Ground the Drones, End the Wars
We gave out 2,000 leaflets on “The Two Faces of Drones” at the State Fair! Our tableau, stationed just outside the Fair’s main entrance, garnered support, objections, curiosity and interesting conversations. The tableau was a dramatic presentation of the two faces—surveillance at home and killing people abroad. Great thanks to the 24 people who participated over the course of five days.
Kathy Kelly and Buddy Bell will bring the Justice for Afghanistan Tour to Syracuse from October 13-15. Kathy and Buddy, who together have been to Afghanistan 15 times, are traveling as part of a Voices for Creative Nonviolence speaking tour calling for reparations to rebuild Afghanistan’s agricultural infrastructure. Join them at our weekly Peace Outreach at Hancock Air Base on Tuesday, October 15 from 4:15 – 5 pm (see page 6), followed by a program at ArtRage Gallery at 7 pm (505 Hawley Ave., Syracuse). In addition, they will speak at St. Lucy’s Church (432 Gifford St., Syracuse) at the 9 and 11 am masses on Sunday, October 13, and on Monday at 7 pm.
Also coming up: a meeting of the Upstate Coalition to Ground the Drones and End the Wars in October, and the Anti-Drones Summit in Washington, DC in November.
For more information, contact Carol.
Birthday Dinner! From Pakistan to Syracuse with Noor Mir of CODEPINK
On Saturday, October 5, celebrate the Peace Council’s 77th birthday and enjoy a tasty vegetarian meal, followed by a talk and discussion titled “From Pakistan to Syracuse… Grassroots Resistance to Drones” with Noor Mir from CodePink Women Against War. Based in Washington DC, Noor is the anti-drones campaign coordinator for CODEPINK and calls Islamabad, Pakistan her home. She graduated from Vassar College in 2012 with majors in Political Science, French and English. While studying abroad she took courses on international law and targeted killings, and was driven by what she learned to turn it into a year-long research thesis on drone warfare in Pakistan. Noor is passionate about killer drones, humanitarian law and race relations. This year’s birthday dinner will take place Saturday October 5, at Pebble Hill Presbyterian Church (5299 Jamesville Rd., Dewitt). Doors open at 6 pm. Dinner is served at 6:30 pm. Program with Noor begins at 7:30 pm. $15-50 sliding scale ($25 suggested donation). In addition to being an exciting event with delicious food, this is an important fundraiser for SPC. Please make your reservation at www.peacecouncil.net/birthday. There are many opportunities to lend a hand preparing for the birthday dinner. Contact Ursula or Carol.
NOON Updates
Neighbors of the Onondaga Nation’s E-News Announcements are now being distributed twice monthly. They are an opportunity to explain NOON’s projects and what people can do to help, along with a calendar of native events and activities. We are very excited to be able to connect with more people this way. To join the list, contact Carol.
Other events coming up:
- Kate Lewis, Sue Eiholzer and Wendy Gonyea, Beaver Clan Mother, will present a workshop at the Imagining America Conference in October.
- The Good Friends Gardeners are taking in the last harvests and will soon put the garden to bed for the winter.
- Work on a new Haudenosaunee Confederacy sign at Onondaga Lake Park and the new Neighbor to Neighbor: Nation to Nation booklet are drawing to a conclusion.
- Hydrofracking efforts are focused on stopping a new gas pipeline which will run from Binghamton to Syracuse.
- Information tabling continues to keep us busy.
- To get involved or suggest information tabling opportunities, contact Carol.
Passersby sign petitions and make phone
calls to elected officials at the Westcott
Street Fair. Photo: Carol Baum
No US Military Intervention in Syria
As the Obama administration escalated threats to bomb Syria, the Peace Council held an August 30 protest against US military intervention in Syria. About 35 people attended the 11 am demonstration and called on the US to send humanitarian aid instead of bombs to the Syrian people. Peace Council staffers have compiled a reading list on the crisis in Syria, which can be found on the Peace Council website (www.peacecouncil.net), and various Syria-related educational events are being planned. Check the Peace Council website.
CNY Working Keeps on Working!
CNY Working for a Just Peace in Palestine and Israel hosted Steve Downs on September 17 to speak at ArtRage Gallery in a talk entitled “The War on Terror – Making Us All the Enemy” with excellent attendance and delicious snacks! His talk was one of many the group has presented in an effort to keep the issue of the illegal occupation of Palestine on the minds of the people in our area. Because we believe that US funding is instrumental in supporting Israel’s policies of occupation and military control, we believe that it is our responsibility to influence our government’s choices and actions. One way we can do that is by bringing accurate and important information that is left out of the “mainstream” media. Stay tuned for upcoming films and presentations from this committee. Contact Jessica.
to the media during SPC’s August 30 demonstration
against military intervention in Syria. Photo: Carol Baum
Two Row Campaign Looks to the Future
Two Row Wampum Renewal Campaign organizers are busily following up on the glorious journey down the Hudson River this summer. We continue spreading the word about this first agreement between the Haudenosaunee and Europeans and the roadmap it offers to a peaceful, just and sustainable future. Discussions are underway about the most effective ways to build on the momentum generated thus far. That momentum includes over 160 articles and stories about the Two Row, many videos, followup programs, continued sharing on the internet and more. We have nearly 1,000 signatures on our Declaration of Intent (subscribers see insert and please collect some more!).
Join us for a report back event on Monday, October 14, Indigenous Peoples Day at 7 pm at SEIU 1199, 250 South Clinton St. to hear from organizers and paddlers about the trip and join in discussions about where to go from here. You can find updates, videos, photos and more at www.honorthetworow.org or call 701-1592.
Fundraising!
The Peace Council exists thanks to the generous financial contributions of community members who believe in the importance of our ongoing work. Staff and the Fundraising Development committee are continually engaged in grassroots fundraising activities to make sure the SPC meets our shoestring budget.
Special thanks to our Fundraising Committee—Wendy Yost, Sarah Eggers and Sherly Day-Bernthal, and thank you to Rae Kramer for hosting the annual SPC Garage Sale which raised over $1,300!
Also, many appreciations to Metro Lounge and to the artists who performed at the SPC benefit on September 12: Colleen Kattau, Laura Sue the Silver Nightingale, and the members of Root SHOCK.
Hats off to Wendy Yost for her persistence in promoting the bike raffle and to bike shop Mello Velo for their support! Please support the artists and businesses that support SPC.
The Peace Council is facing a budget deficit this year and we are developing strategies to make sure that we can maintain our current level of program and staffing. In mid-October we will be sending our fall fund appeal letter—but you can donate anytime, day or night, at www.peacecouncil.net/donate!
Justice in the Americas
CNY activists will be traveling to the November Vigil to Close the School of the Americas the weekend of November 22-24. You can learn more at www.soaw.org. Contact Ann for carpooling details, (315) 478-4571. The SOA Abolitionists will be hosting author Rosalie Reigle at ArtRage Gallery on Tuesday, November 1, at 7 pm. Reigle is the author of Doing Time for Peace – a collection of interviews with prisoners of conscience, including CNY activists who have done time for civil disobedience to close the School of the Americas.
Activist Appreciation: Cindy Squillace
Cindy Squillace has been part of the Syracuse Peace Council for nearly 40 years. To all her work Cindy brings warmth, caring, a sense of humor and compassion which make her stand out in any group. Cindy was one of the “bloody nuns” who boldly confronted Secretary of State Alexander Haig at the SU graduation in 1980. More recently her primary involvement has been with NOON and the Two Row Wampum Renewal Campaign. Her people skills were deeply appreciated as the group worked through touchy interpersonal issues and as the Two Row trip headed down the river. She coordinated the “Peacekeeping” group, helping resolve problems as they arose and providing a listening ear whenever needed. Thanks for all you do, Cindy!
Garage Sale Gratitude
Thanks to all who donated, did set up and clean up, purchased our goodies, and helped make this another successful foray into commerce, peace and justice style. Despite some rain and semi-frantic “cover the stuff, uncover the stuff, cover the stuff, uncover the stuff…” we took in $1,300!! Special thanks to sale coordinator Rae Kramer, and to helpers Teresa, Herm, Ann, Shara, Brian, Laurie, Lanny, Vicki, Daves 1 and 2, Gary, Ed, Renee, Ursula, and baby William.
We have “routinized” this event into our annual calendar, so here’s a heads-up for next year: the weekend after Labor Day for the sale and the Wednesday through Friday before the weekend for donations. Keep us in mind throughout the year. Your friends at SPC Garage Sale Central.
Welcome Interns!
The SPC staff is excited to host new interns this Fall. Briana Shetler, a senior at Syracuse University, brings her talents to support SPC’s event organizing, including the birthday dinner. Calvin Walds, an SU Master’s student in Pan African studies will be sharing his research skills and also supporting anti-war organizing.
Thanks for Distributing!
For decades, faithful volunteers have distributed the Peace Newsletter around Syracuse and the metropolitan area as a free publication. We wish to thank both the distributors, past and present, as well as the businesses and offices that make the Peace Newsletter available to the public at their locations. Providing free public access to the Peace Newsletter is truly a team effort which has carved out a place for the PNL in the greater Syracuse community. Accolades and kudos to those who help to make this happen on behalf of the mission of the Syracuse Peace Council.
