SAVE THE DATE!

2008 Annual Dinner - October 22nd

Our Keynote Speaker will be Starhawk!

We are excited about the upcoming annual dinner with this year's theme focusing on Fair Trade and making Chico a Fair Trade Town! The dinner will take place on Wednesday, October 22nd at the Chico Masonic Family Center (same as last year) located at 1110 West East Avenue.

Starhawk, committed global justice activist and organizer, is the author or coauthor of ten books, including The Spiral Dance, The Fifth Sacred Thing, and the award-winning

Webs of Power: Notes from the Global Uprising. Her latest is Earth Path: Grounding Your Spirit in the Rhythms of Nature. She is a veteran of progressive movements, from anti-war to anti-nukes, is a highly influential voice in the revival of earth-based spirituality and Goddess religion, and has brought many innovative techniques of spirituality and magic to her political work.

Many, many more details about music, food and tickets to come. Stay tuned!

GARDENER'S SWAP MEET

Wednesday, August 20th at 6-8pm (every third Wednesday thru September)

Chico Peace and Justice Center garden

With an excess of eggplants and a shortage of tomatoes, a plethora of peaches but a craving for apricots, local farmers and non-farmers can their bags with extra (but edible) fruits and/or veggies and SWAP them with another grower for something they liked better. Bring your extra veggie, or just bring a bag and a smile. Any excess produce would be donated to GRUB (Growing Resourcefully Uniting Bellies)and/or a local food bank.

The complete 2008 schedule is:

1st Wednesday of the month at 6-8pm at The Cause (727 W. 4th Ave)

2nd Wednesday of the month at 4-6pm at the Chico Community Children's Center (2224 Elm Street) and at 6-8pm at the Chico Grange Hall (2775 Old Nord Ave)

3rd Wednesday of the month at 6-8pm at CPJC (526 Braodway)

4th Wednesday of the month at 6-8pm at W. 16th Street and Normal Ave

ZAPATISTA SUPPORT COMMITTEE: Zapatista Women Touch Our Hearts

Saturday, September 13th

Chico Peace and Justice Center Garden (526 Broadway) at 7:30pm

The Chiapas Support Committee presents a slide show and report from the Zapatista Women's Meeting (Encuentro) in La Garrucha, Chiapas, Mexico. 3,000 people registered to hear these revolutionary women describe how they emerged from serfdom to become resistance leaders. Hear an update on the current situation in the Chiapas from members who just returned. Questions/ Discussion.

To download the flyer, click here.

To read more about the Zapatista women, click here.

ANGOLA 3's ROBERT "KING" WILKERSON to Speak in Chico!

Tuesday, September 23rd

Time and Location: TBA

Robert King Wilkerson was a member of the Black Panther Party who spent 32 years in prison, 29 of them in solitary confinement in Angola Prison, for a crime he did not commit. King was exonerated by the State of Louisiana in February of 2001 and subsequently released. Wilkerson and two other former members of the Black Panther Party who are still incarcerated (Albert Woodfox and Herman Wallace), comprise the Angola 3. Much has been written about these men and their controversial cases. Albert Woodfox and Herman Wallace to date are the longest-held prisoners in solitary isolation (or closed cell restriction) in the United States.

King has spoken before European parliaments in Belgium and Portugal. He has also spoken in the Netherlands, France, Indonesia, England, Germany, and Venezuela in regard to the Angola 3 and all political prisoners in the U.S. King was received as a guest and dignitary by the African National Congress in South Africa and has spoken with Desmond Tutu. Amnesty International has added the Angola 3 to their 'watch list' of political prisoners/prisoners of conscience. King is the author of a soon to be released book A Cry from the Bottom of the Heap. He continues to lecture across the U.S. besides making a living, wherever he is, as a candy maker. Since being flooded out of his home is New Orleans, he has resided in Austin, Texas with his famously enthusiastic dog Kenya and a crew of friends that he keeps connected.

The Angola 3 have a civil suit pending (Wilkerson, Woodfox and Wallace vs The State of Louisiana et. al), a case which the Supreme Court of the United States has ruled has merit to proceed, based on claims that their 'solitary isolation' is a violation of the Eighth Amendment of their rights against "cruel and unusual punishment" under the United States Constitution.

ALTERNATIVES TO VIOLENCE PROJECT WORKSHOP

Fri-Sun, September 26-28th

Chico Peace and Justice Center garden

Learn a new way to make a real difference in your community. Take an Alternatives to Violence Project workshop. Enjoy a hands-on, experiential, conflict resolution workshop where you'll connect deeply with others, laugh, share, listen while learning ways to reduce conflict in your world, your classroom, your family, or at work.

Take no notes... Come prepared to discover new ways of approaching disagreement. Treat yourself to this workshop purely for personal growth. Or make it a first step toward facilitating Alternatives to Violence Project (AVP) workshops in prisons, the community or classroom. For more information about the concepts of the Alternatives to Violence Project, see www.avpcalifornia.org.

Full schedule includes: Friday 6-9pm, Saturday 9am-8pm, Sunday 9am-2pm.

Suggested donation: $25-100 sliding scale. Free or reduced registration available. Just ask. Includes snacks, beverages, materials and training. Lunch will be provided Saturday and Sunday. For more information and to reserve your spot, please contact: Judy (530) 527-7813 or toll free 866-588-9274. Deadline for registration: September 22, 2008.

MIKE FARRELL (M*A*S*H): Actor, Activist, Author

Saturday, September 27th

Trinity Methodist Church (285 East 5th Street) at 7pm

Best known for his role as B.J. Hunnicutt on M*A*S*H, Mike Farrell has spent most of his life dedicating his time, name, charm and intelligence to human rights activism, both nationally and internationally. He is the president of the San Francisco-based Death Penalty Focus, and is the former chair of the board for Human Rights Watch. He just completed an 8,000 mile, 30 city driving tour in promotion of the paperback reissue of his memoir, Just Call Me Mike: A Journey to Actor and Activist.

From its opening pages, Mike Farrell's memoir reveals the distinctive voice of a man for whom life is an ongoing odyssey of self-discovery, personal commitment, and uncompromising social engagement. The world-renowned actor offers inspirational and often humorous reflections on his path to fame and progressive activism in this book, which became a Los Angeles Times best-seller and drew tremendous national media attention.

With deep insight and disarming candor, Farrell describes his early years as a timid but restless teenager in West Hollywood, delivering groceries to the homes of Jack Benny, Lucille Ball, Jimmy Stewart, and countless other celebrities, while dreaming of having his own career as an actor. In stark but riveting language, he relates his formative years as a Marine recruit-confused, conflicted, and eager to prove himself as a man. Farrell humorously portrays his professional development from a young soap opera player on Days of Our Lives to the amiable star of two popular television series, M*A*S*H and Providence, to the respected producer of successful motion pictures like Dominick and Eugene and Patch Adams.

At the heart of his story, Farrell narrates his public struggle to be a responsible citizen of the world. From his first-hand accounts of the ravages of war and oppression in Cambodia, El Salvador, Somalia, Bosnia, Rwanda, and the Gaza Strip, to his tireless advocacy against capital punishment, to his deep commitment to environmental causes, Farrell portrays each of these experiences with passion, outrage, and stubborn optimism.

We Support Public Proclamations of Love...including Same-Sex Marriages!

And we offer our Peace and Justice Garden for wedding ceremonies!

Beginning Tuesday, June 17th, the Chico Peace and Justice Center will offer the opportunity for same-sex couples to marry. Ordained ministers will be available to perform the ceremonies. All services are available free of charge.

On May 15th, the California Supreme Court declared that the state Constitution protects a fundamental "right to marry" that extends equally to same-sex couples. With the recent budget decision by Butte County Clerk-Recorder Candace Grubbs to no longer perform civil marriages, the Chico Peace and Justice Center will offer a location and officiators to perform the service.

The wedding site is the Chico Peace and Justice Garden where community members and center volunteers cultivate a shady and landscaped retreat with vegetable and flower gardens. Reservations can be made by calling (530) 893-9078.

JOIN THE REVOLUTION! Come to an Orientation to Find Out How!

Every 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month at 12pm

Chico Peace and Justice Center (526 Broadway)

Come to an informal meeting and get a better understanding of what the Chico Peace and Justice Center does and how you can get involved in the work. We need you!!!

Click here to learn more about working with the peace and justice community in Chico. Click here to download a copy of our handbook. A Spanish version of our handbook will be posted soon.

This meeting should last no longer than an hour. Please send an email to chico-peace@sbcglobal.net to let us know you are coming.

5th ANNIVERSARY RALLY & PUPPET PAGEANT

"Alternative Uses for a Trillion War Dollars"

"Ecotopia", statue formerly known as Liberty

"Tremendous" the Train Conductor

To everyone that made this a memorable day... from those that contributed the materials to create the puppets, to the folks that imagined and built them, from the drummers to the speakers, from the performers to the participants, we say...

THANK YOU!!!

Spiral Dance

Sending our intentions

Click here to see a slideshow of the day. All photos courtesy of Joe Smith. Thanks Joe!

Click here to read the Enterprise Record's coverage of the event.

Click here to read Susan Tchudi's description of the message of the puppets.

THE PROBLEM CONTAINS ITS OWN SOLUTION: Fund S-CHIP with War Dollars!

A permaculture principle states that we should "see solutions, not problems". One interpretation of this principle is as follows: What seems to be a problem may be a solution when viewed through different criteria.

On December 13th at Representative Wally Herger's office, this principle was crystal clear. A group of local MoveOn.org activists delivered over 500 signatures to Herger's office registering overwhelming opposition to attacking the non-nuclear country of Iran. By shear coincidence, the North Valley Sponsoring Committee from the Sacramento area was delivering petitions to Herger's office to demand funding of the State Children's Health Insurance Program (S-CHIP).

If we focus on the solutions, how about this for an idea: Let's redirect those military dollars to fund S-CHIP. If you have a minute, call Herger at (530) 893-8363 and tell him what you think of this idea. The photo above was taken at Herger's office and includes Maggie Chavez of the North Vally Sponsoring Committee and Karen Hamerquist of MoveOn.org.

LEGISLATION TO WATCH!

Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act of 2007

As California was burning and S-CHIP (State Children's Health Insurance Program) goes on the defensive, the United States House of Representatives slipped one by us. The House passed a bill with dangerously vague language and eerie implications, not to mention it being a fundamental challenge to the First Amendment. Many of you may not be aware of this bill that is quietly making its way through Congress. This bill has already passed through the House with only 6 dissenting votes and is on its way to the Senate.

Click here to learn more about this bill!!

Additional information here (truthout.org).

CHICO PEACE AND JUSTICE CENTER CALLS FOR IMPEACHMENT!

The CPJC Board of Directors officially adopted the position that calls for the impeachment of President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney. The position states:

"The Chico Peace and Justice Center Board of Directors supports the impeachment of both President George W. Bush and Vice-President Dick Cheney. Although there are powerful and pragmatic arguments against pursuing impeachment, we see compelling evidence that the President and Vice-President have violated their constitutional responsibilities to the people and should be subject to the proceedings established by our constitution to safeguard the republic from the abuse of executive power. The fact that there may not be sufficient political will in many of our legislators to undertake impeachment proceedings is not a reason to neglect our civic responsibility to call our leaders to account. We therefore take a stand in favor of impeachment and call on others who share our conviction to make public their position as well. The willingness to do so is essential to the integrity of our civic life and provides visible support for those in our government who are committed to it. Whether successful or not, impeachment proceedings would be healthy for our democracy."

Click here to view the entire position paper that explains the rationale for the Board of Directors taking this stance.

AND THE WINNER IS...

Congratulations to the winners of the "What does social justice look like?" Window Display Contest. The Chico State University student organization Kappa Delta Pi was named the winner of the contest. Kappa Delta Pi is "a national honor society that intends to unite future teachers in learning about the field and volunteering within the community to bring fun and educational activities to students".

The North Valley Fellowship of Reconciliation (FOR) received an honorable mention for being the Most Inspirational. Judge Emily Alma described the FOR window as creating a "...very peaceful world, a world of dignity, cultural beauty and diversity." Other judges on the panel include Mayor Andy Holcombe and Joe Person.

Click here to read more about the participating organizations and to view photos of the displays

2007 PEACE ENDEAVOR AWARD RECIPENTS ANNOUNCED!

Congratulations to Emily Alma and Cathy Webster who were named the 2007 recipients of the Chico Peace Endeavor Award for their work in our community.

Emily Alma is the founder of the Community Collaborative for Youth. CCY is a coalition of community-based programs that serve youth from diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds in the North Valley. Click here for more information about CCY.

Cathy Webster is the founder of the national organization 1,000 Grandmothers, whose mission is pressure Congress to close the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation, also known as the School of the Americas. Cathy spent two months in jail in the spring of 2007 for her protest activities at the WHINSEC/SOA in Fort Benning, GA. Click here for more information about 1000 Grandmothers.

STUFF HAPPENS!!

From its extraction through sale, use and disposal, all the stuff in our lives affects communities at home and abroad, yet most of this is hidden from view. The Story of Stuff is a 20-minute, fast-paced, fact-filled look at the underside of our production and consumption patterns. The Story of Stuff exposes the connections between a huge number of environmental and social issues, and calls us together to create a more sustainable and just world. It'll teach you something, it'll make you laugh, and it just may change the way you look at all the stuff in your life forever.

Click here to view the video.