A "cemetery" of the U.S. Military Teen casualties was done in Santa Barbara, California on Friday, September 17, 2010. The local Teen "cemetery" began @ 10am @ SBCC's West Campus lawn in front of the campus library overlooking Leadbetter Beach on the Pacific Ocean. The SBCC PEACE NOW! Club also met @ 12 noon @ the Calden Overlook, near the Teen "Cemetery".

The Teen "Cemetery" is sponsored by the SB Vets for Peace #54, & partially funded by the Fund For Santa Barbara. The event consisted of "tombstones" of the U.S. militaryTeen Dead, from the Iraq & Afghanistan conflicts. To date we have information on 359, 18 & 19 year old casualties from both conflicts. The "tombstones" were set up & taken down by volunteers from SB VFP #54 & SBCC students. Passerbys were recruited on the spot to place a placard of a teen casualty on the "tombstones".

Information about the cost of war, the immediate withdrawal of troops from Iraq & Afghanistan, and an SBCC form for students to be taken off the military's recruitment list, in opposition to the Solomon Amendment were shared. Also free books, newsletters & DVD's on the cost of war were available, & donations were accepted. Two pettitions were circulated & sent to Congress: one to stop the Military Use of Depleted Uranium and one to withdraw our military from Iraq & Afghanistan immediately.

The Local mock Teen Cemetery began @ 10 am @ SBCC on the West Campus lawn across from the campus library overlooking Leadbetter Beach on the Pacific Ocean. The event is sponsored by the SB Veterans for Peace, Chapter 54, and partially funded by the fund For Santa Barbara. To date we displayed 357 tombstones and placards on 18 & 19 year olds casualties from the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts. The seven new casualties consisted of 2, 18 year olds and 5,  19 year olds. Six were from Afghanistan and one from Iraq.

August 20th was the Friday before SBCC begins it's Fall Semester on the following Monday. Faculty & staff were on hand for in-service and students were getting oriented, buying books and getting registered. We were able to get students, staff, faculty & visitors to view the Teen Memorial, obtain free books on the Vietnam War, "Vietam Ambush" by our Chapter President, Dan Seidenberg, Jr. and DVD's on Arlington West by Peter Dudar & Sally Mar, from Laughing Tears Productions for a small donation. Students signed petitions to Stop the Military use of Depleted Uranium for VFP, Chapter 116, P.O. Box 96, Albion, Ca 95410 and to Withdraw our Military from Iraq & Afghanistan immediately for American Friends Service Committee (AFSC), 637 Dearborn, 3rd Fl., Chicago, IL 60605.

Students also took an SBCC form to be taken off the military's recruitment list, in opposition to the Solomon Amendment. This form allows students to prevent the release of their personal information to the Military Recruiters by using the Family Educational Rights & Privacy Act (FERPA) of 1974 to withold the release of their "Directory Information" to the military and others. Students also signed up to form an official SBCC club "Veterans For Peace Student Club" for Fall, 2010.

On SBCC's graduation day, the monthly mock cemetery of U.S. Military Teen casualties was set up and ran from 10am -3pm on the West Campus lawn overlooking Leadbetter Beach on the Pacific Ocean. Many students, including international students from Norway & Sweden paused on this busy day to place a placard of the color photo & information of teen casualties (18 & 19) year olds from the Afghanistan & Iraq conflicts. To date there are 346 such casualties.

The cost of war, immediate troop withdrawal, anti-depleted uranium use, & student military recruitment refusal information was also shared.

The sponsors, the Santa Barbara Veterans for Peace, Chapter 54, are proud to announce that The Fund For Santa Barbara has awarded us a General Fund Grant of $7,500 for the SBCC Teen Memorial: Peace is Inevitable project for funding year, June, 2010 - July, 2011. The Fund For Santa Barbara is celebrating Thirty years of "Change, Not Charity" and is the outstanding progressive funding source in Santa Barbara County.

This funding will allow us to continue and expand our VFP Tabling @ SBCC on the 1st, 2nd and 4th Tuedays of every month and the "Teen" memorial every 3rd Friday of each month @ SBCC in conjunction with the National War Moratorium. New features to our project will be: 1) An Emergency Revolving Loan Fund for SBCC Iraq & Afghanistan Veterans; 2) Free Cell Phone Bank & Congress phone numbers so that SBCC students & others can advocate for Federal Peace & Justice Legislation; 3) Free current Peace & Justice information, stickers, peace necklaces, newsletters, magazines, books, & DVD's in English & Spanish if available, for a donation.

 

Yes, we were at the Peace Bell on the third Friday of both March and April.  The weekly vigil has, unfortunately, ended for now.  The crush of personal responsibility and the need to make a living dictate pulling back on volunteer peacemaking.  But we keep up the monthly vigil with people across the nation to end the wars--the national (formerly "Iraq", now "War"), War Moratorium.

In March, I met three middle school students whose opinions ran the gamut from "war is crazy." to "I don't know," to "I thought about going into the army."  I know they had thought about some of the deeper issues involved in such a decision. I believe they left with more to think about with the facts assembled by the Quakers' American Friends Service Committee info written for teenagers about the life-changing effects joining the military.  I have to say, I was inspired by their comments to recruit a friend and sign up for training myself--to go into our local high school with the information I usually pass out at the Peace Bell.  I knew graduation is just around the bend, so I had to act fast.

Luckily, some things are just meant to be-- as when the universe easily clicks pieces together to bring about events.  My friend, Tina Michael, said yes right away.  Training (and  5 people's schedules) was arranged within a week.  A call to guidance counselor landed us an appointment within days after training,  and we were offered a chance to speak directly to the seniors with one phone call.  A week later we were speaking to  sleepy seniors in first and second bell, a time you could say truly that those with ears to hear, could hear.   This is a true example of all obstacles being cleared away for things that are meant to happen.

