WILPF EB/SF NEWS NOV/DEC 2024

WILPF NEWS

Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom

East Bay and San Francisco Branches

Work to Advance Peace, Justice and Human Rights

November/December 2024

After the Elections

Taking Time to Recover, Look Clearly, and then Act

Letter to Members from Darien Lu, President, WILPF US Section

November 14, 2024

On Wednesday morning, November 6, many of us were deeply saddened – at the least – by many of the electoral outcomes. Now we are left to heal and renew ourselves for the peace and justice struggles ahead. Let’s take some time to rest ourselves in nature, talk with and hug our friends, and cry if we want to! And then let’s start making our informed choices.

How will we, how do we, as the song says “be the flower in the gun“? Consider the long list of so many areas at risk: what will you do? Certainly, we no longer have reason to be ignorant about previously concealed vicious attitudes and prejudices. Public statements and behaviors now display what was once hidden, unseen in dark corners. In WILPF, we have our branches and our issue committees, where we can take action to confront these.

In the U.S., most of us will survive these next few years, but many won’t. Around the world, greater numbers are likely to suffer and die – due to the continuing global arms trade, militaristic choices, and continuing inaction on cutting down the use of carbon-based fuels. These are grim realities, yet we are strengthened in our determination by acknowledging them.

Meanwhile, many voters continued to ignore the scientific evidence – and even the extreme weather and wild fires. Were they subconsciously afraid of this dire situation, so they voted for a “strong man” seeking a sense of security?

In the decades ahead, the plants and animals of the planet also must cope with climate change. Depending on how well we mobilize, we can help some to survive, even if many won’t. Prepare to stand strong and take action! We have future generations on our side. They’re counting on us—to pass along to them a world of vibrant and diverse life. Also, to build a better future, we know that we want to – and can – improve public education. School board meetings are usually unexciting, but they’re local and important.

Still, I’m asking myself, what happened in this election? Wisdom tells me to look clearly at the objective reality. Multiple governments in Europe and around the world are moving to the far right and experiencing trends to tyranny. I should know better than to think that “American exceptionalism” would shelter us!

Yet how is it that sexism, racism, and fear seem to have such a grip on the U.S. public? Yes, I know the prevailing narrative says the issue was the economy. But I don’t accept simple and shallow answers. For me what stands out in this election is the power of sexism, especially as we see the many states that elected a Republican to be their male President, while at the same time they chose a Democrat for Senator.

I also look at the ridiculous claims, even in the mainstream media, that voters in Florida, including the women, “rejected” that state’s constitutional amendment to expand abortion access. That’s quite a spin, when a strong majority – over 57% – voted for the amendment. Only rarely do majorities in any election reach the tough 60% which is needed to pass a Florida state measure.

Is such reporting the subtle expression of the takeover of nearly all of radio and TV by profit-driven and (in many cases) far-Right forces? That development, along with the rise of social media, calls on us to build trust, contact, and communication by expanding our person-to-person conversations. Through outreach, canvassing, and building a presence in our local communities, we can work to break through the divisions and alienation in our society.

Such contact can help offset another deeply disturbing societal trend: the crisis of information and media, with too much information from too many unreliable sources. As a result, people can’t discern what’s real from what’s not. Worse yet, with the frequent and repeated speaking of lies, people begin to question if anything can be considered real or true.

If we truly want to move toward a different world, I believe we will have to push ourselves past our own fears, to find ways to reach out and talk more deeply with our families, neighbors, work and social associates, and even strangers about the issues that we care about as WILPF members.

But right now, this week, may we honor ourselves by doing our best to give our deeply injured selves some small and necessary time to grieve the current and coming losses. And then, renewed, let’s prepare seriously for the heavy work ahead.

To support the work of the US Section of WILPF, and to be able to vote in WILPF US elections, you can join or renew your membership online

U.S. WILPF Board and Bylaws Election

Ballots must be postmarked no later than December 11

Here are the candidates for the WILPF US National Board for this year’s election.

These two teams are running for Co-Presidents:

Shilpa Pandey and Martha Collins

Dianne Blais and Jan Corderman

Only one Co-Presidential team will be elected.

These three candidates are running unopposed:

Marybeth Gardam Development Committee Chair

Julie Kabukanyi Nominating Committee Chair

Eileen Kurkoski Membership Development Chair

Only one of these candidates will be elected. These two candidates are both running for the one open Board position of At-Large Board Member #1:

Julie Leak At-Large Board Member

Gloria McMillan At-Large Board Member

Listen to the first WILPF US Candidates’ Forum here.

Get more information about all of the candidates and the proposed Bylaw Amendments.

First All-Branch Meeting with our new Field Organizer Shelby Young

WILPF members from around the country attended the first All-Branch Meeting. This meeting kicked off a monthly series aimed at providing educational training, sharing tips and strategies, and celebrating our collective wins as we grow and activate WILPF’s membership base. Missed the Meeting? If you couldn’t attend, no problem! Here’s the link to the video

Catalysts for Peace & Justice:

The Catalysts for Peace & Justice program is a monthly training initiative designed to strengthen our membership and branches through five key areas:

1. Sharing Recruitment and Outreach Strategies: Providing a collaborative platform for branches to exchange ideas, share best practices, and explore innovative approaches to recruitment and outreach.

2. Building Leadership and Mentorship Models: Helping branches establish effective

leadership structures and mentorship programs to enhance member engagement and

organizational outreach.

3. Identifying and Empowering Leaders: Working closely with branches to identify

emerging leaders within their memberships and providing resources to support growth.

4. Increasing Branch Visibility: Equipping branches with tools and strategies to raise their profiles and strengthen their presence in local communities.

5. Offering Targeted Training: Delivering workshops on relational organizing, technology use, and leadership development to empower members and enhance branch impact.

The next All-Branch meeting is January 8th, 2025 from 4:00-5:30 PST. You can contact Shelby during her working hours, Tuesday through Friday, 6am-12pm PST. Her phone number is 610-551-4400.

Nobel Prize Goes to Hiroshima Survivors

The Nobel Peace Prize for 2024 was awarded on October 11th to Nihon Hidankyo, the Japanese organization of A and H bomb survivors, known as hibakusha. Nihon Hidankyo played an important role in getting the world to negotiate and adopt the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) that bans everything to do with nuclear weapons. The TPNW has now been ratified by 73 countries and a further 25 are in the process of ratifying.

August 6th and 9th, 2025, will mark the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, which killed over 200,000 people. Those who survived those bombings, the hibakusha, have lived with cancers and other health issues – but also with the social ostracism of being one of those affected by the bombing.

In awarding the Prize to Nihon Hidankyo, the Nobel Committee is clearly highlighting, once again, the humanitarian impact of nuclear weapons and the increasing risk that they will be used again. Any use of a nuclear weapon, anywhere in the world, would be a humanitarian catastrophe of unparalleled proportions, and yet nine countries, including the United States, are currently expanding and deepening their nuclear arsenals and rationale for using them.

Meanwhile, Japan – the only country to have suffered the devastating consequences of a nuclear attack – still refuses to join the TPNW and continues to join the US in its warmongering against both North Korea and China. The Japanese constitution forbids Japan from taking part in war and the people of Japan are overwhelmingly in favor of their country joining the TPNW. Hopefully this Nobel Peace Prize will strengthen the Japanese peace movement and their resolve to push their government to live up to their own constitution and the will of the people. Human Rights Day, observed on December 10, marks the 1948 adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This year’s theme is “Equality—Reducing Inequalities and Advancing Human Rights.” Watch the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony livestream, including inspiring speeches and musical interludes.

The Golden Rule Completes Pacific Northwest Voyage

The Golden Rule has returned safely to her homeport of Humboldt Bay after a wonderful three-month voyage throughout the Pacific Northwest. The historic anti-nuclear sailboat visited thirteen cities, participated in two wooden boat shows and took part in three water-based protests. Thanks to the many people who made this another huge success! Watch this new film about The Golden Rule.

End of Year Donations to Your Local Branches

If you are able to make an end-of-the-year donation to the East Bay or San Francisco branches of WILPF, it would be most appreciated. You can mail a check to:

WILPF East Bay
PO Box 13083
Oakland, CA 94661-0083

WILPF SF

P.O. Box 590253

San Francisco, CA 94159-0253

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WILPF East Bay , P. O. Box 13083, Oakland, CA 94661

WILPF-SF, P. O. Box 590253, San Francisco, CA 94159

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