2008 PeaceFest
The date for the 7th annual Hillsdale County Coalition for Peace and Justice Festival is August 9th . As usual it will be the second Saturday in August in the Carl Fast Park in downtown Jonesville.
Interested groups or individuals can set up tables/booths around 10:00 AM and start talking/selling to participants as they arrive for the noon opening. The only thing we ask of participants is that they be peace/alternative oriented and that they let us know if they plan to be there. If you are interested in having a table or booth e-mail, call, or stop in and talk to us. Check out the contact link for details, or better yet come to one of our meetings. We meet the last Thursday of the month (March meeting is the 27th), at Volume 1 Bookstore in Hillsdale at 7pm.
Regular attendees have probably noticed that, over the years, we have gone more and more to an event that is full of music and fun with more of a party than a protest atmosphere. Getting speakers has been challenging and currently we have no one committed. We are open to suggestions. Although we may have no or few speakers, the theme for this year’s festival is “The Cost Of Empire.” Our displays will offer vivid and detailed illustrations of the extent of America’s worldwide military presence and what has been lost in the ongoing struggle for empire.
We will have the adjacent Jonesville Middle School cafetorium available for “inclement weather backup”, and are planning our traditional Afterglow Potluck/Jam/Celebration in the Park (or the School, as the elements dictate) following the Festival.
In past years we have had everything from clowning and face painting to rock and roll. A very popular part of the festival is our Veggies for Peace booth. When planting your garden this spring keep the date of the festival in mind and plant a little extra to donate. The money from the Veggie for Peace has been our source of revenue to put on the festival. Plants, flowers, herbs, fruit, as well as veggies are all appreciated. Come join us in a celebration of our even expanding community.With our 2008 PeaceFest theme of “The Cost of War” in mind here are the sobering statistics of the current cost of the Iraq War to the residents of the 7th Congressional District, home to our coalition. Might be something you want to pass on to your apathetic friends who wonder where all their tax money goes as they struggle to afford health care and watch their jobs and state infrastructure go down the tubes.
346,750 People with Health Care OR
1,296,139 Homes with Renewable Electricity OR
19,138 Public Safety Officers OR
16,692 Music and Arts Teachers OR
94,840 Scholarships for University Students OR
84 New Elementary Schools OR
7,434 Affordable Housing Units OR
689,595 Children with Health Care OR
139,414 Head Start Places for Children OR
13,028 Elementary School Teachers OR
13,451 Port Container Inspectors
Taxpayers in Congressional District 7 (Walberg) have paid $922.2 million for the Iraq War thus far. For the same amount of money, the following could have been provided:
346,750 People with Health Care OR 1,296,139 Homes with Renewable Electricity OR 19,138 Public Safety Officers OR 16,692 Music and Arts Teachers OR 94,840 Scholarships for University Students OR 84 New Elementary Schools OR 7,434 Affordable Housing Units OR 689,595 Children with Health Care OR 139,414 Head Start Places for Children OR 13,028 Elementary School Teachers OR 13,451 Port Container InspectorsNotes and Sources
Go to Cost of War Counter
Copyright 2007 National Priorities Project
info@nationalpriorities.org