Veterans For Peace Weekly E-Letter

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	Friday, September 25, 2015 Project RENEW Update Project RENEW is a Vietnam-based, non-government organization founded by members of VFP’s Hoa Binh Chapter 160, but now directed by Vietnamese, with a mission to address the unexploded ordinance and Agent Orange legacies of the U.S. war in Vietnam. In July 2014 Project RENEW approached Veterans For Peace with a request that VFP serve as fiscal sponsor for a large grant they are seeking from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).  USAID is the foreign aid arm of State Department. All VFP dues-paying members – veterans and associates – will have the opportunity to vote on this issue, when they receive their ballots in the mail in October. The Board recommendation, Convention debate and straw vote, and Pro and Con statements will be provided on the VFP website, along with information about other Resolutions and Board candidates. <Full Update> 2016 Board Candidates Back to Top Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, PTSD and the Psychology of War Submitted by VFP Member, Skip Oliver More than five years ago a soldier named Bowe Bergdahl left his U.S. Army unit in Afghanistan. He was captured, imprisoned in brutal conditions for five years, and finally released in a prisoner exchange in 2014. The Army is now considering whether he should be court-martialed for desertion and other crimes. Bergdahl’s case needs to be understood, not only in terms of his actions, but also what is known about the psychology of war. What we have learned ought to give pause to those eager to send young people off to fight and die. To explain, let’s review some of the research on the psychological stressors relevant to the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.  <More> Back to Top Le Ly Haslip East Coast Speaking Tour Le Ly Haslip will be speaking next month at various locations throughout the Northeast. Ms. Haslip was one of the many speakers at this year's convention. She is an internationally known Vietnamese-American author, philanthropist, peace activist and speaker. She is the founder of both Global Village Foundation and East Meets West Foundation, which has helped rebuild Vietnam since 1986 through an array of projects including the construction of hospitals and schools, and a Mobile Library project which brings books to rural schools. For more information and updates to the tour, please visit the Global Village Foundation facebook page. Back to Top Golden Rule Peace Boat in the SF Bay! THE GOLDEN RULE WANTS TO MEET YOU! Come for a visit - and maybe even a sail! Click image to enlarge More events are in the planning, including Fleet Week, October 5-12! The Golden Rule will be in SF Bay through Fleet Week, Oct. 5-12. You can help to make things happen.  Invite the Golden Rule crew to a house party, a potluck dinner (or just to dinner). For interviews and information,contact Gerry Condon at 206-499-1220 or Helen Jaccard at 206-992-6364. Back to Top Save the Dates: Nov 20-22 - SOA Watch Vigil The SOAW annual mobilization is one of the largest anti-militarization convergences in the US.  It connects activists from across America who come together to denounce failed policies, the militarization of the hemisphere, and the daunting effects of imperialism as well as to remember the long and ongoing history of brutal US intervention in Latin America that the SOA/WHINSEC represents to perfection. BUT we also come together to listen, learn and be inspired by each other, to raise awareness about and draw connections between struggles, and to celebrate the beauty of creativity and resilience. The Vigil weekend is an opportunity to grow stronger together and to build grassroots power! Hourly Shuttle Info from Atlanta to Columbus Back to Top VFP Jeju/Okinawa Delegation This winter, VFP members will host a delegation to Jeju/Okinawa.  For more information on the delegation, please email Tarak Kauff @ takauff@gmail.com. Back to Top Travel Opportunities for Activists We will embark on our third VFP trip to Cuba  January 22-29 2016. Members and supporters of our message of peace are welcome to join us.  However, please be advised that we take 15-20 people, and only 8 spaces remain. Our tours are led by VFP member and Cuban documentary film maker  Jim Ryerson, who has been to the island more than 25 times.  