From: To: [various] Subject: [BAN-Announce] Direct Action in Opposition to War - Meeting 1.4.02!!! Date: Tuesday, December 31, 2002 3:55 PM ***PLEASE FORWARD*** NONVIOLENT DIRECT ACTION MEETING!!! •WHAT: Meeting to discuss utilizing nonviolent direct action to oppose war with Iraq •WHEN: Saturday, January 4th, 2pm-5pm •WHERE: The Statler Towers, Buffalo Room (the Statler Towers is on Niagara Circle in downtown Buffalo). As our nation teeters on the edge of war with Iraq, many US citizens have declared that this impending war will not be fought in their name. Many have gone as far as to follow in the footsteps of Gandhi, opposing the Bush Administration’s war machine with nonviolent direct action. The level of opposition to war with Iraq that Buffalonians have expressed is magnificent. Many individuals have expressed a desire to work with others to stop this war before it starts, utilizing nonviolent direct action wherever possible. This meeting will be an opportunity for us to discuss the issue of war with Iraq and how Buffalonians can best utilize nonviolent direct action to oppose the war. AFFINITY GROUPS??? In recent peace and global justice nonviolent direct actions, what is known as the affinity group organizing model has been used very effectively. The affinity group (AG) has also been the model recent nonviolence trainings held in Buffalo have focused on. We encourage people to form AGs with others before this meeting (see information below), but totally understand if people are unable to do so. Not being a part of an AG before this meeting will not negatively affect the experience, but having some established AGs will make the meeting go smoother. WHAT IS AN AFFINITY GROUP? AGs were originally developed as a group model in the mid-20th century. The group typically consists of 5-15 individuals who’ve come together for a common purpose. When organizing towards a nonviolent direct action, many times individuals will carefully construct their AG out of individuals they know and trust so as to maintain a level of comfort and security in the group; although other times AGs have been totally open to anyone who wishes to join them. HOW DO YOU FORM AN AFFINITY GROUP? Find some friends and/or family members who, like yourself, are concerned about the possibility of war with Iraq and who are willing to make a commitment to nonviolent direct action. Get everyone together and start some discussion about forming a group – if everyone’s down with the cause, it looks like you have yourself an AG! === IMC-BUFFALO is a mailing list for announcements of events and actions of interest to people in the Western New York area. Please visit our webpages at http://www.buffaloimc.org and http://www.buffaloactivist.net For more information. _______________________________________________ Imc-buffalo mailing list Imc-buffalo@lists.indymedia.org http://lists.indymedia.org/mailman/listinfo/imc-buffalo