PACIFIC CALL Nov-Dec 2006PACIFIC CALL Nov-Dec 2006
newsletter of Western Washington FELLOWSHIP OF RECONCILIATION
225 North 70th, Seattle WA 98103, 206-789-5565
Vol. XXVI, No. 5, November-December 2006
Editor: Tom Savage plus many other volunteer helping hands.Web edition at: www.scn.org/wwfor (may include articles and links that couldn’t fit into the print version).
The Western Washington FOR (WWFOR) seeks to replace violence, war, racism and economic injustice with nonviolence, equality, peace and justice. It links and strengthens FOR members and chapters throughout Western Washington in promoting activities consistent with the national FOR statement of purpose. WWFOR helps members and chapters accomplish together what we could not accomplish alone.
Vision statement of national FOR: The FOR envisions a world of justice, peace, and freedom. It is a revolutionary vision of a beloved community where differences are respected, conflicts addressed nonviolently, oppressive structures dismantled, and where people live in harmony with the earth, nurtured by diverse spiritual traditions that foster compassion, solidarity, and reconciliation.
CONTENTS
· Expressions from Ellen
INSERT: · WWFOR Events Calendar
Abbreviations: FOR=Fellowship of Reconciliation
IFOR=International FOR WWFOR=Western Washington FOR
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I was recently struck by the lyrics of John Mayer’s song "Waiting on the World to Change" while driving back from a meeting. Martin Fleck from WPSR (Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility) and I had momentarily left logistical, practical business for bigger questions. He’d wondered: "How do we get people to participate in the paradigm shift?"
The question of how we can move people within the U.S. to change our comfortable lives and to withdraw consent – from not just this administration but the larger system – stayed with me. I thought about the 655,000 people – 2.5% of the population in the study area – who have died in Iraq, according to a study published in the medical journal The Lancet (Oct 11, 2006). And about the Arlington Northwest cemetery in Centralia last weekend that took 6 hours to set up.
Aimee Samara, who recently returned from FOR accompaniment work in Colombia (see article), talks about the vibrant community and persistence and passion for life of the campesinos. I had a comparable experience in 1987 in El Salvador, learning about courage and hope living in the midst of war. Ordinary people with far less than those of us in the U.S. choosing to believe in humanity and work for change.
Mayer’s song says (in part) "it's hard to beat the system / when we're standing at a distance / so we keep waiting / waiting on the world to change / now if we had the power / to bring our neighbors home from war / they would have never missed a Christmas / no more ribbons on their door."
Now one of the things I most cherish about FOR folks is that they don’t tend to stand on the sidelines. They jump in head first to make a difference. Think about all that you do (and have done – and will do). Read the articles in this newsletter about people taking action.
Consider renewing your commitment to sustainability. "Beyond Oil – Bellevue" on November 19 and "Beyond Oil – Spokane" on November 20 (see calendar) build on the work that FOR initiated in 2004. WPSR has joined with others to further understand connections of oil / wars / global warming and to explore the positive steps we can each take to prevent "the next Iraq" and halt global warming.
Consider ways to support military resisters. Publicize and attend the upcoming "Citizens' Hearing on the Legality of U.S. Actions in Iraq: The Case of Lt. Ehren Watada" in Tacoma. By putting the Iraq invasion / occupation itself on trial, we hope to heighten the discussion of the Iraq War in the public and within the military itself, in the same way that veterans' first-hand accounts of war crimes created greater awareness of the realities of the Vietnam War.
While throwing oneself into action may not exactly answer Martin’s question, it helps. And it puts you in good company.
Ellen Finkelstein, WWFOR Organizer 206-789-5565
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Declaring for Peace, at Indian Island
Jo Walter, Kitsap County; photos by Jane Ramirez
Declare Peace at Indian Island
on September 23 was a very good day. Indian Island is a Naval Ordnance Base, the primary West Coast site for shipping out munitions to Iraq and other places overseas. It is 2 miles across the harbor from Port Townsend.The day began with a Peace Fair at HJ Carroll Park in Chimacum. About 400 people arrived in buses, cars and on bikes to Declare Peace at Indian Island. 23 groups from around the state brought tables with information and activities. Veterans for Peace set up Arlington Northwest, a display of thousands of white crosses for servicepeople killed in Iraq.
A 3.7-mile Peace March followed, through Port Hadlock and across the bridge leading to the base gate, with stunning views of Mt. Rainier and the crane that loads munitions onto ships. My favorite chant of the day was:
It is our duty (beat)
To resist (beat)
This illegal (beat)
Occupation! (beat)
We arrived and gathered at a small park across the road from the base. Our intention was to have the folks risking arrest block the short road, making it impossible for any munitions to move out of the base. A group of eight Faith Leaders, including three Unitarian Universalist ministers were gathered to ground the action in nonviolence and compassion for all whose conscience led them to this step, for all who work at the base, and for all whose lives felt the impact of the work of the base.
35 of us crossed the road from the park, in four rows, arms linked at the elbow. We chanted, "We are war resisters". We arrived at the gate, and discovered that behind us were all of the participants of the march! So we were ALL in fact blocking the road. But the 35 who had been trained in NVR, and had made the commitment to be arrested, sat down. Otherwise the sheriff’s deputies might not have known which of us were actually doing the "action". The deputies announced that we would be arrested in ten minutes if we did not cease blocking the road.
Ten minutes later, the arrests began. The authorities were professional in their treatment of the arrestees. But they were also kind, gentle and some were even friendly. At the county jail we were quickly and efficiently "processed".
We received citations for disorderly conduct (a misdemeanor) and were told to return for a court hearing. We are working with an attorney to help decide how best to address the charges. Despite being cuffed and patted down and having our possessions temporarily removed, it didn't feel like the arrest I had imagined with anxiety. We also received letters from the base Commander banning us from ever entering the base. None of us had entered the base, but this ban would definitely affect anyone possessing a base security badge.
Who knows how the sheriff or the military authorities will respond if we return? I have no proof, only what I feel in my heart, that the kindness shown by the sheriff's department was a reflection of some "feeling" on their parts. We were not handled roughly; we were able to loosen the cuffs when we experienced circulation problems. We were not required to post bail or be held in jail. This was my first arrest. This is not an arrest experience that any of us can count on, but oh! What if? Declare Peace at Indian Island filled me with hope for the future. We are now building a coordinated statewide Declaration of Peace network, with support and participation of WWFOR and many FOR members and chapters.
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Farmers Lose Land to US Base in Korea
Larry Kerschner
Sep 24 rally in support of Pyeongtaek farmers drew 20,000.
Veterans For Peace visitors attended and spoke at the rally.
I just returned from Korea as part of a delegation of Veterans for Peace. The Pan South Korea Solution Committee Against US Base Expansion in Pyeongtaek invited the VFP delegation to take part in a September 24 Peace Rally for Pyeongtaek Farmers in Seoul. Approximately 1100 farmers are being thrown off their land so that the US can triple the size of Camp Humphreys. These same farmers were thrown off their land when the US doubled to size of the base in 1952. They, like a great many Koreans, want all US troops to leave the Korean Peninsula. A January 2004 poll reported in the Korea Herald found that fifty-eight percent of young people in Korea saw the US as the greatest threat to their country.
Now the North Koreans have likely detonated a nuclear warhead. When George Bush took over North and South Korea were engaging in what they called sunshine policy. There were plans for cross border train service to help re-unite families. Then Bush invited the President of South Korea to the White House and publicly repudiated his attempts at peace making with the North (see Newsweek, Oct 23, 2006 issue).
The Bush version of diplomacy is to carry a big stick and yell loudly. These bellicose plans include expansion of the so-called missile defense system, ending humanitarian aid to North Korea, expansion of NATO and encouraging Japan to develop nuclear weapons. They are guaranteed to anger North Korea and China while further de-stabilizing the region. The United States ought to lead in eliminating nuclear weapons instead of planning to build new ones. A VFP report of the trip can be found at www.veteransforpeace.org or my personal report can be found at www.livejournal.com/~larrywrites
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FOR Accompaniment at San José de Apartadó, Colombia
Compiled by Tom Savage
[updated since print version]
San José de Apartadó is a peasant (or villager) farming community in the Urabá region of northern Colombia, about 50 miles southeast of Turbo. San José is a
Peace Community that has taken an extraordinary stand against violence at the very center of a war zone, one of more than 50 Peace Communities that have declared themselves neutral in the war, refusing to support any armed group, and committing to non-violently demand their right to justice and peace. The community suffers terribly from political violence, mostly by paramilitary groups supported by the Colombian Army. Since 1997, over 83 persons have been “disappeared” or killed from San Jose and a related community. In February 2002, FOR volunteers began accompanying in San José, sharing the lives of the farmers and acting as human rights observers. By accompaniment, Colombia Peace Presence volunteers increase the safety of the community and provide moral support. But this is not a guarantee. In February 2005, 8 community members were tortured and massacred. The community then relocated, farther away from the ridge tops controlled by the Army and paramilitaries, and away from a new police post.As the Colombian civil war claims thousands of civilian victims each year and US policy continues to focus on military aid to Colombia, there are voices for peace in Colombia as well as in the US. Yet, especially in the United States, these voices need to be heard in our media and communities. Aimee Samara has just returned from a year as an accompanier with FOR's Colombia program. A sociologist focusing on human rights and ethnography, she lives in the Pacific Northwest. She spoke at Seattle FOR on October 15.
One incident illustrated the value of accompaniment. At 2 PM the Army’s 17
th Brigade fired into a peace community village from the ridges, also reportedly into the school. A village leader was killed in a cornfield, by a grenade. Another villager was shot in the back. The entire village fled by foot down the mountain where the corpse and the wounded man were loaded into a jeep for the trip into town to a hospital. They were joined by a mother and her sick infant, whose condition had apparently worsened during the rapid evacuation. Aimee was asked to accompany. Military and police along the way were less than helpful: after all, they have killing quotas to fulfill, and earlier had demanded a husband sign a false claim that he and his community are guerillas, in exchange for medical evacuation of his ailing wife to the hospital. Somewhere along the dark route, the infant stopped responding; the mother wept silently. At the edge of town, the jeep was stopped by a police van. Officers questioned the emergency commission and followed them to the hospital. After Aimee was recognized, it de-escalated to merely an hours-long standoff with 15 police and military personnel. Aimee and others feared the corpse would be altered to frame the victim as a guerrilla. The next morning, the injured man would later be subject to interrogation by 3 military personnel. The infant did not revive. Weeks later, Aimee visited the village and in horror noted a sign on the school inviting all students and parents to a meeting at the school-- the exact time that the shooting began. But, the San José community refuses to join the 3 million displaced Colombians forced to abandon their land for wretched shantytowns at the margins of cities.What can we do? 1) Tell the US State Department to not clear the 17
th Brigade to receive U.S. funding 2) Publicize the Colombia crisis 3) Support greater international witness in Colombia 4) Become accompaniers. (see FOR web site: forcolombia.org).Declaring for Peace in Whatcom County
Dottie Dale, BellinghamThe Declaration of Peace action has enlivened us. It led to Bring the Troops Home Resolution petitions signed by over 3,000, and to Bellingham City Council passing the Resolution.
Some of us then went to Congressman Rick Larsen's office to get his sign-on. We were unsuccessful, first being told that there was certain wording that he could not agree to. So we changed that wording for him. Still no sign-on, and his staff finally admitted that he never planned to sign it and would not sign it. We persisted in going to his office in groups of 12-15, asking for answers to questions pertaining to the invasion and occupation of Iraq, and we began reading the names of the US military killed. Each visit resulted in arrests, when we continued to read or pray after the official office closing. So far 7 persons have been arrested. Four of us have been to court, pled guilty, and fined $100.43, $300.43, and $500.43. We will continue to go to Rick's office and read the names of those killed.
This action has had no coverage in the Bellingham Herald but the WWU paper The Western Front did an excellent front-page article on it.
Our weekly Peace Vigil brings more than 50 out each Friday. One of our vigilers has written fine letters to the editor monthly since 9-ll. All of our strengths help us keep going!
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Eastside FOR: Enthusiasm; Beyond Oil!
Michael Tivana, BellevueEastside FOR activists for justice and peace dig deep into their well of fortitude and find the mettle to carry on. We have new enthusiasm to keep our activist machine from rusting, thanks to our freshest member, Linda Boyd. She has taken on the issue of public campaign financing. It has had big wins wherever it has been adopted and we intend to see public campaign funding in use on a local level in a couple of years.
EFOR continues to have two events a month as we team up with the Eastside Peace and Justice Center. We premiered the movie "Iraq For Sale", and on Oct 25 hosted Rev. Rich Lang to speak on the right-wing Christian mentality and war.
Nov 19, 2-5:30 p.m. at Bellevue 1st Congregational Church we will join EPJC as cosponsors with WPSR of a Beyond Oil event, featuring author Sonia Shah. Join us!
Peace Tax Fund: Spending for Peace
David Lambert, Tacoma
The Religious Freedom Peace Tax Fund bill, introduced in the House of Representatives as HR 2631, would allow taxpayers conscientiously opposed to participation in war to have the military portion of their taxes channeled into nonmilitary areas of the overall budget. The Fund has been endorsed by FOR groups including national FOR and Tacoma Chapter. The framers of the U.S. Constitution recognized free exercise of religion as an inalienable right and protected it under the First Amendment. But, taxpayer conscientious objectors to war do not have a legal avenue for directing their tax dollars to non-military spending.
In the 6th Congressional District, the goal is for Congressman Norm Dicks to co-sponsor this bill. I encourage individuals wishing to see such a Peace Tax Fund to call Dicks' office: in Tacoma, 253-593-6536; in Washington D.C., 202-225-5916. For more information or a presentation to any group, contact: David Lambert, 253-759-2280 (H); 253-396-5010 (W), dmlamb@harbornet.com
Enjoy the WWFOR Auction, Nov 18
Come for this fun event! Bring friends and family for a great time at the auction, Saturday Nov 18, 4:30 to 9 pm, at Trinity United Methodist Church, 6512 23rd Ave NW, in Ballard, Seattle: Silent and Live Auction, Good Food, Good Company, plenty of bargain items, all to benefit WWFOR.
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Still waging peace all over! Sound Nonviolent Opponents of War Puget Sound & beyond http://www.snowCoalition.org, Olympia plus http://www.OlyFOR.org, Seattle plus http://www.scn.org/activism/calendar, Bellingham http://www.bellinghampeace.org Tacoma http://www.tacomapjh.org, Tri-Cities http://www.tcfn.org/wcp
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 over 25 years) witness for peace and nonviolence; bring signs or use ours; info Glen 360-491-9093 or info@olyfor.org
Ongoing 2nd & 4th Wednesdays, 5:15 - 6:15 pm, on Pacific Ave. & S. 19th St. at Union Station, Tacoma; Tacoma Women in Black's Vigil for Peace; No signs please. info Alison 253-678-7053 or arboreal@speakeasy.org
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 group in the tradition of the women who vigil weekly in Israel / Palestine, info 206-208-9715
Ongoing Thursdays, 9 p.m. & Mondays 1:30 p.m., TCTV channel 22 in Thurston County, Olympia *FOR* TV monthly program, Nov program on "Iran: Fresh Insights.". info Glen 360-491-9093 or http://www.olyfor.org
Ongoing Fridays, 4 - 5 p.m., in front of the Bellingham Federal Building; join Bellingham *FOR* members and others in the Whatcom Peace Vigil followed by open discussion at Port of Subs, info 360-733-4146
Ongoing Fridays, 4:30 - 5:30 p.m., south end of Percival Landing, W 4th & Water, Olympia; Please join Olympia *FOR* in this very friendly peace vigil for all or part of this time. Signs provided or bring your own. info 360-491-9093 or http://www.olyfor.org
Ongoing Saturdays, noon - 1 p.m., along Pearl St. at Locust, along Washington Park in front of library in Centralia; 5th year of Vigil with focus on Peace and Education by Fire Mountain *FOR*; info June Butler, 360-748-9658 or Larry Kerschner 360-291-3946 or http://www.firemountainfor.org
Ongoing Sundays, 12:30 -1:30 p.m., at the Brackett's Landing sign, Main Street and Railroad Avenue, in downtown Edmonds; Snohomish County Women In Black, Silent Vigil For Peace; Everyone is welcome. info Beth Burrows beb@igc.org
Ongoing Sundays, 2 p.m., at Greenlake, East Greenlake Way N near N 63rd, Seattle; Peace Vigil, all peaceful people invited, bring signs, leaflets, and your friends and dogs, info greenlakepeacevigil@hotmail.com
Ongoing Sundays, 10 p.m., on TCTV channel 22 in Thurston County; Olympia *FOR* sponsors documentaries on peace and social justice, Nov "Hijacking Catastrophe," updated version of documentary about Bush's manipulation of fear about 9/11. info Carol 360-866-7645 or carolburns98@comcast.net
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Fri - Sat Nov 3 - 4, in Lacey, near Olympia; *WWFOR* Fall Retreat with theme FOR Nonviolence training, "Creating a Culture of Peace". info 206-789-5565 or http://www.scn.org/wwfor
Fri Nov 3, 7 pm, at University Temple United Methodist Church (UTUMC), NE 43rd St at 15th Ave NE, Seattle; United Nations Association-USA Seattle presents Daniel Levy on Achieving Peace In Middle East: The Israeli Peace Camp And Future Prospects. Mr. Levy was the lead drafter for the Israeli Government on the Geneva Initiative, the last-minute attempt at a Palestinian peace treaty at the end of the Clinton Administration. Organized by United Nations Association Seattle, co-sponsored by Seattle *FOR*
Fri Nov 3, 7 p.m., Wesley Terrace, in the Music Room, lower level, 816 S. 216th, Des Moines; South King County *FOR* meeting, topic TBA, info Marion 206-870-4139
Sat Nov 4, 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 working for peace in Iraq; info Rich Gamble 206-632-6021
Mon Nov 6, and subsequent 1st Mondays, please confirm by phone, 7 p.m. at St. Mark's Cathedral, 1245 10th Ave E, Conference Room, Seattle; Jubilee 2000 NW Coalition meeting, working for debt relief for world's poorest nations, info Mary Margaret Pruitt 206-382-3785 or http://www.jubileenw.org
Weds Nov 8, 7 pm, at Woodland Park Presbyterian Church, N. 70th St. & Greenwood Ave. N., Seattle; Phinney Neighbors For Peace & Justice presents "The Great Turning: From Global Empire To Earth Community." Watch a video of David Korten speaking about his latest book. Discussion to follow, led by Bert Sacks. info Lou Truskoff 206-783-0990
Fri Nov 10, 5:30 to 7:30 pm, at St. Mary's Church, 611 20th Ave S, Seattle; Act against the Korea-US FTA and fight to stop a US military base expansion in Pyeongtaek. Help send a local delegation to Seoul for Eyewitness, a US Solidarity Mission, Nov 20 - 24, to help raise awareness about the situation in Korea. Join us for a fundraiser and educational forum to learn about these struggles. Endorsed by *WWFOR*. $25 suggested donation. info Soya 206-617-4056
Fri Nov 10, and subsequent 2nd Fridays, Doors open 6:30 pm; film at 7 pm, at Kitsap Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 4418 Perry Avenue NE, Bremerton; Second Friday Social Justice Film Series; light refreshments are served; free admission! To arrange childcare or for info SoundPeaceAndJustice@comcast.net
Sun Nov 12, 2 p.m., at at the Centralia Library; Fire Mountain (Centralia-Chehalis area) *FOR* meeting, info Newt, newt@nbtsc.org, info Jessica 360-767-0161, Larry 360-291-3946 or http://www.firemountainfor.org
Sun Nov 12, 3 pm business meeting, 4 pm program, 5 potluck, at the Friends Center, 2508 S. 39th St, Tacoma; Tacoma *FOR* program with Michael Tivana on the movement to impeach George W. Bush; info Vivi 253-572-4912
