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February Peace News
Posted March 3rd, 2008 by FOR
This month we bring you a series of updates about Iran, our latest issue of Fellowship magazine, new FOR staff at home and abroad, and a look forward to a packed month of peace events in March. Remember, your support makes this work possible -- please make a contribution to FOR today!
- March (is) for Peace!
- Nominate your favorite leader for a peace prize
- New Fellowship: Resisting Silence
- Iran updates
- New folks at FOR
- Upcoming events & delegations
We're constantly working to improve our communications with you. Please let us know what you think about this newsletter by e-mailing communications@forusa.org. Thanks!
March (is) for Peace
Interfaith Peace Witness • March 6 & 7
At this moment when religion is being used to justify war and torture, people of faith will hold a day of worship and witness in Washington, D.C. and across the nation. It is our obligation to be the moral conscience and compass of our nation.
On March 6th & 7th, the Olive Branch Interfaith Peace Partnership will come together in Washington, DC to:
- Organize informative and skill-building workshops
- Worship in a variety of religious traditions at services around the city
- Participate in an interfaith witness led by Rev. James Forbes, Rabbi David Saperstein, and Asma Mirza; including a multi-faith ceremony and musical performances.
- Engage in nonviolent direct action designed to hold elected officials accountable.
Winter Soldier • March 13 - 16
This four-day event organized by Iraq Veterans Against the War will bring together veterans from across the country to testify about their experiences in Iraq and Afghanistan - and present video and photographic evidence. In addition, there will be panels of scholars, veterans, journalists, and other specialists to give context to the testimony. Watch the live video stream online. | Five Years Too Many • March 19
United for Peace and Justice is calling for and supporting a set of activities on and around the 5th anniversary of the U.S. invasion of Iraq that will manifest the intensifying opposition to the war and help strengthen our movement. We hope this will be the largest day of nonviolent direct action and civil disobedience yet against the war in Iraq. |
Click here to download a one-page flyer promoting these March peace events.
Nominate your favorite leader for a peace prize
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Annually, the Fellowship of Reconciliation awards the Martin Luther King Award and the Pfeffer International Peace Prize to individuals whose commitment to peace, justice and reconciliation is recognized as a life-long commitment. The awardees receive a cash prize and a commemorative scroll.
Peace groups as well as individuals are encouraged to submit nominations for the 2008 awards by March 10th. The prizes will be awarded at the Festival of Peace at FOR’s national headquarters on September 14th.
Click here to learn more and submit a name for consideration.
New Fellowship: Resisting Silence
Subscribe! Make a donation of at least $35 to FOR and you will receive a one-year subscription to Fellowship magazine.
The Winter 2008 edition of Fellowship magazine, thematically focused on "Resisting Silence," includes:
• poetry and photos from the national demonstration for racial justice in Jena, Louisiana;
• Richard Deats' reflection on the recent nonviolent uprising in Burma;
• Mas'ood Cajee on the "Top Ten Muslim 'Good' News Stories" of 2007;
• Liz Walz on white privilege and silencing in addressing racism;
• Rabbi Lynn Gottlieb on seeking hope in Israel and Palestine;
and much, much more.
Click here to read excerpts from the Winter issue. E-mail us to order discounted bulk copies of the Winter issue, or back issues of Fellowship.
Iran Updates
So much is going on with our Iran work, it is hard for even us to keep up! Here is an overview of recent activities.
Another peace delegation left for Iran on Sunday. Look for their updates on our blog.
The Folly of Attacking Iran tour with Stephen Kinzer, co-sponsored by FOR, has been traveling around the U.S. promoting diplomacy and just foreign policy.
Iranian couple Nasim Yousefi and Jafar Edrisi continue their bike ride around the world to promote peace and the environment. They planted four trees in the Carolinas and had a wonderful time from the look of these photos.
"My guess is that all North Carolinians who have met and participated in their dream and incredible journey are still highly energized. Besides their remarkable stamina, we found Jafar and Nasim to be gifted artists, photographers, teachers, historians, wildlife enthusiasts, conservationists, and wonderful new peace-making friends." - FOR member Lib Hutchby
Finally, for those in the New York City area, FOR is co-sponsoring a film screening and panel discussion at the Community Church of New York on March 7th. The one-hour documentary Bam 6.6 will be screened followed by a panel discussion on the current state of affairs between Iran and the United States. Topics will including the nuclear enrichment issue and human rights – as well as a Q & A with the filmmaker. FOR has created this flyer with more information.
New folks at FOR
FOR is thrilled to welcome several new additions to our family. Visit our contact page if you would like to reach any of us.
Rev. Hillary Gaston, Sr. takes the helm in the new position of Director of Operations. In this role, he is responsible for financial and administrative management of FOR. Dr. Gaston comes to us with distinguished service as president of New York Theological Seminary, as well as leadership roles in secondary education, law enforcement, and the U.S. Postal Service!
Shauen Pearce is our new Co-Director of Youth and Militarism. Ze comes to FOR with a strong personal narrative of military resistance as a Conscientious Objector, and experience in national campaigning, local organizing, popular education, graphic design arts and big box management. (Shauen prefers gender-neutral pronouns "ze" and "per" instead of "she/he" and "her/his.")
Rev. Osagyefo Sekou joins FOR as Freeman Fellow to work on interfaith peace organizing. His experience as founder of Clergy and Laity Concerned About Iraq will be invaluable as he works with the emerging Olive Branch Interfaith Peace Partnership.
John Schot was recently hired by the International Fellowship of Reconciliation, IFOR - based in the Netherlands, to serve as their new Executive Director (formerly referred to as International Coordinator). He has experience working on media, peace building, refugees and development programs in conflict areas all over the world, especially in Southern Africa, the Balkans, the Caucasus and Central Asia. He most recently worked as Programme Cycle Management Advisor Worldwide with the Catholic Agency For Overseas Development. We at FOR-USA look forward to working with him!
Upcoming events & delegations
April 27 & 28: Days of Prayer & Action for Colombia
June 23 - 30: Peacemaker Training Institute (Northern California)
Delegations:
- March 6 - 13: SIPAZ Delegation to Guerrero, Mexico
- March 22 - 30: FOR Youth Arts and Action Delegation to Colombia
- March 29 - Apr. 12: IFPB Delegation to Israel and Palestine
- April 25 - May 8 : FOR Iran Peace Delegation
- May 24 - June 7: IFPB Delegation to Israel and Palestine
- July 26 - Aug. 9: IFPB Delegation to Israel and Palestine
- Aug. 2 - 16: FOR Human Rights Delegation to Colombia
- August 15 - 30: FOR Iran Peace Delegation
These events and more are listed in our National Peace and Justice calendar and our Grassroots Civilian Diplomacy calendar.
Your support makes this work possible
Your support is what makes all of the work we have described in this newsletter possible. You can sustain and strengthen FOR's essential work for peace and justice in many ways.
Membership is free, and demonstrates your support of our Statement of Purpose. Donations are always welcome, and we'll thank you with a year of Fellowship magazine. Visit our blog and leave a comment. Or just share this message with a friend who understands the importance of peace and justice with nonviolence.
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