The avalanche of a big number of actions against a war in Iraq since our last newsletter is very heartening! The MLK march in Seattle this year swelled to 15,000 people, and perhaps 2 or 3 times that number participated in the march opposing the war on February 15. Over 60,000 people nationwide and beyond have now signed the Peace Pledge started in this office. At least 3,500 people participated in the January 18th Potlucks for Peace initiated by Tom Herriman. The 40 new neighborhood groups launched by the SNOW (Sound Nonviolent Opponents of War) Coalition are continuing to involve thousands of people through local actions.

Some peace actions smaller in numbers also have fresh, powerful approaches. Veterans have met with students in the West Seattle High School cafeteria, discussing military service. A SNOW group organized kayaks and canoeists to Paddle for Peace, calling on Bill Gates to launch software, not warfare. Eastside FOR is hosting a reading of Lysistrata, the Greek play in which women decide to withhold sex to stop their men from warmongering. Tacoma FOR is co-hosting a peace fair featuring music, dance, art, and poetry.

While I admit that in my first month here I have spent almost all my time on peace efforts, particularly with the SNOW Coalition, FOR wisely also focuses on many justice issues. I feel challenged to make visible the connections between our enormous military spending and the devastating cuts in funds for human needs that affect the justice issues on which FOR focuses. Ironically, the over $2 billion in tax dollars from individual Washington State taxpayers (according to the National Priorities Project) for a $100 billion Iraq war would be just about the same amount that is being slashed from WA state services for human needs such as education, environment, health care, and housing. A small group of us from WWFOR and SNOW, including Nan McMurry, WWFOR's staff person for 13 years, are starting a series of speak-outs to dramatize this. We started last week at Seattle's tent city for the homeless and the women's shelter where Nan works. Our representatives need to hear from us about how we want our tax dollars spent!

I feel fortunate to be working with the wonderful FOR members in this area, and with my fellow part-time staff members Sara Rinehart and Karissa Loewen, staff person for the SNOW Coalition who is also coordinating volunteers in the office. Karissa started in January as I did; she is supported by a generous donation from Seattle Mennonite Church. Finally, it's great to work with Mike whose sassy sense of humor has kept me perked up for over three decades! I look forward to working with all of you!

1. Long-Term Commitment: A group of people who realize that change toward a more humane world will take time and who make a long-term commitment to do the work.

2. Justice and Peace: FOR engages issues around both peace and justice - not just peace whatever the price, or "justice" involving massive violence.

3. Nonviolence: FOR is committed to nonviolence as a way to make change and to treat people.

4. Treatment of Others: We are not only concerned about right treatment for the victims of violence and oppression but also of each other. We seek to settle our disputes without escalation and realize that our group is only as strong as the loving concern with which we treat each other.

5. Democracy: FOR Chapters and Committees need to encourage participation and welcome input into decisions. Leadership positions need to be rotated to different people.

6. Welcoming New Participants: I have observed that this is a challenge for more established chapters in which people have worked together for years. What comes across to new people often is that there is no room for them and that the way the group works is mysterious. Maybe we need special sessions for new members.

7. Collaborative Work: We often work cooperatively with other groups, even groups we may not agree with on some issues. We insist on adherence to nonviolence in our joint work and avoidance of demonizing others.

8. Working on Our Own Biases: We undertake to work individually and collectively on our own "isms" or racism, ageism, sexism, classism, ableism and homophobia so that we can model the type of non-oppressive society we seek and so that we can work constructively with others.

9. Balancing Critique with a Positive Message: Of course we are drawn to describing what is wrong with present arrangements, but we need to also describe positive proximate and more remote and utopian arrangements. It is these positive visions which will attract supporters.

10. Engaging in Visible Change and Education Efforts in Our Communities: One way for FOR Chapters to attract new people is to address problems confronting people in their communities as well as working on global issues of war and the unfairness of the corporate world order.

They are loving in the most challenging sense of that word

They linger to have conversations with others and are interested in their lives, refusing to consider others as a means to an end.

They laugh easily. We are on a long hard road so we better find joy in the journey.

They are a bit loony. You have to be a bit crazy to take on this work with the powers-that-be often against you.

They are good listeners to other people's stories and points of view. Listening appears to be passive but is quite powerful. Most of us don't get listened to enough.

They are avid learners. They learn about people, about issues, about how change works.

1. You will join a national & international organization with 88 years' experience working for peace and justice.

2. You can use FOR tax exempt status.

3. You can plug into the network of Western Washington FOR chapters which can offer advice and support.

4. You can draw on the support of the WWFOR staff and office facilities including book & film libraries and brochures.

5. WWFOR conducts a fall retreat, spring assembly and summer conference. Chapters are urged to attend these events and participate in the planning.

6. You can participate in the Area Committee which conducts the business of WWFOR, sets priorities, supervises the office and staff.

7. Most importantly you become part of a beloved community of peace and justice activists around the state.

Not only is the non-violent stance articulated in SNOW's Points of Agreement clearly consonant with the mission of FOR, this dedication to non-violence resonated with many other organizations as well; SNOW was soon a coalition of over 30 groups.

To be sure, coalitions are not unusual but there was a sea change following SNOW's first large scale event on December 8th where neighbors were brought together to form neighborhood organizations devoted to action against war at a very local level.

The enthusiasm for local action in the emergent neighborhood groups (now numbering over 60 throughout the Puget Sound region) has resulted in an overwhelming array of local events, each of which further broadens and deepens the groundswell of public support for non-violent alternatives to war.

SNOW neighborhood groups have, among other things, organized potlucks for peace, paddles for peace, bike rides for peace, bannering on freeway overpasses, a children's peace parade, vigils everyday of the week somewhere in the Puget Sound region and a wide variety of educational programs. The neighborhood networking capacity of the coalition allows us to be instrumental in quickly spreading the word far and wide about events such as the wonderfully successful February 15th Rally and March in Seattle.

Neighborhood contacts, listed on the website for each neighborhood, help orchestrate the work of their own neighborhood group and keep connected through a group list on the website to the end that they can consult with one another, plan joint actions, share resources and find mutual support as they work through organizational growing pains.

The neighborhood group members and the organizational group members have a synergistic effect on one another in this coalition as each draws strength, inspiration and resolve from the other.

While the SNOW membership has ultimate responsibility for decisions regarding SNOW sponsored events and broad SNOW initiatives (decision making falling to those in attendance at meetings every other Monday night), a Coordinating Committee is charged with leadership and strategic planning for the coalition.

We've been focused on the aftermath of the trial of FOR member Ellen Murphy who, on February 13th, was convicted of criminal trespass for passing out information on the toxic effects of uranium poisoning to recruiters and potential enlistees at the Bellingham Armed Services Recruiting Center. Expert witness Major Doug Rokke was not allowed to testify to the jury on the military cover up of the use of uranium on Gulf War munitions and its ghastly health effects on servicemen and women as well as on the Iraqi people. However, his testimony is part of the record should Ellen decide to appeal. She may, and she also has to pay a fine of $320 so please consider a donation to her defense fund. Checks should be made out to Ellen Murphy with 'defense fund' in the memo line. Mail them to the Whatcom Peace & Justice Center, P.O. Box 2444, Bellingham, WA 98227.

Tacoma FOR members have been participating in peace vigils twice weekly, Monday and Wednesday, in front of the Federal Building in downtown Tacoma. Many No Iraq War signs and other peace signs are displayed. Along with United for Peace - Pierce County, we co-sponsored An International Celebration of Peace on February 15. This event included Poetry for Peace, dance, music, and other cultural activities to promote peace. Tacoma FOR folks were also part of a group that persuaded a majority of the Tacoma City Council to pass a "No Iraq War" resolution.

A record crowd of people concerned with racial justice, economic fairness, and peace came together to honor Martin Luther King Jr. at Garfield High School in Seattle. After a rousing rally, FOR members marched with the FOR banner, the SNOW banner, and with neighborhood groups. photos by Tom Savage.

In 1970 I joined a brand new anti-war group called the Seattle Liberation Front, the SLF. We were primarily nonviolent in practice but we debated endlessly the question of violence versus nonviolence. Property destruction, called "trashing" seemed to us small potatoes compared to what our government was doing in Vietnam. I might add that the founding document of the SLF had a picture of a gun, a clenched fist and Che Guevara on it.

By the end of the summer, 7 of our leaders had been indicted by the Federal Government for conspiracy to cause destruction to Federal Property. Red paint, simulated blood, had been thrown on the Federal Courthouse. During the trial of the 7, it was revealed that the paint had been supplied by an agent provocateur, a paid government agent working undercover with the FBI.

With the repression of its leaders and internal dissension, the SLF split and for all intents and purposes disappeared.

From the perspective of 30 plus years, I think far too many of us in those days were very confused about the best way to struggle against our government and bring about social change. After that experience, I felt powerless, alone, afraid and angry. How many times had I stood with hundreds of others, shaking our fists at the police and calling them "pigs" and, ... nothing happened, except I felt more powerless, more alone, more afraid and more angry.

32 years later, I went to the founding meeting of another anti-war organization, SNOW, Sound Nonviolent Opponents of War. I saw our government about to escalate an aggressive and unjust war on the Arab nation. It seemed eerily like Vietnam. But this time I had begun to understand the power of nonviolent action. I had seen its results firsthand at the WTO. I trust everyone here knows where the violence came from on that day.

At first, we in SNOW focused on the conventional political process, trying to get our two Senators to vote against the Bush war resolution. When the Senators made no statements of their intent despite thousands of phone calls and letters asking them to vote no, some of us decided to visit their offices and remain in the Federal Building until we heard their intent. We knew we were risking arrest and had done some nonviolent training.

It was new to me to be friendly and respectful to an arresting officer. I really had to control my fear. Being with four courageous people helped me a lot. After the experience was over, I found, to my surprise, that I felt more empowered. I was less afraid, less angry, and felt part of a larger community. I had hope again, the hope I had lost 32 years before.

In the song "Down by the Riverside" we sing "Ain't gonna study war no more". But what will we study? I know what I am going to study. I will study Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Jr. and the theory and practice of nonviolent direct action. I think now, that is how we will get to the world we want.

CCFOR continues to promote non-violent conflict resolution in the Longview-Kelso area with 2 weekly 1 hour vigils on the streets holding signs designed to raise awareness and spark debate in hopes of doing our part to stop the Bush administration's war machine. Dan Smith, Janey Austin, Jody Chastain and Iva Oshaghnessy represent a core group that keep the vigils going. We recently traveled to Portland, Oregon for the largest peace march in the city's history. More than 20,000 showed up for the peaceful gathering and not one arrest was made. Jody and his wife Heidi got their picture in the Longview newspaper as part of a story about local citizens attending the march.

The North Olympic Peace Fellowship, the FOR affiliate active in Port Angeles, is working in a new coalition with the Green Party, Womanfest, and about 150 peace-minded individuals. We call ourselves the Peninsula Peace Movement. We have been gathering Monday evenings from 5 to 6 p.m. during the going-home traffic, every Sunday evening, and several Saturday noontimes for peace marches. We marched on Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday. On February 2, a number of ministers including Vince Murray met with the peace walkers for a march and speeches. We also worked on planning a big march for Feb. 15.

