1. art and entertainment
2. movies and tv
3. television

Olympia Fellowship of Reconciliation
5015 15th Ave SE, Lacey WA 98503-2723
(360) 491-9093 www.olympiafor.org
Issue #258 June + July 2015
American Democracy No Longer Exists:
Wealthy Elites – Not Voter Majorities – Determine Congress’s Decisions
We want peace, but big corporations pay politicians to wage endless wars.
We want economic justice, but big corporations pay politicians to oppose workers’ rights.
We want to protect the environment and climate, but big corporations pay politicians to prevent progress.
In case after case – sector after sector – the
American people are far ahead of our government, but multi-millionaires and big corporations
finance the election campaigns of politicians to
squelch the public interest and make the rich
even richer.
We will not make much progress on any
big issues – peace, environment/climate, economic justice, etc. – until we stop the legalized bribery that corrupts government and prevents real democracy. We must fix our corrupt
election financing system in order to make progress on our most important issues.
Indeed, a recent study from Princeton University concluded that American democracy has not
existed for several decades, because wealthy
elites and organized business groups actually
determine what Congress does and does not
do, regardless of majority public opinion and citizen-based organizations. This power dominates
both big political parties. The problem goes back
two decades before the Citizens United decision
made it even worse. Researchers Martin Gilens
and Benjamin I. Page used data from about 1,800
policy initiatives from 1981 to 2002.
In an interview with www.talkingpointsmemo.com, researcher Gilen summarized the findings in this way:
[C]ontrary to what decades of political science research might lead you to believe,
ordinary citizens have virtually no influence over what their government does in
the United States. And economic elites and interest groups, especially those representing business, have a substantial degree of influence. Government policymaking over the last few decades reflects the preferences of those groups -- of
economic elites and of organized interests.
Read the entire 18-page article at www.tinyurl.com/khjqxkx
www.represent.us, a non-profit organization promoting grassroots democracy, produced a video that explains in less than six minutes this bipartisan corruption of Congress and why rich businesses and rich individuals run the show.
Watch the short, easy-to-understand video: www.tinyurl.com/lnd7dyx This
organization proposes passing “Anti-Corruption Acts” all across our nation,
starting at local and state levels. See www.tinyurl.com/khhp96g
Excellent non-profit organizations at the national level are working to reform our corrupt election financing system.
In Washington State,
www.WAmend.org is working hard to urge our state’s members of Congress to
pass a constitutional amendment to take big money out of politics. This group
is collecting signatures statewide for Initiative 735, a citizen initiative to the
2016 legislature for this purpose. The 2016 legislature would likely fail to adopt
it, so it would go onto the November 2016 ballot. I 735 calls for a U.S. constitutional amendment specifying that constitutional rights belong only to individuals, not corporations – and that spending money is not a form of constitutionally-protected free speech.
See Pages 2-3 for Important Coming Events:
Saturday-Sunday June 20-21: Olympia FOR’s death penalty information booth at Capital City Pride festival
will address racism in Washington State’s death penalty, along with innocence and other important factors.
Sunday June 21: The People’s Action Fleet offshore near Tacoma will dramatically publicize opposition to
dangerous oil trains. This is a project of Olympia FOR’s “Confronting the Climate Crisis” group.
Thursday-Sunday July 2-5: “Peace, Justice and Sustainability: Strengthening the Links” – FOR’s 57th annual NW regional conference at Seabeck in Kitsap County will bring together 200 people for multi-issue information sharing, networking, and good times.
Page 2
Saturday-Sunday June 20-21:
Olympia FOR’s death penalty information booth at Capital City Pride festival
This year’s pride event runs for two days, and the festival will occur at Heritage Park, 5 th & Water, instead of Sylvester Park. The
Olympia FOR’s Committee for Alternatives to the Death Penalty organizes and staffs a booth every year to inform the public about
this gross violation of human rights that occurs within Washington State and in a declining number of other states.
This year’s booth will address racism in Washington State’s death penalty, along with innocence and other important factors.
See the articles on pages 9-10 and the fact sheet enclosed with Olympia FOR’s June-July newsletter.
Get more information from our death penalty committee’s chair, Emily Hammargren, 352-0695 [email protected]
or Glen Anderson, who is organizing our booth at Pride, 491-9093 [email protected]
Sunday June 21:
Join the People’s Action Fleet offshore near Tacoma
to Attract Nationwide Publicity, Stop the Exploding Oil Trains, and Protect Our Climate!
Enjoy a day on the water while making a powerful statement
to protect our communities, our climate, and our future. Join the
People's Climate Action Fleet on Sunday June 21, 2015, off the
coast of the Chambers Bay Golf Course, SW of Tacoma. Bring
your kayaks, canoes, sailboats, and powerboats, or participate
on someone else’s boat.
This golf course will host the 2015 U.S. Open Golf Tournament from Monday June 15 through Sunday June 21. More than
200,000 people will attend the tournament and 100,000,000
more will watch the action on television. This is our chance to
bring a dramatic climate justice message to the attention of
a national and international audience.
See www.peoplesclimatefleet.org
Chambers Bay is a new world-class golf course immediately
north of Steilacoom. The train tracks – with 100-car explosive oil trains – run several times a day next to the golf
course, along Puget Sound hauling oil to refineries in Tacoma,
Anacortes, and Whatcom County’s Cherry Point. The streets
near the golf course will be closed to the public during the tournament, but boats with large signs on Puget Sound (the Salish
Sea) will be visible to all the cameras and spectators. One of the
chief attractions of the golf course is the spectacular view of the
Salish Sea, Fox Island, McNeil Island and the Olympic Mountains.
Our powerful visual presence will attract public attention and
mainstream media.
We will steer our fleet of boats, kayaks, tribal canoes and a
barge, with very large signs, kites and balloons carrying our message, into the middle of that view, but far enough from shore to
satisfy Coast Guard requirements, so our signs must be truly
huge. We envision a colorful demonstration, much like Rising
Tide's waterborne demonstration on the Columbia River near
Portland two years ago. Bring your own huge signs and banners
(letters at least 8 feet tall). Our banners will include messages
such as “Stop the Oil Trains,” “Protect the Salish Sea and the Pacific Coast,” “Keep Fossil Fuels in the Ground,” “Save a Livable
Climate for our Grandchildren,” and Rising Tide's Great slogan,
“Coal, Oil, Gas, None Shall Pass.”
A demonstration this size requires much planning and regional cooperation, so please help us publicize it and personally invite other organizations and individuals to participate. The
Olympia Fellowship of Reconciliation’s “Confronting the
Climate Crisis” group is the primary group planning this
great nonviolent event. We can succeed only with help
from many other organizations and individuals. Please help
organize and publicize this great event! We also need financial support. See page 7 and www.peoplesclimatefleet.org
For information about the explosive oil trains, watch the
Olympia FOR’s May 2015 TV program through your computer: Visit www.olympiafor.org, click “TV Programs,” scroll
down, and click the link to watch the May 2015 program or the
link next to it to read a thorough description of the program and
see links to information sources.
Olympia Fellowship of Reconciliation
June + July 2015
Page 3
Thursday-Sunday July 2-5:
“Peace, Justice and Sustainability: Strengthening the Links”
REGISTER NOW for Fellowship of Reconciliation’s 57th Annual NW Regional Conference at Seabeck in Kitsap County WA
Everybody concerned about saving our planet and creating
a more just and less violent human community is welcome to
this family-friendly conference for people of all ages. Together we will explore how the issues we care about connect
with one another and how we can best work with other people who are committed to bettering our world. Programs for
children and youth will help them form peer communities.
We invite all participants to enjoy the workshops and talks.
We’ll be inspired and informed by two keynote speakers,
Jacqueline Patterson, Director of the NAACP Environmental
and Climate Justice Program, and the Rev. Osagyefo Uhuru
Sekou from the national FOR, who will connect us with the
Black Lives Matter movement. They and our workshop facilitators bring experience and insights for linking issues and activists. Come learn, come teach, come enjoy the fellowship
and the fun as well as the work! And we’ll enjoy Tom Rawson’s music all weekend long!
Choose from among 16 fascinating and enjoyable workshops spread out among three time periods, plus a fourth “Ac-
tivist Fair,” which is new this year and will encourage new topics to
be raised, follow-up from workshops, planning for actions, and
other options.
Our annual Seabeck Conference draws people from Washington,
Oregon, Canada, and elsewhere. The beautiful, historic site on
Hood Canal offers spectacular views of the Olympic mountains and
salt water. Enjoy on-site housing and family style dining. There are
plenty of opportunities for informal discussions with nice folks
who share your values. Enjoy many planned activities, informal
conversations with nice folks who share your values, and some nature walks, swimming, row boating, a bookstore, and more. Please
join us!
 See www.wwfor.org for the brochure and registration info.
We strongly urge pre-registering by mid-June if possible.
Questions? Carpooling? Contact the WWFOR office at (206)
789-5565 or [email protected]
To carpool from the Olympia area, contact Glen Anderson at
(360) 491-9093 [email protected]
TELEVISION PROGRAMS
Every month since February 1987 the Olympia Fellowship of Reconciliation has produced one-hour TV programs on issues related to peace, social
justice, economics, the environment, and nonviolence. The Olympia FOR’s program airs several times every week for the entire month on Thurston
Community Television (TCTV), channel 22 for Thurston County’s cable TV subscribers. You can see TCTV’s schedule at www.tctv.net.
You can also watch the program described below (and more than 100 of our previous interview programs and special programs at the Olympia
FOR’s website, www.olympiafor.org. Simply click the TV programs link, scroll down, and click the program you want to watch. Many of our website’s
TV program listings also include a .pdf document describing the program.
