CPTer Michael Himlie, comes to Iowa on speaking tour

By Christine Sheller

Sunday, October 21^st, Michael Himlie, of Harmony, MN spoke at Ivester Church of the Brethren of CPT and his time in Palestine/ Israel.  He has spent time in Lesvos, Greece, Israel/ Palestine, and Iraqi Kurdistan during his work with CPT, but has spent the most time in Palestine.

Editorials: No More Shopping til I Drop this Christmas & 5 Difficult Things To Do To Make a Better World

By Charlene Lange, reprinted with permission, first printed in the Iowa City Press- Citizen, 10/23/18

To the Future Generation:

I wish you peace and joy. Yes it is the time of year to start preparing for the madness of the holidays. This year will be different. I am going to change, to help give you clean air and water. It will be hard but I can do this.

Geographic and Demographic Representativeness of Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps

By Libby Frank

Reprinted from the July-September 2018 issue of Draft NOtices, newsletter of the Committee Opposed to Militarism and the Draft, www.comdsd.org (Reprinted with permission)

A 2017 report by the RAND Corporation attempts to address whether the schools participating in JROTC programs are representative with respect to geographic area and demographics. The report is in response to congressional interest in this issue and was sponsored by the Office of the Secretary of Defense, Accession Policy.

Military Gear for School Police? Bill Introduced to Require Greater Oversight

By John Lindsay-Poland, American Friends Service Committee, California Healing Justice Program

Reprinted from the July-September 2018 issue of Draft NOtices, newsletter of the Committee Opposed to Militarism and the Draft, www.comdsd.org (reprinted with permission)

As many readers of Draft NOtices will know, President Obama’s Executive Order 13688 established a requirement, later rescinded by President Trump, for jurisdictions that acquire military equipment through federal grants to have a civilian governing body review and approve these acquisitions. This requirement applied to elected sheriff departments as well as police departments of cities, towns, and even school districts.

Opinion- What can we do about school shootings?

By Darrell Mitchell

The culture behind our school shootings.  So far, this year of 2018, we have had over 20 school shooting in our United States. 

Sept. 21st 2018- “The Universal Right to Peace” Int’l Peace Day celebration held in Des Moines

By Christine Sheller

“The Universal Right to Peace” was the theme of this year’s celebration of International Peace Day in Des Moines Friday, September 21^st. 

“Remembering Hiroshima/ Nagasaki: When Will We Stop the Killing?” Observance held Aug. 6, 2018 in Des Moines

By Christine Sheller

Approximately 60 people attended the annual observance of the U.S. atomic bombing on Hiroshima and Nagasaki that happened over 73 years ago, August 6^th, 2018 in Des Moines. 

Reflections from Weldon Nisly's presentation on his experience in CPT/ Kurdistan

By Verna Zook

            Around fifty persons attended our last JPOG meeting at Wellman Mennonite Church on Saturday, July 7, 2018, to hear Weldon Nisly address the topic "Building Peace in the Ancient-Contemporary Land of Iraqi-Kurdistan" about his work with Christian Peacemaker Teams in Iraq. 

National Commission on Public Service Meeting Held in Vinton, IA

By Roger Farmer

At 6:30 pm on Tuesday, June 26, 2018, I attended a public meeting of the National Commission on Military, National, and Public Service at the Wesley Methodist Church, Vinton, Iowa (about an hour north of Iowa City).   Following are a few memories and comments about this meeting.

Malala Yousafzai: A Life of Bravery and Stardom - What is she doing now?

by Meghan Kodiaga

            A non-profit and numerous schools exist in her name; she has met with politicians around the globe: now this is a girl worthy of a memoir.  She is most well-known for a blog that she wrote as a youth documenting the life of a child in the war zone and being shot in the head by the Taliban and surviving nearly a 100% recovery.