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Take Action to Support the Nuclear Ban Treaty! Honduras has become the 50th country to ratify the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. This means that the treaty has reached the number needed to go into effect. This will start on January 2022 according to the United Nations. 122 countries out of the 193-member UN General Assembly have expressed support and 84 have signed the treaty. Write your representatives and tell them to support this effort! According to the Secretary-General of the United Nations Antonio Guterres this development, “represents a meaningful commitment towards the total elimination of nuclear weapons.” But this is only the beginning. Countries with nuclear weapons, including the United States, Russia, and China, have shown opposition to the treaty which aims to destroy all nuclear weapons and ban new ones. The countries that possess nuclear weapons, the US, Russia, the UK, China, France, India, Pakistan, North Korea, and Israel have not signed the treaty. Changing perspectives in nuclear countries is incredibly important in the movement for nuclear disarmament. Citizens and residents of nuclear powers need to use their voices to support the elimination of these dangerous weapons. Tell your representatives that you want them to push for the United States to join the treaty!
Events and Meetings:
Monday, September 30, 2024, 5:00 PM. Grassroots Election Protection Coalition/ALLIANCE 4 GRASSROOTS DEMOCRACY. Weekly zoom meeting. Register here.
Monday, September 30. 2024, 3:00 PM. Power Half-Hour for Gaza: Channel grief & fear into action to stop a genocide. Many of us are grieving, angry, scared and confused. Wherever you are, you are needed urgently now to act to stave off imminent genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. As we hold the devastating pain of the last few days, in which thousands of Palestinians and Israelis have been killed, we are terrified. The U.S. government is rushing to send more weapons to the Israeli military as it wreaks devastation on the over 2 million Palestinians trapped in Gaza. We must act together to demand the U.S. immediately de-escalate to prevent imminent genocide after 75 years of Israeli military occupation and apartheid. Invite your friends to this daily power-half hour to take action in the political community. Call on Congress to demand they stop fueling violence -Get messaging resources and pointers for having the hard conversations with people in your life -Intervene in the media narrative beating the drums of war against Palestinians Come to channel grief and fear into action to stop the bloodshed. All are welcome. All are needed. URGENT: We need all hands on deck now to act. Register here. If the Zoom room is full, join us on YouTube.
Monday, September 30, 2024, 8:00 PM. Atomic Bamboozle Webinar Discussion Panel for the Sierra Club's Nuclear Free Team's Online Film Series. Please join us at for a Webinar Discussion on the documentary film "Atomic Bamboozle: The False Promise of a Nuclear Renaissance." Register here.
Monday, September 30, 2024, 8:00 PM. City Divestment Training. Over the last few months, activists have gained unprecedented achievements in pushing their cities to divest from genocidal Israel’s war machine. Join us for a training session with experts at American Friends Service Committee on how divestment works, what to consider before launching a campaign in your city, and how to win. We will also hear from activists who have recently won divestment in their cities, including in Portland, Maine, and Hayward, California. This training will be useful for activists that are already deep in divestment campaigning as well as for those who haven’t yet launched a divestment campaign. While we will be speaking to US-based researchers and activists, this webinar will have useful lessons for city-level campaigning globally. Register here.
Monday, September 30, 2024, 2:30 PM. Peacemakers Welcome: A Conversation with Alana Zeitchik. Please join us for what promises to be a thoughtful pre-High Holiday conversation about the possibility of building Israeli-Palestinian alliances across the divide. With us for this Zoom event will be: Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib, Resident Senior Fellow at The Atlantic Council Alana Zeitchik, Executive Director of the Narrow Bridge Project. Progressive Israel Network. More information and registration here.
Tuesday, October 1, 2024, 3:00 PM. Arab American Town Hall on Lebanon. To help us understand this moment and how we may help the Lebanese people, we are bringing together a panel of experts, including many in Lebanon, for analysis and discussion. Arab American Institute. Register here.
Tuesday, October 1, 2024, 11:00 AM. Kumi Now! Rise Up Together for Justice. Kumi Now is an online gathering every Tuesday with a guest activist on the ground exploring issues of critical relevance to the Palestinian people and how you can get involved. On October 1, join Churches for Middle East Peace’s Senior Director of Advocacy and Government Relations Kyle Cristofalo for a virtual event held with Sabeel Kumi to discuss non-violent resistance in Palestine. Register here.
