Category: Events & Action

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YouthSpeaks Hawaii Interscholastic Poetry Slam

hi-youthspeaks-interspring091

please help spread the word!
show your love and support for Hawaii’s Youth Poets!
any questions, let me know:

Youth Speaks Hawaii presents

INTERscholastic Poetry Slam, Spring’09

Featuring High School Slam Poets from:
Kalani, Haki Puu, UH Lab, Farrington
(Kalaheo? MidPac? Campbell? Waianae? Mililani)
Friday the 13th, March 2009
@ Farrington HS Aud
doors@6pm
show@7pm
$3 with ANY STUDENT ID (including college)
$5 for ANY YOUTH WHO LOOK UNDER 21
$10 for ANYONE WHO LOOKS OLDER THAN 21!
all ages

info@YouthSpeaksHawaii.org

ps. we are also looking for volunteers for this event, all of whom would be “guest listed +1” for their services upon agreement of duties
if you or someone you know would be interested in volunteering for the upcoming INTERslam
please holler at me ASAP
my contact info should be listed below

—
TravisT
Program Director, Youth Speaks Hawaii
Travis@YouthSpeaksHawaii.org
Creative Writing Teacher, Palama Setlement, Kids Talk Story
TravisThompson@KidsTalkStory.com
TravisT@hawaii.edu
808.753.4661

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Army public meeting on Makua Cultural Sites access

IMPORTANT!

Makua Cultural Sites Meeting

Monday, March 9th, 6:30 P.M.

Nanaikapono Elementary School

89-153 Mano Avenue (Nanakuli ahupua’a)

The U.S Army is holding a community meeting in Wai’anae to prioritize cultural sites that the public wants access to. Malama Makua and Hui Malama Makua are in the process of creating a list of those sites and will be circulating that list at the meeting. We are asking you to kokua. Please attend and support the list of priority sites.

Mahalo a nui loa

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Protest state of Hawai’i’s bid to extinguish Kanaka Maoli land claims

Aloha kakou:

This is a very busy week, with events being organized throughout Hawaii and the US in opposition to the state’s attempt to negate Hawaiian claims to our national lands.

Here’s a current list of activities that are being planned. Please participate, and at a minimum, fly a Hawaiian flag.

For up to date info, see maoliworld.com. We’ll also be covering some of these activities on The Hawaii Independent, at theHI.info. Contact me at ikaikahussey@gmail.com to have your event added.

Aloha,

Ikaika Hussey
808-221-2843
Everywhere/All the Time

Protect Our Lands – Display Our Flag
Download a flag that you can post at manainfo.com

Pule throughout the day
See www.hawaiiansunite.com
Monday, February 23, 2009

3 pm – 6 pm
Signmaking at UH Manoa Center for Hawaiian Studies, Kokua a Puni Program
Tuesday, February 24, 2009

10 am – 2 pm
UH Manoa – Bachman Lawn
Signwaving

Nanakuli, O‘ahu
Signwaving
Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Beretania Street Signholding
Meet 11:30 am at ahu
http://www.hawaiianindependencealliance.org/

Hawai‘i State Capitol
4 am – 4 pm
Ku I Ka Pono Demonstration & Vigil
http://www.maoliworld.com/events/ceded-lands-vigil

Lihu‘e, Kaua‘i
3 pm – 6 pm
Corner of Kuhio Highway and Hardy Street
http://www.maoliworld.com/events/support-protest-on-kauai

Lana‘i City, Lana‘i
5 am (meet at 4:45 am)
Pule at Old Dole Administration Building – Fronting the Flag Pole

San Francisco, California
7 am – 7 pm PST
Rally at Civic Center Plaza
http://protecthawnlands.blogspot.com

Salt Lake City, Utah
9 am PST
Vigil at Scott M. Matheson Courthouse

Yale University
7 pm EST
Vigil at Cross Campus
Saturday, February 28, 2009

Keep Hawaiian Lands in Hawaiian Hands! State of Hawaii says we have no claims to Ceded Lands, and the Akaka Bill follows the same plan.

Meet @ Queen Lili’uokalani’s Statue (between ‘Iolani Palace and State
Capitol): 9 a.m. to Noon.

