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Conference

YANETH PEREZ "WOMEN WORKING FOR PEACE IN COLOMBIA"
Colombian Mother to Discuss Human Rights
April 25, Wednesday
2 presentations: noon and 7pm
2 LOCATIONS:
Noon:  Fairhaven College Auditorium
7PM: Whatcom Peace and Justice Center at 100 E. Maple.

Imagine trying to raise your children and protect your home in one of the most war-torn regions of South America. Yaneth Pérez, single mother of three, will share her experiences.

photo courtesy foreigninterest.com

Pérez is the president of the Dawn of Women for Arauca Association which advocates for women’s rights and social justice. She will give a presentation, “Women Working for Peace in Colombia,”

“We, as women, are suffering the consequences of the war in Colombia” said Pérez. “We watch our husbands being imprisoned or killed, or having to flee from our homes in order to save their lives. We’re then left alone to care for our children and provide them with a decent future. Women who speak out against the war and for social justice have been threatened, arrested, and killed.”

The people in Arauca (a state in northeastern Colombia) are suffering from the war and government repression. More than one hundred community leaders have been killed and many more have been imprisoned on false charges of “rebellion.” Occidental Petroleum has a huge oilfield and pipeline in Arauca that are being protected by the U.S. and Colombian military.

American taxpayers provide Colombia with $1.5 million per day in military aid. Two guerrilla groups have been fighting against the government for more than 40 years. Amnesty International USA has repeatedly documented the Colombian military’s involvement in human rights abuses and has called for a complete cut off of military aid to Colombia.

“We don’t need any more weapons in Arauca” said Pérez. “There are already more than enough guns and bombs to kill all of us. Instead of sending arms, we ask the U.S. government to provide support for schools, health clinics, housing, and small farmers so that we can take care of our families.”

Pérez is being accompanied by Scott Nicholson - a Missoula resident and board member of Community Action for Justice in the Americas. Nicholson has been in Arauca since July 2006 documenting the human rights situation in the region. The presentation will include his photos of the war in Arauca.

SPONSORS:
Community Action for Justice in the Americas,
Montana Human Rights Network,
Whatcom Peace and Justice Center,
Whatcom Human Rights Task Force, and
Fairhaven College.
INFORMATION:
Scott Nicholson: 310-831-6567, cheleescot@hotmail.com
Marie Marchand: 360-734-0217, whatcompjc@fidalgo.com
2 LOCATIONS:
Noon:  Fairhaven College Auditorium
7PM: Whatcom Peace and Justice Center at 100 E. Maple.

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INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY
WOMEN WEAVING COMMUNITIES IN A TIME OF WAR
March 8, Thursday

4:00 pm Rally at Maritime Heritage Park
4:30 pm March through downtown
5:00 - 8:30 pm Celebration Program at Depot Square

Unite locally for a worldwide equality, justice, peace by joining the International Women’s Day March and reception.

Join human rights activists as they recognize ordinary women as makers of history with the theme, Women Weaving Communities in a Time of War

International Women’s Day is recognized across the globe on March 8th to acknowledge and celebrate women for their political, social, economic, and cultural achievements. International Women’s Day is observed in the United Nations and designated as a national holiday in many countries.
Whatcom County’s International Women’s Day Celebration is sponsored by the Women’s Alliance, a local, non-profit

5:00 - 8:30 pm: Celebration Program at Depot Square
There will be vendors, food, live music, great speakers, awards, t-shirts, art and a community art project
Featuring:
    Cristine Orbe
    Slam poetry
    Step Taems
    Local Artists
    Vagina Cake Contest

Free event, all are welcome!
Donations appreciated.·
Childcare provided by Western Men Against Violence
Organized and hosted by:
Whatcom County ’s Women’s Alliance, foodjustice.org
WWU Women’s Studies Department and Women’s Center

8:30pm on....
After Party at BOUNDARY BAY
Featuring:
    Sarah Goodin
    Estrella
    Forgotten Sol
4$ cover - 21+ after 10p.m.

· For interviews contact:
Cynthia Moulds Cynthia.moulds@wwu.edu
Rosalinda Guillen rosalindag@quest.net
Aline Soundy alinesoundy@quest.net
Catherine Chambers cathecham@msn.com
Shurla Thibou shurla.thibou@wwu.edu

Contact:
Heather Brooks (509) 993-1618 or email atomicskier@sisna.com
Location:
4:00 pm Rally at Maritime Heritage Park, Holly St. & Central Ave.

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"INVISIBLE CHILDREN" 
Another human rights film showing in Bellingham
March 7, 2007 - 7pm
A compelling story about the plight of child soldiers in Uganda from the eyes of three CA college students who traveled there in 2003. The studentshave started this movement and are quite impressive in getting screenings around the country. They are encouraging the screening in schools and churches.
WEBSITE:
http://www.invisiblechildren.com/home.php
LOCATION:
Western Washington University Washington Bellingham, WA
SMATE Science Lecture Hall 120

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HUMAN RIGHTS FILM FESTIVAL
February 22– March 3rd
10 days of excellent documentary films and speakers–
[complete details]

Fairhaven Auditorium– free parking

HUMAN RIGHTS EVENTS AT WWU

Let’s Talk Forum with the Campus Community Coalition
January 31st, 2007
Living Together in Bellingham: Student Parties, Enforcement Practices, and Neighborly Relations
The event will be an in-depth look at issues facing students, long-term community members, and law enforcement. Please come listen, learn, and share how we might better live together in Bellingham.
INFORMATION: Lara Welker at 650-6863 or Lara.Welker@wwu.edu

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Raising up the Struggle: The legacy of post-levee break New Orleans
January 22- 31, 2007
Western Washington University

*Building a Solidarity Movement: White Antiracist organizing in New Orleans
Wednesday, January 31 Viking Union 462A
6:00 pm-8:00 pm

*Civil Liberties in the wake of Hurricane Katrina with ACLU-WA
Tuesday, January 30 Viking Union 462 A/B
6:00 pm-8:00 pm

*Concert featuring New Orleans-native jazz-soul singer, Mary Griffin, with student performances, Poetry Slam and DJ to follow.
Saturday, January 27 Viking Union Multipurpose Room
Doors open at 7 pm
*Live auction to benefit Ninth Ward Neighborhood Empowerment Network Association
$5 for students, $8 for non-students. Tickets sold at the door.

*Bringing the lessons home:
Strategies for effective and collective social and environmental justice organizing
Friday, January 26 Viking Union 565
12:00 pm-2:00 pm

*Future of Black Leadership:
Correcting the causes of Katrina
Young Black leadership forum in which future black leaders address the causes of Katrina and how to lend their time, talents, and treasures to solving the problems for the future.
Thursday, January 25 Viking Union 565
7:00 pm-10:00 pm

*Before, during, and after Katrina:
A panel of survivors addressing the direct effects of environmental racism
Wednesday, January 24 Viking Union 565
8:00 pm-10:00 pm

*When the Levees Broke, A Spike Lee Joint. Parts III and IV
Tuesday, January 23 Arntzen Hall 100
8:00 pm-10:00 pm

*When the Levees Broke, A Spike Lee Joint. Parts I and II
Monday, January 22 Arntzen Hall 100
8:00 pm-10:00 pm

*Free-will donations will be collected at each program to benefit Ninth Ward Neighborhood Empowerment Network Association*

INFORMATION:
Social Issues Resource Center
Associated Student Resource and Outreach Programs at WWU
(360) 650-6804 - as.rop.social.issues@wwu.edu

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BEYOND MLK–
January 8- 10th, 5PM
Three nights of education about African American revolutionaries– each night explores a different theme- sponsored by the Whatcom Community College Ethnic Students Association
January 8th – Separatists
January 9th – Writers
January 10th - Politically Conscious Hip Hop Artists and a presentation by The People’s Institute
LOCATION:: Whatcom Community College’s Syre Center at 5pm

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GREGORY MICHIE AT VILLAGE BOOKS
Thursday, January 11th, at 7 PM
Village Books will host a reading by Michie

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GREGORY MICHIE AT VIKING UNION
Friday, January 12th at 2PM
Dr. Michie will meet with teachers, students, WWU faculty, and community members in WWU’s Viking Union 565 for a discussion seminar
The Center for Educational Pluralism strives to provide educationally enriching events that address issues related to equity, diversity, self-exploration, inter-group relations, multicultural education, democratic empowerment and civic engagement. Michie’s visit serves this purpose and we would like to collaborate with you to offer this event as an option for your students. If you would like to incorporate this event into your winter courses, please contact Lorraine Kasprisin – Lorraine.Kasprisin@wwu.edu. Local community partner, Village Books, is offering a 15% discount towards the purchase of Holler If You Hear Me to students, teachers, and faculty members who want to participate.

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9th Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. HUMAN RIGHTS CONFERENCE
“ Teaching As If Democracy Matters ”
January 13, 2007, 8:30am (registration) - 4pm

The Whatcom Human Rights Task Force, along with co-sponsor Whatcom Community College, present the 9th Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Human Rights Conference on Saturday January 13, 2007, to be held at Whatcom Community College’s Syre Center. The theme chosen for this year’s conference is Teaching As If Democracy Matters.

Keynote speakers [details on speakers]
Author/educator, Dr. Gregory Michie
WWU Political Science Professor, Dr. Vernon Damani Johnson.

This year’s workshops are set up in three interconnected tracks: an Educator Track, Youth Track and Community Track. [please see conference page for full details]

Registration begins at 8:30AM, with the opening ceremony at 9AM. No advanced registration necessary. Workshops will run throughout the day. The conference is FREE and open to ALL community members.
Free accommodations include childcare, parking and light refreshments.
Sign language interpreters will be provided if requested by January 9th.
Please contact the office at (360) 733-2233

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Law Advocates Book Club group
Folks from Law Advocates are interested in beginning a new book group.
For those who are interested, call Sofia @ 734-9761

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