MEETING NOTES FOR PEOPLE FOR PEACE, JUSTICE, AND HEALING
March 29, 2008

People for Peace, Justice and Healing met March 29, 2008, at Associated Ministries at 10:00 a.m. Present for check-in were Sallie, Rob, Mark, Vivi, Nancy, Karens 1 and 2.

Discussion: Current and personal affairs.

AGENDA

1. DALAI LAMA (Sallie)
Discussion of the Dalai Lama's April visit to Seattle and the current situation in Tibet. Tickets are apparently very difficult to obtain but there will be a Focus on Youth meeting and tickets are available for campers from the Interfaith Youth Camp. Discussion of whether PPJH should make a statement or endorsement tabled until our next meeting.

2. THE THINGS THEY CARRIED (Karen)
This book of short stories by Tim O'Brien, following his experience in Vietnam, is the Spring 2008 Tacoma Reads Together selection. Community discussions and films are: April 3, 7:00 p.m. The Songs They Carried; April 7, 7:00 p.m., a discussion with Tacoma Writers about the book; April 10, 7:00 p.m., the film: "Regret to Inform;" April 19, 2:00 p.m. "Letters from Vietnam: A Theatrical Collage presented at the Tacoma School of the Arts Theater; April 22, 7:00 p.m. "The Things We Carried: Vietnam Vets Respond." All events -- except for the theatrical collage at SOTA -- will be at the Tacoma Public Library, Main Branch in the Olympic Room.

3. BILL MOYERS JOURNAL (Sallie)
Recommended: Friday, March 28 presentation of Bill Moyers Journal. Moyer talks with Cory Booker, the young mayor of Newark, New Jersey, about the process of change. Available on line at the PBS website.

4. ANN WRIGHT (Mark)
Ann Wright, who resigned as an officer in the diplomatic corps following our entry into war in Iraq, will be in the area also mid-April to discuss her book. Anne was an important support of Ehren Watada. Possible sponsorship of an appearance tabled until our next agenda.

5. PLUG-IN PARTNERS (Rob)
Rob circulated material encouraging citizens to encourage local car dealers to make hybrid, plug-in battery autos available to consumers. Discussion of local contacts in car dealerships and presentation of the material before the city council. www.pluginpartners.org is the website for a national campaign to encourage the use of these cars, capable of driving 20 to 60 miles on one battery charge.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

1. On Saturday, March 29, Bix's Bangor group participated in a nationwide vigil calling for No Defense Shield in Poland. The rally was at the Federal Courthouse. A vigil recognizing the 4000th American to die in Iraq was held from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. at the 38th Street Border's location. The vigil continued until 4:00 p.m. on the McKinley Overpass over I5.

2. Digging Deeper: Sponsored by UFPPC and facilitated by Mark Jensen, this reading group meets every Monday at 7:00 p.m. at the Mandolin Cafe. The group will be reading and discussing Joseph Stiglitz and Linda Bilmes's The The Trillion Dollar War: The True Costs of the Iraq Conflict on Mon., Mar. 31, and Daniel Pink's book "A Whole New Mind" on Apr. 7 in preparation for an appearance by Pink the following Monday, Apr. 14 at the Mandolin.

3. Green Festival coming to Seattle Convention Center April 12, 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. and April 13, 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Sponsors include Global Exchange.

Respectfully submitted,
Karen