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OMNI NEWSLETTER: EVENTS, ACTIONS, COMMENT
NOVEMBER 5, 2005 BUILDING A CULTURE OF PEACE
News is the “conversation of democracy,” and this newsletter contributes to keeping that conversation alive, in contrast to the few conglomerates, with no direct responsibility to the public, which wield extraordinary power over the ideas and information the public receives. Let this newsletter lead to dialog with our Congressional delegation. (See end for contacting our senators and representative.)
UPCOMING EVENTS
NOVEMBER 5, PROTEST THE OCCUPATION OF IRAQ
Joyce and Mall, 10:30-12:00.
NOVEMBER 5, RAPID RESPONSE WRITERS
Ozark Mountain Smokehouse, 11:30
PEACE AND RELIGION
NOVEMBER 6, 10AM “No Peace in the World Without Peace Among Religions” (Gandhi’s Hope), 7PM “Making Peace in the Global Village: A Christian Approach” (Listening Side of Love). At St. Paul’s Episcopal Church. McDaniel’s books: Gandhi’s Hope, Learning from Other Religions as a Path to Peace, Living from the Center: Spirituality in an Age of Consumerism, The Listening Side of Love.
November 3 or 4 (depending on the sighting of the moon) is Eid al-Fitr which marks the end of the month of Ramadan for Moslems.
November 12 is the anniversary of the birth of the Baha'u'llah, the founder and great prophet of the Baha'i faith.
November 15 is the anniversary of the birth of Guru Nanak the founder of Sikhism.
NOVEMBER 6, OPEN MIC COFFEE HOUSE FOR PEACE
OMNI/ United Campus Ministry, 7 PM.
Steve and the Recliners hosting. Food contributions welcome.
NOVEMBER 8, TUESDAY, EDWARD LOLLIS
Mr. Edward Lollis will discuss “Peace Monuments Around the World” at the OMNI CENTER in the United Campus Ministry building in Fayetteville, Tuesday, November 8, 7p.m. The talk will be illustrated with photos and maps showing monuments on all continents and in most states and provinces of North America. Lollis believes that Fayetteville may have more peace monuments per capita than any other city in the United States. They are part of a growing number of more than 500 peace and friendship monuments throughout the world. If you wish to meet Mr. Lollis at breakfast, lunch, or supper Tuesday, contact Dick Bennett.
NOVEMBER 9, Wednesday, 7PM, Forum on the Department of Peace Bills in Congress. “Advantages & Disadvantages of a U.S. Cabinet Level Department of Peace.”
Contact Marvin Hilton at the Government Channel. The Roundtable will be recorded and televised at a later date on the Fayetteville Government Channel 16. It will discuss the House Bill# HR.3760 and Senate Bill# S.1756 introduced in the House and Senate during September of this year. The bill to create a cabinet level "Department of Peace and Nonviolence" addresses both international and domestic violence, which makes it pertinent to local governments. The public and press are welcome to be seated in the studio during the recording.
Panelists tentatively include three veterans, a social worker, two professors, a businessman, a businesswoman, a Washington County GOP official. Moderator will be Don Elkins, anchorman of KNWA.
November 10, Thursday, 7:30 p.m. (Central Time) LIVE WEBCAST
“War and the Soul: Healing Our Nation's Veterans from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder”
Please join us on-line for this live program with Edward Tick, based on his just released new book, War and the Soul.
NOVEMBER 11, FRIDAY, HOLOCAUST CONFERENCE, JONES CENTER
Since advance registration is required, perhaps this notice is too late, but you can call
Grace Donoho 479-756-8090 ext. 210. And mark your calendar for 2006. The 2005 conference is the 14th in a series provided by the Arkansas Holocaust Education Committee.
NOVEMBER 11-12, FRIDAY AND SATURDAY, 8P.M. “The Great Tennessee Monkey Trial.” At Walton Arts Center, 479-443-5600, with (maybe) Ed Asner and Mike Farrell. www.waltonartscenter.org
NOVEMBER 12, Veterans Day Parade (V’s Day is actually Nov. 11)(see NAT 10-13).
