KC Iraq Task Force Update - Hear Kathy Kelly Tomorrow-Sunday!
Ira Harritt
Dear Peacemakers,
We invite you to the final Windows and Mirrors: Reflections on the War in Afghanistan exhibit-related program this Sunday, tomorrow, December 11 at 2:00pm featuring Kathy Kelly, peace activist, a three-time Nobel Peace Prize nominee and co-coordinator of Voices for Creative Nonviolence. She will give a talk entitled, “Courage for Peace: Perspectives from Afghanistan” and share her experience with Afghan Youth Peace Volunteers who are working for non-military solutions to end the war
I also invite you to an anti-war planning meeting on Tuesday, 6:30pm (see below for details) and also on Tuesday at 6:00pm an open conference call briefing with Raed Jarrar offering an analysis of the impact of the Iraq war has had and challenges for the future. (see below for details)
We thank you for your support and your work for a peaceful and just community and world.
Peace,
Ira Harritt
KC AFSC Program Coordinator
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Get involved in KC AFSC Peacemaking Work
Meetings will take place at the AFSC office, 4405 Gillham Rd., KCMO
unless otherwise noted
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Volunteer needed:
Peace Technology Volunteer:
~ Can you help with video recording and photographing peace events and other activities?
~ Can you upload video and audio files to the internet?
If so we can use your skills in our peacemaking work!
Contact us at afs...@afsc.org or 816 931-5256
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We have restructured this work and are forming three committees to better plan and carry out peace campaigns. We are dividing our work among:
· Anti-War Committee – will organize campaigns to end the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan (Libya…) including: organizing actions to mark the 10th Anniversary of 9-11 and the Afghan war and planning events for the Windows & Mirrors Afghan Mural exhibit in November and December – (http://afsc.org/project/windows-and-mirrors) – Next meeting Tuesday, December 13, 6:30pm ;
· Cutting Military Spending / U.S. Budget Priorities Committee– will organize education and advocacy campaigns on military spending and budget issues including passage of “Move the Money” budget resolution campaign- Directed toward organizations and city councils. Campaign will also collaborate with organizations who will be conducting candidate forums to include this issue in forum debates – Next meeting ->to be announced;
· Peace-building Committee – will organize activities to promote a positive vision of peace including holding an annual Visions of Peace at the Crossroads Festival. We have decided to postpone the festival so that it will take place in the spring of 2012.
Meetings will take place at the AFSC office, 4405 Gillham Rd., KCMO
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Upcoming Peace and Justice Activities
Click on link or scroll down for more information about the peace and justice activity
December 10, Saturday, 9:00 am to 2:00 pm, KC Organics and Natural Holiday Market, The choicest selection of locally produced holiday gifts, including; baked goods, seasonal produce, canned items, meats, body care products, honey, gift baskets, wreaths, hand-made eco-cards, fair-trade coffee and more. A Fair-Trade Event. For more information visit www.kcorganics.com or call (816) 444-FOOD (3663), at Notre Dame de Sion High School (indoors), 10631 Wornall Rd., KCMO.
December 10, Saturday, 1:00pm until 4:30pm AmnestyKC Write-for-Rights:Join hundreds of thousands of people around the world in marking International Human Rights Day this December by taking part in Amnesty International's Write for Rights Global Write-a-thon - the world's largest human rights event. Through letters, cards and more, we'll take action to demand that the human rights of individuals are respected, protected and fulfilled. Hope you can join us! Johnson County – Antioch Library, 8700 Shawnee Mission Pkwy. Merriam, KS
December 11, 2:00pm, Courage for Peace: Perspectives from Afghanistan, a talk by Kathy Kelly, three time Nobel Peace Prize nominee, co-coordinator of Voices for Creative Nonviolence, a campaign to end U.S. military and economic warfare. Since May 2010, she has visited Afghanistan four times with small delegations intent on learning more about conditions faced by ordinary people in Afghanistan. Kathy has been working closely with the Afghan Youth Peace Volunteers in search of non-military solutions to end the war. The program will take place in conjunction with the Windows and Mirrors: Reflections on the War in Afghanistan exhibit at KCMO Central Library, 14 West 10th Street, Kansas City, MO Admission to the event is free. RSVP online or call 816.701.3407.
December 13, Tuesday, 6:30pm, AFSC Anti-War Organizing. Join us to organize campaigns to end the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and prevent other U.S. military actions, … At 4405 Gillham Rd., KCMO. For more information call 816 931-5256 or afs...@afsc.org.
December 31, Saturday, 5:30am Meditation for World Peace, featuring the annual presentation of the Bodhisattva Award and keynote talk by Ira Harritt, KC AFSC Program Coordinator at the Rime Buddhist Center, 700 West Pennway Street, Kansas City, MO. For more information, call 816-471-7073
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EVERY Tuesday, JOIN THIS Peace Demonstration Every Tuesday between 5PM - 6 PM in the median strip on the south corner of the intersection at 63rd & Ward Parkway, Kansas City, Mo. For more information email '63rd Street Patriots' at schwar...@sbcglobal.net
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News and Alerts
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Confused about what is really happening in Iraq?
Curious about next steps? Want the latest update?
If you said yes to any of these questions join us on Tuesday for an open conference call briefing with Raed Jarrar. With broad experience in the region, Raed offers a clear-eyed analysis of the impact of the war, how we got to where we are today, and challenges for the future.
