April / May 2004

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Bioweapons Expert to Keynote Annual Membership Gathering Friday, April 23 RESERVATION DEADLINE FOR DINNER IS APRIL 16 The Coalition will hold its Annual Membership Dinner and Gathering on Friday, April 23 at Trinity Church, 33 Mercer Street, in Princeton. The evening begins with a reception at 5:30, a Catered Dinner (advance reservations are required by April 16) is at 6; and the Program is scheduled from 7-9 PM. If you haven’t yet responded, you are urged to do so now! Click Here for Reservations. You can also call the office during business hours and use your Visa, MasterCard or American Express Card to reserve. The keynote speaker will be Dr. Jonathan Tucker, a bio-weapons expert and a Senior Researcher in the Center for Nonproliferation Studies’ (CNS) Washington DC office. He previously directed the Chemical and Biological Weapons Nonproliferation Program (CBWNP). In February 1995, he was a United Nations biological weapons inspector in Iraq. He is the editor of Toxic Terror: Assessing Terrorist Use of Chemical and Biological Weapons (MIT Press, 2000) and the author of Scourge: The Once and Future Threat of Smallpox (Atlantic Monthly Press, 2001). The Coalition will also honor a number of volunteers, including: Bishop G.P. Mellick Belshaw-Episcopal Bishop (retired), Diocese of New Jersey; Chair of the Coalition for Peace Action for five years through 2003. Dr. John Brady Kiesling- first US diplomat to resign over build-up toward the US invasion of Iraq, his resignation letter got extensive media coverage; currently a visiting Lecturer at Princeton University. The Honorable Marvin Reed- former Mayor of Princeton Borough and Sponsor of the Coalition. Mayor Reed advocated numerous peace and justice resolutions before Princeton Borough Council. Christa Tinari- former Chair (until December, 2003) of the Peace Education Committee of the Coalition. Dr. Sharon Weiner- researcher in Princeton University’s Program on Science and Global Security, and public speaker on peace and nuclear disarmament issues. Paul Williams- Chapter MVP from the Coalition for Peace and Justice (Atlantic/Cape May County affiliate of the Coalition for Peace Action) Cost of the catered dinner (all vegetarian) is $30 per person regular; $15 for Limited Income. Cost of the Program Only at 7 PM is $10 per person. [Reserve Your Seat Now]

Tax Day Action The Coalition is planning a “Penny Poll” and distribution of literature in front of the Palmer Square Post Office from 12 noon until 1 PM on Tax Day, Thursday, April 15. As people come to mail their tax return, we will offer them ten pennies and invite them to distribute them among five tubes representing various categories of federal spending. We will then give them a fact sheet describing how their tax dollars are actually spent. In previous years, this interactive poll has startled many participants. They want most of their tax dollars to go for education, health care, housing and the environment. But every year half or more of the allocatable part of the federal budget (the part that Congress can appropriate any way it chooses) goes to military spending. If they disagree with these priorities, they are informed how they can contact their elected representatives. Plan to come to Palmer Square and join us for your lunch hour on Thursday, April 15! Indian Peace Leader to Speak APRIL 29 The Coalition’s International Citizen Diplomacy Committee is hosting J. Sri Raman, an Indian peace leader, to speak about his new book on the growing nuclear danger in South Asia. His talk will be at 7:30 on Thursday, April 29, in Bowl 16 of the Woodrow Wilson School (Robertson Hall), located at the intersection of Prospect Street and Washington Road in Princeton. Mr. Raman, who is Convener of the Movement Against Nuclear Weapons and of Journalists Against Nuclear Weapons, both based in India, will present why he believes South Asia is the most likely place that a nuclear war could break out. As this talk will be given during Indian national elections, and just after revelations about Pakistan’s central role in providing nuclear weapons capability to Iran and North Korea, it will be a most timely presentation you won’t want to miss! Trenton Peace Action to Open Peace Center Trenton Peace Action, a chapter of the Coalition for Peace Action in Princeton, NJ, will inaugurate a monthly Peace Center at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral at 801 W. State Street on Monday, April 26 at 7:30 pm. The first program, "The Impact of Military Spending on the Health of Our Cities" will feature Mayor Douglas Palmer who challenged spending priorities of the Bush Administration on October 18, 2003 in his response to the President's national radio address. At the time, Mayor Palmer was the Chair of the National Conference of Democratic Mayors. Rev. Bob Moore, Executive Director of the Coalition for Peace Action and Irene Goldman, Chairperson of the Coalition will also speak. We are awaiting word from other elected officials and community activists on their availability. The Peace Center will offer various educational and cultural events on the fourth Mondays of the month, September through June, at the Cathedral. According to Kate Esposito, co-chair of Trenton Peace Action, "It is essential that alternative voices be heard in response to the critical situations being created by the current administration in Washington and their willing coconspirators. From truth comes power. The Peace Center will be a harbinger of truth, justice and inspiration for the Trenton community." For more information contact 609-393-7643 or TrentonPeaceAct@aol.com.

Peace Dates Mon, April 12 7 PM Panel on Voter Verification Bill McCosh 10, Princeton University Speakers: Dr. Edward Felten, Computer Science Professor, Princeton University and Michelle Mulder, staff for Rep. Rush Holt who authored the Voting Verification Bill Thu, April 15 12-1PM Tax Day Penny Poll Palmer Square, Princeton Friday, April 16 Reservation deadline for Membership Gathering Sat, April 17  10AM-12PM NJ Civil Liberties Workshop Rutgers Graduate Student Lounge, Rutgers Student Center, New Brunswick, NJ Sun, April 18 3-5PM Youth and the Military Arts Council of Princeton Corner of Paul Robeson Place and Witherspoon St, Princeton Fri, April 23 5:30PM Reception 6:00PM Catered Dinner 7-9PM Program Annual Membership Gathering Trinity Church, 33 Mercer Street, Princeton Mon, April 26 7:30PM Peace Center Opening Trinity Cathedral, 801 W. State St., Trenton Thu, April 29 7:30PM India’s Elections and Nuclear Policy Bowl 16, Robertson Hall, Princeton University Sat, May 1 1PM US Disarmament Day Rally Bryant Park, 40th and Sixth Ave, NYC--Contact Office for coordinating transportation Wed, May 5 8AM-10PM Peace Lobby Day US Capitol, Washington DC

MAY 5 LOBBY DAY PLANNED In partnership with the Montclair-based affiliate of Peace Action, the Coalition is planning its annual Lobby Day to Washington, D.C. for Wednesday, May 5. The plan is to leave Princeton by rented van around 8 AM. Those north of Princeton wanting to participate are welcome to drive down to meet us; those south of Princeton can possibly arrange to be picked up on the way down. At noon we’ll have a briefing over a brown bag lunch in DC, then spend all afternoon lobbying. The day concludes with a quick dinner and the trip back to Princeton, usually arriving around 10 PM. The legislation we plan to focus on includes efforts to stop funding for new US nuclear weapons; and bills to establish an independent commission to investigate the deceptions around Iraq. We would like to collaborate with other groups in Pennsylvania and further south, so if you have contacts there, please get in touch with us! Suggested donation to help rent the van is $30; scholarships available if money is a problem. Contact the Coalition office to sign up and for details.

Worried about the government’s increased powers? Concerned the USA Patriot Act Isn’t so patriotic? Scared of unwarranted surveillance? Learn How You can Protect Civil Liberties in Your Community SATURDAY, APRIL 17, 2004 10:00 AM – 12 Noon Graduate Student Lounge at Rutgers University 126 College Ave, New Brunswick, NJ Sponsored by the New Jersey Bill of Rights Defenders. Endorsed by the Coalition for Peace Action ,American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey, NJ Peace Action, and CAIR-NJ. There is a new revolution taking over New Jersey, the Patriot Act Resolution revolution. Six towns in New Jersey have already passed resolutions in their town councils against the unconstitutional aspects of the Patriot Act, including: Willingboro, Princeton Boro, Mullica, Highland Park, Ewing, and Franklin Township--and the list is growing. To find out how you can get involved come to the FREE workshop on protecting civil liberties held on Saturday April 17 from 10AM to 12PM. Come and network with other Jerseyans who are working to protect our constitutional rights. If you are coming to the April 17 event please register as soon as possible, the workshop is free but space is limited. For more information about the resolutions see www.peacecoalition.org or www.njbord.org.  Registration  This training is offered free of charge, but you must RSVP by April 12, 2004. Send an email with your name, address and county to karensisti@yahoo.com . For more information contact Karen Sisti, Associate Director of the Coalition for Peace Action at 609-924-5022 The Coalition for Peace Action is one of the leading groups in the New Jersey Bill of Rights Defenders (NJBORD). If you are interested in becoming involved with other people in your area please call the office at 609-924-5022. CFPA can also help with getting speakers if you would like to put on an educational forum.

May Day!  Disarm! New York City, NY [ Click for Details ] [ Click for a Flyerr ]

BEFORE YOU ENLIST ... what recruiters might not tell you REGISTRATION & THE DRAFT ... what does it mean to you CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTORS ... how to decide if you are one A Free Community Forum with:

Sunday, April 18 3-5pm THE ARTS COUNCIL OF PRINCETON 102 Witherspoon Street (at Paul Robeson Place)

KEVIN RAMIREZ Central Committee on Conscientious Objection	JONATHAN OGLE Center on Conscience and War	OSKAR CASTRO American Friends Service Committee
forum, discussion and PIZZA (free!) For more information: (609) 924-5022     www.peacecoalition.org/military Sponsored by: The Princeton Friends Meeting; The Coalition for Peace Action; Not in Our Town; The Arts Council of Princeton; Princeton Peace Network