Support Brad, Stop TTP, Greet Boehner In Liberty, Day 25 of Hunger Strike by 30,000 in US

 Vigil for Bradley Manning

Last Saturday, New Paltz Women in Black held a special vigil for Bradley Manning as part of an International Day of Action that happened in 40 cities. Here was another-

Now we know he has been acquitted on the most serious charge of aiding the enemy, but many other charges could still bring him life in prison. This is a travesty. Manning, who wore dog tags that said "humanist" was appalled at the war crimes he saw and felt he could not in good conscience not let the American people know what was being done in their name. There will most likely be an appeal and he still needs our support and funds. Please go to http://www.standwithbrad.org

Here is the flyer we passed out:

            Support Bradley Manning Rally

By New Paltz Women in Black

Bradley Manning is facing life in prison for being a truth teller and exposing war crimes:

The Iraq War logs-  showed that between 2004- 2009, there were 109,000 deaths in Iraq and a shocking 2/3 of them were civilians.

A video showed a US helicopter gunship crew firing on and killing 12 civilians, including two Reuters reporters and two who stopped to help.

 An order in 2004, directed US troops to not investigate 1000s of reports of prisoner torture in Iraq.

US taxpayer money was used for child trafficking. DynCorp, a US contractor, threw parties for Afghan security recruits featuring boys dressed as women who were sold for sex to the highest bidder.

And there is much more information- embarrassing to the US to say the least- but not threatening our national security in any way- 2.5 million had access to the “secrets” Bradley shared with Wikileaks.

Join the international campaign to support Bradley Manning- www.bradleymanning.org

Sign the petition at www.StandwithBrad.org

Follow “Save Bradley” on twitter and facebook.

Speak out in support of whistleblowers!

They are essential to democracy.

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 Want Clean Water and Air? Want Workers' Rights Protected? Want Jobs to Stay in the US?

Then You Do NOT Want TPP

About the TPP and Senator Elizabeth Warren's Petition to Stop It:

For three years, a group of some 600 multinational corporations and trade associations have been quietly negotiating a trade pact IN SECRET that could void American laws that protect workers, jobs, health, and the environment. During negotiations here last summer, news leaked of some of the provisions U.S. trade officials were prepared to approve, and a public outcry derailed the talks. Trade Representative Ron Kirk resigned. Now that Michael Froman has been confirmed as the new U.S. Trade Representative he is pushing to renew "fast track" authority so President Obama can sign the agreement first, and then force a quick vote in Congress without any public scrutiny, floor debate, or revisions.

Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, one of just four U.S. Senators who voted against Froman's confirmation, said of TPP: “I have heard the argument that transparency would undermine the Trade Representative’s policy to complete the trade agreement because public opposition would be significant,” Warren explained. “In other words, if people knew what was going on, they would stop it. This argument is exactly backwards. If transparency would lead to widespread public opposition to a trade agreement, then that trade agreement should not be the policy of the United States.”

The only TPP language made public was leaked in 2012 and shared by Public Citizen. Since then trade officials have kept a tight lid on the negotiations, only recently allowing members of Congress to view (not copy) the text, which remains "classified." Among the most disturbing revelations in last year's leaked TPP language, that seems to be mirrored in the Atlantic version as well: Foreign companies would have "preferred status" – granting them greater rights within our borders than our own companies enjoy. U.S. companies would have more incentives to offshore jobs, and foreign companies would not be bound by the minimum wage and could sue the U.S. if our health, safety, or environmental regulations interfered with their profits. Jurisdiction over such suits would rest not in the hands of elected officials or judges, but with an international business tribunal. Their decisions, which would be binding upon all member nations, would supersede our own laws – including our Constitution.

Please sign Senator Warren's petition here - http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/congress-dont-renew-fast?mailing_id=14329&source=s.icn.em.cr&r_by=1662546

Our local Ulster County MoveOn is making it a priority to stop TPP, AKA The Terrible Plutocratic Plan. If you would like to know more, come to our next meeting, or learn how you can be a member of the TPP Team- there will be trainings, power points and more- email me at clearstreammedia@gmailcom. Please share the petition with all you know and talk this up- It is a corporate global coup and we have to stop it! Thanks.

Action Alert

Tell John Boehner and Chris Gibson- Do Your Job!

John  (Don't judge us by the bills we pass, but the bills we repeal- Number repealed- ZER-O) Boehner is coming to Ulster County to raise funds for Rep Chris Gibson and we would like many to come out to welcome him with a message he can't ignore and will never forget! Sign up here- https://www.facebook.com/events/621362001231545/?notif_t=plan_user_invited

1 Cablevision Center Liberty, NY August 6, 4:30PM

Join us to tell Boehner and Gibson:
VOTE for Immigration Reform & a Roadmap to Citizenship NOW!
Stop budget cuts that hurt our families!
Make big corporations and the rich pay their fair share!

Jobs, jobs, jobs

We will be meeting at the entrance along Old Rt 17
(Across from the NYS DOT Barn)

For more information, please contact:
Mary Clark 607.723.0110
Kat Fisher 845.637.0174
KFisher@citizenactionny.org

Day 25 of Hunger Strike by 30,000 Inmates

This video begins with a woman talking about her brother who has been in solitary confinement for almost 30 years! She says she last was able to touch him in 1982. Solitary confinement for decades is torture, it is barbaric and a terrible stain, as much as Abu Ghraib was, on who we are as a nation. 

When an inmate needs immediate medical attention, others yell "Man down!" This happened recently at Corcoran State Prison. The guards ignored the plea for help and hunger striker, Billy "Guero" Sill died July 22. People are dying for sunlight, fresh air and human contact.

Prisoners describe solitary as being "buried alive". They are in windowless, concrete boxes approx 11 x 7 for 221/2 hours a day. In Pelican Bay where the strike originated, 500 have been in solitary confinement for over 10 years, 80 for over 20 years and 2 for 40 years. The UN says solitary confinement for more than 15 DAYS is torture.

Call Gov Jerry Brown today- 510 289-0336 and tell him to end this inhumane practice and to negotiate with prsioners on their legitimate demand to end long-term solitary confinement, and three others, like not denying food as punishment.

Go to http://prisonerhungerstrikesolidarity.wordpress.com/ to learn more on how you can stand in solidarity and amplify the voices of the prisoners on hunger strike and sign the open letter to Brown here.

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I'll leave you with a victory-

The Non-GMO label for meat and eggs has been approved for US use!

 http://www.nationofchange.org/huge-victory-non-gmo-label-meat-eggs-approved-us-use-1374935368

This brings us one step closer to labeling foods that are GM. Also helping that to happen was the public hearing for GMO labeling in NYS- first hand account here- http://hv4nogmos.blogspot.com/2013/08/first-hand-account-of-public-hearing-on.html

 We have the power- let's use it! Keep Faith.