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Rolla Peace News November 7, 2016 |
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================================= Dear Friends:In this newsletter is: 1. NOON VIGIL FOR PEACE: THIS WEEK, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2016 2. BUEHLER PARK – UPDATE – YOUR HELP IS STILL NEEDED 3. YES ON AMENDMENT ONE 4. EARTH IS FIGHTING FOR HER LIFE 5. A LITTLE COMIC RELIEF 6. THE MISFIT MATHEMATICIAN (Tom's column, http://tomsager.org) Election Day And Beyond
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We vigil for peace in front of the Rolla Post Office THIS THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2016, (and all subsequent Thursdays until peace is established) from Noon to 1:00 PM. Please try to join us. The temperature is predicted to be in the 60s. 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. 2. BUEHLER PARK – UPDATE – YOUR HELP IS STILL NEEDED Today, the Rolla City Council went into closed session to discuss real estate – perhaps the purchase of land for an animal shelter and a dog-park. I hope they are successful in this endeavor. At the July 18 meeting of the Rolla City Council, I felt certain they would follow through with building a dog-park in Buehler Park; but YOUR ACTIVISM HAS MADE A DIFFERENCE. Over three months later, the decision is yet to be made. Please sign the petition; and ask your friends and family to sign too. Your phone calls and emails have been very helpful. Please keep them coming. Contact the City of Rolla and ask them not to build a dog-park in Buehler Park: (573)426-6948, citycouncil@rollacity.org. For more information click here. Thank you for your help in preserving Buehler Park as the lovely little park that it is for all local residents and visitors to enjoy. 3. YES ON AMENDMENT ONE Please consider voting YES on November 8 for Amendment One to renew the State Parks, Water and Soil Conservation tax for another 10 years. More information here. 4. EARTH IS FIGHTING FOR HER LIFE We have two issues currently that could end life on Earth, at least as we know it. One is climate change, which if not addressed radically very soon, will eventually destroy modern civilization, if not the entire human race. The other is the possibility of nuclear war, which has not been this likely since the 1950s and 60s. The United States is having an election today in which the two candidates are pretty much diametrically opposed on both of these issues. On the one hand we have Hillary Clinton, whose record on climate change is not great, but who has at least made some concessions in her platform to address it - and at least doesn't deny that it is happening. Her record on the issue of war is abysmal, however. She has supported and/or actively promoted war in Iraq, Libya and Syria, and her proposals for escalating the war in Syria are likely to get us into a war with Russia. Russia has nukes. Clinton has declined to say that she would not be the first to use nuclear weapons. On the other hand, there is Donald Trump. Trump is a climate change denier, at least publicly. There's no knowing what he actually believes, since he says whatever he thinks his audience wants to hear at any given time. He has said that he will promote fossil fuel use to the max, and supports whatever it takes to continue extracting it. He has other flaws, such as racism, narcissism and misogyny. About the only good thing that can be said about him is that he has stated that he would not initiate a nuclear war – but that's a big one (if you can believe him). Doesn't sound too hopeful, does it? In my view, the best thing we can do is to support the people who are putting their lives on the line to protect the Earth, and who have no political agenda: Yes, I'm talking about Standing Rock again! This isn't the only place where the Earth is under attack, but it has become a symbol of resistance to the forces that value money and power over life. If we can prevail here, the impact will be felt worldwide. And the world is watching. Here are some relevant articles: The White Horse and the Humvees—Standing Rock Is Offering Us a Choice The Era Of Climate Migration Meets Violent Borders Latest Election Poll Finds Nation Divided, Everyone Disgusted Obama’s Last Stand Against War on Syria 5. A LITTLE COMIC RELIEF Now that you're all depressed about the election and Earth's prospects, here's a little something to take your mind off it. You'll have to click on the link to find out what it is, but you're guaranteed at least a smile! 6. THE MISFIT MATHEMATICIAN (Tom's column, http://tomsager.org) ELECTION DAY AND BEYOND Tomorrow I'm going to the polls to vote. I'd like to vote for peace; but she's not on the ballot. I'd like to vote for a serious and sustained effort to reverse climate change. She's not on the ballot either. It's sad. Here are the two greatest existential threats to humanity; and neither one is on the ballot. After I vote, I'm going to continue to vigil for peace. After I vote I'm going to continue to support the Standing Rock Sioux and their allies who are fighting the Dakota Access Pipeline. After I vote, I'm going to continue reading to young children. Maybe they will grow up and do a better job of building a peaceful, just world than my generation has done. After I vote, I'll continue to defend Buehler Park. Maybe when the children I read to are grown, Buehler Park will still be there for their children too. In short, no matter who wins or loses, I'll just keep doing what I'm doing. Change comes from below. Change rarely, if ever, comes from the top. I still believe that if enough of us band together and work for peace, we shall have peace. ================== 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: 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, Helen helenm (at) fidnet.com ### |