Center For Nonviolence

20th Anniversary Celebration on May 26!

Angela Price — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 17:10:53 +0000

What a milestone! On May 26, 2012 the Center for Nonviolence will be celebrating its 20^th Anniversary. It will be held at the Unitarian Universalist Church, 2672 E. Alluvial, Clovis, CA starting at 6 p.m. We’re planning a catered dinner, to be followed by our annual “Way of Peace” awards and our keynote speaker, Christian Parenti, talking about “Climate Change and the Political Economy of Violence”. We hope that you’ll come and party with us.

Tickets are available right now at the Center for Nonviolence, 1584 N. Van Ness Ave., Fresno, from Board members or by mail if you request them. They are $35.00 for the banquet and $15.00 for speaker only ($10.00 for low income and students). Call the Center at 559-237-3223 Mon-Fri 11-3.

We also encourage your support of the Center through the purchase of an advertisement in the anniversary event program and/or by making a tax deductible sponsorship to underwrite our expenses. Please email Dan Yaseen at danyaseen@comcast.net for ads in the program; we need to receive your ad at the latest by May 1 – earlier the better. For sponsorship information email Angela Price at angela.price41@comcast.net.

April Calendar

Angela Price — Sun, 25 Mar 2012 17:43:37 +0000

Wednesday, April 4 at 6:00 p.m. FCNV Board meeting at 1584 N. Van Ness (SE corner McKinley and Van Ness) Call 237-3223 11-3 Mon-Fri for details..

Wednesday, April 11 at 3 - 3:30 p.m. on KFCF 88.1 FM On the Center’s “Stir it Up” monthly radio show, Gerry Bill will host. Guest TBA. Call-ins are welcome at 559-266-8888. For information call 559-237-3223.

Wednesday, April 11 at 12 noon and at 7 p.m. (potluck at 6:30 p.m.) Our 2^nd Wed. film will be “Nostalgia for the Light”. One of 2011’s top political films recommended by Feb’s “In These Times”.

For his new film master director Patricio Guzmán, famed for his political documentaries (THE BATTLE OF CHILE, THE PINOCHET CASE), travels 10,000 feet above sea level to the driest place on earth, the Atacama Desert, where atop the mountains astronomers from all over the world gather to observe the stars. The sky is so translucent that it allows them to see right to the boundaries of the universe. The Atacama is also a place where the harsh heat of the sun keeps human remains intact: those of Pre-Columbian mummies; 19th century explorers and miners; and the remains of political prisoners, “disappeared” by the Chilean army after the military coup of September, 1973

So while astronomers examine the most distant and oldest galaxies, at the foot of the mountains, women, surviving relatives of the disappeared whose bodies were dumped here, search, even after twenty-five years, for the remains of their loved ones, to reclaim their families’ histories. Melding the celestial quest of the astronomers and the earthly one of the women, NOSTALGIA FOR THE LIGHT is a gorgeous, moving, and deeply personal odyssey. Free to the public and wheelchair accessible. For information call 11-3 Mon-Fri 559-237-3223.

Courage to Resist Tour

Angela Price — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 17:07:37 +0000

Center for Nonviolence is sponsoring a presentation from the “Courage to Resist Tour” on Wednesday, March 28 at 7 p.m. (doors open 6:30) at the C.A.F.E. Infoshop, 935 “F” St. Fresno. Jeff Paterson will speak about the justifications for Bradley Manning’s actions, emphasizing how Manning’s case intersects with the larger issues of resistance to militarism and anti-war organizing. There will be no admission charge. More information call 559-237-3223.

“Courage to Resist” is a group of civilians, veterans and military families supporting members of the armed services who oppose illegal wars and occupations, and the policies of empire. They recently published the book ABOUT FACE: Military Resisters Turn Against the War.

Bradley Manning’s actions have been endorsed by Daniel Ellsburg, who released the Pentagon Papers; and Manning’s nomination for a Nobel Peace Prize is being forwarded. Learn the facts about the significance of the Wikileaks material–what it reveals and what it does not.

Fair Trade Chocolate, Coffee and Tea

Angela Price — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 16:28:41 +0000

We now have a new shipment of coffee, chocolate and cocoa from Equal Exchange. This month’s sale coffee is “Organic Breakfast Blend” which we are able to buy from Equal Exchange at a dollar off which we pass on to our customers. Each 12 oz pack is $7.50 and will stay that way until we run out. Our other coffees are $8.50 each.

Our chocolate is organic and kosher. We have several varieties: Very Dark Chocolate, Milk Chocolate with a hint of hazelnut, Mint Chocolate, Dark Chocolate Caramel Crunch, Orange Dark Chocolate.

The coffees include French Roast, Mind Body and Soul, Café Salvador, decaf, and as mentioned above Breakfast Blend which is apparently Equal Exchange’s biggest seller.

We also have Drinking Cocoa and Baking Cocoa, Green Tea and Jasmine Green Tea.

March 2012 calendar

Angela Price — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 16:18:07 +0000

Wednesday, March 7 at 6:00 p.m. FCNV Board meeting at 1584 N. Van Ness (SE corner McKinley and Van Ness) Call 237-3223 11-3 Mon-Fri for details..

Wednesday, March 14 at 3 - 3:30 p.m. on KFCF 88.1 FM On the Center’s “Stir it Up” monthly radio show, Richard Stone will have as his guests the Rev. Jim Rude and Maria Telesco, who will discuss the recent petition campaign to get an Initiative on the November ballot to replace the Death Penalty with Life In Prison Without Parole (LWOP). Call-ins are welcome at 559-266-8888. For information call 559-237-3223.

Wednesday, March 14 at 12 noon and at 7 p.m. (potluck at 6:30 p.m.) Our 2^nd Wed. film “One Man’s Hero” tells the little-known story of the “St. Patrick’s Battalion” or “San Patricio,” a group of mostly Irish and other immigrants of the Catholic faith who deserted to Mexico after encountering religious and ethnic prejudice in the U.S. Army during the Mexican-American War. The plot centers around the personal story of John Riley, an Irishman who had been a sergeant in the American Army who is commissioned as a captain in the Mexican army and commands the battalion, as he leads his men in battle and struggles with authorities on both sides of the border and a soldier caught between his love for a woman and his country.

This video is 121 minutes long and is shown in support with the Community Alliance’s
St. Patrick Days Celebration in honor of the San Patrick’s Brigade and other Irish Heroes of Mexico. Although the film is free and, of course, open to the public, donations are welcome to benefit the Community Alliance and the DREAM Act scholarship. Wheelchair accessible.

Other community events:

Thursday, March 1, 8:30 p.m.

KNXT TV Channel 49 will hold a live panel discussion on the homeless issue.

Sunday, March 4, 1 p.m.

The Progressive Umbrella Group will meet at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Fresno 2672 E. Alluvial Avenue, between Chestnut and Willow in Clovis. If you are interested in building unity and amplifying the voice of the progressive movement, you are invited.

February 2012 calendar

Angela Price — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 01:03:09 +0000

Tuesday, January 31 – 7 p.m.
Central Valley Animal Liberation presents a free screening of “Earthlings” (2005). Joaquin Phoenix narrates this feature-length documentary about mankind’s commercial use of other animals. Unflinching footage provides a rare glimpse inside puppy mills, factory farms, and medical labs to reveal the breadth of animal exploitation for the sake of human economic interests.

Fresno Center for Nonviolence – 1584 N Van Ness Ave (Southeast corner of Van Ness and McKinley), Fresno, CA. Light refreshments will be served. For more information, email Jonathan Hussain at jonathanh@mercyforanimals.org

NOTE: This film contains graphic images of violence to animals. It is not rated by the MPAA but should only be viewed by those 17 and older.

Wednesday, February 1 at 6:00 p.m. FCNV Board meeting at 1584 N. Van Ness (SE corner McKinley and Van Ness) Call 237-3223 11-3 Mon-Fri for details..

Wednesday, February 8 at 3 - 3:30 p.m. on KFCF 88.1 FM On the Center’s “Stir it Up” monthly radio show, Angela Price will have as her guest Terje Carlsson, director of this month’s film “Israel vs. Israel”. Call-ins are welcome at 559-266-8888. For information call 559-237-3223.

Wednesday, February 8 at 12 noon and at 7 p.m. (No potluck) (Please note different venues) Our 2^nd Wed. film will be “Israel vs. Israel” and Terje Carlsson, the filmmaker, will be at both showings. The 12 noon showing will be at the Center, 1584 N. Van Ness Ave, Fresno (SE corner McKinley and Van Ness.) The 7 p.m. showing will be at the College Community Congregational Church, 5550 N. Fresno Street (SE corner of Browning and Fresno). (doors open 6:30 p.m.) Free and open to the public. Wheelchair accessible.

“Israel vs. Israel” is a documentary about Jewish peace activists who face skepticism and criticism from their fellow Israeli citizens. A Rabbi, a soldier, a grandmother and an anarchist – four very different Israelis whom share a common goal: to achieve peace in the Middle East and end the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian Territories. Undeterred, they promote a peaceful solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in order to improve the lives of Palestinians and their fellow countrymen alike. Using in depth interviews and dynamic footage to narrate their inspiring stories, Israel vs. Israel provides a unique perspective on the struggle to find a peaceful solution of this decades-long conflict.

This critically acclaimed film has been invited to festivals and screenings around the world and has won:
* Public Liberties and Human Rights Award – Al Jazeera Documentary Festival 2011
* President of the Festival – Special Award at the One Shot ISFF Festival, 2011
* Best Documentary at the 2011 Turkish Radio and Television Documentary Awards
* 2011 Ojai International Film Festival Best Documentary Honorable Mention

The filmmaker, Terje Carlsson, will be present at both showings. He is a freelance journalist who has spent almost a decade covering the Middle East for the news media including Swedish Television and Radio. His first film “Welcome to Hebron” was about a 17 year old teenager, Leila, living in Hebron in 2006 and 2007. This critically acclaimed documentary was released in 2008. Because of the film’s great success, Swedish TV wanted Terje to make another film about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
For more information about the film log on to their website at: www.israelvisraelmoveie.com.

For those who find it hard to get to our films on Wednesdays, please note that the film “Israel vs. Israel” will also be shown by the Reedley Peace Center on Friday, February 10. They meet at the Fellowship Hall of First Mennonite Church, located on L Street between 12^th and 13^th streets in Reedley. Map available at www.reedleypeacecenter.org. Contact: Don Friesen at dfriesen0@gmail.com. Here is their calendar item.

Friday, February 10, 6:30-8:30

Documentary: Israel vs. Israel, with film producer, Terje Carlsson. To many of their fellow Israelis, they are traitors. They are attacked, arrested and demonised. Yet Israelis like Yehuda Shaul, leader of Breaking the Silence andJonathan Pollack from Anarchists Against the Wall continue to struggle for a more peaceful Middle East. They believe that they can save their state by putting an end to the military occupation. But the Israeli peace movement has lost momentum in recent years. There is widespread apathy in Israel against ending the Occupation, especially after the withdrawal from Gaza. ‘Israel vs Israel’ takes a fresh look at one of the leading tensions in Israeli society.

www.israelvsisraelmovie.com

“Israel v. Israel” documentary February 8, 2012

Angela Price — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 20:13:38 +0000

To make sure this is on your calendars for February, here is an announcement of a film that our Center will be showing on Wednesday, February 8. It will be shown at 12 noon at our Center for Nonviolence, 1584 N. Van Ness, Fresno, and again at 7 p.m. at the College Community Congregational Church, 5550 N. Fresno, Fresno (doors open at 6:30 p.m.) It is free and open to the public. Wheelchair accessible.

The filmmaker, Terje Carlsson, will be present at both showings. Terje is a freelance journalist. He has spent almost a decade covering the Middle East for the news media including Swedish Television and Radio. His first film “Welcome to Hebron” was about a 17 year old teenager, Leila, living in Hebron in 2006 and 2007. This critically acclaimed documentary was released in 2008. Because of the film’s great success, Swedish TV wanted Terje to make another film about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. He told them about the work of Israeli peace activists and “Israel vs. Israel” born.

“Israel vs Israel” is a documentary about Jewish peace activists who face skepticism and criticism from their fellow Israeli citizens. A Rabbi, a soldier, a grandmother and an anarchist – four very different Israelis whom share a common goal: to achieve peace in the Middle East and end the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian Territories. Undeterred, they promote a peaceful solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in order to improve the lives of Palestinians and their fellow countrymen alike. Using in depth interviews and dynamic footage to narrate their inspiring stories, Israel vs. Israel provides a unique perspective on the struggle to find a peaceful solution of this decades-long conflict.
This critically acclaimed film has been invited to festivals and screenings around the world and has won:

* Public Liberties and Human Rights Award – Al Jazeera Documentary Festival 2011
* President of the Festival – Special Award at the One Shot ISFF Festival, 2011
* Best Documentary at the 2011 Turkish Radio and Television Documentary Awards
* 2011 Ojai International Film Festival Best Documentary Honorable Mention

For more information about the film log on to www.israelvsisraelmovie.com

Help needed for the Homeless in Fresno this Winter

Angela Price — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 19:02:21 +0000

For those that would like to help the homeless to get through the winter, here is a way that appears to be working quite well for now. A “Homeless Firewood Brigade” has been set up to deliver firewood, water, toilet paper and toiletries, warm clothing etc., on a late afternoon basis. A list has been set up and volunteers are signing up to go down to Santa Clara Street, between F and E Streets (close to Poverello House) to make deliveries. Another way would be to have your name added to the email list and when you see items requested that you can donate, bring them to our Center at 1584 N. Van Ness (SE corner Van Ness and McKinley). Always needed is toilet paper and water (large bottles better) and toiletries like toothpaste and toothbrushes , soap, can always be donated and brought to the Center.

