Events Calendar - Join Us!

March 2010

Monday, March 1, 2010

Bloomington Peace Action Coalition Monthly Meeting

Join us in organizing and presenting local Peace events and activities, and working together with others on regional and national events in the coming months.
At any level of involvement, your participation is needed.
Let us know if you can help with flyering.

Time: 2:00 - 3:30 p.m.
Location: Boxcar Books (Meeting Room)
408 E. 6th Street (next to The Runcible Spoon)
Bloomington, Indiana

Wednesdays, March 3 & 17, 2010
(1st and 3rd Wednesdays of every month)

“Peace for Afghanistan and Iraq! Bring the Troops Home Now!”
Demonstration on the Courthouse Square

Please join those who faithfully gather to call for “Peace for Afghanistan and Iraq!” and an end to the U.S. military occupations there.

Signs and banners provided, or bring your own signs with messages of Peace and ending war and military occupation.
Join us on the Square!

Time: 5:00 - 6:00 p.m.
Location: Monroe County Courthouse Square
Intersection of Walnut Street and Kirkwood Avenue
Bloomington, Indiana

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

"WAR MADE EASY" Film Showing

The Real War film series presents a free wide-screen showing of “WAR MADE EASY”

Narrated by actor and activist Sean Penn, “War Made Easy” exposes the 50-year pattern of government deception and media spin that has dragged the United States into one war after another, from Vietnam to Iraq. Using archival footage from L.B.J. to George W. Bush, the film reveals how the American news media uncritically disseminates the pro-war messages of successive presidential administrations.

Released in 2007, “War Made Easy” pays special attention to parallels between the Vietnam and Iraq wars. Guided by media critic Norman Solomon's meticulous research and tough-minded analysis, the film presents examples of propaganda and media complicity from the present alongside rare footage of political leaders and well-known journalists from the past.

Following the film showing, there will be time for a brief discussion.

The Real War film series is sponsored by Bloomington Peace Action Coalition.

Time: 7:00 - 9:00 p.m.
Location: Monroe County Public Library Auditorium
303 E. Kirkwood Avenue
Bloomington, Indiana

Saturday, March 13, 2010

Non-Violence and Direct Action Training

All are welcome. Limited space available.
To RSVP, please email: epolley@afsc.org

Nonviolent direct action is a key component of any movement for social change. This workshop begins with a discussion of the successful efforts to desegregate Nashville’s lunch counters in 1961. We will look at the strategy that was developed, the tactics that were used, and the manners in which the message was crafted.

Following this examination of a successful campaign of nonviolent direct action that utilized multiple levels of nonviolence, this workshop will examine the building blocks of preparing to engage in nonviolent direct action today. We’ll discuss the role of affinity groups in planning and carrying out nonviolent action. The workshop will conclude with role play exercises.

Jeff Leys, Co-Coordinator of Voices for Creative Nonviolence, will facilitate this workshop. His engagement in nonviolent direct action / civil disobedience dates back to 1980 when President Carter reinstated registration for the draft. From 1984 through 2004, he participated in multiple acts of civil disobedience at the Navy’s Project ELF in northern Wisconsin, serving a two year prison sentence after engaging in a Plowshares – Disarmament action in 1985 at the age of 21. His background includes working on issues of homelessness and union organizing. He journeyed to Iraq on two occasions in 2003, first with Voices in the Wilderness immediately prior to the U.S. invasion and then later that year with Christian Peacemaker Teams. He has worked as Co-Coordinator of Voices for Creative Nonviolence since 2004.

Organized by the American Friends Service Committee and CODEPINK Central IN.

Time: 1:00 - 5:00 p.m.
Location: Earth House
237 N. East Street
Indianapolis, Indiana

On the Seventh Anniversary of the U.S. Invasion of Iraq …
Join us for a massive Peace Mobilization in Washington to demonstrate the will of the people:

End U.S. Wars and Military Occupations!
Bring All the Troops Home Now!
Peace for Afghanistan, Iraq, and Palestine!
No war, no sanctions, no internal interference in Iran!

Peace March & Rally in Washington, D.C.
Saturday, March 20, 2010

See: http://www.March20.org
Watch the video, "All Out for March 20th!"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vwsLfG9JjF8

Bloomington Peace Action Coalition has chartered a 47-passenger motor coach to D.C.!

Don't miss this opportunity to help create a massive showing of support for the peoples of Iraq, Afghanistan, and Palestine, and insist upon an end to the military occupations of these countries.

Be a part of this historic National March and Rally in Washington D.C. as we join with tens of thousands of people from across the country in repudiating the destructive foreign policies of the United States, and call for Peace and Justice for Afghanistan and the Middle East.

Board the bus in Louisville, Bloomington, or Indianapolis!

