Dunkirk-Fredonia Center for Peace and Justice - Previous News/Opinion

Peace Pole dedication postponed

admin — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 17:56:24 -0500

Out of respect for the concerns of veterans about the location of the Peace Pole, the Dunkirk Fredonia Center for Peace and Justice has contacted Dunkirk Mayor Richard Frey and suggested that the dedication ceremony originally scheduled for this Saturday, September 25, be postponed. It suggested further that the mayor consult with local veterans and the Dunkirk Common Council concerning another location for the pole within Dunkirk's Memorial Park.

MAY PEACE PREVAIL ON EARTH

QUE LA PAZ PREVALENZCA EN LA TIERRA

CHE LA PACE PREVALERE SULLA TERRA

NIECH BEDZIE POKOJ NE ZIEMI

Iraq War veteran to speak at SUNY Fredonia, February 18

admin — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 11:03:16 -0600

Brian Turner, Iraq War veteran and author of the 2005 Beatric Hawley award-winning book, Here, Bullet, will visit SUNY Fredonia on Wednesday February 18.

He will give a talk at 2:00 pm in Fenton Hall, Room 127; and read selections of his poetry at 7:00 pm in Rosch Recital Hall. At the 7:00 reading, Assistant Professor of Music Rob Deemer will perform a piece inspired by Turner's work, followed by a book signing. Both events are free and open to the public. For details see http://ww2.fredonia.edu/news/NewsRoom/tabid/1101/ctl/ArticleView/mid/1878/articleId/1371/Default.aspx

United Nations Day International Day of Peace commemoration in Fredonia

admin — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 08:18:18 -0500

On Sunday September 21, the SUNY Fredonia Students for Peace and the Dunkirk-Fredonia Center for Peace and Justice invite all in our area to join with people around the world for the United Nations International Day of Peace. This is the schedule of events:

12:00 noon - 1:00 pm - Brown bag community lunch at the Grange Hall, 58 W. Main St., Fredonia. Bring your own lunch and enjoy the company of other peace loving folks. Water and juice will be provided. The brown bag lunch will take place after the Unitarian service, which is also held at the Grange Hall.

1:00-1:15 pm - Marchers will gather at the gazebo in Barker Commons to sort out signs, instruments, etc. for the march.

1:30 pm - The group will march to the SUNY campus, ending at the Peace Pole near Mason Hall.

2:00-3:00 pm - The program will consist of music, speakers, sharing and the rededicatino of the Peace Pole.

Please come and join in this event.

Remembering Willard Gaeddert, a founder of DF CPJ

admin — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 06:20:23 -0500

Willard Gaeddert, a founding and active member of the Center for Peace and Justice, died September 4. His obituary and notices regarding his memorial service can be found at http://www.observertoday.com/page/content.detail/id/544999.html?nav=5008.

(CPJ will meet as planned on Thursday September 9 at 7:30 p.m. at Growing with Music/Thrifty Reader Bookstore (Barlow's Mill), located at 369 West Main St., Fredonia.)

Religious Freedom Peace Tax Fund Bill - to be resubmitted in Congress

admin — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 16:15:31 -0600

The Religious Freedom Peace Tax Fund bill, H.R. 1921, submitted to Congress by John Lewis in April, 2007, is soon to be submitted again.

When enacted, this law will restore the rights of citizens whose conscience does not permit physical or financial participation in all war. Federal taxes of designated conscientious objectors will be placed in a non-military trust fund, enabling these citizens to be free from spiritual bondage, increasing federal revenue, and restoring the balance of government between collective security and non-interference in an individual's free exercise of belief.

Write to Rep Higgins or Rep Massa, since neither of them are among the 45 co-sponsors of the bill. Your personal letter could be from the perspective of a conscientious objector and/or a supporter of civil liberties. Your letter could also become a letter to the editor for the Observer or the papers in Massa's district.

For more information and two sample letters, go to the website of The National Campaign for a Peace Tax Fund (NCPTF), based in Washington, D.C., a not-for-profit organization which advocates for passage of the Religious Freedom Peace Tax Fund Bill: http://www.peacetaxfund.org

Addresses:

Rep. Brian Higgins: 27th District (Chautauqua and most of Erie county)
431 Cannon HOB
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: 202-225-3306

Rep. Eric Massa: 29th District (Cattaraugus, Allegany, Steuben,
Chemung, Schyler, Yates, Ontario, Southern Monroe counties)
1208 Longworth HOB
Washington, DC 20515

Phone: (202) 225-3161

2007 Nicarauguan Appeal a success

admin — Sun, 12 Aug 2007 21:01:50 -0500

Three truckloads of materials and $500 were donated during the CPJ's July 2007 Nicarauguan Appeal. Each year, CPJ organizes a collection to help the impoverished people of the Central American country. This effort is led by Ann Marie Zon, a Catholic social worker who spends several months each year at a mission in Nicaragua. Thanks to all who donated!