Fire Mountain Chapter includes Chehalis, Centralia, and nearby towns. We just concluded our 14th weekly vigil on Saturdays at noon at Centralia Library averaging 20-25 people. We are developing a local phone tree of names gathered at those vigils and have about 150 so far. On January 18 we did an action at the local Navy Recruiters office which got good local newspaper coverage. Along with the Tree of Life (local Decade of Non-violence coalition), we sponsored a well-received MLK celebration which focused on his 'axis of evil': racism, poverty and militarism. We have worked with Centralia Community College to develop a series of presentations related to Iraq to be presented to students and the public. The first speaker on Feb. 4 was Ginny Nicarthy on her recent trip to Iraq; on Feb. 6 Dr. Jody Peterson spoke on the history of Iraq. On Feb. 11 Larry Kerschner did a presentation on the effects of the sanctions on the people of Iraq.

Several from the group organized a benefit dinner for "Building Homes in Palestine" sponsored by the Global Campaign to Rebuild Palestinian Homes. Twenty-eight attended and $650 was raised for building Palestinian homes.

Our group meets the first Friday of each month at 7 p.m., at Wesley Terrace, 816 S 216th St in Des Moines. Peace activists in Renton, Kent, Federal Way, etc. are urged to attend our stimulating programs.

Has been buying large quantities of the red, white and blue NO IRAQ WAR signs & providing them through three local retail stores on a nonprofit basis. By Feb. 10 we distributed 950 signs in Thurston County.

Placed Iraq peace ads on the curb side of 5 buses & bought 8 vinyl banners of the same design for local use.

Has enjoyed 15-20 participants at our Wednesday noon vigil and 20-30 at our Friday late afternoon vigil.

Broadcast TV programs about faith-based nonviolence, reparations for legally enforced racism, and produced our next program about Nonviolent Communication.

Co-sponsored an intensive From Violence to Wholeness weekend workshop on nonviolence in our personal lives.

Staffed information tables at a number of community events.

Participated in local peace activities in coalition with other groups

Adopted a $10,000 budget for 2003.

Our first fundraising event will be a read through of the play Lysistrata at Town Hall on March 3rd. This time-proven Greek satire on war will be read in over 30 countries that day.

On February 15th about 100 people marched down Main Street to protest government plans to wage war on Iraq. Organized less than a week earlier by the Veterans for Peace and Women in Black, FOR members were also out in great numbers. Bruce Pruitt-Hamm, FOR member, local attorney and current President of the Stevens County Bar Association, spoke briefly to the rally about the illegality, under international law, of the planned invasion of Iraq without explicit UN Security Council authorization.

The chapter's next sponsored event is Monday, March 3rd. Local ministers from the Methodist, Lutheran, Catholic, UCC and Presbyterian churches are speaking on a panel about the Iraq war (all opposing) at the Catholic Church. Others among the more evangelical churches have also organized a "walking vigil" that will go from church to church that same afternoon, praying for peace and to heal the "brokenness" that comes with preparation for war. Plans are also underway for some form of public protest to occur in mid-March, details to be determined in future meetings.

Last fall we had three peace rallies with Walks for Peace and one silent Candlelight Peace Procession, with another peace rally/ march in January. Each drew a crowd of 100 to 250. In November, we hosted Bert Sacks who has been to Iraq 9 times, in a presentation: "War Against Iraq? How Did We Get Here?" with 120 in attendance. Last month we helped bring Gerri Haynes, Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility, to speak to large groups in two area high schools.

One of our active members, Nancy Jarmin, was selected to participate in the FOR conference in New York, "Courage Not War," in January. She found it extremely worthwhile, and has been sharing ideas with us, as a result.

In February we hosted an evening presentation to learn about the proposed trade agreement, FTAA, and its implications with guest speakers experienced in organizing for workers' rights from the U.S., Mexico, and Guatemala.

We are planning other events focusing on stopping the war on Iraq, including hosting Dana Visalli, from Twisp, who returned from a peace delegation to Iraq in late February. We also plan an event in March featuring three speakers who recently lived/volunteered in two African countries. They will offer ideas for solidarity with African peoples who are victims of AIDS, poverty, civil war, and oppressive governments.

Join others on Saturday May 10 to strengthen the movement for social justice, nonviolence and peace.

WWFOR's 5th Annual Spring Membership Assembly will bring us together to creatively counter the current mad rush to war & and to make progress on the other vital issues we care about. You will enjoy linking with grassroots FOR folks throughout Western Washington to empower ourselves and each other.

Planning is underway, but the latest news at the Pacific Call deadline was that we'll gather at the Fauntleroy UCC Church at 9260 California SW in West Seattle at 9 a.m. for registration and social time, and begin the assembly at 10 a.m. sharp. We will provide lunch. Registrants will pay what they can.

Mark your calendar for the 2003 FOR regional conference at Seabeck, WA, with the theme "Making A Difference Together: Working Toward A Peaceful World." We will be privileged to have as keynote speakers national FOR coordinator Pat Clark and disarmament activist Jim Douglass. Join us from the afternoon of Thursday July 3 to midday Sunday July 6.

Bellingham Emergency Response; Day of the Attack/Escalation: Meet at the Federal Building as soon as you can, Candlelight march through downtown that night. Next Day (Day After) General Strike/Sick-Out, Student walk-out & Rally at WWU at noon, March to Federal Building (around 1 pm), Rally with speeches at Federal Building (around 2 pm)

Seattle Emergency Response; if a declaration of war; intensified bombing, gather at the Federal Building, 2nd Ave near Marion 5pm, march to Westlake at 7pm; On the 'day-after' gather at the Federal Building at noon march to Westlake 4pm rally 4:30pm. Sound Nonviolent Opponents of War is one of the planners; phone message 206-784-2227 if implemented

Ongoing Tuesdays, 11:45 a.m. - 1 p.m., on the corner of 15th and Maple by the College, Longview; Cowlitz County *FOR* peace vigil, everyone is welcome with or without signs, info Dan or Janey 360-423-7338

Ongoing Wednesdays, noon - 1 p.m., NW corner of Sylvester Park, corner of Legion & Capitol Way, Olympia, Peace Vigil, come for all or part of the hour to sustain Olympia *FOR's* persistent (every week for 21 years) witness for peace and nonviolence; bring signs or use ours; info Glen 360-491-9093

Ongoing Wednesdays, 5 - 6:30 p.m., at "4 Corners" Vashon Island; weekly Peace Vigil

Ongoing Thursdays; 5 - 6 p.m., near the Westlake Park arch at 4th and Pine, downtown Seattle; Peace Vigil and leafleting by Women in Black, a peace group in the tradition of the women who vigil weekly in Israel / Palestine, info 206-208-9715

Ongoing Fridays, 3 - 4:30 p.m., at west end of the Allen Street Bridge, Longview; Cowlitz County *FOR* peace vigil, everyone is welcome with or without signs, info Dan or Janey 360-423-7338

Ongoing Fridays, 4:30 - 5:30 p.m., in downtown Olympia along W 4th Ave near the fountain, join Olympia *FOR* weekly vigil; current focus promoting peace and human rights in light of the current intl. crisis; info Glen 360-491-9093

Ongoing Saturdays, noon - 1 p.m., at Washington Park in Centralia; Fire Mountain *FOR Anti-War Vigil, info Stephen 360-736-8784

Ongoing Saturdays, noon, NE corner Bellevue Way and NE 8th, Bellevue; Women In Black peace vigil, info 425-455-4048

Sun March 9, noon - 5 p.m., at Seattle Center - Center House, Seattle; celebration of International Women's Day, "Women Reclaim Democracy - We Will Be Heard!!" look for Seattle *FOR* table, info 206-860-1400 x 5

Sun March 9, 2 p.m. at Centralia Library; Fire Mountain *FOR* presnets one segment of "A Force More Powerful," a video about successful uses of nonviolence in world history, plus discussion. Plan future activities, especially focusing on demilitarization, the global economy, and the Decade of Nonviolence. info Stephen 360-736-8784

