MEETING NOTES FOR PEOPLE FOR PEACE, JUSTICE, AND HEALING
May 12, 2007

People for Peace, Justice and Healing held its regular Saturday meeting at 10:00 a.m. on May 12, 2007, at Associated Ministries in Tacoma, WA. Present for check-in: Sallie S., Kyle, Sheila, Rob, Colleen, Louisa, Mark, Sol, Nancy, Vivi, Ian.

AGENDA

1. "SOLDIERS OF CONSCIENCE" (Mark)
Gary Weimberg, whose "Soldiers of Conscience" will be shown at the Seattle International Film Festival in June, reported that the Bendermans want larger honoraria than we can deal with. Decided we won't be able to pursue this, but will do what we can to promote the film.

2. ISRAEL-PALESTINE (Nancy)
June 7-10 demonstrations against Israeli occupation of Palestinian land discussed. Hundreds of coordinated vigils against Israel's occupation of Palestinian land will take place in June, including at Seattle (June 7, 4:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m. in Westlake Plaza, downtown Seattle (degooyer@u.washington.edu), June 8, 5:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m. in front of the Federal Building (rainer@onemain.com, fidelr@u.washington.edu, jkolokoff@hotmail.com) and on Jun. 10, 1:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m. at Westlake Park (rainer@onemain.com). Tacomans have decided to join those vigils rather than organize one of their own.

3. PSYCHIC NUMBING (Group)
Management of psychic numbing and related issues discussed.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

1. ‘DIGGING DEEPER XXXI’ DISCUSSES AIPAC & U.S.-ISRAEL RELATIONS (Mark)
On May 14, & 21, 2007, UFPPC's book discussion group will continue to examine two books and two essays on the influence of Israel and the Israel Lobby, including AIPAC (American-Israeli Public Affairs Committee), on U.S. politics, policies, and institutions.  Discussion of this subject was stimulated about a year ago by the publication of a long essay by two prominent American political scientists, John J. Mearsheimer of the University of Chicago and Stephen Walt of Harvard.  The group will examine the two published versions of their essay, a follow-up piece by journalism critic and author Michael Massing, and two volumes: Paul Findley's They Dare to Speak Out: People and Institutions Confront Israel's Lobby, 3rd ed. (Lawrence Hill Books, 2003), and James Petras's The Power of Israel in the United States (Clarity Press, 2006).  Paul Findley, 85, represented Illinois's 20th Congressional District from 1961 to 1983; James Petras, Bartle Professor (emeritus) of Sociology at Binghamton University in New York, is a prolific writer with some 62 books to his name.  DIGGING DEEPER meets every Monday from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Mandolin Café, 3923 S. 12th St., Tacoma, WA.

Respectfully submitted, Mark