After the Paris terrorist attacks, many feel that the world has entered a new and terrible “reign of terror”. The big dilemma is how we balance national security issues against our individual privacy concerns. Is it possible to track down terrorists, who use encryption to communicate and coordinate attacks, while also safeguarding our own personal data?

JOIN US FOR A LIVELY DISCUSSION AT FIRST PARISH CHURCH ON JANUARY 27 AT 7 PM 3 CHURCH STREET IN CAMBRIDGE.

GREG NOJEIM, director of the Freedom, Security, and Technology Project at the Center for Democracy & Technology in Washington. The project is dedicated to keeping the Internet free and open, and protecting privacy in the digital age against surveillance and government intrusion.

DANIEL ROSENTHAL recently left the White House, where he served as Director for Counterterrorism on the National Security Council. While at the NSC, he advised President Obama and senior Administration officials on a wide range of matters including emerging cyber threats and the expanded use of new encryption technologies. Rosenthal also teaches “National Security Dilemmas” at the University of Maryland.

Cambridge Forum
3 Church Street
Cambridge, MA 02138
617-495-2727
www.cambridgeforum.org

This year’s Left Forum conference theme is:

Rage, Rebellion, Revolution: Organizing our Power

This year’s Left Forum – May 20 – 22 – will offer something fundamentally different from conventional politics and from this year’s presidential election mainstream media hype. The Left Forum will gather and build on the growing consciousness that basic social problems are sharpening in ways that traditional politicians, journalists, and academics rarely admit and do not even begin to solve. The Left Forum will again engage the forces and movements making basic progressive social change the big issue that will no longer be kept out of the public discussion.

The left now generates an increasingly powerful and effective criticism of contemporary capitalism and the mushrooming social problems it worsens. Ever more people are becoming active: from Occupy Wall Street to Black Lives Matter and the Fight for $15; from escalating climate justice demands to the massive national support for Bernie not despite but because he wears the label socialist. Something profound is shaking.

From the streets and the offices, from campuses, factories, and stores, disgust with traditional society, politics, rules, and conventions is growing. The left starts there to build a program for change. We can do better than capitalism and its catastrophic wars. We reject the corporate dominance that corrupts our politics while delivering endless cycles of depressions, unemployment, and austerities. Our fellow citizens share our horror at the grotesque inequalities of today’s corporate system: its discriminations against and oppressions of vast populations and its destruction of our environment. There are far better alternatives. Join us to share, discuss, and debate those alternatives and how best to achieve them.

Please consider submitting a panel or workshop for the 2016 gathering.

First Night Against All the Wars Home and Abroad 2015-2016
Copley Square near the Old Library steps
Thurs. Dec. 31st 1 to 6 PM

https://www.facebook.com/events/793216350805415

Both rallies are on Boston Common, the first starts at 1:00 pm.

1. Jobs With Justice

From November 29 to December 12, world leaders will meet in Paris to negotiate a new global climate treaty. This is their 21st attempt, and we already know that even if they reach an agreement, it won’t be nearly as strong as we need it to be. 2015 is on track to be the hottest year on record, and unprecedented storms, floods and droughts are happening around the world. We are running out of time, and we must create an unstoppable grassroots movement for real climate action.

On December 12, people will come together from every corner of New England to call for bold climate solutions that create secure union jobs, strengthen community power and help build a more resilient future. We envision a movement that unites us all, and we will lift up the voices of New England’s organized labor, immigrant rights, racial justice, and climate justice groups as we call for jobs, justice and climate action together.

More details: http://www.jobsjusticeclimate.org/

2. Boston Climate Defense

Begins at 3:30 pm.

Right now in Paris, the world leaders are committing us to 4.5 – 7 F degrees of warming by 2100. Catastrophic. For 20 years they have done nothing, and now they are saying this is the best they can offer us. But this year we, the people of Boston, New England and the planet will have the last word:

AND WE SAY NO!

Join us in this powerful demonstration of strength and solidarity with countries around the world as we draw the line on climate change which we cannot cross, to save our city subway lines. And, well, everything else too.

Dressed as “Metro Boston Climate Defense” employees (seeclimatedefense.org), we will “officially” announce and hand out Change of Service maps due to massive flooding to people entering and exiting the subway system. The maps showcase the imminent devastation that sea level rise is going have on our coastal infrastructure if we cross the climate line and fail to keep 80% of our fossil fuel reserves in the ground.

“Official” Uniforms and maps will be provided to everyone joining the action! You need only bring yourself and your desire to win!

We are doing version of this action that was done in 2012, but with a Paris twist, calling on our leaders to “keep it in the ground” or prepare for us to do it for them.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ZX0fde8_lM
Details here:https://www.facebook.com/events/1703768873188138/

Saturday, December 12, 1:00p.m. – 3:00p.m. Rally for Jobs, Justice, and Climate

Dear #WageAction Supporters,

On Saturday, December 12th, people will come together from every corner of New England to call for bold climate solutions that create secure union jobs, strengthen community power and help build a more resilient future. We are so excited that the #WageAction Coalition is supporting this mobilization. Join us!

What: Jobs, Justice and Climate: Defend New England’s Future
When: Saturday, Dec. 12, 1:00p.m. – 3:00p.m.
Where: Boston Common Bandstand (Followed by march in downtown Boston)

World leaders are meeting in Paris from November 29th – December 12th to negotiate a new global climate treaty. This is their 21st attempt, and we already know that even if they reach an agreement, it won’t be nearly as strong as we need it to be. 2015 is on track to be the hottest year on record, and unprecedented storms, floods and droughts are happening around the world. We are running out of time, and we must create an unstoppable grassroots movement for real solutions. We’ll lift up the voices of New England’s organized labor, immigrant rights, racial justice, and climate justice groups as we call for jobs, justice and climate action together. You won’t want to miss it!

See you there!

RSVP on Facebook! https://www.facebook.com/events/1702720679961035.

#WageAction Coalition