Answer: 1.6 billion. 

Can you guess the question?  Miles to the moon? Children in poverty? People in need of affordable quality healthcare?

No: $1.6 billion is the dollar amount for all approved Iraq & Afghanistan war spending to date that comes JUST from our very own 5th Congressional District, here in Eastern Washington. That includes $441.1 million just from the city of Spokane.

These stunning statistics come from the National Priorities Project's Cost of War calculator (<http://www.nationalpriorities.org>www.nationalpriorities.org).

    $1.6 billion in seven years from our region? Will you imagine with me: what could that $1.6 billion have done for community needs in our region, instead of funding a horrifying estimated 1.2 million Iraqi deaths, over 4200 American deaths, and no-bid military contracts?

    The National Priorities Project has done better than imagine-they've figured it out. We cold have used that money to provide:

·    8,915 Affordable housing units

·    Health care for 255,986 adults or 650,821 kids for a year

·    26,389 elementary school teachers for a year

·    1,437,490 homes with renewable electricity for a year

·    Pell Grants of $5350 for 301,618 college students

    We are a region of disproportionate poverty - we have been for decades. In 2002, more than half (53%) of elementary students in the City of Spokane were eligible for free or reduced-price lunches at public schools, according to the Spokane Regional Health District. And in this economic downturn, it's worse for working families who are facing ten percent unemployment and skyrocketing foreclosure rates. Our national budget could do so much for families and communities in our region as well as for concrete programs to  increase our environmental sustainability. There is money for these needs - but right now it's going to war.

    But it's all a question of priorities and power. Right now, voters like PJALS members have sent Obama to the White House on a wave of anti-war sentiment and desire for social change. As Amy Goodman said when she spoke this month in Spokane, this is no time to rest, no time to "wait and see" what will happen in Washington, D.C. This is the time to organize, as the right wingers are with their well-funded "tea parties."  What can we do? Here's a proposal:

Let's break two rules at once:
        Let's talk to strangers about politics. 
        Let's mobilize each other to talk to people who aren't part of PJALS about the price our communities are paying for these wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
        Let's keep the pressure on Obama to keep his campaign promises.
        Let's make sure Senators Murray and Cantwell, as well as Representative McMorris-Rogers, know the priorities of their constituents.
        Let's make sure they hear from thousands of educated voters who care about the cost of war, not just from militarist lobbyists.

    Will you help reach out and talk to your neighbors about the costs of war? Will you help build our ability to reach out and mobilize via email and internet? Will you help make phone calls to activate other PJALS members to be part of the campaign, so we can reach even further?

    To volunteer, send in the survey enclosed, or just call the office at 838-7870 or email pjals@pjals.net. Let us know how you can be part of the team!            - LM

    I think it's fair to say that Nancy and I are now retired, the former directors of the Peace and Justice Action League.  But, don't be alarmed if you see us hanging around PJALS.  We won't try taking over.  We just like to be where the action is.  It was time to retire because it was time to retire.

    It's not that we're too old to cut the mustard, only that we know what cutting the mustard means, and that means we're behind on more current forms of communication.  Can you imagine getting a text message that includes CTM?  LOL.

    Liz has agreed to let me edit the Handful a few more months.  I'll try not to be too possessive about this little journal, although I've been calling it mine for a long time.
   
    The Handful was the most clearly defined of my duties when I signed on as Associate Director of PJALS in January of 1988.  Kathleen Donahoe was the Director, the organizer, and the catalyst.  When it came to leading, organizing, and making things happen, I was a decent writer and editor.  Nancy had been organizing and stimulating a couple of other organizations and didn't return to the PJALS staff until 1990.  For a few months after Kathleen became too ill to continue, I was the only staff, and we might have gone under except for a strong steering committee.  Then Nancy came back, and I was allowed to thrive with childhood skills; speaking, reading, and writing.

    I did learn a few tricks along the way.  There was a computer in use at PJALS, but it didn't know how to do layout and was busy sorting the database for an hour or two each week. Connie Forkner did lots of typing for us, and Kevin Baxter did layout with a ruler and a razor blade.  As other people got fancier computers, we cashed in with savvy volunteers.  Tony Asta and Ted Ketcham worked magic with their machines, and Ted patiently prepared me to do layout when PJALS got a new computer.  And I still needed help from our precious Heidi Burbidge, whose home computer and skills had exceeded the PJALS level.

    The product was quite attractive when I assumed the editorship.  Diane Jhueck was putting out a good-looking and very readable paper.  One of the first things I did was terminate the color banner, a cost-cutting move followed in a couple of years by the smaller format we have today.  The content changes were subtler.  I don't remember ever changing content on purpose.

    This little memoir is not to justify my affection for this newsletter, but to say that it has changed, PJALS has changed.  Your reading choices and inclinations have changed, and I want you to be a part of the new Handful of Salt.

    I'm a caretaker editor, now, but I want to take care of your needs and make this something you want to read; use less paper and put extended content on the web; get more contributions from the membership and more local emphasis before someone else takes over.

    Liz can do this.  There's not much she can't do, given a little time and support.  But wouldn't it be great if a volunteer took this on?  A volunteer editor with writing and web content suggestions coming from other members.  Think about it.  Talk.  Hey, write about it.

    Speaking of Liz, I have to tell you that I'm thrilled that she's here.  Everyday, I feel good about the future of PJALS because of the way she thinks and works.  I also am hopeful that she will have a life, as Nancy and I have, while working for PJALS.  To do that, she's going to need your help, whether it's volunteering a day a month or chipping in an extra $25 a year toward beating the odds in a scary fiscal environment.  In the end, it doesn't depend upon how crazy the administration is, how bad the economy is, how conservative the community is.  It's how the supporting community comes through with courage, creativity and good humor.  You have a good record.

    On a whim, I just decided to name this column.  Maybe there'll be a place for it after a new editor gives some shape, purpose and order to the whole thing.  Or I could take it out to pasture, following some real journalists into the cyber-green grass of the blogosphere.

    See you around the campus.      - RN




    Where does PJALS intersect with an international peace movement?  How can peacemakers in Spokane deal with ancient distrust and the flourish of modern weapons in the Middle East?

    After so many years and so many campaigns, you may well have grown weary of debating issues, taking positions, and writing your elected representatives.  Don't be discouraged.  There will always be obstacles to peace, and opportunities to overcome those obstacles.

    Our job is to empower our leaders,  friends and neighbors to see beyond the hatred and the well-worn reliance upon military power and violence.  It's a tough job, and it's too big and too important to be left to government entities that are owned by the proprietors of war.

    The latest roadblock to meaningful U.S. relations with Iran may be Israel's demand that the U.S. curb Iran's nuclear ambitions before Israel will discuss Gaza.  Is this less than a demand to that we make every mistake in Iran that we made in Iraq over the past 20 years?

    Israel is completely shameless in its manipulation of the United States, just as it is in oppressing Palestinians who, for the most part, willingly play along with the bloody maintenance of a system of mutual fear and retribution.  Nothing the U.S. begs, suggests, or demands of Israel will make a positive contribution to human rights in the Middle East until we cut off the extravagant allowance that fuels every Israeli military adventure and weapons program

    Iran is often portrayed as the next great enemy of ours, though that should be a hard sell after the euphemisms we've endured with Iraq and North Korea and the escalation of the quagmire in Afghanistan.  The greatest fear of the West, regarding Iran, is that it will insist upon being Iran and not some benign oil source, promoting wealth for multi-national corporations and minimizing its claim of Persian heritage and an Iranian flavor of Islam.  If American leadership could find the grace to establish a relationship with the People of Iran, without tripping over the rhetoric and baiting of the Government of Iran, we might discover an ally, a trading partner, and a game-changer, lurking in the region of our diplomatic nightmares.

    Recent statements of Secretary of State Clinton regarding Iran are refreshing compared to the bluster of the Bush regime, but they still fall far short of appropriate, creative diplomacy.  It is unfortunate that the U.S. will always insist that another state stay away from those nukes, but ours are not negotiable.  The arsenals of Pakistan, India, and Israel are also not negotiable, but Iran and North Korea must be stopped at all costs short of nuclear war.  And nuclear war may be deemed acceptable if it's determined it would stimulate the economy.

    So it comes down to having a foreign policy dictated by our nuclear weapons policy, which is not so much policy as a trap of our own devising.  None of our precious nuclear warheads has any value as a means of security.  Each of them is strictly a liability until it can be eliminated in exchange for another country to eliminate or not produce one of its own.  Based upon any likelihood of such an exchange, we would vastly improve our standing in the world community and among our creditors if we immediately and unilaterally pulled the plug on our entire nuclear weapons program.  And, only then would we be able to consider freeing ourselves from the millstones of our other weapons of mass destruction.  It's an old idea, but it hasn't been aired for a very long time.

    Spokane, having supposedly given up our stash of nukes when the Strategic Air Command was rendered quaint, should find it very easy to press for nuclear disarmament on fiscal grounds.  Alas, old additions die hard.  And, I have to admit there's no good starting point, since neither our Republican U.S. Representative nor our Democratic Senators could maintain their composure if you personally offered any suggestion of disarmament, much less nuclear and unilateral.

