BAUAW Newsletter

Sunday, February 27, 2005

BAUAW NEWSLETTER-SUNDAY, FEB.27, 2005

BAUAW NEWSLETTER-TUESDAY, MARCH 1, 2005

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Resource:
MONEY FOR HUMAN NEEDS NOT WAR!
FOR A COMPLETE LIST OF SOCIAL
SERVICES UNDER THE KNIFE RIGHT NOW GO TO:
http://www.bauaw.org/2005/02/programs-eliminated-or-cut-in-2006.html

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1) THE NEXT BAUAW MEETING WILL TAKE PLACE:
SATURDAY, APRIL 2, 11:30AM
474 VALENCIA STREET, SF
(FIRST FLOOR, TO THE LEFT AND ALL THE WAY BACK
TO THE COMPANEROS DEL BARRIO CHILDREN'S CENTER)
There are three important meetings with the Board of Education
coming up:

2) WE ALL STAND WITH LYNNE STEWART!
NO JAIL TIME FOR LYNNE!
PLEASE WRITE LETTERS TODAY

3) March 19, 2005 Global Day of Action
No to War Occupation ˆ Iraq, Palestine, Haiti,
Afghanistan, Cuba Everywhere!
Bring the Troops Home Now!
Money for People‚s Needs, Not War!
San Francisco: March Assembles: 11 a.m. Dolores Park
Rally: 1 p.m. Civic Center

4) COMING TO THE BAY AREA SOON ARE SOME
POWERFUL ANTIWAR MOVIES
"Mission Accomplished" is a a brutally vivid documentary
filmed entirely on the ground in Iraq. The reality of this
war for American troops is contrasted to the
overwhelming reality of the devastation felt and experienced
by the people of Iraq.
"Mission Accomplished" will open March 18th:
4 Star
2200 Clement St.
San Francisco, CA 94121
415.666.3488

"Voices In Wartime" is a compelling portrayal of human
experience with war through poetry, both from the point
of view of those who were in combat and those who are left
behind.
"Voices In Wartime" will play in S.F. on April 15th at:
Landmark Lumiere 3
1572 California Street
San Francisco, CA 94109

[This poem by fourth-grader Cameron Penny was read
by Marie Howe in this very beautiful film
directed by Rick King.

"If you are lucky in this life
A window will appear on a battlefield between two armies
And when the soldiers look into the window
They don't see their enemies
They see themselves as children
And they stop fighting
And go home and go to sleep
When they wake up, the land is well again."
By Cameron Penny]

To learn more about these film visit
Cinema Libre Studio
http://www.cinemalibrestudio.com/

Also: check out, GUNNER PALACE |
Some war stories will never make the nightly news.

Two important counter-recruitment videos (28 and
22 minutes each) will be screened and discussed
this Wednesday, presented by War Resisters League
West as part of our on-going political film and
discussion series.

Time: 7:00 pm
Location: "The Kitchen", 225 Potrero Ave. at 15th
St.

"Military Myths" and "All That I Can Be" the
latter being a west coast premiere, the film made
by high school students in NYC as part of a
program of the Educational Video Center.

For more info, go to http://wrlwest.org

Depending on time and interest, we may be able to
screen one or two others on hand.

-Jim

5) PROTEST the Anniversary of the U.S.-led COUP in HAITI
Monday, Feb. 28, 4:30 p.m. Rally in UN Plaza,
San Francisco (under the Simon Bolivar statue at Hyde Street)
- proceeding at 5 p.m. March stops at sites representing
attempts to destroy democracy in Haiti, including SF Chronicle,
the Chilean, Brazilian and French consulates, and U.S.
Sen. Dianne Feinstein's office.

6) Military Strikes Back With No Legs to Stand On:
From: "CPT Steven Fetrow"
To: bauaw2003-owner@yahoogroups.com
Subject: SFSU Brochure
[CPT Fetrow refers to the BAUAW flyer for the Feb. 22 Board of
Education Meeting. If anyone has any doubt about the military's
purpose for being on school grounds I refer you to the "School
Recruiting Program Handbook (USAREC Pamphlet 350-13) put
out by United States Army Recruiting Command Headquarters.
"Chapter 1, Introduction 1-1 Purpose" States, "The purpose of
this handbook is:

a. To provide a single-source guidance document, combining
regulatory requirements and successful techniques and ideas
to assist staff and recruiters in building and maintaining an
effective School Recruiting Program (SRP).

b. To provide a school calendar of events and significant activities
and ensure an Army presence in all secondary schools. School
ownership is the goal." ...bw]

Date: Wed, 23 Feb 2005 14:06:25 -0800

To Whom It May Concern:

7) Number of Homeless in America Has Grown (link only)
By SHARON COHEN
AP National Writer
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/022705Y.shtml

8) Private Health Care in Jails (link only)
Can Be a Death Sentence
By PAUL von ZIELBAUER
February 27, 2005
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/27/nyregion/27jail.html?

9) Nobel Peace Prize Nominee Stan "Tookie" Williams has
just been denied by the 9th circuit court of appeals.
Please forward to interested individuals or groups
!!URGENT!!

10) THE YEAR'S BEST [ACTUAL]
HEADLINES OF 2004:

11) Questions from David Perez to Bay Area United Against War:
www.bauaw.org

12) Insurgents Land Deadliest Blow Since (link only)
Fall of Hussein's Regime
By MONA MAHMOUD
and TERENCE NEILAN
BAGHDAD, Iraq
February 28, 2005
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/28/international/middleeast/28cnd-iraq.html?hp&ex=1109653200&en=1bac7a6e7f072576&ei=5094&partner=homepage

13) It's Called Torture (link only)
By BOB HERBERT
OP-ED COLUMNIST, New York Times
February 28, 2005
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/28/opinion/28herbert.html?hp

14) Income Falls, Core Inflation Picks Up (link only)
By Kristin Roberts
WASHINGTON (Reuters)
Mon Feb 28, 2005 09:04 AM ET
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=7758666&src=eDialog/GetContent

15) U.S. Cites Array of Rights Abuses
by the Iraqi Government in 2004
By BRIAN KNOWLTON
International Herald Tribune
March 1, 2005
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/01/politics/01rights.html?hp&ex=1109739600&en=6ebac305b8f7d933&ei=5094&partner=homepage

16) SOUND FAMILIAR?

"I would like to thank Providence and the Almighty for choosing
me of all people to be allowed to wage this battle for Germany,"
Hitler - Berlin March, 1936

If we pursue this way, if we are decent, industrious, and honest,
if we so loyally and truly fulfill our duty, then it is my conviction
that in the future as in the past the Lord God will always help us:
Adolf Hitler, at the Harvest Thanksgiving Festival on the
Buckeburg held on 3 Oct. 1937

"Never in these long years have we offered any other prayer
but this: Lord, grant to our people peace at home, and grant
and preserve to them peace from the foreign foe!" :
Hitler - Nuremberg Sept. 13, 1936.

17) Campaign to End the Death Penalty
http://www.nodeathpenalty.org/
Public meeting:
Stop the Execution of Stan "Tookie" Williams!
Wednesday, March 2
7pm in C-114 at the Student Center

18) *Week of Campus and
High School Resistance*
Monday, March 14 to Friday, March 18
Students & Youth Mobilize Against War & Racism
Initiated by: The Global Resistance Network,
Youth & Student A.N.S.W.E.R.,
and endorsed by Campus Antiwar Network

19) INJUSTICE AGAINST LEONARD PELTIER:
THE ROLE OF MEDIA MANIPULATION

20) FBI Harassment Charles Post
Feb 27, 2005 16:10 PST
PLEASE FORWARD WIDELY AMONG OTHER SOCIALISTS, RADICALS AND
ANTI-WAR/GLOBAL JUSTICE ACTIVISTS

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1) THE NEXT BAUAW MEETING WILL TAKE PLACE:
SATURDAY, APRIL 2, 11:30AM
474 VALENCIA STREET, SF
(FIRST FLOOR, TO THE LEFT AND ALL THE WAY BACK
TO THE COMPANEROS DEL BARRIO CHILDREN'S CENTER)
There are three important meetings coming up:
(Board of Education Meetings will take place at: 555 Franklin St.)

Sunday, March 6th: The code pink counter-recruitment group will
be holding a meeting at 3 p.m. at the S.F. green office,
1028a Howard St. (between 6th and 7th,) to plan for the
March 8th San Francisco Board of Education meeting, where
this item is on the agenda: Military Recruitment and JROTC
in our Schools.

Tuesday, March 8th: The Board will entertain a motion to allow
counter-recruitment at the schools to counteract military presence.
This meeting is at 7:00 p.m. at 555 Franklin St. Folks are
encouraged to speak at this meeting also.

Call 415-241-6427, 241-6493 or 241-6000 March 7th from 8-4pm
and March 8th from 8-3pm to get on the speakers list.

Thursday, March 17th(revised date): There will be a "meeting of
the whole" devoted solely to the issue of military recruitment at
our schools. This meeting is designed to be a very large meeting
that will address the war and this issue only. Further information
about this meeting will be forthcoming in a day or two. Everyone
should be prepared to mobilize for this meeting. I believe the
March 19th march and rally will also be on the agenda of this meeting.

Board of Education Meetings will take place at: 555 Franklin St.

BAUAW has submitted the following resolution to the board:

Draft Resolution for San Francisco Board of Education
Cut Ties with the Military:

WHEREAS, the United States military is actively recruiting high school
students into the military to fight in Iraq; and
WHEREAS, many young San Francisco high school alumni are
presently serving in military units fighting in Iraq; and
WHEREAS, it is San Francisco City policy by virtue of Proposition N,
to bring all U.S. troops home from Iraq now; and WHEREAS,
over 1,448 U.S. soldiers and approximately 100,000 Iraqis have
been killed in this war and over 10,000 U.S. soldiers and unknown
thousands of Iraqis have been wounded; and WHEREAS, the hundreds
of billions of dollars spent on the war have robbed our children of
resources that should be spent on education and other human
needs; and
WHEREAS, military presence in our schools legitimizes the
message that violence is acceptable; THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED
THAT:It shall be the policy of the San Francisco Board of Education
to support cutting all ties with the United States military, including,
but not limited to: Ending military recruitment on campuses;
ending the Junior Reserved Officer Training Corps (JROTC); and
guaranteeing that all students and parents are informed of their
right to deny military recruiters access to their names, addresses
and telephone numbers.

Bay Area United Against War (BAUAW) • www.bauaw.org •
P.O. Box 318021, San Francisco, CA 94131-8021 • 414-824-8730

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2) WE ALL STAND WITH LYNNE STEWART!
NO JAIL TIME FOR LYNNE!
PLEASE WRITE LETTERS TODAY:

SUGGESTION AS TO FORMAT OF LETTERS
TO BE WRITTEN ON BEHALF OF LYNNE STEWART

MARGIN: Please leave at least a one-inch left-hand margin to allow
us to bind the letter into the appendix to the sentencing memorandum
that is being filed on
Lynne's behalf.

INSIDE ADDRESS: Honorable John G. Koeltl
United States District Judge
Southern District of New York
United States Courthouse
500 Pearl Street
New York, New York 10007

GREETING: Honorable Sir or Dear Judge Koeltl:

BODY: Briefly introduce yourself and set forth your relationship
to Lynne.
Briefly discuss yourself - your position in work and in society.
State that you are aware that Lynne is to be sentenced following
a jury verdict of guilty on serious charges: The remainder of your
letter should discuss whatever you believe to weigh in favor of
no jail time. If possible, you should tell of an incident where she
helped you out or engaged in commendable community service.
Do not try to argue that she is not guilty or was unfairly conviction.
Focus on the unfairness of the government's actions in bringing
the charges; the way in which the government portrayed her, etc.

* Typewritten letters if possible are preferred.
*
WHEN LETTER IS COMPLETED: Please mail the final product to the
following address:
Jill R. Shellow-Lavine, Esq.
2537 Post Road
Southport, CT 06890

Do not send your letters to the judge. We ask that you forward
your letter me so that the lawyers can present it to Judge Koeltl
with the other letters being written for this purpose. This is the
manner in which letters will have the greatest impact. If they are
sent directly to the Judge's chambers, they may have less of an
impact and could cause the judge a substantial inconvenience
(and annoyance).

Thank you for your cooperation. If you have any questions, please
do not hesitate to contact the defense committee at
www.lynnestewart.org.

Sincerely,
Jill R. Shellow-Lavine
Attorney for Lynne Stewart
For more information go to:
www.LynneStewart.org

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3) March 19, 2005 Global Day of Action
No to War Occupation ˆ Iraq, Palestine, Haiti,
Afghanistan, Cuba Everywhere!
Bring the Troops Home Now!
Money for People‚s Needs, Not War!
San Francisco: March Assembles: 11 a.m. Dolores Park
Rally: 1 p.m. Civic Center

---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*

4) COMING TO THE BAY AREA SOON ARE SOME POWERFUL
ANTIWAR MOVIES
"Mission Accomplished" is a a brutally vivid documentary
filmed entirely on the ground in Iraq. The reality of this
war for American troops is contrasted to the
overwhelming reality of the devastation felt and experienced
by the people of Iraq.
"Mission Accomplished" will open March 18th:
4 Star
2200 Clement St.
San Francisco, CA 94121
415.666.3488

"Voices In Wartime" is a compelling portrayal of human
experience with war through poetry, both from the point
of view of those who were in combat and those who are left
behind.
"Voices In Wartime" will play in S.F. on April 15th at:
Landmark Lumiere 3
1572 California Street
San Francisco, CA 94109

[This poem by fourth-grader Cameron Penny was read
by Marie Howe in this very beautiful film
directed by Rick King.

"If you are lucky in this life
A window will appear on a battlefield between two armies
And when the soldiers look into the window
They don't see their enemies
They see themselves as children
And they stop fighting
And go home and go to sleep
When they wake up, the land is well again."
By Cameron Penny]

To learn more about these film visit
Cinema Libre Studio
http://www.cinemalibrestudio.com/

Also: check out, GUNNER PALACE |
Some war stories will never make the nightly news.

Two important counter-recruitment videos (28 and
22 minutes each) will be screened and discussed
this Wednesday, presented by War Resisters League
West as part of our on-going political film and
discussion series.

Time: 7:00 pm
Location: "The Kitchen", 225 Potrero Ave. at 15th
St.

"Military Myths" and "All That I Can Be" the
latter being a west coast premiere, the film made
by high school students in NYC as part of a
program of the Educational Video Center.

For more info, go to http://wrlwest.org

Depending on time and interest, we may be able to
screen one or two others on hand.

-Jim

---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*

5) PROTEST the Anniversary of the U.S.-led COUP in HAITI
Monday, Feb. 28, 4:30 p.m. Rally in UN Plaza,
San Francisco (under the Simon Bolivar statue at Hyde Street)
- proceeding at 5 p.m. March stops at sites representing
attempts to destroy democracy in Haiti, including SF Chronicle,
the Chilean, Brazilian and French consulates, and U.S.
Sen. Dianne Feinstein's office.

---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*

6) Military Strikes Back With No Legs to Stand On:
From: "CPT Steven Fetrow"
To: bauaw2003-owner@yahoogroups.com
Subject: SFSU Brochure
[CPT Fetrow refers to the BAUAW flyer for the Feb. 22 Board of
Education Meeting. If anyone has any doubt about the military's
purpose for being on school grounds I refer you to the "School
Recruiting Program Handbook (USAREC Pamphlet 350-13) put out
by United States Army Recruiting Command Headquarters.
"Chapter 1, Introduction 1-1 Purpose" States, "The purpose of
this handbook is:

a. To provide a single-source guidance document, combining
regulatory requirements and successful techniques and ideas
to assist staff and recruiters in building and maintaining an
effective School Recruiting Program (SRP).

b. To provide a school calendar of events and significant activities
and ensure an Army presence in all secondary schools. School
ownership is the goal." ...bw]

Date: Wed, 23 Feb 2005 14:06:25 -0800

To Whom It May Concern:

Recently a brochure from SFSU crossed my desk. While I applaud
and support both the right to free speech and political activism,
I was seriously disappointed with some of the misleading and
untrue statements in the brochure.

"Killing and being killed is not a career choice!" - Making the
decision to serve in the military is not a career choice limited to
killing or being killed. This is inflammatory language unnecessary
to support anti-Iraq war views. In the Army, there are career choice
opportunities in Combat Arms, Combat Support and Combat
Service Support. Soldiers serve as postal workers, nurses, finance
officers, human resource specialists, police officers, communication
specialists, computer technicians, veterinarians, personnel officers,
lawyers, truck drivers, chaplains, etc. The TRUTH is that the
majority (85% or higher) serve in either combat support or combat
service support positions. It is true that soldiers have died in
service of this country and it is true that sometimes soldiers
are asked to take lives in service of protecting this nation.
War and death is not fun but to claim that those joining the
nation's military are simply making a career choice to kill or
be killed is a blatant misrepresentation of the truth.

"Junior ROTC advocates the military as a career choice" - JROTC
is NOT a program designed to enlist or recruit military
servicemembers. The thrust of JROTC programs is to assist
young people into developing into men and women of
character... better citizens! The language of this brochure
would lead a reader to believe that JROTC is designed to
recruit for the military and that is a total misrepresentation
of the truth once again.

"We want our children to have an opportunity to learn and
thrive to the best of their potential not to kill and be killed."
- Again, the choice to serve in the military is NOT as simplistic
as to "kill or be killed". That is a ridiculous assertion.
Additionally, the suggestion that those who select military
service as a career choice are not achieving their potential is
equally inaccurate. In my 14 years service with the Army,
I have obtained two graduate degrees, including a Ph.D. and
I am currently pursuing additional schooling that will lead to
licensure as a counselor in the state of CA. Countless
servicemembers attribute their success in life to the lessons
and experiences they gained while serving in the military.
Once again, this suggestion is a gross misrepresentation of
the truth.

I have served in the US Army for 14 years including 14 months
in Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. I respect every
American's right to free speech and have no issues with anyone
objecting to current military operations around the world.
I have my own political views on the war in Iraq . However,
I think it is imperative that we separate the political arena
from the reality of military service. Servicemembers do NOT
choose their wars, they follow the orders of the President of
the United States . While I respect your views on the war in Iraq ,
I find your language regarding the brave men and women who
have served our country for years and years including those in
service today to be both troubling and offensive. Is it not
possible to take a political stance and argue against political
policies without attacking those who choose to serve in
military service? I lost a good friend in Iraq . His memory
ought not be clouded with political propaganda. He served his
country as many before him and many after him will do.
He was brave, intelligent, hard-working and loving. He left
behind a wife, a child and people who love him. Your
objection to JROTC and ROTC is misplaced. Neither program
promotes war. Stick to arguing politics by focusing on
politicians not on the servants of this country who give their
lives to protect the very freedoms you enjoy!

CPT Steven E. Fetrow, Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Military Science

University of San Francisco

Phone : (415) 422-2724

"Age wrinkles the body. Quitting wrinkles the soul."

General Douglas MacArthur

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7) Number of Homeless in America Has Grown (link only)
By SHARON COHEN
AP National Writer
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/022705Y.shtml

---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*

8) Private Health Care in Jails (link only)
Can Be a Death Sentence
By PAUL von ZIELBAUER
February 27, 2005
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/27/nyregion/27jail.html?

---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*

9) Nobel Peace Prize Nominee Stan "Tookie" Williams has
just been denied by the 9th circuit court of appeals.
Please forward to interested individuals or groups
!!URGENT!!

Death Row inmate and Nobel Peace Prize Nominee Stan "Tookie" Williams has
Just been denied by the 9th circuit court of appeals. Unless the U.S. Supreme
Court intervenes, he could receive an execution date as early as this summer.

And he is not alone. Other inmates are in a similar situation. The State of
California is trying to ramp up its execution machine, we need to ramp up
the fight to halt it!!

Join the Bay Area Anti-Death Penalty Coalition for our next meeting to
Discuss how to build the fight for Stan and against all executions.

Monday, February 28th
6:30 pm
American Friends Service Committee office
65 9th street
San Francisco
(b/w Mission and Market, take BART to Civic Center)

For more information on the recent developments in S
tan's case, please visit
www.tookie.com

See you there!

Crystal Bybee
West Coast Organizer
Campaign to End the Death Penalty
crystal@nodeathpenalty.org
510-333-7966

http://www.tookie.com
http://www.nodeathpenalty.org
http://www.savekevincooper.org

You fasten the triggers
For others to fire
Then you set back and watch
When the death count gets higher
You hide in your mansion
As young people's blood
Flows out of their bodies
And is buried in the mud

How much do I know
To talk out of turn
You might say I'm young
You might say I'm unlearned
But there's on thing I know
Though I'm younger than you
Even Jesus would never
Forgive what you do

-Bob Dylan "Masters of War"

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10) THE YEAR'S BEST [ACTUAL]
HEADLINES OF 2004:

Something Went Wrong
in Jet Crash, Expert Says
[ no, really?]

Police Begin Campaign
to Run Down Jaywalkers
[now that's taking things a bit far!]

Panda Mating Fails;
Veterinarian Takes Over
[what a guy!]

Miners Refuse
to Work
after Death
[those good-for-nothin' lazy so-and-sos!]

Juvenile Court to
Try Shooting Defendant
[see if that works any better than a fair trial!]

War Dims Hope
for Peace
[I can see where it might have that effect!]
If Strike Isn't Settled Quickly,
It May Last Awhile
[you think?!]

Cold Wave Linked
to Temperatures
[who would have thought!]

Enfield (London) Couple
Slain; Police
Suspect Homicide
[they may be on to something!]

Red Tape Holds
Up New Bridges
[you mean there's something stronger than duct tape?!]

Man Struck By Lightning
Faces Battery Charge
[he probably IS the battery cha rge!]

New Study of Obesity
Looks for Larger
Test Group
[ weren't they fat enough?!]

Astronaut Takes Blame
for Gas in Spacecraft
[That's what he gets for eating those beans!]

Kids Make
Nutritious Snacks
[Taste like chicken!]

Chef Throws His Heart
into Helping Feed Needy
[That was really giving of himself!]

Local High School
Dropouts Cut in Half
[Chainsaw Massacre all over again!]

Hospitals are Sued
by 7 Foot Doctors
[Boy, are they tall!]

And the winner is....

Typhoon Rips Through
Cemetery: Hundreds Dead
[nuff said!]
Makes you wonder what they teach in Journalism schools these days!

May I add my own:

This is not a headline, just an advertisement I saw across
the street from where I used to work:

Guaranteed Used Appliances

---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*

11) Questions from David Perez to Bay Area United Against War:
www.bauaw.org

Hello,

My name is David Perez and I am writing a piece for Metro-Santa
Cruz about the upcoming demonstrations marking the anniversary
of the invasion of Iraq.

Of particular interest to me is how "Bay Area United Against War"
views itself in terms of the anti-war movement and the progressive
movement in general.

I am on a very strict deadline and would appreciate as timely
a response as is possible.

specifc questions include:

1. What are your plans for immediate actions and how do they
serve your long-term strategy?

2. What does "Bay Area United Against War" hope to accomplish
with the March 19th demonstrations?

3. Who is your core membership (youth, minorities, etc.)?

4. What is on your agenda following the March 19th demonstrations?

5. How does your organization respond to the standard criticism
of the "bring the troops home now" slogan (i.e. "bringing the troops
home now would cause total chaos and ultimately
undermine the peace")?

6. How does your organization respond to the perception of
a split within the anti-war movement between pro-Israeli and
pro-Palestinian factions?

7. To what extent do you feel the progressive movement has
been hindered or even sabotaged by such internal conflicts?

Thank you for your time,
David Perez

Answers to David from Bonnie Weinstein, BAUAW:

Dear David,

I will give you short answers to you questions since you are on
a time restraint:

1. Our immediate actions are to protest the presence of military
recruiters on our schools and to build for the March 19th Global
Day of Action against the War on Iraq.

2. The Bay Area United Against War is, along with most groups
and individuals in the Bay Area, are planning this demonstration
in order to put optimal pressure on the U.S. government to Bring
the Troops Home Now!

3. We have a broad membership of people from all walks of life
who are opposed to the war and want immediate withdrawal of
all U.S. troops from Iraq and Afghanistan. We are multi-ethnic
group open to all those opposed to U.S. war policies.

4. After March 19th we will continue to organize against the war
and against military recruitment on the school campuses.

5. We feel it is the U.S. military presence in Iraq itself that is
causing chaos and violence in Iraq. This government is doing
nothing for the people of Iraq but bringing more death and the
complete demolition of their homeland while at the same time,
stealing it's oil. Before this war-even under a ruthless dictator-
the people of Iraq had running water, electricity, hospitals,
museums, schools, places of business and jobs. Now all they
have is rubble. Who has brought the chaos?

It is the U.S. government that has all the weapons of mass
destruction and it is this government that has used them against
innocent Iraqi people. Neither the Iraqi government nor the Iraqi
people have anything to do with the attack on the Twin Towers
yet they have been punished ruthlessly by the U.S. military
machine. The whole war is built upon lies.

Imagine if you will, a full-on attack of your neighbor's home
by a foreign military force because they said there were bombs
inside aimed against them.

Now imagine, that they found no bombs. Would it be the right
of the attackers to continue to the next house? Would it be right
to put your neighbors in jail and torture them to find out if you
had these bombs? Now imagine that this foreign military attack
force invaded and demolished the homes of your entire community,
city, state, and country and found no bombs. Would you support
their continued occupation?

Now, suppose that you found out that there never were any
bombs anywhere and the invading attackers knew it all the time
they were attacking you. Would you hope they would stay and
continue to occupy and destroy your country? Would you feel that
the presence of these attackers were going to end the chaos of
your life or would you feel they should get the hell out and don't
let the door hit their ass on the way out?

6. How is the Zionist Israeli occupation of Palestine any different?
We do not see a big rift within the movement over the issue of
Palestine. Our group has, since it's inception, demanded that the
U.S. government stop sending all aid, financial or otherwise, to
Israel. We view the occupation of Palestine by Zionist Israeli forces
as illegal and immoral.

We support the right of the Palestinian people to return to their
homeland that was stolen from them. This does not, in any way,
make us anti-Jewish. In fact, we don't think this is an issue of
religion. We feel people are free to practice any religion they want
to. And that is the way it should be. But it's the Zionist state of
Israel that says they want those who do not practice their religion
out of their militarily occupied territory, i.e., Palestinian territory.

It's all about U.S. hegemony in the Middle East as planned since
before 1948-since Jews were turned away from our shores as
they fled from fascism.

We realize that some who claim to be opposed to war and
occupation of Iraq view Israel as a separate issue and support
the occupation of Palestine by Israeli forces propped up by the
U.S. dollar. But we view it as part of the bigger picture of the
U.S. government's attempt to have military domination over the
entire Middle East-and Israel plays the biggest role in aiding the
U.S. government to accomplish this goal. Israel has a giant nuclear
arsenal.

7. I don't see disagreement over this issue "hindering or
sabotaging" the movement. The biggest issue that split the
movement (only temporarily) was this past presidential election.
Folks in the antiwar movement were split between the candidates
and their perceived promises.

Many folks put their faith in the Democratic Party and its
presidential candidate John Kerry. Many remembered his protest
of the Vietnam War and assumed his views were the same today.
The problem was, Kerry wasn't against the war. In fact he was for
escalating the war and sending 40,000 more troops over there.
Then he admitted that he didn't really throw all his medals away
during that anti-Vietnam War gesture, and indeed, brought out
even more medals to show how patriotic he really was.

He was not what good-willed people in the antiwar movement
thought he was. The more he campaigned the more in support
of the war he became. Fortunately, for the Iraqi people, our
government can't find 40,000 more troops to send.

That's why we're involved in an anti-recruitment campaign-so that
no more of our kids will be sent to kill innocent people. This puts
them in harms way. And it puts the whole world in danger.

Our group feels taking positions on electoral candidates is a big
mistake for the antiwar movement since we all can't agree on
which candidate to support.

We all do agree, however, that the war has to end and the troops
have to be brought home now.

I think the movement learned a big lesson after this past electoral
mistake-especially since neither candidate was in support of the
immediate withdrawal of troops from Iraq and Afghanistan or for
withdrawing all funds to Zionist Israel. Kerry was for giving more
funds to Israel.

What is certain is that antiwar sentiment in this country is growing.
And many lessons are being learned as this country spreads its
plunder around the world in our name and with our tax dollars.
This movement will continue to grow as the costs of this war rises
and all our social services-our jobs, schools, hospitals, etc. go on
the chopping block.

The giant U.S. military industrial complex costs taxpayers-poor
and working class taxpayers-over $780 billion a year. Meanwhile
two-thirds of American business-businesses that have earned
record profits and who's CEO are given multi-million-dollar
bonuses -pay no taxes at all and some even get money back!

We want the billions our government spends on war and occupation
to go to creating meaningful jobs that re-build our communities,
better schools with smaller class sizes, healthcare for all, housing
for all; The giant U.S. military budget could fund social services
throughout the world and end hunger and misery for everyone.

The struggle will continue until these basic human needs are met.

I hope this answers your questions.

Peace and solidarity,
Bonnie Weinstein, Bay Area United Against War www.bauaw.org

---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*

12) Insurgents Land Deadliest Blow Since (link only)
Fall of Hussein's Regime
By MONA MAHMOUD
and TERENCE NEILAN
BAGHDAD, Iraq
February 28, 2005
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/28/international/middleeast/28cnd-iraq.html?hp&ex=1109653200&en=1bac7a6e7f072576&ei=5094&
partner=homepage

---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*

13) It's Called Torture (link only)
By BOB HERBERT
OP-ED COLUMNIST, New York Times
February 28, 2005
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/28/opinion/28herbert.html?hp

---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*

14) Income Falls, Core Inflation Picks Up (link only)
By Kristin Roberts
WASHINGTON (Reuters)
Mon Feb 28, 2005 09:04 AM ET
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=7758666&src=eDialog/GetContent

---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*

15) U.S. Cites Array of Rights Abuses
by the Iraqi Government in 2004
By BRIAN KNOWLTON
International Herald Tribune
March 1, 2005
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/01/politics/01rights.html?hp&ex=1109739600&en=6ebac305b8f7d933&ei=5094&partner=homepage

---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*

16) SOUND FAMILIAR?
"I would like to thank Providence and the Almighty for choosing me
of all people to be allowed to wage this battle for Germany," Hitler -
Berlin March, 1936

If we pursue this way, if we are decent, industrious, and honest, if
we so loyally and truly fulfill our duty, then it is my conviction that
in the future as in the past the Lord God will always help us: Adolf
Hitler, at the Harvest Thanksgiving Festival on the Buckeburg held
on 3 Oct. 1937

"Never in these long years have we offered any other prayer but this:
Lord, grant to our people peace at home, and grant and preserve to
them peace from the foreign foe!" : Hitler - Nuremberg Sept. 13, 1936.

---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*

17) Campaign to End the Death Penalty
http://www.nodeathpenalty.org/
Public meeting:
Stop the Execution of Stan "Tookie" Williams!
Wednesday, March 2
7pm in C-114 at the Student Center

The state of California is hoping to ramp up the rate
of executions in the next few months. One of their
first targets will be Stan Williams, a Nobel Prize
nominee and an author of children's books that
encourage youth to avoid gangs. We need to organize
to save his life, to fight the racist death penalty
and the entire criminal justice system.

This meeting will feature a presentation about Stan's
case and a strategy session for launching a campaign
to stop his execution.

-------------------------------
More info on Stan:

This month the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals
declined to grant a new hearing based on Stan Tookie
Williams' claim that prosecutors violated his rights
when they dismissed all potential black jurors for his
trial. Stan‚s attorney will appeal to the U.S.
Supreme Court.

Stan grew up in South Central LA, an area like many
others in the country that needs more funding for
schools, hospitals, childcare programs, and recreation
but is instead neglected by the government and left to
decay. Stan unfortunately turned to gang violence to
survive.

He was sentenced to death in 1981 for killing a
convenience store worker in 1979, and also was
convicted of killing three other people.. Stan says
jailhouse informants fabricated a confession that he
never made. After he spent six and a half years in
solitary confinement, he has written a series of
children's books about avoiding gang activity and has
made many efforts to curtail youth gang violence. He
has reformed himself with the help of local and
international anti-death penalty activists seeking to
end the racist institution of the death penalty. He
was nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize in 2001 and the
Nobel Prize for Literature.

He has made a positive difference in the lives of
thousands of people, especially kids seeking to stay
away from gang activity. Many of them say they
wouldn‚t be alive if it weren‚t for Stan‚s inspiring
story of personal redemption.

-------------------------------

You fasten the triggers
For others to fire
Then you set back and watch
When the death count gets higher
You hide in your mansion
As young people's blood
Flows out of their bodies
And is buried in the mud

How much do I know
To talk out of turn
You might say I'm young
You might say I'm unlearned
But there's on thing I know
Though I'm younger than you
Even Jesus would never
Forgive what you do

-Bob Dylan "Masters of War"

---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*

18) *Week of Campus and
High School Resistance*
Monday, March 14 to Friday, March 18
Students & Youth Mobilize Against War & Racism
Initiated by: The Global Resistance Network,
Youth & Student A.N.S.W.E.R.,
and endorsed by Campus Antiwar Network

On Saturday, March 19, people in the U.S. and all over the world will march
against the U.S.-led occupation of Iraq and colonial occupation everywhere.
During the week of the second anniversary of the "shock and awe" invasion of
Iraq, our generation will make its presence felt.

Help build the militant and vibrant youth and student movement that has
grown continuously over the past three years. We have opposed the Bush
administration's cynical manipulation of the events of September 11 to carry
out wars and occupations abroad, and attacks on people's rights at home.
Tens of thousands of young people have mobilized for mass antiwar
demonstrations, and have organized walkouts, sit-ins and more at their
schools and on their campuses.

The recent January 20th, CounterInaugural student walkouts were a big step
in the reconsolidation of the Student and Youth Movement. Students walked
out of class in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Boston, Tucson,
Boulder, Philadelphia and many other cities in resistance to Bush's
right-wing policies of war and repression.

Let's continue to take the youth and student struggle to a new level. We, as
students and youth, need a future with jobs, healthcare, housing, and
education, not war and occupation.

Organize a protest against military recruiters, a teach-in, a campus
demonstration, an educational forum, a walkout, a sit-in, a rally or other
antiwar activity at your school the week of March 14 to March 18. Join
students all over the U.S. for a week of campus resistance to war, racism,
greed and all forms of injustice. Then, on March 19, mobilize for local and
regional demonstrations taking place across the country.

Global Resistance Network http://www.globalresistancenetwork.com
Youth & Student A.N.S.W.E.R. http://www.answercoalition.org
Campus Antiwar Network http://www.campusantiwar.net
-----------------------------------------------------------------
You fasten the triggers
For others to fire
Then you set back and watch
When the death count gets higher
You hide in your mansion
As young people's blood
Flows out of their bodies
And is buried in the mud

How much do I know
To talk out of turn
You might say I'm young
You might say I'm unlearned
But there's on thing I know
Though I'm younger than you
Even Jesus would never
Forgive what you do

-Bob Dylan "Masters of War"

---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*

19) INJUSTICE AGAINST LEONARD PELTIER:
THE ROLE OF MEDIA MANIPULATION

Background

Beginning in January 1975, the Senate Select Committee to Study
Governmental Operations with Respect to Intelligence Activities,
known as the "Church Committee" (named after its chairman Frank
Church), took public and private testimony from hundreds of
people, collected huge volumes of files from the Federal Bureau
of Investigation (FBI) and many other federal agencies, and
issued 14 reports.

Since the passage of the JFK Assassination Records Collection
Act in 1992, over 50,000 pages of Church Committee records
have been declassified and made available to the public. These
files contain testimony and information on the FBI‚s counter-
intelligence programs and related topics.

As discovered by the Church Committee and reported in 1976,
the goals of the COounterINTELligence PROgrams of the period from
1956 to the mid-1970s were to "expose, disrupt, misdirect,
discredit, or otherwise neutralize" those persons or organizations
that the FBI decided were "enemies of the State."

The COINTELPROs were designed to "disrupt" groups and
"neutralize" individuals deemed to be threats to domestic
security. The law ˆ in particular, the U.S. Constitution ˆ was
simply ignored. There was a general attitude that intelligence
needs were responsive to a higher law. According to the Church
Committee: "Whatever opinion one holds about the policies of
the targeted groups, many of the tactics employed by the FBI
were indisputably degrading to a free society."

One of the most effective tactics used, as documented by the
Church Committee, was the use by the Bureau of the media to
not only impact on the public image of the FBI, but also to
disrupt the public communication channels of targeted
individuals and dissident groups, as well as spread mis-
information about them so as to adversely affect public
perceptions and attitudes.

Examples:

+ Planting a series of derogatory articles about Martin Luther
King, Jr., and the Poor People's Campaign. In anticipation of
the 1968 "Poor People's March on Washington, DC," Bureau
Headquarters granted authority to furnish "cooperative news
media sources" an article "designed to curtail success of
Martin Luther King's fund raising." Another memorandum
illustrated how "photographs of demonstrators" could be
used in discrediting the civil rights movement. Six
photographs of participants in the poor people's campaign in
Cleveland accompanied the memorandum with the following
note attached: "These [photographs] show the militant
aggressive appearance of the participants and might be of
interest to a cooperative news source." Information on the
Poor People's Campaign was provided by the FBI to friendly
reporters on the condition that "the Bureau must not be
revealed as the source."

+ Soliciting information from Field Offices "on a continuing
basis" for "prompt∑ dissemination to the news media∑ to
discredit the New Left movement and its adherents." The
Headquarters directive requested, among other things, that
specific data should be furnished depicting "the scurrilous and
depraved nature, of many of the characters, activities, habits,
and living conditions representative of New Left adherents∑
Every avenue of possible embarrassment must be vigorously
and enthusiastically explored."

+ Ordering Field Offices to gather information which would
disprove allegations by the "liberal press, the bleeding hearts,
and the forces on the left" that the Chicago police used undue
force in dealing with demonstrators at the 1968 Democratic
Convention.

+ Taking advantage of a close relationship with the Chairman of
the Board ˆ described in an FBI memorandum as "our good
friend" ˆ of a magazine with national circulation to influence
articles that related to the FBI. For example, through this
relationship, the Bureau: "squelched" an "unfavorable article
against the Bureau" written by a freelance writer about an FBI
investigation; "postponed publication" of an article on another
FBI case; "forestalled publication" of an article by Dr. Martin
Luther King, Jr.; and received information about proposed editing
of King's articles.

As these instances demonstrate, the FBI has covertly influenced
the public's perception of persons and organizations by
disseminating derogatory information to the press, either
anonymously or through "friendly" news contacts. The impact of
those articles is generally difficult to measure, although in some
cases there are fairly direct connections to injury to the target.
Beginning immediately after the shoot-out at Oglala, in force
during his trial, and continuing into recent history, this is
particularly true in the case of Leonard Peltier. Yes, this
tactic continues to be used against Peltier today.

Executive Clemency

In 1993, Leonard Peltier requested Executive Clemency from
then President Clinton. Peltier‚s petition was not seriously
investigated or considered until the year 2000.

In 1999-2000, an intensive campaign was launched ˆ supported
by Native and human rights organizations, members of
Congress, community and church groups, labor organizations,
luminaries, and celebrities. The Peltier case became a national
issue.

On November 7, 2000, during a live radio interview, Clinton
stated that he would seriously consider Peltier's request for
clemency and make a decision before leaving office on January
20, 2001.

In response, the FBI launched a major "disinformation" campaign
in the media, and among key government officials and members
of Congress.

Many citizens were highly disturbed by a number of public
statements and actions by various FBI officers in 1999-2000.
These officials, by the way, publicly announced that their
one and only goal was to block the release of Mr. Peltier,
whether through parole or clemency.

At the outset, the propriety of members of the Department of
Justice (DOJ) engaging in such a public campaign was questionable.
Parole and clemency decisions are largely determined at various
branches of the Justice Department and neutrality and fairness
in the handling of such matters must be above reproach. Having
members of one branch of the Department engaged in vigorous
lobbying on these matters (to Congress and the American people)
certainly raised serious questions.

Many of the statements made by DOJ officials during the
Peltier clemency campaign (and since) were false, intentionally
misleading, or omitted highly relevant information with the
intent of deceiving the public. Still other statements were
highly emotional and dramatic, if not near hysterical, in
nature. These constant declarations were clearly intended to
misinform the public and create an atmosphere of fear and
confusion, all with the goal of depriving Mr. Peltier of a
fair and reasoned consideration of his legal requests for parole
and clemency.

Most notable, in November 1999, during efforts by a number of
Mr. Peltier's supporters to disseminate information and
increase public awareness about his case, the Federal Bureau
of Investigation Agents Association placed a large paid
advertisement in the Washington Post. This ad intended to
mislead the public and obstruct full and fair consideration
of Peltier‚s parole and clemency requests with statements that
were inappropriate, inaccurate, deceptive, and inflammatory.

Similar public statements were made by individual FBI agents,
as well as the organizers of a Web site dedicated to denying
a fair consideration of Mr. Peltier‚s requests for parole.

But nothing was more bizarre than the event of December 15, 2000.
In an unprecedented event, over 500 FBI agents marched in front
of the White House to oppose clemency for Leonard Peltier. The
agents claimed to be exercising their First Amendment rights and
argued they were acting as private citizens on their own time
despite the fact that this march took place during standard
business hours. FBI agents are law enforcement officers, it
should be remembered. As such, they are generally considered
to be always on duty. They also are officers of the court and on
ethical grounds should have refrained from out-of-court
communication, verbal or otherwise.

The marchers risked disciplinary action (which never
materialized, despite the concerns of then Attorney General
Janet Reno) for one purpose, we believe, i.e., to garner media
attention. Indeed, the media paid special attention to the staged
event, with segments airing on evening news programs of all the
major television networks. There appeared to have been a news
blackout, however, with regard to the event five days earlier when
THOUSANDS of people marched in support of Leonard Peltier in front
of the United Nations building in New York City.

All of the above tactics proved successful. Despite indications
from the White House that clemency was imminent, on January 20,
2001, the list of clemencies granted by Clinton was released to
the media. Without explanation, Peltier's name had been excluded.

Continuing Media Manipulation

State ethics rules prohibit prejudicial statements by attorneys in a
case. These rules apply in both state and federal court, and to
prosecutors and defense attorneys alike. The Supreme Court in
Gentile v. State Bar of Nevada noted that "[f]ew interests under
the Constitution are more fundamental than the right to a fair trial
by impartial jurors," and such ethics rules are necessary to
uphold that right.

The American Bar Association‚s Model Rule 3.6, on Trial
Publicity, sets the standard. It prohibits an attorney who is
participating in a case investigation or litigation ˆ as well as any
lawyer in the same firm or government agency ˆ from making an
out-of-court statement that would have the substantial likelihood
of prejudicing "an adjudicative proceeding" in the matter.

In early February 2004, a murder trial was held in Rapid City,
South Dakota. Arlo Looking Cloud was charged in the murder of
Anna Mae Pictou Aquash in 1976.

During the trial, it is true that the U.S. prosecutor refrained
from making out-of-court statements. However, the majority of
the testimony presented by the U.S. prosecutor during the four-
day trial concerned the American Indian Movement (AIM), in
general, and Leonard Peltier, in particular, and had no relevance
to the government‚s case.

There is no ethics rule to prevent in-court statements.
Reporters observing the trial were treated to a barrage of
prejudicial information that served to sensationalize the
proceedings. This clearly had an effect on jurors, but we
believe the real target audience was the media and, by extension,
the American public.

The style and content of the articles published by the media
during the February trial of Arlo Looking Cloud were
alarmingly similar to those published by the media at the
request of particular FBI agents during Peltier supporters‚
campaign for Executive Clemency in 1999-2001.

Since the Looking Cloud trial, the media mentions about
Peltier have increased, as well as highlighted and exaggerated
the testimony given during the trial, to the extent that now
it is claimed that Peltier may have ordered the murder of
Annie Mae.

What the media does not report is that Leonard Peltier simply did
not have the authority within AIM to order any such action. At
the alleged time of the murder, Peltier was himself a prisoner
in a Canadian prison and mostly isolated from the happenings in
South Dakota. Leonard did not learn many of the details
of Annie Mae's death until he was extradited to the United States
in December 1976, nearly one year after her murder occurred.
Leonard Peltier simply had nothing whatsoever to do with Anna Mae
Aquash's murder.

Conclusion

Nearly 30 years after the incident at Oglala, the FBI and
government prosecutors still engage in vengeful acts. They
carefully avoided out-of-court statements this past year,
However, they did use actual court proceedings, primarily for
the benefit of the media, to intentionally provide as fact
false information to the public on AIM and Leonard Peltier.
This has the effect of rewriting history with regard to AIM,
in general, and Leonard Peltier, in particular, so as to
prejudice the public against them. The sensational claims
of witnesses ˆ some of them paid informants ˆ were widely
reported in the press. As other prosecutions with respect
to the Aquash murder are pending, such behavior has the
appearance of having been done for the purpose of prejudicing
the public against AIM in a state where anti-AIM sentiment
and racism against Native Americans already runs very high.
In our considered opinion, these actions have been taken to
influence the outcome of pending federal prosecutions by
potentially poisoning the jury pool, as well as destroy
support for Peltier and prevent his release on parole in 2008.

The "PeltierSupport" Mailing List is a service of the
Peltier Legal Team.

http ://www.peltiersupport.org

http://www.peltiersupport.org/

---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*

20) FBI Harassment Charles Post
Feb 27, 2005 16:10 PST
PLEASE FORWARD WIDELY AMONG OTHER SOCIALISTS, RADICALS AND
ANTI-WAR/GLOBAL JUSTICE ACTIVISTS

Friends and Comrades,

On Friday, February 27, 2005, two FBI agents came to my home in
Brooklyn. I was at work and they began to question my partner about
Solidarity, the socialist organization I belong to, and its possible
connection to a young man who was arrested for allegedly vandalizing a
military recruitment center in the Bronx, NY. The FBI agents indicated
that they had obtained our address from the Solidarity website, where I
am listed as the NY contact person. They asked my partner numerous
questions, including whether or not we knew the young men who had been
arrested, how long she (who is not a member) and I have been members of
Solidarity and whether Solidarity had a "web forum."

This may or may not be the beginning of FBI harassment of US citizens
who are active in the movement against the occupation of Iraq. It is
certainly part of a pattern of harassment and repression, mostly
targeting people from the Muslim and Arab communities and immigrants.
Whether it is the beginning of more generalized harassment, we feel it
is important that socialists, radicals and anti-war and global justice
activists generally understand their rights when approached by the FBI.

Unless they have a warrant or subpoena, you are under no obligation to
answer any questions nor permit agents in your home. We STRONGLY
RECOMMEND that you do not answer any questions from the FBI. They may--
as they did when they questioned my partner-- assure you that they are
"not out to get you." However, anything you tell them can be used
against you or other activists in the future. Silence-- which is your
right-- is your best policy. If the FBI comes with a warrant or
subpoena, we strongly recommend you contact a lawyer immediately. We
will be consulting with civil rights/civil liberties attorneys in the
near future for more details.

Charles Post
charle-@nyc.rr.com
281 Adelphi Street, Apt. 2
Brooklyn, NY 11205
Home: (718) 858-3458
Cell: (646) 206-9236

Marxism mailing list
Marxism@lists.econ.utah.edu
http://lists.econ.utah.edu/mailman/listinfo/marxism

---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*

Saturday, February 26, 2005

BAUAW NEWSLETTER-FRIDAY, FEB. 25, 2005

March 19, 2005 Global Day of Action
No to War Occupation
Iraq, Palestine, Haiti,
Afghanistan, Cuba Everywhere!
Bring the Troops Home Now!
Money for People's Needs, Not War!
San Francisco: March Assembles: 11 a.m. Dolores Park
Rally: 1 p.m. Civic Center
---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*

Resource:
MONEY FOR HUMAN NEEDS NOT WAR!
FOR A COMPLETE LIST OF SOCIAL SERVICES UNDER THE KNIFE RIGHT NOW GO TO:
http://www.bauaw.org/2005/02/programs-eliminated-or-cut-in-2006.html

---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*

1) NEXT BAUAW PLANNING MEETING TO GET THE MILITARY OUT OF
OUR SCHOOLS IS: SATURDAY, FEB. 26, 11 AM AT 474 VALENCIA STREET
The Board of Education, as a result of the Feb. 22 meeting,
is organizing a "meeting of the whole" based on the topic
of military recruitment in the Schools. Help plan strategy
for the meeting this Saturday, Feb. 26 at Centro del Pueblo,
474 Valencia street, first floor, to the left and all the way to
the rear of the building at the cheerful, Companeros del Barrio
childcare center.

Plus:

Report of the Tuesday, Feb.22 S.F. Board of Education Meeting:
(see full item 1 below)

2) WE ALL STAND WITH LYNNE STEWART!
NO JAIL TIME FOR LYNNE!
PLEASE WRITE LETTERS TODAY

3) The Central Committee for Conscientious Objectors
Presents: Conscientious Objectors Discuss War
Sunday, February 27 at the Humanist Hall, 390
27th St. @ Broadway, Oakland 3pm-6:30pm
Join CCCO and Conscientious Objector panelists;
Aimee Allison, Dale Bartlett, David Harris, Rev.
Dr. Dorsey Blake and Jeff Paterson, in a
discussion on war, draft and conscience,
moderated by Steve Morse, CCCO GI Rights Program
Coordinator.
Also, film maker Mark Manning, independent
reporter Dahr Jamail and military mom Nadia
McCaffrey offer reports about their recent trips
to Iraq and Jordan.
Refreshments.

4) March 19, 2005 Global Day of Action
No to War Occupation – Iraq, Palestine, Haiti,
Afghanistan, Cuba Everywhere!
Bring the Troops Home Now!
Money for People's Needs, Not War!
San Francisco: March Assembles: 11 a.m. Dolores Park
Rally: 1 p.m. Civic Center

5) COMING TO THE BAY AREA SOON ARE
TWO POWERFUL ANTIWAR MOVIES

"Mission Accomplished" is a a brutally vivid documentary
filmed entirely on the ground in Iraq. The reality of this
war for American troops is contrasted to the
overwhelming reality of the devastation felt and experienced
by the people of Iraq.
"Mission Accomplished" will open March 18th:
4 Star
2200 Clement St.
San Francisco, CA 94121
415.666.3488

"Voices In Wartime" is a compelling portrayal of human
experience with war through poetry, both from the point
of view of those who were in combat and those who are left
behind.
"Voices In Wartime" will play in S.F. on April 15th at:
Landmark Lumiere 3
1572 California Street
San Francisco, CA 94109

[This poem by fourth-grader Cameron Penny was read
by Marie Howe in this very beautiful film
directed by Rick King.

"If you are lucky in this life
A window will appear on a battlefield between two armies
And when the soldiers look into the window
They don't see their enemies
They see themselves as children
And they stop fighting
And go home and go to sleep
When they wake up, the land is well again."
By Cameron Penny]

To learn more about these film visit
Cinema Libre Studio
http://www.cinemalibrestudio.com/

6) PROTEST the Anniversary of the U.S.-led COUP in HAITI
Monday, Feb. 28, 4:30 p.m. Rally in UN Plaza,
San Francisco (under the Simon Bolivar statue at Hyde Street)
- proceeding at 5 p.m. March stops at sites representing
attempts to destroy democracy in Haiti, including SF Chronicle,
the Chilean, Brazilian and French consulates, and U.S.
Sen. Dianne Feinstein's office.

7) What: Anti-Recruitment Community Forum
When: Saturday, Feb. 26 2pm-4pm
Where: Audrey Lorde Room, Women's Building,
3543 18th St. between Valencia and Guerrero

8) The next meeting of the Lynne Stewart Defense Committee
is confirmed for Sunday, February 27 at Noon At the
Modern Times Bookstore at 888 Valencia Street,
between 19th and 20th Streets.
We will meet in the rear meeting room.

9) Latin America Fails to Deliver on Basic Needs (link only)
By JUAN FORERO
February 22, 2005
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/22/international/americas/22bolivia.html?hp&e
x=1109134800&en=a0fbb2c9c35c0f8f&ei=5094&partner=homepage

10) Bush Says Russia Must Make Good on Democracy (link only)
By ELISABETH BUMILLER
BRUSSELS
February 22, 2005
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/22/international/europe/22prexy.html

11) US Senator Says Afghan Bases Should Be Permanent (link only)
By David Brunnstrom
KABUL (Reuters)
Tue Feb 22, 2005 06:32 AM ET
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=7697958&src=eD
ialog/GetContent§ion=news

12) Some Inheritance (Social Security) (link only)
EDITORIAL
February 23, 2005
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/23/opinion/23wed1.html?hp

13) Failure to Form Cabinet Signals Crisis
for Palestinian Leaders
By ALAN COWELL
February 23, 2005
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/23/international/middleeast/23cnd-mideast.htm
l?hp&ex=1109221200&en=c2f9ba17fa86cb77&ei=5094&partner=homepage

14) Vonnegut at 80 (link only)
By David Hoppe, NUVO
Posted on January 10, 2003
http://www.alternet.org/story/14919/

15) Task Force Criticizes Bush's 'No Child' Law; (link only)
50-State Group Says It's Unconstitutional
by Sam Dillon
Published on Thursday, February 24, 2005 by the
San Francisco Chronicle
http://www.commondreams.org/headlines05/0224-09.htm

16) Two good liberals visit bad country (link only)
By Robert Mailer Anderson and Zack Anderson
Special To The Examiner
(Very interesting and favorable article about Cuba...bw)
http://www.sfexaminer.com/articles/2005/02/24/opinion/20050224_op05_anderson
.txt

17) Next Generation Peace Rally and March
FUND OUR COMMUNITIES, NOT WAR!
Friday, March 4, Rally 3 - 3:30 at the San Rafael Library
March through town 3:30 - 5pm

18) THE CONFLICT IN IRAQ (link only)
Army Gives Halliburton $9.4 Million in Bonuses
From Times Wire Services
February 25, 2005
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-halliburton25feb25,1,222
0539.story?coll=la-headlines-world&ctrack=2&cset=true

19) 10 Voters on Panel Backing Pain Pills (link only)
Had Industry Ties
By GARDINER HARRIS and ALEX BERENSON
February 25, 2005
"Ten of the 32 government drug advisers who last week
endorsed continued marketing of the huge-selling pain pills
Celebrex, Bextra and Vioxx have consulted in recent years for
the drugs' makers, according to disclosures in medical journals
and other public records.

If the 10 advisers had not cast their votes, the committee would
have voted 12 to 8 that Bextra should be withdrawn and 14 to 8
that Vioxx should not return to the market. The 10 advisers with
company ties voted 9 to 1 to keep Bextra on the market and 9 to 1
for Vioxx's return."
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/25/politics/25fda.html?hp&ex=1109394000&en=2d
0651f024ad5d31&ei=5094&partner=homepage

20) Kansas Prosecutor Demands Files
on Late-Term Abortion Patients
By JODI WILGOREN
February 25, 2005
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/25/national/25kansas.html?hp&ex=1109394000&en
=590ef6d0a42ee0af&ei=5094&partner=homepage

21) Thrown to the Wolves (link only)
By BOB HERBERT
OP-ED COLUMNIST
OTTAWA
February 25, 2005
[Prison and torture America style-send them to Saudi Arabia where
torture is legal...bw]
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/25/opinion/25herbert.html?hp

22) [Related to Lynne Stewart Case...bw] (link only)
Terror Suspect's Family Protests Jail Rules
By ERIC LICHTBLAU and JAMES DAO
February 25, 2005
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/25/national/25terror.html

23) Published on Thursday, February 24, 2005 by the
New York Amsterdam News
Calling All Soldiers: Military Recruiters Face Resistance
From Young Anti-War Activists
by Elizabeth Weill-Greenberg

---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*

Plus:

Report of the Tuesday, Feb.22 S.F. Board of Education Meeting:
(see full item 1 below)

The Tuesday, Feb. 22 meeting at the S.F. Board of Education turned
out to be a great success. Representatives from many groups and
individuals gave strong reasons why San Francisco schools should
not allow the military access to our children on school grounds.

The members of the board clearly showed concern and interest
about what we were saying. They expressed their antiwar sentiment
as well by voting to sponsor the American Friends Service
Committee's "Eyes Wide Open" exhibition of the Iraq War, which
will be at the Civic Center Friday, March 25, beginning at 11:00 a.m.,
with an all night vigil; Saturday, March 26th, 10:00 a.m., until 5:00 p.m.,
and at Union Square, Sunday, March 27th, (Easter Sunday)
from 10:00 a.m., until dusk.

They also announced the March 19th March and Rally against the
War on Iraq that begins at 11: 00 a.m., at Dolores Park and marches
to a Rally at 1:00 p.m., at the Civic Center. This demonstration is
part of a worldwide protest of the war. Millions of people across
the world will show their opposition in the streets March 19th and
20th-the anniversary of the start of Operation Iraqi Liberation (O.I.L.)

We are going to the School Board meeting again, on Tuesday,
March 8th to further discuss how we can prevent the military from
turning our schools into hunting ground for cannon fodder for
an illegal and immoral war. We are in the process of getting the
point on the agenda at the March 8th meeting (or the "meeting of
the whole"--date not set yet) so that the Board
members themselves can participate in this very rich discussion
we began on Feb. 22.

Some of the many, many groups were that were represented were,
ANSWER, United for Peace and Justice, Code Pink, BAUAW, AFSC, ISO,
Campus Antiwar Network, representatives from San Francisco's Queer
community, as well as many individuals, who all gave impassioned
reasons for opposing the war and military recruitment at our schools.
Everyone left the meeting feeling strong, unified and on the same
page. Many members of the board seemed very receptive to the
varied and well thought-out arguments.

This meeting was a great beginning to public community dialogue
about these issues that affect all of us.

There will be a planning meeting to discuss further strategy this
coming Saturday, Feb. 26, at 11:00 a.m., at Centro del Pueblo,
474 Valencia street, first floor, to the left and all the way to the
rear of the building at the Companeros del Barrio childcare center.

Everyone is welcome.

Peace and solidarity,

Bonnie Weinstein, Bay Area United Against War

The following is an article that was published in the Chronicle Feb.24.
It describes a 50-State Group that challenges, as Unconstitutional,
the "No Child Left Behind" law claiming it, "...had imposed an
impractical 'one-size-fits-all' education accountability system
across the country that was stifling local initiatives." Forcing schools
to open their doors to the military in order to get federal funds
is also part of the "No Child Left Behind" law.

Task Force Criticizes Bush's 'No Child' Law; 50-State Group Says
It's Unconstitutional

By Sam Dillon

Published on Thursday, February 24, 2005 by the
San Francisco Chronicle

http://www.commondreams.org/headlines05/0224-09.htm

A bipartisan group representing 50 state legislatures called
Wednesday for major changes in President Bush's landmark
education initiative, No Child Left Behind, which it lambasted as
unconstitutional and impractical.

Republican New York state Sen. Steve Saland, who co-chaired
a task force that took 10 months to review implementation of
No Child Left Behind, said the law had imposed an impractical
"one-size-fits-all" education accountability system across the
country that was stifling local initiatives.

The task force's report, based on hearings in six cities, praised
the law's goal of ending the gap in scholastic achievement
between white and minority students. But most of the 77-page
report, which the Education Department rebutted Wednesday,
was devoted to a detailed inventory and discussion of the
program's flaws.

Over the past two years, more than a dozen state legislatures
adopted resolutions criticizing the No Child Left Behind law
and demanding changes. But the bipartisan nature of
Wednesday's report marked a step-up in the war of words
surrounding the law.

The report said the law's accountability system, which
punishes schools whose students fail to improve steadily on
standardized tests, undermined school improvement efforts
already under way in many states and relied on the wrong
indicators.

The report said the law's rules for educating disabled students
conflict with another federal law. It also said the law presents
bureaucratic requirements that fail to recognize the tapestry
of educational challenges faced by teachers in the nation's
15,000 school districts.

"Under NCLB, the federal government's role has become
excessively intrusive in the day-to-day operations of public
education," the National Conference of State Legislatures
said in the report, which was written by 16 state legislators
and six legislative staff members.

Nine state legislatures are considering challenges to the law,
and the Utah Senate is about to vote on a bill, already approved
by the Utah House, that would require state education officials
to give higher priority to Utah's education laws than to the
federal law. An Illinois school district filed suit against the
Education Department this month in federal court, arguing
that No Child Left Behind contradicts provisions of the federal
Individuals With Disabilities Education Act.

The conference, which has criticized the federal law in the
past, represents the nation's 50 state legislatures, has
a membership that includes 3,657 Republicans, 3,656 Democrats,
as well as a few dozen who were elected from smaller parties,
as independents or without any party affiliation.

In compiling its report, the task force conducted public
hearings in Washington, Chicago, Salt Lake City, New York,
Santa Fe, N.M., and Portland, Ore.

An assistant secretary of education, Ray Simon, met with
members of the task force in Washington on Wednesday
to discuss the report.

"The department will continue to work with every state to
address their concerns and make this law work for their
children," Simon said in a statement. "But the report could
be interpreted as wanting to reverse the progress we've made."

He added: "No Child Left Behind is bringing new hope and
new opportunity to families throughout America, and we will
not reverse course."

The law will come up for reauthorization in Congress in 2007.
But task force members hoped to persuade Congress to make
changes in the law before then.

Several groups that strongly support the federal law disputed
the report.

"My big concern is they did a better job of pinpointing problems
than identifying solutions," said Susan Traiman, a director at
the Business Roundtable, a group that represents top corporate
executives. "Most of what they call for would be a reversal that
would turn back the clock on what NCLB is trying to accomplish,
all in the name of federalism."

One chapter of the report notes that the Constitution does not
delegate powers to educate America's citizens to the federal
government, thereby leaving education under state control. The
report contends that No Child Left Behind has greatly expanded
federal powers to a degree that is unconstitutional.

"This assertion of federal authority into an area historically
reserved to the states has had the effect of curtailing additional
state innovations and undermining many that had occurred
during the past three decades," the report says.

"The task force does not believe that NCLB is constitutional,"
the report said.

But Steve Kelley, a Democrat who serves in the Minnesota Senate
and is a co-chairman of the task force, said the conference had
no intention of going to court over the law's constitutionality.

The report also examines what the task force called conflicts
between the federal law and the Individuals With Disabilities
Education Act.

Under No Child Left Behind, a disabled eighth-grader whom
educators deem to be working at a sixth-grade level must take
examinations for eighth-graders. The report said the requirement
contradicted provisions in the disabilities act requiring school
authorities to design a unique instructional program suited to
the needs and abilities of each disabled child.

"NCLB requires students with disabilities be tested by grade
level, while IDEA mandates that students be taught according
to ability," the report said.

The Washington Post contributed to this report.

Draft Resolution for San Francisco Board of Education
Cut Ties with the Military:

WHEREAS, the United States military is actively recruiting high
school students into the military to fight in Iraq; and
WHEREAS, many young San Francisco high school alumni are
presently serving in military units fighting in Iraq; and
WHEREAS, it is San Francisco City policy by virtue of
Proposition N, to bring all U.S. troops home from Iraq now; and
WHEREAS, over 1,448 U.S. soldiers and approximately
100,000 Iraqis have been killed in this war and over
10,000 U.S. soldiers and unknown thousands of Iraqis
have been wounded; and
WHEREAS, the hundreds of billions of dollars spent on
the war have robbed our children of resources that should
be spent on education and other human needs; and
WHEREAS, military presence in our schools legitimizes the
message that violence is acceptable; THEREFORE BE IT
RESOLVED THAT:
It shall be the policy of the San Francisco Board of Education
to support cutting all ties with the United States military,
including, but not limited to: Ending military recruitment
on campuses; ending the Junior Reserved Officer Training
Corps (JROTC); and guaranteeing that all students and
parents are informed of their right to deny military recruiters
access to their names, addresses and telephone numbers.

Bay Area United Against War (BAUAW) € www.bauaw.org €
P.O. Box 318021, San Francisco, CA 94131-8021 € 414-824-8730

---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*

2) WE ALL STAND WITH LYNNE STEWART!
NO JAIL TIME FOR LYNNE!
PLEASE WRITE LETTERS TODAY:

SUGGESTION AS TO FORMAT OF LETTERS
TO BE WRITTEN ON BEHALF OF LYNNE STEWART

MARGIN: Please leave at least a one-inch left-hand margin to
allow us to bind the letter into the appendix to the sentencing
memorandum that is being filed on
Lynne's behalf.

INSIDE ADDRESS: Honorable John G. Koeltl
United States District Judge
Southern District of New York
United States Courthouse
500 Pearl Street
New York, New York 10007

GREETING: Honorable Sir or Dear Judge Koeltl:

BODY: Briefly introduce yourself and set forth your
relationship to Lynne.
Briefly discuss yourself - your position in work and in society.
State that you are aware that Lynne is to be sentenced following
a jury verdict of guilty on serious charges: The remainder of your
letter should discuss whatever you believe to weigh in favor of
no jail time. If possible, you should tell of an incident where she
helped you out or engaged in commendable community service.
Do not try to argue that she is not guilty or was unfairly conviction.
Focus on the unfairness of the government's actions in bringing
the charges; the way in which the government portrayed her, etc.

* Typewritten letters if possible are preferred.
*
WHEN LETTER IS COMPLETED: Please mail the final product to
the following address:
Jill R. Shellow-Lavine, Esq.
2537 Post Road
Southport, CT 06890

Do not send your letters to the judge. We ask that you forward
your letter me so that the lawyers can present it to Judge Koeltl
with the other letters being written for this purpose. This is the
manner in which letters will have the greatest impact. If they are
sent directly to the Judge's chambers, they may have less of an
impact and could cause the judge a substantial inconvenience
(and annoyance).

Thank you for your cooperation. If you have any questions,
please do not hesitate to contact the defense committee
at www.lynnestewart.org.

Sincerely,
Jill R. Shellow-Lavine
Attorney for Lynne Stewart
For more information go to:
www.LynneStewart.org

---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*

4) March 19, 2005 Global Day of Action
No to War Occupation – Iraq, Palestine, Haiti,
Afghanistan, Cuba Everywhere!
Bring the Troops Home Now!
Money for People’s Needs, Not War!
San Francisco: March Assembles: 11 a.m. Dolores Park
Rally: 1 p.m. Civic Center

---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*

5) COMING TO THE BAY AREA SOON ARE TWO POWERFUL ANTIWAR MOVIES

[This poem by fourth-grader Cameron Penny was read
by Marie Howe in this very beautiful film
directed by Rick King.

---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*

One year after democratically-elected President Jean-Bertrand Aristide
was forced out of his country by the U.S., protesters are calling for the
restoration of constitutional government in Haiti. The protest is
sponsored by the Haiti Action Committee, East Bay Sanctuary
Covenant and the ANSWER Coalition.
Contact: 510-483-7481 or 415-821-6545

FACES OF HAITI 2005 . . . a slide presentation and discussion
scheduled for 7:00 p.m., Wednesday, February 23, 2005, at the
First United Methodist Church, 9 Ross Valley Drive
(at Fourth Street), San Rafael.

Two members of the Let Haiti Live Women;s Delegation . . .
January 13-22
[to] Port au Prince women's cooperatives and highly successful
village community-based health clinic also their experience at
the World Social Forum [where] MITF sponsored participation
of Haitian nationals

A $5-10 donation is requested. No one turned away for lack
of funds. For more information, please call 415/924-3227.
This venue is wheelchair accessible.

---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*

7) What: Anti-Recruitment Community Forum
When: Saturday, Feb. 26 2pm-4pm
Where: Audrey Lorde Room, Women's Building,
3543 18th St. between Valencia and Guerrero

Description: Join teachers, students, anti-war
activists, veterans, Ramon Leal from Iraq Veterans
Against the War, Aimee Allison, Gulf War Conscientious
Objector and candidate for Oakland City Council, Susan
King from the San Francisco Green Party, and members
of the Campus Anti-War Network as they discuss forming
a coalition opposed to military recruitment in our
schools.

WEDNESDAY, MAR 2:

What: Political Pub Quiz
When: 3/2 8-10pm
Where: Dylan's Pub, 19th and Harrison
Description: Join Supervisors Ross Mirkarimi & Chris
Daly, School Board Members Mark Sanchez, Eric Mar and
Sarah Lipson, activists Lisa Feldstein, Michael
Goldstein and Calvin Welch, playwright Terry Baum and
others. Categories include Famous San Franciscans, SF
Landmarks, LGBT and Political Scandals. Free and
winning team gets a better than cash value prize.

---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*

Lynne's sentencing date has been changed from July 15 to September,
giving us more time to mount the campaigns that are needed to
maximize the chances that Lynne is not sentenced to jail time. She
faces up to 35 years in prison. At this time our campaign is geared
to mobilizing mass forces to convince the judge, whose record
indicates he tends toward light sentences, to grant Lynne probation
as opposed to jail. The fact that the judge has this discretion is
due to a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision that rejected mandatory
sentences. Letter writing will be a major focus of the campaign but
we understand that there will be a mass mobilization near the
courthouse when the Judge is scheduled to decide. We will urge West
Coast attendance at this rally.

Lynne's appeal is in preparation. Her aim, our aim, of course, is to
reverse the conviction and win her freedom.

Her plan to visit the Bay Area for a major April 24 rally organized
by the Mobilization to Free Mumia Abu-Jamal at Mission H.S. is firm.
Lynne says that she is confident that Judge Koeltl will grant her
travel rights.

Our agenda on Sunday will include:

a) a legal update report
b) campaign for mass letter writing regarding the sentence beginning
immediately but focusing on April 24 and all other such meetings
where people gather in large numbers. This includes the upcoming
March 19 antiwar march/rally from Dolores Park to the Civic Center.
c) distribution of the new fact sheet
d) organization of major meeting with prominent speaker in the Bay
Area between now and April 24
e) collaboration with the National Lawyers Guild to reach out to the
legal community
f) broadening our defense committee
g) speaking at meetings to explain Lynne's case
h) building the April 24 meeting where Lynne will be joined by Amy
Goodman and a concert with Michael Franti
i) exploration of a SF Board of Supervisors resolution supporting
Lynne's democratic rights and civil liberties and welcoming her to
San Francisco
j)other items to be determined

We expect the April 24 mass rally to be a barn burner with Lynne the
major speaker.

In solidarity,

Jeff

---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*

10) Bush Says Russia Must Make Good on Democracy (link only)
By ELISABETH BUMILLER
BRUSSELS
February 22, 2005
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/22/international/europe/22prexy.html

---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*

12) Some Inheritance (Social Security) (link only)
EDITORIAL
February 23, 2005
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/23/opinion/23wed1.html?hp

---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*

14) Vonnegut at 80 (link only)
By David Hoppe, NUVO
Posted on January 10, 2003
http://www.alternet.org/story/14919/

---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*

---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*

16) Two good liberals visit bad country (link only)
By Robert Mailer Anderson and Zack Anderson
Special To The Examiner
(Very interesting and favorable article about Cuba...bw)
http://www.sfexaminer.com/articles/2005/02/24/opinion/20050224_op05_anderson
.txt

---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*

17) Next Generation Peace Rally and March
FUND OUR COMMUNITIES, NOT WAR!
Friday, March 4, Rally 3 - 3:30 at the San Rafael Library
March through town 3:30 - 5pm

Join Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey, San Rafael City Councilor Cyr Miller, and
local city workers, taxpayers, students and teachers for a creative rally
and march to demand funding for our communities, not for war!

Rally at the San Rafael Public Library (3 - 3:45) - 1100 E ST at Fifth ST

Then march to:
* Falkirk Cultural Center (4 - 4:10) - 1408 Mission Ave at E ST
* City Hall (4:15 - 4:25) - 1400 Fifth ST at D ST
* Police Station (4:25 - 4:35) - 1400 Fifth STat D ST
* Fire Station (4:40 - 4:50) - 1039 C ST bet 4th and 5th
* March down Fourth ST (4:50 - 5:00)
* Concluding rally at Bank of America / Court Plaza (5 - 5:15) - 4th ST at
Court

George Bush has released his proposed budget for 2006. If passed, it will
sharply cut social programs while increasing military spending at a time
when most towns across America - including San Rafael - are cutting back
basic services just to stay afloat.

Next Generation - with support from MPJC, Presente and community leaders -
is fighting back with a creative, grassroots response: a youth and
taxpayer-led rally and march through San Rafael that will highlight how much
the war on Iraq is costing our community, and what we'd like to see instead.

After a rally near city hall, our colorful, positive, enthusiastic
procession will stop at various agencies in San Rafael whose budgets are
being cut or are being threatened with cuts, including the library, city
hall, police station, fire department. At each stop along the way, students
and community will explain how each agency is struggling, and present a
giant novelty check representing their lost revenues to an "official" from
the Pentagon. We will also present a positive, alternative vision of what
we'd like to see instead.

We are excited about this effort because:
* It brings the cost of war home
* It is timely - Congress will soon begin to debate George Bush's proposed
budget, and next November, voters in San Rafael will decide whether or not
to raise the sales tax by half a cent to stop cuts in basic city services
* It presents a positive vision of healthy, supportive communities
* It builds alliances and expands the progressive movement
* It is fun and creative

This effort is open to all individuals and groups who believe our tax
dollars would be better spent creating healthy, nurturing communities than
fighting destructive wars. Please contact Next Generation if you would like
to get involved in any way, including:
* Working on march logistics
* Creating props, visuals, and other creative elements
* Promoting the march at the grassroots
* Generating media coverage of the effort
* Speaking at the march as a San Rafael taxpayer, volunteer or city employee
* Contributing funds or other resources to support this effort and others
like it

During the three weeks before the action, Next Generating is conducting
interactive workshops in local schools to educate young people about the
President's proposed budget and the cost of war. We will follow the action
with additional workshops, and plan to issue a national call for Cost of War
actions across the US on Tax Day, April 15.

Next Generation 1741 Lincoln Ave, #6 San Rafael, CA 94901 415.455.9498
nextgenerationofactivists@hotmail.com

---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*

19) 10 Voters on Panel Backing Pain Pills (link only)
Had Industry Ties
By GARDINER HARRIS and ALEX BERENSON
February 25, 2005
"Ten of the 32 government drug advisers who last week endorsed
continued marketing of the huge-selling pain pills Celebrex, Bextra
and Vioxx have consulted in recent years for the drugs' makers,
according to disclosures in medical journals and other public records.

---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*

23) Published on Thursday, February 24, 2005 by the
New York Amsterdam News
Calling All Soldiers: Military Recruiters Face Resistance
From Young Anti-War Activists
by Elizabeth Weill-Greenberg

The military spends about $3 billion each year to convince young
people that enlistment will give them college money, job training
and an alternative to working at McDonald's. In the wake of the
growing conflict in Iraq, which has resulted in over a thousand
U.S. casualties, the military has become more aggressive in
scouting out high school students willing and able to serve.

In many New York City public schools that are predominantly
Black and Latino, military recruiters are a heavy presence, promising
young people financial security and a fulfilling career. Recruiters
roam the halls, set up tables and even pull students out of class.
But in recent months, a group of teenagers and anti-war veterans
have been canvassing the neighborhoods where the recruiters
frequent, hoping to convince students to consider other options.

''We've heard everything up to and including having a desk in
the guidance counselor's office,'' said Amy Wagner of Youth
Activists-Youth Allies (YaYas), a group that focuses on
counter-recruitment. ''When the kid comes in to talk to the
counselor about college, before the kid can get there, they've
got somebody in their face saying, 'You want to go to college?
How are you going to pay for college?'''

New York City organizers are educating people about alternatives
to enlisting and the realities of military life. Vietnam veterans and
anti-war activists Jim Murphy and Dayl Wise visit high schools,
where they recount for the students stories about their time in
the service. In one class of juniors at West Side High School,
Murphy told them that before the service he spent time making
money playing seven-card stud.

Once he left community college, he was drafted. ''I wasn't smart
enough to have fear about it,'' Murphy told the class. ''I didn't
have a clue.'' Wise, who was in the infantry, didn't want to go
to war when he was drafted. His father offered to help send him
to Canada. ''I took the easy way out by reporting for duty,'' he
said. ''It takes a braver person. I let it happen to me? I didn't
have a plan. I gave up control.'' He warned the students: ''Please
have a plan. Don't let others make plans for you.'' The YaYas,
staffed almost entirely by high school students of color, work
to make sure young people avoid falling into military service
because it seems like the only option for advancement.

''It's either jail or the military,'' said Jeannel Bishop, a senior
at Brooklyn's South Shore High School and a YaYa staffer.
Many students at her school think enlistment is the best they
can accomplish. When Navy recruiters visited her school
recently, students were allowed to leave class to visit with
them. Bishop brought pamphlets and confronted the recruiters
about their assurances of tuition and training. She pointed out
to them and other students nearby that getting college money
was a much more complicated and uncertain process.

''I was taking over their whole show,'' Bishop said. ''[The recruiters]
were amazed.'' Three students who had been ''pumped up about
the military'' had second thoughts after Bishop spoke. It took just
a little information for them to have doubts, she said. Besides
speaking out in their own schools, the YaYas hold workshops for
teenagers and make presentations to PTAs. They encourage
students to post literature in the guidance office and set up
counter-recruitment tables next to military recruiters. Most
importantly, they want young people to make an informed
choice, Wagner said.

For instance, most students don't know that:

* Two-thirds of recruits don't get any college money,
according to the Central Committee for Conscientious Objectors.
* Most people in the military do not have time to attend
college while in the service.
* To qualify for college money recruits have to pay $100
per month for a year.
* The unemployment rate for veterans is three times higher
than the national average.
* People who sign up with the Delayed Entry Program are
told they can't change their minds, but getting out is as simple
as writing a letter.
* The enlistment contract is for eight years.
* There are other ways to finance college, like federal
financial aid, private scholarships, going to community college
or joining AmeriCorps.

But educating youth is not just about these facts and figures,
Wagner said. The war in Iraq makes their work much more
urgent, she said. ''They're still telling people you can go to
Germany, Japan, but the reality is the vast majority are going
to Iraq,'' Wagner said. ''You risk losing life and limb; you risk
being a murderer.'' Giving young people a complete picture of
enlisting rests on the courage and initiative of activists,
guidance counselors and principals.

Often, the recruiters' sales pitches, brochures and posters go
unchallenged. Many educators fear principals will retaliate
if they speak out, Wagner said. Some schools are reticent to
limit the military's presence because they think they will lose
federal funding, she said. No Child Left Behind, the educational
policy touted by the Bush administration, requires that
recruiters and college representatives have equal access
to students. This is often misinterpreted as unlimited access.
Policy on recruiter access in New York City public schools
is determined school by school and varies widely.

But some school districts have taken a more active role
and regulate recruiters' visits. In Madison, Wisconsin,
recruiters are only permitted to be in each high school
three days during the school year. Their policy states that
guidance counselors can distribute both military and
counter-recruitment information. There is also no uniform,
enforced policy in New York City governing opt-out forms,
which let students choose whether to release their personal
information to recruiters. Many principals, Wagner said, are
not even aware of the opt-out form. Some schools give out
the form, without any explanation and make no effort to
collect it from students, she said.

Wagner said some students think that signing the forms will
mean their information is not released to any institutions,
including colleges. Other students, often immigrants, fear
they will get in trouble for signing, she said. Currently, New
York City students are often only given the opt-out form in
the ninth grade, Wagner said. Because recruiters ask for
eleventh- and twelfth-grade lists, schools should send out
the forms each year, she said.

In Montclair, New Jersey, the high school sends a fact sheet
with the opt-out form. Tenth-graders who have not returned
the forms are called. If the form is still not turned in, it will
be passed out the following year. Activists have discussed
working on a New York City Council resolution to require
schools to collect the forms from every student. Members
of the YaYas and the New York Civil Liberties Union have
met with the Department of Education (DOE) to discuss
putting together an information packet for principals
about opt-out.

Wagner said the DOE was receptive. Calls to the DOE were
not returned. Local counter-recruiters also plan to make use
of the recent Third Circuit Court's ruling that Yale Law School,
which has a non-discrimination policy, can ban recruiters from
its campus without risk of losing federal funding, because the
military discriminates against gays.

However, without the help of the Department of Education or
the City Council, counter-recruiters' efforts can only go so far.
This frustration is evident in veteran Dayl Wise when he said
that giving presentations, classroom by classroom, is like
"throwing grains of sand on the beach.''

Elizabeth Weill-Greenberg may be reached at
elizabethwg@gmail.com.

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