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March/April 2006 NW Newsmakers
Community News

"Creating a Culture of Peace" Nonviolence Retreat

Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon, Episcopal Peace Fellowship, and the Peace & Justice Commission of the Episcopal Diocese of Oregon will present a creative peacemaking nonviolence retreat March 10, 11, and 12 at St. David of Wales Episcopal Church, 2800 SE Harrison St. in Portland. The retreat is open to all and will introduce the nonviolence principles of Jesus of Nazareth, Gandhi, Dorothy Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. and others. The retreat is based on a curriculum of the spirituality and practice of transformative nonviolence.
The "Creating a Culture of Peace" retreat will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Friday and Saturday and from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Sunday. A commitment to attend the entire retreat is required. The retreat's wholistic approach is directed toward nonviolent personal, interpersonal and social transformation based on a curriculum developed by the Fellowship of Reconciliation and inspired by the Pace e Bene Nonviolence Service.
The cost of the retreat will be on a sliding scale, up to $150.00. Lunches, snacks and materials are included in the fee. Please register by March 1 by calling Marla McGarry-Lawrence or Leslie Sackett at St. Michael & All Angels Episcopal Church, 503-284-7141 or by e-mail to MarlaML@stmaa.org.

A VegFest to Celebrate Spring and New Beginnings

In many places in the world, the New Year begins in the spring. It’s a time of new beginnings. For many people that might include eating healthier foods and wanting to create less of an impact on Mother Earth. To help everyone achieve these goals and more, Northwest VEG is organizing a VegFest with First Unitarian Church’s Ministry for Earth, In Defense of Animals, Natural Awakenings Magazine, and Blossoming Lotus Restaurant. The 2nd Annual VegFest and Compassionate Living Fair will take place on Saturday, March 18, at the First Unitarian Church, 12th SW and Main street in downtown Portland, from 10 am to 6 pm.
For an admission of $5, you will be able to sample delicious food from Turtle Island, Moosewood Foods, Field Roast Grain Meat, Robert’s Gourmet, Sun Flour Baking Company, Columbia Gorge Organics, and many others. Several local chefs will conduct food demonstrations and prepare entrees, side dishes, and desserts. In addition, we'll have five prominent speakers including nationally-known Howard Lyman, aka the "Mad Cowboy," and New York nutritionist George Eisman compliments of Farm Sanctuary. The event will also feature several non-profit groups in the area that promote safe foods, the environment, and compassion toward all living beings.
For more information, visit www.nwveg.org, call (503-224-7380, or write info@nwveg.org.

Catalyzing Change in Whatcom County, Washington

Bellingham organization, Attraction Retreat, hosted two-part Community Assessment and Sustainability Inventory (CASI) workshop to launch the community on a path toward relocalization and regional sustainability. With over-population, global climate change and peak oil threatening the livability and sustainability of Whatcom County, Attraction Retreat is drawing on the experience and vision of the broadest spectrum of the community to gain information vital for creating a sustainable Bellingham.
The first step in the CASI process introduced the concepts of sustainability, carrying capacity, and how to develop and evaluate economic, environmental and social indicators for a sustainable community. The second step focused on what’s missing from a sustainability perspective, and what some of the barriers might be to becoming more sustainable.
The third step of the CASI process is a Regional Asset Inventory that will be carried out over approximately six months by a small group of researchers and interns at Attraction Retreat. The areas covered will be nature and resources, society and business, municipal and regional governance, local needs and skills database. The CASI will be useful for economic and urban planners, public and private sector social service providers, government agencies, and individuals and organizations looking for ways to be proactive in contributing to a just and sustainable community.
The CASI workshops were co-sponsored by Attraction Retreat and Sustainable Bellingham with funding provided by D’Angelo International.