© Copyright
2006 The New York Times CompanyVisit http://academicsforjustice.org
MAY 27,2006, CREATING A CULTURE OF PEACE
Do you think that at least part of the immense appeal of nationalism, patriotism, and religion in the defense of wars derives from their ability to give meaning to suffering?Do we in the peace movement offerequally powerful alternatives?
CONTENTS: Read all or select what interests you most.
PAST EVENTS
COMING EVENTS
NWA
WORLD
PAST EVENTS
THIRD ANNUAL JULIA WARD HOWE PEACE LUNCHEON, May 20, Hog Haus Restaurant.Joe Guinn read well Howe’s originating and stirring Proclamation. Brenda Coda gave a powerful reprise (following our Open Mic) of “I Didn’t Raise My Boy to Be a Soldier.” Excerpts about a “Raging Grannies” protest at a recruiting station were read by Jo Bennett (who was also MC). And revered First Grade teacher Mary Lou Miller told about some of her students and their parents.The inspiring program led to talk of the Fourth Annual…. Thanks to Melanie Dietzel for organizing and Jody Miskell for assistance.Please contact one of the above if you will help next year.
ROUNDTABLE ON THE HUMAN
On May 24, Dick as
Moderator and five panelists (Steve Chism, David Hart, Roger Henry, Bettie Lu
Lancast, and Bill Symes) discussed the best case against the inevitability of
war ever written. The audience was
very lively with questions. The
extended reception afterward was cordial.
Thanks to Joyce and Jay Hale for the use of their home.Fayetteville Free Weekly will publish a
review of the book by Bettie Lu Lancaster. The Hebrew/Christian
promoters of an armed
COMING EVENTS
MAY 27 PROTEST THE INVASION OF IRAQ AND THE THREATENED INVASION OF IRAN at the Farmer’s Market on the Square in Fayetteville. 7 a.m. to noon. For our petition to our congresspeople we collected 148 signatures last Saturday; help us double that number this Saturday. Make a presence with us. This Sat. we don't have anyone coming at 8 or 9,and need additional people the rest of the times. Call Barbara Jaquish or Dick and come.
MAY 27, FREETHINKERS
When: Saturday May
27th. Where: The Blair Municipal
Library. 401
The science behind polygraph machines and their new cousin, computer voice stress analysis will be examined. And we'll have an update on our Springfest booth adventure and much, much more.
May 27, From Patricia Mikkelson: I will be sharing, with Coral Rose as interviewer, about the upcoming Community Conversation about Oil Dependency and finding solutions--Sat. May 27, Yvonne Richardson Center, East Rock (off of College) 5:30-9PM.
MAY 28, SUNDAY, VIDEO UNDERGROUND, 7PM “What On Earth?” Little things we do can have a
great effect on the world around us. Find out more about our impact on nature
and the environment. Learn what you can do to help save this beautiful planet we
call home. This film includes amazing and interesting facts about Global
Environmental Problems, Earthquakes, Mountains, Ecosystems, Soil and Vegetation.
Show Time: 105 Minutes
This films and 6 others will be shown at the
JUNE 2Quarantine the Wal-Mart Shareholders Convention!
We will be the flagship
operation, confronting the Shareholders Convention right here in the Belly of
the Beast! We'll meet up on June 2nd at 12:30pm at
The concept: Because of their anti-worker, anti-women, anti-community and anti-environmental practices, Wal-Mart has been classified as a threat to public health and must be placed under strict quarantine until said offenses are remedied. Hazmat Suits and masks will be available, just bring your excitement and your desire to make a better world! For people coming in from out of town, we will have housing available. email us at info@againstthewal.net.
