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Recognized as one of the foremost scholars of Chinese civilization from the 16th century to the present, Yale University professor Jonathan Spence has written extensively on the role of history in shaping modern China. Spence’s most recent book Return to Dragon Mountain: Memories of a Late Ming Man, chronicles the life of Zhang Dai, a Chinese historian whose life became intertwined with the Ming Dynasty. Join Spence for a conversation on the connections between life and art in the Ming Dynasty. (more…)

The litigators of the Indiana chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union are some of the busiest in the country. Is it because they are thebest, or because Indiana’s legislators give them so many opportunities to rescue the Bill of Rights? Find out from lead ACLU-IN litigator Ken Falk … and ask him if he thinks his upcoming trips to the Supreme Court of the US will go better than some of his recent cases. (more…)

Julia Butterfly Hill says that one’s purpose is not what one is called to do, but what one is called to be. She is a well-known activist who made herself famous sitting in the branches of a redwood tree for upwards of two years. Seane Corn is a New Jersey native who shows people how to use the practice of Yoga to pull through life’s rough spots. In tandem, they are a testament to the power of living like you mean it.

“Sentiment without action is the ruin of the soul.” So goes the aphorism. You can become what you’re called to be without Julia and Seane, but they’ll definitely give you some good ideas for how to do it.
http://www.offthematintotheworld.org/
http://www.whatsyourtree.blogspot.com/

July 16, 7 to 9pm. Sponsored by Journey’s Fire. Unitarian Universalist Church Sanctuary, 615 W. 43rd St., Indianapolis, IN 46208.

See Nuvo’s interview with Julia.

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Should capital punishment be abolished?

Who knew?

Death penalty court cases cost over 33% more than the cost of imprisoning a defendant for life. Join the Indiana Information Center on the Abolition of Capital Punishment for their monthly meeting at the ACLU offices to hear even better reasons to make executions things of the past.

The monthly meeting of the Indiana Information Center on the Abolition of Capital Punishment will take place on Sat. July 12 at 1 pm at ACLU of Indiana offices, 1031 E. Washington. For more information or directions, visit iicacp.org or contact Chris Hitz-Bradley at 797-3210 or exparrot@sbcglobal.net

The weekly vigil protesting the US Occupation in Iraq will take place on Fri. July 11 from 4:30-5:30 pm in front of the Federal Building, North and Pennsylvania, sponsored by the Indianapolis Peace and Justice Center. Bring an appropriate sign or have one provided. For more info, contact Ron or Jane Haldeman at 926-4318 or ronjane@igc.org

“The Story of Stuff,” a 20-minute video that covers environmental, psychological and social impacts of our consumption oriented society, will be shown on Wed. July 9 at 6 pm in Room 116 at Wheeler Art Center, 1035 Sanders, sponsored by Marion County Green Party, Campaign for Sustainable Economics, The Black and Latino Institute, and Simple Living Group of Indianapolis. Discussion afterwards will be lead by Greg Buck. For more info, contact Greg Buck at ecothink@yahoo.com or 917-1638.

Hoosiers discouraged about violence in Indianapolis now have an opportunity to rally for peace.

Christamore House and Weed & Seed have come together to create

PEACE IN THE STREETS

STOP THE VIOLENCE!

They’re representative of the exuberant organizations of the Haughville neighborhood. And they’re putting on this peace rally, which definitely looks to be an exuberant affair. Inner peaceniks will be satiated, as will stomachs (free lunches are provided).

Downtown at the City Market: 222 E Market Street

12 - 1:30 p.m.

For more information, call Aaron Williams at (317) 635-7211, ext. 239.

According to Amnesty International, 137 countries have abolished the death penalty. During 2007, 24 countries, 88% in China, Iran, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and the United States alone, executed 1,252 people compared to 1,591 in 2006. Nearly 3,350 people were sentenced to death in 51 countries. More than 20,000 prisoners are on death row across the world.

It’s too bad I don’t know how to resize this map, because it’s a pretty interesting one. To see the whole thing, go here. Or read a recent NPR article titled High Court Rules on Guns, Death Penalty to learn more about current developments.

If it sounds like a good idea for the US to abolish the death penalty, it might be time to head on over to the Nora library. If it sounds like a bad idea, it’s definitely time to book it over. Join the Indy Artists’ Peace Project for thought-provoking conversation about retributive justice in the United States.

The Indy Artists’ Peace Project is a community of Indianapolis artists who are dedicated to promoting peace and justice through the arts. The roundtable discussion will feature Chris Hitz-Bradley of the Indiana information Center for the Abolition of Capital Punishment (IACACP), attorney Richard Kammen (who worked with the Timothy McVeigh case, among others), and others to be announced soon.

Monday, July 7th, 7:00-8:30 p.m. at the Nora Branch Library. Free. For more information, email

indyartists@aol.com

or call (317) 255-0673.

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What do al-Husseini, Hitler, and John Rothmann have in common? They are all going to be featured at Barnes & Noble, of course!*

But the similarities pretty much stop there. Hitler and al-Husseini were perpetrators of crimes against humanity, while Rothmann is the humble co-author of Icon of Evil: Hitler’s Mufti and the Rise of Radical Islam.

The book, which Rothmann co-wrote with David G. Dalin, was released June 24th. It’s got the goods: near-unlimited linguistic resources, access to primary documents, and all the dirt on the honorary Aryan’s support of Hitler and his Final Solution. It’s a page-turner (according to the author’s in-laws) and it’s got verve (according to their publisher).

Publishers Weekly (the 7th review down) and the Middle East Times have given it stamps of approval.

Rothmann will be at the Clearwater Crossing Barnes & Noble in Indianapolis on July 9th at 7:00 p.m. to talk about his work and perhaps sell a few copies. The event promises to be an interesting and thought-provoking one, and plus there will be food.

Barnes & Noble @ Clearwater Crossing

3748 E 82nd St.

Indianapolis, IN 46240

*Thematically only! No in-person appearances by al-Husseini or Hitler

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Before assuming you know what Catholics think about stem cell research, perhaps you should listen to one of the leading Catholic bioethicists. (more…)