Occupy Pittsburgh
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Our War Dollars
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PITTSBURGH‘S PEACE AND JUSTICE NEWSPAPER Published by the Thomas Merton Center
VOL. 41 No. 10 December, 2011
DR. SHIVA ACCEPTS MERTON AWARD By Diane McMahon
lege of Allegheny County.
On Thursday, November 3, the Thomas Merton Center board, cornerstone sustainers, staff, members, and friends honored ecofeminist and environmental advocate, Dr. Vandana Shiva, with the 2011 Thomas Merton Award at the Sheraton Station Square Hotel. The award was given to Dr. Shiva at the 39th Thomas Merton Awards Dinner, an annual event that that recognizes a nationally or internationally acclaimed activist for their lifelong transformative efforts which have led toward the creation of a more peaceful and just world. In all, about 500 people attended the dinner this year. Old friends and new friends came together to hear the important message that Dr. Shiva had to share about environmental health, the rights of mother earth, and justice for all. In particular, Dr. Shiva focused on the damaging impacts of genetically modified seeds on indigenous cultures, farmers, and the health and well-being of all of us. She also spoke about the deleterious effects that industrialization and capitalism have had on farming. Her message was powerful and well received.
Additionally, with the help of M. Shernell Smith, another dinner planning committee member and Diversity Coordinator at Carnegie Mellon University, this year's dinner guests were entertained by an all male Indian a capella group known as Deewane. In Hindi, Deewane means "madly in love," and is reflective of the Carnegie Mellon University students‘ passion for music. The Raging Grannies ended the evening with the song "Give Me a Home Where the Rivers Don't Foam." The Raging Grannies are long time supporters of the Thomas Merton Center. Together they work to promote global peace, justice, and social and economic quality by raising public awareness through the medium of song and humor. Their participation in the dinner for the past three years has been greatly appreciated by attendees. Photo by Jibran Mushtaq Dr. Shiva with her Merton Center Award
The dinner had an Indian focus this year, with recipes provided by Sumana Misra-Zets, member committee, and Director of College and Commuof the Thomas Merton Center dinner planning nity Diversity Initiatives at the Community Col-
Prior to the start of the dinner this year, local environmental groups and Thomas Merton Center projects and affiliates displayed information and engaged guests in their important peace and justice work. Continued on page 3
―We are the 99%‖ HUNDREDS OCCUPY GREENFIELD BRIDGE TO DEMAND JOBS, INFRASTRUCTURE REPAIR By Molly Rush
of old and young, workers, students and jobless, black and white, and religious and labor leaders A study by Transportation for America found that who came together for a spirited and determined Pittsburgh has the highest percentage of structur- action. ally deficient bridges in the nation. Nearly one in three, or 30.4 percent, of bridges in the Pittsburgh Among the protesters were teachers, Port Authorregion are rated as structurally deficient. The total ity employees, and health workers recently made number of structurally deficient bridges in the jobless due to budget cuts. One speaker, Ryan region is 1,133. Dunmire, a furloughed teacher in the Steel Valley school district, told Essential Public Radio, ―I On November 17th over 700 protesters jammed know that in Allegheny County alone we have the Greenfield Bridge to demand jobs and funding over 300 teachers furloughed to date, which for infrastructure repair and other critical needs. means that they are out of work. In the state of Chanting ―We are the 99%‖ was a cross section Pennsylvania alone we have over 5,500 teachers
that are out of work.‖ The action was one of hundreds held on bridges across the nation to reclaim the rights of the 99% of Americans whose voices are ignored in Washington. They are demanding an economy and a country that works for everyone, not just the 1%. More Occupy starting on page 7 Molly Rush is a Thomas Merton Center Board Member.
TMC works to build a consciousness of values and to raise the moral questions involved in the issues of war, poverty, racism, classism, economic justice, oppression and environmental justice. TMC engages people of diverse philosophies and faiths who find common ground in the nonviolent December, 2011peaceful NEWPEOPLE struggle to bring about a more and just - 1 world.
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