Hope Amidst Chaos Many eyes and hearts have opened. BY DAN GOLDRICH EDITOR'S NOTE: Below is the text of Dan Goldrich's presentation to the peace rally held Sept. 24 at the Federal Building in Eugene. Goldrich was one of numerous speakers before the crowd that filled the plaza and spilled over across the streets. I speak for Progressive Responses today, somberly and with renewed hope. Somber, for obvious reasons: the U.S. dead and the thousands of Iraqi dead, the deepening cruel insurgency, the continuing ideologically driven intransigence of the administration in refusing to renounce permanent bases or control of Iraqi oil, the faces of those abandoned in New Orleans, the aged and infirm left to die because the week before Katrina, the U.S. government was busy trying to delete from the general principles of the U.N. the phrase, "Respect for nature." What do we owe these dead, these victims? I refuse to think we owe them more dead and more victims in the service of lies, illusory imperial ambition, ignorance of history, and denial that nature is our home. I choose to think that we owe the victims taking their loss so extremely seriously that we dedicate ourselves to do better in the face of daunting challenges. What are those challenges? Global climate change is upon us, it's present, and requires courage merely to contemplate. Have you read Elizabeth Kolbert's three-part articles in The New Yorker, April and May, on this? Growing social polarization, locally through globally, opulence and impoverishment. Growing extremist, often fundamentalist violent movements in many places. See Mark Danner in the New York Times Magazine, (Sept. 11) on how U.S. policy has made this worse, particularly by making war on Iraq, and continuing cases of states using terror against their people. Above all is the challenge: How do we want to live as we confront these aforementioned tremendous challenges? What have we been learning about meeting these challenges? • That broad, global cooperation is required to confront global warming: to restructure our economic base for sustainability, and to meet the needs of the environmentally displaced, the environmentally vulnerable. • That the challenge of violent movements and states using terrorism requires new international law and new international police institutions. U.S. security requires global security. No response will work to elicit the needed broad cooperation of governments and peoples unless it is based on fairness, on equal justice. • That either we will succumb to police states and the fearful war of each against all others, or we will make community globally and locally, taking care of one another and of our home, the Earth, in a way that down through time has provided a fundamental sense of connection, of transcendent meaning. Obviously, the Bush administration sees the world differently on all those scores. Most influential Democrats have opted for silence or carping around the edges. So how can you or I feel hope and rising energy at this moment? Because at great cost, in Iraqis and U.S. soldiers dead and maimed, and in Gulf Coast devastation, many eyes and hearts have opened. Many are seeing the need for a new national and global effort to sustain life, and to do so decently. The debate is finally on — how and when will the U.S. withdraw from Iraq? (See CommonDreams.org and truthout.org for powerful analyses countering the claim that we can't leave Iraq to chaos.) The call by such organizations as the Apollo Alliance for a new, appropriate development strategy based on energy conservation, efficiency and sustainability is gaining implementation in city after city and state after state, including Oregon and Portland. Despite the neo-conservative imperialism and ceaseless spin of the Bush administration, U.S. public opinion tends strongly to support a more globally cooperative foreign policy, the International Criminal Court action on Darfur, and greater U.S. effort to limit greenhouse gases. There's growing and now majority public awareness of the scientific consensus on global warming. So I am imagining the political possibilities as more leadership arises on these critical matters, in response to demands from the base, all over the country. As you and I look around at those assembled today, we see so many young people demanding something better. Inspiring. Life goes on. Political life goes on. You young ones need to know that there are many elders with you in spirit and action, elders who see life itself under grave threat and who will not yield to that threat. So we can find the energy and inspiration to go on, and organize a community-based movement strong enough to hold leaders to account regarding life's agenda. Dan Goldrich of Eugene is a retired UO political science professor and a member of Progressive Responses, a group of academic leaders who came together in response to 9/11.       Changing Directions Relationship, culture and the Bioneers BY NINA SIMONS I keep wondering, what is the single area of our lives we could best commit our time and attention to, that might most rapidly alter this violent course of greed and environmental destruction we're on? I think it involves looking at what we love most uncompromisingly, what sparks us so deeply that we're willing to go out on a limb, take risks and make a stand for it. To change the direction the world's heading in, we are creating a new culture. Our culture is shaped by the nature of its relationships, by what we most love and value. There's also another, more personal reason to delve into the stew of relatedness, to see how seasoning it may improve the flavor and nourishment of our lives. There is a vast loneliness among us, and responding to that deeply human need to connect may lead us to redefine and restore our culture in a way that re-weaves the fabric of our individual lives into community, reorienting us collectively toward an Earth-honoring future and social healing. Since culture can be roughly defined as "what we value, cultivate and care about," doesn't it make sense that to shift our culture we need to reexamine the quality of our relationships? For what is culture comprised of, really, but an intimately interconnected series of stories, relationships and social networks, beginning with the core relationship of each of us to ourselves, and then emanating outward to embrace our "environment" of friends, partners, communities, nations and the whole web of life? What would it mean to explore the convergence of cultural change with the nature and quality of our relationships? Dan Dagget, ecologist and author of the Pulitzer Prize-nominated book, Beyond the Rangeland Conflict, asked that question, and concluded: When scientists set out to discover the smallest, most basic form of matter, and discovered particles that were smaller and smaller and smaller, they finally came to a point where there were no particles, no "things." There were only relationships. What that means is, in the most basic and fundamental of senses, we don't live in a world of things; we live in a world of relationships. He said that we can learn more about being an effective environmentalist by reading books about relationships than we can learn from books on ecology and plants; certainly more than we can learn by reading books about activism. Dan said that to resolve environmental conflicts, he began paying more attention to what had kept him and his wife together for more than 26 years. He recognized that we're all enrolled in a continuing education learning experience about living in a world of relationships. Communications, both verbal and non-verbal, are at the very heart of cultivating relationship. They create the tendrils of connection — the invisible webs that carry information between and among us. Ultimately, those networks shape our culture, guiding the formation of our institutions and social structures. Our corporate-consumer culture has played a key part in severing our relationship with the Earth, as we've bought into a system of intermediaries — for our food, our power, our transportation, our information, and especially our waste — which disconnects us from the real consequences of our choices. "In this state of total consumerism," Wendell Berry writes, "which is to say a state of helpless dependence on things and services and ideas and motives that we have forgotten how to provide ourselves – all meaningful contact between ourselves and the Earth is broken. We do not understand the Earth in terms either of what it offers us or of what it requires of us, and I think it is the rule that people inevitably destroy what they do not understand."   One of the more powerful ideas that can spark a reconnection with ourselves, each other and the Earth is the concept of immanence, which suggests that everything that's alive in the world, including each one of us, is filled with magic and imbued with spirit. In 18th century England, ideas of immanence were called enthusiasms, which means, from the Greek, "Full of God," and these enthusiasms were often associated with activism and rebellion. Back then, the notion of the worlds being inherently alive, full of spirit, and continually changing, helped to develop people's self-confidence. It encouraged them to step forward to act, to transform the world rather than remaining passive in the face of the great transformations that relationship and culture were then sweeping England. The possibility of changing our worldview — and through it, our behavior — is perhaps our species' greatest gift, and also one of our greatest challenges. It involves rewiring our internal systems, and learning how to reorient ourselves toward a life that is relationally alive, alert and constantly changing. Master healer and educator Jan Sultan has named this capacity Behavioral Plasticity, and what he means is our conscious ability to alter our behavior patterns, to revise our inner belief systems, to fundamentally approach our lives with a new perspective. To make this shift calls for a change of ethics. In the Cherokee language, there is no word for love of an inanimate object — anyone who loves a thing is considered insane. In this time that's been called a 'Baroque epoch of greed,' we are plagued by the belief that value is based almost solely on material gain. We need to rediscover that the only real security lies in being connected to our own inner spark, those we love, our communities and the whole web of life.   The bottom line is that we're being called upon to make the shift from a worldview that's essentially self-centered, to a consciousness that recognizes our relatedness as central to our survival. This shift will expand our sense of time, and we will come to evaluate the merit of strategies, innovations and policies not merely in relation to what immediate benefits they might bring, but also in light of their extended impact on future generations. This change will involve redefining our senses of meaning, fulfillment and success based upon the quality of relational connection we have in our lives. It will invite us to more fully experience the richness of community, of belonging, of deepening, and of being loved. It will mean recognizing that dynamic, caring relationships may be the only thing that endures. Nina Simons is co-executive director of the non-profit Bioneers. She will be convening the nationwide collaboration to unite 17 bioregions through The Bioneers Conference Oct. 14-16. The Oregon Bioneers conference will be held at LCC daily from 8 am to 10 pm. This annual event links communities live by satellite to address global and national community issues while focusing on locally relevant topics through regional workshops, presenters and dialogue. Cost is $150 for all three days, $100 for two days, $55 for one day. For more info visit www.bridgingworldsnw.orgor call LCC at 463-5594.     At the Gates Impeachment was on everyone's mind in D.C. By Peter Chabarek I joined a contingent of 12 people from Oregon who went to Washington, D.C., in late September to demonstrate against the Iraq War, and I want to share my experiences with the public because I believe they offer learning opportunities and inspiration to the burgeoning movement to take back our country from the extremists who have taken over our government. The weekend offered chances to be part of both protest and resistance actions, and we availed ourselves fully of the events. There were many highlights, but perhaps the greatest for me was the honor of being arrested with 46 others at the Pentagon (41 charged) for blocking the entrance as the Pentagon employees were coming in to work at 7 am Monday morning. We also took part in the big march through the center of the nation's capital with 300,000 others on Saturday; the CODEPINK action at Walter Reed Army Hospital on Friday night; the civil disobedience trainings on Sunday; filming of the civil disobedience arrests at the White House on Monday afternoon; and performing our protest music in front of the White House for Hawaii Public TV. We met some truly amazing people, gave our all, and came home with a feeling of hope that the tide is turning. I was able to go on this journey due to the generous contributions of a few supporters at home, as well as supporters in the Washington suburbs who housed us during our stay, for which I am extremely grateful. Our first experience took place Friday night (Sept. 23) at Walter Reed Hospital, where the women of CODEPINK were holding a candlelight vigil at the front gates for the injured soldiers. The message they put out, as displayed on their buttons and signs, was, "Love the troops, hate the war. Support the troops by bringing them home and giving full services and benefits to the injured." Apparently the counter-protesters across the street did not approve of the message. They were quite angry and loud, and broadcast messages such as "Code Pink supports terrorists," "Why don't you support our side for a change, you liberal morons?" and "Hippies smell." Carol Melia interviewed many people on both sides of the street with her video camera, (the film coming to a venue near you soon). During that action, I took part in a conference call with organizers in Oregon about the weekend's events being broadcast on "Inform Radio" back home. Saturday was the day of the big march and rally. The organizers, United For Peace and Justice (UFPJ), were hoping for 100,000 people to come. But by the time the march stepped off, it was very clear the crowd was much larger than that. Washington police stated at least 150,000 were there, UFPJ spokespeople estimated 300,000, and CSPAN reported 500,000. Having been at the Republican National Convention protests last year, which was 500,000, I felt that this demonstration was about half the size or a little larger. Whatever the numbers were, the crowd was energized and full of anger, hope, and determination. Signs were explicit and clearly focussed on the war and its ramifications. Other issues were tied directly to the war: "Make Levees, not war," was my favorite, and impeachment was on everyone's minds. After the march, most people headed off to the rally and concert at the Washington Monument, where Joan Baez, Steve Earle, and Sweet Honey in the Rock, among others, performed, and Cindy Sheehan and Ralph Nader spoke. We met Thomas and Concepcion, a couple who have maintained a continuous, 24/7 presence in front of the White House for the past 24 years, protesting nuclear weapons. Thomas has been arrested 50 times for his non-violent expression of free speech at the seat of so-called "democracy." They have a wonderful display and literature, and a small plastic shelter where at least one of them is present at all times. It was an amazing example of determination and conscience which I will never forget. Sunday we went early in the morning to the World Bank, where the annual World Bank/IMF conference was happening. There was a demonstration planned at the entrance to greet the delegates, but it was not communicated well via the Internet what time the action was happening, and it was over by the time we arrived. We did hear that there 100 demonstrators, they successfully blockaded the entrance and delayed the opening of the Sunday session for an hour, and there was one person arrested. We went on to Washington Monument Park, where the peace groups were gathered, saw some of our fellow Oregonians, and took part in UFPJ's meetings concerning the civil disobedience at the White House planned for the next day. We joined the Camp Casey affinity group, made up of six folks who had come to Washington with Cindy Sheehan, and we tentatively planned to do the White House action with them. However, we also wanted to meet with the War Resisters League and others planning the Pentagon action before we decided which action would be right for each of us. Frida Berrigan (daughter of Philip Berrigan, niece of Daniel Berrigan, famous priest and anti-war activist of the Vietnam era) facilitated the meeting that evening, and the room was filled with experienced activists from mostly two groups: Jonah House, the Catholic Worker group in New York City, and the War Resisters League of New York City. The plan was to go dressed as Pentagon workers, ride the Metro to the Pentagon, and to have groups of five to six people take turns sitting down and blocking the main entrance to the Pentagon. We also had people holding banners, and others leafletting the Pentagon employees as they came in. All of these activities are illegal on the "Pentagon Reservation," as it is called by the police. Press releases were sent ahead of time, so both the press and the police were aware that we were coming. The police allowed the banner carriers and the leafletters to do their job without interference. Many involved in the action wore a loose-fitting shirt with a photo of an Iraqi now dead on one side, and a photo of a U.S. troop killed in the war on the other side, to remind the workers of the real life results of their work. As each wave of blockaders moved in and sat down, the police issued two warnings and then proceeded to arrest us. Some of us stayed sitting and made the police carry us out of the entrance, others stood up when being placed under arrest so as to avoid possible injury to ourselves or the police (I chose the latter option). There was a continuous singing of "Peace, Salaam Shalom" as the arrests were happening, which served to keep the feeling both calm and powerful, and focussed on our higher intent, which was to effect the Pentagon and its employees, and not focus on any disagreement with the police. After being handcuffed and led away from the main entrance, we waited for the police van to arrive and take us to the detention center. After being processed into the system, we were held in a cement room with no furniture with the other arrestees, where we sang them Anne Feeney's "Have You Been to Jail For Justice?" And boy, was that a big hit. Even the cops liked it. One of them said to me, "You two songbirds sound really good," with a big smile. After three hours or so, we were released on our own recognizance, with a charge of "failing to obey a lawful order to disperse." Some of us were also charged with "interfering with agency function." We all received orders to report for a court date, with the dates varying from early January to late February. No two arrestees were given the same court date. One of our fellow lawbreakers was Jean Halladay, a nurse from Massachusetts who was one of the "Plowshares" activists in the 1980s. She had climbed a fence into a nuclear missile silo and damaged the missile by pounding it with a hammer and pouring her own blood on it. For that action she spent eight years in prison, and she could certainly expect jail time again for this action at the Pentagon. So it was really an honor to go into non-violent battle with such a warrior for peace. After our release, we were greeted outside by legal observers from the National Lawyers Guild (bless those folks, they are always there for non-violent protesters) with coffee and muffins, and they checked with each of us that we were not hurt, and making sure that everyone was getting released. Having worked with them at the RNC, the counter-inaugural in January, and consulting with them on our Eugene direct actions, I have gained immeasurable respect for the tremendous work they do, for no charge, to protect and defend those who engage in non-violent resistance. By providing legal observers at the scene, and defending people in court, they really are angels of the law We loaned our cell phone to another resister who called in a report to 'Democracy Now" and Carol gave an interview for WBAI in New York City. Then off we flew to pick up camera equipment, and quickly back into D.C. to get to the White House where the main event would be happening. Although we had planned to join the resisters at the White House, getting arrested a second time in one day (some of the Pentagon resisters did just that), I stayed on the sidelines, and Carol filmed the action over 3-1/2 hours as 370 people were arrested. We each had a plane to catch the next day, and it was unlikely we would get out of jail from the White House action to catch it if we been arrested again. But Carol's camera presence and press pass were important, as she was able to get into the center of the action and film events that she will present to the community here in Eugene. At one point, she was filming Cindy Sheehan from very close range, and joining in the singing that the resisters were doing as she was filming. The police did not respond to that very well, and pulled her out of the area but did not arrest her. (This is what is called "advocacy journalism," which differs from the so-called "objective stance" that is more often practiced; I feel it is more honest to be open about what our opinions are, rather than to put on an appearance of having no opinion). She also got great footage of people demonstrating loud and clear that they wanted Bush and his ilk removed from office and thrown in jail. The police took a very long time making the first arrests, and not until after the fence in front of the White House lawn was covered in signs and pictures of the dead from Bush's war, both American and Iraqi. The presence of Iraq war veterans, as well as older vets and their families, was exceedingly powerful. I remember one man perhaps in his mid-50s, holding a large photo of his soldier son, with dates of birth and death, with the words, "Love my soldier son, hate this war," which brought me to tears. I do not know at this point in time what will be the effect of our actions toward ending the war, but my gut tells me the tide is turning, and it is only a matter of time before the Bush house of cards begins to collapse. Carry on, brothers and sisters, we must be as relentless as the forces of darkness we are facing. Love conquers all.
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