Veterans For Peace Weekly E-Letter

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	Friday, March 11, 2016 Zinn Fund Request For Proposals Deadline Next Week, Fri, Mar 18th 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 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 Veterans Challenge Islamophobia Update In photo above:  VFP member, Reese Forbes outside the Trump Rally held in St. Louis, MO today.  Also present, Tom Ablen, Don Conners Chapter 61 member. 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 This Month:  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 *Need travel assistance *Travel assistance will be provided on a 1st come 1st serve basis with consideration given to post-9/11 veterans. Back to Top Interview: Former CIA Analyst Ray McGovern Warns of CIA/NSA and Gives Advice for Activists Click the image to view the video In the above video, acTVism Munich interviews former CIA analyst Ray McGovern. He talks about his experiences with the intelligence agency and about the reasons why he became an activist and a critic of the US government. 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 Celebration of the Life of Bill Gilson When:  Saturday April 2 Where:  Unitarian Church of All Souls, 1157 Lexington Avenue    (between E.79th Street and E.80th Streets) in Manhattan You should arrive at 1:45 p.m. Food service will start at 2:00 pm and continue throughout. There will be an opportunity for everyone to share a memory of Bill, a song or poem.  Children are very welcome! RSVP: hustleny@gmail.com 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: Zinn Fund Request For Proposals Deadline Next Week, Fri, Mar 18th The Golden Rule Is Coming to the Northwest Veterans Challenge Islamophobia Update This Month:  March 27-April 2, 2016 - 2nd Annual Shut Down Creech Interview: Former CIA Analyst Ray McGovern Warns of CIA/NSA and Gives Advice for Activists Stop the Provocative U.S./S. Korean War Drills in Korea! Celebration of the Life of Bill Gilson 501(c)(3) and Political Election Activity Travel Opportunities for Activists 2016 Convention Update Submit your workshop application Purchase Ad for Convention Program Book Purchase Table 2016 Proposed Convention Program 48th Anniversary of Mai Lai Massacre Andrew Bacevich: Why Is No Candidate Offering an Alternative to Militarized U.S. Foreign Policy? Book Tour:  War is a Lie by David Swanson VFP Statement of Purpose Available in Other Languages VFP Needs You to Help Increase VFP's UN Interaction New VFP Tote Bag 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 48th Anniversary of Mai Lai Massacre Jack Doxey, Vietnam veteran and member of VFP Hugh Thompson Chapter 91 in San Diego CA reflects on the day Hugh Thompson (in photo) intervened the slaughtering of innocent My Lai villagers.   March 16th 2016 marks the 48th anniversary of the Vietnam My Lai Massacre. To say that it was a sad day in the history of our country is a gross understatement. Our United States military systematically slaughtered over 500 Vietnamese women, children, infants and old men in the tiny village of My Lai.  Jack Doxey's Reflection> Back to Top Andrew Bacevich: Why Is No Candidate Offering an Alternative to Militarized U.S. Foreign Policy? In a recent article, historian and retired Colonel Andrew Bacevich raised six questions that have been ignored in the 2016 presidential race. Most notably, he says, "Nearly 15 years after this 'war' was launched by George W. Bush, why hasn’t 'the most powerful military in the world,' 'the finest fighting force in the history of the world’ won it? Why isn't victory anywhere in sight?" 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 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 VFP Needs You To 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 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 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 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! War: a massacre of people who don't know each other for the profit of people who know each other but don't massacre each other.....Paul Valery H. G. Welly  Back to Top
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