"Ceramic Maker" is an oil painting by Iraqi artist Mohammed Hatem. Note cards with this image are being sold as part of the Iraq Art Project, initiated by the Muslim Peacemaker Team, to materially support artists in Iraq by reproducing and marke

Events

Celebrate The Children of Resistance;, 6/19, 7:30 pm; John Hancock Hall, 180 Berkeley St, Boston MA; $30-100; a fundraiser for the Rosenberg Fund for Children, which since 1990 has provided support for the children of targeted progressive activists & targeted activist youth; with Angela Davis, Eve Ensler, David Strathairn, Howard Zinn, Martin Espada, Charlie King, Sofia Snow, & others; RFC, 116 Pleasant St #348, Easthampton MA 01027; 413/529-0063; www.rfc.org [5]

Walk For A Nuclear Free Future, 8/5-8/9, Hiroshima Day to Nagasaki Day, send off in Middlebury, Vermont ending in Burlington; focus on stopping a twenty year license extension for Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant and opposing the refurbishing and building of nuclear weapons. Co-sponsors include: Citizens Awareness Network, www.nukebusters.org [6], & the Buddhist order of Nipponzan Myohoji; info: Hattie Nestel; 978/249-6224, Hattieshalom@verizon.net [7]

Camp Casey, Maine; 10 days of protests to coincide with President Bush's visit to the family estate in Kennebunkport, ME. Dave Rovics concert, 8/24; Stop the War, Start a Revolution rally & protest march, 8/25, featuring the Indigo Girls & Cindy Sheehan; a convergence of anti-war,environment , labor, and social justice movements in solidarity, proclaiming the need for systemic change in this country to break the cycle of endless war. Free camping; Info: www.kportprotest.org [8], email: jamillaelshafei@yahoo.com [9]

Gatherings

Grassroots Organizing Workshops (GROW), 6/8-10; World Fellowship Center near Conway, NH; a weekend for new & experienced grassroots organizers in ME, NH, & VT to learn more about creating grassroots social change; for more info call Larry Dansinger, 207/525-7776 or rosc@psouth.net [10]

The World Says No to Israeli Occupation! 6/10-11; Washington, DC; The US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation & the United for Peace & Justice Coalition are sponsoring this mobilization to mark the 40th anniversary of Israel's illegal military occupation of the Palestinian West Bank, East Jerusalem, & Gaza Strip. Under the banner, "The World Says No to Israeli Occupation, we will hold a massive rally, teach-in, & grassroots lobbying day; for details on event locations & times, & for help with affordable transportation & housing options, visit www.endtheoccupation.org [11]

Why Dialogue? (& when, & how, & where?) A Conference for Community Groups, Researchers, Teachers, & Students, 6/15-16; New York, NY; We will consider the place of dialogue in democratic & global societies, examine the uses of dialogue in education, negotiation, & conflict resolution, examine the challenges in engaging in dialogue, & provide forum for networking; sponsored by the Network for Peace through Dialogue, 212/426-5818; www.networkforpeace.com [12]

Building Our Political Movement for Israeli-Palestinian Peace, 6/16-19; Washington DC; Brit Tzedek will bring hundreds of activists together from across the US for the National Grassroots Leadership Training Institute (6/16-17), offering an evening plenary & day of intensive workshops, trainings & networking opportunities; this will be followed by our third annual National Advocacy Days (6/18-19), with a day of political briefings & trainings on the Hill from policy experts & government officials, an evening reception with members of Congress, & a day for you to meet with your own Senators & Representatives & urge them to support our pro-Israel, pro-peace message! Registration will be available for each event separately or for both events at a discounted price. For more information, contact Brit Tzedek v'Shalom, The Jewish Alliance for Justice & Peace, 11 E. Adams Street #707, Chicago IL 60603; 312/341-1205; www.btvshalom.org [13]

Interfatith Worker Justice National Conference; 6/16-19, North Park University, Chicago, IL; Topics include: Building a New Sanctuary Movement, Raising the Minimum Wage; Strengthening Women's Leadership; Interfaith Worker Justice, 1020 W. Bryn Mawr Ave., 4th Fl., Chicago, IL, 60660, 773/728-8400 x45, ksanford@iwj.org [14], www.iwj.org [15]

US Social Forum, 6/27-7/1; Atlanta GA; come to connect with others, share your story, gain leadership skills, get inspired, link with a global movement that is changing the world; www.ussf2007.org [16]

As the Powers Fall: Sustaining Our Faith & One Another as Empire Crumbles, 7/23-28, Berea, KY; This Baptist Peace Fellowship Peace Camp is a week of challenge & sustenance, gathering & nurture, training & fun, community & learning, protest & art, music & worship, a wekk to renew your focus, your energy, your work, your spirit; Rev. LeDayne McLeese Polaski, BPFNA, 4800 Wedgewood Dr, Charlotte NC 28210, 704/521-6051; www.bpfna.org [17]

Northeast Organic Farming Association Summer Conference; 8/10-12, Hampshire College, Amherst, MA; Keynote by Bill McKibben, initiator of Step it Up 2007 day of action, 8/10, 150 workshops on organic growing, sustainable building, activism, and spirituality, including a mini-conference on Agriculture Justice and Domestic Fair Trade in the Northeast.

Campaigns

Ministry of Love; The goal of this blog is to collect 315 copies of George Orwell's 1984 and send one to every member of Congress who voted for the Military Commissions Act of 2006 (aka the Torture Bill or the Detaineee Bill), which suspends the centuries-old writ of Habeas Corpus for anyone deemed by George W. Bush to be an "enemy combatant," meaning his administration can detain you indefinitely without access to a court and torture you if they like. We can be reached at unpersons@gmail.com [18]

US Peace Memorial; Most monuments in the US capital commemorate war. A US Peace Memorial would honor the millions who dedicated their lives to peace or taken a stand against a particular US war. Donate to help, and add your name and organization to the US Peace Registry, US Peace Memorial Foundation, info@uspeacememorial.org [19], POB 16118, Tampa, FL 33687, www.uspeacememorial.org [20]

A Greener Apple; Greenpeace's campaign to green the electronics industry achieved a partial victory when Apple agreed to peel toxic chemicals like Brominated Fire Retardants (BFRs) and Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC), out of their product line by 2008. "We want more than a green skin, we want Apple to go green to the core. We want Apple to deliver a green product on the market, and to announce a worldwide recycling policy. Thank CEO Steve Jobs for his efforts, and ask him for more than a few slices. Ask for a whole green Apple." http://members.greenpeace.org/action/start/149 [21]

Stonewalk Korea; Japanese peace activists built their own 2-ton stone engraved with the same message as previous stones, in English and Korean, "Unknown Civilians Killed In War," and added "an apology seeking peaceful friendship" in Japananese and Korean. It is an apology from the people of Japan to the Korean people for the suffering caused by occupation and war, including an apology to the "comfort women" who were abused by Japanese soldiers.The walk began in Pusan, Korea, 4/29. The Peace Abbey in the US created Stonewalk in 1999. Dot Walsh of the Peace Abbey and Andréa Leblanc of September 11th Families for Peaceful Tomorrows will join the Japanese and Korean Stonewalkers for the last two weeks of the journey. These women organized the Stonewalk-Japan in 2005 for the 60th anniversary and remembrance of the civilian victims of the atomic bombings in Japan. Info: Dot Walsh 508-655-2143 or Andrea LeBlanc 603-868-5200, www.peaceabbey.org [22]

Posters Wanted; Stop Racism! Stop Police Violence! is the slogan on a poster made in response to the 1991 beating of Rodney King by Los Angeles police. It could just as easily describe the LAPD assault on peaceful demonstrators and journalists at the immigrants' rights rally on May 1, 2007. The Center for the Study of Political Graphics is seeking posters about police abuse for a new online exhibition from any time and any place. This urgent exhibition needs financial support. Center for the Study of Political Graphics, 8124 West Third Street Suite 211, Los Angeles, CA 90048, contact cspg@politicalgraphics.org [23], www.politicalgraphics.org [24]

Opportunities

Non-Denominational Social Justice Sunday School; Community Church of Boston, Preview 6/3, 11-12:45, free for youth (ages 7 to 14) and their families, school begins every Sunday starting 9/9; the Justice School will encourage youth and children to search for their own truths through games, art, skits, books, music, and many social justice activist guests; 565 Boylston Street, Boston, MA in Copley Square; Info: 617/266-6710, jooyoung@commchurch.org [25], www.thejusticeschool.org [26]

Nonviolent Peaceforce seeks volunteers for rapid response short-term deployment in Guatemala; human rights defenders in Guatemala need protection for the next 10 months -- before, during, & after the national elections in the fall. Candidates sought who speak fluent Spanish, have some background in Latin America or nonviolent peacekeeping, & can volunteer for at least 3 months. In-country training & orientation in accompaniment will be provided in the Guatemala context. NP's Team Coordinator in Guatemala is Betsy Crites, former Executive Director of Witness for Peace. To apply, contact Gilda Bettencourt at 415/751-0302; gbettencourt@nvpf.org [27]

Resources

Building a Successful AntiWar Movement; broadsheet pamphlet and essay by Matthew Smucker, 717/209-0445, www.beyondthechoir.org [28]

Sustainable BioEnergy: A Framework for Decision Makers; prepared by UN-Energy, sponsored by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, The report warns that, "Unless new policies are enacted to protect threatened lands, secure socially acceptable land use, and steer bioenergy development in a sustainable direction overall, the environmental and social damage could in some cases outweigh the benefits." Released 5/8, http://www.fao.org/newsroom/en/ [29]

Visions of Peace & Justice, Thirty years of Political Posters from the Archives of Inkworks Press, over 400 reproductions of posters, chapters include Internationalism & Peace, Labor Movement, Racial Justice, Women's Liberation, Queer Liberation, Environment & Public Health, Elections & Reforms, Arts & Culture, authors of essays include: David Bacon, Lincoln Cushing, Angela Davis, Anuradha Mittal, Carol Well, 2827 Seventh Street, Berkeley, CA 94710; 510/845-7111, www.inkworkspress.org [30]

Ants That Moved Mountains, directed by Jody Milano, a 15 minute documentary on how Fair Trade Zone: Nueva Vida Women's Sewing Cooperative in Nicaragua formed after the devastating effects of hurricane Mitch in 1998. In 2005, the Fair Trade Zone became the world's first worker-owned company certified as a free trade zone. www.jhc-cdca.org/files/Ants%20That%20Moved%20Mountains [31].WMV, www.fairtradezone.jhc-cdca.org/index.htm [32]

Road from Ar Ramadi: The Private Rebellion of Staff Sergeant Camilo Mejía; by Camilo Mejia, New Press, $24.95 hb; 336 pp., Ron Kovic, author of Born on the Fourth of July said, "The courageous journey of Mejía from warrior to military resister. A powerful and important book."

The Sutras of Abu Ghraib: Notes from a Conscientious Objector in Iraq; by Aidan Delgado, Beacon Press, $24.95 hb, 224 pp. Delgado was in the US Army Reserve in Iraq, including Abu Ghraib, won a conscientious objector discharge, and is now an active member of Iraq Veterans Against the War and the Buddhist Peace Fellowship.

American Methods: Torture and the Logic of Domination; by Kristian Williams, South End Press, $18 pb, 279 pp. Tara Herivel, editor of Prison Nation: the Warehousing of America's Poor, said, "American Methods... exposes a history of routine brutality in US police, military, and prison interrogation practices.... A superbly written critique."

Fighting for American Manhood: How Gender Politics Provoked the Spanish-American and Philippine-American Wars; by Kristin L. Hoganson, Yale University Press, $20 pb, 305 pp.; "shows how gender concerns influenced political leaders and how gendered arguments helped shape turn-of-the-century debates over war and empire. "

Taking Up Dr. King's Challenge: A Year of Reflection, Education, & Action; ideas & resources for organizing leading up to April 4, 2008, the 40th anniversary of Martin Luther King's assassination (including a compilation of Peacework articles); visit www.afsc.org/mlk [33]