Saturday, November 11, 2006
MEETING NOTES
People for Peace, Justice, and Healing
November 11, 2006
People for Peace, Justice and Healing met on Sat., Nov. 11, 2006, at Associated Ministries at 10 a.m. Present for check-in: Sallie S., Scott, Sallie M., Dorothy, Vivi, Louise, Karen K., Mark, Laura, and Colleen.
AGENDA
1. CONVERSATION CAFÉ (Scott)
The Conversation Café question for Tues., Nov. 14, at 7:00 p.m. at the Mandolin
Café (3923 S. 12th St., Tacoma) is "What do pets mean in your life?" -- Question
chosen for Tues., Nov. 21: "How do you celebrate Thanksgiving?" Either Mark or
Karen H. will facilitate the conversation on Nov. 14; Karen K. will facilitate on Nov.
21; either Karen H. or Mark will facilitate on Nov. 28 (whoever doesn't facilitate
on Nov. 14).
2. EARTH COMMUNITY DIALOGUES (Dorothy)
Earth Community is an expression used in the Earth
Charter, which People for Peace, Justice, and Healing formally endorsed in
February 2003. Beginning on Tues., Nov. 21, Dorothy Burkhart will facilitate
discussion of David Korten's The Great Turning: From Empire to Earth Community
(Berrett-Koehler Publishers and Kumarian Press, May 2006). These "Earth Community
Dialogues" will continue on subsequent Tuesdays (Dec. 5 & 19, Jan. 9 & 23, and Feb. 6)
at the Wheelock Library (3722 N. 26th St., Tacoma). All meetings will begin at 6:00 p.m.
and end about 7:45 p.m. David Korten was involved in the drafting of the Earth Charter
and is also the author of When Corporations Rule the World. Korten's new book
makes the case for choosing a future Whole Earth Community grounded in the life-affirming
cultural values that are shared by most of the peoples of the world. For more
information, see the web site established for
the book and related projects. People for Peace, Justice, and Healing is a co-sponsor
of this project. For more information, contact Dorothy
at dorothybu1@harbornet.com.
3. PUGET SOUND CLIMATE ISSUES (Louisa)
The Puget Sound Climate Issues group held a meeting on Nov. 6 and is discussing the
organization of forums in 2007 to reach out to different portions of the
community. The goal is to spark action, such as guerrilla gardens, discussion groups,
and work parties as the year turns to spring and summer. Most of the business of this
group is conducted through its Yahoo listserv. If you'd like to be involved, send an
e-mail to Louisa Beal (louisabeal@mac.com) and
she'll send an invitation to join the group.
4. LOCAL TRANSPORTATION ISSUES (Sallie S.)
The board of the South Sound Peace and Justice Center is looking at issues related to
mass transit with a view to sustainability and economic justice. Originally the center
intended to connect with others working on these issues, but no groups working in this
area have been identified. Issues related to cost, user-friendliness, and energy are
all of interest. Perhaps this is an area where work needs to be done.
5. VISIT TO ARCHBISHOP BRUNETT (Laura)
Laura reported that Archbishop Alexander Brunett of the Archdiocese of Seattle gave a
cordial reception to a delegation from Tacoma Catholic Worker (Tom Karlin, Peter
Roderick, and Father Bill Bichsel) on Nov. 10. The group encouraged the archbishop to
spread the non-violent message of Jesus by urging an end to the war, and asked him to
establish Dec. 2 as a day of fasting and prayer to end the occupation of Afghanistan and
Iraq. The archbishop was also urged to work for the closing of Guantánamo.
6. MEETING TO BEGIN REFLECTION ON TRIDENT-RELATED ACTION ON JAN. 15(Laura and Sallie S.)
At 7:00 p.m. on Tues, Nov. 14, at Jean's House of Prayer (1414 Tacoma Ave.,
Tacoma — enter from the alley), there will be a meeting of what Sallie
characterized as a "pre-affinity group" will be held to begin discussion of possible
actions in connection with possible action at Bangor on Jan. 15, 2007 (Martin Luther
King Day) focusing on the Trident submarine nuclear weapons system. Study/reflection
groups may emerge from this.
7. ISRAEL/PALESTINE (Nancy, in absentia)
In an e-mail, Nancy raised the question of actions toward an end to the Israel-Palestine
conflict. To be continued.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
1. NW DETENTION CENTER PROTEST TODAY (Colleen)
From 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. today, Sat., Nov. 11, a protest will be held outside the
Northwest Detention Center (1623 E. "J" St., Tacoma) by Not In My County, a group
devoted to raising public awareness of anti-Latino or anti-immigrant activism in
Whatcom County (on the Canadian border) and throughout Washington State, against
"aggressive enforcement tactics and violations of our neighbors’ civil and human rights"
by "agents [who] continue to terrorize immigrant communities in Washington State and
across the country with increasingly militaristic raids, armed arrests, covert detentions
and deportations." The Backbone Campaign has endorsed the protest and urges solidarity
with this protest.
