Democracy for New Hampshire - Education

Peace Day Exeter

Sun, 31 Aug 2008 09:43:50 -0400

The Peace Day Exeter festival will be held on Sunday, September 21 in the lovely downtown Swasey Parkway between the hours of 1 and 5 PM. Activities for the festival include workshops and games for children, music and poetry, guest speakers, panel discussions on peace and sustainability issues, and other exciting events under two tents and the Swasey Parkway gazebo. Some of the participants to date include key note speaker, peace and campaign finance reform advocate Doris “Granny D” Haddock, The Tents of Hope Project, Camps for Diversity with Marilyn Kellogg, the Taoist Tai Chi Society, yoga and meditation with Julie Rost, environmental activist Beth Tener, Mark McPeak from UUSC Just Democracy, music supplied by Chris Avery and The Sassafras String Band, Reni Taylor, Drew Sullivan, Ruth George and other musical guests and poets. The festival is planned to coincide with the UN International Day of Peace. The Blue Moon Market and Café will supply a wonderful array of food and drink. Phillips Exeter Academy students will work with children in supportive and educational roles. Films and meditative exercises for adults are also scheduled. This is a family festival, and those attending are encouraged to bring a blanket or folding chairs and enjoy the day’s activities. The First Unitarian Universalist Society of Exeter is the rain location for this event. For more information, please visit our webpage: www.peacedayexeter.org. If you’re interested in volunteering for Peace Day Exeter, please contact either Cindy at clategan@comcast.net or Bob at bmoore628@comcast.net, phone: 603-642-4648.

"The Singing Revolution" documentary opens Friday, August 8th

Mon, 04 Aug 2008 08:39:36 -0400

Dear Friends,

We’re excited to tell you that the feature documentary The Singing Revolution will be opening in Concord, NH August 8th - 14th at Red River Theatres. The response to the film has been fantastic! Efforts to spread the word about the film are working.

We think you will be inspired and energized by the remarkable events in Estonia in the late-1980s.

The New York Times made the film a coveted “NYT Critics’ Pick” and alludes to Casablanca when describing The Singing Revolution: http://movies.nytimes.com/2007/12/14/movies/14revo.html

For theater information and to see the full list of cities and theater openings, go to: www.singingrevolution.com and click on “Theater Listings”. More cities are added each week.

Please help spread the word about the film opening. Word of mouth is how we’ve gotten this far, and it’s why the film is being held over in many locations.

Hope you can make it to see The Singing Revolution, opening soon in Concord.

The Power of One

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 08:26:59 -0400

Friday, August 15th, 7:30 pm: The Power of One: A Talk by and Conversation with Doris “Granny D” Haddock at South Church, 292 State St, Portsmouth NH. NH's own Granny D talks about how each of us can make a difference, and how public funding of elections can help us. Changing our election funding system can bring peace, the environment, alternative energy, education, poverty, healthcare and more the attention they deserve. Also, from 5-6pm join Granny D and the Leftist Marching Band for the Peace Vigil, Market Square, Portsmouth.
Free and open to the public. Refreshments and a book signing will follow the program. Sponsored by Outreach Associates of South Church, NH Codepink: Women for Peace & Seacoast Peace Response. For more info contact bgh3@comcast.net or 603-431-0138.

Soldiers of Conscience

Sun, 20 Jul 2008 23:03:30 -0400

Tuesday, August 5, 6:30pm: Screening of the documentary "Soldiers of Conscience" followed by discussion at the Portsmouth Public Library, 175 Parrott Ave. Eight soldiers face the most difficult decision of their lives - to kill or not to kill. This film takes a realistic look at war, peace, and the power of the human conscience. Post-film discussion will be led by Iraq War veterans Will Hopkins & Mike Hamilton. This event is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served. Sponsored by NH Codepink & Seacoast Peace Response. For more information contact: Barbara Hilton at 603.431.0138. This film is not recommended for children. For more information about the film visit www.socfilm.com.

