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Everybody seems to be reliving or reviewing the Katrina disaster as we recall the events of a year ago, like it or not. Imagine what it will be like in a very few days as we are clobbered with images and repercussions upon the 5th anniversary of the horrors of 9-11.
As much as I suspect the official versions of 9-11, appreciate the nagging questions asked in the search for truth, and endorse efforts at enlightenment, such as Mike Kress’s presentations or films shown by KYRS, I want you to spend more time contemplating another September 11th.
100 years ago, 9-11-1906, an emerging Quixotic figure in South Africa issued a declaration that should be recalled whenever human or natural catastrophe seems to demand a violent response. Mohandas Gandhi announced that he would henceforth employ only nonviolent action in his campaigns for social justice. You can see the eyes rolling as white South Africans tried to dismiss the energetic vision of the gadfly Indian attorney.
This was the beginning of the standard for the work of peace and justice, the beginning of the end of the most oppressive era of the British Empire, the template for Gandhi’s “experiments in truth,” the inspiration for incredible accomplishments of people power in India, the U.S., and South Africa. It is also, 100 years later, the basis of our frustration that war and institutional violence continue to hog the world’s resources even as they continue to prove extravagant and ineffective next to nonviolent action and creative nonviolence.
In 1906, violence was the enemy, but few people could imagine any alternative in the face of overwhelming force, corporate greed, encroaching oppression, or criminal threats.
In 2006, many of us realize that we do not have to become the evil that we find threatening us. As bad as the situation may seem, Gandhi’s model is not only there to be employed, it provides mitigation every day as nonviolent activists resist the worst that local authorities and nation states can put on the drawing board.
If you feel tired, remember it would be another 40 years before Gandhi’s work resulted in a free India. Take heart. Employ nonviolent action.Spokane is ready for the next step toward economic justice and away from economic polarization in our community. This country is ready for its second Big Box Living Wage Ordinance. And PJALS is ready for you to help collect the signatures that will put this initiative on the Spokane general election ballot.
We will be distributing petitions by the middle of this month and going after 3000 valid signatures of Spokane voters. There may not be time to place the matter on the 2006 general election ballot, but since the wage requirements for businesses with 95,000 or more square feet of retail space at one location in Spokane will be connected to the Washington minimum wage, which rises with inflation, the ordinance will be fresh and relevant when it becomes law.
This Spring, Spokane Citizens for a Living Wage, the PJALS economic justice project, began to think inside the box about its living wage efforts, the big box. After years of research and drafts regarding a more standard living wage model, we seized upon the embattled Chicago model that had been aimed at discouraging Wal-Mart from venturing out of the suburbs into the heart of Chicago. After a year of uncertainty, supporters of the ordinance made some concessions on the wage floor and a step-implementation plan, and the Board of Aldermen passed it handily.
By the time the Chicago ordinance passed, the PJALS initiative had been approved for signature gathering by the Spokane City Council although it had drawn strong opposition from the Spokane Regional Chamber of Commerce and the qualified support of only two council members.
PJALS was happy to negotiate with business interests to see if both sides could agree on a plan that would be a significant boon to the working poor of Spokane. Council member Mary Verner convened a series of meetings, and Rich Hadley of the Chamber was able to bring business interests to the table. Summer schedules dragged us to the end of August, and it became apparent that the sessions were not likely to result in a new and improved plan for a living wage ordinance but could be important in finding common ground to tackle poverty issues.
It is crucial for PJALS to have these contacts as we look for creative ways to wage social justice, even if it seems we have a dream deferred . We will continue the dialogue and move forward with greater understanding from those who oppose us, greater hope from those who depend upon us for a voice, and greater credibility with local government and business leaders.
Spokane Citizens for a Living Wage is appreciative of the work of Mary Verner and her interest in the living wage issue, the willingness of Rich Hadley to schedule and host meetings that would have repelled or frightened some chamber officials, and the legal advice and creative assistance of Breean Beggs, whom we have been able to claim as our own attorney.
Karin Hilgersom has become our lead volunteer for Spokane Citizens for a Living Wage and has earned credibility with all those at the table through her relentless relevance and articulate advocacy. Doug Orr, Ron Myers and Anthony Walters have also contributed substantially to these conversations.
There is much work ahead. Collecting signatures has never been easy in Spokane, but we know there are many Spokane voters anxious to sign this petition when we do the work to present, publicize and explain it.
Joni Brown has joined the PJALS staff to guide our living wage campaign. She has been working in social justice in Bellingham and is now enrolled in the MSW program at Eastern Washington University.
"I
am happy to be back in Spokane and delighted to be working for PJALS on
economic justice. I look forward to collaborating with community
partners in fighting for the eradication of poverty in our community by
advocating for living wages, the development of sustainable jobs,
progressive tax systems and socially conscious business practices for
Spokane." - Joni Brown
Some of you have already requested the petition, and we hope to have copies in your hands very soon. If you haven’t been contacted about availability by September 12, please call the office (838 7870). And, don’t forget there are other ways to help, as well. - RN
December 26, 2004 brought the devastating tsunami to South Asia. Responding to the massive disaster, several local firefighters, along with other volunteers from the Spokane and Missoula areas, traveled to Sri Lanka to offer assistance. They focused on a small community, Komari, and began the intense and seemingly overwhelming work of rebuilding an entire village, with a difference. This team of volunteers partnered with the residents of Komari to insure that the goals and needs of the local community were the driving force for the rebuilding and renewal of Komari. A nonprofit organization was created, Community Focused Disaster Response (CFDR).
“I
am living in this village, love this village, and am concerned about
the physical, emotional and spiritual help of the people here. CFDR is
doing amazing work. By providing tangible means to lift some of the
barriers of oppression through education, safe living environments,
basic needs and economic development we are assisting this village in
transforming itself.” - Dawn Hayden
Tuesday, September 12, 7 pm, Unitarian Universalist Church, Thoreau Room: Join Dawn Hayden, recently returned from Sri Lanka, as she shares her experience as volunteer site director for CFDR in tsunami recovery in the community of Komari. Refreshments provided.
Some of the successes in Komari to date are testing and cleaning wells, swim lessons for the children, building and repairing homes, building a community playground, rebuilding the village temple.
Goals in Komari include equal access to education for Komari children, sustainable water and sanitation, construction of protective dunes and beach barrier.
It’s no holiday, and it should be a busy day for those of us who still hope to make a difference in the world shaken by such a shocking and horrible act of terror.
But we will still pause to observe our feelings concerning the day that may always cause more apprehension than any other for the people of the United States. And there are two opportunities in particular for people in our area who hate violence and injustice to reflect together on the fifth anniversary of 9-11.
The Community Building will have a program called Lessons Learned, from 4:00 until 6:00 pm. An open mic will follow remarks by four persons who work in the building, three lawyers and Rusty Nelson. The attorneys are Jim Sheehan and Terri Sloyer from the Center for Justice, and Laurie Powers of the Unemployment Law Project.
Some of you have already seen Mike Kress’s inquiry into the smoke and mirrors of the official explanation for 9-11, but it’s probably better than ever, and he will deliver it at the United Nations Association meeting at 7:00 pm on the 11th at the Unitarian Universalist Church. It’s called 9/11: What’s Real and What’s Not.
Formerly a PJALS steering committee member and Vice Chair of the Spokane Human Rights Commission, Mike is both an Air Force veteran and a conscientious objector, known more recently for his riveting KYRS program, Take the Power Back.
PJALS had hoped to sponsor a showing of Gandhi to acknowledge the anniversary noted in the editorial this month, but the 11th will be full enough. We have obtained two episodes of the classic film series, A Force More Powerful, and are looking for the right time and place to show them this month.
Regardless of what we’ve learned and what’s real, we must be prepared to act.
New
Coordinator
My name is Carla Brannan, and I am very happy to introduce myself as the new Inland North West Equality Coordinator (INWE) for PJALS.
You may know me as the former Administrator for our allies at the Unitarian Universalist Church, or perhaps as Miss Carla Louise, singing at GLBTQQ benefits with Auntie Bijou Matinee….or perhaps you don’t know me at all. In any case; I look very forward to working with individuals and organizations inside and outside of our community to continue our journey toward justice and equality.
We have some exciting events coming up! I look forward to meeting you all. - CB
Language
in the Queer Community
Language is constantly shifting and changing. This can sometimes invigorate and enliven conversations. At other times it stymies individuals and functions as a kind of gate-keeper to conversation. As an attempt to open conversation around vocabulary, this space is dedicated to defining terms and identities.
This terminology is not definitive and a great deal of the complexity of identification is missing (especially in subcultures and identities that recognize the meeting place of sexual behavior and race). However, it is a start of a discussion of the collection of commonly-used definitions and differentiations within the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered, queer, questioning, and allied movement(s).
Ally: Someone who confronts
heterosexism, homophobia, biphobia, transphobia, heterosexual and
genderstraight privilege in themselves and others; a concern for the
wellbeing of lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, and intersex people; and a
belief that heterosexism, homophobia, biphobia and transphobia are
social justice issues.
Asexual: A person not sexually attracted to anyone or without sexual orientation.
Bisexual: Those whose sexual, emotional, or mental attractions are oriented toward men, women, and (possibly) those identifying as otherwise-sexed. This is an identity label and not all those who meet these characteristics will identify as bisexual.
Cisgendered: A concept which labels persons not transgendered as something other than simply "normal". This provides a name for a gender identity or performance in a gender role that society considers matching or being appropriate for one's sex. The term was developed to shift the focus off a marginalized group, by defining not only the minority group but also the majority.
Gay: Men whose sexual, emotional, or mental attractions are primarily or entirely oriented toward other men. This is an identity label, and not all men who meet these characteristics will identify as gay.
Genderqueer: A gender diverse person whose gender identity is neither male nor female, is between or beyond genders, or is some combination of genders.
Heterosexual: Often refers to those whose sexual, emotional, or mental attractions are primarily or entirely oriented toward people not sharing their sex characteristics. A term used by some as a reference to personal identity.
Homosexual: Often refers to people whose sexual, emotional, or mental attractions are primarily or entirely oriented toward people sharing their sex characteristics. It is a medicalized term, originating in psychological institutions to diagnose what was (formerly) seen as an illness. It is not a term that most people use as an identity and can be found profoundly offensive by many.
Lesbian: Women whose sexual, emotional, or mental attractions are primarily or entirely oriented toward other women. This is an identity label, and not all women who meet these characteristics will identify as lesbians.
Queer: 1)An umbrella term embracing a matrix of sexual preferences, orientations, and habits of the not-exclusively- heterosexual-and-monogamous majority. Queer includes lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, transpeople, intersex persons, the radical sex communities, and other sexually transgressive folk. 2)A reclaimed word, formerly a slur, now semantically overturned by the maligned, who use it as a term of defiant pride. Nevertheless, some still hold ‘queer’ as an insult, and its use by heterosexuals may be offensive. Extreme caution must be taken concerning their use when one is not a member of the group.
Questioning: A person in the process of actively exploring sexual identity.
Transgender: One who identifies as a member of a gender other than that expected based on anatomical sex. Sexual orientation varies and is not dependent on gender identity.
Transsexual: A person who identifies psychologically as a gender/sex other than that to which they were assigned at birth. Trans-sexuals often wish to transform their bodies hormonally and surgically to match their inner sense of gender/sex.
Transvestite: One who dresses in clothing generally identified with the opposite gender/sex. The majority are heterosexual males who derive pleasure from dressing in “women’s clothing”. (The preferred term is ‘cross-dresser,’ but the term ‘transvestite’ is still used in a positive sense in England.)
