WILPF BUSINESS MEETING
Thursday June 14 7PM, at Fresno Center for Nonviolence, 1584 N Van Ness. This meeting is open to all members.
WOMEN IN BLACK
June 6, noon to 1PM at the Fresno County Courthouse. (first Wednesday of each month; come on the month in which your birthday falls!) Wear black, bring a sign if you wish, and stand in silence for peace.
STIR IT UP – WILPF – ON KFCF 88.1 FM (LISTENER-SUPPORTED FREE SPEECH RADIO FOR CENTRAL CALIFORNIA)
June 27 3PM (4th Wednesday of each month) Jean Hays does outstanding interviews on subjects involving WILPF interests and activities. Let Jean know if you have ideas for a program. Listen!
Also on KFCF 88.1: WILPF member Dr Jean Kennedy, Keeping It Real 8PM every Tuesday
SUNDAY JUNE 24 DEMONSTRATION AND MEDEA BENJAMIN PRESENTATION
Protest against drone warfare at Riverpark (El Paso & N. Blackstone) 1PM, short march to Pinedale Boys and Girls Club at 343 W. Minarets where Medea Benjamin will speak at 2:30PM
Fresno WILPF co-sponsors this event, donating to Code Pink and the Boys and Girls Clubs of Fresno.
MOVIE NIGHT THURSDAY JUNE 28 “WHO’S AFRAID OF A LITTLE YELLOW SCHOOLBUS?” Fresno Center for Nonviolence 7PM.
A chance to see a moving film about the Pastors for Peace Caravan – Free! Movie snacks provided.
RAGING GRANNIES
Meetings on selected Mondays at 7PM. Call Ellie at 229-9807 for details.
Fresno Delegation Attends World Courts of Women on Poverty in the US
A delegation from Fresno went to Oakland May 10th-May 13th, to attend The World Courts of Women on Poverty in the US. WILPF made it possible for the following persons to attend: Beverly Fitzpatrick, Jennifer Wohl, Jean Kennedy, and aka “Patch”. We got to hear a number of personal testimonies by both men and women from all over the United States, giving evidence of human rights violations. Aka “Patch” entered testimony regarding the abuse and mistreatment to the homeless population here in Fresno. All testimonies heard will be submitted to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland.
Dr. Kennedy, (KFCF “Keeping It Real…”) had the pleasure of sharing the platform with Davey D (KPFA, Hard Knock Radio) at the conference, to speak on “Environment and The Justice System.” A special presentation will be shared at our next WILPF meeting. Ms. Jennifer White (freelance writer) and Dr. Jean Kennedy had a special opportunity to co-interview the founder of the World Courts of Women, Ms. Corinne Kumar, of El Taller International, who is responsible for introducing over thirty Courts globally. Womens Economic Agenda Project hosted this Western Region’s World Court of Women. We all had fabulous experiences.
—–Dr. Jean Kennedy
Carolyn Raffensberger spoke on Science and Environmental Health
Carolyn Raffensperger, Executive Director of the Science and Environmental Health Network was in Fresno April 21-22 to do presentations about Becoming Beloved Ancestors: Preserving Our World for Future Generations. Her California tour was sponsored, in part, by a WILPF mini-grant. She spoke at Fresno City College and at the College Community Congregational Church. The underlying theme was the fact that we are borrowing this world from future generations, and that it is our duty to take care of it.
Raffensperger is a proponent of the Precautionary Principle, which states that we should take action to prevent harm in the face of scientific uncertainty, when dealing with certain practices which pose potential harm to all life on the planet. We should also serve as trustees of the common health
and wealth of future generations, and review all regulations as to their effects on future generations.
On Sunday, April 22, Earth Day, WILPFer Pat Wolk hosted a potluck in Carolyn’s honor. For more information on her work, go to www.sehn.org.
Statement of WILPF – US Section – on Iran
We in WILPF US are dismayed by the current drumbeats for war and calls for increased sanctions on Iran. This is reminiscent of the buildup to the invasion of Iraq in 2003. Fear of nuclear weapons development is once again given as the rationale This time there are major differences and alternatives that could move us toward the global abolition of nuclear weapons. The way will not be easy but is infinitely preferable to the dangerous war that will inevitably be the result of current policies. It is time to lift the sanctions and to stop the war talk We need to open the way to future peace and stability in the Middle East. We urge women and men committed to a world of peace, human rights and security for all to participate significantly in coming negotiations. The Middle East Weapons of Mass Destruction Free Zone is a positive alternative to war and military actions for which UN member states have been working through the UN since 1980. (For complete document see www.wilpf.org)
Fresno WILPF co-sponsors member on Pastors for Peace Caravan to Cuba
IFCO Pastors for Peace advocates a foreign policy based on respect and justice. Every year we enact this People’s Foreign Policy, taking aid to Cuba, which has suffered from US aggression and economic blockade. Donations of medical supplies and equipment are especially needed. Leni V Reeves will help load them on a bus and take them to Cuba for you. Call or email for more info – lenivreeves@gmail.com or 855-4511. Check out the website www.pastorsforpeace.org