A letter to the editor was published in the Eagle Herald this week: 'Gold Resource mine permits must not be combined' Dear Editor, An FYI from the Coalition to Save the Menominee River. By now you all should know something about the infamous Back Forty Mine. Many think because we defeated Aquila in court, the threat of this mine is over. It is not. Aquila sold out their investors and transferred their remaining assets to Gold Resource Corp., G.O.R.O. on the N.Y.S.E. They are determined to start the mine. They will need five permits before a shovel can be put in the ground. Each permit has numerous conditions that must be met before they can be issued. G.O.R.0, has submitted their first application. It is for their Air Quality Permit. They are requesting to submit all five of their permits together. If this happens, We The People will be at a great disadvantage. Why? The pages in five applications can easily be over 40,000! A public hearing will then be scheduled where We The People will be allowed the usual time of three minutes to voice our concerns. In combining five permits no one can absorb all the information given to make an informed statement in that amount of time. Written statements are accepted but can never pack a punch like a public speaker can. Jeff Budish phoned MI, EGLE representative Adam Wygant who told him the Menominee Tribe and We The People were in favor of the combined permits. The Coalition Board sat with The Tribal Board at their meeting. They informed us that they had not even been contacted. As for the We The People he referred to, they are NOT those we know. So ... We The People, contact Adam Wygant and tell him do not combine the mine permits. His number is 517-897-4828. Mary Hansen and Jeff Budish Both of Peshtigo Action Alert sent to WNPJ by Al Gedicks, of the WI Resources Protection Council Gedicks, Al - agedicks@eagle.uwlax.edu

In a 5-4 decision, the Supreme Court allowed the continuance of Title 42, the Trump-era rapid expulsion of migrants seeking asylum at the southern border. These people are fleeing violence and extreme poverty and are now living in dire situations while the U.S. courts and legislators play a sinister game of keep away. The Court may not lift the policy until June 2023. At that time it is expected that huge numbers of migrants will be legally seeking asylum in accordance with international and U.S. law. The Biden administration must create humane and safe corridors of entry for this influx of humanity. Immigration reform is needed now. Our united voices must ensure this inhuman and illegal barbarism ends. Voces de la Frontera is a leading Wisconsin immigrants' rights organization empowering people for over twenty years. Their website is full of Wisconsin based information, petitions and thoughtful actions. They are a membership driven organization and deserve our support. Let 2023 be a year of inclusion and intersectionality, as we create the world we know is possible. Best wishes to all of our member groups as we go forward. May peace prevail.

Thanks to PSR, VFP #102, and WNPJ Board members for these photos from the Fall Assembly in Milwaukee, Nov 13th!! Learn more here... https://www.wnpj.org/post/invitation-to-get-into-some-good-trouble-at-the-wnpj-fall-assembly-nov-13th 1) Art Heitzer receives Lifetime Achievement Award form co-chairs, Tynnetta Jackson and Mary Kay Baum. 2) Key-note speaker, Angela Harris - Milwaukee educator on Abolition. 3) Board member, Dena Eakles, intorducing Angela Harris - while zoomers look on. 4)Board member Debra Gillispie introduces the Peacemaker of the year, Claude Motley. 5) Board member John Peck facilitates the WNPJ business meeting. 6) Julie Enslow of Milwaukee gives introductory remarks about Art Heitzer's Lifetime of peace and justice work. 7) Claude Motley, Peacemaker of the Year and 8) Several of the newly elected WNPJ Board members, John Peck, Mary Kay Baum, Tynnetta Jackson, Vicki Berenson and Debra Gillispie. Videos from the 2022 WNPJ Assembly are now ready! Many thanks to volunteer editor Dan Folkman for putting this together! 1) Keynote Angela Harris - Milwaukee abolitionist educator, introduced by Dena Eakles: https://youtu.be/7KUOAEaeU8E 2) Lifetime Achievement Award recipient Art Heitzer, peace activist and advocate for normalizing relations with Cuba. Introduced by Julie Enslow, Tynnetta Jackson and Mary Kay Baum: https://youtu.be/rQC4F7Vht4o 3) Peacemaker of the Year Award recipient Claude Motley, introduced by Debra Gillispie: https://youtu.be/MQS7Blmze0k Video clip from the film: https://youtu.be/bs0nma7yNTc More about the award-winning film "When Claude Got Shot": https://whenclaudegotshot.org/ 4) What does Abolition mean to you? Tynnetta Jackson, interviewed by Debra Gillispie https://youtu.be/2Z_0wyiC3PY and comments by Judy Miner, former Network Coordinator https://youtu.be/m-4SybFaH2k

Let’s take a few minutes at the end of this year, to appreciate all we’ve accomplished and gear up for what’s next! Highlights of 2022 January - NEW LEADERS AND BUILDING OUR BASE We continue to grow our base building efforts by establishing an organizing committee in the Dane County area and strengthening our regional committees in Rock County, Milwaukee County, and North Central Wisconsin. Identifying and supporting the growth of leaders directly impacted by the interlocking injustices of poverty, systemic racism, ecological devastation, militarism, and religious moral nationalism IS OUR MISSION AND OUR FOCUS! No one is coming to save us, so we must build a movement and save ourselves! February - PROJECT OF SURVIVAL TO ADDRESS WATER CRISIS IN WAUSAU In response to the news of PFAS-contaminated drinking water in all the wells in Wausau, the Wisconsin PPC North Central regional committee launched a GoFundMe posting, raising almost $1,000 to provide water and filtered dispensers to residents who could not access it, including a delivery to a local assisted living facility serving low income, disabled folks. This project helped meet the immediate need for alternative water in the face of inaction by officials while also supporting neighbors to join and speak out about the many injustices we face in Wausau, including impacts from pollution and poverty. Laura, a life-long Wausau resident and member of the WI PPC, stated: “I feel that the public should have been made aware of this…when it was first known. I am concerned about the long term health outcomes. I am left wondering if one of my daughter's health issues could have been caused by this. I wonder how long we have been drinking, cooking with and using this contaminated water. My children and many children in the city had [and still] have their formula prepared with city water.” March - M.O.R.E Mobilization Tour in Madison Hundreds gathered from Wisconsin and across the Midwest to march around the Capitol Square and hear from impacted folks about why they were joining the Poor People’s Campaign’s national rally in Washington D.C. in June. https://wisconsinexaminer.com/2022/03/30/poor-peoples-campaign-mobilization-tour-draws-hundreds-to-madison/ https://captimes.com/news/business/poor-peoples-campaign-madison-william-barber/article_c3d52ad7-f748-5864-b07f-ee8ec2c75bb0.html June 18 - ASSEMBLY IN DC Hundreds from Wisconsin joined tens of thousands from 38+ states for a Mass Poor Peoples and Low Wage Workers’ Assembly and Moral March on Washington and to the Polls. From teachers to laborers, pastors and youth, Wisconsin was well represented. We heard speakers from across the United States, including Mark Denning from Wisconsin, sharing personal testimonies about their fight for justice and amazing music from the Freedom Choir. The purpose of the assembly was to make our voices heard, to push for voting rights and a Third Reconstruction to fully address poverty from the bottom up. Someone is hurting our siblings and it's gone on for far too long and we won’t be silent anymore! A special thanks to Rev. Ari Douglas, Tri-chair of the WI Poor People’s Campaign who was the State Campaign Organizer who focused on assisting WI in bringing people to D.C. Poor People's Campaign Moral March is Just the Beginning - Wisconsin Examiner: WATCH: Official Rebroadcast of #MoralAssembly2022 August - HEALTHCARE STUDY WI PPC organized and led a 5-week healthcare study with participants from across Wisconsin as well as PPC partners in other states, members of the Non Violent Medicaid Army and Put People First! PA. We came together to deepen our understanding of the for-profit healthcare system and strategies to organize for Healthcare as a Human Right leading into the Nonviolent Medicaid Army Week of Action. September - MEDICAID POSTCARDS As part of the NonViolent Medicaid Army Week of Action, WI PPC developed a postcard action calling on President Biden to extend the Public Health Emergency Order initiated during the COVID 19 pandemic. The PHE order insured 2,000,000 Wisconsinites who would not otherwise qualify for insurance. We distributed these postcards to areas across the state, asking people to sign and send them to the White House. October - CANDIDATE LISTENING SESSION IN BELOIT A listening session for candidates for national, state and local offices was held in Beloit and hosted by New Zion Baptist Church with speakers impacted by systemic racism, homelessness, lack of healthcare access and over-policing. Candidates were there not to speak but to only listen to these stories. Rev. Dr. Liz Theoharris, national co-chair of Poor People's Campaign, facilitated the session and joined us in a march through the streets of Beloit that coincided with actions across the country focusing on the needs of the poor and dispossessed. This event had great media coverage, expanding the reach of the event to a wider audience. Wisconsin Poor People's Campaign pushes low-income voters to ballots December - PLANNING FOR 2023 Building off of our healthcare study, the Wisconsin PPC has begun planning to fight for Medicaid expansion and our human right to healthcare in 2023. Join us in the new year as we proclaim HEALTHCARE IS A HUMAN RIGHT and hold power holders accountable to the fundamental right of healthcare for ALL! Start by signing our petition to the Joint Finance Committee. Help us step forward together in to 2023 and not one step back by making a year-end donation to support the work of the Wisconsin Poor People's Campaign. May 2023 be a year in which justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream! Email: wisconsin@poorpeoplescampaign.org www.poorpeoplescampaign.org/committee/wisconsin/ www.facebook.com/wisconsinppc

