STANISLAUS CONNECTIONS

Working For Peace, Justice, and A Sustainable Environment

Online Edition: March 2001     Vol. XII, No. VII

A Modesto Peace/Life Center Publication

CONTENTS

Mud Pies and Purple Onions

Wild on Wetlands Weekend mixes learning with lots of fun
Historical Hikes
Making Our Streets Safe for All: A Pedestrian Safety Forum
Vernal pools: Sea of Flowers and puddles of sky
Poem: Dreaming of Tulare Lake

Living Lightly Links

Out and About

SERRV changes shop hours
Habitat Choir Concert
Volunteer training offered at Community Hospice
Women's Tea to offer welcome
Historical Hikes

CALENDAR --CURRENT & COMING EVENTS

Masthead and Back Issues

Community celebration to mark birth date of César Chávez
by Tina Arnopole Driskill

The life of César E. Chávez, founder and President of the United Farm Workers of America, will be commemorated on his birth date, March 31, at the first annual César Chávez Day of Service and Learning. The event will take place at the Modesto Junior College East Campus Quad from noon to 5 p.m. A speaker from the Chávez family will be featured, and the focus for the afternoon will be the 10 values that guided Chávez as a family man, labor leader, civil rights leader, spiritualist, social entrepreneur, environmentalist and community servant.

Chávez believed that ordinary people can make extraordinary social change when they are individually guided and bound together by universal values and a common vision for a better world. His universal values include Service to Others, Sacrifice, A Preference to Help the Most Needy, Determination, Non-Violence, Tolerance, Respect for Life, Celebrating Community, Knowledge, and Innovation.

The community celebration at MJC will include community and food booths, interactive displays and art, reading and carnival type activities for K-12 students. A main stage will highlight folkloric and Aztec dancers, Latin Jazz and Mariachi music.

The afternoon activities will be preceded by the 17th Annual Hispanic Education Conference. More than 1000 high school students are expected to attend the morning conference. They, their families and the community at large are encouraged to attend the afternoon celebration. Winners of the César Chávez Essay Contest and Poster Contest will be displayed, as well.

A multicultural mural created as a PACE (Petersen Alternative Center for Education) project for the foyer of the Stanislaus County Office of Education, reflecting a number of Chavez’ values will be unveiled at an open community reception at the SCOE, 1100 ‘H’ Street, on Friday March 30. A PACE César Chávez Garden Project, now in the planning stages, will be implemented in the 2001-02 school year and will provide produce to some of the county’s most needy families.

Action: Attend the event and learn ways to live the Chávez legacy. For more information call 525-5178.

Web Resources:   Si Se Puede! Cesar E. Chavez and His Legacy
                            Cesar E. Chavez Institute for Public Policy 

Healthy women reflect a healthy society

by Tina Arnopole Driskill

“People have to realize that politics are involved in the most intimate part of our lives,” says Samantha Phillips-Bland, program director of the Stanislaus County Health Services McHenry Medical Office. “We, as a society, have become complacent about our reproductive rights...taking for granted that [these] rights are being protected.”

“Women must have every opportunity for safe and legal medical care, including the opportunity to safely end a pregnancy,” Phillips asserts. The recent international gag rule, as Phillips refers to President George W. Bush’s administrative directive, withholds federal aide for family planning (which includes contraceptives) to any country which provides any kind of abortions to its population with its own monies or even speaks of abortion as a possible choice. Phillips points to the historical national abortion gag rule first implemented by the first President George Bush with concern, expressing the fear that this latest White House order could be a forerunner to the inevitable return to a national gag rule and a resulting double standard in women’s health care. “This is very frightening,” she points out, especially considering that “federal funding has never been used to pay for abortions nationally or abroad.”

“Nine years ago, when the first gag rule became mandatory, federal aide was cut to any federally funded agency that even mentioned the option of abortion,” she says. The resulting fall out meant low -income women’s healthcare and counseling became dependent upon whether or not a woman qualified for federal health care funding. Those women qualifying for California state funding were put in a separate client registration and could make fully informed decisions based upon all choices available in California, while those most needy, who depended upon federal aid, could not be given the full range of options.

“Abortion is the end result of contraceptive failure or the failure to use contraception,” she emphasizes. Contrary to popular beliefs, “ninety percent of women who have a first trimester abortion used contraception the month they became pregnant. Abortion is not a method of family planning.”

“There is a perception of particular communities,” she laments, “that family planning clinics are immorally promoting increased sexual activity and abortions.”  Planned Parenthood clinics became targets of these communities after Roe v. Wade, when they took a pro-choice platform in defense of a woman’s right to choose from all family planning options. Phillips contends that  “it is immoral to have children you can’t feed, who don’t have parents to care for them, who are not immunized or have access to good health care, who aren’t being put to bed at night and who aren’t first in their parents’ lives.

