MEETING NOTES FOR PEOPLE FOR PEACE, JUSTICE, AND HEALING
January 13, 2007

People for Peace, Justice and Healing held its regular Saturday meeting at 10:00 a.m. on Jan. 13, 2007, at Associated Ministries in Tacoma, WA. Present for check-in, despite the icy streets: Vivi, Rob, Mark, Dorothy, Colleen, Nancy, and Sheila.

AGENDA

1. CITIZENS' HEARING ON THE LEGALITY OF U.S. ACTIONS IN IRAQ (Colleen)
Colleen reported on the organizing and fundraising efforts for next weekend's "Citizen's Hearing on the Legality of U.S. Actions in Iraq," which will be held from 10:00 a.m. till 4:00 p.m. on Sat., Jan. 20, 2007, and from 10:00 a.m. till 3:30 p.m. on Sun., Jan. 21, 2007, on the Tacoma campus of The Evergreen State College. Colleen also reported on plans for Daniel Ellsberg's address on the eve of the hearing, to begin at 7:30 p.m. on Fri., Jan. 19, 2007, at the Washington State History Museum. Colleen needs volunteers to help her organize an informal meal for participants before the Ellsberg lecture, beginning around 5:00 p.m. Contact her if interested (253-759-9680 or cwaterhouse@worldnet.att.net -- contact her also to volunteer as a peacekeeper at the Citizens' Hearing. For volunteering other help with this historic event, or for information on possible ways to help, contact Brieanna at Associated Ministries, 253-383-3056. Cindy Sousa and Linda Frank are serving as media contacts for the Citizens' Hearing, Colleen reported.

2. LT. EHREN WATADA (Mark and Rob)
Mark and Rob reported on Lt. Watada's Jan. 9 appearance at the Unitarian Universalist Association of Tacoma, where he gave an extended and remarkably eloquent address that touched on a number of new points and developed other new ones. Lt. Watada will also speak at Philip A. Nordquist Lecture Hall (Xavier 216) on the campus of Pacific Lutheran University on the evening of Wed., Jan. 17 -- he will speak around 7:30 p.m., following a screening of the documentary film "Sir! No Sir!" that will begin at 6:00 p.m.

3. EARTH COMMUNITY DIALOGUES (Dorothy)
The Earth Community Dialogue group met on Tuesday and plans to continue to meet. On Jan. 23, a DVD published by the Positive Futures Network (the publishers of Yes! Magazine) entitled "The Great Turning: From Empire to Earth Community: A Talk by David Korten, Plus an Interview with David and Fran Korten on Their Life Journey" will be shown at the Wheelock Library (3722 N. 26th St., Tacoma). The group has decided to continue to meet there from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 20, Mar. 6, and Mar. 20, 2007. (NOTE: David Korten, the author of The Great Turning, was involved in the drafting of the Earth Charter and is also the author of When Corporations Rule the World. The Great Turning makes the case for choosing a future Whole Earth Community grounded in the life-affirming cultural values that are shared by most of the peoples of the world. People for Peace, Justice, and Healing is a co-sponsor of this project. For more information, contact Dorothy at dorothybu1@harbornet.com.)

4. LEONARD PELTIER MARCH DINNER (all)
Brief discussion of logistics, hobbled by the absence of knowledgeable parties. Four weeks remain to organize our offering of a dinner for the marchers in the 14th Annual NW Regional Tacoma Leonard Peltier March.

5. MASS PEACE DEMONSTRATION IN WASHINGTON, DC ON SAT., JAN. 27 (Nancy)
So far, we're not aware of anyone from the area who plans to attend a "massive march on Washington, D.C., on Sat., January 27, 2007, to call on Congress to take immediate action to end the war" being organized by United for Peace and Justice along with 500 other organizations. More information available here.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

1. (Vivi) Julio Quan's appearance at the Fellowship of Reconciliation meeting on Sun., Jan. 14, has been CANCELLED.

2. (Mark) United for Peace of Pierce County will host another Sunday salon on Sun., Jan. 14, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the home of Marilyn Kimmerling, 4414 N. 34th St., Tacoma. The salon will feature a live musical performance (Celtic guitar by Mike Saunders) as well as a discussion with Roel van der Lugt, senior field representative of Rep. Adam Smith (D-WA 9th), of the impact on foreign policy-making of the Democratic congressional victories on Nov. 7, 2006.[1] -- This is a UFPPC fundraiser as well as an intimate gathering in a private home; $15 per person is asked. Tickets available at the door.

3. (Vivi) "Redeeming the Prophetic Vision": A Martin Luther King Jr. Interfaith Service will be held from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Sun., Jan. 14, at Urban Grace (902 Market St., Tacoma), featuring blessings, music, spoken word, and dance, as well as a keynote addresss by Dr. Dexter Gordon and a creative reading of the Letter from Birmingham Jail directed by Rosalind Bell and featuring performances by Michael Powers, Lucas Smiraldo, 2012, the Miles Praise Dancers, Free Ya Mind, Inc., the Morning Glory Choir, and Kali Kucera. This event is sponsored by The Conversation, Associated Ministries, and Urban Grace.

4. (Mark) Ground Zero action on MLK Day. There will be a traditional vigil and nonviolent direct action at the gates of Naval Base Kitsap, Bangor, on Mon., Jan. 15, 2007, organized by the Ground Zero for Nonviolent Action. People involved include Father Bill Bichsel of Tacoma, Alice Zillah of Olympia, Mary Gleysteen of Kingston, Lynne Greenwald of Bremerton, Brian Watson of Bremerton, Joy Goldstein of Vashon, Dave and Anne Hall of Seattle, Glen Milner of Seattle, and Liz Rivera Goldstein of Port Townsend. Participants will gather at 8:30 a.m. at Kitsap Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 4418 Perry Ave., Bremerton, WA 98310 for nonviolence training and action planning. After a 12:30 p.m. brown bag lunch, they will leave for Ground Zero at 1:00 p.m., gather there (16159 Clear Creek Rd. NW, Poulsbo, WA, and walk to Bangor gate at 2:00 p.m. After a 2:30 p.m. vigil at the gate, there will be a nonviolent direct action at 2:45 p.m. and a 3:30 p.m. return to Ground Zero (or when Federal arrestees are released). A closing circle will be held at 4:00 p.m. at Ground Zero, and participants will repair to First United Methodist Church, 1150 Marine Dr., Bremerton, WA 98312 (360-373-3510) to await release of County arrestees. See the web site for more information and instructions for those considering direct action.

5. (Mark) Tacoma's 2007 Martin Luther King Jr. City Celebration will be held at the Tacoma Dome on Jan. 15, 2007. Times: Reception 10:00 a.m.-10:45a.m. Program 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. More information available at 253-572-3663. Free admission & parking.

6. (Mark) The final session devoted to discussion of Jimmy Carter's *Palestine Peace Not Apartheid* (Simon and Schuster, 2006) and the attendant controversy will be held from 7:00 p.m. till 8:30 p.m. on Mon. evening, Jan. 15, 2007, at the Mandolin Café, 3923 S. 12th St., Tacoma. UFPPC's book discussion group "Digging Deeper" will begin a discussion of "Biological Human Nature: Implications for Warmongering and Peacemaking" devoted to a set of seven books and led by psychologist Ron Boothe beginning at 7:00 p.m. on Mon., Jan. 22, 2007. For more information see the UFPPC web site.