PASMC Presents Barbara Lubin of the Middle East Children's Alliance

Since 1988, when she went to Palestine and Israel at the beginning of the first Intifada, peace, justice and disability rights activist Barbara Lubin has seen a great many reasons to be concerned, and bring aid, to people - especially the children - in the Middle East. Thus it was that year that Barbara, along with Howard Levine, founded the Middle East Children's Alliance (MECA).

Through two such Intifadas, two U.S. wars on Iraq, a brutal and debilitating U.S.-led economic sanctions regime on that country (sanctions often considered an act of war themselves), and Israeli repression of Palestinians punctuated by two military offensives, Barbara has spent 27 years advocating, agitating, raising money for infrastructure.

She has also tried to raise awareness regarding what children in Palestine, Iraq and elsewhere in the region are going through - and what they are in need of. Barbara has led several delegations of North Americans to Palestine/Israel, Iraq, and Lebanon. She has lectured to dozens of schools, universities, conferences, religious institutions and community groups - and spoken at numerous peace rallies - on these issues.

On Sunday, March 22, Barbara will be the guest at the next meeting of PASMC. The subject of her talk will be "How I Came to This Cause" - in which she addresses her work as a life-long activist and the specific focuses of MECA. This includes bringing clean water and supplies, health care aid, school materials and hope to war-ravaged communities throughout the Middle East.

The evening begins at 7 PM in Beck Hall of the Unitarian Universalists of San Mateo, 300 E. Santa Inez Avenue (at Ellsworth) in San Mateo. Admission is free, contributions are welcome. The UUSM is wheelchair accessible.