Princeton Peace Network

2002 meeting minutes

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Sunday, November 24th, 2002
Sunday, November 17th, 2002
Sunday, November 10th, 2002
Sunday, October 13th, 2002
Sunday, October 6th, 2002
Sunday, March 3rd, 2002
Sunday, February 17th, 2002
Sunday, February 10th, 2002
Sunday, January 27th, 2002
Wednesday, January 16th, 2002
Sunday, January 13th, 2002
Sunday, January 6th, 2002

Sunday, November 24th, 2002

Announcements

Next Meeting, Dec. 1, 6pm, Subu to Moderate
Lewis Lapham Talk, Sunday, Dec. 8, ^Ó21st Century Challenge: American Empire or Democratic World Governance,^Ô Dodds Auditorium, Robertson Hall, 4pm.
Peace Train, Dec. 7, meet at 10:30am in front of Dinky Station, Mini-rallies at train stops across state, with major rally/march in Newark.
Richard Falk talk, Dec. 2, 4h30pm, Robertson Hall

Updates

Film Series and Peace Café Both went really well, excellent turnout! Agreed to continue to have Peace Café nights in future.

Peace Train Organizing (Dec. 7)

Main organizer is Coaltion for Peace Action
PPN agrees to participate and help with publicity.
A working group will meet to discuss possible puppet/street theater activities. Contact Amy(amyshughes@hotmail).
Flyers are available from CFPA. PPN agreed to help publicize at future tabling, flyering sessions.
Peter will send announcement to appropriate campus email lists, announcements lists, etc.

Tabling

No tabling this week (Students begin leaving on Wed.)
Tabling next week, distribute literature, publicize Peace Train event.

Iraq Board in Frist

Sujit reports on success of board in Frist focusing on Iraq.
International Center director considers board a success.
Proposal agreed to seek extension on Board past Dec. 2 deadline
Proposal agreed to work on second board, focusing on war on terrorism, civil liberties issues, etc. This would be started sometime in January. Working group (contact Amy or Sujit (nair@)

Monthly Discussion Group

Proposal to set up once-a-month meeting for discussion of issues (Iraq, U.S. foreign policy, Middle East, UN, etc.)
Proposed that this could be combined with Peace Café (i.e., have structure discussion 9:15pm ^Ö 10pm, followed by Peace Café as per last Friday).
Proposed to look into possibility of doing this first or second week of December (possibly Fri. Dec. 6). Working group formed.

Global Cinema Café

Next screening is Life and Debt, on Sunday Dec. 1, at the Fields Center, a documentary on the effects of globalization in Jamaica. See www.globalcinema.org for more information.

Lapham talk

PPN, as a co-sponsor, will help publicize the event. Flyers are available in PDF format (contact jconley@ if you would like the file to print out)
PPN will help with logistics of getting overflow rooms, as event will likely attract more than the 200 people that Dodds auditorium can hold.

Sunday, November 17th, 2002

INTRODUCTIONS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Amy will send out email to PPN-org re. a peace get together and brainstorming event at the Seminary School at 5:30 tomorrow.
Joe announced the Dec 6 Men Against Rape March. Discussion was tabled for a later meeting so that we could gather more information about this event.
Women in Black has changed its meeting time. it now meets on Wednesdays from 12:15 to 12:45 in front of the Nassau Gates at the intersection of Nassau street and Witherspoon St.

DOCUMENTARY FILM SERIES:

Need to publicize these events!
There will be a flyering party tomorrow (MOnday, 11/18) at 11am rain or shine. We need lots of help. Meet in Cafe Vivian. Peter will send out email announcement. Joe will put extra flyers for those that cannot make it in PPN's locker.
We will hand out an updated version of the "9 points flyer" at the films. Curtis will email the updated flyer to Sujit to put on the website for others to download.
We will make a reader on Iraq to distribute at the films. The reader working group will be meeting Tuesday at 5:30 in the Field Center for Equality and Cultural Understanding (corner of Olden and Prospect). please bring articles that you like.
Joe, Curtis and Peter will work on making the flyer to advertise the film series and will email it out as an attachment if they can and will email it to Sujit to put on the website for people to copy.
Karen and other people will help photocopy the film series flyers.
We will make a separate flyer for Friday's film to highlight the Peace Cafe.

PEACE CAFE:

We will have a night of peace/activist music in Murray Dodge Cafe starting at 9:20 this Friday. Hana and Amy will set up Murray Dodge and make cookies.
Please send activist/ peace song ideas to Curtis and Amy so that they can make a CD to play (cdeutsch@ or ahughes@). Curtis will send out an email to solicit requests.

