Veterans For Peace Weekly E-Letter

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	Friday, March 4, 2016 This Weekend Join Us in Washington DC for the Summit on Saudi Arabia Date:  Mar 5-6, 2016 Time: Saturday, 8:00am to 9:00pm | Sunday, 8:00am to 5:00pm Location: The UDC David A. Clarke School of Law (4340 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC 20008) CODEPINK, along with VFP, The Nation Magazine, Institute for Policy Studies, Peace Action, and many other organizations are hosting a two-day summit examining the policies and practices of Saudi Arabia and U.S.-Saudi ties. This Summit will address issues such as human rights; Saudi internal and foreign policy; and the prospects for change inside the kingdom and in U.S.-Saudi relations. For more information, email Andrea at andrea@codepink.org Purchase your ticket today! $20 - $100 sliding scale, includes lunch Back to Top VFP Endorsed the Women’s Boat to Gaza Veterans For Peace endorses the Women’s Boat to Gaza and its challenge to the illegal and inhumane Israeli blockade of Gaza that has made Gaza virtually uninhabitable. The three brutal Israeli attacks on Gaza in 2009, 2012 and 2014 have shown a level of barbarity that has appalled the membership of Veterans For Peace.  VFP is also very concerned about the continued illegal settlements in the West Bank, the apartheid wall and imprisonment of many youth of Palestine for throwing rocks at those who invade their homes and stop them for endless hours at intentionally demeaning checkpoints. <Full endorsement> Back to Top Film:  Paying the Price for Peace Premiere The documentary film, Paying the Price for Peace produced by Bo Boudart and others will premiere around the end of March. Click image above to play trailer The film focuses on Vietnam veteran S. Brian Willson who paid the price for peace by nearly being killed by a military train during a non-violent protest.   Other peace activists in the film include:  Alice Walker, Daniel Ellsberg, Medea Benjamin, David Swanson, Ron Kovic, Bruce Gagnon, Cindy Sheehan, Martin Sheen, Blase Bonpane,  Phil Donahue, and others. Back to Top Stop U.S. Militarization Around the World Ann Wright is interviewed by Liz Rees on U.S. Militarization Around the World.  She talks about the CODEPINK: Women for Peace trip to Guantanamo, Cuba and VFP trips to Jeju Island, South Korea and Okinawa. Back to Top Zinn Fund Request For Proposals Does your chapter have a project to promote peace and justice? The Howard Zinn Fund for Peace and Justice provides support to local chapters to start or to significantly develop ongoing local programs that produce substantive changes for the VFP mission.  Two types of awards are made, depending on available funds: Several Independent Awards of up $500 to support focused local projects which further the VFP mission. One Partnership Award of up to $5,000 to support the development of an ongoing chapter program that will produce significant results for the long-term mission of VFP.  This involves a collaborative process between the chapter team and the Zinn Fund Committee over several months to develop the project and the final proposal.  The collaboration continues during the grant period as the project is implemented and project reports are prepared.  These projects are used to demonstrate VFP activities and to promote support for the VFP mission. The deadline for Zinn Fund Applications is Friday March 18 For more information, visit the webpage Howard Zinn Fund. Back to Top Veterans Challenge Islamophobia  VETERANS write an opinion piece or short statement as to why you think this campaign is important. Send a copy of your statement to shelly@veteransforpeace.org Veterans sign on to our statement. Non-veterans, please support our cause Back to Top Stand With Our Muslim Friends hosted by VFP Smedley Butler Chapter Update The Muslims Are Not the EnemyEvent presented by the Smedley D. Butler Brigade and hosted by the Islamic Center of Boston Cultural Center in Boston this past Saturday, had over two hundred people in attendance.  The center is the largest Mosque in New England. There were seventeen individual speakers; thirteen of which were veterans, including Muslim veterans. VFP’s President Barry Ladendorf, Lyndon Bilal, the Commander of the Muslim American Veterans Association, Joy Cumming, the Adjunct of the Department of Mass., Veterans of Foreign Wars and Commissioner Bill Evans of the Boston Police Department were among the speakers.  