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<\/p>\nThe PNL Goes on Maternity Leave
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The Peace Council has said a brief farewell (and congratulations!) to staff organizer Amelia Lefevre while she goes on maternity leave. Amelia, the Peace Newsletter\u2019s coordinator, expects to be back at work in mid-March. As a result, readers will see fewer PNL issues this winter. The March-April issue will be out March 12, and our regular schedule will resume with the May issue. Meanwhile, we will make more use of cybermedia for updates and articles.<\/p>\n
Just as Amelia begins her leave, we welcome Ursula Rozum back from an extended leave during which she managed the Howie Hawkins for Governor campaign. We are very excited to have Ursula\u2019s high level of energy and organizing expertise back in the office. Welcome back, Ursula!<\/p>\n
We\u2019re happy to say that Michael Messina-Yauchzy, who has been Ursula\u2019s leave replacement, will remain on staff while Amelia is on leave.<\/p>\n
Plowshares \u2013 44th Year
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AND they beat their swords into Plowshares\u2026and fine jewelry, and ceramics, and wooden bowls, baklava, and numerous other wonderful crafts.
\nFor the 44th year, the first weekend in December saw the creation of the joyful, and evanescent \u201cvillage\u201d of Plowshares Craftsfair and Peace Festival\u201423 years at Plymouth Congregational Church, 13 years at Southwest Community Center and now eight years at Nottingham High School.
\nFortunately the gods of snow and wind were on vacation, allowing people to come in droves to enjoy the food, entertainment, good fellowship and crafts, created by hand from the artisans of our region. Nothing was \u201cMade in China,\u201d and not one battery was required. Approximately 3,000 smiling people passed through the booths of 126 crafters and community groups.<\/p>\n
Plowshares has increasingly become a part of the Central New York calendar and is appealing to an increasingly wide audience. The crafters\u2019 use of social media brings people who might not usually intersect with the peace and justice community. They hear different viewpoints in a warm and welcoming atmosphere.<\/p>\n
Plowshares planning and execution is a nearly year round task, coordinated by a committee of eight people, supported by a small army (if I may use that word) of Syracuse Peace Council staff and volunteers. The Craftsfair occurs in the thick of the basketball season and is only possible with the willingness of the Nottingham High School coaches to share their gym for our weekend. We hope they came to the Fair and \u201cscored\u201d some wonderful ChanuKwanzMas gifts for themselves and their families.<\/p>\n
The Plowshares Committee wishes one and all a healthy and hopefully more peaceful New Year.<\/p>\n
\u2013 Lanny Freshman<\/p>\n
Editors’ note: Very special thanks to the Plowshares Committee: Barbara Floch, Lanny Freshman, Karen Kerney, Rae Kramer, Andy Molloy, Beth Mosley, Marie Summerwood and Mardea Warner.<\/p>\n
Learn More and Get Active at SPC Open House
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On Thursday, January 22, SPC will hold our Winter Open House from 6-8 pm. Whether you\u2019re new to the Peace Council or an old hand, come and learn about our various committees and initiatives for peace and social justice. We\u2019ll help you find your own best way to become involved and you\u2019ll make new friends who share your values along the way. Light snacks and refreshments will be served. Contact Michael.<\/p>\n
Join the Plowshares Committee
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As much fun as Plowshares is to attend, imagine how amazing it would be to be part of organizing it! The Plowshares Committee meets all year, much less frequently in the winter and spring, with weekly meetings in the month or two before Plowshares. The committee is known for its sociability and good food, so please give it a try.
\nIt takes a community to create Plowshares. Contact Carol.<\/p>\n
Palestine-Israel Committee Moves Forward
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On December 11, SPC\u2019s Central NY Working for a Just Peace in Palestine and Israel co-sponsored \u201cReflections on The Separation Wall and Judaizing Palestine,\u201d a discussion led by Rob Shetterly and Julia Ganson, both of whom were in Israel and Palestine this past summer. On Sunday, January 11, from 4-6 pm at ArtRage Gallery (505 Hawley Ave., Syracuse) we will show the film, Jerusalem\u2026the East Side Story, followed by discussion. In addition, we are continuing our efforts to bring the international movement for Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) to CNY. Stay tuned for upcoming information about our local campaign. Contact Michael.<\/p>\n
Now Is The Time!
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Our volunteers and staff work hard year-round to educate, agitate and organize for peace and social justice. Did you know that checks for $50 or more made out to \u201cSyracuse Center for Peace and Social Justice\u201d (rather than directly to SPC) are tax deductible? Just put \u201cSyracuse Peace Council\u201d on the memo line and mail it to us. If pledging works better for you, please contact Michael about a monthly or quarterly pledge (credit cards, checks, cash and automatic transfers all work for us).