Bring ti leaf, wear black, and let’s build and strengthen our lahui together. For more info email Keli’i Collier: liberatethe808@gmail.co

Here is the description of the event

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Celebrate International Women’s Day

Celebrate Resistance and Internationalism
International Women’s Day
Sunday, March 8

4pm
Revolution Books

Short testimonies
Poetry and music
Followed by supper
Celebrate our solidarity with revolutionary women around the world who are fighting against the oppression of women and the emancipation of all of humanity.

On March 8 we will hear testimonies from women from many countries in solidarity with the struggles against women’s oppression in their countries and around the world.

We will especially be recognizing the women of Afghanistan and Iran, who will be holding International Women’s Day protests in Iran, Europe, Los Angeles, and elsewhere on that day. To read the Call to Protest from the March 8 Women’s Assn (Afghanistan/Iran) at www.mars.com

Celebrate International Women’s Day
Sunday, March 8
at Revolution Books

Program begins at 4pm
followed by catered supper
$10 suggested donation; no one turned away
(Men welcome)

For more info: 944-3106 or revolutionbks@yahoo.com

Organized by Revolution Books
Co-sponsored by CEJE (Collective for Equality, Justice and Empowerment)

Revolution Books is located at 2626 South King Street
(located between Puck’s Alley & 7-11 near University Avenue; free parking)
Revolution Books is open daily from noon until 6pm

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Torch March around Maui to highlight Hawaiian issues

http://www.mauinews.com/page/content.detail/id/515072.html

The Maui News
February 19, 2009

Illuminating journey

Around-island march to throw light on Native Hawaiian issues

By KEKOA ENOMOTO, Staff Writer

LAHAINA A group of Native Hawaiians plans to walk around Maui island under the auspices of E Ka’apuni A Ho’a Kukui Na Moku’aina, which means: torch march through the moku, or districts.

Principals of this six-day, nearly 200-mile kaapuni, or circuit, include members of the Kapu ohana of Kauaula – Ke’eaumoku and U’ilani Kapu, and their sons, daughter and son-in-law – and torch-maker John Aquino.

“This is a grass-roots initiative,” Ke’eaumoku Kapu said last week. “Everybody is welcome to participate, everybody.”

The event was timed to close the four-month makahiki season, a period of peace marked in ancient times by religious and sports activities. Ancient Hawaiian alii, or chiefs, and their entourages had made such circumambulations of each island during makahiki.

Besides closing makahiki, organizers want participants to reflect on and bring awareness to concerns, such as ceded lands issues, Kamehameha Schools admissions, water rights, and the health, education and well-being of Native Hawaiians.

The kaapuni will start at Moku’ula, or Malu-ulu-o-Lele Park in Lahaina, late Friday. Kumu hula Kapono’ai Molitau and members of his halau, Na Hanona Kulike ‘O Pi’ilani, will lead Native Hawaiian rituals at 11 p.m.

Organizers will light two of the 12 torches that Aquino had constructed by mounting a can on a 6-foot length of bamboo. The torch symbolizes physical illumination as well as enlightenment in Native Hawaiian culture.

The 12 districts to be visited by in order by the marchers (with rough descriptions of less commonly known areas) are: Lahaina; Kaanapali; Wailuku; Hamakuapoko, which extends from the northwest flank of Haleakala down to the Spreckelsville-Paia areas; Hamakualoa, which includes Haiku and Kailua; Koolau, which includes Keanae; Hana; Kipahulu; Kaupo; Kahikinui; Honuaula, which includes La Perouse and Makena; and Kula.

“The enlightenment is heartfelt, spiritual in nature, and in reverence to our ancestors,” an announcement of the event says. “A lighted torch to represent the enlightenment will accompany those participating. The torch must remain lit throughout the 193-mile nonstop walk around Maui. Should the lighted torch go out, the walk must begin again at Moku’ula.”

Participants will set off at midnight from Moku’ula, and traverse
coastal roads and trails clockwise around the island.

Marchers will acknowledge with protocol the kupuna and ohana in the various moku – such as award-winning recording artist and kupuna Richard Ho’opi’i of Kahakuloa, Foster Ampong at Wailuku, Bully Ho’opai at Hana, ‘Aimoku and Lehua Pali at Kahikinui, and Kaleikoa Ka’eo at Kula.

Ohana members wishing to represent their respective moku in the kaapuni can call Ke’eaumoku and U’i Kapu at 250-1479.

People can join in at any time and trek as far as they wish, Ke’eaumoku Kapu said. They can pinpoint the location of marchers at Web site www.kpoa.com (click on “News,” then “Local News”).

Prospective marchers are urged to bring layered clothing for varying weather conditions, sturdy walking shoes, safety vests, hats, sunscreen, water, food and headlamp or flashlight for nighttime travel; and to arrange for a pickup at the end of their walking segment.

People also may bring a walking stick and possibly gloves for lava areas.

Organizers said a responsible adult must accompany walkers 17 and younger. A vehicle with a first-aid kit and emergency-communications radio and cell phone will be at the front and back of the caravan. Someone certified in cardiovascular resuscitation will be available as will event informational brochures, although message and protest signs are prohibited.

Organizers estimate the torch march will end Feb. 26 at Moku’ula, with ceremonies to honor deceased kupuna.

Seconding her husband’s call for those interested to join E Ka’apuni A Ho’a Kukui Na Moku’aina, U’i Kapu said of the spiritual journey: “The goal is unity, for all to unite as one.”

* Kekoa Enomoto can be reached at kekoa@mauinews.com.

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Action Alert from KAHEA to Protect Mauna Kea!

Please take action to Protect Mauna Kea!

Your help is needed right now. Lobbyists for the University of Hawaii, backed by powerful foreign telescope-developers, are pushing hard to take control of Mauna Kea’s public trust resources and override the conservation laws currently barring further development on our sacred summits. If successful, they will use this authority to write their own rules, approve their own permits, and shut-out the public. Public trust resources cannot be protected if the developers are allowed to police themselves. Don’t let the politics of special interests undermine the public’s best interests. Take action now to help prevent the University’s power-grab.

Click Here to Take Action!

You can help stop UH’s land-grab on Mauna Kea’s sacred summit. After 40 years of mismanagement, tell the State Land Board and the Legislature that enough is enough!
“The University’s lobbyists will say anything to get their way. I heard them tell Legislators they had community consent. I am from the community and tell you what, they have nothing of the sort.” — Kukauakahi Ching, Native Hawaiian Practitioner.

Our sacred summits — Mauna Kea and Haleakala — are protected by law as conservation districts. These are public trust ceded lands–Hawaiian lands–held by the state in trust for the people of Hawaii. Yet, today Mauna Kea’s public lands are exploited by foreign corporations and the University, who are profiting from telescope activities on the summit at the public’s expense.

“The rent from the foreign telescope-owners is 30 years past due–they have paid only $1 a year to misuse Mauna Kea. If the state had been collecting the $50 million dollars a year from these foreign telescope-owners, like we suggested to them years ago, we would not have these budget shortfalls now. Remember, $50 million in 1 year is $100 million in just 2 years. They owe the people of Hawaii for 30 years of back rent. How dare they suggest to short-change the taxpayers now.” –Kealoha Pisciotta, President Mauna Kea Anaina Hou.

Forty years of uncontrolled telescope construction has desecrated cultural sites, contaminated the ground above the primary aquifer, and destroyed 90% of the endemic Wekiu’s habitat. Today, developers are vying to build two new telescopes (along with roads, parking lots, office buildings, and gift shops) on undeveloped habitat around the summit area. One of them — owned by the California Thirty Meter Telescope Corporation — is larger than all the current telescopes combined and will bulldoze the last pristine peak near the summit.

The only thing stopping them is the law. That is why the University is working hard to overturn the laws that currently protect our sacred summits and limit telescope construction. Two courts of law and two state audits have already found that the telescope industry violated the state and federal laws meant to protect Mauna Kea. The only way their future telescope construction plans can go forward is for the University and the telescope developers to change and exempt themselves from these protective environmental laws.

This latest bid to take over Mauna Kea has two fronts:

1. Pressure the Land Board to adopt an illegitimate management plan that limits public access, dictates religious ceremony, and allows UH and telescope developers to pocket public money,

2. Lobby the Legislature to pass one of four bills that will hand-over authority for managing Mauna Kea to the primary developer of the summit, the University of Hawaii.

