[CCPJ Update] February 26, 2012 Edition

[CCPJ News]

*[image: ccpj link] <http://www.charlottesvillepeace.org/node/1257>
Charlottesville Center for Peace and Justice*  [image: ccpj
link]<http://www.charlottesvillepeace.org/node/1257>



...a simple truth that “*since wars begin in the minds of humans, it is in
the minds of humans that the defense of peace must be constructed…*”



WE are turning our community conversation toward peace and away from the
enmity and violence that dominate our lives. In these times of continuing
wars and public discord, envisioning peace seems like an impossible task.
But it is precisely in such times that the need for peace and non-violence
is greatest.


*Will you join us?*
 For a World of Justice and Peace for All.

*CCPJ Monthly Meeting*

*Time*: March 4, 2012 at 4:30 pm
*Location*: Quaker Meeting House
1104 Forest Street, Charlottesville, VA

Agenda items for discussion this month:

Living Wage at UVA
WVTF and Democracy Now
Upcoming Events: Eyes Wide Open
Fundraising ideas

And anything you want to add! All are welcome. We have no requirements for
membership. We ask for a willingness to participate and Volunteer in our
programs supporting Peace and Justice.

Please contact us via email to let us know of your availability and
interest in CCPJ. Drop us a line at
http://www.charlottesvillepeace.org/contact or just show up at our monthly
meetings!

*Volunteers NEEDED to join us and participate in events!!!*

Volunteer needed to help out with website maintenance. Please contact us at
our website for more information.

Our thanks also go out to those who donated funds. We appreciate all
donations tremendously. Without your support our activities would be
limited. Thanks to all who donated.


*WEEKLY WITNESS FOR PEACE*



Join Us for weekly Thursday demonstrations from 4:30 to 5:30 pm. Come join
us at the corner of McIntire, Main and Water Streets, in front of the
Federal Building.  Drop-ins welcome! If we quit making war, we could stop
spending $735 billion every year for the military budget and fix our
deficits fast. Wouldn’t that be better than throwing our seniors, our kids
and our future under the bus?!!


*Charter for Compassion*


The Charter of Compassion is a cooperative effort to restore not only
compassionate thinking but, more importantly, compassionate action to the
center of religious, moral and political life. Compassion is the principled
determination to put ourselves in the shoes of the other, and lies at the
heart of all religious and ethical systems. One of the most urgent tasks of
our generation is to build a global community where men and women of all
races, nations and ideologies can live together in peace. In our globalized
world, everybody has become our neighbor, and the Golden Rule has become an
urgent necessity.



Watch the Video at Charter for Compassion <
http://charterforcompassion.org/site/> .



*Living Wage at UVA*



At our last CCPJ meeting on February 4, 2012, the Board and all
participants in the meeting voted to support a living wage at the
University of Virginia. It is our intent to better the lives of people in
the Charlottesville-Albemarle area by maintaining a minimum wage of $13.00
per hour for all UVA employees, including subcontractors. This contributes
greatly to the overall well being of this community and increases our
quality of life. This is a standard that the University can afford. Please
read the information below and participate in upcoming events:

 *Monday, February 27, 2012*
**
*Day 10: Hunger Strike*
*Public Meeting at Noon*
*Street Side of the Rotunda at UVA*

The hunger strike is in it's 10th day. The strikers are meeting with UVA
President Teresa Sullivan and staff at 7:00 am. Please attend the meeting
tomorrow at Noon for a demonstration and announcements of the results of
the meeting with President Sullivan.

We admire the courage and bravery shown by the hunger strikers at UVA. Our
spirits are with them and we support every effort to resolve the Living
Wage issue at UVA. At the University of Thomas Jefferson, co-author of the
Declaration of Independence, human rights should be, by right, a
major policy included in the guiding principles of the University of
Virginia. However, when the University does not pay its employees and
sub-contractors a living wage, then those same guiding principles authored
by Thomas Jefferson are not being met.

Thomas Jefferson wrote that "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all
men are created equal<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All_men_are_created_equal>,
that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights,
that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of
Happiness<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Life,_liberty_and_the_pursuit_of_happiness>
." It is self-evident that among those unalienable Rights, the pursuit of
happiness includes making enough money to live on. NO one is very happy
when working two jobs to make ends meet. This is self-evident.

After 16 years of struggling with the Living Wage issue in Charlottesville,
it is time to resolve this issue and give the UVA employees a Living Wage.
An increase in wages is an increase for the entire community as those very
same wages go to buying goods and services at local businesses. It's a
Win-Win situation for everyone.

The University of Virginia has an obligation to meet the guiding principles
of its Founding Father. It is difficult to understand the logic or
reasoning behind UVA's reluctance to increase all wages to a minimum of
$13.00 per hour. It is self-evident that an increase in wages is warranted
to meet UVA's policy on human rights.

But, we can't do it alone. CCPJ asks you to take the time to go to Brooks
Hall.. Go to the Meetings, which will be daily from here on. Get out and
support the Living Wage!! We implore you to be active. Let UVA know where
you stand. Bu just being there, your presence and support sends a message.

Go to livingwageatuva.org <http://www.livingwageatuva.org/> for more
information. Sign the
petition<http://www.change.org/petitions/university-of-virginia-president-sullivan-board-of-visitors-pay-all-direct-contracted-workers-a-living-wage-of-1300hr-benefits>!!!


*LOCAL AND STATE EVENTS*

*Take Back the “Right” – Candlelight Vigil and Speak Out for Women
*Where: Outside the Virginia Governor’s Mansion
When: Monday, *February 27, at 6:00 p.m.*

You know things aren’t good when you are the butt of jokes on “Saturday
Night Live” and “The Daily Show.” But this unflattering attention has
definitely helped shine a bright light on the far right’s attacks on
women’s health in Virginia.

Thankfully, the “personhood” bill is gone for the year in the General
Assembly. However, it’s not time to start celebrating yet: bills that
target low-income women facing severe pregnancy complications and that
require women to have mandatory ultrasounds still have a chance to become
law.

The only way these bills can be defeated is with people like you. You’re
the reason that the national media has been covering the War on Women in
Virginia.

Let’s keep the pressure on! Join us as we team up with the same group of
grassroots activists who helped bring over 1,200 Virginians to the Capitol
on Monday. The world needs to know that we’re not going to quiet down until
every single one of these bills are defeated. * *

*You can get more info about the event here.
<http://action.prochoiceamerica.org/site/R?i=8PHW2BPXDZ9sZkcjavEcnQ>*
We hope to see you there!

*Tuesday, February 28th: Public Planning Meeting for McIntire Park (East)*



The Charlottesvill Department of Parks and Recreation has scheduled the
next McIntire Park public meeting for Tuesday, February 28th at 6:30 pm at
the MLK Performing Arts Center at Charlottesville High School.  We will be
reviewing and discussing the revised concept plans from the previous
meeting.

After this meeting, the public comment and concept plans will be sent to
the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board to begin the process of
consideration by appointed and elected bodies to include the Planning
Commission and City Council.
For more information, please visit www.charlottesville.org/mcintirepark

*Wednesday, February 29: OccupyCville Demonstration at Pantops*
**
*Time: *3:00 pm to 6:00 pm
*Location: *Pantops, at the intersection of Route 250 and Route 20 adjacent
to the Verizon office

You are invited to Occupy Charlottesville's protest against ALEC* and
Verizon. Verizon is one of 30 mega corporations that not only pay no taxes,
it receives billions in rebates and subsidies. Hey- that’s OUR money! Come
out to demand the Verizon stop paying off our politicians and start paying
taxes! It's time to make separation between corporation and state!

Come out Feb. 29 from 3:00-6:00, at Pantop’s intersection to demand a
separation between corporation and state! We would love to see you all
there. To learn more: https://www.facebook.com/events/294988637228407/


* Most have never heard of a group that calls itself the American
Legislative Exchange Council. Yet, this group is probably one of the more
insidious threats to our democracy. ALEC, as it is commonly known, is
composed of legislators and corporations as its members. Through ALEC,
global corporations and state politicians meet behind closed doors to try
to rewrite state laws. Verizon sits on the board of ALEC and is ….To learn
more Watch this video by OCCUPY F29 NATIONAL COORDINATION:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4kWRH0xzk8


*March 7, 2012: Virginia Mountain Treasures*



*Time*: March 7, 2012 at 7:00 p.m.

*Location*: McIntire Room of the Central Library at 201 E. Market Street in
Charlottesville.



Conservationist Ernie Reed will present the video "Virginia Mountain
Treasures" at the Sierra Club meeting on March 7. This video slideshow
highlights the outstanding wild areas of the George Washington and Thomas
Jefferson National Forests. A must see for hikers and naturalists!

Sponsored by the Piedmont Group of the Sierra Club

Free!   Refreshments & Door prizes.

For more information contact Tom at cruz.olivier at gmail.com  or (434)
831-2408.



*Saturday, March 24th:  Howardsville Turnpike*

Time:  9:30 at Rockfish River Elementary School on Chapel Hollow Road just
off Route 151 in Nelson County

Join us for a six-mile hike and a smattering of local history on the old
Howardsville Turnpike.  The turnpike was built to carry goods from the
Shenandoah Valley to Howardsville for river transport on to Richmond.  It
was completed at about the same time as the Crozet railroad tunnel and was
thus obsolete before it ever really opened. There are wonderful rock walls
along the turnpike route.  The climb on this hike is gentle - think horses
pulling or walking in front of loaded wagons.

Meet at 9:30 at Rockfish River Elementary School on Chapel Hollow Road just
off Route 151 in Nelson County.  Chapel Hollow Road is about two miles
north of the intersection of Routes 6 and 151.  We will carpool from there
to the trail head, where parking is limited.


Bring water, lunch and clothing for the weather.  If the weather is
marginal that morning, call Janet (434 263-6199) for a recorded message.
Left-over snow piles may cause the hike to be canceled because parking will
be impossible.


*OCCUPY PEACE HOUSE*

We are nonviolent. We are relentless.


There is now an Occupy Peace House in Washington, D.C., and it needs our
help and participation:
http://www.occupypeacehouse.org


*G8 Protests in Chicago*

There will be a protest in Chicago in the next several weeks during the G8
meeting. People from all over the country will be attending. Please
contact Khalil
Reid at 979-0393 or 422-0566 or email at Hotstimuli at Gmail.com . If you are
interested, there are people going who are looking for additional folks to
attend. Let Khalil know soon if you are interested.


*KEEP FIGHTING THE ROUTE 29 BYPASS!*

Charlottesville 29 Bypass: A Road to Ruin.


Please sign this
petition<http://pec.citizen-networks.org/site/MessageViewer?em_id=16261.0&dlv_id=0>
 to voice your opposition to building the 29 bypass and your support for
local and state leaders to move forward with funding real solutions. And
then forward this link to your friends and neighbors.

The proposed bypass of U.S. 29 in Albemarle County is a colossal waste of
money, will not solve traffic problems for local drivers or
through-drivers, poses a serious health threat to our citizens, and will
forever mar our community. The bypass was a bad idea more than a decade
ago, when our local leaders voted against it and turned to pursuing real
solutions to traffic on U.S. 29. Despite the recent political rush to
revive it, the bypass is an even worse idea today. The 29 bypass is a bad
deal--but it's not a done deal!  Go to Stop the Bypass for more information
and to sign the
petition<http://pec.citizen-networks.org/site/MessageViewer?em_id=16261.0&dlv_id=0>
 today!



For the last decade, the Charlottesville-Albemarle community has worked
hard to advance smarter, long-term solutions to the traffic on Route 29. A
number of major studies have shown that the best solutions focus on
addressing the sources of congestion rather than building an ineffective
bypass around it. The two most important ways to alleviate traffic on Route
29 are:


Build overpasses at the busiest intersections along Route 29 to eliminate
long traffic lights and backups; and


Complete a series of parallel roads along the corridor, including the
Hillsdale Drive Extension and Berkmar Drive Extended, to get much of the
local traffic off of 29.



In addition, we support better development practices on the Route 29
corridor that move away from big-box stores and toward pedestrian-friendly,
mixed-use developments that require less driving. Reliable and attractive
transit options will also help curb the number of cars on Rt. 29.


Please listen to NPR's article on VDOT's emails and efforts to mislead the
Public. Click this link. <
http://www.wvtf.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=768:emails-on-vdots-29-bypass&catid=48:wvtf-news&Itemid=119<http://www.wvtf.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=768:emails-on-vdots-29-bypass&catid=48:wvtf-news&Itemid=119>>




*KEEP THE BAN ON URANIUM MINING!!*



Ten months ago we launched the Keep the Ban coalition with a concerned
group of citizens, 1,000 signatures, 20 groups and one big goal:  Keep the
Ban on uranium mining in Virginia.  And while the industry  spent millions
in lobbyists and trips this year, we were busy  organizing and growing.
Thanks to you and your hard work, the uranium industry did not have the
votes in the General Assembly to introduce a bill to lift the ban. On
January 19th, Gov. McDonnell was forced to concede that a report from the
National Academy of Sciences identified “important questions related to the
health and safety of workers, the public, and the environment.”  As a
result, the ban will stay in place for 2012.

At the same time, however, Gov. McDonnell directed Virginia’s health,
mining and environmental agencies to draft “conceptual regulations”  for
the General Assembly to consider in 2013.  Governor McDonnell’s directive
to create a draft statute and regulations, behind closed doors, is the
first step toward lifting the ban.

The uranium industry has yet to show the citizens of Virginia that uranium
mining can be done safely, and our legislators have not answered the
fundamental public policy question: does Virginia want to take on the
long-term economic and public health burden of mining uranium and storing
millions of tons of toxic waste in our state?

Before we create regulations, we need to answer the question: Is it worth
the risk to mine uranium in Virginia?


Call Governor McDonnell today.  Tell him to Keep the Ban on uranium mining
permanent! (804) 786-2211.

We look forward to working with you to keep the ban on uranium mining
permanent.  Stay engaged at www.KeepTheBan.org <
http://statevoices.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=62GKqHFkiaWkLSeXjR7TLp8YdQxyCzZa<http://statevoices.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=62GKqHFkiaWkLSeXjR7TLp8YdQxyCzZa>>
.


PS Please help us spread the word by forwarding this email.


UNION ORGANIZERS WANTED

 - Become a Union Organizer!-

Changing Our World Begins at Work!!

Virginia Openings Available

The AFL-CIO Organizing Institute (OI) is a paid job training and placement
program for people who want to fight for the rights of workers, immigrants,
women &people of color. Graduates of our training program are placed in
full time jobs as union organizers. The program has a 98% placement rate.

The OI is currently assisting our affiliate unions in hiring in Virginia.
You must have a driver’s license, be willing to travel and relocate in the
future.


Please send cover letter & resume to OIapps at aflcio.org <
mailto:OIapps at aflcio.org <OIapps at aflcio.org>> . In your cover letter please
answer the following questions:

Why do you want to become a union organizer?

What has your role been in social justice or community work?

Women, people of color & bilingual speakers encouraged to apply. For more
information go to www.organize.aflcio.org <http://www.organize.aflcio.org> .



CCPJ Mailing Address:



The Charlottesville Center for Peace and Justice

P.O. Box2012

Charlottesville,VA 22902


Email: ccpjnews at gmail.com <mailto:ccpjnews at gmail.com <ccpjnews at gmail.com>>



CCPJ Board members



William Anderson wha at virginia.edu <mailto:wha at virginia.edu<wha at virginia.edu>>


Kirk Bowers engineer1950 at comcast.net
<mailto:engineer1950 at comcast.net<engineer1950 at comcast.net>>


Brandon Collins brandoncollins at comcast.net <
mailto:brandoncollins at comcast.net <brandoncollins at comcast.net>>

Tony Russell taorivertony at gmail.com
<mailto:taorivertony at gmail.com<taorivertony at gmail.com>>


Virginia Rovynyak, Treasurer vgr4e at virginia.edu
<mailto:vgr4e at virginia.edu<vgr4e at virginia.edu>>


******************************************************************

 This E-mail comes from the Charlottesville Center for Peace and Justice
(CCPJ) at http://www.charlottesvillepeace.org <
http://www.charlottesvillepeace.org>

CCPJ's work depends on your participation and on your funding. Please
contribute what you can here: http://charlottesvillepeace.org/donate <
http://charlottesvillepeace.org/donate>

To submit Peace and Justice related events to the CCPJ website: Please use
the 'Submit Your Event for Listing' form at
http://www.charlottesvillepeace.org <http://www.charlottesvillepeace.org>
(Events submitted to the website will be considered for inclusion in this
weekly email newsletter.)


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