If you are interested, please contact Jim. Like the other 2 trips, this one will sell out. jim@travelingman.net 323-436-5223 Here is the itinerary   http://cubaexplorer.com/tours/jrjan/ (Click on Book Now to see prices) Location Sponsored by Dates              Contact for Additional Information Palestine Code Pink Nov 1-8, 2015 Visit the Code Pink website Cuba Code Pink Nov 20-29, 2015 Visit the Code Pink website Venezuela SOAW Dec 2-10, 2015 For more information email Terri Mattson at teri.mattson@yahoo.com Cuba Jim Ryerson Jan 22-29 2016 For more information email Jim Ryerson at jim@cubaconnections.org.. Cuba Code Pink Feb 2016 Visit the Code Pink website Việt Nam Việt Nam's  Hoa Binh (Peace) Chapter 160 Mar 14 -Mar 30 2016 For more information, please email Nadya Williams Cuba Code Pink May 2016 Visit the Code Pink website Palestine Interfaith Peacebuilders May 21 -Jun 1 2016 For more information email emily@IFPB.org Palestine Interfaith Peacebuilders Jul 16 - Jul 29 2016 For more information email emily@IFPB.org Palestine Interfaith Peacebuilders Oct 24 - Nov 6 2016 For more information email emily@IFPB.org Back to Top		In This Issue: Project RENEW Update Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, PTSD and the Psychology of War Le Ly Haslip East Coast Speaking Tour Golden Rule Peace Boat in the SF Bay! Save the Dates: Nov 20-22 - SOA Watch Vigil VFP Jeju/Okinawa Delegation Travel Opportunities for Activists Thanks to All Who Participated in International Peace Day! Upcoming VFP Election Doug Rawlings, New VFP Interim Newsletter Editor Predators, Near and Far by Kathy Kelly The Warrior Connection Upcoming VFP Endorsed Actions/Events Thanks to All Who Participated in International Peace Day! Dedication of Peace Pole In Washington, DC. In photo (l to r) Mike Marceau, Richard Finn, ?, Tom Swann Earlier this week, Veterans For Peace members held or participated in International Peace Day events across the country. You can view a listing of events by city here. If you have any pictures from your local actions, please send them to casey@veteransforpeace.org. Back to Top Upcoming VFP Election In accordance with VFP Bylaw, Article VII, Section 2 ballots will be mailed out no later than October 31, 2015.  VFP National will have proposed resolutions on the website in the next couple of weeks.  View the 2016 Board candidates by clicking here. Article VII, Section 2 (a) In October, or six (06) weeks after the Annual Convention, the Secretary shall mail to all full members (as of the prior Annual Convention) a ballot with the names of all the nominees. The mailing will contain a brief biographical statement on each candidate. (b) The ballots must be returned postmarked by a deadline published on the ballot and calculated as four weeks after the initial ballot mailing. (c) The nominees receiving the largest number of votes shall fill the full-term vacancies which exist. The nominees who receive the largest number of votes shall fill the longest terms of office available, in declining order. (d) The ballots will be counted according to rules determined in advance by the Board of Directors and published to the Annual convention. Counting of ballots may be done by staff of the National Office or by an outside agency. Any Full Member may be present during the counting of the ballots. Ballots will be retained for two (02) years. Back to Top Doug Rawlings, New Interim Editor of VFP Newsletter VFP thanks Chuck Rossi (Chapter 34 - Philadelphia) for serving as our newsletter editor for the past five years.  Chuck has decided to step down, but we will not forget his generosity and willingness to take on any necessary task.  Doug Rawlings (Chapter 001 - Portland, ME) has agreed to be interim editor for the Fall 2015 issue.  Look for it in your mailbox in mid-November.  Chapter reports are due by October 15 and can be submitted to editor@veteransforpeace.org Back to Top Predators, Near and Far Submitted by Kathy Kelly Click image to play video #Enough! Fatima needs food and proper medical care, not war! Some days ago, at the Afghan Peace Volunteers’ Borderfree Center, I met Jamila, the mother of a little girl, Fatima, who comes to the Street Kids School, a program designed to help children working on the streets go to school.  Jamila, a young mother of seven, smiles and laughs easily, even though she faces dire circumstances here in Kabul.<More> Back to Top The Warrior Connection Join one of the six day retreats for male and female veterans in October in beautiful Dummerston, VT.  Experienced veteran facilitators will lead the discussions.  Food and housing are provided. Cost of the retreat is $150.  Anyone interested in the retreat will be required to have a phone or in-person interview and not be self-medicating on drugs or alcohol. 2015 Warrior Women’s Retreats October 1-6 2015 Warrior Retreats for Men October 15-20 Board member Tarak Kauff has participated in these retreats and found them very inspiring.  Feel free to email Tarak If you have questions at takauff@gmail.com. Back to Top Upcoming VFP Endorsed Actions/Events Aug 28 - Oct 15 - Golden Rule Schedule of Events Sept 24 - 30 - Iowa Speaking Tour with Ray McGovern and Coleen Rowley Oct 7  - Anniversary of U.S. Invasion of Afghanistan Oct 9-24 - Maine Walk For Peace Nov 20-22, 2015 - SOA Watch 25th Anniversary Vigil Back to Top Did you know? In 1986, VFP members appeared on the Phil Donahue TV program to debate U.S. policies in Central America.
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From The Annuals Of History -The International Labor Defense-"Blood On The Sugar"

https://web.mail.comcast.net/service/home/~/?auth=co&loc=en_US&id=581404&part=2

Terror in Australia: Workers' Paradise Lost.-Book Review

​
Dear Amazon Reviewer,

I would be most appreciative if you could take a look at my new book Terror in Australia: Workers' Paradise Lost.

I've pasted the press release below and here is a link to the Amazon page. I've also attached a MOBI Kindle file. If you would like it in ePUB or PDF please let me know. The book will be available in paperback later in the year.

http://www.amazon.com/Terror-Australia-Workers-Paradise-Lost-ebook/dp/B015W85MMA/

Press Release:

​

Terror in Australia: Workers’ Paradise Lost, by veteran journalist John Stapleton, is a sidewinding missile into the heart of Australian hypocrisy. It becomes available this week.

The book is a beautifully written snapshot of a pivotal turning point in the history of the so-called Lucky Country. In 2015 there were well attended Reclaim Australia demonstrations in every major capital city, all protesting what the demonstrators saw as the growing Islamisation of Australia, along with countering anti-racism demonstrations. There were frequent violent clashes, hundreds of police were forced to form lines separating the demonstrators in Sydney and Melbourne, there were a significant number of arrests and injuries, and dozens of people were treated for the effects of capsicum spray. The terror alert was at its highest level in history, the country was engaged in an unpopular and discredited war in Iraq and Syria, and relations between the government and an increasingly radicalised Muslim minority had broken down.

In recent weeks Australia has dispensed with the services of its Prime Minister Tony Abbott. While the pundits have generally looked at Tony Abbott’s poor opinion poll ratings and the ailing economy as the reasons for his demise, there is no doubt that his mishandling of the country’s national security was a primary factor in galvanising his opponents to move against him.

As critics declared, Abbott had become that most dangerous of creatures, a failed war Prime Minister. Prior to his election Abbott barely mentioned national security. Afterwards, he spoke about little else, repeatedly appearing at press conferences flanked by senior members of the defence, police and intelligence community.

In a multicultural country with a strong indigenous heritage, Abbott's repeated references to a Christian God, from his maiden speech in Parliament through to his concession speech, alienated many in the country. His justification for the abysmally counterproductive re-entry into the war in Iraq, the bombing and killing of Muslims in Iraq and Syria, the endangering of Australia's defence personnel as they were deployed close to areas held by Islamic State militants, along with threats to outlaw the tens of thousands of Muslim fundamentalists within Australia and his criticisms of Muslim leaders, was all justified within the rhetoric of a crusader God. The Jesuit trained Prime Minister referred literally hundreds of times in press conferences to Islamic State as a "death cult", rhetoric other Western leaders have avoided. Terror messaging experts repeatedly warned that labeling Islamic State a death cult aroused rather than dampened interest, attracting recruits to Islamic extremism. The Prime Minister refused to listen.

"I believe that one of the principal reasons Tony Abbott lost his place as Prime Minister was that his colleagues had become increasingly concerned about his mishandling of that most important of issues, national security," author John Stapleton says. "Despite the billions being spent on expanding the government's security apparatus, including massively increased surveillance of the Muslim minority, authorities believed another terrorist attack was inevitable. While in person Abbott could come across as a traditional hail-fellow well-met Australian character, I believe his election and the country's deteriorating security situation clearly demonstrates the dangers of electing a religious zealot in a modern democracy."

At the same time as politicians were mishandling broader issues, a demoralised, depressed population, saddled with increasingly grotesque over-regulation, turned inwards, increasingly questioning the wisdom of big spending governments and the failed social and economic creeds of the past.

On the streets once vibrant entertainment districts were desolate, while closed and shuttered shops became a characteristic of many suburbs.

An optimistic, freedom loving country with an irreverent, larrikin culture and a wildly optimistic view of its place in the world lost faith in its own story.

Well documented, switching through multiple points of view, Terror in Australia: Workers' Paradise Lost is a sometimes frightening, sometimes intensely lyrical step inside a democracy in serious trouble.

John Stapleton graduated with a double major in Philosophy and Anthropology and worked as a general news reporter for two of Australia’s leading newspapers The Sydney Morning Herald and The Australian for almost a quarter of a century. His books include Chaos at the Crossroads: Family Law Reform in Australia, The Twilight Soi, Hunting the Famous and Thailand: Deadly Destination.



Terror in Australia: Workers’ Paradise Lost became available on Amazon this week for Kindle and will become progressively available at other digital outlets, including iBooks, Barnes & Noble and Google Books, over the next month. It will be available in paperback later this year.

Contact details: asenseofplacepublishing@gmail.com

--

John Stapleton
Commissioning Editor
A Sense of Place Publishing

ABN: 8589 215 7567
Emails:

john.stapleton@gmail.com
asenseofplacepublishing@gmail.com
Skype: mr.john.stapleton
Skype number: From within Australia: 02 4786 0329. International calls:  +61 24786 0329

Australian mobile: 0416 428 358.
Websites: 

www.asenseofplacepublishing.com

http://asenseofplaceblog.com/

http://stores.ebay.com.au/A-Sense-of-Place-Publishing

Palestinian Villages: Erased from Space and Consciousness

Palestinian Villages: Erased from Space and Consciousness

Thursday, October 22, 7:00 pm
First Parish, 3 Church St, Cambridge (Harvard T)

Join Israeli Author Noga Kadman for a book talk:
Erased from Space and Consciousness: Israel and the Depopulated Palestinian Villages of 1948
A dramatic transformation took place in the landscape and demography of Israel after the 19848 war, as hundreds of Palestinian villages throughout the country were depopulated, and for the most part physically erased.  How has this transformation been perceived by Israelis?  The talk is based on research that systematically explores Israeli attitudes concerning the depopulated Palestinian villages.
Noga Kadman lives hear Jerusalem and is an Israeli researcher in the field of human rights and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, as well as a licensed tour guide.  Her main interest is to explore the encounter between Israelis and the Palestinian presence in the landscape and history of the country.
Sponsored by United for Justice with Peace
Other talks by Noga Kadman:
UMass Boston - Campus Center 2545, Mon., Oct 19, Noon
South Hadley - Odyssey Boookshop, 9 College St, Mon., Oct. 19, 7pm
Wellesley College - Friday, Oct. 23, location and time TBA

Upcoming Events: 

Tapped	Tuesday, October 6, 2015 - 7:00pm	SATV-Salem	Salem
Our Destiny is to Resist: An evening with Palestinian human rights activist Bassem Tamimi	Wednesday, October 7, 2015 - 7:00pm	Friends Meeting at Cambridge	Cambridge
Music for Peace: Music of Schumann and Beethoven	Saturday, October 17, 2015 - 7:30pm	Harvard-Epworth Methodist Church	Cambridge
Shut Pilgrim Speakout	Thursday, October 22, 2015 - 1:00pm	Boston State House	Boston
Palestinian Villages: Erased from Space and Consciousness	Thursday, October 22, 2015 - 7:00pm	3 Church Street	Cambridge
A New Day? Organizing to Change US Policy on Israel and Palestine	Saturday, November 14, 2015 - 1:00pm	Location TBA	Boston/Cambridge
Rising to the Challenge: Sustainable Security for All	Saturday, November 21, 2015 - 9:00am	Harvard Law School, Wasserstein Hall	Cambridge

