Washington Public Campaigns reports that all three pieces of Washington State legislation offering public funding as an alternative to big money contributions died in the 2007 legislative session. The House and Senate failed to meet a legislative deadline for voting on the “local option” bills, which would have allowed local governments to offer public funding for local elections. The “judicial” bills were replaced by Gov. Gregoire’s call for a study to gather information by November. The “comprehensive” bills for state executive and legislative campaigns died in committee. Washington Public Campaigns organizer Craig Salins called for intensive public education to build a groundswell of public support for Clean Elections. This will increase the likelihood of success either for another effort through the Legislature or for a citizen initiative. If you’d like to watch a video copy of the Olympia FOR’s March TCTV program on Clean Elections, contact Glen Anderson at (360) 491-9093 glen@olywa.net. To contact Washington Public Campaigns, phone Craig Salins at (206) 784-9695 or visit their highly informative website, www.washclean.org. To get involved locally within Thurston County (for example, by urging local governments here to consider Clean Elections), contact Carolyn Cox at 413-0014 cox.carolyn@comcast.net or Jacqui Brown Miller at 236-9684 JacquiAfD@comcast.net.

Years of work is starting to pay off. It was a great success to have identical House and Senate bills and to have committee hearings on them. Although advocates did not cultivate enough legislative support this year to succeed, we built a good foundation for next time. Companion bills (HB 1518 and SB 5786 would have stayed any executions in Washington state until July 1, 2008, while a task force studies the fairness of Washington’s death penalty. Companion bills (HB 1707 and SB 5787) would have prevented the execution of persons with severe mental illness. (Over the years, the Washington State Legislature outlawed the execution of juveniles and persons with developmental disabilities. State-by-state, such laws spread across the country until two U.S. Supreme Court cases recognized “evolving standards of decency” and prohibited their execution anywhere in the nation. Many abolitionists see severe mental illness as the next frontier.) The Washington Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty worked very hard on all four bills. The Olympia FOR’s Committee for Alternatives to the Death Penalty organized a Death Penalty Information Session to inform the public before the legislative hearings, and committee members Rozanne Rants and Glen Anderson testified to the House and Senate Judiciary Committees. For more information contact Rozanne at 705-8520 rozannerants@yahoo.com or Glen at 491-9093 glen@olywa.net.

St. Michael Church will present the national FOR’s nonviolence training, “Creating A Culture of Peace,” from Friday morning June 22 through the afternoon of Sunday the 24th . This weekend retreat will be held in the St. Michael School library for an amazingly low cost (keep reading!). It will draw from the same curriculum used in the two nonviolence weekends Olympia FOR present in September 2005 and February 2006. Expect to deepen and broaden your grasp of nonviolence on this weekend. Experience-based learning will aim at both the head and heart. You’ll add to your conflict-waging, community-building, and organizing skills. The aim is to equip and inspire you to begin or strengthen your work for social change. While this weekend is directed especially at the Catholic Community, everyone is welcome. Brief prayer times and a look at nonviolence in the life of Jesus will give it some Catholic/Christian flavor. Parish support will allow a very low cost – probably $50 or less. Facilitator Dave Bellefeuille-Rice lives in Olympia and has been an Olympia FOR member for over 20 years. He’s a longtime vigiler and peacekeeper. Janet Brown, an experienced trainer and veteran FOR leader, comes to us from Salem, Oregon. She’s a member of the National FOR board and an activist on many fronts. Both facilitators participated in the Olympia FOR’s facilitator training in March 2006. That weekend aimed to create a local pool of trainers, and it’s bearing fruit here. Please register soon! Interested in more information? Contact Dave Bellefeuille-Rice at 943-6264 or bellefeuille-rice@juno.com.

Right now, a private company is trying to scavenge a huge profit from Zambia, one of the world’s poorest countries. Please take action to prevent this. In 1999, a “vulture fund” called Donegal International bought a debt owed by Zambia, originally worth $15 million and then valued at about $30 million, for a knock-down price of $3.3 million. Now, it has sued Zambia for the full amount, plus interest and costs — a staggering total of over $55 million! On February 15, 2007, a judge in London rejected the size of Donegal’s claim, after Zambia fought back in the courts. But he nevertheless ruled that under law Donegal is entitled to something from Zambia. The exact total is to be determined, but may be around $20 million. This would be half of the amount that Zambia is due to save this year from a debt relief program, but Zambia desperately needs all its money to invest in teachers, doctors and infrastructure. Donegal must not take this money! You can help! Jubilee Debt Campaign and Oxfam are calling on Donegal International not to claim this money. Please add your voice to our call. To do so, access: www.jubileedebtcampaign.org.uk/?lid=2893

A new way to learn & get involved: As part of more than 1,000 events happening nationwide on April 14, (see www.stepitup2007.org) a coalition of local groups is organizing Olympia’s first annual “Climate Action Day Festival” at Sylvester Park – and other locations around town – from 12 noon to 6 pm. The US has about 5% of the world’s population but uses about 25% of the world’s energy resources and creates about 25% of the world’s CO2 emissions. Clearly, we have a special responsibility to dramatically reduce these. A “Green Drive” display of energy efficient vehicles will occur on Legion Way next to the park. A Global Warming Cafe will feature a “Low Carbon Diet” allowing visitors to find out how they can lose up to 5,000 pounds per year (of carbon emissions). Everyone entering can have their “Carbon Footprint” measured and leave with ideas of how to reduce it. These events will be co-sponsored by the Sustainable Community Roundtable and Northwest Earth Institute. A permaculture exhibit will be sponsored by Eco-City Olympia/Terra Commons. A children’s learning table will appeal to children in the K-6 range. High school students with hold a teen circle and discuss how to take the message to their fellow students. Futuristic “Waterfront Tours” taking place in the year 2050 (use your imagination) will take place every hour. You will be able to find out about “Climate Solutions,” an Olympia-based non-profit organization that promotes Clean Energy effectively throughout the Northwest. Drumming and music and speakers will spice up the day as it rolls along. Indian organizer Kyle Taylor Lucas is one of several keynote speakers and is arranging for a Native blessing for the event. Earthbound Productions is donating earth flags and displaying various Procession of the Species creations to represent those that will face extinction if we don’t solve these global problems in time. A slide show presenting solutions to global warming followed by discussion will occur from 4-6pm at the MIXX-96 meeting room located at the corner of State & Washington. Educational films will be shown at various locations the night before the event (Friday April 13). This will be a family friendly event. Please mark your calendar and join us on April 14. For more info or to volunteer (we need you!) please call Chris at 705-3528 or Janet at 352-0779 or email c.stegman@comcast.net or jordanjanet@hotmail.com.

On January 31, Ehren Watada, the army lieutenant who risked court martial by refusing to deploy to Iraq, spoke movingly to a large audience at South Puget Sound Community College, as the guest of SPSCC’s radical student group Brick. Olympia’s Alliance for Democracy chapter presents his speech to Thurston County’s cable TV subscribers on TCTV channel 22 eight times during April:

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Peace activists put the Iraq war and occupation on trial on January 20-21, two weeks before Lt. Ehren Watada’s court martial was to begin. Nationwide experts came to Tacoma and delivered expert testimony that the Iraq war and occupation are blatantly illegal and that our troops have a legal right and responsibility to disobey illegal orders. Olympia’s Alliance for Democracy chapter presents televised coverage of this significant event for Thurston County’s cable TV subscribers on TCTV channel 22 eight times during April: Read the rest of this entry »

A presentation by Bruce Gagnon, a nationally respected expert on the militarization of space and on the military-industrial complex, will air on TCTV cable channel 22 for Thurston County’s cable subscribers, eight times during May:

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Faith & the Common Good is an initiative asking what values we believe should form our communities — small and large. Faith & the Common Good derived the Green Rule from the classic Golden Rule found in major faith traditions. Green Rule supporters paraphrase the Golden Rule by saying: “Do unto the Earth as you would have it do unto you.” A Green Rule Study Guide offers suggestions on how you can use the Green Rule to teach your school system and your faith community’s youth and adult members about the sacredness of creation in their own faith, while taking into consideration the similar beliefs of other traditions. A related workshop outline can be used for a one-time gathering or can extend over a weekend or series of weeks, in small or large groups of single-faith or multi-faith. Included also are inspiring eco-faith stories, websites and other related resource materials. For more information, visit www.faith-commongood.net.

On March 16 the leader of the National Council of Churches USA (NCC) reiterated that the Iraq war is “immoral” as he prepared to take part in peace actions that night and the next day in Washington, D.C., marking the fourth anniversary of the invasion of Iraq. “It is the life and ministry of Jesus Christ that prompted our stand then and compels us now to reiterate the continued prosecution of this war is immoral. It should be ended as quickly as possible,” said the Rev. Bob Edgar, NCC’s general secretary, in a public statement. “There is a numbness that seems to have overcome America about the purpose, cost and effects the Iraq war has had on our country’s soul,” Edgar said. His prescription for healing the soul of the nation is a time-honored, Biblically-based action. “In church language, when you make a mistake you examine your conscience, promise not to do it again and change the direction of your life. It’s called repentance, forgiveness and reconciliation,” Edgar said. The NCC leader also spoke of the toll to America’s soul due to the torture of human beings in secret prisons and abuses at Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo. The Rev. Edgar joined thousands in a Christian peace witness [www.christianpeacewitness.org] at the Washington National Cathedral, followed by a candlelight march to the White House with many thousands more “to surround the White House with the bright light of Christ,” according to event planners. The NCC is the ecumenical voice of America’s Orthodox, Protestant, Anglican, historic African American and traditional peace churches. These 35 communions have 45 million faithful members in 100,000 congregations in all 50 states. Info: Dan Webster, 212-870-2252, e-mail NCCnews@ncccusa.org or www.councilofchurches.org.

With only minimal attention by the news media, the U.S. government, and the American people, the crisis Darfur goes on – with devastating loss of life and human rights abuses. The website www.SaveDarfur.org provides information, offers downloadable action packets for faith communities, and offers a petition to Bush. Other useful websites are www.genocideintervention.net, the Sudan Information page of Human Rights Watch’s website, www.hrw.org, and www.churchworldservice.org/news/sudan.

The Olympia FOR program has continued to produce high quality programs for 20 years as an all-volunteer activity. We thank Mark Varadian, who directed the program for a great many years, and Brad Andrews and Dennis Gustafson who served with Mark on crew for many years. Thanks to Bruce Tenney, who has persisted on crew for nearly 20 years. Thanks to Pila Laronal, who served as our director since last summer, and to Carol Burns who directed some recent programs. We look forward to Wendy Lagerquist moving from crew member to director, beginning in April. Thanks to Rus Geh and Bob Giles who are serving on crew now. Glen Anderson continues to produce and host the program.

Citizens for Responsible Justice (C4RJ) hosts a Tacoma-based support group for families and friends of incarcerated individuals. Other interested persons are welcome too. It meets on the 4th Thursday evening of each month at 7:00 p.m. at Holy Family of Jesus Church, 1427 E 40th Street in Tacoma, just off Portland Avenue. Come around to the back and enter the basement near the sign reading “Indochina Cultural and Service Center”.

A number of local activists are talking about creating some kind of storefront space downtown where peace & justice groups can provide an ongoing presence with literature, office space, perhaps coffee, or… What needs do you see? In what ways — and how much — would you and your nonprofit groups use the space? If you’re interested, contact Glen at 360-491-9093 or glen@olywa.net, and he’ll connect you with some of the key organizers.

Olympia’s Town Hall a big success – Legislature avoids issue – Democratic Party leaders squelch public efforts – efforts continue: About 900 persons from Thurston and surrounding counties packed the Washington Center for the Performing Arts on Tuesday evening February 20 to hear three national-level experts present a rock-solid case for impeaching Bush & Cheney and answer the audience’s questions. It was a powerful and persuasive event. State Senate Joint Resolution 8016 received strong support from members of the public who testified to a Senate committee hearing on Thursday March 1. However, three of the state’s most powerful Democrats— U.S. Senator Patty Murray, US Representative Jay Inslee, and Governor Christine Gregoire— all overstepped their proper authority to lobby against this bill, which never made it out of committee. Grassroots activists continue their efforts to impeach Bush & Cheney. Info: 360-459-1079 ImpeachBush@RiseUp.net www.AfterDowningStreet.org The website has a wealth of information.

“Conviction” is a powerfully moving documentary about three Catholic nuns, including Ground Zero organizer Jackie Hudson, who were sentenced to federal prison for their nonviolent protest at a Minuteman III nuclear missile site. This 48 minute program contributes to our understanding of civil disobedience and invoking international law in federal courts.

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“Land, Rain, and Fire” examines the origins of social discontent in the State of Oaxaca, Mexico. What began on May 22, 2006, as a teachers’ strike for better wages and more resources for students, has erupted into a massive movement for social change. Hundreds of unions, indigenous and women’s organizations, neighborhood groups, students and professional associations came together and created the Popular Assembly of the People of Oaxaca (APPO). A massive campaign of nonviolent civil disobedience has brought the state government to a standstill.

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Wednesday, 4/11/07: Featured in the Olympia FOR’s December TCTV program, the Earth Stewardship Committee of Interfaith Works connects environmentally minded folks of all faith traditions and meets monthly at 12 noon on the second Wednesday of each month at Temple Beth Hatfiloh, 8th & Washington. Info: Leslie Romer LeslieHR@aol.com.

Wednesday, 4/11/07: Olympia FOR Steering Committee meets to provide overall guidance and decision-making, 7:00 pm at Audrey Daye’s home in NW Olympia. Everyone is welcome to attend. Info: 491-9093 or info@olyfor.org.

Wednesday, 4/11/07: Discussion of vote-counting processes & issues: Join the Thurston County chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) in a discussion with John Gideon, Executive Director and Information Manager for VotersUnite! regarding national and local processes and issues about counting votes. ACLU-Thurston meets the 2nd Wednesday of each month, October through May (except in February) at 7 pm, Olympia Center room 206. Info: Heather Francks 570-1873.

Wednesday, 4/11/07: The Olympia Movement for Justice and Peace (OMJP) meets from 7 to 9 pm to plan a variety of activities to work for justice and peace everywhere. Olympia Community Free School, 610 Columbia SW. Everyone is welcome. Info: Larry Mosqueda 360-867-6513 or the OMJP website.

Thursday, 4/12/07: Come over and watch the Olympia FOR’s April TV program at Glen’s house: If you don’t have cable or don’t have TV— or if you just want to watch the program with other good folks— you can watch a video copy at this convenient location in Lacey at 7:00 pm tonight. Free popcorn & other refreshments. Space is limited, so please reserve your space at 360-491-9093 or glen@olywa.net. See the OlyFOR on TV page for more details.

Thursday, 4/12/07: This campaign will engage tens of thousands of Americans in gatherings all across the country at meaningful, iconic places to call for action on climate change. These will include hiking, biking, walking, climbing, swimming, kayaking, canoeing, or simply sitting or standing with banners proclaiming: “Step it up, Congress! Cut carbon 80% by 2050!” Info: www.stepitup2007.org

Saturday, 4/14/07: As part of more than 1,000 events happening nationwide on April 14, (see www.stepitup2007.org), a coalition of local groups is organizing Olympia’s first annual “Climate Action Day Festival” at Sylvester Park —and other locations around town —from 12 noon to 6 pm. See the detailed article elsewhere on this website. For info or to volunteer: Chris 705-3528 (email: c.stegman@comcast.net) or Janet at 352-0779 (email: jordanjanet@hotmail.com).

Saturday, 4/14/07: As part of Climate Action Day, people all over the U.S. will be protesting at Exxon gas stations because Exxon has been trying to fool the public, the media, and the Congress into thinking that fossil fuels are not disrupting the climate. Visit www.exxposeexxon.com/action/step_it_up_2007.html, find an Exxon station near you, find a few friends, and make your point. The website also offers information sources and other action ideas.

Saturday, 4/14/07: This hands-on NVC-based workshop is targeting not only parents and teens, but teachers, counselors, and others who interact regularly with young people. Nonviolent Communication (also known as compassionate communication) offers powerful tools for reducing blame, resentment, and reactive dynamics and building understanding, cooperation, and trust. Interested teens (with or without parents) are welcome and encouraged to attend. Workshop conducted by Suska Davis, Ph.D. 9:30 am to 5 pm in Olympia. $85 ($110 after April 7). Info: (360) 754-1600 or www.fernhavencenter.org.

Saturday, 4/14/07 (note change of date): Heartsparkle Players: Playback Theatre is a spontaneous collaboration between performers and the audience. People tell moments from their lives, then watch them re-created with movement, music and dialogue. Heartsparkle Players is an outstanding local troupe with a loyal following. This month’s performance, “Stories of Loving Locally,” is in collaboration with the Farm Bank Project. 7:30 pm at Traditions Café, 5th & Water. A $5-$10 donation is suggested, but no one will be turned away. Info: Debe Edden 943-6772 debek@olywa.net or their website.

Saturday 4/14 to Sunday 4/22/07: Watch a DVD and organize local grassroots discussions about our nation’s priorities and future. Info: www.americasdialogue.org.

Sunday, 4/15/07: Participate in a national day of action in support of replacing the US’s strategy of domination, control and militarism with a strategy of generosity, caring for others, and genuine understanding of the interconnectedness of all people on the planet. Our taxes should support these values, including a Global Marshall Plan to end poverty and hunger and repair the environment. The Network of Spiritual Progressives encourages each of us to plan local teach-ins, demonstrations, religious services, and festivals of generosity around this theme. Info: 510-644-1200 or www.spiritualprogressives.org.

Sunday, 4/15/07: Come over and watch the Olympia FOR’s April TV program at Glen’s house: If you don’t have cable or don’t have TV— or if you just want to watch the program with other good folks— you can watch a video copy at this convenient location in Lacey at 2:00 pm this afternoon. Free popcorn & other refreshments. Space is limited, so please reserve your space at 360-491-9093 or glen@olywa.net. See the OlyFOR on TV page for more details.

Sunday, 4/15/07: All veterans and others are invited to connect and work for peace. Social time begins at 1:30 and the meeting at 2:00 pm. Traditions Café, 5th & Water. Info: www.vfp109.org or call Jim James 570-0885.

Sunday, 4/15/07: Interfaith Works of Thurston County presents a 57-minute video interview with Margaret Atwood and Martin Amis in its four-part video series in which Bill Moyers is joined by some of the world’s most provocative writers and thinkers in exploring the complex region between rationality and belief. Canadian writer Atwood talks with Moyers about agnosticism, the hunger for meaning, and the distinction between belief and knowledge. British author Amis discusses with Moyers humanity’s present condition and the conflict between fundamentalism and secular values. A moderated discussion will follow the video. 2:00 p.m. at Traditions Cafe, 5th & Water.

