Mendocino Environmental Center

Sorry, I just couldn’t resist the dare thing. Honestly, these days it seems like you are taking your life literally into your hands or putting it in someone else’s just to speak the word PEACE. What is that about? Since when is it political to mention something that has been around as a spiritual, philosophical, and just a natural concept for millenia? Spin. That is what it is. We see it all the time, ‘we’ meaning those of us who stand up out loud for peace and don’t shut up when confronted about our beliefs… which is a bit ironic, admittedly.

So, what do you do to engender peace? How do you keep your own peace of mind when it is confronted, or even conflicted? How do you stay congruent to the idea of being at peace when all around us seems to be in flux, in conflict, in constant stressful change and seriously off balance?

Me, I meditate, I pray, I do a thing called spiritual mind treatment to remember those qualities I want to experience more of and to cleanse my mind from the stuff that creeps up and takes my mind away from expressing things like love, peace, and joy in life.

Beyond that, I write poems, I make someone a meal or a gift, and I do any kind of creative expression I can think of and get my hands into and get finished soon. Thanks to all my former therapists, teachers, healers and family for teaching me that last bit. It is always a good idea to consider how long of an investment the project is going to cost you in time. The one thing each of us has is a limited time on this planet in this one life… well, outside of the alternate lives and transpersonal psych stuff that some of my woo-woo friends know all about and upon which I usually fall pretty darned mum… not for lack of interest, I dare say, but for lack of intimate knowledge of the same.

This is the life I inhabit, I trust it, I know that it is me for now and that is as far as I can stretch at this point in my human brain and body, so that’s about it for me. If you know better, I salute you. Me, I’m meat, breath, bones, and blood… okay, 90% water, too. I am as peaceful as I have a mind to be, and I welcome you to remind me to be more peaceful if your awareness is greater than mine as I recognize a need to grow ever more conscious of life and the depth of living that is within the concept of PEACE.

So, what is new with you?

In case you are interested and not yet clued into activist networks in the Bay Area who are promoting this, allow me to now invite you to celebrate peace in a demonstration rally in San Francisco on the Sunday closest to the 5 year anniversary of the invasion of Iraq. Believe me, we are really wanting out of that war, of the others, too, and out of the mindset of endless and needless wars. So, if you care to join us, we will be car pooling to the city on Sunday, the 16th of March. Call me if you want more data: 463-8653 my name is liz.

For more info on the 5 years:

www.5yearstoomany.org
www.unitedforpeace.org

For ideas of how to organize locally for the actual 5 year mark which is March 19th and upon which day (Weds.) we will be holding a vigil outside the county courthouse just to remind folks locally that we think it is 5 too many years of war, I give you these ideas straight out of the annals of some nationwide Code Pinks:

March 18: CODEPINK day of action to Restore the Constitution
Before WWI there were women activists who created a pageant in DC; in the spirit of creating something striking we thought we’d create a passion play in 3 acts:

Starts at National Archives with tattered constitution and actors playing dead torture victims, iraqis, soldiers; and 100 people lined up in formation around constitution, with coffins that say the amendments and have american flags with bloody hands; Greek chorus moaning for loss as each coffin goes up; at end, see coffins lining steps with the things we’ve lost from the constitution written on them. Greek chorus cares for dead after procession. Peel constitution pieces off the coffins and put them back on the constitution

Department of Justice: Lady Justice with bandages and wounds, signs with the things the justice department has fallen down around; turn signs into what is needed to restore justice, actor restores Lady Justice to balanced scales and healed wounds

IRS: sucking money from people to war; we give money instead to education, healthcare, stop paying war tax, put $ into life-affirming activities

Play shows what’s wrong and then how to restore it
Go to Capitol Reflecting Pool at Congress and take an oath in the place of Congress failing their oath

Instead of the chaos and beauty of a march, this action will have the discipline and elegance that will make the people we’re speaking to feel safe instead of alienated
Will make Washington say “wow, this is anti-war activism?!”

Evening panel/teach-in at Bus Boys and Rev Billy Concert

March 19:
CODEPINK 7:30 am panel at Take Back America
United for Peace and Justice civil resistance to focus on pillars of war
Various affinity groups focusing on places such as recruiting stations (SDS), K Street Lobbyists (No War No Warming), and other actions, CP joining War Tax Resisters League at the IRS

Evening civil resistance march to the DNC office
Nighttime dance party

Actions will also include facepainting modeled after women of the Philipines photos

IVAW may set up a field hospital outside walter reede
or throw medals over the fence at the white house

Many roles for those who don’t want to get arrested too, of course

Leslie’s fast update: Leslie has fasted for 25 days, Ellen Taylor is going to take over the fast for Leslie tomorrow, taking on the baton, fast will be a rolling fast
Now 469 people who have signed on to fast! Plus the Gandhi Peace Brigade fast that’s over 600 people doing the rolling fast!
SF sends love to Leslie!

UfPJ Call to locals: Jodie and Rae
District visits RE funding bill on 19th (funding battle postponed till after March 31)
Winter Soldier solidarity actions/viewing
Ideas for local March 19 Activities

As you plan your local events, think about how they can help activate new people, outreach to other movements and reach the media. The aim of organizing 435 events (at least one in each congressional district) is to keep the pressure on Congress to act to end the war, especially in the context of the 2008 elections.

1.Visibility events: Massive candlelight vigils in community centers, banner drops, leafleting in shopping areas, door-to-door canvassing, voter registration and education. Events that can attract the attention of your communities and engage new participants.
2. Nonviolent direct action: Choose a location which symbolizes a roadblock to ending the occupation or as a pillar actively supporting the war — a warmongering senator or congressperson, headquarters of a war profiteer, corporate media headquarters, military recruiting centers, etc. Find resources here.
3. Town Hall meeting: This could be a hearing where Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans and military families present testimony and elected officials are invited to listen. US Labor Against the War is working with IVAW to initiate such meetings in a number of cities. Your group could do the same if one is not being done in your area. Check the US Labor Against the War website for more information: www.uslaboragainstwar.org.
4. Media events: press conferences, ads in local papers, public service announcements.
5. In the run-up to March 19, initiatives that expand alliances with social and economic justice organizations should be considered. For example, a sample sign-on letter is being drafted to circulate to community leaders and groups. The letter could be delivered to congressional or senate offices on March 19 by a delegation of community leaders followed by a press conference.

I certainly hope you will consider becoming an advocate of peace in whatever capacity that works for you.

love, Liz