Resources > Meeting Minutes
Facilitator: Mort Brussel Minutes: David Green 1. Introductions: 20-25 present, following informative and well-attended lecture on neoliberalism by Professor Jan Nederveen Pieterse, describing the historical origins of neoliberalism and exposing the fraudulent and damaging nature of the "Washington consensus." 2. News of the week: Carl Estabrook While Jan argued that our leaders are stupid in their neoliberal agenda, Carl thinks that they may just be vicious. Comparisons with Vietnam ought not to refer to the "quagmire" issue, but to the continuity of foreign policy, as argued by Gabriel Kolko on counterpunch website: http://www.counterpunch.org/kolko11082003.html. This includes the use of paramilitary death squads, such as the Phoenix program in Vietnam. In Iraq, the resistance can no longer be called the "resistance" by L.A. Times reporters, which evokes the French during WWII and the Warsaw ghetto. Instead, they must be called insurgents or guerrillas (like the Viet Cong were). For the first time, U.S. polls show that disapproval of Bush's handling of Iraq is slightly greater than approval. This has been the bloodiest week since the war was "over" on May 1st. More information is coming out, from the Center for Public Integrity: (http://www.publicintegrity.org/dtaweb/home.asp), on the "coincidence" that many contractors profiting from Iraq have donated generously to GWB. Naomi Klein has been arguing the illegality of the privatization of Iraqi industry in terms of the Geneva Conventions (she appeared on Democracy Now! on Monday Nov. 10th: http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=03/11/10/159203. An Israeli reservist has refused to follow an order which amounts to "shoot on sight" at Palestinians. A bill in Congress, which has passed the house, demands that universities gear their programs to serve the needs of the military and the state in the war on terrorism (this deserves more info and discussion at some point). Democratic candidates wasted most of their debate time on trivialities; including the confederate flag issue and the Boston Red Sox (some many not agree that the latter is a trivial issue). Hanan Ashrawi, Palestinian activist, has been scurrilously attacked in Australia after being named the recipient of an award by a peace group-refer to article by Robert Fisk http://www.counterpunch.org/fisk11042003.html. The NYT reported on last-minute negotiations that could have avoided the invasion of Iraq, but were not pursued by the Bush administration. This continues a pattern that includes the first Gulf War and Kosovo. Elections in Guatemala were held today (Rios Montt came in third, will not be in the run-off). See http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-0311110102nov11,1,7168666.story?coll=chi-newsnationworld-hed 3. Jennifer Walling of Students for Environmental Concerns asked for and received co-sponsorship for the following event: Energy Summit Sponsored by Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn at the YMCA, Latzer Hall 1001 S Wright Champaign Wednesday, November 12 at 4:00 pm Wednesday, November 12 at 4 pm at the U of I, Lieutenant Governor Pat Quinn will hold an energy summit on the role of the public in shaping energy policy for the State of Illinois. In the wake of the catastrophic blackout throughout the East Coast--the worst power outage in US history, Lt. Gov. Quinn will hold a discussion regarding energy reform and how the public can be brought into the policy making process to help shape a long-term plan for Illinois' energy infrastructure. On August 16, Governor Rod Blagojevich appointed Lt. Gov. Quinn Chairman of a new "Special Task Force on the Condition and Future of the Illinois Energy Infrastructure." The mission of the Special Task Force is to analyze the state's existing energy infrastructure, examine Illinois nuclear power plant safety, and to look at ways to relieve pressure on the grid by promoting energy efficiency and renewable energy. The Task Force is expected to make comprehensive recommendations for reform in early 2004. Please forward this information to anyone who would be interested in attending. Co-sponsors include: Students for Environmental Concerns, Environmental Resources, Illinois Student Environmental Network, Red Bison, Prairie Group of the Sierra Club, AWARE, University YMCA, Ecological Design Consortium. 4. Mort briefly presented a lengthy proposal from the PRC, which needs to be more carefully read and presented. Ken Urban volunteered to do this. This raised the issue of individuals serving as liaisons to various organizations to facilitate communication, requests, etc. 5. Prospect for Peace: We will demonstrate from 2 to 4 on all the Saturdays from after Thanksgiving to before Christmas, November 29th to December 20th. We need more banners, which we'll discuss making at next week's meeting. 6. Farmers Market: This year's outdoor season concluded Saturday, and Peter Rohloff has equipment, literature, etc. We will not be allowed to table at the indoors market, because it is being run by the Urbana Business Association, not by the City. 7. Finances: Linda Evans not present (happy birthday Linda!). 8. Video showing: Jan and Durl Kruse will host the showing of the PBS Frontline documentary on Iraq, Friday, November 14th, this Friday, 7 p.m., 2007 George Huff Drive. 9. Fundraiser: Carol Inskeep proposed a fundraiser, not for AWARE's coffers, but for one humanitarian organization supporting Iraqis, and another supporting U.S. veterans. The former will be suggested by Kathy Kelly and Voices in the Wilderness. The latter was debated, in terms of pros and cons for donating to soldiers or veterans who may support the war. This is a complicated issue. No decision was reached on the criteria for this decision. Paul King agreed to contact Vietnam Vets Against War for some possible advice. Tom Turino of the Noisy Gators has agreed to perform at the fundraiser. 10. More pre-meeting educational sessions: It was suggested that subsequent to the successful programs on race and neoliberalism (today's), we should plan pre-meeting talks on a regular (monthly?) basis. Al Kagan suggested purchasing several copies of a short book (long pamphlet) by the group 50 Years is Enough called "Empty Promises," a copy of which was passed around. 11. David Gill (Democratic Party) spoke about his candidacy for Tim Johnson's house seat, especially regarding his support for a national health care program. He opposed to invasion of Iraq, is now opposed to the Clinton reactor due to health effects, and favors Exelon's purchase of Illinois Power, but with no rate increase. 12. WILL radio announcements: WILL AM-580 has refused our offer to purchase spots due to the political and "controversial" nature of our message. It was proposed that a letter be composed and a meeting planned to protest this, pointing out the "controversial" nature of ads for Archer-Daniels-Midland, for example. Ricky Baldwin will be involved in this effort. 13. Electronic voting protest: There will be leafleting before the last Illini football game, Sat. 11/22, regarding the electronic voting machines which may be subject to fraud. Please contact ????? 14. Draft boards: Discussion was opened regarding placing antiwar people on draft boards, which have many vacancies but are being activated. Also, high school students need to be advised, for example, on registering as a conscientious objector before (not after) a draft is implemented. See www.defendamerica.mil for more information on the draft board issue. 15. Events of Past Week: AWARE had a table at the NAACP dinner on Friday evening, and eight members attended. It was agreed that more things such as this should be done in the future-for example, with the Urban League. 16. Upcoming Events: Offered by Al Kagan: ____________________________________________________________________________ November 11th - CAS/MillerComm2003 Strengthening Gender Studies for Africa's Transformation Amina Mama Chair and Professor of Gender Studies, African Gender Institute, University of Cape Town 7:30 p.m. on the Third Floor, Levis Faculty Center, 919 West Illinois Street, Urbana. For more information visit: http://www.cas.uiuc.edu/casmillercomm. ____________________________________________________________________________ November 12th - AFRST Fall Brown Bag Series 2003 Interpreting Gender in Africa: Whose Framework? Dr. J. Adhiambo Odoul Rockefeller Post-Doctoral Fellow, African Studies, UIUC NOON -1 P.M. ROOM 101 INTERNATIONAL STUDIES BUILDING 910 S. FIFTH STREET, CHAMPAIGN. ____________________________________________________________________________ November 14th - Joint Area Centers Symposium I N T E R C U L T U R A L I T Y I N A G L O B A L I Z I N G W O R L D ROOM 407, ILLINI UNION 1401 W. GREEN STREET, URBANA ____________________________________________________________________________ November 14th - Geography Colloquium Presentation Everyday Empire: Postcard Maps of French Colonization of Africa Prof. Tom Bassett Department of Geography, UIUC 3:00 - 4:00 219 DAVENPORT HALL ____________________________________________________________________________ South Africa and Global Apartheid: Is the Reform Strategy Working? Patrick Bond University of Witwatersrand Graduate School of Public and Development Management, Johannesburg Friday, November 14, 3 pm Lincoln Hall 336 Chair: Faranak Miraftab, Urban and Regional Planning Discussant: Merle Bowen, Political Science Download Patrick Bond's paper at: http://www.soc.uiuc.edu/trans_seminar_fa03.asp ____________________________________________________________________________ Also: ____________________________________________________________________________ Talk relating to Catholic Worker movement on Thursday at 7 at Episcopal Church. ____________________________________________________________________________ Finally: Adrienne Bauer is off to Kenya for 8 months. Thanks and good luck!!