2009 Coastal Bend Social Forum

For more information, go to www.theprogressivecenter.com.

SOUTH TEXAS ALLIANCE FOR PEACE AND JUSTICE
A Season of Peace Fundraiser for you to
"Be the change you want to see in the world"

Proceeds will go to Texans for Peace Charlie Jackson's 4th trip to Baghdad
www.texansforpeace.org

Where: Home of Jeanne Adams, 215 Louisiana, Corpus Christi, Texas

When: Saturday, December 6th from 5 to 8 PM

What: Silent Auction, Food and refreshments

RSVP: Jeanne Adams, 361-882-1133 or Ann Smith, 361-992-1535

Purpose of Charlie's trip: To visit and network with and provide help to the Women's Business Center of Baghdad, a Texans for Peace initiative to assist Iraqi women and professionals to organize, finance, and operate their business in and surrounding the City of Baghdad.

This project brings together the resources and interests of women and supporters from all walks of life - medical, small business, media, education - to provide support for women-owned and operated businesses. This is grassroots development in Iraq and we can give grassroots support from the people of our community.

Charlie and Alyssa will present an audio-visual program showcasing how the women of Baghdad are building their businesses. This is a real opportunity for us to promote their sense of freedom and economic development.

There will be a silent auction of some items that Charlie brought back in 2007--a woman's hand-decorated robe and headdress, beautiful new Koran, posters from women's resource network. If you can help gather other items for the silent auction, please call.

Charlie Jackson will be a presenter at the Coastal Bend Social Forum February 21, 2009 and report on this trip. He led a delegation of Texans to Amman, Jordan in 2007 to confer and provide professional help from the delegation to the women of Baghdad. He hopes to lead another delegation in the Fall, 2009.

We hope you will be able to join us on December 6th at 5 pm. If not, please try to send a donation towards expenses of this trip. "Be the Change."

November 15, 2007
6 PM
American Bank Center
1901 N. Shoreline

Never in Our Names

The America We Believe in
Does NOT torture

Join us to demonstrate that we
believe in the rule of law,
human rights and justice in the
United States of America
NO TO TORTURE!

Information: 992-1535, 774-8127-cell or 854-4272

Celebrate the International Day of PEACE Friday, September 21 Objective: "To encourage worldwide, 24-hour spiritual observances for peace, non-violence and global cease fire on the International Day of Peace, 21 September, in every house of worship and place of spiritual practice, by all religious and spiritually based groups and individuals and by all men, women and children who seek peace in the world." www.internationaldayofpeace.org

Schedule:

On Tuesday, September 18th, 12 Noon at City Hall, a proclamation signed by Mayor Garrett will be read at the City Council Meeting declaring September 21st as the International Day of Peace in Corpus Christi.

For information, please call Ann Smith (361) 992-1535 or Colin Sykes, 853-7992, Brian Silva, Del Mar Press Club, 726-8724.

Sponsored and supported by Del Mar Press Club, South Texas Alliance for Peace and Justice, Network of Spiritual Progressives, Tikkun Community, Texans for Peace, Unitarian Universalist Church of Corpus Christi.

The Road Home

Editorial from The New York Times

It is time for the United States to leave Iraq, without any more delay than the Pentagon needs to organize an orderly exit.

Like many Americans, we have put off that conclusion, waiting for a sign that President Bush was seriously trying to dig the United States out of the disaster he created by invading Iraq without sufficient cause, in the face of global opposition, and without a plan to stabilize the country afterward.

At first, we believed that after destroying Iraq’s government, army, police and economic structures, the United States was obliged to try to accomplish some of the goals Mr. Bush claimed to be pursuing, chiefly building a stable, unified Iraq. When it became clear that the president had neither the vision nor the means to do that, we argued against setting a withdrawal date while there was still some chance to mitigate the chaos that would most likely follow.

While Mr. Bush scorns deadlines, he kept promising breakthroughs — after elections, after a constitution, after sending in thousands more troops. But those milestones came and went without any progress toward a stable, democratic Iraq or a path for withdrawal. It is frighteningly clear that Mr. Bush’s plan is to stay the course as long as he is president and dump the mess on his successor. Whatever his cause was, it is lost.

The political leaders Washington has backed are incapable of putting national interests ahead of sectarian score settling. The security forces Washington has trained behave more like partisan militias. Additional military forces poured into the Baghdad region have failed to change anything.

Continuing to sacrifice the lives and limbs of American soldiers is wrong. The war is sapping the strength of the nation’s alliances and its military forces. It is a dangerous diversion from the life-and-death struggle against terrorists. It is an increasing burden on American taxpayers, and it is a betrayal of a world that needs the wise application of American power and principles.

[The rest of this editorial can be read here]

VOICE OF AN IRAQI
WHAT THE MAINSTREAM MEDIA IS NOT REPORTING

Sponsored by Texans for Peace, The Network of Spiritual Progressives, South Texas Alliance for Peace and Justice and the Tikkun Community

	COME HEAR IRAQI SAMI RASOULI SPEAK ON THE IRAQ WAR Thursday, May 10th 7 PM Unitarian Universalist Church 6901 Holly Road
Rasouli's goal -- here and there -- is to build bridges among people of all religious backgrounds with the message, "One God, one people." It seems like a good message, but it has been a tough sell. Over the three years he has been in Iraq, he has seen violence increase, friends assassinated and living conditions deteriorate. Distrust reigns.

Sami Rasouli, an Iraqi-American peace activist, will be visiting Corpus Christi on May 10th as part of his Texas speaking tour. Rasouli was born in Iraq, immigrated to the U.S. at age 27, and has spent his life here building a successful small business in Minneapolis. After the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003, Rasouli became increasingly concerned about the plight of the Iraqi people, has traveled to Iraq frequently, and spoken to many audiences in the Midwest, offering a unique perspective on the U.S. occupation of his home county.

He will be speaking Thursday, May 10th at 7 p.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Church, 6901 Holly Road at an event sponsored by the local Network of Spiritual Progressives and the Tikkun Community.

Rasouli was recently interviewed on the Pacifica Network program Democracy Now (LINK: democracynow.org). He told host Amy Goodman, "As an embedded first-hand witness in Iraq…I want to share stories the American public is not aware of and the mainstream media is not telling."

Public is invited - Donations appreciated.

UPDATE: Peace Vigil at Cole Park Amphitheatre
Corpus Christi Bayfront

News coverage:
Corpus Christil Caller-Tmes:
Vigil opposes action in Iraq - Protest at start of fifth year of deployments

Photos from the event. Click on each image to see a larger image.

Peace Vigil at Cole Park Amphitheatre
Corpus Christi Bayfront

Community observance for peace
and an end to the Iraq War

Monday, March 19, 2007
Gather at 7:00 PM
4th anniversary of Iraq War

Music, Speakers, Vigil of light for peace

Join us for an hour of music, songs, poetry, readings, prayers and
honoring those who have died

End the War in Iraq  SIGNS AVAILABLE - $5 DONATION

Contacts: Colin Sykes 853-7992 and Sylvia Samaniego 854-4272

Coastal Bend Social Forum to be held February 24th.

Sponsored by The Center for Progressive Studies and Culture.

People of the Coastal Bend . . .Now is the time for active, committed individuals to come together to plan the future of our community. This forum will provide us with a time to network and to create new pathways of social justice for all the people of the area. Speakers will be presenting new ideas on the economy, health care, immigration, housing, homelessness, the environment, education, poverty, death penalty, gender issues. Join us for this event.

KEYNOTE SPEAKER: John Ross, International Journalist and Peace Activist

EVENT LOCATION: Unitarian Universalist Church, 6901 Holly Road
(between Rodd Field & Airline)
$8.00 advance; $10.00 at the door (lunch included on Saturday)
Saturday session 9 AM to 4 PM
Information: Sharie - (361) 442-5415 or Sylvia - (361) 854-4272.
For full program information and online registration go to
www.theprogressivecenter.com

Events coming up:

Thursday, August 24, 2006
7:30 pm: Peace Demonstration at 900 S. Shoreline Blvd at Buford. This will be the 6th vigil we have held since the violence began in Lebanon.

Thursday, August 31, 2006
6:00 pm: execution vigil for Derrick Frazier at Incarnate Word Convent, 2930 S. Alameda Middle East peace demonstration after the execution vigil.
6:30 pm: Corpus Christi Chapter of Texas Coalition Against the Death Penalty (TCADP) Planning Meeting will be at Jeanne Adams' home, 215 Louisiana.
7:30 pm: Peace Demonstration at 900 S. Shoreline Blvd at Buford.

Saturday, October 28, 2006
Texas Annual March Against the Death Penalty, Austin, TX.

The Tikkun Community and the South Texas Alliance for Peace and Justice will hold a peace vigil at 900 S. Shoreline at Buford on the Corpus Christi Bayfront on Thursday, August 10th at 7:30 p.m.

We ask that each person bring their own drinking water, a flashlight and prayers for peace. This will be the 4th vigil held in the same place since the Israel/Lebanon conflict began. Amnesty International has organized a worldwide vigil tomorrow evening, one of many peace and justice organizations who are doing so.