Our Muslim friends at the Mosque expressed their overwhelming heartfelt joy and gratitude for the wonderful show of support by Veterans For Peace. It is the Smedley’s hope that this event will act as a small template for similar events by VFP all over the country. Thanks to Regis Tremblay for video of the event Click image above to play video of event Back to Top This Month:  March 27-April 2, 2016 -  2nd Annual Shut Down Creech Join us March 27-April 2, 2016 at Creech Air Force Base, Indian Springs, Nevada for a 2nd national mobilization of nonviolent resistance to shut down killer drone operations in Afghanistan, Syria, Iraq, Pakistan,Yemen, Somalia and everywhere. Last year 150 activists joined us from 20 different states, including than 50 veterans. Sponsored by: VFP, CODEPINK: Women For Peace, Nevada Desert Experience, Voices for Creative Nonviolence Register Online Visit Website For More Info View and Share Facebook Event Page Back to Top 501(c)(3) and Political Election Activity  VFP will abide by the 501(c)(3) rules set forth by the law firm Harmon, Curran, Spielberg Eisenberg, LLC regarding political election activity.  The document contains a list of "10 Mistakes Nonprofits Should Avoid in an Election Year"  Back to Top Delmar Berg - Presente! Delmer Berg, the last known surviving veteran of the Abraham Lincoln Brigade  <Obituary> Back to Top Travel Opportunities for Activists Location Sponsored by Dates Contact U.S./Mexico border SOAW Apr 25 - May 1 Email marialuisa@soaw.orgfor more information. Cuba Code Pink May 2016 Visit the Code Pink website Palestine Interfaith Peacebuilders May 21 - Jun 1 2016 For more information emailesiegel@ifpb.org Palestine Interfaith Peacebuilders Jul  16- 29 2016 For more information emailesiegel@ifpb.org Palestine Interfaith Peacebuilders Oct   24-Nov     6 2016 For more information emailesiegel@ifpb.org Back to Top		In This Issue: This Weekend Join Us in Washington DC for the  Summit on Saudi Arabia VFP Endorsed the Women’s Boat to Gaza Film:  Paying the Price for Peace Premiere Stop U.S. Militarization Around the World! Zinn Fund Request For Proposals Veterans Challenge Islamophobia  Stand With Our Muslim Friends hosted by VFP Smedley Butler Chapter Update This Month:  March 27-April 2, 2016 - 2nd Annual Shut Down Creech 501(c)(3) and Political Election Activity Delmar Berg - Presente! Travel Opportunities for Activists 2016 Convention Update Submit your workshop application Purchase Ad for Convention Program Book Purchase Table 2016 Proposed Convention Program VFP Statement of Purpose Available in Other Languages VFP Needs You to Help Increase VFP's UN Interaction Want to join VFP Online Discussions? Seeking Women Candidates for VFP Board New VFP Tote Bag Member Highlights Save the Dates:  Upcoming VFP Endorsed Actions/Events A Thought Worth Remembering! 2016 Convention Update Theme:  Peace At Home, Peace Abroad A Just and Sustainable Future for the World’s Children   The 2016 convention hosting chapter is VFP San Francisco Chapter 69.  The dates for the convention are Thursday, August 11 thru Monday, August 15@ University California - Clark Kerr campus in Berkeley CA.  Please note the change from our past program.  This convention will not be Wednesday thru Sunday. Workshop applications  Workshops will be held on Friday and Sunday.  The 2016 Planning Committee is accepting applications for all interested in presenting workshop(s).  Purchase your Ad for program book Ad prices are the same as previous years.  Please review the ad guidelines. Tabling Details of table size will be provided later.  Tabling may be limited, so be sure to purchase your table early. Proposed Convention Program Thu, Aug 11 - Presidents Reception/Poetry Reading Fri, Aug 12 - Opening Plenary, Workshop Presentations, Public Evening Event Sat, Aug 13 - Business Meeting, Banquet Sun, Aug 14 - Workshop Presentations Mon, Aug 15 - Closing Back to Top VFP Statement of Purpose Available in Other Languages VFP's statement of purpose is available from the national office in Chinese, French, German and Spanish.  