Fall 2005 • V ol. 86, No. 3 • A Publication of the American Friends Service Committee QuakerAction
AFSC responds to the Work in Afghanistan Communities stand up Cindy Sheehan’s Iraq needs of Hurricane moves forward despite to anti-immigrant war protest stirs the Katrina survivors obstacles vigilantes conscience of a nation
www.afsc.org
What’s new Fall 2005 on afsc.org QuakerAction V ol. 86, No. 3
Announcing the new AFSC e-store! FEATURES Browse and purchase books, T-shirts, fair-trade items, cards, posters, videos, and more, from the convenience of 3 Starting over your computer. AFSC responds to the needs of hurricane survivors www.afscstore.org 4 Seasons of change Join the new AFSC Action Center We’ve revamped our Action Center, Work in Afghanistan moves forward with new ways to call for peace and despite obstacles justice. support.afsc.org 6 Vigilantes at the border AFSC photo Learn about the Mexican Communities stand up to anti- maquiladoras immigrant patrols P A G E SI X Read our original commentaries on strengthening cross-border links and corporate responsibility. DEPARTMENTS www.afsc.org/mexico-us-border
Learn the truth about military 8 Currents recruiting News from around AFSC Use our form to opt-out from military recruiting and review our resources for youth considering the military. 10 Words from Our Sponsors www.afsc.org/youthmil/ Cindy Sheehan’s Iraq war protest stirs the conscience of a nation
On the cover Rosenfeld Joyce Painting by Julie Paschkis (www. 11 Focus on Massachusetts PAGEP A G E ELEVENE L E V E N juliepaschkis.com) for AFSC’s 2005 Nuclear abolition gets a historic boost in holiday card. Find out more about the Massachusetts card and other holiday gift options on page 15. 12 Worldview: United Nations Correction: In the previous issue, an article UN conference focuses on about nationwide rallies on the second conflict prevention anniversary of the Iraq war stated that United for Peace and Justice (UFPJ) organized a rally in Ft. Bragg, North 13 Recommendations Carolina. In fact, the rally was endorsed by Staff picks: The sequel UFPJ but organized by Quaker House and a coalition of groups including the Fayette- AFSC photo ville Peace & Justice Coalition, North 14 Just Among Friends PAGEP A G E TWELVET W E L V E Carolina Peace & Justice Coalition, Military A message from AFSC General Secretary Families Speak Out, and Veterans For Mary Ellen McNish Peace. Also, the rally did not take place in Ft. Bragg but in nearby Fayetteville.
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Who we are Editor: Willie Colón Reyes National Offi ce The American Friends Service 1501 Cherry Street, Philadelphia, PA 19102-1403, Tel: (215) 241-7000 Quaker Action Consulting Editors: M’Annette Ruddell, Published by the Committee (AFSC) is a Quaker John Treat, Tony Heriza Southeast Region Great Lakes Region Pacifi c Mountain Region American Friends organization that includes people of 92 Piedmont Ave., N.E. 637 S. Dearborn, 3rd Fl. 65 Ninth Street Service Committee various faiths who are committed to Design: Gerry Henry Atlanta, GA 30303 Chicago, IL 60605 San Francisco, CA 94103 www.afsc.org social justice, peace, and humanitar- Design Consultant: Middle Atlantic Region Central Region Pacifi c Northwest Region ian service. Its work is based on the David Gerratt/Nonprofi tDesign.com 4806 York Road 4211 Grand Avenue 814 N.E. 40th Street belief in the worth of every person Baltimore, MD 21212 Des Moines, IA 50312 Seattle, WA 98105 Photography: Terry Foss and faith in the power of love to New England Region NY Metropolitan Region Pacifi c Southwest Region overcome violence and injustice. E-mail address: [email protected] 2161 Mass. Avenue 15 Rutherford Place 980 N. Fair Oaks Avenue Cambridge, MA 02140 New York, NY 10003 Pasadena, CA 91103 AFSC responds to the needs of Hurricane Katrina Starting survivors over
s Gulf Coast residents organization and funds to assist aid distribution that led to major re- start on the long road to Quaker meetings in their work with form of federal emergency response recovery from the devasta- evacuees in various cities. procedures (see “Eye of the storm” on tion of Hurricane Katrina, Rebuilding from Katrina will take page 14). AFSC’sA response addresses both years of work. the short- and longer-term needs of The AFSC’s Southeastern and Cen- Holes in the safety net survivors. tral Regions are fielding assessment Katrina has exposed how years of To help with immediate relief, teams to see where AFSC can make the cuts in the social safety net and neglect AFSC earmarked $1 million for part- most strategic long-term commitments. of infrastructure have left some of the ner organization Interfaith Ministries Prior to reports from the assessment, country’s most vulnerable inhabitants for Greater Houston to cover the ex- we assume that our work will focus on in harm’s way when disaster strikes. pense of feeding evacuees in Houston’s the working poor and African Ameri- AFSC is mobilizing public opposition Astrodome. Staff also made contact can and immigrant communities. to cuts in safety net programs through with Friends meetings along the Gulf A national coordinator and up to 15 our campaign for a “moral budget” (see Coast to see how we could best assist crisis responders and situation assessors “Campaign to save Social Security” on them in their relief and recovery will begin short-term operations and page 8). In September, AFSC helped efforts. lay the groundwork for longer-term generate 4,000 calls to Congress, asking operations in one or more affected com- them to fully fund federal programs Initial relief work munities in the Gulf region. that help people meet basic needs. As this issue of Quaker Action goes Finally, there are important issues AFSC will monitor how aid is to press, the Board of Directors has to be addressed that go far beyond delivered and recovery work is framed approved a short-term response plan AFSC’s work to deliver relief and help to help ensure that New Orleans and for Hurricane Katrina totaling more in the recovery. Natural disasters exac- the other cities of the Gulf are rebuilt than $2 million. The plan combines ini- erbate inequities that existed before the for all their people. We will also use this tial relief work, recovery phase startup catastrophe. Furthermore, the priori- opportunity to expose the short-sight- funding, and work to help the public tizing of counter-terrorism over prepa- edness of policies that overlook poor understand the policy failures that mag- rations for natural disasters played a people and people of color. nified Katrina’s destructiveness. major role in the disorganization of the Working with Interfaith Ministries federal response. Weeks of television For more information about AFSC’s for Greater Houston, we expect to help images have given Americans painful response and how you can help, log fund evacuee resettlement once the evidence of these truths. onto www.afsc.org/hurricane/ AP/ Rick Bowmer Astrodome has been emptied. In addi- When Hurricane Camille hit the hoto: P hoto: tion, we have reserved funds for a ma- Gulf Coast in 1969, AFSC called jor grant to a partner African American national attention to racial inequities in
Quaker Action l FALLF A L L 2 0 0 5 l 3 Seasons of change Work in Afghanistan moves forward despite obstacles
BY PATRICIA OMIDIAN
fghans are hard at work— eral areas where we have schools are child program in most of the commu- building, repairing, fixing, becoming snow bound. nities. Once a month, a selected group Aand mending things that are AFSC work in Afghanistan has of children receive training in mine broken. The open wounds of war in three program areas, all of which are awareness, children’s rights and respon- Kabul are slowly being closed. Yet, I interconnected. The school program is sibilities, and other topics. In turn, the wonder if these wounds are healing. the most visible, with physical struc- children train friends and classmates on When we hear of the war continuing tures being built in communities that that month’s topic. in the southeast and the east, we know request them. We also have sister school arrange- that healing has yet to begin. We prefer working in more remote ments with Quaker schools in the Nonetheless, hope still exists areas where other nongovernmental United States. The children write let- here for peace and nationwide organizations may not work. In these ters to each other, share diaries, and development. areas the communities are particularly exchange gifts. The Afghan children AFSC’s Quaker Service Afghani- appreciative and usually work hard to look forward to letters from their stan builds schools and has programs make sure they have a for children in Bamiyan, a province school that meets their that is a full day’s drive from Kabul, needs. Unfortunately, where we are based. We find it difficult schools are often too to travel there more than once a small once they are month. built because there are Stress levels rise as we work full out so many children and over the summer months. Afghani- no way to count them stan’s climate means that all our work all or plan for all the in rural areas only happens between returnees. April and October. By November sev- We have a child-to-
A bridge that connects two worlds by Cong Wang
hat might the green, misty hill country of North sored to build or furnish in Afghanistan.) Carolina and breathtaking mountainous heartland of These writings and the captions of the photos will be trans- Afghanistan have in common? Very little, a fi rst-time W lated into English, Pashto, and Dari (two offi cial languages in outside observer might conclude. Yet, a bridge is quietly being Afghanistan) and shared with all participating students. built between these two vastly different places. Launched in the fall of 2004 with the help of AFSC staff As part of AFSC’s “Ten Days” diary writing project, the students Patricia Omidian and Abdul Aziz Yaqubi in the AFSC Kabul at Carolina Friends School of Durham, North Carolina, and Tob offi ce, the project has already yielded an amazing collection Chi School in Bamiyan Province, Afghanistan, are busy writing from participating students. about and photographing ten days of their lives, giving each other a glimpse into their worlds from their unique points of Cong Wang is an AFSC volunteer who set up the “Ten view. (Tob Chi School is one of nine schools AFSC has spon- Days” diary project.
4 l FALL 2 0 0 5 l Quaker Action found the women great- Our youth program has been slow ly improved and noted to start, but we have learned many positive changes in atti- lessons from this past year. Modeled tudes and behaviors. after AFSC’s work with Palestinian One woman, whose youth, Afghan youth mentor other son was killed by anoth- youth in designing and carrying out er village youth, had community projects of their choice. wanted revenge. But During the pilot phase in Kabul, sev- after Focusing and imag- eral of the male youth who live in the ining her son with one dormitories of one of the universities friends and some carry the letters of the great leaders of Islam, she decid- in Kabul started cleaning up their block. around in their pockets until the paper ed that she was sad for the loss of her Others started laughing at them for falls apart. (See related story, page 4.) son, but there would be no revenge as doing the work of gardeners and clean- Recently, we’ve introduced a sports her son was now closer to Allah than ers. But they told the other students, program. We have delivered sports she was—meaning he is in a better place “This is our home and we have to take equipment (balls, nets, and such) for now. care of it while we are students.” They volleyball and soccer. The children are Even more exciting than seeing the cleaned the place and planted flowers. excited as this was something they had changes in the women is the fact that Soon there were contests between requested. their husbands are requesting the same the different blocks for whose block “Focusing” is an inner process of training for themselves. Anger manage- would look the best. being with whatever comes from life ment is a key issue and we are finally In war-torn Kabul, this action
and emotions. (More information touching on ways to help men and was a visible reminder to all that about Focusing is available online at women deal with their anger in non- restoration starts locally. www.focusing.org. Focusing, along violent ways. ) Patricia Omidian is the AFSC’s Country with psychosocial wellness training, Director for Afghanistan. and peace and conflict resolution train- ing, are necessary in order for Afghans to deal with the trauma of war and the difficulties of their lives now. Photos: (page 4) Focusing workshop for training of We find Focusing particularly help- trainers (Jerry Conway) ful for Afghans, as it mirrors processes (page 5) top: AFSC-supported developed by Sufis in Afghanistan. construction of a new school; Several of our programs concentrate middle: students line up for on women, and with funding from school (AFSC Afghanistan UNIFEM (the United Nations Devel- staff) opment Fund for Women), we have bottom: Baj Gah school in conducted two Focusing projects in northern Bamiyan Province (Aziz Yaqubi) rural areas. After the trainings, we
Quaker Action l FALL 2 0 0 5 l 5 Vigilantes at the border Communitiescommunities standstand upup toto anti-immigrantanti-immigrant patrolspatrols
BY SHAN CRETIN Cochise County on April 1, 2005. Alerted to potential violations of AFSC staff in Tucson, Arizona, state and federal law, Minuteman orga- Vigilante: One who takes or advocates the feared for the safety of the migrants nizers stopped talking about “intercept- taking of law enforcement into one’s own who arrive in Arizona, often dis- ing” migrants and “convincing” them hands. oriented after spending days in the des- to remain until the Border Patrol ert with little food or water. arrived. Instead, they spoke of observ- he militarization of the Mexico- Unsure what to expect from a group ing migrants while alerting law enforce- U.S. border, already underway of untrained vigilantes, Caroline Isaacs, ment of suspected immigration Tin the 1990s, took on a new director of the Arizona office, and Beth violations. intensity with the advent of the war on Sanders, an intern, joined Ray Ybarra Despite the huge media build-up, terrorism and its accompanying rheto- from the American Civil Liberties fewer people than expected partici- ric of fear. Union (ACLU) to prepare 150 volun- pated in the Minuteman Project. They Overnight, migrants forced north teers as legal observers who could en- were accompanied by an almost equal for economic reasons were painted as sure that the Minutemen respected the number of reporters and video cam- something far more sinister: potential rights of any immigrants inter- eras. However, media interest waned terrorists. Groups that had long cepted at the border. when the anticipated confrontation at denounced those crossing the southern Even before the Minuteman Proj- the border failed to materialize. border latched onto a new way to rally ect’s official launch in Arizona, the The presence of trained legal observ- broader opposition. A call went out for joint AFSC/ACLU Legal Observer AFSC ers and reporters helped keep the peace
(top) “Minuteman patrols” to “defend” the Project had an impact on how the in Cochise County. However, as the
hotos: P hotos: borders, starting with Arizona’s group described their plans. media presence dwindled by the end of
April, the remaining Minuteman vol- unteers were more apt to be openly Video exposes vigilante movement hostile to the legal observers.
This fall, AFSC will release Rights on the The video is being produced in partner- Focus on California Line: Vigilantes at the Border, a half- ship with WITNESS, an international After April, the vigilante movement hour video that documents the role of human rights organization that provides turned its focus on San Diego, Califor- the vigilante movement in intimidating training and support to local groups to nia, using the names Border Patrol local communities, violating the human use video in their human rights advocacy Auxiliary, California Minutemen, and rights of migrants, and creating an campaigns, and the ACLU. It will be one Border Watch. Christian Ramirez, Pedro atmosphere of fear and xenophobia. The way of helping ensure that border Rios, and Benjamin Prado, AFSC’s San video, available in both Spanish and communities and immigrant groups are Diego staff, have long been engaged in English, exposes the ugly politics behind not the only voices calling for change. documenting conditions at the border the vigilante movement and calls on and training human rights observers. communities to resist its simplistic For more information and breaking In late July, observers monitoring the solutions. news on the vigilante issue, log onto Border Patrol Auxiliary’s outposts near www.afsc.org/immigrants-rights/. the U.S. border town of Campo, Califor- nia, noted the presence of handguns and
6 l FALL 2 0 0 5 l Quaker Action self-identified former law enforcement officers carrying firearms. On July 23, AFSC received reports that, in two separate incidents, shots were fired near Campo, wounding at least two hensive platform of reforms on border tion policies, are in the forefront of the people. Mexico’s National Commission and immigration policies. In a state- calls for policy changes.” for Human Rights confirmed that two ment, the alliance decried the criminal- This fall and winter, AFSC and bor- would-be migrants were hospitalized ization and persecution of migrants der communities are mobilizing to with bullet wounds in the Mexican bor- whose “only crime has been to look for counter the expansion of the der city of Tecate, about fifteen miles work that can provide for the well- Minuteman Project into California, west of Campo. being of our families.” as well as other increased vigilante Mexican government claims that Christian Ramirez, director of activity. both incidents were the works of ban- AFSC’s San Diego Area Program, dits inside Mexico were disputed by the explained, “We are all committed to Shan Cretin is the Director of AFSC’s National Commission for Human ensuring that the voices of immigrant Pacific Southwest Region based in Rights. One migrant interviewed from and border communities, those that are Pasadena, California. the hospital placed the attack inside the hit the hardest by border and immigra- United States.
A familiar scenario The scenario now playing out at our southern border is not new. The United States has a long history of racially restric- tive immigration policies. When the social fabric becomes frayed, when eco- nomic times are hard, when people are fearful, those with the most to lose look for—and find—scapegoats. Meanwhile, vigilante movements escalate tensions in border communi- ties but do nothing to address the com- plex global economic and political fac- tors driving immigration. This past June, border community
Benjamin Prado groups from Texas, New Mexico, Ari- zona, and California met in AFSC’s San Diego office to announce the Border Photos: (top, left to right) Former AFSC intern Beth Sanders, the ACLU’s Ray Ybarra, and Community Alliance for Human a volunteer were among those who kept an eye on Minuteman participants in Arizona; Rights. The group called for a compre- (bottom) Community forum in San Diego to discuss the Minuteman Project.
Quaker Action l FALL 2 0 0 5 l 7 Currents
News from around AFSC
◗ HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE AFSC ends overseas shipments of used clothing, steps up hygiene kit collection
The collection and shipment of used cloth- with other charities, we have learned Cambridge, High Point, and San Fran- ing to people in need overseas has long that purchasing locally to support cisco will continue to receive clothing been a cherished program of AFSC, but communities in crisis is timely, cost and other donated goods for U.S. as relief and donation practices have effective, and supports local distribution. changed in recent years, we have looked economies. carefully at the program and its efficacy WWhilehile wwee ddevelopevelop newnew wworkork tthathat and have decided to end foreign shipments As you may imagine, honors the devotion of our volun- of clothing from our Philadelphia ware- this decision was not teersteers andand providesprovides outreachoutreach toto ourour house. rreachedeached llightly.ightly. AAFSCFSC variousvarious constituencies,constituencies, wewe con-con- has a long (and inter- tinuetinue toto collectcollect hygienehygiene andand infantinfant To protect local textile and garment esting!) history in this kits to be stored for immedi- industries, many countries now prohibit aarea—andrea—and w wee a arere ateate sshipmenthipment wwhenhen eemer-mer- imports of used clothing and those gov- eespeciallyspecially awareaware gencies arise. ernments that still allow imports increas- of the thousands ingly charge high duties and taxes. Along ooff p peopleeople o overver RReadead moremore aboutabout the years who clothing and kit col- have support- llectionection a t afsc.org/ ed this work emap/ w i t h o p e n hearts and gen- Photos:Photos: (left) Young eerousrous spirit.spirit. We’reWe’re volunteersvolunteers ffoldold cloclothesthes fforor glad to say that our distribution (1997)(1997) (right) rregionalegional ccollec-ollec- YoungYoung kit recipient fromfrom tion centers in Honduras (1999).
◗ ECONOMIC JUSTICE
Campaign to save Social Security AFSC’s Economic Justice Program has “AFSC believes Social Security is a moral launched a petition drive to keep issue,” says Roberta Spivek, national rep- Social Security a universal public resentative for AFSC’s Economic Justice insurance program. The drive is part Program. “With Congress threatening to of the SOS! (Save Our Services) cam- slash basic services funding and give new paign to convince Congress to adopt tax breaks to the most affluent, even in a moral federal budget. the wake of Hurricane Katrina, our nation shouldn’t also erode the safety net To sign or download AFSC’s petition Alice Hoffman (in blue), daughter of one and for related resources, visit www. under our elders, disabled workers, and of Social Security’s key architects, during Photos: Terry Foss Terry Photos: the four million children who receive saveourservices.org, or call Roberta a Social Security 70th birthday party at Social Security benefits.” Spivek at (215) 241-7037. AFSC’s Philadelphia office in August.
8 l FALL 2 0 0 5 l Quaker Action TAKE ACTION
Ask Congress to bring U.S. troops home from Iraq
Step by step, Congress has been moving away from its early unfl inching sup- ◗ CRIMINAL JUSTICE port of war in Iraq. The next step to maintain the momentum toward peace is Monitoring prison abuses the bipartisan House Joint Resolution 55, “Homeward Bound.” The resolution The traditional Quaker concern for calls for the administration to begin withdrawing U.S. troops from Iraq no later criminal justice is carried out through than October 1, 2006. It also requires the president to announce a withdrawal numerous AFSC programs across the timetable from Iraq by the end of this year. country. Recently, Bonnie Kerness, coordinator of AFSC’s Prison Watch The bill, which had seven sponsors and cosponsors when introduced in mid- Project in Newark, New Jersey, testified June, had 56 Congressional cosponsors as of press time. This is a perfect before the Commission of Safety and opening for us to show Congress that the majority of people in the U.S. want Abuse in America’s Prisons on her many peace. years of monitoring prisoners’ condi- tions of confinement. She and her col- Please join us in calling on our Congressional representatives to cosponsor leagues receive more than 1,800 letters H.J.Res. 55. Visit our online Action Center at support.afsc.org and click on the each year that tell individual stories of “Homeward Bound” link to write your Congressperson today. deprivation, isolation, and emotional desolation. (AFSC also supports the Friends Committee on National Legislation’s STEP resolution. To fi nd out more, log onto www.fcnl.org.) Bonnie noted in her testimony that the number of communications from Support the olive harvest in Palestine women has risen dramatically. Judith V., For thousands of rural families in Palestine, agriculture is the main economic 45-years old and a mother of three serv- activity, as well as the major source of food. In particular, the economic signifi - ing a life sentence, said that she had cance of the olive harvest in Palestine is enormous: olive fruits are the second stopped bathing and combing her hair. largest crop in Palestine. She spent three years in isolation with no access to recreation, the library, tele- Yet, since September 2000, Israeli military occupation and closure policies vision, or church and could make no have restricted farmers’ ability to tend to olive trees, harvest the olives, and phone calls or receive visitors. Stories market the olive oil. Palestinian olive producers have been brought to the like Judith’s are repeated over and over brink of destitution. again.
As part of AFSC’s response, a delegation will be in Palestine from October At the conclusion of her testimony, 8-17 to support the olive harvest. You can help by sending a letter to your Bonnie said, “In a system where 95 per- representatives in Washington, D.C., urging them to help exert pressure on the cent of prisoners return to our commu- Israeli government to ensure a safe and productive olive harvest for Palestinian nities, the impact of these practices is felt farmers this fall. Log onto www.afsc.org/israel-palestine/activism/olives for beyond prisons. To take away someone’s an easy way to contact your congressional representatives. civil rights is something we can and should debate regularly as a society. To Find out more about how olive trees contribute take away someone’s human rights isn’t to economic security for Palestinian farmers at negotiable.” www.afsc.org/israel-palestine/Ziyarat-az-Zeitoun.
Graphic: Ziyarat az Zeitoun: Visiting the Olives • A Project of the AFSC • A Project Visiting the Olives az Zeitoun: Graphic: Ziyarat
Quaker Action l FALL 2 0 0 5 l 9 Words from Our Sponsors
Casey’s boots Cindy Sheehan’s Iraq war protest stirs the conscience of a nation
o a child, a gold star means a cchildrenhildren aarere ccrematedremated oorr lloweredowered imaginationimagination ooff hhundredsundreds perfect score on a spelling test iintonto theirtheir permanent,permanent, prematurepremature ooff ccitizensitizens wwhoho wwantant tthehe Tor a new piano piece well ggraves,raves, theythey areare forgottenforgotten aboutabout byby warwar ttoo eendnd andand U.S.U.S. played. To Cindy Sheehan, a gold star aalmostlmost everybody.everybody. ExceptExcept byby troopstroops toto comecome homehome means loss, sorrow, anger, and grief— ttheirheir familiesfamilies wwhoho mmournourn themthem andand theythey joinedjoined herher the realization that she will never hug eeveryvery secondsecond ofof everyevery day.day. aatt whatwhat becamebecame her child again. WWherehere isis tthehe wwarar mmemorialemorial k n o w n a s Cindy’s son, Casey, was killed in fforor oourur hhonoredonored dead?dead? ““CampCamp CCasey.”asey.” Iraq on April 4, 2004, just a few days WWhenhen oneone seessees pairspairs ofof AAFSCFSC ssupport-upport- after he arrived in that war zone. Out eemptympty bootsboots thatthat willwill nnev-ev- eedd CindyCindy iinn hherer of her anguish, Cindy and dozens of er be filled again by living, vvigiligil andand onon other families banded together to cre- vibrant human beings, AAugustugust 22,22, MarqMarq ate Gold Star Families for Peace. They one begins to understand Anderson,Anderson, nnation-ation- have been outspoken opponents of the that 1,492 [the number of aall ttourour managermanager ooff war, pointing out the deception and dead at the time the EyesEyes WideWide Open,Open, false premises on which the United article was written] is jjoinedoined herher inin a States invasion was based. not just a number. ppressress conferenceconference The AFSC’s Eyes Wide Open Look at all the people who are never during which he returned Casey’s boots exhibit, which has traveled around the coming home…. [As of September 17, to her. country, uses a pair of combat boots to the number of U.S. dead was 1,900.] The gesture symbolized the connec- represent each U.S. military person “I fully support what the American tion between AFSC and this passionate who has died in Iraq—nearly 2,000 to Friends Service Committee is doing to mother whose commitment to her date. The boots are tagged with the sol- enlighten the citizens of our country son—and to the troops still in Iraq— dier’s name and state. Cindy wanted to to the true horrors of war. We families stirred the conscience of so many Arthur Koch support this dramatic memorial in a of fallen soldiers don’t need the visual Americans. (bottom)
; ; personal way and donated Casey’s own to comprehend the tragedy and the boots to the exhibit. Other families trauma but America does.”
Terry Foss have done the same thing, knowing that In August, Cindy was in Texas near Photos: (top) Cindy Sheehan speaks at (top) viewers will be moved by the silent wit- Crawford where President Bush was the Eyes Wide Open exhibit in Philadel- (bottom)
Photos: phia this past July; on Aug. 25, ness to death that the boots vacationing at his ranch. Her request the weekly peace vigil in San Francisco, symbolize. was simple: to meet him and ask for cosponsored by AFSC, was held in part to As Cindy noted in a recent article, what “noble cause” her son died. support Cindy and the Gold Star Families “After the 21-gun salute and after our Her solo vigil soon captured the for Peace.
