DC Metro Action is a listing of local actions, entertainment, volunteer opportunities and the occasional rant on a wide range of socially just issues.
contact me at dcmetroaction@comcast.net
Action of the Day Many of these action alerts are found on the listservs and websites of organizations listed in our "Act Locally" section (Left).
Thursday, July 31, 2003
Lift Every Voice
Black Voices for Peace calls upon all justice and peace groups, military families and the general public to join in at a protest to bring the troops home, end the occupation of Iraq, expose Bush's lies, and heal the nation's ailing economy, which is growing worse in large part because of the war. The action is Friday, Aug. 1, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., at Lafayette Park, across from the White House. For more information, call 202/232-5690.
Since its declaration of martial law on May 19, the Indonesian military has continued its massive assault on the people of Aceh, located on the northern tip of Sumatra. Tens of thousands of civilians have been displaced, the military has forcibly relocated civilians to camps, the death toll is in the hundreds, and torture and rape are prevalent. Access to Aceh by the press, human rights monitors and humanitarian workers is severely restricted.
The current campaign is the largest Indonesian military operation since the 1975 invasion of East Timor, which resulted in tens of thousands of deaths within the first years of occupation. As in East Timor, the Indonesian military is employing U.S. weapons systems in assaults on civilian targets, like villages.
Please join Amnesty International and the East Timor Action Network to protest these horrific human rights violations on Thursday, July 31, from noon to 1 p.m., at the Indonesian Embassy, 2020 Massachusetts Ave. NW (Metro: Dupont Circle). For more information, call Karen Orenstein at 202/544-6911 or send an e-mail.
Celebrate Critical Mass, a movement of thousands (and twice as many wheels), as its members reclaim public space and put bicycling and transit smack-dab in the middle of contemporary politics.
On Wednesday, July 30, author/editor Chris Carlsson will lead a discussion of his book, "Critical Mass: Bicycling's Defiant Celebration," which includes essays, personal anecdotes and photos by activists and theorists from San Francisco, Montreal, Milan, Sydney and other cities. Also, Ted White's documentary on the movement, "(We Aren't Blocking Traffic) WE ARE TRAFFIC!" will be screened. And don't miss the local footage of critical mass rides in Washington, DC.
Explore Critical Mass and the fun, complexity and struggle of social change at the Brian MacKenzie Center Infoshop, 1426 Ninth St. NW (at P Street), on Wednesday, July 30, at 7:30 p.m.
Listen to live music and have a drink while lending your support to three groups that teach kids how to get involved in their communities.
The Shaw EcoVillage Project trains youths to be creative leaders for sustainable change in our neighborhoods. The EcoDesign Corps places high school students in internships or fellowships where they apply critical thinking skills to solve real-life community problems. At Chain Reaction, youths learn how to repair and recycle used bikes so more people in Washington, D.C., can have safe, affordable and pollution-free transportation.
The Happy Hour to Benefit Shaw EcoVillage will feature bluegrass music from the Rock Creek Ramblers and a raffle with prizes from area businesses. It all happens at 8 p.m. on Wednesday, July 30, at the Velvet Lounge, 915 U St. NW (one block from the U Street Metro). Admission is $5. For more information, call 202/265-2019.
Join the Shirts Off Coalition at an instructive teach-in on the current situation in Iran, where students are demonstrating for greater democracy. Yet the neo-cons associated with the Bush Administration, led by Michael Ledeen of the American Enterprise Institute, are floating the idea of again forcing a "regime change."
* What's the real situation in Iran? * What (or who) is influencing Bush? * What are the alternatives to war? * Who should our allies be?
Join longtime local Iranian activist Ross Pourzal and Georgetown University sociology professor Mehrdad Mashayekhi at an informational discussion and debate on whether war in Iran is a real possibility, how we can stop it, and the alternatives being presented by the pro-democracy, anti-US intervention forces in Iran. The teach-in is on Tuesday, July 29, from 7 to 8:30 p.m., at the Flemming Center, Ninth and P Streets NW. For more information, call 301/523-4197.
July 27, 2003, marks the 50th anniversary of the Korean War Armistice, which ended open fighting without a permanent peace treaty between the United States and North Korea. For 50 years, Koreans have lived in fear of renewed aggression. More than ever, as tensions between these two nations continue to grow, it is time to finally end the Korean War. On this important anniversary, Koreans and peace activists from around the world will come together in Washington, DC, to demand an end to current hostilities and the beginning of just negotiations toward a true reconciliation. Join in from noon to 2 p.m. on Sunday, July 27, at a rally in Ellipse Park, behind the White House. For more information, log on to www.july27.org.
