VFPeNews: End this Endless War!
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Friday, October 5thEnd this Endless War This year marks 17 years since the U.S. has been waging war on Afghanistan. Members of VFP joined with CodePink and World Beyond War for a demonstration at the White House. VFP members also Matt Hoh and Ann Wright joined a panel discussion on #Afghanistan with David Swanson, Liz Remmerswaal, Brian Terrell and Hoor Arifi. Click here to see video Check out this recent piece from Advisory Board member David Swanson: 17 Years of Getting Afghanistan Completely Wrong Presidio 27 "Mutiny at the Stockade" 50 Year Anniversary Commemoration The Saturday, October 13 Forum will be from 7 to 9:30 pm at the Presidio Officers' Club, 50 Moraga Avenue, The Presidio, San Francisco On October 14, 1968, 50 years ago, 27 inmates in the Presidio Stockade staged a peaceful sit-down protest to call attention to the treatment of fellow prisoners and the conditions inside, and for that action were tried for mutiny. A panel discussion followed by audience Q&A, will dive deeper into the history of the Presidio 27 and their contemporary relevance. Find out more, including some history! BAP Calls on U.S. Government to Shut Down U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) October 1st marks the 10th anniversary of the establishment of AFRICOM, short for U.S. Africa Command. Sign the Petition: "Therefore, we, the Undersigned, join Black Alliance for Peace (BAP) in its demand that AFRICOM be immediately dismantled. We say that AFRICOM is an integral part of the military industrial complex, that we oppose an embodiment of U.S. imperialism, and it is therefore a great danger to the people of Africa and the world." Sign the Petition Armistice Day T-Shirts! T-Shirt is a crew neck style shirt, available in the following colors choices: White or Asphalt Gray. The front of the shirt has the "Reclaim Armistice Day" image. The back of the shirt has the saying: "IF YOU WANT TO THANK ME FOR MY SERVICE, WORK FOR PEACE. 100th Anniversary VETERANSFORPEACE.ORG" Order Now! VFP Documentary Will Air at Witness Palestine Film Festival
Chris Smiley accompanied the Veteran Peace Team to Palestine and created a documentary on VFP's time in Palestine. "This film follows a number of U.S. Veterans who spend time with Ahed Tamimi and experience the ruthless brutality Palestinians endure and the steadfastness of the Palestinians in the face of guns, tear gas, racism, and their refusal to be drawn into it. They continue to strive for non-violent resistance."
The festival, Witness Palestine, will air "Veterans For Peace in Palestine" in Rochester, New York on October 29th.
To see a "First Look" Version that Chris released a year ago, click here!
The Sanctuary: Brian Trautman Click here to Listen! Dismantling Colonialism in the U.S. Veterans Peace/Anti-War Movement Thursday, October 11th 5 P.M. PST/7 P.M. CST/ 8 P.M EST Colonialism shows up in all our movements. Confused about what it is? How it shows up? Join VFP Board member Monisha Rios as she examines the relationship between militarism and colonialism and critically looks how it manifests itself in the U.S. Peace movement and ways it shows up within Veterans For Peace. This will be a conversation style, interactive workshop with some presentation. Veterans For Peace sees this work as consistent and ongoing so join us as we continue to learn together. The conversation will be held on Zoom, so you must have a computer with video, audio capability and internet. Due to space requirements, only VFP members will be accepted. To join VFP, click here! Fill out this form to RSVP and call in information will be emailed to you! Definition of Political Incest by Mike Hastie sacrificial pawns in a time of war for the sole purpose of reaping the spoils of economic expansion. This deceit is always cloaked in the frenzy of patriotism and moral high ground. It is the ultimate form of betrayal by one's own government for the cause of nationalistic war profiteering and global dominance. It has absolutely nothing to do with freedom and democracy. Soldiers are emotionally raped for the cause of profit for the Corporate Fatherland. Read more | In This Issue: End this Endless War Indigenous People's Day Presidio 27 "Mutiny at the Stockade" 50 Year Anniversary Commemoration Reclaiming Armistice Day: A Day to Perpetuate Peace Golden Rule: Bon Voyage Party! BAP Calls on U.S. Government to Shut Down U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) Monisha Rios on Military Sexual Trauma Armistice Day T-Shirts! Ann Wright Confronts General Petraeus VFP Documentary Will Air at Witness Palestine Film Festival Save Our VA Action Team Outreach at Manhattan VA The Sanctuary: Brian Trautman Keep Space for Peace Week Dismantling Colonialism in the U.S. Veterans Peace/Anti-War Movement Upcoming Events Indigenous People's Day Monday is Indigenous People's Day. "Veterans For Peace believes that the federal holiday commemorating the arrival of Christopher Columbus to the “New World” is an affront to Indigenous peoples everywhere and particularly to native peoples of the Americas. We denounce the celebration of a person who carried out mass killings and genocidal acts against Indigenous peoples and paved the way for European colonization of native lands and enslavement of native peoples. We recognize that the annual observance of Columbus Day here at home and our continued wars and occupations abroad are rooted in racism, xenophobia and militarism. Our mission of Peace at Home, Peace Abroad includes the commitment to seek justice for all victims of violence and war. Accordingly, we urge our government to no longer honor a person who committed atrocities." Read the Entire Statement Back to Top Reclaiming Armistice Day: A Day to Perpetuate Peace A brief excerpt: "Tragically, not only has Eisenhower’s warnings been ignored, but changing the designation of Armistice Day to Veterans Day, has provided the militarists and war profiteers the means and the opportunity, not to “reconsecrate ourselves to the task of promoting an enduring peace” as was originally intended in his Proclamation, but to celebrate and promote militarism and war, fabricate and perpetuate its mythology of honor and nobility, misrepresent members of the military and veterans as heroes, and encourage the enlistment of the cannon fodder for future wars for profit." Read more Back to Top Golden Rule: Bon Voyage Party! The Veterans For Peace Golden Rule Anti-Nuclear Sailboat will leave San Diego on Monday, October 15 (weather permitting), for a 3-year voyage around the Pacific! Please come to the Bon Voyage party on October 14 from 2 to 4 pm at Grassroots Oasis, 3130 Moore Street, San Diego (off of Rosecrans near Old Town). If you are unable to attend, please consider a gift! Thanks to all of you for your fantastic support, and for becoming part of the Golden Rule family! "Making Waves: the Rebirth of the Golden Rule" is the recipient of the 2018 Guam International Film Festival Grand Jury Award for Best Documentary Short! Congratulations to the VFP Golden Rule Project and Seamus Knight, the film maker, and Wendy Rogan, the producer! Back to Top
Monisha Rios on Military Sexual Trauma
 Board Member Monisha Rios has a long history of organizing around MST and some of the work she's done is still incredibly relevant today. Here's an interview from 2015 where she delves in the problems within the VA. "Two whistleblowers speak out about sexual assault and harassment in Veterans Administration hospitals, saying these offenses are pervasive in the VA system. And a Human Rights Watch investigator provides an update about forthcoming HRW reports on the problem. Monisha Rios is a social worker and veterans’ advocate; “Lisa” is a current VA patient who requested anonymity. Both are Army veterans. Sara Dareshori is a researcher at Human Rights Watch." Listen Here Back to Top Ann Wright Confronts General Petraeus VFP member COL Ann Wright was recentIy in Washington D.C. While there she spotted retired US Army General Petraeus! So she immediately seized the opportunity! "I spotted retired US Army General Petraeus as he walked through the atrium of the Hart Senate building I stopped him saying I’m a retired Army colonel. He said, oh thank you for your service. (1st photo) Check out Ann's Full Interaction Back to Top
Save Our VA Action Team Outreach at Manhattan VA
 "After months of educating ourselves about the VA and privatization, we finally decided to sponsor a Save Our VA Town Hall on November 29 with Suzanne Gordon as our featured speaker. We printed up a thousand flyers and had a successful tabling activity at the Manhattan VA Thursday from 12-5 PM. We distributed around 700 flyers, with most of the veterans taking flyers and maybe 25% of the staff. Many commented that they too opposed privatization. We collected $65 in donations and more than 40 people signed up for future SOVA emailings. We plan to table again at the Manhattan VA next week and will continue reaching out there to build for the Town Hall in November." Read more about the upcoming Town Hall! Back to Top Keep Space for Peace Week Global Network Against Weapons and Nuclear Power in Space is planning their International Week of Protest to Stop the Militarization of Space for Oct. 6-13th. They now have a list of actions up and encourage you to take action in your local community! Check out this list of actions, resources and contact information Back to Top Save the Dates: Upcoming Event Oct 6-13 - Keep Space For Peace Week Oct 13-14 - Presidio 27 "Mutiny at the Stockade" 50 Year Anniversary Commemoration 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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