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First Wednesdays

            BERKSHIRES FOR PROGRESSIVE CHANGE

            7-8:30pm, Friends Meeting House, 280 State Road, Great Barrington. A chapter of Progressive Democrats of Massachusetts. Info: Michael Wilcox, mailto:mfw@mfw.us.

 

First Thursdays

            MASS CITIZENS AGAINST THE DEATH PENALTY

            7-8:30pm, Unitarian-Universalist Society, 245 Porter Lake Drive, Springfield. Planning 2007 Sacco/Vanzetti Night, August 23. Info: 567-3451, mailto:mcadp1@aol.com or mailto:CAJOWL66@aol.com or Beth Moriarty, mailto:carys96@earthlink.net.

 

First Saturdays

            SIREN TEST DIE IN

            Noon, Brattleboro VT. Sirens to warn people that a serious accident has occurred at Vermont Yankee nuclear reactor are tested as follows:

                        Brattleboro VT - First Saturday of the month at Noon;

                        Vernon VT - First Saturday of the month at 8am;

                        Hinsdale NH - First Tuesday of the month at 6pm;

                        Swanzey NH - First Saturday of the month at 12:30pm;

                        Winchester NH - First Saturday of the month at 12:30pm;

                        Bernardston MA - First Wednesday of the month at 7pm;

                        Colrain MA - First Saturday of the month at Noon;

                        Northfield MA - First Wednesday of the month at 7pm.

            In the Brattleboro area, activists are participating in a die-in protest whenever possible by freezing in place, standing silent or falling down “dead” when the sirens go off. For the full 3-5 minute test, people commit each month to stop their activities and reflect on what it would mean if this were not a test but the real thing. Info: Citizens Awareness Network (CAN), 339-5781, mailto:can@nukebusters.org; www.nukebusters.org.

 

Second Sundays

            UNPLUG VERMONT YANKEE

            7-8pm, your home. Unplug all electrical appliances (including refrigerator) for 1 hour on the second Sunday of each month. Called by Citizens Awareness Network (CAN) to protest relicensing Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant and let its owner, Entergy, know we want a green future. In Massachusetts, the National Grid/Mass Electric gets 25% of its electricity from Vermont Yankee. We can save 20-25% of our electrical use through conservation and energy efficiencies, creating more jobs than the nuke industry. Info: Deb Katz, 339-5781, mailto:can@nukebusters.org; www.nukebusters.org/11.0.html.

 

Third Tuesdays

            FRANKLIN/HAMPSHIRE HEALTH CARE COALITION

            7pm (6:45pm social time), Lathrop Village Community Room, Shallow Brook Drive, off Bridge Rd, Northampton. Organizing for the Mass. Health Care Trust Fund Bill. Info: Franklin/Hampshire Health Care Coalition, PO Box 3011, Amherst 01004, 586-0345, markham@crocker.com or franko1810@aol.com.

            The Massachusetts Health Care Trust Fund Bill calls for a universal health care system, providing universal access, a comprehensive range of physical and mental health benefits, choice of provider, quality, unified financing and cost controls, accountable governance, and stability. A Massachusetts Health Care Trust Fund will be a “single-payer” of all health care costs, statewide. Details of the Bill, action ideas: MASS-CARE, 800-383-1973, masscare@aol.com, www.masscare.org.

 

Third Tuesdays

            VALLEYWIDE SPOKESCOUNCIL

            7-9pm, South Meeting Room, Bangs Community Center, 70 Boltwood Walk, downtown Amherst. The Valleywide Spokescouncil is representatives of groups or organizations with the goal of building critical mass to achieve goals the groups are working on or care about. If you are part of a group or organization of 20 or more people in Western Massachusetts and can serve as its spokesperson, you are invited to join the Valleywide Spokescouncil. Those who join this Council are in general agreement with the Earth Charter: www.earthcharter.org. Leadership is equally shared by all present through consensus decision-making based roughly on Formal Consensus: www.consensus.net/ocaccontents.html. Info: Tim Anderson, 559-1656, timbabwe1@aol.com.

 

Third Wednesdays

            MASS SENIOR ACTION COUNCIL – GREATER SPRINGFIELD CHAPTER

            2pm, Good Life Center, E Columbus Av, Springfield (municipal parking validated). MSAC tackles vital issues, including single-payer health care, prescription drug price relief, and housing. No age requirement! For info or a ride: Clodo Concepcion, 783-4807, mailto:clodo@the-spa.com.

 

Third Wednesdays

            ALLIANCE FOR INJURED WORKERS

            4-6pm, First Congregational Church, 20 Lathrop St, corner of Park St, W Springfield. Unique organization run by injured workers for injured workers. No perfume, cologne please; some members suffer from chemical sensitivity due to workplace injury. Info: 827-0643 or 731-0760, mailto:comphurts@aol.com; www.afiw.org. Ask for your FREE copy of “Injured Workers Survival Guide”. New York City Bus Trip: Saturday June 2, 8am, leave from Knights of Columbus, 1599 Memorial Drive (Rt 33), Chicopee; leave NYC 7:30pm. $35. Make check out to Western MassCOSH, 640 Page Blvd #104, Springfield MA 01104. No refunds unless trip canceled.

 

Third Wednesday

            PIONEER VALLEY CENTRAL LABOR COUNCIL

            7pm, AFL-CIO Hall, 640 Page Blvd, near corner of Osborne Ter, across the street from the old Westinghouse, Springfield. Community and labor activist guests are welcome, but contact 732-7970, mailto:unionyes@pvaflcio.org; www.pvaflcio.org.

 

Last Wednesdays

            PIONEER VALLEY COALITION TO CHANGE & CHALLENGE WAL-MART

            7-9pm, Porter Lounge (3rd Floor) or another room, Converse Hall, Amherst College, Rts 116 & 9, Amherst. Fighting the Wal-Mart in Hadley and maybe in Greenfield, working on Wake-Up Wal-Mart campaigns, giving mutual aid to the coalition members fighting Wal-Mart in many ways. Info: mailto:socialchange@amherst.edu.

            Hadley Neighbors for Sensible Development (www.HadleyNeighbors.org), Sprawl Busters (www.sprawl-busters.com), and Stop Sprawl-Mart (www.StopSprawlMart.org) are fighting sprawl. Want to help Wal-Mart workers get fair treatment? Contact Dan Clifford, Wake Up Wal-Mart, 732-6209 x14, mailto:dclifford@ufcw1459.com. Check out http://wmass.walmartvoices.com/ and www.wakeupwalmart.com.