OMNI NEWSLETTER: EVENTS AND ACTIONS OCTOBER 19, 2004 OMNI CENTER FOR PEACE, JUSTICE, AND ECOLOGY OMNI contact Dick Bennett jbennet@uark.edu 442-4600)(website: www.omnicenter.org) Changing Society for a Culture of Peace. Since peace is not the absence of war, but is the active presence of justice and compassion, a Culture of Peace is created by countering the War System in all of its manifestations. U. S. Capitol Switchboard: 202-224-3121.The Omni Center is located on the corner of Maple and Storer, in the basement of the Presbyterian and Disciples Student Center across the street from the U of A campus. WHO IS OMNI? Gladys Tiffany. Gladys created OMNI’s First Annual "Conversations" to bring people together (the first one on Israel and Palestine). With Rev. Libby Lizarraga she organized OMNI’s First Annual 9-11 Commemoration. Gladys Tiffany is a congenital bridge-builder. She finds many projects in OMNI she wants to support, including the Middle East Peace Conversation coming up November 17, and the Nonviolent Communication Workshop planned for December 4-5. "What I'd like to see from OMNI is a set of programs that provide alternatives to the culture of war," she says. "Programs for young people, opportunities for different groups in northwest Arkansas to get to know each other, networks between like-minded groups... all of these are important to me. There's a lot of potential for good here. I'm grateful OMNI gives me a chance to help with this work." OCTOBER 21, FORUM "A MILITARY DRAFT AND THE WAR ON TERRORISM" Thursday at 7 PM in Kimpel 105. The participants are Professor Tom Kennedy, History Department, the Presidents of the Young Republicans and Young Democrats, Professor Steve Sheppard from the Law School, and a Visiting British Professor the Right Honourable Henry McLeish, who has held high positions in the Scottish Government. Closest sure parking is the Parking Garage next to the Student Union, and it’s free nights. OCTOBER 21, FILM "One Soul’s Journey Through Time," 7p.m., The School of Metaphysics, 3198 W. 6th St., Fayetteville (across from Lowe’s). Filmed on campus of The College of Metaphysics. OCTOBER 22, FRIDAY NOON (actual UN Day is Oct. 24) OMNI’S FOURTH ANNUAL UNITED NATIONS DAY, "What is the Future of the United Nations?" Prof. Mark Mullenbach, UCA professor of political science and president of the Arkansas UNA/USA chapter, and Prof. Hoyt Purvis, professor of Journalism, U of A., will discuss the UN’s future. Lunch at Gaylord’s Mountain Cafe, ordering meals 11:30, talk at 12, question/discussion period 12:30. Contact Dick Bennett. (Will one of you supporters of the UN take over this annual event to ensure its happening each year?). OCTOBER 22, FRIDAY, 3:00-5:30, "JESUS IN ISLAM" Do Muslims believe in Jesus? Sponsored by Al-Islam (The Peace) Students Association. Co-Sponsors: UofA Multicultural Center and OMNI Center for Peace, Environment, and Ecology. Seminar and Q/A Session. Venue: Giffels Auditorium, Old Main 2nd Floor, University of Arkansas. Parking: parking garage next to Student Union, parking lots on Douglas between Oakland and Storer and on Maple next to campus Methodist Chapel. OCTOBER 22-23, 29-30, TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD, ACO IN SPRINGDALE. About Southern racism and classism. OCTOBER 23, SATURDAY, DANCES OF UNIVERSAL PEACE. 