If you are interested in this: please contact Judy Hess at judyhess@gmail.com.

2nd Wed.film “Inside Islam”, January 11

Angela Price — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 18:35:09 +0000

There will be two showings of “Inside Islam: What a Billion Muslims Really Think” on Wednesday, January 11, 12 noon and 7 p.m. (potluck at 6:30 p.m.), both at the Center, 1584 N. Van Ness, Fresno – SE corner Van Ness and McKinley. This new documentary film from Unity Productions Foundation, explores the expertly gathered opinions of Muslims around the globe as revealed in the world’s first major opinion poll, conducted by Gallup, the preeminent polling organization. Gallup researchers began by asking the questions on every American’s mind. Why is there so much anti-Americanism in the Muslim world? Who are the extremists and how do Muslims feel about them? What do Muslims like and dislike about the West? What do Muslim women really want?

Crucial policy decisions hang on these questions. They continue to generate passionate disagreements in the public square. Yet for all the heat and controversy, the actual views of the world’s Muslims have been conspicuously missing from this debate.

Now, we have the missing answers and statistics, gathered, parsed, and analyzed not by pundits but by professional researchers.

As part of this groundbreaking six-year project, Gallup conducted tens of thousands of interviews with residents in 35 predominantly Muslim nations, as well as smaller populations in Europe and the USA. The broad extent of the polling has delivered findings for the world’s 1.4 billion Muslims with a plus or minus accuracy of 3%

Focused on the issues of Gender Justice, Terrorism, and Democracy -the film presents this remarkable data deftly, showing how it challenges the popular notion that Muslims and the West are on a collision course. Like the research, the film highlights a shared relationship that is based on facts – not fear. Experts featured (A Partial List): Dalia Mogahed, Executive Director of the Gallup Center for Muslim Studies, John Esposito, University Professor, Georgetown University, RamiKhoury, Editor of the Daily Star (Beirut), and Kenneth Pollack, Director of Research, Saban Center for Middle East Policy at the Brookings Institute.

Please attend premiere of “Economics of Happiness”

Angela Price — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 18:14:49 +0000

Please come to see an important film “The Economics of Happiness” that the Center, together with Peace Fresno, will be showing next Wednesday, December 14, both at 12 noon and in the evening at 7 p.m. (doors open at 6:30 p.m.)

It will be shown at the Center at midday, but the evening showing will be at Woodward Park Regional Library, 944 E. Perrin. Really easy to find but call if you need help. Although the show is free as always, we are hoping that you will consider making a donation as the film cost us more than we anticipated.

Angela Price will also be talking on the phone from Australia with Helena Norberg-Hodge, the acclaimed writer and director of this film during the Center’s “Stir It Up” radio show on the same day, Wednesday, December 14, on KFCF 88.1 from 3 to 3:30 p.m. It will be a live call and so you can call in and ask questions

Please call the Center at 237-3223 for more information. Here is the original post.

Wednesday, December 14 at 12 noon and 7 p.m. The Center, together with Peace Fresno, will be showing the Central Valley premiere of the film “The Economics of Happiness” .There will be two showings – one at 12 noon at 1584 N. Van Ness, Fresno, and the other at 7 p.m. at the Woodward Park Regional Library, 944 E. Perrin, Fresno. The film describes a world moving simultaneously in two opposing directions: while government and Big Business push for a globalized economy based on high technology and increased trade, people all over the world are working from the grassroots to nurture smaller scale, ecological, local economies. We hear from a chorus of voices from six continents including Samdhong Rinpoche, the Prime Minister of Tibet’s government in exile, Vandana Shiva, Bill McKibben, David Korten and Zac Goldsmith. The Economics of Happiness restores our faith in humanity, and challenges us to believe that it is possible to build a better world.

“It is good news indeed to find so persuasive an explanation of our ailing world as The Economics of Happiness. This film connects the dots between climate chaos, economic meltdown, and our own personal suffering– stress, loneliness, and depression. It presents the localization movement as a systemic alternative to corporate globalization, as well as a strategy that brings community and meaning to our lives.”– Joanna Macy author of World as Lover, World as Self

“A must-see film for the future of the planet.”– Zac Goldsmith, Member of UK Parliament

The film is free and open to the public but donations would be very welcome. For more information call FCNV at 559-237-3223. .Check the website too to see a trailer of the film www.theeconomicsofhappiness.org. .