Young voices for peace: Winners of PSR's Greenfield Peace Writing Contest
As the United States enters a second decade of Asian wars and channels 22 percent of the nation's budget into military spending, finding new voices to speak out for peace may be the most important task facing peace activists. One of the ways Oregon Physicians for Social Responsibility (PSR) has taken on that task is their Greenfield Peace Writing Contest which encourages "the next generation of Oregon's leaders to consider their role in promoting peace." This year's contest, starting with President Dwight Eisenhower's observation that "Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired, signifies a theft form those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and not clothed," solicited essays, poems and stories from high school students that addressed the relationship between militarism and human needs. Five students who were selected from 57 entries from across the state will be honored at PSR's annual awards dinner on March 31.
This week, Jo Ann and Dave will be joined by four of the five honored: Alish Duff of West Linn High School; Alex Smith of Crescent Valley High School; Christine Trinh of De La Salle North Catholic High School; and Kelly Frank of Redmond High School. Also joining the conversation will be PSR's executive director, Kelly Campbell.
Jo Ann Hardesty is a former state legislator, former director of Oregon Action and past board president of Portland Community Media, as well as a long-time leader in the struggle for racial and economic justice. Dave Mazza is a journalist and former editor of The Portland Alliance who has covered and been involved in Portland's civil rights, environmental, labor and peace movements for over 20 years.
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Co-Hosts: Jo Ann Hardesty and Dave Mazza
Producers: Dave Mazza and Jo Ann Hardesty
Program Engineer: Steve Nassar
Audio Editor: Alicia Olson
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