INTERNATIONAL CENTER INFO BOARD:

Hana has put a lot of stuff up on the board. It is to have a balanced international perspective. It is to be a discussion board. Hana, Damon, Sujit, Sue and others will set up a working group to work out a fair and clear way to solicit additions to the board. People highlighted concerns that the rules for accepting/rejecting a submission be very clear so that other people/groups don't get upset and accuse us of being unfair. Not everything will be up at once but things will circulated and be up for a week or so at a time. The working group will be monitoring the board, maintaining it, putting up and removing articles, etc.

TABLING:

This week tablers will be focusing on handing out 1/4 sheets advertising the film series and the peace cafe at Murray Dodge and the weekly Saturday vigil. They will be distributing them to people passing by frist outside if weather permits. Joe will contact Frist.
Tablers this week:
NEW FLYERS:
We will discuss future events next week.
That's all the notes I have. Sorry if I left anything out. Please email me corrections or editions.

Sunday, November 10th, 2002
- Announcements
  - Ongoing -- PPN Meetings, 5pm, Sunday at the Carl Fields Center
  - Ongoing -- Peace Vigil, 1-2pm, Palmer Square
- Faculty Anti-War Ad/Petition in Daily Princetonian
  - The ad appeared in Thursday's edition, but the paper was not distributed until late in the day. The Daily Princetonian has thus agreed to run the ad again this Tuesday at no additional charge.
  - News coverage of the ad included a front page story in the Trenton Times and an interview shown on CNN.
  - Faculty and community donations toward the ad total more than $550 so far.
- Peace Vigil
  - Flyers are available to help advertise the ongoing peace vigils held in Palmer Square.
  - AWiP proposal to participate in vigils is agreed upon and encouraged.
- Film Series
  - The PPN is planning a documentary film series on Iraq on the evenings of Nov. 19-21.
  - The lineup will include Paying the Price: Killing the Children of Iraq, Hidden Wars of Desert Storm, and one other selection. More details on these films can be found at www.fpif.org/filmguide/iraq.html
  - Publicity for the film series, including flyer design and distribution, and announcments to email lists. If you would like to help with the publicity and logistics for the film series, we could use your help. Please contact Joe (jconley@).
  - Proposal to ask faculty members to facilitate one or more film nights agreed upon.
- New Woodrow Wilson School Group
  - Matt from WWS gave an update on a group of WWS students planning to organize activities against war with Iraq, and interested in learning about existing anti-war activism on campus.
  - Activities planned by the group include organizing a balanced teach-in on the Iraq issue, creating a posterboard space where arguments pro/con war can be posted, a flyering campaign using tompaine.com NYTimes ad, letter writing campaigns, and working with connections in DC against war.
  - Proposal introduced to encourage someone from PPN to attend the WWS group's meetings, and vice versa, to keep groups abreast of what others are planning and possibly coordinate activities.
- Peace Cafe
  - Zia proposes a night at Frist's Cafe Vivian featuring anti-war/peace music (recorded). The night would help create a social space to bring people together to talk, socialize, etc.
  - Amy volunteered to find out what PPN needs to do to reserve the Cafe for such an event, etc.
- Lewis Lapham Talk, "21st Century Challenge: American Empire or Democratic World Government,"
  - Lapham, editor of Harpers, will speak on Sunday, Dec. 8, 4pm, at Dodds Auditorium, Richardson Hall
  - The event is sponsored by the United Nations Association of the United States
  - PPN agreed to co-sponsor the talk, help publicize it, etc.
- National Student/Youth Day of action on Nov. 20th
  - A coalition of anti-war student groups is calling for a nationwide demonstration against war on Nov. 20. In the region, groups from Penn any many other Philadelphia-area universities will demonstrate.
  - PPN decided not to organize a demonstration/contingent for this because of time and resource limitations.
  - Agreed that PPN should maintain/develop contacts with groups at Penn and other universities in area to stay abreast of their activities, etc.
Sunday, October 13th, 2002

Minutes from October 13, 2002
- 1) October 26 Rally in D.C.
  - The Coalition for Peace Action will be sending two buses to a national demonstration against war with Iraq. Tickets on the buses cost $30, for more information click here.
  - PPN will continue to carry information on the October 26 rally at its tables at Frist this week.
  - Hana H. volunteered to help publicize the Oct. 26 rally to students. Contact (hheineke@).
  - Anne-Marie volunteered to make signs/posters for the D.C. rally.
- 2) Lunchtime Tabling at Frist this Week (Volunteers Still Needed! Contact amyshughes@hotmail)
  - Agreed that tabling this week will focus upon Oct. 26 event, No Iraq Attack national petition (http://www.noiraqattack.org/), and ongoing Saturday rallies by PPN/CFPA rallies at Palmer Square.
  - PPN will attempt to get a better tabling position at Frist this week.
  - Anne-Marie volunteered to help create posters for tables on Oct. 26, etc.
  - Arguments Against War information sheet will be updated and distributed at table. Articles/Newstories will be available. Action section will be changed to include White House 1 (800) number.
  - Zia suggests distributing/making available a chronology of US-Iraq relations, such as the one being distributed by the American Friends Service Committee. Also a stapled reader (as per last year) that would focus on Iraq, articles could be drawn from those posted on PPN website.
  - Related Tabling Issue: Students at two eating clubs (Terrace and ?) have suggested starting tabling at clubs. Perhaps we could establish PPN liaisons to help set up tabling efforts there.
- 3) Faculty Against War
  - Proposal to gather names of faculty at Princeton who signed noiraqattack.org petition. Signees would then be contacted to see if they would agree to have their names attached to a full-page ad in Daily Princetonian bearing the petition statement. Money for ad (approximately $300) could be raised by asking faculty to contribute small fee.
  - Such an action could help faculty see themselves, as a group, opposed to war.
  - As media event, such a statement could garner regional and national attention.
- 4) Fundraiser
  - Zia raised idea of having fund raiser in future to raise essential money for PPN. Event could draw on local musical and artistic talent. Volunteers and/or ideas wanted Please send ideas to ppn@princeton.edu.
- 5) Update on Saturday's Rally
  - Good turnout on rainy day. Hundreds of flyers distributed. Event covered by Princeton Packet.
  - Suggested that local press should be notified of future rallies.
- 6) Local-Access Spots on Cable Channels
  - Larry Segal (lrrysgl@aol)raised idea of placing anti-war spots on local access channel.
  - Sentiment expressed that PPN doesn't have resources to produce such spots, but could help others in area who might wish to create them.
  - Local Arts Council has equipment and connections with Princeton Public Access.
  - Website www.iraqjournal.org provides interesting info. that could be used for such efforts.
- 7) Website Survey
  - Sujit (nair@) suggests idea of posting survey/questionairre on PPN website (www.princeton.edu/~ppn)
  - Send ideas for this to Sujit.
- 8) Arts for Peace
  - Sharon raised idea of combining performance art carrying peace message with Saturday rallies. Please send ideas on this to Sharon at (bukugarden@earthlink)
  - Idea was also put forward to contact local artists (such as those who have art displayed at Small World) to suggest idea of exhibits focusing on peace theme.
- 9) Student-group Initiative
  - Proposal to contact other student groups on campus to join anti-war coalition.
  - Statement distributed would be based on noiraqattack.org petition.
  - Groups that agree could be called upon to co-sponsor PPN actions.
  - PPN members should raise idea personally at meetings of other groups on campus.
  - Statement will explain PPN, arguments against war, and purpose of forming inter-group coalition against war.
  - If you are interested in helping out with this effort, please contact Joe (jconley@) or Alexandra (abmparis@hotmail).
- 10) Next PPN meeting, Sunday 5pm, Carl Felds Center, Sujit will moderate. Please send items you would like to see on agenda to Sujit (nair@).
Sunday, October 6th, 2002

PPN Meeting Minutes, Sunday, October 6, 2002

Announcements
Teach-in Update
- a. Planning is still under way. Possible speakers include Frank von Hippel and Richard Falk. Zia is in contact with them and will see if a date early next week will fit in their schedules.
- b. It was suggested that a "reader" on Iraq be prepared to be distributed in association with the teach-in. Articles for this could be gathered from the website where articles have been gathered. To submit relevant articles to be posted to the website, email them to ppn@princeton.edu.
Tabling at Frist
- a. Tabling at Frist will begin Tuesday, from 11h30am to 2pm.
- b. Volunteers for this week: (See end of message for volunteers and times.)
- c. Activities.
  - i. Flyers with arguments against war will be available
  - ii. Contact information for congressional representatives and senators.
  - iii. Sign-up sheets for PPN.
  - iv. Proposal for having laptop with noiraqattack.org petition website open, so that students who stop by can sign petition.
Weekly Poster demonstrations on Nassau Street
- a. Proposal to have vigils each week on Nassau St. with posters.
- b. Jean Ross will contact Borough Council to get OK.
- c. Plan to have vigils correspond with home football games.
- d. Times/Dates will be set later.
Video, Hidden Wars of Desert Storm
- a. Larry Siegel has a copy of this. Hopes to have screening in near future. Contact lrrysgl@aol.
Peace Flags for group
- a. Get-together to create cloth flags (similar to those made last year)
- b. Possibly to be scheduled this week (contact amyshughes@hotmail)
Next meeting, next Sunday, 5pm, same place.

