SOAW-W News for January-March, 2002
1) January News & Future Events
2) SOAW - Jan. 9
3) SOAW - Jan. 24
4) SOAW - Feb. 19
5) SOAW - Mar. 11
6) April 4: This date is confirmed!
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SOAW-W News for January-March, 2002
1) January News & Future Events
2) SOAW - Jan. 9
3) SOAW - Jan. 24
4) SOAW - Feb. 19
5) SOAW - Mar. 11
6) April 4: This date is confirmed!
School of the Americas Watch West ~ SOAWW ~ 01/02/02
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Read below for information about:
(1) SOAW Regional Strategy Meeting in Oakland on Sat. Feb. 9
(2) Fr. Roy Bourgeois' schedule of talks in February 2002
(3) "Season of Nonviolence" series in Lafayette, CA
(4) SOAW/Colombia Lobby and Rally Days - April 19-22 (Fri-Mon)
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(1) Northern California
School of the Americas Watch (SOAW)
Regional Strategy Meeting
February 9, 2002 (Saturday) from 9 am - 5 pm
Center for Third World Organizing
Oakland, CaliforniaDear Northern California SOAW activists,
The SOAW movement is facing critical questions like how to proceed in the post
September 11th world and how to merge the new younger energy into the movement.In order to have a democratic grassroots based movement everyone's input is needed. That's why you are invited to attend a Northern California SOAW strategy meeting on February 9th, 2002 from 9 am - 5 pm in Oakland.
The day-long meeting will bring together activists from all over Northern California working to close the SOA/WHISC. Participants will evaluate the state
of the movement and set goals for next year. The meeting will allow local activists to give feedback to the national leadership, in addition to providing a setting for local networking and sharing of ideas. We will discuss regional strategy and set up local committees and coordinators.Everyone working to close the SOA is welcome. Pre-registration is encouraged
so that we will have an idea of how many people to expect. We are asking for a sliding scale $5-15 donation at the door to cover the costs. Lunch will be served and housing for people coming from out of town will be provided for Friday and Saturday night, if needed.For more information contact:
Laurel Paget-Seekins (707) 895-2966
or Judy Liteky (415) 334-4770.To register please send this form back to:
laurelrose@riseup.net or
Laurel Paget-Seekins
607 23rd St., Oakland, CA 94612
------------------------------------------------------
Name:
Phone Number:
Address:
E-mail address:
SOAW group:
Do you need housing? Which nights?
Are you willing to help organize the event?
-----------------------------------------------------(2) Fr. Roy Bourgeois will be speaking
Feb. 23 (Sat) Chico, CA
Feb. 24 (Sun) Abraham Lincoln Brigade Program, Oakland, CA
Feb. 25 (Mon) Modesto, CA
Feb. 26 (Tues) Davis, CA
Feb. 27 (Wed) Sacramento State University Newman Center
Feb. 28 (Thurs. day) Peace and Conflict Studies Dept, UC Berkeley (Thurs. eve) College of Marin
------------------------------------------------------(3) "Season of Nonviolence" sponsored by Social Justice Alliance of the Interfaith Council of Contra Costa County
Our Savior's Lutheran Church
1035 Carol Lane, Lafayette
Contact: Natalie RussellFri. Feb. 22 from 4:30 to 9:00 pm,
"Could It Always Be the Season of Nonviolence?"Sat. March 2 from 9:30 to 2:00 pm,
"Is Violence Contagious?"Sat. March 9 from 9:30 to 2:00 pm,
"The Power of Nonviolence"Sat. March 16 from 9:30 to 2:00 pm,
"Social Movements under the Power of Nonviolence"------------------------------------------------------
(4) Thinking of Washington, DC in the Spring?
April 19 (Fri) SOAW Vigil and Lobby Day
April 20 (Sat) Colombia Teach-In
April 21 (Sun) Colombia Rally
April 22 (Mon) Colombia March and Nonviolent Direct ActionSOAW is working with Witness for Peace and Colombia Support Network on these
events.SOA Watch West - SOAWW - Jan. 9, 2001 ACTION RESPONSE
Contact your Representative about supporting the closing of the WHISC/SOA
through HR 1810 during this coming session of Congress. A handwritten letter is the most effective form of communication.U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515INFORMATION
Just to let everyone know that "60 Minutes" aired a piece on the damage done by glyphosate spraying in Colombia Sunday, January 13. Portions of Rep. Jim McGovern's interview made it into the final cut.Cheers,
Michael Mershon and Cindy Buhl
Staff for Rep. McGovernPS: This show has been a long time in coming, and it was first developed for airing in June or July, looking at the broader US-Colombia policy (Rep. Jim McGovern was interviewed in early April on nearly every topic you could name that's connected to Colombia because he'd just come back from the WOLA delegation trip). It was then postponed. Since that time, the producers of the segment decided to focus the piece more on the controversy over fumigation and the use of glyphosate. There was some pretty startling footage of people harmed by the spraying.
