Veterans For Peace Weekly E-Letter

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	Friday, September 25, 2015 Project RENEW Update Project RENEW is a Vietnam-based, non-government organization founded by members of VFP’s Hoa Binh Chapter 160, but now directed by Vietnamese, with a mission to address the unexploded ordinance and Agent Orange legacies of the U.S. war in Vietnam. In July 2014 Project RENEW approached Veterans For Peace with a request that VFP serve as fiscal sponsor for a large grant they are seeking from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).  USAID is the foreign aid arm of State Department. All VFP dues-paying members – veterans and associates – will have the opportunity to vote on this issue, when they receive their ballots in the mail in October. The Board recommendation, Convention debate and straw vote, and Pro and Con statements will be provided on the VFP website, along with information about other Resolutions and Board candidates. <Full Update> 2016 Board Candidates Back to Top Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, PTSD and the Psychology of War Submitted by VFP Member, Skip Oliver More than five years ago a soldier named Bowe Bergdahl left his U.S. Army unit in Afghanistan. He was captured, imprisoned in brutal conditions for five years, and finally released in a prisoner exchange in 2014. The Army is now considering whether he should be court-martialed for desertion and other crimes. Bergdahl’s case needs to be understood, not only in terms of his actions, but also what is known about the psychology of war. What we have learned ought to give pause to those eager to send young people off to fight and die. To explain, let’s review some of the research on the psychological stressors relevant to the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.  <More> Back to Top Le Ly Haslip East Coast Speaking Tour Le Ly Haslip will be speaking next month at various locations throughout the Northeast. Ms. Haslip was one of the many speakers at this year's convention. She is an internationally known Vietnamese-American author, philanthropist, peace activist and speaker. She is the founder of both Global Village Foundation and East Meets West Foundation, which has helped rebuild Vietnam since 1986 through an array of projects including the construction of hospitals and schools, and a Mobile Library project which brings books to rural schools. For more information and updates to the tour, please visit the Global Village Foundation facebook page. Back to Top Golden Rule Peace Boat in the SF Bay! THE GOLDEN RULE WANTS TO MEET YOU! Come for a visit - and maybe even a sail! Click image to enlarge More events are in the planning, including Fleet Week, October 5-12! The Golden Rule will be in SF Bay through Fleet Week, Oct. 5-12. You can help to make things happen.  Invite the Golden Rule crew to a house party, a potluck dinner (or just to dinner). For interviews and information,contact Gerry Condon at 206-499-1220 or Helen Jaccard at 206-992-6364. Back to Top Save the Dates: Nov 20-22 - SOA Watch Vigil The SOAW annual mobilization is one of the largest anti-militarization convergences in the US.  It connects activists from across America who come together to denounce failed policies, the militarization of the hemisphere, and the daunting effects of imperialism as well as to remember the long and ongoing history of brutal US intervention in Latin America that the SOA/WHINSEC represents to perfection. BUT we also come together to listen, learn and be inspired by each other, to raise awareness about and draw connections between struggles, and to celebrate the beauty of creativity and resilience. The Vigil weekend is an opportunity to grow stronger together and to build grassroots power! Hourly Shuttle Info from Atlanta to Columbus Back to Top VFP Jeju/Okinawa Delegation This winter, VFP members will host a delegation to Jeju/Okinawa.  For more information on the delegation, please email Tarak Kauff @ takauff@gmail.com. Back to Top Travel Opportunities for Activists We will embark on our third VFP trip to Cuba  January 22-29 2016. Members and supporters of our message of peace are welcome to join us.  However, please be advised that we take 15-20 people, and only 8 spaces remain. Our tours are led by VFP member and Cuban documentary film maker  Jim Ryerson, who has been to the island more than 25 times.  