Events

Join leading single-payer advocates on a national conference call this Monday, February 15th at 8pm EST for a discussion of the rise and fall of the public option and why improved Medicare for All, is still the leading policy solution to our health care crisis. Go here to register.

Download flyer from "File Attachment" below.

Peace Grannies Declare War on G.I. Joe
By Joan Wile

The Granny Peace Brigade, shocked and outraged at the transformation over the years of the relatively benign toy soldier, G. I. Joe, into a vicious killing machine, will launch an attack on Hasbro, the manufacturer, in the belief that such an emblem of militaristic overkill distorts the sensibilities of kids into violence and war lust.

"Let's face it -- the increasingly violent nature of toys and games these days is militarizing our children to a dangerous degree, Our occupations of Iraq and Afghanistan, plus our drones in Pakistan, exemplify the escalation of the U.S. into a nation more interested in making war than peace," said 94-year-old Lillian Pollak, one of the active Brigaders." "G.I. Joe and other such ferocious toys help foster these harmfully aggressive tendencies."

The grandmothers' first strike will occur on Saturday evening, Feb. 13, when the grannies ambush with fliers, signs and an enormous banner the people streaming into the 10th annual "Toy of the Year Awards" ceremony at the Chelsea Piers, at which Hasbro has been nominated in two categories. While peppering the gala attendees with their paper weapons, they will sing revised lyrics to old songs around their anti-war-toys theme, assisted by the Raging Grannies. For Instance, to the tune of "Row, Row, Row Your Boat":

(partial lyric) HASBRO, CANCEL G.I. JOE
AND SWITCH TO OTHER TOYS
DOLLS THAT TEACH TO KILL AND MAIM
ARE BAD FOR GIRLS AND BOYS

The Brigade will repeat the action at the Javits Center on Monday, Feb. 15, 11:30 a.m., targeting all attendees to the Toy Fair held there.

What: Daytona 500 Antiwar & 9/11 Truth Public Display,
Video of Central Florida News 13 report from our event at the 2008 Coke Zero 400

When: Sunday, February 14th, 2010 – 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM

Where: Daytona 500 – Daytona International Speedway, NASCAR Drive and International Speedway Blvd in Daytona Beach
(Across from Speedway, 0.1 mile East of Pedestrian Overpass)

Free Speech for People, Not Corporations!
RALLY to Take Back Democracy!
Lawyer’s Mall, Annapolis (near Church Circle)
Monday, Feb. 22nd, 2010   6 - 7 PM

Marylanders are responding to the shocking new Supreme Court ruling that corporations, for the first time, can spend unlimited funds to influence any local, state or federal political campaign, a ruling the state Senate president called "offensive" and "devastating to democracy."  Incredibly, the ruling establishes that corporations are like “people,” protected by the constitution to spend unlimited sums to sway political campaigns as if this were “free speech.”

ABC's This Week: Exclusive Interview with Dick Cheney

In a rare Sunday appearance, former Vice President Dick Cheney sits down for a "This Week" exclusive live interview. Guest anchor, ABC News Congressional Correspondent Jonathan Karl asks Cheney about how the Obama administration has waged the war on terror, the trial of Khalid Sheik Mohammed, and why he thinks the President has made the country "less safe". We'll cover it all with the former vice-president - from foreign policy to jobs, health care and 2010 politics. Check local listings for time & channel.

What: 2003 Nobel Peace Prize Winner Shirin Ebadi Speaks on “Universal Human Rights and Iran Today”

When: Friday, February 19, 2010 at 4:00 pm (Reception to Follow)

Where: The Rose Theatre at the University of Memphis Maps
University of Memphis
Michael D. Rose Theatre
470 University Ave.
Rm. 102 Memphis, TN 38152-3470

A native of Iran, Dr. Ebadi became the first female judge in Iran in 1969 at the tender age of 22. Ten years later, during the Islamic Revolution, all female judges were dismissed from their posts and given clerical jobs. Outraged by this, and the continued loss of rights for women in her country, Dr. Ebadi set up practice as a lawyer and became one of the most well-known lawyers in Iran. She focuses her practice on cases involving the unfair treatment of women and children and was awarded the Nobel Peace Price in 2003 for her efforts for peace and women's rights in Iran and across the Middle East. Dr. Ebadi will recount her life story Friday, February 19th at 4:00pm in the Rose Theatre.

Free and open to the public.

A Celebration of the Work and Life of Howard Zinn
Monday, February 15, 2010
6:00pm - 8:00pm
Busboys and Poets, 14th & V
2021 14th Street NW
Washington, DC

Busboys and Poets celebrates the life and work of Howard Zinn with friends Marian Wright Edelman, Amy Goodman, Bernice Johnson Reagon, Ralph Nader, Dave Zirin, David Swanson, and others.

There is no charge for admission and seating is on a first come first seated basis.

During the day, Busboys and Poets will continuously screen Howard Zinn's new documentary film THE PEOPLE SPEAK and the documentary film about Howard Zinn: You Can't Be Neutral On A Moving Train.

By David Swanson

"Prophecy" is the title of a new play by Karen Malpede, and I'm here to attempt the unamerican task of telling you to see it without telling you it's a comedy. In fact, I'm going to confess that I had to take a break from it and recover before I could write about it. I felt like I'd taken a blow with an enormous sledge hammer, even though I knew that a whole orchestra of smaller instruments had produced what I was feeling.

It was not a bad feeling, not an undesirable feeling. The play is a thing of beauty, and not all beauty fits into that Hollywood sensation of wouldn't-such-a-thing-be-sweet-but-I-bet-they're-divorced-in-a-year-and-I-shouldn't-have-had-that-last-gallon-of-coke.

The Purpose Prize
A $100,000 prize for people in their encore careers who are inventing new ways to solve social problems.

Ten people over the age of 60 will win in 2010. Nominate yourself or someone you know. Deadline: March 5.

5 tips for nominating someone for The Purpose Prize

1. Learn about past Prize winners to see what we look for. (Click here for a list of 2009 winners.)
2. Nominate someone (possibly you) who switched careers, is tackling a social problem and has plans to expand.
3. Tell a story: What was the "Aha!" moment that propelled your nominee in a new direction?
4. Describe the nominee's impact. What has your nominee accomplished that others should know about?
5. Listen to this podcast for tips on how to create a winning nomination. Read more.