[Cal Dems] November 25 Digest: Republican Debate party and Treats for the Troops

[Molly Green]

CAL DEMS EMAIL DIGEST for November 25, 2007


Hello!  I hope everyone had a fantastic Thanksgiving break.  We’re coming
down to the end of things now, and I know there are busy weeks ahead, but
that doesn’t mean you can’t come take a much needed break with the Cal
Dems on Thursday!  This week our meeting will be rather arts and crafts
themed so come check it out.  Go Bears!

Happy Birthday to Alex Reider and Miranda Yaver from the Cal Dems.  Have a
great day!

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CAL DEMS ANNOUNCEMENTS:

-General Meeting, Thursday 7pm, 56 Barrows
This week we will be making cards to send to our troops overseas as part
of the Treats for Troops program.  Bring your best card making skills and
creativity!

-PVC, Wednesday 7pm, 115 Barrows
Morgan, as always, has marvelous things planned for this week.  Stop by,
stay awhile, and discuss policies, values, and communication.

-YouTube Republican Debate viewing party, Wednesday, 8-10 pm, 2546 Warring
St. Apt. 4
Join the Cal Dems at Molly B. and Sarah G.’s house (right across from the
Clark Kerr campus) on Wednesday for a rockin’ good time watching the
Republican debate.

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PROGRESSIVE QUOTE OF THE WEEK:
“Liberalism is trust of the people, tempered by prudence; conservatism,
distrust of people, tempered by fear.” –William E. Gladstone
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PROGRESSIVE EVENTS:

- Poetry after the Storm, November 29, 7-9 pm, MLK Lounge

The third annual PATS is a landmark mobilization of campus student poets
and the phenomenal California Poet Laureate, Al Young. We are coming
together for one amazing night of poetry and music for the victims of
Hurricane Katrina and the devastated intellectual infrastructure of New
Orleans. Three years after the storm, only one of the city's 15 libraries
has been re-opened (less than a month ago, in October 2007).




- "The US-Israel-Iran Triangle – Is Conflict Inevitable?", Thursday
November 29, 5pm, I-House Auditorium

Trita Parsi, author of "Treacherous Alliance – The Secret Dealings of
Israel, Iran and the US" and President of National Iranian American Council
Sponsored by the Religion, Politics and Globalization Program
Co-sponsored by the Institute of International Studies, the Institute for
Governmental Studies, the Center for Middle Eastern Studies, Berkeley Hillel
and the Iranian Students Alliance in America

With tensions mounting, a clear understanding of past US-Israel-Iran
relations is imperative. Dr. Parsi is one of the few people in the US - if
not the only one - that has traveled both to Iran and Israel and
interviewed top officials in these countries on the state of
Israeli-Iranian relations.  His new book, Treacherous Alliance, deals with
Israeli-Iranian relations in the last 50 years and their impact on US
policies and America's standing in the Middle East.

Books will be signed and sold after the event.



-"Moral Responsibility for Systemic Atrocity: Civilian Death in Iraq and
Afghanistan,” Tuesday, December 4, 2007, 12 p.m., 223 Moses Hall

Neta C. Crawford is Professor of Political Science and African American
Studies at Boston University. Her most recent book, Argument and Change in
World Politics: Ethics, Decolonization and Humanitarian Intervention
(Cambridge University Press, 2002) won the Jervis-Schroeder Prize in 2003
for best book in International History and Politics.  Her forthcoming book
is America's Long War: Beyond the Bush Doctrine and the War on Terror.  She
has written articles for International Security, International Organization,
Orbis, Perspectives on Politics, and the Journal of Political Philosophy.
She has served on the Slavery and Justice Committee at Brown University, the
Council of the American Political Science Association, and the Editorial
Board of the American Political Science Review.



- It's the Economy, Stupid: The Growing Anxiety of the Middle Class and
the Future of American Politics, Thursday, December 6, 6:30 pm, UC
Berkeley Labor Center, 2521 Channing Way (near Telegraph Ave.)


A Public Lecture by Jacob Hacker, Yale University Political Science
Professor and Author of The Great Risk Shift

In his book The Great Risk Shift: The New Economic Insecurity and the
Decline of the American Dream, Jacob Hacker lays bare this unsettling new
climate, showing how it has come about, what it is doing to our families
and our finances, and how we can fight back. Join us for a public lecture
about the financial roller coaster many Americans are living on, how it is
reshaping American politics, and what can be done to create policies that
safeguard economic security in an increasingly uncertain world.

Sponsored by the UC Berkeley Labor Center, School of Public Health,
Charles and
Louise Travers Department of Political Science, and Institute of Governmental
Studies.

Information: 510-642-6371; andreabuffa at berkeley.edu;
http://laborcenter.berkeley.edu



-Assemblywoman Loni Hancock fundraiser, Dec 2, 4-6 pm, $50 for students

 The holiday fundraiser is for the Assemblywoman’s State Senate Campaign. 
The even will take place at the home of Toni Garrett-Farb: 215 Alvarado
Rd., Berkeley, CA 94705.   We will ring in the Holiday season with good
food and good friends!

For more info and to RSVP to the event, contact Cynthia Brantly Pierce at
cynthia at hancockforsenate.com



- Can the green economy reduce global warming AND fight poverty?,
Thursday, November 29, 12:00-1:30 p.m., Morgan Hall Lounge, 114 Morgan
Hall

 The green economy is exploding. Solar panels, wind turbines, green
 buildings, and plug-in hybrid cars are just a few examples of the new
 products and technologies that are being introduced. Find out how this green
 wave is impacting the Bay Area job market and what policies can ensure that
 green collar jobs don't just benefit an "eco-elite," but also provide living
 wages for poor people and people of color. Featured speakers are *Raquel
 Rivera Pinderhughes*, *Professor of Urban Studies, San Francisco State
 University*, and *Ian Kim*, *Green-Collar Jobs Campaign Policy Director* *at
 the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights*.

 This event is sponsored by the Institute for the Study of Social Change
 and the UC Berkeley Labor Center. It is hosted by the College of Natural
 Resources Dean's Office.

 For more information contact Andrea Buffa, 510-642-6371,
 andreabuffa at berkeley.edu or Christine Trost, 510-643-7237,
 ctrost at berkeley.edu.



- Warning: tricksters may try to get you to sign the Electoral College
Initiative!

There have been documented cases of  people working for a group called the
Arno Political Consultants tricking young people into signing petitions
that they said would “help children with cancer” when, in fact, they were
signing in support of the Electoral College Initiative.  The Electoral
College Initiative is a Republican-backed initiative to change the way we
apportion electoral votes from a winner-take-all system to a system based
on Congressional districts.  The bottom line is that you really don’t want
to sign a petition for this initiative, so be wary!
http://www.calitics.com/showDiary.do;jsessionid=5A8AD37674B668B4C5173BB746F3C827?diaryId=4449

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PROGRESSIVE OPPORTUNITIES:

-Carnegie Endowment for International Peace Junior Fellows Program,
application due Dec. 7

The Carnegie Endowment for International Peace is a private, non-profit
organization dedicated to advancing cooperation between nations and
promoting active international engagement by the United States. The Junior
Fellows Program at the Carnegie Endowment is designed to provide a
substantive work experience for students who have a serious career
interest in the area of international affairs. Approximately 8-10 students
will be hired to work at the Carnegie Endowment on a full-time basis for a
period of one year.

Applicants must be graduating college seniors or individuals who have
graduated within the past academic year. No one will be considered that
has already started graduate studies. Applicants should have completed a
significant amount of coursework in international affairs, political
science, economics, history, or Russian or
Chinese studies. The selection process is highly competitive.

Applications and other required materials for this position are due by
Friday,
December 7th, 2007 to the Career Center’s Information Lab. For more
information on application procedures and an extended job description,
please visit http://career.berkeley.edu/Internships/Carnegie.stm.



-Announcing PolitiCorps Summer Institute 2008
 Applications available – online now at www.PolitiCorps.org

PolitiCorps Summer Institute is a 10-week boot camp consisting of
hands-on campaign skills training, innovative public policy
intensives, and real-world applications of leadership skills and
campaign savvy. PolitiCorps strives to create the next generation of
progressive leaders. The Summer Institute is based in Portland,
Oregon.

PolitiCorps Fellows are college seniors or recent graduates who have
demonstrated a commitment to progressive values and a deep interest in
forward-thinking public policy and the political process. PolitiCorps
Fellows come from every state in the nation, and from a wide variety
of experiential and cultural backgrounds. Extensive campaign
experience is not a prerequisite for PolitiCorps. PolitiCorps is deeply
committed to providing leadership experience and training to students of
color.


Deadlines

To find out more about the program and to begin the application
process, please visit www.politicorps.org.  You may also request an
application by calling (503) 233-3018.

Early Admission Deadline:  December 19, 2007
Regular Admission Deadline:  March 3, 2008
Rolling Admission Deadline:  June 6, 2008
Note:  At least 50 percent of the class will be recruited from the
application pool of the first two deadlines.



-Barak Obama Student Organizer Internship Program

The California headquarters of Obama for America is launching its
'Student Organizer Internship Program'. The Campaign is currently
seeking 5 interns. Each Student Organizer will be
working on their campus to help implement traditional organizing
models, assist in the execution of visibility and awareness events,
and help with the management of student voter data.

 This is an unpaid position that offers Student Organizers invaluable
hands-on political experience. The Organizers will play an integral
role in an innovative youth-vote building strategy, and build valuable
relationships with Obama for America staff and within the student
network of political activists and organizers. Each Organizer will
play a crucial role in implementing the California Obama for America
youth-voter strategy, and will be responsible for effectively creating
and utilizing a student supporter network.

 The internship is a 10 hour per week commitment--though the intern
will have control over their own schedule (e.g., the work can be done
in the evenings, weekends, between class, etc.) If interested, please
send a cover letter and resume to mgoedman at barackobama.com. You will
receive an email acknowledging receipt. An interview will be scheduled
for the following week.


-Hillary Clinton Campaign

Internships at the San Francisco office are available in the
Communications Department, Policy Department, and Field Operations
Department. Hone your leadership skills working with volunteers, learn how
to plan campaign rallies, and work hand-in-hand with experienced and
dedicated campaign officials! This internship is an excellent opportunity
in a fast paced, growing, and forward thinking environment.
Interested? Send your resume to HRCNorCalIntern at gmail.com.

Volunteer positions are also available. Our volunteers are charged with
getting the word out about Hillary by reaching out to their social
networks through e-mails, calls, and house parties.
To sign up, e-mail NorCalHRC at hillaryclinton.com.






--Internship for the Office of Sen. Diane Feinstein

Students interested in public service and the federal government are
encouraged to apply for an internship with the Office of U.S. Senator
Dianne Feinstein in San Francisco.

Working with the Senator's office gives students a chance to see how a
Senate office functions and provides a local perspective on assisting
constituents with varying issues involving the federal government.

Intern duties may include:
Handling constituent phone calls and requests, assisting with
correspondence, drafting constituent letters, conducting research,
attending community meetings, helping staff with advance work for events,
opening and sorting mail

To apply please visit the Senator's website and complete the intern
application: www.feinstein.senate.gov or click here Application Form
http://feinstein.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Files.View&File
Submit completed applications directly to the San Francisco office via
e-mail to: morgan_galli at feinstein.senate.gov

Start dates and work schedules are very flexible.
This is an unpaid internship