MEETING NOTES FOR PEOPLE FOR PEACE, JUSTICE, AND HEALING

People for Peace, Justice, and Healing (Tacoma, WA)
January 9, 2010

People for Peace, Justice and Healing met Saturday, January 9, 2010, at 10:00 a.m. at Associated Ministries. Present for check-in: Sarah, Mark, Sallie, Nancy, Rob, Karen. General discussion and greetings. Reflections. Discussion of article in morning Trib about "Gaza militants."

AGENDA

1. Congressional Meeting (Nancy)
Nancy has arranged a meeting for Tuesday, January 12, 4:30 to 5:30 p.m., with representatives of Senators Cantwell and Murray and possibly Congressperson Dick's office to be debriefed on current/ongoing crisis in Gaza/West Bank by four persons who've just recently returned from Palestine. Papers of concern will be presented by local citizens to the representatives.

2. Abuse Syndrome (Mark)
Mark gave us a thorough review of an article by Bruce Levine who proposes that the American public in general is suffering from "abuse syndrome" — cowed by employers and persons of "authority," fearful, demoralized, lonely, despondent and unable to assert their rights or act in their own self interest. For instance, although polls contend that a majority of Americans are against the war, they seldom protest the government's current policies. Levine contends most citizens are controlled by fears of isolation or negative financial consequences. Levin identifies the negative effects of institutions, such as educational or social psychological institutions, that only award compliance and the prevalence of cultural effects like television or the pharmacological industry as prime culprits. What we need, Levin says, is morale. This article is available at www.ufppc.org/us-a-world-news-mainmenu-35/9313/ or www.alternet.org.

3. Plowshares Forum (Karen)
Karen reported high student attendance at the January 5 Forum at School of the Arts, co-sponsored by UW-Tacoma students. The Plowshares Five — Bix, Anne Montgomery, Steve Kelly, and Susan Crane (Lynn Greenwald was ill) — spoke about their "invasion" of Bangor on November 2 to protest the "illegal and immoral" existence of the first strike nuclear Trident weapons system at the Bangor SWFPAC bunker, the largest nuclear stockpile in the U. S. Their presentation was followed by a spirited question-and-answer session.

4. Fundraiser (Karen)
Karen proposed the documentary Ashley Karitis is developing around the August JOR trip to Japan as a possible fundraiser feature. Konrad has volunteered to cook sushi for such an event. Discussion. Sallie is going to look into the copyright possibilities of using a short film or films from the 72 hour film festival sponsored by The Grand Cinema as the JOR film, Karen thinks, will only be about 30 minutes long. (Shots from the film provided backdrop for the Plowshares Five program at School of the Arts on the fifth.) The film "Varmints," for instance, was discussed as a possible candidate for showing. Fundraiser possibilities to be re-visited at the next meeting.

5. Opt Out (Sallie)
Booklets titled A Guide To Alternatives After High School—It's My Life, published by the American Friends Service, are ready for mailing by Associated Ministries to career counsellors at all eight local high schools in the near future.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

1. The Grand is looking for board members.
If you have an interest or questions about board service contact Cynthia at cynthiabranson@comcast.net. There are currently five vacancies. Board members are eligible to serve two terms of three years each.

2. Digging Deeper (Mark)
This coming Monday, January 11: Pietra Rivoli, The Travels of a T- Shirt In the Global Economy: An Economist Examines the Markets, Power and Politics of World Trade. Coming next: Arundhati Roy, The Checkbook and the Cruise Missile. Digging Deeper, a Monday evening book discussion group meets 7:00 p.m.-8:30 p.m. at the Mandolin Cafe, 3923 S. 12th Street. Books available at King's Books, local booksellers or contact Mark at jensenmk@plu.edu or see www.ufppc.org

Respectfully submitted,
Karen