VFPeNews: No To Wilkie! Save Our VA! Veterans For Peace

VFPeNews: No To Wilkie! Save Our VA!

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	Friday, July 13th Save Our VA! NO to Wilkie! Veterans For Peace strongly opposes the nomination of Robert Wilkie as U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary.  His history shows an alarming alliance with racist, sexist, and homophobic political figures and organizations.  Wilkie has also been clear that he supports Trump’s privatization efforts, under the dishonest guise of “offering veterans choices” for their healthcare. Veterans For Peace strongly opposes the nomination of Robert Wilkie as U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary.  His history shows an alarming alliance with racist, sexist, and homophobic political figures and organizations.  Wilkie has also been clear that he supports Trump’s privatization efforts, under the dishonest guise of “offering veterans choices” for their healthcare. The Department of Veterans Affairs is in a perilous position, having had multiple directors in a short time span and is in need of someone who has experience, is dedicated to fighting off privatization efforts and will commit to fully fund and staff the VA. The Senate Veterans Affairs Committee voted on Tuesday, 7/10 to confirm Robert Wilkie as the Secretary of Veteran Affairs. The nomination will now go to the full Senate and the vote could be as early as next week. It is imperative that the Senate says NO to Wilkie!  Write and Call your Senator Today! Click here to take action! Back to Top Close RIMPAC! RIMPAC, the largest maritime war exercise in the world is now here in Hawai'i. In spite of ongoing peace talks between the United States and North Korea, the US Marines have constructed a mock North Korean village and have led their allies in training on how to storm and clear a Korean village. While previously only disclosed to me via inside sources, the Kaneohe Marine Corps just released actual footage. Veterans For Peace-Hawai'i Chapter stands with Na Kanaka Maoli, the first peoples of Hawai'i as they stand in opposition to RIMPAC and the use of our homeland in war games aimed at the destruction of all peoples. In particular the peoples of Korea for whom these exercises appear to be directed. Sign the petition and find out more ways to help! Back to Top #NoMuslimBanEver Two weeks ago the Supreme Court voted to uphold Trump's bigoted and xenophobic #MuslimBan. But the court has been wrong before and we must keep fighting. HERE ARE SOME WAYS TO TAKE ACTION NOW Speak out on social media - Use Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to say #NoMuslimBanEver, #VetsSpeakOut and #WeWillNotBeBanned. Make your veteran voice heard and be a part of this very critical conversation. Add your name to this petition to Congress Download this Facebook frame for your profile page. Sign the Veterans Challenge Islamophobia Statement Stay updated by following us on Facebook and Twitter Read the VFP / VCI Statement on the Supreme Court decision here Back to Top Press Conference on Resolution to Require Congressional Approval of War WASHINGTON, DC – Next week, Representatives Walter B. Jones (NC-3) and Tulsi Gabbard (HI-2), along with retired U.S. Marine Captain Matthew Hoh and constitutional lawyer Bruce Fein, will host a press conference announcing their introduction of H.Res. 922, a resolution that would define presidential wars not declared by Congress as impeachable "high crimes and misdemeanors." Read the Bill and the full Press Release Back to Top Campaign Nonviolence Week of Actions 2018 Campaign Nonviolence's 2018 week of action is happening soon! Campaign Nonviolence is a long-term grassroots movement for a culture of peace and nonviolence free from war, poverty, racism, environmental destruction and the epidemic of violence. The week of actions is centered around International Day of Peace, September 21.  This will be the fifth year VFP has joined with Campaign Nonviolence to take a strong stand for justice, disarmament and peace. Register for the conference call on July 26th Back to Top Sam's Ride For Peace Sam Winstead has for 6 years (2012-17) led a bicycle ride from Raleigh NC to Washington DC to share his message for Peace in our world. Sam is the funder and a director of a not-for-profit 501 (c) 3, NC Company, Sam’s Ride for Peace, Inc. (SRFP). Ahmed Selim (AS), an educator, film-maker, and founder of Films For World Peace (FFWP) has filmed Sam’s rides and interviewed supporters of SRFP. He is editing this film which will run for approx. 