New Podcast Shines a Light on Death Row and Beyond

 By Jess Hoffert

 

Three years ago, I became penpals with Franklin Davis, an inmate on death row in Livingston, Texas. We were matched through the Death Row Support Project, a Church of the Brethren organization that has connected thousands of inmates with writers like myself.

 

Military draft sign-ups plunge as war fears rise

 By Edward Hasbrouck; reprinted with permission by author; also available here:  https://hasbrouck.org/blog/archives/002751.html

Fewer young Americans are willing to fight the government’s wars.

[Also published on Antiwar.com. Portions of this article were first published by Responsible Statecraft and are reprinted by permission.]

Of men in the U.S. who turned 18 in 2023, fewer than 40% signed up for the draft – down from more than 60% in 2020 before the start of the war in Ukraine.

This eye-popping and previously undisclosed admission, as well as other revelations equally damning to plans to increase readiness to activate a draft, was included in documents released recently by the Selective Service System (SSS) in response to a Freedom Of Information Act request.

“Pacifism and Just War: Pathways to Peace?” forum hosted by William Penn University

 

By Christine Sheller

 

The birthplace of Iowa Peace Network, William Penn University, (a Friends university) recently held it’s Worldview Forum, cosponsored by the William Penn University Campus Ministry.  It was entitled “Pacifism and Just War: Pathways to Peace?”  It was held September 25, 2024, and began at 6:30 pm, going to 8:30 pm in the George Daily Auditorium, at the Oskaloosa High School. 

5 things to know about escalation in the Middle East

By Michael Merryman-Lotze; reprinted with permission; originally written for AFSC (American Friends Service Committee) https://afsc.org/news/5-things-know-about-escalation-middle-east; Also, see AFSC's Gaza page: https://afsc.org/crisis-gaza 

Updated Sep 25, 2024

 

                        Kathleen McQillen of Des Moines, director of Catholic Peace Ministry (Krieg/ AFSC)

 Israeli airstrikes on Lebanon have killed hundreds of people and wounded many more. The strikes came a week after Israel detonated explosives hidden in electronic devices allegedly belonging to members of Hezbollah. These explosions came less than 24 hours after the Israeli War Cabinet announced an expansion of their objectives in relation to the Lebanese border. Now, Israel is preparing for a potential ground invasion of Lebanon.

Gaza Twinning (With the Mennonite Church)

 

By Michael George; reprinted with permission; first published in the Menno PIN newsletter (Mennonite Palestine Israel Network newsletter), July 28, 2024.  Originally Published as “Gaza Twinning Update.”

 

Children taking violin lessons at the Edward Said Public Library in 2022. Youth Vision Society, a non-profit organization and MennoPIN twinning partner, operated the library until its recent destruction.

It has been a privilege and blessing to help coordinate MennoPIN’s “Twinning with Gaza” Initiative over the last four years. Three Mennonite Church USA congregations have built relationships with non-profit groups in Gaza doing wonderful and life-giving work in their communities. Representatives of these dynamic organizations and small groups from congregations met via Zoom regularly to share stories, life experiences, hopes, and challenges. As a result of this consistent and open communication, close friendships have been developed between the “twinning” participants in Gaza and the United States. It has been a gift to get to know our friends in Gaza and we will continue to walk alongside them during this horrific and catastrophic time.

Remembering Hiroshima and Nagasaki: “The Firce Urgency of Now”: Des Moines, Aug. 9, 2024

 By Christine Sheller

 

Approximately 50 persons gathered for the annual Hiroshima/ Nagasaki observance on the anniversary of the bombings August 9, 2024 .  “The Fierce Urgency of Now,” was the theme for the evening, a quote by Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  August 9 is the anniversary date of the Nagasaki bombing.

 Several peace groups organized and planned the service over the span of a few months.  It was held at the Japanese Bell of Peace and Friendship, and the sunset was perfect for the event. 

                                                Close-up of the Japanese Bell  (Krieg/ AFSC)

Iowa Peace Activists Protest Genocide in Gaza and Netanyahu's Speech before Congress

by Michael Gillespie

7.28.2024; reprinted with permission

About 50 Iowa peace and social justice activists gathered in front of the Federal Building in Des Moines at 3 in the afternoon on Wednesday, July 24, in protest of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's presentation in Washington, DC, before many members of the U.S. Congress earlier in the day.

Playbook for a Military Draft

 

By Edward Hasbrouck

 First published on Antiwar.com, July 8, 2024; and reprinted by permission of the author from his "Resisters.info" website and blog at:  https://hasbrouck.org/blog/archives/002739.html"

 

[Stages of mobilization for war. Image from CNAS report based on Department of Defense mobilization plan. Note the absence of a Congressional declaration of war at any stage up to and including total military mobilization.]

[I’m often asked, “Why should we care about draft registration if there isn’t going to be a draft?”

Resolution Passed at the 2024 Iowa Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church (on Palestine)

  Submitted by: Rev. Brian Carter

 

THE FIRST SECTION IS THE AMENDMENTS TO A PREVIOUS RESOLUTION ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD WITH FOOTNOTES.

 THE SECOND SECTION IS THE RESOLUTION AFTER THE AMENDMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE, BUT IT DOES NOT INCLUDE THE FOOTNOTES.

 

This is an amendment to Resolution Number 9522 found on pages 49-50 in the Iowa Book of Resolutions (2023). The purpose of this amendment is to recognize and oppose the change in Israeli policy toward the Palestinians in the Gaza strip.

Airport solar will spark more community solar in Iowa City

 By Jay Gilchrist

 

May. 29, 2024 8:38 am;  Reprinted with permission; originally published with The Gazette in

HOME / OPINION / GUEST COLUMNISTS; https://www.thegazette.com/guest-columnists/airport-solar-will-spark-more-community-solar-in-iowa-city/

 

 Great news that the Iowa City Airport will be installing 300 solar panels this year, as recently announced. This is a win-win for both the airport and the City.

                                                                            (Pixabay)