Peace and Justice conference in Brookfield March 19

http://www.uucw.org/committees/social_action/events/peace_conference_2005/index.shtml

CANDLELIGHT CONFERENCE 2005

Coming Together, Moving Forward
Peace and Justice in Our World

Saturday, March 19, 2005 at 2:00 p.m. (doors open at 1:30 p.m.)
Unitarian Universalist Church West
13001 W. North Ave., Brookfield

On this second anniversary of the war in Iraq, let us come together to build a greater sense of community.

We invite you to join us for an afternoon of stimulating and practical workshops designed not only to be informative, but to motivate you.

Moving forward, together we can build a more peaceful and just world.

Sponsored by the Candlelight Coalition and the Social Action Committee of Unitarian Universalist Church West. Pre-register by visiting the Candlelight Coalition's web site or download the registration form below. You may also register at the door for this free event.

Thanks for posting this, mad2K!

:hi:

NGU.

Keynote speaker was Henry Schwartz, director of Program on Justice and Peace at Georgetown. He talked about how to deal with the current administration in which up is down and black is white: people need to bite back against injustice like mosquitos, swarming and irritating those in power.


First workshop for me was on immigration law, led by Bryan Kennedy, our past and present 5th CD candidate (standing in for the original leader, who couldn't make it). There are two major bills on immigration law:

1. the SOLVE Act (Safe, Orderly, Legal Visas and Enforcement Act) by Democrats, see www.nilc.org/immlawpolicy/obtainlpr/oblpr101.htm and
www.fairimmigration.org

2. the Real ID Act of 2005 (HR 418) by Republicans, including our own Jim Sensenbrenner,
see agenda at www.fairus.org/news/NewsPrint.cfm?ID=2613&c=12

The first is humane, trying to help the undocumented gain permanent status, protect worker rights, and reunite families. The second is all about reducing immigration and keeping out terrorists.

Bryan has a lot of ideas about this issue and will no doubt be bringing them out in his campaign.



My second workshop, on power, was by Rudy Lopez, National Field Director, US Hispanic Leadership Institute. He taught at Camp Wellstone in Milwaukee last month and was so good that I wanted to hear him again. His points:

power can be good or bad depending on who is using it and what they do;
having power means you will be held responsible, and you should seek power if what you want to accomplish is more important to you than the hassle you get from having the power;
having enough power to make a difference on an issue comes from organizing people and resources (money);
winning results from having power, not because your cause is just (so you should want power, not shrink from it);
there are three faces of power:
(1) those who influence the decisionmakers
(2) the decisionmakers themselves;
(3) those who set the agenda and say what is the starting point (that is, frame the issue).



Third workshop was on the draft and conscientious objector status by another substitute, a young woman from Peace Action. She emphasized the importance of making a file to support your claim to CO status that you can submit to the draft board (like essays, participation in peace rallies, letters from people who know you). Most of her work involves giving young people information that counters what they are told by recruiters.

There were probably more than 50 people there besides the staff. Thanks to the Unitarian Church and Candlelight Coalition for doing this.