[lavplist] Notes from 5-14-07 meeting

[Darwin & Donna Poulos]

The notes are included here and are the only attachment.  Donna
 
Notes from Los Altos Voices for Peace meeting of May 14, 2007

 

Kevin & Barbara O'Reilly were the facilitators.  Darwin & Donna Poulos
will facilitate in June & July.

 

Introductions were made.  Special guests included Krishna Seshan and
Reuven Dawer , with Darwin.

 

Barbara O' offered inspirational words, reading a story, "Standing in
Silence" about women in Ohio who stood in silence to affect positive
changes.

 

Guest Speakers, Krishna and videographer Reuven, together with Darwin:
Krishna spoke of his bus trip with the group, Veterans for Peace, from
Minneapolis, MN to Ft. Benning, GA, in Nov. 2005, to protest at the
School of the Americas and demand that it be closed.  He and the others
stood at times in silence, sang and read the names of those killed by
S.O.A. "educated" people and U.S. involvement.  Some people jumped over
the fence and were arrested.  Krishna spoke of his personal questions
and doubts, especially as to whether he should risk arrest.  Darwin and
Krishna showed small books that they had made of photographs of various
protests, including "Eyes Wide Open" ("Boots") in San Francisco.  Reuven
showed a short DVD of more photos from protests.  The books and videos
are available through:  krishna.seshan at gmail.com.   Krishna recommended
the book Disturbing the Peace by Jean Hodge and Linda Cooper.  

 

Krishna also asked if LAVP would want to help organize a small "Boots"
exhibit, with about 300 pairs of boots, representing the Californian
soldiers killed in Iraq.  One possibility is to find a student
organization at a school to be a partner.

 

Reports:  Seminar and 3 short plays in San Mateo about internment of
Japanese, Germans and Italians, co-sponsored by LAVP:  Kevin & Barbara
said that all were well-attended and well-received.  Focus of the
seminar was the high school curriculum:  what happened then and what's
happening now.  The Alien Enemies Act of 1798 is still in force today!  

 

Larissa's Memorial:  Larissa was a founding member of LAVP and her
memorial was inspirational, inviting all of us to work, as Larissa did,
to solve our conflicts peacefully, and to make this a healthier world
for all.

 

Treasurer's Report:  LAVP account balance is $379 of unrestricted funds.
The Larissa Keet scholarship fund has a balance of $1,300.  The
community picnic will cost us a fee of $50.

 

Challenge Team:  Barbara Kyser attended the special breakfast and again
reported that this team is very dedicated to keeping our youth safe and
out of gangs.  It has been active for 20 years.  LAVP is looking at how
a Dept of Peace could improve and broaden such programs locally.  Next
meeting is June 14, 7-8:30AM at MV Police Dept.

 

Dept of Peace:  Vince reported that several LAVP members and other DoP
activists, one delivering a peach pie, visited Congresswoman Anna
Eshoo's office requesting that she co-sponsor the DoP legislation and
give "Peace" a piece of the [budget] pie.  It was part of a nation-wide
effort.  Eshoo has said that the DoP legislation is flawed and we have
asked how she would improve it.  Everyone of us at her office expressed
frustration that she has NOT responded to our requests or even provided
us with information that she promised at a meeting two years ago!
(Information about a military person whom she thought could help the DoP
effort.)

 

Costs of War:  Ray quoted the National Priorities Project and its report
of the cost of the Iraq War:  $456 billion.  Costs are allocated to each
state, county and most cities.  The cost thus far for Los Altos is:
$126.1 million.  How could LAVP use this information?  Possibilities are
an op-ed in the Town Crier,  (National issues are local issues!), public
comment at a City Council meeting, asking others at the Challenge Team
to talk to city council members about this huge cost and the local
impact.  LAVP can use this information when interviewing City Council
candidates later this year.  Ray will write an op-ed and send it to the
steering committee for review.

 

Local election:  Katrina reminds us to invite the candidates to speak at
our Sept or Oct meeting, as soon as they have officially filed to run.
The City Council can consider larger issues than just Los Altos.

 

Stanford and military contracts:  Ray reported that Stanford will
receive part of a $100 million grant to involve gifted students to
develop war tools, among other things.  Paul George of PPJC has
contacted Eric Roberts, a faculty member who is against war.  He will
fight this "misuse" of a university.

 

Keeping LAVP nonpartisan:    To keep LAVP nonpartisan and to allow for
free expression of opinions, it was agreed by those present that the
meeting would end 10 minutes early.  After the meeting individuals may
discuss their personal feelings about partisan or other issues.  A table
for flyers will also be available.

 

Larissa's Peace Scholarship:  Karen Lemes reported that the awards
ceremony will be May 23 at Foothill College.  Kevin & Barbara (who will
also invite Aubrey Keet) will go to the awards ceremony to meet the
person who was awarded the scholarship.

 

 

Notes from Donna Poulos.

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