to find out more, go to http://www.againstthewal.net
Download our flyer:http://www.againstthewal.net/agwal06poster.pdf
download a map: http://www.againstthewal.net/agwal06_map.pdf
Other events include: Thursday, June 1st: All day meet-up at All Peoples Unite Infoshop
directions:http://www.againstthewal.net/travel Saturday, June 3rd: Bikes not Sprawl bike ride
More info: http://www.againstthewal.net
the Against the Wal Coalition From Greg M
JUNE 3, SATURDAY, OMNI’s FIRST ANNUAL
JUNE 3, 10:30 TO 12 NOON, PROTEST THEINVASION AND OCCUPATION OF
Joyce and
JUNE 3, PROTEST THE INVASION OF
JUNE 3, 11:30 a.m. RAPID RESPONSE WRITERS
LUNCHEON at
JUNE 3, 5-10 pm,
“Paradise Lost” and “
June 3
WM3 WORLD AWARENESS DAY - LITTLE
ROCK
Vino's
923 West 7th Little
Rock, Arkansas 72201 View
Map
501-375-8466
Brought to you by ARWAR.org and Vino's
2:00pm - 8:00pm: Screening of films
Paradise Lost and PL2: Revelations, "Write to Freedom" letter writing drive,
Devil's Knot
book signing with Mara
Leveritt. Plus Special performance by comedian
Will Franken, starting at
7:00 p.m. FREE OF CHARGE.
Starting at
8:00pm: Q&A with special guest Mara
Leveritt, author of Devil's
Knot. Screening of short
documentary Jason Baldwin: “I No Longer Face the Storm Alone,” directed by Fay
Lellios.
June 4, Little Rock Gay Lesbian
Pride is proud to announce the second annual Capitol Pride '06 festival. Capitol
Pride's second year will feature an entertainment stage that showcases local
talent and also serves as an informational outlet during the day.
June
7-10, Mindfulness for the Joy of MindfulnessResidential Retreat on
The retreat leader is Ben Worth Contact Ben Worth at 816-210-3378 or email bmwabc1@yahoo.com for more information or call Unity of Fayetteville, 442-0680
JUNE 9, FRIDAY, 6PM, OMNI’S ANNUAL
$16 per person, chicken or veggie entrée; price includes
dinner, music, and awards ceremony; cash bar available. Send to omni center,
melaniedietzel@cox.net or karenkimrey@cox.net Feeling Generous??? if you would like to
sponsor the attendance of a nominee, awardee, or musician we will gratefully
accept donations for this purpose....contact Karen or Melanie.
This
NOVEMBER Women PeaceMakers Program
Joan B. Kroc Institute for
Peace & Justice,
PREVENTING WAR ACTION AT FARMER’S MARKET
Your committee to respond
to
Petition to
oppose
Dear President Bush, Vice President
Cheney, Secretary Rice, Secretary Rumsfeld,Senator Blanche Lincoln, Senator Mark
Pryor, Congressman John Boozman, Secretary General Annan and the United Nations
General Assembly,
We, the undersigned, oppose any attack by our military on any country that has not attacked us first.
Such actions only serve to undermine our government's legitimacy and multiply terrorist enemies.
Name Address
OMNI’S LIBRARY
Three new books: Douglas
Fry, The Human Potential for Peace;
James Carroll, House of War: The
Pentagon and the Disastrous Rise of American Power; James Janko,
FSTV (3 to 9 a.m. all week, at 7 Amy Goodman’s “Democracy Now” and at 5, brought ot you by OMNI).
Sample programs:
--
--“Hemp and Rule of Law,” praising many valuable uses of hemp and criticizing the DEA’s fanatical hostility to it; extensive historical background too.
--Amy Goodman in “Democracy Now” interviewed
--“The Day the
Country Was Destroyed” (I think was the title), about
“Choicecode” weekly news analysis, excellent.
“Enviro Close-up” interviews.
“
“The Quinn Report” part of LN, all in defense of true
freedom vs. the Bush Admin.’s freedom
Speak out yourself, witness for freedom, peace, justice, the environment, join and support OMNI.
“Madiba: The Life and Times of Nelson Mandela”
OUR LOCAL RADIO “Peacetrain”
We need some help testing
the Peacetrain streaming server. Click on this link, or paste it into Internet
Explorer, Firefox, etc. <http://peacetrain.gotdns.com:8000/>
Or you can paste this URL into Windows Media Player, Winamp, RealPlayer,
etc. File, Open URL, and paste the URL
into the window.
RAPID RESPONSE WRITERS STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
To confront with the Truth, whenever possible, primarily using letters to the editor, every right-wing, ultra-conservative and fundamentalist lie, distortion and hypocrisy; to promote, however we can, progressive social, economic and political programs; and to inform, educate and influence our representatives and our fellow citizens.
