Major March on Washington against the War

You could see this as yet another major national march against war. Or you could see this as the beginning of the fourth year of public opposition against the war in Iraq. Or you could see this as a large number of citizens who, despite their previous and ongoing unanswered attempts to change public policy, believe so strongly that America should not be fighting an illegal "war" in the middle east that they will, again, travel to our nation's capitol to speak for everyone who is against war - whether they can march or not.

You can cover the march - or you can cover the sunday training sessions - or you could even follow citizens from your own home state or congressional district as they lobby their representatives on monday. Or you can do a story on all of these. Or you can find another frame for a story that looks at the events that have brought all of these Americans together.

25,000 BBC calculations of American casualties (dead and wounded; US govmt. will not release figures for wounded Americans)

3,000 US calculation of American deaths (does not include those who had been removed from Iraq to American hospital facilities, and later died)
400,000 Johns Hopkins University (MD) calculation of Iraqi dead since the US began bombing

(photograph from 9/29/05 day of civil disobedience - Veterans for Peace group depicted)
Saturday, January 27th
11am Assemble on the Mall between 3rd and 7th Streets
1pm March kicks off; rally on the National Mall at 3rd street, then march east on Constitution, south on 1st, west on Independence and return to Mall. UFPJ announced "Peace March expected to be among largest since war began."

Sunday, January 28
Organizing meetings, Issue briefings, Legislative update, State caucuses To make the most of this opportunity, when peace activists from around the country will be together in Washington, UFPJ has planned a full day of opportunities for networking, organizing meetings and advocacy training.

9 a.m. - 12 p.m.: Organizing meetings and strategy sessions on Palestine, defunding the war, G.I. resistance, student and youth organizing, Iran and more
12:30 - 2:30: Legislative update, advocacy training, update on Iraq
2:30 - 4:30: State and congressional district meetings (get together with activists from across your state to plan your lobby day meetings and to lay the groundwork for working together when you get back home)

Location: Bethesda Chevy-Chase High School, 4301 East-West Highway, Bethesda, MD. Convenient to the Bethesda Metro Station on the red line metro (please check www.wmata.com for public transportation options).

Monday, January 29th
Grassroots Lobby Day - Congressional Advocacy Visits: various times throughout the day

Organized by United for Peace and Justice, a national coalition of more than 1300 local and national groups throughout the United States who have joined together to oppose the US war policy. The coalition was formed in October, 2002, and has coordinated , participated in and led most of the major anti-war actions in the last four years and more. One of the hallmarks of UFPJ is that it also incorporates teaching about the issues, civic participation, strategies for citizen involvement and outreach to encourage participation by a broad range of Americans (including veterans, clergy and laity, youth groups, teachers' organizations, workers).

For more information about UFPJ and the weekend events: http://www.unitedforpeace.org/modinput4.php?modin=121

Local transportation information from Rochester
Three buses will be leaving from MCC parking lot M1(behind MCC) 1000 East Henrietta Road.
Depart: 12:15 am Saturday, Jan.27
Return: approximately 3am, Sunday Jan. 28

Cost: $50 a seat. Partial scholarships will be available. Payment must be made to reserve a seat.
Call Ted Wilcox, 482-3785, or send check (made out to PA&E) with a note on riders' contact information in envelope marked "BUS" to: Ted Wilcox, 225 Croydon Road, Rochester, NY 14610

Making Downtown Livable - Citizens' Design Charrette

Events

Friday, January 19, 2007
Public Input Session for the Making Downtown Livable 2007 Design Charrette

Midtown Plaza, first floor by the Clock 12 noon - 5:30 pm (stop by any time between those hours)

Friday, January 26, 2007
Downtown Charrette Results Public Presentation
Downtown Presbyterian Church
6:30-8 pm (stop by any time between those hours. Discussion/Presentation at 7 pm)

The 2007 Downtown Design Charrette, organized by the Rochester Regional Community Design Center and other downtown stakeholders, is a chance for community members to have input on plans for Downtown. Help revitalize the streets, buildings, public spaces and critical infrastructure that make up the heart of the Rochester region.

On Friday, January 19, from 12 noon to 5:30 pm, a public input session for Downtown will be held at Midtown Plaza, where over 100 professional architects, engineers, landscape architects and planners will join with experts in diverse fields ranging from government to community development, public art to retail and business for the first of a three-day design charrette for the Center City.

The public process kicks off the charrette, providing community-based guiding principles and creative brainpower that will be incorporated in the final design schemes.

On Friday, January 26 at the Downtown Presbyterian Church at 6:30 pm, drafts of the charrette results will be available for review at the Downtown Presbyterian Church.

Anyone with a stake in Rochester's future is invited to be a part of this exciting opportunity.

For more information, see www.rrcdc.org

If you are interested in photographing during the 3-day charrette, please contact Audrey at astewart@rrcdc.org. She can work with you to make sure you cover the most important aspects of the event and that you have access and your work can be featured in some way after the events are past. You do not have to photograph the entire three days.... more than one photographer can cover this event!

In addition to helping make this exciting event possible, volunteers will have opportunities to participate on design teams and interact with architects throughout the process. And volunteers will be fed breakfast and dinner! Contact Audrey for information. Contact: Rochester Regional Community Design Center, 271-0520, www.rrcdc.org , astewart@rrcdc.org.
To see a promotional video for the mall from the '60's, go to:
http://mallsofamerica.blogspot.com/2006/07/midtown-plaza-mall-clock-of-nations.html

Candlelight Vigil

Sunday, January 21 4:30 pm begins at Asbury First United Methodist Church 1050 East Avenue; ends at George Eastman House, 300 East Ave. (photograph by Ron Haviv)


followed by a free viewing of the exhibition, Darfur/Darfur (organized by the Interfaith Darfur Coalition) Includes photographs by Lynsey Addario, Mark Brecke, Helene Caus, Ron Haviv, Paolo Pellegrin, Ryan Spencer Reed, Michael Ronnen Safdie and Brian Steidle - along with several feature-length documentaries.

Wandering in the Midwest -- and now returned

Winter break - 1600 miles, three states, many many friends and relatives. And some new acquaintances definitely worth remembering. (photo - leaving Indiana, about to enter Ohio on New Year's Eve)

Even though I took a good deal of work with me, there was still a lot left to do back here, so the blog and events have gotten way behind. I'll begin posting some new things to photograph as well as new contacts and story ideas for you as I slowly emerge from the sea of deadlines.

Hope your break was great!