Thank goodness! Sometimes majic happens when we are open to the mysteries of existance.

Now in April, it's a different type of story, when I have a chance  to talk to self-proclaimed "Crazy Charlie" and he wants me to be his girlfriend... a story for another time.  God bless the peaceful work we do.

Vicki Dierig

N. Ky Justice and Peace Committee, Intercommunity Justice and Peace Center

 

Hundreds of protesters turned out in Milwaukee on Friday, March 19, and in Madison on Saturday, March 20, to protest the continued war in Iraq and the escalation of the war in Afghanistan.    The Milwaukee event was sponsored by the Milwaukee Coalition for a Just Peace, and featured David Newby, President of the Wisconsin State AFL-CIO. Union members, veterans, students, and peace activists marched from Federal Plaza to City Hall to protest the war, layoffs, and cutbacks in education.

 

 

 

 

In Madison, David Newby addressed the noon rally on the UW Library Mall on behalf of the State AFL-CIO and U.S. Labor Against the War, of which the State Fed is an active member. The South Central Federation of Labor endorsed the rally and a good number of union members turned out.

 

Later that afternoon, Newby and Sue Ruggles (AFT Local 212 at Milwaukee Area Technical College and, along with Newby, a member of the Steering Committee of U.S. Labor Against the War) led a workshop on "The Impact of the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars on Wisconsin Working Families". Since 2001, Wisconsin residents have paid $16.7 billion to finance these wars-more than twice as much as our state budget deficits in these years. The teach-in was co-organized by AFT-W retiree Adam Schesch, pictured with David Newby.

The workshop that followed, "The Ground War in Afghanistan: The Reality" was led by Afghanistan veteran Mathew Justice and IVAW member Todd Dennis.

(Thanks to Sue Ruggles for pictures and report)

On March 19, 2010 the local mock Teen Cemetery began @ 10 am @ SBCC on the West campus lawn across from the campus library overlooking Leadbetter Beach on the Pacific Ocean. The event consisted of 341 "Tombstones" of 18 & 19 year old U.S. casualties from the Iraq & Afghanistan Conflicts. The set-up, take down and interaction of passerbys to place the placards of photos & info of the teenagers on the "Tombstones" was done by several volunteers from the SB Vets for Peace Chapter 54 and SBCC students.

In the afternoon 2 large classes of Philosophy & Communications students and their instructors came by and participated in the interactive memorial by placing placards of the fallen teenagers on the "tombstones" reading the information and many pausing on the sunny lawnscape to pray & reflect on the potential loss of these youth.

Throughout the day many students also helped themselves to free information about the cost of war and the immediate withdrawal of troops from Iraq & afghanistan as well as free copies of the popular book "Addicted to War". Many students took the SBCC form for students to be taken off of the military's recruitment list in opposition to the Solomon Amendment dictates. Students, staff & visitors also signed the 2 available petitions: 1) To stop the Military use of Depleted Uranium & 2) To withdraw our Military immediately from Iraq & Afghanistan. Both to be sent to the President & Congress.

After this event many VFP members, SBCC Students & Staff convened with many others from the Peace Community @ 5-6pm in downtown Santa Barbara, @ the corners of Chapala & Carrillo Streets on the sidewalk to display signs & banners to remind home ward traffic that the Iraq War was in its 7th year and that it was time to END THIS ILLEGAL WAR AND BRING OUR TROOPS HOME NOW!!!!  Our Peaceful Demonstration was met with enthusiastic Honks, thumbs up and peace signs.

Walter Reed Vigil Report   March 5, 2010     No. 43

BRING ALL THE TROOPS HOME, NOW!

The Walter Reed Vigil continues every Friday evening from 7-9 PM.

Our Vigil calls for Peace, Care for the wounded, and Full Benefits for all veterans.

Sisters and brothers,

Think about joining with us on Friday evenings.

March 2010 Vigil dates are:  5th, 12th, 19th and 26th.

It's no secret that despite the ever widening war front and further occupations of foreign lands, March 19 is a date of significance on our calendar. With coldblooded indifference to the consequences, the President, with the permission of an acquiescent Congress, unleashed the armed forces of the United States without provocation upon another nation. Ignoring the many calls for peace, the millions marching for forbearance here and around the world, and the international community of nations, the government of the United States made total war on the nation of Iraq. Screaming missiles fell on residential neighborhoods. A nation was torn asunder. A civilized people were reduced to barbarity. In an instant, all of us, the whole of the United States, became the chief terrorists of the world. We proved that we could destroy and murder more in a single day than Al Qaida could ever hope. We showed 'em. We showed the world. We beat our chests and looked on with delight. Every good dream the people who make up the United States had built for 200 years was shattered and gone in a few hours of wailing jets and rumbling tank treads. March 19, 2003 is marked. It is remembered because the crime of war, the corruption and soullessness of war continues. It continues each minute and hour of each day. The actions of our nation descend further into an abyss where no moral line can be found that cannot be crossed. In the 20th Century another barbarism was described as the banality of evil. The United States has gone a step further to the normalcy of evil. We no longer need rationales for performing abominable acts--our responsibility can be dismissed with a shrug of the shoulders. So what. Whatever. Who cares? What's it to me? I don't think about it. Whatever it takes. Shit happens.

A song kept locked in our hearts does not make music. Moral recognition not expressed as an action is neither remorse nor responsibility. There is a reason for taking some time out of our lives to take a stand with others in opposition to government policy. We can march one day, on March 20, and that is good. We can also regularly attend a vigil like the Walter Reed Vigil to make standing for Peace a permanent part of our lives.

We do not accept a need for war. We do not accept the business of war. The people of the world are not our enemies. The air, and soil, and rivers, and oceans are to be shared by all of us, not owned by a few. The first instincts of humans are to celebrate and love and create. Hate and murder have to be forced upon us. We can make the time to stand for Peace.