We need to consider how a peace organization might respond to Veterans Day. How might we repudiate the illegal and brutal wars, without necessarily condemning the soldiers ordered to fight them by their chauvinistic, imperialistic, and often lying civilian and military commanders?
NOVEMBER 13, SUNDAY, VIDEO UNDERGROUND, WORLD PREMIERE
The Video Underground is both privileged and honored to be one of the World Premiere locations for the new Robert Greenwald film WalMart: The High Cost of Low Price. Greenwald is the filmmaker of Outfoxed, Unconstitutional and Uncovered. Showtime is 7:00 pm and admission is free. (Thanks to Pippin Lowe for bringing us a world premiere.) If you want to bring food or drink, let Melanie Dietzel know (melaniedietzel@cox.net).
For more information about Video Underground's schedule visit the website at http://www.northwest-ark.com/vu
The Video Underground has a new digital projector system up and running. With the bigger screen and enhanced audio the movies and documentaries we show have become lifelike.
NOVEMBER 17, THURSDAY, OMNI STEERING COMMITTEE
Potluck 5:30, Business 6:00, at OMNI/United Campus Ministry, Storer and Maple Sts.
Every third Thursday.
NOVEMBER 17, UUFF Social Justice Committee. It is on the 3rd Thurs. of each month, i.e. for Nov. 17 next time, at 6:30 pm.
NOVEMBER 17, THURSDAY, 8:00 PM, NATIVE AMERICAN SYMPOSIUM
Giffels Auditorium, THE SILENT ENEMY (1930) Directed by H.P. Carver
with Live Accompaniment by the Mont Alto Motion Picture Orchestra
http://www.mont-alto.com/index.html This event is supported by OMNI.
FIRST SATURDAYS PROTEST AGAINST THE IRAQI OCCUPATION AND PREEMPTIVE INVASIONS Our protest is moving to Joyce and Mall 1:30 to 12:00 on first Sat. of each month.
From Chris: I made some posters and flyers in PDF and Microsoft Word formats at http://www.geocities.com/omniprotest/flyers.htm
I tested downloading them and I was able to download both kinds.
FAYETTEVILLE, NWA, ARKANSAS
CONGRESS WATCH
SENATORS PRYOR, LINCOLN, AND JUDGE ALITO
President Bush nominated Judge Samuel Alito to the Supreme Court, posing a serious threat to basic civil rights, women's rights and worker rights for decades to come. Now Senate Republicans are threatening to bring back the "nuclear option"—a parliamentary maneuver to seize absolute power in the Senate and force through extremist judicial nominees by eliminating the filibuster. Please call Senator Pryor right now to express your opinion o f Samuel Alito and the "nuclear option." Phone: 202-224-2353
Little Rock District Office: 501-324-6336
BIGOTRY in USA EXPOSED
PeaceWork (August 2005) reported on the 2004 Book Awards by the Gustavus Myers Center for the Study of Bigotry and Human Rights. The Myers Awards, now administered at Simmons College, Boston, began in Fayetteville during the 1980s, and might be said to be one of the social justice origins of OMNI.
ARKANSAS PRIORITIES
The drumbeat for more taxes for more highways continues and as usual without public discussion about what is most important. For example, Arkansas has a commendable full-day kindergarten program, but for how long with the financial drain of our wars, hurricanes, and highways? (See “Interstate 540 Interchanges Focus of Committee,” and “Land Purchase Moves Forward, Fayetteville Board Agrees” TMN 10-28. But also Brenda Blagg, “Public Favors Rail System,” TMN 10-28 and “Nature Conservancy lauds Partners: Annual Luncheon Recognizes Businesses That Support the Environment” by John Moore, TMN 10-21.) Highways, development, schools, sprawl: A few years ago 2 books told about the devastation done to the lower Rio Grande valley, once rich in flora and fauna, now reduced from 4 million acres of brushland 70 years ago to 160,000 acres today. Add toxic pollution from insecticides and herbicides to further reduce wildlife habitat. Is this what is happening to NWA? (The books are Longoria’s Adios to the Brushlands on the advance of enviro. degradation and its effects—including to the spirit; and Anzaldua’s Borderlands—La Frontera on the patriarchal, commercial values that have shaped the dominant culture’s destruction.)
