WILPF NEWS
Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom
East Bay Branch April Newsletter
Visit our web page www.WILPFEastBay.org
Contact us at wilpf@wilpfeastbay.org
Meetings are 2nd Saturday of the Month 10am-noon
BIG NEWS
We have a new home. Join us on  Saturday, May 12th at
110 41st St. (Piedmont Gardens) just off Piedmont Avenue in Oakland.

Piedmont Gardens has several buildings. For the meeting you enter at 110 41st Street (just off Piedmont Avenue) and take the elevator to the 6th floor.  As you step out of the elevator, the lounge and meeting room are just to your left.  Our first meeting there will be on Saturday, May 12th from 10-12.  Join us to celebrate and come to lunch on the Avenue after the meeting!

West Coast World Court of Women on Poverty in the US

East Bay WILPF invites you to the West Coast World Court of Women on Poverty

The Women’s Economic Agenda Project will be hosting this conference in Oakland from Thursday, May 10 to Sunday, May 13, 2012 at Laney College.  The events of the various days will feature art, music, roundtable discussions and tribunal sessions, where testimonies will be shared concerning the impact of poverty on women’s lives.

The historic approach of the World Court of Women is to analyze and propose actual solutions – outlining what steps we need to take to make social and policy change, and to bring these to our communities. By hosting a Court in the US, we want to make visible the poverty that this country produces domestically, and the ways that it is disseminated across borders, globally.

The Courts of Women to be held in the US will encompass the many different ways poverty impacts people, and how pervasive poverty is in the US, but there will also be specific themes addressed in roundtables (workshops) each day. These roundtables will focus on (1) Poverty, Jobs & Immigration, (2) Foreclosures, Homelessness & Property Rights, (3) Environment & the Justice System, (4) Healthcare for the 99%, and (5) Organizing for Quality Public Education – Education for the 99%

If you would be interested in participating in this event can register at https://secure.commonground.convio.com/weap/wcwonpoverty2012//

If you would like more information about the event, check out  the Blog on the World Court of Women in the US http://worldcourtsofwomen.wordpress.com/
or look at Visual Call to Action for the Court http://youtu.be/KfeuAzIvXxA/
You can also see stories and testimonies at  http://www.youtube.com/watchv=yBO3aqbXazk&list=UUAjTdShbXzc6QJwEcaOXwkg&index=3&feature=plcp/

Time to reduce your clutter and help your local WILPF branch
WILPF East Bay Fundraising Yard Sale
Saturday, June 9th 10-4
1300 Shattuck Avenue, Berkeley 94709
We could use small furniture, art and antiques, small appliances, jewelry books, CD’s, DVD’s, games, toys, sports equipment.  Please no clothes, no broken items, and nothing too big or too heavy.

To donate items to the sale, either contact Sandy for a pickup on May 18th Friday only email us at wilpf@wilpfeastbay.org or bring them between 9 and 10am on the day of the sale.

We also need volunteers on Saturday.  We need people from 9-10am to help set up, then anytime between 10-4 to help sell, and then from 4-5pm to help clean up. To volunteer, email us at wilpf@wilpfeastbay.org.
Hope to see you on June 9th! Bring some old treasures and take some new treasures home.  Also enjoy the Live Oak Crafts Fair across the street.  http://www.liveoakparkfair.com/

Tax Day: Wilpf Eastbay joins other peace groups leafleting against war machine tax dollars
Wilpf Eastbay joins other peace groups in reminding folks what 60%++ of their federal income tax pays for… the US WAR Machine.  If we value education, jobs, security for elders, safety net for those falling into poverty then why are  we are spending our federal tax dollars on the War Machine? On our yearly tax day action we were surprised at how many folks at Rockridge BART took our “what your taxes pay for” flyer and sent postcards opposing a new war with Iran. See  www.newprioritiesnetwork.org/

WILPF NEWS
Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom
East Bay Branch
March/April Newsletter
Visit our web page www.EastBayWILPF.org
Meetings are 2nd Saturday of the Month 10am-noon
Attention!!! Location for our April Meeting
Owl & Company Bookshop
3941 Piedmont Avenue, Oakland 94616
Join us for our planning meeting Saturday, April 14, 2012
Contact us at wilpf@wilpfeastbay.org

