In late 2001, pResident Bush vowed -- right there in the corporate media -- that 2002 would be "a war year?. The Commander-in-Thief does not speak for everyone, however. As 2002 starts, the peace movement is in full swing around the world, across the country, and here in Oregon.

The Portland Peaceful Response Coalition will continue to hold weekly rallies every Friday at 5:00 p.m. in Pioneer Courthouse Square. This Friday, they are encouraging people to "speak out against the Department of Justice's dragnet" which is targeting "5000-6000 Middle Eastern men that may have overstayed their visas" and in protest to Senator Gordon Smith's ignorant accusations of PSU. From the Square, people will be marching to the INS building at SW Broadway and Hoyt Street. [ Details ]

Also in Pioneer Square, Buddhas Not Bombs have been meditating publicly every Friday at 4:30 p.m., to show their opposition to the "war", despite being hassled by the private security there. How is this meditation tactic being perceived by the public? Read interviews with people who were there last Friday as well as with Enji who has organized the group.

In Eugene, the Justice Not War Coalition will resume Friday rallies at 4:00 p.m. at the Federal Building at Seventh and Pearl. This particular Friday the Students for Peace will have a "Superhero Costume March to Stop the War". People will be meeting at 3:30 p.m. at the EMU Courtyard to march to the Federal Building. Who's a superhero? Organizers say: "this means you!" Next Friday, the 18th, there will be a showing at the University of "The Good War and Those Who Refused to Fight it", which is about conscientious objectors during World War II, some of who will be speaking on a panel afterwards. The panel will be followed by a film on Afghanistan from Human Rights Watch. [ Details on all these events ]

Also in Eugene, the Wellspring Friends School will be holding a Peace and Justice festival on Saturday, January 12, from 11:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. The event, which is intended "to promote understanding and seek alternatives to violence and war", will feature music, story telling, war-tax resistance infromation, dance, and speakers from the religious and Islamic communities. [ Full details ]

Mark February 2 in your calendar for Peace Festival Two, a statewide peace event being planned by a wide variety of activist, labor, spiritual, ethnic, educational, and environmental groups. Attendance is hoped to be high. You can download a poster for the event here.

Check the portland indymedia calendar for more events, and for updates on these.

Not everyone in Oregon agrees that seeking peace is the best response to war, though. One anarchist view, for example, posits that "to demand peace within the civilized order of the world would be analogous to asking a bird to fly without wings." [ Read more ]

And, last but not least, if you attend any of these events, tell your story here on portland indymedia. Post your stories and pictures to the open publishing newswire for everyone to see! Don't hate the media - become the media!