Center for Peace and Conflict Studies Ball State
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CENTER FOR B A L L P E A C E A N D STATE CONFLICT STUDIES UNIVERSITY THE OLIVE BRANCH MARCH 28, 2014 SPOTLIGHT: CINDY SHEEHAN.............................................. 2 ARTICLE: KONY....................................................................... 4 ON CAMPUS SPECIAL EVENTS: THIS WEEK.......................5 ON CAMPUS EVENTS: THIS WEEK....................................... 6 ON CAMPUS SPECIAL EVENT: DOCUMENTARY..................7 ON CAMPUS SPECIAL EVENT: HOLOCAUST SURVIVOR.. 8 ON CAMPUS SPECIAL EVENT: RELAY FOR NONVIOLENCE 9 ON CAMPUS EVENTS: ALL SEMESTER..............................10 OFF CAMPUS EVENTS...........................................................11 FELLOWSHIPS........................................................................12 CONFERENCES.......................................................................14 ORGANIZATIONS....................................................................15 ABOUT.......................................................................................16 2 IN THE SPOTLIGHT CINDY SHEEHAN EMILY HART i n d y S h e e h a n $e president has changed his rea- duction to activism, Sheehan- is an American antiwar sons for being over there very time founded the organization Gold Star activist, known most a reason is proven false or an ob- Families for Peace later that month Csigni!cantly for opposing the war jective reached.” It was at this time with other military families she in Iraq following the death of her that Sheehan !rst felt compelled to met while at the inauguration. $e son, Army Specialist Casey o"cially work to oppose the war in mission of the group is to provide Sheehan. Iraq. support to family members of sol- Her extended protest at an One of her !rst acts of protest diers killed in combat, and to push improvised camp outside President occurred at the presidential inau- for an end to U.S. military involve- George W. Bush’s personal ranch in guration of 2005. Sheehan went ment in Iraq. Texas drew international attention, to Washington D.C. and spoke at Later that year, Sheehan began and her continued demonstrations the opening of a traveling antiwar what is perhaps her most well- and publications regarding the art exhibition entitled “Eyes Wide known protests against the war United States military presence Open: the Human Cost of War.” in Iraq. Beginning on August 6 of overseas has remained a prominent $is exhibit, created by the 2005, she constructed a makeshi% !xture in the movement to achieve American Friends Service camp on the side of the road three more peaceful international rela- Committee, displayed combat miles from George W. Bush’s ranch tions. boots representative of U.S. military in Crawford, Texas, and announced Furthermore, Sheehan has casualties. Sheehan travelled with her intention to live in the camp, focused on improving the lives of this exhibition and donated Casey’s dubbed “Camp Casey,” until grant- individuals in her home state of boots to the display, stating that ed an audience with the president. California, running for political “behind these boots is one broken- $is was met with a great deal o"ces in an e#ort to foster a more hearted family.” of media attention, and over the egalitarian, just society. Invigorated by her intro- course of the next four weeks, Prior to 2004, Cindy Sheehan Sheehan’s camp was visited by doubted the necessity of the U.S. thousands of supporters, invasion of Iraq, stating that she including members of did not regard Iraq as a imminent Congress, famous actors, and threat to the United States, but did other peace and civil rights not participate in antiwar activism. activists. However, upon her son’s A number of peace-related death on April 4 of that year, she organizations, such as Veterans began questioning the cause her for Peace, MoveOn.org, son had given his life for. $ree Progressive Democrats of months a%er this tragedy, America, Iraq Veterans Against Sheehan and other military the War, and Military Families families met with George W. Bush; Speak Out expressed their support while Sheehan felt that Bush was for Sheehan as well. “sincere about wanting freedom for Tom Matzzie of MoveOn the Iraqis,” she publicly stated “We praised her e#orts, saying “In haven’t been happy with the way her grief and bravery, the war has been handled. Cindy has (continued) 3 IN THE SPOTLIGHT CINDY SHEEHAN (CONTINUED) become a symbol for millions of and culminate in a three-day pro- district. Americans who demand better test in Washington D.C. On the last Her platform was based “answers about the Iraq war. day of the tour, Sheehan and 370 around reforming health care, Eventually, supporters came other demonstrators were arrested in front of the White House. harnessing renewable energy, to camp with her. A leader of the reducing jail sentences for drug- Progressive Democrats of She has been arrested on many related o#enses, ending torture, America described the conditions