Posts Tagged “iraq war”

A celebration of the life of Diane Thomas will be held on Saturday January 17 at 10:00 a.m. at the Pacific School of Religion, 1796 Scenic Avenue in Berkeley. Thomas, who died peacefully on December 1 of cancer, was a cofounder of the Resource Center for Nonviolence in 1976 and lived in Santa Cruz and served on the staff  during the Resource Center’s formative years. Thomas also helped found the UC Nuclear Weapons Lab Conversion Project, served on the staff of the Ecumenical Peace Institute for more than a decade, and helped found the Iraq Initiatives Project. A highlight of Diane’s work for peace and justice was speaking before a massive rally of more than a million people in June of 1982, after having fasted for disarmament for 30 days, to bring pressure on the Second United Nations Special Session on Disarmament in New York City. One of her proudest achievements was establishing the Dismantling Racism Committee at the Pacific School of Religion where she joined the staff in 2000 and directed the annual fund and alumni relations, organized the annual Earl Lectures church conference, and co-chaired the seminary’s Dismantling Racism Committee until the time of her death.

For photos of Diane and information on her work for peace and justice, www.peacehost.net/EPI-Calc/Diane/  Tax deductible memorial donations to support the Iraq Initiatives Project may be made in Diane’s memory to: EPIC/CALC, PO Box 9344, Berkeley, CA 94709 (write Diane/IIP on memo line).

Update! Click Here to download Ann Wright’s talk at the Vets Hall or check the whole article from SC Indymedia with additional MP3’s of Neal Coonerty, Diane Rejman, and the Raging Grannies.

“DISSENT: VOICES OF CONSCIENCE” a book-reading and public presentation by COLONEL (Ret.) ANN WRIGHT. Sunday, January 20th 2008 3:00 p.m. Songs by “The Raging Grannies”! Introduction by County Supervisor Neal Coonerty. Veterans Memorial Hall 846 Front Street in Santa Cruz Sponsored by the Resource Center for Nonviolence, Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, CODEPINK SC, Veterans for Peace, GI Rights Hotline, Women in Black members of the Corrie-Mizo Chapter 11. VFW Post #5888, MediaWatch, PUP (People United for Peace), Women in Black, the Santa Cruz Peace Coalition, Church and Society Committee of the United Methodist Church of Santa Cruz. For more information, contact (831) 423-1626 or www.rcnv.org.
“Dissent: Voices of Conscience–Government Insiders Speak Out Against the War in Iraq” by Colonel (retired) Ann Wright, (Koa Books, January 2008), profiles government officials whose loyalty to the Constitution and the American people ultimately transcended partisan politics. Originally scheduled for release in 2007, publication has been delayed until now by the State Department’s clearance process. Books will be available for author signing. Author Colonel (ret.) Ann Wright resigned from the U.S. Foreign Service on March 19, 2003, while serving as Deputy Chief of Mission at the US Embassy in Mongolia, in protest of the war in Iraq and unnecessary curtailment of civil liberties. She joined the Foreign Service in 1987 and served in US Embassies in Sierra Leone, Micronesia, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Grenada, Micronesia, Nicaragua, and Afghanistan. Before entering the Foreign Service, she served in the Army and Army Reserve for 29 years combined. She has Master’s and Law Degrees from the University of Arkansas and a Master’s Degree in National Security Affairs from the U.S. Naval War College. $5 – $10 suggested sliding-scale donation. No one turned away for lack of funds. The book “Dissent: Voices of Conscience–Government Insiders Speak Out Against the War in Iraq” is also available by mail for a $20 donation to Courage to Resist, 484 Lake Park Ave #41, Oakland CA 94610. Proceeds to benefit Courage to Resist’s “Dear Canada: Let U.S. War Resisters Stay!” campaign underway.