“What  [family planning agencies] do is moral,” she explains,  “because we value families and children. We trust the family to make good decisions based upon access to quality health care and information education.” Our first message to teens is “abstinence is the best form of birth control,” and we do not gear our counseling in any particular direction. Family planning agencies must be free to promote responsible sexual attitudes, which acknowledge that unmarried couples may or may not choose to be sexually active.  Through the efforts of family planning education contraception is being used more compliantly by women of all ages. Options include intrauterine devices that can last up to 10 years, and single dose depro-provera shots, which are effective for three months.

Emergency contraception, sometimes referred to as the morning after pill, has been used for 20 years to sluff the lining from the uterine wall within 72 hours of unprotected intercourse, but will not abort an implanted pregnancy. The controversial RU486 protocols have been cleared for use and soon will be available in Stanislaus County. This pill stops embryonic development and in effect creates a miscarriage.

Although the McHenry Avenue clinic Phillips directs began many years ago as a women’s health clinic, it evolved to include obstetrics, then well-baby checks and currently houses a full-time family practice clinic, as well as the county’s only Southeast Asian clinic, whose staff can speak 5 Southeast Asian languages. Her full staff includes 3 physicians, 4 nurse practitioner/physicians assistants and 25 support personnel.

She wants people to understand that neither the county McHenry Medical Office she oversees, nor Planned Parenthood, which is a private non-profit organization, provide abortions. Family Planning Associates, a highly skilled for profit medical facility, does provide safe abortion procedures in this county.

Action: May is Teen Pregnancy Prevention Month. Call the McHenry Medical Office at 558-5310 to find out how you or your organization can help educate women of all ages about safe and legal medical care.

SERRV changes shop hours
By MARY BAUCHER

The SERRV International Gift Shop at the Modesto Church of the Brethren has had a good year for sales, primarily by taking items to sell to conferences, seminars, and other gatherings. In spite of that, with few sales at the shop and the list of volunteers decreasing, the shop will now be open only on Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and for a short while on Sundays from about 12:15 to 12:45 p.m. Come to Room 4 to browse and buy!

If you wish to see the lovely, wide selection of gift items in the shop at other hours, please call Lenore Palsgrove at 522-6497 or Mary Baucher at 523-5178. Either will be happy to meet you and open the room just for you.

The committee and volunteers continue to rejoice that many artisans around the world and in the United States are able to have a sustainable income because of the products we purchase here.

If you wish to have a display of items for your club or class you may call Marye Martinez at 523-0449 or Romy Mueller at 526-5999. They will be happy to make arrangements to bring things to your group, or you may have a meeting in room opening onto the shop. Videos are available explaining the program and showing craftspeople working on the objects that are featured in the shop.

Habitat Choir Concert

The Ninth Annual Ecumenical Choir Concert, to benefit Habitat for Humanity, Stanislaus, will be held Sunday, March 4 at 4 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church, Sixteenth and I Streets in downtown Modesto featuring upward of 200 performers from various congregations. Last year, the concert raised enough money to frame a home for Habitat’s next hard-working family in need.

This year’s director will be the Reverend Wendy Warner, co-pastor of Modesto’s Geneva Presbyterian Church. Pastor Wendy has been active in music for some time and when the opportunity came to direct this year’s concert she accepted the invitation eagerly. Over the years, the choir concert has raised enough money to fund the building of an entire Habitat house. In addition, it has become one of the opportunities for the general population to hear the wonderful quality of music presented by church choirs throughout Stanislaus County.

For information, contact the Habitat office at 209/575-4585

Habitat For Humanity, Stanislaus needs volunteers

New Habitat building sites are located at 530 Butte and 1714 Olympia Avenue, Modesto. HFHS is working in partnership with the Stanislaus County Redevelopment Agency to build and rehabilitate homes in the south Modesto Bret Harte neighborhoods, near Crows Landing and Hatch Road. The project is part of a joint effort to revitalize home-ownership opportunities in lower-income areas of the community.

As families have been approved for both three-bedroom homes, and with the building permit in hand for 1714 Olympia, HFHS is now looking for experienced builders to help supervise the building process and to help train less experienced construction volunteers.

Construction days are likely to be extended this year, during periods of good weather, to six-plus hours a day — an addition to HFHS’ past work schedule of Tuesday through Saturday, 8 to 12 p.m.

ACTION: Volunteers interested in participating in any phase of construction should contact the Habitat office, 209/575-4585. All levels of experience are welcome on the site, although special arrangements must be made for volunteers under the age of 14.