The Community for Creative Non-Violence (CCNV) is celebrating its 33rd anniversary with a block party and open house on Sunday, July 26, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., at 425 Second St. NW (at D Street, two blocks from the Judiciary Square Metro). To learn more about this remarkable organization, read Monnie Ali's first-person account of life with CCNV on the DC Independent Media website.
The Franklin Shelter – which was one of the ever decreasing number of city-funded shelters – is now closed. Located near McPherson Square, the shelter was shut down by the city for a variety of reasons: complaints from area businesses (most notably McDonald's) about homeless people around their stores; the opportunity to sell the land the shelter sits on to high-rent condo developers; and a general hostility toward homeless people in the downtown area, where most public services are located.
This is just one more closing in a campaign against DC's homeless that Mayor Tony Williams has been waging since he took office. Don't let the city take such a cold-hearted attitude toward its most vulnerable residents! Join a protest on Wednesday, July 23, at 5 p.m. at the McDonald's at 13th Street and New York Avenue NW to oppose its role in shutting down Franklin.
Join DC activists for a film and discussion about the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) and the School of the Americas (SOA). National organizers and local activists will talk about the connection between militarization and "free" trade at the event, which will take place Thursday, July 24, at 7 p.m. at the DC Independent Media Center in the Flemming Center at 1426 Ninth St. NW.
Colombia is the world’s primary producer and exporter of cocaine, yet despite the US "War on Drugs," cocaine production in that country has increased by 11 percent. Far from being a successful tactic, the fumigation of coca crops has contributed to health and environmental crises, and has thus been classified by some as a human rights abuse.
Is the US government still concerned with fighting drugs? Twenty years of drug wars in the Andes have resulted in a twofold increase in cocaine imported into the United States in the last 10 years alone. Could there be another reason the US supports a plan focused on beefing up the Colombian military and spraying coca fields in rebel-held territory when coca grown in other parts of Colombia is not sprayed?
The film "Plan Colombia: Cashing In on the Drug War Failure" sheds light on the complex issues of drug trafficking and civil struggle in Colombia and the impact of both the current chemical-spray program carried out by the US and the multibillion-dollar aid package delivered to the brutal Colombian military. Additional insights are provided on the significance of oil, since Colombia has the same oil potential as Venezuela, the second largest oil supplier to the US.
"Plan Columbia" will be shown as part of the Foreign Policy in Focus Summer Film and Speaker Series on Wednesday, July 23, from noon to 2 p.m. Sanho Tree from the Institute for Policy Studies Drug Policy Project will be the featured speaker. The event will be held at the Institute for Policy Studies, 733 15th St. NW. Bring a brown-bag lunch; some light refreshments will be provided. For more information, contact Isis Ward at 202/234-9382, ext. 211, or by e-mail.
Washington Innercity Self Help (WISH) is a community-based membership organization made up of predominately low- and moderate-income people. Join WISH for its first regular monthly meeting on Monday, July 21, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., at 1419 V St. NW, in the basement conference room. Get involved in the group's current work and planning. For more information, call Parisa Norouzi at WISH at 202/332-8800.
Join the Walking Bohemian Band of Hope at the rally for Iraqi self rule on Sunday, July 20, from 1 to 4 p.m. at Dupont Circle. Members of the Band of Hope have walked all the way from Tucson for peace. Celebrate their journey and message as they officially enter Washington. For more information, log on to the DC Anti-War Network.
A coalition of local activists is holding a weekly vigil at City Hall on Mondays at noon to persuade the mayor to re-open the Franklin School as a hypothermia shelter for the homeless. The shelter, which Mayor Tony Williams reluctantly opened last year to prevent freezing deaths, was closed on June 15 because of local business complaints about the homeless.
The Grey Panthers, Students for Peace and Justice, Mayday DC and the other members of the coalition want the shelter reopened, under better conditions, for the upcoming winter. The coalition also wants the city to establish low-income housing in the form of subsidized apartments when the building is sold.
Last winter, there were fewer freezing deaths in DC despite a much harsher season than the year before, when 11 people were found frozen on the street. The reduced number is the result of the additional beds that opened up, including those of the Franklin School, whose closing removed 200 beds from the shelter community. Join the coalition on Mondays at noon in front of City Hall (1350 Pennsylvania Ave. NW) to keep people from freezing on the streets of DC and to give them a fair chance at equal housing.
