Here’s what happened at the Free Press Second Saturday Cyber-Salon on March 12.

Free Press Board member Mark Stansbery facilitated the salon. 

Watch video here.

Facilitated by Free Press Board member Mark Stansbery, the salon addressed “Peace in the World.”

Harvey Wasserman, anti-nuke activist and senior Free Press Editor, spoke first about the nukes in Ukraine. He told us five of the 12 nuclear reactors in Ukraine were built by Soviets and all are over 30 years old. Chernobyl is one of the smallest ones and is now under control of the Russians. The explosion at Chernobyl in April 1996 was the worst nuclear accident in the world, overshadowed later by the meltdown at Fukushima, which was the equivalent of 100 times the bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. After the Chernobyl disaster, the the Russians seeded the clouds above Ukraine so that it would rain the radioactivity over them instead of Russia. Even a nuclear plant that is shut down is a radioactive threat.

Harvey assured us that a nuclear accident during the current fighting in Ukraine would create a cloud that would threaten the existence of the human race. The attack on Ukraine is based on energy and could have been prevented if Russia had developed alternative energies. If Ukraine adopted wind and solar, they also wouldn’t be dependent on nuclear energy that provides 50% of their electricity.

Harvey’s article: Apocalypse Now: The Horrors of the Ukraine Nukes

The next speaker was Yurii Sheliazhenko, Ph.D. , Executive secretary, Ukrainian Pacifist Movement, joining us from Kiev, the capital of Ukraine. He reported experiencing air raids and can hear explosions outside his house. He told us Russians have taken several cities and although Putin says the troops aren’t targeting civilians, thousands of Ukrainian civilians have been killed. Millions of people are trying to escape and stranded in western Ukraine trying to get on a train to Poland. He also told us there are Ukrainian forces working to decrease the nuclear threat.

He pointed out that Ukrainian males aged 18-60 are prevented from leaving the country and most refugees are women and children. There is a current petition to lift the restrictions on travel for the men that has 21,000 signatures. Young pacifists are not allowed to avoid being forced into the military. There are reports of discrimination against minority refugees, enforcement of marital law and bribery of the military.

Yurii pointed out that there has been a long time of fighting between Ukraine and Russia, including the Crimea battles in 2014 that affected civilians, killing them and causing ruined housing and lack of food, electricity and internet. The whole situation currently he sees as a continuation of the struggle between East and West.

Yurii’s plea about the peace talks.

Yurii continued to talk about how the peace movement is scarce in Ukraine and how those who don’t want way are shamed. He stressed that the US involvement in NATO and continued struggles with Russia are a huge factor in the current war. He noted that we should not think in terms of good guys and bad guys – instead good behavior versus bad behavior. The goals regarding the conflict are 1) Tell the truth; 2) Help humanitarian charities that are assisting Ukrainians; 3) Build  peace education movement, for example translation of important books.

The next speaker was Simone Chun of the South Korean peace movement. She reported on the March 9 presidential election in South Korea that resulted in the defeat of the liberal candidate who was a human rights attorney and victory of an ultra-conservative, which does not bode well for the peace movement, the country or the rest of the world.

The new president of South Korea Yoon Suk-yeol is considered a hawk, obsequious to the United States and nearly McCarthy-ish in his anti-communist activity. He called for a pre-emptive strike against North Korea during his campaign that would surely cause a nuclear crisis. He is in favor of re-establishing nuclear power in South Korea and producing anti-nuke missiles.

She told us there had been major progress in the peace movement in South Korea in the past five years, mainly with grassroots energy and led by women. There are fears of blacklisting of those who disagree with the new president and increased internet surveillance. Even so, Simone believes the South Koreans dedicated to peace have the resilience to prevail.

Simone’s Counterpunch article

Announcements:

Tim Chavez announced that the April cyber-salon will celebrate the WGRN Earth Day birthday. WGRN is Columbus’ progressive community radio low power station, 94.1FM, or streaming on wgrn.org. To get involved, contact [email protected].

Michael Doody let people know Four Seasons City Farms will be hosting Earth Day volunteers on 4/16 and 4/23 10.m. till 2 p.m. at 913 E Mound St 43205.

Mary Jane Borden has written two articles updating us on cannabis news:
Mary Jane’s Guide: Home Grow – 15 Reasons Why
Mary Jane’s Guide: CannaNews You Can Use – March 2022
And she announced this event: April 7th at 12:00 noon. The Drug Enforcement and Policy Center (DEPC) in conjunction with the Natural Therapies Education Foundation will be holding two panel discussions, one on the current medical marijuana program and the other on the pending adult use measures, both at the legislature and via initiated statute before voters hopefully in the fall.

Cathy Cowan Baker announced upcoming Simply Living events

March 20, 3 p.m. Annual Membership meeting                 
March 27 - Simply Share                             
April 1-30 - Earth Month EcoChallenge - join our team! 
April 1 - First Friday with SWACO
April 3 - Film: Santiago Rising   
April 10 - Climate Resilient Gardening w/ Debra Knapke
If you'd like to join/rejoin or donate to Simply Living, here are the links:
Join as an annual member
Join as a sustaining member
Join as a business member
 Make a donation

Joe Motil said that Saturday April 16, 2pm at the Main Library there will be a public meeting on discussion and ideas for ballot language to place a city of Columbus Rent Control  initiative on the ballot.

Sandy Bozenius promoted this event: CCBOR/CELDF is hosting a Rights of Nature workshop (virtual)/ March 27. Information here.

Winie Wirth announced a fundraiser next Saturday, March 19, 6-8pm, a Fundraiser for Ester Flores on Human Trafficking. On west side at Parkview United Methodist Church, 344 S. Algonquin Ave., 43204. There will be a home-cooked dinner by Gary Witte and Winie Wirth, including vegan options. Butterfly theme. $25 fee. Come to listen and learn from frontliners, survivors and freedom fighters. [email protected].

Thanks to Steve Caruso for being our tech guru!

Hope to see you at the next Salon, April 9, 7pm!

Pete Johnson
President, Columbus Institute for Contemporary Journalism
Contact: 614-253-2571
[email protected]
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