MEETING NOTES FOR PEOPLE FOR PEACE, JUSTICE, AND HEALING
April 14, 2007
People for Peace, Justice and Healing held its regular Saturday meeting at 10:00 a.m. on Apr. 14, 2007, at Associated Ministries in Tacoma, WA. Present for check-in: Sol, Mark, Kathryn, Julius, Scott, Sallie S., Sally M., Colleen, and Vivi.
AGENDA
1. UPCOMING WESTERN WASHINGTON FELLOWSHIP OF RECONCILIATION ASSEMBLY (Vivi)
The title of Western Washington Fellowship of Reconciliation's Ninth Annual Spring Assembly is "Where Have All the Revolutions Gone?" There will be many workshops of note, among them those on competing worldviews (Dennis Miller), peace and justice from the grass roots (Ellen Finkelstein), the question "when is violence OK?" (Larry Kerschner), and many others. The assembly will be held on Sat., Apr. 28, at Fauntleroy UCC Church at 9260 California Ave. SW, West Seattle. For more information contact the WWFOR office at 206-789-5565.
2. WORLD AFFAIRS SUMMIT (Colleen)
Colleen reported that posters are up (150 of them). There will be an opening event Thursday evening at the Pantages. Workshops and presentations will take place in Tacoma on Apr. 20-21 on subjects related to peace and social justice, education, and the environment. The schedule of events is now online. All events are free will take place along the link line, at the University of Washington-Tacoma, the Museum of Glass, the Tacoma Art Museum, or Tacoma's Theater District. Call Colleen 759-9680 for fun and interesting volunteering opportunities! -- Also, on Fri. evening, Apr. 20, AN EVENING OF WORD AND SONG will bring musicians (including Steve & Kristi Nebel) and spoken word artists & poets (including Luke Smiraldo) together for a rousing show. This event will be held in Carwein Auditorium on the University of Washington-Tacoma campus.
3. IMPEACHMENT (Mark)
Mark reported on an invitation to co-sponsor an event featuring Elizabeth de la Vega on impeachment of the president to be held on Jun. 25, 2007, at King's Books. Discussion of whether PPJH wanted to co-sponsor to be continued next week.
4. STATEMENT ON DR. RIYADH LAFTA, PREVENTED BY THE U.S. STATE DEPT. FROM SPEAKING AT THE UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON (Mark).
Mark proposed and the group edited and endorsed a statement on the refusal of the U.S. State Dept. to grant a visa to Dr. Riyadh Lafta, the Baghdad physician who was a co-author of both of the important Lancet studies estimating the "excess mortality" among Iraqis that can be attributed to the U.S. invasion and occupation of Iraq (the most recent arrived at the figure at 655,000 -- a figure that is now six months out of date). The text of the statement, entitled "Why Is the U.S. State Department Preventing Dr. Riyadh Lafta from Speaking at the University of Washington?" has been posted on the PPJH web site.
5. REPORT ON TOUR OF CITY LANDFILL (Sol)
Sol reported on the tour of Tacoma's city landfill sponsored by Sustainable Tacoma. Eight people attended. Bill Smith, Senior Environmental Specialist of City of Tacoma Solid Waste Management (253-593-7719), explained that the landfill is full; only 2% capacity remains, and this is being held open for emergencies. Tacoma refuse undergoes further sorting and is then taken to three different locations. Bill Smith also gave a tour of the city's EnviroHouse
ANNOUNCEMENTS
1. IT MATTERS! PANEL DISCUSSION (Sol).
On Mon., Apr. 30, from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., Sustainable Tacoma will sponsor a panel discussion featuring Pierce County farmers and others working to preserve Pierce County farmlands talking about the ethics and economics of eating locally. The panel discussion will be followed by a Q&A period. Presenters include Holly Foster (Zestful Gardens), Jennifer Harte (WSU Extension Small Farms Program), Terry Carkner (Terry's Berries), Cheryl Ouellette (The Pig Lady), and Will Leslie (Local Food Advocate). Donations gladly accepted. Tacoma Friends Meetinghouse, 2508 South 39th St. (behind Borders Books), Tacoma. For more information, call Carolyn, 472-1392.
2. CASCADE LAND CONSERVANCY CONSERVATION AWARDS BREAKFAST (Sol)
The 12th Annual Conservation Awards Breakfast of the Cascade Land Conservancy will be held from 7:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. in Seattle at the Washington State Trade and Convention Center.
3. "THE CAMDEN 28" (Mark).
This 2006 film will be shown in Olympia at 7:00 p.m. on Tues. evening, Apr. 17, at the Unitarian Universalist Church, 2200 East End St. NW (off Division & Elliott), Olympia, WA 98502, at a fundraiser to raise money to help pay legal expenses of those arrested in the March 2007 port militarization resistance activities at the Port of Tacoma. "The Camden 28" is a documentary film about the dramatic trial in 1971 of 28 war resisters in Camden, New Jersey, about which Amy Longsdorf wrote in the Courier-Post (Cherry Hill, NJ) said that it "doesn't mention the war in Iraq, yet speaks volumes about the ongoing conflict." See the above link for more about the film.
Respectfully submitted, Mark