Peace Council Pages

Educate, Agitate, Organize
SPC IN ACTION

Building Real Democracy
Building Real Democracy (BRD), the last phase of SPC’s Bush Must Go! campaign began Nov. 3, with SPC’s demonstration downtown demanding that every vote be counted. We have since held two public meetings to generate ideas and discussion on how to move forward. At the Plowshares Craftsfair, we invited people to add their ideas on “How to Build Democracy” on a giant wall poster. In January, BRD is organizing an educational program on progressive electoral reform efforts (see box below).

Inauguration Protest
SPC is working with the Syracuse Greens, Student Environmental Action Coalition, Student Peace Action Network and American Friends Service Committee to send a bus to protest Bush’s Inauguration on Thursday, January 20. The bus leaves late Wednesday night and returns 24 hours later. Tickets are $40, $25 student or low income.

To reserve bus seats: Kate Simmer, lahira@hotmail.com or 477-0666.
SPC will also coordinate a local action: Jessica, 472-5478, or (jessica@ peacecouncil.net).

34th Plowshares Craftsfair
Twenty years at Plymouth Congregational church. Thirteen years at Southwest Community Center. And now one glorious year at Nottingham High School. One hundred and twenty artisans and community groups offered their crafts, and explained their causes to approximately 2,500 enthusiastic patrons. And a wonderful variety of song and dance entertained throughout the day in both the gym and cafeteria.

Good weather and good publicity – combined with an exciting new location and greatly expanded parking – helped bring our community out in droves, nearly doubling our best numbers at Southwest Community Center and generating much-need funding for SPC’s ongoing work. The publicity around our being picketed on Saturday by three men out in the parking lot surely added to our numbers on Sunday. The picketers – one wearing a mask – held signs questioning Islam’s legitimacy and SPC’s commitment to democracy. In the spirit of nonviolent action, SPC quickly recruited people to maintain a presence near the demonstrators with a sign stating: “Islam is not our enemy.”

No transition and expansion of this size is without unforeseen problems, and our move to Nottingham was no exception. Students taking the SAT’s Saturday morning used many of our wonderful new parking spaces, and a gym hot enough to almost create the First Naked Plowshares Festival were but a couple of the “minor” obstacles to be overcome.

This wonderful festival is only possible through the year-round efforts of a core committee, and the weekend help of a remarkable number of capable and dedicated volunteers

See you again in December!

In Peace,

The Plowshares Committee:

Welcome New Steering Committee Members!
SPC’s Steering Committee is responsible for our political direction and financial health. It’s a significant commitment and we’re happy to welcome Joan Conley, Barb Humphrey and Mike Pasquale. They’ll join returning Steering Committee members Gary Bonaparte, Dik Cool, Emily Moeller, Beth Mosley, Tina Musa, Shirley Novak, Nick Poulos and Carole Resnick.

Great thanks to retiring Committee members Doug Igelsrud, Rae Kramer and Ann Tiffany for their energy, spirit, commitment and continuing SPC activism.

Interns, Interns, Interns!
This fall SPC was fortunate to have three interns. Amy Campbell, an Antioch College student, worked full-time, updating our Peace Newsletter archives, assisting with phones, tabling, mailings and more. Miljan Poro, an OCC student intern, assisted with our Bush Must Go! Campaign. Miljan made hundreds of phone calls, stuffed envelopes and staffed SPC tables at events. Justin Kopa, a Jesuit Novice, researched and reported on conflict resolution programs used in Syracuse City schools.

In January, we welcome Kelsey Waggaman, our third Antioch intern, and Lauren Neider, a Cicero resident now attending Bennington College. Kelsey will be with us through April, while Lauren will work with us through February. We’re excited to have them both!

Start the New Year With SPC’s Study Group
If you’ve been thinking about joining SPC’s Study Group on the US Global Agenda, now is a great time to start. We’re beginning a new book in January – Vandana Shiva’s Water Wars: Privatization, Pollution and Profit.

Meetings are the second and fourth Mondays at the Friends Meeting House (821 Euclid Ave., across from the Westcott Community Center) from 7-8:30 pm.

Our next meeting is January 10. Join us for an evening of analysis and discussion about issues that matter. Contact Carol for the chapters we’ll be discussing.

Keep the Money Coming!
By publication time, the fall fund appeal has brought in nearly $5,000. We count on this money to support us through the winter and spring. Thanks so much to everyone who responded.

If the fund appeal hasn’t yet made it to the top of your mail pile, now is a good time to excavate and make a donation. Contributions of $50 or more can be tax deductible if made out to the “A.J. Muste Memorial Institute” (write SPC in the memo line). Credit card contributions can be made via “paypal” at our website (www.peacecouncil.net/donate.htm).

Bookkeeping/Accounting Help Wanted
If you’re a detail person, comfortable with numbers and a computer, we have the perfect volunteer opportunity for you! We’re looking for someone familiar with SPC to help an average of 1-2 hours a week with our books. We’ll train you. Six month commitment required. Contact Jessica.Contact Jessica.

Feeling a Draft?
Bush’s election increases the prospect of a renewed draft. A new youth outreach group formed at the November Peace Council Program. It has been meeting to plan stepped-up outreach to young people about military recruitment, draft registration and the draft.
Contact Andy.