I first encountered David through his Veterans for Peace group here on Care2. A few months later, we met in person at a Peace Vigil in Plano. I noticed straight away that David was like a magnet either attracting people or repelling them. For those he attracted, they were in for an informative exchange.
David was opinionated and let anyone know where he stood on issues. He lived his convictions and could be found atop his favorite bypass in Denton on a regular basis, irregardless of weather conditions. He was an organizer, leader and doer! North Texas will miss him greatly!
If there is an afterlife, David will be out front with his anti-war opinions!
Goodbye dear friend!
David was an avid activist with VFP, Veterans for Peace. To honor David, I am changing this thread for VFP information as a way to honor David and his cause. I am starting off with a link to their website so you can check out their activities.
http://www.vvaw.org/events/40th/
Chicago, Illinois
August 15 - 19 - VFP National Convention
http://www.vfpnationalconvention.org
St. Louis, Missouri
August 25 - Kennebunkport Protest
http://www.kportprotest.org
Kennebunkport, Maine
MARCH THROUGH THE ARCH
Learn more: http://www.vfpnationalconvention.org/march.htm
Join us as we march through the arch and transform it from a symbol of westward expansion to a Portal to Peace! Speakers still TBA.
Sunday - August 19
Begins after the closing ceremony (around 10:30am)
Sponsored By:
Veterans for Peace, Military Families Speak Out, Iraq Veterans Against the War, CodePink, Grassroots America, St. Louis Instead of War Coalition and many other United for Peace and Justice member groups.
CONVENTION LINKS
Program schedule - http://www.vfpnationalconvention.org/program.htm
Workshop list - http://www.vfpnationalconvention.org/workshops.htm
See hotel information - http://www.vfpnationalconvention.org/hotels.htm
See who is hosting tables - http://www.vfpnationalconvention.org/tables.htm
* We have room for one or two more tables - if you are interested call 314-725-6005. ($40/table)
One convention participant described this convention as hot, hot, hot! The temperature was hot (100 degrees), the workshops were hot, the speakers were hot, and IVAW was hot! Together with over 44 workshops and over 400 participants, that makes one amazing convention.
HIGHLIGHTS
Photos
Videos
News Media from Convention
Resolutions passed
Awards Presented
Independent Coverage [Bay Area activists join hundreds at St. Louis anti-war veterans march | Bay Area veterans join 400 more in St. Louis to plot end of war]
SEE VIDEO OF IVAW'S ACTION - "War is not a game!"
Iraq Veterans Against the War confronted Army recruiters at a St Louis expo. Members of Iraq Veterans Against the War (IVAW) stood in mass company formation and sounded off with "War is not a game" in front of an America's Army game booth staffed with Army recruiters.
> See video on YouTube
Former Enemies Find New Way Forward - Mike Ferner
Listen - Interview with Colonel Janis Karpinski and Major General Barbara Fast - Belleville News Democrat
Belleville East Grad Denies Approving Torture in Iraq - Belleville News Democrat
Kucinich tells Veterans Group Bush is Jeopardizing Troops by Provoking Iran - Earthtimes.org
Peace and Justice for Veterans Bring Peace and Justice for all - OpEdNews.com
82 Year Old WWII Veteran Speaks about DU - International Action Center
Anti - War Veterans Protest at Black Expo - St. Louis Post Dispatch
War Protest a Ho-Hum Event - St. Louis Post Dispatch
Kucinich Draws Cheers from Veterans For Peace - St. Louis Post Dispatch
Ann Wright and Sara Rich speak to the Lizz Brown show about sexual assault in the military - WGNU Radio
*Listen to audio
The Art of War shown at VFP Convention - Fox 2 News
Colonel Janis Karpinski and Camilo Mejia speak to St. Louis' Don Marsh - St. Louis on the Air, NPR
*Listen to audio
Biking for Peace, Vets say it's Possible - The Herald News, Joliet, IL
Combatants for Peace will Return - The Jewish Light, St. Louis, MO
Interview with Dahlis Wasfi - By VetNet at KDHX
As many of you are aware, the next big mobilization of anti-war protestors is going to be in Washington, DC on September 15th. However, you may not be aware of the significance of this particular demonstration. Tina Richards of Grassroots America and I have been working extensively with the ANSWER Coalition to make sure that this is not just another protest. We have made the theme, ?Protesting is not enough. Come for the rally, stay for a week of direct action.?
To kick off the week of action, after the rally we will march from the White House to the Capitol, and go strait into a mass civil-disobedience die-in around the Peace Monument. The die-in will be led by an Honor Guard of Iraq Veterans Against the War who will simulate a 21-Gun Salute before taps is played to initiate the die-in. We are asking as many members of VFP as possible to sign up to wear cammies and die-in around us to symbolize the American cost of this war. We will be encircled by bolts of red cloth to symbolize the Iraqi deaths and invite anyone else from the rally to participate in the die-in.
