[Peace] AWARE minutes 2/9/03

[patton paul]

News of the Week:
Carl gave a report and will be posting a summary separately as usual.

Urbana City Council resolution:
Last monday the vote was taken on the anti-war resolution in the Urbana
City Council.  It passed.  Urbana is the 66th town or city nationwide to
have passed a resolution opposing the invasion of Iraq (see
citiesforpeace.org).  City Council member Danielle Chynoweth said she was
impressed by the number persons who spoke in favor of the resolution, and
the caliber of their arguments.

Danielle has been invited by the Center for Policy Studies to join
representatives of other city councils that have passed anti-war
resolutions to hand deliver the resolution to the steps of the White House
in Washington D. C..  The group will also be meeting with several members
of congress.  The group will also be traveling to New York to meet with
members of the New York City Council that plan to introduce a resolution
against war with Iraq.  Their visit will coincide with the major anti-war
demonstration in New York on February 15.  Danielle asked for an
allocation of $300.00 from AWARE to help cover her expenses on this trip.
Al Kagan suggested that the city of Urbana be contacted about providing
for these expenses, but in case this doesn't work AWARE will provide the
money.  Danielle also requested that someone should write a press release
about this.

Heraldo Rosellas of the Human Relations Commission in Champaign has
suggested to Danielle the Human Relations Commission might vote favorably
on an anti-war resolution.

The possibility of introducing a second resolution opposing the USA
Patriot Act was also discussed.  Carl Estabrook said he has already
prepared a draft for such a resolution and wants to work on this.

Prospect for Peace:
80 people showed up at this weeks Prospect for Peace.  There were also
about 50 new signs made by people at the sign making party last wednesday.
Particularly memorable was the artists rendering of Colin Powell's
evidence (as a pile of crap).  Al Kagan suggested that some changes need
to be made to AWARE's Iraq flier.  Making a large banner to hold on the I-74
overpass sidewalk was also discussed.

Lawn signs:
We are currently out of "No Iraq War" yard signs but Jeff Sowers is
expecting another shipment shortly, and will be announcing a sign assembly
party when they arrive.  If you want a yard sign contact

Jeff Sowers
384-0945
jeffsowers at swissinfo.org

or

Carol Inskeep
344-9155
inskeep at alexia.lis.uiuc.edu

Upcoming events:
Dan Dale will give an activist forum presentation at the
Illinois Disciples Foundation on Feb. 13 from 7-9:00 pm.  His topic will
be 'A Life Committed to Liberation Theology and the Social Gospel'.

American-Israeli writer and fundraiser Emily Hauser will speak on Peace
Activism From an Israeli Perspective on sunday, Feb. 16th at 4:00 pm at
the Urbana Independent Media Center.


a talk on building alternatives in Guatamala will be given on Feb. 17 from
7-9:00 pm at the IDF.

The Fellowship for Reconciliation will be giving a workshop entitled 'From
Violence to Wholeness' on the principles of active non-violence Feb.
21-22.  If you are interested, contact Charlotte Green
for a registration form.

The Center for African Studies Sixth Annual UIUC Graduate Student
Conference will be on the topic 'Dismantling the Myths of Africa in the
21st Century'.  Feb 28-Mar 1 at Temple Hoyne Buell Hall on the University
of Illinois campus.

The DuBois/MillerComm Lecture: The Role of the African Diaspora and
African States in the Struggle Against White Minority Rule in South Africa
will be held Tuesday, Feb. 11 4:00 pm on the third floor of the Levis
Faculty Center.

WILL TV will present a series of films about Africa in February at 9:30 pm
on sunday nights  'Faat Kine' Feb. 9, 'Tales of Ordinary People' Feb 16
'Daresalam' Feb. 23.

Saturday Feb. 15 is an international day of resistance against the US war
with Iraq.  Major demonstrations will be held in New York City and
Chicago, and those who wish to remain in Urbana-Champaign can join the
Prospect for Peace demonstration at the corner of Prospect and Market View
in Chamapaign from 2:00-4:00pm

on Friday Feb. 14 there will be an anti-war get together/discussion/party
at 707 W. High Street at 9:00 pm.  The get-together is intented to bring
together student and community peace activists.  There will be sign making,
poster making, petition signing, information sharing, and discussion.  The
following night (saturday, Feb 15.), there will be a party at the same
location.  This is intended to be a big party for everybody, so invite all
your friends.  The posters and banners and other things accomplished at the
first get together will be displayed.  There is a requested donation of
$5.00 to attend either event.  Beer will be served.

We all hope that the American and international peace movement, together
with the governments of Germany, France, and Russia will succeed in stopping
Bush from invading Iraq.  If we don't, there will be a demonstration in
the park at the corner of University and State Street in Champaign from
5-9:00 pm on the day the day the war 'officially' starts.