From info at csrapeace.org Mon Jan 11 20:18:35 2010 From: info at csrapeace.org (CSRA Peace) Date: Mon, 11 Jan 2010 20:18:35 -0500 Subject: [CSRA Peace] Upcoming CSRA Peace Alliance Events, other noteworthy events in Augusta Message-ID: <17F714BB604B4AEFABDB10E07D9D4058@AymanNewComp> There are three upcoming CSRA Peace Alliance events, and there are many other area events. The first is tomorrow, Tuesday, January 12, 2010 at 7 pm at the Greene St Library at 901 Greene St, 2nd floor. The event is entitled "CSRA Eyewitnesses in Israel and Palestine." Presenting are Bill and Marlene Johnson, David Matos and Sr. Ellen Francis. Each has travelled to Israel and Palestine in the last year. The next one is the Martin Luther King, Jr. parade in Augusta, Saturday, January 16. The CSRA Peace Alliance, along with Art as an Agent for Change, is participating in the parade to show our support for the message of peace which Dr. King promoted. Please bring your walking shoes and join us! Call Ayman Fadel at 706.284.3002 for details on where to join the parade, and check http://csrapeace.org/2010/01/11/martin-luther-king-jr-parade-in-augusta-janu ary-16-2009/ for updates. On Tuesday, February 9, the CSRA Peace Alliance is screening Rethink Afghanistan , a 75-minute documentary movie about why military involvement in Afghanistan is not a good idea. Other area events. Please let me know about your groups' events so that I can also distribute that information. January 14, Thursday, 2010 Third annual Keeping the Dream Alive: Why Dr. King Still Matters Congregation Children of Israel - Walton Way Temple, 3005 Walton Way Ext, Augusta, 6:45 pm Sponsored by the Progressive Religious Coalition of Augusta. The Rev. Otis Moss III will be the keynote speaker. Music will begin at 6:45 p.m. January 15, Friday Paine College, Gilbert-Lambuth Memorial Chapel, 12:00 pm - 3:00 pm Paine College,Augusta Technical College, Augusta State University and Medical College of Georgia will present the annual Tri-College Martin Luther King Day Celebration. The event will began at 12 p.m. in the Gilbert-Lambuth Memorial Chapel. This years, the keynote speaker is The Reverend James Lawson, professor, pastor and civil rights leader. January 18, Monday, 7 pm Screening of the documentary film "To Shoot an Elephant." Footage from Gaza during the Israeli offensive in December 2008 and January 2009. For more information, visit http://toshootanelephant.com/. Call Ayman Fadel at 706.284.3002 for directions to his home for the screening. January 19, Tuesday, 7 pm Sierra Club Meeting Everyone seems to like movies. So we are trying something new - Movie Night! The DVD programs in both January and February are connected and will focus on the pathways from production of "stuff" to recycling, and how these tie to environmental issues. Of course, we will have popcorn and other delectables for munching while you watch. Bring a friend and join us at the Unitarian Church, 3501 Walton Way. Contact Judy Gordon for more information, 706-650-8314. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From aymanfadel at comcast.net Sun Feb 7 00:50:15 2010 From: aymanfadel at comcast.net (Ayman Fadel) Date: Sun, 7 Feb 2010 00:50:15 -0500 Subject: [CSRA Peace] CSRA February Peace Events Message-ID: The official CSRA Peace Alliance Event for February is not in its normal location at the Greene St. Library. Screening of the documentary film Rethink Afghanistan For more information on this documentary, visit http://rethinkafghanistan.com/. Date: Tuesday, February 9, 2010 Time: 7:00 pm Location: Wallace Public Library, 1237 Laney Walker Blvd, Augusta, GA Action item: Tell members of the House Armed Services Committee to read the Eikenberry memos before writing a 2011 budget for the Afghanistan war. http://act.ly/1oe Other events of note: "Savannah River Site: Waste, Weapons & Future Prospects" with Tom Clements MON Feb 8th, 7:15PM Preceded by Aiken Peace business meeting at 6:30PM. Aiken Unitarian Universalist Church 115 Gregg Ave, Aiken, SC www.aikenuuchurch.org for directions Tom Clements, Southeastern Campaigns Coordinator for environmental organization Friends of the Earth, will speak. A long-time SRS watchdog, Clements will present a cutting analysis of the current status of the "bomb plant" and its possible future. Aiken Peace meets the second Monday of each month. Next meeting MON March 8th. For more information, contact David Matos at 803-215-3263 or aiken_peace at yahoo.com. Legislation of Interest Bills have been introduced in the Georgia Senate and the Georgia House which would prohibit military recruiters from using public schools to recruit students 16 years of age and younger. In addition, this bill would make parental consent a condition for