The 8th Annual Boston Palestine Film Festival Opens Friday, October 17 Here are a few highlights.    May in the Summer, by Cherien Dabis (Amreeka): May, a successful novelist living in New York, is coming home to Amman for her wedding. As the wedding approaches, May finds herself confronting her family's turbulent past and navigating the knotty dynamics of a household of strong-willed women--in addition to questioning her life choices.       Director Cherien Dabis (via Skype) and Actress Nadine Malouf in conversation following film "Growing up in the diaspora - that's very much what Palestine is. It's a longing; it's a conversation; it's an obsession and a preoccupation." ~ Cherien Dabis Read the full interview.  My Love Awaits Me by the Sea, by Mais Darwazeh: The director takes a first-time journey back to her homeland, Palestine. She leaves a secluded reality and follows a lover whom she has never met--Hasan Hourani, a deceased Palestinian artist and poet, who unveils a beautiful and utopian world to her. Director Mais Darwazeh in conversation following film Giraffada, by Rani Massalha: A young Palestinian boy and his veterinarian father contend with the challenges of caring for the giraffes in the West Bank's only zoo under military occupation. Mars at Sunrise, by Jessica Habie: A painter's resistance, courage, and spirit can never be imprisoned in this highly stylized story of the conflict of two frustrated artists, one Palestinian and one Israeli. Inspired by the creative journey of renowned Palestinian artist-in-exile Hani Zurob and based on true stories and testimonies from the region.  Director Jessica Habie in conversation following film View the full program. Help us Grow - Invite your Friends!  You can make a huge difference in our success by inviting your friends and sharing BPFF. Here are some ways: Invite all your Facebook friends to check out the BPFF FB page and Like it.  Swap out your personal Facebook cover with our special Festival cover for the next month.  Share our FB posts often.  Follow us on Twitter, and retweet! Swap out your personal Twitter cover with ours this month.  Email as many of your personal contacts as possible and invite them to the festival. We've even created a digital postcard to make it easy! Downloadable here.  Donate by October 2 and have your name listed in our Program Brochure This year, showcasing Palestinian narratives is more vital than ever. Help us bring a range of diverse Palestinian voices and experiencing into the mainstream conversation.  Any amount helps.  By mail: Send check payable to BPFF/MECCs to: BPFF 955 Massachusetts Avenue #333 Cambridge, MA 02139 Online: www.bostonpalestinefilmfest.org OPENING FILM May in the Summer Cherien Dabis 2013 | Drama | 100 min. Friday, October 17, 7:00  Museum of Fine Arts, Boston Official Selection Sundance Film Festival 2013   FEATURED  FILM My Love Awaits Me by the Sea Mais Darwazeh 2013 | Documentary | 80 min. Thursday, October 23, 7:00 pm Museum of Fine Arts, Boston Official Selection, Toronto International Film Festival 2013 Winner: Golden Linx Award for Best Feature Documentary at New Directors, New Films Festival, Portugal (2014) Grand Prize, Festival International de Cinema Feminino Brazil (2014) Best Documentary, MedFilm Festival, Rome (2014) Jury Prize, Ismailia International Documentary and Short Festival   FEATURED FILM Giraffada Rani Massalha 2013 | Drama | 85 min Friday, October 24, 7:00 pm Saturday, October 25, 1:00 pm Museum of Fine Arts, Boston Official Selection, Toronto International Film Festival 2013   CLOSING FILM Mars at Sunrise Jessica Habie 2013 | Drama | 77 min Sunday, October 26, 3:00 pm Museum of Fine Arts, Boston All donations are tax-deductible to the extent of the law. BPFF is a program service of MECCS, a 501(c)(3) organization.

