2nd Annual Our Way Home Peace Event & Reunion

Revised Program June 7, 2007

Schedule Events Program is subject to change

WEDNESDAY, JULY 4th, 2007
PLACE	TIME	EVENT
Selkirk College Castlegar Campus	8:00am	REGISTRATION
Selkirk College Castlegar Campus	9:00am SHARP to 4:00pm	WORKSHOP: Roads Taken: War Resisters and Veterans Healing the Effects of War Together - Two day workshop for Veterans, War Resisters and family members/significant others and their allies. The workshop will create understanding and build connections between groups
Selkirk College Castlegar Campus	12:30pm to 1:15pm	LUNCH provided

THURSDAY, JULY 5, 2007
PLACE	TIME	EVENT
Selkirk College Castlegar Campus	9:00am SHARP to 4:00	WORKSHOP (continued) Roads Taken: War Resisters and Veterans Healing the Effects of War - Sponsored by the Our Way Home Reunion Institute
Selkirk College Castlegar Campus	12:30pm to 1:15pm	LUNCH provided
Capitol Theatre Nelson, BC	6:00pm	REGISTRATION
Capitol Theatre Nelson, BC	7:00pm	FILM EVENING "Breaking Ranks!" with guest panellist Arun Gandhi - Award-winning filmmaker and director, Michelle Mason. Story of US Military Deserters who are coming to Canada during the US War in Iraq. Panelists: Filmmaker Michelle Mason, Historian Dr. Jeff Schutts, Arun Gandhi, Kyle Snyder, Jeffrey House, Brandon Hughey and Isaac Romano.

FRIDAY, JULY 6, 2007
PLACE	TIME	EVENT
Brilliant Cultural Center	11:30am	REGISTRATION
Brilliant Cultural Center	12noon to 1:30pm	LUNCH provided.
Brilliant Cultural Center	2:00pm to 5:00pm	PANEL PRESENTATION: A New Bottom-line for a More Compassionate, Peaceful World. The panel will examine the following: Might the US policy of a "War on Terrorism" be leading countries toward more global conflict or potentially a new world war? And if so, can Canadian parties form a consensus towards a mandate to create a "A Light Among Nations" foreign policy that promotes dialogue and compassion, which will reduce reactivity between nations and reduce terrorist acts?" Canadian Panel Members: to include Alex Atamanenko (MP) and Dr. Peggy Mason US Panel Members: Daniel Ellsberg, Dr. Stephen Zunes, Senator Tom Hayden, Cherie Brown
Brilliant Cultural Center	5:30pm to 7:00pm	DINNER for registered guests - catered foods
Brilliant Cultural Center	7:30pm	EVENING PROGRAM Celebrating the Path Taken with host Mark Nykanen - 4 time Emmy Award winning investigative journalist and novelist. "Welcome Address" by Corky Evans, local MLA and US war resister from the Vietnam War." Guest presenters, co-founder of Gandhi Institute for non-violence, Arun Gandhi, Senator Tom Hayden and former Canadian UN Ambassador for disarmament, Dr. Peggy Mason. Former Israeli Air Force Captain and Israeli Refuser, Yonatan Shapira, US Military Deserter, Kyle Snyder, Andria Hill-Lehr, and Canadian Military Refuser Francisco Juarez, together provide the inaugural address announcing the formation of the War Resisters of Foreign Wars, International, with Canadian, US and Israeli branches of WRFW represented during the weekend. Performers: Tom Rawson, Bessie Wapp, and Ember Swift. John J. Verigin Jr. introduces the Tri-Choir/The Men's Doukhobor Choir

SATURDAY, JULY 7, 2007
PLACE	TIME	EVENT
Selkirk College Castlegar Campus	8:00am	REGISTRATION
Selkirk College Castlegar Campus	9:00am to 12noon	WORKSHOPS 3 hour break out groups led by major peace activists (Details)
Brilliant Cultural Center	12noon to 1:30pm	LUNCH provided.
Brilliant Cultural Center	2:00pm to 4:00pm	KEYNOTE ADDRESS: Daniel Ellsberg Daniel Ellsberg, leading US foreign policy analyst who made history by leaking "The Pentagon Papers" to the New York Times, 2006 recipient of the Swedish Parliament's alternative to the Nobel Prize, The Right Livelihood Award. Hosted by Peter Prontzos, Political Science instructor, Langara College, Vietnam War era US Military Deserter, and film actor. Daniel Ellsberg will speak on the need for "Truth Telling", leaking confidential documents to save lives and end military conflicts. Such as the war in Afghanistan and the US war in Iraq. Performance by: Barbara Williams
Brilliant Cultural Center	4:30pm to 5:30pm	PLENARY SESSION The Middle East: Promoting a New Bottom Line Speaker: Stephen Zunes, Professor of Politics at the University of San Francisco and the Middle East editor for Foreign Policy in Focus. He won recognition in 2002 from the Peace and Justice Studies Association as Peace Scholar of the Year. He is the principal editor of Non-violent Social Movements and the author of the highly-acclaimed Tinderbox: U.S. Middle East Policy and the Roots of Terrorism.
Brilliant Cultural Center	5:30pm to 7:00pm	DINNER for registered guests - catered foods
Brilliant Cultural Center	7:00pm to 11:00pm	EVENING CONCERT Rolling Out the Resistance to War "Peace Concert" Hosted by: Bob Bossin, songwriter, bandleader, and raconteur Performers: Holly Near, Bob Bossin, Country Joe McDonald, Juno nominated Maryem Tollar with peace activist poet Ehab Lotayef, and Rosalie Sorrels.

SUNDAY, JULY 8, 2007
PLACE	TIME	EVENT
Selkirk College Castlegar Campus	8:00am	REGISTRATION
Selkirk College Castlegar Campus	9:00am to 12noon	WORKSHOPS 3 hour break out groups led by major peace activists (Details)
Brilliant Cultural Center	12noon to 1:30pm	LUNCH provided.
Brilliant Cultural Center	2:00pm to 4:00pm	FINAL PROGRAM & CLOSING CEREMONY Hosted by: Bob Bossin, songwriter, bandleader, and raconteur Together on stage Daniel Ellsberg, Senator Tom Hayden, and the attorney who defended both Daniel Ellsberg in the Pentagon Papers Trial and Senator Tom Hayden in the Chicago Seven Trial, Leonard Weinglass (Leonard Weinglass is currently defending five Cubans held in US Prisons). Non-violence and War Resistance: When and how is non-violent civil disobedience called for - With leading peace activists, Daniel Ellsberg, California Senator Tom Hayden, and Human rights attorney Leonard Weinglass. Also speaking will be New York Times Best-selling author and journalist Mark Kurlansky. Kurlansky is the author of "Non-violence, twenty-five Lessons from the History of a Dangerous idea" and "1968: the Year that Rocked the World". Music performerance by Holly Near.

Workshop Categories

SATURDAY, JULY 7, 2007

9:00 am to 12noon

1. From Our Hearts and Souls: Roots of war resistance and music activism expressed through Blues, Hip-Hop, Jazz, Folk and Rock n Roll

Moderator:

Gary Cristall, co-founder and previously, for many years director of the Vancouver Folk Music Festival. Currently, music event producer and manager

Panel:

Holly Near, singer, songwriter, political activist
Country Joe McDonald, singer, songwriter, political activist
Bob Bossin, songwriter, bandleader, and raconteur
Tom Rawson, banjo playing singer, political activist
Maryem Tollar, Juno-Nominated world music artist
Ehab Lotayef, song writer, photographer, activist and engineer
Sol Guy, music producer, activist
Rosalie Sorrels, singer, songwriter, political activist

Anti-War music, and other forms of music as personal and political expressions of resistance and opposition to war are examined from their multiple forms and relationships to life and culture currently and during previous eras of military conflict and militarism within and between nations.

2. Where We Rest Our Heads At Night

Panel:

Kyle Snyder, US military resister from Iraq war
Chris Teske, US military resister from Iraq war
Stephanie Teske, US military resister from Iraq war
Ryan Johnson, US military resister from Iraq war
Lee Zaslofsky, Vietnam war resister

US War Resisters in Canada speak to what best assisted them in their transition to a new life in Canada during the Vietnam War and what is their need now in settling in their new country, Canada

3. The Stories We Can Tell: The art of resistance

Moderator:

John Hagan, PhD, Professor Emeritus, Sociology Department, University of Toronto and John D. MacArthur Professor of Sociology, Northwestern University. Author of Northwest Passage: American Vietnam Era War Resisters in Canada

Panel:

Mark Kurlansky, New York Times Bestselling author and author of the new book, Nonviolence: Twenty-five Lessons from the History of a Dangerous Idea
John Hagan, PhD, Professor Emeritus, Sociology Department, University of Toronto and John D. MacArthur Professor of Sociology, Northwestern University. Author of Northwest Passage: American Vietnam Era War Resisters in Canada
Michelle Mason, filmmaker and director of Breaking Ranks and The Friendship Village
David Zeiger, Filmmaker and director of Sir! No Sir!
Richard Taylor, painter
Peter Laufer, Journalist, broadcaster, and film maker
Naomi Lewis, sculptor, among her works include "The Welcoming" peace sculpture

Noted authors, playwrights, filmmakers, painters and others in the visual arts discuss what motivated them to write and tell their stories of war resistance and the US war resisters who came to Canada from the US during the Vietnam War and about those US war resisters that are once again making their way to Canada.

4. The Impact of Bush's War on the Middle East and Canada's Role

Moderator:

Dr. Stephen Zunes is a Professor of Politics at the University of San Francisco and the Middle East editor for Foreign Policy in Focus. He serves with, the International Center on Non-violent Conflict. Professor Zunes is the author of scores of articles for scholarly and general readership on Middle Eastern politics, U.S. foreign policy, international terrorism, social movements, and human rights. He is the principal editor of Non-violent Social Movements and the author of the highly-acclaimed Tinderbox: U.S. Middle East Policy and the Roots of Terrorism. He won recognition in 2002 from the Peace and Justice Studies Association as Peace Scholar of the Year

Panel:

Dr. Stephen Zunes is a Professor of Politics at the University of San Francisco and the Middle East editor for Foreign Policy in Focus. He serves with, the International Center on Non-violent Conflict. Professor Zunes is the author of scores of articles for scholarly and general readership on Middle Eastern politics, U.S. foreign policy, international terrorism, social movements, and human rights. He is the principal editor of Non-violent Social Movements and the author of the highly-acclaimed Tinderbox: U.S. Middle East Policy and the Roots of Terrorism. He won recognition in 2002 from the Peace and Justice Studies Association as Peace Scholar of the Year
Peggy Mason, Among her positions, Peggy Mason has served on the UN Secretary-General's Disarmament Advisory Board (1993-1997), pioneered UN guidelines on post-conflict disarmament programs (1999) and currently chairs the Board of the Canadian Centre for Treaty Compliance at Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada
Mark Johnson, National Director of Fellowship of Reconciliation, USA. Mark Johnson's expertise on the Middle East is derived from living there for many years and studying its diverse people and cultures.

Peggy Mason, Dr. Stephen Zunes, and Mark Johnson will provide a detailed analysis of how the US and Canadian government's Middle East policies continue to undermine and destabilize that region and what can be done to bring the countries of the region to the peace table.

5. Writing in Community: Writing your experience: Self-discovery, Reflection and Sharing Our Stories

Moderator:

Keith Mather, Veterans for Peace, US military deserter

Panel:

Keith Mather, Veterans for Peace, US military deserter
Mike Wong, Veterans for Peace, US war resister

This workshop "Writing in Community" is derived from the "Veterans Writers Workshop," led by Maxine Hong Kingston, which has been active for thirteen years. Both Keith Mather and Mike Wong participate along with an ever changing and healing group of writers, including veterans of wars. Open to all event participants.

War widows, disabled vets, combat vets, children of Vietnam, medics, Viet Cong soldiers and US veterans have participated in these groups, listening and sharing each other's pain and healing. The workshop is an opportunity to bond in that healing.

6. Israeli Military Refusers Film, (National Film Board, Canada), "Raised to be Heroes"

Moderator:

Jack Silberman, Film Maker

Panel:

Jack Silberman, Film Maker
Yonatan Shapira, Israeli military refuser, and co-founder of Combatants for Peace

"Raised to be Heroes" follows the lives of Israeli Defence Force soldiers who have chosen to no longer participate in military actions in the West Bank and Gaza.

7. Hero or Coward? The Moral and Ethical Dimensions of War Resistance

Presenter:

Don Gayton, Vietnam War Resister, ecological consultant, and noted author

Engaging in war resistance triggers a multitude of tough moral questions. Do I oppose all wars, or just this war? Is it fair for me to let my friends and classmates die while I stay home? How can I honour our soldiers but oppose the politicians that send them to war?

Don Gayton, Vietnam era War Resister, failed conscientious objector and published author, tackles these thorny and often very personal issues in an interactive workshop. Draft dodgers, veterans and Iraq war resisters are encouraged to attend, and tell their stories. This workshop will elucidate, define and examine the moral and ethical issues related to war, war resistance and pacifism, through a combination of readings, personal testimonials and interactive discussion.

8. A New Generation of Research on Vietnam War Resisters in Canada - Part I

Presenter:

Lara Campbell, Simon Fraser University
Juergen Dankwort, Kwantlen University College
Matthew Fuchs, Memorial University
Susan Hardwick, University of Oregon
Lori Olafson, University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Michael Taft, Library of Congress

New knowledge by those of the generation meets fresh research by current graduate students of the following generation, with some standing in between. Research presentations in Part I focus on social science approaches (Women's Studies, Sociology, Anthropology, etc).

SUNDAY, JULY 8, 2007

9:00 am to 12noon

1. Replacing Irrational Security Policies in the US and Canada, with sound negotiating strategies that will reduce and eliminate "terrorism".

Presenter:

Peggy Mason, Among her positions, Peggy Mason has served on the UN Secretary-General's Disarmament Advisory Board (1993-1997), pioneered UN guidelines on post-conflict disarmament programmes (1999) and currently chairs the Board of the Canadian Centre for Treaty Compliance at Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada.

Remember, not so many years ago, Israel for the longest time would not negotiate with the PLO. A policy of not negotiating with its "enemy," (the only legitimate party too negotiate with). Should the Western Nations follow suite and negotiate with its "enemy." Can this reduce and eliminate terrorism and lead to more just foreign policies by the West?

2. War Resistance As An International Movement and Strategy To Halt Or Reduce The Use Of War To Resolve Conflicts - Organized in cooperation with The War Resisters of Foreign Wars, International (WRFW)

Panel:

Yonatan Shapira, Israeli military refuser and former Israeli Air Force Captain. Currently doing his graduate degree in Peace Studies
Stephen Zunes, PhD, professor of politics and chair of the Peace and Justice Studies Program, University of San Francisco

This workshop will look at the history of war resistance in ending wars and speak of the current movements of war resistance and their potential influence in reducing the use of war to resolve conflicts.

3. Healing the Emotional Wounds Of War - In cooperation with the Our Way Home Institute

Presenter:

Steve Morse, Vietnam Veteran, has been active with the GI Rights Hotline where he's been a counsellor for eight years and was a coordinator for two years in Oakland, California.

Vietnam Veteran and veteran's advocate Steve Morse provides this introductory experiential session on an effective model for assisting Veterans in healing the emotional affects of war.

4. Ministry of Peace and a Peace Tax is Our Future

Presenter:

Irene Mock is a noted fiction writer and author who came to Canada as a war resister during the Vietnam War

Learn about the current projects towards a Canadian movement to put in place a Minister of Peace within the Canadian federal government and the peace tax you can put your tax funds toward now.

5. War Resister's Music Circle

Facilitator:

Tom Rawson has been singing and storytelling on stage for almost three decades. Tom has performed at many events in the Pacific Northwest, including the Tumbleweed Music Festival, Northwest Folklife Festival, Victoria Folk Music Society Concerts. Tom Rawson's most recent CD, "Where the Coho Flash Silver," was recorded live at the Victoria Folk Music Society in April, 2006. In the style of the great Pete Seeger, Tom Rawson is at the top of his craft. Armed with long-necked banjo Tom will have you singing along in no time. Tune up your vocal chords; you'll need 'em!

Musicians and music lovers will gather for an informal session of instrumental and vocal music.

6. Legal and legislative options for assisting current US military deserters in Canada

Panel:

Jeffrey House, Military deserter lawyer, legal counsel for many of the current US military deserters in Canada
Alex Atamanenko, MP of the House of Commons, New Democratic Party, representing the BC riding of "Southern Interior". Alex Atamanenko has been an active leader, supporting and assisting current US military deserters in Canada

7. Award winning documentary film, "Sir! No Sir!"

Moderator:

Film maker David Zeiger, director of "Sir! No Sir!"

Panel:

David Cline, past president for Veterans for Peace. Active in the resistance within the US military during the Vietnam war
Mike Wong, active in "Veterans for Peace" in the San Francisco Bay Area and in the resistance within the US military during the Vietnam war
Keith Mather, active in "Veterans for Peace" in the San Francisco Bay Area and in the resistance within the US military during the Vietnam war

Includes film screening with film director David Zeiger along with the above panelists who are in the film.

8. A New Generation of Research on Vietnam War Resisters in Canada - Part II

Presenter:

Jason Friedman, Michigan State University
Joseph Jones, University of British Columbia
Donald Maxwell, Indiana University
Aisling Murphy, Simon Fraser University
Minko Sotiron, John Abbot College/Concordia University
Jessica Squires, Carleton University