Open Conference Call Briefing on Iraq | Raed Jarrar | Tuesday, 13 December | 6 PM Central Time
http://afghanistan101.blogspot.com/2011/12/open-conference-call-briefing-on-iraq.html
Please consider sharing with friends and lists.
It promises to be an interesting and engaging call.
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Afghanistan 101 | New Resources
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Concerned about the wave of violence sweeping the country?
Confused about the deteriorating relationship with Pakistan?
Wondering about the impact of the Bonn Conference?
You will find the answer to these questions and more on the pages of Afghanistan 101.
If you are interested in reports from human rights monitors, click here. If you are interested in films click here. Books, Drones, Peacebuilding all have pages. You will also find sections on poetry and video shorts.
You can also join us on facebook.
Peter Lems
Program Director, Education and Advocacy for Iraq and Afghanistan
American Friends Service Committee
Tel: 215/241-7170 | Fax: 215/241-7177
http://afghanistan101.blogspot.com
Twitter: afghanistan101
Facebook: AFSC Wage Peace Campaign
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Democracy Now Exclusive:
Cass McCombs Debuts New Song 'Bradley Manning' Ahead of Accused Whistleblower’s Trial
Defense lawyers for the alleged Army whistleblower Bradley Manning are accusing the U.S. government of withholding key evidence that could help Manning’s defense at a pre-trial hearing later this month. Manning’s attorneys say U.S. officials are refusing to hand over internal government documents that assessed the impact of the release of thousands of diplomatic cables that Manning allegedly passed on to WikiLeaks. Published reports suggest the U.S. government’s own analysts concluded that the leaking of the cables posed little threat to national security.
Manning’s hearing is set for December 16th. He’ll be flown from the military prison in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, to Fort Meade, Maryland, to make his first court appearance since his arrest in May 2010. Manning spent the first part of his imprisonment in harsh conditions including solitary confinement, leading to allegations of cruelty and torture.
Ahead of Manning’s first court date, the indie musician Cass McCombs stopped by the Democracy Now! studio to debut a new song he wrote for Manning. The song is called "Bradley Manning."
Links:
Guest: Cass McCombs, indie-musician performing the song "Bradley Manning." An acclaimed solo artist, McCombs has released six albums, including his latest, "Humor Risk."
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CITY INSIDER
Rachel Gordon, Michael Cabanatuan
San Francisco Chronicle December 6, 2011 04:00 AM
Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/12/05/BAT41M8NPB.DTL#ixzz1fsHAW6XY
Give peace a chance: Attention President Obama and Congress: A pair of San Francisco lawmakers wants to urge the U.S. government to reduce the military budget and redirect the savings to domestic programs helping those most in need, and to end the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.
The position, crafted into a 2 1/2-page nonbinding resolution that detailed the billions of dollars spent on the two wars, the thousands of lives lost and the funding cuts to schools, libraries and social services, was sponsored by Supervisors John Avalosand Eric Mar.
With their votes, it was passed out of a Board of Supervisors' committee Monday after nearly an hour of public testimony urging support, and will be considered by the full board next week.
"This is a small resolution with a big message," Avalos said.
For the record, the president already ordered the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq by the end of the month.
Supervisor Sean Elsbernd, who rounds out the three-person City Operations & Neighborhood Services Committee, cast the dissenting vote, as is his custom with nonbinding resolutions of this sort.
The Rev. Glenda Hope, a Presbyterian minister who works with San Francisco's homeless population, said she sees daily the ravages of poverty that could be blunted with an infusion of federal funding for mental health and substance abuse programs, affordable housing and the like. She had a message for people who think the city's elected leaders shouldn't get involved in national and international affairs.
"Anyone who thinks this is not a local issue," said Hope, "I invite them to walk the streets of the Tenderloin with me."
- Rachel Gordon
Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/12/05/BAT41M8NPB.DTL#ixzz1fsH3YdU4
(Note AFSC staffer Sandra Schwartz rounded up over 30 people to testify on behalf of this resolution!)
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Video: The Face of Occupy KC - a KC Active documentary
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X6Vopx-4R0I
On September 30, 2011, the Occupy KC (Kansas City) movement took up residence in Memorial Park in Kansas City, Missouri, in solidarity with Occupy Wall Street (OWS). This video takes a more personal look at Kansas City's occupiers and what motivates them.
Story & Narration: William Peck & Rhiannon Ross
Soundtrack: "Merri Morningstar" by Moe Shinola
Produced by KC Active (kcactive.com)
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We need your support to keep our life affirming peacemaking work alive.
Contribute. Volunteer. Spread the word!
Contact us and mail your tax deductible contribution to:
American Friends Service Committee
4405 Gillham Rd., KCMO 64110
The information and events described in AFSC Peace and Justice Alerts are intended to educate and assist members of our community in becoming active in working for a more just and peaceful world. Inclusion of a listing does not necessarily imply that AFSC KC agrees with all points of view that will be represented at the event.
The American Friends Service Committee is a Quaker organization that includes people of various faiths who are committed to social justice, peace, and humanitarian service.
Its work is based on the Quaker belief in the worth of every person and faith in the power of love to overcome violence and injustice
Ira Harritt
KC Program Coordinator
American Friends Service Committee
http://afsc.org/office/kansas-city-mo