Event preview

A summit for peace and justice

NUVO Staff

Second Annual Midwest Peace and Justice Summit
April 7-9
IUPUI campus, Informatics & Communication Building, 535 N. Michigan St.

The organizers of the 2006 Midwest Peace and Justice Summit hope to expand on last spring’s event when more than 400 participants attended a series of workshops, lectures, art exhibits, cultural performances and public demonstrations on the need to end the United States occupation of Iraq as well as to promote nonviolent conflict resolution and social, economic and environmental justice.

Last year more than 20 colleges and universities as well as numerous other organizations participated in the summit. The hope this year is to broaden participation throughout the state and the entire Midwest. The 2006 summit will strive to bring together students, community activists and concerned citizens to share ideas and work cooperatively for positive social and political change. A special feature of this summit will be an advocacy fair where non-profit advocacy organizations can recruit interns and volunteers as well as educate the public about their programs.

The event will begin with two programs on Friday, April 7: “The Power of Non-Violence” and “IRAQ 2006: Ending the U.S. Occupation.” An additional 45 other educational/activism sessions will be offered throughout the weekend, as well as performances by singers/songwriters; Anne Feeney and Dave Lippman will perform Saturday evening.

The Plowshares Keynote Address by Col. Ann Wright will begin at 5:15 p.m. on Saturday afternoon. Wright resigned from the U.S. Foreign Service on March 19, 2003, while serving as deputy chief of mission at the U.S. Embassy in Mongolia. She resigned due to her disagreement with the Bush Administration’s decision to go to war in Iraq without the authorization of the U.N. Security Council, the lack of effort in resolving the Israel-Palestinian situation, the lack of policy on North Korea and unnecessary curtailment of civil liberties in the United States.

To view the full schedule, registration and other information regarding the Midwest Peace and Justice Summit visit www.mpjs.org or contact Jack McKivigan, jmckivig@iupui.edu or 317-274-5860.

Sponsored by Student Advocates for Global Equality (IUPUI), Indiana Peace & Justice Network, the Indianapolis Peace & Justice Center, IUPUI Center for Service and Learning, the IUPUI Campus & Community Life, as well as many other cooperating educational, religious and community groups. www.iupui.edu/~sage4.