The Brian MacKenzie Infoshop is hosting a storytime for kids on Saturday, July 19, from noon to 2 p.m. The store's readings will come from its selection of radical/progressive/critical children’s books, but families and friends are encouraged to bring books they’re excited about and share them. The Infoshop is at 1426 Ninth St. NW, at P Street, in the basement of the Arthur Flemming Center, near the Mount Vernon Square and Shaw/Howard/U Street Metros. For more information, send an e-mail here.
The July 19 weekend marks the end of China's fourth year of severe crimes against humanity in its persecution of the spiritual group Falun Gong, whose teachings are based in truthfulness, compassion and tolerance. In the spirit of freedom and humanity, join an array of international artists at Light & Peace, a free concert of music, drama and dance on Saturday, July 19, from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. A candlelight vigil under the stars will be part of the event at the Capitol Reflection Pool (just off Third Street on the Mall in front of the Capitol). For more information, click here.
Project South is holding a weekend workshop, "Building a Movement: A Popular Education Skills Retreat," on Saturday and Sunday, July 19 and 20, at St. Stephen's Church, 1525 Newton St. NW. The workshop will teach the basics of using popular education – a method that values the knowledge of everyone involved. This fun organizing tool energizes, excites, creates a movement and reveals strategies for victory. For more information, check out the Project South Building a Movement website or call 202/332-5333.
Development will bring needed affordable housing. Development will bring needed business opportunities. Development will bring needed jobs. How many times have we heard those words only to be disappointed? Unless District residents become active participants in the development of their neighborhoods, these words will remain as empty as they have been for years.
At 10 a.m. on Saturday, July 19, residents of the Shaw community who are working with the Manna CDC will hold a public meeting at the Vermont Avenue Baptist Church (1630 Vermont Ave. NW, between Q and R Streets). Come hear about the work that has been done to advance community benefits in the development of public land in Shaw, and find out how you can help put Shaw residents in the driver's seat of local development. Call David or Jasmine at 202/232-2915 to RSVP or for more details.
Chesapeake Climate Action Network is seeking organizational sponsors and volunteers for an SUV ticketing day on Saturday, July 19. If you haven't seen them before, the "tickets" are mock parking citations given to owners of SUVs for contributing to global warming, traffic congestion and fuel dependency. The tickets used for this event will focus specifically on the environmental health of our region – but of course we all know how SUVs are related to oil, war and environmental destruction.
If you want to volunteer to "ticket" some unsuspecting SUVs or get your organization involved, get in touch with Dawn Ratcliffe at 301/920-1644 or send an e-mail.
The Democracy Action Project invites you to a reception to hear about its vision for young people and the voting rights movement. Learn how you can organize and educate for voting rights, electoral reform and renewed democracy on your campus and in your community during the upcoming election season.
The reception is Friday, July 18, from 5 to 7 p.m., at the Josephine Butler Center, 2437 15th St. NW, (four blocks from the Columbia Heights Metro). Come meet the young people who helped create Democracy Summer and say hello to Malia Lazu, who will be heading up Democracy Action Project efforts for 2004 and beyond. Food, drinks and good folks will be in attendance. Please RSVP to Malia at 202/234-9382, ext. 257, or send an e-mail.
Manna has planned another action to protest the city's decision against its Temperance Row project, which would provide affordable housing in the Shaw neighborhood to families earning between $25,000 and $45,000 (for more information, see "Support Affordable Housing" in the May 7 DC Metro Action Archive).
The two-day event starts at 6 p.m. on Thursday, July 17, with a ceremony to dedicate the Temperance Row land (behind the Metro at 13th and U Streets NW), sponsored by Manna and the Public Welfare Foundation (PWF). Join us as we recommit to fighting on until affordable housing can be built there.
At 7 p.m., PWF will hold a forum to discuss the history of the True Reformer building and its links to the neighborhood, in celebration of the building’s 100th anniversary.
Manna also has planned a "Sleep-In" at the Temperance Row lots (behind the 1200 block of U Street) to call attention to the need for affordable housing and to convince the District's Board of Zoning Adjustments to reverse its decision. The Sleep-In will start at 6:45 p.m., immediately after the dedication ceremony, and will run for two nights until 8 a.m. Saturday.
