Celebrate Histories of Resistance & Llberatlonl

Donna Reese Takes on NAACP Chapter Presidency Paul Frazier for twelve years. It's a volunteer position, yet I'm to be available twenty-four hours a day. "My hope is to stay involvedin the politi- cal action of the community, always focusing • SPC Action NNA REESE 'S personal involvement with on civil rights. I'm looking more and more at Updates,, matters of justice have evolved into as- the political process, particularly at increasing • Plnocchb suming a leadership positioninone ofCentral the number of registered voters in the area. A PInochet's New York's better known civil rights organi- massive `Get out the Vote' drive. More knowl- Pu zations. Part of her story is here. edge about the issues: education; making the PPe ', "I started my involvement in the NAACP streets safer. I want to work with the youth • Nov Yoffie in 1994, after the death of my nephew, Tony chapter, training new leaders." Other Dirty Porch. Tony, 'age 28, had been missing for six Asked about her take on the slogan, "No Plower Plants months and was found murdered in South justice, no peace," Donna Reese had this to • Recial ng Carolina. He was like a brother to me. Seeing say: "We should not stand idly by . Fighting for Community. the apathy in Syracuse regarding his death, I civil rights is not a spectator sport. We need to Identftyd~ started paying more attention to what was protest. Power, we know, as Frederick Dou- Revolution — going on around me. glas said, concedes nothing without a demand. an interview "I saw an ad: the NAACP was looking for We used to think, `Nothing is going to change .' with poftical volunteers, someone to answer phones two Now we know better. We are very powerful, prisoner ' days a week: I got involved. I sat in on the and that power starts in the ballot box ." membership `committee. Van Robinson was What about the overlap between the agen- Khalfinl X. very persuasive, and I began to co-chair the das of the SPC and the NAACP? Donna: "I'm Khaki um. Political Action Committee with Wayne not familiar with all that the Peace Council •(lots of) . Dunham. I worked with the Community Af- does and plan to rectify that. We can always CommuniDD fairs Committee, trying to form united efforts work together, particularly in making more Updates. in our work . I have been the Community information available about what elected offi- • Peaces Affairs Director since 1995, and I was elected cials do." to the position of President of the Syracuse/ To become involved in the work of the Onondaga County Chapter of the NAACP, NAACP, call Donna Reese 422-6933. ,p replacing Van Robinson who was President

Published Monthly by the Syracuse Peace Council - Founded in 1936. "ISSN O?35-4134.1

Alliances, Coalitions & Contacts THE SYRACUSE PEACE COUNCIL Abolish the Blocade of Cuba Planned Parenthood 475-5525 Doug Igeisrud 471-5749 PWHIV/ AIDS Support Hotline New people are always welcome to join any of these activites. Contact ACLU-CNY Chapter, Sandra 471-5911 SPC at 472-5478 or the person listed to find out what you can do. BarrieGewanter 471-2821 ReConsider Alliance-Psychiatric System Nick or Alex Eyle 422-6231 Collectives, Committees Survivors Religion: Other SPC Staff Collective Bookkeeper George Ebert 475-4120 Phoenix or Kat 474-8801 Tim Judson Duane Hardy American Friends Service Rose Center Beth Mosley SPC Press Committee 475-4822 Teri Cameron 422-3426 Paul Pearce SPC Council: Animal Defense League 479-9105 Sarah House 475-1747 Paul Frazier, Rae Kramer, ARISE 472-3171 Save the County 637-6066 • The Literature Committee Carl Mellor, Andy Molloy, Atlantic States Legal Foundation SEEDS (607) 749-2818 • Program Committee Marge Rusk 475=1170 Service Employees International • Political Action Committee Caribbean/Latin Amer. Coalition Robert Tompkins 424.1750 • Organizational Maintenance Committee Paul Weichselbaum 446-6099 Metre Club • Pledge Coordinator Citizens Against Radioactive Sue Carlson 445-1663 : Pat Hoffman Dumping (607) 753-6271 Small Claim's Court Action Citizen Review Board Center 443-1401 The Peace Newsletter Felicia Davis 448-8750 S.O.A. Watch/ CNY The PNL Collective meets most Wednesdays at 5 :30 PM at CNY Center for Occupational Ed Kinane 478-4571 the Peace Council . Call SPC to confirm the time. Health and Safety 471-6187 Social Workers for Peace CNY Environment Dick Mundy 445-0797 Editorial & Production : Adrianne Allen, Beth Berila, Paul Lee Gechas 446-5319 Socialist Party Frazier, Karen Hall, Bill Hamler, Tim Judson, Mike Kernahan, CNY N.O.W. 4873188 Ron Ehrenreich 478-0793 Rae Kramer, Joy Meeker, Andy Molloy, Simon Morrin, Beth Community Media Action Group Spanish Action League 475-6153 Mosley, Paul Pearce, Jen Risley 423-4783 SU African-American Society Cover Coordinator : Karen Kemey CUSLAR (607)255-7293 443-4633 Dunbar Center Student Environmental Action Merriete Pollard 476-4269 Coalition SPC Pro jects:' .472-5478 Fair Housing Council of CNY Michelle Baumflec k 423-8000 • SPC-TV — Paul Pearce • Plowshares Craftsfair Merrilee Witherell 471-0518 Syr. Alternative Media Network • Fair Trial for Mumla Committee Fair Trial for Mumla Committee Tim Brachocki 425-8806 472-5478 Syracuse Area Vegetarian Society Other Volunteers Food Bank of CNY 437-1899 SAVES/Joe Connolly 437-2163 Chuck Durand, Mardea Warner, Vanessa Johnson, Ed Kinane, Food Not Bombs Syracuse Community Choir Jamie or Marika 479-9429 Karen Mihalyi 428-8724 Aggie Lane, Joan Goldberg, Ruth Putter, Margaret HemlockSociety Syracuse Community Radio Birdlebough, Kathy Barry, Brian Caufield, Fredrick Noyes, Betty Bentley . 463-0782 Frederic Noyes 234-2000 Jolie Rickman, Bill Mazza, Lance Hogan, Sylvia Burgess, Hotel Employees 150 437-0373 Syracuse Cooperative Federal Daniel Bowers, Carol Baum, Christian Spies-Rusk, Susan Irish Northern Aid Credit Union 471-1116 Adair, Nick Orth, Michael DeSalvo Patrick Smith 469-8948 Syracuse Cultural Workers Jail Ministry 424-1877 Dik Cool 474-1132 Kenlark Center for Creative Syracuse-El Salvador Sister Spirituality 685-5414 Community Statement ofPt4rpose Lesbian/Gay Youth 443-3599 Shirley Novak 4464099 NAACP Syracuse N.O.W. 472-3294 The Syracuse Peace Council (5PC), founded In 1936, Is an Van Robinson 422-6933 Syr. Real Food Coop 472-1385 antiwar/social justice organization . It Is communtty-based, autono- Natural Organic Farmers Assoc. Syr. Social Movement Initiative mous and funded by the contributions of its supporters. AmmieChickering 365-2299 John Burdick 443-3822 5PC educates, agitates and organizes for a world where New Environment Association Syracuse United Neighbors HarySchwarzlander 446-8009 Rich Puchalski 476-7475 war, violence and exploitation In any form will no longer exist . It NYPIRG 476-8381 S.U. for Animal Rights 443-4199 challenges the existing unjust power relationships among nations, Onondaga Audobon 457-7731 Urban League among people and between ourselves and the environment. As Onon. Women's Political Caucus Eloise Dowdell Curry 472-6955 members, we work to replace Inequality, hierarchy, domination and Peggy Murray 475-7671 Utica Community Action powerlessness with mutual respect, personal empowerment, coop- Open Hand Theatre John Furman 797-7020 eration and a sense of community. Geoff Navias 476-0466 Witness for Peace Delegations Present social Injustices cannot be understood In Isola- Pax Christi Nancy Gwin 422-4689 tion from each other nor can they be overcome without recognizing Frank Woolever 446-1693 Women's Center (SU) 443-4268 their economic and militaristic rootb. 5PC stresses a strategy that of CNY Women's Health Outreach makes these connections clear. We Initiate and support activities Diane Swords 478-7442 425-3653 Peace Brigades International Women's INFO Center 478-4636 that help build this sense of community and help tear down the walls Ed Kinane 478-4571 of oppression. A fundamental basis for peace and justice Is an P.E.A.C.E., Inc. economic system that places human need above monetary profit. Louis Clark 470-3300 We are currently updating We establish relationships among people based on cooperation People Against the Death this page and could use rather than competition or the threat of destruction. Penalty 6373344 your help . U you see Our political values and personal Ilves shape and reflect People for Animal Rights anything that needs to be each other 488-PURR (7877) . In both we are committed to nonviolent means of conflict added or correcting resolution and to a process of decision-making that responds to the Physicians for Social neede of ud all. Responsibility 488-2140 please contact us. (If you want your group listed, please call) Syracuse Peace Council 924 Burnet Ave, S racuse, N .Y. 13203 (315 472-5478

