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OMNI NEWSLETTER: EVENTS, ACTIONS, COMMENT
SEPTEMBER 11, 2005, BUILDING A CULTURE OF PEACE
Send corrections, brief announcements, and brief comment to Dick Bennett.
Regarding war and empire, the U. S. National Security State, we have only one GOP/DEM Party. Don’t let our representatives rest easy for having contributed to this sorry condition:
--Senator Blanche Lincoln: Web Site: lincoln.senate.gov
Washington Office:355 Dirksen Senate Office BuildingWashington, D.C. 20510-0404
Phone: (202) 224-4843 Fax: (202) 228-1371. Fayetteville office: 251-1380;.
--Senator Mark Pryor: Web Site: pryor.senate.gov
Washington Office:217 Russell Senate Office BuildingWashington, D.C. 20510-0403
Phone: (202) 224-2353 Fax: (202) 228-0908
Main District Office:700 W. Capitol, Rm. 2527 Little Rock, AR 72201
Phone: (501) 324-6336 Fax: (501) 324-5320
--Congressman John Boozman, District 3, 12 counties from Benton to Washington
Fayetteville office: 442-5258; 207 W. Center, 72701.
Ft. Smith office: 479-782-7787; 30 Soutt 6th St. Rm 240, Ft. Smith 72901.
Harrison office: 870-741-6900; 402 N. Walnut, Suite 210, Harrison 72601.
DC address: 1708 Longworth House Office Bldng., Washington, DC 20515; 202-225-4301.
PETITIONS: OMNI is trying to have at least one petition circulating on various issues at each of our events. Let Dick know for publicity and other assistance, if you plan to create and organize a petition. See below on 3 petitions.
These newsletters are organized roughly into 3 groups: 1. upcoming events; 2. local and state news and comment. 3. national and international news and comment.
UPCOMING EVENTS
9-11: 4TH ANNIVERSARY OF DAY THE US WAS ATTACKED BY AL QUADA, NOT IRAQ
SEPTEMBER 11, 2005, PROTEST THE WAR
College and Dickson, Fayetteville, mainly 10 to 11, near 4 churches. We are considering changing the day and time for our protest placarding. What days and times are best for you? Suggestions and comments? Contact "Elvis": elvis_4_peace@yahoo.com
SEPTEMBER 11, FAYETTEVILLE PUBLIC LIBRARY, 1:15, Public Meeting about Book Censorship.
SEPTEMBER 11, SUNDAY, VIDEO UNDERGROUND
Because of the specialness of the date Video Underground will take a little different direction for the day. Instead of showing something political we will be showing What The #$*! Do We Know?! This film is unlike any other ever made. It is part spiritual, part science and totally thought provoking. Because this film is my personal copy it will not be added to Video Underground's library. So, come join us September 11th for the one and only showing VU will have of this remarkable film. And as always, admission is without charge, though donations are most welcomed. For VU's complete schedule visit our website at: http://omni-vu-films.blogspot.com Pippin
SEPTEMBER 12, OMNI’s office open 9-3 Mondays.
Contact Rachel Townsend-Moore.
SEPTEMBER 12, UNITED CAMPUS MINISTRY BOARD MEETING, 5:30
SEPTEMBER 13, TUESDAY, COMMITTEE OF 13, ENVIRONMENT
Tim Summers, Chair, SEPTEMBER 13, 2005 @ 5:00 P.M., Benton County Administration Building, QC Meeting Room-Third Floor, 215 East Central, Suite 324, Bentonville , AR 72712
The Benton County Environmental Committee will present the Beaver Water District’s watershed protection ordinance to this Committee. The newspaper article (TMN 8-24) said the ordinance would create special use areas adjacent to the lake and its tributaries and would regulate development within one mile of the lake, and more. 2005? Too little and very late?
SEPTEMBER 13 BOOKS TOWN HALL MEETING
Tues., Sept. 13th, 6:30 p.m.—Fayetteville H. S. Auditorium
SEPTEMBER 14, WEDNESDAY, 11:30, MOHJA KAHF
THINKING YOUR WAY AROUND THE STEREOTYPE OF THE MUSLIM WOMAN
At HogHaus Restaurant, Dickson St., talk begins at 12 so come early to order and be served. Dr. Mohja Kahf will discuss the five elements of the prevailing Western stereotype about Muslim women. How is the stereotype deployed to serve dominant ideologies? How does it create a filter in our minds through which 'facts' and 'true stories' are understood? She will suggest ways to resist the stereotype through independent thinking. After Dr Kahf's presentation, the roundtable will be open for discussion of your own experiences with this stereotype. Moderated by Gladys Tiffany (creator of OMNI’s “Conversations”). Ref.: Afzal-Khan, Fawzia, ed. Shattering the Stereotypes: Muslim Women Speak Out. Interlink, 2005. Muslim women speak through essays, poetry, fiction, plays, art to reveal the complexity of their experiences and thoughts. (Avail. at UA Bookstore).
