Some events this week on Moncure, water quality, NAFTA, rendition, and war

International Women's Day was on Sunday.

 

At 10am there will be a carpool from Carrboro to join the Moncure Plywood picket line (call 968-1888 for details).

 

Roots of Migration:  At 7:30 Wednesday BAJ, CITCA, and the Charles Jones Peace and Justice Committee are hosting Cynthia Brown, Ajamu Dillahunt, and Tony Macias, who just returned from a Witness for Peace delegation to Mexico.  They will speak on the impact of NAFTA and other policies in Latin America and what to do about the immigration situation. 

 

Also in the evening a citizen advisory group on cleaning up Third Fork and Northeast creeks will meet at City Hall at 6:30 (see www.northeastcreek.org) and the Durham immigrant rights group will meet at 7pm. 

 

The monthly STN anti-torture vigil near the Johnston County Airport will be on the 14th.

 

Day of Solidarity with the Moncure Plywood workers:

 

"On Monday, March 16th, the faith based, social justice and labor
community will come together to stand up for the Moncure workers
who are standing up for us.  Please widely disseminate to
friends, family, faith based organizations and list serves the
action flier below.  And please attach to the flier your own
personal message of support with the flier.  The Orange/Chatham
Solidarity Committee for the  Moncure IAM LW369 Workers has
organized the day of activities so that everyone can participate
in one or more events.  If  you love justice, join us for as much
of the day as you can.  We will concude the day with a rally at
the Pittsboro court house and then go into the Chatham Board of
County Commissioners' meeting at 6pm.  The BOCC will vote on a
resolution in support of the strikers and demand that Atlas
Holdings, the owners of Moncure Plywood, take over the
negotiations with the International Association of Machinists
Local W369 and the Federal mediator to assure a just contract.

 

HOT OFF THE PRESS.  Seven North Carolina  Democratic Congress
members have sent a letter and will continue to pressure Atlas
Holdings to return to the bargaining table and conclude a just
contract with IAM Local W369.  The International Association of
Machinists with the support of the NAACP NC and other civil
rights organizations has filed a Federal civil rights complaint
against Moncure Plywood for allowing a noose to be hung on the
plant grounds.  The union is taking the struggle to the
Connecticut offices of Atlas Holdings.  Connecticut Senator
Christopher Dodd has joined the union in support of the
strikers.  The Chatham Board of County Commissioners is expected
to join the list of supporters.  Moncure is a member of the
Sustainable Furniture Council (SFC).  Members must commit
themselves to environmentally sustainable practices, including
the ethical treatment of their employees.  The company's
violation of these principles has been documented and
disseminated to all SFC members and on the SFC website.

 

FOR CAR POOLS AND FURTHER INFORMATION, CALL LORI HOYT AT (919)
968-1888 OR MIRIAM THOMPSON AT (919) 370-4114."

 

Briefly, the day's events are:  11am join the picket line, 1pm lunch, provided by IAM, 3pm car caravan to Pittsboro, 5pm solidarity rally before the 6pm Chatham BOCC meeting, and there will be a fundraiser at the Pittsboro General Store April 1st,

 

Also, the Chapel Hill peace vigil, Fridays at East Franklin and Elliot, is now on the summer schedule, 5-6pm.  The Durham vigil is still at Brightleaf on Saturdays, at noon. 

 

There will be a march to the Pentagon in Washington on the 21st (the anniversary of the beginning of the Iraq War) at 12pm (see www.pentagonmarch.org).  The only NC transportation seems to be from Greensboro and Charlotte. 

 

Don't let the Obama administration get away with continuing to occupy Iraq and expanding the war in Afghanistan!