AMERICAN LEFT HISTORY

This space is dedicated to the proposition that we need to know the history of the struggles on the left and of earlier progressive movements here and world-wide. If we can learn from the mistakes made in the past (as well as what went right) we can move forward in the future to create a more just and equitable society. We will be reviewing books, CDs, and movies we believe everyone needs to read, hear and look at as well as making commentary from time to time. Greg Green, site manager

Tuesday, October 11, 2016

Ending the Many Wars in Syria: Phyllis Bennis

Talks by Phyllis Bennis October 11-14

Is the war in Syria a civil war? Is it a proxy war between the US and Russia ? Is it also a proxy war between Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Turkey? Can ISIS be reined in? Should Assad go? Or stay? Should the US "do more"? Or is it already doing too much by arming and training rebel groups? What will be the likely outcome of the current cease fire negotiations?
How can such a complex set of wars be settled by diplomacy? What solutions should the US peace movement support?
The following talks are open to the public:
Tuesday, October 11, 7:00 pm ~ Boston College, Gasson Hall, room 305.
Wednesday, October 12, noon ~ Tufts University, Meyer Campus Center room 112. Lunch and Learn sponsored by Peace & Justice Studies
Wednesday, October 12, 4:00 pm ~ Salem State University, Marsh Hall 210 (Petrowski Room). Sponsored by History Dept & Center for Community Engagement and North Shore Coalition for Peace & Justice.
Wednesday, October 12, 7:00 pm ~ Gordon College, Jenks 237, Gregory Auditorium. Sponsored by the Gordon Initiative for the Study and Practice of Peace, the Social Justice Initiative, and NSCPJ. Refreshments served at 6:30.
Thursday, October 13, 12:15 pm ~ Emmanuel College, ADM 155. Sponsored by Emmanuel Peace Action
Thursday, October 13, 7:00 pm ~ Brandeis University, Mandel G12. Sponsored by Peace, Conflict & Coexistence Studies program; Brandeis Peace Action, Graduate Program in Conflict Resolution and Coexistence, Schusterman Center, Social Justice and Social Policy, and Sociology
Friday, October 14, 11:00 am ~ Bristol Community College, 800 Purchase St., New Bedford. Sponsored by the BCC Multicultural Committee
Phyllis Bennis, director of the New Internationalism Project at the Institute for Policy Studies, has been a writer, analyst, and activist on Middle East and UN issues for many years. She co-founded United for Peace and Justice and the U.S. Campaign to End Israeli Occupation and co-chairs the UN-based International Coordinating Network on Palestine.
She is the author of Understanding ISIS and the New Global War on Terror: A Primer. Phyllis Bennis gave a detail-packed teleconference briefing on the Syrian civil war on September 14. Listen to the recording.
This tour is sponsored by Massachusetts Peace Action's Middle East Working Group. Contact the working group to organize for action on US Syria policy.

Upcoming Events:

Music for Peace: An Evening of French Music	Saturday, October 15, 2016 - 7:30pm	Harvard-Epworth Methodist Church	Cambridge
Noam Chomsky: Extinction or Internationalism	Wednesday, October 19, 2016 - 7:00pm	Old South Church	Boston
Kingdom of the Unjust: Medea Benjamin speaks on Saudi Arabia	Friday, October 21, 2016 - 7:00pm	First Church, Cambridge	Cambridge
The Right to Boycott: Defending BDS	Saturday, October 29, 2016 - 10:00am	Central Square Library	Cambridge
Iyad Burnat: Bil'in and the Nonviolent Resistance	Tuesday, November 1, 2016 - 7:00pm	Encuentro 5	Boston
The Next Four Years: Building Our Movements in Dangerous Times	Saturday, December 3, 2016 - 9:00am	Simmons College, Paresky Conference Center	Boston