peace : Spring 2003 Newsletter

Spring 2003 Newsletter

"If my heart could do my thinking"

Hundreds of American and British soldiers dead. Thousands of Iraqi soldiers gone. Thousands of innocent Iraqi citizens dead. Mass graves uncovered of even more innocent Iraqi citizens with North Korea on the horizon. What can we do now in a troubled world? Maybe we should listen to the children or learn to once again think like children.

On a recent trip to Sewickly, Pennsylvania, my sister-in-law asked what she could do about her daughter’s request. Her seven-year-old, Ellie, wanted to know what she could do about the children of Iraq. She wanted to help. So often we see the answer in children, I think, because they think with their hearts as well as their heads.

I asked Ellie why she wanted to help the children of Iraq. She said, "Because they are very, very, very, very poor and don’t have houses and the government does not treat them very well." I also asked her why she thought her friends and classmates at Children’s Community School would help and she replied, "Because they have good ideas and they are nice."

Ellie and her classmates are collecting the supplies to send relief kits to families in Iraq. They have visited the web site of the Mennonite Central Committee at http://www.mennonitecc.ca/ that will help them get the kits delivered. Church World Service is also supporting a similar initiative. Find them on-line at www.churchworldservice.org, or call 1- 800-297-1516.

Van Morrison wrote a song a few years ago called "I Forgot that Love Existed." The words of the last stanza follow:

If my heart could do my thinking
And my head begin to feel
I would look upon the world anew
And know what’s truly real.

If you would like more information about this project, visit the Mennonite Central Committee web site or call them at (717) 859-1151. They are also sending relief kits to the children of North Korea…if my heart could do my thinking.

FAREWELL & WELCOME

Sweetness and sadness have visited the Peace Resource Center at once, like many events in life. Jean Anne True has retired from the PRC and we have a new staff member.

Jean moved to the Center in the spring of 1999 and brought her amazing organizational skills to bear on our work. Most of the time, peace work looks like addressing envelopes, changing addresses, sending packages, changing web sites, folding newsletters and writing requisitions, not to mention two hundred other tedious things. Jean accomplished these things with grace and skill.

Jean was also the linchpin in the machine that makes the Westheimer Peace Symposium happen every year. She has helped to make this affair the signature event for Wilmington College each year.

Jean has retired to her home in Wilmington with her husband, cats, dogs, and horses. She is missed.

We have been blessed by our new staff member Ruth Brindle Dobyns. Ruth is a 1999 graduate of Wilmington College with a degree in History. She is the daughter of Linda and David Brindle.

Ruth brings a dimension to the Peace Resource Center that has never been present. After graduation from Wilmington College, Ruth completed a Master’s Degree in Public History and Museum Studies at the University of South Carolina. Her skills will allow us to better understand how to catalog our unique collection of artifacts and memorabilia.

Ruth is also a member of the Religious Society of Friends. We are pleased to have Ruth as our new Assistant Director. She has provided the following update on plans for the Westheimer Peace Symposium next fall.

13^th Annual Westheimer Peace Symposium

"Pollution, Politics, and Peace"

The 13^th Annual Westheimer Peace Symposium, "Pollution, Politics, and Peace," will take at Wilmington College on October 29, 2003. This year’s speakers will address the issue of the environment from local, national, and international perspectives. We are looking forward to hosting this dynamic group of speakers, and we hope that you will make plans now to join us for this special day. Read on for a brief glimpse of what is in store…

Sister Paula Gonzalez, S.C., is a well-respected authority on environmental awareness. She has traveled around the country lecturing on ecology and alternative energy methods since the 1970s. To learn more about Sister Paula, visit her website at http://www.hillconnections.org/ri/gonzalez0ap.htm

Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., joined Riverkeeper in 1984, becoming its chief prosecuting attorney in 1993. Along with Karl Coplan, he co-directs the Pace Environmental Litigation Clinic, where ten students and two professors do nothing but prosecute Hudson River polluters. To read more about Kennedy and his involvement in Riverkeeper, check out http://www.riverkeeper.org./

Ka Hsaw Wa is the co-founder and co-director of EarthRights International. A member of the Karen ethnic nationality in Burma, he travels clandestinely to remote areas of Burma to interview witnesses and victims of human rights abuses. For more information about Ka Hsaw Wa, visit http://www.earthrights.org/

TRIBUTE TO CARL UPCHURCH

We are saddened to report the news that Carl Upchurch passed away in Columbus recently. Carl was one of our Westheimer speakers this past year. He brought tremendous passion and wisdom to our event. He struck a chord with our students in a way we have never witnessed before. We could not sell copies of his book quickly enough to our students who wanted more of Carl. May God bless you and keep you, Carl Upchurch! We are better for having met you. Carl’s book, Convicted in the Womb: One Man’s Journey from Prisoner to Peacemaker, is available in our bookstore.

WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION

Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) have been in the mainstream news in the last few years. Dirty bombs, chemical, nuclear, and biological weapons have all been discussed continuously.

The Peace Resource Center thinks it’s time to remember the results of the use of WMD. We are, therefore, holding an Open House on Friday, August 8, 2003, to remember the innocent victims of Hiroshima and Nagasaki who died in August of 1945. The event will take place from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. at the Peace Resource Center. Tours and a viewing of After the Cloud Lifted will be featured. Attendees will be able to fold paper cranes. Ice cream will be served on the porch. Please contact us for more information.

If you cannot attend but are planning your own affair, check our web site for books, videotapes, or picture sets. We can also send you a catalog of our available resources. Just call or e-mail.

NO SWEAT

Want to contribute to a healthier, more emotionally sound world? Purchase a No-Sweat t-shirt from the Peace Resource Center. Our shirts are made in No Sweatshop shops in the US, Canada, the EU, and third world nations, where workers are guaranteed a fair wage and humane working conditions. Large and extra-large shirts are available in black, yellow, royal blue, forest green, and white. They are $15.00 plus tax (Ohio residents only) and shipping. Call or e-mail your order today. It’s not just a shirt – it’s a way of life!

CHARITABLE GIVING TO THE PRC

The PRC counts on the financial support of our readers to operate. There are at least two ways to contribute.

One way to contribute is by including us in your will. Contact us for more information.

The other way is to send a contribution to the Center. We send three thousand newsletters out quarterly. One hundred and twenty five people responded with a contribution during the last fiscal year. Please consider making a financial contribution to the PRC!

DONOR REPORT

1 January through 13 May 2003

Jim & Sheilah Boland
Rebecca S. Bonnell
Cincinnati Monthly Meeting
Corning Incorporated
Richard W. Felsing
Larry & Lenna Mae Gara
Jack Carl Hoefer
Anthony & Marilyn Hinrichs
Steve Kraynak
Jane L. Manring
McDonald’s Restaurants
Darleen Myers
David & Barbara Nicholson
Verda Mae Peters
Quaker Mission
St. Columbkille Catholic Church
Roy Joe Stuckey
Jared Sullivan & Sasha Moyer
Edward J. Thompson
John M. Vitto
William F. Wagner
Roger D. Warren
Mary Rose Zink

PEACE RELATED WEB SITES

http://smhp.psych.ucla.edu/ is the site for the UCLA SCHOOL MENTAL HEALTH PROJECT/CENTER FOR MENTAL HEALTH IN SCHOOLS. This is another link for those concerned with enhancing policies, programs, and practices related to addressing barriers to student learning and to promoting mental health in schools. It augments the other ways the Center shares information and facilitates interchange/networking.

http://www.ebasedprevention.org/resources/studentled/index.htm eBasedPrevention.org is Ohio's on-line prevention information and networking support system. Use this site to access interactive learning modules on a variety of topics related to the prevention field that include video, PowerPoint, and textual information…check back often for the most recent updates.

http://discover.npr.org/features/feature.jhtml?wfId=1224271 Commentator Margaret Erhart talks about the way school children on an Indian reservation near Tuba City, Arizona, reacted to the news that Pfc. Lori Piestewa was killed in the war in Iraq. Piestewa was the first female Native-American to die in combat. Some of the second graders were related to Piestewa, and all of them knew she was from their hometown.

http://www2.h-net.msu.edu/~peace/ ANNOUNCING H-Peace: H-Net Network on Peace History and Peace Studies Sponsored by H-Net, Humanities & Social Sciences On-line, Michigan State University. H-Peace is an international scholarly network that seeks to broaden understanding about historical and contemporary peace and justice concerns. An affiliate of the Peace History Society, H-Peace provides an easy way to stay informed of the latest developments in Peace History and Peace Studies, and to communicate with other scholars working and teaching in these fields.

http://www.brandt21forum.info for a practical, inclusive plan for world peace and prosperity

www.upeace.org The University for Peace (UPEACE) is a higher education institution that was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1980. UPEACE offers graduate programs and short courses of executive education and specialized training. It offers masters degrees in Natural Resources and Sustainable Development, International Law and Settlement of Disputes, and Human Rights Studies.

