Peace Council Pages

Educate, Agitate, Organize

SPC IN ACTION

compiled by Jessica Maxwell

Massive Anti-War Actions on September 24

SPC's graphic banner about the human costs of the Iraq war was updated for the September 24 protest in Syracuse. Banner: Rose Viviano. Photo: Tammy Crandall

Over 100 people (in two busses and many carpools) represented the Peace Council in Washington, DC on September 24 for a massive anti-war demonstration sponsored by United for Peace and Justice and International ANSWER. Syracuse-area peace activists joined hundreds of thousands of people from around the country to tell the President, lawmakers, citizens and the world that the war in Iraq must end. Saturday's protest was buoyed by local demonstrations around the country, becoming the largest day of anti-war protests since the war began.

Here in Syracuse, over 60 folks stood in solidarity with those in Washington and sought to "bring the war home." We gathered in front of the County Republican Party office demanding that local Republicans end the unity for war in their party.
-Aimee Jurista and Andy Mager

 

SPC’s Monthly Program

Muslim Solidarity Breaking the Ramadan Fast Thursday, October 20, 6:15 pm Islamic Society of CNY 925 Comstock Ave., Syracuse Our Muslim sisters and brothers have invited us once again to join them in a breaking of the fast during Ramadan. Other groups have also been invited, so space is limited. Please contact Carol to make a reservation.

UfPJ's Leslie Cagan to Speak in Syracuse
Leslie Cagan, National Coordinator for United for Peace and Justice (of which SPC is a member group) will speak in Syracuse on Monday, October 10, 4-6 pm in SU's Maxwell Auditorium. Leslie's talk, "Stopping the Gulf Wars: Challenges for Organizers," is part of the Fall Speaker Series of Syracuse University's Women's Studies Program. SPC is a co-sponsor. Leslie is a widely published writer on feminist, anti-war and gay rights activism; her organizing skills have helped put hundreds of thousands of people in the streets.

There will be an opportunity for local activists to meet with Leslie. If you are interested, contact Carol.

Poets for Peace
Poets are invited to gather in protest of the war on Iraq on Friday, Oct. 14, noon to 1:30 pm in Hanover Square (S. Warren and E. Water St.). Voices will be raised in poetry to continue to bring this travesty to the conscience of the CNY community. Local poet Georgia Popoff will help to coordinate the event and serve as MC. Contact Georgia at angel_light@earthlink.net to be a reader (please put "Poets Against the War" in the subject line).

This reading will follow the appearance of Sam Hamill, founder of Poets Against the War and nationally known peace activist, at the Bevard Room of the Civic Center in an event sponsored by the Downtown Writers Center of the Syracuse YMCA on Thursday, October 13.
- Georgia Popoff

Talk to Us
Do you want to help shape SPC's program priorities? On Wednesday, October 5, 7-9 pm, SPC will hold a forum at the Westcott Community Center asking supporters to help clarify the focus of SPC's program work. The format will allow for short presentations of proposals submitted by community members, an opportunity to submit your own proposal, large group discussion and individual feedback on each proposal. Please come and share your thoughts with us!

Study Group Reading Globalize Liberation
The Syracuse Peace Council's study group has begun another season of lively, critical dialogue on the US global agenda. In the past two years, a variety of books, articles, and documentaries have informed the group on the state of US global interests. This fall we'll read Globalize Liberation: How to Uproot the System and Build a Better World, by activist David Solnit.

Members want to understand the complex issues driving the state of the world not only for themselves, but also so that they can express themselves more clearly to others.

The group meets the second and fourth Mondays of the month from 7-8:30 pm at the Friends Meeting House (821 Euclid Ave., Syracuse). Anyone is welcome to join at any time - we just ask that you have a basic agreement with SPC's statement of purpose and a willingness to discuss ideas respectfully. To learn more, contact Carol.
- Christina Essig

35th Plowshares Craftsfair December 3-4
We're gearing up for the 35th annual Plowshares Craftsfair on December 3rd and 4th! The Craftsfair and Winter Peace Festival will be held at Nottingham High School in Syracuse. We expect almost 100 crafters to participate, selling handmade gifts and goodies. Expect two days of entertainment and tasty food to warm the spirit! Plowshares is a great place to catch up with friends-we hope you'll join us.

An Odd Cash Crunch
August and September are often tough months for SPC - we rarely have significant fundraisers during the summer, so our income is down, but the fixed expenses (staff salaries, utilities, etc.) remain. Between the fall fund appeal, Plowshares Craftsfair and contributions, we usually remedy the summer doldrums by the end of the year.

The problem: this August and September were worse than usual.

So, we are in a cash crunch. We had to borrow money to pay for the buses for the September 24 anti-war demonstration in DC.

But it is an odd kind of cash crunch. We just received the money from Norma Bentley's life insurance policy, which is about $83

Matt Reitman (right) helps young people learn to fix their bikes at a Bikes 4 Peace clinic on July 20 in Lexington Park. Eight free clinics were held this summer, working with over 120 youth! We wrapped up with a table at the Westcott Street Cultural Fair. We answered questions about the program, fixed a few minor bike problems for fair-goers and raffled off three refurbished bikes. We hope to expand the program next year. Photo: Kimberley McCoy

,000. However, from the first moment we learned of it, we've wanted it to go towards long-term investments (like a new building, reserves or endowment) rather than day-to-day operating expenses. We want to use it to move forward, not just to keep up.

So, help keep us moving forward. Please send what you can.

Note: Contributions of $50 or more are tax deductible if written to A. J. Muste Memorial Institute. Please put SPC in memo line.

Steering Committee Additions
SPC is delighted to welcome Alanna Gothard, Thor Ritz and Candace Saunders onto our Steering Committee. The three young activists joined the committee in September.

Alanna, a newcomer to Syracuse, works at the Fair Housing Council. She was the NYPIRG staffperson in Cortland before heading north. Thor is an SU senior who is active with SEAC (Student Environmental Action Coalition) and is working with the Geography Department to map public spaces in Syracuse. Candace, another SEAC activist and a sparkplug on local white privilege work, is searching for a new VISTA position in the aftermath of ENIP's demise.

We will miss the contributions and energy of recently departed Steering Committee members Tina Musa, Emily Moeller, Nick Poulos and Carole Resnick.

We'll be adding additional Steering Committee members in the late fall. Contact Andy.

Welcome to Elisha
We're happy to welcome Elisha Peck to SPC activism as a 10-hour-a-week intern this semester. She is a spirited LeMoyne College senior majoring in Communications who will focus on the Peace Newsletter. Already Elisha has made her mark, helping with the Crawford bus tour event and writing her first PNL articles.

If you would like to intern at SPC, either for credit or not, contact the office or see http://peacecouncil.net/intern.htm.

A Brush With Our Time
A magical evening of poetry, music, and calligraphy came together September 19 for a wonderful fund-raising event for the Syracuse Peace Council, Peace Action of Central New York, and the Zen Center of Syracuse. Premiering that evening were Marcia Rutledge, Diego Davidenko and Josh Coles' musical renditions of visiting artist Kazuaki Tanahashi's "Peace Poems." The audience of 80 people then participated in a silent auction of several pieces of calligraphy that Tanahashi painted to the music.

Performers included Amanda Carnie, John Oberbrunner, Bruce Keplinger, Gina Gilbert, Laura Enslin, Alice Lee, Jacob Reeder and Wanjiru Mata.
- Roger Cunningham