WEEKLY PEACE CALENDAR

September 20, 2023

Monterey County

Quote of the Week: “If we are to move from a culture of war to a culture of peace then we will have to unite around the most fundamental issue that humanity faces – the protection of each other and our environment. September 21 is the starting point. Individuals can make a difference. By working together there will be Peace One Day.” - Jeremy Gilley, film director and founder of Peace One Day

All events are Pacific Time. New items are in blue.

September 21 through October 2, Campaign Nonviolence Action Days. From Sept 21 (Int’l Day of Peace) to Oct 2 (Int’l Day of Nonviolence), join tens of thousands of people in calling for a culture rooted in nonviolence. In 2022, over 4,600 actions, events and marches were held by people across the USA and in 20 countries. Over 60,000 people participated. Visit the 2023 Action Days website HERE for a full list of planned actions. Find an action toolkit HERE.

Thursday, September 21, 8:30 am, in person, on Zoom, or by phone, MPWMD vs LAFCO Public Hearing on LAFCO’s decision to block the public buyout of Cal Am as approved by voters with the passage of Measure J. Open to the public on Zoom and in-person at the Monterey County Courthouse, the Courtroom of Judge Wills (Department 15), at 1200 Aguajito Rd., Monterey, CA. Join directly by Zoom HERE, passcode 151515. Note: Upon sign-in, place your cursor over your name on screen, mute yourself, and go to the drop-down menu under the three dots in the upper right corner next to mute button. Change your name to "observer". Join by phone at 1 (669) 254 5252, Meeting ID: 160 933 6248. Contact (831) 647-5800 for court assistance.

Peace Pick of the Week!
Friday, September 22, 6 pm – 8 pm, in person, International Day of Peace Celebration with Potluck & Film Screening of “Peace One Day” at the Monterey Peace and Justice Center, 1364 Fremont Blvd. in Seaside. This BBC documentary follows filmmaker Jeremy Gilley’s years-long year campaign to establish a global, single-day, cease-fire via the United Nations. His efforts resulted in September 21st being observed each year as the International Day of Peace. Free event. All are invited. Bring a dish to share if you can. Sponsored by the Peace Coalition of Monterey County, Veterans For Peace, and MPJC. For more information, contact Sidney Ramsden Scott at sramsdenscott@hotmail.com

Friday-Sunday, September 22-24, virtual on Zoom Events, World BEYOND War's #NoWar2023 Conference: Nonviolent Resistance to Militarism, a global 3-day conference on nonviolent resistance in the face of invasions, occupations, and military violence. Participate in virtual panels, training, and discussion sessions, #NoWar2023 will make the case for the efficacy of nonviolent resistance as a tool for conflict resolution, highlighting case studies from around the world of unarmed civilian based defense against invasions, occupations, and dictatorships. Register HERE.

Saturday, September 23, 9 am to 12 pm, in person, Volunteer on California Coastal Cleanup Day. Be a part of the biggest beach cleanup and volunteer event of the year! Save Our Shores will again coordinate cleanups at over 60 sites in the Monterey Bay Region. Volunteers can sign up at saveourshores.org/coastal-cleanup. Bring your own gloves and a grabber if you one.

Saturday, September 23, 2 pm - 3 pm, in person, “An Equinox Climate Conversation: Balancing the Dark and Light”. The Environmental Justice Committee of the Unitarian Universalist Church of the Monterey Peninsula and members of the Climate Reality Project Monterey Chapter invite the public to be part of this Climate Conversation. Meet in the sanctuary of the UUCMP, 490 Aguajito Road Carmel, CA. RSVPs are welcome, but not required. To RSVP, email facilitator Nan Foster (UUCMP member) at nan.foster@comcast.net. For more info, phone (831) 624-7404 or email admin@uucmp.org

Saturday, September 23, 12 noon - 5 pm, in person, 3rd Annual Oaxaca By The Sea Celebration at Laguna Grande Park, 1249 Canyon Del Rey Blvd., in Seaside. The City of Seaside invites the public to celebrate the Sister City Agreement between Seaside and Oaxaca de Juárez, Mexico at this free, family-friendly event. Enjoy live performance art, vendors, authentic Oaxacan cuisine, and more. For more info contact Seaside’s Special Events Program office at 831-899-6814.

Tuesday, September 26, 2023, 1:30 pm – 2:30 pm, in person, Letter & Postcard Writing, at the PG Juice and Java, 599 Lighthouse Avenue at 16th Street. Swing Left Monterey Peninsula invites you to help increase voter turnout in Virginia by writing Vote Forward letters to low-propensity voters there. All materials will be provided. Please bring your own blue pen.

Thursday, September 28, 6 pm - 7 pm, online lecture, “Preparing for a New Coastal Future: Scientific observations, Diverse voices and Collaborative risk,” with speaker Laura Engeman, Coastal Resilience Specialist, California Sea Grant/Scripps Institution of Oceanography. In the next 30 years, coastal flooding and erosion will intensify. City and county planners are exploring Dynamic Adaptation Pathway Planning (DAPP) for flexible, cost-effective responses to these uncertainties. This talk will highlight how agencies, communities, and scientists can collaboratively monitor coastal changes and rising risks. Free event, open to the public. Find the Zoom link & details HERE. Sponsored by the Center for the Blue Economy at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies. For more info, contact Rachel C. at cbe@middlebury.edu or call 831-647-4183.

Friday, September 29, 7:30 am – 10:30 am, in person, 10th Annual Nonprofit Awards Celebration Breakfast, presented by the Nonprofit Alliance of Monterey County (NAMC) at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Monterey Bay Seaside, 1441 Canyon Del Rey Boulevard Seaside. This special event features Red Carpet photos by Michael Troutman, moving award tributes, and music by Palenke Arts and Amber Guzman! Find more info and sign up HERE.

Saturday, September 30, doors open 6 pm, in person, NAACP Monterey County Branch #1049 announces its 51st Annual Life Membership Freedom Fund Banquet to be held at Embassy Suites by Hilton 1441 Canyon Del Rey Blvd. Seaside. This year's the theme: "Defending Democracy & Advancing Equity." Keynote Speaker: Reverend Dr. Amos Brown, Sr., NAACP National Board of Directors, NAACP San Francisco Branch President. Mayor Tyller Williamson will serve as emcee. Dr. Vanessa Lopez Littleton will be receiving the President's Award. The Village Project Inc. and Sue Parris will also be honored. For more information, email MCBNAACP1049@gmail.com.

Saturday, September 30, 7:30 pm - 9 pm, in person, LA SOMBRA, a play by Cristal González, at the Palenke Arts studio, 1713 Broadway Ave in Seaside. LA SOMBRA is a powerful one-woman show that focuses a blinding light on the shadows of domestic violence through the lens of two college-aged Chicanos, Celi and Army. Cristal González, Chicana actor, director, playwright and Teaching Artist serving South, Central & Northern California for the past twelve years, aims to harvest stories of the fields to elevate las voces de la mujer in her writing. Purchase tickets and find more details HERE. Proceeds will benefit Palenke Arts, a multicultural arts organization whose mission is to educate, inspire and transform the community of Seaside through the arts.

Thursday, October 5, 6 pm - 7 pm, online lecture, “Food and Climate Justice in Latin America; Pathways for Sustainability and Resilience under a Blue Economy.” Speakers Erica Cunningham, Associate Vice President, Latin America/Fisheries and Oceans, Environmental Defense Fund and José Luis Chicoma, Senior Advisor to the United Nations Development Program for Food Systems, will discuss how Climate change is causing disruptions in everything from our daily lives to global supply chains. Free event, open to the public. Find the Zoom link & details HERE. Sponsored by the Center for the Blue Economy at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies. For more info, contact Rachel C. at cbe@middlebury.edu or call 831-647-4183.

Friday, October 6, 6 pm - 8:30 pm, in-person event, “The Grab: Film Screening & Discussion with Filmmakers.” Monterey County premier! Description: An investigative journalist uncovers the money, influence, and alarming rationale behind covert efforts to control the most vital resource on the planet: food. THE GRAB is the latest exposé from filmmaker Gabriela Cowperthwaite (Blackfish) in partnership with the Center for Investigative Journalism. Location: Irvine Auditorium, 499 Pierce Street, Monterey. Free event, open to the public. Registration link & details HERE. Sponsored by the Center for the Blue Economy at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies. For more info, contact Rachel C. at cbe@middlebury.edu or call 831-647-4183.

Friday, October 13, 3 pm – 4:30 pm, in-person and virtually, Monthly VFP Chapter Meeting. Veterans For Peace, Chapter 46 invites members, friends, and VFP allies to join them at the Monterey Peace and Justice Center, 1364 Fremont Blvd., in Seaside, CA or virtually, using the Zoom direct join link HERE. VFP Chapter 46 meets the second Friday of each month at 3:00 pm PT at the Monterey Peace and Justice Center in Seaside (Optionally on Zoom.) VFP is open to all veterans and supporters. For more info, visit vfp46.com. For more info, contact Chapter President Michael Dempsey at mikedevfp46@gmail.com

Saturday, October 14, 2 pm - 4 pm, in-person event. The American Civil Liberties Union- Northern California, (ACLU-NorCal) Monterey County Chapter presents the 45th Annual Ralph B. Atkinson Celebration of Civil Liberties, honoring Regina Mason, co-founder of The Village Project, Inc. The event will be held at the Unitarian Universalist Church of the Monterey Peninsula at 490 Aguajito Rd. The public is invited to this free event. For more info, email Mibs McCarthy at mibsmccarthy@comcast.net.

Wednesday, October 25, 4 pm - 7 pm, in person, An Evening of Hope: A Conversation with Paul Hawken, at the Otter Student Union on the campus of California State University, Monterey Bay, 3118 Inter-Garrison Rd, Seaside. Communities for Sustainable Monterey County and the Rotary Club of Monterey Cannery Row welcome Paul Hawken, environmentalist, lecturer, author, entrepreneur, and founder of Project Drawdown for this fundraiser event. His latest book, “Regeneration: How to End the Climate Crisis in One Generation,” is filled with compelling stories about the natural world, human innovation, industry and science; all providing a deeper view of the impacts of global warming on the people and the planet – and solutions we can work towards. Proceeds will support climate initiatives by both organizations. Reserve tickets, become an event sponsor, and find more details HERE. To sponsor a table, contact Laurie Eavey at leavey@csmc.eco.

Thursday, November 2, 6 pm – 7 pm, online lecture, “Adapting to Rapid Climate Change in the Arctic: Synthesizing Scientific & Indigenous Knowledge,” with three speakers from the Study for Environmental Arctic Change (SEARCH): Dr. Brendan Kelly, Science Director; Athena Copenhaver, Executive Director; and Alex Shahbazi, Research Fellow. Description: Arctic warming affects social, cultural, and environmental realms. Indigenous knowledge, often oral, and scientific data aren't easily accessible to decision-makers. The Study of Environmental Arctic Change (SEARCH) unites experts to address these rapid environmental challenges. Free event, open to the public. Find the Zoom link & details HERE. Sponsored by the Center for the Blue Economy at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies. For more info, contact Rachel C. at cbe@middlebury.edu or call 831-647-4183.

Friday through Monday, November 10-13, virtual event, the Merchants of Death War Crimes Tribunal will hold accountable, through testimony of witnesses, U.S. weapons manufacturers who knowingly produce and sell products that attack and kill not only combatants but non-combatants as well. These manufacturers may have committed Crimes Against Humanity and violated U.S. Federal criminal laws. The Tribunal will hear the evidence and render a verdict. Organized by Kathy Kelly, Nick Mottern, and Brad Wolf. Find more details HERE.

Friday, November 10, 4 pm – 5 pm, in-person, Armistice Day Vigil at Window on the Bay in Monterey. Bring signs, bells, drums, and banners to celebrate with Veterans For Peace Chapter 46 and the Peace Coalition of Monterey County. Afterward, regroup at the Monterey Peace Center, 1364 Fremont Blvd. in Seaside for a program presented by Veterans For Peace Chapter 46. Free pizza & soda NOTE: This event preempts the regular November 10, 3 pm Veterans For Peace Chapter 46 monthly chapter meeting.

Friday, November 10, 6 pm – 8 pm, in-person, Veterans for Peace, Chapter 46 invites all to commemorate Armistice Day with a program of Stories and Reflections by local veterans. Recognizing and reclaiming November 11th as Armistice Day is in no way intended as a slight to veterans. This commemoration is in the spirit of the first Armistice Day, which was a celebration of peace and a somber remembrance of all those who suffered the ravages of war. Held at the Monterey Peace Center, 1364 Fremont Blvd. in Seaside. Free pizza & soda NOTE: This event preempts the regular November 10, 3 pm Veterans For Peace Chapter 46 monthly chapter meeting.

Friday, November 10, 6 pm – 8 pm, online lecture, “Adapting to Rapid Climate Change in the Arctic: Synthesizing Scientific & Indigenous Knowledge,” with three speakers from the Study for Environmental Arctic Change (SEARCH): Dr. Brendan Kelly, Science Director; Athena Copenhaver, Executive Director; and Alex Shahbazi, Research Fellow. Description: Arctic warming affects social, cultural, and environmental realms. Indigenous knowledge, often oral, and scientific data aren't easily accessible to decision-makers. The Study of Environmental Arctic Change (SEARCH) unites experts to address these rapid environmental challenges. Free event, open to the public. Find the Zoom link & details HERE. Sponsored by the Center for the Blue Economy at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies. For more info, contact Rachel C. at cbe@middlebury.edu or call 831-647-4183.

ACTION AND INFORMATION

Article: Pass the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act By Andrew Garber September 19, for the Brennan Center for Justice. The re-introduced bill, H.R. 14, would restore and revitalize the Voting Rights Act of 1965, strengthening protections for voters of color against racial discrimination in voting and representation.

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Action: Tell the Ukrainian Government to Drop Prosecution of Peace Activist Yurii Sheliazhenko. Ukrainian peace activist and pacifist, Yurii Shetiazhenko has been charged by the Ukrainian prosecutor’s office and the security service of the charge of “justifying Russian Aggression.” Yurii is a board member of World Beyond War.

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Job Posting: The University of California San Francisco is seeking to hire applicants in Monterey County to help with research for their early literacy screening tool. The screening tool is designed for greater equity and justice outcomes for neurodiverse students in our public-school system. This project is publicly funded by the state of California. For more information, contact Belynda Marks at 415-987-9202 or Belynda.Webb@ucsf.edu

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Action Alerts: Visit FCNL’s Action Center for a list of action alerts and pre-formatted/editable letters to members of Congress. Hosted by Friends Committee on National Legislation Actin Center (FCNL).

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Local Advocacy: The Monterey County Branch of Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF) welcomes your membership in an international women’s peace organization that has advocated for peace for more than a century. Learn more about WILPF HERE. Download a copy of the WILPF membership application HERE.

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Whites for Racial Equity eBlast. Find an online version of the e-Blast.

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IndyBay Event Calendar. Independent open-publishing newswire serving California.

PEACE COALITION INFORMATION

The Peace Coalition of Monterey County (PCMC) is a coalition of eight Monterey County organizations working for nonviolent solutions to world conflicts since 1991. If world peace is one of the concerns of your organization, consider joining the Coalition. Contact Co-chair, Sidney Ramsden Scott at sramsdenscott@hotmail.com.

The Weekly Peace Calendar is a project of PCMC. The calendar evolved in the early 2000’s to facilitate networking among Peace Coalition organizations. The Peace Calendar may be viewed on the Monterey Peace and Justice Center website at tinyurl.com/Weekly-Peace-Calendar.

Please send information about peace, nonviolence, social-justice, democracy and environmental sustainability-related events in Monterey County to Catherine at cm_crockett@sbcglobal.net.

The Weekly Peace Calendar is dedicated to the memory of Joyce Vandevere, who compiled and published this calendar for many years. Joyce died at the age of 94 on February 17, 2021. She is remembered for her lifelong peace and justice activism. Visit the Peace Center in Seaside Wednesday afternoons between 1 pm and 5:30 pm to view the memorial quilt created to honor Joyce’s memory.

Direct your questions about the Peace Coalition of Monterey County to Chair, Sidney Ramsden Scott, sramsdenscott@hotmail.com.

MONTEREY PEACE AND JUSTICE CENTER

The Peace and Justice Center at 1364 Fremont Boulevard has reopened and if staffed Wednesdays, 1 pm to 5:30 pm. Wi-fi has been restored and regular cleaning services have been arranged to ensure the health and safety of guests. Contact Catherine Crockett at (831) 899-7322 to arrange venue scheduling and for any questions or concerns about using the Center.

Volunteer Opportunities: To learn about tasks for the Center, leave a message about volunteering at 899-7322 or email montereypeaceandjustice@gmail.com.

History: The Monterey Peace and Justice Center was envisioned and founded by Valori George in 2004 as a venue to support the activities of Monterey Peace Coalition organizations. Since its opening, it has been a networking center and resource center for those groups and others who were working for similar purposes. MPJC moved to its present Seaside location at 1364 Fremont Boulevard in 2008.

The mission of the Monterey Peace and Justice Center is to inspire and mobilize the people of Monterey County to cultivate peace, social justice, nonviolence, democracy, and environmental sustainability in our community and the world through education and advocacy. MPJC presents a wide spectrum of topics to stir up conversation about the issues. The MPJC board does not necessarily endorse the views of every speaker or film. Our aim is to stimulate civil discourse around the issues and encourage participants to become engaged as change makers for a just society.

Website: https://peacecentral.wordpress.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/montereypeaceandjusticecenter/

Donations: Thanks to the continuous generosity of caring people in Monterey County, MPJC is able (when gatherings are allowed) to provide a venue for a host of allied community groups. If you wish to support MPJC’s education and advocacy, you can do so by sending a check to MPJC at P.O. Box 1823, Seaside, CA 93955. Or you can donate securely by PayPal or credit card on MPJC’s website, PeaceCentral.wordpress.org.

Direct your questions about the Monterey Peace and Justice Center to Catherine Crockett, 899-7322 or montereypeaceandjustice@gmail.com.

For more information about events listed, contact the sponsoring organization. The events and actions listed here are not necessarily endorsed by the Peace Coalition nor any of the Coalition organizations other than the sponsor of the listed item. The listings are provided as a community service. PCMC cannot guarantee the accuracy of listed items. To ensure this Peace Calendar is not bounced, add cm_crockett@sbcglobal.net to your address book or whitelist.

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