From Quakerkristi at aol.com Mon Jun 5 06:57:57 2006 From: Quakerkristi at aol.com (Quakerkristi at aol.com) Date: Mon, 5 Jun 2006 06:57:57 EDT Subject: [saymaListserv] School of the Americas Message-ID: <49b.1b6da65.31b56835@aol.com> Well I'm back from the QUIT conference...and found this notice from the MidSouth Peace and Justice Center that is very pertinent The School of the Americas is one of the organizations that has been implicated - through its graduates - of a great deal of atrociities in Latin America, including torture and terror. One of the main speakers at the conference, Carlos Maurico works closely with the effort -School of the Americas Watch. He spoke hopefully of this vote. He also spoke of visiting heads of State in several South American Countries this year, who have agreed to stop sending their officers to the school. (As an interesting note, a good number of the heads of state and ministers of defense/interior were women - which challenges my stereotypes) Right now around 90% of those attending the school are Columbian. If you care about this issue please take the time to learn a little about the SOA and consider sending the message to our representatives - to join the effort to close the school. Thanks, Kristi Estes From: SOA Watch in DC mailto:media at soaw.org Reply-To: soaw at mail.democracyinaction.org To: theresecullen at hotmail.com Subject: This is it! Congress Votes Next Week to Close the SOA! Date: Thu, 1 Jun 2006 11:05:36 -0400 (EDT) School of the Americas Watch http://www.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=131813123&url_num=1&url=htt p://www.soaw.org/new/ | 202-234-3440 | Click to subscribe Special Legislative Update June 1, 2006 Next week, the week of June 5, Congress will vote on an amendment to close the SOA/ WHINSEC. Rep. McGovern (MA) will introduce an amendment to the Foreign Operations appropriations bill to cut funding for the SOA/ WHINSEC! We expect a close vote and need as many people as possible flooding the offices of the House of Representatives with calls in support of a YES vote on the amendment. This is it! And it's the people power of our movement that will get this amendment passed! Visit the Legislative Action Index for more information: http://www.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=131813123&url_num=3&url=http://www.soaw.org/new/article.php?id=96. National Call-in Days to Close the SOA/WHINSEC Tuesday, June 6 and Wednesday, June 7: Call Congress at 202-224-3121 or toll free at 888-355-3588. Please take the time to call the DC office of your Representative through the Capitol Hill Switchboard at 202-224-3121 or toll free at 1-888-355-3588. Ask to speak with the foreign affairs legislative assistant. Here is a suggested message for you to convey: "I am calling Congressman/woman ________ to urge him/her to vote YES on the McGovern amendment to the Foreign Operations Appropriations bill. This amendment is a cut in funding for the School of the Americas/ WHINSEC. New information indicates that WHINSEC has allowed known human rights abusers to instruct and receive training at the school. Argentina and Uruguay are two more countries that have made public announcements they will no longer send students to the school, citing the negative image and history of this institution. Voting YES on this amendment sends a positive human rights message to Latin America and will help to improve the U.S. image abroad. As an elected official in Washington D.C., I hope you will represent me and vote YES on any amendment in the House that would cut funding for the school." Click here to send an email and fax to your Representative. (Be sure to click the ?Send a Fax? box to have the fax sent). Are you in or near Washington, DC? On Tuesday, June 6 and Wednesday, June 7, we will be delivering material to Members of Congress and knocking on their doors, asking them to join our movement and vote to close the SOA. Please join us! If you can be with us for some or all of the day on Tuesday or Wednesday, please email Eric at elecompte(at)soaw(dot)org. For more information, visit the SOA Watch website at http://www.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=131813123&url_num=5&url=http://www.soaw.org and the Legislative Action Index at http://www.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=131813123&url_num=6 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From CIsland at aol.com Tue Jun 6 12:20:59 2006 From: CIsland at aol.com (CIsland at aol.com) Date: Tue, 6 Jun 2006 12:20:59 EDT Subject: [saymaListserv] SAYMA E-Communications Committee at YM Message-ID: <2e3.8137d99.31b7056b@aol.com> TO: SAYMA FRIENDS FROM: Clerk of SAYMA Ad Hoc Committee on Electronics Communication (EC C) RE: Subcommittee Proposed General Statement on E-Communications and Friends' Faith and Practice DATE: 6-6-06 At this point in time, there seems to be some prospect the following may be brought before the YM this week - PROPOSED GENERAL STATEMENT about ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS of the SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN YEARLY MEETING and ASSOCIATION (SAYMA) Sixth Month, 2006 Our Faith and Practice as it relates to electronic communications: Historically, Friends have been ?part of the world but not of it.? Learning to incorporate new technology without losing our practice of Spiritual Discernment has been part of that history. Our experience leads us to affirm that electronic communications is not appropriate for discernment of the Spirit and determining the ?sense of the Meeting? in our Committee and Yearly Meeting work. We are also reminded that our Testimony of Equality speaks to the need to include those friends who do not have access to or experience in electronic communications by providing them with alternative means of communication. Electronic communications can support our work in the following ways: sharing of agendas, directions for actions, information, research and support our ecological concerns of paper reduction. The following practical guidelines are also recommended: * Friends are asked to provide clear information in the subject lines, * consider their individual input regarding volume and topic (does it need to be sent?) and * to be mindful that information can be in the body of the communication rather than as attachments. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From snowolff at earthlink.net Tue Jun 6 12:43:13 2006 From: snowolff at earthlink.net (Jennifer Snow) Date: Tue, 06 Jun 2006 12:43:13 -0400 Subject: [saymaListserv] Ride Needed to SAYMA from Knightdale, NC Message-ID: <7.0.1.0.2.20060606124224.03370688@earthlink.net> Dear Friends, I need a ride to SAYMA, since I don't have a driver's licence, although I am capable and not disabled anymore. I'm just in the process of getting my licence, and haven't gotten it yet. I live 6 miles south of 64 in Knightdale, NC to the east of Raleigh. I could probably get a ride to someplace near Chapel Hill or Durham if you don't want to drive out to Knightdale to pick me up. I can send you maps and directions. Let me know what would be convenient. I live at 2112 Bethlehem Road, Raleigh, NC 27610-9317 in "the purple house". My phone is 919 261-0084. My home is due east of Raleigh. Just get to the beltline around Raleigh, which is 440. FROM WEST/Beltline: From 440 and take exit 15, which is Poole, Go east or right on Poole, towards Wendell about 5 miles. Take a right on Grasshopper, which will be at a stoplight, with has a firehouse on the left at that intersection. Go less than a mile on Grasshopper, (.8) until you meet Bethlehem, which will have a stop sign, make a right on Bethlehem, FROM EAST /NORTH Rte 64/Knightdale: Turn onto First Street, which is one block east of Smithfield, of the large Knightdale Shopping Center (Walmart, Winn-Dixie, etc) , of Lowes Home Warehouse. First becomes Bethlehem, you cross Poole in a mile and then cross Grasshopper in less than another mile. At the intersection of Grasshopper and Bethlehem, make a right on Bethlehem, go a few hundred yards, our purple house is on the right surrounded by pine trees. There will be 4 mailboxes immediately after our driveway. 3 black and one dayglo yellow/green mailbox. The signs fell down 2112, but my driveway is on the right. You need to come when its light out, since there are few street lights. The outer beltline goes east and the inner beltline goes west. _________________________________________________________ These are the directions from Yahoo. You can see that 440 appears and changes its names many times. Just ignore it. Stay on 40 until you get to exit 301. Then stay on that until you get to exit 15. Merge on I-40 EAST Continue on I-40 EAST/I-440 EAST Continue on I-440 EAST towards OUTER BELTLINE/ROCKY MOUNT, exit #301 Continue on I-440 NORTH Take the POOLE RD exit, exit #15 0.3 Turn Right on POOLE RD 4.7 Turn Right on GREGORY LN 0.1 (Gregory Lane DOES NOT exist! turn onto either Grasshopper or Bethlehem from Poole, and either one will get to my house) Continue on GRASSHOPPER RD 0.8 Turn Right on BETHLEHEM RD 0.0 Its all country, straight roads... see attached map and image of the house. Jennifer Snow Wolff 2112 Bethlehem Road Raleigh, NC 27610-9317 919 261-0084 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From CIsland at aol.com Tue Jun 6 13:13:04 2006 From: CIsland at aol.com (CIsland at aol.com) Date: Tue, 6 Jun 2006 13:13:04 EDT Subject: [saymaListserv] SAYMA Electronic Communications at YM parts 2 & 3 Message-ID: <4ad.15125c1.31b711a0@aol.com> 2. SAYMA IMP^O^ Bulletin Service: This listserv is to continue the current IMP^O^ Bulletin Service exactly as currently operated by the SAYMA Administrative Assistant without any non-SAYMA announcements or any discussion. (The latter two functions to be covered by the other two listservs.) 3. GENERAL INTEREST ANNOUNCEMENTS GUIDELINES FOR CONTENT OF GENERAL INTEREST ANNOUNCEMENTS LIST: This list is for posting announcements about events, information, opinion and information about action opportunities related to Friends' concerns. (For further information about Friends' concerns see Quaker.org). To include such things as: (a) events happening around SAYMA region or nationally. (b) articles, publications, and websites of interest - For example: "FCNL has posted an analysis of the Iraq war budget....." (c) action opportunities such as writing congress, peace demonstrations, (d) SAYMA Monthly Meetings' and Worship Groups' newsletters, minutes, etc. Appropriate responses to announcements on this listserv are to be questions of clarification about details, additional planning information, e.g, time, place, topic and contact information, etc. Any responses other than these particular types of responses are to be posted on the SAYMA DISCUSSION LISTSERV. GUIDELINES FOR "MONITORING" OF GENERAL INTEREST ANNOUNCEMENTS LIST: Form a group of four or five "elders" from those who read the list regularly and appear to have skills in discernment. Ask them to "step in" if a/some subscriber(s) post inappropriate material or excessive numbers of posts. One example of what to say: "If those who have been following this conversation would like to continue, it seems more appropriate to move it to the Discussion listserv." If a subscriber persists in deliberately posting inappropriate material or posting excessive numbers of posts after being appropriately eldered they are subject to removal from the list. WELCOME NOTICE TO EVERYONE WHEN THEY JOIN THIS LIST: This list is for posting announcements about events, information, opinion and information about action opportunities related to Friends' concerns. (For further information about Friends' concerns see Quaker.org). Appropriate responses to announcements on this listserv are to be questions of clarification about details, additional planning info: time, place, topic and contact information. Any responses other than these particular types of responses are to be posted on the SAYMA DISCUSSION LISTSERV. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From CIsland at aol.com Tue Jun 6 13:10:00 2006 From: CIsland at aol.com (CIsland at aol.com) Date: Tue, 6 Jun 2006 13:10:00 EDT Subject: [saymaListserv] SAYMA Electronic Communications at YM Message-ID: <47c.2b37d1d.31b710e8@aol.com> TO: FRIENDS in SAYMA FROM: SAYMA Ad Hoc Committee on Electronic Communications, Bill Reynolds, Clerk SUBJECT: A proposal to break SAYMA's current single listserv into three separate listserv's DATE: 06/06/2006 The following is part one of the latest, well-seasoned proposal for SAYMA to have three separate listservs. This proposal is set to be brought before the Yearly Meeting this week. Part 1 here only because I think sending all three parts is too long to be allowed on the listserv. Parts 2 and 3 to follow. Bill Reynolds 1. SAYMA DISCUSSION LISTSERV GUIDELINES FOR CONTENT: This list is for the SAYMA community to discuss general issues of concern to Quakers. (For further information about Friends' concerns see Quaker.org). This list is especially for those who like electronic back and forth discussion about views, opinions, etc. Please compose your postings to this list to reflect the fundamental Quaker value that "there is that of God in Everyone". When responding to another post, respond to that of God in the author or subject of that post. This means express your perspective sincerely without passing judgement on the other's motives, character, intelligence or integrity. Sometimes it is good to allow time to pass for seasoning your thoughts before posting a response. ELDERING GUIDELINES: Form a group