Veterans For Peace Weekly E-Letter

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	Friday, December 11, 2015 VFP Issues Press Release In Response to President Obama's Speech This Week VFP is calling on the President to: Make diplomacy the number one priority with all interested parties and without pre-conditions. Stop the airstrikes because the Sunni leaders and militia, who President Obama acknowledges must be persuaded to break with ISIL, see the U.S. as acting as the air force for the Kurds and Shia against Sunnis. Bombing Sunnis will not help mend this relationship. Stop the slippery slope of sending troops to the fight. Stop sending more weapons that fuel the conflict, killing more civilians and ignoring human rights violations committed by “allies.” Initiate a new effort at building a broad diplomatic solution in the United Nations to use diplomatic and financial pressure to stop countries from financing and arming ISIL and other fighters in Syria. An arms embargo on all sides should be on the long-term agenda. Massively increase humanitarian efforts through the UN and any other means. The United States should welcome more refugees from Syria and other war torn nations, and should donate generously to United Nations refugee resettlement programs.  <Full Press Release> Back to Top Election Results Available Next Week Ballots have been counted by volunteers of the St Louis Chapter 61.  Because of the delay of members receiving his/her ballot, we are extending publishing the final count until next week to allow time for all ballots to be received.  A special blast will be sent with the election results.  Back to Top VFP Jeju Island Delegation Update There are numerous articles w/pictures about VFP's presence in Korea.   The police were happy to see the delegation leave.  Islanders received the delegation warmly and their solidarity with local residents who are opposing a U.S. Navy deep water port was appreciated. The Korean left, anti-capitalist, anti-imperialist resistance has been very strong in Jeju for many years, decades, and they have suffered for it, much like the Palestinians. The delegation had a great deal of respect for the deep experience of people,  met and earned much from them. Photos courtesy of Ellen Davidson: https://picasaweb.google.com/106906066409718302863/JejuIsland12515 https://picasaweb.google.com/106906066409718302863/JejuIsland12615 Back to Top Contact Your Member of Congress and Tell Them:  No Riders on the Federal Budget! Congress has extended its deadline to pass a federal budget until Wed, Dec 16.  We can use these days to insist we want a bill with NO policy riders refusing entry to Syrian refugees and other right wing agendas. Even without the riders, this is not a budget we want.  It still heavily prioritizes military spending over human needs.  There are real alternatives.  One good example is the "People's Budget" which is proposed each year by the Congressional Progressive Caucus. Tell your Representative and Senators you want a clean budget bill.  No riders de-funding! Congressional Switchboard: (202) 224-3121 Find your Member of Congress Back to Top Travel Opportunities for Activists VFP January, 2016 Cuba Tour Sold Out! We will lead one final tour to the island in March 2016. Here is the March itinerary. http://cubaexplorer.com/tours/jrv/ We take just 15 people, providing an intimate chance to get to know the Cuban people and our fellow veterans Our tours are led by VFP member and Cuban documentary film maker Jim Ryerson, who has been to the island more than 25 times. jim@travelingman.net 323-436-5223 Location Sponsored by Dates Contact Cuba Code Pink Feb 2016 Visit the Code Pink website Việt Nam Việt Nam's  Hoa Binh (Peace) Chapter 160 Mar 14- 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 emailesiegel@ifpb.org Columbia Witness for Peace Jul 20-30, 2016 For more information email or call:  Patrick Bonner: 323-563-7940 pkbonner@earthlink.net Palestine Interfaith Peacebuilders Jul 16- 29 2016 For more information emailesiegel@ifpb.org Palestine Interfaith Peacebuilders Oct   24-Nov     6 2016 For more information emailesiegel@ifpb.org Back to Top		In This Issue: VFP Issues Press Release In Response to President Obama's Speech This Week Election Results Available Next Week VFP Jeju Island Delegation Update Contact Your Member of Congress and Tell Them:  No Riders on the budget bill! Travel Opportunities for Activists Consider a Lifetime Membership in VFP We Need Your Story of Why You Are a Veteran For Peace! VFP 2016 Annual Spring Tour to Viet Nam Member/Chapter Highlights Save the Dates:  Upcoming VFP Endorsed Actions/Events Consider a Lifetime Membership in VFP If you are not a LIFETIME member, please consider becoming one. Perhaps you have a deserving member in your chapter, a family member, or a veteran who is not yet a member whom you would like to honor with a LIFETIME membership. As LIFETIME members we are bound together with the 30-year history of VFP and to LIFETIME members who have gone before us and those yet to come. Signup Online for a Lifetime Membership  If you need additional information, contact Doug Zachary by email doug@veteransforpeace.org or by phone (Home 512-549-3530 or Cell 512-629-3812) for more information. Back to Top We Need Your Story of Why You Are a Veteran For Peace! The personal story of a Veterans For Peace member is the most powerful tool we have to educate others on the reality of war. If you are a current member, help us by sending: Why you are part of VFP, written in first person About 200 words A photo of yourself (minimum 200 pixels) Back to Top VFP 2016 Annual Spring Tour to Viet Nam Dates of travel:  Mar 14 - Mar 30, 2016 Each year since 2012, members of Việt Nam's Hoa Binh (Peace) Chapter 160 of Veterans For Peace invite up to 20 veterans, non-veterans, spouses & peace activists to come to Việt Nam for an insider's 2-week tour. The Hoa Binh chapter is the first & only overseas VFP chapter of American veterans living in Việt Nam! The mission of the tour is to address the legacies of America’s war, as well as visit a beautiful country & form lasting ties of friendship & peace.  For more information, email Nadya Williams @nadyanomad@gmail.com Back to Top Member/Chapter Highlights VFP-UK members throw down their medals on Downing Street this week.  <Watch video> Gary Butterfield and Gil Field, members of the San Diego Chapter 91 along with two local high school students sought out homeless veterans with little or no sleeping gear to hand out sleeping bags.  Chapter 91 call their efforts, Compassion Campaign. Read thehigh school student's reactions to the experience.   Back to Top Save the Dates:  Upcoming VFP Endorsed Actions/Events Dec 12 - Memorial Service for Michael Clift in San Diego, CA Dec 16 - Book Reading: We Gotta Get Out of This Place in Madison WI Dec 24 - Anniversary of Christmas Truce of 1914 Jan 18, 2016 - MLK Day Mar 27- April 2, 2016 - Shut Down Creech AFB Apr 15 - GDAMS (Global Day Against Military Spending) Apr 22 - Earth Day May 14-21, 2016 - Sam's 5th Annual Ride for Peace, Raleigh, NC to Washington, DC May 30 — Memorial Day (Observed) Aug 11-15, 2016 - VFP Annual Convention at Clark Kerr campus of University of California Berkeley, CA Sep 21—International Day of Peace Nov 11 - Armistice Day Back to Top Did you know?  In 2005, the Dallas convention was most notable for the launching of Cindy Sheehan and Camp Casey in Crawford, Texas.
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