March 17, 2007 - Egyptian American Society Meeting
The Egyptian American Society of
Houston will hold a meeting at Bush
Park. This will be a fun event (no
lectures or official speakers).
Activities will include Sports for youth
members, Children’s games, Music,
Backgammon tournaments with trophies,
Balloons for kids and games.
Food: the society will provide hamburgers
and chicken that will be grilled on the
spot. Please bring a side dish such as
salad, rice, drinks, deserts, etc.
March 17,
2007 - Peace March
When: Saturday, March
17, 2007
March
9-15, 2007 - "An Unreasonable Man"
Ralph Nader Documentary
When:
Saturday, March 17 2007
Time: 2 pm - 6 pm
Where:
George Bush Park, Houston
For more information, visit
http://easathouston.blogspot.com.
March 19 marks the 4 year anniversary of the
disastrous War in Iraq. While some groups
are organizing anti-war rallies and
protests, the Lone Star Democratic Club
would like to invite you to participate in a
Peace March, as an alternative to focusing
on war. We'll meet at the Peace Palace, walk
to Market Street, have some coffee or a bite
to eat, and then walk back to the Peace
Palace, weather permitting.
For more information, contact Karen Moeck at
281-419-8965, or Tomi Phillips at
281-292-1652.
Time: 2 pm - 4 pm
Where: The Woodlands Peace Palace,
10210 Grogans Mill Rd., The Woodlands, TX,
77380
Sponsored by
Lonestar Democratic Club.
The undisputed leader of the modern Consumer
Movement, Ralph Nader built a legislative
record that rivals any contemporary
president, all without ever holding public
office. Many things we take for granted—seat
belts, airbags, product labeling, no nukes,
even the free ticket you get after being
bumped from an overbooked flight—are largely
due to the efforts of Nader and his citizen
groups. Yet today, when most people hear his
name, they think of the man who cost the
Democrats the Presidential election.
Directors Henriette Mantel and Steve Skrovan
trace the life and career of one of the most
unique, important and controversial
political figures of our time.
Scheduled for viewing on Friday, March 9
at the Greenway Theatre
For more information, contact Susie at
ssolanji@yahoo.com.
Film's official web site
-
Flyer
March 14, 2007 - Arab Women Month:
Arab Women in Art with Salwa Mikdadi
Event
flyer -
Speaker Information
The Arab American Educational Foundation is
sponsoring various events throughout the months
of March and April to give tribute to Arab Women
and to showcase their contributions and explain
their role in Arab societies.
All events are held at Rice University at 7pm
and are free to the public. Here is a schedule:
Wednesday,
March 14
Arab Women in Art with Salwa Mikdadi
Keck Hall room 100 at 7pm.
Monday, March 26
Arab Women Filmmakers with Dr. Alia
Arasoughly
Keck Hall room 100 at 7pm.
Thursday, March 29
Arab Women in Islam with Imam Yahya
Hendi
McMurtry Auditorium in Duncan Hall at
7pm.
Tuesday, April 17
Arab Women in Poetry & Performance with
Nathalie Handal
McMurtry Auditorium in Duncan Hall at
7pm.
For more information, visit
www.aaefhouston.org or call 713-266-2390.
March 13, 2007 - What the Future
Holds: An Insider's Look at Israeli Politics
Gil Hoffman, The Jerusalem Post
When: Tuesday, March 13, 2007
Time: Registration: 11:30 a.m.,
Program: 12:00 - 1:30 p.m.
Where: Hyatt Regency, Window Box, 1200
Louisiana, Houston
Political infighting, both public and
private, has left the political landscape in
Israel in more turmoil than ever before.
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and his
Kadima party are dropping in the polls.
Press reports of sex and corruption scandals
and a full-blown inquiry into the failures
of the Lebanon war are threatening the
stability of the current government. All of
this is making any agreement on
disengagement policies even more difficult
to broker. What is happening in Israeli
politics today? What can we expect from the
current government and how will political
events affect the peace process?
Gill Hoffman is the chief political
correspondent for The Jerusalem Post. He
covers diplomatic issues, often traveling
with the prime minister to report on key
international developments. Hoffman has
interviewed many of the leading figures in
Israeli political life including former
prime ministers Sharon, Peres, Barack, and
Netanyahu, as well as numerous Palestinian
leaders. Called the “most optimistic man in
Israel” by Israel television, Hoffman’s
frequent television appearances and popular
column offer a behind the scenes look at the
intrigue and humor in the Israeli political
arena.
HWAC members $30, non-members
$40. Table Cost $500.
For more information, visit
www.hwac.net.
March 8, 2007 -
Bahrain
Investment Conference and Luncheon
The Bilateral US-Arab Chamber
of Commerce and the US Department of
Commerce cordially invite you to
Bahrain Investment Conference
and Luncheon
featuring Bahraini Economic Development
Board Officials and US Deputy Secretary of
Commerce David Sampson.
When: Thursday, March 8, 2007
Time: 9:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Breakfast/Panel Discussion/Luncheon
Where: Four Seasons Hotel, Downtown
Houston
As a result of the Free Trade Agreement
recently ratified between Bahrain and the
United States, a high level delegation from
Bahrain is making its first bilateral trade
mission to the US, led by the US Deputy
Secretary of Commerce and the Chairman of
the Bahrain Economic Development Board,
Sheikh Mohammed bin Isa Al Khalifa. The
delegation is comprised of the chairmen and
distinguished executives of Bahrain's top-
tier businesses who seek US expertise,
investment opportunities in the U.S., and
joint venture partners.
Delegated represent the following sectors:
Law, Financial Services, Education &
Training, Healthcare, Tourism, IT,
Petrochemicals, Alternative Energy,
Construction, Architectural &
Civil Engineering Firms, Food Distribution
and Real Estate Development
Cost: $35 Members, $50 Non-Members
To register online for the luncheon, visit
www.bilateralchamber.org.
To schedule a one-on-one meeting with one of
the delegates please email Aseel Saqer at
programs@bilateralchamber.org or call us
at 713-880-8168.
March 8, 2007 - The
War Tapes
As the fourth anniversary of the U.S.
invasion of Iraq approaches, the Houston
Peace Forum will screen the first war film
produced by soldiers themselves. It conveys
both the passion and mind-set of American
soldiers and the human and community costs
of the war. A discussion will
follow. Refreshments served prior to the
program.
When: Thursday, March 8, 2007
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Where: First Unitarian Universalist
Church, 5200 Fannin, Room 302
For further information, contact Pat Nichols
at 713-681-6267.
March 7, 2007 - The Jimmy Carter
Book: A Debate
Ussama Makdisi and Ron Dermer
When: Wednesday, March 07, 2007
Time:
Registration:
6:00 p.m., Program: 6:30 - 7:30 p.m.
Where: The Junior League, The
Ballroom, 1811 Briar Oaks
The publication of former President Jimmy
Carter's book, Palestine Peace Not
Apartheid, has generated a storm of
controversy. Hailed by some and scorned by
others, it caused a wave of resignations at
the Carter Center in protest. What do you
think about President Carter’s book? Is it
factual or deficient? Are the maps accurate?
Please join us for a discussion of the
merits or demerits of this controversial
book.
Ussama Makdisi is an associate professor of
history and the first to hold the
Arab-American educational foundation chair
of Arab studies at Rice University. He is
the author of numerous books and articles
including The Culture of Sectarianism and
"Reclaiming the Land of the Bible". Makdisi
has also published in the International
Journal of Middle East Studies, Comparative
Studies in Society and History, and the
Middle East Report. His current research
focus is American missionaries in the Middle
East.
Ron Dermer serves as minister of economic
affairs at the Israeli Embassy in the United
States. He earned a degree in finance and
management from the Wharton School of
Business at the University of Pennsylvania
and a degree in philosophy, politics, and
economics at Oxford University. For nearly
ten years he worked in Israel as a
consultant, advising some of the country’s
leading politicians, including Benjamin
Netanyahu and Natan Sharansky. For nearly
three years, he was a columnist for The
Jerusalem Post. In 2004, Dermer co-authored,
with Natan Sharansky, the best-selling book,
The Case For Democracy: The Power of Freedom
to Overcome Tyranny and Terror.
HWAC members Free, non-members $20.
For more information, visit
www.hwac.net.
March 5, 2007 - Ending Genocide in Darfur and Beyond
John Prendergast, International Crisis Group
When: Monday, March 05, 2007
Time: Registration: 6:00 p.m., Program: 6:30 - 7:30 p.m.
Where: Westin Oaks, Consort Ballroom, 5011 Westheimer
Since February 2003, the Darfur region in western Sudan has been the site of one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises. The Janjaweed militias have killed an estimated 300,000 civilians and have displaced more than a million others. Reports of mass rapes and the destruction of villages have brought criticism from world leaders and prompted visits from Colin Powell and Kofi Annan. The killing continues and last September, President Bush had declared the slaughter in Darfur to be “genocide.” What can be done to end the conflict, enforce a cease fire, and bring the millions of refugees back safely to their abandoned villages?
John Prendergast has worked on crisis issues in Africa for the past two decades. Prendergast is currently a special adviser to the president of the International Crisis Group, he previously served the Clinton administration as director of African affairs for the National Security Council (1996-99) and as special adviser to the State Department (1999-2001). He has worked with various non-governmental organizations in Africa and is the author of Frontline Diplomacy: Humanitarian Aid and Conflict in Africa.
His most recent book Not on Our Watch: The Mission to End Genocide in Darfur and Beyond is co-authored by Don Cheadle and will be available in late April.
HWAC members Free, non-members $20.
For more information, visit www.hwac.net.
March 2, 2007 - "An Unreasonable Man"
Ralph Nader Documentary
It is scheduled for viewing in Houston on March 2nd at the Landmark Theatres Houston.
For more information, contact Susie at ssolanji@yahoo.com.
Film's official web site - Flyer
March 1, 2007 - Blood and Oil: The Global Geopolitics Of Petroleum Dependency
Michael Klare, director of the Five College Programs in Peace and World Security at Hampshire College in Massachusetts, will speak on "Blood and Oil: The Global Geopolitics Of Petroleum Dependency." Author of a book on blood and oil, plus many others, including "Resource Wars: The New Landscape of Global Conflict," for decades Klare has researched and published on various aspects of the militarization of U.S. foreign policy, including the global arms trade.
When: Thursday, March 1, 2007
Time: 1 p.m.
Where: Auditorium at HCCS Campus on the West Loop
Sponsored by HCCS Northwest College and the Departments of History and Global Studies at Southwest College.
For more information, contact Dr. J. Kent McGaughy, kent.mcgaughy@hccs.edu or Dr. Michael McCormick, mike.mccormick@hccs.edu.
The electoral defeat of the Republican majority in Congress revealed the widespread revulsion against the Bush administration and the Iraq War. But it remains in office, and the foundational elements so far remain intact. World Can't Wait believes that the full implications of these well-advanced policies are not widely understood, even among those who oppose the Bush administration.
When: Wednesday, February 28, 2007
Time: 11:30 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Where: University of Houston at the UC Satellite
Music, poetry, open mike. Sponsored by World Can't Wait-Drive Out the Bush Regime.
For more information, contact Jamilah Hoffman at 713-894-0932, houston@worldcantwait.org.
February 27, 2007 - A Seat at the Table:
Engaging Syria
By Joshua Landis, University of Oklahoma
When:
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
Time:
Registration:
6:00 p.m., Program: 6:30 - 7:30 p.m.
Where: The Junior League, The
Ballroom,
1811 Briar Oaks Lane, Houston
HWAC members Free, non-members $20.
For more information, visit
www.hwac.net.
February 21-22, 2007 -
Phyllis Bennis Speaks on
Iraq Options, U.S. Foreign Policy, U.N.
Future
Bennis is director of the New
Internationalism Project at the Institute
for Policy Studies in Washington D.C. and a
widely respected analyst and critic of U.S.
imperial ambitions. As a journalist
specializing in Middle East and United
Nations issues and formerly based at the UN,
she has written about U.S. domination of the
UN leading up to the Gulf War, economic
sanctions on Iraq, international
interventions, and US foreign policy in the
Middle East. Author and editor of books on
Palestine, Iraq, the UN, and the New World
Order, her most recent publication is La
Ideologia neoimperial: La crisis de EEUU con
Irak (Icaria/TNI/CIP 2003) co-authored with
Mariano Aguirre. (For more details on Bennis,
visit
http://www.tni.org/fellows/bennis.htm)
Her schedule in Houston:
Wednesday, February 21:
-
"Talking Points 101: United States Policies in the Middle East." 9:45-11a.m. in Cyber Lounge at Westgate Campus, Northwest College, Houston Community College.
-
"Before & After: U.S. Foreign Policy & the September 11th Crisis." 1-2:45 p.m.
Eagle Room at Town & Country Campus, Northwest College, HCC. -
"Challenging Empire: US Policy in the Middle East." 6:30 p.m. in Ley Student Center, Farnsworth Pavilion at Rice University
Thursday, February 22:
-
"What's Next for the United Nations? Part 1" 11 a.m.–12:15 p.m. in West Loop Campus Auditorium of Southwest College, HCC.
-
"What's Next for the United Nations? Part 2" United Nations Workshop - College/ Community Groups. 1-2:15 p.m. in same facility.
-
"What's Next? The United States and the Middle East." 3:30 p.m. in Honors College lounge, M.D. Anderson Library, University of Houston.
Bennis' visit is supported by
Office of Educational Initiatives of HCCS;
Northwest College HCCS (NWC) Department of
Anthropology, Sociology & Psychology “The REEL”
film and speaker series; NWC “Pandora's Box”;
HCCS Student Activities Department; Rice
University, Baker Institute; University of
Houston Honors College; and Houston Peace and
Justice Center.
For more information, contact Ann Bragdon,
713-526-1556 (evening),
annbrag@prodigy.net.
February 21, 2007 -
The Status Quo Challenged:
Syria - The Source of Civilization?
Speaker: Dr. Joan Oates, Cambridge
University
Civilization began at Ur? Maybe not... In
the 1970’s Professors Joan and David Oates
revived Sir Max Mallowan’s excavations at
Tell Brak in northern Syria. What they have
unearthed is causing archaeologists to
rethink where and how the world’s earliest
cities in the Fertile Crescent developed.
Dr. Joan Oates reports on her excavations
where signs of civilizations 6,000 years old
have been found. Professor Oates’
discoveries are challenging long held
beliefs and changing the current theoretical
framework.
When: Wednesday, February 21, 2007
Time: 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Where: 301 Sewall Hall, Rice
University, 6100 Main St, Houston
Cosponsored by The Humanities Research
Center at Rice University and with generous
assistance from The British Consulate.