Manna will supply some basics: food, drinks and a few tents. Community members and potential Temperance Row residents are invited. Please bring a musical instrument, poetry or anything else to help us have fun. You can sign up for one of the four “shifts”: Thursday evening/night; Friday morning; Friday afternoon; or Friday evening/night. Manna hopes to have 25 to 40 people out there, so even if you can't stay the whole night, please come out for part of the event and support affordable housing in a fun and community-building event. For more information, call 202/232-2915.
The American Enterprise Institute (AEI) is the most influential think tank in the country. George W. Bush praised it for "doing such good work" and acknowledged that he borrowed 20 of their "brains." Richard Perle, the leading architect of this last war on Iraq, is typical of the fellows who belong to AEI, which was a prime mover of the bogus justifications for the Iraq war and is now behind the push for intervention in Iran.
Not content with merely meddling in foreign wars, AEI also has been engaged in a war on citizens here at home for decades. AEI was behind such projects as the "Bell Curve," a book that provides genetic justifications for the dismantling of welfare and affirmative action – a racist polemic disguised as scientific research. It is now promoting a book by Orriana Fallaci, a racist Italian author who calls Islam a "retrograde religion," among other slurs. AEI also has sponsored seminars to justify the underpayment of public school teachers and published papers that support the pay gap between women and men.
Come join in a protest of this racist institution, with picketing, informational leafleting of the public, speakers from all walks of life, music and puppetry, on Tuesday, July 15, from 8 to 9 a.m., at 1150 17th St. NW. For more information, send an e-mail or call 202/285-1391.
This week, there are two opportunities to see films about political change created by community protests and demands.
On Tuesday, July 15, don't miss “In Washington's Backyard: Roots of a Rebellion,” which documents the 1991 urban uprising in Mount Pleasant, Washington's most integrated neighborhood. The film explores how a decade of U.S. foreign intervention, economic mismanagement and domestic neglect culminated in crisis. Culled from 140 hours of original and televised footage and background interviews, the documentary re-examines the root causes for the rebellion, which was initially sparked within the Latino community as angry residents took to the streets against police brutality, following a shooting by DC police. Then-Mayor Sharon Pratt Kelly cracked down on the rebellion by putting the area under a general curfew.
On Wednesday, July 16, see “The Land, The Street, The Square,” a movie about a massive popular uprising in Argentina, triggered by an economic collapse in 2000, that radically reshaped that country's political landscape. An inspiring direct democracy movement sprung up, gaining momentum from a frustrated population with little left to lose. Through interviews and footage of direct action, protests and clashes in the streets, this documentary brings the viewer to the front lines of social turmoil in Argentina.
The films will be screened at 7 p.m. at La Casa, 3166 Mount Pleasant St. NW. Snacks and refreshments will be provided. A $3 donation is requested, but no one will be turned away for lack of funds.
Zoe blogs about yet another good reason in support of statehood for the District of Columbia, and she makes a very compelling argument to start planning now for a very BAD day.
Join tenants from around the city as they demonstrate against a practice that makes it easy for landlords to force them out of their homes. A loophole in Washington, DC's right-to-purchase law lets owners sell their buildings without first giving tenants the option to purchase them. New owners can then carry out redevelopment and raise rents, leaving many no choice but to move. But when tenants have the opportunity to buy their buildings, they are in a better position to preserve affordable housing.
The rally, sponsored by WISH and the New Capitol Park Plaza Tenants’ Association, starts at 10 a.m. on Saturday, July 12, at Third and I Streets SW (Waterfront Metro).
Vehicles and drivers are needed for this rally. If you have a vehicle or can drive one, please call 202/332-8800.
Shout out against the injustices of the Patriot Act and the invasion of Iraq on Friday, July 11, at Dupont Circle. Speak-outs start at noon, and will be joined by disc jockeys and live music from the Rhythm Workers Union from 5 to 9 p.m.
The event is hosted by members of the DC Anti-War Network and the DC Statehood Green Party. Its sponsors include Code Pink, the Shirts Off Coalition, FlexYourRights.org, DC-American Friends Service Committee, SUSTAIN and the Band of Hope.
Positive news from San Francisco in the fight against the big business of baseball. City officials there have again blocked the sale of the naming rights to legendary Candlestick Park. If only DC pols would get a clue. Visit the League of Fans and sign the petition to oppose public funding of baseball in DC.
The country's first primary for the 2004 presidential election will be held right here in Washington on Jan. 13, 2004. Read all about it at the First Primary Blog, which promises to deliver all the "news, views, rumors, humor and analysis."
As the US focuses on the mass graves found in Iraq, one in Afghanistan remains unexplored. The controversial film "Afghan Massacre: Convoy of Death" presents the story of one of the most brutal disasters of the first of the US government's interventions into the Middle East in the span of less than two years.
Come to the DC premier of this important film on Thursday, July 10, from 7 to 9 p.m., at the Resource Center for Activism & Arts, 1730 Connecticut Ave. NW, Second Floor. The event is sponsored by Left Turn. For more information, call 301/523-4197.
DC Jobs with Justice invites you to the First Annual "I'll Be There" Awards, honoring those who are committed to building bridges between labor and the community. This year's honorees are:
* Larry Cohen, executive vice president of the Communications Workers of America, introduced by Kenneth Zinn, director of the Center for Strategic Research AFL-CIO
* The Rev. Graylan Ellis Hagler, Plymouth Congregational Church, introduced by John Boardman, executive secretary treasurer of the Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees Local 25, AFL-CIO
* Rose Marie and Joe Flynn, Gray Panthers of Metro DC, introduced by Katie Fitzgerald, president of DC ACORN
* United Food and Commercial Workers Local 400, President C. James Lowthers, Political Director Mark Federici and Community Coordinator Robin Williams, introduced by June White Dillard of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, Prince George's County Chapter.
This "pay what you can" fundraiser for DC Jobs with Justice will be held Thursday, July 10, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., at the AFL-CIO National Headquarters, 815 16th St. NW. Please RSVP to Mackenzie Baris by phone at 202/857-1011 or by e-mail.
Come out and celebrate the successful conclusion of a national walk for peace. Members of the Band of Hope will talk about their experience walking from Tucson, Ariz., to the Bush strongholds of Austin, Texas, and Tallahassee, Fla., and concluding right here in Washington, DC.
The party is on Tuesday, July 8, from 7 to 10 p.m., at the Bossa Bistro and Lounge, 2463 18th St. NW. Live music will be provided by members of the Rhythm Workers Union, and FunkDC DJs will spin the latest sounds. The suggested donation is $10, but no one will be turned away.
If you are involved in a group that would like a table at this event or for more information, contact Chris Otten at 202/234-7075, or log on here.
And don't forget to vote for your favorite warmonger in our government. The winner of the DC Anti-War Network's Golden Jackboot Award will be announced at the party Tuesday night. Vote today for your pick.
DC Indymedia presents a free screening of "Not My President." The film documents the more than 20,000 people from across the country who came to Washington to oppose the coronation of George W. Bush – the largest counter-inaugural protest since Nixon's '72 re-election. Come see what the corporate media never showed you.
The curtain goes up at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, July 9, at the Flemming Center, 1426 9th St. NW (near the intersection of 9th and P Streets; take Metro to the Howard-Shaw stop.) For more information, e-mail DC Indymedia, call or 202/452-5936, or log on here.
Skip the traditional scene on the Mall and instead do some progressive partying in our nation's capital. Don't forget to parade for statehood with the Greens (scroll down to Wednesday's post for all the info). I'm taking tomorrow off. You all have a great weekend, and I'll see you on Monday.
[No Government Can Give You Your] Independence Day Street Party
This event has been put together entirely by high school activists in the DC metro area, and promises to be a fun time in the "reclaim the streets" tradition. The radical street party is sponsored by Students for Peace and Justice (SPJ), a youth network for social change based in the DC metro area, and its Rockville chapter, and they're working hard to get anti-capitalists, sex-positive activists, reclaim the street'ers, and anybody else who wants to come out and have a good time.
Meet at the Rockville Metro station at 5 p.m. on Friday, July 4. After assembling, SPJ will proceed to a predetermined location near the fireworks display at Richard Montgomery High School (250 Richard Montgomery Dr.) for a street celebration in the grassroots tradition, which will include a potluck-style, vegetarian-friendly cookout, street games, percussionists and awareness raising. For more information, send an e-mail or visit SPJ's website.
DC's hottest salsa band, Orquesta La Romana, will be at LIVE! on Woodrow Wilson Plaza on Independence Day with a special free concert from noon to 1:30 p.m. Woodrow Wilson Plaza is located at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center, 1300 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. Take the Metro to Federal Triangle.
Welcome to Washington, DC, the 14th Interreligious Foundation for Community Organization/Pastors for Peace Caravan to Cuba. Join them for dinner, music, a short film on the Latin American Medical School and an update on Cuba and the blockade. Presentations also will be given by a representative from the Cuban Interests Section and a spokesperson for the 14th US-Cuba Friendshipment Caravan. The event takes place on Saturday, July 5, at Cafe Mawonaj, 624 T St. NW (the corner of Seventh and T), at 6 p.m. Take Metro to the Cordoza stop. For more information, call Pastors for Peace-DC at 202/722-1307 or send an e-mail.
