[Peace-discuss] Fwd: [UFPJ] report on UFPJ National Assembly

[Morton K.Brussel]

We are a member group of UFPJ. A report on the proceedings of the 
recent UFPJ assembly in St. Louis is given below.  --mkb

Begin forwarded message:

> From: Leslie Cagan <lesliecagan at igc.org>
> Date: March 17, 2005 5:27:19 PM CST
> To: ufpj at lists.mayfirst.org
> Subject: [UFPJ] report on UFPJ National Assembly
> Reply-To: lesliecagan at igc.org
>
> Dear UFPJ Member Group:
>
>  With all the organizing work we've been doing for the two-year 
> anniversary of the Iraq War, we're just now sending you a reportback 
> from our National Assembly in mid-February. Almost 500 people from at 
> least 275 member organizations of United for Peace and Justice 
> converged in St. Louis. Over the course of three packed and inspiring 
> days, the assembled delegates took part in wide-ranging discussions 
> about how to end the Iraq war and build a diverse and broad-based 
> movement for peace and justice, and made a series of key decisions for 
> the coalition.
>  
> All of the documents and decisions from the Assembly -- along with 
> four pages of photographs -- are now available on our website at 
> http://www.unitedforpeace.org/assembly
>  
> *New Strategic Framework: The Assembly adopted a new Strategic 
> Framework, which outlines the broad parameters for UFPJ's work in the 
> coming period. It defines UFPJ's immediate goal as working to end the 
> war in Iraq, and outlines ways that we will work to link the war to a 
> broad range of connected issues, both foreign and domestic. The text 
> of this document can be found at 
> http://www.unitedforpeace.org/article.php?id=1872
>  
> *Program of Action: Delegates approved a range of proposals which, 
> taken together, constitute an ambitious and strategically focused 
> program of action for the coming 18 months. A summary of the program 
> proposals approved at the Assembly is at the bottom of this email; you 
> can find the full text of the proposals online at 
> http://meetups.radicaldesigns.org/proposals.php We will be contacting 
> you soon to get your input on implementation priorities among these 
> important campaigns and projects.
>   
> *New National Steering Committee: Delegates elected a new 41-person 
> Steering Committee to serve for the next 18 months. The new Steering 
> Committee represents a diverse mix of local and national groups, and a 
> wide range of constituencies; it is 56% people of color, 61% women, 
> 17% youth, 12% queer, and 51% local/regional groups, 49% national 
> organizations. Because the required percentage of youth (20%) and LGBT 
> people (15%) were not met the new Steering Committee will be adding 
> several other people to this body. A list of the new Steering 
> Committee members and the organizations they represent can be found at 
> http://www.unitedforpeace.org/article.php?id=1874 
>  
> *Revised Structure Document: Delegates approved a number of changes to 
> UFPJ's structure document, including adopting a requirement that 
> member groups make an annual financial contribution based on their 
> ability to pay; outlining the responsibilities and expectations of 
> Steering Committee members; and mandating the creation of a web-based 
> system for member groups, to be used for reporting, surveying, 
> information and resource sharing, as well as discussion and debate. 
> The full text of the revised structure document can be found at 
> http://www.unitedforpeace.org/article.php?id=1873
>  
> Throughout the weekend powerful cultural presentations added another 
> dimension to the gathering. In music, poetry and dance, the urgency of 
> the issues was expressed and the emotions that so many of us feel were 
> tapped into as an energizing force. In a way rarely experienced at a 
> gathering like this, there was a powerful interweaving of art and 
> politics. Cultural presentations were made by a troop of student 
> dancers from Los Angeles, rap artists 144K Collective, poets Suheir 
> Hammad, Kathy Engel and Melanie Kaye/Kantrowitz, and by 
> musicians/singers Tiye Giraud, David Lippman, David Rovics and 
> Ukalalies for Sanity.
>
> And in a last minute change of plans, we were able to combine our 
> scheduled evening with Danny Glover with a presentation at St. Louis 
> University by Angela Davis.
>
> In addition to skill- and alliance- building workshops and several 
> time slots for networking, the Assembly also featured a range of 
> excellent speakers, including Phyllis Bennis of the Institute for 
> Policy Studies, Michael Hoffman from Iraq Veterans Against the War, 
> Mr. Konishi who is a survivor of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and 
> the following panelists:
>
> "What Will It Take to End the War in Iraq - A Strategic Discussion" 
> Moderated by Felicia Eaves of Black Voices for Peace and Amy Quinn of 
> the Institute for Policy Studies, presentations were made by Nancy 
> Lessin of Military Families Speak Out, David Cline of Veterans for 
> Peace, Fred Mason of the DC/MD AFL-CIO and co-convenor or US Labor 
> Against the War, Maleena Lawrence of Organized Community of United 
> People in Oakland, Terry O'Neill from the National Organization for 
> Women, Rahul Mahajan of Third Coast Activist Resource Center and Tom 
> Hayden, activist and author.
>
> "Building Alliances - Challenges to Our Movement" Moderated by Damu 
> Smith of Black Voices for Peace, presentations where made by George 
> Friday of the Independent Progressive Politics Network, Cliff Suk-Jae 
> Lee of Young Koreans United of USA, Angela Sanbrano of CARECEN in Los 
> Angeles, and Howard Wallace from Pride At Work.
>
>  "The Artist and Social Change" Moderated by Rev. Osagyefo Sekou on 
> the UFPJ National Staff, this session was a discussion between three 
> artists/activists: Danny Glover, Suheir Hammad and Tiye Giraud.
>
>
> All told, it was an exciting, powerful weekend; a gathering that 
> re-energized everyone and gave new focus to our work to end the Iraq 
> War and resist the Bush Administration's agenda. Without a doubt, the 
> anti-war movement is becoming broader, more diverse, and more 
> strategic -- together we will bring the troops home!
>
>  from the National Staff, UFPJ
>
>  ----------------------------------------------------------
> SUMMARY OF PROGRAM PROPOSALS APPROVED AT THE ASSEMBLY
>
> At the United for Peace and Justice National Assembly in St. Louis, 
> Delegates at the United for Peace and Justice  from UFPJ member groups 
> approved the six Level #1 and fourteen Level #2 proposals.
>
>  Level #1 proposals are programs and campaigns that will form the main 
> work of UFPJ in the coming period. Level #2 proposals are campaigns 
> organized and led by member organizations or allies of UFPJ, which we 
> will support through website publicity, email announcements, and/or 
> other similar means.
>  Level #1 Proposals:
>  
>
> GRASSROOTS EDUCATION CAMPAIGN
>
> A full-scale education campaign to reach potential new allies and 
> expand our base. It launches with teach-ins on March 24, 2005, the 
> 40-year anniversary of the first Vietnam War teach-in. An education 
> working group will be created to develop the long-term educational 
> strategy to reach new constituencies.
>
>   
>
> OPPOSING THE USE OF THE NATIONAL GUARD IN IRAQ
>
>  A campaign of state-by-state local organizing and action focusing on 
> the deployment of the National Guard. Tactics will include local 
> resolutions, referenda, and hearings before state legislatures and 
> other local/state political bodies on the local impacts of the war in 
> Iraq. This organizing is designed to highlight the many local costs of 
> the war and build local/state-based pressure to oppose the use of the 
> National Guard in the Iraq War.
>
>  
>
> SUPPORTING CLERGY AND LAITY CONCERNED ABOUT IRAQ
>
> A campaign to extend and strengthen antiwar work with faith-based 
> institutions, leaders, and communities. The campaign will include 
> support for Clergy and Laity Concerned about Iraq; organizing or 
> co-sponsoring a series of faith-based activities; and highlighting the 
> moral bankruptcy of the war through printed materials, website 
> content, and email alerts.
>
>  
>
> HIGHLIGHTING THE LOCAL COSTS OF THE WAR
>
> A community-based education and direct action campaign to raise 
> awareness about the indirect costs of the war in Iraq as reflected in 
> reduced funding for basic human needs in our communities. Antiwar 
> activists will create alliances with local groups whose programs are 
> facing cuts or closure, in order both to save the programs and educate 
> the public about the impact of the war on their local community.
>
>   
>
> PRESSURING CONGRESS & ELECTED OFFICIALS TO BRING THE TROOPS HOME
>
> A campaign of street protests, sit-ins, face-to-face lobbying, call-in 
> days, and other actions to pressure Congress and other elected 
> officials to oppose the war in Iraq. A working group will be formed to 
> design and carry out this campaign, developing creative materials to 
> assist member groups in this work, sharing relevant information, and 
> coordinating with ally organizations that do legislative work.
