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Meeting Notes
Iran-Iraq Work Group Meeting, January 10, 2008
The group met at the First United Methodist Church. Oneonta, NY.
Present: Chris Brown, Chris Brunner, Jonathan Collett, Norman Ehrlichman, Ken Fogarty, Dave Grodsky, Paddy Lane, Suzanne Miller, Eddie Rodriguez, Stef Seifried, Walter vom Saal.
Iran: Christopher wrote a beautiful letter to the fathers and mothers of Iran that was read on WAMC public radio shortly after the announcement of the latest incident in the Persian Gulf. He will try to get it published in major papers around the country. Because of the new National Intelligence Estimate and the emerging situation in Pakistan, we placed our Iran campaign on hold and decided to focus on Iraq for now.
Statewide plans for March 19: Paddy, Dave and Christopher reported on meetings of the New York State Direct Action for Peace (NYSDAP) coalition in Syracuse. There have been 2 such meetings so far. NYSDAP comprises people from cities and towns all over upstate NY, from Rochester and Buffalo to Saratoga and Ithaca, who would like to do something more assertive for the commemoration of the beginning of the 6th year of occupation of Iraq (March 19). Direct action incudes a wide variety of activities from civil disobedience, to street theater, and more--from high to low risk. There will be much activity in Washington DC on the 19th and other events are encouraged before and after.
Winter Soldier: March 13-16 Iraq Veterans Against the War will hold a Winter Soldier event in Maryland near Washington DC. This is based on a prior event by that name in 1971 where Vietnam veterans gathered to verify publicly the level of brutality being committed in Vietnam, confirming that My Lai was not just an isolated incident. For more info see http://www.ivaw.org/wintersoldier. This may be simulcast on the internet if it can be arranged. Groups around the country have been asked not to hold their own events on these days.
March 21-23 events: NYSDAP has decided for the moment (this could change) to sponsor a variety of events in upstate cities and towns March 21-23 (the last day is Easter Sunday), rather than coordinate one event in one location. A common press release will be created to emphasize that this is a large action all over upstate. We will post Oneonta-area activities with the NYSDAP network.
What should we do in Oneonta? We chose Sunday to have a peace march in mid-town, walking a rectangle from Ford Ave to Chestnut St and back on the sidewalks, with as many people as possible. We will hold a special meeting Monday Feb 4 at 5:30 PM (same place) to make further plans. We discussed getting churches involved in this effort, but no concrete plans were made.
Speakers: Paddy will research getting one or more speakers from IVAW for late Jan, early Feb to help inform the public about what's happening and begin to build up our movement, especially on campuses.
Iraq/Iran meetings: We agreed that regular meetings of the Iraq/Iran group would be the 2nd Thurs of the month at 5:30 PM at the Parish House of First United Methodist. They will be potlucks--people will volunteer for what they would like to bring, and Paddy will send a reminder a day or so before. Other meetings will not be potlucks. We are likely to have a few extra meetings in order to plan for events surrounding March 19.
A suggestion was made to rotate facilitation. Walter has agreed to facilitate our next regular meeting in Feb.
Notes taken by Paddy Lane
Additions to Iraq/Iran notes - Jan 10, 2008
The following omissions to Jan. 10 notes were noted at the Feb. 4 Iraq/Iran meeting:
Arcuri signs letter to Pres. Bush on Iran: In a letter to Pres. Bush dated Dec. 20, Rep. Peter Welch and other members of Congress urged President Bush to undertake "direct, unconditional, and comprehensive dialogue with the Government of Iran." There had been a big push to get other members of Congress to sign on to this letter as one more way to pressure the President, given recent overt threats to Iran. Michael Arcuri was one of 29 members of the House to sign the letter. This follows earlier contact with him in which he appeared to be hesitant to challenge the President's position.
Peace Vigil listing: A listing of the various peace vigils in our area was distributed. [See below.]
Nonviolence Study Group: Paddy, Dave and Christopher belong to a new, very small Nonviolence Study Group that has begun meeting twice a month at First United Methodist Church. They have begun reading materials and discussing them, looking into ways that the practice of nonviolence can affect the way we work for peace. Readings have included Jesus and the Dispossessed by Howard Thurman (a predecessor of ML King, who describes the psychology of hate among the oppressed and how it grows, among other things); definition of Satyagraha ("Truth Force"), the concept behind Gandhi's campaigns--this can be found on Wikipedia; Practicing Peace in Times of War by Pema Chodron, a Buddhist nun who gives helpful guidelines on how to overcome one's own violence and intolerance in order to better work for peace. All are welcome to join this group. Meetings are 1-1/2 to 2 hours on Thursday afternoons, but this could change if others wish to join who need a different schedule.
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PEACE VIGILS IN UPSTATE NEW YORK
January 2008
Oneonta - Thursdays 4-5 PM, Main St Plaza
Contact: Paddy Lane, Dave Grodsky 607-263-5817, grodlane@frontiernet.net
Cooperstown - Wednesdays 12:30- 1:30 PM, in front of post office on Main St.
Contact: Ann Geiger 435-3405
Delhi - 1st & 3rd Saturdays, 11 AM-noon, town square
Contact:
Margaretville - 2nd & 4th Saturdays, 11 AM-noon, parking lot across street from A&P
Contact:
Norwich - Saturdays noon-1 PM, in front of couthouse, W Main & S. Broad (Rt. 12)
West Park Gathering for Peace & Justice
Contact: Chris Brunner c_brunner@roadrunner.com
Binghamton - Mondays 4-5 PM, Federal Bldg, 15 Henry St.
Broome County Peace Action
Contact: see www.bcpeaceaction.org
Syracuse - Thursdays noon-12:45 PM, rotating locations
Syracuse Peace Council Weekly Peace Outreach: Bring the Troops Home Now
Contact: www.peacecouncil.net
Cortland - Saturdays noon, in front of Cortland post office
Contact: Chuck Maxfield, cmaxfield@usadatanet.net
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