Friday, December 28, 2007

Peace Vigil on Walpole Common, Sat Dec 29, 10AM

The Walpole Peace and Justice Group invites you to join us for a peace vigil to protest the Iraq war tomorrow morning, Saturday, December 29, 2007 from 10:00 to 11:00 AM on the Walpole Common, across from the Post Office. This vigil was changed from our usual schedule because of holidays. We will resume our normal schedule of holding vigils on the first and third Saturday of the month in January.

Next Speaker: January 8 at 7:30 at Walpole Public Library - Demissie A. Gebremedhin, Director of the Torture Abolition and Survivors Support Coalition International Group (TASSC) will speak on his own personal experiences as a torture survivor, as well as, TASSC’s work in dealing with torture. He will also provide information about the Military Commissions Act that was passed last October by Congress and TASSC’s efforts to repeal it. Demissie is a citizen of Ethiopia who was repeatedly tortured by the Ethiopian government because of his political opinions and race and because of his reporting of the misappropriation of funds by a government run aid organization. TASSC is the only organization founded by and for torture survivors. The mission of TASSC is to end the practice of torture wherever it occurs and to empower survivors, their families and communities. TASSC has created a world-wide network of International Communities of Healing for torture survivors and their families. TASSC tries to influence domestic and international policies regarding torture through advocacy, social action, public testimony and targeted media campaigns.

Friday, November 30, 2007

Peace Vigil on Walpole Common, Saturday December 1, 10:00 to 11:00 AM

The Walpole Peace and Justice Group invites you to join in a peace vigil to protest the Iraq war - tomorrow morning, Saturday, Dec 1, from 10:00 to 11:00 AM on the Walpole Common, across from the Post Office. As Congress debates the war funding, it is important to express our opposition to the war. Peace vigils on the Walpole Common are held on the 1st and third Saturdays of the Month. Hope to see you there.

Friday, November 16, 2007

Peace Vigil at Walpole Common 10-11 AM Saturday, Nov 17

The Walpole Peace and Justice Group invites you to join in a peace vigil to protest the Iraq war - tomorrow morning, Saturday, Nov 17, from 10:00 to 11:00 AM on the Walpole Commons, across from the Post Office. As casualties and devastation continue to mount, it is important to express our opposition to the war. Peace vigils on Walpole Common are held on the 1st and third Saturdays of the Month. Hope to see you there.

Wednesday, October 24, 2007

Talk on 'US Foreign Policy after Iraq' by Dr. Andrew Bacevich

Dr. Andrew J. Bacevich will give a talk on “US Foreign Policy after Iraq” at the Walpole Public Library on Tuesday, November 6, 2007 at 7:30 PM. The talk will offer an assessment of the current situation in Iraq along with some thoughts on the longer term implications of the failure of US policy there. Sponsored by the Walpole Peace and Justice Group, the talk is part of an ongoing series of speakers on peace issues. The public is invited.

Professor of International Relations and History at Boston University, Dr. Bacevich is a graduate of the U. S. Military Academy. He served as the Director of the Center for International Relations at Boston University up to 2005 and has been the recipient of numerous awards and grants, including the Moncado Prize from the Society for Military History and the Arter-Darby Military History Writing Award. Dr. Bacevich is the author of numerous books including “American Empire: The Realities and Consequences of U. S. Diplomacy,” “The Imperial Tense: Problems and Prospects of American Empire,” and “The New American Militarism: How Americans Are Seduced by War.” He has been a frequent contributor to journals and magazines, including the The Wilson Quarterly, Foreign Affairs, The Nation, The American Conservative, and The New Republic. His opinion pieces on the Iraq war have appeared in the New York Times, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, Boston Globe, Los Angeles Times, and USA Today.

Friday, October 19, 2007

Claude Anshin Thomas - Walpole, Oct 23 at 7:30

Please join us for a talk by Claude Anshin Thomas, the author of the best selling book "At Hell's Gate," at the Walpole Public Library on Tuesday, October 23, 2007 at 7:30 PM. In this talk Claude recounts his dramatic coming-of-age story and spiritual odyssey as well as offering his profound insights into suffering and violence, and how we can end them in ourselves and in our world. We are honored to have Claude speak in Walpole. See the Walpole Times, Daily Transcript, and Walpole Hometown Weekly for recent articles on Claude. Attached is a flyer.

"Everyone has their Vietnam," Claude writes, everyone has experienced trauma and everyone, if they want, can find healing and peace through looking deeply at the nature of their suffering. "War is a collective expression of individual suffering." The seeds of war and violence are planted early and often, and it is only through our actions and insights personally that we can hope to end war globally. What is startling in these days of the "war on terrorism" is that we rarely hear from the soldiers themselves. As a highly decorated helicopter crew chief who was wounded in battle and received the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Purple Heart, Claude speaks with an authenticity and an honesty that is extremely compelling to a wide audience. He can speak with direct experience about the realities of war, about what we are sending young men and women to do, and about the effects that making war has on all of us.

Claude Anshin Thomas went to Vietnam at the age of eighteen, where he received numerous medals, including twenty-seven Air Medals, a Distinguished Flying Cross and the Purple Heart. Today he is a monk in the Soto Zen tradition and an active speaker and Zen teacher, traveling the world speaking about war and teaching meditation. He also leads peace pilgrimages through war-torn and war-scarred places around the world. Claude is the founder of the Zaltho Foundation, a non-profit organization that promotes peace and non-violence.

