716-332-3904 716-931-3520 April 16, 2019
Dear Friends,
So very sad and sorry to tell you all that Bruce Beyer, War Resister and Peace Activist extraordinaire; father, grandfather, and husband; former WNY Peace Center Board Member; organizer of Peace Has No Borders; devoted supporter of many who left the armed services to stop the terror of all kinds, …. Bruce has passed away.
His wonderful and devoted daughter, Liz, wrote yesterday:
“It is with a heavy heart that I write this post. This morning, just after 2am my father left this earth. With epic thunderstorms, the earth and sky made way to accept all of his energy.
We thank everyone for all of the love we have felt from so many people. My dad asked that we do not hold a memorial service for him and our family is respecting those wishes. Those who know my father know how generous he is, and with that I want to share that he made the decision to donate his body to UB’s Anatomical Gift Program.”
Bruce was a courageous and compassionate man, never hesitating to stand up for his (also our) beliefs, and to call it like he saw it. As one of the Buffalo Nine, draft resisters during the war on Vietnam, Bruce was a high profile peace activist who paid a heavy price including leaving his home and country to stand up for Peace and Justice, as well as coming back to again stand up for his beliefs. His lifelong integrity is an inspiration and a joy to all who knew him.
Here is a link to an article he wrote for our friends at the Public: http://www.dailypublic.com/articles/10042017/bruce-beyer-reflects-50-years-activism
Here is his obituary – what a life well lived!!!! – from the Buffalo news: https://buffalonews.com/2019/04/15/bruce-beyer-anti-war-activist/?fbclid=IwAR1G7QMzRH1xQwXlJ4nidkeJ5YaZ3M0gjIr_0KNHs-wrCPl5EEN_BVCPF6M
He will be so sorely missed…. As, in accordance with his wishes, there will be no memorial service, we’ll remember Bruce in our hearts and when we need an inspiring example of Truth-Telling, Integrity, and Love.
Bruce Beyer, Presente …. Rest in Peace… In Gratitude, Solidarity, and Love. <3 <3 <3 <3 <3
716-332-3904 4/15/19 wnypeace.org
Friends,
With Earth Day coming up on April 22, many around the world will be celebrating our earth, and the amazing natural resources we have. Here in Western New York, we will also have many events this week to bring awareness to our environment and this awesome day. This week includes: 24-hour Bomb Train Watch, Earth Day Train Talk (Electric trains!), Citizens for Regional Transit Public Meeting and LASC’s April Peace Coffeehouse: Industrial Agriculture vs. Indigenous Survival. Join us for any or all events. Details below.
Join us tonight for our monthly Fundraising Committee meeting, where we will be discussing the details of the Annual Dinner. 6-7pm, WNY Peace Center, 1272 Delaware Avenue, parking and entrance at the back of the building.
Our PeaceJam Leaders After School program began on Tuesday, April 9 and continues on Tuesdays for 11 weeks (through 6/25), 3-5pm (except when school is out) at the CAO Rafi Green Center, 1423 Fillmore Avenue, Buffalo, NY. Parents are welcome to register their children for this program. wnypeace.org.
**We have extended the deadline to receive Board nominations for the WNY Peace Center. Please forward any suggestions to nominations@wnypeace.org. Thank you.**
As usual, this week brings us new opportunities to work towards peace through justice!
Events this week:
WNYPC Fund-raising/Dinner Committee Mtg
April 15 @ 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm
At the WNYPC/NRC Bldg (1272 Delaware, entrance & pkg round back behind building). Will review info re previously proposed candidates, getting ready to send interest letters with info re how they want such requests to come in; what they generally want or expect at such speaking engagements, esp eg re honorarium, etc.; any other info.
24 Hour Bomb Train Watch
April 16 @ 7:00 pm – April 17 @ 7:00 pm
We need 2 more volunteers to fill One Idyllically-Timed 3-hour-long shift (see ?? below). Send an email to me if you can help out: CandABowman@protonmail.com. Thanks. Wednesday 4 AM – Wednesday 7 AM: ?? and ??.
Earth Day Train Talk
April 17 @ 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
The Buffalo History Museum, One Museum Court, Buffalo, (Nottingham Terrace and Elmwood Avenue; Lots of free parking). Local environmentalist and life-long rail-fan Walter Simpson will present his new information-packed, beautifully illustrated book.
Resist Militarism! Meeting
April 17 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Monthly meeting at Tipico, 128 Fargo Ave, Buffalo, NY 14201. Discuss activities related to war profiteers like Lockheed Martin and more; work on supporting the Kings Bay Plowshares (kingsbayplowshares7.org). All are welcome.
Webinar from Race and Economic Equity Series
April 18 @ 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Webinar 2 – Unstable and Unpredictable Work Schedules: Effects on Wellbeing and What to Do About It Daniel Schneider, Ph.D.Berkeley, The Shift Project. Unstable and Unpredictable Work Schedules: Effects on Well being and What to Do About It. The webinar is FREE and open to the public. https://www.niagara.edu/race-and-economic-equity-series/show/685
Citizens for Regional Transit Public Meeting
April 18 @ 5:30 pm – 7:00 pm
Central Library, 1 Lafayette Square, West Room (1st floor). Alternative Energy Sources and Transit: A discussion of electric and hydrogen vehicle fuels and local hydroelectric power from the New York Power Authority * Thursday, April 18, 2019 5:30 – 7:00 p.m. (doors open at 5:00)
Deadline to purchase tickets for the Buffalo Niagara Centennial Celebration of the League of Women Voters
April 19 @ 12:00 am – 11:59 pm
Today is the deadline to purchase tickets for the Buffalo Niagara centennial celebration of the NYS League of Women Voters. The League of Women Voters of Buffalo Niagara will be celebrating this achievement with a cocktail party celebration at the Garret Club in Buffalo on Saturday May 4 from 4PM to 6PM. Visit lwvbn.org for more information.
EARTH DAY!!!
April 22
Today is Earth Day around the world!! Find ways through our Event Calendar and/or through engaging with your local community to celebrate this important day.
April Peace Coffeehouse: Industrial Agriculture vs. Indigenous Survival
April 22 @ 7-9pm
Canisius College – Science Hall convenient parking on Main near Delavan
sponsored by Peace Action-Canisius and WNY Peace Center’s Latin American Solidarity Committee
Free and open to the public. Ms. Anne Petermann, (Executive Director, Global Justice Ecology Project) just back from projects in Brazil, with reports on planning and actions there. Ms. Kelly Maracle, on representing local water issues at the First International EcoCultural Gathering of Sowers and Guardians of Water (in Bolivia, November November 14-18, 2018). www.lascwny.org.
Many more events on the website!
Many thanks, peace, solidarity, and yes – Love
We shall overcome #Unitethestruggles #Loveislove #PowerWITH-NOTPowerOver
No hate, no fear as we are #StillResisting. Peace, Thanks, Solidarity, and yes Love.
***********
More listings on website (wnypeace.org) and in previous email posts.
To subscribe, write to weeklynews@wnypeace.org with “subscribe” in subject line.
To unsubscribe, write to weeklynews@wnypeace.org with “unsubscribe” in subject line. (Sorry for occasional delays!)
Please submit possible listings for consideration to weeklynews@wnypeace.org.
The time is now, and we are the people we’ve been waiting for.
And remember to tune in: DEMOCRACY NOW! IS NOW BEING BROADCASTMONDAY-FRIDAY, 8AM-9AM (LIVE) ON WBNY 91.3FM. Hear it over the radio or streaming live at wbny.buffalostate.edu.
Dear Friends,
Don’t miss Frida Berrigan – tonight 4/11, 7pm at Burning Books (420 Connecticut Ave). It will be a very special treat to hear Frida Berrigan talk about being raised by radicals and growing into rebellious motherhood.
We are honored to cosponsor this very special event and opportunity to hear a very wise, wonderful, committed, and compassionate woman and her family. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree!
Learn too about the Kings Bay Plowshares – seven courageous Catholic plowshares activists who are currently facing 25 years for entered Kings Bay Naval Submarine Base in St. Mary’s, Georgia on April 4th, 2018, and going on to make real the prophet Isaiah’s command to “beat swords into plowshares”.
The seven are
–Elizabeth McAlister, 78, of Jonah House, Baltimore – Frida’s mother and the widow of Fr. Phil Berrigan;
also
–Fr. Steve Kelly SJ, 69, of the Bay Area, California;
–Carmen Trotta, 55, of the New York Catholic Worker;
–Clare Grady, 59, of the Ithaca Catholic Worker; –
-Martha Hennessy, 62, of the New York Catholic Worker; –
-Mark Colville, 55, of Amistad Catholic Worker, New Haven, Connecticut; and –
-Patrick O’Neill, 61, of the Fr. Charlie Mulholland Catholic Worker, Garner, North Carolina.
The seven chose to act on the 50th anniversary of the assassination of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., who devoted his life to addressing what he called the “triple evils of militarism, racism and materialism.” Carrying hammers and baby bottles of their own blood, the seven attempted to convert weapons of mass destruction. They hoped to call attention to the ways in which nuclear weapons kill every day, by their mere existence and maintenance.
Kings Bay Naval base opened in 1979 as the Navy’s Atlantic Ocean Trident port. It is the largest nuclear submarine base in the world. There are six ballistic missile subs and two guided missile subs based at Kings Bay.
The activists went to three sites on the base: The SWFLANT administration building, the D5 Missile monument installation and the nuclear weapons storage bunkers. The activists used crime scene tape, hammers and hung banners reading: “The ultimate logic of racism is genocide – Dr. Martin Luther King”, “The ultimate logic of Trident is omnicide” and “Nuclear weapons: illegal / immoral.” They also brought an indictment charging the U.S. government for crimes against peace.
Learn more and please sign the petition to dismiss the charges at kingsbayplowshares7.org.
We hope to see you at Burning Books tonight! #UnitetheStruggles #KingsBayPlowshares #Guantanamo
Peace, Thanks, Solidarity, and of course Love.
wnypeace.org