Sunday will be a day of teach-ins including a Truth In Recruiting Workshop led by IVAW. That evening, IVAW DC will be holding a benefit concert. Monday is National Truth In Recruiting Day, and there will be numerous activities planned and we will need your help with an action at the main recruiting office in DC. Tuesday is Congressional Challenge Day led by Tina Richards. Wednesday or Thursday will be Veterans Lobbying Day, and Friday is the Moratorium. Also, the 14th, the Friday before the rally, is the IVAW CD Release Party. All of these events are on the calendar at Sept15.org.
ANSWER has offered to provide free transportation to all IVAW members on the ANSWER busses, and has agreed to extend this offer to all members of VFP in need. On the ANSWER website is a contact list for busses and if there is one that you can get to, please email Betsy Reznicek at the VFP National Office at breznicek@veteransforpeace.net to get on the list.
As a member of IVAW, it?s an honor to have the support of VFP when we attempt something as momentous and significant as this. Personally, I am hoping that September 15th can be a turning point for the entire movement away from protesting and towards direct action. It?s important that veterans are properly represented and leading the charge at this crucial time.
Thank you,
Adam Kokesh
Proud member of VFP
Co-Chair Elect of IVAW
adam@ivaw.org
100 transportation centers, click here
To see the entire schedule of actions, click here
Join the nationwide effort to flood the offices of our member of Congress with calls demanding an end to the U.S. war in Iraq. Let's make it clear: there cannot be "business as usual" in Washington. We need to bring our troops home immediately!
Your voice is extremely important to the decision makers in Washington, and we need to tell them, "Bring the troops home now, and take care of them when they get here!"
When: Thursday, Sept. 6
Capitol Hill Switchboard: 202-224-3121
Other numbers to reach Capitol Hill switchboard:
(800) 828 - 0498
(800) 459 - 1887
(800) 614 - 2803
Call your Representative and both Senators on Thursday, September 6th. Click here to learn who your representatives are.
Tell them: "I want you to act now to end the war and occupation of Iraq. The Congress has the Constitutional right and a moral responsibility to use the power of the purse to withdraw all U.S. soldiers and contractors from Iraq on a rapid and binding schedule. Four and a half years of this war is too long - it has to end now!"
TIPS FOR CALLING YOUR REPRESENTATIVE'S OFFICE
When you call, ask for the aide who deals with your issue. Tell the aide who you are and where you are calling from, identifying yourself as a constituent. Briefly state why you are calling and ask what the congressperson?s position is on the measure. Then explain what action you are asking your congressperson to take: co-sponsor a bill, vote for or against a measure, etc.*
BACKGROUND
In September, Congress will focus on Iraq. They will vote on the President's request for continued funding of the war. At this writing, the request stands at $142 billion, but Bush will probably increase it to over $190 billion! Congress is not required to give Bush any of this money, or even to bring the request to a vote. Congress can also put restrictions, firm withdrawal time lines and other conditions on any funding in order to force an end to the U.S. occupation of Iraq.
Written with the help of Phyllis Bennis, Erik Leaver, and Saif Rahman at the Institute for Policy Studies, United For Peace and Justice is publishing the People's Report. Feel free to print this report and share it with your Congressional Representatives.
"The so-called Petraeus Report-actually written within the White House-is supposed to evaluate "progress" in the U.S. war and surging occupation of Iraq based on a set of congressionally-determined benchmarks. Those evaluations will ostensibly provide an overview of how far along U.S.-occupied Iraq is in achieving "stability," "democracy," "equity between groups," and more."
"But however the White House drafters and General Petraeus and the spindoctors assess the benchmarks, what the report will almost certainly NOT do is provide a true glimpse of what the shattered lives of the 25 million Iraqis look like today."
Folded Pamphlet - http://www.veteransforpeace.org/File/pdf/peoples_report.pdf
Four page version - http://www.veteransforpeace.org/File/pdf/peoples_report_long.pdf
NATIONAL MOBILIZATION TO END THE WAR IN IRAQ - OCTOBER 27, 2007
Pack up your bag and join us in the following cities. We are going to show Congress and the President that the American people all over the nation don't want this war, don't need this war, and want our troops home now!
VFP chapters and members are encouraged to not only participate in these demonstrations, but to hold an event the evening prior to for Veterans and military families. More information to come soon!
DEMONSTRATIONS WILL BE HELD IN THE FOLLOWING CITIES
- Boston - New York - Jonesborough, TN - New Orleans - Orlando - Salt Lake City -
- Chicago - Los Angeles - San Francisco - Seattle - Philadelphia -
US soldiers talk about the US occupation of Iraq and how their lives have been changed by war. Live from the Veterans For Peace Convention in St. Louis, Missouri, with host Aaron Glantz. KFPA Radio is a community supported radio station. Almost all of their programming you can listen to online. Learn more at The War Comes Home.