10 l FALL 2 0 0 5 l Quaker Action Focus on Massachusetts Bringing forth ‘a beautiful fl ower’ Nuclear abolition gets a historic boost in Massachusetts
BY JO COMERFORD
or more than 30 years, AFSC’s to take up the work of nuclear aboli- mayors joined, we realized that this Western Massachusetts office tion. I came to understand that Mayors work needed to reach farther. Fhas commemorated the U.S. for Peace was the transformative piece bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. of work we needed at this time: it con- Broadening the scope This past summer, our grassroots orga- nected us to the global community and In consultation with the local Phy- nizing efforts reached a historic mile- required that we stretch the work of sicians for Social Responsibility repre- stone when Massachusetts State Repre- sentative, I approached Massachusetts sentative Peter Kocot and twenty of State Representative Peter Kocot his colleagues spurred the passage of (1st Hampshire District). the first U.S. State House of Repre- Peter liked this campaign and the sentatives’ resolution calling for nu- idea of a grassroots call for nuclear clear abolition by the year 2020. abolition. Peter and I wrote a reso- That victory was especially fitting lution based on Article 92 of the since this year marked the 60th U.S. Conference of Mayors calling anniversary of the Hiroshima and for total nuclear abolition by 2020. Nagasaki tragedies and as such was It passed in the House after sig- rather auspicious. Sixty years in nificant wrangling on Peter’s part— Japan signifies the full turning of a the first U.S. State House to pass a zodiac and offers us all the redemp- nuclear abolition resolution. Then, tive opportunity to be born again— with another push from the grass- this time with 60 years of learned roots, State Senator Stanley Rosen- wisdom. berg agreed to introduce a concur- rent resolution in the State Senate. Mayors for Peace This fall, after what we expect Kato Shonin, head monk of the will be a victory by Senator Rosen- Nipponzan Myohoji Peace Pagoda (a that global community to the grass- berg, we plan to approach Senator Japanese Buddhist order) in nearby Lev- roots corners of our region. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) and ask erett, Massachusetts, began speaking With the help of Smith College him to press for a similar resolution in with members of the AFSC commu- senior Shira Wolf and community vol- the U.S. Congress. We will call on him nity last year about this particular an- unteer Joyce Rosenfeld (whose collage to, in the words of Mayor Akiba, bring niversary. The Peace Pagoda is a long- is featured on this page), we educated forth “a beautiful flower, namely the time and beloved friend and ourselves, created outreach/education- total elimination of all nuclear weap- collaborator of ours. al materials for the mayors and their ons from the face of the earth by the Through conversations with Kato constituents, located groups of willing year 2020. Only then we will have Shonin and Joseph Gerson, Director of collaborators in the eleven western truly resurrected hope for life on this AFSC’s New England Regional Peace Massachusetts cities, and supported our planet.” and Economic Justice Program, I also colleagues as they petitioned their came to know more about the tireless mayors. Jo Comerford is the coordinator of and inspiring efforts of Hiroshima The organizing work was painstak- AFSC’s Western Massachusetts Program Mayor Tadoshi Akiba. ing, but slowly, organizers came for- based in Florence, Massachusetts. Mayor Akiba has called on his ward and the mayors agreed to con- Collage created by AFSC volunteer Joyce global peers—the mayors of the world— sider signing on. After the first five Rosenfeld for the Mayors for Peace effort.
Quaker Action l FALL 2 0 0 5 l 11 Worldview: United Nations Taking away the occasion for war UN conference focuses on conflict prevention
BY DICK ERSTAD
FSC and Quakers worldwide governmental, citizen-led organizations ternational participants, five each have engaged the United and alliances—in conflict prevention: from the Middle East and Latin ANations from its earliest days “You [civil society] are uniquely placed America/Caribbean. to bring nonviolent expression to its to facilitate local conflict resolution; to At the end of the conference, par- founding purposes: “to save succeeding mobilize public support for peace settle- ticipants presented a Global Action generations from the scourge of war” ments; to support disarmament, Agenda that lays out a plan to and “to take effective collective mea- demobilization, and reintegration of • promote human security and sures for the prevention and removal ex-combatants; to champion human address the root causes of conflict. of threats to peace.”* rights; and to build trust to encourage AFSC efforts to shift the UN from healing and reconciliation.” • make prevention the goal of any “reaction to deadly conflict” to “pre- security arrangements. vention” have their roots in the Behind the scenes • strengthen the peacebuilding Quaker vision of “taking away the Quaker UN Offices (QUNO) in capacity of civil society groups. occasion for war,” which AFSC has New York and Geneva have worked Quaker UN staff will take leader- translated into conflict resolution train- behind the scenes for more than a decade ship roles in the global steering group ing, mediation, advocacy, and systems with UN officials, diplomats, and non- for conference follow-up, and will for early warning and action. governmental organizations to create a bring UN attention to “forgotten It’s a vision that came into sharp “prevention” agenda at the UN. QUNO conflicts.” AFSC staff will be central focus at the UN this past July when staff also made sure the UN included in implementing plans in the Middle Quakers, along with AFSC staff and partnerships with civil society as a East, the Caribbean, and the Andean partners, participated in a global con- priority. Region of South America, including ference, Civil Society Forging Partner- As a result of this history and the joint projects with UN agencies ships to Prevent Violent Conflict and urgency of the topic, AFSC had a prom- working on peace. The regional small Build Peace. inent role in helping to shape the July arms control networks, built with In his welcoming remarks, UN Sec- conference, which drew about 900 Quaker and AFSC support, will also Photo: AFSC Photo: retary General Kofi Annan emphasized participants from civil society, govern- elevate their impact as a result of the the importance of civil society—non- ment, and academia, as well as UN staff. conference. AFSC and QUNO’s role included: * Excerpted from the UN charter To find out more about follow-up • working with UN staff to plan activities, log onto www.global- the conference. conference.net. • organizing preparatory region- al gatherings in the Middle East Dick Erstad is the Regional Director of and Latin America. AFSC’s Latin America and Caribbean • presenting workshops on local Regional Programs. efforts worldwide to prevent violence, stem the flow of small Photo: Several members of the QUNO arms, and other related topics. Joint Delegation to the UN conference are (left to right) David Jackman, Fadi • facilitating grassroots partici- Abi Allam, Anna Morgan, David Atwood, pation from the U.S. and abroad, Stella Sabiiti, and Tharmalingam which included bringing ten in- Thayaparan.
