September 1, 2016

By Edith Bell

The Women’s International  League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF) is sponsoring two events to educate ourselves and take action in this absurd time of upheaval at home and permanent wars abroad.

WILPF has been working for peace, justice and equality for more than 100 years, ever since our founders gathered in The Hague in 1915 trying to stop WWI .

Mirrors of Privilege, Making Whiteness Visible
Film showing, discussion and potluck supper
Wednesday , September. 7, 6 pm at
Thomas Merton Center, 5129 Penn Avenue

Nuclear Free Future Tour
presented by  Ellen Thomas  and Carol Urner
Wednesday September 28, 7 pm
at Friends Meeting House, 4836 Ellsworth Avenue in Oakland.

Mirrors of Privilege:

As attacks and  killings of African Americans go unpunished, and  hatred and prejudice is preached, including from candidates for  high office,  it is necessary for us to assess and come to grips with our own part in this untenable situation.   To that end WILPF will sponsor the showing of  the documentary Mirrors of Privilege, Making Whiteness Visible,  with discussion to follow.  The documentary features the experiences of white women and men, who have worked to  gain insight into what it means to challenge the notion of racism and white privilege in the US. We will  start with  a potluck, so there will be good food to enjoy and good company. (Potluck 6:00 pm, film 6:40, discussion 7:30) Bring a friend, a dish to share and join the conversation on this most urgent topic of racism and white privilege. To RSVP and for  information 412-661-7149.

2016 WILPF Nuclear Free Future Tour

Ellen Thomas and Carol Urner,  co-chairs of the US WILPF Disarm/End Wars committee are on  a 2016 WILPF Nuclear Free Future speaking tour. They will appraise us of the dangers of the world’s current nuclear arsenal  and bring us up to date  on the possibilities of, and the progress  towards a world without nukes, as well as how we can do our part in this work.

Carol and Ellen are long time peace activists, with an emphasis on nuclear weapons.  Carol will talk about her many years  of diplomacy overseas and about current progress toward nuclear weapons abolition.  Ellen also has a long history of anti-nuclear activism since 1984, when she started an 18 year protest in front of the White House.  She managed the Peace House in Washington, and was on the Board of Directors of the Washington Peace Center for 4 years.

This discussion is more urgent than ever at this time, when President Obama  proposes a $1.5 trillion update for  US nuclear weapons in the next 30 years, making them more “usable”.  The US just added another country to bomb and the US military budget keeps growing at the expense of domestic needs,  like education, housing, infrastructure etc.

All that is necessary for the triumph of evil, is for enough good men to do nothing. .

      For more information, call  412-661-7149 or contact wilpf.pgh@gmail.com Both events are free to the public.

Edith Bell is the coordinator of the Pittsburgh branch of the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom.