Action Conference Proposals
Prop. #1
Proposal for a mass human rights march to the
1. Submitted by If Americans Knew, with support from the Council for the National Interest, the International Solidarity Movement, Citizens for Fair Legislation, and the Palestinian Right of Return Coalition.
2. We propose that hundreds of Americans of all ethnicities and backgrounds - many of them elders -converge in
3. A national ? and international -- action. In discussing this idea with people from
4. This event will require energetic outreach to Americans of all political, ethnic, and religious backgrounds; media coordination; and extremely detailed logistical organizing. We will need organizers in each state, internationally, and are putting together a team to make arrangements on the ground in
Prop. #2
Students for a Free Palestine
WHEREAS the mission of the US Campaign to end the Israeli Occupation (US Campaign) is "...to change those US policies that sustain Israel's 36-year occupation of Palestinian West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem and deny equal rights for all", and
WHEREAS US Campaign strategy is to inform, educate, and mobilize the public regarding the US role in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and
WHEREAS student movements have historically been a primary and in many cases THE primary force for positive social change (such as South Africa, Indonesia/East Timor, the USA, Serbia and countless other places), and
WHEREAS there is a strong current of activism on college campuses and in hall of high school for focused and strategic action for combating the Israeli Occupation of Palestinian Lands.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation provide resources to create "Students for a Free Palestine", and in order to accomplish this an advisory or other working group be set up at the July 2003 Organizer's Conference to take the necessary steps to put this project in place.
Prop. #3
Submitted by Jewish Voice for Peace and SUSTAIN
Proposal for action (Describe the proposal in maximum 100 words, highlighting its potential to shift
At this moment, we don't have a proposal that should go to all the members of the US Campaign. We do want to meet with other organizations that have an interest in taking on the Caterpillar campaign. SUSTAIN has been serious about the campaign for a long time, and JVP has just made an organization-wide commitment to the campaign and will thus be much more involved than in the past. We want to talk with other groups that are interested in making a commitment to moving this campaign forward, and we want to set up a structure to do so.
Prop. #4
I suggest the following for an action plan
Prop. #5
1. Submitted by Jewish Women for Justice in Israel/Palestine
2. Proposal for action (Describe the proposal in maximum 100 words, highlighting its potential to shift
We have been highlighting major traffic areas in the metropolitan
US/Israel Stop the Occupation, Stop the Bulldozing of Palestinian Homes, Stop the starvation of Palestinian Children....Additionally, we hand out leaflets that on one side provide more details on each of the signs, and the other provides action steps and resources.
3a. Should this be a nationwide action? (Describe the results you have had in doing this work, and potential impact nationwide. Maximum 50 words)
This can be done in any community. Our leafleting and signing has been an organizing and educational tool
3b. Should this be a regional action? (Describe the results you have had doing this work and potential impact at a regional level or in specific states or groups of states. Maximum 50 words)
It brings visibility to the issue and is an organizing tool.We have recruited people to join the campaign and have had the opportunity to engage with many residents or passersby about the
issues.
4. What resources will this action need? (Maximum 50 words)
Resources include: materials and information to make the signs, a coordinator to organize the action and participants to hold signs and leaflet. We found that we needed 5-7 people for each action.
Prop. #6
I think the most important aspect of the Israeli domination over
Peace,
Jon Paul McClellan
Prop. #7
Debunking the Christian Right
1. Submitted by Martha Reese.
2. Proposal for action.
Why are so many evangelical Christians so convinced that the dispossession and oppression of the Palestinians is the fulfillment of God¹s will? How can those who preach God's love demonstrate such callous disregard for an entire group of people, while celebrating nationalism, greed, militarism, and ethnic cleansing as the will of the God? Is there a way to expose this
viewpoint as anti-God, sinful, errant, blind, and phenomenally dangerous? Is there a way to reach Christian Zionists on their own terms?
I propose that the U.S. Campaign invite several enlightened Christian scholars to produce an accessible, brief, persuasive treatment that attempts to un-brainwash Christian Zionists using Christian theology, Biblical quotes, and anecdotal stories that portray the Palestinians as sympathetic individuals. This digestible tract should help Christian Zionists see through the bigoted, insidious influence of their spokespersons and leaders.
3. Should this be a regional action?
Local activist teams can approach staff at evangelical churches. Pass out to congregants. Find conferences, "revivals" and large public events featuring evangelists, work the crowds and cars in parking lots.
4. What resources will this action need?
The dream-team of writers for such a tract might include several Illinoisans living in convenient proximity: Don Wagner, Bob Worley, Jim Wall, and Dr. Gary Burge (author of
Prop. #8
Stop Funding Settlements: They Sabotage the Peace Process
1. Submitted by Martha Reese.
2. Proposal for action
President Bush has issued demands that funding and support be cut off ³for anybody who tries to sabotage the peace process.² In Bush¹s limited view, this practice should be applied to funding channels that support Palestinian terrorism. Of the myriad grotesque expressions of Occupation, the settlements are widely recognized as being an ³obstacle to peace.² The "Wexner Analysis," leaked in April, admits that the settlements are a public relations ³Achilles heel.² Let us, then, create a campaign exploiting this and demand that funding and support for the settlements be cut off.--demand that settlement funding be made illegal whether by wealthy private donors, Christian evangelical organizations, or Jewish "charitable" organizations, using similar executive-branch and legal instruments to those used to cut off funds to terrorist organizations.
--demand an end to unrestricted U.S. economic aid to Israel that is, ultimately, used for the building of settlements, and an end to U.S. military aid to Israel, that frees Israeli assets for settlement-building that might otherwise have been used on militarization.
3a. Should this be a nationwide action?
Nationwide, local, media, legislative, community education.
4. What resources will this action need?
Fact sheets or brochure to empower legislative activism, community education, media advocacy. Maps showing proliferation of settlements. Anecdotal "human stories" about dire effects of settlement on indigenous Palestinian life. Outline steps used by Bush Administration to stop funds flow to terrorist organizations.
* * * *
Resources and References available if proposal is adopted.
Prop. #9
1. Submitted by SUSTAIN
2. Proposal for action (Describe the proposal in maximum 100 words, highlighting its potential to shift
The goal of the action is to pressure the Caterpillar Corporation to end all sales of equipment to the IDF and make a public statement that this is in reaction to this equipment being used in crimes against humanity.It would be an international campaign involving education, protest,
various sorts of theatrical actions, boycotts by construction firms, etc. At present many groups are working on this project already.Jewish Voice for Peace has made it a priority. Groups in
3a. Should this be a nationwide action? (Describe the results you have had in doing this work, and potential impact nationwide. Maximum 50 words)
Actually international as Cat has business and offices throughout the world. To date there have been protest and theater actions at around a dozen Cat offices in the
Or
3b. Should this be a regional action? (Describe the results you have had doing this work and potential impact at a regional level or in specific states or groups of states. Maximum 50 words)
4. What resources will this action need? (Maximum 50 words)
Well, it can go on at a low level with few resources or at a much larger one with more. This all depends on how extensive and serious people want the campaign to be.
Prop. #10
1. Submitted by Kiki Montamat of Unitarian Universalists for Justice in the Middle East (UUJME)
2. As a tool of Education for Mobilization, set up a "film festival" on the Palestinian experience. Documentaries make connections intellectually and emotionally. They educate Americans on the hidden history of this conflict and give us a more accurate understanding of current events. And documentaries put a human face on this war, showing the Palestinians as people just like us, concerned about loss of jobs and destruction of their property, traumatized by violence and frightened for their children's future. Americans are also introduced to the existence of Jewish critics of Israeli policies, which, given the unbalanced status quo, validates dissent.
3. This can be a nationwide initiative. We showed 7 films at a church where there's significant discomfort about addressing the conflict. Most attendees were not "in the choir". Offering numerous titles made it easier for people to catch at least one. I made substantial introductory comments, addressing contentious issues head on and weaving in current events, and led the discussion afterwards. We got a lot of positive feedback. This series helped normalize discussion of the topic, and provides a basis for further organizing and activism.
4. Resources required: purchase price for the videos, and some sort of "community space" with a TV and VCR. The videos (title list below) cost about $200 total (prices from $15 to $45). Snacks (optional) added about $40 to the budget. More aggressive advertising and more titles are planned for next season.
Title List:
1. Beyond the Mirage: the Face of Occupation (2002)
2. Tragedy in the
3. People and the Land (1997)
4. USS Liberty: Dead in the Water (2002)
5.
6. Jenin Jenin (2002)
7.
Prop. #11
Proposal: "Never Again allow
What is the proposal:
End the Occupation will establish a campaign committee to identify and campaign against any Israeli provocation that could derail the ceasefire and the Roadmap, including targeted assassinations, arrests, repression of peaceful demonstrators, land seizures, and house demolitions. We will begin by circulating for signatures an open letter. We will also use articles, pickets, demonstrations, joint demonstrations with Palestinians, and other means to focus on the Israeli actions that appear intended to provoke Palestinian violence so
Why this proposal:
The mass media usually ignores the Israeli provocations and focuses on the Palestinian response, as happened again recently with the violence following the June 4 Aqaba summit when
Jimmy Leas
James Marc Leas
www.vermontpatentlawyer.com
Prop. #12
Submitted by The
We, the Kansas Committee for a Just Peace in the
1. The
Local affiliates look to the US Campaign for stronger guidance on how to respond to the ?Roadmap.? Are we to demand its timely implementation, condemn it as a ?Roadmap to nowhere,? or what? We respect the US Campaign Steering Committee for its diversity and the good names of its members and their organizations, and we think it is the task of the steering committee to struggle as long as needed to reach a unified position on the ?Roadmap, to distribute a concise and clear analysis, and to identify appropriate strategies and tactics with which to respond
2. Congressional and Education for Mobilization: DEMAND INTERNATIONAL OBSERVERS
The US Campaign should organize public and congressional pressure (and pressure from the Democratic Presidential candidates) for international observers, perhaps from the UN, to be sent to the
Connected to this campaign should be pressure for the cessation of land seizures, home demolitions, settlement building, and all violations of international law and human rights.
3. Congressional and Education for Mobilization: MAKE THE ISRAELI OCCUPATION AN ELECTION ISSUE
The US Campaign should contact the campaigns of each of the democratic presidential candidates, to offer and provide expert information and materials, to "educate" them on the issue.
The US Campaign should organize local activists and affiliate groups to attend public campaign events, "town hall meetings," press conferences-- especially during the democratic primaries -- to question the candidates on these issues.
The US Campaign should get each of the democratic candidates "on the record" with views and positions relative to the occupation, the "Roadmap," and a plan for a just peace.
The candidates should know that "everywhere" they go, they will be asked about the occupation and will have to state, restate or defend their positions, and that many potential supporters who raise these questions oppose the occupation.
The US Campaign should coordinate eliciting and compiling these statements and positions nationally, publish them, and distribute them broadly, along with critiques of their positions, to activists, journalists, and the news media generally.
Prop. #13
Bret Davis
Proposed campaign: Organizing independent fact-finding delegations (co-sponsored by US
Campaign?) on a state or regional level. Delegations are perhaps the best way to get activists empowered and committed to take action on this issue and are also an effective and powerful way to educate the American public as delegates return to the
This campaign to organize delegations should be done on a statewide basis (states that can not recruit 7-10 delegates can team up with adjoining states).Statewide organization of delegations can be especially effective for our movement in creating vibrant statewide networks of activists because the delegates themselves will, in essence, become a synergistic statewide network through their bonding and life altering experience together.
Individuals fundraise the costs of the delegation ($2000-2200) themselves. Local organizations support the delegation with promotion and publicity (an excellent media opportunity!). Bret Davis Eartheart and others will provide campaign support in the
Thank you for your work. To give you an idea of who I am my bio follows.
Bret Davis Eartheart, 32, from
Hoosier Environmental Council, How On Earth! And Turtle
Solidarity Movement and then went on to
August 9th-23rd and then plans on staying in
Prop. #14
1. Submitted by Global Exchange
2. Proposal for action
Since 1967,
Global Exchange invites the US Campaign to make stopping the Apartheid Wall our number one priority as a national coalition.
3a.
This would be a nationwide educational campaign as well as a series of coordinated actions:
* Demonstrations at Israeli consulates: "Tear down this wall,
* National lobby days, with educational materials presented to Members of Congress on the wall/fence. We would want to focus on this leading up to the time that the
* Experts on the Wall from
4. What resources will this action need?
This campaign will require the commitment, time and money required under any other campaign: brochures/flyers need to be printed (Global Exchange recently updated our brochure on the wall); airfare and accommodations need to be arranged for speakers from Palestine/Israel; media outreach needs to be done for actions
Prop. #15
1. Submitted by Interfaith Council for Peace and Justice,
2. Proposal for action:
Our resolution (attached) calls for the
share our resolution with you. We will be glad to describe the working groups focusing initially on Caterpillar Corp and contacts with churches and university divestment campaigns.
3. Should this be a nationwide action?
Yes. We are sharing our resolution with local, regional, and national groups, aiming for its adoption by congregations and governing bodies. The request for participation motivates people to discuss and learn about the suffering of the Palestinian people under the occupation. The widening effect on public opinion can be powerful.
4. What resources will this action need?
The resolution and campaign statements will need to be distributed via letter and email. Personal contacts and publicity campaigns will be useful, directed at specific companies and encouraging efforts by volunteers in widespread communities.
ICPJ
Anne Remley
Betsy Barlow
Karen Deslierres
Prop. #16
1. Submitted by Betsy Barlow for Friends of Sabeel-North
2. Proposal for action (probably under education for mobilization)
The proposal is to publicize the damages owed by Israel to the Palestinian Authority and to individual Palestinians and groups of Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza for the purpose of educating the US (and international) public. In the
violate Palestinian human rights. It could also have the effect of putting a shadow on further Israeli incursions, since Israeli soldiers could be held individually responsible as well as the state, if illegal orders were given.
3a. Nationwide activity is best (there is the possibility of international activity as well.) The damages would be grouped under damages to roads and public building (owed to the Palestinian state) and home demolitions, land confiscations, damages to trees and orchards and crops from the barrier wall and other confiscations, damages to families of those killed and to those who were wounded, loss of ambulances and cars, loss of work due to closures, computers damaged or stolen, etc.
4. For gathering the information we would use Palestinian and Israeli human rights groups (Btselem, LAW, Israeli Coalition Against Home Demolitions,. al Haq, etc.
In the
We can do much of this information dissemination through the email, but it would be most effective to design some ads along the way, which would obviously cost money. Many local groups or member groups could raise money to put ads in local papers in their areas.
Prop. #17
1. Submitted by Rebuilding Homes, Donna Baranski-Walker & Mary Abu-Saba
2. Proposal for action (Describe the proposal in maximum 100 words, highlighting its potential to shift
The
policy to pressure for fair property rights in the
Approach: A month-long nationwide Right to a Home Teach-in coordinated locally by all member groups culminating in a Senate and Congress Action Day : ß During Sept., each member group holds one speaking event and/or house party fundraiser to build momentum and form delegations for upcoming briefings with senators and congresspersons.ß During October, member groups send delegations to Wash DC for a Right to a Home Congressional Action Day followed by visits to the local offices of Senators and Congresspersons.
3a. Should this be a nationwide action? (Describe the results you have had in doing this work, and potential impact nationwide. Maximum 50 words)
Yes. A teach-in focused on fair property rights and rebuilding homes attracts new members to local peace groups because concerned Americans of all faiths seek a tangible and immediate way to help Israelis and Palestinians who refuse to be enemies. Rebuilding Homes was the recipient of the Lewis Mumford Award for Development, we have completed 6 homes and raised $402,000 in the past year through 130 house party fundraisers. The United Nations invited Rebuilding Homes to
finance ministers, UN agencies, and NGOs.
4. What resources will this action need? (Maximum 50 words)
Required:
- Designated EOC coordinator to work with Rebuilding Homes staff
- Resource packets for speaking events and/or house party fundraisers: $25 each including video, pamphlets, power point CD, FAQ sheet, how-to checklists
- Speakers for speaking events: we can help coordinate speakers who are Refuseniks, CPT, FOR
- Training for coordinator in each EOC member organization (conference call, listerve)
- Airfare to Wash DC + accommodations (provided by each EOC member group plus some scholarships)
- Press coordination (local outreach plus national press conference at the National Press Club)
- Delegations from Israel and Palestine to join Congressional Action Day with a speaking tour to cover travel costs
Wishlist (not required but a dream worthy of consideration):
- Right to a Home Teach-in on the Mall in Wash DC with artists, street theater, focused on fair property rights and rebuilding Palestinian homes through the help of all who refuse to be enemies;
- Use the Teach-in to convene an Israeli/Palestinian/American common ground peace-makers forum, inviting Israeli and Palestinian NGO to join us on the hill.
web: http://rebuildinghomes.org
Prop. #18
1. Submitted by Wheels of Justice Tour (organized by Voices in the Wilderness,
Children's
2. Proposal for action (Describe the proposal in maximum 100 words, highlighting its potential to shift
-
3a. Should this be a nationwide action? (Describe the results you have had in doing this work, and potential impact nationwide. Maximum 50 words)
-Nationwide - see below.
4. What resources will this action need? (Maximum 50 words)
-The main thing we are asking for is endorsement - for organizations affiliated with US Campaign to help spread the word about this tour, or to set up specific events in their areas.
We are open to other suggestions of support.
WHEELS OF JUSTICE TOUR
Nonviolent education and action against war and occupation in
Members of Voices in the Wilderness, Al-Awda, the International Solidarity Movement, and Middle East Children's
Having seen and lived with war, terror and occupation in Iraq and Palestine, participants in the Wheels of Justice offer first-hand experience irrespective of partisan politics and sound bite sloganeering. To build upon and reassert the massive domestic opposition to war against
occupation of the Palestinians, the Wheels of Justice Tour will travel all across the western
The Wheels of Justice Tour Platform
-We call for adherence to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
-Through education, outreach, nonviolent actions and personal witness, we stand in opposition to the violence and injustice of war and occupation.
-We recognize that to find peace, the root injustices must be sought, seen and directly dealt with.
-We seek and practice nonviolent alternatives to the current violence and advocate solutions to the roots of war in
Truth-Telling: To speak honestly about Palestine/Israel, one must recognize that the ongoing Palestine/Israel conflict springs from the displacement, apartheid and numerous injustices created by years of direct military occupation of the native Palestinians by the state of Israel; the violence will continue as long as it has the solid foundation of violent oppression and military
occupation upon which to stand.
To speak honestly and openly about the war against and occupation of
the very self-determination championed by the
You cannot have peace without justice, you cannot see justice without actively resisting injustice, and you can't nourish a nonviolent resistance without a supportive community. The consequences of these wars and occupations fall upon the shoulders of the poor and oppressed, the refugees and the marginalized, and those in our own communities whose needs are
neglected by governments' costly pursuit of foreign wars; the human cost is paid for by the innocent and most vulnerable, here and abroad. To see an end to the violence and injustice of war and occupation, we must invest in justice and human rights for those living with and living under occupation and war.
The Only Roadmap for Peace: Justice and Human Rights: As people of conscience working for peace, we see that the only roadmap for peace is justice and human rights. We call upon all parties involved to recognize and adhere to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and we call for nonviolent resistance to this violence of war, terror and occupation.
As much of this violence is supported by our tax dollars and by our elected officials, Americans bear a great responsibility. The people of the world know this, and
Further, draining our treasury on weapons and wars helps prolong and exacerbate our economic downfall and diverts resources greatly needed to build American schools and infrastructure and provide employment and healthcare to our own citizens. To break the cycle of violence we must
change our roles in these conflicts; as individuals and as a nation, we must move from instigator to negotiator, from enabler to resister.
Educational Focus:
-Self-determination for both Iraqis and Palestinians versus occupation and colonization (drawing parallels to the dispossession and oppression of other peoples, including native Americans, African Americans, South African blacks under Apartheid, etc.)
-Universal Human Rights and equality under the law
-Effects of war and occupation on civilians in Palestine/Israel and Iraq, including house demolitions, armed conflict, apartheid laws, collective punishment, and degrading humanitarian conditions
-US Tax payers' footing the bill and bearing the consequences of flawed US foreign policy in Iraq and Palestine/Israel.
Action Focus:
-Promote solidarity with Iraqis and Palestinians under war and occupation.
-Cultivate, promote and take nonviolent direct action for peace and justice.
-Build and strengthen networks of action groups in states visited.
-Engage in advocacy with elected and appointed officials; challenge pro-war and pro-occupation officials in public.
-Engage in mass media campaigns.
-Raise material support for home rebuilding, refugee aid, and advocacy work.
[More information available if proposal is adopted]
Prop. #19
1. We are Americans for a Just Peace in the
2. We believe that it is important to remain focus that all of our activities and actions must "Move the Rock" off the chest of the Palestinians or it will be just so much wind (a.k.a. BS). If it doesn't move the rock it's useless.
Just as one might put a large brick under the tire of a car to keep it from rolling, we believe Congress is that brick that keeps the "Rock" from rolling to a just peace in Palestine-Israel. Therefore, we believe all actions should be focused on moving the brick out of the way.
It is our understanding that most people in American as well as most congresspeople are woefully ignorant of the reality in
important to direct the contitutent of each respective congressperson to take direct action in letting their congresspeople that they have take a postion on Palestine so that the congressperson know there's a vote out there that things and believes this and that.
3. Nationwide? Yes! Actions, educations, etc. should be nationwide with an emphasis on helping people understand what they need to do with the information, actions, etc. namely to inform their congresspeople that they exits, give them money and believe a certain way about justice in Palestine.
We have found a nationwide interest in our documentary, Beyond The Mirage: The Face of the Occupation. People call us often asking permission to show it on their local access TV stations, or to use it in their classrooms: Jr. high, High school and college.We've been asked to show the doc and speak at different locations across the nation. We always point them to the US
Campgain and encourage them to join.
Soon we will have our our site video clips of interview with Uri Avnery (Gush Shalom); Illan Pappe (Haifa Univ "New Historian"): Hajo Mayer (Aushwitz survivor), and others.
4. Resources: We've had success with audio visual documentary, film clips on out web site (www.ajpme.org) and we are automating a way to FAX hundreds of congressional members when we want to get a quick flyer (see our flyers on our site) to them. Our newest flyers should be on our site soon, one titled "Chiristian Extremists" quoting Pat Robertson of the 700 Club, "When Israeli settlements are touched, there are also occurrences of hurricanes, tornados and
major problems in the American economy." Such lunacy must be communicated to congress. The ad/flyer ends with: HELP US STOP THIS KIND OF EXTREMISM.
David Neunuebel
Executive Director
Americans for a Just Peace in the
www.ajpme.org
Prop. #20
1. Submitted by the
2. While the attention of the press is focused on the illusory Road Map, we hear next to nothing about the map being rapidly imposed on the
Bank
400,000 Palestinians) could be trapped on the Israeli side of the wall - a sure recipe for invisible transfer: life will be so impossible people will have to leave.
On
We propose that the US Campaign act in solidarity with the Palestinian Environmental NGOs Network (PENGON) and demand that the
3. This should be a nationwide action, aimed at regional and national opinion-makers and the media, the Administration, our elected representatives and the general public. It lends itself to public education about
4. Our Boston-area campaign is in its initial phase. We are putting together a press packet and will be doing targeted media outreach. If we don't get results, we intend to create our own Wall and demonstrate with it outside The Boston Globe ("Since the Globe did not bring the Wall to us, we ? your readers -are bringing the Wall to you"). The US Campaign can help disseminate resources being produced by PENGON and the B'Tselem Report. It can make available sample op eds and letters to the editor, and the kind of language, arguments and messages that have been found to work with different
Prop. #21
1. We'd like to see a national call to PBS stations across the
2. We'd like to have some printed postcards we could hand-out at events for people to sign and mail to legislators, the President, etc. with a picture and simple message like "We are tired of our tax dollars being used to help Israel steal land and oppress Palestinians. End the Occupation!
3. We'd like the campaign to arrange for some national tours where we could share expenses and each group would have the opportunity to bring the tour to their area. Include dance groups, artists, big name speakers like Dr.Hannan Ashrawi, Bishop Desmond Tutu, Dr. Elias Chacour.
4. We'd like to see a series of simplified fact sheets, one liners with headings like "Did You Know?" followed by simple facts like :
---Israel has confiscated 85% of Palestinian water
---____number of Palestinian wells were destroyed since ____
----____acres of Palestinian land razed
---____dollars in aid to Israeli government
---____dollars in aid to Palestinian government
Include at least one fact sheet about what Americans could buy either with the total dollars sent to Israel to date or annual dollars sent ----very pointed facts like "using the World Health Organization Standard we could feed ____ children per day" or "educate ____ Head Start children" ; or vaccinate ___Africans for aids, etc., or build ____schools in Afganistan
5. We would like a monthly summary of the violence in a column format (like the Who Will Save the Children brochure) with both violence against
Number of people killed
Number of people injured
Number of mosques destroyed or damaged
Number of synagogues damaged or destroyed
Number of churches damaged or destroyed
Number of students denied education
Acres of land razed
Number of homes bulldozed
Acres of land confiscated, etc.
We would use it to send to our e-mail lists. When we send news to our lists now it is always one side or the other. Also monthly summary would keep e-mails to a minimum yet give people a clear sense of what is happening there, how unbalanced it is.
I think there is something close to this for the Palestinian side. I see it on Al-Awda e-mails but I do not see it for the Israeli side.
6. We'd like to see the campaign develop a press kit which contains a couple of very graphic photographs which cannot be ignored, statistics about casualties, UN violations, Geneva Convention violations, health statistics, etc. including a well crafted letter explaining our position and our goals. This could be distributed to all newspapers, individuals, and congress. It should be a short document so it will be read.
7. Contact presidential candidates letting them know our concern about the occupation and asking them define their position.
8. I have seen the same identical letter from three
Sincerely,
Frances ReMillard
Utahns for a Just Peace in the
Prop. #22
1. Submitted by Utahns for a Just Peace in the
2. Proposal for action (Describe the proposal in maximum 100 words, highlighting its potential to shift
We propose the U.S. Campaign prepare a series of 1/2 page (8 1/2 by 5 1/2) post cards, which groups like ours could either purchase or download, each with a very well done picture and a related fact about the Palestinian situation. ie similar the peace post cards at
www.neighborsforpeace.itgo.com.These post cards could be used for mass mailings to our congressmen, could be given out at events for people to sign and send, and could be used as
well to send to family and friends to help raise awareness and increase the grassroots knowledge base. A picture (and short message) is worth a thousand words. We think cards would likely be read. Consider too, Christmas post cards using an image from
3a. Should this be a nationwide action? (Describe the results you have had in doing this work, and potential impact nationwide. Maximum 50 words)
This would be a nationwide resource. In the course of our work we have seen some powerful images which had a lasting impact when linked with facts.
One was paired photos taken from nearly the same point in
Another was a statue of the Virgin Mary full of holes. (like a road sign full of holes that one might see when driving through the country) This image was in the film Jeremy Hardy vs. the Israeli Army. That image stays with us still because it speaks so loudly of contempt for something which is precious to others.
4. What resources will this action need? (Maximum 50 words)
Good photographer and writer to put together images and text.
Prop. #23
1. Submitted by Utahns for a Just Peace in the
2. Proposal for action (Describe the proposal in maximum 100 words, highlighting its potential to shift
We propose that the U.S. Campaign put together a well researched fact sheet to include (a) the impact of the occupation on Christian Churches,(primarily damage costs to churches, church schools and colleges), (b) the alarming decrease of the Christian population in Israel/Palestine, and (c) cost of aid to Israel translated to statistics as to how many children those dollars could feed and other similar facts (one very good picture).
We have been working with churches and have come to believe there is huge potential within the churches, but find some resistance because churches tend to not want to be political. By translating this conflict to something the churches care about (their own property and children) we believe we will have a much greater impact. Handouts like this would be easier to distrubute in churches.
3a. Should this be a nationwide action? (Describe the results you have had in doing this work, and potential impact nationwide. Maximum 50 words)
This would be a nationwide resource.
4. What resources will this action need? (Maximum 50 words)
This action would take some research and coordination between the churches and church groups which have a presence in Israel/Palestine to get the damage costs assimilated.
Prop. #24
1. Submitted by Utahns for a Just Peace in the
2. Proposal for action (Describe the proposal in maximum 100 words, highlighting its potential to shift
We propose that the U.S Campaign have at least one of their
We believe that Americans continue to be uninformed about this issue, that it will take a grassroots pressure to change American policy on this issue and that PBS watchers tend to be people who are more likely to take action, and therefore reaching them with new information is important.
3a. Should this be a nationwide action? (Describe the results you have had in doing this work, and potential impact nationwide. Maximum 50 words)
Yes, this should be a nationwide effort. We have shown this film locally a number of times. It is very powerful. We believe it has the potential to move people.
4. What resources will this action need? (Maximum 50 words)
This action will require a small amount of research, to identify where this film is in the marketing process and to identify the best approach to PBS stations to insure success. Perhaps, for instance, we should encourage people who want contribute to PBS stations to do so. Certainly funding is always an issue.
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