Page 1, OPS, Nov-Dec 2012

Donna Compton Editorial: “Really!!??” P. 2

Honoring the life of George McGovern P. 4

ALERTS Page 5 P. 5

You’re invited to “LEAPS & BOUNDS” P. 6

Weapons Caused Birth Defects P. 7

$21 Trillion Hidden by the Rich P. 9

Renewable Energy Oklahoma P. 10

Inside this issue:

“Peace is not jus t the

absence of v io lence,

but the presence

of jus t ice .”

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Nov. -Dec. 2012 THE PEACE HOUSE 2912 N. Robinson Oklahoma City, OK 73103

Address Service Requested

Return a Gift to the Peace House in the enclosed envelope! THANKS!

Non-profit

U.S. Postage Paid Okla. City, OK

73125 Permit No. 1096

Oklahoma City’s 27th annual Peace Festival will be on Sunday, Nov.

11th, from 11 am to 5 pm, in the Civic Center Music Hall’s “Hall of Mir-

rors” in downtown in Oklahoma City. The event is free and open to the

public. Bring friends and new visitors this year.

“Visitors will be inspired by tables and booths of local groups and organi-

zations serving in social justice, human service, human rights, environment

and peace,” said Nathaniel Batchelder, director of the Peace House. Dr.

King said peace is the presence of justice.

The Peace Festival presents a holiday shopping opportunity as groups and

vendors sell items as gifts for the holiday season. Fair trade and home-

made goods on sale include pottery, crafts and organic coffee from Central

America, carving and hand-made items from Africa. Local artists and

craftspeople sell their art as well. Many groups sell books, calendars, t-

shirts and bumper stickers furthering their mission. Groups offer newslet-

ters and membership opportunities in addition to sales items..

“Background entertainment during the festival includes musicians Steve

McLinn, Jahruba, and others,” Batchelder said. Folk singers and guitarists

Jerry Carroll and D. Ray Polk will perform. Dance recitals by students

from Oklahoma City’s Aalim School of Dance are at 2 pm. A Children’s

Activity Room, supervised by adults during the event, is sponsored by the

Peace Education Institute, a cosponsor of the Festival.

Other sponsors with the Peace House and Peace Education Institute in-

clude the Social Justice Committee First Unitarian Church, Home Crea-

tions, Bright Lights of OKC, Summit Business Systems, Oklahoma Ob-

server, and Bob Lemon. More information is available by calling the Peace

House in Oklahoma City at 405-524-5577, or by going on the website

www.PeaceHouseOK.org.

Sunday Nov. 11th

Details below

The Best Kind of Holiday Shopping-Helping 50+ Good Causes:

Come to the Peace Festival!

Page 2, OPS, Nov-Dec 2012

CO

MM

EN

TA

RY

Oklahoma Peace Strategy News is produced by The Peace House in Oklahoma City. It has been published since 1983. It is written, compiled, typeset, composed, labeled, and mailed by volunteers. Letters to the Editor and articles submitted for publication are welcome. They must be signed with a phone number and ad-dress for the author; however, requests for anonymous publi-cation will be considered. OPS News reserves the right to edit for space and to refuse publica-tion of statements that are libel-ous or unsubstantiated. Send to: The Peace House 2912 N. Robinson Okla. City, OK 73103

Or to phwebmail@cox.net Phone: 405-524-5577

Peace Education Institute 11404 N. Midwest Blvd.

Jones, OK 73049 405-204-6479

REALLY??!!

by Donna Compton

A regular feature on Saturday Night Live is the Weekend

Update. Occasionally, something in the actual news is so

outrageous, the hosts do a series of one-liners followed

by the word “REALLY??!! said with great incredulity

and often followed by, “You’ve got to be kidding!

I’ve been hearing that word in my head for a while now-

not about the news on SNL-but about the constant drum-

beat for yet another war-this time with Iran.

I have heard many excellent arguments against our possi-

ble participation in a war against

Iran, a number of them on these

pages by our own Nathaniel

Batchelder and others. I have also

read articles and listened to conver-

sations on TV and radio in stunned

disbelief as an endless parade of

warmongers reel off a litany of

fearful consequences of not acting

quickly. My first reaction is not

well-modulated or even very civil.

I find myself shaking my head and

saying, like Seth and Amy,

REALLY?!

REALLY AMERICA?! Are we

really going to fall for those thread-

bare excuses for war???? Again???

“The Threat is Real!”

“They’re Four Years Closer to a Nuclear Weapon!”

“The Time is Short to Act!”

“They Hate Us!”

“They Want to Destroy Our Way of Life!

“They Will Get Us if We Don’t Get Them First!”

“They Have Weapons of Mass Destruction.!”

‘Strategic Supplies are Threatened!”

REALLY??!! Don’t these ‘reasons’ sound eerily like the

same excuses for the war in Iraq? None of these catch

phrases is a statement of undisputed fact. In reality, the

evidence for some of them is extremely flimsy or sus-

pect, or both. And some of them could be rather accu-

rately turned around on ourselves. WE are being encour-

aged to hate THEM. Many of THEM think WE want to

destroy their way of life. Pogo said, years ago, “I have

seen the enemy and he are us.” Never truer than now.

These same ‘reasons,’ in some variation, have been used

in every decade since the 1960s to keep this country con-

tinuously at war. There are huge corporate interests who

very much want it to stay that way.

Enough money has been spent on these wars to solve

every social problem we have and still have enough left

over to reduce everyone’s taxes. We could have con-

verted virtually every motor vehicle to renewable or less

polluting power sources. We could have financed

enough wind farms and solar panel arrays to switch

much of the grid to clean, renewable sources. We could

have sent every deserving student to college for free. In-

stead, we have become more and more adept at inventing

and deploying more diabolical ways to kill others and we

have turned a number of ancient landscapes to rubble.

And we think THEY are a threat? Really??

Thousands of our young people

have been killed and maimed and

hundreds of thousands in other

countries have suffered the same

fate. And each of those individuals

had a circle of friends, family, and

colleagues who still care about

them, love them, and will miss them

forever. And all this pain and suf-

fering is worth it? REALLY!?

Meanwhile, the most ominous

threats to our nation and to the

world, have become tests of ‘faith.’

“Do you believe in global warm-

ing?” “Believe” is not the right

word. There is overwhelming scientific evidence around

the earth, in many disciplines, demonstrating that the earth

is warming in a way that threatens not only human life but

all life on the planet.

Talking about population control has become taboo also.

But the planet is beyond its carrying capacity. All of us

must reduce our consumer footprint and walk more gently

on the earth. We in the northern hemisphere are using many

times more resources that people in the southern hemi-

sphere and must use less. But we must also bring the actual

number of humans down or nature is likely to do it for us.

But Iran is the biggest threat to peace on the planet?

REALLY!??

For the “experts” to start in with the same old lame

excuses for going into yet another war is the most deadly

game of Charlie Brown and Lucy in their ‘kicking the foot-

ball’ series.’ Are we really going to kick it again? The war-

mongers think we’re going to fall for it one more time. So,

pardon me if, when someone starts beating the drum for

another war, my first response is “REALLY?! /////

Amy Poehler and Seth Meyers on Saturday

Night Live during the “REALLY?!” segment

of Weekend Update-a sarcastic send-up of

outrageous news.

Page 3, OPS, Nov-Dec 2012

Please Help The Peace House Send a gift in the enclosed envelope

Oklahoma City’s Peace House depends upon your contributions

— all sizes — to survive. Also send us your suggestions, and the

names and addresses of friends you’d like to receive our newspapers

and mailings, which we send free to everyone.

The Peace House networks with many groups and individuals to

bring about public events, peace walks, demonstrations, speakers,

editorials, educational events, peace camps … and a host of activi-

ties relating to human rights, economic justice and environmental

sustainability. If you know us, you know it’s true.

The Peace House website — www.peacehouseok.org — is up-

dated frequently and regularly to share announcements, alerts, pho-

tos, and essays about peace as well as events and links to other or-

ganizations with whom we are aligned.

Thanks to all who can help!

Tear and remove

Support The Peace House, OKC

Your contributions to Peace House support our pub-

lications, programs, rallies, marches, and ongoing

efforts for human rights, economic justice, environ-

mental sustainability, nonviolence, and peace. As we

are a political nonprofit, donations to Peace House

are not tax-deductible.

Send to:

PEACE HOUSE

2912 N. Robinson

Oklahoma City, OK 73103

FULL & NEW MOON CEREMONIES

The New Moon begins each lunar cycle. It’s a per-

fect time to set intentions for the

coming month, for yourself, our

community and our world. Set-

ting your intentions has a great

effect on what you do. It helps

you remember who you are and

what you are about.

New Moon Ceremonies take

place at MettaWing.

Monday, November 12, 7:30 p.m.

Thursday, December 13, 7:00 p.m.

The Full Moon signifies the completion of the lunar

cycle. You can mark that event by letting go of those

things that you no long wish to carry forward into

your future. As life changes, “letting go” is an impor-

tant tool to staying in the here and now.

Full Moon Drumming Circles

Friday, December 1, 9:00 p.m.

Winter Solstice Celebration

Friday, December 21, 2012, 7:00 p.m.

Details at www.PeaceEducationInstitute.org

Monthly demonstrations for “No

War on Iran” take place on the

first Friday of the month, 4:30pm-

6pm, on the four corners by Penn

Square Mall. Join us in December.

In the new year, a new location

and time may be chosen.

Page 4, OPS, Nov-Dec 2012

Bread for the World and Churches for Middle East Peace Honor the Legacy of Sen. George McGovern

Washington, DC, October 22, 2012 Bread for the World joins the anti-hunger community in offering condo-

lences to family and friends of the late George McGovern. The former U.S.

senator and ambassador devoted much of his career to fighting for pro-

grams that support hungry and poor people in the United States and around

the world.

“We are deeply saddened by the passing of such a great leader on global

hunger,” said Rev. David Beckmann, president of Bread for the World.

“Sen. McGovern’s legacy and commitment to ending hunger will live on

through the McGovern-Dole feeding program and his accomplishments as

a World Food Prize laureate.”

Sen. George McGovern (D-S.D.) was instrumental in feeding hungry peo-

ple in the United States by reforming the food stamp program in the 1970s.

Working closely with Sen. Robert Dole (R-Kans.) to cosponsor the bill,

Sen. McGovern modernized and expanded the program now known as

SNAP (the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), which currently

assists 46 million Americans. The two senators also established the Inter-

national Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program, which serves

millions of people in developing countries.

Named in honor of Sens. McGovern and Dole, the McGovern-Dole Inter-

national Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program has provided low

-income countries with U.S. agricultural commodities and financial and

technical assistance for school feeding programs since the 1990s. The pro-

gram also supports maternal, infant, and child nutrition programs. With

funding of about $200 million in 2010, McGovern-Dole has served ap-

proximately 5 million beneficiaries in 28 countries.

“Sen. McGovern’s anti-hunger legacy is apparent in the millions of lives

that have been spared through the programs he sponsored,” added Beck-

mann. “We pray

lawmakers will

continue his bi-

partisan commit-

ment to ending

world hunger by

supporting the

McGovern-Dole

school feeding

initiative and

other programs

that help lift mil-

lions out of pov-

erty from poten-

tially devastating federal budget cuts.”

Funeral services were at 1 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 26 at Mary Sommervold

Hall at the Washington Pavilion of Arts and Science in Sioux Falls, S.D. A

private burial will take place at a later date at a Washington, D.C., ceme-

tery.

Corinne Whitlatch, the founder and first executive director of Churches

for Middle East Peace, was a friend of Senator George McGovern, who

passed away this week. Corinne recalls Senator McGovern, his relation-

ship with CMEP, and his dedication to peace in the Middle East:

Churches for Middle East Peace is grateful for George McGovern’s dec-

ades long dedication and work for Middle East peace. He was a founding

member of CMEP’s Leadership Council and one of CMEP’s first fundrais-

ing letters was from George.

Long before I came to Washington and became CMEP’s director, I was a

friend of George McGovern. I was treasurer of the McGovern for President

campaign in Iowa where his caucus success launched his successful candi-

dacy for the Democratic contest against Richard Nixon and political de-

feat. Also working for the Iowa campaign were McGovern family mem-

bers from Iowa and his nearby home state South Dakota which led to my

working security for the family at the Miami convention. At the conven-

tion, McGovern’s expressed concern for Palestinian human rights brought

pressure from a major donor and awakened me to the controversy and the

issue.

Senator George McGovern was a foreign policy expert with long service

on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee who knew the fundamental

importance of Israeli-Palestinian-Arab peace to the Middle East region and

any chance for global peace. He was on the board of the Middle East Pol-

icy Council, which publishes an academic journal, for two years. When he

became its head in 1991, our paths crossed again. Our last time together

was at the September meeting of the heads of Middle East peace groups on

the morning of 9-11.

With no hesitation George, who had retired to South Dakota, accepted my

invitation to join CMEP’s Leadership Council. “If my name can help, use

it.”

It was an honor to know George McGovern, his example of perseverance

and steadfast work for peace is an inspiration to me, to CMEP and a great

many people. Our commitment to peace making will be his legacy. /////

Tear and remove

Support The Peace Education Institute

The Peace Education Institute is committed to edu-

cational and practical opportunities for people to

explore nonviolent living options. We need your

support.

Send your contributions to:

The Peace Education Institute

11404 N. Midwest Blvd.

Jones, OK 73049

Contributions to “PEI” ARE tax-deductible.

Page 5, OPS, Nov-Dec 2012

Contact Elected Officials:

The White House

Washington, DC 20500

202-456-1111 (comments) 202-456-1414 (switchboard) FAX: 202-456-2461

Congressional Switchboard

(202) 224-3121

(202) 225-3121

Mail: US Senate

US Senate

Washington, DC 20510

Mail: (Name of Rep.) US House of Representatives

Washington, DC 20515

Senator Tom Coburn (OK) DC Tel: (202) 224-5754

DC Fax: (202) 224-6008

OKC Ofc: (405) 231-4941

Tulsa Ofc: (918) 581-7651

Senator Jim Inhofe (OK) DC Tel: (202) 224-4721

DC Fax: (202) 228-0380

OKC Ofc: (405) 608-4381

Tulsa Ofc: (918) 748-5111

U.S. Representatives (OK) Dist 1: John Sullivan (Tul) DC Tel: (202) 225-2211

DC Fax: (202) 225-9187

Tulsa ofc: (918) 749-0014

Dist 2: Dan Boren (Musk) DC Tel: (202) 225-2701

DC Fax: (202) 225-3038

Muskogee: (918) 687-2533

Dist 3: Frank Lucas (W. OKC) DC Tel: (202) 225-5565

DC Fax: (202) 225-8698

OKC Ofc: (405) 373-1958

Dist 4: Tom Cole (Nrm & S.) DC Tel: (202) 225-6165

DC Fax: (202) 225-3512

Norman Ofc: (405) 329-6500

Dist 5: James Lankford (OKC) DC Tel: (202) 225-2132

DC Fax: (202) 226-1463

OKC Ofc: (405) 234-9900

Contact one or more of them

today!

“No War on Iran” Oklahoma City’s “Americans Against the Next War” group meets every Fri-

day afternoon to discuss actions and strategies, as we continue to study informa-

tion available on this issue. Visit www.AmericansAgainstTheNextWar.org.

Peace activists must continually make concerns about another needless war

clear to members of Congress and the White House. Intelligence sources in the

US and Israel, and the IAEA inspectors (International Atomic Energy Agency)

agree that “Iran has not decided to build a nuclear weapon.” They also agree that

should Iran begin to enrich uranium to higher levels for a weapon, it would be

detected within one or two months, and it would take Iran a year to 18 months to

build a weapon.

President Obama is clearly committed to resolving the Iran issue through di-

plomacy, inspections, and sanctions … a policy characterized as “weak” by hard-

liners in the US and Israel. Do they prefer war? Dangerous talk risks war.

Military strikes likely leading to war would be catastrophic for the world, re-

sulting in untold destruction and death in Iran and Israel, and destroying Amer-

ica’s fragile economic recovery. A regional war could result involving Russia

and China.

Write, Call, Fax our elected officials. Write a letter to the editor of news-

papers small and large. Letters get read! Do what you can to prevent an-

other war.

Cosponsors Needed for the “Education For All” Act RESULTS Global Hunger & Poverty Lobby wants 100 cosponsors for the

EFA Act by year’s end. There are 74 cosponsors already (none from Oklahoma

yet).

While the U.S has provided important global leadership to open classroom

doors for children around the world, there are still 61 million primary-school-

aged children not in school, the majority of whom are girls. The world has

made progress toward universal education since 2000, but is not on track to

achieve this goal

as committed in the Millennium Development Goals.

To achieve the goal of universal basic education, the EFA Act lays out U.S.

policy that includes working with other countries, international organizations

and civil society to: 1) assist developing countries in strengthening their educa-

tional systems, 2) assist multilateral organizations and NGOs (nongovernmental

organizati ons), 3) promote education as the foundation for community develop-

ment and strong economies, and 4) extend access to education particularly to

marginalized and vulnerable groups, including girls, children affected by con-

flict or crises, disabled children, children in remote or rural areas, children from

families affected by disease.

Please contact U.S. Representatives asking them to cosponsor the Educa-

tion For All Act of 2011. The EFA Act is authored by Reps Nita Lowey (D-

NY) and Dave Reichert (R-WA). Republican Reps should contact Ashley

Johnson in Rep. Reichert’s office for more information and to become a co-

sponsor (they know how to do it).

Page 6, OPS, Nov-Dec 2012

“Leaps and Bounds” is a one-woman show exploring the intersection of faith, ecol-

ogy, and the global economy. Developed and performed by Tevyn East, this show has

been shared with more the 100 communities in over 50 cities across the country. Re-

cently adapted into a film, Leaps and Bounds continues to inspire individuals and

communities to consider their response to the ecological and economic cri-

ses now upon us. It is presented by the Affording Hope Project.

Using a number of creative tools including storytelling, song, poetry,

prayer, movement, and music, this work of theater sheds light on the un-

sustainable strain of our economic system, while awakening the imagina-

tion to a new way of living with and relating to Earth. Grounded in theo-

logical reflection, Leaps and Bounds, embodies an adventure both visceral

and thought-provoking, asking for a reckoning and a reclaiming of the val-

ues that promote human well-being and ecological health.

The Affording Hope Project accesses the transformative power of art to

inspire faith communities to be a prophetic witness to alternative economic

systems of sufficiency and solidarity.

Tevyn East brings the urgency and passion that are appropriate to the en-

vironmental crisis that is now upon us. Her performance probes this diffi-

cult terrain with depth and breadth, grounded in the moral imperatives of

biblical faith. — Ched Myers

You are invited to:

LEAPS & BOUNDS

Friday, November 16

Church of the Open Arms

3131 N. Penn, Oklahoma City

The Affording Hope Project presents Leaps and Bounds, a one-

woman show which explores the intersection of faith, ecology, and

the global economy. Developed and performed by Tevyn East, the

event intends to inspire faith communities to be a prophetic witness

to alternative economic systems of sufficiency and solidarity.

“My attorney suggested that we try to work things out in mediation to avoid a litigation disaster”

Since 1988, Jim Stovall, founder and Director of the Mediation Institute, has worked with individuals,

families, and organizations to resolve difficult and complicated disputes that often threaten valuable rela-

tionships. Jim works to assist those in conflict to retain control over the decision-making process and pre-

vent a matter from turning into a lengthy court battle or a painful grudge match.

Divorce and Custody Matters

Family & Interpersonal Disputes

Elder Care, Estate and Inheritance Issues

Training and Consultation

Call 405-607-8914 for more information and a free initial consultation.

The Mediation Institute, 133308 N. MacArthur Blvd., Oklahoma City, OK 73142

Page 7, OPS, Nov-Dec 2012

October 16th, 2012 | LobeLog.com, an ini-

tiative of IPS news agency and its Wash-

ington DC bureau chief Jim Lobe.

By Jasmin Ramsey

According to a new study first reported

on by the Independent, there has been a

significant rise in Iraqi birth defects in cities that

were hard-hit by US-led forces during the war:

The latest study found that in Fallujah, more

than half of all babies surveyed were born with a

birth defect between 2007 and 2010. Before the

siege, this figure was more like one in 10. Prior

to the turn of the

millennium, fewer

than 2 per cent of

babies were born

with a defect. More

than 45 per cent of

all pregnancies sur-

veyed ended in mis-

carriage in the two

years after 2004, up

from only 10 per

cent before the

bombing. Between

2007 and 2010, one

in six of all preg-

nancies ended

in miscarriage.

