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Community members are encouraged to contact Whatcom County Council members to show support for the Welcoming Refugees Resolution. Members of Amnesty International Group 270 drafted the resolution and spoke in favor of it at the June 18 council meeting. They are now asking for support to get it on the agenda for the July 9 meeting. The agenda comes out next Wednesday, July 3.
“Every day there are more human rights abuses going on that involve refugees,” says Colleen Curtis of AI Group 270. “A resolution will not solve this, and it won't mean the County Council has to incur any costs or other responsibilities, but it's an important statement of support.” You can view the draft resolution here. Similar resolutions have been adopted by cities and schools around the country, including Las Vegas and the State of Vermont House of Representatives. Curtis says that comments or suggestions on the draft are welcome; you can submit them on this contact form: http://amnestyinternational270.weebly.com/contact.html. “Whether or not it ends up being placed on the agenda, I encourage attending the next County Council meeting to show or speak of your support,” she says. Please call & urge the Whatcom County Council members to address and pass a resolution welcoming refugees: Carol Frazey Phone: 360-778-5024 Barbara Brenner Phone: 360-384-2762 Rud Browne Phone: 360-820-9494 Barry Buchanan Phone: 360-224-4330 Tyler Byrd Phone: 360-778-5021 Todd Donovan Phone: 360-483-8474 Satpal Sidhu Phone: 360-305-4948 Letter sent to Whatcom County Council on June 20, World Refugee Day: We believe our communities should welcome refugees. We urge the county council to pass a resolution that would be a non- binding declaration of support of refugees, regardless of their religion, race, gender identity, sexual orientation or country of origin. More than 200 communities have already stood up for refugees and asylum seekers. The society we want to live in is one where we take care of people who need safety. Strong communities help people realize their potential, and welcome others who also want to contribute makes society better for all. The United States should be the world’s leader in welcoming refugees, but our government has abandoned that leadership. They have decided to meet the world’s worst refugee crisis in recorded time with historically low levels of support. If our national and local officials don’t hear our voices in support of refugees, this will only get worse. Right now, 25.4 million refugees worldwide are seeking a home, and more than half of them are children. Less than 1% will be resettled each year. Refugees deserve to be welcomed – not demonized. But in the face of the largest refugee crisis in recorded history, the U.S. is closing its doors. The Trump administration capped annual refugee admissions to another historic low of 30,000 refugees this fiscal year, implemented a series of severe restrictions which act as a de facto refugee ban, restricted access to asylum at the southern border for those fleeing violence and persecution, and proposed drastic cuts to funding for refugee programs and humanitarian aid. ICE is currently detaining more than 52,000 people, an all time high. Families continue to be separated from their children, as people are kept in overcrowded and inhumane detention centers. Seeking asylum is legal under US law, regardless of where or how people enter. The administration’s efforts to curtail access to protection violates both U.S. and international law. People have the right to seek asylum where they feel safe. Refugees leave their homes because they have no other choice, and should be treated with compassion. All countries, including the United States, should protect dignity and fairness, and reject fear and prejudice.  Historic Sailboat Project Supports UN Treaty to Ban Nuclear Weapons
Golden Rule S/V Crew member and Golden Rule Project Ambassador, Zoe Byrd, will show the 25-minute documentary, “Making Waves: Rebirth of the Golden Rule” about four Quaker peace activists, led by Navy veteran Albert Bigelow, who in 1958 set sail to the Marshall Islands influencing public demand that ended underwater, atmospheric, and outer space nuclear bomb tests in 1963. The historic peace boat later sank, in 2010, and was rebuilt in Humboldt Bay, California. The Golden Rule, a Project of Veterans For Peace, is once again “Sailing for a Nuclear-Free World and a Peaceful, Sustainable Future.” Zoe Byrd, involved in the peace movement since 1977, and an avid “Peace Walker”, as well as sailor, will take questions after the film, about the Golden Rule, opportunities to crew on the peace vessel, and more. Zoe is excited to present the ICAN Cities Appeal, where all over the world, cities are taking the lead and calling on their governments to join the UN Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. Highly regarded guest speaker, Peter Lumsdaine, a member of Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility (WPSR)’s Nuclear Weapons Abolition Task Force and of national PSR’s Committee to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, has worked for over two decades in the nuclear resistance and global eco-justice movements, including on the staff of leading-edge NGOs. This work has taken him from the military conflict zones of Mexico, the Philippines, Korea, and occupied Iraq to the the inner security areas of US Strategic Command bases and the cell-blocks of the American prison system. Peter will speak about the inspiring heritage of, and urgent potential for, mass nonviolent direct action to push toward nuclear abolition – and about how we can curb the rise of corporate/military Artificial Intelligence systems that are rapidly automating global conflict and the command of nuclear arsenals. * This educational, fundraising event is a call to action and is free to the public Donations to the Golden Rule Project 2019 sailing season are appreciated Film screening event in Bellingham Wednesday February 20 8–9:30 p.m. The Alternative Library (Karate Church) 519 E Maple Street, Bellingham This VFP – Golden Rule Project event is Sponsored by: Veterans For Peace – CPL Jonathan J. Santos Memorial Chapter #111 Whatcom Peace & Justice Center Bellingham Film Coalition The Golden Rule Project is preparing for an epic voyage around the Pacific – to Hawaii, the Marshall Islands, Guam, Okinawa, Korea, Japan and more. The spring 2019 crossing to Hawaii will take about a month. The Pacific voyage will bring attention to the ongoing effects of nuclear bomb testing in the Pacific, and to the environmental and human impacts of hundreds of military bases in the Pacific Islands. The team plans to be in Japan in August 2020 for the 75th anniversary of the nuclear bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, then sail back to California in the spring and summer of 2021. With tensions so high between nuclear armed nations, it is more important than ever to bring a message of peace into the Pacific. “The possibility of nuclear war today is all too real,” says Gerry Condon of Veterans For Peace. “It is time to abolish nuclear weapons once and for all. The U.S. can show leadership by being the first nuclear power to sign the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.” Come learn about what you can do to support the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, the Intermediate Nuclear Forces Treaty and the total elimination of nuclear weapons. Press interviews encouraged! Registered voters can go to https://weiapplets.sos.wa.gov/MyVote to see a list of their elected officials at every level of government. (If you are eligible to vote but not registered, or need to update your address, do so via the Whatcom County Auditor’s Office: https://www.whatcomcounty.us/1832/Register-to-Vote.)
State government representatives In addition to statewide elected positions like governor and secretary of state, residents of Washington are represented in the state legislature by three people from their district: one senator who is elected for a four-year term, and two representatives who are elected for two-year terms. Whatcom County residents are part of either the 40th or 42nd legislative districts. 40th district Senator Currently vacant. Representative Debra Lekanoff (D) 422 John L. O'Brien Building PO Box 40600 Olympia, WA 98504 (360) 786-7800 Email (1000-character limit): https://app.leg.wa.gov/pbc/memberEmail/40/1 Committees:
Representative Jeff Morris (D) 436A Legislative Building PO Box 40600 Olympia, WA 98504 (360) 786-7970 Email (1000-character limit): https://app.leg.wa.gov/pbc/memberEmail/40/2 Committees:
42nd district Senator Doug Ericksen (R) 414 Legislative Building PO Box 40442 Olympia, WA 98504 (360) 786-7682 Email (1000-character limit): https://app.leg.wa.gov/pbc/memberEmail/42/0 Committees:
Representative Sharon Shewmake (D) 310 John L. O'Brien Building PO Box 40600 Olympia, WA 98504 (360) 786-7854 Email (1000-character limit): https://app.leg.wa.gov/pbc/memberEmail/42/2 Committees:
Representative Luanne Van Werven (R) 419 John L. O'Brien Building PO Box 40600 Olympia, WA 98504 (360) 786-7980 Email (1000-character limit): https://app.leg.wa.gov/pbc/memberEmail/42/1 Committees:
Here are some suggestions on how to contact your state legislators. Photos by Roshni Adi Jokhi Video by Ellen Clark and Bellingham Access team  An Evening with Dr. Yoav Litvin, Israeli-American Psychologist and Neuroscientist 7 p.m., Wednesday, November 7
Garden Street United Methodist Church Fireside Room 1326 N. Garden St, Bellingham Bellingham, WA – Bellingham's Veterans For Peace and Whatcom Peace and Justice Center are hosting author, psychologist and nueroscientist Dr. Yoav Litvin at Garden Street Methodist Fireside Room on Wednesday, November 7 at 7 p.m. Dr. Litvin will examine the results to date of Zionism within a historical framework. How have over a century of settler colonial policies affected the Israeli and Palestinian collective psyches? Can a study of neural systems of emotion inform our understanding of the ongoing oppression of Palestinians and the potential for a just resolution? Litvin will address these questions and speak of their urgency in light of the current rise of white supremacy and global neo-fascism. Specializing in the behavioral neuroscience of fear, stress, social behaviors, aggression and trauma, Litvin has investigated the neurobehavioral pathways involved in bullying, aggression and defense from the aspects of both aggressor and victim. He has found that studying the science of trauma and its healing can benefit our efforts to find a potential route to justice and reconciliation. "As humans, our survival instincts render us susceptible to manipulations by fear-mongering politicians," says Dr Litvin. "A scared populace readily accepts and sustains cycles of oppression and privilege. It is morally essential to overcome fear and demand truth, accountability, justice and equality." Dr. Litvin, an Israeli-American psychologist and neuroscientist, integrates his knowledge of biobehavioral mechanisms with a unique perspective as a former Israel Defense Force soldier, now dissident. His work has appeared in outlets such as Salon, Truthout, Truthdig, teleSur English, Mondoweissand Counterpunch. For more see yoavlitvin.com. Ed. note: Print copies will be available at from Alternatives to Military Service and Whatcom Peace & Justice Center at community events including Sept. 21's International Day of Peace, Sept. 24-25's Red Square Info Fair, and Sept. 28's Birchwood International Market.  I decided to do an infographic on immigrants in the military because it’s a topic that is not often talked about. Throughout U.S. history, we have recruited immigrants from all over the world to serve in the U.S. military. As a DACA recipient who considered the military as my only pathway toward attaining citizenship, I quickly realized that was not the case. DACA recipients who join the military do not have a set pathway towards citizenship. In fact, the U.S. has deported American veterans because of their status, after dedicating their lives to this country. What really encouraged me to make this infographic was a speaker that came to WWU, Margaret D Scott. Though I strongly disagreed with her conclusions, I found her talk (online here: HTTPS://FAIRHAVEN.WWU.EDU/IMMIGRANTS-US-MILITARY) very informative, and used many of the data to find other resources to create this. Written by Victoria Matey-Mendoza[She/Her/Hers] Victoria is a recent graduate from Western Washington University. She joined the Whatcom Peace & Justice Center in 2015 as the student representative. She has been involved in many efforts specifically around immigration and undocumented folks. Through various forms of organizing -- institutional and grassroots -- she has helped many students get civically engaged. Victoria offers various workshops around challenging narratives of undocumented immigrants. In her spare time she enjoys camping, swimming and spending time with her community. |
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The Whatcom Peace & Justice Center calls on our government and society to disavow policies of violence and seek a culture of peace.
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