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We see more clearly than ever the ways that racial capitalism, militarism, and climate chaos feed off of and depend on each other. There are ways for everyone to be involved in this movement of movements.
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PJC Educational Programs & Events
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Free Trade vs Fair Trade Saturday, August 24, 2-3pm, PJC. Learn about globalization and how policies & practices have paved the way for huge companies to profit at the expense of people and the planet. Discover how the Fair Trade movement & principles seek to, at a minimum, counter balance these atrocities. FREE
Saturday, September 14, 2-3:30pm, PJC.
Explore the history of global trade and how it has come at the expense of native nations, and see the Fair Trade Movement as an alternative trading system that ensures producers in the Global South are given access to the global market and provided with basic human rights. Stay after the event to learn about volunteer opportunities at PJC. FREE.
Talking with Kids About Racism, September 17, 24, and October 1, 6:30-8:30pm at Saint Michaels College, Colchester. This three-part program is designed for all who are concerned about the impact of racism and/or white privilege on our children. It includes resources, discussion, and role playing. This program is held in collaboration with St Mikes Civil Rights Alliance. Fees vary. Register online here.
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We’re looking for a volunteer with a knack for marketing planning and implementation for our store! This opportunity will give you the chance to learn about ethically sourced goods, the importance of labor rights, and the Fair Trade Movement. Visit our website to learn more! |
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Sign the petition: no Wall on the Waterfront
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There is a plan to expand the Rail Yard to the Burlington Waterfront by building a second rail line between King and College Streets to store rail cars and service them. Sign the petition to stop them from adding the track and destroying views with a “WALL OF STEEL.” |
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Voices for Palestine:
Homeless in Sur Bahir
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The community of Sur Bahir, in occupied East Jerusalem, experienced its worst fears on Monday, July 22, when Israeli soldiers, accompanied by bulldozers and other heavy machinery, arrived at about 2:15 a.m. and proceeded to destroy 11 buildings in the neighborhood of Wadi al-Hummus. Dozens of Palestinians were rendered homeless.
Local activist Hamada Hamad told Mondoweiss that “The soldiers were really aggressive, pushing and shoving people, firing tear gas at us, and even beating some people with the butts of their rifles.” The demolition project was so swift residents were not given time to collect their belongings.
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The Essex Community Justice Center is looking for a part time Reentry Coordinator for their Circle of Support & Accountability Program for people reentering their community from prison. Click here to learn more. |
Want to see more of the Peace & Justice Center more often?
Follow us on social media to see pictures, read articles, and be in the know about what we are up to, community issues, events, and more.
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Center Hours
Monday-Friday: 10am-6pm
Store Hours
Monday-Friday: 10am-6pm
Saturday: 10am-7pm
Sunday: 10am-5pm
Hours are subject to change. Call (802) 863-2345 x2 to confirm.
Location
60 Lake Street, Suite 1C
Burlington’s Waterfront.
(Next to Skinny Pancake)
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We are looking for a Volunteer Coordinator/Assistant Fair Trade Store Manager. The three main components of the job are to recruit and retain volunteers, day-to-day store operations, and assist our Fair Trade Education Program
If you do well in a fast-paced work environment while supervising others, are self-motivated, and can work with people of diverse backgrounds including race, socioeconomic status, ethnicity, gender, religion, ability, and age, this may be the job for you.
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| The Myth About Kids and Racism |
“We have this common myth in society that, unless subject to explicit racism in their surroundings, children tend to be colour-blind, and that by talking about race with them, you’re introducing the idea into their heads. In reality, race pervades all sections of society, and children easily pick up on it. Children are already thinking about race and looking at the world through a racialized lens and it is the duty of caregivers to guide this racialized worldview into one that advocates for justice rather than prejudice and racism.”
– Charlie Kleinfeld, former PJC Intern
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Join us at Saint Michael’s College for our three-part series Talking With Kids About Racism on September 17, 24, and October 1. We’ll share tools to help you discuss race, racism, and white privilege with children in a meaningful and age-appropriate way through resources, discussion, and role playing. This program is held in collaboration with the St Michael’s College Civil Rights Alliance.
