April-May-June-July 2011
HIGHLIGHTS A PUBLICATION OF THE PEACE & JUSTICE CENTER
PAGE 2 From the Center Why Do We Support Fair Trade? Message from the Board of Directors. BY Gaby Ochoa Brenneman, Manager of Fair Trade & Local Products
PAGE 3 Center Program Update n 2009 Burlington became the provides more education and resources Check out what the PJC staff, interns, and I twelfth Fair Trade town in the to school groups, college classes, and volunteers have been doing. United States. Fair Trade towns any group that is interested in learning make a commitment to actively promote more about social justice and Fair Trade New Board Member Fair Trade through education and as a very concrete way of promoting Meet Nathan Suter. outreach to local businesses and con- peace. In addition to providing interna- PAGE 4 sumers. tional Fair Trade groups with an outlet for The Peace & Justice Center has a their goods, I believe we must support Robin’s Nest mission and commitment to promote national campaigns that exert pressure on An American Autumn. peace and justice, and both of these are US companies to end abuse, forced, child PAGE 5 crucial values for the Fair Trade move- and trafficked labor. We can support ment. The Peace & Justice Store is the initiatives that demand transparency and An Exercise in Reflection main source for Fair Trade crafts in accountability for a more sustainable way A poem by Anna Guyton. Burlington. In addition to providing a of trading. PAGE 6 market for artisans and farmers, we have a In our recent World Fair Trade Day responsibility to educate our community celebration on May 14th, we joined the Despite Outcry, Mayor Says Yes regarding Fair Trade and its impact locally Raise the Bar Campaign in pressuring to Lockheed and in other countries. Hershey’s chocolate company to stop Sandy Baird reports on the June 7th I personally feel committed to the using child forced labor in their West Community Development & Neighborhood movement since it represents and Africa cocoa farms. We cannot ignore Revitalization committee meeting. advocates for the most disadvantaged. that children in West Africa are supplying PAGE 7 Sixty-nine percent of the artisans and cocoa to one of the biggest chocolate farmers involved in Fair Trade are ethnic companies in this country. According to Experiment in Democracy minorities, while women make up 76 % of UNICEF, approximately 200,000 children Joseph Gainza examines how best to establish Fair Trade producers globally. are being trafficked every year to Ghana a democracy. I have seen how Fair Trade improves and the Ivory Coast alone—close to 4,000 PAGE 8 the lives of many people in my own children a week(*). Companies like country of Guatemala, and I believe that Hershey signed the Harkin-Engel proto- War Protest 2011 the Fair Trade model is sustainable for col to end child labor almost 10 years ago, Though not in the mainstream news, they producers, consumers and for our but according to Global Exchange, have been happening, environment. The trade system in our “Hershey is currently lagging behind its PAGE 9 world needs more transparency and this competitors in using cocoa that has been is why we also work with local busi- certified by independent third parties to What is the Fair Trade nesses in our Vermont community that comply with international labor rights Burlington Network? have fair and transparent business standards.” th PAGE 11 practices and that are committed to using On Wednesday, June 8 , in New York sustainable production practices. City’s Times Square, a group of students, Raffle I envision a Peace & Justice Store with children, and social justice activists Local businesses are partnering with the PJC an active educational component that to help us raise funds with a fun raffle! Fair Trade continued on page 8
research z policy z action 2 April-July 2011
From the Center Board update
EDITORS Wendy Coe Dear Friends, Robin Lloyd In the intervening time between the last newsletter and this one, the Center has made significant PUBLISHED 4/year progress with regard to vision, direction, and leadership. Spurred by the open meeting with the commu- (See form on page 12) nity in March in Contois Auditorium, the Board of Directors has considered proposals by peer organiza- CIRCULATION tions, offers of assistance from individuals, and has surveyed the landscape of pressing issues in the 1,400 arena of peace and justice. That meeting, and the successive steps taken by the Board resulted in new involvement in the Center, a new member of the Board, and resolution of several discussions with regard The opinions expressed in to vision and direction. the articles, including those by staff, are those Among proposals that the Center considered were several opportunities to merge with peer organiza- of the authors and not tions with similar missions. In each case our potential partners are working hard on specific campaigns necessarily those of the and have been effective at building strong grassroots constituencies. The Board concluded that the peace & justice center. Peace & Justice Center will remain independent and will seek close allegiances with other organizations as our mission and program activities call for alliances. Within the context of limited resources – staff and funding – the Center will pursue a focused group of issues under the umbrella of working towards a Peace Economy. In the near term, areas in which we will be active include: Fair Trade; Youth Education (school outreach and counter-recruitment); the Vermont Job Gap Study and Vermont Livable Wage Campaign. Issues we are exploring, with the possibility of 60 Lake Street #1C partnering with other groups, include: Racism and White Privilege and the Paid Sick and Safe Days Burlington, VT 05401 Campaign. Your assistance with these projects and your suggestions for other areas in need of attention 802.863.2345 fax: 802.863.2532 are always welcome. www.pjcvt.org Our current process for assessing whether or not to engage an issue through the Center involves [email protected] filtering prospective issues with these queries: Is it within our mission? Do we have the capacity to BOARD OF DIRECTORS pursue it? Is it local? Is someone else / another group already addressing this effectively? Is there a (alphabetical order) realistic and achievable goal or goals attached to the issue? Linda Ayer Through this process we have identified the areas above as our current focus, while maintaining a list Autumn Barnett Eric Hoke of significant and pressing concerns to which we will turn as we make progress on current goals and Spence Putnam expand our capacity. As activists, volunteers, donors, and advisors, YOU are our greatest assets to Nathan Suter create positive change. Get involved and join your voice to ours! Ed Everts, emeritus One of the significant challenges we have faced has been a debate about the Peace & Justice Store and our current location. Our discussion of this issue revolved around three central questions: Is the
STAFF Store an asset to the organization? Is it financially viable, and what are the costs, risks, and benefits of Gabriella Ochoa Brenneman remaining or moving location? Wendy Coe Fair Trade and locally sourced products are on-mission for the PJC. The Store is often the first point Heather Deal Anna Guyton of contact for new constituents with the organization and thus is the gateway to volunteerism, activism, and support for many of our members. Under Gaby Ochoa Brenneman’s leadership, the Store has
PJC MISSION maintained a healthy cash-flow which funds the cost of goods, the rent (for the offices and Store), store Our mission is to create a staff, and leaves a surplus to fund other program activities. The move to Lake Street gave us accessibility just and peaceful world. and daylight, as well as a positive working environment for the staff. A move in the near future would To this end, we work on disrupt the momentum that the Store and the Center have gained and divert staff, Board, and volunteer the interconnected issues of economic and racial time from other efforts. justice, peace, and human Based on these conclusions we have reached an agreement with Melinda Moulton to remain open and rights through education, in place at 60 Lake St. for the foreseeable future. We invite you to make the Store and the Center part of advocacy, training and non- violent activisim, and your weekly routine. Stop in to shop, visit with staff, volunteer on a project, or organize a meeting in our community organizing, community meeting space. We are here for you. since 1979. Board News We wish to extend tremendous thanks to Hilary Martin, former Board member and Chairperson, for her years of service, and her recent assistance and advice through several transitions on the staff and the Board. Hilary remains a valued advisor on issues of program and mission. Marianne McCoy has stepped down from the Board due to family illnesses that have taken her out of state several times a month. This,
research z policy z action April-July 2011 3 and her work on diversity and equity in Center Program Update the Burlington Schools have made it impossible to contribute her time to the BY Anna Guyton, Manager of Mission & Programs Center. We wish her the best and thank her for her service to the Center, the mission and the community. Counter-recruitment at Author Events Ed Booth and Nathan Suter have both South Burlington High School Hosting Virginia Eubanks and her book become more involved with the Center as Informing high-school students about “Digital Dead End,” as well as Bruce a result of the community meeting. Ed is military myths, recruiter misinformation, Levine and his book “Get Up, Stand Up: working closely with the Board on areas veterans’ stories, and alternatives to Uniting Populists, Energizing the De- of mission and programs in an advisory joining the armed forces. feated, and Battling the Corporate Elite”. role. Nathan has joined the Board of Directors as of May, 2011. Educational workshops, Healthcare Is A Human Respectfully submitted, presentations, and panels Right Rally Working with students from elementary Joining the masses in Montpelier to Nathan Suter, Board of Directors to university level – educating around support the Vermont Workers Center’s peace, social justice, and economic powerful campaign demanding universal justice issues. healthcare for all Vermonters.
