UUCR Peacemaking Group

In support of the UUA's Peacemaking Study/Action Issue, the Peacemaking Group is leading UUCR members and friends in studying and discussing all aspects of what it means to pursue peace, including development of an annual plan for education, reflection and action. Activities include the First Friday Freedom Film series (of which at least one film per quarter will be devoted to issues related to peace); Wonderful Wednesday educational forums; a book discussion group; special worship services; and cooperation with organizations such as PeaceAction Montgomery to encourage participation in peace vigils, petition drives, demonstrations, etc. Contact: Pam Rasmussen

Upcoming Peacemaking Events

Oct 30, 7:30 Book discussion

Nonviolence: 25 Lessons for the History of a Dangerous Idea, by Mark Kurlansky

Nov 28, 7:30 Wonderful Wednesday

Jean Athey: Torture is a Moral Issue
Film and discussion

Past Events

October 21, 2007: A Peacemaking Sunday with Phyllis Bennis

As part of UUCR's Peacemaking activities, Ray Watts and other members of the UUCR-SJ Peacemaking committee invited Phyllis Bennis, a Fellow of the Institute for Policy Studies in Washington and Director of its New Internationalism Project, to speak on Sunday, October 21. Her areas are U.S. foreign policy, including U.S.-United Nations relations and the Middle East, particularly Israel-Palestine and Iraq. She is an author of seven books and appears frequently as a commentator/analyst on U.S. and international television and radio programs, including "The News Hour with Jim Lehrer" on PBS, the CBS "Morning Show," NPR's "Diane Rehm Show," and is active in the global peace movement.

On Oct 21, she gave a very inspirational talk on the question of whether and how we should renounce violence, and had strong suggestions for what we individually and our congregation and denomination can do about our own government's use of violence and war.

You can download her talk (or the reading that preceded it) by right-clicking a link below and saving the mp3 files to your computer (or just click the link and listen):

Talk: Violence and war: inevitable parts of the human condition? (mp3, 4Mb)

Reading: Challenging Empire (mp3, 1.4Mb)

Oct 21, 11:15 am Film and discussion after the service

Ghosts of Abu Ghraib
The Abu Graib film was a gift from the National Religious Campaign Against Torture; if you missed it, please contact Terrie Barr to check out the film. Former President Carter says the US tortures prisoners in violation of international law. Carter told CNN that President Bush makes up his own definition of torture. He also says that the interrogation methods cited in memos reported by the NY Times constitute torture using international definitions. The Times reported those techniques included simulated drowning and frigid temperatures.

Oct 17, 7:30 Peacemaking Wonderful Wednesday

The Peacemaking discussion began with the question: What is peace? Alex Winnett, UUA Advocacy Office rep and peace studies graduate offered this, "It is not an absence of conflict but an absence of violence. Violence is an action that imposes on another’s economic, emotional, physical, or spiritual wellbeing" Alex admitted we will always have conflict but suggested we have the intention of choosing to learn from conflict. We talked about the importance of peace s/heroes and cultivating inner peace for outer peace. Go to www.org/csai for the latest on the peacemaking study/action issue.

Oct 5, 7:30 pm First Friday Freedom Film

West Bank Story and Seeds of Peace
The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: Two Filmmakers' Perspectives on Hope for the Future If you are like most people, the Palestinian-Israeli conflict seems like a war without end. But there is hope, if only we can help both factions to "walk in each other's shoes." Learn how, through two short productions: West Bank Story (which won the Oscar for best short film) and Seeds of Peace.