SHAME ON THEM, SHAME ON US
Commentary by Peggy Fry
But our “public servants” apparently have no shame. In the aftermath as the rebuilding begins, the no-bid contracts going to those with ties to the Bush Administration, the declaration of “free enterprise zones” that allow relaxation of labor and environmental laws among others, the ludicrous spectacle of those in charge investigating themselves for wrongdoing, underscores the reality that our government is its own little empire, serving only to promote and empower those who travel in its spheres, be they elected officials, corporations, lobbyists and any other big money interest.” We the People”, in the meantime, are reduced to we the spectators, who watch this distorted, corrupt version of democracy like an endless sporting event, waving our flags on cue like an audience at a game show when the applause light comes on.
http://www.commondreams.org/views05/1006-31.htm

CIVICS STUDENT OR ENEMY OF AMERICA?
Matthew Rothschild / The Progressive
After a Wal-Mart employee turned in a high school student's anti-Bush poster to the police, the Secret Service came calling.
http://www.alternet.org/walmart/26503/

Terrific News From NYC Chapter Dept of Peace on Upcoming PeacEvents

This has been an exciting time for the Department of Peace Campaign and there is still a lot happening in our area, so check out the NY Department of Peace website TODAY for upcoming events. Go to ... http://www.nyc-dop.com

1] DoP Senate bill - Thank you Senator Mark Dayton!

On September 22nd, 2005, Senator Mark Dayton (D-MN) introduced the Department of Peace legislation into the U.S. Senate. This is a huge moment for our campaign, and for the future of the Department of Peace! Senator Daytons leadership and enthusiastic support will take us to the next level in our work to establish this historic legislation for peace into an organizing structure in our government. Please take the time to call Senator Dayton at 202-224-3244 and thank him for taking this bold, courageous and historic stand.

We also now have 60 co-sponsors in the House. When we introduced this bill in April 2003 we had only 43 co-sponsors. We have made fantastic progressover the last 2 years.

2] Brooklyn Peace Fair - Brooklyn Peace Fair 2005 at the YWCA

Panel discussion at 12:30 featuring Department of Peace, Code Pink and the War Resisters League.

The Brooklyn Peace Fair is FREE and open to the public. Children, teens, educators, and adults of all ages are welcome for a day of performances, workshops, and children's activities! Dozens of peace and social justice groups will be on hand. Brooklyn Peace Fair highlights include:

• Keynote address by Cindy Sheehan (co-founder, Gold Star Families for Peace; mother of Casey, killed in Iraq) at 11:00 am.
• Awards Ceremony for the winners of the YWCA Youth Essay Contest at 12:30 pm.
• Workshops on a wide range of issues – Iraq, Afghanistan, East Timor, Korea, Health Care Justice, Anti-War Activism, Justice for Prisoners, and more
• Performances and readings by including the Brooklyn Women's Chorus, Gowanus Wild Cats, Al Adwa Dance, Judy and Nelson David and many more
• Activities for children, storytelling, music and singing, arts and crafts
• Donations Bring books for prisoners and non-perishable food for Katrina victims.

For more info, go to: http://www.brooklynpeace.org/

Message from Care2 & ThePetitionTeam - Stop Congress from selling 15 National Parks

What I'm about to tell you is so outrageous, it's hard to believe it's true. But unfortunately, it is, Representative Richard Pombo (R-CA) has outlined a plan for the House draft budget reconciliation bill to sell off 15 national parks for energy and commercial development. That's right -our natural heritage could soon be up for sale. Please sign this petition today to stop Congress' national park give-away: http://go.care2.com/e/GgZ/BN/BhwO

One of the parks on the chopping block is Lake Clark National Park and Preserve in Alaska. Lake Clark protects the largest known Athapaskan archeological site in Alaska; an incredibly rugged wilderness containing two active volcanoes; and a wide variety of wildlife, including caribou, Dall sheep, brown bears, bald eagles, and peregrine falcons. The protected Lake Clark watershed is a significant part of the greater Bristol Bay watershed, which contains the world's largest Sockeye salmon fishery. This national treasure is irreplaceable. Incredibly, there's more to the bill than just selling off 23% of the National Park System's acreage. Rep. Pombo's bill would require the Park Service to sell commercial advertising on the exterior and interior of all buses, shuttles, vans, trams, and passenger ferries operated within the National Park System. This bill would also require the Park Service to solicit and sell commercial sponsorship of park visitor centers, education centers, information centers, museums, trails, auditoriums, amphitheaters, and theatres throughout the National Park System.

And a painfully ironic provision of this bill would require the immediate sale of Theodore Roosevelt Island in the District of Columbia, which was established as a memorial for our nation's greatest conservation president. Congress and the administration have a responsibility to protect our national heritage. Instead, Representative Pombo seems prepared to put our American heritage on the auction block, insulting the American people and tarnishing the birthright of current and future generations. Sign this petition today to urge your Representative to oppose Rep. Pombo's National Park give-away! http://go.care2.com/e/GgZ/BN/BhwO