Results of CPJ yard sale

admin — Thu, 26 Oct 2006 15:34:04 -0500

CPJ raised $500 at its September 23 yard sale. Thank you to all who helped and to those who supported the sale with their purchases.

CPJ hosts Dr. Tom Potts and Dr. Bill Jungles at special October 25 meeting

admin — Thu, 26 Oct 2006 15:06:33 -0500

Dr. Tom Potts, a dentist who has volunteered for the past 19 years to provide dental care to the poor of Chenalgo, in the state of Chiapas, Mexico, and Dr. Bill Jungles, PhD (retired SUNY Fredonia communications professor) were the guest speakers at the special October 25 CPJ meeting. Dr. Potts presented information about his endeavors and the environment in which he does his work. Dr. Jungles talked about the recent Mexican election and the 1997 massacre of 47 individuals in Acteal in Chiapas. CPJ made a $200 donation to Dr. Potts to help him continue to serve the indigenous people of Chiapas.

A more detailed item about Dr. Potts' efforts can be found on the CPJ website under "CPJ News/Opinion." For further information about Dr. Potts' clinic, human rights issues in Latin America, and a link to contact the Interamerican Commission on Human Rights regarding the plight of the people of Actuel, go to http://www.lascwny.org/.

Letter to Buffalo News from CPJ member

admin — Fri, 20 Oct 2006 18:04:46 -0500

CPJ member Dan O'Rourke wrote the following which was published in the October 13, 2006 issue of the Buffalo News.

Buffalo News
Letter to Editor:

Congressman Thomas Reynolds’ news conference, television advertising and public statements on the cover-up of Congressman Mark Foley’s predatory behavior towards teenaged pages are self-serving and deceptive.

His initial news conference at which he surrounded himself with young children was especially insensitive. It reminded me of Hamas using human shields to protect their rocket sites. Even when the press asked him to excuse the children, he refused.

Now Reynolds is running $200,000 worth of TV ads apologizing for not doing more. His apologies do not ring true. Are they paid for in part from money obtained from former Congressman Foley?

Reynolds’ response to many of the questions posed by the Buffalo News is that “he does not recall.” That’s a lawyer-like evasion. Does he expect us to believe him? He knew. And he protected the Republican Party not the teenaged pages. He’s a major player in a corrupt system and does not deserve to be reelected to Congress.

Daniel C. O’Rourke

Call to action from WNY Peace Center regarding conflict in Middle East

admin — Sat, 05 Aug 2006 13:00:29 -0500

The following was forwarded by the WNY Peace Center in Buffalo:

The message below is from the US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation and United for Peace and Justice.

---------------------------

On Sunday Israel bombed a residential apartment building in the Lebanese village of Qana, killing 57 civilians, including 37 children.  There is no military solution to the current conflict. The Iraq war hasn't brought peace or security to the people of Iraq and the bombing of civilian populations has not and will not bring greater peace or security to the people of Lebanon, Palestine, and Israel.

The only way out of the carnage is an immediate and unconditional ceasefire, followed by multiparty negotiations to resolve the underlying political disputes based on human rights and international law. Most of the world agrees, but the governments of the U.S., Britain, and Israel have so far rejected calls for an immediate cease-fire.

So long as Washington provides military and diplomatic support to Israel's indiscriminate killing of civilians, a cease-fire will not be possible. It is time for the people of this country to speak up! The US Campaign and United for Peace and Justice, the country's largest anti-war coalition, call on you to take action to press Congress and the White House to back an immediate ceasefire and prevent Israel from using U.S. weapons to commit war crimes.

TAKE ACTION THIS WEEK: Call Congress and the White House. Call your Congressperson and the White House every day this week and demand an immediate cease-fire and a Presidential report to Congress on Israel's misuse of U.S.-supplied weapons to kill civilians and destroy civilian infrastructure in violation of the U.S. Arms Export Control Act. Call 202-456-1111 or email comments@whitehouse.gov today to reach the White House! Call Congress at 202-224-3121 for the Capitol switchboard.