Amnesty International's Global CEASEFIRE Vigil

People around the world are joining together to call for a ceasefire and an end to the conflict. We mourn for the victims and the death and destruction going on in Gaza as well as Lebanon and Israel.

WHAT: A CALL FOR PEACEMAKING - STOP THE VIOLENCE IN LEBANON, ISRAEL AND GAZA

WHEN: Thursday, August 3, 2006 at sundown 7:30 PM

WHERE: 900 S. Shoreline, Shoreline at Buford, Sidewalk by the statue of Jesus in the boat

BRING: Signs, water, your prayers for peace


The peace community here in Corpus Christi is holding another Peace Vigil at 900 N. Shoreline Thursday, August 3rd. We here in Corpus Christi are joining with people around the world demonstrating for peace through a cease fire and diplomacy. Members of our Corpus Christi community have relatives and friends in Lebanon, Israel, Iraq and Gaza and reject the course of continued violence.

Note to peacemakers: Every Tuesday, in Houston the Houston Peace and Justice Center holds a vigil. Also, in Austin, San Antonio, McAllen and El Paso peace groups are marching, speaking out and standing up to stop the violence.

BRING OUR TROOPS HOME FAST

(Pray and Fast until 6:00 p.m.)

WHEN: 4th of July - Bring Our Troops Home Fast

TIME: 6:00 P.M.

WHERE: Federal Courthouse @ the Bayfront

WHY: We want our Fathers, Mothers, Brothers, Sisters HOME!

BRING: Yourself, your signs. WEAR "END THE WAR IN IRAQ" T-SHIRTS.
Ann and Alyssa have a few for $10/ea. Call Sylvia at 854-4272. You can bring a chair, blanket or sit on the bayfront steps for the fireworks.

EXPECT: to sing, recite the Constitution, talk and end with a prayer (St. Francis). You may wear your Uncle Sam outfit or Ms. Liberty. Bring your kids! We are joining thousands of others across our land for this. You are not alone.

From Code Pink, Women for Peace:
On July 4th, Women for Peace will launch an historic hunger strike called TROOPS HOME FAST in Washington, DC in front of the White House. While many Americans will be expressing their patriotism via barbeques and fireworks, we'll be fasting in memory of the dead and wounded, and calling for the troops to come home from Iraq. to learn more. We're inviting people around the world to show their support for this open-ended fast by fasting for at least one day.

QUESTIONS, SUGGESTIONS, ETC.: call Sylvia Samaniego @ 854-4272

The South Texas Alliance for Peace and Justice
Texans for Peace
Vietnam Veterans Against the War

Subject:  Del Mar College Press Club sponsors Community Forum "The Cost of War" a film presentation followed by a panel of combat veterans leading a discussion with local students and interested citizens
 
Date and Time:  Saturday, February 25, 2006, 2 to 5 p.m.
Location:    Del Mar College Harvin Student Center, Retama Room, 2nd Floor
                   Baldwin and Ayers, Corpus Christi, Texas
 
The documentary film "The Cost of War", produced by Patrick Phillips, is a moving story featuring real Texas veterans of past wars.  The two of the Viet Nam veterans in the film will be the presenters at Del Mar College: Dave Collins, facilitator for discussion and Dr. Ray White, licensed mental health counselor. They will be joined by Paul Davis, Desert Storm veteran as well as Lydia Caballero and Cele Castillo, Rio Grande Valley activists and Vietnam veterans.
 
The purpose of this Community Forum "The Cost of War" is to provide an opportunity for local citizens, especially the young people in the area to come together to view this film--to listen, question and interact with the combat veterans leading the panel discussion who have experienced war first hand.  "The Cost of War" gives voice to truth through the experiences and observations of the veterans and their families.  It is a truth that every citizen of this country who honestly seeks to "support the troops" must learn.  
 
The Del Mar Press Club, professors and students have been most helpful to bring this event to the community.  Local veterans groups are involved in this presentation and will provide a welcome input into the discussion.  

Information:  Call 361 992-1535

the Wal-Mart movie:
THE HIGH COST OF LOW PRICE
www.walmartmovie.com

Where: Unitarian Universalist Church 6901 Holly Rd
When: Tomorrow, Friday, November 18th, 7:00pm
Cost: FREE
Contact: Colin Sykes 853-7992 or Sylvia Samaniego 854-4272

50 Megatons of Freedom
Peace Rally & Vigil

Where: Texas A & M University - Corpus Christi (Garcia Plaza: just outside Bell Library)
When: Monday, November 21, 2005 from 10am - 6pm
With speech, art, poetry, and music. Voice your feelings AGAINST the war!
To join get in touch: pedromf79@gmail.com