The Peace Train filled with Capital Region residents arrived at NY Pennsylvania Station at 9:30 AM Saturday after leaving Rensselaer at 7 AM. They moved to join feeder marches throughout Manhattan, on their way to the peace rally scheduled to start at noon.
[ More photos | United for Peace | NYC Indymedia site ]

More than two hundred people crowded into the First Lutheran Church in Albany on Tuesday night 2/12 where Albany Common Council President Helen Desfosses moderated a panel on the civil liberties implications of the so-called "War on Terrorism." A quick show of hands indicated that many people in attendance plan to make the trip to New York City for the "World Says No To War" rally on Saturday at noon.
[ WAW Patriot Forum press release | WAW Patriot Forum photos | NYC rally travel update ]

The federal appeals court ruled on Wednesday to uphold the denial for a permit for a march in NYC. United for Peace and Justice have reached an agreement with NYC that a rally can take place at First Ave. at 49th St. starting at noon. Dozens of feeder marches are being planned. Millions are expected to take part in worldwide protests on Feb. 15th. Thousands of local residents will attend. Buses locally are sold out; trains are supposed to be available from Metro North in Poughkeepsive to accomdodate the overflow. France, Germany and Russia are expected to propose a peace plan to the UN this Friday for more inspectors and a peacekeeping force. Meanwhile, British Prime Minister Tony Blair has come under fire for plagerizing a decade-old student's paper as a major part of his recent "disclosures" on Iraq and which was cited by Colin Powell in his UN speech. Both Powell and Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld were directly challenged by Green Germany Secretary of State Fischer over their assertions about the threat posed by Iraq. The Greens led the European Parliament in voting against a war with Iraq. Area peace groups are making plans to begin protesting once war is delcared, including meeting at the Capitol at noon.

[ United for Peace and Justice Feb. 15th page | Judge Rules Against March in NYC | UPJ Reacts to Court; Calls needed to NYC officials ]

More than 60 activists took over the five corners at Madison and Lark on Tues. Feb. 4th for a noontime protest against war for oil. Braving a freezing rain, the protestors joined with similar events in more than 120 cities nationwide to oppose the Bush administration's plan to invade Iraq in order to secure access to their huge oil reserves. The group called for increased fuel efficiency in cars and for investments in wind and solar power. Meanwhile NYC still has refused to issue a permit for the huge Feb. 15th rally for peace at the UN. Bus tickets are on sale at the Women's Building.
[ Albany Protest | Ralph Nader on No War for Oil | United for Peace and Justice - Feb. 15th ]

At Four Corners in Delmar, 125 people held a peace vigil during rush hour. The vigil was the first action of the newly formed Bethlehem Neighbors for Peace. "As we held our signs and showed our presence for peace, cars honked their horns and gave peace signs in support. " The next meeting of Bethlehem Neighbors for Peace will be held at the Bethlehem town hall on Sunday, February 9 from 4:30 to 6:30 PM. (Photo is of recent DC rally).
[ First hand report ]

The lobby day and rally by the Hunger Action Network and ES2 is annually one of the largest multi-racial events in the area. The groups will meet at 9 AM for a briefing, followed by a rally at the Capitol at noon, with lobby visits in the afternoon. Governor Pataki's proposed budget includes over a billion dollar cut in funding for schools and a billion dollar cut in health services. Funding for emergency food is cut by $1.6 million. College tuition is hiked by $1,200 at SUNY and TAP is cut by 1/3. Over 300 faith, labor and human services organizations have called instead for a small surcharge on the personal income tax for wealthy taxpayers, recapturing part of their large federal tax cut. The groups also support closing various corporate tax loopholes. Call Hunger Action at 434-7371
[ Press Release On Fair Taxes | Hunger Action Networr ]

Syracuse police last Wednesday arrested 16 people protesting possible war with Iraq after they refused to leave the entrance to the Federal Building. 200 people chanted anti-war verses and singing peace songs, with slogans such as "No Blood for Oil," "War Breeds Terrorism" and "Build Peace Through Cooperation." On Saturday, January 25th, 2003 from 1 to 3PM, area residents who were evicted from Crossgates Mall for wearing t-shirts bearing peace messages will be greeting drivers on the mall's perimeter road. They have a permit issued by the Town of Guilderland. A local peace train is being organized for the Feb. 15 peace rally at the United Nations in NYC.
[ Syracuse Protest | United for Peace | Crossgates Evicts Peace Activists ]

An estimated 150,000 to 300,000 rallied in DC Saturday to say no to war with Iraq, while police estimated 200,000 rallied in San Francisco. Many other protests took place throughout the country and worldwide. Channel 13 local news reports that "hundreds" protested in DC and gives equal coverage to a few dozen counterprotestors. Locally, more than 300 rallied for peace in the cold and darkness at the state Capitol on Friday. The speakers evoked the memory of Martin Luther King in calling for a world without violence, for a country that seeks to end hunger among all children rather than terrozing those whom the Bush administration opposes. Speakers also said that Bush was killing the American way of life in his war for oil. United for Peace is planning a major peace rally in NYC on Feb. 15th as part of a worldwide day of protest.
[ Hundreds Rally in Albany | Coverage of DC protests | Coverage of San Francisco protest ]

A new study by NYPIRG and Environmental Advocates found that 80% of the pesticides used in New York are for aesthetic purposes such as lawn care, with 20% for agriculture use. The groups are seeking to ban pesticide use for lawn care.
[ News Release on Study | Copy of Report ]

More than 40 people gathered outside the Federal Bldg. in Albany on Fri. Jan. 10th to protest the forced registration with the INS (Immigrantion and Naturalization Service) for men 16 and older from a list of 13 countries the U.S. Government deems a risk to security. Next week Pakistani and Saudi men must begin the process. A planned protest at the INS building in Latham was moved after arrests were threatened, though some individuals did protest there. Critics charged that the registration was racist, targeting individuals not because of their behavior but because of their national origin. In December, more than 1,000 immigrants were detained in California when they voluntarily showed up to register.
[ Global indymedia site | LA Indy Media Story | Greens Oppose Mass Detention of Muslims ]

Chaffin/Light Associates wants to construct 349 houses in the middle of Shawangunk Ridge in the Town of Gardiner -- an area the Nature Conservancy has called "one of the last great places" on Earth. In addition to devoting nearly 740 acres to housing, the plan calls for the construction of a fitness center, a dining facility, and an 18-hole golf club.
[ Earth First Reports | Poughkeepsie Journal Story | Save the Gunks ]

Huge peace rallies are planned in DC and San Francisco on Jan. 18 and 19th. Peace activists will also join in local marches and events for Martin Luther King Jr. birthday. The weekend begins with a march and rally on Fri. Jan. 17th starting at the State Capitol at 4:30 PM. More than 100 women have signed up for the ongoing Women's Fast for Peace at the Women's Center.
[ MLK Events | 100 Women Fast for Peace | Capital District for Justice and Peace ]