AUGUST 2010 CALENDAR

Whatcom Peace & Justice Center
www.WhatcomPJC.org

ANNOUCEMENTS

Summer Fundraising Appeal
We are in the midst of our virtual Summer Appeal. Our goal is to raise $3,000 from 100 households by August 31. Will you donate $30 today? When you donate to WPJC, you see the fruits of your generosity grow and ripen right before your eyes. Your money is directly translated into visible action on the local level. The work we do together is tangible, participatory, and effective. Please donate $30 today at www.WhatcomPJC.org or mail to: WPJC, PO Box 2444, Bellingham, WA 98227. Thank you for your generosity.

Volunteers Needed for International Day of Peace
It takes 40 volunteers to put on a great peace march and program every September 21. If you would like to volunteer, please email Marie at WhatcomPJC@fidalgo.net. Volunteer positions include: peacekeeper/traffic monitor for peace march; peace dove carriers; greeters; and money handlers.

Lifetime Peacemaker Award Nominations
WPJC invites nominations for the 2010 Howard Harris Lifetime Peacemaker Award to be presented at International Day of Peace on September 21. Would you like to recognize a person in our community who has demonstrated a life-long commitment to working for peace and social justice? If so, please send an email to WhatcomPJC@fidalgo.net with the person’s name and a description of the reasons you admire them. Please share how he/she embraces an inner commitment to living a life of nonviolence, any organizational affiliations, and a list of his/her accomplishments. In what ways have they been courageous in facing injustice? Past recipients are Howard Harris, Dotty and Al Dale, Nick Mele, Doris Ferm, Bill Distler, and James Gillies.

Mayoral Proclamation
Mayor Dan Pike has officially proclaimed September 21^st ‘International Day of Peace’ in Bellingham!! The Proclamation will be read at the event. You can also read it here. To thank Mayor Pike, you can send him an email to MayorsOffice@cob.org.

Release Private Bradley Manning
Call President Barack Obama at (202) 456-1111 and request that Private Bradley Manning be released from prison. Manning allegedly made public a video showing the killing of civilians in Afghanistan by the U.S. military that was aired on WikiLeaks. Manning has not been allowed to see private attorneys even though WikiLeaks has reportedly hired attorneys for Manning who is facing up to 52 years in prison. Shouldn’t a transparent government let its citizens know about potential war crimes? We should not have the truth hidden from us.

EVENTS CALENDAR

Thursday July 29: There will be a special community discussion at 5:45 PM to talk about the WikiLeaks release of 90,000 documents pertaining to the U.S.-led war in Afghanistan. Held at the Whatcom Peace & Justice Center, 100 E. Maple Street in Bellingham (corner of Cornwall Avenue). 

Friday August 6: Hiroshima Day 65th Anniversary Peace Picnic. Join the Peace Vigil and Peace Zone at Boulevard Park for a potluck picnic in remembrance of this somber anniversary. People will gather at the park following the Friday Afternoon Vigil, which runs 4-5:00 PM at the Federal Building on the corner of Magnolia and Cornwall. Look for the large, colorful flags. It is an anniversary we should remember.

Sunday August 8: Zion Lutheran Church, 7215 Valley View Road in Ferndale, will host a concert featuring song-writer Garrison Doles on tour from Orlando. Rev. Wendell Stakkestad (of Blaine) will open the evening with a few songs of his own. Entrance is free; a love-offering will be collected to support Garrison's ministry. His music can be sampled at: www.songchapel.com. Concert begins at 6:00 PM. Doors open at 5:30. Call 366-5567 for more information.

Monday August 9: Village Books hosts Andrew Bacevich, author of Washington Rules: America's Path to Permanent War, at 7:00 PM at Village Books, 1200 11th Street. For 50 years, as presidential administrations have come and gone, the country’s fundamental assumptions about America’s military policy have remained unchanged: American security requires the U.S. to maintain a permanent armed global presence ready to intervene anywhere at any time. Bacevich succinctly presents the origins of this consensus, challenges the usefulness of our militarism, and argues that replacing the status quo is crucial—and may be key to the country’s salvation. He is a professor of history and international relations at Boston University, retired from the U.S. Army with the rank of colonel, and he is a Gold Star Father. For information, contact Nan at Village Books: 671-2626.

Tuesday August 10: Good Jobs and Responsible Development Rally demanding that Hollander-Marriott fulfills its promises. Noon to 1pm at the Tacoma Downtown Marriott (Tollefson Plaza, south of 17th St). Hundreds of labor activists will join with community leaders and local residents to call on Hollander-Marriott and all low-paying welfare-taking companies to fuel an economic recovery with good jobs.

Wednesday August 18: Monthly MoveOn vigil at Rep. Rick Larsen’s office at 12:00 noon to protest misplaced federal government spending priorities. This vigil will continue each month until our troops are out of Afghanistan.

Wednesday August 18: This month’s Prayers for Peace in the Middle East will take place at 5:30 PM at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 2117 Walnut Street. On Saturday, September 18, it will be hosted by Bellingham Unitarian Fellowship. The November 18 vigil will be held at Christ the Servant Lutheran Church.

Wednesday August 18: Solidarity Social at Boundary Bay Beer Garden. CALLING ALL ACTIVISTS, LEADERS, LABOR & PEOPLE WHO WANT TO MAKE A BETTER WORLD. We are in a rapidly changing time and the more we talk together and find ways to act together the stronger the movement for justice & peace. Agenda: 5:30 – 6:30 Social Time; 6:30 – 7:30 Group Discussion and Brainstorming; 7:30 – 8:30 Social Time.

SEPTEMBER EVENTS

Honor & Resistance Nonviolence Training

This exciting project will take place 9am-5pm on Saturday September 4, at the Lummi Stommish Grounds off Lummi View Drive. This engaging cross-cultural training will teach about:

•          Elements of Honor – Native conflict resolution
•          Strategies of Nonviolence practiced by Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Jr.
•          Ways to make positive change in your community and the world

Participants will also help organize a social change action to take place on “Columbus Day,” October 11, 2010. FREE LUNCH & CHILDCARE PROVIDED. Presenters are Swil Kanim and WPJC’s Marie Marchand. Space is limited; event is free. Please RSVP to Lovie at JesiWhiteAntelope@yahoo.com or Marie at WhatcomPJC@fidalgo.net. This event is being organized by students from the Lummi Youth Academy, Swil Kanim, and the Whatcom Peace & Justice Center with a grant from the A.J. Muste Memorial Institute.

International Day of Peace

On Tuesday, September 21, WPJC will host its 7th annual International Day of Peace featuring Keynote Speaker Rev. Robert Hughes, the Kulshan Chorus, and the presentation of the Howard Harris Lifetime Peacemaker Award. It is an inspiring family event that will be preceded by a half-mile peace march to the event from Maritime Heritage Park. In 1954, Rev. Hughes became the first executive director of the Alabama Human Relations Council in Montgomery. He invited Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., just 25 years old, to join the state’s only racially-integrated organization as its board vice president. At International Day of Peace Rev. Hughes will share stories of hope and resistance from the Civil Rights Movement and his vision for peace today. The evening program will be at Assumption Catholic Church 6:30-8:00 PM. For more info, contact Marie at 734-0217.

Iraq Veteran & Peacemaker Paul Chappell

On Thursday, September 30, the Whatcom Peace & Justice Center will host Army Captain and Peacemaker Paul K. Chappell, a graduate of West Point who served in the Iraq War. He will speak at 7:00 PM at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 2117 Walnut Street in Bellingham. Here is what Archbishop Desmond Tutu wrote about Paul and his new book: "Captain Paul K. Chappell has given us a crucial look at war and peace from the unique perspective of a soldier, and his new ideas show us why world peace is both necessary and possible in the 21st century. The End of War can help people everywhere understand why war must end, and how together we can end it." You can watch videos of Paul’s speeches on his website:  http://paulkchappell.com/. Here is a link to a lecture on CSPAN two months ago:  http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/293163-1. This event is being co-sponsored by Veterans for Peace Chapter 111.

ONGOING MEETINGS

The Peace Vigil gathers every Friday afternoon in front of the Federal Building at Cornwall and Magnolia from 4-5:00 PM. Join the Peace Zone afterwards for announcements and discussion at The Mount Bakery Restaurant, 308 W. Champion Street. Thanks to owner Vince for opening your restaurant for these weekly meetings!

Every third Wednesday at noon, there is a vigil in front of the Tower Building which houses Congressman Rick Larsen's office. This vigil protests misplaced federal government spending priorities and will continue each month until our troops are out of Afghanistan. Every other month, we also go up to Larsen's office and read a strongly worded letter in an attempt to get him to act on adjusting these priorities.

Yoga for War Veterans every Wednesday, 3-4:00 PM at Red Cedar Dharma Hall, 1021 N. Forest, Bellingham. Reduce stress-related symptoms such anxiety, depression and insomnia, and experience increased well-being in body and mind. Abby Staten is a certified yoga teacher and therapist with 13 years experience teaching individuals and groups. She belongs to a statewide network of yoga teachers addressing the needs of soldiers returning from war. She has received training from VA medical staff in teaching yoga to war veterans.

Monthly vigils at the Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention center in Tacoma. Bellingham’s Community to Community Development organizes a monthly carpool to attend. If interested in attending to defend Immigrant and Human Rights, call 756-2330.

Bellingham Socialist Alternative weekly meetings are Thursdays (except August 5) at 6:30 PM at Western Washington University in Bond Hall room 151. Building #21 on this map: http://www.wwu.edu/depts/pubs/pdf/wwumapcolor.pdf. Just east of High Street in Red Square.  Free parking on streets west and north of campus.

Jobs with Justice meets monthly at 1700 N. State Street (Union Center) in the Laborers' Hall. For dates and info, call (360) 647-1752.

United for National Healthcare meets monthly at 1700 N. State Street (downstairs) at 7:00 PM. For dates and info, contact (360) 714-8999 or supporter@unitedforhealthcare.org.

Veterans for Peace meets every third Friday at 6:00 PM, at the Community Food Co-Op Annex, 1220 N. Forest Street. Veterans and non-Veterans invited. Info@vfp111.org; www.VFP111.org.

Amnesty International meets the last Tuesday of every month at The Public Market, 1530 Cornwall Avenue, at 6:30 PM.

CALENDAR SUBMISSIONS

This calendar is a service of the Whatcom Peace & Justice Center (PO Box 2444, Bellingham, WA 98227). We do not necessarily endorse all of the events listed. When we are co-sponsoring or hosting an event, we include our name in that announcement. (360) 734-0217; WhatcomPJC@fidalgo.net. To have your event included, please send an email one week prior to the end of the month with “Event Notice” in the subject line. Thank you.