There are simple actions you can take to move us toward a safer world. Send these messages and encourage others to do the same. 1.Live in Wisconsin's Second Congressional District? Reach out to Rep. Pocan about supporting a House Resolution urging our government to support the United Nations Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) See a sample letter here. 2.Live Madison, Wisconsin? Contact our City Alders about passing a Back from the Brink Resolution that includes nuclear divestment language. See the proposed Madison resolution here. See a sample message to alders here. (Includes links to key supportive information.) Not sure who your alder is? Check here. Once you contact your alder, do please respond to this email letting us know who you contacted so those organizing know who still needs to be contacted. Thank you. wilpfmadison.org wilpfmadison@gmail.com Contact: Susan Freiss 2079 Winnebago St. Madison, WI 53704

Opinion | Now Baldwin should focus on protecting children from F-35s By Tom Boswell | guest column in the Cap Times Dec 27, 2022 An attendee of the 2021 Cap Times Idea Fest session entitled "One-on-One With Tammy Baldwin" holds a sign in protest of the F-35 fighter jets while Democratic U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin speaks with Cap Times bureau chief Jessie Opoien in Shannon Hall. photo credit RUTHIE HAUGE Tom Boswell writes: "It’s great to hear that Sen. Tammy Baldwin advanced gay rights by leading the charge to pass the Respect for Marriage Act. Now we need her to respect the rights of our children to health, safety and a good education. We need to persuade her to forsake her love affair with militarism, Lockheed Martin and the deadly F-35 fighter jets. I recently read that the U.S. is the only U.N. member country that has failed to ratify the 1989 U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child. It would be great if Baldwin would adopt this cause as her next challenge. But first she needs to demonstrate she really cares about our children and their welfare. The U.N. treaty lists 41 rights that all children should enjoy. Many of these universal rights are threatened by the F-35 nuclear-capable killer machines Baldwin wants to foist on the families of Madison’s neighborhoods. Right No. 29 says our “children’s education should help them fully develop their personalities, talents and abilities” and “help them live peacefully and protect the environment.” The sound of the F-35 is perceived as four times louder than current F-16s at the Truax Field airbase. According to Dr. Ann Behrmann, a pediatrician and leader of Physicians for Social Responsibility, children are more vulnerable to noise due to the size of their ear canals and because they have less control over their environment. Even minimal sensorineural hearing loss has been associated with poor school performance and social and emotional dysfunction. Noise has been found to negatively affect children’s attention, concentration and memory and, consequently, reading and math achievement. Increasing awareness that chronic exposure to high aircraft noise levels can impair learning led the World Health Organization and NATO to conclude that day care centers and schools should not be located near major sources of noise, such as airports. There are 59 educational programs, pre-school to college, within three miles of Truax. As for the environment, our children won’t be able to enjoy their school gardens, school forests and playgrounds without being subjected to this noise, not to mention the 100 to 200 million pounds of CO2 each jet will dump on our neighborhoods annually. Their school environment will be a virtual war zone. Right No. 27 states: “Children have the right to food, clothing and a safe place to live so they can develop in the best possible way.” Adequate food and clothing can be a struggle for low-income people on the north side, but a safe place to live is out of the question if the F-35s arrive. No child will be safe from the noise and other harmful pollutants, whether inside or outdoors. Right No. 24 attests, “Children have the right to … clean water to drink, healthy