Resources > Meeting Minutes
A. Kagan-Gracious Facilitator
R.l Cotton-Time
G. Stanton-Notes
News of the Week- Carl Estabrook
-Sources say Bush administration threatens to carry out an offensive in
Northern Pakistan in the war on "terror" before he leaves office.
-U.S. delegation to meet with Uzbekistan Dictator Karamov (Known for
terrible human rights violations) to negotiate with him about working
with U.S. bases there.
-Blair Gov't supporting the apartheid wall in the Occupied Territories.
-BBC under fire from the Hutton commission. Public response is against
the findings of the Hutton Commision. Blair's motives in pushing to war
is questionable.
WORKING GROUP REPORTS
Honduras- Carlos Euceda, activist representing COHNPA an indigenous peoples
human rights group spoke (with translation) last Thursday at Channing
Murray foundation about the effects of the U.S. corporate exploitation
of Central American people through the Plan Puebla Panama. People are
being driven off their land to make room for highways, logging routes
and Hydroelectic dams which cause huge environmental damage. Sadly,
environmental groups are working against these people when they set aside
land for national parks (kick people out) that the corrupt government
of Honduras now can sell to people for resources. In general the people
want to be left alone. Bill Taylor has set up a community radio station
with donated equipment for these people with others by the project PCP
(Primary Communications Project). He welcomes contributions
Prospect for Peace- On February 7th, 2004 AWARE will be demonstrating
on the sidewalks on the corner of Prospect and Marketview in Champaign (In
Front of Tires Plus) from 2-4 PM. All are welcome to come protest. Signs
will be available. Do not park at Tires Plus, Slot & Wing Hobbies or
Lowes.(Cars have been towed from these locations) It will be cold so dress
warmly. If you only stay a half an hour you are still making a difference
Education/Incarceration- Excellent conference examining the connection
between the school system and the prison industrial complex organized
by Activist/ University faculty member Stephen Hartnett. There will be
a follow up sometime after February 9th.
WILL - There will be Underwriting announcements for AWARE on AM 580 on
Mondays and Thursdays editions of Focus 580 from 10:30-12 and on Friday
from 4-7 running for a total of 3 weeks. We were not permitted to spell
out our name (Anti War Anti Racism Effort) on these spots.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Michael Goldman Lecture GLOBAL INSTITUTIONS WHAT ARE THEY GOOD FOR? on
Sunday February 8th from 3-5 PM before scheduled AWARE meeting
International Women's Day- Anybody interested in organizing suggesting
an event email aware@grex.net or bring it up at next meeting
Rosemary Slovenas Anti War mother of son killed in Iraq and volunteer
with the American Friends Service Commitee is tentatively scheduled to
speak on April 1st about the perspective of veterans who are against war.
A representative of a student group supporting Dennis Kucinich for
President, Dan, asked if anyone in the group needed support in starting
a community movement to support him or would like to attend meetings of
a student group should check out website: www.cornfields4kucinich.org
FUTURE EVENTS
Promoting Voter registration
Tuesday at 5:30 at County Clerk's office in Urbana there will be voter
registrar training.
Many suggested AWARE should try to expose Bush's role in stealing last
elections.
Jeff Nicholson Owens program on WEFT (Digital Citizen) exposed the
connection between Bush and major voting machine maker Diebold (as heard
about in Greg Palast's opus "THE BEST DEMOCRACY MONEY CAN BUY"