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	Friday, February 26, 2016 VFP Issues Statement on Torture Rhetoric In 2016 Presidential Campaign Veterans For Peace believes all torture, including waterboarding, is a human rights violation and constitutes a war crime. We will not defeat terrorism by adopting terrorist tactics. We will not achieve peace by practicing revenge. We will not preserve our precious democracy by abandoning our commitment to human rights. It is appalling that the efficacy of torture is now part of the American conversation. It dehumanizes us when we resort to such baseness. This is not what millions of U.S. military veterans fought for. We should reject such simplistic and vengeful suggestions on the campaign trail. Instead of doubling down on a shameful era, Americans should be turning the page to a new era of peace at home and peace abroad. The tortured logic of waterboarding is not the way to get there. <Full Statement> Back to Top Veterans Challenge Islamophobia Past President Elliott Adams and VFP member John Amidon displayed banner at a Trump rally in Las Vegas which read, Veterans to Mr. Trump:  End Hate Speech Against Muslims. John Amidon holding banner during Trump Rally in Nevada Click image to watch video Statement by Elliott Adams "I'm a Republican and I'm saddened by what I see in the Republican Party today. "A lot of the candidates are kind of screwballs. The party rode the tiger of the Tea Party and the evangelical right and now they're getting eaten.” He added: "I'm very concerned by the hate speech, the politics of hate and fear, the violation of the First Amendment that protects freedom of religion, this hatred of Muslims and xenophobia. America was founded as the great melting pot."  <Full Article courtesy of telegraph.co.uk> Statement by VFP members, Elliott Adams,  Will Covert and Kathleen Hernandez the day before the rally: "As veterans we call on the nation to stand-down from the hate speech, the Veterans Challenge Islamophobia and the religious discrimination. Unless we the people banish this gospel of fear and hate we will find that our Constitution and freedoms are MIA (Missing In Action). As a soldier I took an oath to defend the US Constitution from all enemies foreign and domestic. Trump should defend the Constitution too by rejecting his politics of fear and hate. Trump should embrace the All American principle of freedom for all religions and our history as the great American melting pot.” VETERANS write an opinion piece or short statement as to why you think this campaign is important. Send a copy of your statement to shelly@veteransforpeace.org Veterans sign on to our statement. Non-veterans, please support our cause Back to Top Join Us Mar 5-6, 2016 for the Summit on Saudi Arabia Date:  Mar 5-6, 2016 Time: Saturday, 8:00am to 9:00pm | Sunday, 8:00am to 5:00pm Location: The UDC David A. Clarke School of Law (4340 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC 20008) CODEPINK, along with VFP, The Nation Magazine, Institute for Policy Studies, Peace Action, and many other organizations are hosting a two-day summit examining the policies and practices of Saudi Arabia and U.S.-Saudi ties. This Summit will address issues such as human rights; Saudi internal and foreign policy; and the prospects for change inside the kingdom and in U.S.-Saudi relations. For more information, email Andrea at andrea@codepink.org Purchase your ticket today! $20 - $100 sliding scale, includes lunch Back to Top Zinn Fund Request For Proposals Does your chapter have a project to promote peace and justice? The Howard Zinn Fund for Peace and Justice provides support to local chapters to start or to significantly develop ongoing local programs that produce substantive changes for the VFP mission.  Two types of awards are made, depending on available funds: Several Independent Awards of up $500 to support focused local projects which further the VFP mission. One Partnership Award of up to $5,000 to support the development of an ongoing chapter program that will produce significant results for the long-term mission of VFP.  This involves a collaborative process between the chapter team and the Zinn Fund Committee over several months to develop the project and the final proposal.  The collaboration continues during the grant period as the project is implemented and project reports are prepared.  These projects are used to demonstrate VFP activities and to promote support for the VFP mission. The deadline for Zinn Fund Applications is Friday March 18 For more information, visit the webpage Howard Zinn Fund. Back to Top This Weekend - Stand With Our Muslim Friends hosted by VFP Smedley Butler Chapter When:  Saturday, Feb 27, 2016              Start time:  11am  Where:  Islamic Society of Boston Cultural Center              100 Malcolm x Blvd., Roxbury, MA The chapter is planning a program/rally at the Islamic Society of Boston on Saturday, February 27. This is the largest Mosque in New England, located in Roxbury, MA. We have been working with members of the Mosque to put together a program showing our support, as veterans, for our Muslim friends, neighbors, and co-workers. VFP Board President, Barry Ladendorf is scheduled to speak. Back to Top Save the Date:  March 27-April 2, 2016 - 2nd Annual Shut Down Creech Join us March 27-April 2, 2016 at Creech Air Force Base, Indian Springs, Nevada for a 2nd national mobilization of nonviolent resistance to shut down killer drone operations in Afghanistan, Syria, Iraq, Pakistan,Yemen, Somalia and everywhere. Last year 150 activists joined us from 20 different states, including than 50 veterans. Sponsored by: VFP, CODEPINK: Women For Peace, Nevada Desert Experience, Voices for Creative Nonviolence Register Online Visit Website For More Info View and Share Facebook Event Page Back to Top Two Drone Protesters Arrested at Volk Field Air National Guard Base This Week Brian Terrell and Kathy Kelly, appeared before Judge Curran from the Juneau County jail via the jail’s video link.  The two had been held overnight.  They were served documents charging them with trespassing at the “dwelling” of Volk Field.  Pilots train at Volk Field to operate Shadow Drones over other countries. <More> Back to Top 501(c)(3) 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 document contains a list of "10 Mistakes Nonprofits Should Avoid in an Election Year" Back to Top John Barr - Presente! John was the second President of Veterans For Peace.  He addressed various audiences with his message of peace, including high schools and colleges.  His contribution to informing and educating citizens about the dangers of nuclear weapons was immense.  He was a good and decent man.  <Obituary> Back to Top Travel Opportunities for Activists Location Sponsored by Dates Contact 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 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: VFP Issues Statement on Torture Rhetoric In 2016 Presidential Campaign Veterans Challenge Islamophobia Join Us Mar 5-6, 2016 for the Summit on Saudi Arabia Zinn Fund Request For Proposals This Weekend - Stand With Our Muslim Friends hosted by VFP Smedley Butler Chapter Save the Date:  March 27-April 2, 2016 - 2nd Annual Shut Down Creech VFP Members Can Help Increase VFP's UN Interaction 501(c)(3)s and Political Election Activity John Barr - Presente Travel Opportunities for Activists Two Drone Protesters Arrested at Volk Field Air National Guard Base This Week Wayne Wittman - Presente Seeking VFP Chapter to Host 2017 Convention 2016 Convention Update 2016 Proposed Convention Program VFP Statement of Purpose Available in Other Languages Okinawa Update - Thousands in Japan Rally against U.S. base on Okinawa VFP Members Can Help Increase VFP's UN Interaction Calling All Book Fanatics and VFP Authors! The Drones Quilt Project Needs Your Support Seeking Women Candidates for VFP Board Member Highlights Save the Dates:  Upcoming VFP Endorsed Actions/Events A Thought Worth Remembering! Wayne Wittman - Presente The national office learned yesterday that VFP member, Wayne Wittman, lifetime member and past board member passed away this week.  His celebration of life will be held Sunday Feb 28, 4-7 pm at the St. Paul Labor Federation Hall, 545 W. 7th St, St. Paul.  Funeral Mass 10 am Monday, February 29 at Our Lady of the Presentation Chapel, 1884 Randolph Ave, St. Paul with visitation one hour prior. Mary McNellis of the Minneapolis Chapter 27 has written a beautiful tribute honoring Wayne.  <Tribute> Back to Top Seeking VFP Chapter to Host 2017 Convention The national office is seeking a volunteer chapter to host the 2017 convention.  If interested, please email  shelly@veteransforpeace.org. 2016 Convention Update Theme:  Peace At Home, Peace Abroad A Just and Sustainable Future for the World’s Children   The 2016 convention hosting chapter is VFP San Francisco Chapter 69.  The dates for the convention are Thursday, August 11 thru Monday, August 15 @ University California - Clark Kerr campus in Berkeley CA.  Please note the change from our past program.  This convention will not be Wednesday thru Sunday. Workshop applications will be available starting Mar 4th.  Workshops will be held on Friday and Sunday. Proposed Convention Program Thu, Aug 11 - Presidents Reception/Poetry Reading Fri, Aug 12 - Opening Plenary, Workshop Presentations Sat, Aug 13 - Business Meeting, Banquet Sun, Aug 14 - Workshop Presentations Mon, Aug 15 - Closing Back to Top VFP Statement of Purpose Available in Other Languages VFP's statement of purpose is available from the national office in Chinese, French, German and Spanish.  Please submit this form if you would like to receive a translated copy. Back to Top Okinawa Update - Thousands in Japan Rally against U.S. base on Okinawa Thousands of people surrounded Japan's parliament this past Sunday to protest against government plans to relocate a U.S. military base on Okinawa island.  Many residents of Okinawa say they associate U.S. bases with noise, pollution and crime. <Article courtesy of aol.com> Back to Top VFP Members Can Help Increase VFP's UN Interaction Participants are needed for the 2016 NGO Conference to be held in South Korea in late May/early June.  The planning committee is also seeking participants.  There are several VFP slots available for the conference.  Registration will open soon. Here are a few ways that members can get involved Provide input about counter-recruiting in schools. Run for the Department of Public Information Board -  Elections are held in May.  Email, Ellen Barfield @ ellene4pj@yahoo.com if you are interested in any of these opportunities. 2015 Report on VFP and the UN by Ellen Barfield Back to Top Calling All Book Fanatics and VFP Authors! Whether you're an avid reader or an author, we would like you to consider using the Powell's Books website. VFP has an agreement with Powell's to earn 7.5% on online book sales.  Avid readers, not only do you have the luxury of choosing a book from the VFP bookshelf, any book purchased on the site will satisfy our agreement as long as you use this link when you first enter the site.  If you're an author, add your book on the site! Submit this form with the title of your book, ISBN number and we post it to the site.   It is up to you to supply inventory to the site. Back to Top The Drones Quilt Project Needs Your Support The Drones Quilt Project (DQP) is looking for VFP chapters to host the DQP exhibit in their towns.  Several VFP chapters have already done this, and they have been very worthwhile events.  The DQP exhibit consists of 1-10 quilts which memorialize the victims of combat drones, and 4 posters which explain the immorality and illegality of the weaponized drones program.  Please consider bringing the DQP exhibit to your town!  Contact Leah Bolger, leahbolger@comcast.net, or 541-207-7761, to schedule the exhibit. Back to Top Seeking Women Candidates for VFP Board If you are interested in becoming 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 New VFP Tote Bag Union made canvas tote with shoulder  strap, Measures 18 inches wide x 15 inches high x 5 inches deep. $10 Order today Back to Top Member Highlights F. Lincoln Grahlfs, WWII veteran and  member of Clarence Kailin Chapter 25 in Southern Wisconsin is proposing to designate July 16th, as  Atomic Veterans Recognition Day.  <Read his proposal> Col Ann Wright, was asked by an Aljazeeran reporter for her thoughts on the recent talk of making Aegis Ashore test facility in Hawaii an operational facility.  <Article courtesy of america.aljazeera.com> Back to Top Save the Dates:  Upcoming VFP Endorsed Actions/Events Feb 27 - Muslims Are NOT our Enemy Rally in Boston MA Mar 1-25 - Art Display:  Peace is Patriotic: A Soldier’s (mis)Remembrances in Maryville, TN Mar 5-6, 2016 - 2016 Summit on Saudi Arabia in Washington, DC Mar 27- April 2, 2016 - Shut Down Creech AFB outside of Las Vegas, NV Mar 30 - Inside Drone Warfare: Perspectives of Whistleblowers, Families of Drone Victims and Their Lawyers in 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 23-25 - VFP 2nd Annual Lobby Days 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 Oct 7-10 - First SOAW bi-national convergence at the U.S./Mexico border in Nogales, Arizona Nov 11 - Armistice Day Back to Top A Thought Worth Remembering! Man has no right to kill his brother. It is no excuse that he does so in uniform: he only adds the infamy of servitude to the crime of murder....Bysshe Shelley Back to Top
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