Claire Detels' performance of samples of music of some of the Great African American composers Friday night brought support to OMNI Center for Peace, Justice and Ecology

Please click on image to move to Flickr site and ENLARGE view of Claire Detels on October 20, 2009

Claire Detels performs music of Great African American composers tonight; donations support OMNI Center for Peace, Justice and Ecology

Hi OMNI folks and friends...

Tonight only! Pianist and musicologist Prof. Claire Detels performs the music of Great African American composers on Adella Gray's lovely piano. The program is attached. Please join us.

Great African American Composers
Home of Gary and Adella Gray
1681 N. Starr Drive
6:30 social hour, 7:00 performance

Directions: Take Mission Blvd. to N. Starr, turn right
$10 donation accepted to benefit OMNI Center. Please join us.

Gladys Tiffany
OMNI Center for Peace, Justice & Ecology
www.omnicenter.org
Fayetteville, Arkansas USA
479-973-9049 -- gladystiffany@yahoo.com

 

OMNI AFGHANISTAN/PAKISTAN BOOK FORUM at 6 p.m. November 6, 2009, at Nightbird Books on Dickson Street in Fayetteville, Arkansas

OMNI AFGHANISTAN/PAKISTAN BOOK FORUM

NOV. 6, 2009, NIGHTBIRD BOOKS, 6PM





The books for this Forum discuss the complicated history and factional rivalries that have shaped Afghanistan,imperial—British, Soviet, and US--forays into Afghanistan and South and Central Asia,the role of the CIA, the rise of bin Laden and Taliban, human rights struggles of women in Afghanistan, and much more. The subject has large, urgent meaning for Americans today, as President Obama weighs the heavy decision whether to increase (as General McChrystal recommends) or not increase or decrease troops in Afghanistan ( Vice President Joe Biden’s argument); whether to change from a policy primarily of military force (including assassination of Taliban and Al-Qaeda leaders) and occupation, to a criminal approach, arresting and prosecuting Al-Qaeda; or to one of diplomacy and assistance. These books help us to understand the history of Afghanistan and Western Pakistan, knowledge essential to a citizen who wishes to be informed in order to have a voice regarding the costs and the future of this longest war in U.S. history.





PANELISTS

Sanaa Riaz: Ali, The Duel (history of Afghanistan)

Jesse Barr: Kolhatkar and Ingalls, Bleeding Afghanistan

Edrene McKay: Chayes, The Punishment of Virtue

Julie Thacker: Rashid, Descent into Chaos





BOOKS



*--Ali, Tariq. The Duel. Simon & Schuster, 2008. (Riaz)

--Bick, Barara. Walking the Precipice. Witness to the Rise of the Taliban in Afghanistan.

*--Chayes, Sarah The Punishment of Virtue: Inside Afghanistan After the Taliban. 2006. (McKay)

--Coll, Steve. Ghost Wars: The Secret History of the CIA, Afghanistan, and Bin Laden, from the Soviet Invasion to September 10, 2001

AFGHANISTAN 101 by Ehsan Entezar

--Gould, Elizabeth and Paul Fitzgerald. Invisible History: Afghanistan’s Untold Story.

--OPIUM SEASON by Joel Hafvenstein

-- Iraq Veterans Against the War and Aaron Glantz. Winter Soldier: Iraq and Afghanistan: Eyewitness Accounts of the Occupations. Haymarket Books, 2008.

--Johnson, Chris and Jolyon Leslie. Afghanistan: The Mirage of Peace. 2004.

*--Kolhatkar, Sonali, and James Ingalls. Bleeding Afghanistan: Washington, Warlords, and the Propaganda of Silence. 2006. (Barr)

--THREE CUPS of TEA by Greg Mortenson and David Relin

*--Rashid, Ahmed. Descent Into Chaos. Viking, 2008. (Thacker)

--Stewart, Rory. The Places in Between.







BIOGRAPHIES OF SPEAKERS



JESSE BARR

Born and raised in rural central Illinois. (1932)

Korean war veteran. (1952-1956)

BS in Journalism 1960, University of Illinois

MS in Education 1970, University of Oregon

TV producer/cinematographer/photographer, University of Illinois,

Xerox Corporation, Government of American Samoa,

University of Michigan Telecommunications consultant

Avocation: wood sculptor



EDRENE MCkAY

Edrene McKay teaches United States history, Western Civilization, and contemporary history at NorthWest Arkansas Community College and DeVry University Online. Her Ph.D. is from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville and her specialty is late 19th and early 20th century U.S. history, although in recent years she has focused more on contemporary history.



SANAA RIAZ

Sanaa Riaz is a PhD Candidate in the Dept. of Anthropology, University of Arkansas. She has conducted a year and a half of fieldwork on private schools, public schools and madrasas (religious schools) in Karachi, which is also her hometown. Sanaa is the American Association of University Women International Fellow 2008-9. She has taught at high school and college levels in Pakistan and served as a teaching assistant for 2 and a half years for the Anthropology department. She has also taught for Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the University of Arkansas. Sanaa has contributed book reviews to academic journals and has written over 20 book reviews, articles and opinion pieces for Dawn, Pakistan’s leading English language newspaper.



JULIE THACKER

Julie Thacker is a life-long Arkansan. I was born in Stuttgart AR, and moved to Elaine Ark. when I was about 4 years old. I went to college at ASU in Jonesboro Ark. and graduated in 1976 with a BSE in Art. I have been living in Fayetteville for 30 years, which I think is a better place to live than any other place in Arkansas. I have an adult daughter. I want to do this forum because I believe that evil thrives when good people do nothing. I consider it my civic duty to do this forum.



--
Dick Bennett
jbennet@uark.edu

October 24, 2009, is United Nations Day

Today, Oct. 24, we reflect on the founding ideals of the UN and the work it accomplishes around the world.

This year's commemoration is particularly significant as the United States embarks on a new era of global cooperation and engagement with the United Nations.

We at UNA-USA are energized and more committed than ever to our mission to educate, inspire and mobilize Americans in support of the UN's principles and vital work to create a better, safer world. Here is a snapshot of UNA-USA news and events and information on how you can participate:

Major Announcements
UNA Delivers Global Classrooms Curriculum in Chicago
UNA-USA President Tom Miller joined Chicago public school officials and city leaders on Oct. 23 at an international education conference on world studies held at the University of Chicago. The conference also formally reintroduced the expanded Global Classrooms curriculum to educators in the Chicago public school system, where 9th grade students are now required to take world studies courses. Read more about it here.
Board Member Nominated for Post of Ambassador to UN in Geneva
Betty King, a UNA-USA board member and former Unesco ambassador, has been nominated by the White House to be the next US ambassador to the UN in Geneva. Among other roles, this office maintains oversight of the Human Rights Council, which the US joined in May 2009. UNA-USA congratulates Ambassador King on her nomination. Read the full UNA statement here.

Take Action Today
In September, President Obama addressed the UN for the first time, calling for a new era of engagement through the world body. Although he was speaking to world leaders, the president's message can be directed to all of us as individuals. Tell Congress you support international cooperation.
The International Criminal Court is a major achievement of the UN, and UNA has a program, AMICC, to support it. Celebrate this success on UN Day by reminding the administration to support the ICC..
UN Day Events
UNA-USA chapters nationwide are holding events to commemorate UN Day. From university campuses to city halls or governors' mansions, serious debates of issues before the UN are taking place. Find an event in your area by visiting our event calendar or learn more about local events here.
Program Events
UNA’s Council of Organizations most recent event highlighted milestones that reflect the international community’s efforts to ensure gender equality and the empowerment of women. Read about their latest event here.
Official UN Day Messages
US President Barack Obama's UN Day Proclamation
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's UN Day Message
US State Department Fact Sheet: US Multilateral Engagement Benefits
--
Dick Bennett

Fayetteville Climate Change Action begins at 2 p.m. at Dickson Street and Campbell Avenue next to Bordinos

Fayetteville Climate Change Action begins at 2 p.m. at Dickson Street and Campbell Avenue next to Bordinos.

March and Rally - Fayetteville will join with over 4,000 others world-wide. We hope you will come to learn more about Climate Change and show solidarity. Join with fellow citizens of NW Arkansas at 2:00pm at Dickson and Campbell Streets (next to Bordinos)...the march will begin there and head to the Square. There will be speakers, music and information on how we can make a difference affecting the December treaty in Copenhagen. This is the most pressing universal issue that concerns us all...It's a chance for all of us to Stand up for Action on Climate Change. The event is sponsored by 350.org and 1 SKY. For more information call 530-7786.

A one day screening of The AGE OF STUPID in Fayetteville at the UA Union Theater from 6-9 pm on October 24th.
All of the community is encouraged to attend this FREE screening! Parking free in Union Parking Lot.

After the International Climate Day of Action (2:00 pm beginning on Dickson by Bordinos)

Mayor John Gray of Greenland serves as host of OMNI book forum on October 23, 2009, at Greenland Community Center

Please click on image to go to Flickr site to Enlarge photo and to see other photos from Friday night environmental conservation events in Northwest Arkansas on Friday October 23, 2009, including Ed Begley's lecture at Fayetteville Public Library.

Friday night book forum on climate breakdown in Greenland, Arkansas

FORUM ON CLIMATE BREAKDOWN

The OMNI Center for Peace, Justice, and Ecology and its Climate Change Task Force will present a Book Forum on Climate Breakdown at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, October 23, at the Greenland Community Center.



Panelists will discuss the latest science-based scholarship explaining how the climate is collapsing with accelerating speed because of the rapid increase of human-generated CO2 in the atmosphere. The consensus of scientists know that by 2050 the atmosphere must be restored to 350 PPM (parts per million) of CO2 if our civilization is to survive even in a reduced condition. Panelists are Steve Boss, Ryan Bancroft, Jonathan Gibbs, and Joanna Pollock. Moderator: Carl Barnwell.



The Forum offers two firsts:

This is the first public presentation in Arkansas of the best books on climate change. All express the scientific consensus that 350 PPM of atmospheric C02 must be the goal, and it must be achieved quickly. And it is the first Forum by OMNI presented in a town other than Fayetteville, Springdale, and Rogers. OMNI and its Climate Change Task Force, with its climate educational programs, are reaching out to NWA beyond its major cities and colleges..



Books to be discussed are: Chris Mooney and Sheril Kirshenbaum, Unscientific America: How Scientific Illiteracy Threatens Our Future; David Archer, The Long Thaw: How Humans Are Changing the Next 100,000 years of Earth's Climate; Mark Lynas, Six Degrees: Our Future on a Hotter Planet; James Speth, Bridge to the End of the World. (Additional excellent books among the many: Joseph Romm, Hell and High Water: The Global Warming Solution; Larry Schweiger, Last Chance: Preserving Life on Earth; James Lovelock, The Vanishing Face of Gaia A Final Warning .



Directions to the Greenland Community Center

South on 71: At Greenland stoplight turn right onto Wilson, cross railroad tracks, keep on Wilson to “Y”, turn right onto Leticia, go 2 blocks to Center.

South on 540: At Greenland Exit, go east on Wilson to “Y”, turn left onto Leticia, Center will be on right.





--
Dick Bennett
jbennet@uark.edu

Book forum on climate breakdown at 5:30 p.m. Friday, October 23

FORUM ON CLIMATE BREAKDOWN
The OMNI Center for Peace, Justice, and Ecology and its Climate Change Task Force will present a Book Forum on Climate Breakdown at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, October 23, at the Greenland Community Center.
Panelists will discuss the latest science-based scholarship explaining how the climate is collapsing with accelerating speed because of the rapid increase of human-generated CO2 in the atmosphere. Panelists are Steve Boss, Ryan Bancroft, Jonathan Gibbs, and Joanna Pollock. Moderator: Carl Barnwell.
Books to be discussed are: Chris Mooney and Sheril Kirshenbaum, Unscientific America: How Scientific Illiteracy Threatens Our Future; James Lovelock, The Vanishing Face of Gaia A Final Warning; David Archer, The Long Thaw: How Humans Are Changing the Next 100,000 years of Earth's Climate; Mark Lynas, Six Degrees: Our Future on a Hotter Planet; James Speth, Bridge to the End of the World. Special references: Joseph Romm, Hell and High Water: The Global Warming Solution; Larry Schweiger, Last Chance: Preserving Life on Earth.

Dick Bennett leads celebration of Indigenous people's day October 12, 2009

Please click on image to go to Flickr site and ENLARGE for viewing of photo and story from The Northwest Arkansas Times of October 13, 2009.

Indigenous people of the Americas Day coming October 12, 2009

UA INDIGENOUS PEOPLES OF THE AMERICAS DAY OCTOBER 12, 2009
University of Arkansas Indigenous Peoples of the Americas Day Observance to Focus on the “Trail of Tears” in Northwest Arkansas
This year’s observance of Indigenous Peoples of the Americas Day will focus upon one of America’s greatest tragedies - the forced removal of Native Americans, in the 1830s, over “the Trail of Tears”. The Trail of Tears was the result of a legislative declaration that no foreign government, which included Native American tribes, could be physically located within the borders of the United States. Any tribe that failed to disband or move of its own accord to the specially designated “Indian Territory” of present day Oklahoma would be forcibly removed by Federal forces. Thousands of people died during this thousand mile journey over the “Trail of Tears”. Part of the infamous trail that the Cherokee people took traverses Northwest Arkansas.
On Monday, October 12th (officially Columbus Day), the University of Arkansas will host a special program recognizing the “Trail of Tears”. The 74 minute documentary Trail of Tears from the 2009 PBS series We Shall Remain will be shown at 11:00 a.m. in Room AU 503 of the Arkansas Student Union. This screening is free and open to the public.
From 1:00 to 1:45 p.m., members of the Honors Film Association, Native American Student Association, and OMNI will be expressing their thoughts about this sad chapter in American history, by reading passages from journals kept by those who walked the Trail of Tears. Members of the public are encouraged to share their feelings and do readings relating to the Trail of Tears during this open forum. This observance will be held in the Connections Lounge in the Arkansas Student Union.
At 1:45 there will be a procession from the Connections Lounge to the marker in the park on Highway 62, which commemorates the location where a thousand Cherokees camped during their journey to Indian Territory in 1839, over the Trail of Tears. At 2:00 there will be a ceremony in which officers of the Arkansas Chapter of the National Trail of Tears Association will speak about the Cherokees who actually came through Northwest Arkansas and camped here. State Representative Lindsley Smith will be presenting a Proclamation commemorating this event on behalf of Mayor Lioneld Jordan.
Further information about this historic site can be found at http://campusmaps.uark.edu/461.php.
The University of Arkansas Indigenous Peoples of the Americas Observance is sponsored by the Honors Film Association; the Native American Student Association; the OMNI Center for Peace, Justice, and Ecology; the Honors College; the Multicultural Center; and the Department of Communication. For more information about this observance, visit our website at http://cavern.uark.edu/~hfa, or contact Frank Scheide at 575-5961 (fscheide@uark.edu).
BUILDING A CULTURE OF PEACE BY AFFIRMING NATIONAL DAYS OF PEACE AND TRANSFORMING NATIONAL DAYS FOR WAR INTO DAYS FOR PEACE
We cannot make this change so long as we celebrate the myths represented by the US official ceremonial Days, many of which, like Columbus Day, directly support aggression, conquest, and slaughter.

George Orwell wrote in 1984: "Everything faded into mist. The past was erased, the erasure was forgotten, the lie became the truth”—that violence and invasions are inevitable, that our species is inherently violent. Much of OMNI’s work in building a Culture of Peace involves the struggle to reinforce peaceful values despite the power of innumerable species, ethnic, and nationalistic myths. In behavioral psychology, we are what we do. Most of the public mindlessly accepts the messages of special Days (Daze?) and holidays that promote military power and domination, because, they believe, militarism is not only inevitable but necessary for our security, even though it is we who have attacked other nations, and since the War of 1812 never been attacked by another nation.

The US celebrates two kinds of Days. Some of them affirm peace (Martin Luther King’s birthday). But most of them project the US nationalistic, patriotic, exceptionalist, imperial Days. OMNI reinforces the DAYS for PEACE (and creates new ones), and offers alternatives for the Days for Violence.

When people ask, What can I do, what can one person do, to change the world from war to peace? Here is one answer: Help OMNI reinforce a peaceful day or challenge a warfare Day!

When scoffers ask, what difference can we make here? We can answer: we are offering a model to the world, and sometimes models grab the world’s imagination.

We are experimenting of course. The subtitle of Gandhi’s autobio. Is My Life of Experiments. Few peace organizations adhere to a comprehensive program like ours, based on the assumption that the US warfare state—Corporate-Pentagon-White House-Congress-Mainstream Media—is an interrelated complex, and we should counter it, point by point, by a peaceful complex.

Join OMNI, choose your DAY!

Dick







--
Dick Bennett
jbennet@uark.edu

Patriot Act needs revision NOW to protect the rights of honest citizens of the U.S.

On top of the huge changes on health care, climate change, and immigration reform going on, Congress will also need to address those patriot act issues still in place from the Bush admin. Two bills about this are on the Congressional docket, and need to be monitored by citizens.

Please read this good information from the National Library Association. You recall that it was the librarians who were on the front lines in defense of civil liberties then. They continue to keep an eagle eye on how changes to the patriot act unfold.

They're sending us a request to write our legislators on these issues. What a great OMNI folk project... books are pretty important to us. I personally felt very grateful to the librarians who put their jobs on the line to say "no" to surveillance of patrons by NSA and others.

Thanks Nancy for passing this along.
Gladys Tiffany
OMNI Center for Peace, Justice & Ecology
www.omnicenter.org
Fayetteville, Arkansas USA
479-973-9049 -- gladystiffany@yahoo.com



--- On Wed, 9/30/09, Nancy Goliff :
Subject: USA Patriot Act Reforms

From a CA librarian friend. Please contact our Senators about this. -- N.

This is very important to libraries that library records remain confidential except for a court order showing reason why the records need to be released. This is guaranteed by California State law, but the federal Patriot Act Section 215 trumps State law. The federal law does not even allow a library director to tell his or her boss or to consult an attorney before or after releasing all records.

USA PATRIOT ACT REFORMS – JUDICIARY COMMITTEE MARKUP SEPTEMBER 30TH
More Info

September 30, 2009

ADVOCATES ASKED TO CONTACT SENATORS ON JUDICIARY COMMITTEE ASAP
It is critical that library supporters from states with senators on the Judiciary Committee call them as soon as possible urging reforms to Section 215 of the USA PATRIOT Act and laws covering national security letters. The Senate switchboard number is: (202) 224-3121
There are two USA PATRIOT Act reform bills pending before the Senate Judiciary Committee at this time. The Committee has scheduled a work session or "markup" of S. 1696, the USA PATRIOT Act Sunset Extension Act originally introduced on September 17th by Judiciary Chairman Leahy and Sens. Cardin and Kaufman. This bill respects constitutional rights by increasing judicial review of the use of surveillance authorities that sweep in U.S. citizens. The bill also expands public reporting to ensure that Americans can monitor the use of these authorities.
[ Leahy statement: http://leahy.senate.gov/press/200909/092209b.html ]
THE MESSAGE:
Congress should pass the USA PATRIOT Act Sunset Extension Act of 2009, S. 1692, with key amendments to protect civil liberties based upon S. 1686, the Judicious Use of Surveillance Tools in Counterterrorism Efforts (JUSTICE) Act, and,
Congress should also consider reforms of national security letters (NSLs) now as legislation on reform and reauthorization of Section 215 of the USA PATRIOT Act moves forward.
TALKING POINTS:
The library community thanks Senator Leahy and the bills's other sponsors, Senators Cardin (MD-D) , Kaufman (DE-D) and Sanders (VT-I) for introducing legislation that makes many needed reforms to Section 215 of the PATRIOT Act;
However, library advocates urge the Judiciary Committee to consider amendments to S. 1692, based upon provisions in S. 1686, the Judicious Use of Surveillance Tools in Counterterrorism Efforts (JUSTICE) Act;
Intensify oversight of the Section 215 and National Security Letters provisions of the USA PATRIOT Act and other laws that limit the privacy rights of library users, library employees and the general public, including annual reports by the Department of Justice's Inspector General.
Guarantee a recipient the right to consult an attorney, the right to challenge any gag order and due process at the time a Section 215 order or an NSL is served on the recipient;
Require the FBI to provide sufficient facts to demonstrate that a gag order is necessary to protect national security; if authorized, the gag order should automatically expire at the end of six months unless the FBI shows good cause to extend the gag order.
Members of the Senate Judiciary Committee
Patrick J. Leahy, Chairman, D-Vermont
Herb Kohl, D-Wisconsin
Jeff Sessions, Ranking Member, R-Alabama
Dianne Feinstein, D-California
Orrin G. Hatch, R-Utah
Russell D. Feingold, D-Wisconsin
Charles E. Grassley, R-Iowa
Charles E. Schumer, D-New York
Jon Kyl, R-Arizona
Richard J. Durbin, D-Illinois
Lindsey Graham, R-South Carolina
Benjamin L. Cardin, D-Maryland
John Cornyn, R-Texas
Sheldon Whitehouse, D-Rhode Island
Tom Coburn, R-Oklahoma
Amy Klobuchar, D-Minnesota
Edward E. Kaufman, D-Delaware
Arlen Specter, D-Pennsylvania
Al Franken, D-Minnesota
[For additional background information go to ALA's recent "District Dispatch" on USA PATRIOT Act reforms at: http://www.wo.ala.org/districtdispatch/?cat=10]
Full bill text for S. 1692 is at: http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c111:S.1692.IS:
Full bill text for 1686 is at: http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d111:s.01686:


You may view the latest post at
http://www.wo.ala.org/districtdispatch/?p=3830

Cities Alive conference in October

Cities Alive Introduction from Johan A. du Toit on Vimeo.

It's National Call-in Day: No timeline, no exit strategy. Stop the funding!

Subject: It's National Call-in Day: No Timeline! No Exit Strategy! Stop the Funding!

It's National Call-in Day: No Timeline! No Exit Strategy! Stop the Funding!

To reach the Washington Switchboard: 202-224-3121 or 202-225-3121

Congress is steps away from passing the $625.8 billion 2010 Defense Budget, which contains approximately $128.2 billion to conduct the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq through September 2010.

So far the White House has offered no timetable and no "exit strategy" for Afghanistan. To the contrary, General McChrystal is calling for tens of thousands of additional American troops and a long-term commitment, which could tie the United States down in Afghanistan for years to come.

This is the original meaning of "a quagmire"-when every step taken to escalate a war makes it harder than ever to leave. At this critical moment, members of Congress need to get a powerful message from their constituents that we need a different policy in Afghanistan -one that emphasizes diplomacy and humanitarian assistance. Without any plan to bring the war to an end, Congress should not give another" blank-check" to the White House for continued fighting.

United for Peace and Justice, CODEPINK, Peace Action, Progressive Democrats for America, Just Foreign Policy, AfterDowningStreet and Voters for Peace (list still in formation) believe that a public outcry is vitally important now, when the Pentagon is so obviously leaning on the President and Congress to escalate a costly, destructive and ultimately un-winnable war.

Join the National Call-in Day and tell your Senators and Congressional Representatives to vote against the 2010 Defense Appropriations bill. When making this call, urge them to co-sponsor Congressman James McGovern's H.R. 2404 that would require President Obama to provide an "exit plan" from Afghanistan no later than December 2009. For a list of co-sponsors of the McGovern bill:

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d111:h.r.02404

Growing numbers of Senators and Congressional Representatives have expressed concerns over US policy in Afghanistan. It is hypocritical to raise so many questions and then turn around and provide "blank check" funding for another year of war.

Call the Capitol Hill Switchboard: 202-224-3121.

VotersForPeace is a nonpartisan organization that does not support or oppose candidates for office.
VotersForPeace.US
2842 N. Calvert St.

Baltimore, MD 21218

443-708-8360