The new research, which looked at the health

histories of 56 families in Fallujah, also exam-

ined births in Basra, in southern Iraq, attacked by

British forces in 2003. Researchers found more

than 20 babies out of 1,000 were born with de-

fects in Al Basrah Maternity Hospital in 2003, a

number that is 17 times higher than recorded a

decade previously. In the past seven years, the

number of malformed babies born increased by

more than 60 per cent; 37 out of every 1,000 are

now born with defects.

The US response:

A US Defense Department spokesperson said:

“We are not aware of any official reports indicat-

ing an increase in birth defects in Al Basrah or

Fallujah that may be related to exposure to the

metals contained in munitions used by the US or

coalition partners. We always take very seriously

public health concerns about any population now

living in a combat theatre. Unexploded ordnance,

including improvised explosive devises, are a

recognized hazard.”

But a series of studies have suggested links be-

tween the bombardments and a rise in Iraqi birth

defects:

Their preliminary findings, in 2010, prompted a

World Health Organization inquiry into the

prevalence of birth defects in the area. The WHO

report, out next month, is widely expected to

show an increase in birth defects after the con-

flict. It has looked at nine “high-risk” areas in

Iraq, including

Fallujah and

Basra. Where

high prevalence

is found, the

WHO is ex-

pected to call for

additional stud-

ies to pinpoint

precise causes.

Implications for War on Iran: After being asked to give his take on a recent

report about the human costs of attacking Iran’s

nuclear facilities, a prominent commentator on

US-Iran relations said it was an “inexact science”

and declined further comment even though he

called the project a worthy endeavor. While the

idea that inflicting physical damage on a nuclear

site would cause serious harm to surrounding bio-

logical entities seems indisputable, at least the

after-effects of the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq

tragically continues to serve as a case study for

the impact a prolonged war with Iran—required

if the goal is to set back Iran’s nuclear program

by more than a few years — would have on the

human population.

Surge in birth defects in Iraq said to be

caused by US and NATO munitions

WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION

REPORT OUT NEXT MONTH

...a series of studies have suggested links be-

tween the bombardments and a rise in Iraqi

birth defects: Their preliminary findings, in

2010, prompted a World Health Organiza-

tion inquiry into the prevalence of birth de-

fects in the area. The WHO’s report, out

next month, is widely expected to show an

increase in birth defects after the conflict.

Education/Outreach on Conscience and Military

Legal Services for Conscientious Objectors

Counter recruitment/peace education tools

War Resisters League affiliate

504 NE 15th St., OKC 73104 Phone 405.598.7362

centerforconscience.org

Vision and Action for Ending War

Page 8, OPS, Nov-Dec 2012

THANKS to Donors to the Peace House received from January, 2012 through October 29, 2012. Kay Adair

Lee Agnew & Lonnie Corder Agnew

Kay Ahaus

Bob Aldridge

Dorothy Alexander

David Alexander

Valerie J. Allen

Kathryn & Andy Anderson

Kay Anderson

Kelly Armstrong

Mona Baird

Lois Barber

Paul Barby

Carol Barry

Pamela Barrymore

Fannie Bates

Cara & Ronald Beer

Lee Eddy & Bill Bennett

Nan Binder-Smith

Robert & Sharon Bish

Melanie Bittman

Teresa Black

Patricia Black

Linda Blackerby

Fred & Sue Blackmon

Shirley & Jon Blaschke

David Blatt

Barbara L Bonner

Linda Bowlby

Tom And Pat Brewer

Terry & Kay Britton

Ron Burkard

Rev Jack And Susan Burton

Phyllis Byerly

Bill and Alice Byrd

Anne L Guzman & Gary Byrkit

Nancy Cain

Pat Califana

Sherry Bacus Scott & Jerry Carroll

Richard Cates & Jeanene Davidson

D. L. Cetrangolo

Jack Clifford

Annette Clifton

Orra Compton

Margaret Cox

Billy Coyle

David & Betty Craighead

Della G. Craighead

Lois & Ray Crooks

Kathy Cullinan

Bob Curtis

Marilyn & Lawrence Curtis

Joan Dark

Lynda Deibel

Marge & Bob Delaney

R.L. Doyle

Sally Duran

E. Warren Eads

Ozie, Kay And Anthony Edwards

Robert & Harriette Elliott

Susan Elliott

Hawthorne Farr

Jalal Farzaneh

Ken Feiger

Thurma Fiegel

Margie Finley

Christy A Finsel

Margaret Flansburg

John S. And Gail P. Fletcher

Dorothy Foster

Mary Francis

Tom Fredgren & Ellen Frank

Naomi French

Gus W Friedrich

Mike Fuller

Carol Ann Fulton

Tom Gallagher

Gail Garloch

Jane & Bill Garthoeffner

Barbara Geary

Alice Gehrke

Veva Gibbard Rivermont

Susan A Gonzalez

Dixie Mosier Greene

Marjorie Greer

John & Francis Griffin

David Grow

Denise Hall

Dennie Hall

Arlene Halley

Kay Ham

Jim Hankins

Frances Harbert

Diane Hardersen

Mary Harris

C.M. & Phyllis Harvey, M.D.

Brad Hawkins

Don Helberg

William R. Henry

Lois & R.E. Hilbert

Don & Kay Holladay

Jim & Carolyn Holloran

Jill Holmes

Penny Hopkins

Steven & Melinda Howard

Jean Hubinger

Sara Iselin

Terry And Rebecca James

Barbara Hagen & Bruce Johnson

Davis D And Carole J Joyce

Bruce W. Keck

Edwin Kessler

Ann Richards Ketcham

Martha & Bill King

Beryl & Esther Kingsbury

Mary Jo Kinzie

Wilma J & Perry Klaassen

Joan & Michael Korenblit

Bernadette & Michael Krawczyk

Marvin & Lilly Kroeker

Shirley Cleary,

Mike & Coleen Kunkel

Jim & Pat Laing

Linda & Tim Larason

Mrs. Harriet Larsen

Sharon Lawson

Jim Lazalier

Connie Leahy

Bob Lemon

Robyn Lemon Sellers

Roger Lienke

Tupper Lienke

John R Long

Annye Love

Janis Love

Gene M Kasmar & Kerry Lund

Gayla Machell

Phyllis McKenzie & Peter Maher

Ruth Males

Joyce & David Markes

Dolores D. Martin

Moses & Sadie Mast

Jim Maxey,D.D.S.

Ray McGovern

Steve & Sherry McLinn

James Mcusic

Gordon & Judy Melson

Mary Menges Myers

Dorothy Messenger

Mr. & Mrs. T.H Milby

David Miller & Barbara Neas

Mary Moloney Sp

J.T. Moore

Bill & Helen Moorer

Lynn Moroney

Fran Morris

Betty P. Morrow

Charlene Morrow

Anne Murray

Nancy Musselman

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Page 9, OPS, Nov-Dec 2012

(July 25, 2012)

$21 trillion. That's how much the world's richest people are hiding in off-

shore tax havens worldwide. Or it may be more, as much as $32 trillion—

the real amount is, of course, almost impossible to track.

While governments slash spending and lay off workers, citing a need for

“austerity” because of the slow economy, the ultra-rich—fewer than 10

million people—have stashed an amount equal to the US and Japanese

economies combined away from the tax man. This is according to a new

report by the Tax Justice Network, and their findings are shocking. The

lost tax revenue from offshore tax shelters, they note, “is large enough to

make a significant difference to all of our conven-

tional measures of inequality. Since most of the

missing financial wealth belongs to a tiny elite,

the impact is staggering.”

James S. Henry, who was former Chief Econo-

mist for McKinsey & Co. and is the author of the

book The Blood Bankers as well as articles for

publications including The Nation and The New

York Times, dug into information from the Bank

for International Settlements, the International

Monetary Fund, the World Bank, the United Na-

tions, central banks, and private sector analysts

and found the outlines of the giant pool of cash

floating in that nebulous location known as

“offshore”. (And this is just money—the report

leaves out things like real estate, yachts, art, and

other forms of wealth the super-rich are hiding,

untaxed, in offshore tax havens.) Henry refers to it as a “black hole” in the

world economy and notes that, “despite taking pains to err on the conserva-

tive side, the results are astonishing.”

There's a lot of information to wade through in this report, so we've bro-

ken out 6 things you should know about the money the world's richest are

keeping from the rest of us.

1. Meet The Top .001% “By our estimates, at least a third of all private financial wealth, and

nearly half of all offshore wealth, is now owned by world’s richest 91,000

people– just 0.001% of the world’s population,” the report says. Those top

91,000 have about $9.8 trillion of the total estimated in this report—and

fewer than ten million people account for the whole pile of cash.

Who are those people? We know they're the richest, but what else do we

know about them? The report mentions “30-year-old Chinese real estate

speculators and Silicon Valley software tycoons,” and those whose wealth

comes from oil and the drug trade. It doesn't mention, but could, US presi-

dential candidates—Mitt Romney's famously taken flak for having money

stashed in a Swiss bank account and in investments located in the Cayman

Islands. (Politifact rated these statements in a recent Obama Ad as “true”.)

Drug lords, of course, need to hide their ill-gotten gains, but plenty of

the other ultra-rich are simply avoiding paying taxes, constructing compli-

cated trusts and other investments just to shave a few more points off the

bill they pay to their home country. And it's all adding up.

2. Where's the Cash? It's Complicated “Offshore,” according to Henry, isn't a physical location anymore—

though plenty of places like Singapore and Switzerland, he notes, still spe-

cialize in providing “secure, low-tax physical residences” to the world's

rich.

But these days, “offshore” wealth is virtual—Henry describes “nominal,

hyper-portable, multi-jurisdictional, often quite temporary locations of net-

works of legal and quasi-legal entities and arrangements.” A company may

be located in one jurisdiction, but it is owned by a trust located elsewhere,

and administered by trustees in a third location.

“Ultimately, then, the term 'offshore' refers to a set

of capabilities,” rather than to a place or multiple

places.

It's also important, the report notes, to distinguish

between the “intermediary havens”--the places most

people think of when they think of tax havens, like

Romney's Cayman Islands, Bermuda, or Switzer-

land—and the “destination havens,” which include

the US, the UK, and even Germany. Those destina-

tions are desirable because they provide “relatively

efficient, regulated securities markets, banks back-

stopped by large populations of taxpayers, and in-

surance companies; well-developed legal codes,

competent attorneys, independent judiciaries, and

the rule of law.”

So the same folks avoiding paying taxes by shuf-

fling their money around, in other words, are taking advantage of taxpayer-

funded services to do so. And here in the US, certain states have begun,

since the 1990s, to offer inexpensive legal entities “whose levels of se-

crecy, protection against creditors, and tax advantages rival those of the

world's traditional secretive offshore havens.” Combine that with the de-

clining share of US taxes paid by the rich and corporations, and we're start-

ing to look awfully appealing to those looking to squirrel away money.

3. Big Bailed-Out Banks Run This Business Just who is facilitating this process? Some familiar names surface

quickly when you dig into the data: Goldman Sachs, UBS, and Credit

Suisse are the top three, with Bank of America, Wells Fargo, and JP Mor-

gan Chase all in the top ten. “We can now add this to their list of distinc-

tions: they are key players in many havens around the globe, and key en-

ablers of the global tax injustice system,” the report notes.

By the end of 2010, the top 50 private banks alone were managing some

$12.1 trillion in “cross-border invested” assets for their clients. That's more

than twice what it was in 2005, representing an average annual growth rate

of over 16 percent.

“From banks to accountancy firms and corporate lawyers, some of the

biggest businesses in the world are part of the fabric of

Photo Credit: Shutterstock.com

6 Things You Should Know About the $21 Trillion the

World's Richest People Are Hiding In Tax Shelters

A new report from the Tax Justice Network found trillions of untaxed wealth that the world's richest people are hiding. Here's what you need to know.

Continued, Page 12

Page 10, OPS, Nov-Dec 2012

The transition from an electricity net-

work based on fossil fuels to a new one

based on cleaner energy technologies has to

occur, but not abruptly. The burning of coal

and oil has to end, but the energy they pro-

duce must be replaced by renewable sources

- sun, wind, biota, geothermal, hydrogen, etc.

- slowly at first, more quickly later on when the technologies have ma-

tured.

Most of these alternative technologies are still in a period of rapid

improvement and innovation, industries in their early stages. And they per-

form best at different times of day, so a mixture will be needed to match up

with the times when electricity is most needed. That schedule itself may

change as, for instance, electric cars needing overnight recharging become

more popular. It is much too early to limit the choice of methods for gener-

ating renewable energy to a favored few, to foreclose on options that may

pay off in the future.

Thus, as a nation, we need to encourage this transition, and develop

these new industries. To assess where we are, one way is to examine how

energy is being generated today. A list of source technologies and the per-

centages of the total electricity has been called an energy portfolio. Incor-

porating new sources or changing the contribution of older sources will

then change the percentages in the portfolio. In 2010, the national portfolio

consisted of 45% from coal, 25% natural gas, 20% nuclear and 10% re-

newable: hydro, geothermal, wind, solar, or biomass.

We can set goals and a timetable in terms of that portfolio without

being very specific about the component energy sources. Such flexible

portfolios are called Renewable Energy Standards (RES), or Renewable

Portfolio Standards (RPS), and require the major utility companies to pro-

vide a percentage of the total energy from some mixture of renewable

sources.

A national portfolio standard has not been enacted, but has been

proposed, S2146, the Clean Energy Standard Act of 2012, by Senator Bin-

gaman and nine co-sponsors. But the idea has been around for a decade or

two, and has been enacted in various forms in several states. A graphic of

the current situations is available at www.seia.org/galleries/FactSheets/

Factsheet_Res.pdf . The states fall into 3 groups: 29 that embrace the de-

velopment of renewable energy with RES and other incentives; 8 that are

in the middle, with voluntary RES (including OK, 15% by 2015), and 13

with no RES and minimal support for the development of renewable en-

ergy sources. This grouping correlates well with the recent grades awarded

by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, with praise

OK for the recent improvements: www.aceee.org/press/2012/acee-

massachusetts-still1-state-en.

Compliance by the utility companies is demonstrated by the presen-

tation of "receipts", annually, to the regulating agencies. They are denomi-

nated in some number of kiloWatt hours, and called Renewable Energy

Credits (REC). This is a market-based approach, as the RECs can be ex-

changed and traded; a utility in need can purchase them; those with an ex-

cess can sell them.

Most state programs award renewable energy credits (RECs) to

whoever actually contributes energy from renewable sources, be it inde-

pendent enterprises, local factories, or individual homeowners and ranch-

ers. Thus the homeowners with solar panels get paid once for the energy

they produce, and again for having done it by means of a renewable tech-

nology. Some utilities offer the home generator rebates or other incentives

in exchange for their RECs. If not, the RECs are an additional source of

income, sold on a separate market. Some states go farther, and distinguish

the RECs according to the source technology, creating, for example, Solar

RECs (SRECs) and including a percentage ("carve-out") for solar energy

in the state portfolio. So there are a wide variety of ways to structure and to

satisfy the Portfolio Standards.

OK is one of the states (MT, WI, MI, NY, OK) with short deadlines

and modest goals, around 15% by 2015, which we are on track to accom-

plish already in 2013. Others with longer time frames and stronger com-

mitments cluster around 20% by 2020 and 25% by 2025. It’s time for OK

to join them. We need to advance from a voluntary to a mandatory RES,

and to set up a number of incentives, for industrial, institutional and resi-

dential generation. Solar energy has become widely known and has a huge

amount of popular interest and support across all political parties - 92%

nationwide according to a recent survey and of 2/3 in Oklahoma, according

to the OK Policy Institute. (Survey at www.esolarenergynews.com )

So I suggest the larger step, to 25% renewable energy by 2025, the

longer time-frame, as we are already far behind the leading states in devel-

oping these new industries. And I would include a 5% carve-out for solar

energy, so that the man on the street can participate, can own a piece of it.

Renewable Energy Standard for Oklahoma

by Joel Olson

Oklahoma Sierra Club used a ‘take it to the street’ approach with their coal

plant float in the Oklahoma Gazette Ghouls Gone Wild parade in downtown OKC

with the theme of “Let's move Beyond Coal Oklahoma and Re-energize Oklahoma

with clean

Page 11, OPS, Nov-Dec 2012

From the manufacturing centers and corn and soybean fields to the major

finance hubs and lead­ing research universities, Midwest states have long

served as an economic engine for the United States.

Yet the region is still struggling to fully recover from a recession that has

made it difficult for families to pay bills and for businesses to prosper and

sustain job growth.

The region’s unsustainable energy system exacerbates these economic

pressures.

The Midwest power system is dominated by coal—largely imported from

outside the region—which poses serious risks to public health and the en-

vironment, and leaves consumers vulnerable to volatile energy prices.

With abundant resources, revitalization is possible.

The good news is that practical and affordable ways are available to help

revitalize the Midwest economy and ensure a clean, safe, and reliable

power supply.

The Midwest is home to some of the best renewable energy resources in

the world.

The region is also endowed with a strong industrial base and leading re-

search universities, where a tradition of hard work and innovation has long

made the Midwest an economic engine for the entire nation.

Few areas of the world have this ideal mix of resources, industrial capacity,

and knowledge base.

These advantages give the Midwest the

tools to turn the challenges of a stalled

economy and an unsustainable, pollut-

ing energy system into an opportunity

for economic prosperity, job growth,

and a healthy environment.

UCS’s new report, A Bright Future for

the Heartland, shows how we can get

there.

Clean energy: a wise invest-

ment for a bright future.

Energy efficiency technologies and

renewable electricity resources, such as

wind, bioenergy, and solar energy, of-

fer a cost-effective and responsible

path away from polluting fossil fuels

toward an innovation-based twenty-

first-century economy.

Investing in these solutions would de-

liver new jobs and other economic de-

velopment benefits, save consumers

money, diversify the region's energy

mix, and cut heat-trapping emissions

that cause global warming.

Boosting invest­ment in renewable energy and energy efficiency would

also help keep the Midwest competitive in the growing global clean energy

industry.

A roadmap for renewable energy and energy efficiency.

In A Bright Future for the Heartland, UCS based its analysis on the renew-

able energy and energy efficiency goals of the Midwestern Governors As-

sociation (MGA)—a collaboration of 10 states working on key public pol-

icy issues.

These goals call for producing 30 percent of the Midwest's electricity sup-

ply from renewable energy by 2030, and for investing in energy efficiency

technologies to reduce growth in power consumption at least 2 percent an-

nually by 2015 and thereafter.

Two key solutions: renewable electricity and energy effi-

ciency standards.

In 2009 an MGA advisory group released

the Midwestern Energy Security and Cli-

mate Stewardship Roadmap (or Energy

Roadmap), a set of policy recommenda-

tions for tran­sitioning to a clean energy

economy (MGA 2009).

Our analysis focuses on two of the highest

-priority recommendations in the Energy

Roadmap, which we model as a renewable

electricity standard (RES) and an energy

efficiency resource standard (EERS). Our

report shares what would happen if the

entire Midwest region enacted the stan-

dards.

An RES is a flexible, market-based

policy that requires electricity providers to

gradu­ally increase the amount of renew-

able energy used to produce the power

they supply.

An EERS similarly requires utilities to meet specific annual targets for re-

ducing the use of electricity.

While the region will need other policies to overcome specific market bar-

riers to clean energy, the RES and EERS have proven to be effective and

popular tools for advancing renewable energy and energy efficiency, and

can play a key role in ensuring that the Midwest meets the targets in the

Energy Roadmap.

A bright future, together.

Midwest states can benefit from enacting these policies individually, but

will benefit even more by acting together.

Many Midwest states have already taken important steps to promote clean

energy, and there must be no retrenchment in those efforts.

Instead, each state can go further to strengthen or enact policies that at least

match the Energy Roadmap’s clean energy targets, and to support local,

regional, federal, and international efforts to promote renewable energy,

energy efficiency, and cuts in carbon emissions.

With each state doing its part to promote renewable energy and ener­gy

efficiency, the region will reap many vital benefits today while building a

clean and sustainable energy economy for future generations.

Support the work of the Union of Concerned Scientists

For more than 20 years, UCS has worked with leading experts to educate U.S.

decision makers and the public about clean, renewable energy and the implemen-

tion of practical solutions at an international, national, regional, and state level.

You can help support this work by becoming a member, making a donation, and

joining with other UCS supporters to take action.

A Bright Future for the Heartland:

Powering the Midwest Economy with Clean Energy

from the Union of Concerned Scientists

Page 12, OPS, Nov-Dec 2012

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$21 Trillion (Continued from Page 9)

in The Guardian. “These companies are not moral entities that we can

shame into paying their fair share; they exist to maximize their profits and

those of their clients.”

“Until the late 2000s,” Henry notes, “the conventional wisdom among

flight capitalists was 'What cold be safer than 'too big to fail' US, Swiss and

UK banks?'” Without the bailouts that came along with the 2008 financial

crisis, he adds, many of the banks that are stashing cash for the ultra-rich

wouldn't exist anymore. The assumption of government backing is the very

reason why those uber-rich are banking with the big guys to begin with.

4. Inequality Is Worse Than We Thought With all this wealth hidden around the world, impossible to count as well

as to tax, the Tax Justice Network points out, it's certain that we're underes-

timating the amount of income and wealth inequality we have. Stewart

Lansley, author of The Cost of Inequality, told Heather Stewart at the

Guardian:"There is absolutely no doubt at all that the statistics on income

and wealth at the top understate the problem."

When calculating the Gini coefficient, a measure of inequality in a society,

he said, "You don't pick up the multimillionaires and billionaires, and even

if you do, you can't pick it up properly."

This is such an important issue that the Tax Justice Network included a

second report alongside Henry's, titled “Inequality: You Don’t Know the

Half of It.” The report details all the problems with the way we calculate

inequality now, which often seem to boil down to the fact that we have no

accurate measure of the true wealth of the super-rich. Income tax data is

available, but if there are really trillions stashed around the world in tax

havens, how do we calculate the true incomes of the world's wealthiest?

Inequality has already been skyrocketing around the world, by the meas-

ures we currently use. If the top 1 percent in the US don't own just 35.6

percent of the wealth, for instance, but a much larger chunk that's hidden

away somewhere, what does it mean for us? Don't forget, as the report

notes, that “inequality is a political choice”--that we determine what to do

as a society based on the amount of inequality we think is tolerable or just.

If that number is far greater than we think, how is that skewing our priori-

ties? Many Americans are already misinformed about our level of inequal-

ity—but this report confirms that even supposed experts were wildly un-

derestimating the problem.

5. “Indebted” Countries Aren't in Debt After All Henry's report breaks out a subgroup of 139 countries, mostly lower or

middle-income ones, for further study, noting that by most calculations,

those 139 countries had a combined debt of over $4 trillion at the end of

2010. But if you took into account all that money being held offshore,

those countries actually had negative $10 trillion in debt—or as Henry

writes, “[O]nce we take these hidden offshore assets and the earnings they

produce into account, many erstwhile 'debtor' countries are in fact revealed

to be wealthy. But the problem is, their wealth is now offshore, in the

hands of their own elites and their private bankers.”

Continued, Page 13

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Page 13, OPS, Nov-Dec 2012

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You can start by joining

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$21 Trillion (Continued from Page 12)

creditor of the developed world, rather than a borrower, and has been so

for more than a decade. “That means this is really a tax justice problem,

not simply a 'debt' problem.”

But those debts, as we've noted, fall on the shoulders of the everyday

working people of those countries, those who can't take advantage of so-

phisticated tax shelters.

And this isn't only a developing world problem. These days, Henry

notes, the developed world has its own debt crisis (witness the troubles of

the Eurozone). The French economist Thomas Piketty notes, “the wealth

held in tax havens is probably sufficiently substantial to turn Europe into

a very large net creditor with respect to the rest of the world."

6. How Much are We Losing? That's the bottom line, isn't it? It's impossible to say for sure, of course,

because these numbers are all just estimates, but Henry guesses that if

this unreported $21 trillion earned a rate of return of 3 percent, and that

income was taxed at 30 percent, that alone would generate income tax

revenues of around $190 billion. If the total amount of money in tax ha-

vens is closer to his higher estimate, $32 trillion, it'd bring in closer to

$280 billion—which is about twice the amount OECD countries spend

on development assistance. In other words, a lot of money. And 3 percent

returns are about as conservative as you can get.

That's just income taxes. Capital gains taxes, inheritance taxes, and

other taxes would bring in even more.

That's why, at the end of the day, Henry says that we could look at this

as good news. “The world has just located a huge pile of financial wealth

that might be called upon to contribute to the solution of our most press-

ing global problems,” he writes. “We have an opportunity to think not

only about how to prevent some of the abuses that have led to it, but also

to think about how best to make use of the untaxed earnings that it gener-

ates.”

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Page 14, OPS, Nov-Dec 2012

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- Margaret Mead -

Beginning of Harvest Season Brings Violence

Every autumn, Palestinian farmers harvest olives from the trees in their

groves, many of which go back decades. In recent years, these farmers

have faced settler violence and intimidation in order to pick their olives, a

crop that brought $100 million into the Palestinian economy in 2010 and

sustains many families in the West Bank.

According to Rabbis for Human Rights, “Every year at this time Palestin-

ian farmers from a number of villages across the West Bank receive threats

to their safety, are denied access to their land or have their olives stolen,

their trees poisoned, or even cut down altogether.” Last year, The UN Of-

fice for the Coordination of Hu-

manitarian Affairs reported that

over 2,500 olive trees were de-

stroyed in September 2011, and 7,500 throughout 2011.

There were several attacks believed to be carried out by settlers during

this first week of the harvest. Human rights groups are monitoring olive

groves near Israeli settlements and documenting attacks by settlers. So far,

according to B’Tselem:

Between October 7th and 10th, 2012, with the start of the West Bank's

annual olive harvest, B'Tselem has documented five cases of injury to Pal-

estinian farmers and their olive trees in the Ramallah and Nablus regions.

In two incidents, settlers attacked farmers picking olives and damaged their

yields. In three other cases, olive trees were discovered damaged or with

the olives stolen, apparently by settlers.

In one incident B’Tselem documented, 220 trees were already harvested

when farmers arrived to their grove and many of them were damaged. The

perpetrators are unknown but B’Tselem points out that the owners of the

land cannot reach it without prior coordination with the army because it is

so close to an outpost. In al-Mughayir, northeast of Ramallah, a farmer dis-

covered 100 of his trees were damaged, most were cut down at the trunk.

The groups are concerned about the inaction of security forces in the areas

when these events occur. In B’Tselem’s roundup of the events, they note:

The direct attacks documented by B'Tselem occurred while members of the

security forces were present. All the locations where damage to trees was

discovered are familiar to the security forces as areas where Palestinians

are subject to repeated harassment by settlers.

Not only are the attacks not stopped but the (Continued on Page 16)

Violence Surrounds West Bank Olive Harvest Churches for Middle East Peace CMEP Bulletin http://www.cmep.org/

Page 15, OPS, Nov-Dec 2012

Truth is Stranger Than Fiction:

Teaching George Orwell’s 1984

I started teaching George Orwell’s

“1984″ last week with a few of my classes.

Since we redesigned our curriculum this year, our choices for books

have completely changed, and I was faced with a list of wonderful

books, none of which I had ever taught before.

Admittedly, I was a little apprehensive about teaching “1984.” Not

only had I never taught it before, I had never actually read it before.

When I read and fell in love with Ray Bradbury’s “Farenheit 451,” my

teacher at the time handed me “1984″ immediately when I had finished.

I read the first few pages and it just didn’t hook me like “Fahrenheit

451,” so I put it down. Throughout the years, I’ve picked it up again,

trying to read it all the way through, and I’ve failed every time. This

year, during Banned Books Week, I made it my goal to read the book

all the way through, and I did. When I got to the end of it, I realized just

how relevant it is for our time — from Big Brother constantly watching

to brainwashing through propaganda to a seemingly constant state of

war – and I couldn’t resist teaching it to my students.

For those of you who need a small refresher on this classic novel,

“1984″ takes place in dystopian London during a futuristic age when a

dictator, Big Brother, has control over all of the citizens. They are con-

stantly reminded, “Big Brother is watching” through devices called

telescreens that are mandatory in each home. Citizens can be punished,

or even “vaporized” for any action or thought — called a thoughtcrime

— against the government. As the novel opens, we meet Winston, a re-

porter at the Ministry of Truth whose job it is to alter past news reports

so they match up with whatever Big Brother says at the time. He keeps

a diary about his complaints against the government — a crime punish-

able by death, to be sure. He meets Julia, a fellow dissenter, and, in a

world where everything is controlled, including who you love, they fall

in love and attempt to join the revolution.

I was a little worried, though, that my students would put the book

down after the first few pages, like I did, never to be picked up again.

With this in mind, I spent a good deal of time introducing the book be-

fore we started reading. I made a big deal about why the book has been

banned in schools and libraries across the country (because, after all,

kids will always want to read books that have been banned), and we fo-

cused on some of the controversial themes, exploring how students felt

about them before we even started reading.

Once we started reading, the students were hooked. They immediately

jumped on the concept of the telescreens that always have to remain on

and which also recorded your every move in the name of Big Brother.

They couldn’t believe that Winston is asked to rewrite history every

time something changes so that the government looks as if it is always

right.

However, that momentum only took them so far. After a while, they

started to complain. “This is interesting and all,” they said, “but it could

never happen. We wouldn’t let it!”

Our redesigned curriculum focuses not only on important themes and

literature, but on making the curriculum relevant to students through the

use of nonfiction articles that pair up with the novels we teach. When

my students wanted to know what this book had to do with their lives, I

set out to show them.

The answer to this teaching dilemma fell right into my lap. I was read-

ing through some of the wonderful articles here on Care2, and I came

across this one about schools using computer chips to monitor kids’ lo-

cations throughout the school day. If this isn’t Big Brother in real life, I

don’t know what is. The next day, I started the class by asking students

to make a list of all of the ways they could think of that the society rep-

resented in “1984″ is similar to ours. They came up with great exam-

ples, such as the advertisements we see on television, the war each of

our societies is fighting, and issues with truth in reporting. None of

them, however, mentioned tracking chips in student ID cards, so I

handed out copies of the article I found, along with some of the

other related stories it links to, and had them read quietly. It didn’t take

long for the students to be come outraged. “This really happens?” they

asked. “No way! How is that even legal?” they wanted to know. One

student shouted, “It’s like Big Brother watching them all the time!”

More than anything, though, the students wanted to know why schools

might implement a policy like this. I told them that it’s good for school

funding, because schools receive money for every day each student is in

class. I also told them that it can be useful for safety; knowing where

students are in times of crisis can be invaluable to schools. With this

information, we came up with a list of pros and cons to such a policy on

the board. To my surprise, the students were able to come up with just

as many positives as they were negatives. I looked at the list, realizing

that my students were truly able to see both sides of the issue, even if

they didn’t agree with the concept at all.

“Let’s have a debate,” I said. The students emphatically agreed. We

split into teams of “pro,” “con” and “judges,” with many students vol-

unteering to test their debate skills by joining the pro side, even though

they couldn’t disagree more. The next day, the students were able to

have a lively, yet civil debate about the issue. They not only impressed

me with how civil they were, but with how well they argued both sides.

I was worried the con side would win each time because the students so

obviously disagreed with the concept of tracking students, but in several

classes, the pros won based on the sophistication of their arguments.

The best part of the day, though, was when my students were filing out

of the room at the end of class and I heard one student say to another, “I

hope we keep reading tomorrow. I can’t wait to see how this book

ends.”

It’s vitally important for students to think about these issues as the play

out in their lives. Big Brother might not exist in real life but, as my stu-

dents discovered, sometimes truth is stranger than fiction.

Read more: www.care2.com/causes/

By Ashley Lauren

October 29, 2012 11:30 am

care2causes blog

Page 16, OPS, Nov-Dec 2012

West Bank Harvest (From Page 14)

criminal investigations rarely find the perpetrator.

Yesh Din, an Israeli human rights group focusing

on legal action looked at the cases of tree vandal-

ism over the past seven years and only found one

instance of an indictment out of 162 cases. In the

report they conclude that, “The police's failure to

enforce the law encourages such acts of vandal-

ism, since the perpetrators are not punished.”

Israeli police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said

there is an increased police presence in the West

Bank and they are using more technology to stop

these crimes.

Further Reading

Violence flared up between Israeli forces and

Gaza militants as they exchanged fire. Israeli

forces conducted strikes against two men they

say are responsible for attacks, killing one and

later targeted two mosques and a factory that in-

jured five. Israeli military spokeswoman said the

buildings were “Hamas posts” but did not elabo-

rate. Hamas joined the Islamic Jihad to launch 30

rockets towards Israel that caused property dam-

age but no casualties. Hamas’ inclusion is note-

worthy and Y’net explains why they joined in.

Israeli Ambassador to the UN Ron Prosor sent a

letter to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and

the president of the Security Council regarding

their failure to condemn the rocket fire from

Gaza. He cited a double standard after the Secu-

rity Council condemned Syria hours after a Syr-

ian missile exploded in Turkey last week.

Gilad Shalit, an Israeli soldier held captive in the

Gaza Strip for over 5 years has given his most

detailed interview since his release one year ago

in a prisoner exchange.

Human Rights Watch is calling on Hamas to

make widespread reforms after releasing a report

accusing Hamas of arbitrary arrests and execut-

ing people over confessions extracted under tor-

ture in Gaza.

Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney

gave a foreign policy speech at the Virginia Mili-

tary Institute on Monday, October 8 where he

clarified his position on a two-state solution. He

said, “Finally, I’ll recommit America to the goal

of a democratic, prosperous Palestinian state liv-

ing side by side in peace and security with the

Jewish state of Israel.”

Israeli Prime Minster Benjamin Netanyahu

called for elections as “early as possible,” which

analyst said meant they would be held in January,

nine months before Netanyahu’s term would be

up. He is forecasted to win easily and have a re-

newed mandate that may help in the face of U.S.

pressure to negotiate in a new term or administra-

tion. The call for early elections was not a sur-

prise and widely expected. Read CMEP’s recap

of the Israeli political process from the last time

Netanyahu called for early elections before call-

ing them off days later following the formation of

a new coalition. The new coalition only lasted 70

days. More information http://www.cmep.org/

2012 PEACE FESTIVAL

Sunday, November 11

11 am to 5 pm Civic Center Hall of Mirrors

Downtown Okla. City

(Pictures from 2011 Peace Fest)