PeaceQuest KW Feb. Minutes

Meeting started at 7:15pm on February 9th, 2015

Petition at MLK Day
- Didn’t get a great deal of autographs, but it was nice to be a part of the event.
- Good to make a connection with Albrecht brothers, who organize the Nonviolence Festival events
  - Events they organize include a Nonviolence Festival day in July, Gandhi’s birthday, International day of Peace in Sept
- Movie Screening
  - Look at films offered by Cinema Politica (Cinema Political.ca)
    - They are now connected with WPIRG
  - Amnesty has also been meaning to do a movie night. We will collaborate with them.
  - Need to give David a list of films we’re interested in showing, so take a look and give your suggestions to Emily by February 23rd.
  - The goal of this would be to emphasize the profile of groups in KW that are working for Peace/Nonviolence
  - Testament of Youth- experience of WWI
    - Would be great to show, don’t know if it has been shown in North America
    - Based on memoir of Vera Brittain (she lived in Montreal at one point! Canadian connections)
  - David Lubell will talk to John at the Princess Cinema about showing a film there
  - Colin will talk to Ploughshares for other suggestions
- Partnering with groups on campus
  - What do students like? Things on campus, free food
  - 2 groups on campus at UW: Peace Society and PACS students society
    - Peace Society is Grebel’s residence peace group.
      - Bekah DeJong is here representing Peace Society.
    - PACS Student Society is the student society of students studying PACS.
      - Interested in collaborating but unable to make the meeting.
    - Peace Society hosts speakers at their meetings, makes crafts like soap and candles
  - Would potentially be willing to collaborate for a movie
  - Emily will come speak at Peace Society meeting on Feb 22nd. Anyone else is welcome to come along!
  - Could we have a speaker at community supper (Conrad Grebel’s weekly community dinner)? Definitely not this term. Maybe during the Spring term or next year. Would have to talk to Mary.
  - Emily will ask PACS Student Society if they want to do a movie night and we’ll go from there
    - Post meeting update: Emily has been in contact with PACS Student Society, they are already planning a movie and happy to collaborate! They were thinking of watching 12 Years a Slave but are open to other suggestions. PQ can be involved in facilitating a post-film discussion. Probably will be happening in March.
  - Membership
    - We aren’t a big group; there are roughly 5 “regulars” that have been coming out (Emily, Eleanor, Kae, Dwyer, and Colin) and Kae is unable to continue committing to the group.
      - Do we need to do more outreach? We don’t want to have volunteer fatigue.
      - Should we consider seeing if another group wants to merge (i.e. take on PeaceQuest activities)
    - It would help to get people interested if we have a clear theme/focus
      - The Arms Trade treaty could be a potential focus, trying to influence Canada’s policy.
        
        Could advocate for it during the upcoming election
        
        It’s a timely topic
        
        Would there be relevant movies? Ask Ploughshares
        
        We could get a high profile person to speak.
        
        James Orbinski; he could talk about proliferations or landmines. He is on staff at Balsillie
        
        Paul Heinbecker; also Balsillie.
        
        Emily will ask
        
        Possible foci
        
        How to get peace and peace issues on Political agenda, especially in the next election
        
        Provide a counter narrative to militarism narrative
        
        What does Remembrance mean today? In our current context?
        
        JS Woodsworth- Founded NDP party, pacifist, opposed entry into WWII
        
        Talk to Rideau Institute in Ottawa and/or Steven Staples (founder) for ideas of key peace Canadians
        
        Coalescence
        
        There are a lot of people interested in Peace in KW, but not much awareness between groups
        
        What can we do to increase collaboration/awareness among peace people
        
        What about a day or half day conference/meeting, where we invite key people from local peace groups to come together in a room and talk about their work
        
        Would be an opportunity for networking, finding out what each other are doing.
        
        Maybe could see if CPA would be willing to give us space? Emily is meeting with Paul and Michelle later in February, will discuss with them
        
        The goal of the day would be coherence, as well as finding ways to collaborate
        
        We should connect with Brice Balmer from InterFaith Grand River
        
        Next meeting: Monday March 9^th.