Alaska Peace Center Committed to nonviolent conflict resolution, working for peace within ourselves, our community, and our world

Please join us this Friday (last Friday of the month), December 27th, at 6:00 pm for a potluck gathering to share food and conversation with other peaceful souls.

We will show the documentary “Ghosts of Jeju” which shows the struggle of the indigenous people of Jeju Island, off the southern coast of South Korea, to prevent the construction of a massive U.S. Naval base (part of the “Pivot to Asia”)  that is destroying the way of life and the means of livelihood for the residents of Gangjeong Village. Ironically, Jeju Island is an established UNESCO World Heritage site based on the outstanding aesthetic beauty of its volcanic landscape and what is regarded as the finest lava tube system of caves anywhere. Even more ironically, Jeju Island has recently been designated as an “Island of Peace” by the Korean government.

The roots of the confrontation on the island go back to 1948 when the South Korean government brutally quashed a rebellion on the island. Thousands of people died in several massacres or were executed as prisoners when the Korean War started (Wikipedia).

Jeju Islanders protest development of huge U.S. military base

I brought the “Ghosts of Jeju” dvd back with me from the Veterans for Peace convention in Madison last summer. Watching it is a very informative and moving experience.

The potluck will again be at our office in suite 203 of the College Mall, 3535 College Rd; upstairs from Fuji restaurant.

Hope to see you all there!

Peace, Alan Batten

More on the background of the movie: Continue reading →

Nonviolent Communication practice group to begin!!

We would love to hear from people interested in a support/practice group so we can begin!!! Let us know  when (days of the week and times) you would be able to meet.  We are hoping to get everyone’s needs met!!!

Carrie Farr

750-1049, chugny@yahoo.com

No Winged Robot Assassins North

Noel Wien Public Library Auditorium, Thursday, October 10, 2013, 7 pm

In conjunction with actions around the earth for Keep Space for Peace Week, the Alaska Peace Center and North Star Veterans for Peace will be holding a presentation titled No Winged Robot Assassins North. The presentation, led by local activist Rob Mulford, will portray drone warfare, the Pentagons plans to implement a large drone corridor in the Alaskan interior, the associated dangers to world peace and civil liberties, and the need to divest our economy from war and its implements. The presentation will start sharply at 7:00 p.m. at the Noel Wien Public Library Auditorium on Thursday, October 10, 2013. For more information contact Rob Mulford at 687-6606 or mulford.rob@gmail.com.

Flier for drone meeting on Oct 10, 2013

Download flier.

Roy Bourgeois will Speak at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship at 7 pm on Wednesday, August 14

Roy Bourgeois is the founder of the School of the Americas Watch and is a former Roman Catholic Priest expelled for his support of Women’s ordination. He was a Nobel Peace Prize nominee in 2010.  His talk is entitled “The Struggle for Justice and Equality in Modern Times,” and is cosponsored by Call to Action Alaska,  an organization of progressive Catholics, and the Alaska Peace Center. Continue reading →

Booth Sitters Needed for our Booth at the Fair

The Tanana Valley State Fair is coming soon.  Booth set-up can start as early as July 29th and the Fair opens on August 2 and runs through August 11.  Volunteers are needed both for setting up our booth in the Borealis Pavilion and for staffing it while the Fair is running.  There are 3 shifts per day and we would like to have 2 people present at each shift if possible.  The shifts are 1) noon to 3pm, 2) 3pm to 6pm and 3) 6pm to 9pm (note this will be 10 pm on Fridays, Saturdays and the final Sunday). Please contact Heather Koponen and Alan Batten at info@alaskapeace.org if you are able to help.  This is our best chance of the year to make ourselves known and present our ideas to the Fairbanks public. Besides, you will get a complimentary ticket to the Fair!

Come help us celebrate the First Annual Sunday Sharing Peace Feast at Pioneer Park on Sunday, June 2 from 1 pm to 5 pm

Alaska Peace Center volunteers will be hosting this event at the back picnic area (the Wilderness Pavilion) off the Peger Road parking lot (by the river). Dick Farris will cook his famous barbeque chicken and ribs!  We are asking people to bring something to add to the potluck like: chips, bread, salad or desserts. Please also bring your own cups, plates and utensils as we want to encourage Earth care by not providing plastic or Styrofoam products.

This will be an opportunity to share ideas and interests on the issues our Peace Center should target in the future with the APC staff.  We encourage those with a passion for peace to get involved at the personal level to make a difference in our own community.

A few of us are interested in starting a new class in non-violent communication or NVC using Marshall Rosenberg’s teachings and books.  Some of us have already taken a class or workshop on NVC and have found the concepts very helpful.

For those unfamiliar with NVC,  basically, NVC sees our actions as coming from needs we all have that we are trying to meet.  NVC uses feelings and needs to connect more fully with others and to get everyone’s needs met.  These ideas have been used around the country and worldwide to help mediate conflicts.

There will be an introduction to NVC at the Hidden Hill Friends Center on Monday, Feb. 25 (Hidden Hill Friends Center is located at 2682 Gold Hill Rd.–look for the sign on the right side).  The potluck/introduction will start at 6:30 pm with food and program to follow.  All those interested, whether new or more experienced, are welcome.

If you can not come but want to take the class or have questions, please email me or call (contact info below).  We will be deciding on a night to have the classes to try to accommodate all who are interested.

For more information contact Carrie Farr at chugny@yahoo.com, 750-1049.

Alaska Peace Center/KRFF offices, 3535 College Rd, rm 203, upstairs from the Fuji Restaurant in the College Mall. Potluck at 6:30, Movies at 7:00.

We will be showing short films by two great Iranian artists:

THE HOUSE IS BLACK
The House is Black (Persian: تسا هایس هناخ , Khaneh siah ast) is an
acclaimed Iranian documentary short film directed by Forough
Farrokhzad. The film is a look at life and suffering in the Behkadeh
Raji leper colony and focuses on the human condition and the beauty of
creation. During the shooting she became attached to a child of two
lepers, whom she later adopted. It has since been recognized as a
landmark in Iranian film.

"The House is Black paved the way for the Iranian New Wave." -
Reviewer Eric Henderson

THE SCHOOL BLOWN AWAY BY THE WIND
Written, directed and edited by Mohsen Makhmalbaf, one of Iran's
leading filmmakers, The School Blown Away by the Wind (1996) is set in
the school for nomad children seen in Makhmalbaf's Gabbeh. In this
brief, humanist tale, an old man enters the improvised classroom to
revisit memories of his youth.

Flyer with photos