Monday, September 30, 2024

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.

Thursday, September 19, 2024

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.

Thursday, August 29, 2024

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)

Thursday, August 8, 2024

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.

Thursday, July 25, 2024

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?”

Tuesday, July 23, 2024

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.

Thursday, June 20, 2024

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)

Thursday, June 13, 2024

Imagine a future that is different: Office of Peacebuilding and Policy joins delegation to Israel/Palestine

Reprinted from the May 31, 2024, issue of the Church of the Brethren Newsline. Copyright © 2024 Church of the Brethren. Used with permission.

 By Nathan Hosler

 

Over the last eight months, it has felt, at least to me, difficult to imagine constructively and hopefully. While the work of the Office of Peacebuilding and Policy continues to cover a range of topics and organizational partners, we have spent considerably more time than usual in relation to Israel and Palestine. Much of this has been in collaboration with and in support of Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) and a range of other coalitions such as the Arms Trade Accountability Project and the big-tent Ceasefire Now Coalition.

Thursday, May 23, 2024

Is Leaked, Radioactive Tritium in Mississippi River Drinking Water?

 

By John La Forge; reprinted with permission; first published in Nukewatch Quarterly newsletter, Spring 2024, a publication of the Progressive Foundation; see www.nukewatchinfo.org;

Editor’s Note:  IPN was informed by author John LaForge at Nukewatch that there is “new, breaking information about the tritium leak: The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has acknowledged (in its Draft Site Specific Environmental Impact Statement regarding the reactor operators application for a second license renewal)    that Northern States Power/Xcel Energy has admitted that its leaked tritium was detected in the Mississippi River following the massive accidental leak -- after publicly denying it several times.*

Thursday, May 2, 2024

Children’s Peace Libraries Support Rwandan Children and Families

 By Peter Clay; reprinted with permission, first published for Friends Peace Teams- see https://friendspeaceteams.org/rwandan-children-and-families/

Peter, Odette & Children at Peace Library  (Friends Peace Teams)

 

IN FEBRUARY I HAD THE CHANCE TO VISIT TWO OF THE CHILDREN’S PEACE LIBRARIES supported by the Transformational Leadership Center, which is based in Kigali. I met with librarian Tuyizere Jean D’Amour at the Kigali Children’s Peace Library and he explained how the Read Aloud program encourages children to reflect upon the stories they heard with particular kinds of questions. These include “wondering questions” to encourage the children to go beyond the story with deeper reflections.