Dear Friends,
Leslie and I attended my son's wedding in Hawaii last month. It was magical. We stayed for two weeks and gave our Peace with Iran presentation in Hilo and Honolulu. Here's a write-up from the Big Island Weekly: http://www.bigislandweekly.com/articles/2008/08/13/read/news/news03.txt
We returned home to San Francisco and after just a few days we decided to join CodePink at the Democratic National Convention. My car was starting to complain about all the cross country trips, so we reserved a rental, convinced Martha Hubert to join us, which wasn't hard, and away we went on our 18 hour road trip to Denver.
Around 2:00 a.m. a coyote emerged from the darkness and dashed across the road. I thought he was safe, but he doubled back. There was nothing I could do. The impact damaged the car, so we were stranded for the night in Elko, Nevada. We missed the first day of the convention, when the Denver police used pepper-spray and arrested 100 peaceful protesters: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=govYC3eEbvA&feature=related. Alicia, our CodePink sister and friend, was assaulted by an out-of-control cop: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KfISlq1gzK8
By the time we arrived, the police must have realized they had over-reacted, because they were much less aggressive. They enjoyed swaggering defiantly down the street in their brand new "RoboCop" outfits, but they also did their best to exchange niceties with the crowd. They tried not to show it, but it was obvious they enjoyed CodePink's presence.
The Iraq Veterans Against the War http://ivaw.org/ led a massive march toward the convention center. They wanted to meet with Obama, or his representative, and they were willing to risk arrest to do it. Eventually their demands were met and they felt heard.
One of the highlights for Leslie and me was a magnificent tent, shaped like a mosque, constructed from photos of Iran: http://picturesofyouiran.blogspot.com/2007/12/manjushri-project.html. The artist and his wife have traveled to Iran on three occasions and they are as ardent as we are when it comes to informing people about Iran. The exhibit will be traveling throughout the United States in 2008-2009. If you would like to see it in your town, please email Tom Loughlin at the website above.
We decided not to go to the Republican National Convention. This wasn't an easy decision, but we needed to get back because Leslie and Martha were flying to DC. Thank you Medea and Jodie: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VDT--mx7gkQ, Liz and Nancy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rAA_xw4v1nM for being there and for speaking truth to power. The police were much more aggressive at the RNC and over 800 people were arrested. Amy Goodman was one of them: http://voices.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2008/09/01/democracy_now_host_and_produce.html
Tomorrow is the Axis of Friendship Festival http://www.axisoffriendship.org/ Friday, September 12 from 3:30-6:30 pm at the Civic Center Plaza in San Francisco. Join us for food, music, poetry, and cultural sharing. Find out more about this event by going here: http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2008/09/10/us_iran_and_the_axis_of_friendship/
Peace and Freedom,
Jes & Leslie
See our Peace with Iran slideshow: http://flickr.com/photos/codepinkalert/sets/72157607234561885/show/
PS We have a short video piece we'll be showing on our Peace with Iran cross-country tour. It needs a few finishing touches, so we're looking for an editor. If you're the person we're looking for, or you know someone who might be able to help, please get in touch. Thanks!
Stop a War on Iran, September 27
http://www.stopwaroniran.org/sept272008volorgcent.shtml
Palin's Start in Alaska: Not Politics as Usual
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/03/us/politics/03wasilla.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin
Women Against Sarah Palin
http://womenagainstsarahpalin.blogspot.com/
Ads Pushing Iran Strike Show Denver Under Missile Attack from Boulder
http://rawstory.com/news/2008/Ads_pushing_Iran_strike_show_Denver_0829.html
International Jewish Statement Against An Attack on Iran
http://www.thestruggle.org/jews_iran_8_15_08.htm
Jes & Leslie ... A Journey for Peace and Freedom: http://www.jfpf.org/
If you would like to be added to The Gandhi Peace Brigade Group List,
please let me know: jes_richardson@yahoo.com Thank you. Jes
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Nice blog as usual, Jes & Leslie, personal and informative, with great links! Congratulations on your son's wedding -- you must be very proud! Overall, it sounds like you had a wonderful and productive stay in Hawaii. I'm glad to have such representatives for Peace and Justice in the world as you two.
Sorry to hear about your collision with the coyote. Coming from the Southwest, I've definitely had some close calls with those highway dashers -- but I've been very lucky on that front; haven't hit anything yet... knock wood.
- JO'D
Great blog! perhaps you would be interested in our projects: www.soroptimisteurope.org
Call for: Soroptimist PEACE PRIZE 2009
The Third Soroptimist Peace Prize will be awarded during the Congress 2009 to
“A woman or a group of women undertaking outstanding projects to promote peace”.
For more details visit the link below and find out where the nominations can be sent to.
Nomination deadline: December 31st 2008.
Previous awardees are Journalist Vera Bohle at the Congess in Vienna 2005 and Chief Prosecutor Carla del Ponte in Lugano 2007, on UN Peace Day.
http://www.soroptimisteurope.org/Portals/0/Content/Documents/Newsroom/Peace%20Prize%202009%20Call_Letter%20E.pdf
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