Gore Calls for US to Use Renewable Energy by 2018

Fri, 18 Jul 2008 10:01:53 -0400

SOURCE: , FRIDAY 18 JULY 2008

Gore Calls for US to Use Renewable Energy by 2018, Friday 18 July 2008

by: David Stout, The New York Times

Former Vice President Al Gore introduced an ambitious plan to rely completely on clean, renewable energy within the next decade.
(Photo: Breakthrough)

Washington - Former Vice President Al Gore said on Thursday that Americans must abandon fossil fuels within a decade and rely on the sun, the winds and other environmentally friendly sources of electric power, or risk losing their national security as well as their creature comforts.

The Global Poverty Act

Sun, 29 Jun 2008 10:54:47 -0400

I'm writing on behalf of the Borgen Project- a seattle based non profit organization working to bring political attention to severe poverty. You can learn more about our organization through theborgenproject.org.

As you will see we have created the Global Poverty Act which has passed in the House and now we're trying to pass in the Senate. The way you can help is severly important and takes only thirty seconds to help pass this act.

We need roughly a dozen people (however the more the merrier) in New Hampshire to call Senator Sununu's office at (603) 647- 7500 and simply tell the staffer on the phone: “I’m a Borgen Project supporter and I would like the Senator to cosponsor the Global Poverty Act.” People can also email his office here:

sununu.senate.gov.

If you and your members can make the call or shoot an email it would greatly help the cause. You can see here (sample call log on right) how political offices tally each call and why it’s so important. Thank you so much for your consideration and let me know if I can answer any questions.
Thank you,

Candice Hays
The Borgen Project
theborgenproject.org

Please help a native Vermonter understand the Granite State . . .

Wed, 12 Mar 2008 11:35:37 -0400

I am a new member of DFNH and a native Vermonter who moved to southern NH 18 months ago. To begin with, I'm an avid hunter and angler and frequent listener to talk radio as well as NPR. I am a registered independant who doesn't go for the politics of party but rather votes on issues which are important to me. I'm probably not what you would call your "average" DFNH member as a result.

Having said that, I would also like to add that I am a public school teacher and musician who is pro-public education and an advocate for the Arts as well as Environmental conservation. I'm extremely confused by some of this state's "traditions" regarding taxes, politics, etc. Specifically:

1) Members of our legislture, from what I understand, get something like $300 a year to do their job. Forgive me for my ignorance, but WHO can live on $300.00 a year?!?! The answer is NO ONE! So then, who can afford to be a NH legislator? It would appear that only those who are independantly wealthy. So we have a system where a bunch of rich people are making laws for the state. I wonder who will benefit from laws that are made exclusively by rich people?

Candlelight Vigil in Market Square in Portsmouth

Mon, 10 Mar 2008 14:58:43 -0400

Wednesday, March 19, at 6 pm: A candlelight vigil in Market Square in Portsmouth on the actual date of the beginning of the Iraq war five years ago. We will have some signs and candles, or bring your own. For more information contact Seacoast Peace Response at info@seacoastpeaceresponse.org or 603-749-9159.

Buckey withdraws from U.S. Senate race

Tue, 12 Feb 2008 07:34:44 -0500

Dear Friends,

Today I'm announcing with regret my withdrawal from the campaign to represent New Hampshire in the US Senate. I remain committed to the goals of our campaign, but I do not have the financial resources needed to campaign full-time for the next nine months, which is what would be required to beat John Sununu.

I would like to thank all the people who have volunteered their time, money, and energy to support the campaign. I'm proud that our campaign has brought the need for an Apollo Program for Energy to the forefront of the Senate debate here in New Hampshire, and Im going to continue to work for the issues that have been the foundation of our campaign, including:

Promoting the awareness that Americas energy policy is crucial to our national security and economy as well as to our environment.
Keeping our nation a leader in the global economy by investing in education, supporting science and technology research and development, and providing affordable, portable health care for all Americans.
Eliminating the excessive power of special interests in our political process.

Comments by UNH president miss the mark

Thu, 22 Nov 2007 07:59:04 -0500

SOURCE: FOSTERS COMMUNITY COMMENTARY

By Karen Kruger

Newmarket

Article Date: Thursday, November 22, 2007

I read the recent interview with the new University of New Hampshire president, Mark Huddleston. Frankly, I am less than impressed.

