No Star Wars On-Line Petition

United for Peace and Justice sent out a link to a web page and petition supporting two Czech hunger strikers who are asking for a referendum in their country concerning the building of a US base which is part of our gawd-awful star wars system and empire building system -- and no matter what they say, a first-strike base in Czechoslovakia. If you like me believe space should be for peace and not for war and empire, please sign the petition. We need to CLOSE bases, not build more of them causing people to hate and despise our country (as well as to bankrupt it while enriching the coffers of the corporatocracy).

Thanks for following the title link and considering signing the petition! And....

Peace hugs,
Kate Anne

Hugs to Teddy, Hi to Bobby: a Kennedy reflection

My heart and healing hugs go out to Teddy Kennedy at this challenging time. In truth, though, he has had my heart since my baby boomer childhood. I look back at it all and ponder. The Kennedy family was charmed, even as they were punched time and time again, yet came back for more: to serve, to be challenged, to survive (or not), and to serve again -- or send another family member to continue the tradition. Yes, they weren't perfect. Not all their choices were good ones, but they tried and they did a lot of things positive. And they impacted and inspired several generations. When my first boy friend Ray Hauser helped me win three teddy bears, I called them The Kennerts -- and named them Tedward, Bobbert, and Jackit. But I/we knew who they were named after.

Bobby Kennedy Jr.

I recently took the opportunity (perhaps a little gracelessly) to say hi to Teddy's nephew Bobby Kennedy Jr., at the 19th annual Riverkeeper Shad Fest held at Boscobel [see my earlier post and Flickr pictures]. I had seen and heard him once in person at an event in Astoria but hadn't gotten very close. And it was before Ring of Fire. But at the Shad Fest Bobby was walking amidst the guests and I just had to say a brief, "Hi, Bobby -- I just love Ring of Fire." Then I realized I had interrupted him talking to some others and felt a little awkward, but Bobby generously offered me his hand and gave me a big warm smile before turning back to his party. And all was great. He hadn't held my little faux paux against me. Now that is charm and class.

So now the family gathers around Teddy. Lets keep them in our prayers. Send healing to Teddy. And in his environmental and on-line effort, go, Bobby, go!!

Peace hugs,
Kate Anne

What a hat! No wonder Bobby smiled! (Yes, that's Kevin Bacon.)

Enough, Hillary / Enough Hillary

After hearing Rachel Maddow's rant from last night on podcast, I went to Hillary Clinton's website and left this suggestion on their contact form (which I duly signed with my full contact information to validate):

I am a woman. I am a feminist. I am a New Yorker. I am a peace and justice activist. Please get out of the campaign. You have lost unless you steal it.

My daughter-in-law abhors you and will not vote for you. I used to like you until you voted for Bush's illegal invasion (and before I realized what a corporatist you have been).

Enough, get out. Now.

Thank you.

Rachel contends that Clinton's decision to take it to the convention will cause the Democratic presidential candidate to lose. I will add that Clinton first and foremost believes in the divine right of Hillary. The party bigwigs have got to sit on her and set her straight. She is not helping women. She is not helping families. She is not helping our country or our world. She is being self-serving. Time, past time, for her to get out. If she won't leave graciously, then the Democratic Party must take action along the lines that Rachel Maddow suggests: They must get 90 super delegates to move right now to Obama to deflect her position about Florida and Michigan and make the subject of these two states moot.

Ah, the ego..... Talk about it. Contact her campaign. Contact any Dems who can help. (And then we will take up how Obama has to get real with his energy policy. There is no such things as good affordable nuclear energy or clean coal -- but that's another post.)

Peace hugs,
Kate Anne

Shad Fest: Spirit in the Rain

Bobby Kennedy Jr.
The 19th Annual Riverkeeper Shad Fest and Hudson River Celebration took place yesterday (May 18, 2008) at Boscobel Restoration, near Cold Spring New York. The day started as overcast when Queens CB2 Environmental Committee chair Dorothy Morehead and I arrived and we were happy to take in some great informational and green-friendly products booths and a falcon demonstration before we headed to the wine and food tents, which we were pleased to find were part of our $75 pre-sale admission fee. But the day got grayer and wetter. We met some nice folk, including NY Assembly candidate Jonathan Smith [102nd District], his wife Catherine, and their friend Jonathan Wright. And the sky opened up, dampening the fesitival grounds but not our spirits. Dorothy and I toured the beautiful restored home and finished in time hear the last part of Bobby Kennedy Jr.'s talk to the crowd. Then we gathered closer to the stage to join others under umbrellas (and kind enough to share them) in pouring rain to enjoy the Bacon Brothers Band, with Kevin Bacon rightfully getting a lot of attention but older brother Michael Bacon offering a lot of talent to the band as well.

Kevin and Michael Bacon with fiddler Carrie Rodriguez
Bobby came back to introduce a surprise guest, Dan Aykroyd, who joined the band and fiddler Carrie Rodriguez for a Rolling Stone number. Wow! We were all wet but very happy!


Jon Wright, Catherine and Jonathan Smith

I've posted a whole bunch more pictures at my Flickr site, conveniently in a Shad Fest set. Suffice it to say, the rain was a challenge, but in the end, it thinned out the crowds a bit and allowed us the opportunity to be able to get closer to the stage. I count my blessings and am thankful to my friend Dorothy for offering me company and transportation to this great event. We are already looking forward to the 20th annual Shad Fest and plan to bring more of our friends with us to support Riverkeeper's environmental efforts. Couldn't go? Donate anyway -- and talk to me about joining us next year.

Peace hugs,

Kate Anne

Dan Aykroyd

Olbermann: "Mr. Bush, Shut the Hell up!"

Keith Olbermann gave a brilliant editorial comment about Bush giving up golf. Truthout.org posts it and it is also available at YouTube.com at Cspanjunkie's new channel (along with other great clips). Mr. Bush's great sacrifice to show solidarity with the families of the illegal war/invasion/occupation dead? Give up golf. Whoopee.

~~

Meanwhile, in Sunnyside, WQIDC and Citizen Action of New York hosted a great panel discussion on Clean Elections and the Movement for Social Justice. More on this later, but I have posted a picture at Quick Takes, with more to come on Flickr once I make space on my computer, download them from my camera and upload them to Flickr.com. Actions on campaign finance reform will also be posted, in the meantime, tell others to tell politicos to join us in solidarity to get big money OUT of political campaigns. Maine and Arizona have done it, let's do it in New York.

Happy Friday -- with a Judy Collins concert in the offing tonight -- and....

Peace hugs,
Kate Anne

Ober for Council

Dan, Charlie, Kate Anne

Dan Jacoby held a fundraiser Tuesday night for New York City Council candidate Charles Ober in Sunnyside, Queens, at the lovely Dolce Vita at 43rd Street and 48th Avenue. Charlie is running in a special June 3rd election being held in the 30th Council District, which includes Middle Village, Glendale and Ridgewood, and parts of Richmond Hill, Woodhaven and Forest Hills. Since opponent Elizabeth Crowley opted out of the City's matching campaign funding program, Charlie is getting a 7:1 match. He deserve this and so much more. He's a hard worker who cares. Go, Charlie, go!

Peace hugs,
Kate Anne