2. HAMLET: SOMETHING ROTTEN IS GOING ON (Karen K.)
Shakespeare in the Parking Lot will present three more performances of "Hamlet: Something
Rotten Is Going On." The first is tonight, Sat., Nov. 11, at 7:00 p.m. at Embellish
Multispace Salon, 1121 Court D, Suite A, Tacoma. The second will be at 7:00 p.m. on
Fri., Nov. 17, at the Center for Spiritual Living, 206 N. "J" St., Tacoma. The third
will be at 2:00 p.m. on Sat., Nov. 18, at the Mandolin Café, 3923 S. 12th St.,
Tacoma. This production is a modern version of Shakespeare's classic play, in which
kingdoms have been replaced by corporations. Karen Konrad performs as Polly Neus (i.e.
Polonius). Rosemary Ponnekanti gave a good review of the Nov. 4 performance of this
production, which took place at King's Books, in today's News
Tribune (Tacoma, WA), page E9.
3. UFPPC SUNDAY SALON SERIES CONTINUES (Mark)
United for Peace of Pierce County's Sunday salon series continues on Nov. 12 in
North Tacoma. The Nov. 12 Sunday
salon will be held from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at 3901 N. 37th St., Tacoma, and will
feature a live performance by professional pianist David Rhys Johnson as well as a
conversation with a panel of local experts speaking about how Tacoma can deal with its
most challenged youth. This UFPPC fundraiser, while open to the public, is an intimate
gathering in a private home belonging to Colleen and Stephen Philbrook. Tickets may be
purchased in advance for $15 by calling Kristi Nebel at 253-573-1504 or by paying at the
door on the day of the event.
4. DISCUSSION OF IMPEACHMENT (Vivi)
Michael Tivana will speak on the move to impeach President George W. Bush and other
members of his administration at the Fellowship of Reconciliation meeting held at
4:00 p.m. on Sun., Nov. 12, at the Hillside Community Church (2508 S 39th St.,
Tacoma). Tivana will also speak there at 1:00 p.m. on "The Peaceful Warrior."
5. BEYOND OIL -- BELLEVUE (Mark)
On Sun., Nov. 19, 2006, from 2:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., Washington Physicians for Social
Responsibility while hold a Sunday afternoon "Beyond Oil — Bellevue" conference
featuring Sonia Shah, author of Crude: The Story of Oil (Seven Stories
Press, 2004; new edition, 2006). The conference will be held in Fenwick Hall, Bellevue
First Congregational Church, 752 108th Avenue NE, in downtown Bellevue, WA, adjacent
to the Transit Center. It will feature a keynote address and three breakout sessions
on the search for answers to local, national, and international dimensions of the
problem of petroleum dependency and Peak Oil. Mark will lead the session on
international dimensions to the search for solutions. Sponsors include: Washington
Physicians for Social Responsibility, Evergreen Peace and Justice Community, Eastside
Fellowship of Reconciliation, Eastside Earth Education, Veterans for Peace—Chapter
92, and Northwest Earth Institute. Free and open to the public, donations welcome.
More information: WPSR, 206.547.2630 or wpsr@wpsr.org. This event follows up on the
"Beyond Oil" conference in May 2005 in Seattle that featured Michael Klare, author
of Resource Wars and Blood and Oil.
6. MAXIME HONG KINGSTON READING AND SIGNING (Vivi)
At 7:00 p.m. on Mon., Nov. 20, noted author Maxine Hong Kingston will hold a reading
and signing of the new book she has edited,
entitled Veterans
of War, Veterans of
Peace (Koa Books, September 2006).
7. STUDY CIRCLE ON BARACK OBAMA AND THE LEGACY OF MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. (Mark)
At 7:00 p.m. on three successive Mondays (Nov. 20 & 27 and Dec. 4) at the Mandolin
Café (3923 S. 12th St., Tacoma), UFPPC's book discussion group 'Digging Deeper' will
discuss the rise to prominence and political prospects of Sen. Barack Obama in the
context of the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. The group will examine The Audacity
of Hope, Obama’s just-released bestseller, and his 1995 autobiography, Dreams
from My Father, as well as two other books: At Canaan’s Edge, the
recently published concluding third volume of Taylor Branch's monumental biography of
Martin Luther King Jr., and Clayborne Carson's edition of The Autobiography of
Martin Luther King, Jr. Participation is free. Some volumes are available for
purchase or borrowing. See here
for more information.
8. FUNDRAISER FOR WATADA-RELATED CITIZENS' TRIBUNAL ON THE IRAQ WAR (Colleen)
At 7:00 p.m. on Tues., Dec. 5, at King's
Books (218 St. Helens Ave., Tacoma; 253-272-8801) there will be a fundraiser to
raise money for a Citizen's Tribunal on the legality of the Iraq war. The event will
feature a showing of UW Tacoma Prof. Michael Honey's
18-minute video on the Iraq war
and a panel discussion of the case of Lt. Ehren Watada. (NOTE: On Thurs., Nov. 9, the
U.S. Army announced that Lt.
Watada will face a court-martial for refusing to deploy to Iraq on the grounds that the
Iraq war is illegal under U.S. and international law; no date has yet been set.)
9. BILL OF RIGHTS CELEBRATION AT THE WASHINGTON STATE HISTORY MUSEUM (Colleen)
At 7:00 p.m. on Fri., Dec. 15, the annual celebration of the anniversary of the Bill
of Rights will be held at the Washington State History Museum (1911 Pacific Ave.,
Tacoma), co-sponsored by the Washington ACLU and the Bill of Rights Defense
Committee-Tacoma.
Respectfully submitted,
Mark