Next Walpole Peace Vigil: Saturday, October 20, 10:00 to 11:00 AM on the Walpole Common across fro the Post Office.

Boston Peace Rally: Saturday, October 27, New England Mobilization to End the War in Iraq, Rally at 12:00 Noon at the Boston Common. Speakers include Howard Zinn and Melida Arredondo. Join us at the Walpole Train Station to take the 11:01 AM train in to Boston. See http://www.newenglandunited.org/ for more details.

Next Talk: Dr. Andrew J. Bacevich will give a talk on "US Foreign Policy after Iraq" at the Walpole Public Library on Tuesday, November 6, 2007 at 7:30 PM. The talk will offer an assessment of the current situation in Iraq along with some thoughts on the longer term implications of the failure of US policy there.

For the Walpole Peace and Justice Group
Philip Czachorowski

Monday, October 08, 2007

Ending War - Living Peace

Claude Anshin Thomas, the author of the best selling book “At Hell's Gate,” will speak at the Walpole Library on Tuesday, October 23, 2007 at 7:30 PM. In this talk Claude recounts his dramatic coming-of-age story and spiritual odyssey as well as offering his profound insights into suffering and violence, and how we can end them in ourselves and in our world.

“Everyone has their Vietnam,” Claude writes, everyone has experienced trauma and everyone, if they want, can find healing and peace through looking deeply at the nature of their suffering. “War is a collective expression of individual suffering.” The seeds of war and violence are planted early and often, and it is only through our actions and insights personally that we can hope to end war globally. What is startling in these days of the “war on terrorism” is that we rarely hear from the soldiers themselves. As a highly decorated helicopter crew chief who was wounded in battle and received the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Purple Heart, Claude speaks with an authenticity and an honesty that is extremely compelling to a wide audience. He can speak with direct experience about the realities of war, about what we are sending young men and women to do, and about the effects that making war has on all of us.

Claude Anshin Thomas went to Vietnam at the age of eighteen, where he received numerous medals, including twenty-seven Air Medals, a Distinguished Flying Cross and the Purple Heart. Today he is a monk in the Soto Zen tradition and an active speaker and Zen teacher, traveling the world speaking about war and teaching meditation. He also leads peace pilgrimages through war-torn and war-scarred places around the world. Claude is the founder of the Zaltho Foundation, a non-profit organization that promotes peace and non-violence. The talk is sponsored by the Walpole Peace and Justice Group and is open to the public.

Tuesday, October 02, 2007

Peace Vigil Saturday, Oct 6; Claude Anshin Thomas, Tuesday, Oct 23

Please join us on Saturday, October 6, from 10:00 to 11:00 AM for a peace vigil on the Walpole Commons across from the Post Office to protest the Iraq war. As Congress take little action to end this disastrous war it is important that we publicly demonstrate our opposition. Depending on the weather we will be holding a 60 foot banner with stars representing the first 2,129 U.S. soldiers killed in the war. Tragically the total of U.S soldiers killed is now over 3,800 and the number of Iraq civilians has been estimated as high as 1,000,000. Please join us as we will need additional people to hold the banner.

Next Talk: At Hell's Gate by Claude Anshin Thomas, Tuesday, October 23, 2007 at 7:30 PM at the Walpole Public Library. In this talk Claude Anshin Thomas’ recounts his dramatic coming-of-age story and spiritual odyssey as well as an offering of his profound insights into suffering and violence, and how we can end them in ourselves and in our world. “Everyone has their Vietnam,” Claude writes, everyone has experienced trauma and everyone, if they want, can find healing and peace through looking deeply at the nature of their suffering. “War is a collective expression of individual suffering.” The seeds of war and violence are planted early and often, and it is only through our actions and insights personally that we can hope to end war globally. Claude Anshin Thomas went to Vietnam at the age of eighteen, where he received numerous medals, including twenty-seven Air Medals, a Distinguished Flying Cross and the Purple Heart. Today he is a monk in the Soto Zen tradition and an active speaker and Zen teacher in the United States and Europe. He is also the founder of the Zaltho Foundation, a non-profit organization that promotes peace and non-violence.

For the Walpole Peace and Justice Group

Philip Czachorowski

Thursday, September 20, 2007

"Start the Music, Stop the War" Event, Holliston, Sun, Sep 23, 5:00 PM

Dear Peace Group Friend,

We want to bring your attention to a special event of music, poetry and protest on Sunday, September 23, at 5:00 PM at the Holliston Town Hall. The event starts with a peace parade at 5:00 PM with the music program starting at 5:30 PM. Sponsored by the Friends of Peace, the proceeds will be given to the American Legion Commander Bobby Blair’s Gulf II Fund. It should be a fun evening!

"Start the Music, Stop the War" event is in Holliston on Sunday, September 23 at 5:00 PM.

Philip Czachorowski

[ click here for details ]

Monday, September 10, 2007

Op-ed Piece by Dr. Bacevich

A great analysis of the way that Bush is distorting the truth on the lessons of the Vietnam War to justify his Iraq policy. Given the current push to continue to the war, it is so critical to get the truth out.

Vietnam's real lessons

The war is indeed relevant to Iraq -- but not the way Bush thinks.

By Andrew J. Bacevich
August 25, 2007

"The Truth in Military Recruiting" at Walpole Library Sep 12

Dear Peace Group Friend,

Please join us for an important talk on the truth in military recruiting by Bill Sweet of the American Friends Service Committee. This talk will be particularly important for high school students and their parents.

The Truth in Military Recruiting

Bill Sweet, American Friends Service Committee

Walpole Public Library

Wednesday, September 12 at 7:30 PM

Sponsored by the Walpole Peace and Justice Group, Bill Sweet of the American Friends Service Committee will address the concern of military recruiting in the public schools. Falsification and glorification of the terms of enlistment, racial inequities in recruiting, loopholes which negate the “opt-out” provision for our young people, all are the product of a $6 billion budget directed to military recruitment by the Department of Defense. Come see DVDs, used in recruiting. Learn what the recruiters are telling our children in grades K through 12. Discuss the issues these advertising practices raise. Military recruiting dramatically affects our young people as they determine their futures; it has a significant impact on all of us in the militarization of our society. The public is invited to join in discussion and pursuit of the truth in military recruiting.

Next Peace Vigil: Saturday, September 15 at the Walpole Common across from the Post Office from 10:00 to 11:00 AM.

Next Talk: At Hell's Gate by Claude Anshin Thomas, Tuesday, October 23, 2007 at 7:30 PM at the Walpole Public Library. In this talk Claude Anshin Thomas’ recounts his dramatic coming-of-age story and spiritual odyssey as well as an offering of his profound insights into suffering and violence, and how we can end them in ourselves and in our world. “Everyone has their Vietnam,” Claude writes, everyone has experienced trauma and everyone, if they want, can find healing and peace through looking deeply at the nature of their suffering. “War is a collective expression of individual suffering.” The seeds of war and violence are planted early and often, and it is only through our actions and insights personally that we can hope to end war globally. Claude Anshin Thomas went to Vietnam at the age of eighteen, where he received numerous medals, including twenty-seven Air Medals, a Distinguished Flying Cross and the Purple Heart. Today he is a monk in the Soto Zen tradition and an active speaker and Zen teacher in the United States and Europe. He is also the founder of the Zaltho Foundation, a non-profit organization that promotes peace and non-violence.

For the Walpole Peace and Justice Group

Philip Czachorowski

Tuesday, August 21, 2007

Bo Lozoff to speak at the Sharon Unitarian Church on Friday, August 24th at 7:30

The Sharon Unitarian Church is sponsoring an ‘Evening with Bo Lozoff’ on Friday, August 24, at 7:30 PM in Sharon. Bo is a well know inspirational speaker recognized by the Dalai Lama among others. It’s a great opportunity to have Bo Lozoff speak in our area and we thought people would be interested.

“Bo Lozoff has been doing remarkable work in prisons for 30 years helping prisoners transform their lives and find meaning in that most impossible of situations. He has helped tens of thousands of prisoners through his Human Kindness Foundation and its Prison-Ashram Project which he began in collaboration with Ram Dass over 30 years ago. His wisdom and experience speak just as clearly outside of prison walls. He respects all religious traditions. He stresses simple living, a dedication to service, and a commitment to personal spiritual practice”

Please see the attached document for more details.

Philip Czachorowski
For the Walpole Peace and Justice Group

Friday, August 17, 2007

Walpole Peace Group Update

Thank you to all who walked in the One World Peace Walk. We had over 40 people walk the 4.6 miles between Norwood and Walpole on what was an extremely hot day. We were honored to have Dr. Bacevich speak at the closing ceremony with over 80 people in attendance. Rev. Kostulias gave an inspirational prayer and Barry and Lois lead songs. It was heartening to see so many people come out for the walk and to call on our government to take bold steps to bring peace to the Middle East through non-violent means. We thank all who supported the walk, especially the Blessed Sacrament Social Justice Committee, the United Church Outreach Committee, and the Peace Abbey.

The next peace vigil will be on Saturday, August 18, from 10:00 to 11:00 AM on the Walpole Common across from the post office. Please join us as we stand in witness against the continuing Iraq war.

Philip Czachorowski
For the Walpole Peace and Justice Group

Thursday, August 02, 2007

One World Peace Walk Saturday on Norwood Common

One World Peace Walk on Saturday, August 4, starting at 1:45 at Norwood Common

Please join us on Saturday for the One World Peace Walk as we walk to demonstrate our commitment to peace and to call on our government to take bold steps to bring peace to the Middle East through non-violent means. The walk will start at the Norwood Common and proceed 4.6 miles along Route 1A to the Walpole Common. Dr. Andrew J. Bacevich, Professor of International Relations and History at Boston University will speak at the closing ceremony in Walpole at 4:30 PM.

1:45 PM - Walkers convene at Norwood Common

2:00 PM - Open ceremony and start of walk

4:15 PM - Walk reaches Walpole Common

4:30 PM - Closing ceremony

The walk will be held rain or shine. Water and a mid-way rest stop will be provided for walkers as well as a support car. The walk will end at approximately 4:30 with Dr. Bacevich’s talk, prayers, and a group sing led by local musicians. Refreshments will be served. Members of the public are invited to participate in the walk or may join for the closing ceremonies.

We will have signs in Norwood if you would like to carry one. To get to Norwood, we recommend parking cars in Walpole and taking the MBTA bus to Norwood. Buses leave in front of the Walpole police station at 1:10 and 1:40 PM.

