H.M.M. Newsletter, March 2000

7 Butty Place, Hamilton, Ontario. L8S 2R5

Clerk: Roberta McGregor

Sunday mornings 9.30 Discussion group 11.00 Meeting for Worship

Coming Events:

Wednesday, 15 March, Half Yearly Meeting Planning Committee at Jean Johnson's house. Please come and help us!

Monday, 20 March- Potluck with Elizabeth Duke General Secretary, Friends World Committee for Consultation.

Saturday March 25, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. -

THE BIG MEETINGHOUSE CLEANUP! Bring Brown Bag lunch, drinks will be supplied.

Sunday, March 26th, after Meeting, Baby Shower to welcome Kaslo and Benjamin .

Sunday April 2, Sunday April 9 - Swapfest.

Thursday 20 April - Friendly Potluck.. Come to get to know one another better!

Wednesday 17 May - Potluck to inaugurate the new song books and welcome back the Prestons.

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Diana Shepard will be attending the third annual Canadian Universities Human Rights Festival, sponsored by Amnesty International at Mount Allison University in Sackville, NB, March 10,11, and 12. It aims to provide an interactive atmosphere for discussing human rights. They want to celebrate successes and to discover new ways to fight the many human rights abuses that still take place in Canada and around the world today - so it has a positive spin. It will be a forum for discussion and networking between those familiar with human rights issues and those who wish to learn. Speakers will include Stephen Lewis, Ken Wiwa, David Morley, Francisco Rico-Martinez, and others with impressive credentials in human rights activism. Diana is a member of the Wilfrid Laurier chapter of Amnesty International and recently, with the other three Weston Scholars, organized and presented a symposium on Human Rights and Responsibilities at WLU - well-attended despite a big February snowstorm.

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ON THE SIXTH DAY

For five days God laboured, creating it all: light and dark, Sun and Moon, grass and trees tall, and creatures of many kinds, by day and by night. Then as He looked about, it all seemed so right.

On the morn of day six, 'bout man he had some doubts; he did foresee the smiles of love; yet the battle shouts wiped out smiles, and would not cease; wars raging everywhere, seldom at peace.

Yet He craved friendship from half-kindred souls, praises by worshippers as church bell tolls; there would come children in innocence sweet, lovers with songs of joy, morning would greet.

They would leave garbage piles in His green garden; creatures would suffer. So must He harden His heart on this day, just sit and refrain? It is so difficult love to restrain.

In alternate universe, restrain it He did. There nature is blooming, the lamb and the kid romp around blithely. Yet God is alone. Looking forlorn, He lifts clay and bone.

Hanna Newcombe

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Tea and Coffee Rota

Mar 12 Helen Brink 628-8307 Mar 19 Mona Callin 335-9865 Mar 26 Ian Graham 336-0163

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ANNOUNCING ANOTHER SWAP FEST! (OR FREE RECYCLE)

On Sunday April 2 and 9, before and after Meeting, Friends will have a chance to experience the truth of the saying: "One person's junk is another person's jewel." The study group and First Day School will vacate the Pendle Hill room on these days to allow Friends to deposit unwanted items before Meeting, and browse amongst the treasure afterwards, appropriating anything they can use. Anything left after the 9th will be donated to a thrift shop or shelter. (submitted by Helen Paulin)

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SHARING SOME THOUGHTS ON SUSTAINABILITY

The study and action group on Sustainability meets over a brown bag lunch on the first Thursday of every month in the Pendle Hill Room at the Meetinghouse. We share ideas on what we can do to tread lightly on the earth, from sharing tips on ways to Restore, Recycle, Reuse, to staying alert to the dangers to health from air and water pollution, pesticide use, etc. and how to make our concerns known. Practical projects we agreed to last meeting are:

1. To ask that one or two tips on the three R's be printed in each HMM newsletter, and that Friends be asked to contribute their tips to the editor.

2. That the Sustainability Committee arrange to procure non-toxic and non-wasteful cleaning supplies for the BIG CLEANING BEE, March 25th. That we have the aim of getting to know our political representatives over time as we seek to keep the issues of environmental protection constantly before them in clear but not in aggressively adversarial fashion...

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Tips for March : Reduce use of fossil fuels: by cutting down on use of car; by turning off lights often; by using appliances less often; by walking and using public transportation more often; by buying produce locally grown, not trucked or airborne hundreds of miles.

WHAT IS YONGE ST. HALF YEARLY MEETING?

It is a gathering twice a year of four Meetings in our area. They are: Hamilton Monthly Meeting, Toronto Monthly Meeting, Simcoe-Muskoka Monthly Meeting and Yonge St. Monthly Meeting (which is in Newmarket). This is your chance to experience the wider Quaker fellowship. Friends gather at Camp Neekaunis every spring, usually the first weekend in June, to take part in an adult program designed to stimulate and inspire, and to take care of the business of the HYM. The four Meetings take turns with the responsibilities of feeding everyone, planning the program, caring for the children, and registration and publicity. This spring our responsibility is the planning of the adult program. YSHYM also meets one Saturday in October, rotating around the four Meetings, and the host meeting is then responsible for planning the whole event. Here is a chance to meet Friends from other Meetings, to spend a spring weekend in a beautiful location on the shores of Georgian Bay, and to receive spiritual food for thought. (and the other food is great too!)

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Year 2000 Hamilton Monthly Meeting Directory

Mona Callin is in the process of preparing the new directory for this year. She asks that everyone check the directory on the bulletin board and verify that their address, phone number etc. are correct. If not, please notify her.

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VCR FOR THE MEETINGHOUSE?

It has been suggested that we purchase a VCR for the Meetinghouse, for use when we have a presentation, for First Day School use, for Young Friends Gatherings, etc. We already have a television. If you have strong feelings about this, please contact John Milton, 628-6654. A decision on this matter will be made at the next M4W4B.

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NOMINATING COMMITTEE

A third member is needed for Nominating Committee, to serve with Helen Brink and Denise Barron. Please contact Roberta McGregor with suggestions. The matter will be decided at next M4W4B.

CLOSE THE WAR SHOW Hamilton Ontario June 17-18, 2000

The Province-wide Homes Not Bombs network and Hamilton's Fathers Day Coalition for Peace are working to close the Hamilton International War Show, held every Father's Day weekend in June. We invite you to read this call and consider joining us for a large nonviolent "civil obedience action," and peaceful rally and celebration of peaceful alternatives beginning June 17 in Hamilton

The War Show (a.k.a. "Air Show") presents the planes that would launch World War Three in a fun filled family event: Nuclear Capable B52 Bombers, the cancer causing Depleted Uranium firing A10 thunderbolt II, and numerous other fighter planes are on display so spectators can get "up close and personal" with Armageddon.

"Just Plane Fun"? Not for the victims of these planes' weaponry: Civilians in Kosovo, Yugoslavia and Iraq who have had their families killed, their homes and highways blown up, their hospitals devastated would rightly look upon such a display in horror. At the War Show kids get to put on military helmets, have their faces painted camouflage green, and run through Kiddie Commando, as soldiers fire water pistols at them as they make their way through a military obstacle course. Kids barely old enough to say their names can play. No age limit. Next door to Kiddie Commando the Canadian military recruiters eye the young for future soldiers.

In a climate where calls for action on the national disaster of homelessness inexplicably result in a federal budget granting a $2 billion increase in the military budget and nothing for housing, the War Show stands as a glaring symbol of misplaced priorities

BUILD A CULTURE OF PEACE TODAY

Homes Not Bombs and the Father's Day Coalition for Peace are taking steps to Close the War Show with a non-violent resistance action and Festival of Life June 17-18, 2000. The year 2000 has been designated the International Year for the Culture of Peace by the United Nations. We need you to help develop a culture of peace in Hamilton and beyond. We are inviting activists from across Ontario and Quebec to come to Hamilton to help shut down the celebration of War and set up a Festival of Life. We are organizing buses to bring people to Hamilton on Friday June 16, 2000 to prepare for a large, vibrant demonstration and resistance on Saturday June 17. Groundwork leading to a large demonstration in June 2000 has been ongoing since June 1999. Hamilton Wentworth Regional Council and the Regional Grants committee have been approached to request that the $100,000 yearly grant to the War Show be canceled (it wasn't), and a letter writing campaign to have the War Show's charitable status revoked by Revenue Canada has just begun.

JUNE 17-18, 2000 GUIDELINES: Some guidelines have been established by Hamilton folks to give overall shape to the event, leaving lots of room for creative input from affinity groups and individuals coming to Hamilton from different geographic areas and backgrounds: .Non Violent, Celebratory, & Truthful-we must also remember what these planes do and remember their victims with "die-ins," by holding pictures of destruction and human misery, by citing international laws trampled by the war-makers, etc. Each community and affinity group is asked to begin thinking now about what creative ideas they wish to contribute to the resistance action and festival of life, and share these with us in advance of June. Local contacts in Hamilton are Hamilton Action for Social Change, representing the Fathers Day Coalition for Peace-reach us at hasc@tao.ca or phone (905) 627-2696 or (905) 528-5925. Our address is 1280 Main Street West, Box 19, Hamilton ON L8S 1C0. Regional Provincial contacts are through the Homes Not Bombs network.