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
