You can read more about this bill and the problems of corporate for-profit prisons here: www.maineprisoneradvocacy.org
Bet Ha'am Social Action Committee
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Maine Legislature Considers For-Profit Prison
"LD1095, An Act To Facilitate the Construction and Operation of Private Prisons by Authorizing the Transport of Prisoners out of State” would approve a for-profit Corrections Corporation of America (CCA) federal prison in Milo, Maine and also allow Maine's prisoners to be sent to for-profit CCA state prisons in other states, far from their families and any oversight. A hearing date has not yet been set.
You can read more about this bill and the problems of corporate for-profit prisons here: www.maineprisoneradvocacy.org . More background on CCA: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corrections_Corporation_of_America
You can read more about this bill and the problems of corporate for-profit prisons here: www.maineprisoneradvocacy.org
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
National Council of Jewish Women Events
Please join us as we launch our first COMMUNITY BOOK READ/FORUM about "Tears of the Desert", by Halima Bashir with Damien Lewis. on APRIL 7TH at 7:00 p.m. at TEMPLE BETH EL, Portland (400 Deering Avenue). Discussion of the book will take place with members of the local Darfur Community.
Participants who feel moved to take action may contribute to the SOLAR COOKER PROJECT to benefit the women in the DARFUR refugee camps. Each solar cooker cost $15.00 and each family should have two. Contributions toward purchasing the cookers may be made the evening of this event through the Southern Maine's Section of NCJW. NCJW has already purchased 30 stoves and is willing to match an additional 70 to bring our local totals up to 100! Donations can also be made through the Jewish World Watch, 17514 Ventura Blvd, Suite 206 Encino Ca. 91316 (www.SolarCookerProject.org) 818-501-1836
Books are available through local libraries, online and through, our local book stores (Longfellow books - Portland, Nonesuch Books and Cards - South Portland)
On Monday April 11th at 7PM, a complimentary program will be presented in Hannaford Auditorium on the campus of USM in Portland. John Prendergast is the 2011 Douglas M. Schair Memorial Lecture. He is an author and an internationally known human rights activist. Along with the actor George Clooney, he has led the movement against some of Africa's worst human rights crimes including the ongoing genocide in Darfur. This free lecture offers admission on a first come first serve basis. Free parking is available. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION...Please contact Roberta (Bobbie) Gordon at 329-3353 (robertakgordon@yahoo.com) or Roberta Zuckerman at 712 -1784 (zuckerman.roberta10@gmail.com).
Participants who feel moved to take action may contribute to the SOLAR COOKER PROJECT to benefit the women in the DARFUR refugee camps. Each solar cooker cost $15.00 and each family should have two. Contributions toward purchasing the cookers may be made the evening of this event through the Southern Maine's Section of NCJW. NCJW has already purchased 30 stoves and is willing to match an additional 70 to bring our local totals up to 100! Donations can also be made through the Jewish World Watch, 17514 Ventura Blvd, Suite 206 Encino Ca. 91316 (www.SolarCookerProject.org) 818-501-1836
Books are available through local libraries, online and through, our local book stores (Longfellow books - Portland, Nonesuch Books and Cards - South Portland)
On Monday April 11th at 7PM, a complimentary program will be presented in Hannaford Auditorium on the campus of USM in Portland. John Prendergast is the 2011 Douglas M. Schair Memorial Lecture. He is an author and an internationally known human rights activist. Along with the actor George Clooney, he has led the movement against some of Africa's worst human rights crimes including the ongoing genocide in Darfur. This free lecture offers admission on a first come first serve basis. Free parking is available. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION...Please contact Roberta (Bobbie) Gordon at 329-3353 (robertakgordon@yahoo.com) or Roberta Zuckerman at 712 -1784 (zuckerman.roberta10@gmail.com).
Monday, March 21, 2011
Legislative Advocacy Opportunities
Planned Parenthood Day at the Statehouse: On April 7 from 9 am to noon, we will lobby our legislators at the State House to defeat bills that threaten the safety and privacy of Maine women. We will fight against any rollbacks to access preventative, lifesaving health care. Rides to Augusta and childcare will be offered to those who need it.
Girls' Day at the State House - Thursday, March 24th at 8am, Augusta: The Maine Women's Policy Center is sponsoring the 15th Annual "Girls' Day at the State House" next Thursday, March 24th, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Girls' Day brings together 100 8th grade girls from across the state to learn about the legislative process first-hand and to encourage them to have a voice in the issues they care about. The girls will participate in a mock public hearing and mock press conference, a State House and Legislative “scavenger hunt,” and meet with the Governor and other legislative leaders.
Alliance for Clean and Healthy Maine Lobby Day - Thursday, April 14th at 8:30am, Augusta: We know that Maine can grow healthy kids and a healthy economy. We know that with safer chemicals, Maine’s families and businesses will thrive. Our legislators need to know this, too. And they need to hear it from you. Join Planned Parenthood of Northern New England and the Alliance for Clean and Healthy Maine as we advocate for legislation that will get toxic chemicals out of the products we buy and use on a daily basis. If you can attend, please contact PPNNE Grassroots Organizer, Jenna Vendil.