No War! No Warming!
October 21 - 23, 2007
Coming to a city near you - look HERE to see a map of events!
In addition to local actions across the country, watch for reports of the October 22, Washington, DC nonviolent civil disobedience.
We need to take immediate action…
> to end the war in Iraq and all future oil wars
> to halt the impending climate crisis
> to end US addiction to oil and other fossil fuels
> to rebuild New Orleans and all impacted communities
> to end racism and corporate greed
> to promote green jobs in a clean energy economy
United For Peace and Justice Regional Rallies!
October 27, 2007
Once again, members of Veterans For Peace will be taking to the streets to show their opposition to the war and occupation of Iraq, and to show their support to bring the troops home now!
There will be 11 cities around the nation holding rallies and marches and we encourage you to participate! You can learn more at the links below.
DEMONSTRATIONS WILL BE HELD IN THE FOLLOWING CITIES
- Boston - New York - Jonesborough, TN - New Orleans - Orlando - Salt Lake City - Chicago - Los Angeles -
School of Americas Watch - Fort Benning, GA
November 15 - 18, 2007
On November 16, 1989, six Jesuit priests, their co-worker and her teenage daughter were massacred in El Salvador. A U.S. Congressional Task Force reported that those responsible were trained at the U.S. Army School of the Americas (SOA) at Ft. Benning, Georgia.
This set off a small group of active Jesuits and veterans as they gathered outside of Ft. Benning to both remember those killed and show opposition to the United States training facility. The School of America Watch demonstrations began over 15 years ago, and the group has grown from a small handful to over 10,000 people who visit every November.
Each year, members of Veterans For Peace meet in Columbus, GA to show their solidarity for those killed by military trained at the SOA (now called Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation or WHINSC). Last year, David Cline was one of the featured speakers, and this year, Executive Director, Michael McPhearson will be speaking to the crowd of 10,000 plus!
> Find out more about the 2007 NOVEMBER VIGIL> Check out the VIGIL SCHEDULE for the weekend, it will continue to be updated in the coming weeks with more events
> WHAT TO EXPECT at Fort Benning this November
START PLANNING YOUR TRIP TO COLUMBUS NOW!
Get Active on Veterans Day
Last year, over 30 chapters celebrated Veterans Day, previously known as Armistice Day. The activities this year include marching in local Veterans Day parades, Arlington Memorial displays, movie showings, and plays. See the list below to find a city near you where events are being held. View all Veterans Day actions at http://www.veteransforpeace.org/Veterans_Day.vp.html.
Service Women Action Network (SWAN)
The Service Women's Action Network is a group of military service women and allies who came together in 2007 to create a network of support for military service women and also women considering military service. For veteran women, SWAN's goal is to offer alternative options for healing and transitioning back into the civilian world. It is vital to address the needs of these women who will be role models for future generations.
It is a crucial time for women in the military because:
- There are over 155,000 women currently serving in Afghanistan and Iraq.
- 15% of our military service personnel are women.
- The current VA system provides limited services specified for women.
What every girl needs to know about joining the military - Download SWAN's pdf pamphlet of "What Every Girl Needs To Know About the U.S. Military".
What can I do?
FCNL, along with Veterans For Peace, is encouraging people to call the Congressional switchboard toll free at 1-800-352-1897.
When you get through to the switchboard, ask for your Senator by name. Once directed to the office, ask for the Legislative Assistant who deals with military and national security issues. Give them your name and zip code, and urge them to become a co-sponsor of S.594 and to work for its passage in the coming year.
Why?
Cluster bomb use is an issue of grave humanitarian concern. Unexploded remnants (called 'bomblets') kill in horrible ways: children play with bomblets thinking they're toys, and farmers stumble across them tending their fields. Over the last 40 years, the best research indicates that 98% of cluster bomb casualties have been civilians. This includes 12,000 civilian casualties in Laos and another 4,000 in Iraq. To this day, bomblets are killing civilians and endangering U.S. soldiers in Iraq.
Support Veterans For Peace, IVAW, and Military Families who want to honor Veterans!
Veterans For Peace members, along with members of Iraq Veterans Against the War, and Military Families Speak out are being excluded from the Veterans Day parade in Long Beach, California. Due to pressure by members of Veterans For Peace around the country, members in Denver, CO who were previously excluded, are now being allowed to join other veterans in the parade. Other cities, such as Boston, MA are being included in their parades, but have strict guidelines to which they have to adhere, while other veterans marching do not. It's time to use our voice as veterans (and supporters of veterans) and let these cities and parade organizers know that VFP should be included!
Read more here[Demoacry Now! | Press Telegram]
HOW TO HELP LONG BEACH, CA
Call the mayor's office and parade chairperson and let them know that there is great disapproval across the nation against this action!
