Upcoming Progressive Events, Oct. 25, 2005

CNN just reported grim news: 2,000 American soldiers have now died in Iraq.

As Moveon.org has stated, "Their caskets have been hidden from view,
and the news of their deaths has receded to the back pages. But the
men and women who died in recent days were no less brave or less
honorable than those who died in the first days of the war. It's time
for us to publicly honor them-to remind the country that they're
dying every day in the quagmire of Iraq-and ask, 'How many more?'"

In addition to the 2000 US military casualties in Iraq, thousands
more have been severely injured and disabled. Many thousands more
Iraqis have died.

Let's remember the fallen and recognize their humanity, even though
the Bush administration is trying to ignore the casualties.

Two events to remember the deaths are described below, along with
some other selected events from the PAA calendar. We'll send out
more details on our PAA Discussion list, and on the calendar on our
new web site at http://paa-tx.org/

Events highlighted below:

1. Oct 25: Forum-Houston City Council Candidates & Verifiable Paper Audit Trail
2. Oct. 26: Moveon.org candlelight vigils
3. Oct. 29 - Sat. Nov. 5: Memorial along Heights Blvd.
4. Now thru Nov. 6: Altar for Emma Tenayuca
5. Oct 27: House Party City Council Candidate
6. Oct 29: Houston Social Forum Fundraiser at Helios
7. Oct 30: Department of Peace Fundraiser Sunday Lunch
8. Oct 30: Solar Home Tour by Houston Renewable Energy Group
9. How to add an event to our calendar

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1. Tue. Oct 25: Forum-Houston City Council Candidates & Verifiable
Paper Audit Trail
7:30pm

Rice University, Duncan Hall

The Rice University Young Democrats and The Progressive Populist
Caucus of the Texas Democratic Party invite Houston City Council
candidates and the community to hear a brief presentation on the
Election Reform Committee of the Harris County Democratic Party's
position regarding the necessity for a voter verifiable paper audit
trail with our Hart InterCivic (E-Slate) electronic voting system.

More information / map at http://www.paa-tx.org/node/427

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2. Wed. Oct. 26: Moveon.org candlelight vigils
Moveon.org is organizing candlelight vigils all across the US at
6:30 p.m. tomorrow night - Wednesday, October 26.

Find a MoveOn.org vigil near you for tomorrow: http://www.moveon.org/
Many are already scheduled, including several in southeast Texas
(Houston, Baytown, and Galveston). There's one at Mecom fountain in
Houston, for example. Bring a candle if you have one.

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3. Sat. Oct. 29 - Sat. Nov. 5: Memorial along Heights Blvd., Houston
Starting at 6 pm each evening
Note that this is a change in time from some of the earlier
publicity, which stated 6:30 pm.

This Saturday, Oct.29, 2005, at 6 p.m., will begin a week long
observance of the 2,000th U.S. Military Casualty and a memorial to
all nationalities killed or wounded in the ongoing Iraq conflict. The
location of the observance is on the Heights Boulevard esplanade
between 10th and 11th St. in Houston, next to the World War II
Memorial.

Invite your friends, regardless of their position on the occupation of Iraq.

At 6 p.m., following the placing of some 2,000 American flags and
some 180 Texas flags (to honor fallen Texans) (flag placing will be
done Sat. afternoon) there will be an ecumenical ceremony and the
planting of the 2,000th flag.

Each evening from Sat. through the next Sat. of the memorial period,
there will be a ceremony at 6 p.m., marked by the placing of
additional flags, when necessary. Ceremonies are being hosted by
different groups each evening. PAA and the Dept. of Peace group are
sponsoring the ceremony Wed. Nov. 2.

The closing ceremony will be held the following Saturday, Nov. 5 at 6
p.m. All groups are invited to attend this special, larger ceremony.

Get details at http://oilpatchdemocrats.blogspot.com/ and
http://www.paa-tx.org/node/494
Map/directions to memorial: http://tinyurl.com/bp48h

The Oilpatch Democrats is the lead organizer for this, with several
other local groups (including PAA) as co-sponsors.

Remember that these events are memorials, not protests. We want to
be respectful of those who have died, while we remind everyone that
the casualties of war are not something we should ignore.

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4. Now through Nov. 6: Altar for Emma Tenayuca

4 - 8pm, Wed - Fri; 2 - 8pm, Sat & Sun

Houston Institute for Culture will exhibit an altar for Emma Tenayuca
to educate about the Mexican tradition of Day of the Dead, and to
inform viewers about modern issues on the US-Mexico border. A second
altar will raise awareness of increasing violence against women in
the Lower Rio Grande Valley. The event is free.

More information / at http://www.paa-tx.org/node/435

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5. Thur. Oct 27: House Party City Council Candidate
7:00 pm

You're invited to a house party to meet DENNIS CARTER, Candidate for
Houston City Council District A

Dennis is a Green Party candidate and is the only current challenger
to the incumbent, Republican Toni Lawrence
http://www.houstontx.gov/council/a/index.html

Where is District A? http://www.houstontx.gov/council/maps/a.html

More information / map at http://www.paa-tx.org/node/434

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6. Sat. Oct 29: Houston Social Forum Fundraiser at Helios

6:00 pm - 2:00 am

Party with the Houston Social Forum at Helios
411 Westheimer, Houston

Several bands will be playing including

* Meridea Rosa
* Bart Boyce
* DJ AJ5s
* Free Radicals ...
* and more

More information / map at http://www.paa-tx.org/node/459

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7. Sun. Oct 30: Department of Peace Fundraiser Sunday Lunch

12:00 N - 2:30pm

Raw Food Fundraiser to Benefit the Department of Peace and Nonviolence.

Hosted by Vivian Brockmann
2930 Lazy Lane
off Kirby and San Felipe
Houston

RSVP to Vivian by October 20 at or by
calling her at 713-524-9166 or 713-867-9049. You can also call Kathy
Kidd at 713-443-9938. Space is limited, so reserve early!

Enjoy Organic Raw Foods prepared by Raw Foods Chef Extraordinaire, Pat Greer.

Bring a place setting that you would use to set a table for the most
divine and exquisite being you know. The food is so sacred and
heavenly...your body feels as though it has come home. Vivian lives
in a home surrounded by woods and walking trails. Come and enjoy a
stroll before dining. All of your senses will be fed.

More information / map at http://www.paa-tx.org/node/436

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8. Sun. Oct 30: Solar Home Tour by Houston Renewable Energy Group

11:45 am - 5:00 pm

Houstonians will have the chance to see first hand the beginnings of
a transformation in our society - the transition to a sustainable
energy future! Come tour real solar homes and buildings in the
Houston area and learn more about all forms of renewable energy.
Houston has long been an energy leader but the fossil fuel era must
give way to cleaner, inexhaustible, local forms of energy. Tour
organizers want to show how Houston can remain an energy leader in
the 21st century by showcasing pioneering efforts to incorporate
solar and other forms of renewable energy into our homes, commercial
buildings and everyday lives.

How to take this tour: Visit anyone of the tour locations between 1
and 5pm on Sunday, October 30, and purchase a tour guide for $5. This
guide will get you and your family/group into any of the locations on
the tour. [Hint: carpooling is encouraged so sharing a guide is
allowed for any group of 6 or less traveling together]. Visit any or
all of the locations on your own in any order during the tour hours
and there will be someone there to greet you.

Afterwards - social gathering from 4-7pm at the Gardner/McPhail
residence which is a stop on the tour.

More information, including directions to each home:
http://www.paa-tx.org/node/506

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9. How to add an event to our calendar

You can now add your own event, to our online calendar, so you can be
sure to include whatever details and web links/contact info you have.

Click on the "Submit an Event" link below the events list, on the
right side of our home page at http://paa-tx.org/ . After you do
this, it should get posted within 24 hours. Be sure to include the
full address for the event location so that the automatic map
generator will work to make it easy for people to find your event.

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Many more events are listed on our new web site at http://paa-tx.org/
. Click on the link for the Progressive Action Alliance calendar on
the right side of the page for a monthly calendar. Click on the
title of any event for more details on it.