Peace and Freedom articles from September 2008

Peace and Freedom archives from September 2008

Moving forward toward lasting change.(Essay)
September 22, 2008... Lasting change is hard. Ask Madeline Duckles, or Joyce McLean, or Macgregor Eddy--or any of the hundreds of WILPFers who have struggled for decades to abolish nuclear weapons only to see their governments take steps towards acquiring them. Or...

Report from the 30th triennial congress.
September 22, 2008... The theme of this year's National Congress, "Moving Forward, Making Peace," proved provocative. The entire first day of our gathering in Indianola, Iowa was set aside for internal WILPF concerns that arose last fall, such as the lay-offs of the...

Why peace and freedom?(Women's International League for Peace and Freedom)
September 22, 2008... Editor's Note: Emily Green Balch (1867-1961) wrote this pamphlet explaining the origins of WILPF's name in 1935. Along with Jane Addams, Balch helped found WILPF and served as first international secretary from 1919 to 1922. A former settlement...

Working for women in Afghanistan.(working for women's rights)
September 22, 2008... IT'S DAY SIX OF A SIX-DAY LOCK DOWN, with all U. N. staff restricted to essential movement, and then only in scarce armored cars. If you follow the security advisories on a map of Afghanistan, you quickly discover the insurgency is not only...

New Resolution tackles sexual violence in conflict.
September 22, 2008... It is undeniable that sexual violence is being used as a method of war and perpetrated at levels that defy belief. In too many cases the perpetrators act with impunity. In June, the U.N. Security Council (under the presidency of the U.S.)...

President of WILPF Palestine makes historic U.S. tour.(Women's International League for Peace and Freedom)(Hanan Awwad)
September 22, 2008... The Palestinian population has the highest number of displaced people in the world, an estimated 7 million. One well-known Palestinian is Hanan Awwad, president of WILPF Palestine. A highly regarded activist, poet, and academic (she was...

Hanan Awwad in Cleveland.(Brief article)
September 22, 2008... This summer, after a potluck supper at Cleveland Friends Meeting House, Hanan Awwad addressed over 60 longtime activists and young people. From the 1948 "Nakba" (catastrophe) to the 1967 occupation and beyond, Hanan brought 60 years of land...

WILPF, water and the world.(Women's International League for Peace and Freedom)(World Water Forum)
September 22, 2008... The 5th World Water Forum will be held in Istanbul, Turkey from March 16 - 22, 2009. Calling this the "world's largest water event," the World Water Council (organizers of this every-three-year Forum) seem to have missed the drying lakes and...

U.S. global duty: to deter violence against women.
September 22, 2008... When Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama first introduced his running mate this past August, he described Sen. Joe Biden as the man who championed the 1994 Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) so that "every woman can a have place...

Alaskan mining: consequences for people and land.
September 22, 2008... Fueled by rising prices in copper, gold, zinc and uranium, there has been an explosion in mining exploration, development and production in Alaska. Figures from 2005 ($1.85 billion) to 2006 ($3.26 billion) show an astounding 76 percent...

Note from the Director of Operations.
September 22, 2008... GREETINGS, FELLOW WILPFERS. I had the pleasure of seeing many of you in Iowa this past June, but there are still hundreds of people I have yet to meet. In an effort to try and get to know each other, I wanted to share a bit more about myself....

Welcome to 'democracy in action'.
September 22, 2008... One of WILPF's recent projects has been creating a partnership with the online database management system "Democracy-In-Action" (DIA). Now before you yawn and turn the page, let us tell you how DIA can make a difference to you and to our...

WILPF program priorities and contacts.(Women's International League for Peace and Freedom)(Brief article)
September 22, 2008... WILPF U.S.'s political, educational and advocacy program is generated by our members and branches. The WILPF Program Committee consists of representatives from each of the national issue committees. National issue committees welcome both...

Jane Addams Children's Book Awards.(Peace Education)
September 22, 2008... Every year since 1953, a committee of WILPF members has selected books of the highest artistic and literary merit for the Jane Addams Children's Book Awards (JACBA). Books promoting peace and social justice are singled out for this prestigious...

A letter of apology.
September 22, 2008... We are pleased to announce that on July 29 the Industrial Workers of the World, representing former staff in our national office, withdrew the complaint it had filed against the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom. As part...

A New Home for WILPF's Office.
September 22, 2008... WILPF's home at 1213 Race Street in Philadelphia does not meet ADA accessibility standards and the cost to make it accessible is prohibitive. For that and a variety of other reasons, WILPF asked JAPA to sell the building. As time goes on the...

Violence against women in armed conflict.
September 22, 2008... Excerpted from a fact sheet prepared by WILPF The U.S. Bureau of Population, Refugee and Migration asserts that gender-based violence is a feature of virtually every recently concluded and current armed conflict. Whether women are engaged...

Calendar events.(Calendar)
September 22, 2008... Branches reporting in this issue include: San Jose, Santa Cruz, Fresno, Los Angeles, and Palo Alto, CA; St. Louis, MO; Portland, OR; Burlington, VT; Pittsburgh, PA; Madison, WI; Cape Cod and Boston, MA; New York Metro, NY; Chapel Hill, Triangle...

Modern media outreach.(Branch Action News)
September 22, 2008... The Branch e-list carried the WILPF Statement on Georgia/Russia; a copy of a letter Boston sent to Speaker Pelosi regarding Iran; and a plea to highlight the two humanitarian ships breaking the blockade of Gaza. This list is playing an...

Great ideas.(Branch Action News)
September 22, 2008... New York Metro continues to share its extensive video library for home parties, providing the videos, a discussion guide, and even a facilitator, if requested! I love the way they framed their request for sustaining monthly memberships, with...

Global areas of concern.(Brief article)
September 22, 2008... Madison held a town hall meeting on U.S. Policy Towards Iran. St. Louis joined to sponsor an event, "Life in Occupied Palestine: Eyewitness Stories and Photos" in March and then hosted Hanan Awwad, president of the Palestine Section in June...

Vigils and demonstrations.(Branch Action News)(Brief article)
September 22, 2008... Madison Grannies showed up at the Senior Idol Talent Show at the Dane County Fair. No word yet on whether they took first place! St. Louis joined the annual war tax protest at the local Post Office on April 15. Palo Alto members Sara Alchemes...

Legislative.(Branch Action News)
September 22, 2008... St. Louis hosted a talk on the Missouri Tax System and advocated for local legislation to counteract restricting access to contraception. They also joined AFSC in resisting plans to build a nuclear bomb plant near Los Alamos Lab in New Mexico....

Membership and community outreach.(Branch Action News)(Brief article)
September 22, 2008... St. Louis held its annual potluck and elections, hosting International Co-President Kirsten Greback. Portland ended its year in July with an annual potluck and elections. Palm Beach County held its annual meeting and season-closer in April...