K-State celebrating a season for nonviolence with films, activities centered on achieving peace and justice

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Source: Susan Allen, 785-532-6444, slallen@k-state.edu
News release prepared by: Erinn Barcomb-Peterson, 785-532-6415, ebarcomb@k-state.edu

Tuesday, January 23, 2007

K-STATE CELEBRATING A SEASON FOR NONVIOLENCE WITH FILMS, ACTIVITIES CENTERED ON ACHIEVING PEACE AND JUSTICE

MANHATTAN -- Camping out on the tallgrass prairie, walking in a St. Patrick's Day parade and provocative films about social issues like fair trade are among the ways the Season for Nonviolence will be observed at Kansas State University.

The Season for Nonviolence is an international observance of the 64 days between Jan. 30 and April 4, marking the time between the anniversaries of the assassinations of peacemakers Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr. The season was created in 1998 to introduce people to the practice of active nonviolence. In 2000, K-State's Campaign for Nonviolence invited a founder of the first Season for Nonviolence to the university to help get a local observance under way.

"We are now in our seventh year and have many nonviolence-related events planned for this year's season," said Susan Allen, director of K-State's Women's Center and one of the founders of the local Campaign for Nonviolence.

The season is known most widely by the "64 Ways to Practice Nonviolence," with ideas ranging from simplifying your life or committing to social action, to simply letting someone know that he or she is not alone. The 64 ways are listed on posters that are available through the K-State Women's Center by calling 785-532-6444 or online at http://www.k-state.edu/nonviolence/

"Naturally there are many more than 64 tactics, tools and strategies for practicing nonviolence, but the poster is a helpful tool for making nonviolence concepts more concrete," Allen said.

This year, K-State faculty members Cia Verschelden, director of the assessment office, and Torry Dickinson, associate professor of women's studies, are teaching introductory and applied nonviolence studies courses on campus. The Campaign for Nonviolence at K-State also has begun a concerted effort to bring more nonviolence projects into the community and state, including assisting Manhattan High School in starting a SafeZone program.

"Conflict is inevitable; how we deal with it is a choice," said Allen, who also is working to establish a nonviolence studies program at K-State. "An underlying aim of nonviolence is to encourage human beings to change our individual and collective minds about how we deal with the inevitable conflict in our lives.

"One way to do this is to take into account a more realistic range of response options than 'fight or flight.' The global nonviolence axiom, 'If you want peace, work for justice,' translates locally to 'If we want safe and healthy communities, we have to work for fairness at all levels.' The goal of K–State's Campaign for Nonviolence is to build a safe, equitable community and better balanced relationships at all levels: within ourselves, in our personal relationships, locally and globally," she said.

All activities in the Season for Nonviolence are free and open to the public. Events include:

* Thursday, Jan. 25 -- Introductory SafeZone training, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., location to be announced. Registration is at 11 a.m. Campus "safe zones" are where individuals affected by homophobia, hateful acts and sexual violence can safely go for support and assistance. Another training session will be 5:15-6:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 9. Register online at http://www.k-state.edu/womenscenter/SafeZone.htm

* Thursday, Feb. 1 -- "Community Bridge," 5-6 p.m. on KSDB-FM 91.9. The radio show is devoted to the history and meaning of nonviolence.

* Tuesday, Feb. 6 --"Iraq for Sale: The War Profiteers," 7 p.m., Big 12 Room, K-State Student Union. The film takes a look inside the lives of victims of profiteering in the reconstruction of Iraq.

* Tuesday, Feb. 6 -- "An Inconvenient Truth," 7 p.m., Little Theater, Union. The film examines global climate change and its repercussions. Also shown at 6:30 p.m. at the Manhattan Public Library, 629 Poyntz Ave., Wednesday, Feb. 7, and Tuesday, Feb. 13, and again at 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 6, in the dining room at the K-State Student Union.

* Tuesday, Feb. 13 -- "Virus of Violence," 7 p.m., Big 12 Room, Union. The film looks at violence in the media and the impact it is having on society.

* Tuesday, Feb. 20 --"Romper El Cerco" or "Breaking the Seige", 7 p.m., Room 213, Union. The video is about the siege imposed by the Mexican State Police Forces over the people in the community of San Salvador Atenco.

* Thursday, Feb. 27 --"The Ground Truth," 7 p.m., Room 213, Union. A film about U.S. men and women who have served the military in Iraq and returned home to face new battles.

* Monday, March 5 -- Chanting with yoga teacher Ana Franklin, 5:30 p.m., 301 Ahearn Field House.

* Thursday March 8 -- Third annual Nonviolence Benefit Show, 10 p.m., Auntie Mae's Parlor, 614 N. 12th St. Barefoot Rebellion will perform in the fundraiser to support nonviolence in Manhattan.

* Monday, March 12 -- Meditation with yoga teacher Ana Franklin, 5:30 p.m., 301 Ahearn Field House.

* Tuesday, March 13 -- "Black Gold," Room 206, Union. A film about fair trade.

* Saturday, March 17, Community Nonviolence Walk, St. Patrick's Day parade, Aggieville. Call 532-6444 for more information.

* Thursday, March 29 -- Medea Benjamin will discuss global exchange, 8 p.m., Union Station, Union.

* Saturday, March 31 -- Second annual Campaign for Nonviolence on the tallgrass prairie. Call 532-6444 for more information.

Events taking place after the Season for Nonviolence ends April 4 include:

* Tuesday, April 10 -- Dr. Zita Suprenan discuss intimate partner violence, 1 p.m., Forum Hall, Union. Suprenan is a physician and assistant clinical professor of preventative medicine and public health at the University of Kansas Medical Center and a national leader in domestic violence awareness.

* Thursday, April 19 -- Empty Bowls, 5-8 p.m., Texas Star, 608 N. 12th St. Participants create ceramic bowls in which to serve a simple meal. In exchange for the meal and the bowl, guests give a suggested minimum donation of $10 for local hunger-fighting organizations.

* Saturday, May 12 -- Date with Hate, 7 a.m., Bramlage Coliseum. A counterprotest to picketers at K-State commencement ceremonies by standing with silent messages of peace and acceptance.