SPRING 2010
 
Friends for a Non-Violent World Quarterly Newsletter

  DONATE TO FNVW!
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In This Newsletter
FNVW Has Office Space to Share
"Save Our Sons" Fundraiser
What Does FNVW Do?
Nonviolent Peaceforce introduction
Afghan Withdrawal Legislation Introduced
AVP National Conference Last Weekend in May
People Campe 2010 Coming Soon
Ways of Peace II in October
FNVW Calendar
Do You Know an Organization
Looking for Thrifty Office Space?
How about Sharing Some with FNVW?

Friends for a Non-Violent World is looking to share our spacious offices with a compatible community organization or non-profit. � Space at 1050 Selby Ave, St Paul 55104 is available immediately
� $800/mo for 800 sq. feet
� Plus shared full kitchen & bathroom
� Street-level office space, wheel-chair accessible
� Access to a large conference room
� Sharing high-speed internet and printer/copier is negotiable
� Utilities not included; charged on prorated basis

Friends for a Non-Violent World is looking to share our office space with an organization or individual who honors our mission:
FNVW is a Quaker-inspired organization of people who affirm the dignity inherent in each human being.We share a commitment to advancing non-violence as an ethic for honoring human dignity and a strategy for achieving peace and justice.

This office space is available immediately.To arrange a viewing, please call Ava at the FNVW office, 651-917-0383 or email to [email protected].
Save Our Sons Fundraiser
June 4, 5:30pm-8pm

Save Our Sons (SOS) is FNVW's friend and ally in bringing more justice into the criminal justice system. FNVW is co-sponsoring SOS's upcoming fundraiser, and we urge everyone to attend.

Here are the particulars:
When:June 4, from 5:30 pm to 8pm

Where: At the home of FNVW Board Member Gail Daneker -1791 Dayton Ave., Saint Paul.

What:There will be a program of information and music sure to inspire, and a bounty of food and drink. It is a chance to make contacts with people and organizations working every day for serious change in the arena of criminal justice. This is a "$25 if you can, less if you can't" event, and all are warmly welcomed.

Save our Sons was started in 1994 by Melvin W. Carter Jr. and a group of dedicated men from within the community. The SOS leadership and volunteers work with county and state juvenile justice system partners to assist the youth served by these institutions in their transition to adulthood, providing them with norms, values, and opportunities through education and relevant adult relationships.

Core activities at SOS include twice a month Saturday Academies. These two and a half hour sessions are an intense heart-to-heart with young men brought from Ramsey County Correctional Placement, Boys Totem Town (BTT). Melvin Carter leads all of these sessions which, like FNVW's Alternatives to Violence Project, teach young men alternative strategies and choices for dealing with the violence in their lives.

SOSis a non-profit 501(c)3, so your donation will be exempt within the current laws.

See you there!!

What Does FNVW Do?

 Alternatives to Violence Project (AVP) - AVP is a national and inter-national volunteer-run program that conducts workshops in resolution of conflict through non-violence. AVP is in demand in prisons and communities across the US and has been successful in countries plagued with violence. AVP is so successful that the Government of Rwanda has made it the cornerstone of its post-genocide reconciliation program. Currently, almost 2000 volunteers serve as AVP facilitators in the US, with 52 residing in Minnesota.

 Peace in the Precincts (PNP) - PNP is a grassroots organization with a statewide network, a unifying policy platform, an empowered constituency, and a growing reputation among state policymakers and political movers, positioned to frame issues of war and peace in the public and the media, to mobilize citizens to encourage public officials to champion the Peace Platform, and to make the peace vote the vote that matters most.

 People Camp - People Camp is a weeklong experience of cooperation, community living, peacemaking, and the exploration of ideas and issues. This is a summer camp experience for the whole family and for anyone who enjoys warm, supportive community, challenging workshops and lots of recreation in a camp setting.

 M-Tax (War Tax Resistance) - In partnership with the National War Tax Resistance Coordinating Committee, FNVW's M-Tax project will support community members in expressing Conscientious Objection to the use of our federal tax dollars for violence. M-Tax opposes militarism and supports just ways of distributing tax dollars to meet human needs.

Nonviolent Peaceforce Logo
Nonviolent Peaceforce Shares Common Ground with FNVW


by Doug Helfrich


The mission of Nonviolent Peaceforce (NP) is to build a large-scale, very well-trained, civilian non-violent peaceforce composed of a rainbow of cultures from around the world. It seems to me that the mission of NP is a perfect fit for supporters of FNVW. It is what we can say YES to when we say NO to war. We say YES to protecting human rights and creating the space for local groups to enter into dialogue and to seek peaceful resolution to local conflicts.

I am impressed that NP does not go in with an agenda but rather, as they put it on their web site:
"We most often respond to invitations by credible local organizations committed to nonviolent solutions. Once invited,we meet key players, including commanders from opposing sides, local police, religious, business, and civil society leaders.We live and work in communities within conflict zones alongside local people."


(read complete article)
Legislation to Require
Timetable for Afghanistan
Withdrawal Introduced in
Senate and House

 

Sen. Russ Feingold (WI) and Reps. Jim McGovern (MA) and Walter Jones (NC) introduced legislation this week to require the administration to prepare what they termed a "flexible" timetable for the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan.The resolution (S. 3197/H.R. 5015) does not set a date for withdrawal but would require the administration to produce an exit plan including a timetable and to identify conditions that could lead to acceleration or extension of the timetable.

Feingold, McGovern, and Jones are expected to press for a vote on the measure as an amendment to the $33 billion supplemental war funding bill that Congress is likely to take up next month.The number of senators and representatives who agree to cosponsor the bill in the meantime will largely determine whether congressional leaders allow a vote on the measure. Last June, 138 representatives voted for a similar proposal introduced only in the House to require an exit strategy from Afghanistan.The current measure would also require increased oversight of all expenditures in Afghanistan.

Urge Your Representative-and then Your Senators-to Co-Sponsor Legislation for Afghanistan Withdrawal Timetable

See www.contactingthecongress.org for detailed information on all members and committees.

Keith Ellison is on the House Foreign Affairs committee and they like it when they can say their office is swamped with calls of support, so give him a call.

Keith Ellison (D-MN) ph 202-225-4755 f 202-225-4886. Web.

And Russ Feingold is on the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations; it would be good to let him know he has lots of support!

Russ Feingold (D-WI) 202-224-5323 202-224-2725. Web

And why not let one of the right-wingers know we're out here? We suggest Inhofe as a someone who needs a good push:

James M. Inhofe (R-OK) 202-224-4721 202-228-0380. Web


Thanks for making your voice heard!

AVPLogo

AVP National Conference

May 28 to May 31 at the Dunrovin Retreat Center, Marine-on-St.-Croix, Minn.

By Elaine Klaassen

Nationwide, there are as many as 500 Alternatives to Violence Project facilitators actively leading transformational workshops in prisons and communities on a regular basis. Ninety of them will soon gather near Stillwater, Minnesota for the annual National Conference. In Minnesota, the Alternatives to Violence Project (AVP) is a program of Friends for a Non-Violent World (FNVW). In other parts of the country AVP local councils stand alone, or are sponsored by other organizations.

The conference is the great gathering where information is exchanged and facilitators inspire and affirm each other.One of AVP's great challenges is the fact that approximately half the AVP facilitators in the United States are incarcerated, and cannot take advantage of this rejuvenation opportunity.

The 2010 theme is Transforming Power: AVP & Diversity in the 21st Century.

All active facilitators know what a powerfully positive impact AVP has, and they want as many people as possible to experience its effects.

(read complete article)

PEOPLE CAMP 2010
Family Fun for Everyone
Sunday, August 15 to Saturday, August 21
Northern Pines, near Park Rapids, MN

A weeklong experience in peacemaking PeopleCampParticipantsand community living among the lakes and trees of northern Minnesota

Founded by Quakers and welcoming all, People Camp is an experience of cooperation,community living, and exploration of ideas and issues. Typically camp is about equally divided between families and individuals. All campers help to make camp a safe and supportive place for adults, teens, and children. In the mornings,workshops are offered for adults, while the children's program offers care, recreation, and educational activities.

People Camp has no staff other than campers

Everyone contributes to the work that makes camp happen. Campers ages 13 and older sign up at registration to join a work team for the week.Younger children are also welcome to help out where they can.

Doing the work ourselves is important in the cohesive development of community, as well as a primary way of keeping costs down. Campers of all ages find preparing and serving meals, cleanup, or childcare a rewarding way to get acquainted with other campers, and contribute to the community.

Accommodations: People Camp 2010 is located at Northern Pines near Park Rapids,MN, about 4 hours north of Minneapolis. Most cabins have sinks, half-baths and electricity, and some have fridges or kitchenettes.There are many kinds of cabins, most being either large rooms with multiple bunks for groups or large families, or multi-bedroom cabins with a private room for each family and sharing living space (bathroom, living, etc). There is a modern lodge with small rooms and shared bathrooms down the hall, and plenty of space for camping with your own tent or trailer. Cabin assignments are made according to family/group size and ages of children. If you have special needs or would like to share a space with a specific person, please put that information on the registration form. Camp facilities include large indoor group meeting spaces, swimming beach with raft, canoes, paddleboats, tetherball, courts for volleyball and basketball, and a large centrally located ball field for group activities and stargazing.

(read complete article)

(for more information about People Camp)
Ways Of Peace II:
Non-Violence in the Islamic Traditions
Coming in October, 2010Way of Peace II

Ways of Peace II: Non-Violence in the Islamic Traditions
will be the second in FNVW's conference series exploring the roots, history and practice of non-violence in various faith and secular traditions.

Ways of Peace II grows out of our concern over the stereotypical, one-dimensional view of Islam as a religion of violence and intolerance, which condones or advocates terrorism. The advocacy and practice of peace, non-violence, arbitration, negotiations and mediation by Islamic scholars, leaders, and activists in the various communities of Islam is not well-known or understood in Minnesota or nationwide.

Many non-Muslims are familiar with the names, perspectives and practices of Mahatma Gandhi, Dorothy Day,Martin Luther King, Jr.,A.J. Muste, Thomas Merton, Gene Sharp,Wally and Juanita Nelson,Thich Nhat Hanh, Delores Huerta,Petra Kelly, Cesar Chavez,Walter Wink, and Mairead Corrigan Maguire.

Yet few of us have heard of Abdul Gaffar Khan (Badshah Khan), Maulana Wahiddudin Khan, Muhammad Tahir ul Qadri,Muhammad Hamidullah, Sadida Athaullah,Dr.Mohammed Abu-Nimer,Dr. S.Ayse Kadayifci-Orellana or Jawdat Said.


(read complete article)

FNVW Calendar

(check www.fnvw.org for details)

AVP = Alternatives to Violence Project
PNP = Peace in the Precincts Program
Date Event Event Name Location
05/21/10 AVP Workshop Advanced Stillwater
05/21/10 AVP Workshop T4F Faribault Medium
05/24/10 Monthly FNVW Board Meeting FNVW Office
05/26/10 AVP Support Group FNVW Office
05/28-31/10 AVP National Conference Dunrovin Retreat Center
06/02/10 AVP Support Group & Potluck FNVW Office
06/03/10 PNP Steering Committee FNVW Office
06/04/10 AVP Workshop Basic Hennepin Women
06/09/10 AVP Support Group FNVW Office
06/12/10 AVP Workshop One-day Faribault Minimum
06/16/10 AVP Steering Committee Meeting FNVW Office
06/16/10 AVP Support Group FNVW Office
06/17/10 PNP Steering Committee FNVW Office
06/18/10 AVP Workshop T4F Stillwater
06/23/10 AVP Support Group FNVW Office
06/25/10 AVP Workshop Community Basic Duluth Friends Mtg Hs
06/25/10 AVP Workshop Basic Faribault Medium
06/28/10 Monthly FNVW Board Meeting FNVW Office
06/30/10 AVP Support Group FNVW Office
07/07/10 AVP Support Group & Pot Luck FNVW Office
07/09/10 AVP Workshop Basic Hennepin Women
07/09/10 AVP Workshop Community Basic FNVW Office
07/10/10 AVP Workshop One-day Faribault Minimum
07/14/10 AVP Support Group FNVW Office
07/16/10 AVP Workshop Basic Stillwater
07/18/10 AVP Steering Committtee Meeting FNVW Office
07/21/10 AVP Support Group FNVW Office
07/23/10 AVP Workshop Basic Faribault Medium
07/26/10 Monthly FNVW Board Meeting FNVW Office
07/28/10 AVP Support Group FNVW Office
08/04/10 AVP Support Group and Pot Luck FNVW Office
08/05/10 PNP Steering Committee FNVW Office
08/06/10 AVP Workshop Basic Hennepin Men
08/07/10 AVP Workshop One-day Faribault Minimum
08/11/10 AVP Support Group FNVW Office
08/13/10 AVP Workshop Community Basic FNVW Office
8/15-21/10 2010 People Camp Northern Pines Camp
08/18/10 AVP Steering Committtee Meeting FNVW Office
08/18/10 AVP Support Group FNVW Office
08/19/10 PNP Steering Committee FNVW Office
08/20/10 AVP Workshop Basic Stillwater
08/23/10 Monthly FNVW Board Meeting FNVW Office
08/25/10 AVP Support Group FNVW Office
08/27/10 AVP Workshop Advanced Faribault Medium


For information on upcoming AVP workshops and weekly support groups, please call Demetria Carter in the office, 651-644-5851. Unless otherwise posted, the AVP weekly support group meets every Wednesday from 7pm to 9pm in the FNVW office.


Additionally, PNP's steering committee meets most Thursday evenings from 7pm to 9pm in the office. To confirm that the PNP steering committee will meet at the regularly scheduled time in a given week, please call Sharon Sudman at 651-699-7132.


The South Asia Working Group meets each month at variable times. Please call the office for specific

Erica Thorne
Interim Executive Director

Friends for a Non-Violent World
1050 Selby Avenue
Saint Paul, MN 55104
651-917-0383
www.fnvw.org