[Peace] meeting notes April 21, 2002

[raiafink]

Notes from AWARE Meeting - Sunday April 21, 2002
14 in attendance

ANNOUNCEMENTS
Previous Week:
-Palestinian Solidarity Rally took place last Wed. to counter Israeli 
Independance Day celebration on quad. About 300 in attendance.
-Annual Hash Wednesday Gathering turned into a great discussion on civil 
rights with student ACLU present. Was well attended.
-Quad was crawling with police last wednesday due to above simultaneous 
events.
-Michael Moore spoke @ U of I. Thanks to Jim Buell for Michael Moore's support 
of Carl Estabrook and Green Party

Coming Up:
-There will be silent gatherings to support Divestment from Israel every 
friday on the quad.
-Mideast dialogue group meets Thursdays 6pm at the campus YMCA.
-WAND update: Peter did solo interview. 1/2 hour program about AWARE will air 
may 5th at noon on WAND. (channel 17, cable channel 10)

WORKING GROUP REPORTS
Speakers' Bureau: 
-Decatur Church wants 3 speakers for 3 Sundays in may, invited by peacemaking 
committee. Jeff asked 5 people, 4 have agreed so far.
-Hannah Stevens invited an AWARE speaker for 5 minutes at the beginning of 
each service on sunday @ 9am & 11am at the Unitarian Church
 Matt & Carol tentatively volunteered.
-Doug Rokke to speak for Physicians for Social Responsibility? 
-Doug to speak on focus 580 soon?
-Aisha Sobh spoke @ a university class recently
-Pursuing Father Stewart Swetland to speak
-Anyone wanting to speak on speakers' bureau is invited.
-Marta going to Colombia this summer, will be available as a resource for 
related issues

L(L)AW:
4 people only this past saturday. noticed less anti-war support, more 
patriotic responses. Could be due to small group?
Still happening every saturday 12:30-1:30 meet at 409 N. Race at noon for a 
ride

Mutual Aid Pact:
Needs to work out contact mechanism. Has cards and leaflets available if 
needed.

Carl for Congress:
AWARE agreed to officially endorse Carl. Carl accepted AWARE's endorsement 
offer.
info and volunteer opportunities can be found at
www.carlforcongress.org
5,000+ signatures needed by mid June. 
currently have between 1,000 and 2,000 signatures

Israeli Reservist Tour:
Will present saturday may 25th
neither Urbana nor Champaign library space available
suggested locations include: Urbana Civic Center, Chrystal Lake Park, YMCA, 
Levis Faculty Center, Urbana H.S. Auditorium or Cafeteria

CURRENT EVENTS from CARL
full notes might be posted by Carl, maybe.
-French election, failure of new socialists.
-D.C. Demonstrations included mobilization for global justice, national 
mobilization on Colombia, ANSWER & internation action center, national youth &
   student peace coalition, and committee in solidarity with the Palestinian 
People. There was a small counter demonstration. Colombia solidarity group 
plans to do direct action in rush hour traffic today
-Palestine/Israel Conflict: more of the same. Actions are intellectually 
bankrupt
-Venezuela: coup continues as huge embarrassment to US. 
-US Senate refused to approve drilling in Alaska. Small victory.
-Discussion of Politics in US is misleading

DISCUSSION
Focused on Mideast.
Desires for AWARE in regard to Mideast: create an atmosphere where there are 
more than 2 sides and where people with opposing views actually respond in a 
manner that integrates listening and comprehension of other arguments.  Forums 
rather than dichotomous debates.  Encourage solutions eminating from outside 
of left brain thought processes.  Political Strategy creates accountability 
for even the most brutal and powerful people.
End US support of Israel by upholding accountability.

Collected money for space rental
Broke into working groups
the end.

There will be a shortened AWARE meeting Sunday April 28th at the IMC followed 
by 
AWARE benefit Show @ Highdive 8pm $5 cover
musical entertainment by:
Karina Lepeley & Sarah Carsey
Paul Kotheimer & friends
Loops & Lyrics by Otter
Rectangle