JUNE 2015
“Young People Downtown: Realities and Opportunities”
by Glen Anderson, producer and host of this TV series
 A more thorough description of this program appears in the April 2015 part of the “TV Programs” part of www.olympiafor.org
The Olympia Fellowship of Reconciliation’s June 2015 TV
program provides fresh insights into the realities experienced by
young people who spend a lot of time downtown. We debunk
myths and offer constructive ways for our local community to
address problems and include everyone. While this program fo-
cuses especially on young people, much of our conversation will
pertain also to people of other ages whom we see downtown.
The most common way that governments and social service
agencies deal with disadvantaged people is from the top down.
In contrast, all three of our guests on this TV program practice
solidarity with the people they serve. This interview shares our
Olympia Fellowship of Reconciliation
June + July 2015
Page 4
guests’ humane concerns, extensive experience, and important
insights:
Cole Ketcherside is Community Youth Services’ Street Outreach Program Director. Cole has provided a variety of direct
services for at-risk young people, and has been doing outreach
in Olympia since 2004. Cole has a relevant bachelor’s degree
and is working on a Master’s degree.
long hair david moved to a halfway house in Olympia in 1991
after release from prison. In Olympia he has accomplished a
lot of very positive things for our local community. He started new groups, including EGYHOP (the Emma Goldman Youth
and Homeless Outreach Project), and Books to Prisoners. He is
respected and appreciated by many people, including me.
Meg Martin is the Program Director for the Emergency Overnight Shelter operated by Interfaith Works of Thurston County. This new shelter is located at First Christian Church, 7th &
Franklin. Meg has a Master’s Degree in Social Work and seven
years of experience doing street outreach, including providing
mental health services.
Many people in the general public have negative feelings
about young people they see downtown. Some of the public’s
negative feelings are based on assumptions that are not true.
Our three TV guests clear up some of the misunderstandings and
correct some myths.
For example, most young people downtown are not unruly
and disobedient. Many of these kids actually are “throw-aways”
who have been abused, neglected or rejected by their families.
They gather together downtown to seek a community where
they will feel welcome.
Some young people have problems, but our local community
and larger society do not provide adequate social services to
meet their needs. It is a myth that Olympia has abundant social
services and is a “magnet” that draws people here. The overwhelming majority of young people who spend a lot of time in
downtown Olympia actually come from within Thurston County.
Some young people are homeless. We do not have enough
shelters, so the longer a person is homeless, the harder it becomes to get off the streets. If you do not have ID, it can be
very hard to get. If you are poor or have other problems, transportation to social service agencies can be very difficult.
Society is harshly biased against these people, and they know
they are held in contempt, so this lower self-image causes some
of them to retreat into lower levels of functioning. When they
feel hated by society and suffer other pains (psychological,
health, etc.), they may tend to “self-medicate” with alcohol or
drugs in order to relive the pain they feel. It is hard to get
treatment for health problems or other problems.
For a long time, social service agencies tried to make people
stop drinking or get off drugs before the social service agencies
would find them housing. More recently, the best thinking and
research have reversed that. Now the top priority is to help
people get safe, stable housing first, and make progress on other problems after a person has a decent place to live. Our guests
explain why this “housing first” strategy is much better.
Another long-standing practice has flipped too. Instead of
demanding that people kick drug habits or stop other dangerous
behaviors “cold turkey,” the new, smart approach is called
“harm reduction” – reducing the danger and damage to a person, even if some behavior continues. Our guests explain why
“harm reduction” is workable.
Needle exchange programs are a classic example of this
“harm reduction” approach. These life-saving programs have
been going on for decades, but many people in our nation still do
not understand or appreciate them. Our guest long hair david
started Olympia’s program more than twenty years ago. Our TV
program includes a 5-minute video from the early 1990s in which
long hair david explains the needle exchange program.
People who spend a lot of time on the streets differ in age
and in other ways. Several subpopulations vary by demographics,
circumstances (health, mental
health, sexual orientation and gender identity, substance abuse,
etc.). Some folks are on the streets
temporarily, while others spend
many years there. Each person is a
unique individual, so addressing
their needs requires getting to
know each person individually, not
lumping everyone together into some kind of stereotype.
All three of our TV guests emphasize the heavy burden that
labeling and stigmatizing places upon people who spend a lot of
time on the streets. Labels ignore people’s individual differences. Labels are negative and box people into traps that are
hard to escape.
People on the streets know that the larger society looks
down on them. They read the newspapers. They know what
business people and city council members say about them. Negativity toward them provokes more negativity.
The professional field of child development includes a concept (“Positive Youth Development”) that recognizes people have
strengths and capabilities that we can reinforce. People will rise
or fall to the expectation that is conveyed to them. We should
be appreciating each person’s inherent humanity and each person’s gifts and talents. We should reinforce positive characteristics rather than focus on punishment. The trauma that many
people on the streets have experienced interrupts their normal
development as capable human beings, so we should get to know
people and reinforce their positive qualities so they can grow
and become more satisfied.
Olympia Fellowship of Reconciliation
June + July 2015
Page 5
The City of Olympia and the local community overall make
young people feel unwelcome. Young people need to be able to
gather somewhere, but they get pushed out of every space
where they gather, like a “whack-a-mole” game: Sylvester Park,
Intercity Transit station, and now the Artesian Well area (south
of 4th Avenue, just west of Jefferson Street), which is currently
the front line of the struggle for young people to have a gathering place. Young people deserve to have a space.
Meg mentioned that Olympia enjoys its self-image of being
progressive, but the city government does not really serve homeless people well, because people need social gathering places and
basic infrastructure such as bathrooms and showers.
David’s vision for a welcoming space at the Artesian Well
would include affordable food and on-site presence of good social service agencies (e.g., Community Youth Services, EGYHOP,
health and mental health agencies) in trailers or other portable
facilities. This would be a resource for anyone visiting the Artesian Well area.
Near the end of the TV program we affirmed some of the local non-profit organizations that accomplish good work here because they are compassionate and grounded in understanding the
realities. The June 2015 “Program Description” on the “TV Programs” section of www.olympiafor.org provides contact information for these:
Community Youth Services provides a variety of services to
teens and young people into their early 20s.
711 State Ave NE, Olympia (360) 943-0780
www.communityyouthservices.org
Search Facebook for “Community Youth Services”
Interfaith Works of Thurston County brings together people from
a very wide diversity of religious faiths to promote interfaith understanding and to collaborate in meeting human needs, especially regarding hunger and homelessness. (360) 357-7224
www.interfaith-works.org
Rosie’s Place is part of CYS. It offers a drop-in center and a
shelter. (360) 943-0780, extension 191
Search Facebook for “Rosie’s Place”
EGYHOP (Emma Goldman Youth and Homeless Outreach Project)
is an all-volunteer effort providing emergency supplies, services and
resources to low-income and homeless persons of all ages living on
downtown Olympia’s streets during evenings and nights. EGYHOP.
www.oly-wa.us/EGYHOP www.facebook.com/egyhopolympia
Emergency Overnight Shelter is operated by Interfaith
Works (see top of next column) at First Christian Church at
the SW corner of 7th & Franklin in downtown Olympia.
Partners in Prevention Education (PiPE) engages young people who
The shelter’s hotline is 1 (844) 628-7343 www.iwshelter.org are homeless or at risk. It helps to prevent sexual violence, bias and
other problems that young people experience on the streets.
408 7th Ave SE, Olympia www.YouthChangeAgents.org
JULY 2015
“The U.S. Is Risking Nuclear War with Russia over Ukraine”
by Glen Anderson, producer and host of this TV series
 I wrote this brief summary of this TV program’s main points before we taped the interview. After we tape the TV program I’ll write a
much more thorough description and post it the “TV Programs” part of www.olympiafor.org before the program debuts on Wednesday
July 1. If we have your e-mail address we’ll e-mail the description to you in advance. If not, please provide it so we can keep in touch.
When the Cold War ended nearly a quarter of a century
ago, people around the world were hoping to enjoy peace instead of the toxic polarization that had been threatening
worldwide devastation in nuclear war for nearly half a century. Instead of exploring peaceful cooperation with Russia, the
U.S. claimed that we had “won” the Cold War, proclaimed that
the U.S. was “the only remaining superpower,” pushed U.S.
military dominance throughout the world without the USSR to
counter-balance us, pushed NATO aggressively up to Russia’s
borders, kept our nuclear weapons ready to launch, and took
other arrogant and aggressive actions.
The rest of the world did not like this.
American capitalism’s manic “pro-growth” economic and energy
policies are horribly unsustainable, but our political and economic
leaders and their media supporters could deceive Americans into
thinking that we are entitled to be #1 in the world and push other
countries around, including countries that have their own large
egos. Not only does the U.S. think it is entitled to lord it over all
other nations, but that – because of “American exceptionalism,” we
are not even subject to the laws of nature, so we can deny limits to
“growth,” deny the climate crisis, deny that other people and
nations have feelings that we hurt when we dominate and humiliate
them.
Olympia Fellowship of Reconciliation
June + July 2015
Page 6
The Pentagon and CIA have long recognized the concept of
“blowback,” the violent ways in which other people retaliate
against the U.S. when we use violence and exploitation against
them. But the Pentagon and CIA continue to violently abuse
other nations anyway, and mainstream U.S. media act like
cheerleaders.
How many Americans know that President Obama, who
won a Nobel Peace Prize for saying he opposes nuclear
weapons, is actually pushing for a bigger budget for new
nuclear weapons?
How many Americans know that the 45-year-old Nuclear
Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) is undergoing another 5year renewal process and that the U.S. has been violating
it for nearly all of its history?
How many Americans know – despite what mainstream
U.S. media and politicians said – that the European Union
was trying to abuse Ukraine, and that Russia was offering
Ukraine better economic terms? Or that the U.S. actively
helped fascists overthrow Ukraine’s government because
it was friendly with Russia, and that the U.S. is pushing
military pressure right up to the Russian border? Or that
the geopolitics of oil has been shaping U.S. policies there?
U.S. politicians and mainstream media demonize Russian
President Vladimir Putin with the same kind of ignorant animosity that right-wing Republicans demonize U.S. President
Barack Obama. Putin is bad in some ways, but American politicians and media have veered far away from reality in order
to create a demon for us to hate. We need to understand that
our government is fomenting conflicts with other nations, but
politicians and media do not want us to understand, just to hate
and mobilize for a new Cold War.
Even routine handling of nuclear weapons is extremely dangerous. There have been many accidents and near-misses, but this
news has been suppressed. The public needs a serious wellinformed discussion.
Nuclear war – whether by political miscalculation or computer accident or technical malfunction – is a hard reality every second of every minute of every hour of every day of every
year. The U.S.’s political/economic/military squeeze on Russia
is extremely reckless, since both the U.S. and Russia have
thousands of nuclear weapons ready to launch.
Instead of provoking Russia into a possible nuclear war, the U.S.
should be working constructively with Russia and other nations
toward abolishing nuclear weapons everywhere. We should start
by taking nuclear weapons off the “alert” status.
Nuclear war – whether by political miscalculation or
computer accident or technical malfunction – is a hard reality
every second of every minute of every hour of every day of
every year. The U.S.’s political/economic/military squeeze on
Russia is extremely reckless, since both the U.S. and Russia
have thousands of nuclear weapons ready to launch.
The Olympia Fellowship of Reconciliation’s July 2015 TV program features two very knowledgeable guests -- Mary Hanson and
Bernie Meyer – who have long and deep expertise in understanding
nuclear weapons and international conflicts. Mary and Bernie are
active with the FOR and with the Ground Zero Center for Nonviolent Action (www.gzcenter.org), which is next to the Trident nuclear submarine base 60 miles north of Olympia.
Confronting the Climate Crisis
The Olympia FOR’s “Confronting the Climate Crisis” group works on a variety of strategically important methods,
including informing the public, communicating with the government, urging entities to divest from fossil fuel investments, and promoting alternatives. We have also been organizing opposition to the explosive oil trains that
endanger local communities throughout North America and the climate of the whole world.
This June-July 2015 newsletter highlights only a few aspects of the climate crisis. Our website’s section on the
Climate Crisis includes A GREAT MANY MORE news items, and THOSE LINKS ARE LIVE, so we invite you to
see much more at www.olympiafor.org/Climate_Crisis.html
Meet with us: Our exciting, productive climate group meets on the third Wednesday of each month at 6:30 pm at the
Olympia Center, 222 Columbia Street NW, in downtown Olympia. Info: (360) 352-6327 [email protected]
 See more climate news on the next page
Olympia Fellowship of Reconciliation
June + July 2015
Page 7
Climate news continued from previous page:
PLEASE come to two special meetings (THURS JUNE 4 and
TUES JUNE 9) to plan our Sunday June 21 People’s Climate Action Fleet and volunteer to help in a wide variety of ways: See
www.peoplesclimatefleet.org and newsletter page 2 and for information
about this exciting action. We need more volunteers to help in various
ways, so please come to special meetings at the Olympia Center (222 Columbia Street NW, downtown) from 6:30 to 8:30 pm on THURSDAY JUNE 4
(in Room 103) and TUESDAY JUNE 9 (in Room 101). We are inviting active
friends from out-of-town to join us. This ambitious project also needs financial donations so we can the barge and huge balloons, buy materials for
signs, and pay for other kinds of practical expenses. Make tax-deductible
donations payable to “Backbone Campaign” (earmarked “People’s Climate
Action Fleet”) and mail them to Backbone Campaign, PO Box 278, Vashon
WA 98070, or donate through www.peoplesclimatefleet.org or through
www.BackboneCampaign.org and specify that your donation is for the
“People’s Climate Action Fleet.” www.peoplesclimatefleet.org will post
updates. For information about these meetings or this exciting action, contact Bourtai Hargrove, (360) 352-6327 or [email protected]
FOR’s Seabeck Conference (Thurs-Sun July
2-5) will address the climate crisis along
with other issues: We’ll “connect the dots”
across issues and build the movements in our 57th annual conference at Seabeck in Kitsap County WA.
Our 2015 theme is “Peace, Justice and Sustainability: Strengthening the Links.” One of our keynote speakers is an African-American woman who directs the NAACP’s climate program. REGISTER
NOW. See the brochure and registration information
at www.wwfor.org To carpool from the Olympia
area, contact Glen Anderson at (360) 491-9093
[email protected]
Putting a price on carbon pollution would
help our climate. Initiative 732 would do
this and also make Washington State’s tax
system more fair: See www.carbonwa.org
Oppose Shell’s Oil Drilling in the Arctic
Obama Administration approves oil drilling in ecologically fragile Arctic Chuchki Sea: On March 31,
2015, the U.S. Dept. of the Interior approved 30 million acres
of oil leases originally approved by the George W. Bush Administration, despite Interior’s own report predicting 75% likelihood of an oil spill. See www.tinyurl.com/k68pa89 And
on May 11, 2015, the Interior Dept’s Bureau of Ocean Energy
Management announced approval for Shell’s plan to drill there
starting in July. See www.tinyurl.com/ln7kwzl
Interview with Greenpeace activists occupying Shell
oil rig in Pacific Ocean: We are already polluting the atmosphere with more carbon dioxide than it can accommodate.
Now the Obama Administration is allowing oil companies to
drill in sensitive environments. For example, Royal Dutch
Shell’s oil drilling in the Arctic would be bad for the climate.
For several days a team Greenpeace activists from a number
of different Pacific and European nations occupied a Shell oildrilling vessel in the Pacific 750 miles NW of Hawaii. Seattle
City Councilmember Kshama Sawant interviewed activists during their occupation. Watch: www.tinyurl.com/lgd3oyw
Early opposition to Shell’s oil equipment in Seattle: Although the Port of Seattle had cut a secret deal with Shell to host
their Arctic oil drilling equipment en route to the Arctic, as soon as
people heard about this, they started objecting to it. Seattle City
Council member Mike O’Brien discussed it on MSNBC in mid-March
2015. Watch a short interview at www.tinyurl.com/k3vnxkd
People who care about the environment and climate
publicized the issue and organized nonviolent resistance: Environmentalist K.C. Golden (senior policy advisor for
Climate Solutions – www.climatesolutions.org) wrote a great article in the Seattle Times on May 7 (updated May 8). See
www.seattletimes.com/opinion/shell-and-high-water-theclimate-battle-of-seattle/
People oppose Shell’s oil drilling in the Arctic and the
Port of Seattle’s hosting Shell’s massive oil drilling rig,
so several organizations (Greenpeace, Backbone Campaign, and others) organized nonviolent resistance
from May 15 to 18: See compelling photos and videos at:
www.tinyurl.com/moryyfk and www.tinyurl.com/l94fayz
and www.tinyurl.com/ms53nwt and www.tinyurl.com/
mxmzupp and The Guardian’s article was especially good:
www.tinyurl.com/m4epgwt
Scientists agree that we absolutely must slash the carbon dioxide (CO2) that we pollute into the atmosphere in order to limit damage to the environment. Damage to the climate occurs fully several decades after the carbon pollution has occurred. Human nature tempts us to postpone
hard decisions, so when scientists or governments call for a sharp reduction in carbon pollution for the year 2025 or 2050, we easily deceive
ourselves into thinking we can defer reducing carbon pollution until closer to those years. However, the CO 2 we emit TODAY will become fully
apparent in those future years, so THE ONLY WAY TO MEET THOSE FUTURE TARGETS IS TO VERY SHARPLY SLASH THE CARBON WE EMIT TODAY!
Olympia Fellowship of Reconciliation
June + July 2015
Page 8
Climate Outreach Messages that Really Work!
To protect the climate, we must quickly change public opinion and influence politicians and the media.
Some messages work better than others. Most of us don’t know any polar bears personally, but many of us do know
children. Messages about the future make people think they can postpone solutions, but focusing attention on current
weather disruptions do alert people to the urgency. Everybody hates oil companies, and everybody believes in local control and democratic empowerment.
The information below uses insights such as these – proven through extensive public opinion surveys – to devise a
three-pronged strategy of outreach messaging that can really work. This information was developed by Breakthrough Strategies & Solutions, www.breakthrouhstrategiesandsolutions.com (301) 920-1444. Their 10-page report is
titled, “Climate Solutions for a Stronger America: A Guide for Engaging and Winning on Climate Change &
Clean Energy” (Second Edition, 2014).
The Moral Imperative: Climate change is no longer an abstract future threat; it is here now. We are experiencing it in our daily lives, as fires, floods, severe droughts and storms repeatedly damage our communities – and drain our
public budgets with rapidly increasing expenditures for disaster response. Climate impacts are hitting far sooner and closer to home than many of us could have ever imagined. We have a moral obligation to protect our children. By cutting our
carbon pollution and investing in clean energy and efficiency solutions in our communities, we can start building a safer
and stronger America today.
The Political Opportunity: Americans are ready – hungry – for straight talk and real solutions. Seven in ten
voters (including 68 percent of Independents and half of Republicans) see climate change as a serious problem facing our
country. Strong majorities agree that climate change should be a priority for the President and Congress. In a recent survey, Americans were more than twice as likely to vote for a candidate who strongly supports climate action – and three
times more likely to vote against a candidate who opposes climate action.
Yet media discourse and policy solutions have not kept pace with public opinion or the scientific consensus regarding the
urgency of the problem. They haven’t, largely due to fossil fuel-backed media campaigns designed to confuse the public
and electoral spending designed to stifle political leadership and stall progress on American climate and clean energy solutions. With practical solutions now widely available and affordable, there is enormous opportunity both for our communities and for leaders who step up to the climate challenge with confidence and conviction.
The authors developed a three-pronged approach using three messages that have
been proven to work best. Together, they form a persuasive narrative triangle. These top three messages are:
Severe Weather and Kids
Oil Companies’ Stranglehold on Democracy
Taking Charge of Our Own Energy
Why it works: The researchers/authors display these in a triangle and urge people to address all three. Even if one of
these is the starting point for an outreach effort, the researchers/authors urge linking up with the triangle’s other two parts:
• The Threat – Pointing to strange and severe weather and our responsibility to protect our kids underscores the urgency of the climate challenge.
• The Villain – Holding oil companies accountable for rigging the system against clean energy shows why progress to
date has been delayed – and demonstrates that there is a way forward – overcoming the roadblocks they’ve created.
• The Solution – Demonstrating the benefits of action, especially in our neighborhoods, cities and states helps avoid
partisan debates and shows that local, practical solutions are available and effective.
Their resource provides talking points and supportive facts. This great resource can help us a lot!
Olympia Fellowship of Reconciliation
June + July 2015
Page 9
Death Penalty
 See the page enclosed with this newsletter for information about racial bias in the death penalty.
Yes, the death penalty is racially biased in Washington along with the rest of the U.S.
Saturday-Sunday June 20-21: Olympia FOR’s death penalty information booth at Capital City Pride festival will
address racism in Washington State’s death penalty, along with innocence and other important factors. This year’s Pride festival will
occur in Heritage Park (5th & Water) instead of Sylvester Park. Info: Glen Anderson (360) 491-9093 [email protected]
Olympia FOR’s death penalty committee meets at 7 pm the 4th Tuesday evening of each month at a convenient
location in Tumwater: Our meetings are friendly and steadily productive. Besides meeting face-to-face, we also have an “In the
Loop” e-mail list for occasional news and invitations to special events. Recently we also created an interactive listserv that allows
people to share news, information, and organizing about the death penalty. To connect with either of these, contact our chairperson,
Emily Hammargren, at (360) 352-0695 [email protected].
Sign up for our “In the Loop” e-mail list and/or our interactive e-mail listserv to share information, ideas, etc.:
Many people are too busy to attend our friendly, productive meetings. Emily Hammargren, who chairs our death penalty committee,
invites people to sign up for our “In the Loop” e-mail list to be kept informed of our monthly meetings, our special events, etc. Emily
uses his list sparingly, so you might find this just the right amount of information. Also we recently created an interactive listserv
that allows more of us to share news, information, insights, etc., with each other. This could be a good way to collaborate with other
local folks to help organize local anti-death penalty activities. This listserv is an interactive, community-minded way to work from
home against the death penalty with other local abolitionists. If you sign up you will be able to:
Send your own death penalty related messages to everyone on listserv
Reply to all messages sent from the listserv
Collaborate via email with everyone on the listserv to share ideas, resources, and strategies as well as plan event.
Receive all news and event notices from the Olympia FOR Committee for Alternatives to the Death Penalty
To join the Olympia FOR Committee for Alternatives to the Death Penalty’s “In the Loop” e-mail list and/or our e-mail listserv, please
send an email to [email protected] and say which one(s) you want to join.
Nebraska moves closer toward abolishing the death penalty: Nebraska is the only state with just one legislative body
(the Senate), not two. Vigorous grassroots organizing has moved many of Nebraska’s senators of both parties to vote to abolish the
death penalty. Their constitution requires that the Senate vote three times before it goes to the governor. The first vote in April was
30-13. The second and third votes also were heavily lopsided (30-16 on May 15, and 32-15 on May 20). The governor has said he
would veto it. The Senate will need 30 votes to override the expected veto.
Delaware’s senators voted 11-9 to repeal their death penalty: This vote during April vote moved the bill to Delaware’s
House, whose hearing fell short of passing the bill. The governor had said if the House would pass the bill to repeal Delaware’s death
penalty, he would sign the bill into law. As of this writing, it is still stuck in the House.
Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf is issuing temporary reprieves to persons on death row while the state studies the death penalty’s effectiveness in Pennsylvania: On May 4, soon after making the decision, he wrote, “After significant consideration and reflection, I have decided to use my authority as governor to issue temporary reprieves. This is in no way an
expression of sympathy for the guilty on death row, all of whom have been convicted of committing heinous crimes. Affected inmates will remain on death row and with the same imprisonment guidelines. Our current flawed system has been proven to be an
endless cycle of court proceedings as well as ineffective and expensive. Since the reinstatement of the death penalty, 152 people
have been exonerated from death row nationwide, including six in Pennsylvania. Recognizing the seriousness of these concerns, the
Senate established the bipartisan Pennsylvania Task Force and Advisory Commission to conduct a study of the effectiveness of capital punishment in Pennsylvania. I will continue to issue reprieves until this commission has produced its recommendation and all concerns are addressed satisfactorily.” This kind of process in Illinois exposed many systemic problems and eventually led to Illinois
abolishing the death penalty altogether.
Federal death penalty imposed in Massachusetts, a state without the death penalty: On May 15 Dzhokhar Tsarnaev
was sentenced to death for his role in the bombing at the Boston Marathon in 2013, even though Massachusetts does not have the
Olympia Fellowship of Reconciliation
June + July 2015
Page 10
death penalty. Equal Justice USA (www.ejusa.org) reported, “Almost three-quarters of Boston residents opposed the death penalty
in this case,” despite the highly emotional testimony during the trial. Some of the victims’ family members spoke powerfully against
imposing the death penalty. One said the death penalty “could bring years of appeals and prolong reliving the most painful day of our
lives.” Boston’s people want to put this case behind them, but the federal death penalty will plague them for a long time to come.
Split jury results in life sentence for Joseph McEnroe’s participation in killings in Carnation WA: Since the 12member jury could not agree on whether to impose a death sentence, he was sentenced to life without possibility of parole. One of
the 8 jurors who favored death described his own experience in the ordeal, “It was miserable…. This isn’t a decision that people
should have to try and make,” according to a Seattle Times article. A family member of one of the victims said she is glad that without a death sentence, the family will not have to keep going through the case over and over again. McEnroe killed six members of his
ex-girlfriend’s family in 2007. Several of the mitigating factors in McEnroe’s background, including serious childhood abuse and ongoing mental illness, caused some jurors to decide against a death sentence. The case cost millions of dollars to prosecute.
Woman paints 600 plates to illustrate 600 executed persons’ last meals: Too often, the people who are executed are
demonized, labeled as “monsters,” and so forth. Julie Green from Oklahoma recognizes their humanity by painting a plate to show
their last meals before execution. This is a way to humanize them. The plates are identified by state, but not by name. See this link:
www.tinyurl.com/kctyq5h
The June 2015 Atlantic published an in-depth investigation exposing serious problems with lethal injection:
The horribly botched execution of Clayton Lockett in Oklahoma in April 2014 is only the tip of the iceberg. The Atlantic’s very long
article details that incompetent tragedy and examines the larger issue of states seeking unlicensed, illegal, or experimental drugs to
carry out their broken death penalty policies.
Jesus said, “Whatever you do to the least of these,
you do to me.” (Matthew 25:40)
The lethal injection gurney is laid out like a cross
for crucifixion. When we execute someone, let us
recognize to Whom we are doing it.
Lethal injection is very seriously flawed, so there is NO
ACCEPTABLE METHOD of execution: Over the years, public
revulsion about grisly executions and other problems have been excluding one method of execution after another. Each new method
was supposed to be cleaner, more modern, and more humane. Stoning, beheading, hanging, burning at the stake, firing squads, electric
chair, gas chamber, lethal injection – each method has turned out to be bad in several ways. (Of course, the debate about methods
bypasses the more serious debate we should be having about the death penalty overall. It is wrong in so many ways that debating the
best method is a distraction from convincing the public and politicians to abolish the death penalty altogether.) Here are three
items worth considering about methods of execution:
1. This article from a year ago lays out some interesting information about states considering about reverting to older methods of
execution: www.tinyurl.com/n7ww79x
2. Comedian George Carlin discusses (with much cynicism and profanity) various methods of execution and other aspects of the
death penalty: www.youtube.com/watch?v=qDO6HV6xTmI
3. This article from April 22, 2015, discusses the dysfunctional methods of executions: www.tinyurl.com/nqtrg5g
"Capital punishment is the most premeditated of murders." -- Albert Camus
"I feel morally and intellectually obligated simply to concede that the death penalty experiment has failed. From this day forward, I no longer shall tinker with the machinery of death." -- U.S. Supreme Court Justice Harry A. Blackmun, February 22, 1994
“Capital punishment is against the best judgment of modern criminology and, above all, against the highest expression of
love in the nature of God.” -- Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Olympia Fellowship of Reconciliation
June + July 2015
Page 11
Obama and Congress Want to Expand the Pentagon’s Slush Fund
to Increase Military Spending Despite the Sequestration Cap
THE REALITY:
A budget is a numerical way to express what we want. The U.S. budget, which is overwhelmingly dominated by military spending, shows that the U.S. government wants massive military violence.
In contrast, the American people want peace, not endless war. We want to reverse the federal budget’s priorities. We
want to cut the military budget and fully fund human needs.
However, both President Obama and our bipartisan Congress seem eager to continue overfunding the military, even despite the “sequestration” budget caps they imposed a few years ago to limit federal spending.
BACKGROUND:
A few years ago Congress deadlocked about the federal budget and created a small Super Committee to produce a
compromise, with the threat that if the Super Committee failed, mandatory across-the-board cuts would occur in all
federal budgets, both military and domestic alike. (A certain percentage of each budget would be “sequestered.”) The
Super Committee failed, so the “sequestration” went into effect. This process imposed caps on military spending and
on domestic spending. But the hawks want to keep increasing the military budget anyway, so they are monkeying
around with a “slush fund” for the Pentagon that is outside of its budget cap.
THE CURRENT MONKEY BUSINESS TO INCREASE MILITARY SPENDING DESPITE THE CAP:
Recently Congress passed a budget that slashes funding for nearly every vital domestic investment while putting many hundreds of billions of dollars into the Pentagon’s regular budget and adding nearly $40 billion more
(for a new total of nearly $90 billion) into a massive slush fund at the Pentagon known as the Overseas Contingency Operations Account (OCO).
The OCO was originally designed to fund our wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, but it is now being used as a slush fund for
military spending beyond what’s in the real budget, in order to help the Pentagon spend far beyond the spending caps.
Budget caps have crippled funding for infrastructure, healthcare, education, and nearly every program outside the Pentagon. Republicans and hawkish Democrats (including President Obama) are using the OCO slush fund to massively increase the Pentagon’s budget while at the same time they slash government programs that help people.
The National Priorities Project (www.nationalpriorities.org) is partnering with the Win Without War coalition
(www.winwithoutwar.org) to promote a more progressive national security strategy. While Congress has passed
their budget, they now have to fund the government by passing appropriations bills. In the coming weeks, Congress
will decide whether they continue down this dangerous path or chart a new course. A responsible path forward recognizes that our national security starts with our economic security. Congress must recognize that we cannot underinvest in America just to pad the pockets of Pentagon contractors.  Please sign the petition to Congress posted at
www.nationalpriorities.org and www.winwithoutwar.org
MORE INFORMATION:
The National Priorities Project
(www.nationalpriorities.org) is
a respected source of information
and action about cutting the military budget.
The Friends Committee on National Legislation
(FCNL) has worked for decades from an ethically
principled perspective on federal government issues, including budget priorities. See their information at www.fcnl.org/issues/budget.
Olympia Fellowship of Reconciliation
The Olympia FOR website’s “Bring
Our Billion$ Home” page includes
articles on this subject. Visit
www.olympiafor.org and click
on “Bring Our Billion$ Home
Campaign.”
June + July 2015
Page 12
Calendar for June-July 2015
Events sponsored by FOR are preceded by the symbol FOR.
Phone numbers are in (360) unless otherwise noted.
Events outside of Thurston County have their locations underlined.
TCTV programs use cable channel 22 in Thurston County.
EVERY WEEK:
Every Monday through Friday from 5:00 to 6:00 am: “Democracy Now” with Amy Goodman on TCTV cable channel 22 in Thurston County. (For a number of years the Olympia FOR has provided financial support for TCTV’s airing of “Democracy
Now.”)
Every Monday through Friday from 9:00 to 10:00 am: Amy Goodman’s “Democracy Now,” KAOS 89.3 FM
FOR Every Monday at 1:30 pm: Olympia FOR’s program on TCTV, cable channel 22 in Thurston County –
or watch it at any time on your computer through www.olympiafor.org: JUNE: “Young People Downtown:
Realities and Opportunities.” JULY: “The U.S. Is Risking Nuclear War with Russia over Ukraine.” See descriptions on pages 3-6 of our June-July 2015 newsletter and on the “TV Programs” part of www.olympiafor.org. Info: Glen Anderson
491-9093 [email protected]
Every Monday through Friday from 4 to 5 pm: “Democracy Now” with Amy Goodman on TCTV cable channel 22 in
Thurston County. (For a number of years the Olympia FOR has provided financial support for TCTV’s airing of “Democracy Now.”)
Every Monday through Friday from 5:00 to 5:30 pm: Free Speech Radio News on KAOS 89.3 FM
Every Monday at 5:00 pm: Veterans for Peace airs a locally produced program on TCTV. Info: Dennis Mills 867-1487
[email protected] and www.vfp109rcc.org
FOR Every Wednesday from 12:00 noon to 1:00 pm: Peace Vigil in NW corner of Sylvester Park (at Legion & Capitol
Way) has persisted since March 5, 1980. Please come for all or part of the hour to witness in a friendly way for peace and nonviolence.
We provide plenty of signs. Info: [email protected] 491-9093 www.olympiafor.org/vigils.htm
FOR Every Wednesday at 5:00 pm: Olympia FOR’s program on TCTV, cable channel 22 in Thurston County
– or watch it at any time on your computer through www.olympiafor.org. JUNE: “Young People Downtown: Realities and Opportunities.” JULY: “The U.S. Is Risking Nuclear War with Russia over Ukraine.”
See descriptions on pages 3-6 of our June-July 2015 newsletter and on the “TV Programs” part of www.olympiafor.org. Info: Glen Anderson 491-9093 [email protected]
Every Wednesday at 5:00 pm: Hear “Talk Nation Radio” on KAOS-FM 89.3: This 29-minute radio program offers politically progressive programs through the Pacifica Network. Info: http://davidswanson.org/talknationradio
Every Thursday from 12:00 to 1:00 pm: Kim Dobson’s “Parallel University” on KAOS 89.3 FM features interesting, informative programs about peace, social justice, the environment, progressive politics, and other alternative viewpoints. The producer and
host is Kim Dobson. 951-4382, [email protected], https://www.facebook.com/pages/Parallel-University-RadioShow/148750248532028) See list of current and past topics and guests. Listen locally or at www.kaosradio.org
Every Thursday at 8:00 pm: Veterans for Peace airs a locally produced program on TCTV. Info: Dennis Mills 867-1487
[email protected] and www.vfp109rcc.org
FOR Every Thursday from 9:00 to 10:00 pm: Olympia FOR’s program on TCTV, cable channel 22 in
Thurston County – or watch it at any time on your computer through www.olympiafor.org: JUNE: “Young
People Downtown: Realities and Opportunities.” JULY: “The U.S. Is Risking Nuclear War with Russia
over Ukraine.” See descriptions on pages 3-6 of our June-July 2015 newsletter and on the “TV Programs” part of
www.olympiafor.org. Info: Glen Anderson 491-9093 [email protected]
Every Friday from 8:30 to 10:30 am: The Housing Justice Project can help low-income tenants: From 8:30 to
10:30 am Thurston County Volunteer Legal Services presents the Housing Justice Project at the Thurston County Superior Courthouse,
Building 2 at 2000 Lakeridge Drive SW, Olympia. They offer landlord/tenant advice for the tenants, unlawful detainer docket representaOlympia Fellowship of Reconciliation
June + July 2015
Page 13
tion, and help for mobile home owners with complaints about rules violations, notices from landlords or park owners and mobile home
eviction cases. Call 705-8194 for information or to schedule an appointment. For immediate legal information call toll-free (888) 2011014 between 9:15 am and 12:15 pm Monday through Friday.
FOR Every Friday from 4:30 to 6:00 pm: Peace Vigil at Percival Landing’s south end, 4th & Water, downtown. Please join us
for whatever length of time you can. We provide plenty of signs. The Artesian Rumble Arkestra street band joins us at 5:00 with lively
music to support our vigil! We have vigiled here since November 1998. The Olympia FOR sponsors this. Info: 491-9093
[email protected] www.olympiafor.org/vigils.htm and www.oly-wa.us/artesianrumble
Every Friday from 5:00 to 6:00 pm: “Women in Black” Silent Vigil for Peace on the south side of W 4th Ave near the
fountain. Women only. Please wear black. Some signs are provided. Since 1988 “Women in Black” has been a loose network of women
worldwide committed to peace with justice and actively opposed to war and violence. Info: Rosemary Barnhart 866-7589 [email protected]
FOR Every Saturday from 12:00 noon to 1:00 pm: Peace Vigil in Centralia on the edge of Washington Park at Locust
& Pearl in downtown Centralia. Sponsor: Lewis County’s “Fire Mountain” FOR chapter. Info: June Butler 748-9658 or Larry Kerschner 8804741 [email protected]
Every Saturday at 2:00 pm: Veterans for Peace airs a locally produced program on TCTV. Info: Dennis Mills 867-1487
[email protected] and www.vfp109rcc.org
Every Sat and Sun: The South Sound Estuarium, a marine life discovery center, is open at its new, larger location, 309 State Ave NE, Olympia, from 11 am to 4 pm every Saturday and Sunday. It is possible to schedule group visits during the week
by appointment only. Regular admission $5 for a family, $3 per individual adult, $1 for children 17 and younger, and free for association
members. Info: Leihla 888-0565 www.sseacenter.wordpress.com
SPECIFIC DATES
Sat May 30: “Turning Wine into Water!” -- Wine Tasting benefit for Friendly Water for the World: Sample
from local vintners! This runs from 4 to 7 pm at the Prairie Hotel in Yelm, sponsored by Yelm Rotary Club to benefit Friendly Water
for the World, an amazingly effective, low-tech way to empower people in poor countries to clean their unsafe water for drinking.
Info: www.friendlywater.net Tickets $35 each or $50 for a couple. www.yelmrotary.org Watch the Olympia FOR’s March
2015 TV program about Friendly Water at http://www.olympiafor.org/tv_programs.htm and read the description of Friendly
Water for the World next to the link on our website.
Sat May 30: Music, Poetry and Food event to benefit aid for Nepal after their earthquakes: Local resident
Julie Bennett, who went to Nepal in 2009 to photograph a medical mission, appreciates Nepal’s people and organized this benefit for
a family that had rescued her from a medical/physical crisis she experienced there – a family who lost everything in the recent
earthquakes and will use the proceeds to help them and their local community rebuild after the devastating recent earthquakes.
Tonight enjoy a variety of food, beverages, poetry, music, and more at 7:00 pm at Traditions Café, 5th & Water downtown. See
more information about tonight’s special event at www.traditionsfairtrade.com
FOR Mon June 1: “Young People Downtown: Realities and Opportunities” -- The Olympia FOR’s June
TV program debuts at 1:30 this afternoon and airs three times a week this month on TCTV channel 22 for Thurston County’s
cable subscribers. You can already watch it at www.olympiafor.org/tv_programs.htm and read the program’s description similar to the description in our June-July 2015 newsletter.
Mon June 1 to Sun June 7: Stand Up For Truth: An International Week to Support Whistleblowing: Democracy needs
truth-telling! People in many countries are creating Stand Up For Truth
activities during the week of June 1-7, 2015. Join with them in moving toward a culture of openness and truth as well as security for those who take
the risk of disclosing information that authorities want to keep hidden.
Events will happen in several places, and you can participate in some
online. Info: www.StandUpForTruth.org
Olympia Fellowship of Reconciliation
June + July 2015
Page 14
Tues June 2: Wear Orange today for National Gun Violence Awareness Day: Organizations working to stop
gun violence in the U.S. urge people to wear orange today to bring attention to this issue. These organizations include Newtown
Action Alliance, Moms Demand Action, Amnesty International, and others. Gun violence kills 88 Americans every day. Info:
http://wearorange.org/ http://www.facebook.com/MomsDemandActionWA http://momsdemandaction.org/
FOR Tues June 2: Olympia FOR’s book discussion group about moving from war to peace: 6:00 pm at
Chuck Schultz’s home, 1621 Tullis NE (a little north of San Francisco Street Bakery). This month’s book topic is about practical, realistic energy alternatives, so please read a book about practical aspects of alternative energy and come ready to summarize its
main points. Info: (360) 705-8520 [email protected]
Tues June 2: Sierra Club South Sound’s monthly meeting from 6:00 to 8:00 pm at the Mekong Restaurant, 125 Columbia Street Northwest (SW corner of State Ave), downtown Olympia. Enjoy a full agenda and delicious food. Info: Phyllis Farrell,
[email protected] and www.sierraclub.org/washington/local-groups
Wed June 3: “Capitalism and Citizenship” informative conversation hosted by Peter Bohmer and
Savvina Chowdhury at Traditions Café, 5th & Water SW, starts at 7:00 pm.
Wed June 3: Forum with candidates for Olympia City Council and Port of Olympia Commission: Interact with candidates for Olympia’s Mayor, two of Olympia’s City Council positions, and two positions for Commissioner of the Port
of Olympia. Olympia’s NW and SW Neighborhood Associations are sponsoring this forum at 7:00 pm at a big room at Garfield Elementary School (perhaps in the gym or multi-purpose room), 325 Plymouth Street NW. Info: Dan Leahy, Candidate Forum Organizer, (360) 402-0441 [email protected]
Thurs June 4: Washington Alliance for Gun Responsibility’s 3 rd Annual Luncheon in Seattle: Last November, Washington State’s voters made history by passing universal background checks. But the gun lobby is fighting us tooth
and nail, so we must prevent legislators from yielding to the gun lobby and weakening our new law. One of our state’s thoughtful,
effective non-profit orgs is hosting this benefit luncheon (donation requested) at 12 noon at the Westin Hotel, 1900 5th Ave, Seattle. Info: Tessa at 206.328.2969, [email protected], and www.wagunresponsibility.org
Thurs June 4: Get big money out of politics! Local organizing meeting tonight: Olympia’s Move to Amend
group invites everyone to join them for tonight’s monthly meeting (first Thursday each month) at 7:00 pm in Room 280 of Bldg 1 at
the Thurston County Courthouse. Info: Michael Savoca at [email protected] or Jennifer Sprague 866-8906
[email protected]
Sat June 6: Experts discuss how people can thwart the plans of multinational corporations: Jill Stein
(Green Party’s former presidential candidate) Kshama Sawant (Socialist member of Seattle City Council), and Chris Hedges (respected
journalist and author) will speak at 6:30 pm at the Great Hall, 1119 Eighth Avenue (enter on Eighth Avenue), Seattle. The $15 tickets are available online at http://kshamasawant.brownpapertickets.com/ Info and carpooling: Janet Jordan, (360) 232-6165
[email protected]
Sun June 7: Today’s benefit brunch and conversation will help preserve and restore our local ecosystems: On the first Sunday each month Media Island International (MII) hosts a benefit brunch from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm to raise
visibility and funds for a local non-profit organization. Enjoy a simple, tasty brunch for a worthy cause each month, and donate a
voluntary amount rather than a fixed price. It runs from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at MII, 816 Adams Street SE (just east across Adams Street from Olympia's downtown library). If you need a handicap entrance, use the alley behind it, accessible from 9th Ave SE.
The Sunday June 7 brunch will benefit the Olympia Coalition for Ecosystems Preservation. These folks are protecting a heron nesting area on Olympia’s West Side. Today’s conversation will explore several practical ways to protect various parts of Olympia’s
habitats and ecosystems.
Sun June 7: Veterans for Peace (Olympia’s chapter 109) invites veterans and others to their monthly
meeting at 2:00 pm at Media Island International, 816 Adams SE (across the street west of the Olympia Timberland Library). Info:
Dennis Mills 867-1487 [email protected] and www.vfp109rcc.org
REGISTER NOW:
Several dates: Tues June 9, Fri June 12, Tues June 16, Fri June 19, Wed June 24, Fri June 26 (You
must attend ALL of these to be trained to become a hospice volunteer): Volunteers provide essential services
and compassionate support to persons nearing the end of life and their caregivers. They visit patients and families for companionship and respite; provide haircuts, transportation; etc; record and edit life stories; etc. Providence SoundHomeCare and Hospice
provides this training in Olympia, but you could serve close to your home. Info: (360) 493-4689
Olympia Fellowship of Reconciliation
June + July 2015
Page 15
Tues June 9: Thurston County’s chapter of the National Organization for Women (NOW) also serves
adjacent Mason, Lewis and Grays Harbor counties. 5:30-7:30 pm at Traditions Café, 5th & Water, downtown Olympia. Info: Linda 357-7272 [email protected]
FOR Wed June 10: Olympia FOR’s Steering Committee meets from 7:00 to 9:00 pm at Kim Dobson’s home in NE
Olympia. All Olympia FOR folks are welcome. Info: 491-9093 [email protected]
Wed June 10: Olympia Movement for Justice and Peace (OMJP) usually meets on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of
each month, but in June-July-August will meet on the 2nd Wednesdays only, not the 4th Wednesdays. They’ve moved meetings to
6:00 pm at Traditions Café, 5th & Water, downtown: Info: Larry 951-4894 [email protected] www.omjp.net
Thurs June 11: Thurston County Coalition Against Trafficking works to prevent human trafficking: 6:00
to 7:30 pm at Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, 1601 North Street, across from Olympia High School’s stadium, near Henderson Blvd. Info: Linda Malanchuk-Finnan [email protected] 360-357-7272 More info: www.waengage.com
Sat June 13: RESULTS nationwide conference call to organize against global poverty and hunger: Participate from 10 am to 12 noon Pacific Time. Info: www.results.org and Nancy at 463-3656 or [email protected]
REGISTER NOW:
Mon-Fri June 15-19: Take the Dispute Resolution Center’s 40-Hour Mediation Training. This fun and highly
interactive course will acquaint you with the philosophy, model and skills needed for a working knowledge of the role of a neutral
mediator. You can take this training without actually volunteering to serve as a DRC mediator! The concepts and skills taught in
this training are easily transferable and are designed to improve communication and enhance relationships at home, at work and beyond. It costs $675, but teenagers get a significant discount. Watch Olympia FOR’s December 2013 TV program at
www.olympiafor.org/tv_programs.htm for good background and inspiration. Info: Dispute Resolution Center of Thurston County, (360) 956-1155 www.mediatethurston.org
Mon June 15 to Sun June 21: National Pollinator Week: Excessive use of pesticides is killing a very, very large number of the bees and other pollinators we need for healthy ecosystems and agriculture. Learn more and take action. Info:
www.pollinator.org/pollinator_week_2015.htm
Mon June 15: Author of Archbishop Hunthausen’s biography, A Still and Quiet Conscience, speaks in Seattle: Join St. James Cathedral and Seattle’s Maryknoll community for a presentation by Seattle author John McCoy from A Still and Quiet Conscience, a new biography of Archbishop Raymond Hunthausen, followed by Q & A and book signing. Raymond G. Hunthausen was archbishop of Seattle
from 1975 to 1991. He was the quintessential “Vatican II bishop.” Embracing the spirit of renewal, he was
famous for reaching out to the laity, women, and those on the margins. A courageous witness for peace, he
earned national attention when he became the first American bishop to urge tax resistance as a protest against
preparations for nuclear war. In doing so, he ran against the Cold War policies of the Reagan Administration.
He also came into conflict with desires in the Vatican to reshape the American Church. This biography recounts a critical turning point for the American Catholic Church and rekindles the vision of a more inclusive,
prophetic, and compassionate Church as the “people of God.” Author John McCoy first followed this story as a
reporter for the Seattle P-I and later headed the communications department of the Catholic Archdiocese of
Seattle. Hear the author at 7:00 pm at Cathedral Hall, 803 Terry Avenue, Seattle. More info: www.stjamescathedral.org/Events/2015/hunthausen.aspx
Mon June 15: National ACLU’s Legal Director speaks in Seattle about Civil Liberties
at the U.S. Supreme Court: Steve Shapiro will discuss vital cases about equal rights to marry, limiting government surveillance, countering the Hobby Lobby decision, protecting voting rights, taking injustice in the criminal justice system, and more. 7:30
pm at Town Hall, 1119 8th Ave (near Seneca Street), Seattle. Info: www.aclu-wa.org (206) 624-2180
Tues June 16: Americans United for the Separation of Church and State: You are invited to their monthly
meetings on the third Tuesday of each month (except August and December) at 6:30 pm at the Unitarian church, 2300 East End
Street NW (north on Division, left on 20th, right on East End). (Sometimes after convening the meeting decides to move itself to
Pints & Quarts at Capital Mall.) Info: Dennis Mansker [email protected]
FOR Wed June 17: “Confronting the Climate Crisis” -- Olympia FOR’s vigorous group meets from 6:30 to
8:30 on the third Wednesday of each month at the Olympia Center, 222 Columbia Street NW, downtown. Info: Bourtai Hargrove
352-6327 [email protected] www.olympiafor.org/Climate_Crisis.html See newsletter pages 2, 6, 7, 8.
Olympia Fellowship of Reconciliation
June + July 2015
Page 16
Thurs June 18: The Thurston Climate Action Team invites people to their monthly meeting: TCAT does
good, practical work to protect the climate, especially interacting with governments and Thurston Regional Planning Council. TCAT
also looks for ways to fund local climate efforts. TCAT meets 6:00 pm the third Thursday each month at Thurston County Courthouse, Bldg 1 Rm. 280, 2000 Lakeridge Dr SW. Info: Tom Crawford, [email protected] 280-0242
Thurs June 18: Justice Not Jails: More and more people in Olympia are working together to reform various aspects of our
criminal “justice” system to make it more humane. Our local “Justice Not Jails” groups meets at 7:00 pm on the third Thursday evening of each month at the Olympia Unitarian-Universalist Congregation, 2300 East End Street NW (north on Division, west on 20 th,
right on East End). Confirm tonight’s meeting and get info: Steve Tilley [email protected]
Fri June 19: “Cuba May 2015 – Cultivating Compassion: Lessons to Learn” – From May 3 to 10, Olympia’s
John O’Brien participated in a formal educational trip through MEDICC.org called TedMed Insiders, along with more than twenty
other medical professionals. He will report on this life-changing experience through a conversation and slide show at 7:00 pm tonight at Traditions Café, 5th & Water. His trip focused on how the Cuban medical system and the people involved have managed to
cultivate a healthcare system which is clearly based on compassion and not dollars. John O’Brien is a Physician Assistant at the University of Washington’s Department of Family Medicine. Info: [email protected]
FOR Sat-Sun June20-21: Visit Olympia FOR’s death penalty information booth at Capital City Pride’s
fantastic two-day celebration: Enjoy the 25th anniversary of Capital City Pride’s growth and success in a two-day festivity
at Heritage Park (5th & Water) instead of Sylvester Park. Their website, www.capitalcitypride.net, has information about the annual parade, the celebration in the park, and other events.
FOR Sun June 21: Global Days of Listening: On the 21st day of each month, you can connect by telephone and/or
computer (through Skype software) with the Afghan Peace Volunteers and other peacemakers of all ages in Afghanistan, Iraq, Gaza,
and many other countries around the world. In the US’s Pacific Time Zone it runs from 6:30 to 9:30 am (yes, morning!), Pacific
Time. Listen to the live broadcast at http://globaldaysoflistening.org/pages/livestream or visit the home of Chuck Schultz and
Rozanne Rants to listen or help.
Info: www.globaldaysoflistening.org
Local info:
Doug Mackey 915-6757
[email protected] Listen anytime to the broadcast at this livestream link: http://tinyurl.com/nz7j77y
FOR Sun June 21: “People’s Climate Action Fleet” - The Olympia Fellowship Of Reconciliation’s “Confronting the Climate Crisis” folks invite you to join us and other climate activists for
a day on the waters of the Salish Sea (Puget Sound) off the coast of
the US Open’s final day at the vast Chambers Bay Golf Course near
Steilacoom SW of Tacoma. See information on page 2 of Olympia
FOR’s June-July newsletter and www.peoplesclimatefleet.org
Info: Rod Tharp (360) 251-1080 or Bev Bassett (25) 370-7898) or
[email protected]
Mon-Fri June 22-26: “Patterns in Nature Summer
Day Camp in the Arts” for ages 6 and older: This enjoyable, educational event for persons aged 6 and older is back for
its third year. It is limited to 6 individuals for $200 each, which includes materials used for painting, clay, tissue paper art, pastels,
spirit houses, mandala, mosaics, plaster bandage masks, poetry, music, and field trips around Olympia. Holly Gwinn Graham is
skilled in several visual arts in addition to music. She teaches this day camp from 9:30 am to 3 pm Monday thru Friday, with exhibition and performance on Friday afternoon. Artists go home with a full arts portfolio. It occurs at Fertile Ground, across 9 th Ave SE,
south from Olympia Library. Info at Holly’s landline, (360) 866-0257. Register at www.fertileground.org
FOR Tues June 23: Attend the monthly meeting of the Olympia FOR’s Committee for Alternatives to
the Death Penalty at 7:00 pm at a convenient location in Tumwater. We educate ourselves and plan activities toward abolishing this atrocity. Info: Emily Hammargren 352-0695 [email protected] or Glen Anderson 491-9093
[email protected]. Our website has much info about the death penalty at www.olympiafor.org/death_penalty.htm
Wed June 24: CopWatch Training: Learn how to protect people’s rights from police abuses: Over and
over again, we keep seeing police overreaching their legitimate powers, abusing people, and violating Constitutional rights. When
people have information and skills, they are better able to protect their rights. The Olympia Movement for Justice and Peace (OMJP)
Olympia Fellowship of Reconciliation
June + July 2015
Page 17
is planning a CopWatch training session this evening at 7:00 pm at Traditions Café, 5 th & Water, downtown. Info: Mike Coday,
[email protected]
Wed-Sun June 24-28 U.S. Social Forum in both San Jose CA and Philadelphia PA will convene a gigantic
number of progressive social change agents simultaneously in two locations linked by streaming technology to make multi-issue
plans to create a peaceful, just, democratic and ecologically sustainable society. See info at websites for both US Social Forum locations. Individuals can register at this link: https://www.ussocialforum.net/register/individual. Olympia transportation info: Olympia’s Media Island is organizing two buses (room for 40-60 persons total) leaving Tuesday June 23 and returning Monday
June 29.
Info:
https://freedomcaravan.wordpress.com/ and http://www.ussfsanjose.com/
Facebook info:
https://www.facebook.com/CascadiaFreedomCaravan and https://www.facebook.com/events/637078813090618/
Sat June 27: “Cuba Friendship” caravan crosses the border from Canada to US today: Canadians organized by Pastors for Peace will bring humanitarian south from Canada to Cuba. The caravan will stop at various places along the
way (see below) to tell people why the US should trade with, not blockade, Cuba. Info: www.seattlecuba.org
Mon June 29: “Cuba Friendship” caravan by Pastors for Peace holds potluck dinner with music in Seattle from 6:00 to 8:30 pm at El Centro de la Raza, 2524 16th Ave S (Room 106, the Salvador Allende Room), Seattle. Admission is
free, but potluck dinner items are welcome. Info: (206) 957-4634 and www.seattlecuba.org
FOR Wed July 1: “The U.S. Is Risking Nuclear War with
Russia over Ukraine.” -- The Olympia FOR’s July TV program debuts at 1:30 this afternoon and airs three times a week all
month long on TCTV channel 22 for Thurston County’s cable subscribers.
Also, starting by late June you will be able to read a more thorough description of this program than appears in this newsletter – and actually watch it
at www.olympiafor.org/tv_programs.htm. See some information about
the program on pages 5-6 of our newsletter, and look for more information
online before the July 1 debut date.
Thurs July 2: Get big money out of politics! Local organizing meeting tonight: Olympia’s Move to Amend
group invites everyone to join them for a monthly meeting (first Thursday of each month) at 7:00 pm in Room 280 of Bldg 1 at the
Thurston County Courthouse.
Info: Michael Savoca at [email protected]
or Jennifer Sprague 866-8906
[email protected]
REGISTER NOW FOR BEST RESULTS:
FOR Thurs-Sun July 2-5: “Peace, Justice and Sustainability: Strengthening the Links”
– Enjoy FOR’s 57th annual NW regional conference at Seabeck: All of the issues we care about are
interconnected! Join with 200 activists of all ages in enjoying great speakers, many workshops, educational programs for children
and youths, and much music with song leader Tom Rawson. One keynote speaker will be Jacqueline Patterson, an African-American
woman who works as Director of the NAACP Environmental and Climate Justice Program. She can connect the dots across a number
of issues and will present a workshop on the climate crisis. Our other keynote speaker is another African American, the Rev.
Osagyefo Uhuru Sekou, who works very closely with the national FOR and has done much work on racial justice activities, including
much involvement in Ferguson, Missouri. Besides keynoting, he will present a workshop related to the Black Lives Matter movement. We meet in a beautiful, historic setting on Hood Canal at Seabeck Conference Center in Kitsap County for three days and
nights of work and fun, renewal and reinvigoration! Mark your calendars now. Please register early! See much more information, including how to register, at www.wwfor.org (206) 789-5565
Sun July 5: Brunch to benefit a local non-profit org: On the first Sunday each month Media Island International (MII)
hosts a benefit brunch from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm to raise visibility and funds for a local non-profit organization. (July’s beneficiary
will be confirmed soon.) Enjoy a simple, tasty brunch for a worthy cause each month, and donate a voluntary amount rather than a
fixed price. Media Island is at 816 Adams Street SE (just east across Adams Street from Olympia's downtown library). If you need a
handicap entrance, use the alley behind it, accessible from 9th Ave SE.
