VFP eNews: Presente! Masahide Ota, Convention and Golden Rule!
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¡Presente! Masahide Ota Masahide Ota, former VFP advisory board member and Okinawa governor passed away on June 12th. "Former Okinawa Gov. Masahide Ota, a noted historian and survivor of the Battle of Okinawa, died Monday of pneumonia and respiratory failure at a hospital in Naha, his office said. He had turned 92 the same day. Ota, head of the Okinawa International Peace Research Institute, served as governor from 1990 to 1998.
Read the rest of the piece in The Japan Times
Members of recent VFP delegations to Okinawa also wrote the below letter:
To the People of Okinawa,
We've lost a true friend in peace, a gracious and humble leader much respected by the people of Okinawa, an inspiration to all of us who aspire to a world without war, without wasteful and destructive weapons of war.
Veterans For Peace: No More Troops in Afghanistan
The Trump Administration announced it has given Defense Secretary Jim Mattis the authority to determine troops levels in Afghanistan. It is widely believed that Mattis favors sending several thousand more U.S. troops to Afghanistan. Why? Perhaps to break the “stalemate” as described by the Commander of U.S. Forces in Afghanistan, Army General John Nicholson when describing the war to the Senate Armed Services Committee. In his June 13th testimony, Secretary Mattis told the same committee, “We are not winning in Afghanistan right now.”
Veterans For Peace calls for a different direction than more war. We call on Congress to stop funding war and demand a plan for a peaceful solution. We call on the President to immediately begin withdrawal of U.S. troops and take a new direction towards diplomacy and peace. And we call on the people of the U.S. to resist war and demand policies that foster peace and prosperity at home and in Afghanistan. It should be clear after 16 years and the death of tens of thousands of people that no one is a winner in Afghanistan. There is no clear concept of what it means to win there. In fact, it is no longer clear why the U.S. continues to keep troops in Afghanistan and now is on the brink of increasing the number of men and women in harm's way. 1st Annual Power to Peace Festival
Friday, Aug 11, 2017
Pricing:
Convention attendees - $25 General Admission - $45 VIP Admission - $125 Unemployed Vets Admission: Free
*Just a reminder that the concert is NOT included in the price of registration.
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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
Jackson Browne Concert
Date: Sunday, Aug 13, 2017, Chicago, Illinois
Time: Doors: 6:30 PM Show: 7:30 PM Price: $50-$100 The concert is scheduled for the final day of our 32nd Annual Convention. Accompanying Jackson Browne at the benefit concert is long time band mate and multi-instrumentalist Greg Leisz. All net proceeds raised from the benefit concert will support Veterans For Peace. "I want to add my voice to those of Veterans For Peace in calling for the dismantling our war for profit economy, and working to end all wars," says Jackson Browne. "I recommend reading their position statement in response to the Trump Military budget. We need to follow VFP's courageous and principled example in calling for an end to our country's insane and inhumane military expansion." VFP In The News!
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In This Issue:
VFP Annual Convention in Chicago!
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.
Workshops will be held on Thu/Fri (Aug 10-11th)
Wednesday: President's Reception/Poetry Reading
Thursday: Panel Discussion - Education Not Militarization Friday: Power to Peace Festival at VIC Theatre - Doors open at 6pm Saturday: Business meeting/banquet Sunday: March thru Downtown Chicago Jackson Browne concert @ Copernicus Theatre Registration is Now Open! Please register for the conference Visit the Award page to nominate an individual or chapter for a VFP award. Awards will be presented at the Saturday banquet. Need help creating and/or editing your ad for the program book , email Becky @ becky.pdx@gmail.com Thanks to all who submitted a workshop application. Applications are in the review process. All applicants will be notified by June 30, 2017.
Deadline to guarantee the special hotel rate is July 7, 2017
Calling all poets! Sign up here to read your poetry on Wednesday, Aug 9th. Questions regarding submissions should be directed to John Spitzberg. Need assistance getting to the convention? Post Cold War Veterans - Sign up here. All others - Sign up here. Please Check Out the New Details on the Website! New information is added weekly! National office contact is Shelly Rockett
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Don't Miss the Next Issue of Peace in Our Times!
Order now, because you won't want to miss these articles in the upcoming issue:
Plus poems by Jay Wenk and Doug Rawlings, and much more! This issue is going to press next week, and late orders are only filled while supplies last, so don't miss out.
Updates From the Golden Rule!
The Golden Rule’s 2017 voyage to “BAN NUCLEAR WEAPONS!” is off to an amazing start. After high winds and rough seas delayed her departure from Humboldt Bay, the Golden Rule caught up with her scheduled events. With educational and community events in each city, the Golden Rule is pursuing her mission in full force, bringing attention to the UN Treaty to Ban Nuclear Weapons and educating about the very real possibility of a nuclear war in today’s political environment.
From Fort Bragg to Bodega Bay, and then an exciting journey to San Francisco accompanied by whales, her expedition has been a huge success, largely due to Veterans For Peace chapter members and other great supporters.
Currently in San Francisco for Peace Action Camp she will reunite with the Phoenix of Hiroshima
on July 5-6 after almost 60 years apart. The Phoenix peace boat carried on the Golden Rule’s protest voyage to the Marshall Islands to interfere with atmospheric nuclear bomb testing. They both sank in 2010 and while the Golden Rule was rescued and restored the Phoenix was not so lucky. After their historic reunion in the Sacramento Delta, the Golden Rule will stop in over 10 cities to educate and inspire while making her way to her 2017 destination in San Diego.
D.C. Conference on Korea
About 100 people concerned with the current tension with N. Korea attended the one-day conference at George Washington University on 6/13.
Former Sec. of Defense William Perry delivered a keynote speech in which he emphasized that the best way forward on our relations with DPRK is to talk to them with the aim of freezing their nuclear and missile development. It is to be noted that the Trump administration is continuing the unrealistic demand of the previous administration that N. Korea should take steps to denuclearize first before talks can start.
Wage peace, not war in Korea!
Peace Treaty now to end the Korean War! Save the Dates: Upcoming Events
June 24 - Armed Forces Day (UK)
July 5/6 - Phoenix and Golden Rule Reunion (Lodi, California)
July 11 - Meet and Eat with the Golden Rule Crew (Sacramento, CA)
Aug 6 and 9 - Anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
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!
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Veterans For Peace, 1404 N. Broadway, St. Louis, MO 63102
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