Saturday, February 14, 2004 Meeting Notes for People for Peace, Justice, and Healing

PPJH meeting minutes

People for Peace, Justice and Healing met February 14, 2004, at 10:00 a.m. at Associated Ministries. Present for check-in: Sallie, Benji, Mark, Nancy, Sheila, Kyle, Karen H., Karen K. Discussion: New Homeland Security facility planned for Tacoma Tideflats building which has received little local publicity and as far as we know hasn't been discussed by the City Council. This facility will be used for "internment." Tim Smith is researching. Sallie and Bill Evans are in communication about this issue. Referred to agenda.

AGENDA:

FOG OF WAR (McNamara documentary)
Appearance of Stan Goff
Earth Charter
Film Festival
Non-Violent Communication report
Homeland Security Facility

FILM FESTIVAL: Sallie has conferred with Maureen Fife, who suggested we schedule this festival during Lent and publicize it as a "walk in their shoes" event, i.e. empathetically experience (the horrors of) war through the films we select. Mark suggested we include Pauline Kaurin, a philosophy professor at PLU, as a resource person and commentator for some of the series. Sallie is conferring with Bill Evans about use of the Blue Mouse. The film festival committee is also exploring the possibilities of showing the films on local campuses.

FOG OF WAR: Karen is exploring how long this film will be at the Grand. It opens March 5. Discussion of possibly renting the Grand for a performance or attending a showing as a group.

STAN GOFF: Stan Goff, who retired from the military in 1996, will speak this Thursday, 7:30 p.m. at Bellarmine in the Chapel. He is sponsored by SNOW of Seattle, where he will appear next Saturday. Title of the series is "Seeking Alternatives to War." He has appeared on various national television and radio programs. We are sponsoring this public meeting at Bellarmine. Sallie asked for volunteers to come at 6:45 to set chairs for 250 people. Mark will introduce Goff. Our literature will be available in the lobby. Sallie is doing the press releases. Discussion of wording of releases to the Ft. Lewis RANGER. Discussion of Goff's "style and approach" to our current Iraqi situation. Karen K. asserted her hope that we would be able to move beyond anger and that he would give us some ideas about what we can do (if and when) we feel our government is acting irresponsibly. Further discussion.

NON-VIOLENT-COMMUNICATION: Sheila The local group is now down to one group which meets one night a week, but the group is relatively large and others are known that wish to join it. Sheila says the group will be discussing the possibility of another group forming at the next meeting. Nancy expressed interest in the group.

EARTH CHARTER: February 8, 2003, marks the date we endorsed the Earth Charter. Although we had planned to discuss the Earth Charter weekly it's been some time since we have done so. Discussion. The group decided 1) we will read a section of the Charter following check-in each week. 2) We will try to discuss a section at least once a month. 3) Depending on the size of our agenda, we will decide weekly whether to discuss the charter. 4) Karen K offered to frame the charter so we can hang it in our meeting area.

HOMELAND SECURITY FACILITY: Although there have been as far as we know no public hearings of this matter, the Feds are building and will open in March or April a "detention center," or prison, on the Tideflats, built and managed by a Florida corporation named Correctional Services Corporation of Tacoma. Colleen expresses hope that we can work with Bill of Rights group and possibly ACLU on this issue. (She will check with ACLU national about that possiblity.) Discussion of involving UFPPC. Mark also is interested in this subject. Mark offers to provide links on our website to other groups and sources of information. Karen offers to contact Peter Callaghan. Discussion of article that appeared in South Sound BUSINESS EXAMINER.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Vigil at Jack Hyde Park on Ruston Way at 5:00 p.m., Sunday, February 15. Bring candles and signs if you wish.

"Stan Goff Speaks Out!" at Bellarmine Chapel, Thursday, February 19, at 7:30 p.m.

(sorry:) Important Speaker from the national office of ACLU at U of W, Seattle, next Saturday afternoon. Colleen has the facts.

Fundraiser for ACLU and UFPPC next Saturday night at Wa. State History Museum featuring STEVE AND KRISTI NEBEL, special guest TOM RAWSON. Tickets are $10.00

Mark gives everybody a postcard featuring a quote by Barbara Lee: "Let us not become the evil that we deplore."