Music: An International Language

On Wednesday July 15th, Missoula welcomed the 22nd celebration of the International Choral Festival to our City. As many in our community, two JRPC Board members (Glenn and Kathy Wood; Rusty and Betsy Dague) opened their homes to our international visitors and served as guest ambassadors for this special occasion. For these few days in Missoula, representatives of our World community celebrated the spirit of international harmony, the very essence of what Jeanette Rankin envisioned and worked for in her lifetime.
Music is an international language. It is the language of hope and joy, of dreams met and unmet. The music of this Festival is a celebration of our diversity, our shared cultures and histories. For those fortunate enough to have attended, we heard in the voices of these remarkable Choirs the sound of what is possible among nations of goodwill. For all those involved in bringing life to the International Choral Festival, bravo!
While the International Choral Festival serves as a shining example of the better voices of our nature, Wednesday, July 15 also brought a sad reminder of work undone in the cause of peace. On that day in Grozny, Chechnya, a woman named Natalia Estemirova was kidnapped and assassinated. Natalia, a widowed mother of one, a history teacher, a correspondent for The Voice newspaper and highly respected peace advocate, was targeted for her advocacy. As with Neda the month before (Neda meaning ‘voice’ in Arabic) and Benazin the year before, Natalia gave her life in the struggle for justice. One can only imagine the courage of Natalia who confronted cowardice and oppression knowing the possible consequences.
In the voice of this remarkable woman, let us remember what remains to be accomplished among people of goodwill in the shared aspirations for peace and justice.
Gregory J. Roberts
Coordinating Council Member

Oil Consumption

Dear friends,

We are past this presidency and dealing with his legacy, but who can forget Bushisms? We may get a second act with Palinisms! In any case this oilman has a point somewhere in there. According to Fortune, among the top 10 global 500 companies this year, 8 are from oil industry. The other two are Wal-Mart and Toyota Motor. Sectors like financial, manufacturing, technology, etc are relegated to the back. These oil companies are also the most profitable companies in the world and in a capitalist society that alone does not make an argument. So why should we care about this? For one, financial companies were the biggest and see how they turned out to be. Now many of the big ones survive on taxpayer support. To be fair, big oil companies survived all these years because of active help from nation states. An example is our constant naval presence in Persian Gulf (for decades) and their primary purpose is to protect oil drilling and shipping. You may argue oil is different because they produce something we need and our economy depends on it. Maybe we should focus on how they get and sell a barrel of oil. Similar to diamonds! We have heard terms like “blood diamonds” and “Kimberley process”. A typical diamond that adorns necklines travels from mines of Africa to cutting factories in India and to traders in Belgium. The process from mines to necklines goes through Kimberley process certification, so diamonds we buy are not from conflict zones or create hardship to the locals. We should know this because we buy 50% of world’s diamonds. Oil should have a similar process to designate “blood oil” or “conflict oil” and “good oil”. This process will help regulate or motivate oil producers and consumers. Some of our oil comes from conflict areas or places with human right issues but other countries like Norway or Canada are different. Take the example of Iran. We want to align with street protester today and demand fair elections, but we (with Britain and BP) also helped topple a popular (elected) government in the past. The result was a brutal regime of Shah and a big share of oil to us for couple of decades. You know the rest of story. Past sixty years of conflicts and aggressive actions to topple or support existing order is a result of our quest for “dependable” oil. If we had an “oil certification” process then, our leaders would have thought hard before interfering negatively. It could also automatically trigger a stop to buying under adverse conditions anywhere. Some would argue demanding “good oil” is hard and we need to deal with consumption. They are right on reducing consumption, but we will still use a lot. Prior to Kimberley process and regulation, “good diamonds” (if this term makes sense) were hard to find also. If there is enough support with oil consumers, their politicians, dictators, kings or sultans can work this out. We need to ask for it. Our president met with G8 leaders to discuss global economy and new global warming targets. If they also discussed how to certify oil and other natural resources before buying, majority of our present and future conflicts can be reduced. We need this more than ever. Tackling underlying issues will produce sustainable results for peace and justice. The alternative is to revisit 20th century issues in future.

Srini Mondava

Coordinating Council Chair

Replacing Missoula’s Peace Sign

Dear friends,
Last week we discovered that the peace sign in our park on Waterworks Hill had been torn down. We have received many expressions of sadness in response to its disappearance, a reminder of the passion for peace in Missoula. We also discovered that someone has stolen the signs we had marking the park entrances, and identifying the park as a gift to the community.

On Tuesday, about a dozen people hiked up to the park with sheets and towels — some even making multiple trips – to restore the peace sign. Initially we all had questions, thoughts of blame and even anger, but as we worked, the group reminded each other that those thoughts were not only not helpful – they were counter to what we were doing.

Acts of violence and vandalism are reported around the world. On the hill, we were reminded that our power lies in finding the small ways we each can respond by building peace. So we restored Missoula’s peace sign – in peace and forgiveness; We stand in solidarity with the people of Iran in the hopes of giving them the support and encouragement to protest another day; we write letters to our legislators and talk to our neighbors to give voice to our hopes. So let it continue to be – we teach peace, and peace teaches us. The expense of replacing the signs is a hardship for us as we struggle to make ends meet just as everyone else in this economy. But we will find a way.

We appreciate all of your thoughts and efforts.
With thanks and peace,
Betsy

Tyler Boudreau’s Bicycle Tour

Dear Friends,

This weekend our country will celebrate its 233rd “Independence Day” with fireworks and flag-waving. While there is much to celebrate in the birth of our nation and the ideals of liberty and freedom that are the foundation of our constitution, much of the celebrating has become an exercise in glorifying war – the songs, the rolling tanks and armored vehicles on parade, the military shows of strength and glory. War is unfortunately a part of our heritage as a nation, but there is so much more to celebrate, and rather than glorifying war, we must be realistic about its financial and human costs. I think of the indigenous Americans who were displaced by the “birth” of the US, the thousands killed in our wars, and all the veterans who carry the ghosts of war with them.

This weekend, Missoula will be hosting Tyler Boudreau as he rides through on his cross-country bicycle tour. Tyler is a 12-year Marine veteran and he has written an amazing book about his experience in Iraq, his insights into the realities of war and his personal journey coming to terms with those realities in an attempt to heal and rediscover himself. His bike tour, called “the other side” is about the journey veterans – and communities — go through in getting to the other side of healing. He hopes to connect with communities across the country to broaden the discourse and figure out how to re-integrate and strengthen our democracy. I’ve talked with him several times and am impressed by his ability to both love the Marine Corps for the training and camaraderie he was a part of while also seeing realistically the tragedy and destruction our service men and women have been forced to be part of in Iraq. I am saddened that the veteran groups in town are not willing to join me in welcoming him, because I believe his voice could serve as a bridge to understanding. His reality is a threat to their vision of war as glorious service and humbling sacrifice. But it is a reality we all must know – for it is as much a part of our nation’s heritage now as the flags waving on porches this weekend. If we are to truly honor our veterans and celebrate our nation, we must look clearly at all the versions of the story. I hope that many of you will join me at a potluck welcome on Saturday evening (see below) to pause and consider how and what we celebrate. I can promise a provocative discussion with a remarkable veteran.

In celebration and honor,

Betsy