Veterans For Peace Weekly E-Letter

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	Friday, October 2, 2015 Happy International Day of Nonviolence and Happy 146th Birthday to Gandhi! Today is International Day of Non-Violence and the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi, leader of the Indian independence movement and pioneer of the philosophy and strategy of non-violence. <More> Back to Top Order Your Fall Issue of Peace In Our Times Today! Deadline to place NEW subscription and new bundle orders:  Oct 16, 2015 Order your copy or bundle today! Articles included in this edition: Capt. Mena Sandoval: A Different Kind of Soldier – John Lamperti Peace Movement Must Pivot Into Asia Pacific – Bruce Gagnon The Asian Pivot, U.S. Militarism and Agent Orange – Tarak Kauff Power of Conscience: U.S. Military and the Myth of Violence – Maria Santelli PIOT Editor to Run for Mayor – Mike Ferner Dirty War Against Youth – Crystal Vance Guerra Black Americans and the Military – William Anderson Voyage of the Gold Rule Continues – Ellen Taylor WWII Hero Condemns Nuclear Weapons – Pamela Alma Weymouth The Other Feminism – Charlotte Maria Sãenz Hedges, Swanson, Marjorie Cohn . . . and much more Back to Top Keep Space for Peace Week - Oct 3 - 10, 2015 Keep Space for Peace Week is a decentralized week of local actions held around the globe to bring the issue of the militarization of space to the public.  For the past 13 years the Global Network Against Weapons & Nuclear Power in Space has organized the week of actions which include protests at key Space Command bases, space weapons technology production facilities, as well as film showings and public meetings.  Space technology now coordinates all US warfare on the planet and increasingly “allied” nations, largely through NATO, are becoming “interoperable” with the US satellite directed war fighting system. For more information visit the Global Network Against Weapons & Nuclear Power in Space website. Back to Top Join World Beyond War Thunderclap of Peace! On October 7, as the U.S./NATO war in Afghanistan enters Year 15, with new U.S. troops just deployed, but also as we mark the anniversary of a popular revolution without war in the Philippines, the world's social media (Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr) will be flooded with the message that we've had enough of war and are ready to move beyond it. You can't wait for October 7th to act. To be a part of this thunderclap sign up beforehand. Click this link to signup: http://thndr.me/NChhRE If you indicate now that you will support the thunderclap on Facebook or Twitter or Tumblr or all three, your message will automatically go out on October 7th along with everyone else's, flooding social media with a message from Afghan Peace Volunteers. Back to Top Solidarity with German Anti-drone Protestors! Click image to watch video Ret. Colonel Ann Wright, Lifetime Member of Veterans for Peace, and Medea Benjamin founder of CODEPINK: Women For Peace send a message to our German friends and allies protesting killer drones at Ramstein Air Force Base in Germany. Back to Top Travel Opportunities for Activists We will embark on our third VFP trip to Cuba  January 22-29 2016. Members and supporters of our message of peace are welcome to join us.  However, please be advised that we take 15-20 people, and only 8 spaces remain. Our tours are led by VFP member and Cuban documentary film maker  Jim Ryerson, who has been to the island more than 25 times.  If you are interested, please contact Jim. Like the other 2 trips, this one will sell out. jim@travelingman.net 323-436-5223 Here is the itinerary   http://cubaexplorer.com/tours/jrjan/ (Click on Book Now to see prices) Location Sponsored by Dates              Contact for Additional Information Palestine Code Pink Nov 1-8, 2015 Visit the Code Pink website Cuba Code Pink Nov 20-29, 2015 Visit the Code Pink website Venezuela SOAW Dec 2-10, 2015 For more information email Terri Mattson at teri.mattson@yahoo.com Cuba Jim Ryerson Jan 22-29 2016 For more information email Jim Ryerson at jim@cubaconnections.org. Cuba Code Pink Feb 2016 Visit the Code Pink website Việt Nam Việt Nam's  Hoa Binh (Peace) Chapter 160 Mar 14 -Mar 30 2016 For more