GRASSROOTS MILITARISM
The Exchange Club of Fayetteville will dedicate a Freedom Shrine at the Army ROTC building as part of the ROTC’s Veteran’s Day ceremony. This identification of the Army with freedom is one of the engines sustaining US militarism. Many, perhaps most, of our troops in Iraq believe they are there to defend U. S. freedom. They have been taught that in their basic training, but they come to that training ready to believe it, so saturated is our society with the military/freedom conditioning. The National Exchange Club has “dedicated almost 11,000 Freedom Shrines in schools, military installations, and government buildings since the program’s inception in 1949. The Exchange Club of Fayetteville has placed 11 Freedom Shrines in the local area.” (TMN 11-1). Also 11-1 TMN printed an entire page for children (The Mini Page) on war memorials. OMNI is bringing Edward Lollis, world expert on PEACE MEMORIALS, to Fayetteville Tuesday, November 8, 7PM, at OMNI/United Campus Ministry to offer some balance and emphasize Fayetteville’s distinctive peace memorials.
USA, WORLD
From Chris: I found a website with words for peace in 340+ languages & multilingual peace flag. http://www.columbia.edu/~fdc/pace/
LEGISLATIVE UPDATES
You can sign up for Congress.org's Megavote legislative updates for our district at the following address.
http://www.congress.org/congressorg/megavote/
GETTING OUT OF IRAQ
PUBLIC AWARENESS IMPROVING?
Years after the start of the Vietnam War that a majority of U. S. public first said it was a “mistake”: 31/2. Years after the start of the Iraq War that a majority said this: 11/4.
ONE REASON? Number of journalists killed in Vietnam during twenty years of war there: 63. Number killed in Iraq since March 2003: 71.
CASUALTY REPORTS
Casualty reports from a database at http://www.iraqbodycount.net/names.htm. For each press report of civilian casualties it finds, this database lists Name and/or personal details of the victims, # of Deaths in the report, Age of victims, Sex of victims, Weapons used/Other details, Place of death, Date and News Source.
DEFUND THE OCCUPATION NOW: BOOZMAN
You can help keep that momentum growing by supporting a bill about to be introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives. The 2000th U.S. military death in Iraq prompted Rep. Jim McGovern (D-Massachusetts) to announce that he would introduce legislation to defund the war in Iraq. The new bill would end all funding for the deployment of U.S. Armed Forces in Iraq. It does not prohibit or restrict non-Defense funding for social and economic reconstruction in Iraq. Department of Defense funds could be provided for the safe withdrawal of all U.S. troops from Iraq, and consultations with other governments, NATO and the UN regarding international forces to ensure Iraqi security, as well as financial assistance and equipment but not personnel to Iraqi security forces and/or international forces. Please visit our online Action Center to email your Congressional representatives, asking them to co-sponsor McGovern’s bill.
Showdown looms in Congress on torture issue
Anti-torture language in the annual defense spending bill is in danger of being weakened or eliminated by a House and Senate conference committee after the White House threatened to veto the entire bill if the prohibition against torture is included.
Send message to Congress: Torture has no place in national defense.
ATROCITY THREATENS TO BECOME OFFICIAL U.S. FOREIGN POLICY
http://www.trotm.com/no_torture.htm (McCain Amendment)
http://www.trotm.com/no_conservative.htm (Supreme Court)
SHUT DOWN GUANTANAMO BAY
Tell your representatives in Congress to shut down Guantanamo and either try the remaining 540 detainees in a court of law or release them. Guantanamo Action Center, Center for Constitutional Rights, www.ccr-y-org
WHY DOES MAJORITY OF US PUBLIC ACCEPT ILLEGAL US INVASIONS?
Will you join me as a committee to list the reasons why the public has supported about 40 illegal U. S. interventions in other nations since 1945, some 20 of them major military invasions. (Related: Letter in ADG 9-20 by Mack Goree of Mountain Home: “Where Is the Outrage?”) Here’s a beginning (I won’t yet try to arrange them in an order of more to less important), and thanks to the several contributors:
1. Conformism (go along, get along).
2. Materialism (I’m doing ok, the invasions are hurting me).
3. Ethnocentrism (only we are right, others do wrongs).
4. Biblical arguments of inevitability of war until Armageddon and destruction of planet (preached by Rev./Brig. Gen. McClary, formerly pastor or Univ. Baptist Church, and other right-wing Christians).
5. Belief the U.S. casualties are minor compared to traffic accidents, etc. (Fox News’ Brit Hume).
6. Avoidance of reality of harms (awareness would mean responsibility and accountability for the problems, see Andy Rooney, Common Non-Sense [2002], p. 11).
7. Sense of helplessness and hopelessness.
8. Patriotism (our country right or wrong).
9. Support the troops (opposing a war will endanger our soldier boys and girls).
10. Huge number of veterans (most families have someone in the military or were in military).
11. Money (military bases and military-industrial complex offer jobs).
12. Military-industrial complex distributed around country to almost every state (to enlist as many congressional representatives as possible).
13. “Defense” Department (illusion that the wars are for defense instead of offense; e.g., that the invasion of Iraq was for U. S. security and freedom).
14. Fear of “enemy” (communists, drug distributors, Muslims).
15. Christian Fascism (see ref. below).
16. Blind faith in leaders.
17. Militarism sold via the mass media.
18. An irresponsible, controlled or intimidated media.
19. Callous indifference to human and species suffering.
20. Ignorance of the damage being done.
21. Popular need of a sanitized view of U.S. illegal wars (to keep their dream of America's righteousness alive).
22. Macho syndrome (wars enable fulfillment of masculinity myths).
23. Original Sin, genetics (we are born violent and warlike, wars are inevitable).
24. Willful ignorance (refusal to face reality of U.S-caused harms, even its slaughters).
25. Scarlet O’Hara avoidance syndrome (“I can’t think about that right now. If I do, I’ll go crazy. I’ll think about that tomorrow.”).
26. Myth of U.S. as exceptional City Shining on the Hill.
27. Self-absorbed, pay little attention to news, "It hasn't anything to do with me."
28. Accept government propaganda justifying the war because it's easier than thinking for yourself and
never learned critical thinking.
29. Fear and loathing of aliens who threaten cherished economic, religious, and other verities.
30. Addiction to, complicity with, power ( As a society, we are so accustomed to our standard of living, most people will stand by willingly, because we know deep down that these acts of aggression and illegal interventions keep us on top. )
31. Politically charged times necessitate political neutrality (what is really being said here, since the US has been engaged in permanent war since 1941?)
OPTING OUT OF MILITARY RECRUITMENT
Ref.: Peacework (August 2005), “Emergency: Opt-Out of Military Recruitment,” gives arguments and resources for dealing with the 2001 No Child Left Behind Act’s requiring high schools to release student contact information to military recruiters. Parents all around the country are resisting. A Student Privacy Protection Act was introduced into the Congress by Rep., Mike Honda. See Opt-Out Campaign Guide from Resource Center for Nonviolence in Santa Cruz, CA, or call 831-423-1626.
CHRISTIAN FASCISM
http://www.theocracywatch.org/chris_hedges_nov24_04.htm Chris Hedges, Losing Moses on the Freeway: America 's Broken Covenant With The Ten Commandments, The Free Press, 2005. Read Hedges’ 2004 essay, THE CHRISTIAN RIGHT AND THE RISE OF AMERICAN FASCISM.
WAR ON TERRORISM
Estimated number of pro-terrorism websites worldwide in 1998 and today, respectively: 12; 4,700.
USA ARMS DEALER OF THE WORLD
At a recent talk at Fayetteville’s First United Presbyterian Church, former Senator David Pryor reminded the audience that the US “is the world’s largest shipper of materials for warfare. The guns, the tanks, and other materials go largely out of our nation. “Don’t we realize that the implements of warfare sometimes come back?’ he asked.” (TMN 11-5, Religion section). Thank you David. One of the tasks of the peace movement is to educate the public about the corporate-military-White House complex.
ECOLOGY
WETLANDS FOR WATERFOWL
“Congress Approves Funding for Wetland Conservation” (TMN, “Outdoor Arkansas,” 8-19). Senator Lincoln supported the North American Wetlands Conservation Act, to support the North American Waterfowl Management Plan.
FRAUDULENT NEW ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT
The highly deceptive Threatened and Endangered Species Recovery Act of 2005 sponsored by Rep. Richard Pombo (R-CA) (and numerous self-interested corporations) passed the House in September. This legislation significantly weakens the Endangered Species Act of 1973. See the analysis in Sierra (“Crocodile Tears,” Nov. Dec. 2005) of an ad promoting the bill. And beware of a phone survey cleverly promoting the endangering bill. In the same issue see Carl Pope’s denunciation of Pombo’s attack on the National Environmental Policy Act. Read these analyses, and confront Cong. Boozman.
CITIES TAKE ON GLOBAL WARMING SINCE BUSH WON’T
“Climate Control” in Sierra (Nov.Dec.2005): “As of September, 178 mayors in 37 states had signed the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement, vowing to meet or beat the Kyoto goals.” And Fayetteville?
A Question for Journalists: How Do We Cover Penguins and the Politics of Denial?
by Bill Moyers, Keynote Speech to the Society of Environmental Journalists Convention Austin, Texas - October 1, 2005. Excerpt:
Rather than leading the world in finding solutions to the global environmental crises, the United States is a recalcitrant naysayer and backslider. Our government and corporate elites have turned against America's environmental visionaries - from Teddy Roosevelt to John Muir, from Rachel Carson to David Brower, from Gaylord Nelson to Laurence Rockefeller. They have set out to eviscerate just about every significant gain of the past generation, and while they are at it they have managed to blame the environmental movement itself for the failure of the Green Revolution
CORPORATIONS
GLOBALIZATION
OMNI’s Video Underground showed a significant film,"The Miami Model."
In November 2003, trade ministers from 34 countries met in Miami, Florida, to negotiate the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA). What happened there was a disturbing example of the state of free speech under president Bush. Orderly protestors were attacked with rubber bullets, pepper spray, electric tazer guns, and shock batons, all coordinated by the new United States Department of Homeland Security, and paid for by an $8.5 million line item within the $87 billion appropriation for the Iraq war. (Read closely what is happening at the FTAA conference in Argentina right now, and how the media report it and the protests. What happened in Miami seems to have gone down the memory hole.)
WAL-MART
--BENEFIT CUTS
Wake-Up Wal-Mart (go to google for many links) placed a full-page ad in USA Today and aired TV spots in 4 markets exposing a W-M memo on benefit cuts and promoting the documentary on W-M to be shown at OMNI’s Video Underground Nov. 13. See “Wal-Mart Trims Health Care Costs” (TMN 10-25).
--CHILD LABOR INFRACTIONS
TMN 11-2 “Labor Bill Targets Wal-Mart” by Alison Vekshin: Legislation to prevent the Dept. of Labor from giving companies such as Wal-Mart advance notice before investigating labor infractions. The bill came a day after the Labor Dept.’s Inspector General’s office reported W-M gad received significant concessions regarding its child-loabor violations. Also in TMN (11-1) “Report: Wal-Mart Labor Deal Unique.”
