All together, the fundraiser raised over 2000 Euros. An anonymous donor matched that number, bringing the total "take" to over 4000 Euros. That covers more than half of Agustin Aguayo's total legal expenses.

The party was a lot of fun. About 130 people attended over the course of the evening. There was no typcial demographic; the crowd varied widely.

Andreas and Lisa from the Las Lanzas Coloradas treated us all to some beautiful jazz music; the Üsküdar Turkish ensemble pleased the crowd with a set of classical melodies on their stringed instruments; Cecilia the belly dancer was one of the highlights as well. Michael Sharp from the MCN sang a peace song he wrote himself. The evening closed with a selection of 1960s peace music with DJ Lawrence Stallings. All the while, there was a delicious choice of finger foods and drinks.

We woud like to thank everyone who contributed time, money, talent - anything and everything - to make this effort a success.

Local media: An interview with TPAs Penelope Pinson and David Whizen appeared in the Schwäbisches Tagblatt on 24 March.

The URL for this story is: http://tpablog.twoday.net/stories/3517262/

A full report on the benefit on Saturday night will follow. Right now, the auction results are in. The silent auction had 38 items or services up for auction, many of them offered by guests in attendence that evening. 19 of them got bids. The money raised for Aguayo from the auction alone totaled

569 Euros!

Many thanks to all those who offered to donate their property or services to the auction, including the following professionals:

Las Lanzas Coloradas
Oliver Gassner
Peter Kessner
Cecilia the belly dancer
Len's Guitar Shop in Berlin
Welsch und Partner
Democracy Now!
David Whizin, mediator
Bruce Allen

The benefit party to raise money for the Aguayo Defense fund is now "go" for 17 March, 2007 at the German-American Institute in Tübingen (Karlsstrasse 5). Admission will be 5 Euros for all. ALL PROCEEDS WILL GO TO THE AGUAYO FUND!

It will begin at 19:30 and include:

- Our silent auction. Check out the items already available for bidding. There will be other items including lower-priced fun stuff at the party.

- Live music from local musicians. This program is not yet set in stone, so if you know someone who might be willing to perform, get in touch with us!

- Finger food and drinks (soft drinks, beer and wine). Food and drinks are not included in admission and will be sold to raise additional money.

- One or two speakers. We're lining up a contientious objector or two or someone from the Military Counseling Network to say a few words.

- DJ and dance music late into the night.

Agustin Aguayo geht in Würzburg vor ein Militärgericht: http://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/0,1518,460972,00.html.

Oliver Gassner's auction offer and posting on his blog have led to a debate over Aguayo. He had a very eloquent reply to a commonly-heard objection to helping American conscientious objectors worth quoting here in full:

"Wer Soldat wird und das Geld nimmt, muss auch seinen Job machen."
Ich unterstütze jeden, der den Mut hat, eine falsche Entscheidung rückgängig zu machen. Die Tatsache, dass A. unbewaffnet im Irak Wache gestanden ist (so habe ich das verstanden) spricht für einen Mut, den ich selbst nicht aufbrächte, und der mir Respekt, Unterstützung und Solidariät zur Selbstverständlichkeit macht. A. hat seien Austrittswunsch erklärt, BEVOR (und nachdem) er im Einsatz war.

(Scroll down to see this in English!)

Um Geld zur Deckung der Anwaltskosten von Agustin Aguayo,
amerikanischer Kriegsdienstverweigerer, zu sammeln, findet am 17. März auf einer Benefizveranstaltung in Tübingen eine Versteigerung statt. Damit Sie auch aus der Ferne oder ohne auf der Party zu sein, mit bieten können, werden die zu versteigernden Produkte hier veröffentlicht:

Hier sind die Angebote auf Deutsch!

To raise money for the legal defense fund of Agustin Aguayo, an American conscientious objector, there will be an auction at a fundraising party on 17 March. You can bid here online and/or attend the benefit.

Here's the Aguayo auction page in English!