SEPTEMBER 14, WEDNESDAY, FAYETTEVILLE CHAPTER OF ARKANSAS NOW
Next chapter meeting will be on September 14, 6:30p.m. at the Ozark Electric Coop Meeting Room. Ozark Electric is located 1/4-1/2 miles west of 540 overpass on Wedington Rd. North Street becomes Wedington after crossing Garland. Contact: Melanie Dietzel.
September 14, UN World Summit on Poverty and U. N. Reform begins.
SEPTEMBER 15, 5:30, SCHOOL BOARD MEETING ON BOOK CENSORSHIP
The school board meeting on the book issue will be Thursday 9/15 at 5:30 in the FHS Bates Annex-Judy Mackey Conference room.
SEPTEMBER 15, THURSDAY, OMNI STEERING COMMITTEE
Every 3rd Thursday, 5:30 potluck, business 6:00.
SEPTEMBER 17, MINORITIES, HISPANIC WOMEN
TMN 8-28: The 5th Annual Hispanic Women’s Organization of Arkansas Conference 2005 will occur on UA Union. Contact: Jill Wheeler or Erin Morgan, UA Admissions, (800) 377-8632.
SEPTEMBER 18, SUNDAY, WAR PROTEST, DICKSON AND COLLEGE, 10AM
Contact Dick Bennett
SEPTEMBER 19, 10 TO 3, MONDAYS, OMNI OFFICE OPEN
Contact Rachel Townsend-Moore
SEPTEMBER 19, MONDAY, BENEFIT FOR HURRICANE VICTIMS
A benefit auction and concert sponsored by Teatro Scarpino, The Omni Center, and KUAF will be held to raise money that will be donated to the American Red Cross to help with disaster relief. This is an official Red Cross Benefit. From 6-9 at Teatro Scarpino located on West Street. We are seeking items to auction. For more information please contact Rachel Townsend, 200-0642. Please download our poster/flyer to put up around town and send to others: www.blockstreetandbuilding.com/regionalrelief The site also lists the auction items.
Wildheart Designs has donated free t-shirts and printing of t-shirts for the benefit, with I-(Heart)- LA-MS-AL on the shirt, all worth $900. The UA Press is donating 2000 copies of Greg Moore’s flyer.
--Local Red Cross needs money and people to answer phones, in Tonti Town, 442-4291, 250 Industrial Circle, look for sign on the left (south) side of Hwy 412 going W. from Springdale.
--Mt. Sequoyah may get another group. They need money, not things.
-- The old Tyson/Mex place south of town on 71B south of 15th will be the main drop off center.
The Sheriff's Office of Washington Co. is the intake center for new people (south of town on Clydesdale
St.). They will have the most up to date info on where people are going, but the evening news is probably
going to be the best bet as to where to drop off things, what is needed.
-- Salvation Army -- (800) SAL-ARMY
--To offer your home contact the national Red Cross at www.openyourhome.com Move-on is also organizing a national housing drive: http://www.hurricanehousing.org
--To help students transferring from damaged areas to the UA, contact Lynn Mosesso (575-6246) or Susan Byram (same no.)
--A new website (thanks to a local citizen) is designed to help us link all potential ways of helping in the aftermath of Katrina together. They are posting everything. www.ournewneighbors.com
--And the War: Time to bring the National Guard back from Iraq. Use this form to write to congressmen and senators: http://www.usalone.net/nationalguard.htm
SEPTEMBER 20
Mayor Coody will kick off the Peace on Earth Music Festival.