12 l FALL 2 0 0 5 l Quaker Action Recommendations Staff picks ❉ The sequel Tips on movies, books, and music to expand your horizons
For the previous issue of Quaker Action, ELECTRONIC MEDIA Mad Hot Ballroom AFSC staff were asked to submit capsule Empire Notes (Blog) by Rahul Excellent documentary about inner reviews of books, websites, music and Mahajan city (New York) kids given the opportunity other media that helped them make sense to learn and experience a part of their cul- A web log (or Blog) with distillations and of the world or contributed in some way to ture through ballroom dancing. Enjoy! analysis of news and events in Iraq. their work. Their enthusiastic responses Selma Plascencia, Pasadena This is a good and useful reference were too numerous to fit in one issue, so for people eager for other perspec- here’s part two of what inspires some tives on the continuing occupation. AFSC staff. URL: www.empirenotes.org. BOOKS/MAGAZINES Noah Merrill, Providence, Rhode Island
The Color of Freedom: Overcoming Global Rich List Colonialism and Multinationals in A thought provoking and people-centered India website—by a London-based social justice by Laura Coppo and David Albert organization—that examines the world’s www.global- The love story of Jagannathan and Krish- distribution of wealth. URL: richlist.com/index.php. nammal, two remarkable people whose Roxanne Lawson, Philadelphia IN BRIEF lives start with the struggle for Indian independence and cover almost a century Book: Silencing Political Dissent: Indian Comics Irregular of Indian history. Now in their 90s, they How Post-September 11 Anti-Terror- This fun and insightful e-newsletter, pub- continue to live simply and work tirelessly ism Measures Threaten Our Civil Liber- lished intermittently, analyzes depictions for justice and dignity. ties by Nancy Chang and the Center for of Native Americans in pop media outlets Robert Dove, Cambridge Constitutional Rights, with a Foreword such as TV, movies, and comic books. by Howard Zinn. To subscribe, go to groups.yahoo.com/ Ode Alice Perry, Portland group/IndianComicsIrregular This European . Willie Colón Reyes, Philadelphia magazine offers Book: You Call This A Democracy? i n n o v a t i v e by Paul Kivel s o l u t i o n s t o FILM Nina Laboy, Seattle Blood Makes the Grass Grow: Consci- problems around entious Objectors and the Gulf War the globe. It has Film: Voices in Wartime: The Movie A documentary that raises critical ques- an international (For more information and to order copies, tions for those considering enlistment. focus with articles go to www.voicesinwartime.org/) Ideal for service people contemplating about heavy issues like global warming, Jonis Davis, Seattle but also health tips, eating well, the role conscientious objection and for anyone concerned with basic issues of militarism of religion in society, etc. Blog: Informed Comment in a democratic society. This film features Jeffrey J. Weiss, Des Moines (Access at www.juancole.com) four men and two women who were among Peter Lems, Philadelphia the 2,500 U.S. soldiers who attempted to become conscientious objectors during the Gulf War. Oskar Castro, Philadelphia
Quaker Action l FALL 2 0 0 5 l 13 Just Among Friends Catastrophe and hope A message from AFSC General Secretary Mary Ellen McNish
s I watched the footage of Hurricane Katrina’s setts House of Representatives recently devastation of the city of New Orleans, I was became the first state legislative body to taken half a world and half a century away to sign on to the mayors’ call.) two other devastated cities. Earlier in the month I hope that in fifty years we can look IA had been in Japan for the sixtieth anniversary of the bomb- through the horror of Katrina to see it ings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. While the flooded streets as the event that taught us once and for of the Ninth Ward looked different than the scorched streets all that we chip away at the social safety of 1945, I could not help but think of the shared devastation, net and infrastructure spending at our the uncertainty, and the desperate searches for family peril. I hope we can say that we learned that popular tax cuts members. that benefit the most affluent cannot come at the expense of I also found hope in the resilience I had seen among the the lives of the most vulnerable among us. people of those two cities. After the devastation, the Hiba- Between that day and the present, there are years of slow kusha—the survivors of the bombs—and so many other peo- recovery—of rebuilding communities, reopening schools, ple in Japan gave themselves wholly to seeing that history and creating new employment in the devastated region. The did not repeat itself. Scars and memories became teaching scope is daunting and the scale of the resources needed stag- tools and today the mayors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki lead gers the mind, but in addition to whatever material assistance the Mayors for Peace Emergency Campaign to Ban Nuclear AFSC brings to the people of the Gulf Coast, I pray we bring Weapons. (With support from AFSC staff and volunteers in the gift of hope. the Boston area and Western Massachusetts, the Massachu-
REFLECTIONS
Eye of the storm In the wake of Hurricane Camille, AFSC documented injustice by Ed Nakawatase
On August 17, 1969, Hurricane Camille hit Mississippi with unprecedented force, assaulting the Gulf Coast with 200 mile-per-hour winds. It left a trail of hundreds dead, thousands more homeless, and extensive physical damage throughout the region. A month later, after receiving disturbing reports about the recovery efforts, the AFSC Community Relations Division put together a team to monitor the post hurricane relief. I was part of that four person group, led by Ed Peeples, professor of sociology at Virginia Commonwealth University.