For more information, call
Becky Lao at 281-497-7382.
Admission is
Free.
Speaker: Yehudit Barsky
Director of the AJC's Division of Middle East and International Terrorism will talk about the work of her group. The division monitors extremist publications and websites and provides analysis and briefings on Middle East extremist organizations and their supporters. Ms. Barsky is the author of AJC's "Series on Terrorism.
When: Wednesday, February 21, 2007
Time: 7:30 PM
Where: Kelly International Conference Facility, James A. Baker III Hall, Rice University
The Crucial Issues Series of the American Jewish Community presents the second lecture in their series on Perspectives on Modern Islam.
A reception will follow the lecture. This event is co-sponsored at Rice University by the Boniuk Center for Religious Tolerance and the Baker Institute Student Forum.
February 17-21, 2007 -
Outbound Trade Mission to Libya
For more information, visit
www.bilateralchamber.org.
February 18, 2007 - The
Role of The Muslim Community in Our Society
Islamic Da'wah Center
presents Lecture Series on The Role of The
Muslim Community in Our Society by Dr.
Abdallah Idrees, Former President of ISNA.
Topic of First Lecture: Know Your Role
When: Sunday Feb 18, 2007
Time: 3:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Where: Islamic Da'wah Center, 201
Travis @ Franklin, Houston
Dinner Will Be Served. Baby Sitting is
Available For a Nominal Fee.
For more information, call 713-223-3311.
February 16-18, 2007 -
Out of Place: Memories of Edward Said
Film by Director Sato Makoto
(U.S./Japan, 2005, 138 min.)
Sato Makato's serene and perceptive
documentary parallels Said's autobiography
and then spins off on beautiful tagents. It
includes interviews with Noam Chomsky, Azmi
Bishara, Elias Khoury, and Daniel Barenboim,
who provides the music. "Marvelous! By the
end, I felt I understood Said far better as
a man and a thinker than ever before." -
Andrew O'Hehir, Salon.
When: Friday, February 16 - Sunday,
February 18, 2007
Time: 8 p.m.
Where: Rice Cinema, Rice University
February 10 & 17, 2007 - Arab Roots Basketball Tournament
Bring your
game and hoop it up at the Arab Roots
Basketball Tournament.
When:
Saturdays, February 10 & 17, 2007
Time: 2:00 p.m.
Where: Post Oak YMCA, 1331 Augusta,
Houston, TX 77057
Ten teams compete for the # 1 title.
Deadline is February 7, 2007.
Ages 17 and up are welcome. $10 entry
game fee.
You can e-mail Sign up sheet or Fax it to
Rula Khoury at 713-270-0692. If you
have any questions, please contact Zaid Amin
at 832-279-5698 or Rami Ashawa at
281-236-2945.
Click here for flyer & sign up sheet.
February 10, 2007 - Katy Islamic Association Picnic
When:
Saturday, February 10, 2007
Time: 2:00 p.m.
Where: Katy Islamic Association,
1800 Baker Road, Houston, Texas 77094
February 9, 2007 -
Chasing
Freedom
Amnesty International
Group 23 presents this film about a young
Afghan woman who is persecuted by the
Taliban for running a school for young
girls, and the attorney who reluctantly
takes on her asylum case pro bono after the
woman is detained when she arrives at a U.S.
airport. Inspired by a real case, it depicts
the nearly insurmountable obstacles that
asylum seekers face when they arrive in the
United States.
Immigration attorney Rachel Little of
Tindall & Foster, P.C. will lead a
discussion following the screening.
When:
Friday,
February 9, 2007
Time: 8 p.m.
Where: Aurora Theater, 800 Aurora St.
in the Heights. Parking is available at 6608
N. Main
For more information, contact Mary Anne
Deras Soltis,
msoltis@juno.com.
February 8, 2007 - Stories from anti-war march in D.C.
At the Houston Peace Forum, folks who went
from here to Washington for the January 27
national mobilization against the war on
Iraq will share their experiences. A
discussion will follow about further
anti-war work.
Refreshments will be served prior to the
program.
When:
Thursday, February 8, 2007
Time:
7:30 p.m.
Where: First Unitarian Universalist
Church, Room 302, 5200 Fannin
For more information, contact Pat Nichols at
713-681-6267.
February 7,
2007 - "Justice for the Palestinians"
Freeway Blogging
When: Every Wednesday
Time:
4:30 p.m. - 5:45 p.m.
Where: Mandell Bridge
over Freeway US 59
The purpose is to challenge our
nation's unqualified support of Israel's
oppression, evictions, imprisonments and
killings of Palestinians in the occupied
territories, which will not stop until the
U.S. tells Israel to make a just peace.
For more information, contact Bob
Carter at 713-771-9439,
rwcsr1@yahoo.com.
February 7, 2007 -
Perspectives on Modern Islam: "Voice of
Peace"
When: Wednesday, February 7, 2007
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Where: Shell Auditorium, McNair Hall,
Rice University
Irshad Manji, best selling author of "The
Trouble with Islam Today: A Muslim's Call
for Reform in Her Faith." Her book has been
published internationally including Pakistan
and will be published this year in Turkey,
Iraq and India. In those countries where the
book as been banned, Irshad has been
reaching readers by posting free
translations on her website. A columnist for
the NY Times distribution syndicate, she is
producing a documentary about what there is
to love about Islam.
Co-Sponsored by The American Jewish
Committee.
Seating is limited to 450 guests, first
come, first served. Individuals
seeking tickets should call 713-439-1202 to
reserve. The event is free. Advanced
registration guarantees seating.
Reservations are non-transferable. A valid
photo I.D. for every guest is required for
admittance.
February
6, 2007 - Anti-war
and
Impeachment Freeway Blogging
When: Every Tuesday & Friday
Time:
4:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Where:
Dunlavy Bridge
over Freeway US 59
Anti-war and impeachment activists
are holding up signs on the Dunlavy
Bridge over
Highway 59 in Houston. There's a
huge amount of slow-moving rush hour
traffic then. People are welcome to
bring the issues and signs they
wish.
February 4, 2007 - Rally for the Troops and for
Lt. Ehren Watada at Fort Hood
US Army Lieutenant Ehren Watada is the first
commissioned officer to publicly refuse
deployment to Iraq. He is facing 6 years in
prison and a military court martial on
February 5. There'll be a support
rally for him at the East Gate of Ft. Hood
in Killeen, Texas. Peace activists
from around the state are encouraged to
participate.
Austin activists have organized a carpool,
which will leave that city at 10 a.m.
To join, email
info@codepinkaustin.com or Houston-based
Code Pink member Suzette Mouchaty,
smouchaty@sbcglobal.net.
February 3, 2007 - Friends of Egyptian Children with Cancer Fund Raising Banquet
A Special
Invitation from Friends of Egyptian
Children with Cancer (FECC).
Please join Friends of Egyptian Children
with Cancer For a Fund Raising Banquet.
When: Saturday, February 3, 2007
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Where: Sheraton Suites Houston,
2400 West Loop South
Entertainment by Trans Arabian Band
Guest Speaker: Alaa El-Haddad, MD,
DSc
Professor, Faculty of Medicine
Chair Department of Pediatrics
National Cancer Institute
Cairo, Egypt
To RSVP, call Dr. Samia Khalil at
713-500-6242.
FECC is a Non Profit 501 (c) (3)
Organization. All Donations are
Tax Deductible.
Click here for event flyer.
February 3, 2007 - Children's
Choir Sings of Peace, Hope & Justice
The Haude Elementary Choir in Klein ISD will
be performing a concert featuring
internationally renowned baritone Anthony
Brown. Mr. Brown travels the globe as a
promoter of peace, and has performed in
war-torn countries such as Bosnia and
Uganda. The Haude Elementary Choir and Mr.
Brown will perform a concert featuring songs
of peace, hope and justice.
When: Saturday, February 3, 2007
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Where: Cypress Creek Christian
Community Center, 6823 Cypresswood Dr. in
Spring.
For more information, call Alia Gonzales at
832-484-5631.
February 2, 2007 - "In the Spider's Web" Film Documentary
In the Spider’s Web was produced by Ramallah-based Human Rights organization, Al-Haq, in order to provide a visual overview of collective punishment as it affects the daily lives of Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. The film tells many stories, but focuses on two in particular – those of a woman in Nablus and another in Hebron. Each of them talks of the impact that the compounded measures of intimidation (curfews, closures) and other collective penalties has on their lives. This powerful film directly confronts the audience with the connections between Israeli violations of international law, and the social consequences suffered by many women, some of whom end up blamed for their own plight. More broadly, Musleh’s film highlights the impact that collective punishment has had and continues to have on an entire civilian population.
When: Friday, February 2, 2007
Time:
Where: Houston Public Access Channel 17 in Houston
Director: Hanna Musleh (for Al-Haq)
Year: 2004
Language: Arabic - English S/T
Duration: 45 minutes
February 2, 2007 - Combating Political Islam in Asia
Under the auspices of The Asia Society-Texas
Center, Sadanand Dhume, a journalist and
writer with a long-standing interest in
Asia, will make the case that in the long
run the best defense against terrorism lies
in fostering secularism and enlightenment in
Muslim Asia. Among the subjects he will
address are contrasting approaches to the
war on terror and identifying and supporting
moderates in countries as diverse as
Indonesia and Pakistan. As a former
Indonesia correspondent of the Far Eastern
Economic Review(FEER) and The Asian Wall
Street Journal in Jakarta, Dhume covered
Indonesia's economic, political, security,
and social scene. Before that he was the New
Delhi bureau chief of FEER.
When: Friday, February 2, 2007
Time: 6 p.m. reception, 6:30 program
Where: Westin Oaks Hotel, Consulate
Room, 3rd Floor, 5011 Westheimer in the
Galleria
$10 for Society members, $15 for
non-members, students and educators free.
Reserve by phone M-F 9 a.m.-5 p.m. at
713-439-0265 (credit card orders only).
January 31, 2007 -
Doing Business in Saudi Arabia Breakfast
Featuring guest speaker, Mr. Nasir Abbasi,
Counselor for Commercial Affairs, U.S.
Commercial Service, Embassy of the United
States, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
When: Wednesday, January 31, 2007
Time: 8:30 am - 11:30 am
Where: Federal Reserve Building,
1701 San Jacinto Street, Houston, TX 77002
For more information, visit
www.bilateralchamber.org.
January 30,
2007 - The Evolving Threat
to National Security
By Robert Gallucci, Dean, Edmund A. Walsh
School of Foreign Service, Georgetown
University
When:
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
Time:
Registration:
6:00 p.m., Program: 6:30 - 7:30 p.m.
Where: The Westin Galleria, The
Gallaria Ballroom,
5060 West Alabama,
Houston
HWAC members Free, non-members $20.
From the evolving structure of Al-Qaeda to
the growing nuclear capacity of Iran,
threats to our national security are always
changing. Intelligence agencies must keep
ahead, identifying the issues and finding
better ways to understand and defend against
dangers. What are the most troubling current
and projected national security challenges
to the United States and how can our policy
best counter the threats?
For over 21 years, American presidents from
both parties knew that, whenever the stakes
were the highest and the crisis the most
dangerous, there was only one man to call
“Get me Gallucci”, they would say.
Ambassador Gallucci’s service to his country
began at the Arms Control and Disarmament
Agency, where he worked on efforts to stop
nuclear programs. His career included
negotiations with the Soviet Union on
nonproliferation and nuclear safety
initiatives, establishing WMD inspections in
Iraq as the Deputy Executive Chairman of the
UN Special Commission (UNSCOM) and directing
peacekeeping operations in the Sinai as the
deputy director general of the multinational
force and observers. Ambassador Gallucci was
also responsible for the negotiation of the
1994 Agreed Framework about North Korea's
nuclear weapons program.
Ambassador Gallucci now serves as the dean
of the George Walsh School of Foreign
Service at Georgetown, training the next
generation of leaders.
For more information, visit
www.hwac.net.
January 27, 2007 - Summit
and Peace March with Congresswoman
Sheila Jackson Lee
When: Saturday, January 27,
2007
Time: 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM
Where: Mickey Leland Federal
Building, 1919 Smith Street, 12th
Floor
2:00 PM to 3:00 PM Silent March for
Peace Outside the Mickey Leland
Federal Building
January 27, 2007 - D.C. March Against the War
United for Peace and Justice, the large
national coalition that formed to stop—and
later end—the invasion and occupation of
Iraq, has called for a major mobilization in
the nation's capital.
For more information and updates, visit
www.justicewithpeace.org
To explore the possibility of shared
transportation from Houston, contact
Margaret with Progressive Action Alliance at
margd@r2rconnect.net.
January 25, 2007 -
Words from Exile: Suheir Hammad
Voices Breaking Boundaries presents "Words
from Exile: Suheir Hammad"
Beats from the Middle East/Rhymes from
Occupied Palestine
When: Thursday, January 25, 2007
Time: 8:00 p.m.
Where:
Proletariat,
903 Richmond Ave., Houston, TX
77006
General admission: $5 (no one turned away)
Suheir Hammad’s unique style led her to join
the debut episode of HBO’s Def Poetry, using
words to confront and inform about the
Palestinian American experience. Born in
Amman, Jordan to Palestinian refugee
parents, growing up in Brooklyn, Hammad has
performed from Ivy League universities to
Brooklyn street corners, and is published in
anthologies, periodicals, books, and zines –
her new book Zaatar Diva (Cypher Books) is
out now!
After-party with Beats from the Middle
East/Rhymes from Occupied Palestine,
featuring DJ Rami, DJ Antonio, and DJ
Gracie, followed up by Rok Box with DJ
Witness.
"Words from Exile: Suheir Hammad" produced
by Hadeel Assali, Hana Elsahly, Gunjen
Mittal, Iman Saqr, Hahleemah Wright, & VBB;
cosponsored by the Proletariat, KPFT 90.1
FM, & Arab Roots; and funded in part by the
Houston Arts Alliance, Houston Endowment,
Texas Commission on the Arts, and Poets &
Writers.
For more information, contact Voices
Breaking Boundaries at 713-524-7821 or visit
www.vbbarts.org.
Click here for event flyer.
January 21, 2007 - Talk on
Conscientious Objection, Depleted Uranium
Chas Davis, who successfully gained
release from the U.S. military in January
2005, will speak of his transformation from
soldier to CO. He currently serves as the
Gulf Coast Regional Coordinator of Iraq
Veterans Against the War and Project Welcome
Home.
Also, Chas' mother Margaret will discuss the
use of depleted uranium weapons, and explain
why they are a radiological weapon that
should be outlawed.
There will be excerpts from the film "Beyond
Treason.
When: Sunday, January 21, 2007
Time: 1:15 p.m.
Where: Fireside Room of First
Unitarian Universalist Church, 5200 Fannin
For more information, contact Deborah
Rothschild at 713-861-2494.
January 20, 2007 - Egyptian American Society Meeting
The Egyptian American Society of
Houston cordially invites you and
your family to attend a Welcoming
Dinner to meet your new 2007 board,
new and old fellow Egyptian friends,
and have a nice evening with good
food and hear what the board has
planned for you for 2007.
Dinner and Refreshments are included
(2007 paid members only!!!).
Unpaid and Non-Members $10 per
person (adults) and $5 (children
4-12).
When:
Saturday, January 20, 2007
Time: 6:00 p.m.
Where:
Arab American Cultural & Community
Center,
10555 Stancliff Rd, Houston
Please RSVP as soon
as possible: Mrs. Tara Zaafran (713)
476-0420 or (713) 824-2456.
For more information, visit
http://easathouston.blogspot.com.
January 17,
2007 - The Shia Revival: How
Conflicts within Islam Will Shape the Future
By
Vali Nasr, Senior Fellow, Council on Foreign
Relations
When:
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
Time:
Registration:
6:00 p.m., Program: 6:30 - 7:30 p.m.
Where: The Junior League, The
Ballroom,
1811 Briar Oaks Lane, Houston
HWAC members Free, non-members $20.
The conflict in Lebanon, escalation of
sectarian violence in Iraq, and growing
tensions between Iran and the United States
have all drawn attention to the growing
influence and power of the Shias in the
Middle East, a region traditionally
dominated by the Sunnis. How have external
forces contributed to this long-born
political struggle for the soul of Islam and
how will Sunni-Shia differences shape the
future of the region? Vali Nasr offers an
in-depth analysis of the current Shia
revival, the history of the Shia-Sunni
competition, and of U.S. policy options.
Dr. Nasr is an adjunct senior fellow for the
Council on Foreign relations as well as a
professor of Middle East and South Asia
politics and associate chair of research in
the department of National Security Affairs
at the Naval Postgraduate School. Dr. Nasr
specializes in political Islam with a focus
on the relation of religion to politics,
violence, and democratization.
Dr. Nasr is the author of five books the
most recent of which is The Shia Revival:
How Conflicts Within Islam Will Shape the
Future, which will be available at the
program.
For more information, visit
www.hwac.net.
January 14-17, 2007 - Memorial to Honor U.S. & Iraqi War Casualties
The 3000th Memorial will honor all casualties of the Iraq War—U.S. and Iraqi. Organized by Veterans for Peace Chapter 12, Military Families Speak Out, and CodePINK, the observance is designed to help educate the public on the human cost of this illegal and immoral war of choice. The memorial will consist of three displays. One will be more than 3000 small U.S. flags, each labeled for a specific casualty, with a sub-section for Texas casualties using small Texas flags. A second display will be dedicated to the Iraqi civilians—perhaps 650,000—who have died since the invasion. A third display will commemorate the hundreds of dead civilian contractors. The displays will be set up in Memorial Park in the meadow at the east end of Picnic Lane and Memorial Drive (south side).
Opening ceremonies will be 4:30 p.m. Sunday. On Monday and Tuesday there will be brief sundown ceremonies. Volunteers are needed to assemble flags on Saturday, January 13 at 2 p.m. at the memorial site; place flags beginning at 8 a.m. on Sunday; then remove the display on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m.
For further information or to volunteer, contact Jim Rine at jmrine@hotmail.com.
January 16, 2007 - No Place
For Hate
This is a public meeting. The Theme of the
Meeting is “NO PLACE FOR HATE.” We urge
Muslims to show up for solidarity with their
Muslims Community in Katy.
When: Monday, January 15, 2007
Time: 7:00 PM
Where: Living Word Lutheran Church,
3708 S.
Mason Road, Katy, TX 77450,
281-392-2300
The Church is located at the South-West
Corner of the Intersection of S Mason Road
with Wertheimer Parkway. We need many Muslim
Families to show up for this "Interfaith
Understanding Function". It is open
for all people of the three religions:
Muslims, Christians, and Jews. Please show
your support to your Muslim Community in
Katy by attending.
January 14, 2007 - Peace & Living Together: An Islamic Perspective
Mustafa Yigit, Imam for the Citadel Islamic Dialog Foundation in Houston, will be the guest speaker at Northwest Community Unitarian Universalist Church.When: Sunday, January 14, 2007
Time: 10 a.m.
Where: Northwest Community Unitarian Universalist Church, 5920 Hwy 6 North
Refreshments and discussion after the service.
For more information, contact Ken Bielicki at 281-579-3395 or visit www.nwcuuc.org.
January
13,
2007 -
Winter Eid Festival
Door prizes, food, games,
fun for he family, free
admission, free children
activities: ring toss,
bowling, jumping balloon and
more.