SEPTEMBER 21, WEDNESDAY, INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PEACE
A day set aside by the UN to celebrate nonviolence (GA Resolution 55/282). OMNI’S recognition of the Day will be marked in two ways: first, by a peace pole painting party between the Union and Library, 11 to 2. Contact Stephen Coger, Pres. of OMNI’s UA Chapter smcoger@uark.edu
And 2nd: DEPARTMENT OF PEACE CAMPAIGN, HILTON TO DC
Our first meeting to hear about Marvin Hilton's trip to DC for the national DoP Conference (Sept. 10-14) and discuss the bill's progress and future will be Wednesday, Sept. 21st, at 6:30 in Casey and Sara Milford's home. For details, e-mail us@everydaysimple.org Casey and Sara Milford now have a Congressional District Team for District 3 in Arkansas through The Peace Alliance, which works to spread support for and awareness of a Department of Peace. Find the team at http://www.webdataresources.com/peacealliance/ Marvin Hilton's trip to D.C. to the DoP Conference will fuel him with information and enthusiasm, which we aim to spread throughout the state. The DoP proposes a strong domestic and international agenda for advocating peace. We need to make this part of our government. If you would like more information, to help or have suggestions or ideas, contact us@everydaysimple.org .
In TMN (“Napoleon Rises Again,” 8-9) Louis David’s paintings glorifying Napoleon as a conquering hero are discussed. Because the glorification of napoleons is so deeply embedded in our Corporate-White House-Pentagon-Mainstream Media Complex, the IDP counters them with peacemakers.
British filmmaker Jeremy Gilley has made a feature film to inform the world’s people of the Day, entitled PEACE ONE DAY, which has played at over 20 international film festivals. Gilley is now creating a sequel on the awareness-raising process and the practical application of the Day throughout the world. www.peaceoneday.org
And here are 2 women peace heroes: Alexander Cockburn in The Nation (May 16) celebrated “Marla Ruzicka, Rachel Corrie, and ‘Credibility.’”
SEPTEMBER 24, PEACE ON EARTH MUSIC FESTIVAL
Come to the Greek Theater on Dickson Street at the U. Of A. Campus in Fayetteville on Saturday, September 24th, from 3:00 – 10:00 pm for a performance of international artists. Sponsored by the OMNI Center for Peace, Justice, and Ecology, the OMNI UA Chapter, Sierra Club, Nature’s Water, and other groups and businesses. OMNI needs volunteers to give information at our table from 3-6.
SEPTEMBER 22-30 BANNED BOOKS WEEK
OMNI will host a read-in of passages from banned books. Contact Dick Bennett to participate.
At the Fayetteville Public Library from Michelle Raine: “We are planning displays of the most frequently challenged books as tabulated by the American Library Association.”
Ref.: Herbert Foerstel, Banned in the U.S.A.: A Reference Guide to Book Censorship in Schools and Public Libraries (1994).
LOCAL, NWA, ARKANSAS NEWS AND COMMENT
LGBT FOR DIVERSITY
Upcoming events in Eureka Springs: September 16-17 Sneak Away Weekend; November 4-5 Fall Diversity Weekend; Valentine's Weekend February 17-18th; Spring Diversity Week April 7-9. For more information check out the website at: http://www.diversitypride.com
OMNI NEEDS SIGNS at UCM
Many people who have come to an OMNI event at the United Campus Ministry for the first time have complained about the difficulty of finding us, especially at night, because we have no sign outside. At the last Open Mic, as I approached the building three persons were knocking on the door of the caretaker’s apartment! Negotiations have begun with the UCM board for place a sign on the building either on Maple or Storer. But we also need two portable signs for the two entrances. Carpenter volunteers? In the meantime, for events downstairs at our office or in the large meeting room, put “At the Deep End” in your publicity, for The Deep End has a sign on Storer.
PETITION TO TRANSFER PRIORITIES AND MONEY FROM WAR TO HURRICANE
As a means of acknowledging and rectifying our mistaken priorities, the Fellowship of Reconciliation calls for the cost of hurricane relief and rebuilding to be deducted from our annual $400 billion-plus military budget. This will be a start to redressing the kind of lopsided budget priorities that slashed funding to protect New Orleans from hurricanes and flooding in order to wage war in the Middle East. Jennifer Hyman, Communications Coordinator: communications@forusa.org Will several of you create and distribute a petition on this for OMNI?
AFRICAN AMERICANS IN NWA
A panel of NWA black execs gathered recently to discuss their lives and opportunities in NWA. The blacks interviewed here are very positive (there were only a few, however), but those outside perceive difficulties in living in such a predominantly white area (“Blacks See Region in Negative Light,” ADG, Aug. 28). Only about 5000 blacks live in NWA. What might OMNI do?
