santacruz coalition

On Tuesday, February 27th, the City Council of Santa Cruz, CA put Santa Cruz on record as the first community in the country to officially oppose the use of preemptive military force against the sovereign country of Iran, whether overt or covert!

By a vote of 5 to 2, the Council passed the resolution below, which also included strong language about an immediate withdrawal from Iraq!

Over 75 community members attended, and many spoke on behalf of the resolution – the council also received dozens of emails and phone calls supporting them in taking this action – there were no negative public comments or messages received.

Mayor Emily Reilly and Council Members can be reached at 831-420-5020 or emily reilly <ereilly@ci.santa-cruz.ca.us> mike rotkin <mrotkin@ci.santa-cruz.ca.us>, cynthia mathews <cmathews@ci.santa-cruz.ca.us>, ryan coonerty <rcoonerty@ci.santa-cruz.ca.us>, tony madrigal <tmadrigal@ci.santa-cruz.ca.us>, ed porter <eporter@ci.santa-cruz.ca.us>, lynn robinson <lrobinson@ci.santa-cruz.ca.us

(fyi: Ryan Coonerty and Lynn Robinson were the dissenting votes)

activist contacts include:
Sherry Conable  831-459-7259
Louis Lafortune  831-588-8487
Celia Scott  831-423-0796

this grassroots initiated action was organized and cosponsored by:
Veterans for Peace Chapter 11 of Santa Cruz, CodePink Santa Cruz, the Green Party of SC, the Peace & Freedom Party of SC, the Coalition for Impeachment Now!, Students Against War, Women in Black of SC, the United Nations Association of SC, the Buddhist Peace Fellowship of SC, the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom of SC, and the People’s Democratic Club of SC

(passed by Santa Cruz City Council, 5 to 2, Feb 27, 2007)
RESOLUTION OPPOSING U.S. MILITARY INVOLVEMENT IN IRAQ AND IRAN

Whereas, current U.S. foreign policy in the middle-east is clearly counterproductive with respect to the interests of the American people and the peoples of the middle-east; and

Whereas, the initial invasion of Iraq was based on deliberately falsified information about non-existent “weapons of mass destruction” and alleged ties between Sadam Hussein and Al Quaeda in Iraq presented by the Bush Administration to the U.S. Congress, the United Nations, and the American people; and

Whereas, continued presence of the U.S. military in Iraq as an occupying army ­ a situation which has already gone on longer than the U.S. involvement in World War II — cannot possibly lead to peace and/or a stable and sovereign Iraq under the control of the people of Iraq; and

Whereas, the increase or “surge” in American soldiers proposed by the Bush Administration cannot lead to a successful outcome of the war in Iraq; and

Whereas, polls conducted by the most reputable and accurate U.S. polling organizations have shown that the vast majority of Iraqis want the United States military to leave their country and that a significant majority of the Iraqis, whom our soldiers are ostensibly there to protect, also now support killing American troops; and

Whereas, the Bush Administration is now circulating information of dubious authenticity about the involvement of the government of Iran in importing weapons and explosive devises into Iraq ­ a claim about which the U.S. commander on the ground in Iraq has cast serious doubt; and

Whereas, the Administration’s questionable information about Iran follows exactly the same pattern as their lies that led to the ill-considered and ill-fated invasion and occupation of Iraq; and

Whereas, the U.S. release of information about the alleged involvement of Iran in providing weapons in Iraq is clearly intended to justify an attack on Iran

Whereas, such an attack and widening of the U.S. war in the middle-east is almost certain to drive forces in Iran who are friendly to the United States into increased hatred and hostility toward the United States and its citizens, once again making potential friends into virulent enemies ­ as the Bush Administration has done consistently in their misguided approach to foreign policy; and

Whereas, the Bush Administration’s approach to the war in Iraq have cost the lives of over 3,000 American soldiers, the serious maiming of over 26,000 American soldiers, and the death and maiming of countless hundreds of thousands of innocent Iraqi civilians as well as the waste of over $400,000,000,000 of American tax dollars that might have been put to much better use in serving the education, health care, job training, housing, human services, and other domestic needs of the residents of Santa Cruz and throughout the United States; and

Whereas, the vast majority of the American public, both through the electoral process in November 2006 and as demonstrated in public opinion polls, now have expressed a clear desire for the complete and rapid withdrawal of American military forces from Iraq; and

Whereas, significant numbers of local Santa Cruz citizens have asked the Santa Cruz City Council to represent their opposition to the continued U.S. military occupation of Iraq, the expansion of the war in Iraq, and its spread to neighboring countries; and

Whereas, the California State Legislature is now also considering actions to express its opposition to the current approach of the Bush Administration’s policies in the middle-east; and

Whereas, the Santa Cruz City Council has been asked by our local citizens to play a role in amplifying their support for strong Congressional action to oppose the current policies of the Bush Administration in the middle-east and to support the actions already taken by our Congressmember Sam Farr and others to that end:

Therefore, Be It Resolved, that the Santa Cruz City Council does hereby express its support for the strong leadership being taken by our Congressional Representative Sam Farr and other members of Congress to limit the war authority of the Bush Administration with respect to continuing and/or expanding the war in Iraq or taking, or supporting, or encouraging any military action against Iran, which includes support for Congressmember Sam Farr’s HR 33, Congressmember Barbara Lee’s HR 770 with respect to Iran and HR 413, HR 508, and HR 4232 [check final bill numbers] with respect to expanding U.S. troops in Iraq, and any other Congressional actions calling for the immediate and/or most rapid possible withdrawal of American military forces from Iraq, Iran, and the surrounding countries; and

Be It Further Resolved, that the Santa Cruz City Council does hereby request that our California U.S. Senators Boxer and Feinstein join our Congressmember Sam Farr by providing leadership in the U.S. Senate in support of Congress re-establishing its Constitutional authority over U.S. foreign policy and war policy and funding; and

Be It Further Resolved, that the Santa Cruz City Council does hereby request that our California State Legislators, Assemblymember John Laird and State Senator Joe Simitian, provide leadership in the California legislature in support of State Senator Carole Migden’s Senate Joint Resolution (SJR 1) calling for a rapid withdrawal of the U.S. military occupation of Iraq; and

Be It Further Resolved, that the Santa Cruz City Council directs Mayor Emily Reilly to send copies of this Resolution to the President of the United States, our Congressional representatives, our California legislative representatives, the League of California Cities, and all local media outlets; and to arrange that a copy of this resolution be placed on the Santa Cruz City website.

Local artists auction teacups to build schools in Pakistan and Afghanistan

Don’t underestimate the power of the tea party—it could start a revolution. Bonnie and Steven Barisof, Santa Cruz potters with more than 70 years of combined experience, understand this. Spurred on by the power of another little everyday thing, the written word, the Barisofs are spearheading a teacup party in town to raise awareness and funds for education in Pakistan and Afghanistan.

It all started just over a year ago in an unlikely place—a neighborhood book club. That was how Bonnie, a mild-mannered mother who confesses she’s actually “not much of a reader,” was introduced to “Three Cups of Tea” and the now-famous story of Greg Mortenson: After the Montana mountain climber’s failed attempt at K2 in 1993, he ultimately forged a friendship with the local villagers and began building schools with an emphasis on teaching girls in that remote part of the world. He has since established more than 100 schools.

“Three Cups of Tea” and Mortenson’s recent sequel, “Stones into Schools,” relate how educating girls in the war-torn area means more educated wives and mothers, which creates a noticeable trend of smaller families, healthier children, and greater community awareness. And as far as international relations go, a son will less likely join the Taliban if his mother doesn’t give him permission. A mother is less likely to give him permission if she’s educated.

The Pentagon estimates that it costs $1 million to keep one U.S. soldier on the ground in Afghanistan for one year. According to Mortenson, that same amount of money can build 30 to 40 schools in the region and transform a generation of kids.

It may sound like a foreign cause too far from our beachfront radar, but raising funds to build schools where our troops are being sent has become a very local issue in Santa Cruz.

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If we help [in Pakistan and Afghanistan], which doesn’t take huge sums of money, we won’t have to send all the money here into having our military over there. It’s going to help us faster this way than the other way around.” —bonnie barisof

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After reading “Three Cups of Tea” Bonnie told her husband of 32 years to read it. “I’ve never read a book that’s moved me like that,” she says.

Steven remembers how Bonnie was immediately inspired to help Mortenson in some way: “She said to me, ‘I want to help this guy, he’s doing such important stuff. Cups—we make cups, we can make cups! We know other potters who make cups. We can have some sort of cup sale. We gotta do something to raise money.’ And that’s how it all started.”

The ‘it’ is an online auction at 3-cups-of-tea-santacruz.com (built by Steven who doubles as a web designer) selling locally made teacups in sets of three, 2D art and jewelry. This year’s auction began on Jan. 25 and culminates in the second 3 Cups of Tea Santa Cruz fundraiser on Thursday, Feb. 11, at the Rio Theatre. Proceeds benefit Mortenson’s nonprofit Central Asia Institute (CAI).

The event will feature the former president of the CAI board, Julia Bergman, speaking and presenting a slideshow about the work of the CAI and the schools being built. Santa Cruz’s Lou Renner, an artist and international mountain guide who trains people to climb Mount Everest, will also speak about the K2 trek Mortenson attempted—the one he failed to accomplish but which triggered his immense humanitarian efforts that many predict will earn him a Nobel Peace Prize.

I chat with the Barisofs around the kitchen table where Bonnie first brainstormed ideas for a fundraising effort. I find myself welcomed into their artful and pottery-laden home by the smell of freshly baked chocolate chip cookies and, of course, a steeping pot of tea with a set of three homemade teacups glimmering with aquamarine accents neatly arranged for each of us.

As we share some orange blossom tea, I learn that while last year’s inaugural online auction and event at Gault Elementary School raised $9,500, with every item selling and bids coming in from as far away as New York and Paris, the Barisofs are hoping to approach twice that amount this time around. And the surrounding community is all for it.

Along with nearly 70 artists donating their work to the auction, five area schools are contributing to the cause by raising money on campus through “Pennies for Peace”—titled because each penny can purchase a pencil for a student abroad, opening the doors to literacy. Gault Elementary, Westlake Elementary, Branciforte Middle School, San Lorenzo Valley Elementary and Harbor High School are all hosting “Pennies for Peace,” and some students have gone so far as to craft teacups being auctioned.

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“People want to help if you give them a way to participate and do something positive. And giving a set of teacups isn’t a hardship—people want to do it.” —bonnie barisof

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Local government has even joined in. Mayor Mike Rotkin just issued a proclamation declaring the month of February 2010 “3 Cups of Tea Santa Cruz Month” in order to “encourage all citizens to promote peace through education.”

Still, it begs the question: Why all this effort for schools so far away when we have enough problems with our own educational system? Bonnie responded to that concern plenty of times, replying that “if we help [in Pakistan and Afghanistan], which doesn’t take huge sums of money, we won’t have to send all the money here into having our military over there. It’s going to help us faster this way than the other way around.”

She adds that when they started piecing together the whole 3 Cups of Tea Santa Cruz idea, we were still living in the Bush age; they were determined to do something that generated a sense of hope. “We wanted to show that there are wonderful things happening in the world that you never hear about,” Bonnie begins. “People want to help if you give them a way to participate and do something positive. And giving a set of teacups isn’t a hardship—people want to do it.”

Bonnie says that 3 Cups of Tea Santa Cruz, which started after her silent reading steamrolled into the clay community’s call for action, has given her “a new direction as a human being.”

All in all, the Barisofs, backed by a legion of 100 local donors, volunteers and sponsors, are giving a simple reminder that if you try to see the cup as half full, you might just make it overflow.

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3 Cups of Tea Santa Cruz takes place at 5:30-9 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 11, at the Rio Theatre, 1205 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz. Tickets are $10 in advance, $15 at the door. For more information or the online auction, go to 3-cups-of-tea-santacruz.com.

Two Iraqi labor leaders are featured speakers at a program offering local residents the chance to hear from workers who are struggling to end the occupation, sectarian violence, and the repression of women and working people in Iraq. Hashmeya Muhsin Hussein, the first woman to head a national Iraqi labor union, is President of the Electrical Utility Workers Union, and Faleh Abood Umara is General Secretary of the Southern Oil Company Union.
They will explain why unions oppose the proposed privatization law favored by the Bush administration and oil corporations. They will also address the role of unions in rebuilding Iraq, and the prospects for a stable, democratic, non-sectarian future.
The event is part of a national tour sponsored by U.S. Labor Against the War, United for Peace and Justice, and the American Friends Service Committee. Local sponsors include Central Coast Workers Against War, Monterey Bay Central Labor Council, Resource Center for Nonviolence, Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, Santa Cruz Peace Coalition, Families Against War, UC-AFT 2199, UPTE CWA-9119, and the Pajaro Valley Federation of Teachers. The event is endorsed by the Santa Cruz Green Party.
A sliding scale donation is requested—no one turned away.