Report from the West Coast
United for Peace and Justice Retreat
December 11-12, 2005
Montara Hostel - by Jackie Barshak

Attending from MPJC: Jackie Barshak, Craig Slater, Patricia Murray ;
representatives from American Friends Service Committee, Bay Area Democratic Socialists of America, Bay Area United Against War, Buddhist Peace Fellowship, Codepink, Global Exchange, Jewish Voice for Peace, Northern California Committee of Correspondence for Democracy and Socialism, Not in Our Name, Tikkun Community, War Resisters League West, Western States Legal Foundation.

The shared purpose and goal of the representatives from over 13 member organizations was to strategize on how to grow and unite our movement and create an action plan.

We were given a general overview of UPJ, that it was organized in October 2002 when a network came together in Washington D.C. to prevent the Iraq war. Starting out as working groups with no staff, within its first month of operation 200 groups joined as members. n December 10th of that year, there were over 250 actions marking Human Rights Day. In 2003 other issues were included in the organizational mandate, including immigrant rights, civil liberties, nuclear war, anti-globalization and Palestine/Israel. UPJ’s national office is in New York, with 7 staff, a national steering committee and a membership of over 800 groups. On February 19 there will be a national assembly where member groups can submit proposals and resolutions. Proposals are due by February 1.

The local UPJ was formed before the national organization, from a coalition that formed to stage the huge February 16, 2003 march and rally against the war in Iraq. Out of that coalition UPJ emerged, as did Not in our Name, United Against War. Following on their successes, UPJ organized more anti-war events, including marking the anniversaries of 9/11. The group operated with a steering committee, which is the only standing committee, the others are ad-hoc committees that come together to work on campaigns. The group meets at least once a month.

We worked in pairs to hear which values we shared in common. We felt that we needed a common language as a prerequisite to developing an action plan.
We debriefed on what people felt were the good things about UPJ and what things needed improvement.

Good things about UPJ
Large, accessible coalition
Lots of potential
So many members, so quickly
Still young
Has its own contingent
Works well with others
Permanent national staff
Ideological strength
Good links to religious community
Softer approaches-Attracts those who don’t like strident atmosphere of peace rallies

Needs Improvement
Undesirable long theoretical meetings
Influencing the media
Good at identifying what’s wrong but not about identifying solutions
Lack of cultural revolution to support political revolution
Create what we want instead of focusing on what we’re against
Focus on action
Needs a core group
Movement cannibalism
Linking/integrating issues
Optimizing network
Less process, more action

Common Values
Transformation of beliefs and values
Belief that we are the solution
Responsibility to resist the injustices
Justice is worth fighting for
About to evolve into a society without violence and need to push it
We have no choice but to try to make good with the gifts we were given
Belief in nonviolent action to change the world
Politics without anger is necessary.
Advancing the idea that critical thinking is a good thing

Strategic Planning
Anti-War in Iraq

What are the conditions that are keeping us in the war in Iraq?
No articulated exit strategy
What conditions can we change to end the occupation?
Reduce the amount of money that goes toward the war, i.e., tax resistance; corporate presence, media censorship and concentration

Strategy: Counter-Recruitment
Support CCCO in counseling pre-recruits, training speakers to do public education in high schools, college campuses, encourage student groups
Support resisters in and out of the military
Produce literature about the military’s claims to potential recruits
Marches, sit-ins, rallies at military recruitment offices
Work with AWOL-the youth group that sat in at San Francisco’s recruitment office.

Announcements
April 13, 2005-Caterpillar action
Eyes Wide Open Exhibit
Proposals for UPJ national assembly due 2/1/05