BAUAW NEWSLETTER-FRIDAY, MARCH 25, 2005

Counter-recruitment materials for educators, parents
and people concerned about our youth. check out:
http://www.papertiger.org/index.php?name=Military-Myths-Curriculum-Download-Page

*******************************************************

Hey Everyone!
This is Roger and Bob from College Not Combat.

I'm sure that most everyone reading this was out at the
demonstration this past weekend. By my estimate there were
about 10,000 people gathered out there on Saturday to show
their opposition to the war, as there were people gathered in
other places around the Bay Area, the country and the world.
And not only is there an abundance of anti-war sentiment in
general, but there's a lot of anger and fighting spirit around
getting military recruiters out of our schools specifically.
With just a handful of people on Saturday, we were able to
gather about 100 names and numbers from people who would
like to get involved with anti-recruitment organizing and with
College Not Combat.

So where do we go from here? At a previous meeting of CNC
we discussed the possibility of raising a ballot initiative here
in San Francisco aimed at getting recruiters out of our schools,
and of raising money for education by taxing the rich! It's an
idea whose time has come, and an idea and a course of action
around which we can engage very large numbers of people,
and build a base of action within the anti-war movement. We
should see this Saturday's meeting as the first step in getting
this fight going.

So whether you were at the first CNC meeting a month ago,
or just heard about us for the first time on the 19th, please
join us for the next meeting this Saturday (March 26) at 2pm
at the office of Haymarket Books at 110 Capp St. in the Mission
District (call (415)248-1701 for directions). See you there!

*******************************************************

THE NEXT BAUAW MEETING:
SATURDAY, APRIL 2, 11:30AM
474 VALENCIA STREET, SF
(FIRST FLOOR, TO THE LEFT AND ALL THE WAY BACK
TO THE COMPAÑEROS DEL BARRIO CHILDREN'S CENTER)

*******************************************************

MILITARY RECRUITERS WILL BE AT THE CAREER FAIR AT
GEORGE WASHINGTON HIGH SCHOOL
600 32nd Avenue between Geary and Balboa Sts.
TUESDAY, APRIL 5TH, 9:50AM-12:20PM
Come to the BAUAW meeting April 2 and help plan ways to
keep the military out all the career fairs and out
of our schools!
SAT. APRIL 2, 11:30 a.m.
474 VALENCIA STREET, SF
(FIRST FLOOR, TO THE LEFT AND ALL THE WAY BACK
TO THE COMPAÑEROS DEL BARRIO CHILDREN'S CENTER)

************************************************************

EYES WIDE OPEN EXHIBIT
STILL NEEDS SHOES:
* Tie each pair together, or, if no laces, securely attach them
together.
* Count the pairs of shoes and place in heavy-duty garbage bags.
Attach a tag with the count on it.
* Shoes will be donated at the end of the exhibit. Children's
and men's shoes are especially needed.
* Call Nabil at 415-565-0201 ext. 14 or email
shoes@peacefultomorrows.org
* Drop off shoes 9 am to 5 pm at AFSC, 65 Ninth St.
(between Mission and Market) until Thursday, March 24.
Last minute shoes may be brought to Civic Center Plaza
Friday, March 25. No shoes accepted after Friday.
* Collect phone cards for military personnel
We are also collecting telephone calling cards to donate to
military personnel and to returning Iraq war veterans in
a Bay Area hospital and the USOs at local airports. Please
purchase phone cards to donate with your shoes or bring
to the exhibit.

* To volunteer with the shoe project, call Nabil at
415-565-0201 ext. 14 or email
shoes@peacefultomorrows.org
* To volunteer to help with the exhibit call AFSC at
415-565-0201 ext. 15 or email sleeds@afsc.org

SAN FRANCISCO DATES:
March 25 (Friday), 11:00 am with all night vigil
Civic Center between Polk and Larkin
March 26 (Saturday), 10:00 am to 5 pm
Civic Center Voices and Requiem - 2 pm
March 27 (Easter Sunday), 10:00 am to dusk
Union Square (Powell and Geary)

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

1) World Water Day: Private Sector Still (LINK ONLY)
Eyeing to Own Every Drop
Selling water rights to private institutions and then having
people buy them back again is an issue that keeps rearing its
ugly head at every World Water Day, which falls on Mar. 22
by Anil Netto
Published on Tuesday, March 22, 2005 by the Inter-Press Service
http://www.commondreams.org/headlines05/0322-06.htm

2) Journalists tell of US Falluja killings (LINK ONLY)
Thursday 17 March 2005 10:41 AM GMT
Journalists accuse US soldiers of targeting children
All is quiet in Falluja, or at least that is how it seems, given that
the mainstream media has largely forgotten about the Iraqi city.
But independent journalists are risking life and limb to bring
out a very different story.
http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/6890A8DA-AF79-45AD-BB4F-42C060978A07.htm

3) U.S. Consumer Prices Jump, (LINK ONLY)
Spark Inflation Worry
WASHINGTON (Reuters)
Wed Mar 23, 2005 09:07 AM ET
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=7984972&src=eDialog/GetContent

4) Joe Bageant: 'Finding Jesus at the Cracker Barrel' (LINK ONLY)
Date: Wednesday, March 23 @ 09:44:08 EST
Topic: Church and State
Sunday in a red state
By Joe Bageant
If Jesus reappeared on earth tomorrow it would probably be at
Daytona or a Cracker Barrel Restaurant. -- Punk Wilson,
local wiseass
http://www.smirkingchimp.com/article.php?sid=20412

5) Attica to Abu Ghraib
An organizing conference on human rights, torture, and
resistance Sponsored by the International Human Rights
Initiative
Spoken Word, Music and More
Friday, April 22
6:00ˆ9:00 pm
St. Joseph the Worker Church
1640 Addison St., Berkeley, CA
Working Conference
Saturday, April 23
8:30 amˆ9:00 pm
U.C. Berkeley, Dwinelle Hall

6) Invasion of the Body Snatchers (LINK ONLY)
By Mary Beaudoin,
W A M M (Women Against Military Madness)
worldwideWAMM February 2005
"School Ownership is the Goal"
http://www.worldwidewamm.org/newsletters/2005/0205/invasion.html

7) PLEDGE OF RESOLVE
http://www.actionsf.org/ansst050217.htm

8) Women in Struggle
a film about Palestinian women ex-detainees
Saturday, March 26th
7:00 PM
The Women's Bldg.,
San Francisco

9) George W. to George W. (LINK ONLY)
By THOMAS L. FRIEDMAN
OP-ED COLUMNIST
March 24, 2005
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/24/opinion/24friedman.html?hp=&adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1111680006-TItm5IwsR71gCM9UHW4PHw

10) States Worry About (LINK ONLY)
Meeting Requirements
of Education Law
By GREG WINTER
ON EDUCATION
March 24, 2005
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/24/education/24educ.html

11) G.M. to Seek Cuts in (LINK ONLY)
Union Health Benefits
By DANNY HAKIM
March 24, 2005
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/24/business/24auto.html

12) Tuesday, March 29, 7pm
S.F. Women's Building 3543 18th St.
(btwn Valencia and Guerrero)
ANSWER Educational Forum
Iran, Lebanon & Syria:
Myths, Realities and the U.S. Drive for
Domination of the Gulf Region

13) Israel to build thousands more (LINK ONLY)
settler homes in West Bank
By Rick Kelly
World Socialist Web Site www.wsws.org
24 March 2005
http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/mar2005/isra-m24.shtml

14) Go Making Tracks, a musical written by an
Asian American with an all Asian American cast
about the lives of Asian Americans in America.
please forward

15) March 19 Rally in Fayetteville, (LINK ONLY)
NC, a Resounding Success!
Pictures from Fayeteville : By Charles Jenks
Report by North Carolina Peace and Justice Org.:
http://www.ncpeacejustice.org/
"At least 20 active duty GIs defied orders from Ft Bragg
to come to listen."
http://www.lefthook.org/Ground/March20032305.html

16) Tell Congress to Stop Hurting Your Healthcare (LINK ONLY)
WARNING: Association Health Plans (AHPs) mean no protection,
no guarantee and no limits on price.
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/590261171?z00m=22478&z00m=22478<l=1111688716

17) REFINERIES APPEAL TO (LINK ONLY)
COUNTY FOR TAX RELIEF
Up to $33 million at stake if properties reassessed
By Peter Felsenfeld
CONTRA COSTA TIMES
Posted on Thu, Mar. 24, 2005
http://www.contracostatimes.com/mld/cctimes/news/local/states/california/counties/contra_costa_county/11217797.htm

18) Graduation rates lower than stated (LINK ONLY)
By Jackie Burrell
CONTRA COSTA TIMES
Posted on Thu, Mar. 24, 2005
http://www.contracostatimes.com/mld/cctimes/living/education/11217823.htm

19) Chess legend Fischer heads for Iceland (LINK ONLY)
JAN M. OLSEN
Associated Press
COPENHAGEN, Denmark
Posted on Thu, Mar. 24, 2005
http://www.contracostatimes.com:80/mld/cctimes/news/11219735.htm

20) U.S. war deserter loses bid for refugee status (LINK ONLY)
24/BNStory/National/
Thursday, March 24, 2005 Updated at 2:18 PM EST
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20050324.whinzman03

21) 3861 Palestinian women lost their sons or
daughters during the Intifadah
To you mothers behind bars: Happy
Mother's day!!!