Sunday, March 3rd, 2002

Minutes from March 3, 2001

This was a small meeting, but there are tons of events this week. See below for things you can do to help out!

1. Tabling -> Amnesty International and PPN are having a joint table in Frist from 12-2pm on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. Amnesty has people confirmed to table each day. Suresh (12-2pm) and Sujit (shorter time) agreed to table on Thursday. Can anyone help with tabling on Wednesday or Friday? We also need to update our tabling materials, so if you have any good articles, you can make copies and put them in our locker in Frist or bring them by the table. Also, people are encouraged to stop by the table and help out/hang out even if you can't stay very long. Contact Vincent at vlloyd@ to help out with the tabling or with ideas for materials.

2. Help with flyering for all the events this week! Flyer your corner of the world to get people to attend Nonviolence 101, Walidah Imarisha's talk and spoken word performance, and Larry Hamm's speech. (If you haven't heard about these events, there's info on the PPN website - http://www.princeton.edu/~ppn). You can pick up flyers for all these and more in our locker, locker #3 in the Student Organizations area on the 200 level of Frist.

3. Ideas in Action -> Sue met with Olivier from Ideas in Action, which is organizing a speaker series on the war on terrorism or something of the sort. We had given them a list of possible speakers (they have money) but so far they have lined up a conservative slate. They will try to contact one of our suggestions, and we agreed that they could use our name on the invite. The event will take place in mid-April. Who would like to be the contact person for this project? - it should involve minimal work. Contact Sue at sschweinsberg@molbio.princeton. if interested.

4. Larry Hamm banner -> Who can help make a banner to hang over McCosh walk to advertise Larry Hamm's talk on Saturday? Calling all artists - and people who can letter and color within the lines! Contact Vincent at vlloyd@.

5. Nonviolence 101 starts this Tuesday. (It's an on-going discussion series on nonviolence, structured around the PBS series "A Force More Powerful.") Can you help make photocopies of readings for the sessions? Contact Todd at parsons@math.toronto..

6. Website -> Sue has resigned her position as webmaster in order to read papers about flies. Jolie will continue to update events and make other random changes, and Sujit will check the ppn@princeton.edu email account as well as work on the site.

Next meeting is Sunday, March 10 at 7:30pm at Murray-Dodge.

Sunday, February 17th, 2002

Agenda:

"A Force More Powerful" film and discussion series
Princeton Committee on Palestine contact info
Ideas in Action - Speaker
Website report
Larry Hamm

1. "A Force More Powerful" film and discussion series

will happen every Tuesday night starting March 5th (except Spring Break)
Frist 307 is reserved from 8-10pm
suggestion that we change the time a half hour ahead (7:30-9:30)
Jolie will look into getting the room reservation time changed
PPN still needs to advertise this series

ADVERTISING AND PUBLICITY MEETING:
WED FEB 20th at 9am at SMALL WORLD CAFE

suggestion that a reader be made to be distributed and discussed during the
series
This reader would include excerpts from the book "A Force More Powerful" by
Peter Ackerman and Jack Duvall and would also include other works

This series still needs a facilitator. If you have any suggestions for a
facilitator (or if you have any other suggestions or would like to help)
please contact Todd at <parsons@math.toronto.> and Peter at
<pwolanin@>

2. Princeton Committee on Palestine

announcement from Karen
Karen Bauer is the new President of the Princeton Committee on Palestine.
The Princeton Committee on Palestine would like to work together with PPN on
future events. Please feel free to contact Karen at <kbauer@>

3. Ideas in Action - Speaker

Ideas in Action is planning to have a lecture series entitled "The War on
Terrorism at Home and in the Middle East" A representative of this group
contacted PPN and would like to meet with a representative of PPN in order
to discuss this series. At the meeting we came up with a wish-list of
speakers to present to Ideas in Action. The speakers (in order of priority)
are Howard Zinn, Amira Haas, Amy Goodman, Michael Parenti and William Blum.
Sue will contact Ideas in Action.