Wednesday, October 2, 2024, Peace, War, and Human Rights. This webinar is part of the Faithful Voters series in anticipation of the United States election in 2024. Dan Moriarty, Peace and Nonviolence senior program officer, will address the global peace and nonviolence issues that we hope the candidates will address. Maryknoll. Register here.
Wednesday, October 2, 2024, 1:00 PM. Big Tech and Genocide. Join us for the latest edition of the Palestinian Digital Rights Study Group in partnership with the Institute for Middle East Understanding to discuss 7amleh’s latest report, which provides an analysis of Big Tech’s complicity in the ongoing genocide in Gaza. Throughout the continuing war on Gaza, we have observed how various new technologies are employed by the Israeli army, including “efficient” targeting systems, semi-autonomous drones, and expansive facial-recognition systems, consequently furthering the suffering of the Palestinian people in Gaza. Similarly, we see how various big tech companies have played a role in exacerbating digital rights violations at a time when egregious violations of international humanitarian law and fundamental human rights were already taking place. IMEU. More information and registration here.
Thursday, October 3, 2024, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM. Peacekeeper And Poll Monitor Training – OSU CSW. Please bring your skills and courageous faith to support democracy and love in these challenging times. For more information, please email Rev. Joan or Rev. Susan. Location: League of League of Women Voters Offices, 471 E Broad Street, Columbus, OH 43215. Register here. ONLINE PEACEKEEPER TRAINING – On Demand Zoom Webinar Video If you cannot attend an in-person training, please sign up to create a Peacekeeper profile and watch a video presentation of the training. View online training here. After you view the video, please confirm your viewing and contact information here. This is no time for a casual or timid faith. Your caring skills and understanding of human nature are needed. But you don't stand alone: many others stand with you.
Thursday, October 3, 2024, 10:00 – 10:30 AM. Churches for Middle East Peace Weekly Briefing.
Please join us on Zoom for a weekly briefing on current news regarding the Hamas and Israel War.
Hear from CMEP Staff and other experts. Register here.
Thursday, October 3, 2024, 8:00 PM. ACLU People Power 2024 Election Webinar Series. ACLU Election Overview. The ACLU is getting out the vote in ballot measures and candidate races across the country to ensure that every voter's voice is heard and that elected officials do not have final say when it comes to our rights. Join our webinar series and learn how to take action with us, from texting, letter writing, and calling voters to get out to vote. Register here.
Friday, October 4, 2024, 7:00 PM. Ambassador Chas Freeman: Is the Zionist State Now Doing Itself In? Ambassador Chas Freeman will be joining the Community Church virtually on October 4th at 7:00pm Eastern Time to deliver a talk about Palestine/Israel. After his talk, there will be a Q&A session. Ambassador Freeman is a career diplomat (retired) who was Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs from 1993-94, earning the highest public service awards of the Department of Defense. He served as U. S. Ambassador to Saudi Arabia from 1989-1992 during operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. Ambassador Freeman worked as Deputy Chief of Mission and Chargé d’Affaires in the American embassies at both Bangkok (1984-1986) and Beijing (1981-1984). Community Church of Boston. Register here.
Friday, October 4, 2024, 12:00 PM. Action Hours Cease Fire Now. Join AFSC staff every Friday to hear updates from Gaza. Then, take action with us as we contact our elected officials and call for an us. Register here.
Saturday, October 5, 2024, 12:00 – 1:00 PM. Weekly Rally for Peace. Location: East North Broadway and High St., Columbus.
Saturday, October 5, 2024, Christian Zionism and the Israel Lobby: A Conversation with Ilan Pappe. Dr. Ilan Pappé is an Israeli historian and professor of history at the University of Exeter, where he leads the European Centre for Palestine Studies. He is the author of numerous books including The Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine. Those who donate $100 or more to PCAP will receive a copy of his most recent book: Lobbying for Zionism on Both Sides of the Atlantic (One World Publications, 2024). (My note: you can purchase the book from the publisher for $40 and the Ebook for $28.00.) Register for the webinar here.
Sunday, October 6, 2024, 2:00 – 4:00 PM. SURJ Mass Meeting. Join Showing Up for Racial Justice in Columbus for an Ohio-wide in-person mass meeting to discuss how we got to this political moment, get clear on the need to organize white communities into growing multi-racial movements for racial and economic justice, and commit to action. Location: Columbus Metropolitan Library, Main Branch, 96 South Grant Avenue, Columbus, Ohio 43215.
