1/28/2008

Dear Friends,

Its been a while since I've sent a summary of Peace and Social Concerns news from around the yearly meeting.  I have not gotten formal reports from most monthly meetings, but would like to share the ongoing news that has come my way in various forms.

After soliciting feedback from IYM(C) Friends, Burt and Birdie Kisling continue their diligent work with FCNL and are now heading for Washington DC to help the national organization develop further effective grassroots peacemaking.

Iowa City Friends continue a broad spectrum of global peace based activities within their home community.  Many of these most recent ones have centered around U.S. relations with Iran.  This has included work with the newly formed Peace Center in sharing of art between children in our two countries, as well as co-sponsoring speakers and films.

Paullina Friends have continued to challenge themselves with education and advocacy regarding immigration and all the related issues.  Friend Judy Plank is also working hard not only with issue, but also as the

IYM(C) representative to Friends Peace Teams, with a special concern for the newly developing work in Colombia and Central America. If you have interest in this area, please contact Judy (casaplank@yahoo.com) or myself (debdakin@earthlink.net) as we are both working to make sure the peaceteam work in these "under-reported" war areas get the support it needs to become firmly rooted.

I am attaching two items regarding concerns that a wide number of IYM(C)Friends have continued to respond to in the past months:

1. Since our 2007 ym, the P&SC Earthcare Witness subcommittee has continued to discuss amongst themselves on the web ways to apply faith towards care for the earth.  One very interesting discussion arose regarding our continued dependence on cars.  The members of Penn Valley who are part of this group decided to take this particular issue back to their monthly meeting to continue the discussion there. I am attaching their notes, which I think you'll find quite inspiring.

If you are interested in being a part of this IYM Earthcare witness group but haven't signed on, contact Ken Lawrence (ken@blueflax.org) and I am sure he will be more than happy to get you in on the ongoing discussion.  As always, everyone is welcome to be part of this group.

2. I am also including (again) further request for prayers for our F/friends in Kenya. I have been passing on David Zarembka's daily reports and other news from Quaker sources to those who requested to get the updates from me. Jeff has also posted them on quakernet.org.

Yesterday's report is a genuine plea for all our prayers in situation that seems to be deteriorating- and I am moved to pass this on to everyone in P&SC and not just those on my "Kenya interest" list.  If you would like to get these mailings- please let me know, and I will add you to the list.  The Friends in Kenya have been a strong visionary voice for peace in the most dire circumstances, and in many ways represent a true Quaker presence in the time of deepest need.

DesMoines Valley Friends have been moved to make a monthly meeting contribution to help peacework in Kenya. Please look at our past postings on quakernet.org, or contact me if you would like help in finding out how to do so.

Please remember to pass on any information from your monthly meetings to me that you would like to share amongst us, so that we can continue to encourage each other along the way.

love,

Deborah