http://www.humanitarian.net/university is the site of Humanitarian University: connecting the international community through education. It was founded to support the development of initiatives associated with economic, social, cultural and humanitarian issues worldwide. The mission: to serve as (1) an international community of scholars, (2) a bridge between Humanitarian Resource Institute and the international academic community, (3) a think tank in support of the United Nations programs, and (4) the promotion of higher learning through both traditional and distance education. Colleagues and members of the academic community are invited to provide resource links for the site.

www.mcgregor.edu Individuals interested in Conflict Resolution have a unique and exciting opportunity to earn a Master of Arts degree in this emerging field through an academic experience that integrates alternative modes of learning such as short residential sessions, on-line learning, practicum, and at-home study. Visit the site or call Antioch University at (937) 769-1818 for more information.

BOOKS FROM OTHER PLACES

How Social and Emotional Development Add Up: Getting Results in Math and Science Education, edited by Norris Haynes, Michael Ben-Avie, & Jacque Ensign, Teachers College Press Books. For educational leaders working to systemically infuse Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) in their schools, the integration of sound SEL practices into core content areas is an important step. This volume helps to close this gap in understanding and practice. The book is available from Teachers College Press, and can be accessed at http://store.tcpress.com/0807743062.shtml#496.

Jailed for Justice: A Woman’s Guide to Federal Prison Camp, by Clare Hanrahan. We have little more information to pass along, but presumably the title says it all! Contact the author at Celtic Wordcraft, P.O. Box 7641, Asheville, NC, 28802, or e-mail chanrahan@ncpress.net.

GATHERINGS

http://titan.iwu.edu/~physics/Hiroshima/ provides information about the one-week workshop, "Hiroshima and Nagasaki for Physics Teachers," July 7-11, 2003, at Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington, Illinois.

http://www.dwcw.org is a monthly e-mail newsletter reporting recent contributions and developments on the Dialogue Webpage for Conflicts Worldwide (DWCW). The DWCW is a resource and service for all people interested in conflict and its prevention, and aims to contribute to the improvement of mutual understanding between opposing sides of conflict throughout the world. It is presented by the Japan Center for Conflict Prevention (JCCP) (www.jccp.gr.jp) and supported by the Sasakawa Peace Foundation (SPF).

Creating a World That Works for All: Courage and Vision in Hard Times is presented by the Whidbey Institute in association with Schumacher College on Friday, July 11 (5:00 p.m.) to Sunday, July 20 (10:00 am), 2003, Chinook Center, Whidbey Island, WA (45 minutes north of Seattle). The Institute has selected two powerful teachers. Joanna Macy is an eco-philosopher and scholar of Buddhism, general systems theory, and deep ecology. Sharif Abdullah is director of The Commonway Institute, an organization he founded to build inclusivity, understanding, and civic engagement among diverse groups of people. Educated in psychology and law, Sharif has worked with individuals and organizations in the US and abroad to facilitate social, cultural, and spiritual transformation. The cost is $1795 (includes lodging, meals, materials, fieldtrip, and registration fees). Limited financial assistance is available. For more information or to register, please contact the Institute by calling (360) 341-1884, or by e-mail: whidinst@whidbey.com.

OTHER NEWS OF NOTE

Correction Our last newsletter included an incorrect e-mail address for Peace SEEDS. The proper address is peace.seeds@verizon.net.

http://home.attbi.com/~mattapoisettquakers/stamps.html This is the site of the Mattapoisett Monthly Meeting in Massachusetts. Contact them to learn more about the Quaker Mission Project. They sell used postage stamps and use the proceeds to help Quaker organizations. The Peace Resource Center has been the recipient of funds from this project. These Friends can be reached by phone at (508) 758-9625.

POWER AND TERROR: NOAM CHOMSKY IN OUR TIMES PRC founding advisor Noam Chomsky, the MIT linguist and political philosopher, now 73, is one of the most straight-talking and committed dissidents of our time. A steadfast critic of United States foreign policy for decades, his profile took a quantum leap in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks of September 11 as he provided much-needed analysis and historical perspective to concerned citizens throughout the world. In the months that followed, he gave dozens of talks on four continents, conducted scores of interviews, and published a book, 9-11, that was published in 25 languages in 22 countries, and became a surprise bestseller in many of them, including Japan, where "Power and Terror: Noam Chomsky in Our Times" was produced. Check www.firstrunfeatures.com for updated theatre listings and VHS/DVD information.

Conflict Resolution for School Personnel: An Interactive School Safety Training Tool This interactive CD-ROM (NCJ 194198) contains five modules (anger, threats, attacks with weapons, suicide, and weapons on campus) that are intended to aid school personnel in their responses to such potentially violent situations. The modules are broken down into 12 didactic tutorials (e.g., de-escalating student conflicts, assessing a suicide threat, suspected gunshots) and 14 interactive scenarios (e.g., fight in library, Internet hit list, gun in cafeteria). The interactive portion presents videos of potentially dangerous situations and asks the viewer to select a response from a variety of choices. To obtain a copy of this CD-ROM, visit http://puborder.ncjrs.org/Content/search.asp, call 1-800-851-3420, or write NCJRS, P.O. Box 6000, Rockville, Maryland 20859-6000.

http://www.pnnonline.org/article.php?sid=4157 "BCBS of Michigan's Domestic Violence Toolkit Gets National Praise." The National Crime Prevention Council's new book 50 Strategies to Prevent Violent Domestic Crimes features the Domestic Violence Toolkit for physicians and other health care professionals. The toolkit was developed by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Blue Care Network in partnership with the Michigan Nurses Association, Michigan Osteopathic Association, Michigan State Medical Society, and the Michigan Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence...for the full article, see the Philanthropy News Network On-line.

http://www.rmiembassyus.org/nuclear/exhibit.html is the web site that details the history of the U.S. nuclear testing program in the Republic of the Marshall Islands. March 1, 2004, is the 50th anniversary of the BRAVO bomb, which was one thousand times stronger than the Hiroshima bomb. One of our readers has asked us to assist him in trying to find doctors from Japan who can help with an independent study of the health of the people in Micronesia. Please contact the PRC if you would be able to assist in this effort.

http://www.rotary.org/foundation/educational/amb_scho/centers/index.html is the site to find information regarding the Rotary Foundation MA Peace Scholarships in international studies, peace studies, and conflict resolution. These scholarships offer individuals committed to peace and cooperation the opportunity to pursue a two-year master's-level degree in international studies, peace studies, and conflict resolution, at one of the seven Rotary Centers. Scholarships will include tuition and required fees, room and board, transportation, and contingency expenses. Interested applicants must contact a local Rotary club to ask about local application deadlines. Club deadlines may be as early as March, or as late as August, of the year prior to the study period. Applications must be submitted to the Rotary Foundation by October 1, 2003.

NEW BOOKS FROM THE PRC BOOKSTORE

Getting to Yes: Negotiating Agreement Without Giving In, by Roger Fisher, William Ury, and Bruce Patton. A straightforward, universally applicable method for negotiating personal and professional disputes without getting taken – and without getting angry. $14.00

Chores Without Wars: Turning Dad and Kids from Reluctant Stick-in-the-Muds to Enthusiastic Team Players, by Lynn Lott and Riki Intner, with foreward by Jane Nelson. With wisdom and humor, this practical, step-by-step guide gives you the techniques you need to enlist the support and cooperation of your entire family. $12.00

Positive Time-Out And Over 50 Ways to Avoid Power Struggles in the Home and the Classroom, by Jane Nelson. Bestselling parenting author Jane Nelson shows you how to make time-out a positive learning experience for children. You’ll discover how positive time-out can teach children the art of self-discipline and instill such invaluable qualities as self-confidence and problem-solving skills. $12.95

Shipping & handling charges will be added to all books.
6% sales tax will be added for Ohio residents.
To place an order, or for more information, please contact the PRC.

ABOUT US
Peace Resource Center at Wilmington College
Associated with the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers)

The Peace Resource Center has a long-standing commitment to peace and justice. Since 1975 we have taken an active role in providing peace education materials both locally and throughout the United States. This is accomplished through a book purchase service, audio-visual rentals, circulating libraries in both English and Japanese, and a research collection on the immediate and long term effects of the 1945 atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

News from Peace House

This newsletter is published as a tool for helping people find useful peace resources, and to share information about peace-related activities. Subscription is free in the US, although an annual donation is greatly appreciated. Outside the US, a minimum donation of US $5 is required. Please feel free to reproduce any part of this newsletter – giving credit to the source – and help spread the word of the resources we offer at the Peace Resource Center. Your recommendation is invaluable to us! Thank you!

HOW TO CONTACT US

Would like to receive our newsletter via e-mail? Would you like a PRC video or book catalog? Do you have questions for us? You can call us, e-mail us, or drop us a letter!

Telephone: 937-382-6661, ext. 371
Fax: 937-382-7077
E-mail: prc@wilmington.edu
Website: www.wilmington.edu/peaceRC.htm
Director: Dr. James Boland
Assistant Director: Ruth M. Dobyns
Hours: 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. (Eastern), Monday through Friday