"I'm sorry for the hate and destruction I've inflicted upon innocent people,"... "Until people hear about what is happening in this war, it will continue."

-- Former Marine Jon Turner at Winter Soldier hearings in DC.

Activist San Diego contacts: Martin (619-226-1116), Tanja (858-459-4650), Activist Update: ASDUpdate@activistsandiego.org

WANT TO ADD TO THE ACTIVIST UPDATE? Email ASDUpdate@activistsandiego.org
Please submit your event listings at least 1 week prior to the event.

Activist San Diego Monthly Meeting Second Monday of the month, 7pm At the Activist House 4246 Wightman St. City Heights 619-528-8383. Everyone welcome Please join us

• ASD News and Views
• Food For Thought
• Featured Events
• This Week's Events
• Future Activist Events
• Culture Corner
• Announcements
• Featured Web Sites
• Update Archives

Peace Offensive on 5th Anniversary of Iraq War

Yesterday San Diegans braved the cold winds on a blustery day to declare their allegiance to peace and justice. Hundreds lined the streets in City Heights as residents honked continually to cheer us on. (See the photos taken by ASD's Michael Gomel) ASD is proud to have played an important role in the event and we celebrate to attendance of each of you who contributed to its success. The outpouring of public support is contrasted by the relatively small core who actually organize these peace rallies and other events. We want to work with you in the SD Coalition for Peace & Justice and invite you to become part of ASD. We must assure that momentum grows for the flowering of a new progressive San Diego. Call our office at 619-528-8383.

The atrocities are so atrocious and the costs so high for Iraqis and American working people that we can not rest. The future of the nation is at risk, the crisis is worse than we often admit even to ourselves. But we are winning, we are being heard and we are effective, if we continue to inform and mobilize. There are a series of peace events in the next 2 weeks, which deserve your participation; the Presidents Way vigil when the death of the 4000th US soldier is announced, Iraq Moratorium on every 3rd Friday at 6th and Univ. Ave at 5 PM, Fernando Suarez's walk for peace from TJ to Escondido March 25th to 29th, MoveOn.org rally in the park... and many more. (see ASD's What's Happening).

~~~~~

DONATED CARS HELP MOVE ACTIVISM FORWARD! Please donate your car and other items. As a bonus you get progressive satisfaction and a healthy tax deduction! Call us at 619-528-8383

For all of the above we will need your help and financial support. If you would like to make a donation, please click on the button to the right.

Or, we can also accept donations mailed to: Activist San Diego 4246 Wightman St San Diego, CA 92105-2618

BACK TO TABLE OF CONTENTS

"Going to the wrong place, destroying the wrong place. This woman will never forget what happened"

-- Iraq veteran Steven Casey at Winter Soldier hearing. Playing a video from a house raid. A woman is screaming. The soldiers raided the wrong house.

~~~~~

The Truth is no longer available! The Bush Administration apparently does not want a U. S. military study that found no direct connection between Saddam Hussein and al Qaeda to get any attention. This morning, the Pentagon cancelled plans to send out a press release announcing the report's release and will no longer make the report available online.

-- ABC News' Jonathan Karl March 12, 2008

ody civil war in Gaza and leaving Hamas stronger than ever.

BACK TO TABLE OF CONTENTS

CANDLELIGHT VIGIL For the 4,000 U. S. Military killed in the Iraq war. Where's The Rage? Don't forget to bring a candle! Where -Corner of Park Blvd/President's Way in Balboa Park. When-The day after the announcement of 4,000th U. S. military deaths in Iraq. Time-6PM to 9PM. More Info

BACK TO TABLE OF CONTENTS

MARCH 19, 2008: 5 YEARS TOO MANY. March 19, 2008: the 5th anniversary of the U. S. invasion of Iraq, the beginning of the 6th year of war and occupation, the 6th year of senseless death and massive destruction. United for Peace and Justice is calling for and supporting a set of activities on and around the 5th anniversary that will manifest the intensifying opposition to the war and help strengthen our movement. We invite you to work with us to ensure the success of these actions. March 13-16, Winter Soldier. March 19, Mass Nonviolent Civil Disobedience in Washington, DC. March 19, Local Actions Throughout the Country. More Info

~~~~~

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19, 7:30PM: Warwick's Bookstore 7812 Girard Avenue, La Jolla will host award winning Armenian novelist, Micheline Aharonian Marcom, at a speaking event that is free and open to the public. We are trying to reach out to the local Armenian community and others interested in hearing her speak about her new book, "Draining the Sea," a "striking literary exploration of the effects of political violence as it reverberates through the Armenian Genocide of 1915, the Guatemalan civil conflict of the1980's and present day Los Angeles. More Info

