Etcetera

AGENDA is interested in receiving items from you for etcétera. Press clippings, press releases, summaries of local events and any other ideas or suggestions are welcome. Just mail them to: Etcétera Editor, AGENDA, 220 S. Main St, Ann Arbor, MI 48104. Religious Figures Address Human Rights Interfaith Council for Peace and J ustice is sponsoring two educational forums in February featuring prominent religious crusaders for social justice in the Americas. On Thursday Feb. 9, Bishop Thomas Gumbleton, who has made severa! trips to Haiti in recent years, will give a talk entitled "Haití: A Just Peace? Or Just 'Peace'?" The event will take place at St. Mary Student Chapel, Thompson at William St. at 7:30 pm. A reception with Haitian food will follow. A collectíon will be taken up to benefit the popular movement in Haiti. On Saturday Feb. 11 at 5 pm at the Michigan Theater, Interfaith will show "School of Assassins," a video exposé of the U.S. Army School of the Americas. Using rarely seen footage, the video shows how graduates of a school on U.S. soil, funded by U.S. taxpayers, are some of the worst human rights violators in the hemisphere, responsible for the deaths of tens of thousands - including Archbishop Romero of El Salvador. The camera reveáis the hidden world of the School of the Americas, and the work of church people, activists and members of Congress to close it down. The showing will be followed by a talk by Father Roy Bourgeois, founder of School of Americas Watch. The event will conclude with a reception featuring Pilar' s Authentic Salvadoran Cuisine. Proceeds will benefit School of Americas Watch. Cali 663-1 870 for ticket info. and for more nformation about either event. Coalition Respondsto "Welfare Reform" The Michigan Anti-Poverty Coalition has recently begun meeting to address the punitive nature of Govemor Engler's Social Contract and both the Republican and Democratie versions of national welfare reform proposals. The group is concerned about the dire consequences to poor families should these proposals be implemented. Members of the coalition include human service workers and administrators, welfare recipients, educators, and other concemed members of the community . Their goal is to be active in changing the direction of the current debate on welfare reform and to provide an organizing base for people and groups interested in being a part of this activity. The coalition is seeking new members. It meets the second Monday of the month at 7 pm and the fourth Saturday at 1 0:30 am at the First Unitarian Church, 1 91 7 Washtenaw. For more information cali Tanya Dukes or Jen Rubin at 677-1400. Borders Sponsors Souljah and Steinem This month Borders Books and Music is bringing two outspoken and controversial women authors to Ann Arbor. On Thursday Feb. 2 at 7:30 pm, Sister Souljah will be at Borders to talk about and sign copies of her new book, "No Disrespect." Known as one of America's most notorious hip-hop rebels, Sister Souljah candidly describes how young black giris can grow up with their integrity intact in a very rough world. Borders brings Gloria Steinem, founder of Ms. Magazine, to the Michigan Theater on Wednesday Feb. 1 5 at 7:30 pm. Steinem will speak and sign copies of her new book, "Moving Beyond Words." This book is a collection of essays containing revolutionary ideas, compassionate insights, and one truly over-the-top fantasy . For more information about either event cali Borders at 668-7652. AMA Changes Policy on Gays The American Medical Association reached out to the gay and lesbian community in a recent policy paper calling for "nonjudgemental recognition of sexual orientation by physicians. " The AMA issued a paper entitled "Health Care Needs of Gay Men and Lesbians in the U.S." stating, "All patients, regardless of their sexual orientation have the right to respect and concern for their lives and values. However, gay men and lesbians face ostracism and discrimination from some health professionals." This paper reverses the AMA's 1981 paper, "Health Care Needs of the Homosexual Population," which supported treatments aimed at changing the sexual orientation of homosexuals into heterosexuals. -from Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) Newsletter, Jan., 1995. Medicare Assistance Program Offered The Washtenaw County Council on Aging is now offering Medicare assistance to all area senior citizens every Tuesday moming, 1 0 noon, at Turner Geriatrie Clinic, 1 01 0 Wall St. Council on Aging volunteers and U-M Medical Center employees wil answer questions about Medicare, health nsurance, Medicaid, or long-term care insurance. The service is free. Cali Turner Clinic at 764-2556 to make an appointment. Whole Foods Assists SOS Crisis Center Mark your calendar for Thursday, Feb. 9 - a special benefit day for SOS Community Crisis Center. On that day Whole Foods, located in the Lamp Post Plaza on E. Stadium, will dónate 5% of their total sales to SOS. SOS provides crisis in tervention and support to individuals and families for a wide range of economie and emotional concerns. Services include emergency transportation, food assistance, suicide prevention, substance abuse counseling, and support for those with a mental illness. Through the "Senior Con nee ti on" they provide support for older adults and their caregivers. They also opérate Prospect Place, a temporary home and resource center for homeless families. For more information about SOS cali 4858730 (the crisis line is 485-3222). For information about the benefit day, cali Whole Foods Market at 971 -3366. Take a Telecourse! From Business Law to Intro, to Psychology, an array of college telecourses is being offered on Community Televisión Network (CTNHormerly Ann Arbor Community Access Television-this winter. A telecourse is an educational package which includes video programs, a study guide, textbooks, and sessions with an instructor - all on televisión. With your TV set as the primary means of information delivery, you can watch a telecourse from the comfort of your own home through the resources of CTN and Washtenaw Community College (WCC). "During the past academie year, there were 724 enrollments in WCC telecourses," says Judith S wan, WCC's supervisor of telecourses. Check out the telecourse programs on CTN Cable Channel 8. To officially enroll in a WCC telecourse program, cali 677-5030. Not interested in getting college credit? You can still watch CTN and leam! Cali 769-7422 for a program schedule. -from "Network News," the newsletter of Community Televisión Network, Jan., 1995. Damaged Nuke Plant Running Again Despite citizen safety concerns, Detroit Edison resumed operatlon of its Fermi 2 nuclear power plant in Monroe, Mich. on Jan. 18. The plant, which suffered a major accident a year ago, requires a new turbine generator. Rather than waiting the two years it would tak e to have the new equipment built and shipped to Monroe, Edison officials are running the damaged facility at 70% power. Fermi 2 was taken off line on Christmas Day, 1 993. At that time there was a turbine mechanica) explosión which hurled pieces of shattered turbine blades through a fourinch steel casing and out into the surrounding building, causing extensive damage. The quick actions of employees at the time averted potentially disastrous consequences. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission, despite their own observation that the turbine is vibrating at a high rate, and despite the fact that the reactor shroud shows symptoms of cracks (which could give way under stress), is allowing Edison to continue running the facility. Citizens' Resistance at Fermi 2 (CRAFT), a federation of environmental groups and individuals which formed in response to the Fermi 2 accident, opposes the plant reopening. Not only are they concemed about the safety hazards the plant poses, but they oppose a new Edison plan to ship all their high-level waste to Mescalero Apache land in New Mexico. "Now is the time to leave the plant shut for economie, safety and moral reasons," said CRAFT member Jessie Deerinwater. In response to citizen safety concerns, Detroit Edison has set up a toll-free line that gives Fermi updates. Cali 800-845-0352 and select option #4 from the computer switchboard. For more information or to assist in the fight to shut down Fermi 2, write to: CRAFT, P.O. Box 463, Monroe, Ml 48161.