Batch's Blog
(click image to read news and views from Peace House OK's Director, Nathaniel Batchelder)
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Posted on October 2nd, 2013 by Peace House OKC To be held: Saturday, Nov. 9th, 10 am to 4 pm
Where: Civic Center Hall of Mirrors
Admission Free
Poster for download, printing and sharing – help spread the word!
Oklahoma City’s 28th annual Peace Festival will be held Saturday, Nov. 9th, from 10 am to 4 pm, in the Civic Center Music Hall’s “Hall of Mirrors” in downtown in Oklahoma City, 201 N. Walker. The event is free and open to the public.
“Visitors will find tables and booths of local groups and organizations active in social justice, human service, human rights, environmental sustainability, and peace,” said Nathaniel Batchelder, director of the Peace House. “The Peace Festival showcases the good efforts of private groups working in those areas,” he said.
Holiday shopping is a big draw for visitors. Fair trade and home-made goods at the tables will include organic coffee, pottery, crafts, carving and hand-made items from Africa. Local artists and craftspeople sell their art as well. Many groups offer books, calendars, t-shirts and bumper stickers furthering their mission. All groups display their brochures, newsletters, and membership opportunities in addition to sales items.
“Background music during the festival will feature local musicians Steve McLinn, Jahruba, and others,” Batchelder said. There will also be a harpist, a solo performance of the Middle Eastern stringed instrument called the oud, and dancing by members of the Aalim School.
A Children’s Activity Room, supervised by adults, is sponsored by the Peace Education Institute. There will be a story quilt, floor puzzles, games, poster-making and face-painting in the Children’s Room.
Other festival sponsors include the Social Justice Committee First Unitarian Church, Bob Lemon, Kay Adair, Summit Business Systems, Home Creations, Bright Lights of OKC, and the Oklahoma Observer.
More information is available by calling the Peace House in Oklahoma City at 405-524-5577.
Posted on October 1st, 2013 by Peace House OKCWe ask your assistance in getting this word out. Please forward, share, announce and promote freely. Flyers can be downloaded and printed for distribution (see links below). Thank you!
 The 28th annual Peace Festival will be held Saturday, Nov. 9th, from 10 am to 4 pm, in the Civic Center Music Hall’s “Hall of Mirrors” in downtown in Oklahoma City. The event is free and open to the public. Booths and tables of some 40 organizations working in social justice, human service and environmental issues display their information and sell crafts, calendars, and books. Select vendors offer home-made and fair trade items for sale, making the Peace Festival a holiday shopping opportunity for good causes. Entertainment and a Children’s Activity Room make the event an inspiring visit for families and friends of peace and local efforts making a difference in all our lives.
More information is available by calling the Peace House in Oklahoma City at 405-524-5577, or by going on the website www.PeaceHouseOK.org.
Posted on August 30th, 2013 by Peace House OKC Attend OKC rally against military intervention in SyriaWhen: Saturday, August 31; 2 – 4 pm (come for as long as you can during this period)
Where: Northwest Expressway and Penn.
This event has been organized by a grassroots coalition of concerned citizens. The Peace House, Oklahoma Center for Conscience, Americans Against the Next War and other local groups are all joining in support, and urge our friends to attend, and spread the word.
Since the weather is forecast to be blisteringly hot, we urge you to bring hats, sunscreen, water and other essentials to stay safe and as comfortable as possible. You may bring signs you have made that are on topic.Take action
Sign petitions (sign as many as you want, but if you only do one, do the first one)
Call White House: 202-456-1111 during normal business hours (Eastern Time). Update: Our friends with Tulsa Peace Fellowship suggest the following message:
“I oppose military intervention in Syria or sending any military hardware to rebels in Syria. I support massive efforts for a political solution and continued humanitarian aid.”
“The U.S. should not attack Syria. We are not the world’s policemen. If the rest of the World has decided not to step in, I think that shows something isn’t right.”
Spread the word
Twitter hashtag: #NoWarWithSyria
Posted on August 27th, 2013 by Nathaniel BatchelderLet us all tell the White House and Congress that NOW is the time to improve diplomatic relations between the US and Iran. Newly elected Iranian president Hassan Rouhani has pledged better relations with the west. He has appointed a pro-western, US-educated foreign minister, Javad Zarif. Additionally, Rouhani has expressed openness to negotiations on Iran’s nuclear programs, which are currently most likely all for peaceful electrical and medical needs according to the IAEA. Enhanced inspections could settle any doubts. (For contact info for the White House and/or Oklahoma Congress members, go to our Advocacy page.)
Considering Middle East tensions and violence right now, Iran could be a natural ally of the US and Israel toward stability in the region. Iran has the highest population of Jews in the Middle East outside of Israel.
It is counter-productive to US interests to marginalize Iran with extremist characterizations, military threats, and talk of more stringent sanctions. Iran needs oil revenues for food, medicine and other human needs, so there is an opening for dialogue beneficial to the interests of peace.
Improved relations with Iran could be a great legacy of our time. Let us all encourage and support the administration in pursuing improved relations with Iran in the best interests of the USA.
Posted on August 1st, 2013 by Peace House OKCIn this issue:
- GOP Governors Accept Obamacare p. 2
- Block US Intervention in Syria p. 5
- Guatemala’s Rios Montt Guilty! p. 6
- Global Warming Updates p. 8
- PKC Pride 2013 Report p. 9
- Low Taxes Hurt Entire Economy p. 14
- UN Poverty Goals Progress p. 15
Download PDF
Hard copies are also available in outlets throughout central Oklahoma, or by contacting the Peace House.
Posted on May 6th, 2013 by Peace House OKC The May/June and July/August issues of the Oklahoma Peace Strategy News will be combined for a special Summer 2013 issue to be published in early June.
We will soon be mailing out a special bulletin to our supporters that will include a survey about what you like and don’t like about OPS. Please look for it and be sure to promptly fill it out and mail back in. There will also be a link to complete the survey online if you prefer.
If you are not on the OPS mailing list, and want to be (or want to get the digital edition sent to your email inbox), please provide the relevant info on this contact form.
Please send your announcements and press releases accordingly. Thanks to all our friends and supporters for your understanding and assistance.
Posted on March 3rd, 2013 by Peace House OKCIn this issue:
- IRAN: The US Choice is Diplomacy or War P. 13
- The Wisdom of Peace P. 2
- Medicaid Expansion A Benefit to Oklahoma P. 4
- VAWA and other Alerts P. 5
- Sierra Club Climate Conversation P. 9
- Why We Resist the KXL Pipeline P. 10
- Cheyenne Peace Chief to be Honored P. 16
Hard copies are also available in outlets throughout central Oklahoma, or by contacting the Peace House.
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To be held: Saturday, Nov. 9th, 10 am to 4 pm