Sunday, 4/15 through Sunday, 4/22/07: National Environmental Education Week will increase the educational preparation, learning, and activities in K-12 classrooms, nature centers, zoos, museums, and aquariums. Info: National Environmental Education & Training Foundation www.eeweek.org or Karen Schultz, email: eeweek@neetf.org.

Monday, 4/16/07: Monthly meeting to organize support and collaboration with our sister community in Nicaragua. 6:15 potluck, and 7:00 pm meeting. Lincoln Elementary School Teachers’ Lounge. Use 21st & Washington side door entrance. Info: 786-9505

Tuesday, 4/17/07: Tax Day (when many people are dropping off taxes at the Post Office to make the deadline), is a great day to engage people about where our tax money really goes. Take an hour (or more) to leaflet at your local post office with leaflets on “Where Your Income Tax Money Really Goes” (from War Resisters League, www.warresisters.org) and “Where Do Your Tax Dollars Go” (from National Priorities Project, www.costofwar.com). Seattle FOR has flyers that you can use at your local post office. E-mail wwfor@connectexpress.com or call 206-789-5565 for flyers or to arrange to pick up some for use at your local post office. The Olympia FOR has flyers about military vs. civilian spending priorities. Contact 360-491-9093 or info@olyfor.org.

Tuesday, 4/17/07: The Olympia FOR is an affiliate member of this broadly interfaith organization that has promoted interfaith cooperation and works for social justice for 35 years. 6:45-8:30 pm at the United Churches Social Hall on the ground floor on Washington Street near 11th. 6:45 gather & socialize. 7:15 introductions & business. 7:45 entertainment & celebration. Enjoy LaVon Hardison’s music. Info: 357-7224 or www.interfaith-works.org.

Tuesday, 4/17/07: Liz Heath, Executive Director of the Nonprofit Center, will conduct a high quality and practical workshop at the Olympia Center, 222 Columbia Street NW, downtown Olympia, from 7:00 to 9:00 pm. Pre-registration is required. $25 for members of Thurston County Progressive Network (TC Pro-Net), or $45 for non-members, which includes a one year membership in TC Pro-Net. (Tuition must be paid in full in advance.) Contact Sam Garst SamGarst@aol.com or mail your registration fee to TC Pro-Net Workshops, PO Box 2566, Olympia, WA 98507. Info: www.tcpronet.org

Tuesday, 4/17/07: Frances Moore Lappé speaks on “Democracy’s Edge — How to Take Back the America We Love.” She is the author of fifteen books, including the 1971 three-million-copy bestseller, Diet for a Small Planet. Her most recent work, Democracy’s Edge: Choosing to Save our Country by Bringing Democracy to Life, completes a trilogy which began in 2002 with Hope’s Edge, the 30th anniversary sequel to Diet, written with her daughter, Anna Lappé. In 2004, with Jeffrey Perkins, she published You Have the Power: Choosing Courage in a Culture of Fear. Currently she and Anna lead the Small Planet Institute, based in Cambridge, Massachusetts. 8:00 pm at The Evergreen State College’s Longhouse (at the far south end beyond Red Square). This is the 2007 feature of the Willi Unsoeld Seminar Series. It is free and open to the public.

Fri-Sun, 4/20 to 4/22/07: The annual 3-day Synergy Conference at The Evergreen State College was created by a variety of students and multi-disciplinary academic programs to create a holistic learning experience and a model for a sustainable world. It combines culture, design, ecology, agriculture and social justice and recognizes their interconnectedness. Everyone welcome! Info: (360) 867-6493 www.evergreen.edu/synergy

Wednesday, 4/25/07: Death penalty abolition committee of Olympia FOR meets at 7:00 pm in Tumwater. Everyone who opposes the death penalty is invited to help strengthen the movement to abolish this atrocity. Info and location: Chuck or Rozanne, 705-8520.

Wed April 25: The OMJP meets from 7 to 9 pm to plan a variety of activities to work for justice and peace everywhere. Olympia Community Free School, 610 Columbia SW. Everyone is welcome. Info: Larry Mosqueda 867-6513 or www.omjp.org.

Thur-Sun, 4/26 to 4/29/07: South Sound residents who want to see the one-woman production “My Name is Rachel Corrie” won’t have to travel to Seattle. The Seattle Repertory Theatre, which is performing the play at the Seattle Center, will bring its production to campus for five shows April 26-29. The first show, a tech dress preview, will be at 8 pm April 26. Evergreen students will be admitted free, on a first-come, first-served basis. The remaining shows will be open to the general public. They are at 8:00 pm April 27 and 28, and also at 2 pm April 28 and 29. Tickets are $30 for general admission and $20 for students and seniors. They will go on sale at noon April 2 at the Evergreen box office and bookstore, as well as at Rainy Day Records, 5th & Franklin in downtown Olympia. A block of tickets will be sold at www.buyolympia.com. Box office info: 360-867-6833.

Friday, 4/27/07: Watch “An Inconvenient Truth” film on global climate disruption and discuss afterward. Families are welcome. 7:00 pm, Social Hall on ground floor of United Churches, 11th & Washington SE. Info: 943-1210.

Saturday, 4/28/07: Connect with people who strengthen local communities by supporting community-based media and media arts. This NW regional conference will occur at the Phoenix Inn Suites, just north of downtown Olympia. 10 am to 4 pm includes keynote, award-winning videos, workshops, info about legislation and FCC rules, youth efforts, networking & empowerment, and more. Register at www.acmnwr.org.

Saturday, 4/28/07: This fun and fascinating parade celebrates all the critters of the natural world and more! It will snake through downtown Olympia beginning at 4:30 pm. Info: www.procession.org

Wednesday 5/2/07: The South Puget Sound Chapter of the Alliance for Democracy meets on the first Wednesday of each month from 7:00 to 9:00 pm at the Olympia Unitarian Universalist Church, 2200 East End St NW, Olympia. Info: their highly informative website, www.sounddemocracy.org or Jacqui Brown Miller 236-9684 (e-mail: jacquiAFD@comcast.net).

Thursday, 5/3/07: Olympia FOR’s May 2007 TV program debuts today and runs every Monday from 1:30 to 2:30 pm and every Thursday from 9:00 to 10:00 pm through May 31 on TCTV cable channel 22 within Thurston County. See OlyFOR on TV for program description. Info: Glen 360-491-9093 or glen@olyfor.org.

Friday, 5/4/07: Join with other on the first Friday of each month to watch a different documentary film about corporate power, consumerism with a conscience, or peace. This monthly movie series is sponsored by the Olympia Unitarian Universalist Congregation’s Social Justice Committee and the Alliance for Democracy’s, South Puget Sound Chapter. 7:00 pm at the Olympia Unitarian-Universalist Congregation, 2200 East End St NW, Olympia. Everyone is welcome. Free, but $5-$25 sliding-scale donations are welcome. Info: Howard Rosenfeld, 360-790-4020 (e-mail: hrstruggle@comcast.net), www.sounddemocracy.org and www.olyuu.org

Sunday, 5/6/07: Our local CROP Walk, the biggest in the Northwest, raised $46,000 last year. Sign up now to walk the 10K route and/or pledge to sponsor someone who is walking. Opening ceremony begins at 1:15 pm outside the Temple of Justice on the Capitol Campus. Info: Interfaith Works 360-357-7224 or www.Interfaith-Works.org/CROPWALK.html.

Sunday 5/6/07: Olympia FOR’s Annual Meeting & Election with Holly Gwinn Graham singing for peace! 3:30-5:30 pm at Traditions Cafe, 5th & Water. See this article for more details.

Monday, 5/7/07: Would you like to fill your world with more respect, hope, and love, and reduce the criticism, misunderstanding, and violence? Nonviolent Communication offers specific, immediately usable tools for speaking honestly while being heard with compassion, and for listening compassionately to hear honesty. Liv Monroe offers this opportunity to learn the language of connecting with others, self and life. 6:45-9:00 pm in the lunchroom at Lincoln Elementary School, 21st & Washington SE, Olympia. No fee, but contributions are appreciated to support more workshops. Info: Liv 357-4503 or liv@psncc.org. This will be repeated at the same time and place on Wednesday June 13.

Wednesday, 5/9/07: The Earth Stewardship Committee of Interfaith Works, which was featured in the Olympia FOR’s December TCTV program, connects environmentally minded folks of all faith traditions and meets monthly at 12 noon on the second Wednesday of each month at Temple Beth Hatfiloh, 8th & Washington. Info: Leslie Romer LeslieHR@aol.com.

Wednesday, 5/9/07: Join ACLU-Washington Field Director Genevieve Aguilar in her training class as part of the local ACLU meeting. Thurston County’s ACLU chapter meets on the 2nd Wednesday of each month, October through May (except in February) at 7 pm, Olympia Center room 206. Info: Heather Francks, 360-570-1873.

Wednesday, 5/9/07: The Olympia Movement for Justice & Peace OMJP meets from 7 to 9 pm to plan a variety of activities to work for justice and peace everywhere. Olympia Community Free School, 610 Columbia SW. Everyone is welcome. Info: Larry Mosqueda 867-6513 or www.omjp.org.

Thurs May 10: Come over and watch the Olympia FOR’s May TV program at Glen’s house: If you don’t have cable or don’t have TV – or if you just want to watch the program with other good folks – you can watch a video copy at this convenient location in Lacey at 7:00 pm tonight. Free popcorn & other refreshments. Space is limited, so please reserve your space at 491-9093 or glen@olywa.net. See OlyFOR on TV for program description.

Friday, 5/11/07: The Heartsparkle Players: Playback Theatre is a spontaneous collaboration between performers and the audience. People tell moments from their lives, then watch them re-created with movement, music and dialogue. Heartsparkle Players is an outstanding local troupe with a loyal following. This month’s performance, “Stories of Father,” is in collaboration with the Family Education and Support Services. 7:30 pm at Traditions Café, 5th & Water. A $5-$10 donation is suggested, but no one will be turned away. Info: Debe Edden 943-6772 debek@olywa.net or their website.

Sunday, 5/13/07: Women will walk around Capitol Lake beginning at 12 noon. Sponsored by Olympia’s Women in Black. Info: Karin Kraft 754-5352 or kraftkf@comcast.net.

Sunday, 5/20/07: Come over and watch the Olympia FOR’s May TV program at Glen’s house: If you don’t have cable or don’t have TV – or if you just want to watch the program with other good folks – you can watch a video copy at this convenient location in Lacey at 2:00 pm this afternoon. Free popcorn & other refreshments. Space is limited, so please reserve your space at 491-9093 or glen@olywa.net. See OlyFOR on TV for program description.

Sunday, 5/20/07: All veterans and others are invited to connect and work for peace. 1:30 social time. 2:00 pm meeting. Traditions Cafe, 5th & Water. Info: www.vfp109.org Jim James 570-0885.

Sunday, 5/20/07: Mail or e-mail articles, news, calendar items, etc., before this date if possible, or slightly past this date for late-breaking news. Contact Glen 360-491-9093 or info@olyfor.org.

Monday, 5/21/07: Monthly meeting to organize support and collaboration with our sister community in Nicaragua. 6:15 potluck, 7:00 pm meeting. Lincoln Elementary School Teachers’ Lounge. Use 21st & Washington side door entrance. Info: 786-9505.

Wednesday, 5/23/07: Death penalty abolition committee of Olympia FOR meets at 7 pm in Tumwater. Everyone who opposes the death penalty is invited to help strengthen the movement to abolish this atrocity. Info and location: Chuck or Rozanne, 705-8520.

Wednesday, 5/23/07: The Olympia Movement for Justice and Peace (OMJP) meets from 7 to 9 pm to plan a variety of activities to work for justice and peace everywhere. Olympia Community Free School, 610 Columbia SW. Everyone is welcome. Info: Larry Mosqueda 867-6513 or www.omjp.org.

Wednesday, 6/13/07: Everyone is welcome!! The Rose Garden Kitchen area of Priest Point Park. Mark your calendars for this early evening and our Wed. August 8 picnic & meeting. Look for details in our June newsletter. Info: 491-9093 or info@olyfor.org.

Wednesday, 6/13/07: Would you like to fill your world with more respect, hope, and love, and reduce the criticism, misunderstanding, and violence? Nonviolent Communication offers specific, immediately usable tools for speaking honestly while being heard with compassion, and for listening compassionately to hear honesty. Liv Monroe offers this opportunity to learn the language of connecting with others, self and life. 6:45-9:00 pm in the lunchroom at Lincoln Elementary School, 21st & Washington SE, Olympia. No fee, but contributions are appreciated to support more workshops. Info: Liv 357-4503 or liv@psncc.org.

Thursday, 6/14/07: Learn the basics of nonprofit financial management so you can stay on track. Keeping track of the money you are given for your work in the community is becoming more and more of a challenge with new regulations. The Thurston County Progressive Network (TC Pro-Net) offers this workshop through the Tacoma-based Nonprofit Center. 7:00-9:00 pm at the Olympia Center, 222 Columbia St NW, downtown Olympia. Pre-registration is required. $25 for members of Thurston County Progressive Network (TC Pro-Net), or $45 for non-members, which includes a one year membership in TC Pro-Net. (Tuition must be paid in full in advance.) Contact Sam Garst SamGarst@aol.com or mail your registration fee to TC Pro-Net Workshops, PO Box 2566, Olympia, WA 98507. Info: www.tcpronet.org.

Saturday, 6/16/07: Visit the Olympia FOR’s death penalty abolition info table and info tables of other progressive organizations surrounding the round Lecture Hall building to your left as you enter Red Square. Info: Chuck or Rozanne, 705-8520.

Sunday, 6/17/07: Support equal human rights for GLBTQ folks and everyone. Visit the Olympia FOR’s death penalty abolition info table. Look for info in our June-July newsletter. Info: Chuck or Rozanne, 705-8520.

Fri-Sun, 6/22 to 6/24/07: Using the national FOR’s curriculum, Dave Bellefeuille-Rice from Olympia and Janet Brown from the Oregon FOR will be organizing this intensive session, to be held at St. Michael Catholic Church in Olympia. Everyone is welcome, and Catholics are especially encouraged to participate. Friday morning through Sunday afternoon, including most meals. Please register soon! Info: Dave 943-6264 or bellefeuille-rice@juno.com.

Wed-Sun, 6/27 to 7/1/07: The 17th annual event will bring women together to examine issues related to work, family, health care, diversity, and more. Develop skills in thinking critically, communicating effectively, facilitating groups, and building consensus. Sponsor: TESC Labor Education and Research Center. Some scholarships are available. Info: Nina Triffleman 867-6055 or trifflen@evergreen.edu.

by Glen Anderson

In the past few months – both before and after the November election – a number of persons have confessed to me their profound frustration with politicians who fail to stand up for peace and who fail to hold Bush accountable.

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With Holly Gwinn Graham performing!
Sunday May 6 from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m.

Each year the Olympia FOR’s Annual Meeting is a celebration as well as a meeting. This year we’ll enjoy ourselves again, and YOU are invited! We’ll gather on Sunday May 6 from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. at Traditions Café, 5th & Water downtown.

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Monday, 4/2/07: Olympia FOR’s April TV program debuts today and runs every Monday (1:30 to 2:30 pm) and every Thursday (9:00 to 10:00 pm) through April 30 on TCTV cable channel 22 within Thurston County. See OlyFOR on TV for more details. Info: Glen 491-9093 or glen@olyfor.org.

Tuesday, 4/3/07: The Olympia-Rafah Sister City Project encourages people to e-mail the council members in advance at citycouncil@ci.olympia.wa.us and to come to the 7:00 p.m. meeting at City Hall to speak in support. Info: John Harvey 360-754-1899 or john_harvey@comcast.net.

Wednesday, 4/4/07: Former Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber, M.D., has started a non-profit organization to promote single-payer universal health care for everyone. A local We Can Do Better chapter for Thurston County is being formed and a kickoff event is planned for Wednesday, April 4th at 7:00 PM in Room 101 at The Olympia Center. Watch a dynamic 45-minute video lecture featuring the expertise of former Oregon Gov. Kitzhaber. The video has been referred to as “the ‘Inconvenient Truth’ about health care.” This is a great opportunity for anyone who is concerned about the current state of our health care system to learn what you can do about it! Info: 360-753-5276. www.wecandobetter.org (Also be sure to watch the Olympia FOR’s May TCTV program about single-payer health care.)

Wednesday, 4/4/07: The South Puget Sound Chapter of the Alliance for Democracy meets on the first Wednesday of each month from 7:00 to 9:00 pm at the Olympia Unitarian Universalist Church, 2200 East End St NW, Olympia. Info: their highly informative website or Jacqui Brown Miller 236-9684, email: jacquiAFD@comcast.net.

Thursday, 4/5/07: Thousands of people all across the country will come together in living rooms, back yards, community centers, schools, and places of worship to work for immigration reform that would restore basic civil liberties and human rights, protect our fairness and justice, and defend due process for everyone. To find out more and to sign up to host a meeting: www.rightsworkinggroup.org/?q=ConversationNight

Thursday, 4/5/07: Come and hear this TESC graduate and skilled activist/organizer will discuss her latest organizing project, the U.S. Social Forum, scheduled for Atlanta from June 27 to July 1. Following in the tradition of several World Social Forums at Porto Alegre Brazil and elsewhere, the U.S. Social Forum provides a critical opportunity to build a national and independent movement of resistance against the war and domestic repression policies of the US Congress and White House. Tonight is your opportunity to learn more about the Social Forum’s potential from one of its lead organizers. 7:00 pm at Jefferson Middle School, 2200 Conger Ave NW, Olympia. Info: Dan Leahy or danleahy43@yahoo.com.

Friday 4/6/07: Is water part of a shared “commons,” a human right for all people? Or is it a commodity to be traded in a global marketplace? “Thirst” tells the stories of communities in Bolivia, India, and the United States that are asking these fundamental questions. Over a billion people lack access to safe drinking water. Each year, millions of children die of diseases caused by unsafe water. The numbers are increasing. Who gets to decide who gets the water? 7:00 pm at the Olympia Unitarian-Universalist Congregation, 2200 East End St NW, Olympia. Everyone is welcome. Free, but $5-$25 sliding-scale donations are welcome. This is part of a monthly movie series sponsored by the Olympia Unitarian Universalist Congregation’s Social Justice Committee and the Alliance for Democracy’s, South Puget Sound Chapter. The movies address corporate power, consumerism with a conscience, and peace. Movies play on the FIRST Friday of EACH month at the same location. Info: Howard Rosenfeld, 360-790-4020 hrstruggle@comcast.net, www.sounddemocracy.org and