Democracy for New Mexico

KUNM Kicks Off 40th Year with Talk by Independent Media Icon Amy Goodman

On Thursday, September 28, KUNM-FM will present An Evening with Amy and David Goodman on Static: Government Liars, Media Cheerleaders and the People Who Fight Back, the topic and title of their newest book. The authors will discuss and sign copies of the book in UNM’s SUB Ballroom at 7 PM. Net proceeds of the evening will go to KUNM’s Fund for Independent Reporting.

Tickets are $20 general admission and $10 for students; tickets will be available through Bookworks, UNM box offices and online at www.unmtickets.com after September 11. Bookworks will offer $15 tickets to purchasers of the new book and will donate the $5 difference to KUNM. Bookworks is located in Albuquerque at 4022 Rio Grande Blvd. NW. Books and/or tickets can be ordered by phone at 344-8139.

Amy Goodman is the host and executive producer of Democracy Now!, a national, daily, independent, award-winning news program airing on 500 radio and television stations in North America. Goodman and her brother, journalist David Goodman, co-authored Static: Government Liars, Media Cheerleaders, and the People Who Fight Back (Hyperion, 2006), and the New York Times bestseller The Exception to the Rulers: Exposing Oily Politicians, War Profiteers, and the Media That Love Them. Democracy Now! airs on KUNM-FM 89.9 weekdays at 4 PM.

Amy Goodman’s reporting on East Timor and Nigeria has won numerous awards, including the George Polk Award, Robert F. Kennedy Prize for International Reporting, and the Alfred I. DuPont-Columbia Award. She has also received awards from the Associated Press, United Press International, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and Project Censored.

David Goodman is an award-winning independent journalist, a Contributing Writer for Mother Jones, and the author of six books, including the critically acclaimed Fault Lines: Journeys Into the New South Africa.

On October 19, 2006, KUNM turns 40, and this fall they will be celebrating in true independent spirit—with Amy Goodman, a sure-to-be-memorable fund drive and a blowout party to celebrate. So, stay tuned to 89.9 FM!

Help Diane Denish Support State Rep Candidate Jeff Steinborn

Click on image for larger version.

From Terri Holland, Democratic Party of Bernalillo County:
You may not be aware, the District 37 election is one of the top 3 races in the State Legislature and one of the most important battlegrounds in New Mexico this year. It’s an open seat, and Jeff has a good opportunity to win but the far right politicians and special interest are starting to fund Jeff’s opponent. It’s critical Jeff has our support so he can win and we can benefit from his leadership in the State Legislature. It’s also critical that we win this seat so that Democrats retain and expand a strong majority in Santa Fe. We’re hoping we can count on your support in this important race.

I encourage all of you to support Jeff in his fight to win this important southern district.  Jeff has been  a county leader and active member of the Dona Ana  County Democratic Party and will be a valuable asset for us in the state legislature. I hope to see you there!  Terri

Two Speakers to Address Current Middle East Crisis

From the website of Stop the War Machine:
Richard Becker
The Expanding U.S. War in the Middle East:
Are Iran and Syria Next?
Saturday, September 9, 2006, 7 PM
Albuquerque Center for Peace and Justice
202 Harvard SE,  ABQ
-----
David Barsamian
The Current Crisis in the Middle East
Saturday, September 16, 2006, 7 PM
Smith Brasher Hall
Corner University Blvd and Coal Ave. SE, ABQ

See below for more information on the speakers. Admission is Free. Sponsors: Stop the War Machine stopthewarmachine@comcast.net, UNM Student Socialist Coalition, Middle East Peace and Justice Alliance (formerly AJPA). For more information: 505-268-9557.

