[Peace] AWARE Minutes - April 23, 2006

[Carl Estabrook]

	AWARE Minutes
	April 23, 2006
	Facilitator: Karen Medina
	Minutes: Carl Estabrook


1. NEWS OF THE WEEK.  The week saw consideration of US assaults on Iraq
and Iran; messages from Osama, Murtha, and Clinton; a coup by Rumsfeld and
a call for his prosecution; ignored warnings from the CIA and the DOS, and
a new warning from the British Foreign Office; fecklessness (surprise!)
from the courts and the Democrats; and corruption and torture for which we
are responsible.  "News notes" for the week were posted to the peace
listserv (and sent to those requesting them).


2. INTRODUCTIONS. Attendance has fallen back to almost Last Supper levels,
but included several new people.


3. NEW IDEAS

--"Speak Cafe, Documentary, and Incarceration Talk" aka "S.P.E.A.K. O.U.T.
(Our Universal Truth)" -- Sunday 30 April 3-7pm -- sent indirectly a
request for co-sponsorship.  There was NO CONSENSUS to co-sponsor.
Discussion on the matter however produced the Proposed Brussel Rule on
Co-sponsorships (roughly, "It has to be germane and they gotta ask
nicely.")

--"Why is it time to Change our Drug Laws?  How UIUC and C-U Drug Policies
Affect ALL of Us": Tuesday 25 April at 7pm at the Channing-Murray
Foundation.  There was a CONSENSUS to co-sponsor.

--The Arab Students' Association <www.uiuc.edu/ro/asauiuc> requested
support for "Palestine Awareness Week" April 17-21.  Various amounts were
proposed.  Gary Storm will inquire by letter of their needs.

--Lori Serb of CACC (Coalition Against Coke Contracts
<http://caccuc.blogspot.com>), which by  earlier decision AWARE
co-sponsors and contributes to, expressed thanks for support and announced
a talk (see (6.), below).

--Strategies to oppose attack on Iran, discussed on the peace-discuss
listserv, was postponed.


4. WORKING GROUPS

--FINANCES.  Jan Kruse reported the treasury's holdings at $2200.36, which
included income from the sale of Anti-war Frisbees (in fact, a loss
leader) and expenses for the Farmers' Market table.

--REFERENDA.  The advisory referenda (on withdrawal and impeachment)
placed on the November ballot at the annual township meetings should be
the focus of major AWARE campaigns in the fall.

--CORRESPONDENCE.  A series of letters have appeared in the News-Gazette
(and the Daily Illini) mentioning AWARE or commenting on matters of
interest to us.  These letters are read by a broad segment of the
community.  They should be answered, and that must be done by individuals.
A working group was formed (Gary, Rick, Mort, Karen, Carl) to encourage
such letters.  Please get in tough if you are willing to write an answer.

--MAIN EVENT.  The next monthly demonstration at Main and Neil streets in
Champaign will be held Saturday 6 May 2-4pm.  Lori Serb and Carl Estabrook
will see that there is a Public Service Announcement filed at WEFT.

--AWARE PRESENTS. The next planning meeting will occur Wednesday 26 April
7pm
at 2007 George Huff Dr., Urbana.

--CHURCH PRESENCE.  The Church Presence group will follow the dominical
injunction (see Mark 12:2b) and seek some anti-war fruit from The Vineyard
on Sunday 7 May.  (We do not of course assume that "the grapes of wrath
are stored" there.)  Many people are needed to be a Presence at this large
site.

--JOBS WITH JUSTICE.  This local group, an associate of AWARE, held its
founding meeting on Saturday 22 April with 30-40 people present.

--COUNTER-RECRUITMENT.  No new information.

--ANTI-RACISM.  Some people plan to be present for jury selection on
Monday 8 May at 9am.


5. EVENTS OF THE LAST WEEK.

--Don reported on "Breaking the Silence of Torture: Survivor and Activist
Dong Tizon Speaks Out," Thursday 20 April at IDF.  "Orlando (Dong) Tizon
is a Filipino activist who was imprisoned and tortured under the Marcos
regime for his activism with the rural poor community in the Philippines.
He is currently the Assistant Director of the Torture Abolition Survivors
Support Committee (TASSC) International.  TASSC International is the only
organization founded by and for survivors of torture. It was established
in 1998, on the guiding principles that  torture is a crime against
humanity and that survivors are the strongest and most effective voice in
the campaign to end the practice of torture <www.tassc.org>."  Don
proposes that TASSC literature, which he provided, be xeroxed and
distributed and the Main Event on June 3, June being Torture Awareness
Month.

--Rick reported on "Globalizing Abu Ghraib: A Roundtable," at IPRH,
Thursday 20 April.

--Jeffrey St. Clair, editor of Counterpunch, and author of "Grand Theft
Pentagon," spoke on campus Wednesday 19 April and on WEFT.

--Progressive Quad Day, Tuesday 18 April, included an AWARE table,
arranged by Karen Medina.

--"Palestine Awareness Week" (co-sponsored by AWARE) presented by the Arab
Students' Association <www.uiuc.edu/ro/asauiuc> April 17-21 included a
talk by Francis Boyle on impeachment.


6. UPCOMING EVENTS

--And extensive but finally inconclusive discussion of AWARE's stance
toward the welcome home to a local unit of the Illinois National Guard
took place.  Several proposals were aired but none agreed upon.


Facilitator next week: Carl and Durl will flip for it, the loser takes
minutes.

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