If you would like to help out we are asking volunteers to bring food for the closing ceremony. We will be serving finger food: cookies, brownies, potato chips, pretzels, watermelon and cantaloupe cubes. Please bring any food you would like to contribute to United Church between 12 and 12:30 pm.

It looks like we will great weather on Saturday. Hope you can come on the walk!

Friday, July 13, 2007

Local Groups Walk for Peace in the Middle East

Please join us for the One World Peace Walk on Saturday, August 4, 2007 sponsored by the Walpole Peace and Justice Group and other peace groups and religious organizations. This walk is an opportunity for each of to express our commitment to peace and to call on our government to take bold steps to bring peace to the Middle East through non-violent means. It is a great experience for families as we walk together. All are welcome.

Local Groups Walk for Peace in the Middle East

Local peace groups and religious organizations are sponsoring the One World Peace Walk on Saturday, August 4, 2007 calling on our government to take bold steps to bring peace to the Middle East through non-violent means. The purpose of the walk is to give people the opportunity to demonstrate their commitment to peace in their personal lives, their community, and the world. Dr. Andrew J. Bacevich, Professor of International Relations and History at Boston University, will speak at the closing ceremony in Walpole at 4:30 PM.

The walk is from Norwood to Walpole and has been an annual event since it was started in 2003 in Wrentham. Walkers will carry a small replica of the Sherborn Peace Abbey stone honoring the “Unknown Civilians Killed in War”. The full-sized stone and caisson, which together weigh two tons, have been pulled by human power from Sherborn to Washington D.C. and through England, Ireland, and Japan. Sponsors of the walk include the Walpole Peace and Justice Group, the Blessed Sacrament Social Action Committee, the United Church in Walpole Outreach Committee, and the Peace Abbey in Sherborn.

The walk will be held rain or shine. Walkers will convene at the Norwood Common at 1:45 PM for a 2:00 Opening Ceremony. The walk will proceed 4.6 miles along Route 1A to the Walpole Common. Walkers may park their cars in Walpole and take the MBTA Bus to Norwood Center. Buses leave in front of the Walpole police station at 1:10 and 1:40 PM. Water and a mid-way rest stop will be provided for walkers as well as a support car. The walk will end at approximately 4:30 with Dr. Bacevich’s talk, prayers, and a group sing led by local musicians. Refreshments will be served. Members of the public are invited to participate in the walk or may join for the closing ceremonies. People may contact the Walpole Peace and Justice Group at walpole_peace@verizon.net for more information.

For the Walpole Peace and Justice Group,

Philip Czachorowski

Friday, July 06, 2007

Peace Vigil - Saturday, July 7

The Walpole Peace and Justice Group invites you to join in a peace vigil to protest the Iraq war on the Walpole Commons, across from the Post Office, on Saturday, July 7, from 10:00 to 11:00 AM. We continue to hold peace vigils the 1st and third Saturday of the Month.

Saturday, June 30, 2007

Postcard from Berkeley

Greetings from Berkeley, CA, to all our friends in Walpole, MA. It has been quite the process getting out here, and dealing with all the things that it took to make it out here. What can I say, but that the Peace and Justice Group gave us the support and friendship needed to be able to make a huge leap. The Group even allowed us to re-connect to our real estate agent, who sold our house in exactly one day.

Our first weekend in Berkeley takes us down to MLK Way and the Civic Center -- there is a Peace Wall made of tiles:





This is also our first trip to the weekend Farmer's Market -- lots of fresh, organic veggies, fruits, and other things grown from the Earth.



Thanks for everything, guys. We will miss the vigils and the immediate company, but you are all always welcome in Berkeley, as I think anyone who loves peace always would be.

Friday, June 29, 2007

Peacewalk Press Release

One World Peace Walk
August 4, 2007

Local peace groups and religious organizations are sponsoring the One World Peace Walk on Saturday, August 4, 2007 calling on our government to take bold steps to bring peace to the Middle East. The purpose of the walk is to give people the opportunity to demonstrate their commitment to peace in their personal lives, their community, and their world. The walk is from Norwood to Walpole and has been an annual event since it was started in 2004 in Wrentham. Walkers will carry a small replica of the Sherborn Peace Abbey stone memorializing the “Unknown Civilians Killed in Wars.” The original stone, weighing 2 tons, has been carried to representative sites including Arlington National Cemetery, Nagasaki, and Hiroshima. Sponsors of the walk include the Walpole Peace and Justice Group, Blessed Sacrament Social Action Committee, and the United Church in Walpole Outreach Committee.

The walk will be held rain or shine. Walkers will convene at the Norwood Common at 1:45 PM for a 2:00 Opening Ceremony. The walk will proceed 4.6 miles along Route 1A to the Walpole Common. Walkers may want to park their cars in Walpole and take the MBTA Bus to Norwood Center. Buses leave in front of the Walpole police station at 1:10 and 1:40 PM. Water and a mid-way rest stop will be provided for walkers as well as a support car. The walk will end at approximately 4:30 with a closing ceremony, prayers, refreshments, and a group sing led by local musicians. Members of the public are invited to participate in the walk and the closing ceremonies.

For more information, contact walpole_peace@verizon.net.

Monday, June 04, 2007

Adam Sacks - Democracy in the US

Walpole Talk on the State of Democracy in the United States - Tuesday, June 5, 7:30 PM at Walpole Library

Despite all of the extraordinary efforts of people’s movements since the founding of the United States of America, democracy is as fragile as ever. After decades of environmentalism the destruction of nature is accelerating, oil and resource wars are more dangerous than ever, and the gap between the world’s rich and poor is a deepening abyss.

Why do powerful wealthy interests and influential government officials, woefully outnumbered by the rest of us, always prevail in the end (with occasional relatively minor concessions)? What is it that we don’t know about changing the system, changing the culture, that we need to know in order to create a peaceful and livable world?

The Walpole Peace and Justice Group would like to invite you to come to hear Adam Sacks speak to these questions on June 5th at 7:30 pm at the Walpole Public Library. Adam is the director of the Center for Democracy and the Constitution. A non-profit located in Lexington, Mass. He is currently developing a think tank to explore how to change the current paradigm so that people around the world can survive the 21st century.

For the Walpole Peace and Justice Group

Paul Peckham

Monday, May 21, 2007

The War Comes to Walpole

A touching piece by Emily Rooney on the memorial service for Lt. Andrew J. Bacevich (27), and on the activities in Walpole and Norwood this morning, on Greater Boston: "First Lt. Andrew Bacevich - who was killed in Iraq last week - is buried today. We discuss the impact of the war on Massachusetts".

The video piece preceeds an interesting discussion between Ms. Rooney and two academics (from Tufts and the Kennedy School).

Walpole Mourns Lt. Col. Andrew Bacevich
direct link to vieo

More tributes in the MMS:
Video from WBZ-TV
Video from NECN
Story w/ video on WCVB

Story w/ audio on WBUR
Here and Now on WBUR
OnPoint on WBUR

There are a few articles from the Globe here:
"A somber service in Norwood for a fallen soldier"
"Following war tragedy, son and father revered"
"BU professor creates scholarship fund in memory of son killed in Iraq"
"Rescinding the Bush Doctrine (by Andrew J. Bacevich)"

Offer support here: "Guest Book for Andrew J. Bacevich"

From the National Desk at the New York Times:
Former Soldier, Now a Professor, Loses His Only Son to a War He Actively Opposed"

And coverage from the Herald:
"Hundreds line streets for fallen soldier"

And a few write-ups in The Daily Transcript:

"Hundreds line streets for fallen soldier"
"Mournful morning"
"His father staunch critic of war"

From the blogosphere:
Stram - done that: "They gave it all"
Free Our Fobbits: "Correspondence on Bachevich's death"
Jules Crittenden - Forward Movement: "Beloved Son"
ToughEnough.org: "Lt. Andrew J. Bacevich, 27, of Walpole, Mass."
Jeff Egnaczyk - boonville blog: "RIP, Andrew Bacevich"
Steve Clemons - TMP Cafe: "What is Andrew Bacevich's Son's Life Worth?"

A day of sorrow; a day Walpole will clearly remember for some time. It was amazing to see all the support downtown; obviously, Lt Bacevich's service and sacrifice have touched many. Our condolences to the Bacevich family.

Tuesday, May 01, 2007

Press Release Joe Gerson Talk May 8th

The Walpole Peace and Justice Group is sponsoring a talk by Joseph Gerson on his new book “Empire and the Bomb: How the U.S. Uses Nuclear Weapons to Dominate the World”. The talk will be held at the Walpole Public Library, May 8th, at 7:30 PM. Joseph Gerson will show how the U.S. has repeatedly used the threat of a first strike nuclear attack to bolster our foreign policy and imperial ambitions. This policy of using nuclear weapons to threaten other countries has only served to drive the proliferation of nuclear weapons with these countries attempting to acquire their own weapons. Every U.S. president since President Truman has used the threat of nuclear weapons. Over 12 of these threats have been made in regard to the Middle East. For example, the U.S. has made implicit threats of using ‘bunker-buster” atomic bombs to destroy Iran’s nuclear infrastructure.

In his talk, Joseph Gerson will give a history of the U.S. nuclear weapon policy, from the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki to the present standoff with North Korea and Iran. He will also give a history of the anti-nuclear movement. He will show the difference between “arms control” and “nuclear weapons abolition” and why it is imperative that nuclear weapons be abolished. The talk is particularly timely given the part that the alleged nuclear weapon threat played in initiating the war with Iraq as well as the current crisis over North Korea’s and Iran’s quest for developing nuclear weapons.

Joseph Gerson is the Director of Programs of the American Friends Service Committee in New England and a leading figure in the U.S. peace movement. He has spoken at over 70 colleges and at international conferences like the World Conference Against Atomic and Hydrogen Bombs in Hiroshima, the Japan Peace Conference in Sasebo, and the Swedish Peace Council. He is the author of several books and it is a great honor to have him speak in Walpole. The public is invited. There will be a book-signing after the talk.

Philip

Friday, April 27, 2007

WPnJ at the Peace Abbey

On Monday, the Walpole Peace and Justice Group held a planning meeting at the Peace Abbey in Sherborn. We all took a tour of the Abbey with Madeline:


The Abbey's courtyard features a monument to Emily (the cow) and a series of six walls covered with plaques containing statements of peace. It was a beautiful and warm evening, and we were able to enjoy the place with the setting sun.


