Do you want to do something to change the course of economic globalization? If you do, then join the Globalization Task Force for one of our “Making a Better World Breakfasts”. At these gatherings, we will be briefed about an issue related to globalization, write letters on the topic to our political representatives, enjoy good conversation, and of course, eat breakfast.

The first “Making a Better World Breakfast” will take place from 7:30am until 8:30am on Thursday September 7th at the Broken Egg, 221 North Main St. At the September breakfast we will learn more about and write about Bread for the World’s 2006 Offering of Letters. The 2006 Offering of Letters seeks significant increases in poverty-focused development assistance to meet the Millenium Development Goals, which aim to cut extreme hunger and poverty by half and substantially improve health, education, and livelihoods in developing countries by 2015.

Read the rest of this entry »

Please join us for a film showing and light dinner, with discussion afterwards. The Global Banquet exposes globalization’s profoundly damaging effect on our food system and reveals how agribusiness squeezes out small farmers and how trade liberalization undercuts subsistence farming –in the U.S. as well as the developing world.

Read the rest of this entry »

This fall ICPJ will host a called membership meeting to review proposed policy and by-law changes and to get your input on our Middle East Program.

Thursday, September 28,7:00 p.m.
First Unitarian Universalist Congregation, Fahs Chapel
4001 Ann Arbor-Saline Rd, Ann Arbor Michigan 48103.

Read the rest of this entry »

Friday August 11, 4:00 p.m.

Federal Building, Downtown Ann Arbor (Liberty St. and Fifth Ave.)

Organized by: The Muslim Community Association of Ann Arbor and Vicinity

Co-Sponsored by: Michigan Peace Works, Interfaith Council for Peace & Justice, U of M Muslim Students Association, Arab and Iranian Women Against the War

E-mail: abouzahr@prodigy.net, Phone: (734) 320-7924

Download the flyer

The United Church of Christ Justice and Witness Ministires reports that:

In a last-minute election-year ploy, the House leadership brought to a vote in the dead of night on July 29 the Estate Tax and Extension of Tax Relief Act of 2006, which included an increase to the federal minimum wage. However, the bill also included tax cuts for the wealthy and invalidated labor protection laws for tip-earners, some of the lowest paid workers in the economy.

This vote is an insulting merger of tax cuts for the wealthiest families in the nation, dangerous roll-backs of labor protection laws, and an increase in the minimum wage to take effect much more slowly than justice advocates have urged. The Senate leadership will now take up the same bill in another eleventh hour vote to help vulnerable incumbents win their re-election campaigns.

Visit http://www.ucctakeaction.org/dirtytrick to learn more and to send a message to your senators telling them to reject this dirty trick that disrespects low-wage workers at the same time that it claims to help them.

Also, call your senators toll-free at (800) 459-1887 and tell them to vote NO on HR 5970 and any legislation that undermines the Fair Labor Standards Act and holds minimum wage workers hostage to budget-busting giveaways for the wealthy.

On Sunday, ICPJ and Michigan Peaceworks hosted a moving candlelight vigil calling for peace in the Middle East. Over 300 people from throughout the community came together to call for a stop to the violence and for the U.S. to act to create a ceasefire and to restart the peace process. (see the coverage in the Ann Arbor News & Michigan Daily)

It was a good start, but we need to keep the pressure on Congress and the President to act to stop the bloodshed.

Call the White House Comment Line at 202-456- 1111.

Your Message: Mideast Violence Must Come to an End; US Must Support an Immediate Cease-Fire.

Read the rest of this entry »