--WHEN QUALITY IN QUESTION?
“Wal-Mart Strives to Polish Its Image,” by 2 AP writers, TMN (10-31) surveys W-M’s “fuzzy approach” to deflecting criticism of its health care plan, its diversity in the workplace, and its environmental record.
WAL-MART WORKERS ASSOC.
--Wake-Up Wal-Mart has launched Wal-Mart Workers of America to improve W-M working conditions: www.walmartworkersofamerica.com (TMN 11-5, Business section).
W-M REPLIES TO CRITICS
--“Wal-Mart Unveils Impact Study” by Alison Vekshin (TMN 11-5, Business). W-M makes case it “helps economy by creating jobs, boosting wages.” See also “Wal-Mart Gears Up Publicity” by Anita French (TMN 10-28, Business): “The company has recognized its image problem….”
OIL INDUSTRY WINDFALL PROFITS
“Exxon Mobil, Royal Dllutch Shell PLC Profit, Sales Soar” (TMN 10-28).
TMN 10-29 reported on the oil industry’s extraordinary profits while gas prices escalated, and its refusal to boost fuel production. See TMN’s “Raking It In” graph.
TMN (10-30), “Obscene Oil Profits Overlooked: Congress Turns Blind Eye to Corporations Milking Consumers’ Wallets” by Wesley Brown (Business Editor for the Arkansas News Bureau in LR, wbrown@arkansasnews.com). Also in 10-30: “Rising Eneregy Costs Take Toll on Families” by AP reporter Aleksandrs Rozens.
INCOME TAXES
TMN 11-2: “Sweeping Changes Set for Income Tax.” Another subject for call or letter to CONG. BOOZMAN.
DEATH PENALTY
Two editorials: Alito and Patriot Act
The one from the New York Times includes a reference to a horrendous reasoning by nominee Alito on a death penalty case. The one from the Washington Post is a superb critique of the underhanded attempts for more death penalties that was slipped into the Patriot Act.
here is the link for the NYT editorial about Alito.
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/11/01/opinion/01tues1.html?hp
Washington Post re Patriot Death
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/11/01/AR2005110101646.html
Execute justice, not people. Revenge is God's job, not ours. From Betsey Wright
SUPREME COURT: ALITO
From the People for the American Way: If confirmed, said one commentator, "There will be no
one to the right of Sam Alito on this Court."
* Alito was the only Third Circuit judge who voted to uphold a requirement that a woman notify her
husband before seeking an abortion. Operation Rescue responded to his nomination by proclaiming "Roe's days
are numbered. we are now on the fast-track to derailing Roe v. Wade as the law of the land."
* Alito has argued that Congress does not have the power to regulate the sale of machine guns at gun shows.
* He tried to uphold the strip search of a mother and her ten year-old daughter, even though the warrant
authorizing a search did not name either of them.
* Alito rejected claims by an African American defendant who had been convicted of felony murder by
an all-white jury from which black jurors had been impermissibly struck because of their race.
TAKE ACTION
Check out http://www.congress.org . Congress.org is a service of Capitol Advantage, a private, non-partisan company facilitating civic participation. Congress.org allows users to: -Identify and contact leaders in Congress, the White House, and state legislatures.- Post letters online in Letters to Leaders and read what other Americans are saying to elected officials.- Create and post Soapbox action alerts to enlist others on your issue.- Have letters printed and hand-delivered to Congress.- Find and contact local and national media by ZIP code or by state with Media Guide.- Have your representative's votes sent to you weekly via e-mail with MegaVote.- Search alerts and take action in the Issues and Action area Go to http://www.capitoladvantage.com/capwiz/contact.html to get your organization's alerts on Congress.org, Yahoo!, MSN, AOL and more sites).
--Senator Blanche Lincoln: Web Site: www.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.
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 PROTECTING SPECIES AND THE EARTH.
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