​The Whatcom Peace & Justice Center is accepting nominations for the 2016 Howard Harris Lifetime Peacemaker Award to be presented at the 13th Annual International Day of Peace on Wednesday, September 21, at the Majestic (1027 N. Forest Street in Bellingham), 6:30-8 p.m.
 
Nominations should be emailed to [email protected] and must include a summary describing the nominee's life-long passion for peace, activities, accomplishments, and organizational affiliations. Nominations are due by Friday, August 5, 2016. People nominated in previous years are eligible; their nominators should re-submit nominations for consideration.
 
Past recipients are Howard Harris, Rev. Al Dale, Dotty Dale, Nick Mele, Doris Ferm, James Gillies, Bill Distler, Peter and Mary van der Veen, Shirley Osterhaus, Ellen Murphy, Barbara Rofkar, and Jamie Donaldson.  

The United Nations declared September 21 a worldwide 24-hour cease-fire to envision a world without weapons, violence, and oppression. Here in Bellingham, our International Day of Peace is a well-attended annual event celebrating the work of the peace and social justice community. Please join us for an inspiring evening, musical guests, and the presentation of the Howard Harris Lifetime Peacemaker Award. The event is free and open to the public.

The Whatcom Peace and Justice Center and Voices for Peace in the Middle East are sponsoring a donation drive this summer to support refugees stranded in Europe.

Donations of soft goods and certain hard goods will be collected on August 20, 2016 at Saint James Church, 910 14th Street in Bellingham. A truckload will then be taken to Value Village, which will pay per pound for all items collected. The money will be used by the Salaam Cultural Museum for humanitarian and medical aid for people affected by conflict and natural disaster in the Middle East.
 
Fundraising drive: How it works
 
Soft goods -- must be clean and dry
Clothing, shoes, hats, scarves, undergarments, jewelry, accessories, bags, wallets, bedding, towels, curtains, tablecloths and other cloth materials. 
 
Hard goods
Toys, small household goods and appliances, books, CDs, DVDs
 
Not accepted
Weapons, hazardous materials, computer monitors, infant car seats, cribs and other infant products restricted by law, swing sets, food, pets, large appliances, marine vessels, swimming pools, vehicles, cash, and intangible property.
 
Where to take donations
The main collection date is August 20. Between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m., people can bring their donations to the parking lot behind Saint James Church (910 14th Street in Fairhaven).
 
Assistance with delivering your donations
Assistance can be arranged for community members unable to store or transport their donations to the church on August 20. Please call Martina at (425) 213-2394 to arrange a pick-up.

Financial donations
You can make monetary gifts directly to the Salaam Cultural Museum. 

Send a check by mail:
Salaam Cultural Museum (SCM)
3806 Whitman Ave. N
Seattle, WA 98103

Or give online:
www.scmmedicalmissions.org

The workshop will focus on three aspects of nonviolence:

• Treating myself nonviolently
• Treating others nonviolently
• Taking nonviolent action for social change

Facilitator: Nicholas Mele
Nick Mele began practicing nonviolence as a college student. He spent almost 30 years as a diplomat before retiring to devote himself full time to building nonviolent alternatives to militarism. He was a founding staff member of the Nonviolent Peaceforce and has designed and facilitated nonviolent actions, gatherings, and trainings around the world. He is a co-founder of the Whatcom Peace & Justice Center and is currently working with Pax Christi International to build a campaign to abolish nuclear weapons in the U.S.

A two-part workshop
Saturday, July 23 and Saturday, July 30, 9 a.m.-1:30 p.m. (with a 10-minute break) 

At the Whatcom Peace & Justice Center, 1220 Bay Street in downtown Bellingham

Appropriate for ages approx. 16 and above, but no one will be turned away.

Please contact Neah Monteiro at [email protected] or (360) 734-0217 to discuss accessibility arrangements.

Please bring:

• Pen
• Notebook
• Brown-bag lunch (or plan on eating after 1:30) 
• Recommended donation of $5-10 per person to help cover costs