Stop The Wars -Stop The Desecration Of Mother Earth 

 

Dear All, Please take a minute to complete a simple, four question survey regarding U.S. military action in Iraq and Syria. It helps to know what you think.  We want our communications, and most especially our calls to action, to align with your interests and concerns.  That means greater participation and greater impact on decision makers. Asking you to share your views is something we don't do enough of, so please take a minute - just a minute - to answer four questions. Humbly for Peace, Kevin Martin Executive Director Peace Action Take Action: It will only take a minute to answer four questions regarding U.S, military actions in Iraq and Syria. CONNECT TO US:  Find us on Facebook  Follow us on Twitter  Read our blog  Contact us You are subscribed to Peace Action's Action Alert Network. You can unsubscribe here.

Wednesday, Oct 15, 2014 01:12 PM EDT

Old men clamoring for war: Why pressure for ISIS escalation is rising

More old guys are clamoring for ground troops. Here's how to ensure that Obama isn't *allowed* to change his mind

http://www.salon.com/2014/10/15/old_men_clamoring_for_war_why_pressure_for_isis_escalation_is_rising/?source=newsletter

BOMBING AND BIGOTRY:

The Wars Abroad, the Wars at Home

 

Martin Luther King: “The bombs that are falling [overseas] are exploding in our cities”

 

Hands Up, Don't Shoot!
in Ferguson, Boston, Syria, Iraq...
Profiling and militarization are not the answer.

Saturday, October 18

NU4J COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS STREET FAIR

12-4pm - Our friends at New England United for Justice have invited DPP to participate in their event on Tilman St. in Dorchester and DPPers will have a table and the leaflet at the left (this is the latest version).  Please come!

 

Tuesday, October 21

DPP Standout at  Ashmont T Station

4-6pm – Please join us! We’ll have the same flyer, making the connection between the new US war in Syria/Iraq and the violence and repression in our own neighborhoods.

 

OLD MEN CLAMORING FOR WAR:

Why pressure for ISIS escalation is rising

…the public is gradually coming around to the idea of deploying their neighbors’ sons’ boots to the ground. A new NBC/WSJ poll shows that “forty-one percent of respondents believe both troops on the ground and airstrikes are necessary for the mission against ISIS, versus 35 percent who think it should be restricted to airstrikes.” In September, NBC/WSJ showed 40 percent for airstrikes only and 34 percent for airstrikes and neighbors’ sons on the ground. Or is it more like neighbors’ grandsons? The seven-point increase in those also wanting U.S. ground troops has been fueled mostly by groups that make up the GOP base. More self-described Republicans (up 14 points), men over 50 years old (up 18), white men (up 17) and seniors (up 10) now advocate for troops on the ground in the fight against the terror group. There’s been virtually no change since September among Democrats, young people, and white women.  More

 

OBAMA CONFRONTS SLIPPERY SLOPE AGAINST ISIS

As airpower has failed to dislodge the extremists from the Syrian border town of Ain al-Arab or halt their offensive in Iraq, Obama’s appeals for strategic patience are being challenged by some U.S. military and intelligence officers and diplomats who say more needs to be done. Obama has declined to consider sending American forces for ground-combat roles in Iraq, despite recent warnings from Army Gen. Martin Dempsey, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Secretary of State John Kerry and senior intelligence officials that continued reliance on limited airstrikes and training is inadequate to achieve his goal of degrading and destroying ISIS, according to three officials active in planning and executing the administration’s strategy… Dempsey said Thursday on CNN that it’s possible he will ask for a small number of U.S. troops in Iraq to accompany Iraqi combat units to help identify targets for airstrikes. Dempsey hasn’t ruled out the possibility of asking Obama for combat forces if circumstances require it, and the general said he recently ordered Army Apache attack helicopters into action to prevent jihadists from moving against Baghdad airport.   More   

