The Peace House announces:

Saturday, March 20 – - – Seven-year anniversary of the invasion of Iraq.
NW 23rd Street & Blackwelder, OKC (OCU,between Western & Penn Ave)
10:30: Drumming & Music (bring your drum)
11a.m.-Noon: RALLY: Speakers from student and faculty populations
Noon: Peace March begins, returns to NW 23rd & Blackwelder
Bring signs, banners, trumpets and timpani
Cosponsored by OCU OIKOS Scholars and The Peace House

Here’s a link to a pdf of a flyer you can print off and share:
Peace March Flyer

New England United Antiwar Conference MIT Jan 30, 2010
Panel #1 The Drive Towards Empire and Endless War
Bruce Gagnon, Global Network

I worked with Bruce in his early days as a nuclear freeze activist in Orlando, Florida. He was a pretty good speaker and budding leader, though I had some minor issues with his style, but I had no idea he would go on to become a globally recognized nuclear arms/weapons expert with Space for Peace. He’s been a tireless activist, speaker, writer and dissident who tells the truth to a world that mostly doesn’t want to listen.

Here are my photos from today’s demonstration against Obama’s escalation of the war in Afghanistan.

The turnout was pathetic. I’m sure there are many reasons why. Even while Bush was still in office, there were fewer and fewer people coming to various events. But once Obama was elected, interest in the actions really evaporated, with some justification, with many saying we had to give Obama “a chance.”

Welll, he’s had his chance, and is not responding well, in my opinion, and in the opinion of many in the peace movement (which goes on, regardless of what party is in power or what individual is in office).

No one was under the illusion that Obama was a pacifist. But he did say he was against “stupid wars” and that he would work to end the occasion of war. He is not keeping that promise with this escalation.

There are probably many who would come to a protest against Bush’s wars, who won’t come near one against Obama’s. But there will continue to be a need for such public statements, and enough who will continue to consistently call for an end to American aggression, imperialism and global thuggery.

Here are some sites where the consistent message goes on, or is being newly expressed.

The Old Stalwarts
World Can’t Wait
United for Peace and Justice
Code Pink
After Downing Street
Voters for Peace
War Resisters League
Win Without War

Some new groups/alliances
EndUSWars.org
Peace of the Action

I will be joining The Peace House folks and others tomorrow at a demonstration to say No to Escalation in Afghanistan. (I think there is also something planned for Tulsa [link added 2009-12-01].)

I will also be contacting my reps to once again say, end the war and find civilian solutions: Contact Congress & White House

Oklahoma City Demonstration:
NO to ESCALATION in AFGHANISTAN
Tuesday, December 1st
4:30-5:30 pm
NW 23rd Street & Classen Blvd.
Bring signs – - We will have ours.

Peace House Statement on Afghanistan, Nov. 14th
BRING TROOPS HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS

• After eight (8) long years of war, we speak in unity: U.S. Military forces must be brought home.
• Military victory appears unachievable, or at the very least unsustainable.
• Our continued presence guarantees further escalation of long-standing anti-American sentiments.
• A surge in U.S. troop numbers will generate dramatic increases of casualties of our troops and Afghani civilians.
• We risk and even wider and deadlier regional conflict.
• Reconstruction and stability should be initiated and sustained by international peace-keeping entities and< non-governmental organizations.
• Urgent domestic budget priorities demand a redirection of our tax revenues from war in Afghanistan to meeting human needs at home. Thirteen million Americans are unemployed in this economic downturn.
• We petition Congress, and the Obama administration, to initiate withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan before the end of the year.

(Click on box to get a bigger version.)

Quite a good turnout for a weekday. And it wouldn’t be complete without teabagger counter-protesters. They were relatively well behaved, compared to the townhall outbursts.

But I was moved intensely enough write a poem that those who have seen my small body of work say is probably the best I’ve written. Anyway, I really identified with the man, since I was working then (much as now) as virtually a full time peace and justice activist. His solitary statement was a symbol of individual resistance, the importance of even just one person making a stand for what is right.

Today is the 20th anniversary of Tank Man’s stand. In some ways, it seems to me like much longer, but I also feel like it was not but a year or two ago. Most of those 20 years have not been particularly productive ones for me — but that’s another post. It’s a time to remember, and to be grateful that democracy continues to be sought and practiced more and more around the world, however imperfectly. Some of the students who were at Tienanmen Square 20 years ago even say that China itself has become better (an article in today’s Oklahoman quotes a man who now teaches as OSU), though there are many who would argue with that. There are protests taking place in cities around the world, to call for real change for the people in China.

The fact that China has blocked a lot of internet sites for the past week or so doesn’t indicate much improvement to me — except for the fact that the intrinsically democratic medium of the Internet is a bloody headache for tyrants to control. In my opinion, if the US really wanted to spread democracy around the globe, they would make broadband freely available via satellites to every spot on the globe.

Images of Tank Man are continuing to be newly revealed — enhancing our understanding of that moment — and art created. Because passion for and commitment to love, peace and human rights will always inspire.

So here’s my little contribution to the genre. I have only altered it from the version I produced in a few hours 20 years ago in that I removed Roman numerals over each stanza, which I now do not know why I thought was a good idea. It was previously published in the Palmetto Post, a newspaper of the Florida Green Party.

(I’ve posted the poem as an image, because I have not figured out yet how I want to publish my poetry, if at all, and would like to lessen the chance of it being used until that time. I would ask that if you want to share it, that you link to this post rather than download the image. Contact me for other arrangements. Thanks.)

[And please pass this info on if you have time in the short time frame.]

Date/time: 10-11 AM, 6/3/09
Place: Joy Mennonite Church, 504 NE 16th, Oklahoma City (just a few blocks south of Capitol on Lincoln)

There will be an event for Joshua in Toronto tomorrow, and we decided to do a solidarity event here in Oklahoma. Here’s details from the event organizer, James M. Branum, one of Joshua Key’s attorneys.

Josh grew up in Guthrie, Oklahoma. After joining the Army, he later deployed to Iraq where he had a horrific time (as detailed in his book “The Deserter’s Tale”).

He then came back to the US and while on leave, left his unit and hid out for some time before making his way to Canada.

Josh is now fighting it out in the court-system in Canada to get to stay and on June 3rd he will be facing one of the most significant fights of this struggle.

Our friends in Canada are holding a vigil tomorrow in Toronto outside the Immigration and Refugee Board while the hearing is taking place, so I would like for us to have a similar demonstration here.

So starting at 10 a.m., I’m asking participants to meet at the Peace Pole on the grounds of Joy Mennonite Church, We’ll have a time of quiet meditation and/or prayers (for those so inclined) and then we’ll walk a few blocks north to the state capitol, where we will deliver a statement in support of Joshua Key to the Governor’s office, the Republican and Democratic leaders of the state legislature and to the press.

Participants are welcome to bring small signs and banners for the walk but know that they probably won’t let you take them into the state capitol building.

And if you can’t come to the walk, please write a letter of encouragement to Josh and send it to:

Joshua Key
c/o Joy Mennonite Church
504 NE 16th St.
Oklahoma City, OK 73104

You can also email letters to me at girightslawyer@gmail.com

We’ll then forward the letters to Josh by way of his attorney in Canada.

Lastly, I’ll post more information soon on other ways we in Oklahoma can support Josh from a-far.

–*– end of message from James

Several moving speeches were given, including by Gold Star fathers Warren Henthorn and John Scripsick, who lost their sons in Iraq. The Oklahoma Eyes Wide Open Exhibit was also on display, with 73 pairs of boots representing the Oklahomans who died in Iraq.

Here’s the speech by Veteran and conscientious objector Daniel Sandate, who now lives in OKC and is a peace activist and counter recruitment counselor.

(Sorry again for the shaky camera, haven’t got a tripod yet.)

Let us not forget the lies we were told, the betrayal they represented, or the brave and selfless souls who (inadvertantly) gave their lives for those lies. Not to mention the over one million Iraqis who have died from our deeds and misdeeds.

And, unfortunately the losses continue. Just today came the news that another Oklahoma soldier was killed.

If you can, attend one of these local events to show your respect for all the tragic and senseless horror, and to continue the vigilance to end this war.

Iraq War 6th Year Memorials Planned in Oklahoma City

Two Oklahoma Fathers of Fallen Soldiers
Speak Out About Human Cost of War

The March 19, six-year anniversary of the start of the U.S. war in Iraq will be commemorated in Oklahoma City with memorial events, public vigils, and a silent memorial walk, according to planners. Peace House Director Nathaniel Batchelder said that the tone of events planned this year is more to seek higher wisdom to make the world less violent and more humane, and less to tell Washington, D.C., what to do.

Batchelder said, “We are hopeful that a new administration and Congress can resolve the Middle East conflicts with more diplomacy and less violence.”

On Saturday, March 21, a memorial vigil with activists holding signs calling for peace in the Middle East, will be held from 10 a.m. to noon on the northeast corner of the intersection of Meridian Avenue and Northwest Expressway. The public is invited to bring signs expressing their own hopes for peace, Batchelder said.

On Sunday, March 22, a silent memorial walk will begin at 2 p.m., from Civic Center Park, downtown Oklahoma City, at 201 N. Walker. Speakers will set the tone of the walk, and the route will encircle the Murrah Building National Memorial and return to the park. “In Oklahoma City, we know that one bomb is too many,” Batchelder said. A display of boots symbolizing the deaths of U.S. troops in Iraq will be part of the event, provided by members of the American Friends Service Committee. Speakers include John Scripsick and Warren Henthorn, who both lost their sons in the Iraq war, Daniel Sandate, Iraq veteran and Reggie Cervantes, 9/11 rescue worker, from Yukon. Rev Lance Schmitz, of the First Nazarene Church of Oklahoma City, will lead attendees in a reading of the names of Oklahomans fallen in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.

On the following Tuesday, March 24th, Oklahoma City Community College has events planned after students return from spring break. Call Steve Morrow, OCCC Advocates for Peace, at (405) 682-1611 x 7350 for more information.

* Peace Challenge Camp (for rising 5th & 6th graders) will be July 27-31.

This is a residential camp that takes place at St. Francis of the Woods Retreat Center in Coil, OK. It has a maximum enrolment of 16 students. The 5 day camp starts with a visit to the Oklahoma City Memorial Museum and then a trip to St. Francis of the Woods. The kids live in cabins of 4 campers, a teen helper and adult counselor. Throughout the weeks, they live and work together in this small team, including cooking and cleaning their home space. The curriculum focuses on non-violence as the preferred method for problem-solving. There is a lot of art and some team challenges that are scattered around the campus. Guest speakers include people who have experienced violence and have overcome the need for retribution and bitterness.

The cost of this camp is $200.00. Scholarship assistance is available.

* Peace Makers in Action (for rising 9-12 graders)

The High School Peace Camp is located at 3131 N. Penn Ave., Oklahoma City, OK. Monday-Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Vegetarian lunches are provided.

This summer, the youths will receive the full 20 hours of nonviolence training provided in the workshop entitled: “Creating a Culture of Peace: Nonviolence for Personal and Social Change.”

There is plenty of time for creativity in this camp. Bands form, photography groups emerge, etc.

The cost of this camp is $100. Scholarship assistance is available.

For details about the camps or to register, visit www.PeaceEducationInstitute.org, or call 405-204-6479.