Here's a chance to show your DC statehood pride, help the DC Statehood Green Party grow, and have some fun. Join the DC Greens and march for DC Statehood in the Fourth of July Parade in Palisades. Help hold the giant DC Statehood NOW Flag and distribute leaflets to the parade watchers.
Meet on Friday, July 4, at 10 a.m., at the corner of MacArthur Boulevard and Whitehaven Parkway NW. Following the parade is a massive picnic with free hot dogs, watermelon, moonbounces, pony rides, live music and plenty of neighborhood camaraderie. RSVP to 202/232-8997.
The film "Discovering Dominga" documents the return to Guatemala of a survivor of the Rio Negro massacres. It follows a young Iowa mother's discovery that she is a survivor of one of the most horrific episodes in Guatemala's 36-years-long civil war.
Denese Becker (born Dominga Sic Ruiz) was a nine-year-old indigenous Maya girl living in a remote highland village in 1982 when soldiers and paramilitary patrollers killed her parents and more than 200 other villagers after they resisted relocation for a World Bank-sponsored dam. "Discovering Dominga" documents Becker's personal odyssey from the cornfields of her adoptive Iowa to the highlands of Guatemala on a journey of self-discovery and political awakening. As she uncovers the truth of her past and the atrocities committed against the Maya people, this shy young woman becomes an advocate for her people – ultimately serving as a witness in a landmark human rights case that for the first time in Guatemalan history seeks to prosecute the former military commanders responsible for the genocide.
The film, in English and Spanish with English subtitles, will be shown at the Resource Center for Activism & Arts, 1611 Connecticut Ave. NW, on Tuesday, July 1, from 7 to 9 p.m., with a discussion to follow. Admission is free and goodwill donations are accepted. For more information, contact Max Gimbel at 202/529-6599 or via e-mail.
Directed by Palestinian filmmaker Mohammed Bakri, "Jenin Jenin" shows the aftermath of the Israeli Army's April 2002 incursion into Jenin, which left dozens of Palestinians dead. The film documents the reactions and emotions of the residents in Jenin as they try to cope with the attack as well as day-to-day life under occupation. Banned in Israel, "Jenin Jenin" is dedicated to Iyad Samudi, the producer of the film, who returned home to Yamun after the shooting of the film was completed and was shot and killed by Israeli forces.
The film is co-sponsored by the Bush Is Taking the Shirts Off Our Backs to Pay for This War Coalition and will be shown on Tuesday, July 1, at 7 p.m. at Visions Cinema/Bistro/Lounge, 1927 Florida Ave. NW. In addition to "Jenin Jenin," short films by local filmmakers will also be screened. Tickets are $9.
Every summer, the interns at Foreign Policy in Focus (FPIF) organize an annual film and speaker series that focuses on a variety of the hottest foreign policy topics of the day. This week brings “Good Kurds, Bad Kurds,” which explores the disparate and fickle relationship of the United States with Iraqi Kurds and with Turkish Kurds. The film offers insight into a complicated history and explores the politically driven foreign and domestic policies of the United States. It will be shown on Wednesday, July 2, from noon to 2 p.m., at the Institute for Policy Studies, 733 15th St. NW. For more information, call 202/234-9383.
As George W. Bush prepares to travel to Africa for his first presidential trip to the continent, four leading advocacy organizations will host a press briefing on U.S. policies toward Africa. A panel of experts will analyze the administration's policies on the following key issues:
* The HIV/AIDS Crisis * Trade and Aid * U.S. Oil Interests in Africa * Issues of War and Peace * Africa’s Debt Crisis
The briefing will examine both the emptiness of the president’s promises to Africa and the damage inflicted on Africa by current policies and neglect.
The briefing, Heart of Darkness: The Truth about Africa Policy under the Bush Administration, will be held on Wednesday, July 2, from 9 to 11 a.m., at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, 1779 Massachusetts Ave. NW, in the Root Room on the second floor. For more information, call Ann-Louise Colgan at Africa Action, 202/546-7961.
DC Metro Action is published by Michael Schlesinger, a 32-year veteran of electoral and issue organizing who is committed to social justice and to increasing participation in the political process.
All original content (C) 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 Michael Schlesinger