Get one of these fantastic yard signs to show your support today! Upcoming Events  Build 15 at the Polls! November 4th All Day Join the Vote Yes on 5 campaign at the polling stations on election day November 4th. Stay all day and talk to folks about why they should support $15/hr or just take a shift! Please contact us if you can help! TOMORROW!!! Build the Campaign for Question 5! For a $15/hr minimum wage October 18th - 1:00 PM  West Roxbury Public Library RSVP The 10th Suffolk State Representative District, comprising West Roxbury, South Brookline and Roslindale, has a unique opportunity to make an impact for a $15/hr minimum wage in Boston. On November 4th, the 10th Suffolk will have the historic opportunity to vote 'Yes' on an advisory ballot question to support the adoption of a $15 an hour minimum wage.  A strong 'Yes' vote would have a major impact on the discussion around and campaign to fight for $15 and other issues facing working people in Boston. The 10th Suffolk has the ability to be at the forefront of this. Join us on Saturday, October 18th, to come out and discuss with your neighbors how to make the strongest possible impact for $15 in the district. We need as many supporters and volunteers as possible to make this reality!   Get Involved with Vote Yes on 5 today! 15NowNewEngland@gmail.com Facebook.com/votefor15minwage - www.15Now.org 910-639-3948

Fri, Oct 17, 2014 02:45 PM

Beheadings, Bombings & Bullets Medea Benjamin on our New Wars in Syria and Iraq  Wednesday, October 22, 2014, 7:00 pm Harvard Science Center D • 1 Oxford St, Cambridge • Harvard T  How should we respond to the new US war in Iraq and Syria and the dangers this war may unleash in our violent world?  The U.S. attacks on Syria launched Sept. 22 are a disastrous setback for peace, for the rule of law, and for sound U.S. foreign policy.  Why did the US launch them, how can we stop them,  and what are the nonviolent alternatives we should advocate? How do we build on the convergence of peace, social justice and climate groups that created the gigantic climate march in New York on September 21? This new emergency in the Middle East drives home once again the need for the climate movement, the peace movement, and the movements for social and racial justice to create a mass movement around the inter-related crisis of climate, peace, vast social inequality and democracy.  No one is better qualified to address these questions than Medea Benjamin (who, it just so happens, has recently returned from her trip to Iran) Medea Benjamin is a cofounder of both CODEPINK and the international human rights organization Global Exchange, and a member of national Peace Action's advisory board. Benjamin is the author of eight books. Her latest book is  Drone Warfare: Killing by Remote Control, and she has been campaigning to stop the use of killer drones. Her work for justice in Israel/Palestine includes taking numerous delegations to Gaza after the 2008 Israeli invasion, organizing the Gaza Freedom March in 2010, participating in the Freedom Flotillas. New York Newsday describes her as "one of America's most committed -- and most effective -- fighters for human rights". Don’t miss this opportunity at this especially dangerous moment to hear this leading thinker and activist for peace and social justice. Sponsored by the Harvard Palestine Solidarity Committee and Harvard Students for a Just Foreign Policy Endorsed by United for Justice with Peace and Massachusetts Peace Action Additional Boston Area Talks by Medea Benjamin Tuesday, Oct. 21, 12:00- 1:30pm - Northeastern University, 310 Renaissance Park - College of Social Sciences & Humanities - lunch provided Tuesday, Oct. 21, 7:00 pm - Wellesley College - panel with Catia Confortini and Eric Wasileski Wednesday, Oct. 22, noon - Boston College, details TBA Wednesday, Oct. 22, 4:00 pm - Suffolk University - Sawyer Library, 3d floor, Poetry Center.  - Govt and Communications/Journalism Depts. Thursday, Oct. 23, noon - Clark University, University Center, Grace Conference Room - Activists United Thursday, Oct. 23, 4:00 pm (tentative time) - Brandeis University, location TBA - Student Peace Alliance  For Details on additional events: 617-354-2169, info@masspeaceaction.org Join Massachusetts Peace Action - or renew your membership today!   Dues are $40/year for an individual, $65 for a family, or $10 for student/unemployed/low income.  Members vote for leadership and endorsements, receive newsletters and discounts on event admissions.  Donate now and you will be a member in good standing through December 2015!  Your financial support makes this work possible! Massachusetts Peace Action, 11 Garden St., Cambridge, MA 02138 617-354-2169  • info@masspeaceaction.org • Follow us on Facebook or Twitter Click here to unsubscribe