An offering left at the monument to Emily.


Emily the cow escaped the slaughter-house by jumping a fence.


Madeline's Iraq War Casualties Project - each link in these paper chains has the name of an American soldier who has lost his or her life in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Saturday, April 07, 2007

Links and Books on Israel-Palestine from John Spritzler

Here are some links to good books about the Israel/Palestine conflict.

Also, click here for links to my articles and books, many of which are about the Israel/Palestine conflict.

--John

BACKGROUND READING: PRO-ZIONIST AND ANTI-ZIONIST AUTHORS DISCUSS A JEWISH STATE

Articles by Pro- Zionist Authors:
Righteous Victims: A History of the Zionist-Arab Conflict, 1881-2001
by BENNY MORRIS

The Birth of the Palestinian Refugee Problem Revisited (Cambridge Middle East Studies)
by Benny Morris


Morris describes the Israeli ethnic cleansing of Palestinians, but does not condemn it.

The Jewish State: The Struggle for Israel's Soul
by Yoram Hazony

Hazony explains the anti-democratic foundation of a Jewish state. He also worries that many Israelis don't understand the importance of a Jewish state.

Perfidy
by Ben Hecht

Hecht supports the idea of a Jewish state, but was shocked to learn of the perfidy of Zionist leaders during WWII who betrayed European Jews for it's sake.

1949, The First Israelis
by Tom Segev , Arlen Neal Weinstein

I'm not sure if the authors consider themselves pro- or anti-Zionist, but they were the first to write the history of Israel's origin based on newly obtained archival records, and they challenged the pro-Zionist mythology.

Articles by Anti-Zionist Authors:

The Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine , by Ilan Pappe "This is a stunning and relentless collection of evidence. Pappe uses things such as military archives (opened in the 1990s), diary entries from Ben-Gurion, and oral histories from Hagana soldiers and Palestinians. He gives lengthy, village-by-village accounts of the destruction of homes and expulsion of residents. The expulsions were guided by files of the Jewish National Fund, which had been gathering intelligence data on the demographics of the villages for decades.

"It is hard to think of a book that is more opposite of a commonly accepted history than this one. According to Pappe, 1948 was not a desperate fight for survival by a surrounded Jewish enclave, it was a Zionist attack on the countryside. Most of the fighting stemmed from the Hagana's systematic destruction of 400 Palestinian villages. Most refugees were driven out BEFORE the main war started on May 15, 1948. Arab armies did intervene in a haphazard attempt to defend Palestinian sections (as set by the UN partition plan), but they were always out gunned, out numbered and out coordinated by the Hagana. Jordan, in particular, had a secret agreement with the Zionists to annex the West Bank in return for not joining an invasion of Israel. So the most effective Arab army, (and a Jordanian also commanded the pan-Arab "Arab Liberation Army") was not trying to destroy Israel, only protect its own designs on the West Bank and East Jerusalem." [a review on Amazon.com]

One Country: A Bold Proposal to End the Israeli-Palestinian Impasse, by Ali Abunimah "Clear-eyed, sharply reasoned, and compassionate, One Country proposes a radical alternative: to revive an old and neglected idea of one state shared by two peoples. Ali Abunimah shows how the two are by now so intertwined—geographically and economically—that separation cannot lead to the security Israelis need or the rights Palestinians must have. He reveals the bankruptcy of the two-state approach, takes on the objections and taboos that stand in the way of a binational solution, and demonstrates that sharing the territory will bring benefits for all. The absence of other workable options has only lead to ever greater extremism; it is time, Abunimah suggests, for Palestinians and Israelis to imagine a different future and a different relationship" [from Amazon.com]

Sharing the Land of Canaan by Mazin B. Qumsiyeh, who proposes for the region, one single multi-cultural state, in which the rights of all peoples of the region, Muslim, Christian and Jew, are respected and preserved, and those who have been displaced and disenfranchised be granted the right, under the United Nations Charter, and principles of humanitarian justice, to return to their homeland.

The One-State Solution: A Breakthrough for Peace in the Israeli-Palestinian Deadlock, by Virginia Q. Tilley

The One-State Solution by Edward Said (January 10, 1999)

Jewish History, Jewish Religion: The Weight of Three Thousand Years, by Israel Shahak

Apartheid Israel : Possibilities for the Struggle Within by Uri Davis

Davis describes in detail how the Israeli government officially discriminates against non-Jews and denies them their human rights.

FATEH - Palestinian Liberation Movement Palestine, 1/12/2003

This Palestinian organization position paper rejects the two-state "solution" and calls for "Return First, and Peace for Two Nations in One State"

Karma Nabulsi is a fellow of Nuffield College, Oxford, a former PLO representative and adviser at the peace talks 91-93

Nabulsi reports, "Across the board, from the mainstream political parties as well as from the refugee camps, the petitions and the declarations have flooded in. Just read any half-dozen and you see immediately that they are unequivocal. For the absolute majority of the Palestinian people, the refugee issue is right at the core of the conflict, and it has to be addressed .."

What Price Israel? 50th Anniversary Edition 1953-2003
by Alfred M. Lilienthal

Lilienthal examines the controversial origin of a Jewish state.

51 Documents: Zionist Collaboration With the Nazis
by Lenni Brenner

Brenner has collected primary source documents revealing the collaboration between Zionist leaders and Nazis during WWII, based on their agreement that Jews and non-Jews could not live together in the same nation.

