[CUADPUpdate] St. Valentine Was Executed, and This & That!

[Abraham J. Bonowitz]

[]

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Greetings All!

There is just SO much happening in our movement 
that I could not possibly keep you apprised of it 
all.  Suffice to say that *abolition* bills have 
passed out of committees or even in floor votes 
in the past week in Colorado, New Mexico, and 
Nebraska.  The lethal injection debacle has put 
executions on hold in more than a hand full of 
states.  Staying on top of it all is a major task 
so I thought I would just share a few resources 
and you can poke around for yourself.  See the 
contents list.  This message, then, is more about 
some interesting (to me, anyway) side notes and internal movement stuff....

BUT FIRST:  While munching your chocolate, please recall that....

ST. VALENTINE WAS EXECUTED!

Valentine was clubbed to death, then beheaded, on 
February 14 around 270 C.E. during the Christian 
persecution.  In a way, it could be said he died 
for love and it may be for this that his feast 
day, named in 496 C.E. by Pope Gelasius, has become associated with romance....

Get the various full stories at 
<http://www.cuadp.org/valentine.html>http://www.cuadp.org/valentine.html


CONTENTS
Molly Ivins, RIP
Art Buchwald, RIP
MOVEMENT JOBS!
100,000 Blog Hits!
Where to Get DP News - Resources
March 1st is International Death Penalty Abolition Day

**************


MOLLY IVINS, RIP

I've had the pleasure of hearing Molly Ivins 
speak several times, and it was always a 
riot.  In my one actual encounter with her, we 
exchanged e-mails back in 1997 about an idea I 
had to write anti-death penalty jokes to feed to 
Letterman and Leno and other such folks, but I 
dropped the ball and never followed up on that 
one....  Anyway, there were many good 
remembrances of Molly, and outstanding 
abolitionist.  Here's one of 
them: 
http://deathpenaltyusa.blogspot.com/2007/02/rest-in-peace-molly-well-miss-you.html

*******



ART BUCHWALD, RIP

Art Buchwald is on record supporting certain 
executions.  One of his last columns supported 
the hanging of Saddam Hussein.  But at least 
once, Art Buchwald supported abolitionists by 
donating a "your name used in a column" 
opportunity to the fund raising auction by Death 
Penalty Focus of California.  Mine was the 
highest bid.  The result can be found 
here: 
http://www.thestandard.com.hk/archive_news_detail.asp?pp_cat=&art_id=2170&sid=&con_type=1&archive_d_str=19970216

**********


MOVEMENT JOBS!

First, congratulations to Morgan and Kristin, who 
have left their positions in the Program to 
Abolish the Death Penalty at Amnesty 
International USA to go on to other interesting 
projects.  Those jobs are now open....

Program Assistant, AIUSA Program to Abolish the Death Penalty (PADP)

The Program Assistant will perform a variety of administrative functions
in a fast-paced environment to support the Program Director. These include
drafting routine correspondence, typing, word-processing, responding to
requests by the membership and public, processing routine
administrative/book-keeping paperwork, working with the New Media Unit on
online actions, assembling, researching, and summarizing death
penalty-related information, coordinating mass mailings, supervising PADP
interns. Exceptional customer service skills are essential as this
position will perform numerous membership and general public servicing
functions. This position is also responsible for the development and
maintenance of filing systems, databases, listservs, relevant sections of
the website, and other administrative procedures/systems. Other duties as
assigned by Director including coordinating meetings and workshops.

Qualifications:
Ideal candidate will have previous experience working/volunteering with
human rights and/or social justice organizations, with prior knowledge of
death-penalty abolition issues preferred. Excellent computer/research
skills, including proficiency in MS Word, Excel, Access, and Internet
research required. Additional requirements include: excellent
interpersonal skills; highly organized and detail-oriented with
outstanding follow-through skills, ability to multi-task and prioritize in
a fast paced environment; extremely dependable; the ability to both
function effectively as a team player and work independently as required.
Professionalism and discretion is a must. Sense of humor a plus.
Bachelor’s degree preferred.

To apply, please send resume and cover letter to AIUSA, Attn: Human
Resources, Code: PADP2, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, S.E. Washington, DC 20003,
or fax 202.546.7142, or 
<mailto:humanresources%40aiusa.org>humanresources at aiusa.org. 
No calls please. AIUSA
is an EOE.


Program Associate, AIUSA Program to Abolish the Death Penalty (PADP)

Amnesty International USA is seeking a Program Associate for The Program to
Abolish the Death Penalty Program (PADP). The position is based in the
Washington, DC, office and is a full-time, six-month, temporary position.
Qualified candidate will have primary responsibility for ensuring that the
program’s administrative, communication, and membership outreach functions
are performed efficiently and effectively. Other responsibilities include
participating in and contributing to the strategy development, planning,
coordination, and implementation of AIUSA's national and international
efforts against the death penalty. The Program Associate will work closely
with the Program Director, the Media Relations Unit, the National Steering
Committee (NSC), State/Regional Death Penalty Abolition Coordinators
(SDPACs/RDPACs), other volunteer leadership members, AI Regional Directors,
and AI Field Organizers in setting and meeting programmatic goals and
objectives. Additionally, the Program Associate will work closely with
coalition partners on the state and national level. Other duties include
coordinating and implementing all aspects of the annual National Weekend of
Faith in Action on the Death Penalty;

Qualifications:

Ideal candidate will be a highly motivated individual with a strong,
demonstrated commitment to human rights/social justice issues. Previous
experience working/volunteering with human rights and/or social justice
organizations required, prior knowledge of death-penalty abolition issues
strongly preferred.

Position also requires: outstanding written and verbal communication
skills; exceptional organizational/time management skills and the ability
to prioritize effectively; excellent interpersonal/public
relations/community outreach and organizing skills; maturity and the
ability to exercise good judgment and discretion as required; strong
commitment to participatory decision-making and teamwork; previous
experience working with volunteer structures; and excellent
computer/research skills (including proficiency in MS Word, Excel, Access,
and Internet research). Bachelor’s degree required, Master’s
degree/additional education in social sciences/human rights a plus.

To apply, please send resume and cover letter to AIUSA, Attn: Human
Resources, Code: PADP/PA,
600 Pennsylvania Avenue, S.E. Washington, DC 20003, or fax 202.546.7142, or
<mailto:humanresources%40aiusa.org>humanresources at aiusa.org. 
No calls please. AIUSA is an EOE.

***************


100,000 BLOG HITS!

Congrats, David!

http://deathpenaltyusa.blogspot.com/2007/02/100000-and-counting.html

***************



WHERE TO GET DP NEWS - RESOURCES

http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/ - read this 
early and often, or sign up for the weekly e-mail.

http://npogroups.org/lists/info/abolish - If you 
don't want to miss news items about the death 
penalty, and other useful info, get on the 
Abolish List, which serves solely as a forum for 
the exchange of ideas and information by people 
who support alternatives to the death penalty and 
the immediate abolition of Capital Punishment.

******************



MARCH 1ST IS INTERNATIONAL DEATH PENALTY ABOLITION DAY

INTERNATIONAL DEATH PENALTY ABOLITION DAY IS JUST WEEKS AWAY....

Citizens United for Alternatives to the Death 
Penalty (CUADP) reminds you that March 1st, 
International Death Penalty Abolition Day, is 
just weeks away....  This year marks the 160th 
anniversary of the date in 1847 that the state of 
Michigan became the first English-Speaking 
territory in the world to Abolish the Death 
Penalty. Visit 
<http://www.cuadp.org/abolitionday.html>http://www.cuadp.org/abolitionday.html 
for details.

**************

Yours in the Struggle,

--abe