March for Peace, March 18th

Time to Rally the Creative Forces together!
March 19th marks the 4 year anniversary for the war in Iraq.
Join Acts of Art as we march with Brooklyn Parents for Peace and United for Peace and Justice.
Make the Artist's voice heard!


Assemble: 1:00 pm, 36th Street East Side of 6th AveMarch: 2:00 pm, across 42nd Street to Dag Hammarskjold PlazaFestival of Peace and Justice : continues until 6:00 pm at DH PlazaBPFP and other organizations will have information and resources availableSponsored by United for Peace and Justice


Metaphor to Action
by Muriel Rukeyser

Whether it is a speaker, taut on a platform,

who battles a crowd with the hammers of his words,

whether it is the crash of lips on lips

after absence and wanting : we must close

the circuits of ideas, now generate,

that leap in the body's action or the mind's repose.

Over us is a striking on the walls of the sky,

here are the dynamos, steel-black, harboring flame,

here is the man night-walking who derives

tomorrow's manifestoes from this midnight's meeting;

here we require the proof in solidarity,

ron on iron, body on body, and the large single beating.

And behind us in time are the men who second us

as we continue. And near us is our love :

no forced contempt, no refusal in dogma, the close

of the circuit in a fierce dazzle of purity.

And over us is night a field of pansies unfolding,

charging with heat its softness in a symbol

to weld and prepare for action our minds' intensity.

Hi Friends,

Hope you are all well and enduring our true Northeast winter at last! We've received a couple requests for volunteers and are forwarding them along to you...

First, just a brief update: Acts of Art be launching a website which will both document last May's Congressional Hearing for Artists on Health Care, as well as serve as a continuing site for Testimonies. We'll update you on how to participate.

Also, the children of the Wicker School in New Orleans send their hugest thanks for all the art supplies and contributions that have been sent to them so far. They were knocked over by people's generosity and continue to receive support. If you are interested in sending art supplies of any quantity, please send to: The Wicker School, 2011 Bienville St., New Orleans, LA 70112, Attn: Cherice Harrision-Nelson. Finacial donations can be sent to: Crescent City Peace Alliance
For Indigenous Fine Arts Series/Activities, 1830 St. Roch Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70117.

A fabulous organization, After the Rain,

www.gulfrecovers.org/aftertherain, is inviting volunteers to participate in their moving art show for those who have been relocated because of the Katrina disaster. The show will travel to various cities and kicks off here in NYC, February 20th. Please contact Columbia MPH student, K. Scales at kscales531@aol.com.

Physicians for a National Health Plan (PNHP) is keeping the Health Care flame alive! They are fighting hard for health care change and have an urgent request for personal health care stories for a Major News Network coverage. If you are interested, please contact Joanne Landy at pnhpnyc@igc.org.

Finally, Healthcare Now! http://www.healthcare-now.org/ is having a work-party on February 12th & 13th to promote their work with Congressman John Conyers' HR 676 Bill. As you might have heard, plenty more representatives are joining in support of this bill. The work-party is at the lovely home of Marilyn Clements, 8 West 13th Street #2RW, NYC Btw 5th & 6th. Please RSVP 212-475-8350/212-255-5532.

The fight for health care is heating up - please continue to offer your support in any way you can. Feel free to pass this email on to those who you think will be interested! Let's unite our forces in the year ahead to keep the momentum of this crucial health care movement moving!!

Warmest (and staying warm) Regards,

Susan Brennan
Acts of Art
http://www.actsart.org/

March to End War

Join Acts of Art, United for Peace and Justice, Brooklyn Parents for Peace and many others to March on Washington to end the war. Let's not wait for the wounded and death count to rise.

Information for buses leaving from Brooklyn:
Buses leave Grand Army Plaza 5:45 sharp. Round-Trip fare $35.
To purchase tickets call Brooklyn Parents for Peace 718-624-5921 or purchase tickets on line www.brooklynpeace.org.

Transportation information from other cities: http://www.unitedforpeace.org/ride.php

Message from United for Peace and Justice:
IT IS TIME FOR CONGRESS TO ACT! With support from MoveOn.org, True Majority, Working Assets, the RainbowPUSH Coalition, the National Organization for Women and hundreds of other national and local groups, word about the Jan. 27th antiwar mobilization is reaching far and wide. Momentum is building and people from all walks of life and every corner of the country will be marching on Washington, DC, on Saturday, Jan. 27th. Our message will be clear, our voice will be strong: End the war in Iraq, Bring all the troops home now! We urge you to join us!

Creative Holiday for New Orleans Kids

Dear Friends,

Acts of Art has put together art supplies to send to the Wicker School in New Orleans, a very special school which helps kids who are bravely facing some tough challenges. They would greatly appreciate art supplies (paints, crayons, paper, sparkles, colored pencils) or small scale toys (many do not have large living spaces) to make their holiday a little brighter.

The communities in New Orleans are forging ahead, but are still in need of basic resources. Arts activities for the kids creates a much needed opportunity for their imaginations to flourish. Please let the kids of New Orleans know we haven't forgotten them or their plight! Cherice Harrison-Nelson, the Wicker School's out standing art teacher, is extremely appreciative of your generous donation.

Please send all gifts to:
Cherice Harrison-Nelson
Art Teacher
Albert Wicker School
2011 Bienville St.
New Orleans, LA 70112

If you prefer to send a monetary donation, The Wicker School's fiscal sponsor is:
Crescent City Peace Alliance
For Indigenous Fine Arts Series/Activities
1830 St. Roch Avenue
New Orleans, LA 70117

Thank you and have a Peaceful Holiday Season!
Acts of Art

A Note From Cherice:

Albert Wicker School , a Recovery School District (RSD) school, is located at 2011 Bienville Street in the expanded Tremé area. It is an oasis of hope in a sea of despair. The student population of 587 students is comprised primarily of children from families who reside the Iberville Housing Development. Other students are bussed in from the Seventh Ward. The majority of the students come from families economically challenged to meet basic needs. Many of the houses in the area are inhabitable and abandoned. Two murders occurred within blocks of the school two months ago. The crime scenes were still active when students reported to school at 7:30 a.m. Our young students face many obstacles and benefit greatly from increased instructional time and the structured learning environment offered at Wicker School.

Thank you for caring,
Cherice

Cherice Harrison-NelsonArt TeacherAlbert Wicker School
2011 Bienville St.
New Orleans, LA 70112

Dear Friends -
Take notice of this new book by the amazing Dr. Don Sloan, put out by Caveat Press. Get your copy today!! http://www.caveatpress.com/product.asp?specific=jnqserl8

By controlling medical services and policies nationwide, insurance conglomerates and pharmaceutical companies are literally Practicing Medicine Without a License. Don Sloan, MD, exposes how the medical community has fallen prey to these corporations and makes the case for a radical solution: a single-payer, universal health plan for everyone mandated by law.

As a weapon in the fight against The Corporate Takeover of Healthcare in America, this book:
presents a comprehensive critique of our failing healthcare system
gives historical context to the current political debate
articulates the need for radical reform
makes the case for a national universal healthcare plan

YOU can help make healthcare a legal right, not a costly privilege!

Peace Fair Success

Dear Friends -
A very late update on the success of the Peace Fair!

In these two photos taken by Gisel (left) & Tom Martinez (right)
Nathaniel Siegel is continuing his "painting to end the war" by stenciling the ages of US soldiers who have died in the Iraq War so far...

At our table inside, kids and adults were making heart-felt cards to the Afghan street children. These cards will accompany a lovely box of art supplies which the children will receive in a matter of weeks. Thank you to all who contributed to the art supplies which helps keep these brave kids painting and creating income.

Contributions are on-going -
please send supplies (crayons, oil/water/acrylic paints, pencils, charcoals, pastels, paper) to:
Community Relations
APO, AE 09356
Attn: Sozo International

and financial donations to this address:
Sozo Int'l
PO Box 436967
Louisville, KY 40253

Thanks to all who came out for the Peace Fair - it was a very hopeful and inspiring day!!

Acts of Art will be at the Brooklyn Peace Fair (sponsored by Brooklyn Parents for Peace www.brooklynpeace.org) on Sunday, October 22nd, at Long Island University, Brooklyn, NY. It will be the largest Peace Fair they've had!

We will be collecting art supplies (brushes, oil and acrylic paints, watercolors, colored pencils, etc) and monetary donations for children in Afghanistan who are making money for their families by selling their art on the street. Please pass the word to your email lists, students etc. You can write a greeting card to the kids to go along with your donation. We'll be there from 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. Hope to see you!

Also at the fair, Nathaniel Siegel will be continuing his powerful project "document, painting to end the war now" - he stencils the ages of the soldiers in the order of their deaths.

For more information and directions go to www.brooklynpeace.org.
Our collection will be on-going.

Get on the Peace Train!!
Susan Brennan
Acts of Art
www.actart.org

SAVE THE DATE - BROOKLYN PEACE FAIR

Fourth Annual Brooklyn Peace Fair
Sunday, October 22, 11:00–5:00
1 University Plaza at Flatbush & DeKalb Avenues

Join Acts of Art at the Peace Fair!
We'll be collecting donations and art supplies
for Afghan school children - come down and create
a greeting card and message for the Afghan children.

Don't miss the largest education and performance event
on peace and justice in New York City! The Peace Fair brings
together activists as well as the general public, and helps
to build a peace and justice movement in Brooklyn and beyond.
Get hopeful in these times when it's so easy to despair.
Learn about ways you can make a difference.
Meet residents from all over Brooklyn and all walks of life
who also are concerned about peace and justice.

Featured Guests:
Sonia Sanchez, author & poet
Evelyn Harris, Performer, Sweet Honey in the Rock
Talib Kweli, (invited) Rap artist
Medea Benjamin, (invited) co-founder of Code Pink & Global Exchange

Acts of Art invites you to:
CREATE THE WORLD

Follow Up - Rally Against Ratner

Develop - don't destroy Brooklyn
THOUSANDS JOIN DDDB TO RALLY AGAINST RATNER
====================================================================
In This Issue:
- Please Pitch In.
- RALLY AGAINST "ATLANTIC YARDS" DRAWS THOUSANDS
- "ATLANTIC YARDS" DEIS EXPECTED THIS WEEK
- DEVELOP DON'T DESTROY EXPANDS ADVISORY BOARD
Please Pitch In.
We will win if the whole community pitches in.
Donate to the Develop Don't Destroy Brooklyn Legal Fund
http://www.dddb.net/php/donate.php
RALLY AGAINST "ATLANTIC YARDS" DRAWS THOUSANDS
Several thousand protesters thronged Brooklyn's Grand Army Plaza on Sunday, braving a searing sun and the start of a heat wave to voice their opposition to Forest City Ratner's "Atlantic Yards" skyscraper-and-arena scheme.
The colorful crowd, waving signs with snappy slogans like "Hoops, Hype & Hypocrisy," and cooling itself with fans that read "I'm a Fan of Brooklyn," cheered a diverse lineup of speakers that included City Councilmembers Tish James, Charles Barron and Tony Avella, Democratic candidates Chris Owens and Bill Batson, and actors (and DDDB Advisory Board Members) Rosie Perez and Steve Buscemi. Dan Zanes (another Board member), Reverend Billy and his Stop Shopping Gospel Choir, and local old-school hip-hoppers Beatboxer Entertainment regaled the multitude between speeches.
"This deal is coming undone," DDDB spokesperson Daniel Goldstein told the crowd. "It's suffering from a long-term illness and needs to be put out of its misery."
"This plan insults the poor, and we deserve better," Perez exclaimed, to sustained applause. "Stop insulting the people of Brooklyn, and do the right thing."
The big turnout, and the palpable energy coursing through the throng, gave testament to the large-and-growing-larger opposition to Bruce Ratner's $3.5 billion, 8.6-million square foot mega-boondoggle. "I play a lot of crazies," Buscemi told the crowd, "but that sounds insane."
Thanks to all of you who came out and took part, and especially to all the volunteers who helped plan, promote, and put on the rally.
For more coverage of the rally, photos, and links to media reports, follow the many links below:
http://www.dddb.net
http://tinyurl.com/pd33p
http://tinyurl.com/rwdl8
http://tinyurl.com/mfyla
http://tinyurl.com/rp3ug
http://tinyurl.com/qebjv
http://tinyurl.com/n23kl
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
"ATLANTIC YARDS" DEIS EXPECTED THIS WEEK
The Empire State Development Corporation (ESDC) is expected to issue the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for Bruce Ratner's proposed "Atlantic Yards" project sometime this week. The agency has scheduled a meeting for Tuesday, and there has been much speculation that the DEIS will be unveiled then.
The DEIS is a detailed document, possibly several thousand pages in length, that outlines the proposed project's potential environmental impacts. The Council of Brooklyn Neighborhoods, a coalition of neighborhood and civic organizations formed to ensure effective community participation in the environmental review process, is holding a series of workshops designed to help prepare the public to respond to the DEIS. John Shapiro of Phillips Preiss Shapiro Associates, and Dr. Tom Angotti, Professor of Urban Affairs at Hunter College, both expert in the environmental review process, will lead the workshops.
Dates, times and locations of the meetings are as follows:
Tuesday, July 18th, 7 p.m.
Park Slope Methodist Church
493 8th Street (at Sixth Avenue)
Thursday, July 20th, 7 p.m.
St. Francis College, Callahan Center
182 Remsen Street
Tuesday, July 25th, 7 p.m.
Duryea Presbyterian Church
362 Sterling Place
If you're unable to attend one of these sessions, you can download a copy of CBN's DEIS Handbook by visiting their web site at: http://www.cbrooklynneighborhoods.homestead.com/
Be sure to stay tuned to DDDB.net at http://www.dddb.net for updates on the release of the DEIS.