MEETING NOTES FOR PEOPLE FOR PEACE, JUSTICE, AND HEALING

People for Peace, Justice and Healing met August 7, 2010, at 10:00 a.m. at Associated Ministries.  Present for check-in:  Rob, Nancy, Colleen, Karen, Karen, Sheila, Mark, Sarah, Terry.  General discussion centered around vigil at 21st and Pacific, Friday morning, August 6, attended by Colleen, Nancy, Karen, Karen (Unitarian Church) Joe (Tacoma Catholic Worker) Linda, and Rob.  Nancy and Linda also vigiled in old Town restaurant area on Friday evening.  Nancy characterized people as "polite, pleasant, but indifferent."  More discussion.

AGENDA

PICNIC AT FT. NISQUALLY: Terry and Mark
Terry dropped off pocket sized flyers for distribution, inviting people to a Party Picnic at Ft. Nisqually (Pt. Defiance Park) on Sunday, August 29th, 2:00 p.m. to dusk.  The picnic is advertised as a food and fun, community get-together sans politics, sponsored by United for Peace of Pierce County, and People for Peace, Justice, and Healing.  On offer:  badminton, croquet, raffles, live music, assorted meat and meatless burgers, potato salad, and beverages.  Guests are invited to bring potluck dishes.  The picnic spot is located between Ft. Nisqually and the Never Never Land family playground.  A dog park is "just around the corner."

A planning meeting will be held on Thursday, August 19th at 7:00 p.m. at First United Methodist Church at S. 7th and Tacoma Avenue.  Members able to attend are encouraged to participate in the logistical planning.  Everyone is encouraged to spread the word to friends from their many interest groups -- distribute flyers (available at the link above) and send emails.

MORDECHAI VANUNU: Nancy
Nancy made a strenuous appeal on behalf of Mordechai Vanunu who served 18 years in prison, 11 of them in solitary confinement, for "blowing the whistle" on Israel's possession of nuclear weapons.  He has recently been imprisoned in Israel again for an interview he gave to the BBC.  You can read about Vanunu and sign a petition to President Obama on his behalf asking that he be released, not only from prison but the restrictions against him the government continues to enforce, by going to www.humanrights.change.org Vanunu has been nominated year after year for the Nobel Peace Prize and many illustrious persons have petitioned on his behalf.

INFORMED CONSENT: Nancy
Again this year, PJH, is going to contact high schools about the form available to students and parents of students requesting that the students not be contacted by the military to join up.  The deadline to sign the form is September 30.  This year Sallie and/or Nancy is contacting the high schools and requesting that they make public announcements—before the deadline—notifying students of the availability of this form.  If the counselor's agree to making this announcement to students, PJH won't sponsor a booth as they have in years past.  If they don't agree, PJH will make available forms at booths as we have in many years past.  Volunteers—2 people for 4 days will be needed to provide the forms at each high school.

VIGILING: Rob
Rob suggested that PJH facilitate, with some of the money made from our Persian poetry event, the making of some really hot and visible signs for vigiling purposes.  Idea suggested: ABOLISH NUCLEAR WEAPONS NOW.  Group enthusiastically seconds the idea.

DIGGING DEEPER: Mark
Coming up for this UFPCC book group that meets at the Mandolin on Monday evenings—August 9 and 16—at 7:00 p.m.: Stephen KInzer's RESET: IRAN, TURKEY AND AMERICA'S FUTURE (2010) and Tony Judt's ILL FARES THE LAND (2010).

Respectfully submitted,
Karen