November 2001

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CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Tues., Nov. 6 Election Day. Use your franchise! VOTE!

Tues., Nov. 6 1:00­3:00 p.m.

Board meeting at the office. Important policy decisions are made at these meetings. All members' input is welcomed, indeed, urged!

Sat., Nov. 10 3:00 p.m.

Winning Health Care for All with Single-Payer Financing. Don Bechler, Chairman of Health Care for All. 626 Pacheco. Info: 415/695-7891.

Sat., Nov. 10 Regional Meeting

Postponed from last month, the GPs regional meeting will be held in Sacramento. Call the office if you can join in and to make arrange- ments for transportation.

Tues., Nov. 13 12:00­1:00 p.m.

If there is a runoff for City Attorney, a forum will be held in the Main Library, Koret Auditorium. Info: 415/557-4277.

Tues., Nov. 13 1:00 p.m.

Gray Panthers Health Committee meeting in the office, 1182 Market St., Room 203.

Wed., Nov. 14 6:00­8:00 p.m.

Commonwealth Club. Racism and Our Current Global Crisis: Links and Lessons from the World Conference Against Racism. 595 Market St., 2nd floor. RSVP 415/837-1113, ext. 308.

Sat., Nov. 17 10:30 a.m.­12:30 p.m.

OWL: "Housing Choices for Older People in San Francisco," panel discussion with Benson Nadel. For location and info: 415/989-4422.

Tues., Nov. 20 12:30­3:00 p.m.

General meeting. Universal Health Care: A Checkup. Panel discussion featuring Don Bechler, Chairman of Health Care for All.

Unitarian Church, Geary and Franklin.

Many progressive meetings and events are announced daily on radio stations KPFA-FM (94.1); KALW-FM (91.7); KQED-FM (88.5).

It Takes Guts

to take a different tack!

In a 5-to-4 vote, the City Council of Berkeley became the first city in the nation to call for a halt to the U.S.­led bombing of Afghanistan. This vote followed a unanimous commendation of Rep. Barbara Lee, the Oakland Democrat who cast the single vote against giving Bush unlimited authority to use military force.

Councilwoman Dona Spring who sponsored the measure contends the military campaign "will breed more terrorism and create more instability in the Middle East (and) particularly Pakistan, which has nuclear weapons."

Backlash against the vote threatens the economy of Berkeley and we urge GPs who are able to, to shop and buy in Berkeley!


Taking Stock of Health Care Now!

In November our health care status will be examined by national activist Don Bechler and our own Health Committee students including Inger Conrad and Gloria Channon wo have been reading Universal Health Care: What the United States Can Learn from the Canadian Experience. Your input is encouraged at this current and important meeting.

Board Ballot Recommendations

At our October Board of Directors meeting and at our General Meeting we examined the November ballot in depth.

The Board endorsed (vote Yes) the following propositions:

Prop. B. Solar Energy Revenue Bond

Prop. C. Elective Office Vacancies

Prop. D. Voter Approval Required for Bay Fill

Prop. F. Municipal Water & Power Agency

Prop. H. Board Authorization of Solar Power & Energy Conservation Revenue Bonds.

Prop. I . Proposed San Francisco­Brisbane Municipal Utility District

We urge you to read the ballot carefully and vote your own conscience.

U.S. Bill of RightsIn Jeopardy!

Articles in addition to, and Amendment of the Constitution of the United States of America, proposed by Congress, and ratified by the Legislatures of the several States, pursuant to the fifth Article of the original Constitution.

[The first ten amendments went into effect November 3, 1791.]

Article I

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

Article II

A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

Article III

No soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the Owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.

Article IV

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

Article V


Article V

No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except tin cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.

Article VI

In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defence.

Article VII

In Suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise re-examined in any Court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.

Article VIII

Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.

Article IX

The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.

Article X

The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.

Warning!

When public excitement runs high as to alien ideologies, is the time when we must be particularly alert not to impair the ancient landmarks set up in the Bill of Rights.

Luther W. Youngdahl


Hunters PointRally for Cleanup

Hundreds of concerned citizens of San Francisco turned out to support this most polluted part of our City in its ongoing battle for environmental justice. In addition to eloquent speakers and enthusiastic entertainers, the committee posted the following list of actions we can all take to support their cause:

· Support the goals of Prop P (2000) and its implementation. Clean up the

Hunters Point Shipyard to Residential Standards, passed by 87% of S.F. voters and passed unanimously by the Board of Supervisors.

· Include this community in any negotiations of the Disposition and Development Agreement (DDA) and all interested parties (the City, Redevelopment, Lenar the developer, etc.) We need to be kept up-to-date on all things that affect the DDA.

· Support independent testing and monitoring of HPS.

· Support screening and treatment of residents for environmental illness: Support a local treatment facility for residents.

· Insure fairness in the Navy's allocating of economic development contracts and jobs in the cleanup process.

· Insure Hunters Point children a clean and healthy place to live.

Late Bulletin (10/18/01): Senate OKs funding for Hunters Point Cleanup!

Actions in Solidarity with Peace Activists

· Hand out Know Your Rights from the National Lawyers Guild and publicize the U.S. Bill of Rights.

· Encourage literacy among those kept illiterate by fundamentalist zealots. Of what use is the dropping of "leaflets with peace messages" to a populace that can't read?

· Campaign for No War Toys or Video Games; join Women in Black.

· Start a postcard campaign to encourage problem-solving through the United Nations and urge the White House to pay up all our dues!

· Gather in small groups to listen to each other and plan strategies.

· Stop the bombing in order to distribute real food relief (not Fast-Food snacks) before the snows come in less than four weeks!

· Let your views be known by mail to: U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, D.C. 20515-0001 and to the U.S. Senate, Washington, D.C. 20510-0001. Handwritten postcards are bestwith the "white powder" scare of the moment!

· If you are able donate money, Jon Carroll suggests, and we concur, U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees, www.usaforunhcr.org for info and online donations, by phone at 800/770-110, or mail USA for UNHCR, 1775 K St. NW, Suite 290, Washington, D.C. 20006: Doctors Without Borders at www.doctorswithoutborders.org; phone, 888/392-0392; mail: Doctors Without Borders USA, P.O. Box 2247, NY, NY 10016-2247.



The Newsletter of the San Francisco Gray Panthers is published each month, and distributed free of charge to members and friends of this nonprofit organization.


Editorial Board: Rebecca Hirshleifer, Mitzi Raas; Publisher, Astrid M. Spector; Art Director, Fannie Biderman; Proof, Lurilla Harris; Circulation: Harold Greenblatt and Mary Francis Smith. Printed by Graffik Natwicks; Webpage design: Barry Simpkins




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