A Season for Nonviolence An educational and community action campaign January 30 – April 4
	A Season for Nonviolence is a national 64-day educational, media, and grassroots campaign, inspired by the memorial anniversaries of Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  A Season honors their vision for a nonviolent world that that honors the dignity and worth of every human being.
BACKGROUND Local Peacemakers – Get involved. Contact Blue Water Season For Nonviolence for details on programs, volunteers and sponsorships.

OPENING CEREMONY BLUE WATER AREA-  As part of the 11th Annual Season for Nonviolence being celebrated worldwide, a special event to open the 64-day season in the Blue Water area will be held WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30th , beginning at 7:00pm, at the Garfield School Auditorium, 1221 Garfield, Port Huron, MI  48060.

Friday, February 1st 6-8pm - A Night at the Movies Join us and others in viewing and discussing two films Les Dernier Jours/The Remaining Days  and Continuum from Spiritual Cinema Circle. Both films  will invite us to consider how our lives are interconnected with everything that is and that there is no time like the present to take action. Facilitated by Denni Lesenski. To resigster contact Full Circle EcoHouse of Prayer 810-364-3326. 2518 South Boulevard, Port Huron.

Saturday, February 2, 7:00pm- Mustard's Retreat- This long-time folk duo will play their eclectic blend of songs at a special concert to benefit the Blue Water Season for Nonviolence. Where: The Upper Level Acoustic Cafe, located at 1227 10th Avenue, Port Huron, MI.  Tickets are $10.00 and may be purchased in advance at Dungan Chiropractic Center, Williams and Associate, Unity Church of Blue Water, or at the door. Thoughtful, humorous, filled with a blend of songs and stories, their joy onstage is infectious. The local group The Lost Cuzzins will be the opening act.

Thursday, February 7, 7:00pm  The John C. Murray Newman Center Speaker Series presents Radical Amazement: Contemplative Lessons from the Universe By Judy Cannaton. Ms. Cannaton has been practicing ministry for over twenty years, hold a master’s degree in Education and Religious Studies, is a teacher, award winning author, and spiritual director. St. Stephens Church  325 32nd street off Lapeer in Port Huron. Sponsored by the Port Huron Parishes. For more information contact St. Stephens Church at 810– 984-2689. $10.00 at the door.

Beginning Friday, February 8th at 7:00 pm  Blue Water Pax Christi/Season for Nonviolence Film Series.  At the Newman Center – Downtown on Main St. just north of the McMorran fountain. Come explore the roots of War, and the hopes for Peacemaking, in our society.

·         Friday Feb. 8     WHY WE FIGHT    The examination of our recent history of reliance on our military as the first recourse to resolve international conflict, beginning with President Eisenhower’s farewell speech warning of the dangers of a military industrial complex.

·         Friday Feb. 15   JUDGEMENT AT NUREMBERG    Tells the story of how Germany’s military, judiciary, and society as a whole, fell into the trap of compliance with Nazi unjust war and war atrocities.

·         Friday Feb. 22    THE GROUND TRUTH    Testimonies from our soldiers as to the realities of the war in Iraq, and its challenges to their individual consciences.

·         Friday Feb. 29     THE REFUSAL     The story of Franz Jagerstatter, and Austrian farmer, devout Catholic, loving husband, and father of four, who was executed for refusing to fight in Hitler’s unjust wars.

·         Friday Mar. 7     THE PRICE OF SUGAR    A documentary on the hard life of sugar cane workers in the Domincan Republic, and their efforts along with some volunteer church and community workers, to obtain justice in a society that ignores them. 

·         Friday Mar. 14    ARLINGTON WEST      Thousands of crosses placed in the west coast beach sands, a memorial representing the fallen in our Iraq war, evoke deep and varied responses from those visiting and passing by. For more information contact Mike McCarthy at 810-982-2870.

Saturday,  February 23, 2:00 p.m. Medicine Wheel Gathering -As part of the 2008 Season for Nonviolence, Susan Crimmins of the Michigan Women’s Council, will lead you in creating a personal Medicine Wheel of healing and peace for ourselves, our planet and all her relations. Please bring 36 small stones, pebbles or gemstones so you can create your own medicine Wheel. Bring a cloth 12” x 18” to keep your stones in after the ceremony to create a  Medicine Bundle. Please bring a dish to pass for our lunch after the ceremony, and pillows and blankets to sit on. We will use our medicine wheels in a meditation to heal ourselves, our community and our world. We will also learn how to use our medicine bundles for future healings.

Colored Cloths for Medicine Bundles:

Red—Mental Health-Yellow—Emotional Healing-Black—Spiritual Healing-White—Physical Healing

Green—Healing Mother Earth-Blue—Healing Sky Nation

Dungan Chiropractic Building Upper Level 1227 10th Ave. Port Huron

For more information contact Sue Crimmins at 810-985-3020

Sponsored by the Michigan Women's Council

Sunday, February 24- Peace Unity of Clarkston is sponsoring a workshop where participants can learn about nonviolence and empowered peacemaking through exercises and role-plays facilitated by Chris Singer and Nicole Rohrkemper of the Michigan Peace Team. 
o Experience the transforming power of nonviolence for oneself and society.
o Experience working together with others as a peace team.
o Theory and practice of Communication skills (active Listening)
o Learn to apply the principles of Nonviolence to everyday situations.

Workshop will take place on Sunday, February 24 starting at 1 pm.
Oakland County Alano Club        5661 Clintonville Road         Clarkston, Mi.

A free will/love offering will be taken.  Everyone is welcome and encouraged to attend this experience in practical peace making. 
For more information please call Reverend Matthew Long at 248-891-4365 or Peace.unity@sbcglobal.net.

Saturday, March 1, 10:00am-3:00pm -Day of Mindfulness All are invited to share a day of peace and nonviolence at the Lake Huron Retreat Center. Our life is filled with activities, noise, responsibilities, and demands. This is an opportunity to pause and refresh oneself. We will have a sitting and walking meditation, pot luck lunch, private time to reflect, read, or journal as desired. We will be meeting in the Chapel at Lake Huron Retreat Center, 8794 Lakeshore Rd. (M-25). The room can be cool, so please dress warmly. Tea, coffee, and hot chocolate are provided. Please bring a simple contribution for the pot luck lunch. The cost is $5/person. Sponsored by Blue Water Community for Mindful Living. For more information contact Mary Basrai at 810-982-4597.

Saturday, March 15 11:00a.m. - Blue Water Peace Initiative  will hold a rally at Sarnia City Hall 255 North Christina Steet to help support a peaceful resolution for Canadians in Afghanistan. Live and recorded music will play songs of peace. Booths will be set up for human rights agencies offering information. Speakers will have a chance to voice their concerns. For more information contact Zak Nicholls 519-491-9070 email: stillzak4amnesty@yahoo.ca

Sunday March 16^th from 3 to 5pm-A Tapestry of Peace Come celebrate A Season for Non-Violence with the Unitarian Fellowship of Sarnia and Port Huron as we weave together the elements of music, song, dance and the spoken word uniting a diverse collection of individuals and community groups including an interfaith choir.  Local groups and organizations committed to the sacred practice of compassionate social activism will be on hand to support your efforts in finding ways to integrate and assert non-violence into daily practice.  This free event will take place on Sunday March 16^th from 3 to 5pm at the Sarnia Public Library, 124 Christina Street (corner of Wellington Street ) Sarnia , Ontario (519-337-3291).  For more information you can contact:Marc Muzzarelli by phone at: 810-985-3570 or email at: mdmuzzarelli@comcast.net or Wendy Starr by phone at:  519-336-2995 or email at:  wendy.starr@sympatico.ca   

March 24, 2008 6:30 to 7:30pm - Building Homes for the Homeless in India. Mahatma Gandhi's influence on Laurie Baker, renowned British-born Indian architect and humanitarian.  Angela Rochon will share with you her experiences from a recent visit to India and the work of Laurie Baker; about his life, his beliefs, his work and his architectural principles of cost-effectiveness, use of locally available materials, and respect for nature to create low-cost, beautiful, high quality buildings which long pre-empted modern concepts such as eco-friendliness and sustainable architecture. Algonac/Clay Library 2011  St. Clair River Road. Contact persons: Angela Rochon 810- 794-3585 or Sue Kuhlman, Librarian, Algonac/Clay Library, 810-794-4471.