Saturday, October 4, 2003 Meeting Notes

Meeting notes, People for Peace, Justice, and Healing

Tacoma PJH met October 4, 2003, at Associated Ministries at 10 a.m. General Discussion. Present for check-in were Laura, Mark J., Agnes, Dorothy, Kyle, Sheila, Kent, Karen H.

AGENDA:

Non-Violent Communication - Kent (10)
Earth Charter (15)
Earth Charter Summit - Sheila (5)
SOA Event (3)
Wheels of Justice - Mark (Announcements)
Apartheid Wall/Jerusaleum (5)
Announcements

EARTH CHARTER - II Ecological Integrity: 5. Protect and restore the integrity of the Earth's ecological systems with special concern for biological diversity and the natural processes that sustain life. Discussion: Points a. through f.

EARTH CHARTER SUMMIT - Sheila feels confident that plans are in place. Volunteers will meet Wednesday night at 6:30 p.m. at First United Methodist to discuss the day's program and go over the site. Greeters will report to the church at 7:30 a.m. on Saturday, October 11. Doors will open at 8:30. Webcast will begin at 9 a.m. in the sanctuary. Discussion tracts will begin at 10:00 a.m., 12:30 and 2:00 p.m. with Wrap-up and Reports at 3:30 and closing ceremony before 5:00 p.m. Participants are invited to come and go from meeting to meeting as they wish. Lunch will be brown bag and cost $5. Purchase before 10 a.m. Tracts on Ecological Integrity, Social and Economic Justice, Cultural Diversity, and introduction to Non-Violent Communication will be held on the 2nd floor adjacent to the sanctuary. (The floor you enter from the front.) Children's activities will be upstairs. Lunch in the basement. Notes will be collected from each session for general dissemination. Each group will be facilitated by a speaker (20 minutes) followed by discussion by the group.

Mark: Identified in the last week news from the Earth Charter on the internet from Columbus, Ohio, University of Wisconsin and one other. Mark read a position paper on the Earth Charter. Discussion of 12 cities that have adapted the Charter.

Dorothy suggested we have books for loan available to people and that bookstores be invited (next year) to display appropriate books. Installation of a Community Bulletin Board with ecological tips and an events calendar was suggested. Mark suggested there be a quiet place at the Summit where people can read.

NON-VIOLENT COMMUNICATION

Kent: Dorothy's group will meet again on Wednesday the 15th. For those interested, she's willing to do a 3 week catch-up for missed sessions. Contact Dorothy at dorothybu1@aol.com (564-8263) or Kent at bkalcorn@harbornet.com.(230-8948).

SOA

Al: A group preparing for the November 16 event meets every other Friday night at St. Leo's in the basement of the rectory. Parking available in the lot adjacent to rectory. They are currently organizing committees to take care of each part of the event. Peace is a theme of the rally. (SOAWatch protests the training and actions of graduates of the School of the Americas located in Ft. Benning, Georgia.) Our event will coincide with national event at Ft. Benning. Event will take place at Portland Avenue Park (E. 35th and Portland Avenue.) Schedule of the day: 10:00 a.m. Gathering and Children's Events, Music; 12:00 to 1:30 p.m. Speakers and Music; 1:30 to 3:00 p.m. march to Federal Courthouse. If you want more information or to volunteer contact Al or Ken Little at 531-5658. Website: www.tacomanov16.org

GRANT OPPORTUNITIES: October 30 is the deadline for a "social activist", research grant through PLU. Emphasis: Connections between peace and the environment. Grants will be judged on clarity of purpose and quality of evaluative criteria. See Mark.

Hillside Community Church is awarding a $45,000 grant to a 5013c group with a Peace, Justice and Social Action proposal. Deadline October 21. See Kent.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Karen: Bill Bichsel's (Bix) sentencing date for an action at the Federal Building will be October 9 at 2:00 p.m. in the Federal Building.

Mark: Wheels of Justice will be at the Unitarian Church on Sunday (10/12) and the PLU campus on (10/13) 8:30 - 10:30 in the Scandinavian Culture Center, 11:15-1:00 p.m. in Red or Centennial Square and UPS on Monday afternoon, 4:00 - 5:30 p.m. near Jones Circle. There will be a Teach-In Slideshow presentation from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. in the Rotunda (at the Student Center.)

Mark: Ed Nyce will be at PLU on October 15. There will be a public event at 3:45 p.m. He recently returned from the West Bank. Edward Said's life will be celebrated Wednesday, October 22 at 5:00 p.m. The film "Orientalism" will be shown. Jan Adams, an activist who's been placed on a "No Fly" list will appear October 21 at noon at PLU. Carl Anderson is planning this event. Walter Wink as announced before will be at PLU October 27 and 29th. Further details later.