Veterans For Peace Weekly E-Letter-Stop The Endless Wars

	Friday, January 15, 2016 Dr. Martin Luther King, Presente! Today is Dr. King's birthday.  We officially celebrate his birthday onMonday, January 18th.  Visit thewebsite for our tribute to Dr. King.  ContactCasey@veteransforpeace.org to have your chapter activity added. Back to Top VFP Press Release:   Unending U.S. War is Driving North Korea’s Nuclear Program As a major U.S. peace organization of veterans, including members who served in the Korean War, Veterans For Peace (VFP) is deeply concerned about the underground test of a “smaller hydrogen bomb” in North Korea on January 6 (Korean Time), as well as the rising military tensions on the Korean Peninsula at this time, including the resumption of the loud anti-North propaganda broadcasts across the DMZ by the U.S.-ROK military. U.S. also sent a B-52 bomber, which can drop nuclear bombs, over the Korean sky on January 10.  <Press Release> Back to Top VFP Files Letter Brief In United States Court of Appeals To Support Marshall Islands Lawsuit Recently, North Korean officials claimed North Korea had successfully tested a hydrogen bomb.  U.S. officials, scientists and others remain skeptical.  Nonetheless, such testing could signify a renewed nuclear arms race among the nine nations known to possess nuclear weapons.  Undoubtedly, such testing (or the threat of such testing), could dramatically increase tensions on the Korean peninsula. Physician's for Social Responsibility, International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War, and Pax Christi filed an Amicus Curiae (friend of court) Brief in the Ninth Circuit challenging the court's finding.  On November 3, 2015, Veterans For Peace filed an Amicus Letter Brief supporting the arguments of PSR/IPPNW/Pax Christi.  Back to Top Order Your Winter Issue of Peace In Our TimesToday! A few of the featured stories Open Letter to Donald Trump – Amal David Plant Your Ass in the Ground – Bruce Gagnon What Dulles Killed the Kennedys – David Swanson I helped Create ISIS – Vincent Emanuelle Guantanamo – Frida Berrigan Additional stories by Mike Ferner, Denise Levertov, Doug Rawlings and much more . . . *Order Today Bundles ($35) includes 80 newspapers Individual Annual Subscriptions ($15)  *Deadline to order is Jan 30, 2016. Back to Top VFP North Carolina Triangle Chapter 157 Supports Bowe Bergdahl at his Hearing In Photo:  Eisenhower Chapter members Machai St. Rain and John Heuer and Fayetteville Quaker House directors Lynn and Steve Newsom with banner designed by Tarak Kauff and Ellen Davidson. Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl appeared at a Ft. Bragg, NC courtroom on Tuesday, January 12 for a hearing on pre-trial defense motions.  His court martial on charges of desertion and misbehavior is slated for August.  Bowe spent 5 years as a prisoner of war in Afghanistan until he was released in a controversial prisoner swap in 2014.  He is being prosecuted by the US Army in an apparent attempt to misdirect attention from 15 years of failed policies in Afghanistan on the part of politicians and military brass. Both Lynn and Machai were able to speak briefly with Sgt. Bergdahl, who expressed his appreciation for our supportive witness. The Bowe Bergdahl banner in the photo is available for sale.   Cost $75.  Email virginia@veteransforpeace.org for more information. Back to Top Show your support for Bowe Bergdahl!     Fitted Unisex Tee     100% ringspun combed fine jersey. $20.00 Veterans For Peace is dismayed by the Army’s decision to charge Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl with desertion and endangering troops. He is being made the scapegoat for the failed policies for the disastrous U.S. occupation of Afghanistan Sgt. Bergdahl should be freed from the Army with an Honorable Discharge. FREE BOWE BERGDAHL! VFP Bowe Bergdahl Statement Back to Top Travel Opportunities for Activists We will embark on our 4th and last VFP trip of 2016 to CubaMarch 3-11.  Members and supporters of our message of peace are welcome to join us.  However, please be advised that we take 15-20 people, and there are only 3 rooms available. 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 by phone. Like the other 3 trips, this one will sell out. jim@travelingman.net 323-436-5223 Here is the itinerary http://cubaexplorer.com/tours/jrv/ Location Sponsored by Dates Contact Cuba Code Pink Feb 2016 Visit the Code Pink website Caribbean Coast of Nicaragua Alliance For Global Justice Feb 20-29 Deadline to apply Jan 20th For application or questions, emailChuck@AFGJ.org Cuba Veterans For Peace Mar 3-11 For more information, call Jim Ryerson @323-436-5223 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 email esiegel@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 email esiegel@ifpb.org Palestine Interfaith Peacebuilders Oct   24-Nov     6 2016 For more information email esiegel@ifpb.org Back to Top		In This Issue: Dr. Martin Luther King, Presente! VFP Press Release:  Unending U.S. War is Driving North Korea’s Nuclear Program VFP Files Letter Brief In United States Court of Appeals To Support Marshall Islands Lawsuit Order Your Winter Issue of Peace In Our Times Today! VFP North Carolina Triangle Chapter 157 Supports Bowe Bergdahl at His Hearing Show your support for Bowe Bergdahl! Travel Opportunities for Activists Final Payment Due Today - Jan 15th for 2016 Vietnam Tour Fundraising Opportunity for VFP Chapters! 501(c)(3)'s and Political Election Activity Seeking Women Candidates for VFP Board VFP Nashville Chapter 89 Hosting Radio show on Radio Free Nashville VFP Bob Bowman Memorial Chapter 136 Sponsors the “Solving 9/11″ Author Christopher Bollyn Tour Chapter Reports Due For VFP Newsletter Member Highlights Save the Dates:  Upcoming VFP Endorsed Actions/Events Final Payment Due Today - Jan 15th for 2016 Vietnam Tour  Dates of travel:  March 14 -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 Fundraising Opportunity for VFP Chapters! Over the next four months, musician Tom Neilson willbe traveling coast to coast, putting on fundraising shows for local peace organizations. Tom is willing to perform free of charge for VFP chapters, to help them raise funds. Any interested chapter should reach out to Tom. Shows are being offered first come, first served. Tom's current calendar can be viewed on his website.  Back to Top 501(c)(3)'s and Political Election Activity  VFP will abide by the 501(c)(3) rules set forth by the law firm Harmon, Curran, Spielberg Eisenberg, LLC regarding political election activity.  The documentcontains a list of "10 Mistakes Nonprofits Should Avoid in an Election Year"  Back to Top Seeking Women Candidates for VFP Board If you are interested in being a Board member, please send a short resume including a statement explaining why you are interested in serving as a VFP Board member to Board President Barry Ladendorf bdlvfp@gmail.com or call the VFP National Office 314-725-6005 to speak to the Executive Director Michael T. McPhearson to answer any questions. Back to Top VFP Nashville Chapter 89 Hosting Radio show on Radio Free Nashville On January 7th, members from the Nashville Chapterhosted a one-hour radio show on Radio Free Nashville (107.1 and 103.7 which streams atradiofreenashville.org.   The inaugural show included an interview with Joey King, president of VFP Nashville Chapter 89, and Trina Baum from the Alternative to Violence Project.  The show airs  at2pm ET.  Audio will be provided at a later date. Back to Top VFP Bob Bowman Memorial Chapter 136 Sponsors the “Solving 9/11″ Author Christopher Bollyn Tour Christopher Bollyn’s “Solving 9/11 Ends the War” Tour includes three speaking events in Central Florida this month. Investigative journalist Bollyn is the author of “Solving 9-11: The Deception That Changed the World” and “Solving 9-11: The Original Articles“. January 15 at 3 pm in St. Augustine, Florida January 17 at 2 pm in Daytona Beach, Florida January 19 at 6 pm in Cocoa Beach, Florida For more information, contact Phil Restino at (386) 235-3268. Back to Top Chapter Reports Due For VFP Newsletter Deadline for submitting chapter reports is January 31st.   Back to Top Member Highlights VFP Member and former POW, Phil Butler shares his story and his feelings on Bowe Bergdahl.  <Article> Back to Top Save the Dates:  Upcoming VFP Endorsed Actions/Events Jan 18 - MLK Day Mar 27- April 2, 2016 - Shut Down Creech AFBoutside of Las Vegas, NV Apr 15 - GDAMS (Global Day Against Military Spending) Apr 22 - Earth Day May 14-21 - Sam's 5th Annual Ride for Peace, Raleigh, NC to Washington, DC May 30 — Memorial Day (Observed) Jul 27 - Korean War Armistice Day 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?  There is no flag large enough to cover the shame of killing innocent people.  - Howard Zinn