Resource Center for Nonviolence

On Wed., May 12, speaker Norman Finkelstein is joined by Lowkey, Hip Hop artist from the U.K., and Jody McIntyre, international solidarity activist.

5:00 p.m. Fundraising reception at SOIF Wine Bar, 105 Walnut Ave. $100 includes a light dinner, wine, reserved seats at the 7:00 p.m. program and a copy of Finkelstein’s latest book, “ This Time We Went Too Far: Truth & Consequences of the Gaza Invasion.” 1/2 of proceeds benefit the Middle East Children’s Alliance’s “Let the Children Play and Heal” in Gaza.

7:00 p.m. Program at the United Methodist Church, 250 California St., S.C. Under 18 free. $5-$20 suggested sliding-scale donation.  $10 reserved seating tickets available.  1/2 of proceeds benefit the Middle East Children’s Alliance’s “Let the Children Play and Heal” in Gaza.

8:00 p.m. Kresge Town Hall, UCSC, FREE.

Finkelstein is author of “Beyond Chutzpah,” “The Holocaust Industry,” “Image and Reality of the Israeli Palestinian Conflict,” and his latest “This Time We Went Too Far.” Finkelstein was denied tenure at DePaul University following a campaign by pro-Israeli forces headed by Harvard Law Professor Alan Dershowitz to overturn departmental recommendation of approval. In 2006 local religious leaders and the daily newspaper unsuccessfully attempted to force cancellation of his visit to Santa Cruz. This year his detractors will organize competing events to draw attention from Finkelstein’s visit in Santa Cruz. Support the right of Americans to a robust discussion of critical foreign policy and human rights issues.  l/2 of the proceeds from the two events downtown (not the UCSC event) will benefit the Middle East Children Alliance’s “Let the Children Play and Heal,” a program that is giving tens of thousands of children and youth opportunities to express themselves though art, dance, music, story-telling, theatre and puppetry; to get support from the larger community; and to have fun and just be children. The visit by Norman Finkelstein, Lowkey and Jody McIntyre iscosponsored by the Middle East Program of the Resource Center for Nonviolence, the Palestine Israel Action Committee, and the Committee for justice for Palestine, UCSC. www.normanfinkelstein.com

WHO: The Santa Cruz Peace Chorale
WHAT: “BUILDING BRIDGES: A Concert for Peace & Justice”
TYPE OF EVENT: Choral music, community chorus, classical, folk, world music
WHEN: Saturday, May 15, 2010, 7:30 pm — doors open at 7:00
WHERE: Mount Calvary Lutheran Church, 2402 Cabrillo College Drive, Soquel, CA
TICKETS: Available at the door; $10-20. No one turned away.
MORE INFO: 831-818-1722
On Saturday, May 15th, 2010, at 7:30 pm, the Santa Cruz Peace Chorale will present
Building Bridges, a concert in honor of those who work for peace & justice worldwide.
This event will take place at Mount Calvary Lutheran Church, located at 2402 Cabrillo
College Drive in Soquel. *
Now in its 8th season, the Santa Cruz Peace Chorale has been widely recognized as
a community treasure along the Central Coast. A past recipient of a Cultural Council
of Santa Cruz County grant and the subject of a recent Community T.V. documentary,
the Peace Chorale has also been honored by folk singer Pete Seeger’s personal
contributions to their repertoire.
In these times of war and the fanning of the flames of hatred & violence, Building
Bridges, the Chorale’s annual fundraiser concert, features songs that celebrate the
many global efforts to span differences and promote peace & understanding. In keeping
with this theme, this year’s music spans styles from Bach to rock, from Japanese to
South African, from Broadway musical to Croatian harmony, and more! The Santa Cruz
Peace Chorale invites you to an inspiring evening of music and, of course, to their now-
traditional “Organic Strawberry Shortcake Social” after the show.
Doors open at 7:00 pm. There is a requested donation of $10-20 at the door to benefit
the work of the Chorale. No one turned away. For more information, please call 831-
818-1722.
* Concert location info: just off the Park Ave. exit to Hwy 1, adjacent to Montessori
Winston Campus (turn LEFT onto Cabrillo College Drive, in the opposite direction of
Cabrillo College).

A statement by Scott Kennedy, Coordinator of the Middle East Program of the Resource Center for Nonviolence

Since its founding in 1976, the Resource Center for Nonviolence and I have supported and advocated for a secure and thriving State of Israel –

~ within internationally recognized borders,

~ at peace and enjoying normal relations with neighboring Arab states and with other Middle Eastern countries and the international community,

~ and free of undue influence by outside powers such as the USA and the debilitating effects of an ongoing state of hostility with its neighbors and a war economy.

I therefore extend my greetings and support to members of the local Jewish Community and others who will be celebrating Israel’s birthday this week.

Created in 1948, Israel is a young state still in many regards in its formative years. I look forward to progressive forces in Israel finally winning public approval for adoption of a constitution for Israel that will guarantee equal human, civil, religious, economic and cultural rights to all of its citizens.

I likewise look forward to Israel, the Palestinians and neighboring nations ending the state of war and reaching a political accommodation to end decades of conflict. That political resolution must be founded on international law and respect for the human and national rights of all people in the region, including both Israelis and Palestinians.

The then newly founded United Nations gave birth to two states in 1947: the State of Israel and the State of Palestine. One cannot give birth to twins and have one twin legitimate and the other twin illegitimate. Creation of Israel and the Israeli War of Independence had a devastating impact on the Palestinian population of that area. It is no wonder that Palestinians call the flight or expulsion of 750,000 – 900,000 refugees and destruction of more than 400 Palestinian villages within the boundaries of the new Israeli state “al Naqba” or “the catastrophe.”

Israel’s 62nd birthday not only is a time for many to celebrate the many accomplishments of Israel. It must also remind us that establishment of a Palestinian State is long overdue. There is a broad international consensus that supports creation of a Palestinian State alongside Israel enjoying the same rights, responsibilities, security and hope as the State of Israel.

US support for Israel should adamantly and consistently further the goals of reenforcing democracy and equality for all citizens of Israel and bringing about a peaceful resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian-Arab conflict and creation of a Palestinian state alongside Israel. These remain my personal goals and the purpose of the Middle East Program of the Resource Center for Nonviolence.

Scott Kennedy

April 19, 2010

Santurday, May 1 (International Workers Day) 10:00 a.m. at the RCNV back parking lot. This is a community meeting for in-home caregivers, along with care recipients and community allies, to strategize a defense for life-line services.

The Governor has proposed cuts to in-home care which would result in over 2,000 S.C. Co. seniors and disabled people losing care and over 1,700 county caregivers losing their jobs.

For more information, contact Erik Larsen, Organizer for SEIU-United Long Term Care Workers (831) 206-4914 or erikl@seiu-ultew.org.

Tuesday, April 27, 7:00 p.m. at the Resource Center for Nonviolence
Sandino Gomez is just back from Nicaragua where he met with community leaders. He will show photos and discuss Nicaragua under the FSLN (Sandinistas) of Pres. Daniel Ortega. Successes and contradictions abound in this complicated country with a fascinating history and a warm welcoming people. Sandino coordinates the Youth Empowerment Program for RCNV He is active in the Watsonville Brown Berets and a DJ on Free Radio Santa Cruz. Suggested donation $5-$15, no one turned away for lack of funds. For more information call 831-423-1626.