KATRINA ANIMAL REFUGEES
A shelter has been set up in Fayetteville for some animals displaced by Hurricane Katrina. The shelter is located at 2650 N. College, in the former North College Animal Hospital. This shelter is being run by volunteers, and it was established by Fayetteville Animal Services and the Humane Society of the Ozarks (HSO). To help: contact the shelter at 479-444-3456 to bring needed items, or Karen Rodgers 479-251-8787 if you can donate your time.
REPORTING THE WARS
In a weekly editorial TMN has been reporting by individual names the U. S. soldiers killed in the wars against Afghanistan and Iraq. Sept. 6 the newspaper reported also the number wounded, and the number of allied soldiers killed. These are important improvements in giving readers the full truth. But still no statistics on Iraqis and Afghans killed. I trust you will agree with me that racism is operating here—that U. S. and European lives are valued by the newspaper more than the lives of Arabs and Muslims, so much more that their deaths in Iraq and Afghanistan are not even counted. And the absence exposes also how little the newspaper values equality and human rights not just at home but also abroad. Yet when you compare TMN with NAT and ADG, TMN looks good, for the other two newspapers do not list even the U.S. or allied soldiers killed. Will you take just the few minutes it will take to protest? And you might add that this racism causes wars and terrorism.
TALKING BACK TO THE RIGHT WING
“Dick, I've been regularly posting at nwapolitics.com a political blog started by right-wing types, but now
fairly evenly divided (except when one of us libs gets thoroughly disgusted and stays away for a while).
Sometimes it seems a waste of time, but I have learned a good bit about how their minds work, and am shortly
going to post there a list of ten popular fallacies they seem particularly prone to. Coralie” [join Coralie in this action for a Culture of Peace]
OPPOSING PRESENT VIOLENCE AND ABUSE AND EDUCATING FOR THE FUTURE
Here is the connection between our many efforts to change present wrongdoings, such as our street demonstrations against the Iraq war and our support for the award to apprehend the man who struck a lesbian woman on Dickson, and our many efforts to educated and change social structures over the long term, such as our “Conversations” (to bring adherents of different religious faiths together), our Mother’s Day Luncheon for Peace (to some day replace the present commercialized Mother’s Day with Julia Ward Howe’s original Peace Mother’s Day), and our Indigenous People’s Day (to eventually educate people about the genocide produced by Columbus and other invaders of the Americas until they close down Columbus Day).
ESTATE TAXES
Perhaps you have seen the daily ads in the newspapers opposing estate taxes (deceptively referred to as “death tax”), sponsored by the Ark. Chamber of Commerce, Assoc. Industries of Ark., and the Farm Bureau of Ark. The ad calls upon Sen. Pryor to join Sen. Lincoln in supporting the “permanent and total repeal of the death tax.” Numerous articles have exposed the fraud of this legislation. E.g., see David Johnston, “Few Wealthy Farmers Owe Estate Taxes, Report Says” in NYT (July 10, 2005), which refutes the supposed threat to family farms, and I can send you more refs. Study the issue and let our Senators know your views.
CHRISTMAS: A message from ALTERNATIVES for Simple Living
We need to stop asking children "so what do you want from Santa this year?" and start asking them "what should we do together this year that will be really fun?" So says Betsy Taylor in "Making the Holidays Meaningful for Your Children," just one of the helpful articles in "Whose Birthday Is It, Anyway?" 2005. Betsy is founder and president of Center for a New American Dream, and author of "What Kids Really Want That Money Can't Buy" (available from Alternatives). Will some of you form an action panel to transform Christmas as a time of nonviolent world peacemaking? Jesus is a peacemaker hero?
OMNI’S WAR MADE EASY PANEL
Nancy Maier’s living room was filled Tues. night Sept. 6 to hear panelists discuss This book by Norman Solomon about U.S. presidents’ eagerness for war and the mainstream media that enable them. The panel of two UA professors (Patsy Watkins and Gerry Sloan) and professional people (Nancy and Gary Gray) explained the book and commented keenly, and the audience actively participated. Good food and drink before and afterward. The book may be bought at UA Bookstore, Hastings, and B&N.
FRIENDS TO CAMP CASEY
Fayetteville Free Weekly (Sept. 1-7) reported on the visit to Crawford, TX, to meet Cindy Sheehan by Frank and Phyllis Head and Karen Idlet and her children.
OMNI NEEDS PHOTOS
Bring your camera to OMNI events to help build up our peace archive. Send photos to Anne Prichard (see phone dir.), or leave for her at OMNI’s office.
NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL NEWS AND COMMENT
CULTURE OF PEACE
Since his retirement from UNESCO in 2001, David ? (sorry) has continued to devote his energies to the Global Movement for a Culture of Peace. In 2001 he established the culture of peace info website (http://www.culture-of-peace.info) which now has over 1,000 pages of documentation. In 2002, he established the Culture of Peace News Network (http://cpnn-usa.org). And in 2005 he has coordinated the Civil Society Report to the United Nations on the Culture of Peace (http://decade-culture-of-peace.org).
MILITARISM USA
A friend recently brought me two of the many magazines that support US militarism. Military Officer is published by the Military Officers Association of America. Since the country has been at war since 1941, active duty, reserve, and retired officers abound, and provide strong support for war-mongering presidents, as Pres. Bush’s recent appearances at VFW and American Legion national meetings illustrate. Charisma & Christian Life is pub. by Strang Communications, which pub. several Christian magazines. The April 2005 no. features on its cover a picture of a U.S. soldier apparently praying in Iraq, with the headline: “Military Miracles: How Prayer Has Saved Lives in Iraq,” and in the article we learn of the “calming effect of prayer” for the soldiers, “as if the Lord provides a shield of protection.” “During the fighting God looked out for me and dozens of other Marines by preventing some artillery shells from bursting near our fighting positions.” Others send me illustrations of US militarism.
SECRECY USA
TMN 9-4 reports rising secrecy under the Bush Administration. “The government is withholding more information than ever from the public and expanding ways of shrouding data.” Here is another subject for a petition to our blinded legislators.
WHISTLE-BLOWERS
You and I, investigative reporters, and whistle-blowers are the front line of truth and justice in our corporations and government. (I hope you have read about Bunnatine H. Greenhouse, the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers procurement official who was fired last week after refusing to back away from criticism of Pentagon contracts with the Halliburton Co., formerly headed by VP Cheney. And Teresa Chambers, Richard Foster, Lawrence Greenfield, who also attempted to expose a government agency’s wrongdoing.) We have good WB protection laws, but they have not been adequately enforced. A new protection bill by Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) and a similar bill in the House are moving forward. Urge our representatives to approve the bills. (Will one of you please get me more specific info. about the bills? Thanks.)
“WAR” ON “TERRORISM”
A significant part of the “War” on “Terrorism” is the domination of the terms. Seldom do you see the full definition of the actually two terrorisms: of individual and small group terror, as the U.S. defines terror (an entirely intentional, deceptive, and self-serving policy), and of state terror, of which the US is a major perpetrator. Watch the mainstream reporting, and you will see it. E.g., an AP article by Victor Simpson, “Pope: Faiths Must Unite Against Terrorism” (TMN 8-21). What terrorism, what “cruel fanaticism”? Individual and small groups only, with no mention of Christian or Islamic or Jewish nations invading, bombing, slaughtering, and torturing.
FREE SPEECH TV (brought to you by OMNI), 3 to 9am
To contribute to OMNI to help pay for the program: Send check made out to OMNI to Steven Skattebo, 2103 Loren Circle, Fayetteville, 72701.
To become a Friend of FSTV: www.fstv.org
Sample programs:
--Amy Goodman, “Democracy Now,” 7 to 8 am. Always enlightening.
--“After Silence,” concentration camps for Washington State Japanese-Americans during WWII, esp. the impact on the children; a project of the Bainbridge Island, WA, highschool but very polished film.
--Program on 3rd Parties in US, written and directed by Michael Burns (I missed the title). Excellent.
--“God in Government.”
--Ward Churchill documentary. Churchill speaks powerfully in self-defense.
--The Nature of Things Series by David Suzuki: “Farm, Inc.”: “Corporate Agriculture, The Hollow Men” and “Alternative Farming.”
--“Bush Family Fortunes: the Best Democracy Money Can Buy” by Greg Palast
--“The Texican,” short satirical film about Bush versus peace, justice, and the earth and its species.
OMNI SEEKS A WORLD FREE OF WAR AND THE THREAT OF WAR, A SOCIETY WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL, A COMMUNITY WHERE EVERY PERSON’S POTENTIAL MAY BE FULFILLED, AN EARTH RESTORED. WORLD PEACE, HUMAN RIGHTS, SOCIAL and ECONOMIC JUSTICE, ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP.
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