News and Events
MPT
updates on actions at home and abroad
David Lippman, Satirist
The David Lippman Detroit Tour America's most dangerous musical satirist PALESTINE: A multimedia performance Tuesday, August 8, 6:30 PM Southfield Library, 26300 Evergreen at Civis Center Drive Eyewitness song/sound/picture piece on Palestine/Israel:Star of Goliath, with discussion. Also announcing the formation of new Detroit Chapter of Jewish Voice for Peace FREE Presented by: Michigan Peace Team, Palestine Office, Friends of Sabeel...
Silent Art Auction, June 16th
Please join us for a silent auction on Friday, June 16th, while the summer peace team prepares to leave for Palestine/Israel. The fundraiser will be held at Scence Metrospace in East Lansing, from 6-9 PM. The silent auction will be for artwork; Palestinian olive oil will be on sale as well (for $15 dollars per 16.9 fl oz. bottle). Meet us there at 303 Abbott Road in East Lansing (across from Beggar's Banquet)....
NATIONAL DAY OF ACTION: CAT shareholder meeting in Chicago, June 14th
The Michigan Peace Team and Palestine Office Michigan urge you to join with the national campaign at the Catepillar Stockholders meeting to call for stopping CAT sales to Israel. In response to CAT's flagrant disregard for international humanitarian and human rights law, political and legal advocates have mounted a campaign to hold CAT accountable. On June 14th, activists nationwide will be either be protesting in their communities or in front of the Northern Trust Bank in Chicago, IL where the...
Life in Gaza: We Need Justice
"Hamas needs to be given a chance first. Instead, the world is punishing us all: no salaries, food, gas, medicine, and no money transferred from outside. I know some families who now eat just one meal a day, " says Fida Q, a 23 year old educator and activist from Rafah in the Gaza Strip. She has been a translator for MPT peace teams in Gaza and spoke in five Michigan cities this year about life in Gaza. Read more...
Olive Oil for Sale!
Dear Friends, We are once again selling Palestinian Olive Oil! Each purchase brings much needed income to Palestinian farmers who face harassment and violence as they tend to their trees and harvest their olives. Some of the olive trees harvested are over 2000 years old! Olive oil sales are the only annual source of income for many Palestinians, and yet Israel and Jordan refuse to accept the Palestinian olive oil. So we try to find a market for them...
Speaker from Rafah "Life in Gaza Today"
Fida is visiting from Rafah and will speak around Michigan about her life in Gaza, Palestine. Fida's family is one of the original tribes of Rafah. She is a translator for Michigan Peace Team when we work in Gaza. Fida is a Muslim women of deep faith and prayer. She is courageous and hope filled. Fida is a resident of Rafah in Gaza and a student of Languages at the Islamic University of Gaza. In January 2004, her families home...
Concert "The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace"
The Michigan premiere of "The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace" will be performed Sunday, May 21st at 4pm at the Fraser Performing Arts Center (34270 Garfield Road in Fraser) by the Metropolitan Detroit Chorale and Orchestra. The concert is a tribute to the victims of the Kosovo conflict. "The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace paints a powerful musical portrait of war and peace. (It) challenges our notion of warfar as heroic and exposes it as a brutal act...
Honoring Cesar Chavez
Cesar Chavez, farm labor organizer and civil rights leader, was a crusader for nonviolent action. Using boycotts, strikes, fasting, protests, and marches, he adhered strictly to nonviolent principles against the oppression of the growers, the state, and even the Teamsters. This year, MPT honors Cesar Chavez with a rally at the Michigan State Capitol on his birthday, March 31st at noon by talking about today's issues around immigration and justice. Please join us for excellent speakers, actions, music, and dancing...
Remembering Rachel Corrie
Michigan Peace Team is co-sponsoring three events with the national organization End the Occupation on March 14, 15, and 16....
Defiance & Liberation: The People's Power & the People's Rights"
The 4th Annual Peace & Justice Lecture at Michigan State University Â"Defiance and Liberation: The PeopleÂ's Power and the PeopleÂ's RightsÂ" JACK DUVALL President and Founding Director of the International Center on Non-Violent Conflict 7:30 pm, Wednesday, March 15 Room 118, Psychology Building. Michigan State University, East Lansing
Update from Bethlehem Delegation
December 30, 2005 Two delegates of the Michigan Peace Team are finishing up the week at the historic "Celebrating Nonviolent Resistance" conference. Organized by Nonviolence International and the Holy Land Trust, it includes hundreds of peacemakers from around the globe. U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan, former U.S. president Jimmy Carter, and South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu have sent letters and representatives to the conference. President Mahmoud Abbas of the Palestinian National Authority and Bethlehem mayor Dr. Batarseh are featured speakers....
Winter Delegation Arrives in Bethlehem
MPT sent two delegates to the "Celebrating Nonviolent Resistance" Conferece in Bethlehem. The team arrived safely last night. There was concern about whether or not the Israeli government would allow them in, as other conference participants have been denied entry to the conference, despite endorsement by UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, Archbishop and Nobel Peace prize winner Desmond Tutu, and former US president Jimmy Carter. South African, Australian, and Italian peace activists were denied entry into Israel to attend the...
Celebrating Nonviolent Resistance Conference
Michigan Peace Team is pleased to be attending and co-sponsoring the "Celebrating Nonviolent Resistance" Conference in Bethlehem from Dec 27-30, 2005. Organized by the Holy Land Trust and Nonviolence International, global activists and scholars will attend this historic international nonviolence conference *To bring together members of the global nonviolent community to discuss the past, present and future of nonviolence. * To learn first hand about nonviolent activism in Palestine. Featured speakers include Bernard LaFayette of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference,...
Peacemakers Abducted in Iraq
Our friends in the Christian Peacemakers Team have been working in Iraq since October 2002, through the invasion, and occupation. They helped break the story to the world about the torture of Iraqi prisoners in Abu Ghraib; they've advocated on behalf of detainees; they've published eye witness accounts of the war from Baghdad to Fallujah. Last week, four of their team members were abducted by the Swords of Righteousness Brigade who accuse them of being spies. The Arab and Muslim...
Olive Oil for Sale!
We are once again selling Palestinian Olive Oil! Each purchase brings much needed income to Palestinian farmers who face harrassment and violence as they tend to their trees and harvest their olives. Proceeds also benefit the Michigan Peace Team in our work to support the nonviolent campaign led by Palestinians to achieve liberation and restoration. Last fall, our team accompanied farmers at harvest time, and we celebrate the growing number of Israelis who joined us in this campaign. We handpicked...
Nonviolent Peaceforce International Meeting
Michigan Peace Team is a member organization of the International Nonviolent Peaceforce, a trained civilian peaceforce. MPT is one of the North American representatives to the International Governing Council, which recently met in Guatemala. Here is the short report from the meeting....
Gandhi's Legacy Celebration
Celebrate Gandhi's 135th birthday in Lansing at the Hannah Community Center, Sunday, October 2nd at 2:30pm. Speakers will reflect on Gandhi's legacy and his principles in action today. A short play and photo exhibit about Gandhi will accompany a vegetarian dinner. Speakers include Peter Dougherty and Sayrah Namaste of Michigan Peace Team, and many others. Suggested donation is $20 for the dinner. Please rsvp by Sept. 30th to: 337-7888. Co-sponsored by Vaishnava Center for Enlightment, Cristo Rey Community Center, Michigan...
Elias Chacour Visits
Fr. Elias Chacour, three time Nobel Peace prize nominee, will be speaking about the Palestine-Israel conflict in September in Kalamazoo, Grand Rapids, and Detroit. He is the author of "Blood Brothers" and "We Belong to the Land". For a listing of his talks, please click here.
MPT Featured in Women's Exhibit
MPT is honored to be included in the Michigan Women's Historical Center and Hall of Fame exhibit this month. The exhibit features work that women have done from "A-Z". The exhibit organizers designated the letter "P" for peacemaker, and feature the work of MPT members. The Michigan Women's Historical Center and Hall of Fame is located in Lansing at 213 W. Main Street, next to the Cooley Gardens. The Center is a museum, historic site, and women's art gallery with...
MPT Sends Women's Delegation to Jerusalem
Three women from Michigan Peace Team joined 700 feminist peacemakers from 30 countries from Aug 12-16th in Jerusalem to strategize about ending the conflict. The week was tense in Jerusalem as the illegal settlements in Gaza were withdrawn, and many settlers staged demonstrations in Jerusalem. Themed "We Refuse to Be Enemise", the conference was an outstanding mix of panels, workshops, and actions. It was organized by Israeli and Palestinian women who have been meeting for 13 years. Reports from the...
Through My Eyes: An Iraqi Feminist Speaks June 24
Iraqi peacemaker Naba Saleem Hamid from Baghdad visits Michigan to talk about what life is like for women living through the war as a part of a national tour. The event is a rare opportunity for Americans to hear first hand accounts from an Iraqi working for peace in her ravaged country. Click here for more info.
Rebuilding Alliance June 20-22
Come hear what Israelis and Palestinians are doing together to promote a just peace! The Rebuilding Alliance, made up of the Israeli Committee Against Home Demolitions, Rabbis for Human Rights, Gush Shalom and many others, rebuilds homes and schools that have been demolished by the Israeli Defense Forces. Craig and Cindy Corrie, the parents of Rachel Corrie, will speak with the Nasrallah family, whose home was demolished while Rachel Corrie tried to prevent it. Rachel was killed by the IDF...
The Oil Factor: Behind the War on Terror
Free Will Productions presents an important film about a building crisis...
Women on the Frontlines film premier
May 27: Inspiring film premier of ten women peacemakers around the world
Summer Team Event
Join us for a free dinner and talk by members of the upcoming MPT summer team. Friday, May 26 5pm Silent Auction with local pottery and art 6pm Dinner Grand Ledge, St. Michael's Church 345 Edwards Sponsored by the Knights of Columbus, Just Faith, Peace and Social Justice Committee of St. Michael's, and T. Miller Renew Group. Donations gratefully accepted to help get the summer peace team to Gaza....
"Peace For the Promised Land" Fundraiser
Help members of MPT's summer team get to Gaza by attending this fundraiser on April 9, 2005 in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Dinner, music and speakers at St. Mary Magdalen Church from 6:30-10:30pm. Tickets are $25. All proceeds benefit MPT's summer team in Palestine/Israel....
Palestine... and all that Jazz
Support our Spring Peace Team by enjoying dinner, wine, and jazz! Music by Bill Meyer with Jazz Friends featuring Victor Ghannam on the oud. Friday, March 25, 2005 at 6pm Red Apple Gallery (227 Iron St, Detroit) Cost is $25 RSVP by calling: 313-567-0712 or by your ticket at the door....
Palestinian Land Defense Expert in Michigan
Michigan Peace Team is hosting a reception for Abdel Hadi Hantash, a Palestinian cartographer and chair of the Land Defense Committee in Hebron. Wednesday, March 30th at 7pm home of the Bollen family at 907 Northgate Dr in East Lansing The Land Defense Committee monitors Israeli settlement expansions and tries to nonviolently resist land confiscation. Committed to nonviolence, Mr. Hantash works alongside Israeli peace organizations such as Peace Now, Rabbis for Human Rights, Bt'Selem, Israeli Committee Against Home Demolitions, and...
End the War, Rebuild Our Communities
MARCH 19, 2005 SECOND ANNIVERSARY OF THE WAR IN IRAQ RECOMMIT TO END THE VIOLENCE Join Michigan Peace Team, the Greater Lansing Network Against War and Injustice, Peace Education Center, MSU Students for Peace & Justice, and the LCC People for Positive Social Change at the state Capitol on the second anniversary of the war in Iraq (March 19, 2005). Adam Shapiro, an internationally known peace activist, will speak about his work in Iraq and the documentary film he made...
MPT in Minnesota
MPT SPEAKING TOUR IN MINNESOTA: WHAT HOPE FOR PEACE IN PALESTINE/ISRAEL? Wednesday, February 23 at 5:30pm "Non-violence in Gaza" talk by Fr. Peter Dougherty, MPT Koch Commons Fireside Room University of St. Thomas, St. Paul Campus (go to www.stthomas.edu and click on "Campus Maps" for directions) Friday, February 25, 2005, 1:30-2:40pm "The Women of Gaza: Nurturing Life in a Culture of Death" talk by Sr. Mary Ann Ford, MPT member followed by informal discussion in Luann Dummer Women's Center, OÂ'Shaughnessy...
On Deaf Ears: Films from Occupied Palestine
Michigan Peace Team is partnering with Michigan State University to present a film series about life in the occupied territories of Palestine. The films will be shown at 7:30pm each week at Wells Hall. See dates and films below: Wed Feb. 16 "Promises" Wed Feb 23 "Children of Fire" Tues March 15 "Peace, Propaganda, and the Promised Land" (note: this film is being repeated from last year's series due to popular demand) Wed Mar 23 "Hanan Ashrawi: A Woman of...
War Tax Resistance Workshop
Are you tired of seeing your tax dollars used to fuel violence worldwide? Join us as we learn the different ways to stop our taxes from being used for warfare. Keynote speaker David Basset of the Peace Tax Fund will explain five ways to be a war tax resister, and the consequences of each. March 24, 2005 at 7pm at Magdalena's Tea House (2004 E. Michigan Ave) in Lansing. Suggested donation $5....
Nonviolence Training to Honor Civil Rights Activists
"Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that. Hate multiplies hate, violence multiplies violence...in a descending spiral of destruction....The chain reaction of evil -- hate begetting hate, wars producing more wars -- must be broken, or we shall be plunged into the dark abyss of annihilation. " --Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Join us in learning the tactics of nonviolence that made the civil rights movement so...
Peace On Earth...It's Up To Us: In Palestine, Iraq, and Sudan
On Dec. 28, 2004, Michigan Peace Team hosted an event in Livionia called "Peace On Earth.. It's Up to Us: In Palestine, Iraq and Sudan". The keynote speakers were Huwaida Arraf, the cofounder of the International Solidiarity Movement (Palestinian led nonviolent movement) and Adam Shapiro, who released a documentary film about life in Iraq under the occupation, and recently returned from the Darfur region of Sudan. Fr. Peter Dougherty and Sr. Liz Walters of Michigan Peace Team also spoke about...
ISM Rafah: Solidarity Under Occupation
ISM Rafah, Solidarity Under Occupation tells the story of a small band of determined peace activists in a town in the southernmost end of the Gaza strip. These activists form one small part of a growing movement called the International Solidarity Movement (ISM). This Palestinian led movement calls internationals to come to Occupied Palestine and join Palestinians in nonviolent resistance to the Israeli Occupation. Two young peace activists paid the ultimate price for answering that call. On March 16, 2003,...
From Rafah, Palestine
Report compiled by Mike McCurdy on 2/11/04 for consideration by the International Criminal Court. My name is Mike McCurdy. I am a citizen of the United States of America. I swear that my account as written below is truthful and accurate. I was in Rafah, Palestine for 5 weeks, 8/1/03-9/10/03. During my time in Rafah I stayed the majority of my nights with families living in close proximity to Israel’s wall that is being built dividing Rafah Egypt from...
