Saturday, May 10, 2003 Meeting Notes

CHECK-IN: scattered notes on remarks of those present
- Barbara is studying abnormal psychology at TCC. She feels at peace inwardly -- has been able to swim five times this week. She passed around a book she recommends: Louise Diamond, The Peace Book: 108 Simple Ways to Create a More Peaceful World (Berkeley: Conari Press, 2001)
- Sara is looking forward to the summer, when there is more time for reading and writing.
- Sheila said she had a horrible day Friday because she learned about Israel's decision to bar peace activists from the Occupied Territories.
- Mark said his remarks at the Unitarian Universalist Association of Tacoma had been well-received on Sunday, and that one listener had approached him afterwards to exclaim: "I think we need a peaceful revolution." He noted an article in Saturday's New York Times by two scholars from the Brookings Institution saying that the question is really no longer whether there is an "American empire" but rather what sort of empire this will be, and concluded by noting an opinion expressed in a recent book entitled The Consciousness Revolution : A Transatlantic Dialogue : Two Days with Stanislav Grof, Ervin Laszlo, and Peter Russell (HarperCollins, 1999) arguing that whatever the future holds for the misguided attempt by US elites to dominate the globe, continuing deepening of individual consciousness will be essential.
- Rob echoed these remarks, and spoke of the ideas of Ken Wilbur, a self-described "integral philosopher" who tries to understand the connections between things and the hierarchies that structure them. He has lately been working on hierarchies of value, which are spiraling, i.e. are in change and are part of an evolutionary process wherein individual human beings take on the character of the level of values that they occupy. What is needed is personal transformation and personal evolution, which is a value in itself. Wilbur calls this changing lower-order consciousness to higher-order consciousness. Rob recommended Wilbur's books Boomeritis and A Theory of Everything.
- Dorothy had an image of herself this week as the boy with his finger in the dike -- a feeling of desperation -- but said she then realized that there a lot of us with fingers in the dike. She decided to plant a strawberry garden this week, and planted it, without doing too much harm to her back. She agreed that meditation is the way, and concluded: "In the long run it's a hopeful week whether or not the dike breaks."
- Sallie said she spent a week of doing rather than reflecting. She reflected on why she feels she's been less affected by others by the Brames.

AGENDA

1. Refuser Solidarity Network

Sheila distributed flyers on the Refuser Solidarity Network (http://www.refusersolidarity.net). The group expressed interest in the possibility of PPJH becoming an adoption group for an imprisoned refuser. Sheila agreed to look further into this possibility.

2. SNOW

Mark reported a call (not yet returned by him) from Ruth Yarrow of SNOW indicating that SNOW is contemplating a June 1 meeting or event. He will contact Ruth Yarrow and report that this is okay with us.

3. Kelly Campbell Visit

Sallie followed up on an inquiry from Nate Johnson about the possibility of Kelly Campbell, a sister-in-law of a September 11 victim, coming to do an event in Tacoma. PPJH agreed to do this. Sallie will set it up for Sunday afternoon, May 18, probably around 4:30 p.m., probably at Mason Methodist, with a reception-with-tea format for the event.

4. Earth Charter

The Preamble of the Earth Charter includes this sentence: "We must realize that when basic needs have been met, human development is primarily about being more, not having more." After short silent reflection on this sentence, we shared thoughts about how this related to our own lives.

5. Nonviolent Communication

After a report from Dorothy, the group endorsed organizing a June 7 training training session in Nonviolent Communication to be held from 9:30am to 2:30pm (with a lunch break) on Saturday, June 7, in the Univ. of Puget Sound Rotunda. Doug Dolstead will lead the session. No one will be turned away for lack of funds, but a donation will be requested ($25-$50). DOROTHY URGENTLY NEEDS HELP FROM PJHers TO HELP IN WORKING ON VARIOUS ASPECTS OF PREPARATION FOR THIS: PLEASE CALL HER AT 253-564-8263 TO VOLUNTEER!

ANNOUNCEMENTS

1. On Thursday, May 22, at 7:00 p.m. there will be another organzing meeting at the Tacoma Public Library called by Sheila Renton to work toward an Earth Charter event in October. (Sheila)

2. United for Peace of Pierce County will hold a benefit concert on June 21 (7:30-9:30 p.m., admission $10) at the Antique Sandwich Company featuring Steve & Kristi Nebel, Jim Page, the Raging Grannies, the Useful Fools, and possibly Holly Gwynne Graham.

3. Vigils continue: Mon. noon-1pm at Tully's on Broadway (UFPPC), Mon. 5-6pm at the Federal Courthouse (Friends), Wed. 5-6pm at the Federal Courthouse (PPJH), Fri. 5-6pm at Johnny's Seafood on Ruston Way in Old Town (UFPPC), and Sat. noon-1pm at Borders. ENJOY THE NICE SPRING WEATHER AND DO SOME VIGILING!