• Saturday March 26: The Peace and Justice Center of Eastern Maine presents Active Community Training Workshop VII (ACT VII) Creative Dissent for Sustainable Security *Featuring Bread and Puppet Theater* (more info below or click to download mail-in registration form)
• It's not too early to plan for the H.O.P.E. Festival, April 23, UMaine Field House, Orono
• Peace and Justice Center Spring 2005 Film Series, Sundays 6pm. (For full list of films, click here.)
• February issue of our monthly newsletter News & Views
  
• Resources & ideas for tsunami relief
• February 25-27: Camden Conference w/theme of “The Middle East: Compromise or Conflagration” w/discussions, films, courses, games, and exhibits in Camden, Belfast, Rockport, Rockland, other locations. Camden Conference, 236-1034, info@camdenconference.org, www.camdenconference.org.

• Resources & ideas for tsunami relief
  
  
• Sunday
• Monday
• Tuesday
• Wednesday
• Thursday
• Friday
• Saturday

• Peace Choir rehearsal. The Peace Choir will meet twice a month, second and fourth Wednesdays. 5:30pm until 7:30 at the Peace and Justice Center.  Please join us.  Bring favorites you'd like to sing as well as musical instruments you may enjoy playing. FMI: Marty Kelley martylhk@yahoo.com
• Call now to stop genocide in Sudan

Monday, March 7: Legislative Issues Forum with area legislators. 7-9pm, (check back for exact location) University College of Bangor. Cosponsored by Maine People's Alliance, Maine Citizen Leadership Fund, Maine Progressive Caucus and others.

Sunday, March 13: Penobscot Progressive Caucus, local chapter of Maine Progressive Caucus, 1pm, location TBA, join us to discuss and plan our local progressive program.

Saturday-Sunday, March 19-20: Second Anniversary of the U.S. Bombing and Invasion of Iraq, A Day of Global Protest. United for Peace and Justice calls on supporters of peace and justice in every corner of the country to organize local protests against the war. Keep in touch with the Center!


Saturday March 26: The Peace and Justice Center of Eastern Maine presents Active Community Training Workshop VII (ACT VII) Creative Dissent for Sustainable Security *Featuring Bread and Puppet Theater*. Memorial Union, University of Maine, Orono (map). Active Community Training Workshops, 1:30PM - 5:30pm, registration 1:00PM - 1:30pm. Please pre-register and save! Suggested donation on the day of workshop/performance: $5.00. Note: No one will be denied admission because the donation is un-affordable. Make checks payable to Peace and Justice Center of Eastern Maine and mail to: Peace & Justice Center of Eastern Maine, 170 Park Street, Bangor, ME 04401, (207) 942-9343;  info@peacectr.org. (click to download mail-in registration form)

• Art for Peace
• Music for Peace
• Poetry for Peace
• Yoga for Peace
• and "On the Street," a workshop offered by Bread and Puppet Theater

Evening Performance by Bread and Puppet Theater, "How to turn distress into Success" Minsky Recital Hall, Class of  1944 Building (map), University of Maine, 7:00pm

Saturday, April 23: To celebrate the work of so many people and groups in Eastern Maine, the Peace and Justice Center of Eastern Maine will again sponsor its annual HOPE Festival (Help Organize Peace Earthwide). The 11th annual HOPE Festival will take place at the University of Maine Field House in Orono on April 23rd, (celebrating Earth Day) from 10 AM to  4 PM .  We hope the new venue will encourage more involvement by young people and mitigate problems with organization's representatives holding  conversations  with participants during musical performances. The event will offer a wide variety of information, education, and entertainment for adults and children. We expect to have at least sixty non-profit organizations represented with information tables and displays. In addition, there will be music and other entertainment, an extensive children's program, food, special events, and much more. (click for more info) The goals of the HOPE festival are:

• to provide resources and information on peace, justice, and environmental advocacy to the people of Eastern Maine;
• to explore relationships and connections among groups working toward these ends;
• to encourage individuals to become active in the organizations represented;
• to have fun, celebrate our efforts, and to offer HOPE of a more peaceful, just, and environmentally secure community, bioregion, and planet.

July 31-August 11: EXPERIENCE SOLAR CULTURE IN NICARAGUA. An opportunity to offer your hands, heart, and a unique gift: Solar Energy to a rural community in Nicaragua! The Grupo Fenix invites interested parties to participate directly in its development and vision. We  offer a 12-day workshop/tour in which participants learn about solar energy systems, study applications specific to Central America, visit renewable energy installations, and install a PV lighting system in a rural village.  The program includes recreational and cultural activities. The next 12-day workshop will run from the 31st of July thru the 11th of August. (more info below)

Thursday, February 24: Maine Association of Interdependent Neighborhoods (MAIN) Statewide Monthly Meeting, 9:30 am - 12:30 pm, Maine Equal Justice office - 126 Sewall St., Augusta (directions below). Reimbursement for travel and child care expenses is available at the meeting. IN CASE OF BAD WEATHER, CALL TO MAKE SURE WE WILL STILL BE MEETING. Toll-free 1-866-626-7059 EXT 204 (I'll leave a message on my voice mail if the meeting is cancelled) Judy Guay, krjguay@excel.com

1. Introductions:  your chance to let us know what's going on in your life personally and/or about social justice work in your community.
2. Brief Legislative Update
3. Reports from around the state.  Find out what Northern Regional MAIN, Midcoast MAIN and other member organizations are doing around the state.
4. Pine Tree Legal Assistance Fair Housing Testing Program
5. Voter Engagement: We just finished on election but it's never too early to plan for the next.   We'll talk about continuing our work of empowering low-income people to get informed,get involved and to get to the polls.  Two MAIN members wish to discuss MassVote (a voter engagement project in    Massachusetts)  [ http://www.massvote.net/ ]http://www.massvote.net
6. MAIN Website:  Updates to the MAIN website will begin soon. Do you have any ideas for changes that will make it more inviting, easy to use and helpful?

Agenda items can be add at the meeting but if you have something you want to discuss that will take more than 10 minutes, please call Chris Rusnov 1-866-626-7059 EXT 204.

Directions to MAIN meeting at MEJP
From I - 95
Take Exit 109 Augusta. On the ramp there is a fork, bear right (Augusta) onto Western Avenue. Take Western Avenue to the 3rd set of traffic lights (The Armory will be on your left and Fire Station and Buker School on your Right).  Go right onto Capitol Street. Capitol Street will lead you left around a big corner and down a hill to the traffic light at the intersection with Sewall Street. You will see the State House with the Dome. Go right on Sewall and down to MEJP at 126 Sewall, right hand side, grey house.  (Look for MAIN sign on telephone pole.)  If the parking lot is full, park across the street in the state office parking lot.

This message is brought to you in solidarity for peace, bread & justice by:
Maine Association of Interdependent Neighborhoods (MAIN)
Judy Guay, President
P.O. Box 2711
Bangor, ME 04402
(207) 947-4371
krjguay@excel.com

The Peace & Justice Hour is shown Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays from  7-8 p.m. 
Current programs (which rotate) include:

• "Gold in the Streets of Baghdad" on the rally/press conference at the University of Maine to protest the Doing Business in Iraq conference;
• The two-hour teach-in on "Doing Business in Iraq" at the University of Maine;
• Iraq Ventures with Peter Millard and Doug Allen talking about U.S. Foreign Policy in Iraq;
• Takes on the Patriot Act;
• Alex Grab on the Isreali-Palestinian Conflict;
• Veterans for Peace.

If you would like to show these videotapes in your  school, community, church group or at house party, we would be happy to lend them to you. These  videos  and others are also available for sale ($10,or more if you can afford it,to cover the costs of the tapes and shipping). Thanks to Paul Perreualt and Bill Phillips for continuing to volunteer their time to video-tape and edit the peace & justice activities in our region.  If you would like to help with videotaping, editing or distribution, please contact the Center at 942-9343.

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Working together for SMART security
by Ilze Petersons and Doug Allen (members of the Education Committee of the Peace & Justice Center of Eastern Maine)
Thursday, May 13, 2004
http://www.bangornews.com/editorialnews/article.cfm?ID=422449
Attn: see below for action planned for May 14 at UMaine

Gov. John Baldacci and Sen. Susan Collins will present the State of Maine Homeland Security Conference on May l3 and 14 at the University of Maine. We understand the focus of the conference is sharing information about federal government policies and grant opportunities and not about administration policies. However, the conference provides an opportunity to raise questions about whether the current administration's policies are actually contributing to our homeland security or making us less secure...

As we consider Homeland Security measures to protect citizens one year after the president declared "mission accomplished," our troops in Iraq continue to sacrifice their lives, innocent Iraqi civilians continue to die, and humanitarian relief organizations and some allies are forced to withdraw because of the danger they face. Moreover, here at home, the people of Maine continue to face insecurity as we struggle to find ways to fund education, health care and support services for the neediest because federal dollars are drained by increased military spending and huge tax breaks go to the wealthiest and least needy.

Those of us who have opposed President Bush's pre-emptive war believe that the exploration of "Homeland Security" measures must not divert us from seeking alternatives that deal with root causes of terrorism and have real likelihood of increasing long-term security. During the height of the Cold War, civilian defense planning shifted attention to ineffective measures to be taken in case of nuclear attack, rather than focusing on nuclear disarmament as the only truly effective way to provide real safety...

They also urge an examination of policies and practices that have contributed to and encouraged oppressive regimes and terrorist networks to develop. Contact the Peace & Justice Center at 942-9343 for a copy of the pamphlet "Peaceful Prevention of Deadly Conflict" or visit the FCNL Web site at www.fcnl.org

As we consider "Homeland Security" we invite you to join us to encourage our representatives to support a resolution introduced in Congress (H.Con. Res.392) that incorporates alternatives suggested by the FCNL. The resolution calls for "the adoption of a Sensible, Multilateral American Response to Terrorism (SMART) security platform for the 21st Century." The resolution "embraces international law and cooperation, reduces the proliferation of weapons, demonstrates respect for human rights, promotes democracy and sustainable development, and addresses emerging threats early and effectively before they reach crisis level."

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• Other resources

Smoking While Iraq Burns
By Naomi Klein
The Guardian U.K.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,,1359871,00.html
Friday 26 November 2004

    Its idolization of 'the face of Falluja' shows how numb the US is to everyone's pain but its own.

Iraq: The Uncounted
60 Minutes
CBS News
Sunday 21 November 2004
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/11/19/60minutes/main656756.shtml

How many injured and ill soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines... are left off the Pentagon's casualty count?
Would you believe 15,000?

Household Survey Sees 100,000 Iraqi Deaths
Thu Oct 28, 3:37 PM ET
By EMMA ROSS, AP Medical Writer
http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=540&u=/ap/20041028/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_death_toll_5&printer=1

LONDON - A survey of deaths in Iraqi households estimates that as many as 100,000 more people may have died throughout the country in the 18 months since the U.S.-led invasion than would be expected based on the death rate before the war.

Bush Supporters Misread Many of His Foreign Policy Positions
Press release: http://www.pipa.org/OnlineReports/Pres_Election_04/PressRelease09_29_04.pdf

Majorities of Bush supporters incorrectly assumed that Bush favors including labor and environmental standards in trade agreements (84%), and the US being part of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (69%), the International Criminal Court (66%), the treaty banning land mines (72%), and the Kyoto Treaty on global warming (51%). They were divided between those who knew that Bush favors building a new missile defense system now (44%) and those who incorrectly believe he wishes to do more research until its capabilities are proven (41%).

More information: http://www.pipa.org/OnlineReports/Pres_Election_04/html/new_9_29_04.html#1

As the nation prepares to watch the presidential candidates debate foreign policy issues, a new PIPA-Knowledge Networks poll finds that Americans who plan to vote for President Bush have many incorrect assumptions about his foreign policy positions. Kerry supporters, on the other hand, are largely accurate in their assessments. The uncommitted also tend to misperceive Bush’s positions, though to a smaller extent than Bush supporters, and to perceive Kerry’s positions correctly. Steven Kull, director of PIPA, comments: “What is striking is that even after nearly four years President Bush’s foreign policy positions are so widely misread, while Senator Kerry, who is relatively new to the public and reputed to be unclear about his positions, is read correctly.”

PIPA is a joint program of the Center on Policy Attitudes (COPA) and the Center for International and Security Studies at Maryland (CISSM), School of Public Affairs, University of Maryland.

Outsourcing the Pentagon: Who's Winning the  Big Contracts?
http://www.publicintegrity.org/pns/

WASHINGTON, September 29, 2004 - No-bid contracts have accounted for more than 40 percent of Pentagon contracting since 1998, the Center for Public Integrity revealed today in an exhaustive reports on Defense Department contracting.

Over the past six years, the Pentagon has awarded some $362 billion to companies without competitive bidding. In fact, of the top ten contractors, only one, SAIC, won more than half its dollars through full and open competition. All the others won a majority of their dollars through sole source and other no-bid contracts.

The report, which covers the period 1998-2003, also documents the extent to which the Defense Department has become dependent on outside contractors, finding that every annual increase in defense spending has been matched by an equal increase in contracting. Fully half the Defense Department budget-some $900 billion since 1998-has gone out the door to contractors rather than paying for direct costs such as payrolls for the uniformed armed services.

• Deep Blade Journal: http://journal.deepblade.net/
  
• For other current local and Maine information:
  

• Peace Action Maine
• Maine IndyMedia
• Maine Coalition for Peace and Justice
• Greater Bangor Area Bill of Rights Defense Committee

• How can America get out of Iraq?
  http://www.guardian.co.uk/print/0,3858,4922055-110878,00.html
  Wednesday May 12, 2004
  
  As the situation in Iraq goes from bad to worse, Noam Chomsky, Jonathan Schell, Howard Zinn and William Polk outline possible exit strategies for the US
  

  • Jonathan Schell : Let the Iraqis build their own future
  • Noam Chomsky: Transfer real sovereignty
  • Howard Zinn: Let the UN broker power
  • William R Polk: UN trusteeship is the best answer

• How to Get Out of Iraq
  A Forum
  by Various Contributors
  Posted May 6, 2004
  http://www.thenation.com/doc.mhtml?i=20040524&s=forum
  
  As the situation in Iraq goes from bad to worse, many Americans who opposed the war, including Nation editors and writers, understand that the country must find a way to extricate itself from the disaster they predicted. There is, however, no agreement or even clarity about such an exit strategy. Nor is any leadership on this crucial issue coming from the Bush Administration or as yet, alas, from the presumptive Democratic candidate, Senator John Kerry. With a sense of obligation and urgency, The Nation, has asked a range of writers, both regular and new contributors to the magazine, for their ideas on America's way out of Iraq. Some responded with short essays, while others were interviewed by contributing writer Scott Sherman, who transcribed and edited their remarks. We hope that what follows is the beginning toward a necessary end. And we invite readers to respond; we will publish an exchange in an upcoming issue.   --The Editors

• The Cost of the Iraq War

The Institute for Policy Studies and Foreign Policy In Focus just released a new study titled "PAYING THE PRICE: The Mounting Costs of the Iraq War" that examines the costs of the war and occupation in terms of lives, the increased military budget demands and the stripping of the domestic budget.

Among the report's findings: (Phyllis Bennis of the Institute for Policy Studies spoke on DemocracyNow! on June 24) 

• Total number of coalition military deaths between the start of war and June 16, 2004: 952 (853 U.S.)
• Of those 952, the number killed after President George W. Bush declared "an end to combat operations" on May 1, 2003: 693
• Number of U.S. troops wounded since the war began: 5,134
• Number of U.S. troops wounded since President George W. Bush declared "an end to combat operations" on May 1, 2003: 4,593
• Number of civilian contractors, missionaries, and civilian workers killed: 50-90
• Number of international media workers killed in Iraq: 30 (21 since the "end of combat operations")
• Iraqi civilians killed: 9,436 to 11,317
• Iraqi civilians injured: 40,000 (est.)
• Iraqi soldiers and insurgents killed prior to "end of combat operations" May 1, 2003: 4,895 to 6,370
• The bill so far: $126.1 billion
• Additional amount to cover operations through 2004: $25 billion
• What $151 billion could have paid for in the U.S.: Housing vouchers: 23 million
• Health care for uninsured Americans: 27 mil.
• Salaries for elementary school teachers: 3 mil.
• New fire engines: 678,200
• Head Start slots: 20 million
• Estimated long-term cost of war to every U.S. household: $3,415
• Amount contractor Halliburton is alleged to have charged for meals never served to troops and for cost overruns on fuel deliveries: $221 million
• Kickbacks received by Halliburton employees from subcontractors: $6 million
• Percentage of Americans who now feel that "the situation in Iraq was not worth going to war over.": 54
• Percentage of Iraqis who said they would feel safer if U.S. and other foreign troops left the country immediately: 55
• Percentage of U.S. soldiers in Iraq reporting low morale: 52
• Percentage of soldiers who said they would not re- enlist: 50
• Percentage of wounded unable to return to duty: 64
• Number of soldiers whose tours of duty have been extended by the Army: 20,000
• Percentage of reserve troops who earn lower salaries while on deployment: 30-40
• Fraction of National Guard troops among U.S. force now in Iraq: 1/3
• Percentage of U.S. police departments missing officers due to Iraq deployments: 44
• Effect on al Qaeda of the Iraq war, according to International Institute for Strategic Studies: "Accelerated recruitment"
• Estimated number of al Qaeda terrorists as of May 2004: 18,000 with 1,000 active in Iraq
• Percentage of Iraqis expressing "no confidence" in U.S. civilian authorities or coalition forces: 80
• Iraq's oil production in 2002: 2.04 mil. barrels/day
• Iraq's oil production in 2003: 1.33 mil. barrels/day
• Price of a gallon of gasoline in the U.S. in May 2004: more than $2

Iraq: Civilians killed by UK Armed Forces and armed groups
AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL PRESS RELEASE
11 May 2004
http://web.amnesty.org/library/print/ENGMDE140192004

UK Armed Forces in Iraq have shot and killed Iraqi civilians, including an eight-year-old girl and a guest at a wedding celebration, in situations where there was no apparent threat to themselves or others, says a new report from Amnesty International.