All of it comes down to the University’s same, long-sought goal: make it easier to exploit Mauna Kea for money. The latest proposal on the table would allow the University to restrict public access (including how and when Hawaiians may worship at the sacred summit), pocket all the money made on Mauna Kea, and exempt themselves from public oversight. This is a public policy and legal nightmare!

“The University wants to gate the road to Mauna Kea–the road was paid for by taxpayers, it’s a public road. The University wants to require Hawaiians to get a permit to worship–Mauna Kea belongs to Ke Akua, they cannot lock the people out of the temple. Even if Hawaiians could get a permit, it would mean they couldn’t bring their non-Hawaiian friends and ohana to ceremony. This is discrimination! Who is the University to say who can and cannot worship?” — Paul Neves, Alii Ai Moku, Royal Order of Kamehameha I.

Your voice can help preserve the sacred temple and delicate ecosystem of Mauna Kea. Take action now to tell the Legislature and the Land Board that Mauna Kea is still not for sale.

Mahalo nui,
Us Guys at KAHEA: The Hawaiian-Environmental Alliance

1149 Bethel St., #415
Honolulu, HI 96813
www.kahea.org
blog.kahea.org

local ph/fx: 808-524-8220
toll-free ph/fx: 877-585-2432
email: kahea-alliance@hawaii.rr.com

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Fly the Hawaiian Flag for Hawaiian Lands!

MANA (Movement for Aloha No ka Aina) issued the following call to fly Ka Hae Aloha (The Hawaiian Flag) to protest the State’s attempt to extinguish Hawaiian land claims:

PROTECT OUR LANDS
DISPLAY THE HAWAIIAN FLAG
ON FEBRUARY 24-25

On February 25, the Supreme Court will be hearing the “ceded” lands case. The State of Hawaii is arguing that Hawaiians have no rights to those lands.

MANA (Movement for Aloha No ka Aina), is calling on all supporters of Kanaka Maoli rights and sovereignty to fly or display a Hawaiian flag on February 24 and 25, the eve and day of the Supreme Court hearing on the “ceded” lands case.

Fly your flag proudly! This will be a sign of our resistance to the State’s attempt to dissolve our land rights, and a symbol of our unity.

Spread the message far and wide – fly our flag on February
24 and 25.

Download a free Hawaiian flag at www.manainfo.com

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David Krieger to speak on Nuclear Weapons and the Human Future

NUCLEAR WEAPONS AND THE HUMAN FUTURE

David Krieger, PhD
President, Nuclear Age Peace Foundation
Santa Barbara, California

Thursday, February 12, 2009
6pm to 8pm
Honolulu Friends Meeting House
2426 O`ahu Avenue
Honolulu, Hawai`i
Free and open to the public

David Krieger is a founder and President of the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation, which has initiated many innovative and important projects for building peace, strengthening international law and abolishing nuclear weapons. Dr. Krieger will speak about the challenges and prospects of abolishing nuclear weapons under the Obama administration.

He has lectured widely on issues of peace, security, international law, and the abolition of nuclear weapons and is the author of many studies of peace in the Nuclear Age, including The Challenge of Abolishing Nuclear Weapons (based on a recent conference organized by Hawai’i’s Toda Institute for Global Peace and Policy Research). He serves on the Boards of the Lawyers Committee on Nuclear Policy, the International Institute for Peace, the Mahatma Gandhi Center for Global Nonviolence and Mayors for Peace. He also served as panel chair of the Citizens’ Hearing on the Legality of U.S. Actions in Iraq and as a member of the Jury of Conscience of the World Tribunal on Iraq.

Co-sponsors: American Friends Service Committee – Hawai’i, DMZ-Hawai’i / Aloha ‘Aina, Pacific Justice and Reconcilliation Center, Matsunaga Institute for Peace-UH Manoa, ‘Ohana Koa/ Nuclear Free and Independent Pacific.

For more information, please contact: Richard at (808) 956-3712 or Terri at (808) 988-6266

Download the leaflet to the event and Krieger’s biography here.

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“2009 International Conference against the Asia Pacific Missile Defense and for the End of Arms Race”

Updated Program as of: April 11, 2009

International Conference against the Asia Pacific Missile Defense and for the End of Arms Race

Seoul Women’s Plaza, Seoul, South Korea, April 16-18, 2009
Daily Events and Programs
(1). April 16, 2009 (Thursday): Field Trip to the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) and Getting Acquainted (Consecutive Interpretation)

08:00-09:00: Breakfast, Seoul Women’s Plaza restaurant (3rd Fl.)

09:00: Bus leaves in front of the Seoul Women’s Plaza

10:00-16:00: Field trip to the DMZ (Mt. Dora Observatory, Imjingak, Mt. Odu Unification Observatory, a village victimized by the antipersonnel landmine) guided by Lee, Si-Woo, an internationally known photographer

: Facilitator: Lee, Si-Woo (photographer, peace activist), Lee Haeng-Woo (President of National Association of Korean Americans (NAKA) and the Chairman of Center for Korean Affairs)

17:30-19:00: Dinner, Seoul Women’s Plaza restaurant (3rd Fl.)
19:00-21:00: Getting Acquainted Time, Multi Purpose room (3rd Fl.), Seoul Women’s Plaza

: Facilitator: Dr. Park, Sung-Yong (Nonviolent Peaceforce Corea)

: Welcome Speech (5 min.) by Lee, Kang-Sil, Executive Co-Chairperson, Korean Alliance for Progressive Movement
: Greeting Speech (5 min.) by Yoshioka Tatsuya, Founder and Director, Peace Boat / Regional Initiator, GPPAC Northeast Asia
: Special Address (5 min.) by Thomas C. Sturtevant, Veterans for Peace-Korea Peace Campaign
: Special Talk/Performance (15min.) by Yumi Kikuchi, Founder of Global Peace Campaign and JUMP (Japan United for Ministry of Peace)
: Special Music Performance (15min.) by dopehead zo, musician and peace activist

(2). April 17, 2009 (Friday): International Symposium and Dinner Meeting

08:00-09:00: Breakfast, Seoul Women’s Plaza restaurant (3rd Fl.)

9:30-10:00: Registration, in front of the International Conference Hall, Seoul Women’s Plaza (1st Fl.)
10:00- 17:40: International Symposium, International Conference Hall, Seoul Women’s Plaza (1st Fl.), simultaneous interpretation)

10:00-10:40: Welcome and Keynote Speech

: Facilitator: Choi, Eun-A (Self-Reliance Reunification Committee, Korean Alliance for Progressive Movement)

10:00-10:05: Welcome speech (Chung, Hyun- Baek, President of the Board of Women Making Peace and the Co-Representative of Citizen’s Peace Forum)
10:05-10:10: Greeting speech (Dave Webb, GN Chairman)
10:10-10:15: Greeting speech (Peter van Tuijl, Executive Director, European Centre for Conflict Prevention)

10:20-10:40: Keynote speech, “US Plans for Global Dominance thru Space Control and the Global Network Response” (Bruce Gagnon, GN secretary/coordinator)

10:40-12:20: Plenary Session I “Missile Defense and the World”

: Facilitator: Cho, Young-Hee (Women Making Peace)

10:40-11:00: Obama’s Global Military Policy: Change Comes not from Policy, but from Economic Collapse (Loring Wirbel, GN board)
11:00-11:20: Missile Defense, Europe and the New Cold War (Dave Webb, GN Chairman)
11:20-11:40: Missile Defense, Arms Race and the Future of the North East Asia (Cheong, Wooksik, Peace Network)
11:40-12:00: Alternative to Missile Defense: Global Security through Conversion of the Global War Machine (Mary Beth Sullivan, GN Outreach coordinator)
12:00-12:20: Q and A
12:20-13:30: Lunch and break (Seoul Women’s Plaza restaurant (3rd Fl.)
13:30-14:00: Break for a Short Movie and Music Performance

: Facilitator: Jieun (People’s Solidarity for Participatory Democracy, (PSPD))

: Movie screening (4min.) by Pyeongtaek Peace Center
: Special music performance (20min.) by Lee, Ji-Sang (Musician, Invited professor of the SungKongHoe University)
14:00-16:10: Plenary Session II “Global Anti-War and Peace Movements”
: A ten minute speech by each international participant from various regions on the local peace movements focused on No MD and No US bases movements; and Q&A. (order undecided yet)

: Facilitator: Park, Jung-Eun (People’s Solidarity for Participatory Democracy (PSPD))

: India’s Move into Space Technology: Including the Nuclear and Space Policy of India and Pakistan (J. Narayana Rao (India), GN board)
: Scandinavian Countries and Space Warfare: Space Installations and Space Industry Serving US Space War Plans (Agneta Noberg (Sweden), GN board)
: The Cost of the US Military Bases Empire in the UK (Lindis Percy (UK), GN board)
: Korea and Nebraska-StratCom Comrades in Arms (Tim Rinne (U. S. A.), GN board)
: The Struggle against US Bases and MD in Australia (Hannah Middleton (Australia), GN board)
: The People’s Nonviolent Resistance against MD in the Czech Republic and European Solidarity Movement (Anna Polo (Italy), Europe for Peace)
: Challenge by Peace Movements in Japan to US-Japan Military-Industrial Complex: Through Opposition to the Missile Defense System and to The Basic Law on Use of Space (Koji Sugihara (Japan), No! to Nukes and Missile Defense Campaign)
: Space Invaders: Star Wars in Hawai’i (Katy Rose (Hawaii), American Friends Service Committee Hawaii Area Program and the DMZ-Hawai’i / Aloha ‘Aina network)
: The Anti-Base Peace Movements around Pyeongteaek (Kang, Sang-Won (Korea), Pyeongtaek Peace Center)
16:10-16:20: Break

16:20-17:50: Plenary Session III: The Urgent Peace Issues of the Asia Pacific

: Facilitator: Lee, Suk-Tae (Citizens’ Peace Forum)

16:20-16:40: How to Create a Non Nuclear / Non Missile Zone in Northeast Asia
(Co-speech by Atsushi Fujioka, GN board and Kazuhiko Tamaki, Vice President, Peace Depot)
____ “Why Is Japan’s First Missile Defense—Proposed Shooting Down of the DPRK’s Space Rocket a Tragic Mistake? : Learning from the Elimination of European Intermediate-Range and Shorter-Range Nuclear Missiles Treaty of 1988, and Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia” (Atsushi Fujioka)
____”Model Treaty for the Northeast Asia Nuclear Weapon Free Zone” (Kazuhiko Tamaki)
16:40-17:00: Basing Without Bases (Corazon Valdez-Fabros, International Network for the Abolition of Foreign Military Bases (No Bases Network))
17:00-17:20: Possible Impact to Regional Peace and Disarmament of “Peace-State” Transformation (Francis Daehoon Lee, People’s Solidarity for Participatory Democracy (PSPD))
17:20-17:40: Q & A
17:40-18:00: Co-Statement for Peace, Seoul, 2009 (By an international and a Korean participant, TBA)
18:00: Closing the Symposium: Facilitator: TBA
18:00-21:00: Dinner and Conversation, Restaurant, ‘Myungkyung Live’ near Seoul Women’s plaza (Consecutive interpretation)

: Co-Facilitator: Mary Beth Sullivan (GN Outreach coordinator) and Choi, Sung-Hee (Korean committee member)

: Speech on the Peace of the East Asia and the issue of the Yasukuni (5 min.) by Suh, Sung, Director of Ritsumeikan Center for Korea Studies (RiCKS) and Professor of Law, Korean resident in Japan
: Co-Speech on the World March For Peace and Nonviolence (7 min.) by Dennis Redmond (Director of World Without Wars/USA) and Dr. Park, Sung Yong(Nonviolent Peaceforce Corea)

(3) April 18, 2009 (Saturday): GN Annual Strategy & Business Meeting and Pyeongtaek Visit

08:00-09:00: Breakfast, Seoul Women’s Plaza restaurant (3rd Fl.)

9:00-12:00: GN Annual Strategy and Business Meeting (English, open to everyone) Multi Purpose Room, 4th Fl., Seoul Women’s Plaza

: Facilitator: Bruce Gagnon (GN Secretary/Coordinator)
12:00-13:00: Lunch, Seoul Women’s Plaza restaurant (3rd Fl.)
13:00: Leaving Seoul for Pyeongaek by bus (in front of the Seoul Women’s Plaza)

15:00-20:00: Pyeongtaek Visit (the emerging hub of US military bases in construction) and Dinner Meeting with the Local Peace Organizations (Consecutive interpretation)

: Facilitator: Kang, Sang-Won (Pyeongtaek Peace Center) and Pyeongtaek Peace activists

15:00-16:00: Rally in front of the Beta Base, Songtan Air Force Base (known as Osan AFB)
16:00-18:30: Field trip to the Songtan AFB
18:30-20:00: Dinner meeting
20:00- 22:00 Return to Seoul

(4) Special Event (Optional):
Visit and Field Trip to the Site of Struggle against the Mugeon-ri Military Training Fields on April 19

The Pan-Korean Committee against the Expansion of the Mugeon-ri Military Training Fields (http://www.peaceoh.net, (Korean)), and The Village People’s Committee against the Expansion of the Mugeon-ri Military Training Fields specially sponsor the international participants’ visit and field trip to Ohyun-ri and Mugeon-ri. (consecutive translation)

13:00: Bus leaves in front of the Seoul Women’s Plaza

14:30-16:30 Workshop
16:30-18:00 Trip to the Mugeon-ri Military Training Fields
18:00-20:00 Dinner meeting with the local activists
20:00-21:00 Candle light vigil with the village people
21:00-22:30 Return to Seoul

(5) The GPPAC Steering Committee Meeting on April 18~19

Morning of April 18 and all day April 19, Seminar Room No. 2, Seoul Women’s Plaza.

======

“2009 International Conference against the Asia Pacific Missile Defense and for the End of Arms Race”(Tentative title)

1. Background and Greetings

The 17th annual conference of the Global Network against Weapons and Nuclear Power in Space is held in Seoul, Korea from April 16 to April 18, 2009, under the tentative title of the 2009 International Conference against the Asia Pacific Missile Defense and for the End of Arms Race. The conference focuses on the Asia Pacific missile defense and for the end of arms race.

The Korean committee for the conference, lead by the Peace Network (http://www.peacekorea.org/index.php(Korean), http://www.peacekorea.org/english/(English))

and Center for Peace and Disarmament, People’s Solidarity for Participatory Democracy(PSPD) (http://blog.peoplepower21.org/Peace/(Korean),

http://blog.peoplepower21.org/Peace/category/English(English) and is formed by 10 peace organizations is the Co-Sponsor with the Global Network against Weapons and Nuclear Power in Space(http://www.space4peace.org) for this conference.

The signs of a ‘new cold war’ are brewing as the U.S. pushes ahead with the missile defense (MD) system installations in Eastern Europe against Russia’s strong opposition. There is an urgent need for the international civil society to respond against the current rapid arms race in the Asia Pacific where the US leads the Asia Pacific MD efforts, supported strongly by Japan, Australia and South Korea; against the frontline of opposition formed by China, Russia and North Korea.

The MD issue is becoming the core element of the destabilization of peace in Northeast Asia, not to mention the Korean peninsula, especially when the U.S. intends to make South Korea its MD outpost and the Lee Myung Bak government promotes stronger US-South Korea alliance and the US-South Korea-Japan trilateral system formation.

By this great chance, the Korea Committee points out the Korean peace issues within the international peace movement circles, and wants to share international understanding and cooperation about Korean peninsula’s peace and reunification issues.

In light of such concerns, holding an international peace conference in South Korea on missile defense and arms race issues will provide an important momentum in bringing the issues pertaining to the Korean peninsula-one of the last divided countries by the cold war in the world- and the North East Asia to the international community and in developing international solidarity.

We, the Korea Committee is already excited and grateful by many international participants’ enthusiasm to participate. Above all, we, the Korean Committee welcomes everyone in the world, who wants to share the urgent issues in each country regarding the Missile defense, military base, arms race etc. issues and to promote further international solidarity one another.

2. Summary of the International Conference

Official event dates: April 16 to 18, 2009

_Core issues: MD and space weaponization; Arms race and arms reduction; US bases and the peace movement in Northeast Asia; and global meaning of the peaceful reunification process in Korea etc.

_Main events: International symposium (Seoul), International news conference (Seoul), Visit to Panmunjeom, Peace campaign (Pyeongtaek) and GN annual strategy and business meeting (Seoul)

_ Interpretation: International symposium will be translated in Korean and English simultaneously while the other programs will be done consecutively. The GN annual strategy and business meeting will be done in English. For the effective usage of time, we integrated the whole program rather than having separate workshops.

3. Daily events and programs of the GN International Conference(Consecutive Interpretation)

(1). April 16, 2009 (Thursday):

09:00(07:00)-15:00(17:30): International participants trip to Panmunjeom(the symbol of Korean division, http://koreadmztour.com/english/tour/tour2.htm) or Visit to the vicinity of the DMZ(Imjingak, Dorasan observatory etc.)/meeting with activists/cultural event etc as a plan B

18:00-21:00: dinner and entertainment(including the speech by 3~4 GN participants)

(2). April 17, 2009 (Friday): International meeting (Simultaneous interpretation)

9:00-10:00 Foreign and domestic press conference (consecutive translation)

9:45-10:00: Registration

10:00-10:10: Welcome speech (Korean dignitary)

10:10-10:20: Greeting speech (GN Chairman )

10:20-10:40: Keynote speech, “Star Wars (space weaponization), Future Warfare, and the Global Peace” (GN)

10:40-12:20: Plenary session I “MD and the World”

10:40-11:00: The MD policy of the overall and Obama government (USA participant)

11:00-11:20: MD, Europe and the New Cold War including the NATO missile defense(European participant): 11:20-11:40: MD, Arms Race and the Future of the North East Asia(Korean participant):

11:40-12:00: What is the alternative against the MD?: Nuclear Disarmament and Conversion of the Military Industrial Complex(GN participant)

12:00-12:20: Q and A

12:20-14:00: Lunch and break (There will be short presentation(about 4min.) of the slide projection )

14:00-15:20: Plenary session II “Global Anti-War and Peace Movements”

* Each international participant requested to give a ten minute speech on the MD and No US bases movements; and Q&A. The participants from GN are cordially asked to give a speech.

15:20-15:30: Break

15:30-17:00: Plenary session III ” Korea, Japan and the Northeast Asia Peace

15:30-16:00: Peace Constitution in Japan and the Northeast Asia Peace (Japanese participant):

16:00-16:30: Korea Peace and Reunification Process and the Northeast Asia Peace (Korean participant): ?

16:30-17:00: Q& A

17:00: Closing the symposium

18:00-21:00: Dinner and Entertainment: includes three Keynote speeches

(3) April 18, 2009(Saturday)(English)

9:00-12:00: GN Annual Strategy and Business Meeting

12:00-13:00: Lunch

13:00-20:00: visit and rally/ protest in front of the military base in Pyeongtaek (the emerging hub of US military bases in construction) and dinner meeting with the local peace organizations

(4). Official Conference and Stay site : Seoul Women’s Plaza, Seoul, from April 15 to April 19(During the given official dates above, no stay cost by the international participants. The Korean Committee is reserving seven western-style two-bed rooms and seven Korean-style two bed rooms except for the special request. The rooms are the building can best afford. Reservation for the first comers, first. The international participant may pay for other nights at low cost or request for the info. of home stay/ other hotels as alternative. Regarding stay, please contact wooksik@gmail.com, armha5156@gmail.com and globalnet@mindspring.com
Jan. 20, 2009

The Korean Committee for the international conference, Seoul, 2009(Tentative title)

Korean Organizations in the Korean Committee(No order, List in formation)

Peace Network

Center for Peace and Disarmament, People’s Solidarity for Participatory Democracy(PSPD)

National Campaign for Eradication of Crimes by U.S. Troops in Korea

Women Making Peace

Pyeongtaek Peace Center

Civil Committee against the Kunsan U.S. base

Jinbo Korea

Lawyers for a Democratic Society

People’s Solidarity for Social Progress

Nonviolent Peaceforce Korea

Arirang International Peace Foundation

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