Call Mayor Bob Foster, 562-570-6801
Call parade chairperson, Martha Thuente, 562-422-6669
The attempt to silence voices that stand for peace and justice has been halted, and the Long Beach area veterans encourage all VFP members to join them next year as they march, for the first time, in the Long Beach, Veterans Day Parade!California
MARCH 19, 2008 COMMEMORATION OF THE WAR AND OCCUPATION OF IRAQ
As the 5th commemoration of the invasion of Iraq (the beginning of the 6th year of the war) approaches, news of the occupation is over shadowed by the presidential elections. The news media and those who want to see this war continue, claim that the peace/anti-war movement is pulling back. The truth is that we are organizing and preparing for the next push.
On March 17th-19th do not let your local community or Congress forget the illegal invasion rages on. View the website, 5 Years Too Many - http://www.5yearstoomany.org/
March 19th Civil Disobedience - Washington D.C. - Members of Veterans For Peace have been some of the first to put their bodies on the line to end this illegal war and occupation. If you are able to join UFPJ and VFP in Washington D.C., you are encouraged to do so! > Learn more about the civil disobedience
March 19th Local Actions - If you are not able to make it to Washington D.C., you are encouraged to hold a local event. Veterans For Peace, along with UFPJ, is working hard to get actions in all congressional districts during this time! More information coming soon.
March 13-16 Iraq and Afghanistan veterans will gather in Washington DC to witness and tell their stories and experiences about U.S. foreign policy in both countries. The nation will hear directly from those who have been there on the ground. This gathering will be in the tradition of the 1971 Winter Soldier investigations held by Vietnam Veterans Against the War. Not since that original event has the American public had such an important opportunity to hear the truth about the brutality of war and the nature of U.S. foreign policy. http://www.veteransforpeace.org/Winter_soldier.vp.html
Veterans For Peace is stepping up activities to support the efforts of Iraq Veterans Against the War. Here are several ways you support this important event:
> Read Camil "Mac" Bica's article, "When Morality Demands Winter Soldiers"
People who support Peace always have my deepest respect. 
Ross for this thread.. 
ATTENDING WINTER SOLDIER - REGISTER IN ADVANCE!
If you are planning on attending the Winter Soldier: Iraq and Afghanistan testimonies in Washington D.C., you MUST register in advance. There is very limited space and it is a closed event.
Register here: http://ivaw.org/wintersoldier/allyregistration
Do not forgot about the 5th Commemoration of the war activities - Sign up here!
VFP PRESIDENT TRAVELS ALONG WEST COAST - WRITES BLOG ABOUT HIS TRAVELS
Veterans For Peace President, Elliott Adams, has recently started a West Coast tour. He hopes to visit as many VFP chapters as possible, build relationships with other organizations, and of course participate in as many actions as possible.
"WAR IS A RACKET!"
General Smedley Butler said, "War is a racket!" In his five short chapters, he outlines how businesses in the United States have historically profited off war. He explains how these corporations profit financially from war paid for by your taxes! Being a two time Medal of Honor recipient, he is one of the most trusted experts on war and the racket that it creates.
Read "War is a Racket" online!
"War is a racket. It always has been. It is possibly the oldest, easily the most profitable, surely the most vicious. It is the only one international in scope. It is the only one in which the profits are reckoned in dollars and the losses in lives. A racket is best described, I believe, as something that is not what it seems to the majority of the people. Only a small 'inside' group knows what it is about. It is conducted for the benefit of the very few, at the expense of the very many. Out of war a few people make huge fortunes."Veterans March For Peace will make public profound grievances with the United States government for the illegal and inhumane war against the Iraqi people and for the abysmal lack of care, services and support for Iraq War veterans and towards veterans from other wars.
Veterans March For Peace will be a dignified passage through downtown Washington, DC, stopping at points relevant to the cause and consequences of the war -- now about to enter its sixth year. Veterans took an oath to defend the Constitution and the country against all enemies foreign and domestic. We intend to fulfill that oath by calling for the impeachment and eventual arrest of George W. Bush and Dick Cheney, as well as their collaborators in Congress. We will carry and attempt to issue people's warrants for their arrest on charges of Crimes Against Humanity, War Crimes, and Lying to the American people.
Dave Cline, former Veterans For Peace National President and a decorated Vietnam combat veteran peace activist for four decades, said regarding impeachment:
"You bet it's our right and our duty! Today's tyrant named George may have little regard for the Constitution, but as members of the military we took an oath to uphold that document. George Bush has repeatedly violated not only the Constitution but federal law, by invading and occupying Iraq. In our system the remedy for such high crimes is clear: he must be impeached."
Veterans March For Peace staging area will be on the west side of 7th Street, NW on the Mall between Madison and Jefferson at 9:00 AM. BY 10:00 AM the Vets will move out in a column of deuces. We will carry the American flag held upside down -- a symbol of distress -- and our organizational flags. Stops will include:
1. National Museum of the American Indian -- brief ceremony honoring, respecting and demonstrating solidarity with our Native American brethren, the original Americans, who fought valiantly to resist an earlier version of racist and expansionist oppression, much the same as that which we oppose and expose today.
2. The Peace Monument where we reaffirm our oath to defend the constitution and the country against all enemies foreign and domestic. Additional points of destination and optional sites for civil disobedience/resistance* on the March will be in this order:
3. Russell Senate Building
5. Cannon House Office Building
7. National Archives
8. Robert F. Kennedy Justice Department Building
9. J. Edgar Hoover FBI Building
10. Veterans Administration Headquarters Building
With that said, there is tremendous work to do. To end the war, Winter Soldier: Iraq and Afghanistan cannot be a one time happening. Veterans For Peace must now take this new tool to educate and organize. We must amplify IVAW's voice so that it can be heard clearly and without filters. Their voice is the most effective tool to tell the truth and give a full picture about the occupation and U.S. policy in Iraq.
IVAW is working hard to reach the active military and post 9/11 veterans. They will be visiting military towns and bases, reaching out to their peers. VFP must support them in this effort. We also have a mission to reach out to the military. Military members are our brothers and sisters. We were once them and they will one day be us. We are forever connected and we must strengthen those bonds by supporting them as they find their voice to express their demand to end the occupation.
A stronger civilian movement means a stronger G.I. movement. VFP must also help to activate, organize and encourage the greater civilian anti-war and peace movements. As a major part of this effort, we must find and organize the older veterans to help in this endeavor.
However, our greatest test as Veterans For Peace is to develop a strategic long term national vision to transform our country. We must create long term initiatives that challenge our government's approach to the world, address people's needs and build structures of peace to end all wars. We must leverage our position as veterans to stir our fellow citizens. We must do all simultaneously, support IVAW and embark on a more focused effort building VFP. We have our own role to play to end this war and to end all wars. We must be smart, innovative and audacious in meeting this challenge.
THE LONGEST WALK - ALL LIFE IS SACRED, PROTECT MOTHER EARTH
February 11, 2008, walkers supporting the Native American cultures and traditions set out to walk two routes from California to Washington D.C.
The Longest Walk 2 is a peaceful, spiritual effort to engage with the public about restoring harmony with the environment by leading an effort to clean up the lands surrounding our highways. They will be launching The Clean Up Mother Earth Campaign where the Longest Walk participants will work together to clean up our country's highways and roads by collecting debris found along the Longest Walk route. This monumental task will engage Walkers in a global effort at a grassroots level to promote harmony with our delicate environment. A rotating team of walkers will pick up trash along the way with trash pokers leaving a healthy trail in their path.
"We take up this task to walk in a manner befitting our nations. We shall walk for the Seventh Generation, for peace, for justice, for healing of Mother Earth, for the healing of our people suffering from diabetes, heart conditions and other diseases."
There will be two groups of people walking - one along a northern route and another on a southern route. The northern route is currently in Kansas and is traveling through Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Maryland. The southern route is currently in New Mexico and traveling through Oklahoma, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, North Carolina, and Virginia.
Veterans For Peace members are encouraged to join these marchers along their routes, organize events in cities they are traveling through, and helping to spread the word about this historic walk. You can also listen to their online radio broadcasts at EarthCycles.net.
As some veterans may already know, the United States Armed Forces holds a strong history concerning the widespread use of toxic asbestos. Those who served in World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War are the veterans most at risk for previous exposure to asbestos. During these wars the Armed Forces extensively used asbestos, a then-hailed wonder product. Primarily from the 1930s through the 1970s, all divisions of the U.S. military used asbestos-containing products in buildings and all forms of transportation. > read entire article
Article provided by The Asbestos and Mesothelioma Center
http://www.veteransforpeace.org/Veterans_exposed_to_asbestos_during_service.vp.html
VFP ONLINE FORUM
Do you want to participate in VFP discussions? We have our very own line forum for you to use. Some
of the discussions happening right now are:
In order to use the online forum, you must go to www.veteransforpeace.net/forum, and click 'register' at the top of the page. You must register and be approved before you can use the forum. All paid dues members of VFP may join the forum. Please register with some form of your first and last name, this ensures that we can verify your VFP membership.
As you may be aware House Representative John Conyers met with a delegation of Veteran's For Peace on June 11th to discuss the impeachment of President Bush and Vice-President Cheney for flagrant violations of the Constitution of the United States . We were also very fortunate to have a short meeting with Representative Dennis Kucinich who has introduced articles of impeachment which are now in the Judiciary Committee waiting for action. Representative Conyers as the Chair of that committee holds the responsibility for moving these articles forward.
