Published in the May-June 2015 NewsNotes.
Torture Awareness Week: Join Witness Against Torture (WAT) in Washington, D.C. during Torture Awareness Week (June 21-28) and for the trials of WAT members who were arrested in January for protesting in Congress. (The trials will be June 22 and June 25.) Torture Awareness Week is the time when WAT traditionally gathers in support of Torture Abolition and Survivors Support Coalition (TASSC), whose members — torture survivors from all over the world — come together for solidarity and advocacy. The week culminates with the TASSC vigil on Saturday in Lafayette Square in front of the White House. Join all or part of the week. Learn more at http://www.witnesstorture.org/.
Campaign Nonviolence conference: Campaign Nonviolence will hold a national conference August 6-9 in Santa Fe, NM; the event is meant to deepen the movement for a culture of peace, free from war, poverty, the climate crisis and the epidemic of violence. Presentations, nonviolence workshop, and vigils at Los Alamos on the 70th anniversary of the nuclear age will be held. Featured speakers include James Lawson, Erica Chenoweth, John Dear, Kathy Kelly, Lennox Yearwood, Jr., Kit Evans-Ford, Medea Benjamin, Sr. Joan Brown and Ken Butigan. Pax Christi USA will host a special gathering – with prayer, dialogue and socializing – for members, friends, and partners on August 6, 7:30-9:30 pm.
A Theory of the Drone: Written by Gregoire Chamayou, a research scholar in philosophy at the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique in Paris; published by the New Press, 2015. Drone warfare has raised profound ethical and constitutional questions both in the halls of Congress and among the U.S. public. Not since debates over nuclear warfare has U.S. military strategy been the subject of discussion in living rooms, classrooms, and houses of worship. Yet as this groundbreaking new work shows, the full implications of drones have barely been addressed in the recent media storm. Far more than a simple technology, drones are profoundly influencing what it means for a democracy to wage war. A Theory of the Drone will be essential reading for all who care about this important question. Hardcover, 304 pages; ISBN: 978-1-59558-975-0. $26.95 (Used copies also available).
A New Climate for Peace: Taking Action on Climate and Fragility Risks: This is an independent report commissioned by members of the G7; it identifies seven compound climate-fragility risks that pose serious threats to the stability of states and societies in the decades ahead. Based on a thorough assessment of existing policies on climate change adaptation, development cooperation and humanitarian aid, and peacebuilding, the report recommends that the G7 take concrete action, both as individual members and jointly, to tackle climate-fragility risks and increase the resilience of states and societies to them. Read the 24-page executive summary here.
Live Peace, Teach Peace: Best Practices and Tools: MJ and Jerry Park drew on 35 years of peace building experience to produce this comprehensive teaching toolbox. It includes instructions for making and using their signature Peace Train, themes and activities for a full week of Peace Camp, a treasury of 27 time tested win-win games, peace hero biographies, peace songs, inspirational posters, and a list of books and other resources for all ages. Like the other LFFP books, it’s available in both English and Spanish. $30. Available from Little Friends for Peace.