The San Jose Peace and Justice Center awarded its Gertrude Welch Peace and Justice Award to pioneers of the Free Gaza Movement who sailed the first small boats to break the Israeli siege of Gaza. The award prompted the city of Milpitas to present commendations and Congressman Mike Honda to award Congressional recognition to the recipients.
“In recognition of the pioneering vision, courage, and perseverance in establishing the Free Gaza Movement and sailing the first boats to break the Siege of Gaza on the 23rd of August 2008,” reads this year’s Gertrude Welch Peace and Justice Award. The award was presented to three founders of the Free Gaza Movement, Greta Berlin, Paul Larudee, and Kathy Sheetz. in a public ceremony held in Saratoga, California on Saturday, January 30, 2010.
We mourn the loss and commemorate the lives of two men who died in San Jose this week: Albert Cobarrubias and Frank Schiavo.
AlbertCobarrubias, 31, a San Jose State grad who had interned at Silicon Valley Debug and was planning to become a lawyer, was shot and killed by a gunman Saturday as he played pool with friends. The Mercury News story is here. "Albert spent his life serving the community,'' said De-Bug Director Raj Jayadev. "Keeping his memory and legacy alive will make us a stronger, more just and compassionate San Jose.' At a fundraising dinner held at Debug Community Center Friday night, Albert's family was presented with a letter from Santa Clara University Law School, which said that Albert would have been accepted into the school.
Frank Schiavo, 70, died suddently of an apparent heart attack on January 26. He was a retired SJSU environmental studies professor whose love for the planet and exemplary life-style influenced thousands of students. Read the Mercury News article about San Jose's Green Pioneer. Silicon Valley Toxics Coaltion founder Ted Smith said about Frank, "he was the inspiration for so many envirornmental activists - a true eco-warrior who led by example - our world is such a better place because of him.."
The San José Peace and Justice Center delivered over $750 worth of humanitarian aid for the people of Gaza. But having been blocked by the Egyptian government from entering Gaza, the aid was delivered to the Palestine Red Crescent Society in Cairo for transfer to Gaza.
Supporters of the San José Peace and Justice Center and the Arab American Cultural Center raised the aid - $550 in cash and a renewable ceramic water filter unit with spare parts. Some of the cash was used to purchase LED headlamps for people in the besieged territory that is frequently plunged into darkness by a chronic shortage of fuel needed to generate electricity.
SJPJC president Sharat G. Lin, who participated in the Gaza Freedom March, carried the aid from an SJPJC Coordinating Council meeting in San José to the Palestine Red Crescent Society in Cairo, where he was received by Mai Aref and Tarek Arafat (above).
In the wake of the huge earthquake that struck Haiti on January 12, there are many organizations seeking to provide relief. Please donate what you can. One suggestion:
Frank Schiavo, 70, died suddently of an apparent heart attack on January 26. He was a retired SJSU environmental studies professor whose love for the planet and exemplary life-style influenced thousands of students. Read the Mercury News article about 
The San José Peace and Justice Center delivered over $750 worth of humanitarian aid for the people of Gaza. But having been blocked by the Egyptian government from entering Gaza, the aid was delivered to the Palestine Red Crescent Society in Cairo for transfer to Gaza. 
In the wake of the huge earthquake that struck Haiti on January 12, there are many organizations seeking to provide relief. Please donate what you can. One suggestion:
