Saturday, July 19, 2003 Meeting Notes

Meeting notes, People for Peace, Justice, and Healing

July 19, 2003

-People for Peace, Justice and Healing met at 10 a.m., July 19, 2003, at Associated Ministries.

Present for Check-in were Sarah, Vivi, Susan, Sheila, Kyle, Al, Mark, Sharon, Karen H., Sallie, Barbara, Mark J.

AGENDA: Sarah facilitating.

Communicating with Pro-active rather than Reactive Language
Adding Justice to the Peace Movement
Earth Charter
arter Summit
a Benjamin Event Report
Mark's Visit to France
*Ordnance on Bill of Rights

(* I talked about this in my check-in, but want to make note of it for the minutes. Karen H.)

EARTH CHARTER SUMMIT

Sheila again discussed on-going plans for the Earth Charter Summit, October 11, at First United Methodist. Discussion of handicap accessibility. Someone needs to check on the possibility of renting a ramp and a port-a-potty to enhance accessibility.

Presenters will speak to individual groups for 20 to 30 minutes, then the groups will discuss issues of each particular group. Sheila has contacted Rob re: men of the Unitarian Church preparing bio-regional lunch. Sheila needs a lunch committee. Contact her if interested. Other current goals: looking for ways and issues that will create bonds of interest among participants such as Non-violent Communication, race circles, slow food groups. Reaching out to other environmental and peace communities. Getting UFP involved. The Earth Charter Summit group meets the second and fourth Tuesdays at 6:30 (usually til 8:00) in the little second story room above the coffee shop at Tulleys.

EARTH CHARTER 2a."Accept that with the right to own, manage and use natural resources comes the duty to prevent environmental harm and to protect the rights of people."

Discussion. Mark J. pointed out that this section which refers to the ownership of land should be used to counter accusations that the charter is "communistic." General discussion of classical conflict about ownership of land (who owns the land?) and the treatment and use of land. Discussion: respondibilities of ownership. (Sarah: example of guy out in Gig Harbor who chopped down all the trees on his property in order to sell the timber and the disgruntlement of his neighbors.) Susan: Are businesses solely responsible to their investors? Sarah: Everyone is dependent on the environment. Suggestion: That (we) target university business departments to become more socially aware and responsible and teach same to their students. Sheila: we need to educate youth to think differently about the environment. We need to support them as cultural awareness changes.

MEDEA BENJAMIN EVENT: Sallie reported that about 300 people attended the event and about 144 attended break-out groups. $2,000 was raised. She said the committee elected to pay MB $1,000 up front rather than $500 plus the take of the house and thus we came out ahead. The event was taped and 50 CD's will be available for $1.00 each. Discussion of Medea's speech. Oil. Al called for the impeachment of Cheney - re: administration's secretive handling of energy discussions early in the current administration's tenure. Discussion: Independent press. Sharon called for action on Preferential Voting iniative. Discussion: what powers really reside with the people. Manipulation and control by the powers that be. Discussion: No media follow-up of MB event.

MARK IN FRANCE: (Sorry, I listened and didn't get good notes.) I think Mark had a productive and enjoyable time and he brought back some interesting books.

*BILL OF RIGHTS: Karen H., Tim Smith of BORDC and a woman from Gig Harbor met with Bill Evans, and briefly the mayor, to discuss presenting a Bill of Rights Ordnance to the City Council. Tim had a very detailed two page plus document he presented to Councilperson Evans. Evans persuaded Tim to generalize the points to make it easier for the council. (Specific reference to the Patriot Act remains in the document.) That document appears on our list serve. Evans is taking the document to "the attorneys" for their input and we will meet again on July 31st at 2 p.m. on the 12th floor of the Municipal Building, hopefully in preparation for presentation of the ordnance to the City Council. (The office immediately in front of you when you exit the elevator.)

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Discussion of "Mona and Dick" and their Earth Charter bike tour. Unclear when they will be in our area.

Interest expressed in our getting to subject of "getting Proactive language for Peace movement out there."

Vivi will be on the road with her husband for three weeks. Susan will be out of town for 3 to 4 weeks.

Circle.