4. Website - announcement
Jolie and Sue have modified the website design (although it is still
unfinished). The website can be seen at <www.princeton.edu/~ppn> or
<www.princetonpeacenetwork.edu>
Most of the links on the website are old. It would be nice to have newer
links. Daniel volunteered to find some additional links (including a count
of civilian casualties in Afghanistan). If you have anything you would like
added to the website, please send the info to <ppn@princeton.edu>

5. Larry Hamm

Larry Hamm will be speaking at the Unitarian Universalist Church on March
10th. Last week Jean sent out an email asking PPN if they would like to
arrange for Larry Hamm to speak at PRinceton on March 9th, since he will be
in town. It is possible that WROC may already be working to have Larry Hamm
speak on March 9th at PRinceton. If WROC is not planning to have Hamm
speak, then it would be a good idea for PPN to arrange his coming to speak
on the 9th
Meeting ends....

Sunday, February 10th, 2002

Facilitator: Joe Conley
Secretary: David Hirvonen

1) Film series/festival

We continued discussion of the spring Princeton Peace Network film
festival. A full fledged film festival (movies and directors) is likely
to run us roughly $6K. Since a film series (just movies) will cost
around $600 -- essentially the cost of the films -- we felt it was more
feasible (and cost effective), and will begin exploring this option.
Zia has sent out inquiries to the distributors. We decided to explore
co-sponsorship w/ other groups, such as the Princeton Committee on
Palestine and Another World is Possible. This could help distribute
work and cost.

2) A Force More Powerful

We discussed showing "A Force More Powerful," a PBS six part series on
non-violent social movements. People felt it would be best to show one
(perhaps two) section(s) at each screening to allow time for discussion.
This could provide additional publicity for the film series. Tuesday
at 8:00 was tentatively proposed as a time. Once scheduled, publicity
will be handled by Joe (University) and Dave (community).

3) Historical struggles at Princeton

Many PPN members attended a talk at the Third World Center by Princeton
Alumni Larry Hamm, of the People's Organization for Progress. He
discussed campus and community activism in the 70's. Follow up
discussions noted the value of this legacy to present and future student
activists. Several projects along these lines were discussed,
including: a display on campus w/ photos, newspaper clippings, etc; a
talk/presentation; a student thesis/paper. Shena will bring the topic
up to the board of the Black Student Union.

4) PPN member survey

Joe has drafted a letter to send to PPN members/supporters requesting
feedback about how we can best direct our efforts, what subjects are of
interest/concern, etc. After receiving group consensus, the letter will
be sent to the ppn@topica.com. All subsequent feedback will be
reviewed/discussed by the group.

5) April march for non-violence

Jean brought up the ANSWER march for non-violence, to occur in DC
sometime in April. The topic was postponed for further discussion.

6) Military budget lecture

We discussed holding an event to examine the exorbitant US military
budget. Bill Hartung was mentioned as a possible speaker. Zia knows
him and will contact him. Jean will contact the CFPA to look into
co-sponsorship.

Sunday, January 27th, 2002

Present: Suzy, Dave, Susan, Matt, Zia, Curtis, Jolie, Suresh, Karen.

Curtis facilitated, Karen took notes.

On the agenda:
1. proposal for film festival
2. proposal to take past meeting minutes off web site
3. suggestion to join with the blue triangle project, solidarity with
Muslims.
4. Call for PPN to co-sponsor India-Pakistan vigil.
5. Weekly vigil previously proposed by Lee.

Announcements:
1. to post anything on the PPN web site, send an email to PPN@princeton.edu

2. Walihda Imarisha, from the group Another World is Possible, will be
speaking on Thursday, March 7.
3. India-Pakistan vigil, 12:00, February 9, Palmer Square.
4. meeting re: response to the World Economic Forum (which meets in NY
this weekend) Wed. 7:30 PM, Murray-Dodge.
5. Muslim and Jewish comedians to perform at Trinity Church, March 2.

1. Film Festival:
Zia and Curtis proposed that we do a film festival, including inviting
directors to speak about their films. It was suggested that this be
done the weekend after spring break.
As a part of his proposal, Zia explained some of the films, and told us
all who Ralph Bunche was, as one of the films is a documentary on him.
He suggested that we open the last day of the film festival to groups on
campus and off, to screen independent documentaries.

There was much excitement about this proposal.

Suzy brought up the fact that the proposed weekend included Easter, and
much discussion ensued. After Zia explained the logic of the choice,
Suresh commented appreciatively. Suzy pointed out that at the very
least depressing films should not be shown on Easter Sunday, and Karen
vociferously agreed. Cash flow and filmmaker availability also emerged
as potential stumbling blocks in the way of that date. In the end,
there was unanimous agreement to pass the proposal, and there will be a
WORKING GROUP MEETING this Thursday in Murray Dodge.

2. At this point Zia remembered that he had an announcement to make and
another proposal. The announcement is regarding a group of Muslim and
Jewish comedians from Canada who are coming here, to Princeton, on March
2, to perform at Trinity Church (on Mercer St.) The group was formed
after Sept. 11, and we decided unanimously to help advertise and flyer
for the event.

3. Sue mentioned in regards to Walihda Imarisha that we may be able to
support with funds.

4. The Blue Triangle Proposal generated much excitement and some
imaginative ideas to visibly demonstrate our solidarity with certain
groups. Blue triangle is the idea that, to show solidarity with Muslim,
Arab, and South Asian immigrants, blue triangles will be worn on a
specified day. Everyone agreed this sounded like a great idea, and
Jolie said that she would forward the email out again, to be discussed
at the next meeting (she has done this).

The notion of visibly demonstrating solidarity seemed to strike a chord
in many of the hearts of those present, and it was suggested that
members of our organization could dress up in a manner similar to the
detained Afghan fighters currently imprisoned in Guantanamo Bay in order
to protest their inhumane treatment there. Suresh interjected with a
media update, informing us that Colin Powell has come out against the
prisoners' treatment. Curtis suggested that we could dress up. Dave
donned a wig which he had previously been wearing. Sue pointed out that
Donald Rumsfeld said that Guantanamo Bay is paradise compared to
Afghanistan, but Curtis noted that the sensory deprivation imposed by
the prisoners' blindfolds, etc., might severely impair enjoyment of
their surroundings. All concurred. It was suggested that we mull over
the options till next week, and a consensus was reached.

5. India-Pakistan vigil, Sat. Feb. 9, Palmer Square, at noon. This
would be a visible demonstration of support for peace between India and
Pakistan. It was agreed that we support this vigil. It was also agreed
that we could get the permit for the vigil. Suresh suggested that we do
something to draw the South Asians of our community and the University
into the picture. Zia suggested a follow-up. Suzy suggested we flyer
in the Indian restaurant. All concurred.

6. The weekly vigil, previously proposed by Lee.
Suresh commented that he personally thought it would be valuable. A
question was raised as to the focus. Zia suggested of thinking of
concrete action. Then sparks flew throughout the room as the idea
simultaneously occurred to all present that we could have an ongoing
vigil, perhaps once a month, which would be preceded by a week of
tabling activity in Frist and flyering elsewhere. The vigil would focus
on different issues, for instance the Guantanamo Bay prisoners, the
India-Pakistan vigil, the Occupied Territories, etc. It was unanimously
agreed that we should table in Frist before the India-Pakistan vigil,
and various people volunteered to provide literature for this. Sue will
reserve the table.

7. Web site. Zia pointed out that the level of detail on the web site
is too much. This was generally conceded, and it was agreed that past
minutes would be taken off the web site. Sue will fix this.

January 16th, 2002

Agenda: Continuing discussion of Gandhi, King, Ikeda peace exhibit

(Note: These minutes are condensed from my notes. Hopefully they convey
the essence of the discussion without too much detail. As always, please
feel free to send comments.)

John reported that Henry Kissinger has been permanently removed from the
exhibit. (The criteria for choosing the human rights heroes is unclear,
but it was suggested that the people who designed the exhibit may not have
been as politically aware as many of us in PPN.)

Daniel and Zia reported back with information on SGI. We discussed both
SGI and the structure of the exhibit. People expressed concerns about the
structure of the exhibit in which Ikeda is placed on the same level as
Gandhi and King. We also discussed the question of PPN working with
religious and political groups and observed that we can't (and don't)
always agree 100% with people and groups we work with. It was noted that
we have generally been able to frame events in the past - if we had been
working together to design this exhibit from the ground up, these problems
could have been avoided. We also issued an invitation to SGI people to
work together collectively in the future. Skye emphasized that we
shouldn't feel obligated to support the exhibit.

Zia proposed that PPN withdraw its sponsorship of the exhibit.
Lee suggested an amendment that people helping to find another sponsor for
the exhibit would be good. (Other groups have expressed interest.)
Amended proposal was approved.

Regarding MLK Day, Zia suggested that we should start a petition calling
for Gandhi's birthday to be made a university-wide day of service/holiday.
Lee said that Carol Allen had suggested a vigil for MLK Day. It was
decided that we shouldn't make other decisions at this meeting since it
wasn't called as a general PPN meeting, and the meeting was adjourned.

January 13th, 2002

PPN meeting minutes from Sunday, January 13th, 2002 at 7:30pm

Agenda -
Martin Luther King Day event(s)
Another World is Possible Anthology Tour
Weekly Peace Vigil
Budget
Gandhi, King, Ikeda Peace exhibit

Facilitator - Suresh

Martin Luther King Day Event(s) -

Suggestion that PPN show a movie to commemorate MLK Day
Since there are many other groups on campus with many different
events planned for MLK day, there was concern that PPN would be competing
with these groups. Therefore, it was decided not to show the film for MLK
day. However, it was suggested that PPN work with other campus groups to
help promote and to advertise these other events.