Zie / Hir: Alternate pronouns that are gender neutral and preferred by some gender diverse persons. Pronounced /zee/ and /here,/ they replace “he”/”she” and “his”/”hers” respectively. - KB
Asexual: A person not sexually attracted to anyone or without sexual orientation.
Bisexual: Those whose sexual, emotional, or mental attractions are oriented toward men, women, and (possibly) those identifying as otherwise-sexed. This is an identity label and not all those who meet these characteristics will identify as bisexual.
Cisgendered: A concept which labels persons not transgendered as something other than simply "normal". This provides a name for a gender identity or performance in a gender role that society considers matching or being appropriate for one's sex. The term was developed to shift the focus off a marginalized group, by defining not only the minority group but also the majority.
Gay: Men whose sexual, emotional, or mental attractions are primarily or entirely oriented toward other men. This is an identity label, and not all men who meet these characteristics will identify as gay.
Genderqueer: A gender diverse person whose gender identity is neither male nor female, is between or beyond genders, or is some combination of genders.
Heterosexual: Often refers to those whose sexual, emotional, or mental attractions are primarily or entirely oriented toward people not sharing their sex characteristics. A term used by some as a reference to personal identity.
Homosexual: Often refers to people whose sexual, emotional, or mental attractions are primarily or entirely oriented toward people sharing their sex characteristics. It is a medicalized term, originating in psychological institutions to diagnose what was (formerly) seen as an illness. It is not a term that most people use as an identity and can be found profoundly offensive by many.
Lesbian: Women whose sexual, emotional, or mental attractions are primarily or entirely oriented toward other women. This is an identity label, and not all women who meet these characteristics will identify as lesbians.
Queer: 1)An umbrella term embracing a matrix of sexual preferences, orientations, and habits of the not-exclusively- heterosexual-and-monogamous majority. Queer includes lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, transpeople, intersex persons, the radical sex communities, and other sexually transgressive folk. 2)A reclaimed word, formerly a slur, now semantically overturned by the maligned, who use it as a term of defiant pride. Nevertheless, some still hold ‘queer’ as an insult, and its use by heterosexuals may be offensive. Extreme caution must be taken concerning their use when one is not a member of the group.
Questioning: A person in the process of actively exploring sexual identity.
Transgender: One who identifies as a member of a gender other than that expected based on anatomical sex. Sexual orientation varies and is not dependent on gender identity.
Transsexual: A person who identifies psychologically as a gender/sex other than that to which they were assigned at birth. Trans-sexuals often wish to transform their bodies hormonally and surgically to match their inner sense of gender/sex.
Transvestite: One who dresses in clothing generally identified with the opposite gender/sex. The majority are heterosexual males who derive pleasure from dressing in “women’s clothing”. (The preferred term is ‘cross-dresser,’ but the term ‘transvestite’ is still used in a positive sense in England.)
Zie / Hir: Alternate pronouns that are gender neutral and preferred by some gender diverse persons. Pronounced /zee/ and /here,/ they replace “he”/”she” and “his”/”hers” respectively. - KB
Learn the truth about what happened at the World Trade Center on 9.11.2001 from eyewitness testimony and scientific analysis. High quality, digital video reveals the previously unseen reverse angle to the televised coverage of the Twin Towers and Building Seven collapsing, and a lot more. This is the only known unedited footage. Scientific analysis is presented in an easy to understand manner.
This film is presented by KYRS LPFM at the Community Building on Friday, September 29th at 7:00 pm. The $5 donation benefits “Your Radio Station,” and the popcorn is free. For more information, call 747-3012.
Dr. Bill Dienst will help PJALS launch an ambitious informational series on the continuing conflict between Israel and Palestine on Thursday, September 14. His presentation at 7:00 pm at the Parish Hall of St. Ann’s Catholic Church is called, “Anti-Arab Apartheid and Ethnic Cleansing in Israel/Palestine.”
