 October 2001
American Friends Service Committee Peacework Magazine Patrica Watson, Editor Sara Burke, Assistant Editor Pat Farren, Founding Editor 2161 Massachusetts Ave. Telephone number: Fax number:
pwork@igc.org Peacework has been published monthly since 1972, intended to serve as a source of dependable information to those who strive for peace and justice and are committed to furthering the nonviolent social change necessary to achieve them. Rooted in Quaker values and informed by AFSC experience and initiatives, Peacework offers a forum for organizers, fostering coalition-building and teaching the methods and strategies that work in the global and local community. Peacework seeks to serve as an incubator for social transformation, introducing a younger generation to a deeper analysis of problems and issues, reminding and re-inspiring long-term activists, encouraging the generations to listen to each other, and creating space for the voices of the disenfranchised. Views expressed are those of the authors, not necessarily of the AFSC. |
National Day of Peace Response AFSC--in coalition with Fellowship of Reconciliation, War Resisters League, Women's Action for New Directions, Women's International League for Peace and Freedom Peace Action, and Pax Christi--is calling for a National Day of Peace Response on October 7th. The Call was initiated by a group in New York City. Their response will be called: New York: Not In Our Name. Other locations are using their city names followed by "Not In Our Name." The Coalition envisages a series of three National Days with the following themes: October 7th -- No War November 7--Defense of Civil Liberties (US elections) December 7--Meaning of Security (memorializing Pearl Harbor Day, highlighting and redefining its lessons) The 6 Points of Unity 1. We mourn the victims and condemn the attacks of Sept.11. 2. We stand in defense of civil liberties. 3. We oppose anti-Arab, anti-Muslim, anti-immigrant and all forms of racial, ethnic, and religious violence and bigotry. 4. We oppose military intervention and war. 5. We seek global peace through social and economic justice. 6. Justice not vengeance; bring the perpetrators to justice through established principles of international law.
This is a nonviolent action. We will focus on the flags of 62 nations that lost citizens in the September 11 attacks, but any national flag will be accepted in the action, as will symbols of any other religious group, peace group, or group with common goals (e.g., earth day flags!) We will include youth at every point. We will think beyond New York, Washington, DC, and the US. We want to know how the world views the attacks and the US response as it is discussed and as it happens. National Coordination National Response phone line: 215-241-7003 (10/1/01) National Response Web page: peaceresponse.org (10/1/01)
Elements of the NY mobilization include beginning in the early
afternoon, marching with candles and signs up town, speakers,
ending the day at sunset with a candlelight vigil. The tone of
the NYC march will be one of mourning. They intend to use a Call/Response
as they walk (e.g., Call--Our Grief. Response--is
not a cry for war). The NY Groups are going to walk with the flags
of all 62 nations that lost people in the attacks, including the
US flag. At least some of the families of the World Trade Center
victims are starting to speak out against indiscriminate retribution
by the US military and the NY action hopes to include them. |
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