JULY 2010 CALENDAR
Whatcom Peace & Justice Center
www.WhatcomPJC.org
ANNOUCEMENTS
Guatemalan Peacemaker this Friday
The Whatcom Peace and Justice Center and the Bellingham Friends Meeting (Quakers) invite
the community to a presentation by Lilian Vega Ortiz, a peace educator from Guatemala (see
Calendar below for details).
Summer Newsletter
If you did not receive our summer newsletter in the mail, you can find it on the WPJC
homepage: http://www.whatcompjc.org/. Thanks to WWU Human Services Intern, Brenna
Anderst, for doing such a fantastic job with the layout design! If you would like to receive a
paper copy, send your mailing address to WhatcomPJC@fidalgo.net.
No More Troops to Afghanistan!
Continue to contact your representative and senators and ask them to vote against the
Afghanistan Supplemental appropriation. Ask them to also co-sponsor the McGovern-Feingold
bill (HR 5015, S.3197) requiring President Obama to provide a plan and timetable for the safe,
orderly and expeditious redeployment of US troops from Afghanistan. Congressional
Switchboard: 202-224-3121.
Thank You, Gemma
Friday, July 2, is Gemma Veldey’s last day at WPJC. Gemma has made a significant
contribution to our organization as the first coordinator of the Veterans Outreach & Support
Network. She will be missed. Thank you, Gemma!
Welcome, Doris Kent
WPJC is proud to welcome Doris Kent as the new part-time coordinator of the Veterans
Outreach & Support Network. Doris worked at Western Washington University for eight years
as a health educator with Prevention and Wellness Services. She coordinated the Peer Health
Outreach Program and developed the award-winning Crime and Sexual Assault Services
program for victims of sexual violence and harassment. As a Gold Star Mother, she has
dedicated her life to working for peace and caring for veterans in honor of her son Corporal
Jonathan Santos who was killed in Iraq on October 15, 2004. The WPJC staff and board of
directors look forward to working with Doris.
Support Israel Conscientious Objectors
On June 14, Israeli Conscientious Objector (CO) Diane Kogan, 18 years-old, was sentenced to
25 days in prison. This is her third time in prison. You can send letters of support to Diane and
other imprisoned Israeli COs to: messages2prison@newprofile.org. Please also take a moment to
send letters of protest on behalf of the COs, preferably by fax, to the people listed below.
Demand that Diane Kogan (Military ID 5776284), a Conscientious Objector to military service,
be immediately released without threat of further imprisonment. Imprisonment of
Conscientious Objectors is a violation of international law and basic human rights.
1) Mr. Ehud Barak, Minister of Defence, sar@mod.gov.il, Fax: ++972-3-6976711
2) Commander of Military Prison No. 400, Fax: ++972-3-9579389
3) Gadi Agmon, Commander of Induction Base, Fax: ++972-3-7376052.
EVENTS CALENDAR
Friday July 2: The Whatcom Peace and Justice Center and the Bellingham Friends Meeting
(Quakers) invite the community to a presentation by Lilian Vega Ortiz, a peace educator from
Guatemala who is a member of the Friends (Quakers) Peace Teams. Lilian will share how the
civil war and resulting culture of violence have affected the culture and people of Guatemala. As
a leader with the Alternatives to Violence Project (AVP), Lilian advocates a peaceful response to
all violence. This free event will take place at WPJC, 100 E. Maple Street, at 7:00 PM. Lilian
needs a ride to Seattle on Saturday, July 3. If you happen to be traveling to Seattle, please call
Marie at (360) 734-0217. Thanks!
Sunday July 4: The annual Pastors for Peace Caravan to Cuba crosses the border. Starting in Victoria, BC, it brings Canadian caravanistas and many supporters to the border crossing at the Peace Arch. We always try to bring a good group from Bellingham to share a potluck picnic lunch at 12:00 noon and then accompany the vehicles across the border. Park in the USA parking lot and walk through the park to the Canadian picnic area. It is a great international gathering.
Sunday July 18: This month’s Prayers for Peace in the Middle East will take place at 5:30 PM at First Congregational Church, 2401 Cornwall Avenue in Bellingham. The August vigil will take place at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church on Wednesday, August 18, at 5:30 PM. On Saturday, September 18, it will be hosted by Bellingham Unitarian Fellowship.
Wednesday July 21: 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.
Saturday July 24: Community Food Co-Op’s Annual Community Celebration, 2-6:00 PM at Boulevard Park. Join the Co-Op’s 13th annual event for music, dance, family activities, $3 burritos, non-profit tabling faire and more! Free! Everyone is welcome.
UPCOMING EVENTS
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. King accepted and the rest is history! 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.
Iraq Veteran & Peacemaker
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 is a very
educated, engaging speaker. 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. Location TBA.
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, 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 July 8) 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.