Members and visiters present: Liz Pearson, Anne Marfey, Jean Cowan, Ed Bloch,
Margaret Blanco, Rev. Dr. Senley Jack, Gene Rowland, Lester Wright, Joel
Maendel, Euan Somerscales, John R. Patterson, Joe Norton, Stan Ehrlich, Bernard
Fleishman, Lou Ismay, Jim Miller, Bob Lamar, John Amidon, Shirley Drake Byers,
Deb Riitano, Florence Skiff.
The meeting was called to order by B. Fleishman. Invocation was given by Rev. Dr. Bob Lamar.
Treasurers Report. The bills for the Conference are paid. The balance is $3727.35.
Senley Jack invited all to a celebration of the graduation of Senley and Judy Murphy Jack, December 18th, 6:30-9 at Bethesda Episcopal Church, 43 Washington St., Saratoga Springs.
Reports:
Violence Committee: John A. said there are 9 participating in the Anger Management Workshop. SAVI however is not functioning well. Not many students came.
Stan Bunce cannot drive so he hasn't been able to do much.
John showed a news article which quoted Col. Downie of the School of the Americas saying he wants dialogue. John proposed to ask him to come here and speak.
When we asked Barnett to speak, he said he would pay his own expenses. John had a video which he recommended for showing to groups. "To Be Silent is to be Complicit with Evil Itself, 3/26/03, 66 Arrested" It is of the March 26, Washington DC protest against war, where many well known people were arrested.
Deb R. said she was very startled by the video "Voices in the Wilderness" where Kathy Kellly was arrested and "hog tied". Mention was made of instances where the army was used to harass and cause disruption of activities by loud music during speeches.
Steve Breyman was introduced to discuss "After Iraq - More Wars" He thought that the difficulties in Iraq would deter the plans for more such wars. Killing of civilians and children has become a daily report. The people who want to open up the world to free trade are impatient with progress through World Bank, and economic pressure and envisioned speeding it up with use of force. The political expedient would be for the administration to declare success in ousting Sadam and then get out.
European countries are considering tariffs on certain states, i.e. on orange juice.
Some thought there was no interest in democracy in Iraq because a U.S. backed dictator is easier to control. Note also low intensity warfare in South America, which does't get much news coverage, and subverts democracy. How does the use of violence serve the purpose of those in power?
Lou Ismay said that he thought we should be debating 'what do we want to be, and what have we become'. Steve agreed and said he would want to be known for doing something positive rather than just constantly being defensive. Others agreed also.
It is not the threat of globalism itself but the fact that social safequards for all citizens are not also being globalized.
We have heard of the World Economic Forums, with powerful people and media attention, but there was also a less publicized "World Social Forum" in Brazil recently, "Another World is Possible".
The question is how do we do both, defeat bad bills etc. and do some positive effort.
Senley Jack commented that hate creeps in on both sides. Love does not fragment society. We need to work together, not hate.
Continued population growth is the source of stress on society, as land and resources are limited. The causes of war are greed or need. A third of the people are in India and China. Originally, corporations were to serve the needs of people but now they serve their own goals.
The world cannot support our life style for everyone. We need a different life style, with true meaningful values and less materialism.
Accountability and responsibility are forgotted. We must consider the impact of what we do on other people.
Criminal Justice Committee report - Lou Ismay and Pat attended a workshop on Restorative Justice. This propgram started in Australia. The criminal and victim and others who are involved meet together and express their feelings, how their lives have changed. Hate is dissipated through this process. Criminals had not realized the effects of their actions. It works with all levels of crime. The idea for this started with the aborigines. It was suggested that we should get the Enron people to sit down with those they cheated.
Campaign for Fiscal Equity - Meetings continue on the issue of equitable funding of schools in NY. If the Governor and legislature don't develop a program for state wide funding, the court might focus on NYCity only. Efforts continue to organize a grass roots effort. Next meeting on Dec. 11 at the office of the League of Women Voters.
ARISE - Joyce Hartwell was not here today to report. 3-400 attended the conference.
The Bruderhof young people are looking at war and world injustice and looking for positive models. They plan to have a conference, Catskill Collective 2004, some weekend in May. Not just talk but a call to community. To contact them: A Call to Community, Catskill Bruderhof, 2255 Platte Cove Rd. Elka Park NY 12427, or by phone (518) 589-5103.
Jim Miller and Gene Rowland gave us information about an announcement by a meeting of 31 Christian, Jewish and Muslim religious leaders. The National Interreligious Leadership Delegation In Support of the Road Map to Peace in the Middle East urged the president to support their initiative "to mobilize broad public support for active, determined and effective U.S. leadership in pursuit of peace between Israel, the Palestinians and Arab states".
For more information about the "Walk the Road to Peace" campaign visit the website: www.walktheroadtopeace.org.p> Meeting was adjourned at 10:0 a.m.
Rspectfully submitted,
The next Executive Committee Meeting will be Monday December 29, 2003.
The next General Meeting will be Monday January 12, 2004 at 9:00 a.m. at
Latham Community Baptist Church.
E-mail The Interfaith Alliance of NYS
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