CCPJ Events

Please join us for our monthly meeting. Find out what's going on locally and nationally in the area of Peace and Justice. Offer your ideas, and participate in events and actions.

Everyone is welcome.

NOTE: Our current meeting time--4:30 pm--makes it less convenient to have a pot luck
supper in connection with the meeting, so we are discontinuing the accompanying pot
luck (for the time being, at least).

Southwood is a community of more than 300 trailers, the majority of them inhabited by Mexicans, Salvadorans and Hondurans. It was purchased by Habitat for Humanity in March 2007. Two years later, Habitat contracted Communitas Consulting to survey Southwood residents and service providers about its residents, the conditions in Southwood, and what changes residents are anticipating. Come listen to survey results and Habitat’s response. For more information, visit the CJ website at www.cj-network.org

As part of a series of events opposing the Afghanistan war, come see and discuss director Robert Greenwald's acclaimed film "Rethink Afghanistan". Running time is 75 minutes.

"Rethink Afghanistan" is a 2009 documentary about the ongoing war in Afghanistan. This full-length documentary campaign features experts from Afghanistan, the U.S., and Russia discussing critical issues like military escalation, how escalation will affect Pakistan and the surrounding region, the cost of war, civilian casualties, and the rights of Afghan women.

Creators Robert Greenwald and Brave New Foundation are releasing this film in real time, enabling them to stay atop an ever-changing news cycle. They have already released the first three segments of this five-part documentary: Afghanistan + More Troops = Catastrophe, Pakistan: "The Most Dangerous Country", and Cost of War online for free.

The film interviews experts like Andrew Bacevich, Stephen Kinzer, Anand Gopal, Steve Coll, Ann Jones, Linda Bilmes, Jo Comerford, Dr. Roshanak Warnak, and more.

As part of the filmmaking process, acclaimed Director Robert Greenwald (Iraq for Sale: The War Profiteers, Outfoxed, Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Price) traveled to Afghanistan to meet with and interview members of Afghanistan's parliament, bloggers, women's rights organizations, and groups committed to the peace movement.

The ultimate goal of this documentary campaign is to raise the level of public discourse, compel people to ask key questions about the war, and urge Congress to hold oversight hearings. Already, the campaign has successfully helped retired Corporal Rick Reyes and other veterans testify before the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations and meet with members of Congress. Reyes, who served in both Iraq and Afghanistan, testified before Sen. John Kerry and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

He told the committee, "Sending more troops will not make the US safer; it will only build more opposition against us. I urge you on behalf of truth and patriotism to consider carefully and Rethink Afghanistan."

Enjoy authentic Afghani food, music, dancing, and clothing on Friday Nov 20.

Meet other interested folks and engage in consciousness raising about ending the Afghanistan war and occupation.

See, hear and taste a small piece of Afghan culture.

Dinner will be provided by Arianna's Grill and Kabob, our local Afghani restaurant.

Donation for this dinner and event is $15, to benefit the continuing work of CCPJ.

"Ending the War and Occupation of Afghanistan"

A forum featuring nationally recognized speakers:

• Ralph Lopez of "Jobs for Afghans"
  Jobs for Afghans was founded by Ralph Lopez and Najim Dost to advocate for a peaceful solution in Afghanistan. Ralph has a degree in Economics and Political Science from Yale University.
  http://ralphlopezworld.com
  
  

• Fahima Vorgetts of "Women for Afghan Women" and the "Afghan Women's Fund"
  Fahima Vorgetts has been working for many years for women's rights in Afghanistan. In Kabul, she served as director of a women's literacy program and studied chemistry in graduate school. She has testified about Taliban abuses before the United Nations and other organizations. Ms. Vorgetts runs an import business and owns a cafe on the West Coast, with portions of profits from her businesses going to the women of Afghanistan. She is the director of WAW's Afghan Women's Fund.
  http://www.womenforafghanwomen.org
  
  

• Journalist Raed Jarrar is an Iraqi political analyst and consultant to AFSC's Iraq Program currently based in Washington, D.C. After the U.S.-led invasion, Jarrar became the country director for CIVIC Worldwide, the only door-to-door casualty survey group in post-war Iraq.

  He then established Emaar, (meaning "reconstruction" in Arabic), a grassroots organization that provided humanitarian and political aid to Iraqi internally displaced persons (IDPs). Emaar delivered medicine and food as well as helped initiate micro-enterprise projects for IDPs. Additionally, Emaar engaged in political advocacy on behalf of displaced populations.
  http://www.afsc.org/Iraq/ht/display/ContentDetails/i/20091
  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raed_Jarrar

There will be a question and answer period following the presentations.

Please join us! The evening promises to be very informative.

(Doors open at 6:30)

This event is free and open to the public. Donations to CCPJ, made to defray the cost of the program, will be accepted and very greatly appreciated. Thanks!

CCPJ will be modifying it's weekly demonstration on the 19th of November to devote it's attention to opposing the war in Afghanistan. The demonstration will begin at 4:00 pm (as opposed to the normal 4:30 pm start time). Signs will be provided, and all are welcome to participate. This is the kick off for a series of events focused on opposing the Afghan war and occupation. Hope to see you there!