Local Action Shorts

Local Action Shorts

Mon Valley Unemployed Committee Awards Dinner
On Thursday, June 10, the Mon Valley Unemployed Committee (MVUC) held its first awards dinner at the IBEW Local 5 Conference Center on Hot Metal Street in the South Side. This year’s awards recognized Pittsburgh Catholic Diocese Social Action Director John Hannigan, Committee leader and community activist Sheryl Sears, and Pittsburgh Justice for Janitors director Gabe Morgan. Over the past three decades, John Hannigan has helped the MVUC and many other area community-based organizations with his advice and assistance, and has been instrumental in helping the Committee access national Catholic Campaign for Human Development grants. Sheryl Sears, a founder of MVUC, has helped lead the fight against drastically increased co-pays for subsidized childcare. Gabe Morgan’s leadership of the Justice for Janitors campaign for affordable healthcare has mobilized campaign members and captured the support of the wider community like no other labor fights in recent years.

- Barney Oursler

(Left to Right): Gabe Morgan - Director of SEIU Local 3 "Justice for Janitors" (recipient of award), Ruth Howze - Board member of Mon Valley Unemployed Committee (MVUC), Paul Lodico - Co-coordinator of MVUC, Barney Oursler - Co-coordinator of MVUC, John Hannigan - Social Programs and Policy Director, Pittsburgh Catholic Diocese (recipient), Cheryl Sears - Community Organizer (recipient), Sandy Kolenda - Outreach Co-coordinator for MVUC. (Photo by Sally Adler)

Voting is Power
125 N. Highland Avenue in East Liberty is the new home of Voting Is Power. These are the canvassers that will be all over the city of Pittsburgh talking about the issues in our community and gathering new registrations of changes of address everyday. They are going to ask everyone they talk to if they are registered to vote and to talk about the issues of education, transportation and health care in our community.

(Photo by Kenneth Miller)

Art for Animals
OohMahNee, A Farmed Animal Sanctuary, held its second annual Art Gala on Saturday, June 12^th at the Society for Contemporary Craft in Pittsburgh’s Strip District. OohMahNee, a non-profit animal rescue organization, relies on public support to help operate the 230 acre sanctuary with nearly 1,000 animal residents. OohMahNee is Pennsylvania’s own rescue for abused, abandoned, neglected, or displaced farm animals, and one of the leading farmed animal sanctuaries in the nation (see page __ for a feature on the sanctuary). The Art Gala, the sanctuary’s only fundraiser event in the city limits, helps to provide an opportunity for Pittsburgh residents and members of surrounding communities to learn about the important work of OohMahNee.

The evening featured a live art auction with works by local and national artisans as well as several celebrity-owned items and props from movies. There was a silent auction, an organic juice bar and delicious vegan hors d’oeuvres and desserts for all who attended. There was also a special showing of a new film entitled "Remembering Bob" about a boy who befriends a young pig, now movie star who resides at OohMahNee!

Thank you to all who participated in the Art Gala and to the many friends of the sanctuary who gathered to demonstrate their support of OohMahNee!

For photos and more information about the Art Gala and to learn more about the work of OohMahNee please visit www.oohmahneefarm.org.

We’d like to extend a welcome to all involved with the Thomas Merton Center and readers of The NewPeople in hopes that you join us in celebration during this year’s Open House held at OohMahNee on Sunday, July 25^th.

Remember that your financial gift, no matter what size, makes a tremendous difference in the lives of animals who are suffering and need our help. Thank you all for your gift of time, friendship, and compassion - together we are making a difference, and collectively creating a more compassionate world for all living beings!

- Cayce Mell, President and Co-founder of OohMahNee

Objection to Death Penalty Grows with Education
Holding up signs with pleading phrases such as, "Don't kill for me" and "Justice, Not Revenge," roughly 30-40 activists, including local Amnesty International, PA Abolitionists United Against the Death Penalty and Thomas Merton Center members, gathered June 8 at 6 pm in front of the Benedum Center to rally against the death penalty. Directly before that evening's benefit performance of the "Dead Man Walking" opera at the popular theatre, the protesters stood at Liberty Avenue and 7th Street quietly discussing the issue at-hand with passersby and theatre-goers and distributing informational flyers. Many who passed held a hand out eager to become familiar with the issue. Simple facts seemed somewhat shocking to those who paused to glance over the information or read it as they departed. Two hundred thirty-two prisoners are currently on death row in Pennsylvania and 70% are black. To stay informed or to get more information about politicians penchants for capitol punishment (for example, Governor Rendell has already signed nine death warrants since taking office in 2003, adding to Governors Schwieker and Ridge's totals of 238 during their combined terms) and decide if you'd like to join the movement against executions, please go to www.pa-abolitionists.org or www.amnestyusa.org.

-Casandra Armour

Pittsburgh Responds to Torture of Iraqis by American Soldiers
On a Saturday, June 5 around noon, about thirty protesters gathered in East Liberty to protest the abuse and torture of prisoners in Iraq. Organized by the Thomas Merton Center's Anti-War Committee, some protesters re-enacted the infamous photos of Abu Ghraib prison abuse.

The demonstration was similar to a recent action in Boston, which resulted in felony charges against the protester.

Afterwards, members of Pittsburgh Indymedia's Radio Collective went downtown to interview people on their responses to the images of torture at Abu Ghraib, and how they felt the response has been. A wide range of opinions was represented. Visit www.indypgh.org to read more and listen to the interviews.

- Pittsburgh Indymedia

(Photo by Quinten Steenhuis)

City Theater's Chesapeake: An Artistic and Fundraising Success
The May 30th performance of the play "Chesapeake" at City Theater, besides making for an entertaining, thought-provoking afternoon, helped raise some badly needed funds for the Thomas Merton Center. "Chesapeake," a new one-person play by Lee Blessing, deals with an encounter between a performance artist and a right-wing senator, and explores themes related to the nature of art and the politics of arts funding in today's environment. The City Theater production of the play, which ran from April 22nd through May 30th, was directed by Lou Jacob and featured actor David Wilson Barnes.

The May 30th fundraising performance was followed by a panel discussion of issues raised by the play with members of the group Press Play, a video project series of the Thomas Merton Center. Panelists included Tsvika Solan, Maggie Haas, Brieanne Hauger, Blithe Riley and Siobhan Rigg.

The Merton Center would like to thank City Theater for their contribution to the event as well as Press Play for helping to enrich the experience for Merton Center members. The fundraiser also could not have taken place without the hard work of Merton Center staff member Nia Edmondson who coordinated publicity and ticket sales for this, and other fundraising events this summer. The Merton Center also thanks the members and supporters who helped make the event successful by buying tickets and spreading the word to others. The Merton Center could not function without your support.

- Patricia Lietz

New Deal for Restaurant Workers
Levy Restaurant worker at the new David L Laurence Convention Center just signed (early June 04) their 1^st union contract. There are no gratuities for servers – workers on the "A List" "got theirs," the must larger "B" and "C" lists got squat. Levy Restaurant workers at PNC Park got a new contract this spring too – the two sets of negotiations taking place with the same employer, at the same time, in the same city and with the same union were un-related.

(Photo by Kenneth Miller)