[pjw] UPDATES: Guantanamo action flyer up, Investments hearing postponed

Fri Dec 16 19:41:48 EST 2016

Greetings again PJW supporters

So... a few updates. We have posted a flyer for the January 11 Guantanamo 
visibility action on our website at
<http://www.pjw.info/gitmo15yl_flyer.pdf>.

You can also get to it through the event page on our site, which is at
<http://www.pjw.info/guantanamo_15yl.html>.

Below is the most recent calendar listing for the event.

Also, the City Council hearing for Socially Responsible Investments, which 
was going to happen yesterday afternoon, was cancelled presumably because 
of the snow (the Council web page said "lack of quorum"). It has been 
rescheduled for this coming Wednesday, December 21 at 2:30 PM at Council, 
so you still have time to contact Commissioners and/or go to the hearing 
(truncated and updated action alert is below the calendar listing).

Thanks
dan h
pjw iraq affinity group

Peace and Justice Works
   Iraq Affinity Group
   PO Box 42456
   Portland, OR   97242
   (503) 236-3065  (Office)
   iraq at pjw.info
   http://www.pjw.info/Iraq.html

      "15 Years of Human Rights Abuses at Guantanamo-- Shut It Down!"
                              Visibility Action
                      Wednesday, January 11, 2017, 4:00-5:30 PM
              SE Hawthorne & Grand (East end of Hawthorne Bridge)
                         Featuring the "Tower of Peace" to mark
                        15 years since the prison camp opened.

Portlanders are once again planning to mark the sordid anniversary of the
opening of Guantanamo Bay prison with a visibility action at the east end of
the Hawthorne Bridge (SE Hawthorne & Grand) on Wednesday, January 11, 2017,
from 4:00 to 5:30 PM. The message of the organizers is "15 Years of Human
Rights Abuses at Guantanamo-- Shut It Down!" The event will include the
12-foot-tall "Tower of Peace" strung with banners reading "CLOSE GITMO
NOW-Stop Inspiring Terror."
<http://www.pjw.info/close_guantanamo_banner.jpg>

This will be both a last-ditch effort to ask President Obama to fulfill his
promise to close the prison camp-- it's down to just 60 prisoners now-- and
a plea to incoming President Trump and congress as well. Amnesty
International is currently working on a campaign to get President Obama to
close the prison before he leaves office:
<http://www.amnestyusa.org/CloseGuantanamo>

The event is being cosponsored by Peace and Justice Works Iraq Affinity
Group, Amnesty International Group 48 and the Portland Close Guantanamo
Coalition, along with Jewish Voice for Peace-PDX, Americans United for
Palestinian Human Rights, and others. Groups who would like to join as a
cosponsor (at no cost, though donations are gladly accepted!), or for more
information, contact Peace and Justice Works at 503-236-3065 or
iraq at pjw.info . Watch for updates on this event at
<http://www.pjw.info/guantanamo_15yl.html>.

----------------------

Date: Tue, 13 Dec 2016 11:31:32 -0800 (PST)
From: Peace and Justice Works <pjw at pjw.info>
Subject: [pjw] UPDATE: City Council needs pressure to put companies back
  on no-buy list

Hi

Below is an updated email alert from Americans United for Palestinian Human
Rights which was written last Thursday. On Friday, the City published the
actual Council resolution being proposed by Commissioner Novick based on the
input of the citizen advisory body. The resolution references 9 companies
recommended by the Committee but not why they're not adding the other 7,
including Caterpillar, Wells Fargo, and other human rights foes.

http://www.portlandoregon.gov/auditor/article/620472

**The hearing is Wednesday December 21 at 2:30 PM.**

dan h
peace and justice works iraq affinity group

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Thu, 8 Dec 2016 03:14:45 +0000
From: "Peter Miller"
Subject: AUPHR Alerts: Important action needed to support
     City Council Socially Responsible Investment Campaigns

AUPHR Alerts - Palestine and Middle East Events

Dear Supporters of Occupation-Free Portland,

We REALLY need all hands on deck one more time. THIS COMING WEEK. On
December 15 at 3:30pm the City Council will vote on the SRI recommendations
and what companies to include. It is not yet clear what they will propose,
however, we have some bad news from Commissioner Steve Novick' office:
Novick is planning to introduce a resolution that doesn't have either
Caterpillar or Wells Fargo on the Do Not Buy List (DNBL)!

This is very disappointing. The only companies he is recommending (besides
keeping Walmart and the Fossil Fuel 200) is Nestle and Credit Suisse. Surely
these companies deserve to be on the DNBL, but we are deeply disappointed
that Caterpillar, Wells Fargo, and Bank of NY Mellon are not on the list.
Caterpillar is involved with violations of the Standing Rock Sioux tribal
rights and gross human rights violations against Palestinians over many
years.  Wells Fargo and Bank of NY Mellon are deeply complicit with the
creation of private prisons. To add insult to injury, Wells Fargo was
recently found to be defrauding thousands of customers by creating fake bank
and credit card accounts in their names.

<snip expired action alert>

See more ideas below for calling and emailing members of Portland City
Council. And Please Sign Enlace's petition!
(http://auphr.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=9bfde066eca506e64013fa1db&id
=328fa35b70&e=74b37ef680)

Occupation-Free Portland needs your help for our final push heading to the 
City Council vote which will be on December **21** at **2:30pm**. We need 
you to call and write to City Council to show your support to add 
Caterpillar, Wells Fargo, Bank of New York Mellon and the other companies 
to the City's Do-Not-Buy list. Finally, we need our supporters come out 
and attend this December **21st** meeting of City Council. Stay tuned for 
updates!

Here is what is needed:

- Write or call members of Portland City Council to show your support for
divestment

* Mayor Charlie Hales:  503-823-4120 mayorcharliehales at portlandoregon.gov
(mailto:mayorcharliehales at portlandoregon.gov)

* Commissioner Nick Fish:  503-823-3589 nick at portlandoregon.gov
(mailto:nick at portlandoregon.gov)

* Commissioner Amanda Fritz: 503-823-3008 Amanda at portlandoregon.gov
(mailto:Amanda at portlandoregon.gov)

* Commissioner Steve Novick: 503-823-4682 novick at portlandoregon.gov
(mailto:novick at portlandoregon.gov)

* Commissioner Dan Saltzman: 503-823-4151 dan at portlandoregon.gov
(mailto:dan at portlandoregon.gov)

* If you are authorized to represent a faith organization or any other
group, add that information.

* Talking points can be found here
(http://auphr.us7.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=9bfde066eca506e64013fa1db&i
d=48d3611e8f&e=74b37ef680) !

* It is fine to write a short comment. Tell the City Council why it is
important to you that they put Caterpillar on the Do-Not-Buy listâ~@~Tit can
be for violating Palestinian human rights, polluting our environment,
contracting to dig the Dakota Access Pipeline, having poor corporate ethics,
making bulldozers that are simply weapons of war.

* The full researched report on Caterpillar's violations can be found here
(http://auphr.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=9bfde066eca506e64013fa1db&id
=7721a96f94&e=74b37ef680) .

* We also urge you to support our ally, Enlace
(http://auphr.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=9bfde066eca506e64013fa1db&id
=0f6371d579&e=74b37ef680) . Let the City Council know you stand with the
Prison Divestment movement and call for an end to the City of Portland's
investment in prison profiteers. By investing in prison profiteers, the
Cityâ~@~Ys financial future depends upon continued criminalization of our
communities of color. Support placing Wells Fargo, the Bank of NY Mellon, JP
Morgan Chase and HSBC on the Do-Not-Buy list.