----------
From: "Jewish Voice for Peace" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Date: Sat, 16 Oct 2004 22:58:42 GMT
To: "Nina Parris" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: Bush v. Kerry, JVP Confronts Caterpillar
October
Read entire newsletter on-line here <http://ga3.org/jvfp/jvp_october_newsletter_clone.html?member_key=638bni2yjmmxb3> .JVP hopes that all of our Jewish readers had a happy and healthy High Holy Days season. We wish all of our Muslim readers peace and happiness during their holy month of Ramadan and always.
In This Edition
Commentary Mitchell Plitnick on The difference between Bush and Kerry
What's New at JVP Disrupting Caterpillar, Presbyterians back new shareholder resolution <#tv>
Quote of the Month Sharon aid says Gaza withdrawal meant to stall peace process
<#quote> Jewish Peace News Gaza withdrawal, US vetoes UN resolution, new Israeli peace group <#jpn>
Talk Back Letters about our support for the Presbyterian Church
Commentary
The difference between Bush and Kerry
Mitchell Plitnick, Director of Policy and Education, Jewish Voice for Peace
While neither a Bush nor Kerry administration would challenge the "special relationship" between the US and Israel, the outcome of this election will likely make a real difference in the amount of death and destruction visited on both sides, but especially on Palestinians.
There are, to be sure, significant differences between presidential candidates John Kerry and George W. Bush. But when it comes to the Middle East, the differences are difficult to spot. In contrast to the 2000 election, however, when the direction each candidate might take if elected was not entirely clear, we can be pretty certain what the policies of Kerry and Bush will look like.
What Bush might do in another four years wouldn't be different in substance from his terrible first term, but it would be magnified, with potentially disastrous results. As for Kerry, his inclination toward a return to negotiations and a reduction of violence wouldn't bring peace or justice much closer, but would likely mean some lessening of the killing and destruction.
Read more: The Difference Between Bush and Kerry <http://ga3.org/ct/cd1-8dM1wQKA/>
to top
JVP News
Caterpillar in Las Vegas, Presbyterian support
This September, JVP's Seth Schneider and Sydney Levy slipped into the prestigious Caterpillar-sponsored Sentinels of Safety Awards held at the MINExpo in Las Vegas, Nevada. Standing in front of 500 industry executives, including Caterpillar representatives, they disrupted the ceremony and unfurled the poster in the photo on left (sign held by Seth Schneider). Read more about what happened here <http://ga3.org/ct/d11-8dM1wQKa/> . (Photo below: Sydney Levy in the mouth of a D-10 bulldozer on display at the expo.)
JVP also filed another historic shareholder resolution with Caterpillar, once again co-signed by the Roman Catholic Sisters of Loretto. With $3 million in Caterpillar stock, the Presbyterian Church USA has said they will support the resolution which asks Caterpillar to review whether the sale of its equipment to the Israeli army comports with the corporation's own Code of Worldwide Business Conduct. "We supported this resolution last year and there is no reason why we couldn't do so this year," said PCUSA's Bill Somplatsky-Jarman. Allies should plan to come to the annual shareholder meeting in Chicago on April 14, 2005.
The Presbyterian Church USA continues to draw fire for their recent vote to selectively investigate divestment in companies that profit from the harming of Palestinian or Israeli civilians. Jewish Voice for Peace remains the only national Jewish organization that unequivocally supports their vote. Almost 2,000 JVP supporters have signed our petition in support of the Presbyterians, and we hope to begin speaking at Presbyterian Churches. Read JVP's full statement here <http://ga3.org/ct/Xd1-8dM1wQKe/> .
Gaza incursion
A rocket fired September 29 from Gaza into the Israeli town of Sderot killed two Israeli toddlers, aged two and four. These tragic deaths triggered a massive Israeli military incursion into Gaza, dubbed Operation Days of Penitence, which is now in its third week. Thus far, 116 Palestinians and five Israelis have died, and nearly a quarter of those injured or dead are children. Read JVP's statement <http://ga3.org/ct/X71-8dM1wQKd/> .
West Bank well named after Jewish Voice for Peace
Texas-based Palestine Children's Welfare Fund is building 3 water wells in the West Bank town of Jayyous, a city world famous because it has been nearly strangled by Israel's wall. They have dedicated one of the wells to Jewish Voice For Peace. PCWF writes, "members of Jewish Voice For Peace have been inspirational and courageous in their work and dedication in support of the children of Palestine and their efforts to educate the public in the United States regarding the plight of the Palestinians through their website and educational events." (photo to left, Gordon Hutchins protests the separation wall in Jayyous.)
Other news
Jewish Voice for Peace is a founding member of a Bay Area coalition of Jewish peace groups called Jews Against the Israeli Wall. The group put up hundreds of posters throughout the Bay Area on the Jewish New Year that featured a photo of the Israeli separation wall just a few feet from a Palestinian home's back door. The text read, "How would you like this wall cutting through your backyard? This Rosh Hashanah, tear down the wall." More actions are planned.
The first run of Reframing Anti-Semitism <http://ga3.org/ct/411-8dM1wQKB/> , our book which offers alternative Jewish perspectives on anti-Semitism, has sold out! Order our newest edition with a spiffy new cover and endorsements from experts like Chris Toensing of Middle East Report and Brian Klug.
Brit Tzedek v'Shalom has initiated an open letter from American Jews to whoever wins the presidential election. JVP and many of our members would clearly not agree with some of the language and the points they make. Nonetheless, the situation now is so grave that we certainly do not want to wait around for everyone to agree on every point. Please read the Brit Tzedek letter <http://ga3.org/ct/c71-8dM1wQKM/> and sign it if you feel you can.
JVP friend and former ambassador Carleton Coon recently went to the West Bank with fellow retired US diplomats. Read about his trip here <http://ga3.org/ct/Xp1-8dM1wQKc/> . He also has a new book One Planet, One People, Beyond 'Us vs. Them' <http://ga3.org/ct/cp1-8dM1wQKN/> a topic of clear interest to friends of JVP. Advisory board member professor George Lakoff of UC Berkeley also has a new book out, Don't Think of an Elephant: Know Your Values and Frame the Debate--The Essential Guide for Progressives <http://ga3.org/ct/B11-8dM1wQK2/> . This is a must-read for all of us working for Middle East peace.
to top
Inspired? Donate to JVP and support our work for a just peace.
Quote of the Month
Senior Sharon adviser reveals true goal of Gaza withdrawal
"The significance of the disengagement plan is the freezing of the peace process," Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's senior adviser Dov Weisglass told Ha'aretz <http://ga3.org/ct/471-8dM1wQK4/> , in an interview for the Friday Magazine.Weisglass, who was one of the initiators of the disengagement plan, added, "And when you freeze that process, you prevent the establishment of a Palestinian state, and you prevent a discussion on the refugees, the borders and Jerusalem. Effectively, this whole package called the Palestinian state, with all that it entails, has been removed indefinitely from our agenda. And all this with authority and permission. All with a presidential blessing and the ratification of both houses of Congress."
"The disengagement is actually formaldehyde," he said. "It supplies the amount of formaldehyde that is necessary so there will not be a political process with the Palestinians."
See Jewish Peace News below for more.
to top
Are you a Jewish voice for peace?
Do you want to build a voice for the silent majority of Jews and allies who want an end to the occupation and settlements, and who want a US foreign policy based on justice?
The power of that voice depends on you.
Through grassroots organizing, education, advocacy and media outreach, Jewish Voice for Peace works to achieve a lasting peace that recognizes the aspirations of both Israelis and Palestinians for security and self-determination.
Join us today!
Jewish Peace News Highlights
Following are some highlights from Jewish Peace News, the free news service offered by Jewish Voice for Peace. Get pre-selected stories from global news sources sent to your email box regularly, with thoughtful analyses prefacing each article. Go to your personal subscription page to sign up now.
Top PM aide: Gaza plan aims to freeze the peace process (Ha'aretz) Sharon aide makes clear Likud's opposition to peace
U.S. vetoes UN resolution demanding end to Gaza offensive (Ha'aretz) Yet another US veto of a UN Security Council Resolution
Position Paper on Posting Signs at the Sites of Demolished Palestinian Villages (Zochrot) A new tactic and a new Israeli peace group
to top <#top>
Talk Back
We've received a huge amount of email thanking us for our support of the Presbyterian Church. Here is a small sampling:
I want to express my support for your stand on the Wall. I am an American Jew who opposes the occupation by Israel and the building of the Wall in the occupied territories and salute you for your stand on this matter.
Victor H.
San Francisco, CA
You folks are real heroes. I know you get lots of hate mail and other unpleasant responses for what you're doing, so I hope this post will neutralize at least one of those posts. You probably know that one of the titles of a book about Raoul Wallenberg is "Righteous Gentile." Well, you and your staff are Righteous Jews. I thank you from the bottom of my (raised a Christian) heart.
Catherine P.
Cleveland Heights, Ohio
Keep the feedback <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> coming.
About Jewish Voice for Peace
Jewish Voice for Peace is a diverse and democratic community of activists inspired by Jewish tradition to work together for peace, social justice, and human rights. We support the aspirations of Israelis and Palestinians for security and self-determination. Learn more about us at www.jewishvoiceforpeace.org <http://ga3.org/ct/B71-8dM1wQKs/> . Download a fact sheet <http://ga3.org/ct/Bp1-8dM1wQKx/> about JVP or our mission statement <http://ga3.org/ct/X11-8dM1wQK3/> . Send questions, comments or concerns to the JVP staff at [EMAIL PROTECTED] Jewish Voice for Peace
1611 Telegraph Avenue, Suite 500
Oakland, CA 94612 USA
510-465-1777
Visit the web address below to tell your friends about this.
Tell-a-friend! <http://ga3.org/join-forward.html?domain=jvfp&r=wd1-8dM1QaPt>
If you received this message from a friend, you can sign up for Jewish Voice for Peace <http://ga3.org/jvfp/join.html?r=wd1-8dM1QaPtE> .
This message was sent to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Visit your subscription management page <http://ga3.org/jvfp/smp.tcl?nkey=638bni2yjmmxb3> to modify your email communication preferences or update your personal profile. To stop receiving Monthly Newsletter, click to unsubscribe <http://ga3.org/jvfp/remove-domain-direct.tcl?ctx=subscription&nkey=638bni2yjmmxb3> . To stop ALL email from Jewish Voice for Peace, click to remove <http://ga3.org/jvfp/remove-domain-direct.tcl?ctx=center&nkey=638bni2yjmmxb3> yourself from our lists (or reply via email with "remove" in the subject line).
Tell-A-Friend <http://ga3.org/jvfp/join-forward.html>
| Yahoo! Groups Sponsor | |
|
|
Yahoo! Groups Links
- To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/VTJP/
- To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
- Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.
