[Peace-discuss] What about AWARE?

[C. G. Estabrook]

[This is from 10 years ago.]

QUESTION: What steps do you think people who oppose this war should take now?

CHOMSKY: There is no question that people of conscience must take action against 
this. What can we do to end this war? Same thing as always, there's no magical 
trick. It requires education, explanation, organising, demonstrating, exerting 
pressure... all things that we know. And this is very hard to do; it's not like 
flipping on a light switch. It takes work.


Morton K. Brussel wrote:
> On this anniversary of the attack on Afghanistan, I feel despair and 
> frustration. Although there have been anti-war/occupation events sprinkled
> around the country, if not elsewhere, in this community there is little
> activity.
> 
> For a considerable time, AWARE was a community focus of anti-war efforts, but
> AWARE has by now essentially disappeared as a vital activist organization:
> Few attend its meetings, too few to constitute an effective activist
> organization. At best, and usefully, there is a virtual—email based—AWARE,
> but that is not an effective organizational tool. A few individuals continue
> to act, to inform about activities in the community and elsewhere, and to
> write about and analyze current events. But it has been difficult to ignite
> what was formerly a large community contingent repelled by our government's
> bellicosity. Film presentations and occasional invited guest speakers have
> been educational, but even these events usually have not been well attended,
> and then only by those already rather committed to our points of view . Even
> the AWARE table at the Farmers Market and the One Main demonstrations have
> had trouble sustaining themselves.
> 
> So what can be done?  Do we give up on AWARE? Can there be a revival of a
> significant visible anti-war effort in U-C? How might it be organized?
> 
> Or do we just plod on?
> 
> What do others think?
> 
> It is a sad story, and perhaps not unique to us.
> 
> My thoughts. --mkb