\nThere\u2019s no time like the present to make your money count for the things you value. Any way you do it, your gift makes SPC\u2019s work possible.<\/p>\n
ACTS\u2019 New Task Forces
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The Alliance of Communities Transforming Syracuse is a grassroots, interfaith network advocating for peace and social justice. It also includes a few secular organizations like SPC.<\/p>\n
ACTS recently held its Issues Assembly, where it selected issues to be addressed by task forces in the upcoming year:
\n\u00b7 Community Violence and Youth
\n\u00b7 Pre-Kindergarten Expansion
\n\u00b7 Criminal Justice<\/p>\n
We are looking for people to represent SPC on these task forces. Contact Carol. <\/p>\n
NOON is Bustling
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Neighbors of the Onondaga Nation held our traditional Circle of Peace and Justice on Thanksgiving Day at Willow Bay in Onondaga Lake Park. As always, attendance was good and included a couple from the Netherlands, as well as several Onondaga friends.<\/p>\n
The Roots of Injustice, Seeds of Change Workshop committee is busy developing a plan to offer this participatory workshop locally.The workshop invites participants to experience symbolically the impacts of colonization and conquest on indigenous peoples, and to enter into the story of reconciliation.<\/p>\n
Among other issues, NOON continues to look at environmental concerns. NOON supports anti-fracking activities, such as the recent Not One Well rally in Albany at the Governor\u2019s State of the State address on January 7, and expects to have a representative at the hearings on the County Solid Waste Management Plan and the plan to bring Cortland County trash to Rock Cut Road.<\/p>\n
NOON\u2019s Steering Committee meetings are held the second Tuesday of the month. If you\u2019d like to come, please contact Carol first for the agenda and background information.
\n\u2013 Sue Eiholzer<\/p>\n
<\/b>Activist Appreciation: Zachary Field There\u2019s a new face around SPC quite often these days. Zachary Field contacted us in late summer and offered himself as an intern. Since then, Zach has come in for 8-10 hours each week to help with both office and organizing tasks. Whether it\u2019s stuffing envelopes at a mailing party or talking world politics, Zach is eager and on the spot. In addition, Zach will put in additional hours as an intern with CNY Working for a Just Peace in Palestine and Israel, a special position funded by a bequest from Joan Goldberg. One committee member wrote in a recent e-mail, \u201cJust want to say how impressed I am with our new intern, Zach. He obviously has a lot of knowledge and interest in our subject and I feel he is a wonderful asset to our group and our work.\u201d Thanks for being here, Zach!<\/p>\n Ground the Drones, End the Wars – Court updates on drone resisters: \u00b7 Jack Gilroy (Binghamton) was released from Jamesville Prison the day after Thanksgiving. Thanks to Jack for his work, both in and outside.<\/p>\n \u00b7 Mark Colville (New Haven, CT) was sentenced to a one year conditional discharge and fines. One of his charges was violating an order of protection, the same charge for which Mary Ann Grady Flores was sentenced to a year this past summer (she is currently out on appeal).<\/p>\n \u00b7 Julienne Oldfield (Syracuse) was scheduled for trial December 10 but was told December 9 that it was being postponed. Unfortunately, her legal advisor had already made the trip here from NYC.<\/p>\n \u00b7 Bonny Mahoney (Syracuse) has a jury trial scheduled for January 14-15 for her nonviolent actions in April, 2013 with thirty others.<\/p>\n \u00b7 Trial dates of Hancock drone resisters can be found at www.upstatedroneaction.org\/WebCalendar\/month.php.<\/p>\n SPC\u2019s local committee has been helping to provide support for the trials. We also recently performed The Predator play as part of All Saints Church\u2019s advent reflections. We have learned that the reaper drones piloted from Hancock Air Base will now be using the facilities of Hancock International Airport (a civilian airport), and have started to discuss how to respond. Contact Carol.<\/p>\n Departing Interns: Such Sweet Sorrow! We will miss our fall semester interns, Crystal Lau and Hasmik Djoulakian, who each brought considerable enthusiasm and strengths. Crystal worked on program advertisements for both the Birthday Dinner and Plowshares, as well as the Plowshares Silent Auction. Hasmik helped with both the Ground the Drones campaign and Neighbors of the Onondaga Nation. When THE General Body sat in at Syracuse University (see cover), Hasmik was there doing great work. Both Hasmik and Crystal brought youthful energy and excitement to the office. We have a feeling we haven\u2019t seen the last of them. Good luck to both of you!<\/p>\n If you are interested in learning more about interning, contact Michael.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Black Lives Matter SPC joined other local groups to voice opposition to the failure of two Grand Juries to indict white police officers in the deaths of unarmed black men in recent months. On November 28 we joined the local chapter of the National Action Network (NAN) and the Alliance…<\/p>\n
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