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	Friday, March 18, 2016 United Nations/VFP NGO Update Update from President, Barry Ladendorf To obtain a better understanding of the role VFP can play as an NGO at the UN, I attended a highly informative, live-streaming, two day conference hosted by the UN for new UN representatives.  Each conference presentation provided essential information for NGOs.  I only wish I would have gone to New York to attend the conference in person as It provided an invaluable opportunity to ask questions about the potential role of VFP in the UN and to network with other NGO representatives.  <Full Report> Back to Top Zinn Fund Request For Proposals Deadline Today! 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 Special Editon of PIOT - Full Disclosure:  Truth about America's War in Vietnam An exclusive edition of PIOT - Full Disclosure – Truth About America’s War in Viet Nam, specifically designed to counter the Pentagon’s Vietnam War Commemoration revisionist campaign to mythologize that war. The 24-page paper is loaded with the unadorned truth about the American war in Vietnam from those who fought in it and from those who fought against it. We are especially proud to be featuring two perspectives the Pentagon refuses to seriously acknowledge -- the Vietnamese people and the G.I. Resistance movement. We are confident that this one-time publication will become a valued resource as well as a collector's item. The paper will go to print the week of March 21st. Don’t miss out. Click to Order Your Copy Back to Top Veterans Challenge Islamophobia Update In video above:  VFP member, Pat Scanlon of the Smedley Butler Bridgade speaks at an event held in Boston earlier this month. Donald Trump to rally in Fountain Hills, Tucson tomorrow.  Michael McPhearson, executive director of Veterans for Peace, said the group will send to the rally members of its "Veterans Challenge Islamophobia" campaign.  <Full writeup courtesy of azcentral.com> 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 Next Weekend:  March 27-April 2, 2016 - 2nd Annual Shut Down Creech The above video produced by VFP member and longtime anti-drone activist, John Amidon.  The video brings attention to the problems with  Drone Warfare conducted at Creech, AFB. 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 *Need travel assistance *Travel assistance will be provided on a 1st come 1st serve basis with consideration given to post-9/11 veterans. Whistleblowers to Speak at Drone Symposium Wednesday, March 30, at 6 pm Christopher Aaron, a former counter-terrorism officer for the Central Intelligence Agency's drone program Cian Westmoreland, former drone program communications technician, 606 Air Control Squadron and the 73rd Expeditionary Control Squadron of the U.S. Air Force Jesselyn Radack, Director of the Whistleblower & Resource Protection Progam (WHISPeR) Shelby Sullivan-Bennis, counter-terrorism case worker for the human rights law firm Reprieve.org Back to Top Better Mental Health Care for Incarcerated Veterans and Service Members Petition!!! Sign the petition for mental health care demanding adequate and compassionate mental health care in NC for incarcerated military and veterans.  Josh Eisenhauer (in photo) is the focus, but, he is by no means the only one needing help in NC or elsewhere.  While he is incarcerated, he really needs better care.  Please consider signing and sharing this online petition. We need 10,000 signatures!!!! Thank you for your help! Back to Top Global Days of Actions Against Military Spending (GDAMS) - April 5-18, 2016 Every year since 2011, the Global Day of Action on Military Spending (GDAMS) has coincided with the release of the annual world military expenditure figures by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). It is also tied into Tax Day in the U.S., when Americans pay their taxes and debate their use. To learn more about organizing a local GDAMS event, visit the GDAMS website. Back to Top New Documents Reveal Army Once Pursued Softer Approach on Bergdahl Article Courtesy of New York Times The documents, which have not previously been disclosed, indicate that the Army’s 22-member investigative team, which spent two months interviewing scores of witnesses and compiled the report that formed the initial basis for prosecuting Sergeant Bergdahl, never proposed that he could be tried on the most serious charge he now faces: endangering the troops sent to search for him. This dissonance has led members of the sergeant’s defense team to question whether the tougher line reflected improper influence from higher levels of the military or political considerations as top Republicans in Congress and on the presidential campaign trail declared the sergeant guilty and demanded he face stiff punishment.  <Full Article> Back to Top Travel Opportunities for Activists Location Sponsored by Dates Contact U.S./Mexico border SOAW Apr 25 - May 1 Email  marialuisa@soaw.org for more information. 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: United Nations/VFP NGO Update Zinn Fund Request For Proposals Deadline today! Special Editon of PIOT - Full Disclosure:  Truth about America's War in Vietnam Veterans Challenge Islamophobia Update Next Weekend:  March 27-April 2, 2016 - 2nd Annual Shut Down Creech Whistleblowers to Speak at Drone Symposium - Wed, Mar 30, at 6 pm Better Mental Health Care for Incarcerated Veterans and Service Members Petition!!! Global Days of Actions Against Military Spending (GDAMS) - April 5-18, 2016 New Documents Reveal Army Once Pursued Softer Approach on Bergdahl Travel Opportunities for Activists 2016 Convention Update Submit your workshop application Purchase Ad for Convention Program Book Purchase Table 2016 Proposed Convention Program The Golden Rule Is Coming to the Northwest Stop the Provocative U.S./S. Korean War Drills in Korea! Book Tour:  War is a Lie by David Swanson VFP Statement of Purpose Available in Other Language New VFP Tote Bag 501(c)(3) and Political Election Activity Save the Dates:  Upcoming VFP Endorsed Actions/Events A Thought Worth Remembering! 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 Workshops will be held on Friday and Sunday.  The 2016 Planning Committee is accepting applications for all interested in presenting workshop(s).  Purchase your Ad for program book Ad prices are the same as previous years.  Please review the ad guidelines. Tabling Details of table size will be provided later.  Tabling may be limited, so be sure to purchase your table early. Proposed Convention Program Thu, Aug 11 - Presidents Reception/Poetry Reading Fri, Aug 12 - Opening Plenary, Workshop Presentations, Public Evening Event Sat, Aug 13 - Business Meeting, Banquet Sun, Aug 14 - Workshop Presentations Mon, Aug 15 - Closing Back to Top The Golden Rule Is Coming to the Northwest The Golden Rule will be seen by thousands of people at wooden boat festivals in Seattle (July 2-4), Vancouver, British Columbia (Aug. 25-28), Victoria, BC (Sept. 2-4) and Port Townsend Washington’s Olympic Peninsula (Sept. 9-11).  Her rust colored sails emblazoned with a peace sign (the original symbol of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament) and the logo of Veterans For Peace will attract many visitors to the Golden Rule, who will learn about her amazing history, her courageous crews, and her ongoing mission.  Golden Rule Update submitted by Gerry Condon. Back to Top Book Tour:  War is a Lie by David Swanson David Swanson will speak about the latest developments in the telling and the debunking of lies about wars. He'll answer questions and sign copies of his new book, War Is A Lie: Second Edition. Events are planned for NC, DC, MD, WA, OR, NY, CA, and MN. The book will be for sale everywhere April 5th. Book Tour Schedule Back to Top Stop the Provocative U.S./S. Korean War Drills in Korea! VFP-Korea Peace Campaign is deeply concerned with the current situation in Korea, and calls on our members and supporters to take the following actions to stop the provocative US-S. Korean war drills in Korea: 1) Contact the White House by phone, fax, email--urging the President to cancel or reduce the size and scope of the dangerous, provocative large-scale joint U.S./S. Korean war drill against N. Korea, started on March 7 — continuing to April 30. Tel: 1-202-456-1111 (White House) Fax: 1-202-456-2461 2) Also, please contact members of Congress to ask the President to do the same. Tel: 1-202-225-3121 (Congress) Let the VFP-Korea Peace Campaign know you called by dropping the coordinator an email to kpc@veteransforpeace.org Handout   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 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 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 Save the Dates:  Upcoming VFP Endorsed Actions/Events Mar 1-25 - Art Display:  Peace is Patriotic: A Soldier’s (mis)Remembrances in Maryville, TN 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 2 - Celebration of the Life of Bill Gilson in New York City, NY Apr 5-18 - 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! War will exist until that distant day when the conscientious objector enjoys the same reputation and prestige that the warrior does today....John F. Kennedy  Back to Top
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