Democracy for New Mexico

Taos: No War On Iran Actions, Sunday, 4/30

From Taos Action:
Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld Threaten Nuclear War on Iran. We Say: No War on Iran! Nuclear War is Unthinkable!

Sunday, April 30th
3 PM: Citizens' Arrest of Rumsfeld at his Canoñcito home 

5 PM: Rally at the Taos Plaza: Public Sentencing of Rumsfeld and Speak Out by John Nichols and Phyllis Bennis (Institute for Policy Studies)

7 PM: Speech at the Taos Center for the Arts (TCA): Phyllis Bennis "Challenging U.S. Empire: Iran, Iraq & the Middle East." $10.

Phyllis Bennis is a fellow at the Institute for Policy Studies and has been on Democracy Now! many times about US foreign policy in the Middle East; she's speaking at the rally in NY on Saturday and then here in Taos at the Plaza & the Taos Center for the Arts (TCA) at 133 Paseo del Pueblo Norte. $10

Express your Humanity! Speak Out against Nuclear War on Iran!

Powerful Earth Charter Exhibit & Talk By Stewart Udall Set for 4/17

Earth Charter Art, The Paulo Freire Institute, Brazil

This is one not to miss. On April 17 at UNM the SGI Buddist Center is sponsoring an exhibit and talk by conservation pioneer Stewart Udall. The Earth Charter exhibit is a breathtaking panel exhibit on our current destruction on the earth and the steps critical to making global changes -- the focus is on sustainability and peace. To learn more go to SGI.com and EarthCharter.org

Seeds of Change: The Earth Charter and Human Potential
The exhibit was created by the SGI and has been shown in 20 countries around the world. The exhibit links panels on the state of the world with a hopeful message about the potential of even one individual to make a positive change. It is structured around the Earth Charter –- a declaration of ethical principles for building a just, sustainable and peaceful global society. Click for event flyer (doc).

Events at the University of New Mexico:

Exhibit Showing: Monday, April 17, Noon – 8 PM
Student Union, Ballroom C
Entertainment and Tabling by Local Environmental and Peace Organizations

6 PM: Lecture by Stewart Udall and Jack Loeffler:
Stewart Udall, former Secretary of the Interior for John F. Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson, is an environmentalist who has created many National Parks, fought for environmental protection of our precious resources and written numerous books and articles on these issues, including The Quiet Crisis.

Jack Loeffler, a long time friend of Stewart and environmental activist, is author of Adventures With Ed, a biography of his friend Ed Abbey.

There is a parking structure on the south end of campus near the UNM Bookstore (which is across the street from the Frontier on Central Avenue).

Get With the Program: Sign Up for a National Dem Canvass Day Event

On Saturday, April 29, Democrats all over the nation will be canvassing door to door, urging folks to get active in Party politics and meeting Dems in their neighborhoods. You don't have to be a precinct or ward chair to participate -- all Dems are welcome. If you've never done anything like this in past, now is the time to try it out. If you're a veteran of many canvasses past, jump in again as we head into the 2006 election season. We can WIN many races this November IF we're willing to do the necessary legwork, starting now.

There are now NM canvassing events and gatherings in Santa Fe, El Dorado, Portales, Taos, Placitas, Gallup and Raton, as well as four events in Albuquerque. Click to find an event in your area or create your own. Some events even combine potlucks and socializing with the shoeleather work. Check out our previous post for more information on this DNC-organized effort.

The Democratic Party of NM is holding a large canvassing in event in Albuquerque that day, and you can sign up here. They'll also be holding a training session for canvassers on Thursday, April 13, at 6:00 PM at the DPNM Headquarters at 1301 San Pedro NE. Call 830-3650 for more information.

Lewis Fundraiser Set for Tuesday

From Lewis for State Treasurer:
Please join Mayor Martin Chavez, Bruce Perlman, Ph.D., Robert Ortega, Fred Mondragon and Vince Murphy at a fundraising event for James B. Lewis for NM State Treasurer.

You are invited to meet our next State Treasurer, James B. Lewis, at Yanni's Mediterranean Bar & Grill, 3109 Central Avenue NE, Albuquerque, on April 11, 2006, from 5:00 - 6:30 PM. The suggested donation for this event is $100.00. For further information please contact James B. Lewis for State Treasurer at 341-2525, or Shelley Mund, 514-3247.

Editor's Note: James Lewis is a Democrat running unopposed in the June primary election for state treasurer. HIs Republican opponent in November will be Demesia Padilla.

RSVP for Democratic Party of NM Comedy Fundraiser

From the Democratic Party of NM:

Join Fellow Democrats for a night of fun at our
Comedy Fundraiser
Featured Comedian: Jack Willhite
Thursday April 27th 2006
Doors Open at 7:00 PM, Show Begins at 8:00 PM

Laffs Comedy Club
6001 San Mateo NE (at Osuna)
Albuquerque, NM

Tickets are $35 per person. Price includes admission, two drinks (beer, wine, or well) and gratuity

*you must be 21 or older to attend

*Tickets must be purchased in advance

For tickets contact Ana-Lisa at: 505-830-3650 or ana-lisa@nmdemocrats.org. Or click here to RSVP online.

Latest On National Day of Action for Fair Immigration Events in NM Sunday & Monday

You can find updated information at SWOPblogger on events being held on Sunday in Albuquerque and Santa Fe, and on Monday in Las Cruces in solidarity with the on immigration reform. Also, supporters are being urged to wear a white ribbon or other white item on Monday, and to refrain from purchasing anything that day to express support for those seeking fairness and justice for all immigrants.

For Albuquerque: Click for a flyer in English  and Spanish with more information on the Sunday rally at the National Hispanic Cultural Center at 4:00 PM.

For Santa Fe: Here's the flyer in English and in Spanish for the Sunday march that starts at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church at the corner of Guadalupe and Agua Fria at 1:00 PM.

Free: Protect Our Public Lands Rally

Be part of a historic day and help send a message to Washington that New Mexico's quality of life means much more than a few days' worth of oil and gas! Working to protect Otero Mesa, Valle Vidal and the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

Special guest speakers include: Earth First! founder Dave Foreman; poet Jimmy Santiago Baca; Gwich'in activists from the Canadian Arctic; Ed Zahniser, son of Howard Zahniser, the author of the Wilderness Act; music, film, and a special appearance by Theater Grotesco. Musical performance by: "Holy Water and Whiskey"

For more information, contact Nathan Newcomer at 843-8696 or nathan@nmwild.org or visit the NM Wilderness Alliance website.

Public Meeting Set on Fate of SNL Mixed Waste Landfill

From Citizen Action NM:
You are invited to attend a public meeting on Sandia National Laboratories’ (SNL) fate and transport model for the Mixed Waste Landfill hosted by the Albuquerque/Bernalillo County Groundwater Protection and Advisory Board (GPAB).

The meeting will convene at 8:30 AM on Thursday, April 13th at the City/County building, Rm. 9081, 400 Marquette N.W., corner of 4th and Marquette. The meeting agenda is posted below. Please call 768-3100 for additional directions if needed.

The GPAB agreed to convene the meeting in response to a request from Citizen Action, and Albuquerque City Councilors Isaac Benton and Martin Heinrich. The GPAB will reexamine SNL’s plan for the Mixed Waste Landfill in light of the new information that PCE from the dump is predicted to reach the groundwater by the year 2010.

SNL representative Dick Fate, project manager for the dump, will present the model to members of the GPAB followed by comments from Paul Robinson, Research Director, Southwest Research and Information Center and technical consultant for Citizen Action.   

R.S.V.P. – please join us!

Sue Dayton, Director
Citizen Action New Mexico
(505) 262-1862

GROUND WATER PROTECTION POLICY & ACTION PLAN
Ground Water Protection Advisory Board

MEETING AGENDA, Thursday, April 13, 2006, Meeting #4-06
Location: Room 9081, City/County Building
Time: 8:30 AM to 10:30 AM

Welcome / Introductions / Call to Order: 8:30 – 8:35
Introduction of New Member

I. Approval of Agenda: 8:35 – 8:40

II.  Approval of Minutes: 8:40 – 8:50

III. New Mixed Waste Landfill Contaminant Transport Model: 8:50 – 9:20
Richard Fate, Sandia National Labs/DOE

IV. Citizen Action Presentation: 9:20 – 9:45
Sue Dayton & Paul Robinson, Citizen Action

V. SNL/DOE Summary and Response: 9:45 – 9:55                                        

VII. Questions and Discussion: 9:55 - 10:25                                           

VIII. Other Business / Announcements: 10:25 – 10:30
Recognition of Pauline Gubbells

Santa Fe March in Support of Immigration Reform Set for Sunday

Editor's Note: There will be events that are part of the National Day of Action on immigration reform in Albuquerque and Las Cruces, in addition to this one in Santa Fe. Visit Swopblogger for more information.

From Somos Un Pueblo Unido:
In addition to the march, we are calling for a “Buy Nothing Day” on Monday, April 10th, in solidarity with groups mobilizing across the country for the National Day of Action. We are asking folks to wear a white ribbon on Monday to visually show their support. See you on Sunday! 

March in Support of Immigration Reform!
UNITED FOR JUSTICE AND EQUALITY
Sunday, April 9th
TIME: 1:00 PM to 3:30 PM
The march will start at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in Santa Fe, NM (located on the corner of Agua Fria St. and Guadalupe St.) and will end in a rally at the Cathedral Park with community speakers and music.

• Please wear white
• Bring a white handkerchief instead of a flag
• Parking available at Warehouse 21, on the corner of Paseo de Peralta and Guadalupe St (by Site Santa Fe)
• To support the “Immigration Reform National Day of Action,” buy nothing and wear a white ribbon on Monday, April 10th.

For more information, call Somos Un Pueblo Unido at (505) 424-7832 or Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish (505) 983-8868. Click to download a flyer in English or in Spanish.

SUPPORTING  ORGANIZATIONS: AFSCME International, American Friends Service Committee, Archdioceses of Santa Fe, Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi, Communication Workers of America Local 7076, DS1199NM-Hospital and Health Care Employees, National Education Association—New Mexico,  NM Association of Bilingual Educators, NM Conference of Churches, NM Federation of Labor/AFL-CIO, Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, PACE New Mexico,Santa Fe Living Wage Network, Santa Fe NAACP,  Somos Un Pueblo Unido,  and the Southwest Organizing Project.

Statewide Campaign to Fix Bush's Medicare Prescription Disaster Launches Thursday

From :
Americans United, New Mexico PACE, Alliance of Retired Americans Launch Statewide Campaign to Fix Bush’s Part D Disaster, Release New Report on the Excess Cost of Rx Benefit in New Mexico

Seniors in New Mexico and nationwide are calling Bush’s Part D Disaster confusing, costly and corrupt and asking that the prescription drug benefit be fixed to make it simple, affordable and guaranteed. Despite the widely recognized failure of the Part D prescription drug plan, President Bush and his allies in Congress have refused to fix the disastrous law and the President has even launched a speaking tour to sell his failed plan.

Americans United, the Alliance for Retired Americans, and New Mexico Progressive Alliance for Community Empowerment (NM PACE) are launching the statewide “Campaign to Fix Bush’s Part D Disaster” at a press conference on Thursday, April 6, 2006 @ 11:00 AM at the Office of Heather Wilson, Member of Congress located at 20 First Plaza NW (the corner of Tijeras and Second Street) in Albuquerque, NM. These groups worked together in New Mexico and nationally to defeat the President’s Social Security privatization plan last year. The groups will also release a new report by the Institute for America’s Future that shows that Part D costs New Mexicans $5 Billion more than a direct Medicare benefit with negotiated prices.

Part D is a special interest law that puts drug and insurance companies ahead of seniors. It prohibits Medicare from negotiating for the lowest possible drug prices for seniors and denies seniors the choice of a simple prescription drug benefit directly from Medicare. New Mexico groups, led by the Alliance for Retired Americans and NM PACE, are launching the New Mexico Campaign to Fix Bush’s Part D Disaster to send a message to the President and his allies in Congress: Part D must be fixed now to put seniors first, not drug and insurance companies.

The groups will be holding rallies, press conferences and speak-outs across the state to urge the NM Congressional delegation to fix Bush’s Part D disaster.

EVENT DETAILS:
Event: Kick off New Mexico Campaign to Fix Bush’s Part D & Release Report Detailing the High Cost of the Part D Failure

Date: Thursday, April 6, 2006
Time: 11:00 AM
Location: Office of Congressperson Heather Wilson
20 First Plaza, suite 603 (corner of Tijeras and Second Street), Albuquerque, NM

Sponsors:
New Mexico Progressive Alliance for Community Empowerment (NM PACE)
Alliance for Retired Americans
Americans United

Contact:         
Santiago Juarez, NM PACE (505) 927-2734
Rose Peters, ARA  (505) 400-2904