Saturday, June 11, 10:30 am: Protest Military Recruitment
Join the anti-war protests on Saturday June 11th, July 9th, and August 13th at 10:30am to protest at the Ann Arbor Recruiting Station at 4695 Washtenaw Ave, located in the Blockbuster/Glencoe strip mall between Carpenter and Golfside.
Man, I don’t think a protest is necessary to stop military recruitment. This war seems to have dried up all the available saps.
—js Jun. 13 '05 - 01:14PM #
(Protest War on Palestine & Iraq)
Good! Hope to see you at these protests, calling for an immediate end to the War on Iraq and Palestine.
Need another reason? Check out this news flash:
Divestment News Article—
“Divestiture of Funds that Support Israeli Occupation of Palestinian
Territories”
Article is on the Methodists’ official Web site:
http://www.neumc.org/news_detail.asp?PKValue=60
Written: 6/11/2005
“Resolution 204 passed on Saturday morning of Annual Conference, but after
signifcant debate. The resolution calls for a comittee to be created to take
action within six months to determine which investments support Israeli
occupation of Palestinian territories. Investiment managers are to consider
divesting the funds in those companies. The conference also calls on the
U.S. government, Israel, and Palestinian leadership to reject acts of
aggression and violence. It also calls for affirmation of the rights of
Christians, Jews, and Muslims to freedom of movement in the holy lands.
“The resolution appears below:
“RS 204.
RESOLUTION ON DIVESTING FROM COMPANIES THAT ARE SUPPORTING IN A
SIGNIFICANT WAY THE ISRAELI OCCUPATION OF PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES
(submitted by Washington Park UMC and Mathewson St UMC, Providence, RI,
Barrington, RI UMC and RIUMA)
“Whereas we believe in the absolute equality of all God’s children, and
reject all efforts to dominate or to subjugate others based on religion,
race or ethnicity,
“Whereas we embrace the Ten Commandments God gave to Moses, which forbid
stealing, coveting the land of one’s neighbor, and taking human life,
“Whereas we honor Micah’s call in the Old Testament to do justice, to love
mercy, and to walk humbly with our God, and we follow Christ’s call to love
our neighbors as ourselves,
“Whereas we reject all violence and acts of provocation that lead to
violence, believe in the right of all peoples to security, and believe that
security for one people can never be achieved by denying security to others,
“Whereas we are called to support members of Christ’s church around the
world, including Palestinian Christians who are being forced to leave the
Holy Land due to Israel’s confiscation of their property and the severe
hardships of living under occupation,
“Whereas the Fourth Geneva Convention forbids an occupying power from moving
its own people into territory it occupies, and there are currently more than
400,000 Israeli settlers in the occupied Palestinian territories, with
thousands of new settler housing units being planned and constructed,
“Whereas Palestinian land is still being confiscated for these settlements
and for construction of the separation wall deep inside the Palestinian
territories,
“Whereas the settlements and Israel’s wall on Palestinian land violate the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Geneva Conventions, and numerous
United Nations Resolutions, and whereas settlement expansion violates the
Declaration of Principles signed by the parties in Washington in 1993, and
the requirements of the Roadmap signed in 2003,
“Whereas a number of American and Israeli Jewish peace groups, Archbishop
Desmond Tutu, and other religious leaders have called for selective
divestment from Israel as a means of ending settlement expansion and ending
the illegal Israeli occupation of Palestinian lands,
“Whereas the General Conference of the United Methodist Church in 2004
passed Resolution 312 entitled ‘Opposition to Israeli Settlements in
Palestinian Land’ which called for an end to the occupation of Palestinian
land by Israel,
“Whereas the United Methodist Church should not profit from the illegal
Israeli occupation of Palestinian land or the destruction of Palestinian
homes, orchards, and lives,
“Whereas we are committed to ensuring that our denomination’s money is used
in a manner consistent with our beliefs, with international law, and with
Christ’s teaching,
“Therefore, be it resolved that a committee be created to examine and submit
to United Methodist churches and investment managers in the New England
Conference within six months a list of companies that support in a
significant way the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories, and to
maintain the list and constantly re-evaluate the relationship of companies
to the occupation. Such committee should have two representatives from each
state in the New England Conference, appointed by the Church and Society
Committee in consultation with the appropriate district superintendents in
each state, and should meet monthly until an initial divestment list is
developed, and quarterly thereafter. Before placing a company on the list,
the committee should write to that company, explain the committee’s
concerns, and request a change in the company’s relationship to the Israeli
occupation.
“If no change in policy is reported within 60 days as being taken or
contemplated, the company’s name should be placed on the divestment list
along with explanatory details and shared with the New England Conference.
“Be it further resolved that United Methodist churches and investment
managers in the New England Conference are encouraged to examine their
portfolios to see whether current investments include companies on the
divestment list described above. Those who find they are holding investments
in such companies are urged to consider divesting from them.
“Be it further resolved that the New England Conference of the United
Methodist Church calls on the U.S. government, the government of Israel, and
the newly elected Palestinian leadership to reject all acts of aggression
and violence, to respect the equality and dignity of all the region’s
people, and to forge solutions based on the principles of international law
and human rights.
“Be it also resolved that we affirm the right of Christians, Jews, and
Muslims to freedom of movement in this land that three faiths call holy, and
that we affirm the maintenance of Jerusalem as an open city for people of
all three faiths in accordance with Resolution 312 of the United Methodist
2004 General Conference Book of Resolutions.
“Supporting Statement
“Despite renewed talk of peace between Israelis and Palestinians, the hard
reality is that Israel’s actions on the ground in the region, as well as
Palestinian militant attacks on Israelis, place enormous obstacles in the
way of progress toward peace.
“The urgency of the humanitarian crisis in the occupied Palestinian
territories cannot be overstated. Palestinians face soaring unemployment,
malnutrition, restrictions on movement, denial of medical care, denial of
access to their agricultural lands, humiliation at checkpoints, and extended
lockdowns called curfews. More than 4 million Palestinian refugees live in
poverty, while Israelis live in their homes and farm their lands.
“Israel continues to take the land of the Palestinian people for
ever-expanding settlements, Israeli-only roadways, and the construction of a
giant wall and fence that is confiscating a significant portion of the
Palestinian land in the West Bank. 83% of the West Bank’s water has been
taken for Israeli use, leaving Palestinians with desperate water shortages.
Israel has destroyed the homes of more than 28,000 Palestinians in four and
a half years. Hundreds of thousands of ancient olive trees and vast tracts
of agricultural land have also been destroyed.
Israel has built a ring of Jewish settlements around Arab East Jerusalem,
impeding access to the West Bank for Jerusalem’s Arab residents and ensuring
that Palestinians cannot use East Jerusalem as the capital of a future
Palestinian state, which has been called for by every major peace plan.
“In 2004, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled by 14-1 that Israel
should halt and dismantle the Wall being constructed illegally in occupied
Palestinian territory, and make reparation for the damage arising from its
unlawful conduct. Palestinians continue to alternate between often-futile
non-violent protest and unacceptable violent attacks on Israelis. Israeli
soldiers have repeatedly fired on non violent protesters, killing and 2
wounding not only Palestinians, but international peace activists,
including Americans, who have stood with them. In addition, volunteers with
the Christian Peacemaker Teams in the West Bank have been attacked by
Israeli settlers while escorting Palestinian children to school. Settlers
have been involved in many acts of violence against Palestinians.
“Palestinian Christians are being forced to leave the Holy Land. Their land
and water has also been taken by Israel. They now comprise less than 2% of
the West Bank’s population, and there are very real fears that soon there
will be no Christian presence in the land of Christ’s birth. Those who
remain are calling on Christians everywhere to reject the policies that are
driving them and their Muslim neighbors from a region their ancestors have
inhabited for more than 2000 years. Many recall a time when Christians,
Jews, and Muslims lived in harmony together in this land, and believe it can
happen again when people of all religions are accepted as equals, with full
rights to life, liberty and property.
“Our Christian faith calls us to reject violence of any kind, and to reject
acts of aggression that provoke violence. As United Methodists, we are
committed to work for justice, and to refuse to be complacent in the face of
such monumental human suffering. We are also called to support other members
of the Body of Christ around the world.
“It is not expected that United Methodist divestment activity or that of any
other religious denomination will significantly affect Israel’s economy or
the bottom line of major US companies, but this is not the goal. The goal is
to make all United Methodists and other Americans aware of their
relationship to companies that benefit from the Israeli occupation and give
them an opportunity to withdraw from such relationships, so they are not
participants in human rights violations that violate Christian principles
and international law. Another, equally important goal is to give hope to
Palestinians, including our Christian counterparts in the region, and let
them know they are not forgotten.
“Christ has called us to be a light to the nations, to replace darkness and
despair with hope rooted in love for all God’s creation. Refusing to be a
part of an illegal occupation that endangers Israelis as well as
Palestinians is an effective way to show our light to the world.”
———————————————
“The New England Conference includes 554 United Methodist and federated
congregations in Eastern Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire,
and Rhode Island – and one in Vermont.”
Like, don’t you folks have a house you can go haunt instead? Actually, it’s a pity our military protects your lame asses. It’s too bad we can’t let the Islamofascists cut your stupid heads off! But then, nobody would notice, since you folks have obviously been living so far without a brain.
—Chico Jun. 13 '05 - 09:01PM #
—js Jun. 13 '05 - 01:14PM #
Need another reason? Check out this news flash:
Divestment News Article—
“Divestiture of Funds that Support Israeli Occupation of Palestinian
Territories”
Article is on the Methodists’ official Web site:
http://www.neumc.org/news_detail.asp?PKValue=60
Written: 6/11/2005
“Resolution 204 passed on Saturday morning of Annual Conference, but after
signifcant debate. The resolution calls for a comittee to be created to take
action within six months to determine which investments support Israeli
occupation of Palestinian territories. Investiment managers are to consider
divesting the funds in those companies. The conference also calls on the
U.S. government, Israel, and Palestinian leadership to reject acts of
aggression and violence. It also calls for affirmation of the rights of
Christians, Jews, and Muslims to freedom of movement in the holy lands.
“The resolution appears below:
“RS 204.
RESOLUTION ON DIVESTING FROM COMPANIES THAT ARE SUPPORTING IN A
SIGNIFICANT WAY THE ISRAELI OCCUPATION OF PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES
(submitted by Washington Park UMC and Mathewson St UMC, Providence, RI,
Barrington, RI UMC and RIUMA)
“Whereas we believe in the absolute equality of all God’s children, and
reject all efforts to dominate or to subjugate others based on religion,
race or ethnicity,
“Whereas we embrace the Ten Commandments God gave to Moses, which forbid
stealing, coveting the land of one’s neighbor, and taking human life,
“Whereas we honor Micah’s call in the Old Testament to do justice, to love
mercy, and to walk humbly with our God, and we follow Christ’s call to love
our neighbors as ourselves,
“Whereas we reject all violence and acts of provocation that lead to
violence, believe in the right of all peoples to security, and believe that
security for one people can never be achieved by denying security to others,
“Whereas we are called to support members of Christ’s church around the
world, including Palestinian Christians who are being forced to leave the
Holy Land due to Israel’s confiscation of their property and the severe
hardships of living under occupation,
“Whereas the Fourth Geneva Convention forbids an occupying power from moving
its own people into territory it occupies, and there are currently more than
400,000 Israeli settlers in the occupied Palestinian territories, with
thousands of new settler housing units being planned and constructed,
“Whereas Palestinian land is still being confiscated for these settlements
and for construction of the separation wall deep inside the Palestinian
territories,
“Whereas the settlements and Israel’s wall on Palestinian land violate the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Geneva Conventions, and numerous
United Nations Resolutions, and whereas settlement expansion violates the
Declaration of Principles signed by the parties in Washington in 1993, and
the requirements of the Roadmap signed in 2003,
“Whereas a number of American and Israeli Jewish peace groups, Archbishop
Desmond Tutu, and other religious leaders have called for selective
divestment from Israel as a means of ending settlement expansion and ending
the illegal Israeli occupation of Palestinian lands,
“Whereas the General Conference of the United Methodist Church in 2004
passed Resolution 312 entitled ‘Opposition to Israeli Settlements in
Palestinian Land’ which called for an end to the occupation of Palestinian
land by Israel,
“Whereas the United Methodist Church should not profit from the illegal
Israeli occupation of Palestinian land or the destruction of Palestinian
homes, orchards, and lives,
“Whereas we are committed to ensuring that our denomination’s money is used
in a manner consistent with our beliefs, with international law, and with
Christ’s teaching,
“Therefore, be it resolved that a committee be created to examine and submit
to United Methodist churches and investment managers in the New England
Conference within six months a list of companies that support in a
significant way the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories, and to
maintain the list and constantly re-evaluate the relationship of companies
to the occupation. Such committee should have two representatives from each
state in the New England Conference, appointed by the Church and Society
Committee in consultation with the appropriate district superintendents in
each state, and should meet monthly until an initial divestment list is
developed, and quarterly thereafter. Before placing a company on the list,
the committee should write to that company, explain the committee’s
concerns, and request a change in the company’s relationship to the Israeli
occupation.
“If no change in policy is reported within 60 days as being taken or
contemplated, the company’s name should be placed on the divestment list
along with explanatory details and shared with the New England Conference.
“Be it further resolved that United Methodist churches and investment
managers in the New England Conference are encouraged to examine their
portfolios to see whether current investments include companies on the
divestment list described above. Those who find they are holding investments
in such companies are urged to consider divesting from them.
“Be it further resolved that the New England Conference of the United
Methodist Church calls on the U.S. government, the government of Israel, and
the newly elected Palestinian leadership to reject all acts of aggression
and violence, to respect the equality and dignity of all the region’s
people, and to forge solutions based on the principles of international law
and human rights.
“Be it also resolved that we affirm the right of Christians, Jews, and
Muslims to freedom of movement in this land that three faiths call holy, and
that we affirm the maintenance of Jerusalem as an open city for people of
all three faiths in accordance with Resolution 312 of the United Methodist
2004 General Conference Book of Resolutions.
“Supporting Statement
“Despite renewed talk of peace between Israelis and Palestinians, the hard
reality is that Israel’s actions on the ground in the region, as well as
Palestinian militant attacks on Israelis, place enormous obstacles in the
way of progress toward peace.
“The urgency of the humanitarian crisis in the occupied Palestinian
territories cannot be overstated. Palestinians face soaring unemployment,
malnutrition, restrictions on movement, denial of medical care, denial of
access to their agricultural lands, humiliation at checkpoints, and extended
lockdowns called curfews. More than 4 million Palestinian refugees live in
poverty, while Israelis live in their homes and farm their lands.
“Israel continues to take the land of the Palestinian people for
ever-expanding settlements, Israeli-only roadways, and the construction of a
giant wall and fence that is confiscating a significant portion of the
Palestinian land in the West Bank. 83% of the West Bank’s water has been
taken for Israeli use, leaving Palestinians with desperate water shortages.
Israel has destroyed the homes of more than 28,000 Palestinians in four and
a half years. Hundreds of thousands of ancient olive trees and vast tracts
of agricultural land have also been destroyed.
Israel has built a ring of Jewish settlements around Arab East Jerusalem,
impeding access to the West Bank for Jerusalem’s Arab residents and ensuring
that Palestinians cannot use East Jerusalem as the capital of a future
Palestinian state, which has been called for by every major peace plan.
“In 2004, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled by 14-1 that Israel
should halt and dismantle the Wall being constructed illegally in occupied
Palestinian territory, and make reparation for the damage arising from its
unlawful conduct. Palestinians continue to alternate between often-futile
non-violent protest and unacceptable violent attacks on Israelis. Israeli
soldiers have repeatedly fired on non violent protesters, killing and 2
wounding not only Palestinians, but international peace activists,
including Americans, who have stood with them. In addition, volunteers with
the Christian Peacemaker Teams in the West Bank have been attacked by
Israeli settlers while escorting Palestinian children to school. Settlers
have been involved in many acts of violence against Palestinians.
“Palestinian Christians are being forced to leave the Holy Land. Their land
and water has also been taken by Israel. They now comprise less than 2% of
the West Bank’s population, and there are very real fears that soon there
will be no Christian presence in the land of Christ’s birth. Those who
remain are calling on Christians everywhere to reject the policies that are
driving them and their Muslim neighbors from a region their ancestors have
inhabited for more than 2000 years. Many recall a time when Christians,
Jews, and Muslims lived in harmony together in this land, and believe it can
happen again when people of all religions are accepted as equals, with full
rights to life, liberty and property.
“Our Christian faith calls us to reject violence of any kind, and to reject
acts of aggression that provoke violence. As United Methodists, we are
committed to work for justice, and to refuse to be complacent in the face of
such monumental human suffering. We are also called to support other members
of the Body of Christ around the world.
“It is not expected that United Methodist divestment activity or that of any
other religious denomination will significantly affect Israel’s economy or
the bottom line of major US companies, but this is not the goal. The goal is
to make all United Methodists and other Americans aware of their
relationship to companies that benefit from the Israeli occupation and give
them an opportunity to withdraw from such relationships, so they are not
participants in human rights violations that violate Christian principles
and international law. Another, equally important goal is to give hope to
Palestinians, including our Christian counterparts in the region, and let
them know they are not forgotten.
“Christ has called us to be a light to the nations, to replace darkness and
despair with hope rooted in love for all God’s creation. Refusing to be a
part of an illegal occupation that endangers Israelis as well as
Palestinians is an effective way to show our light to the world.”
———————————————
“The New England Conference includes 554 United Methodist and federated
congregations in Eastern Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire,
and Rhode Island – and one in Vermont.”
... END …
—Blaine. Jun. 13 '05 - 01:44PM #
—Chico Jun. 13 '05 - 09:01PM #