PROPOSAL to compile a list of MLK day events, which will include
contact information of the sponsoring groups, and send this list out to the
<ppn@topica.com> email list.
ACCEPTED - Suresh volunteers to send out this information.
If you would like to help advertise these events, please contact the
sponsoring organization.

Another World is Possible Anthology Tour -

It was decided to cosponsor this event with the Princeton group
Another World is Possible (AWiP). The Princeton group AWiP will apply for
funding.
Discussion of choice of speaker. Only one speaker would come to
Princeton. The speakers who are still available and will be touring the
northeast are : Beka Economopoulos, Jeremy Glick and Walidha Imarisha.
However, since PPN may not get its first choice of speaker due to scheduling
conflicts, we discussed preferences of speaker.

PROPOSAL to request Walidha Imarisha as our first choice, Beka
Economopoulos as our second choice and Jeremy Glick as our third choice.
(This is the same order of preference that was concensused upon by the
Princeton AWiP group).
ACCEPTED - Susan will contact the touring group.

Weekly Peace Vigil to be held in Palmer Square -

PROPOSAL (Lee) that PPN work with other groups to hold a weekly
vigil in Palmer Square to demonstrate against war. This vigil would not
only show a fixed presence of the peace movement, but would also promote
contacts between peace organizations and provide a free-expression zone in
which people could distribute literature, engage in dialogue, etc...

Discussion as to effectiveness of this approach. Zia expresses
concern over potential of low attendence. He comments that this time could
be more effectively spent, for example on reading and writing campaigns.
Discussion over message that would be conveyed at the vigil. Jean
suggests that if we were to hold this vigil, PPN should refocus its message,
since the war in Afghanistan is in a different state than it was at the end
of Sep, 2001. More discussion follows and concern is raised over the
message of vigil. Lee feels that the message should not be constrained. He
would like to create a central location that would allow people to speak
freely to promote peace.
Discussion over location. It was suggested that Palmer Square may
not be the best location due to small numbers of people that would pass-by
and also because of the cold temperatures outside. It was suggested that
the weekly vigil be held at a store, a mall or a grocery store.

PROPOSAL - to contact other groups to see if they are interested in
participating in a weekly vigil - that PPN endorse this event but that it be
discussed again at a subsequent meeting.
ACCEPTED - Lee will contact other organizations

Budget -

Karen received a bill from the University which said that as of Nov
13th, 2001, the PPN account was $35 overdrawn due to a Media Services Bill.
Lee has made a deposit since this date (and still has the receipt).
Therefore it is unlikely that the PPN account is still overdrawn. However,
since Amy has left, we need someone to look into this matter further and to
handle PPN accounts. Susan is volunteered to do financing and agrees to do
so.

Gandhi, King, Ikeda Peace exhibit -

Brief history of PPN involvement with this exhibit: PPN previously
concensed to cosponsor this exhibit, to provide space for the exhibit and to
help advertise the exhibit (see meeting minutes at
http://www.princeton.edu/~ppn/minutes.html for Dec 9th, 2001). At a
subsequent meeting in Jan, concern over the content of the exhibit was
discussed (see meeting minutes at http://www.princeton.edu/~ppn/minutes.html
for Jan 6th, 2002). It was decided that Susan would contact Skye and bring
more information about the exhibit to the meeting on Jan 13th.

Skye and John bring more information about the exhibit to the PPN
meeting. This information includes copies of all of the panels that are to
be displayed at the exhibit. It is discovered that on the last panel, which
is entitled "Heroes of Human Rights", Henry Kissinger is included as one of
the approximately 20 people mentioned on this panel.
Much discussion ensues. Opposition to the inclusion of Kissinger as
a Hero of Human Rights is voiced. The inclusion of a few other persons on
this panel is also discussed, for example the Crown Prince of Jordan.
Concerns are raised over the nature of the sponsoring organization, SGI.
The only information available at the meeting about this organization is SGI
literature.

PROPOSAL - to obtain additional, objective information about the
sponsoring organization.
APPROVED - Daniel volunteers to research the SGI

Some questions that members of PPN would like answered include:
What concrete actions has SGI taken to promote peace?
What criterion did SGI use to choose its "heroes of human rights"?

