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