Ashland Peace House Articles and Events

19 Apr 2024

April 19, 2024

A Freedom Flotilla is about to embark from Turkey to Gaza.

International Freedom Flotilla Take 2: 2024

The international Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC) will sail in mid April with multiple vessels, carrying 5500 tons of humanitarian aid and hundreds of international human rights observers to challenge the ongoing illegal Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip. This is an emergency mission as the situation in Gaza is dire, with famine setting in in northern Gaza, and catastrophic hunger present throughout the Gaza Strip as the result of a deliberate policy by the Israeli government to starve the Palestinian people. Time is critical as experts predict that hunger and disease could claim more lives than have been killed in the bombing.

Getting humanitarian aid to Palestinians in Gaza is urgent, but it is not sufficient. We must end Israel’s unlawful, deadly blockade as well as Israel’s overall control of Gaza. Allowing Israel to control what and how much humanitarian aid can get to Palestinians in Gaza is like letting the fox manage the henhouse. And yet, this is what the international community of states is allowing by refusing to sanction Israel and defy its genocidal policies in order to ensure that enough aid reaches the trapped, beleaguered and bombarded civilian population.

Keep Reading: Freedom Flotilla 2024

A Different Future is Possible: A Shared Quaker Vision for Peace in Israel and Palestine

A shared statement between FCNL and partner organizations

For centuries, Quakers have worked for peace. This mission is a practical expression of the nonviolent message of the gospels and the teaching reflected in the many religions around the world: love your neighbor as yourself.  Quakers believe in the inherent worth of every individual and have a history of supporting both Palestinian and Israeli communities in the region.

One of our organizations, the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC), established the first refugee camps in Gaza in 1949 and continues to work in Gaza, the West Bank, and Israel today. Indeed, we have a longstanding presence in what is now Israel and Palestine, dating back to the 1800s. Quakers established the Ramallah Friends Schools over 150 years ago, one of the first institutions to educate Palestinian women. Palestinian Quakers continue to worship at the historic Friends Meeting House in Ramallah.

Friends and Allies: A Different Future is Possible

BLM Responds to Heightened Pressure

BLM responds to heightened pressure as tree sitters celebrate two weeks of continued occupation and protests at BLM office.

Wolf Creek, Ore – Community activists celebrated the second week of a tree sit occupation in old growth trees slated to be logged outside of Wolf Creek in Southern Oregon, protesting the U.S. Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) Poor Windy project and, more broadly, the agency’s continued practice of logging old growth and mature forests despite Biden’s promise to stop the practice.

In a sign that the agency is feeling the growing pressure, last week the BLM unexpectedly cancelled the Baker’s Dozen project, another contentious mature and old growth logging proposal in Oregon. The Baker’s Dozen project targeted over one thousand acres for aggressive logging, with stands of trees over 300 years old. The announcement came just one day after tree sitters publicly called for their supporters to contact Secretary of Interior Deb Haaland and BLM Director Tracy Stone-Manning and tell them to cancel all mature and old growth logging projects.

What’s safe to eat? Here is the pesticide risk level for each fruit and vegetable

By Aliya Uteuova for the Guardian

After reviewing the results of thousands of tests on fruits and vegetables, Consumer Reports has found unhealthy levels of pesticides in about 20% of US produce.

This chart, in alphabetical order, shows the risk from pesticides in conventional and organic produce, as well as whether the fruits and vegetables are domestically grown or imported. Consumer Reports “recommends those rated as very low, low or moderate risk. When possible, replace a food rated high or very high with a lower-risk one, or choose organic. Keep in mind that the risk comes from repeated servings over time.”

The World Peace Flame in Ashland Goes Solar

By Irene Kai, Ashland Culture of Peace Commission

When we act locally, there is a global significance. I encountered the original World Peace Flame Monument in Wales by chance in 2015, the sight of the flame instantly seared into my heart, and I knew I am one with all of humanity, it is the symbol of the celebration of peace, unity, and freedom. I had an unmovable desire to bring the World Peace Flame to the city of Ashland where I reside.

Person Self-Immolates Outside Courthouse of Trump’s NY Trial

Law enforcement officials confirmed to CNN that someone lit themself on fire Friday outside the New York City courthouse where former President Donald Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee, is on trial for allegedly falsifying business records.

“The man walked into the park across the street from the courthouse, throwing flyers into the air,” the network reported, citing law enforcement. “He then pulled something out of a backpack—it was not immediately clear what the item was—and lit himself on fire.”

Journalists were in the area for the historic trial and CNN anchor Laura Coates was among those who described the scene live on-air as New York Police Department officers and emergency responders worked to extinguish the fire.

Featured Events

Our Wise Friends: An Animal Blessing April 25

Lotus Institute is excited to welcome spiritual teachers and partners Kaira Jewel Lingo & Adam Bucko to join us for this dharma festival where we celebrate the gifts, insights and guidance we receive from the animals we meet.

Led by Kaira, Adam, Larry Ward, and Peggy Ward, we’ll share wisdom from our animal friends, while exploring our reciprocity and interconnectedness with the natural world as a whole. The event will include music, meditation, dharma teachings and a special ceremony to receive and extend the blessing between all beings.

Learn More and Sign Up

An Update on the War in Ukraine: Bulletin of Atomic Scientists

Join military strategist Stephen Biddle and Ukraine expert Melinda Haring in a conversation with national security reporter Julian Barnes to discuss the strategic landscape of the war in Ukraine. We will explore military strategic options from both Russian and Ukrainian perspectives including what the next phase of the war could bring.

God & Country Film Screening April 26 First Presbyterian Church

God & Country, a documentary film produced by Rob Reigner and Dan Partland, will shot at 6:30 p.m. Friday April 26 at the First Presbyterian Church in Ashland. The screening will allow people to watch and discuss Christian Nationalism as a political movement in the US.

Presented by Pastor Skip Strauch of Ashland’s First Presbyterian Church and Bob Morse, of South Mountain Friends Meeting (Quakers).

Please send questions to Bob Morse, communications@ashlandquakers.orgGo

World Labyrinth Day May 4 in Ashland!

Ashlanders Sara Hopkins and Elizabeth Austin, Veriditas-trained Labyrinth Facilitators, are delighted to announce Ashland’s World Labyrinth Day Celebration, May 4, 2024, 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM, at the Trinity Garden Labyrinth, 44 N. Second Street, Ashland.

We look forward to welcoming you to participate in the international Worldwide Labyrinth Day, when thousands of people in locations across the planet will be Walking for Peace at 1 PM in their local time zones, starting in Australia.

“Walk as One at 1” was founded by The Labyrinth Society in 2009. More than 90 sites around the world will offer Labyrinth Walks this year. Here’s a video summary of 80 events from the 2023 World Labyrinth Day.

Click Here for More Events

Rogue Liberation Library

Rogue Liberation Library, an all volunteer program, responds to requests from people living in prison and successfully mail hundreds of packages of books to inmates in more than 15 states.

Can you donate to support this work?

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