More discussion follows. This discussion includes but is not
limited to the following comments and suggestions. It is suggested that PPN
pass out its own literature that speaks out against certain aspects of this
exhibit. It is suggested that PPN picket this exhibit. It is suggested
that PPN withdraw its sponsorship of this exhibit. The obligations of PPN
to this exhibit are discussed. Since PPN has promised to sponsor this
exhibit, it is suggested that PPN find a replacement organization to sponsor
this exhibit before withdrawing PPN sponsorship. No concensus is reached.

It is decided that PPN should wait for additional information about
SGI before making any decisions on PPN's course of action.

PROPOSAL - that PPN hold a meeting on Wednesday, January 16th at
6:30pm in Murray-Dodge to discuss newly aqcuired information about SGI and
to determine an appropriate course of action.
APPROVED

January 6th, 2002

PPN Minutes from meeting on 01/6/2002 @ 7:30

If you have any questions, or would like to participate in any efforts listed below, please send
email to ppn@princeton.edu. In addition to ppn@topica.com, PPN maintains a second (higher
traffic) mailing list <ppn-org@topica.com> to facilitate discussion, event organizing, etc. If you
would like to join, please send a blank email to <ppn-org-subscribe@topica.com>.

Note: PU Students (undergrads) will be busy with exams 'til 1/25 and will then have 1 week of
vacation. We should focus efforts more on community involvement/outreach during this period.

Attendees: Please correct any significant errors, misrepresentations, and omissions and send to
ppn@topica.com.

---------

1) Peace exhibit (Sue)

We discussed co-sponsorship of an art (photo) exhibit, organized by a (PU?) Buddhist group,
with an emphasis on non-violence (MLK, Gandhi, etc.). People expressed reservations about a
direct PPN religious affiliation, but were interested in helping. We obtained consensus to provide
student group sponsorship and to assist in obtaining a room for the exhibit. Several people felt
ill-informed on the specific message and content of the exhibit -- Sue will have more information
on the event at the next meeting.

2) Phylis Bennis (Zia)

The Emergency Committee on Palestine (PU group), has asked PPN to co-sponsor a lecture by
Phylis Bennis, of the Institute for Policy Studies, sometime in January. The subject will be US
policy in the Middle East after 9/11. Zia agreed to email sample writing/articles to the list. We
obtained consensus on co-sponsoring the event.

3) Larry Hamm (Jean)

We discussed bringing Larry Ham (Princeton Alumni), of the People's Organization for Progress,
<http://www.njpop.org/> to Princeton for a lecture/discussion. A topic still needs to be selected,
however, it was suggested that he focus on domestic issues (i.e., racial profiling, community
involvement for PU students after graduation ("alternatives to Rumsfeld")), since we have put
considerable effort into foreign policy issues, and less on domestic issues. We obtained
consensus on sponsoring the event. All organizing will be done through the anti-racism working
group.

4) Non-Violence Discussion Group (Zia)

The American Friends Service Committee has organized a successful seminar/discussion group
based on the PBS 6 part book/film series on non-violent movements (we have shown this as part
of our film series). We discussed adopting a similar, regularly scheduled discussion group to
cover the material in the series. This could take place every other week and would be a great
way to promote principles of non-violence in PU and the community. We obtained consensus...
Zia and others to follow up.

5) MLK Day 1/25 (Todd)

We discussed possibilities for events to commemorate MLK day. Several people voiced
concerns that MLK has been de-politicized, and many of his messages are conspicuously ignored
in current reporting/discussion: his views on US foreign policy, his struggles for social *and*
economic justice, etc. The University and/or other groups may be hosting events already, we
need to look into this. We brainstormed on possible events:
- read excerpts from MLK's "Beyond Vietnam" speech
- show a film
- invite speakers such as Eric Dyson ("The Truth About Martin Luther King")
- Palmer Square vigil kick-off

An MLK working group was formed. Current members are Suresh*, Lee, Dave, Larry

* group contact person

6) Meeting Time (Zia)

We reviewed the Sunday @ 7:30pm meeting time, and decided to postpone discussion on a possible
time change to a future meeting.

Note: All working groups should check the website and make notes of what needs to be
updated, added, etc.

Announcements

Updates

Peace Train Organizing (Dec. 7)

Tabling

Iraq Board in Frist

Monthly Discussion Group

Global Cinema Café

Lapham talk

INTRODUCTIONS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS:

DOCUMENTARY FILM SERIES:

PEACE CAFE:

INTERNATIONAL CENTER INFO BOARD:

TABLING:

NEW FLYERS:

Announcements

Teach-in Update

Tabling at Frist

Weekly Poster demonstrations on Nassau Street

Video, Hidden Wars of Desert Storm

Peace Flags for group

Next meeting, next Sunday, 5pm, same place.