Dignity, Solidarity and the Penal Colony by Edward Said (September 25, 2003)

Zionism is the Issue: Building a Strong Pro-Palestinian Movement In the US By Lana Habash and Noah Cohen

Look Upon Your Works, Ye Israel, And Despair by Anne Gwynne

Sigmund Freud's letter to Dr. Chaim Koffler, 1930

Wednesday, March 28, 2007

Is Jimmy Carter Right on Israel?

The Walpole Peace and Justice Group (WPJG) is sponsoring a talk by John Spritzler, "Is Jimmy Carter Right on Israel?" He will examine former President Carter's controversial book, "Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid," and address the question: "Does Israel practice apartheid policies?" Mr. Spritzler will describe the history and issues behind the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and propose avenues for a peaceful solution.

Mr. Spritzler is an author: "The People as Enemy: The Leaders' Hidden Agenda in World War II" and co-author of "On the Public Agenda: Essays for Change". He is also a Research Scientist at the Harvard School of Public Health and a founding member of New Democracy. This WPJG talk will be held at the Walpole Public Library on Tuesday, April 3rd at 7:30 PM. The public is invited to come and consider an issue that is critical to achievement of peace in the Middle East.

Tuesday, March 13, 2007

Peace Vigil 4th Anniversary of Iraq War in Walpole

Please join us for a peace vigil on Saturday, March 17 to mark the 4th Anniversary of the Iraq war and to remember the U.S. and Iraqi dead. We will be joining groups across the country in calling on the U.S. to end this disastrous war and bring our country’s troops home to safety. This war, which should never have been started, has caused four years of death and destruction. A 60-foot banner with the names of many of the more than 3,100 U.S. solders killed in the war will be displayed. We may also have a chain of rings with all 3,100+ names. Seeing the actual names of our dead is sobering as we reflect on the terrible human cost of this war. Over 22,000 other solders have been wounded, many with serious debilitating injuries. Iraqi civilian casualties are estimated to be as high as 600,000. The high financial cost of the war is placing a huge burden on the U.S. budget and will continue to do so for decades, limiting funds available for human needs. The direct cost through 2008 will be over $500 billion just for Iraq or about $1,700 for every man, woman, and child in the U.S. The total cost will exceed $2 trillion.

A moment of silence with prayers will be held along with the reading of representative names of U.S. soldiers and Iraqi civilians killed in the war. The vigil will be held on the Walpole Common, across from the Post Office, from 10:00 AM to 12:00 noon. Please attend for all of part of the vigil.

Saturday, February 24, 2007

Walpole PnJ Events for March

Below is a schedule of Walpole Peace and Justice Group Events for March as well as a talk at Blessed Sacrament by Sheila Provencher on her first hand experiences in Baghdad.

March 3, 2007: Walpole Peace and Justice Group Vigil on the Walpole Common to protest the Iraq war, 10:00 to 11:00 AM

March 4, 2007: Sheila Provencher will speak about her experiences working in Baghdad with Christian Peacemaker Teams. Sponsored by Blessed Sacrament Church, the talk will be held in the Blessed Sacrament School Auditorium, Route 27, Walpole, starting at 7:00 PM. Christian Peacemaker Teams is an ecumenical organization dedicated to the reduction of violence and to human rights in areas of armed conflict around the world.

March 6, 2007: Walpole Peace and Justice Group Speaker Series - "Venezuela - What a Real Democracy Looks Like" by Paul Peckham. Paul, a member of the group, has just returned from a Global Exchange Reality Tour and will report on his first hand view of Venezuela and the Hugo Chavez presidency. While the Bush administration has been critical of Venezuela, the Chavez administration has embarked on a program to improve the basic social services for people. Paul’s talk will describe the major areas of social reform such as universal health care, free college education, government support for coops and small businesses, and land reform. He will describe what Venezuelans call "participatory democracy" in which the average citizen is involved in all levels of government, from the local to the national. He will also cover the Bush administration's involvement in the coup in 2002 to oust Hugo Chavez as President and the ongoing campaign by the Bush administration to discredit Chavez’s administration. The public is invited.

March 17, 2007: Walpole Peace and Justice Group Vigil on the Walpole Common marking the 4th Anniversary of the war in Iraq. 10:00 AM to 12:00 noon AM. We will be protesting this disastrous war by observing the 4th anniversary of the start as well as commemorating the American and Iraqi dead.

For the Walpole Peace and Justice Group
Philip

Tuesday, February 13, 2007

Other Events at the Walpole Library

The Peace and Justice Group is happy to help spread the word about two seminars on the topics of "The Middle East" and "Climate Change" being organized by the Friends of the Walpole Public Library and the Boston College Lifelong Learning Institute. The seminars will present "compact discussions" from the Great Decisions course offered at the Institute. These are free and open to the public on a first come basis.

The Middle East Pt 1: Thursday, March 15, 7-9pm
The Middle East Pt 2: Thursday, April 5, 7-9pm

Climate Change Pt 1: Thursday, April 12, 7-9pm
Climate Change Pt 2: Thursday, April 26, 7-9pm

You can sign up or get more information at the Main Desk, or call (508) 660-7340.