• The bus will leave Louisville, KY at 8:00 p.m. on Friday, March 19.
• Carpool gatherings to Louisville from Bloomington, IN and Indianapolis.
• The bus will be leaving Washington, D.C. at 8:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 20 to return to Kentucky/ Indiana.
• Round-trip bus fare is $100 per person

NOTE: If you are in need of financial assistance, we have limited gift funds to help subsidize your fare. Students and low-income persons, let us know. We want you to join us!

HOW TO GET ON THE KY/IN BUS TO WASHINGTON, D.C.

TO RESERVE A SEAT:
• E-mail: timothybaer2003@hotmail.com or Call: 812-988-1917
• Provide us with your name, phone number, e-mail address, and city.
• We will call you back or e-mail you to confirm that a seat has been reserved.

MAIL IN YOUR CHECK:
After you have received confirmation that a seat on the bus is reserved for you, Please promptly mail a CHECK to:

Bloomington Peace Action Coalition
c/o Timothy Baer
P.O. Box 671
Nashville, Indiana 47448

Make your check out to “Timothy Baer”

SPONSOR SOMEONE!
If you cannot go with us to Washington, D.C. yourself, please consider sponsoring another person's seat on the bus!

Your help is greatly needed and appreciated in contributing whatever amount you can to help fund a full bus to D.C.

Thank you!

Saturday, March 20, 2010

"Words & Music Against War: A Free Concert for Peace & Solidarity"

In support of the National anti-war march in Washington DC, local musicians, poets & speakers will take the stage to promote peace & social justice. Guests include Indiana State Poet Laureate Norbert Krapf, singer/songwriters Mike Laman & Everett McKee, poet Jeff Matheus and more to be announced soon. Hosted by Michelle Gussow (writer/filmmaker) Plus children's activities, guest speaker Rev. Jim Wolfe, info tables on local peace organizations, "Peace Totes" by Debbie Zipes for sale and more. Co-sponsored by Indy Artists' Peace Project and the Indiana Peace & Justice Network.

FREE admission for all, with donations accepted to support future peace-related events.

For more information, e-mail: indyartists@aol.com or call (317)872-2155

On March 20th thousands of ordinary Americans will march in Washington DC, calling for an end to the wars in Afghanistan & Iraq. In conjunction, we present this special Hoosier concert for peace as an act of solidarity and support, standing with our brothers & sisters in DC as they seek a more peaceful tomorrow.
~ Indy Artists' Peace Project ~ Indiana Peace & Justice Network

Time: 2:00 - 4:00 p.m.
Location: First Mennonite Church
4601 Knollton Road
Indianapolis, Indiana

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Friday, March 26, 2010

DIE-IN on Monument Circle

To mark the 7th anniversary of the U.S. invasion of Iraq, Indiana peace, faith, student and labor groups will gather at Monument Circle for a "Die-In" to memorialize the Iraqi civilian casualties of the war. With permission from the Indiana War Memorials, people are encouraged to lie down at the Monument, covered in white sheets to draw attention to the human cost of war. Others will read the names of U.S. soldiers from Indiana killed in Iraq, as well as the names of just a portion of the Iraqi civilians killed.

For more information or to participate, please e-mail Erin Polley at epolley@afsc.org. RSVP's strongly encouraged.

Sponsored by American Friends Service Committee, Indianapolis Peace and Justice Center, Bloomington Peace Action Coalition, Women in Black, Indiana Peace and Justice Network, Indy Artists' Peace Project, and CODEPINK Central IN.

Time: 5:30 - 7:00 p.m.
Location: Monument Circle (north end)
Indianapolis, Indiana

Let us all pray and work for Peace on Earth!

Send calendar info to BPACpeace@hotmail.com

If your announcement is
for immediate release, please put 'Peace Alert'
in the subject line.
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Regularly scheduled BPAC meetings and events:

Monthly BPAC Meeting:
1st Monday of every month at 7:00 pm in
Room 207 of the Monroe County Public LIbrary,
303 E. Kirkwood Ave., Bloomington, Indiana

1st and 3rd Wednesdays of every month at 5:00 pm ~ Peace Vigil at the Monroe County Courthouse Square, Bloomington, Indiana

Related events:

every Saturday - 6:00 pm Peace Vigil at the Nashville, Indiana Courthouse.

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Sept. 24 - 26, 2005 -
The D.C. Mobilization to "End the War on Iraq!"
was historic as The People marched, spoke out, lobbied, and acted against war. With approximately 300,000 people involved, the "End the War on Iraq!" national mobilization was Washington D.C.'s largest anti-war demonstration since the March 2003 U.S. invasion of Iraq.
See details of the weekend at D.C. Mobilization.

See News Coverage of the "End the War" Mobilization
Feedback, stories, photographs, and assessment from activists and organizers are available at
Mobilization Reports .