NWA
NWA AUDUBON SOCIETY
Its latest newsletter tells about field trips and programs: bats with Rob Mies (June 9-11 at Devil’s Den), birds with Joe Neal and Lyn Sciumbato (July 22), and butterflies by Paige Mulhollan (Aug. 5).www.uark.edu/~nwaudubo
GRASSROOTS MILITARISM
I don’t write often about
this fundamental source of
The Democracy Now! interview will be rebroadcast over the Peacetrain 1610 LowPowerAM radio. It will also be available from the Peacetrain internet radio station at:
<http://peacetrain.gotdns.com:8000/>
Colonel
<http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/viewArticle.asp?articleID=8529> <http://www.democracynow.org>
MARSHALLESE
Film Documents
Growing Marshallese
community in northwest
--Governor Huckabee is
considering giving
---The Bella Vista by-pass freeway is estimated to cost $2.5 billion. We cannot stop that done deal, but we can struggle to prevent the next by-pass, and the next, all ecstatically welcomed by developers, real estate companies, bankers. Send me your suggestions and citations for resistance..
--“Children Denied Lunch if Parents in Arrears,” MN (5-25), a situation in Flippin.
We must take down our banners which have stood on the vacant several years north of the Mall.Do you have a new place for the banners?
BUSH
See a scathing report on the Bush administration's record of abuse of power put out by the Cato Institute: “Power Surge: The Constitutional Record of George W. Bush,” authored by Gene Healy and Timothy Lynch. It is available at http://www.cato.org/pub_display.php?pub_id=6330 .
ADG’s Philip Martin excoriates Bush (5-14, p. 2J): “…we coulnd’t quite understand how soulless and empty an aspirant to high office could be.We didn’t think it could possibly get this bad.” pmartin@arkansasonline.com
People For the American Way believes that a healthy democracy is an informed democracy. We have created WikiThePresidency.org to establish a single place for the public to both acquire and share information about Executive Branch wrongdoings. Just click on http://www.wikithepresidency.org/index.php/Main_Page to see the page. From Chris D
“Quarantining Dissent: How the Secret Service protects
Bush from free > speech”
James Bovard Sunday, January 4, 2004
(c)2004 San FranciscoChronicle
For the entire article
go to: sfgate.com/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2004/01/04/INGPQ40MB81.DTL
When President Bush travels around the
United States, the Secret Service visits the location ahead of time and orders
local police to set up "free speech zones" or "protest zones," where people
opposed to Bush policies (and
sometimes sign-carrying supporters) are
quarantined.
BUSH, 9-11, SECURITY, LEADERSHIP
From truthout this piece about what should be the number 1 topic for the next year, but won't be unless average Americans make it one - that means letters to the editor and calls to congressmen.
“ Two Loud Words”
By William Rivers
Pitt Monday 05 January 2004
If September 11 is
discussed, the only allowable sub-topic to be broached is whether or not the
Bush administration is capable of keeping us safe from another
onslaught.
Thus, the 'preparedness-gap' becomes the
whittled-down talking point du jour. This is a whiff of colossal proportions,
the implications of which will echo down the halls of history unless someone
develops enough spine to speak the truth into a large microphone. Two words:
'Bush Knew.' For complete article
go to: http://www.truthout.org/docs_04/010504A.shtml
ROVE
Rove Informs White House He Will Be Indicted (perjury, lying to prosecutors, and, possibly, obstruction of justice) By Jason Leopold Friday 12 May 2006
Karl Rove told President Bush and Chief of Staff Joshua Bolten, as well as a few other high level administration officials, that he will be indicted in the CIA leak case and will immediately resign his White House job when the special counsel publicly announces the charges against him, according to sources. For the complete report go to: http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/051206Y.shtml
ECOLOGY
“Truth and Lies of the Biscuit Fire.” Bush Admin. vs. old growth forests. (excellent film from FSTV)
BUSH ADMIN. OUR ANIMAL FARM?
“… I thought I'd write you about my recent read of Orwell's Animal Farm…. you might re-read it again in light of the Bush Administration. It is quite a telling read to re-read now and apply it to modern times. From Lindsley S
MILITARISM, PENTAGON, BOOK FORUM
New book:House of War: The Pentagon and the
Disastrous Rise of
ENERGY CRISIS, PRICE OF FUEL, DEPENDENCY ON OIL
ADG (5-14), “Military to Test Jet Options…” about the enormous use of fuel by the military, one more of the countless wastes of the militarized USA. “When an f-16 lights up its afterburners, it consumes nearly 38 gallons of fuel per minute.” What is real “national security” and how is it created?
