[Peace] AWARE Minutes - April 9, 2006

[Carl Estabrook]

	AWARE Minutes
	April 9, 2006
	Facilitator: Durl Kruse
	Minutes: Carl Estabrook

1. NEWS OF THE WEEK.  No "News notes" for the week were posted to the
peace listserv (or sent to those requesting them), owing to the absence
from town during the week of the usual newsnoter.  He did however arrive
back in time to deliver an impassioned evocation of Seymour Hersh's
article in the current New Yorker, "The Iran Plans: Would President Bush
go to war to stop Tehran from getting the bomb?" -- which should be read
at <http://www.newyorker.com/fact/content/articles/060417fa_fact>

2. INTRODUCTIONS. Attendance was substantially more than that at the Last
Supper -- eighteen, including at least one new person -- plus two kids.

3. NEW IDEAS

--Taste of Champaign June 23.  IT WAS AGREED that their fee ($75?) should
be paid for a table at this event.

--Farmers' Market. It begins May 13; applications are due May 1.  Spaces
10' deep and 6' wide are being allowed; we'd need two spaces for the
famous (and much excoriated) AWARE canopy.  If we rent for the entire
season, a 10% discount is applied -- $135 less $13.50 (if we wish) per
space.  The difficulties of set-up and take-down were rehearsed.  A
decision on the money will be made NEXT WEEK.

--Progressive Quad Day on Tuesday, April 18, 11am-3pm, sponsored by a
coalition of progressive campus groups (contact: Andrea Brandon).  It will
include an AWARE table, for which Karen Medina will arrange the schedule.

--The ICPJ TOOL [sic], an "action tool for state wide events," coordinated
by the Illinois Coalition for Peace and Justice, is available at
<www.ilcpj.org>.  IT WAS AGREED that Treasurer Jan Kruse will recommend
each week, for the meeting's consideration, the level of support that
AWARE should lend to specific events.

--A request for co-sponsorship from the IDF/PRC wasn't properly
understood.

--A request for co-sponsorship of "Palestine Awareness Week" on campus
(April 17-21) from the president of the Arab Students'
Association <www.uiuc.edu/ro/asauiuc> was readily agreed to.  A presenter
from the ASA will be entertained at next week's meeting: a contribution
will be considered NEXT WEEK.

--A request for co-sponsorship from Channing-Murray Social Justice
Committee for a panel on "Drug Laws," Tuesday 25 April at 7pm was AGREED
TO.

--Jan Kruse suggested that those contributing to the current WEFT pledge
drive include letters about their concern that WEFT is closing itself off
from the community.  The question of AWARE's underwriting payments to WEFT
will be considered when they are due for renewal.

--Jamie Storm circulated a form of interest to those considering tax
refusal.  See <www.nwtrcc.org/peacetaxreturn.htm>.

--Gary Storm recommended Jeremy Brecher et al., "In the Name of
Democracy," on the legal bass for challenging the administration, and
circulated an eight-page summary.

--Bob Illyes objected to changes made in the published version of a letter
sent to the editor of the News-Gazette.  (Did he expect a fair shake?)
It was suggested he post both versions to the peace-discuss listserv

4. WORKING GROUPS

--Finances: Jan Kruse reported the treasury's holdings at $2458.

--Advisory referenda for the November election may be placed on the ballot
at the annual township meetings (Cunningham Township = Urbana, Township of
the City of Champaign = Champaign) on April 11. (The suggestion is from
Rich Whitney, Green candidate for governor, at the foundation meeting of
the Illinois Coalition for Peace and Justice , on April 1.)  Durl Kruse
will inquire about arrangements from the local Township Supervisors.  We
will attempt to place advisory referenda on impeachment and withdrawal on
the November ballot.  It is *vital* that Champaign residents against the
war attend that meeting, where opposition is expected, in the city council
chambers at 6:30pm.

--Main Event.  Ricky Baldwin noted that the next monthly demonstration at
Main and Neil streets in Champaign will be held Saturday 6 May 2-4pm.

--AWARE Presents. The next planning meeting will occur Monday 10 April 7pm
at 2007 George Huff Dr., Urbana.  Anna Baltzer (Pillar) will be in town to
speak 11-12 May.  The AWARE Radio Players propose "What I Heard About
Iraq" by Eliot Weinberger as a staged reading.