Volunteer training offered at Community Hospice

It’s volunteer training time again at Community Hospice, Inc. Individuals will: learn the philosophy and concepts of hospice care, the duties of being a volunteer, the impact terminal illness has on both patient and family. They will explore their own feelings regarding death and dying, and understanding grief and loss, explore cultural traditions, rituals and memorials, and train to be a support group facilitator. Community Hospice is seeking volunteers from all areas of Stanislaus County. Bilingual volunteers are needed.

Classes are being held Tuesdays and Thursdays, May 22nd through June 28th from 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Community Hospice, Inc. office located at 601 McHenry Avenue. Registration deadline is Tuesday, May 15th.

ACTION: Reservations are required. Call Mary Barr, Volunteer Coordinator at Community Hospice 577-0615 for reservations or additional information. Visit www.hospiceheart.org

STATEMENT BY LEONARD PELTIER

Greetings Friends and Supporters:

January 20, 2001, was a sad day for all of us. I know that this denial of clemency has affected many of you as much as it has affected both my family and myself. It is a terrible feeling and disappointment knowing that this nightmare has not ended and will continue for many months to come.

When I received the news, I felt my stomach curl and a feeling of nausea rolled over me. It took a while for me to refocus. For some reason I had thought I might be having dinner with my family that night. It was an especially disappointing day for all of us.

What Bill Clinton did to us was cruel. For eight years he ignored my clemency petition despite the major campaign that was waged. Then, just months before leaving office he publicly promised to make a decision on my case, one way or the other. He said he was aware of its importance. The White House gave my attorneys indications that there was a good chance for my clemency to be granted. I had to prepare myself for being released because there was no sign that my petition would be denied.

The LPDC [Leonard Peltier Defense Committee] bought me clothes, my grandson prepared his bedroom for me to sleep in and other preparations were made for my homecoming. My friends on Pine Ridge began plans to build me a house. We were literally forced to get our hopes up because we did not want to be unprepared if I was suddenly set free.

January 19, came and still, they kept us in nervous anticipation saying the more difficult clemencies are still being worked on and would be announced the next morning. Then January 20 came and went! The White House never even told us what the decision was. We had to find out through the press that my name was not on the list of clemencies. To leave a person’s life and so many peoples’ hopes hanging in the balance like that is truly hardhearted.

Since that dark Saturday, I have managed to get up and dust myself off, and begin to lift my spirits once more. I am just as determined now to fight for my freedom as I was on February 6, 1976 when I was first arrested. I will not give up. This is the second time in the span of my incarceration that I made it to the top of the hill and saw that freedom was in view, only to be kicked right back down to the bottom again.

The first time was in 1985, when the evidence used to convict me was impeached and I was denied a new trial, despite Judge Heaney’s finding that I might have been acquitted had the jury been presented this evidence. To be denied a new trial after such a finding shocked our network and me just as much as this denial of clemency has. However, we never lose a battle without making some major gains in the overall struggle.

I want to compliment and thank my staff at the LPDC and all of you grassroots supporters who stood beside me and fought so tirelessly for my freedom. You put on one of the strongest and most memorable campaigns I have experienced. Years from now people will read about the accomplishments you made. People from every walk of life worked on this campaign. People from every denomination and belief prayed from every corner of the Earth. Although it feels like our sentiments were shooed away like an irritating fly by a president who did not want to face the consequences of his own mistakes, I believe we put up a serious challenge. We can see who was granted clemency and why. The big donors to the President’s campaign were able to buy justice, something we just couldn’t afford. Meanwhile, many political prisoners continue to languish unjustly, proof that this nation’s talk about reconciliation is nothing but empty rhetoric.

We now have a number of strategies to continue this struggle for my freedom. These ideas are in the early planning stages. I ask you to remain with us while we regroup and develop a thorough plan. We must carefully consider every option and make sure the strategies compliment each other in order to have the best effect. The LPDC will release strategies as they are developed. Some will be released this week.

I also have my own personal plans. I will continue doing artwork and will be looking at ways to make it more available to the public. I will also be working with my friends, Fedelia and Bob Cross, to build a grade school in Oglala. Before my clemency was decided, I began to dream of the different projects I would like to work on in Pine Ridge if I were free. Now that I have been denied, Fedelia and Bob have said they will take the initiative to begin the projects themselves, with my input. Soon, we will be establishing a board and non-profit status.

Bob and Fedelia are schoolteachers and lifetime Oglala residents, and they have the land on which to build the school. They have told me of the desperate need for an improved school in Oglala. The existing school is severely under funded and inadequate and does not provide the kids with the quality education they need and deserve . We have the highest drop out rate of all ethnic groups in the country and part of the reason is the lack of stimulating and challenging programs for the youth.

Another idea I would like to develop is building a small recreation center for Oglala. As most of you know Native health conditions are also probably the worst in the country. We want to change that, beginning with this center. We want the center to have modern exercise equipment, a kitchenette, and card tables. As everyone gathers here to socialize, have coffee, gossip, and play cards, we can encourage them to try the equipment and to begin getting in the habit of exercising and eating healthy foods. I believe it would be a nice place for people to spend time and a good incentive for them to get into better physical condition and stop the trend of diabetes on the reservation. The reservation currently has no facility like this.

