November 19, 2008 Coffee House

Where? Westport Coffee House, 4010 Pennsylvania
First floor meeting room
When? 7:30 pm

November 19: Justice Impunity and Solidarity in Peru. Molly Vieg & Kara Erickson. Last November the Local Amnesty Group and Peace and Justice Teach In's screened the film Justice Without Borders. We also welcomed guest speak Gisela Perea Ortiz, a human rights activist from Peru whose story is featured in the film. Molly and Kara traveled to Peru this summer and accompanied the family members of the La Cantuta Massacre as they marked the 16th anniversary of the crime, and reburied the victims. They also served as International Observers at the Alberto Fujimori trial. Please join us as they update us on the progress of the trial and Gisela's story.

January teach-ins

January --2008 -- January
PEACE & JUSTICE TEACH-INS
When? Wednesdays

At Westport Coffee House, 4010 Pennsylvania, First floor meeting room, 7 pmJanuary 16: Colombia, South America: KC Group Establishes Sister Community Relationship in Putumayo– Jonne Long, Bob Thatcher, Dave Davis. Kansas City Colombia Support Network (CSN) Delegation members Bob Thatch, Dave Davies, Maria Pelto, Jonne Long, and Ann Sullentrop traveled to Putumayo in December 2007 for the purpose of establishing a sister community relationship. They met for two days with over 60 representatives of three indigenous Embera-Chami communities to begin forming a working relationship based on mutual respect. In spite of the area’s 42-year history of bloody and brutal conflict, the Embera-Chamies have courageously organized themselves around principles of nonviolence, in contrast with the guerrilla movements who have chosen to engage in violent resistance. CSN seeks to give political support to local Colombian community political processes pursuing its goals: a negotiated solution to the conflict and strengthening civilian society. This work contrasts with efforts by others to strengthen armed groups (the US government supports the army and supplies mainly military equipment, thus increasing the conflict.) The delegation also traveled to Bogota to discuss its findings with Colombia’s Ministry of the Interior/Justice, Ministry of Defense, the American Embassy, and several local NGOs.

At Unity on the Plaza, Classroom D, 7:30 pm
*January 23: Justice for Rio Negro Massacres: The Story of Jesus Tecu Osorio.
Video with discussion led by Craig Lubow. Jesus Tecu Osariowas born in 1971 in Rio Negro, Baja Verapaz, Guatemala. Tecu is a social activist and advocate for the Achi Maya. In 1982, much of the population of Rio Negro was murdered. Tecu survived. He witnessed the murder of most of his family. He spent two years as a household slave to one of the perpetrators. In 1993, Tecu began legal proceedings to have the mass grave of Rio Negro exhumed, leading to the prosecution of three of the perpetrators. As of 2006, this was the only Guatemalan trial for crimes against humanity committed during the civil war. Tecu has organized four separate charitable organizations, including a legal aid clinic, for the Achi Maya people. He also heads an organization that rescues child soldiers. A discussion will follow the video, including a discussion about child soldiers.

At Rockhurst University, 7:30 pm
*January 30: "Guantanamo Bay and Its Implications for the Rule of Law" --Talk by Lt. Cmdr. Charles D. Swift (Ret.) Mabee Theater, Sedgwick Hall, Rockhurst University, 53 & Troost, KCMO. It is free and open to the public.

PEACE & JUSTICE TEACH-INS

October --2007 -- November


PEACE & JUSTICE TEACH-INS

When? Wednesday, 7:00 p.m.

Where? Westport Coffee House, 4010 Pennsylvania

October 24: Media Reform and Religion – Craig Lubow. Craig will discuss the impact of the media on religion and the impact of religion on the media. Craig attended the National Media Reform Conference in St Louis in 2005 and in Memphis in 2007, both organized by Freepress.net. Craig is also active in Sierra Club, Amnesty International, and ACLU.


When? Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.

Where? Unity on the Plaza, Classroom D

November 14: Justice Without Borders - a film from Amnesty International with speaker from Peru, Ms. Gisela Ortiz Perea.
“We’re in the midst of what could really be called a revolution in the area of human rights and international justice. Now we’re only at the beginning…but already we have seen people come to justice who I’m sure never expected that they would ever be brought before a court of law. Who thought that they could kill, murder, not just tens but hundreds of thousands of people and live to retire in some luxurious palace somewhere. We have shown that this can be stopped.”
- Larry Cox, Executive Director, Amnesty International USA , in Justice Without Borders
AIUSA’s forthcoming film Justice Without Borders examines the current landscape of international justice through the voices of survivors of human rights abuses and the legal cases they are pursuing in courts around the world.
The 35-minute film focuses on three stories, including: (1) the campaign to bring former Peruvian president Alberto Fujimori to justice for human rights crimes committed while he was head of state; (2) the groundbreaking work of the International Criminal Court (ICC) to address the issue of child soldiers and end impunity for crimes against humanity and war crimes in Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC); and (3) the campaign to bring former Guatemalan General Efraín Ríos Montt to justice in Guatemala or Spain.
Ms. Gisela Ortiz Perea is from the town of Chachapoyas in the state of Amazonas, Peru. She earned a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration from the Universidad Enrique Guzmán y Valle. For the past 15 years, Ms. Ortiz has committed her life to an unwavering struggle against impunity so that justice will be done in the case of her brother, Enrique Ortiz Perea, who was disappeared and murdered. Enrique Ortiz Perea was 21 years old when he was kidnapped from the Universidad Enrique Guzmán y Valle (also known as "La Cantuta") and assassinated by a death squad on July 18, 1992.

September Calendar

September 26: September 26: FBI Unbound: How National Security Letters Violate our Privacy. A video produced by the Bill of Rights Defense Committee. Featuring Lisa Graves of the Center for National Security Studies, Bruce Fein, Exec. Dir. of American Freedom Agenda, and George Christian, Exec. Dir. of Library Connection. The latter is the librarian who challenged the constitutionality of the NSL and was excused from the gag order.

September --2007 -- September

PEACE & JUSTICE TEACH-INS
When? Thursdays at 7:00 p.m.

Where? Westport Coffee House, 4010 Pennsylvania
First floor meeting room

September 19: Media and Democracy in Venezuela – Matt Quinn.
US government officials accuse Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez of undermining the news media in that country. US news media depict the Venezuelan social and economic model as a dictatorship. In July 2007 Matt Quinn participated in a Reality Tour organized by Global Exchange, which met with 15 Venezuelan media and community organizations, including several private media outlets, opposition political parties, as well as groups in poor communities. He will share photos and a report from the tour. How has mass media in Venezuela been impacted by the sweeping social changes? Why is it important for progressives to understand what is happening in Venezuela? What lessons can be learned on community organizing?
Matt Quinn lives in Lee's Summit, works as a project manager for an information technology company and organizes for Citizens for Justice in the Middle East and KC Iraq Task Force. Global Exchange is an international human rights organization dedicated to promoting social, economic and environmental justice around the world. Reality Tours organizes trips to over 30 countries in Latin America, Africa, Asia and the Middle East. Feel free to adapt any of the above for your communication.

May - June schedule

May 30: Kilowatt Ours at 7:30 at Westport Coffee House, 4010 Pennsylvania, First floor meeting room -- Craig Lubow. Craig, an active member of the Sierra Club, will show a video and lead discussion. "What would you find if you traced the wires from your light switch to their energy source? Mountain top removal, childhood asthma, global warming or hope? Follow filmmaker Jeff Barrie from the coal mines of West Virginia to the solar panel fields of Florida as he discovers solutions to America's energy related problems. Along the way you'll meet ever day Americans finding ways to harness the power from the wind and sun. Find out how Jeff and his wife cut their energy bills in half and use a portion of their savings to buy green power."

June 20: Road to Guantanamo at Unity Temple on the Plaza - 707 W. 47th St, corner of Jefferson, room D, first floor back. -- Craig Lubow.
This film rivets the viewer to the screen with the explosive, blow-by-blow details of homegrown terrorism and the consequences for those who are caught. Three young British Muslim men fly to Pakistan just days after the 9/11 attacks. From there, they take a wild, reckless and dangerous journey into Afghanistan. When the men are captured, their journey to hell begins. Inside the walls of the infamous Guantanamo prison, they come face-to-face with the harsh reality of America's war on terror, until British Intelligence makes a startling discovery."

february calendar

February --2007 -- February
PEACE & JUSTICE TEACH-INS
When? Wednesdays at 7:00 p.m.

Where? Unity on the Plaza, Classroom D (rear of first floor)
February 21: The War Tapes – from Democracy for America is one of the most compelling documentaries of our time. It focuses not just on the war, but life back home and the difficult ways family and relationships change. The film is powerful and moving conveying both the passion and mindset of American soldiers and the incredible human and community cost of war. You have never seen film like this before. After the movie, we will send postcards to congress demanding binding action to end the occupation in Iraq and bring our brave men and women home. The movement to end this war is building; help us unite our voices by taking action together:
At Avila University
February 28: Truman Lecture at Avila. Sr. Helen Prejean (Dead Man Walking author) will be on a panel with a lawyer and an exonerated ex-inmate. Tickets may be available from AFSC (no charge, but sold out.) Avila is also putting on the play Thursday through Sunday. So far, Thursday is sold out.
New web spot -- peaceandjusticecoffeehouse.blogspot.com
Peace and Justice Teach-Ins are supported by: the Alliance for Democracy, American Friends Service Committee, Greens of Greater Kansas City, Holy Family Catholic Worker House ... and others. This support does not necessarily imply endorsement of the views of any speaker or presentation..
Peace and Justice Teach-Ins are meant to be a free speech forum for progressive thought. "Peace and Justice Teach-Ins" neither advocates nor endorses violent or illegal acts. For more information or to make corrections, or to suggest speakers, call (816) 931-5256 or (913) 384-6094.