Tabling & Rally for the Global Day of Action on Military Spending Reaching out to the public about the price we pay for war and defense, and what more sustainable things our money could be used for. New PJC Board Member Nathan Suter is the Executive Director of Helen Day Art Center, Stowe, VT and a Supporting the practicing artist living in Burlington. “No Lockheed” coalition Press Conference on Compelled by the mission to create a just Working with concerned citizens of Assassination of Osama bin and peaceful world, Suter will contribute Burlington to prevent an inappropriate Laden (CCTV) his experience as an Executive Director, public-private partnership with the educator, and organizer to the efforts of world’s largest war profiteer. Voicing support for an end to the wars, the Center. the hypocrisy of the “war on terror,” and Nathan co-founded Root Division, an addressing the skewed sense of justice arts and education non-profit in San Earth Day Festival that many felt after bin Laden’s murder. Francisco in 2002, just after earning an Bringing local non-profits and businesses MFA at San Francisco Art Institute where together to celebrate and educate the Continued Outreach he served as a representative to the community about how to live sustainably through the Peace & Justice Trustees. Suter remains on the Board of on our life-giving planet. Store Root Division. “We learned a lot by starting an organization and growing it to Our store serves as our biggest education be impactful in people’s lives,” Suter said. World Fair Trade Day outlet, and a means to practice what we “I enjoy working with nimble, mission- Festival preach by supporting local & Fair Trade driven organizations built around a core Partnering with Burlington Fair Trade production. of passionate people. Towns and reaching out to the commu- The Peace & Justice Center is impres- nity about the value and sustainability of Fundraiser at Nectars & sive to me for these reasons, along with a the Fair Trade economic model. Ongoing Raffle history of successes and positive change.” Suter is a member of the Bulls Thank you to all of our financial support- Head Oswego Friends Meeting in ers! Every little bit helps keep our mission Rhinebeck, NY and a graduate of alive and our work strong. Please check Haverford College in Pennsylvania. out our newest raffle! See page 11.
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Robin’s Nest Remarkable People Here’s the story of two remarkable people I’ve met this spring who are emissaries of An American Autumn this nonviolent uprising. Colombian born Hector Aristizabal is BY Robin Lloyd a therapist, torture survivor and author of The Blessing Next to the Wound. I heard s it possible that an American him speak at the School of Americas I Autumn will follow the Arab Watch (SOAW) spring conference and Spring? A group of activists and protest in Washington, DC. The evening writers are planning to make it so: they talk was an informal gathering of people have called for the occupation of Free- who had been fasting in front of the dom Plaza in downtown Washington, DC White House during the day, and others on October 6th and are inviting all to come who had arrived early for the Solidarity and meet in a festival of non-violence. Conference co-sponsored with the Latin October 2011 is the 10th anniversary of America Solidarity Coalition. the invasion of Afghanistan and the “Cocaine,” he said, “changed our beginning of the 2012 federal austerity country. In Medellin, in my youth, I was budget. constantly being recruited by four In a statement, some of the organizers different armies: the revolutionary write, “Our country faces crises on every guerillas, the right wing death squads, the front: the economy, education, jobs, the out of print in English–in the late 1950s. cocaine mafia and the government environment, health care, housing, the “People are learning that they don’t have military. The army was creating assassins, wealth divide, an empire stretched too to be afraid,” Sharp said in a recent not warriors. At the university we either thin and ready to shred. None of these interview. “The fear is gone. People can became Marxists or therapists. Theater crises has to exist. Just and sustainable see the example. The Egyptian example was my way out. Theater and books: the solutions are available and known. What will be imitated elsewhere. We don’t know world of the imagination. Healing and stands in the way of all these solutions is where, but it will happen.” transforming.” concentrated corporate power. In Vermont, a critical mass may be “The gathering in Washington this coming together to support more robust October is a reflection of the growing protest actions. The women’s Shut it culture of creative nonviolent resistance Down Affinity Group, of southern VT and in the United States. Many individuals northern MA, has been accelerating their and organizations are reaching the nonviolent blockage of the entrance to conclusion that the time is now to join Vermont Yankee. Their court dates are our struggles for peace and social, continually cancelled. economic and environmental justice. In One of the first teach-ins in years will this historic moment, our common vision be taking place this summer at UVM on for democratization of all facets of our July 23 (see calendar, p.10). Burlington society is coming to fruition”. College history professor Sandy Baird, The exhilarating news that young long a skeptic of the efficacy of non- protesters in Egypt were passing around violence resistance, will be focusing this a book by scholar Gene Sharp on non- fall’s weekly lecture series of the Institute Hector Aristizabal violent protest From Dictatorship to for Civic Engagement on Gene Sharp and Democracy has inspired many individuals other writers on non-violence. His book describes his journey to find and organizations that indeed, a global Volunteers for Peace is holding a three meaning in his ordeal, to make sense out movement is rising up to democratize our week study/work camp July 30 – August of the violent deaths of two of his world. 20 in Burlington where the study theme brothers, and to channel his desire for A leader in the Egyptian blogger will be peace through the lens of freedom. revenge into nonviolent activism both in community translated a comic book on Dot Maver and the National Peace his homeland and during decades of exile Martin Luther King’s use of non-violence Academy will be leading a two week in the US. As an activist, he uses entitled, MLK and the Montgomery Story, course on Peacebuilding & Peacelearning theatrical performance as part of the and distributed 2000 of them from at Champlain College for people who wish movement to end torture and to change Morocco to Yemen, according to the to create significant, meaningful and US policy in Latin America. Fellowship of Reconciliation, who sustainable change in their Hector kept us spellbound late into the published the original comic book – now communities. (See page 11). night. A few days later, we marched on
research z policy z action April-July 2011 5 the White House – he, dressed as Uncle Sam, and me and others wearing white scarves in solidarity with the Mothers of the Disap- peared. 27 participants were arrested after staging a die-in on the White An Exercise in Reflection House sidewalk to call attention to the thousands of Latin Americans By Anna Guyton who were murdered by graduates of the US Army School of the Ameri- cas. reflect. Mel Duncan is co-founder and former director of the Nonviolent every movement Peaceforce, a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) which trains and has been a struggle deploys approximately 200 for balance – equality, health, security unarmed civilian peacekeepers or against imbalance – domination, oppression in situations of violence like any natural system around the world. He came to town to meet reflect. with Ben Cohen, and, while how do you move people? here, spoke at the Burlington battle complacency, despair, helplessness Friends Meeting house. turn off the TV – talk to your neighbors How did development of a people are only people ‘peace army’ become his life don’t fear interaction work? In his thirties, at the beginning of the Contra war, reflect. he went to Nicaragua to what is strength? support the Sandinistas. power in numbers “This was my first exposure to power in self-sufficiency the concept of a peaceforce. power in community We were part of the Interna- no power in money unless we agree to it Mel Duncan tional Brigadista, a cotton/ coffee brigade.” reflect. Years later, he studied the connection between peace, justice and what’s worth fighting for? spirituality with Matthew Fox at the University of Creation Spirituality. stability, balance, relationship While taking a course on the mystics, he realized that the organizing this is the true essence of “human naturenature” that he had been doing was dualistic: based on “us versus them” not greed, hate, envy, lust, or wrath thinking. A Sufi teacher introduced him to organizing from an under- but these vices feed each other standing of unity. Following this thinking he read more Buddhist texts, and at a center in France created by the Vietnamese philosopher Thich reflect. Nach Han, he conceived the idea of unarmed civilian peacekeeping, what must you do? which Nonviolent Peaceforce describes as “The civilian use of orga- add your power to the movement – connect nized and strategic nonviolent methods to deter violence, influence key learn a skill or trade – decrease your reliance on actors and create safe space where people feel encouraged to transform corruption conflict into sustainable peace.” invest in a new balanced system – fair trade, local, In 1999 at the Hague Appeal for Peace, he teamed up with David co-operative, democracy Hartsough, who had the same idea, and by 2003 they mustered their first teach others how to do the same team to Sri Lanka. “There is creative and courageous work for peace and human rights going on all over the world, in the most violent of places, often headed by women,” says Duncan. “Only when invited by such local groups, we intervene with unarmed, nonviolent strategies to protect and assist in their efforts. Nonviolence comes from our faith values, it is effective and “The civilian use of organized and it is far less expensive in every way than war.” strategic nonviolent methods to deter In 2009 a new team was deployed to the Sudan. Two Sudanese organizations, the Institute for the Promotion of Civil Society (IPCS) and violence, influence key actors and the Sudanese Organization for Nonviolence and Development create safe space where people feel (SONAD), invited Nonviolent Peaceforce to provide operational expertise in preventing violence before and during the elections and encouraged to transform conflict into referendum. sustainable peace.” To find out how you can support the peacekeepers from a distance go to www.nonviolentpeaceforce.org. The full statement of the October 6 call is at: http://october2011.org/statement.
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Despite Outcry, Mayor Says Yes to Lockheed
BY Sandy Baird
ockheed Martin, Inc. is coming to partnership. Rather, Kiss asserted that the or the earth and has contributed to wars L town. After a Burlington Spring agreement was only at the stage of a over the entire planet. of opposition to the city’s intent to letter of intent. More importantly, citizens The main organizer of the “No- enter an agreement to deal with climate gathered at the meeting to comment and Lockheed” Coalition, Jonathan, spoke for change with Lockheed, a prime manufac- to be part of a discussion on the resolu- citizens who opposed Lockheed: “It just turer of weapons of mass destruction, tion passed by the City Council in the seems like a real affront to democracy for Larry Kupferman, Director of the Commu- spring of 2011 to create community the Mayor to move forward with nity & Economic Development Office and standards to limit city partnerships with Lockheed Martin as this process is still adviser to Mayor of Burlington Bob Kiss, companies which had questionable unfolding, as City Councilors and citizens announced to the city’s Community employment and discrimination practices are partnering in good faith to craft Development & Neighborhood Revitaliza- or a weak record on environmental thoughtful legislation; for the Mayor to tion (CD&NR) committee on June 7th that protection. To many in the audience, have CEDO staff using staff time to move on the city’s dime he is working on a joint Lockheed Martin, one of the largest forward with this in total contravention of symposium with Lockheed, UVM, and the companies in the military industrial [Councilor Mulvaney-Stanak’s] early University of Maryland to be held this establishment and a mass producer of February City Council resolution. Why summer at the University of Vermont. instruments of war and torture, has a are we here? Why do we have City The announcement came as a surprise dismal record on all those fronts. The Councilors drafting legislation if it isn’t to those in attendance at the CD&NR audience gathered to oppose Lockheed in going to be followed? Where does that Committee meeting. Most participants Burlington; they also were in favor of the leave the citizens of Burlington who are were at the public meeting to continue adoption of community standards to partnering in good faith ?” their opposition to the proposed deal avoid further partnerships with offensive The CD&NR Committee appeared to with Lockheed, which according to the corporations. listen. But at the end of the meeting with Mayor, had not yet been cemented into a Public participants expected to be little time for questions or comments, heard. They also believed that the letter Kupferman, announced the Mayor’s fait of intent with Lockheed signed earlier by accompli; a “partnership” has been the Mayor had been relegated to a back reached to create this summer a joint burner until a public hearing was held on project with the University of Vermont, the Lockheed deal or until community the University of Maryland, and standards were discussed. After a heated Lockheed to hold a symposium on climate public hearing in front of City Council in adaptation. Behind the closed doors of the spring of 2011 (in which speakers in a City Hall, against the wishes of our packed auditorium were unanimously democratically elected City Council as opposed to Lockheed), a resolution, expressed in the Mulvaney-Stanak sponsored by Emma Mulvaney-Stanak, resolution, Mayor Kiss decided that the (P) Ward 3, passed which included a means of making a deal with the one of proviso to hold a public hearing before an the largest polluters and destroyers of life implementation of the letter of intent on the planet justifies the end of allowing turned to an actual agreement of contract. that company, rather than our local The speakers at the CD&NR Commit- experts, to cope with climatic problems. In tee were studious, hard working, and an attempt to “greenwash” their face of eloquent. Anna Guyton, spokesperson war, Lockheed will now take over from from the “No-Lockheed” group, read a many of our Burlington companies and Bicycle Chain Picture carefully worded statement outlining non- profits who have expertise in climate Frame opposition to the presence of Lockheed change and will be empowered by our and thoughts on community standards. Progressive City to clean up the mess Perfect gift for your favorite cyclist or Jonathan Leavitt, (P), a supporter of the that Lockheed, more than most, has made recyclist! Recycled bicycle chain makes a mayor who had stood in the freezing and still creates. unique picture frame. Fits 4x6 inch photo. Vermont winter to campaign for Mayor 5Wx7H inches. Made in India. Kiss in March of 2009, was moving as he urged the city to reject a partnership with good things for good causes! a company which has never protected life
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their campaign promises. It includes a Experiment in Democracy healthy skepticism of elected and unelected power, in the form of mega BY Joseph Gainza business corporations, financial institu- tions, and leaders who promote fear of arely does history present us with Afghanistan have anything resembling and anger toward our fellow citizens. We R events which resemble a scientific democratic governments and the fragile can remember that democracy, real experiment. Events in the Middle democracy of Pakistan is on the brink of democracy, not just electoral democracy East over the last nine years, but espe- collapse. Even after the expenditure of US takes effort, it is what happens between cially in 2011, give us an opportunity to resources rapidly approaching three elections, it does not run on automatic examine how best to establish democracy. trillion dollars, what we have in both and, if we are willing to send our sons Analysis of what has recently taken place occupied countries is a hollow shell, a and daughters to war to achieve it in in Tunis and Egypt can be measured thin façade of what our government someone else’s country, we should be at against the ongoing tragedies of Iraq and insists on calling democracy. And the least willing to exercise it here at home. Afghanistan. killing continues. We should also be willing to spend With Iraq and Afghanistan, the In Tunisia and Egypt we see a very our treasure on it. We should examine our reasons the Bush and Obama Administra- different approach to establishing national budget to see if it invests in the tions have given for the US invasions democracy. Tunisians and Egyptians, fed necessary elements for building and and continuing occupations have shifted up with the dictatorships which billions preserving democracy, or if it tosses our over the years. The latest excuse seems of dollars in US military aid helped to tax dollars at the vain attempt to achieve to be the one which the US government maintain, went into the streets and within “national security” through domination has settled on and which they believe will a month achieved non-violent revolu- and control enforced by the use or threat serve to explain and justify the enormous tions. This cannot be stressed enough; of military violence. cost in lives and treasure. We are now This question, although unacknowl- told that our soldiers and Marines are edged on all sides, is what underlies the killing and dying in Afghanistan and Iraq debate over how to reduce budget to bring democracy to those nations. deficits: how do we “secure the blessings While it was not the US government’s of liberty for ourselves and our poster- original intent or justification for the ity”? Do we invest in programs which invasions, I believe that most of the strengthen people’s ability to live decent, troops who have served in Iraq and secure lives? Do we help build their Afghanistan (some have served in both capacity to be active and concerned countries) believe that their sacrifices are citizens? Or do we put more and more of intended to bring freedom and democracy both Tunisia and Egypt are further along our treasure at the service of a bloated to these tortured lands. the road to democracy than either Iraq or military, and weapons manufacturers who The people in the streets in Tunisia Afghanistan through the power of non- keep promoting the next weapon system and Egypt, it is quite clear, are willing to violent action, not the violence of military as the securer of our freedom and disrupt their daily lives, their national force. Yes, there were deaths in both democracy? economies, their entire society; they are countries, less than 400 total and most The Tunisian and Egyptian people facing the possibility of arrest, injury or observers testify that the major cause of have demonstrated that it is not weapons even death to establish freedom and death were the actions of the repressive and violence which secure democracy; it democracy in their land. So we are governments and their paid supporters. is people willing to exercise their power justified in using the successful estab- Tunisians and Egyptians understood non-violently. They know freedom is not lishment of democracy, in countries where that the most secure road to democracy is free and they are willing to put their trust it did not before exist, to measure the through the practice of direct democracy. in the power of organized, concerted, appropriateness and effectiveness of two They employed the power of the people sustained non-violent action. Perhaps, as very different modes of operation. (the literal definition of “democracy”) in in Wisconsin, it is time we experiment After eight years of war in Iraq and direct, non-violent action on the streets with that. nine years in Afghanistan, the killing of to bring about the downfall of dictators. over 5,000 US men and women in uniform, We fail to learn the lessons of these Joseph Gainza is the contact for with over 100,000 severely wounded, with amazing achievements at our peril. As Vermont Action for Peace and hosts the hundreds of soldiers from allied countries citizens of a democracy under siege we WGDR radio show Gathering Peace killed and wounded, with the killing of can take lessons from our Arab brothers (Tuesdays 8:30-10:00am. 91.1 FM. scores of thousands of Iraqis and and sisters that democracy is more than www.wdgr.org). Contact: 802-522-2376 Afghanis, mostly civilian, and the killing voting every two or four years. It is more or [email protected]. of countless Pakistanis, neither Iraq nor than waiting for elected leaders to fulfill
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for an end to US interference Fair Trade continued from p. 1 War Protests 2011 abroad. The event also BY Colleen Deignan, PJC Intern marked ten years of the United States’ “War on protested against Hershey Terror”. Radical anti-American and forced child labor. People ens of thousands of against the war in Libya, but came because they no longer people nationally and also against military action in protesters in Iraq gathered on T April 9th in reaction to Defense believe that we can’t have a worldwide are protest- Iraq, Afghanistan, Gaza, and Secretary Robert M. Gates’ say in how the marketplace ing war, and the Peace & Pakistan. Behind the march works. The campaign is Justice Center is proud to be was the United National statement that American troops could remain in Iraq for demanding transparency and on board. On Tuesday, April Antiwar Committee, which accountability. At the store, 12th, the PJC took to the also organized a march of years. Groups of a few hundred across Canada were we will continue to support Church Street Marketplace 3,000 people in San Francisco the movement by collecting along with members of the No on April 10th. Protesters also active in protesting war th signatures and inviting Lockheed group and other marched holding signs that on April 9 . The call for an end to war children to color a petition. In anti-war supporters, rallying called for the withdrawal of short, I believe the store is not in solidarity for the Global troops from Iraq and Afghani- and a decrease in military spending is loud in the United just about selling quality Day of Action on Military stan, the opening of borders, products from Vermont and Spending. Global military money for jobs, housing, States and abroad. The Peace & Justice Center is working to around the world. It is about spending reached 1.6 trillion healthcare, pensions, and raising awareness and dollars in 2010, with the education rather than war, and promote nonviolent activism and education on alternatives promoting change. United States leading the way, many other issues. More than just Burling- spending 698 billion dollars. Internationally, protesters to military action. For informa- tion on how to become ton’s source for local and Fair The largest anti-war gathered in Lahore, Pakistan Trade products, the Peace & demonstration for years in on April 10th, calling for an end involved in these efforts, please contact the Peace & Justice Store is a window to New York City occurred on to the NATO forces’ indis- learn about other cultures and th Justice Center! April 9 in Manhattan, with criminate bombing in Libya. an open door for discussion participants mainly protesting Many of the banners called on social justice, peace, sustainability, and transpar- ency. I invite you to make it yours. Come join the discus- sion, sign a petition, buy Fair Trade and local products, bring a class or just come to say that you too believe and support justice and peace for all in the world. Contact Gaby Ochoa Brenneman, P&J Store manager, for information regarding our Fair Trade education programs, and how you can ensure that your business uses Fair Trade practices. Her email: [email protected].
