PETER BERGEL: “Where there is no vision, the people perish†says the King James Bible in Proverbs 29:18. Certainly the people are in danger of perishing today. If not from wars and nuclear weapons, then from global warming. If not from that, then from a series of other threats. Could vision be what rescues us?
Category: Dec/Jan 2009
Biggest State Party to Obama: Get Out of Afghanistan
NORMAN SOLOMON: There’s a significant new straw in the political wind for President Obama to consider. The California Democratic Party has just sent him a formal and clear message: Stop making war in Afghanistan.
How Patriotism Can Save America
PAUL K CHAPPELL: As a soldier in the United States army, I have often pondered what it means to be patriotic, what it means to serve our country, and what it means to love America. In Will War Ever End? I described a dangerous misconception of patriotism that I witnessed while deployed in Baghdad.
How Television Affects Our Lives
A C NIELSEN: Approximate number of studies examining TV’s effects on children: 4,000
Number of minutes per week that parents spend in meaningful conversation with their children: 3.5
Number of minutes per week that the average child watches television: 1,680
Percentage of day care centers that use TV during a typical day: 70
Percentage of parents who would like to limit their children’s TV watching: 73
Percentage of 4-6 year-olds who, when asked to choose between watching TV and spending time with their fathers, preferred television: 54
Opium, Rape and the American Way in Afghanistan
CHRIS HEDGES: The warlords we champion in Afghanistan are as venal, as opposed to the rights of women and basic democratic freedoms, and as heavily involved in opium trafficking as the Taliban. The moral lines we draw between us and our adversaries are fictional. The uplifting narratives used to justify the war in Afghanistan are pathetic attempts to redeem acts of senseless brutality.
Obama to Native Americans: You Will Not Be Forgotten
OBAMA: President Barack Obama vowed not to forget American Indian tribes as representatives gathered for a White House conference on native issues.
Beltway Bulletin
The focus of this month’s Beltway Bulletin is “We Are the Climate Catastrophe Deniers”.
Introduction to Cutting Your Carbon Footprint
PETER BERGEL: Helping you and encouraging you to cut your carbon footprint is a major purpose of OPW’s 5% Solution to the Climate Crisis project. In addition to the information provided in this PeaceWorker’s focus topic articles, you will find a great deal more about this subject on OPW’s website, www.oregonpeaceworks.org. On our homepage, click the 5% Solution link.
Study Claims Meat Creates Half of All Greenhouse Gases
MARTIN HICKMAN: “A vegetarian driving a Hummer leaves less of a carbon footprint that a non-vegetarian driving a Prius.†– Reader’s comment.
New MPO Task Force Rolls Up Its Sleeves
1000 FRIENDS OF OREGON: As the issue of global warming occupies center stage on the national and international arena, here in Oregon, attention is focused on a newly appointed committee looking at how Oregon can combat global warming pollution from cars and trucks.
British Challenge: Cut Your Emissions 10% in 2010
10:10 is a mass movement that is signing up people and organizations from every corner of British life. From councils and hospitals to faith groups and scout troops, organizations across the country are deciding to get on board at the start of the journey to a low-carbon society.
British Government Pledges to Cut Carbon Emissions 80% by 2050
DEBORAH SUMMERS & DAMIAN CARRINGTON: The government has committed the U.K. to cutting greenhouse-gas emissions by 80% by the middle of the century in a bid to tackle climate change. In a move that was widely welcomed by environmental campaigners, Ed Miliband, the new energy and climate change secretary, said that the current 60% target would be replaced by the higher goal in the climate change bill.
What About Carbon Offsets?
Every time we heat our homes, take a flight or drive the car, fossil fuels are burnt and CO2 is released into the atmosphere causing climate change. Carbon offsetting enables you to take responsibility for the carbon emissions you create by paying an organization to reduce CO2 emissions in the atmosphere on your behalf.
Mullen Announces Afghanistan Strategy: Prepare to Nonviolently Resist
JEFF LEYS: Last month, Admiral Mullen (Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff) announced that the Pentagon will seek additional war funds for the Iraq and Afghanistan wars in 2010. While he did not give a firm dollar amount, the New York Times reported that defense budget analysts are kicking around the number of $50 billion.
Pro-Gaza Activism Contrasts with Congressional Votes
NANCY HEDRICK: Recent activism and awareness-building events around the Israel-Palestine issue and the ongoing siege in Gaza are in contrast with an unfortunate vote in Congress to support belligerent actions by Israel once again.
Tell the State Not to Give Sweetheart Deals to LNG Companies
The State of Oregon is leasing 92 acres of waterfront industrial state-owned land for a Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) terminal for just $38,400 per year. This is 3000% less than comparable leases.
Great Getaway Raffle Underway; Drawing Slated for Holiday Party Dec. 6
PETER BERGEL: The Great Getaway Raffle, OPW’s annual fundraiser in which 5 awesome vacation packages are raffled off to ticket holders all over the state is under way. Tickets are currently available at $1 each.
OPW, Allies Meet with Congressman Kurt Schrader
PETER BERGEL: On November 9, a delegation organized by Oregon PeaceWorks met with Oregon’s 5th District congressional representative Kurt Schrader. On the agenda were the wars in the Middle East, global warming and health care. The meeting included representatives from OPW, Veterans for Peace, 1000 Friends of Oregon, Fellowship of Reconciliation and Physicians for Social Responsibility.
Calendar
To offer calendar items, post them at www.oregonprogressivenetwork.org or email them to: updates@oregonpeaceworks.org before the 12th of the month for following month’s issue.