The report also details political and so-called 'moral' killings in the UK-administered south, by armed groups and individuals: former Ba'athists, professionals, alcohol sellers and shopkeepers selling music and videos have reportedly been killed, yet no prosecutions have been brought.

Many cases of civilian killings by UK Armed Forces have not even been investigated. Investigations by the Royal Military Police (RMP) have been secretive, with families given little or no information about their progress. Amnesty International is calling for a civilian-led investigation into all killings by UK Armed Forces, with the findings made public.

Wolfie's Fuzzy Math
By MAUREEN DOWD
Published: May 2, 2004
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/05/02/opinion/02DOWD.html

Asked during a Congressional budget hearing on Thursday how many American troops had been killed in Iraq, Mr. Wolfowitz missed by more than 30 percent. [emphasis added] "It's approximately 500, of which — I can get the exact numbers — approximately 350 are combat deaths," he said.
As of Thursday, there were 722 deaths, 521 in combat. The No. 2 man at the Pentagon was oblivious in the bloodiest month of the war, [emphasis added] with the number of Americans killed in April overtaking those killed in the six-week siege of Baghdad last year.

• Green electricity is now available in Maine! 
  
• Like many other states, Maine has an abundant and sustainable supply of water, wood, wind and sun energy.  Maine already buys 20% of its electricity from these "green" sources.  In fact, these sources could perpetually power our electricity grid many times over.  Now individuals and organizations in Maine can go 100% green for the electricity they buy.
  
  Generating more electricity from renewable sources creates good jobs, promotes independence from unreliable and costly foreign sources of oil, gas and uranium, and improves public health by protecting clean air, water and food supplies.  For just few cents a day, you can eliminate the need for dirty coal plants or dangerous nuclear power plants to generate the electricity you use.
  
  To learn more or to sign up, visit Maine Interfaith Power & Light at www.MeIPL.org or the Maine Green Power Connection at www.MaineGreenPower.org.

• Windfalls of War: War Profiteering

The private contractor-GOP gravy train
From Blackwater to CACI, mercenary companies in Iraq have a warm and cozy relationship with the Republican politicians who are employing them.

By Robert Schlesinger
http://www.truthout.org/docs_04/051204E.shtml

May 11, 2004  |  Private armies have become ubiquitous in Iraq, supplying everything from support services to mercenary soldiers to interrogators. While Halliburton's contracts for logistical support have been widely reported, until the firefight in Fallujah in late March left four Blackwater Security employees dead, the public knew little about the extent to which the estimated 20,000 private military forces in Iraq are participating in direct military action.

The shocking photographs of the torture of prisoners at Abu Ghraib prison raise anew questions about the U.S. military's use of private contractors. Maj. Gen. Antonio Taguba's report about practices at the prison contained information that two CACI employees "were either directly or indirectly responsible for the abuses at Abu Ghraib." Contractors from Titan International were also present during the abuses.

"This industry really didn't exist 10 years ago," says Peter Singer, a national security fellow at the Brookings Institution and author of "Corporate Warriors: The Rise of the Privatized Military Industry." A decade ago, mercenary soldiering was less the stuff of corporate America than the inspiration for Soldier of Fortune fantasies. Now, as Singer reported in Salon, the industry generates over $100 billion annually worldwide.

Private Contractors and Torture at Abu Ghraib, Iraq
By Pratap Chatterjee and A.C. Thompson
Special to CorpWatch
May 7, 2004
http://www.corpwatch.org/issues/PRT.jsp?articleid=10828

Two private military contractors are being investigated for their role in torture allegations at the Abu Ghraib prison, Iraq: CACI International, Inc. from Arlington, Virginia, and Titan of San Diego, California. CACI supplied at least one interrogator while Titan supplied at least two translators named in a 53-page classified internal Army report written by Major General Antonio Taguba that have dominated news coverage all over the world.

AP: 10 U.S. Contractors in Iraq Penalized
By MATT KELLEY
Associated Press Writer
Published April 26, 2004, 10:16 PM CDT
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/sns-ap-iraq-punished-contractors,1,1107717.story?coll=chi-business-hed
WASHINGTON -- Ten companies with billions of dollars in U.S. contracts for Iraq reconstruction have paid more than $300 million in penalties since 2000 to resolve allegations of bid rigging, fraud, delivery of faulty military parts and environmental damage.

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UMaine MAKING A KILLING ON IRAQ Conference postponed!

Media Credit: Holly Barber (from Maine Campus)

• Read BDN account of protest here.
• Read The Maine Campus report of protest here.