~~~~~

THURSDAY, MARCH 20, 6PM: The San Diego Lawyer Chapter of the American Constitution Society presents: Protecting the Right to Vote. Featuring: The Honorable Debra Bowen California Secretary of State. Richard L. Hasen William H. Hannon Distinguished Professor of Law, Loyola Law School; Author, Election Law Blog. The Honorable Donna Frye San Diego City Councilmember, District 6. California Western Law School 350 Cedar Street, Room LH1 San Diego. There is no cost to attend this event. RSVP here. Please join us for a discussion of legal and political challenges to protecting the right to vote in California and the United States. More Info

~~~~~

THURSDAY, MARCH 20, 6:30PM: Bus Riders Union Rally and Film. It's Time the Transit District Stopped Dumping on Public Transit Riders! Join us for a look at the possibility of forming a San Diego Bus Riders' Union. We will also be showing "The Bus Riders Union" documentary and discussing the options in San Diego to oppose the city's increase of bus riding fares. Members of the Los Angeles Bus Riders' Union will be speaking at the Rally. Donation of $10 is suggested to help pay for the film and attorney fees for a possible legal suit against the elimination of transfers. Film beings at 6:30pm at the Joyce Beers Center. A coalition of groups including the San Diego Renters Union, San Diego Copwatch, the San Diego Peace and Freedom Party, the Green Party of San Diego County, and the San Diego Coalition for Clean and Fair Government will be riding the buses and trolleys from March 7th to March 19th passing out flyers to transit riders. We want this to be a grass-roots organization; so that transit riders can fight their exploitation. More Info

~~~~~

THURSDAY, MARCH 20, 7PM: Zero Waste San Diego - Zero Waste Public Meeting. Let's talk about zero waste ideas to implement in our community. We encourage all businesses, organizations and concerned citizens to come out and join the discussion at the Activist Center - San Diego 4246 Wightman St San Diego. More Info

~~~~~

SATURDAY, MARCH 22, 1PM: CELEBRATE Potrero PARTY! Blackwater's defeated - Celebrate the power of citizen action. Everyone is welcome for healing and reconciliation after notice that Blackwater pulled the project. Celebrate the power of citizen action! "Rally Site" is 23975 Yerba Santa Rd. Same site as the October Rally. Gather at "Rally Site" starting at Noon, main event is from 1:00 to 3:00 p. m. Bring: Food To Share, drinks, chairs, hats. Keynote: Rep. Bob Filner (CA-51). Many other speakers, poetry, music til 6:00 p. m. More Info

~~~~~

SATURDAY, MARCH 22, 2PM: SPECIAL EVENT: 'Die In" San Diego. PLEASE NOTE: This event will involve a peaceful demonstration involving those of us who are ready to end the War. Where: Meet in the park downtown at W. Island Ave & 1st Ave. What to wear/Bring: Wear a white t-shirt that can be printed on. We will be meeting at this park to give instructions of the die-in and to reveal the location that we will walk to. Those who wore a white t-shirt will have a number applied to their shirt, that illustrates the number of deaths he or she represents. After arriving to the location revealed at the meeting, we will lay down on the ground to show what it would look like if San Diego was a war zone. AGAIN... this is a PEACEFUL and non-violent demonstration. More Info

***************
ONGOING EVENTS
***************

“ENOUGH” PEACE AND IMPEACHMENT VIGILS ~ EVERY WEEK UNTIL THE IRAQ WAR ENDS. More Info

EVERY SUNDAY 3PM: Free Vegan Food at the North Park Community Park with San Diego Food Not Bombs. The North Park Community Park is located at the intersection of Oregon and Polk in North Park. More Info

BACK TO TABLE OF CONTENTS

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26, 6PM: Celebrities to headline separation of church and state event! First Freedom First (a joint project of Americans United for Separation of Church and State and The Interfaith Alliance,) will present a nationwide simulcast entitled "Everything You Always Wanted to Know About the Separation of Church and State but Were Afraid to Ask". Where: Edwards Mira Mesa Stadium 18 on Westview Parkway in Mira Mesa. Tickets are free and the event is open to the public but you must register in advance at firstfreedomfirst. org to reserve your seats. More Info

~~~~~

SATURDAY, MARCH 29, 5PM: 7th Annual Women's Hall of Fame - UCSD Price Center Ballroom. Join us to witness the Induction of 5 local women into the San Diego County Women's Hall of Fame in honor of their life's work. Join UCSD Chancelor Maryanne Fox and other dignitaries as we officially induct these women into the San Diego County Women's Hall of Fame. More Info

