Peace, Justice, Human rights, and responsible media: organizations

JusticeAndPeace.net

Where do the Presidential Candidates stand on issues of Torture, Rendition, Habeas Corpus, Guantanomo, the Patriot Act, Domestic surveillance?
Find out here. (Prepared by Judy Solsken, updated January 2008)
The Bill of Rights Defense Committee has voting records of incumbents on key civil liberties and torture issues.

BRING DEMOCRACY TO WFCR!

Do you object to the way WFCR recently removed several popular programs, without any consultation with listeners? Do you want WFCR to respond to community input and reflect the diverse cultures and interests of our listeners? Do you want to put the Public back into Public Radio!? A group has formed with these goals ---- help us to
Put the Public back into Public Radio!
click here for information about this effort ...

Some quotes to ponder

There are many organizations in our region working for peace, justice, human rights, and independent media. Here are some of them:

American Friends Service Committee (AFSC)	Traprock Peace Center	Arise for Social Justice
Buddhist Peace Fellowship	Interfaith Coalition for Peace and Justice	Labor Against the War
Mideast Peace Coalition	SAGE	Counter Recruitment listserv
Jobs with Justice listserv	Northampton C'tee to Stop the War in Iraq	Media Education Foundation
Independent Media Center (Indymedia)	Valley Free Radio	Shays2
... and see more, listed below.

A comprehensive listing of Community Resources, compiled as part of AFSC's 2004 Calendar Project, "366 Days for Racial Justice"

Organizations concerned chiefly with peace, justice, and human rights in Western Massachusetts and Northern Connecticut:
- The Traprock Peace Center ("Traprock") is a "neighbors network to end war." It works locally, regionally and nationally. A few examples: On Iraq's contamination by the US/UK use of 'depleted' uranium, Traprock works with local groups nation-wide on educational programs, having brought speakers to 15 states and DC during the past year. Traprock has worked with national groups bringing resources to members of Congress and with international groups to foster international networking between peace activists and organizations. Traprock has been the prime non-student group supporting the development of the grass-roots, democratic student-owned and operated Campus Anti-War Network (http://www.campusantiwar.net). The Traprock website has become a significant resource of original material for researchers, writers, activists and people interested in peacemaking. On this website, along with much more, is a calendar of regional peace and justice events. Contacts: email charlie@traprockpeace.org, 413-773-7427, website http://www.traprockpeace.org. Location: Deerfield, MA. See more information on the AFSC website, here.
- The Western Massachusetts office of the American Friends Service Committee ("AFSC") focuses on peace education and social justice through work on nonviolence training, study courses and dialogues on economic justice, campaigns against U.S. military intervention, and education and action to combat racism, classism, and homophobia. The AFSC is very active in regional peace and justice events, and it maintains a calendar of regional peace and justice events and a website with news, articles, and more. The AFSC emails an occasional newsletter listing events and often including articles of interest. To get this newsletter send email to afsc@crocker.com and type "add" in the subject line. Contacts: email afsc@crocker.com, 413-584-8975, website http://www.westernMassAFSC.org Location: Florence, MA.
- Arise for Social Justice is a low-income rights, anti-oppression membership organization in western Massachusetts. Arise was started in 1985 by four women on Welfare who met around a kitchen table and decided to organize and advocate for their Rights. Arise has grown over the years. Currently we have an Economic Justice Committee, an Electorial Committee, a Peace Committee, "The VOICE", a Community Newspaper, and the W.I.S.E. Committee (Women In Support of Each Other). Arise is at 94 Rifle Street in Springfield can be contacted via Michaelann Bewsee, 734-4948. You can subscribe to its active listserv by sending email to AriseAction-subscribe@yahoogroups.com. Here are directions to Arise. Website: http://ariseforsocialjustice.org/
- The Northampton Committee to Stop the War in Iraq (website http://www.northamptoncommittee.org/) has run a weekly vigil in Northampton center for several years as well as organizing other activities - speakers, film series, etc.
- SAGE is a network of Amherst area activists engaged in in civil liberties, peace and social justice work in the greater Amherst area. SAGE also co-sponsors events and works in coalition with other groups through out the Pioneer Valley. SAGE members are primarily "older activists" but people of all ages are welcome. Contact Susan or Rene Theberge at reneandsusan[at]comcast.net
- The Middle East Peace Coalition of Western Mass. (MEPC) (website http://justiceandpeace.net/mepc/) is a locally based educational and political organization that supports the struggle for peace and justice in Israel/Palestine. MEPC has organized many community programs bringing news and analysis of current developments in Palestine/Israel, including first-hand reports from our own membership. Contact Joel Dansky at feltondansky[at]verizon.net.
- The Buddhist Peace Fellowship/Pioneer Valley is a local chapter of the national Buddhist Peace Fellowship (founded in 1978). The mission of BPF is to serve as a catalyst and agent for socially engaged Buddhism. Our aim is to help beings liberate themselves from the suffering that manifests in individuals, relationships, institutions, and social systems. BPF's programs, publications, and practice groups link Buddhist teachings of wisdom and compassion with progressive social change. Program areas include peacework, disarmament, human rights, prison advocacy and ministry, and community activism. BPF/PV has a listserv to which interested persons can subscribe by email to bpfpv-subscribe@topica.com. Contacts: Emilie Woodward (emiliewoodward@hotmail.com) or Maia Duerr (ne-bpf@bpf.org).
- The Western Massachusetts Interfaith Coalition for Peace and Justice meets regularly and maintains a listserv. You can get on this listserv by sending email to pvinterfaith-subscribe@topica.com. Contact information: Susan or Rene Theberge at reneandsusan@comcast.net Location: Pioneer Valley.
- The Western Massachusetts Stop the War Coalition also meets regularly, rotating between Franklin, Hampshire, and Hampden counties. You can get on its listserv by sending email to WMaStopWar-subscribe@yahoogroups.com. Meets on a rotating schedule in the three counties.
- The Western Massachusetts office of Act Now to Stop War and End Racism / International Action Center (A.N.S.W.E.R. /I.A.C.) is in Springfield (wmassiac@hotmail.com, 413-538-8537) and sends email frequently. The international ANSWER has a website: http://www.internationalanswer.org/
- Western Massachusetts Labor Against the War can be contacted by email to Ferd Wulkan, wulkan@external.umass.edu or by phone 549-3910. Join the listserv by email to wmlaw-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
- UUPeaceWork is comprised of members and friends of the Unitarian Universalist Society of Greater Springfield, Massachusetts. "In a world of increasing militarism and economic injustice, we are committed to working within our local and global communities for Peace and Economic Justice for all humankind. As a UU congregation, we believe that Love and Service are our callings. We partner with other organizations working for peace and justice." Contacts: email javaeye@earthlink.net, website http://www.uupeacework.org/.
- You can join the Western Mass Counter Recruitment listserve by sending an email to: wmac-recnet-subscribe@yahoogroups.com (write "subscribe" in the subject line.) Location: Northampton, MA.
- You can join the WMass Jobs With Justice listserve by sending an email to: wmjwj@hge.net (write "subscribe" in the subject line.) Its Solidarity Calendar of events is on the web at http://www-unix.oit.umass.edu/~tnm/WMassJwJ/SolidarityCalendar.htm.
- Shays2, The Western Massachusetts Committee on Corporations & Democracy is a grassroots organization working through education and peaceful action to strip corporations of powers, that have been usurped from we the people, in the law.
- The Progressive Allies website, created by U Mass sociology students, lists a large number of Western Massachusetts progressive community organizations and organizations in the Five Colleges, with local contact information. However, be warned that this site has apparently not been updated for several years so some of the information may be out of date.
- Shays2, The Western Massachusetts Committee on Corporations & Democracy, is a grassroots organization working through education and peaceful action to strip corporations of powers that have been usurped from we the people, in the law.
- In the AFSC office of Hartford CT, disarmament has been the issue given highest priority. Economic conversion has always been integral to the goal of a disarmed world. The program has worked with other peace groups, organized labor, church and social groups to develop an educated constituency on the need to plan for the economic impact of disarmament. Conferences addressing the issue have been organized, as well as much written material espousing our beliefs and alternatives. Contacts: email mmorris@afsc.org , 860-523-1534, website http://afsc.org/newengland/nect.htm. Location: Hartford, CT.
- The Glastonbury Peace and Justice Organization is a collective of citizens from Glastonbury CT and surrounding towns with various political leanings and beliefs. Our main uniting factor is our grievance with the Bush Administration's conduct post- Sept 11th. Our purpose is to educate and provoke thought through discussion, writing, and visibility. Contacts: email mmcl@erols.com, 860-633-2813, website http://www.gpjo.org/main.html. Location: Glastonbury, CT.
- The Connecticut Coalition for Peace and Justice meets at the Quaker Meetinghouse on Mondays and is an active group. At first, the diverse group was established to combat the disasterous missile defense system of President Bush II. But the events of 9/11/01 changed everything for the group, including its name. The Connecticut Coalition for Peace and Justice has worked ardently to pursue peace and justice since 9/11, but while broadening its message, it still holds to its founding principle of combatting Star Wars. Contact: website: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CT_Peace_Justice/
- A listing of groups in the Hartford area
Organizations concerned chiefly with independent media and/or media reform:
- Democracy Now! is available on some local cable channels and radio - here is the current schedule.
- Western Massachusetts Independent Media Center is an outlet for media production by the people and for the people. We are part of a global network of autonomous, non-commercial media collectives united in solidarity and allied with a broad array of progressive groups and activists around the globe. The Wmass IMC promotes social, economic, and environmental justice by providing a local forum for people to publish writing, photos, audio, video, and art traditionally marginalized by corporate media. We are guided by the Principles of Unity set forth by the Global IMC and by a sense of social responsibility. Website: http://www.wmass.indymedia.org, email: info@wmass.indymedia.org, listserv: http://wmass.indymedia.org/info/display/lists/index.php , recent self-description
- Valley Free Radio Local community activists and artists establishing a new 100-watt, low-cost, non-commercial, community based and volunteer-run FM radio station for the Greater Northampton area. They seek to educate, inspire and entertain through programming that reflects the diversity of the local community and provide a space for media access and education, placing equipment, skills and critical tools in the hands of the community. They aim to serve with particular regard for those overlooked or under-represented by other media and to provide a forum for the exchange of cultural and intellectual ideas and music. Website: http://valleyfreeradio.org, listserv: to subscribe to the email list, send a blank message to: list-subscribe@valleyfreeradio.org
- WMUA, 91.1 FM 105 Campus Center University of Massachusetts Amherst, MA 01003 Non-commercial broadcast facility serving the CT River Valley of MA, CT, and VT primarily run by full-time undergrads of UMass Amherst, but station members consist of under and grad students, faculty, staff and members of the surrounding communities, who donate their time and efforts to run the station. Become a station member by attending three consecutive general body meetings. Free training available to become a DJ, and once 'air-cleared' you can apply to produce your own program. General Body meeting schedule: Monday nights in the UMass Campus Center at 7pm. As of January 28, 2003, WMUA will carry Democracy Now! Email: wmua@wmua.org, website: http://wmua.org, phone: (413) 545-2876
- The Valley War Bulletin A weekly publication distributed throughout western Massachusetts covering US policy and the struggle for justice at home and abroad. War Bulletin team members (editors, writers, layout, distribution, etc.) and funders sought. Individuals and organizations can sponsor an issue for $250 for 1,500 copies provided by our local worker-owned union shop, Collective Copies. Labor volunteered. Website: http://www.westernmassafsc.org/vwb, Contact the VWB c/o AFSC (413) 584-8975 x207, afsc@crocker.com.
- The Voice; Springfield's Community Newspaper Independent community newspaper. Seeking writers, folks interested in layout & design, planners, fundraisers, reporters, and photographers to teach & learn together. c/o Arise for Social Justice, 94 Rifle Street, Springfield, MA 01105-1632. Email: voiceeditors@yahoo.com, website: http://www.the-spa.com/df , phone (413) 734-4948
- Media Education Foundation (MEF) MEF produces and distributes video documentaries to encourage critical thinking and debate about the relationship between media ownership, commercial media content, and the democratic demand for free flows of information, diverse representations of ideas and people, and informed citizen participation. Sign up for their monthly email newsletter and updates about film screenings, etc. Intern opportunities. Address: 60 Masonic Street Northampton, MA 01060, email: info@mediaed.org, website: http://www.mediaed.org, phone: (413) 584-8500
- Turning Tide Productions Turning Tide Productions of Wendell, MA has been producing video documentaries chronicling grassroots social change movements for over 25 years. They're currently seeking volunteers to help in audio transcribing, graphic design, and website design for several anti-war video projects. For more information, contact: Robbie Leppzer, 800-557-6414, email: robbie@turningtide.com, website: http://www.turningtide.com
- Free Press Founded by author and professor Robert McChesney, Free Press is a national non-profit media reform organization. The birth of Free Press reflects a growing awareness that media reform is essential to fostering a functional democracy and advancing issues that most people actually care about. Address: 100 Main Street, PO Box 28, Northampton, MA 01061, email: info@mediareform.net, website: http://www.mediareform.net, phone: (413) 585-1533

If you know of another organization located in western/central Massachusetts or northern Connecticut which is working for justice and peace or media reform, please tell us about it, with a description of the organization and some contact information. Please send this information to Conant(at)ecs.umass.edu for addition on this page. Thanks.