[Peace] AWARE Minutes

[David Green]

AWARE Minutes

Corrections and Additions requested

December 11, 2005

Facilitator: Randall Cotton

Minutes: David Green

1. News of the Week: Lies, lies, lies (already posted
separately)

2. Introductions: 20+ present

3. Haiti Discussion: Ricky Baldwin, Carl Estabrook,
and Mort Brussel emphasized the continuities over 2
centuries in American oppression against and control
of Haiti. Questions on their presentations will be
answered at the next meeting.

4. New Ideas:

Durl Kruse: Request from YMCA to co-sponsor William
Schultz, Director of Amnesty International, at Friday
Forum in Spring semester. Request contribution to
defray $4,500 honorarium--$50 was proposed, which
would go to AI (not Schultz personally). We will vote
on this next week.

Carl Estabrook mentioned that imprisoned Father
Jean-Juste has been designated a prisoner of
conscience by AI.

5. Working Groups:

Finance: No report, about the same ($90 collected at
Lincoln Square Saturday).

Lincoln Square/Peace Bazaar: One more week at Lincoln
Square. It was voted that $30 be contributed to Peace
Bazaar, which distributes their contributions to 12
different organizations, including AWARE.

AWARE Presents/Iraq Pack/Urbana City Council
Resolution: There will be a meeting this Wednesday at
5:00 at the Kruse’s house to discuss issues pertaining
to all these working groups. More information is
needed on possible danger to those receiving items
from the U.S. The Urbana resolution has been discussed
with Smythe and Chynoweth, and will be discussed with
Roberts and Bowersox (meeting with Bowersox 9 a.m.
Thursday at Courier Café). A town hall meeting to
publicize and discuss the resolution is being planned.
Both Bushra al-Heeti and her daughter Roaa have agreed
to address the issue at such an event. 

Church Presence: Successful presence at Urbana
Assembly on Sunday morning, challenged at one level
and accepted at another. Police were called again,
prompting a call for more prior contact with police.
Letter will be written to minister, as was done for
1st Christian from last week by Durl. One doctoral
student in education was reported to be critical of
our presence in lieu of a discussion with the minister
or church leaders. Police were tolerant but not
friendly. Complaints were made from church reps about
our use of driveway to hand out fliers—ground rules
resulted.

Counter-recruitment: Contact has been made with Urbana
High School counselor; there is much recruiting
activity there, reportedly, by Army National Guard and
Navy. They have offered AWARE a table during 6th
period cafeteria to counter recruiting efforts. More
information is needed and will be requested from
school regarding the precise nature of recruitment
activities. It was suggested that a file be kept of
our letters to school officials, and their responses,
on these issues.

6. Events: Nothing from past week not discussed above.


Upcoming: Wal-Mart from 12 to 2 on Saturday, North
Prospect.

Press Conference of local church coalition against war
and for withdrawal: in front of McKinley Foundation,
Thursday, 12:15; no signs, just candles, etc.

Venezuelan (pro-Chavez) official, Wednesday, 2:30, 404
Illini Union.

Citizens Police Review Board, Wednesday, 6 p.m.,
Illinois Disciples Foundation.






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