U.S. Citizens for Peace & Justice - Rome Italy anti-war demonstration in Rome

Past Events


Solidarity with Bradley Manning
December 17, 2011

No to "war as usual"
March 19, 2010

Winter Soldier Europe
March 14, 2009

Palestinian Flags Flutter
Alongside Peace Banners

January 17, 2009

Close Guantanamo Now!
January 17, 1009

10-Day Vigil for Gaza
January 8-18, 2009

Supporting La'Onf
October 29, 2008

Free the Cuban 5
Sept 13, 2008

Cheney in Chains
Sept 8, 2008

No Bush, No War
June 11, 2008

May Day ILWU Solidarity Action
May 1, 2008

War Tax Day
April 15, 2008

World Social Forum Global Day of Action
Jan 26, 2008

Shut Down Guantánamo Now!
Jan 11, 2008

No U.S. Military Base in Vicenza
Dec 15, 2007

Meeting Iranian Artists
Dec 05, 2007

End the War in Iraq, No War on Iran
Oct 27, 2007

Report on Final Days of No Dal Molin Festival in Vicenza, Italy
Sept 16, 2007

Camping for Peace in Vicenza, Italy
Sept 12, 2007

Impeach Them Both +
Judiciary Fax Blast

July 23, 2007

I-M-P-E-A-C-H !
April 28, 2007

4th Anniversary of the Invasion of Iraq
March 20, 2007

No Dal Molin, Vicenza, Italy
Feb 17, 2007

Congress: Act Now to End the War
Jan 27, 2007

No Military Bases, Vicenza, Italy
Dec 2, 2006

No War, No Cluster Bombs
Sept 23, 2006

Protest Calling for Cease-fire in Lebanon
July 26, 2006

Military Spending
Bean Poll

July 18, 2006

Stop the Escalation
in the Middle East

July 17, 2006

Refusing to Kill
July 06, 2006

Shailja Patel:
Poetry in Times
of War

July 05, 2006

Troops Home Fast
July 04, 2006

Italian Vote on
Military Missions

June 27, 2006

Peace Parade
June 02, 2006

Michael Uhl of
Veterans for Peace

April 29, 2006

Eyes Wide Open
Film Series
Hidden in Plain Sight

April 26, 2006

War Tax Day
April 15, 2006

Eyes Wide Open
Film Series
Hotel Palestine: Killing the Witness

April 12, 2006

National Anti-war Protest in Rome
March 18, 2006

Soldiers Against War
March 18, 2006

Eyes Wide Open
Film Series
Aristide and the Endless Revolution

March 15, 2006

Women (and men!) Say No To War
March 8, 2006

An Eyewitness Account of Post Katrina New Orleans
March 2, 2006

Eyes Wide Open
Film Series
Life and Debt

February 09, 2006

Vote to Renew Italian Mission in Iraq
February 09, 2006

Cindy Sheehan
February 06, 2006

NBC Today
Show Blitz

February 06, 2006

Eyes Wide Open
Film Series
The Revolution Will
Not Be Televised

January 26, 2006

Cindy Sheehan
In Rome

January 18, 2006

Crimes & Lies:
with Dave Lindorff
and Maurizio Torrealta

January 13, 2006

Eyes Wide Open
Film Series
Peace Propaganda and
the Promised Land

January 12, 2006

Eyes Wide Open
Film Series
The Oil Factor

December 15, 2005

Eyes Wide Open
Film Series
Plan Colombia

December 01, 2005

Fallujah: The Hidden Massacre
November 30, 2005

Eyes Wide Open
Film Series
Wal-Mart

November 17, 2005

Protest at U.S. Embassy: White Phosphorus in Fallujah
November 14, 2005

Control Arms Petition
at Piazza Chiesa Nuova

November 12, 2005

Eyes Wide Open
Film Series
Invisible Ballots

November 10, 2005

Eyes Wide Open
Film Series
The Corporation

October 27, 2005

Movie Night:
Viva Zapatero

October 25, 2005

Eyes Wide Open
Film Series
Hidden Wars of
Desert Storm

October 13, 2005

Anti-war rally
at U.S. Embassy

Sept 24, 2005

USC4P&J Social
at the Beehive

June 22, 2005

Die-In with
Articolo 11
at Palazzo Chigi

June 21, 2005

Collecting Photos
with Control Arms

June 18, 2005

Eyes Wide Open
Film Series
Unconstitutional

June 16, 2005

Eyes Wide Open
Film Series
Outfoxed

June 09, 2005

Eyes Wide Open
Film Series
Weapons of
Mass Deception

May 19, 2005

Vigil at Palazzo Chigi with Articolo 11
May 05, 2005

Vigil at Palazzo Chigi with Articolo 11
April 28, 2005

Vigil at Palazzo Chigi with Articolo 11
April 21, 2005

International Day of Protest
March 19, 2005

Presentation on Post Katrina New Orleans

March 2, 2006

Photo © Liz Carter

Liz Carter worked as a volunteer in New Orleans on two occasions between October and December 2005. She was there with the National Trust and the Preservation Resource Center of New Orleans. During a visit to Rome, she gave a presentation on her experience in what was left of the city after hurricane Katrina, which by chance fell almost 6 months to the day after the storm's landfall. [see the original announcement]