If we are successful in establishing these two services, I believe that the community of Oglala will truly benefit. We will then be able to move on to other projects that will bring people together and raise the quality of life. For example, one day I would like to rebuild Jumping Bull Hall so that there will be a drug and alcohol free place where people, especially youth, can gather. We could set it up for a movie theatre and bring in video games. People can watch movies, hold meetings, have birthday celebrations, community meals and dances here. Right now, our youth have no place to go to socialize and I believe this facility could help prevent the hopelessness and despair too many of our young people feel. I would hope that word of these projects would spread to other reservations and others like Fedelia and Bob Cross will be inspired to take on similar ideas which we could help support.

Your ideas, input, and support are welcomed. If you know people who would donate supplies (books, wood, cement, hardware, etc.), make financial contributions, or donate their skills and labor, please get in touch with the Leonard Peltier Defense Committee.

In closing, I want to thank you again for your support and ask that you stand with us in this struggle. I believe that one day in the near future we will succeed. But it can’t be done without your support.

In the Spirit of Crazy Horse,

Leonard Peltier

Contact the Leonard Peltier Defense Committee, PO Box 583, Lawrence, KS 66044; 785-842-5774.

• California has one of the highest incarceration rates in the world.

• Nearly 200,000 people are behind bars, 300,000+ under the control of the corrections system, Nearly two-thirds are people of color.

• There are 584 people on Death Row, including 415 at San Quentin. 12 are women.

• More people are sent to prison for drug and other non-violent offenses than for rape or murder.

• California spends more money on prisons than on education.

• California has the largest prison building program in the U.S.

• California has 33 state prisons.

ACTION: For more information, contact Arnold Erickson at (425)457-1573, or at rusumi@email.msn.com

PROTEST: stand together against violence
By SALLY MEARS

“Kindness and compassion towards all living things is a mark of a civilized society... Only when we have become non-violent towards all life will be have learned to live well ourselves”
                                                                        — Cesar Chavez 12/26/90

Protesting freely is something we take for granted here in America. Usually the act of protesting here is peaceful and can become an excellent catalyst for change, or at least awareness for a particular cause. Many times there are on-going situations that, in theory, go strongly against what some of us would find acceptable in a civilized society, a society we are just as much a part of — yet, we do nothing. Here’s where the protesters come in. Sometimes greatly outnumbered — it can be a pretty intimidating undertaking — their presence can give strength to those not quite as bold, and give validity to the beliefs they had held quietly in their hearts.

In my opinion, the most important protesting is the kind that might eventually bring a better existence to those less fortunate; the downtrodden, the abused, the exploited. The most innocent of these victims are our world’s children, as well as its non-human inhabitants. Some will understand completely why I include the animals with the children, but others will think one should not be mentioned with the other — ever. But, there truly is a connection.

Many studies have shown that abused and neglected children take out their anger and frustrations on animals (and of course smaller children, too.) The studies also show the progression of such violence leading to human abuse and extreme violence. In a publication put out by the Doris Day Animal League called, “The Violence Connection,” there are case histories and points made about this link, and what can be done to reverse this trend. I have personally known people who really think that animals are ours to use and abuse any way we see fit. These beliefs, though seemingly not politically correct today, are unfortunately the views of many. If it is not acceptable, now is the time to tell them.

Children who are taught to respect life at an early age, such as through the responsibility of pet ownership, will grow into compassionate adults with a capacity for empathy for others, including the animals. Protesting violence, even the type that is masked with tradition will show others that it is OK to care openly — and to try to stop violence at its core.

ACTION: For more information on The Violence Connection or for this year’s peaceful demonstrations, write or email S E Mears, P.O. Box 111, Hickman, CA 95323; email salamndr@earthlink.net   Visit Doris Day Animal League.

Women's Tea to offer welcome

New African-American female doctors will be welcomed to the Stanislaus County community at the 3rd Annual Women's Tea March 31 from 1 to 2:30 p.m. in the King-Kennedy Memorial Center, 601 Martin Luther King Drive, Modesto.

A speaker will offer thoughts on women in leadership, and light refreshments will be served. Event sponsors are the local chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and the City of Modesto.

Reservations for the free public tea can be made by calling 577-5355 or 549-1991.

DEADLINE TO SUBMIT ARTICLES TO CONNECTIONS.

Tenth of each month. Submit peace, justice and environmentally friendly event notices to P.O. Box 134, Modesto, CA, 95353, or call 522-4967 or 575-4299, or email to costello@ainet.com. Free listings subject to space, availability and editing.