similar occasions as well, but re- of the protest, explaining that closing Guantanamo Bay, mains committed to her cause, even transparency and honesty in in the face of repercussions. the media, ensuring fair talks in We’ll be sleeping in a A%er refusing to pay her 2004 the Middle East, cleaning up con- tent in the ditch along federal income tax, Sheehan was the roadside—the taminated “Superfund Sites,” and only place that the sued by the IRS, but refused to legalizing same-sex marriage. authorities will allow us compromise on her ideals, stating $e political race was between to be... local authorities “I feel like I gave my son to this seven candidates, and Sheehan have told [Sheehan] that country in an illegal and immoral came in second a%er Pelosi, garner- if we’re still there by war. I’ll never get him back. If they ing over 16% of the votes. Thursday we’ll be can give me my son back, then I’ll arrested as “national pay my taxes. And that’s not going In 2013, she announced her bid to run for the o"ce of Gover- security risks”... She to“ happen.” could well be the Rosa nor of California in 2014 under the Parks of the movement In order to publicize the anti- Peace and Freedom Party, promis- against the Iraq War. war e#ort, Sheehan hosts a weekly ing to bring the state “peace eco- Just as Rosa refused to radio show and runs a website en- nomic equality, and environmental leave the bus, Cindy is titled “Cindy’s Soapbox” in which sustainability” and to dramatically refusing to leave the she has interviewed several notable reduce poverty in California. roadside. She’s the spark activists and international leaders. For her work, Sheehan and that is igniting the . She has also written two anti-war movement. the Gold Star Families for Peace books, Dear President Bush and organization were awarded the Peace Mom, both published in “Domestic Human Rights Award” A%er four weeks, Sheehan 2006. by Global Exchange, an interna- moved on from Camp Casey, Sheehan has also sought announcing that she would be tional human rights organization. continuing her antiwar campaign political o"ce in order to promote In 2010, her activism was memo- through the “Bring $em Home her cause; in 2007, she ran against rialized in a play written by Nobel Now Tour,” a demonstration that Nancy Pelosi for the position of Laureate Dario Fo, entitled “Peace would cover 42 cities in 26 states representative of California’s 8th Mom.” 4 ARTICLE KONY 2012 KATE GIGLIO Do you remember a couple of All of these goals were met except army had started to weaken (invis- years ago when the “KONY 2012” for the capture. iblechildren.com). On March 23, video became popular? $e video 2014, Helen Cooper reported that reached 100 million views in six $e number of killings by President Obama is sending 150 days making it the fastest growing Kony’s army dropped 67% from Air Force Special Operations forces viral video in history (invisiblechil- 2011 to 2012 and Invisible Children and other airmen to Uganda to dren.com). has constructed three radio towers assist in the search for Joseph Kony to broadcast “come home” messag- (New York Times). $e 30 minute video was es over 37,000 square kilometers the attempt to make an obscure of land traveled by Kony’s army. $e progress being made is criminal famous. If he became (www.invisiblechildren.com/kony). “epic” according to Jason Russell, famous, would the world work the founder of Invisible Children, together to put an end to his $ere has been a lot of prog- but there is still more work to be horrible actions? What has hap- ress made since the release of the done. It is pivotal to invest time in pened since the video went viral? ‘KONY 2012” video. Individuals coordinating e#orts between in- What progress has been made? around the world have done ev- ternational governments to protect erything in their power to see the civilians from Kony’s attacks and $e KONY 2012 experiment capture of Joseph Kony and now prevent his army from crossing the sparked more international activity the responsibility of actually appre- boarders of surrounding countries. focused on stopping Joseph Kony hending him lies in the hands of and his army than ever before. $e governments around the world. leaders of the experiment created four goals: making Joseph Kony a It is tremendously important FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE household name, increasing civilian to continue to remind government MOVEMENT TO CAPTURE JOSEPH protection in Uganda, pressuring leaders of the urgency to capture KONY AND PUT HIS ACTIONS TO AN international governments to sup- Kony. END, PLEASE VISIT: port the e#orts of stopping Kony A%er President Obama sent WWW.INVISIBLECHILDREN.COM/KONY and his army, and capturing of additional advisers in 2011, Kony’s Joseph Kony and his commanders. photo courtesy of www.invisiblechildren.com 5 SPECIAL EVENTS ON CAMPUS DISABILITY AWARENESS MONTH WHEELCHAIR BASKETBALL MON Student Recreation Center 7:00pm 31 Learn about and then play wheelchair basketball! Sport wheelchairs will be available.