WNPJ Action Alerts: Week of August 6th

Action Alert 1: Join a "Lanterns for Peace" event
Action Alert 2: Metcalfe's continues union-busting tactics
Action Alert 3: Take a budget pie to your Representative
Action Alert 4: Marquette to be site of anti-mining strategizing
Action Alert 5 - Madison: Join a racial-justice workshop this fall

Action Alert 1: Join a "Lanterns for Peace" event
Background: August 6th is the anniversary of the atomic bombing of the Japanese city of Hiroshima, an attack that killed nearly 200,000 people, the vast majority of them civilians. An estimated 200,000 additional Hiroshima residents died in the years to follow from cancer caused by the radiation from the bomb. On August 9th, the U.S. bombed the city of Nagasaki, killing nearly 100,000 more. Each year, people around the world mark Hiroshima day as a day to remember the horrific effects of the atomic bomb, and to call for the abolition of nuclear weapons.
Take Action: Four Wisconsin cities - Milwaukee, Lacross, Dodgeville and Madison - will be joining in these solemn remembrances with "Lanterns for Peace" events. Click here for details and contact information.

Action Alert 2: Metcalfe's continues union-busting tactics
Background: After meatcutters at Metcalfe's stores voted to join UFCW Local 1473, Metcalfe’s Foods retaliated against the workers, jacking up their health-care costs by more than six times, and by denying recognition of the union, even after a June 1st election certified by the National Labor Relations Board. Metcalfe's union-busting tactics are a reminder of their behavior last year, when they purchased Cub Foods and then refused to hire 50% of UFCW members, thus breaking the union at Metcalfe’s newly acquired WestTowne store.
Take Action: Click here to read and sign an online petition to Metcalfe's, demanding that they "go back to the bargaining table and continue to bargain in good faith until you reach an agreement." If you are a Metcalfe's customer, please stop by your local store to tell the manager you will be taking your business elsewhere until they resolve these issues with their workers.
Contact for more info: South Central Federation of Labor, 608-256-5111, thefed@scfl.org

Action Alert 3: Take a budget pie to your Representative
Background: Pentagon spending now takes up more than half of all federal discretionary spending, having more than doubled in real dollar terms since 9/11. The Quaker Peace Pie Initiative intends to raise this point in a dramatic (and tasty) way by bringing "budget pies" to Senators and Representatives, as the federal budget comes to a vote in Washington.
Take Action: Friends Committee on National Legislation has prepared a handy "budget pie template" you can use to cut your pie, showing the oversized share given to the military. Bring your budget pie to your Senator or Representative's office, with a message urging them to support serious cuts in military spending. FCNL advises citizen lobbyists to "be specific" and suggests this message: “Please support at least $1 trillion in Pentagon cuts over the next 10 years.”
Contact for more info: Friends Committee on National Legislation, 800-630-1330, online contact form here...

Action Alert 4: Marquette to be site of anti-mining strategizing
Background: The Western Mining Action Network, a "critical forum for communities and people facing mining in North America," has chosen Marquette, Michigan as the location for a Great Lakes Caucus Meeting. The meeting is seeking the participation of "concerned tribes, organizations and individuals from across the Great Lakes," and will include sessions for information sharing, skill building, and strategizing. The need for this meeting couldn't be more urgent, as news reports indicate that mining has again been placed at the top of Governor Walker's agenda, And the explosive growth of the frac-sand mining industry in western Wisconsin has shocked local residents and has caught state regulators by surprise.
Take Action: The meeting will be held on September 28-30, 2012.  Please email to keepersofthewater@gmail.com to register by September 13th.
Contact for more info: Western Mining Action Network, 406-252-9672, info@wman-info.org

Action Alert 5 - Madison: Join a racial-justice workshop this fall
Background: Groundwork, a Madison-based White Anti-Racism Collective, is offering a seven-week racial justice workshop which will focus on institutional racism, white privilege and building more effective movements for social justice. Groundwork writes: "Through interactive workshops rooted in participants experiences, we will build skills, learn from history, strengthen community have honest conversations and develop strategies to take action for justice individually and collectively. This workshop is open to all and focuses on white people working for racial justice."
Take Action: The workshops will run from October 7th - November 18th, Sundays from 3pm to 6pm. To apply for the workshop, please contact Ali Brooks (below) Childcare will be provided, the workshops will be wheelchair accessible, please ask about other accessibility requests.
Contact: Ali Brooks, 608-345-0454, alisonannbrooks@gmail.com
 

WNPJ is forwarding these weekly alerts from member organizations, individual members and national affiliates. If you are a WNPJ member and have an alert you would like posted, please send it to: outreach@wnpj.org