Representative Kucinich explained what we can do to support his resolution and work to see the goal of impeachment achieved. He asked us to call our Congressional Representatives and ask them to read the resolution he introduced against President Bush and to then sign on to it. As Representative Kucinich stated "this should be an education period", we should all familiarize ourselves with the articles of impeachment and when we make our first call to our Representatives we should ask them to do the same. One week later a second phone call should be made to our representatives asking them if they have read the resolution and what their position is on it. The phone calls should continue until we receive a definitive answer.
Check to see if your Representative is in the House Judiciary CommitteeIf the Judiciary Committee does not move forward Representative Kucinich plans to introduce the articles again in a month and as he said this time they will go from 38 violations to 60.
Please take the time to contact your Representative on this most important issue. The future of our democracy depends on it.
VETERANS FOR PEACE CALLS FOR JULY 9 VIGILS AT CANADIAN CONSULATES
Dear Canada: Do Not Deport U.S. War Resisters!
The struggle of AWOL GIs to gain sanctuary in Canada is rapidly coming to a head. On June 3, the House of Commons passed a motion calling on the Canadian government to stop all deportation proceedings against U.S. war resisters and allow them to immigrate to Canada.
But the minority Conservative government is ignoring the will of the Canadian Parliament. Iraq veteran and war resister Corey Glass has been told to leave Canada by July 10 or face deportation. The War Resisters Support Campaign in Canada is calling for urgent actions across Canada and the U.S.
Veterans For Peace has joined with Courage To Resist and Project Safe Haven to organize July 9 vigils and delegations to Canadian consular offices throughout the U.S.
There are Canadian consular offices in 22 U.S. cities.
http://geo.international.gc.ca/can-am/washington/offices/default-en.asp.
Veterans For Peace is sending an Open Letter to the Canadian Government and People and is encouraging its 7,000 members to contact the Canadian government directly.
Join in the July 2 International Phone-In to the Canadian Immigration Minister. The War Resisters Support Campaign is hoping for thousands of calls from both the Canada and the U.S. on Wednesday, July 2. (http://resisters.ca/actions.html)
Write letters to the Canadian government. You can send your own letters or you can go online and Courage To Resist will do it for you. Either way, you can get the contact information at www.couragetoresist.org/canada.
Can you help organize a local action on July 9? Contact us ASAP!
Gerry Condon
Project Safe Haven / VFP 92
206-499-1220
projectsafehaven@hotmail.com Jeff Paterson
Courage To Resist / VFP 69
510-488-3559
jeff@couragetoresist.orgBetsy Reznicek
Veterans For Peace National Office
314-725-6005
betsy@veteransforpeace.net
GI resisters are refusing to fight in the illegal and immoral U.S. occupation of Iraq. By supporting them, we will encourage others to follow their example. Help spread the word. Send this Call to Action to your networks! We can make a real difference by acting NOW!
ARMY WAR GAME SHUT DOWN!
Chapter 102 - Milwaukee, along with Peace Action Wisconsin, successfully ran a campaign to stop an Army 'Virtual Army Experience' at Milwaukee's Summerfest.
The 'Virtual Army Experience' is an Army stimulation where participants load into a HUMMWV where they are armed with M4 Rifles and work as a team shoot and kill life size simulator people. The game is meant as an "information-rich experience" where the participants have a "virtual test drive of Soldiering in the U.S. Army". Children as young as the age of 13 are allowed to participate in this real Army experience, equipped with real Army recruiters taking your contact information.
However, thanks to hundreds of phone calls, the Summerfest officials requested that the Army first changed the age limit to use the game from 13 to 18. Then after receiving additional phone calls, the Army had to shut down the 19,000 square foot dome experience completely!
Veterans For Peace members can always be counted on to act fast and make a difference.
Learn more about the 'Virtual Army Experience' and see a list of cities they are going to visit next go to http://vae.americasarmy.com/
Some of the next cities it will visit next are Chicago, Duluth, Indianapolis, Rochester, and Cleveland.
http://www.uppitywis.org/summerfest-stops-virtual-killing-its-lakefront-festival
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=768169
ANTI-WAR SOLDIER - HOW TO DISSENT WITHIN THE RANKS OF THE MILITARY, Written by Jonathan Hutto
Many active duty, reserve, and guard service members are concerned about the war in Iraq and support the withdrawal of U.S. troops. Last year Able seaman Jonathan Hutto banded together with a small group of fellow service men and women and build one of the first active duty antiwar groups since the Vietnam era. Antiwar Soldier offers military personnel and their families a practical toolkit to make their voices heard, drawing on Hutto's own experience as an activist and on the wealth of experience that the GI resistance movement of the 1960s and 1970s. Hutto seeks to educate military members and the public to the citizenship rights that active duty, reserve and National Guard forces have. "In the short term," Hutto writes, "the appeal seeks to mobilize hundreds and thousands of military members throughout the world to file their grievances and reservations with members of Congress on the Iraq War. In the long term, the appeal seeks to build permanence with the formation of an Active Duty Network that can advocate on behalf of active duty members on a range of issues to all levels of government."
>; read Alternet's article, "Jonathan Hutto: People, not politics, will end war in Iraq"
The war on Iran is getting closer. And unfortunately, Congress is pushing forward with House Resolution 362. This resolution calls for, among other things, "imposing stringent inspection requirements on all persons, vehicles, ships, planes, trains, and cargo entering or departing Iran."
While they do not call it a blockade, which is an act of war, that is exactly what they are pushing!
Unfortunately, this resolution has over 230 co-sponsors [See if your Representative is listed as a co-sponsor]. While most in Congress is pushing towards a devastating war against Iran, Representatives Lee, Woolsey, and Waters are proposing Resolution 5056 that brings a special envoy to Iran for the "purpose of easing tensions and normalizing relations between the United States and Iran."
In order to protect our military, as well as the people of Iran, it is important to TAKE ACTION NOW!
1. Call your representative [learn who your Representative is] - If your Representative is listed as a co-sponsor, request that he or she remove their name. One Missouri Representative has already been persuaded to removed his name! Tell them that voting for this resolution will equate to military escalation against Iran - something that the people of American will not tolerate. Vote NO ON RESOLUTION 362.
2. Ask your representative to INSTEAD support House Resolution 5056 that calls for a U.S. envoy to Iran. Diplomatic measures must precede any form of military maneuvering!
3. United for Peace and Justice is calling for a day of action to prevent a war on Iran. Join United For Peace and Justice action day on July 21 with a visit to your local Congressional office. Contact your local office, make an appointment, and go with a clear set of talking points (we will have this for you later).Believe it or not, we finally had to threaten a sit-in.
After more than two months of trying to schedule a brief meeting with Rep. John Conyers (D-MI) to deliver VFP's 23,000 impeachment signatures, we politely informed the Chair of the House Judiciary Committee, in writing, that we would drop by his Washington office with them. And we would sit there until he met with us or hauled us off in handcuffs.
On June 10 VFP issued a news release explaining our intention to call on Conyers the following day. Coincidentally (!) the morning of the 11th, his scheduler called asking, "I hear you're in town today, would you like to meet with the Congressman?"
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In the 1930's, who in Germany could correctly fix the day when fascism actually arrived?
Today in the U.S., who knows for sure how close we've come to it?
The human race learns slowly, but we do learn. For example, as VFP members we've learned that war is not the answer. And in these perilous times more of our fellow citizens are learning that the "Good German" excuse just doesn't get it.
We know what our government is doing abroad. We know that our republic here at home has been beaten nearly unto death. We know we are the responsible parties who must set things right here at home - for our children, for the world.
One important way to begin absolving our complicity and discharging our responsibilities is to hold our malfeasant misleaders in Washington accountable through the way the Constitution provides - impeachment.
When we met with Congressman Conyers on June 11 (link to video 2 minute of that meeting) he said he had not yet read the 35 Articles of Impeachment Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) had introduced two days previously, but that he would do so and report back at a meeting in early July. A second meeting was held, with even more VFP members attending, on July 9th (link to 9 minute video of that meeting,and link to 45 minute video) at which Conyers said he was still trying to make up his mind whether to call impeachment hearings in his committee. He said he needs more support in Congress! Yet another meeting is scheduled with VFP for July 25th.
The platoon of VFP members who attended the meeting say if he says he needs more support in Congress - we will give it to him. Then there will be no more excuses. We need your help to create this impeachment buzz on the Hill.
The Army used to tell us that it took 21 soldiers to keep each one of us grunts fighting in the field - providing us with our life support, from ammunition, to fire support, to medevac. Today a platoon of us is working in Wash, DC on impeachment; we can do it together but we need your support - raise your voice until Congress hears you.
FOR JUST NEXT 7 CRITICAL DAYS CALL YOUR CONGRESSMAN AND DEMAND IMPEACHMENT. If they are for impeachment have them push the Chairman of the Judiciary Committee, Rep Conyers, to act now. We need as many calls, emails and letters as possible before July 25th. GET YOUR FRIENDS AND NEGHBORS TO CALL.
If you are able come to Washington, DC, July 24th will be an impeachment lobbying day where we will personally visit Congressmen demanding impeachment. On July 25th we will attend a Judiciary Committee Hearing, and then meet with Rep. Conyers.
CALL 202-224-3121 for the house switchboard and LEAVE A MESSAGE FOR YOUR OWN CONGRESSMAN TO IMPEACH. Find your Congressman by ZIP Code
Call a member of the Judiciary Committee (202-225-3951) demand impeachment now. (List of Judiciary Committee members) Maybe your Congressman is on the Judiciary Committee call him again.
For our 4,118 KIAS, and the more than one million Iraqis killed by the Administration's lying & murderous policies, GET UP, & CALL CONGRESS!
Elliott Adams
President
PS: Here is a link to a memo I got from David Swanson, one of the most knowledgeable leaders of the impeachment movement, explaining what Congress members could do if they are seriously interested in preserving the rule of law and what is left of our republic.
IMPEACHMENT MEETING WITH CONYERS CANCELLED!
VFP meeting with Chairman of Judiciary Committee, Rep. Conyers is CANCELLED
The meeting was partly the victim of our success. Now that the House Judiciary Committee Hearing will be discussing what options Congress can take to restore the balance of power, including the possibility of IMPEACHMENT, it has become high profile and will crowd out the time of our meeting.
Because of this, the rest of our Campaign has taken on greater significance. Impeachment is now being considered on the Hill. If you don't want them to form some investigate committee to report back in 2 years, NOW IS THE TIME. Get everyone you can to call their Representative and call the Judiciary Committee members and demand impeachment. These are a critical few days.
July 24th will be VFP's Impeachment Lobbying Day, in Wash, DC but why not at district offices?
July 25th Wash, DC, 10AM - VFP attends Judiciary Committee Hearing, which will now probably overflow to at least one other room.
Remember two months ago we could not even get a meeting to just hand the Chairman of the Judiciary Committee 10,000 impeachment petitions. Then VFP members from Wisconsin gave us their 12,000 petitions to deliver, too. We had to brazenly say, "we are going to the office and sitting there he accepts them or we are taken away in handcuffs" (It was bit brazen because I only know of two of us who were ready to get arrested). Now the Chairman is scheduling meeting with us, Kucinich asked us for a meeting with us, and most of all impeachment is on the table. But it is only being discussed. The nation and democracy needs impeachment now! We have this brief window of opportunity to make happen what they 2 months ago they said was impossible.
JOIN THE ACTIONS: FOR JUST NEXT 6 CRITICAL DAYS CALL YOUR CONGRESSMAN AND DEMAND IMPEACHMENT. If they are for impeachment have them push the Chairman of the Judiciary Committee, Rep Conyers, to act now. We need as many calls, emails and letters as possible before July 25th. GET YOUR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS TO CALL.
If you are able come to Washington, DC, July 24th will be an impeachment lobbying day; we will personally visit Congressmen demanding impeachment. On July 25th we will attend a Judiciary Committee Hearing.
CALL 202-224-3121 for the house switchboard and LEAVE A MESSAGE FOR YOUR OWN CONGRESSMAN TO IMPEACH. Find your Congressman by ZIP Code
Call a member of the Judiciary Committee (202-225-3951) demand impeachment now. (List of Judiciary Committee members) Maybe your Congressman is on the Judiciary Committee call him again.
Elliott DS Adams
President, Veterans For Peace
KIRKRIDGE RETREAT
Kirkridge is offering "Journey to Wholeness", a series of weekend workshops specifically designed with veterans and veterans' issues in mind. The program offers Veterans a safe haven for empowerment, camaraderie, mutual support and community-building.
Some veterans served on the front lines and others provided support; none are exempt from the wounds of war. All are on a "Journey to Wholeness". The struggles to become a good citizen, parent, family and community member affect all of us. Veterans are no exception. Yet, survivor's guilt, PTSD, suicide attempts, domestic violence and child abuse, drug and alcohol addiction, and efforts to access services and to re-establish relationships pose extraordinary challenges for veterans.
UPCOMING WORKSHOPS
Healing of Memories - Oct 24-26, 2008
Trauma to Transformation - December 12-14, 2008
Creating a Culture of Peace (CCP): Gandhian Nonviolence Training for Personal & Social Change - March 5-8, 2009
MILLION DOORS FOR PEACE - SEPTEMBER 20
1 Day
25,000 Volunteers
1 Million Doors
On Saturday, September 20, thousands of volunteers across the U.S. will knock on a Million Doors for Peace.
Veterans For Peace is joining United for Peace and Justice, SOAW, US Action/True Majority, Win Without War, and other organizations to make this day the biggest peace action of 2008.
Volunteer doorknockers will ask people to sign an antiwar petition directed to Congress. Our message: End this immoral war, bring our troops home now, and invest in America's future. In addition, we will encourage people to join local anti-war groups, engage in voter education work, and become a part of the organized antiwar movement in their area.
SIGN UP IN ADVANCE TO PARTICIPATE!
In order to reach a million people in a single day, we must organize at least 25,000 volunteers in all 50 states. Peace groups have never implemented such an elaborate communication and organizing plan before now, but with new and traditional communications tools available, we anticipate success with this groundbreaking, grassroots project. This project will not end on September 20, but it will be a new beginning of a more organized grassroots movement for peace and justice.
Training materials, petitions, local groups to canvass with in your area, and handouts will be provided.
Click here to join Million Doors for Peace.