Sun July 5: Veterans for Peace (Olympia’s chapter 109) invites veterans and others to their monthly
meeting at 2:00 pm at Media Island International, 816 Adams SE (across the street west of the Olympia Timberland Library). Info:
Dennis Mills 867-1487 [email protected] and www.vfp109rcc.org
Olympia Fellowship of Reconciliation
June + July 2015
Page 18
FOR Tues July 7: Olympia FOR’s book discussion group: 6:00 pm at Chuck Schultz’s home, 1621 Tullis NE (a little
north of San Francisco Street Bakery). For this month, read and report on any book about the current realities for AfricanAmericans. Our Timberland Regional Library system has several copies of Michelle Alexander’s highly regarded book, The New Jim
Crow, about systemic racism in our criminal justice system. Other people are on the “hold” waiting list for these books, so you can
sign up now and get a copy to read before our July 7 discussion. Of course, many other great books exist on this topic. Info:
Chuck at 705-8520 [email protected]
Wed July 8: Olympia Movement for Justice and Peace (OMJP) usually meets on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of
each month, but in June-July-August will meet only on the 2nd Wednesdays and skip the 4th Wednesdays. They’ve moved meetings
to 6:00 pm at Traditions Café, 5th & Water, downtown: Info: Larry 951-4894 [email protected] www.omjp.net
Thurs July 9: Thurston County Coalition Against Trafficking works to prevent human trafficking: 6:00
to 7:30 pm at Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, 1601 North Street, across from Olympia High School’s stadium, near Henderson Blvd. Info: Linda Malanchuk-Finnan [email protected] 360-357-7272 More info: www.waengage.com
Tues July 14: Thurston County’s chapter of the National Organization for Women (NOW) also serves
adjacent Mason, Lewis and Grays Harbor counties: 5:30-7:30 pm at Traditions Café, 5th & Water, downtown Olympia. Info: Linda 357-7272 [email protected]
FOR Wed July 15: “Confronting the Climate Crisis”: Olympia FOR’s vigorous group meets on the third
Wednesday of each month from 6:30 to 8:30 at the Olympia Center, 222 Columbia St. NW, downtown. Info: 352-6327 climate@
olympiafor.org www.olympiafor.org/Climate_Crisis.html See newsletter pages 2, 6, 7, 8.
Thurs July 16: The Thurston Climate Action Team invites people to their monthly meeting: TCAT does
good, practical work to protect the climate, especially interacting with governments and the Thurston Regional Planning Council.
TCAT is also looking for ways to fund local climate efforts. TCAT meets on the third Thursday of each month at 6:00 pm at the
Thurston County Courthouse, Bldg 1 Room 280, 2000 Lakeridge Dr SW. Info: Tom Crawford, [email protected]
280-0242.
Thurs July 16: Justice Not Jails: More and more people in Olympia are working together to reform various aspects of our
criminal “justice” system in humane ways. Our local “Justice Not Jails” groups meets at 7:00 pm the third Thursday evening of each
month at the Olympia Unitarian-Universalist Congregation, 2300 East End Street NW (north on Division, west on 20th, right on East
End). Confirm tonight’s meeting and get info: Steve Tilley [email protected]
FOR Sun July 19: Deadline for Olympia FOR’s August-September newsletter: Send news, announcements
and calendar items by this date or very soon after. 491-9093 [email protected]
Tues July 21: Americans United for the Separation of Church and State: You are invited to their monthly meetings on the third Tuesday of each month (except August and December) at 6:30 pm at the Unitarian church, 2300 East End Street
NW (north on Division, left on 20th, right on East End). Sometimes after convening the meeting decides to move itself to Pints &
Quarts at Capital Mall. Info: Dennis Mansker [email protected]
FOR Tues July 21: Global Days of Listening: On the 21st day of each month, you can connect by telephone and/or
computer (through Skype software) with the Afghan Peace Volunteers and other peacemakers of all ages in Afghanistan, Iraq, Gaza,
and many other countries around the world. In the US’s Pacific Time Zone it runs from 6:30 to 9:30 am (yes, morning!), Pacific
Time. Listen to the live broadcast at http://globaldaysoflistening.org/pages/livestream or visit the home of Chuck Schultz and
Rozanne Rants to listen or help.
Info: www.globaldaysoflistening.org
Local info:
Doug Mackey 915-6757
[email protected] Listen anytime to the broadcast at this livestream link: http://tinyurl.com/nz7j77y
Sat-Wed July 25-29: Learn how to build and install BioSand Water Filters: This simple, low-tech, low-cost
way for poor communities to get clean water is saving lives in a number of countries. Get training at beautiful Quaker Cove
Camp, Anacortes WA (about 140 miles north of Olympia). Cost: $395. Partial scholarships available. They need cook(s) for this
event. Call (360) 918-3642. Much more info is at www.friendlywater.net
FOR Tues July 28: Attend the monthly meeting of the Olympia FOR’s Committee for Alternatives to
the Death Penalty at 7:00 pm at a convenient location in Tumwater. We educate ourselves and plan activities toward abolishing this atrocity. Info: Emily Hammargren 352-0695 [email protected] or Glen Anderson 491-9093
[email protected]. Our website has much info about the death penalty at www.olympiafor.org/death_penalty.htm
Olympia Fellowship of Reconciliation
June + July 2015
Page 19
PLAN TO PARTICIPATE:
Sat-Sun-Mon Aug 8-9-10: Commemorate the atomic
bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and say,
“NEVER AGAIN!!!” Plan now to participate in a rich weekend
of fellowship, education, nonviolence training, music, a vigil at the
Kitsap Mall, and a nonviolent direct action at the Trident nuclear
submarine base at Bangor in Kitsap County early Monday morning.
Look for details soon at www.gzcenter.org. Additional information about freeing our region from nuclear weapons will be posted at the Puget Sound Nuclear Weapon Free Zone Local Events Calendar at psnukefree.org. Also, participate in the “Global Wave,” a
simple but important gesture that any number of people can do.
Just get some people together, Wave Goodbye to Nuclear Weapons,
and photograph yourselves. See www.globalwave2015.org/howto-organise for complete info and where to send your photos.
CONSIDER THIS NOW:
Mon-Fri Aug 10-14: Interfaith Summer Day Camp for
children going into 2nd through 5th grades: Interfaith
Works of Thurston County organizes a great variety of ways for
people all faiths to get to know and appreciate each other. IW’s
Faith Explorations 4th annual summer day camp will run from 9 am
to 3 pm each day from Monday August 10 through Friday August
14, based at Temple Beth Hatfiloh, 8th & Washington, downtown.
Volunteers from several faiths will staff this FREE opportunity for
children going into 2nd through 5th grades. It creates a safe and fun
way to explore various religions. It includes free time and field trips
to several local enjoyable sites and a community service project. Info and registration:
Catherine at 754- 8519 or
[email protected]
CONSIDER THIS NOW:
Tues Aug 11 to Mon Aug 11: Backbone Campaign’s “Localize This! Action Camp” offers
amazing training in cross-movement strategies, organizing, artful activism, and creative
tactics: This annual training significantly helps grassroots organizing and creative nonviolent actions for
peace, environment, climate, social justice, and other progressive goals. It happens on Vashon Island WA, a beautiful and rural island in Puget Sound near Tacoma and Seattle. Find out more: [email protected]
www.backbonecampaign.org
CONSIDER THIS NOW:
Fri-Tues Oct 16-20: “Be the Movement!” National Conference in Washington DC: The
Peace Alliance (www.peacealliance.org) is bringing together people from across the US to dialogue with – and
learn from – some of the world’s most inspiring leaders
and experts for a kind of peacebuilding “think tank.” The
conference will focus on the Five Peacebuilding Cornerstones of “Be the Movement”: Empowering Community
Peacebuilding, Teaching Peace in Schools, Humanizing
Justice Systems, Cultivating Personal Peace, and Fostering International Peace. Explore practical, yet transformative, actions we can collectively take to change the
trajectory of our nation. And, we will make our voices
heard to our Members of Congress. Info: (202) 684-2553
www.peacealliance.org
The Commons at 9th & Adams is a great community resource downtown.
This location offers a variety of resources for people to use and enjoy, including practical
spaces for community groups to use at reasonable rates. The Olympia FOR appreciates using EcoHouse@FertileGround, 911 Adams Street SE for our newsletter mailing parties.
Here is the welcoming gate at the corner of 9th & Adams.
Phone (360) 352-2428 Website: ecohouse.fertileground.org
Olympia Fellowship of Reconciliation's Mission Statement
The Olympia Chapter of the Fellowship of Reconciliation works for a nonviolent world, a healthy environment,
social justice, economic justice, and peace. We bring together people of diverse ages, races, and faiths who are
committed to active nonviolence as a transformative way of life and as a means of profound social change.
We model these principles by personal example. We collaborate and dialogue with the larger community for mutual education and to engage in nonviolent and compassionate actions.
Olympia Fellowship of Reconciliation
June + July 2015
Non-Profit Org
US Postage Paid
Olympia WA
Permit #162
Olympia Fellowship of Reconciliation
5015 15th Ave SE
Lacey WA 98503-2723
(360) 491-9093
www.olympiafor.org
Address Service Requested
Newsletter Writer, Editor, Layout: Glen Anderson
This issue of our newsletter offers information about our upcoming major events.
It provides substantive information about the climate the death penalty,
and a sneaky way to increase military spending without oversight.
It summarizes our interesting and informative June and July TV programs.
And, of course, our great CALENDAR lists many June and July events.
Olympia FOR’s Newsletter for JUNE + JULY 2015
Page
Enclosure
Table of Contents
Racial Bias in Washington State’s Death Penalty
1
American Democracy No Longer Exists. Research shows wealthy elites, not voter majorities, determine Congress’s decisions.
2
SAT-SUN JUNE 20-21: Olympia FOR’s death penalty information booth at Capital City Pride festival
2
SUN JUNE 21: Join the “People’s Climate Action Fleet” SW of Tacoma to protest dangerous oil trains
3
THURS-SUN JULY 2-5: “Peace, Justice and Sustainability: Strengthening the Links” FOR’s Seabeck Conference
3-5
JUNE TV program: “Young People Downtown: Realities and Opportunities”
5-6
JULY TV program: “The U.S. Is Risking Nuclear War with Russia over Ukraine”
6-7
Confronting the Climate Crisis
7
Oppose Shell’s Oil Drilling in the Arctic
8
Climate Outreach Messages that Really Work!
9-10
11
Death Penalty
Obama and Congress Are Expanding the Pentagon’s Slush Fund to Increase Spending Despite Sequestration Caps
12-13
CALENDAR: Events occurring every week
13-19
CALENDAR: Events on specific dates
Olympia Fellowship of Reconciliation
June + July 2015