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Rolla Peace News August 18, 2020 |
Dear Friends:Editor's note: Please send in your work. I think readers would love to see more variety in this newsletter.In this newsletter is: 1. NOON VIGIL FOR PEACE: THURSDAY, AUGUST 20, 2020 2. DEMONSTRATION IN SUPPORT OF THE POSTAL SERVICE: SATURDAY, AUGUST 22, 11 AM, AT THE ROLLA POST OFFICE 3. GLOBAL STRIKE FOR THE CLIMATE: SEPTEMBER 25 4. THE MISFIT MATHEMATICIAN (Tom's column, http://tomsager.org) a) Opening Israeli Beaches to Palestinians b) Herd-Immunity c) UN sanctions on Iran to End in October d) Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons Makes Progress 1. NOON VIGIL FOR PEACE: THURSDAY, AUGUST 20, 2020 We vigil for peace in front of the Rolla Post Office, THIS THURSDAY, AUGUST 20, FROM NOON TO 1:00 PM (and most subsequent Thursdays until Peace is established). Please join us again this Thursday in saying NO WAR AGAINST IRAN or any other country. The temperature is predicted to be around 80. If you do not feel comfortable standing with us in front of the Post Office, please consider driving by and showing your support for our message by honking your horn and flashing a peace sign. Note: Since there are so few of us, generally 2 or 3, no need to cancel; but let's maintain social distancing. 2. DEMONSTRATION IN SUPPORT OF THE POSTAL SERVICE: SATURDAY, AUGUST 22, 11 AM, AT THE ROLLA POST OFFICE This Saturday, at 11 AM, Friends of the US Postal Service all over the United States will hold demonstrations at their local Post Offices against political attacks on the US Postal Service. Helen and I intend to be at the Rolla Post Office by 11 AM. Please join us in support of the Postal Service. Bring signs if you can. Also, please wear masks and maintain social distancing. 3. GLOBAL STRIKE FOR THE CLIMATE: SEPTEMBER 25 Friday, September 25 will be the date of the Global Strike for the Climate. If no one organizes a more ambitious project for Rolla, we intend to move the Thursday vigil to Friday on that week to coincide with the Global Climate Strike. Last year we had a great turnout. Photos are posted here (scroll down). 4. THE MISFIT MATHEMATICIAN (Tom's column, http://tomsager.org) a) Opening Israeli Beaches to Palestinians b) Herd-Immunity c) UN sanctions on Iran to End in October d) Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons Makes Progress Opening Israeli Beaches to Palestinians I cried when I saw this article: Palestinians enjoying the beaches of Israel after over 70 years. Perhaps a small gesture; but it could grow into something huge. 13 years ago, I wrote: Perhaps it is finally happening. Who would have thought that a tiny virus could have accomplished so much!“As the power and unconditional backing of its major benefactor [the United States] evaporates, Israel may decide that the best course is not only to make peace with its neighbors, but to enter into some form of economic and military cooperation with them.” [Three Murderous Myths, p13] Herd-Immunity I received some very thoughtful comments on the proposal in last week's newsletter on developing herd immunity to COVID-19. One reader felt it would not be ethical to deliberately give a volunteer COVID-19. Another was concerned about long-term side-effects of having been infected with COVID-19. I'm going to save discussion of these points for a later date. Please continue to send in comments. The proposal is posted here. UN sanctions on Iran to End in October The United Nations Security Council voted down a US proposal to extend the arms embargo on Iran which is set to expire in October. The United States and the Dominican Republic voted to extend the embargo. China and Russia voted against the proposal. All other Security Council members, including the United Kingdom, abstained. Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons Makes Progress So far this August, Ireland, Nigeria, Niue and Saint Kitts & Nevis have ratified the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, bringing the total to 44. Six more ratifications and the Treaty goes into force. This is a very important Treaty, by which mostly small and medium-sized nations are standing up to nuclear bullying from mostly rich and powerful nations. Here's an article about Fiji which was devastated by French nuclear testing. Fiji ratified the Treaty last month. Rolla Peace News is distributed by email once a week on Tuesday evenings (except on rare occasions) and is posted on the web at http://tomsager.org (click on Grassroots Rolla: at the top of rightmost column). If you don't wish to get notices of peace events in the Rolla area, let me know and I'll take you off this list. If you want to be added to this list, let me know. Wage peace, Tom yushasager (at) yahoo.com |