[Peace] AWARE Minutes, August 7, 2005

[David Green]

AWARE Minutes, August 7, 2005

Facilitator: Durl Kruse
Minutes:     David Green

1. News of the Week: Carl Estabrook – Chomsky on
damage to nuclear non-proliferation treaty; comment by
Susan Davis on over 5,000 U.S. soldiers AWOL from Iraq
war; most Americans think Bush is a liar.

2.  Introductions: about 15 present

3.  New idea: Peace Listserves and an IMC website that
actually work on Insight BB. Because they’re not
working, complaints have been made to Chambana, and
Zach Miller is working on it. Please let Insight know
if you’re having a problem.

4. Working Groups:

Finances: Balance of $1,740 reflects $775 payment for
bus to D.C., most are all of which will be redeemed.

Farmers Market: For next week, we will be at the
Urbana Farmers Market from 7 to 10:30, and then move
to Douglas Park for C-U Days beginning at 11 until 6.
The emphasis there will be on counter-recruitment.

Durl Kruse had his car keyed due to an antiwar
sticker, and reported it to the police; he suggested
that we consider requesting that a security person be
present around the Farmers Market. 

Main Event: Several new demonstrators this past
Saturday; next event August 20th from 6 to 8.

September 24th: Publicity has begun through fliers on
kiosks, WEFT PSA, Letter to N-G, Public Square on
WILL, listserve, IMC website, etc. Need 50 riders.

Moves were made to establish a presence at Quad Day
(August 23rd) in order to publicize to UI students;
also, letter to DI. Need to check on status of AWARE
as registered student organization; either have
separate table, or join with Campus Greens & Student
Peace Action.

Counter-Recruitment: Susan Davis mentioned the
encampment of Goldstar Mothers for Peace at Bush’s
ranch. No further news on Parkland.

Public Square: WILL will no longer be carrying Public
Square commentaries on Saturday a.m., just twice on
Friday p.m. It was suggested that we ask them to carry
a third airing at some other time, if Saturday is no
longer s possibility.

AWARE Presents: 

Next meeting at Kruse’s, Tuesday August 16th, 7. 

Mohammed al-Heeti event set; 

future panel may include somebody from ACDIS (Arms
Control, Disarmament, and International Security),
John Foreman, and an antiwar activist considering
options for Iraq.

5. Past Week’s Events:

Tim Johnson only answered questions for 25-30 minutes;
crowded with those opposing Social Security “reform”
and Johnson supporters to counteract them. Critic of
Bush shouted down; racist anti-immigrant speech met
with applause. No serious discussion of war; suggested
that we leaflet on next such occastion.

Fred Lamb lecture in conjunction with Hiroshima Day
technically proficient but lacking in criticism of
U.S. involvement in production and dissemination of
nuclear weaposn.

6. Upcoming Events:

On Tuesday, August 9, activities will begin at 6:30 PM
at the First United Methodist Church, Champaign with
the showing of a 30-minute film, "Sadako and the
Thousand Paper Cranes".  Appropriate for ages 8 and
up, the film is about a Japanese girl who contracts
leukemia as a result of radiation from the atomic
bomb.  Following the film, there will be opportunities
to make peace lanterns, paper cranes, and more.  The
evening will conclude at 8:30 PM with a ceremony at
West Side Park in which participants may float the
peace lanterns in the pool.  The floating of lanterns,
based on a Buddhist tradition, is a way to remember
the victims of the bombings and to send forth prayers
for peace.

WEFT, 90.1 FM, 6-7 P.M. tonight (August 8th) and next
Monday (August 15th), Carl will be playing a
debate/discussion between Ali Abunimah (Electronic
Intifada) and Norman Finkelstein (Beyond Chutzpah, to
be released later this month) regarding the “peace
process,” two-state vs. one-state solution, etc. This
took place in Oak Park this past January.

Barack Obama will be at Illinois Terminal, Thursday,
August 18th, 12:45.

A facilitator is needed for next week.








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