Sunday, October 6, 2024, 2:00 – 4:00 PM. SURJ Meeting. Make Ohio Swing: A mass meeting to make Ohio a swing state again. At Showing Up for Racial Justice, we mobilize white people because we believe we have an important responsibility to organize our communities away from racism and into movements for change. In the face of the many crises of the world right now, it can feel like nothing we do is as big as what’s needed. But this year, we don’t have to do everything– we have to do our part. Join us for an Ohio-wide in-person Mass Meeting where we’ll make sense of how we got here, get clear on the need to organize white communities into growing multi-racial movements for racial and economic justice, and commit to action. Location: Columbus Metropolitan Library, 96 S Grant Ave, Columbus 43215. You can also join the meeting virtually. Registration and more information here.
Monday, October 7, 2024, 2:00 PM. Ecumenical Service of Lament. Join Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) on October 7th for a virtual service of lament as we reflect on the one-year anniversary of the devastating October 7th attacks and subsequent year-long bombardment of Gaza. The event will be on zoom and in person at the United Methodist Building Chapel in D.C. It will also be recorded for later viewing. Register here.
Monday, October 7, 2024, 1:30 PM. Does "Just War" Justify Too Much? How Should Christians Think About Violence? Does "Just War" justify too much? During the war in Gaza, Just War Theory has been discussed frequently, but what exactly does that entail and how is it being used? Aside from pacifism and just war, are there other Christian ethical alternatives? Join the Network of Evangelicals for the Middle East as we explore what Just War Theory is, its historical roots, the way the Church and governments use it today and how we can work toward a more just peace. Register here.
Sunday, October 7, 2024, 5:00 - 7:00 PM. Redbird Books to Prisoners. We collect, pack, and send books to Ohio prisoners every 1st and 3rd Sunday. Location: Thirdhand Bike Coop, 979 East 5th Ave, Columbus. Please don't park in front of the building.
Tuesday, October 8, 2024, 8:00 PM. Exploring the Contributions of Women Towards Peace, Dignity and Justice in the Holy Land. An interreligious conversation with two important Palestinian voices, Dr. Rima Salah and Dr. Eman Abdelhadi, on the past, present, and future of women’s empowerment, peacebuilding, and the pursuit of justice and dignity in the Holy Land. Churches for Middle East Peace. In person event. Register for the livestream here.
Tuesday, October 8, 2024, 7:00 PM. Exploring the Contributions of Women Towards Peace, Dignity and Justice in the Holy Land. An interreligious conversation with two important Palestinian voices, Dr. Rima Salah and Dr. Eman Abdelhadi, on the past, present, and future of women’s empowerment, peacebuilding, and the pursuit of justice and dignity in the Holy Land. Location: The University Dining Room (AS 104-C), in the Academic Science building, Lewis University campus in Romeoville, IL. The event will also be live streamed. Register here.
Wednesday, October 9, 2024, 4:00 – 5:30 PM. Father Drew Christiansen Lecture at the University of Notre Dame. Featuring: Dr. Ben Norquist, CMEP Director of Grants and Academics, and Dr. Rima Salah, Chair of the Early Childhood Peace Consortium. Dr. Rima Salah provides a Palestinian Christian woman’s perspective on the past, present, and future of women’s empowerment, peace-building, and striving for justice and dignity in the Holy Land. Register.
Wednesday, October 9, 2024, 6:00 PM. Fair Districts All Volunteer Huddle. Join Fair Districts leaders and volunteers for a monthly meeting. Second Wednesday of the month at 6pm! Register here.
Wednesday, October 9, 2024, 7:00 PM. Reiner Braun: Report Back from Chinese Geopolitics Conference. Until recently, Reiner Braun was the General Secretary of the International Peace Bureau, based in Berlin. He has decades of experience in the German and European peace movements, was deeply involved the Max Plank Institute’s planning for the Einstein Year and has been a leading figure in promotion of Common Security diplomacy. In early September Reiner participated in an international conference in Shanghai, organized by the Chungui Institute for Development and Strategic Studies and the Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung titled “Socialist Perspectives on International Relations and Security Policies in a Historic Shift towards Multi-Polar World,” Following the conference, Reiner met with a number of Chinese foreign policy analysts. In this debriefing webinar, Reiner what he learned about Chinese and other’s perspectives on the tectonic geopolitical changes that are underway and their implications for peace, justice, and climate advocates. Initiated by the Campaign for Peace, Disarmament, and Common Security. Register here.
Thursday, October 10, 2024, 6:00 – 8:00 PM. Latino Workers’ Rights and Resource Day. We’d love you to join us for our first ever Latino Workers' Rights and Resource Day! In recognition of Latino Workers, the Office of Columbus City Councilwoman Lourdes Barroso de Padilla and the Central Ohio Workers' Center and other sister organizations join to recognize and celebrate our contributions to this nation as a Latino Workforce. This seminar that aims to recognize, educate, advocate and empower workers in the Latino community. We will discuss rights in the workplace, rights protections, information about the new law, deferred action for workers involved in a labor injustice, DALE. We would also love your help to set up (4:15-5:30), support the event (5:30-8), or clean-up (8-9). Please let us know if you can help by contacting us at Claudia@centralohioworkercenter.org. It will be held at St. Agnes Church located at 2364 West Mound St., Columbus Ohio 43204. Doors will open at 5:30 PM. Register to attend the event here.
Thursday, October 10, 2024, 6:00 – 8:00 PM. Co-op Columbus. Join us for the launch of our Co-op Circle – a space for learning, collaboration, and community-building around cooperative enterprises. Whether you're a seasoned co-op enthusiast or just curious about how co-ops can transform our community, this event is for you! More details to come – stay tuned! Let’s fuel the cooperative fire in Central Ohio! Location: Two Dollar Radio Headquarters, 1126 Parsons Ave, Columbus 43206. Facebook.
Thursday, October 10, 2024, 8:00 – 9:30 PM. The US Military Base Empire: Its Impact and the Resistance to it, with David Swanson. Ending all wars means closing all military bases. The United States of America, unlike any other nation, maintains a massive network of foreign military bases around the world, over 900 bases in more than 90 countries and territories. These bases are costly in a number of ways: financially, politically, socially, and environmentally. U.S. bases in foreign lands often raise geopolitical tensions, support undemocratic regimes, and serve as a recruiting tool for militant groups opposed to the U.S. presence and the governments its presence bolsters. In other cases, foreign bases are being used and have made it easier for the United States to launch and execute disastrous wars, including those in Afghanistan, Iraq, Yemen, Somalia, and Libya. Across the political spectrum and even within the U.S. military there is growing recognition that many overseas bases should have been closed decades ago, but bureaucratic inertia and misguided political interests have kept them open. This webinar will address the impact of the USA's military base empire and how to resist it, including reporting back on the highlights and strategies shared from World BEYOND War's annual #NoWar2024 Conference on the topic. Register here.
Thursday, October 17, 2024, 8:00 PM. Matter News Community Conversations: Being Palestinian American. Poets Mandy Shunnarah and Sara Abou Rashed join Matter News editor Downing at Two Dollar HQ for a community conversation exploring issues ranging form the sense of pressure and responsibility felt by Palestinian artists creating amid genocide to the various ways the past year has changed and how the media and public talk about Palestine. Location: Two Dollar HQ, 1124 Parsons Ave., Columbus 43206.
Thursday, October 17, 2024, 8:00 PM. ACLU People Power 2024 Election Webinar Series. Get Out the Vote with ACLU. The ACLU is getting out the vote in ballot measures and candidate races across the country to ensure that every voter's voice is heard and that elected officials do not have final say when it comes to our rights. Join our webinar series and learn how to take action with us, from texting, letter writing, and calling voters to get out to vote. Register here.
Friday, October 18, 2024, 6:00 PM (doors open) 7:00 – 9:00 PM Performances. Mystic Café Variety Show and Open Mic. Help SoulCall Global raise money to feed and house the needy and enjoy an old-fashioned variety show with everything from great music and comedy acts to who knows what. Performers are encouraged to sign up. A keyboard accompanist is available. Donation $15 (or more! 100% of profits go to our charitable programs). Location: Columbus Mennonite Church, 35 Oakland Park Ave., Columbus OH 43214. Information at https://www.soulcallglobal.org. To secure a performance time slot, contact Bob Lipetz for a registration form at bob@debchi.com, 614-906-4350.
Businesses interested in showcasing their services by becoming a sponsor, contact Lisa Ferraro at Soulcallone@gmail.com. Here’s a short video that shows SoulCall distributing food.
Friday, October 18, 2024, 7:30 PM. Spirit of the ‘60s Coffeehouse. Concert to Mix 1960’s History, Music, & Memories in Fundraiser to Fight Hunger. Bill Cohen and friends will lead a candlelit, musical, year-by-year journey through the era, with live and familiar 1960’s folksongs, “news reports” of sixties happenings, displays of anti-war buttons and posters, and far-out sixties fashions. Plus, Bill will also challenge the audience with sixties trivia questions. Proceeds from the suggested $15 donations (at the door) will go to the Mid-Ohio Food Collective. Free parking is also available in the lots just South and West of the church. The program is suitable for ADULTS and MATURE TEENS. Location: King Avenue Methodist Church, 299 W. King at Neil in Columbus 43201. The show begins at 7:30 p.m. in the church basement but get there early for a good seat. For more information, call Bill at (614) 263-3851 or e-mail BillCohen@columbus.rr.com.
Saturday, October 19, 2024, 1:00 PM. Jewish Voice for Peace Heath Advisory Committee Webinar with Dr. Mazin Butros Qumsiyeh. "Why the Gaza Conflict is now a Regional and soon to be Global Conflict" Dr. Qumsiyeh will speak about the global ramifications of the ongoing onslaught in Gaza and its extension to the West Bank. To learn more visit jvphealth.org/events. Register here.
Sunday, October 20, 2024, 3:00 PM. Voices from the Holy Land Online Film Salon: "The Past and the Present Tell Us: Palestine’s Future has to be Different!" Two documentaries from the early 1980s provide visual evidence of the colonization, apartheid, and military systems Israel uses to maintain domination. Each of the scenes from 40 years ago has a corollary in the present and poses questions about the future related to dispossession, subjugation, inter-generational trauma, resistance, right of return, reparations, and self-determination. The two films also offer first-hand testimonies, reminding us that for decades the Palestinian people have been telling the world about their plight, to little avail. Our salon will discuss the issues that have remained consistent over time, what’s new about the present moment, and what we must do to bring about a just future. Register below and join us on October 20 at 3:00 PM Eastern for a discussion of "then" and "now" with: - Aline Baterseh: executive director of Visualizing Palestine, co-editor of Visualizing Palestine: A Chronicle of Colonialism and the Struggle for Liberation - Sami Awad: co-director, Nonviolence International Our moderator will be Mitchell Plitnick, president of ReThinking Foreign Policy, and co-author (with Marc Lamont Hill) of Except for Palestine: The Limits of Progressive Politics NOTE: After you register, you will immediately get an Approved response - BUT then look in your email for an email From: Zoom with the word "Confirmation" at the end of the subject line...there you'll find the link and password to watch the film in advance of the Salon event. Register here.
Thursday, October 24, 2024, 10:00 AM. Understanding Hamas: Palestinian resistance from the PLO onwards. With writer and researcher Helena Cobban. Register here.
October 24, 2024, 6:30 PM. Equality Ohio Award Celebration and Annual Fundraiser. Advocates & Allies is more than just a celebration—it's a powerful renewal of our shared commitment to building a state where everyone is treated with respect, dignity, and value. This year, that commitment is more urgent than ever. Join us in celebrating the individuals and organizations that have made significant strides in advancing LGBTQ+ rights in Ohio. We can’t wait to share this special evening with you! Location: LeVee Event Center (L.A. Catering), 670 Harmon Ave., Columbus 43223. Tickets: Purchase Here.
Sunday, October 27, 2024, 12:00 PM. Common Ground is the first feature film in the return of our film series! Simply Living is proud to announce the return of our monthly film series highlighting the latest developments in environmental sustainability and global equity. Common Ground is the highly anticipated sequel to the juggernaut success documentary, Kiss the Ground, which touched over 1 billion people globally and inspired the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to put $20 billion toward soil health. By fusing journalistic exposé with deeply personal stories from those on the front lines of the food movement, Common Ground unveils a dark web of money, power, and politics behind our broken food system. Location: Studio 35, 3055 Indianola Ave., Columbus 43202. Reserve your tickets here.
Wednesday, October 30, 2024, 5:00 – 8:00 PM. Los Derechos De Una Victima (Rights of Victims). Hosted by Alianza 614 and Justice for Migrant Women, the Columbus Metropolitan Library, and COWC are hosting this in person event. Presenters include CRIS: Lara Downing, Sanos: Karla Lebron, Ohio Crime Victim Justice Center: Odalys Fajardo. In addition to presenters the event will include Rubén Castilla Herrera's: The legacy of an Activist, and Information is power: Resources for our neighbors of the Westside. The Day of the Dead is coming. Tamales and hot chocolate for attendees. Please join us for this fabulous event! Location: Hilltop Branch Library, 511 S. Hague Ave., Columbus 43204.