    Our energy with our congressional delegation will probably be better spent convincing these iron women that there are real families, real people "over there," and those real units of care and flesh and blood would be much less threatening to U.S. security if our troops were back home.  Afghanistan may be a more attractive enemy than Iraq, but it is no more suited to our brand of democracy-down-the-throat.  It also presents a much less threatening presence to the region than our friend Pakistan.  Poor Pakistan, whose soul is as crushed as the body of Afghanistan.  Women and children in both countries need lots of help, but not the kind they've been getting from the U.S. military for eight years.

    It may seem too little, but the best thing we can do as Spokane peacemakers is alter the debate and make sure our leaders notice.  Don't let someone get away with conducting a dialogue about how many troops we need in Afghanistan.  Frame the question in terms of real needs for Afghanis and Americans in light of what has and has not been accomplished in eight years..  If someone wants to talk about the need for attacking Iran, make them tell you what has been done to establish friendly relations with Iranians.  If your companion insists that we must continue to arm and curry the Israeli military without regard to its war crimes, ask them if it isn't just a little anti-Semitic to expect that the Israeli people can do no better on human rights.  If all else fails, or if you want an alternative strategy, play the money card.  How much are you willing to spend to maintain an unlevel playing field?  How much longer will you allow our economic spiral to be driven by global non-wars without end?

    Never let anyone express optimism about military success in Afghanistan or Iran without demanding an explanation for our old and new failures in Pakistan.  And don't be timid about mentioning Osama What's-His-Name.  Is the defeat of bin Laden worth the price we've already paid to increase his stature and multiply our enemies?  Hanging Saddam Hussein did us a lot of good.

    Please remember:  Just because we have a few warriors left, and the Pentagon can still scrape up a few hundreds of billions of dollars to pursue undeclared wars, and people in the Middle East are exhausted and bitter from the destruction of their homelands by all sides, that doesn't mean there could possibly be a military solution.  And, just because our elected leaders cannot hear or will not consider our suggestions for inexpensive, humanitarian, nonviolent solutions for these conflicts, it doesn't mean our ideas are bad, or that we should shut up and learn to love war.

    Regardless of the relentless glorification of legendary mayhem, insurrections, revolutions, occupations, and massacres of the recent and distant pasts, no gauge of religion, success, or enlightenment will ever be distorted enough to justify our wars, our torture, our devastation of the earth. But our faithfulness in the effort for peace, regardless of painful time frame or lost wealth and comfort, will be a gift to our children and to their friends, the children of our enemies.     

This is worth not fighting for.-RN


By Matthis Chiroux, for Courage to Resist

    Today (Apr. 21), I stood before the Army. I looked a board of officers in the eyes, and I told them I thought they were sending people off to participate in war crimes. And what did they say? Get out of here, Sergeant, and keep your damn G.I. Bill!

    Indeed, folks! The Army awarded me a recommendation for a general discharge under honorable conditions from the Individual Ready Reserve for my refusal to deploy to Iraq last summer. This landmark decision means not only am I a free man, I'm free to continue school this fall with the "new" G.I. Bill that I earned while on active duty.

    Though this discharge is identical to one I refused in exchange for this hearing, I can now rest easy knowing I never submitted, I never backed down, and the Army has heard my story.

Not just my story, but the stories of those brave veterans at Winter Soldier and those who've participated in IVAW's Warrior Writers' program. Full texts of both books were submitted to the Army today, and I can only imagine the fun they're having transcribing them into the record.

    I testified, Marjorie Conn, the president of the National Lawyers' Guild, testified, and my mother Patricia testified as to why my refusal to deploy was quite legitimate and not deserving of attack by the military.

    Though the prosecutor did everything he could to keep my legal arguments from the ears of the board (he even prevented me from reading to them from my Constitution, calling the document irrelevant), our voices were heard loud and clear by a board of gentlemen who've given me a new respect and hope for our nation and servicemembers world-wide.

    The hearing, which lasted around four-and-a-half hours, cemented in my mind that not only is military resistance to our illegal occupations righteous, it is finding new breath amongst troops fed up with the status quo.

    This all came after a provocative appearance this morning on the local Fox News Channel in which I wore a patriotic symbol of distress (an upside-down flag) on my uniform.

    During the hearing, my girlfriend Alexandra was among others in the board room to offer moral support. They made all the difference as I squared off over human slaughter that we've all been forced to bow down to.
    So what does this mean for the military? RESIST!!!! Now's the time. The flood-gates are open. Your leaders are listening, and more and more, they are agreeing. Resisters are moving away from being the exception, and slowly becoming the norm.

    If I can refuse to go to Iraq, climb monuments, march into presidential debates, lobby congress, face the military, not go to jail or even lose my G.I. Bill, we just don't have any excuses anymore! Resistance is rising, and IVAW will stand firm underneath it. My story is now history, and I humbly pass the torch.

    More to follow on my testimony at Winter Soldier and juicy details of my hearing. Now, I'm going to sleep like I haven't in a year!  Peace and Solidarity.  - Matthis



1.        Involuntary manslaughter charges were filed In California, April 24, against three top officials of the defunct labor contractor company, Merced Farm Labor, in the case of 17-year-old Maria Isabel Vasquez Jimenez--who died of a heat stroke last May 16.

    The UFW applauds the District Attorney's decision to prosecute this crime. It never should have happened. An innocent girl never should have died due to grower indifference.

    However, violations occur every day, and nothing is done. Last year five other farm workers died of heat-related causes after Maria's death.  Complaints regarding lack of drinking water, shade and work breaks to make use of these simple but lifesaving measures are an everyday occurrence for farm workers, who can't  afford to wait until such lethal violations to react.

    That's why farm workers need California's SB789, that will give them the means to protect themselves.  SB789, CA Employee Free Choice Act for Farm Workers will make it easier for farm workers to organize and help enforce laws that California's government cannot enforce.

    SB789 passed the California state senate April 23. It will next be heard in the state assembly and then go to Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.   - United Farm Workers

All of us who are drawn toward economic justice, environmental justice, food security, and immigration reform
need to be aware and supportive of the valiant struggle of the UFW.-ed.

2.       President Obama says it's up to Attorney General Holder whether to prosecute those responsible for the Bush administration's torture policies. We submit that one of the top names on Holder's list should be William J. Haynes II.

    Back in March, CREDO Action gathered signatures to tell Congress to impeach Judge Jay Bybee - another of the architects behind Bush's torture policies.  Unlike Bybee, Haynes didn't get a federal judgeship for his troubles - instead he got a giant paycheck from a dirty oil giant.

    As General Counsel for the Pentagon under Donald Rumsfeld, Haynes authored the legal strategy for some of the most heinous torture techniques authorized by Bush - techniques that were, according to the New York Times, "interrogation practices based on illegal tortures devised by Chinese agents during the Korean War."
    Haynes left the Pentagon when Rumsfeld did, but instead of going into exile - or better yet, prison - Haynes went to a cushy gig as chief corporate counsel for Chevron.

    Chevron, of course, is no stranger to controversies over human rights. The oil giant has thus far escaped justice over its involvement (via a Nigerian subsidiary) in the murder and torture of Nigerian environmental protesters.

    Tell Chevron CEO David O'Reilly to fire William Haynes.  - credoaction.com



    Stevan Dozier is still waiting to hear if Gov. Gregoire will approve the unanimous recommendation for clemency made in December by the state's Clemency Board.

    I am Stevan Dozier, sentenced to Life Without Parole under the 3 Strikes Law. The crime that I committed is Second Degree Robbery. I am not proud of the fact that 14 years ago I took a purse from a lady.

    In 1993-94, I was not the same man that I am now. I won't bore you with a story of past substance abuse. I will tell you that during the 14 years I have served, I've learned self worth and self respect as well as how to respect others.

    I am redeemable. I truly regret that I broke the law. During my incarceration, I have worked and repaid all financial restitution to the present and previous victims of my misbehavior.

    Since 1994, many have stepped up to say the crime of Second Degree Robbery does not merit Life Without Parole. Many guards here in the prison say that regularly.

    The Sentencing Guidelines Commission and several law makers have voiced the need to tune up the 3 Strikes law to ensure that only serious violent individuals receive Life Without Parole under 3 Strikes. Various approaches have been met by roadblocks created by misinformation and fear tactics. Yes, the Karl Rove/ George Bush play book is in use in Washington State.

    Over the years, I have seen many 3 Strikers give up. I've seen rapists, murderers and armed criminals come and go and serial killers plea bargain for the exact sentence that I received for a non-armed, non-sexual offense. I know public safety is very important. And I also believe all criminal behavior should be punished in a manner which is proportionate to the offense committed.

    The new push of transition re-entry is long overdue. For many years, DOC (WA Dept.of Corrections) was all about the warehouse approach. Sending people back to society armed only with a GED and little community resources is a recipe for recidivism.

    Prior to my incarceration, I was only concerned with day to day and had no understanding of the political process. Over the years, I have seen lawmakers like Senator Adam Kline stand up and attempt to restore a slight level of proportionality into the sentencing equation. Sen. Kline has refused to be deterred by fear tactics and misinformation. He never advocated freeing Murderers or Armed Criminals.

    Once, Rep. Al O'Brien stood as boldly as Kline. The last correspondence from O'Brien stated: "There is not likely to be any change in the 3-Strikes Law until there is a public outcry."  My plea and the plea of my loved ones has not been for a "get out of jail free" card.  It is for lawmakers to restore some level of proportionality into the 3-Strikes sentencing.

    I am going to close with thanks for Justice Works! and all organizations who feel that One Size Does NOT fit all.

    For those on the fence I ask: Is it a wise investment of your tax dollars to overincarcerate non-armed, low level offenders for life?

    Thus far, my 14 years served has cost over $360,000, not including medical costs.

    I am redeemable.         -    Stevan Dozier

ED: you can write to:
Gov. Chris Gregoire
P.O. Box 40002
Olympia, WA 98504



    At PJALS, we sometimes get downright giddy at the realization that we've been around for almost 35 years.  It's too easy to forget about the Fellowship Of Reconciliation, our only national affiliation and something of a parent organization.

    Not only has the FOR been in the struggle for peace and justice since 1915, it has conducted an amazing regional conference at Seabeck, Washington for half a century.

    Building a Just and Sustainable World, the 51st Annual Northwest Regional Conference at Seabeck, will be July 2-July 5, 2009, hosted by Western Washington FOR.

    The keynote speakers are: Antonia Juhasz on "The Tyranny of Oil: Big Oil, War, and What Now for the Obama Administration;" and John Lindsay-Poland on "The Other Side of Despair: Colombia, U.S. Policy, and the Energy of Nonviolent Resistance."

    Participants will select from 21 workshops encompassing topics from Music to Economics to Healthcare to Green Jobs.

    Registration is requested by May 25.  PJALS has a brochure and registration form, or you may see www.wwfor.org




    Kids Run Better Unleaded is a film about The Lands Council's work to reduce childhood lead poisoning in Spokane.  It was produced by Community-Minded Television and will be introduced to the public in its world premiere at The Magic Lantern Theatre on Friday, May 1st, from 7 to 8 pm.

    Prior to the showing of the film, TLC will have its  First Friday Open House on the 2nd Floor of the Saranac, just above the theatre.  Beginning at 5 pm, TLC will display artwork by children from local Head Start centers.
www.landscouncil.org




    For those of you who don't receive this newsletter immediately, it's a bit of a whimper to mention the concert on April 30.  Otherwise, here's a friendly reminder that we have a rare opportunity to gather and enjoy music together, a week ahead of our fabulous, free auction on May 8th.

    Billed as a retirement benefit, this concert has the potential to unify PJALS supporters behind Liz Moore while cushioning the shock of transition out of the office for Nancy and Rusty, whose retirement comments were beginning to go from, "Oh, really?" to "Yeah, right."  At the very least, it will be a splendid evening of music from outstanding performers who have already demonstrated an affinity for PJALS and for social justice.
Don't Miss It from back page  

Laddie Ray Melvin, The Blue Ribbon Tea Company, and The Celtic Nots will play at the Bing Crosby Theater, 901 W. Sprague Ave., at 7 pm, Thursday, April 30.  The $15 tickets will be available at the door.

    That there is no admission charge for the PJALS Auction is one thing that sets it apart.  For over 20 years, we have insisted that anyone can come to our auction and have a good time, regardless of your budget concerns.  And if you have some money to share, why not use it to buy some of the donated items while you enhance our major fund-raiser of the year.

    Our 21st annual auction will be at Mountain Gear, 6021 E. Mansfield, Spokane Valley, with the snack potluck at 6:00, and the live auction beginning at 7 pm.  Come and have a good time.

    Larry Bernbaum will be our auctioneer for the third consecutive year.  Paul and Karn Fish are our hosts for the second time.  And the lists of items on the live and silent auctions keep getting better.  Meals prepared by our members compete with meals at area restaurants for top billing at this event.  We also have a wealth of bodywork and recreational opportunities for bids, along with some items that might be considered eclectic, if not unique.

    We rarely claim that PJALS has something for everyone, but our auction fills that bill with unexpected delights and gift ideas, as well.  If you want to see the auction list beforehand, contact the PJALS office.  We take checks, and Mountain Gear makes it possible for us to accept Visa and Mastercard, too.

    Two biggies in 8 days is not routine for PJALS.  It's a big deal though, if only because there's much more to demand your attention than we used to find in Spokane.  If you must miss one, send a friend who'll appreciate the fun side of support for peace and justice.