Albuquerque Center for Peace and Justice 202 Harvard SE Albuquerque, NM 87106 505-268-9557   Updated: 2 October 2007 Newsletter October 2007
October 2007 Newsletter Contents Committee Reports & Noticias Membership Application	For the last one and a half years, a small group of people have pledged $10.00 per month to be used for staff health needs. We would like to expand the group so that we can build up the account. If you are interested in contributing, please call Suzanne at the center at 268-9557 and leave a message. Thank you. Iraq Moratorium: On the third Friday of each month, millions of Americans will break with their daily routine to demand an end to the war and the return home of the troops. Wear black ribbons and armbands, in mourning for all of those who have died in this senseless adventure. Together, acting where we live, work and study, we will create a mighty shout so loud that the media won't be able to white it out and the politicians won't be able to ignore it. Info: iraqmoratorium.org . Kalpulli Izkalli's -Topahkal Collaborative wants to thank the great people at the Peace and Justice Center for the fundraiser held on August 26. The incredible gesture of community and generosity was very timely for the Topahkal. Our organization is serving about 7,000 uninsured and underinsured Albuquerque residents, mostly from the Southeast and South Valley. Our commitment is to offer truly affordable, high quality conventional and non conventional medical care to those who are left out of the mainstream health systems. We are constantly striving to find creative means of offering this service without having our clients pay outrageous prices. Not only did we raise over $8,000.00, but we also got to take a breather and celebrate, hang out with each other, have some great food, good music and "tirar chancla" (dance) to top it all off! Muchísimas gracias también a los músicos. Also, big thanks to Nuevo Mexico Present! And La Junta for your donated performances. Le Chat Lunatique was great too. Muchísimas gracias to all who brought food, who helped in the kitchen, with the set up, with the sound system, for the donors of artwork for the art auction. your support and untiring work made the event absolutely fabuloso. p.s.: Topahkal Family Practice Clinic's phone number is 907-8311.
Tax Protest 2008: A new campaign has begun to get 10,000 war protestors in the US to refuse some of their income tax in April 2008. This campaign began last spring with a survey conducted by the National War Tax Resistance Coordinating Committee (NWTRCC) at war protest events; 60% of those who had never refused to pay income tax said they would think favorably about a one-time refusal in 2008. The campaign is being sponsored by Veterans for Peace, NWTRCC and other national organizations. It began in Washington DC in September at a national war protest gathering. The money refused to the government may be redirected to Iraq reconstruction or Katrina relief/reconstruction. This decision is not yet final. (Of course, individuals may choose their own use of refused money). Coordinators in NM are Marcus Page, (505-379-6942) local contact for NWTRCC, and Aanya Adler Friess (505-247-2788). Sign up forms and flyers will be available at the Peace Center and through other organizations. Please consider refusing to pay for war in 2008. It would be great if 500 New Mexicans joined this protest. A Training in Peacemaking: Peace does not come from the absence of conflict. Rather, it is the result of working through conflict. Easy to say, but how can we make it happen? The Dialogue Process helps us do that. Gathering in a circle, as we listen to each person speak, without objection or comment, we reach a greater understanding of others' perspectives and needs. Agreements are more possible when hostility is reduced, and solutions to those thorny issues that separate us are easier to agree upon. Dialogue is an ancient process used in traditional societies. It is now gaining importance to address conflict among nations as well as communities. It has been successfully used with peace activists and police preceding protests in Santa Fe, and can be used to resolve differences that arise among even the most peace-loving people. You are invited to a training on November 3. See calendar. The Peacestyle organizers would like to thank the Peace Center for their support. Peacestyle offers young artists, poets, and musicians a free, supportive, non-threatening venue where they can practice their skills and develop a stage presence. By inviting the community at large to come and enjoy the performances via a free, all-ages, drug and alcohol-free show at the Peace Center, Peacestyle aims to raise the general community's awareness of some of the social issues facing society today, particularly from a youth-oriented perspective. In addition, Peacestyle has picked up many young musicians and poets as regular performers since the first show, all of whom have generously and consistently given of their talents and time to make each event highly entertaining, thought-provoking, and successful. Thanks to all the donors and volunteers for making the yard sale a great success. We kept our prices low so that the materials for sale reached the members of the community who needed them most. We were able to send free carloads of clothes, toys, and household goods to the Navajo Reservation, the Women's Shelter, St. Martin's Hospitality Center, the Women of Juárez, and others. So all of the donated goods found a home. And still we were able to raise $2,243 for the Center's Programs. Good job! Please send calendar items, comments, and questions concerning this Web document to Web@abqPeaceAndJustice.org .