Saturday, August 2, 2003 Meeting Notes

AGENDA

1. Being proactive as well as reactive. Sarah distributed copies of a recent article in the Christian Science Montior entitled "The Nonviolent Script for Iran," by Peter Ackerman of the Fletcher School and Jack DuVall, coauthor of A Force More Powerful and director of the International Center on Nonviolent Conflict, suggesting that it offers some ideas of use to the peace movement: that to succeed, a movement needs to be "deliberately nonviolent, proudly indigenous, unified on the basis of practical goals, and dispersed across the map and class lines of the country." Discussion of how the peace movement could achieve those characteristics.

2. U.S. National Security Strategy and the Earth Charter compared. Mark J. distributed copies of a one-page comparison of "The National Security Strategy of the United States of America" and the Earth Charter that he'd drafted. It contrasts the two documents in three ways: (1)What is our historical situation? (2) What does the future require? (3)Differing diagnoses (contrasting seven starkly different conclusions). Finally, the document says: "These two incompatible visions are seeking your support. Which seems to you more true? More just? More hopeful? More in accord with your own ultimate beliefs about the world?"

Discussion and criticism of the draft. Sally suggested it would work well on legal-sized paper with the header: "The Choice Is Yours." There was a general consensus that it might be useful as a leaflet if it were rewritten to be more accessible to the general public. To be continued...

3. Tabling. Sally is interested in developing the "tabling" capacity of PPJH, i.e. the ability to set up a table in a public place to distribute material, engage the public, etc.

4. Website report. Mark J. reported that there are currently 101 persons subscribed to the PPJH listserv through yahoogroups.com, and presented a bar chart showing the volume of postings over the life of the group: 2001Q3(56), 2001Q4(240), 2002Q1(216), 2002Q2(341), 2002Q3(347), 2002Q4(724), 2003Q1(1278), 2003Q2(853), 2003Q3(201 through Aug. 2). In addition to the Yahoo site, we continue to maintain an indepenent site at www.tacomapjh.org.

5. Big event. Rob reported that activists in Puyallup are interested in engaging other South Sound participants in a big event to promote and discuss involvement in peace activities, including a big-name speaker to draw the public. The group agreed that PPJH is interested in participating in such an event.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

1. Sally: The meeting next Saturday will be held either upstairs or outside, rather than in the big room.

2. Colleen: Tim Smith met with Bill Evans on July 31, and the resolution supporting the Bill of Rights in Tacoma will receive a first reading at the City Council meeting on Aug. 19.

3. Kent: Hillside Community Church is looking for speakers at 1:00 p.m. on Sundays in September and October. Call Kent at 230-8948.

4. Rob: "Democracy Now" can now be heard on KBCS (91.3) M-F from 5:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m. (live broadcast), and again from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Rob emphasized the value/impact of listening to it daily. Sally: It's also available on KAOS (89.3) from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.