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Past Events
Emma's Revolution & Ruth Hill in concert at UMF to
raise awareness of nonviolenceOn Tuesday, September 11th, award-winning, activist singer/songwriters emma's revolution will give a concert at University of Maine Farmington in Lincoln Auditorium. Local artist Ruth Hill will do an opening set. Doors open at 6:30 pm. The event will begin at 6:45 pm with short presentations about the Department of Peace and The Student Peace Alliance followed by a video "Satyagraha - 100 Years of Nonviolence." The concert will begin at approximately 7:15 pm Suggested donation $10 - Students free admission. For more information contact Lynn Ellis at 491-5064 or lellis@mainedop.org September is being celebrated around the country and the world as a time to bring awareness to peace and nonviolence efforts. This event is being sponsored by SEA-Change (a student club set up to raise student awareness of social, peace and environmental issues) and by the Maine Campaign for a U.S. Department of Peace and Nonviolence along with support from the Justice & Witness Ministry of Old South Congregational Church. Emma's Revolution (Pat Humphries & Sandy O) brings their musical uprising of truth and hope to concerts and peace and justice events across the country. Their songs have been called "bold, profound, moving, hilarious and transformative". They have been featured on NPR's All Things Considered and Pacifica's Democracy Now. Their song, "Peace, Salaam, Shalom" is sung around the world. Emma's Revolution concert at The Chocolate Church to benefit local peace groups On Thursday, September 13 at 7:30 pm, the world recognized Emma's Revolution (Pat Humphries and Sandy O) will give a concert at The Chocolate Church Art Center in Bath to benefit the work of Maine Campaign for a U.S. Department of Peace and Nonviolence and Greater Brunswick PeaceWorks. Doors open at 7 pm. All tickets are $12 and can be purchased at the door or by calling Lynn Ellis at 491-5064 or Cathey Cyrus at 443-1256. Those with advanced sale tickets will have first choice of seating. In the spirit of Emma Goldman's famous attribution, "If I can't dance, I don't want to be part of your revolution", emma's revolution brings their uprising of truth, hope and a dash of healthy irreverence to concerts and peace and justice events across the country. National Dept of Peace Conference February 3-5, 2007 Five of us attended: Lynn Ellis, Wilton, Norene Freeman, Kennebunk , Andrea Marescia & Gabrielle Potvin, students at UMF and former UMF student, Emily Hoering. (See photos of us and our trip below). There were 700 - 1000 people who joined us at one point, including 70 college & high school students as well as activists representing 45 states and 6 countries -- a leap in representation over our September 2005 conference. Our presence was most certainly felt in D.C., and in particular on Capitol Hill. For photos, audio clips and more info go to: www.thepeacealliance.org Click on any image for a larger view.
The conference started Friday night with an incredible performance of the Gift of Peace play, and ended Monday night at the George Washington University Lisner Auditorium with heartfelt words from seven members of Congress, Marianne Williamson, Joaquin Phoenix, and then finished with a stellar performance by Steven Tyler. (It was funny to see, what we used to have as lighters waving in the crowd at rock concerts, has been replaced with cell phones.) HR 808 was introduced Monday night (just prior to the conference finale) by Congressman Kucinich with 51 co-sponsors. There are currently 65 co-sponsors as of 2/24/07. We are awaiting word on a Senate version of the bill being introduced. CONGRESSIONAL MEETINGS On Monday and Tuesday, there were over 220 congressional meetings and many more drop-in office visits! We have heard from so many of our fellow activists, sharing how powerful it was to be in our nation's capitol working for this historic initiative. The thrill that comes from visiting a congressional office with fellow citizens, urging their support for the Department of Peace, is hard to put into words but incredible to behold. Each of us brought our faith in what is possible to bear upon our elected officials, and it certainly had its impact. The five of us visited with Congressman Mike Michaud and his legislative aide, Michael Brownlie; we met with Todd Stein in Congressman Allen's office; Lindsey Jewell & Dylan Williams in Senator Snowe's office; and Senator Susan Collins & Patrick Hughes. A huge THANK YOU to everyone who sent money to support the students attending, and all the calls that were made from Maine. This is more than just a political movement, together we are creating a new way of being in politics and in the world. By putting our efforts and attention on what is possible in the realm of peacebuilding, we can help shape the world we dream of. There is much to be done in the coming weeks. You can become involved in this historic movement. E-alerts will continue 1-2 times a week. We will begin monthly meetings starting in March, as well as outreach & education and followup meetings with our congressional representatives. (None have yet to sign on to this legislation -- however, we are hopeful that this will happen soon.) Peace is inevitable, Lynn Ellis State Co-coordinator 491-5064 April 13 (Friday) 8:30 - 3:45 TABLING at the Achieving Global Energy Security Conference at USM. Organized by Physicians For Social Responsibility Maine. Contact Melissa Boyd at psr_maine@yahoo.com to register. www.psrmaine.org April 21st (Saturday) 1- - 4 TABLING at the 13th Annual HOPE Festival at the Field House, Univ. of Maine Orono. For more information contact Peace & Justice Center of Eastern Maine at 942-9343 or email info@peacectr.org — www.peacectr.org April 22nd (Sunday) 12:30 - 2 MEETING of Maine DOP at Peace & Justice Center, Bangor continue discussion of May 11th event - see below May 11th (Friday) Time/Place TBA Mother's Day Walk for a Department of Peace, Bangor as part of a national lobbying strategy www.thepeacealliance.org Contact Lynn Ellis at lellis@mainedop.org or call 491-5064 May 19th (Saturday) Maine People's Alliance 25th Anniversary Annual Dinner 6PM, Woodfords Congregational Church, Portland Rep. Dennis Kucinich will be the keynote speaker. I am reserving 12 seats for Maine DOP volunteers. Let me know (Soon) if you want to sit with us as a group. Purchase your tickets through MPA $20 www.mainepeoplesalliance.org or call 797-0967 and tell them you are with Maine DOP SEPTEMBER 2006 September is going to be a busy month. Please join us as you can. Volunteers needed for the tabling* at events especially. If your group, church, school or organization would like to schedule a presentation, please be in touch. Tuesday, Sept 5th: PRESENTATION about DOP at Rangeley Library (Celia Vistica) 7 pm Wednesday, Sept 6th: RADIO Interview (Lynn & Shelley) on WMPG, Sound Ecology Show 7:30 pm Friends and family can listen on 90.9/104.1FM or on-line (if out of the greater Portland area) at http://www.wmpg.org Call-in number for the night is 780-4909. For more information about the show, http://www.soundecology.org Monday, Sept 11th: GANDHI, film showing at Eveningstar Cinema 149 Main Street, Tontine Plaza, Brunswick, 7 pm Eveningstar Cinema & Maine Campaign for Department of Peace partner in this anniversary tribute organized by New Yorkers for a Department of Peace & the M.K. Gandhi Institute http://www.nyc-dop.com/gandhi/ The evening will begin with a special screening of the new short: Satyagraha: 100 Years of Nonviolence. Tickets $8. Advance purchase recommended; call 729-5486 1/2 of ticket price supports Maine Campaign for a Department of Peace. Friday, Sept 15th: *Tabling at SONGBIRD (a new play) Temple Stream Theatre (near Farmington) 7:30 pm Songbird, a new play by Jayne Decker, tells the story of a young soldier sent to Iraq and depicts the war’s impact on his family back home. The play also includes a company of child actors who enact the war scenes by playing various roles of adult soldiers and Iraqi children. Through a series of episodic scenes, the play puts a human face to the war – from the faces of our soldiers to those they are sent to fight. Tickets at the door with a suggested donation of $10.00, but people can pay what they are able, with half the proceeds going to Temple Stream and the other half to Maine Veterans for Peace. Contact Jayne at jdecker@maine.edu Saturday, Sept 16th: *Tabling at SONGBIRD (see above) Brunswick Theatre Project 7:30 pm It is the same suggested donation. Both productions are sponsored by Maine Veterans for Peace. Thursday, Sept 21: *Tabling at Town Hall Meeting sponsored by Dexter Kamilewicz, Independent Candidate for Congress, 1st District, City Hall Auditorium Lecture Hall, 7 pm Friday-Sunday, Sept 22-24: *Tabling at COMMON GROUND FAIR Volunteers needed!!!! Saturday, Sept 23: Maine DOP MEETING, Crosstrax Restaurant, 215 Depot Street, Unity 6:15 pm Tuesday, Sept 26: University of Maine/Farmington (Lynn will be a guest speaker at Intro to Peace Studies class) PLANNING AHEAD: NATIONAL PEACE ALLIANCE CONFERENCE, February 3-5, Washington, DC The Peace Alliance We will begin discussion of room sharing and transportation needs soon. Let us know if you are thinking of attending! The Maine Campaign encourages donations to support our grassroots efforts. Click on Donations for a form.   For Mother’s Day 2006, we MUST speak to our elected legislators
and to each other, creating space where the possibility of peace moves into
the center of our national dialogue and purpose, believing that peace is
possible. Call for Peace on May 12, 2006
Ask your legislators to support the bills — establishing a cabinet level Department of Peace and Nonviolence — introduced to the House (HR3760) and Senate (S1756) in September 2005. TAKE ACTION: On May 12 (the Friday before Mother’s Day), call or fax your legislators’ offices, both in Washington and locally. Ask them to co-sponsor and support these bills making nonviolence an organizing principle of our society as part of an organized nationwide Peace Wants a Piece of the Pie Campaign. We’d like 50 calls/faxes to both DC and local offices. We’re also looking for volunteers to go into the offices to deliver the Pie chart personally. Contact Lynn Ellis or Shelley Schweizer for more information. CONTACT INFORMATION
PUBLIC TOWN HALL MEETING
For more information call 729-0517 or e-mail globalnet@mindspring.comON THE IRAQ WAR The Question: Do we stay or do we come home? Friday, April 21 Beginning at 6:30 pm Hannaford Lecture Hall University of Southern Maine Portland We will have a table at the
* H.O.P.E. Festival April 22 (download flyer here)12th annual HOPE Festival April 22, 2006 at Univ of Maine, Orono Field House. Real Security Hearing Saturday, March 25th 12-5 Neville Hall, University of Maine, Orono Has the war on Iraq made us more secure? What are alternatives? Public and legislators and candidates for Governor and Federal House & Senate Seats invited A gathering to discuss ways to broaden the meaning of "security"(health care, education, living wage jobs, clean environment etc.) and develop policies that will make us more genuinely secure. Schedule 12:00 - 12:15 Welcome and Introduction to the Day, Doug Allen, Peace & Justice Center of Eastern Maine and Maine Peace Action Committee 12:15 - 1:15 Keynote speakers Richard and Rita Clement, parents of Iraq Veteran, They live in Gardiner. Rita is a Headstart Teacher and Richerd is a Kitchen Manager at Togus Veterans Hospital. They are members of Veterans for Peace & Military Families Speak Out. 1:15 - 1:30 Small group discussions 1:30 - 1:45 Break for refreshments, networking and discussion 1: 45 - 2:30 Panel of those impacted most adversely by current policies (see below) 2:30 - 3:15 Panel presenting alternatives for Real Security (see below) 3:15 - 3:30 Break for refreshments, networking and discussion 3:30 - 4:10 Question and answer period 4:10 - 4:40 Responses from candidates present 4:40 - 5:00 Question and answer period Panel on Impacts of Current Policies Anna Sweeney is a student at the University of Maine, majoring in Nursing and Psychology. She is also a member of the Maine Peace Action Committee. Eric Olsen, is a free lance writer and editor and part time instructor at local colleges who is a subscriber to Dirigo Choice and a member of the Peace & Justice Center of Eastern Maine Francine Stark is the Training Coordinator for Spruce Run Association, the domestic abuse project serving Penobscot County, Maine. Richard Judd is a Professor of History at the University of Maine and has lived downstream from Holtrachem since l985. He is a member of the Maine People's Alliance Worker from Food AND Medicine (TBA) to talk about the impact on jobs with the current policies. Panel on Real Security Alternatives Geoffrey Gratwick MD is a Rheumatologist; member of Physicians for Social Responsibility(PSR) since 1983; Bangor City Councilor. Cynthia Phinney worked for twelve years in Maine's shoe manufacturing industry and currently serves as an elected Business Manager of IBEW Local 1837. Mike Belliveau is the Executive Director of the Environmental Health Strategy Center, a public health organization working to prevent harm from toxic chemical exposure. Greg Field is on the staff of Sustainable Harvest International, an organization based in Surry that promotes alternatives to slash & burn farming in Central America. Prior to joining SHI in February of this year, Greg worked for Peace Action Maine in Portland. Sponsored by Peace & Justice Center of Eastern Maine; Food AND Medicine; Peace through Interamerican Action (PICA); Maine People's Alliance; Physicians for Social Responsibility; Veterans for Peace, Bangor Chapter; Peace Action Maine; Maine Association of Interdependent Neighborhoods (MAIN); Environmental Health Strategy Center; Spruce Run; Resources for Organizing and Social Change (ROSC); Maine Peace Action Committee (MPAC); Waterville Area Bridges for Peace & Justice; Waldo County Peace & Justice; Orono Peace Group; Department of Peace, Maine Campaign; Pax Christi; WERU Community Radio; Amnesty International, Bangor High School Chapter; Waldo County Progressives; Interfaith Response; Progressive Student Alliance; We the People 
