Peak Oil, Climate Change, and the Impending Resource Wars

Opportunities for Education, Action, and Community Building
with Mike and Eda Uca-Dorn of Dorothy Day House

Hello Dear Friends!

It is hard to believe that the summer has passed and that in fact this week marks the beginning of October. This year October 1^st takes special meaning for us as it is the scheduled date for U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) to shift from being a subcommand to its own fully independent Unified Combatant Command. AFRICOM has been criticized widely as being another manipulation of the Global War on Terror to exploit foreign oil reserves.

While we currently draw about 18% of our imported petroleum from the Persian Gulf, we draw an even greater 22% from Africa. Since September 11^th 2001, there has been a dramatic escalation of military aid to the continent which boasts the remaining 10% of the world’s oil. Paralleling this militarization of aid has been an increase in U.S. oil company exploits in Africa. Africans have railed against the neo-imperialism inherent in the forming of this command and it is imperative that North Americans support African stability and sovereignty.

Troy Davis Facing Execution in Georgia Despite Recantation of Eye-witnesses

Dear Friends,
Please take the below recommended action to help save the life of Troy Davis, who is scheduled to be executed tomorrow. I attended a protest today at the (un)Supreme Court to appeal to the Justices to grant a stay of execution for Troy. About 25 people attended the protest.
We keep our eyes on the prize!!!
In peace and hope,
Art

Mark Fancher, National Conference of Black Lawyers (NCBL) | Clarification of Thought | Friday, October 3rd, 7:30PM

The escalation of U.S. military aid to Africa since September 11, 2001 is climaxing this October when U.S. African Command (AFRICOM) becomes the newest military Unified Combatant Command. Mark P. Fancher, spokesperson and Chair of International Section of the National Conference of Black Lawyers (NCBL), will discuss the NCBL’s public position and legal work against AFRICOM. Speaking for the NCBL, he has stated, “We believe that AFRICOM is nothing more than a device to ensure that the U.S. oil industry will continue to have unfettered access to Africa’s vast supplies of oil…If anyone in Africa interferes with U.S. oil operations, we suspect that they will be given the terrorist label and then targeted for military attacks.” Fancher is a writer, activist, human rights lawyer, and the author of The Splintering of Global Africa – Capitalism’s War Against Pan-Africanism. To learn more about this event, contact Mike Uca-Dorn at mike.uca.dorn@gmail.com.

When: Friday, October 3^rd, 7:30PM

Where: Dorothy Day Catholic Worker, 503 Rock Creek Church Rd, NW, 3 blocks away from the Georgia Ave/Petworth Metro Station on the Green Line.

Art Laffin’s Testimony for Maryland Commission on Capital Punishment Public Hearing

Annapolis, MD, August 19, 2008

Good Evening Chairman Civiletti, and to each member of the Commission. My name is Art Laffin and I am a murder victim family member.