Saturday, May 06, 2017

Veterans On the March • Memorial Day in D.C.

Veterans On the March!
Stop Endless War • Build for Peace!
“War is a racket: A few profi

Veterans On the March • Memorial Day in D.C.

t, the many pay!”– Major General Smedley Butler, USMC
May 29 and 30, 2017  Washington DC
May 29, 2017:  Letters to the Vietnam Memorial Wall • Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial
May 30, 2017: Lincoln Memorial • White House
Hundreds of Veterans and allies gather at the White House December, 2010 to demand PeaceHundreds of Veterans and allies gather at the White House December, 2010 to demand Peace
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.
The Trump administration recently fired 59 Tomahawk missiles into Syria, in violation of international and U.S. law. After that, the largest non-nuclear bomb was dropped on Afghanistan, an impoverished country that has suffered enough already. Trump has been making threats towards North Korea that could initiate a nuclear war – WWIII. He says, he will not tell anyone ahead of time what he will do.
Donald Trump and his administration appear to be destroying this planet with utter disregard for our children and grandchildren.
Veterans cannot be silent. On May 29th and 30th Veterans For Peace and other veterans groups will be in Washington, DC, to make our collective veterans' voices heard loud and clear and we invite you to join us! 
On Memorial Day,  Veterans For Peace will gather for a solemn and respectful occasion to deliver letters at the Vietnam Memorial Wall and to remember all combatants and civilians who died in Vietnam and all wars. We will mourn the tragic and preventable loss of life calling for people to abolish war in the name of those who have died and for the sake of all those who live today.
On the 30th we will boldly and loudly demand an end to war, an end to the assault on our planet, an end to abuse and oppression of all people and to stand for peace and justice at home and abroad. 
Demands:
1. Dismantle the U.S. Empire at Home and Abroad!

2. Close all U.S. Bases on Foreign Soil – Bring the Troops Home!

3. Ban Nuclear Weapons! 

4. Decrease the Pentagon Budget – Money for Education, Infrastructure and Sustainable Green Energy

5. Dismantle Corporate Control of our Government 

6. Dismantle the School to Prison/Military Pipeline– Create Humane Methods of Rehabilitation
Schedule:
Monday, May 29: Meeting at 9 AM at the Bell Tower, adjacent to the Wall for a briefing by Doug Rawlings and an opportunity to read some of this year’s letters; 10:30 AM, we deliver letters to The Wall; from 11:30 to 12 we proceed ½ mile to MLK Memorial; at 12:30 we begin a public reading of MLK’s Riverside Church address, his Beyond Vietnam speech. After the MLK event we gather back at the Bell Tower to engage with the public. At 6:30 PM we meet for a social gathering at Busboys & Poets.
Tuesday: May 30: 11 AM rally at Lincoln Memorial w/hour of short, uplifting speeches, then after the rally VFP will be going to the White House fence to demand our meeting with the president. We will read the letter from VFP President Barry Ladendorf asking for a public meeting, which will have been sent previously to the White House. 
 We will have legal support and musical accompaniment.
To RSVP for the event, please fill out this form.
Share the Event on Facebook.
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
Posted by at No comments:

VFP eNews: Memorial Day, 2017 Resolutions, Peace In Our Times

Veterans For Peace
To  alfredjohnson34@comcast.net  
If you'd like to view this email in a Web browser, please click here.

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!

Top officials declared that the old policy of “strategic patience” is over, it seems the Trump administration will continue more or less the failed policy of the previous administration’s North Korea policy, but with a new sense of urgency and greater focus. However, in view of the unpredictable temper of Trump, the new policy is very risky because greater military and economic pressure may increase the likelihood of re-igniting the terrible Korean War. At this time, US is building up its military power in Korea and Japan. USS Carl Vinson, the aircraft carrier with 90 warplanes, is conducting joint naval drill with Japanese Navy near Okinawa, and a US nuclear submarine, which can fire Tomahawk missiles, also arrived at Busan, S. 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:
  • Write an Op-Ed to your Local Paper. (See Ann Wright’s excellent Op-Ed “A Path Forward on N. Korea” for an example)
  • Hold a peace vigil for Korea
  • Promote the Korea Peace Campaign Video on the Korean War
  • Urge the White House and Congress to end the Korean War now with a peace treaty.
    • White House 202-456-1111
    • Congress  202-224-3121 (Find your representative)
Stop threatening N. Korea, Start talking! Wage Peace, not War in Korea!

National War Tax Resistance Gathering

St. Louis, Missouri • May 5-7, 2017
Friends Meeting House • 1001 Park Ave., 63104
Friday evening and Saturday include panels, workshops and discussion sessions, plus a special presentation of redirected tax dollars. As part of skills-sharing, we will participate in a WeCopWatch training on Saturday, and war tax resisters will offer how-to workshops for people newly interested in this form of resistance. NWTRCC’s business meeting on Sunday morning will be at a different location, followed by an in-depth war tax resistance counselors’ training for current resisters who would like to be part of the NWTRCC counseling network. 

Shop VFP! VFP Logo Cards

All white cards with the VFP logo, approximately 4x6". Perfect for any occasion!

Front: VFP logo
Inside/Back: Blank

Order includes 10 cards and 10 envelopes.
In This Issue:

Save the Date!  VFP Annual Convention

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
More details to follow!
National office contact is Shelly Rockett

Back to Top

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!

Willie Hager Arrested in Jacksonville

Former Peace Club members who served as interns
On April 7 2017, VFP member, Willie Hager (Wilder) joined with longstanding union leaders and community activists in Jacksonville Florida in an organized peaceful demonstration calling for peace in Syria. Five members were brutally arrested, including Willie Hager.
Here are "Demands"

1. Drop all Charges Against the #Jax5
2. Demand the protection of the right to free speech and to peacefully assemble.
3. Full Investigation of JSO Misconduct, brutality & any ties to White Supremacist Groups/Individuals
4. Full Investigation of Surveillance and Spying on union leaders & Community Organizers
Please visit and like Justice for Jax 5 for more information

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

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!
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.


Footer
Posted by at No comments:

3 articles on N. Korea: 30% N. Koreans killed in '50s; CFR Grand Strategy; Long, Dirty History of U.S. Warmongering against North Korea

'Maggie Zhou' via BostonUNAC
To  UJP Discuss,    Massaction-boston   and 3 others
KNOW THE FACTS: North Korea lost close to 30% of its population as a result of US bombings in the 1950s

'During The Second World War the United Kingdom lost 0.94% of its population, France lost 1.35%, China lost 1.89% and the US lost 0.32%. During the Korean war, North Korea lost close to 30 % of its population.'

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Long, Dirty History of U.S. Warmongering against North Korea

'The Korean War was an asymmetrical conflict in which the United States monopolized the skies, raining down ruin. Four million Koreans—the vast majority of them civilians—were killed. ...... In North Korea where no family was left unscathed by the terroristic violence of the Korean War, anti-Americanism thus cannot be dismissed as state ideology alone.'

'Instability in Korea has, for several decades, lined the pockets of those who profit from the business of war. Indeed, the Korean War rehabilitated a U.S. economy geared, as a result of World War II, toward total war. Seized as opportunity, the war enabled the Truman administration to triple U.S. defense spending and furnished a rationale for the bilateral linking of Asian client states to the United States, and the establishment of what Chalmers Johnson called an “empire of bases” in the Pacific. General James Van Fleet, the commanding officer of UN forces in Korea, described the war as “a blessing” and remarked, “There had to be a Korea either here or some place in the world.”'

'Far from being an intractable foe, North Korea has repeatedly asked the United States to sign a peace treaty that would bring the unresolved Korean War to a long-overdue end.'

'It has also proposed that the United States cease its annual war games with South Korea—games, we must recognize, that involve the simulated invasion and occupation of North Korea, the “decapitation” of its leadership, and rehearsals of a preemptive nuclear strike. In return, North Korea will cap its nuclear weapons testing. China has reiterated this proposal. The United States maintains that its joint war games with South Korea are simply business as usual and has not seen fit to respond.'

--------------------------------------------------------------------------
“Dangerous Circumstances”
The Council on Foreign Relations Proposes a New Grand Strategy Towards China
by Laurence H. Shoup

This article cites CFR report to show how the unambiguous reason for US policies in the Asia Pacific is always to maintain “U.S. primacy in Asia”, and the existing “international order” where US hegemony remains unchallenged, by the perceived threat from the growing Chinese power.  The stated purpose of “protecting vital US national interests”, is simply euphemism for the economic interests of the extremely wealthy and powerful U.S. plutocracy.

In this endeavor, the countries deemed most important for US purposes of maintaining its “primacy” in Asia over China, are Japan, S. Korea (ROK), Australia and India, in that order.  To that end, the strategy “include(s) working with the ROK (and Japan) to develop a comprehensive strategy for regime change in North Korea.”

 

----------------------------------------
Maggie Zhou, PhD
Twitter: @mzhou_us
+41 61 535 0508 (Switzerland, landline)
Skype: mzhou_us

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "BostonUNAC" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to bostonunac+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.
For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
Posted by at No comments:
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)