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Rolla Peace News December 11, 2018 |
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Dear Friends: http://tomsager.org/Peaceletters/peaceletter121118.html In this newsletter is: 1. NOON VIGIL FOR PEACE: THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2018 2. THE MISFIT MATHEMATICIAN (Tom's column, http://tomsager.org) a) A War That May Not Happen b) What Exactly Do Diplomats Do For a Living? c) Additions to Website: Christmas Image, Reading of Hanukkah Story 1. NOON VIGIL FOR PEACE: THURSDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2018 We vigil for peace in front of the Rolla Post Office, THIS THURSDAY, DECEMBER 13, FROM NOON TO 1:00 PM (and most subsequent Thursdays until peace is established). Please try to join us. The temperature is predicted to be in the low 50s. 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. THE MISFIT MATHEMATICIAN (Tom's column, http://tomsager.org) a) A War That May Not Happen b) What Exactly Do Diplomats Do For a Living? c) Additions to Website: Christmas Image, Reading of Hanukkah Story A WAR THAT MAY NOT HAPPEN In 2001, the US put together a coalition of almost 50 nations and attacked Afghanistan, a war that still goes on today. In 2003, only three countries (UK, Australia and Poland) contributed troops to the US invasion of Iraq — again, a war that still goes on today. Today, it seems the US can only muster support for a war against Iran from a handful of brutal nations like Israel and Saudi Arabia with terrible human rights records. And the governments of these countries are all facing determined opposition. Moreover, it appears that China and Europe are putting together a vehicle to skirt US unilateral sanctions on Iran. And this week Iran tested a medium range missile, which Mike Pompeo claims (probably falsely) is contrary to the Iran Nuclear Agreement (JCPOA) which the US unilaterally pulled out of earlier this year. Trita Parsi remarks, “Today, if you’re sitting in Tehran, you’re probably more confident in the future than if you're in Riyadh or Washington.” WHAT EXACTLY DO DIPLOMATS DO FOR A LIVING? I didn't know whether to laugh or cry when I read this article. Seems like the diplomats at COP-24 are arguing whether to “welcome” the IPCC report that essentially spells doom for “human civilization” or to “note” it. The US, Russia, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait wish to “note” it, while the rest of the world wishes to “welcome” it.“To rely on the wisdom of the people in power is the worst thing you can do.” —Howard Zinn “Note” sounds rather bland; while I would hardly “welcome” the doom of “human civilization.” How about “consent with extreme horror and dread?” I would suggest putting all these diplomats to work planting trees, or in the case of the US diplomats, raking the forest. Can you believe we are up to COP-24 now? And each one opens on a situation more dire than the previous one. The most positive part of COP-24 is all the people in the streets protesting and demanding action. ADDITIONS TO WEBSITE: CHRISTMAS IMAGE, READING OF HANUKKAH STORY I've posted an image of Christmas at the border. And a video of a reading of Eric Kimmel's “Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins” along with a non-traditional Hanukkah celebration. 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, Helen helenm (at) fidnet.com |