22) Pentagon Sees Aggressive (LINK ONLY)
Antidrug Effort in Afghanistan
By THOM SHANKER
March 25, 2005
"To support the new effort, the Defense Department is requesting
$257 million, more than four times the amount last year, in
emergency financing for military assistance to the
counternarcotics campaign, in addition to the $15.4 million
in the Pentagon's budget for fiscal 2005, which began last Oct. 1."
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/25/politics/25military.html?hp&ex=1111813200&en=10e5667ddab7d14f&ei=5094&partner=homepage

23) The Era of Exploitation (LINK ONLY)
By BOB HERBERT
OP-ED COLUMNIST
March 25, 2005
"President Bush believes in an "ownership" society, which
means that except for the wealthy, you're on your own. The
president's budget would cut funding for Medicaid, food stamps,
education, transportation, health care for veterans, law
enforcement, medical research and safety inspections for
food and drugs. And, of course, it contains big new tax cuts
for the wealthy."
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/25/opinion/herbert25.1.html?hp

24) Minnesota Killer Chafed (LINK ONLY)
at Life On Reservation
Teen Faced Cultural Obstacles And Troubled Family History
By Blaine Harden and Dana Hedgpeth
Washington Post Staff Writers
washingtonpost.com
RED LAKE, Minn.
Friday, March 25, 2005; Page A01
"Indian youths commit suicide at twice the rate of other young
people, according to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights.
The overall death rate of Indians younger than 25 is three
times that of the total population in that age group.
Compared with other groups, the commission found, Indians
of all ages are 670 percent more likely to die from alcoholism,
650 percent more likely to die from tuberculosis, 318 percent
more likely to die from diabetes and 204 percent more likely
to suffer accidental death."
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A64315-2005Mar24.html

25) Army to use patriotic appeal (LINK ONLY)
after missing recruiting goals again
By Dogen Hannah
Knight Ridder Newspapers
WASHINGTON
Posted on Wed, Mar. 23, 2005
http://www.realcities.com/mld/krwashington/11212455.htm
http://www.commondreams.org/headlines05/0324-08.htm

26) President Bush's Proposed FY 2006 (LINK ONLY)
Federal Budget for Education
http://www.nsba.org/site/doc.asp?CID=892&DID=35292

27) HR 551: "OPT-IN" IF YOU WANT YOUR KID'S NAME AND
PERSONAL INFORMATION TO GO TO THE MILITARY, OTHERWISE IT WILL
BE WITHHELD FROM THE MILITARY.

28) Report on Conclusion of Preliminary (LINK ONLY)
Review in the Matter of Professor Ward Churchill
http://www.colorado.edu/news/reports/churchill/report.html

29) March 19, 2005, San Francisco
Rally talk by Jackie Cabasso, representing UFPJ

30) War Resisters Support Campaign
Campagne d'appui aux objecteurs de conscience
http://www.resisters.ca

31) United for Peace of Pierce County, WA -
We nonviolently oppose the
reliance on unilateral military
actions rather than cooper..
Please spread this far and wide
(link to full text below)....
THE NATIONAL DEFENSE STRATEGY OF
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Department of Defense
March 2005
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/policy/dod/nds-usa_mar2005.htm

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

1) World Water Day: Private Sector Still (LINK ONLY)
Eyeing to Own Every Drop
Selling water rights to private institutions and then having
people buy them back again is an issue that keeps rearing its
ugly head at every World Water Day, which falls on Mar. 22
by Anil Netto
Published on Tuesday, March 22, 2005 by the Inter-Press Service
http://www.commondreams.org/headlines05/0322-06.htm

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

2) Journalists tell of US Falluja killings (LINK ONLY)
Thursday 17 March 2005 10:41 AM GMT
Journalists accuse US soldiers of targeting children
All is quiet in Falluja, or at least that is how it seems, given that
the mainstream media has largely forgotten about the Iraqi city.
But independent journalists are risking life and limb to bring out
a very different story.
http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/6890A8DA-AF79-45AD-BB4F-42C060978A07.htm

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

3) U.S. Consumer Prices Jump, (LINK ONLY)
Spark Inflation Worry
WASHINGTON (Reuters)
Wed Mar 23, 2005 09:07 AM ET
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=7984972&src=eDialog/GetContent

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

4) Joe Bageant: 'Finding Jesus at the Cracker Barrel' (LINK ONLY)
Date: Wednesday, March 23 @ 09:44:08 EST
Topic: Church and State
Sunday in a red state
By Joe Bageant
If Jesus reappeared on earth tomorrow it would probably be at
Daytona or a Cracker Barrel Restaurant. -- Punk Wilson,
local wiseass
http://www.smirkingchimp.com/article.php?sid=20412

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

5) Attica to Abu Ghraib
An organizing conference on human rights, torture, and
resistance Sponsored by the International Human Rights
Initiative
Spoken Word, Music and More
Friday, April 22
6:00ˆ9:00 pm
St. Joseph the Worker Church
1640 Addison St., Berkeley, CA
Working Conference
Saturday, April 23
8:30 amˆ9:00 pm
U.C. Berkeley, Dwinelle Hall

Opening Event
featuring
Congresswoman
Cynthia McKinney
Georgia congresswoman recently
returned to office in a ringing vindication
of her outspoken opposition to U.S. torture
and human rights abuses

Rima Chaudry and Others

Spoken Word, Music and More
Friday, April 22
6:00ˆ9:00 pm
St. Joseph the Worker Church
1640 Addison St., Berkeley, CA

Working Conference
Saturday, April 23
8:30 amˆ9:00 pm
U.C. Berkeley, Dwinelle Hall

Torture, illegal detention and other human rights
abuses have always been weapons used by the
United States government to crush dissent and
social justice movements. Today, the criminalization
of people of color in the US, mass detention and
deportation of Arabs, Muslims and immigrants, and ongoing
torture in Guantanamo, Abu Ghraib, Afghanistan, and in US
prisons are evidence of a terrifying escalation in US
repression both at home and abroad.

What can we do? Our strength lies in building on the experiences
of those who resist: here in the US, in Latin America,
Palestine, the Philippines, Haiti, Cuba, and in countless
communities throughout the world. The International
Human Rights Initiative was conceived by a strong diverse
coalition, including US political prisoners, to help unite the
emerging global resistance movement.

Conference Goals

This is a conference for organizers,
activists and members of the community
to strategize and coordinate resistance
to U.S. Government policies that violate
human rights and international law.
Activists will share their current work,
experiences and strategies, and interactive
working sessions will develop proposals
for joint work which will be refined into
a campaign plan.

The priorities of the conference are:
1. Develop strategic plans and launch
an international campaign to stop the U.S.
and its agents‚ use of torture, detention,
grand juries, immigration raids, and other
human rights abuses. 2. Document these
violations of human rights, domestic and
international law in order to pursue redress
in domestic and international forums.
3. Organize an International Day of
Solidarity to demand freedom for political
prisoners, within and outside the U.S.
4. Share resources and strengthen relationships
among local, national and international organizations.

Focus Areas

The conference program is divided
into three broad areas of focus
and analysis. Each is a key component
of the workings of U.S. empire
and provides a focus for linking
movements within and outside the
U.S. Our aim is to use the analysis
of these focus areas to formulate
concrete plans to unite domestic and
international organizations in a
successful anti-imperialist campaign.

1. The Criminalization of Resistance:
Political Prisoners, Prisoners of War,
and Systematic Torture 2. The Repression
of Dissent: COINTELPRO, The Patriot Act,
and Grand Juries 3. U.S.-sponsored Terrorism:
Occupation, Colonization, Racial and
Religious Oppression, Attacks on Arabs,
Muslims, and Immigrants, and the
globalization of repression.

How You Can Participate

We want you (and your group, if you
are part of one) to join in planning,
publicizing, financing and putting on
the conference, as well as
building campaigns and networks
growing out of the conference. Get
in touch with us at the email address
and phone number on the front.

Tax deductible contributions can be
made to International Human
Rights Initiative (IHRI)/Agape, and
mailed to IHRI, P. O. Box 3585,
Oakland CA 94609.
Contact: for list of sponsors:
info@attica2abughraib.com
www.attica2abughraib.com
415 273-4608

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

6) Invasion of the Body Snatchers (LINK ONLY)
By Mary Beaudoin,
W A M M (Women Against Military Madness)
worldwideWAMM February 2005
"School Ownership is the Goal"
http://www.worldwidewamm.org/newsletters/2005/0205/invasion.html

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

7) PLEDGE OF RESOLVE
http://www.actionsf.org/ansst050217.htm

We, the undersigned members of the legal community, express
our outrage at the recent verdict that found attorney Lynne
Stewart guilty on all counts against her. We see the prosecution
of Lynne Stewart as an attack not only on a cherished colleague
but also on all members of the legal community who represent
unpopular clients and causes. The U.S. Justice Department has
singled out Lynne Stewart in an effort to have a "chilling effect"
on lawyers who take on controversial cases. We will not be
intimidated and this prosecution has only strengthened our
resolve to oppose the repressive attacks this government has
made on the civil liberties of everyone in this country. In
particular, we resolve to continue our zealous legal and political
support to those unfairly targeted by the government as possible
terrorists solely because of their skin color, country of origin,
or religion.

The National Lawyers Guild, SF is asking all organizations
and prominent individuals to sign on this pledge. Please
respond back to "nlgsf@nlg.org" with your organizations name
and contact info.

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

8) Women in Struggle
a film about Palestinian women ex-detainees
Saturday, March 26th
7:00 PM
The Women's Bldg.,
San Francisco

Film and Discussion with Director and Producer,
Buthina Canaan Khoury.

A film about Palestinian women whom are
ex-political prisoners demonstrating
their struggle during their years of
imprisonment in Israeli jails exploring
the affects and influence on their present
life and their future outlook.

www.womeninstruggle.com

For more information contact ADC-SF at:
415/861.7444; adcsf@hotmail.com

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

9) George W. to George W. (LINK ONLY)
By THOMAS L. FRIEDMAN
OP-ED COLUMNIST
March 24, 2005
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/24/opinion/24friedman.html?hp=&adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1111680006-TItm5IwsR71gCM9UHW4PHw

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

10) States Worry About (LINK ONLY)
Meeting Requirements
of Education Law
By GREG WINTER
ON EDUCATION
March 24, 2005
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/24/education/24educ.html

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

11) G.M. to Seek Cuts in (LINK ONLY)
Union Health Benefits
By DANNY HAKIM
March 24, 2005
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/24/business/24auto.html

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

12) Tuesday, March 29, 7pm
S.F. Women's Building 3543 18th St.
(btwn Valencia and Guerrero)
ANSWER Educational Forum
Iran, Lebanon & Syria:
Myths, Realities and the U.S. Drive for
Domination of the Gulf Region

Historical perspectives on Iran, Lebanon and Syria.
What is really behind the U.S. targeting of these countries?
How can we build an effective movement to resist the U.S. war drive?

$3-10 donation (no one turned away for lack of funds)
Wheelchair accessible. For more information or to reserve
free childcare, call 415-821-6545.

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

13) Israel to build thousands more (LINK ONLY)
settler homes in West Bank
By Rick Kelly
World Socialist Web Site www.wsws.org
24 March 2005
http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/mar2005/isra-m24.shtml

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

14) Go Making Tracks, a musical written by an
Asian American with an all Asian American cast
about the lives of Asian Americans in America.
please forward

Dear Friend,

I would like to call your attention to a new theatrical
experience: Making Tracks, a musical written by an Asian
American with an all Asian American cast about the lives of
Asian Americans in America. This is being staged at the
award winning San Jose Repertory theatre, a major theatrical
venue on the West Coast.

The Repertory company has asked for our help in publicizing
this production. It will formally open this Friday, March 25.
Previews of performances from last week-end garnered excellent
reviews. Please show you support by attending with your
family and friends and please pass this notice on to others
you know.

Secondly, you'll notice that the producers have added an extra
performance on Sunday afternoon, April 17. The organization for
Justice for New Americans (J4NA) is holding a fund raiser in
conjunction and in celebration of this event as described in
the attached enclosure. J4NA got its initial start coming
to the defense of Dr. Wen Ho Lee and has continued to come
to the defense of those whose civil rights are in jeopardy.
If you wish to support the ideal of equal protection for every
American, I hope you and your family and friends would choose
to attend this closing performance and/or make a contribution.

Thank you for your attention and best regards,

J4na mailing list
J4na@justicefornewamericans.org
http://justicefornewamericans.org/mailman/listinfo/j4na

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

15) March 19 Rally in Fayetteville, (LINK ONLY)
NC, a Resounding Success!
Pictures from Fayeteville : By Charles Jenks
Report by North Carolina Peace and Justice Org.:
http://www.ncpeacejustice.org/
"At least 20 active duty GIs defied orders from
Ft Bragg to come to listen."
http://www.lefthook.org/Ground/March20032305.html

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

16) Tell Congress to Stop Hurting Your Healthcare (LINK ONLY)
WARNING: Association Health Plans (AHPs) mean no protection,
no guarantee and no limits on price.
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/590261171?z00m=22478&z00m=22478<l=1111688716

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

17) REFINERIES APPEAL TO (LINK ONLY)
COUNTY FOR TAX RELIEF
Up to $33 million at stake if properties reassessed
By Peter Felsenfeld
CONTRA COSTA TIMES
Posted on Thu, Mar. 24, 2005
http://www.contracostatimes.com/mld/cctimes/news/local/states/california/counties/contra_costa_county/11217797.htm

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

18) Graduation rates lower than stated (LINK ONLY)
By Jackie Burrell
CONTRA COSTA TIMES
Posted on Thu, Mar. 24, 2005
http://www.contracostatimes.com/mld/cctimes/living/education/11217823.htm

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

19) Chess legend Fischer heads for Iceland (LINK ONLY)
JAN M. OLSEN
Associated Press
COPENHAGEN, Denmark
Posted on Thu, Mar. 24, 2005
http://www.contracostatimes.com:80/mld/cctimes/news/11219735.htm

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

20) U.S. war deserter loses bid for refugee status (LINK ONLY)
24/BNStory/National/
Thursday, March 24, 2005 Updated at 2:18 PM EST
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20050324.whinzman03

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

21) 3861 Palestinian women lost their sons or
daughters during the Intifadah
To you mothers behind bars: Happy
Mother's day!!!

We suggest organizing an international campaign for
release Manal and her son from their Israeli prison .
Reuters AFP March 22nd 2005

Mother's Day shall not be celebrated by the children of
Palestinian woman, Manal Ghanem, who is behind Zionist
prison bars. Her 7 years old son stood at the platform in
Ramallah and said: "Mama happy mother's day inshalah you
will be with us next year."

Manal a 29 years old mother was convicted in 2003 by an
Israeli court for a 50 months sentence term of which she
still have left 18 months. She was pregnant when she was
arrested at her house in Toulkarem while pregnant with her
fourth child. She delivered in prison and up till now the
father was not given the permission to see his newly born son.

Her husband took his three children Ehab, Nevin and Majed
to Ramallah to launch a campaign to free their mother and
brother from prison. Nevin 9 stood at the platform and said:
"We miss you much and miss your hug, we want you with us
with our little captive brother, the little children of
the world are enjoying their mothers arms, and you are far
away from us in prison". Nevin dreams to bet met at the
door of their house when she returns home from school.
She added: "I want her back at home". Since the mother's
arrest Nevin and her two brothers stay at their grand
parents house. Manal was accused for helping resistance
men and women.

The Ghanem family case is one of the most outstanding of
women prisoners cases that is being discussed between
Palestinian and Israeli negotiators in the prisoner's
file. The "Dhamir" (Conscience) establishment that is
taking care of Palestinian prisoners announced that
there are 128 women in Israeli detention camps including
20 mothers, they are mothers of 60 sons and daughters.

Khaledah Jarrar, manager of "Dhamir" said: "Palestinian
mothers live a unique life, especially those in prison,
They suffer tragic and unbearable conditions".

The central Palestinian Bureau of Statistics said in
a study published in the occasion of Mother's Day that
3861 mothers lost a son or a daughter during the Intifadah.
The ministry of health said that 66 mothers were forced
to deliver at Israeli military check points, which resulted
in the death of 38 newly born babies, due to lack of
permission to cross the check points or delay in crossing
them and reach hospitals in good time. Manal's lawyer
declared that the detained baby ,Nour, "Is suffering
from physical and psychological problems", he noted:
"Every time I come near him he gets afraid, he is not
used to see men as he lives in a women's prison". Manal
is worried about her son: "Especially during acts of
suppression against the women prisoners by Israeli
guards, the child was not inoculated as other children
of his age".

Manal like her three children is suffering anemia.
"Dhamir" organized the campaign to release Manal and
her son for human purposes in the occasion of Mothers' Day.

We suggest organizing an international campaign to
release Manal and her son from their Israeli prison.

Inside Israel's Jails

Israel's jails are at bursting point. There are seven
times as many Palestinians behind bars now than at the
start of the second intifada in 2000.

The main wings at Be'er Sheva house eight men to every
cell

This World gained unprecedented and unrestricted access
inside two of the country's highest security prisons,
Be'er Sheva and Hasheron.

The team talk to both male and female prisoners, as well
as their Israeli prison guards.

Locked up together for 24 hours a day, guards and inmates
are forced into a complex dialogue unlike any other
between Israelis and Palestinians.

The Palestinian prisoners describe themselves as
"freedom fighters" and now "prisoners of war", but
the Israeli guards regard them as the most dangerous
terrorists in their country.

Among the prisoners in Be'er Sheva is Abdullah Barghouti,
a man Israeli's regard as their most dangerous prisoner.
As the chief bomb maker for the military wing of Hamas,
he is currently serving 67 life sentences.

The 61 female prisoners at Hasheron range from failed
suicide bombers to those who supplied weapons or prepared
explosives. Maintaining a dialogue between these Muslim
women and the predominantly male guards creates a unique
challenge for both sides.

Side by side

But as well as learning to live with the Israeli
administration, the Palestinian prisoners must also
find compromises with their fellow inmates.

Members of Fatah, the majority Nationalist Party, must
live side by side with militant fundamentalists from
Hamas and Islamic Jihad.

Outside, these factions are bitterly divided about
whether to negotiate with the Israelis at all, but in
jail they must present a united front.

In prison, Israelis and Palestinians maintain a dialogue
born of necessity. It often falters and frequently
breaks down.

But most of the time they do achieve conciliation.

Outside the prison the leaders of both sides try
and do the same.

Among the new Palestinian leadership are men who
spent time within these very walls, where they learnt
the craft of negotiating with the enemy.

Some of Be'er Sheva's current inmates could be the
next generation of leaders... if they are ever released.

Directed and filmed by: Nick Read
Editor: Jay Taylor
Producer:Israel Goldvicht
Executive Producer: Dimitri Doganis for Raw Films
Editor: Karen O'Connor

http://al-awda.org

Yahoo! Groups Links
To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Al-Awda-SF/

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22) Pentagon Sees Aggressive (LINK ONLY)
Antidrug Effort in Afghanistan
By THOM SHANKER
March 25, 2005
"To support the new effort, the Defense Department is requesting
$257 million, more than four times the amount last year, in
emergency financing for military assistance to the counternarcotics
campaign, in addition to the $15.4 million in the Pentagon's budget
for fiscal 2005, which began last Oct. 1."
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/25/politics/25military.html?hp&ex=1111813200&en=10e5667ddab7d14f&ei=5094&partner=homepage

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23) The Era of Exploitation (LINK ONLY)
By BOB HERBERT
OP-ED COLUMNIST
March 25, 2005
"President Bush believes in an "ownership" society, which means
that except for the wealthy, you're on your own. The president's
budget would cut funding for Medicaid, food stamps, education,
transportation, health care for veterans, law enforcement, medical
research and safety inspections for food and drugs. And, of course,
it contains big new tax cuts for the wealthy."
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/25/opinion/herbert25.1.html?hp

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24) Minnesota Killer Chafed (LINK ONLY)
at Life On Reservation
Teen Faced Cultural Obstacles And Troubled Family History
By Blaine Harden and Dana Hedgpeth
Washington Post Staff Writers
washingtonpost.com
RED LAKE, Minn.
Friday, March 25, 2005; Page A01
"Indian youths commit suicide at twice the rate of other young
people, according to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights. The
overall death rate of Indians younger than 25 is three times that
of the total population in that age group.
Compared with other groups, the commission found, Indians
of all ages are 670 percent more likely to die from alcoholism,
650 percent more likely to die from tuberculosis, 318 percent
more likely to die from diabetes and 204 percent more likely
to suffer accidental death."
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A64315-2005Mar24.html

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25) Army to use patriotic appeal (LINK ONLY)
after missing recruiting goals again
By Dogen Hannah
Knight Ridder Newspapers
WASHINGTON
Posted on Wed, Mar. 23, 2005
http://www.realcities.com/mld/krwashington/11212455.htm
http://www.commondreams.org/headlines05/0324-08.htm

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26) President Bush's Proposed FY 2006 (LINK ONLY)
Federal Budget for Education
http://www.nsba.org/site/doc.asp?CID=892&DID=35292

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27) HR 551: "OPT-IN" IF YOU WANT YOUR KID'S NAME AND
PERSONAL INFORMATION TO GO TO THE MILITARY, OTHERWISE IT WILL
BE WITHHELD FROM THE MILITARY.

(HR 551 would change our "opt-out" program, where parents
have to sign an "opt-out" form to prevent the school from
giving their child's name, address and phone number to the
military for recruitment purposes. HR551 would adopt an
"opt-in" policy that would allow the school to give out this
information to the military or other body only if the parents
"opt-in".

The difference is, under "opt-out," parents who do not
respond to the letter sent home with their child, by default,
automatically allows the school to give the child's information
to the military upon request.

Under the HR551 the names of children whose parents do not
respond are automatically withheld from the military.)

HR 551 cosponsors:

Title: To amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of
1965 to direct local educational agencies to release secondary
school student information to military recruiters if the student's
parent provides written consent for the release, and for other
purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Honda, Michael M. [CA-15] (introduced 2/2/2005)
Cosponsors (23)
Latest Major Action: 2/2/2005 Referred to House committee.
Status: Referred to the House Committee on Education and
the Workforce.

COSPONSORS(23),
ALPHABETICAL
[followed by Cosponsors withdrawn]: (Sort: by date)

Rep Conyers, John, Jr. [MI-14] - 2/17/2005
Rep Farr, Sam [CA-17] - 3/16/2005
Rep Green, Gene [TX-29] - 3/16/2005
Rep Grijalva, Raul M. [AZ-7] - 2/17/2005
Rep Gutierrez, Luis V. [IL-4] - 3/16/2005
Rep Hinchey, Maurice D. [NY-22] - 3/16/2005
Rep Jones, Stephanie Tubbs [OH-11] - 3/16/2005
Rep Kucinich, Dennis J. [OH-10] - 2/17/2005
Rep Lee, Barbara [CA-9] - 2/17/2005
Rep McCollum, Betty [MN-4] - 2/17/2005
Rep McDermott, Jim [WA-7] - 2/17/2005
Rep McGovern, James P. [MA-3] - 3/16/2005
Rep McKinney, Cynthia A. [GA-4] - 3/14/2005
Rep Meeks, Gregory W. [NY-6] - 3/16/2005
Rep Nadler, Jerrold [NY-8] - 2/17/2005
Rep Oberstar, James L. [MN-8] - 3/16/2005
Rep Paul, Ron [TX-14] - 3/16/2005
Rep Rush, Bobby L. [IL-1] - 3/16/2005
Rep Schakowsky, Janice D. [IL-9] - 3/14/2005
Rep Solis, Hilda L. [CA-32] - 3/14/2005
Rep Watson, Diane E. [CA-33] - 2/17/2005
Rep Wexler, Robert [FL-19] - 2/17/2005
Rep Woolsey, Lynn C. [CA-6] - 3/14/2005

Date: Wed, 23 Mar 2005 23:53:18 -0800 (PST)
From: Elizabeth Milos

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28) Report on Conclusion of Preliminary (LINK ONLY)
Review in the Matter of Professor Ward Churchill
http://www.colorado.edu/news/reports/churchill/report.html


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29) March 19, 2005, San Francisco
Rally talk by Jackie Cabasso, representing UFPJ

Since October 2002, United for Peace and Justice, the largest
anti-war coalition in the country, has worked from an understanding
that the crisis in Iraq is the linchpin of a dangerous and much broader
reordering of U.S. foreign and domestic policies. The Bush administration
has cynically manipulated the "war on terror" to further an empire-
building agenda designed to expand U.S. military and economic power
worldwide and to undermine rights, liberties, and social programs
here at home.

UFPJ's immediate goal is to force an end to the U.S. war
in Iraq and bring the troops home now as the only possible basis
for peace and reconstruction. We believe that withdrawal would
constitute a victory against U.S. global empire, deal a blow to U.S.
efforts to dominate the Middle East, and undermine corporate-
military power.

UFPJ will also resist, as an urgent priority, any move by the
United States to bomb, invade, or wage war against Iran, North
Korea, Syria, Haiti, Venezuela, Cuba or any other country.

UFPJ understands the war in Iraq as a centerpiece of current
domestic policies. It distorts our nation's priorities and is inseparable
from the "war at home": the undermining of democracy, and the
attacks on immigrants, youth, people of color, poor and working
people in this country. UFPJ is also working to protect the rights of
immigrants and dissenters; end the targeting of youth for military
recruitment, particularly from low-income communities and
communities of color; and reverse the militarization of the economy
and the educational system.

The Bush administration fraudulently accused Iraq of having
weapons of mass destruction to justify its illegal and immoral war -
while at the same time modernizing its own nuclear arsenal and
drawing up contingency plans to use nuclear weapons against Iraq!
Who will be next? Iran? North Korea? In this 60th anniversary year
of the U.S. atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, UFPJ will
challenge U.S. nuclear hegemony and demand a plan for the
elimination of nuclear weapons worldwide. With Abolition 2000
we are organizing a mass demonstration on May 1 in New York
City to demand: No More Nuclear Excuses for War! No Nukes! No
Wars! August 6th, come to our local nuclear weapons lab in
Livermore to plant Seeds of Change! Nuclear disarmament begins
at home; it‚s time to disarm America!

United for Peace and Justice works for peace and justice through
nonviolent means. We strive to embody in our day-to-day work
the values we espouse and the world we seek to build. Join us!

"Your imagination is your preview of life's coming
attractions." - Albert Einstein
*****
Jacqueline Cabasso, Executive Director
Western States Legal Foundation
1504 Franklin Street, Suite #202
Oakland, California USA 94612
Tel: (510) 839-5877 Fax: (510) 839-5397
E-mail: wslf@earthlink.net
Web site: www.wslfweb.org
part of the Abolition 2000
Global Network to Eliminate Nuclear Weapons

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30) War Resisters Support Campaign
Campagne d'appui aux objecteurs de conscience
http://www.resisters.ca

LET THEM STAY!

Phone, fax or email the Prime Minister and the Minister of Citizenship &
Immigration

Jeremy Hinzman's hearing before the Immigration and Refugee Board is now
over. A decision is expected any day. It is urgent that everyone who
supports the right of US war resisters to stay in Canada immediately
contact both Prime Minister Paul Martin and Minister of Citizenship &
Immigration Joe Volpe.

- Prime Minister Paul Martin
Phone 613-941-6888 (between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.)
Fax 613-941-6900
Email pm@pm.gc.ca

- Minister of Citizenship & Immigration Joe Volpe
Phone 613-954-1064 (between 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m.)
Fax 613-957-2688
Email Minister@cic.gc.ca

The War Resisters Support Campaign, a broad-based coalition of community
organizations, has launched a petition aimed at Canada's federal
government to allow US war resisters who refuse to fight in Iraq to have
refuge in Canada.

Initial signatories include June Callwood, David Suzuki, Maude Barlow,
Shirley Douglas, Naomi Klein, Ann-Marie MacDonald, Amir Khadir, Paul
Cliche and M.G. Vassanji. Please read our Declaration.

http://www.resisters.ca/declaration.html

You can add your name at
http://www.PetitionOnline.com/resister/petition.html.

For more information, contact us at resisters@sympatico.ca.

La Campagne d'appui aux objecteurs de conscience, une coalition
d'organismes communautaires, a initié une pétition destinée au
gouvernement fédéral canadien pour qu'il donne refuge aux objecteurs de
conscience américains qui refusent de se battre en Irak.

Parmi les signataires : June Callwood, David Suzuki, Maude Barlow, Shirley
Douglas, Naomi Klein, Ann-Marie MacDonald, Amir Khadir, Paul Cliche et
M.G. Vassanji. Veuillez lire notre Déclaration.

http://www.resisters.ca/declaration_fr.html

Vous pouvez signer la pétition (en anglais) à
http://www.PetitionOnline.com/resister/petition.html.

Pour plus de renseignements, veuillez nous contacter à
resisters@sympatico.ca.

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31) United for Peace of Pierce County, WA -
We nonviolently oppose the
reliance on unilateral military
actions rather than cooper..
Please spread this far and wide
(link to full text below)....
THE NATIONAL DEFENSE STRATEGY OF
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Department of Defense
March 2005
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/policy/dod/nds-usa_mar2005.htm

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