Saturday, September 21, 2002 Meeting Notes

AGENDA

  • -Check-in
  • 1. Oct. 7th Event Planning
  • 2. Affiliation with Sound Nonviolent Opponents of War (SNOW)
  • 3. Vigil on Sept. 25

    Check-in : a few scattered notes
    - The flyer handed out at Cheney Stadium on Sept. 11th brought a two new members, who were warmly welcomed!
    - Marisela reported on her participation in Washington, D.C. in the first national summit on U.S. policy toward Cuba.
    - Karen spoke of her response to Ghassan Andoni's talk on Tuesday night at First United Methodist.
    - Marion shared her concern for her mother, who was hospitalized this week in San Antonio, Texas.
    - Somehow Ken made everyone laugh with his sad story of suffering two break-ins in two weeks.
    - James reported that Catholic Worker will be holding a planning meeting this week for the upcoming protest at U.S. facility formerly called the School of the Americas.
    - Mark reported on the formation of a Student Activist Coalition at Pacific Lutheran University and on the organization of an Iraq teach-in at PLU on Tuesday, Sept. 24 (7-9 p.m. in Xavier-201).
    - Vicki expressed support for the coalitional effort represented by SNOW (see below).
    - Lois, who participated in PJH a year ago, returned to our "nest of nonviolence."
    - Karen shared concerns about the young children in her charge.

    BUSINESS

    1. Planning proceeded for the Oct. 7th special vigil commemorating the anniversary of the beginning of the bombing of Afghanistan, to take place in front of the Federal Building from 5:07 p.m. to 6:37 p.m. -- the last hour and a half before sunset (which will be at 6:37 p.m. on October 7. This will be an event in remembrance for the people of Afghanistan on the day bombing began (at approximately 0420 GMT, 12:20 p.m. EDT, 3:20 p.m. PDT, 1:20 a.m. in Kabul). The setting sun will symbolize the untimely deaths of the innocent victims of the U.S. bombing.

  • - Sallie will not be able to attend, so Marisela agreed to take charge of the signs. Others are welcome to make more, with slogans like: NO MORE CIVILIAN DEATHS: WAGE DIPLOMACY, BREAK THE ADDICTION TO WAR, OUR GRIEF IS NOT A CRY FOR WAR, NO WAR IN IRAQ, etc.
  • - Marion presented a publicity flyer which was very slightly edited and approved. She will deliver the final copy to Sallie at Associated Ministries on Monday and Sallie will prepare copies for mailing, and mailing labels. A mailing party will be held beginning at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, September 24, at Associated Ministries.
  • - Mark presented a leaflet for the event containing casualty statistics and facts about the war in Afghanistan, which the meeting approved for distribution. E-mail Mark at jensenmk@plu.edu if you would like to receive a MSWord file which may be used to print copies of this leaflet, which can also be used as a publicity flyer.
  • - Speakers - Mark reported that Tosh Kakar, a prof at PLU from Afghanistan, had agreed to come and speak.
  • - Someone is looking into the PA System [I hope!]...

    2. SNOW

  • Mark reported on attending the first organizational meeting of the Sound Nonviolent Opponents of War (SNOW) that met in Seattle on Wednesday evening (about 60 people in attended). He read the statement of principles of the organization:

    "OUR POINTS OF AGREEMENT:

    "We commit to nonviolent actions:
    "We will commit no acts of violence, physical or verbal
    "We will commit no property damage
    "We will behave respectfully to all
    "If conflict is likely, we will strive to have ample trained peacekeepers and legal observers
    "We encourage all participants to be trained in nonviolence
    "If arrest is risked, all participants will be trained in nonviolence

    "We condemn all human rights abuses including, but not limited to U.S. wars and sanctions against Iraq; Saddam Hussein's use of poisons as a weapon.

    "We recognize that the former is far greater in magnitude than the latter but we need to be consistent in our defense of human rights for all

    "We oppose all weapons of mass destruction including U.S. nuclear weapons, chemical weapons, biological weapons, cluster bombs, landmines, and economic sanctions against Iraq Iraqi, Israeli, Pakistani, Indian, and other countries' nuclear weapons, and other WMD

    "We support an International Criminal Court to deal with those who plan and perpetrate acts of terrorism, such as those of Sept. 11, 2001

    "We support U.S. foreign policies which promote human rights, economic justice, and self-determination for all people as the best way to prevent future acts of terrorism and to promote global well-being."

    The meeting approved an organizational affiliation with SNOW without dissent.

    3. Vigil

    The vigil on Wednesday, Sept. 25, from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., will be in front of the Federal Courthouse on Pacific Avenue.

    FINAL SILENT THOUGHTS FOR PEACE, JUSTICE, AND HEALING WERE SENT UP FROM THE PEACE, JUSTICE, AND HEALING CIRCLE.

    The meeting concluded at 12:05 p.m.

    Respectfully submitted,
    Mark Jensen.