[Peace] AWARE minutes 4-18-04

[Peter Rohloff]

Peter Rohloff facilitated.

I. Introductions

II. Conversation with Surichai Wun'gao Wankaeo, Professor of Sociology 
from Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand. He had much to say 
about neoliberal strategies of the current government in Thailand, 
efforts at media reform, etc.

III. Kate Stepansky reported on Student Peace Action's current 
activities. She brought materials from last week's "April Insanity" 
ROTC recruiting event and reported on a group of advertising students  
who have been hired by the ROTC program to develop targeted advertising 
for this campus. SPA is planning several events to target recruiting, 
the Armory, etc. On April 29th from 11:45-1 pm they will be staging a 
die-in at the Armory. Help and participants are needed! Contact 
kstepans at uiuc.edu for more information.

IV. News of the Week with Carl. To be posted separately.

V. Working Groups
(a) Treasurer report--Peter will contact Linda to determine what should 
be done with collected money while she is out.
(b) Prospect for Peace--Will be held the first Saturday in May (May 
1st) from 2-4 pm, corner of Marketview and Prospect, Champaign.
(c) Lawyer situations. Blocking objections have been raised to the use 
of Gerstein as a lawyer. Much conversation about whether AWARE needs a 
lawyer, many think that AWARE members need to start doing their 
homework--bringing video equipment to protests, pressing charges, 
filing complaints, etc etc. Not much was resolved, although it was 
decided to: (1) move discussion of specific items, such as a formal 
letter to the police department, into a working group (2) to continue 
looking for a lawyer acceptable to all. A large working group needs to 
be formed to deal with this, since it involves a lot of work. Carl and 
Ricky had been working on things, but many more need to help to get 
things done. Email them directly to get involved.
(d) Tabling/literature. Next major tabling event is the Taste of 
Champaign, June 25-27. Much new literature is needed to make this a 
good event. Contact Peter at rohloff at uiuc.edu if you are willing to 
start working on making/finding new literature.

V. Consponsorships
International Solidarity Movement--probably coming to Champaign first 
week of May. Date and venue being negotiated. Peter is working on this. 
No objection to sponsoring of this event by AWARE.

Michael Ruppert--some discussion about cosponsoring a talk by him. 
Objections raised by Carl. Carl and others agreed to post relevant 
literature to the discuss list so that the group would be informed 
enough to make a decision at the next meeting.

Postcards for Peace: Peter/Carol/Sandra/others have been discussing 
having another one of these benefits. Probably in September. All 
details yet to be determined. If you are interested in being in this 
working group, email Peter at rohloff at uiuc.edu

VI. Upcoming events

--Estabrook Talk "The Continuities of American Policy" April
21, 7 pm, Channing-Murray
--Amy Goodman WEFT benefit, Illinois Disciples Foundation,
April 23, 6:15 pm
--Justice for Palestine Event: Hip Hop for Palestine (The Iron Sheik), 
April
23, 9 pm, YMCA.
--Justice for Palestine Event: The Tale of the Two Occupations, 6:30pm,
Allen Hall, April 26
--Justice for Palestine Event: Mike Miles and David Rovics, 8pm, Allen 
Hall,
April 26
--Liberation Education Conference --  Beth. April 30-May 2
--Estabrook Talk "The Coming October Suprise" May 5, 7 pm,
Channing-Murray
--Taste of Champaign, June 25 (5-9 pm), June 26 (11 am-9 pm),
June 27 (12-5 pm). Westside Park. Tabling!




______________________________
Peter Rohloff, PhD
Laboratory of Molecular Parasitology
Medical Scholars Program
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign