September 11: The 100th Anniversary of Gandhi's Launch of Satyagraha

Plan an event on Sept. 11th or thereafter during this Centennial Month or Year of Gandhi's launch. There is another way.

Dave Lewit, New England Alliance for Democracy writes:

September 11 is the 5th anniversary of the bombings of the World Trade Towers in New York City and the Pentagon. It is also the 100th anniversary of Gandhi's launch of Satyagraha--Truth Force, or strategic nonviolence in Johannesburg, South Africa. I see a contrast here--the 2001 events spell mendacity and death; the Gandhi event spells truth and life. Can the revived courageous event displace the fear-ridden event? How can the Gandhi event be commemorated? Should it be a day of reminiscence and honoring the man, or might it be a day of resolve to build a movement of nonviolence to bring justice and new society to our world?"

Dave's description of how to create Gandhi Circles for study leading toward building a movement of nonviolence to bring justice and a new society to our world in posted at the New England Alliance chapters' website. There is also a series of Group Readings and Discussion on Strategic Nonviolence to print out. Also, read award-winning journalist Bob Koehler's "Twenty Ghandis: Reclaiming 9/11 through Satyagraha" here.

You may wish to contact Dave at dlewit@igc.org. The Boston/Cambridge chapter has
organized a group reading on September 20. Or consult with Jean Maryborn (maryborn@earthlink.net) who has organized an event for Sunday, September 10 in Sandpoint, Idaho, for tips on publicity and a striking event flier.

We also recommend:
"A Force More Powerful," a three-hour documentary series (6 stand-alone segments), explores one of the 20th century's most important but least-understood stories: how nonviolent power overcame oppression and authoritarian rule all over the world. Narrated by Ben Kingsley, it premiered on PBS in September 2000.

"Bringing Down A Dictator," a one-hour documentary, is the inside story of how Milosevic was brought down--not by smoke and flames, but by a courageous and risky campaign of political defiance and massive civil disobedience (with US help). Narrated by Martin Sheen, it premiered on PBS in March 2002.

For more information and to order see www.aforcemorepowerful.org
.