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After introducing the
audience to
the broad PSR national agenda, related issues of local importance were
highlighted. Representatives from our local physician community,
our government, and other socially committed groups discussed local
initiatives confronting violence and environmental degradation.
Informational tables and materials were also be available.
Suggested Registration Fee* (included lunch): Health Professional, $50 (included CME credits) General Public, $15 Student, $10 *Note: Registration Fees suggested, not required. All are welcome. Registration fees are suggested as donations to support this event and the formation of the newly reactivated Iowa Chapter of Physicians for Social Responsibility, a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization. Purpose and Intended Audience To reactivate a local chapter of PSR by informing local physicians, nurses, other health care professionals, and interested members of the public about PSR's work to advance health and ensure global survival through nuclear disarmament, violence prevention, and the promotion of environmental health. ( back
to top )
A series of lectures and films in 2004 that investigate the medical and legal repercussions of American intervention in Iraq. Get Event Flyer in Word. Sponsored by University
of Iowa Carver College of Medicine
Student Physicians for Social Responsibility *Unless otherwise specified, all events will take place at 12:30 PM in Room 2117 of the Medical Education and Research Facility (MERF), located off Newton Road on the UI Health Sciences Campus, next to the Eckstein Medical Research Building. Tuesday, March 25th:
Burns Weston, JSD (Bessie Dutton Murray Distinguished Professor of
International Law Emeritus and Director of the UI Center for Human
Rights), will lecture and lead discussion on the American invasion of
Iraq and
its implications for international law. Professor Weston has been
the recipient of numerous awards and honors and is internationally
recognized as an authority on international law and human rights.The American Invasion of Iraq: A Violation of International Law Wednesday, March 26th:
Unexplained Illnesses in Gulf War Veterans
and Implications for Currently Active Troops
Brad Doebbling, MD (Professor of Internal Medicine and Epidemiology in the Colleges of Medicine and Public Health), Valerie Forman, PhD (Assistant Research Scientist at the UI College of Medicine), and others (TBA) will speak and lead discussion on the continuing investigation of unexplained illnesses in Gulf War veterans (commonly known as “Gulf War Syndrome”) and its application to the present war. Dr. Doebbling was the Co-Principal Investigator of the landmark CDC-funded Iowa Gulf War Study and is Principal Investigator of an ongoing 6-year DoD-funded Case Validation Study. Thursday,
March 27th:
Laurence Fuortes, MD (Professor, UI College of Public Health), will
lead a discussion on the public health consequences of the American
invasion of Iraq and the aid response from the international
community. Public Health in Iraq: Consequences of an American Invasion Wednesday,
April 2nd, 12:30 PM, MERF Rm 1117:
In this award-winning film, journalist and filmmaker John Pilger
investigates the impact of the first Gulf War and subsequent UN-imposed
economic sanctions on the Iraqi people. “Paying the Price: Killing the Children of Iraq”, a film by John Pilger The local chapter of Student Physicians for Social Responsibility (SPSR) consists of a group of UI Carver College of Medicine students dedicated to the realization of the following goals: 1) Elimination of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction; 2) Achievement of a sustainable environment; 3) Reduction of violence and its causes; and 4) Promotion of peace and social justice. ( back to top )
It is a weekend of IPSR programming with Ira Shorr, national PSR head of Nuclear/Security program and Jess Trusmee*. The Conference includes 3 Events:
1. Reception and PSR Fundraiser: Relax with friends, coffee, dessert, and Jess Trussmee*.
*
Ira Shorr’s alter ego, Jess Trusmee, an ultra
compassionate, ultra
conservative from an undisclosed (for security reasons) southern state.
Speakers' Bios
Ira Shorr.
National Field Director of Physicians for Social Responsibility (PSR)
has over 20 years of experience working on nuclear weapons and foreign
policy issues at both the local and national level. His early
career includes leading statewide efforts in Florida for a Nuclear
Weapons Freeze in the 1980s. Then he worked as a national field
organizer for SANE and Program Director for Peace Action (the nations
largest peace and justice organization) from 1986-1994 in Washington
DC, where he developed campaigns, wrote and spoke extensively on
foreign policy issues and pioneered a nationwide campaign on military
spending and human needs. From 1994-96 he worked as Senior
Producer of America's Defense Monitor, the Center For Defense
Information's weekly PBS documentary program. More recently he
became founding Director of Back From the Brink, a coalition of 40
national arms control organizations working to take nuclear weapons off
hair-trigger
alert.
James Fleming MD. Psychiatrist, member PSR and the Wilderness Medical Society from Libertyville, Iowa, Dr. Fleming is also a local Sierra Club organizer. He is actively involved in supporting and promoting wilderness preservation programs locally and nationally. Jeremy Brigham D.Min, PhD. With advanced degrees in both geography and divinity studies, and working for Iowans for the Prevention of Gun Violence, Dr. Brigham has most recently become the principle organizer and leader in the Iowa Program for Suicide Prevention. Formed in June of 2002, the Iowa Suicide Prevention Strategy Steering Committee is a group of more than 50 professionals, researchers, and activists who have come together to reduce the rate of suicide in Iowa. Main Goal of the Conference
To invigorate the local chapter of PSR by informing local physicians,
nurses, other health care professionals, and interested members of the
public about PSR's work to advance healthier programs of global
security that protect human health from the threats of nuclear war and
other weapons of mass destruction, global environmental degradation,
and the epidemic of gun violence in our society.( back to top )
( back to top ) Come one, come all to the bigger and better than ever Coralville 4th of July Parade! (Bigger and better because we'll be in it). We'll gather at 9:00 AM on the 4th in (I believe) the Geico parking area off the West end of the Coralville strip. Please join your like minded friends, relatives, and colleagues as a part of the parade entry for the Peoples Coalition for Social, Political, and Environmental Responsibility. In the parade's prevailing family oriented festive mood we will proclaim Freedom of Speech, and Democratic Dissent, while pursuing liberty and justice for all. The entry for the Peoples Coalition will reclaim the rhetoric that is so flagrantly abused by the radical right currently running this country. Our operative word is "freedom." We will be dressed in patriotic Red, White and Blue. We have already made lots of lovely posters using the word freedom and stressing our common interests: Freedom from War; Freedom from Hunger; Freedom to Breathe Clean Air; etc. etc. They're all done up in Red, White, and Blue with holiday appropriate decorations. You're welcome to make more along these lines. Our entry will showcase a Hybrid car, a Honda Insight, for "Freedom from Foreign Oil," or, "Freedom from Wars for Foreign Oil!". We'll have a large banner to introduce us to the assembled thousands. The Yahoo Drummers will be keeping us all in step; they promise to bring rhythm instruments to share. PSR will be using the event to kick-off our SMART Security Platform with Smartie Candies for the kids and an attached quarter sheet message for their parents about S.M.A.R.T. Other organizations in the coalition are encouraged to spread their messages through buttons, bumper stickers, message laden balloons, etc. I have earth flags and rainbow colored peace flags from Europe to share (first come, first served). Together we can make the struggle for social responsibility fun, while reinvigorating our democratic values. Please join us. Its a lovely, leisurely 2 mile walk while you wave to friends, shake hands, and engage the families lined up all along the route. When I know the exact meeting place I will be sending out that information. In the meanwhile, get going on those buttons, balloons, and bumper stickers. Clean out the kids old red wagons, polish up the bike handles, spiff up the back packs to carry your kids, and make plans to join us. ( back to top )
Iowa PSR joined national and international experts, activists and speakers in Omaha, Nebraska from August 1-3, 2003, to say NO to new weapons of mass destruction. There were teach-ins, a festival, concerts, and a rally and march to Speak Out at STRATCOM! (STRATCOM is the US military Strategic Command, located at Offutt Air Force Base, outside Omaha, NE. It is the location from which US nuclear capabilities are targeted and launched; this includes land, air, sea, and now even space based nuclear weapons) The focus of the event was to:
( back to top )
Iowa Issues Caucuses
(click to view the full Issues Caucuses page) Following is a brief summary of the process. Why/What is an Iowa Issues Caucus? The first ever, Iowa Issues Caucus on Security to be held across the state through the last week of October will be an amalgam of the official Iowa caucuses, a peace fair, and a town hall meeting. Its purpose is to help empower and give voice to ordinary people on important issues related to security. People will be asked about their concerns, and provided information and time to talk about pressing issues with friends and neighbors and interested organizations well before the January caucuses.
Background:
Iowa holds its presidential caucuses in January of 2004. The Iowa caucus format is unique. However, like primaries all across the U.S., Iowans are asked to choose from among candidates and the candidate’s policy priorities. Unfortunately, public debates and candidate forums too often end up focusing on a small group of issues, some relatively irrelevant to many citizens.
We all realize we are a powerful nation, but current national security policies no longer represent nor serve our common wisdom, values or goals. Through the proposed non-partisan, Issues Caucus mechanism, Iowans are invited to take a more active role in the electoral process discussing issues independent of the candidates. The issues caucus will put complex security issues on the radar screen and help get candidates on track with concerns of the general public.
People attending the Issues Caucus sites will be invited to respond to a ten question Issues Ballot, instead of a candidate ballot. But they will not be asked to just come and fill out this ballot and leave. Rather, they will be encouraged to engage in dialogue with other concerned citizens and become more empowered in the political process. The caucus sites will provide the information and resources needed to better utilize the opportunity provided by the official Iowa state caucuses.
Issues Caucus sites will provide visitors with the Issues Ballot, and ideally, host many groups and informational tables. Each Issues Caucus site will host one or more individuals to help with voter registration forms, provide information on how to participate in the official caucuses, and furnish advice on how to compose and propose resolutions at the caucus. Involved organizations are encouraged to provide participants with sample resolutions for use at the January Caucuses.
Local groups are encouraged to chat with the general public about issues highlighted in the ballot from their perspectives. Organizations like Women for Peace, Women's International League for Peace and Freedom, the UNA, Sierra Club, I-CAN, representatives from the Ecumenical Ministries of Iowa, the Friends, Veterans, and other groups available in the area are all invited to participate in the Issues Caucuses.
The Ballot:
Everyone who attends an issues caucus will be given a 10 question Issues Ballot to fill out. The issues ballot highlights problems about which we hear people expressing concerns but which seem to receive scant serious attention during candidate forums. The ballot asks people to express their concerns and priorities regarding military spending, domestic spending priorities, environmental and energy policies, and support for international multilateral efforts. A fact sheet will be available for each of the Ballot questions. The Issues Caucuses are open to everyone. No matter WHICH candidate a person supports, we want people to get out to their caucus on January 19th and make a difference! The Issues Caucus will help make better informed and more effective voters. PSR will analyze and publicize the results after these special caucuses, and most importantly, share them with each of the candidates.
The Results: download in PDF format ( back to top )
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