Please submit this form if you would like to receive a translated copy. Back to Top VFP Needs You To Help Increase VFP's UN Interaction Participants are needed for the 2016 NGO Conference to be held in South Korea in late May/early June.  The planning committee is also seeking participants.  There are several VFP slots available for the conference.  Registration will open soon.  Here are a few ways that members can get involved Provide input about counter-recruiting in schools. Run for the Department of Public Information Board -  Elections are held in May.   Email, Ellen Barfield @ ellene4pj@yahoo.com if you are interested in any of these opportunities. 2015 Report on VFP and the UN by Ellen Barfield Back to Top Want to join VFP Online Discussions? Do you want to know what actions or topics other VFP members find interesting?  Find the listserv(s) that suite your need: 1) VFP-All - One of the main Veterans For Peace eGroups. All dues-paying members, full and associate, may participate. Messages of interest are posted to the entire group.   To join, email vfp-all-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.  ***** 2) VFP-Chapter Contacts - Initiated as a place where official chapter contacts could discuss VFP-related business and ideas.  It has since morphed into a general discussion list and many of the chapter contacts not interested in general discussions dropped off.  To join, email vfp-chaptercontacts-subscribe@yahoogroups.com   ***** 3) VFP-Biz is for chapter leaders, staff & board members for VFP related business. This is intended to be the primary communication between board, staff & chapter leaders.  It is to be used for floating ideas, coordinating activities, & discussion-not for posting of articles.  Send an email to Shelly @shelly@veteransforpeace.org, if you are a chapter leader and would like to join this group. ***** 4) VFP-Action - is an unmoderated discussion list for VFP members who are participating in nonviolent actions.  This listserv is not monitored by VFP National.  To subscribe to this group, please send an email to vfp-action@googlegroups.com. Back to Top Seeking Women Candidates for VFP Board If you are interested in becoming a Board member, please send a short resume including a statement explaining why you are interested in serving as a VFP Board member to Board President Barry Ladendorf bdlvfp@gmail.com or call the VFP National Office 314-725-6005 to speak to the Executive Director Michael T. McPhearson to answer any questions. Back to Top New VFP Tote Bag Union made canvas tote with shoulder  strap,  Measures 18 inches wide x 15 inches high x 5 inches deep. $10 Order today Back to Top Member Highlights David Givers, member of Red River Valley, NDChapter 154, has written a letter requesting that the 2017 Pentagon budget be cut by 10 percent. <Articlecourtesy of Inforum.com> Michael McPhearson, Executive Director was recently interviewed by a RT reporter and in the interview he talks about his experiences in the first Gulf War.  The U.S. is marking the 25th anniversary since the end of this war.  He goes into detail about the war going on today being an extension of that war and part of larger strategy to control the region <Articlecourtesy of RT.com> Back to Top Save the Dates:  Upcoming VFP Endorsed Actions/Events Mar 1-25 - Art Display:  Peace is Patriotic: A Soldier’s (mis)Remembrances in Maryville, TN Mar 5-6, 2016 - 2016 Summit on Saudi Arabia in Washington, DC Mar 27- April 2, 2016 - Shut Down Creech AFBoutside of Las Vegas, NV Mar 30 - Inside Drone Warfare: Perspectives of Whistleblowers, Families of Drone Victims and Their Lawyers in Las Vegas, NV Apr 15 - GDAMS (Global Day Against Military Spending) Apr 22 - Earth Day May 14-21 - Sam's 5th Annual Ride for Peace, Raleigh, NC to Washington, DC May 23-25 - VFP 2nd Annual Lobby Days May 30 — Memorial Day (Observed) Jul 27 - Korean War Armistice Day Aug 11-15, 2016 - VFP Annual Convention at Clark Kerr campus of University of California Berkeley, CA Sep 21—International Day of Peace Oct 7-10 - First SOAW bi-national convergence at the U.S./Mexico border in Nogales, Arizona Nov 11 - Armistice Day Back to Top A Thought Worth Remembering! If we don't end war, war will end us..... H. G. Welly  Back to Top
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