Pakistani Activist Sameena Nazir tours in Eastern U.S.
Sameena Nazir, President of WILPF’s new Pakistan Section, is engaged in an East Coast U.S. speaking tour hosted by WILPF branches. She is also the executive director of the Potohar Organization for Development Advocacy (PODA), a Pakistani NGO working for the promotion and protection of human rights in rural areas of Pakistan. For great web site of PODA… link to www.poda.org.pk/

Preventing another war
We are responding to the continuing need to pressure Obama and legislators to not engage in a 3rd war, war with Iran. We are asking members to send the enclosed post card or an email letter this week joining with the FCNL (Friends Committee on National Legislation) Madeline Duckles suggest we join together and all email or send cards on the 20th of every month–this month on March 20th.
Suggested message:
“We do not want another war.  Iran needs inspectors not bombs.   Work for a     Middle East     WMD (Weapons of Mass Destruction) Free Zone.  We  support     the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons. $$ for people not war.
Our children and grandchildren depend on your leadership now.”

Barbara Boxer’s 510 286-8537 or email link http://boxer.senate.gov/en/contact/policycomments.cfm/
Dianne Feinstein 415 393-0707 or email link

https://www.feinstein.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/e-mail-me/

President Obama 202 456-1111 or email link

http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/submit-questions-and-comments/

Come join us. We will collect signed post cards and hand out flyers “We do not want another war in Iran” at BART Rockridge station Monday April 2 4-6pm.

WILPF East Bay celebrates International Women’s Day.
We celebrate one of our own activists Madeline Duckles link to http://www.ja1325.org/peace_women.asp#Duckles

Madeleine Rees, Secretary General, WILPF, Maria Butler, Director PeaceWomen Project, shortened joint statement on International Women’s Day

“In 2012 the demands that WILPF and our sister organizations continue to make are remarkably similar: to bring about change through peaceful, non-violent, participatory action, and address the political economy of violence.
The world is in a state of almost permanent conflict, declared, unfinished or imminent. The causes of those wars lie not just the supposed security of States, but in economics and the need for resources.
There is much to be done – from the wars in African countries and Afghanistan, the instability in the Arab region, the threats of war against Iran, to the global recession and environmental degradation. International women’s day is indeed a day to recognize what has been done so far but also to raise our voices, to protest and to call on all of us to keep on working for peace.”

Link to Peace Women’s International Women’s Day e-card at:

http://www.peacewomen.org/assets/swf/wilpf.swf

For an example of WILPF’s  comprehensive analysis, link to:
Reaching Critical will statement on International Women’s Day http://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/political/cd/2012/statements/part1/8March_WILPF.pdf

WILPF NEWS

Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom East Bay

Visit our web page www.EastBayWILPF.org

Attention!!!  New  Location for our February Meeting
Owl & Company Bookshop
3941 Piedmont Avenue, Oakland 94616
Join us for our planning meeting 2nd Saturday of the month
Contact us at wilpf@wilpfeastbay.org

ACTION:  We are responding to the need to pressure Obama and legislators to not engage in a 3rd war, War with Iran. Members are  joining the FCNL (Friends Committee on National Legislation) action. Suggested message:”We do not want another war.  Iran needs inspectors not bombs.   Work for a   Middle East  WMD (Weapons of Mass Destruction) Free Zone.  We  support  the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons. $$ for people not war. Our children and grandchildren depend on your leadership now.”

Barbara boxer email link http://boxer.senate.gov/en/contact/policycomments.cfm/
or 510 286-8537
Diane Feinstein email link  https://www.feinstein.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/e-mail-me/
or 415 393-0707
President Obama email link http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/submit-questions-and-comments/
or 202 4561111

Hope for World  Peace through disarmament and the Non Proliferation Treaty
Check out a great site on disarmament “Reaching Critical Will” sponsored by WILPF. http://reachingcriticalwill.org/
On Tue, Jan 24, 2012 at 8:07 AM, Ms. Ray Acheson, Project Director, Reaching Critical Will international project of Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF) wrote:
I just want to provide some important background on a nuclear weapon free zone in the Middle East. What is being pursued is actually a WMD( weapons of mass destruction) free zone, not just a nuclear weapon free zone. This is NOT something between Iran and Israel. It has come out of the NPT(non proliferation treaty) process, of which Israel is not a member (it refuses to sign or ratify the NPT). All NPT states parties (which is every country in the world except India, Israel, and Pakistan) committed to establishing a WMD free zone in the Middle East at the 1995 NPT Review Conference. At the 2010 NPT Review Conference, this was finally put into action, when all members committed to a conference to be held in 2012 to initiate the process. The UN Secretary-General along with the NPT depository states (Russia, UK, and US) and the states of the Middle East all agreed on a facilitator and host country for this process – the host will be Finland; the facilitator will be Jaakko Laajava, Under Secretary of State in Finland’s Foreign Ministry. Israel has been participating in lead-up meetings hosted by the IAEA and the EU. However, it’s still not clear if Israel will attend the conference in Finland later in 2012 (dates TBD).
The bottom line is, this process is most definitely underway. The UN is involved and it will be important to keep it involved. The problem will be keeping Israel on board. Iran is committed to the process already, though they want to see it be used as a platform to demand Israel get rid of its nuclear weapons. Part of the effort to ensure full participation of all states in the region will be to ensure that this conference in 2012 isn’t just used as a platform from which to isolate Israel – otherwise they will pull out of the process altogether. This is why the zone needs to focus on all WMD, not just nuclear weapons – other countries in the region have WMD, while Israel is the only country with nuclear weapons.

WILPF INTERNATIONAL on Syria 23 February 2012, Geneva
WILPF joins Amnesty International and other NGO’s in demanding that there be a general cease-fire in Syria and that the Syrian government comply with its obligations under international law.
The doctrine of the “responsibility to protect” prioritizes” the role of the regional mechanisms in addressing situations which fall under pillar three, i.e. to take “timely and decisive” action to prevent and halt mass atrocities when a State is “manifestly failing” to protect its populations. Hence role of the of the Arab League is vital.  The League has requested the Security Council authorize the sending of peacekeepers, an action that will almost certainly be refused, not least since the invocation of R2P in SCR1973 on Libya was interpreted as legitimizing military intervention by NATO. The consequences of that intervention have been continued large-scale violence and violations of international law. This approach must not be repeated.
The High Commissioner for Human Rights has spoken of the mounting evidence of Crimes Against Humanity in Syria. Engagement by the international community is therefore legitimate and necessary to ensure an immediate cessation of hostilities, the creation of humanitarian corridors and assistance to the civilian population. Such corridors must be respected by all parties, in particular the Syrian authorities.
The international community has a role in assisting this process. Specifically, WILPF urges that support from existing multilateral bodies be requested, in particular, the OSCE (Organization for Security Cooperation in Europe, an affiliate of the UN)  Through the existing relationship with its Mediterranean Partners for Co-operation, the OSCE can  use its experience in other contexts to provide non-militarized monitoring and assessment in Syria itself. The OSCE’s Platform for Co-operative Security supports the advancement of comprehensive security within the OSCE region, promotes human rights, controls the traffic of arms and promotes border security, all of which are growing concerns in the Syrian crisis.  Since its founding, the OSCE has stressed the inter-linkages between European and Mediterranean security and has  significant experience in mounting Field Operations to promote peace and security. The OSCE is well-placed to support the Arab League’s existing diplomatic efforts in Syria.
Once peace is restored, it is incumbent on the international community to provide appropriate assistance in bringing perpetrators of crimes to justice, establishing the rule of law and peace to both Syria and the region.  Sustainable peace and security will only be achieved through the participation of women and by ensuring that the political economy of discrimination is addressed, both in law and in practice. For comprehensive site link to wilpf international at http://www.wilpfinternational.org/disarmament/index.html

We encourage all members to support the Grandmothers Against the Wars gathering in San Francisco Union Square every Thursday from 12-1.

WILPF NEWS

Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom
East Bay Branch
January/February 2012 Newsletter
Visit our web page www.EastBayWILPF.org
Meetings are 2nd Saturday of the Month 10am-noon
Next meeting program will be a presentation of  member Dolores Taller on Cuba.

Attention!!!  New  Location for our February Meeting
Owl & Company Bookshop
3941 Piedmont Avenue, Oakland 94616
Join us for our planning meeting Saturday, February 11th
Contact us at wilpf@wilpfeastbay.org

Move to Amend and Occupy the Courts

Members of East Bay WILPF joined Move to Amend and Occupy the Courts on the 2nd anniversary of the Supreme Court’s terrible 5 to 4 decision in the Citizens United case to allow Corporations the rights of people and opening the floodgates for unlimited and undisclosed donations in elections. Friday, January 20th  was a big day in the Occupy movement with protests around the country focused on a variety of issues.

