Notes from Kootenay FOR meeting, March 1, 2004

The meeting was attended by Grant, Avy, Rosemary, Trish, Ernest, Dora, Nora, Nada and Kay.

Nora reported on her experience in Kosova. She indicated that she would be willing to do a presentation on this at a future special meeting.

We discussed again whom we might send funds to. Doctors Without Borders is one option. The Children's Hospital in Iraq is another. Trish agreed to see if any organizations are making donations to the Children's Hospital in Iraq.

Grant asked whether we would be interested in endorsing a Declaration to End All War drawn up by the Voices of Women for Peace. We agree to do so. Grant will send an email saying that we endorse the declaration.

We have tapes from the Circles of Hope event from last year that need to be edited down to 20 minutes or so. We have arranged to have a pot luck at Rosemary's on April 23rd at 6:30 where we can review the tapes and make decisions about what should go into a final version.

Grant reported on his upcoming trip to Israel and Palestine with the IPBD group. He flies out on the 19th of March, meets with the other FOR delegates, does one and a half days of nonviolence training and then flies to Jordon with the rest of the delegates. The point of the trip is to witness what Israeli and Palestinian peace groups are doing and then to report on these activities upon return. He returns on April 3rd.

Grant will be doing a press release before he leaves. Isaac is to ask Bobbie if she would be willing to help Grant with this.

Isaac reported on the progress on the Muslim-Jewish Peace Walk with Rabbi Lynn Gottlieb and Abdul Raul Compose Marqetti. They will be arriving in Spokane on May 6th. They will take part in an event there and then will be speaking in schools in Colville. They come here on May 7th to speak at the Brilliant Cultural Centre. May 8th they will lead a peace walk in Nelson. May 9th they will travel to Grand Forks to take part in a peace event at the border near Osoyoos and then join in a peace march from the border to Osoyoos. On May 10th they will lead a Peace Walk in Vancouver. Lynn will be staying on there to work with a Jewish congregation.

Nora, Kay and Nada expressed interest in being on the committee to help with organizing the event at the Brilliant Cultural Centre and the peace walk in Nelson. Kay said she would be willing to help with posters.

Isaac addressed the issue of ensuring that on the Middle East issue we are seen as being allies to Jews as well as Palestinians. This is particularly important in a time when we are seeing some anti-Jewish sentiment arising in various parts of the world in response to the Israeli government's current policies.

Trish reported on the Peace Leaders Conference being hosted in the West Kootenays. KRUNA, USCC and FOR are all helping to put this on. The meeting this coming Tuesday will discuss a possible date and topics.

Isaac reported that Leila may be interested in becoming an intern in nonviolent training with FOR USA.

A meeting is to be held on Thursday regarding the March 20th worldwide protest against the occupation of Iraq and against Canadian participation in the U.S. Missile Defence System.