~~~~~

SATURDAY, APRIL 5, 7PM: An Unreasonable Woman. Matters of Controversy ~ A Monthly Series. Title: An Unreasonable Woman ~ - Book Signing - A True Story of Shrimpers, Politicos, Polluters, and the Fight for Seadrift, Texas. Guest Speaker: Special Appearance: Peggy Watson. Location: First Unitarian Universalist Church of San Diego 4190 Front Street, Hillcrest, San Diego (opposite UCSD Medical Center). Wheelchair Accessible. Parking: Church parking lot (limited) / Street parking (within 2 blocks). Cost: $10 Donations Requested. (No one will be turned away for lack of funds.). More Info

~~~~~

TUESDAY, APRIL 8, 7PM: Debate: Church and State: How Should They Coexist? Americans United for Separation of Church and State, San Diego Chapter, will sponsor a debate entitled "Church and State: How Should They Coexist?" Panelists include: Rev. Barry Lynn, Executive Director, Americans United for Separation of Church and State; Stanwood C. Johnson, Certified Family Law Specialist and William "Bill" Morrow, Attorney and former California legislator. This event is free and open to the public and all are invited to attend. Following the debate, questions will be taken from the audience. This event is being held in the rehearsal room of the Jewish Community Center at 4126 Executive Drive in La Jolla. More Info

~~~~~

SATURDAY, APRIL 12, 2008: Association of Raza Educators (ARE) 2008 Conference held at Lincoln High School, San Diego. A. R. E. San Diego seeks to outreach at least 500 members of the educational community, including, teachers, counselors, parents, students, and so forth. The conference theme is “The Struggle for Social Justice In Education.” More Info

~~~~~

SATURDAY, APRIL 19, 10AM: Chicano Park Day Celebration. “Our Lives, Culture, And History Are Seen Through Our Murals!” is the theme of the 38th Annual Chicano Park Day Celebration in historic Chicano Park, located in the Barrio Logan community, south of downtown San Diego. This family celebration is free and open to the public. More Info

~~~~~

SATURDAY, APRIL 19, 7PM: ADC SD Annual Awards Banquet. The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, San Diego Chapter Cordially invites you to attend its: Annual Awards Banquet 2008 C O M M E M O R A T I N G A L - N A K B A H 60 YEARS OF PALESTINIAN DISPOSSESSION. Keynote Speaker: Prof. Khalil Barhoum, Stanford University, Ex-President of AAUG. Poetry reading by Seema Sueko Artistic Director, Mo'olelo Performing Arts Company. Annual Awards . Music . Art Exhibit. The Manchester Grand Hyatt One Market Place Downtown San Diego. More Info

~~~~~

SUNDAY, APRIL 20, 11AM - 6PM: Multi-Cultural Earth Day Indoor / Outdoor event at WorldBeat Cultural Center 2100 Park Blvd. Balboa Park. What: 19th Annual Earth Day! Who: Multi Cultural World Music, Reggae, R&B, AfroBeat, Jazz, African, Latin, Belly Dance, Japanese Tiako Performances International Craft Marketplace. Free Event! More Info

~~~~~

MONDAY, APRIL 28, 7PM: Ann Wright at Price Center Ballroom. The UCSD Women’s Center California Cultures in Comparative Perspective and the Cross-Cultural Center present: Ann Wright: Peace Activist and retired U. S. State Department Official. “Dissent: Voices of Conscience” Price Center Ballroom. With Guest Panelists: Marjorie Cohn, president of the National Lawyers Guild and professor at Thomas Jefferson School of Law and Timothy Kahlor, spokesperson for Military Families Speak Out (MFSO). More Info

BACK TO TABLE OF CONTENTS

TUESDAY, MARCH 18TH - 20TH The Women’s Resource Center at SDSU presents Film Festival 3 Days of Movies! The Women’s Resource Center’s Film Festival! Tues. March 18th at Scripps Cottage: 3:30pm Hip-Hop: Beyond Beats and Rhymes. 1:30 pm Ma vie en rose (My Life in Pink). Wed. March 19th at Scripps Cottage: 3 pm: Killing Us Softly. 1:30 Born in Flames. Thurs. March 20th at Backdoor in Aztec Center. 6:45pm The Watermelon Woman. 8:30pm V-Day: Until the Violence Stops ($2 pre-paid ticket required for V-Day Film, purchase at the WRC-SDSU Office 10 am – 3pm). Students, Faculty/Staff & Community Members Welcome! More Info

~~~~~

FRIDAY, MARCH 28, 8PM: The Center for World Music as part of the Neurosciences Institute Performing Arts series presents Zither Traditions of the World. A sampling of music from Finland, Japan, America, and the Middle-East. Zithers from all over the world including koto, kantele, qanun, and hammered dulcimer. Curt Bouterse (American dulcimer) Merja Soria (Finnish kantele) Reiko Obata (Japanese koto) Dara Bamoradi (Persian qanun). The Neuroscience Institute (La Jolla) 10640 John Jay Hopkins Dr. More Info