Magnolia II

Sun, 11 Nov 2007 19:34:56 -0500

SOURCE:The Phil Nugent Experience

In 1980, Ronald Reagan appeared at the Neshoba County Fair in Philadelphia, Mississippi. the town made famous as the site of the 1964 murders of civil rights workers James E. Chaney, Michael Schwerner, and Andrew Goodman. Reagan told the crowd, "I believe in states' rights...I believe we have distorted the balance of our government today by giving powers that were never intended to be given in the Constitution to that federal establishment," and promised to "restore to states and local governments the power that properly belongs to them." Now, in 1980 people were pissed off at Jimmy Carter because of gas prices and a sputtering economy and the taking of the American embassy in Iraq and the Russians overreaching in Afghanistan. "States' rights" was not a phrase on everybody's lips. It did not come trippingly off the tongue. But it had baggage. It was associated, especially in the minds of white Southerners who felt stepped on and disenfranchised by the civil rights movement and the desegregation era, and in 1980 there were a lot of people who fit that description, with federal troops coming in to force George Wallace to get his hateful ass out from in front of the schoolhouse doorway so that the desegregation laws could be enforced, over the objections of many of the locals. It was a code phrase, it was loaded, and speaking as the son of a Klansman and someone who at that time had spent pretty much his whole sentient life in rural Mississippi, I can assure you there was no adult in that crowd who had a problem with black people who didn't hear those words and immediately take them as a signal that Ronald Reagan and the Republican party were on his side.

Senator Clinton highlights spike in National Service applications since 9/11

Sun, 04 Nov 2007 14:26:33 -0500

At series of events today at colleges and universities throughout the Northeast including the University of New Hampshire in Durham, U.S. Senator Hillary Clinton (NY-D) highlighted how eager young Americans are to give back to their country through National Service programs since 9/11.

During her remarks at each event, Clinton honored the activism and public service of students and recent graduates. In particular, she noted that between 2000 and 2006, applications to Teach for America nearly tripled and that between 2004 and 2006, applications to the AmeriCorps VISTA program jumped 50%.

John Edwards Town Hall at UNH

Sun, 04 Nov 2007 09:59:00 -0500

Presidential candidate John Edwards will host a town hall style meeting for UNH students and members of the Durham community.

Chris Dodd at UNH

Wed, 31 Oct 2007 10:38:06 -0400

The Every Child Matters Education Fund and The Carsey Institute are pleased to invite you to attend a Presidential Forum with Senator Chris Dodd

Every Child Matters NH is a collaboration among Every Child Matters Education Fund, Early Learning NH, and PlusTime NH. Together, we are letting presidential candidates know that Every Child Matters in New Hampshire. Please join us as we hear what Senator Chris Dodd would do for children and working families if elected as the next President of the United States.

DATE: Friday, November 2

TIME: 3:30-5pm

LOCATION: Huddleston Hall, University of New Hampshire, Durham

PARKING: Parking Lot C,
on Mill Road

Space is limited and admission is by invitation only.

RSVP: Katie Brissette, kbrissette@earlylearningnh.org
or
(603) 226-7900

"Be wind changers," Jim Wallis tells audience

Fri, 19 Oct 2007 12:13:58 -0400

Jim Wallis tells NH audiences: Creating change requires more than your vote

Progressive Evangelical leader calls on NH voters to create a political movement to address poverty, AIDS, global warming

DURHAM – (Oct. 16, 2007) The Rev. Jim Wallis last night challenged people of all faiths, as well as those who consider themselves “spiritual, but not religious,” to create a movement to address the major global issues of our time, including poverty, AIDS, genocide and global warming.

Wallis told a crowd of about 200 people in Dartmouth College's Rollins Chapel Monday night that “people of faith should be the ultimate swing voters,” who use their moral compasses to evaluate candidates. But he also cautioned that regardless of where the next U.S. President stands on these issues, he or she will not be able to solve them without “a social movement pushing them from the outside to make it happen.”

“Power concedes nothing without a demand,” he said, quoting abolitionist Frederick Douglass.