(ARCHIVES: December 16, 2006) Light of peace outshines dark of war

The "season of peace" has arrived once again to challenge the hostile voices of death with their clarion call for more troops and continued war abroad. But, even the darkest gloom cannot overcome the light of a single candle…it only makes the light of peace appear brighter by contrast.

For families with loved ones serving in the military, the holidays are especially troubling. On one hand is the fear for the physical safety of husbands and wives, sons and daughters who march bravely into the maelstrom. On the other is the realization that the "mission" of war corrupts the mind and soul and is contrary to the teachings of faith, justice, and basic human morality.

The question "for what noble cause?" remains unanswered.

Enter the voices of peace

Even on the battlefield, soldiers will light candles and sing "Oh, Holy Night". The bravest of them directly challenge policymakers in Washington to put an end to war. Their family members join in peace marches, rallies and protests, author blogs, and share the grim reality of war with any who will listen.

They are aided by committed peacemakers, from towns small and large, who actively engage in disciplined activities to persuade the populous to turn from madness and take up the mantle of peace. Some muck up the gears of the war machines and go to jail.

Others use their talents to speak the truth, share wisdom, create, teach and otherwise enlighten the world. These are all activities of peace-filled activities.

The coming months will be crucial for those who desire peace and justice to loudly proclaim an immediate end to the occupation of Iraq and "no more war". The pundits and powers-that-be will continue their wrong thinking during the past four years of war cannot be brought about in ten times four more since neither the goal nor the means is peaceful.

It is up to us, in our everyday capacity, to end the war.

Peace for all

During the past year, 307 Texans have already been killed or injured in the deserts of Afghanistan and Iraq while the President, Senators, and Congresspersons from Texas fumble in their intransigence. With eyes that do not see and ears that do not hear, some propose to send thousands more to their doom.

Iraqis, Americans and others around the world remain captives of man-made policies that have, and will continue to, bring only to death and destruction. Peace cannot prevail through military means. Winning cannot be achieved through violence.

As the new Congress is seated in January, church leaders, civil rights activists and peacemakers of every stripe will be in Washington to "welcome" these servants of the public and hold them accountable to bring an immediate end to U.S. hostilities and begin withdrawal of troops from Iraq.

The candles of peacemakers outside the White House will appear as torches to those who oppose peace.

Only foolish men are afraid of the light. In their heart of hearts, they have no confidence in the phrase in terra pax hominibus bonae voluntatis, peace and goodwill to all on earth

Get involved, participate in activities to end the war (stay tuned to the Texans for Peace website and e-mails for more soon!).

A new generation

At the peak of the Vietnam War, Dr. Martin Luther King proudly called on Americans to "break the silence" and lead a worldwide fellowship that would lift "neighborly concern beyond one's tribe, race, class, and nation." He reflected the light of truth onto the darkness of that generation and kindled a flame that continues to burn today.

Now it is up to a new generation to shine that light onto our present events and bring an end to the current wars. "We must find new ways to speak for peace [] and justice throughout the developing world, a world that borders on our doors. If we do not act, we shall surely be dragged down the long, dark, and shameful corridors of time reserved for those who possess power without compassion, might without morality, and strength without sight." MLK's words still sparkle.

Light a candle in the darkness

Much of the imagery of the world's religions evokes light over darkness. Candles, lamps and flames are used to evoke the power of the divine and of hope. Light alternatively is used to represent transcendent truths, knowledge, and wisdom.

Your light can be the calming guide when screaming violence and madness of war threatens to breach the peace.

From ancient times, people have been counseled to light candles instead of cursing darkness and reminded that a candle loses none of its brightness by lighting the candle of another.

In 2007 let us - as Texans for Peace - become a bulwark against the shadows.

Light your candle of peace for the coming year.

"End the War" Jan. 27 in D.C.

Peace groups from across the United States will descend on Washington on January 27 to demand an immediate end to the war in Iraq and a beginning of troop withdrawals. Following on the heals of the November election, activists will remind members of Congress that Americans will not stand for a continuation of the war.

United for Peace and Justice, a coalition of peace groups, AFSC, Veterans for Peace, Peace Action, Texans for Peace, World Can't Wait, and other national and local organizations are encouring as many Americans as possible to make it to D.C. in January, in person, by phone, fax or letter. So far, most members of the Texas congressional delegation - liberal and conservative - continue to support warmaking.

SMU theologians protest Bush library

Members of Souther Methodist University's (SMU) Perkins School of Theology have urged the university board to “reconsider and to rescind SMU’s pursuit of the presidential library.”

President Bush is currently raising $500 Million to establish a presidential libary and think tank.