food and a clean and safe environment.” Clean water is out of the question, too. The military, (with help from the city and county), has already polluted our drinking water, groundwater, and lakes and streams with PFAS toxic chemicals. It will take decades to clean up. Right No. 6 says children have a right to life, survival and development, and No. 38 says “children have the right to be protected during war.” Baldwin informs her constituents that the F-35 first-strike jets will make us more “secure.” That’s a lie. Military experts have told Safe Skies Clean Water that, regardless of where the B61-12 nuclear bombs are stored, Madison will now be a target in the event of nuclear war. Right No. 3 gets to the crux of the matter. It states, “When adults make decisions, they should think about how their decisions will affect children.” It continues: “Governments should make sure that people and places responsible for looking after children are doing a good job.” The senator needs to know we are doing a commendable job in caring for our children. Now it is her turn to step up and do her job. A Cap Times story noted that Baldwin got a coalition to pass the gay rights bill by listening to the concerns of Republicans. This is truly admirable, but how about listening to the concerns of her constituents here at home? Is it because we lack the funds Lockheed Martin has to get her attention? Or because our children are not as articulate as the lobbyists and arms merchants? Bernie Sanders just announced he plans to introduce a War Powers Resolution in an attempt to halt the horrific Saudi-led war in Yemen. The war has resulted in more than 375,000 deaths, with 262,500 of those being children under the age of 5, according to the U.N. Sanders notes, “the war has made billions of dollars for companies like Lockheed Martin, Raytheon and Boeing, while people in Yemen see 'Made in the USA' on bombs that are destroying their country.” Let’s hope Baldwin signs on to Sanders’ War Powers Resolution. It would be a good first step. We are a nation based on fear, force and violence. It is probably not possible to embrace these weapons of war, like the F-35, and also care for our children. Read the Cap Times article here: https://captimes.com/opinion/guest-columns/opinion-now-baldwin-should-focus-on-protecting-children-from-f-35s/article_2853e2ed-df85-5e47-8bf5-9e51acd1bf3c.html Tom Boswell is a community organizer and freelance journalist who lives just west of the Truax Field airbase in Madison. Tom is also our contact for the WNPJ member group James Reeb Unitarian Universalist Congregation.

Yesterday, Congressional leaders unveiled a spending bill that, beginning in April, would strip Medicaid coverage from millions of people—including hundreds of thousands here in Wisconsin. (Dec 20,2022) Read: “Millions to lose Medicaid coverage under Congress’ plan,” Associated Press Rather than wait for the Covid-19 Public Health Emergency to expire, the provision in the spending bill—which is expected to be on President Biden’s desk by Friday—eliminates extra federal funding and the requirement that states keep people on Medicaid, regardless of changes in income or other status. Coming off a pandemic in which it was estimated that 330,000 people in the US lost their lives for lack of a universal healthcare system, this is an outrageous and cruel attack, specifically targeted at poor and low-wealth people. Take Action: Stop the Medicaid cutoffs — Healthcare is a Human Right! Join us *today* by calling Wisconsin Senators and Congresspeople and leaving the following message: “Healthcare is a human right! Take action to remove the provision in the federal spending bill that would kick millions of people off of Medicaid.” Sen. Tammy Baldwin: (202) 224-5653 Sen. Ron Johnson: (202) 224-5323 Find your Representative You can also sign and share our new petition to the Wisconsin Joint Finance Committee to expand Medicaid and ensure coverage for all Wisconsinites that will be at risk of losing Medicaid coverage in April if the provision is not removed. After taking action, email us back at wisconsin@poorpeoplescampaign.org to let us know!

Family Farm Defenders celebrated two women for this year’s John Kinsman Beginning Farmer Food Sovereignty award. Let their stories inspire you. Naima Dhore (pictured) began growing food for her family in small pots in their apartment window. With a keen desire to do more for her community, Naima’s Farm near Alexandria, MN began. The focus is on organic food production and education for the broader Somali/East African community. As an immigrant she knows the struggles that face black, indigenous, farmers of color, and in 2020 she helped found the Somali American Farmer Association (SAFA). Naima credits her food sovereignty success “to her ability to connect and maintain relationships with various people in her community—always being certain to remain humble in sharing resources to see everyone thrive and not just some.” Heather Gayton launched ZanBria Artisan Farms near Friendship, WI as a simple roadside stand, bartering and selling produce. She eventually acquired a 20 acre farmstead and specializes in native, heirloom, and herbal crops. A cancer survivor, Heather believes strongly in “food as medicine.” She is also a leader in the Farmers of the Roche-Cri Watershed Group and a grower for the Grand Marsh food pantry. You can see the zoom recording of the Dec. 10th Celebration here. familyfarmers.org/ www.facebook.com/Family-Farm-Defenders familyfarmdefenders@yahoo.com

Weaving the Web - WNPJ monthly virtual drop-in Hour First Thursday of each month, 12:00 pm - 01:00 pm All are welcome to drop in the first Thursday of each month - ....no agenda, just people who care about peace and justice showing up to connect. Contact office@wnpj.org with questions. Thanks to WNPJ Board members for facilitating the 'drop-in' hour the first quarter of 2023! Jan 5th - Vicki Berenson Feb 2nd - Erika Bach March 2nd - Mary Kay Baum Zoom Meeting Information: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89361313008?pwd=UmxCOUcxL3ZFb244aXp0SnBVTFRSZz09 Meeting ID: 893 6131 3008 Passcode: 797041 +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)

Members of WISDOM, EXPO and FREE rallied at the WI State Capitol 12/8/22 and addressed legislators on the need for dignity throughout the penal system and to end racial and economic disparities that fuel mass incarceration. They spoke eloquently on the need to recognize that people who are convicted of crimes are human beings, members of families and communities and need to be restored fully to civic life. They were not asking for reform, but for transformation. The “asks” were these: $15 million to go towards Treatment Alternatives and Diversions; ending solitary confinement and improving conditions of confinement; ending post-release issues such as Crimeless Revocations (re-incarcerating on technical violations); restoring the right to vote; ending the practice of shackling pregnant women; compassionate release for those who are elderly, ill or who have served many years; and peer support programs and housing for recently released people. You can view their passionate and clear messages here This was the kick-off. And while many of us may never be touched by the horrific conditions and the inhumane treatment of the prison system, it is incumbent upon us to demand human dignity and human rights. The reality remains: what happens to one happens to all. For more information contact Mark Rice 608-843-0171. wisdomwisconsin.org www.facebook.com/pages/Wisdom-for-justice office@wisdomwisconsin.org ​ 414-831-2070 2821 N Vel Phillips Avenue, #217, Milwaukee, WI 53212 ​ WISDOM is a grassroots organization comprised mostly of religious congregations of several different denominations, which works to have a common, collective voice on issues of social justice.

As we face a crucial election in April for the Wisconsin Supreme Court, Matt Rothschild of the WI Democracy Campaign took a look back at the role that outside money – and especially from Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce – played in turning these technically nonpartisan races into highly partisan ones now: How Wisconsin Supreme Court Races Became So Partisan Matt writes: I went over the latest Marquette Law School poll and unearthed an interesting fact: A clear majority of Republicans favor a lot of progressive issues, as I point out here: Progressive Issues Are Popular Issues I hope you like these two items, and I hope you enjoy the upcoming holidays. Matt Rothschild Executive Director rothschild@wisdc.org

Host A Workshop At The Energy Fair! Are you an expert, motivator, leader, or innovator in the areas of clean energy, energy efficiency, or sustainable living? If so, we hope you will consider submitting a proposal to share your knowledge at The 32nd Annual Energy Fair, in Custer WI June 23 - 25 . Workshop submissions are now open! Take advantage of full presenter benefits by submitting your workshop for consideration by 2/15/23. Workshop submissions will close on March on 3/15/23. Midwest Renewable Energy Association is a member group of WNPJ. info@midwestrenew.org https://www.theenergyfair.org/schedule/