MEETING NOTES FOR PEOPLE FOR PEACE, JUSTICE, AND HEALING
People for Peace, Justice, and Healing (Tacoma, WA)
December 19, 2009
People for Peace, Justice and Healing met at 10:00 a.m., December 19, 2009, at Associated Ministries. Present for check-in were Rob, Mark, Sallie, Nancy, Karen, and Sol. Discussion (general disgruntlement with....) the current political scene. Hope expressed for 2010 and a better decade coming up.
AGENDA
1. PALESTINE (Nancy).
Nancy and group will be meeting with a Patty Murray aid and Cantwell
staff and other possible government representatives on January 12 at
4:30 p.m. (930 Pacific Avenue). Please contact Nancy at nfarrellvt@yahoo.com
if you are interested in participating in this meeting. Current fundraising efforts
are being orchestrated by Nancy for the coming up March into Gaza. It is
hoped that 1000 people will join
Palestinians in this march. Key issues: the necessity for having Gaza
gates open more often and Eastern Jerusalem settlements. It is felt
U.S. influence is key to this issue. Nancy is at the point of arranging
dates for a performance at UPS of
MY NAME IS RACHEL CORRIE this Spring. Details to follow. On line -- a new
Palestinian newspaper, Palestinian Examiner.
2. PLOWSHARES ACTION ARRAIGNMENT (Karen)
Arraignment has been set for January 6 -- time to be announced,
although it will be in the morning, at the Federal Courthouse. On
November 2, Bill Bichsel and four others from across the U.S., entered
Bangor. The Disarm Now Plowshares five reached the nuclear weapons
storage bunkers before being arrested by SWFPAC security. Before
arrest, they were able to unfurl a banner that read Disarm Now
Plowshares: Trident - Illegal, Immoral." While inside the grounds - they were on the grounds for five hours
before being detected - they poured vials of their own blood,
sunflower seeds and banged on the roads with hammers - a symbolic act
of beating swords into plowshares. The Plowshares movement began in 1980 with a Plowshares 8 action at a
GE nuclear facility in King of Prussia, Pa. One of the original
eight, 83 year old Sr. Anne Montgomery, was with Bill Bichsel at the
Disarm Now Five action on November 2. (Leonard Eiger contributed to
this report.) A support group has been formed and a vigil will probably be held on
January 6 at the Courthouse. If you are interested in joining the
Support Group and/or want other information contact Jessica at peace.arteaga@gmail.com
3. IN FED WE TRUST (Mark)
Mark reported on the current read of the Digging Deeper Group (Monday
nights at 7 at the Mandolin.) In Fed We Trust by David Wessel is an account
of the financial panic of 2008 and the wonders of Ben Bernanke. Mark
characterized the book as "interesting but shallow." He shared harrowing
accounts of the Fed making money "out of nothing" (Wessel's phrase), how
the Federal Open Market Committee sets interest rates, and the failure
of the Fed to follow simple organizational
rules (like having a forum in making decisions.) Wessel characterizes the
Fed as a 4th branch of government that is "uncomfortably undemocratic." The
book includes little personal information about Ben Bernanke. Also
under discussion at Digging Deeper: Frozen Desire: The Meaning of Money
by James Buchan.
Respectfully,
Karen
Addendum (Sallie)
Report on Bill Of Rights Celebration December 12 at UPS. Sallie notes
that the ACLU has just lost a couple of very important contributors to
the ACLU and is in immediate need of funds. Donations
will be matched.
Respectfully submitted,
Karen