by Scott T. Starbuck Listening to Fireworks Near the 2014 FOR Seabeck Conference The real work is daily practice in order to be of greater service. Skies are filled with vibrant explosions, ooohs and ahhhs while the truth like a cedar raven waits and speaks at the in-between silences. Wrecking Ball Dream Without warning half the roof is gone but poker players are drunk on winning. Even when one is hit and drops the game continues until another is gone, and another, and another. Finally, the American, alone in his chair refuses to even look at the raging sea. Clam Bombs In Holmes Harbor gulls dig clams, fly above Douglas fir, and drop them like bombs on tidal rocks to…

by Ellen Finkelstein I have been reminded by our collective loss about how much one person influences so many lives. Some touch us profoundly and we are [temporarily] unsure how to carry the work of justice forward. Maya Angelou was an incredibly strong voice of resilience and hope for me. At a time when I needed to believe, “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings” let me know that it is possible to survive and thrive. Her powerful voice and amazing history influenced me and generations of women (and men) to find my voice, to stand with those who are oppressed, to struggle for justice, to be an active change-maker, and to find joy. Mike Yarrow told his granddaughter shortly…

by Larry Kerschner Anarchism, sabotage, and Direct Action are terms that are generally misunderstood. The standard media propaganda would have you picture a wild-eyed bomb thrower when you see these terms.  Anarchism is actually based on the belief that it is not necessary to have a government, or any form of authority, in order for people to do the right thing and that the core elements of human nature include sentiments of solidarity, mutual support, sympathy, and concern for others.  Those who don’t believe that a co-operative society is possible need to take a closer look at our current society.  Most people co-operate in mutual aid on a daily basis. Laws and regulations attempt to show a model of society…

by Brenda Collier,  Facilitator, Transition Committee How do we get there?  At the February Area Committee meeting, we finally acknowledged that WWFOR cannot afford staff: The treasurer had nightmares of waking up one payday without money in the bank to meet payroll!  So a “Transition Committee” was set up to make a plan.  [We are currently expecting to pay our full-time Organizer (Ellen Finkelstein) through September and our part time Office-Manager (Sara Rinehart) through November.] The future the Transition Committee envisions is for a streamlined WWFOR where much of the responsibility rests with chapters and individuals and where information can be easily be shared on the Internet, facilitating better communication between FOR members and chapters across the Western Washington region. …

by Tom Ewell It is now well established that the U.S. government condoned and practiced torture during the Bush administration. Two reports have confirmed this fact.  One report was researched and reported in 2013 by a bi-partisan team on behalf of the Constitution Project. The New York Times headline following the release of the report was “Indisputable Torture.” This report was highlighted at a June 3, 2014 event initiated by the Washington State Religious Campaign Against Torture (WSRCAT ), and co-sponsored by a number of other organizations [including WWFOR], as we welcomed Brigadier General David Irvine, who served as a member on the Constitution Project panel, and other guests and local experts to an evening program of information that provided…

by Larry Kerschner, Editor In 1955 the FOR area newsletter was re-named “Northwest Area FOR Newsletter” but continued to be produced at the FOR Far West office in Berkeley, CA.  It was intended to cover news of the area comprising the Puget Sound area, lower British Columbia, and the Inland Empire.  In 1981 the newsletter of the Washington-British Columbia FOR was re-named again to the “Pacific Call.” Pacific as in “pacifism” and call as in “spread the word and get involved.”  The newsletter at that time was edited by Bruce Kokopeli (Bruce Pruitt-Hamm).  In September 1984 Lisa Hicks and Bill Anthis became co-editors of the Pacific Call. In September 1985 Brenda Burton became Editor of the Pacific Call. In January…

by Glen Anderson The Western Washington Fellowship of Reconciliation (WWFOR) believes in the power of grassroots organizing to promote peace, social justice and nonviolence.  When grassroots people come together in local groups (whether in local FOR chapters or other grassroots groups), we can accomplish a lot. For the past 40 years WWFOR has had (off and on) a committee dedicated to reaching out to recruit new people into FOR, to strengthen existing chapters, and to start new chapters. Now that WWFOR cannot afford to continue employing paid staff, it is much more important than ever that we build up our grassroots people-power. WWFOR’s Area Committee recently approved the recommendation from our Transition Committee (which is helping us transition to an…

by Tom Shea “Our government can only continue fighting its wars if we cooperate – with our silence and by its citizens dutifully paying the 50% of our federal taxes which are allocated for wars and armaments.” – David Hartsough, March 8, 2014 Julia “Butterfly” Hill diverted $150,000 from her IRS taxes and gave it to dozens of works for human causes. “In my letter to the IRS I said I’m not refusing to pay my taxes, I’m actually paying them, but I’m paying them where they belong because you refuse to do so.”  Rev. Steve Kelly S.J. spent 15 months in the SeaTac U.S. Detention Center, most of it in solitary, as one the five Disarm Now Ploughshares. Hill’s…

by Stan Sorshel I took part in a “fair trade” study session at a synagogue recently, looking at moral authority in the global economy. We considered four historical examples. In Exodus, Moses leads the children of Israel out of Egypt, creating a new nation in the midst of established tribes and nations. After finding food and water, Moses received excellent advice from his father in-law, Jethro: appoint righteous men to be judges. “… thou shalt provide, out of all the people, able men such as fear God, men of truth, hating unjust gain, and place such over them to be rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens. And let them judge the people at…

by Ellen Finkelstein “We must live in the radiance of tomorrow, as our ancestors have suggested in their tales. For what is yet to come tomorrow has possibilities, and we must think of it, the simplest glimpse of that possibility of goodness. That will be our strength. That has always been our strength.” – by Ishmael Beah WWFOR need your help in recruiting high-school students for the annual Peace Activist Trainee program. Do you know a sophomore or junior in high school who is interested in gaining skills in organizing for peace and justice in their community? Encourage them to apply to be a PAT!  Watch a clip about last year’s program. The program, generously funded by the Abe Keller…