40 minutes. Ahmed is also a board member of SRFP. For health and safety reasons SRFP has shifted its emphasis from an annual ride to creating ways to spread Sam’s message through the FFWP film and public speaking engagements. The original mission of SRFP includes encouraging a peaceful world for our younger generations. Find out ways to support the film! And mark your calendars for Friday November 16th 2018 at the Kirby Center in Roxboro, NC for the world premiere! Back to Top Divest from the War Machine The Smedley Butler Chapter of VFP in Boston has joined the Divest from the War Machine Coalition, a massive initiative to reel in the U.S. war machine by demanding that our institutions, municipalities, faith communities and others divest their money from weapons companies and those who support them. To support this work, CODEPINK and As You Sow have released Weapon Free Funds, a searchable fund database that will help us cut our ties to militarism and gun violence. Check out this AMAZING new resource! Back to Top Remembering Hiroshima and Nagasaki In a few weeks the anniversary of the horrific use of nuclear weapons against the people of Japan.  The people of Hiroshima and Nagasaki experienced the horror of nuclear bombs dropped on their churches, on their schools, on their cafes, on their streets, on their homes and their families. Today the last survivors of those bombs, known as the Hibakusha, continue to appeal to the world to rid itself of these terrible weapons of mass destruction and mass suffering. Many Veterans For Peace chapters will attend memorial events.  If you are interested in tabling materials, please fill out this form. Back to Top Job Alert: About Face is Hiring! About Face is seeking a campaign manager to help build, develop, and lead our national Drop the MIC (Military Industrial Complex) campaign. The campaign manager will be responsible for supporting strategic planning and for organizing and mobilizing current and potential members and supporters to advance work that aligns with the campaign goals: demilitarized communities, a just energy transition, and divestment from war profiteers. Read the Job Posting		In This Issue: Save Our VA!  NO to Wilkie! VFP Convention: August 22-26th Close RIMPAC! #NoMuslimBanEver The Peace Report: Leave No One Behind Press Conference on Resolution to Require Congressional Approval of War Divest from the War Machine Sam's Ride For Peace Calling All Artists! Order Peace in Our Times Now! Campaign Nonviolence Week of Actions 2018 Remembering Hiroshima and Nagasaki Job Alert: About Face is Hiring! Deadline Approaching for Award Nominations! ICYMI: In Case You Missed It Upcoming Events VFP Convention: August 22-26th Veterans For Peace is looking forward to seeing YOU at our 33rd Annual convention, August 22-26th in St. Paul, Minnesota. If you need convincing, check out this great video! Our registration is now open and we have a lot of other deadlines and information available on our website, but scroll down for direct links and more information! Registration Registration is Now Open for the 33rd Annual Convention.  Housing Veterans For Peace has a special group rate at the Intercontinental St. Paul Riverfront.  Click here for more details and for housing information. Workshops The deadline for workshop proposals is past.  You will be notified next week if your workshop was accepted.  We are sorry for the delay. Awards Nominate an individual for one of five awards offered by VFP National.  Visit the Awards tab for award descriptions.  Deadline to submit is July 22 Have a chapter who is deserving of the VFP Chapter of the Year Award? Submit this form to nominate a deserving chapter.   Deadline to submit is July 22 Tabling Submit this form, if you're interested in tabling at the 2018 convention.  ​ Program Ads Place your ad in the program book. Click here to learn more about placing and ad in the 2018 convention program book.  ​Deadline for ad submissions is July 20th Resolution and Bylaws Resolution proposals are now being accepted.  