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From the Blog:
Natural Coincidence? No — Environmental Racism: Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow |
-Michaela Compo, PJC Fair Trade Intern
The term environmental racism was coined by Benjamin Chavez to refer to the movement developed in the 1970s and 80s, but the idea can be traced back over 500 years to when the Europeans originally arrived in the Americas and displaced the local population. In Chavez’s words, environmental racism is:
“racial discrimination in environmental policy making, the enforcement of regulations and laws, the deliberate targeting of communities of color for toxic waste facilities, the official sanctioning of the life-threatening presence of poisons and pollutants in our communities, and the history of excluding people of color from leadership of the ecology movements.”
Evident on a local, regional, and global scale, this interdisciplinary issue demonstrates the ways in which marginalized populations are more intensely impacted by environmental issues, thus perpetuating the struggle of and discrimination against people of color and those of low socioeconomic status. This targeting is centered around increased exposure to fine particulate matter (FPM) including but not limited to, auto fumes, oil smoke, groundwater nitrates, viruses, and additional toxic byproducts of human civilization. In the U.S., populations of color are exposed to between 1.2 and 1.5 times more FPM than white Americans. Following the same trend, people living in poverty are exposed to 1.3 times more FPM. Combined with the systemic factors of lack of political representation, mobility, and well-paying jobs, at-risk communities are exposed to increased devastation after natural disasters, in addition to various health implications such as an increased prevalence of heart disease, asthma, and high blood pressure.
Even in the age of climate change, the environment is still primarily considered as a problem of nature, that which is heavily influenced by the human population, yet many people fail to admit that racism is both a cause and result of such changes.
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This is a partial listing. See more in our public calendar. The PJC is not directly involved in all of these events. If you have questions about a non-PJC event, please reach out to the organization listed.
August 20, Tuesday
August 21, Wednesday
- 5:30-7:30pm, NO F-35 at BTV Organizing Meeting. 2Creative Community, 110 W Canal St #102, Winooski
- 6-8pm, RAD Organizing Team meeting. 423 Main St, Bennington
- 6-8pm, Families United. The Root Social Justice Center, Brattleboro
- 6:30-8pm, Coalition for a Livable City. Peace & Justice Center, Burlington
August 23, Friday
- 5-6pm F-35 Weekends at Bernie’s Senate Office. 1 Church St, Burlington. Every Friday
August 24, Saturday
August 28, Wednesday
- 6-7pm NoPolimigra: A Forum on Police & ICE in Montpelier. City Council meeting. City Hall, 39 Main St, Montpelier. More info, email Debra
September 2, Monday
- 4-7pm Labor Day Celebration, Middlebury Village Green. For more information, email Dan@radvt.org
- 5:30-8pm Youth4Change. The Root Social Justice Center, Brattleboro
September 3, Tuesday
- 5:30-7:30 Community Voices for Immigrant Rights organizing meeting. Rights and Democracy offices, 70 So Winooski Ave, Burlington. Dinner provided.
- 6-8pm, 350VT node meeting. 350VT Office, 179 S Winooski Ave, #201, Burlington
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| Action Highlight: Cancel the basing of the F-35 at Burlington Airport |
The City Councils of Winooski, So Burlington, and most recently, Burlington, have made it clear that they do not want the F35s housed at the Burlington airport. The voters of Burlington made it clear as well. The Vermont Senate passed a Resolution banning the basing of nuclear-capable planes (F-35s) in Vermont. Despite all this, the F35s are still on their way.
It’s important now, more than ever, that you show up to speak out against the perpetuation of the never-ending arms race, and the risks to those who live live in the areas that will be most impacted by the noise from the F35s.
Here are some things you can do:
It is not too late. Other basings have changed due to resident dissent. We have not given up and we hope you will stay involved in this resistance. If we keep nuclear bombers out of Vermont, it could catalyze people in other communities to take similar actions and the ripple effect could be huge.
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– Mark Hage, 