The presentation consisted of photos taken by Liz while in New Orleans as well as maps, satellite images and aerial photography to put things in context, along with her narration and accounts of her experience. As per Liz's request, the presentation was very "interactive." Those in attendance were encouraged to interrupt with questions, which they did from the start. There were some in attendance originally from New Orleans who were able to add to the discussion.

We learned about the difficulties facing residents trying to return to the city and rebuild their lives. It's a catch 22 situation, where the city will only provide services to neighborhoods with a certain number of returning residents and residents only willing to return if certain services are provided. At least half the city still has no power and FEMA will provide a trailer to park in front of your house while you work on it only if you have electricity.

The destruction produced an inconceivable amount of waste. We saw photos of the "refrigerator cemetery", literally acres of refrigerators to be disposed of, as well as an enormous two story high mountain of debris, which Liz explained had vanished and no one really knew where it had gone. There are also 30,000 abandoned cars in New Orleans.

We saw photos of the spray painted signs left on houses that had been searched and Liz explained what the symbols meant, which included the date, the responsible party and the number of bodies found. At times the signs were on the roof as the entire house was under water. Spray paint also became a way of communicating and we saw photos of messages from "thanks for feeding my cat" to those of a more political nature.

One part of the project Liz was involved with was to talk with residents but they soon learned that in some areas, there was no one to talk to. Liz spoke of the eerie feeling of walking through neighborhoods in absolute silence, no people, no birds, no animals. New Orleans is missing about 60% of its pre Katrina residents.

There are also companies taking advantage of the situation. Illustrating this were photos of signs offering to demolish your home, when perhaps demolition isn't the best answer in a city full of historic houses, as well as those offering to buy doors, windows and other architectural elements. This has led to the theft of parts of abandoned houses.

The city of New Orleans itself intended to demolish some houses, but they have, at least for now, been stopped by advocacy groups. The city has begun a process of "red tagging" houses, indicating that the building is not safe for occupancy, but not necessarily a demolition order. We saw a photo of a beautiful house with very little water damage that had been inexplicably "red tagged."

The presentation concluded with a series of maps, including the New Orleans diaspora, showing that most people had remained in the Gulf Coast area, obviously hoping to return, but many had also gone to far-flung areas of the country. There were maps showing the demographics of pre Katrina New Orleans as well as the city's plans for near term reconstruction. Here it was evident that areas home primarily to people of color were not a priority in the plans.

The final slide was "how to help." First on the list, was staying informed. Liz explained what had prompted her to initially create the presentation and give it to groups and also provided us with a list of the best sources for information on what is really happening in New Orleans. In addition to this was a list of community groups and non-profits working in New Orleans. [See information provided by Liz Carter below]

Though many of us had been following the story closely, we learned much about the situation and what people have been through and are still fighting against. Liz was able to give us a first hand account as well as provide those of us living outside the U.S. a sense of how this is being covered in the media.

Liz will be returning to New Orleans in late March 2006 with a group of graduate students from the University of Oregon. She has promised to send us an update.

Stephanie Westbrook


[Information provided by Liz Carter]

HOW TO HELP GULF COAST COMMUNITIES

STAY INFORMED

Times Picayune
(www.nola.com

Katrina Information Network
(www.katrinaaction.org)

Bring New Orleans Back Commission (www.bringneworleansback.org)

NATIONAL TRUST FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION www.nationaltrust.org/hurricane/

PRESERVATION RESOURCE CENTER OF NEW ORLEANS
www.prcno.org

The PRC is a private non-profit 501(c)(3) organization that promotes the preservation New Orleans architecture and neighborhoods.

Hurricane Katrina Fund
Since Katrina, PRC staff and volunteers have served hundreds of New Orleans homeowners who have returned to the city and started reclaiming their homes. PRC offers resources such as free cleaning supplies, free informational seminars and visits by volunteer architects. Your donation helps supports these crucial efforts and helps others recover from the storm.

Operation Comeback Fund
For nearly two decades, the PRC's Operation Comeback has purchased distressed properties in targeted New Orleans' neighborhoods, then renovated and sold them to homeowners. Comeback properties not only eliminate neighborhood blight and rescue architectural resources, but also stimulate a "ripple effect" that results in improvements to at least 10 properties for each property renovated. The work has been multiplied, as Hurricane Katrina damaged thousands of historic structure structures, many of which were in fair to good condition before the storm. A donation to the Operation Comeback Fund will help buy and renovate damaged buildings in neighborhoods impacted by the storm.

COMMON GROUND RELIEF
www.commongroundrelief.org

Common Ground Collective is a local, community-run organization offering assistance, mutual aid and support to New Orleans communities that have been historically neglected and underserved. Common Ground's teams of volunteers include: medical and health providers, aid workers, community organizers, legal representatives and people from all over with broad skills from all walks of life.

ACORN
www.acorn.org/index.php?id=9703

The Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now, is the nation's largest community organization of low- and moderate-income families, working together for social justice and stronger communities.

LOUISIANA SOCIETY FOR THE PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS
www.la-spca.org/dedication/offer_support.htm

ANIMAL RESCUE NEW ORLEANS
www.animalrescueneworleans.com/

STUDENT HURRICANE NETWORK
www.studenthurricanenetwork.org/contact/

A national association of law students and administrators dedicated to providing long-term assistance to communities in the aftermath of hurricane destruction.

NEW ORLEANS MUSICIANS HURRICANE RELIEF FUND
http://www.nomhrf.org/

The New Orleans Musicians Hurricane Relief Fund is an independent 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to aiding New Orleans musicians affected by Hurricane Katrina and reviving the city’s unique musical culture. Founded by Benjamin and Sarah Jaffe of Preservation Hall, N.O.M.H.R.F. offers grants to leaders in the music community, extends financial assistance to New Orleans musicians of all genres, and helps connect musicians with instruments and gigs.

Top

Ongoing/Future Events


Our Eyes Wide Open Film Series is suspended; for further information click here.


Upshot of our Nov. 9th group discussion on current politics:

It wasn't the Russians that got us Trump. Or Comey. Or even the massive GOP election fraud. It was the DNC.*
*Dem National Committee

To learn how to stop the DNC from delivering us another Trump, read Autopsy: the Democratic Party in Crisis.


Photo of a school in Yemen bombed by Saudi Arabian jets supplied by the U.S. and fueled in the air by the U.S. Air Force. Tell Trump to STOP THIS CARNAGE, not fuel it! Click here.

Also participate in the CodePink email and/or phone initiative:




Click here to sign a petition, to put an end to the sanctions against Syria - their only effect is to take a terrible toll on the population, causing them to migrate! And click here to see the video by the Italian Committee to lift sanctions against Syria.



Iraq Deaths Estimator
Did someone tell you that U.S. military intervention in Iraq was over? Not true: we're at it again. This time the pretext to drop bombs is "curbing ISIS" (which was created by the U.S. in the first place, to overturn al-Malaki in Iraq and then Assad in Syria, and is now out of hand. Like what happened to "our" creature al Qaeda in Afghanistan). And the death toll continues to rise...
Write your senators and tell them: "Enough! U.S. out!! Iraq has shown it can curb ISIS by itself!"

Mailing List

Stay informed
Join the USC4P&J mailing list to stay informed on events and initiatives.

Copyright © 2006 Stephanie Westbrook  All rights reserved
U.S. Citizens for Peace & Justice - Rome, Italy