Events Calendar

February  2012
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Invitation to the next meeting Berlin Chapter of Democrats Abroad Germany Tuesday, Feb. 7th, 2012

You are cordially invited to join DABerlin for our

Next Round Table

Tuesday, Feb 7th 2012, 7:30 p.m.

Restaurant “Max and Moritz” - www.maxundmoritzberlin.de
Upstairs

 

Doors open at 7:00 pm
Please feel free to come at 7 pm to eat and socialize.

 

BERLIN CHAPTER, DEMOCRATS ABROAD GERMANY www.demsinberlin.de

DEMOCRATS ABROAD INTERNATIONAL – www.democratsabroad.org

 


Max und Moritz Restaurant
Oranienstr 162
10997 Berlin-Kreuzberg
Invitation

Political Pub Night Wed. Jan. 18th , 2012 – 7:00 PM

The Lir
(NEW LOCATION)
Flensburger Strasse 7
10557 Berlin
Tel.: 030 392 8502

http://www.thelir.de

How to communicate with your representatives in Washington?

In his letter to Washington from the 19th of June Tom Fina, Executive Director Emiritus of Democrats Abroad, shows you how to make contact. Click here for further instructions.

DA Chapters in Germany

Click for Website

Berlin
Frankfurt
Goettingen
Hamburg
Heidelberg
Kaiserslautern
Munich
NRW
Stuttgart

QR Code for following Barack Obama on Twitter

Thoughts on the Democratic Ticket 2012

So what are your thoughts on the Democratic Ticket for 2012?  In Robert Reichs Blog http://robertreich.org/post/14932718385 he makes a political prediction of an Obama-Clinton ticket with Joe Biden becoming Secretary of State.  I think this would be a great solution and a one two three knock out punch combination

The IRS and your money and taxes abroad! Wall Street Journal from Dec. 10, 2011

What’s Next for Offshore Accounts?

The IRS Is Ramping Up Efforts to Flush Out Taxpayers Hiding Money Abroad, Even as New Opportunities Are Emerging to Move Money Offshore Legally

…New rules affecting 2011 tax returns require taxpayers with assets held offshore to make extensive disclosures to the Internal Revenue Service or risk harsh penalties. The goal: to ferret out secret accounts used to skirt U.S. taxes …

to continue reading click here …

 

 

 

Film “Inside Job” showing on October 4th, 2011

Film:   INSIDE JOB


We will be showing director Charles Ferguson’s Oscar winning documentary INSIDE JOB, a searing assault on the banking industry and its role in the financial meltdown of 2008.

The film traces the connections between government and financial institutions, as well as theoretically independent academics, showing how they combined to trigger excessive profit-taking and endanger the wider economy.

In 2011, INSIDE JOB won the Oscar for best documentary.

Max und Moritz Restaurant
Oranienstr.

Berlin – Kreuzberg

Join our Labor Day picnic on Sept. 4th at Tempelhof

Please join us for our annual

Labor Day Picnic

Tempelhof Airfield Park

Sunday Afternoon, September 4th

12:30 – 17:00

Weather Permitting

If it is raining please check our website for updates

www.demsinberlin.de

We’ll be joined by

American Voices Abroad Berlin

Bring your friends, family and food & drink to share

and the “Allegretto” café is nearby

We will Not be grilling

activities

Horseshoes  Kite flying

 

Look for our Banners and New Obama Kite!

Please see the map at

www.demsinberlin.de

scroll down to see area for Independence Day Picnic

Entrance – Columbiadamm

U-6 Platz der Luftbrücke

Bus 104 to Friedhöfe Columbiadamm

 

Tempelhof Airfield map:

http://www.gruen-berlin.de/fileadmin/used_files/Infomaterial/Tempelhof/Übersichtsplan2.pdf

 

See You There!!

