Workshops
Workshop Session One
The Need for a Department of Peace by Kathryn Hessler: Join us to learn about the Indiana Campaign for a U.S. Department of peace and Nonviolence. Discuss how you can help HR-808 pass and consider other local and personal effort you would like to take proactively for peace. Come away with ideas and contacts, and we hope a feeling of passion for a department of peace.
“The Tao of Peace” by Jim Wolfe: This session is inspired by a book by that name by Diane Dreher as well as ultimately the tao te ching. It will be led by Jim Wolfe, who is the president of the Indianapolis Peace &Justice Center and coordinator of Common Bonds, an umbrella for progressive groups pursuing peace and justice. He teaches sociology. A Presbyterian minister, Jim integrates taoism, zen, islam, and wicca into his spirituality peacefully.
Democracy in Burma” by the Indianapolis Peace Institute: In this session, we will look at the current situation in Burma in order to understand why there is a humanitarian crisis creating a global flow of refugees from that part of the world. Indianapolis has now become one of the key receiving centers for Burmese refugees in the U.S. Speakers will provide an overview of the political situation in Burma, will explain the ethnic complexities of the Burmese refugee population, and will talk about the multiple issues Burmese refugees face in getting resettled in the U.S.
"The Iraqi Displacement Crisis: In Their Own Words,” by Charlie Wiles: Charlie Wiles recently traveled to the Middle East representing Veterans for Peace, International Interfaith Initiative, Peace Learning Center and Habitat for Humanity. The goal was to learn more about the Iraqi Refugee Crisis and build partnership in Syria and Jordan to help bring relief to the over 2.5 million Iraqis who have fled their country due to the war. On the trip he interviewed 5 refugee families. This presentation will include a video of those interviews and a facilitated conversation about this massive humanitarian crisis.
Workshop Session Two
“Human Rights and Collaborative Activism: Abolishing the Death Penalty” by Debby Peddie of the Indiana Information Center for the Abolition of Capital Punishment and Amnesty International: The death penalty is the ultimate human rights violation and perpetuates the cycle of violence. We work to abolish the death penalty to create a more peaceful and just world. Chris Hitz-Bradley is president of IICACP and Deputy State Public Defender. IICACP and Amnesty International Group 317 work together to abolish the death penalty in Indiana. We will describe the status of capital punishment internationally and in the United States. We will focus on the collaborative efforts that brought abolition to New Jersey and progress in the Indiana General Assembly. Opportunities for individual and group action will be available.
“Indiana Healthcare Initiatives” by Julia Vaughn, Mark St. John and Eric Wright: To be announced.
“Indiana Clean Elections, Putting People Power Back into Our Democracy,” by Nick Hess: An overview of public financed elections in the USA and a focused presentation about the efforts of the Indiana Clean Election Coalition, with examples of how the current system results in a deeply corrupt political system and fundamentally damaging public policy. The session will include information about opportunities for people to have a positive impact.
"Socialism is the Only Answer to All of Today's Problems" by Ronald Haldeman: While touching on the history and world recognition of socialism, the major part of the session’s major theme is how is it possible to think about peace and justice without thinking of socialism? Of course part of the time will be open to discussion.
Workshop Session Three
“The Steady State Economy for Environmental Protection, National Security and International Stability” by Greg Buck: The thesis is that an economy that supports environmental protection supports conditions for peace. This presentation will mainly consist of power point material contributed by the Center for the Advancement of the Steady state Economy (www.steadystate.org). Greg Buck, Director of Campaign for Sustainable Economics (www.sustainableeconomics.org), will lead the presentation.
“The Justice for Janitors Campaign for Socioeconomic Justice” by Leslie Mendoza-Kamstra: Janitors across Indianapolis are uniting within the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) to end poverty wages and the lack of affordable healthcare in the janitorial industry. They are working to create higher standards in the industry so that working people have the means to provide a dignified living for their families: full-time work, health benefits, and a decent wage.
“A New Perspective on Peak Oil - The Evolving Phenomenon Which Has Defied Equitable Resolution of Resource Wars in Iraq and Globally” by David Pilbrow: The discussion will feature an activist's plan with new strategies to address energy depletion: personally, municipally, nationally, and internationally. Presented by David Pilbrow, former editor at the Indiana State Department of Health, Office of Public Affairs, and currently lobbyist for the Indiana Friends (Quakers) Committee on Legislation.
"Fair Mart vs. Mall Mart: True Security in a Violent Culture" by Jim Goetsch: Brief discussion of how overt military force is used to support economic exploitation and control by large multinational corporations; How “free trade” alliances of gov’t & corporate elite encourage violence; How the “fair trade” movement can provide economic democracy thru grassroots partnerships – examples or worker owned and cooperative business; A discussion of a proposed “Fair Trade Indiana” Coalition