7pm at Unity of Fayetteville, 4880 Wedington Dr. OCTOBER 24, SUNDAY, 7:00pm, VIDEO UNDERGROUND At the Omni Center for Peace, Justice & Ecology, Video Underground presents: "Bush Family Fortunes: The Best Democracy Money Can Buy". Follow reporter sleuth Greg Palast on the trail for BBC television, from Florida election rigging, to the hard-core info on the Saudi-Bush family connection, to the Bush team's spiking the investigation of bin Laden before September 11. Original score by Moby. 61 min run time. Admission is free. For more info go to www.northwest-rk.com/vu HUMAN RIGHTS VIDEOS AT FAYETTEVILLE PUBLIC LIBRARY. The FPL has 12 new documentary videos, the "Human Rights Video Project." Will some of you get acquainted with these films and start a committee toward OMNI showing one or more next year? The topics: US corporate sweat shops in Saipan, unexploded US bombs in Laos, US prison industrial complex, impact of war in Bosnia on women, the police killings of three men in NYC, treatment of disabled students in LA schools, efforts to bring to justice murderers and torturers in El Salvador, effects of IMF policies on Jamaica, apartheid in South Africa, Israeli and Palestinian children, AIDS epidemic in South Africa, and US asylum granting process. For more information about the films, contact Nancy Hartney, Reference Librarian at FPL, 571-2222. Additional study and discussion materials can be found at www.humanrightsproject.org/. GRASSROOTS MILITARISM. TMN continually reports Pea Ridge Military Park, the latest about the newly painted panels to be located at the stops along the tour road to make the visit more pleasurable. How might OMNI counter this and other area enhancements of war and warriors? Who will coordinate this project (one small aspect of militarism in NWA)? FREE SPEECH TV 3 to 6a.m. Examples of the excellent alternatives to the narrow, conformist mass media found on FSTV: A powerful lecture by Dr. Helen Caldicott Oct. 16. Dr. Caldicott has created the Nuclear Policy Research Institute dedicated to the elimination of nuclear bombs and power. On Oct. 17 3 films: a documentary on the War on Terrorism as a War on Liberty (racial profiles, special registrations, deportations, etc.), produced by Kathleen Foster, partly funded by the Methodist Church; collage cartoon about Pres. Bush, by William Hohauser; and short film on why single mothers don’t vote, entitled "Still Struggling." On the 19th, a powerful documentary on privatization of Iraqi state enterprises in violation of international law, with Larry Everest, author of Oil, Power, and Empire speaking about U. S. capitalist colonialism; Naomi Klein, Journalist; on the IMF-like structural changes in one fell swoop; Arundhati Roy; Basil Al Nakeeb, Iraqi economist; and particularly effective, Pratap Chatterjee, Man. Editor of CorpWatch (www.corpwatch.com). Much information on U.S. corporate takeover of Iraq—Carlyle Group, Bechtell, Halliburton—and insider trading and war profiteering. I give only a small sample. And think how invigorating is the early morning without traffic (especially if you can go to bed early). MUSLIM PEACE FELLOWSHIP WEBSITE LAUNCHED. www.MPFweb.org MPF and Jewish Peace Fellowship were started by Fellowship of Reconciliation and all are located in the same building in Nyack, NY. We might arrange a conference of Peace Fellowships. Contact Dick. POLITICAL MAP OF THE MIDDLE EAST. Satellite photo of region surrounded by detailed local political maps. By Knowers Ark Educational Foundation. www.sunship.com/mideast. Fold-up version $15. (Desc. In Fellowship Sept/Oct.). Also a laminated version for teachers. "THE BATTLE OF ALGIERS": The occupation of Iraq is a good time to see or see again Pontecorvo’s docudrama about the Algerian resistance against occupying France in the 1950s and early ‘60s. The film has been "beautifully restored" on DVD and comes in a three-disc set with much additional materials. OCTOBER 7-16, 2004 WHO IS OMNI? Marion Orton has been a leader for progressive ideas and programs for many years. She was active in the League of Women Voters and other organizations, and was on the City Board of Directors for 12 years serving as mayor for two . She operated the first Recycling Center in the early 70s and was six years on the board of Ozark Guidance Center. For OMNI she has been a member of our Steering Committee, our chief videomaker of OMNI events, organizer of Forums (most recently on Water), Peace Pole advocate. Greg Moore is a member of the Steering Committee; our main graphics artist for flyers, posters, programs, and pamphlets; a mainstay of our Video Underground; technical creator of our Web Site, which receives praise from around the nation; and husband of Rachel Townsend-Moore, who until recently was also a member of the SC. NEW MEMBERS OR RENEWALS: Thank You! Judy Horne, Linda Farrell, Charlotte Taylor and Tim Hudson, John Rule, Louise Russert-Kraemer OCTOBER IS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH OCTOBER 5 Michael Moore’s "Fahrenheit 9/11" was released on DVD Oct. 5, and his two newest books: The Official Fahrenheit 9/11 Reader and Will They Ever Trust Us Again? (a book of letters from U.S. soldiers in Iraq). In opposition, Bush’s supporters have produced a DVD, "George W. Bush: Faith in the White House." See Frank Rich’s analysis of "Faith" in NYT 10-3. OCTOBER 9 AND 10 OCTOBERFEST Contact Steven Skattebo to help at our table. Sunday afternoon especially needs people. sskattebo@ArkansasUSA.com 2103 Loren Circle, Fayetteville 72701 Phone: 251-9442. This is an opportunity for us to talk with people we might not otherwise encounter and to enlist new members and raise funds. Come help us tell about peacemaking and peacemakers, social justice, and environmental stewardship. OCTOBER 10, SUNDAY, VIDEO UNDERGROUND AND SILENT AUCTION At OMNI 7 p.m. Contact Pippin Lowe, cplo@lynks.com VIDEO: a showing of "BUSH IN 30 SECONDS," the top 50 anti-bush commercials from MoveOn.org's "Bush in 30 seconds" television advertisement contest. AUCTION: Pippin has given her collection of documentary videos to OMNI, and will soon make them available to the public. For a list of the films see: www.northwest-ark.com/vu/ This auction will augment the collection. Our intention is to build the definitive collection of political videos in Arkansas, so come and bid generously. Parking lot on Douglas between Storer and Oakland is available to off-campus visitors at nights. OCTOBER 11, INDIGENOUS PEOPLE’S DAY Monday at 4:30 in Giffels Auditorium in UofA's Old Main. Frank Scheide will talk with filmed documentary examples about: "Treatment of Native Americans in the Non-Fiction Film: Noble Red Man versus Brutal Savage." Frank will explain and illustrate the rationalizations and self-deceptions which have enabled the conquerors for 500 years to justify the slaughter. Come and urge your friends to come. Parking: The lot north of Old Main on Douglas between Storer and Oakland will not be ticketed this afternoon as a courtesy to off-campus people attending the lecture. OCTOBER 12, TUESDAY, 7 pm, FORUM: COMPARING PARTIES ON THE ISSUES Giffels Auditorium, Old Main, UA campus. Mary Alice Serafini, Moderator. Constitution Party: Mark Moore. Democratic Party: Lindsley Smith. Green Party: Mark Swaney. Libertarian Party: Robert Reed. Populist Party: Jim Macri. Republican Party: Matthew Menden. Contact Melanie Dietzel 442-8600. Parking lot north of Old Main on Douglas between Storer and Oakland is available at nights and is well-lighted. This Forum is perhaps unique nationally in bringing together the 6 parties. OCTOBER 14, VETERANS FOR PEACE, OMNI 6:30 Potluck. Contact Lyell Thompson. OCTOBER 14, OMNI TABLE AT WAC, 6:30 OCTOBER 16, NOW REGIONAL CONFERENCE IN MEMPHIS Please let me know asap if you plan to attend. Melanie Dietzel, 479-442-8600; melaniesd@sbcglobal.net OCTOBER 16, WORLD FOOD DAY, www.worldfooddayusa.org, www.unitedagainsthunger.org, www.feedingminds.org OMNI NEEDS: Photographers for our events and actions. Have you seen our archives at OMNI’s office? Help build OMNI’s archive. Contact Dick. OMNI NEEDS: A Springdale resident to accompany Dick to visit SHS Principal for permission to table at SHS with information alternative to military and corporate recruiters. BOB BILLIG’S NEWS DIGEST (a part of OMNI’s information program) IS EXCELLENT. To subscribe: info@beadjeweler.com OUR COMMUNITY PEACE GARDEN, CORNER OF SPRING AND WEST Is beautiful—the pole a gift from OMNI, the pole made by and the bench a gift from Joy Caffery, the garden surrounding the pole provided by the city, the 2 catalpa trees, the landscaping all around. I spent a stimulating half-hour there Wed. Do enjoy it too. Tell your friends about it. NICK LOHANICK’S OPEN MIC LAST SUNDAY PROVIDED SPLENDID ENTERTAINMENT. Guests singers and readers: Steve-Burnetta-Jim Trio , Doug Barton on the piano, John Rule, Dick Bennett, and Steve’s Sermon. Nick sang memorably, and employed several instruments (like Kelly he is a collector of instruments). Many thanks to Melanie for an elaborate dinner. OMNI’S MONTHLY CALENDAR AND BIBLIOGRAPHY GOING TO WEB SITE Henceforth, the Monthly Calendars and Bibliographies will not be sent to members and friends directly, but will be available on our web site. BUSH AND KERRY ON FOREIGN POLICY U.S. NEWS AND WORLD REPORT (Oct. 4, p. 21) has a one-column comparison of B v. K’s foreign policy stands. BUSH AND KERRY ON ENVIRONMENT http://www.envirolink.org/external.html?www=http%3A//www.alternet.org/envirohealth/19994/&itemid=200409271007490.34576 OMNI NEWSLETTER: EVENTS, ACTIONS, INFORMATION OCTOBER 13, 2004 OMNI CENTER FOR PEACE, JUSTICE, AND ECOLOGY Corner of Maple and Storer in Fayetteville in Presbyterian and Disciples Student Center OMNI contact Dick Bennett jbennet@uark.edu 442-4600)(website: www.omnicenter.org) Changing Society for a Culture of Peace. Since peace is not the absence of war, but is the active presence of justice and compassion, a Culture of Peace is created by countering the War System in all of its manifestations. U. S. Capitol Switchboard: 202-224-3121. Peace, justice, and ecology advocacy is not a spectator sport: "To understand how much work progressives have to do in the United States, one need only look back on the stupendous revolution pulled off by the conservative movement." David Mulcahey, "Passion of the Right," In These Times (Oct. 25, 2004). If we want a change it’s up to us. WHO IS OMNI? Melanie Dietzel. Melanie is state president and local chapter president of NOW. In April this year she organized a busload of NOW members and friends to join the March for Women’s Lives in Washington, DC. She is OMNI’s vice-president and secretary and has organized many events for OMNI; for example, authoring "Dove Tales," biographies of peace heroes in the Ozark Gazette; our last two August Remembrance/Celebrations; the new Parties Issues Forum Oct. 12. And she helps many of our events with food and arrangements. Thank you! OCTOBER 10, VIDEO UNDERGROUND A great success, over $200 raised to purchase more videos. Thanks to Pippin Lowe, who provided all the items for the silent auction, and has given her video collection to OMNI to be shared to all. And thanks to Greg Moore for publicity and other assistance for the evening. PROTEST OUTSIDE. A small group of young people protested outside VU Oct. 10, with professionally printed signs. Check out their web site: www.protestwarrior.com, which presents a frontal attack on "leftists." I suppose you might say we have been a success in that we have attracted the attention of the Republican Party. I urge you to read the web site and to send me your suggestions for responding in the future. Will one of you lead this? OCTOBER 14, TUESDAY, OMNI TABLE AT WAC, 6:30pm For musical ensemble Ínti Illimani (inte-e-gee-mane) from Chile. The original members of the group spent 14 years in exile in Italy after the overthrow