In This Issue: FEBRUARY 'S ISSUEis a bit shorter than usual. So to make up for the reduction in content, we crammed as much material in as possible. PEACE NEWRETTER Which means we had to cut some corners on February 1999 graphics . For which we are duly and truly sorry. It will all work out fine forthe text lovers PNL 676 among us, but forthose who prefer more room New NAACP President Donna Reese by Paul Frazier 1 for their eyes tobreathe, maybenot somuch .:. SPC Page 4 We used to say thishappened because we needed more artists and graphic-oriented Pinocchio Pinochet's Puppeteer by Alicia Swords 5 people on staff. Now, that's still true. How- New York's Dirty Power Secret by Cory Fay Traub 6 ever, the problem this month is that we need Interview with Khalfani X. Khaldun 7 more editors and writers. You see, we had to SPC Action Updates 9 put out a special issue of the PNL because open war broke out (see page 4). And with our Community Updates 9-11 newsletter staff thin as it is, that only left Peaces edited by Mike Kernahan : 13 enough resources to do a short February issue. Community Calendar by Andy Molloy 15 You see, it's all connected. Any way people can get involved helps out. — Tim Judson About the cover: The Peace Newsletter (PNL) is published monthly by the Syracuse Peace Council . SPC, THE PLOWSHARES CRAFTSFAIR is but once a producers and consumers is called founded in 1936, is the oldest community-based year. Itsfestival/marketplace offers a rare con- ECONOMY). peace andjusticeorganization in the United States. centration of our local economy and culture. This month's cover art is by Mardea The PNL strives to serve as the internal organ In celebration of the work of our hands, Warner, a regular Plowshares crafter and com- of SPC and as aforum for articles which discuss issues of concern to the . The we will be using the cover of the PNL to mittee member . Mardea's pen and ink draw- opinions expressed in thePNLreflect the diversity display the work of community artists. Any- ings reclaim patterns. Her work is available at of opinions within SPC itself. While we are not able one interested in doing a cover can call Karen the Beech St. Gallery, an artist co-op at the to print every possible viewpoint, we do welcome Kerney at Syracuse Cultural Workers, 474- corner of Beech and Westcott streets . Visit the letter and article submissions as well as sugges- 1132 x 101 . If you own locally made artwork gallery open house Friday, February 12, 6- tions and assistance. and want to share it, call too. (The gap between 8pm. — Karen Kerney ThePNL has very reasonable ad rates ; call or write for our rates . Movement groups are free to reprint artides and graphics, but pleasegive credits and send us a copy flagging the reprint. For-profit groups,please inquire. February itonewall ISSN 007354134 Comn>ittee Films The PNL Is available on microfilm from University Microfilms, Inc., 300 N . Zeeb Rd ., Ann the Stonewall Committee announces its Arbor, MI40106. annual film series Subscriptions are $12 a year in the U.S., Thursdays. Tim Subscribe to the PNL $15 inCanaria and Mexicoand$25 overseas. The Still only $12 a year for 12 issues! institutional rate is $15. ThePNL is free to prisoners Mot Unitarian Universalist Soddy and low-income people . Your organization, co-op, 250 Waring Rd., Syracuse etc. can receive 5-25PNLseach month. Ourdreu- (Waring at Nottingham) Name : lation is 4500. all are free & open to the public Address: Contributions to SPC beyond PNL sub- scriptions support our activist programs. We al- February 11 City _ ways need your support. Peace Newsletter/Syra- Out of the Past State: _ Zip cuse Peace Council, 924 Bumet Ave, Syracuse, The story of Gay/Lesbian students' struggles with NY 13203. the state of Utah, through the experience of one Phone: ( PNL Distributors (We Need You Too!) of the student organizers. Pat Hoffman, Elinor Cramer, Chuck Durand, Marge Rusk, Duane Hardy, Bill Hammer, February 1s 3D Enclosed $12 for one year. Daniel Bowers, Ted Widay, Cynthia Maud- hIcized to Klll $_ additional donation for all your great work! Gembler by Arthur Dong LI Please contact me about volunteering. January Special Issue Mailing Party Helpers A provocative exploration of the motivations Ace .Allen, Angie Allen, Mike Kernahan, Rae behind hate crimes and violence. 0 This is a new subscription. U This is a renewal Kramer, 'Carl Mellor, Marge Rusk February 25 My address has changed 0% February PNL Meetings The Female Close by Barbara Hammer the Syracuse Peace Council • Investigates three lesbian artists, and how the 924 Burnet Avenue, Syracuse, NY 13203 y Leech Issue I)c,idlines "closet" functioned in their lives and work . \I (Kit's hen I'_ ,As fell 19 alendar Items Pcl) 19 2/99 Peace Newsletter 3

SYRACUSE PEACE COUNCIL PAGE

Collaboration in Crisis eight-gage issue #675 .1 includes two articles, SPC and CMAG Join to Publish Special reports on resistance here and around the globe, "Let Iraq Live!" PNL poetry, a -reproducible flier, and an IT WAS suotrtt.Y more subtle than the explo- anonymusly-produced poster entitled sions of bombs and cruise missiles and "The Double-Standard." the crash of roofs, walls, and SPC thanks CMAG for their en - broken glass. Never- ergy, creativity and solidarity. The theless, the medi2 collaboration is rewarding and BETWEEN MANAGING the office and newsletter, bias towards the empowering . It was only pos- answering phones, and going to meetings, US government's sible through working together. peace work can get to feeling like seamless four days of bomb- To find out more on CMAG's stretches of greyness. A lot like the Syracuse ing was clearfrom the work, see their update on skies. January 16's feazeevent was an inspir- first news reports on page 9. We'd also like to ing reminder of the vibrance and vitality of December 16. thank all the writers and social change work. Not so much a celebration The human crisis of contributors, including as an occasion for hope and possibility. the US's 8-year war onIraq poets Karen Hall and The SPC Staff and Council extend a huge fmally returned home that Shreerekha Pillai. thanks to the 100+ attendees, and the artists night. But the lack of per- We were only able to and performers who made feats such a suc- spective — on the sanctions, afford an initial print cess: Gabe Barry-Caufield, Sean the reality of bombing, the re- run of 2,000, 'enough Dougherty, Free Radicals, Gypsy Red, Col - sistance contributed to yet for our mailing list but not leen Kattau, Eugene Koveos, Patrick Lawler, another human crisis, this one in enough for our full monthly distri- Nick Orth, Shreerekha Pillai, Jolie Christine our own country : ignorance. bution. The new Let Iraq Live! Action Coa- Rickman, and Lee Williams . Additional thanks Toaddress the need for critical lition (LILAC) plans to use the issue as educa- to Sean Kelly of Free Radicals for setting up information and perspectives in a grassroots tional material for its continuing campaign the sound system, and to Jolie Christine way, SPC and the Community Media Action (see Action Updates, page 9). If you would Rickman for organizing the event, doing the Group (CMAG) got together to produce a like a copy yourself, call or come by SPC. outreach and press work, and grazing the special issue of the Peace Newsletter. The —Tim Judson dictionary. SPC Staff & Council

Busting Business Booming pass a resolution against transport of mixed suited in a total lack of diversity, and it has yet for CNY Anti ..Nukers oxide fuel (MOX) through its borders. Other to be seen whether real world politics will be THE NUCLEAR EXCITEMENT just never seems to communities along the proposed transport dealt with to ensure justice and inclusive deci- stop lately in CNY. With several irons in the routes have passed such resolutions, includ- sion-making. proverbial fire and a potentially disastrous ing the Buffalo City Council at the end of Among the issues that have not been accident at the FitzPatrick plant, citizen in- December. Not only does MOX transport pose accounted for within the process are nuclear volvementis becoming more hopeful and more multiple dangers to transport, reactor, and safety, environmental impact, and effects on crucial at the same time. waste communities alike, it represents a dan- public health and safety. This is especially On December 14, activists from the coa- gerous economy between nuclear weapons troubling in the shadow of a January 14 acci- lition to Close Nine Mile One! and nuclear power producers dent at the FitzPatrick nuke at Nine Mile Point announced that we had filed a (see 1/99 PNL). (NMP). A fire burned out of control for about petition 2.206 with the Nuclear And on January 20, SPC, an hour in a hydrogen tank storage area, re- Regulatory Commission. Ini- SANE, and the new Alliance portedly located near a battery of transformers tiated by of DC- for a Nuclear-Free New York that supply power to the reactor core. Eventu- based Nuclear Information & joined proceedings initiated ally the fire was brought under control; how- Resource Service, the 2.206 is m by the NYS Public Service ever, for the two or three hours of the emer- a formal request to have a Commission (PSC) to deter- gency, the uncertainty of a major accident was nuclear operator's license re- mine the fate of nuclear power frightening. While Nine Mile One is likely the voked. The NRC's regulatory under the deregulated utility most dangerous reactor at NMP, all nuclear incompetence and NiMo's market. The proceedings reactors pose too large of a threat to live with. faulty science and broken promises around the have been called a "collaborative process " SANE and SPC can use your help. It core shroud demonstrate a lack of concern for and are being facilitated by a judge trained in won't make you rich, but busting nukes and public health and safety and are a breach of the alternative dispute resolution. The year-long reclaiming our communities can be empower- public trust (see 12/98 PNL). process is styled along the lines of consensus ing and fun for people of all stripes. To plug in, InJanuary, Syracuse Anti-Nuclear Effort decision-making. However, the self-selection call SPC at 472-5478. — Tim Judson initiated a proposal that Onondaga County process for joining the proceeding has re- rb

-- u ~.teo.. 9/99 Pinocchio's Puppeteer Recognizing the US role in Producing Pinochet and Other Torturers Alicia Swords of every seven Chilean intelligence officers is ciliation is one-sided. The military has never an SOA graduate (SOA Watch, http :// atoned for or apologized for its crimes . The www.soaw.org). When Allende was elected, media lull the poor to surrender to the Ameri- Nixon's administration worked to crush Chile's can Dream: buy more, buy on credit, take low economy and ruin the socialist experiment. paying jobs, do not complain, and forget the The CIA financed the anti-government press, past. N EARLY DECEMBER, I took a trip to Chile. strikes and opposition . To Pinochet, sover- Even with international attention to the My visit coincided with an important time eignty was never a concern. In fact, his chance truth of Pinochet's terror, it is not in the inter- in the case of former dictator Augusto Pinochet. to govern came as a result of long-term US est of those in power to pursue justice. December 9, the British House of Lords voted political, economic and military interventions. Former military commanders are the big- to extradite Pinochet for crimes of genocide, In light of this history, I was shocked to gest bloc in the Senate. The Parliament is torture and human rights abuses during his see "Our martyr, Pinochet!" painted on bridges dominated by those who benefit from the rule from 1973 to 1989. The Chilean govern- in Santiago. The news media of the Right play widening gap in wealth. Clearly, the country ment has appealed the decision citing conflict on the antiquated myth of Pinochet slaying the does not possess the political will to repeal the of interest by one of the judges. Since January communist monster, justifying his atrocities amnesty law and judge Pinochet. 18, the case is being retried. because he kept socialism at bay. But what Pinochet's extradition is no affront to I would like to share some insights from really died in the 1973 coup was the young Chilean national sovereignty. In fact, his judge- my conversations with Chileans and my ob- Chilean democracy and self-determination. ment should help draw attention to the ways servations of the Chilean and US media depic- Today, Chile 's free-market, export-based that the US has kept nations from exercizing tion of the case in the light of the history of US- economy, designed by Chicago University- their own democracy. International condem- Chilean relations. educated economists, is praised internation- nation of Pinochet's abuses is appropriate and The political Right and Center argue that long over-due. Genocide and torture are not by processing Pinochet, Britain and Spain public policy. challenge Chile's national sovereignty tojudge Nor should we forget that the history of its own criminals . They contend that powerful Pinochet in Chile is not unique. Pinochet is countries must not unilaterally determine what only one of the many puppets the US has is justice for weaker countries. created around the world to torture people and Young democracies should be encour- suppress "threats" to US economic interests. aged to exercise their own institutions, there- Let us also condemn US institutions and lead- fore the self-named Senator-for-Life should ers that use political, economic and military be returned home to Chile for judgment, they La Moneda, the Presidential Palace in Santiago de interventions as foreign policy. claim. The Right, still complicit with Pinochet, Chile, where Salvador Allende was killed in 1973. In official statements about Pinochet, hopes to convince the public to join their calls Later reconstructed after being bombed, it is still a site Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and the to bring him home. of demonstrations today— for and against Pinochet State Department have walked a careful line, The irony of the sovereignty argument is ally as Latin America's "jaguar." However, attempting not to alienate human rights advo- not lost on the Chilean public. Pinochet left in Pinochet's dictatorship has created no eco- cates or the Chilean right since Chile is a place a constitution which ensures immunity nomic miracle: growth has not translated into hopeful partner in an expanded NAFTA. for all human rights violators after 1973. The benefits for all Chileans . In Chile, the top 10% According to the British newspaper, The Right knows that the public lacks the political earn more than half the wealth, making Chile Guardian, the Clinton administration is mak- strength to repeal Pinochet's amnesty law . If seventh globally in unequal income distribu- ing "behind-the-scenes" moves to block the Pinochet were sent to Chile to be tried, his own tion. Today, 25% live in absolute poverty and extradition "for fear of what might emerge amnesty law would ensure that there would salaries are 18% lower than before the about the US role in the coup that brought him never be a trial. dicatatorship. to power." The Right has, in fact, benefited from past Pinochet's critics call him Pinocchio, a Clearly, we are far from eliminating tor- US interventions into Chilean internal affairs. puppet dictator who oppressed his own people ture as sanctioned policy. Court cases are only Some Chileans ask why Chile and the interna- to provide cheap labor, captive markets, and a first step. Concerned citizens should write tional community are suddenly concerned natural resources to his puppeteer, the United the State Department to urge support for about national . sovereignty . They know that States. Pinochet's nose grew as he "disap- Pinochet's extradition and declassification of since the 1960's the CIA meddled actively to peared" political opponents, appropriatedpub- evidence, including evidence of the US role. prevent a socialist government from coming lic goods for his cronies, dismantled welfare We must also eliminate the institutions to power. Military officers, including Pinochet, and community organizations, and made the that promote torture . US tax dollars pay for received foreign training in anti-insurgency poor poorer. Latin American military officers to learn tor- and torture techniques at academies including President Frei creates another myth by ture techniques at the School of the Americas the US Army's School of the Americas . One proposing "reconciliation." However, recon- continued on page 6

2/99 Peace Newsletter 5 New York's Dirty Secret The Power Plant Pollution Loophole Con Fay Traub New York must reassert its leadership posi- removing over 1.8 million cars from New tion in the fight for clean air. York State roads. Most-fossil-fueled power plants in New If Gov. Pataki wants to be an environ- York, including the ones located outside of mental leader with national stature, there 's no Syracuse, are taking advantage of a loophole better way to prove himself than to clean up his that allows them to avoid meeting current air- own backyard. But he needs to hear from York's ANY HAVE BLAMED the bulk of New pollution standards. When the federal Clean concerned constituents that know New York's air-pollution problems on utili- Air Act was passed in 1970 and amended in power plants can be a lot cleaner. Write to the ties in Midwestern states . Although a great 1977, the nation's older plants were exempted Governor and let him know that there is no deal of New York State's air pollution comes from the new federal air-emission regulations. reason to tolerate a single ton of excess pollu- from the Midwest, thanks to the prevailing Unfortunately, most of these plants were not tion when the technology exists to control it. winds, our 'own dirty plants make this problem replaced with cleaner sources . These plants Recently, Massachusetts Governor Paul even worse. New York's dirty power plants are allowed to pollute four to 10 times more Cellucci took the first step by endorsing a may collectively generate fewer tons of air than newer plants. similar grass roots campaign to clean up the pollution than are generated by plants to our The plants surrounding Syracuse include "Filthy Five Power Plants" in that state . Gov west, but pollution from New York's plants is Niagara Mohawk's Oswego plant, New York Pataki has the authority to simply direct the of special concern because these plants are State Electric and Gas's Milliken and State Department of Environmental Conser- right here at home.We can still blame Mid- Greenidge plants and Rochester Gas & vation to require all power plants, regardless western power plants for our pollution prob- Electric's Russell plant. If these four power of when they were built to meet the same lems. They deserve the blame. But New York plants had to meet new plant standards, annual standards of a new coal plant. won't get much sympathy as a victim so long sulfur dioxide emissions would be reduced by Secondly, State representatives need to want power as we are also a perpetrator over 28,000 tons and nitrogen oxide emis- know that people in New York In November, more than 50 environmen- sions by over 5,600 tons. plants cleaned up. Write to your State repre- tal and, public health groups called on the This summer there were more than 150 sentatives and them to introduce legislation Governor Pataki to require all fossil-fueled violations of federal ozone smog standards in this session that would mandate power plant power plants to meet the same emission stan- New York State. That means that New York clean up. dards that must be met by newly constructed residents breathed unhealthy levels of smog To find out about other local citizens coal plants. Coal, which is generally dirtier that cause increased lung inflatmnation,cough- concerned about this issue or to receive a than oil and natural gas, is thefuel of choice for ing, asthma attacks, emergency room visits regular fax update on energy issues, related many Midwestern plants. If the Governor fol- and hospitalizations due to respiratory dis- legislative initiatives, and the power plant lows this advice, he would be in a position to tress. Meanwhile, another byproduct of air clean up campaign, contact Kyle Rabin at lead the battle in Washington to get Congress pollution, acid rain, continues to threaten fish Environmental Advocates, (518) 462-5526. to enact these standards. New York's credibil- and wildlife in many Adirondack lakes and Cory is the Ak & Energy Project Director streams. for Environmental Advocates, based in ity to demand the clean-up of power plants in Albany. the Midwest will be greatly enhanced if it is Nationwide, power plants are responsible ready, willing and able to clean up-its own act. for 66 percent of the sulfur dioxide that causes Pinocc hio's Puppeteer harmful soot and acid rain and 30 percent of the nitrogen oxides that contribute to smog Continued from page 5 PAINT • and acid rain. In 1997 alone, New York's 21 and other military academies. Under false dirtiest power plants spewed out 250,000 tons pretenses of the "War on Drugs," US tax SYSTEMS of sulfur dioxide and nearly 70,000 tons of dollars buy attack helicopters and arms that nitrogen into the air. The 21 dirtiest power have been used to fight popular uprisings in Fine Commercial & plants in New York are responsible for half of Mexico, Colombia, Venezuela, and Peru . This Residential Painting bothsulfur dioxide andnitrogen oxide from all dirty game in the name of US military and the state 's industrial sources. - corporate self-interest is a game of blood and . "CNY's Only Balloon (Canvas)Ceiling If New York's dirtiest plants were made death in Latin America . Pinochet cannot wash Specialists" to comply with the contemporary pollution the blood off of his hands. Neither can we. standards set for new coal plants their sulfur Alicia Swords ishelping organize a RE-COAT REPAIR REPLACE dioxide and nitrogen oxide pollution would be delegation to Chiapas this Spring. When cut by 73 percent and 52 percent, respectively. she's not acting globally, she resides and (315) 425-9235 works locally in Syracuse. 162 Cambridge St. The state would reduce its emissions of sulfur . Note : A version of this article, originally Ed ry Syracuse, N.Y. 13210 dioxide by more than 180,000 tons and nitro- written forthePNL, was published as an op-ed in the email address gen oxides by more than 30,000 tons each Syracuse Post-Standard,. Monday, Jan . 17. db balloonceiling@hotmail .com year. This is the air quality equivalent of '%//,G::'r.'C!:'iJff:!tSS ~sw..<•::As'..fii.=idk%ffG:rl.;n~7:,udtsi .rJrr9xfr?:'~',/itaYar?'/.7/

6 Peace Newsletter 2/99 Reclaiming Community, Identity, & Revolution An Interview with Political Prisoner Khalfani X. Khaldun Interview by Corey Wade fact create some enemies . Men much older pressed community to become responsible for than me who were active and organizing in- forging struggle in their communities. It will side prison walls were responsible for my be the ex-prisoner and the politically con- political exposure to advanced education. Af- scious person's role to join all progressive tersome experiences i was compelled to want communities with all progressive revolution- to learn about my history, culture, Afrikan ary struggles so that growth of consciousness Ed. Note: We recently received a copy of an interview of Khalfani X. Khaldun, a political achievements, and the slave experience. continues.'Onceunified, we collectively work prisoner and PNL subscriber. We regret we are Slowly i began to transform myself. i first to challenge our collective/ individual rights unable to print the entire interview becauseof became aware that certain things existed. Then as a people to be independent, self-governing, space limitations. However, we chose the i developed a consciousness that ultimately and self-determined. Plus, i hope that in soci- following excerpts because of their topicality motivated me into action. The action i speak eties people start working more with prison- during this month commemorating the history of Black liberation struggle in the Americas. about is not violence, but organizing, educat- ers. ing, and exposing violations, because this was primary. We will never change unless the Corey: What kind of advice and message do halfani X. Khaldun is a 29-year-old New need for change can be visualized. you have for young people? KAfrikan (Black) political prisoner who Khalfani: Young people, when i was a free has been in prison since the age of17. Since C: You have been accused of the murder of a man i never anticipatedi would come to prison. being accused and charged with the wrongful prison guard. Why? So it's safe to say i was not prepared for it death of an Indiana prison guard, Khalfani K: Being a political prisoner on the inside or either. Education is an essential part of our has been engaged in a consistent battle to outside does not come without a special price. development. It enables us to learn to confront obtain his freedom. We feel that Khalfani's i have been active and involved in many and deal with the realities this world offers us. acts of heroism in the fight to raise conscious- struggles to bring out education on the inside. i was once a teenager myself, influenced by ness on the inside made him an easy target for Some of these struggles entail exposing what my peer group. These same influences led me thistrumped-up charge. Atrial hasbeen sched- this racist system has done and continues to be to a prison cell, but none of them ever followed uled for December 7, 1998 . In the court of responsible for. Once prisoners are aware and me. Please focus in on learning your identity Laporte County, IN. This interview is our become conscious, and educate yourself contribution and show ofsolidarity to and for and their actions reflect When people hear the term on your ,family/cul- Khalfani's freedom . Here is a revolutionary such, alot of us start to revolution, or revolutionary, or tural history. This is voice that must be heard. express solidarity. The politics, they envision something empowerment and it system labels us gang builds confidence, Corey: Brother Khalfani, why are you in members when we negative. The politics they self-esteem, as well as prison? unify ourselves . Be- equate to a politician. But i am an identity. Learn of Khalfani: Well, comrade, just as many other cause i have a certain no politician. Change through a ways to better your youth, i became a perpetrator of the street level of educational series of transitional stages is families by initiating culture of Gary, Indiana. Influenced by peer influence over some programs of family pressure and wanting acceptance, i got in- prisoners, I'm always what i envision lu my practice unity and encourage volved with criminal activity: robbery, bur- singled out. On De- of revolutionary politics your friends to do the glary, and selling drugs . This lifestyle, as my cember 13, 1994 after exact same things. We mother warned on many occasions, would the cop was killed, they came after me saying must begin to rebuild that strong sense of catch up with me. When we are surroundedby i was the only one capable of orchestrating family we seem to be currently losing . Young this element anything can occur. i was always such an act. i've continued to proclaim my people, you are the representatives and keys to arrested for what someone else did, the guilt innocence. i am very innocent. our emancipation and s