MEETING NOTES FOR PEOPLE FOR PEACE, JUSTICE, AND HEALING
January 5, 2008

People for Peace, Justice, and Healing met at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 5, 2008, at Associated Ministries. Present for check-in: Sol, Rob, Mark, Sallie S., Nancy, Colleen, Ray, Karen K.

Ray passed out orange ribbons being distributed by World Can't Wait as symbols of "Get out of Iraq, stay out of Iran, drive out Bush/Cheney."

Brief discussion of "The Ghosts of Abu Ghraib," Rory Kennedy's powerful 2006 feature-length HBO documentary that was shown on Thursday by United for Peace of Pierce County. -- Colleen announced that the ACLU will also be showing the film on Jan. 10, 2008, (http://www.aclu-wa.org/detail.cfm?id=796) at 7:00 p.m. at the University Unitarian Church (6556 35th Ave NE, Seattle).

AGENDA

1. JANUARY 11 (Sallie S.)
Friday, January 11, 2008, is the sixth anniversary of the arrival of "enemy combatant" prisoners at Guantanamo, and has been designated as a day of national demonstrations calling for this illegal prison to be shut down. -- In Tacoma, people will gather at 2:30 p.m. at the Peace Pole behind Guadalupe House (near 15th and South G. St.) and at 3:00 p.m. will walk to the Federal Building (1917 Pacific Ave.) to hold a vigil from 3:30 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. -- In Seattle, there will be a demonstration organized by World Can't Wait and others (and endorsed last week by United for Peace of Pierce County) at the Westlake Center (4th and Pine) that is still being planned; tentative plans include a public demonstration of waterboarding and speakers.

2. LEONARD PELTIER EVENT (Nancy)
Finalized date, time, and title of 7:00 p.m. event on Fri., Feb. 15: "NOT FORGOTTEN: LEONARD PELTIER AND THE DENIAL OF JUSTICE," at King's Books (218 St. Helens Ave., Tacoma), featuring a showing of Michael Apted's 1992 film "Incident at Oglala" followed by remarks by Arthur Miller. Logistics and publicity to be worked out soon.

3. FOCUS THE NATION (Sol)
Sustainable Tacoma Pierce (formerly Puget Sound Climate Issues) is participating in Focus the Nation, a national teach-in. In Tacoma, an event will be held on Thurs., Jan. 31, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. tentatively scheduled for UW Tacoma's Carwein Auditorium. -- A preliminary event will be held at 7:00 p.m. on Mon., Jan. 21, at Tacoma Friends Meeting House (2508 S. 39th St., Tacoma, WA, 98409 -- 759-1910), to discuss questions to be addressed to elected officials at that event by a panel of public figures that will include Rob Gramenz and Ken Peachey. (Ken attended the State Climate Advisory Team Meeting in November 2007 and helped prioritize 47 completed recommendations, flagging five of those recommendations to be sent immediately to the governor. Minutes from the Nov. 19 meeting of the Green Ribbon Climate Action Task Force show that Ken advocates that speed limits on state roads within Tacoma should be enforced at 60 mph until June 30, 2008, then dropped to 55 mph. The gain is an immediate decrease in emissions per gallon of fuel burn.) -- If interested in helping or participating with the Jan. 21 or 31 events, email J.P. Kemmick (jpkemmick@gmail.com) (Tacoma/Pierce County Health Department, Americorps Volunteer, Urban Agriculture Coordinator) or call 536-3507.

4. MY DINNER WITH ANDRÉ (Mark)
The surprisingly challenging search for a copy of the DVD of the 1981 film "My Dinner with André” to be used at a Mar. 1 "Dinner with 'My Dinner with André'" fundraising event goes on!

