NEXT WEEKEND Peace Fair in Brunswick BY CHRISTIE TOTH

Peace activists and sympathizers have gathered on the corner of Maine and School streets in Brunswick since the US invaded Afghanistan in 2001. In the rain, snow, and heat, through the launch of two wars and a presidential election, antiwar activists have stood on that corner every Friday at 5:30 pm, brandishing their signs toward the chaotic rush-hour traffic.

During the buildup to the invasion of Iraq, more than a hundred people showed up on Fridays to demonstrate their opposition to the war. In the weeks before the election, dozens came out with their signs. However, most Fridays, it’s just a handful of hardcore regulars from PeaceWorks and Veterans for Peace, waving at Subarus with fading Kucinich stickers and SUVs with Naval Air Station decals alike. While recent polls indicate that a majority of Americans believe we should begin planning our withdrawal from Iraq, very few are making it to the corner to show it.

So PeaceWorks decided it was time to gather all the groups that make up the Greater Brunswick peace community in one place, to demonstrate just how large and varied the movement is. On Saturday, August 6 — the 60th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima — Brunswick will host its first annual Peace Fair on the mall on Maine Street.

Opening ceremonies begin at 10:30 am. Performances throughout the day include Sufi dancing; music from Mountain Avenue and Matt Fogg & the Gospel Quartet; poetry readings by Myrna Koonce, Matt O’Donnell, and Ruth Belchez; and a dramatic reading of "Sadako’s Story" by actor Lee K. Paige.

Throughout the day, activist organizations will also man tables to provide information and opportunities to get involved. Some of the many organizations include Amnesty International, Physicians for Social Responsibility, Bread for the World, Let Cuba Live, the United Nations Association, and the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, as well a number of church and faith-based groups.

The Peace Fair will also involve many interactive activities for adults and children. Practitioners of Tai Chi, Chi Gong, yoga, sound healing, and meditation will hold demonstrations and workshops all day. The Green Store will measure your ecological footprint, and the ongoing Conversation Café will provide a shady place for refreshments and discussion.

For children, there will be a number of art projects, including the Art Works Van, banner making, peace crane folding, Portraits for Peace photography, and decorating Spindleworks dolls. Children can also take part in Tai Chi animal frolics. The Eveningstar Cinema, located in the Tontine Mall adjacent to the Peace Fair, will also host a film festival for children from 10:30 am to noon. The film lineup, subject to change, includes Dr. Seuss’ Butter Battle Book, and Trust Me, a documentary about 11-year-old boys from Christian, Jewish, and Muslim backgrounds at an interfaith summer camp. Admission to the film festival is by donation.