This article originally appeared on syracuse.com A commentary by Ron VanNorstrand “Are you crazy?” “Are you out of your mind?” My friends’ concerns were foremost in my mind as I boarded Turkish Air FlightContinue reading
Month: January 2016
Grandmother and Long-time Activist Joyce Ellwanger Guilty of Trespass in Wisconsin
Joyce Ellwanger was found guilty of trespassing by Judge Paul Curran in Juneau County court on Friday January 22, 2016. Though Curran never formerly pronounced a verdict saying Joyce was guilty, he said she trespassedContinue reading
Today Has Anyone Wept in Our World?
In July of 2013, Pope Francis visited the tiny island of Lampeduso off the coast of Italy. He offered mass on an altar made from a small wooden fishing boat which had brought refugees toContinue reading
Relationships – Reflections on Refugees
As I put together this photo journal of an Iraqi father and his dear son seeking asylum in Finland, I found renewed hope in relationships. Relationships change our lives, and so, they change our worldContinue reading
Being Where I Really Need to Be
Friday January 8 marked another day of flying to Washington, DC for a week of activism – again. I was feeling sad leaving my family for a week and not looking forward to what IContinue reading
Citizen Activists Arrested on U.S. Capitol Steps Urging President Obama to Deliver a Real State of the Union
CITIZEN ACTIVISTS ARRESTED ON U.S. CAPITOL STEPS URGING PRESIDENT OBAMA TO DELIVER A REAL STATE OF THE UNION HIGHLIGHTING INCOME INEQUALITY, MILITARISM, RACISM & CLIMATE CHAOS WHO: Members of the National Campaign for NonviolentContinue reading
Surveillance and Surveys
In Kabul, where the Afghan Peace Volunteers have hosted me in their community, the U.S. military maintains a huge blimp equipped with cameras and computers to supply 24 hour surveillance of the city. Remotely pilotedContinue reading
Wisconsin Anti-Drone Action: Five Months Later Activists Are in Court
Father Jim Murphy Sentenced to Five Days in Jail in Wisconsin for Anti-drone action Father Jim Murphy of Highland, WI was found guilty of trespass during a bench trial on January 4, 2016. With JudgeContinue reading
Notes from Kabul
They have descended from homes built on the mountainside. Women sit together in the cemetery not to mourn but to wait for the duvet distribution to begin. When I approach them, each woman extends aContinue reading