Depleted Uranium Forum at Riverdale- Yonkers Society for Ethical Culture
Monday June 12, 2006
7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Event Location: Society for Ethical Culture
Street: 4450 Fieldston Road
City, State, Zip: Bronx, NY 10471
Phone: 718-549-1601
Notes ... Join us for a discussion on the effects of DU on civilians andsoldiers with Rev. Lucius Walker of Pastors for Peace

SEAN'S SHOW OF METAL
By Alex Williams, Mirror UK
Actor Sean Bean went AWOL from the set of his latest film - so he could rekindle his love of welding. The star, who was a welder's apprentice before he hit the big time, gave his minders and crew the slip to call in at a workshop he had spotted. Welder Chris Holmes, 42, said: "He said he used to be a welder and fancied getting back into it and asked if I would mind him having a go." He had dodged all the fancy film people. I think he was fed up with them." Bean, filming vigilante flick Outlaw with Bob Hoskins, welded his name on a bit of metal above three kisses and had a mug of coffee with the staff. Chris, 42, of Lydney, Glos, said: "I told him if his film career went up in smoke he could go back to welding. He's not too bad."

IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM MOVEON.ORG & THOSE LIVING IN NY STATE
Yesterday, President Bush will make a speech on a topic that the Senate is gearing up to vote on tomorrow. It's not Iraq, or rising gas prices or our broken health-care system. It's an attempt to write discrimination into the Constitution by permanently denying marriage equality to same-sex couples.

There are obviously bigger problems in front of the nation today. So why would the Republicans do this now? As Jack Cafferty said on CNN, "It's blatant posturing by Republicans, who are increasingly desperate as the midterm elections approach. There's not alot else to get people interested in voting on them, based on their record of the last five years."

Republicans want to divide the nation for the 2006 elections and they're attacking same-sex families to do it. The last time Republicans tried this they failed, but they're expected to make gains this year. Sens. Schumer and Clinton are going to be key. Can you call Sens. Schumer and Clinton and tell them that you oppose an Amendment that would permanently write discrimination into the Constitution?

[DUCHESS NOTE: We, who live in NY State, know we'll have better luck in getting Schumer on the side of the people. Do the right thing Senator Schumer! As for Hillary "Ms Republican Lite" Clinton, she has never had the interest of us New Yorkers in mind. She's got her sticky fingers in the corporate cookie jar and not letting go.]

Senator Charles Schumer
Phone: 202-224-6542
Senator Hillary Clinton
Phone: 202-224-4451

Sens. Schumer and Clinton are feeling intense pressure from the extreme right-wing, and folks like James Dobson are making sure Sens. Schumer and Clinton hear from their supporters every day. It's up to us to show Sens. Schumer and Clinton that a majority of Americans don't support discrimination in the Constitution. But we need to speak up now. If America stands for anything, it stands for equal rights and opportunities for everyone. While we've often struggled to guarantee equality, we've never amended our Constitution to take rights away from people or to codify discrimination.

But Republicans think this is a winning issue for them. As Jack Cafferty said later in that show, "If you can appeal to the hatred, bigotry, or discrimination in some people, you might move them to the polls to vote against that big, bad gay married couple that one day might move in down the street." Most Americans don't support discrimination or this Amendment. But in the next few hours, we need to make sure Sens. Schumer and Clinton hear from us.

[DUCHESS NOTE ... Let's show these Senators that we are NOT bigots or hate-mongers. Show them we are pro-peace and equality for ALL. Equality and justice shouldn't be for the rich greedy buggers of this world, but for ALL Americans & others throughout the world. Give me liberty, peace & justice!]

QUOTE OF THE DAY ... There is a pleasure in the pathless woods. Lord Byron

MESSAGE TO ALL NEW YORKERS FROM "NO MORE DEPLETED URANIUM" COALITION
We have jumped all the hurdles so far and the Bills, the NY National Guard Testing/Task Force Bills, amended by the Assembly Veterans Committee in consultation and agreement with the Senate Veterans Committee, have been approved by both Assembly member Dinowitz and SenatorMorahan. So the bills will now be "ON THE FLOOR" in both the NY Assembly and the NY Senate. We anticipate these identical bills being reported out of the Assembly Veterans Committee to the Assembly floor on June 6th and on the Senate floor on June 5th.

Between "on the floor" and NY State Law stand three people: Speakers Bruno and Silver and Gov. Pataki. One step at a time, and this is the Big One. And the time alloted to take this step is limited by the looming end of the legislative session June 23rd. In the beginning this process reminded me of a Russian Folk Tale where a dirt poor but clever suitor for the Czar's daughter plants a few noisy guys, banging on pots and pans, around the woods outside the Palace to make it sound like he has brought an entire army! Since then an "army" of New Yorkers has awakened so that there is no turning back, so that our NY troops will not suffer from inattention to the toxic and radio activedangers including depleted uranium, of today's battlefields as they did in the time of Agent Orange.

The NY American Legion, the NY AFL-CIO have written letters of support, and the NY Veterans Council which includes the VFW, DVA and Veterans For Peace, has promised the same! At this point in time, ALL THE PRO'S say we need you folks, the real army of aware citizens, to make some "noise" as spokespeople for our soldiers and the entire human race. A telephone call or e-mail will do. A paper snail letter is most reliable. If it's one thing that I have learned this Winter/Spring, it is that, at least at the State level, it works!! Democracy, or well timed and well placed political pressure, armed with truth and respect, gets results.

PLEASE CONTACT SPEAKERS SILVER AND BRUNO BETWEEN NEXT MONDAY JUNE 12 & remember to give your city or town. New York State residency is imperative. Please contact the office of Joseph Bruno and just express your support for the bill, S6964, and that you are happy to hear it is on the calendar in the Senate for June 5th. That you wish to thank Speaker Bruno for his anticipated support, call at 518- 455-3191. You can snail mail: 909 Legislative Office Building, Albany, New York 12247

PLUS CONTACT Speaker Sheldon Silver's office to say that you support the swift passage of A9116B after it is reported out of the Veterans Committee on June 6th. The number is 518-455-3791.