of four or five "elders" from those who read the list regularly and appear to have skills in discernment. Ask them to "step in" if a/some subscriber(s) post inappropriate material or excessive numbers of posts. When someone posted something with inappropriate content or tone, elder(s) are advised to email directly to the person who sent the message and suggest in their future postings they use more tender language. Elders may, from time to time, feel a sense that a remnder for what and how we speak on this listserv needs to be sent to the whole listserv, either near the time when an offense has occurred or later. Elders are advised to be mindful that some issues will be resolved without their intervention. This is a good thing. If listserv participants make a mistake occasionally, it does not necessarily have to be pointed out to them. If an individual repeatedly violates the listserv guidelines despite repeated eldering, the listserv elders should consult with each other and reach unity before asking the listserv administrator to remove him/her from the list. "ONE LINER" TO APPEAR AT THE BOTTOM OF EVERY POST TO THIS LIST: "This list is for the SAYMA community to discuss issues of concern to Quakers. (For further information about Friends' concerns see Quaker.org)" WELCOME NOTICE TO EVERYONE WHEN THEY JOIN THIS LIST: This list is especially for those who like electronic back and forth discussion about views, opinions, etc. Please compose your postings to this list to reflect the fundamental Quaker value that "there is that of God in Everyone." When responding to another post, respond to that of God in the author or subject of that post. This means express your perspective sincerely without passing judgement on the other's motives, character, intelligence or integrity. Sometimes it is good to allow time to pass for seasoning your thoughts before posting a response. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From bright_crow at mindspring.com Wed Jun 7 17:59:36 2006 From: bright_crow at mindspring.com (Mike Shell) Date: Wed, 7 Jun 2006 17:59:36 -0400 (GMT-04:00) Subject: [saymaListserv] FWD: Darfur: First Steps Toward Peace Message-ID: <24337297.1149717576778.JavaMail.root@mswamui-andean.atl.sa.earthlink.net> Friends, Please read and share FCNL's latest letter on Darfur http://www.fcnl.org/issues/item.php?item_id=1885&issue_id=104, which is also posted in SEYMpeace.org's Darfur links at http://seympeace.org/index.html#darfur Thank you, Michael From eschrod at bellsouth.net Thu Jun 8 12:23:27 2006 From: eschrod at bellsouth.net (Erin Schroder) Date: Thu, 8 Jun 2006 12:23:27 -0400 Subject: [saymaListserv] Late notice for rideshare from Atlanta Friday morning Message-ID: <20060608162327.YDG19142.ibm65aec.bellsouth.net@mail.bellsouth.net> Know most of you are already at SAYMA, but just in case anyone is leaving tomorrow morning from Atlanta and would like to share ride, let me know... Thanks, Erin 770-265-4533 eschrod at bellsouth.net From eschrod at bellsouth.net Thu Jun 8 12:58:51 2006 From: eschrod at bellsouth.net (Erin Schroder) Date: Thu, 8 Jun 2006 12:58:51 -0400 Subject: [saymaListserv] Late notice--Atlanta rideshare Friday morning Message-ID: <20060608165851.BOZU19142.ibm65aec.bellsouth.net@mail.bellsouth.net> Friends, Sorry for the very late notice-- realize most of you are at SAYMA already... In case anyone in Atlanta area is leaving for SAYMA tomorrow morning and would like to carpool, let me know. Thanks, Erin 770-265-4533 eschrod at bellsouth.net From Evdavwes at aol.com Fri Jun 9 07:04:43 2006 From: Evdavwes at aol.com (Evdavwes at aol.com) Date: Fri, 9 Jun 2006 07:04:43 EDT Subject: [saymaListserv] Memorial Meeting for Agnita Wright Dupree Message-ID: <3f2.373a3d7.31baafcb@aol.com> Asheville Friends Meeting will hold a Memorial Meeting for Agnita Wright Dupree on Saturday July 8 at 2:00 pm. We hope that many of you will be able to join us. Thanks for sharing this information with your meetings. Sincerely, Evan Richardson %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% David Clements, Evan Richardson, Wesley Clements, Lila Richardson _Westwood Cohousing_ (http://westwoodcohousing.com/) 43 Vermont Court, #G24 Asheville, NC 28806 828-285-0601 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From nc_stereoman at charter.net Mon Jun 12 21:59:59 2006 From: nc_stereoman at charter.net (Steve Livingston) Date: Mon, 12 Jun 2006 21:59:59 -0400 Subject: [saymaListserv] minutes on torture Message-ID: <448E1C1F.7070703@charter.net> Dear Friends, Your Yearly Meeting's Peace and Social Concerns Committee wishes to know of any and all Meetings' efforts to draft a Minute concerning the issue of torture. If your Meeting is currently working on this, or intends to take this up in the near future, or has already approved such a Minute, please reply to me with the particulars. Steve Livingston, clerk SAYMA Peace and Social Concerns Committee From CIsland at aol.com Tue Jun 13 18:06:56 2006 From: CIsland at aol.com (CIsland at aol.com) Date: Tue, 13 Jun 2006 18:06:56 EDT Subject: [saymaListserv] Web Site Policies proposal Message-ID: <24b.bf61dad.31c09100@aol.com> TO: SAYMA FRIENDS FROM: Bill Reynolds, Clerk of SAYMA ad hoc committee on Electronic Communications (ECC) Below find the web site policies proposal which, for the most part, was distributed to YM in business session on 6-8-06. This version has a few small additions which I have italicized. In addition we are evaluating whether to add Open Office Documents (.odt) to the list of "accceptable formats" under the "Guidelines for Documents." By the way, this "proposal" is actually no more than formal documentation of how and why the SAYMA website has been operating all along; it proposes nothing substantially new nor any change from long-standing operations. It is being documented to provide guidance for those who will become newly involved in its operations in the future. Please forward any comments and questions to a member of ECC, the Clerk of ECC (Bill Reynolds), or to your MM/WG's representative for consideration prior to the fall Representative Meeting in Berea on 9-9-06. If you would like the proposal emailed to you as an attachment in a particular format, email Bill Reynolds at _cisland at aol.com_ (mailto:cisland at aol.com) with your request. Proposed Web Site Policies Sixth Month, 2006 Purpose: The purposes of the SAYMA Web Site (_www.sayma.org_ (http://www.sayma.org) ) are: · To share information among SAYMA Monthly Meetings, Worship Groups and attendees about organizational matters; · To reach out to potential attendees by providing information about how to contact SAYMA Friends and locate SAYMA Monthly Meetings and Worship Groups; · To inform the world at large about SAYMA activities. Content: The SAYMA Web Site will publish items of general interest to SAYMA Friends submitted by Monthly Meetings, Worship Groups, Yearly Meeting committees, groups within SAYMA or people in positions of responsibility for the Yearly Meeting. Specific content will include: · An annual calendar of Yearly Meeting events; · An archive of minutes of Representative Meeting and Yearly Meeting business sessions (not including the attendee lists) and other documents in the official record of the Yearly Meeting; · A list of people in positions of responsibilities, including contact information; · Information and registration materials (possibly including on-line registration pages) for Representative Meetings and Yearly Meeting gatherings; · Guide to Our Faith and Practice working documents and drafts; · Announcements of workshops, retreats, etc., sponsored by member groups and open to all; · Information about SAYF and SAYF retreats; · Issues of Southern Appalachian Friend newsletter and subscription information; · The Yearly Meeting Handbook (when available); · Information about other Yearly Meeting programs; · Links to other Quaker organizations, including FGC, FCNL, FWCC, and AFSC. To facilitate Yearly Meeting committee work, the web manager may provide private, password-protected web space for committees to keep working documents. Groups within SAYMA who would like a link or a presence on the website are encouraged to contact the web manager. Monthly Meeting/Worship Group Pages: The web site will have a page for each monthly meeting and worship group officially affiliated with SAYMA. These pages will contain: · The name and status (i.e. Monthly Meeting, Preparative Meeting, Worship Group) of the meeting; · The place and times of meeting; · Directions to the meeting or a link to a map; · A link to the meeting?s own web site (if any); · Contact information provided by the meeting; · An email link of the form @sayma.org. Email sent to the above email address will be forwarded automatically to the email contact person designated by the meeting. If the meeting does not designate an email contact person, such messages will go to the web manager. It will be the responsibility of the individual meetings to keep their information up to date by notifying the SAYMA web manager of changes. Guidelines for Documents: Documents for publication on the SAYMA Web Site must be submitted in digital form and ready for publication. Acceptable formats are: · Microsoft Word, Excel, or Publisher; · Corel WordPerfect or Quattro Pro; · Abode Acrobat PDF; · Rich Text Format (RTF); · HTML The web manager may correct spelling, grammatical or obvious factual errors, but should not be expected to do major editing of submitted documents. Documents will be posted in one or more of these formats (at the discretion of the web manager): · PDF; · RTF; · HTML The web manager will make a reasonable effort to insure that the on-line document is as much like the original as possible, but sometimes changes in format are necessary. For best results, documents to be posted on the web should have a simple layout with at least 1 inch margins and at most two font families. Common font families, such as Times New Roman and Arial, work best. Privacy and Security: Personal information such as names, postal addresses and email addresses will not be published on the SAYMA web site without the person?s knowledge and consent. The web manager will choose technologies that reduce the likelihood that individuals will be subjected to spam, crank phone calls, or other unwanted communication as a result of web site content. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From Quakerkristi at aol.com Wed Jun 14 22:49:51 2006 From: Quakerkristi at aol.com (Quakerkristi at aol.com) Date: Wed, 14 Jun 2006 22:49:51 EDT Subject: [saymaListserv] Fwd: QUIT Conference Report Message-ID: <416.3e58c87.31c224cf@aol.com> -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- An embedded message was scrubbed... From: John Calvi Subject: QUIT Conference Report Date: Wed, 14 Jun 2006 20:28:37 -0400 Size: 6037 URL: From kcarlyle at main.nc.us Thu Jun 15 10:19:01 2006 From: kcarlyle at main.nc.us (Kim Carlyle) Date: Thu, 15 Jun 2006 10:19:01 -0400 Subject: [saymaListserv] SAF: Call for Submissions Message-ID: <000601c69086$b21c14c0$2467ec48@yourfulkl1oh2q> Dear Friends, Once again it's time to drop what you're doing and write an article for the Southern Appalachian Friend (your favorite yearly meeting newsletter). We'll accept original articles, news of your meeting or WQO, opinions, poetry, humor, recipes, gripes, complaints, bribes, and especially praise. The due date for submissions 07/01/2006. Send stuff to SAFeditor at SAYMA.org Thanks in advance for the wonderful material that you are preparing to send us. Peace on Earth, peace with Earth, Susan & Kim Carlyle, SAF eds. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From Quakerkristi at aol.com Thu Jun 15 14:36:34 2006 From: Quakerkristi at aol.com (Quakerkristi at aol.com) Date: Thu, 15 Jun 2006 14:36:34 EDT Subject: [saymaListserv] QUIT report pasted in Message-ID: <3f5.3bf60d4.31c302b2@aol.com> The Quaker Initiative to End Torture- First Conference Report Friends from 18 yearly meetings including Canada, Britain, and Rwanda, gathered on June 2-4, 2006, at Guilford College in Greensboro, North Carolina to learn about United States-sponsored torture and to plan how to end it. Several non-Friends woshipped and worked with us, as well. Sixteen speakers, including three survivors of torture, provided information and inspiration to 126 conference attenders. After a period of welcome and worship, Jennifer Harbury gave a riveting keynote on Friday evening, giving us a brief but comprehensive overview of U.S. torture. She spoke from her personal experiences with CIA-sponsored torture of her deceased Guatemalan activist husband in the 1980s through the May 2006 United Nations hearings on United States compliance with the Convention Against Torture. This was followed by the film, ³Hidden in Plain Sight,² which gave a vivid history of the School of the Americas and the twenty-year struggle to close the school that has trained Latin American military officers since World War II. The film and the question and answer session offered by two survivors brought participants a sense of immediacy and responsibility. On Saturday morning, a panel of three speakers introduced us to the topics of direct action, legislation and executive monitoring, and treatment, which were followed by more intensive workshops providing in-depth information to conference participants on these topics, and on strategic planning. On Saturday afternoon, Hector Aristizibal using the techniques of the Theatre of the Oppressed depicted his own experience as a survivor of torture and then engaged the audience in a