From: "Wesenberg, Nancy Christine" <WESENBNC@uwec.edu> Date: Tue, 22 Jul 2008 09:14:36 -0500 Subject: Sept. 14 Peace Gathering in Phoenix Park Message-ID: <E3F0E607B3CF71418CE725F002B5F604417D764D48@CHERRYPEPSI.uwec.edu>
For any interested in participating in the Peace Gathering planned for Sept
. 14 in Phoenix Park. They have asked for a presence from SFPJ, but I don'
t know if anyone feels they can head this up by Sept. 14. Sounds like the
y already have some great speakers. See below.
Nancy Wesenberg
Communication Specialist
News Bureau
University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
715-836-4423
wesenbnc@uwec.edu<mailto:wesenbnc@uwec.edu>
I am excited to be able to tell you a bit about speakers we have lined up f
or the Sept. 14 Voices For Peace 2008 event:
In addition to having two speakers (one on Palestine, the other on Iraq) fr
om the Wisconsin-based Wheels of Justice group (http://www.justicewheels.or
g/), we now also will have two speakers who are part of the American Friend
s Service Committee's (AFSC) Fall 2008 "Speak For Peace Tour: U.S. Veterans
and Iraqis Creating the Way Forward".
The AFSC is, I think, the national organization of Quakers. The Quakers are
a well recognized international presence for promoting reconciliation, pea
ce and justice.
Raed Jarrar, one of the two speakers from the "Speak for Peace" tour, who w
ill speak at our Sept. 14 event, is internationally known and has been inte
rviewed by Amy Goodman, DemocracyNow, at least three times. I expect you ar
e familiar with Amy Goodman and DemocracyNow, but in case not, consider che
cking out her web site some time (www.democracynow.org<http://www.democracy
now.org>). I regularly visit it, and have found it to be an invaluable sour
ce of accurate news about all things "war and peace".
Here are some links to DemocracyNow pages from times when Amy Goodman inter
viewed Raed:
http://www.democracynow.org/2008/1/29/bush_touts_outcome_of_iraq_troop
http://www.democracynow.org/2007/8/13/aclu_sues_jet_blue_tsa_for
http://www.democracynow.org/2006/10/23/the_end_of_maliki_will_a
The second speaker with this AFSC tour is Eugene Cherry - Iraq war veteran.
See:
http://www.couragetoresist.org/x/content/blogcategory/36/80/
More info about Eugene Cherry (from http://www.couragetoresist.org/x/conten
t/blogcategory/39/86/) --
Army Specialist Eugene Cherry, 24, developed signs of post-traumatic stress
disorder (PTSD) while in Iraq. In June, 2005, he sought help from his supe
riors. When he couldn't get it, he went AWOL to deal with his depression an
d anxiety. The military sought to demote, dishonorably discharge and impris
on Eugene for trying to salvage his mental health. But in July, 2007 he was
honorably discharged without court-martial. Cherry had been supported by I
raq Veterans Against the War, psychiatrists and lawyers.
Peace and good to you,
Lou
SFO
(Secular Franciscan Order)
-----------------------------
Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change
the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.
-Margaret Mead