June 2009
University Presbyterian Church holds Candlelight Vigil for Torture Abolition and Healing
By Howard Henry
A multi-faith gathering of thirty-seven people assembled peacefully on the evening of June 27, 2009 on the front grounds of the University Presbyterian Church, Main Street and Niagara Falls Boulevard, Buffalo for a candlelight Vigil for Torture Abolition and Healing (ViTAH).
People from city and suburb, representing a number of different religious congregations and organizations, and including members of the Western New York Peace Center, gathered quietly to witness for a world of peace and healing, respect for the dignity of humankind and an absolute end to torture.
June is Torture Awareness month. This witness was in support of the work being led by the multi-faith National Religious Campaign Against Torture (www.nrcat.org) and the Torture Abolition Survivors Support Committee International (www.tassc.org). Read more »
Pastors for Peace to Launch 20th Non-Violent Challenge to US Blockade of Cuba
Pastors for Peace (Press Release)
www.pastorsforpeace.org
Enabling Family Visits is commendable, BUT IT IS NOT ENOUGH!
Over 130 Pastors for Peace volunteers from the US, Canada and Europe
will challenge the immoral and illegal US blockade and travel
restrictions against Cuba at the US - Mexico border on July 22nd. They
expect to collect 100 tons of humanitarian aid during a two-week
caravan that will converge in McAllen, Texas before traveling on to
Cuba without US treasury department licenses. They intend to deliver
school buses, construction tools and materials, educational supplies,
medicines, and medical supplies gathered in communities throughout the
US and Canada.
“We must continue to keep the pressure on -- to end the blockade, to
normalize relations with Cuba, and to engage in dialogue based in
mutual respect, rather than our insisting on undermining Cuba's
sovereignty” declared Rev. Lucius Walker, Jr., Executive Director and
founder of IFCO, a 42-year old ecumenical agency. “President Obama has
taken a small first step to change US/Cubapolicy. But as people of
faith and conscience, it is important that we make our voices heard in
favor of even stronger measures for reconciliation and normalized
relations.”
The 20h Friendshipment Caravan will traverse 14 separate routes across
the country stopping in 47 US states and six Canadian provinces. Along
the way the caravan will be hosted in 140 communities who support a
new US Cuba policy based on respect and non-aggression. This year
communities have collected aid for hurricane reconstruction after the
three hurricanes that devastated Cuba in 2008. Read more »
A look at Women in Black: An international movement for peace
By Carly Salzberg
Every Saturday afternoon between the hours of 12:00 and 1:00 pm, Buffalo’s Women in Black (WIB) stand vigilantly on the corner of Elmwood and Bidwell to advocate for peace and justice across borders, opposing the funding and participation of militarism, war and other forms of violence that are corrupting the world.
Patricia Shelly, representative of this particular Women in Black group says, “Since our first vigil, after the U.S first began bombing Afghanistan back in October, 2001 we have only missed one Saturday vigil on account of bad weather.” These activists stand together in line, silence and strength, dressed in black and holding signs bearing with anti-war messages such as: “Study Peace”, “Bring our Troops Home”, and “Women in Black Stand for Peace”.
This history of Women in Black dates back to 1988, in Jerusalem where Israeli Jewish women stood together in silent vigils, often with pictures of their “disappeared” or sons or husbands who have been murdered after Israel occupied the West bank and Gaza and the Palestine Intifada began. As the war progressed, the mothers and sisters of both the Palestinian and Israeli men organized peaceful protests to put an end to the brutality. The women lined the streets wearing black to mourn their deceased loved ones and stood silently, holding placards that illustrated messages of peace, most reading “End the Occupation.” Although passerby in the open streets received the women’s message, both Palestinians and Israelis often perceived it negatively as acts of treason. The women retained their dignity despite some men who displayed their anger by heckling and abusing them, often labeling them as “whores” or “traitors” for aligning with their enemies. In a persistent dedication to acquire peace, the women arrived at the same busy sites, at a timely and consistent fashion to encourage others to display their political and moral stance as well as to encourage others to join in this active rally for peace and harmony between the opposing parties.
The Venceremos Brigade returns from Cuba
Over 150 people will be returning from Cuba in 40 years of defiance of the U.S. Economic Blockade and the Travel Ban ! Come greet them at Front Park and at the brunch for the crossers near the bridge.\
website: www.venceremosbrigade.net
Packing Party for the 20th IFCO/P4P US-Cuba Friendshipment Caravan
The Caravan will break the US blockade with aid to Cuba, which will be taken without a US government license.
Pastors for Peace will take tools, construction supplies and humanitarian aid. Skilled construction workers will spend a week working alongside Cubans on a hurricane reconstruction. Hip Hop and related artists are invited to come on caravan routes to help get our message across. There will be opportunities to meet, record and perform with Cuban artists.
Please drop off supplies before June 20 to Terry & Mary Bisson’s 372 Voorhees Phone: 838 2962 Read more »
Our Fight for Healthcare
By Cliff Cawthon
Healthcare is a human right, and our rights have been violated too long. President Obama stated recently in a weekly web address that “the status quo is broken.” The profiteers have failed and the system is in shambles. The United States spends more on healthcare than any developed nation and in turn we have 46 million (15% of pop.) without healthcare. 8.1 million are children. We need a renewed system, something that works and something that is a public, not-for-profit system.
The President kicked off his town hall tour in Green Bay, WI, a city that has kept down costs and in turn it has provided fertile soil for political support for Obama’s initiative. This strategy of ‘going public’ is designed to harness the existing popular support for his new initiative. According to a Rasmussen poll, 65% of Americans favor the idea of universal healthcare and this public health option initiative is a universally available option designed to compete with the private sector. Read more »
VOICE-Buffalo Presents: Music in the Woods
If you wish please bring a dish to pass for pot luck dinner around 4:00pm. Also, bring your own meat for grilling, beverages and place settings (plates, silverware, cups etc.). VOICE-Buffalo will provide charcoal and fluid for grilling. There will be games for children and you may bring your favorite game to share also. There is a $7 per car State Park entrance fee. We will be at Shelter 1C beginning at 9:00am. Alcohol is allowed with restrictions: 36 oz beer per adult, 3 oz. alcohol per adult and 12 oz. wine (either/or, not combination). Pass the word on! Read more »
Afrika Presents: Jama Jama
Tree of Life World Beat of Music, featuring African Drum & Dance
At Calumet on the Patio (Chippewa)
"The true meaning of music is to heal yourself and others."
Washington protest in support of Gaza marks 42nd anniversary of the occupation
By Suhail Shafi
June 2009 marks the 42’nd anniversary of the Israeli capture of the Gaza Strip. Although this may not be a round number, the Israeli onslaught on Gaza over the New Year ‘08/’09 period focused international attention towards the plight of some 1.5 million Gazans who have endured four decades of military occupation, massive collective and individual human rights abuses, and a crippling siege that shows few signs of ending. The glare of media publicity has since shifted elsewhere, but with the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza continuing, peace and justice movements in the US and other Western nations is attempting to continue to focus attention towards the Gaza crisis.
The Washington based ANSWER ( Act Now to Stop the War and End Racism, www.answercoalition.org ) Coalition recently organized a protest outside the Israeli embassy in Washington to commemorate 42 years of occupation and siege, and to once again protest US support for Israeli actions. I traveled from my home in rural
Peru: 'Police Are Throwing Bodies in the River,' Say Native Protesters
By Milagros Salazar
(IPS) - There are conflicting reports on a violent incident in Peru’s Amazon jungle region in which both police officers and indigenous protesters were killed.
The authorities, who describe last Friday’s incident as a "clash" between the police and protesters manning a roadblock, say 22 policemen and nine civilians were killed.
But leaders of the two-month roadblock say at least 40 indigenous people, including three children, were killed and that the authorities are covering up the massacre by throwing bodies in the river.
And foreign activists on the scene in the town of Bagua, in the northern province of Amazonas, report that the police opened fire early in the morning on the unarmed protesters, some of whom were still sleeping, and deliberately mowed them down as they held up their arms or attempted to flee. Read more »