--Church Presence.  Perhaps half a dozen stalwarts appeared today, Palm
Sunday, at St. John's/the Newman Center, on campus, to a generally good
reception and a large crowd.  Unfortunately the pastor, Msgr. Stuart
Swetland, was agitated; Durl Kruse elicited from him that his
self-advertised anti-war position was seriously compromised.  In an echo
of the Obama demonstration, the Presence was called "rude."  Carl
Estabrook volunteered to follow up with a call to the soi-disant
monsignor.  The theme of these Presences is "Give Up War for Lent."

--Karen Medina circulated a text from the local United Church of Christ on
the cost of war.

--Jobs With Justice.  WE AGREED to associate AWARE with this emerging
group, whose founding meeting will be 22 April.

--Counter-recruitment.  A group of students from Uni High made a video of
interviews with AWAREists at this meeting.  And Jan Kruse circulated an
anti-recruitment T-shirt.

--Anti-racism.  There will be a Court Watch demonstration on Wednesday 19
April.  Meet at the IMC at 1pm.

5. EVENTS OF THE LAST WEEK.

--"The Agronomist," Jonathan Demme's ("The Silence of the Lambs") film on
Haiti, was shown under AWARE sponsorship to a small but enthusiastic
audience at GSLIS on campus.

--The AWARE Radio Players presented "What I Heard About Iraq" by Eliot
Weinberger on WEFT 90.1 FM Wednesday 5 April 8-10pm.

--"Why We Fight," at the local Art Theatre, is recommended.

--Matthew Rothschild, editor, The Progressive Magazine, spoke on "Grounds
for Impeachment: A Critical Analysis of the Bush Record and What it Means
for U.S. Politics," with an introduction by Prof. Robert McChesney, on
Friday 7 April at 4pm in 319 Gregory Hall on the UIUC quad.

6. UPCOMING EVENTS

--"National day of action: economic boycott to protest anti-immigrant
bills and support fair comprehensive immigration reform! Do Not Shop!  Do
Not Eat at Restaurants!  Do Not Buy Gas! General Strike!  Do Not Attend
Class! Inform All Your Family and Friends! Wear White to Show Support!
Monday April 10th! UIUC March and Rally! 11am - Meet on corner of Neil and
Green. Noon - Rally on the Quad. We need comprehensive immigration reform
not HR-4437!" (Sponsored by La Casa.)

--Township Meetings 11 April (see above).

--"Empire, Crisis, and Resistance: A View from the South" -- A talk by Dr.
Walden Bello, Professor of Sociology, University of the Philippines and
Executive Director, Focus on the Global South, Chulalongkorn University,
Bangkok, Thailand: Wednesday 12 April 5pm Gregory Hall 100.

--"Palestine Awareness Week" 17-21 April (see above).

-- Breaking Down the Walls: The First Annual Champaign Urbana Prison Arts
Festival.  "...over two million people are doing time in Americas prisons
and jails, and another 5 million are on probation or parole. What is the
prison-industrial complex and what is it doing to the people who live
within Americas prisons and jails? The first annual Champaign Urbana
Prison Arts Festival: Breaking Down the Walls brings these issues to life
with art, music, film, poetry and discussion. Join us for any and all of
these events:
	"Friday, 21 April, beginning at 8:00 at OPENSOURCE (12 E.
Washington, Champaign) Prison Arts Festival Opening and Party featuring an
exhibit art created by prisoners currently serving time in Illinois and
Michigan prisons. There will be food, speakers and great dancing with UC
Hip Hop.
	"Saturday, 22 April, from noon to 2:00, at Boardman's Art Theatre
in downtown Champaign: screening of 'What We Leave Behind': a documentary
written, filmed, and edited by formerly incarcerated women followed by
discussion.
	"Saturday, 22 April, from 2:30-4:00, at OPENSOURCE (12 E.
Washington, Champaign) 'How to Fight The Prison Industrial Complex.' A
roundtable discussion on strategies for advocating for social justice,
featuring a great panel of local and national activists.
	"Saturday, 22 April, from 7:30-9:00, at OPENSOURCE (12 E.
Washington, Champaign; www.opensource.boxwith.com), Slam Jam Romp Stomp 2.
A raucous evening of prison-based poetry that will inspire and move you.
For more information on any of these events, contact Stephen Hartnett at
<hartnett at uiuc.edu>."

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