[Peace] AWARE minutes 2.22.04

[bokhari]

please make corrections where needed...


AWARE minutes, February 22 2004


I.	News of the Week presented by Carl Estabrook
II.	Amnesty International Conference – Danielle Schumacher came and presented 
to AWARE about the upcoming Amnesty Int’l conference entitled “Local Solutions 
to Global Problems” which will be held on March 6 and 7 at the University YMCA 
and is free and open to the public.  The first 100 people to show up and 
register get free meals through the conference.  AWARE can have a table at the 
conference to hand out information, contact Danielle for more info 
(dlschuma at uiuc.edu).  She asked for monetary assistance ($150) to pay for the 
plane tickets for speakers flying in from Mexico who’ll be talking about 
indigenous rights.  But noted that “getting people to the conference” is 
currently the main goal.  Keynote speaker for the event is Belden Fields.  
Mark Weisbrot will also be speaking on Human Rights in Venezuela.  There was 
discussion on organizing an additional workshop on World Bank Bonds with Mark 
Weisbrot, Michael Goldman and Al Kagan.
III.	Alternative Spring Break – Nick Fabek came to speak about a trip which is 
going to the Anatoth Community Farms in Luck Wisconsin.  About 10 students 
from UIUC will be going to work and learn on this farm during spring break 
about activism and sustainable agriculture.  He said the experience will be a
“weeklong plunge into non-violence education” and asked AWARE if they’d like 
to be a sponsor for the students group.  The group needs to raise $200 before 
leaving at the end of March.  There is more information about ASB at 
www.uiuc.edu/ro/asb and more information about the community farms at 
www.airstreamcomm.net/~anathoth
IV.	Linda Evans reported that AWARE currently has $2400.04 in its account.  
V.	P4P – Ricky Baldwin reported that the next P4P will be held on March 6, 
2-4pm @ North Prospect (dress warmly and remember not to park at Tires Plus or 
the Hobby shop).  Volunteers will be calling a partial list of supporters to 
remind them to come out on Saturday.   There was a discussion on either 
meeting with a lawyer before meeting with the police or to go directly to 
meeting with the police to discuss issues of consistency and the right to 
protest.  The lawyer will cost $100/hour.  Members of AWARE decided that 
meeting with a lawyer would be a better option and that action should be taken 
ASAP.  That was the final decision, but a few points which came up during the 
discussion were finding out if there were any Law students from UIUC who might 
want to help, possibly finding a lawyer who is less “spikey” or “eccentric” 
and it was advised to move forward with this in a way that would create 
publicity, not a simple quiet resolution.
VI.	Anti “Chief” Working Group – Linda Evans went to the PRC meeting last 
week, urged everyone to write letters to the Board of Trustees and Newspapers.
 As part of the Anti-“Chief” month there was a showing of “In Whose Honor” 
before the AWARE meeting in which there was a good and diverse turnout.  There 
will be a protest on March 10 and 11
VII.	Red Roots – Lisa Chason contacted the group but has not received a 
response yet.  Danielle Schumacher let the group know that a member of Red 
Roots will be coming to the Amnesty International meeting on Tuesday at 8pm at 
the University YMCA to talk about human rights in relation to the “chief” and 
Native Americans
VIII.	Citizens Police Review Board – Ken Urban reported that there will be a 
meeting on Tuesday at 7pm @ the IDF and stated “be careful what t-shirts you 
wear”
IX.	March 20 Action – Durl Kruse reported on the plans to hold a 3 part event 
on the anniversary of the official start of the Iraq War.  The first part 
would be a community event at a school or Lincoln Square Mall (location tbd).  
Mohammad Al-Heeti has agreed to speak.  This will start around 3pm and run for 
about half an hour.  From there the second part of the event will be a march 
to say “no to war”– route will be determined after the location for the first 
part is decided.   The final part of the event will be a rally at the 
Champaign courthouse.  If anyone has ideas for good speakers for the rally 
please email the working group.
X.	Veterans and their Families Speak out – Al Kagan reported on the April 1st 
event starting at 7pm at the Champaign Public Library.  The keynote is 
Rosemary Slovinas.  Joe Miller and Paul King will also speak.  Rosemary wants 
to fly down and asked if AWARE would be willing to cover half her airfare 
($265).  The group took this into consideration with costs of flyers and 
publicity and requested $250 for the event.  There were no objections and the 
$ went to the working group
XI.	Upcoming Events
a.	March Primary Forum will be this Thursday, February 26 at 404 Illini Union.
 Ricky Baldwin and Peter Miller will be among the speakers.  They will be 
talking about the candidates positions on various issues.
b.	Active Non-Violence Training workshop will be held at the Channing Murray 
on March 5 and 6.  For more info, contact Pat Fettig, 356-8136, 
pfettig at prairienet.org.
c.	Dennis Kucinich will be speaking at the Illini Union rooms ABC on March 15 
8pm
d.	Illinois Primary is March 16
e.	Carl Estabrook will be giving talks on April 7, 21 and May 5
f.	Amy Goodman will be in Chicago on March 2 and 3.  The first talk will be at 
UIC and the second will be at the downtown Chicago Public Library.  See the 
Democracy Now! Website for more details on this free event
XII.	New Business
a.	There was a discussion on creating a website or contest for people to 
create new names for UIUC’s sports teams.  Women Against Racism did a similar 
campaign.
b.	Anyone interested in doing an interview for a research project on group 
dynamics and formation in social activism groups should email Sara at 
bokhari at uiuc.edu
c.	Bill Taylor has a restored barn which could be used as a retreat center in 
the Spring if anyone is interested
XIII.	Adjourn at 6:31pm.  If anyone has agenda items for next week, please 
send them to Mort (brussel4 at insightbb.com)