Richard Becker is the Western Regional Coordinator of the International A.N.S.W.E.R.-Act Now to Stop War and End Racism-Coalition. A.N.S.W.E.R. has organized numerous mass protests of hundreds of thousands of people against the war in Iraq, from mid-2002 to the present. Becker has been a central organizer of, and featured speaker at, many of the West Coast mass mobilizations in San Francisco and Los Angeles. In December 2005, Becker traveled to Damascus, Syria to participate in a conference on Palestinian Refugees and the Right of Return. One of the few U.S. activists to visit Syria in recent years, Becker has spoken out in opposition to the U.S.-led campaign for regime change in that country at numerous public forums and media events. (email Becker at rbecker17@yahoo.com)

David Barsamian is the host of the syndicated Alternative Radio, aired on KUNM on Saturdays at 6 PM. He is the recipient of the Upton Sinclair Award, the Rocky Mountain Peace and Justice Center Award and recently he was honored with a Cultural Freedom Fellowship from the Lannan Foundation, Santa Fe. His latest books are with Noam Chomsky "Imperial Ambitions" and with Howard Zinn "Original Zinn." AR is celebrating its 20th anniversary with a series of public events beginning with Howard Zinn and the Kronos Quartet at Carnegie Hall. (email Barsamian at info@alternativeradio.net)

Click for flyer.

Join Elizabeth Edwards at Fundraiser for Madrid Campaign

Please Join Special Guest Elizabeth Edwards
For a fundraising dinner in honor of
Attorney General Patricia Madrid - Candidate for CongressTuesday, September 12th
7:00 – 9:00 PM
At the Hotel Albuquerque at Old Town
800 Rio Grande BLVD NW, Albuquerque, NMPlease RSVP to Amanda at (505) 242-6000 or
amanda.scott@madridforcongress.com

Celebrate Labor Day with the Family Justice Campaign

From the Drug Policy Alliance:
I want to invite you to celebrate Labor Day with the Family Justice Campaign, with music and inspiring words at Noon today in front of the State Capitol in Santa Fe. The Family Justice Campaign is a project of the NAACP-Santa Fe that educates NAACP members and the general public on issues before the state legislature.  PA has been a key member of this Alliance, and we look forward to celebrating at this launch event with you, our members. 

WHERE: The Roundhouse State Capitol Building, East Entrance
WHEN: Monday, Labor Day, September 4th at 12:00 Noon

Featuring Music & Inspiring Words in Spanish & English
Mariachi Buena Ventura
Singer Bonnie Greathouse of ACORN
Andé Marimba
Michael Davis, President, NM NAACP
The Honorable Ben Lujan, Speaker of the House
Mayor David Coss, City of Santa Fe
The Rev Msgr Jerome Martinez y Alire, Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis
Rayos Burciaga, Somos Un Pueblo Unido

Sponsored by:
NAACP
AFSCME
NM Coalition for Justice
NM Department of Peace Initiative
Drug Policy Alliance of New Mexico
New Mexicans for a Fair Wage
NM Coalition to Repeal the Death Penalty
NM Conference of Churches
NM Voter Services Coalition
Northern New Mexico Central Labor Council (AFL - CIO)
Santa Fe Living Wage Network
Somos Un Pueblo Unido

Bring your family & a picnic lunch! For more information call 505-471-6633. Hope to see you there!

Mark Your Calendars: For our members in Albuquerque and the surrounding areas, please save the date for our Medical Marijuana Community Forum, to be held on September 28 from 6:00-8:00 PM at the Los Griegos Health and Social Service Center located at 1231 Candelaria Rd NW, Albuquerque, NM just west of 12th St NW. You'll hear from some of our key advocates and champions about effective strategies and our current obstacles.  You'll also learn how you can be more involved in achieving legal access to medical marijuana in New Mexico over the next six months.  It's an event you don't want to miss!

Sincerely,
Reena Szczepanski
Director, Drug Policy Alliance of New Mexico

Celebrate Jim Baca's Birthday

Click for flyer (PDF). Click on above image for larger version.

Boletin Latino Presents Session on Bolivia and Cuba

Boletin Latino presents: Anne and Bill Kass on Bolivia and Cuba. Anne and Bill will share their experiences on a recent trip to Bolivia and show the documentary, "The Power of Community: How Cuba Survived Peak Oil."

September 12, 2006; Tuesday, 7 PM
Albuquerque Peace and Justice Center
Corner of Harvard and Silver

Communities United to Strengthen America: Two Events This Week

From the Albuquerque chapter of Communities United to Strengthen America:

August 24th, 2006 @ 6:30 PM: Communi-Tea
Health Security & Retirement Security:
Connecting the dots of who is on your side
Featured Organization: Health Security of New Mexico

August 26th, 2006 @ 10am - 1:00 PM: Canvass
Saving New Mexico Higher Education Petition Drive

Come to our Albuqurque Resource Center for both events: 2111 Wyoming Boulevard NE. Call 505.237.0120 for more information.

Editor's Note: If you attended the last DFA-DFNM Meetup, you'll recall the enthusiastic presentation by this nonpartisan group. Visit their website to learn more and attend one of their events if you can. These folks are doing great work on issues in the Albuquerque area.

Wake Up WalMart: Two Great ABQ Events This Week

From WakeUpWalMart.com:
Join us for two exciting events in Albuquerque on Wednesday and Thursday of this week as part of the 2006 national "Change Wal-Mart, Change America" bus tour:

On Thursday, August 24, at 7:00 PM, join WakeUpWalMart.com for a special town hall meeting with Lieutenant Governor Diane Denish, Attorney General and Congressional Candidate Patricia Madrid, Attorney General Candidate Gary King, Secretary of State Candidate Mary Herrera and WakeUpWalMart.com. RSVP Here.

On Wednesday, August 23, at 7:00 PM, WakeUpWalMart.com will also host a special film screening and conversation at UNM. Paul Blank (former national Political Director for Howard Dean) and Chris Kofinis (former Senior Advisor for Wes Clark for President) will lead the discussion at both events. We will be showing part of Robert Greenwald's film, "Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Price" on campus. RSVP here.

The tour is an exciting and unprecedented national bus tour going to 19 states, 35 cities in 35 days with 1 mission - to change Wal-Mart and change America for the better.

The details of the events are as follows:

What: Film Screening
When: Wednesday, August 23, 2006 at 7:00 PM
Where: UNM - Student Union Building, Ballroom A
Building 60, Suite 3020. in Albuquerque, NM 87131
With: Paul Blank (former national Political Director for Howard Dean) and Chris Kofinis (former Senior Advisor for Wes Clark for President) and WakeUpWalMart.com. RSVP here.

AND

What: Town Hall
When: Thursday, August 24, 2006 at 7:00 PM
Where: ABQ Technical and Vocational Institute, Smith-Brasher Hall
717 University SE in Albuquerque, NM 87106
With: Lieutenant Governor Diane Denish, Attorney General and Congressional Candidate Patricia Madrid, Attorney General Candidate Gary King, Secretary of State Candidate Mary Herrera and WakeUpWalMart.com. RSVP Here.

As you know, the campaign to change Wal-Mart is quickly becoming one of the most important political fights of our time. The Associated Press recently called the fight to change Wal-Mart one of the "hottest, highest stakes political contests in America today."

Now, here's your exclusive chance to learn why Wal-Mart needs to change, how Wal-Mart is using our government against the best interests of the American people, and what you can do to fight for a better America.

Please join us, Democracy for America, MoveOn.org, and Change to Win on the 2006 national Change Wal-Mart, Change America bus tour in Albuquerque.

We want real change in America, but we can't have real change when big corporations like Wal-Mart contribute millions of dollars to right-wing Republicans to take America in the wrong direction. For example, Wal-Mart opposes expanding health care for working families, fought against a living wage, helped ship U.S. jobs overseas and even used its special interest organization to lobby against strengthening port security.

If you want to learn more about why Wal-Mart needs to change and how we are going to take back America from large corporations so we can have health care for all and economic security, then please join us for a community meeting to change Wal-Mart and change America.

Hope to see you there. Bring a friend! Thank you for all that you do,

Paul Blank, WakeUpWalMart.com

Help Democrats Take Back the House

Come Support NM Attorney General Patricia MadridDemocratic Candidate for CongressThursday, August 24, 20065:30 - 7:30 PM
~~~~~~"Rep. Heather Wilson ... faces her most difficult race yet in
[NM] State Attorney General Patricia Madrid"
-Washington Post
"Wilson ... a four term G.O.P Congresswomen, is in a
dead heat with Patricia Madrid"
-Time Magazine
"The district is so competitive that national dynamics
put the Republican at considerable risk"
-Rothenberg Political Report
~~~~~~At the Home of Linda Joyce, Albuquerque*
$50 - $100 - $250
RSVP to Trevor at (505) 242-6000
or Trevor@madridforcongress.com* See flyer (PDF) for Details