Girls' Day at the State House - Thursday, March 24th at 8am, Augusta: The Maine Women's Policy Center is sponsoring the 15th Annual "Girls' Day at the State House" next Thursday, March 24th, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Girls' Day brings together 100 8th grade girls from across the state to learn about the legislative process first-hand and to encourage them to have a voice in the issues they care about. The girls will participate in a mock public hearing and mock press conference, a State House and Legislative “scavenger hunt,” and meet with the Governor and other legislative leaders.
Alliance for Clean and Healthy Maine Lobby Day - Thursday, April 14th at 8:30am, Augusta: We know that Maine can grow healthy kids and a healthy economy. We know that with safer chemicals, Maine’s families and businesses will thrive. Our legislators need to know this, too. And they need to hear it from you. Join Planned Parenthood of Northern New England and the Alliance for Clean and Healthy Maine as we advocate for legislation that will get toxic chemicals out of the products we buy and use on a daily basis. If you can attend, please contact PPNNE Grassroots Organizer, Jenna Vendil.
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Volunteers Needed for Mobile Food Pantry
The Kraft Mobile Food Pantry is coming to Jewish Family Services, 57 Ashmont St, Portland on April 22. Volunteers are needed from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. to help serve food, take photos and pass out information.
If you can help, please contact Ani Helmick at 772-1959 or ahelmick@mainejewish.org.
Free groceries will be available to all members of the community. There will be fresh produce, meat, canned goods and baked goods. The pantry will take place rain or shine and no registration is required.
If you can help, please contact Ani Helmick at 772-1959 or ahelmick@mainejewish.org.
Free groceries will be available to all members of the community. There will be fresh produce, meat, canned goods and baked goods. The pantry will take place rain or shine and no registration is required.
Monday, March 7, 2011
Climate Change Conference on April 9
"Exploring Faith & Sustainability in an Age of Climate Change" is the title of a workshop on April 9 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Maple Hill Farm in Hallowell. The event is being billed as "a summit for people of faith who care about protecting life on the planet."
Malcolm Burson, climate adaptation program manager of the Maine Department of Environmental Protection, will be the keynote speaker. He will present on the challenges and opportunities for Maine in adapting to climate change.
The cost of $25 includes lunch. Register at www.meipl.org or call 721-0444 or write to info@meipl.org. Some scholarships are available.
Malcolm Burson, climate adaptation program manager of the Maine Department of Environmental Protection, will be the keynote speaker. He will present on the challenges and opportunities for Maine in adapting to climate change.
The cost of $25 includes lunch. Register at www.meipl.org or call 721-0444 or write to info@meipl.org. Some scholarships are available.
Social Action Committee Speaks Out Against Welfare Cuts
Shoshana Hoose, chair of the Social Action Committee, gave the following testimony on behalf of the committee at a March 7th hearing of the Maine Legislature’s Joint Standing Committee on Appropriations and the Health and Human Services Committee about the governor's proposed welfare cuts.
We urge you to vote against the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families cuts in Governor Paul LePage’s proposed budget. At a time when so many Mainers are struggling financially, it is unconscionable to cut off benefits after a defined period.
We also are deeply concerned about the proposed restrictions on benefits for recent immigrants. Most Maine families have ancestors who came to the United States as immigrants. They worked hard, appreciated their freedom and contributed in many ways to our state. The immigrants who have settled here in recent years are doing the same.
Our state suffers from a slow growth rate and an aging population. Immigrants are helping to staunch those trends and thus boost our economy. We need them as workers and we appreciate them as neighbors. This legislation, however intended, sends a message that immigrants are not welcome in Maine. That is against our long-term economic interests, and it does not reflect the Jewish values that we hold dear. For all of those reasons, we urge you to reject these proposed cuts.
Express your views about the proposed welfare cuts to your state representatives and senators. You can find their contact info here: http://www.maine.gov/portal/government/edemocracy/lookup_voter_info.php
We urge you to vote against the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families cuts in Governor Paul LePage’s proposed budget. At a time when so many Mainers are struggling financially, it is unconscionable to cut off benefits after a defined period.
We also are deeply concerned about the proposed restrictions on benefits for recent immigrants. Most Maine families have ancestors who came to the United States as immigrants. They worked hard, appreciated their freedom and contributed in many ways to our state. The immigrants who have settled here in recent years are doing the same.
Our state suffers from a slow growth rate and an aging population. Immigrants are helping to staunch those trends and thus boost our economy. We need them as workers and we appreciate them as neighbors. This legislation, however intended, sends a message that immigrants are not welcome in Maine. That is against our long-term economic interests, and it does not reflect the Jewish values that we hold dear. For all of those reasons, we urge you to reject these proposed cuts.
Express your views about the proposed welfare cuts to your state representatives and senators. You can find their contact info here: http://www.maine.gov/portal/government/edemocracy/lookup_voter_info.php
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