powerful interactive movement that moved us toward hopeful engagement to end the practice of torture. Chuck Fager and Bal Pinguel then took the stage to exhort us towards the long work ahead to abolish torture, moving us from learning to action. Conferees next joined in a town meeting to brainstorm ideas in the five categories of education, legislation, treatment, prisons, and media/strategy. After supper, work groups in those categories met to plan actions. A hard dayıs work closed with a folk music concert donated by the Short Sisters, an amazing a capella group of three women. Sunday worship was led by our five elders, who held the conference in the Light throughout the weekend and attended every session, workshop, and work group. The conference culminated in a second town meeting in which we heard from each work group and then discussed the future of QUIT. There was a clear sense of the meeting towards the following actions: -educating our meetings and others; -asking for monthly, quarterly, and yearly meeting support (minutes, donations, conference attendance); -using the QUIT website as a resource of information and events (http://www.quit-torture-now.org); -joining the QUIT listserv via the website to share news and ideas. Conferees appreciated the QUIT planning teamıs care in creating an excellent conference on a difficult topic presented with a tone of reverence, and they thanked the five elders for their prayerful attention in setting the tone for spiritual work. The planning team was asked to bring in more members and plan a second conference at Guilford College, June 1-3 2007. We ended with worship that was deep in silence and full of gratitude and expectancy. Save the date QUIT 2nd Conference June 1-3 2007 www.quit-torture-now.org John Calvi calvij at sover.net 802/387-4789 PO Box 301 Putney VT 05346 USA www.johncalvi.com www.quit-torture-now.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From Quakerkristi at aol.com Sun Jun 18 14:18:33 2006 From: Quakerkristi at aol.com (Quakerkristi at aol.com) Date: Sun, 18 Jun 2006 14:18:33 EDT Subject: [saymaListserv] school of the americas Message-ID: <4c5.2341c73.31c6f2f9@aol.com> One idea from the Quaker Initiative to End Torture Conference was the possibility of having a Quaker presence at the November vigil to close the School of the Americas in Ft. Bennings, GA. This is in our "territory" and we might want to help facilitate it in some way. Chuck Fager of Quaker House is interested in the effort as well. As to the vote on the SOA last week in the House of Representatives......I think this is an accurate summary, but specifics can be found at www.soaw.org The Ammendment to HR1217 to cut funding to the SOA was defeated but with some impressive support for cutting it. The ammendment was defeated 188 (yes) to 218 (no). Our local Rep. Ford voted yes - to the cut, as did 29 republicans. The School of the Americas Watch considered this a critical vote, and that we won in some ways...in the fact that the debate and vote happened, that more Republicans supported a cut, and that it is a part of the ongoing campaign to close the school. The ACLU has recently released evidence that the FBI is conducting an increased level of counterterrorism investigation into SOAW, partly due to how dramatically the vigil has grown in recent years. Those who chose to do civil disobedience recieved 1-6 month sentences, but it hasn't stopped the witness. This is an effort that is not going away, please consider how you/we might support this effort...It is a loud voice against torture and abuse. Agitating for Peace, Kristi -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From Quakerkristi at aol.com Sun Jun 18 14:41:05 2006 From: Quakerkristi at aol.com (Quakerkristi at aol.com) Date: Sun, 18 Jun 2006 14:41:05 EDT Subject: [saymaListserv] school of the americas Message-ID: <321.5a4dc5a.31c6f841@aol.com> Thanks Free for pointing out that there are already Quakers present at the vigil. Maybe we can learn more about their efforts and build on it?? Kristi -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From Quakerkristi at aol.com Tue Jun 20 11:28:22 2006 From: Quakerkristi at aol.com (Quakerkristi at aol.com) Date: Tue, 20 Jun 2006 11:28:22 EDT Subject: [saymaListserv] Call against torture Message-ID: <3f4.4dbdc6f.31c96e16@aol.com> Jennifer Harbury was a powerful speaker at the QUIT conference. She speaks boldy against torture and is doing a wonderful work. Her organization is calling for a call-in to congress on June 23. I will be away at a family reunion that week, unable to call...but I will do so earlier. I would urge any of you that are so led to follow-up with this. The McCain ammendment did not resolve this issue, and we can't let it rest with that...in some ways it weakened accountability. More information is available at www.tassc.org Peace, Kristi Estes Torture Awareness Month, June 2006 Speaking Points for June 23, 2006 Telephone Campaign As you know, TASSC has declared the entire month of June to be International Torture Awareness Month. More than ever before, we need your help and participation. There can be zero tolerance for torture, yet more than 150 nations are now engaged in this barbaric practice. The fact that the United States government now openly authorizes torture has created a global human rights crisis of frightening dimensions. On June 23, 2006 we will be carrying out a national telephone campaign, and urge you to join us. We are asking that each and every one of you make a personal call to your Congresspersons that day, and organize as many of your friends as possible to call as well. We must all speak out in one voice against torture. We hope to have calls going in to Congress from all 50 states! Please let us know if you will be able to participate by sending us an email at jharbury at tassc.org. We thank you in advance for your hard work and compassion. The Congressional Switchboard telephone number is 202-224-3121. They can connect you to any office on the Hill. Speaking Points: June 26th is the International Day for Support of Victims and Survivors of Torture. We are calling to express our grave concern for the growing human rights crisis. More than 150 countries in the world now practice torture, despite the international ban on such inhuman practices. The United States itself now openly practices torture with regards to the detainees. This gives a green light to other nations to torture with impunity. Torture is illegal under international law as well as the US constitution and laws. As Patrick Henry once said, if we allow such barbaric practices here, ? we are lost and undone?. There can be zero tolerance for torture. It is illegal and immoral. Torture does not strengthen security. By sowing the seeds of trauma and hatred around the world, torture only leads to further violence. 7. We ask for an immediate Congressional investigation of the torture already carried out by the United States, and the appointment of a Special Prosecutor. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From nc_stereoman at charter.net Wed Jun 21 20:54:52 2006 From: nc_stereoman at charter.net (Steve Livingston) Date: Wed, 21 Jun 2006 20:54:52 -0400 Subject: [saymaListserv] Cut and Run? You Bet! Message-ID: <4499EA5C.4030601@charter.net> Dear Friends, It's unfortunate that in our nation today, former war-makers command so much more credibility than do peacemakers, but on the other hand very heartening when a war-maker of great renown says "enough! stop the killing now!" And especially when it is said well. Such is the case with retired Lt. General William Odom, who served under Presidents Nixon, Ford, Carter, and Reagan, lastly as head of the NSA. These are some of the best talking points I have seen on the matter, and I recommend that you send them to your friends, associates, local newspapers, weblogs, discussion boards, elected officials . . . /especially /the Democrats! Genral Odom's remarks were published in /Foreign Policy /magazine, the May/June issue. *Why America must get out of Iraq now. * Withdraw immediately or stay the present course? That is the key question about the war in Iraq today. American public opinion is now decidedly against the war. From liberal New England, where citizens pass town-hall resolutions calling for withdrawal, to the conservative South and West, where more than half of "red state" citizens oppose the war, Americans want out. That sentiment is understandable. The prewar dream of a liberal Iraqi democracy friendly to the United States is no longer credible. No Iraqi leader with enough power and legitimacy to control the country will be pro-American. Still, U.S. President George W. Bush says the United States must stay the course. Why? Let's consider his administration's most popular arguments for not leaving Iraq. *If we leave, there will be a civil war.* In reality, a civil war in Iraq began just weeks after U.S. forces toppled Saddam. Any close observer could see that then; today, only the blind deny it. Even President Bush, who is normally impervious to uncomfortable facts, recently admitted that Iraq has peered into the abyss of civil war. He ought to look a little closer. Iraqis are fighting Iraqis. Insurgents have killed far more Iraqis than Americans. That's civil war. *Withdrawal will encourage the terrorists.* True, but that is the price we are doomed to pay. Our continued occupation of Iraq also encourages the killers--precisely because our invasion made Iraq safe for them. Our occupation also left the surviving Baathists with one choice: Surrender, or ally with al Qaeda. They chose the latter. Staying the course will not change this fact. Pulling out will most likely result in Sunni groups' turning against al Qaeda and its sympathizers, driving them out of Iraq entirely. *Before U.S. forces stand down, Iraqi security forces must stand up.* The problem in Iraq is not military competency; it is political consolidation. Iraq has a large officer corps with plenty of combat experience from the Iran-Iraq war. Moktada al-Sadr's Shiite militia fights well today without U.S. advisors, as do Kurdish pesh merga units. The problem is loyalty. To whom can officers and troops afford to give their loyalty? The political camps in Iraq are still shifting. So every Iraqi soldier and officer today risks choosing the wrong side. As a result, most choose to retain as much latitude as possible to switch allegiances. All the U.S. military trainers in the world cannot remove that reality. But political consolidation will. It should by now be clear that political power can only be established via Iraqi guns and civil war, not through elections or U.S. colonialism by ventriloquism. *Setting a withdrawal deadline will damage the morale of U.S. troops.* Hiding behind the argument of troop morale shows no willingness to accept the responsibilities of command. The truth is, most wars would stop early if soldiers had the choice of whether or not to continue. This is certainly true in Iraq, where a withdrawal is likely to raise morale among U.S. forces. A recent Zogby poll suggests that most U.S. troops would welcome an early withdrawal deadline. But the strategic question of how to extract the United States from the Iraq disaster is not a matter to be decided by soldiers. Carl von Clausewitz spoke of two kinds of courage: first, bravery in the face of mortal danger; second, the willingness to accept personal responsibility for command decisions. The former is expected of the troops. The latter must be demanded of high-level commanders, including the president. *Withdrawal would undermine U.S. credibility in the world.* Were the United States a middling power, this case might hold some water. But for the world's only superpower, it's patently phony. A rapid reversal of our present course in Iraq would improve U.S. credibility around the world. The same argument was made against withdrawal from Vietnam. It was proved wrong then and it would be proved wrong today. Since Sept. 11, 2001, the world's opinion of the United States has plummeted, with the largest short-term drop in American history. The United States now garners as much international esteem as Russia. Withdrawing and admitting our mistake would reverse this trend. Very few countries have that kind of corrective capacity. I served as a military attaché in the U.S. Embassy in Moscow during Richard Nixon's Watergate crisis. When Nixon resigned, several Soviet officials who had previously expressed disdain for the United States told me they were astonished. One diplomat said, "Only your country is powerful enough to do this. It would destroy my country." Two facts, however painful, must be recognized, or we will remain perilously confused in Iraq. First, invading Iraq was not in the interests of the United States. It was in the interests of Iran and al Qaeda. For Iran, it avenged a grudge against Saddam for his invasion of the country in 1980. For al Qaeda, it made it easier to kill Americans. Second, the war has paralyzed the United States in the world diplomatically and strategically. Although relations with Europe show signs of marginal improvement, the trans-Atlantic alliance still may not survive the war. Only with a rapid withdrawal from Iraq will Washington regain diplomatic and military mobility. Tied down like Gulliver in the sands of Mesopotamia, we simply cannot attract the diplomatic and military cooperation necessary to win the real battle against terror. Getting out of Iraq is the precondition for any improvement. In fact, getting out now may be our only chance to set things right in Iraq. For starters, if we withdraw, European politicians would be more likely to cooperate with us in a strategy for stabilizing the greater Middle East. Following a withdrawal, all the countries bordering Iraq would likely respond favorably to an offer to help stabilize the situation. The most important of these would be Iran. It dislikes al Qaeda as much as we do. It wants regional stability as much as we do. It wants to produce more oil and gas and sell it. If its leaders really want nuclear weapons, we cannot stop them. But we can engage them. None of these prospects is possible unless we stop moving deeper into the "big sandy" of Iraq. America must withdraw now. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From freepolazzo at comcast.net Thu Jun 22 22:29:34 2006 From: freepolazzo at comcast.net (free polazzo) Date: Thu, 22 Jun 2006 22:29:34 -0400 Subject: [saymaListserv] Lt. Watada refused Iraq deployment today Message-ID: <7.0.1.0.2.20060622222052.032c2c68@comcast.net> HI Friends in SAYMA, This may not have made your local paper. I received on the AFM list server and wanted to make sure it went to the "hinterlands" of our Yearly Meeting. This article is about a crack in the wall of silence that has been imposed on our military personnel whenever they speak about the war in Iraq. I wish that there were more soldiers like Lt. Watada, who won't follow orders that violate international law. Hold Lt. Watada and his family and friends and even his commanding officers and those who served under him in the Light. By taking a public stand, he forces everyone who knows him to question what they are doing in Iraq. He is one of the heroes that Chuck Fager talked about in his wonderful workshop at SAYMA's 2006 yearly meeting. We need to know who these brave men and women are and to hold them up to others in our communities and to provide support to them. Blessings, Free Polazzo Anneewakee Creek Friends Worship Group Atlanta Friends Meeting >Lt. Watada refused Iraq deployment today; Under complete restriction >and gag-order without charge > >BREAKING NEWS - Fort Lewis, Washington (June 22, 2006) - U.S. Army >First Lieutenant Ehren K. Watada reported to duty at 2:00 a.m. early >this morning and refused orders to move to the adjacent McChord Air >Force Base to prepare to fly to Iraq. Lt. Watada believes that the >war and occupation in Iraq are illegal, and thus participation in >the war is also illegal. At this time he has been restricted to base >and has been ordered to have no communication with non-military personnel. > >Lt. Watada's attorney Eric Seitz said, "This morning Lt. Watada has >been restricted to base without any actual charges or proper >process. By placing a complete gag order on Lt. Watada, the military >has again shown that their first concern is silencing Lt. Watada's >speech in opposition to the illegal war in Iraq. We will immediately >challenge these highly questionable and improper restrictions." Mr. >Seitz is currently the only non-military person authorized to have >any contact with Lt. Watada. > >Lt. Watada is the first commissioned officer to publicly refuse >deployment to the war in Iraq. By refusing to participate in the >on-going Iraq war and occupation, Lt. Watada joins a growing number >of high ranking military officers, West Point graduates, and current >and former members of the armed services who have expressed their >opposition to the actions of the United States in Iraq. Lieutenant >Watada's refusal comes in the wake of a series of charges and >convictions against lower ranking soldiers for participation in >war-related crimes: 9 Marines charged with premeditated murder >yesterday, charges of a massacre in Haditha, Iraq and convictions at >Abu Ghraib Prison. > >Lt. Watada faces possible court-martial charges for refusing to >participate in the Iraq war and occupation and intends to defend >himself based on the illegality of the Iraq war and occupation. Lt. >Watada, age 28, was born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii where he >enlisted in the Army and was obligated to serve on active duty as an >Army officer for a term of three years concluding on December 3, >2006. Lt. Watada was stationed at Ft. Lewis in January 2006, when he >first asked to resign his commission because as he stated, "I am >whole-heartedly opposed to the continued war in Iraq, the deception >used to wage this war, and the lawlessness that has pervaded every >aspect of our civilian leadership." > >On June 27, a national day of action in support of Lt. Watada and >coordinated through the website www.ThankYouLt.org will take place >in dozens of US cities, including: Ft. Lewis, WA; Tacoma, WA; >Honolulu, HI; Charlotte, NC; Cleveland, OH; Harrisburg, PA; San >Francisco, CA; Oklahoma City, OK; Atlanta, GA; Corvallis, OR; >Medford, OR; New York City, NY; and Pittsburgh, PA. > >Lt. Watada's mother, Carolyn Ho, who flew in from Honolulu, Hawaii >to support her son, said today, "My son's decision to refrain from >deploying to Iraq comes through much soul searching. It is an act of >patriotism. It is a statement to all Americans, to men and women in >uniform, that they need not remain silent out of fear, that that >they have the power to turn the tide of history: to stop the >destruction of a country and the killing of untold numbers of >innocent men, women, and children. It is a message that states >unequivocally that blindly following orders is no longer an option. >My son, Lt. Watada's stance is clear. He will stay the course. I >urge you to join him in this effort." > >Judy Linehan, of Military Families Speak Out said, "As the mother of >an officer who deployed to Iraq with Lt Ehren Watada's Stryker >Brigade in their first mission, I know the human cost of war >intimately. I stand in solidarity with Lt Watada as he breaks ranks >with a Commander-in-Chief who has flouted international law with >impunity in the prosecution of this illegal war and occupation of an >unarmed country. The lieutenant's quiet resolve and quest for truth >facing into our government's fabricated deceptions carry hope to a >world that trusts in the rule of law. Thank you, Lt Watada, for your >courageous stand." > > >-- >Debbie Clark >Veterans For Peace >Greater Atlanta Chapter 125 >dclark at antiwar.com > >http://www.veteransforpeace.org >"Sow Justice, Reap Peace -- Strategies for Moving Beyond War" >2006 VFP Annual Convention >August 10-13, Seattle, WA >http://vfpnationalconvention.org/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From Quakerkristi at aol.com Fri Jun 23 08:29:32 2006 From: Quakerkristi at aol.com (Quakerkristi at aol.com) Date: Fri, 23 Jun 2006 08:29:32 EDT Subject: [saymaListserv] bunk bed project Message-ID: <314.68f2d0d.31cd38ac@aol.com> Friends, A few weeks ago, you received a letter from us, Little Rock Meeting's Bunk Bed Committee, outlining opportunities to engage in volunteer work and/or participate by assisting with collecting bedding. A copy of that letter follows. In my communication, I failed to mention that this will be at least a two year project and we would like your help "spreading the word." We would very much appreciate it if you would pass on this information to your constituent Quarterly Meetings and Monthly Meeting. Thanking you for your help and assistance, I am Friend, Marianne Lockard A VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY OPEN TO ALL FRIENDS EVERYWHERE Little Rock Monthly Meeting would like to extend an invitation to all F/friends, meetings and groups to actively participate in our Bunk Bed Project. After Hurricane's Katrina and Rita, Little Rock Meeting, carrying a concern for the thousands of families that lost their homes, undertook the Bunk Bed Project. Small groups of volunteers will be building sturdy bunk beds complete with mattresses, pillows, sheets, pillow cases and blankets. The beds will be offered to families with children that are finding themselves living in small spaces - temporary or permanent. The bed components are put together in the home, a job of about 20 or so minutes. But time enough for genuine exchange to take place. Our needs assessment (done with the help of Catholic Charities) revealed a much greater need than we originally thought. It is estimated that we will be building and delivering bunk beds, 800 to 1,000, over the next two years. We are a small meeting and it feels almost overwhelming, but so rightly led. The construction and storage site is located in Arkadelphia, AR., an hour south of Little Rock. A major timber company in Arkansas is donating framing lumber and we are in the process of trying to identify a company to donate mattresses. The foregoing are the two most expensive aspects of our project. But there are still a great many needs and we are hoping that Friends and Friends Meeting everywhere will be able to assist us. Donations are always welcome and we will be actively fund raising for the next two years. But at the present time our most critical need is for volunteers: individuals, families, groups small and large! Volunteers to work several hours, a half day, all day, several days, a week or weeks. We have created packets of information regarding housing and meal possibilities. In addition, DeGray State Park is located just a few miles from Arkadelphia. Tenting and camping is a possibility at the park. Park Interpreters have volunteered to offer interpretive programs on the geography, plant and animal life in that part of Arkansas. Swimming and boating are other options when volunteers are not engaged in sanding and staining and screwing bed components parts together. VOLUNTEER COME TO ARKADELPHIA, ARKANSAS JOIN US - MAKE BUNK BEDS AND ASSIST FAMILIES IN THE GULF Contact Information: Jean Sizemore, Co-Clerk Volunteer Information: Little Rock Monthly Meeting Marianne Lockard 10114 Ironton Rd. 602 N. Greening Little Rock, AR 72206 Hope, AR 71801 501-888-2095 870-777-5382 JWolfe34 at aol.com MariQuaker at Arkansas.net TWO OTHER OPPORTUNITIES TO PARTICIPATE IN THE BUNK BED PROJECT 1) Bedding for Bunk Beds: Sheet Sets (bottom, top and pillow case), blankets, pillows. Drawings or notes from young friends that can be tucked into each pillow case; a way to expresses friendship, child to child. Or perhaps a small stuffed animal for each bed? A project in which Meetings or First Day Schools, at a distance from Arkansas, could particulate. 2) Donations: We have located a company that will sell us mattresses, delivered to Arkadelphia, AR for just $35.00 each. Indeed a good price. But over the next two years we are hoping to be able to build 1,000 beds, and that means 2,000 mattresses. The costs would be $70,000. We simply do not have that kind of financial resources. We would greatly appreciate any financial assistance that you might be able to offer us. We would also appreciate good advice regarding who might be good to contact, within or outside of Quaker circles, regarding funding possibilities. Again, thanking you for your prayers, good wishes and assistance, I am Marianne Lockard, Little Rock Meeting's Bunk Bed Committee MariQuaker at Arkansas.net - Marianne Lockard JWolfe34 at aol.com - Shirl Walter and Jean Sizemore Joticof at aol.com - John Coffin Warnpeac at aol.com - Nancy Warren -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From CIsland at aol.com Sat Jun 24 09:49:39 2006 From: CIsland at aol.com (CIsland at aol.com) Date: Sat, 24 Jun 2006 09:49:39 EDT Subject: [saymaListserv] Compelling thought to see An Inconvenient Truth Message-ID: <263.bc611f3.31ce9cf3@aol.com> "In 39 years, I have never written these words in a movie review, but here they are: 'You owe it to yourself to see "An Inconvenient Truth". If you do not, and you have grandchildren, you should explain to them why you decided not to.' " -- Roger Ebert An Inconvenient Truth, Al Gore's startling new film about global warming, has started showing in theaters across the Southeast. _Click here_ (http://en.groundspring.org/EmailNow/pub.php?module=URLTracker&cmd=track&j=83603871&u=7687 56) to find a theater near -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From nc_stereoman at charter.net Sat Jun 24 15:43:44 2006 From: nc_stereoman at charter.net (Steve Livingston) Date: Sat, 24 Jun 2006 15:43:44 -0400 Subject: [saymaListserv] Compelling thought to see An Inconvenient Truth In-Reply-To: <263.bc611f3.31ce9cf3@aol.com> References: <263.bc611f3.31ce9cf3@aol.com> Message-ID: <449D95F0.8090809@charter.net> Thanks for the reminder, Bill! I'll be seeing it at the Fine Arts as soon as the crowd dies down a bit. If anyone finds Bill's theater link does not work for you, try this one: find a theater Steve CIsland at aol.com wrote: > /"In 39 years, I have never written these words in a movie review, but > here they are: 'You owe it to yourself to see "An Inconvenient Truth". > If you do not, and you have grandchildren, you should explain to them > why you decided not to.' " > /*-- Roger Ebert* > > /An Inconvenient Truth/, Al Gore's startling new film about global > warming, has started showing in theaters across the Southeast. Click > here > > to find a theater near > >------------------------------------------------------------------------ > >_______________________________________________ >Southern Appalachian Yearly Meeting and Association list-server: >-- address to subscribe (get on the list-server) or unsubscribe (get off): http://kitenet.net/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/sayma >-- address to send message to everyone on list: sayma at kitenet.net > > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: