Friday, August 17th, 2012

THE HISTORY OF August 17th, I'm ___________________ .

And I'm ___________. Today in 1910: When a New York garment factory opens in defiance of a strike, women strikers break through police lines and demolish the factory. They throw sewing machines out the window and smash tables and chairs.

Garment workers these days still toil up to 15 hours a day for as little as 50 cents. The industry-wide strike started in June when the women workers of one of the most notorious New York sweatshops walked out. Only a few weeks after the walkout, 60,000 are on strike up and down the east coast.

As the strike has spread, so has violence against it. Picketers have been assaulted and beaten --one woman has been disabled for life. In September, the strike will lead to an agreement that finally improves working conditions and wages.

Friday, August 17th, 2012

It's This Weekend’s Action Calendar!

Tonite, Mary Eberle will discuss “Growing Food in Small Spaces” - an overview on growing vegetables and herbs in containers and square-foot gardens. Growing sprouts in jars and mushrooms on coffee grounds, vertical gardening, and urban fruit foraging will also be discussed. Brought to you by Sustainable Atwood and Madison Public Library, this is tonight from 5:30 to 7:00pm at the Hawthorne Branch Library, 2707 East Washington Ave. Call 246-4548 for more info.

What kinds of plants and animals live in your backyard? How do your local ecosystems work? How does nature change over the seasons, and how are these seasons changing over time? At this month's Wonder Weekend, learn how keeping records can improve your relationship with nature and provide a unique perspective on our planet's systems and cycles. This will be at the Aldo Leopold Nature Center, 330 Femrite Drive in Monona Saturday, 11 am to 4 pm and Sunday, Noon to 4 pm. There is a cost for this event. More info at naturenet.com/alnc or 216-9371.

Tomorrow is the Feel Good Fundraiser featuring the Uni Charity Market. Enjoy the unique and lively Uni Market where you can shop more "green" and spend your funds wisely by purchasing recycled items, hand-made and home-grown goods, as well as rejuvenating shiatsu treatments. All goods and services will be bought and sold in Uni currency. Everyone is welcome! This is tomorrow from 10 am to 4 pm at the Goodman Community Center, 149 Waubesa Street. More info at 257-4663.

Mondays from12 Noon to  1pm there is a Peace vigil at the corner of Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard  and Doty Street,  in front of U.S. Post Office. All are welcome! Please bring your peace signs and banners!  For more info, email mbspeace1@charter.net