information, please email Nadya Williams Cuba Code Pink May 2016 Visit the Code Pink website Palestine Interfaith Peacebuilders May 21 -Jun 1 2016 For more information email emily@IFPB.org Palestine Interfaith Peacebuilders Jul 16 - Jul 29 2016 For more information email emily@IFPB.org Palestine Interfaith Peacebuilders Oct 24 - Nov 6 2016 For more information email emily@IFPB.org Back to Top		In This Issue: Happy International Day of Nonviolence and Happy 146th Birthday to Gandhi! Order Your Fall Issue of Peace In Our Times Today! Keep Space for Peace Week - Oct 3 - 10, 2015 Join World Beyond War Thunderclap of Peace! Solidarity with German Anti-drone Protestors! Travel Opportunities for Activists Dennis Bernstein Interviews Gerry Condon on the Golden Rule Peace Boat Golden Rule Update Le Ly Haslip East Coast Speaking Tour VFP Jeju/Okinawa Delegation Save the Dates: Nov 20-22 - SOA Watch Vigil New Chapter Forming in Little Rock, AR VFP Member/Chapter Highlights Upcoming VFP Endorsed Actions/Events Dennis Bernstein Interviews Gerry Condon on the Golden Rule Peace Boat Legendary investigative reporter and radio host Dennis Bernstein interviewed VFP Vice President, Gerry Condon on the Golden Rule while it was docked in San Francisco last week.  The interview was featured at the top of his Thursday, June 24, edition of Flashpoints on KPFA radio. <Radio Interview> Back to Top Golden Rule Update On Thursday, Oct. 1, the Golden Rule moved to Sausalito, where it will be docked at Schoonmaker Marina thru the weekend. Next week, the crew will be back in San Francisco and ready for Fleet Week activities.<More> Back to Top Le Ly Haslip East Coast Speaking Tour Le Ly Haslip will speak in October at various locations throughout the Northeast. Ms. Haslip was one of the many speakers at this year's convention. She is an internationally known Vietnamese-American author, philanthropist, peace activist and speaker. She is the founder of both Global Village Foundation and East Meets West Foundation, which has helped rebuild Vietnam since 1986 through an array of projects including the construction of hospitals and schools, and a Mobile Library project which brings books to rural schools. For more information and updates to the tour, please visit the Global Village Foundation facebook page. Back to Top VFP Jeju/Okinawa Delegation This winter, VFP members will host a delegation to accompany local communities who are opposing U.S. bases on their islands in Jeju, South Korea and Okinawa, Japan.  For more information on the delegation, please email Tarak Kauff @ takauff@gmail.com. Back to Top Save the Dates: Nov 20-22 - SOA Watch Vigil Join us as we continue to denounce the failed U.S. policies, which have left a brutal legacy of impunity and Human Rights violations throughout the hemisphere. If you haven't already done so, start making your travel arrangements to Georgia! Please contact Casey at casey@veteransforpeace.org or 314-725-6005 if you plan to attend the SOAW gathering this year.  Hourly Shuttle Info from Atlanta to Columbus Back to Top New Chapter Forming in Little Rock, AR If you or anyone you know is interested in joining this chapter, please email Casey @ casey@veteransforpeace.org. Back to Top VFP Member/Chapter Highlights VFP Chapter 46 in Monterey, CA will host a question and answer event on Saturday, Nov 7th that will address miltarization of the police.  For more details, please email Phil Butler @ butlerphil@comcast.net VFP Chapter 26 in Chicago, IL is working on a proposed national campaign to bring awareness of the need to demilitarize high schools.  Visit their website for more information. Mike Hastie, member of VFP Portland, OR Chapter 72, submitted poem, entitled The Oregon Massacre.  <Poem> Back to Top Upcoming VFP Endorsed Actions/Events Aug 28 - Oct 15 - Golden Rule Schedule of Events Oct 7  - Anniversary of U.S. Invasion of Afghanistan Oct 9-24 - Maine Walk For Peace Nov 20-22, 2015 - SOA Watch 25th Anniversary Vigil Back to Top Did you know? In 1992, VFP  initiated the  Pittsburgh  Pact:  A  Declaration  calling  for  a  moratorium  on  global  arms  sales.
Forward to a Friend 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. Click to no longer receive updates from Veterans For Peace