Peace Council Pages

Educate, Agitate, Organize

SPC IN ACTION

compiled by Carol Baum

People gather in Clinton Square on New Year's Eve afternoon, making a collective resolution to end the war in 2006. Photo: Patrick Sauter.

Tide Turns Against War
As US public sentiment has turned decidedly against the continued US occupation of Iraq, national campaigns for nonviolent direct action and legislative pressure have been launched. An Iraq Action Committee has formed at SPC to implement a local nonviolent action campaign and support national efforts.

We organized a New Year's Eve vigil that about 60 people attended at Clinton Square. More recently, we participated with MoveOn and Peace Action in a meeting with Congressman Walsh, who continues to disappoint us with his staunch refusal to hold a public meeting or to support any legislation that sets a timetable for US withdrawal from Iraq. Then, on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, we organized a "Justice Not War" demonstration in downtown Syracuse.

You are invited to a major organizing meeting on February 2 (Groundhog Day) at 7 pm at SPC. We are planning many events, including fasting and street theatre, leading up a large mobilization March 19-20, which marks the start of the fourth year of the US occupation. Contact Jessica to get involved.

 

SPC’s Monthly Program

White Brain/Left Brain: Racism in the Left This training will focus on racism within the white left movement and will explore how white activists and organizers must work to dismantle white supremacy within ourselves and our organizations in order to act in solidarity with people of color in their daily struggles against racism and capitalism. Thursday, February 16 7-8:30 pm Westcott Community Center (corner of Euclid and Westcott, Syracuse) followed by refreshments & discussion. FREE

Torture, Terror, Tyranny
The Peace Council and the CNY ACLU Chapter are organizing a luncheon featuring Amnesty International Director William Schulz. Join us
for "Torture, Terror, Tyranny: What's Gone Wrong" on Tuesday, February 28 at 12:30 pm at Grace Episcopal Church, 819 Madison St., Syracuse.

The benefit soup and salad luncheon costs $10-25 (sliding scale). Please RSVP by February 23: call SPC (472-5478) or email the ACLU at director@cnyclu.org. Please mail checks made out to SPC to: 924 Burnet Ave., Syracuse, NY 13203 (PNL Subscribers - see flyer).

Creative Resistance: SPC Skill Share
Yes, working for peace and social justice should be consistent, dedicated, hard work. But, can't we have fun too? Come to a facilitated skill share on creative resistance. We'll share information about past actions, practice hands-on skills and brainstorm new ideas together. If you have an idea to share or a skill to show, or just want to learn from others, please come - and bring your imagination (and props!). Skill share will be held at the SPC office, February 15, 7 pm. Contact Jessica.

2006 Strike 4 Peace is No April's Fool
The 2006 Strike for Peace, a fun(d)-raising bowl-a-thon, will be held on April Fool's Day, Saturday, April 1, at Bowl Mor Lanes, 201 Highland Ave., East Syracuse, in two shifts, 12:30-2:30 pm and 3-5 pm.

Since there are a limited number of lanes, teams are encouraged to register and pay early in order to reserve a lane during their preferred time. The cost is $15 for adults and $10 for children 12 and under. Bumper bowling is available if requested in advance. Volunteers interested in helping before or during the event are welcome. Proceeds benefit the programs and activities of SPC

To register or volunteer, visit www.peacecouncil.net or call 472-5478 and request a registration form.
- Barb Humphrey

 

Beth (left) shares a light moment with Ada Jacques of the Onondaga Nation at the 2005 SPC Birthday Celebration. Photo:elana levy

Activist Appreciation: Beth Mosley
Is there anything Beth Mosley has not done for the Peace Council? We are indebted to her for many things, most prominently:
• Her ongoing commitment and passion to support the traditional government of the Onondaga Nation. Starting with the group Save Onondaga Sovereignty and now Neighbors of the Onondaga Nation, Beth has been instrumental in nurturing the relationship between SPC and the Onondagas.
• Her dedication to the Plowshares Craftsfair and The Front Room. Not only is she on the Plowshares Committee, but if you have ever bought anything from The Front Room there, it was most likely ordered, unpacked and lugged over to Plowshares by Beth.
• Her work on SPC staff and helping keep the organization together - no easy task, especially during troubled times.
• Her role as a key player in SPC's revitalization. She joined the "revitalized" Steering Committee in January 2002, remaining on it thru 2005.

Beth's activism is a family affair; we also want to appreciate her partner Lance Hogan and their children Sarah, Amanda and Mara Hogan - who often make up a large part of the SPC contingent at Pride Parade and staffing the Front Room, among other things.

Beth is currently spending most of her time in Philadelphia and we miss her.

Youth Empowerment vs. Kill 'Em Government
The Military Education Alternatives Project (MAEP) met in early January to discuss how we can forge connections with city high school students and teachers to help students start their own counter-recruitment organizations.

Also, this month MAEP interviewed seven applicants for our paid spring internship. Congratulations to Henninger High School junior Dylan Brown, SPC's newest intern! Dylan will work with Candace and Jessica to organize an alternative career fair to connect local youth to work and education opportunities related to social justice and community empowerment.

MAEP's next meeting is 7 pm on February 6 at the AFSC/Peace Action Office (2013 E. Genesee). Contact Candace 472-5478 or candace@peacecouncil.net.

Welcome to SPC's 2006 Steering Committee
The Steering Committee is responsible for the political and financial health of the Peace Council. It is a working committee, involving one or two meetings a month, in addition to subcommittee work. SPC has been fortunate to find talented people willing to participate.

This year's members are: Carol Baum, Gary Bonaparte, Hari Chathrattil, Joan Conley, Dik Cool, Alanna Gothard, Barb Humphrey, Andy Mager, Jessica Maxwell, Shirley Novak, Mike Pasquale, Thor Ritz and Candace Saunders. Thanks to outgoing members Beth Mosley and John Burdick.

If you are an SPC activist and might be interested in joining the Steering Committee, please contact Carol.

PNL #750!
You are holding Peace Newsletter #750. A little math will tell you that SPC has published 10 to 11 newsletters per year for 70 years-quite an achievement for your Syracuse Peace Council. Look for details next month about our 70th Birthday Celebration.

Year End Finances
Thanks to a generous bequest last spring,SPC ended the year very much in the black. However, without the bequest, we would have had a net loss of $7,000, making this the first year since SPC's revitalization began four years ago that we have lost money. This needs to be turned around, since the bequest has been set aside for a new building and other long-term organizational needs, not operating expenses.

While we continue to seek new sources of funding, including grants and innovative fundraisers, your donations and pledges - money we can count on - are particularly important.
Contact Carol.

Start an SPC Project
Would you like to start an SPC project? Or would you like something you already are working on to become an SPC project? SPC's Steering Committee recently approved a process for you to be able to do just that.

In short, you will need to explain your idea to the Program Committee (which will decide whether or not it makes sense as an SPC project) by describing the goals of the project, its timeline and activities, resources you hope SPC will provide, how it relates to SPC's Statement of Purpose , and what you can contribute to making it happen. We'd be happy to hear from you. For more details, contact Carol.

Thanks, Credit Union!
Each year the Syracuse Cooperative Federal Credit Union gives monetary "Common Cents" awards to organizations voted on by credit union members. This January SPC received an award of $492. We're very grateful for it, and appreciate the cooperative spirit of the credit union in providing the awards.

Muslim Solidarity Day
This year the CNY Bill of Rights Defense Campaign (BORDC) will distribute information (in the form of stories) on the challenges facing the Muslim community since 9-11. We hope to encourage faith communities to include the stories in their services or as inserts in their bulletins over February 24-26.

Three years ago, on February 26, 2003, federal and local law enforcement agents aggressively interrogated 15 Muslim and Arab families in Central New York, as part of their investigation of Dr. Dhafir. The agents were intimidating, intrusive, and insensitive. Since then, the BORDC has recognized every anniversary by encouraging acts of solidarity with the Muslim and Arab community.

For more information, contact Barrie Gewanter at 471-2821 or Carol Baum at SPC.