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NADER FOR PRESIDENT UPDATE The Green Party of Michigan has submitted the names of 18 presidential electors for Ralph Nader (president) and Winona LaDuke (vice-president) to the Michigan Bureau of Elections. This means that election officials must prepare a statewide tally of all the Nader write-in votes, which is not the case for the normal "scattering" write-ins. And Michigan's 18 electoral votes could go to Nader if he gets enough write-in votes, even though he is not on the ballot.
There are 20 states where Nader's candidacy has made the ballot with a total of 239 possible electoral votes.
"It is time that the people had a choice, not only those with privilege," says Nader's running mate, White Earth Land Recovery Project founder, Winona LaDuke. "It is time to talk about the future issues of this country, not just the next election. The Greens and Nader promise to open the dialogue."
Nader declares: "This campaign is to build a progressive party for a progressive democracy that both respects all people and provides them with the instruments for democratic action that produces a just and happy society - a society that stresses balance and creativity and possesses a sense of a humane legacy for future generations. These are the objectives that Winona LaDuke has worked so vitally for.
"If there ever is a grass roots candidate, it is Winona LaDuke, who returned to her indigenous roots in Minnesota [from Harvard]. She has worked, organized, written and taught locally, regionally, nationally and wherever indigenous people are struggling to protect their homes, their lands and their future. Her chosen course of justice for humanity galvanizes as it inspires and leads by example and commitment. We welcome her."
Nader is a long-time champion of public interest and safety, democracy, individual and community empowerment, human rights and the environment. His civic leadership has resulted in the Freedom of Information Act, OSHA, the Safe Drinking Water Act and Meat and Poultry Inspection Laws.
He is also the founder of Public Citizen, the Public Interest Research Groups, the Center for Responsive Law and the Pension Rights Center. Recently, Nader was among the first U.S. activists to recognize and expose the threat of the North America Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) to American workers and the environment.
The campaign's philosophy is "Don't waste your vote on a corporate candidate." The Green Party is also supporting the write-in candidacy of Gaia Kile for Washtenaw County Sheriff.
THE NAIL IN TOBACCO'S COFFIN? This month the approximately 1.5 million investors in the TIAA-CREF retirement system for education workers will vote on whether to abolish their huge tobacco investments. Five university faculty and administrator shareholders (three of the five from U-M) have submitted a "stop investing our retirement savings in tobacco" resolution to be included in an early October proxy solicitation form in advance of the shareholders meeting on November 11 . The move to replace CREF's massive tobacco investments has been endorsed by the American Medical Association.
CREF is the largest of all institutional investors in Philip Morris, with more that $ 1.25 billion in Philip Morris stock and commercial paper, according to its June perspectus. That report also shows CREF holding stock in 21 other tobacco industry corporations.
In an ABC News special report this summer on tobacco, Dr. David Kessler, U.S. Food and Drug Commissioner declared that "Every day 3,000 children start smoking cigarettes. A thousand of them will die of tobacco-related causes."
ELMOZOTE MASSACRE MEMORIALIZED On Dec. 10, 1996, people from all over El Salvador will gather to remember and honor the more than 1,000 villagers who were massacred in the village of El Mozote 15 years ago to the day.
The people's hope is to rebuild the small chapel and connecting building destroyed by the U.S.-trained and supported, Atlacatl Battalion. The monument, honoring the victims with all of their names inscribed, is ready. After 12 years of war, these Salvadorans are impoverished. They need $19,480 to complete the construction of the building site which together with the memorial will provide tangible expression of their prayer that such brutal slaughter will never happen again.
Donate to: El Mozote Memorial, FDCCCA, P.O. Box 33, Westford, Massachusetts 01886. For a tax deduction, make your check pay able to CRISPAZ (Christians for Peace in El Salvador) at the same address or call (508) 692-5483.
ROCK CONTEST WINNERS LAUDED This summer's Liberty Plazure's contests named Dawn of the Dead as Ann Arbor's best middle-school rock band. Muzzle won the high school award and Flux won the over 18 category. The best guitarist prize went to Tom Campbell and the ugliest guitarist prize went to Megan Mitchell. Congrats y'all.
FREE THE FILES! The Coalition on Political Assassinations is having its third annual conference from Oct. 18-20 in Washington, D.C.
Jennifer Harbury, whose husband was assassinated by Guatemalan military personnel paid by the CIA, will be the keynote speaker, relating her own efforts to release CIA files on the incident. Dick Gregory will speak about his efforts to expose a CIA operation that funded contra murders through the sale of crack in the Black communities of Los Angeles and other cities.
And the JFK, RFK and MLK assassinations will be re-evaluated in lieu of new evidence in each murder. The group is concerned that the JFK files (which show new medical and autopsy evidence) will only stay open until Oct. 1, 1997 unless Congress votes to extend the life of the JFK Assassination Records Review Board.