Thanks! Best always -- Cindy Buhl
School of the Americas Watch West ~ SOAWW ~ 01/24/02 Read below for information about:
(1) 2/23-28: Fr. Roy Bourgeois' schedule of talks in N. CA
(2) "Season of Nonviolence" series (Lafayette) Feb. 22-March 16
(3) 4/19-22 (Fri-Mon) SOAW/Colombia Lobby and Rally Days
(Washington, DC)------------------------------------------------------
(1) Feb. 23-28, 2002
FR. ROY BOURGEOIS IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA2/23 Sat - CHICO
7 PM, Trinity United Methodist Church
corner of 5th St. & Flume.
Also, 3 PM Workshop for Activists
Info: pobnkin@sunset.net or 530.342.93702/24 Sun - OAKLAND
2 PM, Calvin Simmons Theater, 10 Tenth St, $20 admission
Sponsored by Veterans and Friends/Abraham Lincoln Brigade.
Info: 510.548.3088 or lslustig@attbi.com by Feb. 18.
Luncheon Buffet at noon is additional $20.2/25 Mon - MODESTO
Sponsored by Modesto Peace & Justice Center
Info: mnappster@earthlink.net or 209.526.95882/26 Tues - DAVIS
7:30 PM, 198 Young Hall
University of California, Davis
Info: ctmp@aol.com or 530.792.10402/27 Wed - SACRAMENTO
7 PM, CSUS Newman Center, 5900 Newman Court
Info: janice@compudigital.com or 916.448.71572/28 Thurs - BERKELEY
UC Berkeley, Peace and Conflict Studies Program
Daytime, details to be announced
Info: harrisonjoseph@hotmail.com or 510.601.74412/28 Thurs - KENTFIELD
7:30 PM, Olney Hall, College of Marin
Info: mitf@igc.org or 415.924.3227----------------------------------
(2) "Season of Nonviolence"
sponsored by Social Justice Alliance
of the Interfaith Council of Contra Costa County
Our Savior's Lutheran Church
1035 Carol Lane, LAFAYETTE
Contact: Natalie Russell (russell1626@juno.com)Fri. Feb. 22 from 4:30 to 9:00 PM
"Could It Always Be the Season of Nonviolence?"Sat. March 2 from 9:30 to 2:00 PM
"Is Violence Contagious?"Sat. March 9 from 9:30 to 2:00 PM
"The Power of Nonviolence"Sat. March 16 from 9:30 to 2:00 PM
"Social Movements under the Power of Nonviolence"----------------------------------------
(3) Thinking of WASHINGTON, DC in the Spring?
Check out www.soaw.org for details.
4/19 (Fri) SOAW Vigil and Lobby Day
4/20 (Sat) Colombia Teach-In
4/21 (Sun) Colombia Rally
4/22 (Mon) Colombia March and Nonviolent Direct Action
SOAW is working with Witness for Peace and Colombia Support Network on these
events.
School of the Americas Watch West ~ SOAWW ~ 02/19/02
National: www.soaw.org
Request National email alerts from info@soaw.org
San Jose and the region: http://teachers.bcp.org/llauro------------------------------------------------------
Announcing
(1) 2/21 (Thur), 11 PM, Channel 9 KQED, "Justice and the Generals,"
Documentary on the Salvadoran Generals responsible for civilian deaths
(including the 4 U.S. church women) and subsequently given residency in
FloridaRead below for information about:
(2) 2/24 and 2/28: Fr. Roy's schedule in Oakland, Berkeley, Marin.
Note: event added in Berkeley on 2/28 from 11:30 - 12:30 PM
(3) 2/23-2/27: Fr. Roy's schedule in Chico, Modesto, Davis, Sacramento
(4) "Season of Nonviolence" series (Lafayette) Feb. 22-March 16
(5) SOA Watch Regional Meeting Report. Request for volunteer(s) to take roles in coordinating Regional SOA Watch efforts. Are you interested in launching a new SOA Watch group in Berkeley-Oakland?
(6) HR 1810 Legislative Report
Rep. Tom Lantos (San Mateo) became the 100th cosponsor on 2/14/02. Is your Rep. still needed as a cosponsor?
(7) 4/19-22 (Fri-Mon) SOAW/Colombia Lobby and Rally Days (Washington, DC).(2) FR. ROY BOURGEOIS in Oakland, Berkeley, Kentfield.
2/24 Sun - OAKLAND
2 PM, Calvin Simmons Theater, 10 Tenth St, $20 admission
Sponsored by Veterans and Friends/Abraham Lincoln Brigade.
Info: 510.548.3088 or lslustig@attbi.com2/28 Thurs - BERKELEY
11:30 AM, Moses Hall, Room 223, UC Berkeley
Info: harrisonjoseph@hotmail.com or 510.601.7441
Map and Parking Info: http://public-safety.berkeley.edu2/28 Thurs - KENTFIELD
7:30 PM, Olney Hall, College of Marin
Info: mitf@igc.org or 415.924.3227(3) FR. ROY in Chico, Modesto, Davis, Sacramento
2/23 Sat - CHICO
7 PM, Trinity United Methodist Church
corner of 5th St. & Flume.
Also, 3 PM Workshop for Activists
Info: pobnkin@sunset.net or 530.342.93702/24 Sun - MODESTO
7 PM, Our Lady of Fatima Parish Hall
505 W. Granger Ave.
Info: 209.543.93712/25 Mon - MODESTO
Sponsored by Modesto Peace & Justice Center
Info: mnappster@earthlink.net or 209.526.95882/26 Tues - DAVIS
7:30 PM, 198 Young Hall
University of California, Davis
Info: ctmp@aol.com or 530.792.10402/27 Wed - SACRAMENTO
7 PM, CSUS Newman Center, 5900 Newman Court
Info: janice@compudigital.com or 916.448.7157(4) "Season of Nonviolence" sponsored by Social Justice Alliance of the Interfaith Council of Contra Costa County
Our Savior's Lutheran Church
1035 Carol Lane, LAFAYETTE
Contact: Natalie at russell1626@juno.comFri. Feb. 22 from 4:30 to 9:00 PM
Sat. March 2 from 9:30 to 2:00 PM
Sat. March 9 from 9:30 to 2:00 PM
Sat. March 16 from 9:30 to 2:00 PM(5) SOA Watch Regional Meeting Report
The Oakland meeting brought together over 40 activists for a full discussion
of local, regional and national efforts. Everyone's participation and ideas
were inspiring.There is a clear need for volunteer(s) to coordinate the regional efforts.
Administrative, editorial and computer skills could assist communication
between groups. If you are interested in more information, please contact
jliteky@aol.comOakland-Berkeley members are planning outreach efforts during March and
April. To hear about the plans, contact catsdogs@mindspring.com or
robertnixon@mindspring.comA Speakers List (about closing SOA/WHISC) and additional SOAW Contact People
throughout the region are available at http://teachers.bcp.org/llauroThere is hope that someone will be able to represent SOA Watch West on the
national Advisory Group. For more information, check the national website
and/or call the national office.(6) Legislative Report:
Continue to ask these Representatives to join the 100 cosponsors of HR 1810:
Mike Thompson, Napa-Eureka, House Armed Services Committee
Robert Matsui, Sacramento
Doug Ose, Sacramento
Ellen Tauscher, Walnut Creek, House Armed Services CommitteeU.S. House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515Thank these Representatives for cosponsoring HR 1810:
Lynn Woolsey (Marin), Nancy Pelosi (San Francisco),
Tom Lantos (San Mateo), Anna Eshoo (Palo Alto),
Mike Honda (Los Gatos), Zoe Lofgren (San Jose),
Sam Farr (Monterey), Pete Stark (Fremont),
Barbara Lee (Oakland), George Miller (Pleasant Hill)(7) Thinking of WASHINGTON, DC for the SOAW/Colombia Mobilization?
Check out www.soaw.org for details.4/19 (Fri) SOAW Vigil and Lobby Day
4/20 (Sat) Colombia Teach-In
4/21 (Sun) Colombia Rally
4/22 (Mon) Colombia March and Nonviolent Direct ActionSOAW is working with Witness for Peace and Colombia Support Network on these
events.
School of the Americas Watch West ~ SOAWW ~ 03/11/02
National: www.soaw.org
Request National email alerts from info@soaw.org
San Jose and the region: http://teachers.bcp.org/llauro------------------------------------------------------
(1) East Bay SOA Watch group is forming now!
Contact Joe Harrison, 510.601.7441 or harrisonjoseph@hotmail.com(2) Veterans for Peace is sponsoring a solidarity fast and vigil in support of the Ft. Benning fast and vigil from Sunday, March 24 (Archbishop Oscar Romero - XXII anniversary) through April 26 (Bishop Juan Gerardi - IV anniversary).