The SMU theologians oppose the use of the university to enshrine attitudes and actions widely deemed as ethically egregious: degradation of habeas corpus, outright denial of global warming, flagrant disregard for international treaties, alienation of long-term U.S. allies, environmental predation, shameful disrespect for gay persons and their rights, a pre-emptive war based on false and misleading premises, and a host of other erosions of respect for the global human community and for this good Earth on which our flourishing depends.

Invitation: Texan-Iraqi delegation to Amman, April '07

Texas business women and entrepreneurs are invited to meet with their Iraqi counterparts in Amman, Jordon in April.

Texans for Peace is organizing a week-long delegation to create bridges between the two countries with a focus on practical economic actions that can build towards peace. This is part of the Women's Business Center of Baghdad (WBCB) project that was started in 2004.

The cost for each delegate is $2,600 and includes airfare, hotel, meals, meetings and all other expenses. Interested delegates must complete and submit an application by January 27.

Christian violence peddlers

The foremost publishers of Christian porn - the Left Behind series, has now launched a new video game that revels in "Christian violence".

Based upon the novel series by Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins, the new game - on shelves just in time for Christmas - depicts an apocolyptic world in which players are charged with creating Christian militias who roam the streets of New York City, looking to convert non-believers and killing those who they are unable to draw to their side.

Like new games sponsored by the U.S. military, Left Behind: Eternal Forces, encourages teens to view the world as good vs evil in which the solution to problems is to kill. What next, rambo-buddy Jesus action figures in every boy's stocking?

(ARCHIVES: December 1, 2006) Dirty Air

Don't Breath
(sung to the tune of "My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean")

Don't breath air in Longview or Tyler,
Wear facemasks in Waxahachie,
Or you'll die of coal air pollution,
Caused by the 'lectric company.

Don't breath, don't breath,
Remember Mount Pleasant and Dodd, and Dodd.
They're not our skies,
TXU leased them from God.

One of the biggest environmental battles in Texas history is going on right now over plans to build as many as 19 new power plants: 17 coal-burning and 2 nuclear.

On one side are corporate interests, represented by Dallas-based TXU Corp. that provide electricity for millions of Texans. On the other, a host of city governments, farm and ranch groups, and environmental organizations - Texas Cities for Clean Air Coalition - that are trying to limit irresponsible growth and the effects of air pollution.

Texas is already the nation's No. 1 air polluter and the approval of more dirty-coal fueled power plants will only aggravate the situation. Texas was also recently singled out for having some of the dirtiest power plants in the nation.

While the energy needs of Texas are great, companies that provide that energy just look for quick rates of return (anyone remember Enron?). TXU had one idea in mind: coal.

Coal is cheap, even when shipped in all of the way from Wyoming. It's cheaper than natural gas or oil….and a whole lot dirtier. TXU has applied for "fast track" permits that will allow it to build coal-burning power plants throughout the state - enough to supply 9,000 megawatts, or more than the total electricity produced in Iraq.

These plants will produce massive amounts of carbon - 78 million tons a year, making Texas the 9th largest producer of greenhouse gases in the world. Not only does TXU want to use coal, but it has also asked for expensive pollution control measures to be omitted.

Texans are up in arms because the coal-burning plants will more than double TXU's emissions of carbon dioxide, but also because state political leaders refuse to consider alternatives such as sustainable energy or reduced energy consumption.

John Wilder, TXU's chief executive, said the company would invest in new technology to limit carbon emissions from coal-burning plants. But Public Citizens Texas disagrees. "TXU's blowing smoke," says Tom "Smitty" Smith, director of Public Citizen. "They're unyielding and unwilling to compromise."

Groups opposing TXU's plans include the cities of Dallas and Houston, the Sierra Club, Environmental Defense, the Natural Resources Defense Council, the Rainforest Action Network, and the Seed Coalition. Farmer and rancher groups, and even church groups also opposed

"It's amazing who's against this," says Jim Marston, who leads Environmental Defense's Texas operations.

Meanwhile, TXU said falling wholesale power prices are squeezing its profit. TXU said the drop in power prices, and the rise in fuel costs, will shave up to $200 million from earnings each year for the next five years.

State hearings on permits for new TXU coal-fired power plants kicked off last week in Mount Pleasant and Henderson to standing-room-only crowds. Federal hearings are set to begin in January.

This week two public interest groups, CleanCOALition and Robertson County: Our Land Our Lives, today filed suit against three TXU companies, alleging multiple violations of state and federal clean air standards relating to TXU's planned Oak Grove Steam Electric Station.
CleanCOALition President Albert D. Huddleston said the lawsuit is an effort to compel industry and regulators to comply with the standards for emission controls known as Best Available Control Technology (BACT). "There's a clear principle behind this lawsuit," Huddleston said. "New, more effective technologies exist, and they are required to be used under the Clean Air Act. We can, and should, do better than we are doing today."
"We must put a stop to practices that compromise the health of our people and of our environment," said Paul Rolke, President of Robertson County: Our Land Our Lives.

The 43-page complaint also contends that TXU failed to consider alternative fuels, analyze and implement a variety of control technologies such as circulating fluidized bed (CFB), dry sorbent injection, and spray drier absorption. The lawsuit contends those portions of the Clean Air Act addressing mercury, modeling, and nitrogen oxides were also violated. Mercury emissions are of particular concern and already at dangerous levels around existing power plants throughout the state.

Emissions from the new power plants would lead to 240 additional premature deaths per year, according to MSB Energy Associates in an analysis using a method developed for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to predict the power plants' health effects.

TXU isn't the only company planning to use coal. Tondu Corp. wants to build in Texas too, after being shut out of Indiana and Michigan. The company proposed a plant on the Corpus Christi Ship Channel to burn petroleum coke, a byproduct of nearby oil refineries. CPS, the San Antonio city utility, plans to build a new coal-powered plants in that city, despite the harm it will cause to tourism.

To learn more about this issue, and what you can do, visit the Stop the Coal Plant Coalition. There's plenty of information on these proposed plants, their locations, and effects.

It seems a bit odd, at the start of the 21st Century to see a "coal rush", but corporate profit apparently knows no bounds.

"Crawford duo" convicted A jury in Waco this week convicted antiwar protestors with "obstructing a street" by standing in ditches near the president's ranch in Crawford. Hiram Myers, a 75-year-old retired Oklahoma lawyer, and Em Hardy, a 58-year-old Austin psychologist, were arrested under a McLennan County ordinance, which prohibits tents in the right of way of county roads. Each was ordered to pay a $150 fine and court costs. Hardy said her purpose wasn't to cause problems but to send out the antiwar message out. “Until a couple years ago, I never thought I’d be getting arrested,” Hardy said. “The country is just not what it used to be. I’m scared for my children. I’m scared for everybody’s children. I just want the killing to stop.” 2 gay candidates vie for Dallas mayor Two openly gay candidates will seek to become the next mayor of Dallas. Dallas lawyer Roger Herrera is expected to be pitted against City Councilman Ed Oakley for the election in May. At least another six candidates are expected to run for mayor in what already sounds like an interesting race. In 2005, Dallas elected an LBGT sheriff - Lupe Valdez. Maybe this is all a result of the "Our Secret is Out" campaign, that Dallas is using to court gay tourists to visit that fair city. "Big D" is a diverse metropolitan area that "has left behind stereotypes of big-haired women and rowdy cowboys — that is, unless you count sassy drag queens and strapping gay rodeo champs," according to a website operated by the Dallas Convention & Visitors Bureau.

55,000 acres of Texas timberland sold Rayonier Inc., a forest products company, is paying $121 million to buy 55,000 acres of Texas timberland north of Houston. Global Forest Partners is selling the land which "has an unusually large percentage of immediately harvestable, high-value pine sawtimber," said a Rayonier spokesman. The Florida company owns, leases or manages 2.7 million acres of timber and land in the United States, New Zealand and Australia. Mr. James H. Hance, a director of Rayonier, alson serves as a senior advisor to The Carlyle Group (i.e. Bush Co. ). Dallas Gay megachurch joins UCC The Cathedral of Hope - a gay-friendly megachurch - has joined the United Church of Christ (UCC) denomination. The Cathedral of Hope in Dallas, which claims 4,300 members, was admitted to the United Church's North Texas Association. The megachurch is now the fourth-largest congregation in the 1.3 million-memberin the 5,700-church denomination. In the early 1970s, the UCC became the first major Christian church to ordain an openly gay minister. Soon after, the church declared itself "open and affirming" of gays and lesbians. Church members then voted overwhelmingly to back same-sex marriage in a July 2005 national assembly. The Cathedral separated from the Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches (MCC) churches in 2003.

