Genesee Valley Citizens for Peace
PO Box 363 Geneseo NY 14454 <www.gvcp.org>
585-346-2530 or 585-624-3673
“Human Race Not Arms Race”
May 3, 2005
Dear GVCP Member:
NEXT GVCP MEETING: SUNDAY, MAY 22nd, 1:00 PM, 71 CENTER ST, GENESEO. NOTE EARLY MEETING TIME. Our meeting will end in time for:
Geneseo Ecumenical Peace Coalition: "An Afternoon of Peaceful Music and Poetry" Sunday, May 22nd, 3:00-4:30 PM, Central Presbyterian Church, 31 Center Street in Geneseo. The event is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served. For information, call 585-243-5264.
WEEKLY SATURDAY MORNING VIGILS FOR PEACE: 10:30–11:30 AM in Honeoye, Richmond Memorial Park, Route 20A. (Not Honeoye Falls.) [Judi Taylor 585-229-4963 <jsalsburg@monroecc.edu>]
SAVE THE DATES: NOON MOTHER’S DAY VIGIL TO MOURN MOUNTING DEATH TOLL IN IRAQ. The vigil, part of an anti-war campaign sponsored by Peace Action & Education, will be held Sunday, May 8th, noon to 1:30 PM. Participants are asked to dress in black and to gather at the corner of East Ave & Goodman St, Rochester.
The timing of this vigil works very well for people who plan to attend the Ciudad Hermana 12th Annual Classical Concert, featuring noted violinist Margaret Leenhouts. The concert takes place at 2:00 PM, Sunday, May 8th. The location is just a few minutes’ drive from Goodman & East, which is where the vigil will take place. Suggested donation is $25.00. Please RSVP right away to 585-461-5949.
Recently, Secretary of State Rice warned that if North Korea persists in nuclear development, "The United States maintains significant—and I want to underline significant—deterrent capability of all kinds in the Asia-Pacific region. So I don't think there should be any doubt about our ability to deter whatever the North Koreans are up to." Obviously, nuclear weapons are an implied component of the U.S. deterrent threat. By emphasizing U.S. military power in the region, Rice only reinforces North Korea’s claim that it too needs a nuclear deterrent, thereby perpetuating the nuclear standoff in the region. The U.S. must develop a policy that is supported by South Korea, China, and Japan if a denuclearized, peaceful Korean Peninsula is to be achieved.
Please write to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Department of State, 2201 C Street NW, Washington, DC 20520. Tell her that nuclear threats will not bring about nuclear disarmament. The first step to a peaceful resolution to the nuclear standoff is to provide North Korea with a regional security guarantee, rather than threats. Send copies of your letter to your Representative [Washington DC 20515] and your Senators [Washington DC 20510]. [Adapted from Friends Committee on National Legislation, 245 Second Street, NE, Washington, DC, 20002 (202) 547-6000 <fcnl@fcnl.org>]
This month’s phone call: A recent announcement on WXXI-AM 1370, told us, “WXXI really is your station, and we want to know what you think of it. If you have a comment or suggestion about our programming, we want you to call our new Audience Services Hotline. It’s your station, and it’s your call.” Fair enough. My personal translation of this announcement is, “We want you to tell us that Democracy Now! should be added to WXXI’s news programming.” Their number is 585-258-0200. It’s available Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. When you call, the person responding is almost certain to tell you that Democracy Now doesn’t meet WXXI’s standards for objectivity. My suggestion is to ask the person to send you a transcript of Democracy Now! reporting that wasn’t objective. Ask her or him to be specific. I believe that WXXI rejected Democracy Now! on political grounds, and then invented reasons to justify their decision. Remember—“It’s you station, and it’s your call.”
Peace,