May 2009 Notes
Democratic Republic of Congo Committee
May 3, 2009
Present: Coleen Houlihan, Jean Miller, Marie Jackson-Miller, Mary Georges, Annie Jordan, Pat Aron
The Democratic Republic of Congo Committee held another enthusiastic and productive meeting on May 3, 2009. We missed people who were absent and welcomed two new members from New Hampshire.
The meeting began with a discussion of the International WILPF Board’s resolution on the Democratic Republic of Congo that was passed in November 2008. The goals that we identified at our last meeting are consistent with the resolution. We discussed Kelley’s suggestion of showing The Greatest Silence at house parties (small gatherings in people’s homes) to educate people and raise money for DRC women. At Marie’s WILPF co-chair meeting, she’ll suggest a film screening following the June 6 WILPF meeting (will let us know if screening will occur).
The group discussed the reading list we’re developing. We will continue to send items to Coleen and she’ll annotate and add them to the list.
We need to decide how we’ll send donations to the DRC (identify an organization and determine logistics). Marie will check the V-Day website for donation information.
We’ll ask Kelley to contact Raise Hope for Congo (organization that may support Panzi Hospital and outlying clinics).
There was a brief discussion on researching the involvement of multinational corporations in DRC exploitation. Colleen will try to locate the BBC broadcast on corporations. WILPF has a Corporate Power handbook that we may want to use. We also need to determine the status of S2125 implementation. It was enacted into law - we need to urge President Obama to fully implement it. There are a number of fairly progressive women who are in foreign policy positions in the administration (including a co-founder of the Enough Project) - we may want to contact them.
We would like to find out what DRC actions other WILPF branches are taking. Pat is continuing to try to reach New York Metro which has taken the lead in the U.S. Marie will contact the UK section, and Pat will try to find out what the WILPF group in the DRC is doing. Pat will send everyone the New York Metro WILPF website.
Mary discussed an event that she’s planning in Manchester, NH. She would like to show The Greatest Silence and wants someone from our group to attend. The event will probably occur in June. Pat will send her the flyer that announced The Greatest Silence event in Boston.
The group discussed developing a website for education and outreach that would link to the Boston WILPF website. Coleen will develop the website. Mary suggested that we film one of our discussions for her cable TV program. She will make a tape that we can use for education/outreach (maybe divided into 10-minute segments).
Group members were invited to WILPF’s Open House on 5/14/09 and to the 5/30/09 racial justice training. Marie will have DRC information at the Open House.
It was decided that we will all contact our cell phone providers before the next meeting to ask where they get their coltan.
The group added three items to our list of goals:
- Hold house parties for showings of The Greatest Silence
– Develop website for the group
– Make tape of meeting for use in education/outreach
The next meeting of the group will be on Sunday, June 14, at 3:00 at Pat’s house in Jamaica Plain.
Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom
May 3, 2009
Present: Coleen Houlihan, Jean Miller, Marie Jackson-Miller, Mary Georges, Annie Jordan, Pat Aron
The Democratic Republic of Congo Committee held another enthusiastic and productive meeting on May 3, 2009. We missed people who were absent and welcomed two new members from New Hampshire.
The meeting began with a discussion of the International WILPF Board’s resolution on the Democratic Republic of Congo that was passed in November 2008. The goals that we identified at our last meeting are consistent with the resolution. We discussed Kelley’s suggestion of showing The Greatest Silence at house parties (small gatherings in people’s homes) to educate people and raise money for DRC women. At Marie’s WILPF co-chair meeting, she’ll suggest a film screening following the June 6 WILPF meeting (will let us know if screening will occur).
The group discussed the reading list we’re developing. We will continue to send items to Coleen and she’ll annotate and add them to the list.
We need to decide how we’ll send donations to the DRC (identify an organization and determine logistics). Marie will check the V-Day website for donation information.
We’ll ask Kelley to contact Raise Hope for Congo (organization that may support Panzi Hospital and outlying clinics).
There was a brief discussion on researching the involvement of multinational corporations in DRC exploitation. Colleen will try to locate the BBC broadcast on corporations. WILPF has a Corporate Power handbook that we may want to use. We also need to determine the status of S2125 implementation. It was enacted into law - we need to urge President Obama to fully implement it. There are a number of fairly progressive women who are in foreign policy positions in the administration (including a co-founder of the Enough Project) - we may want to contact them.
We would like to find out what DRC actions other WILPF branches are taking. Pat is continuing to try to reach New York Metro which has taken the lead in the U.S. Marie will contact the UK section, and Pat will try to find out what the WILPF group in the DRC is doing. Pat will send everyone the New York Metro WILPF website.
Mary discussed an event that she’s planning in Manchester, NH. She would like to show The Greatest Silence and wants someone from our group to attend. The event will probably occur in June. Pat will send her the flyer that announced The Greatest Silence event in Boston.
The group discussed developing a website for education and outreach that would link to the Boston WILPF website. Coleen will develop the website. Mary suggested that we film one of our discussions for her cable TV program. She will make a tape that we can use for education/outreach (maybe divided into 10-minute segments).
Group members were invited to WILPF’s Open House on 5/14/09 and to the 5/30/09 racial justice training. Marie will have DRC information at the Open House.
It was decided that we will all contact our cell phone providers before the next meeting to ask where they get their coltan.
The group added three items to our list of goals:
- Hold house parties for showings of The Greatest Silence
– Develop website for the group
– Make tape of meeting for use in education/outreach
The next meeting of the group will be on Sunday, June 14, at 3:00 at Pat’s house in Jamaica Plain.
Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom