News

News from KNOW – May 4, 2014

News from KNOW – May 4, 2014

In this issue:

Walk to ground the drones
Doo Dah parade peace and justice entry
Activist camp at Circle Pines
ISAAC education campaign

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Walk to Ground the Drones – Walk for Peaceful Skies

Peace House (www.peacehousekzoo.org), Kalamazoo Non-Violent Opponents of War (KNOW- www.kzoo4peace.org) and Voices for Creative Nonviolence (www.vcnv.org), a Chicago-based international peace group, in planning a walk from Chicago to Battle Creek to oppose the new drone warfare command at the Michigan Air National Guard base.  After two planning meetings, we are ready to give an update with more details.

Many people have expressed their desire to get involved in this effort, to say NO! to drone surveillance and remote-controlled war.  There are many things that you can do to get involved.

You can educate yourself about the effects of drone warfare on innocent people abroad, and you can learn about dedicated campaigns to stop drone war.  Voices for Creative Nonviolence has a great website; it’s a good place to start.  vcnv.org

You can march. The daily breakdown of the 163-mile walk is reprinted below.  Many people in Kalamazoo will want to walk into Kalamazoo Thursday, June 12, or out of Kalamazoo Friday, June 13.  If you want to walk part or all of these days, please let Peace House know.  If you want to walk an earlier section, please contact Buddy Bell at Voices for Creative Nonviolence, buddy@vcnv.org.  Let us know how we can help as well.  Walkers do not have to walk an entire day; any time on the road is a powerful witness. Spread the word that you’re walking- tell your friends about the drones, and invite them to walk with you.

You can host walkers as they come through our area. We do not have exact numbers at this time, and probably will not have exact numbers until the week of the march; for planning purposes we expect 15-20 people will need hospitality as they come through our area.  We are responsible for hospitality for the nights of June 11, 12, and 13 (Wednesday, Thursday, Friday).  The walkers will have slept on many floors prior to arriving here; let’s offer beds, showers, and hot meals.  We’d like to find homes that can host one, two or three people. Contact Peace House to sign up.

You can provide food to the walkers before they arrive in town. Sandwiches, bagels, juice, casseroles, fruits and veggies all could be brought out to the march before June 12.  Contact Peace House.

You can donate. Checks can be made out to Voices for Creative Nonviolence and sent to VNCV, 1249 W. Argyle St. #2, Chicago IL 60640.  Thank you.

You can join us for an evening of final organizing and sign making. Thursday, May 22, 5 pm, First Presbyterian Church, 321 W. South St., Kalamazoo.  This will be a joyful potluck sign making party.  We will also share a list of last-minute logistical tasks, and hopefully divvy up the work.  Come on out!

You can join us at two public events.

Thursday, June 12, 6-8:30 pm, St. Thomas More Catholic Student Parish, 421 Monroe St.:

Potluck supper followed by a presentation on the effects of drone strikes in Pakistan, Afghanistan, and other nations where we use drone planes, led by people who have traveled to those places and met with ordinary people.

Saturday, June 14, 11am, Michigan Air National Guard Base, 3367 W. Dickman Rd., Battle Creek: Rally at the base to oppose the drones.  Details are in development as we write.

WE MOVE FORWARD UNDER STRICT ACCORDANCE TO THE PRINCIPLES OF NONVIOLENCE.

Dear friends, we are undaunted by the work ahead, because we have you.  Please join us in this effort to build a more peaceful world.  We eagerly await your response.

http://vcnv.org/on-the-road-to-ground-the-drones

START: Boeing Headquarters

June      Destination                                                         Miles
3              83rd & Bond – Chicago                                    12.5
4              Gary Metro Station                                         16
5              Indiana Dunes Train Station                             15.5
6              Long Beach, IN                                               15
7              Sawyer, MI                                                     15.5
8              Shoreham, MI                                                  15
9              Coloma, MI                                                      15
10           Lawrence, MI                                                    13.5
11           Maple Grove Cemetery                                       13.5
12           Peace House, Kalamazoo                                  13.5
13           Hill Brady & Sand – Battle Creek                         15.5
14           Battle Creek MI ANGB                                        2.5
Total                  163

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Saturday, June 7th Do-Dah Parade !!

YOUR participation is desired, needed, will make a difference!
YOU will have fun and get a positive message across to thousands!
The message this year centers around saving the Monarch Butterfly!
This is a powerful symbol of saving the earth for our grandchildren and their grandchildren!

If you are available to take part in the Peace and Justice contingent of the annual Do-Dah parade, send a note to bobbijog@live.com

June 7th:
9 a.m. – Line up and rehearsal
11 a.m. – Parade kicks-off

You can carry one of the specially designed banners or signs, you can help distribute info, or help distribute milkweed seed packets! www.PlantMilkWeed.org

“Let our grandchildren and their grandchildren Dance in the sun Chase Butterflies And Remember”

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Localize This! Action Camp at Circle Pines CenterTuesday, May 13th through Tuesday, May 20th, 2014

Info from Occupy Kalamazoo:

Join a cross-section of change makers striving to invigorate effective & creative organizing by supporting Localize This training camp!

— This dynamic gathering is unlike any other convergence or workshops series.We need to transform our society so that it serves the needs of all. Our generation and that of our children’s children deserve a world that reflects our deeply held values & aspirations!

  • To create that transformation, passionate and dedicated change agents are required activate and inspire their communities to become engaged.
  • Localize This! provides change agents from across the country with the skills, workshops, and mentorship they need to be successful.
  • Many of these change agents need financial support to make it to camp.
  • Your contributions enable them to participate and for the camp to reflect the diversity our movements need to win!

Localize This! is hosted at Circle Pines Center outside of Kalamazoo.

More information at:
http://www.backbonecampaign.org/

Video about Localize This! Action Camp:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yRHaISHwPxg&feature=youtu.be

Register:
https://backbonecampaign.wufoo.com/forms/q1ulgbif1i4e9uu/

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Can you join the ISAAC trip to Lansing on Tuesday afternoon, May 6? No experience necessary!

Action for Education
To educate our State Legislators about the need for
increased K-12 funding

Tuesday, May 6
Carpools leave at 12:00 from Oakland Dr. Park & Ride Lot
(just north of I-94)
Your presence will make these meetings more effective:
2:00 with a staffer from State Rep. Margaret O’Brien’s office
3:15 with a staffer from State Rep. Jase Bolger’s office
4:00 with State Senator Tonya Schuitmaker

ISAAC Organizer Vanessa Miller can take four people in her car. Can YOU take riders in your car too?

Please contact Vanessa Miller, millerva@mail.gvsu.edu

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Thanks for all you do!
Daniel Smith, Communications Chair for KNOW