Peace Community March 2001

You are invited to attend the
Peace Essay Contest 2001
Awards Reception

Friday, the second of March
at seven o’clock in the evening,
in the Forum Building 110
Modesto Junior College East Campus

Music:
Modesto Symphony Youth Orchestra
Chamber Quartet

All participants, teachers, sponsors, and judges are invited as guests of honor.
Contest winners have been notified by telephone.

Light refreshments will be served following the program.
The public is welcome.

“We are doing the work that needs to be done in the world.”
— Alice Walker

“I’d rather have a world of peace than pieces of a world.”
— Maura Straud, age 9

The 10th Annual Central and Northern California Peace Conference will be begin Friday, March 16-18, 2001, at California State University, Chico, hosted by the Chico Peace & Justice Center (CPJC).

Registration — Important: Please pre-register, especially if you need housing. Pre-registration for meals is required. We ask a sliding scale registration fee of $15 and up. This helps cover costs. Registration for presenters and youth (ages 18 and under) is free, although donations are gladly accepted.

Meals: Four meals can be purchased in addition to the registration fee for $20.00. This includes a continental breakfast both Saturday and Sunday (catered by the Peace Center), as well as Saturday lunch and dinner (catered by Guzzetti’s Catering). Meals can also be purchased separately for the following prices: breakfasts @ $3 each; lunch @ $8.00; dinner @ $10.00.

Saturday Key Note Event: Separate tickets are available for the key note speaker event with Gloria La Riva for $3-10.00 (sliding scale). You may purchase Saturday’s dinner and a ticket for $15.00. The event is free to youth, 18 years and younger, and does not include dinner.

What is included in your registration fee? All workshop activities, panels and Saturday Key Note Speaker Event; inclusion in the conference anthology; lodging with local peace activists.

What is included in your meal fee? All meals on Saturday, and Sunday morning. Meals are family style and vegetarian but not necessarily vegan. Please request any special dietary needs in advance. There are also many restaurants, a Saturday Farmer’s Market and a natural food store nearby.

What should I bring? For cool evenings, bring warm clothing. Hikers in Upper Bidwell Park will experience cooler temperatures. Bring your own toiletries (bedding, towels and soap may not always be provided by volunteered housing.) Bring a poem, article or other resource (make copies) to share with other peace activists. Bring your books, CDs, tapes, T-shirts, posters to sell or trade. Bring a poem, article or other self-produced piece of work for inclusion in the Conference Anthology. You are welcome to bring alcoholic beverages or anything else you would like to share. You may keep these items at the Chico Peace & Justice Center or, hosts permitting, at your volunteer housing.

Additional presenters are needed in other areas, and some panels may still have openings.

Presenters include (but not limited to): Gloria La Riva, International Action Center; Ross Mirkarimi, Nader 2000; Terri Elliott, Ph.D., California State University, Chico; Ryan Libre, Food Not Bombs; Barbara Kopicki, CSU, Chico A.S. Recycling Program; Jessie Rios, California Wild Heritage Campaign; Diane Suzuki, The Beyond Violence Alliance; Tim Bousquet, The Chico Examiner; and many more!

Action:For information, registration, or to schedule a presentation, panel or workshop, please contact: Amaera “Ama” BayLaurel-Ceccone, Coordinator, Chico Peace & Justice Center, 526 Broadway, Chico, CA 95928; 530-893-9078; amaera@hotmail.com

“If we cannot be reconciled with those closest to us, it is futile to
think we can be instruments of peace in the world.”
--Gandhi

The 16th annual Peace Essay Contest offered students an opportunity to explore and honor their own cultural heritages as well as someone’s from another background. The discussions and conversations leading up to their writing and their final compositions may be an important step in students’ understanding and appreciation of others’ cultures and experiences. This understanding can help them work through conflicts that arise as we live and work together: a step to peace.

Sponsored by the Modesto Peace/Life Center, this year there were 835 entries in the countywide contest.

The Awards Reception will be held March 2nd. Please see invitation on the front page.

First Place: Davis Johnson, Johansen
Second Place: Angie Palmerin, Johansen
Third Place: Ben Ho, Johansen
Honorable Mentions: Melanio Puzon III, Modesto, and Nicole Stivers, Johansen

Finalists (all from Johansen): Kevin Bell, Priya Bhan, Chandara Bird, Kristin Bixel, Ellen diCristina, Lisa Duong, Haley Gonella, Chrissy Ijams, Whitney Keer, Katie Melson, Jennifer Phabsavanh, Martin Salgo, Vivek Sodera. Lindsay Worthington, and Carolyn Zweifel

First Place: Brandon Huang, Johansen
Second Place: Lucila Figueroa, Johansen
Third Place: Katie Martin, Johansen
Honorable Mentions: Ashika Bhan and Sophana Chhim, Johansen, and Laura Rodela, Riverbank

Finalists: Christina Barrón, Davis; Peter Morphy, Hughson High School; Shelley Boer, Michael Boermann, Tim Herrmann, Cynthia Mejia, Melissa Gagliardi, Johansen; Ronit Lyon, Joni Puzon, Modesto; Jenny Edwards, Melinda Footé, Jessica Manriquez, Laura Rodela, Riverbank; Kendell Gibson, Julie Rodrigues, Turlock

School Winners*: Christina Barrón, Davis; Peter Morphy, Hughson High School; Brandon Huang, Johansen; Ronit Lyon, Modesto; Laura Rodela, Riverbank; Kendell Gibson, Turlock

First Place: Allyson Parman, La Loma
Second Place: Marcus Rein, La Loma
Third Place: Monica Brockman, Knights Ferry
Honorable Mentions: Dmitra Bird, Annie Carley, Christina Hackett, La Loma

Finalists: Anisha Jamnadas, Blaker-Kinser; Andrea Riley, Kylie Alsofrom, Jessica George, Matthew Gleason, Eve Meyer, Lindsay Riley, Meredith Zweifel, La Loma; Kate Gifford, Catrina Gallardo, Ryan Metcalf, Emalee Sharp, Roosevelt; Anthony Sanchez, Teel.

School Winners*: Anisha Jamnadas, Blaker-Kinser; Monica Brockman, Knights Ferry; Allyson Parman, La Loma, Kate Gifford, Roosevelt;Anthony Sanchez, Teel; Lauren Hall, Turlock.

First Place: Brendan Cassidy, Fremont Open Plan
Second Place: Annie Freitas, Fremont Open Plan
Third Place: BriAnne Sparkman, Fremont Open Plan
Honorable Mentions: Katie Eng, Stanislaus Union; Calvin Heim, Somerset; Will Johnson, Fremont Open Plan

Finalists: Elisa Rancaño, Stephanie Guinnane, Fremont Open Plan; Ali Deabler, Lakewood; Tori Kennedy, Stanislaus Union; Jilian Preciado, Colton Rawe, Megan Stanfield, Jessica Thompson, Somerset; Lauren Bjelde, Standiford School; Andrew Tumbarello, Sylvan School; Jeannine Berger, Teel; Travis Hayes, Cortnee Gutierrez, Samantha Heckel, Ustach; Andra Scheller, Westport

School Winners*: Brendan Cassidy, Fremont Open Plan; Ali Deabler, Lakewood; Katie Eng, Stanislaus Union; Calvin Heim, Somerset; Andrew Tumbarello, Sylvan School; Jeannine Berger, Teel; Emmanuel Torrez, Tuolumne School; Samantha Heckel, Ustach; Andra Scheller, Westport

* A school winner is chosen for each school with ten or more entries in a single division.

Thanks to our PEC judges and screeners: Brad Barker, Terry Day, Fred Herman, Ken Kline Smeltzer, Barbara Manrique, Don McMillan, Diane Nelson, Susan Novak, Kaye Osborn, Myrtle Osner, Sandy Sample, Judy Sly, Tim Smart, Mark Thompson, VaNee Van Vleck, Martin Zonligt, Bob Baucher, Jim Beggs, Peggy Castaneda, Indira Clark, Jim Costello, Tina Driskill, Simeon Franklin, Elaine Gorman, Nancy Griggs, Barbara Ishida, John Lucas, Andi McGhee, Suzanne Meyer, Mike Monson, Dan Onorato, Satya Onorato, Pat Roberts, Linda Scheller, Meg Scherfee, Ken Schroeder, Ruth Spencer, Julie TenBrink, Anita Young.

Peace Essay Contest 2001 Committee: Margaret Barker, Indira Clark, Pam Franklin, Elaine Gorman, Judith Cochran Pirkle, Deborah Roberts, Sandy Sample

A project of the Modesto Peace/Life Center
720-13th Street, Suite D - P. O. Box 134, Modesto, California 95354-0134 - 529-5750 - peaceessay@juno.com
Co-sponsored by the Modesto Junior College Literature and Language Arts Department

Reflected in the faces of the youth of today, the faces of our future, are the cultural experiences and teachings handed down from generations passed. Each one of us is composed of many different elements, which all contribute in some way to our individual being and our places in society. The traditions and customs that I have been introduced to and carry on are deeply rooted in the culture of the Portuguese Azores Islands. My mother's family is from Portugal and speaks the language. I have always called my grandmother Avo, which is grandmother in Portuguese. My family participates very much in the Portuguese celebration of the Holy Spirit, the Festa do Espirito Santo. The festa honors Queen Isabel from Portugal and the kindness that she showed to all people.

The celebration is also very religious, celebrating the Portuguese Catholic faith. My grandmother makes many different ethnic foods that include sopas, a soup of bread and broth, and cueves, made from kale leaves. Everywhere I turn I am constantly reminded of the heritage that my family carries on and I am honored to be able to share in these customs.

While I have a strong sense of my own cultural background, I am also aware of the many cultures that exist around me. I recently had the pleasure of learning about the Hindu traditions and values of a fellow classmate of mine whose family is from Fiji. It was interesting to learn about another culture with strong traditions like my own. Religion and worship seemed to be very sacred to Hindu followers. Hindu people spend six hours, one day a week, worshipping in a temple. The traditional dress of the people of Fiji consists of Saris and Gahras which are dresses and skirts made from multiple yards of silk. The particular aspect of the Hindu culture that peaked my interest was their superstition. For example, the people believe that if a person lights a fire before praying, their body will become possessed. These beliefs at first seemed very unreal to me but then I realized that my own beliefs might sound strange to some one else as well. Even though I may not understand the reasons behind these Hindu beliefs, I can still respect that they exist and that the culture stands firmly behind what it teaches. We can all live together peacefully in this world without having to hold the same beliefs, or speak the same language, or wear the same clothes. Peace does not have to mean conformity. It just requires us to be tolerant and accepting.

Everything that I am today is a result of the strong roots that have guided and molded me since I was born. My concept of family, religion, language, and belonging have been influenced by the Portuguese culture that my mother has passed on to me, which has been carried on for generations. I look to my heritage to help me welcome new experiences. Unfortunately, there are instances of racism and prejudices occurring every day, making people from other cultures feel inferior and unwanted. In a world so diverse, so complex, we should be embracing each other openly instead of pushing people away. Our children are learning from the ways that we act toward these "different' and unfamiliar individuals. Hopefully, people will continue to grow tolerant and welcome diversity. I use my own personal cultural understanding and all that I have learned from others' cultures to help me live peacefully in this diverse society and embrace all those around me. Although we may speak completely different languages, one can never forget that love and kindness are universal languages.

Barbara Lubin, activist and Executive Director of the Middle East Children’s Alliance, will provide a report from her recent trips to Occupied Palestine on Thursday, March 8, at MJC room Forum 110 at 6:10 p.m. The event is co-sponsored by MJC Student Activists Association, and Modesto Peace/Life Center.

In early Fall, 2000, the accumulated frustrations of a people, under occupation, broke loose, and tens of thousands of Palestinians in the West Bank, Gaza, and Israeli Palestinian citizens, once again took to the streets to demand the right to determine their destiny. Television cameras showed Palestinian casualties increasing daily. Yet, the numbers of Palestinians in the streets grew. The new Intifada was a reality.

Immediately, Barbara Lubin returned to the region. Lubin was in the occupied territories from October 17-27, and made daily reports of the uprising on KPFA radio. The reports brought home the extent of popular support among Palestinians and were witness to the massive Israeli military response, which included rocket attacks on civilian neighborhoods. Conflict in the occupied territories is not new to Barbara. Lubin. MECA, a non-governmental organization, was founded in 1988 at the height of the first Intifada with a series of programs, which emphasized the need to educate North Americans about the Middle East, and U.S. foreign policy, which pays for occupation through over $4 billion in aid each year. MECA’s mission was to aid and empower communities, through insuring the human rights of all people in the region, especially focusing on the rights of children.

Barbara believes that “there can be no peace in the region until there is a viable, democratic Palestinian state alongside the Israeli state and when there is an end to Israel’s occupation of the Palestinian West Bank and Gaza Strip”.

Barbara was one of the first civilian North Americans to travel to Iraq after the Gulf War, and among the first to report the humanitarian disaster of the continued war through a U.S. sponsored policy of economic sanctions and almost daily bombings. The sanctions war has resulted in the death of over 500,000 Iraqi children under the age of 5. The Middle East Children’s Alliance, along with other organizations, such as the Modesto Peace/Life Center, work to end this U.S. engineered human rights disaster. Barbara has delivered millions of dollars of medical aid to Iraq, raised the money to build public parks for Palestinian children, sponsored Palestinian cultural centers in the occupied territories and exposed North Americans to Palestinian cultural events.

Barbara Lubin, long time Berkeley resident, former president of the Berkeley School Board, is a noted activist who was a draft counselor during the Vietnam War. Barbara is a staunch supporter of the basic right people have to information, and a leader in the struggle to maintain the community radio movement through her work to keep KPFA strong and independent. Barbara is deeply involved in the movement to SAVE PACIFICA from corporatization. She sees this as consistent with the work of MECA, as KPFA, KFCF and the Pacifica network are among the few news outlets to report about the reality of life under occupation for Palestinians.

ACTION: Contact the Middle East Children’s Alliance (MECA), 510-548-0542; For more information about Barbara Lubin’s March 8 report back, call Modesto Peace/Life Center, 529-5750.

Greg Belden is a VISTA volunteer who came here as a sociology graduate from Michigan State University last year His project was designed by CRLA as a kind of community building He was assigned to work in southwest Modesto to develop a “Time Dollar bank”

Time dollar programs are designed to help people get things done in their own community by trading skills and gifts. Even in very low income neighborhoods almost everyone can do something that can be “bartered” with someone else who needs their skills. Hard cash is hard to come by, but people have needs to be filled. And so, if you have a need for some hours of babysitting, and the babysitter needs her/his door fixed and you can do simple carpentry, you can trade hours. Or, those hours can be “banked” and traded across boundaries and by different families. Hours are banked “one to one” no matter the level of skill. Best of all, it helps to empower and include people who may have been isolated from their neighbors.

Needless to say, this takes some organizing. And it also takes trust and ultimately sustainability And someone you trust has to keep the records Since no money is exchanged, it would be pretty hard to “steal” time dollars, but still a trustworthy person or persons and some kind of organized group is necessary to make it on going.

An inventory of people’s skills is being built up and the project has forms for keeping track of hours and exchanges.The project with which Greg Belden is working has connected with other non-profits in its area, such as the Harvest of Hope center He will be leaving the program in May, and his hope is that the project will take hold and go on after he is gone.