Reserve your free meal
tickets: Cafe Bel Ami, 1020
Campbell Rd., 713-984-1661.
When:
Saturday, January 13, 2007
Time: 1 - 4 p.m.
Where: 1020 Campbell /
Bel Ami and Spring Valley
Park
Campbell Road - between I-10
and Westview Rd.
Brought to you by Cafe Bel
Ami/Deli, Khudairi Group,
Jerusalem Market, L.A.
Communications, Mary Kay C.
Woon.
For more information, contact L. Abbassi at
713-984-1661.
January
11, 2007 -
The Iron Wall
To begin its 22nd
year, the Houston Peace Forum will screen
"The Iron Wall," a documentary that explains
how the wall is Israel's latest strategy to
make the illegal Jewish settlements in the
occupied territories a permanent fact on
the ground. It explains the wall's impact on
the Palestinian people and on the peace
process.
When: Thursday,
January 11, 2007
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Where: First Unitarian Universalist
Church, 5200 Fannin, Rm. 302.
For more information, contact Pat Nichols at
713-681-6267.
January
11,
2007 -
Block "The Surge" Candle Light Vigil
President Bush
is expected to announce this Wednesday night
(January 10) that he will send at least
20,000 more U.S. military personnel to Iraq.
What he calls a "Surge" is his pig-headed
response to the American public's
repudiation of the Iraq war in the recent
Congressional election, and also the Iraq
Study Group's call for a new direction.
On Thursday, the day after the speech, speak
out against this blatant disregard of both
public and expert opinion. Attend a
candle light vigil at 7 p.m. in front of the
First Unitarian Universalist Church, 5200
Fannin St. corner Southmore. In the
Fireside Room inside the church, there will
be an opportunity to send pre-printed
postcards or write personal letters to
Congressional leaders and our own
representatives demanding that no more lives
and treasure be thrown away.
Parking is available in lots on Fannin in
the two blocks just north of the church. For
more information, contact Deborah Rothschild
at
rothschilddeb@yahoo.com.
January
11,
2007 -
Fractured Alliance: The United
States and Turkey after the Invasion of Iraq
By Steven Cook, Council on Foreign Relations
When:
Thursday, January 11, 2007
Time:
Registration:
6:00 p.m., Program: 6:30 - 7:30 p.m.
Where: The Junior League, The
Ballroom,
1811 Briar Oaks Lane, Houston
HWAC members Free, non-members $20.
The United States and Turkey have a long
history of common interests, with mutual
security concerns at the core of the
relationship. But violence in Iraq has had a
dramatic and negative affect on U.S.-Turkey
relations. Many Turks blame the United
States for their national security problems
and for the larger concern about the
emergence of an independent Kurdish state.
What can be done to repair the fractured
alliance? Can Turkey be successful in
bringing together Iraq’s other neighbors to
create regional cooperation in the hopes of
developing a solution to end the violence?
Dr. Cook will discuss Turkey’s role in Iraq
as well as outline a roadmap for Turkey’s
future in the region and the global
community.
Stephen Cook is the Douglas Dillon fellow at
the Council on Foreign Relations. Cook’s
expertise is in Arab and Turkish politics as
well as US-Middle East policy. From 2001 to
2002 Cook worked as a research fellow at the
Brookings Institution and from 1995 to 1996
he served as a Soref research fellow at the
Washington Institute for Near East Policy.
Cook has published articles in several
policy journals, magazines, and newspapers
including Foreign Affairs, Foreign Policy,
Weekly Standard, New York Times, Washington
Post, Financial Times, and the International
Herald Tribune.
For more information, visit
www.hwac.net.
January 10,
2007 - "Justice for the Palestinians"
Freeway Blogging
When: Every Wednesday
Time:
4:15 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Where: Mandell Bridge
over Freeway US 59
The purpose is to challenge our
nation's unqualified support of Israel's
oppression, evictions, imprisonments and
killings of Palestinians in the occupied
territories, which will not stop until the
U.S. tells Israel to make a just peace.
For more information, contact Bob
Carter at 713-771-9439,
rwcsr1@yahoo.com.
January
9, 2007 - "Anti-war"
Freeway Blogging
When: Every Tuesday
Time:
4:30 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Where:
Dunlavy Bridge &
Woodhead
Bridge over Freeway US 59
Anti-war and impeachment activists
are holding up signs on the Dunlavy
Bridge and Woodhead Bridge over
Highway 59 in Houston. There's a
huge amount of slow-moving rush hour
traffic then. People are welcome to
bring the issues and signs they
wish.
January 3, 2007 -
Funeral Service for Dr.
Mohamed Fustok
Dr. Mohamed Fustok passed
away unexpectedly on Monday,
January 1, 2007.
He is the brother of ACC
co-founder and current
president Dr. Abdelkader
Fustok.
A funeral service will be
held at Al Farouq Mosque on
Wednesday, January 3, 2007
at estimated time of 12:30
P.M.
Al Farouq Mosque is located
at
1207 Conrad Sauer Drive,
Houston, TX 77043.