Read the protocols for submitting a resolution here.  Deadline to submit is July 22nd. All Current Members, this includes Associate Members, shall be entitled to speak to resolutions presented before the Annual Convention. All Current Members, this includes Associate Members , shall be entitled to one vote on resolutions. Proposals can be emailed to the Resolutions Committee Chair, Bob Krzewinski, at wolverbob@gmail.com or mailed to 706 Dwight Street, Ypsilanti, MI 48198. Emailing resolutions is the preferred way of submitting resolutions. Resolutions submitted by mail must include a telephone number of the resolution maker. We will start accepting bylaw amendments next week.  Deadline to submit is July 22nd All Current Veteran Members are allowed to submit and vote on bylaw amendments. Please also check out the Convention FAQ for other inquries! Back to Top The Peace Report: Leave No One Behind The Peace Report features members of the Unified U.S. Deported Veterans-Resource Center and Veterans For Peace.  These veterans have been deported, separated from their families and left with no healthcare from the VA. Watch the Video Now p.s. To Support VFP's Deported Veteran Advocacy Project, click here! Back to Top Calling All Artists! Veterans for Peace Chapter 27 would like to invite convention registrants to display 2D or 3D art during the convention.  Seeking artistic creations embracing the theme:   IMAGINE A WORLD WITHOUT WAR! We live in challenging times; it is easy to focus on the negative.  Some metaphysical theorists argue that thoughts precede action; we must be able to visualize and sense something in our mind and body before it can manifest physically.  The first step in creating a new reality is imagining it.   Installed in the registration/main gathering area, using color, texture, abstract or figurative art, our art exhibit strives to imbue the convention with beauty, light, positive thought and optimism. Something we can strive FOR vs. fight against. Check out the guidelines! Sign-up here today! Questions  email Mary McNellis at vfpsoaw@yahoo.com    Subject line:  Art Exhibit Back to Top Order Peace in Our Times Now! There is still time to order your bundle of Peace in Our Articles by: Kathy Kelly, Doug Rawlings, Pat Elder, Major Danny Sjursen, Sam Hussini, Lauri Arbeiter, Meredith Tax, Stan Levin, poems by Mike Hastie and much more! We’re excited to announce that Peace in Our Times has three new widely respected syndicated journalists. Look for Elvis, Lupin and Puck in this issue and ongoing. The spring issue sold out completely. Don’t miss this one. Order now. Back to Top Deadline Approaching for VFP Award Nominations! Nominate an individual for one of five awards offered by VFP National.  Visit the Awards tab for award descriptions.  Deadline to submit is July 22 Have a chapter who is deserving of the VFP Chapter of the Year Award? Submit this form to nominate a deserving chapter.   Deadline to submit is July 22 Back to Top ICYMI: In Case You Missed It On CNN, 3 graphs that explain Trump's dilemma on the border"  (Make sure to peep VFP's flag in the pictures) Gilbert Field interviewed by the local NBC in San Diego:  Trump's Demands NATO Allies Increase Defense Spending Could Majorly Affect San Diego K.J. Noh writes a good rebuttal to the NY Times coverage of the Korea peace negotiations, NY Times Pours Linguistic Gasoline on North Korea-US Negotiations Jerry Hassett is quoted in this Rolling Stone article about the recent movement to Abolish ICE, The Abolish Ice Movement Begins in the Streets Save the Dates: Upcoming Event July 10-18 - International Action Camp Against Nuclear Weapons in Germany, Buchel, Germany Aug 23-26 - 2018 VFP National Convention in St. Paul, Minnesota Sept 19-21 - 2nd Annual Conference in Havana, Cuba on "Realities and Challenges of Being a Zone of Peace in Latin America and the Caribbean" Sept 15-23 - Campaign Nonviolence Week of Actions Oct 20-21 - Women's March on the Pentagon Nov 11 - Armistice Day Nov 16-18 - 2018 SOA Watch Encuentro Nov 16-18 - International Conference Against U.S./NATO Military Bases in Dublin, Ireland Nov 27-29 - International Youth Conference: Reaching High for a Nuclear Weapon Free World, Prague, Czech Republic Back to Top

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