AWARE notes, Feb. 15, 2004
Facilitator: Randall Cotton
Time Keeper: Lisa Chason
Notes: Charlotte Green
Ralph Langenheim, one of the candidates for representative in the
U.S. Congress in the next election, spoke to us. He feels that the Iraq
war was misconceived, that there was no plan laid out for after the war,
and that weapons of mass destruction being produced in Iraq were a joke.
He thinks there is no way that the U.S. can establish a democratic society
there with such diverse groups of people, including Kurds, Shiites,
and Sunni Muslims. Ralph thinks that the U.S. should get out of Iraq
as soon as possible and should invite the UN to take over. When he was
asked to compare himself to David Gill, another Democratic candidate for
representative, Ralph said that he has more experience than his opponent.
Ralph is a retired military officer and a scientist. He has worked on
many environmental issues and has had extensive experience working for
U. S. AID in Iran, Albania, Taiwan, and Colombia. Ralph's position on
health care is similar to David Gill's, i.e. he would support a single
pay federal insurance similar to Canada's system. On the issue of
Israel/Palestine, Ralph said that Israel's interests are not the same
as ours. Israel is treating the Palestinians in the same fashion as the
U.S. has treated Native Americans. He would support a UN resolution
that Israel withdraw from the Occupied Territories. On the issue
of globalization, Ralph said that the U.S. should not withdraw from
the World Trade Organization and the International Monetary Fund, but
should look at those institutions critically. Ralph said that the U.S.
should quit exporting jobs. He offered as a solution that the U.S. could
tax corporations in proportion to the profits beyond what they would make
if they were manufacturing their products on U.S. soil.
Carl Estabrook reported on the news of the week.
Linda Evans reported that AWARE has a total of $2,728.04. AWARE is
grateful for a recent anonymous donation of $500. $250 has yet to be
paid to WILL for underwriting because AWARE has not been billed yet.
We agreed to pay $250 to be a sponsor of the Public I and to contribute
$100 to the Progressive Resource/Action Coalition (PRC) for its anti-chief
campaign.
Sara Bokhari suggested that AWARE contact and work with Red Roots, a
recently organized Native American group on campus. Lisa Chason will
contact Siobhan Beaver to see if someone from Red Roots would like
to speak at an AWARE meeting. Contact info for Red Roots: Siobhan--
beaver@law.uiuc.edu and Genevieve--tenoso@uiuc.edu.
Ricky Baldwin reported on Prospect for Peace demonstrations. He is
planning on asking people to make phone calls to encourage folks to
participate in the next demonstration on March 6. Sharon is still trying
to contact a lawyer who can accompany members of AWARE when they meet
with the police regarding safety issues at the demonstrations.
Mort Brussel, Mike Simon, and Randall Cotton attended a well-organized
press conference which PRC held last week to kick-off its month-long
anti chief campaign. (The Board of Trustees will vote on retiring or
retaining the chief at its meeting on March 11.) Several organizations
have scheduled showings of the video, "In Whose Honor?", an award-winning
documentary aired nationally on PBS, which takes a critical look at the
long-running practice of "honoring" American Indians by using them as
mascots and nicknames in sports. AWARE is scheduled to show and discuss
"In Whose Honor?" on Sun., Feb. 22 at the IMC. Other activities, including
prayers, flag songs, a press conference, and a rally are planned for March
10 and 11. Bus loads of Native Americans will be coming from upstate
and elsewhere for these activities. For more info on anti-chief events,
contact PRC at 352 8721 or prc@prairienet.org.
Ken Urban reported on the Coalition for Citizen Police Review, which is
planning an event in April to build public support for a Citizen Police
Review Board. The coalition plans to bring a resolution to form such
a board before the Urbana City Council in April. The Coalition holds
meetings the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of every month at 7 PM at the Illinois
Disciples Foundation.
Durl Kruse reported on plans to mark the anniversary of the beginning
of the Iraq War, which will be March 20. Plans are being made for a
community memorial gathering to be held late in the afternoon, including
speakers and music, followed by a public march/walk which would end up
at the court house with a rally. Striking visuals with large pictures of
Iraqi citizens and U.S. soldiers who have lost their lives in the war will
be used in the march. The varied activities will provide the community
with options for participating in either the memorial and/or the march.
The working group is considering either the civic center or a church in
Urbana as a place for the memorial gathering.
Neil from Student Peace Action reported that they are planning a vigil on
March 14, 7-7:45 PM on the Quad, also to commemorate the anniversary of
the beginning of the Iraq war. Their event is taking place before March
20 because students will be on spring break on that date. AWARE will
publicize the Quad event in addition to the March 20th memorial gathering
and march.
Linda Evans submitted a 1/2-page ad for the Black Women's Achievement
Dinner program. Cost is $55. A special thanks goes to Peter Rohloff, who
kindly designed the ad on short notice. If anyone would like to represent
AWARE at the dinner, please contact Linda Evans at veganlinda@yahoo.com.
Al Kagan reported on plans for an event to be held at the Champaign Public
Library on Thurs., April 1 at 7 PM, featuring Rosemarie Slavenas, the mother
of a soldier who lost his life in the Iraq war. Rosemarie is an anti-war
activist from Rockford, IL and a member of Military Families Speak Out.
Paul King, an AWARE member and a veteran, and Joe Miller from Vietnam
Veterans Against the War will also speak.
Neil reported that Student Peace Action is organizing a campaign against
Coke. The main union in the Coke plants in Columbia claim that Coke is
complicit with right wing paramilitary groups in murdering and harassing
labor union members. Coke is also overdrawing water in India, and soft
drinks there have unacceptable levels of pesticides and other toxic
materials. Public pressure may prevent the renewal of the university's
contract with Coke.
Ken Urban spoke about his October surprise website, which speculates on
possible scenarios of what Bush might do before the election. Ken noted
that Bush's ratings rise when his war activities increase. Thus folks
wonder if Bush will exaggerate terrorist threats or even initiate attacks
against other nations in order to increase his popularity. Ken's website
is octobersurprise2004.info .
A workshop on active nonviolence will be held on March 5-6 at Channing
Murray, 1209 W. Oregon, Urbana. Peter and Rebecca Rohloff from AWARE
lead some of the sessions. For more info, contact Pat Fettig, 356-8136,
pfettig@prairienet.org.
The March Primaries Forum will be held on Feb. 26 at 7 PM at the Illini
Union Room 404. Speakers will discuss the candidates' positions on issues,
including civil rights, health, and foreign policy. Ricky Baldwin will
represent AWARE.
Mort Brussel stated that Kucinich will be speaking on Monday, March 15
at the Illini Union in Rooms A, B, & C at 8 PM. Anyone wishing to make
phone calls to publicize Kucinich's speech can contact Mort.
Carl Estabrook will be giving talks at Channing-Murray on April 7 &
21 and on May 5.
Belden Fields will be the speaker at the Friday Forum at the University
YMCA on Feb. 20 at noon. His topic is "Democracy and Human Rights:
The Nature of the Relationship."
Al Kagan reported that a working group is composing four different
commentaries, which will eventually air on WILL. This is one of the
benefits of AWARE's underwriting of WILL's programming.
Sara Bokhari stated that she is going to be doing a research paper on
social movements. She asked for volunteers who would be willing to fill
out a questionnaire and to be interviewed for her project. If interested,
contact her at bokhari@uiuc.edu .