+>*<+>*<+>*<+>*<+>*<+>*<+>*<+>*

ALERT: The BOP is about to move Leonard from Lewisburg PA to we don't know
where.  These are times of desperate hope for Leonard...his formal parole
hearing comes in a few weeks...next one, if he needs it, is 2017.  If his
captors fail to free him after 33 years of false imprisonment, they will
deliberately and maliciously keep imprisoned a man they--and the whole
world--KNOW to be INNOCENT. His newly reformed support group--the Leonard
Peltier Defense Offense Committee (LPDOC)--is run by his sister Betty
Peltier Solano and niece Kari:  These gals need a few bucks to travel back
and forth to see him & run the tiny office in Fargo. They talk to him daily
and are Leonard's personal heartline to the world, including to me and you.
Please visit their lively website. 

http://whoisleonardpeltier.info/     [The ONLY official Peltier website]

Please join your prayers and pleas for Leonard's freedom to theirs, and, if
you're lucky enough to be able to do so, please reach into your conscience
and send'm $10-$20-$50--whatever. Takes a few seconds right on the site.
I'm doin' it myself! It's like taking a cleansing shower.  Do it!   We need
Leonard back among us in these dark times. Maybe Bush has one holy act of
executive clemency he might perform before Christmas. If not him, Obama
surely will have the wisdom to free Leonard.  Let them both hear your pleas.

Blessings & strength to YOU personally and to ALL OF US--we'll be needing
lots of both in the days just ahead. 

/Harvey

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                                       *

                                Maybe you alone

                                 can't save the

                                    world.

                                but it certainly

 [ send green star]

URGENT! ACT NOW TO STOP THE EXECUTION OF TROY DAVIS, scheduled for MON OCT 27!
Act NOW to STOP THE EXECUTION OF TROY DAVIS!
TELL THE GEORGIA GOV., LEGISLATURE, PARDONS AND PAROLE BOARD, BUSH, OBAMA, MCCAIN, CONGRESS AND THE MEDIA:
STOP THE EXECUTION OF TROY DAVIS!

Please join the online campaign to STOP THE EXECUTION! FREE TROY DAVIS NOW!
YOUR EMERGENCY ACTION IS NEEDED NOW!   Click HERE to

http://www.iacenter.org/troydavis/

Fill in Online Form

Tell Gov. Perdue and the Georgia Pardons and Parole Board:

STOP THE EXECUTION! FREE TROY DAVIS!

On Monday, October 27, Troy Davis, an African American on death row in Georgia, is scheduled to be legally lynched by the state of Georgia. Davis was convicted in the 1989 killing of a police officer despite what Amnesty International calls "overwhelming doubts about his guilt." No physical forensic evidence was presented at Davis' trial, and 7 of the 9 witnesses have recanted their testimony, with at least two saying they were pressured by police to finger Davis as the killer. Yet on October 14 the Supreme Court refused to allow a new hearing in his case. TAKE ACTION NOW using the link below to let the Georgia Parole Board, Governor, Legislature, and congressional delegation as well as President Bush, Senators Obama and McCain, U.N. Secretary-General Ban, Congressional leaders and members of the media know you demand No Execution of Troy Davis!

To fill in the online form, go to:
http://www.iacenter.org/troydavis 

Your messages will go to hundreds of public officials, including the Governor of Georgia, the entire Georgia legislature, each member of the Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles, the full Georgia Congressional delegation, as well as President Bush, Senators Obama and McCain, Congressional leaders, U.N. Secretary-General Ban, and national and local media representatives.

The text of the message reads as follows (you will have the opportunity to edit it if you wish):

To: Governor Perdue, Georgia Pardons and Parole Board, Georgia Legislature, Georgia Congressional Delegation, Senators Obama and McCain, President Bush, Congressional Leaders, U.N. Secretary General Ban
cc: members of the media

On Monday, October 27, Troy Davis, an innocent man, is scheduled to be executed unless you act to prevent it. He was convicted solely on witness testimony, and 7 of the 9 witnesses have since recanted, many alleging that police coerced them into making false statements.

I join with millions in the US and around the world in demanding that you Stop the execution of Troy Davis. Innocence matters to me. Justice matters to everyone.

I urge you to act now.

-----------

International Action Center
c/o Solidarity Center
55 W 17th ST #5C
New York, NY 10011
www.iacenter.org
iacenter@iacenter.org
212-633-6646

Anyone can subscribe.
Send an email request to
Action.News-subscribe@organizerweb.com

Subscribing can also be done on the Web at
http://www.organizerweb.com/mailman/listinfo/action.news

 [ send green star]

To clarify, Iran has banned the execution of minors for drug-related crimes, but will still allow the sentence to be imposed against juveniles convicted of murder, according to a statement made by Iran's Assistant Attorney General for Judicial Affairs Hossein Zabhi on Saturday.

And now on to the Troy Davis update.

http://takeaction.amnestyusa.org/siteapps/advocacy/index.aspx?c=jhKPIXPCIoE&b=2590179&template=x.ascx&action=11330

Activists and lawyers are working around the clock to stop the scheduled execution of Troy Davis from happening on October 27.  New appeals were filed yesterday.  The time is now to attend actions and contact public officials (contact info listed at the bottom of this message).

Amnesty International has issued a call for a Global Day of Action set for today (Thursday, October 23) in conjunction with a large rally at the Georgia State Capitol in Atlanta to stop the execution of Troy Davis. The rally will begin at 6 PM.

The National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty

http://www.ncadp.org/

supports this initiative and is encouraging all of our members, supporters and allies to participate in some way. 

http://www.gfadp.org/

If you can attend the rally in Atlanta, please do so. If not, find an action in your community and attend.  Those we know of are listed below.

Also scroll down to the bottom of this email for contact info of Georgia public officials you can contact.

Here is a list of scheduled actions:

ATLANTA, GEORGIA

RALLY AT THE CAPITOL STEPS
206 Washington Street SW
Speakers:
*Reverend Al Sharpton, National Action Network
*Larry Cox, Executive Director Amnesty International
*Steve Hawkins, NAACP Executive Vice President
*MC'd by Lorraine Jacques White, radio host on WAOK

Sponsored by Amnesty International, NAACP and National Action Network
For more info call 404-876-5661 x13
__________________________________________________________
SOLIDARITY ACTIONS (See below for full announcements):
*Arizona
*California
*Colorado
*Washington, DC
*Georgia
*Illinois
*Michigan
*New Hampshire
*New York
*Pennsylvania
*Virginia
*Washington

Also:
*Belgium
*France
*Italy
*UK
__________________________________________________________
ARIZONA

Thursday, October 23, 4 PM
Solidarity Rally for Troy Davis
Memorial Union, Arizona State University
Tempe
Contact Sarah.R.Oliver@asu.edu  or mlkubik@asu.edu

__________________________________________________________
CALIFORNIA

PALM SPRINGS:
Solidarity Rally for Troy Davis
Desert Sun, 750 N. Gene Autry Trail
Thursday, Oct. 23 noon
More info: fsmotr@earthlink.net

BAY AREA:
Join the Global Day of Action for Troy Davis
Thursday, October 23rd
5:00 pm, Powell and Market, San Francisco
Help us gather petition signatures

Speak out on the day of the scheduled execution
Stand in solidarity with Troy
Monday, October 27th
3:00 pm, Federal Building, 450 Golden Gate Ave, San Francisco
Stand in solidarity with Troy

For more info call: 510-394-8925
Sponsored by the CEDP and Death Penalty Focus
__________________________________________________________

COLORADO
Action at Old Town Square, Fort Collins
Th. Oct. 23, 4 PM
More info: swanson.marla@gmail.com

__________________________________________________________

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Columbia Heights: Th. Oct. 23, 6 PM
STAND FIRM FOR JUSTICE: Solidarity Rally for Troy Davis
Corner of 14th St. and Park Rd. NW (the paved triangular area), right by the Columbia Heights Metro.
jcohn@aiusa.org

Howard University: Th. Oct. 23, 12:30 PM
Solidarity Rally for Troy Davis
Outside Douglass Jall, by flagpole
More info: lindsayparme@hotmail.com
__________________________________________________________
GEORGIA

Atlanta: 10-26-08, 6 PM
Prayer rally for Troy Davis and Friends of God Concert
Immanuel Baptist Church, 644 Memorial Drive
More info: Pastor George, micaiah_1@msn.com

Kennesaw: Oct. 23, noon
Emergency SpeakOut to Save Troy Davis
Campus green, Kennesaw State University
GET ON THE BUS! Passenger vans will be transporting students and others to/from Kennesaw State University to the 6
PM downtown rally at the capitol. Seats reserved on a first-come/first-served basis.

Call 607-280-4070 to reserve your seat now. More info: call Matt at 404-452-2697

__________________________________________________________
ILLINOIS

Chicago: October 23, 5:30 PM
Speak-out for Troy Davis!
DePaul University Student Center, 2250 N. Sheffield
March to Quad for candlelight vigil

Sponsored by Amnesty International--DePaul Chapter and Midwest Regional Office; Campaign to End the Death Penalty; DePaul Students Against the Death Penalty; and National Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression

Contact aweger@students.depaul.edu  for more info.

Monday, October 27 5 PM
Speak-out to Save Troy Davis!
Federal Plaza, Adams & Dearborn
For more info contact the Campaign to End the Death Penalty at julien@nodeathpenalty.org  or 773-955-4841

__________________________________________________________
MICHIGAN
Monday, October 27 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Protest the execution of Troy Davis on the campus of Muskegon Community College
Muskegon, MI
More info: tracy.holt@muskegoncc.edu

_______________________

 [ send green star]

Major Trials of Activists Underway in Burma
Dear Friends of Burma,

Many of you have asked us about the incredible trials going on right now in Burma, so we have compiled some information below to share with you. We are closely monitoring the trials and sending information to the United Nations and governments throughout the world.