Contact George Johnson, 650.207.6073(3) Sunday, March 24, San Francisco - Oscar Romero, Presente! A time of prayer, reflection and inspiration.
Contact Laetitia Bordes, lbordes@jps.net(4) Lobbying in April in Washington, DC to close the SOA/WHISC?
Contact Theresa Cameranesi, 415.681.2838 or tmcameranesi@eathlink.net(1) East Bay SOA Watch group is forming now!
Two upcoming meetings on the UC Berkeley campus.Meeting 1
Monday, March 11, 6:30pm in 123 Wheeler.
There will be School of the Americas Watch East Bay mini-teach-in and event planning session. Laurel Paget-Seekins will be talking about the SOA's role in Plan Colombia. Joe Harrison will be talking about this year's Bay Area "grand strategy," including an April 10th "War in Colombia" panel discussion/film screening. We will have an organizational meeting to plan local actions in solidarity with the April 19-22 Washington D.C.Colombia Mobilization, called by over sixty groups nationwide.Meeting 2
Friday, March 14 at 4:30 PM
For those who can't make it Monday but would like to participate, we will be having a meeting dedicated to planning for the A10 (April 10) panel discussion/screening. The place on campus is yet to be determined.Both meetings will be relatively short; you don't have to sit through marathon sessions to participate in the movement to shutdown the SOA/WHISC!!!
(2) Veterans for Peace - Solidarity Fast, Sunday, March 24 through April 26. Roy Bourgeois, Charlie Liteky and others will be vigiling and fasting on juices at the gate to Ft. Benning. The local group of Veterans for Peace asks that you join in a dawn to dusk solidarity fast at the Simon Bolivar statue in the Civic Center Plaza, San Francisco. If you can commit to fasting or vigiling, please contact George Johnson at 650.207.6073.(3) Oscar Romero, Presente!
Sunday, March 24, 5 to 7 PM
855 Lincoln Way (at 10th Avenue), San Francisco
A time for reflection, prayer and inspiration. The time will end with soup and bread. If you are planning to come, please contact Laetitia Bordes at lbordes@jps.net(4) Lobbying work in April 19-22 in Washington, DC
We rejoice that Rep. Robert Matsui of Sacramento has become a co-sponsor of HR 1810. With over 100 co-sponsors in the House, now is a good time to ask Senators Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer to introduce a companion bill in the Senate. Write letters to them: U.S. Senate, Washington, DC 20510. Personal letters still have the most impact. Theresa Cameranesi, 415.681.2838 or tmcameranesi@eathlink.net, is willing to coordinate efforts for maximum effectiveness when local activists make visits to House and Senate offices.April 4 "War in Colombia"
This date is confirmed!"War in Colombia" - How is the United States involved in Colombia's 38-year civil war and why is our involvement escalating?
What: A panel discussion, open to the public at no charge, will explore these questions and describe the impacts of US policy on civil society in Colombia.
When: THURSDAY, APRIL 4, 2002, at 7 PM.
Where: UC Berkeley Campus, Valley Life Science Building, Room 2060.
Who: The panel includes Ligia Ines Alzate, General Secretary of the Confederation of Unions in Colombia, Sandra Alvarez, Coordinator for the Colombia Project for Global Exchange and Ted Sexauer, Vietnam Veteran, SOA Watch activist, recently returned from Colombia as a participant in a Witness For Peace delegation.
Why: Since 1987 in Colombia, over 35,000 civilians have been murdered or disappeared, 3,800 trade unionists have been assassinated and millions of people displaced. In June of 2000, the United States pledged $1.3 billion dollars of aid to help Colombia fight its terrible drug problem, which fuels both left-wing revolutionaries and right-wing paramilitaries. Since
September 11, the Bush administration has asked for an additional $98 million to help protect the Cano-Limon Oil Pipeline, owned by Los Angeles-based Occidental Petroleum, and is considering making the destruction of leftist guerillas in Colombia an overt goal of U.S. policy. Over 60 organizations, including School of the Americas Watch, Columbia Support Network and Witness for Peace have called for a Colombia Mobilization to demand a just US policy towards Colombia and Latin America. The mobilization will take place in Washington DC, April 19-22, 2002, and will culminate in nonviolent civil disobedience. In San Francisco, on April 20, there will be a Colombia Mobilization solidarity march in conjunction with a march against the expanding, open-ended war on terrorism.Contact: Joseph Harrison, (510) 601-7441 or harrisonjoseph@hotmail.com.
Sponsored by SOA Watch West (East Bay)
[Note from previous posting]: If you couldn't come to the planning meeting but would like to work on the April event, please contact kgehlkentang or harrisonjoseph.