recruitment of 17-year olds and encourage distribution of "opt-out" forms for parents to prevent schools from giving students' contact information to recruiters. Visit http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/GA-Says-No-To-Using-Schools-For-Military-Re cruitment-of-Minors for more information. CSRA Peace Alliance Agenda Items 1. Daytime monthly peace vigil in front of Barrow's office on Laney-Walker 2. Participation in Georgia Peace and Justice Coalition (GPJC.org) Martin Luther King Justice Tour in April 3. Participation in GPJC Youth Convergence 2010 May 21-3 (gpjc.org) Events Later in the Year Hiroshima/Nagasaki Memorial, Friday, August 6 at St. Mary's Ga, 3-6 pm School of the Americas Watch Columbus, GA, Nov 19-21, 2010 http://www.soaw.org 2011 Southeast Alternative New Year for Nuclear Disarmament and Peacemaking Each year, activists from throughout the Southeastern United States gather on New Year's Eve to demand nuclear disarmament, particularly the nuclear weapons used by Trident submarines. The principal base for U.S. Trident submarines in the Atlantic Ocean is in St. Mary's, Georgia. In addition to a midnight vigil, activists use New Year's Day to socialize, organize and mobilize at Crooked River St. Park, which is a few miles away. Friday, December 31, 2010-Sunday, January 2, 2011, St. Mary's, GA For more information, contact David Matos at 803-215-3263 or aiken_peace at yahoo.com. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From aymanfadel at comcast.net Wed Feb 17 23:59:46 2010 From: aymanfadel at comcast.net (Ayman Fadel) Date: Wed, 17 Feb 2010 23:59:46 -0500 Subject: [CSRA Peace] Bus from Augusta to Atlanta to Attend Hearing on Military Recruitment of Minors in GA Public Schools Message-ID: <22AD92FDE94046B788A6E174DF5D7E68@AymanNewComp> On Wednesday, February 24, 2010, a Georgia Senate committee is scheduled to hear testimony regarding proposed legislation which would encourage school boards to limit military recruitment of students 16-years old and under and to inform students and their parents of how they could protect their privacy from military recruiters. Date: Wednesday, February 24, 2010 Time: 3:00pm - 5:00pm Location: Ga State Capitol Cloverdale Legislative Building The bus is currently scheduled to leave from the K-Mart at 1647 Gordon Hwy, Augusta, GA 30906 at 11 AM and return to that location by 8:30 PM. If you want to join, please contact Ayman Fadel ASAP by calling or texting (706) 284-3002 or e-mailing afadel97 at gmail.com so that we can finalize transportation arrangements. If you are a student or staff in high school, a recent high school graduate, a relative, a military recruiter or an active service member or a veteran with testimony relevant to this legislation, please contact Tim Franzen at (404) 414-5521 to see if you should provide testimony at the hearing. Also, before joining the bus, learn who your State Legislative Representative and Senator are by visiting http://www.votesmart.org . We should arrive in time to deliver letters in person to their offices at the Capitol. And if you can't join us, then contact them and ask them to support HR1219/SR955. Remember to sign the online petition at: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/GA-Says-No-To-Using-Schools-For-Military-Re cruitment-of-Minors. To learn more, visit http://afscatlanta.blogspot.com/2010/02/we-need-your-help-to-protect-georgia s.html. For information specific to opting-out of having your personal information shared with military recruiters in Richmond and Columbia County schools, visit http://csrapeace.org/recruitment/. Sincerely, Ayman Fadel Augusta, GA (706) 284-3002 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From aymanfadel at comcast.net Sat Mar 6 12:49:20 2010 From: aymanfadel at comcast.net (Ayman Fadel) Date: Sat, 6 Mar 2010 12:49:20 -0500 Subject: [CSRA Peace] Military Recruitment of Minors in GA Public Schools Message-ID: <88F1A2F12DF948FCA5EB5862DA60B91D@AymanNewComp> On Wednesday, March 10, 2010, a Georgia Senate committee is scheduled to hear testimony regarding proposed legislation which would encourage school boards to limit military recruitment of students 16-years old and under and to inform students and their parents of how they could protect their privacy from military recruiters. Date: Wednesday, February 10, 2010 Time: 3:00pm - 5:00pm Location: Ga State Capitol Cloverdale Legislative Building If you want to join, please contact Ayman Fadel ASAP by calling or texting (706) 284-3002 or e-mailing afadel97 at gmail.com so that we can finalize transportation arrangements. If you are a student or staff in high school, a recent high school graduate, a relative, a military recruiter or an active service member or