If you are interested, please contact Jim. Like the other 2 trips, this one will sell out. jim@travelingman.net 323-436-5223 Here is the itinerary   http://cubaexplorer.com/tours/jrjan/ (Click on Book Now to see prices) Location Sponsored by Dates              Contact for Additional Information Palestine Code Pink Nov 1-8, 2015 Visit the Code Pink website Cuba Code Pink Nov 20-29, 2015 Visit the Code Pink website Venezuela SOAW Dec 2-10, 2015 For more information email Terri Mattson at teri.mattson@yahoo.com Cuba Jim Ryerson Jan 22-29 2016 For more information email Jim Ryerson at jim@cubaconnections.org.. Cuba Code Pink Feb 2016 Visit the Code Pink website Việt Nam Việt Nam's  Hoa Binh (Peace) Chapter 160 Mar 14 -Mar 30 2016 For more information, please email Nadya Williams Cuba Code Pink May 2016 Visit the Code Pink website Palestine Interfaith Peacebuilders May 21 -Jun 1 2016 For more information email emily@IFPB.org Palestine Interfaith Peacebuilders Jul 16 - Jul 29 2016 For more information email emily@IFPB.org Palestine Interfaith Peacebuilders Oct 24 - Nov 6 2016 For more information email emily@IFPB.org Back to Top		In This Issue: Project RENEW Update Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, PTSD and the Psychology of War Le Ly Haslip East Coast Speaking Tour Golden Rule Peace Boat in the SF Bay! Save the Dates: Nov 20-22 - SOA Watch Vigil VFP Jeju/Okinawa Delegation Travel Opportunities for Activists Thanks to All Who Participated in International Peace Day! Upcoming VFP Election Doug Rawlings, New VFP Interim Newsletter Editor Predators, Near and Far by Kathy Kelly The Warrior Connection Upcoming VFP Endorsed Actions/Events Thanks to All Who Participated in International Peace Day! Dedication of Peace Pole In Washington, DC. In photo (l to r) Mike Marceau, Richard Finn, ?, Tom Swann Earlier this week, Veterans For Peace members held or participated in International Peace Day events across the country. You can view a listing of events by city here. If you have any pictures from your local actions, please send them to casey@veteransforpeace.org. Back to Top Upcoming VFP Election In accordance with VFP Bylaw, Article VII, Section 2 ballots will be mailed out no later than October 31, 2015.  VFP National will have proposed resolutions on the website in the next couple of weeks.  View the 2016 Board candidates by clicking here. Article VII, Section 2 (a) In October, or six (06) weeks after the Annual Convention, the Secretary shall mail to all full members (as of the prior Annual Convention) a ballot with the names of all the nominees. The mailing will contain a brief biographical statement on each candidate. (b) The ballots must be returned postmarked by a deadline published on the ballot and calculated as four weeks after the initial ballot mailing. (c) The nominees receiving the largest number of votes shall fill the full-term vacancies which exist. The nominees who receive the largest number of votes shall fill the longest terms of office available, in declining order. (d) The ballots will be counted according to rules determined in advance by the Board of Directors and published to the Annual convention. Counting of ballots may be done by staff of the National Office or by an outside agency. Any Full Member may be present during the counting of the ballots. Ballots will be retained for two (02) years. Back to Top Doug Rawlings, New Interim Editor of VFP Newsletter VFP thanks Chuck Rossi (Chapter 34 - Philadelphia) for serving as our newsletter editor for the past five years.  Chuck has decided to step down, but we will not forget his generosity and willingness to take on any necessary task.  Doug Rawlings (Chapter 001 - Portland, ME) has agreed to be interim editor for the Fall 2015 issue.  Look for it in your mailbox in mid-November.  Chapter reports are due by October 15 and can be submitted to editor@veteransforpeace.org Back to Top Predators, Near and Far Submitted by Kathy Kelly Click image to play video #Enough! Fatima needs food and proper medical care, not war! Some days ago, at the Afghan Peace Volunteers’ Borderfree Center, I met Jamila, the mother of a little girl, Fatima, who comes to the Street Kids School, a program designed to help children working on the streets go to school.  Jamila, a young mother of seven, smiles and laughs easily, even though she faces dire circumstances here in Kabul.<More> Back to Top The Warrior Connection Join one of the six day retreats for male and female veterans in October in beautiful Dummerston, VT.  Experienced veteran facilitators will lead the discussions.  Food and housing are provided. Cost of the retreat is $150.  Anyone interested in the retreat will be required to have a phone or in-person interview and not be self-medicating on drugs or alcohol. 2015 Warrior Women’s Retreats October 1-6 2015 Warrior Retreats for Men October 15-20 Board member Tarak Kauff has participated in these retreats and found them very inspiring.  Feel free to email Tarak If you have questions at takauff@gmail.com. Back to Top Upcoming VFP Endorsed Actions/Events Aug 28 - Oct 15 - Golden Rule Schedule of Events Sept 24 - 30 - Iowa Speaking Tour with Ray McGovern and Coleen Rowley Oct 7  - Anniversary of U.S. Invasion of Afghanistan Oct 9-24 - Maine Walk For Peace Nov 20-22, 2015 - SOA Watch 25th Anniversary Vigil Back to Top Did you know? In 1986, VFP members appeared on the Phil Donahue TV program to debate U.S. policies in Central America.
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