Rick Perry is strong on capital punishment

Rick Perry holds the record on executions

From an article in Perrspective http://www.perrspectives.com/blog/archives/002267.htm

Rick Perry and George W. Bush, Texas’ Willing Executioners
Asked the biggest difference between himself and George W. Bush, Texas governor and new Republican White House front runner Rick Perry answered, “I went to Texas A&M. He went to Yale.” Which isn’t far from the truth. After all, their pronouncements on policies and personal beliefs are eerily similar. And when it comes to donning the executioner’s hood in the death penalty mecca that is Texas, Rick Perry and George W. Bush are almost indistinguishable. Continue reading Rick Perry is strong on capital punishment

The Bush Deficit – by John Cohn


From “The New Republic”

The Bush Deficit

  • Jonathan Cohn

  • July 25, 2011 | 9:28

Jonathan Cohn writes: “Critics of President Obama never tire of blaming him for today’s high deficits. But if blame belongs with one president, it belongs with Obama’s predecessor, George W. Bush. The chart above, which the New York Times created based upon figures from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, illustrates this point very clearly. But it’s worth reviewing the history here, because while it’s familiar to most of us who follow politics it doesn’t seem to get a lot of attention in the political debate.

By the end of the 1990s, the federal budget was in surplus for the first time in decades. Partly that was a product of unusually strong economic growth, during the internet boom, which had swelled tax revenues. But partly that was a product of responsible budgeting, presided over by the most recent two presidents, George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton. In order to reduce deficits, lawmakers and those two presidents had agreed both to raise taxes and to reduce spending.

Continue Reading

Join our Patchwork of Voters

Just 150 years ago our nation fell into civil war, and the legacies live on.  Today the divide in our country is being fueled by anger, frustration, economic woes, but we, Democrats Abroad, still believe that President Obama and the Democrats are the ones who can lead us through these times and make a better tomorrow.

The 111th Congress was the most productive and progressive Congress since 1965.  The 112th has been hindered by Republican obstinacy to doing the right thing for our country, preferring to act out an Alice in Wonderland tea party scenario.

While we all know tea parties are for children with imaginary friends, Republicans across the country have begun to embrace dangerous positions on serious matters to pander to the far right of America. So your contribution of $25 today will make a difference.

Elections have consequences.

Democrats Abroad is spread all around the globe, reaching from Tokyo to Dublin.  We vote in every State and in every Congressional District. So to celebrate the 4th of July 2011 we have sewn together a quilt, squares coming from far and wide. Christine Rolland, chapter chair of Normandy, a land far from our shores but also soaked with the blood of our soldiers, led our effort to showcase the unity of Americans living abroad with each other and with our country, people coming together in pursuit of a common goal, small as it may be. The photo below shows the DA Quilt hanging on the wall of St Hugh’s College, Oxford.

On July 4th we will give this quilt to one of our members.  If you would like to be a potential recipient of this one-of-a-kind, handmade quilt sewn by Americans worldwide, please let us know by contributing $25 dollars to Democrats Abroad; we will add you to the list.

For each $25 you give to Democrats Abroad, you will have an additional chance of being the one to receive this July 4th   quilt.  Like elections there can be only one winner, but this quilt will be won by a random draw.

Democrats Abroad strives to get Americans living abroad registered to vote and to cast their ballot.  The 2012 elections will be quickly upon us and unlike the quilt drawing we don’t want random results.

We must return a Democratic majority to the House of Representatives.  We must maintain a Democratic majority in the United States Senate.

And we must reelect President Obama to the White House.

We must start today.

Please take a chance on us and contribute $25.  Please take a chance on our country, register to vote, and then vote.  History teaches us that we can rise to the challenges of our times and we can make a difference.

Sincerely,

Kenneth E.  Sherman
International Chair

P.S.  Spread the word, tell a friend and contribute today.

Independence Day Picnic on July 3rd – Tempelhof Airport


Please join us for our annual Independence Day Picnic Sunday, July 3rd

Picture 2010 by Karen Axelrad

 

Location is Tempelhof Airfield – Entrance Columbia Damm (see map below)

It all starts on Sunday, the 3rd of July at 12:30 and will go until 5:30 PM (Setup starts at 11:30 AM) To help with advance preparation please contact Nancy Green chair@demsinberlin.de

For members, friends and family.  American Voices Abroad Berlin as well as Bridge Builders Berlin are participating in this event.  Bring food and drink for yourselves and to share.  A small butane grill will be available. Charcoal grills are not allowed.

Look for the colorful tent and the banners of Democrats Abroad

Lots of activities planned:
Horseshoes,
Cherrypit spitting contest,
Frisbees,
Kiteflying – New Obama-Kite
Political Quiz

”"

If you would like to help us set up and/or break down please contact Nancy Green: chair@demsinberlin.de . The recently opened airfield is a great place to ride bikes, fly kites, skate, throw a Frisbee or set up games.

Nuclear Resolution

At the last meeting of the Berlin Chapter of Democrats Abroad Germany the following resolution was passed:

To Democrats Abroad Berlin!

This resolution calls for phasing out the use of nuclear energy in the US.  I respectfully submit it to the Berlin Chapter of Democrats Abroad Germany for approval and support in order to pass it “up the ladder” of our organization.  Within that process we will grow and hopefully find alternative solutions for our energy crisis.

Resolution (Draft) of Democrats Abroad on responsibly phasing out the use of nuclear energy in the US and becoming independent from limited and non-renewable fuel 

 

Danger and Health (Whereas: )

●     Nuclear energy plants are highly susceptible to human error, interruption of energy supply, natural disasters and terrorist attacks. Almost 20% of the electrical energy in the US is produced by atomic power plants. In addition to the 104 operating atomic power plants another 20 are planned.
●     Radiation accumulation is  devastating to all form of life.
●     The catastrophes of Three Mile Island, Chernobyl and Fukushima demonstrate how the technology of nuclear power is uncontrollable, dirty, poisonous and deadly.
●     The safe and secure disposal of nuclear waste has never  been solved and endangers present and future generations. Spent fuel of nuclear reactors is deadly and will be for thousands of generations

Cost and Investment (Whereas: )

●     The calculated cost of nuclear energy excludes the cost of nuclear hazards now and in the future.
●     Nuclear energy is a highly profitable business in the US, yet companies supplying nuclear Energy go tax free.
●     Necessary investments for developing clean and green energy are being diverted to nuclear energy.
●     Nuclear energy is dependent on expensive, limited and non-renewable fuel.

Do’s and Don’ts (Be it Resolved: )

●     Immediately remove tax deduction for  nuclear energy companies and redirect respective funds into green energy and into a green energy grid.
●     Stop developing nuclear energy with taxpayers money.
●     Secure running nuclear power plants against terrorist attacks.
●     Build no new nuclear power plants on US soil.
●     Phase out running US  nuclear plants beginning with old nuclear power plants, those in earthquake-prone areas and all nuclear power plants not designed to withstand terrorist attacks or airplane crashes.
●     Support research on clean and green energy for individual households, trade and industry, and develop programs and raise awareness  about the necessity of reducing energy consumption.
●     Implement tools of foreign policy to phase out nuclear energy on the planet.
    Create an independent expert commission to discuss the solutions involved in phasing out nuclear energy.

Passed on May 3, 2011 unanimously by the Berlin Chapter of Democrats Abroad Germany

We are all Wisconsin Rally at the Brandenburg Gate March 12, 2011


We are all Wisconsin
Photo by Karen Axelrad

On March 12, 2011 members of American Voices Abroad Berlin and the Berlin Chapter of Democrats Abroad Germany held a rally of solidarity with the workers  in Wisconsin (and elsewhere!) at Pariser Platz in front of the Brandenburg Gate .  "We are all Wisconsin"  was the unifying slogan of the day.


img/stand_with_wisconsin.jpg


Political Rally at the Brandenburg Gate at 15:00
to support the fight in Wisconsin and other  states for collective bargaining of unions and workers rights. "We are all Wisconsin"  Let us show our solidarity with the 14 Democratic Wisconsin Senators who are blocking Governor Walker's attack on the working people of Wisconsin. 

