OMNI NEWSLETTER: EVENTS, ACTIONS, COMMENT

OMNI NEWSLETTER: EVENTS, ACTIONS, COMMENT
JANUARY 24, 2005

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 (479) 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.

An Anti-War Movement vs. a Peace Movement. Members of the antiwar movement tend to protest during times of war or impending war. But the permanent war movement requires a permanent peace movement. The anti-war movement is an important part of the permanent peace movement, but the permanent peace movement must be as persistent and ceaseless as the permanent war movement, must seek to expand permanent structures of protest, must make prevention paramount, and must embrace a wide cross section of the population.

JANUARY 27, RELIGIOUS PEACE TRADITIONS FORUM, 7pm, OMNI/UNITED CAMPUS MINISTRY

"Seeking Peace in a Post 9/11 and Post 'O4" election." "What Do Religious Peace Traditions Have to Say for a Peaceful US Foreign Policy?" Rev. Jim Johnson coordinator and moderator. The Forum will focus on the after effects of 9/11 and the chance, hope, possibility of peace in a new Bush administration. You are cordially invited to join us January 27, 7:00 p.m. at the United Campus Center, 902 West Maple, for our annual Religious Peace Traditions Forum.

Those attending will hear brief statements from representatives of various faith communities. Each representative will speak to our topic from his/her religious tradition. Following these presentations time will be given over for a period of questions, comments and responses.

We think this year's topic, especially in light of our recent general election, should be informative, lively and insightful. Please join us for an evening of stimulating conversation and fellowship.


MONTH OF FEBRUARY MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS ART SHOW AT UCM/OMNI
Art and society show, students drawing about words and ideas.
Reception for the Instructor, Judith Paz, to be announced.

FEBRUARY 1 EYES WIDE OPEN: THE HUMAN COST OF WAR TRAVELING MEMORIAL IN LITTLE ROCK
The American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) will honor fallen U.S. military personnel and Iraqi civilians with its traveling memorial exhibition: Eyes Wide Open: The Human Cost of War, which will be on display at the Statehouse Convention Center for three days beginning Tuesday, February 1st.
WHO: American Friends Service Committee, Central Arkansas Quaker Meeting House, Arkansas Coalition for Peace and Justice (ACPJ), Arkansas Women’s Action for New Directions (AR WAND)
WHERE: Statehouse Convention Center, Room 4
WHEN: Tuesday, February 1 12:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m
Wednesday, February 2 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Thursday, February 3 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
INTERFAITH PRAYER SERVICE:
Thursday evening, February 3rd, 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. (Exhibit viewing from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Service held from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
AFSC, an international social justice organization, created Eyes Wide Open to memorialize the lives lost in the war in Iraq. In addition to the more than 1,300 pairs of boots honoring U.S. military casualties, the exhibit includes a 24-foot “wall” of names and incidents of Iraqi civilian deaths and 1000 pairs of shoes memorializing a small fraction of the Iraqi civilians who have been killed in the conflict. An interior multimedia display explores the history, cost and consequences of the war. A special section will honor fallen Arkansan soldiers.

FEBRUARY 3 CRITICAL THINKING COMMITTEE
The broad purpose OMNI’s CT Committee is to encourage critical thinking the public schools. The committee’s specific purpose at the beginning is to supervise the giving of awards to public school teachers who have been exemplary in the teaching of critical thinking. Potluck 6pm at the home of Dick Bennett followed by composition of publicity brochure. Judy Horne will design the brochure. Dick’s address is 2582 Jimmie, Fayetteville, up Township from Days Inn, left/north on Jimmie, last house on right, drive up to park.

FEBRUARY 6, SUNDAY, OPEN MIC PEACE COFFEEHOUSE 7PM
Contact Donna Stjerna and Kelly Mulhollan.

OMNI’S MEDIA WATCH COMMITTEE MEETING WAS POSTPONED TO MONDAY, FEBRUARY 28. At Dick’s, potluck 6pm. This committee complements our Rapid Response Writers and “The Sound” (“All About Town”) essayists, and our other media watching (Free Speech TV documentaries).

MEDIA WATCH: MILITARISM AND WAR REENACTMENTS
Our newspapers and especially The Morning News give frequent and elaborate coverage of the frequent war games played at Pea Ridge, Prairie Grove, and other battlefields. Here’s Martin Luther King’s take on them: “We must pursue peaceful ends through peaceful means. How much longer must we play at deadly war games before we heed the plaintive pleas of the unnumbered dead and maimed of past wars?”

INFORMATION WATCH Valuable link for PBS: Citizens for Independent Public Broadcasting, Jerrold Starr, Exec. Dir. Media’s job to interest public in public’s interest. PBS must provide alternative views.

ENVIRONMENT WATCH
Bill Moyers recent program on mercury in our air and water was assisted by Clear the Air and the National Campaign Against Dirty Power. Look up www.cleartheair.org on google to find detailed info., including on Arkansas, down to Flint CreekCoal-Powered Power Plant in Benton County: In 2002: Tons of CO2: 3,890,115; Pounds of Mercury: 142; attributable deaths: 27.

FREE SPEECH TV:a few of the videos recently on early morning sponsored by OMNI
US Imperialism, “Imperial Dungeon.”
Documentary on private prison industry.
Bill McKibben lecture on global warming at Smith College, www.mef.tv

“Coverup” on Iran-Contra and much else, a comprehensive history, showing origins of the hardening imperialism and repression under Bush. www.empowermentproject.org

CITIZENS FIRST WEBSITE www.CitizensFirst.org; KEEP UP WITH LEGISLATURE
On the website you can:
• Download your own copy of who's in the new Arkansas Senate (only one new member this term) and who's in the Arkansas House (34 new members) along with their pictures, phone numbers, e-mail and addresses. This will be available on Tuesday January 25.
• a bill tracking tool so you can follow the bills that we are following,
• and a vote guide that ranks how your legislators voted in the 2003-2004 legislative session,
• previous e-mail alerts.
You can also play along at home with the legislature at their website: http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/ where you can find bills, check on the status of bills, see the legislative calender and find contact information for your legislator.

MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD
Senator Tim Hutchinson/Blanche Lincoln/ /
U.S. Senate
Washington, DC 20510

Representative John Boozman
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515

Capitol switchboard: 202-224-3121
Congressional websites and e-mail addresses:
www.senate.gov
www.house.gov

Current status of bills: 202-225-1772; http://thomas.loc.gov

President George W. Bush
The White House
Washington, DC 20500
White House Comment Desk: 202-456-1414
E-mail: president@whitehouse.gov
Website: www.whitehouse.gov