OIL AND GAS USE AND DEPLETION
ADG (5-14), “Oil and Gas Problems Were Predicted, Few Listened,”by Jim Lancaster,on scientists and geologists who predicted the consequences of the increasing rate of extraction and depletion of fossil fuels, esp. Marion King Hubbert: climate change/rising oceans, fuel shortage, escalating prices.
USING FOOD AS FUEL
ADG
(5-13), “GM Sets
Ethanol As Fuel of Choice,” “Corn Prices to
CORPORATE CRIME: ENRON
TMN (5-26)
reported the conviction of Lay and Skilling for fraud and conspiracy. The AP reporter made it sound like
a strong repudication of an “era of corporate fraud in
HELP WOMEN/QUESTION CONG. BOOZMAN
Below the
Belt: A Biweekly Column by
NOW President Kim GandyMay 17, 2006
U.S.
Rep. Lynn Woolsey (D-Calif.) is the lead sponsor on a package of proposals
designed to help working families by providing paid leave for caring for family
members, increasing options for child care, increasing funding for afterschool
programs, and encouraging the establishment of family-friendly workplaces. With
as much as they claim to value families, you'd think Republicans would be all
over this proposal. but,
noooooooooooo. Not one House Republican has signed on as a cosponsor of
Woolsey's aptly-named "Balancing Act." But let's not leave the Democrats off the
hook—currently only about a quarter of Democrats (54 out of 211, to be exact)
have signed on to this family-friendly package of bills. Take a moment today to
ask
your representative to cosponsor this
bill. From
NOW/Wanda S
WORLD
7 REASONS TO END THE WAR IN
1.The
2.Democracy cannot flourish under an occupation.
3.
4.The
5.The occupation destabilizes the
6. Humanitarian aid is crippled by the occupation.
7. The global community wants the war and occupation to end now.
For the full text google AFSC Wage Peace Campaign or go to www.afsc.org
KILLING CIVILIANS
So many civilians are being
killed in
WHY DID THE
Not for “freedom,” and
there were no wmd. But there was
international pressure to end the 12 years of sanctions and bombings that would
all international economic interests to enter and thrive in
MAINSTREAM MEDIA CHEERLEADING THE WAR
In NAT (5-14)), “Remembering the Iraq War’s Pollyanna Pundits”: quotes esp. Fox News glorification of the invasion in 2003, but also MSNBC, naming the newsmen. From FAIR.
A women's group of CODEPINK, Global Exchange, and Black
Voices for Peace created an inspiring flash movie using an excerpt from Dr.
King's April 4, 1967 speech "Beyond Vietnam" along with heart-wrenching images
of the
MENTAL HEALTH CARE FOR OUR TROOPS
A series in the Hartford Courant about the lack of
mental healh care for our troops in
http://www.courant.com/news/specials/hc-soldiers-sg,0,4734856.storygallery from Barbara J
(AND WHAT ABOUT THE IRAQIS?)
CASUALTIES
“
A&E DOCUMENTARY ON THE IRAQ
WAR
TMN (5-25) “Soldiers Open Up”
tells about theA&E documentary that night that follows some Reserve Marines
in Iraq , “Combat Diary: The Mariines of Lima Company.”At first they are full of excitement and
fun, like they were play a video game—busting into houses, firing at distant
targets—until the horror of their buddies being killed brought a sobered or
angry outlook. It’s sometimes a
grim picture, including the wanton destruction of a city.In general a realistic account, I
assume, of combat. But
t’s also just nother “band of brothers” film (like so many books), pro-war in
being devoid of the contexts required for evaluation of the events
portrayed. It does include
the grief of some of the parents of the killed soldiers, but these parents seek
consolation in the reassurance that what their sons died for was noble and/or
sanctioned by God.
(Representative parents?)
And not one word is said about their government which put them in harm’s
way illegally and deceitfully. All
of the surviving soldiers, at least those presented on film, believe their
mission to
PERMANENT BASES IN IRAQ,
ADG (5-14), “:Air Bases Grow in
The following letter I shortened by half;
to read the entire letter go to
http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2006/05/12/condoleezza_rice_at_boston_college_i_quit?mode=PF(Dick):
Condoleezza
Rice at
by Steve
Almond | May 12, 2006
An open letter to William P. Leahy, SJ,
president of
DEAR Father Leahy,
I am
writing to resign my post as an adjunct professor of English at
I am doing so -- after five
years at BC, and with tremendous regret -- as a direct result of your decision
to invite Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to be the commencement speaker at
this year's graduation.
