1) YDS CONFERENCE REPORT BACK    
Turning the Tide Towards Freedom: Building the Youth and Student Movement for Justice was a resounding success!  
Folks came from all over to be inspired by notable speakers and fellow activists.  Attendees discussed everything from organizing against Wal-Mart in the deep south, to defending the right to higher education, to fighting for reproductive rights on their campuses.  Speakers such as Bill Fletcher Jr., Christian Parenti and Gayatri Spivak reminded us of the big picture, exposing structural injustice at home and abroad and getting us fired up to continue and intensify the struggle for a better world. 

The overwhelming positive feedback from folks about their conference experience included the following: "everyone, including speakers, were approachable....everyone wants to hear from each other," "superb speakers once again," "AWESOME! Wish it could have been longer."

Plenary sessions at the conference were filmed.  Edited copies will eventually be available for distribution.  Stay tuned!

There were some great activism workshops and tools for strengthening or starting YDS chapters on your campus at Turning the Tide Towards Freedom, but even if you couldn't make one of the trainings or attend the conference, we'd love to bring YDS to you!   We're booking spring campus visits now, so drop us a line ASAP and we can discuss doing something in your community.  And remember, save the date for the summer national conference, August 11-13th!

2) BUSH'S KATRINA LIES: CAUGHT ON VIDEO!
Bush left our people to die.
Bush knew, and didn't act.
Then, he lied.
As a result of his incomprehensible inaction and subsequent denials, thousands are dead and missing, jobless, homeless, displaced and destroyed.

Proof Bush Lied:
We had to immediately alert you of a newly released video of President George W. Bush on August 29th, the day before Katrina decimated the Gulf Coast, receiving information from both hurricane and national emergency experts (including ex-FEMA Director Michael Brown), that there was serious doubt that the levees, the Superdome and the emergency response systems of New Orleans could stand up against "the Big One": Katrina.

In our hearts and minds we have suspected this, but now we have the video and transcripts of Bush's lack of response, paired with his cold and empty assurance that his administration was "fully prepared."

Take Action!
a. Demand Congressional Censure for lying to the American public.
b. Take immediate steps to investigate the Bush administration. In order to impeach, we must investigate.

Click here to join a mass movement to send your message to Bush and his administration, as well as the media that sat on this information in those first crucial and traumatic days, and over these long and tragic months.

3) BOOKS NOT BOMBS! YOUNG PEOPLE RESIST 3 YEARS OF WAR
March 16, 2006 - National Day of Resistance
As the third anniversary of the invasion of Iraq approaches, the war's impact on our generation is increasingly alarming:

• The vast majority of US troops killed in Iraq have been youth of college-age (18-25)
• Military recruiters have escalated their aggressive and deceptive campaigns in our schools, preying upon young people as the Pentagon struggles to enlist enough youth to fight a war based on lies.
• The war's soaring cost (nearly $400 billion!) has forced massive budget cuts, leaving young people with under-funded schools, diminishing social services and fewer alternatives to the military.
• The President has now announced he plans to make this a "long war" with no end in sight, burdening OUR generation with ongoing violence and growing national debt.

But young people all over the country are organizing and fighting back!
On March 16, as part of the United for Peace & Justice week of anti-war resistance (Mar. 15-22), the NATIONAL YOUTH & STUDENT PEACE COALITION (NYSPC, of which YDS is a member org.) is joining with our allies across the movement to call for a national day of youth and student-led cultural resistance against three years of needless war.  

We are calling for creative grassroots actions across the country to demand an end to this occupation, as it becomes more deadly, costly and disastrous each day.  Outraged by the war's soaring costs to our communities, and the war machine's endless grip on our economy, we will organize opposition to war and militarism by amplifying the youth movement's call for Books Not Bombs!  Young people everywhere will organize locally to demand that our leaders stop funding this illegal occupation, which is robbing us of resources we need for schools, services and real alternatives to military enlistment.

