[Peace-discuss] AWARE Minutes, October 6th, 2005

[David Green]

AWARE Minutes, October 6, 2005

1. News of the Week (posted separately by Carl
Estabrook)

2. Introductions: 15-20 present

3. New Ideas

1. Church Presence: For purpose of dialogue and
promoting good will, during holiday season,
appropriate signs and handouts to promote dialogue;
News-Gazette’s Paul Wood has agreed to write an
article describing this activity to the community;
time between services on Sunday will be used, with
understanding of both Urbana and Champaign law
enforcement that we may stand on sidewalk; next
meeting, at the Kruses house, Monday November 21, 7
p.m.

Annette Williams expressed a hope for 20 to 30 people,
including Mennonites and Quakers to join AWARE
members; Mort Brussel referred to ambiguous response
from Pastor Smith of Grace Methodist; Karen Medina
sees this action as a form of outreach, relationship
building with religious community; Carl Estabrook
proposed that churches be encouraged invite members of
AWARE to discuss our concerns about war and listen to
their views; Mort expressed a concern about the
silence of churches regarding the war; 

2. Memorial for brother of Mohammed al-Heeti, recently
kidnapped and murdered in Iraq; “Voices from Iraq”
will include request for donations for expansion of
mosque.

3. Bill Taylor, longtime local media/low power radio
activist, encouraged attendance at that weekend’s WRFU
“barn-raising,” including workshops on use of
equipment, production, etc. Randall Cotton also
encouraged participation in this important and
long-awaited development of the Independent Media
Center; Wendy Edwards will document the event.

4. Working Groups

1. Finances: $2514

2. Farmers Market: 1 more Saturday outdoors

3. Main Event: 20 to 30 present this past Saturday,
including Charles Smythe of Urbana City Council; next
event, Dec. 3rd, 2-4. Need more leaflets.

4.  AWARE Presents: Stories from Iraq, November 16th
and 29th. On the 16th, Cliff Kindy will be coming from
Indiana on behalf of Christian Peacemaker Teams. There
is a request for a venue for him on that afternoon
(Wednesday), perhaps at a high school (Urbana or Uni).

Statement posted by Jan and Durl Kruse:
“STORIES FROM IRAQ”
A Muslim and Christian Perspective

Recently Champaign-Urbana resident Talha Al-Fayadh and
Indiana resident Cliff Kindy, a member of the
Christian Peace Maker Team, made separate trips to
Iraq.  They will share with the public what they
witnessed and learned during their visits.  Come and
hear what daily life is like for the typical Iraqi
living under U.S. occupation in “Stories from Iraq”.
Time will be provided for questions and answers from
the audience.

Wednesday, November 16, 7:00 p.m.
Urbana Free Library
(Corner of Race and Elm Streets)
“Talha Al-Fayadh and Cliff Kindy will both present at
this location.”

Tuesday, November 29, 7:00 p.m.
Community United Church of Christ (Corner of 6th
Street and Daniels) “Talha Al-Fayadh will be the
presenter at this location.”

Informational and resource materials will be
available.

Middle Eastern Refreshments Will Be Served!

(This program is brought to you by “AWARE Presents”
a working group of A.W.A.R.E, Anti-War Anti-Racism
Effort.)

Thanks for your help as we plan and work together.

Jan & Durl Kruse

5.  Counter-recruitment: Group met at Mort Brussel’s
house last night (Monday).

6. Holiday Village Market at Lincoln Square Mall: Our
application to table has been submitted but not yet
approved. They are requesting $40 per week (Urbana
Business Association), which was criticized as
exorbitant; nevertheless, proposal was made to go
ahead on a week by week basis, excluding Dec. 3rd,
week of Peace Bazaar. We will decide this Sunday on
whether to set up, if we are indeed invited. This runs
every Saturday from Nov. 19th to Dec. 24th.

7. Democracy Now! on WILL; according to Randall
Cotton, the meeting from months ago was never followed
up; he asked for a volunteer to renew contact with
Carl Caldwell, station manager, or David Thiel. The
cost for their running DN would be essentially free;
Bob Illyes suggested that it could also be carried on
WRFU if there was not enough local programming. In any
event, there is a sense that WILL is stonewalling any
further infusion of progressive programming. For
analysis, refer to Sunday’s interview with David
Barsamian by Bob McChesney:
http://www.will.uiuc.edu/am/mediamatters/default.htm


5. Past Week’s Events

1. The Illinois Disciples Foundation Dinner was a good
event, and well attended.

2. The Yossi Klein Halevi (right-wing Israeli
journalist) lecture was effectively leafleted by two
AWARE members, to a small-classroom audience of 30-35.

3. The Ted Rall lecture at Levis was well attended and
provocative (interview on WILL Focus 580 available
online
http://www.will.uiuc.edu/am/focus/archives/05/051031.htm).

6. Upcoming Events:

1. Judea Pearl, father of Daniel Pearl (see
http://zionismontheweb.org/Anti-Zionism_is_racism.htm,
for evidence of the appalling exploitation of Daniel
Pearl’s murder by “supporters of Israel”)

2. School of the Americas yearly vigil, Nov. 18-20.



		
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