Many members of the faculty and student body already
have voiced their objection to the invitation, arguing that Rice's actions as
secretary of state are inconsistent with the broader humanistic values of the
university and the Catholic and Jesuit traditions from which those values
derive.
But I am not writing this letter simply because of an objection to
the war against
She has lied to the American people knowingly,
repeatedly, often extravagantly over the past five years, in an effort to
justify a pathologically misguided foreign policy.
The public record of her
deceits is extensive. During the ramp-up to the
To cite one example:
In an effort to build
the case for war, then-National Security Adviser Rice repeatedly asserted that
Iraq was pursuing a nuclear weapon, and specifically seeking uranium in
Africa.
In July of 2003, after these claims were disproved, Rice said: ''Now
if there were doubts about the underlying intelligence . . . those doubts were
not communicated to the president, the vice president, or to me."
Rice's own
deputy, Stephen Hadley, later admitted that the CIA had sent her a memo eight
months earlier warning against the use of this claim.
In the three years
since the war began, Rice has continued to misrepresent or simply ignore the
truth about our deadly adventure in
Likethe president whom she
serves so faithfully, she refuses to recognize her errors or the tragic
consequences of those errors to the young soldiers and civilians dying in
This is the woman to whom you will be bestowing an honorary degree,
along with the privilege of addressing the graduating class of 2006.
It is
this last notion I find most reprehensible: that
Steve Almond is the
author of the story collections ''The Evil B. B. Chow" and ''My Life in Heavy
Metal."© Copyright
2006 The New York Times Company
Visit http://academicsforjustice.org
Peace
Delegation Returns from
A delegation of 22 Americans and one British citizen from the interfaith
peace and justice organization, the Fellowship of Reconciliation, returned
Saturday, May 20 from a successful two-week trip to
Hossein Alizadeh, 845-358-4601
ext. 27 iran@forusa.org (orig. report sharply cut
by DB)
ECOLOGY: The Two
CLIMATE CHANGE
EDGE URGES INSTITUTIONS TO MAKE C&C A CORE CONCERN
"The Edge urges the built environment institutions to make Contraction and Convergence a core concern.” http://www.gci.org.uk/articles/EDGE_Report.pdfFrom Art Hobson: “Whoever this British "Edge" group is, they have things very well in focus.I've read the news item below and their press release. I only looked over the big 48-page report. All of this looks excellent. It's been understood for several years now that "contraction and convergence" is the best way to go to solve global warming, and in fact the ONLY way that will work.”
NUCLEAR WAR
Click here to add your voice to a growing movement for peace and a nuclear weapons-free world.
Dear Peace Activist,
B is for BOMB is the most political film of the lot and is the only one to deal with the most dangerous situation in the world today – nuclear proliferation.
You can view all 10 films – and vote for B is for BOMB – at these websites:
http://www.nfb.ca/cannes; http://www.silenceoncourt.tv/
WAR AND THE ENVIRONMENT
From Lincoln and Alice Day
I have just now received (for OMNI’s library) a copy of James Janko’s
SUMMER CAMP IN
We are the Peace
& Reconciliation Department at Holy Land Trust, a Palestinian NGO
located in
CONTACT YOUR
CONGRESSIONAL REPRESENTATIVES
--Senator Blanche Lincoln: Web Site (they
have contact links): www.lincoln.senate.gov; http://www.lincoln.senate.gov/index.cfm; http://www.lincoln.senate.gov/webform.html
Washington Office:355 Dirksen Senate Office
BuildingWashington, D.C. 20510-0404
Phone: (202) 224-4843 Fax: (202)
228-1371.
--Senator
Mark Pryor: Web Site (see contact link): www.pryor.senate.gov ; http://pryor.senate.gov/contact/
Phone: (202) 224-2353 Fax: (202)
228-0908
Main District Office:700 W. Capitol, Rm. 2527
Phone: (501) 324-6336 Fax: (501)
324-5320
--Congressman John Boozman, District 3, 12 counties from
Harrison office: 870-741-6900; 402 N. Walnut,
DC
address: 1708 Longworth House Office Bldng.,