Sun Nov 12, potluck 5 p.m., announcements 6, program 6:30, at Woodland Park Presbyterian Church, 225 N 70th, Seattle; Seattle *FOR* program Activism Across Generations with segment of documentary A Force More Powerful on Nashville lunch counter demonstrations, discussion with 2 long time FOR members and 2 high school students, info 206-789-5565
Mon Nov 13, 7 - 9 pm, at St. Patrick's Church, 2702 Broadway Avenue E, Seattle; Send Off for people from the area traveling to Georgia to act for the closure of the School of the Americas, better known as the School of Assassins, where US tax dollars are used to train some of the worst torturers and murderers in Latin America. Commemorate The Victims. Celebrate The Resistance. Reception follows. busline #49. info 206-632-1523 or sgregmare@aol.com
Mon Nov 13, and subsequent 2nd Mondays, please confirm by phone, 7 - 9 p.m., at Trinity United Methodist Church, 6512 23rd Ave NW, Seattle; meeting of the Church Council Peace and Justice Committee. Open to new members. info Rev. J. Liljenstolpe 206-782-6434
Mon Nov 13, 7 pm, phone for location in Tumwater; Death penalty abolition committee of Olympia *FOR* meets. info Chuck or Rozanne, 360-705-8520 rozannerants@yahoo.com
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Sat Nov 18, 4:30 - 9 p.m., at Trinity United Methodist Church, 6512 23rd Ave. NW, Ballard, Seattle; fun fundraising auction for *WWFOR*, great objects and services for a good cause, Suggested donation $10-15, includes dinner, no one turned away for lack of funds. silent auction 4:30-6:30, dinner 5:30, live auction 6:30. to make a donation, contact Jean 206-784-9988 or bb369@scn.org, info 206-789-5565
Sun Nov 19, 2 - 5:30 pm, at Bellevue 1st Congregational Church, Fenwick Hall, 752 108th Avenue NE, Bellevue; Wa Physicians for Social Responsibility presents Beyond Oil to explore the security and global warming implications of US addiction to fossil fuels and alternatives for a healthy, peaceful, and sustainable future. Featuring Sonia Shah, author of Crude: The Story of Oil. Cosponsored by *WWFOR* and Eastside *FOR*. info 206-547-2630
Sun Nov 19, 7 - 8:30 pm, at Seattle University, Pigott Auditorium, 901 12th Avenue Seattle; Save Darfur Washington State and Seattle University Department of Mission in Ministry present Save Darfur Now! featuring Darfur activist John Prendergast. info http://www.savedarfurwa.org
Mon Nov 20, 7 - 9:30 pm, at Spokane Falls Community College, Student Union Building A,B & C; Wa Physicians for Social Responsibility presents Beyond Oil to explore the security and global warming implications of US addiction to fossil fuels and alternatives for a healthy, peaceful, and sustainable future. Featuring Sonia Shah, author of Crude: The Story of Oil. Sponsored by PJALS and others. info 206-547-2630 or wpsr@wpsr.org
Tues Nov 21, 2 - 4 p.m., at Planned Parenthood, 2001 E. Madison, Seattle; Safe Schools Coalition meeting, *WWFOR* is a member, working to help schools become safe places regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation, attend in person or by phone; RSVP and info Beth Reis, elizabeth.reis@metrokc.gov, 206-296-4970 or http://www.SafeSchoolsCoalition.org
Weds Nov 29, 7 pm, at Woodland Park Presbyterian Church, N. 70th St. & Greenwood Ave. N., Seattle; Phinney Neighbors for Peace & Justice presents "Iraq: Is This War Illegal?" Army Lieutenant Ehren Watada has refused to deploy to Iraq as "a matter of conscience." Lt. Watada's mother, Carolyn Ho, will speak. info Lou Truskoff 206-783-0990
Fri Dec 1, please check website, 6:30 pm, at Cascade People's Center, 309 Pontius Ave N, Seattle; *FOR* affiliate Justice Works! meeting; an organization whose mission is undoing racism in the criminal justice system as experienced by African Americans; info 206-303-7559, http://www.justiceworks.info
Sat & Sun Dec 2 & 3, 9 am - 5 pm, at University Congregational UCC, Seattle; Healing Our World from the Inside Out. Compassionate Listening Intensive with Trainers Andrea Cohen & Susan Partnow, Become a more powerful peacemaker in your family & community; Registration & info 360-297-2280 or http://www.compassionatelistening.org/workshops.html
Sat Dec 2, 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 working for peace in Iraq; info Rich Gamble 206-632-6021
Mon Dec 4, and subsequent 1st Mondays, please confirm by phone, 7 p.m. at St. Mark's Cathedral, 1245 10th Ave E, Conference Room, Seattle; Jubilee 2000 NW Coalition meeting, working for debt relief for world's poorest nations, info Mary Margaret Pruitt 206-382-3785 or http://www.jubileenw.org
Weds Dec 6 and subsequent 1st Wednesdays, 5:30 p.m., at Labor Temple, Hall 8, 2800 1st Ave, Seattle; Jobs With Justice Seattle Organizing Committee meeting, *WWFOR* is a member of JwJ, info 206-441-4969
Fri Dec 8, and subsequent 2nd Fridays, Doors open 6:30 pm; film at 7 pm, at Kitsap Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 4418 Perry Avenue NE, Bremerton; Second Friday Social Justice Film Series; light refreshments are served; free admission! To arrange childcare or for info SoundPeaceAndJustice@comcast.net
Fri Dec 8, 7 p.m., Wesley Terrace, in the Music Room, lower level, 816 S. 216th, Des Moines; South King County *FOR* meeting, topic TBA, info Marion 206-870-4139
Sun & Mon Dec 10 & 11, in Tacoma (tentative); "Citizens' Hearing on the Legality of U.S. Actions in Iraq: The Case of Lt. Ehren Watada", putting the Iraq invasion itself on trial to heighten discussion of the Iraq War in the public and within the military itself, as veterans' first-hand accounts of war crimes created greater awareness of the realities of the Vietnam War. info 206-789-5565
Sun Dec 10, 2 p.m., at at the Centralia Library; Fire Mountain (Centralia-Chehalis area) *FOR* meeting, info Newt, newt@nbtsc.org, info Jessica 360-767-0161, Larry 360-291-3946 or http://www.firemountainfor.org
Sun Dec 10, 3 pm business meeting, 4 pm program, 5 potluck, at the Friends Center, 2508 S. 39th St, Tacoma; Tacoma *FOR* program with topic TBA; info Vivi 253-572-4912
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Mon Dec 11, and subsequent 2nd Mondays, please confirm by phone, 7 - 9 p.m., at Trinity United Methodist Church, 6512 23rd Ave NW, Seattle; meeting of the Church Council Peace and Justice Committee. Open to new members. info Rev. J. Liljenstolpe 206-782-6434
Mon Dec 11, 7 pm, phone for location in Tumwater; Death penalty abolition committee of Olympia *FOR* meets. info Chuck or Rozanne, 360-705-8520 rozannerants@yahoo.com
Sat Dec 16, noon to 1 pm, on 4th Ave W at south end of Percival Landing near Water Street, Olympia; Olympia *FOR's* 31st Annual Holiday Peace Vigil. Refreshments & social time afterward at a nearby location. info Glen 360-491-9093
Sun Dec 17, 5 - 8 pm, at Woodland Park Presby. Church, 225 N 70th, Seattle; Seattle *FOR* Holiday Program, with festive potluck, music, and mingling. info 206-789-5565
Tues Dec 19, suggest confirming, 3 - 5 p.m., at Planned Parenthood, 2001 E. Madison, Seattle; Safe Schools Coalition meeting, *WWFOR* is a member, working to help schools become safe places regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation, attend in person or by phone; RSVP, info Beth Reis, elizabeth.reis@metrokc.gov 206-296-4970 or http://www.SafeSchoolsCoalition.org
Weds Jan 3 and subsequent 1st Wednesdays, 5:30 p.m., at Labor Temple, Hall 8, 2800 1st Ave, Seattle; Jobs With Justice Seattle Organizing Committee meeting, *WWFOR* is a member of JwJ, info 206-441-4969
Fri Jan 5, 7 p.m., Wesley Terrace, in the Music Room, lower level, 816 S. 216th, Des Moines; South King County *FOR* meeting, topic TBA, info Marion 206-870-4139
Sat Jan 13, at Mount Vernon High School; the Skagit Valley peace group People for a Peaceable Planet Fifth Annual Martin Luther King Peace Fest. info http://www.ppplanet.org
Sun Jan 14, 3 pm business meeting, 4 pm program, 5 potluck, at the Friends Center, 2508 S. 39th St, Tacoma; Tacoma *FOR* program on "What Is Terrorism?" (Olympia FOR TV show); info Vivi 253-572-4912
Fri - Mon June 29 - July 2, at Seabeck, Wa; Save the Date for the 49th Annual *FOR* Northwest Regional Conference with participants form Wa, Or, BC, and beyond. info wwfor@connectexpress.com or 206-789-5565
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Connections: people & organizations
FOR National
PO Box 271, Nyack, NY 10960 845-358-4601 www.forusa.org publisher of Fellowship (a superb magazine!)Ground Zero Center for Nonviolent Action at Poulsbo WA, near the Bangor submarine base
www.gzcenter.orgIFOR (International Fellowship of Reconciliation) Spoorstraat 38, 1815 BK Alkmaar, Netherlands
www.ifor.orgJustice Works! PO Box 1489, Lake Stevens, WA 98258 206-309-2087
www.justiceworks.info email: justice_works@yahoo.comOlympia FOR chapter 360-491-9098 website
www.olyfor.orgPacific Call
Next issue deadline is December 15. Contact Tom Savage savaget@msn.com 206-522-6201(voice and fax)SNOW
www.snowcoalition.orgWWFOR -- office
Ellen Finkelstein, organizer 206-789-5565 email wwfor@connectexpress.comback to WWFOR homepage
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The Stevens County chapter of FOR has several exciting projects. Our nonviolence and conflict resolution program, called CARE (Conflict And Resolution Education), obtained a grant from the Parent Leadership Network of the University of Washington to engage in a number of activities involving teens, parents and conflict resolution. On April 22nd, we held a workshop for nearly 20 parents of teens on how to handle teen conflicts, titled "The SWIM Model for Parents/Teens in Conflict." The group was surveyed before and after the workshop on several key measures for impact and self-assessed for significant improvement. 4 CARE members recently attended the nonviolence training workshop, based on FOR's CCP and Training for Change/Nonviolent Peaceforce models, hosted by the Kootenay Region United Nations Association in Castlegar, British Columbia (with over 30 participants). 6 SCFOR members are being funded to attend the annual Parent Leadership Network workshop in Seattle on October 21st. The CARE group has also purchased and compiled over 30 books on teens and conflict and intends to produce a brief annotated bibliography on the topic.
Our "Micro-Polling Project" is moving forward as well. The concept of "micro-polling" involves utilizing social science research techniques in assessing the strategic effectiveness of local orgainizing campaigns and tactics, particularly where public education or attitude change measures are a primary objective. Utilizing low cost software, publically available database lists for target populations and volunteer phone banking operations, micro-polling can produce statistically valid surveys of very small populations. Combining "micro-polling" with campaign and movement development analysis (such as found in Bill Moyer's Movement Action Plan) can help activists assess what stage a campaign or movement is in and to design more effective tactics for specific target poplulations. Combining "micro-polling" data with national or regional polling data resolves survey design issues and provides interesting comparison data for those interested in "Thinking Globally, Acting Locally." SCFOR has investigated, identified and purchased appropriate polling software without long-term fee commitments. We are now pricing and comparing list providers and designing initial pilot projects. We hope to have preliminary results to report before the holiday season.
The above is a sampling of our efforts. SCFOR continues to meet monthly for business and program on the second Sunday of the month.
Bruce Pruitt-Hamm, Kettle Falls
From: Bruce Pruitt-Hamm [mailto:bpruitthamm@plix.com]
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