Camille’s scope and destructive power remained highly visible for weeks afterward. But our focus was on the human dam- age, particularly the underreported impact on the poor, many of them Black. For more than a month our team documented stories of discriminatory treatment in receiving services and the dispersal of relief aid, delays in getting replacement hous- ing, and a general lack of attention and priority by state and federal agencies to those who had the least.
AFSC published its fi ndings in a public report that received broad media coverage. Most importantly, the report had an impact on public policy. Agencies such as the Red Cross revamped their policies and practices and, with the assistance of AFSC’s Washington, D.C.-based staff, the U.S. Senate held hearings on the Gulf Coast about Camille assistance. Those hearings focused on the performance of federal and other relief agencies; they also helped facilitate a broad reexamina- tion and change of federal disaster policy.
Photos: Terry Foss Terry Photos: Ed Nakawatase is the National Representative for AFSC’s Native American/Native Peoples Program.
14 l FALL 2 0 0 5 l Quaker Action Gifts with Heart and Hope
ThisThis holidayholiday sseason,eason, tthehe AFSCAFSC offersoffers a meaningfulmeaningful wwayay ttoo rrecognizeecognize the importance of your loved ones. You can support the worthwhile and life-serving programs of the AFSC, while honoring your relatives and friends at the same time. For each $35 (or more) gift, you will receive a card with colorful original art by renowned artist and illustrator Julie Paschkis. It includes a gift message and an inspirational quotation. ForFor ddignity,ignity, fforor llearning,earning, fforor hhealth,ealth, fforor ssecurity,ecurity, fforor hhope—forope—for a wworldorld iinn nneedeed ooff aallll tthesehese things, make your holiday gifts through AFSC!
The AFSC uses a holistic approach in our international development programs. With the ultimate goal of self-suffi ciencyciency,, wewe knowknow that education and training are crucial toto the success of the work.work. ForFor eexample,xample, providingproviding animals toto a family or community means that properproper care and feedingfeeding instruc- tions must be givgiven,en, ttoo.oo. YYourour gifgiftsts made ttoo the prprojectsojects belobeloww will be used in this spirit.
Afghanistan Mozambique Vietnam Haiti
In Afghanistan, AFSC’s focus is on education—building and Haiti remains the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. furnishing schools primarily in Bamiyan Province where there In the Grand’Anse, AFSC’s development program includes is strong support for classes for girls and boys. reforestation, fi sheries and other economic projects, as well as A gift of $60 is enough to purchase desks and chairs for four the only health clinic and training center for some 40,000 students. people. Dengalenga village in Mozambique was founded by A gift of $175 is enough to provide vitamins and iron supple- refugees fl eeing war and is remote and largely inaccessible, ments for 200 Haitian children. especially during the rainy season. AFSC will provide animals Across the United States and around the world, AFSC such as chickens and goats that can increase income and the promotes justice and equality, provides economic nutrition of the families, oxcarts for more reliable transporta- opportunities for those in need, and works tirelessly for a more tion, and ploughs to reduce hand labor. peaceful world. A gift of $120 can buy seven goats for Dengalenga. Your gift of $35 will support all of these vital programs.
Tanh Hoa Province in Vietnam is one of the poorest areas of the country and has low soil fertility. The Service Committee To buy Gifts with Heart and Hope: provides high-yield seeds for vegetables, rice, soybeans, and Call toll free 1-888-588-2372, ext. 1, or melons, as well as climate-suitable fruit trees and biofertilizer. go online to www.afsc.org/give
Photos: AFSC staff (Afghanistan); Terry Foss (Mozambique); Jim Wasserman (Vietnam); Denise Davis (Haiti) Denise Davis (Vietnam); Jim Wasserman (Mozambique); Foss AFSC staff Photos: (Afghanistan); Terry A gift of $80 can provide 22 trees each for eight needy families.
Quaker Action l FALL 2 0 0 5 l 15 Build a Future for ... Women Most of AFSC’s development programs around the world focus on women. In fact, AFSC was a pioneer in understand- ing that the best way to raise an entire family’s standard of living is to expand a woman’s skills and options. In Southeast Asia, innovative micro-credit programs provide loans for fishing nets and water buffalo. In Haiti, chickens and mango trees supplement families’ diets and provide income. And along the Mexico border, we’ve helped women factory workers organize to win better wages and working conditions. All of this is possible, in part, because of supporters like you who remember AFSC in their estate planning. AFSC values all bequests, whether large or small. Together, these gifts ensure the vitality of AFSC’s ongoing To learn more witness for peace, justice, about including and human dignity. AFSC in your By naming AFSC in estate plan call your will or trust or as the beneficiary of your Mike Valoris of retirement account, you our Gift Planning can reduce estate taxes offi ce at and continue your 1-888-588-2372, ext. 3, send an e-mail commitment to Quaker to [email protected], service. Best of all, it’s or check the box on the enclosed quite easy. reply envelope.
Photos: top right: Haiti, Denise Davis left: Bosnia, Michael Valoris bottom right: Colombia, Natalia Cardona
Non-Profit U.S. Postage PAID American Friends QuakerAction Service Committee 1501 Cherry Street, Philadelphia, PA 19102-1403
Fall 2005 V ol. 86, No. 3