Modesto 2011

This is a recently discovered photo of the Peace Panel Project at the Modesto Peace Vigil 2011.  While I was standing on the street corner shoulder to shoulder holding my panel the gentleman next to me says, "It's getting better.  When we started, at the beginning of the Iraq war people used to scowl, shout obscenities, flip us off;  Now people smile, wave and give us the thumbs up.  It's better now."  I felt like we were building the movement toward peace and justice.

University of the Pacific, Stockton 2011

Recently discovered, unpublished photos prompted this this post.  April 15, 2011 My daughter, Camille, and I arrived to a cool and overcast UOP at 8 am or so.  Our arrival was brightened by the greetings of John Morearty the sole welcoming committee of the Stockton area.  He was great.  Helped us set up and move the exhibit when it began to rain.  Then move it again when the Campus authorities frowned on our temporary location under the eves of the student union.  The exhibit on campus went on from 9- 3 pm then we joined the Peace & Justice Network of San Joaquin County's vigil from 5 - 6 pm on Pacific Avenue at Yokuts.  

The Peace Panel Project at Sacramento City College

Recently discovered, unpublished, photos of our 4/13/11 trip to Sacramento City College has prompted me to do this posting.  This time it was so windy that the easels required sand bags and and anchor line to keep them upright.  The exhibit got a great response.  Many students and faculty stopped to read and discuss the information.

As our time there was winding down, I saw a woman studying the “How Many More Massacres” panel.  I walked up to her to see if she had a question.  She turned to me with such an intense gaze, I was startled.  I had never seen such a look before.  So intense. This middle aged, tanned, solid, clear, resolved, and yet sad woman commanded my attention, “I was there,” she said pointing to my list, of the number of Iraqis massacred by US forces in 1990, “On behalf of the Iraqi People, I thank you for this exhibit.  I don’t think enough people know this is happening.”  She turned and walked away.  I was speechless.  I wanted to hug her or say I was sorry for the intense pain she has felt, but she was gone.  An Iraqi woman at SCC, we are such a global village.  Surely, in our hearts, peace is on the upswing. 

The SCC exhibit went on from 9-3 pm.  Then my daughter Camille and I packed it up and joined the Sacramento Area Peace Action's Vigil at 16th and J Streets from 4:30-6 pm.  

San Joaquin Delta College Exhibit 2012

It was a sunny and calm 7:45 am when I arrived at Delta College, last Thursday Sept., 27 and contacted the Campus Police.  They were very helpful, meeting me, showing me where to park, making arrangements for me not to get a parking ticket, and helping handle the cart of easels from the parking lot to the Joe Serna Amphitheater by the Quad in the middle of Campus.  What a pretty campus!  If you are ever there it is worth the walk to see the koi pond.  Three students volunteered to help set up and we had it made in the shade.  They had a "Your Vote" event, that included free tacos, so we probably got better traffic than you would get on a regular day.

The discussions we generated around The Better World Shopping Guide, Project Censored, Nonviolent Communication, and Ruses for War encourage taking responsibility, more active participation in the peace movement, critical thinking, ethical consumerism, and responsible sustainable citizenship.

  I have noticed the energy in the gratitude expressed to me, by so many who see the Peace Panel Project, that I feel more energetic, grateful, and inspired.  What a way to be.  I feel inspired to do what I can to build the movement towards peace and justice.  I think the students who see the exhibit benefit to have these ideas introduced to them.  The ones who read every word may become more active in the peace movement.  The ones who just glance at the headlines as they walk by are now more aware that these ideas exist and perhaps the next time they think about them they will lend them more interest.  In a day when so many of us spend so much time indoors behind a monitor, the Peace Panel Project is a refreshing, outdoor, and original way to communicate ideas and information that are not available on the evening network news.

I folded up the exhibit at 3 pm and joined Stockton's Peace Vigil on Pacific Ave., at Yokuts from 5 - 6 pm.  It was fun to meet Patrick and his peace activist friends (and the Peace Poodle) and share an hour demonstrating for peace.

Sacramento City College exhibit 2012

Our second annual visit to Sacramento City College was well attended by students and faculty alike.  We set up at 8 am on the south side of the walkway next to the North Gym so all students and faculty who entered by the Main entrance walked by to enter the campus and get to the cafe or the Quad. And thanks to Winnie of the Sacramento Area Peace Action Group I had some help setting up and folding up at 3pm.  The help was critical because my helper was sick and doing it by myself would have cut severely into our exhibition time.  We have compiled 13 e mail contacts of activists in the area we appealed to, but Winnie was the one who saved the day, with help when it was needed most.  Thank you Winnie!  SCC did not allow sales of any kind so we had to ask people who wanted to buy books to contact us later and we would mail them the book they wanted at 10% off the marked price.  (Our typical price.)  We had a good number of great conversations on topics of peace, censorship, ethical shopping and the ending of the death penalty ballot issue  this November.  It is always rewarding to see young students hooked by the exhibit intently reading every word of many panels.  I got that treat many times at this exhibit.  Many times students or faculty would come up and shake my hand and thank me for putting up the show.

After folding it up at 3pm I headed to the Sacramento Area Peace Action's peace vigil at 16th & J Streets in downtown Sacramento.  There I joined the usual crew of about four activists holding up our signs for the rush hour traffic to see.  The consensus was that the response from the drivers has improved over time with more honks, thumbs up and smiling faces than in times past.  I really felt like we were building the movement towards peace and justice.

Chapmantown event 2012

The Peace Panel Project was on display again at the 2nd annual Love Chapmantown event or as it was called last year "America's Night Out".  Our exhibit was complimented by CSU professor Vincent Ornelas, MSW, Ph.D.  He suggested an exhibit at CSU Chico would be in order.  The director of the event Rev. Vince Haynie gave the microphone to Charles to describe the Peace Panel Project and invite folks to check it out.  The Panels created an arched background to the event on the left side of the stage area.  It was well visited and enjoyed by a good number of the participants to the festivities.  It was time well spent contributing  to the community function that had many booths of different community groups.  

U. N. Peace Day Event at Butte College

The Peace Panel Project took part in the UN Peace Day Event at Butte College in Oroville California Sept., 19, 2012.  It was our largest exhibit yet, including thirteen easels, 36 - 2' x4' panels, and 9 - 9" x 18" mini panels on and around the cart that was elevated on 18" legs.  We had 2 tables and thanks to Chuck Greenwood, Courtnie Burns, Charles Withuhn, we were well staffed to answer questions and talk with students about the issues of Nonviolent Communication, Ruses for War, Better World Shopping, Project Censored and Counter Recruitment.  We were well received and got to meet many students.  It was a good day.  We handed out a lot brochures, flyers, peace buttons, cookies and cupcakes; sold a few books and had some great discussions. Thomas Billheimer III, a reporter for the Roadrunner, the school newspaper came by and interviewed us for an article.