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National Mobilization of Veterans Memorial Day Weekend
Stop Endless War • Build for Peace!
May 29 and 30, 2017 Washington DC In response to President Trump’s outrageous budget proposal, including a $54 billion increase for the Pentagon, VFP and other veterans groups will not be silent. Planning for this was started in response to VFP’s galvanizing statement about Trump’s Military Budget and our desire and responsibility as veterans, citizens and human beings to express our strong resistance to his policies and our commitment to find a better way to peace.
RSVP Now for the event!
For more information contact Tarak Kauff, VFP National Board Member, takauff@gmail.com, 845 679-6189 or 845 706-0187 For more information on the Letters to the Wall project contact Doug Rawlings, rawlings@maine.edu, 207 500-0193 Back to Top
Veterans For Peace 2017 Resolutions
Every summer members of VFP are given the opportunity to shape organization policy by submitting resolutions that are reviewed and voted on by the membership. Resolutions approved in previous years can be viewed at our Master Index.
For the yearly resolution process, this starts approximately 90 days before the start of the annual VFP Convention when resolutions start to be accepted and close 30 days prior to the start of the pre-Convention Board of Directors meeting. For 2017 the first day resolutions could be submitted was May 1st and the deadline for submission is July 9th. Check out this helpful note of tips from Bob Krzewinski – VFP Resolutions Committee Chair
Wage Peace, Not War in Korea!
We have advocated that the real solution to the continuing military tension in Korea is to end the Korean War officially with a peace treaty, not just focusing on denuclearization in N. Korea. But it is unclear at this time when Trump will pivot from military pressure to direct talks with North Korea. Thus, it is critical for our VFP members and supporters to engage in sustained public advocacy for permanent peace in Korea.
Take Action Today:
VFP Delegation to Cuba
Last week, 7 members of Veterans For Peace were on a delegation in Cuba, attending the 5th annual international seminar on the Abolition of Foreign Military Bases. 250 delegates from around the world were present at the seminar, representing communities that are impacted by U.S militarism.
Ann Wright, VFP advisory board member, presented on the first day of the seminar, providing an analysis of ‘The Trump Administration, the Middle East, and the US Military Base in Guantanamo.’ Ann Wright is a former U.S diplomat who resigned from Bush’s cabinet in opposition to the Iraq War in 2003 and has spent the past 14 years protesting U.S wars and working for peace.
Chelsea Manning Will Be Free
Chelsea Manning will be released from prison this coming Wednesday, May 17. Veterans For Peace is celebrating her freedom. We are so grateful to Chelsea for her courage in releasing U.S. Army documents that allowed the public to know the truth about the U.S. wars and occupations of Afghanistan and Iraq. She did not deserve the torture, solitary confinement, abuse and imprisonment these last 7 years, which was a longer sentence than any U.S. whistleblower has had to endure. The 35-year prison sentence given to Chelsea by a politically motivated Army court martial was an obscenity. Fortunately, a broad-based support movement of peace, civil liberties and LGBT rights groups was able to convince President Obama to commute her sentence.
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In This Issue:
VFP Annual Convention in Chicago!
The VFP Annual Convention is titled "Education Not Militarization" and will be held in Chicago, Aug 9-13 at the Palmer House Hilton in Chicago.
Tabling/ Registration begin on Wednesday, August 9, 2017
Workshops will be held on Thu/Fri (Aug 10-11th)
Friday: VFP Concert at VIC Theatre
Saturday: Business meeting/banquet Sunday: Jackson Browne concert
New information about reserving your room, tabling, submitting a resolution and purchasing an ad!
National office contact is Shelly Rockett
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The Golden Rule Wants You to Help Sail!
Interested in sailing on the historic anti-nuclear peace boat, the Golden Rule? It's fun!
Some crew will not have sailing experience, but most will have at least some. Our skippers will be very experienced in the area that they sail - on the coast, in San Francisco Bay, up the Sacramento River as far as Sacramento, or San Diego Bay. This year we will offer a modest stipend for licensed captains. Fill out the form by May 15 - we set sail from Humboldt Bay in northern California June 10 and arrive in San Diego August 22. While in San Diego all winter, we could use crew, too! Put in Your Orders for the New Peace In Our Times Now!
Mother's Day-A Day For Peace
Mother’s Day began as a call to action to improve the lives of families through health and peace. Ann Jarvis of Appalachia founded Mother’s Day in 1858 to promote sanitation in response to high infant mortality. After the Civil War, abolitionist Julia Ward Howe made a Mother’s Day call to women to protest the carnage of war.
"From the bosom of the devastated Earth a voice goes up with our own. It says: “Disarm! Disarm! The sword of murder is not the balance of justice.” Blood does not wipe out dishonor, nor violence indicate possession. As men have often forsaken the plough and the anvil at the summons of war, Let women now leave all that may be left of home for a great and earnest day of counsel.'
UNAC Conference 2017
Stop the Wars at Home and Abroad
Building a Movement Against War, Injustice & Repression! June 16-18, 2017 Greater Richmond Convention Center 403 North 3rd Street, Richmond, VA 23219
Join activists from the many domestic and international struggles as we build unity against the Trump Regime and the underlying system responsible for imperialist wars, poverty, racism, sexism, the oppression of LGBTQ people, attacks on Muslims and undocumented immigrants, environmental destruction and all forms of injustice.
Save the Dates: Upcoming Events
May 14 - Mother's Day-A Day of Peace
May 15 - Golden Rule Applications Due
May 29-30 - Memorial Day National Mobilization
Aug 9-13 - VFP Annual Convention-"Education Not Militarization", Chicago, IL. There will be a concert the evening of the 13th, so plan to stay the evening of the 13th! More details to follow soon!
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Veterans For Peace, 1404 N. Broadway, St. Louis, MO 63102
Veterans For Peace appreciates your tax-exempt donations.
We also encourage you to join our ranks.
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