Check this page for the most up-to-date meeting information!

Unless otherwise noted, all meetings of Central Ohioans for Peace

take place on Monday nights from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm

at Columbus Mennonite Church, 35 Oakland Park Avenue, Columbus, Ohio

Directions can be found at http://www.ColumbusMennonite.org/streetmap.htm 

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UPCOMING MEETINGS:

Our focus in July is on colonialism, its history and its present impact on the shape of the world.

Monday, July 21, 2008, at 7:00 pm: Video: "A Force More Powerful" (Episode 1, 87 min) looks at the Nashville Student Movement of the 1960s, Gandhi and independence for India in the 1930s, and the end of apartheid in South Africa in 1985.

Monday, July 28, 2008, at 7:00 pm: Video: "A Force More Powerful" (Episode 2, 87 min) looks at Danish resistance to the Nazis in 1940, Poland's Solidarity movement in 1980, and the toppling of Pinochet in Chile in the 1980s.

The anniversaries of the nuclear bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki occur early this month,

and set our education agenda as well. We have speakers planned who will talk

about America's past and present production and use of nuclear weapons,

as well as nuclear weapons proliferation around the globe. 

Monday, August 4, 2008, at 7:00 pm: Joanne Hachtel presents the video "White Light, Black Rain: The Destruction of Hiroshima and Nagasaki" (85 min).

Monday, August 11, 2008, at 7:00 pm: NO MEETING. (Columbus Mennonite is using the facility for Vacation Bible School.)

Monday, August 18, 2008, at 7:00 pm: Janet McLaughlin on Pax Christi.

Monday, August 25 , 2008, at 7:00 pm: Keith Kilty on Hiroshima.

As we do every Presidential election year, we'll invite candidates from local to national races

to participate in a panel. Last time we had local organizers for each campaign,

and had a lively discussion that was really excellent. We're also exploring 

he experience of being a delegate to a national party convention. 

Monday, September 1, 2008, at 7:00 pm: Labor Day: Video: "Jimmy Carter: Man From Plains," about the former President's contentious book tour for "Palestine Peace Not Apartheid."

Monday, September 8, 2008, at 7:00 pm: Tex Kohles on atomic weapons: "How much is enough?"

Monday, September 15, 2008, at 7:00 pm: 

Monday, September 22, 2008, at 7:00 pm: 

Monday, September 29, 2008, at 7:00 pm: Open Board Meeting.

We're hoping to have speakers this month who'll talk about how to get past "culture clash,"

help us understand aspects of other cultures that are foreign to those of us who are native born,

and build up to our UN Peace Essay Contest by exploring a model UN. 

Monday, October 6, 2008, at 7:00 pm: 

Monday, October 13, 2008, at 7:00 pm: 

Monday, October 20, 2008, at 7:00 pm: 

⎯ Sunday, October 26, 2008, at 4:00 pm: COFP's 5th Annual U.N. Peace Essay Contest ⎯

Monday, October 27, 2008, at 7:00 pm: 

While we're focusing on the work of the SOA in Central and South America,

we'll also look at immigration issues from South to North,

the lives of the people in these countries,

and the effects on the people who live in countries

whose leaders are antagonistic to our current administration.

⎯ Saturday, November 1 through Sunday, November 2, 2008: International Festival ⎯

Monday, November 3, 2008, at 7:00 pm: NO MEETING. (Franklin County Election Officials will be setting up in our meeting space.)

⎯ Tuesday, November 4, 2008: Election Day: VOTE! ⎯

Monday, November 10, 2008, at 7:00 pm: 

Monday, November 17, 2008, at 7:00 pm: 

⎯ Saturday, November 22, 2008: Protests at the School of the Americas ⎯

Monday, December 1, 2008, at 7:00 pm: 2009 Officers and Staff. All contributions are welcome!

Monday, December 8, 2008, at 7:00 pm: We may visit City Council to read the text of the UN Declaration on Human Rights. Stay tuned!

⎯ Wednesday, December 10, 2008: Human Rights Day ⎯

Monday, December 22, 2008, at 7:00 pm: NO MEETING. Happy Holidays!

Monday, December 29, 2008, at 7:00 pm: NO MEETING. Happy Holidays!

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PAST MEETINGS:

January: Civil Rights

Monday, January 7, 2008, at 7:00 pm: Planning.

Monday, January 14, 2008, at 7:00 pm: Joe Simon on Gandhi.

Monday, January 21, 2008, at 7:00 pm: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day: NO MEETING. 

⎯ participate in local community events ! ⎯

Monday, January 28, 2008, at 7:00 pm: Planning.

February: Iraq

Monday, February 4, 2008, at 7:00 pm: Planning.

Monday, February 11, 2008, at 7:00 pm: Iraqi-American Zaineb Alani presented the film "No End In Sight" (102 min).

Monday, February 18, 2008, at 7:00 pm: Justin Notter (International Solidarity Organization) talked to us about the surge in Iraq.

Monday, February 25, 2008, at 7:00 pm: Video: "The Ground Truth" (78 min), was followed by a brief presentation by Joanne Hachtel on combat-related PTSD in returning Iraq vets (more on this topic later in the year).

Monday, March 3, 2008, at 7:00 pm: Open and respectful discussion about the issues and the candidates.

⎯ Tuesday, March 4, 2008: Primary Election Day: VOTE! ⎯

Monday, March 10, 2008, at 7:00 pm: Despite the snow, Joe Simon, our resident historian, covered the history of Iran from ancient to modern times.

Monday, March 17, 2008, at 7:00 pm: Panel: Iranian-American Pirouz Shoar and Persian Poetry Scholar Dick Davis gave fascinating presentations about Iran's culture, sociology, and current affairs. Afkham Davis brought Iranian treats for us to share, in recognition of Iranian Independence Day (March 21).

⎯ Wednesday, March 19, 2008: 5th Anniversary of the Iraq War ⎯

see www.ColumbusPeaceNetwork.org for details of events

leading up to the 5th anniversary of the war in Iraq,

which began on March 19, 2003

4:30 pm to 5:30 pm: Interfaith Prayer Service:

Let There Be Peace On Earth And Let It Begin With "ME"

sponsored by Faith Communities Uniting for Peace

at St. John's Evangelical Protestant Church

59 East Mound Street, Columbus

Interfaith Prayer Service Flyer 

6:00 pm: Iraq War Memorial March 

to the Statehouse Atrium

 Memorial March & Peace Forum Flyer

6:20 pm to 6:30 pm: Candlelight Vigil 

 sponsored by MoveOn.org

on the public sidewalks 

at the corner of High and State Streets

Candles will be provided at the site.

6:30 pm to 9:30 pm: Peace Forum

sponsored by Central Ohio Peace Network

at the Statehouse Atrium

This event featured speakers, music, poetry, art, and tabling. 

Monday, March 24, 2008, at 7:00 pm: Video: "Bam 6.6" documents the December 26, 2003 earthquake that devastated the ancient city of Bam, Iran and killed more than 40,000 people.

Monday, March 31, 2008, at 7:00 pm: Bob Wells, director of "Veterans First," on Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in returning vets. (We promised more on this topic and we delivered!)

Monday, April 7, 2008, at 7:00 pm: Emily Schornstein on her 11 days in Israel/Palestine with a Palestinian peace group.