News

May 9, 2008 - In anticipation of Amtrak National Train Day on May 10th, Delegate David J. Toscano
(D-Charlottesville) today announced several significant rail initiatives that will likely affect the Charlottesville/Albemarle area. First, the recently passed state budget includes $2.2 million in new money per year for major roadbed improvements to the CSX railroad lines operated by the Buckingham Branch, which serve passenger rail from Washington to Chicago through Charlottesville. "If we can improve the roadbed, we can increase the speed and efficiency of trains, thereby providing a higher level of customer service to Amtrak passengers," Toscano said. "This funding represents a major investment in this process." The Rail Enhancement Fund, created by Governor Warner, will receive $26 million in fiscal year 2009 and continuing appropriations in the future. This fund directs investments to freight and passenger rail improvements that will have significant public benefits. The Rail Preservation Program, which benefits Short Line carriers, will receive $3 million.

http://www.charlottesvillepeace.org

Join Our Anti-War Demonstration This Thursday

Let's start treating the world's 6 billion non-Americans as equals.
By Helena Cobban, Christian Science Monitor

Washington - What kind of relationship do Americans want to build with the world's 6 billion other people in the years ahead? This question is urgent, since the past seven years have seen an unprecedented drop in our country's global favorability rating. In today's hyper-connected world, that has huge consequences for Washington's ability to protect American interests.

The Fall & Rise of American Liberalism
Media, Race, Religion & Bruce Springsteen

WEDNESDAY, April 30, 2008
12 Noon - 1:30pm (book signing to follow)
Harrison Institute Auditorium
Small Special Collections Library at the University of Virginia

American 20th-century liberalism may be poised for a comeback. Attacks from aggressive conservatives and trenchant criticism from the multicultural left have rendered consensus liberalism a shell of a political movement and a label that liberal candidates tend to shun. But is all this changing? This panel discussion will ask the following questions: What aspects of 20th-century American liberalism are inappropriate for the 21st century? Is the United States a fundamentally conservative nation? Can our fractured and hyperactive media environment foster a sense of common purpose or tolerate the deliberate temperament of liberalism? Can liberalism thrive in an increasingly diverse United States - i.e., can it contain multitudes?

Panelists:

* Angela Dillard is an associate professor of Afro-American and African Studies at the University of Michigan and author of Faith in the City: Preaching Radical Social Change in Detroit (University of Michigan Press, 2007) and Guess Who's Coming to Dinner Now?: Multicultural Conservatism in America (NYU Press, 2001).

* Eric Alterman is a Distinguished Professor of English and Journalism at Brooklyn College and the CUNY Graduate School of Journalism. He is the media columnist for The Nation and the author of seven books, most recently Why We're Liberals: A Political Handbook for Post-Bush America (Viking, 2008).

* Todd Gitlin, professor of journalism and sociology and chair of the Ph. D. program in communications at Columbia University, is a sociologist, cultural analyst, and award-winning novelist. He is the author of 12 books, most recently The Bulldozer and the Big Tent: Blind Republicans, Lame Democrats, and the Recovery of American Ideals (John Wiley and Sons, 2007).

Moderated by Bruce A. Williams, professor of Media Studies at the University of Virginia and the co-author (with Michael X. Delli Carpini) of the forthcoming book, And the Walls Came Tumbling Down: The Eroding Boundaries Between News and Entertainment and What They Mean for Mediated Politics in The 21st Century

CCPJ marched in the Dogwood Parade on Saturday and was enthusiastically cheered by onlookers.

Here is a list of the sponsors of this Virginia sporting event. Is this OK with you?

Peace Studies
By 16 Blocks

The future of Norris Hall as the home of Virginia Tech's new center for peace studies and violence prevention.

Professor Jocelyne Couture-Nowak was one of the 32. Her daughter's inspired reaction to a question from the press helped change the fate of Norris Hall.

"The history was very simple. Our middle daughter, Francine, arrived from the University of British Columbia. She handled the press," said Professor Couture-Nowak's husband, Dr. Jerzy Nowak of the Department of Horticulture at Virginia Tech.

Come march with CCPJ in the Dogwood Festival Parade!

Join the fun! And march for peace and justice. It is a unique opportunity to take our message out to people who do not attend our events.

EVERYONE WELCOME. Bring your family, kids, friends, pets for peace, bicycles, tricycles, signs, balloons, drums, flags. We will have signs.

We are near the beginning of the parade: #13, so we must be ready early. Please find us and join us by 10:15 am. The parade starts at the intersection of Preston and McIntire (the corner with the County Office Building). Come to that intersection and ask a parade official where we are to be found. Last year there were many officials with clipboards in the area who had location
info.

Swami Beyondananda says he is not out to change the world. He intends to toilet train the world and never have to change it again. According to the Swami, if it's an abomination for two men to lie together, a bunch of them lying together to bomb a nation should be worse. And wait till you hear about the guy who consumes no liquids, named - of course - Pierre. Puns always intended. The Swami performed in Charlottesville recently and had them rolling in the aisles. Check him out: http://www.wakeuplaughing.com

Subcommittee on International Organizations, Human Rights, and Oversight
Bill Delahunt (D-MA), Chairman
You are respectfully requested to attend the following OPEN hearing of the Subcommittee on International Organizations, Human Rights, and Oversight, to be held in Room 2172 of the Rayburn House Office Building.
Date: Thursday, April 24, 2008
Time: 2:00 PM
Subject: War Powers for the 21st Century: The Executive Branch Perspective
witnesses:
The Honorable Brian Atwood
Dean
Hubert H. Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs
University of Minnesota
(Former Administrator for U.S. Agency for International Development)

The Honorable Stephen G. Rademaker
Vice President
BGR International
(Former U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Arms Control)

Robert F. Turner, Esq.
Professor, General Faculty
Associate Director, Center for National Security Law
University of Virginia School of Law

CLICK FOR PDF.

You can print the PDF flyer and post it around town!

US Congress passes new Tibet legislation, condemns China's crackdown in Tibet
International Campaign for Tibet
April 9th, 2008

At http://www.thebridgepai.com

Check it out! And check out the other work of The Bridge.

The Charlottesville, Va., City Council has passed a resolution supporting a bill in Congress that would establish a cabinet-level Department of Peace.

The campaign encouraging passage of these resolutions across the country is based at http://www.thepeacealliance.org

The Charlottesville Center for Peace and Justice supports the work of the Peace Alliance and the creation of a Department of Peace.

The Virginia Antiwar Network is encouraging everyone to stay home from work on May 1, 2008, in solidarity with the International Longshoremen's and Warehouse Workers Union's plan to shut down west coast ports in protest of the occupation of Iraq, and plans for immigrants rights demonstrations in Washington, D.C., and elsewere. Please plan to not work, and if possible join us in DC. More details to come.

We've all heard our friend Uriah J. Field's beautiful singing voice, but have you read his meditations?

CCPJ is supporting and funding the Cuba Caravan 2008. Learn more and get involved.

The Virginia Antiwar Network is meeting in Charlottesville!
2-4:30 p.m. at 609 E. Market St
Come join us in making plans for peace work in the coming months.

CCPJ has its monthly meeting:
5:45 p.m. potluck
7:00 p.m. meeting
Trinity Episcopal Church, 1042 Preston Ave
Either you're with us or you're . . . still OK, but you should come!