News

News from KNOW – Sept. 11, 2014

News from KNOW – Sept. 11, 2014

In this issue:

KNOW meeting

KNOW peace vigil

MLK Park care and feeding

KNOW pot luck

ABM’s in our back yard

ISAAC public meeting

People’s Climate March in NYC

Hearts Wide Open

People for Peace and Justice Forum

Michigan United Justice Assembly

Support clean water at Bell’s

Depleted Uranium letter to Gazette

Nonviolent Communication

Palisades Awareness Week

Drone protests at Battle Creek ANG base

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KNOW meeting TONIGHT:  Thursday, Sept. 11, 5:00 pm

First Presbyterian Church downtown Kalamazoo

Park and enter building at rear

(reminder, meetings are every 2nd and 4th Thursday, all are welcome to share your ideas for peace and justice.)

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Please join us at our next vigil on Sunday from noon to 1:00 pm.

Our government is about to escalate our military involvement in Iraq and Syria.  The peace movement is sorely needed as an antidote to the currently ginned up war maker frenzy.

Phyllis Bennis from the Institute for Policy Studies, has the most clear analysis I’ve seen recently of President Obama’s recent proposals regarding ISIS.  You may remember that Ms. Bennis spoke here at Kalamazoo a few years ago about the war in Afghanistan.

“We have to recognize that military attacks are not only wrong in a host of ways (illegal in international law, immoral because of civilian casualties, a distraction from vitally needed diplomacy) but also that those strikes are making real solutions impossible.”

See more:

http://www.progressive.org/news/2014/09/187851/six-steps-short-war-beat-isis

CREDO Petition against military response to ISIS:

http://act.credoaction.com/sign/dont_bomb_syria_2014?t=1&akid=11624.3346180.zctOI8

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MLK PARK CLEANUP – a group of peace and justice park advocates works on removing litter and sprucing up this green space which has the beautiful statue of Dr. King.

Sunday, Sept. 14, 1:30 pm – 2:30 pm

Required RSVP for details to:  karen.chadwick@gmail.com

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Sept. 25 KNOW POTLUCK

This is a special potluck for these reasons:

1. It will be the kick off for the  Joe and Jean Gump Peacemakers Scholarship Fund.

2. Sept. 25, 2014 is actually what would have been Joe Gump’s 87th birthday.

3. Jean Gump will attend the potluck.

Save this date and to join us on Thursday, Sept. 25,
starting at 5 pm, at the First Presbyterian Church.

Support the Joe & Jean Gump Peacemakers Scholarship Fund!

Raelyn Joyce, Ineke Way, Ron Kramer, and Amy Damashek

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Info from Peace House regarding proposed missiles in Battle Creek:

You may have heard in the news lately that Fort Custer Training Center in
Augusta is one of four proposed sites for a new ground-based anti-ballistic
missile system, which would have the theoretical ability to shoot down
intercontinental missiles launched from somewhere like North Korea or
Iran.  Congress has not appropriated money for this system, but the
Missile Defense Agency (MDA) has been directed to begin making plans and
environmental impact studies for the new installation. The commander of
Fort Custer has made a presentation to the County Commission about the
plans and has asked them to express their enthusiastic support through a
formal resolution. Many business and community leaders are excited about
the proposal, because the MDA has promised many hundreds of new jobs and
billions of dollars of economic impact for the area.

Our belief is that missile defense is a sham. By the end of 2013, our
nation spent over $30 billion on a system that either does not work or
works too poorly to be of any value at all. In the next three years, that
number is projected to rise to $40 billion. It’s wasted money, a paranoid
indulgence, an imaginary shield against a very hypothetical threat.

We feel that if the federal government has $3.5 billion lying around, it
can be spent to save the lives of Americans who are dying NOW from hunger,
lack of shelter, lack of health care, etc. Likewise, if our government is
interested in increasing security, it should invest in building peace.

If you believe as we do, please join us in speaking out.  Be sure to contact
your County Commissioner (https://www.kalcounty.com/board/commissioners.htm).
Our leaders- especially our local leaders- need to hear from us that
missile defense doesn’t belong in Kalamazoo County or anywhere, that the
era of fear and aggression needs to end, that we can make better use of our
wealth and our talent.

For more information please contact:  peacehouse@peacehousekzoo.org.

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ISAAC Public Meeting – October 9th

Build a more just community!

Public Meeting! SAVE the DATE

Thursday October 9th at 6pm

Mt. Zion Baptist Church

120 Roberson St at N Burdick

Youth Violence Prevention – Housing – Early Childhood & Education – Transit

269-341-4213

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From http://peoplesclimate.org

The People’s Climate March on September 21 in New York City is shaping up to be the biggest climate march in history.

President Obama will be meeting then with world leaders at the UN climate Summit. In September, heads of state are going to New York City for a historic summit on climate change. With our future on the line, we will take a weekend and use it to bend the course of history.

In New York City there will be an unprecedented climate mobilization – in size, beauty, and impact. This moment will not be just about New York or the United States. Heads of state from around the world will be there, as will the attention of global media.

Our demand is for Action, Not Words: take the action necessary to create a world with an economy that works for people and the planet – now. In short, we want a world safe from the ravages of climate change.

We know that no single meeting or summit will “solve climate change” and in many ways this moment will not even really be about the summit. We want this moment to be about us – the people who are standing up in our communities, to organize, to build power, to confront the power of fossil fuels, and to shift power to a just, safe, peaceful world.

To do that, we need to act – together.

We need to show international leaders that Americans are demanding global climate action. And we need to show our president that we are demanding far, far more than he has delivered so far.

The crowd is expected to be Really Big. More than 500 national and community groups are participating. And people are organizing buses from all over. There is even a group from California taking the three-day Amtrak ride together!

(As far as I know, the closest bus from Kalamazoo is leaving from Ann Arbor.)

Ann Arbor Bus Contact:   John Ford, 734-572-0810

Email: bowens140@yahoo.com

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There will be a series of three presentations titled Hearts Wide Open by Jack Jezreel, founder of JustFaith on September 15, 16, 17 (Mon.- Wed.) at 7:00 pm at the Transformations Spirituality Center, 3427 Gull Rd. Kalamazoo, MI 49048.  Please pre-register ASAP to be assured of a seat.  Pre-register at www.sttomskazoo.org.  Cost is $10.

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All area peace and justice groups and faith groups, have been invited by the Peace Alliance of Greater Kalamazoo (formerly known as the DoP) to a

People for Peace and Justice forum

Thursday, October 23 at 7:00 pm.

Unity Church, 1204 Whites Rd., Kalamazoo.

The discussion will focus on how to best coordinate our efforts, support each other’s programs and develop a shared organizational calendar.

An example of an existing PFPJ coalition project is the Do-Dah Parade, which is one of our community’s largest public events. In 2013 and 2014 representatives from several local organizations and churches participated in our Do-Dah parade unit, Save a Monarch/Plant Milkweed. Our unit was designed to encourage a peaceful caring action by our youth. They were provided with seeds to plant. Nearly

20,000 spectators who represent the diversity of Greater Kalamazoo viewed our parade unit.

For more information and to RSVP, contact Bobbi Jo Gamache at bobbijog@live.com or call 269-998-7446.

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From Michigan United:

It’s an exciting time of year – it’s election season, and it’s time for Capitol Day!

That’s what September’s Justice Assembly on Thursday, September 25th at 6pm is all about.

Justice Assembly

Thursday, September 25th

Dinner at 6:00pm

Assembly 6:30pm-8:00pm

Basement of St. Joseph Church

930 Lake Street

Kalamazoo, MI 49001

This Assembly will be your last chance to sign up and get oriented for Capitol Day – M.U.’s annual trip with dozens of members to Lansing to take our concerns directly to the halls of power in Lansing and urge change. This year, Capitol Day is Tuesday, September 30th, and we’re bringing the issues of fair elections, ending mass incarceration, and good jobs in Michigan to our legislators and pushing for real change.

We’re also working with community partners to plan a voter forum with candidates in October, and we want your input! What do you want to know from your candidates? What issues do you want to hear about from them? At this Assembly, you’ll have the chance to give your input on what questions you want asked of the candidates!

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Sunday 9/14Great Lakes Gala at Bell’s Brewery Eccentric Café, downtown Kalamazoo, 1-4pm.

This event will celebrate the Great Lakes, and speakers from local and regional organizations will talk about how they each work to protect and restore the Great Lakes and Michigan’s other outstanding water resources. Third Coast Beer and Lager of the Lakes will both be offered with a $1 discount . This is a free event but there is a $10 suggested donation. All donations will go the organizations involved and Bell’s Brewery will be making a matching donation up to $2500.  Money raised will go to Alliance for the Great Lakes, the Michigan League of Conservation Voters, the Kalamazoo Nature Center and the Michigan Environmental Council.

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from Wade Adams:

My letter to the editor asking Senator Levin to investigate birth defects in Iraq and ban depleted uranium was published on Sunday, September 7 in the Kalamazoo Gazette.

http://www.mlive.com/opinion/kalamazoo/index.ssf/2014/08/new_2.html

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Nonviolent Communication (NVC) Practice Group – Fall 2014

Inviting interested persons to join a monthly NVC Practice Group beginning in October in Greater Kalamazoo.

The group will study Marshall Rosenberg’s “Making Life Wonderful” DVD series and use interactive practice to learn the skill.

This is an intermediate training targeting those who have studied one or more of Rosenberg’s books on the fundamentals of NVC and/or participated in NVC workshops.

Here is a 5 min. YouTube video on Making Life Wonderful,

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y0DLS5WvDro .

The goal is to build a connection by practicing “natural giving” instead of playing the game of “whose right.”

If interested, contact Bobbi Jo at bobbijog@live.com or 269-998-7446.

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“Palisades Awareness Week,” September 21-27, will be presented by Michigan Safe Energy Future’s Kalamazoo and Shoreline Chapters with co-sponsors Kalamazoo Peace Center and Transition Kalamazoo. The Kick-off Event is at the Southwest Michigan Community Harvest Festival on Sunday, the 21st in Scotts, 11:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.

Contacts:

Iris Potter, 269-271-4342; Email: b.irispotter@gmail.com

Mike Hoag, 217-369-2236

The “Palisades Shutdown Campaign” Team invites the public to attend a variety of events the week of September 21st to learn more about this dangerous nuclear power plant on our Lake Michigan shore near South Haven.

Individuals and several organizations throughout SW Michigan along with state and national ones, have joined together to call for “Shutdown Before Meltdown 2014.” These organizations and events promote a future of safe, clean energy without dirty, expensive nuclear power. Recent major media coverage has called attention to safety concerns, security problems, taxpayer burden and more. This week of focused events is an important way to highlight exactly how unsafe is Palisades nuclear plant.

Schedule of Events to date:

Sunday, 9/21

“Week” Kick-Off: Southwest Michigan Community Harvest Fest 2014, 10515 East OP Ave., in Scotts, 11:30-5:30 with Palisades Shutdown Campaign Table and Outreach. (Coincides with the People’s Climate March in Washington, D.C.)

Workshop: “Home Cultivation of Mushrooms” including discussion of “Mycoremediation” of toxic and nuclear waste. Workshop at Kalamazoo Nature Center, 2-4:30 p.m.  Presenter: Michael Hoag, Michigan Safe Energy Future-Kalamazoo Chapter.

Tuesday, 9/23

Presentation: Palisades Shutdown Campaign Team leads discussion at Green Drinks of Kalamazoo, Old Dog Tavern, 402 E. Kalamazoo Avenue. Gathering starts 5:30 p.m. for 6 p.m. short presentation with discussion.

Film: “Wood Burning Stoves 2.0” by Paul Wheaton about Rocket Mass Heat. (For location and further details, visit www.Van-KalPermaculture.org)

Wednesday, 9/24

Presentation: Four Elements Energy, Lawrence, MI, talks about alternative energies. 6:30 p.m. with discussion following. First Congregational Church downtown Kalamazoo, 345 W. Michigan. Parking available.

Thursday, 9/25

“Movie Meet-Up” with “Earth Focus 32: Nuclear Power Risks and Consequences.” Discussion following, light refreshments and opportunity to meet others interested in safe energy.  6:30-8:30 p.m., First Congregational Church, downtown Kalamazoo, 345 W. Michigan. Parking available.

Saturday, 9/27

Workshop: “Can Climate Change Be Slowed Down? at Lake Michigan College, Room 141, South Haven, 1-4 with experts Peter Sinclair and Maynard Kaufman. (see MichiganSafeEnergyFuture.com under “events” for more details)

“Palisades is a major threat to the Kalamazoo area which is within the 50-mile radius radioactivity fallout and ingestion zone. Time is way past due to permanently close it because of the embrittled old reactor risk and ongoing radioactive waste generation much of which is stored above ground. We call for “Shutdown Before Meltdown 2014,” states Campaign organizers.

Kevin Kamps, Radioactive Waste Watchdog with the national organization Beyond Nuclear states, “Palisades regularly discharges tritium, and other radioactive substances, into Lake Michigan, despite the hazards to human health. It also leaks tritium — a clinically proven cause of cancer, birth defects, and genetic damage — into the underlying groundwater which then flows into Lake Michigan. In addition to this chronic radioactive contamination of the environment which has now continued for 42 years, Palisades is also one of the most at-risk reactors for an accidental catastrophic release of radioactivity in the entire country. As documented by the Union of Concerned Scientists, it has experienced three near-miss accidents in the past two years alone, in addition to a large number of other spills, leaks, breakdowns, and mishaps.”

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Drone vigils on Saturdays at Battle Creek Air National Guard base

If you are interested in participating in a peaceful vigil against drones outside the gates of the Battle Creek Air National Guard Base, please email Bob Kildea: rlkildea@sbcglobal.net