5. ABBEDLFATTAH ABUSROUR COMING TO SEATTLE (Nancy)
The teacher and playwright Abbedlfattah Abusrour is coming to Seattle, either on the Jan. 22 & 23 or at the end of March, depending on circumstances. Abusrour was awarded an Ashoka Fellowship in 2006 and “combats violence among children, teaching them to become promoters of peace. Abdelfattah’s childhood, like that of many children in Palestine’s refugee camps, exposed him to violence daily. Unlike other children, Abdelfattah found solace and expression in writing and performing short plays with his friends. Now Abdelfattah targets children in refugee camps with programs promoting activities such as sports, arts, and theater to offer children alternative means of self-expression. He uses these activities to teach acceptance of others and non-violent communication. Abdelfattah complements these programs by training parents and community members in non-violent resistance. He has gained worldwide support for his programs by touring internationally with his children’s theater group.” -- Abbedlfattah is on tour lecturing about his work as a playwright.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

1. SOUP SUNDAY (Sol)
Marilyn Kimmerling is resuming January & February “Soup Sunday” in Tacoma. Marilyn writes: “I make a BIG pot of soup, usually vegetarian and whatever else I have around. Folks can bring whatever they'd like to share, but if you don't have anything don't let that keep you from coming, we've never actually run out of food or drink! You can come any time between those hours and ya don't have to call first to let me know if you're coming. Let's just see what happens one week at a time! WHY: To re-energize and renew, network and schmooze... with old friends and new and shake off the winter blues (hey! that almost rhymes!) WHEN: Drop by any time between 5:00 and 10:00 any/every Sunday in January and February 'till the last weekend. WHERE: My house: 4414 N. 34th St. You can call 752-0442 or email me at mkimmerling@harbornet.com if you need more info. WHAT ELSE: If you have been working on an event or project, you are welcome to bring fliers and information to put out to share about it. Oh, and if you hate doggies, you're sorta out of luck! I have two, who are my "dogbells," bark and then greet and then settle down, and I have a kitty that lurks in the basement so the allergy factor is quite limited there.”

2. DIGGING DEEPER XL: ARE WE ROME? (Mark)
UFPPC's book study circle known as Digging Deeper meets Monday evenings at 7:00 p.m. at the Mandolin Café (3923 S. 12th St., Tacoma, WA). On Mon., Jan. 7, 14, 21, & 28, David Gilmour (Ph.D., Classics, Univ. of Washington) will lead Digging Deeper XL in "Are We Rome? -- a four-week examination of some recent books that draw parallels between the Roman Empire and the United States. The book chosen for discussion are the following: 1) Cullen Murphy's Are We Rome?: The Fall of an Empire and the Fate of America (Houghton Mifflin, 2007); -- 2) Charles S. Maier, Among Empires: American Ascendancy and Its Predecessors (Harvard UP, 2007); -- 3) Terry Jones's Barbarians: An Alternative Roman History (BBC Books, 2007); -- 4) John Pilger's Freedom Next Time: Resisting the Empire (Nation Books, 2007). -- There is no charge for participation and sessions are open to the public. -- Digging Deeper meets Mondays from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Mandolin Café in Tacoma.

3. ‘THE MAN FROM PLAINS’ (Colleen)
Rumor has it that “The Man from Plains” a film about the life of Jimmy Carter, will be shown locally in the near future, but we’re not sure when or where. [UPDATE: "The Man from Plains" will be shown at the Grand Cinema beginning circa Jan. 25. Thanks to Linda for this information.]

4. DAVID SOLNIT, CHANANSUAREZ DIAZ, AND JES KARPER (Sallie)
An evening of music and discussion of peace movement activism is planned in Tacoma on Thurs., Jan. 10, beginning at 6:30 p.m. -- The event will feature organizer David Solnit, Iraq vet Chanan Suarez Diaz, and musician Jes Karper, and will take place at the One Heart Café, located at 604 Fawcett Ave., next to the Tacoma's Grand Cinema.

5. GARRISON KEILLOR IN TACOMA (Sallie)
On Thurs., Jan. 10, Garrison Keillor will appear at the Pantages Theater in Tacoma. “Join author and host of ‘A Prairie Home Companion,’ Garrison Keillor, for an evening of readings and stories that wring humor from middle-American pragmatism, faith and humility blended with the utter desperation that can only come from long, harsh Minnesota winters and the unique lens on life that is Lutheranism. Weekly, more than 3 million listeners, on more than 450 public radio stations now hear Garrison Keillor hosting ‘A Prairie Home Companion.’ Most recently, Keillor played himself in the movie adaptation of ‘A Prairie Home Companion’ along with stars such as Meryl Streep, Lily Tomlin, John C. Reilly and Tommy Lee Jones. Keillor is the author of twelve books, including Lake Wobegon Days (1985); The Book of Guys (1993); The Old Man Who Loved Cheese (1996); Wobegon Boy (1997); Me: By Jimmy ‘Big Boy’ Valente As Told to Garrison Keillor (1999); Love Me (2003); and 2004’s Homegrown Democrat.” -- Tickets: $48.00, $58.00, $70.00. -- Phone: (253) 591-5890.

6. UFPPC SUNDAY SALON, JAN. 13 (Mark)
UFPPC's 2007-2008 Second Sunday Salon series will continue on Sun., Jan. 13, from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. -- Held in private homes as UFPPC fundraisers, admission to the salons requires payment of $15; wine and hors-d'oeuvres are served, with ample time for informal conversation. -- The Jan. 13 salon will feature the poetry of Lucas Smiraldo and a DVD-assisted presentation by Dr. Roger Kuhrt related to the "Awaken the Dreamer: Change the Dream" presentation developed under the auspices of the Pachamama Alliance.

7. JOE LA SAC SPEAKS ON PMR AND FREE SPEECH (Mark)
Joe La Sac, the UPS student videographer whose right to film Tacoma PMR became a local cause célèbre in March 2007, will speak in Tacoma on Fri., Jan. 18. -- As has been the case for all the events UFPPC's 2007-2008 speaker series, Joe La Sac's talk on "Port Militarization Resistance: What Do These Events Have to Do with Free Speech?" will begin at 7:00 p.m., and will be held at King's Books (218 St. Helens Ave.). -- This talk is free and is open to the public.

8. GROUND ZERO VIGIL AND DIRECT ACTION AT BANGOR (Sallie)
“Join the Ground Zero Center for Nonviolent Action for a traditional vigil and direct action at the gates of Naval Base Kitsap, Bangor, on Sat., Jan. 19, 2008. Honor the memory of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. as together we resist nuclear weapons, the occupation of Iraq, and the bombing of Iran. Gather at 8:30 a.m. at the Kitsap Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 4418 Perry Rd., Bremerton, for nonviolence training and action planning. At 1:30 p.m., come to Ground Zero, 16159 Clear Creek Rd. NW, Poulsbo, to walk or ride to the Bangor gate. Bring sack lunch, water, umbrella, warm clothes, money to donate, a peaceful spirit. . . . For more information call 360-377-2586 or 206-545-3562.”

9. 2nd ANNUAL ‘REDEEMING THE VISION’ EVENT (Sallie)
From 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Sun., Jan. 20, at Urban Grace Church in Tacoma (902 Market St.), the second annual ‘Redeeming the Vision’ event will be held under the auspices of The Conversation.

10. GERRI HAYNES SPEAKS ABOUT IRAQI REFUGEES IN SYRIA (Mark)
At 7:00 p.m. at King’s Books (218 St. Helens Ave.) on Thurs., Jan. 24, UFPPC's 2007-2008 speaker series will present Gerri Haynes speaking on "Iraq's Refugees." -- Gerri Haynes is a past president of Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility, and has made annual trips to the Middle East since 1993. -- She recently helped organize and was part of a delegation of eight who visited Syrian citizens and Iraqi refugees in Syria in Damascus, Saydnaya, and Aleppo.

Respectfully submitted,
Mark