Friends for a Non-Violent World

November 5, 2011 
In This Email Blast
Way of Peace II Video
Office Space Available
CALL TO ACTION:Syrian Update
FNVW Forming Syria Solidarity Network
  DONATE TO FNVW!
Here's where

Here's How


FNVW LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEERS

 

As we migrate to a new,

combined database/ marketing/accounting system with Salsa we have a great need for volunteers to work with data on the computer. 

 

If you have time Mondays or Thursdays 8:30 - 4:30, call Judy (651-917-0383).  Your assistance will be greatly appreciated.
 

 

Non-Violence in the Islamic Traditions

Video is on FNVW Website!

 

The high-quality video, edited by Terry Kayser of Gemini Studio of Fine Art, can be reached through the upper right corner of the FNVW website: www.fnvw.org

 

 

 

or by clicking on this link

 

 

Video Highlights:   

 

 

* See Afra Jalabi's riveting 

speech during the morning plenary, taking us from early Muslim Martyrs to current events in Syria, her home country.  


* Follow it with Yahya Michot tracing how Islam has been hijacked for violent ends that completely contradict its traditions and principles.

 

 

* Enjoy Azhar Usman, acclaimed stand-up comedian, actor and activist, telling us about his journey and the key principles of Islam which inspire him.

 

* The compelling afternoon panel of Abdisalam Adam, Fatma Reda, Kathy McKay and Mel Duncan, including a stirring recitation of Qur'an verses by an audience member, is not posted quite yet, so stay tuned!

 

* We could not post video of The Frontier Gandhi film about Badshah Khan, but please go to

www.thefrontiergandhi.com for clips of Teri C. McLuhan's glorious and informative feature-length film.  And watch for its commercial release!

  

 

 

We are making all footage available on the internet so anyone who attended or wanted to can recapture some of the power and impact of the conference.  Please share widely.  DVD's are available for purchase by writing [email protected] or calling 651/917-0383. 

 

 
We thank Terry Kayser of Gemini Studio and his terrific camera crew, The University of St. Thomas, and the many volunteers for the success of Ways of Peace II: Nonviolence in the Islamic Traditions.

 

 

The conference was made possible in part by The Saint Paul Foundation, The Fredrickson and Byron Foundation, Gandhi Mahal Fine Indian Quisine, The Al-Rawiya Foundation, Tim Wulling and Marilyn Benson, and dozens of individual and organizational donors.

 

Thank you!

 

Looking for Office Space? Check out 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

          $800/mo for 800 sq. feet

          Plus shared full kitchen & bathroom

          Street-level office space

          Shared access to a large conference room  negotiable

          Sharing high-speed internet and printer/copier is also negotiable

          Utilities not included; charged on prorated basis


 

FNVW 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. 


 

For more information, please call Judy at the FNVW office, 651-917-0383 or email to the FNVW email address (click here).

 
Peaceable-Kingdon


 

 

 

Quick Links
FNVW Events
Yaman Kadri

Today, November 3rd, 2011. Syrian security agents viciously beat up young medical student, Yaman Kadri, 18 years old, in front of her classmates at Damascus University. She was then forcefully taken along with a classmate to an unknown location. Her classmate was released an hour after the arrest but Yaman Kadri is still presently being held incommunicado. Yaman faces grave danger and is at risk of torture as the regime has systematically attacked health workers and professionals who are speaking up against repression and helping the injured. Free Yaman Kadri, the rose of the medical faculty of Damascus.


TAKE ACTION

SAMPLE LETTER:
To the relevant authorities:

I am writing to demand the immediate and unconditional release of Yaman Kadri a young 18 year old medical student.  Syrian security agents viciously beat herin front of her classmates at Damascus University. She was then forcefully taken along with a classmate to an unknown location. Her classmate was released an hour after the arrest but Yaman Kadri is still presently being held incommunicado.Yaman faces grave danger and is at risk of torture as the regime has systematically attacked health workers and professionals who are speaking up against repression and helping the injured.
Arbitrary detention is illegal according to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, Article 7. Syria signed this Covenant on 21 April, 1969.And torture is illegal in Syria, both under international law as well as according to Article 28 (3) of the Syrian Constitution. The Penal Code of Syria stipulates punishment for anyone inflicting torture on a person. Syria's security system is thus responsible for the safety and well-being of Yaman Kadri. I hold the Syrian government responsible for her safe return , and for all prisoners of conscience and political prisoners currently held in Syria's detention and prison system. All such detainees should be released immediately and without condition.
  • Sincerely,
  •  
[Your Name]

 

ADDRESSES (copy & paste into your email address line):
To (Syrian Embassy in Washington DC): [email protected]
cc (Foreign Ministries worldwide): [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]


FNVW joins campaign to defeat the proposed constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage.
 

On Monday, October 24, the FNVW Board came to consensus to oppose the proposed constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriages and to make available our resources in the effort to defeat it. The proposed constitutional amendment contradicts our commitment to honor human dignity and achieve peace and justice. We believe discrimination and inequality are embedded as part of the foundation of this amendment.  Should this amendment be adopted it would promote physical, psychological and spiritual violence against LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) people.


We have joined Minnesotans United for all Families (http://www.mnunited.org), the official campaign to defeat the constitutional amendment.  And we will be calling upon FNVW members for help!!  We hope you will be able to attend the Minnesotans United for all Families fundraiser on November 6 at the home of Matt Entenza with special guests
 

Governor Mark Dayton 
Congressman Keith Ellison 
Robyne Robinson  


WHEN:    November 6, 2011; 2:00-4:00 pm
WHERE:  The Entenza residence, 1647 Portland 
                Avenue, Saint Paul, Minnesota
WHAT:     A reception benefiting Minnesotans United
                 for All Families

SUGGESTED CONTRIBUTION:  
                $25 - $100 More if you can, less if you can't

RSVP:      Please RSVP to [email protected], or 
                call 651-330-6852

 

Minnesotans United for All Families is the official campaign that will defeat the constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage.  Minnesotans United is a broad coalition of faith organizations, members of the business community and communities of color, progressive organizations, nonpartisan organizations, organized labor, community leaders, current and former elected officials, Republicans, DFLers, Libertarians, Greens and Independents.  We believe in a Minnesota that values and supports strong families and creates a welcoming environment for Minnesota families to thrive.

 FNVW Forming Syria Solidarity Network

 

The Syrian people's freedom movement remains committed to nonviolence in the face of seven months of stark brutality by the Al-Assadregime.  At least 3000 have been killed, untold thousands apprehended, disappeared or tortured.  The human toll is staggering.  (Please see Afra Jalabi's article in FNVW's upcoming Nonviolent Times newsletter, or go to our website, www.fnvw.org for more information.)

 

At FNVW we see the Syrian struggle as the largest nonviolent movement in the world today, and in terms of geopolitical impact, one of themost crucial.  For both thesereasons-human suffering and strategic importance-we feel called to actions insolidarity. 

 

FNVW's Syrian Solidarity Network (SSN) will be people whowish to be involved in solidarity work such as:
  • Amass an English-language knowledge base on the resistance and making it available via electronic, alternative and traditional media
    • Blogs, forums and wiki sites are available through FNVW's website, and independently
    • Commentaries, interviews and letters to editors, radio, broadcast media
  • Identify policy goals and mobilize popular pressure to achieve them
  • Co-sponsor a national tour of nonviolent Syrian activists with other solidarity groups in the US, Canada and abroad
  • Identify one nonviolent activist per month to publicize, urging the public's demand for their release

 

 

The first meeting of FNVW's Syrian Solidarity Network 

 

Monday, November 7, 2011 -- 7:00-9:00

FNVW Offices at 1050 Selby Avenue, St. Paul   55104

Please RSVP on ourwebsite at

www.fnvw.org,

or at

[email protected] 

or phone us at 651/917-0383.

 

The purpose for this first meeting is to begin to identify goals and action focus.  All who are committed to the success of the Syrian people's nonviolent resistance are welcome.

 

 

Erika Thorne,
Managing Director

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