Hello to the Modesto Peace/Life Center community! I want to take this opportunity to introduce myself to all of you.

Back in high school government class, Mr. Jackson showed us a film about World War II. It discussed the development of weapons and how that had changed the dynamics of war. In particular, I remember a part about a town in Russia over which the front line of battle had passed some absurd number of times. The film pictured a woman, a Russian woman, her face contorted with the anguish of a lost home, suffering children and a devastated life. I saw in her face the pain of a mother, a sister, a person, and I cared not how evil Ronald Reagan had told us Russians were. It was the image of that woman that has ultimately brought me to do work for peace and justice and to the position of Office Coordinator for the Modesto Peace/Life Center.

I am excited about being the first paid staff person in the Center’s history. I look forward to working with the peace community, both new and old, to build a place that can serve as a resource to all for peace and justice issues. It is my sincere hope that all members of that community will provide input regarding their goals for the future of the Center.

My vision of the Center includes: a resource library for information about peace, justice, and environmental issues; a source for information about local and state-wide peace and justice actions; a video collection for the peace-minded viewer; monthly peace issue forums; and the development of service learning programs for high school and college students. In addition, I would like to see the Center continue its tradition of being a place where like minds can commune, commiserate, and plan for the future of the Peace Movement.

I look forward to the Annual Meeting on Saturday, February 24, and hope that we can pursue thoughtful dialogue about our shared goals for the Center. Thank you for the opportunity to work with you to bring awareness and further justice both locally and globally.

The Modesto Peace/Life Center has been asked to help organize the Cesar Chavez Community Celebration. The Stanislaus Office of Education is heading up this first annual commemoration of the life and values of the farmworker organizer.

The President and co-founder of the United Farmworkers Union died in 1993, at the age of 66.

Murals. a poster and essay contest, and a festival in Modesto's Graceada Park (site of the 1975 March on Gallo rally) are under discussion. Sandy Sample and Indira Clark have been representing the center at the preliminary planning meetings.

In particular, the Center has been asked to set up a pictorial display of Chavez’s life and work in Graceada Park as well as our use tolerance, or better termed, respect, display.

If you, or anyone you know, has photos or other memorabilia which might be used (or copied to be used) in this display, please contact us.

ACTION: Save the date: March 31st, Cesar Chavez Community Celebration, Graceada Park, Modesto noon- 5 pm. For more information or to help with planning, please contact Barbara Little, Stanislaus Office of Education, 525-6643. To help prepare and/or staff the Peace/Life Center, please phone 529-5750.

Submitted by Phyllis Harvey

At the signing of the Land Mine Ban Treaty, United Nations General Director Kofi Annan said, "Our challenge must now be to clear the earth of all land mines." There is now a challenge: "Adopt a minefield, clear a path to a safer world."

Goodwill ambassadors for the United Nations Association Sir Paul McCartney and Heather Mills are supporting this campaign. Heather Mills says, "Adopt a Minefield provides an opportunity for all of us to clear the land people live and work on, and help landmine survivors rebuild their lives."

Sir Paul McCartney says, "We must awaken peoples’ consciousness about the horrors of landmines and the unspeakable human suffering caused by those indiscriminate weapons of war."

Because land mines litter lands that have been war torn, long after fighting has ceased, maiming and killing of innocent civilians goes on for years afterward. Land mines remain capable of blowing up for a long time after they have been planted originally. Even the process of removing them is hazardous, since stepping on one will cause it to blow up. It is a hidden cost of war that should have long ago been banned, long before the land mine ban treaty was signed. The world will not be safe until every mine has been found and disabled.

ACTION: To learn more about the Adopt-a-Landmine Campaign or the status of landmine adoptions, visit the website.