Department of Peace campaign head to speak FARMINGTON - Lynn Ellis, state coordinator of the Maine Campaign for a Department of Peace, will speak at the Thursday, March 16, meeting of the Farmington Area Ecumenical Ministry. The 7 p.m. meeting, open to the public, will be held at Trinity United Methodist Church, Farmington Falls Road. The Maine Campaign for a Department of Peace is working with the national organization, the Peace Alliance, in its effort to support federal legislation to create a cabinet-level Department of Peace and Nonviolence in the executive branch of the federal government. The department would monitor and analyze causes of international violence - look for diplomatic solutions and make policy recommendations on all matters relating to conditions of peace. Domestically, the department would address the escalating problem of violence and abuse in families, schools and communities in the United States. Ellis will speak about the bill recently introduced into the 109th Congress and provide information about how people in Maine can participate in efforts for passage. She will present a 20-minute video conversation with Ohio Congressman Dennis Kucinich discussing the idea of a Department of Peace with Walter Cronkite, former news commentator and peace activist. For more information about the Maine Campaign for a Department of Peace, contact Ellis at 779-7351 or Shelley Schweizer at 879-0278 or visit the Web site at www.mainedop.org. Maine Department of Peace will have a table at this
event.
Panel Discussion with Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans March 16, 2006, 7:00 pm-9:00 pm
Moot Court Room, USM Law School Building USM Portland Campus March 20, 2006 will mark the three year anniversary of the U.S.-led War in Iraq. Currently more than 152,000 U.S. troops are deployed in Iraq despite President Bush's declaration on May 1, 2003 that major combat operations in Iraq had ended. To date 2,301 U.S. soldiers have died in Iraq and a minimum of 16,752 have been injured in combat. Another 266 U.S. soldiers have died in America's "forgotten war" in Afghanistan. The most conservative estimates of civilian deaths in Iraq and Afghanistan are in the tens of thousands. To better understand the human cost of the U.S.-led wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, a panel discussion with Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans and their families will be held at USM on March 16, 2006. Panelists include: Rick Scavetta: Stars and Stripes correspondent (Aug. 2001 - Aug. 2004), and U.S. Army Chief of Media Relations in Afghanistan (Feb. 2005 - Jan. 1006). Brian Clement: 1st Calvary Division stationed in Taji, Iraq March 2004 to March 2005. Brian is currently a student at University of Maine in Orono. Michael Savage: served in Army for 5 years as Airborne Paratrooper. Mike was stationed in Kosovo for 6 months where he earned the Army Expeditionary Medal. Michael is currently a student at USM in Portland. Richard Clement: Vietnam veteran and father of Iraq veteran Brian Clement. Richard has served veterans at the Togus VA since 1981 and is a member of Military Families Speak Out and Veterans for Peace. Dexter Kamilewicz: father of Sergeant Ben Kamilewicz, stationed in Ramadi, Iraq since July 2005 as part of the 172nd Vermont Army National Guard. Dexter is an active member of Military Families Speak Out and other veterans groups and is currently a candidate for Congress in Maine's First District. He has written extensively about the war and its impact on Maine and the nation. The event is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be provided. For more information contact Prof. John Baugher at (207) 780-4490 or via email at jbaugher@usm.maine.edu. Sponsored by: Asian American Association & Symposium; Philosophy Symposium; Sociological Student Association
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