Marcus Eriksen  

Will Read from His Book 

MY RIVER HOME:

A Journey from the Gulf War to the Gulf of Mexico

Santa Monica College Literary Lecture Series

Tuesday, April 15th 

11:15  AM - SMC Concert Hall

Santa Monica College

Marcus Eriksen– US Marine veteran, peace activist, and marine environmental educator– will read from his recently published book _My River Home: A Journey from the Gulf War to the Gulf of Mexico_ at 11:15am Tuesday April 15, 2008 at the SMC Concert Hall as part of the SMC Literary Lecture Series.

Dr. Eriksen currently serves as the Director of Research and Education for the Algalita Marine Research Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to the protection of the marine environment and its watersheds. More information at http://www.algalita.org/index.html

The event is free and open to the public. The SMC Literary Lecture series is co-sponsored by the SMC Associates and the SMC English Department.

SMC Literary Lecture Series event flyer

http://www.smc.edu/associates/PDF%2008/literary%20lecture%20series.pdf

_My River Home_ front cover and blurbs

http://www.topos.org/eriksen_reading/eriksen_my_river_home_cover_front.jpg

_My River Home_ back cover and blurbs

http://www.topos.org/eriksen_reading/eriksen_my_river_home_cover_back.jpg

_My River Home_ @ Amazon.com

http://www.amazon.com/My-River-Home-Journey-Mexico/dp/0807072753/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1208039981&sr=8-1

Publisher’s description of _My River Home_:

A classic American story of a young man’s return from war and his search for peace—while rafting the entire length of the Mississippi River.

One August day, veteran Marcus Eriksen set off on a journey down the entire length of the great Mississippi River on a homemade raft kept afloat by 232 empty soda bottles, recycled junk, and a dose of ingenuity. Though he had never made such a trip before—2,000 miles from Lake Itasca, Minnesota, past his childhood home near New Orleans, to the Gulf of Mexico—he had dreamed of doing it over a decade earlier, while serving amid sandstorms and oil fires in Kuwait as a marine in the Gulf War.

While struggling against a river with an unpredictable personality, Eriksen recounts a personal shift from proud soldier to self-destructive veteran to engaged activist protesting the injustices of the Iraq War. Startlingly honest and warm with affection for the people he meets, in My River Home Eriksen explains, through his own story, the allure of the military, the tragedy of modern war, and the courage it takes to fulfill a dream.

"A beautiful story of healing, hope, faith, and renewal. Eriksen takes us on an extraordinary journey; home from war, chaos, and sorrow, down the mighty Mississippi, he searches to find meaning in all that has been lost and all that has been wasted." —Ron Kovic, author of Born on the Fourth of July

"All politicians considering war as a policy tool—especially those with no personal military experience—should read this book, and take special note of Marcus Eriksen’s epiphany as he wandered with his brother amongst Iraqi corpses during the Gulf War. ‘I’m glad it wasn’t us,’ says his brother. Eriksen, with the added perspective of the current Iraq War, finds devastating precision for his response: ‘But it was.’ The futility and tragedy of war is made agonizingly clear by the inspirational journeys recounted with searing elegance in My River Home."
—Peter Laufer, author of Mission Rejected: U. S. Soldiers Say No to Iraq

"My River Home is a Homeric epic that starts at the top of the United States, plummets to the depths of the Gulf War, and probes the soul of a man born to be a Marine who learns the dangerous truth that ’sometimes patriotism requires that one be willing to protect one’s nation from its own government.’ Through vivid stories, Eriksen exposes the tragic personal consequences of corporatocracy policies—wars that enrich a few and ruin the lives of millions."
—John Perkins, author of the NY Times bestseller Confessions of an Economic Hit Man

A Film Screening & MUSIC Benefit for Agustin Aguayo - Conscientious Objector and LA area Iraq Vet

Sunday, APRIL 27, Doors Open 6:45 PM

The Unitarian Church of Studio City, 12355 Moorpark Street, Studio City (between Laurel Canyon Blvd. & Whitsett St.)

Meet Agustin Aguayo & filmmakers Peter Dudar & Sally Marr.

COME HEAR GREAT MUSIC.  MUSICIANS from all over LA are bringing their peace songs.  

Sally and Peter will open the show with their short subject film about Agustin - “A Man Of Conscience”. 

Suggested Donation $5 at the door, no one turned away for lack of funds.   

A portion of the proceeds will go to Agustin Aguayo.

Performers List:  Severin Browne, Dennis Davis, Tom English, Trudee Lunden, Glory Mae, Daniel Nahmod, Sal Ramon, Tapia Martinez-Russ, Fred Starner - More TBA.   MC: Steve Fine

Café atmosphere and plenty of room for DANCIN’.

Refreshments will be available.

Spread the Word / Party for Peace

RSVP is greatly appreciated.  Contact:  neighborsteve2002@yahoo.com

SUPPORT A COURAGEOUS VET FIGHTING FOR PEACE.

Agustin will speak about his case, which may go all the way to the Supreme Court.  In 2004, after one year of service in the military, Agustin realized that he could no longer in good conscience be a part of the armed forces and filed for conscientious objector status.  But he was sent to Iraq as a medic, where he refused to load his weapon.  Since then the army has denied his CO status and insisted that he redeploy, which he has refused to do, since it is against his beliefs to participate in war in any form. To learn more about this courageous vet fighting for peace, go to http://www.aguayodefense.org/

KPFK is a media sponsor.  www.kpfk.org

This event is sponsored by Neighbors for Peace and Justice, San Fernando Valley

E. ZAPATA

EN EL ESPIRITU DE TIERRA, JUSTICIA Y LIBERTAD CON DIGNIDAD MARCHEMOS ESTE DOMINGO 13 DE ABRIL 2008

EXIGIENDO

• ALTO A LAS REDADAS
• LEGALIZACION DE LOS TRABAJADORES INDOCUMENTADOS YA
• PRESOS POLITICOS LIBERTAD
• TRABAJOS DIGNOS CON SALARIOS JUSTOS
• CASA HABITACION DIGNA Y ACCESIBLES
• EDUCACION, SALUD Y TRABAJOS SI…GUERRA NO
• ALTO A LA BRUTALIDAD POLICIACA Y DEL ICE
• ALTO AL PLAN COLOMBIA Y AL PLAN MEXICO
• NO AL ALCA, CAFTA Y AL NAFTA

__________________________________________________

Chris Hedges will be speaking at two different events:

1) All Saints Church in Pasadena at 132 N. Euclid Street, Pasadena
The event starts at 10:15 AM on Sunday, April 13th. Also, he will have
another talk at here at 12:45 PM.

2) He will give talk at Neighborhood Church at 301 N. Orange Grove Blvd.
in Pasadena.
This event starts at 7:00 PM on Monday, April 14th.

Chris Hedges, author of many book including "War is the Force that Gives
Us Meaning" and "American Fascist: The Christian Right and the War on
America", is visiting Los Angeles on his booktour of newly published
book "I Don’t Believe In Atheists." After taking on the religious right
in his last book, "American Fascist", Chris felt compelled to respond to
the intolerance and fundamentalism he perceived in the ?new atheism?
with equal passion. His book follows a season that found him debating
Sam Harris and Christopher Hitchens, arguing that the new atheism has
become another dangerous faith. Always provocative, always smart, we
welcome our friend Chris Hedges back to stir us up!

See you at one of these events.

Mansoor: mansoor@gvfj.org