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1443 S. St. Mary's
San Antonio, TX 78210
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THIS WEEK IN PEACE & JUSTICE HISTORY

May 22: Delegates from 127 countries formally voted approval of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPS), a treaty calling for the initial elimination of 12 of the most dangerous manmade chemicals, nine of which are pesticides. (2001) May 23: U.S. General Winfield Scott began the forced removal of the Cherokee Indians from North Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, and Tennessee. 16,000 Cherokee were then driven on foot to “Indian Territory” (what is now Oklahoma). Of those who set out on the forced march known as the “The Trail of Tears,” nearly one-quarter died along the way or as a result of the relocation. (1838) May 25: John T. Scopes was indicted for teaching Darwin's theory of evolution. He was challenging the legitimacy of a four-day-old state law barring Darwin’s theory from the public school curriculum. (1925) May 25: Leaders of 32 African nations met in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to set up the Organization of African Unity (OAU), giving them a united voice for the first time in the continent’s history. (1963) May 27: The U.S. Supreme Court ruled a sit-down strike was not a violation of the Sherman Anti-Trust Act even if it interfered with interstate commerce. The Court said that if the strike were found to be a restraint of trade, then “practically every strike in modern industry would be brought within the jurisdiction of the federal courts under the Sherman Act.” The American Federation of Full Fashioned Hosiery Workers under its president, William Leader, had declared a strike at Apex Hosiery Co. in Philadelphia, and had organized support among other workers in the city. When Apex refused to recognize the union, he declared a sit-down strike and led an occupation of the factory which lasted for seven weeks. (1940) May 27: The record album, The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan, which featured the song “Blowin' in the Wind,” was released. The song warns of the perils of nuclear war. (1963) May 28: The Sierra Club, America's oldest, largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, was organized in San Francisco with wilderness explorer John Muir as its first president. (1892) May 28: Amnesty International was founded on this date in Great Britain. (1961) May 28: Black and white civil rights advocates were attacked as they sat-in at a Woolworth’s lunch counter in Jackson, Mississippi. They were defying state laws against serving “colored” citizens at “whites-only” public facilities. (1963)

PEACE NEWS

Truthout: critical news and commentary on world events World Press Review: News from the world's newspapers Z-Net: A community of people committed to social change Independent Media Center: Grassroots, non-corporate media coverage Common Dreams: Breaking news and views for the progressive community FAIR: Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting, criticism of media bias and censorship Sojourners: Christians for Justice & Peace

DO YOU TEACH PEACE? Bookmark the Class of Nonviolence Blog to get the latest updates to the Facilitator's Manual for the Class of Nonviolence. You can buy the manual on Amazon.com. As always, the 48 essays of the Class of Nonviolence are available for free online!

COMPASSION BEADS ARE HERE!!!!

 

COMPASSION BEADS

It starts with Compassion and ends with Love: Compassion, Dignity, Equinimity, Forgiveness, Gratitude, Humility, Integrity, Justice, Kindness and Love. Capped off with a golden bead symbolizing the Golden Rule: Treat Others as you wish to be treated yourself. Watch our video about the meaning of Compassion Beads and order from our ETSY Store.

We've started a BLOG for CompassionNET, the peaceCENTER initiative to have San Antonio recognized as a compassionate city. Visit it for information about upcoming events in the Pilgrimage of Compassion, photos and videos of past events -- and news in general. You'll find it at sacompassionnet.blogspot.com.

June 15: World Refugee Day celebration at St. Francis Episcopal Church on Bluemel. 10-1:30, free & open to the public. We'll be there with the CompassionNET banner so YOU can sign the Charter for Compassion! DOWNLOAD THE POSTER

Saturday, June 22, 8:30-10:30 am
LABYRINTH OF COMPASSION:
Walk the labyrinth at Episcopal Church of the Reconciliation, 8900 Starcrest. Labyrinths have been around for over 4,000 years and are found in many religious traditions. Today, labyrinths are used for reflection, meditation, prayer and comfort. Information will be available about Abode, which provides compassionate care for dying persons by their loved ones and hospice and serves as a community education center that honors death and dying as a natural rhythm of life. This is part of the peaceCENTER's Pilgrimage of Compassion.

Other upcoming events

The Rotary Foundation is now accepting applications for the world-competitive Rotary Peace Fellowship. For more info, www.rotary.org/rotarycenters. All applications are due 1 July 2013.

Every Thursday since 2001: Peace Vigil, 4pm-5pm @ intersection of Flores & Commerce.

May 25: March Against Monsanto: Either meet up at 11:30 at the Pearl to march from the Pearl to the Alamo at noon, to arrive at the Alamo by 1pm or be at the Alamo (for those who do not want to or cannot march) at 1pm. Rally with guest speakers on nutrition, organic gardening, fitness/wellness, GMOs, and live music. Worldwide movement. For more info, www.march-against-monsanto.com/

June 3: Join Texas Colaition to Abolish the Death Penalty for lunch or happy hour (or both) at Los Barrios Restaurant. Recap what happened with death penalty issues at the 83rd Texas Legislature and the implications for your local legislators; discuss what we have accomplished as the Bexar County Campaign to date; and brainstorm where we go from here. To RSVP online, tcadp.org/bexar-county-campaign/ or call 512-441-1808. 

Thursday, July 25, 7:00 pm: COMPASSIONATE POTLUCK:
Celebrating our diversity at Lord of Life Lutheran Church, 5955 FM 78, San Antonio, TX 78244. (210) 452-3206. Bring a vegetarian food dish that celebrates your faith or ethnic heritage and the recipe to share with everyone; bring info on a community garden, farmer’s market, a cookbook, or a restaurant that provides healthy, diverse foods and a non-perishable food item for the Food Bank. The recipes and information will be combined into an “Compassionate Food Folder” for people to share. Lord of Life will provide utensils, plates & beverages. This is part of the peaceCENTER's Pilgrimage of Compassion.