In solidarity,

Bruce Wolf

Walter Reed Vigil participant

From 7-9 PM, join us in front of Walter Reed Army Medical Center, middle of the 7100 block of Georgia Avenue between Elder and Dahlia Streets.

After being away for the months of December and January we returned on Friday February 19, 2010 at Santa Barbara City College with our local mock Teen Cemetery. To date we have information on 337, 18 & 19 year old U.S. military casualties from the Iraq & Afghanistan conflicts.

"Tombstones" were set up & taken down by volunteers from the Santa Barbara Veterans for Peace, chapter 54 and SBCC students. Faculty, staff, students & visitors passing by on the West Campus were asked to place a placard of the color photo & information of a teen casualty on the "Tombstones".

Information about the cost of war and the immediate withdrawal of troops from Iraq & Afghanistan were shared. Information on the CD's RethinkAfghanistan and Arlington West were available.

An SBCC form for students to be taken off the military's recruitment list, in opposition to the Solomon Amendment was given out. The Solomon Amendment allows colleges & Universities to give student names, phone #'s and other private information to 17 components of the U.S. Military Service each summer session, semester or quarter. Students can prevent the release of their information to the military recruiters by using the Family Educational Rights & Privacy Act (FERPA), of 1974 to withold the release of their "Directory Information" to the military & others.

The following 2 petitions were available to be signed and sent to the U.S. Congress:

1. Stop the Military Use of Depleted Uranium, for VFP Chapter 116, P.O. Box 96, Albion, CA 95410.

2. Withdraw our military from Iraq & Afghanistan immediately, for American Friends Service Committee (AFSC), 637 Dearborn, 3rd Fl.,Chicago, IL 60605.

A committee of two committed peacemakers met at the World Peace Bell for the  3rd weekend War Moratorium vigil despite a good 6 inches of snow on the ground and temperatures hovering just above freezing.  In spite of the cold, conversation sped along the time and many passers-by in car and on foot greeted us and our message with honks, waves and thumbs up.  " Health Care not Warfare" and "Earn the Prize, Stop the Wars" speak to contemporary issues and headlines and our neighbors  seem genuinely glad to see us protesting the continuing assaults in foreign countries. All in all we have 3 and 1/2 years of weekly vigils at the same location regardless of the weather or political conditions!

Remember the ARMY OF ONE slogan the military used?  I always disliked that because, why be part of an army if you are the only one?.  We can do better than that for our young men and women in wars.  I am a peacemaker, not a warrior, but on this Iraq Moratorium day I vigiled alone.

Being out in the open and meeting people is difficult for me sometimes as a shy person.  You can see by my figure I've been eating my powdermilk biscuits, and there are many places I'd rather be than looking like a middle-age crazy-woman standing with a sign on a windy street corner in my home town. I try to stay peaceful within myself and not worry about appearances, but it ain't easy.

The news never covers me.  News vans have driven by me several times and show no interest whatsoever.  I'm told any event drawing under 8 people is not worth doing.   Still I continue, never knowing who I'll get to talk to or who sees my sign as they drive by.  I don't know what they think about me.  I only know I have to be there because troops are still  living in the desert and fighting among innocent people using weapons and deadly force in our names; because the causes have been forgotten in the everyday lives of most people in this country.

I could end my vigil at any time and no one would notice but me and a few others in the peace community.  Many others peacemakers are feeling discouraged, as am I. What is the world coming to when a surge has been authorized by a peace prize winner?  But the only way to have a future is through eliminating violence and taking action on behalf of planet earth and world peace.  This may be the age of violence, but it will be turned into the age of peace.  The amount of turmoil between now and then is up to each of us and our connection to inner peace.

Northern Wisconsin peace activists were out in force last week in support of both the Iraq Moratorium and the Progressive Democrats of America's Brown Bag Vigil campaign.

On Wednesday, December 16th, 20 people converged on Congressman Dave Obeys office in Superior, WI, to demand an end to funding for military operations in Afghanistan and Iraq. After spending 45 minutes in front of Obeys office with a message of "Healthcare Not Warfare" and "End War Now", 17 of us went inside to meet with one of Obeys aides. We filled out constituent request forms asking Congressman Obey to use his position as House Appropriations Committee Chairman to start refusing to fund President Obamas plans for escalation in Afghanistan.

And on Friday, December 18th, almost 20 activists from Peace North in Hayward, WI, (also in Congressman Obeys district), gathered in observance of Iraq Moratorium Day.

The location might have been different, but the message was the same. Enough of endless funding for endless wars. It's time to start re-directing wasteful and unnecessary military spending toward human needs here at home and abroad.

 

 

 

 

 

During this Holiday season let's all try to remember those at home and abroad who are suffering from the ravages of these wars, and let's all renew our commitment in 2010 to bring them to an end!

 

 

The Iraq Moratorium in November was observed at the World Peace Bell on the 20th with plenty of honks and peace signs to the 2 peacemakers in front of the inspiring symbol of world peace.    We held signs calling for the end of the wars- to bring the troops home and pay for healthcare, infrastructure, etc and end the waste of lives and tax dollars in the name of more killing.  Let it end soon, defund the wars and fund American projects. Let's try peace.  Let peace ring.      someday soon... someday...

I put a new bumper sticker on my car in the missile-building Bible belt town where I live: "Who Would Jesus Bomb?" (For non-Bible Belters, this is a variation of a popular Christian bumper sticker, "What Would Jesus Do?")

Jane

 

I told my history classes about the trickery President Polk used to launch the invasion of Mexico.

Chip, Southern AR

I got a "Vietnamistan" bumper sticker and am onsidering a showing of "Rethink Afghanistan."

Ajagbe Adewole, Tucson AZ


We had a dinner discussion with some locals and sent some letters back home. Thanks for ratcheting up!

Michael Leonardi,  Calabria Italy

November, 2009:

A mock Tombstone cemetery of US Military Teen Casualties was held @ SBCC, west campus, above Leadbetter Beach on the Pacific Ocean. This was done by the Santa Barbara Veterans for Peace, Chapter 54. These Coroplast "Tombstones" have information on 331, 18 & 19 year old casualties from the Iraq & Afghanistan conflicts. Several public, staff & students were asked to place a placard of a teen casualty on a "tombstone". As they walk to the "tombstones" they have a chance to see a colored photo of the teen & to read where he/she are from, what military branch & how, when & where they died.

A reporter from the Local Mesa Paper was there,photos and an article will appear in the next Monthly issue in December, 2009.

Information about the cost of war and the immediate withdrawal of troops from Iraq & Afghanistan was shared. A large banner in red & white stating RethinkAfghanistan.com was displayed in front & to the side of the "Teen Memorial". The Video was shared on campus the night before by students in a large campus auditorium.

An SBCC form for students to be taken off the military's recruitment list, in opposition to the Solomon Amendment was given out. The Solomon Amendment allows colleges & Universities to give student names, ph.#'s & other private information to 17 components of the U.S. Military service each term. Students can prevent the release of their information to military recruiters by using the Family Educational Rights & Privacy Act (FERPA) of 1974 to withhold the release of their "Directory Information" to the military & others.

Two Pettiions were circulated @ the memorial to be sent to Congress to:

1. Stop the Military Use of Depleted Uranium for VFP, Chapter 116, P.O. Box 96, Albion, Ca 95410

2. Withdraw our military from Iraq & Afghanistan immediately for Peace Action Education Fund: 1100 Wayne Ave. Ste. 1020 Silver Spring, Md 20910 www.Peace-Action.org

Kites for Peace: When we say "End the Wars Now" people keep saying "go fly a kite"..... so we did.... with participation from NOAC, VFP, ACLU, MEPF and more... the Rally and speakers were at Market Square, we marched to Fairview Park in the Near West Community and flew our Kites for Peace.

Over 80 people came to protest war on Saturday, October 17th.  We gathered at Phoenix Park and marched ten blocks to the Federal Building.  We handed out literature to passers-by and had many signs to show our support of peace.  We played our drums, tamborines, and sang all the way.  Four media sources covered our march!

-Eric

 

Nine people braved the harsh weather Friday to maintain the 3rd weekend Iraq Moratorium vigil.  The N. KY Justice and Peace Commmittee joined The National Assembly, ANSWER Coalition, USLAW, Code Pink, et al. and local groups across the nation to stop the wars and occupations.  Though it was  cold and windy and threatening rain the entire time, 9 stalwart citizens including 3 Sisters of Notre Dame held signs and  spoke to rush hour commuters about bringing the troops and the dollars home.

Our theme was "HEALTHCARE NOT WARFARE."  Our flier highlighted Kentucky's share of taxes spent on war, close to 7 BILLION dollars, is enough to provide almost 2.000,000 citizens with healthcare for a year!!!
As Martin Luther King, Jr. pointed out, waging war in foreign countries causes bleeding in our own communities through loss of tax money needed for education, healthcare, and infrastructure, etc.   Most important, it is immoral to continue to  sacrifice our country's children for illegal and unwinable wars.

 

 

One hundred and fifty people attended a Teach-In on Afghanistan at Los Angeles City College, Saturday, October 21, 2009, in support of the Iraq Moratorium and to demand an end to the wars in both Iraq and Afghanistan. Participants included students and people of all ages, and ethnic and racial backgrounds. Many are active in peace and justice organizations, but for many this was the first anti-war event they attended. The Teach-In was initiated by the Answer coalition, and supported by many other organizations. Speakers included Hamid Kahn of the South Asia Network; Muna Coobtee, a Palestinian-American with the National Council of Arab Americans; Richard Becker, Answer West Coast Regional Director; Ivan Goldman of Military Families Speak Out; Tamara Khoury of Students Fight Back at California State University at Fullerton; Juan Jose Guitierrez of the Latino Movement USA; Michael Prysner, Iraq war veteran; Jollene Levid of the women's organization Gabriela Network; Benny Moto of the FMLN of El Salvador in Los Angeles; Michael Lindley of Veterans for Peace; and Paul Krehbiel of the Iraq Moratorium.

Speakers gave a detailed history of efforts by foreign colonial powers to subjugate Afghanistan, and the Afghan people's long history of successful resistance to foreign domination. Many speakers explained the war was to set up US military bases in the region, to help US owned Unocal to build a big oil and natural gas pipeline through Afghanistan, to continue Bush's war because the US doesn't want to be seen by the world as having been defeated there, and others. All speakers called for an end to the war and occupation of Afghanistan and to bring all US troops home now.

On Saturday, October 17,  North Texas for Justice and Peace, the Dallas Peace Center, the al-Zeidi Society and Billionaires for Bush joined Media Benjamin and Code Pink at the gate at the end of George W. Bush's street. (It has been gated since we started demonstrating there, calling for Bush to be held accountable.) Code Pink "serenaded the war criminal".  The police expressed displeasure with our use of audio amplifiers.

We moved to the Dallas office of US Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison, where we were joined by Bilionaires for Wealth Care and members of the Libertarian Party. There were between 40 and 60 people, and the response from passing motorists was very positive.

The Teen Memorial was another success @ SBCC on Friday, October 16, 09. Unfortunately now there are 328 18 & 19 year old casualties from the Iraq & AFghanistan conflicts. Casualties from Afghanistan are now more frequent each month than from Iraq. To this extent we now are displaying a large banner stating: Rethink Afghanistan: rethinkafghanistan.com . Brave New Foundation presents A Robert Greenwald Film "Rethink Afghanistan".

 

The SBCC form for students to be taken off the Military's Recruitment list, in opposition to the Soloman Amendment was given out. The Solomon Amendment allows Colleges & universities to give student names, phone #s & other private information to 17 components of the U.S. Military each term. Students can prevent the release of their information to the Military Recruiters by using the Family Educational Rights & Privacy Act (FERPA) of 1974 to withold the release of their "Directory Information" to the military & others.

Two Petitions are still being circulated to be sent to Congress:

1. Stop the Military Use of Depleted Uranium for VFP, Chapter 116, P.O. Box 96, Albion, CA 95410.

2. A countdodwn to Withdrawal from Iraq & no detours to Afghanistan. For American Friends Service Committee. (AFSC) 637 S. Dearborn, 3rd fl., Chicago IL 60605 or

www.countdowntowithdrawal.org

 

 

 

 

 

Our September vigil once again included both new faces and people who had been with us before:

 

 

 

Again, we had enthusiastic responses from passing motorists, buses, cyclists, and pedestrians.

 

More pictures from our September vigil and from previous vigils can be seen at:

 

www.flickr.com/photos/haightpeacevigil

 

 

 

On Friday, September 18th a group of peace activists assembled near a busy intersection in Eau Claire. We stood out for over an hour to demonstrate our passion for peace and justice in the world!

On September 18, 2009 we gathered in a War Moratorium vigil at Chelesa Parade in Norwich, CT. We continue our effort to remind our community that we are still engaged in war that has no benefit to any society. Our numbers vary month to month, but the vigil is held.

We had a beautiful waning summer day to speak for peace.

 

 

ON VIGILING ALONE

Article two

One great thing about vigiling alone is that anyone anywhere can do it for their own benefit and for the benefit of all humankind.  This exercise in waiting and watching implies some suffering, born in the garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus asked the apostles to watch and pray with Him.  Instead, they slept. 

Most people in America are asleep to some extent, trying to be unaware of the awful cost of war; the death and dismemberment, the daily destruction, the displacement, everything that is war.   As activists, the more aware we are, the more we suffer each day as we watch the news taking us deeper into war and economic disaster.  Our communities are suffering.  America's children are being killed--- for Middle East oil.  We have lost all morality when we plot to get oil paid for with the blood of our children!  With three wars going on, we are on the brink of disaster in this country as well as in the countries we've attacked- Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan. 

Into this morass our loving and peaceful thoughts seem pitiful and lost.  We wonder if anything we say or do will have any effect in the current climate.  But, as it turns out, good  is very powerful.   Our pure mental energy has the power to change matter and events in the world at large,  our physicists now tell us.  Our peaceful intentions and actions toward people and toward the planet counteract the poisons that spew from the military.  Other sources say we all are co-creators  and, in fact, we are all one.  If we choose to, we can connect to one another, to the oneness of the universe, to spirit, to the earth, or to God as you understand God to be.   Take a moment to breathe in and take in this thought.

So we pick up our spirits and make a sign and sit out on our lawn or on a street corner or we proceed to do our part, whatever it may be.  Just put it on your calendar for the next several months so you're more apt to do it.  Whether it is public or private is your choice.   I'm on a busy street corner in Newport, KY so I make it my mission to talk to everyone, to anyone who will listen.  But it is equally as valid to breathe and relax, to listen to your inner guide, wherever you are.  We need peace within ourselves.   Yes, we need to watch and listen and pray. 

Various groups meditate at noon every day. Feel free to join in.  The Course in Miracles recommends attunement as often as once every hour.   In contrast, the Iraq Moratorium is asking only one weekend a month, the third weekend, to drop your ordinary chores and do something to help end the wars, all wars. 

October 16/17/18^th is an especially important time, as citizens across the U.S. will join national and local efforts to send a message to our Congress:   STOP THE SLAUGHTER! END THE WARS!   Join a local group for the power in numbers, or vigil alone.  Either way, help expand the effort toward peace and good, for your own benefit and for the future of the world.

We rallied 13 war opposing demonstrators this past Friday.  Flyers about next month's demonstration were passed out to interested persons.  We will join the thousands getting out next month on Oct. 17, 2009 for a National Day of Action.

The War Moratorium & Teen Memorial was set up @ Santa Barbara City College on Friday, September 18, 2009. To date there has been 327, Eighteen & Nineteen year old U.S. Military Teen Dead, from the Iraq & Afghanistan conflicts. The event began @ 10 am @ Santa Barbara City College on the west Campus lawn across from the campus library overlooking Leadbetter Beach on the Pacific Ocean. This event was covered by Photo Journalist, Dylan Haley, from the Santa Barbara Newspress Online TV coverage.

The Northern Kentucky Justice and Peace Committee advertised the Iraq Moratorium Oct 17th weekend at N.KY's  local Oktoberfest on Sept. 12-13..   With just 3 dedicated peacemakers we gave leaflets to foot traffic and  saw about 5000 cars  in 4 hours.  Our message: "Healthcare not Warfare", "Call Congress", and "Bring our Children Home"  received honks, waves and a shout out, "You're doing this for all of us.!"  National priorities.org lists the cost of the war in KY tax dollars (7 bil), enough to give 2 million Kentuckians healthcare for a year!  National contact numbers were listed for citizens to voice their opinions on the wars, bringing the troops home, healthcare and the economy to their Representative and Senators in congress where it can do the most good.

Hayward’s Iraq Moratorium event this month, from 4-6 PM, allowed 26 people to demonstrate their first Amendment rights! Some visiting tourists dropped by and we raised more money for the local Food Shelf.

 

Our Moratorium Day had a Health Care Not Warfare theme as our day started early for two carloads of us who attended a Healthcare Town hall meeting in White Hall, WI that Rep. Ron Kind held for discussion. Amid hecklers and public option supporters, we spoke to people and shared stories. Bottom line: We all share common ground. WE HAVE TO START WORKING TOGETHER!

Corner of Hwys 63 and 27, downtown Hayward next month, Sept. 18, we can’t give up... reminding our fellow citizens that there is blood on all our hands until this madness stops.

 

July 21, 2009

I have vigilled almost every Friday over the past 3 years to see a just end to these unjust wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Today I happen to be vigiling alone on a sunny, muggy, Moratorium Friday in the Ohio River Valley. Though somewhat uncomfortable to do alone on a busy street corner for an hour, it gives me time to think… of the many wonderful peacemakers who have shared this space at the World Peace Bell.

I’d like to name them and acknowledge each for their help and presence here and their myriad other works on behalf of peace: First and foremost, Sr. Alice Gerdemann, CDP, founder of IJPC; also, Sr. Dorothy , Sr. Janet, Sr. Paula, Sister Leah, SND plus a number of other Sisters of the Congregation of Divine Providence (who also taught me in high school here in Newport, KY). Thanks also to my Peace Camp friend, Tina Michael, free trade activist Angela Cassanova, Trasy Durso of the Womens Crisis Center, Jim from the IRS, Homeschoolers Holly and her 3 children… Salutes to returning GIs Caleb Bunton, Jake and Cassie and Brian. Then there’s Jill Dew, singer , Phil Lachmann and Missy Vogelpohl; Mike and Steve, a Preacher who talked metaphysics with me, the Mormans and the Agent in Black; and, of course, my partner, Marty Winter, who loves me in spite of everything.

I‘d also like to give a special thanks to Sean McDonald, an ardent writer and activist, for his months of faithful vigiling, bringing yard signs to give away from a display he made himself. He always covered for me every time I had to be absent . Anyone I forgot, send me an e-mail and let me have it! (@ This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ). It’s an omission of the brain, not of my heart.

Then again, vigiling alone makes me wonder: if 75-80 percent of the country opposes the wars we’re in, why have they not ended? Where are all those citizens today and how can we reach them? It seems our world is truly on the brink. We all need to be active. Let’s all organize big for Oct. 17^th, 2009!

Hayward’s July 19 Iraq Moratorium event was successful as we reconnected with friends who had been away for a while. Fifteen tried and true stood out on the corners of Hwy 63 and 27 with signs and banners. We gathered items for the local Community Food Shelf and one prominent business owner dropped off a $50 donation. His son is just home from Afghanistan and he was happy to have him home SAFE! People opposing us need to understand that our support for our service members is genuine. War and violence does not lead to peace, plain and simple. Planning for next month includes letters to our representatives signed by all on the corner.

Observing the Iraq Moratorium for the 23rd consecutive month, the Iraq Moratorium: Cornwall Edition met on Friday night and undertook a new campaign.

Our Congressman, Chris Murphy (D, CT 5), after voting against  Bush’s last two “emergency supplemental” appropriations (and after telling a Moratorium activist he wouldn’t), voted “yes” on the latest $108 billion dollar approriation for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. We drafted a courteous but firm letter asking him why and requesting he tell his constituents (a majority of whom want these wars over, right now) what active steps he is taking to end the wars.

On Saturday some of us went to the Cornwall rummage sale, the central event on the town’s summer social calender. We set up an ironing board (better height for getting signatures) and a sign that read “Tell Chris Murphy: No More $ For War!” We asked folks who passed by to sign individual copies of the letters. We provided envelopes with stamps, pre-addressed to Murphy’s nearest in-state office and left with several dozen letters.

Many who stopped not only signed but added their own post scripts. Several said they had voted for him, but not for him to do this. One 7-year-old chided him for giving all the money to war.

We will keep collecting signatures in Cornwall and in neighboring towns in his district through the coming weeks, and hope to clog his office mailboxes with our voices.

We had 17 participants at the July Haight Ashbury Peace Vigil. More than half were new participants. Rainbow brought one of his paintings, which added color to our signs. One new participant climbed a tree.The responses from passing cars and buses seemed more enthusiastic than usual.

More pictures of this vigil and of our past vigils can be seen here

A mock cemetery of U.S. Military Teen Casualties was done in SB, Calif. today Friday, July 17, 2009 calling for the immediate end of war & occupation from Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Palestine. The local mock Teen Cemetery was begun @10am in SB, Calif. @SBCC on the West Campus lawn across from the campus library overlooking Leadbetter Beach on the Pacific Ocean. The event is sponsored by the SB Vets for Peace, Chapter 54 and consisted of 319 mock "Tombstones" representing 18 & 19 year old casualties from the Iraq & Afghanistan conflicts. Students, staff & visitors passing by were asked to place a placard of a colored photo & information of a teen casualty on the "Tombstones".

Information about the cost of war and the immediate withdrawal of troops from Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Palestine were shared. An SBCC form for students to be taken off the military's recruitment list, in opposition to the Solomon Amendment was distributed. The Solomon Amendment allows Colleges & Universities to give student names, phone #'s and other private information to 17 components of the U.S. Military Service each term. Students can prevent the release of their information to the Military Recruiters by using the Family Educational Rights & Privacy Act (FERPA), of 1974 to withold the release of their "Directory Information" to the military.

Two petitions were circulated @ the memorial to be sent to Congress to:

1. Stop the Military Use of Depleted Uranium for VFP, Chapter 116, P.O. Box 96, Albion California, 95410

2. A Countdown To Withdrawal From Iraq; funding for an Iraqi-led recounstruction of the country; take care of veterans upon their return home; no more pre-emptive wars; and no detours to Afghanistan. For American Friends Service Committee (AFSC), 637 S. Dearborn, 3rd. Fl., Chicago, Il 60605 or www.countdowntowithdrawal.org

Local TV KEYT NEWS Channel 3 were present to film and interview volunteers & participants, to be viewed on Friday, July 17, 2009 @ 6 pm.

Reporters were also present from the SB Independent Newspaper for Photos & article to come out on Thurs. July 23, 2009.