of Chilean president Allende in 1973. Today they seek peace and justice through music and "to bring about a better world." Support these musicians for peace and justice, and support OMNI at its table. This is the first time we have been invited to share a place of distinction at one of WAC’s events, so please turn out. OCTOBER 14, THURSDAY, 7:30 PM, CRITICAL THINKING FORUM The Campus Alliance for Freethought (CAF) have invited the Fayetteville Freethinkers to present a Bible study on the Campus of the University of Arkansas. Topic covered will include: Where did the Bible come from? Is the Bible free of error? Are there bona fide fulfilled Bible prophecies? Should we use the Bible as a guide to morality. Where: Auditorium room 105 in the first floor of Kimpel Hall. Who: Doug Krueger, Darrel Henschell, and audience interaction OCTOBER 17, SUNDAY, UNITARIAN FELLOWSHIP PEACE POLE REDEDICATION Beginning before and leading into the Service, starting about 10:45. The UUFF Peace Pole was the first one in Fayetteville, and one of the first in Arkansas. Let Peace Prevail on Earth. (Will you place a Peace Pole on your property, at a business, a church? Contact Dick Bennett.) 17 OCTOBER, SUNDAY, SIERRA CLUB, The Big Train Ride (BTR) is set 1:00. Rally begins at Powerhouse at 12:30, and train leaves 1:30 ride to Chester, AR. Drinks and food on board for only $35 adults, $25 students, and $20 kids (www.ozarkheadwaters.org). PEACEWRITING AWARDS FOR UNPUBLISHED BOOKS ON PEACE, JUSTICE, AND ECOLOGY Manuscripts have begun to arrive for 2005 awards. The first is a collection of poems by the founder and president of the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation. Contact Dick if you wish to be a second reader for one or more of these manuscripts. SIERRA CLUB, OZARK HEADWATERS CHAPTER The new office in Fayetteville is now open at 110 W. Meadow (exactly one block east of the old office). Mike Faupel, club staffer. OMNI is developing an ecology committee to work with other environmental groups: be a member? GRASSROOTS MILITARISM Arkansas will receive $115.2 million, and the UofA $5 million, from the $450 billion war bill in fiscal year 2005. TMN 10-12. OMNI needs someone to keep abreast of developments and lead public education. U. S. URANIUM WEAPONS Project Censored awarded a place in its most recent "Top-10 most-censored stories of the year " to uranium weapons. "Civilian populations in Afghanistan and Iraq and occupying troops have been contaminated with astounding levels of radioactive uranium as the result of United States’ use of tons of uranium munitions." U.S. NUCLEAR WEAPONS The 1993 Spratt-Furse Amendment was repealed this year by Congress, opening Pentagon development of "mini-nukes" (nuclear weapons less than 5 kilotons) and spurring on further weapons proliferation. (Both of these items came from Nukewatch’s magazine Pathfinder Fall 2004). OMNI NEEDS a coordinator to keep us informed of nuclear issues (with global warming the most dangerous of all problems?) and to lead on to public and congressional education and political action.) NOBEL PEACE PRIZE TO KENYAN ENVIRONMENTALIST Wangari Maathai of Kenya won the 2004 Nobel Peace Prize, the first black African woman to win a Nobel Prize in any category. She was especially cited for founding the Green Belt Movement in 1977 and her campaign to plant 30 million trees. OMNI should celebrate Nobel Winners. When would be a good time, and who will lead it? Contact Dick. MUSEUM MILITARISM The Liberty Memorial in Kansas City became the nation’s official WWI museum in a bill reaching passage in Congress, part of a "defense" spending bill moving toward passage. WWI was for liberty (the official version) or for empires? This is one more example of information control and grassroots militarism. Will some of you