Peace
Conversations: Recent Activities
2007
November/ December 2007: Soldier Donations
We mailed 20 boxes of donations to Camp Taqaddum, Iraq, including New
Yorker magazines, National Geographics, mystery novels, magazines
on hiking, gardening, fitness, news, sports, women's magazines, an art
book with pictures of European cars, and many others, all donated from members
and friends. From the donations, soldiers have set up a small lending library
at the base. We also sent lip balm, hard candy, peanuts, beef jerky, snacks,
and some comfort toys for Iraqi children. If you have a family member in Iraq
for whom you would like us to collect donations in the future, please write
to peace@uucharlottesville.org.
United Nations Sunday, Oct. 28: Letter Writing Campaign
Members staffed a letter writing table to urge our Congressional
representatives to oppose military action against Iran, generating 130
letters from church members. Thank you to everyone who worked on this and wrote
letters.
October 25: Interfaith Pray for Peace service
Members from Sojourners United Church of Christ, St. Paul's Episcopal Church,
TJMC-UU, Charlottesville Bahai Community, Gesher Center, the Central Virginia
Interfaith Cooperation Circle, and other faith groups gathered on in the
TJMC Sanctuary for an Interfaith Pray for Peace service hosted by TJMC Peace
Conversations. At the informal candlelight gathering, participants led
folk and protest songs, readings, poems, responsive readings, and
mediations, as well as prayers from various faith traditions. This ongoing event
is held the final Thursday of every month from 7:15-8:30, often at Unity
Church, on Hydraulic Road. Check The
Gesher Center for
locations.
Early October: War Petition
The committee gathered members’ signatures as part of a petition calling
for the U.S. to end the war in Iraq. The effort was organized by the Unitarian
Universalist Association and United Church of Christ congregations. TJMC members
added their names to a total of more than 73,000 signatures delivered to Congress. “Not
another dollar. Not another life,” the petition stated. UUA President
William G. Sinkford said the petition may be “the largest single advocacy
action ever taken by Unitarian Universalists.”
September 25: Guest Speaker
Journalist and author Jeremy Scahill spoke in the Social Hall to over
120 people about his new book, Blackwater: The Rise of the World's
Most Powerful Mercenary Army (Nation Books). Scahill is a Polk award-winning
investigative journalist for Democracy Now! and The Nation. The
event was cosponsored by several groups, including The Charlottesville Center
for Peace and Justice, TJMC Peace Conversations, and the Charlottesville chapter
of Food Not Bombs.
September Movie Night
To an audience of about 50 people, Peace Conversations showed the movie, War
Made Easy, in the church parlor. The movie, funded by the Media Education
Foundation, is based on media critic Normon Solomon's book by the same name.
Members may borrow the movie from the church office. The Ground Truth, Why
We Fight, and Iraq for Sale are some of the other recent movies
shown at the church.
|
