Not In Our Name newsletter October 20th ...

[Dharma_Bum]

Endless War and Repression? Not In Our Name!
Unite to Drive Out the Bush Regime!

1. Mobilize for November 2nd
2. Anti-Stryker program on Olelo October 21st
3. UARC "debate" at UH Faculty Senate
4. Medea Benjamin (Global Exchange, Code Pink) speaking tour in Hawai`i
5. World Can't Wait newsletter (appended)

Mobilize for November 2nd
November 2nd is shaping up to be a dramatic beginning of the World Can't Wait Movement. We urge you to take off of work and school to join the protests, and infuse them with a strong anti-war message. Iraqi deaths from the immoral war in Iraq are in the hundreds of thousands. Within the next days we'll undoubtedly see the GI deaths top 2,000. Mainstrem newspapers report that 25% of the GI's returning from Iraq are wounded - most with PTSD that will continue to effect them, their loved ones, and society more broadly for years to come.
Support for the war has diminished and anti-war forces could take the initiative. But it will mean breaking out of "business as usual" protests. You gotta love the Raging Grannies, 18 of whom were busted this week for going to the Times Square Recruiting Station in NYC to enlist for combat in Iraq. See Truthout story: Grannies. Cindy Sheehan's actions, the anti-torture theatre on the Hunter College campus, are but glimpses of what is urgently needed. We urge you to join the November 2nd actions to put the Bush Regime on notice that not only can they not wage this war in our name, but that we are building a powerful movement to drive them out.

We've patched in yesterday's World Can't Wait Newsletter at the end of this message for those of you who aren't on their e-list. It gives details around November 2nd. Or call the bulletin board at 534-2255. We especially call on you to come to the action at the Recruiting Stations on Kapiolani Blvd (near Pi`ikoi) at 1:30 pm.

Discussion of the Stryker on Olelo
Last month NION sponsored a series of events against the Strykers and brough Lindafaye Kroll over from the Big Island to participate. During her visit Ruth Hsu taped a discussion with Henry Curtis (Life of the Land) and Lindafaye. It will air on Tuff Talk this Friday evening (October 21) on Olelo 54 at 8 pm. It will repeat on November 4 at 8 pm. It is subtitled "Stryker".

Deliberations around UARC
Yesterday the UH-Manoa Faculty Senate sponsored a discussion of UARC. It was designed so that Senators could hear both opponents and proponents of UARC. Faculty opponents of UARC presented eloquent and informative testimony from a number of different perspectives. Proponents of UARC failed to show (or to speak). Testimony, much of which spoke to the newly released draft of the UH-Navy contract, raised many new alarms. For instance, faculty participating in UARC would have to enter into a "trusted agent" agreement with the military; would have to participate in drug testing (which violates the union negotiated faculty agreement; would exclude international students. It also became more clear that this particular UARC is unique in that it is integrated into the UH campus itself, would set new precedents for institutionalizing the military on campus, and would effect the entire direction of the University.
The Faculty Senate will be discuss (and possibly vote on) their position on October 26 at 4-m at the Architecture Auditorium. Faculty opinions are being posted on the Faculty Senate website. http://www.hawaii.edu/uhmfs/uarc/. Faculty and students are invited to send in their comments. You can access comprehensive information on UARC at StopUARC.

Heads up! Medea Benjamin speaking tour.
Medea Benjamin, an organizer with Code Pink and Global Exchange, will be in Honolulu on November 11 and 12. She will speak at Church of the Crossroads on November 11 (Veterans Day) at 7 pm. NION-Hawai`i is a co-sponsor. She will also speak at the Center for Hawaiian Studies on Saturday, Nov 12 at 7 pm. Other events (and possible actions) are being considered, and a full itinerary will be posted soon. For more information about Medea Benjamin: Global Exchange.

[KamaAina]

1. Just say 'A'ole (No) to UARC!

For instance, faculty participating in UARC would have to enter into a "trusted agent" agreement with the military; would have to participate in drug testing (which violates the union negotiated faculty agreement; would exclude international students. It also became more clear that this particular UARC is unique in that it is integrated into the UH campus itself, would set new precedents for institutionalizing the military on campus, and would effect the entire direction of the University.

"Would exclude international students"?! :wtf: Not only is that morally reprehensible, but in many disciplines, notably engineering, that doesn't leave a hell of a lot of students to work with, 'specially not way out here in American Polynesia.

If the military wants to set up a research center here, let them build it on their own land. Oh, I forgot, they only own a measly 30% of O'ahu. Never mind. :sarcasm: