Building Relationships in Rania - Nov 2

Duluth-Rania Friendship Exchange Project invites you to:

Building Relationships in Rania
with Michele Naar-Obed
Monday, November 2, 7pm
Zinema 2 Theaters
(222 E. Superior St, Duluth)

Michele, a member of Christian Peacemaker Teams, has made numerous trips to Iraq and Iraqi Kurdistan. She is the inspiration for a Duluth-area citizen-based trip to Rania, Iraq. That trip took place in May, 2009.

Michele will provide an update on the developments in the Duluth-Rania connection and will talk about her recent visit to a camp for internally displaced people.

There will be a short video presentation of the children at the IDP camp. This friendship exchange project will offer hope to those kids and they, as well as our kids, are our future and our chance for a better world.

Members of the May trip to Iraq will join Michele in her presentation: Brooks Anderson, Marv Heikkinen, Donna Howard, Arno Kahn, Tom Morgan and Salima Swenson

This event is free and open to the public. A social hour in the Zinema atrium will follow Micheles presentation. Beverages will be available for purchase from the Zinema.

With special support from: The Alworth Center for the Study of Peace & Justice at CSS and from Zeitgeist Arts.

Report on Oct. 17 March & Rally

"1-2-3-4, We Don't Want These Stinking Wars!" reverberated off the tall buildings in Duluth's downtown on Saturday, October 17, as a spirited band of about 100 protesters marched through the city. On a day when anti-war protests were held in more than 40 cities and towns across the nation, this spirited band marched to show their continued opposition to the ongoing U.S. wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. With the combined price tag of these two wars approaching $1 trillion dollars, and up to one million lives lost, we need to show that the anti-war movement is alive and kicking!



The Duluth protest started at the Clayton, Jackson, McGhie Memorial (which memorializes three African-Americans who were lynched in Duluth in 1920), where we held a moment of silence of Staff Sgt. Aaron Taylor, a local soldier who was killed in Iraq on Oct. 9 and whose funeral was held on the same day as the protest.

From the CJM Memorial we marched through downtown Duluth, and then up to the Civic Center where we held a rally on the steps of the Federal Building. Peter Provost of the band Clear greeted the protesters with some moving song-singing, and this was followed up by an impressive program of powerful speakers. The theme of the rally was "Fund Human Needs, Make Jobs Not War!", and this was woven into all of the speeches, which stressed what a tragic waste all of the war spending is, when we have so many social needs crying out for funding.


The speakers at the program were physician and health care activist Charles Gessert, Rev. Cathy Schuyler of the Duluth Congregational Church and CHUM, Scott Yeazle of the Twin Ports Action Coalition, Josie Johnson of Earth Action and Eric Blomstrom from Community Action Duluth. And the whole event was ably MCed by Ellie Connolly of the Northland Anti-War Coalition, who stressed the need to keep reaching out to our friends, neighbors and co-workers to build the anti-war movement.

Organized by the Northland Anti-War Coalition, the protest was also endorsed by the Duluth Central Labor Body, Veterans for Peace, Women in Black, Peace North, the Duluth Area Green Party, Grandmothers for Peace, Socialist Action, Lake Superior Greens, Duluth Unitarian-Universalist Peace & Justice Committee, UMD Students for Peace, CSS Center for Just Living, Twin Ports Action Coalition, Workers United Local 99, CSS Earth Action, Rice Lake People for Peace, the Nortland Center for Art & Ecopsychology and a host of individual activists and concerned citizens.



Special thanks to all of our wonderful speakers at the rally, and to Ellie for MCing. Thanks to Steve Wick and Josie Johnson for leading the chants during our march, and to Mustafa Aidid, Chere Suzette Bergeron, Carl Sack, Linda Gokee and Bob Kosuth for being the rally marshalls. Thanks also to Mike Solon for the sound system, and to Colette Knudson and Gary Sorenson for being our press liasons. Labor World newspaper deserves a special shout for doing such a great job plugging the protest, as does the National Assembly to End the Iraq & Afghanistan Wars, which initiated the Oct. 17 national day of action. And finally, thanks to Scott Bol, Peter Krause, Joel Kilgour, and everyone else who helped organize this event.

Coming on the heels of our Oct. 5 candle light vigil to mark the anniversary of the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan, this fall has been a busy one for the Northland Anti-War Coalition. But much remains to be done to build a broad enough, and visible enough movement to bring these wars to an end. Towards that end NAWC would like to invite all anti-war activists throughout northern Minnesota and Wisconsin to a special strategy planning meeting on Nov. 8 at 2pm at the Duluth Unitarian Church. The struggle continues, and we could use your help and input on moving forward! Thank you to everyone who turned out on Oct. 5 and Oct. 17, and we look forward to seeing you on Nov. 8!

Twin Ports Anti-War Protest THIS SATURDAY!

October 17 Duluth Anti-War March & Rally
NATIONAL DAY OF LOCAL ACTIONS TO END THE WARS

Saturday, October 17 is a national day of local actions against the ongoing wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Around the country over 40 cities and towns will be holding protests, among them will be Duluth, Minnesota.

To give local citizens an opportunity to demonstrate their opposition to the ongoing wars this country is waging, we'll be holding a march and rally in downtown Duluth starting at noon. We'll be assembling at the Clayton, Jackson & McGhie Memorial at the corner of 2nd Ave. E. & E. 1st Street. From there we'll march to the Duluth Federal Building.

The theme of the protest is FUND HUMAN NEEDS: MAKE JOBS NOT WAR! The speakers will be talking about where we should be spending our tax dollars, as opposed to war and occupation.

Among the speakers at the rally will be Eric Blomstrom from Community Action Duluth, Scott Yeazle of the Twin Ports Action Coalition, Kathy Anderson of the Northland Anti-War Coalition, Rev.Cathy Schuyler of the Duluth Congregational Church and CHUM, Todd Erickson of Workers United Local 99, health care activist Charles Gessert and a spokesperson for the group Earth Action of the College of St. Scholastica. Ellie Connolly will be the MC and Peter Provost of the band Clear will be sharing some songs.

This event is being organized by the Northland Anti-War Coalition, and is endorsed date by the Duluth Central Labor Body, Veterans for Peace, Women in Black, Peace North, the Duluth Area Green Party, Grandmothers for Peace, Socialist Action, Lake Superior Greens, Duluth Unitarian-Universalist Peace & Justice Committee, UMD Students for Peace, CSS Center for Just Living, Twin Ports Action Coalition, Workers United Local 99, CSS Earth Action, Michigan Emergency Committee Against War & Injustice, Rice Lake People for Peace, the Nortland Center for Art & Ecopsychology and a host of individual activists and concerned citizens!

Report on the Oct. NAWC Meeting

Minutes of 10/11/09 Meeting of the Northland Anti War Coalition

1) Attendance: Joel K, chair for the day; Gary S; Ron M; Ellie C; Dan M; Adam R; Carl S; & Peter K, recorder for the day.

2) Afghan 8th anniversary candle light vigil was held on 10/5. A very nice nite for 40 people who gathered at the Nat'l Guard base on Park Point & proceeded to Amazing Grace. Thank-you Ellie for the candles & Andy for the Vets for Peace float.

3) October 17 March & Rally - meet at Noon at the Clayton, Jackson, McGhie Memorial on 1st St for a hike down to Superior Street & back up to the Federal Building courtyard.

We'll have musical performers & speakers from a variety of perspectives on the topic of how resources could be used better for human needs rather than warfare.

4) November meeting will be on 11/8 at the Unitarian Church in Duluth. The meeting will focus solely on "How to Frame the Anti-War Message" and will be moderated by Donna Howard. This will provide a chance for NAWC to step back & evaluate where to from here.

5) CSS Refugee camp is under way this week on the grounds of St Scholastica. Students are spending the nites in tents to demonstrate solidarity with refugee situations around the world. Stop by to offer support as the nites are going to be cold!

6) UMD Students for Peace are planning an art oriented event for peace in the Spring.

7) Financial issues: Check book responsibility will be transferred to Carl from Peter.

We continue to be on the plus side of the ledger but have been putting quite a bit of effort (& funds) into promoting the upcoming rally as well as other activities so we will need to ask clearly for donations at the rally as well as send out a fund raising letter this winter.

8) Announcements-

A) Carl - National Protest on 3/20/10 in San Fran, L.A. & Wash DC. We will consider sending a bus to one of these & /or holding a local rally at that time.

B) Gary - Vets for Peace had a very good evening on 9/23 with Adam Schesch, A PhD field researcher on the topics of recent wars of revolution & resistance.

C) Carl - Acitvist Summit re: Palestine 11/21 from 9AM to 4 PM at the Duluth Freinds Mtg- Break the Bonds Coaliton members will be in Duluth at the Friends Mtg House to discuss a divestment campaign. NAWC voted to endorse this summit.

D) Ellie - Jubilee House - Center for Development in Central America - (Nicaragua) will host a presentation / dialogue & craft sale @ 7PM on Weds 10/21 @ Peace Church.

E) Bike ride w/ Mayor Don Ness & Jack Nelson Pallmeyer on 10/24 for International Day of Climate Action - 3:00 gather behind the DECC to ride thru Canal Park to Amazing Grace for a 4:00 PM teach-in 350twinports@ gmail.com or 340-4356

F) SOA watch is organizing vans to the School of Americas protests in Columbus Georgia. Leaving 11/19 Contact Joel K jrkilgour@yahoo.com

Report on Oct. 5 Afghan War Vigil

On Monday, October 5, the Northland Anti-War Coalition marked the 8th anniversary of the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan with a candle light vigil and march in Canal Park.



About 40 people gathered in front of the Army Reserve base on Park Point, lit candles, and marched, together with the Veterans for Peace float, to the Amazing Grace coffee house in Canal Park.


The somber event was meant to remind people of the thousands who have needlessly died in this ongoing conflict, and to renew calls for the war to be ended immediately.


After the march, there was an event inside the Amazing Grace honoring war resisters that featured singing by Rachel Kilgour.


Thanks to everyone who participated in this powerful and moving event!

Peace Cabaret October 27

Mississippi Civil Rights Project Fundraiser:
Music and Performance
Tuesday, October 27
7:30-10pm
Carmody Irish Pub
308 E. Superior St, Duluth
$10 suggested donation

Welcome by Claudie Washington.

Barton Sutter, Rabbi Amy Bernstein, Mary Cameron, David Comer, Portia Johnson, and Claire Kirch read short pieces by Martin Luther King, Jr., Robert F. Kennedy, Fannie Lou Hamer, Stokely Carmichael, Sojourner Truth, and Barbara Jordan. Jazz by Perfectini.

This November, Duluth-based movement historian Sue Sojourner is returning again to Holmes County, Mississippi, after working there in the Civil Rights Movement for five years in the 1960s. This time the Oral History Center of the University of Southern Mississippi-Hattiesburg is holding a gathering for the surviving veterans of that Movement. The event uses a workbook Sue created on the Holmes Movement History as a memory catalyst. It will be a unique local-community-led oral history documentation project.

This fundraiser will help defray travel costs to Mississippi. It will also help Sue finish her memoir and catalog her historical collections for transfer to two archival institutions.

Sponsored by NAACP. For more info contact Ann Klefstad 218-525-3037. Donations are tax deductible.

Remember the Refugee Week at CSS

For a week beginning October 11, the front lawn of the Science Building at the College of St Scholastica will be home to a tent city. Students with the CSS chapter of Amnesty International are living outside to draw attention to the global refugee crisis. The camp will be bustling with awareness-raising activities all week - teach-ins, movie nights, and even a comedian. All events are open to the public. Read more for a full schedule of events.

CSS Remember the Refugee Week
Schedule of events

Monday October 12th:
Bret Thiele, Coordinator—Litigation Progamme, and Mayra Gomez, Coordinator—Women and Housing Rights, from the Centre on Housing Rights and Evictions will be speaking about the right to adequate housing. 6:00pm.

“City of God,” a film about the immense amount of gangs and violence in Rio de Janeiro. Capturing the looks of defeat and despair through his photography, a young boy is convinced to tell a story that nobody wants to hear but everyone should know. 7:30 pm.

Tuesday October 13th:
Panel Discussion with CSS Iraqi Refugees. Students from Iraq will be talking about the current refugee situation. 7:00pm.

Wednesday October 14th:
Simple breakfast to begin a 30 hour fast. If you are interested in joining students from St. Scholastica standing in solidarity with those who experience hunger on a daily basis, please join us at 9:00am.

Comedian Rob O’Reilly will be taking the stage to remind us that Refugees are no laughing matter. 7:00pm.

Thursday October 15th:
Soup and Discussion about the worldwide refugee crisis to finish our 30 hour fast. Please join us for great food and great talk! 6:00pm

Benefit Concert with St. Scholastica students Mike Legan and Sarah Hengel, featuring Duluth’s own Sara Thomsen. Come, listen to some great music, grab some dinner beforehand, and be generous as we pass the hat. 7:00 pm.

Friday October 16th:
Film Showing: “Gaza: the Killing Zone.” A British report on Israeli violence in Gaza against not only Palestinian civilians, but international aid volunteers and foreign reporters as well. 5:30pm.

Bob Kosuth will be talking about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. 6:30pm

Candle-light vigil in remembrance of the refugees whom we honored during the week. 7:30pm

October 5 Candlelight March and Vigil

October marks 8 years since the invasion of Afghanistan. 8 years of airstrikes and rising death tolls; 8 years of waiting for reconstruction and economic development assistance; 8 years and more than $200 billion of US tax dollars squandered on armed conflict.

Please join NAWC as we solemnly take stock of these losses and keep the pressure on to bring troops home now. The Obama Administration is thinking of escalating the conflict with tens of thousands more troops. As an anti-war movement, we have a narrow window of opportunity to influence the debate - it's time to get back on the street.

Monday, October 5

7 pm Candlelight march and vigil to end the war

Gather at the US Army Reserve at 1500 St Louis Avenue on Park Point in Duluth. Candles provided, consider wearing black or a black armband

8 pm Celebration of war resistance at Amazing Grace

Join CSS Amnesty International and Truth in Recruiting as we honor war resistance, past and present. Sing along to anti-war tunes with Rachael Kilgour (feel free to bring an instrument and a Rise Up Singing!); sign cards to US soldiers serving jail time for refusing to fight; and get to know your fellow activists.