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

Marcus Eriksen Reading excerpts from his book "My River Home" at Rainy Day Books in Juneau

Rainy Day Books is delighted to host a reading by author Marcus Eriksen of excerpts from his book, My River Home, on Tuesday evening, June 5th at 7:00 p.m.

"Veteran Marcus Eriksen set off on a journey down the entire length of the great Mississippi River on a homemade raft kept afloat by 232 empty soda bottles, recycled junk, and a dose of ingenuity. Though he had never made such a trip, he had dreamed of doing it a decade earlier as a marine in the Gulf War. While struggling against a river with an unpredictable personality, Eriksen recounts a personal shift from proud soldier to self-destructive veteran to engaged activist protesting the injustices of the Iraq War. Startlingly honest and warm with affection for the people he meets, Eriksen explains, through his own story, the allure of the military, the tragedy of modern war, and the courage it takes to fulfill a dream."

See http://leftbank.booksense.com/NASApp/store/IndexJsp?s=storeevents&eventId=345487

for a fuller discussion of Mr. Eriksen and his work.

You are invited to come by, meet Marcus and listen as he shares his experiences.

Don Birdseye

Rainy Day Books

113 N Seward

463-2665

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?

Opposing the Iraq Supplemental & Iran Threats | Institute for Policy Studies | 26 March 2007 | By Phyllis Bennis

The Congressional resolution passed last week gives Bush another $100 billion to continue the U.S. occupation of Iraq. That much is now guaranteed. The timelines and restrictions included in the bill – clearly responding to the strong public support for ending the war— were weakened almost to the disappearing point to allow the razor-thin vote. Very few of those toothless restrictions will likely make it into the final bill that must survive a super-majority in the Senate, a House-Senate conference committee, and a likely Bush veto.

But the effort to hold Congressmembers to their electoral mandate must be continued and ratcheted up, not abandoned, even as we look towards pressing alternative centers of power (city councils, state legislatures, mayors and governors, newspaper editorial boards, influential clergy, etc.) as instruments to pressure Congress from new directions.
Read complete article

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!

Restoring America’s Moral Authority: A 10-Point Plan of Action

By Mark Agrast / The Center for American Progress Action Fund
February 28, 2007
As the nations of the world emerged from the devastation of the Second World War, they looked to America for moral leadership. The U.S. heeded the call, playing a pivotal role in codifying international norms for the protection of human rights—from the Universal Declaration of Human Rights to the 1949 Geneva Conventions—and in creating permanent institutions to uphold those norms and punish those who violate them.

Today, America’s moral authority lies in ruins. The Bush administration’s unilateralist policies and contempt for the law have weakened the international system and the standards of civilized conduct which our nation did so much to put in place. The U.S. prison at Guantánamo Bay is a betrayal of everything America fought for 60 years ago, which is why the Center for American Progress Action Fund has joined with leading human rights, civil liberties and religious organizations to urge congressional leaders to adopt a 10-point plan for restoring America’s moral authority.

Read complete article

Regional Implications of the Iraq War
Chris Toensing | March 27, 2007 | Foreign Policy In Focus
Editor: Erik Leaver, Institute for Policy Studies

President George W. Bush’s vision for the Iraq War was nothing if not expansive. Liberal democracy and popular sovereignty were to supplant tyranny not only in Baghdad, but in nearby capitals as well. And the force of U.S. arms would not be needed to accomplish the latter missions. As Bush asserted to eager applause at the American Enterprise Institute on February 25, 2003, “a new regime in Iraq would serve as a dramatic and inspiring example of freedom for other nations in the region.” Democracy, the war party believed, would be contagious.
Read complete article

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

Give Us Some Real Political Leaders

Inter Press Service
Ali al-Fadhily*

BAGHDAD, Mar 15 (IPS) - Many Iraqis are now looking to local political leadership to fill wide gaps in a fractured government that is failing to provide security and basic needs.

"Iraqis feel lost amongst too many political currents that blew their country away with their narrow sectarian and personal interests," Mohammad Jaafar, a Baghdad-based politician formerly involved in the interim government told IPS.

"I am ashamed to say that I am or even was an Iraqi politician after all the damage to our country that we caused. It is entirely our fault and there is no question about that."

Many politicians feel similarly. Read story on Dahr Jamail's website

In Washington: Congress debates war funding

Today, the House Appropriations Committee, under new leadership, will complete their work on approving an additional $100 billion for war. Then the entire House of Representatives will have a floor debate. This is a moment for the country to take another step toward peace.

Many groups and people from many walks of life are united in a simple message:

We want no further spending that keeps Iraqi civilians and U.S. troops in harm’s way. Instead, the U.S. should invest in diplomatic strategies, multilateralism, compensation for losses and injuries, and an Iraqi-led reconstruction. These are the first steps on what will be a difficult road to peace and stability in Iraq and the entire region.

Next week begins year five of the war and occupation of Iraq. Right now, we have a big moment to stand up for peace.

Please call your Representative today to ask him or her to replace the violence of the occupation with reconstruction. Also, insist on language that prevents the Bush Administration from attacking Iran without explicit Congressional approval. If we get the language impeding the Administration’s aggression toward Iran into the bill before it makes it to the House floor, we have a good chance to make a big statement.

Call your Representative today

Action: Iran – Congress Can Stop the Slide to War

Your phone calls in the next 48 hours could stop the administration from rushing into military action against Iran.

Members of Congress from both major political parties are concerned that, given the administration’s track record leading up to the Iraq war, President Bush will authorize military action against Iran. Last week the House leadership designed a legislative provision to require the president to seek congressional authorization before launching a military attack against Iran. They attached that provision to the draft Iraq war supplemental spending bill. The provision would require the administration to make a full, public explanation of the need for war and gain congressional approval before launching new military action against Iran.

But, on Monday, the House leadership deleted the no war with Iran provision from the supplemental funding bill. The congressional leadership is counting votes. Apparently, they believe there is not sufficient support in Congress to approve a bar on military attacks on Iran without congressional approval.

Take Action - Call Your Representative Today

The first vote on the Iraq supplemental bill could happen as soon as this Thursday, March 15. Please call your representative today. Ask her or him to publicly ask the congressional leadership to include language in the Iraq supplemental bill that would require the president to seek congressional approval before going to war with Iran.

FCNL has set up a special, toll free number that you can use to reach the Capitol Hill switchboard: 1-800-903-0682. When you reach the switchboard, ask for Congressman Don Young

Read full action alert at http://www.fcnl.org/action/2007/lam0313.htm

Op-Ed Contributor
New York Times

Whose Oil Is It, Anyway?

By ANTONIA JUHASZ

Published: March 13, 2007

San Francisco

TODAY more than three-quarters of the world’s oil is owned and controlled by governments. It wasn’t always this way.

Until about 35 years ago, the world’s oil was largely in the hands of seven corporations based in the United States and Europe. Those seven have since merged into four: ExxonMobil, Chevron, Shell and BP. They are among the world’s largest and most powerful financial empires. But ever since they lost their exclusive control of the oil to the governments, the companies have been trying to get it back. Click here to read full article.

Occupation Project Fairbanks, Alaska

Press Release 3/12/07

Nonviolent Action - Tue. Mar. 13, 12:45 p.m. End the Iraq War!

Meet at Federal Bld. (101, 12th Ave. Fbks. AK)

Next week Congress votes on President Bush's $93,000,000,000.00 Iraq War and Occupation Supplemental Spending Bill.

Join with us. Tell Don Young:
Support our troops! Bring them home now!
Provide them full benefits, adequate healthcare, and other support!
Spend not one penny more for War!

During his allotted five minutes of comment concerning the recent House Resolution declaring President Bush's plan to "surge" the number of troops in Iraq as not in the United States best interest, Congressman Young misquoted President Lincoln as having said "'Congressmen who willfully take actions during wartime that damage morale and undermine the military are saboteurs and should be arrested, exiled or hanged.'" When he was shown that this was not a quote attributable to President Lincoln he said that he would not use it anymore but that he stands behind the point that he was making.

Abraham Lincoln was a pacific man; he denounced war and military glory. When he was a Congressman Lincoln said of Polk, his president, our armed forces' commander-in-chief: "Trusting to escape scrutiny by fixing the public gaze upon the exceeding brightness of military glory, that attractive rainbow that rises in showers of blood — that serpent's eye, that charms to destroy, he plunged into war." Would Don have had Honest Abe "exiled or hanged"?

Another Abe Lincoln quote that Congressman Young should take to heart is: "America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter, and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves."

In the spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King and Gandhi, some may be moved to acts of Peaceful Nonviolent Civil Disobedience. Civil Disobedience is not a requirement to participate.

Action initiated by: Voices for Creative Nonviolence Endorsed by: the Declaration of Peace, Alaska Peace Center, North Star Veterans for Peace, National Campaign for Nonviolent Resistance, CODE PINK, After Downing Street, Voters for Peace, and others.

Local Contact: Rob Mulford, 907-457-5578, mulford.rob@gmail.com