Links from The Ground Truth Screening

Here are some links from tonights discussion following the screening of "The Ground Truth". First, here is the article from last Sunday's Globe about the Iraq War veteran who could not get medical services and committed suicide:


Told to wait, a Marine dies


And here is the obituary that Dottie wanted to share with everyone:

Cynthia Foster, at 99; was rebel against war


If you can think of other folks in the area who might want to attend a screening this Thursday, MoveOn is sponsoring a number of events that night:

Search MoveOn for screenings on Feb 15th

Saturday, February 10, 2007

Next Peace Vigil on Saturday, February 17

The Walpole Peace and Justice Group will hold the next peace vigil on Saturday, February 17, from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM at the Walpole Common across from the Post Office. Please join us as we stand in protest of this disastrous war and call upon the return of all of our troops. The president's plan to escalate the war will only bring more violence and death. Over 3,000 U.S. troops have been killed as well as up to 650,000 Iraqi civilians.

We will be holding vigils every 1st and 3rd Saturday of the month at the Walpole Common from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM. We will supply signs or please bring your own.

Friday, February 02, 2007

Ground Truth Screening Feb 13 in Walpole

The Walpole Peace and Justice Group will be hosting a screening of the film "The Ground Truth" on February 13th, at 7:30pm. This is part of the WP&JG's continuing Tuesday Night Speaker Series, and will take place at the Walpole Public Library.


"Hailed as "powerful" and "quietly unflinching," Patricia Foulkrod's searing documentary feature includes exclusive footage that will stir audiences. The filmmaker's subjects are patriotic young Americans - ordinary men and women who heeded the call for military service in Iraq - as they experience recruitment and training, combat, homecoming, and the struggle to reintegrate with families and communities. The terrible conflict in Iraq, depicted with ferocious honesty in the film, is a prelude for the even more challenging battles fought by the soldiers returning home – with personal demons, an uncomprehending public, and an indifferent government. As these battles take shape, each soldier becomes a new kind of hero, bearing witness and giving support to other veterans, and learning to fearlessly wield the most powerful weapon of all - the truth."

Click here to see event details of sign up for the event.

Our Press Release for the event follows:
The Walpole Peace and Justice Group continues its speakers series on February 13, 2007 with a screening of “Ground Truth: After the Killing Ends” at the Walpole Public Library, at 7:30 PM. “Ground Truth” is a powerful, moving documentary about the devastating impact of the Iraqi war on U.S. soldiers. Directed by Patricia Foulkrod, “Ground Truth” has been acclaimed by a wide range of critics. Ty Burr, film critic of the Boston Globe, called it the “documentary any American with an opinion on our involvement in Iraq owes it to his or her conscience to see.” Foulkrod interviews 12 soldiers about their experiences from boot camp to fighting in Iraq and then back at home dealing with their physical and psychological injuries. The film consists entirely of these soldier’s stories through interviews and film footage.

The film has been widely recognized for depicting the Iraqi war as it really is and how it has affected our soldiers. James Verniere of the Boston Herald wrote “Beginning with what many speakers describe as deceptive recruiting techniques and concluding with the government’s alleged attempt to avoid paying for postwar benefits and health care, the film paints a devastating portrait of the war and the wrenching plight of the men and women serving in it.” Stephen Holden of the New York Times wrote “The film also addresses deeper questions about modern methods of creating efficient soldiers and their long-term consequences. It asks: how could anyone imagine that the intensive molding of human beings into killing machines wouldn’t affect the rest of their lives?”

The public is invited to the film. We will have a discussion following the showing. Note that due to language and the violent content, the film is rated “R” and would be unsuitable for children. More information on this and other events, future and past, can be found on the blog for the Walpole Peace and Justice Group (http://walpolepeace.blogspot.com/).

Peace Vigil Feb 3 in Walpole

The Walpole Peace and Justice Group will hold a peace vigil on Saturday, February 3, from 10:00 to 11:00 AM at the Walpole Common across from the Post Office. Please join us as we stand to protest the escalation of the Iraqi war. We are holding this vigil to call on Congress to ‘act now to end the war.’ We will have signs for your use or you may bring your own. Last week we had 18 people joining us as we held a 60 foot banner honoring the 3000+ U.S. service men and women killed in this tragic war and honoring the hundreds of thousands of Iraqi civilians killed.

We will be holding peace vigils the 1st and 3rd Saturday of each month, 10:00 – 11:00 AM on the Walpole Common.

For the Walpole Peace and Justice Group
Philip Czachorowski

Tuesday, January 23, 2007

Peace Vigil on Walpole Common

Peace Vigil on Walpole Common, Saturday, January 27, 2007 from 10 to 11 AM

The Walpole Peace and Justice Group is holding a vigil at the Walpole Common on Saturday, January 27, from 10:00 to 11:00 AM to call on the United States government to end the war in Iraq and bring our troops home. Weather permitting; the Group will be holding a 60 foot banner honoring the 3,000 plus United States service men and women killed to date in the war. The vigil will be on the part of the Walpole Common across from the Post Office. The public is invited.

Tuesday, January 09, 2007

Our Exxon Cards Shredded

Had a great time tonight at the movie screening, and I hope all did enjoy the movie and the talk by Tom Jackson. After the movie, we wanted to chat some more, so Tom and Craig came by the house for tea -- and I promised to shred my ExxonMobil credit cards. So here they are, my card, Donna's card, and the mess afterwards (can it be recycled?):