(ARCHIVES: November 16, 2006) Half-baked plans for Iraq

INGREDIENTS

3 cups failed polices
½ teaspoon think tanks
2 sticks generals
¾ cup pundits
1 (8 ounce) military package
2 ¼ tablespoons defense contractors
1 ½ teaspoons hubris (fresh, not dried)
¼ teaspoon extract of numi Basra
1 tablespoon academics
½ cup assorted nuts
pinch of Iraqi participation

DIRECTIONS

In politically-charged environment, beat failed policies until fluffy. Gradually fold in think tanks and generals until smooth. Add pundits, sifting thoroughly. Add remaining ingredients; mix well. Pour into prepared media (American-preferred). Bake at low temperature for 45 days (center will still be uncooked). Serve while hot. Garnish as desired with partisanship or see toppings: Red, White and Blue, pg. 36

It's Not About Strategy

Strategists have been revising plans for "Victory" in Iraq since the election-day thumpin' but early indicators are that changes will be half-baked at best and could end up disastrous if Americans and Iraqi citizens don't become more involved.

The same policymakers, pundits, and war-apologists that created the debacle in the first place are the ones reformulating plans to resolve the mess. Those who lacked the initial understanding and intelligence of Iraq, failed to anticipate the requirements of reconstruction and stability, and refuse to listen to the citizenry are once again prepared to say "we know best, follow our lead".

At this point, there is no amount of military second-guessing, policy reformulation, or tactical reassessments that will provide a clean exit from the war.

There is only one answer if we are to extricate ourselves in a manner that will provide Iraq an opportunity to regain its own stability - immediate withdrawal - something Texans for Peace has been advocating for the past three years.

Rather than making, and debating the nuances of strategies to be used while America continues to occupy Iraq, we should be formulating plans for U.S. and international non-military involvement as that country reconstitutes itself: reconstruction aid, technical assistance, and cultural interchanges

Meanwhile, warmongers and their lobbyists are descending on Washington as "peace consultants". Each has a "plan" for Iraq and hopes to gain the ear of the new Democratic congressional majority (who incidentally also lack knowledge about Iraq). Just as before the war; professionals in the international community, peace and humanitarian organizations, and Iraqi people are likely to be ignored, their advice unsolicited.

"Official" Plans

Plans from "officials" are currently being formulated to resolve the war in Iraq. Note that they are mostly American proposals formulated by Washington insiders with a political mindset, not professionals with understanding of the complexities of the Middle East or involving Iraqis.

Plan for Victory - This is the White House policy document, created in 2005, that guides the direction of the war in Iraq. President Bush has asked various government agencies to review the document and pull together additional studies. It is lead by the president's foreign policy team, of which Bob Gates - the incoming Secretary of Defense - is expected to play a key role, along with Secretary of State Condolezza Rice and Carl Rove. National Security Advisor, Stephen J. Hadley, is overseeing this expedited review.

In some respects, this effort is seen to be a counter to the recommendations of the Iraq Study Group. The president's team, still smarting from the outcome of mid-term elections, appears to be on the defensive regarding both strategies and tactics.

While there will certainly be some new ideas as a result of this review, the President has repeatedly stated that he will not withdraw from Iraq. This intransigence

Iraq Study Group (ISG) - The bi-partisan ISD, also referred to as the Baker-Hamilton commission, has been holding hearings for several months and seeking the advice of current and past governmental leaders and think tanks to prepare a report outlining recommendations for the Administration.

The ISG was formed in March at the request of congress, which called for a fresh look at the current and prospective situation in Iraq with a focus on four areas: security, politics, economy and reconstruction, and regional strategy. It includes both advocates and critics of current policies but principally includes pragmatists with a multilateral worldview. It is facilitated by the U.S. Institute of Peace (a quasi-governmental organization).

Generals' War - While political leaders flail, the Pentagon appears to have been given more latitude to pursue their own strategies "on the ground", particularly after the ousting of Donald Rumsfeld. There are a wide range of attitudes regarding what tactics to pursue, but the military is constrained by Washington's decision to continue the occupation, even past the expiration of the U.N. Security Council mandate under which the multinational forces ostensibly "aid" Iraq.

Marine Gen. Peter Pace, chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, led a military review in September to determine what tactical changes needed to be made in Iraq and how best to provide security in an increasingly untenable (for both U.S. forces and Iraqis) situation. Lauded by conservatives, it appears that the initial result is an escalation of violence in Iraq, as observed in both the increase in paramilitary and insurgent attacks and new aggressive operations including air strikes in Baghdad and elsewhere by coalition forces.

Other Parties

In addition to the "official" recommendations that are expected to find their way to Congress and the Whitehouse, there are several initiatives led by groups around the world that involve Iraqis and are more international in perspective.

Iraq Reconciliation Plan - In August 2006, a diverse group of American peace activists met with Iraqi members of parliament, tribal sheiks and torture survivors in Amman as part of a citizen-led initiative to formulate a plan for Iraq. Called the "Progressive Government" plan, it formulated 10 key points that could lead to peace and reconciliation in Iraq.

Mecca Declaration - Last month, Muslim Sunni and Shi'ia clerics from Iraq and eight other Muslim countries met in Mecca as part of an initiative of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC). They approved a declaration demanding an end to sectarian feuds in Iraq that is supported by many political and religious leaders throughout the region. The declaration forbids sectarian bloodshed but stops short of calling for an end to Iraqi insurgency against occupation troops.

BRussells Tribunal - This international committee of intellectuals, artists and activists who try to bridge between the intellectual resistance in the Arab world and Western peace movements. It started with a people's court against the PNAC and calls for the occupying powers to cede all power and ceases all military operations. Their statement, "The Way Out" calls for US forces to negotiate an immediate withdrawal directly with the Iraqi resistance.

AFSC, Electronic Iraq, UFPJ, VITW, CPT, Texans for Peace, VFP - and other peace organizations throughout the U.S. that have members with backgrounds in conflict zones and experience in Iraq are monitoring the various plans to see where they can provide support to end the war and work towards peace.

All of these "other" parties have a quite different approach and outlook to resolving conflict that either the Washington political establishment or the military industry. In general there is agreement that in order to build lasting peace, the following provisions must be part of any plan:

-Involvement and sign-off on any plan by those most affected by the war - the people of Iraq - rather than imposition of plans created by non-Iraqis.
-Complete withdrawal of all foreign troops and military bases not under United Nations control and present at the invitation of the government of Iraq.
-Preservation of the integrity of the Iraq state and full participation of Iraqis in affairs of government - no partitioning of the country or its resources.
-International funding for reconstruction, either as war reparations or international aid, principally led by allocations from the United States and Great Britain.
-Independent investigation and prosecution of crimes - past and current - that may have occurred.

To develop a plan in the midst of a debacle as present-time Iraq requires intelligent and pragmatic ideas and a great deal of negotiation among well-meaning parties. It is not simply something than can be crafted together from the stale crusts of previous strategies.

A credible plan cannot be achieved if it is formulated either by the perpetrators of this calamity or partisans (in Iraq as well as other countries) who are motivated primarily by domestic politics. Such plans will fall like a incorrectly prepared soufflé.

Advocates of peace, justice and reason sometimes appear childlike, but have the willingness and capacity to help lead the way out of this mess. Will their gentle voices be able to pierce the cacophony of combat or shall we continue to perpetuate war?

Antiwar activists ready to take on Dems On the heals of the thumpin' that Americans gave to President Bush and the Republican administration, antiwar activists are gearing up to challenge the new Democratic congress as well. Antiwar groups are concerned that go-along-to-get-along Democrats will be more concerned about the 2008 presidential elections than making substantive changes in U.S. policies - including the need to withdraw from Iraq. They worry that a "sellout" by the incoming congress will result in prolonging the war in Iraq and the needless deaths of thousands more American GIs and Iraqis. Issues such as presidential authority, torture, immigration and warrantless arrests also need to be addressed. BP knew of dangers in Texas City Eva Rowe, has forced a humbling apology from the British Petroleum for shocking safety lapses that caused its Texas City oil refinery to explode last year, killing her parents and 13 other people.. BP's ethical and safety lapses became obvious to the world was March 23 last year, when workers overfilled a 50-year-old blowdown drum with chemicals at the Texas City refinery, causing a huge blast in which flaming liquid showered nearby accommodation trailers. It was the worst US industrial accident for a decade and other lapses have shown that BP isn't always as clean as its image. BP employes 37,000 Americans and the company holds a fifth of all proven oil and gas reserves in the country.

Farmer's Branch now butt of TX stupid jokes After the city council members in Farmer's Branch, near Dallas, recently passed ordinances they hope will curtail illegal aliens, Texas is once again the but of jokes around the world. City leaders passed the strictest set of ordinances against illegal entry in any Texas city, including designating English as the official language and an ordinace turning local police into an arm of federal immigration agencies. In the past three decades, Farmers Branch has grown from a sleepy community of a few thousand mostly white citizens to more than 28,000, 37 percent of whom are Hispanic Nazi, White Alliance and Skinheads in TX Austinites bore witness to an official Nazi rally last weekend (on Veteran's Day no less) at the state capitol that was attended by members of the White Alliance as well. In other parts of the state, racists and skinheads have become emboldened by to commit attacks on immigrants, people of color, and homosexuals - often with the tacit support of the conservative groups. In Houston, an 18-year old avowed racists attacked a Hispanic teen at a party. In 2003 white supremacists in East Texas were caught with a sodium cyanide bomb, other bombs, illegal weapons, hate literature, fake I.D., and chemicals, including hydrochloric acid and nitric acid.