Spring 2009 Speakers

Last spring, JPPJ sponsored several nationally recognized peace and justice activists to speak in Juneau. We also worked to coordinate their travel arrangements and schedules with other peace and justice groups in the state. This fall and we are offering more opportunities to listen to informed and dedicated voices as we mark the beginning of the eight year U.S. wars in and around the Middle East. For a preview, see the Coming Events section on this page. If you are interested in a recap of last spring's speakers, see below for the links to our archives.

Ann Wright, retired Army Colonel & U.S. Diplomat : Can Obama REALLY Change U.S. Foreign Policy? Exploring the U.S. responsibility in the Middle East

Raed Jarrar, Iraqi political analyst for the American Friends Service Committee: "Beyond Occupation: The Future of US-Iraq Relations"

Father Louie Vitale, a Franciscan priest, activist, Pace e Bene, and co- founder of Nevada Desert Experience: Citizen Diplomacy with Iran

JPPJ will carry the Cranes on July 4th

Plans are going forward to prepare for the annual Juneau July 4th parade. We will again bring out the colorful paper cranes. We urge you all to come out to participate with us and bring your family and friends and any visitors to swell the ranks and help carry the cranes. The message is simply The World Needs PEACE!

Questions for Candidates

As the political campaign season reeves up we may want to to ready to ask candidates some probing questions about their positions on the national issues of utmost concern to us. As a non-profit educational group Juneau People for Peace and Justice does not endorse candidates for political office, or engage in partisan political activity. However, we can and do educate ourselves on the issues and can advocate for policies that reflect our values.

One source I depend on to educate myself about the issues is the Friends Committee on National Legislation, a Quaker lobby in Washington. You may have many other sources that keep you informed. Here are a few questions you may wish to pose to Alaska candidates for national office from the FCNL brochures "Questions to ask the Candidates in the 2008 elections". You can find more detail about these issues at the FCNL website http://www.fcnl.org/pubs/candidatequestions08.htm

Iraq: Support U.S. Troops by Bringing Them Home

The U.S. needs a new policy in Iraq.The bipartisan Iraq Study Group chaired by former Rep. Lee Hamilton and former Secretary of State James Baker recommended a new U.S. policy based on negotiations with all of Iraq’s neighbors, support for reconciliation inside Iraq, and a clear commitment to a complete withdrawal in consultation with Iraqis and the neighboring states. Will you support legislation to make these recommendations U.S. policy?

Time to Invest in Peace

A huge portion, about 95 percent, of what the U.S. spends to engage with the rest of the world is allocated to the military budget. A tiny amount, about five percent, is devoted to diplomacy, development, and supporting international institutions that can help to solve problems before they turn into deadly conflict. Will you support the U.S. paying its full, fair share of United Nations dues and commit to increasing funding for the State Department and U.S.Agency for International Development?

End the Word Games, Ban Torture

The U.S. Army has established firm policies—written into the Army Field Manual—that prohibit torture. Yet the Justice Department insists the CIA should be exempt from these Army requirements and have the right to torture some prisoners. Would you support legislation requiring all U.S. government personnel— including the CIA—to ban torture and abide by the definitions in the U.S.Army Field Manual?

Climate, Energy, and Human Security

As the leading global greenhouse gas emitter over the last century, the U.S. has a special responsibility to substantially reduce its emissions and help developing countries reduce their emissions and adapt to the harmful effects of climate change caused in large part by past U.S. emissions. What specific policies will you support to reduce U.S. greenhouse gas emissions quickly, deeply, and fairly and to help poor communities at home and abroad adapt to the harmful effects of climate change now?

Find more questions at http://www.fcnl.org/pubs/candidatequestions08.htm
or formulate your own. Share your thoughts by commenting to this posting.

Amy

New Year's Resolutions

Share your ideas for bringing new energies to the struggle for peace and justice in our community, nation and world.

Come to our bi-monthly meetings or participate in the discussion online at jppj@yahoogroups.com

Are you reading some helpful or inspiring book that others might appreciate?
Have you experienced some event or insights that give you hope for change?
Have you encountered a person or people who has/have inspired you to make personal choices in your life path?
How can we help each other in the coming months to be more effective "peaceworkers"?

UfPJ Regional Rally in Seattle October 27th

United For Peace and Justice Regional Rallies!
October 27, 2007

Once again, members of Veterans For Peace will be taking to the streets to show their opposition to the war and occupation of Iraq, and to show their support to bring the troops home now!

There will be 11 cities around the nation holding rallies and marches and we encourage you to participate! You can learn more at the links below.

www.oct27.org

DEMONSTRATIONS WILL BE HELD IN THE FOLLOWING CITIES

- Boston - New York - Jonesborough, TN - New Orleans - Orlando - Salt Lake City - Chicago - Los Angeles - San Francisco - Seattle - Philadelphia -

JPPJ Joins Fairbanks Phone Marathan Call for Peace

Juneau People for Peace and Justice will join with the Alaska Peace Center (Fairbanks) which issued the following CALL FOR PEACE

Alaska Phone Marathon to call for an end of the occupation of Iraq

Are you frustrated that nothing is being done to bring and end to the war in Iraq? That the illegality of the war is not being prosecuted? That the Administration is not being held accountable for torture and irresponsibility in the conduct of the war and occupation? That the Administration is rattling sabers toward Iran and neither Democrats nor Republicans seem opposed?

You CAN do something that can make a difference!

Every morning from 6 am to 9 am and from 4 to 7 pm (Sundays noon - 3pm) for the from now until October 27, the Alaska Peace Center is hosting a phone marathon to call Congress, call presidential candidates, call the media and call friends to do the same.

We want all congressional offices to be flooded with calls every day now to October 27th
We want all presidential candidates to be flooded with calls every day now to October 27th
We want all declared candidates for national office to be flooded with calls every day now to October 27th

Here in Juneau we will participate by asking each of you to:
(1) call our Alaska congressional delegation
Sen. Ted Stevens - (202) 224-3004
Sen. Lisa Murkowski - (202) 224-6665
Rep. Don Young - (202) 225-5765

(2) ask your Alaskan friends to call them

(3) ask your friends in other states to call their congressional delegation

What is the message?

(1) No Iraq funding without a firm timetable for bringing our occupation to an end and bringing all our troops home and

(2) Ask your Senators to support Senate Resolution S759 - No military action in Iran without Congressional approval.

Also ask your friends in other communities, and in other states to make similar calls. Report by replying to this email when you make your calls. In Fairbanks they are organizing at the Alaska Peace Center to be sure that calls are made throughout those time periods and days. Let's see if we can help get at the very least 5 calls per hour during each calling period every day

Help spread this effort to other states by calling or emailing your family and friends around the country. Especially if you have friends or family or know groups in the smaller, rural communities of Alaska who can make calls too. It is fun and inspiring to talk to other groups around the country. It's a great chance to connect with old friends and family to motivate them to do something. It's a chance for us all to hike up the volume for peace.

4th of July Parade - Veterans For Peace Chapter 100 and JPPJ Combine Efforts

The colorful paper cranes made their appearance again this year. Many thanks to Judith Maier - "The Crane Lady" - seen in the photo by John Palmes - for organizing paper crane folding parties, and to all of you who joined us this year.

We were pleased to be part of the Veterans For Peace parade entry, following behind the inspired "float" that carried "Lady Liberty in the Chains of War, Fear, Lies and Torture" (in the person of Donna Anderson) and "Unchain Our Freedom - Stop the War".

Our regular weekly meetings will resume Tuesday, August 7th at 5:15 pm at Northern Light United Church, 400 W. 11th Street1th Street.

4th of July Parade

Juneau has come to expect to see us there and we need you all to come out in force! We Need Everyone of You to Be There!!! It is not the time to sit back and despair because this madness goes on. Even if just walking in a parade seems pointless in terms of getting the troops out of Iraq, we need to be there to bear witness to our faith that we can and will change how the U.S. interacts with the rest of the world and how we deal with conflict in the world and at home.

This year's parade theme is "Freedom is not free". We need help in designing the JPPJ message. Please plan to attend the next JPPJ meeting on Tuesday, June 19th at 5:15 pm. If you can't make the meeting, but have ideas to share please call me, Amy (586-4409) or Judith (789-9229).

A JPPJ-sponsored Petition calling for a prompt and safe withdrawal of all US troops from Iraq, etc, will not be pursued at this time.

JPPJ Plans for 4th of July

Plans are underway to prepare for JPPJ's annual 4th of July Parade. There will be two paper crane folding sessions - Tuesday, June 19th - 2:30 - 5:30 pm at Northern Light United Church, and Wednesday, June 20th - 3:00 - 7:00 pm at Mendenhall Public Library. We need people to help. Call Judith Maier at 789-9229 for details.

Also we are planning to initiate a Petition Calling for prompt and safe withdrawal of US troops from Iraq, transfer of control of all military bases to the Iraqi people, reallocation of military funds earmarked for Iraq to post-war reconstruction in Iraq and domestic needs in the U.S., and for Iraqi people to retain control of all decisions pertaining to their own oil and other natural resources.

We need at least 50 people to volunteer to circulate and collect signatures on the petition during the summer. We plan to publish the entire petition and list of signers in the Juneau Empire this fall, and to seek sponsorship of the Petition in Anchorage, Fairbanks and other Alaska towns and villages. Please contact Amy (586-4409) or plan to attend the next JPPJ meeting, Tuesday, June 12th at 5:15 pm.

Don Muller on civil disobedience

Don Muller of Sitka wrote in response to my email:

I think you're right, Amy--most people don't seem to keep up with what's going on, don't seem interested. Or something. As a bookseller, I think most people simply don't read enough--not enough history, and, in the case of nonviolent resistance and civil disobedience, certainly not enough history about that subject. Have people never read Gandhi, King, the Berrigans, anything about the women's movement, anything about animal rights, even anything about Thoreau??? Are people simply not aware that every single significant social change in the U.S. is accompanied by civil disobedience?

When people claim that CD accomplishes little, I am sure they are measuring the wrong thing, and there is a perfect King quote that captures this: “The nonviolent approach does not immediately change the heart of the oppressor. It first does something to the hearts and souls of those committed to it. It gives them new self-respect; it calls up resources of strength and courage that they did not know they had. Finally it reaches the opponent and so stirs his conscience that reconciliation becomes a reality.” Wendell Berry goes even farther: "Protest that endures...is moved by a hope far more modest than that of public success: namely, the hope of preserving qualities in one's own heart and spirit that would be destroyed by acquiescence." Is that selfish? Hey, if so, it's the most unselfish selfishness. When people expect the war to end after their first arrest, well, they will be sorely disappointed.

But EVENTUALLY the war will end. If not, we have ourselves to blame. The more people do CD, the MORE PEOPLE DO CD, and pretty soon change comes about. But it won't happen when people have the wrong expectations. I also think Alaskans, for some reason, fear simple embarrassment if they take part in an action involving arrest. Maybe this is true of all conservative people. Well, read the above King quote again. I guarantee--and Rob will confirm this--you won't be embarrassed. I suppose one could be embarrassed if the action is done stupidly. But that's why people plan. And read and listen to what others have done. Hey, if you're embarrassed to do civil disobedience in Anchorage, go to DC--there are lots of opportunites there! No one can use the excuse that information, mentors, and opportunites don't exist.

Of course, there are many other reasons that people don't particiapte in nonviolent CD. And most are probably good honest reasons. But I think ultimately, on examination, these reasons can be countered with good reasons TO do CD, usually by people with a lot of experience (e.g. Martin Luther King, Jr.!!). I have heard people say that they feel they can't ask others to be nonviolent when they still have violence within themselves, that they must change themselves first. A good first response to that claim is: you will wait a lifetime if you expect to remove any potential violence from yourself before asking others. Again, King: “Admittedly, nonviolence in the truest sense is not a strategy that one uses simply because it is expedient at the moment; nonviolence is ultimately a way of life that men live by because of the sheer morality of its claim. But even granting this, the willingness to use nonviolence as a technique is a step forward. For he who goes this far is more likely to adopt nonviolence later as a way of life.” Can anyone out there say it more clearly? Sometimes I think (in dismay) that most people don't even know what nonviolent civil disobedience IS! Is that possible? Do most people equate CD with anti-abortionists? Anarchists in black face covers? The KKK? I have friends who really don't understand what it means, think that it is simply carrying a sign and getting arrested, the goal being to get arrested.

I'm not sure what the solution to this is: more workshops? more visiting speakers? more actions? Probably a combination of all these. I have a quote from someone named True: “Some generations appear to have learned little from the ones that went before about the power of nonviolence and the skills essential to conducting campaigns for social change: vigils, marches, boycotts, strikes, sit-downs, mediation….While other important achievements in American culture…pass from one generation to the next, refined by each, nonviolence has to be relearned, almost from scratch.” The idea of the Department of Peace, I'm sure, is based on this unfortunate fact. And governments know that's true and that's why governments--especially ours--never have a Department of Peace.

I am ranting now. I think we need to ask how to proceed. If there is not interest among those on this list, there must be others we know who can be recruited, encouraged, educated. Any ideas out there?

A good closing quote by Daniel Berrigan: "We have assumed the name of peacemaker, but we have been, by and large, unwilling to pay any significant price. And because we want peace with half a heart and half a life and will, the war of course, continues, because the waging of war, by its nature, is total, but the waging of peace, by our own cowardice, is partial.....We cry peace and cry peace and there is not peace. There is no peace because the making of peace is at least as costly as the
making of war, at least as exigent, at least as disruptive, at least as liable to bring disgrace, prison, and death in its wake"

Don

Can we work together?

Thanks to Rob for his steadfast determination to challenge Stevens, Murkowski and Young. I certainly appreciate his views about the nature of the struggle. I have continually brought up the Occupation Project to the few people who are coming to our weekly meetings. I sometimes think few people on the JPPJ list look at the internet or try to keep up to date about the war and the various efforts of peace activists around the country, and here in Alaska in Fairbanks and Anchorage.

Also it seems people here are just not able to take the step to civil disobedience or see the effectiveness of it - not any more effective than writing letters or signing petitions. And petitions do seem a lame approach. We have very few letters to the editor about the war or the corrupt administration. The idea of an initiative was that it would give people who are not able to bring themselves to demonstrate in the street an opportunity to express their opposition to the war. But an opinion poll might serve the same purpose - that is to show the delegation that a majority of Alaskans are opposed to the war and Bush's policies. Of course they could probably disregard it anyway.

How do we get more Alaskans engaged to even express opposition, let alone get more to show it publicly - either lawfully or otherwise? How do we articulate an alternative vision of an America at peace in the world? I, like you, am in this for the long haul. I devote much of my time to the issue of truth in recruiting, and in trying to speak out about the militarism of our society. But I fear my voice is very small, and I don't do nearly enough.

It seems to me that many anti-war activists and peace activists are at a point of reflection and re-evaluation of strategies. I am afraid many Americans do not question the role of corporations in government and public life, or American exceptionalism. I suspect many see the need for oil as a legitimate reason to use our military force around the world. Few question the capitalist economic system. Altogether a pretty depressing state of affairs. I think we have a lot of word to do to educate the general public about all this.

Good luck to Rob for his court appearance. Of course I know it involves more than luck. I know he has done a lot of work developing his brief. It would be a great thing for him to prevail on the issue of the illegality of the war. Thanks also to Don Muller for joining Rob.

In solidarity,

Amy

A positive alternative vision of a workable peaceful world

Peace activist John Bostrom, who participated with me in the September 2005 civil disobedience at the White House has offered a thoughtful statement and critique of efforts of peace activists working to end the Iraq war and occupation that I would like to share:

I'm tired of asking people to call Congress. Congress may be listening, but most of them appear to be listening just enough to stay elected, while not upsetting the profitable militarized corporate applecart with anything but the occassional charade of a slap on the wrist. Our calls and letters make very little difference except when we're in the majority of a district or state - in which case, we've already elected one of our own.

But shouldn't we also face the fact that "mass" actions don't make much difference either? We've been trying to "do something really big this time" for decades. It's just not enough.

The lack of effective numbers isn't the problem. It's just a symptom of a deeper problem: the lack of an effective strategy. The real problem is that the peace movemen has become almost entirely reactive. We don't promote a specific positive alternative vision of a workable peaceful world in practical and especially economic terms. Almost entirely, we protest against what the corporate war machine, or their government lackeys, are doing. We get distracted over and over again into reactive outrage. Over and over and over, we say NO. We have no big, attractive YES as a real alternative.

Until we come up with a positive, workable economic alternative, and keep promoting that over and over, building the vision for it, proactively, saying YES to it over and over and over regardless of anything else, we're going to be seen as nothing but "protestors." We have to stay focused on that positive vision regardless of whatever else happens. Including the election of a proto-fascist. Including an attack on Iran. Including another terrorist attack, no matter how horrible. Any protest against the government has to be relegated to second place - merely the latest evidence, in a long chain, that war doesn't work, and that what is needed is our positive alternative. We have to find our YES, and start saying it over and over and over.

Even the most committed civil disobedience is only as effective as the positive vision it promotes. Saying NO is certainly morally worthwhile, but it isn't enough to replace a vision as identifiable, workable, practical, and organized as the vision of the corporate war machine. We need our own identifiable, workable, practical, and organized vision for a peaceful economy.

My starting point for that YES is the conversion of all nuclear bases and research labs to centers for an economy based on peace. Alternative energy research - wind, solar, and biomass. The rehabilitation of American manufacturing. The reclamation of the environment. And the maintenance and reconstruction of our failing infrastructure. A New New Deal for Real Peace.

John Bostrom

What do you think?

Continuing Discussion about Next Steps to Peace

We had a valuable discussion last Thursday, but are still seeking broader input to the conversation about what Juneau and Alaskans can do to heighten popular awareness of the costs of war and occupation and the need to bring the troops and contractors home. We expect to schedule several community meetings in the coming weeks, and to moderate a discussion and call-in show on KTOO's PeaceTalk program on May 21st at 7:00 pm.
You are invited to share your thoughts by commenting to this post, by attending the up-coming community meetings and calling in during PeaceTalk on Monday, May 21st.

Help find Effective Strategy

Hello friends,
There will be a meeting Thursday, May 3rd at 7 pm at Northern Light United Church (400 W. 11th Street) for JPPJ supporters, Veterans for Peace Chapter 100, and NOW-Juneau to seek consensus on a strategy for action. You are invited to join the conversation. If you cannot make the meeting but have ideas to contribute, you can post comments to this posting by registering first here at Blogspot.com (easy).

See also my posting for April 9th below

Are We Politicians or Citizens?

Howard Zinn
April 16, 2007

Howard Zinn is the author, most recently, of A Power Governments Cannot Suppress. This article was originally published in The Progressive.

As I write this, Congress is debating timetables for withdrawal from Iraq. In response to the Bush Administration’s “surge” of troops, and the Republicans’ refusal to limit our occupation, the Democrats are behaving with their customary timidity, proposing withdrawal, but only after a year, or eighteen months. And it seems they expect the anti-war movement to support them.

That was suggested in a recent message from MoveOn, which polled its members on the Democrat proposal, saying that progressives in Congress, “like many of us, don’t think the bill goes far enough, but see it as the first concrete step to ending the war.”

Ironically, and shockingly, the same bill appropriates $124 billion in more funds to carry the war. It’s as if, before the Civil War, abolitionists agreed to postpone the emancipation of the slaves for a year, or two years, or five years, and coupled this with an appropriation of funds to enforce the Fugitive Slave Act.

When a social movement adopts the compromises of legislators, it has forgotten its role, which is to push and challenge the politicians, not to fall in meekly behind them.
Read complete article

How do we find the path to peace?

Hello friends,
At Juneau People for Peace and Justice we have begun discussions to try to begin to clarify how we should move forward most effectively in challenging the Iraq war and occupation, and to build a community of nonviolence. Several us believe we could have a much bigger impact if our efforts were combined and in sync with folks around Alaska - more likely to influence our congressional delegation, and to draw more of our fellow Alaskans into the effort, more and better media coverage of our efforts too.

We imagine you may be debating such matters as well. Can we join the discussion somehow? There are folks in Anchorage, Fairbanks, Homer, Haines, Sitka, Ketchikan, Gustavus that I know of, and undoubtedly more in other communities who have been very active doing a variety of things to raise the consciences of our communities and our congressional delegation. Some are confronting the delegation directly through office occupations, others are working to educate the neighbors - bringing speakers, showing films, putting on plays and art shows, vigils, counter-recruiting work and more.

We propose that as many of us as possible join in a conversation to explore how to focus our work. Please share your thoughts by adding your comments to this blog. You might want to share what you have been doing so far, where you live, and your general level of interest and time for this work.

Some questions and ideas put forward include:

• focus on Congress (on our delegation)
• focus on our communities through education
• direct action
• more vigils
• letters to the editor
• ballot initiatives
• city resolutions

We may need to continue with all of the above in our individual communities, but is there a way we can coordinate our efforts statewide to be more effective?

Where do we go from here?

• What do supporters of Juneau People for Peace and Justice think about goals and objective for the Juneau peace community?
  
• How can we connect with others around the state to augment our work for an end to the occupation and war in Iraq and beyond?
• How can we use the democratic processes to advance our goals?
• What strategies and tactics should we adopt in moving forward?
• How can we be more effective?

These are a few of the questions being raised at our weekly meetings. Please come and join the conversation. We meet every Tuesday at 5:15 pm at Northern Light United Church, 400 W. 11th Street. We need your input and energies!

Published on Thursday, March 22, 2007 by CommonDreams.org
A Time For Anger, A Call To Action by Bill Moyers
The following is a transcript of a speech given on February 7, 2007 at Occidental College in Los Angeles.

"When Woodrow Wilson spoke of democracy releasing the energies of every human being, he was declaring that we cannot leave our destiny to politicians, elites, and experts; either we take democracy into our own hands, or others will take democracy from us.
We do not have much time. Our political system is melting down, right here where you live."

Read complete article