Heads up, Alaskans...

[Blue_In_AK]

Received this from Alaskans for Peace & Justice...

Friends,

I am pleased to announce that Rep. Dennis Kucinich is going to be in Anchorage on Friday nite, Jun 3 at a time & location to be announced.

As part of his effort to help get us thinking peace instead of war, Dennis will speak about his principled opposition to proposed funding for the next round of Star Wars. He has chosen Alaska because of the fear-mongering that Alaska is being targeted by N. Korean nuclear missiles (kinda sounds like the never found WMDs). So we have an unknown threat from a member of the "Axis of Evil" to be countered by a grossly expensive system that has never worked and many experts say will never work. Strategists are always giving us "risk assessments" but how come we are always willing to risk bankrupting our nation on new weapons instead of risking a course for peace that creates a new healthier dynamic?.

(Don't you think our best defense would be to send them some salmon or invite them over for some fishing on the Kenai? They would never think about attacking us again!)

As you may know, Dennis is quite outspoken about Peace in national politics. Check out his call for withdrawal of troops from Iraq from Monday's USA Today that you can read from his website:
http://www.kucinich.us/ He makes a great argument against the folly of thinking we can play God and straighten out the Iraqis with the force of arms by occupying their country (should England have re-occupied us in 1861 to protect us from ourselves at the start of our Civil War that took 600,000 lives? And we were a democracy!).You can also read his thoughts on Star Wars.

We would like to give him a great big warm Alaska welcome and publicize his trip and his message as widely as possible. Here is what I propose; I am looking for volunteers for an ad hoc Kucinich in Alaska committee. We have two weeks to plan for his visit. I am thinking about getting everyone who is interested together next Wednesday nite, the 25th around 7 pm. I'll pick a location as soon as hear I back from some folks.

I know it is summer and it goes by all too quickly. But according to the Christian Science Monitor: http://www.csmonitor.com/2005/0519/p01s03-usmi.html?s=itm the Iraq fiasco/debacle is now costing us $5 BILLION A DAY with no end in sight. I think we could all think of better ways to use this money (and of course our young soldiers) to be reducing insecurity in this world (Dept of Peace?). This war has to be stopped and it isn't going to stop until all of us stand up and protest against its continuation.

Every day this madness continues our collective soul is further withered. We have a duty as citizens of the richest nation on the planet to make sure that we don't misuse our wealth and power. There are certain madmen in this country who are scheming ever more grandiose plans because they think they have us fooled. Let's start showing them that they have underestimated the free people we always claim to be. Let's show that the spirit of this great land has inspired us to stand for peace not silence in the face of death and destruction.

[eridani]

1. Just saw on the website that everything is confirmed

Post some piccies, 'kay?

[Blue_In_AK]

2. Sure...

Here's a follow-up I received today.

Kucinich Jun 3-4 Schedule Update as of Friday 5/27.

This is shaping up to be a real advance for Peace in Anchorage. As you will see there are a series of events that will build on each other. Special thanks go to Joe Ray Skrha and Shirley Saucerman for their enthusiasm in introducing Anchorage to Dennis.


FRIDAY

Afternoon: media interviews

Fundraiser: 5-6:30 Contact me if you are interested in attending this one or the one on Saturday

Evening: 7-9, Talk at IBEW hall (3333 Denali) at 7 pm. Topics: Korea, Missile Defense and Dept. of Peace. Presenter: Thomas Higgins/Joe Ray. Donations at the door.

SATURDAY

Morning: Farmers' Markets, both downtown (9-10:15) and Daily News parking lot (10:45-12)

Afternoon: Fran Dearman has offered the UUF hall for a Prayer/Meditation on Peace from 1:30 to 2:30/3:00

Fundraiser: 3:30-5:30 Contact me if you are interested in attending

Evening: 7-9, Talk and Q&A in Discovery Theater (Downtown PAC). Musical opening (Libby Roderick?) Topics: Korea, Missile Defense, Dept. of Peace. My question will be about (extra?)ordinary citizens can build the Peace Movement. Presenter: Joe Ray or ? We are looking for co-sponsors for this event to cover the rental. Donations at the door.

We are still looking for ideas on how best to spread the word about these events so that his message of peace reaches widest possible audience. Please contact me with any feedback to these ideas or any new ones you have to offer.

As you may know, Dennis is quite outspoken about Peace. Check out his call for withdrawal of troops from Iraq published in USA Today available at: http://www.kucinich.us/ Also on his website you can read about the work Dennis is doing to:
. Bring our troops home from Iraq;
. Provide for national defense without putting weapons in space;
. Enact a universal single-payer health care system in the United States;
. Protect Social Security from privatization;
. Strengthen workers' rights here and prevent the exploitation of other nations' poverty;
. Protect Earth's environment;
. Develop sustainable energy sources;
. Keep oil companies from profiting excessively from depletion of Earth's oil reserves;
. Reform our electoral system and increase voting rights;
. Strengthen America's safety net;
. Improve our high schools; and
. Improve international cooperation...
You can also sign up to receive a weekly email from Dennis regarding current events.

[snowbear]

3. Very cool...

I think I'll cruise over to the downtown market that day and check him out!

BTW.. :think: What the heck is the "UUF" hall?

As far as where they should advertise.. definitely need to send the info to all the local television networks (especially KTUU since they have the highest viewership), also to the Anchorage Daily News, Anchorage Press, all radio stations, KUDO radio and website http://www.kudo1080.com/ .. and if they have flyers..

...they should post them at all Kaladi Brothers, Moose's Tooth, Bear Tooth, Title Wave, ah hell... everywhere.. :shrug:

Just a hunch (knowing that great group).. but I'll bet the Democratic Party Headquarters on Dowling would be able to contact lotz of people who can help distribute flyers around town if they're asked.. :)

[Blue_In_AK]

4. UUF is the Unitarian Universalist church

which coincidentally is right down the street from me, West 32nd and Turnagain. Maybe I'll e-mail back to the Peace & Justice folks and give them your publicity suggestions. I'm not real active with the hierarchy of the group, just show up for some of the demonstrations.