WHAT YOU CAN DO:
**Raise Your Voice!**
On March 16, as part of a week of national resistance to the war, we are urging young people to organize open-mic nights, anti-war concerts and other creative forums where our generation can raise our voices against the Bush Administration's reckless policies of greed and destruction.

By organizing unified local efforts across the country, we can build the youth movement's power to speak out against the impact of endless militarism on our generation.
   - It is our peers losing their lives for Bush's lies.
   - It is our schools that have been invaded by aggressive military recruiters.
   - And it is our opportunities for education and job training that are being slashed to fund war.

So start organizing an open-mic night, anti-war concert, teach-in, speak out or other event in your area  or do something completely different!  The important thing is that this day of resistance brings forward the unique voices, demands and creative ideas of our generation.  And this means we need to hear from YOU to make this day a national success!  So check out www.NYSPC.net to get in touch and access a bunch of organizing tools.  You can use our website to:

* Register and publicize your local Books Not Bombs event.
* Endorse the Books Not Bombs National Day of Resistance.
* Learn about/connect with other Books Not Bombs events around the country and in your area.
* Download organizing resources, media tips, petitions, postcards and more.
* Find other youth-led peace and justice groups, counter-recruitment links, and more.
* Help us build a massive and powerful National Day of Resistance!

**Take It to Congress!**
While we have taken our resistance to the streets for more than three years, now is the time to take it to Congress.  With the 2006 elections just around the corner, we need to send our elected leaders a clear message:  if you will not pay attention to young people's demands, then get out of our way!  NYSPC will provide organizing resources to all local participants, including petitions, postcards and sample letters you can use to collect stacks of signatures, calling upon your reps to end this occupation and stop the cycle of endless war by voting to fund books not bombs!

Immediately following the third anniversary of the war, Members of Congress will be in their local districts (your neighborhoods!) from March 20 to 24.  This is the perfect time for you to take all the postcards, petitions and letters you get signed at your events on the 16th and hand-deliver them to the Congressional office in your district!  We must make our voices heard, from our campuses and communities to Capitol Hill!

**Build the Movement!**
While NYSPC is calling for the Books Not Bombs Youth & Student Day of Resistance on March 16, there will be many other opportunities to take action as the world mourns three years since the invasion of Iraq.  We are calling for youth-led actions in solidarity with these other events, which we urge you to support:

March 14-19:  Veterans and Survivors March for Peace and Justice From Mobile to New Orleans
On March 14, Iraq Veterans Against the War, Military Families Speak Out, Veterans for Peace and Vietnam Veterans Against the War will undertake an historic, six-day, 135-mile march from Mobile, AL across Mississippi to New Orleans, in order to highlight the connection between the illegal, multi-trillion dollar war in Iraq and the shameful neglect of communities devastated by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Thousands of hurricane survivors and community residents are expected to join the walk along the way, which will culminate with a mass rally in New Orleans on March 19.  Mobilize to get to the rally or support these events locally by raising funds and awareness of young veterans' resistance.  Find out how to help at www.VetGulfMarch.org.
 
March 15-22:  Three Years Too Many  Local Actions to End the War
As a member of United for Peace and Justice, NYSPC supports the call for local community actions around the third anniversary of the war.  To build the power of young people within the broader peace and justice movement, we urge you to find out what's happening in your area and get involved!  Many communities will be having local rallies, vigils and marches over the weekend of March 18-19, so find out what's happening near you at www.UnitedforPeace.org and organize a strong showing of youth activists in your area.

THE BOOKS NOT BOMBS AGENDA:
Fund Education Not Empire!
Military Out of Our Schools No to the Poverty Draft!
Protect Our Civil Liberties!
Campuses For Peace Not War!
Schools Not Jails!
To find out more about NYSPC and learn how you can get involved visit us at www.nyspc.net or email info@nyspc.net. 


4) SEVENTH ANNUAL NATIONAL STUDENT-LABOR WEEK OF ACTION
March 27 - April 4
Nationwide, the "corporatization" of education is becoming a reality! Each year wealthy corporations reap generous profits from U.S. high schools, colleges and universities. Unfortunately, while these corporations make millions the working class suffers. Sign up!

    * SIGN UP to organize an event
    * LOOK for an action near you
    * Download an ORGANIZING KIT
    * See ACTIVITIES you can do
    * LEARN MORE about the Week

The rising cost of college tuition, federal and state financial aid cuts, and harsh anti-immigration policies have made it almost impossible for many students to attend college. And while the salaries of university administrators are on the rise, attacks on worker's rights, increasing pay cuts, lack of healthcare, unsafe and unsanitary working conditions and glass ceilings have made the campus work place all but "ivy league". Sisters and brothers, it's time for us to take back our campuses! F or these reasons and many more, students and workers will unite this spring to celebrate the Seventh Annual National Student Labor Week of Action. From March 27- April 4, 2006 we will commemorate the lives of Cesar Chavez and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. as we highlight the plight of campus workers nationwide. We invite you to join us as we demand:

    * The eradication of corporate influence on education
    * Living wages for all campus employees;
    * University codes of conduct that support worker's rights;
    * An end to union-busting tactics used by school administrators;
    * The right to organize and bargain collectively for ALL workers;
    * AND MUCH MORE!
FOR MORE DETAILS OR TO GET INVOLVED: www.jwj.org/SLAP/A4/2006.htm
MARCH 4-7
USSA 37th Annual National Grassroots Legislative Conference
& National Student Lobby Day
Washington, DC
www.usstudents.org/p.asp?WebPage_ID=101

MARCH 8
International Women's Day
Check for local events or organize your own!
www.womensaynotowar.org

MARCH 10-12
Left Forum 2006
New York City
www.leftforum.org

MARCH 15-22
3rd Anniversary of Iraq War
A week of local actions (organize your own!)
www.unitedforpeace.org/article.php?list=type&type=96

MARCH 16
Young People Resist Three Years of War
National Day of Resistance (organize your own event!)
www.nyspc.net

MARCH 26 - APRIL 4
Bring Down the Clown: McDonald's Truth Tour
Check local events or organize your own!
www.sfalliance.org

MARCH 31 - APRIL 4
2006 National Student Labor Week of Action
Events on campuses across the country (organize your own!)
www.jwj.org/SLAP/A4/2006.htm

APRIL 7-9
From Abortion Rights to Social Justice:
Building the Movement for Reproductive Freedom
Hampshire College, Amherst, MA
http://clpp.hampshire.edu/projects/arrc

APRIL 29 (Saturday)
March for Peace, Justice and Democracy
New York City
www.unitedforpeace.org/article.php?id=3178


7) DEMOCRATIC SOCIALIST ARTICLES ON CAFTA, POVERTY & DEMS
CAFTA's Corpse Revived:
A year ago the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) was a corpse. The Bush Administration resurrected it with the darkest of political sorcery. And now the lumbering beast is growing ever more monstrous--and arousing new controversy. Read Mark Engler's Nation online account of CAFTA's resurrection for more.
by Mark Engler (friend of YDS, his articles can be found at: www.democracyuprising.com)

Dear Dr. Dollar: Can you explain how poverty is defined in government statistics? Is this a realistic definition?
Response from Dr. Dollar (aka Ellen Frank): www.dollarsandsense.org/archives/2006/0106dollar.html
by Ellen Frank (DSA member, D&S collective member and economic analyst)

The Democrats Have No Theme for the 2006 Elections
The Republicans have one theme, but that's one more than the Democrats
by Harold Meyerson (DSA Vice Chair, writer for Washington Post & American Prospect)
www.laweekly.com/powerlines/12664/the-shape-of-06/





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