a veteran with testimony relevant to this legislation, please contact Tim Franzen at (404) 414-5521 to see if you should provide testimony at the hearing. Also, before joining the bus, learn who your State Legislative Representative and Senator are by visiting http://www.votesmart.org . We should arrive in time to deliver letters in person to their offices at the Capitol. And if you can't join us, then contact them and ask them to support HR1219/SR955. Remember to sign the online petition at: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/GA-Says-No-To-Using-Schools-For-Military-Re cruitment-of-Minors. To learn more, visit http://afscatlanta.blogspot.com/2010/02/we-need-your-help-to-protect-georgia s.html. For information specific to opting-out of having your personal information shared with military recruiters in Richmond and Columbia County schools, visit http://csrapeace.org/recruitment/. Sincerely, Ayman Fadel Augusta, GA (706) 284-3002 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From aymanfadel at comcast.net Mon Mar 8 12:52:09 2010 From: aymanfadel at comcast.net (Ayman Fadel) Date: Mon, 8 Mar 2010 12:52:09 -0500 Subject: [CSRA Peace] Contacting Georgia State Senator William Jackson (SS-24)-Columbia County Message-ID: State Senator William Jackson represents Columbia and neighboring counties (not Richmond). He sits on the Veterans, Military and Homeland Security Senate Committee. This is the committee which is holding a hearing on SR-955, the resolution regarding military recruiters in public schools, this Wednesday, March 10, 2010. If you live in his district, please contact him to express your support for this bill. Capitol Office: * 319-A Coverdell Legislative Office Building * Atlanta, Ga 30334 * Phone: (404) 656-5114 * Fax: (404) 657-0797 District Office: * PO Box 528 * Appling, Ga 30802 * Phone: (706) 863-5818 (O) * (706) 541-0197 (F) bill.jackson at senate.ga.gov This is the letter I have mailed and faxed to Senator Jackson: Senator Bill Jackson 319-A Coverdell Legislative Office Building Atlanta, GA 30334 March 8, 2010 Honorable Senator Jackson, I am writing as your constituent regarding SR-955 urging the Georgia Department of Education and all school systems in Georgia to safeguard the rights of children under the age of 17 from military recruitment and to implement basic safeguards for the recruitment of 17-year-olds. I enthusiastically support this legislation for the following reasons: 1. It urges Georgia schools to conform with international treaty obligations, namely the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict. 2. It urges Georgia schools to implement the No Child Left Behind Act's mandate to allow guardians to opt-out of releasing their wards' personal information to military recruiters. Currently, in Columbia County, high school handbooks do not mention that the students' personal information is transferred to military recruiters and that guardians, if they do not wish this transfer to take place, must write a letter to the student's principal requesting that the information not be transferred. Indeed, the policy and procedure document, which one could hardly expect a parent or student to read, does not contain the word "military" (see below). Note that in neighboring Richmond County, the opt-out form is listed in its Frequently Used Forms page (see below). 3. It properly limits the military recruitment function of the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) tests. 4. It empowers parents and guardians to exercise their right to prevent their children's participation in non-educationally related activities promoting military enlistment. I am eager to hear your opinion on these issues, and I hope that, as a member of the Veterans, Military and Homeland Security Senate Committee, you will do everything in your power to give this historic resolution a fair hearing and smooth passage to a vote in the Senate. Sincerely, -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From aymanfadel at comcast.net Thu Mar 11 08:29:57 2010 From: aymanfadel at comcast.net (Ayman Fadel) Date: Thu, 11 Mar 2010 08:29:57 -0500 Subject: [CSRA Peace] Augusta State University Event on Guantanamo Bay, Today, 3 pm Message-ID: ASU Presents The Supreme Court and the Challenge of Guantanamo Bay Thursday, 11 March 2010 3pm 706-737-1710 Augusta State University ASU's Department of Political Science and the Pre-Law Club are sponsoring The Supreme Court and the Challenge of Guantanamo Bay which will be presented by Kirk Randazzo. There is no cost to attend this event which will by in the Jaguar Student Activties Center Coffeehouse. Kirk Randazzo is a professor at U. of South Carolina-Columbia. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: