Events
22nd. Annual Peace Awards Dinner.
The 22nd Annual Peace Awards Dinner was held on Sunday, October 17, 2010, at the Empire Room at the NYS Fairgrounds. The keynote speaker was Jonathan Schell, an author of 13 books, a distinguished fellow and lecturer at Yale College and the Peace and Disarmament Fellow at the Nation magazine. Peace Action had Jonathan Schell’s books for sale, and he was available to sign the books during the reception hour.
The Lifetime Peace Activist Award was awarded posthumously to Frank Woolever for his tireless advocacy of peace and social justice. The award was accepted by Meme Woolever and her daughter, Heidi Woolever Daly. Frank’s commitment to the cause of social justice was legendary and his gentle spirit, faith and sense of optimism encourage us all to continue to wage peace. Waging peace locally, nationally, and internationally Frank Woolever stands as an example for all of us.
Peace Awards were given to the Alliance of Communities Transforming Syracuse (ACTS) for Waging Peace through Social Justice; Binghamton Mayor Matthew Ryan for Waging Peace through Public Service; Ginny Donohue for Waging Peace through Higher Education; and Rose Viviano for Waging Peace through Art and Activism.
Reverend Craig Schaub of Plymouth Congregational Church, who is moving to Winston-Salem, NC, was an honored guest of Peace Action. He was recognized for his contributions and leadership in raising awareness about social justice issues in the Syracuse community.
The dinner was enjoyable evening to honor deserving individuals who, through their work, encourage each of us to continue to Wage Peace in order to create a more just and nuclear free world.
22nd. Annual Peace Awards Dinner Photo Slideshow:
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March to Hancock Air Base to protest the Reaper Drones.
On April 25, 2010 125 marchers took off from the Northern Lights Mall in Mattydale, NY on their way to Hancock Air Base to protest the Reaper Drones piloted from the base. Peace activists from across Upstate New York joined Peace Action of Central New York and the Syracuse Peace Council to voice our outrage at the killing of innocent people in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Pakistan by these killer drones.
Pilots sit in comfortable control rooms and act as judge, jury, and executioner raining down terror on the very people we are supposedly helping. Join the ongoing vigil outside the Airbase from 4:45pm until 5:30pm the second and fourth Tuesday of every month.
March to Hancock Air Base Photo Slideshow:
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21st. Annual Peace Awards Dinner.
The 21st Annual Peace Awards Dinner was held on Sunday, October 25, 2009, at the Empire Room at the NYS Fairgrounds. The keynote speaker was Chris Hedges, Pulitzer Prize winning journalist and author of eight books. Peace Action had Mr. Hedge’s books for sale, and he was available to sign the books during the reception hour.
Oren Lyons, was the recipient of the Lifetime Peace Activist Award. He is the Faith Keeper of Onondaga Nation and Chief, Onondaga National Council of Chiefs of the Six Nations of the Iroquois. Among the many meaningful accomplishments as a peace activist was his address before the United Nations.
Peace Awards were given to Joseph Heath, General Counsel for the Onondaga Nation; Helen Hudson, Co-founder Mothers Against Gun Violence; Mark Spadafore, SEIU 1199 Health Care Education Project; and Syracuse Area Middle East Dialog group (SAMED). Accepting the award for SAMED were Shirley DeHority, Ahmad El Hindi and Louis Kriesberg.
The dinner was well-attended and a good time was had by all. Peace Action is grateful to all who made the dinner such a success.
21st. Annual Peace Awards Dinner Photo Slideshow:
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Third Annual Peace Conference.
On a gorgeous spring day, when the temperature set a record for the warmest April 25th ever in Syracuse, Peace Action of Central New York held its third annual Peace Conference. Prior to the keynote address, an Activist Workshop brought together members of Citizens Against Radioactive Dumping (CARD) Andy Mager and Gary Michael plus Jean Kessner who covered the 1980’s movement when she was an investigative reporter for Chanel 9 News to discuss what is needed for any activist group to succeed when confronting challenges.
Also joining the group were our keynote speakers Linda and Paul Gunter of Beyond Nuclear. The CARD group provided the audience with remembrances of how they stopped the state from dumping radioactive waste in New York State. It was truly beneficial to hear these activists agree on what was necessary to lead a movement. Linda Gunter, who speaks fluent Italian, spoke about the little town of Scansano Jonico in the province of Basilicata where the government of Sylvio Berlusconi in 2003 attempted to place a nuclear waste disposal site.
The town and province noted for its agricultural and organic farming and pristine beaches confronted the government for 15 days as they surrounded the trucks and government employees until they retreated and capitulated. 100,00 showed up for the largest demonstration. Gary Michael talked about how the CARD group began in his house and communicating before email was strictly by phone. They did not want a dump in New York and they joined forces with groups throughout New York to force the state to cancel any plans for a nuclear waste site.
Linda and Paul Gunter delivered a moving and informative keynote address. Using a power point with pictures and quotes, they were able to conclusively demonstrate the folly of nuclear power and of course nuclear weapons. They exposed how the nuclear power plants caused, and still do, radiation sickness, which receives little media attention. Clusters of high incidents of leukemia and other serious illnesses surround not only the nuclear plants in this country but also in places like France whose plants supply a majority of the countries’ electricity. Serious mishaps occur all the time and another Chernobyl is waiting to happen.
Nuclear power is not green and is exorbitantly expensive and the industry wants taxpayers to subsidize it because the banks will not give them loans. It was truly one of the finest presentations we have had on the issues. Fortunately, Linda and Paul were also able to speak to students at OCC and SU the day prior to our conference. Visit Beyond Nuclear’s website but don’t forget to check out our website and our blog.
Third Annual Peace Conference Photo Slideshow:
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20th. Annual Peace Awards Dinner.
Peace Action of Central New York presented Peacemaker of the Year awards to four honorees at the 20th Annual Peace Action Awards Dinner at Pensabene’s Casa Grande in Syracuse, New York on Sunday, November 16, 2008. The honorees, Frida Berrigan, Jerry Berrigan, Bonnie Adams and Dr. Steven Blatt, are each working for peace in their own ways. Whether it is taking on the physical, psychological, and spiritual needs created by poverty, or the seemingly insurmountable task of reversing the nuclear weapons industrial complex, our honorees approach their work with faith and with the hope that a more peaceful world is attainable.
The theme of our 20th annual dinner celebration focused on Pathways to Peace. Two of our honorees, Dr. Steven Blatt and Bonnie Adams, R.N., have chosen paths that allow them to use their knowledge of health care to provide services for those in greatest need. Bonnie Adams, Coordinator of the Medical Missions to El Salvador Program, Episcopal Diocese of Central New York, organizes medical missions to El Salvador while Dr. Steven Blatt, Founder of the Family Advocacy Program, University Hospital Pediatric and Adolescent Center, focuses his efforts on the health care needs of low-income and foster children in Central New York.
Our other two honorees, Jerry and Frida Berrigan, have chosen paths of informed activism. Jerry has devoted his life to progressive causes, often on the front lines of protests against nuclear weapons, the wars in Vietnam and Iraq, and the School of the Americas. Dr. Jerome “Jerry” C. Berrigan was the recipient of Peace Action’s First Lifetime Peace Activist Award. His niece Frida Berrigan, an honoree, presented the dinner’s keynote speech, “Path to a Nuclear Free Future: The Urgent Need for US Leadership.” Frida Berrigan, a Senior Associate with New America’s Foundation’s Arms and Security Initiative, has chosen a path that integrates research and speaking skills with her activist commitment. All of our honorees recognize the challenges that we face, yet all have chosen paths that lead toward a vision of peace.
There was a literature table representing the affiliations of our honorees. Various items were for sale which included Syracuse Cultural Workers merchandise, our bandanas, and the new book, Peace Action: Past, Present and Future. Lawrence S. Wittner, Professor of History at the State University of New York/Albany and one of the editors of the book, signed copies for our guests.
The dinner was an enjoyable evening to honor deserving individuals who, through their work, make the world a more peaceable place to live and to celebrate our struggle to rid the planet of nuclear weapons.
Frida Berrigan's Keynote Speech
20th. Annual Peace Awards Dinner Photo Slideshow:
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19th. Annual Peace Awards Dinner.
Peace Action of Central New York presented Peacemaker of the Year awards to five central New York residents at the 19th Annual Peace Action Award Dinner in the Welch Allyn and Hiscock Barclay banquet rooms of the Rosamond Gifford Zoo on Sunday evening, November 11th, 2007
Our theme this year is Globalization for Social Justice. Too often when we think of globalization it involves either military
aggression or economic exploitation. Our honorees this year show through their tireless efforts that globalization can be used to promote social justice. They are: Caroline Kim who works for the Central New York Workers’ Rights Center, Dr. Robert
Laubach of ProLiteracy Worldwide, Rev. Craig Lindsey and Jack Howard, founders of the American Care for Sudan Foundation,
and Peter Sarver who established the Foundation for Hospices in Sub-Saharan Africa. Each, in his or her own way, is committed to creating a more just world.
There was a literature table representing the affiliations of our honorees. Various items were for sale which included Syracuse Cultural Workers merchandise, our bandanas, and the new book, Peace Action: Past, Present and Future.
The dinner was an enjoyable evening to honor deserving individuals who, through their work, make the world a more peaceable place to live and to celebrate our struggle to rid the planet of nuclear weapons.
19th. Annual Peace Awards Dinner Photo Slideshow:
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United for Peace and Justice Washington, DC March.
The United for Peace and Justice anti-war march on January 27, 2007 consisted of activists from all over the country converging on Washington DC for a march, rally and meetings with House and Senate members. Activists consisted of various groups against the Iraq war (including Peace Action), politicians, celebrities and concerned citizens.
Local Peace Action of Central New York members Chair Cecilia Resti and Bill Cross among others attended. State Peace Action members NYS Executive Director Melissa Van and NYS Steering Committee member Carol Husten were also present. State and local members attended meetings with Senator Clinton's and Senator Schumer's aides. Local members also had a meeting with Rep. James Walsh's aide. Overall is was an impressive display of solidarity against Bush's Troop Surge and the Iraq war.
Photos were taken by photographer Diane Greene Lent from United for Peace and Justice and Brooklyn Parents for Peace. All of her Washington DC photos can be seen at www.dianelent.com/27jan1.htm.
United for Peace and Justice Washington, DC March Photo Slideshow:
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25th. Anniversary Peace Awards Dinner (18th Annual).
Peace Action´s annual Peace Awards Dinner on Sunday, November 12, 2006 was another major event in our silver anniversary year. All three of the co-founders of West Point Grads Against the War were with us for the dinner. The honorees were Cynthia Banas, Lionel Logan, and the three co-founders. One of them, our own Dr. Bill Cross, delivered the keynote address, "Loyalty to Whom?" Joining him to receive their shared award was Joe Wojcik from Los Angeles and Jim Ryan, flying in from Istanbul, Turkey!
This was the first time in our history that honorees have come from the West Coast and from ASIA! It was also the first reunion of these three patriotic veterans since they founded their website www.westpointgradsagainstthewar.org. Attendees did not want to miss the opportunity to celebrate with them.
There was a cash bar, hors d´oeuvres, and bidding on the many fine gifts in our Silent Auction. We appreciate the additional funds donated, the items donated for the Silent Auction and the volunteers that helped make the dinner a success.
25th. Anniversary Peace Awards Dinner Photo Slideshow:
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