(*) Sources: Trade & Environment Database (www1.american.edu/ted/ ted.htm) and the UNICEF website (www.unicef.org).
Mother of the Disappeared at the march on the White Robin Lloyd and Carol Urner, April 10, 2011. House, April 10, 2011. Photo by Robin Lloyd.
research z policy z action April-July 2011 9 Who and What is Fair Trade Burlington Network?
BY Sandy Wynne
nitially, the Fair Trade announced in September 2010 promoting businesses and I Burlington Network that it had received one of organizations that support was called the only two $5,000 grants given Fair Trade, and creating Burlington Fair Trade Town nationwide. networks. Initiative Committee and was Fair Trade USA was so Our Network is open to started in January 2009 by impressed with Courtney’s anyone interested in getting Courtney Lang, Melinda abilities, including her grant involved. We are informal, like Haselton, and Sandy Wynne. proposal, that they recently to have fun, and want to The original objective was to hired her to work for them in spread the word about Fair make Burlington a Fair Trade Oakland, CA. She is their new Trade. There are no regular Town with the completion of the 12th official Fair Trade Grassroots Outreach Man- meetings…at least not yet. five steps developed by the Town in the US. As a side ager. We are so happy for We get together when we can Fair Trade Towns Campaign. note, Brattleboro was the 2nd Courtney, but sad at losing and work on new ideas and The first step was to create a in the US to make that claim. such a dynamic member of our share what we all have been steering committee of 15 folks Once the initial Fair Trade group. While we lost up to. Our activities have from various businesses, Town objective was achieved, Courtney, we are very included presentations at organizations (including PJC), the Committee changed its fortunate to have gained a places of worship, civic schools, and interested name to Fair Trade Burlington. new member, Gaby Ochoa organizations, schools and individuals. The group continued to Brenneman. Gaby brings retail stores for both employ- One of the next five steps educate consumers about Fair incredible expertise, insight ees and consumers. We are was to create a media event Trade and to promote and vision to the group. A helping Green Mountain which happened in May 2009. businesses, organizations and huge thanks to Gaby for College and Saint Michael’s The Committee sponsored a companies that support Fair coming onboard! College to become Fair Trade Fair Trade Day Celebration in Trade. The group’s next Before Courtney left us in Schools. We have a blog at City Hall Park, in conjunction project was Vermont’s First May 2011, we changed our http://fairtradeburlington. with World Fair Trade Day Annual Forum on Fair Trade name one more time. The new, wordpress.com/ due to (the 2nd Saturday of May each Business in October 2009 at and hopefully final, name is Melinda’s outstanding efforts. year). Senator Sanders was Burlington’s City Hall Contois Fair Trade Burlington Net- She also has made sure we the highlight of the event. The Auditorium. This Forum was a work. Our mission is to have a presence on Twitter weather was not cooperative grand success, with product develop relationships among and Facebook. In her spare except for when the Senator displays, free samples, and a VT businesses, organizations time, she works full time spoke – it completely stopped lively discussion among panel and consumers to grow the running her Fair Trade raining just in time for his members of various levels of Fair Trade movement. Our business: Dolma Designs. speech! expertise and opinions, vision is to develop a commu- Contact me with questions, Two other steps toward the including three coffee farmers nity of ethical consumers who comments or how to get Fair Trade Town objective from Guatemala. The public are willing to take action. Our involved. 802.343.9289 or involved documenting a participated with many goals to achieve this vision [email protected]. variety of places that sell or comments and questions. The include educating consumers, provide Fair Trade products UVM Coffee/Ecology Class and a variety of Fair Trade volunteered, along with many products available. Given the other individuals, at this good fortune of being in Forum, assuring its success. Burlington, those lists were In 2010, Courtney Lang not hard to develop. wrote a grant proposal to the The Committee completed US Fair Trade Towns Cam- the objective of making paign run by Fair Trade USA Burlington a Fair Trade Town (previously known as in August 2009 when the City TransFair USA). The grant Council unanimously ap- challenged Fair Trade Towns proved a Fair Trade Resolu- to match funding and develop tion. With the passage of that ongoing activities. With great resolution, Burlington became pride Fair Trade Burlington
research z policy z action 10 April-July 2011
CALENDAR Documentary Film July 2011 About Silenced Voices [11] Monday Migrant Farmworker José Obeth Santiz Cruz was killed in a farming accident in December 2009 in Vermont. The Vermont Migrant z 6-8pm Vermonters for a Just Peace in Palestine/Israel meeting at PJC. Farmworker Solidarity Project sent a delegation to Mexico to return his [13] Wednesday remains and document his family and community coming to terms with his death. They shared stories about the causes, effects, and their z 5-6:30pm Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom experiences of migration. Their stories draw attention to the conditions (WILPF) meeting at the Peace & Justice Center. Info: 372-6117. WILPF and economic policies that force migrants from their homes in Mexico works on a variety of issues including nuclear weapons, nuclear power/ and suggest a need for a new dialogue about the root causes of VT Yankee, the Congo, and Hiroshima and Nagasaki remembrance days migration. in August. [17-23] Sunday-Saturday Produced and directed by Gustavo Terán, Brendan O’Neill and Sam Mayfield for the Vermont Migrant Farmworker Solidarity Project. z The National Peace Academy’s 2nd annual Peacebuilding Peacelearning Intensive will take place this summer at Champlain College We also have a study guide for teachers/activists to use the film: in Burlington, VT. See page 11. http://www.vtmigrantfarmworkersolidarity.org/node/45#ed [23] Saturday For more information: z 10am-5pm Teach-in on Nuclear Energy. Arnie Gunderson, Vermont VT Migrant Farmworker Solidarity Project Yankee Decommissioning Alliance, and others. Davis Center, UVM. 294 N. Winooski Ave., Burlington, VT [30] Saturday to [30] August 802-658-6770 [email protected] z www.vtmfsp.org z Volunteers for Peace Work Camp. The theme will be peace through the lens of freedom. www.vfp.org
August 2011 [6] Saturday z 8-8:30am Annual Hiroshima Vigil on the 66th anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima. AFSC silent vigil corner of Main and South Prospect Sts. Bring signs.
z 7pm film and Candleboat lighting. Place and time TBA, in Burlington. [9] Tuesday z 11am Annual Nagasaki Ecumenical Prayer Service at the bell tower, corner of Cherry and St. Paul Sts. Pax Christi Burlington. [8] Monday z 6-8pm Vermonters for a Just Peace in Palestine/Israel meeting at PJC. [10] Wednesday z 5-6:30pm Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF) meeting at the Peace & Justice Center. Info: 372-6117.
For more calendar events, join our biweekly email action alerts. Sign up on our website: www.pjcvt.org/get-involved/events April 26, 2011: The 25th Anniversary of Chernobly. Church Street, Burlington.
research z policy z action April-July 2011 11
PJC Raffle: A new one every 2 weeks!
Local businesses are partnering with the PJC to help us raise funds with a fun raffle!
Buy as many $5 raffle tickets as you like. Come into the Peace & Justice Center at 60 Lake Street, Burlington, or go to our website www.pjcvt.org/get-involved/buy- raffle-tickets/
Congrats to all the previous prize winners! z Danielle - $50 Skinny Pancake gift certificate z Janet - $60 Bee Well Massage Basket z Becky - $50 American Flatbread gift certificate z Ethan - Magnolia’s & Stray Cat Flowers z Sandra - $75 A Single Pebble gift certificate
A Special Thanks to our local business sponsors!
Peacebuilding & Peacelearning Intensive
The National Peace Academy’s 2nd annual Peacebuilding Peacelearning Intensive (PPI) will take place this summer at Champlain College in Burlington, VT from July 17-23, 2011.
Because the Peace & Justice Center is a partner of the National Peace Academy (NPA), the National Peace Academy is pleased to extend a 50% tuition discount to members of the Peace & Justice Center who wish to attend the PPI.
The PPI is a one-week immersion learning program for people who wish to create significant, meaningful, and sustainable change in their communities. The PPI provides a holistic introduction to the theory and practice of peacebuilding and engages participants in cooperative learning experiences, including the preparation of a peacebuilding project proposal to take back to their organization, workplace, or community. The program supports the development of the full spectrum of knowledge, skills and capacities of the peacebuilder – inner and outer, personal and professional.
Space is limited, so please apply today! www.nationalpeaceacademy.us
Become a member of the PJC at www.pjcvt.org/get-invovled/become-a-member
research z policy z action 12 April-July 2011
good things for good causes!
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