A rural family and emergency room physician from Omak, Bill went to the Middle East with Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility in March of 2005. The delegation met with prominent Palestinians and with Israeli peace activists. He was also in Gaza for 10 days in 2003 and spent over 4 months in Egypt, the West Bank and Gaza in 1985, sponsored by the Red Crescent.
Dr. Dienst has photo-journalism articles on the Middle East and Cuba at: http://electronicintifada.net/cgi-bin/artman/exec/search.cgi
The PJALS series continues with outstanding guests. Barbara Lubin will be here in October, and Judith Kolokoff visits with Israeli Refuseniks in November. Contact PJALS for more information.
Many of you are well-acquainted with the PJALS-GreenMoney Journal Sustainability library, but there is now more to know.
Terry Walline has put the items in a more user-friendly order. Furthermore, she will be available on most Thursdays from 2-4 pm to help you find books, films or periodicals you need for research or continuing education about social justice.
All we ask is that you leave your name and phone number when you borrow an item and give consideration to the next person who may wish to check it out.
The five activists arrested at the National Guard recruiting office in March have a judge assigned, but not much more has changed. A continuance was agreeable to all sides as the August 18 date loomed, and another date has not been set.
The trespass case was assigned to Judge Adalia Hille of Ritzville District Court after each judge in Spokane Municipal Court submitted recusal because of connections with defendant Jim Sheehan or ongoing cases involving the Center for Justice.
External developments include a resolution at the Veterans for Peace National Convention that calls upon states to recall all guard units from Iraq and ban further such deployments. The resolution is of particular interest in Washington as the convention was in Seattle and was addressed by Lt. Ehren Watada who faces charges for his refusal to violate international law by deploying to Iraq. Also, with two raging wildfire complexes, we’ve heard very little about the National Guard. Gov. Gregoire has flown over fires in a Washington National Guard helicopter, but the troops we’ve heard about fighting the fire were regular army from Ft. Lewis.
As we await trial, here’s the affidavit of one of the NG5 defendants, Mark R. Hamlin:
(edited
for space)
I am not a pacifist. I will not sit idly by while others are being harmed. I think of myself as a compassionate, non-violent activist. However, I don't pretend that I may have a profound impact on the world or our society, but I may be able to help some in my community. I believe in doing my part and that if we each do a part, we may collectively have a significant impact.
That was my thinking when I participated, with like-minded individuals on March 20, in entering the National Guard recruiting station in Spokane. I wanted to make a statement of my position and have some conversation with the recruiters about their jobs and their role in the current conflict and here at home. I hoped they would join us in asking our governor to request or demand that our Washington Guard return. I don't believe they belong in an illegal, aggressive, violent action and occupation of another country - which is no threat to us. They should be with families, friends and others who need their services and companionship, rather than in grave danger as they are in Iraq.
I know of friends, acquaintances and casual contacts who speak of passionate concerns about issues I often protest. They voice support, but can't bring themselves to further action. Many seem fearful to even speak openly. Most seem overwhelmed with every day life and have little knowledge of current affairs beyond local television news.
We may change our environment - insulate ourselves by moving to the mountains or to other countries, but we can't escape our responsibilities to current and future generations. One of the most important responsibilities is to attempt to prevent violence against others, especially by those who supposedly represent us.
I try to assert my right and responsibility to human rights and social order locally and internationally. I have been involved in vigils, peaceful protests and marches, public presentations and educational forums, leafleting and lobbying. I vote and promote the voting process - in spite of a corrupt and ineffective electoral process. I write to newspapers and my "representatives" and have met with representatives on many occasions. These things are important, but I rarely see much come of it.
Peaceful protests and non-violent civil resistance can be effective, especially with great numbers. I have been NG 5 continued from page 8 in protests against the Vietnam war and have read about and observed changes resulting from the efforts of people like Gandhi, Martin Luther King, and Rosa Parks. I've seen what collective groups can do, like the Zapatistas in Mexico.