take on each subject to keep the rest of us informed? The U. S. Army has 43 military museums across the country. Now it will build the National Museum of the United States Army, a $200 million museum and "entertainment complex" at Fort Belvoir in Virginia. NYTimes (Oct. 10, ’04). It will include an area for simulated battles and an annex for 4-D simulators like those found on amusement park rides. BUILDING A CULTURE OF PEACE OMNI OCTOBER CALENDAR OMNI CENTER FOR PEACE, JUSTICE, AND ECOLOGY Corner of Maple and Storer in Fayetteville in Presbyterian and Disciples Student Center OMNI contact Dick Bennett jbennet@uark.edu 442-4600)(website: www.omnicenter.org) Changing Society for a Culture of Peace. Since peace is not the absence of war, but is the active presence of justice and compassion, a Culture of Peace is created by countering the War System in all of its manifestations. U. S. Capitol Switchboard: 202-224-3121. (Other events will be added as the month progresses, which will be announced in our Newsletter.) SEPTEMBER 27- BANNED BOOKS/FREEDOM TO READ WEEK SEPTEMBER 25-OCTOBER 2, KEEP SPACE FOR PEACE WEEK For more info.: www.space4peace.org OCTOBER 2, GANDHI’S BIRTHDAY OCTOBER 3, SUNDAY, 7pm, OPEN MIC FOR SONG AND POETRY Host: Nick Lohanick (200-2902). OCTOBER 4, UNITED CAMPUS MINISTRY BOARD, 5:30. OCTOBER 4 AND 5, FILMING SHORT TAKES AT COMMUNITY ACCESS TVMondays 5:30, Tuesdays noon. (OMNI has started a Young People’s Video Producers Club, producer fee paid by OMNI. Contact Donna Stjerna or Gladys Tiffany for OMNI, or Sky Blaylock at CAT.) OCTOBER 7, RAPID RESPONSE WRITERS, NOON AT OZARK MT. SMOKEHOUSE, Dickson St. Join discussion and planning to bring more logic and facts to letters in newspapers. OCTOBER 9 AND 10 OCTOBERFEST Contact Steven Skattebo to help at our table. sskattebo@ArkansasUSA.com 2103 Loren Circle, Fayetteville 72701 Phone: 251-9442 OCTOBER 10, SUNDAY, VIDEO UNDERGROUND AND SILENT AUCTION At OMNI 7 p.m. Contact Pippin Lowe, cplo@lynks.com OCTOBER 11, INDIGENOUS PEOPLE’S DAY (formerly Columbus Day). Contact Dick Bennett to help plan for OMNI’s First Annual IPD 2005. OCTOBER 12, TUESDAY, 7 pm, FORUM COMPARING PARTIES ON THE ISSUES UA campus, Giffels Auditorium. Mary Alice Serafini, Moderator, with Dem., Rep., and Green Party representatives. Contact Melanie Dietzel. Parking in Deck next to Student Union, along Arkansas Ave., in parking lot on Dickson north of Old Main. OCTOBER 14, TUESDAY, OMNI TABLE AT WAC, 7pm For musical ensemble Ínti Illimani (inte-e-gee-mane?) from Chile. The original members of the group spent 14 years in exile in Italy after the overthrow of Chilean president Allende in 1973. Today they seek peace through music and "to bring about a better world." OCTOBER 14, VETERANS FOR PEACE At United Campus Ministry on Maple St., 6:30. Potluck. Contact Lyell Thompson. OCTOBER 17, SIERRA CLUB TRAIN. OCTOBER 18 AND 19, SHORT TAKES AT CAT. OCTOBER 20, WEDNESDAY, LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS PANEL ON PATRIOT ACT "Civil Liberties and National Security in the Post 9/11 Era." Fayetteville Public Library,7PM. OMNI STEERING COMMITTEE 5:30 potluck, 6:00 business. Members and friends welcome. UNITED NATIONS DAY, OCTOBER 22, FRIDAY NOON (actual UN Day is Oct. 24) Prof. Mark Mullenbach, UCA professor of political science and president of the Arkansas UNA/USA chapter, Prof. Hoyt Purvis, lunch at Gaylord’s, ordering meals 11:30, talk at 12, question/discussion period 12:30. OCTOBER 24, SUNDAY, VIDEO UNDERGROUND So many people have shown interest in the film "Bush Family Fortunes: The Best Democracy Money Can Buy," based upon Greg Palast’s book, that it has been purchased and will be shown at the Video Underground Oct. 24, 7PM. COMPULSORY MILITARY SERVICE FORUM Coordinator, Prof. Tom Kennedy. Watch for announcements.