Detailed information and many photos of the students can be found below, but here is a brief explanation of what is going on: there is a group of courageous young men and women known as the 88 Generation Students

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6958363.stm

who spearheaded the Autumn, 2007 nationwide demonstrations by Burma's Buddhist monks. 
After Nobel Peace Prize recipient Aung San Suu Kyi,

http://uscampaignforburma.org/learn-about-burma/aung-san-suu-kyi

these student leaders are the most prominent democracy activists inside Burma.  Most have been arrested because they encouraged people to participate in peaceful marches calling for change in Burma.  They are currently being hauled before Burmese "courts" and are charged with "crimes" that could put them in jail for over 100 years.
Refusing to accept the unfairness of the trials in Burma's court system, which is 100% controlled by the ruling military junta, the 88 Generation Students stood up and actively objected at their trials.  Read on to see what happened...
Aung Din, Jeremy Woodrum, Mike Haack, Jennifer Quigley, Jacqui Pilch
Current Trials of Burmese Democracy Activists

(an abbreviated version of a longer report that can be read on our blog, blog.uscampaignforburma.org)

http://doiyeh.wordpress.com/

Since July 2008, the Burmese military regime has been sending democracy activists, arrested during peaceful protests in 2007, for trial before various Township and District courts. Most of the trials are being held inside the Insein Prison

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Insein_Prison

compound in Rangoon and Oo-Bo Prison compound in Mandalay. Defendants were brought to the court in handcuffs and not allowed to meet with their lawyers in the initial hearings. Later, they were allowed to meet with their lawyers, and their family members were also allowed to attend the courts' hearings.

However, since Oct 3, 2008, the authorities stopped allowing family members to attend the trials and moved their family prison visits to the weekends. The family members sent a letter to the Chief Justice, asking permission to  attend future hearings, but there is no response from the Chief Justice as of this writing.

Meanwhile, the court hearings are more and more restricted and unjust. The judges do not allocate sufficient time for the defense lawyers to ask counter-questions. The judges refuse to allow defendants' family members to attend the hearings. The prosecutors have demanded the judges sanction defendants who simply asked for a fair trial. In case of Daw Win Mya Mya and five National League for Democracy (NLD) leaders in Mandalay, the authorities refused even to allow the prison officials to to confirm the date of arrest.

Min Ko Naing and Eight Members of the 88 Generation Students Transferred to Ma-ubin Prison in the Delta

Today (October 31st), the prison authorities transferred Min Ko Naing and eight members of the 88 Generation Students to prisons far from their familes -- nearly a five hour drive.  The 88 Students were sentenced to six months imprisonment each on Oct 29 by a judge for "contempt of court". Apparently, seeking a fair trial is considered "contempt" by the Burmese military regime.  

On Oct 30, 2008, the Rangoon Northern District Court, held inside the Insein Prison Compound, held a hearing against Min Ko Naing and 22 defendants.  Min Ko Naing and eight members of the group were brought before the court with blue colored-prison uniforms while other defendants wore civilian dress (since they were not yet convicted).  During the hearing, Min Ko Naing and all the defendants claimed that they have no trust in the court's fairness, and therefore withdrew power of attorney from their lawyers in protest. The next day, the nine including Min Ko Naing, Ko Ko Gyi, Mya Aye, Nyan Linn, Pyone Choe (aka) Htay Win Aung, Aung Thu, Hla Myo Naung, and Aung Naing (aka) Myo Aung Naing were transferred to Ma-ubin Prison with heavy security guards.  Ma-ubin is in a region hit by Cyclone Nargis, and conditions are terrible.

On Oct 31, the judges from Rangoon Southern District Court and Northern District Court continued hearings of other members of the 88 Generation Students inside the Insein Prison Compound. Min Ko Naing and the eight were not present in the trials.  The regime's prosecutors requested that the judges drop the cases against the nine, and the judges agreed. Instead, it appears that the Burmese military regime is planning to move the cases against Min Ko Naing and the eight to Ma-ubin District Court where it will be very difficult to obtain any information.

Four Farmers, Who Asked the ILO for Help, Arrested, Others in Hiding

The 88 Students are not the only people facing arrest and trial. A group of framers from Aunglan (Myede) and Natmauk Townships in Magway Division wrote to the International Labor Organization (a United Nations agency) office in Rangoon in July 2008, reporting that their farmlands were forcibly confiscated by the military regime.  They asked the ILO for help, and shortly thereafter the ILO liaison officer came to their areas to investigate. On Oct 20, the three farmers who signed the letter to the I

 [ send green star]

Cara All,

Ni hao.  Cool, thanx for sharing, caring, and go vote early,

http://colorofchange.org/earlyvote08/?id=1593-67632  ,

from       http://www.colorOfChange.org     ;

it's a great way to make sure the remocrats don't discount your vote and steal the elections!  Thanx All, twigs of poetree

YOU CAN