MEETING NOTES FOR PEOPLE FOR PEACE, JUSTICE, AND HEALING
People for Peace, Justice, and Healing (Tacoma, WA)
February 27, 2010
People for Peace, Justice and Healing met February 27, 2010, at 10 a.m. at Associated Ministries. Present for Check-in: Sheila, Sallie, Mark, Nancy, Karen, Dan, Karen.
AGENDA:
Nuclear Shut-down: Nancy
Nancy reported that after forty years of grass roots efforts - Nancy
comes from Burlington - the state of Vermont last week denied a
renewal of operating licensing of their only nuclear power plant. Run
by a dishonest company that, for one, denied a radio active fluid
leak, activists have finally won liberation for Vermont.
Rachel Corrie: Nancy
A reading of "My Name Is Rachel Corrie" will take place at Kilworth
Chapel this coming Wednesday, March 3, at 7 p.m. Doors open at
6:30. Discussion with the Corries will follow the reading. Doors
open at 6:30 p.m. No charge for admission. Nancy noted that posters
she posted in the Proctor area have been accidentally or intentionally
removed. The Corries will be leaving immediately following the
performance for Israel to attend a trial that will finally and
hopefully bring a clear and true account of the facts surrounding
Rachel's death. A lively article appears in the current issue of
CHANNEL.
Sabeel Conference
Discussion about the activities of this Christian Palestinian group.
Former Catholic Worker, Jessie Smith, has been given a scholarship to
study in Palestine but needs additional funding help. Discussion of
the posting of a billboard in Albuquerque that gives daily totals of
American contributions to Israel and what the money goes for. A
similar billboard is going up in Spokane despite objections - in both
cases - from the Jewish community.
Tacoma Peace Prize
Group discussed nominees for this prize. Deadline is March 31. The
prize is awarded by a committee made up of PLU folks and folks from
the Norwegian/Swedish service community. In discussing their history
of awards it is our understanding that they are not focused on people
directly involved in the peace movement as we experience it. Despite
this, Nancy and Karen, after a group discussion of other worthy
candidates, volunteered to work with Theresa Power-Drutis to put
together a nomination for Bill Bichsel.
"The Monstrosity of Christ - Paradox or Dialectic" by Slavoj Zizek: Mark Mark discussed the March 1 Digging Deeper book feature. This book is a debate between Zizek, who represents the critical-materialistic point of view against "religious illusions." Radical Orthodox Theologian, John Milbank, argues that "theology is the only foundation upon which knowledge, politics and ethics can stand." Other Digging Deeper books listed below.
WAR COSTS WHO PAYS: Sallie
Discussion of the March 19 rally (as below). Distribution of flyers.
Sallie discussed "street theater" events of the Ft. Lewis chapter of
Iraq Vets Against the War. They are visiting local campuses, dressed
in military garb and assaulting students (plants) hooding them,
putting flex-cuffs on them, forcing them to the ground while verbally
abusing them - to give students a slight taste of the horrors of war.
EVENTS OF INTEREST:
March 1
"The Monstrosity of Christ - Paradox or Dialectic" by Slavo Zizek.
"Three Cups of Tea," "Stones Into Schools," Mortinson and Relin, March
8; "True Compass, A Memoir," Edward Kennedy, March 15.
March 3
"My Name is Rachel Corrie," dramatic reading at Kilworth Chapel, March
3. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Performance at 7:00. Discussion with the
Corries following the performance.
March 4
Art Spiegleman, author of "Maus" March 4, Liberty Theater in
Puyallup. Sponsored by Pierce College.
March 8
Ali Abuminah, co-founder of electronicintifada.net will be speaking on
the Israeli-Palestinian conflict on March 8 at South Puget Sound
Community College, Building 26, Room 105 at 7 p.m. His appearance is
co-sponsored by People for Peace, Justice and Healing.
March 19
WAR COSTS WHO PAYS (and who profits?) 7th Anniversary Remembrance
and Rally against the War in Iraq. Rally begins at 4 p.m. at the
Federal Courthouse, 1717 Pacific Avenue and at 5:30 at the Pacific
Avenue I5 Overpass. Sponsored by United for Peace, Pierce County,
Veterans for Peace, and Iraq Veterans Against the War. Featured
speakers: Lyle Quasim, Vietnam Vet and Executive from the public and
non-profit sector, Joe Colgan, whose son died in Iraq in 2003, and
Seth Manzel of IVAW. Music.
Respectfully submitted,
Karen