Democratic National Committe passes resolution to get out of Afghanistan and transfer the funds of the war to projects at home

Resolution Supporting Ending the War in Afghanistan Now and Transferring the Funding to Job Creation, other Crucial Domestic Priorities and Deficit Reduction

Submitted by: Hon. Barbara Lee, California
Donna Brazile, DNC Vice Chair/District of Columbia
Hon. Mike Honda, DNC Vice Chair/California
Alice Germond, DNC Secretary/West Virginia

WHEREAS, the United States has been involved in war in Afghanistan for almost a decade and remains militarily engaged in what has become the longest war in American history; and

WHEREAS, the mounting costs of the war in Afghanistan, now totaling over $100 billion a year, have constrained efforts to invest in job creation and in strengthening our country and our economy; and

WHEREAS, according to a Gallup Poll released February 2, 2011, 72% of Americans favor action to "speed up the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan"; and

WHEREAS, President Obama supports a transition to an Afghan-led security arrangement in Afghanistan "because open-ended war serves neither our interests nor the Afghan people's"; and

WHEREAS, a diplomatic solution in Afghanistan that emphasizes economic development, political reconciliation and inclusion, the engagement of regional and global stakeholders, and the safeguarding of basic human rights is essential to ensure long-term stability in Afghanistan and the surrounding region; and

WHEREAS, military and intelligence officials agree that the situation in Afghanistan will not ultimately be resolved by a military solution; and

WHEREAS, the national and economic security of the United States depend upon a national defense strategy which addresses the modern threat of global terrorism in an effective, sustainable, and comprehensive manner; and

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, the Democratic Party recognizes the enormous strain placed on the U.S. military servicemembers, and their families since 2001 as a result of continuing engagements in Iraq and Afghanistan and remains committed to ensuring that our troops have the support that they require when deployed as well as the care that they and their families need and deserve when they return home;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Democratic Party supports prioritizing job creation and a swift withdrawal of U.S. armed forces and military contractors in Afghanistan which must include a significant and sizable reduction no later than July 2011.

We are all Wisconsin! Democrats Abroad in Berlin rise up in solidarity Tuesday, March 1, 2011

img/we_are_all_wisconsin1.jpg

Berlin, Germany – March 1st, 2011
Democrats in Berlin stand up in solidarity during our meeting with the people of Wisconsin who are fighting to keep their right of collective bargaining for the unions of state employees.  We also have high respect, thanks and solidarity for the 14 Democratic Wisconsin Senators who are blocking the passage of Gov. Walkers controversial bill by leaving their state for refuge in Illinois.  We are all Wisconsin! (click on picture or here for higher resolution photo )

Resolution of the Annual General Meeting of Democrats Abroad Germany in Cologne on February 19, 2011

Democrats Abroad Germany
Annual General Meeting
Cologne
February 19, 2011

Motion to express our deep respect and appreciation of the courageuos energy and sacrifice of the peoples in Tunisia, Egypt, Bahhrain , Jemen, Iran, lybia and beyond in their efforts to fight for self determination, democracy and political freedom with a standing minute of solidarity. We can all learn from their endeavors for change.

Motion by:
Michael Steltzer (DA Berlin)
David McBryde (DA Berlin
Passed Unanamously

State of the Union 2011

seal state of the union 2011

(Click on the seal to have a brief tour of the history of the State of the Union Address and the preparation of the White House for this years SOTU)

Come watch the State of the Union Address 2011 with a slight delay at Jamerica on Wednesday, the 26th of January at JAMERICA Restaurant starting at 7:30 PM.

New Term for Berlin Chapter Chair Nancy Green reelected Jan. 11, 2011

At the annual general meeting of the Berlin chapter of Democrats Abroad Germany  on January 11th , 2011 at the Restaurant Max and Moritz in Berlin Kreuzberg, Nancy Green was reelected  as Berlin  chapter chair for the next two years.  In a very close race she defeated her competitor Donald Black by a close margin 54,2 % / 45.8%. 

After the election Donald Black presented the victor Nancy Green with a bouquet of flowers.  The democratic process within Democrats Abroad is based on solidarity and unity. Nancy Green will lead the Berlin Democrats through the next presidential election cycle for the re-election of President Barack Obama.

img/Jessica_David_John.jpg

It was a good turnout for the election.
The chapter selected Jessica Andrade, secretary of the chapter,  to be the provisional chair for the election. She was assisted by the official monitors David Knudson and John *** .