>
>   
>
> SEPTEMBER MOBILIZATION AGAINST THE WAR
>
> A major grassroots mobilization in New York City to demonstrate the 
> breadth and depth of U.S. popular opposition to the Iraq War, on the 
> occasion of the 60th anniversary of the United Nations and the 
> Millennium+5 Summit, which will bring heads of state to New York City.
>  
>  
>  
> Level #2 Proposals:
>
> STOP TORTURE NOW
>  Provide website publicity and support to the efforts by the Center 
> for Theology and Social Analysis, via the STOPTORTURENOW.ORG website, 
> to promote direct action around the issue of torture and illegal 
> detention. Support might include nonviolence training.
>
> WAR TAX RESISTANCE
>  Support the Hang Up on War telephone tax resistance campaign through 
> website publicity, endorse the use of the Peace Tax Return, and issue 
> a call for protest actions at IRS offices and post offices on April 
> 15.
>
> TAXES FOR PEACE
>  Endorse the campaign for a Religious Freedom Peace Tax Fund, 
> extending the right of conscientious objection to taxpayers, and 
> provide publicity to local and/or national campaign actions.
>
> COUNTERING RECRUITMENT IN THE SCHOOLS THROUGH SCHOOL DISTRICT AND CITY 
> RESOLUTIONS
>  Encourage member groups to take an active role in promoting school 
> district and city resolutions to ban military recruitment in schools 
> and make opt-out forms and military alternatives available to 
> students.
>
> COUNTER-RECRUITMENT CAMPS
>  Endorse and publicize the series of counter-recruitment camps being 
> organized by the National Youth and Student Peace Coalition in early 
> summer 2005.
>
> TENT STATE UNIVERSITY
>  Endorse and publicize the "Tent State University" actions being 
> organized nationwide in April 2005, which oppose war spending and 
> demand full funding for public higher education. 
>
> "CHALLENGING HOMELAND REPRESSION" CONFERENCE AND MOBILIZATION
>  Provide publicity and support for a fall 2005 conference and 
> mobilization to build bridges of solidarity between existing human 
> rights groups, civil liberties groups, and affected communities.
>
> GLOBAL JUSTICE ACTIONS 2005
>  Endorse, publicize, and bring an anti-war focus to key global justice 
> actions in 2005, including the IMF/World Bank mobilization (April 
> 15-17); Bio-Dev Actions Against Bio-Weapons and War (June 18-20); G8 
> Summit (July); FTAA meeting (November); SOA Vigil and Direct Action 
> (Nov. 18-20); national call-in day on WTO takeover of energy services; 
> and the WTO Ministerial (December).
>
>  PEOPLE'S RATIFICATION OF THE KYOTO GLOBAL WARMING TREATY
>  Publicize and support the Climate Crisis Coalition's grassroots 
> petition campaign in support of the Kyoto Global Warming Treaty.
>
> YEAR OF REMEMBRANCE AND ACTION FOR A NUCLEAR-FREE WORLD
>  Support and publicize the World Mayors' Emergency Campaign to Ban 
> Nuclear Weapons; issue a call for nationally coordinated days of 
> action on August 6 and 9; and support a U.S. delegation to Hiroshima 
> and Nagasaki for the August 6-9 commemorations.
>
> TAKING THE "NO BLOOD FOR OIL" SLOGAN TO THE CAR COMPANIES
>  Providing listserv and email publicity for the twice-annual days of 
> action at Ford dealerships organized by the Jumpstart Ford campaign, 
> highlighting the links between America's oil addiction and the Iraq 
> War.
>
> WEAPONS WATCH
>  Support and publicize the "Weapons Watch" campaign and actions being 
> organized through the US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation, 
> Jewish Voices for Peace, and others, including the April 13 National 
> Day of Action Against Caterpillar.
>
> ENDING THIS WAR AND PREVENTING ANOTHER: CUBA EDUCATIONAL CAMPAIGN
>  Promote and publicize educational activities and materials about 
> aggression against Cuba and other countries threatened with 
> pre-emptive strikes by the United States.
>
> SOLIDARITY WITH THE DEMOCRATIC STRUGGLES OF THE HAITIAN PEOPLE
>  Provide website and email publicity to campaigns and days of action 
> developed by the Haiti Action Committee in solidarity with the 
> struggles of the Haitian people. 
>
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