[Peace] AWARE minutes, Feb. 2, 2003

[Charlotte Green]

AWARE Minutes--Feb. 2, 2003

Submitted by Charlotte Green.  Please post any
additions or corrections.

Peter Rohloff facilitated the meeting.  

The Week’s Past Events

Student Peace Action had a teach-in on Wed., Jan.
29Th, which was well attended.  

Senator Peter Fitzgerald’s Visit

About 400 people attended Senator Fitzgerald’s meeting
at Centennial High School on Sun., Feb. 2, 1-2:30 PM. 
Although most questions from the audience concerned
health care, agriculture, and other similar issues,
several people raised questions about going to war in
Iraq.  Lisa Chason asked Senator Fitzgerald if he
would support Senate Resolution 32, which was (or will
be introduced by Senator Kennedy).  The resolution
states that before the president uses military force
against Iraq without broad support of the
international community, the president should
1)provide full support to the UN weapons inspectors to
facilitate their disarmament work, and 2) obtain
approval by Congress of new legislation authorizing
the president to use all necessary means, including
the use of military force, to disarm Iraq.  Senator
Fitzgerald responded that many in Congress are
concerned that the executive branch is gaining too
much power, and that he would look into supporting the
resolution.  Lisa encouraged people to write to
Senator Fitzgerald, asking his support of the
resolution.

Conscientious Objector Forum

The CO forum was held on Sun., Feb. 2 at the Champaign
County Library.    About 20-25 people attended. 
Speakers discussed how to register as a conscientious
objector, as well as a national campaign for a peace
tax fund (www.peacetaxfund.org) A big thanks to
Adrienne Bower for organizing the CO forum. 

Prospect for Peace

120 people were out on Prospect Ave. last Saturday for
our 17th weekly protest!  This is more than we have
ever had before.  We need more signs.  Some of them
are getting aged and torn.  Also, we didn’t have
enough signs because of the large number of people.  
Contact Peter Rohloff if you can help at a sign-making
party (rohloff at uiuc.edu). 

Urbana City Council Meeting

Kimberlie Kranich reported on the Urbana City Council
resolution opposing the war in Iraq.  Danielle
Chenowyth brought the resolution before the Urbana
City Council last Mon., Jan. 27.  Approximately 100
people attended; of those people, 96 were on record
for supporting the resolution; 4 people opposed it. 
At the end of the public input segment, the aldermen
voted 5-1 in support of the resolution.  This was a
straw vote; the city council will vote on Monday, Feb.
3 whether to pass the resolution or not.  

People are needed to attend the city council meeting
on Mon., Feb. 3 at 7:30 PM at the Urbana City
Building, 400 S. Vine, Urbana.  Although only two
people spoke in opposition to the resolution last
Monday, more people are expected to speak against it
at this meeting.  Kim suggested that people be ready
to speak at the meeting; however, we should respect
the council’s desire not to spend too much time on the
issue.  It was suggested that people sign up to speak
in support, but to pass if your concern has already
been addressed or if few people speak in opposition to
the resolution.  Two issues are especially important
to address: 1)that the war is a local issue, 2) that
we support our servicemen and women.  People should
try to get to the meeting early and fill out a yellow
slip saying who you are and what your position is on
the resolution.  This is to be given to the city clerk
who will be sitting on the left.

Day of War Event

Jeff Sowers reported on the day of war event.  In
event of a U.S. attack on Iraq, people should meet at
the corner of University and State Streets (West Side
Park), during the hours of 5-9 PM to show their
opposition to war.  Bring candles or flashlights for a
vigil, and Adrienne Bower will bring music for peace
songs.  Jeff is looking for a battery powered sound
system or karoke system.  If anyone has information re
this, please contact him at jeffsowers at swissinfo.org.

PRC is holding a similar event on the Quad at noon.  
Ricky Baldwin needs help making phone calls to alert
people to the day of war event.  Contact him at
baldwinricky at hotmail.com if you can make phone calls.

February 15 Day of Action

Feb. 15, 2003 has been designated as an international
day of action.  This was initiated by the European
movement.  United for Peace, a coalition of peace
groups, is organizing protests in NYC.  Carol Inskeep
asked if we should do anything special on that day at
our Prospect for Peace demonstrations.  One suggestion
was for people to hold a big banner across the
interstate and to do special press releases re the
international day of protest.  Contact people for the
event are Ricky Baldwin (baldwinricky at hotmail.com,
Carol Inskeep (inskeep at alexia.lis.uiuc.edu), or
Charlotte Green (chgreen48 at yahoo.com).

Announcements

Early Morning Protests

Ricky Baldwin reported that Stephen Francis, a Vietnam
vet, is interested in participating in early morning
(7:30 AM) demonstrations if others would be willing to
join him.  He is not able to make the Saturday
protests.   Contact Ricky Baldwin at
baldwinricky at hotmail.com if you are interested.

Peter Rohloff is compiling a list of friendly
churches.

Yard Sign Availability

Tom, Matthew, and Hannah helped Jeff Sowers put
together 150 signs.   The signs are very popular. 
They can be put up in the yard or in a window.  They
will be available at AWARE meetings, the IDF, the food
coop, Jeff Sower’s house (jeffsowers at swissinfo.org) or
Carol Inskeep’s (inskeep at alexia.lis.uiuc.edu).  Carol
is willing to deliver signs.  Jeff will order 300 more
signs, which will make 150 2-sided signs.

Anti-Racism Potluck

Anyone interested in discussing increasing racial
diversity in AWARE and working on racism issues in the
community is welcome to come to a potluck (6 PM) and
discussion (7 PM) at Carol Inskeep’s house, 606 E.
High, Urbana.

Active Nonviolence Training Workshop

This workshop, sponsored by Fellowship of
Reconciliation, will be held Feb. 21 22 at Channing
Murray Foundation.  Contact Sharon Dorsey, 344-3016 or
ayuda at prairienet.org for more info.

Teachers for Peace and Justice

Plans are being made for Bob McChesney to speak.

Activist Forum, IDF

A Life Committed to Liberation Theology and the Social
Gospel is the title of the Activist Forum held at the
IDF, Feb. 13, 7-9 PM.  Contact www.prairienet.org/idf
or 352-8721.

An Israeli Perspective on Peace Activism

Emily Hauser, an American-Israeli writer and
fundraiser, will discuss her understanding of the
ongoing conflict with the Palestinians from a
standpoint of Zionist peace activism on Sunday, Feb.
16 at 4 PM at the Independent Media Center, 218 w.
Main, Urbana.  David Green is organizing this event.  (davegreen48 at yahoo.com)

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