[Peace] AWARE notes, Feb. 15, 2004

[Charlotte Green]

AWARE notes, Feb. 15, 2004

Facilitator:	Randall Cotton
Time Keeper: Lisa Chason
Notes: Charlotte Green

Please feel free to make additions or corrections.

Ralph Langenheim, one of the candidates for
representative in the U.S. Congress in the next
election, spoke to us.  He feels that the Iraq war was
misconceived, that there was no plan laid out for
after the war, and that weapons of mass destruction
being produced in Iraq were a joke.  He thinks there
is no way that the U.S. can establish a democratic
society there with such diverse groups of people,
including Kurds, Shiites, and Sunni Muslims.  Ralph
thinks that the U.S. should get out of Iraq as soon as
possible and should invite the UN to take over.  When
he was asked to compare himself to David Gill, another
Democratic candidate for representative, Ralph said
that he has more experience than his opponent.  Ralph
is a retired military officer and a scientist.  He has
worked on many environmental issues and has had
extensive experience working for U. S. AID in Iran,
Albania, Taiwan, and Colombia.  Ralph’s position on
health care is similar to David Gill’s, i.e. he would
support a single pay federal insurance similar to
Canada’s system.   On the issue of Israel/Palestine,
Ralph said that Israel’s interests are not the same as
ours.  Israel is treating the Palestinians in the same
fashion as the U.S. has treated Native Americans.  He
would support a UN resolution that Israel withdraw
from the Occupied Territories.  On the issue of
globalization, Ralph said that the U.S. should not
withdraw from the World Trade Organization and the
International Monetary Fund, but should look at those
institutions critically.   Ralph said that the U.S.
should quit exporting jobs.  He offered as a solution
that the U.S. could tax corporations in proportion to
the profits beyond what they would make if they were
manufacturing their products on U.S. soil.

Carl Estabrook reported on the news of the week.

Linda Evans reported that AWARE has a total of
$2,728.04.  AWARE is grateful for a recent anonymous
donation of $500.   $250 has yet to be paid to WILL
for underwriting because AWARE has not been billed
yet.

We agreed to pay $250 to be a sponsor of the Public I
and to contribute $100 to the Progressive R/Action
Coalition (PRC) for its anti-chief campaign.

Sara Bokhari suggested that AWARE contact and work
with Red Roots, a recently organized Native American
group on campus.  Lisa Chason will contact Siobhan
Beaver to see if someone from Red Roots would like to
speak at an AWARE meeting.  Contact info for Red
Roots: Siobhan-- beaver at law.uiuc.edu and
Genevieve--tenoso at uiuc.edu.

Ricky Baldwin reported on Prospect for Peace
demonstrations.  He is planning on asking people to
make phone calls to encourage folks to participate in
the next demonstration on March 6.  Sharon is still
trying to contact a lawyer who can accompany members
of AWARE when they meet with the police regarding
safety issues at the demonstrations.

Mort Brussels, Mike Simon, and Randall Cotton attended
a well-organized press conference which PRC held last
week to kick-off its month-long anti chief campaign.  
(The Board of Trustees will vote on retiring or
retaining the chief at its meeting on March 11.)  
Several organizations have scheduled showings of the
video, “In Whose Honor?”, an award-winning documentary
aired nationally on PBS, which takes a critical look
at the long-running practice of “honoring” American
Indians by using them as mascots and nicknames in
sports.  AWARE is scheduled to show and discuss “In
Whose Honor?” on Sun., Feb. 22 at the IMC.  Other
activities, including prayers, flag songs, a press
conference, and a rally are planned for March 10 and
11.  Bus loads of Native Americans will be coming from
upstate and elsewhere for these activities.  For more
info on anti-chief events, contact PRC at 352 8721 or
prc at prairienet.org.

Ken Urban reported on the Coalition for Citizen Police
Review, which is planning an event in April to build
public support for a Citizen Police Review Board.  The
coalition plans to bring a resolution to form such a
board before the Urbana City Council in April.  The
Coalition holds meetings the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of
every month at 7 PM at the Illinois Disciples
Foundation.  

Durl Kruse reported on plans to mark the anniversary
of the beginning of the Iraq War, which will be March
20.  Plans are being made for a community memorial
gathering to be held late in the afternoon, including
speakers and music, followed by a public march/walk
which would end up at the court house with a rally. 
Striking visuals with large pictures of Iraqi citizens
and U.S. soldiers who have lost their lives in the war
will be used in the march.  The varied activities will
provide the community with options for participating
in either the memorial and/or the march.  The working
group is considering either the civic center or a
church in Urbana as a place for the memorial
gathering. 

Neal from Student Peace Action reported that they are
planning a vigil on March 14, 7-7:45 PM on the Quad,
also to commemorate the anniversary of the beginning
of the Iraq war.  Their event is taking place before
March 20 because students will be on spring break on
that date.  AWARE will publicize the Quad event in
addition to the March 20th memorial gathering and
march.

Linda Evans submitted a 1/2-page ad for the Black
Women’s Achievement Dinner program.  Cost is $55.  A
special thanks goes to Peter Rohloff, who kindly
designed the ad on short notice.  If anyone would like
to represent AWARE at the dinner, please contact Linda
Evans at veganlinda at yahoo.com.

Al Kagan reported on plans for an event to be held at
the Champaign Public Library on Thurs., April 1 at 7
PM, featuring Rosemary Slovenas, the mother of a
soldier who lost his life in the Iraq war.  Rosemary
is an anti-war activist from Rockford, IL and a member
of Military Families Speak Out.  Paul King, an AWARE
member and a veteran, and Joe Miller from Vietnam
Veterans Against the War will also speak.

Neal reported that Student Peace Action is organizing
a campaign against Coke.  The main union in the Coke
plants in Columbia claim that Coke is complicit with
right wing paramilitary groups in murdering and
harassing labor union members.  Coke is also
overdrawing water in India, and soft drinks there have
unacceptable levels of pesticides and other toxic
materials.  Public pressure may prevent the renewal of
the university’s contract with Coke.  

Ken Urban spoke about his October surprise website,
which speculates on possible scenarios of what Bush
might do before the election.  Ken noted that Bush’s
ratings rise when his war activities increase.  Thus
folks wonder if Bush will exaggerate terrorist threats
or even initiate attacks against other nations in
order to increase his popularity.  Ken’s website is
octobersurprise2004.info.

A workshop on active nonviolence will be held on March
5-6 at Channing Murray, 1209 W. Oregon, Urbana.  Peter
and Rebecca Rohloff from AWARE lead some of the
sessions.  For more info, contact Pat Fettig,
356-8136, pfettig at prairienet.org.

The March Primaries Forum will be held on Feb. 26 at 7
PM at the Illini Union.  Speakers will discuss the
candidates’ positions on issues, including civil
rights, health, and foreign policy.  Ricky Baldwin
will represent AWARE.

Mort Brussels stated that Kucinich will be speaking on
Monday, March 15 at the Illini Union in Rooms A, B, &
C at 7 PM.  Anyone wishing to make phone calls to
publicize Kucinich’s speech can contact Mort. 

Carl Estabrook will be giving talks at Channing-Murray
on April 7 & 21 and on May 5.

Belden Fields will be the speaker at the Friday Forum
at the University YMCA on Feb. 20 at noon.  His topic
is “Democracy and Human Rights: The Nature of the
Relationship.”

Al Kagan reported that a working group is composing
four different commentaries, which will eventually air
on WILL.  This is one of the benefits of AWARE’s
underwriting of WILL’s programming.

Sara Bokhari stated that she is going to be doing a
research paper on social movements.  She asked for
volunteers who would be willing to fill out a
questionnaire and to be interviewed for her project. 
If interested, contact her at bokhari at uiuc.edu.

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