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Working together : We can-and will-change the world.

Arizona Institute for
Peace Education and Research

Our mission: To empower ourselves and other community members-through education, research, and advocacy-to take effective action on behalf of peace, social justice, and a sustainable environment.

Did you know as many as 20,000 of our returning veterans have brain injuries and the suicide rate of veterans is more than double that of others of the same age? We may oppose war, but we need to support Veterans. See our veterans information page and contact us about our 1 hour presentation.

NEW! Our teacher activity page. During this school year we'll be posting and developing an interactive page designed to engage students. Our latest activity is a Supreme Court simulation focused on the Flores English Languge Learner case in Arizona that will be heard by the U.S. Supreme Court. This simulation not only teaches about the court, and the role of the judicial system, but engages students on this contemporary issue related to immigration and who education is for and whether or why we devote extra resources for students with greater challenges. We also have a lesson plan focused on Sheriff Arpaio, Populist Tyranny and Immigration, designed to use contemporary events in Maricopa County into an in depth discussion about the way politicians can use Ingroups and Outgroups to build popularity, even when the actions might be seen as tyrannical.

Prior lesson plans looked at the Olympics. Asking critical questions such whether it encourage deeper understanding of other countries or reify nationalist beliefs as we root for our country against the world. It builds skills in critical media consumption, awareness of athletes from other countries, and the role of power and privilege in the medal counts. We also have a lesson plan that focuses on the estimated 500 foreign nationals who were among the nearly 3,000 who perished on 9/11 (excludng the hijackers). This builds skills in country identification and includes a civic engagement project to compile the names associated with the 90 countries they came from.

We'll soon be turning it into blog to encourage greater participation. In the meantime, if you come up with new adaptations, or have other ideas, tell us! (mail to president@aiper.org or call (480) 967-3880)

AIPER is the fiscal sponsor (i.e., official sponsoring organization) of No More Deaths-Phoenix

Calendar (go to complete Phoenix Peace Calendar!)

UPCOMING EVENTS! JOIN OUR EMAIL LIST

(AIPER is relocating most events to 318 E. 15th Street (Friends Meeting House) in Tempe starting in January. However, we'll continue to coordinate bookings for 2510 S Rural Rd., Suite 102. Click HERE for availability and send us an email info@aiper.org-rental fee applies-but we want to make the facility as accessible as possible) . If you're a tenant at 2510 S. Rural--add your event directly by logging in here.
December 31, 2008 Official AIPER Statement on Israel's actions in Gaza For immediate release to Arizona media outlets and policy makers Contact : Dave Wells, Board President, Arizona Institute for Peace Education and Research (480) 967-3880, President@aiper.org Hamas and Israel Violating Geneva Convention Bush endorsement of Israel's actions disgraceful; Obama must return U.S. to honest broker for peace Article 33 of the Geneva Convention, of which the United States is a signatory, states that "No general penalty, pecuniary or otherwise, shall be inflicted upon the population on account of the acts of individuals for which they can not be regarded as jointly and severally responsible." Both Hamas and Israel are in gross violation of Article 33. Since June 2007, the Israeli government has instituted an economic, material, and food blockade of the Gaza Territory, an area the size of Mesa with 1.5 million inhabitants, which has devastated their economy and undermined access to water, medical treatment, and food security. Many Gazans have died as a consequence and 46 percent of their children suffer acute anemia from malnutrition according to the U.N. Israel instituted the blockade after Hamas took control of Gaza and continued intermittent rocket attacks into Israeli territory. After a five month Egyptian-brokered cease fire ended in late November, Hamas rocket attacks resumed with the range of the rockets growing, sometimes exceeding 20 miles into Israel; fortunately, few were injured and no one killed. In return Israel unleashed a reign of terror with U.S. supplied F-16 fighters and missiles upon the inhabitants of Gaza, killing 370, including at least 89 civilians, and wounding more than 1,400. While every nation has a right to defend its territory and people, Israel's intensive bombing reinforces an image of brutality that feeds support for Hamas. The Bush Administration endorsement of Israel's actions is disgraceful and continues eight years of failure to recognize the politics, needs and desires of the region's inhabitants. The incoming Obama Administration must restore the United States as an honest broker in Middle East peace. A more secure future cannot come through violent intimidation, but must embrace the human dignity of all sides, including Hamas and the Israelis. About AIPER: The Arizona Institute for Peace Education and Research founded in 1988 is a 501(c)3 organization. Since its inception, AIPER has presented more than 600 public programs reflecting our commitment to peace, social justice, and a sustainable environment. AIPER is the fiscal sponsor of No More Deaths-Phoenix, who provides humanitarian aid to those in medical distress near the Arizona-Mexican border. AIPER continues to pursue means of engaging Arizonans of all ages in issues related to its mission.
Travel to Iran Interested in Joining a Delegation to Iran? Join Neighbors East and West, the same group AIPER member Marge Thornton traveled with in April 2008, on the trip planned for May 12-24 (or 27) 2009! For details and application go to http://www.iran.neffs.net. Sam and Ruth Neff have led numerous delegations over the past 25 years. The Neffs have led people-to-people tours to the Soviet Union (8 times) and to Cuba (5 times) and to Iran in April, 2008. The Neffs have lived in New Zealand, Colombia and Croatia, and have participated in medical programs in Nicaragua, and a work program with the Fellowship of Reconciliation in Bosnia in 1998. Ruth is a Nurse-Clinical Specialist, with a B.S. and M.S. in nursing. She has worked as a staff nurse in several hospitals, and as an instructor in nursing at Indiana University East in Richmond and at Sunnyside Hospital in Christchurch, New Zealand. Sam is a retired Science Professor who taught for 30 years at Earlham College in Richmond, IN. He also has taught at Morehouse College in Atlanta, GA, in Christchurch, New Zealand and Bogota, Colombia. Sam and Ruth Neff presently split their residence between Richmond, Indiana and Whitefish, Montana.

UPCOMING EVENTS!

JOIN OUR EMAIL LIST

(AIPER is relocating most events to 318 E. 15th Street (Friends Meeting House) in Tempe starting in January. However, we'll continue to coordinate bookings for 2510 S Rural Rd., Suite 102. Click HERE for availability and send us an email info@aiper.org-rental fee applies-but we want to make the facility as accessible as possible) . If you're a tenant at 2510 S. Rural--add your event directly by logging in here.

December 31, 2008

Official AIPER Statement on Israel's actions in Gaza
For immediate release to Arizona media outlets and policy makers
Contact : Dave Wells, Board President, Arizona Institute for Peace Education and Research
(480) 967-3880, President@aiper.org

Hamas and Israel Violating Geneva Convention
Bush endorsement of Israel's actions disgraceful; Obama must return U.S. to honest broker for peace

Article 33 of the Geneva Convention, of which the United States is a signatory, states that "No general penalty, pecuniary or otherwise, shall be inflicted upon the population on account of the acts of individuals for which they can not be regarded as jointly and severally responsible."
Both Hamas and Israel are in gross violation of Article 33.
Since June 2007, the Israeli government has instituted an economic, material, and food blockade of the Gaza Territory, an area the size of Mesa with 1.5 million inhabitants, which has devastated their economy and undermined access to water, medical treatment, and food security. Many Gazans have died as a consequence and 46 percent of their children suffer acute anemia from malnutrition according to the U.N.
Israel instituted the blockade after Hamas took control of Gaza and continued intermittent rocket attacks into Israeli territory.
After a five month Egyptian-brokered cease fire ended in late November, Hamas rocket attacks resumed with the range of the rockets growing, sometimes exceeding 20 miles into Israel; fortunately, few were injured and no one killed. In return Israel unleashed a reign of terror with U.S. supplied F-16 fighters and missiles upon the inhabitants of Gaza, killing 370, including at least 89 civilians, and wounding more than 1,400.
While every nation has a right to defend its territory and people, Israel's intensive bombing reinforces an image of brutality that feeds support for Hamas.
The Bush Administration endorsement of Israel's actions is disgraceful and continues eight years of failure to recognize the politics, needs and desires of the region's inhabitants.
The incoming Obama Administration must restore the United States as an honest broker in Middle East peace. A more secure future cannot come through violent intimidation, but must embrace the human dignity of all sides, including Hamas and the Israelis.

About AIPER: The Arizona Institute for Peace Education and Research founded in 1988 is a 501(c)3 organization. Since its inception, AIPER has presented more than 600 public programs reflecting our commitment to peace, social justice, and a sustainable environment. AIPER is the fiscal sponsor of No More Deaths-Phoenix, who provides humanitarian aid to those in medical distress near the Arizona-Mexican border. AIPER continues to pursue means of engaging Arizonans of all ages in issues related to its mission.

Travel to Iran

Interested in Joining a Delegation to Iran? Join Neighbors East and West, the same group AIPER member Marge Thornton traveled with in April 2008, on the trip planned for May 12-24 (or 27) 2009! For details and application go to http://www.iran.neffs.net. Sam and Ruth Neff have led numerous delegations over the past 25 years.

The Neffs have led people-to-people tours to the Soviet Union (8 times) and to Cuba (5 times) and to Iran in April, 2008. The Neffs have lived in New Zealand, Colombia and Croatia, and have participated in medical programs in Nicaragua, and a work program with the Fellowship of Reconciliation in Bosnia in 1998.

Ruth is a Nurse-Clinical Specialist, with a B.S. and M.S. in nursing. She has worked as a staff nurse in several hospitals, and as an instructor in nursing at Indiana University East in Richmond and at Sunnyside Hospital in Christchurch, New Zealand.

Sam is a retired Science Professor who taught for 30 years at Earlham College in Richmond, IN. He also has taught at Morehouse College in Atlanta, GA, in Christchurch, New Zealand and Bogota, Colombia.

Sam and Ruth Neff presently split their residence between Richmond, Indiana and Whitefish, Montana.

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