Sun March 9, 5:15 p.m. business mtg, 6 potluck, 7 program, at Hillside Comm. Church, 2508 S. 39th St, Tacoma; Tacoma *FOR* program with presentation by Nancy Farrel who visited Palestine last summer; info Al Kammerzall 253-272-9572

Sun March 16, 5 p.m. potluck, 6 p.m. announcements, 6:30 - 8 p.m. program, at Woodland Park Presbyterian Church, 225 N 70th near Greenwood, Seattle; Seattle *FOR* presents a program by Susan Help of ACLU on Threats to Civil Liberties; Free, an offering will be taken. info 206-789-5565

Fri March 21, dinner 6:30 p.m., program 7:15, at Charlie's Restaurant Banquet Room, 1826 -1st Ave, Kelso, Cowlitz County *FOR* program The Sixties Civil Rights Movement. a segment from A Force More Powerful., info Dan or Janey 360-423-7338

Fri March 21, 7 p.m., at the Eastshore Unitarian Church, 12700 SE 32nd St just off Richards Road near I-90 in the Factoria area of Bellevue; Eastside *FOR* and ACLU present "Knowing Your Civil Rights in the Brave New World", info Michael Tivana 425-454-4865

Sat April 5, 3 p.m., & subsequent 1st Saturdays, Keystone Cong. Ch., 5019 Keystone Pl. N, Seattle; meeting of Interfaith Network of Concern for the People of Iraq challenging the U.S. embargo against Iraq; info Rich Gamble 206-632-6021

Sun April 13, 2 p.m., call for location; Fire Mountain *FOR* meeting; info Stephen 360-736-8784

Sun April 13, 5:15 p.m. business mtg, 6 potluck, 7 program, at Hillside Comm. Church, 2508 S. 39th St, Tacoma; Tacoma *FOR* program with presentation by *WWFOR* organizer Mike Yarrow "Where We've Been, & Where We're Going"; info Al Kammerzall 253-272-9572

Tues April 15, Tax Day, a good time to tell the government where you want your tax dollars to go, or to withhold $

Fri April 18, dinner 6:30 p.m., program 7:15, at Charlie's Restaurant Banquet Room, 1826 -1st Ave, Longview, Cowlitz County *FOR* program Ghandi's Truimph Against the British. a segment from A Force More Powerful, info Dan or Janey 360-423-7338

Sun April 27, 5 p.m. potluck, 6 p.m. announcements, 6:30 - 8 p.m. program, at Woodland Park Presbyterian Church, 225 N 70th near Greenwood, Seattle; Seattle *FOR* presents Jonathan Betz-Zall on War and the Environment; Free, an offering will be taken. info 206-789-5565

Sat May 3, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., call for location, *WWFOR* Area Committee meeting, Everyone is welcome to participate in this quarterly meeting to help WWFOR make organizational decisions and coordinate activities. info 206-789-5565

Sat May 10, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m., at the Fauntleroy UCC Church, 9260 California SW in West Seattle; 5th *WWFOR* Annual Spring Membership Assembly; join with other FOR folks to strengthen the movement for social justice, nonviolence and peace. info 206-789-5565

Thurs - Sun July 3 - 6, at Seabeck Conference Center, on Hood Canal, Seabeck WA, 45th annual *FOR* Northwest Regional Conference, "Making A Difference Together: Working Toward A Peaceful World" with keynote speakers Jim Douglass and National *FOR* Coordinator pat Clark, info 206-789-5565

Western Washington FOR needs your financial support. Many people tell us they like what we are doing, but not enough people are contributing toward the costs of doing our work. If you like what we are doing, please send your donation to: WWFOR, 225 N 70^th, Seattle WA 98103. Contributions are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. FOR is a 501(c)(3) organization.

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