AIDS QUILT PANELS WORKSHOP SET In preparation for the February 6-9, 1997 display of the AIDS quilt at U-M, the Ann Arbor AIDS Memorial Quilt Display Committee is giving workshops on creating quilt panels.
This month's quilting bee will be at Michaels Arts & Crafts, 2723 Oak Valley Dr. on Oct. 19 from 1-5 pm. Brochures with instructions will be available at the HIV/AIDS Resource Center, Michael's or through the Ann Arbor Jaycees.
New panels will be presented to the NAMES Project Foundation during the closing ceremony at the Ann Arbor AIDS Memorial Quilt display at the U-M Track and Field House. The Jaycee's number is 913-9629.
THE DOWN SIDE OF DOWN-SIZING The recent down-sizing of U-M Hospital resulted in over 1,000 jobs being cut. Similar measures have been taken at Mission Health (St. Joseph). The U-M Regents are expected to vote whether to privatize U-M Hospital in the next couple of months.
A coalition of local consumers, health care professionals and other concerned citizens have called a forum to address the local impact of these changes on patient care, on caregivers and on the community. Given the $700 million cash reserve, they ask, was it necessary to eliminate so many jobs so quickly? What is the impact of replacing nurses with lower-skilled staff? What are the priorities of those who make decisions about health care rationing?
Interested community members are asked to attend the forum at St. Andrews Episcopal Church, 306 N. Division, Sat. Oct. 13 from noon to 3:30 pm. Part 1 will be testimony. In Part II, participants will form working groups to discuss the testimony and make concrete recommendations on how health care standards can be maintained while the institutions still remain viable.
The serious implications are many, including the potential losses of mechanisms for assuring quality care, of university employee benefits and of public accountability. Call Interfaith Council for Peace & Justice at 663-1870 or Rev. Joe Summers at 665-4734.
"COME OUT" FOR JUSTICE An interfaith service against violence (both physical and psychological) toward lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and transgendered people will be held at First Congregational Church of Detroit, 33 E. Forest (Corner of Woodward) on Sun. Oct. 20 at 4pm.
The service will remember those who have lost their lives to violence or have suffered in other ways because of their sexual orientation. The service is the culminating event of a project called Faith in Action: Promoting Love and Justice for All Sexual Orientations which asks for endorsement of their statement of vision and intent responding to the newest wave of anti-gay rhetoric in our culture. Oct. 11 is National Coming Out Day. People of faith are asked to "come out" against discrimination and violence and join in a climate of love and justice. For more information call American Friends Service Committee, 761-8283.
A WIN! In a precedent-setting decision August 9, a Multnomah County circuit judge ruled that Oregon Health Sciences University discriminated against gay and lesbian employees by not extending health and other benefits to their domestic partners.
The decision is the first in the country to require public agencies to give same-sex partners such benefits. In his opinion Judge Stephen L. Gallagher said, "It is beyond debate that invidious and virulent discrimination has been and is directed toward and suffered by the lesbian and gay communities in this state. Constitutional law may mandate that customs change along with an evolving social order."
Legal experts suggest that the decision could be binding on cities, counties and private companies throughout Oregon. For more info. call Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) 741-0659. (From PFLAG's Sept. 1996 newsletter .)
NEGOTIATE A BETTER BOOK CONTRACT On Oct. 27, the SE Michigan local of the National Writer's Union will present a workshop designed to help writers get a better deal through understanding the terminology and principles of contract law and learning negotiation skills. The event will be held at the Dave Miller Building, 8731 E. Jefferson (Crane at Jefferson). Fees are $25/member and $40/non-members, (313) 438-1829.
JOIN THE PARADE A car caravan to the Michigan Stand for Children will proceed from the parking lot at Pioneer High School at S. Main and Stadium on Sat. Oct 5 at 11 am. All are invited to go to Lansing to share concern for children. Riders will be matched up with drivers. The cars will spell out a message. Call 930-1772 for more details.
FREE DEPRESSION SCREENING On Oct. 10 at 1 pm and 4 pm, Huron Valley Consultation Center professionals will offer programs on the signs and symptoms of depression, along with free screenings, as part of National Depression Screening Day. The programs will be held at 2750 Carpenter Rd., Suite 1.
Participants will hear a brief talk and watch a video, then complete an anonymous written screening test for depression and have the opportunity to discuss the results. Call 662-6300 for more info.
JOIN THE CROP WALK The 22nd annual CROP Walk for a World Without Hunger will commence Sun. Oct. 6 at 2 pm starting and ending at St. Mary's Student Chapel, 331 Thompson (at William). Money raised will go to outreach groups such as Arbor Haven Shelter. A portion of the funds will go to international relief efforts. Canned goods will also be collected for Women in Transition and Safe House. To register as a walker or sponsor cali Rob at Interfaith Council for Peace & Justice, 663-1870.