~~~~~

FRIDAY, MARCH 28, 8PM: MYM Entertainment Presents: "Honoring Women's Herstory Month Rock Concert! Chicana Perk: 129 25th St., SD. $5 Cover! All Ages! from sd, ca-IRRADIO: myspace. com/irradio from silver lake, ca-THE T. V. LIERS: myspace. com/thetvliers from sd, ca-DROPJOY: myspace. com/dropjoymusic. More Info

~~~~~

SATURDAY, MARCH 29, 8:30PM: Worldbeat Center Presents The Messenger Luciano w/ Mikey General + special guests. WorldBeat Cultural Center 2100 Park Blvd. In Balboa Park. Doors 8:30pm. More Info

~~~~~

SATURDAY, APRIL 19, 8:30PM: Half Pint in Concert. WorldBeat Center 2100 Park Blvd. San Diego. What: Earth Day Pre-Party! Who: Half Pint "No Stress Express Tour" w/ The Yellow Wall Dub Squad & Special Guest Itawe & Stevie Culture. More Info

***************
ONGOING EVENTS
***************

MARCH 7-29TH: Extraordinary Renditions an original satire you can’t afford to miss! The premiere production of Impact Theater, San Diego’s newest irreverent theater company it explores—among other things—the insanity of airport security, the reckless use of tasers, bilingualitis, health insurance that makes you sick, and the selective protections of FEMA. You’ll laugh so hard you’ll cry—and get mad as hell! Impact Theater is proud to present this provocative look at the outrageousness of our society. Ticket purchase at door. Swedenborg Hall is conveniently located just off Washington Street, near the intersection of Cleveland/Tyler in the Hillcrest/University Heights area. More Info

BACK TO TABLE OF CONTENTS

Announcements / Workshops

MARCH 22-23: SD County Primitive Skills Gathering near Fallbrook. When: From noon on Saturday 3/22 until sometime on Sunday. Where: Near Rainbow, CA, about 8 miles NE of Fallbrook. More Info

~~~~~

IFCO/Pastors for Peace Caravan to Cuba. In June/July 2008 14 different routes of the Pastors for Peace Caravan to Cuba will be on the road visiting more than 120 US and Canadian cities, (including San Diego). We will travel in school buses, trucks, and cars to Cuba via Mexico with medical and educational supplies collected from groups across the US and Canada as a collective challenge to the inhuman and immoral US blockade and travel ban. This year’s caravan will also host our second Hiphop Without Borders Exchange We will take many hiphop artists to participate in an international hiphop festival, as well as carrying turntables, keyboards and other musical equipment to support Cuban hiphop. More Info

~~~~~

ALTERNATE FOCUS BLACKWATER IN POTRERO DOCUMENTARY: In late 2006, Blackwater USA, now known as Blackwater Worldwide, submitted a proposal to build a training facility called Blackwater West in the rural San Diego County town of Potrero. This documentary tells the story of what followed. Features interviews with Jeremy Scahill, the author of Blackwater: the Rise of the World's Most Powerful Mercenary Army as well as Brian Bonfiglio, the vice president of Blackwater West; Gordon Hammers, Jan Hedlun, Mary Johnson, Jerry Johnson, and Thell Fowler of the Potrero Planning Board; Raymond Lutz of Citizens Oversight Committee; Rep. Bob Filner, and many others. Producer: Andy Trimlett; Associate Producers: John Odam and Aaron Seeley. Watch Online on Blip.tv or YouTube

~~~~~

SDCPJ HIGH SCHOOL LEAFLETING PROJECT. The SD Coalition for peace and justice high school leafleting project is still looking for volunteers. Please reply to this e-mailsjagitator@ucsd.edu if you can join us with this special outreach to Latino students as they are heavily targeted by military recruiters. Help deny the military what they need most - young men and women to send to war or call me at 619-237-8870. More Info

***************
MISCELLANEOUS
***************

Peace Flags. Excellent for display or for Peace Rallies. Call 858.459.4650 or email TanjaWinter@ActivistSanDiego.org

~~~~~

The Guerrero Azteca Project ~ www.guerreroazteca.org

~~~~~

The GI Rights Hotline ~ girights.objector.org

BACK TO TABLE OF CONTENTS

photos of 5 Years at Iraq Peace Rally ~ by Michael Gomel

~~~~~

American Respect is a not-for-profit organization that believes invading Iraq has increased global terrorism, is costing thousands of lives, (and literally trillions of tax dollars) and is increasing energy costs ~ americanrespect.com

~~~~~

The Ringtone Maker desktop application allows you to use any of your personal songs, customize it and have it on your mobile phone ~ www.theringtonemaker.com

BACK TO TABLE OF CONTENTS