Besides protesting corporate personhood in both Oakland and San Francisco, there were protests against the corporate banking practices of the continuing unfair foreclosures and evictions, despite huge taxpayer bailouts and record profits by those institutions.  There were protests against the underfunding and ongoing cuts in education and basic services for the most vulnerable in our society. There were protests against the wars and  the size of the military budget (67% OF THE FEDERAL BUDGET)

We are already seeing corporate influence in the undisclosed $$$ spent on TV ads in the winter primaries.  Right now corporations have more rights than people.

1.They do not have to disclose if they donate to PAC’s (political action committees) and their donations are unlimited.
2. They can live forever.
3. They are taxed differently than humans.  Corporations can be in two or more places at the same time, and they can shed their fair share of taxes for the communities where they operate.
4. Corporations cannot be jailed.  Corporations are not human and have no conscience or sense of shame nor a willingness to adjust their behavior to protect future generations.
5. Corporations pursue a single-minded goal, profit, and are typically legally prohibited from seeking other ends.
6. There are no limits to their  potential size.  Because of their political power, they are able to define or affect the civil and criminal regulations that define the boundaries of their permissible behavior. No human criminal has such abilities. Human’s go to jail, corporations do not.
7. Corporations can divide themselves, shedding subsidiaries or affiliates that are controversial, have brought them negative publicity or pose liability threats.

Corporations are not people.  WE ARE THE PEOPLE!   East Bay WILPF joins to fight with the people power of the 99% for social and economic justice!

For more information and action link to www.movetoamend.org/
For WILPF and Ranging Grannies YouTube songs link to

Combating Military Recruitment

June Brumer came to our January meeting and gave a very interesting and informative talk about the Truth in Recruitment program that she works on in the local high schools.  Grandmothers against the War, in collaboration with  the American Friends Service Committee Youth and Militarism Program,  work to combat military recruitment in local schools.  Grandmothers Against the Wars arrange to have veterans speak to classrooms of high school students about what military service and war is really like,  to give them an alternative perspective from the military recruiters that come on to high school campuses.  The presentation often begins with a short video about the realities of military service.
Efforts are focused in Hayward and Newark, where recruitment numbers are higher than in Oakland.  Besides presentations, there are sometimes opportunities for tabling or for being part of other school events.

Since “No child left behind” legislation, schools must allow recruiters in order to receive federal money.  Parents have the right to opt out of the home recruitment contacts, and there was a court decision which requires high schools who have recruiters to also allow organizations with a different, more peaceful message to come on to campuses.

If you would be interested in learning more about this very worthwhile program and possibly volunteering to help, you can contact June Brumer at jlbrumer@sbcglobal.net .  June will give you all the information you need to feel comfortable, and the first time you go onto a high school campus, you will go with a more experienced volunteer.

For more information and to explore alternatives such as Junior college, AmeriCorps, Pel Grants, Jobcorps or  Peace Corps and see the work of  local youth groups, go to  www.baypeace.org/.  For other resources see www.afsc.org/youthmil.htm or www.warresisters.org.

Minutes of January planning meeting.

Still looking for a meeting place (since the meeting, decided on meeting at Owl and Company Bookshop, 3941 Piedmont Avenue in Oakland).

It was recommended  Van Jones’ new blog “Rebuild the Dream” at http://rebuildthedream.com/
Plans to set up calendar for 2012 delayed until next meeting.  End of the year membership letters requesting dues and donations had a good response.

We agreed to attend the Jan 20th Occupy the Courts protests in Oakland and San Francisco.

We encourage all members to support the Grandmothers Against the Wars gathering in San Francisco Union Square every Thursday from 12-1.

WILPF NEWS
Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom
East Bay Branch
November/December 2011 Newsletter
Visit our web page www.EastBayWILPF.org
Meetings are 2nd Saturday of the Month 10am-noon

Attention!!!  Special Location for our December Meeting
at  a members home
Join us for our planning meeting Saturday, December 10th
Contact us at wilpf@wilpfeastbay.org or 510 339-1395 for address

East Bay WILPF  and  WILPF US support the goals of the Occupy Wall Street Movement.

East Bay WILPF deplores the military style actions of the police against demonstrators.
We join with those speaking out against war, economic disparity, unfair profits and bloated military budgets across the U.S. in Occupy Wall Street! As stated in the WILPF Constitution “the League sees as its ultimate goal the establishment of an international economic order founded on meeting the needs of all people and not on profit and privilege.”

Write a letter to Oakland, University of California and your county officials and Sheriff, condemning the violence against nonviolent occupiers.  Here is a sample letter:
“I am a resident and a member of East Bay WILPF  (Women International League for Peace and Freedom).  I expect the city to keep a space for peaceful protest which is our right as citizens.  I support the goals of the Occupy folks. I do not want to pay overtime for police using excessive force against legal and nonviolent protestors.
There is so much to protest about.  Home foreclosures are increasing;  women and people of color are disproportionately hurt by current economic practices; big money needs to start paying a fair share; corporations are not people; 70% of the federal budget is getting sucked up by wars; proposition 13 has hamstrung California democracy and local funding for schools and local services.  Enough is enough!
It’s time for government officials to address these issues and the many others affecting Oakland citizens rather than organize another police action against peaceful protest.”

Report: California WILPF Cluster Meeting  in Santa Cruz Nov 12th

The participants at the Cluster recommended that all the California branches support and work on the following bills/initiatives, especially the first two.

1. Rescue Education California (oil extraction tax) Tax on California Oil and Natural Gas. Revenues to Education.
“Imposes 10 percent tax on value of oil and natural gas extracted in California to supplement funding for education. Allocates 10 percent of tax revenues to grants for college and vocational students, and remainder to classroom education funding as follows: 10 percent to University of California; 20 percent to California State University; 20 percent to community colleges; and 40 percent to K-12. Prohibits reduction of existing education-funding levels based on these additional tax revenues. Prohibits passing tax through to consumers by way of higher fuel prices.”
“Increased state revenues from a new oil and gas severance tax of $1.5 billion to $2.5 billion per year. These revenues would be allocated to education and would likely result in increased state funding of various education programs.”

2. California Disclose Act  AB1148 Requires the top  financiers to be disclosed.  AB 1148 applies to all ads supporting or opposing ballot measures, or ads supporting or opposing candidates paid for by independent expenditures. AB 1148 can either be put into effect by a 2/3 vote of the legislature or by a majority vote placing a measure on the ballot for the voters to decide.

3. Paid Sick Days, AB400 requiring firms with fewer than 10 employees to give seven paid sick days a year and larger companies nine days a year.  Not passed out of appropriations committee .  For detailed discussion see Institute Women’s Policy Research link to http://iwpr.org
Online petition link to http://www.caclean.org/petition/

4.California One Care SB810: for more information and to sign the petition for a newer version of Health Care for All:  http://www.healthcareforall.org/action-center/email-signup-or-sign-the-petition

5.Safe California Act (death penalty repeal) gathering signatures for 2012 ballot. The original  bill has been withdrawn by its author, Sen. Loni Hancock, because there were not enough votes for it to get out of committee.

6. AB 685 Human Right to Water: Long supported by WILPF Majority
Existing law establishes various state water policies, including the policy that the use of water for domestic purposes is the highest use of water. This bill would declare that it is the policy of the state that every human being has the right to clean, affordable, and accessible water for human consumption, cooking, and sanitary purposes, that is adequate for the health and well-being of the individual and family.

7. AB591 – Oil and Gas Production: Hydraulic Fracturing.  For more information see the movie “Gasland”

Suggested Strategies
1. Submit a branch endorsement of the Rescue Education California initiative and the CA Disclose Act
2. Collect members’ signatures on the petitions being circulated for each and submit them to the campaigns.
3.  Communicate with campaign contacts to coordinate activities.
4.  Actively collect signatures while tabling or at meetings and events.
5.  Secure district legislator’s endorsements of the Rescue Education   California initiative and the CA Disclose Act AB1148.
6.  Secure endorsements from local officials.
7.  Secure endorsements and signatures from other organizations.
8.  Organize teach-in or event to promote the campaign.
9.  Travel to Sacramento in January to lobby the Assembly.

Blow the Whistle on Militarism and Violence against Women!

WILPF International and WILPF US support the 16 days of Activism Against Gender Violence–Nov. 25th to Dec. 10th called the “Blow the Whistle (Whistleblower) Campaign”  U.S.WILPF members have been encouraged by the national office to organize whistle blowing demonstrations at their local municipal buildings or Occupy movements to draw attention to the dangers of militarism and war culture that perpetuates violence against women.  Participants are also encouraged to record short videos of themselves and other attendees answering the question “What does security mean to you?”  Finally, participants are being encouraged to complete WILPF’s online Call to Action survey.

http://www.peacewomen.org/publications_initiative_document.php?id=59

For  a wonderful explanation and actions, see www.http://16dayscwgl.rutgers.edu/
“Cost of War Calculator” is especially helpful. It gives the cost to produce various weapons (most of them U.S. specialties) and indicates how that same money could be better spent on human needs. See http://www.stwr.org/special-features/cost-of-war-calculator.html

WILPF NEWS
Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, East Bay Branch
October/November 2011 Newsletter
Meetings are usually 2nd Saturday of the Month 10am-noon
Gray Panther’s Office, 1403 Addison, Berkeley, 94702
but not this November, 2011
Save Saturday, November 12th, 9am-3pm
California WILPF Cluster meeting in Santa Cruz
De Anza Mobil Home Park
2395 Delaware Avenue, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
This is an exciting way to meet other WILPF activists, share ideas and get energized.  potluck lunch, for more  information email wilpf@wilpfeastbay.org
We would love to have you join us! There will be no East Bay WILPF meeting in November because members will be attending the Cluster Meeting in Santa Cruz.

East Bay WILPF  and  WILPF US supports the goals of the Occupy Wall Street Movement.  East Bay Wilpf deplores the military style actions of the police against demonstrators.
We join with those speaking out against war, economic disparity, unfair profits and bloated military budgets across the U.S. in Occupy Wall Street!
As stated in the WILPF Constitution “the League sees as its ultimate goal the establishment of an international economic order founded on meeting the needs of all people and not on profit and privilege.”
Americans are no longer accepting the status quo but are challenging the way our country does business on all fronts! Thousands gathered for non-violent protests on the 10th Anniversary of US’s invasion of Afghanistan. There is a strong voice emerging to take back control of our country and find sustainable solutions to the crisis we face.     It may have been the reason President Obama formally announced the end of the war in Iraq, as the remaining 48,000 American troops in Iraq will be brought home by year’s end. After almost nine years, the loss of more than 4,400 American troops and countless Iraqi civilian lives, and a cost of $800 billion that was badly needed at home.
The Occupy Wall Street movement has expanded to include laborers, unions, teachers, nurses, and folks of all of all races, ages, backgrounds, political and religious beliefs, who represent the 99% of America people suffering from the greed and corruption of the wealthiest 1%. It has also spread around the country, to big cities and small towns.

In San Francisco, East Bay WILPF member Margot Smith  delivered sleeping bags and tents the day after gear was confiscated in the middle of the night by San Francisco police. In Oakland, East Bay WILPF members Madeline Krohn and Lusi Harmon carried the WILPF banner in the “Jobs not War” march on October 15th. They reported the crowd seemed bigger than expected and peaceful.  Danny Glover spoke and reminded them of the Martin Luther King speeches, “We have to look at the world and reevaluate the domination of corporations. They may be people but they are not human beings.”  “Banks were bailed out, we were sold out”.  Some of you may have seen them on Channel 2 news.  Surprisingly–or not–the Oakland Tribune did not report on the Oakland march.

120 women attend WILPF International Congress in Costa Rica
From July 30 until August 6, 2011, women from around the world gathered together for the WILPF International Congress in San José, Costa Rica. WILPF – the oldest women’s peace organization in the world – will celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2015 when women peace activists will meet in The Hague again to honor and reaffirm the work and principles of their foremothers in promoting peace. This meeting in Costa Rica was the last official Congress – the highest decision making body of WILPF and the final authority – before the centennial event. Over 120 peace women traveled from twenty-four countries to discuss the theme “Women, Peace and Security – transforming the agenda” and the work of WILPF members, sections and international.

With great enthusiasm, the 2011 Congress formally endorsed five new WILPF sections – Democratic Republic of Congo, Nigeria, Spain, Mexico, and Pakistan – and recognized the innovative and strategic work which these groups have been doing on redefining security and advancing women as peacemakers. The Congress also adopted 11 resolutions, the international program of work 2011-2015 and several statements.

The new Executive Committee was elected with overwhelming support for the new International President, Adilia Caravaca (Costa Rica). Other elected officers include represenatives from Sweden, India, UK, and USA.
This was a special Congress with the dynamic new Secretary General, Madeleine Rees, at the helm who inspired, and challenged the meeting to be creative, focused and impactful. Madeleine articulated the integrated vision for WILPF 2011-2015 in an inspiring presentation that included personal anecdotes and her motivation for joining the WILPF movement. She described the integrated approach as a sort of “WILPF jigsaw”- where the many pieces of WILPF work fit together to form the whole. Directors of WILPF’s two Projects, Ray Acheson (Reaching Critical Will) and Maria Butler (PeaceWomen), presented their respective work, reports and objectives to the Congress and were enthusiastically received by the WILPF members gathered in Costa
Rica. For more info: link to www.wilpfinternational.org/

Can the Earth Afford More Nuclear Weapons?
Tri-Valley Cares (Nuclear weapons Livermore Lab watchdog group) www.trivalleycares.org calls for direct contact of the “Super Committee” who will decide the next 10 year budget cuts. (Congressional joint committee: half senators, representatives, Republicans, Democrats)  64 representatives, including Barbara Lee, wrote the super committee to save hundreds of billions of dollars by restructuring the nuclear weapons industry  “Freeze the Nikes, Fund the Future. ACTION you can have a voice contact the Super Committee at www.deficitreduction.gov/public/index.cfm/contact

Three Women win the Nobel Peace Prize
This month the global women’s movement celebrated three women awarded the
Nobel Peace Prize – Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Liberia’s first female President,
Leymah Gbowee, Liberia’s peace activist, and Tawakkul Karman Yemenese,
opposition activist. WILPF and the PeaceWomen Project congratulates the new
Laureates for their leadership and dedication to peace, human rights and equality; and for receiving the 2011 Nobel Peace Prize. To date, only 12 other women were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize including WILPF’s first International President Jane Addams. The Nobel Prize is an acknowledgment of their achievements and “nonviolent struggle… for women’s right to full participation in peace-building work”, and to all women who strive for peace, equality and security in their communities.
Also noteworthy, the chairman of the Nobel Peace Prize committee, Thorbjoern
Jagland, placed their achievements within the context of the United Nations
Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security.
As we approach the 11th anniversary of Resolution 1325, WILPF calls for this
moment to be a turning point in the support for women peace activists and to see a real shift in political will to prioritize women’s rights and participation in peace resolution and peace building.

Events
Join us for a Gray Panther meeting to hear Wilson Riles “What We Don’t Know About Money and the Money We Need” Wednesday Oct 26th at 1:30pm
North Berkeley Senior Center, 1901 Hearst Ave.

California WILPF Cluster meeting in Santa Cruz, Save Saturday, November 12th, 9am-3pm, De Anza Mobil Home Park
2395 Delaware Avenue, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
This is an exciting way to meet other WILPF activists, share ideas and get energized.  We provide rides, potluck lunch. Respond to this email for a ride and details or call
510-339-1395.  We would love to have you join us! There will be no East Bay WILPF meeting in November because members will be attending the Cluster Meeting in Santa Cruz.

“A Child’s View From Gaza” “The Art will not be Censored” on view until November 27th.  917 Washington Street, Oakland. Fridays 10am-3pm Saturday and Sunday 12pm-6pm    .  For more information:    www.mecaforpeace.org

Rally for Peace Friday, October 21st, 2-3pm at Acton & University, Berkeley
Monthly every  3rd Friday

“Sacred Sites Peace Walk for a Nuclear Free World” the Northern California segment of the Peace walk.  Meet the Peace Walkers for a Potluck Dinner and Speakout on Friday,  Nov. 4th at 6pm at Berkeley Fellowship of Unitarian Universalists, 1924 Cedar St. Berkeley   www.canuclearwalk.com
For more events information, link to the Berkeley Fellowship:  www.bfuu.org

“Windows and Mirrors: Reflections on the War in Afghanistan.”  Sponsored by American Friends Service Committee at the beautiful Islamic Cultural  Center, 1433 Madison St. between 14 & 15St. Oakland 4-7p Tue-Sat. until Oct 29. Link to www.windowsandmirrors.org

Corporate Rule is the underlying problem that is wreaking havoc in all aspects of our society – from income disparity to illegal “wars”, from foreclosed homes to “bought” elections,  from a polluted environment to unsustainable and dangerous energy practices, from tax cuts and subsidies for the very rich to austerity for everyone else.
For Action guide link to the End Corporate Rule site at www.EndCorporateRule.us