 

 

A SMALL BUT VOCIFEROUS NUMBER OF IMC ACTIVISTS HANDED OUT
LEAFLETS AND GOT LOTS OF CAR- HORN ENCOURAGEMENT  TO THEIR PRESENCE IN
THE FAMED PANHANDLE AREA OF SAN FRANCISCO ON FRIDAY, JUNE 19.

SIGNS THEY HELD DEMANDED THE TROOPS BE BROUGHT HOME  NOW AND THE
U.S. NOT ESCALATE ITS WARS IN THE MIDDLE EAST, BUT MAKE AN EXIT STRATEGY
THE TOP PRIORITY.  PASSERS-BY WHO STOPPED TO CHAT EXPRESSED FRUSTRATION
THAT THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION WAS DANGEROUSLY EXPANDING THE WARS.

Ten activists stood at a busy intersection on Friday, June 19th for a couple hours. We're all excited about where the movement is headed in the next few months and are committed to building a larger base.  Peace to all.

 

-Eric

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The Veterans for Peace Chapter 180, from Duluth MN/Superior WI, brought their float down to Rice Lake on Sunday, June 20th, for the 46th annual AquaFest parade.

The People for Peace in Rice Lake sponsored the entry, which was viewed by thousands along the parade route, in observance of Iraq Moratorium weekend.

A mock cemetery of the U.S. Military Teen casualties was set up in Santa Barbara, California on Friday, June 19, 2009, as part of the National & International grassroots War Moratorium Movement calling for the immediate end of War and Occupation from Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan.

The June 19 actions here, across the country and the world mark the continuation of the War Moratorium, to unite individuals and groups who act to end Wars and Massacres, on the Third Friday of every month.

The local mock teen cemetery began @ 10am in Santa Barbara, California @ SBCC on the West Campus lawn across from the campus library overlooking Ledbetter Beach on the Pacific Ocean.

The event was sponsored by the SB Vets for Peace Chapter 54. The event consisted of a mock cemetery of the U.S. Military Teen Dead, from the Iraq & Afghanistan conflicts. To date we have information 317, 18 & 19 year old casualties from both conflicts.

The "Tombstones" were set up by volunteers from the SB Vets for Peace Chapter & SBCC students. The public, staff & students passing by on the walkway between the East & West campuses were asked to come down on the lawn to place a placard of the colored photo & information of a teen casualty on the "Tombstones". Information about the cost of war and the immediate withdrawal of troops from Iraq, Afghanistan & Pakistan was shared.

An SBCC Form for students to be taken off the Military's recruitment list, in opposition to the Solomon Amendment was given out. The Solomon Amendment allows Colleges & Universities to give student names, phone #'s, & other private information to 17 components of the U.S. Military Service each term. Students can prevent the release of their information to the Military Recruiters by using the Family Educational Rights & Privacy Act (FERPA) of 1974 to withhold the release of their "Directory Information" to the military.

A petition to Congress to Stop the Military Use of Depleted Uranium, from VFP, Chapter 116 and a petition to Congress for the "Countdown to withdrawal" from the American Friends Service Committee were signed by many.

 

This month was exciting because we had 3 Rice Lake activists come to stand with our 15, for a total of 18. They brought their "Demoncracy Now" truck complete with signs and music - of course playing "Give Peace a Chance" by John Lennon.  They drove around town several times with it playing and was quite impressive.  We had fun interacting with the drivers going by, as many were positive and glad that we are out here! 

A dozen Milwaukeeans (actually, some folks from out of town) held signs on all four corners of downtown's busiest intersection from 5 to 6pm on Friday, June 19.  As always, enthusiastic honks from passing cars, and no obvious negative reactions.

It was, at least as far as we know, the first group observance so far
of the Iraq Moratorium at the Grand Canyon! A backpacking trip deep
into the little-visited Palisades of the Desert joined two old hands at
the Moratorium, Dody and Dennis, with John and Denny, who learned about
the IM on the trip. On Friday, May 15, we broke our base camp routine
and talked about  ending the war. We also put on IM gear--hats,
buttons, tee-shirts and a hoodie--that Dennis and Dody had carried in
for this picture. (You can order your own--and put a few pennies in the
Moratorium coffers while doing so--by going to cafepress(dot)com and
entering Iraq Moratorium in the search box.)

The Haight Ashbury Peace Vigil had more than twice as many people at our May peace vigil as we had in April. Perhaps the unfortunate news of Congressional funding of continued war had something to do with the renewed interest.
Although we would prefer to not have a reason for our vigil, we were happy to once again see new people: And equally pleased to see vigil “veterans’: The responses we received from passing motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians seemed even more enthusiastic than our past vigils.

More pictures of this vigil and of our past vigils can be seen here

The April, 2009 Haight Ashbury Peace Vigil was perhaps our smallest vigil so far, in terms of numbers, but we were joined by some very dedicated and powerful local activists:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We are, of course, always happy to see our returning regulars: Even with the smaller numbers, we still felt support from passing pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

More pictures of this vigil and of our past vigils can be seen   here

Grandmothers for Peace Northland Chapter is continuing it's 3rd Friday "Action", even though there were only 4 of us!  We were well received with honking horns and "thumbs up"!  In the future we hope to add discussions following the action, to be held at the Red Mug Coffee Shop on the corner of Broadway & Hammond in Superior.

We stood for peace on a very busy intersection in blustery conditions on May 15th.  The street lights went out when we got there, which caused for some driving hysteria.  If only everyone was as hysteric about the additional $100 billion in war spending passed by Congress earlier in the week as they were about getting home, we would have seen a different voting result.  More than ever, we need to pressure the Democratic Congress and Obama to bring an end these despicable wars.

-Eric

Thirteen moratorium protestors held their own from 4-6 PM this past Friday. It was the most positive event that we have had over all these months. No middle fingers or yelling, “Cowards, “You people just don’t understand,” and the favorite, “Get a job.” Our signs included “HealthCare not Warfare,” “Cease Fire” (What would happen if the guns cool off?) “Starve War/Feed People” and of course our Republican approved “Congress needs an Enema.” That’s right, let’s clean out Washington and get something done, get off your hands Representative Pelosi! We are committed to this cause and as a result have helped turn our county from a strong Republican county to a healthy blue!

See you next month!

A mock cemetery of the U.S. Military Teen casualties was done in Santa Barbara, California on Friday, May 15, 2009. The Local event began @ 10am-3pm at SBCC West Campus Lawn across from the campus library overlooking Ledbetter Beach on the Pacific Ocean. "Tombstones" were set up by volunteers from the SB Vets for Peace, Chapter 54 and SBCC students. Staff, students & visitors were asked to come down on the lawn to place placards of colored photos & information of 18 & 19 year old casualties from the Iraq & Afghanistan conflicts. To date 314 teenage warriors have perished. Information about the cost of war and the immediate withdrawal of troops from Iraq, Afghanistan and Palestine were shared. An SBCC form for students to be taken off the military's recruitment list, in opposition to the Solomon Amendment was given out. The Solomon amendment is the Congressional authority that mandates U.S. colleges and Universities that receive federal funding, excluding federal financial aid, to give Student names, phone numbers and other private information to U.S. Military recruiters (17 distinct Military Units) each semester or term including summer sessions. Federal funding will be withheld from colleges & Universities if they don't comply with the Solomon Amendment. Students may obtain specific forms from their Admissions & Records offices at 2 year colleges and the Registrars Office at 4 year colleges. These forms will allow students to withhold the release of their "Directory Information" under the Family Educational Rights & Privacy Act (FERPA) of 1974, THEN COLLEGES & UNIVERSITIES MAY NOT RELEASE IT TO THE MILITARY EITHER.

Meet some members of the Northern Kentucky Justice and Peace Committee, an outgrowth of the Intercommunity Justice and Peace Center (IJPC) in Cincinnati, OH. We work on issues that sometimes receive little attention such as: the local cold shelter, immigration, death penalty and human trafficking. Another part of what we do is take a stand for Peace every Friday at the World Peace Bell @ 4th & York Sts. Newpor, KY. We see about 1300-1800 cars in that one hour. We hold signs that promote peace and give out info on how to reach your congress-person or Senator. Sometimes we gather signatures on a petition; sometimes we give away yard signs that say, “Peace is Patriotic.” We share our convictions that war is not the answer to the problems facing our world.

The World Peace Bell is a beautiful setting, an inspiring symbol of Global Unity. We are energized just by being there an hour and by each small victory …..“A winter's day...below freezing...two women with signs in front of the World Peace Bell... A car of teenagers rushes by whooping and hollering, flashing us the peace sign. We smile and sign Peace back. As we are leaving they suddenly appear again and offer us a sack of White Castle burgers. We exchange info (on things to know before signing up for the military) for a sandwich and talk about their plans for the future. Before leaving they want to hold our signs and ask us to take their picture. When cars go by and honk at them they think our work is pretty cool. And despite the cold, their enthusiasm warms us.”

We began this witness on Sept 21, 2006 and have faithfully been at the Peace Bell every Friday 4:30 – 5:30 p.m. {unless it is below freezing.} Many people show us support with thumbs up, peace signs, and honking horns. Only a few people turn aside or show thumbs down, or tell us to move to France, Iraq, etc. because a majority of people in this country oppose the wars we’re in.

Since its inception in September of 2007, both N. KY and Cincinnati peacemakers have dedicated the third Friday to solidarity with the Iraq Moratorium Vigil. We gather a group to spend the time in true vigil fashion, i.e. with prayer or meditation for the troops, for displaced Iraqis and our government. Or we may just do our usual sign/leaflet campaign to the tune of rush hour traffic. Our group can be small at times or be only one person (me), but on third Fridays, we know our actions are multiplied many times over by the actions, hopes and prayers of thousands of peacemakers from sea to shining sea.

We believe that our action to help end the War in Iraq cannot cease until every soldier is home. We urge the president to draw down the troops as speedily as possible and we want soldiers protected as they withdraw. We need to continue to raise awareness of the public and let Congress know that our country needs jobs and social services, not war. The United States has a moral obligation to help Iraq be reconstructed, to avoid other armed conflicts and to provide for the general welfare of its own citizens. We want the troops and the dollars brought home.

Countries war at great cost and peril

to the world population.

It is time to stop the insanity!

It is time to actively work toward Peace in Iraq, Afghanistan,

and the whole Middle East.

 

 

Members of the Iraq Moratorium joined members of the Coalition Against Militarism in Our Schools, and Palasadians for Peace to hand out "Truth in Recruiting" leaflets to students at Wilson High School in Los Angeles, Thursday, April 16, 2009 at 7:00 am.  The anti-war activists explained to the students that military recruiters aren't bound to keep their promises to give them financial aid for school nor keep them from being assigned to combat in Iraq or Afghanistan.  The peace organizers told students that there are financial programs available to them without having to enlist in the military.  The antri-war activity was held in support of the April Iraq Moratorium.  Iraq Moratorium members said that stopping the recruitment of soldiers will make it harder for the US military to conduct wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and urged anti-war activists across the country to reach out to young people being targetted for recruitment by the military.

Friday, April 17, City Hall Park… 8 Grannies tabling and flyering, a nice sunny day.

Our signs say:
" Call your city councilperson!
No tax levy $ for military training
No to $2.4 million tax dollars for JROTC in NYC high schools"

People are into conversation! We listen and learn. Just moved to town? Register to vote..here’s a form.

A very pregnant woman who just moved to Brooklyn tells Phyllis, “I’ll make a call. I don’t want my baby getting trained for the military in high school..”

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