Mn. Alliance for Peace Annual Meeting

A group who think of themselves as patriotic peacemakers and represent 43 diverse groups from Minnesota met to discuss their response to terrorism. The immediate concern was the proposal by President Bush to unilaterally strike at certain nations suspected to be in collaboration with terrorists. One of the members will present the group's conclusions at a meeting in Washington D. C. Further strategies were discussed as to how to promote the group's views particularly in relation to the September 11 anniversary.

The Minnesota Alliance of Peacemakers have formulated a position statement for 2002 that incorporates the thinking of the 43 representative groups. They recognize that U. S. actions are creating conflicts and injustices in Israel, Palestine, Iraq, Afghanistan, Columbia, Cuba and Venezuela. An abbreviated proposal follows as to how to correct the problems:

  1. Israel must withdraw from all the occupied territories and military aid to Israel must stop till Israel complies with the U. N. resolutions and international law.
  2. Lift economic sanctions on Iraq.
  3. Support humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan.
  4. Shift funding of the military in Columbia to human development. Support negotiated settlement of problems.
  5. Oppose interference in the government of Venezuela.
WORLD VIEW
Jo Youngren

Where is Papa, Mama? asks the small boy.
Pulling her burqua tighter, she replies,
Gone to Heaven to be with Allah, my darling.
Will we ever see him again?
No, she says through bitter tears,
Never, ever again.

Mama, I hate Allah, says the child.

Hush, child! You must never say that
out loud again, but. . .I know, I know.

Where is Daddy, Mommy? asks the firefighter’s daughter
Gone to Heaven to be with Jesus, sweetheart, she sobbs,
Knowing she should be brave.
Will we ever see him again?
No, he is gone now forever.

Mommy, I hate Jesus, states the little girl.

You don’t know what you’re saying, dear,
But . . .I understand. I truly do.

Death stalks the skies and
Old ones in their rocking chairs
from New York to Kandahar moan,
Not again, Lord! Not again.

Still visionaries, pocketed across the globe
Find each other, light their candles
and pray for the promised ploughshares
They yearn for and believe will come.

The members recognize that the military-industrial complex play an exaggerated role in U. S. policy and economy; therefore the following changes are proposed:
  1. Reduce military spending which is equal to 51.6% of all discretionary spending at the federal level.
  2. End distribution of military weapons by our government and corporations to other nations.
  3. Take nuclear weapons off "hair trigger alert"
  4. Work to ban landmines and nuclear weapons.
  5. End military recruitment in public schools.
  6. Close the School of Americas (Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation)
Economic and political systems should work for the common good. In order for this to occur the following suggestions were made:
  1. People must be more broadly educated to the issues
  2. A just society with true political, social and economic democracy must be promoted.
  3. Cancel the debts of the world's poorest nations.
  4. Promote renewable energy sources.
  5. Alter our culture to one of conservation rather than consumption.
  6. Global poverty and disease must be reduced.
The organization recognizes that for armed conflicts to not occur, our international institutions must be strengthened and their laws and courts be supported. Furthermore, efforts must be made to train the young, in particular, to become activists and builders of peace.

Kathryn Smith is a graduate from U of Mn in the Biological Sciences. Research in Veterinary Medicine. Teacher at Community College in Biological Sciences. Currently retired and taking the time to enjoy all that I have not had time or opportunity to do before.
This general discussion was followed by a number of announcements by the representatives of the various societies as what they were planning for the cause of peace.

There is an active peace group at St. Joan's to which all are invited to attend. The meeting time and place is in the Sunday bulletin or can be gotten from our website calendar.

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