March 17, 2011 
 Friends for a Non-Violent World

In This Newsletter
Book Launch - George Lakey
"Bring Home Our Troops" Rally March 19th 1 PM
Crises in Japan
Compassionate Rebel
Keith Ellison at Anti-Muslim House Hearing
April 9th, 2011 Conference
Film Premiere
Ways of Peace Program
Conference Speakers Pg 1
Conference Speakers Pg 2
Suggested Reading
Registration Form
What Does FNVW Do?

George Lakey Book Launch, Sunday, May 16, 2011, 2:00-4:00, Mpls. Friends Meeting

 

Activist and educator George Lakey has published a new book, Facilitating Group Learning.   At this Twin Cities book launch, George will share stories about what he has learned from his extensive experience facilitating groups to bring about social change. The book will also be for sale. Profits from sales of the book will go to Training for Change.

 

More about the book: Parker Palmer said, "It represents the fruits of a lifetime of transformational teaching and learning by one of the foremost adult educators of our time." In this new book George presents the core principles and proven techniques of direct education. [Read excerpts and more comments about the book here]

 

More about George: He has led over 1500 workshops on five continents while publishing eight books, teaching peace studies, and leading activist organizations.  FNVW's Managing Director Erika Thorne said, "I've had the good fortune to be a core trainer with Training for Change for 15 years.  I welcome George as friend and mentor, and I hope many in FNVW's community will join us on May 16th."  [Read more]

  

For details on the Minnesota launch of Facilitating Group Learning:

http://georgelakey-eivtefrnd.eventbrite.com/

 

Rustic Peace Symbol

Rally: "Bring the Troops Home Now! Out of Afghanistan!

End, Don't Extend, the Wars!"  

  

Saturday,               

March  19, 2011

1:00 PM

 

(Gather) Martin Luther King Community Center, 270 North Kent Street, St. Paul. 1:30 p.m.

(March) Through the streets. 2:15 p.m. (Rally) Minnesota State Capitol, 75 Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, St. Paul. Join others as they gather in cities throughout the nation to speak out against the war economy. "Out of Afghanistan; Say No to New Wars in Pakistan, Yemen, Iran, Africa, Korea; End U.S. Aid to the Occupation of Palestine; Opposing War is Not a Crime; Being Muslim is Not a Crime; Stop Attacks on Civil Liberties and Democratic Rights!" Sponsored by: the Iraq Peace Action Coalition (IPAC). FFI: Call 612-827-564 or visit www.worldwidewamm.org

JAPAN CRISES

 

 

All of us at FNVW send our goodwill, hopes and prayers to the people of Japan as they face a daily crisis at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant along with massive devastation from the earthquakes and tsunami.  Living in the United States, we can only imagine how this recalls the nightmare of Hiroshima and Nagasaki for Japanese people.  As activists in the only country that has deployed a nuclear bomb in war, we will keep working against all use of nuclear energy.  

Gun Control and Egypt Uprising Stories on Book Event Agenda

Compassionate Rebel Revolution Comes to St. Paul

 
Rebel book cover Ahmed Tharwat is a native of Egypt, a torture survivor, and a TV host, who has been a Minnesota connection to the Egyptian community during the recent uprising.

Mary Heller is a member of the Million Moms March for gun control. In the aftermath of the Tucson shooting, she has been active in the flurry of local and national activity around gun legislation.

 

Both of these Twin Cities activists toldl their powerful personal stories and how they relate to the issues they care about at a book event Thursday, February 24 at 7:30 p.m. at Common Good Books in St. Paul.

 

The event featured Tharwat and Heller as two of the more than 60 people featured in the riveting new book The Compassionate Rebel Revolution: Ordinary People Changing the World, authored by Minneapolis journalist Burt Berlowe and a cadre of other local writers.

 

 "These stories couldn't be more timely," says Berlowe. "The  compassionate rebel revolution has taken over in Egypt and Ahmed has been at the forefront of local efforts to follow that situation. Mary has joined the opposition to Minnesota's proposed legislation to loosen its gun control laws. She has been personally impacted by gun violence and her story is an inspiration to everyone who wants a more peaceful world."

 

To read more about the Compassionate Rebel Revolution go to

www.compassionaterebel/com

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Keith Ellison Courageously Rebukes Anti-Muslim House Hearing
Non-Violence in the Islamic Traditions Conference Proves Timely

Keith Ellison

We at FNVW stand with the millions of American Muslims who are appalled at violent extremism.  And we are excited that our April 9 conference, Ways of Peace II: Non-Violence in the Islamic Traditions, now less than four weeks away, will provide a chance for non-Muslims and Muslims to come together around the deep roots of nonviolence in Islam, and to address misperceptions of Islamic traditions.   

 

This conference is timely.  Anti-Muslim sentiment and deliberate misrepresentation of Islam continues at our highest levels of government.  This was painfully clear at last Thursday's U.S. House Homeland Security Committee hearing, entitled "The Extent of Radicalization in the American Muslim Community and That Community's Response."  

 

Rep. Peter King, R-NY, chaired the hearing.  He in the past claimed there are "too many mosques in America," and that 80-85% of Americans mosques are controlled by radicalized imams --a statement which has been discredited.  We question his true purpose and intent for holding these hearings. 
 

When humans don't know and understand something, our tendency is to fear it. That fear and misconception can lead to terrible consequences, such as the internment of peaceful Japanese-American citizens during WW II.   We call on Rep. King to stop drumming up fear and hysteria toward Muslim-Americans.

   

Fortunately, U.S. Rep. Keith Ellison, (the Ways of Peace II keynoter from Minneapolis' 5th district) gave powerful and eloquent testimony that challenged the Committee and underscored the danger it is courting.   Here are some of his key points: 

 

 "...this Committee's approach to violent extremism is contrary to American values, and threatens our security...We need to conduct a thorough, fair analysis and do no harm.  The approach of today's hearing, unfortunately, does not meet these standards...

  

"It is true that specific individuals, including some who are Muslims, are violent extremists...When their violent actions are associated with an entire community, then blame is assigned to a whole group.  This is the very heart of stereotyping and scapegoating, which is counter-productive...Ascribing the evil acts of a few individuals to an entire community is wrong; it is ineffective; and it risks making our country less secure...

 

"Let's talk about facts rather than stereotypes.  In fact, the Muslim American community rejects violent ideology.  The RAND Corporation, a highly respected research organization, released a report last year that states the following:  given the low rate of would-be violent extremists [only 100 amongst an estimated 3 million American Muslims], it '...suggest[s] an American Muslim population that remains hostile to jihadist ideology and its exhortations to violence.' 

 

 "A 2011 study from the Duke University Triangle Center on Terrorism reiterated that 40 percent of domestic terror plots have been prevented with the aid of the Muslim American community."  

 

We are proud that Rep. Ellison is the keynote speaker at Ways of Peace II: Non-Violence in the Islamic Traditions.  To read his entire testimony, go to his website:  http://ellison.house.gov.  Here is one last highlight:
 
 
 
"Finally, we need increased understanding and engagement with Muslim American communities to keep America safe...The best defense against extremist ideologies is social inclusion and civic engagement."

 

Please join is on April 9th, for Ways of Peace II: Non-Violence in the Islamic Traditions.  People of good conscience will come together to learn through presentation, dialogue and film.  As Rep. Ellison said, that is what will help make the change. 

   

See you there!

 

Erika Thorne, Managing Director 

Gail Daneker, Director of Peace Education and Advocacy 

Peace Symbol 2

Ways Of Peace II:

Non-Violence in the Islamic Traditions

Sat April 9, 2011  

9:30 am to 6:30 pm

University of St. Thomas, OEC Auditorium

2115 Summit Avenue, St. Paul, MN  55105

 

Way of Peace II is presented by FNVW, the University of St. Thomas Muslim Christian Dialogue Center, and it's Justic and Peace Studies Department.  This is the second in a series exploring the roots, history and practice of non-violence in various faith and secular traditions.  Click here for details.

Special Conference Feature:  Film Premiere

 

The Frontier Ghandi:  Badshah Khan, A Torch for Peace

 

The Minnesota Premiere of the 2009 Black Pearl Award-Winning film to be shown at Ways of Peace II.

 

Internationally known documentary film Teri McLuhan will introduce and take questions about her film, The Frontier Ghandi: Badshah Khan, A Torch for Peace, at Ways of Peace II: Non-Violence in the Islamic Traditions conference.  For Details Click Here and scroll to bottom of page 1


Program pg 1
Speakers pg 1
Speakers pg 2

Suggested Reading 

 

Registration form 

 

 What Does FNVW Do?

 

Alternatives to Violence Project (AVP) - AVP is a national and international 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 U.S., with nearly 100 working in Minnesota prisons, jails and communities. 
  

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 official to champion the Peace Platform, and to make the peace vote the vote that matters most.

 

People Camp - People Camp is a week-long 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.

 

Peace Education and Advocacy Program - Peace Education Program seeks to transform the dialog between opposing parties by seeking the common thread.  For example, our Ways of Peace conference series illuminates the thread of non-violence through major religions.  Please join us for Ways of Peace II:  Non-Violence in the Islamic Tradition, April 9, 2011.

 

Erika Thorne
Managing Director

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