[Peace] AWARE meeting notes- 6/23/02

[patton paul]

The meeting began with a discussion of student activism, and how to get
more students involved in the anti-war movement.  It was mentioned that
students are active in a number of progressive related movements on campus
including GEO, the anti-sweatshop campaign, the anti-Chief movement, and
the Palestinian support movement, but their is little student involvement
in the peace movement including AWARE.  There was discussion on how AWARE
could get a booth for quad day in the fall.  Carl Estabrook mentioned
that the Greens already have already reserved a space for quad day, and
might be willing to share it with AWARE.  There was also some discussion
of outreach to local high schools, and groups such as Centennial High
School's Students for World Improvement.  Michael Walcher and Robert Dunn
are starting a working group on student involvement.

Carl Estabrook gave a News of the Week update, and will be posting the
info to the list.  He also announced that his congressional campaign now
has 7,500 signatures for his placement on the ballot.  Further information
on Carl's campaign can be be found at www.carlforcongress.org.

Ladies and Laddies against War (LLAW) continues to meet to protest every
Saturday at 12:30- 1:30 pm on Prospect at the I-74 overpass.  Willamine
protested at the Farmer's Market on saturday.  David Green wrote a letter
to the editor in the current issue of the Citiview.

Ahmed Bensouda was given an open bond hearing and has been released from
jail on bond.  His deportation hearing has not yet been scheduled.  He
will remain in Chicago, but will come down to Urbana-Champaign to talk to
us at some point.  Supporters who protested his detention appear to have
played a major role in bringing about this outcome.

Someone mentioned an article titled "The Decline of Language in pre-Nazi
Germany"  which describes how the misuse of language allowed the Nazi's to
commit abuses without technically violating previously established German
laws.

Lisa Chason reported on progress in preparing for AWARE's participation in
the 4th of July parade.  The permits and other bureaucratic aspects of
participation have been taken care of, but no flatbed truck has so far
been found to use for the float.  The assembly point for the parade is at
Lincoln and Nevada and AWARE's float is #49.  The most well developed idea
so far involves the theme of "walk to the beat of a different drummer".
This float would feature a group of people reading mainstream newspapers
and other media in unison to the beat of a drum, representing the beat of
war.  Following them would be a bunch of people playing their own drums
and carrying banners with the URL's of various alternative media,
representing the beat of freedom.  Lisa also cautioned that she will be
unable to participate in the parade herself due to other committments, and
that there needs to be some person to pull things together.

Vicki Ann Ansermet distributed some very nifty fliers for the AWARE
benefit.  The benefit will be held on July 4 from 5:00-9:00 pm in Crystal
Lake Park at the large pavilion behind the lakehouse.  A number of local
entertainers will perform.

We also discussed a number of possible improvements to the AWARE website,
including making .pdf files of posters and other AWARE documents available
for download, creating links to other area peace groups, creating a page
for each AWARE working group, and adding capabilities for online
donations.
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Dr. Paul Patton
Post-Doctoral Research Associate
Beckman Institute  Rm 3027  405 N. Mathews St.
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign  Urbana, Illinois 61801
work phone: (217)-265-0795   fax: (217)-244-5180
home phone: (217)-328-4064
homepage: http://www.staff.uiuc.edu/~ppatton/index.html

"The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious.  It is the
source of all true art and science."
-Albert Einstein
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