MEETING NOTES FOR PEOPLE FOR PEACE, JUSTICE, AND HEALING

People for Peace, Justice, and Healing (Tacoma, WA)
February 27, 2010

People for Peace, Justice and Healing met February 27, 2010, at 10 a.m. at Associated Ministries. Present for Check-in: Sheila, Sallie, Mark, Nancy, Karen, Dan, Karen.

AGENDA:

Nuclear Shut-down: Nancy
Nancy reported that after forty years of grass roots efforts - Nancy comes from Burlington - the state of Vermont last week denied a renewal of operating licensing of their only nuclear power plant. Run by a dishonest company that, for one, denied a radio active fluid leak, activists have finally won liberation for Vermont.

Rachel Corrie: Nancy
A reading of "My Name Is Rachel Corrie" will take place at Kilworth Chapel this coming Wednesday, March 3, at 7 p.m. Doors open at 6:30. Discussion with the Corries will follow the reading. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. No charge for admission. Nancy noted that posters she posted in the Proctor area have been accidentally or intentionally removed. The Corries will be leaving immediately following the performance for Israel to attend a trial that will finally and hopefully bring a clear and true account of the facts surrounding Rachel's death. A lively article appears in the current issue of CHANNEL.

Sabeel Conference
Discussion about the activities of this Christian Palestinian group. Former Catholic Worker, Jessie Smith, has been given a scholarship to study in Palestine but needs additional funding help. Discussion of the posting of a billboard in Albuquerque that gives daily totals of American contributions to Israel and what the money goes for. A similar billboard is going up in Spokane despite objections - in both cases - from the Jewish community.

Tacoma Peace Prize
Group discussed nominees for this prize. Deadline is March 31. The prize is awarded by a committee made up of PLU folks and folks from the Norwegian/Swedish service community. In discussing their history of awards it is our understanding that they are not focused on people directly involved in the peace movement as we experience it. Despite this, Nancy and Karen, after a group discussion of other worthy candidates, volunteered to work with Theresa Power-Drutis to put together a nomination for Bill Bichsel.

"The Monstrosity of Christ - Paradox or Dialectic" by Slavoj Zizek: Mark Mark discussed the March 1 Digging Deeper book feature. This book is a debate between Zizek, who represents the critical-materialistic point of view against "religious illusions." Radical Orthodox Theologian, John Milbank, argues that "theology is the only foundation upon which knowledge, politics and ethics can stand." Other Digging Deeper books listed below.

WAR COSTS WHO PAYS: Sallie
Discussion of the March 19 rally (as below). Distribution of flyers. Sallie discussed "street theater" events of the Ft. Lewis chapter of Iraq Vets Against the War. They are visiting local campuses, dressed in military garb and assaulting students (plants) hooding them, putting flex-cuffs on them, forcing them to the ground while verbally abusing them - to give students a slight taste of the horrors of war.

EVENTS OF INTEREST:

March 1
"The Monstrosity of Christ - Paradox or Dialectic" by Slavo Zizek. "Three Cups of Tea," "Stones Into Schools," Mortinson and Relin, March 8; "True Compass, A Memoir," Edward Kennedy, March 15.

March 3
"My Name is Rachel Corrie," dramatic reading at Kilworth Chapel, March 3. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Performance at 7:00. Discussion with the Corries following the performance.

March 4
Art Spiegleman, author of "Maus" March 4, Liberty Theater in Puyallup. Sponsored by Pierce College.

March 8
Ali Abuminah, co-founder of electronicintifada.net will be speaking on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict on March 8 at South Puget Sound Community College, Building 26, Room 105 at 7 p.m. His appearance is co-sponsored by People for Peace, Justice and Healing.

March 19
WAR COSTS WHO PAYS (and who profits?) 7th Anniversary Remembrance and Rally against the War in Iraq. Rally begins at 4 p.m. at the Federal Courthouse, 1717 Pacific Avenue and at 5:30 at the Pacific Avenue I5 Overpass. Sponsored by United for Peace, Pierce County, Veterans for Peace, and Iraq Veterans Against the War. Featured speakers: Lyle Quasim, Vietnam Vet and Executive from the public and non-profit sector, Joe Colgan, whose son died in Iraq in 2003, and Seth Manzel of IVAW. Music.

Respectfully submitted,
Karen