We have attacked a sovereign nation aggressively and violently and caused great destruction without proof of direct provocation nor with support of the world community. It is my understanding that this was illegal, and I feel it was immoral as well. Immense resources are committed to military actions in those countries - especially Iraq. Resources needed here. Iraqis are killed without good reasoning, and so are our own young men and women.
The majority of people in Iraq and the U.S. want the occupation to end and our troops out. There are extreme cases of violence against innocent peoples and revenge killings, abuses against prisoners and many people imprisoned indefinitely without charges and secret prisons. At best, many of these are breaches of international laws and human rights violations. Who will take responsibility? We use depleted uranium and weapons of mass destruction like cluster bombs and worse. Wasn't this the declared reason for ousting Saddam in the first place?
To support illegal actions by any state, organization or person is to be complicit in the same criminal act. The more serious the crime, the more important it is not to provide support or allow it. I have a responsibility to register my objection at least. War crimes like those in Iraq, Afghanistan, Guantanamo Bay are particularly harmful and objectionable and must be stopped.
I object to the breaking of laws meant to protect people, and I don't like being accused of it either. But, I feel a greater urgency to act on the more serious crimes being done in my name. I must act and defend myself in order to maintain my self-respect, integrity and rights as a citizen of this country.
I seriously hope that we may teach, by example, that a future peace cannot be gotten through violence. It can be achieved through compassionate, assertive action and considerate negotiation. I hope my activism, including actions at the National Guard recruiting station on March 20, will encourage others to learn more about what is done in their name and to be more active in their own governance.
As a member of Veterans for Peace for a long time, I’ve had very little contact with the national organization. I’ve met some vets at the SOAW demonstrations at Ft. Benning, and I get the Journal and a newsletter from the chapter in Minnesota. In August, the Steering Committee of PJALS and the location at the University of Washington made it possible for me to attend the Veterans for Peace National Convention.
The effort was made in part because of two vets, Sean Daly and Brian Willson.
Sean, who died at his own hand a few months ago, brought VFP to the West. His chapter in Colville was the 4th in the country and remains the touchstone and inspiration for northcountry peacemakers. Sean also made us put together a chapter in Spokane, and it has been a presence, although it is usually subverted by PJALS activities and demands.
Brian was a huge influence upon Sean, me, and many other veterans who found that our military experience could open minds and hearts to possibilities for peace and nonviolence. A conversation with Brian was a priority for me, and was all I had hoped for.
I will write again about this convention because it made me so very proud of VFP. It is a thrill to be in a group of men and women from every part of the country who are determined that the country for whom we risked much will someday abandon the policy of war. - RN
Sixteen people were arrested by on charges of "rebellion" and "terrorism" in Fortúl on August 12. The majority are community leaders, and the arrests took place just days before the August 17 deadline for candidates to register for the upcoming mayoral election.
During the May 28 presidential elections, the candidate of the left-wing Alternative Democratic Pole, Carlos Gaviria, received more votes in Fortúl than did president Uribe. Many view the arrests as another government attempt to disrupt elections. In 2003, thirty one political leaders were arrested in Arauca just five days before municipal and state elections. Father Helmer Muñoz, who was leading in the polls for the governor's race, was one of them.
I traveled to Arauca City with Juan Carlos, lawyer for the Joel Sierra Regional Human Rights Committee, on August 14. I talked with ten prisoners from Fortúl who were being held in the police station.
"Last night we slept on the ground, chained to the bars, like dogs" said William - a teacher for 18 years. "Because I help the poor, I'm considered a terrorist. My fear is that after I'm released, they'll come to my house and kill me. That's happened with a lot of innocent people." William and Margarita have three children - seven to fifteen years old. William's salary is their only income, and he worries how the family will survive while he's in prison.
When we arrived at the police station on August 15, the prisoners from Fortúl had been handcuffed together and lined up in front of the media. A police agent turned her camera directly at us, and I took out my camera to return the favor. The police commander, shouted "You can't take photos here. This is a military establishment!" "She was filming me!" I shouted back. I wasn't able to get the photo but the agent did stop filming us.
I filed a complaint with the director of the government human rights office in Arauca about being filmed by the agent and the forced participation of the prisoners in the "press conference." That evening the prisoners were shown on the news and the commander described the danger they posed for Arauca.
One of those dangerous individuals is Luz Marina Rodriguez - a community leader and the mother of 7-month-old Mariangel. "She's my first child and I'm going to miss that beautiful process - her first steps and her first words."
More than 500 people rallied together in the sports stadium in Fortúl on August 17 to call for the release of the prisoners. They then marched through the streets and past the police station where the prisoners had been held on August 12. Later that afternoon, Maria Gelvez registered as the candidate of the Alternative Democratic Pole for the September 17 mayoral elections.
In love and solidarity, Scott
What’s
in your morning cup? Fumigation, deforestation and uncertainty.
A discussion with Freddy Urbano, Colombian farmer and campesino leader.
A discussion with Freddy Urbano, Colombian farmer and campesino leader.
September 25, 2006 7
p.m.Weyerhauser Lecture Hall
Whitworth College
September 26, 2006
7:30 p.m.
Moot Court Room
Gonzaga University Law School
Whitworth College
September 26, 2006
7:30 p.m.
Moot Court Room
Gonzaga University Law School
Since 2000, the U.S. government has given the Colombian government nearly $4.2 billion in military aid through Plan Colombia, all under the guise of fighting the “War on Drugs. “ Still, the cultivation of cocaine-producing coca continues to grow.
Take a deeper look into Plan Colombia, the impact of fumigation and free trade on small farmers in Colombia, organic and fair trade coffee production, and the U.S.-Colombia Free Trade Agreement. Find out how you can make an impact as you enjoy your morning cup of coffee.
Donations
requested. No one will be turned away for lack of funds.
Professional translation (English-Spanish) provided.
Regional Organizer Beth Poteet, wfpnw@witnessforpeace.org or 509.781.0251
Professional translation (English-Spanish) provided.
Regional Organizer Beth Poteet, wfpnw@witnessforpeace.org or 509.781.0251
Freddy Urbano works for COSURCA, a cooperative organization of peasant, indigenous, and Afro-Colombian groups in southern Cauca province. During the past five years, COSURCA has received funding from USAID and the UN Office on Drugs and Crime for organic coffee production and coca eradication efforts. Two rounds of aerial fumigations in Macizo, Cauca in 2005 caused 57 COSURCA families to lose their organic crop certification and suffer from the destruction of their food crops, contamination of water supplies, and deforestation.
Kath Nygard will translate. A native of Minnesota, she joined Witness for Peace’s International Team in Colombia in March, has studied social movements and grassroots organizing, and brings experience accompanying threatened human rights defenders and the communities of peace and civil resistance in Colombia.
After many grateful comments about our display of boots from our National Guard Iraq fatalities in the Community Building, we have two outdoor displays this month. Hurry for the first one, Saturday, September 2, in Manito Park. The next will be September 19, on the lawn at Riverpoint. See the calendar for more information.
The display from the American Friends Service Committee will move to Idaho this month.
On September 16, 2006, PJALS is having a fundraising yard sale at Rik and Maurina Ladich-Wallis’ house (2807 S. Post). In addition to donations, we will need help with: advertising, transporting tables and donated items from the Community Building Friday evening (Sep. 15), pricing, setting up before the sale, volunteering for two hour shifts, cleaning-up and removing leftover donations.
We especially need people with trucks. If you are able to help, please call our volunteer coordinator, Myrta Ladich, at 443-0231, or Maurina and Rik at 838-6165.
Donations can be dropped off at the Community Building (call PJALS become you come) before the sale, or at the Ladich-Wallis home the day before the event. - Thanks, Maurina
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